If you have been following our blog you have read about our famous Last Lunches that we put on for the district where we are serving. Our first one here in Fort Lauderdale was held back in November 2011 and today marked our last one. The only missionary who was at both of them is Elder Smoot.

We love to have the missionaries over for a nice lunch and lots of pictures. They love the food and just being with each other. They start talking as soon as they get here and basically do not stop until we shoo the last one out the door.

We are really going to miss this opportunity to serve some of the missionaries who serve with all their heart, might, mind and strength to bring others unto Christ.

Elders Thorne, Brimley, Turek and Van Wagenen showed up early to use our computers for their hour of e-mailing. But before we let them on line we put them to work cutting and buttering the bung for the beef dip sandwiches. Well at least elders Brimley and Van Wagenen did while their senior companions looked at the pictures on our Kodak picture frame.

With a stack of buttered rolls in front of him and our Believe sign behind him elder Brimley tried to do his e-mail but he had a problem with the computer that kept him from getting to ‘myldsmail.’ Also much of his long letter to his family was eaten by the computer when he tried to send it. Hopefully he was able to get on line at the library later in the day and complete it. Since I know the Brimley family reads this blog, if you some of you did not hear from him, it was our computers fault, not his. This was elder Turek’s first time to a Last Lunch and he got my big computer.

Mary made a couple of beautiful salads that were greatly enjoyed but there was a lot left to send home with the missionaries. This was elder Edwards first and last Last Lunch so he had to have his official LL picture taken.

Then there was the companionship shot but that was followed by an impromptu leaving picture. I think he was trying to say that in a couple of days he will be leaving the mission for the journey home.

8 missionaries gathered around our table while the rest ate in the living room. Elder Smoot ate most of his meal walking between the two groups, the ever vigilant zone leader.

Around the table were sisters Escorbores, Bean, Smith, Chavous and Fletcher. They were joined by elders Van Wagenen, Edwards and Thorne. While the missionaries were eating, Mary took a well deserved break.

Sister Smith did a great job of cutting and serving up the brownies. I added lots of ice cream and elder Turek acted as waiter. Elders Brimley and Andelin ate their dessert on the couch.

Then it was time for more official first time pictures starting with elders Brimley and Thorne.

Then it was elders Turek and Van Wagenen’s turn.

Next up the sister trio of sisters Chavous, Smith and Escorbores. Since sister Escorbores is leaving this week it will be sister Chavous who will continue training sister Smith.

The final – and in this case really the last – companionship to stand in front of the famous door for their picture is sisters Fletcher and Bean.

Then it was outside for the last district shot. After a very dignified picture there had to be the crazy one with elder Van Wagenen the victim of the famous hold him while elder Smoot has dessert shot.

There was actually 4 pictures taken but I only showed the best two. In the others sister Fletcher’s hair refused to cooperate as the wind blew it over her face. We then posed with the two great missionaries who will be leaving just 10 days or so before we do – elder Edwards and sister Escorbores.

 Elder Edwards has only been zone leader here for one transfer but we have seen and got to know him over the last half of the mission. We then got to have a picture with all the great sister missionaries. We will miss their smiles and their spirit – not to mention sister Beans delicious birthday cakes.

Just as the party was breaking up – we only have them for about an hour – the assistants arrived and had their first meal of the day. We have grown very close to elders Stewart, Gust and Shipley and are glad we will have them around until we bid farewell to Florida and the mission.