Completion of eleven months.

Eleven Months Down

We have enjoyed the elders and sisters that have served with us in Marianna so much we lovingly called our little part of the mission Shangri La.  Sadly, it is coming to an end.  This transfer the elders were moved out of  Marianna leaving us with a set of sisters.  The Church is cutting back the number of missionaries in each to mission to about 200.  Our mission is getting downsized from 270 missionaries. We will be at about 185 before we start to rebound.  So where a lot of Wards and Branchs had two sets of young missionaries they will have one set and in some cases none.

Elders Taylor and Hildebrandt - our last elders

We made another trip to Wakulla Springs to take the elders.  This would be the last chance for two of them to enjoy the alligators, birds and manatees.

Playing chess in the lodge at Wakulla Springs.
From their expressions can you tell who is winning?

On the same trip we went to the Indian mounds by Tallahassee.   They are not sure completely what the indians used them for, but in this area there are about five.  They may have been for defensive or cerimonial purposes.

View from the top of the mound

Elder Taylor, knicknamed Opie by the ward members on top of one of the mounds.

Stairway to the largest mound

The largest mound, stairway to the left

Playing Hooky

With the downturn in number of missionaries, there have been several apartments closed.  One of them involved two sisters who came to Marianna for a few days just before transfers.  We were priviledged to take them with the Marianna sisters to the beach for an hour.  The sand is beautifully white and so soft.  Love the feeling of a little sand between the toes.

This is as close as I got to the beach.
 Did not want to take my shoes and socks off.

Wedding Day

We attended the wedding of a newly baptized member to a long term member.  They are planning on going to the temple in July when she has been a member a year.

You have to love those cowboy boots.

A Trip to Vancouver

Sister Lay on our way home to visit in Washington.  You can probably guess which airport by the decor in the background.

While we were in Las Vegas we ran into a couple who had just returned home from serving in the Florida Tallahassee Mission with us.  It was good to see them.  We sat together for the flight to Portland.  They were going to visit their son and his family in St. Helens, OR.

As usual the grandkids wanted to go on a hike with their grandmother.  I stayed home and did taxes.

The trail to the falls they planned to go to was closed so they made their way to Panther Creek Falls.

One of our favorite views of the Gorge.

Cape Horn on the Washington side of the Columbia

The falls they went to was a much shorter hike, so they diverted to the rock flow for entertainment.

Sister Lay always looking for the unusual photos of plants and animals.

Four year old Ben enjoying his lunch

The Baptism

One of the main reasons for our trip home.  The baptism of our granddaughter.

In addition to the baptism we were able to be there for our grandson to get the Aaronic Priesthood and I was able to fix some minor maintenance problems with close supervision.

Marianna Sisters

We pick up a third sister to our group.  The bishop has nicknamed them either the Sisterhood or Charlie's Angels, depending on the day.

Fun between the Saturday sessions of General Conference.

Spring Flowers in our Yard

Spring has arrived with 90 degree days and heavy rain.  We are seeing tornado warnings but they are mainly staying way north of us.  As I am writing this we are under a severe flood warning.

    

With the rain and warm weather we are seeing some beautiful skies.

   

Sopchoppy Worm Grunting Festival

We had a senior activity at the Sopchoppy Worm Grunting Festival.
Never heard of Worm Grunting?  Neither had we, but now we are experts.
Drive a wooden stake into the ground and use a piece of metal that looks like a car spring to rub across the top of the stake.  It makes a grunting sound that imitates the sound moles make.  Drives the worms right to the top where you can pick them up at your leisure.

The competition field

The expert showing how it is done.

There was a competition for children ages 5-12 to see who could get the most worms.
Grand Prize $25.

The contestants

With their catch

Some spectators who had lost interest.

Sister Lay with Elder and Sister Gray

I decided since I had time to post this I would do it now rather than waiting until next weekend.  We are going to the temple with a couple we have been teaching the temple preparation lessons.  We are looking forward to being part of their special day.  Will post an update after we go to the temple.