I realize that I didn't blog about our Thanksgiving and it was so wonderful I need to share it.
I already told about the great Thanksgiving Branch dinner on Saturday. Then the night before Thanksgiving a sister in the branch came by our apartment to bring her son because he needed computer help from Glen to apply for college. It was 7:30p.m. by then so I asked the sister if she was ready for Thanksgiving. She said that she hadn't bought anything. So I told her that we had bought way too much stuff for our Thanksgiving dinner and we would like her to take it because it was extra. We gave her a turkey, rolls, potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Then as soon as she left we ran down to Costco to get the items we needed to feed the missionaries the next day. It happened so smoothly and quickly that I know Heavenly Father sent her to us.
Then on Thanksgiving day we had thirteen missionaries show up for dinner or dessert. That was so fun because two investigators came too! We have some boys that live in the apartment that connects to ours. They are here on football scholarships from Florida. Well, I felt for two weeks that we were supposed to invite them to Thanksgiving dinner. But everyone is much more private here in California so it wasn't easy to run into them. Two days before Thanksgiving there they were standing in the parking area! I had told Glen earlier about inviting them so he went right over to them and did it. And we even warned them ahead of time that although the missionaries were their age, they were nevertheless missionaries. But they said that was OK because they were religious, they were Baptists! It turned out great. They talked to missionaries that will be using their own football scholarships as soon as the missions are over. And they talked some religion. And two of the missionaries went by the next day and made an appointment to teach them.
We were really blessed at this Thanksgiving holiday time!
Thursday, December 12, 2013
A Day in the Life of....
Pick any day. Tuesday this week. We had to be down to Fresno (1 hour and 20 minutes) by 10:00a.m. to help with the Santa project. We have 300 missionaries in this mission and they were all going to get gift bags of treats. So Glen stuffed bags and Renee sewed buttons onto ear muff things for the sister missionaries. It was fun working with the other Senior missionaries and felt like Christmas.
Then we went and visited a Senior missionary that works in the mission office. He slipped on ice and fell and broke his hip. Yep right here in California! I thought I was going to get away from ice here. Anyway he is recovering but not going into the office this week is killing him!
Since we hadn't seen the Mitchells at church for three weeks we stopped at their house on the way home. It turns out that Martha's father had been ill and actually died on Sunday. They had just gotten back into town right before we came and so we talked a little about his death and more about life after death.We were also able to tell their Bishop and the ward, and the Bishop went by that night.
We got back in time to attend our second ward missionary committee meeting! The Branch President, missionaries, and branch leaders are attending and it is so exciting to see the potential growth from doing things the Lord's way!
However, at the meeting we learned of an investigating sister who lives in a studio apartment and her heater broke-five days ago! It gets down in the 20 degrees here at night (oh yeah, record cold wouldn't you know) and so Glen and I got a space heater and took it to her immediately!
Afterwards, we had to gas up the car since we went to Fresno Monday for the Senior Missionary Christmas dinner and Family Night (there are 15 couples in this mission) and we went Tues. and were going to go again Wed. for the Christmas zone conference with 220 of the missionaries in this area. While at the gas station Glen met a young man who he started talking to, showed him a Bible video (they are put out by the church and are absolutely fantastic and found at lds.org) and got his name and address to go by and teach more.
We got home at 11:00pm. That is a day in the life of these missionaries. And we love it.
Then we went and visited a Senior missionary that works in the mission office. He slipped on ice and fell and broke his hip. Yep right here in California! I thought I was going to get away from ice here. Anyway he is recovering but not going into the office this week is killing him!
Since we hadn't seen the Mitchells at church for three weeks we stopped at their house on the way home. It turns out that Martha's father had been ill and actually died on Sunday. They had just gotten back into town right before we came and so we talked a little about his death and more about life after death.We were also able to tell their Bishop and the ward, and the Bishop went by that night.
We got back in time to attend our second ward missionary committee meeting! The Branch President, missionaries, and branch leaders are attending and it is so exciting to see the potential growth from doing things the Lord's way!
However, at the meeting we learned of an investigating sister who lives in a studio apartment and her heater broke-five days ago! It gets down in the 20 degrees here at night (oh yeah, record cold wouldn't you know) and so Glen and I got a space heater and took it to her immediately!
Afterwards, we had to gas up the car since we went to Fresno Monday for the Senior Missionary Christmas dinner and Family Night (there are 15 couples in this mission) and we went Tues. and were going to go again Wed. for the Christmas zone conference with 220 of the missionaries in this area. While at the gas station Glen met a young man who he started talking to, showed him a Bible video (they are put out by the church and are absolutely fantastic and found at lds.org) and got his name and address to go by and teach more.
We got home at 11:00pm. That is a day in the life of these missionaries. And we love it.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Thankful for Fiestas
We had five days to prepare for a Thanksgiving dinner and program for our Branch. The President said usually 50 people will come. Turns out over 80 showed up! But I've done dinners before for the Spanish. So when it looked like there wasn't going to be enough food we brought in extra we had hidden in our car.
Pies, gravy, potatoes, salad and dressings and rolls. Ha, couldn't fool us twice.
The food was fine but the amazing part was who came! There were at least five investigators and 20 less active members. The missionaries were in high heaven! We have referrals and some of the less active members haven't been to church in a looong time. Not since we have been here for eight months anyway. It was a huge success of what activities are for. We had made up flyers inviting people to come and took them everywhere personally and sent more around again with the young Elders. It was great.
But exhausting and time consuming and it just plain hurts this old body anymore. But still....precious investigators and less actives and members. So much to be thankful for!
Pies, gravy, potatoes, salad and dressings and rolls. Ha, couldn't fool us twice.
The food was fine but the amazing part was who came! There were at least five investigators and 20 less active members. The missionaries were in high heaven! We have referrals and some of the less active members haven't been to church in a looong time. Not since we have been here for eight months anyway. It was a huge success of what activities are for. We had made up flyers inviting people to come and took them everywhere personally and sent more around again with the young Elders. It was great.
But exhausting and time consuming and it just plain hurts this old body anymore. But still....precious investigators and less actives and members. So much to be thankful for!
Saturday, November 16, 2013
A Wonderful Problem
Tonight we have a baptism for Edgar Lopez, the husband who surprised his wife the day he announced "I am going to church!" Now they will be a whole family in the church with a goal of being sealed in the temple for both time and eternity! The only problem is that the other ward that meets in our building is also having a baptism today and so we have to take turns and ours is later tonight at 7:00! We can stand having so many baptisms that they have to wait in line:) I always wonder why the missionaries' biggest problem isn't trying not to catch pnuemonia from being wet in the font all day long. The message of the restored gospel is the biggest event since Christ lived on earth! But we baptize slowly, one at a time.
Glen was truly inspired a couple of months ago when he thought that it would be great to have the Spanish speaking Patriarch come up from Fresno for a Spanish fireside. The response has been great. The fireside is tomorrow night and we already have to open the church house early because three people have already signed up to receive their blessings before the meeting! The members who already have their Patriarchial blessings can use a refresher course and others can learn how amazing it is to have a personal message from Heavenly Father to guide them throughout their lives. As I get older it is interesting to see how those things mentioned in my own blessing have come to pass and will yet come to pass. I have a strong testimony through my Patriarchial Blessing that God knows and loves me.
Glen was truly inspired a couple of months ago when he thought that it would be great to have the Spanish speaking Patriarch come up from Fresno for a Spanish fireside. The response has been great. The fireside is tomorrow night and we already have to open the church house early because three people have already signed up to receive their blessings before the meeting! The members who already have their Patriarchial blessings can use a refresher course and others can learn how amazing it is to have a personal message from Heavenly Father to guide them throughout their lives. As I get older it is interesting to see how those things mentioned in my own blessing have come to pass and will yet come to pass. I have a strong testimony through my Patriarchial Blessing that God knows and loves me.
Friday, November 8, 2013
All Roads Lead To The Temple
We had a wonderful Temple experience last week. As Relief Society President I wanted the sisters to see just how easy it can be to do Temple work for their ancestors.I actually have no idea how to do it myself. But the Lord told me two things. Have the sisters fill out family group sheets, and take them to the Family History Center here in Merced.
So we did exactly that. I made a Family History Center night at the local Family History Center. One sister found work that needed doing for her father, brother, and grandmother. The great helpers at the Center printed her off the Family Ordinance Record papers.
The following Saturday we went on our Relief Society Temple day along with Glen and another male member and did the necessary baptism, initiatories, and endowments for all of them. We will be going soon to seal the family together. It doesn't get any better than that.
So we did exactly that. I made a Family History Center night at the local Family History Center. One sister found work that needed doing for her father, brother, and grandmother. The great helpers at the Center printed her off the Family Ordinance Record papers.
The following Saturday we went on our Relief Society Temple day along with Glen and another male member and did the necessary baptism, initiatories, and endowments for all of them. We will be going soon to seal the family together. It doesn't get any better than that.
I Married a Missionary
Glen likes to serve people. He could either be Santa Clause or a missionary. He chose the latter. People have no idea how much fun it is to be a Senior Missionary with a spouse.
You learn all kinds of things about your partner. For instance, Glen knows everyone's names immediately. It takes me forever to learn a name. Children love him because he calls them by name, compliments their eyes, hair, dress etc. He not only knows all of the names of the people in our Spanish Branch, but also all the people in the ward that meets in our building. So when one man needs a job, Glen knows exactly who to call. Or when an investigator comes to either ward or branch, he knows who would be a great fellowshipper for that person.
And he never gives up! When someone tells him they are not interested in his gospel message all he hears is "yet". One lady finally invited us in after he had called and knocked about twelve times. Now we are teaching her and she says, he sure is persistent isn't he! When he is assigned something he does it better than anyone else in the world! His follow through is absolutely amazing. He spends every waking hour working on something. And he remembers what needs to be done and who needs to be called.
I honestly can't say he is a good driver. He gets too distracted by the other driver's eyes or a person on the side of the road. But he is a fantastic navigator. He sense of direction is mind boggling. If he has been somewhere once, he knows the place, period.
And he has learned to hear inspiration. Of course with his callings and experiences in life he has needed to follow inspiration a lot. But I am talking about he now hears the tiny thoughts and ideas that are given so quietly that if you don't listen really carefully you will miss them. This has been a huge help on the mission. For instance, when he gets the thought to take a departing missionary over to say good-bye to a woman that said we don't need to come by anymore, it opened a whole new set of discussions with her. Or a man wasn't progressing at all and Glen said lets explain that he can baptize his little daughter with the priesthood and it made a big difference. They are fleeting thoughts that he brings to life and so the Lord knows He can trust him to do things and so He sends more inspiration.
Glen's spirituality has grown because of the good habits he has formed on the mission. We have learned to work in tandem and know that we can count on each other to do whatever is asked of us. We often finished each others sentences but now we finish each others thoughts. We don't take a break from missionary work because to us it isn't work. It is really exciting and satisfying to be serving 24/7/18. That is 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for 18 months. I enjoy my companion more, trust him completely, and love him and serving this mission together!
You learn all kinds of things about your partner. For instance, Glen knows everyone's names immediately. It takes me forever to learn a name. Children love him because he calls them by name, compliments their eyes, hair, dress etc. He not only knows all of the names of the people in our Spanish Branch, but also all the people in the ward that meets in our building. So when one man needs a job, Glen knows exactly who to call. Or when an investigator comes to either ward or branch, he knows who would be a great fellowshipper for that person.
And he never gives up! When someone tells him they are not interested in his gospel message all he hears is "yet". One lady finally invited us in after he had called and knocked about twelve times. Now we are teaching her and she says, he sure is persistent isn't he! When he is assigned something he does it better than anyone else in the world! His follow through is absolutely amazing. He spends every waking hour working on something. And he remembers what needs to be done and who needs to be called.
I honestly can't say he is a good driver. He gets too distracted by the other driver's eyes or a person on the side of the road. But he is a fantastic navigator. He sense of direction is mind boggling. If he has been somewhere once, he knows the place, period.
And he has learned to hear inspiration. Of course with his callings and experiences in life he has needed to follow inspiration a lot. But I am talking about he now hears the tiny thoughts and ideas that are given so quietly that if you don't listen really carefully you will miss them. This has been a huge help on the mission. For instance, when he gets the thought to take a departing missionary over to say good-bye to a woman that said we don't need to come by anymore, it opened a whole new set of discussions with her. Or a man wasn't progressing at all and Glen said lets explain that he can baptize his little daughter with the priesthood and it made a big difference. They are fleeting thoughts that he brings to life and so the Lord knows He can trust him to do things and so He sends more inspiration.
Glen's spirituality has grown because of the good habits he has formed on the mission. We have learned to work in tandem and know that we can count on each other to do whatever is asked of us. We often finished each others sentences but now we finish each others thoughts. We don't take a break from missionary work because to us it isn't work. It is really exciting and satisfying to be serving 24/7/18. That is 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for 18 months. I enjoy my companion more, trust him completely, and love him and serving this mission together!
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Baptism for the Mitchells!
Yesterday dad, Ryan, and mom, Martha, and daughter, Elizabeth, and son, Michael Mitchell were all baptized! Michael is the young man that was on day 5 of a 40 day fast looking for "guidance" when the Lord directed us to them.
Today, they were confirmed. They are the newest members of the Merced 1st ward and they are so excited!
The ward has done an excellent job of fellowshipping them. The Primary teacher went over, visiting teacher, Bishopric, ward missionaries, Relief Society and all of us full time missionaries. Martha can't wait to be a visiting teacher and go over to sisters' homes to teach and help them! She just can't hardly wait. Puts the rest of us visiting teachers to shame. Two other children that are over eight are still taking lessons and then there are two other children four and six. They are counting the minutes until they they are old enough and can be baptized too.
Today, they were confirmed. They are the newest members of the Merced 1st ward and they are so excited!
The ward has done an excellent job of fellowshipping them. The Primary teacher went over, visiting teacher, Bishopric, ward missionaries, Relief Society and all of us full time missionaries. Martha can't wait to be a visiting teacher and go over to sisters' homes to teach and help them! She just can't hardly wait. Puts the rest of us visiting teachers to shame. Two other children that are over eight are still taking lessons and then there are two other children four and six. They are counting the minutes until they they are old enough and can be baptized too.
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