The week before transfers is busy around the office. Besides all the regular things they do, such as training, splits, reports and of course proselytizing, they are deeply involved in the process of moving missionaries around. Missionaries going home, missionaries coming in, who will train, and who will be moved where all must be worked out, prayed about and then presented to the President who of course approves everything as he is guided by the spirit. For me it is a humbling experience to see this all occur.

After surviving our missions to Indonesia, South Africa, and half of this mission, I finally managed to drop our trusty Casio camera on a hard surface one time too many. The result was the picture on the left…it still clicks like it is taking a picture but there is no way to know what I am taking. I went to Costco and bought a new Canon SX260HS which is probably more camera than I needed but if I only get one every 6 years we can afford one. My first picture was of Mary…a great way to break in a new camera

Another thing that happens the week before transfers is that the missionaries who are going to be released have their exit interview with President Anderson. Since there are 13 missionaries leaving, President Anderson had a lot of interviews and spread them over a couple of days. On Wednesday we had a number of the sisters and their companions here. So I got  to take a number of photos. Sister Dye is on the left is staying and it is her companion sister Geest who along with sister Mata’u who will be leaving. We have had the opportunity to serve in the same district with both of these fine sisters.

  

Elder Giorgino loves to have his picture taken so he is shown with sisters Johnson and Geest with sister Dye doing her impression of a jumping-jack in the background. Sister Edwards joined the other three for a picture. The last one is of sisters Andrus and Johnson who are both staying and the back of elder Avila.