We measure our lives by transfer cycles here on the mission. Every 6 weeks we have missionaries departing and arriving. We have different things happen each of those weeks between transfers. One week is dedicated to Zone Conferences; one is transfer preparation; two are interview weeks; one is usually travel somewhere; and one is actual transfers. We also fit in leadership council, staff meeting, and"free time" (hahahahaha!!😆).
For example:
Week one: April 23-25 was transfers...Monday started about 9 am with interviews and lunch for those leaving; seeing them off at the airport that night and welcoming the new ones about 11pm. Tuesday began with breakfast, a visit to the commissariat, then interviews and training of the new missionaries, and getting them connected to their first companions. Sometimes transfers last two days and sometimes three.
Week one: April 23-25 was transfers...Monday started about 9 am with interviews and lunch for those leaving; seeing them off at the airport that night and welcoming the new ones about 11pm. Tuesday began with breakfast, a visit to the commissariat, then interviews and training of the new missionaries, and getting them connected to their first companions. Sometimes transfers last two days and sometimes three.
April 26th we held leadership council with our zone leaders and sister training leaders. This is a full day of training...interspersed with lunch of course.
The rest of that week was attending a wedding and baptism; speaking in church; and preparing for a trip.
Week two: April 30-May 5 was our semi-annual Mission Presidents' Seminar in New Zealand. Due to flight schedules we arrived a day early and left a day late. So we actually got a day to relax! (Auckland is beautiful!)
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| Auckland, New Zealand...not used to wearing sweaters and coats! |
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| Devonport, New Zealand |
Week three and four: May 8-11 and May15-18 are mostly interviews. Steven interviews each of the 150 missionaries face to face (unless they are on the islands, then it is by phone) every 6 weeks. This takes about 7 days...split over two weeks. I spend that time talking with the missionaries who are waiting for their interviews. Steven says I do the "real" interviewing. We drive to different parts of the island for the day and a zone or two (14-20) missionaries come to the church for their interviews.
We will be doing a mini transfer May 14 (one sister missionary is going home). May 16th is our staff meeting. We will be doing another leadership council on May 17.
Week five: May 22, 23, and 25 are zone conferences on Tahiti and Raiatea (we fly out to Raiatea usually just for the day). A zone conference is a day of training for four zones of missionaries (two in the morning and two in the afternoon...with lunch of course!) We have a total of 9 zones of missionaries.
Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27th we are staying in Raiatea for a Stake Conference and will be speaking in church that weekend.
Week six: May 28 to 31 we will be doing transfer preparation. Our two assistants, Steven and I spend 2 to 3 hours at a time for about 4 days matching up new companionships. There are so many variables to take into consideration...a few being where the missionary has served before, how long they have served in their current area, their obedience level, how new they are, who can train a new missionary, who can be leaders, if Tahitian...where their families live, how well they speak French, who they have served with before, etc. The missionaries will be called with their new assignments Friday, May 1st.
Then, June 4-5th are transfers and the whole cycle starts over again.
Steven always has the 150 emails (one from each missionary) to read each week which takes him 8-12 hours (many in French.) We also do grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, and other regular life things. I do the meals for the transfers and leadership councils so there is that planning as well. (Zone conferences are catered.) There are usually illnesses or issues that arise every week with the missionaries as well so we seem to fill in the "extra" days very quickly.
So this is our life for now. Very different from regular life. It has become easier as time has passed, though. We are more used to the schedule and know the needs of most of our missionaries pretty well. They are truly amazing young adults!
We do this because we love the Lord and his children here on earth. And we love you all!
We will be doing a mini transfer May 14 (one sister missionary is going home). May 16th is our staff meeting. We will be doing another leadership council on May 17.
Week five: May 22, 23, and 25 are zone conferences on Tahiti and Raiatea (we fly out to Raiatea usually just for the day). A zone conference is a day of training for four zones of missionaries (two in the morning and two in the afternoon...with lunch of course!) We have a total of 9 zones of missionaries.
Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27th we are staying in Raiatea for a Stake Conference and will be speaking in church that weekend.
Week six: May 28 to 31 we will be doing transfer preparation. Our two assistants, Steven and I spend 2 to 3 hours at a time for about 4 days matching up new companionships. There are so many variables to take into consideration...a few being where the missionary has served before, how long they have served in their current area, their obedience level, how new they are, who can train a new missionary, who can be leaders, if Tahitian...where their families live, how well they speak French, who they have served with before, etc. The missionaries will be called with their new assignments Friday, May 1st.
Then, June 4-5th are transfers and the whole cycle starts over again.
Steven always has the 150 emails (one from each missionary) to read each week which takes him 8-12 hours (many in French.) We also do grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, and other regular life things. I do the meals for the transfers and leadership councils so there is that planning as well. (Zone conferences are catered.) There are usually illnesses or issues that arise every week with the missionaries as well so we seem to fill in the "extra" days very quickly.
So this is our life for now. Very different from regular life. It has become easier as time has passed, though. We are more used to the schedule and know the needs of most of our missionaries pretty well. They are truly amazing young adults!
We do this because we love the Lord and his children here on earth. And we love you all!
