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.

October in the Mission

 We learned from our Prophet that we need to Think Celestial. We are working on that. It is uplifting and makes me want to focus on all the positives. We are so greatly blessed. 

We have been trying to find good things to do and fill our time. We have been through "JustServe" many times and found several things. We learned about Food Share and are impressed with their amazing ability to gather food and get it to people in need. We have also gone to Community Action several times. One morning we packed boxes for almost 2 hours. Lewis was definitely tired and my left arm was a bit sore. It was great. Very organized. We were doing disaster boxes with food that could be stored for a long time. We were able to chat a bit with the people we worked with. The woman to my right could speak both Spanish and English so she helped me learn some new words. We learned that this organization fed the place we went to last week. We were told that people line up 4 hours early to get in line to receive food boxes. He said the first one is always a couple that comes with a big van to pick up boxes for 8 neighbors who are unable to come and pick up the boxes for their families. They do ask for ID and proof of income but he said they never refuse to give people food. He told us that this organization began during COVID-19 and keeps on because so many people need the help. They collect the food from grocery stores and farmers and are able to buy packaged food for a hugely reduced price. They are feeding many, many people. Oxnard does look a bit like a foreign country with people on bikes with huge loads or pushing carts overflowing with lots of items. There are many elderly people out walking and it looks like they might not make it across the street. But I guess it is good that they are out and about.

I continue with my DuoLingo and my Come Follow Me app. They are small efforts but help me stay engaged. We had our first lunch with Emily. We went to Hunan Garden in Oxnard. It is Emily’s favorite Chinese restaurant. I really enjoyed my lunch it was vegetables with fried rice and had soup as well. Lewis got the same thing. Emily got the sweet and sour. Good food and our dishes were less than $9.00. I am finally realizing that anything under $10 is cheap. We had fun talking with Emily and she got to relax a bit. She is comfortably settled again. She told us that on Saturday she was all of a sudden anxious about her decision and very unsettled about what she should do. The RS President Gail Lassen had told her that her sister is an oncology surgeon and would be happy to talk with Emily. So, Emily asked and the sister called her and spent plenty of time answering her questions and helping her to feel settled again. She has an appointment with another reconstructive surgeon and then they will set up the appointment. She is hoping it will be soon so she can feel better in December. David and Jenny came over after work with a drill gun for Lewis to make holes for the holder for the car’s electric cable. Unfortunately, they had to wait a while for us to get home. There was a lot of traffic. We enjoyed spending an hour with them. Jenny got to see our new apartment and we learned more about her parents and their coming plans.

I read a very long article titled Inequality and Narrative in the Book of Mormon. It is from BYU and describes the governments and the societies and their system's influence on the people. I found it very interesting. Nephi taking the brass plates had a huge influence on their culture. It described the differences between the Lamanites and the Nephites and how things were so much better when they cooperated with each other. The speech of King Benjamin laid out the ideal society and how Mormon deepened and expanded the policies taught. How sad it is that their culture ended up like cannibals with no morals on either side. Lots of things to think about.

We went to another location of Food Share. This must be the main one. A bigger warehouse and another building for offices, I guess. We assembled boxes of produce. It was cabbage, celery, zucchini, and carrots. The carrots were too small or too old but the rest of it was big and delicious. The cabbages were huge. I hope the people who take them home enjoy the food. The guy in charge of our little group took Lewis and me on a tour of the warehouse. They have an area where people can come and shop for no money. They make boxes for seniors, people without kitchens, or homeless teens (he said) that contain food that you can open and eat and provide a pretty balanced diet for a week. They have big cold areas to hold the produce until it is given to consumers. They have refrigerated shelves where they put the things that the grocery stores donate. A lady was combing through and throwing out anything she wouldn’t want to eat. There was a large area where a special group assembles boxes. He said that they are a self-selected group that comes every week. They bring their own goodies to eat and have a boom box and find it a great social event and a way to contribute to the community. He said they never have any openings. We were impressed with how well so much food is saved from being thrown out or acquired for greatly reduced cost from manufacturers that can food. And the local farmers will often let them take the food if they pay for it to be picked. We worked hard and decided that we should check out the Mexican restaurant that Leiann and Cary liked on Telephone. It is called De La Cruz – the home of big burritos. We each got a vegetarian burrito. They are big and it was very good. I still like Baja better but this was very good and a little bit less money. I made breakfast cookies that we thought were very good. 

We went to the store again and I filled up some more jars. We treated ourselves to a Polo bowl. It was delicious. We made a big pot of beans again. Good thing we like beans and they are cheap and good for us. We are also eating a lot of fruit and vegetables and grains. I am eating too many nuts as well.  We went to the Temple. It has been 25 years since we attended that temple. The Visitors Center has been remodeled again and is lovely. There is a room that looks as if it was built of stone blocks and it is a quiet place to think about the Savior and His world when he was on the earth. Lots of displays and delightful young female missionaries who are very friendly. We had to re-remember the layout. There was still a pin cushion full of pins. When we lived there you would have seen several pin cushions in several places but I enjoyed remembering how things used to be. They are back to moving from one room to another. So happy to have been able to go again. We will go again and again but we can’t do it on the electrical power. Most of our daily trips have been within the electricity available.

This is the Visitors Center. You know what the temple looks like.

Beverly replied about my birthday greeting to Jessica. Jessica also replied again and was very friendly. Yay! She said she is looking forward to coming to the family reunion next summer. That would be wonderful!

We went to the El Camino Real Ward at the Gary Building. So amazing to me was the response to the opportunity to bear testimony. The bishopric member conducting the meeting was saying that everyone needed to be brief so there would be time for everyone to have a turn. That seemed strange to me. For years the number of people bearing their testimony is just barely enough to fill the time allotted. There are some long pauses. But before the man even sat down people began to move to the front of the chapel. They filled up half of the seats. We gringos should take a lesson from this ward! They were males and females of all ages and in two languages. The youth all speak English so there was a translator for them. I was impressed. There was one brother who was totally unable to speak well and I doubt anyone understood what he said. But he was comfortable and short and everyone smiled. There were many youths who bore their testimony. Some had written down their testimony and read it. I thought it was wonderful that so many wanted to participate. The whole group ended with just enough time for the last hymn and the closing prayer. 

The group that hopes to be a branch was less forthcoming and had a lot fewer people. There were several pauses. There were not very many people in the room. Most of them did get up and bear their testimonies. Lewis did. I decided I could wait for next month and I need to do some preparation. I have only been engaging with Duolingo mostly and that is not sufficient. I am only getting about ½ of what is said. Things are coming back but I do not yet speak much Spanish.

The Camarillo Stake President, President Thunell, asked us to call Jonathan Kent (his Executive Secretary) to make an appointment so he can tell us how we can be helpful to the fledgling group. Brother Zurcher is doing a lot and things seem to be going well but they need lots more people to do all the things. We left later after talking with everyone. We have an assignment to make Ranch flavored popcorn for the Linger Longer next week. 

We were invited by Brother and Sister Soto to go to their house for FHE. They invited two families that are their friends but neither of them was able to come. They asked us to come anyway so we could become more acquainted. They are wonderful. Fully capable in English but Spanish-born. Bellia is from San Salvador but came as a young adult. She had a terrible time learning English but mastered it. Her husband grew up in Fresno or nearby. They have been helping in the Spanish wards for almost 20 years and have been temple workers for that long also. They attended English wards while raising their children. We enjoyed getting to know them. We need help to find people we might be able to help. The husbands of both of these families are less active and one is not yet baptized. 

 On our morning walk the house with the fruit trees in the front yard has its owner outside as well. He is a small Asian man and offered us a ripe fig. He told us all about a doctor he reads online. He has served in the Navy for many years and then worked in corrections. He said he got fat and found a way to get rid of that and his diabetes. He said that natural fats are good for you because they circulate in the blood and don’t get stored in your body. He doesn’t eat carbs. He is leery of fruit because of the fructose. He has a flat stomach and says he weighs 120 pounds. He lost 80 pounds. He was full of advice and it was very interesting. He drinks ghee, coconut oil, and olive oil every day. He also gave us a dragon fruit that he grew and a little jar of some spread that had figs and oils in it. Very healthy! He says. Fun to meet new people. We didn’t get a chance to tell him our story but maybe we will see him again. See what he gave us. The dragon fruit is from his yard as well. Did you know the dragon fruit looks like this? Tastes something like a kiwi. The flower is the beginning of another dragon fruit and the tree is the source of the fresh fig. Delicious and fun. He protects some of his fruits with aluminum foil.

We seem to have our new medical insurance in place with Keiser Permanente. I answered a lot of questions on the phone to get my medical records updated. I had to ask for definitions to get through the gender category. Life used to be less complicated. Little kids should not have to deal with all the options I was given. 

We have connected with Hermana Woolley and Hermana Andrews. They ask us to come with them to appointments with men. We are always happy when they call. We had two appointments for the first night with Luis and Yayo. Our second visit was to read scriptures to Brother Yayo. He was run over by a car at age 5 and it is a miracle that he is alive. The car went over his head as well as the rest of his body. He is very hard to understand but he speaks both English and Spanish. He uses a motorized chair and can stand and can walk with some support. He is very friendly and outgoing. He bore his testimony last Sunday so we knew him by sight. I couldn’t understand what he said into the microphone but I could understand some of what he said in his home. He is in a big building that is Senior Apartments. He went to Oxnard High School and played two CDs for us. He gave us one to take home. He did a very impressive film of a high-strutting actor and did a parody of Tom Hanks with Wilson. And another one where he is a big gangster from the Mafia. I thought it was great that this man had a chance to be something other than the one with so many handicaps. He manages to do a lot of living with his challenges.

We went nice and early to the Community Action food pantry and helped them get set up before the time the people could come pick up their boxes. There is so much food. I shudder to believe that much of this bounty would go into the trash. Although they are doing a whole lot in the county to use waste as compost. Food Share has 8 acres where they grow food and another big area where they bring all that is past the eating stage and turn it into compost every six months. It really wears Lewis out but he goes for the heavier things and is always in a hurry. He needs to slow down a bit. But he gets a whole lot done. They say that they usually have about 350 cars come between 9:00-12:00 on Thursdays. The people are great. They are working hard to help others. There are some volunteers that are on the spectrum and one who talks like Becca with a whole lot of hysterical laughing. He is happy to be involved. That is my interpretation. It would be so sad to have good food trashed when hungry people need and appreciate it. I just hope they know how to cook and enjoy all of the vegetables. The variation of what is donated is a surprise to me. There are a lot of prepared foods from high-end grocery stores that are ready to eat. I have never seen some of the goodies that go into the boxes. I hope the right food goes to the right family. 

I started downloading the Barnard/Wyatt photos that Amy sent to the girls via a link on Facebook. It isn’t an easy task but I am making progress.

On Becca’s birthday, I sent her a card by sending a link so Christie could take her phone into her bedroom. Christie said she laughed at the music. Nancy texted a Happy Birthday to her as well. Christie said it was going to be a 3-day celebration. They are going to the museum today and an event of some sort tomorrow and I don’t remember what she said about Sunday. The girl who is both Becca’s and Christie’s favorite is now on a service mission. She came over for 4 hours yesterday and Becca loved it. I hope she can be involved with Becca in the future. Christie needs help and she is wonderful with her and capable of doing all the things as well as enjoying Becca’s company. 

We decided to go to the Ventura Harbor. We saw the private yachts and the houses near the ocean. There is a park right at the water's edge. Lewis took me to go with him to try out the kayaks that the young men used on a campout. I do remember that I fell into the water either getting in or getting out of the kayak. Lewis saved me and all was well. I didn’t remember the park but I do remember the kayak cruise in the little bay. It was before we were married, I think. We went to WinCo and bought some more food. Lewis made bread and I made flavored tofu and a stir fry.  Good food. 

We got up early and were at the Camarillo Stake Center before 7:00 for the Stake General Priesthood Meeting. Lewis said one thing was they recommended that the sacrament prayers be spoken more slowly so people will focus on the words and be more mindful when they take the Sacrament. Lewis thought that was a good thing. I took the ranch-flavored popcorn we were assigned into the kitchen. Then we drove back to Oxnard to attend the El Camino Real Ward. Lots of greeting people before the meeting starts. Everyone is very friendly. And half of the members are late. Even more than at home. I was very impressed with the first talk. It was delivered in English and translated. The Bishop is an excellent translator. It helped me to hear the English and then the Spanish version. After the meeting, I asked him if I could have a copy of his talk. He was happy to provide that and asked for my email. He also asked me if I knew a Ben Pettingill. I sure do. He was his 6^th grade teacher and said that Treva and his wife were friends. When we got home, I forwarded the talk to all of the active kids. Three have thanked me already. Great talk that was very clear that the commandments of God are the one and only way to find happiness and not just a way to manage us or deprive us of our preferences. There was an announcement at the end of the meeting that next week some changes would occur to the El Camino Ward.

Next, we went to the Las Posas building in Camarillo and met with the Stake President, President Thunell. He told us that there will be changes to both Spanish units. He wants us to put the priority on Camarillo ahead of the Oxnard ward. The Oxnard ward has a large number of capable people who are doing well. There are always more people becoming inactive than is good but they are managing well to continue to reach out. The new unit in Camarillo will need a lot of help. They have a very long list of Spanish speakers in Camarillo who are members but are not attending. They have a master plan to work on that and want us to be available to help. There are two Spanish-speaking high counselors who will be very involved and the Stake President said he would be involved as well. There is a lot of work to be done and he wants us to focus on it. I think President Rodriguez will not have trouble with that. He has arranged to assign more missionaries to Camarillo. There is only one set of sisters there now and they work in Oxnard as well. There are meetings that the new leader may want to invite us to and it is during the time that the El Camino Real meeting occurs. We told the President that we needed more to do and he is sure he can keep us busy. There is probably a lot of night driving which is not a favorite but somehow it will work out. President Thunell is happy we are here at this time doing this job so we can support the fledgling new unit.

We heard part of the Primary Sacrament Meeting in the Stake Center and then went to Sunday School in the RS room. There were only six people with us and the sisters. We certainly need more people to attend! Then it was time for popcorn. They had lots and lots of popcorn in lots of flavors. I missed out on the caramel but ate plenty of the savory popcorn. We hadn’t eaten yet so we ate a lot of popcorn and talked with lots of people including Emily and Edger. Great day. 

Went to Food Share at 9:00 and worked until 11:00. Lewis made all of the boxes. The person in charge was not there so a girl from a desk came and helped us. It was our second time and the first for the five of us. Lewis worked very hard. We were not the most efficient. They usually have 8 people to help. But we got 4 pallets of boxes finished. I did nearly 2 pallets of celery. Lots of celery. I hope it all gets eaten. I like it!

We texted Treva and met her at the Polo Loco near her home in TO. We had a pleasant time with her. She talked about her boys and her work. She has taken over the clients of a woman who owns the salon. She decided to finally retire and Treva is happy to do her clients. She enjoys doing hair and it seems to be going well. She told us about the salon’s work with “glue on hair”. It is very high-end, expensive, and looks totally normal. The people must come in every 2 or 3 weeks to have any that might have been lost replaced. Treva says it is exacting work, especially around the hairline, but she enjoys it. She says one man has never told his wife that his hair is not natural. She has no idea. It is wonderful for women who have lost their hair to cancer. She told us about a book Thyroid Healing. I need to read it. Lewis downloaded it. It is gluten free but I’ll read it and see what I think. Treva said she did the whole journey with a friend who had cancer twice. She healed and is now cancer-free. Treve said she has thyroid issues and is very much improved with the same diet.

We had a delightful evening. The Sotos invited us back to their home and their friends. Manuel and Ana Lara are a couple that they have known since the husband was a little kid. Hermano Soto was best friends with his older brothers. They attend the Chanel Islands English language ward because they want their children to be close to their fellow YM and YW members. The other couple were Manuela and Raul Ornelas. She is active and he has not been baptized but spoke of the church positively. I really enjoyed our conversation about the themes we remembered from the General Conference. I should have brought my notes but we all remembered some highlights. Good people. 

Lewis had the idea that we should try to contact Spanish speakers in the Valley Vista Ward about the coming changes that will be announced on Sunday. He contacted Brother Stolworthy who is the ward clerk. Lewis had access to a list in the past that was categorized by where the houses were located. Brother figured out how to access that and sent it to him. He printed out the lists. He wrote a note and I put four of them on a sheet of paper. We went to Office Depot and printed some out on card stock. We couldn’t contact the sister missionaries in Camarillo (Bradshaw and Wheatly) because they were having a Zone Conference. But they called afterward and they said that they thought it was a good idea and could participate on Thursday. Leiann and Cary called today and we got to catch up a bit. They are still having a great time. They enjoy seeing in person so many things that they have read about or learned in history classes in school. It must give us a whole new perspective to be able to see what we have only imagined in our minds. I’m sure that when we are beyond the veil we will wish that we took the eternal future a little more seriously every day of our life. (Think Celestial)

I went to dinner with Kathy, Chris, Jeanine, and Mindy, and Gracey, and Emily. It was great to all be together. We went to AM Noodles. It is a Thai restaurant that Mindy and Gracy love. It was delicious. I was horrified that we spent $169.00. Will I ever get used to the inflation that has changed things over the years? I was happy to have had the opportunity to talk with my sisters. Kathy and Emily were in conversation most of the time and I’m happy about that as well. Kathy only knows Leiann and Christie well. We picked a date for next month and I’m excited to have this opportunity. I drove myself and got there and home just fine. Even in the dark with fog. I don’t drive very often these days

Went for a walk and were able to talk with the man who gave us the Dragon fruit and the fresh fig. I got to tell him that really enjoyed both of them and appreciated his sharing. The sisters Wooley and Andrews want us to go with them to visit Yayo again. So, we will be there at 8:15 tonight. I made a lunch date with Emily because this is her day off. I had a vegetarian burrito and loved it. We learned more about Emily’s needs after the surgery next week. She went through our list and helped us understand who speaks Spanish. We went with the sisters to visit Yayo. We read a chapter of Isiaha and afterward, we played his electronic basketball game. One of the stand-up kinds you can find in a mall. I finally knew which button to push by the time it was over.

We went to Community Action and filled boxes for 2 hours. Pretty tired after that. It was good that we were there because there were not as many workers as we had seen before. Some people got restaurant-sized bags of shredded carrots, riced cauliflower, sliced red onions and chopped green salads. I hope they went where they will use and enjoy so much food. Then we went to the mission office and talked with Hermanas Wheatley and Bradshaw. They took half of the names and we took the rest. It is a list of the Valley View Ward and we just highlighted the Spanish surnames. Emily crossed out some who are English-speaking and want to remain in the ward. We hope we can find the people who only speak Spanish or prefer to join with people from their culture to come and help us build a big happy successful ward. Lewis and I spent more than 4 hours. We found almost all the residences on our list. No one was home though so we left the information on their doors. We talked with one man and he will share it with his wife and children. We found out that one young girl moved a year ago and no one had a new address for her. We got it all done! I hope the sisters have success tomorrow. 

 We got home in time to brush our teeth and go to the Mission Home. It is a lovely home and they have a covered veranda outside the second floor that has a lovely view of the mountains and overlooks the other houses. We had Posole with lots of add-ins. I really liked it. Hominy soup with shredded pork, shredded cabbage, radishes, hot sauce, tortilla chips. They also served ribs and mashed potatoes. I’m sad it didn’t go back for the mashed potatoes. There was a lovely fruit tray for dessert. Sister Nixon brought cookie dough and she baked some after dinner. Lewis gave me a bit of one and it was very delicious. She is the cookie whisperer apparently. It was a coconut and pecan cookie. We met the Moons for the first time as well as the Stars. Such great names. Moons are working in Ventura at the Institute, teaching and mentoring the YSA ward. They live in Leisure Village. The Stars are further north in Santa Barbara teaching and working with YSA also. It seems that they are near the end of their call. The Russells, the Parrys, and the Nixons are in the office all of the time, so we are acquainted with them. The Rodrigues are absolutely wonderful. So down the earth and humble and also inspired. We learned that President Rodriguez was raised in a family that was doing well in the north of Mexico but decided to move to the south and lost everything. They were so poor that feeding the family was not going well but they did find and join the church. He said that was the reason they needed to undergo the difficulty and it was worth it to find the Gospel. Eventually, he was able to go to Texas and meet his wife. He worked for an insurance company and rose to prominence with the company. We suppose that he was well enough off that he could quit his job and support them for three years on a mission. They have four children who are all married and doing well. Sister Rodriguez studied architecture before she was married and stayed home with the children. She chose to teach high school when her daughter, the youngest went to high school. We didn’t get a lot of details but they are a wonderful family, and they were very surprised to receive the Mission Leader calling. Neither of them learned English in school but are very well-spoken in English with lots of time living in Texas. They love the missionaries and seem to be doing great. 

We are receiving many missionaries this next transfer and many of them are Spanish speakers. Yay. We hope we will have more in Camarillo. They also told us about the Mixtec groups. The one in Santa Maria has grown rapidly and there is supposed to be a group in Camarillo. They do not have a written version of their language. The Church has agreed to print some of the basics and some of the Book of Mormon in their language. It may take a while. It will also be a learning curve for the people to learn to read their language. They may need to learn Spanish also if they want to succeed here. And to live here they need English as well. It is exciting that perhaps they too will find the gospel. Sister Woolley is fluent. She learned it rapidly here on her mission. The President asked her to speak in Mixtec whenever she meets new people in order to find those who use the language. There are supposed to be perhaps 20,000 Mixtec speakers in CA. There is also permission to have a 7:00 short Sacrament Meeting on Sundays for people who work in the fields seven days every week. They plan to Zoom from the Gary building to Camarillo. We hope for the beginning of growth here like there has been in Santa Maria.

We went to the temple. It is the day chosen for the El Camino Real Ward in Oxnard to go. We arrived very early and went to the available endowment session. It is always wonderful to be in the temple. We were happily surprised to find that Yayo was in our session. He speaks both Spanish and English and he was able to do the walking involved in moving between four different rooms. Amazing what he can accomplish. Another memorable experience for me was when I was welcomed by a black man at the end of the session. It made me very happy. There are very few black people in Idaho that I have seen. I am so grateful that there are temples all over the world being built. All people will have the opportunity to go to the temple. We are not there yet but moving in the right direction with all of the new temples announced and under construction. 

September - On to the Mission

 

Friday, September 22, 2023

Last day in the MTC. The couple that gave us our first MLS class had the last one as well. They are very encouraging and want us to aim high and exceed our expectations. We have the Lord on our side and the Spirit to guide us and have been given power by our covenants. They gave us good information and a good example.

We left the MTC and went to Costco to buy some fruit and a veggie plate. Of course, they didn’t have any veggie plates and only had large containers of strawberries. So, we bought a pasta salad from the Deli. Not a great choice but it was tasty. We went to Office Depot to get a case for Lewis’ new iPad but they were $40 and Lewis wants to try to find a cheaper one. We headed south. I fed Lewis with a spoon and we ate the salad, except for the strange sausage. After we ate the salad, we had another flat tire! The passenger front tire. We were 50 miles from Provo and the available guy was out to lunch so it took a while for him to come and find us. Les Schwab was able to rescue us again. The guy was very nice and he went through all the steps and advised us that we needed to have it balanced. There are no more Les Schwab locations until we get to Victorville. So, we went to Mesquite and slept soundly. 

We got out of bed and got back on the road. We got to the Les Schwab in Victorville and they were able to get it done rather quickly. We could only find a Carl’s Jr so we had loaded burritos for breakfast. Not very good for us but they were good. Lots of miles and plenty of traffic but we did make it. We called Brother Perry. He and his wife are the housing couple and they were in the office all day. They received 30 new missionaries this morning and they were all at the Mission Office. We got there at about 2:00. They gave us the key, the garage opener, and the address. We chatted with the missionaries who were waiting for new companions. The newbies and Pres and Sister Rodriguez were in the chapel and we didn’t see them.

We are thrilled with our new apartment. It is the nicest missionary apartment we have seen. Sister Perry said that we would have to host the senior missionary dinners because our apartment is the biggest one. Hope they all like vegan food. It is great. King-sized bed, granite island in the kitchen, washer and dryer. There is a stand-up mixer on the counter and the kitchen is pretty well stocked. There is a second bedroom with two twin beds and a second bathroom. Place your reservations for a lovely Southern California vacation. We are well pampered. We got much of our stuff put away. We went to Winco and bought produce for salads, some canned goods, and a package of vegan patties and hamburger buns. That will get us started. In the evening we went to Emily’s house to see her in person and give her a big hug and we saw Emmett and Ella. Evan was with a friend. We will get to see all of them often. I am so happy about that. We got our printer, InstaPot, and my straight iron which I have certainly missed since our last visit. She had made stir fry for dinner and we were happy to eat up most of the leftovers. Delicious. We were going to stop at Costco but we went home and went to bed. It was a long day.

Sunday - We got up and took showers. We went to the El Camino Real ward at the Gary Building in Oxnard and then to the Spanish group that meets at the same time as Emily’s ward meets. The group is having their Sacrament Meeting in the Relief Society room. They now have a Relief Society class and Elder’s Quorum lessons for the second hour. The children combine with the Young Men and Women and Primary of Emily's ward. We haven’t talked to our Mission President yet so we do not know our assignments but the Bishop (of Emily’s ward) told me to please advocate for the group. 

Both units were very friendly and welcoming. The ward is pretty good-sized and seems to be well organized. They had a confirmation of a young man who was recently baptized. The group could certainly use more members. There were two families visiting because the husbands were speaking. There were maybe 8 people and/or families in attendance. But the RS lesson went very well. Wonderful people. Maybe Lewis and I can help them grow and become stronger. The sister missionaries were there as well.

We went for a walk and then went to Walmart and bought a water purifier pitcher, more filters, napkins, jam, and laundry detergent. We went home to change clothes and then went to the Mission Office and found that the doors were locked. There is a door at the front of the building but we couldn’t see anyone through the big window. But they were there and let us in. The president and his wife were busy with district councils. We learned things from Brother and Sister Russell, Brother and Sister Perry and Brother and Sister Nixon. They gave us a card that acts like a key for the side door. We went back about noon and were able to talk with both of our Mission Leaders. They are great. Down to earth and very capable. President didn’t know that the group in Camarillo is close to becoming a branch. He wants us to also attend the Sacrament only meeting at 7:00 in the Gary Building. Some farm workers work 7 days a week but get off on Sunday afternoon. It has been happening every other week. We will have to follow up. He is happy with the progress and wants us to help all we can. He also wants us to attend and help with the El Camino ward in Oxnard. They will need us sometimes for trips to the airport and perhaps to help with the group meals. He said that he wants to talk with us monthly for a couple of months to see how things are going. Normally he will only interview us quarterly. We are happy with all of this but think we need to find several other good things to do. We ate breakfast at about 2:00. I cooked apples, dates, lemon juice, and steel-cut oats. Added more figs and nuts and it was very good.

It took till bedtime to get the internet service started. To get a deal of one free phone service for a year, Lewis changed his phone number to Spectrum. The church pays $50 to us for internet so we might not have to pay anything. Lots of phone time but hopefully all will be well. We should get the equipment on Wednesday. They say it is just plug it in and everything works. We shall see.  Turned out that the switchover had some bumps. We went to McDonald’s to use their wifi and Lewis got a helpful guy who walked him through the transfer.

We spent a lot of time in the kitchen paring down the duplications and combining the cleaning products and cleaning things. We couldn't get the dishwasher to work. Elder Parry called Sister Peterson who lived here before us. She said the on button needs to be pushed twice. Not sure we would have ever figured that out for ourselves. 

September 26th - The important thing about today is that Lorena had her second baby. Xellena Sage Russell was born today. She is 5 pounds 4 ounces. Beautiful big eyes according to Christie. She was rated 9.2 out of 10 at one minute after birth. Both are doing well. I don’t know how Christie can manage all she is doing these days but somehow, she manages to be where she is needed. They are now sleeping in their new home. 

We don't have access to the information section of our mission. We went to the Mission Office to see if our status in the church categories has been changed to MLS instead of CES. We can’t access the mission information if we are CES. We were fortunate that President and Sister Rodriguez walked in while we were there. He had talked with Salt Lake but only one person has the ability to change that so we have to wait until it is changed. 

We went shopping and got a few things on our list. We went to Smart and Final and got gallon containers for when we meal prep and make lots of soup or beans or whatever. We had an appointment with Emily. That was the highlight of the day. She was available at 12:30 and we went together to Baja Fresh to get veggie burritos and salsa. We walked back to her house and had a great time catching up and talking about all the things. She seems to be settled with doing the one mastectomy. It is a hard decision because either one could work but this one will end sooner with less chance of more threats. But the recovery from the surgery will be difficult. Emily and I think that Baja’s veggie burritos are the best. They have peppers that are still a little bit crunchy and some sour cream. Not sure what else makes them so good. They always roll the burritos well. 

We went to the Community Action food distribution organization in Oxnard. There were lots of cars lined up and we had trouble finding the building itself. But we found it and told them that we wanted to help. They put vests on us and told us to add food to the boxes. I was worried about how much because it is open until 12:30 and it was 10:30. Would we run out of food? Lewis always dives in and it all works out. After a while, the sister missionaries showed up. They said it was their first time as well. All of the people were very friendly and nice. They have quite a system. The food is from grocery stores and there were a lot of things from Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. Lots of bakery things including whole cakes. They give out some “Food Bank” boxes and then a big box of fresh produce and things from the grocery stores. I’m sure it is welcomed by people who are unable to afford the high costs of things currently. There were also ready-to-eat meals in plastic containers. I hope it is all eaten. I’m glad that all of this food is not dumped in the garbage! 

We plan to go back and also find others who might need help while we figure out how to do good in this area. We are using online Just Serve to find good causes. We bought a clock, a cutting board, dish drainer pads, and a steamer thingy to put in our Instant Pot. We learned today from Dr. Greger that the healthiest way to cook green leafy vegetables is to put them on a rack/basket and set the time to 0. As soon as the steam builds up high enough to pressure cook it turns itself off. Far more of the nutrients that are good for our bodies are not cooked off with this method.

We sent a large donation to support Marlo Grubb's medical needs. She is the daughter of Joyce and Danny Keliiheleua. She is at stage 4 but she is in a clinic in Arizona that her brother has sent several patients to and they have left cancer free. We are remembering her in all of our prayers also. Lots of family members are supporting her healing.

We went to visit with David and Jenny. She is finally feeling better. Sadie is as cute and athletic as ever. Her leg injury is completely healed now. No more limping. She is amazing with a balloon. She smacks it straight up every time and she twists her body as she returns to earth. We had fun catching up. The boys are doing well. We saw Andrew’s poison frogs. Two are black and yellow. And two more are blue. They have lots of pollywogs. He will be overpopulated any minute now. Leiann would be impressed. They were kind enough to loan us a blender. They kept an old one and put it in the attic when they bought a high-powered one. Thank you, that will be a big help.

Read this and liked it - Mental strength is the ability to normalize challenging circumstances. And we get to work on it every time we face a challenging circumstance. The more the challenges at any given moment, the bigger the opportunity to improve our mental strength. And, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are blessed to know we are sons and daughters of God and have the ability to ask for help and receive it. 

Saturday and Sunday were wonderful days because of the October General Conference. I took a lot of notes. We are so blessed to have prophets to be our source of truth and so many thoughts to help us make our way through this challenging world we all live in. I always feel lifted and grateful. They are always available on the church site. You can read or listen and choose your language.

More Second Week in the MTC

 

We learned more during our second week. Our class taught by previous Family History missionaries was a party. Two women who loved family history and were good at provoking interest from people who shy away from the subject. Family History is for everyone. The slightest interest is a positive influence. The gathering we are all engaged in includes family history! There are more non-members than members actively engaged in Family Search. Helping people find their family members brings many positive things. Discover, Gather and Connect is a positive experience for everyone.  A discovery can change hearts. 

There is a lot of engaging and discovering in the activities available on the Family Tree app. I have gone through them before but had a new experience in this setting with Relatives Around Me. I learned that I had a second cousin, one time removed in our class - Mary Jane Neville! We had a little while to chat. She remembers as a teen, going to Nathan Hale Gardner’s home in Logan to type out the original journal of one of his ancestors. My grandfather printed copies of her typing and now we descendants have those little booklets. I need to follow up with her. She still lives in Logan for part of the year and thinks that his house is still there. She wasn't sure which ancestor she was transcribing but the experience is still strong in her mind. Our connecting ancestor is Celestial Snow, my great great Grandma, I noted that she was born in Lehi. She lived to 100 and I have a photo of her at my parents' wedding and with me as a baby. This is a photo of Mary Jane Neville and her husband:

Pedigree Pie is a fun tool. Google it. It is from BYU. After you sign into Family Search it shows you the countries your grandparents are from. The Memories app can provide an easy way to add stories, photos, or documents about you into Family Search. 

We had a class on Welfare and Self-Reliance. Caring for the poor is a prime effort of the church. But poor is hard to define. There are many people far happier than our culture who have little money. Poor is relative. We need to see people as they can become. See them as the Lord sees them. The Life Skills class is highly recommended. Many classes are available and can make a big difference if people choose to learn and change. All of us can change if we choose to do so. We all need repentance as we move away from the natural man, improve, and become more like Jesus Christ. 

If working with people who have difficult problems, perhaps some of these questions will help us see what would be useful for them. We are looking forward to getting to know you better. What are some of your interests? What do you look forward to? What are some things that bring you joy? What do you feel proud about? What makes you feel worried or frustrated? Help me understand more about the challenges you are facing. When I pray for you, what should I be praying for? What are some things that concern you right now? What are some things that you wish others understood about you? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? (or...What would you like to see in 6 months? and in 6 years?) Create a relationship of trust. Can we come again in a week with some more information and suggestions? Be positive. Complement all you can. What can you see? A well cared for yard? Get verbal permission to tell the story of the family with difficulties. With their permission, share with the Bishop and Ward Council (if invited) and the ward can begin to become involved and able to support and help. 

Pathway began in 2009. 65% of Pathway students are older adults. English Connect 1 and 2 can be taught by missionaries in a spiritual-based manner.

Brainstorm on how to help - Ask to be a greeter. Attend activities and help with set up and clean up. Be a mentor. Teach members that they need to serve in the ward/branch. Support all the positive things in other cultures. Pray for the leaders. Ask for advice. Get "Tools" populated with all of your units. Learn names, write them down, and use them frequently. Be on time. Get involved. Be open to requests. Be supportive of others. Teach from the Handbook. Follow up and report back. Be a good listener. Volunteer. Compliments are always welcome. Don't judge. Don't gossip. 

Tools have been used by prophets and members over the centuries. Some examples are a seer stone, the Urim and Thummin, the Liahona, and Social Media. Tech is God-given. It is up to us to us to use it well. We could have Family Home Evenings over Zoom and defeat the distances between our homes. We need to represent the truth and treat all people kindly. Sending messages of love and strengthening relationships is a good use of Social Media. Be prudent and never click on links that might be from those who would harm us. Sending a spiritual message is part of missionary work. How can you bring good to the world? 

Senior missionaries can change plans if they are inspired to do so. Be open to the Spirit. President Monson often made his security men work hard because he changed his plans frequently. He wanted to go to a funeral or hospital with little notice. Try to do an act of service every day. Work together as a couple and gain the confidence of the people you work with. Choose to be a servant to others. Do not seek for glory. Be patient. Be prepared when it is time to preach. Participate and help to improve things. Ask questions.

What will ye that I should prepare for you? What will ye that I shall give unto you? Don't give advice. Ask an inspired question. What would you like to change? Be sensitive and always have a prayer in your heart. Ask leaders - What is your understanding of the role of a MLS couple? What are your branch's strengths? What are your challenges? Deeper questions: Can you help us understand...? What do you think the solution is? What needs to change? What should replace it? How can we support you in finding a solution?

In Gospel Library there are many things that can strengthen new members. Help people understand callings. Help to see that what is in the Handbook is happening. My Covenant Path has 19 steps for new or returning members. Young missionaries have this Covenant Path Progress Report. We can cheer the young missionaries on to follow through. Bishops and Presidents have access to this information. Missionaries have it on their phones. Pray for people. Listen to the Spirit. See in others what they cannot see. Pray for the gift of discernment. 

Elder Packer: If all you know is what you see and hear with your natural eyes and ears - You don't know much. 

Develop the skill of helping to lift others. Peter lifted up the lame man and then he could walk on his own. People are more important than the process. "Never let a job that needs to be done overcome a person who needs to be loved."  President Monson

Missionaries are the catalyst, not the change. Support youth as well as adults. Don't be the hero. Build up others. Strengthen our relationship with Jesus Christ. What impact do you want to have? How can we leave a lasting impact? Avoid feeling regret at the end of your mission. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Angels bear you up. 

A good way to strengthen relationships - Invite a couple or a family to do something together. Go out to dinner. Choose an outdoor activity. Or just go for a walk. Know Him and work to be like him. Take my yoke. We can come to know him by doing the work to improve ourselves. Covet the best gifts and seek for them. Teach one another. The words of Christ will tell you what ye should do. Ask and knock. By the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of all things. Try to motivate every person to choose to move closer to Jesus Christ.

We were able to go to an endowment session at the Provo Temple We also had a couple of opportunities to spend time with the Murals in building T4. They are beautiful and very engaging. They are backlit and very large. They encourage our thoughts to go to scripture stories and people we read about in a deeper way. I wish we could have spent more time just looking and thinking. This is Esther:

This is Joseph Smith in the Liberty Jail. Each mural has an accompanying question to ponder.

Second Week of MTC Training for Senior Missionaries

 

California Ventura Mission - September 11, 2023 until September 11, 2024

 First week in the Mission Training Center in Provo, Utah

September 11, 2023 - We spent two weeks at the Mission Training Center at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. These are the newer buildings. We spent most of our time in the older buildings behind these buildings. One of the new buildings has 12 murals that are amazing. They are scenes from the scriptures and are huge and backlit. If you ever get a chance to see these murals do take advantage of it. Jeri has an overview with lots of teaching questions on her computer. I will email a copy to anyone who asks for it. The whole MTC campus is beautiful and well cared for. When the weather is good, some classes are held outside. One of the murals.

Jeri loves to go to classes and take notes. Lewis, not so much, but we both enjoyed our experience with our excellent teachers and the good people who were our fellow students. We were all anticipating our missions worldwide. We had 105 senior missionaries in the first week. There were also thousands of young men and women that we sat with in the cafeteria and at the Devotionals. The numbers were high (typical for late summer) and so were the mood and the energy. There are 82 categories of senior missionaries currently. So many things to do. We focused on Preach My Gospel this first week. The second week will be broken down into smaller classes that cover specific assignments. 

We were told that all missionaries need to teach people how to return to their Heavenly Father. We have a wonderful opportunity to help people. We will engage in the work to gather Israel. President Nelson has told us that this work is "the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth." Our job is to find needs and fill them. We have the privilege of participating in the greatest work in the world. We get a chance to help. We need to be focused on our Purpose, be Christ-centered and Spirit-led. We need to model that the advantage of living the Gospel is that it brings joy and peace into our lives. We all need to use our agency wisely. Our focus should be on the here and now and also on our eternal lives. We understand that we have the option to live with our Heavenly Father again and we need to share that knowledge with others. 

There wasn't room for all of the Senior Missionaries to stay on campus. We were placed in a hotel and were very comfortable. They had a complimentary breakfast buffet. I enjoyed the oatmeal, granola, and fruit. The potatoes were good too. Lewis had those items and liked some other things as well.  

Highlights of the first week. 

I loved this wisdom from somebody's mission president, "Scripture study has a shelf life of one day"

One of our first experiences was to be paired off with another couple and asked to get to know them and then give them an invitation to do something that you think will be appropriate for their needs. We were to promise blessings and bear testimony. We should always help people to use their agency wisely. We should also model the gospel with our actions and reflect the joy that being obedient brings. 

We enjoyed getting to know Elder and Sister Fox and a little of their background. Getting to know people is a lovely adventure. I hope to learn how to be open with people but never pry. The things we have in common are comfortable and their differences are fun to explore and learn from. We were taught that every missionary could benefit from having these 2 goals - To help others feel the Spirit and to invite others to do something that has the ability to bring them closer to our Savior. 

They asked us to text them our testimonies. Lewis wrote this: "I love Jesus Christ. I know he loves the world, and I know he lived, died, and was resurrected so that we could be resurrected too. He suffered for the sins of all those who would believe in Him and repent and follow him. I know he loves each of Father in Heaven's children. To this, I bear my solemn witness." Lewis Pettingill

Jeri wrote more words.   My Testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ

"I have been taught all of my life that I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father and my Heavenly Mother. I approved the plan and chose to come to earth to receive a body and have experiences that will teach me the difference between good and evil. I was raised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and chose to be baptized at age 8. I have always believed that my kind and loving parents taught me the truth. As I grew, I read the scriptures, said my prayers, and was very active in all of the programs of the church. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of Heavenly Father and has paid in full the penalty for all of my sins and weaknesses. If I have faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ, and obey his commandments I will qualify for all of the privileges of those who honor their covenants. I have found throughout my life that I have been guided and blessed. I know that the Book of Mormon is a true record to teach me more about my Savior. I know that the prophet Joseph Smith did see and speak with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. He was authorized by Them to begin the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have experienced serious challenges in my life. They were not solved quickly and efficiently but I was comforted, strengthened, and able to press forward. Looking back, I can see the miracles and feel so very grateful for the blessings that I and my family have received. I have felt love and support from my Savior and I know that he will not override anyone’s agency but he will assist in every way so that all of his children will have the opportunity to receive all the blessings they most desire."

Another skill recommended is to learn the Book of Mormon very well so we can 1. describe the background 2. read a passage together with someone and 3. apply and testify. Pray before reading and afterward. 

Teaching - see Alma 18. Be a servant, follow the spirit, and teach with love. Adapt teaching to meet needs. Bear testimony. Use the scriptures. Ask questions and listen carefully. Encourage others to make commitments. Don't hang back, contribute. Social Media - people who were contacted by social media were baptized in greater numbers than those contacted in person. Perhaps they self-selected but the numbers were higher. Don't discount the tools that the Lord has provided for us. We let the young missionaries lead out when we accompany them. Testify through personal experiences. Ask inspired questions. Listen to the Spirit. We do our best and the Lord can take it from there. We should study Preach My Gospel every day. Prepare with prayer, learning more deeply the doctrine and principles. Become ready and able to encounter someone, and able to have a conversation that will give them an opportunity to draw closer to Jesus Christ. 

The Character of Jesus Christ Experience - repeated each Wednesday evening so everyone can attend once. Joseph Smith taught that we must understand God and his character. Jesus Christ submitted totally to the will of His Father. We need to understand the character attributes of Jesus Christ. The character of Jesus Christ is to turn outward and serve others. We need to do the same. What do our Mission Presidents need from us? Serve to bless and not to impress others. Choose to smile. Is our life in accordance with God's approval? Learn of Him, not just about Him. How do I begin this lifelong pursuit? Pray for help to change. Celebrate where you are and work on being better. Keep at it. We can go from good to better with His grace. We are to invite and help. Tell people how you appreciate their Christ-like attributes. See Preach My Gospel Chapter 6 for the attributes of Jesus Christ.

The natural man is focused on his wants and deeds. The atonement would not have happened without the quality of character that Jesus Christ had developed. The character of Jesus Christ is not turned inward. He is focused outward and desires to serve others. He is love, compassion, and charity. He is not self-centered, self-absorbed, or selfish. Our testimony is turned into conversion when I turn to - not what I want but, what Jesus Christ desires of me. How? Start with being obedient to our Mission Leaders. Find ways to serve. Choose to smile. Don't worry about impressing other people. Pray for help to improve. Celebrate where you are. Work to do better. Keep at it. Line upon line. Pray for patience and grace.

President Monson reminded us that we need courage. Courage to stand for truth and righteousness. Courage is required to refrain from judging others. Be an example of the believers. Have the courage to refrain from gossip and criticism.

YouTube links to a full devotional from 2011 and a retelling of the 20 Marks story - do watch

https://youtu.be/f6bofAYBpN8?si=F0kqI395s-c-BP6h - 2011 version

https://youtu.be/AGS45Fd9nmE?si=vC66OvNpw08IWlq_  - the shorter story of the 20 Marks

We also had a long session with a man who has been doing security for the church for many years. He said to use common sense. Set a good example of prudence. Report anything that should be known by the Mission President and the police (unless the President does that). If anyone tries to rob you of something - just give it to him. Nothing is worth a life. Know that the robber will take your phone. Never let your car have less than 1/2 tank of gas. Drive with your doors locked and the windows up. Hide objects. Don't leave items on the back seat. At a hotel, park near the entrance. Park where it is lighted and near a busy street. Stay in a group of friends if possible. Avoid bad areas. If you feel unsafe then leave. Use difficult passwords. Don't say anything critical on Social Media. Missionaries are representing the Church. Don't share personal stuff. Virtual kidnapping is a real thing and is profitable. Do not discuss politics. Do not treat children like they are your grandchildren. Follow the guidelines of the church. Never give significant gifts, loans, or promises.