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.