I LOVE MY COMPANION

When I met LaRae I had very little to offer.  I was young, inexperienced, uneducated and still had three and one-half years of a four-year US Army commitment left before I could even start my college education.  The war in Vietnam had reached its apex and there was an uncertainty in the air.  I was just over a year returned from my LDS mission to Chile and in the middle of a year long language training program at the Presidio of Monterey, California. LaRae was home for the summer from BYU.  We were from completely different states and status.  However, we both went to church.  That is where we met.  And it has been our common feelings about the Church and the gospel that have bound us together for the past many years.  In the truest sense of the word, she is my companion. This week she celebrated her birthday.

As you can tell from the candles, LaRae turned the big 6-0.  She has never worried much about her age.  She takes it all in stride, just like she does with any "challenge."  Little things like age, location and wealth aren't the things that matter most to her.  She focuses her energies on family, faith and friends.  The rest can take care of itself.
    She has never been one that demanded pricey gifts.  A dandelion picked by a child would brighten her day.  She loves all things that are beautiful.  Before coming here to Honduras she would spend hours and hours in our yard planting and cultivating her flowers. More than going to a movie, she enjoyed just sitting on the back deck and gazing out over the beauty that she had helped to create.  When a coven of quail decided to take up there abode in our backyard, she would marvel at them each time they trotted across the yard to feed upon the birdseed she had left for them.  Very simple things bring my companion great joy.  Happy birthday, sweetheart!  I'm glad you are my companion.

After talking with our son this week we found out that you could plant pineapple by just placing the top in the ground.  So, we decided to give it a try.  The pineapple down here is delicious and if we can grow one it will even make it sweeter.

Zone conferences were held this week.  President and Sister Dester, along with our Assistants to the President, Elders Hebert and Polendo, were kept quite busy.  The message they taught was one of the importance of obedience.  Obedience really does bring down the blessings of heaven.  The vast majority of these young men and women follow the rules with exactness.  They are down here serving for the right reasons.  Wayne made a powerpoint presentation about houses and the problems we encounter.  The missionaries got a good laugh at the weird things we have seen.
   Zone conferences provide the missionaries a chance to see old friends, get re-energized and even to get the occasional toe problem fixed.  Sister Tolliver, our mission nurse, always has her hands full at these functions.  Health concerns are a real issue.  With 150 missionaries - and growing fast - there seems to always be someone who is sick. 
 

We are always receiving supplies.  Sometimes they take longer to arrive than we would like, but eventually they get here.  114 boxes of Book of Mormon, pamphlets, Bibles and more.  Hauling them around from place to place is about all the exercise we get.  It has now been six weeks since the San Pedro Sula Mission split into two.  It has taken us that long to get the new mission up and running efficiently.  There were just so many things that had to be done.  We have made a half dozen trips to Office Depot for supplies.  We have had to obtain a new post office box, get new letter head, set up new bank accounts and new checks, create a new mission seal for official documents, replace all of the old contacts in our email account and much more.  It has been a busy month.  Time has flown by. 
    What a privilege it is to serve! Everyday another opportunity.  We can hardly wait to find out what next week will bring.

RANDOMNESS

"And who is grateful that they decided to serve this mission?"

LaRae gives hug to Sister McCuiston

Such was the question asked by President Dester at a special sister missionary training meeting held this week.  Twenty-four young ladies from throughout the USA and Central America spontaneously shot their hands towards the sky.  Their service is one wrought because of their love for the Savior not from peer pressure or perceived duty.  Daily they trudge through the same heat and dust as the young men, but they also face unique challenges unknown to their male counterparts.  Nevertheless, they love the opportunity and are grateful for the decision they made to serve.  There is a real sisterhood amongst them. "Abrasos," or hugs, are offered each time they meet, but that is common to this culture.  These greetings are freely given to even complete strangers meeting for the first time.  A quick hug, a cheek-to-cheek kiss, and then you've said "hello."

Elders Gardner and Breshears

Missionary work is a team sport!  Just as the Savior adjoined his disciples to go out into the world two-by-two, we do the same today.  President and Sister Dester are standing side-by-side in this work.  Young men and women are assigned companions.  Often they have never met when they are assigned to be companions, but very quickly they forge friendships that will last a lifetime.  For three to six months they will work together to accomplish a common goal.  They will pray together; they will fast together.  They will walk together through the wild rainstorms of Honduras.  They will wake up five minutes early just to surprise the other one by having already shined his shoes for the day.  They will rejoice in the other's success and weep together with him or her when someone rejects their message.  For the rest of their lives they will tell stories about the good old days spent with their companions.  You will never feel alone as a missionary.

Becoming acquainted with the customs and culture of another land is a vital part of missionary service.  I learned that this week.  Seeing all of these shoes hanging from the wires that crossed over the streets of La Union, a little suburb of San Pedro Sula, I decided to stop and take a picture.  As I focused in on the scene a lady rounded the corner in front of me.  I said, "How funny!"  She answered, "It's not funny at all.  Each pair of those shoes belonged to a young man who lost his life in this neighborhood." I apologized for my lack of understanding, and quickly added that I now shared with her in her sorrow.  Each land, even each separate part of the land, has their way.  We come to this land as invited guests.  One of the greatest blessings that come into the lives of missionaries is the privilege to become aware of these cultural diversities.  You can tell how mature a missionary is by the way he/she learns to celebrate the diversity rather than criticize or mock it.  Honduras is a wonderful land; these are precious people.  We share the common heritage of all - we are all sons and daughters of God.  Experiencing the richness and color of new cultures has been a blessing to us.

Elder Peraza

This week has included a leadership conference, a sister-training meeting, home inspections, the normal delivery of packages and letters throughout the mission, meetings with people who are seeking employment, seeking for and recording the names of those who have been baptized, a myriad of financial challenges, helping a lady fill-out some USA social-security papers because she couldn't read the English forms, driving to some obscure, out of the way pueblo to get a police report of the accident one of the missionaries had, trying to rent nine new homes for  missionaries who will arrive in two weeks, giving last-minute financial advice to missionaries who left for home, countless trips to the bank, store and the office, and dinner and games with two amazing mission presidents and their wives. We are busy and happy! It is a great work.
   Perhaps, nothing quite expresses the real story of missionary work like the story of Elder Peraza.  This fine young man came into the mission field with a shattered leg.  Bones that had been patched together by metal rods were protected by having him walk with the aid of crutches.  Up and down the dusty streets of Trincheras he traveled, hopping on one foot the whole time.  He never lagged behind, and he never complained.  When it was learned that his leg wasn't healing properly and had to again be surgically repaired, he begged to stay!  Despite the pain that he suffered, he wanted to continue in the work.  His story, and countless others just like him, are the real story of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  A fire to share our message burns within the hearts of these young men and women.  And it also burns within ours.  This Church is true!

THE HOMES WHERE THE MISSIONARIES LIVE

The young missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints live in all kinds of homes and apartments while they are serving here in Honduras.  Some of the homes are quite nice and comfortable, while others aren't for the faint in heart.  This week we began what will be a mission-wide tour of home inspections.  They weren't surprise inspections; everyone had been warned that not only were we going to show up but that we were bringing with us President and Sister Dester.  I'll bet that there was some serious cleaning done this past week. 

Sister Dester has so many responsibilities as the wife of the mission president.  One of those duties is to assure that the missionaries stay healthy.  She is the "mission mom," and she is taking this calling very seriously.   One of Wayne's duties is to act as the "housing czar."  He is responsible for the renting of the homes and as such should be familiar with every home in the mission.  Up until now that hasn't been possible. Since the mission split the normal work load has been cut in half.  We presently have 69 homes.  This week we visited eight of them. We brought with us mops, brooms, dust pans, toilet brushes, sponges and disinfectant cleaner for those who needed them. We will try to see a handful more each week until we have seen them all and know that they are all up to standard.

Our sweet little nurse, Sister Tolliver and her companion, Sister Bayles, live in the nicest apartment in the mission.  Besides having air conditioning, which is very rare, they have a spare bedroom, and a nice kitchen.  Tile floors are the norm - we have yet to see carpeting in this country.  This apartment was selected purposefully because we needed a place for the new sister missionaries to spend the night when they first arrive in the county.  So, there are eight beds in this apartment - however, there is only one shower, so it takes some serious give-and-take.

There are some problems in the homes.  What else could we expect?  The average apartment we have rents for $125.00 per month, and many cost much less.  So, we have small bathrooms, and lots of peeling paint.  The apartments are often very dark, and poorly ventilated.  A musty smell is common in all but the very best of the apartments.  Fridges are often empty, beds aren't always made, and the floors aren't always swept and mopped. But the missionaries actually do a pretty good job.

Clothing is hung carefully, and a general orderliness is found in most of the homes.  Curtains are a luxury we usually do without.  Spare sheets or the Honduras flag are used to keep out the curious eyes of those who might pass by.  Fans are our missionaries best friend and every apartment has two of them.  They are moved throughout the day and night to provide the most comfort possible from the oppressive heat.  Nowhere is a blanket to be found. Most of the missionaries sleep on top of their sheet - only covering themselves on the most deliciously cool of the nights.  A table with two chairs is about the only other furniture that you find in the apartments.  They all just barely received a brand new microwave oven - the first time ever in this mission.  They don't have much, but joy reigns!  The real story of this mission is NOT what you see in these apartments, but what you don't see!  Nowhere is there found a pornographic poster or an inappropriate book.  There isn't a TV or a boom box - boy, does that statement ever date us!  There are no skateboards, or bikes or motorcycle helmets. There isn't anything that would detract from the Spirit of the Lord being present.  The homes aren't fancy, but we both felt like the Savior would have felt comfortable within these walls.

Some of our missionaries are used to having a private bedroom. Many have come from homes where hot and cold running water is readily available.  Most haven't had to do much of their own cooking or cleaning.  For all of these reasons and many, many more, a mission is the most amazing educational experience a young man or woman could have at this time in their life.  After two years (or 18 months in the case of the young women) these missionaries will return home with an appreciation for what they have been given.  They will come home with a vast knowledge of the scriptures and with the ability to speak to others about their beliefs.  They will return home focused on what is important and with an understanding of those things that matter very little in this life.  Do our missionaries live like kings and queens?  No!  But, they are comfortable enough... and they are happy!

Elder Van Neck grins as we give his apartment a passing grade.

We are so grateful to be here with these young missionaries.  This mission has been a blessing in our lives.  We hope that the work we have done - and will continue to do for another few months - has helped these powerful young missionaries. 

THE LIFE OF A SENIOR MISSIONARY - AWESOME!

What a beautiful day we have arisen to see.  The skies are a crisp blue.  Billowing clouds sit on the tops of the jungle hills that surround the valley of San Pedro Sula.  Rain throughout the night washed away the smog and dust leaving a sparkle in the air.  Green is everywhere.  A four-inch long moth clings from our kitchen window screen as if it also is pausing from its daily journey to absorb the beauty of the morning.  Towering ceiba trees stand guard over the jungle greenery.  This is such a lovely land.

Early in our mission service I was asked by someone who was teaching a lesson to describe how being on a mission had changed my life.  I answered that it really hadn't changed our lives.  We have always done the things that we are doing now.  Yes, we are doing them in a different land and language, but our lives had thoroughly prepared us to serve this mission.  Being a senior missionary has been rewarding ... and not quite as hard as we thought it might be.

Our life really is about the same as it always has been.  We have always dated.  Sometimes we were with other couples and sometimes we went alone.  Nothing has changed there.  We still go on dates - usually nothing fancy.  Last night it was dinner at Denny's, but it was a date and we enjoyed ourselves immensely.  Before we came on this mission we would go to dinner and talk about the kids.  We do exactly the same thing now except we have adopted 250 more into our family.  Some of these young men and women will hold a place in our hearts forever. 
    Before our mission we had walls covered with love letters from grandchildren.  We still do.  Nothing has changed there except we have two more grandchildren to brag about than we did when we left home fourteen months ago.  For us family has always been the most important thing and that hasn't changed.  I'm pretty sure it never will.
   One thing has changed, and it has changed for the better.  We now spend all day - everyday - together.  We've never had that privilege before.  When we work, we work together.  If we exercise, we exercise together.  The dishes are a family affair.  However, I still let LaRae do most of them.  See!  Some things never change!



Elder Hebert savors LaRae's brownies.

   The rules for senior missionaries allow and encourage us to stay in touch with our family.  So, Skype has become a regular part of our weekly routine.  Before the mission we were able to go visit them face-to-face, but talking to them over Skype is the next best thing.  In the days of handwritten letters, it would have been such a difficult thing to leave your family.  But, now we really never leave them.  Nothing has really changed.
   Our lives prepared us so well for our mission.  We just do the same things we've always done.  LaRae brings cookies, or brownies, or fudgy jumbles to the office.  There is nothing different or difficult about that.  The missionaries absolutely love her for this kindness.  It is something no one else does down here, but it isn't new for her.  Really, being a senior missionary isn't all that different from life.

    The things we have done for years prepared us for what we do today.  For example: LaRae learned to cook and has come to enjoy doing it.  She still does it everyday.  Our meals are simple because they are cooked after we come home from ten hours in the office, but they are tasty and nutritious.  LaRae and I both learned how to speak Spanish when we were young.  Today we speak in Spanish all day long.  We're not completely fluent, and often the natives get a chuckle out of our clumsy efforts, but we get by just fine.  Wayne learned to play piano at an early age and now plays it wherever we attend church.  This has brought so much joy into the lives of those who love the enthusiasm of his playing and his loud singing voice.  Living on a teacher's salary taught us both the way to pinch a penny and we still find joy every time we walk down the grocery aisles and can joyfully pass by so many foods.  A simple jar of jelly beans can go a long way towards making life happy.

We both spent most of our lives teaching in church, at work and at home.  We still do.  Our life really hasn't changed all that much. We talk like we used to talk, think like we used to think and play like we always have.  Senior missionary life is ... well, just life.
 

We both do some things that we are not used to doing.  Wayne's present assignment as the financial clerk has been a real learning experience for him, and LaRae has needed to understand Excel and other computer programs.  For two people who are basically technologically challenged this has caused some sleepless nights.  But, isn't it wonderful that two people who have come to the age of retirement can still learn new things, conquer tough challenges and bless the lives of hundreds.  There are times we are asked to do and learn things that are out of our comfort zone.  But, what a wonderful way to spend our "golden years." 

PONDERING THE WEEK THAT WAS

Another week has come and gone - seven days during which time we had opportunities to work or be lazy, to serve or to be selfish.  The choice is always ours.  That agency to choose what type of a week we will have is an amazing gift from a loving Father in Heaven.  Today, as we sit down to record the happenings of this week we no longer see these past seven days as an opportunity to be seized, but as a moment of judgment from which we can learn.  Did we do all we could have done?  

President and Sister Dester, Sister Alvarez and Sister McCuistion

We attended Church with President and Sister Dester last Sunday.  Every one wants a piece of their time.  Every ward wants them to share the day with them.  We visited both the Fesitranh ward and the branch of El Bosque this week and will accompany them to El Carmen next week.  Fesitranh welcomed us so warmly.  We spent our first month in Honduras with them a year ago.  When they saw us walk into the building there were squeals of joy. Stake President Hernandez, saw us, walked directly to us, threw his arms around me and held me tight.  He said, in English, "I love you, Elder John."  The time we spent there last year certainly wasn't wasted.

Elder Roberts.  Doesn't he look good, Dad!

On Monday we had eight new missionaries arrive.  This always sets off a whirlwind of activity for a couple of days.  Airport visits, training meetings, feeding them - they are always hungry - assigning them their new companions, renting new apartments, furnishing those new apartments, and more.  This new group arrived only 10 days after President and Sister Dester arrived in Honduras.  Thankfully, it was a small group.  Had it been as large as normal we simply wouldn't have been able to do it all.
  This group of eight is the historically first group of missionaries ever assigned to the Honduras San Pedro Sula West Mission.  They are pioneers who during the next two years will be called upon to be the leaders.  They will open up many cities to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Assistants to the President, Elders Hebert and Polendo, commented that they were the most serious minded group of missionaries that they had ever seen arrive.  They will need to be special. 

Elder Daniels.  Fresh off the plane and ready to go!

Occasionally, our blog receives comments from the parents of missionaries who are presently serving here in Honduras or that will be arriving very soon.  We try to include pictures of your sons and daughters for you.  There is a song with words that goes something like this... "From God's hands... to your hands... to ours." Dear parents, please know that we, along with President and Sister Dester, are doing our best to watch over your sons and daughters.  They are amazing!  Thank you for sending them our way.

On Tuesday we went to the Bishop's storehouse in downtown San Pedro Sula.  In the attic of this building were stored the boxes and boxes of records that were moved from our office before it was remodeled.  We needed to located some of the financial records for the previous three years so they could be sent to Salt Lake City, Utah.  We were impressed with this building. Food is packaged, and stored here for those who are in need.  The supplies were few; the need is great.  It cannot supply all that is needed here, but it is a start.  We both felt the Spirit of the Lord very strongly here.  He is concerned with those of His children who have but little. 

The saga of human suffering is played out on every street of San Pedro Sula.  Stop lights provide a perfect place for the aged, the very young and the disabled to reach out for help.  Often with cars speeding past them on both sides, these people do what they must do to eat that day.  Our hearts break here every day. We offer what we can.  Our few pennies are but a drop in the ocean of need.  We are extremely grateful to belong to a Church that concerns itself with the physical well being of people throughout the world, in addition to their spiritual progression.  We are so blessed to belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (The Mormons)

Each time we experience the joy of new missionaries arriving, we also experience the heartache of saying goodbye to those we have come to love.  On Wednesday, Elder Ward and Elder Xol left us for their homes. They both served faithfully and well.  President and Sister Dester were kind enough to provide a delicious meal to celebrate the successful completion of their two-years of service, and we were lucky enough to be invited. 

On Thursday we met with President and Sister Dester and President and Sister Klein of the East Mission to discuss with them the financial workings of the mission.  Elder Dever, the financial secretary for the East Mission, helped in the presentation.  We explained exactly how the Church funds the Mission and how these monies should be spent.  These wonderful people listened with such appreciation for the hours that had been spent to prepare this information.

On Friday we met with the zone leaders counsel.  Sixteen of the very best missionaries sat in council with President Dester to discuss the challenges of the mission and the direction it should take.  We each had a few items to discuss with the group, but after our short time we excused ourselves to go back to the office to complete the normal duties of our days. 
   It's now Saturday again.  It's a day to do laundry, write this blog, do our grocery shopping and, perhaps, even make a special treat for us, and for others.  Today, LaRae made "nutty-buddies."  Yummy!  The week has flown by.  Six days!  More than 60 hours of office work and duties.  So now as we reflect back upon the week...  Did we do any good in the world this week?  Did we help anyone in need?  Did we cheer up the sad, or make someone feel glad?  Yes!  I think we did!

GETTING SETTLED IN

We have found ourselves in an enviable and unique position.  We live right next to President and Sister Klein of the East Mission; yet we serve with President and Sister Dester of the West Mission.  As a result we get the best of both worlds - we feel blessed. Both have been gracious in their gratitude for what little suggestions or help we might offer.  Both apologize frequently for taking a moment of our time.  What they don't realize is that it is a great privilege to just associate with them.  That is what we were able to do this past week.

Setting up their new homes requires that woman's touch and so LaRae and Sister Dester slowly roamed through the aisles of our version of Walmart - called Diunsa.  President Dester and Wayne just smiled and tried to stay out of the way.  This was last Saturday's activity.  We traveled from store to store - a pillow here, a bathroom scale there, a loaf of bread and more.  The real challenge is just trying to figure out the street system so as to not get lost.  We had such a good time with them.  We are positive that their missionaries are going to love them.  From a very personal standpoint - we already do love them.

Following their Saturday of shopping and stocking up their pantry, they began a grueling week of interviewing their missionaries.  They traveled to the furthest away zone and then did all the closer ones after that.  President Dester was able to interview 136 of his 138 missionaries.  We are sure they are exhausted.  Meanwhile we enjoyed having only half as many missionaries to manage.  This won't last long as we are expecting to receive more than 100 new missionaries in the next six months.  But, at least for this week, we actually had some free time.  We even came home early (4:00 p.m.) a couple of times. 
     Then today we were privileged to repeat much of the cycle with President and Sister Klein. They had left the very day after they arrived in Honduras for their furthest away zone and had taken all week to work their way back home.  The Lord, obviously, is blessing them with energy and strength.  They are keeping a schedule that would wear out any normal person.

One of the stores they both wanted to visit was Pricemart.  It is the Honduras version of Costco.  It carries the same brands and everything.  We helped direct them there, get their membership cards, and then just walked with them as they shopped.  We enjoyed our time with them.  They are good people and are already having an impact on their mission.

Then tonight the six of us went out to eat.  We took them to a Uruguayan Grill that we had once tried with President and Sister Veirs. The food was  wonderful.  The conversation was pleasant and, as you would expect, focused upon some of the situations they have encountered during their first 10 days as mission presidents. They are fully invested in doing the work of the Lord.  It has been a real privilege to be with them and to be able to call them friends.

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!