November 20, 2017

For our P-day we went for

a hike

Before the fire, it was pretty scenic

This is the trail we hiked

The view from the top is lovely

World War II huts are still used

for training

Our apartment from the top of 

the hill (the first row of houses)

A popular golf course nearby

November 20, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving Week!!  I'm sure most of you are preparing the turkey and all of the trimmings and your homes will soon be filled with friends and family.  We'll be missing the family but will gather with friends, marines, and elders at the Dawson's home to celebrate the day.  It should be fun.

Not too much exciting happening here this week.  SOI (School of Infantry) will have a four day weekend so many of the instructor families will be hitting the road to visit their families.  The student marines will be celebrating Thanksgiving with families in the area. I understand everyone who wanted to leave the barracks has a place to go.  We will pick up one student to eat with us with our friends the Dawsons.  Ben Dawson just returned from his deployment so we're excited to get to know him a little better.  We love this family.

We went to an orientation with the Family Assistance Ministry.  Soon we will start working in their thrift store on Monday afternoons.  We have a commitment on Mondays to help with the Sub for Santa program at Camp Pendleton until the middle of December.  Then we will serve with FAM.  They are very nice people who help serve the needs of civilians in San Clemente through a food bank, thrift store and homeless shelters.  We were impressed with their programs.

Our schedule didn't change much this week.  Enjoyed graduation on Tuesday, taught Budget for Baby on Wednesday while Brad worked as a caseworker, cashiered at the Thrift Store while Brad tested electronic equipment, and served at the Relief Society on Friday.

There have been some problems lately at the Thrift Store with volunteers not following the policies outlined by the office.  The head cashier sent me an email asking me to pray with her that we could change the attitude at the store.  She later wrote and said she usually isn't that bold in asking people to pray.  But, she explained, she has been praying that she would get some "ground support" and felt like I was the answer to her prayers.  She commented that she could see my "light" and could tell I was a follower of Christ and she could trust me.  I was moved that even though we aren't allowed to wear our name tags on the base when we volunteer that she could tell we stand for truth and righteousness.  

Thursday we went to one of the final cake cuttings that our friends Elder and Sister Kapololu will supervise.  They have been reassigned as MLS (leadership support) in a San Diego ward.  We will certainly miss seeing them each week.  They have done a marvelous job at MCRD and we consider them dear friends.  We will attend their last cake cutting today.  We'll see if those who take over invite us to attend in the future.  

Friday would have been my mom's 99 birthday.  I will be eternally grateful for the many sacrifices she made to assure I received a great education and had all of the benefits of life.  She was a generous, hard-working individual who was passionate about helping the poor and supporting her family.  I love her and am so thankful for all she did for me.  She was a great example in my life. 

For our P-day on Saturday we hiked in the hills near our home.  This area was quite green and lush before a wildfire damaged it this summer.  Since i didn't have any pictures from activities this week, I included some from the hike.  We were out about 1 1/2 hours and it was a gorgeous day to be outside.

About 2 am on Sunday morning, we were jolted out of our beds with the loudest noise I had ever heard. (Brad was afraid we have hearing damage).  It was our fire alarm--a blaring noise with lights flashing. We grabbed coats and sandals (Brad was smart enough to grab his phone and wallet) and we headed outside to wait for the fire engine.  It was an interesting way to meet all of your neighbors.  One of the residents on the second floor said he had seen someone pull the fire alarm (I couldn't believe he was looking outside at 2 am) Apparently an apartment resident (that we assume had a little too much to drink) pulled the fire alarm instead of turning on his porch light.  The culprit was one of the few who did not evacuate his apartment.  When the firemen arrived, they knocked on his door and questioned him after which he proceeded to be confrontational--not a fun evening.  For some reason it took a while to turn off the alarm.  It was so loud, we couldn't return to our room until they did.  So about 2:45 am we went back to bed.  Needless to say, we were exhausted on Sunday.  But, I was thankful we had a nice warm bed to return to and we had a fire department who would respond when we needed them and there wasn't a real fire.  So many blessings!!

Sunday we had a high councilman speak in our ward.  He referenced how to fill our testimony tank and used the example of his wife running out of gas recently.  He suggested there are three ways to fill up our tank.  First is by attending our meetings.  We can strength our testimonies by just placing ourselves in the position to hear the good word.  Next, we put for the effort of studying and researching the good word through gospel study.  Lastly, we receive personal revelation where spirit speaks to spirit through our experiences.  It made me again ponder on the light I now see in Marine Edmunds' countenance.  Just by attending meetings, which he hasn't done in a long time, he has changed.  Last night he came into our meeting smiling and said he brought a few of his friends with him.  He had a group of visitors who were not members of our church with him.  He now has a light and peace that he is willing to share with others.  It has made such a significant change in his life.

Bro. Lang's topic in Sunday School was--Is Life Fair??  We had a great discussion.  Made me think of Elder Holland's last conference address.  Life is not fair!!  If it were, none of us would be worthy to return to live with God again because we have all made mistakes.  Christ has come as our advocate who through his mercy, we can be blessed.  If life were fair, we would all be in trouble.

I love Thanksgiving and the opportunity we have to count our blessings.  We are so thankful for an amazing family. Hoping to talk to all of our kids and their wonderful families this week. We got to talk to Grandpa, Heidi and her boys and Eric and Chelsey and their troops already.  Aspen wrote us the sweetest text last night and we'll get to chat with them tonight.  Scheduled to talk to Scott's crew as they drive to St. George.  So nice being senior missionaries so we don't have to wait until Christmas!! We're thankful to be serving as missionaries in the California, Irvine Mission.  We are thankful for the missionaries we serve with and the wonderful marines who are training to protect all of us and our freedom.  Grateful to live in the USA and enjoy abundant blessings.  Thankful to have a testimony of Jesus Christ.  He is our Savior and Redeemer.  Through his love and mercy, we are blessed beyond our imagination.  Happy Thanksgiving.