MISSION EXPERIENCES # 9

Several mission experiences  this last week to report on:
    Sunday we were able to able to go to a  Stake Missionary Meeting with President Cusick and Elder Thompson.  It was just for the ward council members and all the missionaries that attend their wards.  It was a good meeting especially for  all the wards to encourage using the missionaries in their  ward activities.  He then gave several examples of activities that the missionaries could or should participate in-- cub scouting, ward parties, youth activities,etc.  President Cusick even mentioned dinner for the YSA after Institute was over. He wanted to know if  Elder Judd agreed with him.(It was Elder Judd who told President Cusick that food always brings in young people. And It does!!) So everyone  had a good chuckle about this.  We have had some great success with these dinners bringing in less actives and none members.  Food is a great motivator.
  The Temple Terrace Ward building is a very busy building, we go to meetings here.  It houses the Mission Office, the Institute and three wards, plus a lot of missionaries bring investigators through the building just to see what the inside of a LDS building looks like. The missionaries show the pictures of Christ and teach of Christ all around both halls.  They teach about his life, the miracles he did, coming to the Americas, Joseph Smith, Prayer,and baptism. They always end in the chapel and talk about the sacrament ,committing them to come back, coming to church, prayer,and even baptism.  It is amazing how the spirit works with these young missionaries.  I have been able to  walk with them as they have brought investigators through the church. One such young man came  through and was just interested in  the  building but committed to be baptized by the time he finished, he has been back and been taught many lessons already. His baptism day is set for June 22. This is happening daily.  It is a great experience to be apart of.
   We served dinner Thursday night -- pulled pork, vegetable tray, and fruit pizza.  I was surprised that many YSA members did not even know what a fruit pizza was, but once they saw and tasted it IT WAS GONE IN A MATTER OF MINUTES!!Thank goodness it is too hard to save. Elder Judd took a picture  of the last one that was half gone and he had to hurry to take that picture. It is a lot of work but every one is always so grateful and it seems that all of a sudden we have a lot of young people come and eat and socialize which is what we want them to do.
  We were able to go to the Orlando Temple Saturday afternoon.  It is a beautiful place to go. The YSA had their assignment of baptisms for the dead and had asked Elder Judd to assist. While he was doing that  I did a endowment session . The room was freezing but the spirit was strong. One little old lady kept changing chairs hoping to find a spot where the air conditioner would not hit her.  She did not find it, but told one of the officiators she would not come back until the air conditioner was fixed.  I hope that works because I froze too.