Returned With Honor!

(Elder Mumford is released from his 2 year missionary service, by President Shafer; and received a copy of the following letter, from the Mission President.)

Dear President Shafer,

Elder Martin D. Mumford returns to his family, having served a highly successful mission in the Tokyo Kanto area of Japan. Elder Mumford has truly been a great missionary. He has served in 6 different areas of the mission and has had 12 different companions. Elder Mumford was district leader in both the Kunitachi and Koiwa Districts. He was a great motivator of of other missionaries.

During his mission, Elder Mumford served as as a trainer to a new missionary-Elder Remington. This is our most demanding and most important position and one we only give to our very best missionaries. As a trainer, he was outstanding. As a trainer, he taught by both his example and his teaching. Indeed, he was very effective. If only we would have had more missionaries like Elder Mumford.

I have heard Elder Mumford bear his testimony in both English and Japanese and have listened to him read from the Book of Mormon in both English and Japanese. He is very fluent in the Japanese language. Because of his hard work, he has become very proficient in both reading and speaking this difficult language.

Elder Mumford has been a missionary everyone loves to be around. He has a quiet and humble, yet powerful spirit that endears him to both other missionaries and the members and he has also been one of the hardest workers in our mission. Because he has been exact in keeping the mission rules, because he has worked so hard and because he speaks Japanese so well, the members have loved him wherever he has gone. Elder Mumford is talented, works hard, and gives all he has to serve the Lord. He is capable of doing and becoming anything he sets his mind to do. He has learned how to serve faithfully and well and will be a great blessing to the Church wherever he goes.

I believe he has laid a foundation for the rest of his life, and will be a wonderful husband and father. We thank Elder Mumford for his contributions to our Mission.

As Elder Mumford returns to your stake, I recommend him for Church service. He will be an active instrument in bringing success. May the Lord's blessings be upon you and your stake.

Warmest Regards,

President W. Steve Albrecht.

President- Japan Tokyo Mission

(Click on certificate to enlarge.)

We Are Dead!

When a missionary completes his 2 year service and returns home, the other missionaries say he is "dead" or he has "died." The companion at the time of his "death" is known as "the one who 'killed' the returning missionary.

Now, as a tribute to Elder Mumford's honorable "death," here is a fun song, written by the "late" Elder Cook, and the now "dead" Elder Mumford.

We Are Dead

(By Elder Mumford and Elder Cook)

(Sung to the tune of “Be Our Guest” from “Beauty and the Beast”)

We are dead, we are dead,

We don’t have to go to bed

At 10:30; now 6:30

Is our sleeping time instead.

We can date, not too late.

Did she leave, or did she wait?

Temple marriage, baby carriage:

They are starting to sound great!

Have our own mobile phone!

It’s ok to be alone.

When we’re done, we’ll have some fun

Or so they’ve said...

So let’s get in our car and drive out really far!

We are dead, we are dead, we are dead!

[Japanese Accent]

[No more dendo. Play nintendo!

This is missionary end-o]

Now let’s go back and find our future newlywed!

So we’ll just pack our bags

And put away our tags.

We are dead, we are dead,

Go home because we’re dead!

We are dead, we are dead, we are dead!

Welcome Home!

(Nicholas The Bear, joins in welcoming Elder Martin Mumford back home!)

(The Mumford Family display their welcome posters at the Portland airport, while waiting for the arrival of Elder Mumford .) (Click on any image to enlarge)

This will be the first time that Seth Robinson (Mallory's husband) will meet Martin.

Madison anxiously awaits the arrival of her big brother.

Three missionary moms gather with much emotion, as they wait to see their sons again after 2 long years.

(Wendy Draney, Karen Mumford, Cherie Petersen)

Here they come!

(The 3 missionary moms push past everyone and run to be the first to hug their sons!)

First hug with Mom

The three Tokyo Missionaries, have returned to Portland!.

Elder Martin Mumford, Elder Jaysen Draney, Elder Jacob Petersen.

Reunited with family once again!

Well Done!

Even the cats are happy to see Martin again!