Drama and Trauma in Bakersfield

Elder Mecham is really putting in long days.  Thursday he and Elder Truman left for Bakersfield at 6 a.m.  They returned mid-afternoon.  When 5 o'clock arrived, I left the office and went back to our apartment for a while.  Elder Mecham stayed on at the office.  I brought him home around 8:30 after my keyboard class.  He is swamped, but willingly does what he needs to. 

We can handle busy.  We are just grateful that we don't have near the drama that Elder and Sister Harmer, the couple in Bakersfield, has had.  They had their front door kicked in, their place ransacked and several items stolen.  Another time their garage was broken into AND their car, with everything stolen out of the glove box (the police said to steal their identity - huge hassle for them).  They are Member and Leadership Support missionaries and make visits to some very poor people in horrible circumstances, including uncleanliness and bugs.  They said they often get back to their apartment and immediately shower and wash their clothing.  Well, they managed to bring bed bugs home with them.  They discovered them when Sister Harmer had strange bites all over.  Now they are going to have to just get rid of their box springs and mattresses as they cannot get rid of the bedbugs.  Ughhhh!  But I have never heard them complain - only express sadness at the unfortunate living conditions of the people they visit.  Even when they sent the email about the bedbugs, they were not complaining, just asking what they should do about new mattresses since they are returning from their mission to their home in Meridian in June.  I think they are going to buy some "blow up" mattresses, which they can take home with them when they leave.

I've posted these before, but here are some pictures of Elder Dean and

Sister Jo-Ann Harmer.  Great couple!