New Plaquemine Missionaries

The invocation in Sacrament Meeting this morning really made me think. Brother Parker said, "We thank Thee for this day that we've never seen before and will never see again." I actually thought that was very profound and contemplated it on and off during the meetings. What can I do in the next 12 hours that will make this day meaningful or productive. By the time we get home I'll have about 7 hours. What will I do with that time that I'm accountable for? Lots to ponder!

Elder Baker, Elder Bracken, our new Elder, and Gavin Hidalgo
Elder Brimhall was transferred to Marksville, and Elder Bracken was transferred into Plaquemine. Unfortunately, his stay will be very short-lived (4 days) as he will be released tomorrow for medical reasons, and we don't know if he'll be able to return or not. His home is in St. George, so we plan on seeing him whether he returns to LA or not:) Gavin is the sole member of the Aaronic Priesthood who Marc teaches every week. He's a very sharp young man with a firm testimony, good grades, and a brilliant future as a musician. The French horn is his instrument of choice, and I've heard that he's amazing. He also plays the piano, and will be 14 in March.

Sister Lou Williams (Gavin's grandma) is one of the pillars of the branch as organist, Primary President and Temple Worker. Not sure what they'd do without her.

Sister Lucherini and Sister Morris
Sister L was also transferred in last Wednesday to replace Sister Lindstrom who's now home. But Sister Lucherini will only be her until the next transfer in March, because that's when she'll be released.

The Travel Trial

What a fun surprise to answer the phone this morning and hear Kiersten Lindstrom's sweet voice. I thought about her yesterday at 3:48 when she and Elder Mecham were due to arrive in Idaho. But what a story she had to tell. I'll try to make it short and not too confusing.

Seven of our eight go-homes flew out of Baton Rouge at 7:30 am, but they were late arriving in Atlanta, and the 3 Idaho-bound missionaries missed their flight to SLC. Elder Hansen was able to get on a flight to Salt Lake with the other 4 who were going there at a later time. Don't ask me why all 7 weren't booked on the same flight, but they weren't. Sister Lindstrom and Elder Mecham went from one counter to another trying to get on stand-by, but all the flights were full. I don't know what time they actually left Atlanta, but they arrived in Salt Lake at 8:30 pm, thus missing any possible connection to Idaho.

Somehow they must've contacted their parents, because Elder M's left Idaho to pick him up in SLC, and Sister L's brother and wife, who live in Provo, picked her up with signs and balloons. They'd also contacted 2 of Kiersten's best friends to come to the airport. Then they drove her to Rexburg, arriving around 1:30 am. When she and I talked, she was on her way to the airport to pick up her luggage that had somehow managed to make all the connections and arrive in Idaho. Not exactly the homecoming that you usually hear about, but at least she's home safely!

It was pretty quiet in the office today, but Sister Carpenter and Sister Pearson the LSU Sisters, did stop by for a few minutes. 

Lots of Changes

Lots of new companionships in Baton Rouge because of transfers. Here's just a few.

Baton Rouge Sister Training Leaders--Sister Butterfield and Sister Biver.

Elder Cunningham and Elder Drollinger--the Baton Rouge East Spanish Elders

Elder Stevenson and Elder Abbott--Baton Rouge North Elders

Three new faces in the office--(standing) Elder Casillas and Elder Ryan (seated) Elder White and Elder Murhula--the Assistants--and Elder Bennett

They're seriously fun!

Sister McEntire and Sister Bailey. Sister B has been a Baton Rouge Spanish Sister since she came out almost a year ago. Now she'll serve in Denham Springs in a new Spanish/English area.

February 2015 Transfer

It was another typically busy transfer day, beginning with orientation at the mission home at 8 am and wrapping it up after 10 pm with the 4 senior couples finishing dinner at Copeland's.

This was an especially difficult transfer, because so many of the missionaries that we've spent a lot of time with and have grown to love either went home or were transferred out of the office and even the Baton Rouge area.

It seems like there's never enough time to get all the pictures I want in between setting up, serving and cleaning, but here's what I managed.

Elder Hale, Elder Puefua and Elder Jones

Elder Dye, Elder Sabey, Elder Netzley, Elder Barney and Elder Smith

Elder Jean Louis, leaving Baton Rouge and going to New Orleans South to be a Zone Leader, and Elder Murhula, the new Assistant taking Elder Morrell's place

One of our newest, Sister Jenkins, with her trainer and companion, Sister Hafford

Elder Brimhall is leaving Plaquemine and going to our old apartment in Marksville with Elder Garceau (standing)
Elder Wittig and Elder Lehr, Baton Rouge Zone Leaders

Sister Call and Sister Merrill, going to Many, and Sister Betts, an Alexandria STL

Wonderful Elder Navitikula is on his way home to Fiji tomorrow

Elder Quist, Elder Sabey, Elder Casillas-our new office elder--and Elder Netzley

Sister Black, Sister Paige, Sister Barclay and Sister Widdison

Sister Dixon and Sister Masteller

Elder Morrell was just transferred to Luling. I'm so NOT happy about this:(

Notes from the Transfer Meeting

Sister Hansen ~ "How we disagree is the true test of how we follow the Savior. It's okay to disagree but not be disagreeable." That was a quote from and old talk by Elder Cook.

Sister Steele ~ "Home is where your heart is." I'm leaving my heart in LA. Never miss an opportunity to make a memory. Sometimes people you don't like at first turn out to be your best friends. If you want to get something from this work, then you have to give something.

Sister Lindstrom ~ The opportunity to serve the Lord full time is incredible. Don't waste a minute! Compared the story of The Little Red Hen with missionary work. You have to do everything yourself and there are no shortcuts--planting, tending, harvesting, etc. But we also get the rewards. You're here and have 2 options--to quit or not quit. Since you're out here, give it all you have. I am trengthened by Paul in Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Because of the Atonement I can do all things.

Elder Hansen ~ The Atonement has changed me on my mission. The Savior strengthens me. Make this YOUR mission.

Sister Brady ~ I've learned to "let it go" and "just keep swimming." You become like a family because of the bond we share. "If it's not hard, it's not worth it."

Elder Larkin ~ I can go home saying, "I did it!" I did everything. I'm going home with no regrets. Keep going in hard times. That's when the miracles come.

Elder Mecham ~ The white handbook tells you how to get blessings from the Lord. I studied it hard in the beginning to try to find loopholes. I studied hard at the end to get blessings. If you think you should ask permission to do something, you probably shouldn't do it. I loved my mission, because I allowed myself to. Open your heart to your companions and to the people. President and Sister Hansen are supposed to be here. They've been given the keys to lead this mission. No one else in the world can lead the LABR Mission. Your love, support and friendship pushed me to the end. 

Elder Porter ~ Make the most of your mission. Be obedient and have fun. Enjoy your mission. You want to look back and say it was the best experience of my life. I used to wake up in the morning pursuing the worng things. Now I pursue the Lord's things.

Elder Navitikula ~ I received my mission call and a call to play professional rugby (with the New Zealand All Black Rugby team) on the same day. I chose a mission, and it has changed my life. I received advice from my grandpa before I came: 1) Remember who you are. 2) Do your best. 3) Love and care for the people you serve and Heavenly Father. I missed my best friends in Fiji. Now you are my best friends. My door is always open if you come to Fiji.

Pre-Transfer Activity

It was a bit like Grand Central Station in here today with lots of missionaries coming and going. These are the seven missionaries who happened to be in the office at lunchtime, so Elder Lauper ordered pizza then proceeded to entertain them with "war stories" about his former profession. Of course, they loved it!

Sister Morris, Sister Butterfield, Sister Lindstrom and Sister Ririe

Elder Hansen, Elder Bennett and Elder Bennett

Our sweet Sister Lindstrom goes home on Thursday and we're really going to miss her. What a great missionary she's been!

Elder Hansen also leaves on Thursday. What a sad week this is going to be:(

Saturday's Conference Continued

I'm trying to finish deciphering notes from Saturday's session with Elder Cook. I should have mentioned on Saturday that Elder Cook invited Elder Hallstrom and Elder Bluth to participate with him in answering the question. Talk about the 3 Wise Men!

Q. How can we help members have a desire to go out with the missionaries?
A. If missionaries are the least bit arrogant it will turn the members off. If they're ward and branch builders, members will realize that they're there to help. Sometimes faithful members are overwhelmed with all that they already have to do. Invite members to pray that someone will be put in your path. A quote from President Kimball--"Work works when wishy washy wishing won't."

Q. For Spanish speaking missionaries most of their investigators are illegals. How do we balance that with sustaining the law?
A. Undocumented investigators are still children of Heavenly Father. Don't feel defensive. As missionaries, you don't have a responsibility to figure out if they're undocumented or not. Don't let it interfere with teaching children of God.

In response to another question that I couldn't quite understand, Elder Cook explained how mission calls are assigned. They have a screen with pertinent information about a missionary (health challenges, language abilities, etc.) but they almost immediately get strong feelings about where the missionary should go. Often it's that a missionary would be blessed to have a particular Mission President and wife. For some they should go to a certain people, culture, heritage or language. You are where you ought to be!

Elder Bluth: "The Lord must really love you if He sent you to this mission. You are blessed to have President and Sister Hansen."

Elder Hallstrom: There's no other organization on the face of the earth that could produce a group like you.  In D&C 44 there's a promise. "...the elders (missionaries) of my church should be called together, from the east...west...north and...south, by letter (your mission call) or some other way.
...Inasmuch as they are faithful, and exercise faith in me, (do something!) I will pour out my Spirit upon them in the day that they assemble themselves together.." We have access to the Spirit today. This meeting only has a purpose if we're willing to do something. We need to change, to make a commitment, refine ourselves. This can be a significant turning point in your life.

Elder Cook's final remarks included the answer to a question asked earlier. One elder said that he has a new set of eyes since coming on a mission and asked Elder Cook if he had a new set of eyes since his calling as an Apostle. Two days before the October 2007 General Conference, President Hinckley called Elder Cook in and asked him, "Will you serve on the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles." An incredible weight comes on your shoulders and I quickly recognized my primary responsibility would be to testify to the divinity of Jesus Christ throughout all the world. I grew up in a less active family and had to develop a testimony on my own. I know the Savior's voice. He lives and divinely guides this Church.

Elder Cook left a blessing on the missionaries and told us "You are where you ought to be."

Elder Cook--Day 2!

Today was the special conference which gave the Baton Rouge Stake the opportunity to hear Elder Cook, from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speak. After he spoke to the Mission yesterday he held a 4 hour Priesthood Leadership Training for the leadership from 9 stakes. He was able to choose one stake to attend this morning, so lucky us!

To open the meeting, President Riggs talked about "Lehi's Dream and You," an article by President Boyd K. Packer in the January New Era, that he challenged us to read last week in Stake Conference. He pointed out many comparisons to the symbols in the dream--living in a world that mocks morality, being coarse and not refined, mists of darkness, people who hang on to the iron rod but eventually--some sooner and some later, fall away. He gave a personal example of driving home late one night when he was in high school. The fog was terrible and getting worse. Because of almost zero visibility, he eventually had to open the door so he could see the white line to follow, which directed him safely home--much like the iron rod, or the word of God--which will lead us safely back to our Heavenly home.

Sister Peggy Mann, the new Stake RS President, used President Monson's talk from the April 2014 General Conference--Love-The Essence of the Gospel. The gist of it was the "we cannot truly love God if we do not love our fellow travelers on this mortal journey."

Elder Bluth added to what Pres. Riggs began from Lehi's dream. The fruit on the tree in his dream was desirable and made his family happy when they partook of the fruit. It filled their souls with joy. We need to be aware that Satan will disguise things to look good and convince us to let go of the rod. What a sincere and gentle man Elder Bluth seems to be, and he bears a powerful testimony.

After sharing some of his personal background, Elder Cook gave 3 things we should do, no matter where we live.

1 - Build Zion in your hearts and homes. Have family religious observance in your home. (Family Home Evening) In the home, be careful not to be too critical of children but teach them how to correct mistakes. They need to learn. There should be kindness between husbands and wives. They need to be united, and make decisions together. They're equal partners but have different roles.

2 - Be an example in the community. Let people know what you believe without being preachy!

3 - Focus your vision on the temple and temple goals. Do family history together as a family. Do temple baptisms as a family. Youth can have limited use recommends or 12 month recommends. Family history is essential to save ourselves.

Elder Cook has an unwavering testimony of the Savior. He knows His voice and He directs this Church today.

After being well fed spiritually, we had 6 of our sisters over for lunch before they headed home after conference. We don't usually get to invite the missionaries who live outside Baton Rouge, but since they were here for the conference, it was a good opportunity.

Sister Butterfield, Sister Ririe, Sister Lindstrom, Sister Morris and Sister Biver

Sister Lindstrom, Sister Ririe, Sister Hoskins, Sister Butterfield, Sister Morris, Sister Biver

The entertainment committee! Beautiful voices singing "Beautiful Savior." What a treat!