November 11, 2012
Once a year, the children within the church present the program during Sacrament meeting, which is our main church service.  This morning was that special time.  The children are between 3-12 years of age.  The theme this year was, "Being a good missionary" so the theme was near and dear to our hearts.  It is so amazing to see these normally very active children sitting so reverently (except of course when they are waving to their family in the congregation) and singing out with fervor all the songs that they love.  Each child has one or more speaking parts and they get up in front of lots of adults and speak their parts with such a sweet spirit.  There couldn't have been more than 25 children but they sounded like a choir of 60!  One of our main goals while on our mission is to help strengthen members who have not yet been to the temple to be sealed together as a family for all eternity if they remain worthy  We took 2 different families to the Sacramento Temple this week and did what we call a "temple walk about".  The main purpose is to have them see the temple and feel of the special spirit that abides on that sacred, holy ground.  Although they can't yet enter into the temple itself yet, this little "walk about" helps motivate and inspire them to set higher goals of spirituality so that they can return and enter the temple.  It is hard to describe the special spirit that we all felt when we were with these folks talking and teaching about the importance of the temple.  What a blessing it is to have a temple 30 minutes away!!  We usually attend the temple once a week now and feel so very fortunate to do so.  We have FINALLY, after many years of inconsistency, gotten where we can't go to sleep without reading the scriptures and truly enjoy studying them.  We reflect back on the many years that we read the scriptures because we had been commanded to do so.  What a delight to do something now that brings so much joy and knowledge instead of  reading the scriptures because it was on our "checklist" of good things to do.  Boy, it takes some of us a long time to grow  up and see the 'big picture"! :)  So glad I know God is a patient God.  We had a little celebration party this week.  Our first "Daily Dose" participant "graduated" to the next level of lessons.  We made a certificate for her and had punch and brownies for her family.   She was just beaming!   It was a sweet, sweet time! In one week we will have about 15 more Level 1 "graduates".  Exciting times!  Some, of course, have dropped out due to lack of commitment.  BUT, we concentrate on those who want to change their lives and continually pray for a change of heart and desire for those who do not want to grow.  Many of the trees are changing color here and remind us of Missouri.  We joined a group of Asians doing "Confu" and "Tia Chi" in the park last week.  Their leader's name should have been "killer" because I could hardly move the next day!  I'm sure I saw a little smirky smile on his face when he saw we couldn't keep up with him.  They would be chattering back and forth in Chinese and then to us and speak perfect English!  Unfortunately, we were not able to chat bilingually.  I did throw out a "Yuckway" to them (that's hello in Marshallese) but they just looked at me and smiled politely.  Wish I could have read their minds.   Well, back to a week of trying to understand the Marhallese culture!  Friday brings our Heather and Kate and Allie to us from Missouri.  We can't wait!  Up and grateful here in California!  Press forward with faith!!