August 28, 2017

Golf Company's Graduation--August 22, 2017

Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, CA

Sister Shelstad and Sister Halvorsen

Pageant o the Masters

Pageant of the Masters--Grand Tour

Sister Halvorsen and Sister Shelstad

Elder Halvorsen and Elder Shelstad

Elders at the Masters

The Stage of the Pageant of the Masters.  

When the show started, there weren't any empty seats!

One of the things we are learning from our mission is flexibility.  Days never seem to go quite as planned.  This week was no exception.  Even though it wasn't quite as we expected, we had some great experiences.

Tuesday we arrived at our graduation 15 minutes early only to find out it had already started.  The colonel in charge decided they would just go ahead.  So we didn't get the full celebration with Golf Company but we were happy for them.  Lesson learned--the military runs on its own schedule.

President and Sister Clark treated all of the missionaries to a night out on Wednesday.  However, getting to the venue in Laguna Beach was a challenge.  We are usually scheduled to work at the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society from 8-4 pm.  Monday we were told we needed to be ready to go to the mission activity at 2 pm.  So, we contacted the Relief Society and asked if we could leave at noon to allow us time to get back.  After making those arrangements, we were told we would not be meeting at the activity until 4 pm--OK?  But, we came home early and were ready to leave at 3:30.  What we didn't plan on was a HUGE traffic jam.  We inched our way to Laguna Beach and arrived at 4:30.  Elder and Sister Shelstad arrived shortly after we did.  We parked at an outlying parking lot and rode a bus in to the center of Laguna Beach for the Pageant of the Masters.  

The Pageant includes a display of outstanding artwork by local artists.  The variety was amazing.  We enjoyed artwork from the children's display up to pieces that were on sale for thousands of dollars.  The displays were so varied.  Brad got a kick out of the paintings of trailers.  And, there were some action paintings of bikers and cars that  caught our eye.  There were glass blown pieces, pottery, wood, tile, and metal pieces along with paintings and photography.  It was fascinating.  We had dinner with all of the senior couples in Tivoli Terrace, a fancy french restaurant connected to the venue--the flowers and decorations were just gorgeous.  We had a lovely time with the group.  It was fun wearing our tags and having a variety of people stop to talk to us about our mission.  

The main event features "living pictures" in which classical art works are recreated by real people who are made to look nearly identical to the originals.  It was quite amazing.  I don't know how the "statues" and "painted figures" could stand sooo still.  There was an orchestra and a narrator that took us on a "Grand Tour" through England, France, Italy, and Scotland.  There was a hot-air balloon, an opera (with a real performance), a gondola floating off the stage and Buffalo Bill Cody and a group of Indians who did a show in England.  The staging was incredible.  We really enjoyed the evening.

There was no Family Day this week in San Diego so we didn't get to make that trip.  Coming up we have a Family Day for 90 people--the biggest yet.13 LDS graduates.  Should be fun.

President Clark joined Brad on Sunday going to the Range to provide the sacrament to the marines who were in field training.  They had a great experience together doing that.  I waited patiently reading in the car at the church (women aren't allowed on the Range).   We interacted with 37 marines at the Basilone Branch yesterday which was a nice group.  

I felt blessed in our San Clemente ward.  A young marine wife who we had visited asked if she could sit by us.  Her husband is in Virginia until October and she has three little ones.  So, I got to play grandma and entertain two-year old Daniel.  It is nice that we are establishing friendships where marine families are willing to let us help them in some small way.  We see our circle of friends growing each week.  It is nice to be instruments in the Lord's hands to help marine families in our area.

August 21, 2017

Monday, August 14, we visited Montage Beach.  Fabulous views.

The Arch at Montage Beach.

Beautiful Sand.  Monday is a great day to visit the beach--it was empty.

The gardens were spectacular.

Cake Cutting Ceremony with families at MCRD.  We travel to San Diego each week to meet the marines who will be coming to SOI and their families.  

A tradition is to have the cake cut with a saber.  The first piece of cake is given to the oldest marine to guarantee that it is not poisonous.  He then feeds a piece to the youngest marine who verifies that it is edible.  The marines also sing the marine song.  It's a fun tradition.

The Orange County Arts Project performance of Beauty and the Beast.

The view of a gorgeous sunset from Camp Pendleton

We've had a wonderful week--even though we did not get glasses to watch the solar eclipse today.  We used last Monday as our P-day (since we had been with PFC Constantine in San Diego the previous Saturday.)  So, for an adventure we went to visit Montage Beach in Laguna Beach, CA.  It was the prefect day for a visit--no crowds.  The views were amazing.  We sat on the beach and just enjoyed the salt air and warm sunshine for a few hours.  We checked out the hotel prices for the Montage--at $1,000 per night, we'll probably just be enjoying the beach for free.  That is one great thing about California, most of the beaches are free.  We really enjoyed the beautiful location.

We visited some families on the base this week.  We met the Dawsons.  Their dad has been deployed several months and will return sometime in November.  The family is amazing!  We learned that the two youngest children were part of the Orange County Arts Project and were performing in Beauty and the Beast.  So, we went to see them on Friday night.  They were so excited to see us there.  We felt like we were their surrogate grandparents--Spencer is 12 and Emma is 14.  Since our grandchildren are not close by it was fun to support them.  Spencer was Cogsworth and Emma played Mrs. Potts.  The production was actually fantastic.  Kids are so talented.  We really enjoyed the evening and supporting this wonderful family.  I'm sure we will be cheering them on in other activities in the future.

Thursday we drove to San Diego for the largest cake cutting to date.  Got to meet seven new marines.  We included a little about the traditional cake cutting by the picture above.  It's always fun to be there to celebrate their graduation.  The marine boot camp is one of the most rigorous in the military.

Saturday we visited three more charming families.  It takes special people to make the Marines their career.  It was fun letting them know that we are available to help them.  We're building relationships one at a time but our circle of friends is getting larger each week.  We pray that our marines will be safe as their serve our country.  On our way home from visiting that night we shot this view of the sunset.  It was a very rewarding evening and the drive home was especially beautiful.

Yesterday was nearly a disaster.  It was supposed to be a very busy day but things kept getting cancelled.  Brad was assigned to visit the marines at the range.  He drove out to find no one was there. Most of the day was like that.  Until we got to our final meeting of the day and we had 48 marines attend.  That was pretty exciting.

We had a very fulfilling week.  Hope you did too.  

August 14, 2017

On August 12, we drove Jared Constantine (a marine originally from Alabama) to the San Diego Temple.  Elder and Sister Sattley and Elder and Sister Kapololu joined us for the session.  Unfortunately, the Kapololus had to leave before we had pictures.  It was a wonderful day.

Marine Constantine served a mission in the Colorado Springs Mission and while we were at the temple, he ran into a family he knew in Colorado.  It was a tender mercy for him.

This is a picture of a planning meeting at Old Town San Diego with the Senior Couples we work closely with. We started out in the MTC together and really have formed a close bond with these missionaries.  From left to right:  Elder Halvorsen, Sister Halvorsen, Elder Will Sattley, 

Sister Marcia Sattley, Sister Charlene Kapololu and Elder John Kapololu

We attend graduations weekly for the marines we meet with on Sundays.  This Company included several marines we had met at MCRD and followed through with them while they were at SOI (School of Infantry).  

This graduation was for Fox Company (notice the F on the flag).  Tradition is very important in the marines.  The graduation ceremonies are very impressive.

Pictures tell he story this week.  We said goodbye to several marines that we have grown very fond of at their graduation on Tuesday.  They were definitely excited to be graduating but it is always sad to see the outstanding marines move on.  They add so much to our Sunday meetings.  Fox Company had some great young marines who will serve in the reservers in New Mexico and Idaho. Monday we drove around Dana Point and did a little site seeing.  This is such a beautiful area. Wednesday we worked our regular shifts at the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society but Brad did two cases on his own which is huge.  He was thankful to be able to help several families who were in need.  I actually worked with a mentor on two cases and did the budgets myself.  I've been dragging my feet screaming but they finally got me to do it.  And, it wasn't quite as hard as I had anticipated.  Thursday after working at the Thrift Store we drove to San Diego for the Family Day.  We had the biggest crowd yet.  This company has 12 LDS marines and six attended the cake cutting with their families.  It was a big group.  It is fun to start our relationship with these young men by meeting their families. After the ceremony, we went to Old Town San Diego with the senior couples--Will and Marcia Sattley from Maurietta, CA and Charlene and John Kapololu from Oahu, HI.  We really enjoy working with these amazing people.  They are so dedicated and energized.  Since the Kapololus are in the San Diego Mission they had been to Old Town and showed us around.  We went to a Casa that had been occupied by a very generous family that had lived there for our generations.  The original owner was a governor of San Diego.  It was a museum with beautiful gardens.  The tour guide there was an LDS Sister Missionary.  After our tour, we went to dinner at a fun restaurant called Miguels.  Had a lovely evening together.  Saturday was the highlight of the week.  We took Private Constantine to the San Diego Temple.  The Sattleys and Kapololus joined us there.  They had worked with Jared since he started his training at MCRD in San Diego.  It was a super day and exemplified the support these young men are receiving every step of the way during their training here at Camp Pendleton.  The role of Military Relations Missionaries is important in helping the marines until they are able to graduate and move on to their various training schools throughout the country.  We have several marines who are preparing for priesthood advancements and patriarchal blessings.  We're excited to see them progress not only as marines but as priesthood holders while they are with us.

Happy birthday to Gwen.  We were thrilled to be able to see Eric and his family on Skype and celebrate Gwens #2 Birthday.  We certainly love that special little girl.

August 7, 2017

Unfortunately, lighting in the Caruso Chapel is not very good at our evening meeting.  However, this is a picture of the senior couples who serve at the Basilone Military Branch at Camp Pendleton along with Elders Fullmer and Mueller.  This is Elder Fullmer's final meeting.  He will fly home to Santaquin, Utah on Tuesday, August 8.  We will certainly miss him.  He is standing in the center of the picture in a suit.  He has been a dedicated missionary who has done much good here in the California, Irvine Mission.  He welcomed us when we arrived and taught us how to serve the marines with love--a wonderful missionary and a great example to all of us.  Others in the picture from left to right behind the marines are Cal and Freda Weber, Phil and Dianne Woolley, President Keith and Sister Michi Stephens, Lee and Alana Jolley, Elder Fuller, Cindy and Vic Lundquist, Gaylene and Brad Halvorsen and Marine Lehman.  The marines in front are from Hotel Company and just arrived at SOI.

This week had a few exciting events--some good and some not so good.  I'll start with the not-so-good.  I scraped up the car by running in to the garage door.  Entry into our garage is pretty tricky because you come from between two buildings and have to make a sharp turn.  Unfortunately, I didn't turn sharp enough.  So, it is time for a little new paint on the bumper.  (Glad it wasn't a mission car so I don't have to report an accident to Elder Chow!)

With that over, I can cover the good.  We started serving as volunteers for the AYSA and helped at Concrete Beach.  This event is held the Friday before graduation on the basketball court by the SOI headquarters building.  234 marines attended.  Each received two BBQ hot dogs, chips, chili and a drink.  After everyone was served, there was a huge line for leftovers.  We cooked about 550 hot dogs.  Everything was devoured.  They have serving the marines down to a science.  Brad and I were assigned condiment duty.  We got to thank the marines for their service and give them a squirt of catsup and mustard.  It was actually very fun and nice to see the marines we work with on Sunday.  We did experience a tender mercy.  One marine's father had contacted us and said his son was not attending the Branch and asked us to reach out to him.  We had sent numerous texts but unfortunately he had not responded.  Brad prayed that we would be able to make contact with this marine.  We served half of the marines and we did not see his name.  Brad mentioned to another volunteer that we were looking for this young man.  And, the volunteer found him and introduced us.  We had a nice visit with the marine and invited him to the Branch.  It was amazing that we found him among all of the camouflage that day.  Prayers are answered.  We really enjoyed serving the marines--even if it was the hottest Concrete Beach of the year.  We hope to serve here once a month.

We were able to visit several more military families who live on the base.  The two young families we met both had three young children.  We had a delightful time dropping off popsicles and playing with the children as we got to know their parents.  One family had only been to church once since arriving about a month ago.  We invited them both to attend and they were both there on Sunday.  I was subbing in Primary on the piano and met Logan crying at the door (he is 5).  He didn't want to go in.  I told him I was new too and we could go in together.  And, he went with me.  Several times during the meeting he caught my eye and waved to me.  Levi, who is two, was from the second family.  After church he was running away from his mom who was carrying a sleeping infant.  When Levi ran past me, I called his name.  He looked and got a huge smile.  He went back to his mom and then escorted her calmly to come and see the missionary who had played with him.  It felt so good to see that we were making a difference in the lives of the families we visit.

Sunday Brad was the Fireside speaker in our Branch.  His topic was Standing Tall.  He did a terrific job.  He shared the story of Grandpa toasting the President of France with OJ and the Queen of England with water and challenged the marines to stand up for their values.  He also transported a marine to the Single Adults Ward which really helped that young man who has been struggling.  My service for the Basilone Branch on Sunday was cooking.  For breakfast I provided the Blueberry Buttermilk Pancake Casserole and for dinner homemade apple pie.  Everyone seemed to enjoy them.

At our meeting at the San Clemente Ward, one young father bore a strong testimony of the things he knows for certain.  He said there are many things he believes and some things he knows for certain.  And, there are some things he has put in a drawer of his mind to reconcile later.  The three things he knew for certain that he shared were:  1) We have heavenly parents who love us.  2) Joseph Smith did see the Father and the Son in the Sacred Grove as he said he did.  3) The temple sealing power is real.  He shared personal experiences that confirmed these three ideas and helped him know they are true.  It was an inspiring testimony--one of many that day that touched my heart.

One more picture of Elder Fullmer to close out this blog.  We are going to miss him playing his bag pipes!!