This last Tuesday, we picked up new missionaries at the airport who were coming from the U.S., and several new missionaries from the MTC here.
Then, on Wednesday, we got two more from the U.S.
The first thing that a couple of our new missionaries said to me at the airport was that their moms wanted me to "update" my blog, meaning their moms would like to see a photo of their son´s first day in his mission. (I know this kind of "Mom Talk", because I´m a Mom myself.) So Moms, here
are some photos of your son´s first day in our Mission.
The top photo is of all our new missionaries that arrived on Tuesday, with their new companions, and the bottom photo is of the missionaries who arrived Wednesday.
The tall missionary in the bottom photo with the orange tie is the grandson of our Houston Texas Stake President, Leo Smith, and his wife Bonnie. We learned alot of wonderful things from the Smiths when we lived in Houston, and we have seen them alot over the years and remained good friends with them. In fact, I was able to tell their grandson a phrase about keeping life balanced that I learned from President Smith and that has helped
me alot over the years. That phrase is, "Any strength, taken to an extreme, can become a weakness" (i.e. a calm person can become lazy, or an ambitious person can lose empathy for people´s feelings) , and that we should all use the Spirit to guide us to channel our strengths toward our spiritual growth and our ability to bless the lives of others and ourselves. This one concept has helped me alot over the years on both a personal level, and when teaching the Gospel to others.
Anyway, we are always pleasantly surprised and grateful when we encounter coincidences (or "tender mercies", as Elder Bednar would call them), that show us that we are all linked together in this wonderful work of the Lord.
Also, WELCOME new missionaries!!! We are looking forward to getting to know you all better, and already, we LOVE you all, for WHO you are, and for the decisions you´ve made in your lives that have brought you to us.
2 comments:
Sister Benton,
I am one of those moms that has looked forward to your update. Thank you so much. Our son has already said how wonderful you and your husband are. We are excited to share in the many wonderful experiences he will have over the next 2 years. Thanks again, Susan Wilson
Presidente y Hermana Benton:
Hey I just happened to come across this blog page and noticed the picture of the new missionaries that came to the mission. Well it's a small world because my soon to be fiance taught 4 of the elders that came to the mission and I went to the MTC to be taught by them. Anyways, they all are great elders and are really going to help out the mission a ton. If you could, give Elder Bush a big hug and tell him Jared Houghton says hi. Thanks a lot.
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