Welcome Home from Tahoe

Hello Everyone,

            I hope you’re all doing good.  I hope you all had a blast at Tahoe, I’m sure you did. Wish I could have been there.  Sounds like Flat Zach had a blast too, thanks!  I loved your missionary idea, sounds like Flat Zach is getting lots of attention.  I can’t wait to see all of the pictures.  I really liked the puzzle letter that you sent.  The rainstorm sounded wild.  I saw Allison’s (from Tahoe) daughter the last Sunday I was at the MTC across at the temple.  I talked to her for a second but I didn’t have much time. 

The info in your email about all the mission farewells is crazy, there’s getting to be a lot of missionaries out in the field.  I enclosed part of President’s letter (this week’s 7/29) about how crazy it’s been leading up to this new transfer.  32 new missionaries came to the Pittsburgh, PA mission. 

(The President's letter that he is referring to is in the post below)

In my Ensign reading this week I found a quote that Pres. Eyring gave in a talk called Mountains to Climb.  He said, “Trouble itself can be your way to strengthen and finally gain unshakeable faith.” 

Here are a few questions for you and random information:

1.      How’s the mulch going, any new business?

2.      There are lots of oleanders in peoples’ yards and lots of squirrels, bunnies & groundhogs in the middle of cities. 

3.      All of the yards look like Beard’s  yard with all of the big trees and lots of ivy growing everywhere.

4.      Don’t send anymore gum right now.  I can only have it when we are in the apartment.  The white handbook says that we can’t chew gum while we are out walking.  So I still have 4 packs left.

5.      Tell Boris to write me one of these days.  I’ve only gotten one letter with the Germany debriefing.  I sent him something a while ago but got nothing back.  I know he is busy but I want to hear from him.  What golf course in PA is the US open at and when is it?

6.      Camp Hill is home to the corporate offices of Rite Aid.

7.      There are lots of cicada insects and they are very annoying.

8.      Anyone new in the ward? 

9.      Any big local or national news?

10.  Is the Draper Trax station open yet?

11.  FYI, I’m about 5 minutes away from the Susquehanna River.  Harrisburg is right on the banks, I’ll try to get some pictures. 

12.  I got Addie’s baptism announcement and heard from Lori that she hurt her knee. 

13.  Have you run in any ½ marathons since I’ve been gone?

Now you have a bunch of questions to answer for me.  I loved all of your muffins, cupcakes & the cinnamon bread.  I ate it all and the frosting is almost gone too.  I hope this letter was a good welcome home present from Tahoe.  Love you and miss you and can’t wait to see your pictures.

Love,

            Elder Muir

Mission President's Letter (7/29/13) Regarding Transfers

Week 8 President’s Letter

Dear Sisters & Elders,

                As you are having your Pday today we will be welcoming 32 new missionaries to our mission.  This will undoubtedly be the largest group we have or will receive and will bring us 230 younger missionaries, just 8 short of the maximum number we have been allotted.  There has been a huge effort expended in preparing for this transfer, especially by the office staff and the Pittsburgh 2^nd Ward Elders who have paved the way for the influx by finding, leasing and furnishing 10 new apartments as well as securing cars, telephones, travel arrangements, debit cards, medical cards, assembling welcome packets, etc.  Please join me in thanking all those who helped or will help in any way to make this monumental transfer go smoothly.  Elder & Sister Bentley arrived last week and will replace Elder & Sister Warnock as vehicle/telephone coordinator and office secretary.  It has been a blessing to have the Warnocks here to handle so adeptly their multitude of duties during this historic growth time. 

                We will be opening 10 new proselyting areas this transfer and have created 3 new districts and a new zone.  New areas will be opened in Fairview, West York, Ephrata, Sunbury, Jamestown, Olean, Cranberry, Monogahela and Pittsburgh 3^rd wards as well as the Indian branch.  New districts were created in the Lancaster, Altoona and Jamestown zones and the Pittsburgh zone was divided into the Pittsburgh zone and Pittsburgh South zone. 

                Regardless of the many changes brought about by the influx of missionaries, some things don’t change and one is my continual counsel for you individually to progress and improve.  So, as I do at the beginning of each transfer period I urge you to arrange for a meeting with your bishop and ward mission leader to introduce (or reintroduce) yourself, to express your dedication to your calling as a missionary and to pledge your support to your ward or branch.  Emulate the example of Ammon recorded in Alma chapter 17 as he demonstrated to King Lamoni how he would live among and serve the king and his people.  Set goals and makie plans with your companion about how you will improve. 

                Once again we will continue to focus on finding people to teach and on improving teaching skills.  Over half (55%) of you have arrived since January, so you have at most six months experience as missionaries.  Many have been trained by inexperienced missionaries and some have trained before they had a chance to finish being trained themselves. We will outgrow this in a few months but the more effort we put into our study the faster the growth will take place.