Trainers and New Missionaries

For all the families of our newest missionaries - here is another glimpse of your missionary.  This was during transfer meeting.  Their trainer had a few minutes to tell about them and what qualities they had that would make them a great missionary.

 

This is Elder Lee introducing Elder Hernandez.  They are Spanish speaking elders and will serve in the Ridgeland Ward and Okatie Spanish Branch in Ridgeland South Carolina

 Elder Howell will train Elder Hernandez.  They serve in the Beaufort Ward in Port Royal, South Carolina

 Elder Bishop is training Elder Craynor.  They are also serving in the Beaufort Ward in Port Royal, South Carolina



Elder Lang is being introduced and trained by Elder Summers.  They serve in the Branford Ward in Branford, Florida

Elder McCarthy is being trained by Elder Bass.  They serve in the Fernandina Ward in Fernandina Beach, Florida

Sister Fitu is introducing and training Sister Waldman.  They work in the Orange Park 2nd Ward in Orange Park, Florida

 Sister Capua and Sister Santos serve in the Hendricks Ward in Jacksonville.  Sister Capua is the trainer.

Elder Wadsworth is training Elder Huckvale.  They serve in the Normandy Ward in the west side of Jacksonville

 Elder Boamorte is training Elder Tibbitts.  They serve in the Palatka 2nd Ward in Palatka, Fl.

Elder Johnson is introducing and training Elder Moser.  They serve in the Timuquana Ward on the west side of Jacksonville. 

Transfers

There is a feeling of joy at transfer meeting. The missionaries love seeing each other especially when it has been a long time. The Spirit is so strong at this meeting. The new missionaries are introduced by their trainers and the departing missionaries bear their testimonies. It really is a highlight of the mission.

Elder Wheeler, Elder Green
and Elder Crosby

Elder Salvesen, Elder Wise
and Elder Huckvale

Clockwise from the front:
Elder Crites, Elder Porter, Elder Banner,
Elder Ramstedt, Elder Rhodes,
Elder Hock

Elder Hernandez, Elder Lee,
Elder Warren, Elder Vilorio
and Elder Chadwick

Elder Lyman, Elder Svedin, Elder Hunter
Elder Svedin has been companions
with both of these elders.

Elder Larsen and Elder Lucas

How will we survive?

Missionaries come and go and all make an impact in the mission. But we have to say that very few have made as much of an impact for good as Elder and Sister Shirley. They came here 18 months ago with a new and green mission president and wife. We grew together and learned the ropes through trial and error. We all know who really made this mission run - the Shirleys. Sister Shirley was the mission secretary and Elder Shirley was the financial secretary and apartment czar (or is that the pope?) :) Every missionary was loved and served by this unselfish couple. They showed everyone by example how to truly love and serve. Thank you so much. We love you dearly.

 

President is giving them a scrap book of pictures and letters as a good-bye gift.  Notice the apron. Elder Shirley wore it every time they fed us.
Come back and visit sometime. I need my therapy. 

Sad to leave - happy to go!

The departing devotional is always very spiritual and tearful. They are sad to leave, they are excited to go, their testimonies are powerful and their own conversion is solid.

These 5 missionaries have lived the Doctrine of Christ. They have developed faith in Christ, they repent daily, they keep their covenants, they live to feel the Spirit daily and they strive to do all of these things every day.  They know how to 'come unto Christ'. They know how to invite others to do the same. Thank you for being valiant Disciples of Christ.

It's time to do it- NOW AND FOREVER

We love you.

Back:  Elder Todd, Elder Brown, Elder Jacobs, Elder Aiono and Elder Failner in the front.

Happy Birthday!

At Zone Conferences we like to recognize upcoming birthdays.  Your missionaries are getting older, maturing and growing spiritually strong.

Elder Banks, Elder Webster, Elder Salvesen, Elder Cervo, Elder Ramstedt, Elder Robinson, Elder Reid, Elder Graham ElderMcFarlane 

Back Row: Sister Elliott, Sister Barrus, Elder Wheeler, Elder Banks, Elder Allen, Elder Orth, Elder Jensen, Elder Wadsworth, Sister Lenkersdorfer, Sister McCracken. Kneeling: Elder Fergus, Elder Day, Elder Aiono, Elder Fischer, Elder Reid

Back:  Elder Holcombe, Elder Winward, Elder Hunter, Elder Rhodes, Elder Hall, Elder Lucas, Sister Crowton, Elder Svedin, Elder Banks, Elder Lyman, Elder Knudsen, Elder Bishop, Elder Dylerly, Elder Bennion.   Kneeling:  Elder Tomlinson, Elder Quintano, Elder Porter, Elder Reid, Elder Lisman, Elder Crites, Elder Frizzell

Role Plays! This is a major part of becoming a better missionary. In Moses 3:5 we learn that the Lord created everything spiritually before it was created physically. The Lord role played the creation. As missionaries we role play or spiritually create the structure of our lessons, invitations and contacts. We rely on the spirit to teach us while we role play so that we spiritually know how to teach a person before we actually do it. We have seen missionaries receive direct guidance on how to solve problems with investigators. Missionaries have taken what they learned during a role play and applied it word for word in a lesson and baptisms have resulted. Also, the missionary who is the investigator is playing an actual investigator that they are working with. As they do this they come to a greater understanding of how the investigator feels and the spirit teaches the missionary what that investigator needs. It's a powerful process. As you look at these pictures remember the spirit is strong during this time.
These are the Lake City and Gainesville Zones.  They are role playing teaching about prayer and inviting to kneel and pray.


Elder Ball being taught by Elder Lundquist




Sister Koontz and Sister Gneiting enjoying the moment





This is Elder Ramstedt and Elder Cervo





Elder Warren is teaching Elder Moore

 The following role plays were designed to help the missionaries connect with people on the street.  Different stations were set up where a person was doing something specific.  We ask the missionaries to quickly look for clues and connect with the person.  We want them to be personable and loving and try to become friends then navigate to the Restoration and the Book of Mormon.  They are to teach and testify, get a return appointment, ask for friends who would want to hear the message and leave them wanting to hear more with a teaser.  It takes a lot of practice.


The cultural hall was surrounded with stations.

 


Elder Larrocha contacting Elder Jensen

 




Sister McCracken giving Sister Richards a referral

 



Elder Ross and Elder Aiono

  


Elder Dandridge being contacted by Elder Allred





Elder Porter and Elder Dyerly

 



Elder Lisman and Elder Latu

 


Elder Bennion and Elder Bushman



Elder DiCristofano navigating to the
Book of Mormon with Elder Clements



Elder Hinton and Elder Lucas



Elder Howell connecting on Elder Sauni's level

 



Sister Delaplane and Elder Schuyler



Elder Crawford and Elder Latu
Success!

Our Newest Missionaries

On January 31, ten new missionaries arrived in Jacksonville. President Barry and I and the Assistants to the President welcomed them at the airport and at the Mission Office. It's so fun to see them arrive. They are full of excitement and apprehension. There are so many unknowns and they are anxious to find out everything. What is the mission like? Who is my companion? In what area will I serve? Will I be able to do this? Will I get along with my companion? Can I really teach people the gospel? The unknowns are numerous.
You would be proud of your son or daughter. They have learned so much already at the MTC. They have learned the Doctrine of Christ and how it relates to their purpose to invite people to come unto Christ. They have learned to recognize the Holy Ghost in their lives. They have learned the importance of the Holy Ghost in conversion and how prayer, reading the Book of Mormon and attending church brings the spirit and thereby brings conversion. They have learned how to teach people. They learned that you can't go in with an agenda of what you will teach but to follow the spirit and teach to their needs. They have learned how to invite people to keep commitments and how to follow-up with those commitments. They have learned the techniques of how to begin teaching. 

Back Row:  Elder Huckvale, Elder McCarthy, Elder Moser, Elder Tibbitts
Front Row: Elder Hernandez, Elder Craynor, Elder Lang, Elder Cancel
Sitting:  Sister Waldman, Sister Santos

Picking them up at the airport

This is a lot! They learned that all in 3 weeks. Now is the time to apply these principles. Now is the time to be completely obedient. Now is the time act!! We feel confident that these young missionaries are prepared and ready to do just that.

Here Is Your Missionary...

...and here are Our missionaries.  We love these powerful elders and sisters. 

We started the year with zone conferences to introduce our year goals.  The first one was with the Lake City and Gainesville Zones.  These zones cover the west side of Florida and the zone conference was held in the Lake City Stake Center. We spent the day teaching each other the doctrine, training and role playing what we learn.

The second day was with the Jacksonville City Zones, JAX East, JAX West, JAX South.  The third day was with the Kingsland and Savannah Zones.  They are our Georgia Zones.

Let me introduce you to all of them.

LAKE CITY ZONE

BACK ROW:  Sister Koontz, Sister Surtees, Elder Smith, Elder Summers, Elder Robinson, Elder Greco, Elder Bishop, Elder Maxfield, Elder Ramstedt, Elder Tenney.  FRONT ROW:  Elder Lewis, Elder McFarlane, Elder Baczuk, Elder Woodard, Elder Suttner, Elder Nelson


GAINESVILLE ZONE

BACK ROW: Elder Banner, Elder Larsen, Elder Ball, Elder Salvesen, Elder Jacobs, Elder Hansen, Elder Jensen, Elder Camp, Elder Graham

MIDDLE ROW: Elder Vilorio, Elder Stills, Sister Stills, Sister Hafslund, Sister Gneiting, Elder Lundquist, Elder Neville, Elder Drake

KNEELING: Elder Warren, Elder Moore, Elder McArthur, Elder Morris, Elder Cervo, Elder Webster, Elder Northrup

SITTING: Elder Brown, Elder Elms, Elder Lisonbee, Elder Chadwick  



JAX WEST ZONE

BACK ROW: Elder Grant, Elder Gebhard, Elder Fergus, Elder Riggs, Elder Kiracofe, Elder Jones  SITTING:  Sister Hicks, Sister Rule, Sister Knickerbocker, Sister Fitu, Sister Banks, Elder Banks FLOOR:  Elder Johnson, Elder Graham, Elder Wadsworth, Elder Marquez, Elder Hock, Elder Bigley


JAX EAST ZONE

BACK ROW:  Elder Fuller, Elder Oteo, Elder Crosby, Elder Hinton, Elder Phelps, Elder Evans, Elder Baker FRONT ROW:  Sister McCracken, Sister Mathis, Sister Richards, Sister Capua, Elder Larrocha, Elder Hammond, Elder Day, Sister Baker, Sister Barrus, Elder Barrus
KNEELING:  Elder Waechtler, Elder Webb, Elder Coleman, Elder Jensen, Elder Reid, Elder Bigelow, Elder Barnes


JAX SOUTH ZONE

BACK ROW: Elder Todd, Elder Green, Elder Ross, Elder Allen, Elder Tindall, Elder Wise, Elder Fischer, Elder Vance, Elder Aiono FRONT ROW: Elder Elliott, Sister Elliott, Sister Lenkerdorfer, Sister Rieck, Elder Snow, Elder Turner, Elder Beckstead KNEELING: Elder Wheeler, Elder Mecham, Elder Nelson, Elder Garnica


KINGSVILLE ZONE

BACK ROW:  Sister Crowton, Sister Prettyman, Elder Schuyler, Elder Hall, Elder DiCristofano, Elder Bennion, Elder Clements, Elder Hinton, Elder Lucas, Elder Holcombe, Elder Frizzell, Elder Rhodes
KNEELING:  Elder Rowley, Elder Sauni, Elder Porter, Elder Crites
SITTING:  Elder Rasmussen, Elder Bass, Elder Wilcox, Elder Failner

SAVANNAH ZONE

BACK ROW: Sister Delaplane, Elder Dandridge, Elder Sheffer, Elder Cassel, Elder Lee, Elder Bezzant, Elder Jamison, Elder Svedin, Elder Crawford, Elder Tomlinson, Sister Baum, Elder Hunter, Elder Baum, Elder Dyerly, Elder Knudsen
KNEELING:  Elder Bushman, Elder Allred, Elder Lyman, Elder Lisman, Elder Mourra, Elder Brimhall, Elder Winward
SITTING:  Elder Howell, Elder Godfrey, Elder Bishop, Elder Latu, Elder Housel,  Elder Quintano 

GOALS FOR 2012

At the beginning of every year we set goals and make plans to reach those goals as a mission.  Through much thought and prayer the 64 bishops, 7 Stake Presidents and President Barry decided that our new goal for the year will be:
1)  1000 baptisms
2)  100% retention of those converts
3)  "Be One"
           -One as a mission
           - One with all the bishops and wards so we can reach the goals of every ward
4)  "One a Month"
           -One baptism a month per companionship
5) Elder M. Russell Ballard invited every member in the North America South East Area to have one baptism.

These are very high goals but we know they are inspired goals.  Every month we are making big plans to reach those goals.  We have complete faith that this can happen.  We are taking massive action - involving all the members in every ward.  The missionaries work closely with every bishop, ward council and ward mission leader to make plans to reach their ward baptism goals.  This is the only way these goals can be reached.  We work hard every day, all day by being Master Planners, Master Finders, Master Teachers. (This is our motto and training plan)  We strive to be diligent, obedient, worthy powerful and holy disciples of Christ. (Mission Vision)
As you can see it takes a lot of effort in the life of every single missionary.  They are doing it and we are so proud of them.   

Miracles of a Mission

Miracles upon Miracles - They are everywhere in the lives of all missionaries. Consider such events in the FJM as a set of sisters who on their first day in their new area found 5 new investigators and taught 6 lessons. Everywhere they went someone was very interested in their message.

Or how about an elder who was hit by a truck when riding his bike. They were both moving fast in the same direction. The truck was going 50 miles an hour and the side view mirror hit the elder on the back of his arm. He flew off his bike landing on his stomach. All the injuries he sustained was a bruise (it was huge) on the arm and a little bit of a road rash on his hand! We all know the angels carried him to the ground.

Another set of missionaries received a phone call from a man they had never talked to who wanted to know what kind of clothes he should wear to be baptized.  He had been onto Mormon.org and talked with the on-line missionaries and received his own conversion.  All he needed was the ordinance!

The most profound miracle is the simple conversion that happens over and over again.  When a person reads the Book of Mormon with real intent and asks God if it is true the spirit witnesses of it's truth with great power.  When a person receives that witness all the other concerns and questions disappear.  They want to be baptized.  The Book of Mormon combined with the power of the spirit is the greatest miracle of all.
I invite all who read this to immerse yourselves everyday in the pages of that inspired book.  Read and pray with real intent.  Come to know for yourself - again.