December 11, 2017

Santa's Workshop

Donna Miranda, Director,

San Onofre Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

San Onofre Volunteer Luncheon

Elder and Sister Rober

Nauvoo Missionaries

San Clemente Stake

Interfaith Christmas Concert

Nicki and Elsie

Ryan, Ruby and Annie

Sophie singing in 

San Diego East Stake

Christmas Fireside

Ryan played several solos in

the Christmas Fireside

Sister Moosman, Sister Crossette

Brianne Bullard

December 11, 2017

It's been a week of wonderful celebrations.  Monday we volunteered at Santa's Workshop on Camp Pendleton.  There were hundreds of new donated toys being prepared to be given away to children of marines.  Parents (young marines) will be able to choose 3-4 gifts for each of their children next week.  We got to cover tables and display toys.  Those who donated were certainly generous.  It looked like a retail toy store.  It was a fun day of service.

Tuesday we said goodbye to two of our favorite marines--Pace and Edmunds.  We wish them success in their military careers and will really miss them.  Fires fueled by the Santa Anna Winds were the topic of discussion.  So many homes destroyed by wildfires--so sad.

Wednesday we were honored for each volunteering 428 hours at the San Onofre Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.  We only serve here one afternoon per week but when you are consistent, the hours accumulate pretty quickly.  Donna Miranda, the office director, hosted the lovely event.  Her husband did all of the cooking.  The commanders from the School of Infantry--West attended the luncheon along with Chaplain Powers who we have become good friends with.  That evening we attended the San Clemente Ward Empty Nesters Family Home Evening.  Elder and Sister Rober who recently returned from serving as missionaries in Nauvoo entertained us with interesting stories about Nauvoo Saints.  The early Saints truly sacrificed all they had to build Zion and had some amazing spiritual experiences.  The Robers loved serving in Nauvoo.

After working our regular shift at the Thrift Store on Thursday, we met Elder and Sister Sattley and one of their neighbors for lunch.  Howie is a retired fireman and is hoping to volunteer at the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.  He had questions that we were able to answer for him and we introduced him at the mainside office so he can get started.  While we were at lunch, the Fallbrook fire broke out and we could see a dark cloud of smoke close by.  The fire moved quickly destroying 84 homes and killing some prize horses.  We're so thankful for the firefighters who are working so hard to limit the destruction.

Friday we watched news reports about the fires and prayed the winds would stop.  Did our regular shift at the San Onofre Office.  

The highlight of Saturday was attending the Interfaith Christmas Concert sponsored by the San Clemente Stake.  Myrna Borquist (Bro. Lang's daughter) was in charge of the event and she did a fantastic job.  Four religious congregations joined members of the San Clemente Stake to perform.  They had some very unusual musical numbers.  It was fun to meet members from other congregations and see them perform.  A great event to build closer ties with our friends and neighbors.  President and Sister Clark were in attendance.  President Stapley from the San Clemente Stake gave a Christmas message encouraging everyone to make room in our hearts for Christ every day of the year.  He told a cute story of a girl he met in London.  She said as a child she was asked to participate in a nativity play at school.  She was sure she would be Mary but instead was the innkeeper's wife.  When she complained her mother explained that the innkeeper's wife was probably the one who found room for Mary and Joseph in the stable.  The young girl (about 9 years old) took this to heart.  During the play, when the couple came to the Inn and the innkeeper said their was no room, she stepped forward and said--Of course we have room for the Son of God!!  Each of us has he opportunity to make room for Him in our lives.  

Sunday was the highlight of the week.  We had several marines who we had met at MCRD report for duty.  So fun to see them again.  We're going to miss the instant connection we've felt with those we have met at the Cake Cuttings.  D'Angelo and Thomas are both looking forward to a temple trip in January.  In Sacrament Meeting in the San Clemente Ward, Sister Moosman and Sister Crossette sang Dear To The Heart of the Shepherd as a special number.  It was so applicable to missionary service and it was beautiful.  Sister Crossette was transferred today.  We are really going to miss working with her.  She has been in this ward for over seven months and has done an amazing job.  She is such a dedicated missionary.  It was wonderful that Brianne Bullard was baptized Sunday night before Sister Crossette left.  Brianne has been a golden investigator and was so excited for her baptism--such a beautiful spirit.  We felt bad that we were unable to attend the baptism but Brianne knows that we love her.  

Sunday evening we made a trip to San Diego to have dinner with Ryan, Nicki, Sophie, Caleb, Elsie, Ruby and Annie Williams.  What a fabulous family.  We really enjoyed visiting with them.  They will be moving to Japan the end of March so we felt very blessed to spend an evening in their home.  They will be stationed in Japan for two years and they are all excited for this adventure.  We were able to see Ryan and Sophie perform in the San Diego East Stake Christmas Fireside.  Ryan played several solos and sang in the choir.  Sophie was featured in a small singing group and also sang in the choir.  It was an outstanding concert. We got to meet a sister Nicki taught when she served in San Diego as a young sister missionary.  The convert is now in charge of the institute for the area and her husband is in the bishopric of their ward.  What a tender mercy that Nicki returned to her mission area as an adult to see how her service had helped this sweet sister enjoy the fulness of the gospel in her life.  While we were at the concert we were also able to see several missionaries in the San Diego Mission who we have worked with at MCRD as well as Elder and Sister Nelsen, Military Relations Missionaries we have come to love.