Dennis Nedry

i felt a bit like this yesterday.  not the whole dinosaur spitting in my face thing. well sort of. but dennis nedry, yes.
it all started on a beautiful, sunny, hot florida day.
i was doing a butterfly survey.  better known as surveying butterflies.  well we drove down the road of the conservation area of disney, parked, and walked back along the road for a mile identifying butterflies. i was sweating it was so hot. on november 21st. despite that, in the far distance there were dark clouds coming, and half way through the survey the wind started a-blowing, then when we were just about done the rain started. sooo we turned around started walking back to the truck, however, when we turned around we saw a sheet of rain the size of grapes coming at us. so we commenced running. running in hiking boots really isn't comfortable, nonetheless the 40-year old feisty raptor keeper made it to the truck and BACK to us before the rain got us (she's amazing). however, i was in the front seat of said truck.  the person in the front seat of said truck is called the gatekeeper.  as we got closer and closer to the gate christy kindly pointed out to me that i would be the one getting out of the truck to unlock, let the truck through, and lock the gate behind us. in the rain the size of grapes, i was soaked before i put the key in the lock. christy (the aforementioned 40-year old) proceeded to take pictures of me on her iphone as i was struggling with the lock and also as i got back into the truck sopping wet. it was cute. real cute. now, as we drove back to animal kingdom, the rain stopped. bright and sunny once more, florida played an evil and cruel trick on me. my coworkers believed christy's story rather than mine that i jumped in the moat to play with an alligator. all was well, however, when the most beautiful rainbow showed up--every letter of ROY G. BIV was visible and it extended across the sky like it would never end. i also ended up with a tour of the nutrition center and the wildlife tracking center, both of which were rare treats that made my day.

the next thing that made my day was bonding with my managers, then driving home in the car so generously loaned to me by the lovely katie, then going to (and bringing an investigator to) thanksgiving dinner by the ward. after that, a lesson with the investigator and the missionaries, then a lovely drive home for a beautiful end to the evening.

to end on a completely different note, i have an appreciation for missionaries that i really didn't see before now.  the mantle is a powerful thing, and having been around when they're working its hard not to see it. it is truly incredible.