Thursday, September 3, 2009

Transfer Week - September 2009

Transfer week began by welcoming 9 new missionaries to Kobe. 3 came from the JMTC and 6 from the US.
The new missionaries front row- Sister Hattori, Elders Everett, Nielson and Thayer. Standing are Elders Ishihara, Suzuki, Hauwiller, McLaws and Neff.
6:30 am morning exercise with the new missionaries and office staff. We had a great run up the mountain to Maruyama Park. Not an easy run uphill.
Sister Hattori and Sister McIntyre getting ready to head up the hill.
The run (walk for some) up the hill.
Then when you think you are there, you have to do the stairs to the top. Sister McIntyre and I run up several times a week when the weather is nice. It is nice to have missionaries go with us especially on transfer week. It is worth the work as the view of Kobe and the bay is great from the park. They also have a track and obstacle course at the park.Of course coming down is much easier!Nothing like a good breakfast after your morning workout, study and prayers. The office staff and our office couple, the Pypers, join us with the new missionaries on the morning of transfers. The new missionaries were introduced to their new companions and left for their areas after 1 and 1/2 days of orientation and training. This is a great group and we have great expectations for them.
Right after lunch and the new missionaries' departure to their first areas, we interview the returning missionaries and enjoy a final dinner together. Sister Ise and Sister McIntyre made tempura this time. After dinner and a final testimony meeting, we have dessert and Sister McIntyre gives them a card with a special message on it.

In the morning before sending them off to Tokyo to catch their plane, we invited them to join us on our morning run as well!After the run and breakfast, we take final pictures and say goodbye. This was a first, spelling "Kobe" with the missionaries. We bid farewell to 4 great missionaries this week. Sister Kogawa, Elders Castleton, Shattuck and Harris. After pictures we drove them to Shin Kobe Station where the caught the bullet train for Tokyo. And a new transfer begins!

3 comments:

Angela Joy said...

Thank you Pres. McIntyre! It is nice to see pictures of our son.
Angela and Brent McLaws

Unknown said...

I love these pictures and the bird park looks cool!!

alex. said...

I can't help but notice that elder Tupou isn't in any of the early morning exercise photos...