Enduring to the end

We love Zone Conference.  

To mingle with the missionaries is probably one of the highlights of our life.  Zone Conference gives the opportunity to do just that.  They come with all of their talents, problems, gifts, challenges, testimony, and on and on.  Some are very mature and responsible for not only their cars but also their lives and work they do on a daily basis.  Others, only a few, are there for....well I don't know what they are there for.  They do the work but hearts are not in it.  We had an Elder go home this week.  That always breaks my heart.  Sometimes they go home and will try to come back but this Elder isn't coming back.  So there was the ripple effect all the way down.  Our own dear Elder Condie went north to take his place, then Elder Owens from "Jupiter" down south came to Hunters Creek to take his place.  It happened so quickly no body knew what happened. So sad.

Like I said Zone Conference.  Three days at three different areas that take in two or three zones each day.  Palm Bay is our first day, it is for the two zones down south that encompass the everglades and 'country' living.  One of the areas down there Belle Glade was closed because of the threat to the missionaries lives.  This is the smallest one with the least amount of cars to check.  With the heat and humidity high we hurried to get through inspecting all the cars.  While there I was able to visit with Elder Lopez, who lost his mother last week.  He is an amazing Elder.  I was so impressed with him.

He is in the center.  A wonderful young man.

 

THIS IS ELDER BENJAMIN CAPPS

Of course we have Elder Fielding...Amy Heaton's son.  A good Elder.

Also at Palm Bay there was a patch of HUGE mushrooms. I took a picture of them.

I didn't think this really showed just how big they were so I...

Put my foot next to the mushrooms.  Don't know if you can see the ant hill I have my foot on.  It happened to be red ants.  Can you see them starting to climb up my shoe and foot?

I started to walk away and my leg stated to sting.  I looked down and my leg was covered with red ants.  I let out a yelp!  Thank goodness it was by the sisters car...they went into action and made short work of the ants on my leg and shoe.  (If I had been by the Elders they wouldn't have been able to do anything...arms length you know.

These bites are still big and ugly and this was Tuesday.  They are starting to dry up and are not as painful.  Nylons protected me but are my worst enemy right now.

The moral to this story is:

Don't put your foot under a mushroom....

or

Don't put your foot on a red ant hill.

Cars Cars every where cars.  Fifty one cars in three in three days, in the heat and humidity and more heat.  This is a job that has to be done.  Like in the west with winter and bad weather it is only a few months.  Well we have July and August left which will be hotter and more humid then we experience this week.  Gird up you loins fresh courage take.....

After the missionaries go into their meeting I put on my straw hat to give me some shade.

I won't dwell on this there are so many good things to tell about.

Lucy Brilliant.

At Lake Mary Stan and I were just getting started after the missionaries went in.  Then Lucy came up behind me and tapped me on the back.  Yes I jumped.  (Ben don't laugh to hard).  She asked if this was a Catholic church.  We told her no and who we were.  She said good, I don't like Catholics.  She is from Haiti, and has been in the states for a year.  She speaks English enough to communicate.  She is 33 years old, going to school, married and wanting for find 'God'.  She said she wants two things from God.  She wants a job and children.  We got her address phone number and told her we would have someone come and tell her about our church.  I took her into the church and showed her around.  She looked in on the sea of suits in the chapel, which was very impressive.  We gave the information to Elder Moyle -- yes our same Elder Moyle who has moved to the Lake Mary area.  As of right now he has taught her twice and she was going to come to church today.  

Muhammond

He is Muslim whose parents are from Afghanistan. He was born in the states.  He is working at Disney and in the dorms, it is a college as well where they can take classes and have the credits transferred to any college. He was baptized a couple weeks ago and came to tell his story at each Zone Conference.  Stan and I were blessed to be able to take him home each day.

The area where the dorms are have guards at the gates and you have to show ID to get in.

The hotels in this area are Disney resort hotels and they are mind boggling.  Guests here have so many advantages over anyone else who comes to visit.

The closest we have been to Disney so far.

The beauties of Florida never cease to amaze me.  This is going down the walk to our apartment one evening when we were so exhausted from the heat....God is real and his love is evident everywhere.

This isn't showing it like it is.  This blue is on all the over passes.  It is a bush that has blossoms heather blue and it is such a beautiful contrast.  I need a photographer to help me here.

It seems that every tree in Florida has its time to bloom.  These are breath taking.  It is so white against the green.  

Lake Jesup.  It is a huge lake with this bridge that goes across it for a couple miles.  Not as long as the four mile bride across the mouth of the Columbia river but impressive all the same.

I thought this was Lake Mary and said so last Zone Conference.  But I stand corrected.  It is Lake Emma.   You can't go a hundred feet in any direction without being able to find a small lake or pond. 

I went to sign class again Wednesday and Saturday with Melissa and Makalah.  This is two of the Hearing Impaired.  The fella on the right is investigating the gospel.

Melissa on the right finding out when her family and the missionaries are gong to be at the church to teach them again.  The guy in center is one of our Deaf Friends who helped with our class.

This Sister Ellsworth ASL sister and Indera who also helped with our class.  She can read lips which helps a lot.  She gave a talk in Sacrament meeting about a month ago and Sister Ellsworth translated for her.  Indera is a gifted sister who has a strong testimony and the self confidence to share it.   She is very social unlike the others who are very quiet.  

I know the alphabet, my numbers and a few phrases.  This morning at church I was able to communicate with her mainly because she reads lips but I did sign with her.  She grabs your hand if you don't do something right and puts your arm hand or fingers where they need to be.  This is quite the experience.

The Bowles family are still taking the lessons.  Last week I told Ian that the adversary was aware of their greatness and does not want them to join the church.  He said with great conviction that he was ready for 'him' and nothing would keep him from this new adventure.  The next day he got a headache worse then any migraine he ever had.  It laid him flat, this man who is so full of energy and vigor.  He blames me for 'jinxing' him.  I told him it was just a warning. The doctor said it was heat stroke.  He is from California and I guess some people have a more difficult time adjusting to the heat then others.  Today he was at church with his family.  He and his wife have quit drinking coffee (probably the real cause of the headache).  After church he was so excited about the fact that he could be a home teacher as soon as he was baptized.  He can't wait to be baptized and be totally involved.  Melissa is the same way, but she is very quiet, we have to work to get her to talk.  When she does it is worth the effort.  She is a good mom and wants the best for her family.  I took care of the children again yesterday while their parents were being taught.  I love it, being with the children helps me not miss my own grandchildren quiet so much.  Today I went to Primary with Makalah again.  She said next week she will do it by herself. Little Emma Lewis grabbed her hand and took her to Primary today.  I followed, she kept looking back to make sure I was there.  She participated in sharing time and in class.  Emma and Jordan sit by her on either side.  She feels much more confident now. I think she can go solo next week.  What a blessing it has been to be allowed to be a part of their lives.  We are very humble in knowing that the Lord is in control and it is Him who set things in motions for them to find the church at this time.  

With Zone Conference taking three full days Stan and I have had very little time to do the work in the office.  We have month end reports that are due NOW.  We had 76 baptisms in May.  It is hard getting all the records turned in on time so that we can meet deadlines.  The Assistants made a few trips to pick up some of the records.  Working Saturday afternoon I was able to get my reports done checked and reconciled so all the numbers etc came out right.  (Becky would be proud of my work on the spread sheet.)  Elder James is helping Stan to get his millage and fuel reports in on time as well.  Elder James loves this kind of stuff and Stan has no reservation allowing him to do it.  Elder Hansen who is teaching the Bowles family is also the office Elder and there are numbers wrong somewhere in his reports so he had been hard at work while his other two companions are out working with investigators.  Elder James and Stan have been his companion.  Stan had Elder Hansen help him deliver a bike and then come here to dinner Saturday evening.  I had salmon salad and asparagus with rice.  He ate so much.  He is used to eating good food and he doesn't get to much of it out here.  He was so grateful for dinner.  We are going to miss this young man.

This was probably one of our most difficult weeks because we had so much to do and to work in the heat and humidity.-- BUT the Lord blessed us to be able to cover all our bases and accomplish so much.  Normally we wouldn't have been able to do even a fraction of what we did this week.  The Lord is so mindful of those who are engaged in His work. I believe this is true where ever you are or what ever you are asked to do.  If you do the Lords work he will make you equal to the task. 

The Lord Lives and Loves each of us.