It's been pretty dreary this week.  We've had overcast skies with about 70 degrees during the day.  Some rain has come down, but not too much, but somehow the moisture in the air makes for a chill unlike what we have in dessert country.  The humidity has definitely increased.  We purchased a dehumidifier for the fifth wheel and I'm so glad we did.  It has about a gallon and a half capacity and we dump it out every two days because it gets full.  It's amazingly efficient.

Tuesday we opened our final apartment, one day before transfers.  It was a little one bedroom, one bath that a senior couple had just moved out of.  It's a new area for sisters in Anderson, SC. 

When we open new apartments we have two different tow vehicles to use and a nice enclosed trailer.  It comfortably holds all the furnishings for one apartment.   This picture shows the Chevy Silverado.

We are opening lots of new areas for sisters.  By the time we have our full compliment of missionaries all areas in our mission will have at least one companionship of elders and one of sisters, if not more.  That includes branches as well as wards.  We added three new zones this transfer alone.  More are forthcoming.

We delivered a new bed to Sister Landon and Sister Mumford to be used by a sister visa waiter.  They had a very nice and very clean, well organized apartment.

At transfers we lost a great group of elders and one sister.  The incoming group was 26 strong with plenty of new sisters!  We are also losing a set of senior missionaries in about 10 days.  It's a very emotional time because we are so attached to them and their testimonies are very touching and heartfelt.  Many of the missionaries talk about reunions that we will have in St. George.  We look forward to those as well.

These are our seven departing elders, one departing sister and the Wakefield's, our departing seniors.

Sister Wakefield and I.

Elder and Sister Wakefield live in Texas now, but she was raised in the town of Sumter where they are completing their mission.

 

Elder Brannan with Elder France at the mission home.

 

Transfer day is very long and exhausting, but so wonderful.  We get to greet all our new incoming missionaries and give them an orientation on things they need to know.  I have a packet I give them on their housing, including housekeeping tips, mold tips, how to avoid bed bugs and palmetto bugs in their apartments, how to be energy efficient and several other informational sheets.  Doyle gives a presentation on records, including baptisms and instructions on ordering media.  They also have instruction on their finances, their cars and their mail. Then we have transfer meeting where new companionship's are introduced, then we go to the temple with the outgoing missionaries and then we all go to the mission home for dinner. 

 

Elder North enjoyed making us laugh but he was also very talented.  He played the piano and was a chorister at many of our meetings.  At this transfer, he played and sang "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief."

President Holm has added Sister Assistants as the number of new sisters is increasing so rapidly.  Above is Sister Brand (l) and Sister Lundhom (r) with our former Assistant to the President, Elder Lash.  Elder Lash was just transferred to Augusta to help open the new Georgia Macon Mission.

We will lose our Augusta Zone to this new mission in July and all the missionaries that are serving in the area when the change occurs. 

 

This is Sister Titus and Sister Rogers.

On Friday I delivered several different items to apartments in Columbia and took these pictures with one of our Washington state sisters for her Mom, Adrianna, who reads my blog from time to time.  Adrianna, these are especially for you and Suzi Graden. 

My new list of areas to open has been prepared by President Holm.  I'll be very busy working on these as the list is about a dozen new areas.  That means about a dozen new apartments.  All within the next six weeks.  This time there will be a one week pause in my progress as I go home for my daughters wedding.  I'm very excited to be able to go.  Of course my absence for a week means that I will need to work double time before and after I'm gone.  It's all good!

It always strikes me that so many of the departing missionaries talk about how their mission has changed them so much, how much they have grown spiritually and how their lives will be forever changed because of their missions.  We can see the incredible difference in outgoing missionaries!  This group was particularly special in so many ways.  We love the missionaries and wish the best for each and every one of them.  I always write down special comments made by our departing
missionaries.  I'd like to share just a few:
"I learned to surrender to God-my mind and my heart."
"Rules give us strength.  Live the simple rules and they will free you emotionally and spiritually."
"True joy comes from helping others."
"Out of all my years, this has had the most worth."
"This is the foundation of the beginning.  Make sure your foundation is structured well."
"I'm going home with the strongest testimony I've ever had."
"There's no such thing as a return missionary.  If you return something it's broken or you don't want it."
With those comments, I'll close for this week.
Love y'all!!