Kami Orr and Scott Huff Plan a February Wedding

Kami Orr and Scott Huff are planning to be married February 16th 2012 in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple.

Provosts Announce the Birth of Baby Girl

On November 29th we had our first baby girl, 7 lbs, 12 oz. She is healthy and doing great, we are just living in Pleasant Grove, Utah. I am working at a cabinet shop and going to school studying Technology Managment.

Christmas Greetings to our missionaries!

In the bleak midwinter...

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;

Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.

In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim worship night and day,

Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;

Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,

The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;

But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,

Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;

Yet what I can give Him: give my heart.

Christina Rossetti

Miss Rossetti didn't get everything right in this poem, but the main point she made - she made perfectly. We do give Him our heart. And to you dear missionaries, (as we still refer to you) we wish you a wonderful Christmas and our love.

We hope to hear from you at this season with a little update. You remain in our hearts and prayers.

President and Sister Colton

Skylar Scott and Alyssa Barker to Wed

Skylar Scott and Alyssa Barker plan to be married November 18th, 2011 in the Salt Lake Temple.

Elder Hickman Takes Matters Into His Own Hands

Colton Hickman and Mary Lane announce their engagement. They will be married in the Timpanagos Temple November 25th. They plan to honeymoon in Florida. Mary is working as a paralegal and Colton is working at a Chase Bank and a movie theatre as well as being a full time student at BYU.

Former Sister Nonoa Reports from the Other Side

Checking in from Hamilton New Zealand - Life is blessed and busy, My husband and I are expecting our first baby next April and are enjoying the blessings that come with being married. Other than that, nothing much happening over this side of the world, except that we are hoping that the All Blacks win the Rugby World Cup. Lots of Love to everyone xxxxx

Fullmer and Mohlman to Marry

Stephen Fullmer and Amy Mohlman will marry on the 21 October 2011 in the Salt Lake Temple.

More Reunion Pictures

Josh and Jessica Marry

Josh and Jessica Snyder were married in May of 2011 in the Mesa Arizona Temple. I post this after the fact with a special "thank you" to Mrs. Snyder as well as to Josh for all the help to the end of the evening at the Mission Reunion. Thank you for all you did.

So Good To Be With You!

Many thanks goes to the mission reunion committee. Special thanks to Virginia Todd Kesler and Josh Snyder who headed the committee and to David Pearson and Steven Fullmer who give technical support to vital mission information.

Reunion Just Days Away

Date and time-Friday September 30th, 6:30pm - 9:00pm

Location-Draper Crescent View Stake Center 11626 South 300 East. Here is a link using Google Maps to the chapel:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11626+South+300+East+draper+utah&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x8752870af0ae42d5:0xc3fbbf4bbe634446,11626+S+300+E,+Draper,+UT+84020&gl=us&ei=APwyTtdQ4eOIAp_cgMQI&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQ8gEwAA

Please respond with your RSVP by August 30th to this email: floridatampamissionphotos@yahoo.com

Include also the number of people coming with you so we can assign out food accordingly. We ask that you RSVP by August 30th so we can send out assignments for food. For those traveling from outside the state to the reunion, please let us know that in your RSVP so we can take that into consideration as we assign out food.

Dress: We ask that you would come in business casual dress for the reunion.That would mean a nice pair of slacks and shirt for the Elders. Sisters can wear slacks or a skirt/dress.

Setting up the church: As we continue to organize and plan for this great event, any help that you can provide would be appreciated. We will be meeting at 4:00 to set up the tables and chairs and getting a few other things together, if you can make it then to help with setting things up, that would be wonderful! (The reunion starts at 6:30).

Brief Meeting: We will begin the reunion with a brief meeting in the chapel and then enjoy eating and visiting for the rest of the evening.

Dinner provided by all! We are going to be having a potluck dinner following the meeting in the chapel. Once we have a better idea of who is coming to the reunion, we will send out an email with food assignments. Please plan on bringing enough food for approximately 20 people.

Additional updates:

We have created a Directory using Google Documents that we plan to use on an ongoing basis to update contact information for everyone who has served in the mission (name, name of spouse, e-mail address, and telephone number.) David Pearson kindly volunteered to help in this area, and he has already started the list. We will try to get as many people to sign up prior to the reunion, and then at the reunion those who are not on the list will be asked to add their information. Please take a few minutes to update any of your information you wish. If you have any trouble accessing the document, please let us know and we can help you obtain access.

The Google Directory can be accessed at:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ap9ATetuY_6DdF9GMFNXSmZNa1FYNXF0SERmM1I3UlE&hl=en_US#gid=0

We have created a Facebook page for those of you that are on it. The URL for that Facebook page is:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=hp#!/event.php?eid=208056012563170

If you know of more people on Facebook who aren't part of the group, please invite them to join. We will continue to communicate with you through e-mail and Facebook.

Mission Blog:

We also remind you to check the mission blog: www.floridatampamission-colton.blogspot.com for more updates. Date and time-Friday September 30th, 6:30pm - 9:00pm

Location-Draper Crescent View Stake Center 11626 South 300 East. Here is a link using Google Maps to the chapel:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11626+South+300+East+draper+utah&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x8752870af0ae42d5:0xc3fbbf4bbe634446,11626+S+300+E,+Draper,+UT+84020&gl=us&ei=APwyTtdQ4eOIAp_cgMQI&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQ8gEwAA

Please respond with your RSVP by August 30th to this email: floridatampamissionphotos@yahoo.com

Include also the number of people coming with you so we can assign out food accordingly. We ask that you RSVP by August 30th so we can send out assignments for food. For those traveling from outside the state to the reunion, please let us know that in your RSVP so we can take that into consideration as we assign out food.

Dress: We ask that you would come in business casual dress for the reunion.That would mean a nice pair of slacks and shirt for the Elders. Sisters can wear slacks or a skirt/dress.

Setting up the church: As we continue to organize and plan for this great event, any help that you can provide would be appreciated. We will be meeting at 4:00 to set up the tables and chairs and getting a few other things together, if you can make it then to help with setting things up, that would be wonderful! (The reunion starts at 6:30).

Brief Meeting: We will begin the reunion with a brief meeting in the chapel and then enjoy eating and visiting for the rest of the evening.

Dinner provided by all! We are going to be having a potluck dinner following the meeting in the chapel. Once we have a better idea of who is coming to the reunion, we will send out an email with food assignments. Please plan on bringing enough food for approximately 20 people.

Additional updates:

We have created a Directory using Google Documents that we plan to use on an ongoing basis to update contact information for everyone who has served in the mission (name, name of spouse, e-mail address, and telephone number.) David Pearson kindly volunteered to help in this area, and he has already started the list. We will try to get as many people to sign up prior to the reunion, and then at the reunion those who are not on the list will be asked to add their information. Please take a few minutes to update any of your information you wish. If you have any trouble accessing the document, please let us know and we can help you obtain access.

The Google Directory can be accessed at:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ap9ATetuY_6DdF9GMFNXSmZNa1FYNXF0SERmM1I3UlE&hl=en_US#gid=0

We have created a Facebook page for those of you that are on it. The URL for that Facebook page is:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=hp#!/event.php?eid=208056012563170

If you know of more people on Facebook who aren't part of the group, please invite them to join. We will continue to communicate with you through e-mail and Facebook.

Mission Blog:

We also remind you to check the mission blog: www.floridatampamission-colton.blogspot.com for more updates.

President Gillrie is on the Mend

President and Sister Gillrie are now smiling after a rough go with pancreatitis. Here they are pictured in the library of their home in Florida as President Gillrie is on the mend.

September 2^nd, 2011

Florida Tampa Missionaries!

Thank you for RSVP'ing for the Florida Tampa mission reunion that will be held September 30th, at the Draper Crescent View Stake Center located at 11626 South, 300 East in Draper Utah from 6:30-9:00pm.We are so excited that you are coming, and we know that President and Sister Colton cannot wait to see you all again. It is going to be a great night! Please come and tell anyone else that may have not heard about the reunion by now.

Dinner provided by all! We are going to be having a potluck dinner during the reunion and would ask that you would bring the following item(s) for dinner. If your last name begins with A-E, please bring a side dish (salad, pasta dish etc.). If your last name begins with F-J, please bring a meat dish. A note on that: We will be gathering in the chapel for a brief meeting before we eat. If you bring a meat dish that needs to stay warm, please keep that in mind, we will be not be eating first. Please bring your dish in a crock pot that can be plugged in or bring a cold meat dish/tray. Those of you whose last names start with K-O, please bring dessert of some sort. P-T, please bring fruit, already cut and ready to eat (i.e. cut watermelon, grapes, and cantaloupe-cut). U-Z, please bring dinner rolls.

We have divided out the names of the missionaries into different categories for food. This list included at the end of the email only includes those that have RSVPed so far. It isn't everyone... :) Those people's names that are not already listed above are welcome to bring a food item. Please bring a food item that is within your group assignment

Please bring enough food for about 15 people. We are hoping to have a great feast!

And remember that if you are going to be coming from out of state, don't stress too much on the food assignment. Bring something if you can, but we would rather you be there then worry about the food assignment.

PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BRING THE ASSIGNED ITEM.

Thank you very much! See you soon,

The FTM Mission Reunion Committee


If your last name begins with A-E, please bring a side dish (salad…if bringing salad, you can coordinate with someone else in the A-E group to bring dressing for your salad), pasta dish, potatoes, etc.).

Logan Returned Missionaries Gather

On Friday afternoon (September 9) in the Student Union at USU, FTM returned missionaries in the Logan area gathered for a brief visit. We look forward to joining with the FTM mission as a whole on Friday, September 30, 2011 in Draper, Utah. Check the blog for more information.

Spike and Shelley to Wed

Spike Cheever and Shelley Bradfield, students at USU, will marry in the Logan Utah Temple on September 17, 2011.

An Earthquake and a Hurricane

Dear friends,

The days are drawing near for the Florida Tampa Mission Reunion. It will be a joy to see you again. We reflect often on the years we spent together in the work of the Lord.

Life has not been dull here on the East Coast. Our grandson, Adam, has been visiting us from England for the past month. We traveled with him to California so we could all be part of our granddaughter, Lily’s baptism. Besides showing Adam around Washington, DC and teaching him the American version of history (those Brits might try to dissuade him) we threw in an earthquake and a hurricane. And speaking of hurricane, what is the deal here? We spent three years in hurricane prone Florida with a no show on hurricanes and get back to Virginia and there you have it! We actually made it through with only one tree down. While some complained that the storm didn’t equal the expectations of the media, we were GRATEFUL!

See you in September!

Love,
President and Sister Colton

Alan Alami Checks In

Alami Family:

Our life together has been so special. We have truly been blessed as a family. This summer we had many opportunities to visit the temple. We participated in the temple sealings of many of friends, and watched as those we loved received their endowments. It was great to see our friends enter into the covenant of marriage!

Other things we did included traveling to Florida to visit people I taught and worked with on my mission. We spent a day in the Orlando Temple and had the opportunity to participate in a Spanish Session. It was a great opportunity that neither of us had experienced. I learned that I could understand the ceremony equally as well in Spanish as in English, and my wife and her family gained a more firm appreciation of the gospel being preached to all nations. Being with so many Hispanics this summer has inspired my wife to learn Spanish! She is currently studying daily using the ‘Rosetta Stone’ program. Disney World was a MUST, while we were there. We met up with the in-laws to spend a weekend together. We even made matching T-shirts with Disney characters on them!

We are both working and doing our best to prepare for the rest of our family. I work for ChemDry a carpet cleaning company. Katina graduated back in May with a degree in Elementary Education. She currently substitute teaches during the day and works part time at a movie theater. We are both saving money and living well within our means.

I am continuing school, now with only two semesters to go! We are seeing the hand of the Lord in our lives in many ways. I changed my major from Business Marketing to Spanish with a minor in Business. I am also planning to seek a Masters in Business Administration in the future. It truly is a miracle, since I can obtain a Masters degree in Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish in the same (in the classroom) time it would have taken me to obtain a Bachelor’s in Business Marketing. This will enable me to finish school early and begin work as I prepare to seek my Masters.

We are so grateful for the many people in our lives that have helped us thus far. On June 18^th, 2011 we celebrated our first year of marriage. We are still going strong and are very much in love.

Les queremos a todos!

Love,

Alan and Katina Alami

Josh Key and Christina Measom Marry

Josh Key and Christina Measom were married in the Mt. Timpanogas Temple on July 29, 2011.

Devin Nelson to Wed

Devin Nelson will marry Nicole Laherty on August 20, 2011 in the Dallas Texas Temple.

Rachel Higley to Wed Brandon Turley

Rachel Ann Higley will marry Brandon James Turley on the 27th of August in the Los Angeles Temple.

Blackman Stole a Kiss

Judson Carver Blackman stole a kiss from Lindsay Williams to announce their marriage date of August 12 in the Salt Lake Temple.

Austin Anderson Visits the East

Austin Anderson returned from his mission in Florida in late June. Along with his family, Austin toured the eastern United States including New York City and Washington, DC. The Anderson family visited the Coltons after a long day of sight-seeing in DC. Austin plans on school in the fall and is looking to secure a job as well.

Eric and Kalli to Wed

Eric Sorensen and Kalli Sue Bowman have set the date for their marriage, August 20th, 2011 in the Bountiful Temple.

Big Announcement from Zach Cook!

So here's the rundown, I've been in school at BYU-I since I got home. I have about a year left here, finishing with my degree. Things have been going well and only getting better each day.
The best news, as of late in my life, is that I am no longer going to be a "lone man in the wilderness!" I'm engaged to a beautiful girl from the land of the North. We're getting married on August 19th in the Cardston Alberta Temple. Right now we're getting all the wedding plans finalized and ready to go. Even amongst the trials of life there are so many things that bring great joy. We are both very excited, we are excited for the future and all that is to come. I hope that same goes for all of you!

Gabriel Hess Prepares to Serve

After my mission I returned to BYU and continued working on my bachelors, living in the French immersion housing (part of the Foreign Language Student Residence) to help improve my French. When I've been at home in Maryland I have attended a brand new French-speaking branch (the first and only branch of its kind in the United States) where I have been able to practice my French and my Haitian Creole and serve in the church.
My first summer back I became a certified lifeguard and began working at two pools, including a pool with the Maryland National Capitol Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC), where I am still working during the summer, now as a pool manager, swim instructor, and lifeguard.
My first Fall back from my mission (2009) I took an Arabic course and became conversant by the end of the school year. I intend to pick up where I left off this coming Fall with Arabic, schedule allowing. Beginning last year I began taking social/ballroom dance classes at BYU which I have enjoyed. I have since reached the gold level and hope to continue taking classes and just enjoying ballroom.
What I also picked up as I returned to school was the Army ROTC. I continued in the program as a freshman and then as a sophomore, with little responsibility. In my junior year all junior year cadets were given extensive responsibilities (comparable to mission leadership responsibilities, although more strenuous in my experience) modeled exactly after real-world Army ranks and positions. Next summer I'll be attending an evaluative course called LDAC that will determine the rest of my Army career.
Last summer I was privileged with the opportunity to attend a volunteer Army special school called Airborne. There I joined with other Army cadets, officers, NCOs, enlisted, as well as officers and enlisted from every branch of the military (Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, etc) and even foreign militaries, in training to jump out of an airplane in flight. I now have experienced five solo jumps from an aircraft, which I can say is quite exhilarating (though the build up is freaky), and claim a small part of the Airborne heritage.
Beginning this past school year (2010-2011) I attended training and began volunteering for a suicide/crisis line in Provo while I was at school. It was a rewarding experience. When I return this fall I intend to move on to volunteer on a similar specialty crisis line called the rape crisis team which will require more training.
This summer I just finished taking a course to become an Emergency Medical Technician Basic (EMT-B) and am now volunteering on an ambulance near where I live in Maryland. I hope to go on to upgrade to become a Wilderness EMT, which will help supplement my skills and preparedness to serve in the Army and help the troops.
I am still pursuing a career as a chaplain (in the Army). My undergrad will be complete in two more school years, then I have a masters to complete, as well as some other requirements that will be taken care of before that time.
Otherwise, life has been good. I've been doing my best to fulfill my callings wherever I've served. I've kept up on the dating scene, although I'm still single (RSMs take note :P ). I look forward to seeing everyone soon at the next mission reunion!

-Gabriel Hess

Spencer Corley and Nikki Fox Marry

Spencer Corley and Nikki Fox were married in the Mesa Az Temple in July. Former missionaries from the FTM, James Terry, Ezra Wery and Clint Wire, were in attendance along with a convert friend from Lehigh Acres, now President Charlie Perry. The newly weds plan to move to Flagstaff to attend school at No Arizona University.

Happy Summer from the Coltons

Dear Returned Missionaries of the FTM,

Happy summer, 2011. It is sweltering here in Virginia. I hope you are fairing better in the west. Time passes quickly. We think of you often and talk about the many paths and contributions that will be yours. Often we receive wedding announcements and we are so pleased to be remembered and a part of this monumental step in your lives. Phone calls and emails have kept us up on many of your lives. We always love hearing from you. It is simply a joy to have two years/eighteen months – as a foundation for a life long and eternal friendship.

We report that the trip to Kirtland with the youth of our stake was a memorable and rich experience. About 140 youth participated this year. They were well taught having had church history as part of their seminary curriculum this year. Therefore, the experience in Kirtland was particularly poignant and meaningful. The sacrament meeting in the Kirtland temple was very sacred. The following day, the testimony meeting held in the Kirtland Stake Center went on for three hours. Were it not for the waiting buses, we could have gone on for much longer. However, we had to bring the meeting to a close. The testimonies born by these young people were focused on the gospel of Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father, and the blessings of the restoration; especially the sacrifices of the Prophet Joseph. It was a riveting and spiritual meeting. We are grateful that we were able to be there.

President Colton continues his involvement in his profession life. He is involved in thinking through housing policy and financial issues facing our country. A lot happened in this area while we were on our mission. I continue my passion for writing children's stories, always hoping for a break in the wild and wooly world of publishing. Together we spend our most treasured time visiting our grandchildren and working in the Washington, DC temple. We really love being in the temple.

As you know, the FTM Reunion will be held September 30th in the Draper Crescent View Stake Center located at 11626 South, 300 East in Draper, Utah from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. We will begin with a brief meeting in the chapel and then enjoy eating and visiting for the rest of the evening. We hope to see you there. We also remind you to check the mission blog: www.floridatampamission-colton.blogspot.com

Please email me any updates on yourself for me to post.We hope this finds each of you well, happy and progressing

With love,

President and Sister Colton

Melissa Broderick to Wed Russel Lyon

Melissa Broderick will wed Russell Lyon in the Salt Lake Temple on August 12, 2011

Jami and Jason Welcome Taylor Allyse

Jami (Sister Lambert) and Jason Hirst are parents to Taylor Allyse born March 11, 2011. Provo will remain home to the Hirsts as Jason attends BYU Law School, beginning this September. Jami is keeping the home fire's burning and loves being a mother.

Lunts Head East

Bryce and Anna Lunt graduate from Brigham Young University on August 12, 2011. Bryce receives a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Anna receives her Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders. The Lunts are moving to Pittsburgh shortly after graduation where Bryce will begin graduate work toward his Ph.D.

Dear friends from the Florida Tampa Mission. My wife Allie and I are out east because I am selling security systems with Vivint. We were in Pittsburg for 2 months and now we are in Winchester Virginia for the rest of the summer. It has been a great experience to learn to sell. Its been hard but rewarding and I am enjoying the time that I get to spend with Allie although during the week it is limited. Here's us in Pittsburg. Love you all take care

Jordan and Allie Crafton

Colton Hickman Update

Hey everyone, sorry I haven't been writing and today I don't have a ton of time to write either, but I just thought I'd try. Last week I finished my radiation! So, now I just wait for a while and soon they'll scan me again. I should get scans every 3-6 months to make sure it doesn't start growing again. YAY!! I shave my head down to the skin every few days because of the bald spots radiation gave me. I've been working a lot it feels like and getting ready for school in the fall. Yesterday my dad gave me and my brother a motorcycle that has just been sitting around his house. We're going to put it in my name and get it running in no time. This is great because Colin and I share a car and we're not both going to the same college this fall, so we needed another vehicle. The best news is that Josh Patrick, one of my very best friends since we were 2 years old in preschool, is coming home from his mission on Thursday from the Dominican Republic! I'm so excited to see him. I'm much more excited about him coming home than I was about me.

Dave Glauser Shouts Out from Spain

Hello to all my FTM friends! I enjoying keeping up on everyone on the
blog. I am currently studying at the University of Oviedo on the north
coast of Spain. I attend a small branch here and will be going on
splits with the missionaries here later this week. When the program
ends in 2 weeks I will be traveling through Germany, Switzerland,
Spain, and France with some friends. I will also be running with the
bulls in Pomplona Spain on July 7th. Next year will be my senior year
at the University of Utah. After several injuries on my knee and
ankle I decided to give up lacrosse. I miss it a lot but i think it
was for the best. In August I will be participating on Student
government and hopefully getting ready for grad school. About a month ago I
got a call from a national fraternity who asked if they could set up an
interview with me. They eventually asked me to help open and be the
vice president of a new chapter of a greek fraternity at the U called
Delta Sigma Phi. One of my best friends is the President and we have a
great vision of what we want to create. We will be the only dry
fraternity at the U. For the remainder of the summer I will be working with a
fruit company transporting the fruit from the farms to the vendors. The picture
is on the top of Mount Naranco that has a Christ statue that overlooks the
city of Oviedo.
-Dave Glauser

More News From Folkner and Larsen

Yes I am getting married in October. She's a lovely young lady, Captain of the USU Lady Ultimate team actually, so things are going well on the field. I am running the men's team from a logistics stand point. We suck, but that's okay. Katie Larsen is from Cottonwood Heights (just south of Salt Lake) and is leaving me for germany tomorrow to study abroad. You'll meet her at the reunion I'm sure. She is lively and fun like me and mostly happy. I like her.

David Erik Folkner is a Winner