Steadfastness of purpose provides a refreshing breeze amidst the stale winds
of indecision and lethargy.
Today let's refuse to compromise with expedience.
Let's maintain the courage to defy the majority.
Let's choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong.
The current Florida Orlando Office staff, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Sister and Elder Nielson, and Sister and Elder Gebs.
I thought this little table and chair might serve as inspiration for a budding craftsman.
OK so the spelling isn't exactly right, but who could pass up taking a picture of the "almost" last name of my oldest daughter and her family?
The Atlantic Ocean at New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Downtown New Smyrna Beach
Elder and Sister Gebs at La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant in Port Orange.
Elder and Sister Nielson, from Salt Lake City, Utah called to serve as Medical support for the next 23 months for both the Florida Orlando and Florida Jacksonville Missions.
Talk, talk, talk, when do we eat?
The birthday girl and her companion, ole!
For our Senior Missionary District activity for July we decided to attend the production of "Bye Bye Birdie" at the Little Theatre in New Smyrna Beach. The theatre reminded me a little of the Music Circus, but the actors were a little more amateur, and the play wasn't presented in a round. The production was somewhat disappointing and we decided to leave before it was over. We all had a long drive ahead of us and many of us had church services beginning at 9:00 the next day so getting an earlier start home proved to be a good thing.
My birthday cake, fresh from Wal-Mart.
Elder Busath and I invited the Assistants to join us for dinner and they, Elders Busath, Curtis and Romero, actually sang Happy Birthday to me before we cut the cake. Cute but embarrassing!
Yes I got mail containing lots and lots of wonderful birthday wishes...thanks!
It was transfers the week of July 29th and here is a picture of our newest arrivals along with
President and Sister Berry.
We opened up seven new apartments this transfer so the Lord's work is definitely moving forward.
Sister Stevens, Sister Allred, Sister Buxton and Sister Rogers just clowning around for the camera.
I love how their colors coordinated without even getting a memo.
Monday afternoon we were advised that our three Visa Waiter's plane would be delayed for 4 hours. So after picking up the 21 new arrivals and getting them fed and settled we returned to the airport to pick up three very tired and very hungry Elders.
Elder Gavin Clark, Elder Jesse Washburn and Elder Alexander Child originally bound for Argentina, but temporarily assigned to the Florida Orlando Mission.
Tuesday, July 30th leaving the Mission Home for a trip to the Hunter's Creek Stake Center for orientation and to meet their trainers.
Orientation Zzz. These poor missionaries are so tired they can hardly keep their eyes open let alone absorb what we are trying to tell them. So we try to make it short and sweet, hitting on the key points, like how to get money to eat, who to call and how to drive safely, etc. so they can get on to the main event-meeting their trainers.
Some of our trainers getting ready to meet and greet their trainees.
Parting is such sweet sorrow!
Elder and Sister Sherwood as they prepare to depart to their home in New Mexico after serving in the Cocoa area for the past 18months. Commitment is definitely their middle name. Even though they were all packed up and ready to go they delayed their departure so they could transport the missionaries being transferred from Cocoa to the Hunter's Creek Stake Center and then transport the new companionships back to Cocoa.
Elder Dawson, always a fan of good food, and the dinner prepared and served at the Mission Home for the 15 departing missionaries Tuesday evening after their temple session was definitely a cause for celebration.
Our Assistants to the President getting an encouraging word from one of our departing missionaries. On the left, Elder Tanner Curtis, from Salt Lake City, Utah and in the front Elder Mark Romero, from Fontana , California
From the left and around the table , departing missionaries Elder Butler, Elder Lund, Elder Holtz, Elder Glover, Elder Curiel, Elder Reneer, Elder Prescott, Elder Thomson.
Elder Busath telling about some of his high speed adventures to Elders Lund, Glover and Butler.
Sisters Allen and Sampson, currently serving in the Deland area. Sister Allen was assigned to the Pleasant Hill Ward, our ward, when we first arrived so it is always great to get together and share adventures. Sister Sampson recently received a surprise bouquet of flowers from a special friend and I got to be in on the surprise so it was fun to see actual pictures and hear her side of the story :)
A simple dragonfly-just to remind you that they grow big bugs out here in the wild kingdom!
Long story short. A large birthday bouquet of decorated cookies arrived at 4:45 on Wednesday night addressed to Sister Lindsey Pugmire currently serving in Eustis, Florida. When we explained that this was just the Mission Office, not her residence, the deliveryman smiled nicely and stated that he didn't make deliveries all the way to Eustis. Well what was a senior missionary/parent supposed to do? We couldn't just let Sister Pugmire think that her family had forgotten her on her birthday, let the cookies get stale, or even worse get eaten by a bunch of hungry elders. So we did the only thing we could do, we hopped in the car and drove the 90 minutes to Eustis to hand deliver the gift. She was full of apologies, but I think that she was secretly thrilled and I am sure that she, on the left, and her companion, Sister LaForce, on the right, appreciated effort.
President Thomas S. Monson
It has been made abundantly clear to us time and time again that we are where we are supposed to be doing what we have been called to do! We are committed to do our very best with this special opportunity we have been given. We love serving as missionaries and appreciate your support.....
See you later, alligator....
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