Our Time In Ventura: Arriving Missioanries

Every transfer we meet as an office staff on the Friday before the new missionaries arrive to coordinate with everyone and plan an agenda so everyone knows their assignments. President Nakken usually spends Saturday and Sunday (sometimes even friday) doing departing interviews with all of the departing missionaires. Then we are ready to welcome the new missionaries on Monday. We all have an agenda of the schedule over a four day period.

We have learned that the greatest part about serving with the senior couples in our mission is that they are extremely FLEXIBLE!

We got a call on Monday morning that all of the flights had to be rescheduled. All twenty were supposed to be at the Santa Barbara Airport by 3:00. But now, in order to get them all here on different flights they would be coming in 7 different groups! So we tossed our itinerary and began rescheduling. Pres Nakken felt it was important to personally greet each missionary so we stayed at the airport from 3:00- until about 7:00 to pick up all those that had come in. We took 3 vans driven by the assistants, Elder Barzee and Elder Tanuvasa, Elder Ashby, and us to Kyle's Kitchen for dinner. Then a group went back to the mission home with the assistants while we waited for the last two groups who finally came at 8:45 and 9:10. Members in the Ventura Zone housed fourteen of the missionaries and the last group stayed at the mission home with us. We were finally all together for the first time for breakfast the next morning! Not one thing had gone as planned, but everything worked out perfectly!

After introductions we all went down to the Gonzales building for training. Elder Jensen spoke about apartments and finances. Elder Ashby talked about vehicles. Sister Ashby helped them fill our all the necessary paperwork and write their parents, and Sister Mackay talked about personal health.

They were able to eat lunch with all of the trainers and other missionaries that were waiting for the transfer train. After more training about the new process of reporting on google sheets for those being trained, we introduced their new companions and they found our what area they would be serving in! This is probably my favorite day of the transfer! I just love meeting the new missionaries and also seeing so many that we already know and love!

Elder Tanuvasa and Elder Barzee- Assistants to President Nakken

Sister Flake, Hma Bullough and Sister Awerkamp

Elder Jacobsen, Elder Terron, Elder Turner, Elder Stevens, Elder Brewer

Elder South, ELder Wheeler and Elder Barzee

Elder Tanuvasa, Elder Wheeler, Elder South, Elder Berry, Elder Thornock, Elder Hiatt, Elder Turner, Elder Brewer, Elder Stevens, Pres Nakken, Elder Barzee
Elder Terron, Elder Jacobsen, Sister Awerkamp, Hma Bullough, Sister Nakken, Sister Flake