Transfer Week- July 2018- Departing Wednesday

It’s never easy to let these precious souls leave the ATM.

But we also know there are precious families waiting for their return. Let’s load up and get these missionaries home!

Lots and lots of bags!

Such amazing experiences shared with such good friends. The joy of missionary work and the gospel is embedded in their hearts and shines in their countenances.

We are always on the solemn side of seeing our missionaries leave and we never get to see the other joyful reunion side. But this transfer, we were able to see two of the families come and get their missionary sons at the airport in Tucson. It truly was a special, sacred moment. We almost felt unworthy to be there taking photos.

Love, love the Mom hugs!!!

Carry on dear missionaries of the ATM!

LIVE, LOVE, and SHARE the truths and testimonies you taught and bore for the last 24/18 months. We love you!

Transfer Week- July 2018- Transfer Tuesday

Tuesdays are always jammed packed on Transfer week….jammed!

We all head out early to the transfer site, the Tucson Stake Center, to have a little bit of controlled chaos take place for just a little bit of time.

We love our Senior Missionaries! They are the backbone of this transfer day. Thank you for all you do.

We meet in the church for our Trainer/Trainee Meeting to have our new missionaries meet their trainers and have some training from President and  Sister Browning and the Assistants.

This is so important because this is the day they officially start to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It all is for real now!

Here are the companionships.

 

 Now off to the temple to meet up with the missionaries (22 of them) going home tomorrow. There is a lot of them and only two Sisters!

Back to the mission office for lunch, interviews, weighing bags, and our last dinner together. It is the final hours for these seasoned and choice missionaries.

The two roses among the 20 Elders.

The amount of bags and memories inside those bags, all ready to go home.

 

This is how “sunny” it was today in Tucson. Just a bit on the warm side.

The last meal for our dear missionaries.

It’s an ATM thing….

Oh we love these great people…our ATM missionaries. How we all have grown in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel changes us, for the better.

Tomorrow we send them all home to their families and friends.

….sigh….

Transfer Week- July 2018- New Missionary Monday

They are coming….they are coming! Our new missionaries are coming today!! It’s always a day full of anticipation.

 

Here they are standing out in the wonderful Arizona sun with President and Sister Browning.

Our three amazing Assistants (just for the day).

Walking up to the Mormon Battalion monument in downtown Tucson.

Back to the mission office for orientation and lunch.

After dinner at the mission home, we head up to the Tucson temple even though it is 90+ degrees at sunset. We just have to let them see and feel the spirit of this wonderful divine building in Tucson, AZ.

MLC- July

This month we are showing all the candid photos of MLC first with the more formal at the end of this post. Why?

We just want to be a little different this month. Here we go!

President decided to take a selfie with all the Elders……

…so then Sister Browning and the Sisters followed suit.

And speaking of suits, lots of suit jackets off and lying all around after MLC. Especially in the July Tucson heat!

Sister Gadd (the one being held), will be leaving at the end of the month….

That’s right, Sister Baltz, boo-hooo!

The funny/silly/creative picture first….

 

And finally, the best of all the game– the nice controlled one.

JULY 2018 Mission Leadership Council

 

 

Transfer Week-June 2018-Departing Wednesday

Here we are….. bright eyed and excited for the new day. It’s time to depart the ATM for home, family and friends.

It’s quite surreal and daunting, but we must move forward with all that we have learned here in the ATM and go forth into the world and be lights of righteous and true disciples of Christ.

Thank you for all of your hard work and diligence in inviting others to come unto Christ.  Keep that missionary tag forever on your hearts.

We will miss you, but you have family and friends on pins and needles waiting for you this morning.

Well done dear missionaries!

Transfer Week-June 2018-Transfer Tuesday

Transfer Tuesday!!

Early in the morning, ATM missionaries gather to mix up the mission.  Exciting day!!

 

Drum roll……. Our new missionaries meet their blessed trainers!

Switching gears, we head to the Tucson Temple to meet up with our departing missionaries. On their last full day in the mission, they get to spend their morning in the temple. What a blessing for us to be with them.

Pictures at the mission home.

Now we aren’t done yet! Early tomorrow morning we head to the airport to see these amazing and consecrated missionaries off to go home to their families.  See ya soon!

Transfer Week-June 2018- New Missionary Monday

It’s heating up in Tucson folks. June is the month for setting heat records.

But also, we are heating up the ATM with new missionaries…..new fresh soldiers!

Here they come….fresh from the MTC!

Now for the individual pictures.  (Mind you, it was over 100 degrees and there was no good place to take photos. We tried not to melt in the awesome Tucson sunshine.)

As we all hide in the shade, President teaches the new missionaries a little bit about the Mormon Battalion that came through Tucson and the legacy of the saints in Arizona.

Now off on a walk up to the monument.

Selfie at the crosswalk….

Back at the mission office, one of missionaries arrives with her family. Her Mom puts on her tag.  Exciting!

Time for orientation, interviews and training. Thanks goes to our wonderful Sr missionaries that have all the forms, papers, etc all ready.

 

Please tell me it’s LUNCH!!

Sometimes our missionaries arrive at different times. These two were after the group from the airport. Welcome to the ATM and to your mission.

Back to the mission home for more food and then up to the Tucson temple for a special walk around the temple grounds. The weather has cooled off enough to be doable for an outside walk.

WARNING:  LOTS OF PICTURES OF THE TEMPLE. Sister Browning was picture happy as the sun was going down. Much better time for pictures than at the airport.

Our two Assistants to the President. Wonderful Elders!!!

Off to bed! We have much to do tomorrow and an early alarm clock time.