The Transfer Board - Perfecting the Offering

*Sister and President Quinn in front of transfer board*

This week, like all transfer weeks, has been full of activity and emotion. We said goodbye to nine remarkable missionaries and welcomed 28 new, beautiful missionaries. Days like these truly pull at your heartstrings.

*Saying Goodbye to: Elders Farnsworth, Willhite, Dixon, & Ririe, The Quinns, Sister Allen, Elders Murri, Hansen, Mecham, & Gordon*

You can imagine what these comings and goings do to our transfer board—removing nine photos, rearranging the current ones, and making space for 22 new young missionaries and 6 senior missionaries’ photos. It takes days to revamp the entire mission as President Quinn, the APs, and I prayerfully consider where to place each missionary in our many different areas along with making the decision on whom they will be serving with.

Welcoming! Back Row: Elders Carson, Capell, Whitman, Baugh, Reese, Gannon, Doyle, Borland, Cook, Givens, Tippets, Sagers, Peterson, Harris First Row: Sister Weller, Herman Stevens, Sisters Pilling, Williams, The Somers, The Curdys, The Quinns, The Millers, Sisters Griffin, Young, Hermana Larson, and Sister Wood

For some reason, this transfer board was a little more tricky to figure out. We had to create more trios than usual (three missionaries together instead of two). We also spent extra time moving names around, trying different combinations. On the last day, we made a few more changes. When it was finally finished, I still felt a little uneasy. Usually I feel peaceful.

Before introducing the trainers to their trainees on Thursday at our New Missionary Orientation Meeting, I went into the office and prayed by the board. I knew we had done our very best, but it didn’t feel perfect. In that quiet moment, Elder Stanfill’s conference talk, “The Imperfect Harvest.” came to my mind. Immediatley tears filled my eyes as I felt the Lord confidently say, “Elaine, this is good. I accept your offering and I can make it perfect.”

Elder Stanfill taught:

“The Savior stands ready to accept our humble offerings and perfect them through His grace. With Christ, there is no imperfect harvest.”

With that reassurance, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. It was witnessed to me that with Christ there is no imperfect transfer board. He will bless our missionaries to grow and thrive with the companion they have and in the areas where they have been assigned. I now felt confident that this will be another great transfer! It was fun to go into the gym and watch the missionaries as they were called up to meet their trainers.

*Elder Givens meeting his companions Elders Wright and Jackson*

Here we are visiting with missionaries that have just walked off the airplane on Wednesday! Aren’t we lucky and blessed!?! Below you can see as we walk them and their luggage out to the trailer the AP’s bring to carry all the suitcases back to the mission office.

*Santa Rosa Airport. President and Sister Quinn visiting with the new missionaries*

*Missionaries walking from the airport to the trailer with their luggage*

This transfer two of our new missionaries, Sisters Griffin and Young, have been serving since April in the New York, Palmyra Church Historical Site Mission. They received a dual mission call and will now finish the last year of their mission here as missionaries in the California Santa Rosa Mission. They kind of feel like celebrities. It is fun to hear their stories about the Church historical sites in New York. They will certainly be able to teach the “First Vision” account with a special conviction after the time they spent in the Sacred Grove. We’re excited to have them.

*Sisters Griffin and Young center serving with Sisters Johnson (left) and Dunlap (right)*

I appreciate you reading my mission up date this week. It is always good to stay connected. Here is the “Coming to Know Him” journal prompt for the week - prompt number eleven! Have a great day. Sister Quinn

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Prompt #11