A Spanish Oops!

When Elder Moffett called Sister Guerra to help her with a question she was so grateful and she was saying thank you to him for all of his service as he is going home tomorrow- she said, "I'm so grateful we have a relationship." Elder Moffett was taken aback and was speechless. The silence was palpable and then she wondered if she had a wrong translation. She was trying to say thanks for your friendship, but in Spanish it didn't quite translate in to that. We all had a good laugh, but she was devastated. We have her laughing now.

More fun Stuff from Florida

Now this is a tender mercy. President has wanted to see a Roseate Spoonbill ever since we arrived. This one was in the water by our home and I actually had my camera with me. We were in awe at this sight and we couldn't believe our good fortune. I hope you can see the spoonbill and I know you can see the rose color. They live in the wild here. Tis a beautiful world in which we live!








The last "official" picture of President and his Assistants. Elder Moffett will go home on Wednesday. :(




This is one of President's favorite birds. He has about a million billion favorites. We have a Sand Hill Crane that feeds on our office lawn. Until a while ago there were 3 and now there is only one. We don't know where the others are, but it can't be good. The one left looks so lonely as they are always in partners and sometimes he pecks at his reflection in the window thinking it is his friend.

Sunday Baptism

Elder Janke (from Farmington) and Elder Meserve from ST. George. These are the Elders who played golf with President and their investigator a few weeks ago. They share the ward with Elders Abbott, Prince and Clement.





Elder Abbott, Sister DeLuca (member for 3 months),Brother H,Elder Prince, Elder Clement with arm around brother, and the brother from the ward who will do the baptism.

Great Saturday

We had a great Saturday. Here are the highlights. Please once in a while comment so I know if anyone reads this besides Shauna. Love you Shauna. You don't have to say anything, it is just when I read a comment it is like I am chatting with you. Love you all.

The morning started with a Specialized training that included breakfast. Here are Grandpa and Elder Robinson putting on the finishing touches. We had the most amazing and spiritual lesson after. Great way to start the day.


For lunch the Sr. Couples went to Macaroni Grill to celebrate Grandpa's birthday. We have the Leavitts who are the CES couple, The Drapers, us, The Satchels, the Neilsons,the Knights and the Nelsons.




Elders Babcock and Garey on the way to the baptism





We ended the day with a beautiful baptism in the Tampa 5 Spanish ward. The baptism was scheduled to be at 5 but true to the Latino culture (so they tell me) It began at 6:15. It was worth waiting for. Below are some pictures of the celebration

Elder Beus the Sister being baptized and Elder Robinson. Aren't they all beautiful?




Sister before her baptism with Elder Garey who baptized her






Above is a sweet little child who slept thru the whole baptism.

below are Sweet Latino girls at the Baptism. They knew all the words to all of the songs. Of course they were in Spanish so I just recognized the tunes. They are beautiful




Spanish Elder Durrant went to Cedar and was in one of Brooke's classes. She had told me about him and I mentioned her to him. He vaguely remembered her. Today he saw her picture and said- oh I totally remember her-she is the girl that is so nice to everybody! I wholeheartedly agree.




Elders Beus and Clark at the Baptism

Bradenton Zone Conference

Last night we drove to Venice from Lakeland to prepare for the Bradenton North and South Zone Conference. We had a wonderful day and these are a few pictures from the conference. Now I am waiting for Grandpa who has the Bradenton Stake Correlation meeting. I have gone from waiting for his golf to waiting for his church. He is worth waiting for. :)


I took a phone call while President was training. The phone call was from SLC and they said to pull him out of the training to take the call as it was very important. So I did and President asked Zone Leaders McDonald and Schwanaveldt (spelling) to take over and they were brilliant. Seated in front of them are Elders spendlove, Berry, Oliver and Sookhan.




Elders Neilson, Ellis, Newman, Taveras and Vasher doing a role play and having a great discussion. These are all very good Missionaries who cheerfully practice.




Elder Newman training the North and South Bradenton Zones




Elders Vasher, Taveras and Newman training the Bradenton zone on how to find. These 3 are faithful fearless and fabulous finders. Their enthusiasm is contagious and they got the zone all fired up to go out and find new investigators.

Valentines,Grandpa's Birthday and Lakeland Zone Conference

The Lakeland Stake Relief Society provided a wonderful meal for our Zone Conference. THis is a lovely display of the menu. The missionaries are very spoiled by our Relief Society sisters.




The Assistants gave Grandpa a special Valentine. They showed him that their hearts are locked. Elder Tagg has the sign and Elder Moffett is showing their hearts with a lock on them. President often teaches them that while on a mission, their hearts need to be locked. This was a very creative and fun gift.




Lakeland Zone and Grandpa proudly displaying their Valentine Ties as a tribute for Grandpa's birthday




Elder Hall presents Daddy with his birthday present.




Tie Back. Grandpa will always remember this tie.





Front of Birthday Tie

Pre Birthday Celebration

Sunday night the Assistants came over for a meeting and brought Grandpa a homemade cake. They knew they couldn't do it on his actual birthday so they did it on Sunday. It was originally white frosting but the top of the cake was so crumbly that it looked like cookies and cream. The golf green is because there was a hole there so they thought they would cover it up. President loved it. Today in our office meeting the Sr. Couples brought homemade sweet rolls. They were yummy. We haven't had desserts since Christmas and were doing so well and look at us now and it isn't even his birthday yet. Well we will enjoy it and get back on tract on Wednesday.

Some Florida Fun

This is a beautiful Wood pecker. We saw two beautiful bright red cardinals as well but I didn't get a good picture of them. We love our morning walks and we see such wonderful sights every day.It is amazing that we can see so much since we are walking very briskly :)




The poinsiettas (spelling) grow wild here. This is a tree from a neighbors yard. Last December we put our pot outside after Christmas and to our surprise come Christmas time this year the leaves turned red.


This is a mistake as it is already posted but I don't know how to change it. When Shauna comes she can teach me much.





We see these beautiful trees on our morning walk. The morning sun shines on them and and it takes our breathe away. A beautiful springtime gift.

More St .Pete

Elder McDougal and Elder Boud




Elder Cundick and Elder Johansen




More Elder Boehme. This is backward because I don't know how to blog. I was taking the pictures so you can't see my reaction to this, but I about died when they smashed the cake into Elder Boehme. The point of the demo was in how we present our lessons.

St. Pete Zone Conference

Elder Jensen and Parker giving Elder Johansen a nice piece of cake. Then they asked if anyone else wanted some cake. Elder Boehme said that he did. This is what he got

Ft. Myers Zone Conference

Elders Christopherson, Perry, Schribner, Gordon and Richardson




Elders Packard and Bartschi




Sisters Jensen Gallegos Wilson and Henneke







Sisters Henneke, Me, Gallegos, Phelps, Jensen, Furse and Wilson. Sister Wilson is from New Zealand and Sister Furse is from Hurricane

Baptism in St. Pete

Elder Jones, Elder Heath (from Lindon) and their sweet baptism. They found her while biking to church.

February ZLC

Preach My Gospel teaches us to prepare a calendar for a progressing investigator so everyone knows exactly what needs to be done before baptism. This is a role play on setting up the calendar. Grandpa spends lots of time on role plays or real plays as he calls them. I think it is a product of the gazillion hours he has spent practicing golf. It is the way to excellence and you know he loves excellence.

Elder Jensen is the 'investigator' and Elders Prince and Abbott are teaching him.




Grandpa continues to teach "looking sharp". Today he was specifically teaching looking sharp before studies begin as we prepare to meet with the Lord and to be instructed by the spirit. We want to look our very best. As part of Grandpa's teaching, he shined an Elder's shoes.




Elders Sharp, Hall and Jensen I can't really explain this role play but the Elders really enjoyed it. We were working on effective companionship study.




Elders McDonald and Schvaneveldt




Elders Gordon, Clayton, Prince and Abbott




The Elders Larson and Larson




Elders Parker (from Centerville), Craner and Nemelka also from Centerville




Elders Lindberg, Avila, Sharp and Hall




Elders Fangupo, Rhodes, Gordon and Clayton
We are working some role plays.