And AWAY we go.......

A new year brought some new faces:  We welcomed six new Elders on Jan. 8. Three of them had been waiting on visas so had been out working in other missions for some time.  The other three had come straight from the MTC in Provo.  Since it was in the middle of a transfer (when the visas come, they ship them out immediately!) the President decided not to disrupt six established companionships.  He paired them up and assigned them to areas with excellent, experienced missionaries and sent them out to work!  They are doing a great job!!!

Back:  Elders Gabbitas, Gardner and Beatty
Front:  Elders McGrath, Jeppson and Groves
(they are matched with the one right in front or back of them)

Three days later, we had to say good-bye to three of our great missionaries.  Sister Jessica King returned home to Idaho, Elder Cesar Murga to Barcelona and Elder Curtis Ellsworth to Showlow, Arizona.

"Well done, thou good and faithful servants..."

 








Our first zone conference of the new year was in the Canary Islands.  There are 10 missionaries and two senior couples serving on three islands, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote.  Despite the distance from the mission office and the distance between islands, they are a united and dedicated group!

Back:  Elder Hodges, Hna. and Elder Andrews, Elder Scott, Hnas. Nielsen and Benitez
Front:  Elders Kap (ZL), Martin de la Sierra, Slack, Mateer, Ross (ZL) and Sanchez
Missing:  The Parkers

The Andrews on Tenerife and the Parkers on Gran Canaria are performing a "marvelous work and a wonder" in reactivating and retaining the young single adults on the islands.  In addition, they shepherd, feed and entertain the full-time (young) missionaries.  We couldn't manage without them, although eventually they will be going home.  We just hope the church sends replacements to carry on the great work they have begun!