MISSION DIVIDES, VEIRS LEAVE, DESTERS AND KLEINS ARRIVE

This was a historic week as the Lord continues to hasten His work here in the land of Honduras.

Our dear friends Ronald J. Veirs and Joanne Veirs were honorably released as mission presidents and left on Friday for their home in California.  They left behind some really big shoes to fill.  During their three-year tenure as the leaders of the San Pedro Sula, Honduras Mission, they presided over a little more than 500 different young missionaries.  President Veirs led with his heart. In the thirteen months that we have known him we have watched him struggle with dozens of difficult situations, but each has been handled calmly, lovingly, and with the best interest of the missionary in mind.  Sister Veirs simply served.  She never received the blessing of fluency in Spanish but she communicated through her smile, her cheerfulness and, of course, through her brownies.  She must have baked hundreds of batches of brownies and we never saw a missionaries not want to come back for more.  These two dear people became our friends.  We shared our home with them in Roatan, and they have shared their San Pedro Sula home with us.  Friday nights we frequently got together to play games, laugh and just talk some English.  Lots of times our conversation was "shop talk," but usually we just chatted about family, past experiences and the future.  For the rest of our lives we will remember "it's your turn Jeannie," and "I'm leaving on a jet plane."  We wish them a very fond farewell and the very best in their future.  We will miss them.

On Thursday, June 27th, President and Sister Klein and President and Sister Dester arrived to take over the newly divided missions.  They had flown completely through the night and so they were, obviously, tired, but there was an immediate excitement and energy.  President and Sister Klein will preside over the San Pedro Sula East Mission and President and Sister Dester will preside over the San Pedro Sula West Mission.  We have been assigned to the West mission and are excited and willing to do anything we can to help out. 

All 265 missionaries of the San Pedro Sula, Honduras Mission
gathered together on Wednesday, June 27th.  The purpose was two-fold: to bid a fond farewell to their former president and to divide the mission.  Excitement filled the air. Loud cheers rang through the chapel as announcements were made of companionship changes.  With each change the two new companions would meet and quickly take their place on either the west or the east side of the chapel.  When asked which mission was the best it was a moment to boisterously bellow their satisfaction with the changes. It seemed to us that the majority of the missionaries we have grown close to over these past months were taken into the East mission, but we will make new friends and we will find new ways to open our lives to those who are now our West missionaries.

Six other missionaries also left this week including our dear Elder Hunter Cannon. Due to his health challenges he has been transferred to the Wichita, Kansas Mission where it is hoped good ol' American food and sanitary practices will allow him to recover the strength he needs to complete his mission.  We love this young man!  We did absolutely everything we could do to try to nurse him back to health, but to no avail.  He was asked to come forward and bear a final testimony to the group.  Tears rolled down LaRae's cheeks as she heard him testify of the Savior and of the privilege it has been to serve here even though for eight months he has been sick every single day.  LaRae has worked so closely with this fine young man during these past six months that he has become in many ways like a son.  Good luck, Elder Cannon.  We miss you!

It didn't take long for President and Sister Dester to jump right into the work.  Less than 24 hours after landing at the San Pedro Sula Airport they held a multi-zone meeting.  Only the zone of Copan wasn't invited to attend because of excessive travel distance.  So, the picture above shows 90% of the newly formed West mission.  It is much smaller, but when they sang their voices still filled the chapel.  President and Sister Dester took about 15 minutes to individually greet each of their missionaries, quickly shake their hands and tell them they were glad to be here.  Then they took a few moments to introduce themselves and instruct us in their vision for the mission.  Sister Dester doesn't yet speak Spanish but prepared a script to accompany a few slides of her family. She did so well.  One elder who was seated directly behind us exclaimed as she tried valiantly to pronounce some of these difficult Spanish words, "Oh, my gosh, I love her!"  Her husband translated for her a few words of testimony and appreciation and then she took her seat.  President Dester then spoke for a few moments.  To me it was evident that the mantle of leadership had already descended down upon him. 

I remember as a young missionary myself when my first mission president left and a new one arrived.  They were so different, but I loved them both.  In like manner, no one who was here today will ever forget President and Sister Veirs, nor will President and Sister Dester be able to replace them in our hearts.  But, we will love President and Sister Dester in the same way.  They didn't come down here to replace, but to continue with the same work. They will do it in their own way, probably a little bit differently than did President and Sister Veirs, but that is not the issue.  This is the Lord's work.  He has placed them here to tend over this tiny piece of His vineyard.  He will bless them and He will guide them.  This Church is true, and it is rolling forward as a stone cut from the mountain without hands to fill the entire earth. This is our witness.  We haven't been chosen to direct this work, but rather to follow the direction of another.  This we promise to do willingly and to the best of our ability.  Isn't this work wonderful!