Aloha Sister Stennett

Thursday is planning day in our mission. Did I know that before today? I guess not. But if I'd been paying attention I would have figured out why so many missionaries stop by on Thursdays and need planners. They only last for 6 weeks or 1 transfer.) That's one of the reasons Sister Stennett and Sister Wood came in, and I'm so glad they did.

I haven't had a chance to get to know Sister Wood (right), who came into the mission at our last Transfer Meeting. She's from West Jordan and is a few years older than the other sisters. She's lived on her own, worked full time and attended UVU for 4 semesters, She's the 5th of 6 children but the only girl and the first one in her family to serve a mission.

Sister Stennett isn't new to this blog. We've loved getting to know her, but now it's time for her to return to Hawaii and family. It'll be very sad to have her leave. But, hopefully, we'll get to see her in the future--either in Hawaii or in Provo--as she'll be attending BYU in January. She'll be a blessing, wherever she goes, with her sweet, angelic personality and her violin.

Just as the Sisters were leaving, 2 of the Spanish Elders came in for planners and Restoration pamphlets. I should back up here and mention that the Assistants came in and out very quickly this morning, but long enough that I could see they'd spent some serious time in the sun. I knew they'd been at a service project yesterday but had no idea they'd been there for 6 1/2 hours. Elder Mecham thought it would only be 2 or 3. There were 12 missionaries there helping to set up booths for a huge Catholic fair of some kind. So when Elder McMurray and Elder Crook came in looking painfully red I knew where they'd been yesterday. Elder C didn't even have his shirt top button buttoned and the tie was a bit loose. They're planning on passing out La Restauracion del Evangelio de Jesucristo pamphlets at the fair. Way to go Elders!

Then the Baton Rouge Zone Leaders called. "Can we stop by the office to pick up some planners?" No problem. So the last pair of the day was Elder Benson, left, and Elder Wittig. I don't know much about them yet, except that Elder Benson's mother's family came to the United States from Turkey. He's Turkish, Armenian and a few other European roots. His grandma was the first to come here and she loves to make Mexican food. They're from Arizona!