July Cambios

On the 23rd we had our Transfers and we welcomed 21 new missionaries to the Mission!  Six of those were sister missionaries, which brings our number of Sister missionaries to 20.  We are expecting about 20 more sisters before January...

The Assistants were helping out by washing the car before we left for the meeting

After the change meeting, there are lots of greeting and a last chance for the Elders to say their goodbyes

Elder Lopez, Elder Dzul (Elder Lopez' "son") Elder Christensen (Elder Lopez' "grandson") and Elder Cardoso (Elder Lopez' "great-grandson")

More of Elder Lopez' family... what a great legacy!

Elder Whitehead, Elder Ante, Elder Lopez, Elder Dzul, Elder Conrad, Elder Christensen, Elder Cardoso, Elder Packer and Elder Perez

Elder Marquez, Elder Garcia, Elder Aguilar, Elder Sandoval, Elder Bustillos, Hermana Cascante, Hermana Lopez

The new missionaries and their trainers

That evening, the missionaries who were going home came over to the Mission Home for their interviews, a departure dinner and devotional

Elder De La Rosa hands out their packets with all sorts of goodies inside...

Elder Schmelzer and Elder Mendez

Elder Kimball, Elder Tinoco and Elder Olvera

Elder Turley, Elder Leifson and Elder Garlick

Elder Tinoco, Elder Olvera and Elder Wells

Elder Beckwith, Elder Morga, Elder Lopez and Elder Kimball

Elder Beckwith, Elder Olvera, Elder Garlick, Elder Morga, Elder Wells, Elder Kimball, Elder Tinoco and Elder Lopez

Assistants, past and present...
Elder Morga, Elder Turley, President and Sister Reeves, Elder Lopez and Elder Lopez

As always, we will really miss this group of Elders but we wish them luck as they go on to college and careers.

EFY

Robert and I were invited to speak at the EFY for the youth of our Mission this year.  It was a great experience for us.  It wasn't an EFY in the traditional sense, but I think the youth had wonderful experiences that helped their testimonies to grow.   Here they strive to get every youth in attendance and encourage them to bring their non member friends as well.  It was in a beautiful setting that immediately invited the Sprit.  We spoke on the Atonement and included a fun object lesson that they enjoyed.

President and Sister Lopez also spoke at the Conference

July Mission Leader Council

Our Mission Leadership Council fell close to three birthdays this month, so I made a special treat for the Elders and Sisters and we sang happy birthday to Elder Turley, Elder Mendez and Elder Wells

 Normally, we take our picture outside in our beautiful garden area, but it was raining today so we took it inside on the stairs... it was just a bit crowded, but I think they enjoyed the challenge...

They always love having their pictures taken!

Near the Costco and the Mall in Puebla, this massive ferris wheel has been in the process of being built for several months.  An elevated walkway/bike path was also constructed between here and the local park and college.  The whole area has been improved with landscaping, a sandwich shop and bike racks.  It is quite impressive.

I wanted to share these pictures that I took, while traveling, of the gorgeous cloud formations here...

and this man was walking his horses and donkeys down the road that leads to our house...

the local lake, in the middle of the road, that always occurs when it rains really hard...

April Mission Presidents Seminar

As usual our seminar was held in Mexico City at the airport hotel.  It was a little bittersweet as those who started their service the year before we did will be leaving for home in July.  This is their last Seminar and then they will be going home.  That includes the Hickens.  We will miss them, but we'll see them again soon!

The 2010 Generation of Mission Presidents in Mexico

Another couple that we have gotten to be good friends with over the last two years...

Presidente and Hermana Villarreal

Hermana Angulo, Hermana Reeves and Hermana Villarreal

One of our missionaries happened to be going home this same day and we were able to visit with him in the airport for a bit.  Elder Garcia from Santiago, Chile

Presidente and Hermana Hicken, who were serving next door in the Mexico City East Mission

Presidente and Hermana Walker, who were serving in the Monterey East Mission.  He was sustained in General Conference and will begin serving as an Area Seventy in July, right after they finish their service as Mission President.  They are an amazing couple and are originally from Argentina.

This is our generation of Mission Presidents and wives serving in various areas in Mexico

Los Presidentes

This is a mixed group of three generations of Mission President's wives...

Sister Reeves, Sister Christensen, Sister Martineau (works with her husband in the area offices), Sister Wagner, Sister Call, Sister Jordan and Sister Hicken

Presidente and Hermana Johnson (Area President) and Presidente and Hermana Hicken

The instruction we received at the seminar was great.  We left with a renewed determination to do our best to help our missionaries truly be converted to the Gospel of Christ.