Mission Tour With the Wakolos and a Special Text

Our mission tour officially began the next morning with the Mission Leadership Council for an hour.

I loved how Elder Wakolo impressed upon the missionaries that as mission leaders, they are to council together in MLC about things pertaining to the mission and the missionaries and talk about the culture of the mission and what Glen expects as the Mission President and then they are to be a unified group walking out of there representing President Thomas in every way.

He taught some great leadership principles from the scriptures before we finished up there and moved to the picture-taking area.

The missionaries were organized in their three respective zones to file in and shake hands with the Wakolos, Glen's counselors and us before going over to take their places for the photo.

It is always so wonderful to see the Relief Society women with everything ready for us to eat a quick lunch and then get back to the meeting.

After zone conference, Elder Wakolo had requested time to interview some of the missionaries. Glen also was busy talking with various missionaries for a while. We were able to get together with Elder Wakolo after that to review how the day had gone and talk about plans for the next day.

We just stayed at the mission office building until it was time for dinner to begin. Glen had recruited the Vista stake president to host the dinner there that evening for the following people:

(From left to right) President and Sister Ham - Temecula Stake 

President and Sister Burgon - 1st Counselor in Mission Presidency

President and Sister McMaster - Escondido Stake

President and Sister Ballif - Vista Stake 

President and Sister Marín - 2nd Counselor in Mission Presidency

Elder and Sister Wakolo - Visiting General Authority Seventy 

President and Sister Thomas - California Carlsbad Mission

Elder and Sister Davis - Area Seventy

President and Sister Ellsworth - San Diego Temple 

President and Sister Page - Counselor in Del Mar Stake

President and Sister Whittier - Murrieta Stake

President Marín's mother-in-law helped with the meal. It was a LOT of Mexican food. I can see why the Spanish missionaries say they gain lots of weight because they always get fed so much.

She also made the beautiful centerpieces which President Marín gifted one to me.

 It looked one way on one half and had a totally different look on the other half.

The next morning we drove north to Murrieta to have zone conference with our other three zones.

Once again Elder Wakolo interviewed some missionaries after zone conference and Glen also talked with various missionaries. We went to dinner at Bluewater Grill, a restaurant we like in Murrieta.

Elder Wakolo said he liked the fish there better than his meal at Chart House. We were laughing at that since he preferred the less expensive meal. Not sure he'll be sharing that tidbit of information with Elder Clayton.

Once back home, we visited together to discuss how the two days had gone. Elder Wakolo filled out an assessment form to turn in at the conclusion of the mission tour. We felt really good about how it had all turned out. We have a great group of missionaries. We feel they were richly blessed to be instructed by Elder and Sister Wakolo.

The next morning I insisted they stand in front of the palm trees before we headed to the airport. I always have our family visitors pose there. It's tradition!

What delightful people they are who are firm in their faith of Jesus Christ and who strive daily to be His disciples. We love them!!

Elder Wakolo asked for the names and numbers of our children. Turns out he sent some photos and the following text to them. This is an example of how he ministers to "the one" or in this case five ones.