The power of councils

Years ago when we had children at home we would have a family council as part of Family Home Evening.  It consisted of going over the week's calendar and trying to coordinate the schedules of all the busy people in the family. Time was spent planning family vacations and service projects. We would usually have a discussion of problems in the family and how we could solve the problems. One particular night when President Barry asked if there were any problems we needed to discuss I immediately thought of the frustration I had through out the week of asking my daughter to put the vacuum away. I had asked her many times with no results. It was a water canister vacuum and since it had sat in the corner of the family room for 4 days with dirty water in the canister it was really starting to stink. All that frustration rushed into my mind.  I quickly asked the Lord to help know what to say and the words came.  "I have a request," I said.  "I would like _________ (insert the guilty daughter's name) to go sit in the corner with the vacuum because they both suck!" Now, that isn't my normal vernacular which caused a long pause and surprised looks on every face, especially the daughter. Then bursts of laughter exploded throughout the room. All the frustration left as we laughed until tears were streaming down our faces. She jumped up and quickly took care of the irritation. I have to admit she became much quicker to obey after that. Problem solved. 
That is power of councils.  

Our zone leader council  achieves the same results.  We talk over the schedule, we discuss zone goals and ask for an accountability report on those goals.  We discuss problems in the zones and set goals and make plans to solve those problems in the coming month.  The best part is the discussion on doctrine!  It is a revelatory experience.  Alma tells us, "counsel with the Lord in all thy doings and he will direct thee for good." We use our Council to counsel together and then we counsel with the Lord for his guidance.  He does direct us to do good and to do his work. 
These young elders are full of power and are guided by the spirit.  And yes, we even laugh quite a bit.  This work is joyous! 

Standing:  President Myers, President Barry, Elder Tenney, Elder Bushman, Elder Craig, Elder Graham, Elder Gebhard, Elder Morris, Elder Neville, Elder DiCristofano, Elder Barnes, Elder Crosby
Kneeling:  Elder Allred, Elder Suttner, Elder Snow, Elder Reid, Elder Mecham, Elder Grant

Family History Missionary work

Good things are happening all over the mission. Last weekend the city of St. Augustine had a seafood festival. The JAX South Stake set up a family history booth. It was a huge success. The missionaries passed out over 400 mormon.org cards. They went through the crowd giving flyers for the booth to attract people. 49 people signed up to go to the LDS family history centers where they live and take classes. There were computers set up and consultants there to help people start their search of their ancestors. This same booth is going to be at the county fair this weekend. Family History is a powerful missionary tool.

Elder Snow, Elder Gebhard and Elder Elliott

Sister Rule, Sister Mathis, Sister Elliott

Elder Tomlinson, Elder Beckstead, Elder Green and Elder Maxfield

Naval Station Mayport

We can't say enough good about this wonderful couple. Coming to Jacksonville a year ago from Wyoming, Elder Barrus is a rancher by profession. They were called to serve a military relations mission on Naval Station Mayport. Their most powerful tool in missionary work is Charity and Service. A mission on a military base has many 'do nots' one of them being proselyting. So they came and did as the Savior did.  They went about doing good.  Because of them many were brought into the church. Many more were loved and served by this humble couple. They comforted and helped the spouses of men and women who are deployed by repairing their homes, cleaning and being a friend.  They baked bread to give away and gave aid at the hospital and anywhere else they could find. They are amazing. We will truly miss them. NS Mayport will never be the same.

Sister and Elder Barrus

As a farewell dinner the couples that were available joined Elder and Sister Barrus at a local fish camp.



Clockwise from the left:  Elder and Sister Elliott, Elder and Sister Baker, President and Sister Barry, Sister and Elder Barrus

Good-bye at the mission home

NOW AND FOREVER

We talk a lot in our meetings about being a Disciple of Jesus Christ - Now and Forever. President Barry talks about letting the mission change you. We come here a 12 volt and go home at 220. "Don't revert" he says, "but stay converted". We are very sure these 5 will stay converted. They have finished the mission 'now' and are moving on to the 'forever' part.

"...if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life". 2 Ne. 31:20

That a powerful blessing for all of us, parents, siblings and friends, if we are faithful -
NOW AND FOREVER

Elder Fergus, Elder Bezzant, Elder Porter, Elder Wheeler, Sister Prettyman

Transfer Meeting

"I'll go where you want me to go dear Lord"

and they do it so willingly every 6 weeks.  We begin transfer day with a 4 hour training meeting for all the new missionaries and their trainers!  They learn what the Florida Jacksonville Mission is like and what President Barry and the Lord expects of them.  

We end the training with a Transfer Meeting where everyone who is being transferred meet to find out where the Lord wants them to go next.  Below are pictures of that meeting   

Elder Erickson is being trained by Elder Rowley.  They will serve in Chiefland, Florida

Sister Patton being introduced will be trained by Sister Knickerbocker.  They will serve in St. Marys, Georgia

Sister Gilbert is being trained by Sister Richards.  They are in Macclenny, Florida



Elder Webb, Elder Ball, Elder McFarlane.  They just finished their 12 weeks of training.  They are ready to go!!

This is 18 of the 22 sisters serving.  Every one is powerful!

Elder Quintano, Elder Salvesen, Elder Holcombe, Elder Bennion, Elder Robinson, Elder Svedin, Elder Knudsen

Standing:  Elder Chadwick, Elder Webster, Elder Green, Elder Maxfield
Sitting:  Elder Orth, Elder Garnica

Elder Wheeler, Elder Nelson, Elder Vance

Elder Fergus, Elder Bezzant, Elder Lisman, Elder Nelson, Elder Ross

Go Forth

"Hearken, O ye [Elder Erickson, Sister Gilbert, Sister Patton],who have given your names to go forth to proclaim my gospel...it is my will that you should go forth and not tarry, neither be idle but labor with your might-lifting up your voices as with a sound of a trump, proclaiming the truth..." Doctrine and Covenants 75:2-4

Don't they look ready to go?  I love picking up new missionaries at the airport.  Their emotions are close to the surface. They are excited, nervous, and anxious to get going. 



At the airport.  From the left:  Elder Reid and Elder Allred, the Assistants, Elder Erickson, Sister Gilbert, Sister Patton 

This was a small group this time but they are so prepared and ready. They feel urgent, they don't want to be idle but are anxious to labor and proclaim the truth. The Lord is so pleased with them. New missionaries are the life blood of the mission!  

Left:  President Myers, President Colvin, Sister Gilbert, Sister Patton, Sister Barry, President Barry and Elder Erickson

If you want to read what blessing these missionaries will receive by being faithful on their missions read D&C 75:5.  Wow!

New Mission Presidency

With sincere love and gratitude we want to thank the newly released counselors in the mission presidency. President Peacock from Lake Butler, FL was the 1st Counselor and President Padgett from Darien, GA was the 2nd Counselor. They served for 18 months with President Newman, the past mission president, and then another 20 months with President Barry. They served diligently and did all they could to increase member missionary work throughout the mission. They willingly did everything that was asked of them. They have become very dear friends. Thank you.

New counselors have been called. President Jerry Myers from Waycross, GA is the 1st counselor and President Jim Colvin from Ocala, FL is the 2nd counselor. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with them. We are so impressed with their willingness to do anything they are asked. They have already proven to be invaluable. Welcome aboard.

Left:  President Myers, President Barry, President Colvin

Spanish Conference

Promise to Lehi's descendants:

"And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us...And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ...And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a pure and a delightsome people." 2 Nephi 30:4-6

These are the missionaries that have the privilege of bringing the Gospel to the Lamanites and being the Lord's instruments in making this prophecy come to pass.  We had a Spanish Conference where they taught each other and learned how to connect with the Hispanic people and how to better teach them.  

BACK ROW:  Elder Jones, Elder Evans, Elder Phelps, Elder Garnica, Elder Nelson, Elder Winward.  MIDDLE ROW:  Elder Vilorio, Elder McArthur, Elder Oteo, Elder Warren, Elder Mourra, Elder Lee and Elder Hernandez, President Barry. KNEELING:  Elder Moore, Elder Quintano, Elder Larrocha

If you notice we have 7 Spanish native speakers in the mission. They come from all over the USA, Central and South America They were so helpful in teaching the cultural parts of the conference.  They have become a "pure and delightsome people."  All the Spanish missionaries are wonderful and dedicated missionaries. 

Interviews

"...for it is required of the Lord, at the hand of every steward, to render an account of his stewardship, both in time and in eternity.  For he who is faithful and wise in time is accounted worthy to inherit the mansions prepared for him of my Father."  Doctrine and Covenants 72:3-4

The purpose of interviews with the president is to help each missionary more fully fulfill his stewardship. He literally renders an account of his area. Problems are discussed, doctrine is taught and commitments given.  We have the best missionaries.  During each interview, Sister Barry met with their companion and reviewed Area Books and how to make them better. 

After their individual interviews with President Barry the Pooler District had their district meeting, shown below.

From the left:  Elder Jensen, Elder Quintano, Elder Bushman, Elder Neville, Elder Dyerly, Elder Oteo, Sister Sheffer, Sister Delaplane, Elder Greco, Elder Latu 

Elder Ross and Elder Hall had their interview in their apartment.  Love the decoration - the missionary sign for baptism. 

Elder Graham and Elder Mecham with Pres. and Sis. Barry.  They are the zone leaders in the Gainesville Zone.

Elder McCarthy and Elder Bass with Pres. Barry

Elder Sauni and Elder Lewis

Elder Wilcox and Elder Rhodes

Elder Cervo and Elder Ball

Elder Day and Elder Rasmussen

Elder Hinton and Elder Holcombe

Elder Wise and Elder Riggs

Sister Crowton and Sister Knickerbocker

Zones

We had zone conferences in January and I forgot to post these great zone pictures. There has been 2 transfers since these pictures so your missionary may not currently be in the zone he/she is pictured in but at least you will be able to see them.

LAKE CITY ZONE

GAINESVILLE ZONE

JAX EAST ZONE

JAX SOUTH ZONE

JAX WEST ZONE

KINGSLAND ZONE

SAVANNAH ZONE

Leadership Training

"No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned. By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile-"  Doctrine and Covenants 121:41-42  

This is a perfect description of the leaders you see in this picture.  They are learning and living this commandment from the Lord to lead, love and lift those which they serve in a Christlike way.

Every three months we have a two day Leadership Training meeting. It involves all the zone leaders, district leaders, sister leaders, and trainers.

Elder Sauni and Elder Fischer role playing

We teach doctrine, principles and techniques of leadership and missionary work. Then of course we ROLE PLAY!!!

Elder Howell and Elder Bishop

Elder Ross and Elder Lundquist



Sister Prettyman, Sister Surtees, Sister Fitu, Sister Barry, Sister Hafslund, Sister Delaplane, Sister Capua



Elder Woodard, Elder Rowley, Sister Fitu, Elder Grant and Elder Barnes

Elder Neville, Elder Fuller, Elder Johnson, Elder Morris, Sister Hafslund, Sister Surtees, Sister Capua

Elder Summers and Elder Wadsworth