so sad to say good-bye to our mission president

Tomorrow is the last day of a 3 year mission for President and Sister Christianson. Tomorrow afternoon, they will be picking up the new president and his wife (President and Sister Francis) at the airport. After spending a few hours with them, the Christianson's will head off to a hotel and then fly home to Utah early Tuesday morning.

 All of us in the New York Rochester Mission love them so much and will miss this dynamic duo!

 

On June 18, the entire mission gathered at the Hill Cumorah study shelter for President Christianson's last transfer day.  Emotions were very tender. Testimonies were shared by departing missionaries and President and Sister Christianson.  The Spirit was strong.

 

 

We also assembled for a huge group picture at the Hill Cumorah.

It was quite a task.

Check out "face book" for the finished product. Copyright laws prohibit me from posting it on my blog.  Carl and I are on the front row, to the far right, standing up (on the face book photo).

 

This Monday we had our last staff meeting with President and Sister Christianson. Carl and I  have been so blessed to have had 18 months of inspirational weekly staff meetings with the Christianson's (along with two other office couples, who are also senior missionaries). We dressed very casually since we headed to the mission home after the meeting to help deep clean the home.

Sister Christianson removing photos, from the office bulletin board, of her and her husband
with groups of new missionaries

President Christianson gathering the last of his personal desk items 

 

 

It seems strange to think that tomorrow afternoon, we will be greeting President and Sister Francis,  and saying "good-bye" to Jack and Melanie Christianson. They have given it their all these past three years and have been valiant in their testimony of the Savior and have had a huge positive impact on the young missionaries who are their main responsibility. We all desire to be better people for having known them.