Gospel Gatoraides

Happy New Year everyone!   We wish you health, happiness, and prosperity.   As we reflect on 2018 and focus on 2019 let us resolve to make changes to improve ourselves and become better disciples of Christ. We rang in the New Year with a New Years Eve mission office party at our apartment.   We had appetizers and played Apples to Apples.   Fun was had by all. We dispersed about 9:00 PM because we all had to work the next morning.   New Year's Eve Appetizers: We welcomed one new Sister and 2 Elders into the mission on New Year’s Day.   We are excited to have them here and grateful for their service.   We know they love the Lord to leave family and friends in order to serve Him.   That evening we said goodbye to young old friends, missionaries successfully completing their mission now returning home.   Sister Clark served a nice Mexican meal in her home for the departing missionaries and the office staff.   We were grat...

Wonderful!   Counselor!   The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace!   It is wonderful to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.   Christmas is that special time of year where throughout the world hearts are softened and we think of others more than ourselves.   His invitation to come follow Him is offered with love and eternal life.   This is our first Christmas during our mission.   We celebrated His birth with our friends Susan and Craig, and Colleen and Mark.   They are extraordinary examples of love and service.    Under the Christmas Tree at Susan and Craig’s:   Christmas Presents from Grandma and Grandpa for Grayson, Abby, and Matthew: Later in the week the senior missionary couples enjoyed a Mexican dinner and viewed neighborhood lights on decorated homes in Celebration, Florida.   It is fun to spend time together and support each other through month...

The Christmas holiday season seems to bring out the best in people.   Kindness, love, forgiveness, and gratitude abound.   We enjoy being with the missionaries young and old.   They have a purpose-to share the gospel and to bring others unto Christ so they may feel the love and joy He has for us.   Our mission President and his wife, the Clark’s, are remarkable in their tireless efforts to love and support the missionaries. Monday evening we had a marvelous Family Home Evening at the mission home.   We get together once a month for FHE, to go to the temple, and have a Saturday activity. The Carbines provided a ham.   The other Senior missionaries brought an assigned food and we had a nice meal.   Sister Faulk made a wedge salad.   After dinner, each couple spoke about their family traditions and we sang Christmas hymns between each discussion.   It was so much fun and everyone left feeling better acquainted and happy.    ...

There is nothing like music to tune our hearts and thoughts toward Our Savior Jesus Christ throughout the Christmas season.   We love singing the Christmas hymns during Church meetings throughout December.   Sunday afternoon we followed an annual family winter holiday tradition and attend a Messiah Sing Along. It was held at a Catholic church and sponsored by a local vocal art group.   It was wonderful and   we’ve been humming songs from the Messiah all week.    Messiah Sing Along in St. Cloud, FL: Sunday evening we attended a Stake music program with each ward performing several songs.   We were amazed by such talent.   A Polynesian group in our Stake were the last to perform and they made everyone feel merry and bright. Monday and Wednesday we took Elders to more doctor appointments.   It is great to become better acquainted with individual missionaries and take an active interest in them.   Most are truly grateful ...

Our week was filled with coordinating and taking more missionaries to doctor appointments, paying mission bills, attending Zone Conferences, and attending our   ward, Lake Nona’s Christmas party.   We truly enjoy our mission and feel our service is helpful, at least making a little difference in young lives.   We love the missionaries. They encourage us as much as we encourage them.   We delight in the Spirit of Christmas.   People seem to be a little more kind and charitable toward each other this time of year as we remember the birth of Our Savior, Jesus Christ.   As we experience the beautiful sunshine, warm weather, and see citrus groves every now and then as we travel throughout the mission, we never cease to marvel as His creations and feel gratitude for His love for all.     Elder Faulk lost his laptop computer.   It has been missing about a month.   We   searched and even prayed to find it.   It was mentio...