Journey Joy -December 2015

We are so behind this Christmas season.  By the time I get home, fix dinner and do dishes, then catch up on emails, I'm ready for bed.  Our Christmas card greetings will be pretty scarce.  Craig helps with everything but we both run out of steam.  I'll try to hit some of the highlights

• We have been volunteering at the Airman's Attic for several months now.  One of the ladies that is in charge and trained us told me today that her mother was LDS and she was raised as a Mormon until about seven or so.  At that time her mother got MS and was pretty much bed ridden.  She told us that she remembers ward members taking care of she and her sister.  Her memory is she went from house to house.  Her mother decided to give her two daughters up for adoption because she couldn't take care of them.  A nice family adopted them and she moved to Oregon. Her adoptive parents would bring the girls down to California to visit their mother every now and then.  When they did make the trip, they always stayed in member homes.  She was not raised as LDS but remembers well the people who helped her family.  We had a nice visit about the church and what we do as Military Relations missionaries.
• We also volunteer at the David Grant Medical Center.  We have been an on-call couple.  On Friday, Barbara asked us to come in.  We cancelled our trip to the temple in order to fill in.  We stayed from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  It was a long day and we served lots of coffee.  About half way through the day, a man asked us about Mormon missions.  He asked how they work, how are you called, how do you pay for it, etc.  It was a nice conversation but we didn't do any proselytizing.  After he left, the manager of the hospitality group talked to Craig in private and asked him to remove his name tag.  She said it was unfair advertising of our faith.  We did as asked, but my heart felt so sad.  We didn't do anything wrong.  The man asked us questions about the church and we answered them, of which we were told that would be OK.  I immediately felt like saying that if the name tag goes, we go.  Craig and I talked about it and decided to carry on for now.  We didn't want to do anything rash.
• We went to our first mission Christmas Devotional.  The mission president divided the mission up and belt several devotional a.  Our devotional was for four zones.  The best part of the morning was watching the elders and sisters greet each other.  They were so excited to re-connect with past companions.  I realized how close those young men and women get to each other. I too was excited to see some who were previously here but have moved on.  The other thing the mission president did was ask all the missionaries to memorize a scripture and be prepared to share it with everyone.  Even the senior couples shared one.  Yes I shared one!  I know you are surprised because I done do well at memorizing anymore.  It was a pretty special day.  When I posted a picture, Mindi responded that she remembers her mission Christmas devotionals.  It was a sweet moment as I thought about how my missionary children have experienced all the sweet things I am experiencing.  The tender mercies come to us all the time and I am grateful to be able to recognize them.
•