Debbi

Water, Water, Water!

This is usually what I text to all the missionaries's phones on days where high heat and high humidity combine to make dehydration eminent. They know it means they are to start drinking and drink all day.  Last week there was water, water, water everywhere.  It started raining on Sunday and didn't end until Wednesday.  Tropical Storm Debbi dumped 13" on Jacksonville.  Orange Park, Middleburg, Macclenny, Gainesville, Lake City and many other areas were hit hard.  With all the rain the rivers and streams over ran their banks and the flooding began.  But the worst part happened on our west coast of the Gulf of Mexico.  The little towns over there were and are still covered with water.  Live Oak Florida was hit hard.  Emergency shelters created by the Red Cross sprang up everywhere for people whos homes were flooded.  All the missionaries in the mission have been trained by the Red Cross as volunteers in times of disaster. They were ready and prepared and went to the aid of those in the shelters where needed.  It was a time of service, support, compassion and love.  We were sent this email today written by a grateful woman for the service given at the Live Oak Shelter.  The elders mentioned in this email were Elder Riggs, Elder Lundberg, Elder Clements and Elder Bigelow. Elder Grant, Elder Cervo, Sister Rieck, Sister Hicks and Sister Dunkley also spent much time at this shelter and did so much good.

This compliment could apply to every missionary in our mission.  

This came though the Mormon Channel's Facebook inbox:

"Hello, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you guys for helping out my parents in the aftermath of the terrible flooding that's destroyed their home.

My parents live in the area of Live Oak, FL and a couple days ago tropical storm debby caused flooding in their neighborhood. They now have 5 ft of water in their house and we don't even know when we will be able to get in there to begin the rebuilding process. They were evacuated to the Live Oak Red Cross shelter where they were sheltered and fed for a couple of days while they made arrangements to find semi-permanent housing. While they were there at the Red Cross shelter, they were assisted by (among others) four mormon elders.

Those of us non-mormons east of the Mississippi seldom meet mormons (I've personally known maybe a dozen in my life) and when we do we usually see you guys doing exactly what I saw in Live Oak yesterday. The young men who were helping my parents were kind, well-dressed gentlemen who were volunteering their time to help their fellow man. In addition to presenting an EXCEPTIONAL public face for your church and people, they were also continuing the ministry of Jesus Christ by not just saying but by DOING.

Thank you once again for your kindness and aid in our time of need.

God bless, "

You should be proud of your missionaries. 

Last Tuesday President and I drove to Lake City.  This freeway, Hyway 10 was closed about 2 miles ahead of this picture because of flooding.  It was closed for 40 miles.  The two rivers of water on the right were ready to spill over onto the freeway.  There are not supposed to be rivers along this road.  The picture doesn't do justice to the amount of water everywhere. 

Every missionary is fine. The work is continuing.  We are thrilled to be able to serve and love in this way.  Thank you for your prayers and support.

Happy 2nd Anniversary!!!



Two years ago today President Barry and I arrived in the great Florida Jacksonville Mission. Words can't begin to explain what we have experienced and all that we have learned. It has been a profound and life changing experience working with all of the fine missionaries that we have had the priviledge to know.  If we had to pick one thing that we have learned it would be the knowledge that the Lord guides and directs every aspect of this work.    It has been humbling to feel the stirrings of the Spirit in everything that we do.  It could only be that way because it is His work and His glory! Every missionary knows that they are only His instruments. It is an amazing work and the most important work on the planet. Nothing compares to bringing a person to the knowledge of this restored gospel and to know their Savior as their Redeemer. We will be eternally grateful for this humbling experience.

  For the past year you have seen the work in pictures. To end this second year we thought we could share some never before seen pictures of President and Sister Barry in their real life as grandparents, parents and just Jim and Marilyn! 

We have always tried to have a weekly date night even if it's for only a few minutes.  This one pictured happened as take out from Outback and eaten in the supply room of the Mission Office.  It was unique. 



We were blessed to have family with us for Christmas.  We visited The Landing in downtown Jacksonville to see the lights.  The two young women in the picutre are our daughters.  Jessica, our 7th child,  is standing by President Barry.  Melissa, our 6th, is the mother of the two darling kids, Taylor in the stroller and Josh held by President.  Her husband is Jason, standing by Jessica. 

President enjoying a quiet Poppa moment with Taylor.

Josh and Nana  enjoying each other and the lights.



I spend a lot of time doing this but it's a treat to get President involved in the kitchen.  Our aprons where given to us for Christmas.  They fit the calling, don't you think?  



We are thrilled to have another year to serve in this mission.  We find ourselves dreading the passing of time and pray often that the Lord will slow time down.  Thank you for sending us the finest missionaries ever to serve.  These young elders and sisters are the finest to ever serve in his kingdom in all time.  They have been reserved for this time to gather in the House of Israel in preparation for the Second Coming of our Lord. Every year that passes brings better and more prepared missionaries. You have taught and prepared them to do this work.  With all our hearts we thank you!   With love, President and Sister Barry

Where did the time go?

If we gave awards to missionaries for what they accomplished on their missions this group would get the 'Overcame the most struggles and became powerful missionaries" award.  I guess that could be given to most missionaries but this group really used their struggles to be better.  It reminds me of Moroni's teachings in Ether 12:27

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."  A list of some of these struggles include stuttering, anxiety attacks, insomnia, dyslexia, depression and short term memory loss.  Through faith miracles happened and stuttering was overcome.  Anxiety was controlled and they learned to live with insomnia.  He learned how to read and read the Book of Mormon 2 times and Jesus the Christ! Many other obstacles were overcome and they all brought many people into the Church!   

Thank you for being humble and then through God's grace or strength you became strong and powerful disciples of Christ. 

Back row:  Elder Bass, Elder Graham, Elder Summers, Elder Turner
Middle Row:  Elder Rasmussen, Elder Banner, Elder Greco, Sister Gneiting, Sister Fitu, Elder Lewis and Elder Day
President and Sister Barry
Sitting:  Sister and Elder Banks

At the airport with my girls - Sister Fitu and sister Gneiting

Last Christmas Elder Turner made a ceramic pot for President and I.  Here's the pot with its plant.  You can't see it clearly but on the side is a cute little ceramic frog.
 Thanks Elder Turner. 

Note:  Just for your information President Barry and I are now the oldest missionaries in the mission!!!  This group entered the FJM one week before we did in June of 2010! 

Where did the time go? 

Good-bye dear friends

It would be impossible to tell all the good these marvelous couples have done on their missions.   As mentioned in a previous blog entry they are the backbone of the mission!  In General Conference President Monson asked that more couples prepare to serve.  Having seen how couples effect the work I can see why.  Their maturity and spiritual strength build up the branches and wards in which they serve.  They teach investigators and bring many to Christ. They help the young missionaries by giving a parental help and support when they are struggling and in need of a 'mom and dad'.  Thanks for all you have done.  We will miss you.    

ELDER AND SISTER BAUM
are headed home to Highland, Utah.  They have served as Military Relations missionaries on the Fort Stewart Army Base in Hinesville, Georgia.  They have supported the families of soldiers who are deployed and taught many of them the gospel.  They taught classes for people with drug addictions and ran the emergency preparedness program in the mission.  Sister Baum has used her skills in psychology to help missionaries and soldiers alike.  The list goes on and on and we may never know all they did.  Thank you so much.

ELDER AND SISTER STILLS
They are headed back to Oregon having served a Member and Leadership Support mission in the Cross City Branch.  They brought many less active members back to activity.  It was amazing how many hearts were softened by their service, love and cookies!  The Cross city Branch will miss you almost as much as we will. Thank you for all you have done. 

ELDER AND SISTER BANKS
Wow, we are having a hard time saying good-bye.  Elder and sister Banks has served in the mission office for the past 18 months.  Officially elder Banks was the Fleet Coordinator (Car Czar) and Sister Banks was the mission secretary in charge of referrals, baptisms and supplies and everything else that needed to be done.  They did their share of driving missionaries, serving in the Whitehouse Ward, cooking dinners in the Mission Home and washing the dishes!  Thank you for all you have done and thanks for the therapy. 

THREE NEW WONDERFUL COUPLES

This is exciting for the FJM to welcome these three new missionary couples.  They each come with their own talents that the Lord will use to strengthen the units in which they serve and the special type of mission they have been called to serve. 

ELDER AND SISTER DRAPER
 are serving a Military Relations Mission on Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville.  They are from Mexico but have lived all over the world as he served as a Colonel in the Special Forces (Green Beret) and as a Nurse Anesthetist.  Sister Draper loves scuba diving and is a instructor in cave diving.  They have two children

ELDER AND SISTER NELSON
will also serve a Military Relations on Fort Stewart Army Base in Hinesville, Georgia.  They are from Oregon but have also lived all over the world having moved 37 times!  Elder Nelson was an Air Force pilot.  They have served two other mission for the church both of which were in Indonesia as proselyting missionaries.  They are excited to work on the base with the soldiers and the Hinesville Ward.  They have 9 children.   

ELDER AND SISTER SPARKS
We are so happy to work with the Sparks in the Mission Office.  They come from Idaho where he served as a supervisor in a potato processing plant.  They will be invaluable in the mission as Fleet Coordinator and Office Secretary and hundreds of other jobs that occur in the office.  Thank you for your desire to serve.   

LARGE AND POWERFUL TRANSFER

 We have learned that whenever you get missionaries together the Spirit is there in great abundance.  This transfer meeting was no different.  It was an especially large transfer meeting probably the biggest we have ever had.  We received 15 new young missionaries and 3 couples and we had 11 missionaries go home.  That makes for a lot of moving. 

Instead of taking a lot of small group pictures I gathered everyone that was in the cultural hall and took one big picture.  I hope you can see your missionary.

This was a good-bye picture for these sweet sisters.  Sister Gneiting (went home), Sister Sheffer, Sister Fitu (went home) and Sister Mathis.  Since there are only 18 sisters in the mission they get very close.  They have either been companions or done trades with each other. 

Elder Nelson is introducing Elder Lemmon and will train him.

Elder Foulger is being introduced by Elder Crosby and will be trained by him.

This is Elder Smedley and Elder McCarthy.  Elder McCarthy will be the trainer.  He just finished being trained himself but is strong and capable to train.

Elder Drake will train Elder Solis and is introducing him.

Elder Riggs is introducing Elder Lundberg and will train him.

Elder Tenney is the trainer for Elder Coon

Elder Marquez will train Elder Oliver and is introducing him.

Sister Dunkley (in the middle) will have two trainers, Sister Rieck on the left and Sister Hick who is introducing her.

Sister Waldman is the trainer and is introducing Sister Jensen

Sister McCracken and Sister Heckel.  Sister McCracken is the trainer

This is one of the couples who just arrived, Sister and Elder Nelson.  President Barry and I introduced them.

Elder Craig will train and is introducing Elder Jensen

Elder Huckvale is introducing Elder Bennett and will train him.

Elder Svedin will train Elder Buhler

Elder Garnica will train Elder Pyne

Elder and Sister Draper are another new couple.  President and I are introducing them.

Elder Dandridge will train Elder Madden. 

Sister Priest is introducing Sister and Elder Sparks.  They are another new couple

President Barry ends the meeting with testimonies from the departing missionaries.  They are strong and powerful.  It is a motivating factor of transfer meeting. 

Just keep moving!

Welcome to your first day in the Florida Jacksonville Mission.

This is a day they won't remember.  I know that sounds funny.  How can they not remember their first day in the mission field?  Because they are so tired they aren't functioning on all cylinders.  We have to keep them up and moving a lot because if they sit they fall asleep.  I watched one of the sisters as she was sitting on the couch listening to President Barry welcome them.  Her eyes were wide open, she was smiling and suddenly her head fell back and she was asleep with her eyes open.  So funny.  They arise between 2:30am and 3:00 at the Provo MTC, leave the MTC at 4:30am and arrive in Jacksonville at 3:00pm.  It's quite a chore to keep them awake until 10:30 pm Eastern Time

The activities of the evening include a training at the Mission Office on car safety and other technical things.  They come to the Mission Home for dinner and a welcome by President Barry.  He then starts interviewing  them separately while Sister Barry reviews their medical one by one and the Assistants start a training on how to Contact people.  We end with dessert and finally to bed. 

It's quite a day they will not remember! 

Back Row:  Elder Smedley, Elder Lundberg, Elder Madden, Elder Coon
Front Row:  Elder Jensen, Elder Bennett, Elder Foulger, Elder Solis, Elder Buhler, Elder Pyne, Elder Oliver, Elder Lemmon
Seated:  Sister Jensen, Sister Dunkley, Sister Heckel

I love getting a picture at the airport.  This day was 92 degrees and 97% humidity.  It fun to see their faces as they exit the terminal to Florida summer weather.