January 20, 2019 Pismo, Waite Family, Sweetwater Preserve, Olustee Battle Recreation

They say inactivity in the church starts with missing the first Sunday, then another and finally it becomes easier to miss the next and the next.  Don't worry, we haven't missed any meetings, quite the contrary, but this is what has happened with our Florida mission blog, after we missed a couple it was easy to not get back to it  - but we're repenting and will catch up a little at a time so it isn't too long ..  love ya'all

Mike's youngest sister, Debbra, lost her husband in January..  All the siblings met in Pismo Beach, California.  We were able to fly out of Gainesville Friday morning, be with the family Friday night and Saturday and fly back Sunday morning.  Even though our reason for coming together was sad, it was a wonderful time with the Waite siblings.  It is always fun to be with the family.  This is the first time we had tried an AirBnB and it was perfect - enough room for us and others that came.

                      Debbra

 Carol with the picture Norm did of Matthew

      Mike, Norm, Doug;

Claudia, Carol, Maria

Doug, Debbra, Norm, Carol, Mike, Claudia

 Mike, Norm, Aaron, Ted

Later in January we went to Sweetwater Preserve, close to Gainesville where we live.  It is s a nature park with plenty of birds and an alligator or two.  They said usually there are more, but this was plenty.  They also have wild horses but they weren't down that day.

In February we went to the reenactment of the Battle of Olustee - won by the confederacy.  You could tell we were in the South, the support definitely went to the rebels.  There was a young boy, probably about nine or ten, waiting for his mom and pretending to shoot a play rifle.  A older gentleman kindly asked him "What are you doing, son?" 

 His reply .. "I'm shooting Yankees!!!"  just as his mom walked up and she said "You can see that we're raising him right."  

Pretty fancy parking lot .. .. 

                                  Monument to the battle and below, a  restored cannon.                                                                     

The Union Camp - the only protection between them and hot and cold weather and bugs was just the material of the tents.  All cooking over outdoor fires --we don't realize just how good we have it now.

The battle was interesting to watch as they went back and forth, cavalry coming up and troops shooting and retreating and advancing.  The cannons were very loud and lots of smoke.  When the cannon ball hits there is a big splash of dirt and branches.

"The original battle pitted 10,000 cavalry, infantry and artillery troops against each other in a five-hour battle in a pine forest near Olustee, 

13 miles easy of Lake City and 50 Miles west of Jacksonville"

 The band was playing Dixie

 
Olustee is considered the most authentic and largest annual reenactment in the Southeast.  Over 2000 volunteers come to participate.

 "The casualties at Olustee were staggering compared to the numbers that fought there.  Union casualties were 203 killed, 1,152 wounded and 506 missing, a total of 1,861 of approximately 5,500 or 34 percent.  Confederate losses were 93, killed 847 wounded and 6 missing, a total of 946 or less than 18 percent.

The Confederate soldiers advance as the Union troops retreat.  At the end of the battle, there is a short time of silence and then then a bugler plays Taps - there is reverence and also a sadness for all those who were killed and wounded in those battles.  Many have given much so we can have the country we have today.

There are six prisons stretched out along the road going to Olustee Battlefield.  Every town has a water tower - this one was by where we parked.  It must serve Lake City Community College and the Department of Corrections - interesting combination.

Elder Waite,  Brother Brown (1st Counselor in Branch Presidency), Branch President Davis, Sainfort,  who was just ordained an elder, Elder McMeen and Elder Vaughn


Finishing this first catch-up with a couple of scriptures.  We are so grateful for the scriptures and the feelings and teachings that come from them.

Mosiah 2:41 - And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God.  For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness.  O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it. 

Mosiah 5:Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all.  Amen

Our love to you all  !!!