Merry Christmas

This group of missionaries is very steadfast and dedicated.  Can you imagine arriving in the mission field 5 days before Christmas?  They didn't waver or flinch but with joy went into their new assignments, new areas and new companions.  We love them for their determination to be good and faithful missionaries.

Back:  Elder Coleman, Elder Ball, Elder Webb
Front:  Elder McFarlane, Sister Sheffer, Elder Smith

Their ride from the airport is in the mission van with the Assistants. 

Elder Hall arrived a week before the main group.  He received his own private training.  He will be a great missionary. 

Holly Jolly Holiday Trolley

Merry Christmas! We had a delightful time with the couples of the mission as we gathered for a evening of celebration. We met to welcome a new couple to the mission, Elder and Sister Baker. They literally arrived here one hour before the party was to start. We also met to say Good-bye to our dear friends, the Shirleys. They left today, the 29th, to return home. We will miss them. After a pot-luck meal at the mission home we went to St. Augustine to ride a trolley through downtown.  The lights were amazing and we wore glasses that made all the lights look like stars.  We had a marvelous time. 



Back Row:  Pres. Barry, Elder Robison, Sister Barrus, Elder Barrus, Elder Banks, Elder Shirley,
Middle Row, Sister Robison, Elder Elliott, Sister Banks, Sister Shirley,
Front Row: Sister Barry, Sister Elliott, Elder Stills, Sister Stills, Sister Baker, Elder Baker



Sister and Elder Baker in their stylin' glasses.  Welcome to the Florida Jacksonville Mission



Sister and Elder Barrus



Sister and Elder Elliott on the right.  They brought a couple (on the left) from their ward to enjoy the evening with us. 



Zone Leader Council

This meeting happens monthly but our leadership changes on a regular basis so I always want to show the new zone leaders. They are good and humble leaders. They lead and lift with love.



Back row: Elder Craig, Elder Tenney, Elder Maxfield, Elder Mecham, Elder Crosby, Elder Graham, Elder Snow, Elder Neville, Elder Barnes, Elder Wadsworth, Elder Rowley, Pres. Barry.
Kneeling:  Elder Grant, Elder Allred, Elder DiCristofano, Elder Marquez, Elder Reid

A good meeting is always finished by a good meal, thanks to Elder and Sister Shirley

Elder Barnes, Elder Tenney, Elder Crosby, Elder Mecham, Sister Shirley, Elder Snow



Elder Craig, Elder DiCristofano, Elder Rowley, Elder Grant, Elder Marquez

Elder Neville, Elder Graham, Elder Reid, Pres. Barry, Sister Barry

Goodbye to another group

On Nov 10th we said goodbye to another seasoned and powerful group of missionaries. It's amazing how hard it is for them to leave the mission. They are excited to see family but so sad to leave the greatest work on the earth. We are sad to see them go. They have been successful missionaries because they loved the people and have taught with power and authority. We love you.

Elder McClellen
Sister LaJeunesse, Sister Martins, Sister Liljenquist

Mission Presidents Seminar

Twice a year we have the marvelous experience of gathering with other mission presidents and their wives from the North America South East Region. We meet to be trained by members of the Quorum of the Seventys and men from the mission department. It's a two day spiritual 'fire hose' experience. We are so grateful to these powerful men and women who teach us in our duties. We come away feeling like we can do this a little more diligently. We love these people. They have become dear friends.

The front row are the Seventys and their wives and members of the mission department except for the couple on the far right.  They and the rest of us are mission presidents and wives

President and Sister Gonzales.  He is one of the seven Presidents of the Seventy and is over the North America South East Region.  He and Sister Gonzales are inspired leaders. 

These are our dearest friends.  We are all in the same 'class'.  We came out here together a year and a half ago.
From left to right: President and Sister Hall are serving in the Florida Orlando Mission.  Sister and President Summerhays are in the Florida Tampa Mission.  President and Sister Jensen in the Florida Tallahassee Mission.  Sister and President Barry, Florida Jacksonville Mission and Sister and President Holtzafel are serving in the Alabama Birmingham Mission. 

Leadership Training

This is the Leadership of the mission. These are the great elders and sisters who humbly teach and help their fellow missionaries to "become". Thanks for all you do.

The zone leaders help teach at Leadship Training.  This is Elder Neville and Elder Graham from the Gainesville Zone. 

Happy Birthday, President Barry

A birthday for an adult is a work day as usual. It is especially true on the mission especially when it falls on Transfer Day. We had to celebrate somehow. Two large birthday cakes, balloons and a huge birthday sign made by the missionaries. Happy Birthday, President Barry.

President Barry and President Padget, a counselor in the Mission Presidency

Animated conversation

Sister Koontz, Sister Shirley and Sister Rule serving up the cake.

Great artwork on this sign. 

Transfer Day - Moving Day

After the training for new missionaries and their trainers we have a transfer meeting. Everyone being transfered comes with all their luggage and their excitment to move to a new area or get a new companion. The feeling is electric.

Elder Boag is being introduced by his trainer, Elder Mourra
They are Spanish speaking missionaries.  Elder Mourra is a native speaker so Elder Boag will really learn the language.

Elder Latu will be trained by Elder Tomlinson.  This is a happy, upbeat companionship.

Sister Prettyman is introducting Sister Crowton and will train her.They are both powerhouse missionaries. 



Sister Gneiting and Sister Lenkersdorfer will train Sister Rieck together. Sister Reick is lucky to have two excellent trainers.   



Sister Rule is introducing Sister Koontz and will train her. They are both motivated missionaries.



The parking lot becomes a transport station.  We couldn't do this without the wonderful members.  They bring their vans, trucks and trailers to move the missionaries back and forth with all their possessions.  Thank you so much dear friends. 



Elder Barnes, Elder Wadsworth, Elder Drake,
Elder Lisonbee and Elder Robinson 

Elder Dyerly and Elder Suttner

Elder Jamison, Elder Hinton and Elder Baczuk



Elder Riggs



Elder Cervo and Elder Frizzell

Elder Vance, Elder Garnica, Elder Lee, Elder Wise, Elder Boamorte, a member, Elder Phelps, Elder Oteo



Elder Svedin, Elder McClellen, Brother Price, Elder Porter, Elder Wilcox



Sister Mendivelso, Sister Martins



Elder Lee and Elder Garnica

 

Elder Boag, Elder Garnica, Elder Lee, Elder Taylor, Elder Vilorio

Meet your trainer

Its an exciting meeting when the new missionaries get to meet their trainers.  The church has a new 12 week training program to train new missionaries which is so powerful.  President introduces this program and trains them on how to use it. 



Elder Lisman will train Elder Cassel




Elder Oteo will train Elder Phelps



Sister Richards will be trained by Sister Capua.

Elder Wheeler will train Elder Vance

Our newest disciples

Welcome to the FJM!! Receiving new missionaries is probably the most delightful job we do! I love these new missionaries. They are full of wonder (they wonder if they can do this), humility and determination. Some have the 'deer in the headlights' look and others are ready to run. You can see it on their faces.

At the airport.  They load their luggage in the mission trailer and themselves in the van.  The assistants drive them the 40 minutes to the mission home.

Back:  Elder Cassel, Elder Boag, Elder Vance
Front:  Elder Latu, Sister Rieck, Sister Crowton, Elder Phelps, Elder Bishop

Sitting:  Sister Koontz, Sister Richards

The triumphant return of Elder Bishop!!!
We love you.



Halloween

As you can imagine Halloween isn't a holiday that is really celebrated on a mission. The wards have fun activities that involve the missionaries. The Whitehouse Ward had a ward breakfast and activities throughout the church and outside. The missionaries, Elder Camp and Elder Graham, did a calf roping activity. They roped President Barry into trying it. I think he should stick with preaching the gospel.

Elder and Sister Shirley, President and Sister Barry, Sister and Elder Banks.  These couples work in the office but they also serve in the Whitehouse Ward. 

Elder Graham and Elder Camp. 
Notice the 'calf ' in the background. 

Looks like good form to me.

I should put in the next picutre...he missed. 
President Barry needs to stick with his day job, preaching the gospel.

JAX West Zone Activity

It was fun to just happen in on this preparation day activity on the 31st of Oct. They weren't expecting me which makes it more fun. They were having a blast carving pumpkins.

Left:  Sister Hafslund, Sister Knickerbocker, member, Elder Moore, Elder Jones, Elder Hunter, Elder Allen, Elder Brimhall, Elder Goodman, Sister Rule, Sister Gneiting

Elder Hunter and his personality jack-o-lantern