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
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