It's so Hard to Say Goodbye.... to yesterday!

There they go....  more of our children

back to the real world.

But they have been fortified and changed forever.

We heard tender and tearful testimonies from each of these missionaries
and then Elder Hurley sang a song he wrote
about leaving the mission.
Elder Hurley is very talented and has written
and performed some unbelievable musical numbers
through his mission.
Thank you Elder Hurley!

Sweet Missionaries 

We will never forget you...

We will forever love and pray for you.

Elders:  Cornejo, Jensen, Arriola, Richards, Farfan,

Hurley, Alva, Chicche, Minaya, Armstrong and Casanova.

Hermanas:  Doxey and Bond

Goodbye Video

Guest Blog Post ... Elder Jaden Lee Mecham

Elder Mecham has been in the office with us for one year.

He has gone beyond the call of duty.

With a few different circumstances that arose...

he was asked to stay in the office

over what any Elder should have to do.

There was never a complaint or a murmur.

We love and appreciate him.

He will be leaving the office on Tuesday

to go work hard in the field his last few weeks.

Here is his guest blogpost.

Elder Jaden Lee Mecham

"Wow…what a roller coaster the last two years have been.  A mission is something that cannot be described on paper.  Words just can’t explain the experiences that a missionary has in his dedicated service.  The lessons that I have learned here on the mission have forever changed me.

Many missionaries arrive to their missions excited to serve, learn, and bring others to Christ but at the same time feel a sense of insecurity; wondering if they’ll really be able to measure up to the high task of representing the Son of God (as we should).  However, the Lord qualifies whom He calls.  When a missionary loses himself and realizes that God Himself is directing this work, miracles happen.  People are changed.  They come unto Christ and the young, selfish boy turns into a selfless man of God.

When we are humble and moldable the Lord takes us by the hand and brings His work to pass.  He knows His servants.  He uses our strengths and works with our weaknesses.  A missionary must forget thoughts of inadequacy and remember that when you represent Him you are entitled to His power.  Elder Bednar taught us recently to “Get out of the way”!

We have to realize that missionary service is a divine privilege and not a great sacrifice. That’s when God endows us with power. President Turk always teaches his missionaries that the pattern is the prize. It’s not the final result! It’s all about enjoying the journey. I’ve learned to be grateful for the difficulties and challenges.  Every challenge is a great opportunity."

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,

My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.

The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design

Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.”

Elder JL Mecham

Interviews are Over!

I started to cry in the car on the way to the office

this morning.

President Turk just reaches in his pocket and gets his

handkerchief... 

He doesn't even ask any more.

This is really it.... our last Interviews.

We have been in the last cycle of interviews

so each zone was coming in for their last time....

BUT today was our final Zone.

I felt like I had been punched in the tummy.

I could barely get through my talk.

but we did it....

and we are moving forward.

The Laureles Zone is led by Zone Leaders

Elder May and Elder Escobar.

The Lord is actually letting us down easily.

Our bodies are running out of steam.

Our adorable grand babies are crying their 

beedy little eyeballs out...

so that we will come home.

(in my dreams)

And these missionaries are so capable in every way.

Oh ...  they make me so happy.

Monday we start the week with Changes.

We will be saying goodbye to 14 on Monday

and Hello to about 30 on Tuesday.

Really we don't have time to cry...

We are booked!

The Laureles Zone includes:

Zone Leaders:   Elder May and Elder Escobar

Hermanas:  Bond, Childers, Montalvo

Elders:  Almazan, Alquizar, Arimuya, Bustamante, Cottle,

Hales, Johnson, Kellogg, Uriarte, and Zavala

There are a few extras thrown in here today...

because they missed their interviews for some reason 

or another.

HERE WE GO.... 

Bring on the Changes!

One Monthers....

Those that have been with us for about a month...

(maybe more like 5 weeks)

were in today with their trainers.

Aren't they Beautiful?

They were all still happy and beaming.

This doesn't mean that they have not felt

a little bit of pressure or uncertainty.

But they have all kept looking upward.

This is all that we ask of them for the first few weeks.

Keep looking up.

Father is there and He will help you.

This is when the sweet relationship with their 

Heavenly Father truly grows closer.

Each day gets better and each day gets easier.

You will get use to having a companion 24 and 7.

You will get use to the food

You will be able to keep up with an early schedule.

You will learn the language.

You will be able to teach with the spirit.

You will be able to walk all over Perú

if you have to, to help others find the Gospel.

Oh, how I love that these trainers are stepping up for all

the growth that is happening in the mission.

Especially our young Hermanas.

They are carrying their weight.

I am so proud of them.

We are getting better every day.

Families just encourage your missionaries with 

uplifting and positive letters.

Thanks for all your support and love.

They are doing so well!

Great Expectations.....

Zone Leaders for Casa Grande Zone

Elder Young and Elder Davila

had some great training today during interviews

It was also Elder Diaz' birthday....

Oh how I hope that these missionaries know how much I love them.

and that they remember what I expect from them

being missionaries here in the Trujillo mission.

I expect them to be happy.

Free from sin...

obedient.

they need to remember their pedigree...

Children of the most High God...

and they must be Preach my Gospel experts.

 They need to stand out in a crowd.

They need to speak reverently about our Father in Heaven 

and His son Jesus Christ.

I want them to remember that they are preparing families here 

to be eternal

but more importantly everything they are doing 

is for their eternal family someday.

I want them to remember that they are loved more 

than they can ever understand

and that there are truly angels on their right hand

and angels on their left.

I remind them to act accordingly.... just act like an angel too.

 We want each of them to stand out in the world.... be a light

be a beacon...  Make a difference

We have the most precious missionaries EVER!

.

They will not let us down...

Nor will they let our Heavenly Father down.

They know that doing His will... will make them the happiest they can ever be!

Arizona Survival....

Swimming lessons started at home today.

Walker, who just turned two yesterday

was still trying to love it...

But he wasn't crying.

Griff who is three was in a class of all cryers.

Not one of them wanted to be there except Griff.

When the class was over all the children piled out of the pool

and ran to their moms

while Griffin started to cry because he wanted to stay.

This is what we do in Arizona

preparing for swimming pool season.

 T-boy is a swimmer and loves the lessons.

This is  Pretty Penny's first lesson.
She was not too excited about it yet.

Walker Nash's Birthday

My little grandson Walker Nash Watts turned 2 years old today.

He had a little party yesterday.

He finally got his own phone.

 He also swung at a piñata...

Here are Griffin and Tillman in the big foam pit at the open gym.

And this morning the celebrations were still happening 

blowing out the candles on his waffle.

We LOVE you Walker.  

You are my Favorite 2 year old.

Also a special shout out to my mother.

Oh how I wish I had more of her traits.

She's one of a kind...

And she is priceless!

Thanks for my life Mom.

What did I do to deserve you as a mother?

I AM SO LUCKY!

(i.love.you.see.you.so.soon)

Office Changes....

The office age board is completely filled up and has photos

tucked behind those on the top row of those that are still coming.

President uses this board while he is working on changes

and leadership in the mission.

He can immediately see how long any missionary has been in the mission

and how much more time they have.

 So many factors go into filling leadership positions and opening

and closing areas etc....

 I do know that there was no hesitation in making this decision.

Elder Castillo will be replacing Elder Mecham

as the Assistant to the President in this next change.  

He is being trained by the Assistants right now.  

He has such a Beautiful Soul and will be a top notch

Assistant for us and for the Marlers.

Welcome my dear Felix!

Elder Mecham I am afraid to thank you any more

because you might be staying with us to 

the end...  Let's just leave it alone.

We Love You more than you will ever know!

They Almost Slipped Through

Somehow Elder Massey and Elder Levos

the Zone Leaders of the Central Zone

almost slid through without photos.

How could I forget the awesome demonstration of the trompo

by Elder Pugmire

The trompo season is just coming to an end.

They are the wooden spinning tops.

And wow... can the young boys do fancy tricks with them

Elder Pugmire can pop them all over his body too.

The farther you go away from the city...  the more the boys still 

play with the trompos.

Central Zone is the zone that the mission home is in.

We appreciate their good works.

Central Zone Includes:  Hermanas Rojas and Semorile

Elders: Rojas, Lopez, Pugmire, Wood, Minaya, Levos, Mano. Smith

Randall, Massey, Marchant, Calderone, Cordova and Elescano

Check Off Another One....

Last interviews with the Porvenir Zone.

Yes I am milking it.

It is a big deal to me.

I can't stand to think that I won't

be with them in their interviews anymore.

We returned from Lima late last night

and jumped up this morning to all

these glorious smiles.

Porvenir Zone has 16 Elders.

oops.. the collages doubled up on a few photos.

Zone Leaders are Elder Meza and Elder Iler.

Elders: Guerra, Jensen, Roldan, Farfan, Balas,

Bustinsa, Rodriguez, Spencer, Flansberg, Richards

Diaz, Dow, Ipi and Aguilar

Still in this rotation we are studying about 

Daily planning, Area books, Agendas etc....

Time Management Skills.

Fill them up... every minute.

We don't have a second to spare!

Mission Presidents Seminar... Lima

We were surprised by these sweet returned missionaries

at the airport when we arrived in Lima

for our Mission Presidents Seminar.

One of their brothers works for Lamoni tours

and found out our schedule...

And Surprise!

They came to the hotel and we all ate dinner together and caught up.

We thank them all for coming.

We love you all.

Elder Tagle, Hna, Montes, Hna Parque, Hna Cruz and Elder Del Aguila

Mission Presidents Seminar

is a great time to see and be with dear friends.

This was our last one, so it was a little sad

saying goodbye to everyone.

These were just random shots by me not the real photographer.

Our dear North American friends who have served in Peru

with us at the same time will

be lifetime friends.

They know exactly what we have been through.

We have shared stories and experiences

that have gone from roaring laughter to tears streaming

down our faces.

Dorius' and Bluncks

thanks for sharing this experience with us...

We will love you forever!