COTTLE MISSION NEWS: Week 70 (3

Monday morning, we awoke excited for Alex, Cynthia and their children were arriving this morning. We left for the airport at 10:15 am and we met them at the escalator, and it was so good to see them, especially Alex, Benny and Emilia. After hugs and pictures were taken, we moved to the baggage pickup area and then proceeded to the van. We drove to the River City Market area and had some lunch and then headed to our apartment where we got them settled. In the evening we drove to the Naval Station and bought some tickets to the Alligator Farm and drove around and showed them the various ships that were in port. We returned to our apartment and spent a fun evening visiting

Tuesday morning, we left for St. Augustine at noon and drove along Jacksonville Beach towards St. Augustine. At the Alligator Farm we spent two hours wandering through the facility and everyone enjoyed the alligators and other animals on display. The Alligator’s behavior were quite different from other visits when it was cooler. They seemed to find places in water and in the shade to battle the heat. Also, saw a lot more movement from the Alligators and that was enjoyable. We left about 3:00 pm and had some lunch and then went to the Castillo Del San Marcos and viewed the massive fort. It is always a very impressive monument to man’s creativity. From the fort we headed back to Jacksonville and our apartment, tired from the heat and walking and napped or got involved in quiet activities and spent a quiet evening visiting.

Wednesday morning, we left the apartment at 10:30 am and drove to the USO and picked up a couple of chairs and then continued to the Naval Station beach. It was very nice and uncrowded today and we set up south of the stairs and Alex and the boys went into the water which was quite warm. Cynthia and Emilia walked the beach, went into the water and enjoyed the sun. Pam and I sat in the chairs and watched our children have a good time and did a little walking. There were a few surfers trying to catch waves, but the surf was quite small. By 1:30 pm everyone was hot and tired, and we gathered up our things and a fresh-water shower by the parking lot rinsed off the sand and then we loaded up and left the base, had some lunch and returned to our apartment for the rest of the day.

Thursday morning, we crossed the St. John’s River on the ferry and continued to Kingsley Plantation on Fort George Island. I was amazed at how dry the plantation was. The grass was brown, and they really needed rain. We walked around and enjoyed the history and significance of that place. From the plantation we continued on towards Amelia Island and crossed the various bridges and stopped in Amelia City and had a sandwich and then backtracked to the American Beach where Alex, Cynthia and the kids spent a couple of hours on the beach. Pam stayed up at the parking lot under a canopy and I walked the beach for a while and then joined Pam. After they were done for the day, we loaded up and returned to our apartment and got cleaned up and went out for dinner. Later in the evening, Pam and I drove to the Naval Station for a Temple Preparation class with the Perry’s and Lagae’s. We taught lesson 6 and it was very enjoyable to be with those two couples again in that setting. They both have strong desires to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and attend the Temple

Friday morning, we left the apartment at noon and drove to Jacksonville Beach and had lunch and then made our way to Adventure Landing and stayed until after 5:00 pm. We had a wonderful time and the kids and Alex, and Cynthia enjoyed it. After checking in and getting wrist bands, we played miniature golf, rode the go-carts and the boys and Alex played Lazar Tag. After they had used up their 5 free punches in the Dry part of the park, we moved to the Water Park and spent the rest of the time there. Pam and I found a spot to sit in the shade and watched the kids and Alex and Cynthia have a good time. There were numerous water slides and rides, some very quiet and unassuming and some scary and got your attention. The wave pool was a hit and provided a safe place to relax and enjoy the water especially for Cynthia and Emmy. There were a lot of people, but it wasn’t crowded and no lines for anything, so everyone had a good time. We left shortly after 5:00 pm and made our way back to the apartment and had some homemade Café Rio Burritos. Pam and I adjourned to our room at 8:00 pm and joined senior couples and President & Sister Lee on a conference call where we spent 45 minutes with Elder Whitehead going over the Devotional trip on Sunday and then President Lee had some of the Senior Couples give a short description of what they were doing in their areas. At 9:00 pm we again joined all the missionaries in the Transfer Call with President & Sister Lee. After the preliminaries and some instruction, President Lee got down to the business of the call and went through all the companionship's, indicating the changes and those who were going home. Quite a few changes in the Jax East Zone so we would meet some new missionaries.

Saturday morning, everyone was up and ready to leave by 11:00 am and we first drove to NAS Jacksonville and toured the airplane museum by the front gate for a half an hour. Alex, Cynthia and the kids got to see the P-3 on display and there was actually one flying in the bounce pattern while we were there. From NAS we crossed back across the river and had some lunch and then headed to the Naval Station where we dropped off Alex, Cynthia and their family and they spent the rest of the day at the beach. Pam and I went back to our apartment and did laundry. At 4:30 pm I returned to the Naval Station and they were just coming up from the beach. We loaded up and returned to the apartment and spent an enjoyable evening eating, visiting, doing laundry and packing for the trip home tomorrow morning. They loved the beach at Mayport, and the temperature of the water and the air were perfect today.

Sunday morning arrived sooner than we hoped, and all good things had to end. We were up early and finished preparations for Alex, Cynthia and their children’s trip back to Denver and left for the airport at 9:00 am. We dropped them off at the airport and said our goodbyes and were so thankful for their visit. It was especially good to be with the grandchildren again and get to know Emmy better. From the airport we returned to our apartment and finished preparations for today’s adventure—going to Orlando to join with other members in a devotional at the Amway Center where the Prophet would be attending. We left our apartment at 10:30 am and drove to the Jacksonville South Stake Center and waited for Elder and Sister Mann and 50 missionaries to assemble for the bus trip to Orlando. While there we were entertained by a huge thunderstorm and violent rain, but we sat comfortably in our van. Gradually one by one cars began arriving with missionaries and at 1:15 pm the bus arrived, and we loaded up, took count and we were off for Orlando. The drive south took about 2½ hours and upon arrival in Orlando the driver dropped us off right at the Amway Center. Elder Mann and I gave some instructions to the missionaries and they were off. We all sat in different locations, and Pam and I made our way up and up to the “nosebleed” section and located our seats. For the next 45 minutes we watched thousands of saints arrive and fill the center with adults, teens and children and it was wonderful to be a part of this huge congregation. The Prophet and his party arrived at 5:15 pm and as the congregation stood, they came into the room, took their seats on the podium and shortly thereafter, the devotional began. A wonderful choir from the Orlando Stakes provided the music and sang a prelude piece and then Elder Bowen of the Seventy stood and welcomed everyone, and we began. Following an opening hymn and prayer Elder Bowen announced the entire program and we first heard a beautiful number by the choir, then excellent counsel from Sister Bowen, Elder Bowen, Sister Uchtdorf, Elder Uchtdorf, Sister Nelson and then from President Nelson our Prophet and leader. He gave wonderful counsel on these gospel truths:

· God is our Father

· Jesus Christ is our Savior

· We are children of God

· The Book of Mormon is the word of God

· The priesthood has been restored

· The gathering of Israel

· Joy comes from keeping the commandments

The 90 minutes passed by in a blur and soon we were singing a closing hymn and the devotional concluded. We stood as the prophet and his party left the podium and it was tender watching him interact with the teens who filled the floor section of the center and also little children. After they left the arena, we began our way down and out and that took a while. We wondered how we would account for all 50 of our missionaries, but when we arrived at the assembly point, there they were and also our busses with sack lunches for everyone. As soon as we could, everyone got a lunch said goodbye to friends and other missionaries and we boarded our bus. Elder Mann and I took a count and told the driver we were ready to leave. The drive home was long and also in light rain most of the way, but we arrived safely back at the Stake Center about 9:30 pm. After saying our goodbyes to the Mann’s and the missionaries we got in our van and continued to our apartment arriving at 10:30 pm. What a wonderful day.