Past Week

        We had to pick up three new cars for the missionaries.  We had only two men in the office to bring them back.  So, I was able to go and drive one home from the airport to the office.  It was pretty fancy for me.  I had to inspect it before driving.  So, I got to fiddle with all the fancy stuff.  Fun!

        We had transfers this past week.  Wednesday night, when all the missionaries arrive, we go to the Mission Home and conduct a short meeting with the staff.  I take all the missionaries pictures.  Elder Atwood talks about housing.  This week, Elder Atwood went to the airport to pick up two Visa Waiter Missionaries that came in on a different flight than we were told.  So, he spent an hour or so at the airport before coming late to the meeting.  He did, however, arrive in time to go to dinner with the Office Staff; the Carlsons, Sister Arnold, Sister & Elder Black, and the Atwoods.  Luckily, the missionaries were found at the end of our dinner and Elder Atwood drove back to the airport to pick them up.  They had been waiting and were surely relieved.  They are waiting for their Visas to go to Brazil.

        These are the departing missionaries who went home Friday.  Elder Norton (almost out of the picture) Griffin, Brady, Lee, Sanchez, (front row) Elder Black, Lowry, Everitt, & Moss (our AP) (back row)  sister Challis is in front, the only Sister going home.  Two of them had expired drivers licenses and one had his plane flight cancelled till Saturday morning.  All in the life of a missionary.

        We had our bi-monthly devotional at the Liberty Jail VC on Sunday.  This is the McCurder family.  They were recently baptized.  Five of them spoke (the ones over eight who were all baptized)  They bore great testimonies of the Book of Mormon, truth, and how it has changed their lives.  The father had lost his father early in life and was very interested to know he now has a father in Heaven.  The mother felt sorry for the young missionaries and invited them in.  They had lots of questions and were looking for a religion they could raise their family in.  It was wonderful to have the entire family come into the church.

        This is Brandy Jarvis.  She came in contact with the church from a friend at school.  But, she was 16 and had to wait till she was 18 for her parents.  She kept going and waited the time.  She knows the church is true and believes the Book of Mormon which she has read many times.

        This is Jeremy Guthrie.  He was at our ward on Sunday, because of his time schedule.  He is the pitcher for the KC Royals, a baseball team that at presently is doing AWESOME!  The important part is that Jeremy is not only a great baseball player, but a good, valiant member of the church here in Kansas City.  He filled a mission at the expense of a baseball career, then finished school, and finally is still wanted by the draft board and playing well.  His church and his religion comes first.  They are now in the playoffs.