March 19, 2018

Sister Flanders

Sister Baker

Elder and Sister DeJohn

Groundbreaking for San Juan Capistrano Chapel

Choir

Bro. Manning preparing for the big event

Moving Dirt

Architectural Design for the San Juan Capistrano Chapel

Trail near our apartment

Brad on his favorite trail

March 19, 2018

Let the swallows return.  It's the day the swallows are scheduled to return to San Juan Capistrano.  Unfortunately, we haven't seen them yet.

Monday we made the elders we work with very happy by delivering to them some frozen Acai we had purchased for them at Costco.  I'm not sure if this "super fruit" has arrived in Utah yet but it is really big here in California.  Elder Sanford was thrilled to have his own supply.

The highlight of the week was attending Zone Conference on Wednesday. I have included pictures of Sister Flanders (from Mapleton, UT) and Sister Baker (from Texas) who serve with us in the San Clemente Ward.  Sister Baker participated in the musical number at the conference. Both are wonderful missionaries.  President Bruce (counselor in the mission presidency) talked about being finders, minders and closers.  He gave examples from the Book of Mormon.  Teancom was definitely a closer.  One of the new sisters when introducing herself said she was serving a mission because Christ had given her a second chance.  Sister Clark said Christ has given us all unlimited chances.  She shared a touching story of a doctor who accidentally removed the wrong kidney during an operation. The patient moved on with his life but the doctor could never forgive himself, became an alcoholic and lost his practice.  The doctor thought repentance worked for everyone but him.  We need to realize the Christ's Atonement is for all of us.  President Clark led the missionaries in a discussion based on Elder Rasband's talk "By Divine Design."  God guides our lives but he doesn't control us.  We are living in the day of harvest.  Every good deed will lead us to something good.  We had some wonderful breakout groups centered on topics from Preach My Gospel.  We are in the California Irvine Mission (CIM).  CIM can also stand for Christ In Me.  Our goal is to share experiences that will bring us all closer to Christ.  It was Elder and Sister DeJohns' last ZoneConference and they gave their farewell testimonies.  Elder DeJohn revealed that he has just been diagnosed with prostrate cancer.  He was a convert 25 years ago.  He testified that no matter what happens in the future, he knows that everything will be OK.  The Plan of Happiness assures us that everything will be OK in the end.  We will certainly be praying he has a full recovery.  We have loved working with the DeJohns--such amazing people.  On the way home from conference, Brad humored me by taking me to Raising Cane's Chicken.  The missionaries had been raving about this restaurant--good, but not great.

We left early after sorting at the Thrift Store to visit Dr. Carlin, our new dermatologist.  We both got some burning done.  They had to biopsy one of my moles to see if it is melanoma again.  I need to be more vigilant in protecting my skin from all of this California sunshine.

The Addiction Recovery Program was very emotional on Thursday evening.  Breaks my heart to see the people we have come to love over the last few months relapse and young people struggle with addictions.  Attending this meeting has really given us a different perspective on the struggles addicts face each day.  We pray for them and humbly pray that none of our grandchildren will ever face these challenges.  The Word of Wisdom provides safety if we will but follow it.

We stopped by several marine families on our way home Friday after volunteering but didn't find anyone at home.  One of the marine families who moved just after we arrived last summer has returned from deployment and will be in our ward again.  We saw her on Sunday and she greeted us with a big hug. It is good to know that when we connect with these families, it builds a lasting relationship.  So, hopefully we will be able to do that with new folks as they arrive. Even though we didn't get to visit with any marine families, Scott gave us a call on his way home which was a real treat.

Saturday was a big day for the San Juan Capistrano Ward.  It was the groundbreaking for the first chapel in that city.  I was able to participate in the celebration by singing in the stake choir.  There were quite a number of civic leaders who attended the ceremony.  The speakers were outstanding and told the history of the area and how long they had waited for this chapel.  They shared tender feelings about their commitment to the church and the love they have for their community.  As you can see from the architectural rendering I've attached, it is going to be a lovely building and a real treasure.

We accidentally slept in late on Sunday morning.  We had a tender mercy when we received a text from the Elders that they didn't need us to do a split with them that morning--saving us 30 minutes.  We had six marines at the morning meeting which was thrilling since the last few weeks we've had only one or two.  The Relief Society meeting at San Clemente Ward was based on Elder Hallstrom's October Conference talk regarding miracles.  The sister teaching the lesson had lived in the stake in Northern California where the miracle he quoted had happened.  She had behind the scenes pictures that she shared with us.  It was so interesting. But, the heart of the lesson was we need to have faith in Christ even if the miracles don't come.  "But if not..."  It made me think of Elder DeJohn's testimony. We need to trust in the Lord with all of our hearts and lean not unto our own understanding.  

Between meetings we were able to visit with Boyd and his family.  It's such a blessing that senior missionaries can keep in touch with their family on a regular basis. Aspen, Emma and Dylan are all such caring and talented girls.  Aspen checks in with us several times each week to see how we are doing.  They are all just so special and we love the entire family very much.

We saw three female marines make history Sunday night by attending the Basilone Branch. They are in the first company of women being trained at Camp Pendleton.  None of them are members of the Church at this point but they were all delightful young women.  We had a total of 30 marines in attendance.  Bro. Jolley gave the fireside message about the importance of the Book of Mormon as a Second Witness of Christ.  It was a wonderful meeting.  It made me remember how thankful I am for the plain and precious principles taught in the Book of Mormon that are so easy to understand.  We have been reading the Old Testament together and there is quite a contrast.  I'm thankful for Joseph Smith and the restoration of the Gospel and for the blessing of having the Book of Mormon in our day.