If the rest of the weeks go as fast as the last one, this mission will be over before we know it. The office is just crazy as there is so much to do with so many missionaries. As of Thursday we have 116 companionships. Transfers were this week and that usually happens on Wednesday. The outgoing missionaries come to the mission home for a good-bye dinner on Tuesday night and usually leave Wednesday morning and the new missionaries arrive throughout the day on Wednesday depending on where they come from USA or New Zealand. This time because we have missionaries serving all across the US and other places that have been visa delayed they asked if they could send them on other days as well. The 16 from other missions in the US arrived Tuesday - there was a nice plan in place to have all 16 orientated and fed dinner, with their trainers arriving at the mission home to pick up their new companions at 6:00. The outgoing missionaries would then arrive for a 7:00 dinner and then their other farewell activities, spend the night and leave Wednesday morning. Most of the trainers did not arrive on time. At 10:30 they finally sent the last elder somewhere else to sleep as his trainer never did show up. Two of the sister wrecked their car on the way and they were going to make the sweet sister from IF (Eagle Rock Stake) drive home all the way across Brisbane, with two very up set other sisters. Sister Henderson said no way and other arrangements were made. Pure Chaos! The next day 6 more arrived and it wasn't quite as bad although trainers still did not arrive in a timely manner. Finally Thursday 3 more came, the first one at 5:10 am from the USA. Got a call from the President at 7:30 asking if we knew what flight the sister was on as they had not seen anyone yet, while on the phone she appeared. She had been in baggage as her luggage did not arrive with her. Later in the day two came from the MTC in the Phillipines. The Thursday US Sister did end up driving the first day but at least it was daylight.
One elder was from China and spoke very limited English his trainer came to interpret, he will serve as a Chinese speaking missionary. It was a week! We then got a notice from travel wanting to send 3 more on Tuesday - we have been able to put them off until the 29th, still an intermediate transfer. We have missionaries from 24 countries serving here. Only 2 official languages English and Chinese but we give out Books of Mormon in many other languages.
Saturday was our p-day and we started early by taking the Judd's to the airport to fly to Townsville for some R & R and some sightseeing before they leave for home. This is the couple we will replace when they officially leave August 13. This is the test week!
After we grocery shopped we went to the Brisbane Food Festival. This is an annual event where 100 food vendors set up tents along the Brisbane river and you can sample and purchase many different things. We ate our way through and enjoyed being outside, although it did start to rain. There has been a lot of rain, much more than usual. Today was beautiful and sunny.
Had a chance for some real missionary work today - during sacrament meeting we noticed a man of African decent sitting a few rows behind us and we guessed that he might not be a member and we felt that we should get to him quickly at the end which we did. He had come to church today as the missionaries had left a note telling him that one of them would be speaking and inviting him to come. Joe told us that he had been learning about the church for about a year and had attended about 6 times over the past year. He had many questions and we were able to spend all of the second hour and most of the third talking with him. Enoch got him to commit to read and pray about the Book of Mormon, as well as answering many questions. He said that he had not been serious about it, he also committed to next Sunday. He is a Baptist and has strong faith in God and Jesus Christ. He will also meet with the young missionaries again. It was a very spiritual experience and we will eagerly watch for him next week. While outside talking with him (church is on the temple grounds) another man came wondering in. I left Enoch and Joe and went and talked with him. His name is Sam and is from Russia, just moved to Australia. He had been down on the river and saw the angel Moroni on the temple and said he felt compelled to come up to the temple. He had known Mormons before and had admired them for the kind and happy people that we are. He is set up for the young elders to visit also. It is great time to be a missionary!
Had wanted to share the amazing conversion story of one of the missionaries from Thailand but that will have to wait for another day - need to go to bed!
We send our love to all!
The Miles
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