Speaking of travel plans home, we had 30 missionaries finish their missions this Monday and we had 29 new missionaries arrive. This is called a transfer...and we think it might have been the largest one this mission has experienced...and it was our first...and it was a French holiday so the government offices were closed...and...well, let's just say we did a lot of improvisation.
On Sunday, Steven started the personal interviews for the departing missionaries...they went long enough that we ended up with several still around at dinner time...so we fed them some pancakes because we didn't have much else around 😊 Monday morning the rest of the interviews were done and then we had a final testimony meeting where each of the departing missionaries could express their feelings about their missions and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then there was a lunch. Most of the missionaries spent their afternoon seeing last minute friends and members. Then, after feeding another stray dozen missionaries some dinner, the 30 departing missionaries boarded a bus at 7:30pm for the airport. Their flights were at 11:30pm. Tahitians really knows how to say farewell to those they love. There were a couple hundred people at the airport saying goodbye to these missionaries and giving them shell "couronnes" (leis). Most stayed until the missionaries went through security at 10:30.
Then right as these missionaries left another 20 arrived from the USA. There were many people who just moved from "departures" to "arrivals" to greet the new missionaries with floral "couronnes". We waited until midnight to welcome the final 9 new missionaries arriving from New Zealand (the French speakers go to the MTC in New Zealand since they already know the language and don't need the extensive language training in Provo, UT.) Needless to say everyone was exhausted by the time we got them to their lodging for the night (apartments right behind the LDS temple.)
The next day, Tuesday, after breakfast, the new missionaries were trained on how this mission is run and on what to do under different circumstances, and practical things like changing money, paying for bikes, cell phone usage, etc. They had personal interviews with Steven. We took them on a walking tour to the mission office and the Tahiti Temple, and had more training in the afternoon. They got to meet their new companions, who will be their trainers, as well. This is where the real improv skills came in. They should have just gone to their areas with their new companions at this point but because of the French government holiday they couldn't get their visas taken care of and so they had to stay until the next morning (today). So we had pizzas for dinner and after some training on the vision of the mission we had some down time. Great to see them grouped around the piano singing hymns together.
So, from Sunday afternoon until Wednesday morning there has been a lot going on. We took naps this afternoon 😊.
There have been several tender mercies from the Lord during this past week...one had to do with Elder Peel, who had appendicitis. Last Wednesday Steven and I had gone to the hospital for the first time here in the area. We went with our assistants to give a blessing to an ill man. In passing, one of our assistants said there are only two hospitals on the island: one in Papeete, where we live, and the other at the opposite end of the island in Taravao. 12 hours later Elder Peel called in the middle of the night in a lot of pain. Initially, we didn't know what to tell him to do...we don't really know the medical system for emergencies. Then we realized he was in Taravao, where we had just learned the other hospital is, and so we told him to go to that hospital. He was driven up to the one in Papeete later but what a blessing to know about that hospital there.
Another tender mercy...I found out that one of the new sister missionaries, who is from France, is the daughter/niece of a family I stayed with for two weeks when I was a student in France in 1980. I had lost touch with this family many years ago. What a small world!
The best thing about this mission is the missionaries. We were truly sad to see these 30 leave, even though we had only been working with them for a few weeks. We love the light they bring into our lives. I know this light is what is needed in the world. I know that Jesus Christ is that light.
I love you all!
