13 Amazing missionaries left the Johannesburg mission today – only 12 of them were at transfer meeting because elder Kalani had a very early flight out to get home to Kenya. There is a small ceremony where each missionary receives a mission pin from sister Dunn, a framed picture of their areas and companion as if put up on the screen and then hugs from both Dunns. I am sorry that the pictures of elders Pius and Raymond getting pinned were just too blurry to post.

        

After the pinning ceremony ends each missionary is given a chance to add some words of wisdom that they want to share with the other missionaries…some of them are very spiritual and moving and some are just young men talking.

Elders Anderson – in the famous going home suit – and elder Andritiana, Elders Haynes – who is from Brisbane where our friends the Mickelsens are serving – and elder Kairu.

 Elders Magrangga – who became a great-grandfather today – and Majozi. Elders Mead and Musaka

Elder O’Riordan – who never complained when I mispronounced his name many times.

Elder Raymond – I was almost through taking pictures of the speakers when I realized I could take a picture of them with their mission history slide in the background. Elder Ryan was the last of the returning missionaries to speak.

  The transfer meeting ended with Sister and President Dunn giving word of encouragement and counsel to the missionaries.

And then 100 plus missionaries stood and sang the mission song. Many of the departing missionaries take videos or pictures of the singing. To be there and sing with them is one of the many blessings we experience as senior missionaries.