Elder Holland Comes to Houston

Yesterday, all missionaries from the Houston Texas area had the privilege of hearing Elder Holland speak in the Bering Chapel in Houston (just outside of our mission boundaries). It was a special treat to be in the presence of an Apostle of the Lord.  Before he spoke, he took the time to shake the hands of every missionary.  His counsel was warm and direct and all who attended felt uplifted and inspired.  He challenged the missionaries to live up to the rich tradition of missionary work in the church.  People have sacrificed everything, including their lives, to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He also talked about the importance of preparing ourselves each day to testify of the gospel and encouraged us to "not waste a single minute" of our missions.  We are sorry to only have a few photographs of the event. The ones below are of missionaries before and after the meeting.  Our daughter somehow managed to get a picture with Elder Holland right before he got into his car to leave.  We have also included two pictures of our wonderful sister missionaries that were taken this week at the temple.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Elders Thorpe, Bateman, Gray, Hardman, Johnson,
Fisher, Tamanalevu, and Zurligen

Elders Moody, Barton, Chadwick and Ulugia

Elder Holland with Mary

Sisters Schlauder, Cramer, Rodriguez and Fonua

Sisters Schlauder and Fonua

The THM welcomes Elders Segal and Johnson

Yesterday, two missionaries joined the Texas Houston Mission.  Elder Segal, a recent convert from Israel, came a bit later than his MTC group due to some health complications.  Elder Johnson, from Highland Utah, has already served a portion of his mission in Guatemala.  He comes to Texas after recovering from treatments for cancer.  Both have great faith and we admire their perseverance to finish their missions.

Elder Johnson and President Pingree

Elder Johnson inviting someone at the airport to learn about the gospel

Elder Segal and President Pingree in the airport parking lot

Elders Johnson and Segal

Elder Johnson with the Pingrees at the mission office

Elder Segal with the Pingrees at the mission office

Zone Leader Council

On Wednesday, Zone Leader Council was held for the month of August. The training meeting focused on helping missionaries develop exceptional finding skills.  Afterwards, lunch was served at the mission home. 

Welcome Elder Richins and Elder Craig

This week we received two new missionaries.  Both arrived a week later than their group due to injuries incurred while at the MTC.  We are happy they are finally here and know they will be terrific missionaries!  Please see pictures of their arrival below.

Bush International Airport

Lunch at Rudy's Barbeque

Elder McClellan (trainer) with Elder Richins

Elder Fox (trainer) with Elder Craig

New Missionary Arrivals

Every six weeks new missionaries arrive in the mission.  This transfer, we welcomed a large group to the mission--18 new missionaries!  While somewhat tired from the early morning departure from the MTC and travel to Houston, each of the missionaries were excited and ready to get started.  We are so happy to have them here.  This is a great group!  When missionaries arrive, we first drive to the mission office for a snack and an administrative orientation (i.e., driving, cell phones, purchasing cards, referrals, medical, etc.).  Afterwards, we travel to the mission home where President Pingree conducts welcome interviews while missionaries write postcards home and receive some additional training.  We then have dinner together and a new missionary fireside.  That evening, missionaries stay in local apartments.  In the morning, the missionaries return to the mission home for breakfast and pictures, afterwhich we travel to attend a session at the Houston Texas Temple (about 15 minutes from the mission home).  After the temple session, the new missionaries are taken to a nearby chapel where they have lunch, meet new companions, and receive additional proselyting training before leaving to their assigned areas.  Please find below some pictures from the arrival of the newest 18 missionaries.

New missionaries arrive at the Bush International Airport

Loading mission vans and trailors with luggage

Group picture at the airport

Dinner at the mission home

New Missionary Fireside

Texas sheet cake and Bluebell icecream follow a New Missionary Fireside
at the mission home

Elders leaving the mission home to sleep in nearby missionary apartments

New missionaries with President and Sister Pingree at the Houston Texas Temple

New sister mssionaries at the Houston Texas Temple

After the temple, missionaries gather for lunch at the Louetta Building
and sing Happy Birthday to President Pingree

 

Elder Trotter with trainer, Elder Armstrong

Elder Sevelo with trainer, Elder Woods

Elder Barton with new missionary, Elder Ulugia

Elder Tanuvasa with trainer, Elder Angilau

Elder Green with new missionary, Elder Howard

Elder Crane with trainer, Elder Litton

Elder Whittle with new missionary, Elder Amann

Elder Rupp with new missionary, Elder Chavarria

 Hermana Dement with trainer, Hermana Martinez

Elder Moody with trainer, Elder Chadwick

Elder Bateman with new missionary, Elder Gray

Elder Hardman with new missionary, Elder Thorpe

Hermana Barton with new missionary, Hermana Edge

Sister Rodriguez with new missionary, Sister Roberts

Elder Wright with trainer, Elder Lewis

Hermana Ball with trainer, Hermana Pacific

Hermana Perez with new missionary, Hermana Garcia

Elder Mackey with new missionary, Elder Kauo

New missionaries and trainers leave for their areas