Monday the 15th found us teaching, preparing new lessons and attending FHE - all our usual routine. After the lesson and scripture reading at FHE, the YSAs went on a Halloween Scavenger Hunt. Bro. Barlow and I didn't "scavenge." We just went back to the apartment and put our feet up. It's hard keeping up with the YSAs.
Tuesday, the 16th, was our last "Missionary Apartment Inspection" day for the month. We had a great visit with the Elders. It's been fun to have some interaction with all of them.
Our Institute lesson on Wednesday was on the life of King David. From the Bible Dictionary (under David, King) it was sad to learn that because of his complicity in the death of Uriah David lost his chance for exaltation. Even with kings, God is no respecter of persons. Our Heavenly Father is the perfect parent. He makes the rules, tells us the consequences if we disobey and then follows through.
We joined the YSAs for Sports Night on Thursday. They played wiffle ball in the Stake Center gym. Kent was the pitcher for both sides. It was fun to watch two Chinese boys who haven't been in the States very long try to figure out the rules. There were lots of hand motions that's for sure.
The Institute was closed Friday because of yearly carpet cleaning. That worked out well for us since there was a Youth Leadership Conference in "The Bay Area" that two of our LDS Student Association officers wanted to attend. Although they both drive both of their vehicles were in repair so we were elected to drive them down. We left Redding at noon. The Conference was in the coastal town of Pacifica, south of San Francisco. No matter what route we checked out there was no way to avoid the freeways around San Fran. The amount of traffic was amazing! We're thinking half the population of the U.S. must live and/or work in San Francisco. Before our traffic experience we were thinking, once we dropped off the kids, we would drive back to S.F. and do a little sightseeing. NO THANK YOU! We have become true "Santaquinians." Yes, it's the small town life for us. We didn't go over the Golden Gate - we took the Bay Bridge. It was interesting to see San Quintin. Nan was surprised to see the prison took up the whole island. We stayed at the Pacifica Beach Hotel. The internet description was definitely a long stretch of the truth. But at least the room had Wi-Fi and cable. (Brook said next time we travel, let her make the hotel arrangements. She says she knows the ins-and outs of CA hotel reservations. Since we spent considerable time trying to find what we thought would be a nice place and fails miserably, we're more than willing to let Brook handle hotels from now on.) The weather on Friday was very foggy with a heavy mist. Almost like a light rain. It never cleared up until we were on our way home. Driving on winding Highway 1 south of SF was a white-knuckle experience. We went to the local "best seafood place in town" and had a nice meal. We walked on the beach Saturday morning even though it was still very foggy and misting. We LOVED it. Being at the ocean really rejuvenated us.
Saturday's drive home around S.F. wasn't any less taxing than the drive the day before but we made it. It took an hour and a half just to get through the Bay Area. We left at 1:30 and were back in Redding by 6 p.m. The kids said the Conference was good and they were given some good advice on how to lead.
Sunday was truly a day of rest. After the stressful drives on Friday and Saturday it was nice to only have to drive a few miles to church. Kent had Bishopric Meeting at 10:15 so while he was doing that I was able to do a little fine-tuning to my lesson for Monday. After church, we just had a nice, quiet day.
Thank you for all the notes and letters. Finding something in the mailbox is always exciting. Your emails are truly appreciated. Our routine is much the same day after day and getting a letter or note adds some zest to our lives.
Guess that's it for Week 14. Remember: Search diligently, pray always and be believing.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Weeks 12 and 13: 30 September - 14 October
Wow, it has been a while since we posted anything. Wasn't Conference great? We live-streamed it into our apartment, except the Priesthood Session, which I went to. Nan went to a RS dinner while I was at the Priesthood Session then we all met there for ice cream after the session. I have watched Elder Holland's talk several times and on Monday last week I showed it to my D & C class because we were discussing being disciples. Another of our favorites was Elder Larry Echo Hawk. Nan had just taught in her Church History class about taking the message to the Lamanites during the early days of the church.
Mom, Grandma Great, made us some scrubbies to give to the Elders in our Zone. President Weston has asked us to visit their apartments at least once a month and see how things are going and to make sure the apartments are relatively clean. We met with the Zone on the 9th and gave them a run down on what we would be looking for. We gave each companionship two scrubbies and told them to use one to keep the dishes clean and the other one was for their commode. We made sure they were different colors and told them NOT to mix them up and to wash them frequently. Our inspection has been interesting: two of the apartments had clogged furnace filters, one a clogged sink, a couple of the apartments have carpet that is dirty and old beyond hope. There was one kitchen that had tile missing in the floor, which made it hard to keep clean. Two sets of Elders live in an apartment complex that has several people on parole in neighboring apartment's. We also lent them a ratchet set to tighten the bolts on their bed to keep it together. Another apartment has a ping-pong table and Foosball in their garage given them by their neighbors. Quite a variety of apartments. We have our final October inspection next Tuesday.
None of the Elders complained. They met us when we arrived at 8 AM with smiles on their faces and in a white shirts and ties. Spirits are high and we really enjoyed visiting with them. Nan had them all laughing. I gave a prayer as we left each apartment. We both enjoyed the 15 to 30 minute visits and used the time with them to not really inspect the apartments as much as to make sure companionships were OK and to get to know the elders better. We will, however, report to the mission home our summary of the apartments.
This next week-end, the 19th and 20th, we are taking two of the LDSSA (Latter-day Saints Student Association) Council leaders to a leadership training in San Francisco. This conference is for the youth leaders and so we are just going to be the transportation down and back. We will use the time to just relax for a day. The conference starts at 5:30 on Friday afternoon and we pick them up at 1 PM on Saturday. About a 4 hour trip to the conference which is just south of SF in Pacifica. We pick them up at Half Moon Bay.
On Wednesday, the 3rd, the temperature at 9:10 p.m. was 97 degrees! The weather is starting to act more like Fall but it still gets into the 80s each day. When we walk in the mornings, however, it is cool - sometimes we even wear a light jacket for the first little while until we get warmed up.
Nan and I are super excited that Brad, Tyson, Pam and families are coming to Redding for Thanksgiving. We have received numerous suggestions about what to do in the area when our families arrive.
We are thinking the reduction in age requirements made at Conference will have an impact on our little Branch. Several guys and maybe two gals are now getting their paperwork ready to submit. We see the Lord's hand in these last days as He has made it possible to send many more missionaries out into the field.
Mom (Doris) sends a letter every week. Tyson sent pictures via email of Max and Ellie at the Pumpkin Patch and in their Halloween costumes (a preview for G-Pa and G-Ma). It's always nice to receive mail - email or otherwise.
We're missing you all. We send our love
Mom, Grandma Great, made us some scrubbies to give to the Elders in our Zone. President Weston has asked us to visit their apartments at least once a month and see how things are going and to make sure the apartments are relatively clean. We met with the Zone on the 9th and gave them a run down on what we would be looking for. We gave each companionship two scrubbies and told them to use one to keep the dishes clean and the other one was for their commode. We made sure they were different colors and told them NOT to mix them up and to wash them frequently. Our inspection has been interesting: two of the apartments had clogged furnace filters, one a clogged sink, a couple of the apartments have carpet that is dirty and old beyond hope. There was one kitchen that had tile missing in the floor, which made it hard to keep clean. Two sets of Elders live in an apartment complex that has several people on parole in neighboring apartment's. We also lent them a ratchet set to tighten the bolts on their bed to keep it together. Another apartment has a ping-pong table and Foosball in their garage given them by their neighbors. Quite a variety of apartments. We have our final October inspection next Tuesday.
None of the Elders complained. They met us when we arrived at 8 AM with smiles on their faces and in a white shirts and ties. Spirits are high and we really enjoyed visiting with them. Nan had them all laughing. I gave a prayer as we left each apartment. We both enjoyed the 15 to 30 minute visits and used the time with them to not really inspect the apartments as much as to make sure companionships were OK and to get to know the elders better. We will, however, report to the mission home our summary of the apartments.
This next week-end, the 19th and 20th, we are taking two of the LDSSA (Latter-day Saints Student Association) Council leaders to a leadership training in San Francisco. This conference is for the youth leaders and so we are just going to be the transportation down and back. We will use the time to just relax for a day. The conference starts at 5:30 on Friday afternoon and we pick them up at 1 PM on Saturday. About a 4 hour trip to the conference which is just south of SF in Pacifica. We pick them up at Half Moon Bay.
On Wednesday, the 3rd, the temperature at 9:10 p.m. was 97 degrees! The weather is starting to act more like Fall but it still gets into the 80s each day. When we walk in the mornings, however, it is cool - sometimes we even wear a light jacket for the first little while until we get warmed up.
Nan and I are super excited that Brad, Tyson, Pam and families are coming to Redding for Thanksgiving. We have received numerous suggestions about what to do in the area when our families arrive.
We are thinking the reduction in age requirements made at Conference will have an impact on our little Branch. Several guys and maybe two gals are now getting their paperwork ready to submit. We see the Lord's hand in these last days as He has made it possible to send many more missionaries out into the field.
Mom (Doris) sends a letter every week. Tyson sent pictures via email of Max and Ellie at the Pumpkin Patch and in their Halloween costumes (a preview for G-Pa and G-Ma). It's always nice to receive mail - email or otherwise.
We're missing you all. We send our love
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