Departing Missionaries leave for home!

With the New Missionaries out the door to their assigned cities, it was time to welcome the departing Missionaries. Our Assistants, Elder Jensen and Elder Basha, bring them into the Mission Home. (Elders Sorn, Krzyminski and Siebert) Wait! We are missing a few!

Elders Berry and Hannemann and Sister Jones were dropped off at my favorite Polish Pottery shop where I helped these missionaries make some fast purchases for some loved ones at home. This is a great group of Missionaries....all of them. This afternoon it was a unanimous decision that they all wanted to do some contacting at the Centrum. Books of Mormons were placed, numbers were taken, appointments were set up for other Missionaries to follow through with as these missionaries were leaving to go home. They worked to the end. Their final hours in Poland were doing missionary work.

Before the departing dinner, I said 'good-bye' to Sister McGrath who had come to help me through the hard 'transition time'. Thank you, Sister McGrath, for helping through the biggest transfer of our mission. She was a great help. ALL our Senior Missionaries are so diligent in their callings. They would do anything for this mission and for our missionaries. What would we do without them? We love each of them.

Back to our departing group. A request for mexican food was granted!

After final interviews with President Nielson and a powerful testimony meeting...

...it was time for a Mission tradition. Elder Berry was the first to leave something behind.

He was followed by Elder Hannemann...

...Who was followed by Sister Jones.

Elder Krzyminski, a former Assistant and avid Ohio State fan (notice the colors of the tie!), was next.

Elder Siebert willing leaves a reminder of himself behind ....

...as does Elder Sorn.

This group of leaders in the mission will be missed. They have been trainers, district leaders, zone leaders and assistants. These were Missionaries the President could always count on to be found doing the right thing. You always knew that these missionaries were where they should be doing exactly what needed to be done. Thank you for your examples, your diligent service and your legacy of obedience with exactness that you leave behind. We love you all!

The next morning, we were up at 3:00 am to get everyone off to the airport. Six Missionaries .... 4 different flights to catch. Yes, it was crazy! But they all got off safe and sound. It is hard to say good-bye to our missionaries. We also are so happy for them. They completed consecrated missions and will soon be greeted by family and friends.

An added bonus! Ada was also at the airport with her family early this morning! She is on her way back to BYU Provo for school. We love and appreciate this good family for all they do to help strengthen the church here in Poland....and for their friendship!

It was now about 6:30am and the rest of the day was going to be busy. There was plenty to do and this was a special day...