And we ate and we ate and we ate and ate and ate.......

Okay--President Hall and his wife found this place in St Cloud while they were out doing interviews.  It is down home cowboy every thing fried kind of place.  I have decided that all the fish and 'things' people want to eat like catfish, alligator, and other reptile things, are all battered up and deep fat fried so that people will eat them and say "oh that tastes just like chicken".  I had a bite of Stan's catfish, which was a huge platter of fried fish, and not much fish in the fried batter.  I ate red snapper BUT it was broiled with a couple of cubes of butter.  No lie.  President loves it here, as for Stan and I... well if it is our choice we probably won't go back, except it is a family owned and operated wonderful atmosphere kind of place.  Just wish they could serve something besides fat.  Lots of fun with the Senior couples though.

Pres and his wife, the Halls are at the window.  Swains are next.  Then Stan and I and the James' are across from us.  

Tuesday we went to Winter Park, Golden Rod area to pick up Elder Whittaker. We took him to an eye specialist in the Tampa missions--Winter Haven.  Elder Whittaker has a retina degenerative problem, he eventually will go blind.  They are tracking the deterioration.  He is such a positive Elder and is willing to live life in the service of the Lord and let Him call the shots.

Oh yes we also took him to lunch.  They found a Firehouse Sub there.  Wish we could share some, they do have a good sub, lots of calories but good.  Most of the time I opt for a salad.  We had to drive north from the mission office to get Elder Whittaker then go way south of the mission office and west to the eye doctor and then take him home.  It was a beautiful drive with lots of hills orchards and farms.  

A very nice day.

Elder Steinman tears phone books. 

Can't remember if I ever took a picture of it but thought I better document this because he going home Wednesday. 

He has spent five months as an assistant, most assistants are here only about three transfers,  3-4 months.  He has worked very hard but he also plays hard.  We are going to miss this joker.  He is always playing pranks on the Seniors.  

Elder Doxey couldn't be outdone.  

Did I say I took the ASL sisters to lunch at Subway?  No picture but it is true.

Crispers is our favorite place to eat.  When I am to tired to fix anything to eat this is usually where we hang out.  All the employees know us and know what we want.  I don't even have to ask for dressing on the side, they just know it.  They have salads that are out of this world.  Plus they have wonderful soups flat bread variations that are delectable and the varieties of breads puts Subway to shame.  They also have all natural chips. They also have a lot of ice cream and ices and coffee's and teas etc

We do a lot of missionary work here as well.

This is Kaleo.  (Sounds like Ceilidha but with and o on the end.) He is two and weighs 40 pounds.  Elder Doxey Elder Steinman and Elder Campbell are teaching his mom Dahomey Barbosa her last lesson before being baptized Saturday.  

  Food is being served by Kaleo -- pretzels and marshmallows.  

Yes Sister James is wearing the Mikey ears today.  

My neighbors Sherri Hauert and Ginger Jacobsen took me to shop at the place only Disney workers can shop.  If I wanted something I just put it in the cart and told Sherri she wanted that.  After we went out I paid her for it.  Actually I just got three pillows and  Mickey chair.  Not because it was a Mickey chair but because I can sit at my computer and have my feet touch the floor. 

(Sherri sells tickets and Disney packages for a living and her daughter Megan plays a lot of the Disney Characters at Sea World and Epcot.) 

This is where we shopped.  It is a big wear house full of 'stuff'' at a discount price.

Ginger wanted to eat lunch at Earls in Down Town Disney.  I was excited because I wanted to go but knew that Stan didn't.  So they took me to Down Town Disney.  This is one of the places that has free parking and entrance.

There are a lot of stores  restaurants and places of entertainment.  

This is the boat 'Jenny' from Forest Gump.  It sits along side the shrimp place from Forest Gump.

The Lego store was fascinating to me.  Sherri's son in law works there.

The following Characters are all made of Lego's

g

 

 This whole family as well as the leashes and dogs.

Couldn't resist.  Reigan this is for you!!!!

(No they are not Lego Characters) 

Ginger is on the right she is 75 and the Mom Grandma and Great Grandma.

Sherri is on the left she is the Daughter Mom and Grandma.

Megan is in the middle she is the Mom daughter and granddaughter.

Lydia, the princess front and center --

is the daughter, granddaughter and great granddaughter.

Four generations of a beautiful very close knit family.
We did eat at Earls by the way.  It has wonderful food and at a very good price.  You have to be willing to wait in line for a long time to eat.  Everyone likes it as well as Ginger.

Yesterday it poured down for most of the afternoon.  This water is shooting out about 1 1/2 feet from the spout. (The picture is through my screen and is not a very good.)

Today it has rained all day.  It has been very dry here in Florida and things were starting to turn brown and die.  The soil is sand -- there is no top soil.  All this beautiful growth depends on the daily rain in all of this heat.  Today it was only 75 degrees which was nice even with the humidity.  

Last night we went to the new Buena Visa Singles ward.  This is where Dahomey Barbosa was baptized by Elder Doxey.  She was confirmed today by Elder Steinman.

Dahomey is on the left.  David her good friend is investigating the church.

Left to Right

Cory, just baptized a couple months ago.  He used to have dredlocks down to his shoulders and all over the place.  Elder Steinment cut his hair for him.

Elder Steinment and Doxey.

Sister Hanna Hopkins the Relief Society President of the Singles Ward

Dahomey  and David.

Actually we didn't eat here at all.

(But I did cook Yucca root earlier in the day, it is the Latino potato.  We really enjoyed it.)

Today after church we had Elders Berhold and Engeman over for dinner.

  I can't believe I didn't take a picture of this!!!!!

Elder Berhold is being transferred to Ocoee Tuesday.  This is the Ghetto of Orlando.  He will do really well there. 

(Remember he was in Brazil and had to come back to the states for open heart surgery.) 

I will miss him a lot but we will see him at Zone Conferences.

We pretty much ate out every day and sometimes twice a day this week in amongst all the fun and hard work. Oh yes we did work hard this week as well.  The work must go on.  

I usually have a picture of the skies here in Orlando to close with.  But the pictures I took were not worth your time.

This week has also been a week a miracles. 

The Lord has been with us in our work and when we thought things were not going to work out....the miracles would come and we were blessed to go forward with what we were doing. 

This is His work. 

I am so humbled to know we can be a part of such a great work.

Elder Steinmen had an experience I want to share with you at this point.

When he came on his mission he was set apart as a missionary by his Stake President.  In the blessing he was told that he would bring people from darkness into the light.  He has had a very successful mission as a missionary and assistant. But wondered about that statement and why it was pointed out to him in that manner.  The very last investigator he worked with was Dahomey.  Up until she met the missionaries she had dreams of being in a very dark tunnel and it was very frightening to her. 

After she met the missionaries she said she still had those dreams but there was a light at the end of the tunnel. 

Once she committed to baptism and was reading the Book of Mormon and praying she said she didn't have those dreams again. 

She has the light.

So Many Many Things to Do.....

There is a 'temple tour' given by a brother in our stake, Brother Herzock.  He has such a spirit of missionary work and temple work.  He freely gives of his time to the missionaries.  He conducts these tours ever Wednesday and Friday evenings.  Missionaries bring investigators, newly baptized members or members who are less active or anyone interested in learning more about the temple.  Elder Doxey and Steinmen had two sisters coming.  One had a ride but the other didn't and they needed chaperons to bring her.  They asked us Friday afternoon late and of course we dropped other plans and helped them out.  What a treat.  At the end the people are allowed to go inside the temple as far at the front foyer to partake of the spirit there.  (I really did take that picture)

The sister to the left is a member who was baptized a few months ago, the girl in front with her two year old is investigating and the sister just above her is RS president in the singles ward who drove her.  Of course the other characters are the assistants and Stan and I.  

This is such a beautiful temple.

Stan and I went to help the sisters with their car in a place called College Park.  I went because he couldn't be with them alone of course.  I always enjoy the times I can go with him to help missionaries.

When we got back to our apartment that afternoon this is what we saw.  The state uses tractors to mow the many miles of highway grass, and very steep side hills. These two tractors are moving in  an opposite yet coordinated  direction.

 

Of course Stan was so excited to actually see tractors we had to take pictures.

Elder Dyer was with Elder Engemann on splits and they called to ask for a meal.  I don't sign up to feed the missionaries on Sunday.  They just know if an appointment for dinner falls through or they are hungry (end of month no food or money)  they can call us for a meal.  So we are happy to accommodate these wonderful young men and women.

Elder Engemann got this very embarrassing letter in the mail.  He was sure it wasn't from the young woman who is 'waiting' for him.  She wouldn't do this, he said.   

After we took them to dinner we were in the car leaving and Elder Langarica and Elder Grant also on splits and riding bikes were pulling up to get a sandwich at the Firehouse Subs that we were just in.  We handed them some money to purchase a meal as well.  

This is the assistants Friday night as we left to the temple tour.

Elder and Sister James hard at it.  (They are putting in new surge protector and back up because theirs burnt out and Sister James lost all she was working on the other day when a storm came through and shut the power down.) Our jobs have many hats and descriptions.

Elder Doxey shared some pictures from his camera, this is from last week while we helped them clean their apartment so they could move.

 

  

Yes even cutting hair seems to be part of one of those hats.  It is so fulfilling to be of service to these young people.

 

 

When picking up the sister to go to the temple tour we drove past Walt Disney World

Hard to get Micky it was kind of dark, but Reigan he is waving at you. 

The next day we went out to eat and passed Sea World.

 

It all looks like a lot of fun to me.  

Yes that says Charley's. 

It is where we went for dinner Saturday afternoon.  Yes it is charming and fun to eat there an the food is good and priced right.  But nothing is like Charley's in Longview on the Cowlizt River sitting across the table with Dad Moore and family.  All in all it was a positive experience even for Stan who doesn't like to eat out. How we celebrated our 43 anniversary. We did go to the first session at the temple Saturday morning as well.

OH WHAT DO YOU DO IN THE SUMMER TIME WHEN ALL THE WORLD IS GREEN?

Fish for catfish?

Or sit in the mud or lazily dream while staying cool. 

 

Our resident turtle.  

Can you see how big he is?  This is the closet I have been able to come to get a picture.

Somethings never change in the summer.  We see many of these while on our evening walks around our little lake.

 

 

 

At the close of a very busy week I want to say how real our Father in Heaven is and that He knows each of us by name and what our needs may be.  How close we feel to Him as we read of our families trials and adventures this last week knowing He is in charge and does know just what we need and when.  How wonderful it is to be a small part of His great work.

IT IS GREAT BEING A MISSIONARY

HIGHS AND LOW

A MISSION IS A STRANGE EXPERIENCE,

A TRIAL AND A TEST,

A MISSION THROWS AT YOU THE WORST,

YET TEACHES YOU THE BEST,

I'VE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY,

I'VE NEVER BEEN SO DEPRESSED,

I'VE NEVER FELT SO FORSAKEN,

I'VE NEVER BEEN SO BLESSED,

I'VE NEVER BEEN SO CONFUSED,

THINGS HAVE NEVER BEEN SO CLEAR,

I'VE NEVER FELT MY HEAVENLY FATHER SO DISTANT,

HE'S NEVER BEEN SO NEAR,

I'VE NEVER BEEN SO DISCOURAGED,

I'VE NEVER BEEN SO FULL OF HOPE,

I'VE NEVER HAD IT SO EASY,

I'VE NEVER HAD IT QUITE SO TOUGH,

THINGS HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SMOOTH,

THINGS HAVE NEVER BEEN SO ROUGH,

I'VE NEVER BEEN THROUGH SUCH A DEEP VALLEY, 

I'VE NEVER FELT SO SURE AND STRONG,

I'VE NEVER FELT SO WEAK,

I'VE NEVER HAD SO MANY UPS,

I'VE NEVER HAD SO MANY DOWNS,

I'VE NEVER HAS SO MANY SMILES,

I'VE NEVER HAD SO MANY FROWNS,

I'VE NEVER BEEN SO LONELY,

I'VE NEVER HAD SO MANY FRIENDS.

BOY! I HOPE THIS IS OVER SOON!

GOSH! I HOPE IT NEVER ENDS!

FROM ESPECIALLY FOR MORMON MISSIONARIES

Tropical storm Bonnie

It rained for about 20 minutes and blew but not as bad for us as some local storms have been.

Post Bonnie--

the next morning.

A typical day at the office (hehe)

Elder Micky?  (Doxey)

A new arrival

Sister Lovejoy, in the middle arrived mid transfers Monday from Washington State.

She is joining the ASL (American sign language) sisters-Sister Ellsworth on the left and Sister Homer on the right.  Saw them in action at church today and they work together like they have been together forever.  In the Lords work He is in control.

Saturday morning Stan and I went to the temple...but this week we had in tow three Elders.

Elders Berhold, Engeman, and Wilks.  What a joy to take them and have their sweet spirit with us.  ALMOST like being there with our own children.  These guys are in our ward and we see them all the time.  Elder Wilks took Elder Hansen's place.  He is part of a companion ship with Beckstead and Schow.  Berhold and Engeman work the west side of Hunter's Creek and Wilks Beckstead and Schow are East side also known as the 'office' elders.  Only now that there are three Elder Schow is full time office he doesn't get in on much missionary work, and his talents are being used much better where he is now.

We took some pictures at the Temple but mine didn't turn out at all.  The sun was too bright.  They got some and will share with me.  I guess my camera doesn't do light very well.

We took them to IHOP after wards.

Elder Wilks.  It is his birthday, the 24 of July!  He turned 21.

Elder Engeman.  He came out about the same time we did.  He has a girl he is writing.  I told him he may get a 'Dear John'.  He came back with, we will invite you to our wedding.  I certainly hope so, he is an unbelievable missionary.  Still a 'greenie'  but he is so faithful and strong.

Good ol' Elder Berhold.  He is the one who went to Brazil first then came home for open heart surgery and came back to Florida to finish his mission. Oh what a character.  He is a hard worker and has a great testimony.

Berhold-Engeman-Wilks

While we were at IHOP a colored waitress came up to us and asked us who we were.  She asked questions like "do you believe in Christ" and do you have seven wives"  etc.  The Elders took her very serious and answered her questions very well.  I gave her a pass along card and got her name to put in the Referral system.  Actually when I find out who the Elders are that will visit her I am going to call them personally. 

Just after this picture was taken all the waitresses came out and sang to Elder Wilks.  Most of them are colored and they really got into it with the dancing etc.  How fun that was.  Elder Wilks turned many shades of red but enjoyed the ice cream Sundae they brought him.

For the 24th we actually stayed home after the temple trip and got caught up on things we didn't do last weekend when we were gone all day from one place to the next. Plus I had four pairs of pants and two white shirts that needed to be mended.  Once I did Sister Keung's skirt the word went out and now it is a full time job.  ; - )

A visitor to our pond.  He was a good three feet high and walks like he has bare feet walking on glass.

A beautiful end to a wonderful week.

I Marvel at the Miracle

I marvel at the miracle-of God's great love for me.

I try but cannot comprehend, and ask how this could be.

For I had left behind my God-and lost my way through sin.

Still God loved me and sent His Son to lead me back to Him.

I wearied of my weaknesses, and trials filled my days.

I cried out, Lord, my burden's hard, is there no other way?

He said, I give men weaknesses-and if they come to me,

I give them strength to overcome, And I will make them free.

I pled with God to shed His grace-And take away my sin.

He did, and yet I turned away-and stumbled once again.

At last I knelt before His throune-and offered Him my soul.  

He wept, then gave it back to me-renewed and washed and whole.

I wonder at the grace divine--and power to redeem.

That Christ alone cold overcome-and change eternity.

My thanks cannot sufficient be.  My praise is incomplete.

For all I pay, my debt remains, for God's great gift to me.  

Text: John V. Pearson

Music: Janice Kapp Perry