Christmas Mission Conference

We have had a relatively slow week with Sister Black not feeling well. She is doing much better now. We were able to attend one District meeting and one Companion Study on Tuesday and Wednesday. While Sister Black was sick, I was able to work on a project to update contact information for sending mission reports to the Stakes, Wards and Branches. We were able to attend an historic Christmas Mission Conference on Saturday where all the missionaries were able to come together. It was so wonderful to see all the Elders and Sisters greeting each other and the great time they had renewing their friendships. We had bagels and juice for a light breakfast, individual photos were taken by a professional photographer, then photos were taken of the whole mission, we then went into the chapel and sang Christmas carols, Sister Hale introduced two new Sister Missionaries, there were 6-8 musical numbers by groups of missionaries including songs in Spanish and then President Hale welcomed everyone and showed a talk by Elder Holland that was given at the MTC when President Hale and his family were at the MTC fireside (these talks are normally not available). Elder Holland's talk was so direct and forceful as he challenged the missionaries at the MTC to follow the rules and program. He reminded them that the mission rules were a culmination of 140 years of missionary experience and that we need to do it the Lord's way to be effective. He told a story of a Gospel Doctrine teacher who asked his students if they new anyone that was perfect, thinking that he would get no response. A women in the back of the class stood up and said that the missionaries that taught her the gospel were perfect. He then reminded the missionaries that of course they were not perfect, but in the eyes of young children and those they help convert to the gospel they are. We had a wonderful lunch. At each table were gift certificates to Subway for each of the Elders and Sister which was donated by one of our missionaries family. We also learned that many families sent extra gifts so all of the missionaries would have something to take home with them. We then went back into the chapel and had 2 hours more of musical numbers from groups of missionaries, counsel from our Mission President and then we sang a very touching song. The Sister Missionaries sang parts of "Sisters in Zion" while the Elders sang "The Armies of Helaman". At the conclusion, all of the missionaries knelt in prayer in the isles of the chapel and formed a circle around the whole chapel area. I was asked to give the closing "Mighty Prayer". Needless to say, it was a very spiritual experience and many tears flowed. It was an outpouring of thanksgiving, faith and recommitment to the work of the Lord. Letters in red envelops were then handed out to each missionary. We got one from each of our families. We also got a Christmas card from our Mission President and from the 1st Presidency of the Church. The Elders and Sisters then when to different rooms in the church to pick their Christmas packages from their families. We left the conference physically drained. We are so blessed to be on a mission and to associate with such fine young men and women.

Greetings from Florida

We have had a very spiritual week and were around a lot of missionaries that really inspired us. On Wednesday, we attended a Transfer Meeting in the morning where about half of the missionaries were their with all their luggage, cars and bikes. There were 5 new missionaries (one Sister and 4 Elder) and us who were introduced. There were also 11 departing missionaries who bore their testimony. Then the Assistants to the President announced the changes of leadership and also the transfers in each of the 8 Zones and the missionaries gave their present companions a hug and then greeted their new companions. It was quite an emotional experience. We then heard from Sister Hale and President Hale. President Hale announced that Elder Black had been called to serve as the Executive Secretary to the Mission Presidency and explained some of our responsibilities and that we would be reporting on missionary work to the Stake leaders, traveling the mission to attend leadership meetings and companion study and soon will be introducing the Daily Dose English effort. Later that evening we helped set up and attended a dinner for the departing missionaries and then went to a Finishers Fireside to hear from the departing missionaries. They are remarkable young men (9) and young women (2).
We also had our first companion study and district meeting in West Palm Beach on Wednesday and Saturday. We took treats to both groups which they seemed to enjoyed. On Friday, we attended a Zone Leaders Council and got to hear about the whole mission and reports from the 8 Zones. The Mighty Prayer is really making a difference in softening hearts and generating miracles. We encourage all our family and friends to remember our mission in your prayers. Our Might Prayer is at 9:00 am each morning. These young men are remarkable leaders and were able to answer some very challenging questions from the Mission President. Today, Elder Black had his first experience attending a Mission Presidency meeting. The counselors to President Hale are a former Stake President and a former Bishop.
On the 20th of December, the whole mission is getting together for a Christmas Program and Dinner which will go from 9:00 am to about 3 pm. We are looking forward to it. On Christmas day, we will likely be driving down to Key West, stay over night and meet with the Key West Elder's the next morning in their companion study. The other couple missionaries will also be coming down later in the day to do an apartment inspection and we will get together with them.
We feel really blessed to be serving the Lord full-time and can see the Lord's hand in bringing the gospel to the world. We have met some wonderful people who have just joined the church or are now investigating and the gospel really changes lives. We have a testimony that we are engaged in the Lord's work and that the gospel is true.

First Week in Florida

We have had an interesting week and have learned a lot about our mission and what we will be doing the next two months while we are in Plantation, FL. On arriving Friday afternoon, we were met by the Elder and Sister Dalling (Office Senior Missionaries) who helped us into our apartment and then Sister Hale (our Mission Presidents wife) came over with a big basket full of fruits, juice, goodies, etc.). She is so sweet and enthusiastic. Later that evening we took the Dalling's and Kynaston's out to dinner. Saturday we spent organizing our apartment and getting some food and were invited to dinner at the Dalling's (and the Kynaston's were also there). We laughed a lot, but also discussed some serious things about our past Church service and families. On Sunday, we attended the Ft. Lauderdale ward. It was great. It is a very diverse ward. Bishop Bethel and his second counselor Brother Brown are black and the 1st counselor is of American Indian decent. We sat by Sister Kennedy (a single expectant mother) who is getting back into activity and got to know her. The Gospel Essential's class was special. There a lot of investigators, missionaries and members. One lady told about the day of her baptism and how her deceased husband and son came to her and smiled at her. After the baptism and on the way home, she was told by the Kynastons that she could be sealed to them and she expressed her joy in learning that. Another investigator stood up in priesthood meeting and said he had been looking for God's church and that he had found it. Sunday evening, we had a wonderful dinner at President and Sister Hale's home. Their family and the assistants to the President were also there. Our Mission President is a wonderful, dedicated man and his wife has gone out of her way to learn all of the missionaries name and their background. She know a lot about us. After dinner we discussed our assignment for the next two months and had a wonderful experience talking to a young man who was home teaching their daughter, Heather, and one of the Hale's sons Spencer (14) about patriarchal blessings. On Tuesday, Sister Hale spoke to the missionaries at our Zone Development Meeting and complimented our unified effort in teaching them and on the spirit that was there.

The rest of the week we were given experiences to get us familiar with the mission and get some on the job training. We attended the Zone meeting and the training was on companionships and unity. We visited 4 or 5 missionary apartments with the Kynaston's who are in charge of apartment inspection. The spirit of the missionaries was incredible. They a full of so much energy, even at 7 in the morning. The Kynaston's brought them treats and cleaning supplies. One of the apartments had a set of Sister. The Kynaston's brought them an electric air freshener they had asked for. They told us that periodically that their apartment smelled like urine, sometimes like smoke and other times like "the Elder smell". We all had a good laugh. We also visited the Mission office and met the office missionaries and were told how the mission office functions. We then had an interview with Pres. Hale which was special. He has so much on his plate, yet is a very kind and thoughtful. On Thursday and Friday, we traveled to Coconut Beach north of us and went visiting with Elder and Sister Bean (another couple missionaries) who have really done a great job fellowshipping less active members, teaching new member discussions, teaching a temple class and going a lot of nice things for the members and the missionaries. We hope we can follow their example. The rest of the week we worked on the Daily Dose English effort and organized some visits and training the President has asked us to do throughout the mission. We will be attending all the Zone and District Development meetings throughout the mission each week and we will also be working in the Ft. Lauderdale ward the next two months on reactivation and leadership training. We will learn more next week when we meet with Bishop Bethel and President Hale.

Thanksgiving

We had Thanksgiving with 7 other Senior Missionaries and really had a good time. In the attached photos are two from our Thanksgiving Dinner. Clockwise from Sister Black is Elder Bean, Sister Bean, Elder Dalling, Sister Dalling, Sister Smith, Elder Call and Sister Call. We also took a few pictures of our apartment inside and outside to give you a feel of where we live. Every morning we enjoy watching the ducks and other tropical birds in the pond behind our apartment.

Mighty Prayer

We are doing fine and have had some wonderful experiences here in Florida. Our mission has been involved in "Mighty Prayer" since Zone Conferences a few weeks ago and every morning at 9:00 am we knee in "Mighty Prayer" to find new investigators, to soften and turn the hearts of our investigators and to be unified in our companionships and the mission. President Hale has asked us to extend an invitation for our families and all the members within our mission to add your "Mighty Prayers" with our missionaries "Might Prayers" to move the work forward. We appreciate your faith and prayers.

Arriving...

We had a wonderful visit with Cathie and George Hargreaves (Amy's Parents) yesterday evening and this morning. They live in a beautiful area near Brevard, NC. It is lush forest and small hills. It is located southwest of Asheville, NC. They took us to a nice Chinese buffet Wednesday night and fixed us a wonderful breakfast. They are truly wonderful people and we appreciated their hospitality. They run a great bed and breakfast if you are ever in the area. We love and appreciate them a lot.

We traveled from Memphis to Nashville in heavy rain, sparce rain off and on from Nashville to Knoxville and no rain to Asheville. This morning it rained hard from Brevard, NC to Columbia, SC and then it was clear all the way to Jacksonville. We can feel the humidity already and it was about 82 deg F when we arrived.

We talked to our Mission President yesterday and he indicated that we will likely only be at the Plantation location for 2 months at which time a new set of office couple missionaries will arrive and they will take over the apartment and then will be relocated to an area near a ward or branch where we are needed. Of course, we will go wherever we are needed. We are having dinner Sunday evening with the Mission President and his family.

Oklahoma visit

We had a wonderful visit with Ryan, Janalee and family yesterday and today. We got to see Makena and Alana perform in a very patriotic program put on by all of the kindergarten students. They did a great job and during a slide presentation honoring the service men from the children's families, a photo and write up of Ed Black (Ileen's father), Bill Black (my dad's brother) and Duane Bateman (my mom's brother) were shown while playing patriotic music in the background. It was very moving. They also honored those veterans who were present. After the presentation, we got the attached picture.

Ryan did a great job on my neck and back. I asked him for the 18 month special and he delivered. I am feeling much better tonight.