Elders: Rimmel, Sowards, Johnson, Van Miltenburg
Ott, Koppe, Brinkerhoff, Künzli
Elder Baker, Sisters: Wakefield, Risenmay, Stewart, Elder Goliasch
We are so excited to have this new group of missionaries! Spending time with them and their trainers was sweet. Our mission home is lovely but it was a bit tight as we tried to serve lunch to 33 missionaries. We served a traditional German meal of Bockwurst, rotkohl (red cabbage), boiled potatoes and a hot roll, with apple tort for dessert.
The assistants to President Pimentel, Elder Howarth and Elder Allenbach taught about our purpose, which is to invite people to come unto Christ and be baptized. They taught about finding and teaching and baptizing and keeping. They bore strong testimony and challenged the missionaries to work their hardest in the short time that they have to serve.
Hearing the new missionaries bear their testimonies of their love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that they know the work they have been called to do is the work of the Lord and that they know this is where they are to serve was simply beautiful. They know their purpose.
I (Sister Pimentel) relayed MTC experiences and encouraged the missionaries to lay aside their fears. We are here to serve them and as they are on the Lord's errand, he will will uplift and strengthen them as well.
President Pimentel told the missionaries why they are called "Golden." It is because gold is precious and has great value. Gold is soft and can be "written" on like golden plates. Gold sparkles and shines. He also spoke of the magnitude of the call of a missionary - a call from a prophet of the Lord. He taught them to "start right, work hard and finish strong."
Our angel missionaries, Sister Lewis and Sister Morris took care of the kitchen duty with a smile. Elder Morris took care of transportation and luggage details (man power and brain power for a group this size took some doing). We are grateful Elder Lewis held the office open and took care of the details there. President Pimentel and I love working with this team!
