8-26-15 Arriving Missionaries!

Our longest visa waiter is finally here! Arriving from New Zealand this morning:

President on the way to training the trainers, got to FaceTime with our new elder:

Visiting the Taipei Temple while waiting for remaining arrivals:

Joined by our native Taiwanese missionaries arriving from the Philippines that evening:

Saying goodbye to their beloved MTC translator:

Here they are, all 32 missionaries! And one more arriving tomorrow morning direct to the mission home.

On the bus ride home, missionaries share about their families, something interesting about themselves, and what their expectations are for their missions:

 After a short night's rest, up early at the mission home for some traditional Taiwanese breakfast and seasonal fruit:

Dragon fruit, milk pineapple, mango, and watermelon!

 Oil sticks (Chinese doughnut) and soy bean milk:

 This sister discovered her ward member works in the mission home!

 Morning orientation:

 Learning from President about the mission vision, goals and plans:

After a presentation on the Blickenstaff family, 

new missionaries get an introduction to the Taiwan Taichung Mission:

Orientation on office procedures:

 And finances:

 Lunch at the chapel:

 Afternoon training included an introduction to Taiwanese culture by the APs:

 As well as training on street contacting:

 And a chance to practice!

 A banquet dinner before their Dan Jones Experience:

 Daring elders taking on the duck brain challenge:

 And some going for fish eyes:

 More duck brain takers:

 One brave sister...I think she swallowed it whole!

 President reviews with the missionaries their Dan Jones Experience:

 How many did not understand what was said, or were not understood tonight? But you survived!

 President sharing a miracle story (see Gaoxiong West Zone Conference post)

 Up bright and early for the mile run. This morning's fastest time clocked in at 5:15!

 Buddha claps:)

 They finally meet their trainers!

Lunch with the first companion in the mission field:

 Singing the mission song before departing to their first area!

 We love them all already!