Ten Wonderful Missionaries Depart for Home.

On June 10, our largest number of missionaries (ten in all) returned back home after serving faithful missions. Every single missionary was a baptizing missionary. There were 8 baptisms from amongst this group of missionaries in the last several weeks.

As soon as departing missionaries cross the threshold of the mission home, their mission is completed. All cells phones, MSF cards, emergency money, etc. is collected and a special evening begins.

 For dinner, we had teriyaki chicken, rice, and salad with brownie sundaes for dessert (a favorite with the Brinton's).

  A view from the other end of the table!

 At the devotional, everyone shared his/her favorite scripture, a special experience from their mission,  their testimonies, and finally their plans for their future.

 The traditional retiring of the ties began with Elder Laughlin...

 then Elder Howe...

 Elder Luke...

 Elder Hinkson...

Elder Jaeckel...

and Elder Murphy.

 Here Sister Dorzhieva retires her scarf...

 Sister Foulger...

 Sister Bell...

 and Sister A. Clark.

What an incredible group of outstanding missionaries!

Sister Dorzhieva, from Ulan-Ude, Russia began her mission service in the Russia Moscow Mission and was later transferred to our mission. She was known for speaking with EVERYONE on the streets about the gospel and her happy attitude. She left on an earlier flight because she flew West instead of East.

 At the airport with tons of luggage. This picture does not begin to describe how much luggage there was for 8 missionaries who departed on the afternoon flight to the U.S.

 On the traditional ride up the escalator to customs.

 Elder Jaeckel is from Kirkland, WA. He is the first missionary in his family. He plans to attend BYU-Idaho after working this summer. His career plans include becoming a Navy SEAL, but he is considering majoring in Russian in college.

 Elder Howe is from Chino Hills, CA. He has a brother serving in a Russian-speaking mission currently, so he is excited to be able to speak with him in Russian when his brother returns home. He will attend BYU-Provo in the Fall where he plans to study Electrical Engineering. 

Elder Luke is from Colorado Springs, CO. He is the third of four children in his family (three boys and a girl). He is thinking of studying international relations at BYU-Provo which might include the advanced study of the Russian language. 

Elder Hinkson hails from Logan, UT. He plans to follow in the footsteps of either his brother (entrepreneurship) or his father (a dentist) and will be attending Utah State University. He is one of ten children in his family and several of his brothers have served Russian-speaking missions.

Elder Murphy is from Tucson, AZ. He is one of six children in his family and the first to serve a mission. He loves languages and wants to learn several others in addition to Russian. He is thinking of pursuing linguistics at BYU-Idaho after working to earn some money.

 Sister Clark is one of eight children and hails from Bountiful, UT. She will attend BYU where she will continue her studies of languages. She is fluent in German and Russian and may even learn a new language. Sister Clark has a gift for languages.

 Sister Bell is from Grand Junction, CO and is from a large family. She will attend BYU-Idaho with her new-husband-to-be and will be getting married July 21! He waited for her while she served her mission! She is interested in becoming a dietician.

 Sister Foulger is from South Jordan, UT and is the oldest in her family. She will attend BYU-Provo in the fall where she is uncertain what her major will be. She has a beautiful singing voice and may pursue vocal performance. This summer she will work for a funeral home...as one missionary said, "People will be dying to see her when she returns home."

Elder Laughlin's parents came to Russia to pick him up from his mission. (Sister Laughlin looks like she could be a junior sister missionary!!) His parents have picked up all of his other brothers from their missions (he is one of 7 children). He will attend BYU-Provo in the Fall and will run the triathlon for BYU.

We are two happy people having such wonderful, choice missionaries to love and work with!