Mission Completed

The following post is from President Hammon's California Riverside Mission blog:

Redlands Temple

The days have flown by since the last blog. I will use this space to write about the outgoing missionaries and then the blog that follows about the new missionaries coming in.

We had a Mission Leadership Council (MLC), the last for several missionaries who are going home. We talked about “Living up to Your Potential,” “Ministering to Your Zone Members,” “Working with Ward Councils,” and “Being Accountable.”

MLC July 2018

One of the most difficult things we do is to say goodbye to outgoing missionaries. We bid a teary, happy, fond farewell to the 27 missionaries who are going home to their families! Prior to their going, I sat down with each one of them to review their My Plans, their post-mission strategic plan. All of them have planned well and know what they are going to do.  

All outgoing

As part of the outgoing missionary plan, we are able to go to the Redlands Temple with them. The Redland Temple was beautiful and peaceful. Outgoing included: Sisters Palmer, Harper, Hernández, Ruggles, Tonini, and Wilson; Elders Medearis, Cox, Steed, Frisby, de Mare, Hale, Lewis, Watson, Tobiasson, Osberg, Dew, Balls, Sorensen, Bailey, Holyoak, McCracken, Eldridge, Avei, Holloway, Rose, and Day. The session was packed. I greeted them as they each walked in. What a wonderful feeling it was to greet each of them. There is something celestial about doing this. When Sister Hammon came in, she went around and shook the hands of the elders and hugged the sisters. What a great day. Later, we all went outside and took pictures.

All of the missionaries at the Redlands Temple

Twenty-seven missionaries came for their last supper, testimony, and companion study with me. I met with a few of them around 3:00-4:00 as I did my last exit interview with them. It was a bit teary. Dinner was delightful! The Tenorio family came and prepared street tacos outside. Delicious! We ate until our hearts content. No records of eating street tacos were broken, but Elder Hale ate 12 tacos, just one shy of the record. We’ll see what happens to the records next outgoing.

The testimony meeting was sensational. Because there were so many of them, they were admonished to deliver “short and powerful” testimonies, and they did.

• E. de Mare—“We come to know our Savior more. Our goal is to become like He is.”
• E. Sorensen—“I learned how much God cares for us and helps us improve. My greatest miracle: How Heavenly Father has helped me change through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”
• E. Balls—I have seen many miracles. My great miracle: How Heavenly Father has put people in my path to help me.”
• Hna. Tonini—“I know Jesus is the Christ. I am learning to become like Him.”
• Hna. Harper—“Christ is my best friend. He overcame all. Have I not reason to rejoice because of my mission?”
• Hna. Hernández—“My mission has become the most sacred and powerful time in my life. Jesus Christ and my mission have transformed my soul. I am returning home a different person.”
• S. Palmer—“I felt the Savior by my side. He has taken my burdens away from me.”
• S. Ruggles—“I have said so many prayers of gratitude for this past transfer.”
• S. Wilson—“I have been able to act as Heavenly Father’s hands. He can help us become mighty.”
• E. Hale—“I don’t want to take off the tag. It will be written on my heart forever.”
• E. Steed—“If we hearken to His Spirit, it will nudge us to do good things. The Atonement of Jesus Christ covers everything.”
• E. Cox—“I have thought a lot about Jesus Christ. His hand is in all things.”
• E. Holloway—“My mission has prepared me for service. This mission has improved my life.”
• E. Frisby—“The biggest thing I learned  is how much my weaknesses and shortcomings can be taken care of through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. As long as Christ is by my side, everything will work out.”
• E. Rose—“I love another chance to bear my testimony. I cannot deny how I feel about the Book of Mormon.”
• E. Lewis—“I have received an extra dose of the Holy Ghost. I know Jesus Christ lives.”
• E. Bailey—“I am so thankful for Heavenly Father helping me through the mission. I stand as a witness because I have felt the Holy Ghost.”
• E. Osberg—“The Gospel makes us happier people. I have trials, so I can learn from them. I am so grateful to have made eternal friends.”
• E. Eldridge—“Every person in the world has a whole set of experiences. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.”
• E. Dew—“All things we have done have prepared us for the decades to come. We have divine potential.”
• E. Tobiasson—“We have been able to share the message to help our brothers and sisters to know the truth they once knew.”
• E. Watson—“It’s been a long two years; it’s been a short two years. Serving has been the best two years.”
• E. Medearis—“I know why I am here. I need to embrace my Savior. It’s been an uphill battle, but it has been marvelous.”
• E. Holyoak—“Before the mission, I sometimes ask: What is the gospel? The answer was simple: scriptures and stuff. I know so much more now.”
• E. Avei—“True change can only occur through sacrifice. My mission has done great things for me.”
• E. McCracken—“I can grow my own testimony now instead of just relying on my parents’ testimony.”
• E. Day—“What inspires you? Great miracles have happened. The missionaries inspired us to return to Church.”

All of our assistants who have served with us:
Elders Sorensen, Balls, Dew, and President and Sister Hammon

After the testimony meeting, we had companionship study with each other. We again searched the topic “light.” I love this topic because it “enlighteneth” our minds and souls. We had a great discussion about light and how it helps us see things we have never seen before because it enlarges our thoughts. We spent a bit of time in Doctrine and Covenants 50, 88, and 93. Once we finished, they all went to their respective places to spend the night. Twelve elders came to our home to sleep. They were scattered everywhere on the floor and in the bedrooms.

All outgoing missionaries

Breakfast came early! We rose early, readied ourselves, and then trundled down to the Grand Building where we had a lovely breakfast. Then, we began loading the luggage into the many vehicles. Think of it: 27 missionaries x 3 items each = 81 pieces of luggage. We had lots of places and spaces for the luggage. One member, Brother Keating, brought his truck to help us with the luggage.

We dropped most everyone off at Terminal 2. It was a tough goodbye. Tears were shed by many of us. We couldn’t believe how sad their leaving made us. These missionaries have become part of our family. Like any family leaving, we were saddened; yet, we did feel joy that they were going home to see their families whom they haven’t seen for two years or 18 months. It will be a glorious reunion for sure.

And away they go!

We want to thank all of outgoing missionaries for their missionary service and for being such great examples and leaders in the California Riverside Mission. Their incredible legacies will live on! Their missionary service has literally prepared them for their next transfer. Their gospel foundation has increased. Their testimonies have grown and are strong. They are becoming who they need to become. Thus, our message to them is this: Follow your My Plan, stay close to the Lord and Heavenly Father, and stay on the covenant path. If you do, the Lord will bless you exceedingly.

From the Mission Blog: Learning together to center our lives on Christ and walk with God!

The following is an excerpt from the California Riverside Mission blog:

Our past two weeks have been filled with interviews and multi-zone conferences. As Sister Hammon and I concluded the last multi-zone conference (MZC) on Friday and were driving home, we just looked each other and said, “What an incredible week at multi-zone conferences.” 

The spirit was strong in each of them; the music was spectacular; and participation was outstanding; and the tears were plentiful. We were amazed with the trainings the zone leaders, sister training leaders, and outgoing missionaries gave. It was a huge learning experience to know our Mission is in good hands, and the outgoing are leaving an enormous legacy for all of us to follow and emulate. President Norman and President Hansen gave highly inspirational messages about loving God with all of our hearts.

Moreno Valley Zone

The conference was replete with incredible diverse topics. Some of them were taught at every MZC, and others were taught during specific MZCs by specific zone and sister training leaders and outgoing missionaries.

“Sacrifice vs. Consecration and Sanctification”

“Setting up, following up, and assessing goals”

“Preach My Gospel: following patterns”

“Adjusting to Missionary Life”

“We make Christ our Center by loving Him with all our hearts”

“Enduring to the end by Walking with God”

“Disciples of Christ”

“Being diligent with an eye of faith”

“Finding the elect”

“Have we not reason to rejoice?”

“Urgency of the work”

“Asking inspired questions”

“Bold but not overbearing + Persistence”

“Street contacting using 2 Nephi 25:26”

“Elevated home visits”

“Increasing our access to Christ's Grace through believing in Christ”

We decided we needed to tap the outgoing missionaries one more time. There are 27 of them returning home in the July transfer, all of them former or current leaders. Everything about trainings propelled us to understand the greatness of the missionaries and of the California Riverside Mission and want to do better.

During the testimony meeting, the outgoing missionaries (all 27 of them) had great counsel for all of us and bore strong, powerful testimonies.

Menifee Zone

E. Sorenson—“You can have the spirit with you the whole time. Our desires can change through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”

E. Eldridge—“We must remember why we are doing this. The people who we are teaching deserve the very best. These experiences will affect the rest of your life.”

E. Avei—“We must ask inspired questions. They come through studying and inspiration of the Holy Ghost.”

E. Rose—“The Gospel of Jesus Christ has brought peace and joy into my life.”

E. McCracken—“It’s not all about me. The people out there are a lot more important than we are.”

E. Steed—“The greatest gift is gaining the gift of love and understand who Christ really is.”

E. Cox—“I remembered the statement ‘If Brother Cox goes on a mission, he will never regret it.’”

E. Osberg—“My mission has been the greatest experience I have had in my life.”

E. Medearis—“I have a renewed view of the world.”

E. de Mare—“My mission has been like a ship in raging waters. I have learned things on my mission I would have never learned before.

E. Dew—“I love my mission so much. I hope to hold to the standards I have learned.”

E. Bailey—“This mission has been the biggest blessing of my life. It has been the hardest thing I have ever done.”

E. Watson—“My view has gone from watching missionaries go home to watching friends go home and now watching us go home.”

E. Holyoak—“I didn’t realize how much I loved my mission and how much I have changed. I want my mission to be the launch pad for the rest of my life.”

E. Balls—“Heavenly Father will propel us.”

Hna. Tonini—“If we say we are going to be happy in the future, you will never will be happy.”

Hna. Hernández—“Every second of the journey has been sacred. The biggest miracle has been me changing.”

Corona Zone

S. Wilson—“I found my testimony; I’ve laid my foundation. When you rely on the Lord and have courage to make that jump, we can learn new things.”

S. Ruggles—“How great it has been to see the growth in me. Learn to do this: Enjoy to the end!"

E. Lewis—“I am a disciple of Christ and look forward to teach others.”

S. Palmer—“Your Savior is by your side even through afflictions.”

E. Holloway—“My last half of my mission has been better than the first half because I changed my attitude.”

E. Day—“My mission has been the longest, shortest, hardest, most fun thing I have ever done.”

Hna. Harper—“I have loved every minute. My mission has offered me the most sacred moments of my life.”

E. Frisby—“I have realized many of my weaknesses have brought me to my knees. It is at these moments when I have felt Him.”

E. Hale—“There is no reason why we cannot have both feet in the mission.”

E. Tobiasson—“I have seen many miracles, and I am going to take the things I have learned to the next chapter of my life.”

 

What a glorious week it was! Sister Hammon and I celebrated our one-year mark this week. More on that in another blog. We love our missionaries and our mission, the California Riverside Mission!

CRM Post - Christmas devotionals and transfers!

(This is an edited version of the entry on the California Riverside Mission:  http://hammoncaliforniariversidemission.blogspot.com/2017/12/christmas-devotionals-and-transfers.html)

We have had an incredible week with Christmas devotionals, testimonies, transfer calls, and just being with the missionaries. The weather has been delightful!

Sister and President Hammon #LightTheWorld

We love the Christmas devotionals! This week, we experienced our first ones. We had two Christmas devotionals, one for the south zones: Hemet, San Jacinto, Lake Elsinore, Moreno Valley, and Menifee and one for the north zones: Riverside, Mt. Rubidoux, La Sierra, Jurupa, and Corona.

Corona Zone  

Sister Hammon had prepared a wonderful story with picture about the Grinch and his epiphany that “Maybe Christmas…doesn’t come from a store. Christmas…. perhaps…is a little bit more.” She focused on Christ’s birth as the reason for Christmas. Her slides were about Christ, His birth, Mary and Joseph, and the Christmas story.

My focus was on how the Christmas hymns also teach doctrine. So, we did an exercise where they chose a phrase from the hymns, discussed how it taught doctrine, and then showed where that doctrine came from in the scriptures

Sisters Bryant, Sorensen, Tonini, DiPietro, and Wilson

The zones had prepared four musical numbers for each devotional. Phenomenal! We have some incredible musicians in our mission. We were all just in awe. Music does bring a spiritual tone to the meetings.

One of the highlights was hearing the testimonies from the missionaries who came this transfer and the missionaries who are going home. It was a spiritual and teary time for both sets of missionaries. The outgoing missionaries have served well; those who have been here for six weeks have progressed and grown so much. It is delightful to watch them as their testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are enhanced by their obedience, teaching, and service.

As they were all leaving, Sister Hammon and I were able to shake each of their hands. What a delight to look each one of them in the eyes, wish them a Merry Christmas, and hand out a bag of MMs and a new temple recommend holder that Sister Hammon had someone design. Inside of it was inscribed: “California Riverside Mission, President Darrel and Sister Joanne Hammon, 2017-2020.” 

Front and inside covers of the temple recommend holder

Part of the devotional was eating cookies and oranges, drinking milk and orange juice, chatting with each other, picking up their Christmas packages (which hadn't already been delivered), and taking photos. It was a nice time for many of the missionaries to say good bye to those who are leaving on Monday, re-connecting to old companions, and meeting new missionaries or missionaries they haven’t met.

Selfie: Sisters Price, Fountain, Butler, and Chandler

Sisters Ford, Grover, Moran, Mackley, and Carson

One of the highlights of transfers is transfer Saturday. I begin calling at 6:30 a.m. This Saturday, I was on the phone for 2.5 hours with missionaries who are receiving new leadership, training, and area assignments. I love transfer Saturday mornings every six weeks to call missionaries and tell them about their new assignments. Of course, they all say yes and are so excited. They know the transfers are coming and anticipate something happening. One asked when I asked him to train after being here since August: “Is this for reals?” I told him that it really was. They are so delightful, willing to accept any new leadership assignment, new areas, and new companions. They just know this is what they are supposed to do, and I feel this is what the Lord wants them to do at this time. They will transfer on Monday.

 Love these missionaries!

President and Sister Hammon

Leaving, Arriving, Conferencing, Speaking, and Training: The Fun Continues

The following is an edited version of an entry on the California Riverside Mission blog.

Sun peeking through the pine trees overlooking the Mission Home

One of the special times we have with the missionaries is in multi-zone conferences. We have divided the ten zones into four different groups. So, we began on October 17 with Corona and Lake Elsinore;

Corona Zone

It was delightful! Our topics included everything from “Emergency Preparedness” to “Companionship Study” to “Short-and Long-Term Planning” to “Asking Inspired Questions” to “Obedience and Recommitting to the standards found in theMissionary Handbook” to “Finding Joy in Our Trials” to “Mission Elevated.” We also had inspired music throughout the meeting with each zone providing one musical number. What talented missionaries we have in the mission! 

The missionaries singing to the Relief Society sisters in Lake Elsinore.

We had a large group of trainers and trainees come to the Trainer-Trainee Training. As you know, we had 28 new missionaries last transfer. After four weeks, they come to the Mission Office where we do additional training. What a delight to see the progress of the new missionaries. Many of their trainers said, “They came ready to work and learn.” We loved that about them. Five companionships discussed how the 12-week training was going and how using the Book of Mormon has enhanced their training, and what they were going to do differently the next eight weeks.

Outside the front door of the Mission Home

Now Arriving at Terminal Two

(This is a post from the mission blog):

Everyone else took the escalator.  

Elder Thorpe took the stairs.  

We applaud how anxious he was to 

arrive.... nothing to do now but wait!

Here they are now!  If it's the bottom 

of the escalator this must be Riverside!

President Mullen, you're pointing the wrong way.  

Headed to get luggage.

Gathering to get acquainted, receive new companions...

and share first testimonies.

Introducing our new missionaries and their trainers:

Elder Bryner (L) 

with his new companion, Elder Smith

Elder Hansen (L) 

with his new companion, Elder Moss. 

Elder Hansen (R)

with his new companion, Elder Eldridge. 

Sister Harper (L)

with her new companion, Sister Garcia.

Sister Harris (L)

with her new companion, Sister Keith. 

Elder Hite (L)

with his new companion, Elder Wood.

Sister Moran (R)

with her new companion, Sister Stone.

Sister Palmer (R)

with her new companion, Sister Wilde.

Elder Riding (L)

with his new companion, Elder Cornaby.  

Elder Thorpe (R)

with his new companion, Elder Frost.

Elder Williams (R)

with his new companion, Elder Young.  

Sister Tonini (L)

with her new companion, Sister Chandler.  

Welcome to the California Riverside Mission!

http://downbythecaliforniariverside.blogspot.com/2017/03/now-arriving-at-terminal-two.html