Week 104: February 2-8, 2020

Surprise!  We received an additional assignment to become missionary apartment inspectors.  Every 6 weeks we will check for the quality of the apartment and if the missionaries are keeping it clean.  Missionaries receive standardized points.  The companionship with the most points earns an event with the mission president.  Each Zone will have 2 unannounced apartment visits and the rest of the visits are scheduled.  We surprised 2 companionships this week with unannounced visits.  There is always room for improvement but on the whole, the Elders and the Sisters kept their apartments in ok order. So every day make your bed, wash and dry the dishes and put them away after every meal, and throw out the trash.  These are great habits for everyone!

We welcomed the newest missionaries and their companions back for more training.  Sister Faulk reminded them about nutrition, exercise, rest, and mental health.  She also taught the Sisters about women’s health. Afterward we had had a pizza, salad, grapes, and ice cream cone lunch in the cultural hall.

Saturday the Senior missionaries met at Blue Springs State Park to see the manatees.  When the weather is cooler, they swim to shallow waters to enjoy the warmer waters. We walked along the boardwalk watching quite a few manatees.  Some were big and others were still young.  Later we met at Mi Tierra in Orange City for salsa, chips, and Mexican entrees.  Our favorite is the triple meat (beef, chicken, and shrimp) fajita.  It comes out on a sizzling platter.   

Lunch with Senior missionaries: Faulks, Ekenstams, Gillilands, Gibbons, and Folkmans:

Sunset in Orlando:

Manatees in Blue Springs State Park:

Elder and Sister Faulk on the boardwalk at Blue Springs:

We are enjoying our mission.  Our jobs as the finance coordinator and mission nurse allow us to serve and support the Junior missionaries and the Mission President and his wife. We are blessed by President and Sister Ashcraft and how they instruct and encourage His work go forth. A mission is not without challenges though.   In the Ensign February 2020 (p79) issue it says, “Success, failures, ups, downs, highs, and lows-we came to earth for all of it, not just for the good.  We came to learn and grow, which we cannot do without hardships and challenges…Our trials aid in molding us who we are meant to be and help us reach our divine potential.  While Heavenly Father may not take away a trial, He does give us the tools to help us overcome them…navigating through hardships is not easy…our faith in our Savior and our Heavenly Father can act as a lighthouse and guide us on the right course.”  Let us all come and follow Him!