Long story short, with the clock ticking and only a few short days until we depart we had the overwhelming task of opening up one new apartment and closing down not one, but five apartments immediately following transfers.
If it hadn't been for the help of our awesome Senior Missionaries and Florida Orlando Mission's 100% obedient missionaries, we could not have done it!
The new Winter Park apartment-thanks to:
Elders Horne, DeMille, Bravo and Conrad
If a task is once begun,
Never leave it til it's done.
Be the labor great or small,
Do it well or not at all.
Danilo da Costa all the way from Brazil stopped by to say hello!
On Monday, January 26, 2015 we welcomed 10 new missionaries
to the Florida Orlando Mission.
From left to right, starting at the back; President Berry, Elder Reeves, Elder Coon, Elder Christensen, Elder Egan, Elder Godinet, Sister Guynn, Sister Woolley, Elder Dickson, Elder Stringham and Elder Ah-Fua-both waiting for their Visas to Taiwan, and Sister Berry
The arrival dinner was held at the Mission Home as a nice change
due to the small number of arriving missionaries.
waiting to catch a plane at the airport.
Elder Spencer receiving help changing an imaginary tire
by Elders Christensen and Call.
Sister Spencer pretending to be a check out clerk serving Sisters Guynn and Sister Woolley at a local Wal-Mart.
Practicing getting out of our comfort zones through role playing.
Before orientation-transfer meeting
After orientation-transfer meeting
Before orientation meeting
During orientation meeting
Before transfer meeting
After transfer meeting
Elder Samuel Jacobsen
Elder Joshua Dalmas
A few of our favorite missionaries stopping by to say farewell!
There is never a good time to have an accident, let alone a haz-mat spill, but seriously on the day of transfers and then blocking the road to the Mission Office is definitely a lesson in patience and long suffering :(
We count on the missionaries being able to stop by the office following the Transfer Meeting to pick up their mail that can't be forwarded; to pick up recently assembled bikes; proselyting materials, replacement phones, etc. Since that didn't happen for obvious reasons we had to go with Option B-wait for the road to clear and then make plans to deliver many of the items in person.
Departure dinner for 32 at the Hunter's Creek Stake Center on Wetherbee.
From left to right, Sister Toree Jensen, Sister Harley Buxton, Sister Holly Pike, Sister Makena Rogers, Sister Mikaela Stevens, Sister Maria Hernandez, Sister Amanda Damato, Sister Janna Blair, and Sister Summer Owens
Elder Michael Metcalf, Elder Nicholas Clement, Elder Kyler Dearden, Elder Brookston Jeppson, Elder Ke'anumaukealoha Agor, and Elder James Bailey
Elder Busath and Sister Stevens comparing notes about Eagle, Idaho,
where she calls home.
Elders Vaifanua and Oxborrow and Sister Johnson helping us close down the
College Park North apartment on Sutton Place.
However, the real praise goes to Sisters Sparks and Crowley who did all the packing and the cleaning before we ever arrived.
Leading a good life is like shaving--no matter how good you do it today you still have to do it again tomorrow.
We heard through the grapevine of a fabulous restaurant named, "The Pharmacy".
The only problem was that no one knew exactly where it was located. No signs are posted anywhere and advertising is basically by word of mouth. Well Elder Johnson did a little detective work and was finally able to solve the mystery.
Eureka we found it!
The entrance of the Pharmacy is actually
through these unmarked elevator doors behind us.
through these unmarked elevator doors behind us.
You push the button, the doors magically open and voila you are inside the restaurant.
This is just the dessert :)
Dark chocolate brownies topped with salted caramel ice cream, caramel sauce, whipped cream ...you can image how good the main course was!
The Lake Crescent apartment-all packed up, immaculate, and good to go.
Thanks to obedient sister missionaries, Sister Nix and Sister Rogers, who followed our instructions to the letter.
Thanks to obedient sister missionaries, Sister Nix and Sister Rogers, who followed our instructions to the letter.
Elder Carpenter, Elder Terry, Elder Bailey, and Elder Ah-Fua.
Elders Izatt, Elder Radigan, Elder Perez and Elder Freeman
Okay we will admit it, we were a little nervous.
We were two for two with the two apartments that we had just closed down. The missionaries had done an incredible job, were we pushing our luck? We could either hit another home run or strike out.
The St. Cloud house is a large, tired, old home and packing it up and then cleaning it to our specifications could be somewhat intimidating, but we shouldn't have worried. Elders Izatt and Freeman were 100% obedient and as a result we were in and out in minutes!
We were two for two with the two apartments that we had just closed down. The missionaries had done an incredible job, were we pushing our luck? We could either hit another home run or strike out.
The St. Cloud house is a large, tired, old home and packing it up and then cleaning it to our specifications could be somewhat intimidating, but we shouldn't have worried. Elders Izatt and Freeman were 100% obedient and as a result we were in and out in minutes!
Uncle Bob's little storage unit after closing down just three of the five apartments. At last count there are still two more apartments to close, but there are only so many days in a week. Fortunately rumor is that the Lecanto duplex and the Palm Bay 1 apartment are ready for their final inspections, thanks to the help of Elder and Sister Western and Elder and sister Hanson, but we simply have run out of time and will have to turn them over to Elder and Sister Clare to officially close them down.
Field trips to close down apartment are always a nice change of pace, but we always return to the office where the real work is.
Just a typical day at the office...
Cody, from Great Looks Beauty Salon.
Hairdresser for all the Senior Sisters in the Mission Office :)
On a hot day in Florida it is always time for a Twistee Treat!
On Saturday, January 31st we were invited to speak at a Fireside-Open House in the Poinciana Branch at the home of Brother and Sister Rowley.
Tokens of appreciation from our Branch
Veniece Dudley
Brother and Sister Urrutia and Brother and Sister Palma
Bev
Brother Jeff Kober
Brother and Sister Cruz
The Quispe family
The Howse Family
As we drove home, more than a little teary eyed we could actually see fireworks lighting the sky-
a great way to end a fantastic day!
On Sunday we attended the Hunter's Creek Ward at the Hunter's Creek Stake Center, mainly because we couldn't bear to say good bye one more time to our friends in Poinciana and because Elder Busath had an Mission Office Audit appointment at noon.
"And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."
2 Nephi 31:19-20
We are enjoying when we can and trying our best to endure to the end so that we can have eternal life, because that's all that really matters, right?
Thank you for stopping by! We will see you soon!
It has been fun to read your blog! You are probably home by the time you read this. I hope your trip went smoothly.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if you met Sister Harthun. Her father landscaped our yard several years ago and I met with him today to go over some things we need done. He mentioned his daughter is serving in the Orlando mission.