It is raining today; so we might get a little cooler weather. Our air conditioning unit started to leak and has the carpet by the washing machine wet. The repair man has just left and used a large shop vac to suck up the water. I am worried about the carpet molding, but he said not to worry. Yeah, right! the mold starts anywhere there is a drop of moisture. But we have Tilex and Clorox to spray anything and everything. So we do. Spud had to help move some elders this morning. He then took them out for pizza. Feeding the elders has really paid off in getting appointments to teach the new converts. We have appointments at West Palm Beach tomorrow. That makes a total of five for that area. So we are breaking into the Pompano Stake a little at a time.

We had the opportunity to teach a non member the other day at the Hollywood Chapel. The young missionaries came in to see how we were doing and helped us show her how to use the scan option in Roots Magic. Chris and Chip showed me how it worked before we left, but I couldn 't remember. So When Gwen brought in her pictures, I was so glad to see that we could help her scan them into the section on her grandmother Mary. Then when we got home, I fired up the computer and scanned a few of the family pictures that we brought with us coming out here. Today, we showed the group we were teaching how it works and I think that was a turning point in the commitment to start doing Family History in the Hollywood Ward.

This gator guide is wading in the gator pool and talking to the gators at the end of the pool. One of them raised his head and growled at him, but they were not aggressive. Still, there is a time and place to play in the water and this is one place not to play around. The big ones were in a separate pen and pool. The largest was eleven feet long and weighed 1,000 pounds. We think this tourist attraction is one of our favorite Florida spots. We told the Sommerfeldt's we would take them to Homestead on the next apartment inspection run and see the Everglades National Park and stop at the "Robert is here!" fruit stand. The Sommerfeldt's are from Canada and are in shock at the prices in the markets. It doesn't get any better, no matter where we shop.

We drove back to the Holiday Everglade Park to show Elder and Sister Sommerfeldt what the air boat ride was like. The gators are out in abundance and they are feeding on the ducks and fish. The guide said it is mating season and there is a lot of competition with the male gators. The large ones are also preying on the smaller ones. It is the food chain in action again. This big guy is posing for us while the boat driver keeps rotating the boat so we can all get a good shot of him. The gators seem unconcerned about the boats, but they would not be friendly if anyone put their hand in the water.

Sister Lima and I at the Orlando Temple. The Temple is a beautiful sight as we come over the hill on the approach. It seems like a long ride, but when you think of what the pioneers endured going to Utah, you have to count your blessings. Sister Lima will be on her way to Utah tomorrow to stay with her sister before they move to Washington D C. Then she will probably go to Rio, Brazil, to spend some time with her parents. Her dad is working for Jet Blue and agreed to relocate there for them.

The weather is warming up. We only had one week of 45 - 70 temperatures, then back to humidity and running the air conditioners.

Elder Graff and I were granted the privilege of taking the "finishers" to the Orlando Temple prior to them leaving the mission the next day. We left at 6:00 am from the Plantation Chapel and make the 10:00 am session that they held for us. After the session, they had a talk from the Temple President and then we drove to Firehouse and fed them. We got them back to the chapel by 6:00 PM and then we had dinner at President and Sister Hale's home. This time we were the escorts, so we didn't have to prepare or wash the dishes. By the time we got to bed we had put in another 15 hour day. I don't know how many of these days I can keep doing. They make this old lady's back hurt. But it was a great day and we were glad to have the opportunity to be with the missionaries one last time. The Firehouse, seems to be a tradition with the finishers. On the ride back we noticed that the everglades were on fire again. That seems to be a regular occurrence. Once a fire gets going, there is no way to stop it. Thankfully it rains enough to keep most of the fires under control.

"It's crying time again! they're going to leave us!" This has become the hardest part of this mission. These young people have served the Lord and are now ready to return back to the world in which we live. It's worse than when we left our little 5 year old at the great big school and he walked into the room by himself. Now we are left to meet the new missionaries and hopefully becomes friends with them and love them as we have lived these ten young adults that have left "foot prints" on our hearts. "Some people come into our lives and quickly go; others come and leave foot prints on our hearts and we will never ever be the same again!" Well, these are ten people have touched our lives and we hope we can have the privilege of seeing them again somewhere down life's highway.

The good news today! I finally found a young missionary to get rid of weather bug! It took awhile, but he was able to get it off the computer. Now I can quit worrying about that monster. Elder Spud and I attended two wedding celebrations. I will try to relate them as they happened, so here goes:

The invitation said 5:00 PM, and we arrive at 5:00 PM. There are two other cars in the parking lot. The building supervisor meets us at the door. Then we see the sister missionaries. So we start the count down. at 5;30 three more people show up. 5:45, eight more people. At 6:00 the Bishop comes in. 6:30 still no bride and groom. Elder Spud starts a lottery game with the missionaries. Now it's a game! The bride is one of the new converts that we have taught Family History and New Family Search. She was able to go to the Orlando Temple on the February trip. She met Sergio at the temple and their spirits spoke to each other. They plan to go back to the temple next March and be sealed. This is one of our success stories and we were glad to be invited to this festive occasion.

Waiting and waiting, this is Sister Boyd, Sister Guzman and us. It was an experience that we will think about for a long time. I was thinking about a wedding event that we catered in Santa Clara on a Christmas evening. We had given up our family Christmas to do this special event and while we were setting up the kitchen, the father of the bride comes in a does a come apart because it was suppose to start in five minutes. Duh! Go start the party! We have things under control. Go make some one else's Christmas memorable. No that wasn't nice, but some memories won't go away. Was there a Thank You for giving up your Christmas? Needless to say, that was the last Santa Clara wedding I ever did.

This picture brings back more memories than I wanted to think about. They plated out the dinner to everyone. We were served chicken pasta, with spinach salad and rolls. It was very tasty. They poured sparkling cider to toast the bride and groom. Then they served sprite and the best pastry I've ever had. Elder Spud and I are going to start searching for the bakery that makes them.

The missionaries are making the evening lots of fun.

While we were waiting for the ceremony to begin, we roamed around and took pictures. It kind of reminded us of the days we had to worry about this kind of business. My hands started hurting just looking at this cake. The tables all had a vase of long stem red and white roses, baby breath and leather leaf. The vases were tied with white tulle. Each guest was given a small silver bell with a small disk with "Thank You" written on it.

Some of our favorite Elders. They have just been given their new black ties. They looked at the labels and were happy to see that they were all polyester. Good to Wash! It's 6:30 and still no sign of the bride and groom. The elders are helping everyone have a good time while we are all waiting. I was surprised at the lack of people to be there. Most of them didn't come until just before the ceremony. They must be used to these events.

One of the flower girls waiting for the ceremony to start. The children were all acting like children at a wedding. The little candy favors at the tables were tied so tight they couldn't get into them. In fact, even Elder Graff was stumped. I had to open his for him. The four elders and two sister missionaries were making the evening fun for everyone. The food in the kitchen was tightly wrapped also, so it was safe while we all waited for the bride and groom to show up.

6:40 and Hinalsi is being walked down the aisle by her son. The immediate family on both sides were lined up on each side of the arch where the bishop was waiting for the couple. The picture of the flower girls should have been the cutest, but I couldn't make the camera click fast enough. I'm just glad I got what I have. It was fun to be there.

Hinalsi and Sergio have been pronounced Man and Wife and are ready for the wedding dance. It is 6:55 PM. The evening is just beginning and the couple will be toasted and lectured to. If we could have understood more of the speech, it would have been better, but the Uncle that gave the speech acted like he had been going to Toastmasters for years. I can't say for sure, but I doubt he used one ah or and ah. It was a fun evening and one that will live in our memories.

This is the wedding the week before Hinalsi and Sergio's. Bishop Tim Hoopes is sitting at our table and telling us a little of the history about this bride and groom. The invitation said the ceremony would start at eight o'clock. It is now 8:45, Bishop Hoopes has just arrived and there is no sign of the bride or groom. He was telling Elder Graff he hoped we didn't have other plans for the evening, he was prepared for a long night. The ceremony started at 9:15 PM. Apparently this is not unusual for this type of activity here in South Florida. Both weddings were all in Spanish.

Chris Castellanos is the Mission Leader in the Hollywood Ward, where we attend church. They are exchanging rings before a room full of family and friends. We were amazed at how much food was waiting for the group to enjoy. As soon as the couple ended their wedding dance, the group started in on the food. The event was held at the Miami Lakes Stake Center in Hialeah.

Chris and Yamile have waited four years for this moment. They met before he went on his mission. Then she joined the church and they could not decide if they really wanted to commit to a life forever. They went to the Orlando Temple this morning and now they have exchanged rings before their families and are enjoying the first dance of the evening. The buffet table was very lavish and tempting. Some of the best dessert's I've ever tasted.

Today we spoke at the Blue Lagoon Ward in the Miami South Stake. I gave my "Story Teller" talk and Spud gave his talk about some of our missionary experiences. "We are the chosen" makes me cry every time I read it let alone trying to make it into a talk. But it makes a strong point on how our ancestors are waiting for us to find their information and connect the families to each other. After Sacrament Meeting we met in the Genealogy Room with three of the sisters that have been called to teach Family History. This ward is organized and realizes the importance of doing Family History and already has 40 ward members signed into New Family Search. We made an appointment to come back Tuesday, March 22 and met with some of the other Family History Consultants. What a joy, to communicate with members that have the same passion about Family History.

Our appointment for this afternoon cancelled so we rescheduled for next Sunday afternoon at the Ft Lauderdale Chapel. We had two 12 hour days this past week, so I am glad to sit on the couch and vegetate.

Tomorrow we are speaking in the Blue Lagoon Ward and teaching a Family History Class! So I hope to have a lot of news to tell about that experience.

We attended a Mission Conference yesterday at the Plantation Chapel. Elder and Sister Giddens spoke to us about serving missions and being taught out of the scriptures. It is always such a treat to be with all the young missionaries at the same time. They end these meetings singing "We will bring the world his truth"! I can't sing it because of the tears and I can't even type this without crying. To see these fine young people and feel the spirit they have is beyond words. I am reminded of the story again in Alma about the two thousand strippling young warriors who were taught by their mothers. There are those among these wonderful young people, who did not grow up under a mother's loving influence and yet they were led to the gospel and found a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and of Heavenly Father's love for all of his children. These great young missionaries are teaching us "old" people what is most important in this life.
It is so much fun to have the sisters run over to us when they see us and tell us how much they love us and want to know when we are coming to their apartments again. Then the young men all want to know when they can earn another bottle of salsa! These things make our hearts sing!

I was asked to take this picture of the back of the CPU that I work on in the office. This technology is way beyond my expertise! But Brother Arnett was able to connect to my computer and fix the problem while he was in Boynton Beach. I really don't know how this all works, but we now have Roots Magic on this computer and we will have Ancestry.com and MSN by the end of next week. The mission office has a strong firewall on all the computers to keep the spam and junk off the units. So it has been complicated trying to work on Family History with the equipment there. Mostly I use my laptop, but it really works fast when I am teaching someone, to have them do the typing into Roots Magic on one computer and I do the research on another one. So this is a real break through for us!

Thank you, Kim, for the beautiful flowers that I received for my birthday. What fun to go answer the door and be handed this lovely bouquet! They lasted for almost two weeks. Unheard of in Utah. It has the to be the humidity. There was even a spray of tiny orchids the the mix. Spud and I enjoyed our dinner at the Argentine Restaurant, but we have since heard there is a better one just one mile down the road. So we'll have to try that. We also found a "Taco Shop" that has the best tacos ever. It is down in Hialeah. We were teaching at the Hialeah Chapel at noon and Elder Graff decided to feed everyone. When I finally got to eat, it was cold, but i ate it anyway and it was so good, I didn't even leave a crumb behind. So we are looking forward to going back to Hialeah again. The "Taco Shop" has now replaced the Firehouse for our number one favorite! We can definitely answer the question, "What did you do on your mission?" with: "EAT OUT!"

The camera has been found! I left it in one of the other purses that I brought to Florida. Here is the table. It has eight chairs and two leaves that can be added to make it longer.

Our dinner was fun. So when the Summerfeld's get here, we will host another dinner. We did a little Mormon trivia after dinner and during dessert. That was fun and got the group opening up about their lives before this mission. It is amazing how many connections can be made with people from all over the nation.

The dinner with Earl and Madeline the other night was wonderful. They have a condo right at the beach, with a lovely view of the ocean. He goes swimming in the ocean every morning there isn't a red warning flag up. I miss my pool. But I would not be swimming now anyway, if we were home.


Elder and Sister Hogge gave us their big table when they left. So now we are the designated Party House for the Senior Couples. We told President and Sister Hale they had to bring their own chairs if they want to come to the parties. I took a picture of the table and now that I am writing about it, I can't remember where I put the camera. Memory is a bad thing too lose.


We called our afternoon appointment and she told me we had the wrong number. Then we found out she just got out of jail and can't have company. Elder Graff is calling the Elders and promising them all more food if they will fix us up with some more appointments. We will start the phone calls tomorrow and see what that may bring.