10 July 2017 Interim MLC, Introduce Swaziland

10 July 2017 Interim MLC, Introduce Swaziland

President Leavitt today in his letter to all the missionaries told them that the country of Swaziland had been switched from the Mozambique Mission to the Johannesburg Mission. We learned it was going to happen towards the end of July when we were in Provo at the New Mission Presidents Seminar. President Senna had transfers on Tuesday, 5 July 2017, and indicated to the missionaries that now they belonged to our mission. So we started calling them and sent Elder and Sister Wells, who conclude their mission and leave tomorrow, to Swaziland last Thursday-Saturday to meet all the missionaries, see their cars, flats and chapels, get GPS coordinates and see what they needed.

We had a two-hour meeting with all the office staff to hear details about the Wells trip and to also meet with the Area Travel staff to learn about the travel requirements between the countries. Doing transfers will be....well, not sure what yet. There will be many more factors to keep track of and take into consideration like who can go where, when and for how long--and what documents they will need before transfers can happen.

President Leavitt and I, and others are traveling to Swaziland this Friday-Sunday to meet all the missionaries, conduct interviews and training and hold a Zone Conference--and get a better feel for things.

We held a Mission Leadership Council today from 3:30-5:45 pm. The two Swaziland Zone leaders joined us by Skype. We had many new topics to cover before Zone Conference on Wednesday and Thursday. We have our last Zone of interviews tomorrow.

Elder Nogueira and Elder Feliciana, Swaziland ZLs, joining us by Skype on the screen

President Leavitt and I took Elder and Sister Wells out to a favorite restaurant of theirs on Ondekkers called The Diner. Elder Wells loves their ribs. We have enjoyed getting to know this remarkable couple who have worked so hard to serve the Johannesburg Mission in any way we have asked. They leave us tomorrow to begin the next chapter of their lives in Utah. We love them and wish them well. We will miss Elder and Sister Wells.