Sherrie's busy at the moment so I will blog even though it is her turn. We just had one of our daughters (Heather, and her daughters Katie and Allie) come visit us for a few days. We spent time with her and the girls as well as with Amy and family who are in Walnut Creek, 80 minutes away. We road tripped to the beach and the aquarium at Monterey Bay. Great fun.
Special quotes we heard from the grandkids include: From 3 year old Bea as we were trying to wipe her dirty hands "That's da-gusting" she said as she was trying to describe how disgusting it is. To watch Katie age 4 as she tells a story with all of the grandiose ways that a typical 4 year old talks with hands, arms, eyes and emotions. To hear Simon tell a complete story with a binkie still in his mouth. In about ten days Melissa and her family will be coming to visit a few days. We are so grateful that mission rules for us "older missionaries" are more flexible in allowing family to come visit.
Today we started with some new assignments. In addition to still working with the Marshallese branch on Sundays from 11 am - 3 pm as well as Wednesday nights, we will now also be working with the Sacramento 1st and 2nd wards. One of these wards starts at 9 am in the morning so we will attend there until we leave to go over to the Marshallese branch. Then we will be making visits to these two wards members during the week and evenings. In the one ward there are older members that live in 15 different retirement centers. I think I've already seen Sherrie digging out her old "Activity Director" hat because she will love going into the retirement centers to visit. In this particular ward the Bishop has asked younger families to "adopt a grandparent" that lives in the retirement centers that can't get around or may need a ride to church. It works out well for everyone.
I mentioned previously that we now have two sets of senior sister missionaries living in the same apartment complex as us. I am the district leader over them and Sherrie. That's five women against one man. Oh well, some guys are just lucky. At least I get in the last word all the time (Yes, Sisters, whatever you say!!).
Another effort I'm doing is genealogy when I have time. As I was using familysearch.org (this is a free website for anyone to go to) to do some research, I clicked on my family tree to see what research has been completed whether by me or by unknown or distant relatives. I found a line branching off from one of my immediate lines that someone else has done. The line goes all the way back to 400 AD and includes Kings, Queens, Counts and Countesses, Dukes, Earls, etc. How exciting! I'm checking to see if any money or crown jewels are being held back for the right descendent (ME!!) to come forth and claim. Ha!!
"When fleeing a scene of temptation, do not leave a forwarding address." (Jeffrey R. Holland)
Take care,
John
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Hello from 100 degree Sacramento
Where did the nice spring weather go. But our hearts go out to those in Missouri, Oklahoma and other places where the severe storms have been occurring. Here in our apartment it is rather humorous to see two "old" missionaries going back and forth about what the temperature should be in our apartment. We take turns sneaking up to the thermostat and adjusting it to our liking. Oh well, after 47 years we are used to the give and take I guess.
Part of our assignments include going to another stake in north Sacramento to seek out the lost sheep there. Yesterday we had a list fifteen names to find. The results were quite varied. Some people have been gone for over two years. Others live in gated communities or secured building so we can't see anyone there. At one household the gentlemen of the house spoke only Modovi? (Indian) language and our hand signs and his limited English didn't mesh too well. Rather humorous I'd say. At another apartment complex the woman buzzed us in but as soon as we identified herself she covered her ears and ran away while yelling "You made me cry and I don't want it anymore!". The last visit of the day was quite the menagerie of mixed marriages, different adults, children, and pets but they said they held their Family Home Evenings on a regular basis and loved contact from the church members. We went away from there shaking our heads.
I think we mentioned previously that I'm a District Leader for "Senior" missionaries. The President just informed us that we will have two more sister missionaries coming in this weekend, and they are literally sisters to each other. The one has never married and taught for 30 years at BYU and the other is a widow. They have always dreamed of serving a mission together, so now there will be six of us seniors and we all live here in the same apartment complex. That will be fun. In these next few weeks we have various children and grandchildren coming to see us so that will be exciting. We are on the downside of our mission now and have so much more to do, so I guess I'll sign off and get to work.
My quote of the week: "We don't pray because we're worthy. We pray because we need help. We don't take the sacrament because we are perfect, but because we are willing to be perfected. We don't go to the temple because we made it, but because God is make us better there. We are not earning treasure in heaven, but learning to treasure heavenly things." (Brad Wilsox)
Love you all,
John
Part of our assignments include going to another stake in north Sacramento to seek out the lost sheep there. Yesterday we had a list fifteen names to find. The results were quite varied. Some people have been gone for over two years. Others live in gated communities or secured building so we can't see anyone there. At one household the gentlemen of the house spoke only Modovi? (Indian) language and our hand signs and his limited English didn't mesh too well. Rather humorous I'd say. At another apartment complex the woman buzzed us in but as soon as we identified herself she covered her ears and ran away while yelling "You made me cry and I don't want it anymore!". The last visit of the day was quite the menagerie of mixed marriages, different adults, children, and pets but they said they held their Family Home Evenings on a regular basis and loved contact from the church members. We went away from there shaking our heads.
I think we mentioned previously that I'm a District Leader for "Senior" missionaries. The President just informed us that we will have two more sister missionaries coming in this weekend, and they are literally sisters to each other. The one has never married and taught for 30 years at BYU and the other is a widow. They have always dreamed of serving a mission together, so now there will be six of us seniors and we all live here in the same apartment complex. That will be fun. In these next few weeks we have various children and grandchildren coming to see us so that will be exciting. We are on the downside of our mission now and have so much more to do, so I guess I'll sign off and get to work.
My quote of the week: "We don't pray because we're worthy. We pray because we need help. We don't take the sacrament because we are perfect, but because we are willing to be perfected. We don't go to the temple because we made it, but because God is make us better there. We are not earning treasure in heaven, but learning to treasure heavenly things." (Brad Wilsox)
Love you all,
John
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