Here they come! We greeted 13 awesome, new, eager, excited missionaries. Only two this time from the US: Elder Odom and Sister Flory. The rest are all from various regions of the Philippines.
Just about sun-up the bus arrived with its precious cargo--13 new missionaries!
Elder Saba was the first one off the bus.
After breakfast, picture taking, and a short orientation--our new missionaries had a little time to shower or rest before the 10 am transfer meeting. Sister Seprioto was organizing her suitcase when she paused for a photo.
(Front row: Sister Carlos, Sister Daelo, Sister Diola, Sister Gardoce, Elder De Leon, Elder Taer, Elder Saba, Elder Dela Vega, Elder Paloma and President Carlos. Back row: Elder Rivera, Sister Flory, Sister Seprioto, Elder Odom, and Elder Noja.
This batch was ready to sing at our transfer meeting! Despite traveling for hours, they were ready and eager to join in and sing for the rest of the missionaries. We were so impressed!
Other missionaries perform special musical numbers during the transfer meeting. We all knew Elder Ilagan was super talented in music but most of us didn't know Elder Needs could sing a duet! It was great!
After transfers are announced and a few testimonies are born, missionaries meet with their new zone members for a quick meeting and then they are free to go out to lunch, take care of business in the office or head back to their areas. Elder Oyardo is lucky to work with a part-time missionary from Rizal during this cycle. (Our part-timers always have their calls and are just waiting for their time to report to the MTC. They get a chance to experience missionary life before they actually begin their term of service. We love our part-timers!)
Only those missionaries involved in the transfer come to Cauayan for the Transfer Meeting. But they often get to see former companions. Here Elder Hawlader was so excited to see his trainer Elder Landeen again after several months of not seeing each other.
Elder Obiacoro ,Elder Taer and Elder Molino stop by the office to pick up some supplies.
Elder Williamson and Elder Valdez say goodbye as Elder Valdez was transferred. These two zone leaders made a great team in Santiago South Zone!
Thank you for posting pictures of my brother, Elder Odom. It's great to see his smiling face!
ReplyDeletePlease give him a BIG hug from my husband and I, Kevin and Sarah, and from his niece and nephew, Claire and Lindon!