Our Wild and Crazy Transfer

Transfers are always a rough week. They usually start off on a Sunday night with President making the calls to all the missionaries being transferred. That in and off itself means plenty of packing, lots of goodbyes, and several plane and ferry rides going all over the mission in every direction. It is a bit like the old game "Fruit Basket Turnover." But transfers also involve two other things. They mean someone we have come to love is leaving us to return to their homes honorably. Saying goodbye is the hardest part of our calling. These are the sweet missionaries that returned home this transfer. Some returned to their home right here in Cape Verde while others returned to Brazil and various places across the United States. We are so grateful for their service.

Transfers also mean that we will be receiving new missionaries to love. This transfer we were scheduled to receive 8 from the Provo MTC and 8 from the Brazilian MTC. But those coming from Provo ran into visa problems in Spain and their connecting flight was missed. Fortunately everyone rallied from Spain, Portugal and Cape Verde to make sure they were cared for until they could finally get here. While we were waiting for them, the 8 missionaries from the Brazilian MTC arrived. They are from Cape Verde, Mozambique, and Portugal.

Later that night 6 of our missionaries from the Provo MTC finally arrived. Unfortunate, their transfer flights had been purchased anticipating they would have arrived the day before. One poor Elder got off the plane from Portugal and got in line to get on the next one leaving for Mindelo. (I regret that i don't have a picture of him) The other five were taken to the office, given a quick orientation and their assignments, and sent to bed. Many of them had plane flights leaving very early the next morning.

Now we are just waiting for the last two missionaries to arrive from the Provo MTC - they are scheduled to arrive Saturday night. What a week!!! In the flux of transfers we usually hold our breath waiting at the airport for arrivals, or waiting for the phone to ring to tell us that all have reached their new assignments, or checking Facebook to see what has been posted showing us everyone returned home safely. Fortunately we only have to do this ... every six weeks!

By the way, the last two finally arrived. Welcome to the mission!!!