Time for a Mission Tour

January brought our first mission tour by a general authority. We had Elder James M. Dunn of the Seventy and his wife. Even though we had had zone conferences Jan 6, 7, & 8, we still had more Zone Meetings with our guests and all the missionaries on Jan 19, 20, & 21, 2009.

Elder and Sister Dunn with President

and Sister Murri at the Thousand Oaks Stake Center.

Missionaries at the Thousand Oaks Meeting

from Ventura, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks/Newbury Park

and Simi Valley Zones.

Missionaries at the Santa Maria Meeting

from the Santa Barbara, Santa Maria,

and San Luis Obispo Zones.

Missionaries at the Bakersfield Meeting
from the Bakersfield, Bakersfield East,
and Bakersfield South Zones.

Christmas Joy

We had some wonderful guests and experiences during December.
Here are some photos to reflect the events in reverse order, of course.

Lisa and her birthday cake, celebrating #29.

Our Christmas Dinner at the Mission Home.

Our Christmas Tree at the Mission Home.

The Missionary vehicles attending Christmas Devotional in Bakersfield.

Lisa and Santa at Christmas Devotional in Bakersfield on Christmas Eve 2008.

Ella hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa Murri on December 21, 2008.

Rose Garden at the Los Angeles Temple on December 19, 2008.

The Murri boys in the mission home on December 14, 2008.

Spencer, Kate, and Will with Grandma and Grandpa

after a long time at Church on December 14, 2008.

New Mission Leaders

New and returning leaders as of December 30, 2008 President Murri's assistants: Elder Kevin Hansen and Elder Cameron Bassett.

Zone Leaders from left to right: kneeling then standing in companionships: Zone 10: Elders Karlsson & Gander; 9: Elders Winspear & Kettley; 8: Elders Warnick & Christiansen; 7: Elders Jacobsen & Crapo; 6: Elders Eaton & Rutledge; 5: Elders Frank & Grubaugh; 4: Elders Bennett & Johnson; 3: Elders Bobo & Nelson; 2: Elders Boothe & Tew; 1: Elders Prater & Kimble.

Fifth Comings and Goings

President Murri in one last photo with these missionaries heading home on 31 December 2008.
Front row: Elders Luke Brewer, Jonathan Kreuger, Carlos Martinez, Ezequiel Perdomo. Back Row: Elders Michael Barney, Derek Buchanan, Cassidy Christensen, Scott Johns; Hermana Sara Scott; Elders Karl Smith, Alex Stafford, Garrett Williams, & Pte. Murri.

These missionaries joined our ranks on the 29 of December 2008:
Front Row: Elders Eric Johnson, Jaron Smith, Jeremiah Jackson, Bradley Durrant, Hideo Kyotani. Middle Row: Elders Daniel Reeves, Nathanael Turner, Nicolas Allphin; Hermanas Jessica Larico and Raisa DeLeon; Elders Christopher Rooyakkers, Carson Pace, Daniel Garcia. Back Row: Elders Elijah Batemon, Trevor Golden, Abel Wilkins, Michael Peterson, Scott Mullenix.