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.

The day starts with the Singletons and ourselves being in the office working on a number of projects. Sister Singleton and Sister Pier have about 100 or so letters to write, 180 board cards to up date, 21 board cards to create and the Zones with Pictures to reorganize. Now unless you have worked in a mission office most of these tasks will mean nothing to you but I can assure you that it is a lot to do over the next 3 days.

Elder Singleton got most of the transfer board moved around yesterday so today was pretty quiet for us. However a couple of problems popped up – don’t they always – which caused some head scratching and some creative work arounds. But everything worked out.

About 9 the APs came in to start a day that will stretch from 9 in the morning until about 9:30 or so tonight. First on their list of things to do is not to eat breakfast! They all munched on apples while they made the accountability calls to the Zone Leaders. The Zone Leaders basically are prepared to talk about how their Zones performed during the past week, why any baptisms that had been scheduled did not occur, problems they see in areas and districts, and how they think they can solve them. The APs encourage the ZLs, do some training and ask some very pointed questions but everything is done with lots of love. They keep careful notes that are assembled and passed on as a report to President Anderson. It is a special experience to listen to them and to feel the spirit that they convey in their conversations and training. It is truly the kind of teaching that D&C 50 suggests as both the APs and the ZLs are edified.

This is the start of Transfer week and it happens that it is also the 2 Monday which means we have a Senior staff meeting and a Senior FHE. So pretty much from Monday through Thursday is busy, busy, busy with some of it moving on through Friday!

Staff meeting is where all the couples meet with the president and talk about their stewardships. The first picture has E/S McCormick on the left who serve as MLS missionaries down in Marathon Key and who we recently visited. They are doing a great job with teaching English and Naturalization lessons. They are really excited to have missionaries coming to Marathon this transfer. E/S Collins are in charge of housing. With all the new areas opening up they have been super busy finding new housing and getting all the things an apartment needs for missionaries to move in.

The right hand picture from left to right – that is confusing isn’t it – shows E/S Ellis, E/S Boice and again the McCormicks. E/S Ellis are the Family History couple but they also take care of the mail and help out wherever they are needed. The young missionaries think of Elder Ellis as their grandfather. The Boices are called as the Employment missionaries and they put many, many hours in at the Center, putting on seminars, and training local leaders. Sister Boice is like me and takes lots of pictures.

The picture on the left shows E/S Singleton, Bares and again the E/S Ellis. The Singletons will be taking over our callings as Finance and Mission secretary. We are trying to train them in the time that we have left. I feel that they are doing a great job already and will be great for the mission. Sister Bare takes care of recording of baptisms and confirmations as well as spoiling the missionaries with treats. She has learned Spanish very well and loves to hold FHE with the members of the Spanish branch. Elder Bare is in the Car and Bike Czar and is probably along with the Collins the hardest working of the senior couples. He sleeps with his phone near his bed in case he gets a call of help from missionaries who have managed to lock their keys in their car or have had an accident. He is also becoming an expert on having cars that will not start towed. Bikes and bike racks also manage to take up a good portion of his time. They just extended for another 6 months – much to the relief of President Anderson.

On the evening of Staff meetings we usually gather again at the mission home to have FHE. Two other couples are invited to join the meeting. Brother Barry is in charge of over seeing the construction of the Fort Lauderdale temple. He is a Church employee but puts in many more hours than most employees. We have a running joke about me sneaking in and taking pictures of the insides of unfinished temple. The left hand picture has the Singletons and brother Barry talking before dinner. The other couple are E/S DeGraffenried who are called as full time service missionaries helping brother Barry with the temple construction. Elder De is in the red tie is talking to E/S Ellis with sisters Bare and McCormick in the background.

Sisters Bare, Collins, and McCormick in the Kitchen with all the food before them. Elder Collins talking to President Anderson about housing – at least that is what I am guessing.

 

Everything is ready and waiting for the blessing. It does not take long for the couples to file down both sides and fill their plates. President Anderson is making sure that everyone takes enough.

E/S Barry

Remember that due to transfers on Wednesday, tomorrow – Tuesday – is P-day and not today. So do not be surprised when your missionary does not write.

This week’s letter from president Anderson contained this bit of news…“A returned missionary last week wrote me about her father introducing her to Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve: ‘When my dad introduced me to Elder Christofferson, he mentioned that I had just returned from serving a mission. Elder Christofferson asked which one and when I responded that I served in Ft. Lauderdale he said, ‘Oh, the exciting one!’ Isn’t that awesome?! I knew our mission was amazing, but a member of the Twelve Apostles thinks so, too!  I had never been so proud to be a part of the FFLM!’

He also shared these experiences

“I love these great titles God has given us to earn and become. I love how you are magnifying these titles and utilizing the trainings we had to bring souls to Christ:

“The day before the specialized training, he told us that he didn’t want to get baptized because he never wanted to give up coffee.  After we practiced the role play at the specialized training, we replicated it with him.  We talked about the Restoration, and invited him to pray about his decision to give up coffee right on the spot.  We invited him to pray in his Guatemalan dialect so that he could fully express himself.  He did so, and about ten seconds into the prayer, I realized that I was understanding everything he was saying.  It wasn’t anything close to Spanish or English, but through the gift of God, both me and my companion were able to understand.  Afterwards, we invited him to give up coffee and be baptized.  His baptism was yesterday, and at his baptism, he got up and bore testimony of the Spirit of the church and the divinity of our Savior.  It was so incredibly special.”

You understand how these titles will bless those you bless:

 â€œWe beseeched the Lord that we want to find a family that day because our teaching pool is minimizing. We followed the prompting affirmatively and went to that place. We prayed again asking the Lord to please show us the exact street where we have to harvest. We looked at each other and said, ‘That is the street in front of us.’ We got out of the car and start booking to the first door. No one answered, second door same thing, third door a man rebuked us from head to toe. We told each other what we are grateful for and then approached the next door. An amazing family of 6 invited us into their home. We left a “harvest blessing” with them to invite the spirit. When we asked them what they need help with from God that we can include in the prayer, they replied, “We are going through some financial difficulties right now as a family. Please included that in the prayer.” So we did. We invited them right off the bat to be baptized the entire family accepted it but the mom. We set an appointment with them the next day. We left their home with tears streaming down our faces knowing that it was the Lord’s plan that the Gospel should be proclaimed to this wonderful family. We gave thanks to the Lord immediately before we left that area.  The next day came around, we were super excited to go visit the family. We got there and found out that they weren’t home. We called them, the father answered the phone sounding like he was in a rush, “Guys I’m so sorry we are almost home. We don’t want to miss this appointment.” Five seconds later we saw their car pull around the corner. They were super excited to see us. We went inside their house and the Father dropped on his knees and said, “Elders, I know that God sent you here, I do know without a doubt. You prayed with us yesterday and this morning my wife got 1900 dollars in her account, it came out of nowhere. We will get baptized for sure and we will do whatever it takes to get there.” This wonderful family came to church on Sunday and loved it. They are currently preparing to be baptized this week.” 

What a great conference and of course we are thankful for all the talks on missionaries and missionary work. I noticed that instead of taking a few days for the conference talks to be available on line, most of them were available almost as soon as the session finished. Even the individual talks were available to read, hear or watch in less than a day.

Our grandson is serving in the Spain Malaga mission and he wrote in his letter that while the members watched the sessions in the chapel in Spanish, he watched in English on a computer.

I love elder Andersen’s quote because it reminded me that even when we are released we are missionaries. The only thing that really changes is that we no longer are called to serve in a specific mission. In D&C 50 the Lord reminds his priesthood holders unto what they were ordained. “To preach my gospel by the Spirit even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth.”

The quote by sister Dalton also touched me. It reminds me that no matter where we are we are to be the light of the world. That we need to let our light so shine that everyone who meets us wants to know why we just seem different.

What you can do to support you missionary…

Send a letter each week…not just an e-mail but a real, in an envelope letter. I can not tell really tell you how hungry missionaries are for letters and packages from home. I think the first thing most missionaries ask when they come into the office is if they have any mail. They are so excited when they get one and are somewhat disappointed when they do not. I have heard some missionaries say with a touch of sadness in their voice that they never get any mail.

Speaking of Mail.…

I would remind you again that unless there is some really urgent reason do not send packages via FedEx or UPS. Anything sent by US Mail can immediately be forwarded to their apartments or houses. Any other package must be hand delivered so that means it will sit around the office until either some one is going to the area or there is a meeting where it can be picked up. Because we know how important it is to the missionary, we of course try to get it out as fast as we can. But usually that means within a couple of weeks after it arrives overnight to the office.

Support Your Local Missionaries…and I do not mean just feed them!

By all means feed your local missionaries as often as you can. But try to be sure that you have invited a non-LDS or less active to share it.

If parents want to really support their missionary sons and daughters they will be the best member missionaries they can be. They will make themselves available to go out with the missionaries and be the right member present that means so much in the conversion process. President Hinckley pointed out that each new convert needs a friend…you can be that friend even before a person or family is baptized. Great missionary parents always have a pass along card with them and seek the Lords help in finding that person He has prepared to receive it. I can promise you that any day you start by asking the Lord to give you a chance to share the gospel or give away a card, he will put someone in your path. But of course we then have to be looking for that opportunity. I can not tell you the number of times I remembered at the end of the day a missed missionary opportunity that was right before me and although I prayed for just that opportunity, I was so caught up in the world that I missed it.

You know how much you love reading about your missionary’s spiritual experiences. Imagine how it will lift your missionary when you write about your missionary experiences for the week! When you tell them you had the missionaries for dinner and they met a missionary contact, how you gave out a pass along card or went out with the missionaries to help teach a lesson, I can guarantee that it will lift them more than almost anything else you could write.

OK enough preaching to the choir…When Will We Report Out Mission?

A number of you have asked about when we will be giving our mission report. Since we have a granddaughter being sealed on May 21, we would like to report  on May 19 but of course it is up to our bishop to decide if that will work. As soon as we know for sure we will post it here and on Facebook. We would love to meet the parents of the great missionaries we have served with and have the opportunity to get to know them.

As we were watching conference on our computer, Mary noticed two iguanas out by the lake. Since we had never seen any around the complex I took some pictures. We also saw them climb trees and one swam quickly across the corner of  the lake. I think I still prefer ducklings as neighbors but a little variety is nice.

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The first and last picture is what they look like dry and the other two is of the swimmer!

Presenting the Zone and District leaders of the Florida Fort Lauderdale mission. 

Today we had the opportunity to help prepare lunch for the ZLC which also included the district leaders for the first time. It was a great experience because of the spirit that is there but also because we had a chance to see and say goodbye to many of the missionaries who we have served with or who we have learned to love over the last 16 months.

We knew that this would be our last ZLC here in the Fort Lauderdale Mission. We did not know that due to an amazing announcement from the Church that it might well be the last one in the mission!

This was released in by the Church News Service this morning! 

Back in the early 20th century a multi-millionaire name Flagler decided to build a railroad from the Florida mainland to Key West. The only real problem was much of the way was over water. He did not let this stop him so he built bridges between the keys – small islands – and one of them was 7 miles long. After a hurricane destroyed much of the line, he sold the right of way to the state who turned the railroad line into a highway. Over the years the old bridges deteriorated and so the 7 mile bridge was replaced with a new one and the old one was broken up in places to keep people from using it.

There is one section that runs from Marathon Key to Pigeon Key which is just a little over 2 miles long and I have wanted to walk it. The last time we were here I started out with a group of senior couples and when we got about 1 1/4 miles along the last group dropped out. I looked longingly at the very visible Pigeon Key and decided that it was not fair for me to hold up the whole group by going on and after taking a picture turned around and went back.

This trip I got up very early and before the sun rose, I started walking and got to pigeon key while it was still dark. So since I wanted to take pictures of the trip and the sunrise, I sat down against the barrier and waited. When the sun finally came up I took my pictures and walked back. It was nice to accomplish what I sat out to do and now can say I walked the old 7 mile bridge.