That exciting title should attract a lot of interested readers. Our mission is the Florida Jacksonville mission which, excluding the panhandle, is northern Florida and part of southern Georgia.
Jacksonville is indicated by the red dot. Our specific assignment is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Institute in the city of Gainesville, which is right under the word "Florida" on the map. The Institute includes University of Florida and Santa Fe College which are both in Gainesville plus any young adults ages 18-30 that live within a very wide radius. We are located right across from University of Florida (go Gators) .
Here is your history lesson for the day. The picture below is why the northwestern part of Florida is called "The Panhandle." It looks like one - but we didn't realize it until we were driving across that part on our way here.
We take these on our morning walks - they are not casual strolls but good exercise as I try to keep up with Mike. It is interesting because we are not used to many of the things we see. The air this day was very thick with a misty fog, nice to always see the sun coming through - true of life too.
the moss on the trees has its own beauty, but it isn't liked by the people, it is a parasite like mistletoe.
We like this neighbor's fun tree with natural unibrow and mouth.
Coming back from somewhere - we saw something else we aren't used to seeing except at the NFR - a field of Brahmas. Then today we saw 5 or 6 lined up feeding, but passed before we could get a picture.
We have been to Bostwick, FLwhich is about an hour and a half east, to see Ben and Darlene (Ramsey) Wilkinson. Darlene is a lifelong more than good friend. We grew up together in Snowflake, Arizona and went to school together from first grade through a couple of years at ASU and a semester at BYU. She went back to ASU to finish and I graduated from BYU. (not sure why you needed all that extra information.. but oh well, you know I'm a rambler.) They have lived there almost forever and when they retired some years ago they bought the little ranch across the road from their home and now have Lone Branch Ranch where they raise Black Angus. Their children and grandchildren are involved in the work - a magical place to learn how to do a great variety of things.
But we did find this cool red bear that reminded us of the bears Debbra Lee used to give us for Christmas -
and a box of the red and white Christmas balls for $2.00. That combined with the ornaments that the Laurel class from home (Bunkerville) sent us makes a tree that makes you happy just to look at it.
But not quite as happy as this picture makes us>
This was the beautiful sunset as we drove from Darlene's. We love our beautiful world. How true is D&C 59:18-20 - Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart...for food and for rainment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul...And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man.
Josh was one of the first people we met at the Institute - he served his mission in California. Funny how that sounds close to us but sounds like a foreign country to Floridians. He is great - friendly to all and very well liked, teaches Sunday School
This is Josh at the YSA Christmas party with three of our Elders- from l to r - Elder Masino from one of the areas in California where the wildfires have been - but their home is OK. Elder Jheng from Taiwan (and who has learned quite good English in the 15 months he has been here) and Elder Kautai (pronounced Cow-tie). We loved him from the first because he reminded us of our Fisos from home. He is actually from Texas.
Now a great story about Elder Masino's sister Camille (below with her husband) "was born with Goldenhar Syndrome. She had fused vertebrae in the neck making it difficult to turn her head, as well as deformation of the outer and middle ear which caused her to suffer from severe hearing loss in her right ear. Her childhood was filled with constant trips in and out of surgery. To complicate matters further, Camille also had sensitive allergies and chronic sinus problems and has struggled with the many other problems that come with that and the hearing loss. She has cochlear implants and is an accomplished ballet dancer, starting at age 3. You can read about it on this link: https://thebahablog.com/2013/11/04/camille-always-danced-now-its-to-music/
but one of the best stories comes from her sign-language mission (she speaks as well as signs) to St. Louis Missouri. They were in a rural area and she and her companion were tracting. They saw across a field a family that was out skeet shooting. They walked across the field and started talking to them. The family wanted to know what they were doing, so the sister missionaries explained and then asked them if they would like to learn more about the church. One of the young men told them that if Sister Masino could shoot a "skeet" he would listen to them. With no hesitation she took the gun and aimed as she had seen them do. They pulled.. she shot and hit it. He listened and was baptized and eventually 11 other family members were baptized. The best part of the story - she had never in her whole life even held a gun. She and her husband went back to her mission later and visited the family. Many repeated tries - but she couldn't hit anything.
We attended a Gainesville traditional tree lighting - they even had a couple of snow machines (like the bubbles when you wash dishes) The kids loved it. It is a college town and has that feel. We are grateful to have been called to serve here.
I love reading of your adventures. You are an inspirational to us all. Love you both!
ReplyDeleteErica Honey