New Assignment

Since the Oxnard 4th Ward was "assimilated" into the Oxnard 2nd, both the Blues and we have been assigned to this ward.  It has been fun, but will not last.  The Blues will stay in the Oxnard 2nd Ward, and Elder Mecham and I have been asked to attend the Ventura 1st Ward.  Today was probably our last Sunday in Oxnard.  Bishop Sweet was not happy to hear this.  And his sweet wife (pun is just there, what can I do about it?), Tammy, was really sad. I told her that Elder and Sister Blue are wonderful, and she said, "But he doesn't play the flute and make brownies."  Randy had given their son, Landon, some tips on how to play his flute.  Landon is very gifted and already plays the viola and cello and is now learning the flute.  When we went to their house for dinner a couple weeks ago, I took brownies and Randy helped Landon.  Just as we are adjusting to the new 2nd ward and getting close to some of them, we will be off to make new friends - again. We are looking forward to it.  It will all be good.  But we will miss the lovely people we have enjoyed in 2nd ward :) 

This is Sister Kathy Richards.  We have been giving her a ride to church every Sunday lately.  She is a convert of 7 years and a widow.  In some ways she reminds me of Grandma Dora, although you can see that she isn't as old as Grandma.  Due to health issues, she had to give up driving, and giving up that independence was really hard on her.  I remember how hard it was on Grandma, too.  Kathy has a great sense of humor and is a lovely person.  She is educated (another similarity to Grandma).  She has a daughter who is a Methodist minister in Los Angeles.  I am going to miss Sister Richards.

I learned today that Jasmine McHenry is the daughter to our Relief Society President, Katherine Cvijanovich.  I was stunned.  We had no idea whatsoever.  We had seen Jas's kids with the Cvijanoviches and just assumed they were very nice neighbors to be helping out with the kids.  Both these ladies are incredible and I love them both!  Katherine is Hawaiian, and I'm not sure of what ethnicity Jas's father was, but I think she mentioned that he was Serbian.  At any rate, she doesn't look like her mother.  By the way, Called to Serve went very well today in church :)

Saturday afternoon we attended two baptism services.  One was for the daughter of one of "my" keyboarding students.  She is eleven years old.  The room was packed! The other was a family (minus the father) - a mother with twin ten year old sons and an eight year old daughter.  Sweet!

Elder Mecham got a call last night from some elders whose apartment was broken into while they were at a supper appointment.  So far, all they have noticed missing is a $40 watch and some teeny speakers. (But then, how many valuables do missionaries have in the first place?!)  It just makes me angry that the elders get targeted for such things.  Someone took off a screen and went in through an open window.  There was a similar break in up in Bakersfield not long ago.  I think the issue of making sure to leave the apartment more secure will be a topic for all the missionaries very soon.  A small dowel in the window could take care of this.  Just want our missionaries to be safe!  Elder Mecham pointed out that some people see these young missionaries who are always dressed nice in a suit and tie and have a car, and they think they must have money.  Wrong!  Only what will fit into a couple of suitcases, right?