My goodness, it's been a long time since I've put anything on here. We have been happily engaged in the Lord's work!
We just completed zone conferences throughout the mission, so got to see all of the missionaries. It was a good week. We spend most of our time outside in the parking lot doing car inspections. Thankfully, the weather was nice this week. None of the missionaries locked their keys in their car :) - (last zone conference series, that happened twice!)
It just occurred to me that I wrote an email to The Blues, giving them mission news, so I think I may just insert some of that here, to save me some typing (lazy girl that I am :)
So here it is, written on Friday night, March 8.
"As I sit here at the computer tonight, I can hear the wind really blowing outside. Last night we went to sleep with the sound of a heavy, steady rain. But it wasn't raining up over the grapevine -- it was snowing -- and they closed the pass around 3 a.m. We had to cancel zone conference in Bakersfield today. We will do all three Bakersfield zones next Thursday. That ought to be interesting, right? We will have to work fast to get all those cars done in time for lunch :) The weather next Thursday is supposed to be quite nice, though, so that will make it more pleasant to be working outside than it would have been today. President is the one who called Sister Nations [Relief Society president in Bakersfield] about the change for the luncheon. I think some of the elders for the scheduled zone were going to gather at the church at noon for a nice lunch, as they had food which wouldn't keep until next week. I called Sister Searfoss [Relief Society president in East Bakersfield] to ask if they could feed 20 more next Thursday, but so far have not heard back from her. So things are interesting to say the least :)
We got another new missionary yesterday. It keeps us on our toes, doing a packet here and there and getting everything set up. I'm sure it's a bit crazy for the assistants and President as they keep up with it all. On Tuesday Sister Truman and I went over to the kitchen at 11:30 to help with ZLC lunch - nothing had been set up in the cultural hall and the kitchen was empty! Samuel and Sister Castro saw us in the hallway (they were in the meeting in the Relief Society room), and Samuel came to inform us that they were going to Panda House for lunch instead. So there are quite a lot of changes taking place. I'm sure Sister Castro has much to do as they have to travel to the airport off and on to greet these incoming missionaries one or two at a time. Today in our staff meeting, which President held but remarked that he wished we were in Bakersfield instead, he asked that we remember him and Sister Castro in our prayers. I think it must be a bit stressful with the many changes taking place. Of course -- we
always do keep them in our prayers!
Elder Brodie leaves on the 18th. Sister Lupashko [temple square missionary, from the Ukraine] leaves on the 20th. On that same day, the 20th, we get a new temple square missionary, Sister Di Liberto -- she is from Italy. President says he thinks that is how it will go from now on -- when one leaves, another will come from temple square.
President says they are having family come the week of transfers and Easter Sunday -- a "surprise" visit from Sister Castro's sister (or was it brother) and family -- a surprise that really caught them by surprise. Of course, they will manage. Sister Truman and I looked at each other but didn't say anything, as we had discussed that we are both having family visitors that same weekend. Should be interesting. I will be at the office if I need to -- family may have to go the beach w/out us. We will do what needs to be done, of course. I just know what it is going to be like with 28 new missionaries coming in on Monday -- much office work to be done! But it
is exciting!! The Trumans and we had speculated that one or the other of us couples might be asked to go to Bakersfield with the new mission there, but today President told us that a couple has been called and they will be coming to our office for a month or so and the four of us will be training them. Then they will move to Bakersfield and be there already "running" things by the time the new mission president gets there. So Elder Mecham will need to find an apartment for them -- and when they leave we can put young missionaries in it. As of yet, we don't know whether that apartment will need to be in Oxnard or Ventura. So many details to work out. Of course, I can't help looking at our list of zone leaders and wondering who the new assistant will be. Elder Brodie and Elder Cary have been SOOOO busy. I kid them and say we should just get a bedroll for them to use at the mission office. They are
so fine, as you know!
The Harmers [the senior couple in Bakersfield] had their apartment broken into last week -- they returned from doing apartment inspections to find their front door kicked in and their apartment ransacked. Elder Harmer's suits were taken, their iPad, and I'm not sure what all. Scary! They figured it was druggies looking for stuff to sell to support their habits. So not sure if that is where the new couple will move into or not [Elder and Sister Harmer go home in June]. Then two nights ago a car up in Bakersfield had the window smashed out -- and a GPS taken. I KNOW Elder Blue cautioned everyone to NOT leave their GPS units in their cars!!"
Since last Friday when I wrote the above, a set of missionaries, also in Bakersfield, called to report that someone cut the padlock on their garage and stole four bikes! Dang! Bakersfield again :(
We took these pictures Friday evening at the end of the "work" day. We love Elder Brodie. He goes home Monday. He lives not too far from Pocatello, so we fully expect to see him in the future :)
Elder Mecham took this from the steps of our church building in Ventura to show off the view. Unfortunately it didn't turn out very good. You can actually see the ocean and islands quite clearly on the horizon, but not in this picture :(
Last night Bishop and Sister Hooke invited us to attend the BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble with them. It was held in the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. They had extra tickets, so Sister Truman came with us too. Elder Truman opted not to go -- it had been a long week and his arm (the one that is gone -- odd how that nerve thing works) was really hurting. The show was spectacular! Such fantastic dancing and costumes and string players! We LOVED it! Thanks, Hookes, for the invitation - 'cause not sure I otherwise could have talked Elder Mecham into going! An interesting side note: Bishop Hooke, 31 years ago, was one of the string players for the BYU dance ensemble. Wow - he is even more awesome than we already knew!!
I forgot to take picture, but my little keyboard class had a recital on
March 7. It was short and sweet -- everyone played very well -- then as we ate refreshments, we lingered on and visited with one another.
Tragically, Kim has chosen a different road, at least for now. I can't express how sad I feel! She has not been in touch with us since the beginning of February. We learned from a friend of hers that she
IS in Ventura. We do not know details, but evidently she is using drugs. So we are extremely worried about the children. Where are they? Are they with her? And where are they and she living? Randy actually saw Kim a few days ago at an intersection in Ventura. She was in her van, and he was in the mission truck with Elder Truman going the opposite direction. He hollered out the window for her to pull over, and she said something back to him which he could not discern. She didn't pull over. Randy quickly pulled off the road, turned around, and tried to follow her, but she turned and they could not find her. The older kids were not with her, and Randy couldn't tell whether or not Audrina was in the back. One of the last times I spoke with Kim she was so excited to pay her tithing to the bishop. She was at church on fast Sunday - then - gone!
I hope that somehow Kim can know how much Heavenly Father loves her. We love her too. I weep as I write this!
