Tequila Factory, Mormon Battalion, Ode to Olympics, New Missionary Training

We had another group of missionaries finish The First 12 Weeks of training and so it was time to take them to Tequila Factory in San Diego for a Mexican buffet lunch before going on a tour at the Mormon Battalion Historic Site.

While we were near Old Town San Diego, Glen wanted to go to the store that sells Chicklets. It is a reminder of his days on his mission in Mexico.

I think it's a stress reliever for him to chomp on his gum as he's sitting at his computer in the home office working on missionaries' letters and doing other correspondence.

This skeletal couple reminded me of our anniversary we would be celebrating the very next day commemorating 40 years of wedded bliss.

We spent the morning of our anniversary at the mission office church building having a new leadership training meeting for 5 new district leaders and 2 new sister training leaders. 

We got a kick out of the newly-designed bulletin board just outside our mission office made by this sister from Hawaii.

It was a popular weekend for former missionaries to come back and visit the mission. Sister Liberty Roundy stopped by the mission office to see us. 

Sister Shannon Sweeney (now Watson) and her husband stopped by as they were vacationing here with her family.   

We later ran into Sister Roundy again along with Sister Kaiti Guiver at a baptism they had returned to the mission to attend.

Another transfer was upon us. This small group of departing missionaries came to our home for dinner, testimony meeting and to spend the night.

The next morning we were up bright and early to get to the temple for an endowment session before taking them to the airport to catch their flights home. Hermana Balcazar stayed an extra week due to special scheduling issues.

We had our usual several hours of wait time between the departing missionaries leaving and new missionaries arriving.

Our new favorite lunch restaurant during the wait is Ham's Lighthouse Restaurant by the water's edge.

Sarah posted this picture of her boys with this saying: "Training for the 2030 Winter Olympics starts today."

Made me think of our ode to the Winter Olympics...

We were back again at the airport picking up our newest batch of 15 missionaries. We took them back to the mission office church building where Sister Radford had dinner ready for them and we got busy doing our thing.

Glen interviewed them, I talked to them about medical stuff, they emailed home and the senior couples did their individual trainings with them.

It sure makes for a looonnnng day when we do the departing and incoming missionaries on the same day. 

The day after transfers gives us a little down time as the missionaries are busy with their zone greets. We enjoyed a walk that morning near the Calavera Volcano. 

Two days after arrival, we have the new missionaries come back to the mission office church building and do new missionary training with them.

About halfway through the meeting when they are getting tired, Glen gives them a little study assignment and sends them off to walk three laps around the building while they are reading and figuring out their assignment.

Sister Radford worked her magic once again by providing a lunch for all the new missionaries and their trainers. It makes the training worthwhile to have it end with a lunch!!

We can always tell when it's Friday.

The mail shelves are filled to the brim with mail ready to be dispersed to the missionaries.