Ft. Smith Zone

Last week was transfer week.  There was some talk about who was going and who was staying but I don't think anyone expected what happened on Wednesday morning at 6:45 am when transfers were announced on our zoom call.  Ten of the fourteen young missionaries in our zone were transferred to other districts with nine new ones coming in to replace them.  (We had a threesome of Spanish-speaking sisters and now only a companionship which is why the difference in numbers.)  Four of the five sisters in our zone were transferred.  Craziness!!!  And sad, because I was sick, we missed our last P-day with them on Wednesday.

I was so happy that they took a moment when they were waiting on transfer day at the Springville building to get a picture together--

Now all of the missionaries that were in Ft. Smith when we arrived are now on assignments other places.  Big changes.  I am sure that the new missionaries will fit in and we will grow to love them, too, but these are some outstanding missionaries.

Five of those missionaries will be released in the next transfer on October 7, so we won't see them again (except for Sister Wassmer who is still in Ft. Smith) until perhaps back in Utah at mission reunions.  Some of them said they will come to hear us speak when we return home next year.  That would be amazing.

We also learned that Elder Goble, who was a YSA missionary when we first got here was assigned as a new assistant to the President (AP).  No surprise--he was an outstanding missionary and leader.

The other piece of news from transfer morning was that P-day will now be on Wednesday each week.  That is so the missionaries will be able to attend the temple once a transfer.  The temple is not open on Mondays.  It will be an adjustment for the young missionaries who have gotten into the pattern of work, Sunday, then P-day--but they will figure it out.  It doesn't impact us in the same way because our time is structured differently, but we do enjoy P-day with them from time to time.

'Til we meet again, sweet missionaries!