Nineteen New Missionaries

Wednesday we welcomed nineteen new missionaries (picture to come). They are from Portugal, Philippines, America, Brazil, Austria, Canada, Sierra Leone, Argentina, Australia, Great Britain and Tonga. They each have such remarkable stories of conversion. They also come from very different lives, and yet they learn to love each other and work together and serve each other. This has been such a beautiful experience for Jon and I, to meet these young men and women who are doing their very best, even though missions are stressful and these circumstances are different than they are used to. Most have a smile on their faces and a skip in their step. I sat down to eat lunch with three of our Elders and asked them how they had slept. Our missionary from Sierra Leone could not get warm. His companion from San Luis Obispo had given him all of his blankets and duvet. Poor guy...I don't think he has ever been out of Africa. He said he has three months where it is cold and rains everyday. Right now, in Sierra Leone, it is very hot. The hottest month of the year. March. His blood will have to thicken up! :) I delivered two more blankets after lunch.