Commitment

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.

 

 

So much in life depends on attitude.  The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference.  To do the best we can an then choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and commitment."

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....

 

 

 

The Best Kept Secret

I just knew you couldn’t resist…

As we look forward to the arrival of twenty four new missionaries Monday I just couldn't let one more day go by without sharing a little something that I have learned.

The best kept secret is that…missions are………hard!

 

                  

 I am not talking about hard, as in hard work, because that is definitely an understatement.  I am talking about hard as in not what you expected, frustrating, disappointing and yes sometimes depressing.  We as adults spend way too much time running interference for our children, in a means of showing love and trying to protect them.  I am sad to report that we have done them a HUGE disservice.   As a result we have incredible young missionaries arriving in the mission field totally unprepared for what is to come.  They spend days, even weeks trying to figure out what is wrong with them.  Why isn’t being a missionary a more positive experience, after all it’s supposed to be the best two years of their lives, right? They internalize their doubts and fears because they certainly must be the only one that feels confused, anxious, scared, stressed.  They have rarely experienced failure or rejection, after all we are all about praise and building their self esteem as a parent and as leaders and I will be the first to admit that I am guilty! What we should be spending more time on is teaching coping skills. Like it or not, we will not always be there to rescue them-nor should we.

"What we need now is the greatest generation of missionaries in the history of the Church. We need worthy, qualified, spiritually energized missionaries who, like Helaman’s stripling warriors, are “exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity” and who are “true at all times in whatsoever they [are] entrusted” Alma 53:20

Elder Ballard-

"We don’t need spiritually weak and semi committed individuals. We need vibrant, thinking, passionate missionaries who know how to listen to and respond to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit.  We cannot send you on a mission to be re-activated, reformed, or to receive a testimony.  We just don’t have time for that.  We need you to be filled with “faith, hope, charity, and love, with an eye single to the glory of God” Doctrine and Covenants 4:5

As you know stress is an unavoidable and normal part of life, but unmanageable stress is one of the main reasons some missionaries struggle with depression, anxiety, and a wide range of physical aches and pains. It breaks my heart when they have to be sent home due to stress related problems never knowing the blessings of missionary service. I wish I could tell you how rare it is, but it is becoming a HUGE problem.

Basically it all come down to one thing, knowing how to respond to stress.

I could go on and on about how to handle stress, but my point is simple:

Parents, leaders, friends, family teach your youth how to identify and manage stress before they submit their papers for a mission! Those of you that are returned missionaries I am not advocating that you tell stories to instill fear and trembling among prospective missionaries, only that you be truthful. No more sugar coating.  If you struggled with stress at any time during your mission admit it and share your solution. Being forewarned can be a valuable tool when it happens to them, and it will!  Missions are......HARD (But worth every second).

As a Senior Missionary, and I think I can speak for all of us, I promise you if you will help prepare your prospective missionaries to face the challenges ahead by teaching them how to manage stress and to learn to trust in the Lord now, I will do my best to take good care of them while they are here in the mission field.

Just my two cents......

Patience is a Virtue

Sorry for the delay, but it has been another one of those weeks.  A roller coaster ride of ups and downs, twists and turns, but through the adventure we have come to learn a little more about how interconnected patience is to hope and faith-you simply can not rush the outcome, no matter how much you want to, but must wait for the Lord's promised blessings to be fulfilled.



Patience is the capacity to endure delay, trouble, opposition, or suffering without become angry, frustrated, or anxious.  It is the ability to do God's will and accept His timing. His timing, not ours.

Life is full of difficulties, some minor and others of a more serious nature.  There seems to be an unending supply of challenges for one and all.  Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required. President Thomas S. Monson



A young Canadian pianist and composer serving as an LDS missionary in the Guatemala Coban Mission was seriously injured when a truck he was riding in overturned on the way to a service activity.

Elder Joshua Allen Burton, 23, of Cardston, Alberta, broke his back and underwent surgery Saturday night after the accident that morning. He reported that sensation was returning to his legs, according to a family statement on Burton's Facebook page.

But he died Monday night.

We recently heard about Josh and his accident from our Senior Missionary friends, the Bevans.  Elder Bevans had been Josh's home teaching companion and the Bevans shared with us wonderful stories about Josh, his amazing musical abilities and the special young man that he was.  We had rejoiced in the miracle of his recovery from surgery Monday night at our District Meeting and now we were joining them in mourning his loss. 

We were given the humbling responsibility of notifying Sister Low, of his death.  Sister Low is also serving in the Florida Orlando Mission and a very close friend of Josh.  How thankful we are for our testimony of the Plan of Happiness.  It was one of the most difficult things that we have ever had to do, but there was a sweet feeling of peace and comfort that came over each of us as we cried and spoke of Josh and his ongoing work as a missionary.

Our hearts and prayers go out to his family and friends and we have hope that they too will have peace and comfort in the days and weeks to come.

Obviously our post just wouldn't be the same without including some of our fine feathered friends, and lets be honest who can not smile when seeing a mother duck with her ducklings?

 

 A surprise gift from "my Portuguese Elders" Elders Costa, Delgado and Untch currently serving in the Metro West area. When unwrapped it is a HUGE chocolate egg filled with little chocolate candies.  Delicious!

Remember I mentioned earlier about ups and downs?  Well Elder Untch is a "Visa Waiter" originally called to serve in Brazil. Well if this week wasn't tough enough we just learned that his Visa came through so he will be leaving for Brazil, July 29th.  We are really excited for him, but will miss him terribly.

 

 Swimming lessons? 

 

Happy Birthday to Elder Busath!  Elder Howard and Niederhausen can't believe

that he didn't plan to share his cookie!

 

Yes, he got mail and treats and lots of gift cards to our favorite restaurants! Thanks everyone!

                                                                               

Janie and Dave Pollmann just "helping the cause".

 

What cause you might ask.  Well another one of our daughters, Marianne, and her family are moving to Meridian, Idaho. Her husband, Nick, got a job as a Respiratory Therapist at one of the hospitals there and so they will be packing up the end of August to start their new adventure. 

 

The current count is 4-California, 2-Idaho.

 

Sister Salveson, from South Africa and Elder Green, from Utah, hard at work.  Both are recovering from recent injuries and are currently assigned to serve in the office.  She was hit by a car while she and her two companions were preparing to cross the street with their bikes and he was injured...

wait for it...by playing basketball on his preparation day :( 

 

They both have a very long recovery ahead of them, but unfortunately Elder Green, after serving since January, had to return home today to begin extensive physical therapy.   

 

 

Dinner time at our apartment !

If Elder Busath isn't hunting down bugs, he is feeding the squirrels and breaking bread with the ducks

 

These two little guys are my motivation each morning to drag myself out of bed and go for a walk around the pond. They really need names, but all I can come up with so far are Huey and Luey, but I think those names are already taken :)

 

 

This month we celebrate the arrival of the first pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. They sacrificed and suffered in order to be able to worship.

We have been called on to carry on their legacy of faith.

“We are all needed to finish the work that was begun by those pioneering Saints,” said Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the October 2008 general conference.
“The Lord isn’t asking us to load up a handcart; He’s asking us to fortify our faith. He isn’t asking us to walk across a continent; He’s asking us to walk across the street to visit our neighbor. He isn’t asking us to give all of our worldly possessions to build a temple; He’s asking us to … attend regularly the temples already built. He isn’t asking us to die a martyr’s death; He’s asking us to live a disciple’s life.”

 

How grateful we are for the sacrifices of the Utah pioneers! Many of them gave their lives to provide us with the privilege and freedom to worship a kind and loving Father in Heaven

who know each one of us personally and loves us anyway. 

 

I may not be born from pioneer stock, but I too can be a pioneer.

Let us all have the faith to go and do like Nephi of old........

 

Thanks for stopping by to check in on us. We are happy, healthy and love serving the Lord!

 

Until next time...

Personal Peace

Our #3 daughter Tracy, had the opportunity to teach her 5 year old son Charles, Primary (Sunday School) class a few weeks ago and the class sent us some pictures that they had made.  Our refrigerator wasn't quite big enough to display all of our pictures so we decided to decorate our bedroom wall with our beautiful works of art. The display actually reminds me of a smile so it helps me to meet the day, come what may, with a smile and a happy thought.
Thank you Tracy, Charles, Justin, Nevaeh, Tess, Joshua and Sienna.

 

The past week has been a roller coaster ride of emotions and without going into great detail it's been both the worst of times and the best of times.

I have never been any good at good byes and this week was a double whammy. We had to say farewell to both Elder and Sister Marble, who served in the DeLand area and Sisters Grant and Stewart, who served in the LDS Employment Services office. Although we have only known them a short time we have grown to love each of them and I seriously can't imagine them not being here with us.

 

 

 With transfers being only a little more than two weeks away we are racing to get all eight apartments leased and ready for occupancy.  Part of the process is establishing an account for utilities.  Some counties will let you take care of the details over the phone, others online, while others require a personal visit.  Ocoee requires a face to face so it's another road trip for us :) 

Below is an apartment complex in Bunnell, Florida we recently set up for two of our sister missionaries. It is just a few miles from the ocean and it is probably my favorite apartment thus far.  The apartment has brand new laminate floors, carpet in the bedrooms, overhead fans and lights, a garbage disposal, a microwave, a washer and dryer and to top it off the management company left a goodie bag with toilet paper, paper towels, dishwasher soap, bar soap, etc. 

All the things you need to feel welcome and help you get started making this place your home! 

 

You would be amazed at how unusual that is.  Depending on the area, sometimes we are lucky to get an apartment with the even the basics.  A garbage disposal, carpeting, maybe a microwave, usually no fans or overhead lights and definitely no goodie bag :( So this apartment made me happy and I understand that the ward members furnishing it are so excited to welcome sister missionaries that I am sure it will be just perfect!

 

 

 

 Guess who?  Yep, Lambie! 

When she heard that we were going on another road trip without her

 she baaa baaa like a baby until we agreed to take her along.

Elder Busath checking out the "goodie bag."

 

I realize that you probably can't comprehend how nice it is to have laminate flooring instead of carpeting, but when you have seen the damage done by tired missionaries who didn't take the time to carry their bikes over, not across, the carpet to a designated place with a tarp you would begin to understand.  Of course this particular floor is brand spanking new and I shudder at the thought the first time someone "forgets" that bikes are to be carried not rolled to the patio outside.

 

 The Atlantic Ocean! As I mentioned Bunnell is just a few miles from the ocean and even I couldn't resist a quick peek. It was beautiful and I wish we had time to truly enjoy it but work called and so we were off.

 

 Lambie was a little disappointed that we didn't have time to stay and build some sand castles, but we still had two beds to pick up and a delivery to make.

 

 

Only in Florida :) This pond is actually surrounded by apartments.  I am not sure if kids in Florida learn at an early age that stoves are HOT, candy is not good for you, and alligators live in ponds, so beware!



It has been a crazy week and even though we had challenges we have been blessed.  We learned that peace is not just a lack of conflict or contention. Peace comes from knowing that the Savior knows who we are and knows that we have faith in Him, and will keep His commandments, even during our trials and disappointments.

"Even with the trials of life, righteous living will be rewarded with personal peace.  Not temporary tranquility, but an abiding deep happiness and spiritual contentment.

Agency is essential to the plan of happiness.  It allows for the love, sacrifice, personal growth, and experience necessary for our eternal progression.  This agency also allows for all the pain and suffering we experience in mortality, even when caused by things we do not understand."
Elder Quentin L. Cook

Wishing you your own personal peace as you endure the challenges of life.  Tomorrow is another day, so make it a great one!

See you later alligator.........