Elders Jewkes, Ostler, and Walker, Pres. and Sister Brinton, and Sisters Gerasimova and Christensen enjoy farewell dinner together.
Elder Jewkes retires his tie and name tag...
...as does Elder Walker
...and Elder Ostler
...and Sister Ostler
...and Sister Christensen
Sister Gerasimova shares her testimony as did all the soon-to-return-home missionaries.
The devotional is always such a highlight where each missionary reflects back on his/her experiences on the mission and shares a special experience they've had. They also give their "favorite scripture"which we mark in our personal set of scriptures. It's a fun remembrance of each missionary when, in our scripture reading, we come across their favorite scripture.
Pancake breakfast with the recipe from the Vladivostok Cookbook!
Traditional picture in front of the world map in the mission home.
With five missionaries checking into flights at the airport, there is always a lot of luggage!
Sister Gerasimova is the only child in her family. From Moscow, Russia, her dream is to attend BYU-Hawaii. Sister Gerasimova became a wonderful missionary during her service. Her English-speaking ability was magnified by the end of her mission.
The last escalator ride en route to Customs!
Elder Ostler is the only son in his family, but he has three sisters. He is from Lakewood, Colorado and plans to attend either Utah State University or BYU in Provo. He is a wonderful artist and looks forward to playing on a LaCrosse team once again. Elder Ostler found a family of five on the street while serving in Nakhodka...four of the five were baptized!
Sister Christensen is from Elizabeth, Colorado and is the oldest of 6 children. She plans to attend BYU in Provo. Sister Christensen was known for her outstanding Russian-speaking ability. She had an amazing memory, too, having memorized word for word the Russian memorization assignments shortly after arriving in the mission field (no small feat!)
One of four children, Elder Walker hails from Kaysville, UT. He along with Elder Jewkes and Elder Adams were the first 18-year-old elders to arrive in this mission after the age change. Elder Walker is planning on attending BYU in Provo. He was an office elder for part of his service helping tremendously with many assignments and was one of two elders who traveled to Magadan to baptize a young lady there.
Elder Jewkes is from Logan, Utah. He is the oldest of seven children and plans to attend Utah State University. As a computer whiz, Elder Jewkes served as an office elder for part of his mission and produced our mission movies, kept missionaries in funds, paid rent, created flyers, organized travel logistics for transfers and did a million other things to help the office and mission run smoothly.
With Sister Gerasimova already on her flight home to Moscow, we posed for one last picture. What a GREAT group of consecrated missionaries. We will miss them very much!
MINUTES LATER....
The two new elders and two new sisters emerged from Customs! Elder Brown was the first one out...
...joined by Elder Crabb and Sisters Woodland and Allen.
It was a cold and windy day when they arrived, but they were all happy to have arrived safely. Sister Woodland is from Roosevelt, UT; Sister Allen is from Dallas, TX; Elder Brown is from Australia via Las Vegas; Elder Crabb is from Orem, UT.
Sister Gerasimova's flight left earlier as she was flying on a separate flight west.
Elder Crabb, left, and Elder Brown are rarin' to go to work as are the new sisters. We are thrilled to have these wonderful new missionaries. We love their enthusiasm and desire to serve that was very apparent as we spent time with them.
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