Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Interview Week

Thanks for your patience while we swim through our first month in the mission field and try to get our heads above water.  I hope to be more regular in updating this blog, but will only do so after our missionaries/your children as well as my own children have received the care they need from me.  I'm sure you agree.

Interviews... and the wait

 Our second week in the mission field, the President and I had the opportunity to interview every one of  our missionaries.  It was a wonderful experience to get to know each one individually and to realize the magnificence of this young force.  Most of all, we realized with total amazement that we honestly and deeply love each one of them already - and we've barely met them.  We could hardly stand to limit our time with each one to just a few minutes.  Can you imagine how our feelings will grow over time?!

Elder Gold was one of 134 WDCN missionaries we interviewed.
While they waited to be interviewed, the missionaries studied...

Elder Nelson and Elder Raasveld
They reviewed their planners...

Elder Gilbert and Elder Johnson
Elder Gardner and Elder Schow

Elder Arnett, Elder Wendt and Elder Rushton

Sister Kaarma and Sister Lavrentyeva

While the Assistants "checked up"...
AP Fisher with Elder Livengood

Elder Squires with AP Branning

Sister Tuft

And some "checked out" their cars.



Sister Brown

Night of Music and Inspiration 

The week ended with our spanish-speaking missionaries presenting a Sunday night program at the Visitors Center theater.

Elder Parker performed a personal composition

Sister Clement, Sister Carcamo and Sister Schoemaker

Sister Nakatsuka on the piano (for this and several other numbers)
Sister Balls on the viola, Sister Brown and Sister Engman singing

Elder Wood, Elder Cervantes, Elder Hatch, Elder Guerrero, Elder Malugin and Elder Flores
Elder Vaterlaus was on the piano 


Wednesday, July 10, 2013

First Encounters


This past week, we got our first look at the magnificent missionary force of the DC North Mission - divided into eight zones.  Just a handshake or a wave at this earliest encounter but we'll get to interview the missionaries individually this coming week.


                                                           Washington North Zone


                                                                        Seneca Zone


                                                           Silver Springs South Zone


                                                                      Anacostia Zone


                                                            Washington South Zone


                                                                    Suitland Zone


                                                             Silver Springs North Zone


This week, we were also blessed to attend our first three mission baptisms.


Baptism of Brother (Hermano) Jaime Garcia Reyes with Sisters Tuft, Brown, Shoemaker and Engman.


 Baptism of Brother Tyrese Gaither with Elders Shoemig, Squires, and Livingood next to me.


Baptism of Sister Tiffany Heath with Sisters Graff, Tembo and Bowman.


Monday, July 1, 2013

Cooke Family's Arrival


President and Sister Matsumori greeted us at the airport gate, showing us how new missionaries are welcomed into the mission.


Two of our four children are with us now, Elizabeth (13) and Joseph (15).


We are blessed to be in the good care of wonderful APs, Elder Branning on the left and Elder Fisher on the right.

We can't wait to meet your sons and daughters - our new family - in the coming few days!