August 2011

Dear Brother and Sister Dye: Your wonderful missionary son arrived here safe and sound Monday and is now happily working his heart out for the Lord. Seeing him there at the airport was a sight for sore eyes - he and the other missionaries were virtually glowing with excitement, smiling ear to ear. After retrieving all the bags, President Woodbury and I, and the two Assistants, drove everyone to our home in the Mission van which was pulling the large GKLM trailer. My husband conducted individual interviews while I held on orientation meeting which included filling out several forms. The Assistants took individual pictures to be used on the Assignment and Transfer Boards in the President's Offices here at the Mission Home and at the Mission Office. We had an Italian-themed lasagna dinner (I know it doesn't have anything to do with Kentucky, but the new missionaries still loved it) and afterwards assembled in the Training Room downstairs for Testimony Meeting; that's when the really great part of the evening occurred. Each of our new missionaries bore their testimony, which brought tears to both of our eyes. Your humble and strong son bore powerful witness of the Savior and His Gospel, his enthusiasm for the Work, and his dedication and commitment to serve with all his heart, mind, and strength. Afterwards, everyone got ready for bed, with chocolates on their pillows for sweet dreams, after a long day and anticipating the next. The next morning we all had a hot breakfast followed by instruction and Companionship Study led by the Assistants. After a group picture was taken on the front porch, we loaded up for the ride to the church next to the Mission Office where the Transfer Meeting is held. The new missionaries sat together as the gathering began and they were introduced to the song "Called to Serve" - GKLM style which includes a rousing lift to the sky and shout of "Go Baptize!" The departing missionaries shared their "Words of Wisdom" then the announcement of assignments began. Each new missionary stood as his or her name was called out by the President and then his or her Trainer and the area in which they would serve together. As each Trainer was announced, they exclaimed/cheered and hurried and in some cases ran over to meet "their" new Trainee, hugging, in the cases of the Elders, slapping each other on the back, high-fiving, etc. before going to sit front and center as a new companionship. The rest of transfers were then called out with each companion standing and doing some sort of connection, a "go!" sign, war whoop, or whatever they felt. Following the Transfer Meeting the others missionaries lingered to greet each other and pick up their recent mail before taking off on their new assignments. The New Missionaries and Trainers met together in another area for a Training Meeting, introducing the Church's new 12- Week Training Program. The components of the program will entail an extra hour of Companionship Study time each day before going out to work.. It is an inspired program that we feel will have a positive impact in our mission. Each Trainer, by the way, was hand-selected as being an exceptional missionary with superior proselyting skills and paired according to what we know of each new missionary After lunch there at the church, everyone had their picture taken with their Trainer by the sign outside the Mission Office, then took off to begin their first day of real missionary work. Elder Dye was smiling ear to ear as he drove off with Elder Kastendieck. He was and I'm sure is, on fire, prepared well and ready to bless this ripe field with his love and faith. You have every reason to be proud. Know that he is being watched over by the Lord, as well as us, and carries your love and support with him in all he does. We love him, too and are looking forward to great things with and through him. I hope you enjoy the photos I attached of Elder Dye's first twenty-four hours in the GKLM… Lovingly, Sister Woodbury