Happy to New Year to one and all!  2014 starts tomorrow full of new opportunities to learn and grow.  We just returned from a "new member" lesson with a Marshallese brother who has been taking the missionary lessons for over 30 years off and on.  All 6 of his children are members of the church but he just never felt the time was right for him to join the church.  Two of his children are in my Sunday School class and when we had gone to their home before he was not receptive.  To state that he was friendly would have been the understatement of the year.  He is a changed man.  His heart has softened and he wants to learn as much as he can about the gospel.  His wife speaks no English and is extremely shy so their 20 year old daughter translates for us to her. It continues to impress me how clean the Marshallese people are in their homes.  I was thrilled to see the 2 little granddaughters playing with toys!!  We have always assumed that all children have toys of some sort but that has not been the case in many Marshallese homes.   I'm not quite sure if it's because they can't afford them or they just don't feel that they are important.  We had a wonderful Christmas with Amy's family and returned rejuvenated and ready to hit it hard for the next 7-8 weeks.  We miss all of our children and grandchildren so it has been such a blessing to be close to Amy's family, especially for the holidays.  I almost feel guilty and don't want to tell the other senior missionaries that we are going to visit family when they do not have any family close by to see.  Everyone here loves hot chocolate so we made 200 "Candy  Cane Cocoa Dippers" to give as gifts.  We put the "dippers" in with cocoa packages and they were well received.  When we went to Amy's we took supplies and their kids made them to give to family and friends.  Amy made nativity costumes this year and 14 Wise grandchildren acted out the Christmas story from the scriptures while G-pa Wise read.  (That's Alph's Dad.)  Our Bea, who's almost 4, took her role as Mary very seriously and cuddled that baby doll just as tenderly as she would have a newborn babe.  Simon wanted to be the innkeeper because he knew what the innkeeper said, "There's NO ROOM here."  He firmly said his lines with great gusto.  Whenever I hear the innkeepers lines, I think of Neal Maxwell's popular quote, "Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus."  My friend, Cindy, made me a Christmas ornament one year with that quote on it and I keep it around all year to remind me not to make room for Him just at Christmas but all year around.  On Christmas Day we opened presents very slowly.  I know that may be hard to imagine with 5 kiddos but Amy and Alph feel very strongly about really enjoying the gifts and expressing appreciation for them.  The grandchildren had bought us gifts from the Dollar Store which they picked out personally for Hana and Hapa.   Last year Melissa and other children sent us lots of little gifts to put under our tree and it was such fun opening one a day.  We have enjoyed using all the gifts and we are saving the "hand warmers" for our trip home.  Hopefully, we won't need to use them!!  Christmas evening Alph's brother, Brig and family, came for supper and we had a family talent show.  Amy said it was the "Wises 1st Annual Christmas Day Talent Show."  John and I did a song rewritten by Julie Andrews to the tune of "My Favorite Things" but was called "Ode to the Old".  It was a smashing success but the kids had no idea what Pollident   or dentures were.  Loretta Broker and I did that song many years ago at Villa Marie Nursing Home and won a talent contest.  We taught the older kids how to play "Spoons" and played "Catch Me' with the twinners.  It is so wonderful to kneel in family prayer and express our gratitude for all our blessings.  All the grandkids love to do "Sure Love Ya" in our circle.  Thanks Cananns for sharing that lovely tradition with us so many years ago.  We are having four other seniors missionaries over to play "Spoons" and "Dominos" this evening and then we are going to crash a New Year Even's party at the Tongan Ward.  How grateful I am for all the blessing and challenges of the past year!!  2014 will be much different for us than 2013 but hopefully we will be able to continue to grow and learn in the Gospel and have many opportunities for service.  We are going to Hawaii for a week at the end of our mission (thanks to our children) so if any of you have been there and know of "must see" places, please let us know.  We miss you all and look forward to renewing our friendships and making new ones in 2014.

Tis the Season

     Hello dear friends. Sherrie and I just got back from driving around some neighborhoods tonight looking at the beautiful lights and decorations. One ten block area is called the "Fabulous Forties" and is like stepping back into time as we walk down street lined boulevards of stately homes of all sizes and shapes that were built in that era. Each block of homes had decided on a main lighting design for the street and trees and then the individual home owners would decorate their homes around that theme. This was complete with horse drawn carriages and long limos driving people around to see the sights. We even saw a "fleet" of sightseeing bicycle riders go by with their bikes all lit up and decorated. Amazing! Walking down the sidewalks on a full moon night at 40 degrees made it quite magical.
     As with any city there is always so much going on at Christmas. Last Saturday we went to a "Tuba Christmas". This was the 40th year for the program that has been held at one of the local high schools at which over one hundred individuals ranging in age from 11 to 83 play tubas or related brass horns of various sizes. There were at least 30 of the big marching sousaphones along the back row, and then below them the next size down and so on. This is one of one hundred and sixty such tuba Christmas concerts that are played throughout the world at this time. What an experience!
    This past weekend was also the weekend of a beautiful Nativity display exhibit that is held annually here in one of the big stake centers. There were hundreds of nativities on display. It brought back memories of the one we had in Jefferson City for several years.
     If there was a downside of this past week or so, it has been that of our mode of transportation. The car was bucking and snorting like a horse. After having three or four mechanics looked at it and give their opinions and shrug their shoulders we were getting discouraged. Then after much prayer and the advice of a good friend and member of our congregation I bought a new set of spark plugs and wires and took matters into my own hands. Happily we now have a smooth running car, but I still don't want to be a mechanic as a second vocation. Car computers do not give out all the answers of what to fix at times! I'm starting to believe this electric hub that I bought for my recumbent bike that I will be using when we get home sounds better and better. I think I'll get one for the tandem also, and do away with our car!
    Switching gears to what Christmas is all about, Sherrie and I are so grateful for all that the Savior has done for us and all of mankind. As we continue to read daily from a book entitled "Infinite Atonement" and we try to comprehend what the God the Eternal Father and His son Jesus Christ have done for us, it is hard to grasp what happened, yet at the same time, how grateful all of mankind must and should be for what they did do.
    The fact that Jesus Christ was with His Heavenly Father in the planning stages of "worlds without end", that He then under his Father's direction created heaven and earth, and then was chosen and willing to come here as a baby, grow to adulthood, die and atone for the sins of all mankind, and that he will someday return again to this earth is a lot to comprehend but at the same time it enables us to have the faith to believe that it is all so real.
    At a recent "Christmas conference" that all of us in the mission attended last week, we learned to think this time of year as the "The spirit of Christ" rather than "The spirit of Christmas". We were encouraged to think as individuals more along the lines of "What shall we give Christ for Christmas?" One thought we were given as Christians is to offer our whole soul as an offering to Christ, to endure to the end, to sacrifice through service and align our will with Him. Striving to live in a small infinite way like the Savior did when he was here upon this earth is a good start for me in trying to give back something to Him.
     As Neal A. Maxwell once said "There is a personalized plan for each of us. Like the Christmas star, each of us, if faithful, has an ordained orbit [a reward for us] if we live a life such that the Savior wants us to live".
     My friends, I want you to know that I know that Jesus is the Christ. He has given the ultimate gift to all mankind, His life. And because of that I know that eternal life is possible and that as we endure to the end we will be blessed to someday be in the presence of Him and a wonderful loving Heavenly Father. I know it. I know it.

Love ya,

Elder John
    

The season of Christmas is here!!  We both love this season so much but yet get so emotional about everything!!  We've always been this way but seem to get more weepy as we get older.  California, especially our Sacramento area, is the home to MANY homeless people.  If I knew the exact numbers I would probably cry all the time.  It has been around 30 degrees during the night and we have often thought about where those with no shelter go to sleep in the cold.  We sit in our cozy little, modest, apartment and if we get cold, just turn up the thermostat or put on more clothes.  How blessed we are!  We had a wonderful visit with Amy and family over Thanksgiving.  We were to go to Alph's parents home but they got the flu so Amy and Alph pulled off an incredible Thanksgiving feast in a very short amount of time.  Alph's family graciously include us in their family activities and we do so appreciate their kindness.  We got to attend Sophie's (our oldest grand daughter) play "Aladdin Jr."  She "shines" on the stage.  Your eyes are just drawn to her because she has great stage presence and such a warm, natural smile.  The next night John and I took Oliver, Beatrice and Simon to "Temple Hill".  This is where the LDS Oakland Temple is located, just 20 minutes from Amy. We really didn't want to take Simon (3 1/2) because he doesn't like to sit still for very long.  He pleaded and promised to  "be good" so much we didn't have the heart to leave him.  I'm happy to report, all 3 children were great!  Simon said, "I kept my promise, huh, Hana?  Now I can go with you other places, right?"  I told him that he was now a good "promise keeper" and we would be happy to take him anywhere (well, "almost" anywhere.)   There was an hour of incredible music and then we went outside the Stake Center and watched as they turned on gazillions of Christmas lights.  Huge palm trees were covered and outlined with all these lights.  The music thrilled our souls!  What a wonderful evening and 2 sleepy heads slept all the way home.  We headed back pretty early Sunday morning so that we could keep our Sunday commitments.  We just have one more "marriage class" to teach then our Sundays will slow down a little bit.  We've said this lots, but we really do like to keep busy.  Not crazy busy, just busy. The topic of my Sunday School lesson was "Preparing for the Savior's Second Coming."  I was really having trouble getting and keeping their attention until we got to the scriptures that tell about the signs of the time that will happen before He comes.  When we started checking off the events that have or are now occurring, the class became very serious.  One student said, "You mean, we don't know exactly when He will come BUT it could be ANYTIME?"  The whole class was like, "Wow".  I asked if anyone needed to be making any changes in their lives and they quietly nodded yes.  Very sobering moment for many I believe.  We have been attempting to visit many less active members in the two English wards that we work with.  I say "attempting" very loosely.  One of our main responsibilities is to try to help bring "lost sheep" back to the church.  Most folks are not home so we leave a note with our name and number.  I really felt like a missionary last week when we got a door slammed in our face.  Since this was the first time this has happened to us, we were a little taken back to say the least.  We were sharing this with our young Elders and they just smiled because this happens to them all the time.  I admire those young men so much!  Those of you who feed the Elders, we thank you!!  We usually do not make church visits after dark unless we have a specific appointment so our evenings are free to study or do whatever.  We took a recent convert to see the Travis Air Force Golden West Coast Band on Thursday night in downtown Sacramento.  They travel throughout the west coast giving free concerts.  This was a "Songs for the Season" concert and was one of the finest we've ever seen and heard.  When they played the "Star Spangle Banner" to open, I had chills running down my arms!  We just received word that our good neighbor in Jeff City, Tom Brooks, has passed away.  He was a very good man and we will really miss visiting with him when working out in the yard.  Each day here on earth is a gift but thankfully we know that there are such wonderful things awaiting us in eternity.  How grateful I am to know that families can be forever!  We have been having some frustrating problems with our car that no one seems to be able to figure out.  How we miss our Brauns Bros. in Jeff City.  Closing on a funny note.....John got up this morning and put on his glasses and thought, "Mmmmm, my left eye is sure fuzzy.  He went about getting dressed, eating, reading, etc. and began to think, goodness, first my hearing is going and now my eyes are growing worse, even over night.  He started cleaning his glasses, first the right lens then the left.  Strangely, there was no lens in the left side.  He wasn't going blind, the lens had just fallen out!  Thankfully, we found the lens before either of us old fogeys stepped on it!  Popped right back in!!  Got our first Christmas card today with a wonderful newsletter from Chris and Julie.  We appreciate their wonderful care of our home.  We couldn't have served this mission without their willingness to housesit.  We really know Christmas time is here because we broke down and bought some peppermint ice cream.  We had been "ice cream free" for over 2 months!!  And it was soooo good.  Cantorum Christmas Concert is this weekend (we think).  We miss singing with them so much and know that it will be a great concert!  Make the most of the month preparing for the Savior's birth!  Love to all!!
  .

A Season of Thankfulness 2013

      Do you ever remember seeing the red funnels at a children's museum where you drop in a coin at the top and it slowly goes around and around, and then picks up speed as it drops further down into the funnel until it is going very fast by the time it drops out of the bottom?
     That is how I am describing how fast out mission seems to be going as we have passed the 15 month mark. If these last few days of events are any indication of how fast it's going I know that Sherrie and I need to hold onto our hats as we complete the last 3 months.
     On Saturday one of the most wonderful highlights of our mission occurred. We were involved in escorting and the witnessing of eight Marshallese Branch members who attended the Sacramento Temple for the first time for their individual endowments. The word "Endowment" is a sacred terminology used in the LDS church when church members go to a temple to make covenants or promises with the Lord to live a righteous life while here upon this earth. These covenants or promises help us as members to focus on the Savior, understand His role in our Heavenly Father's plan, and to understand our commitment to follow Him. We believe these are the greatest blessings available to all of us through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
     Six of these people were husband and wife and we watched as each couple was sealed to each other for all time and eternity. Then the children of two of the couples were brought in all dressed in white to be sealed to their parents. There is something special about little Marshallese children who normally are what I would say are "little hellions" at church, but now come into the sealing room looking like angels as they kneel around the alter with their weeping parents. For that matter we were all weeping. It was a wonderful experience that we will never forget.
     Earlier Saturday we also attended the funeral of a 91 year old man who had lived a wonderful life of love and service to his family, the church and to the Lord. His wife of 67 years, 7 children and spouses, 39 grandchildren, and at least 60 great-grand children were all in attendance. The entire center section of the church pews were filled by his family. What a tribute to such a wonderful man! We had been visiting weekly with he and his wonderful wife.
      This past week we were in attendance at what our mission calls "zone conferences". It is an event that lasts pretty much all day with about 100 missionaries in attendance each day. Elder Baxter, a General Authority of our church, was in attendance. He and his wife are British. He provided wonderful spiritual guidance and direction to the missionaries. At these zone conferences Sherrie and I also assist in inspecting the missionary cars that the young missionaries are assigned to drive. A unique experience. All were in pretty good shape.
       This Wednesday Sherrie and I go down to the home of our daughter Amy and her family who live in Walnut Creek CA, to be with them for Thanksgiving. Can't wait.
       Last but not least it looks like we are taking a round about way of coming home in February. The kids have given us an early 50th wedding anniversary gift and we will be going to Hawaii at the end of February 2014! We are excited! And hopefully by the time we start home the winter weather will have passed.

Got to go. Love ya,

Elder John

November 16, 2013  I am either a great procrastinator or time goes by way too fast.  I shall choose the second option!  This past Sunday we had our first adult baptism in the Marshallese Branch in many, many months!!  We have had two young elders assigned to our little branch and they are wonderful.  They are very diligent as well as very in tune with the spirit.  It is so amazing to see how the gospel of Jesus Christ can change lives.  This man, early 30's, has made many bad choices in his life and never had responded to the pleadings of his family who are strong members of the church.  I don't know what exactly brought about his change of heart, but I know his heart has been softened and he was ready to make a commitment.  His 13 year old daughter is in my teenage Sunday School class and she is so happy. The brother that we have been working with on his English conducted the baptism service for the first time.  We were so proud of him.  He is very shy so it took a lot of courage to get up and conduct the meeting.  He will make a great bishop some day, I'm sure.   Next Saturday there will be 7 members of our tiny branch of the church to go to the temple for the first time.  One of the couples has asked us to be there with them to kind of be their escort or guide as they go through the temple.  This is a couple who would not even speak to us a year ago and were not coming to church at all.  They had gotten their feelings hurt and did not want to participate in church.  They now have learned that powerful principle of forgiveness and are now active in the church.  What a joy!!  They have 2 daughters and their families who are setting a goal to all go to the temple next year.  Lives are changed by learning to forgive others. How I wish we could all be perfect sometimes but then of course we would not have opportunities to grow in humility and understanding.  John told you about our new convert friend, Naomi, in his last blog.  Naomi is still going strong and has been baptized and confirmed a member of the church.  She is an incredible cook and loves to have us over and cook for us.  It's kind of a "eat and ask" meal.  We "eat" and she "asks" lots of gospel questions which we are delighted to answer.  I hope we will always remain in contact  with her after we leave Sacramento.  We have a new assignment of about 61 names of less active members from the Sacramento 1st Ward who we have been asked to try to contact and invite to church.  So far are batting average is about zip for folks not at home.  We started a new marriage class last week and had a great turnout.  We had the second class last night and had 4 people there.  We were trying to figure out if it was our breath, our body odor, or our personalities that might have driven them away.  We're thinking positively though and thinking it may of just been "one of those nights."  We look forward to see what will happen next week.  A Marshallese sister has just been called as my "assistant" in Sunday school so we will team teach for a while so that she will be ready to take over in February.  It doesn't seem possible that we will only be here another 3 months!  We are having 4 sister missionaries over for supper next week and celebrating Thanksgiving with them early.  We are blessed!  Take care!!!

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!!!