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

We are still here!!

Dear parents, families, loved ones, friends and followers of the FJM blog

WE ARE STILL HERE!  The lack of activity on the blog indirectly correlates with the amount of activity that is happening in the mission.  The busier we get the harder it is to get everything documented for you.  I want to apologize that it has been 6 weeks but know that it has been a glorious 6 weeks.  We are seeing miracles happening. 

I hope you are sensing the excitement in the letters from your own missionaries.  They are becoming Preach My Gospel missionaries.  They are developing relations with the bishops and members of their wards.  The members are learning how to do missionary work and are giving referrals of people who are prepared to hear the gospel.  We are baptising powerful families.  Miracles are everywhere.  Our baptisms are increasing but more importantly these people are staying active. 

Just a few stats.  This mission is the 'best of practice' which means we baptize as many people per missionary than any other mission in our area.  Our retention rate is really high.  Last year at this time our retention rate was 45%.  As of the end of October 2011 it was 72%!!!  We are baptizing and the members are keeping them.  The fellowshipping is amazing.  There is a unified feeling of love between the members and the missionaries that is becoming stronger and stronger.  We love the members and are so grateful for their missionary efforts.  We can't do this without them! 

Stay tuned for pictures of our recent transfer.