Transfers #3-Departing Missionaries

Departing Missionaries! We love and will miss them!!

After attending the Temple together, a departing Texas meal at the Mission Home, the

 missionaries are given a binder with their first picture in the field, all the weekly letters/emails they wrote to their Mission President, transfers, etc. its special to watch them look and read through it.

                                 

Jacob more than happy to take pictures for the missionaries

Transfer #3-Arriving Missionaries

This was a bitter sweet for the Assistant, Elder Border....with this being his last transfer.  He will be missed!  He has done a great job training the new Assistant, Elder Muhlestein to take his place.

Elder Henderson is the other Assistant who works so hard to make sure all the details are in place for transfers.  We are constantly amazed at how much work and energy these missionaries have!  They never seem tired and they are always happy and eager to help however they can.  

Arriving Missionaries!!  Loading all of their luggage and then heading to the Mission Home where a welcoming Texas meal awaits them

Arriving Missionaries

Some of the missionaries had to wake up at 3:00 am to catch their flight

After they have been welcomed (Texas style), trained, have had their individual pictures taken with President and Sister Ames (to send home to mom and dad), orientated on the what, where, when, and how...they are introduced to their their trainers and they are off and running!

Visiting General Authority

We had our first visiting General Authority.   Elder Rafael E Pino and his sweet wife, Patricia.  We didn't quite know what to expect, but we just loved every moment of it.  

Born 1955; Valencia, Venezuela- Baptized as a teenager; Aaronic Priesthood as a youth, Melchizedek Priesthood as a you ng adult. Missionary to the Venezuela Maracaibo Mission Married Patricia Dassler, 1981, Washington D.C. Temple; three children Bishop; Stake President; Area Seventy for the South America North Area President of the Argentina Rosario Mission First Quorum of the Seventy, 2008-present We picked both him and his wife up at the DFW Airport, and it didn't take long until we were fast friends.  We learned that they have only been in the US for two months, giving President Ames the opportunity to practice his Spanish! And though still learning, their English was amazing.  We then brought them back to the Mission Home where they met and visited with Jessica and Jacob.   With it being rainy and cold, we treated them to a light supper of homemade potato soup and rolls. The next morning we met with half of the mission/missionaries where Elder Pino gave an inspiring, uplifting and powerful training!  We then took him back to the Mission Home where Sister Passey, who is an amazing cook, had a nice meal waiting for us that included creme brulee (it now being Jacob's new favorite dessert)  I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that "for best results, use a small, hand-held torch to melt the sugar". Yum! The next morning before meeting with the other half of the mission/missionaries, Elder Pino led the Leadership Council.  This being where the leaders of the mission meet to discuss the needs, goals and vision of the Texas Fort Worth Mission.  Elder Pino was very impressed with our missionaries and we were proud to show them off....gotta love their welcome sign to the other missionaries  After Elder Pino met with the second half of the mission/missionaries, giving an equally amazing training and teaching, we ended with a beautiful lunch by my Visiting Teachers This is where Elder Pino went over with us what he has felt and has observed of the mission...how it is doing, what needs to be improved, etc. and we are happy to report that the feedback was all positive.  Elder Pino even told the missionaries that President Ames was the best mission president he has ever met and that they could not go wrong if they heeded his counsel and instructions.  Needless to say, President Ames was relieved, and was able to take a much needed nap.  And just for the record, I would have to agree with Elder Pino....he is pretty amazing.

ONE HUNDRED DAYS!!

  We are happy to announce that we finally made it to the 100th day of adjustment!  

 Aforementioned, 2 transfers, 2 groups of incoming missionaries, 2 groups of arriving missionaries, 3 Senior Couples, 2 Stake Conferences, (roughly) around 554 interviews, 4 MLC'S, 4 Specialized Training's, 3 trips to the E.R., 4 firesides, 1 MP Seminar and one visiting Apostle,

   We are officially acclimated, adjusted, and awesomely aware!! 

Things are most definitely looking up......!!  

How appropriate that our 100 day mark would be the same weekend as General Conference.  

It was General Conference 6 months ago that we heard this amazing talk.....

It Is Better to Look Up

CARL B. COOK

Of the Seventy

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If we, like President Monson, exercise our faith and look to God for help, we will not be overwhelmed with the burdens of life.

Play

At the end of a particularly tiring day toward the end of my first week as a General Authority, my briefcase was overloaded and my mind was preoccupied with the question “How can I possibly do this?” I left the office of the Seventy and entered the elevator of the Church Administration Building. As the elevator descended, my head was down and I stared blankly at the floor.

The door opened and someone entered, but I didn’t look up. As the door closed, I heard someone ask, “What are you looking at down there?” I recognized that voice—it was President Thomas S. Monson.

I quickly looked up and responded, “Oh, nothing.” (I’m sure that clever response inspired confidence in my abilities!)

But he had seen my subdued countenance and my heavy briefcase. He smiled and lovingly suggested, while pointing heavenward, “It is better to look up!” As we traveled down one more level, he cheerfully explained that he was on his way to the temple. When he bid me farewell, his parting glance spoke again to my heart, “Now, remember, it is better to look up.”

As we parted, the words of a scripture came to mind: “Believe in God; believe that he is … ; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth.”¹ As I thought of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s power, my heart found the comfort I had sought in vain from the floor of that descending elevator.

Since then I have pondered this experience and the role of prophets. I was burdened and my head was down. As the prophet spoke, I looked to him. He redirected my focus to look up to God, where I could be healed and strengthened through Christ’s Atonement. That is what prophets do for us. They lead us to God.²

Ames all around....

Getting around to the other members of the R.Ames family......
Alex and Chelsea are workin, studyin, earnin, drivin, lovin, servin, playin and just plain innovatin in Provo, Utah.  We talk to them as much as they will allow us without driving them crazy.  We are so grateful for skype, face time and texting.  It helps when we are needing our Alex and Chelsea fix!

 Hard to believe its already been a little over 2 years since Alex has been home off his mission....and what great ideas and counsel he gives each time we call and ask his opinion having to do with the mission/missionaries.  I especially love how he is always quick to respond, "Ultimately though, its whatever dad feels inspired to do as the Mission President"....great counsel. 

Isaac is all settled at BYUI.  He loves everything about college life... he is studyin, workin, servin, playin, and doin lots of datin!  

That would be Isaac in the sunglasses

Hard to believe he has been home from his mission for almost 5 months! He too has such great counsel and advice for mom and dad and we love getting advice from a missionary's point of few so to speak.  He too is always very mindful of the keys that President Ames holds for the Texas Fort Worth Mission. 
Side note from mom: Since being here on this mission, I have realized even more what incredible missionaries my sons were.  I am amazed at how hard they worked, based on their Mission President and companions.  I never heard about any of the struggles, doubts or fears that they had, yet I know there had to be some.  If there in one things I have already learned from this mission, it is that one cannot grow or develop without trial and opposition. There has to be strengthening and with that comes some struggling. 
They were always so happy, positive and inspiring!  It was such a strength to me and blessed our lives so much in ways that is hard to describe.  I hope to encourage our missionaries to be the same. To have an optimism for the work, for their mission, their companions, the missionaries, members and area.   

It will be so very nice to be together for the holidays......

Just love these guys!!!

Seminar for Mission President

 Every six months we get to attend a Seminar for Mission Presidents and their spouses in the North America Southwest area.  There were 21 Mission Presidents, Elder Neil L Anderson, Elder Tad Callister, Elder Foster, Elder Teh and their spouses.  It was a time of training, learning, inspiring and just plain fun! First we all attended the San Antonio Temple together.  

2013 Mission President Seminar

When we arrived they had a lunch waiting for us along with a really cute gift bag full of mementos  

one of the rooms we met in

With Friday night being date night, it was spent touring The Alamo....

We then got to take a tour on the riverboat

                                     

Saturday and Sunday was spent learning and receiving counsel and instruction.  It was an amazing experience.  The wives even had their own session with Elder Anderson, where we received great counsel and love.  Needless to say, we took lots of notes and have a lot of information to share with our missionaries! Speaking of which, we thought for sure we would not be able to concentrate, much less enjoy ourselves, being away for 4 days from our kids and all of our missionaries.  So we were surprised at just how relaxed we felt!  (not sure if that's good or bad??) We were happy to come back and find all was well. 

FIRST Zone Conference and Transfers #2

 Our first Zone Conference was held the week of August 13th...we had been here for a total of 16 days, had toured the mission, met all the missionaries and senior couples, attempted to organize every needful thing in the mission home, (now our home for 3 years) attended our first MLC and did our first training, attended our first specialized training mtg and did some more training, welcomed 20 new missionaries and did more some training, went through our first transfer, said good-bye to 13 departing missionaries, and then it was Zone Conference.  What is Zone Conference you ask? 

A zone is what Kim was in for the first few hours....but its also where zones are brought together quarterly in one place for up to 6 hours- to train, teach, motivate and instruct. Its normally held every 6 weeks or so for 6 hours.  We got to attend one every day that week of the 13th and it was amazing!   We do some training, role playing, goal setting, singing, eating (sisters from the Stake will take turns feeding the missionaries at Zone Conferences and it is of course very organized, very nice and very yummy) Not only was it great to see all of the missionaries again but it really gave us the opportunity to interact with them and learn more about them.  My favorite part was hearing all of them sing. My second favorite part was watching them interact with each other.  These missionaries are so awesome!  They are so happy and so focused.  We left feeling so inspired and invigorated.

 Quick snap shots of that President Ames took before the official picture for history was taken and Sister Ames is definitely in a zone 

Kileen Zone performing a musical number
Sister Glazier leading (the sister of Sister Lehnardt)

                                                  
                                                  
                                       
                                                            

Role Playing or rather...."Real Playing" or Practicing!

                                            

  

Every Zone has a group of ladies that fixes a nice lunch for us and even leave us treats for the road!

Getting ready for car inspection @ Zone Conference

REVIEW:

Every 6 weeks we have the "incoming missionaries" 

Our most recent new missionaries (arrived Sept. 17th)

After we pick them up from the airport, treat them to a Texas Welcome barb-e-que, have a getting to know you and testimony mtg, training etc. we introduce them to their new trainers.

Meanwhile..... transfers are happening out in the parking lot, and somehow it all works very smoothly! 

We then take the "departing missionaries" back to the Mission Home, attend the Temple, treat them to a good bye barb-e-que, have a going away/testimony meeting and then its off to the airport the next morning.

Our 2nd group of departing missionaries who left Sept. 19th

This time one of the Assistants to President Ames will be going home-:-(  And though we are excited for him to move on the the next phase in his life, he will be missed.  He was a great assistant to President Ames, in helping him get organized, situated and so patient!  He was always smiling and a great leader.

 In between transfers we have MLC every first Friday, specialized training, interviews (with each missionary), farewell to Senior Couples, speaking engagements at Stake Conferences, firesides, dinners, etc. and Zone Conference. In addition President Ames is reading an email he receives from each missionary (roughly around 277 e-mails a week) Sister Ames is taking care of the medical needs that the missionaries might have, and there are always extra events that are needing our attention (car and bike accidents, major sicknesses, trips to the ER, etc.) We also get a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy who visits, trains, evaluates and teaches us.  (more on that in October) And every now and then, we get a surprise visit from one of the Twelve Apostles who in this case was Elder Neil L Anderson and with him was his wife Kathy, Elder Callister and his wife Kathy.