New Missionaries: August 24, 2011

Each class of missionaries that we get from the MTC is more prepared than the last, and this HUGE class of August 24th was certainly no exception to that rule! We were very excited to welcome twenty new missionaries that morning. Elder Heaton stepped up and took over President Winn's job right off. He put on the apron that says "The Prez" and started flipping pancakes for breakfast. I was glad to have the help!

And we all sat down for breakfast.

These Elders are giving Elder Heaton the thumbs up on his pancakes!

Our thanks to Elder Linder and Sister Deyhl.

We simply could not run this mission without the help of our senior missionaries.

President Winn began to interview the missionaries one at a time.

Next, we took the "first day in the mission" picture. It is very similar to the picture that your mom took of you on the first day of school every year. You feel ridiculous and she thinks you are adorable! Here is Sister Thompson from Lakewood, California.

Sister Snater is from Austin, Minnesota.

Sister Ama came all the way from Apia, Samoa.

And Sister Fujii from Akiruno. Tokyo, Japan.

Elder Oliveira calls Recife, Brazil home.

Elder Nilsson comes to us from Kil, Sweden.

Elder Portas is from Madrid, Spain.

From Fallbrook, California, we have Elder Shuster.

Elder Creer is from Richland, Washington.

Our pancake-flipping Elder Heaton is from Anacoco, Louisiana.

Elder Blakley is from Leesville, Louisiana.

Elder Alvey is from Noblesville, Indiana.

Elder Retamal comes from Lota, Chile.

Elder Winter came from down under in Harvey, Australia.

Elder Anderson is from Maryville, Tennessee.

Elder Gallup is from Cochrane, Alberta, Canada.

Elder Tolworthy is from Billingham, England.

Elder Ide came to us from Litchfield, Connecticutt.

Elder Jensen hails from Sandy,Utah.

Last, but not least, Elder Rasmussen is from League City, Texas.

Then we headed over to the transfer building, where the rest of the mission was waiting to meet the newest additions to our family. They each introduced themselves, and then signed the big Defenders of Zion banner. That pretty much makes them official missionaries.

Back to the mission office, where we had lunch and every new missionary was assigned a trainer. This is a very exciting part of the day, as each new missionary and each trainer anxiously waits to see who their new companion will be for the next six weeks.

Of course, there is some paperwork to fill out first.

Sister Bates and Sister Larsen, two of the trainers ham it up for the camera.

They know the drill.

Sister Boyles just sits around looking adorable.

Sister Snater and Sister Thompson are getting to know Sister McDonnell.

The announcements begin:

Elder Whiting will be training Elder Shuster.

Elder Chamberlain will be training Elder Heaton.

Elder Flaquer will be training Elder Blakley.

Elder Chavez will be training Elder Retamal.

Elder Romero will be training Elder Creer.

Elder Gomez will be training Elder Alvey.

Elder Reta is still waiting to train someone. His missionary did not arrive from the MTC.

The assistants are on the sidelines as usual, trying to solve the millions of problems that always pop up on transfer day. By the end of the day, Elder Salisbury will be ready to go home, and hand the keys, and the headaches, over to Elder Byrd and Elder Green.

Elder McNees is so excited to train, I think he is going to have a heart attack!

If you were a new missionary, wouldn't this scare you to death?

It's sort of like being run over, full steam, by a train.

But look how happy Elder Tolworthy is standing next to his trainer, Elder McNees!

Elder Ross is pretty excited too, though thankfully, a little more calm about it.

Elder Ross is going to train Elder Gallup.

President Winn holds out on Elder Jensen, just teasing a little.

Elder Judd can't keep the smile off his face!

Elder Judd is going to train Elder Jensen.

Elder Partridge gets to train Elder Rasmussen.

Elder Wilnauer gets to train Elder Ide.

Elder Bonaro will be training Elder Nilsson.

And they will add a third companion, just for fun!

Elder Goddard will wait in that companionship for his visa to arrive.

Elder Jorgensen will train Elder Winter.

Elder Taylor will train Elder Anderson.

Elder Tui will train Elder Oliveira.

Elder Mowatt will train Elder Portas.

Sister Bates will train Sister Ama.

Sister Larsen will train Sister Fujii.

Sister McDonnell will train Sister Thompson.

Sister Boyles will train Sister Snater.

Elder Salisbury and Elder Byrd have been great together, and so much fun to work with!

But Elder Salisbury has to go home now, and find a wife. We will miss him!

Elder Byrd will train Elder Green.

The new Assistants to the President.

So the new missionaries head out to work in this Utah Salt Lake City Mission....

Which is Number 1 in the world, as far as we're concerned.

If you want to see more pictures of New Missionaries: August 24th, click here:

2011.08.24: New Missionaries