October 27, 2013

         Hello again. Starting to wear long sleeves and sweaters now, but usually quite pleasant in the afternoon. This past Friday and Saturday night we went to two Chili cook-offs and Trunk or Treat events in two of the wards we are assigned to. We don't care to see anymore chili for quite a while! Sampling ten to fifteen different kinds each night is a little much.
        On Friday afternoon Amy and the twinners came up for a few hours and we went to Funderland, a miniature version of Six Flags ( a real, real miniature version). It was great to be with them. In a few days the plan is to meet Amy halfway a day or two before Thanksgiving and we will bring the twinners here for an overnight and then take them back with us to Walnut Creek the following day for Thanksgiving. They really want to do it, I think we do too. It will either be a nice night or a long night. But it should be fine.
        We also took in a little more area culture this weekend. First it was on later Friday night when we went to listen to the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra. The program consisted of movements from Handel's Opus 4, organ concerto in B Flat as well as two other choral numbers. A beautiful setting in a large Presbyterian church. Then on Saturday afternoon we went to a Harvest Moon Celebration in a little Chinese settlement town of Locke along the Sacramento River. Of the many Asian performers the most outstanding was the Bukkyo Taiko drummers (barrel drums of different sizes pounded by authentically dressed performers. Great experience.
        As we have mentioned before the responsibilities of Sherrie and I have mainly been working with recent converts from the past 12 months as well as with long time members, teaching English classes, budgeting classes, marriage classes, teaching members to become more self reliant, and a few other things thrown in. But another area that we love is to go with the younger missionaries when they are teaching someone who is investigating the church. They are not to be alone with single women so we provide the "proper supervision". One such person we have been working with is a woman a little younger than us who is what we call a self-referral. Rather than the missionaries finding her to teach, she contacted the church to say she was interested. She first started with the church's chat-line on which she can communicate with missionaries who are in the Mission Training Center in Provo Utah. Then she asked for missionaries to be sent to her home to continue discussions about the church. Naomi is an amazing person. In addition to going with the missionaries to teach her, we have also become good friends with her. She is what we call a "golden contact" and is someone who can't get enough information about the church. In the discussions whenever we bring up one of the Christian beliefs of our church she always says " I believe that, what's next!" She will be baptized soon, and we are happy we have been able to play a part in her conversion. Great experience!
      Well, Sherrie and I have started mailing boxes back home in anticipation that there won't be enough room in the car when we travel back home. At least that was until we found it cost $50 to send two boxes home! So it's back to the first plan of cramming it into the car tighter, or just not bringing some accumulations home. We'll see.
      One other experience, and then I have to quit. We visit regularly with some couples "older" than us. One of the husbands is in his 90's and is in the terminal stages of colon cancer. But the amazing part is that he has no pain and still has a very sharp and witty mind. He has lived a wonderful life, and has a great love for the Savior. He does not fear death, and even welcomes it so to speak, knowing that he will be completing another step in the plan of salvation that our Savior has provided for us. He looks forward to leaving this existence to be in Heavenly Father's presence again. As I said he still has a sharp and witty mind. His parting comments to us as we were leaving him the other day were "I'm glad the doctors chose not to perform surgery on me, because I didn't want to leave this life with just a "semi-colon"".

         Take care,
                John

Fall is indeed here in sunny California but we hear it is even lovelier in Missouri right now.  Not a lot of trees change color right in our area but we are hoping to travel to Napa for the day in 2 weeks and bask in the autumn colors there.  We usually wear our missionary "tags" when we go somewhere so even though it may be a "pleasure trip" we usually get some opportunities to share a little about the church and "why" we are "doing what we are doing".  John and I have recommitted ourselves to get back on the "health wagon" and abstain from as much sugar as possible.  It's really hard for me to challenge someone to live the "Word or Wisdom" when I need my daily fix of chocolate or ice cream.  Yes, yes, we know there is sugar in everything but we are just trying not to add to it. :)  The older you get it seems to become so much harder  to shed those extra pounds that have crept on your body from out of nowhere.  Now to share good news.....a  Marshallese family has just returned from living in Salt Lake City and have been joyously welcomed back to our tiny branch.  They speak very good English, are hard  workers and have strong, strong testimonies of the Savior.  We have very few Marshellese who understand the importance of service and hard work.  This family has changed their lives since joining the church 3 years ago and set a wonderful example to the other Marshallese people.  They still have plenty of problems, like all of us, but because they have committed their lives to the Lord, they handle their problems so much better. I'm hoping the wife might be able to take over my Sunday School class.  It would be great to team teach with her and help  her with this very unique class of teenagers.  I worry that no one will be prepared to take over in 4 months.  I have some students that I have some very big concerns about the direction they are going.  One of my biggest challenges is to try to teach my Marshallese friends how to cook and eat differently to lessen their diabetes.  Many of them are fully aware of the dangers of diabetes but due to lack of money, they eat the most filling things, i.e. rice, and candy that they can buy cheaply.   Those are the times when I wish I had an endless supply of money and could just go and fill their refrigerators full of yummy healthy food.  In one of our English Wards we are teaching a Hispanic woman the new member lessons.  We love her so much!  She was introduced to the church by the couple that she is a caregiver for and she has totally embraced the gospel.  The challenges that she faces within her own home are enormous.  She was sharing with us how hard it is for her living with an alcoholic husband, 4 children, a son-in-law, and a new baby in a very tiny home.  She said to us, "I don't think anyone has as many bodies in a little house as we do."  And "we" said....."Actually, we have Marshallese friends who have 23 people living in a 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom house and 6 of those "bodies" are under the age of 6."  She replied, "Oh, thank you so much for telling me that.  I need to know that other people face just as great, if not greater, challenges than I have.  My "pity party" is now over!"  Everything is "relative" isn't it?  The couple she is a caregiver for have served missions before and are wonderful.
He is totally bedridden, has difficulty speaking, but has the sweetest countenance.  The caregiver came to work one night totally frustrated with her family at home and said to Sister Carter, "Would you like to adopt some children?"  And Sis. Carter said, "I probably should talk to my husband about that."  Thinking that Bro. Carter was sleeping they went about their chores.  Pretty soon Bro. Carter k calls out quite clearly, "Honey, I really don't think we should be adopting kids right now."  Hilarious!  The students in my "Daily Dose" class have started telling jokes in Marshallese after class.  The nerve!  I told them they couldn't come back to class if they didn't start telling their jokes in English! I can't remember if John or I mentioned this, but we are studying the most incredible book entitled "The Infinite Atonement" by Tad Callison.  It's a "must read" for anyone who loves the Savior and wants to understand his magnificent gift of the Atonement more deeply.  I am so grateful for this mission that has made us take time to study and ponder those important things of the gospel that we should have been doing more diligently before our mission.  Thank goodness for repentance!  To our wonderful children who have called faithfully, skyped, drawn pictures and visited us.....we love you and appreciate your support so much.  Love to all!!!