Missionary Transfers

Did I mention that the map we posted before we left Hyde Park is wrong?  There are only two missions in Georgia, as of a year ago, not three.  The Macon mission was dissolved and the area divided between the other two Georgia missions, South Carolina, and Florida.  We actually live in the Macon Stake which used to be in the other mission.    Here is a map of our mission showing the Stakes so you will know where we are and where we may be working in future months.  (The taupe colored area is the Macon Stake - the writing was really clear on my copy, sorry!)

We experienced our first missionary transfer this week.  In our district we now have two new young Elders and a new sister right out of the MTC.  Our Elder here in Dublin is Elder Williams from Ogden. He will fit in nicely -all 6 feet 8 inches. (Pictures next time)

I am amazed at the efficiency in moving so many Elders around.  Everyone who has a companion transferring gets a ride from a volunteer member to the Stake center, in our case Macon.  The new companion arrives via van from their area; they pick up the Elders transferring to another Stake, and the new Elder returns with the waiting companion and the volunteer driver to their area eg. Dublin.  They find a couple of hours to settle in and voila - they are up and running in a new area.


I wanted to post a few pictures of our district from the last meeting before the transfer. 

 
From left:  Elder Anderson, Elder Smith, Sister Bergan, Sister Lanier, Elder Darrow, Elder Brownlow.

After the meeting, everyone brought out their bags and suitcases full of ties, and the exchange began.  We did not quite get it, but since they do transfers every six weeks, we will have many more times to share the experience.  We all went for lunch at a mexican food place.  We were treating for lunch.  It took longer than we thought, but no one seemed to notice as they were so busy chattering.  When we went to leave, the management wouldn't let us pay.  We wondered if they were showing respect for church missionaries, which they might do here in Georgia, but actually they said the meal was on them as we were such a gregarious group, and they were slower than was their usual practice.  That was a nice surprise and an easy way to treat!

                                                           
                                                                    The Tie Exchange.

These are our young sisters.  Sister Lanier, the one on the left never gets to transfer, she is such a good trainer.  She has been in Cochrane for a long time, and will be helping the new sister coming from the MTC.   Our Elder Smith is going to Atlanta to be a Zone leader.  We were not surprised!