Sunday, March 13, 2011

Crazy, mixed up, incoming experience!

Here they are, all 18 of the 19 that were expected this cycle of incoming missionaries--but getting them all here was a crazy series of events! On Tuesday night as the missionaries we have come to love and serve with for 18 months and 2 years were saying their goodbyes, we received a frantic phone call from Salt Lake saying that we had 8 missionaries that had missed their flight to Auckland and another Sister who had lost her passport and was on her way back to the MTC! What!!!
When we got to the airport the next morning at 6:00 a.m., four missionaries walked off the plane--the MTC in Auckland had a few mix ups, so the six missionaries we were expecting from that MTC, we ended up going and picking up ourselves. The only ones that made it to One Tree Hill were these four out of the 19 that we were counting on!
The day they arrive in New Zealand Auckland Mission we give them their first experience with PBW - Preaching By the Way--like in the Doctrine and Covenants! I couldn't resist getting this shot of Sister Frost and Sister Perry's experience--will they catch up to her?
At transfer meeting, all the new missionaries gather in the middle to introduce themselves to the other missionaries--here was a picture of this introduction!
Elder Cook will be training Elder Gubler!
Elder Hatch will be trained by Elder Saunders!
Elder Snow is training Elder Cerros!
Elder Trainor will be training Elder Killingbeck!
Elder Fiu is being trained by Elder Webb!
Elder Middleton will be trained by Elder Manning!
Elder Fafai will train Elder Tucker!
Elder Pohahau will be trained by Elder Rubalcava!
Elder Kauhenga has met his match for general size and President has a backup chiropractor--both of these Elders can pick up President by the shoulders and give him a good back adjustment! President is 6'3"--these are big Elders! Gentle giants!
Elder Johnson will be trained by Elder Jenkins!
Elder AhFua is being trained by Elder Cushing!
Elder Piukala is being trained by Elder Gonda!
Elder Walker is training Elder Martin!
Sister Tanuvasa will train Sister Frost!
Elder Whipple is being trained by Elder Everett!
Sister Perry is being trained by Sister Martinsen!
Sister Mouata will be trained by Sister Hafoka!
Elder Cline and Elder Pre are Zone leaders that are together for Elder Cline's last transfer! They look like a winning combination!
Elder Hughes will be trained by someone just a little smaller than himself, Elder Johnson!
But it's all good!
Elder Smith will be trained by Elder Kimball!
Sister Brown made it in the third day, all by herself! She is the one whose passport got misplaced---she is being trained by Sister Mahas! Welcome all--we are so happy to have you!

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you Sister Porter for this blog. It is a wonderful and thoughtful gift to us who have loved ones in the NZAM. We loved hearing Sister Perry's account of her first few days in the mission. Seeing your photos of her experience and the people she is with allows us to feel very much a part of her mission. Thank you to you and President Porter. All my best, Ken Perry

Amy Martinsen said...

My little Sarah Ann is training!!! Hope Sister Perry and Sister Martinsen have a great time together :)

Norma Gubler said...

Sister Porter thank you for this awesome blog so we can feel in touch with our missionary's mission and all those he is serving with. It really helps to fill in the blanks that don't get answered in letters! Thank you to President Porter too. For all you do and are. All of you are in our prayers.

Romina said...

I will b moving to Auckland next month and I am looking for a place to stay (rent a room). Do you know of any members that might be able to rent me a room? I served a mission in Argentina and I am a PhD graduate of BYU.
Thanks,
Romina

Romina said...

my email is rominavillamonte@gmail.com
thanks,
Romina