March & April

On March 20th President and I picked up our visiting Area Authority Seventy and his sweet wife (Elder & Sister Taggart) at the airport (at midnight). The next day (Friday) was full as we got up at 5am and drove out to Huntington, WV for a mission tour there. We had a great time with our missionaries. The meeting consisted of lunch at 11a and then President gave a training from noon to 1p, then we broke out into our rotation. Sister Taggart trained on getting along with your companion, I trained on Family Home Evening for investigators, and the assistants trained on something I can't recall. Then we met back in the chapel and Elder Taggart trained for 1 1/2 hours. He also met with a couple of missionaries after as well as the ZLs and DLs. Then the 3 1/2 hour drive home again. The men then went over to our church building and met with the northern ZLs and DLs. Sister Taggart and I had soup and bread ready when they got back. The next morning (Saturday) we had the northern meeting and then a few missionaries got to visit with Elder Taggart. After that we had just enough time to go back to the mission home and get their luggage and take them to the airport. We really had an enjoyable visit! But it was not time for us to stop yet. We still had a baptism to go to right after the airport and a confirmation in the Spanish Branch on Sunday.

Sunday night the Assistants are at the mission home and they along with President make the transfer calls.

Monday was busy with the new missionaries arriving, we got 2, Sister Larsen and Elder Evans. Both from California. Arrival day consists of picking them up on the 2pm flight from SL, they go to the office for orientation and an interview with President (I come back to the mission home and get dinner set up. Then the office couple, the presidency and wives and the missionaries come to the mission home for pictures, dinner and a testimony meeting. By then they are nearly in a coma and happy to go to bed.

Tuesday is "Transfer Day". We all get up early and the new Miss's are out the door at 6:30a. The Assistants take the van and trailer and they make 4 stops all over the mission and back again to get everyone where they need to be. (Many missions use public transportation but we don't have that luxury with the size of the mission and the Kentucky and West Virginia backwoods.) After they get back the missionaries are taken to the office for their final interview and then the go out and work until dinner time. Dinner is at the mission home with the presidency and wives and a testimony meeting. Then the missionaries stay up half the night talking and playing games.

During Transfer day I am busy as well. I get all the linens washed up. Tidy up the bathrooms and bedrooms again and finish up the dinner prep. I usually have pot roast that has been cooking since the night before, so it is usually just getting the potatoes and vegetables ready and the table set.

On Wednesday morning the departing missionaries are up and out the door by 7:15am. We hug them and say our goodbyes here so the TSA doesn't get nervous at the airport. Then we sit for a while and look at each other while we try to get some energy to do something.

The next few days we spend trying to get our paper work caught up so that we are ready for Zone Conferences the next week.

On week 3 it is our 'down' week to catch up and possibly do something we would like, or have family visit. The last 3 weeks of the transfer period consist of interviews. This time though, we will be doing a "mission tour" I will be inspecting apartments, Elder Milbury will inspect cars, and the Assistants will inspect area books, and President will interview. We will be in every apartment in the mission this month. (which means a ton of driving).

EVERY week Greg has to get through letters from each missionary (and respond to questions and those having a tough time). As well as the medical issues I respond to that are never ending. As you can see we are NEVER bored.

As you can see we are making the most of the good weather we are FINALLY having, after record floods and the "Blizzard of '08". The missionaries are beginning to catch the vision of "Spirit Directed" missionary work and those who are obedient to mission rules and seeking to be guided by the Spirit are having great success. President and I attended 2 baptisms last saturday.

We think of you and love you all,

Pres & Sis. Robbins