The announcement has been made.  With all the new missionaries in the field, there were bound to be changes coming and they have been announced.  58 new missions will be added to the list.  This will become effective on July 1, 2013.  We will be losing part of our mission to the newly formed Georgia Macon Mission.  We will lose our Augusta zone to this new mission.  The church expects that this high influx of missionaries will last for the next three years.  Lots of missions will have lots of changes and new ones will be formed.  The need for senior missionaries will grow at a tremendous rate as this all falls into place.  What an exciting time to be serving and be part of the growth of the church.  Some days are so hectic in the office...and we just love it!  There is so much to do with the paperwork, housing, cars and media that we are all kept on our toes.  Elder France orders all of the media and he is trying to stay ahead of the curve with it.

I think he brought in 3 hand trucks on this day.  The missionaries are giving away lots of copies of The Book of Mormon.  This shipment came in on Monday right after transfers..just in time because we were down to two cases.  When the missionaries order, it's always by the case.

 

 

On Wednesday afternoon we hooked up the trailer to the big van and loaded beds, bed frames, kitchen tables, chairs, bookcases, lamps and even a mop as we prepared for another long day of deliveries.  Thursday we pulled out at 7am and started toward Florence, on to Myrtle Beach (and even though we were only two blocks from the beach, we didn't drive down to see it.) We went north to Cheraw and then headed back in the general direction of home with a stop in Hartsville.  We made some missionaries very happy...especially the ones who got new beds! 

Sister Robertson and Sister Jaye were especially happy because they got new beds, a new dining table and some of the chairs from the high council room in Charleston that we picked up a few weeks ago.

 

 

 

Sister Allen and Sister Davis did not get new beds, but they did get lamps, a mop and a new DVD player.  It happened to be around lunch, so we took them out to Subway!  After lunch we stopped at the Goodwill store in Myrtle Beach to see what treasures might be hidden there and it proved to be very fruitful..  We left with 7 perfectly lovely lamps with harps and shades for a little over $70.  Now that's a find!  I'm becoming quite the Goodwill/Restore shopper for items for the missionary apartments.  Good thing too, because I'll be opening 3 more new apartments in the next couple of weeks.  This is so exciting!!!!!

Elder Nair loved his new chair and gave us a GQ pose for posterity.

Elder Ward and Elder Muir got a new bed frame delivered to them as well as a lamp.

Both of these wonderful sisters got new beds.  They were very happy!!

 

We are just having such a wonderful time as we serve here.  Working directly with the Elders and Sisters gives me a great deal of joy.  It is so wonderful to talk with them on the phone and help them with the things they need or the things that concern them.  They all have such great spirits and such a love of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They work hard and are dedicated to finding souls who are ready to listen and come unto Christ.  They teach by their example to others and to each other.  I have had the opportunity to hear so many wonderful testimonies borne by these Elders and Sisters.

 

Lately we have been watching videos on lds.org of senior missionaries and how they feel about their missions.  It is so inspiring to hear the individual stories that are told.  Ordinary people with a desire to serve and a love of the Lord.  They are all over the world and they are making a difference wherever they are.  As these new missions open throughout the world, so many more senior missionaries will be needed.  The church needs seniors who can serve. 

 

I know that our mission has changed us forever and I am so grateful to be here.

 

I want to leave you with the reader board quote of the week.  I was not able to take a picture of it, but I did write it down.

"God wants full custody, not just weekend visits."