New Missionaries: February 8, 2012

Another Wednesday, another bus from the MTC filled with enthusiasm, fear, trepidation, excitement, testimonies, passion, terror, eagerness, anxiety, gusto and awe.  In short, we got another freshman class of handsome new Elders, and we love all sixteen of them already!  Welcome, everyone, to the Utah Salt Lake City Mission!

 A big hug from President Winn to start the day.

 Finding their luggage and then dragging it inside.

Elder Steele from Chesterfield, Missouri

Elder Devantier from Hurricane, Utah

Elder Bragg from Round Rock, Texas

Elder Harris from Oakhill, Virginia

Elder Christian from Suwanee, Georgia

Elder Rivera from Puerto Rico

Elder Hansen from Columbia, Maryland

Elder Edwards from Eagar, Arizona

Elder Garcia from Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Elder Solie from Edgerton, Kansas

Elder Abadillo from Mixco, Guatemala

Elder Barker from Raleigh, North Carolina

Elder Curbolo from San Jose, Uruguay

Here is our freshman class of February 8, 2012:

Elder Allen, Elder Fedderson, Elder Lott, Elder Harris,
Elder Hansen, Elder Edwards, Elder Solie,

Elder Barker, Elder Bragg, Elder Abadillo, Elder Rivera,
Elder Curbolo, Elder Garcia, Elder Steele,

Elder Christian and Elder Devantier

Next, the rest of the Elders and Sisters from the mission who will be transferred today join us for a short meeting in the chapel of the Mission Office.  Strains of Up Awake Ye Defenders of Zion and Called to Serve fill the air with enthusiasm and excitement!

The freshman elders sign their names on our mission banner as the newest Defenders of Zion, and promise to be sacred covenant keepers, ambassadors of righteousness, united in love and in purpose.

Next, we have lunch, a very important part of the day!  Soon the trainers and the new missionaries will find out just who their companion will be for the next six weeks!  Anticipation fills the air!

Elder Allen is the first new missionary that President Winn calls up.  He announces that Elder Allen's trainer will be Elder Calderwood!

Elder Calderwood is so excited that he picks up Elder Allen and spins him around!

Elder Allen is so excited that he picks up Elder Calderwood and spins him around as well!

These two are just going to be a couple of happy campers, we can tell already!

Elder Moeaki is ecstatic to find out that he will be training Elder Bragg!

Look out, Salt Lake!

Elder Clerveau and Elder Steele meet each other.

This is going to be a great companionship!

Elder Christian picks out who he thinks will be his trainer...

Elder Green is so excited that he picks up Elder Christian and spins him around!  Amazing!

Elder Green and Elder Christian:

Elder Lott and Elder Walker will be serving together.

Elder Yancey will be training Elder Fedderson.

President Winn asks Elder Devantier to choose a trainer....

Elder Gallup comes on the run!

I think Elder Devantier may be a little nervous about this....

But I'm pretty sure Elder Devantier and Elder Gallup will make a marvelous team!

Elder Solie will be trained by Elder Ehehalt.

Elder Steele will be trained by.....

...wait for it...

Elder Steele will be trained by Elder Willnauer!!!

Elder Hansen is anxious.

So are these three amigos, Elder Flaquer, Elder Fuentes and Elder Romero.

Elder Flaquer will train Elder Hansen.

Elder Humphries will train Elder Curbolo.

Elder Moczygemba will train Elder Rivera.

Say that fast three times!

Elder Drieling is wearing a name tag that says he is Elder Orr, but he cannot fool us!

Elder Dreiling will train Elder Garcia.

Elder Harris will be trained by Elder Fuentes.

Elder Abadillo and Elder Espinoza are really, really excited!

Elder Abadillo will be trained by Elder Espinoza.

Elder Romero will be training Elder Edwards.

The very first thing that everyone gets trained to do is -

Put away chairs!!  Yessirree, this is life in the fast lane!!

A little more singing...

...some companionship bonding...

...some training from the Assistants....

....and they're off to be missionaries!

For more pictures  of new missionaries, click here:  

2012.02.08: New Missionaries