Kindness is like a boomerang

Everyone can be kinder and knows how to be kinder.

 When we aren't kind we know we could be, it is usually because we prioritize our own needs, wants and feelings over another's.   

Wishing Scott and Sharon Bingham, our good friends in the Poinciana Branch, the best on their last Sunday in Florida as they prepare to retire and relocate to Brigham City, Utah.

 Sister Karen Spencer, from Salt Lake City, Utah celebrating her birthday just a few days after her arrival in the mission field.

 Kindness rejoices with others in their happy times. 

Just a few of the license plate choices you have here in Florida!

 Kindness is patient in taking turns-yes even at the local DMV.

 

  Kindness is also shown in the words you don't say.

Knowing when to keep silent is as important as knowing when to speak and what to say. 

The new back office.

 

 

Kindness means accommodating the others wants, not giving what you would want but rather what the person wants or needs. Kindness acknowledges individuality.

 

While checking on Elder and Sister Bevans unoccupied apartment ,following their recent departure for home, we noticed a huge white basket on the shelf in the living room.  Okay so we are nosey.  After further inspection we discovered that it actually had my name on it!  Of course I was so surprised I didn't think to take a picture, sorry  Once I got over my shock and had time to recover I did think to capture a picture of all the wonderful treasures inside the basket. Four skirts, (including the one I am wearing in the picture) two blouses, a dress, and a silky robe, were all rolled up secretly inside. Then there was lotion, hand soap, bath salts, chapstick, pencil pouches, a little cast iron skillet and cinnamon roll mix...I am sure I am forgetting something but it seriously was like Christmas and it took my breath away to think of all the love and sacrifice it took to create such a beautiful masterpiece just for me!   Mere words can't begin to convey my appreciation.

 

 Kindness shares "Freely ye have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8).

 

We received word, from another senior missionary, that a member of their ward had a dresser to donate. Always open to accepting donations we hurried over to discover this beautiful home.  The owner and his family were moving to a larger home nearby and were wondering if a senior missionary couple could use it. Could they???

My only regret is that I didn't take a picture of the dresser before we moved it to the Johnson's. It is rare to receive a piece of furniture is such pristine condition.

 Kindness is shown in "thank you" and "please", and "how may I help?"

 

Sister Johnson accepting her new dresser (after some arm twisting), thanks to the charity and kindness of another.

 

 Responding to needs is a definite expression of kindness. 

Delivering a new study chair to Elders Ferguson and Socarras, currently assigned to the Windy Ridge Spanish area.   

 

We all know the basics of kindness. If someone asks for your help, kindness means responding quickly to his or her need. Kindness serves.

 

Elder Anderson and Elder Thompson assigned to the St. Cloud area anxiously awaiting our installation of a new CO detector before heading out to go tracting.

 If someone is talking to you, kindness means focusing on that person with your eyes, ears, mind and heart. Kindness listens.

 

Sister Pierce, Brother Nelson Acosta and Sister McLeod, serving in the University Park area at Brother Nelson's recent baptism.

Kindness is thinking kindly as well as acting and speaking kindly.

 

Elders Chatterton and Packard accepting the delivery of a package left at the Mission Office, not for either of them, but for Elder Davis who was off on splits with another companion.

Being kind means knowing and understanding that kindness includes being gracious and congenial and accommodating others' needs and wants with wisdom and prudence.

Kindness is like a boomerang... it always returns!

 

Special thanks goes to the book, "Sisters Forever" by Marilynne Todd Linford, given to me by my best friend forever, Janie Pollmann, who always knows exactly what I need. The chapter on kindness really helped me to better understand that kindness sometimes encompasses life's most difficult problems, requires courage and ...

 

Kindness begins with me...

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Today Determines Tomorrow

Missionary work-to reach, to teach, to touch the precious souls whom our Father has prepared for His message is a monumental task.  Success is rarely simple.  Generally it is proceeded by tears, trials, trust and testimony. 

 

This week we have been privileged to be instructed by James J. Hamula, of the Seventy. For those of you who know me, you will know how much I loved attending Education Week in Provo, Utah each year. 

 

Attending each meeting this week with Elder Hamula and his wife was like having my own personal Education Week Instructor's :)  It was that wonderful!

Nothing happens until you ask...

The day was Monday, the hour 7:00 am at the Lake Mary building.  The assignment for the DeLand, Leesburg and Orlando Zone Leaders was to prepare a sign to help direct the missionaries in their zones to a designated area to conduct vehicle inspections prior to the start of Zone Conference.



DeLand Zone Leaders, Elder Gottfredson and Elder Peacock

Leesburg Zone Leaders Elder Forrest and Elder Harman

Orlando Zone Leaders Elder Christianson and Elder Dearden,

 

Obedient with exactness!

Elder Peacock making Elder Busath's hat look good!

Guess who? 

Yes it is none other that Elder Weston Gale and his trainer, Elder Samuel Jacobsen, currently assigned to the Clermont Spanish area.

Sister Spencer assisting Sister Barnes in placing her "loaner" bike on the bike rack securely.  Sister Barne's original bike fell off the bike rack onto the freeway and was demolished by a passing car a few days prior. 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately she was not the first missionary to lose a bike that way :(

All is quiet in the Lake Mary cultural hall first thing Monday morning.

A few hours later it is set and ready to feed 130 very hungry missionaries.

Sister Johnson (M) supervising the work of Sister Bean, Sister Clare and Sister Johnson (E) as they prepare for the special Senior Missionary District Meeting and dinner with Elder and Sister Hamula.

Our Senior Mission District, if you get out your magnifying glasses

Elder James J. Hamula, of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy, and his wife Joyce conducting a Mission Tour and presiding over our Zone Conferences and Mission Leadership Council Meetings this week.

 

An interesting side note; We recently discovered that Sister Hamula attended school as a youth with Elder Busath's cousin, Claudia from San Jose.  When we were first introduced Sister Hamula immediately recognized the last name and wanted an update on the family.  After a quick text to my Sister in Law, Marian, I was able to provide a current update on Claudia and her family and Sister Hamula was thrilled!

It really is a small world!

Same time, different location.

Tuesday, our Zone Conference for the Cocoa, Hunter's Creek and Orlando South Zones was scheduled at the Orlando South Stake Center, directly across the street from the Florida Orlando Temple.

 

The Orlando South Zone Leaders Elder Hirschi and Elder Perez with their Zone sign

Before lunch for 140

 

During lunch...

We got mail!

This time from the Bacchus family in Rocklin California! 

Our box contained everything we would need for a fabulous Florida Beach Party.

Coconut tumblers, colorful straws, leis, candy treats, a beach ball,

even a hand colored American flag! Thanks Charles!

An Elder assigned to the Lake Mary area finally received his debt card in the mail. 

His companion's debit card was almost zeroed out while they waited patiently for the other debit card to arrive.

Never fear, Super Seniors are here!

We were able to deliver the debit card before starvation set in.

Eureka, we found it! 

After months of saying; "When we are ever in the College Park area we should really stop and check out the Baja Fresh." 

Well we finally did it!

 It's funny, the food tasted the same, but the décor was more on the Western/Cowboy side rather than the south of the border décor we had come to expect.

 

 

 

At best, full time missionary work necessitates drastic adjustments

to one's pattern of living.  No labor requires longer hours or greater devotion,

 nor such sacrifice and fervent prayer. 

 

Elder Vaughan and Elder Fuller, currently assigned to the Wetherbee Young Single Adult Ward were truly an answer to our prayers.  I have to be honest, Elder Busath and I have gotten pretty good at moving furniture on our own, but the job to take all of the furniture from two closed down missionary houses that were currently being stored at a distant location and then moving and consolidating it all into one small storage unit was a job even we weren't  willing to take on alone. So we texted the Elders asking about their availability and they were happy to help. Let me add that it was the hottest day in Florida in over 3 years, so their assistance was priceless.

Elders Terry, De Mille and Elder Robert, assigned to the Bumby area

and Haitian speaking. 

Elder De Mile arrived from the Mission Training Center in Provo, Utah and Monday afternoon while  many of us were attending Zone Conference.  As a result we had to postpone his orientation until Thursday afternoon.

We really wish we had taken some classes in photography :(

If you look closely you will see bright blue skies to the right and dark, gray storm clouds to the left.  The rain actually came down in buckets on the left side of the road, while on the right it remained sunny and dry.  Only in Florida!.

Our final farewell to the Gordon's. 

They were released from their mission last week and then hopped on a cruise ship on route to the Caribbean Islands, Jamaica and Haiti just to name two.  They returned to Orlando on Saturday to pick up a few things they had purposely left behind, us included. After a delicious lunch at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants it was hugs and plenty of tears as they set off for their final destination, Orem Utah.

 Alex, a friend, who we take to church every Sunday in the Poinciana Branch was recently hospitalized again with another mild stroke.  So we took time on Saturday to stop by and visit with him and his mother to help pick up their spirits.

 

It's raining and pouring and the light show that Mother Nature is putting on is amazing!

(Janie you would absolutely be scared to death of all the lightening and thunder,

but for these California natives it is a sight we can't get enough of)

 

A sign posted on our apartment wall states:

Mis.sion.ary-{noun}

a person who leaves their family for a while so others can be with their familes forever.

 

Our missionaries are not salesmen with wares to peddle; rather they are servants of a loving Heavenly Father with testimonies to bear, truths to teach and souls to save.

 

"Behold I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  I have been called of Him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life"  3 Nephi 5:13

 

 

 

We are proud to wear a name badge that proclaims that we are representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!

 

We feel honored to have been called to serve as missionaries in the Florida Orlando Mission.  We love what we are doing, yes even moving furniture at times.  We have been fed both physically and spiritually this week and look forward to the coming week to do our part to hasten this important work.

We love you and so appreciate your love and support.

We pray for you often and hope that today truly does determine your tomorrow.

That you take advantage of opportunities to serve others

and as a result you will have a great week!

See you later...