Missionary Christmas Party

Last year, they held a missionary Christmas Party at the beach in December.  We were told that it was great except it was cold.  So this year President Cusick decided to hold the party in June.  The only risk was that it would rain in the afternoon as it often does.  Fortunately, that didn't happen.

The party was held at Fort DeSoto Park where we have had several meetings previously.  The facilities are quite nice with large covered pavilions and large, sandy beach.  The sand isn't quite as fine as Siesta Beach, but it is close.  And the missionaries didn't mind at all.  This is the only time they are allowed to go to the beach.  Even so, they can't get into the water.

But they had a great time, playing football, soccer, and frisbee on the beach, as well as other games.  There were also lots of greetings, hugs, and conversation with missionaries they had not seem for awhile.  They all have received "camp chairs" to use in their apartments and were asked to bring those.  Quite a few of them carried their chairs out to the beach and sat there and visited.

The food was quite simple.  Large numbers of pizza were ordered, we brought water, and the missionaries had assignments to bring salads and root beer and ice cream for floats.  We even convinced two Elders from Europe to try root beer floats.  They hate root beer but acknowledged that root beer floats were "awesome."

Elders Dance and Spach - great missionaries!

Elders Hawkes and Dance (cousins) and Sister Wilson - love these Elders!

Elders Mazivila (Mozambique) and Franklin - sweet and humble companionship!  Inspiring!

Elders Newbold and Nelson - lucky to have Elder Nelson as his trainer - great companionship!

Elder Milmont with us - the one who came up with "Sister Sunshine" from Metro training.

Elders Spach and Nelson - our awesome former zone leaders, a.k.a. the dream team!

Sadness for Elder Nelson's upcoming departure - I love how they love each other!

Elder Nelson and Sis. Wilson - This Elder is dear to my heart! - He will be greatly missed!!!!!

The pictures and captions above are Renee's.  I convinced her to go early so we would have some time to look around the park.  There are a couple of fishing piers with lots of people fishing.  I think the fishing activity attracted a number of birds, so I was able to get some close up "portraits" of some of them.

Brown Pelican

Laughing Gull

Snowy Egret