BLOG#36 DECEMBER 28

 BLOG #36 DECEMBER 22-28

THIS IS THE WEEK OF CHRISTMAS AND FAMILY. WE WISH THAT ALL OF OUR FAMILY COULD BE HERE----NOW THAT WOULD BE FUN, BUT WE KNOW THAT THEY WILL HAVE A GOOD TIME WHERE EVER THEY ARE.

LAST FRIDAY WE SPENT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME HELPING TO PREPARE A LETTER TO SEND OUT TO ALL THE BISHOPS AND STAKE PRESIDENTS TO HELP ENCOURAGE ALL THE YSA IN THEIR AREA TO COME AND PARTICIPATE IN THE INSTITUTE PROGRAM. MONDAY WE STUFFED ENVELOPES AND ADDRESSED THEM- IT TOOK ALL MORNING WHY I DON’T KNOW, MAYBE WE ARE JUST SLOW.  WE JUST PRAY THAT IT WILL REACH THE RIGHT PERSON SO THAT IT WILL ENCOURAGE THE YSA TO COME AND BE STRENGTHEN IN THE GOSPEL.

WE DID NOT HAVE FHE THIS WEEK SO WE DECIDED TO TAKE A SMALL TRIP UP TO PORT RICHEY—ABOUT 1 HOUR FROM OUR APARTMENT-- TO VISIT BOB AND JANICE JEANS. IT WAS A DELIGHT TO BE WITH THIS FAMILY. ELDER JUDD BAPTIZED THIS COUPLE 49 YEARS AGO IN CHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE. ALL OF THEIR 5 CHILDREN AND THEIR GRAND-CHILDREN ARE STILL ACTIVE. WE HAD A GREAT TIME TALKING ABOUT THE BLESSINGS OF THE GOSPEL IN OUR LIVES AND THE DIFFERENCE IT HAS MADE IN THE QUALITY AND PEACE OF THE LIFE WE ENJOY. SISTER JEANS ASKED ELDER JUDD TO SHARE THE PRESENTATION ON JERUSALEM THAT HE DID IN HER WARD WHEN THEY WERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE THIS LAST FALL.  IT WAS GREAT EVENING THAT WE SPENT TOGETHER AND ONE THAT WE WILL CHERISH FOR A LONG TIME. THIS WAS ANOTHER “TENDER MERCY” THAT THE LORD HAS GIVEN US ON OUR MISSION---TO BE ABLE TO SPEND TIME WITH THE JEANS AND MANY OF THEIR CHILDREN AND GRAND CHILDREN WHILE SERVING HERE IN THE TAMPA MISSION.

WELL WE CLEANED AGAIN AND FINISHED THE SHOPPING AND BORROWED 3 AIR MATTRESSES FROM THE MISSION FOR 3 OF THE KIDS..  WE ARE GETTING REALLY EXCITED. OUR APARTMENT IS SMALL BUT IT WILL BE OK.  WE WILL HAVE THE ROOM THAT IS NEEDED FOR THIS TIME.

 WE LEFT EARLY TO GO TO THE AIRPORT TO GO AND PICK UP THE CHEVROLET SUBURBAN.  IT WAS BRAND NEW WITH ONLY 643 MILES ON IT. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS LIKE DRIVING A BUS, WE WERE COMFORTABLE IN IT, AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ALL GO TOGETHER ON OUR OUTINGS.  WE WAITED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS AT THE AIRPORT IN ANTICIPATION OF THE FAMILY TO ARRIVE.  JUST AS THE BOARD AT THE CELL PHONE WAITING PARKING LOT STATED THAT THE PLANE ARRIVED THE CAR NEXT TO US BATTERY WENT DEAD.  WHAT A DECISION TO HELP OR NOT TO HELP ----THE KIDS ARE WAITING‼  WE ENDED UP HELPING AND DOING A GOOD DEED AND IT ONLY TOOK A MINUTE OR TWO TO HELP THIS COUPLE BE ABLE TO GO GET THEIR KIDS FOR THE HOLIDAYS. IT WAS A  GOOD THING TO HELP AND IT ONLY TOOK A MOMENT.  WE DROVE DOWN TO THE ARRIVAL GATE WHERE THE FAMILY WAS WAITING AND SPENCER JUMPED INTO MY CAR AND THE GIRLS JUMPED INTO THE SUBURBAN. WE TALKED TILL ABOUT 1 AM AND WERE SO THRILLED THAT THEY WERE HERE.

DURING THE END OF THIS WEEK, WE CELEBRATED THE BIRTH OF THE SAVIOR, HAD A CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST, A CHRISTMAS DINNER FOR THE FAMILY AND  FOR THE MISSIONARIES, WENT TO THE M.O.S.I. MUSEUM WHICH IS DEVOTED TO PRESENT THE WONDERS OF THE WORLDS IN WAYS YOUNG PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND AND BE MOTIVATED TO LEARN MORE--SPENCER LOVED THE FULL SIZED MODEL OF A DEEP SEA SCIENCE SUBMARINE(HE WAS MESMERIZED BY THIS),  WENT TO THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM—WE TOUCHED LIVE SEA RAYS AS THEY SWIM BY, AND WENT TO THE SIESTA KEY BEACH NEAR SARASOTA ALONG WITH 50,000 OTHER BEACH GOERS—THE BEACH WAS ONE OF THE FAVORITES OF THE MARRIOTTS, SPENCER LOVED KICKING THE WAVES AND GIRLS LOVED THE COOL WATER AND SEA SHELLS—WE ALL LOVED THE SUNSET. GOD KNOWS HOW TO MAKE THE PRETTIEST SKIES. 

WHEW‼ WHAT A ENDING TO THE WEEK.  WE LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

BLOG #35 DECEMBER 21

BLOG#35   DECEMBER 15-21

WHAT A GREAT MONTH THIS HAS BEEN AND BOY HAS IT GONE BY FAST.  OF COURSE, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY SNOW, BUT A FEW DAYS OF VERY COOL WIND AND NO SUNSHINE. I CANNOT COMPLAIN—SHORT SLEEVES AND NO COATS FOR THE MOST PART IS FANTASTIC. THE TRAFFIC HAS BECOME VERY CONGESTED BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE OR SNOW BIRDS FROM THE NORTH COME DOWN TO FLORIDA TO GET AWAY FROM THE COLD SNOWY WEATHER WHERE THEY LIVE. I REALLY CANNOT BLAME THEM BUT IT SURE MAKES THE TRAFFIC WORSE.

ON MONDAY WE CAME TO THE INSTITUTE BUILDING TO SEE THAT SEVERAL TREES IN THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING WERE CUT DOWN. IN ADDITION TO THOSE TREES, WE HAD ASKED THAT THE OAK TREE NEXT TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE PARKING LOT BE CUT DOWN FOR SAFETY REASONS. THE NEXT DAY THE TREE WAS GONE. IT HAS MADE A DIFFERENT TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE SIDEWALK PEDESTRIANS GO BY AND CARS WHIZ BY WITHOUT HITTING THEM OR BEING HIT. THE CHURCH WILL NOW DO SOME ADDITIONAL LANDSCAPING TO HELP POINT OUT THAT THIS IS THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS BUILDING.

THIS WEEK WE HAD 2 MORE EARLY SEMINARY CLASSES TO VISIT—ONE IN DAVENPORT EAST OF TAMPA (THIS CLASS STARTED AT 5:30 AM) AND ANOTHER ONE IN THE TAMPA STAKE. WE HAVE BEEN SO IMPRESSED AT THE DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE BOTH THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS MAKE TO HAVE EARLY MORNING SEMINARY. WE KNOW THAT THE LORD BLESSES BOTH THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS FOR THE PRICE THEY PAY TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM A SUCCESS.  THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE CHURCH IN THE MISSION FIELD.

TRANSFERS WERE THIS WEEK THEY SEEM TO ROLL AROUND TOO OFTEN.  I THINK OF PRESIDENT CUSICK AND THE AP MISSIONARIES THAT HAVE TO MAKE ALL THESE CHANGES—WHAT A HEADACHE THAT MUST BE!  OF COURSE WE ALWAYS HAVE A FEW THAT HAVE WON OUR HEARTS AND IT IS HARD TO SEE THEM GO EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW IT WILL HELP THEM TO GROW .

SATURDAY WAS A DAY OF CLEANING, PLANNING  MEALS, AND SHOPPING AT COSTCO. IF I HAD NOT MENTIONED BEFORE NOW TRICIA AND FAMILY ARE COMING TO FLORIDA FOR CHRISTMAS.  WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE THEM HERE.  IT WILL BE TIGHT QUARTERS BUT FUN‼ WE BORROWED A LITTLE TREE TO MAKE THE PLACE LOOK MORE FESTIVE AND EVEN PURCHASED A LARGE POINSETTIA. THE PLACE LOOKS LIKE CHRISTMAS.

IN THE EVENING, WE TRAVELED BACK TO ODESSA TO THE TAMPA STAKE CENTER TO SEE THEIR SPECTACULAR “A NIGHT IN BETHLEHEM,” WHICH WAS VERY WELL DONE. IT CONSISTED OF A MOCK UP OF THE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM WITH SHOPS AND DISPLAYS AND THEN A RE-ENACTMENT OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. IT WAS VERY WELL DONE AND ATTENDED, WE ARE TOLD THAT OVER 3,000 PEOPLE WILL ATTEND DURING THE FOUR EVENINGS. MANY PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS COME TO SEE THIS PRESENTATION. AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION, EVERYONE IS INVITED INTO THE CHURCH BUILDING FOR HOT CHOCOLATE AND COOKIES.  MANY MISSIONARIES WERE THERE TO GREET ALL WHO CAME AND TALK TO NON-MEMBERS ABOUT THE GOSPEL. IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND ANOTHER GREAT EFFORT TO LET THE WORLD KNOW THAT WE, THE MORMONS, ARE CHRISTIANS!!! ELDER JUDD HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH A PAIR OF BROTHERS, ONE A MEMBER AND THE OTHER NOT. THE MEMBER (AND HIS WIFE) HAD JUST RETURNED FROM SERVING A MILITARY RELATIONS MISSION. THE OTHER BROTHER IS A MEMBER OF A LOCAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH WHO IS PLANNING ON A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND WITH HIS CONGREGATION IN APRIL. I SPOKE WITH HIM IN LENGTH AS TO WHY HE WAS IN FOR A TREAT OF HIS LIFETIME, SHARING SOME OF THE THINGS HE WILL SEE AND WHAT AN EXPERIENCE IT WILL BE. THEY HAD A GREAT TIME TALKING TOGETHER ABOUT THE SAVIOR AND HIS LAND OF NATIVITY.

SUNDAY WE HAD ANOTHER GREAT SABBATH. THREE YSA’S TALKED ALONG WITH ONE OF THE STAKE PRESIDENCY   IT WAS A FULL MEETING OF GREAT INSTRUCTION AND RENEWING OUR COVENANTS WITH THE SAVIOR.

BLOG#34 DECEMBER14TH

BLOG #34 DECEMBER 8^TH-14TH

THIS MONTH IS FLYING BY! IT IS THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH -I GUESS THE SAYING IS TRUE TIME FLYS BY WHEN YOU ARE HAVING FUN!

WE WERE SO BUSY THIS WEEK. IT STARTED WITH FHE DOING CHRISTMAS NOTES FOR THE MISSIONARIES FROM THE YSA WARD THAT WAS FUN , BUT I THINK THAT THE  MEMBERS REALLY LIKE THE PIZZA THE BEST.  THEY DID WRITE A LOT OF NOTES THOUGH.

ON TUESDAY, WE STARTED OUT BY GOING TO THE METROPOLITAN MINISTRY SITE IN TAMPA TO ASSIST IN FOOD AND TOY SORTING IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR BIG EFFORT FOR THE UNFORTUNATE FAMILIES IN THE AREA FOR CHRISTMAS. WE WERE JOINED BY ABOUT 14 YSA FROM THE WARD IN THIS EFFORT. WE HAD A GREAT TIME SORTING FOOD AND TOYS FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS. IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PITCH IN SOME HELP FOR THIS WORTHY PROJECT FOR THE POOR.  IT ALSO GOES A LONG WAYS TO BUILD TRUST AND RESPECT FOR THE CHURCH IN THE CHRISTIAN WORLD. 

THE WIND WAS SOOOO COLD TODAY-- COLD ENOUGH THAT I WAS WEARING A COAT AND GLAD FOR IT, BUT THANK GOODNESS I HAD A COMPANION THAT COULD KEEP ME WARM. THE TAMPA MISSION WAS HOSTING A CHRISTMAS PARTY ON BRADENTON BEACH THIS AFTERNOON SO WE WERE HOPING IT WOULD BE A LITTLE WARMER—IT WASN’T. THAT NORTH WIND FROZE EVERYONE BUT THEY ALL CONTINUED TO PLAY SAND VOLLEYBALL, FOOTBALL, TALKING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES, EAT HOAGIE SANDWICHES AND SINGING CHRISTMAS SONGS.  WE ALSO FOUND ELDER TOKONA RUNNING UP WITH HIS HUGE SMILE. . IT WAS SO GOOD TO SEE HIM AND TO SEE THAT HE WAS HAPPY.  HE HAS A GREAT COMPANION AND THEY ARE HAVING SUCCESS IN HIS NEW AREA. AFTER THE DINNER WE ALL WENT TO THE BEACH AND WATCH THE SUNSET, IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL—FLORIDA HAS AN ABUNDANCE OF BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS AND SUNRISES.  AFTER THE SUNSET WE LEFT WITH A WARM FEELING IN OUR HEARTS JUST SEEING THIS IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER’S BEST IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THE STRENGTH IN THESE MISSIONARIES.

WE HAD AN ASSIGNMENT FROM BRO PATRICK TO VISIT SOME EARLY MORNING SEMINARY CLASS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF HIS AREA—PORT CHARLOTTE, SARASOTA AND BRADENTON. SO FOR THE NEXT 3 DAYS WE FELT THE GREAT LOVE THAT THESE TEACHERS HAVE FOR THESE STUDENTS. THE TEACHERS WERE UP AND READY TO START ON TIME FOR SOME PRETTY TIRED STUDENTS, BUT WE WATCHED THE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE AND LEARN ABOUT THE GOSPEL AND TALK ABOUT THE SCRIPTURE THEY HAD MEMORIZED. ALL THIS WAS DONE IN THE EARLY MORNING.

IN ADDITION TO VISITING THE EARLY MORNING CLASSES, WE DECIDED THAT WE HAD ALL THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING TO SEE SOME OF THE SITES OF FLORIDA: WE WENT TO THE MIXON FRUIT FARM FOR A TOUR OF A CITRUS FARM TURNED TOURIST ATTRACTION. ORANGES, GRAPEFRUIT, LEMONS, LIMES AND EVEN PUMMELLOWS ARE GROWN HERE IN THIS AREA IN GREAT ABUNDANCE.  AFTER THE TOUR OF THE TREES, THEY SHOWED US THEIR ANIMAL RESCUE OPERATION FOR PERMANENTLY INJURED BIRDS, CROCODILES, ALLIGATORS, TURTLES, RACCOON'S AND LARGE SNAKES. OF COURSE MIXON FARMS MADE A LOT OF ORANGE ITEMS LIKE ORANGE SPRAY, ORANGE HOLDERS, ORANGE POPCORN AND EVEN ORANGE FLAVORED ICE CREAM –WHICH WAS THAT NOT BAD!!! WE SPENT ABOUT THREE HOURS HERE.

WE WENT TO SEE THE MYAKKA NATURE RESERVE TO SEE SOME CHARACTERISTIC GEOGRAPHY OF FLORIDA. THIS RESERVE IS A COMBINATION LAKES, SWAMP,PLAINS, FOREST AREA WITH MANY ANIMALS AND BIRDS AND SOME BIG ALLIGATORS. WE TOOK A NATURE WALK THRU A COMBINATION PALM, OAK AND PINE FOREST. AT ONE POINT ELDER JUDD CLIMBED A 76 FOOT TOWER TO SEE OVER THE TREE TOPS. IT WAS QUITE A VIEW WITH MILES IN EVERY DIRECTION OF TYPICAL FLORIDIAN FLAT LAND DOTTED WITH TREES, WET LANDS, MARSHES ETC. WE SPENT ABOUT THREE OR SO HOURS HERE AND IT WAS RELAXING AND REFRESHING. WE THEN DROVE TO THE HARBOR AND BEACH FRONT OF PUNTA GORDA AND THEN BACK UP THE COAST TO SEE VENICE BEACH. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL SETTING WITH A LONG, WHITE SAND BEACH WITH SEA SHELLS ALL OVER. WE PICKED UP A FEW AS WE WALKED ON THE SAND NEXT TO THE WATER..

ONE OF THE LAST STOPS WE MADE BEFORE WE MADE IT HOME WAS THE MANATEE VIEWING CENTER JUST SOUTH OF TAMPA.  THESE ANIMALS ARE 2000 LB. MAMMALS THAT LOOK LIKE BLOBS OF BLUBBER FLOATING, SINKING AND SURFACING FOR AIR. THEY ARE CALLED -- SEA COWS OF THE OCEAN. THEY MOVE VERY SLOW THROUGH THE WATER .

WE WERE GLAD THAT WE COULD SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL AREA THAT GOD CREATE.

SUNDAY  AT SACRAMENT MEETING WE LISTENED TO THE CHRISTMAS PROGRAM, DIRECTED BY RACHELLE TOLMAN. SHE USED MANY OF OUR YSA IN THE CHOIR AND THE  SCRIPTURAL READINGS.  THEY REALLY DID A GREAT JOB, THIS WARD HAS SOME GREAT TALENT IN IT.

BLOG #33

BLOG #33 November 30^th to  December 7th

THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT WEEK!  WE HAVE FINISHED THE LAST OF THE SEMESTER AND THE LAST FALL DINNER.  WE REALLY NEEDED A BREAK.  WE HAVE HAD SOME GREAT EXPERIENCES IN THIS LAST SEMESTER: WE HAVE WITNESSED SOME GREAT YOUNG PEOPLE BEING BAPTIZED -- SOME GREAT FRIENDS MADE – MISSIONARIES COMING AND GOING -- TEACHING – PREPARING DINNER AND BREAKFASTS--WORKING WITH SOME GREAT PEOPLE—SEEING SOME OF THE PRETTIEST AREAS IN THE UNTIED STATES. WHILE BEING IN FLORIDA,  WE HAVE HAD AND ENJOYED MANY BLESSINGS BEING ON THIS MISSION. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT THE YEAR 2014 IS ALMOST OVER WITH?.

I FIXED ENCHILADA SOUP FOR THIS LAST DINNER OF THE SEMESTER.  TO ME IT REALLY DID NOT LOOK GOOD BUT EVERYONE SAID IT WAS TERRIFIC.  I MADE CORN BREAD( THIS IS THE BEST RECIPE THAT I HAVE FOUND. IT IS LIKE A CAKE AND YET BREAD), AND OF COURSE CHOCOLATE CANDY CANE KISSES COOKIES— IT LOOKED VERY FESTIVE...

THE ONLY CHALLENGE LEFT IS THAT I HAVE TO BALANCE THE BOOKS WITH SISTER HOPEGOOD. I HOPE THAT I WILL MAKE IT—IT IS BAD ENOUGH TO GOOF YOUR OWN CHECKBOOK BUT THE NOT THE CHURCH’S.

WE WENT TO TWO NIGHTS OF “THE FESTIVAL OF THE NATIVITY”. IT WAS MUCH LIKE OUR CRECHE NIGHTS. ONLY THIS STAKE PUT MORE EMPHASIS ON THE TALENT OF THE STAKE MEMBERS THAN ON THE CRECHES.  IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND A LOT OF WORK. THERE ARE SOME REALLY WONDERFUL MUSICIANS HERE.  IT DID MAKE ME THINK OF BROTHER AND SISTER HEALEY AND ALL THE WORK THEY DID.. THEN OF ALL THINGS WE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE CRECHE ACTIVITY SUPERVISOR IN WEBER COUNTY TO SEE IF WE COULD HELP AND WE HAD TO TELL THEM NO—I WONDER WHY I WOULD DO THAT.

 ALL 8 WARDS IN THE BRANDON STAKE WERE ASSIGNED AT LEAST 30 DOZEN COOKIES EACH. THEY HAD COOKIES COMING OUT THEIR EARS AND STILL THEY FELT THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE SHORT. OUR YSA WARD WAS ASKED TO KEEP THE COOKIE AND PUNCH TABLE FULL. THEY WERE, ALSO, ASKED TO PASS OUT THE COOKIES. SO I STEPPED IN TO HELP, WE WERE ONLY SUPPOSED TO GIVE 2 COOKIES AT THE MOST TO EVERYONE AND YET IN THE KITCHEN THE COOKIES WERE OOZING OUT THE DOOR.  CRAZY‼  IT ALL WORKED OUT AND THEY HAD A LOT OF COOKIES LEFT OVER ANYWAY.

NEXT WEEK WE TRAVEL TO CAPE CORAL. SARASOTA  AND BRADENTON TO HELP WITH SEMINARY IN-SERVICE FOR ELDER PATRICK.

THANKSGIVING WEEK BLOG #32

THANKSGIVING WEEK BLOG#32

I decided that Elder Judd could write most of the blog this week. He did a fantastic job.  He might  be doing it again!

This is the last day of November, with one week left in this semester at the Institute and the daily temperatures in the 70’s, it just does not seem possible that we only have 24 days until Christmas. Only a few of the millions of trees in this part of Florida have lost their leaves and they did not turn colors but turned a dingy brown and then fell to the ground. The great majority of trees, palms, pine, and others keep their leaves all year. So the green-ness of the trees, the warmth of the weather and the overall summer like weather we are having just does not lend itself to “starting to look like Christmas.”

We feared that no one would come due to it being the day before Thanksgiving, but I had 8 YSA show up for class and we had a great lesson.  After class, several of the students continued to talk about the subject (that Satan has no power over us except what we give him - by our choices).  Five of the students were very appreciative of the lesson and expressed their gratitude for what they had learned. Several of the students stayed around and we all talked for quite a while. We did not get home until after ten pm. It was a great evening and turned out so much better that we thought it might.

Thursday, Thanksgiving Day was different when compared to the traditional way we have celebrated it in the past. We had a leisure morning with no food preparation and left for Sarasota at about 11:30 am to get in line at the Der Dutchman Restaurant where four of the five senior couples in our mission were meeting for the big dinner. When we arrived at about 12:30 pm there was a line of people out the front door just to get their name on the wait list. That line took about 20 minutes. We planned on all meeting at 2:30 and we actually did sit down about that time.  It was a great meal with all the traditional foods and trimmings plus roast beef and about nine different kinds of pie to choose from.  There was apple, pumpkin, pecan, raspberry, rhubarb, blueberry, blackberry, cherry and also coconut cream.  I had to stop at three before I popped.  I could only taste the pumpkin, blackberry, pecan and rhubarb. My last attempt was at the blackberry and I could only try about two bites.  We had a great visit with all and then bid our goodbyes and got back on the road back to Tampa. It was a good day. 

Friday started early for us because we planned to drive to the Orlando Temple for a session. It was beautiful and clear and a little on the chilly side for Florida, about 54 degrees at 8 am. We had a nice session at the temple with about 40 people in the group. The Orlando Temple is situated on a hill in a beautiful upscale area north of Orlando. The grounds look what I think the Garden of Eden looked like. It is a gorgeous setting with the white stone temple as the centerpiece, for the new winter flower arrangements around the temple they planted a lot of poinsettias. They were beautiful and so different that what we can plant at home. After the session, we sat in the car facing the temple and ate our lunch that we brought with us. 

We then drove to Clermont to find Brandon, Mandy and Rusty’s house on the Lake (Minnehaha). Brandon is a professional class wake boarder and the house they rent literally sits about thirty feet out in this large lake. The setting is beautiful and serene. Their back porch is fixed up with two hammocks, a fish-cleaning sink and two old wake boards attached to some 4x4’s to make a quaint bench for two. While we were there, Brandon invited me to try to catch some fish from the porch.  I caught three Blue Gill and two cat fish. Who would have thought that I would catch fish in Florida? I threw all that I caught back. Of course, We took some pictures for proof. We had a nice visit with Brandon and his family. They had just bought a Christmas tree, so I helped them set it up. Rusty is 9 months old and such a good natured baby and really cute. In the late afternoon, we went to the Crooked Spoon restaurant for hamburgers together, then Marsha and I started for home. In the process, we didn’t trust our GPS in the car so we had to call Brandon to get the right way back to Tampa. It is not fun being in Florida when you are lost, there are no reference points for direction. This is the hardest place to get around for me. With no mountains for reference, I just do not do well. Sister Judd gets along a lot better than I do.  After getting directions, we got on the right road and headed home. It was a nice, relaxing day, which has been quite different from the busy schedule we have had since we arrived in Florida.

On Saturday, we started our day by joining a few of the YSA at the church to take care of the cleaning for Sunday. This week there were about four more than last week, which made the effort much easier. In the afternoon we joined Jonathon and Christine Hopegood (Sister Hopegood is our Support Specialist at the Institute) in attending a free water ski show on Tower Lake about 15 miles west of Tampa. Here we were in our shirt sleeves on folding chairs next to a small lake with the temperature in the 70’s, watching about twenty professional water skiers show their stuff. They did all kinds of tricks including going off a jump and doing summersaults to forming pyramids of three high. At some point there were as many as ten or twelve skiers all behind one boat. It was a great show and it really did feel like we are in Florida. This is quite a contrast from the time we spent in Calgary, Alberta… from a winter in the deep freeze to a winter in a summer place. (One of Florida’s many license plates boasts “Endless Summer” on it.) After the show, the Hopegood’s took us out for Pizza at a nice place. We had a great time and it was good to get to know them better thru this experience. Jonathon is a non-member and from England. He has a very English accent and is interesting to talk to. I hope we can get to know them better. On the way back, we stopped and picked up a couple of movies and spent the rest of the evening finishing off this restful few days quietly in our apartment. 

I have been writing to a young Elder who moved down south after his transfer, he told us this experience of “finding” a woman to teach. This is just like all the missionaries .They are having more and more experiences with people who want to know Christ and his teachings .

Elder telling us about his experience: “My companion and I were about to go finding, before that we prayed and requested for a specific direction to go to. We were prompted to go down a service station about 5 minute walk from our apartment complex to the gas station. 

As we got there, we were just standing there trying to look for opportunity to talk to people but there were not many people out there, so we felt a bit discouraged. We were gonna go to another finding place any time sooner but we felt a strong prompting that we should be patient.2 minutes later, this lady pulled up to fill her gas and so we talked to her and we showed her the He Is The Gift video.

 As we were showing this video to her, tears started filling her eyes as she felt the spirit talking to her. She has been going through a hard time in her life and she did not even realize how she had a Loving Father who gave her a very sacred and precious gift. 

She said that Heavenly Father sent us to her at that time because she feels lost and we were there to help her find her way. 

She really enjoyed the video and she was willing to set up a schedule for us to come and see her again.”

Everyone needs to watch the video ‘He is the Gift’.  It is a great 3 minute movie that testifies of Christ.

Working with this age group is so great. Marsha and I love to be around them and work with them.  I think this work keeps us young if we can keep up with them!!!  We are spending this evening working on writing the events of this past week.

BLOG #31

SOME WHERE ALONG THE LINE I HAVE MESSED UP ON THE DATES AND BLOG #'S. SO I WILL TRY TO GET IT STRAIGHTEN OUT-- BUT REST ASSURED ALL THIS INFORMATION DID HAPPEN.

 ELDER JUDD: This semester is quickly coming to close with only two weeks left before the Christmas break. It has been a busy week and my classes have been fun to teach. I am really enjoying teaching the life and ministry of the Savior. There are so many valuable insights that come as we discuss each verse of what the Savior both said and did. Every now and again one or two students makes and audible “Aha!” or “Wow!” or “Mmmm!” or they raise their hand with an insight that they had never had before. Then we talk about what they have discovered. Often, that insight or discovery enlightens the rest of us in the class and we all share in the light that has come as we focus on the Son of God and His tenderness and infinite love both to those He ministered to then and those He ministers to now---us. 

Wednesday was a busy day for Sister Judd as she worked on the menu for Thursday. On Tuesday, she made those famous rolls(5 dozen) of hers. Then she made a cookie that looked like a pilgrim hat, about sixty of them. She has baked two turkeys and boned them out for the meat that she put into a Thanksgiving dinner casserole. She also made two cookie sheets of a pumpkin cheesecake bar.  It all went over very well with the YSA coming back for seconds. It all tasted great and everyone had a great meal. And of course a lot of conversation…

THIS WAS OUR TROPICAL STORM

Also on Wednesday Sister Judd and I went to our first senior missionary in-service meeting with all 6 couples in the Tampa Florida Mission with Pres and Sister Cusick. From 10 to 12 we learned more about the mission and how it works. We were instructed to be helpful to the Wards mission leaders working closely with them. Pres Cusick was very informative. And we were grateful that we could learn more about this work. We then had Lunch with Olive Garden as the caterer. It was good and we were able to chat with the couples that we did not know very well = Serevinson, ,Ainscough, Smiths, Healey, and Salmons..  We then went to the afternoon portion of the meeting and learned about the Metro Training Center- Elders Hawks and Neilsen(AP) explained this portion--It is to help teach the missionaries how to approach people how, to  exercise and take care of themselves, how to manage their time, and how to prepare their food etc.. It was very informative.  They are really being trained for life in general. 

Sunday was a great day and the first one in a while that we were able to relax and just enjoy the spirit.  NEXT WEEK IS THANKSGIVING!! HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

ONE WEEK BEFORE THANKSGIVING#30

THURSDAY I REALLY WANTED PIZZA ,ICE CREAM AND COOKIES. I TRIED TO COME UP WITH DIFFERENT WAYS TO PREPARE IT MAKING IT HOT, GOOD AND OF COURSE COST EFFECTIVE FOR THE BUDGET I HAVE. THE ONLY WAY I COULD MAKE IT WAS WITH FRENCH BREAD (WALMART SPECIAL $1/LOAF) CUT IN HALF AND THEN INTO 8 PIECES, PIZZA SAUCE, CHEESE, PEPPERONI, HAM AND PINEAPPLE. ELDER JUDD AND I MADE AN ASSEMBLY LINE OF INGREDIENTS AND THEN I WOULD RUN IT DOWN TO THE OVENS. ( THE OVENS ARE IN THE MAIN PART OF THE BUILDING JUST ACROSS FROM THE GYM.IT IS NOT FAR FROM THE INSTITUTE ROOMS SO THAT IS WHERE I DO ALL OF THE BAKING.  LOTS OF  WALKING, GOOD FOR ME‼!)) WE MADE IT A FUN MEAL FOR THE STUDENT. THEY ATE ALL 11 LOAVES OF PIZZA BREAD. IT IS AN EASY WAY TO MAKE IT –I THINK THAT WE WILL BE HAVING PIZZA  FRENCH BREAD AT OUR HOUSE WITH THE GRANDKIDS. 

SATURDAY WE FIXED A BREAKFAST MEAL FOR THE SEMINARY IN-SERVICE GROUP. IT WAS MUFFIN QUICHES, CINNAMON, BLUEBERRY, MORMON MUFFIN, AND OF COURSE FRUIT, MILK AND JUICE. THESE EARLY MORNING SEMINARY TEACHERS COME FROM 5 DIFFERENT  STAKES IN THIS AREA, SOME DRIVE FROM FORT MYERS IN THE SOUTH, BROOKSFIELD IN THE NORTH, ST PETE IN THE WEST AND LAKELAND IN THE EAST.  IT IS A LONG DRIVE FOR MANY OF THESE FAITHFUL SAINTS, WHO WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR TEACHING SKILLS FOR THE YOUTH OF THE CHURCH IN THE SEMINARY PROGRAM. THEY GIVE THEIR TIME AND MONEY TO HELP THESE GREAT YOUNG PEOPLE.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON ELDER JUDD GAVE A TALK AT KODY DAHLKE’S BAPTISM. THEN ON SUNDAY HE GAVE A DIFFERENT TALK AT JIA ZHANG BAPTISM.  HE WAS REALLY GOOD TALKING TO TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE MEETING THEIR OWN NEEDS AND WHAT THEY NEEDED TO HEAR. BOTH OF THESE YOUNG ADULTS WERE SO HAPPY AND WE COULD SEE A LIGHT IN THEIR EYES THAT WAS NOT THERE BEFORE.

SATURDAY WAS ALSO TEMPLE DAY FOR THE YSA WARD. WE HAD ABOUT 25 YOUNG ADULTS COME AND DO BAPTISMS AND CONFIRMATIONS  FOR THE DEAD. THEY ARE SO EXCITED TO COME AND DO THIS FOR SOMEONE ELSE-SOME EVEN BRING THEIR OWN FAMILY FILE.  THE OFFICIATORS ASKED ELDER JUDD TO OFFICIATE AT THE FONT AND I WAS ASKED TO SIT IN THE YOUNG WOMEN’S CONFIRMATION ROOM. WE WENT TO THE TEXAS LONGHORN FOR DINNER AFTER. SOME WENT TO A CHINESE PLACE AND OTHERS WENT TO A SANDWICH JOINT. ALL IN ALL IT WAS A FUN EXPERIENCE.

ELDER JUDD AND I WERE ASSIGNED TO GO TO A YSA FIRESIDE IN PLANT CITY WHICH IS ABOUT 15 MILES EAST OF THE INSTITUTE BUILDING. OUR ASSIGNMENT WAS TO TALK TO THE YSA ABOUT COMING TO INSTITUTE CLASSES HERE IN TAMPA.  WE TOOK THE INSTITUTE PRESIDENT-JACQUI SHELTON WITH US AND ALL OF US BORE A TESTIMONY OF THE VALUE OF TAKING INSTITUTE TO STRENGTHEN OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOSPEL. IT WAS GREAT EXPERIENCE.

ELDER JUDD AND I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING AN ELDER THAT WE BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH EARLIER THIS YEAR.  HE IS FROM FIJI AND HAS THIS WONDERFUL SMILE AND HAPPY ATTITUDE. HE WAS RECENTLY TRANSFERRED TO NAPLES THE SOUTHERN POINT OF THIS MISSION. OF COURSE WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT HIM BUT WE RECEIVED A NOTE ON MONDAY INDICATING THAT HE WAS DOING OKAY AND THAT HE REALLY WAS ENJOYING HIS NEW AREA AND COMPANION. WE ARE RELIEVEDTO HEAR HIS GOOD NEWS AND CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HIS SUCCESS.  WE,ALSO, RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTE YESTERDAY, MONDAY NOV. 17TH WHERE HE WAS BACK TO HIS HAPPY SELF-- MAKING JOKES AND TALKING  ABOUT FOOD AND HOW MUCH HE MISSED US AND ALL THE GOODIES THAT I MADE.  WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HIS SUCCESS DAILY. 

WE ARE IN OUR 2ND WEEK NOVEMBER#29

WE ARE IN OUR 2^ND WEEK OF NOVEMBER#29

WE HAVE ENJOYED A DELIGHTFUL WEEK—WEATHER-WISE . WE HAVE BEEN IN THE MID 70’S DURING THE DAY MOST OF THE TIME, AND REALLY THE ONLY TIME IT IS COLD IS WHEN WE ARE IN THE CHURCH BUILDING.  I REALLY THINK THAT THE BROTHERN SHOULD TAKE THEIR COATS OFF AND FEEL WHAT WE FEEL AT TIMES THEN MAYBE THEY WOULD HAVE THE AIR CONDITIONING TURNED DOWN A NOTCH OR TWO. I GUESS THAT IS MY LITTLE TIRADE, NOW BACK TO THE WEATHER.  WE KEEP WONDERING WHERE THE FALL IS. OUR SECRETARY, SISTER HOPEGOOD, CAME TO WORK ONE DAY WITH A SWEATER AND LONG DRESS BOOTS ON. SHE ASKED IF WE FELT THE CHANGE OF WEATHER OUTSIDE. WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND THEN SAID NO NOT REALLY. THE ONLY THING WE CAN TELL IS THE HOT HUMIDITY IS GONE.  THAT MUST BE HOW THEY TELL.  IT IS GREAT FOR RIGHT NOW AND WE MIGHT AS WELL ENJOY IT‼!

WE HAVE GROWN TO LOVE THE YOUNG ELDERS AND SISTERS THAT ARE IN OUR AREA.  AS WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CES PROGRAM IT PUTS US IN THE INSTITUTE BUILDING ALL THE TIME, SO WE SEE THE MISSIONARIES COME INTO THE BUILDING THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO THIS AREA. SOME ARE QUIET, SOME ARE VERY TALKATIVE AND SOME  YOU LOVE IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE OF WHO  THEY ARE.  ELDER TAKONA, WHO CAME  FROM FIJI JUST SIX MONTHS AGO, WON OUR HEARTS WITH HIS SMILE AND SWEET PERSONALITY. WE HAVE COME TO LOVE HIM AND HIS SENIOR COMPANION, ELDER NELSON. THEY STOP INTO OUR OFFICE EACH DAY AND IF WE HAD ANY FOOD LEFT OVER FROM SOME EVENT, THEY USUALLY ENDED UP WITH IT. ELDER TOKONA’S PARENTS ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH AND HAVE  HAD A HARD TIME WITH HIM LEAVING  FIJI TO SERVE A FULL TIME MISSION—AS A RESULTS THEY HAVE NOT WRITTEN TO HIM THE ENTIRE TIME HE HAS BEEN OUT. THIS LAST TRANSFER HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO NAPLES THE FURTHEST CITY AWAY FROM HERE.  WE WILL TRY TO ENCOURAGE HIM WHILE HE IS IN HIS MISSION. HE HAS A GREAT TESTIMONY OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

OF COURSE IN THIS CALLING WE ALWAYS HAVE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE CONCERNED FOR. 1.  ADAM WHO JOINED THE CHURCH SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN A DIFFERENT STATE-- BUT FELL AWAY FROM THE CHURCH, WHEN HE CAME BACK TO FLORIDA HE FELT THAT HE HAD TRY HARD TO GIVE UP HIS HABITS THAT HAD TAKEN OVER HIS LIFE AND BEGIN AGAIN TO LIVE THE GOSPEL AS HE SHOULD. IT HAS BEEN A HARD JOURNEY BUT HE IS DOING A LOT BETTER AT THIS TIME. HIS GENERAL APPEARANCE HAS CHANGE. IT IS GREAT TO KNOW HIM.  2.  ANDREW A. IS A VERY SOFT SPOKEN YOUNG MAN AND HAS A HARD TIME GETTING TO KNOW THE YSA PEOPLE. WE HAVE TRIED TO MOVE HIM INTO WHERE THE YSA’S ARE TALKING SO THAT THEY CAN GET TO KNOW HIM BETTER. IT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE WITH HIM FEELING MORE COMFORTABLE. 3. FERNANDO, OUR SPECIAL FRIEND FROM COLUMBIA, CAME AND LIGHTED UP OUR LIFE WITH HIS SPECIAL TESTIMONY AND LOVE FOR THE GOSPEL. HE HAD TO GO HOME TO COLUMBIA SHORTLY AFTER HIS BAPTISM. HE WAS HOPING THAT HIS PARENTS WOULD JOIN BUT SADLY IT IS NOT THEIR TIME FOR COMMITMENT TO THE GOSPEL—SOMEDAY IT WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THEIR SON’S TESTIMONY.  4. JAMIE L. IS ANOTHER YOUNG MAN WHO CAME INTO THE CHURCH WITH A KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOSPEL.  5. LANIEKA IS OUR JAMAICAN SISTER THAT JOINED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. SHE IS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN SCHOOL, BUT KNOWS THAT SHE IS BEING HELPED BECAUSE OF HER COMMITMENT TO THE GOSPEL. SATAN IS WORKING HARD ON ALL THESE CHOICE YOUNG PEOPLE  TO GET THEM BACK TO HIS SIDE,BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHAT THEY WILL DO AS THEY GROW CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THEIR HEAVENLY FATHER.THEY ARE STRONG AND WILL FIGHT TO STAY IN THE GOSPEL. WE HAVE OTHERS THAT THE MISSIONARIES ARE WORKING WITH. WE DO LOVE GETTING TO KNOW THEM TOO. WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE THIS IS WORKING WITH THESE YSA’S.

THIS WEEK I FIXED CHILI-MAC, CORN BREAD AND WHITE AND CHOCOLATE TEXAS SHEET CAKE. I THINK THAT I JUST CHANGE THE NAME OF THE MEAL, ADD A DIFFERENT SAUCE AND NOODLE AND IT BECOMES CHILI-MAC, SPAGHETTI,  ETC. IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE… THEY EAT IT ANYWAY IT IS FIXED.

 ELDER JUDD’S CLASSES ARE DOING GREAT. THE CLASSES ARE THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF THE SAVIOR AND THE OLD TESTAMENT (FIRST HALF). HE HAS BEEN WORKING ON UPDATING ALL OF HIS PICTURES FOR HIS CLASSES(HE HAS FOUND SOME FANTASTIC PICTURES ON THE INTERNET).HE HAS ENJOYED FINDING THESE PICTURES BECAUSE THEY ARE SO MUCH CLEARER AND SHARPER THAN THE PICTURES HE TOOK OF THE SAME SPOT. SOMEONE IS A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER.

THIS FRIDAY WE LEFT THE OFFICE ABOUT 4:30PM, HAD DINNER AT THE CRACKER BARREL, CAME BACK TO THE APARTMENT AND WATCHED 2 MOVIES. I KNOW BORING BUT IT WAS A GOOD CHANGE‼ SATURDAY:  UP AND BACK TO THE CHURCH TO HELP THE YSA CLEAN THE CHURCH. I NEEDED TO WASH THE CLOTHES IN THE AFTERNOON AND OF COURSE GO GROCERY SHOPPING – IT DOES SEEM THAT I AM ALWAYS FOOD SHOPPING FOR EITHER US OR THE YSA.  COSTCO AND WALMART KNOWS ME BY NAME.

WE HAD A SURPRISE CALL FROM ONE OF OUR YSA YOUNG WOMAN WANTING TO KNOW IF WE WOULD LIKE TO GO TO A UKRAINIAN FESTIVAL OVER IN ST. PETE.  WHAT A SURPRISE‼  KASSIE’S BACKGROUND IS UKRAINIAN. IT WAS FUN WATCHING  THE UKRAINE DANCES, TRYING THEIR FOOD AND LOOKING AT THEIR HANDICRAFTS--ESPECIALLY THEIR FANCY DECORATED EGGS FOR WHICH THEY ARE FAMOUS FOR. WE DID HAVE A GREAT TIME.

ELDER JUDD WAS ASKED TO GIVE A BAPTISMAL TALK FOR A YOUNG LADY, KAI-LA CANCEL,ON SUNDAY. HE SPOKE ON MORONI 10:32, MATTHEW 11:28-30 AND THE CONCEPT OF BEING YOKED TO THE SAVIOR AT BAPTISM WHICH WOULD GIVE US A PARTNER TO WALK WITH THRU THE REST OF OUR LIVES. I REALLY DID ENJOY, AS I ALWAYS DO, HEARING HIM BEAR HIS TESTIMONY OF THE SAVIOR.