We have been here one week. I wish I had a wonderful missionary to share with you but that will have to come later. We visited two blocks of meetings and a PEC today and set up some appointments for this coming week. It is going to be a long process. The Oakland temple has been closed for two months and reopens the first of August. We are going to take the elders to the Oakland temple when it opens. We met a family today that is related to all the Thueson's in Rexburg. We met the stake president who is originally from St.Anthony. There are lots of people who have gone to Ricks College and more who have their kids at BYUIdaho. The RS president in one of the wards was brought to tears as she talked about takin their son to BYUIDAHO for fall semester. She shared with me what a great kid he is and how much she'll miss him. It was quite a day.
We have found a place to begin walking again and that feels great. We are still looking for a real path so it will be easier on our feet. We have loved getting that fresh air again. Yes, the air is fresh. We have blue skies, white clouds, and no rain. Everything is dying around us. As we have driven around and seen all the brown fields, my heart breaks.. People are letting their lawns dry up and everyone to trying to conserve. In the meantime, San Diego area is having floods from the rain. Mother Nature is hard to figure out sometimes.
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Thursday, July 23, 2015
A Simple Update
I keep thinking that I will get my bearings here in Cali, but it hasn't happened yet. The last couple of days have been spent trying to find everything. We have had success because we found the Sonic and Costco. Oh yeh, we also found two ward buildings because we have meetings in the morning with two zones of elders and sisters. It was totally a successful day.
Our weather here has been so great. We have been in the low to mid 80's during the day. This morning when we walked it was 64 degrees, slight breeze from the west. We are told over and over that we will fall in love with the weather here. We will fall in love with the weather but not with the freeways. There are definitely times we want to avoid any freeway driving. There are people everywhere here. I think I am going to be glad to see the quiet, congested streets of Rexburg.
The couple we replaced were CES missionaries and that was their focus so there is nothing going on from a military relations standpoint. We have left messages for the two stake presidents but no call back yet. We want to meet with them first before we meet with bishops. We are kind of off to a slow start but Craig and I both feel like we will just need to be patient. We just have to let the dominoes fall into place. Hopefully the elders we meet with tomorrow will have some contacts we can help with.
Our last meeting we had in SLC was with Frank Clawson, who is over the Military Relations department. He was our stake president in Germany. It was wonderful to see him, catch up a little, and visit. It was kind of a sweet thing. He told us he recognized us but wasn't sure from where. When Craig mentioned Germany, the light clicked on and he said, "Hahn Air Base - you were a counselor to Bishop Williams". That was a long time ago so it kind of surprised me that he would remember us. Through this mission call and the Military Relations news letter we have caught up on several old friends. Our bishop from San Antonio (Craig replaced him as bishop) is also serving this type of mission and emailed us to catch up.
Thanks to all of you for your love and support. I miss my grandkids and my kids. I am grateful for this opportunity to give back to the Lord a little bit of what he has given us. We are truly blessed and we love this time of life. Our phone number has remained the same. Our new address is 2550 Hilborn Rd. #249, Fairfield, CA 94534.
Our weather here has been so great. We have been in the low to mid 80's during the day. This morning when we walked it was 64 degrees, slight breeze from the west. We are told over and over that we will fall in love with the weather here. We will fall in love with the weather but not with the freeways. There are definitely times we want to avoid any freeway driving. There are people everywhere here. I think I am going to be glad to see the quiet, congested streets of Rexburg.
The couple we replaced were CES missionaries and that was their focus so there is nothing going on from a military relations standpoint. We have left messages for the two stake presidents but no call back yet. We want to meet with them first before we meet with bishops. We are kind of off to a slow start but Craig and I both feel like we will just need to be patient. We just have to let the dominoes fall into place. Hopefully the elders we meet with tomorrow will have some contacts we can help with.
Our last meeting we had in SLC was with Frank Clawson, who is over the Military Relations department. He was our stake president in Germany. It was wonderful to see him, catch up a little, and visit. It was kind of a sweet thing. He told us he recognized us but wasn't sure from where. When Craig mentioned Germany, the light clicked on and he said, "Hahn Air Base - you were a counselor to Bishop Williams". That was a long time ago so it kind of surprised me that he would remember us. Through this mission call and the Military Relations news letter we have caught up on several old friends. Our bishop from San Antonio (Craig replaced him as bishop) is also serving this type of mission and emailed us to catch up.
Thanks to all of you for your love and support. I miss my grandkids and my kids. I am grateful for this opportunity to give back to the Lord a little bit of what he has given us. We are truly blessed and we love this time of life. Our phone number has remained the same. Our new address is 2550 Hilborn Rd. #249, Fairfield, CA 94534.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Email synopsis
I know I haven't been very good at the updates but I'll try to do better.
We are busy here because we have homework every night. And because I'm a little slower than most, it takes me the evening to do the homework. Last week we learned from the Preach My Gospel manual and this week we get two days of CES (S&I) training, followed with military relations training for three days. Then, I think, we will be on out way. Friday's training will be at the Church Office bldg. We will leave from there to go back to Rexburg and pack the car then leave on Saturday. We will have Monday with the couple who we are taking the apartment from and move in on Tuesday. I think our first priority will be groceries and household items and then we'll see how we progress.
We have had wonderful experiences here. Sunday evening we had a fireside and then a taped devotional given by Elder Bednar at the MTC on a Christmas Sunday. It will as given several years ago but was so powerful. It showed such a fun side of Elder Bedar but also his great teaching ability. It brought back a lot of memories of the office and what a blessing it was to have been able to work with him. They have retained this devotional for only missionaries at the MTC.
Food here is OK. There isn't too much that entices me. The good thing is the young missionaries can have as much as they want. The BYU Creameries comes twice a week and sets up an ice cream bar. They do make good ice cream. The soups and the wraps haven't been too bad. I don't know how the long term missionaries make it. (By long term I mean that some are here for 9 to 12 weeks. ).
We have team taught investigators, been taught, studied, learned how to teach the CES way, which is a new and pretty good way, plus mingled with elders and sisters from all around the world.
Sunday we ran into some old Rexburgites, Kent Brooks. We have met people from St, Anthony, Blanding, Utah, Lacey Washington (this is where our friends McClellans live), Rigby Idaho, Canada, institute students of our nephew Chris, and etc. It never ceases to amaze me how our lives are intertwined. When you add the military with the Church, we are all one big happy family. We have a couple in our group that are from Colorado Springs and will serve at the Air Force Academy. Believe it or not we have a lot of names in common from when we lived at the Springs.
We have missionaries in our group going to Tonga, Finland, Ireland/Scotland, London, Rome Italy, Australia, New Zealand and all the way from Florida to Washington state. The one mission that is not in our group, of which we were all surprised, was Africa. It has sure been wonderful meeting so many new people. We have given our Scotland friends the names of the Ladle's in case they ever run into them. The Australian missionaries are going to Brady's old mission. We have searched the mission president's board to find our friends currently serving. There is a bunch!
I know some of you wont relate to parts of this email but I don't have time to tailor one for everyone. Please forgive me. If any of you are wondering about a mission, please wonder no more. Don't wait until you are too old to serve. There will always be a reason not to serve but one must know your own heart.
Our love and prayers are with all of you, family and friends and other missionaries. We are forever indebted to Brady and Mindi for watching over our home and possessions. We miss our grandkids but know that we will all be blessed through this experience.
We are busy here because we have homework every night. And because I'm a little slower than most, it takes me the evening to do the homework. Last week we learned from the Preach My Gospel manual and this week we get two days of CES (S&I) training, followed with military relations training for three days. Then, I think, we will be on out way. Friday's training will be at the Church Office bldg. We will leave from there to go back to Rexburg and pack the car then leave on Saturday. We will have Monday with the couple who we are taking the apartment from and move in on Tuesday. I think our first priority will be groceries and household items and then we'll see how we progress.
We have had wonderful experiences here. Sunday evening we had a fireside and then a taped devotional given by Elder Bednar at the MTC on a Christmas Sunday. It will as given several years ago but was so powerful. It showed such a fun side of Elder Bedar but also his great teaching ability. It brought back a lot of memories of the office and what a blessing it was to have been able to work with him. They have retained this devotional for only missionaries at the MTC.
Food here is OK. There isn't too much that entices me. The good thing is the young missionaries can have as much as they want. The BYU Creameries comes twice a week and sets up an ice cream bar. They do make good ice cream. The soups and the wraps haven't been too bad. I don't know how the long term missionaries make it. (By long term I mean that some are here for 9 to 12 weeks. ).
We have team taught investigators, been taught, studied, learned how to teach the CES way, which is a new and pretty good way, plus mingled with elders and sisters from all around the world.
Sunday we ran into some old Rexburgites, Kent Brooks. We have met people from St, Anthony, Blanding, Utah, Lacey Washington (this is where our friends McClellans live), Rigby Idaho, Canada, institute students of our nephew Chris, and etc. It never ceases to amaze me how our lives are intertwined. When you add the military with the Church, we are all one big happy family. We have a couple in our group that are from Colorado Springs and will serve at the Air Force Academy. Believe it or not we have a lot of names in common from when we lived at the Springs.
We have missionaries in our group going to Tonga, Finland, Ireland/Scotland, London, Rome Italy, Australia, New Zealand and all the way from Florida to Washington state. The one mission that is not in our group, of which we were all surprised, was Africa. It has sure been wonderful meeting so many new people. We have given our Scotland friends the names of the Ladle's in case they ever run into them. The Australian missionaries are going to Brady's old mission. We have searched the mission president's board to find our friends currently serving. There is a bunch!
I know some of you wont relate to parts of this email but I don't have time to tailor one for everyone. Please forgive me. If any of you are wondering about a mission, please wonder no more. Don't wait until you are too old to serve. There will always be a reason not to serve but one must know your own heart.
Our love and prayers are with all of you, family and friends and other missionaries. We are forever indebted to Brady and Mindi for watching over our home and possessions. We miss our grandkids but know that we will all be blessed through this experience.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Update from MTC
We are coming to the end of our first week at the MTC. I am grateful I have survived. I am grateful that Craig has been such a support. Today at lunch, we looked up from eating and there was Mark Wightman. What a surprise. He was there for some meetings on the new MTC buildings. What a wonderful tender mercy it was. Many memories of Mark coming into my office in the Religion department.
There is a senior couple that we were able to find out a common link. She is Steve Clark's sister. It really doesn't matter where or what we do, there are always someone we can link up with.
There is a senior couple that we were able to find out a common link. She is Steve Clark's sister. It really doesn't matter where or what we do, there are always someone we can link up with.
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