Missionaries Transfers and the Flavor of Florida

Yes the maple trees are turning yellow.

Like spring nature knows when it should do it's thing...

This spring buds appeared when it was time.

Now it is Fall and the leaves are trying to do their thing.

I understand this process takes quite some time. BUT it happens.

I love the Florida weeds.  This is just growing out of the hedge.  

A beautiful little flower.

Elder Fullmer missed out on his hair cut last week.

I love the missionaries  :-)

Elder Doxey made a Digerido out of a mailing tube. 

(Australian aboriginal instrument check the web)  

The resonance was so deep and loud...

the people from Social Services next door came over and ask us to 

STOP!!

Elder Doxey came up behind me quietly and let it go.

He had to peel me off the ceiling.

Yes he got a great laugh.

I now have the tube.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

TRANSFERS

means........

chaos

wall to wall Elders

Clothes

luggage

and very....

Green Missionaries

(or in missionary terms they are born--they receive a daddy or mommy as their trainer)

j

 Note here Elder Jefferds top right has lost close to ninty pounds since he started his mission.

Elder Schow or Elder Geek on the left.

Elder Tyler and Myler.

Elder Tyler was at Boy Scout camp with Oliver before he came on his mission.

 Elder Beckstead, our little mascot was transfered.  

Hope Elder Maughn takes good care of him.

Elder Lewis a very green Elder from Cache Valley (Paradise)

He is taking Elder Beckstead's place.  

He isn't very big, I look him just about in the eye..

BUT he is a powerhouse and already has Elder Wilks doing sprints to keep up.

AFTER THE STORM

All the missionaries have their new companions.

Seniors went to the Bishops Store house where they serve lunch every Tuesday for the volunteers 

and they invite the Seniors.

It was so quiet..

I had to take pictures of the QUIET

NEW ASSISTANT

Elder Hyer...

from Cache Valley

in fact he is from...

Smithfield!!!!

I needed to document that there were some 'normal' size elders on board

Elder Hyer helped me with the project.

Elder Condie... Remember him?

He is now a Zone Leader.

Elder Lopez--Remember his mom died while he was here

He is also a normal size Elder

FAREWELL DINNER

President and Sister Hall with Nelsie and one Senior Couple host the out going Missionaries

Elder Lussier and Dahle --oh how we will miss them.

This is a difficult time to help --

We have gotten to know these guys so well and now...

in missionary terms...

they die.

SENIOR ACTIVITY DAY

We went to Black Hammock Air boat dock on Lake Jesup

Once again I am so astonished at how without much effort we can leave the jungle of people, cars, and businesses and find such beauty and serenity.

16,000 acres -- average depth 6 feet.

Captain Jack said it was average 2 1/2 feet deep.

(Check out the website)

Captain Jack (with a thick Boston accent)

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 Some of the attractions at the boat landing

Look closely.  All of these features are carved in to this tree.

Anyone want to do some art on some our dead trees in Juniper?

We went to Winder Park for lunch at a little deli.

In Winter Park they have these false fronts on sides of buildings so there isn't just a blank wall.

A mural would be cheaper and more practical.  

The only time we get a picture of all of us is EATING!!

If we could convert as well as we eat we would have 100 baptisms in our little District.

Life is a lot like this picture. 

There is a lot of darkness and evil around us...

But the Saviors light permeates that darkness...

He will prevail.

Forming A New District--Always Eating--Life Goes On

Last Monday after work we, the seniors and the Assistants, got together for dinner.

Elder Merrell is going home and this is his farewell.

BUT

Before the Assistants came the President, who had been meeting with Elder Gonzales, told us, the Seniors, we were going to be a district. 
We will have district meetings, and study as the missionaries do. 

We are expected to... 

'Bring Souls Unto Christ'.   

SOOOO

We do all we have been doing..

Office

Missionaries
Fellowshipping
Teaching/going on splits

Church responsibilities

Living..
and NOW

Officially..

MISSIONARIES.

With that said we will proceed with the week, knowing we have added a new schedule and study program.

Elder Merrell, like all the other Assistants that have gone home, will be missed.

 Elder Doxey will now be the longest living Assistant.

He will need to train Elder Hyer (no picture yet), but he will need to stay two transfers to do it.

Three transfers are the limit for Assistants.  He has been here for three transfers already. 

(Becky Elder Doxey is going to go to USU when he goes home in December.)

Yes I am cutting hair in the office.

I did Elder Schow, who you see. Then I did

Elder Wilks and Swift as well.

One of the few nights we had a sunset without clouds. 

Amazing.

I am sitting at a stop light.

Before we went to the office Wednesday Stan and I picked up a bike delivered it to Elder Lehadern then we took his car...
poor Elder Lehadern.
  It really is the best thing for him.

Elder Lehadern has a size fifteen wide shoe.

Mine is size 5 1/2

He is a BIG guy.

He has lost weight since he has been with Elder Conamt

Elder Conant is buff and work out hard every morning and has always been on a bike.

As I am doing my blog, Elder Lehadern has been transferred and will be taking his bike with him.

Elder Dahle has a size 13 shoe.

Elder Dahle is also a big guy.

 

With Elder Merrel going home and a couple of the Zone Leaders leaving as well,
Elder James and Stan and I took them to the Ale House for lunch Saturday.
It is like Applebees, the bar and Ale are in a completely different room.
We sat on HIGH stools around this old 'pool' table. It has a trough around it and there isn't really a place for plates, it made eating a challenge to say the least.
(Elders:Merrell Doxey Rydalch Christensen Engeman Fullmer me and Stan.  Elder Jame in the back)

Elder Fullmer is another big guy.

Another big -- size 15 foot.

Before I try to get into our car I need to look at our license plate...

There were two of these in the parking lot and I tried to get in the other one.

This duck is certainly mutant.

Look at the tail.  Its legs are so short, he can't swim very fast.

I have been watching him grow up and it has been interesting.

Everytime this little boy came around past us he would hold his hand out and yell

STOP!

If we kept walking he held both hands up with great authority.

Shingle Creek is the head of the Ever Glades.

I have heard a lot about this from Stan, he walks here all the time.
My turn came Friday night.
It was a beautiful night.
With Hurricanes churning up the Atlantic and Gulf we get all the moisture sucked out to sea and we have beautiful fall weather.
So we went for an evening walk.

It is hard to believe this is just a hop skip and a jump from our apartment.
The sound of traffic and people are muffled and the only sound are insects and animals that live there.

Of course pictures don't even come close to the beauty.


It is so amazing to see  what one little black rain cloud can add to a sunset.

One sunset as we walked Friday night.

This week has brought greater insight and understanding that we are not in control of what happens to us.
The Adversary is real the ol' rascal would like nothing more then to destroy our Senior District.

We are doing what has been asked of us but each couple has done it a little differently to meet our normal work schedule.  I am grateful for a wise District Leader Elder Swaine who understands what is happening.

I am ever mindful of how the Spirit is also aware of what we are doing and the peace comfort and love that comes from Him.  

We are about the Lords work and the Lord will prevail.

Trials WILL happen whether we have the gospel or not.
BUT
when trials come and we have the gospel it gives great strength.

Trials are not testing...
...they are to help strengthen us.