The Temple and Transfers

On Tuesday of our second week, we were able to go to the Vancouver Temple with the missionaries who were returning home, the other couple missionaries, and President Tillemon and his wife.  Pam and Jay's daughters also went with us.  They have a special session just for us every 6 weeks when we have missionaries leaving.  The temple is beautiful.  It seems like it is kind of off by itself surrounded by fields and trees.  It is actually not in Vancouver, either.  It is in Langley.  It just wouldn't sound right to call it the Langley Temple--no one would know where it was!  The Celestial Room was so beautiful and quiet.  I think the missionaries had mixed feelings.  They were quite somber and kind of sad.  Then they started the back slapping and hugging.

 We drove with two of the sweet Chinese speaking sisters.  One of them, sister Akada, the president referred to as our little Apostle Paul.  She was constantly asking people to "come unto Christ."  Even while we were preparing to leave the office and we had about 15 minutes to wait, she told us she was going out on the street to see if she could find anyone.  She was so amazing.  She reminds me of my  grandson, Tim.

These are some pictures in front of the temple.

The next day, Wednesday, we got 13 new missionaries.  We had an orientation for them and snacks to tide them over until dinner.  Although they must have been hungry, they didn't do too much snacking.  I think they were too nervous.  After meeting with the president, they loosened up a bit and started snacking.  They are all so young and eager to start.  We had dinner at the president's home that evening which Jay and I were invited to attend, because we were new, too.  After dinner we had a testimony meeting.  President Tillemon related the story of his miraclulous healing.  It is too long and involved to tell here, but he had a spinal cord injury that should have left him a qaudriplegic.  He had only had his neck brace off one week when we had transfers.  Through the prayers of all the missionaries, his family, and the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, he is improving all the time.

Thursday was transfers!  All the new missionaries were assigned their companions.  So, all the elders and sisters who were transferring came to the church (where the office is located).  The office was filled with missionaries coming in to be interviewed and taught by the president.  We served lunch in the cultural hall for 100 missionaries.  It was a pretty hectic day.  I tried to remember names, but the elders all look so much alike in their dark suits and ties, or white shirts and ties!  We now have 5 APs.  Three of them are going to be traveling to the different zones.  Note the table  decorations--Pam's idea.