Sunday afternoon, 17 July 2016
NEW MISSIONARIES & GOING HOME MISSIONARIES

This week we had 20 new missionaries come from the MTCs in Provo and Spain, and 18 go home. We were involved all three days.

We had a total of about 50 people to feed breakfast and lunches.  We had sandwiches, or panini in Italian. Myrna made many batches of muffins and cookies. We had the main event in the Cimiano chapel in Milano, because the mission office isn't large enough for that many. The mission rented a bus to transport them.

I took them down the street from the chapel to an ATM (called Bancomat in Italy) so they could learn how to use their debit cards and withdraw €150 to give me for the bike fund.

Anziano Osborne, from Utah, with whom we work closely in the office, taught them how to set up their Ipads the Church gives all missionaries these days.

At least one new sorella had never used an Ipad.

Sister Allen, the president's wife, talked to them about their health and well being.

One of the assistants to the president, Anziano Barragon, from West Valley City, Utah, taught them how to approach people on the street, etc. They took them to the duomo of Milano, where they approached people within the piazza on their first day in Italy.


President Allen gave them some heartfelt advice.

Then came what everyone was anxious and excited about, the "match," where the greenies are introduced to their trainers, their first companion in the field.  Fourteen of our new missionaries were sisters.

I took pix of each and every one of them, so the office anziani could email them to their parents, who they also call to let them know their missionary has arrived safely.

It was a fun and spiritual experience for everyone, but a lot of organization and work.

The entire group of greenies with their new companions. The president was out interviewing them, individually. Before they went out into the field two by two, we sang (I accompanied) the mission hymn and knelt in prayer.

I did not take any pix of the 18 outgoing missionaries.  We had a testimony meeting in the evening before they they left at the mission home, which was, as you can imagine, very spiritual.  Sister Allen asked them to think of Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life on the way home, and in the future, and how they will enter the world and be mocked, and must always hold to the iron rod, even though the mist makes it slippery and it may not be politically correct.  After that, about 9 pm, but still light outside, a few parents, who had been patiently waiting, came out and met their missionary coming down the steps of the mission home, which was also a very emotional experience.  

It was another spiritually uplifting week in Italy.

Ciao for now.