October 12, 2014

Temple day with Cheri!  One of those days when you say the sacrifice is all worth it!  Love this lady!

It has been a great week!  The highlight of the week was Wednesday when we were able to go to the temple with our dear friend Cheri.  Her name was on the inactive list that we were given to visit when we first got here.  She has come back to the church, is the Relief Society Secretary and went back to the temple for the first time in over a decade on Wednesday!  It was a beautiful evening.  I don't think it could have been any better except if her husband was there with her.  We will keep hoping for that in the future.  Dreams do come true and Wednesday was proof!

Our rent dilemma has been handled and we felt tender mercies all day Monday as we called through the list of apartment to see if they had received their checks and if they were going to charge us any late fees.  At this point, we have only been charged ONE late fee out of 150 rentals.  Each time I called a apologized for our error they would say something like, "Since you called I will wave the late fee."  Or, "We know the church and that you are always good for it.  Don't worry."  It was a crazy day trying to get through the lists but really rewarding.  I learned some good lessons and the mission didn't have to pay greatly for that to happen.  We will generate the rent 10 days early and make sure that doesn't happen again.  

Elder and Sister Hodges

Elder and Sister Parkin

Monday night was Senior Couple FHE at the Mormon Battalion.  We received three new couples this month and lost one.  The Knorrs are from Utah and are with us in the office and the other new couples are from Texas.  We lost the Browns Friday!  They took off for Provo that morning around 10:00 am with their car packed to the brim, a daughter's car packed to the brim and they sent home 20 boxes through the mail!  It was quite a sight to see them on their way.  We have been careful to not buy things here so I don't think we will have the same problem.  Most of what we have acquired here has come from others giving us things when they leave and we will do the same when we go.  Some of the couples spend a lot of money trying to make their place look like home but we have enjoyed living simply.  It really does make us want to come home and throw out all of the extra junk we have 

Elder and Sister Brown
"God be with you till we meet again."

Senior FHE games

Ocean Beach sunset Tuesday evening!

Tuesday afternoon, Roger was able to get to the beach for a bit and I picked him up just as the sun was setting.  We just love being where there are beautiful sights like this around every corner.  He gets to the beach less now because we are so busy during the days but several days we get off around 4:00 and that gives him a bit of a window to run down for about an hour.  Life is better when he can get there every now and then.

The mission office bulletin board with Sister Knorr
and Cheri.  

Wednesday was going to the temple with Cheri and Thursday was our Scripture Study class with the ward.  We have a nice group of people who love and care for each other.  Rita got baptized this Saturday and we were able to talk about her baptism and help make her less nervous and more excited.

Friday after work I got some swimming in and Roger got to the beach for an hour or so and then Saturday was another full, great day!

We started Saturday with cleaning the church.  Yay!  It doesn't sound like an amazing event does it?But Cheri and her husband Bart came.  It is always good to have reasons to be with Bart and try to help him feel involved in the ward.  He needs to feel like he is needed and loved and we feel that he will come back to church.  We spent all day with them and had some wonderful experiences.  We went from cleaning to the beach with them.  They had packed a bunch of yummy treats and we took them in to La Jolla beach where we can get in with our association with the La Jolla Institute.  It was a beautiful day - perfect weather and good enough waves to have some fun.  We took them home to get showered and changed and then we returned to take them to Rita's baptism with us.  Of course, it was a great event at the baptism.  Cheri had been instrumental in helping Rita be fellowshipped into the church and was asked to give one of the talks.  She did a beautiful job and Bart was so proud of her.  Everyone did a great job of being friendly with Bart and he was really feeling good and comfortable.  

After the baptism was an Elder's Quorum BBQ!  Oh yummy!  Now this is the way to do tacos!  We were able to socialize with so many people from the new side of our ward and everyone again was so kind and friendly with Bart.  He made some new friends and told Cheri that the walls that he has had against church were starting to come down by the end of the day.  

OK back to the tacos.  They had some chicken that had been marinaded in oranges and special spices and then grilled on the BBQ.  Then they brought the chicken in and diced it up.  They had fresh taco shells from a wonderful little shop in our area - fried them up!  Then there was great rice and beans and home made guacamole and pico de gallo!  Street tacos!   Is your mouth watering yet?  Oh it was so good - a beautiful perfect weather evening and great people.  

Tomorrow will be a full day so I am going to send this off tonight.  One of our darling sisters from the Mormon Battalion got married yesterday to one of our favorite missionaries from our ward.  They are coming to San Diego for their honeymoon and will be at church tomorrow.  I am so excited to see them!  It is like having family come visit for me.  Early mission prep meeting, followed by Ward Council and church.  

Our mission president sends a weekly email to all of us in the mission.  I couldn't resist sharing part of this week's email.  

In an interview yesterday, while discussing General Conference, I was taught by the Spirit that "Repetition brings understanding." 

It is not enough to listen to General Conference a single time. The power of the prophets' words sink deep as we hear, read, and study them repeatedly. I first learned this lesson shortly after we were married and I made a ski trip to Utah with several men of our ward in Tucson, Arizona. On the drive, we listened to General Conference CDs. I had never done this before and, quite frankly, had never considered it. But as we listened to and discussed these talks, I developed an even stronger love for and understanding of the prophets' counsel. After that time, Sister Schmitt and I began to regularly purchase Conference CDs and I began listening to Conference talks while driving in the car. As technology developed, I transitioned to downloading these talks, which I could listen to while in the car, doing household chores, and jogging in the morning. As a Stake President, I regularly invited our youth to download the words of the prophets onto their mp3 players in addition to music, and would encourage adults to listen to Conference talks during their commute to work.

I now extend the same invitation to you. Next month, we will receive the November 2014 Ensign, which should be placed alongside your scriptures for study. Some of you will be able to listen to Conference talks in the car -- if you are on a bike, please do not try to listen to anything while riding! :) 

Repetition brings understanding. Even though the words may be the same, the Holy Ghost can give us exactly what we, our investigators, and members need depending on our situation and circumstance. The scriptures and General Conference talks can be likened to the Liahona, of which Nephi said in 1 Nephi 16:29: 

"And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things."

As we drink deeply from the scriptures and the words of the prophets, you will hear the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ through His servants. You will "know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you." (Mosiah 5:12).