A letter from President Gee and his wife

Dear Parents,
Today I would like to describe what transfer week is like. On Tuesday, (preparation day) the current missionaries who are going to be transferred are busy packing and preparing for moving on Wednesday. In the meantime President Gee, the two assistants, and myself head for the airport to welcome in the arriving missionaries. This time there were nine Elders and two Sisters to greet. It is always fun to see a big group of smiling missionaries come walking down the corridor of the airport. They do stand out in a crowd! We know that it also isn't hard for them to spot us. This group of missionaries was impressive, happy, polite, excited to get going, and a little nervous. First they go to the mission office to get acquainted with the office missionaries. Then they head for the mission home where we feed them a snack. The afternoon is spent getting oriented by the assistants while President Gee interviews each one. Usually they nod off a little after a couple of hours. We have a dinner about 5:30 and enjoy visiting and getting acquainted. Then the part they really look forward to comes. Although they have the jitters they are excited to get out and see what missionary work is like. They go for about an hour and a half with some of the local missionaries. They come in and report, we pray, and send them to bed.
On Wednesday we start with breakfast. President Gee puts on an apron and becomes the chief chef, making omelettes, and whatever else I tell him to. We load the missionaries up in the van and they go to the Stake Center nearby for more orientation. By 10:30 they are supposed to know enough to meet their companions and head for their areas.
It is a lot like a carnival on transfer day. We have five zones in the mission so each zone is assigned a specific place in the church parking lot. Cars are arriving from all over the mission and missionaries are all over the place trying to get their luggage in the right vehicle to head out. Usually someone forgets to leave the cell phone or the keys from their last area. We are learning to deal with it. The really fun part is watching everyone take advantage of the chance to visit with missionaries they have known in former transfers. There are hugs and high fives all over the place. It feels like a celebration as they are able to get caught up on what is going on. President Gee is there and smiles for a while. If it goes on too long he starts to pace. They need to get on their way and get back to work! They arrive a little before 10:30 and usually by about 11:15 everyone is on their way again, ready to start adjusting to their new situation.
The missionaries who are ready to go home load their belongings in the van and head for the mission home. We feed them a snack and then have one great last experience. We take them to the temple. We have been blessed to have the temple president, President Gillespie, spend about an hour with us after the temple session, talking with us about future temple service and also discussing things about the temple. This has been a great blessing to the ones who have been able to be in this meeting. We have been fortunate to have most of the groups going home for the past year be able to do this.
Then we head back to the mission home and have our last feast together. Usually the missionaries going home are about as nervous as the new ones were the day before. However, they seem to retain their appetites. President Gee gives them one last interview and instructions about their flight home. They find it drives them crazy to sit around and not have anything to do. They hope they can sleep during the night. We are up early to get them to the airport in time. President Gee helps them through all the details and I try to hold back the tears. We say our final good-byes before they go into security. President Gee and I watch through the glass windows until all of them are through. They turn and wave, I can't hold back the tears, and they are gone, back to their families. We know how excited the people are at the other end to see them again. It is bitter-sweet for us as they end this most wonderful chapter of their lives.
I hope this gives you a picture of what happens every six weeks. Again, we appreciate the communication with you. Please feel free to tell us if you have any concerns. It is hot here! They seem to be surviving.
Love, Sister Gee