This 'n' That

Tuesday, August 21

Feeling especially blessed today to be serving here! 

Just a comment or two about our wonderful Assistants to the President. They are such special missionaries.  We now attend the same ward as they do.  Sunday we were in the Gospel Essential class, which has just started over in the manual.  So our lesson was about God, who He is, His attributes, and we moved on to include that we are His children.  Some of the comments got to be way out in left field. The teachers are both converts of not too long, with little teaching experience.  The APs really "reigned in" the discussion by pointing out the essentials and bearing heartfelt testimony.  And they did it in such a loving, non-judgmental way.  I must learn to be less judgmental!

Elder Mecham and I attended the Ward Council meeting Sunday and have been given the names of several less active and/or part-member families to visit.  Interestingly, one of them is the Relief Society president's husband.  She is hoping someone can reach/touch him.  Hoping to get out this evening for a visit or two; however, Elder Mecham and Elder Blue are in a meeting with President Castro and it is now 5:40, so it may not happen tonight after all :) 

Update:  Sister Blue and I finally left at 6 p.m.  I took her home, and by the time I drove back to our apartment, the front door was open and I could hear the TV.  Apparently if we had waited another three minutes, our husbands would have been done with their meeting.  Of course, we had been contemplating leaving for about an hour -- when we finally decided to leave . . . !

Usually we all four go in for a meeting, but President discussed some things with Sister Blue and me before our husbands arrived back at the office from an appointment, so we weren't included today.  Unfortunately, I am all caught up on my work.  Fortunately, that gives me a few minutes to spend time on my journal :)

We have attended our new ward twice now.  It is a nice ward -- looks very small in the huge chapel where they meet.  In between these two meetings was the Ventura Stake Conference.  Nice meetings.  We are especially impressed with the Stake President.  He is amazing!  His discussion about references of the Abrahamic Covenant in the Book of Mormon was . . . amazing!  Perhaps Randy will let me include the notes he took.  He really enjoys this type of thing, so I know he took good notes.  This talk was given Saturday night.  On Sunday, President Jones (that's his name) gave us (and everyone in the stake) an assignment.  We are to ponder about a topic -- perhaps something we have questions about or something that troubles us or just something we would like to know more about -- and then we are to prepare a talk on that topic.  Not just any run-of-the-mill talk, but a General Conference worthy talk! We are to study, make notes, and draft it, but then wait until after General Conference to polish it.  As we listen to General Conference, we are to carefully listen and glean things pertaining to our topic.  Then we are to complete our 20-or-so-minute talk.  Wow!  I guess I better decide what my topic will be!

Changing subjects drastically -- we still see Herby quite frequently!  It brightens my day whenever I see him :)

Wednesday, August 22

Elder Mecham and I did make a couple of visits last evening.  Unfortunately, both households were having dinner when we arrived, which was after 7 o'clock.  Both indicated that we could return some other time.  Brother Tonnies visited with us for quite a while at the door.  We will go back :)

Awaiting mail delivery at the office.  Wednesday is usually a pretty big mail day.  Other than than, not much happening for ME today.  Elder Mecham, on the other hand, is going to be very busy.  On top of all his other responsibilities, he has to find four new apartments up the coast - asap.  Fun for him! 

Mail came, and it was NOT a big mail day at all.  It could be a long afternoon :)

Cheri took this picture of the Gonzales Church, where our office is located.  I thought it was a good pic:

I thought this was a cool picture.  This is what happens every Zone Leader Council - all the missionaries want pictures of themselves as a group.  Can't blame them for that.  Elder Mecham got a picture of the picture takers, Elder Blue and the Castro family.