Smile and Wave - The Bullet Train

Bullet Train in Japan

During our training over the last seven months to be mission leaders, while in a zoom meeting, Elder Bednar told us that arriving at our mission will be like standing on a train platform in Japan and a 200 mile an hour bullet train comes soaring through the station and you jump on it! Others say it is like drinking from a fire hydrant. I think both are true. This week it has felt like we were drinking from a fire hose while going 200 miles an hour!

We arrived at the Sonoma County airport in Santa Rosa at 1:00 pm on Monday June 26, 2023 and were greeted by President and Sister Puffer and the three missionaries who are assistants to the president. They are Elder Bliss, Colling, and Carter. The assistants took our luggage, (6 large bags plus carry on!) and the Puffers took us to lunch. After lunch we toured the mission office and then the mission home and were given instructions, phones, keys, and calendars along with a looseleaf full of contact information, schedules, ideas, forms, and notes. By 4:00 pm we nervously cut the umbilical cord and said goodbye to the Puffers. We then repacked our suitcases to get ready for a five-day mission tour and to meet all 150 of our missionaries. We are grateful to the Puffers for their kindness to us and all they did to help orient us to the mission. We have big shoes to fill!

President and Sister Quinn with President and Sister Puffer

There was so much to do and a ton to learn!! Our daughter Hannah made us laugh when she said to us, “Mom and Dad, When feeling overwhelmed, take the advice from the penguins in Madagascar and “Just smile and wave – just smile and wave!” . The next morning, we drove 4.5 hours to Eureka. Eureka was the first of eight zones we visited that week. As the missionaries ran out to meet us, I said to Mark just “smile and wave, just smile and wave!” we both laughed. This became our go to mantra for the week as we greeted each zone of missionaries, went to many meetings, answered phone calls, and responded to dozens of emails and texts.

At each zone meeting we introduced ourselves, our mission motto, and taught some lessons about the mission culture that we desire for our mission.(More on this in a later post.) Each meeting consisted of 20 to 40 missionaries. We were greeted at each ward building with smiles, streamers, balloons, cupcakes, and welcome signs. During the last few months I worked hard with on-line flash cards to memorize many of the missionary names. As I walked in it made me cry to see these missionaries whose photos I had stared at for months now in person! It was surreal and wonderful!  

We took a picture with each missionary and texted it to their parents to introduce ourselves to them. Our boxes from Naperville arrived and we have been busy unpacking and making the mission home feel like “home” in between attending meetings.

 As I was visiting with one of the sister missionaries, Hermana Diepenveen, (she is Spanish speaking) she reminded me that being “new” is a little scary, yet it is also a good time because you tend to rely on the spirit more to guide you and help you make decisions. Mark and I just don’t have the background yet to make some decisions for the mission on our own and we have had to rely on the guidance from prayers. It is a beautiful truth, as I have mentioned in a previous post, that with God you can not fail. The spirit will guide each of us in our lives. I am seeing many miracles already here in Santa Rosa and I know the Lord is directing this work. I will remind myself that after the newness wears off to still rely heavily on the spirit to show me the way.

I also feel very blessed to have the support and love of family and friends. I could not do this alone. These thoughtful gestures to welcome us have meant the world to me!!

Here are some more photos from our first week:

Treats left in the Mission Office

Heart attack on the door of the Mission Office

A unity necklace sent to me from my daughters as a welcome gift and to remind me that they are close by. Katie, Melissa, Natalie, Maryssa, and Hannah

Flowers sent to me from my sisters. Jean, Diane, Rebecca, and Nancy

Treats from missionaries.

Letter of encouragement from a dear friend, Pat.

 Thinking of you in California! - Elaine