Tuk-tuk

11-07-2015

Transfer week! (again)

This transfer was my third (after September and May) at the Sheraton right by Schiphol Airport. It was also the biggest in total number of missionaries arriving and departing: 44. (Though total arriving was higher in December, when we had 20 instead of 17 new missionaries). So, needless to say, it was a busy week. This was exacerbated by having a brand new mission president. Thankfully, between the office elders, the APs and myself, we were able to keep things running properly and show President Bunnell what needed to happen. 

On Monday, we discussed transfers with President Bunnell and sorted all that out. It was his first time in the office for all the Monday stuff, but everything went well. We had a weird sort of staff meeting during lunch, but everything was discussed that was necessary.

The next morning we were at the Sheraton bright and early, only to find out that the greenies would be 2 hours late. So we returned to the office for a few hours and then were back at the Sheraton to meet them when they arrived. We then got on with all the necessary stuff and sorted everything out that they would need for financial and legal stuff. Meanwhile, President Bunnell interviewed all of them, which was no small task. After the usual IND trip, they napped and President and the APs discussed their first cities. After dinner, they were told where they will be starting their missions.

Wednesday, the new missionaries were trained by the assistants and President on various missionary techniques and the mission vision. Meanwhile, their trainers and the departing missionaries began drifting in. By the time lunch arrived, there were about 70 missionaries in the conference area of the hotel, standing around eating lunch. They did not have much time to eat, before we got them on the train to Leiden to sign in. There was some craziness there, as there always is at some point during each transfer week. But finally, they were all sent off to their new cities and we returned to the hotel to help out with the departing missionaries and their bag weighing and plate wrapping. After dinner, while my companions went off to go pick up some luggage, I waited at the hotel for the Zoetermeer sisters to drop off a sister from Gent who is going to the MTC.

Bright and early in the morning of Thursday, we were up to see off the departing missionaries and help out with the luggage. Everything went smoothly as regards getting them off this time. Almost at our usual time, we arrived at the office and got back to normal work (sort of). In the afternoon, one of my old companions dropped by with his parents, and that was fun.

The rest of the week was same old same old recovery from transfer week. Hahahaha. On Saturday, we went to the beach in Katwijk, and stumbled upon a big search and rescue demonstration day. First, we saw a simulated car crash response, with police, fire department and ambulance. I loved it. On the beach there was some rescue boat stuff, too.

"No one is born hating another person" - Nelson Mandela