More of November

We typed the current member list of the Ponderosa Branch into a spreadsheet. That took a couple of hours. I am out of practice with spreadsheets! We met with the Elders at the Gonzales meeting house and shared the list with the two companionships that work in Camarillo.  We went to find our 1/3 of the list and made some progress. We were just visiting the ones that are not active. We couldn’t find many at home. One house said that the people on our list didn’t live there. We took some time to find an apartment near the Stake Center. All of the buildings had numbers and then different numbers for every apartment. We finally found the right one but no one was home. 

Went to El Camino Real Ward in Oxnard. President Thunell was on the stand. It was Fast Sunday. There were not as many people rushing to the stand to bear their testimony but the time was filled up. I’m guessing that the youth were invited to bear their testimonies last month. And they did. Relief Society was a good experience. The teacher is relaxed and the sisters are willing to contribute. They seem to know each other well and act like friends.

The Ponderosa Branch was filling up today. Sister Victoria Branch and a young woman next to her got my attention and asked me to come talk with them. They are both temple workers and the annual devotional was at 1:30 today. The workers could each invite one guest if they wished. They asked me if we would like to go. I remember being in that huge solemn assembly room several times and would love to go again. The first time I was in that room was when my Dad took me up the elevator and showed me the room when it was empty. It seemed so huge. We also got to go to the devotionals when we worked in that temple. So, I accepted their invitation. Lewis was talking with President Parra about the people we and the missionaries were visiting. 

The meeting was conducted by Presidente Parra. He is very well-spoken and comfortable in front of people. There was a new couple (very elderly) who were visiting for the first time. Hermana Parra was sitting with them. He welcomed them and everyone and after the Sacrament, he bore his testimony first. He began by telling a story. He is a good storyteller and gave us all the details of how stressful it is to wait in the security line at the LA airport and worry about making your flight. He was going to Ecuador and asked the man in front of him if he could go ahead because he was worried about getting on the plane before it departed. The man in front said, “That flight is not going anywhere.” Then Pte Parra was very worried that the flight had been delayed or canceled. There are not a lot of flights to that destination and he didn’t want to miss it. He had an important business meeting to attend. When they finally got to the conveyor belt, the man in front of him turned back and told him. “You will be just fine. That flight isn’t going anywhere until I get on the plane. I am the captain of that flight.” 

Many people bore their testimony and the time was filled. We had to get up and leave in order to get to the temple on time. 

Victoria had invited us to go with them but she forgot that she had all of her cleaning equipment in the back seat of her car. So they went with us. It was fun to talk with her. The other girl (I learned later) is a service missionary and she said she needed to sleep during the drive. Victoria did not have the card with her that she needed in order to bring a guest. So, they called Sister Blickenstaff (Her husband was formerly the Stake President) who had a card with her and she didn’t need it for someone else. She waited for us to arrive and we all got in the temple. We all had our recommends. Victoria had to go to the office to confirm she was a worker. It all worked out and we went to the solemn assembly room. The Southern California LDS Choir was singing. The music was amazing for me. There are very few voices compared with the Tabernacle Choir but the quality seemed equal to me. They had three men with flutes that added so much in addition to the organ. It was very impressive. I loved being there. But it was loud. The girl said she needed to sit somewhere else. The devotional itself was wonderful. The Temple Presidency spoke and a GA Seventy. I was happy that we were able to be there. But we didn’t know how to find the girl after the meeting was over. It turned out that Sister Blickenstaff had told me that she had something in her car for Sister (unheard by me) and would see us out front, but I thought she was speaking of her sister and didn’t think of the missionary. I didn’t hear the we will meet you part. We waited a long time at the exit in the front of the temple, where we entered. Lewis went to see if she was waiting at the car. We didn’t know that people exited from many different doors. But finally, we went back toward the visitor center and found them. Sister Blickenstaff is on a service mission herself shepherding the young missionaries that are serving that type of mission. So they were friends and I was clueless until it all came together. It was a lovely day and we enjoyed our adventures. Lewis did a lot of driving.

It was interesting that the day was so full. We got home at dinner time. Lewis had not eaten (except for water) since Friday dinner. I ate breakfast on Saturday but had fasted since then. We were very hungry but we had been fine (except for feeling hungry) all that time. I can do intermittent fasting if the day doesn’t require a lot of energy and I am busy and distracted from thinking about food. We ate the soup that was in the refrigerator and toast. It tasted wonderful and we enjoyed a couple of chocolate peanut candies as well.

We walked as we always do and then went to Food Share and spent a shift filling boxes with food. This time Lewis did boxes and I added the flyers. There was another lady helping with the boxes and things went very fast. I had a hard time separating the flyers and getting two of them into each box. It was kind of fun trying to keep up. When we have to get more supplies, it breaks it up the rhythm but we were pretty efficient. Wonderful people volunteer here. The lady we worked with has been involved for 2 years. The other side was a very nice older man who would wait when I got behind. 

We went to Winco afterward and brought home more produce and bulk items. We are so blessed to have good food available to us. We love to eat and we need to be satisfied with fewer treats. Self-control is the only problem. I also went to the lab at Kaiser Permanente and had my blood drawn for a TSH and a lipid test. We went to the Mission Office. I got a copy of all the missionaries that are in the Camarillo Zone with photos. That will be helpful. It was nice to get to chat a bit with the office people. 

I had a fun time with Emily and my sisters. I went to pick up Emily and then asked her to drive to Thousand Oaks since I didn’t know where the restaurant was. She works on that street so she knows it very well. We went to Café Rio which is one of my favorites. I never get tired of Mexican food and rice and beans are on my diet. The same menu has higher prices here. Another advantage of Idaho. Christ wasn’t feeling great so she stayed home. Kathy, Jeanine, Mindy, and Gracie came. Emily shared her cancer journey so far. She and Kathy spent a lot of time talking. As we left Kathy said that Emily is a special person. I certainly agree with her. There was a big family there also and before they left they asked if one of us would take their photo. One of the girls recognized Jeanine. They had been in the same ward. Emily jumped up to help them. We enjoyed our food and the chance to be together even more. I did just fine driving at night. I just need to keep up my skills by driving more often. Below is Emily, Kathy, Jeri, Jeanine, Mindy, Gracie. Chris wasn't feeling well.

Went walking and made yogurt. I have been reading a chapter of the Book of Mormon every day with Lewis. We are now having him read the chapter in English while I follow along with the Spanish. Then I read it in Spanish and he corrects my pronunciation. I am a lot better than I was at home but I am not speaking Spanish very well. Duolingo helps but can’t do magic. Lewis’ fake butter is pretty good. The yogurt was a failure but I do have very healthy milk (full of probiotics) for my cereal. 

Went to a new experience with Food Share. Lewis ended up carrying too many boxes. He was very tired. We went to Costco but there wasn’t a single open parking spot. We will have to go at opening time on Monday. 

Got up early and found the Royal Palms Mobil Home Park. Lots of people have volunteered. We got a complete training and snacks and drinks. The Red Cross has partnered with the Oxnard Fire Department and they are offering fire alarm checks and replacements as needed for free. There have been very sad fires where family members have been killed or hospitalized for up to a year from burn injuries. They are trying to make alarms available to all. It doubles the chances that a family will survive a fire in their home. The alarms are the new lithium battery kind that doesn’t need to be replaced for 10 years. We were given a map with about 15 addresses. We spent more than 3 hours and installed 11 fire alarms. We had a ladder, two bags of supplies, and a clipboard to fill out the paperwork. Also, the alarms and the tools. Maybe a third of them we not at home. Two different men said they had all the alarms they needed and they all worked so they declined. We did get invited in by about 6 mobile homes. They were all very grateful and one mom gave us two water bottles to thank us for coming. There were little kids and single men and older people. One didn’t have any alarms at all. Most were old and several didn’t work at all. Lewis got up on the step ladder and did the installation. I talked about how they need to make a plan for any fire emergency and explained how important it is for the whole family to have a meeting place so that it is clear that everyone is out of the house. They say you have only 2 minutes to exit in safety. We also taught about earthquakes and advised that people get low and be next to an interior wall if you cannot exit safely. I had to get signatures and fill out information about the people living at that address in case they needed additional help. They also have bed shakers available for those who are deaf and cannot hear a fire alarm. It was an interesting morning and I think we did some good today. Almost half of the people spoke Spanish and it was very good to have Lewis able to talk with them.

We got back in time for Lewis to hear BYU losing the football game. I wrote out my Sacrament Meeting talk and translated it with Google. Lewis went over the translation and changed a few things. I need to pare it down a bit.

The sisters texted to see if we were coming to the English Connect class and we said yes. Then Lewis got a call from Presidente Parra at 6:20 pm. We had been invited to go to dinner at his home at 6:00 along with President and Sister Rodriguez, Hermano y Hermana Zurcher, and the Ponderosa Branch missionaries. Elder Nelson is leaving soon and President Parra wanted to thank everyone and ensure that we all had the same goals. He said he wants to align the branch’s goal with the goals of the mission as well as with the stake goals.  There was a good discussion about what that meant and I understood most of it. All of the conversation was in Spanish. It was great to hear everyone speaking. I was able to understand much of it. What a privilege it is to be in groups who want to work together and make good things happen. I find that some people are much easier to understand than others.

 Presidente. Parra had a video the family made of his father on his mission in 1961 in Oaxaca, Mexico. He heard a voice in the middle of the night tell him to get off the train. He woke up his companion and told him that they needed to immediately get dressed and get off the train. They got off at the next stop which was in the middle of nowhere. The spirit told him to walk in a certain direction and they went 17 miles to a little town. The two missionaries stayed on a small hill and sang hymns as loudly as they could. Eventually, some of the townspeople went up to talk with them. Over time they taught all of the people and most wanted to be baptized. They ordained an Elder and taught him how to be a leader. That area became a very strong branch and they were true pioneers in Mexico. 

It turns out that Sister Parra, Brother Parra, President Rodriguez, and Hermano Zurcher are all closely connected. Their parents were long-time friends with each other. They have heard many stories about the parents of each other. It is a small world in the Church. The food was delicious. I just had a very small sampling since we had already eaten dinner. The people are wonderful and I’m so glad we did not miss out on this lovely experience. Thank you for calling us, Presidente Parra. We never got it on the calendar and forgot all about the invitation. They sent all of us on our way with a loaf of homemade banana bread. 

Went to El Camino Real. Sister Soto (as a councilor in the RS) was the speaker along with a high councilor. They both gave very good talks. They had Sister Woolley translate from Spanish to English with headphones for those who preferred to listen in English. The stake high councilor and a couple of others took advantage of the headphones. Pepe was the teacher for the investigators Sunday School class. There were about 4 or 5 investigators. Go missionaries.

In Ponderosa Branch it was looking pretty scant but more people came in late. There was one woman there for the first time. She had a granddaughter who was very cute and very curious. Sister Victoria Branch is amazingly friendly and outgoing. She acted like they were old friends. Maybe they are. The Stake RS president spoke at our meeting. Sister Branch translated for her. She ended by reading her testimony in Spanish. Good for her. She was nervous but did a good job. There was another high councilor as well. Our Sunday School class began with everyone giving a short introduction of themselves. I muffed it. Very frustrating that sometimes I cannot come up with words I know. Oh well. We were challenged to find scriptures to answer the question about the relative importance of faith vs works. It was a good discussion. 

The Parrys invited us to come to their home at 6:00 for a Parry Pie Party. It is a family tradition for them for many years. Those that work in the office knew of this plan earlier and brought pies. We asked but didn’t have time to make one after church and before the party. The Russells, the Nixons, the Moons and the Parrys were all there as well as one missionary who is staying there for just a couple of days. We had a fun time. They are a lively group. Brother Parry is a former race car driver and worked with a club that held races at the Bonneville Salt Flats in CA. They also went to He said that the fastest he has ever driven was 150 mph and it wasn’t in a car he owned. He says that there is a design (shaped like a cigar with the wheels tucked underneath) that can reach 500 mpg. Sister Russell is an amazing woman with a lot of interesting stories. We remembered favorite songs over the decades. I am obviously out of the know but had fun learning lots of fun stories everyone was telling. Hope we didn’t scare the new missionary. The pies were delicious and we ate sparingly but enjoyed every bite. And there was candy for dessert. They want us to stay in the office on Tuesday from 9-3:00, the Russells will be out of town and the rest of them will be in Thousand Oaks for interviews and lunch and all the interviews for the missionaries. 

Today is our 33^rd Wedding Anniversary! The Santa Anas are back and there are leaves and branches flying all around us. We went to Winco and Costco to get the things we needed to make our contributions to Thanksgiving on Thursday. Lewis had his phone updated and couldn’t get into it this morning. He spent a lot of time on the phone with Apple. He ended up downloading everything on my phone and then modifying it. I had to fix several things but I think my phone will continue to work for me and hopefully all my connections will remain in place. So far, so good. We decided that we didn’t want to walk the Spanish Missions in this wind. We stayed home and listened to our mystery book. We ordered a veggie pizza and bought it home to enjoy as a celebration. Yummy. After 33 years we are very happy and look forward to being married to each other for forever. How blessed we are.

Went to the mission office at 8:45 and found the Russells working. They are flying to Oregon at 1:00 to welcome home a grandson. They haven’t seen him in several years and are closer to him here than from their home in Kentucky. She taught us how to process the mail and showed me where keys were that might be needed. The Parrys came in at about 10:00. Lewis agreed to sit at the reception desk so I could work on my computer. That put him in charge of the music which he likes. He left at lunchtime to get us Subway sandwiches. The Nixons got back at 2:30 or so. She made most of the lunch for the missionaries so she was tired. She asked if we had time to come tomorrow. We can so we will come again. She has company coming for Thanksgiving and needs some time to prepare. She has a cup of pumpkin pie and another one of a fruit cobbler. Lewis and I enjoyed the treats. I was able to do my computer stuff and add more photos to some blog posts. And I finished up my talk for Sunday. We went to the English Connect class with the Elders but no one showed up. 

We went to the Mission Office on Wednesday and got there nice and early. Brother Nixon came in at about 10:00 and needed to take care of having the oil changed in the big transit van. President Rodriguez came to participate in a long Zoom meeting. Lewis answered the phone and sorted packages and letters. We will go with the Hermanas and visit with Yayo this evening. 

Thanksgiving is a time for gathering and gratitude.

In his 2020 message about the power of gratitude, President Russell M. Nelson said: “Over my nine and a half decades of life, I have concluded that counting our blessings is far better than recounting our problems. No matter our situation, showing gratitude for our privileges is a fast-acting and long-lasting spiritual prescription. Does gratitude spare us from sorrow, sadness, grief and pain? No, but it does soothe our feelings. It provides us with a greater perspective on the very purpose and joy of life.”

We made the Stuffing/Dressing and the fancy green beans. We also brought pumpkin and apple pies and whipped cream. Emily is looking great. She is planning on the surgery next Wednesday. She will talk with the radiologist on Tuesday. She is feeling pretty settled that this surgery can conquer the margin problem and make it OK to not do the radiation. Because she had so many lymph nodes removed, she has to be careful of Lymphedema and must protect her left arm. No IVs in that arm, etc. If you get it – it doesn’t go away. The radiation makes Lymphedema more likely to surface in the future. 

Omar, Iris, the two daughters and the two grandsons came to join us. It is fun how Evan and Ella interact with Emily and Ired. Emily's twins are four years old today. They were born on Thanksgiving. So perhaps every 4 years it will be on Thanksgiving Day again. They have fun together. The food was delicious. Emily made my Mom’s orange rolls that were as light as a feather. She also makes a salad with lots of ingredients including bacon bits that everyone loves. The turkey looked pretty enough for a picture.  I didn’t eat any because everything else was so good. Iris said she liked the stuffing and usually she doesn’t enjoy it. She brought mashed potatoes with bacon bits and yellow and some other things added in. Very good. She also made a green spaghetti dish that we loved. It is made with serrano peppers and sour cream plus more things. Spicy and tasty. Most people took some green beans. I thought the sliced almonds were a nice addition as well as the miso and lemon juice We all got plenty of wonderful food and enjoyed it all. We had to wait a bit for dessert because our tummies were full. Emily made a cheesecake for Emmett as well as the rest of us and we had three different pies. I tried a pecan pie for the first time and it was delicious. We all played games and a Minion movie was happening in the living room. Omar, Emily, Lewis, and I played Rummy Cubes and had fun. Then we played dominoes. Iris and the kids played some other games. It was a day that reminded us to be grateful for all of our blessings. I took some copies of Favorites to fill out and a list of fun questions to consider and to remind us of family stories. They took some home to work on their family history by filling them out. It was a lovely day. 

We went to the library so I could read some children's books in Spanish. Lewis bought two discarded books for me for 30 cents. One is about the sun and another about elephants. I am reading the Book of Mormon at least one chapter every day. Susan found a paper that was an idea for a Beach House skit in the family talent show. It was something Lydia and Kate were working on. We had a lot of missionaries at that time and they were advertising a pill that would prevent family members from leaving home and make other family members sad. When they return they are happy that they had the experience but it is true that the family misses them when they are far away. 

We gave our talks in the El Camino Real Ward on November 26th. Lewis gave a great talk with a personal example of the rewards of living the law of tithing. I got through my talk just fine. But I am not comfortable yet. We learn that Peggy Snyder has cancer again. Lewis was so annoyed by his keyboard that we bought one that was familiar. Life improved. I put some more things up on Collectionaire. President Parra and his wife took both the missionary companionship and us to dinner at Boulevard Burgers. It was fun and we had time to talk about goals and expectations. He wanted to know what President Rodriguez's goals were and how could the branch help us to be successful. It was great to see that President Parra wants to follow the Stake President and the Mission President and work with them to do the will of the Lord. We all need to follow true leaders. 

Emily had her last surgery. At least that is what we all are praying for. Edgar was with her. We had a Mission Tour Conference in the Ventura Stake Center. There were two members of the Quorum of 70 who spoke to us. They were dynamic and engaging. Their wives spoke as well. President and Sister Rodgriguez spoke as well. We enjoyed lunch with the missionaries in this southern end of the mission. They have two more days and will speak to all of the mission. I took a lot of notes and the quality of the time we spent with them was excellent. And I noticed that the Ventural chapel has a beautiful chandelier. I don't remember ever seeing one in any of our meetinghouses before. 

Went to Emily’s house. She was up and eating. She is uncomfortable but doing pretty well. She needs to keep her elbows down. So she will just have little T-Rex arms for a month. We did laundry and I swept the floors. I made their favorite soup, Chup. Busy household when the kids get home. They are selling more and delivering the already-purchased poinsettias tonight. Evan is delivering. Ella is going to accompany him. Emmett and Edgar are selling in front of a store. We brought home one for our apartment. It is lovely and bigger than I thought it would be. Merry Christmas is coming.

November

Leiann posted on Instagram - "Today ends our Grand Adventure of an epic 82 days, 13,001 miles, 31 states, 12 National Parks, 16 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint Temples and numerous State Capital Buildings. We now know for ourselves the diversity & beauty of this amazing country. However, it is the people who have made these memories so special. We look back with gratitude in our hearts for all the memories made!" I am impressed. They did their due diligence in planning and spent months seeing more of the USA. They had a great time and I am happy they could fulfill their dream for their first extended road trip. 

This was on the Church News - At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019 and early 2020, the Church counted some 69,000 young teaching and service missionaries and senior missionaries. The pandemic resulted in international closures and restrictions and the resulting return of many missionaries — some released from service and others reassigned, mostly to home countries. The number grew to 56,000 at the end of 2021, to 65,000 at the end of 2022, and to more than 72,000 today, which includes nearly 5,300 senior missionaries. Combined, today’s missionaries serve in more than 150 countries and teach in more than 60 languages.

Another visit with Yayo. We went to the temple to do an endowment session. Maps sent us down Highway 1 and loved seeing the ocean and so many things I hadn't seen in many years. As we got back in the car, Leiann called. They would like to come and visit for several days. Yay! They were in St. George and arrived at our house at bedtime. What a treat and we have the time to spend time with them.

We all four went for a walk. We didn’t even get to the Asian man's front yard garden when I hit an upraised part of the sidewalk and fell forward. I hit my knee, and my shoulders, and the finale was hitting the cement with my head just outside of my left eye. It was a surprise. I scared Lewis and Cary and Leiann but I was OK. I wanted to just remain in place for a few moments and then I was able to get up and walk back home and get up the stairs. No pain. A little blood on my left elbow. I got a bandage on my elbow and on my face and I was fine. 

We ate cooked cereal for breakfast and headed out for the mission office. Leiann and Cary wanted to chat a bit with the people they knew. It was transfer day. We learned that there will be two sets of Spanish-speaking Elders living in Camarillo so the new branch will get a lot of attention. One spent time in Camarillo a year ago so he knows many of the players. Both companionships have an experienced Elder and a new Elder. We will see how it plays out. There won’t be any Hermanas living in Camarillo. I’m a little sad about that.

We went to the Ventura Pier for a walk and a Beach House Taco lunch stop. That was fun. The weather is perfect. It is November and the sun is shining, the skies are clear and there is a vast ocean and very few people because it is not summer. So Cal has its advantages. 

We had my orange tofu with a stir fry and it was received well by Cary and Leiann. We played Rumi cubes and I decided that I like the game now that I understand how to play it.

Today is Ventur County Farm Day. Leiann is signed up and suggested that we visit a few of the places she had seen last year. The weather is still wonderful. We ate breakfast and headed out. We first went to a place where they raise alpacas. They are so very cute. There were two baby ones born just last week.

Leiann said that her horse riding lessons when she was young were at one of the nearby properties. We saw one that might have been it. I cannot remember enough to identify it. There weren’t any signs or any horses in sight but a big ring. No English riding jumps but they could have been there many years ago. 

Next, we went to OttoSons Nursery in Fillmore. It is an amazingly beautiful place. They seem to specialize in roses. Leiann went last year and they invited her back anytime to walk in their rose garden. It has been upgraded some more and has a gazebo with a little river and pond. There are Koi near the gazebo with a profusion of roses and many other beautiful plants. We talked with a girl working there and she said that they do not have a permit to host weddings but they welcome people to come for bridal photos or even a bride luncheon or something like that. Maybe Ella would be happy about that. It is a large and looks like a very successful enterprise. So much beauty and how nice of them to share it with people who would like to walk through. 

This is a red rose. Cary asked the girl trimming the flowers if he would have one to give to his wife on their wedding anniversary. She smiled and cut him a beautiful rose with a very long stem.

Then we went to the Camulos Museum and met a lady that was so very fun. She loves the place and is enthusiastic and engaging. She is a descendant of the second family that purchased much of the 4 thousand acres given as a land grant from Spain. It was the Del Valle family. She showed us a picture of her ancestor. She was full of fun stories and we had a great time. I now feel a bit of kinship with a place I never heard of before. She grew up in Northridge, Cary in Reseda, and Leiann and I in Van Nuys. She lives in Newbury Park and drives to Camulos a lot to volunteer. She said that the manager of the whole property is a man who is a member of our church. She said, "He is a very good guy and very busy because he is in charge of a lot of people." This is a photo of a quilt made by a supporter that features many of the citrus logos from many years ago when fruit was a major crop. It still is. 

The brochure said: Rancho Camulos Museum is a 40-acre NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK situated within an 1800 acre working ranch. It is the best remaining example of a Spanish-Mexican rancho in its original rural environment and is noted for its literary significance as the setting for Helen Hunt Jackson’s novel Ramona. Rancho Camulos is dedicated to researching, collecting, preserving, and interpreting the diverse cultural heritage and agricultural history of Southern California from 1853 to 1943. Through the restoration of its buildings and grounds, Rancho Camulos seeks to connect the past with the present by offering programs that will educate and enrich all audiences.

They shared these fruits and nuts from trees on the property

We had to stop at the Fillmore hatchery and see the fish. The fish food is free now but the buckets were empty. Too many birds in there perhaps. 

We went to a fun bakery in Filmore but they were out of sandwiches. We went to one Mexican restaurant and it was too full. We went to a second and it was practically empty. It was expensive. But we really did enjoy our BRC - bean, rice, and cheese burrito. There was a whole lot of cheese and it wasn’t melted. They asked if we wanted salsa and chips and we said yes. Cary and Leiann had offered to pay for lunch. I’m sure they got stiffed a bit but it was delicious and we enjoyed our time together. 

Camarillo Stake Conference Adult Meeting – I was impressed with the meeting. Wonderful people speaking wise words with love.

The Spanish-speaking member of the Stake presidency (Adam Basua) gave a super talk about our relationships at home. He showed an interview between Elder Bednar and Elder Hollans’s daughter, Mary and son, Matthew. He asked them questions about what it was like to be in their parent’s home during their growing-up years. So simple but tender and amazing. I couldn’t find it on YouTube. Maybe will be available later. He said he had a very hard time watching many old video tapes he took of his children when they were young. He was critical and harsh when they didn’t conform to his directions in the films. He said that he learned he needed to repent, apologize, and do better. It was uncomfortable but things were better. We need to evaluate our parenting, all of our relationships, and become better. He also referred to Elder Holland's tribute to his wife when she died recently. I did find a related video: 

https://youtu.be/YWnMAJSxsvc?si=nI59q4G-w3cUsILI - "Ye shall have joy with me"

Our Mission Leaders each spoke. Sister Rodriguez talked about honoring the truth of our fathers. She has a connection with Pte. Parra and Brother Zurcher’s father was a dear friend of Sister Rodriguez’s father. Such lovely connections. President Rodreguez said We all want to go to Heaven but none of us want to die. We need to make a heaven here in our homes and wards. In Christ, there is peace and joy. He blesses us and changes us. Heaven is our destination but it is also our ongoing transformation. Share Jesus Christ with your friends.  

On Sunday - Camarillo Stake Conference – Evan Arellano was the first speaker. He talked about the little things we need to do daily to get where we want to go. Search, Ponder, Pray. He compared it with soccer. It is a big interest for him and he wants to improve his ability to play soccer better. He and his friends get together often and practice the skills needed to handle the ball well. They spend a lot of time with the ball. Evan said that if we constantly work on the small decisions, we will be ready for the big decisions that face us in life. I don’t remember ever hearing this phrase before – Evan said, “Jesus Christ deserves our love.” I am going to remember that. Evan closed by saying that Jesus Christ loves us and will help us to make good decisions.

A YW said her family goes to the temple to do baptisms weekly. She found that she was looking at it as just another obligation. But a worker said, “Thank you for putting the world aside for a few hours.” It helped her to focus more on what she could contribute and less on the time it took to make the trip. She was very close to the family dog and very sad when he died. She said that every family member thought that the dog was their favorite family member. She had difficulty letting go of the sadness but felt comforted and encouraged when she prayed about her feelings in the temple. She said that she has a testimony that the temple can change us.

A YM reminded us of President Nelson’s “Think Celestial”.  He suggested that those who don’t love going should be going more often rather than less often. He reminded us that we receive power in the temple because of the covenants we make or remember. He said, “The temple helps me feel like my real self.”

Another YW appreciated that the temple is where we understand the important gift of family. The sealing ordinances make that very clear. Family relationships are important. and so is our relationship with our Savior. She said that sometimes she asks questions and sometimes she argues when she prays. This mortal experience is hard. Living as Jesus Christ wants us to is a challenge on purpose and strengthens us. She appreciates the power of the temple.

Brother and Sister Mann of the temple presidency spoke and complimented the Camarillo Stake for their attendance.

President Bramwell spoke. I loved his analogy. He said he learned that we should not speed up but rather slow down when we come to a yellow light. He reminded us that Jesus Christ is always the answer. We must follow Him. He pointed out that prophets in the scriptures are often taken to a faraway place and given a totally new perspective. We need to allow that to happen in our lives as well. How would we respond if we had personally experienced their vision? We can improve and bless others.

President Thunell quoted Evan and said he agreed that we need to spend time with the things that will help us improve ourselves. At the time of Helaman’s army, Amalickiah ruled the social media of his day. But the “sons of Helaman” who were his army were confident and without fear. They said, “If we do not doubt, the Lord will help us.” They actually cared more about the safety of their families than they did about their own lives. “Our mothers knew.” We are on the earth now but it isn’t our home. Learn consecration. Make regular things holy. Put aside things that are not important. Are we getting ready to return? 

He asked the patriarch to speak. He said he had to learn how to have the Spirit always with him. His #1 suggestion was to get rid of all contention. He said it is possible. He learned to put away anything negative. He said he is sad that he waited until he received this calling to actually do these things. He testified that HF loves each one of us and wants us to return and live with him forever. Read again how the people lived in the promised land after Jesus Christ came to visit them.

It was an excellent stake conference. We are in a good place. We went to Emily’s house for dinner. She had a very large zucchini lasagna a ward member made that we all enjoyed. We and Snyders brought salad, bread, and pumpkin pies. We love to hang out at their house. After dinner, we played Scum with everyone except Emmett. I went from scum to King in one round. Overall, my game was not impressive. But I did enjoy the royal moment. 

Today is our fun day with Emily to visit the Snyder’s favorite spots in the Ventura Mission. Emily was able to drive to our apartment and we all squeezed into our little car. It worked just fine with the three women in the back seat. We headed north and got to SLO (San Luis Obispo)for lunch. It is Cary’s favorite sandwich place and I think they have more fans now. We all enjoyed our sandwiches. The bread is substantial but soft. One of their regulars is the Bobbie. I have no idea why they named it that. It is Thanksgiving day food in a sandwich and it was very, very good. Emily had a bar-b-que chicken sandwich that had some coleslaw in it as well as other things and she was very happy too. She said they had crunchy cheesy onion pieces that put it over the top. 

Then we had to go to SloDoCo because it is right there. They have a very extensive selection. Different kinds of donuts and all the flavors and all the toppings. Lots of embellishments if you want that. What kid wouldn’t? They did have one labeled Green Bean Casserole. We didn’t buy it and are very confused about how good it might be. They also have a large selection of gluten-free donuts. Emily got two for Emmett. He has to pass up treats fairly often so he will be happy tonight. 

Next, we went to Montana de Oro State Park. We went quite a distance to get to the cove but it was wonderful. The sand is very large and there are several colors. Leiann wanted to collect small rocks and shells. I helped. It was fun to choose tiny and small rocks in lots of shapes and colors. At the shoreline, there was a fun swishing sound as the rocks moved and tumbled in the water as the waves retreated. In Tenerife the rocks were larger and the sound louder and more of a clicking noise. Island rocks were probably all lava and heavier as well. Both are fun to listen to in addition to the constant sound of the waves splashing onto the beach. I would not mind having the opportunity to visit this cove with very few other people present often. There is a big cave to explore at low tide. Leiann lost her phone. It had fallen out of her pocket. But thankfully she was able to find it quickly.

Then we went back down to Avila Beach and drove out onto the pier. You have to pay 75 cents to park. We went down below the pier and could walk around underneath it. There is one place that has what looks like a stable platform and is tied to the pier so it can’t float off but when you walk on it, you feel like you are walking on stiff water. There were people fishing off the dock. There is a wooden structure filled with seal lions basking in the sun. We even found an otter. Lots of birds. There was a boat offloading big 300-pound bundles of eels. Lewis talked to the guy and he said they will be sent to South Korea. We didn’t eat there but enjoyed seeing all the things. It was beautiful in the bay, the beautiful homes and hotels.

We went to Pismo Beach. We parked in the lot of the SeaCrest Hotel. Snyders have stayed there a couple of times. Expensive but so lovely. We walked behind the rooms and over the sea. Many of their rooms have incredible views plus a swimming pool and jacuzzies. They  can go down a long stairway to the beach below. Cary says there are caves and they have to check them as the tide changes so people won’t get stuck and unable to return. We went to the main beach park with the big letters spelling out Pismo Beach. We stopped at a little park with a beautiful view and tons of birds and an otter in the water. Amazingly beautiful when the weather is lovely. We are enjoying our time here. Especially when we have family members to share it with.

We went to Rusty’s in Santa Barbara for dinner. It is a pizza place with a good salad bar. We loved it all. We met a couple on vacation who asked Leainn and me about our missions. She said she hoped they could also enjoy a future mission in a beautiful location.

We spent the whole day just having a wonderful time. Thank you Snyders for finding a good time everywhere and enjoying our beautiful earth. It was bedtime when we arrived home. Emily had to drive a little bit more. It was a very memorable day. 

Poor Edgar has a new problem with his tenants in Ohio. Today a couple left for work, worked all day, and then found that they had left the water running and the two floors in their apartment were flooded. That is not a good thing to do. Be sure to also turn off a faucet spigot as often as you turn one on. We empathize with landlords. So many things can go wrong. 

We went to the Sotos for their Family Home Evening. Only two men were able to come but we had a good time together. Edwardo Ruiz came. He is a young adult and has been a member for 3 months. He has been to the temple to do baptisms and has received the priesthood. He has a strong desire to go on a mission which is a great thing. Hermano Francisco Ayala is the ward Temple and Family History leader and is doing a great job. He is following up with all the new converts and encouraging all of the members to do more family history and to attend the temple as often as possible. It takes so much more time to get to the temple as well as more time to do an endowment session when compared with our little Boise Temple. We need to appreciate Boise more. They had invited Francisco P. whom we visited last week with the Hermanas. Brother Soto suggested that Lewis text the Exec. Secretary to the Bishop to remind him that he needs his priesthood interview to be done. Sister Soto chose to talk about President Nelson’s admonishment to Think Celestial. She gave each of us a quote from his talk and we discussed what that would look like in our own lives. We had a good discussion and it was good to get to know more about these people. The Sotos are doing a good work with these Family Home Evenings in their home with treats afterward. Lewis’ carrot-cake cupcakes were a big hit and each of the males had two. 

Leiann and Cary are still with us. Cary scrubbed the two kitchen rugs. They look much better. So kind of him. 

We picked up Emily at 9:00 am and went to the temple. All five of us enjoyed the opportunity to do an endowment session in the LA Temple. 

After that, we went to the J. Paul Getty Villa in Pacific Palisade. It took Leiann making the reservations to get us there and I am so glad. Emily had come with a middle school group a few years ago and all the statues without clothes were a bit of an awkward situation. The kids spent most of the time on their phones. We were a bit more mature and were amazed at the incredibly old and beautiful statues and carvings. The building is a copy of a famous home in Italy and filled with things made centuries ago. Everything is real and precious. We walked on floors and looked at the walls that were certainly worthy of a museum. The spaces are filled with works of art. Some are pristine and many are damaged. I think we enjoyed the gardens even more. Leiann wants to recreate one section of the gardens for a new wedding venue. It is so lovely to wander and be unable to see any other houses or buildings. We felt we were in another time and place. It is free to visit but you have to pay for parking. Go and enjoy the experience if you have a chance. 

We were very hungry after spending all day with beauty and traffic. We went to Wood Ranch in Camarillo and enjoyed a very delicious dinner with some of our favorite people. I had a Barbeque Salad with tri-tip. Haven’t had steak for a very long time. Everyone was happy with their dinner and we agreed that we enjoyed a very special day with good memories.

More of October

 

We went to the English Connect class at the Gary Drive building. Sisters Woolley and Andrews were teaching. We had four young men in the class. We discovered that all four of them speak Mixtec or another dialect. They were from Oaxaca which is Mixtec or Guerrero which is nearby but with a different dialect. I got to spend time with Alisa  She is a great-grandma with a desire to learn English. Good for all of them. It takes work to learn, How much courage would it take to move to another country where no one knows your language? They have to first learn enough Spanish to get work and then learn English to improve their opportunities. These sisters are so friendly and capable. It is wonderful how well they are able to connect with people and teach. Sister Andrews on the left reminds me of Lydia. She is as friendly and comfortable with people as Lydia is. Sister Woolley is the one with the gift of tongues. She speaks not only Spanish but Mixtec. 

We went to the El Camino Real Ward and introduced ourselves to several families. We talked with Yayo. Two sets of missionaries spoke and did a good job. Sister Andrews sang a Primary song as part of her talk with Sister Woolley at the piano. It was simple but lovely and summarized her talk well. After the meeting, a counselor in the Stake Presidency spoke. He is a native speaker. He announced that a new branch will be formed in Camarillo. All of the people residing in Oxnard will be part of this ward and all who live in Camarillo or Somis will belong to the new branch to be formed today. I heard that it will not displace more than one or two who are attending now.

We drove to Camarillo and found a full Relief Society room. Most of them I hadn’t seen before and some of the regulars were missing. President and Sister Rodriguez were there. The Stake Presidency was there. One is a native speaker. He took the lead and asked for a show of hands to show support for a new branch and new leaders. The outgoing leader and his wife spoke briefly and all of the incoming and the wife of the President. President Rodriquez was asked to speak as well. He talked about the opportunity for this new beginning. We now have a small branch that can grow into a strong tree. It was a great meeting with lots of good men devoted to the right things and willing to take the time and effort necessary to invite others to join us and work together to build Zion.

The new President of the Branch is Pte, Parra. He and his wife are impressive individuals. Brother Law is 1^st counselor. He is a gringo but went on a Spanish-speaking mission. (His wife doesn’t speak Spanish. Emily said that she teaches in Primary and that can continue with the current schedule.) Francisco Rivera is the second counselor. He is Jose’s (Talitha's husband) uncle and bilingual. And we found out that he is an amazing artist. His wife taught the class after the setting apart was finished for the three men of the Presidency of the Ponderosa Branch. He stood behind her as she taught and filled the huge whiteboard with a large number of people of different abilities and cultures. He started with a very elegant and beautiful couple and filled in the width of the board with lots of individuals. The lesson was about the worth of each and every one of the children of God. I loved watching him as he seemingly effortlessly filled the board with individuals. It was a good way to have the audience focused on the teacher and her subject. At the end, he added Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ above and behind; looking lovingly down on all of their family members. Francisco Rivera is below.

7:00 Sacrament Meeting at the Gary building – We haven’t attended one of these and thought we should go and see how it works. I was surprised to see 30 people or more. There were the wives of the leaders and 4 sets of missionaries. But there were members and investigators. So happy to see people who don’t have Sunday day off from work and are willing to come after they leave work. They did have three short talks and we sang the hymns and of course the Sacrament. It was wonderful that there are people willing to come and people willing to provide the opportunity for them to participate in taking the Sacrament and learning more about the Gospel.

We went to the Soto’s home again for another FHE. They are great. They invited Jorge and Stella Verano. We learned a lot about each other. So interesting. She is from Uruguay and he is from Colombia. They met in Hollywood and lived and worked in North Hollywood. He printed newspapers for La Opinion and went from the old style to the new digital methods in printing. He is a smart guy and spent a lot of years with them. It is the largest Spanish-language newspaper in the USA and the second most read in LA. (after the LA Times). Hermana Verano has been a stake RS President. They are both really interesting people. They know the stake center that I grew up in and where my father was Stake President. It is now a Spanish Stake and has been for many years. Lewis was in charge of the lesson. He chose to play the video of Elder Bednar explaining that we should not doubt inspiration from the Holy Ghost. He tells the story of the 20 Marks he gave to Elder Packer when he and his wife were traveling through East Germany. Sister Verano brought a lemon bunt cake. It was delicious. They served it topped with strawberries and had whipped cream available. They do Family Home Evening very well. 

I needed help getting this blog going. David and Jenny stopped by after work and she fixed a few things and gave me confidence that I just need to make it happen. Thank you Jenny!

Emily met us at Presto Pasta in Ventura. It is very close to her work and we really enjoyed our lunch. Emily and Lewis got Carbonara and I had Puttanesca. I really enjoyed mine. I added vegetables. They loved theirs as well. Emily is calm about her surgery tomorrow. Not looking forward to the surgery and recovery but is grateful that it can rid her of the cancer. To my surprise, Mary Morgan called me. I just talked with her for a few minutes and will call her back. I am so glad that she called me. She had so many adverse things happen that she has only been doing the necessary this year. She said it was her turn to call me and she didn’t want to let it go forever. I’m glad she wants to continue talking with me.

English Connect – We went to join the class and found the Elders instead of the Hermanas with only one student. Sisters Woolley and Andrews peeked in and asked me to come with them. They were teaching Edwardo in another room and needed a chaperone. Turned out that he had been asked to prepare a talk for Sacrament Meeting and they were trying to help him understand how to put together a talk. He was given 15 minutes. Lewis and I only got 8 minutes each for which I am grateful. So together they decided that it would be good to begin by telling everyone some things about his life and family so people would get to know him better. Then he was going to tell a personal story about his conversion. He decided to choose a doctrine he treasures and would describe his understanding. Then he would issue an invitation to the congregation and promise them blessings if they accepted his invitation and acted on it. He has a strong desire to be a missionary himself and so they taught him their pattern of invitations. I’m sure it will be a great talk. I need to work on mine. Lewis has written his talk, of course. He doesn’t understand how to procrastinate. I am a master. 

Emily told us not to go to the hospital. Edgar would be there. He let us know when the surgery began. He also knew when the first surgeon was finished and all was well. The second surgeon would do the rest of what needed to be done today. He had a long morning.

After our walk and breakfast, we went to the Family History Library in Ventura. It has a Family Search sign. It is large and spacious and the two women there were wonderful. We went because Lewis had seen on Just Serve that they needed volunteers to work on a scanning project. Turns out that the woman who has been in charge for years has just been released. She said there was a big box of FH papers that had been sitting tucked away for years. Salt Lake will no longer accept materials from individuals. This box was brought by a member long ago. She found it in an old house and she had no knowledge of the people mentioned in the papers. We took a letter out and found it had been written in 1941 and mentioned several people. Lewis was being his crusty old self and was not enthused about the worth of the box which would not be a short project. The woman was great with Lewis and challenged him to see if he could find anyone by that name in Family Search. She sat down with us. There was no one else who needed help. We spent two hours and found the man we started with along with two wives and three marriages. She helped us find a way to begin a new tree that does not contain any additional people. Lewis entered the data we found on census records, marriage records, divorce records, and Eric’s death which was by suicide. This must be an interesting story. He married one woman twice and the divorce papers said it was because of “cruel and inhumane treatment.” We got it started, learned a lot about finding records and maybe we will have time to go back and find some more clues. The woman (I should have asked her name but I probably wouldn’t have remembered it.) said that now that she is not the person in charge, she will have time to work on this family. We don’t know who they belong to yet but there will be names and temple ordinances that can be done for some of these individuals beginning now.

Edgar said that both surgeries went well and he needed to wait until Emily woke up before he could visit her. When he could go to her room he was happy to find her in good spirits and feeling no pain and no nausea. He let us know and we went to the hospital to see her. I had been communicating with the sisters all day and relayed Edgar’s texts. It was so wonderful to see Emily sitting up in bed and saying that she felt just fine. I’m sure that she was still under the meds for the surgery but at least she is in good shape right now. She is happy and surprised that she just has one incision and thrilled that she doesn’t have to endure the nausea she experienced the last two times. They said she would stay overnight. I sent a photo to the sisters and then Emily sent them a more flattering one. She looks great!

We went back home because David and Jenny were coming over after work and we weren’t sure when that would be. They got to our house after 3:30. I didn’t want them to not find us at home. I had asked Jenny if she could help me remove old blog addresses of family members that I put up in 2008. She had no difficulty at all. She showed me how to get into the dashboard that I hadn’t found. Now I have no excuse to delay getting it up and running again. I have completed one post and am working on more. They are very wordy but I am going to share our experiences even if no one reads them. David tried to get Lewis’s computer to have the ability to print via Bluetooth. It wasn’t working. Jenny suggested ethernet and that should do it. We need a connecting cord. They have extra ones at home and we will get one when we are in Camarillo. They are so wonderful and kind and skilled. We would be endlessly frustrated without them. Turned out that we went to Polo Loco for dinner. David cut in and put his credit card in the machine before Lewis could. They are not only kind but very generous. We enjoy spending time with them. 

We had a visit with Yayo and the Hermanas Woolley and Andrews. I could hear and understand him outside because it was quiet. He always comes out to welcome his guests and we arrived before the sisters. But inside he has several fans blowing and I can’t hear him. Lewis is completely out of the loop. He has parakeets that make noise as well. But we enjoy the visits. He is a remarkable man who has undergone incredible medical feats. He was run over by a car and his brain was badly damaged. Years later he had a heart transplant. But he is living independently and having a real life. Amazing. 

More texts and Marco Polos. Even the Pettingill kids are concerned and still sending love and prayers. 

Emily did go home mid-day. She texted that she was going to take a nap. I texted right back and asked her if she wanted us to come after her nap or come and hang out with the kids.

We went to visit mid-afternoon. She had awakened and was feeling fine. She has a lot of drainage to dump. She doesn’t feel normal but is not plagued with pain. She must remind herself to not use her left arm. We talked in her bedroom. Later Ella bought a book that she needed to finish soon for school. We took turns reading. I was enjoying the book. I’ll have to follow up and find out what happens to the boy and his little sister who are the only survivors of a wagon train heading for Oregon and was attacked by Indians. People stopped by to bring things. The first was a beautiful vase of flowers made by one of the Jenkins girls. Iris and Aired brought soup. Then two women from the ward also brought meals. The bountiful blessings were pouring in. And the food is good. The casserole went into the freezer. They have eaten it before and like it. It is a lasagna that uses strips of zucchini instead of noodles for a lasagna. Perfect for gluten-free people like Emmett. We had some soup with the family and they had they also had another beautifully packaged dinner. There were separate brown paper containers with several individual boxes of vegetables and one of steak strips. I don’t know what else. I didn’t see all of the items. Evan was impressed.

We went to the chapel and intended to join the English class. Lots of members came for a meeting but we didn’t see the missionaries. No one was there last week. Maybe they know there are no students tonight. We went home.

We went to Emily’s house at about noon. She is still feeling well. She took one ibuprofen last night before sleeping but hasn’t taken anything for pain today. Evan is in school but the two younger kids didn’t have school all week. It is conference week for the teachers or something. We read a lot more of Ella’s story about King David and Queen of Sheba. Lots more difficulties on their journey to catch up with their parents. I need to find out tomorrow how it all turns out. Edgar brought home some Persian food. I had some rice with green herbs in it. Very good. We also ate some of the vegetables from last night. I ate a molasses cookie Emily had and it was delicious. Lewis ate several. Evan is impatiently waiting for his truck. He went halves with his parents and is having it painted. Emmett is working on Scout merit badges and will participate in selling poinsettias this Christmas. Sounds like half of the proceeds go to charitable organizations and he gets to keep ½ of the cost as well. We did the laundry and the dishes. Tomorrow is Emily’s birthday.

At 7:00 we went to the baptism of Bonito Ortega Solano. We have seen him at church and at the English class. I was impressed by how many people came to the baptism. There were more than 25 people there and Elvis was there as well. I have been worried that I haven’t seen him in two weeks. Good talks and a tender welcome from the Elder’s Quorum president. Edwardo was there and we offered to take time to do baptisms at the temple when he had a day off. We will have to figure out when it is open.

Saturday, October 28, 2023

Lovely Marco Polo from Christie and all the girls wished Emily a Happy Birthday. We went to Walmart on the way to Emily’s. We bought an angel cake and fresh strawberries. Emily has whipped cream and requested that for her birthday. Lewis needed hair gel and I wanted to find Soy Curls but no luck there. Lewis needed apple fritters as well. 

We had a pleasant day with Emily and her family. Ella, Emily, and I read a lot of Matilda by Roald Dahl. Ella caught me up on the conclusion of the previous book. I was glad to hear that it ended happily. Today is the Trunk or Treat event at Emily’s ward and another ward as well. Evan is using his truck for the handout of the candy. At 4:00 it began with games for kids and set up. Then they are having a pulled pork dinner at 5:00 and the Truck or Treat is at 6:00. We went home when everyone left. Emily can have an hour or more of peace and quiet. She is still feeling well but has little energy.

Sister Soto sent us this text: Good Morning Elder and Sister Pettingill, I just wanted to thank you for your support in attending the FHEs in our home. Know that because of your celestial sweet spirits, you are making a difference in our lives. I just wanted to share this from Sister Verano. “Thank you for inviting us, my husband was really happy and enjoyed it very much, he said he felt true friendship and not pressuring or judging because of his different thinking of church right now. He felt he could be himself. I think it’s a beginning to a big change of heart!! Thank you.” So kind of Sister Soto to care for her fellow ward members and we are grateful to learn more about these great people.

We went to the El Camino Real ward. The speakers were young people from the ward who participated in the Worldwide 24-hour Testimony Meeting that President Nelson and the YM and YW organized. At 7:00 in their time zone all around the world, YM and YW participated in sharing their testimonies. Also, Edwardo spoke and did a very good job. The second hour was on disaster preparation. It sounds more dramatic in Spanish than Emergency preparation. Lots of comments and some people are definitely on board and willing to help others to understand and do what is recommended by the church and the government. Since we believe in the Second Coming we should be actively preparing for that and it includes being prepared for natural disasters and lots of out-of-the-norm challenges.

The Ponderosa Branch had all of the Presidency sitting in front except from Brother Law. One of their grandchildren is in a hospital in Utah and is very sick. President Parra had provided a microphone that made it much easier to hear. The Mackays - Jennifer (Petit) and her husband spoke and they gave excellent talks! She talked about having a testimony of the church as well as of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She talked about all the ways that participating in church and knowing, loving, and serving our fellow church members is essential and beneficial to all of us. Her husband talked about his testimony. He said that as a little boy he felt that the songs in Primary were true. His parents taught him well. When he asked if the BofM was true he got the message that you already know it is true. But when he asked if Heavenly Father is really there and what do You think of me, he got a response that let him know that the Holy Ghost was involved and Heavenly Father loved him individually. Pte. Parra did the translating and did it very well. We all need to take those steps and feel the reassuring answers. Sunday School was taught by Brother Zurcher. He always does a good job and people are willing to comment and share their perspectives. I met a woman who is a friend of Sister Parra. I think they are neighbors. She was converted about 10 years ago and has an interest in learning Spanish. She attends the Santa Rosa ward and plans on coming to visit. Remember her name - it is Sarah. The attendance was up with several young ladies I hadn’t seen before. I hope it gets larger and larger. Lewis asked if the membership of the branch had been compiled yet. He said that it will take some more time. We stopped at Emily’s and she said that she was still feeling good and didn’t need anything yet.

I wasn’t feeling great. The Santa Annas are blowing. It woke me up a couple of times during the night and tried to blow us over when we were outside. Probably allergies. We listened to Talking Scripture. I worked on my journal and wrote things that I didn’t save properly. Drat! Wrote it again. Together we made a big vegetable soup. We went to bed early.

Went to Food Share and worked in the other building across the street. We were assembling disaster boxes. Lewis and another guy were building the boxes. They worked together and got really fast. I moved them to the rolling conveyor belt and added a pamphlet about what to do if you can’t afford to pay your gas bill. There are so many good people helping it is a good experience to be involved. The man Lewis was working with says he is the 4^th generation in Oxnard and his extended family returns to Guadalajara every year for a family reunion. He said that his mother took him to Mexico from age 2 -12 and then brought him back to Oxnard to live here. She wanted him to learn Mexican culture first and then American culture. He went to bilingual schools and enjoyed the benefits of both countries. Apparently, they didn’t have financial problems. Money is certainly helpful but what a good way to be prepared to make your way in the world. He says that he has a cousin who didn’t want to learn Spanish when he was young but he regrets that decision now. He can understand what is spoken but is unable to speak well himself.

We were in Camarillo when the wards had their Halloween Trunk or Treat. It is a big draw here and the Arellano kids enjoyed the evening. Evan decorated his truck and it was popular. This is what they looked like at the end of the evening:

Did you recognize Evan in the above photo?

We went to the Gary building to sub for the missionaries. They have an earlier curfew because of Halloween. We were there but we were alone except for the Spanish ward temple and family history leader. He was stood up also. Halloween and all the candy must have been the dominating thoughts for those who usually come to English class or to the FH center.