SPOILER INFORMATION INCLUDED – I took about 150 pictures at transfer meeting and will post about 130 of them over the next week. Although they probably have already written to their parents that they were scheduled to be transferred and if they are going to get a leadership or training assignment, I tend not to post where they are being transferred to or who their new companion will be until after next Monday when they have their chance to share the news. However some of the information does turn up here before that so if you want to be surprised by your missionary stop looking and reading now!

Elder Perez was transferred out of Ikageng so he had to move everything. He and elder Liera managed to fill our boot and back seat with his stuff. This included his weights which is why it took two of them to get this box to the car. We are truly going to miss elder Perez. Especially Bill who sees him as a kindred soul. Elder Graham is exiting the car and elder Mayende is getting out of the back seat. Both are great missionaries and are going to be missed in Klerksdorp and Jouberton.

Transfer meetings are and exciting time for the missionaries. It is a time to meet and talk to MTC companions, elders they have served with in an area or district, and to find out what new area and companion will be theirs for the next 6 weeks. While we were waiting for the meeting to start, elder Harris came by and said hello. Elder Harris served in the district until a couple of transfers ago – he always has a great smile.

We do not really know elder Bryner except through his blog. However his mother reads our blog and has let us know she enjoys the few pictures we have of her son. Elder Larsen with his thumb always up and his companion elder Saunders. They are closing their area and so both are being transferred to new areas.

Elders Graham and Clegg both have thumbs up. Elder Clegg is training one of the new missionaries this transfer. I think it is funny that the tallest elder in this picture has a very short name and the short missionary has a really long one…elder Lyon give a big hug to elder Ramiliarijaona who I call elder Rami as he serves in the Ikageng district.

As far as I know elder Johnson is the only redhead in the mission. If you go back through this blog you will find that in almost any large group meeting there is elder Johnson. I had looked for him prior to the meeting but never saw him. However as we were waiting for the meeting to start he walked in and gave us a big smile. Elders Matos, Stapley and Perez had a good talk and posed for a picture.

I love this picture because elders Perez and Carpenter had no idea that elder Segil was striking a pose behind them. We got to meet both elder Segil and Carpenter when they were serving in the Vaal zone and we did flat inspections. Elder Otieno stuck his tongue out at me – he was a very good district leader while he served here in the Ikageng district. He now serves as a zone leader up North. Elder Graham is just being elder Graham.

Elder Perkins is on the left and elder Compton is on the right. Both of them were serving in the Ikageng district when we got here 9 months ago. Elder Segil wants to make sure everyone knows his name. We got to know him as we did flat inspections for the elders in the Vaal zone. I also have enjoyed reading his blog and looking at his pictures.

When it gets close to 11 the assistants get the missionaries moving towards the chapel where the count down clock tells how long before the meeting starts. The new missionaries sit on the front row and the departing missionaries sit up on the stand.

   Elder Menendez conducted the meeting which started with a full chapel of missionaries singing “Ye Elders of Israel.” It is a very special blessing to join in with all those dedicated young men as they sing “Seek out the righteous where’re they may be.”