Cedar Tree Companions: They come and they go.

Anxiously Engaged

One of the first lessons learned here as a missionary is that we are all indispensable.

I thought when Elder Bracero left, the mission would never function the same.

Yet there was hardly a hiccup.

Elder Doxey filled the bill. The Lord made him capable to do what was needed in his own way with his gifts and talents the job is being accomplished.

When Elder Hansen left my heart was broken, but mission life goes on and so did he.

When President and Sister Darrington left I didn't know how all they did would transfer over to the Halls.....

Yes the Lord made them equal to the task and all the things the Darrington's were doing changed because of new programs and Presidents personality.

The Halls have more than taken the space left by them.

I look at the history book of this mission. Many people have come and gone.

No one knows who they were or what they did. nothing is left except a picture in the history book.

So while we are here we are mere instruments in the Lords hands.

When our time is up He will replace us with others who are as capable or probably more so.

It is like putting you hand in a bucket of water and pulling it out.

Our hand feels the water and is wet and will remember forever our time here but the bucket of water is no different for having us there.

So....This last Monday we had nine new missionaries who came and Wednesday eight missionaries left. It will be sad not to see their faces and have their teasing but others are out there and will continue doing what they did.

Monday the new missionaries come and we feed them a meal at the Mission Home. It is always fun to meet them before anyone else. Glad it was our turn to help this time.

Tuesday-Orientation

Sister Lovejoy came a few weeks ago but was here for Orientation.

Elder Steinman went home. Boy is it quiet without him, he was a prankster.

Elder Merrell transferred from Stuart to Assistant. Unusual because he will only be assistant for six weeks one transfer -- usually they stay minimum of transfers, but he is going home in six weeks.

Elder Berhold (right) was transferred to Ocoee our Orlando Ghetto.

Elder Fulmer (greenie) on the right took Elder Berhold's place.

The ALS sister were broken up. Sister Snyder (no picture) is now with Sister Ellsworth in the back, and sister Homer on the right has greenie Sister Lovejoy. Sister Snyer has six months before she goes home and is learning ALS. She is doing well.

What transfer and Orientation looks like.

Wall to wall missionaries, I fear for my life because they might step back on me or knock me over --I just kind of stay put and only travel through the maze if there is a need. (Most of them are six foot or more.

Elder Lussier in the back shows his new companion where their area is.

Later that Day

We took Sister Homer and Lovejoy to Winter Part to get the car they will use.

The area, Eatonville where the car was is a black area.

We told them we would take them to lunch.

No Subways, McDonalds, or Firehose Subs.

We saw this sign and stopped.

Gordon and his 'little' cook. He is sitting down she is standing up.

He had many pictures on the wall.

A picture of the under ground railroad.

This is Gordon's no shirt no shoes no service sign.

Sister Lovejoy and Homer with African artifacts and pictures in the background.

Once again if you put enough batter with the fish and deep fat fry it, you can eat anything.

The atmosphere in this little place was worth the visit.

There were two little black ladies in the corner visiting in their down south black manner, they were so cute. I just love it. (He gave us an order of fries because we were there for the first time.)

When we left Gordon said:

You know what kind of fish you just ate, it is "be back".

That is the name on his sign Gordon's be Back Fish.

Just a note from last week.

This is the Micky Chair I purchased.

There were some comments that we were having way to much fun.

In reality we are, BUT we work hard in between times and this work aids and support the missionaries.

The mission shark.

It has been past around for some time now.

It was brought to the Mission Office by the ALS Sister who stuffed it in Elder Stienman's car trunk He put it in someone else's car at Transfers in hopes to get rid of it.

(Everywhere it goes it gets signed.)

Stan left our car unlocked for a moment and it was stuffed in our back seat.

We brought in into the office and Elder Stienman stuffed him under Sister Jame's desk.

She put him in the back of the office on Elder Miller's bike.

Elder Miller came to get his bike and left it in the office.

President Hall said to get rid of it.

The Missionaries not wanting to get rid of it stuffed it in the corner of my office space.

President came in and said where's the shark?

No one said anything.

He looked around and even into my space but he didn't turn his head to look in the corner.

So the Shark remains.

Probably till Zone Conference when we can put it one of the cars we are inspecting.

Maybe the dirtiest car.

President Hall.

He is trying to figure how to get the coat hanger that is stuck to the back of the new office desk. I guess when you get a new piece of office furniture they figure that you need a coat hanger, they don't want it banging around so they stick it on with really sticky - sticky tape. Each Elder had their turn at it, the President tried really hard, even Stan pulled on it. Stan went to the shed to get a hammer with a claw and was interrupted by a phone call so Elder Doxey took the hammer and was able to pry the silly thing off.

The assistants assisting the President.

This is sister Marge Peck and her adopted baby. She and her husband have been trying for 17 years to have a baby. Finally they got one, and she is the most adorable little thing you have ever seen. She was just brand new when we moved into the ward. Marge's husband is out of work, like most of Orlando and they will probably be moving to Austin Texas soon. They will be missed.