I am not good with goodbyes.

Great Missionaries!

Elders Shenjere, Lundahl, Barber, Guiste, Santoro, and Burger.

Zone Conferences!

One Last Visit with Via Sikahema

We loved having President Sikahema with us during the Olympics.

He was so good to us and our missionaries!

Hopefully our paths will cross again soon!

Closing Ceremonies

Empty streets.

London so proud.

I love the Olympics.

Driving in London

This is what driving for hours in London looks like.

They are here....

And with the words "the bus is here" the excitement began.

 Taking luggage to the storage room.

Filling out papers whilst waiting for interviews with the President.

(Elders Titus, Jensen, and Zwane.)

Elders Resetco, Bentke, and Vogel.

As our new missionaries sang "Called to Serve"

their new companions came in and joined them...

 ...singing the second verse.

 Elder Titus and Elder Meek

 Elder Wilson and Elder Jensen

 Elder Dominguez and Elder Fernandes

 Elder Pollard and Elder Smith

Elder Rogers and Elder Vogel

 Elder Bentke and Elder Grove

 Elder Resetco and Elder Klobcic

Elder Wing and Elder Zwane

 Our new missionaries...

...with their trainers.

Ready - Set- Go!

Getting ready for Moves!

Here in the England London Mission transfer days are referred to as "Moves".  You can imagine how crazy it is to shift around 100+ missionaries whilst planning for 8 new arrivals and 11 departing missionaries.  Our assistants have to be at train stations co-ordinating the exchanging of companions early in the morning then hurry back to train the new trainers of the incoming missionaries.  Our new office couple, Elder and Sister Allred, had a little help from our departing couple, Elder and Sister Empey, with the mountain of paperwork that is required for the day.  New missionary packets, trainer packets, departing missionary packets, travel plans and food for the hungry were just part of the craziness!

Elders Allred and Empey talk finances and Elder Barber and Sister Empey focus on the computer.

Sister Allred and Elder Cena working out details.

Binders cover all open spaces...waiting for final pages to be added.

Olympic Fireside

During the Olympics the street in front of the Hyde Park Chapel (and our flat), Exhibition Road, was turned into a street party.  All traffic was diverted and the street was a wonderful mixture of sights, sounds and smells.  There were dancers, singers, acrobats, science experiments, and lots of food.  People walked up and down the road (We even had a visit from Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall aka Prince Charles's wife!)  Our Visitor's Center handed out balloons and it was delightful to see children walking with "mormon.org"  floating over their heads!

This was the view from our front room balcony.

One of the real treats for us was a fireside on August 5th with 4 LDS athletes who competed during the games.  They represented the Cook Islands, Venezuela and the United States.  It was inspiring to hear them bear their testimonies of the gospel and talk of the challenges of being a member of the church whilst training for the Olympics.  We are so thankful that they would take time away from Olympic activities and speak with us.

From the left: Patricia Taea from the Cook Islands, Athletics, competing in the 100-meter sprint.

Celeste Brown from the Cook Islands, Swimming, competing in the 50-meter freestyle.

John Nunn, from the United States, Athletics, competing in the 50km race walk.

Johanna Fuenmayor from Venezuela, Fencing, competing in Individual Foil.

Our own happy Elder Alarcon, from Mexico, translated for Johanna and did such a wonderful job.  The spirit of her sweet testimony came through so beautifully in his translation.

Thank you, thank you, you wonderful athletes!

Missionaries love a photo op!

Zone Leader Council

Back Row: Elder Brooks, Sisters Belnap and Ritchel, Elders Cena, Krebs, Mosalakae, Adler, Lindahl, Strombom, Vitorio, Burger, Flament, Shenjere, and President Jordan.

Front Row: Elders Barber, Giusti, Day, Thompson, Flores, Granger, Larsen, Silva and Montgomery.

Singing on the steps of the Hyde Park Chapel.

                                             

Elder Barber and Elder Cena taking care of the mission.