TRANSFER WEEK. WOW !!!

It is TRANSFER week.  WOW !!! 

 For this transfer, 31 young missionaries went home, 27 of them women.  We said “Farewell to the Wave”.  We only had 12 missionaries arrive.  It was Bedlam on Monday and Tuesday.

In our Mission, when  missionaries arrive, their luggage is transported to the Mission Home, and the missionaries are taken to the train to travel to and from downtown Chicago.  They are given the opportunity to contact people and place a Book of Mormon in this process. It is an exciting introduction to missionary work.

When the missionaries arrive back at the mission home, there is a dinner prepared for them.  After dinner they are trained by President Woodbury, Sister Woodbury, and the office staff.    They sleep at the mission home that night.

On Tuesday morning, the new missionaries all travel to a nearby Stake Center where transfers take place.  After brief messages from our President, the trainers are asked to sit on the stand, then come up one by one and describe their area of service.  Then President Woodbury introduces the missionary they will be training.  Some hugging and handshaking takes place as they return to the congregation to be seated together. 

After this, the missionaries travel to their area of service and begin actual missionary service, or they come to the office first for the lunch we have prepared for them.

The new missionaries are always excited and full of energy, and bring that delightful spirit with them to the mission where we all enjoy their enthusiasm. 

Meanwhile, the missionaries who leave are attending meetings at the Mission Home and they attend a session at the Chicago Temple. 

 At the Mission Home, a big dinner full of missionary favorites (thanks to the wife of the Mission President) is prepared for those (31) leaving. After the dinner is a testimony meeting, and last instructions from their President. They stay all night at the mission home, and leave the next day. 

(GOODBYE TO THE BEST)

It is devastating to have the returning missionaries go.  It is wonderful to receive the new missionaries.   

A new missionary, her trainer, and Sister Christensen, (who loves this mission)

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