It was a most unusual day for the mission. About 8:30 I got a call from President Anderson saying that the flight our new missionaries were supposed to leave on from Salt Lake had been cancelled and they would not be leaving until after the time they usually arrive here in Fort Lauderdale.  It seems that the Dallas-Fort Worth airport was closed down because of ice and sleet.

To make a longer story really short, they arrived at 8:30 at night and were immediately taken to the hotel where they were given a box lunch, put in their rooms and after being up since probably 6:00 am Eastern time got to bed. They will definitely remember their first short day in the Fort Lauderdale mission. It will give them something to write about next Monday.

While they were waiting in the Salt Lake airport, we hosted another of our Last Lunches for the missionaries in the Fort Lauderdale district. It gives us a chance to show our appreciation for the joy we get from being with these wonderful missionaries most weeks at district meetings and of course at Church.

  

It is also time to take official pictures of those who are at their first LL or who somehow we missed getting before. Sisters Bean and Lake were a great addition to the district this transfer and have been doing a wonderful work together in the Riverside Park Spanish speaking area.

  

Elder Burt is one of the happiest missionaries we have met, and has been elder Bloom – the district leader – companion. They only had one transfer together because elder Bloom is being transferred to a new area. The Zone Leaders – elders Bishop and Smoot have been here before but not together. Elder Smoot came to our first LL back in November of 2011 soon after the three of us came into the mission and just came back this transfer to serve with elder Bishop.

  

Elder Taylor will be leaving for a new area as they are white washing the Creole area. While elder Bishop chows down, elder Rellaford – elder Taylors companion – posed with elder Burt. Elders Thorne and Rondo will continue to serve in the Fort Lauderdale area for another 6 weeks.

  

The missionaries seem to enjoy eating Mary’s green chile enchiladas. The sisters and a couple of the elders had some of the green salad but for the most part the elders passed on that. They did manage to find room for the home made brownies.

  

Elders Rellaford, Thorne and Smoot found a comfortable spot on the sofa while sister Lake and elders Bishop and Bloom did the same on the floor. What is interesting is that if you look carefully you will see sister Bean reflected in the TV screen – completely an accident on my part. Missionaries take lots of pictures – thank goodness for digital cameras or they would spend all their money on film and developing. Elder Bishop runs through some of those on his or someone else’s camera.

  

Elder Bloom was the first one to sit on the floor. Elder Burt writes in elder Bishop’s journal to wish him luck as he heads home. We get a last picture with him – we will miss him much like we would miss a grandson who was leaving.

  

The missionaries wanted a district picture with fountain in the back. So I sat up my brand new Christmas tripod and using the self-timer we got a couple of good shots. The picture in the middle I took earlier today while on a walk around the complex.

  

After the LL elder Smoot shared with me his Dear Kyle letter from the girl he left behind. It did not come as a surprise as he had not heard from her for a while. I caught Elder Shipley sitting alone at the computer – this will be his first solo transfer with a new companion to train. Not only that it is going to be an unusual one because of the plane delay. I told him it was his baptism by fire as an AP. We took a last picture of us with the APs…we will truly miss Elders Rippstein and Avila.

 

The last two pictures of elder Rippstein as he says goodbye to Mary.