Curses! Foiled Again!
Picture last Friday morning.  We had just finished teaching an early morning lesson and were driving to our weekly district meeting in a most timely manner.  In other words, we were going to be on time!

Lake Lowell Reservoir looked especially resplendent and calm.  Our peaceful feelings were disrupted by traffic being curtailed by a large group, estimated by Norm to be in the neighborhood of 1,000, of sheep being herding across the Lake Lowell Bridge!

The skillful and quick manner in which the shepherds, sheep dogs, and the sheep themselves worked together culminated in the flock arriving totally organized in the field below within minutes. Needless to say, we were very impressed.

However, as we looked at the sheep as a group, our eyes came upon one sheep in the midst of that thousand or so who lost its balance and tumbled over several times!  The sheep got up and attempted immediately to rejoin the flock.  But, to our concern, it got caught in a fence and was struggling to get free. Since the traffic began moving, we were not able to witness the fate of this lost sheep, but we have confidence that one of the shepherds came to its rescue.

One cannot be familiar with the Parable of the Lost Sheep in Matthew 18:12-14 of the New Testament and not draw a comparison between the lost sheep in the parable and the sheep caught in the fence since both were in desperate need of rescue by their shepherd.

"How think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?"

What's Going On?  This Is Not Rural Greece In the 1930's For Heaven's Sake!
Traffic Comes To A Dead Halt As Some 1,000 Or So Sheep Are Being Herded Across A Bridge By Lake Lowell Reservoir!

We Have A  Respect And Awe For All Involved In The Herding Of Approximately 1,000 Sheep Off The Bridge And Onto The Ajoining Field In An Orderly, Organized, And Seemingly Effortless Manner!
Kudos To The Sheep, The Shepherds, And The Sheep Dogs.

Are These Guys Good Looking Or What?  How On Earth Can They Look So Relaxed After The Commotion Of Three Shepherds And Five Sheep Dogs Of Just A Few Seconds Ago Attempting To Get Them All In Sync And Off To Their New Destination?

All Appears To Be Going Well Until You Notice A Sheep At The Far Right In The Mid Section Who Is Caught In The Fence As It Attempts To Rejoin Flock.

Lake Lowell Reservoir Placid And Calm In All Its Splendor Just Seconds Prior To Our Encountering A Sizeable Herd Of Sheep On The Bridge Paralleling The Reservoir!

A Little Princess All Dressed In Pink
Sophia Ann Masters    2014

Elder William A. Masters, Jr.
Florida Jacksonville Mission   2014

Rescued!   Safe At Last In The Hands Of Elder Masters
Mormon Helping Hands
Florida Jacksonville Mission

Each Lick On That Ice Cream Scoop Is A Little Bit Of Heaven
    Brandon Lee Masters   2014

There's Nothing Like Being Brothers!    Ryan, Kevin, and Brandon Masters   2014

Life Is Full Of Awesome Surprises!   Ryan David Masters  2014

Happiness Is Ice Cream All Over Our Mouths So We Can Really Relish The Experience! 
Kevin Ray Masters    2014

Called To Serve
A true mission is total dedication to the glory of Our Creator and to the service of our fellow man.

No words can better describe our lives from August 5, 2013 to February 5, 2015 when we are in the full time service of the Master than Section 4 of our book of scripture entitled The Doctrine and Covenants.

These words of  scripture describe the ideals of valiant service to the Lord, the calling of  missionary service, the total dedication required, service to give glory to God, and the personal qualities required to accomplish His work of the immortality and eternal life of man.

"Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.
Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve Him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.
Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;
For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not but bringeth salvation to his soul.
And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.
Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.
Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Amen.