Meeting with every missionary -Starting in Savannah

Part of a mission president's responsibility is to interview every missionary within a 6 week period. He is to do it every other transfer. We are in the middle of doing that right now. I usually go with him and do a little training with the companion of the one being interviewed. We decided to try and take a picture of every companionship in the mission. There are many missionaries who never get on the blog so this your chance to see your missionary. It might take a few weeks but be patient - we will post everyone's picture at some point. We started in Savannah.

This is Elder Judson and Elder Smith.  They serve in the Beaufort Ward in South Carolina

Elder Oteo and Elder Garnica are Spanish missionaries.  They serve in the Ridgeland Ward and the Okatie Branch in South Carolina

This is Elder Warren and Elder Nelson.  They are Spanish missionaries serving in the Beaufort Ward in South Carolina

Elder Riggs and Elder Johnson are serving in the Vidalia Ward in Georgia.  This area is the furthest away from the Jacksonville.

Elder Kim and Elder Goodrich are serving in the Statesboro Ward in Georgia

 

Leaders of the FJM

Take a look at this group! I know it's hard to see everyone but if you can look into their eyes you will see the light of the Spirit. This is the leadership of the mission. We have zone leaders, district leaders and sister leaders. These missionaries are the servants of the missionaries. We pulled them together for a two day leadership training meeting. Our leader moniker is "Lead, Love, Lift" With Christ as our example and D&C 121 as our guide we learn how to help missionaries be obedient, we learn how to conduct a district meeting or zone meeting. We learn how to guide the missionaries to set goals to become more powerful. It really was a revelatory experience for all of us.

Sorry, I'm not going to name them all.  We would all get lost in the sea of faces.  We love you all.

Transfers

We love transfer meeting. Of course there is the excitment of a move and a new companion.  But it also a spiritual meeting.   It's a chance to hear testimonies of the departing missionaries and sense the strength they have developed through 2 years of service.   We get to hear President Barry teach doctrine which always builds us up and motivates us. We also get to meet the new missionaries that arrived the day before. Meet the newest Disciples of Christ

Elder Derr is introducing Elder Craven.  They are serving in Interlachen.

Elder Fischer will train Elder Largo Pooler, GA

Elder McCarthy will train Elder Gao in Waycross, GA

Elder Tuft introducing Elder Belliston.  They are serving in Brunswick

Elder Chadwick is introducing Elder Little.  They are serving in Darien, GA

Elder Smedley is introducing Elder Munford.  They are serving in Fernandina Beach
 

Elder Allison is being trained by Elder Feliz in Ft. Caroline Ward in Jacksonville
 

Elder Thomas is training Elder Herrick in the JAX Beach Ward in Jacksonville
 

Elder Stairs is being trained by Elder Bennett in Lake City, FL

Elder Eklof is being trained by Elder Beazer in the Timuquana Ward in Jacksonville

Elder Clark is training Elder Ales in the Fleming Island Ward

Elder Storey is being trained by Elder Hamilton in the Mandarin Ward in Jacksonville

Elder Riggs is introducing and training Elder Johnson in Vidalia, GA

Elder Jensen is being trained by Elder Tindall in the Timuquana Ward in Jacksonville
 

Elder Masters is being trained by Elder Hales in the Whitehouse Ward in Jacksonville

Elder Lisonbee is introducing and training Elder Salinas in Gainesville, FL

Elder Lemmon and Elder Evans

Elder Frizzell, Elder Guy, Elder Neville, Elder Bushman, Elder Suttner

Elder Suttner and Elder Salvesen

Elder Baczuk and Elder Payne

Elder Quintano, Elder Pyne, Elder Buhler, Elder Madden, Elder Dandridge, Elder Svedin, Elder Webster

Elder DiCristofano, Elder Vilorio, Elder Warren, Elder Huckvale, Elder Nelson

Here they go!

Every transfer gets harder to say good-bye to these amazing missionaries. I know their families are thrilled to get them home. They soon realize why we are aching to lose these diligent Disciples of Christ. Their testimonies are powerful. They are fully dedicated to the Lord. They understand and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They know how to bring people to Christ by teaching them the Gospel and inviting them to live it. Those that know these great men please ask them to teach you about the Doctrine of Christ. You will be surprised at their power and conviction. We miss you all! Remember - Now and Forever!

Back:  Elder Morris, Elder Mecham, Elder Allen, Elder Wilcox
Middle:  Elder Johnson, Elder Hansen, Elder Neville, Elder Nelson, Elder Jamison, Elder Fuller
Front:  Elder Reid, President and Sister Barry, Elder Allred, Elder Crites

Good-bye at the airport.  You notice Sister Dunkley in the middle of the elders.  She received a change of assignment and was flying to her new mission.  Thanks for taking care of her, elders.

Get that blood pumping!

You will love these pictures. When the new missionaries arrive their first day they are exhausted. They get up around 2:00am Utah time having had 2-3 hours of sleep. They get here around 2:00pm EST and are expected to stay awake during training the rest of the day! I watched them struggle to keep their eyes opened and thought - this is hilarious. I got the great idea to send them on a run down the street. I'm sure my neighbors ran for cover.  "The Mormon Missionaries are coming!"  They came back with huge grins on their faces and stayed awake for at least 15 more minutes. The mind and heart are willing but the body is weak.

Here they come!

We seem to be getting larger groups of missionaries every transfer. That is such a wonderful sign that the missionary force is increasing, that more and more young men and women are worthy and prepared to serve. We are so grateful to them. I think with the announce from the prophet that the age limit has lowered we are going to see even larger numbers in the future. We are excited and looking forward to that! We are impressed with all of these missionaries in this transfer. As I talked with each of them individually there was not one that was hesitant about being here or worried about whether they could do the work. They are focused on serving their missions with obedience and diligence. They will be powerful missionaries.

BACK:  Elder Salinas, Elder Allison, Elder Stairs, Elder Jensen
MIDDLE:  Elder Largo, Elder Eklof, Elder Munford, Elder Herrick, Elder Storey
FRONT:  Elder Ales, Elder Little, Elder Johnson, Elder Gao, Elder Belliston, Elder Craven, Elder Masters

At the aiport.  Their first feel of beautiful Florida weather

Waiting for the Assistants to the President to come pick them up in the mission van. 

This is Sister Larson.  She comes to the Florida Jacksonville Mission from the Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission.  The sisters who serve there get an opportunity to go to a proselyting mission for a few months.  We are thrilled to welcome her.  She arrived a day after the above elders.  She is an ASL (American Sign Language) missionary which is perfect for this mission.  We have a large school for the blind and deaf in St. Augustine.  We are in need to ASL missionaries down there.  She is perfect for that area. 

Zone Leader Council

At our zone leader council we decided our mission focus for the month of October is "To increase the number of investigators in church." We set the goal to get 120 a week in church. It's amazing to work with these great leaders to decide how to reach these goals. Our plans include a Church Checklist. It's a list of doctrines to teach, promises that can be made and activities to do to encourage the investigators to come to church. We are anxious to help people receive revelation by coming to church.    

Back Row:  Elder Baczuk, Elder Bishop, Elder Housel, Elder Suttner, Elder Bushman, Elder Grant, Elder Mecham, Elder Allred.  Kneeling:  Elder Vilorio, Elder Huckvale, Elder DiCristofano, Elder Marquez, Elder Cervo, Elder Hansen.  Sitting:  Elder Gebhard, Elder Tomlinson, President Barry

Couples Conference

We love these dear friends. You can imagine that we love getting together. We all work every day all day with young missionaries and so to get together and just be us is so marvelous. We met at the Florida Zoo and Gardens after which we had lunch and met at a local church for some training by President Barry.

We took a ride on a tram around the zoo.  I know you can't see everyone but I'll name them all anyway.  Elder and Sister Banks are in the front with Sister and Elder Elliott,  President Barry and Elder and Sister Sparks are next.  Elder and Sister Farland and Elder and Sister Priest.  Elder and Sister Draper, Elder and Sister Robison, Elder and Sister Nelson. 

Sister and President Barry

It was a warm day.  I caught Elder Draper enjoying the mist from overhead sprays. 

Elder and Sister Priest and Sister and Elder Draper enjoying the shade and the bench.

President and I...and the elephants. 

Spanish Conference

Meet the Spanish Missionaries of the FJM.  They come from all over the Americas to teach some of the most elect people in the mission.  The Hispanic people are the people of promise according to the Book of Mormon.  It's amazing to see them come to that understanding and fulfill the promises and receive the blessings promised them.  One of those promises is found in Alma 37:18-19.

 "For he promised unto them that he would preserve these things for a wise purpose in him, that he might show forth his power unto future generations.  And no, behold, one purpose hath he fulfilled, even to the restoration of many thousands of the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth; and he hath shown forth his power in them, and he will also still show forth his power in them unto future generations; therefore they shall be preserved."

That's why these amazing missionaries are here teaching the 'the future generations' in their native tongue.  They are helping to fulfill the promises of the Lord.  

Back:  Elder Jones, Elder Richmond, Elder Swim, Elder Evans, Elder Phelps, Elder Boamorte
Middle:  Elder Quintano, Elder Lemmon, Elder Medrano, Elder Pyne, Elder Vilorio, Elder Warren, Elder Saynes, Sister and President Barry
Kneeling:  Elder Winward, Elder Garnica, Elder Oteo, Elder Lee, Elder Beazer, Elder Nelson

You may think that all we do when we get together is role-play!  It's true.  We have found that we have to teach the doctrine and techniques then role play what we learn.  We can listen to how to do it but the real learning comes when we practice it.  This day the missionaries are practicing how to take control of the lessons without being offensive.  Hispanic people like to talk and talk and eat and eat.  We really do have to practice taking control.  So here are pictures of role playing! 

Elder Oteo teaching Elder Warren (I think)

Elder Saynes and Elder Boamorte

Training Meeting
 

Elder Quintano teaching about the differences on different dialects of Spanish and how to tell where someone is from by their dialect

Elder Winward and Elder Lemmon
 

Elder Phelps and Elder Evans

Elder Vilorio and Elder Nelson