New Missionaries Smiling and Well

Isn't it wonderful?

Every transfer we receive new missionaries.

We feed them, train them, match them

with a new companion

and send them out to a beautiful part of the mission.

They are nervous. wide-eyed and SO tired!

4-5 weeks later we bring them back.

I would like to report

they are well.

They are happy, adjusting, serving....

...and still tired, but it's a good tired.

We sure love them all.

Sorelle - Flores, Carlson, Dawson, Hollander, Cheney, (Sorella Allen) Southard, Wright, Mitchell, Henderson, Morris
Anziani - Casper, Ross, McKinstry, Harris, Lombardi, Bailey, Work, (President Allen) McCuen, Christensen, Escalante, Eden, Judkins, Christensen, Cole

Aren't they wonderful?

~*~

Pictures from the day:

Pretty love-able, don't you think?

Thank you for all you do for them.

Mission Tour With Anziano and Sorella Tunniclife

We had wonderful days with

Elder and Sister Tunnicliffe for our mission tour.

We enjoyed full and fulfilling meetings.

It was wonderful to gather so many missionaries together.

It was also "family time".

Just right for this season.

We were edified!

It was a blessing for all.

Here is a synopsis made by our great Assistants:

A special thank-you to Anziano and Sorella Griffiths

for feeding us ALL a great lunch on these two days.

What a large task ... and SO well done!

Consiglio on day three:

~Our Zone Leaders and Sister Trainer Leaders~

Front to back - Anziano Laudert (AP), President & Sorella Allen, Elder and Sister Tunnicliffe, Anziano Kjar (AP)

STL's-  Epps, Meryl, Dominguez, Reeder, Simpson, Pearson, Petersen, Boome, Nelson, Stolk, McConkie, Johnson, Walker, Frandsen

ZL's - Halterman, Moss, Rogers, Rios, Tenney, Nordgran, Moody, Russbuelt, Heidemann, Van Natta, Wilks, Bona, Wilson, Christensen

Special thanks to the Russo Copia for preparing a delicious lunch on this day.

~~~~

The following are random pictures taken during these two days.

We finished the mission tour with a dinner at the mission home.

(Pasta .. of course!)

What an enjoyable time!

Our gratitude for the Tunnicliffe's for their prayerful time and effort

on our behalf.  There were great notes taken.

Lets get to work!

~~~~

PS - Being a missionary is like long jumping.

You do your best EVERY time you run to jump.

What happens after you leave the board 

depends on many things.... 

speed, strength, effort, focus, exactness on the board, and practice practice practice.

Will you win? 

Perhaps.

And perhaps not.... but...

every time give your VERY best 

and then...

...perhaps so.

(Cameron Allen - State Long Jump Champion his Sophomore year of high school.)

Every time a jumper does his best

he wins his best done.

The Shumakers Return for Thanksgiving

Anziano and Sorella Shumaker

are on their way home to Texas.

We are ever grateful for their service in Montevarchi, Italy.

A baptism was a final cap on their time here.

Isn't it wonderful the difference the gospel makes 

in the lives of others.

That is our goal.

Thank you for your great service. 

You are missed.

Enjoy your family!

Ci vediamo e' vi voglio bene!

Ci Vediamo Anziano Garner

In spite of the best efforts of many

we lose Anziano Garner

because of Permesso issues.

We regret to send him off to

the New York, New York Mission

to finish serving his full 24 months.

There are Italians there.  

He will take an Italian copy of the 

Book of Mormon with him.

He will find someone that needs that book

and he will know why this transfer took him 

across the ocean.

We love you Anziano.

Thank you for your service here.

The New York mission will be blessed by your service.

Stay in touch.

Vi voglio bene.

Consiglio in October.

Autumn is typically a bit muted in Italy.

However -
at the Lampugnano building in Milano 

we found glorious color!
Enjoy a few pictures....

Now - for our great mission leadership.

 Anziani - Russbuelt, Rios, Kjar (AP) Laudert (AP) Rogers, Moss, Wilson, Christensen, President     Allen, Moody, Nordgren, Van Natta, Heidemann, Halterman, Wilks, Bona, Tenney
Sorelle - Boome, Dominguez, Reeder, Epps, Merl, Walker, Frandsen, Sorella Allen, Johnson, McConkie, Stolk, Nelson, Pearson, Simpson, Walker

This is a "go and do" group.

We can talk and talk,

but we came here to do.

We are a mission of faith a mission of miracles

because

We are a mission of obedience and hard work.

(The names of the Sorelle were accidentally deleted earlier.

I have no clue why, but the names are back again.

Sorry!  Completely unintentional.  I had put them on the first time.)

Christmas Package Questions

Dear Family of the amazing Milano Missionaries.

Christmas is coming!

We would like to give you some practical advice....

Ship sooner than later.

    We will see the missionaries at different times through December.  Plan to ship before Thanksgiving.  The "sleigh" isn't quite as magical as Santa's.  Please make your Christmas plans for your missionary sooner than later and we will deliver (ho-ho-ho) as we course through the mission now until (and even after) the special day.  The Italian mail cannot be depended on.  

Consider NOT shipping from home at all.  What?! ... Yes!  Your package will have a significant tariff placed on it.  Whatever you send and declare on the insurance will be re-charged to your missionary and will need to come out of his/her personal card.  i.e.  $100 value package will possibly cost your missionary 100 Euro.  This can take a little of the Christmas "joy" out of the arrival.  

Options -

Send packages via Amazon IT or Amazon UK.  Anything delivered from Europe will cost shipping only.  No tariffs.  You can also send a loving personal note with the package.  

Send money via their personal card.  This seems impersonal, I know... but sales start in January and they love finding something new to wear.  (And I do mean LOVE it!)

Send what really counts.   Christmas on a mission is a very special and sacred time.  What do they really appreciate?  Envelope mail!  Your words of encouragement.  Fun letters from siblings and/or nieces or nephews. Pictures.  A fun family movie expressing the love of all.  These things are free or simply the price of your stamps.  

Remember - 

They are asked to move frequently during their missions.  This is a great challenge!!!  Many of these transfers require taking a series of busses and trains and walking.... with large luggage!  Cobblestones are cute and quaint, but difficult to pull luggage on.  They do not need more to pull around.  Honestly, they need to get rid of much.  They do not need more stuff.  Perishables are more OK.  They will use them up. 

Missions are sacred experiences.  They really want a mission Christmas.  They want to experience a Christ-centered celebration of their Lord and Savior.  Things are just things.  You are family.  They love and miss you and are more excited for the phone call than anything you can give.  Think about having a spirit-filled visit with them.  Share testimonies.  Tell them you love them and that they are your hero.  Give encouragement.  Cheer them on!  Close with family prayer.  

Thank you thank you thank you for all you do for your missionary!  We love the Anziani and Sorelle!  They are our family here.  Your son and daughter are amazing.  We love and adore them!  We do have a small gift for every missionary they will receive prior to Christmas.  

Love, Sorella Allen

   

Every Beginning Has an Ending

After two years and four months

President and I would get used to 

saying goodbye.

Nope.

We have worked for and with and amongst

these great missionaries

and we hate to see them go.

They were diligent

and lifted others around them.

The Milan Mission is better because of them.

Every beginning has an ending
and that creates a new beginning.

Our love and prayers and certainty 

for your great futures

are sent with you.

Ci Vediamo!