Transfer week

Monday morning I hurried to get everything ready to train new missionaries, set-up iPads for the new ones and have everything to certify them to drive. I then jumped in the 12 passenger van, hooked the utility trailer to it and headed for the airport to greet 13 new missionaries and load all their luggage prior to them getting on the train to go downtown to see the city their first day and to do their first street and train contacting. After delivering their luggage to the mission home and disconnecting the trailer, I hurried back to the office to get a few things done. At 4:30 we were at the train station to pick them up and take them to the mission home. After dinner, Claudia and I trained exhausted, brain-dead missionaries on our areas of responsibility. This included vehicle and safety training; no wonder we have so many accidents. They are so tired that first night, most of them don't remember a thing you train them on.

Tuesday morning we were back at the church building at 7:30 to provision iPads for each of the new ones and train them on using Facebook, iPads and social media to invite others to come unto Christ. What I have learned is that most young people use Facebook prior to coming on a mission to be silly and goofy. So there is a major learning curve to get them to a point where they can effectively use it to be a blessing to people. I shuffled 4 cars around so that all areas that desperately needed a car were able to have one. About half of our 203 missionaries were at the transfer meeting. From about 1:00 until 4:30 those 100 plus missionaries were in and out of the office to get something to eat, pick up supplies, get packages for new missionaries(mostly bedding and warm clothes that mom sent because there wasn't room in their 2 bags of luggage). I had 6 additional missionaries who needed to replace their iPad, mostly because of cracked screens, and had 2 who needed help activating new phones.

We left the office at 5:15 so that we could be at the mission home by 5:30 to have dinner with the 11 missionaries who were going home the next morning and be able to hear their departing testimonies. We so love those testimony meetings with wonderful, young people whom we have known, loved and served with for most of their mission. These young people return home having experienced hard things, having had many spiritual experiences and having grown in so many ways that most young people will not experience for years if at all. 

I ordered a new utility trailer for the mission this week, picked up a new Sabaru Legacy, picked up a car from the body shop and then sold that car on Friday. The guy who bought that car is an 84 year old man who has been investigating the church for about a month. His previous car was totaled when he was rear-ended about 6 months ago. That accident caused him to need surgery on his leg and also made it so his license was taken away until his mobility was sufficient to prove his ability to drive again. The state gave him approval this week to take the driving test, so he now needs a car. I drove the car to his house so that he could see it and then drove him to the bank to get a cashier's check. Yesterday we delivered the car to him so he can now go take the test and have a car to drive.

Well winter has arrived in Chicago. We woke up to snow and it was still snowing at noon. It is supposed to snow more tonight. The high for a good part of the week is only supposed to be in the 20's. So please pray for the missionaries to be safe and to have wisdom beyond their years. We have now had 10 accidents in the past two months and the weather hasn't even been bad yet.

We had dinner on Friday night at the mission home with all 22 of the senior missionaries. It is fun to get together with them and be able to visit and see just how different our missions are depending on what the assignment is. It has become very apparent to me that it doesn't matter where you serve; there are numerous ways and needs for seniors to serve. And, as long as you do your best, the Lord always makes sure that it is enough.

We have and are growing in so many ways even though transfer weeks are crazy. We love our mission because we are serving side by side with each other. We love the young missionaries and though they are so young in many ways, they are also quite mature in others. And just like us, if they will do the best they can, the Lord will always make up the difference. He knows us, loves us and always tailors opportunities and challenges specifically for us to be able to stretch and grow in ways and areas we didn't necessarily know we needed to. May your week be blessed as you strive a little harder to be just a little bit better. I promise He will bless you and help you as you strive to be and give your best. Til next week.


Elder Taggart