Fort Walton Beach, Florida - We've Arrived

Fort Walton Beach us in the upper left area of this map - east of Pensacola

After a wonderful week of experiencing and learning about some of the early church history sites in Independence, Missouri and Nauvoo, Illinois (Liberty Jail, Carthage, Temple Site, New Jerusalem, Pioneers, Quincy, Adam-Ondi-Ahman, LDS Temple, Smith Family Cemetery, Mississippi River etc.) we drove through beautiful Alabama to arrive here in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, last Monday.

It's been a bit of a whirlwind week getting settled, learning our way around a bit, meeting and working with the 10 outstanding younger missionaries in this area, meeting and loving the new ward members, attending two baptisms and Elder Hendricks (Mike) going out with the Elders 4 times now, and I, once.

Last Friday I drove two of our sweet sister missionaries to the 'Sisters Conference' in Bonifay, Florida (about an hour from here) where we met with the 72? other sisters in the mission and had a wonderful day together.  Apparently, sisters are about 1/3 part of the mission and the Elders are the other two-thirds.  Isn't it marvelous that so many of these young people (ages 18-22 or so) WANT to come out here and serve the Lord and serve the people in our mission area of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia?

We've been greatly blessed to be here, are studying our Scriptures and our Spanish daily, are getting to know the area and praying to know how we can best reach out to those who desire greater light and understanding about God, His plan for us His children, the purpose of life (where we came from before, why we are here, and where we are going after), how families can find greater joy and happiness in this life and then be together forever afterwards and not just until death.

We're just heading to our district meeting with the 10 younger missionaries this morning. We'll talk more later.  :)

Sister Hendricks (Elder Hendricks will write later)

(heidi.hendricks on instagram for photos of all these places)