Safe Arrival: Email from Mission President and Wife

Dear Parents ...

We are thrilled to tell you that each of your sons and daughters arrived safely here at the Ontario Airport this morning!  We were pleased that they were greeted by blue skies nd sunny, 70+ degree weather.  They were all quite pleased about that!  The landscape is very beautiful right now--green hills and mountains, trees in bloom and colorful flowers everywhere!  Many of them always seem to remark about the many palm trees.  All of these things seem to help them relax and realize things are going to be okay!

What a great group!!!  We took them to the Mission Office for orientation ...

In the mid-afternoon, the missionaries arrived at the Mission Home for more instruction and a little R&R.  They were able to watch and listen to Elder Holland's wonderful talks from the October 2007 and April 2008 General Conferences.  ...  President Plocher and President Bishop, both counselors in the Mission Presidency, spoke to all the missionaries before dinner.  Sister Reeves had them introduce themselves, tell where they were from, about their families and their hobbies and interests, while President Reeves interviewed each one.

Around six, we had a delicious Italian dinner, followed by a wonderful testimony meeting.  All of the elders are sleeping tonight at the Mission Home.  ...  We will have breakfast at the mission home in the morning (waffles with strawberries and whipping cream), followed by a little training, then President Reeves will announce the new companionships!  This is always a very exciting time!  We have wonderful trainers for your great sons and daughters!  We will try to let you know of their assignments tomorrow by email.  We will also be sending a photo to you of your missionary with President and Sister Reeves in the coming days.

Thank you for sending us such wonderful, well-prepared missionaries!  We feel so blessed!  President Reeves and I are sad to say that we will be sent home by July 1st.  We have loved this mission with all of our hearts!  Time has moved too quickly!  ... We still have just short of four months and we are trying to do everything we possibly can each day to continue to serve the Lord and move the mission forward in the way that the Lord would have it moved!!

We send our love!  President Mel and Sister Linda Reeves