Mama Winn's Place: New Missionaries: March 9, 2011

Wahoo! March 9th we found some new missionaries hanging out in our parking lot first thing in the morning! We were just delighted to invite them to come on in! We were expecting eight of them, but got two extra sisters in the deal and we're so excited that we're not giving them back! Two of the new missionaries we're already acquainted with! Elder Burrell served a three month trial mission with us from November to January. We LOVED having him in our mission, and asked if we could keep him. We were ecstatic when he received his official call and it was for two years in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission! So we gave him a couple of weeks off to go to the MTC and now he's back. We couldn't be happier! We also recognized Sister Harris, who visited a zone conference once before she arrived. We can't wait to get to know the eight other new missionaries! Off the bus, they collected their luggage, and dragged it all into the mission office

Sister McClure, from Virginia, led the way.

Sister Harris, from Orem, Utah, was not far behind.

Elder Pellerin comes to us from Vermont.

We're so glad to have our Elder Burrell back, from Cottonwood Heights, Utah.

Our Assistant, Elder Dominguez gladly helps out.

Even President Winn gets in on the action.

Elder Singleton is from Florida. It snowed especially for him!

Sister Magdaleno and Sister Picuasi were our surprise arrivals.

Elder Evans tries his backing up skills. FYI: he's not that good.

Elder Sanders is here from Oklahoma.

Elder Watson is probably not used to the snow either. He's from North Carolina.

Elder Lamipeti wins the prize for traveling the longest distance to get here. He's from Tonga.

So here's our new freshman class of missionaries! They are perfect!

First things first: Feed them!

Dear mom and dad,

I arrived safely in Salt Lake City. I have no idea what's next....

After the traditional breakfast and writing home to your parents, along with filling out all the necessary paperwork, things got a little crazy for these freshman missionaries! Usually, we would take them on a tour of temple square and let them try their hand at extreme street contacting. But usually, our mission didn't just break the record of MOST BAPTISMS IN A MONTH EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE MISSION! So on this very first day in the mission field, these youngsters pretty much got ignored for a little while, as nearly 200 very excited missionaries poured into the mission office building from Wyoming and Wendover and everywhere in between for a celebration! We had two Area Seventies, Elder Franco and Elder Clark, speak to us in a devotional and then we all enjoyed Cafe Rio for lunch! The old missionaries got their transfer information, their new companions, and their new areas, new apartment keys, new car keys - or bike helmets - and after much hoopla and pandemonium, they all finally headed out the doors.

At last, we returned our attention to the new kids on the block. It was time to match up the companionships. Drum roll please!