Blueberries

We picked again last Thursday, June 6.  I shared, and I have lots of frozen blueberries in our freezer.  Send me your favorite blueberry recipe!

What Gail, Sister Truman, and I picked :)

Delicious!

Sister Truman has a cousin, Gail, who lives in Santa Paula.  It has been great for both of them, because the Truman's are assigned to attend church in the Santa Paula Ward.  How cool is that?!  Gail grows yummy stuff on her property and shares with her cousin, and then Sister Truman shares with us.  We have had the best tangerines, avocados, and blackberries!  Yum! 

Well, Gail's son works for a farmer who owns acres of blueberries in Santicoy (which borders Ventura).  This year, Santicoy had a very cool spring, and the blueberry crop was late.  The market had already been saturated.  It was going to cost more to harvest, pack, and ship the blueberries than the farmer could afford.  He could not have broke even. Thus, the berries will ripen and fall to the ground.  What a sad waste!  Have you purchased blueberries in the store or even a fruit stand lately?  They are like little drops of gold!

Last evening after we were done at the office, we met Gail who took us to the blueberry fields, and we picked for about an hour, sampling to our heart's content.  Luckily, they grow much differently than huckleberries, or my yield would have been like my brother, Dan's, when he went huckleberry picking - more in his stomach than in his bucket :)  The blueberries almost literally dropped into our bucket (and on the ground) at the slightest touch.  They are beautiful and delicious! And so good for you!  We savored and shared and froze and savored some more.  It appears to be true --  it's not what you know, but who you know :)

Thanks, Gail and Sister Truman, for inviting me along!

A view across one of the fields

Look at the size of some of those berries

We picked just the biggest ones

Sister Truman and her cousin Gail

 

 

(Photos, courtesy of Sister Truman.  Guess who forgot her camera!)

 



Memorial Day Treat

I went for a walk over at the channels mid-afternoon.  It was windy, but still very nice.  I enjoy this public walkway, and seeing the variety of boats, people, dogs, and birds.  When I began my walk, I had the sidewalks to myself.  As I rounded a corner, there, right in front of me, was this awesome great blue heron!  I have seen him in flight above the channels, but never up so close.  He let me take a few pictures before he flew away.  I was thrilled!

 

These fishing birds were out in abundance.  But they were always several feet ahead of me.  And they dive frequently.  Then come up with a little fish in in their beaks.  Then they're diving again, or flapping up the channel a few yards. 

This is our little next door neighbor, Meka (not sure how it is spelled). 

She was certainly having fun in this little homemade pool.

Harmers

Below are a couple of emails we received at the office from Elder Harmer. I just copied them, as I think they are pretty good. Remember, he and Sister Harmer are Leadership and Member Support missionaries in Bakersfield.  They do apartment inspections for us in the Bakersfield zones, and we have enjoyed visiting with them at zone conferences and transfer meetings.  They are wonderful! We shall miss them when they go home in June.  Of course, shortly after that, Bakersfield will no longer be in our mission . . .

"In most of the homes where we go to teach inactive members, bugs are prevalent (on the walls, furniture, floors). If the home we visit is particularly bad we come home and put our clothes right in the washing machine.

"Each time we visit one of these homes our hearts go out to the people living in those conditions. Most of them are slaves to alcohol, the dole system, drugs and cigarettes. We can leave the home and go to our nice, clean, fancy apartment. They never escape that situation. It's so sad because if they would embrace gospel principles those problems would go away.

"We suppose that over time we have given bed bugs a ride home with us. This week our bed became overrun with bed bugs!  We investigated because Sister Harmer has gotten several "mosquito bites" that really itched.  This morning we threw out the box springs (bed bugs nesting all through it).  The mattress had some bugs but no nests. After we bombed the room, live bugs were still on it. We are now bombing the room again. If bugs are still alive, we will throw the mattress out this afternoon.

"It makes no sense for the mission to buy new box springs and mattress when the apartment will most likely be vacated. Plus, we may bring some more bugs home with us. Unless you direct otherwise, we're going to buy 2 air mattresses and use them in a different bedroom until we go home. We need air mattresses at home anyway. Good idea? "

*********

From: Elder Harmer

Sent: Monday, April 15, 2013 12:43 PM
To: Idaho Boise Mission
Subject: Cleaning supplies

Apt on Half Moon dr has no. Cleaning supplies. They need mop, brushes,  etc. Who pays for that. Est $30.

On Mon, Apr 15, 2013 at 1:33 PM, Idaho Boise Mission wrote:
 

Bro. Harmer,

Typically the mission pays for cleaning supplies such as you have described. 

Refresh me.  I don’t show an apartment on Half Moon Drive.  Is that the actual address?  Which missionaries are in that unit?

Elder Olson

On 4/16/2013 Elder Harmer wrote:

Elder Olsen

A funny thing happened.

My wife and I served a service mission for the Boise Mission 18 months ago.

We are now serving in the Ventura, California mission.

Yesterday, while inspecting Elders' Apartments we came across the above situation in Bakersfield, CA.

I sent a quick email from my phone to the mission office in Oxnard, California requesting the above information.

To my (and your) surprise when we got home last evening your return email  message was on the computer!

The email address I have in my phone is to our old mission in Boise!

I can imagine you were trying to figure out where in the Boise mission is Half Moon Drive!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry about that. It made us laugh and probably added to your frustration!

It's a pleasure serving with you.

Elder and Sister Harmer

A Spiritual Feast

We had the privilege of attending the Mission Conference today (Monday, May 13) where we were listened to President and Sister Castro and Sister Jan Robbins and Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy.  The four hour meeting went by so fast - I didn't want it to end.  I have some notes I will organize and add.  Now I think I'm ready to sleep.

Here are my notes. As I have said before, I am a terrible note taker, but I figure something is better than nothing, and it does help me recall things.  There is no way to capture the numerous stories that were told or the tangibility of the Spirit.

Sister Castro:
We can be perfectly obedient.  Elder Robbins expressed to the Castros shortly after he arrived to the mission that he could sense that "this is an obedient mission."  (What a compliment!)
Why do we want to obey the Lord?
Because we love Him and we want to please Him
Being obedient provides an armor of protection.  (PMG 121-122)

President Castro:
Page 10 of the Missionary Handbook references how we should dress.  This is important, because in many of our contacts, we have only a few seconds to make a good impression.  When our eyes lock, can they see compassion?  Can they see love?  Can they see hope?  What can they "feel" from that first impression?
As we immerse ourselves in the study of the gospel, our desire to share it with others will increase.
It is a treat to have Elder Robbins with us.  He was assigned specifically to come here by President Packer, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve.  He did not come here to preach to the world (as is done in stake and general conferences), but he came here to teach us specifically.

Sister Jan Robbins:
She shared four brief stories about rescuing souls
1.  A 17-year-old young man, David Patten Kimball, was one of the rescuers of the Willie and Martin Handcart companies.
2.  A direct descendent of his, a missionary named David Kimball, was called to serve a mission to Boston - got reassigned to Uruguay. He was struck by a car and killed while riding his bike.
3.  His brother, Lee Kimball, who had not planned to serve a mission,  because of his brother's dedication and sacrifice, decided to serve.  He had to be reassigned from where he was originally called, to the Iowa Des Moines mission.
4.  While Lee was serving in Des Moines, four elders were killed in a terrible car accident.  Consequently, 12 other elders in that mission decided they were going to go home.  The mission president could not persuade them otherwise.  Lee Kimball was asked by his mission president to talk to all 12, individually.  After he spoke with them, all 12 changed their minds and decided to stay and complete their missions.  What did he say to them?  That they had signed up as soldiers on a battlefield, and each was desperately needed to rescue someone.  They all served honorable missions, and who knows how many people they rescued?
[I cannot recall all the details exactly (nor could Sister Truman or Elder Mecham as to how this all fit together).  I am going to post this anyway, and if I can learn more from President and/or Sister Castro, I will add or correct it later. But the lessons learned are accurate!]

Lessons learned?
1.  We can know we were sent to our mission by a prophet of God.
2.  God is in the details - He knows where we need to be!

Elder Lynn G. Robbins:

He began by expounding on obeying with exactness.  Abraham 3:25  "We will prove [test] them herewith to see if they will be obedient in all things."
     This life is a test.  We will each be tested in unique ways, requiring sacrifice.
     Think of Abraham, Job, Nephi (when told to slay Laban -- he had been "divinely conditioned" -- why did he have to return for the plates three times?  He knew by then that nothing short of slaying Laban was going to work!)  Think of Naaman, Jericho, looking upon the brass serpent -- these were seemingly absurd things - yet those who obeyed were blessed/healed/saved. 
     Partial obedience is disobedience.
Related true story of an airliner that was hijacked and because it ran out of fuel, had to make a water landing. The captain instructed the passengers to put on their life jackets but to NOT inflate them.  Many, in panic, began to immediately inflate their life jackets.  Some tried to warn them to do as the captain had instructed.  As the plane neared the water, one wing tip dipped into the water, the wing was ripped off, and the fuselage went end over end and under water.  Those who had inflated their life jackets floated to the top of the fuselage and were trapped - they could not get out.  Some who survived related that this is what happened to those who had inflated their life jackets. Obedience . . .

Spoke about first "connections."  When we first meet someone, we need to first observe, then figure how to connect with them.  We should not just contact - but connect.  Related many examples of missionaries connecting and then being invited to teach.
Problems can be the catalyst to conversion.  Service -- the "Good Samaritan principle" -- is the Number One way to connect!
We all have two big problems -- 1) we will die, and 2)because we sin, we cannot return to our Heavenly Father.  Christ solved both of these problems for us!

We need to Open Our Mouth.
The Lord can put people in our path, but there is a price to pay, in obedience.  Diligence.  Our missionary badge is a license to open our mouth.  We must listen more intently.  We teach people not lessons.
(PMG ix)

Chapter 8 PMG - pg 146
Goals
Imagine that you are in a rowboat in the ocean.  You cannot see land in any direction.  You are lost.  Are you motivated to row?  NO!  But - as soon as you see an island in the distance, then you have purpose, and you row.

PLAN - How
GOALS - What
VISION - Why  --  this is the motivation

Chapter 1, pg 1 PMG

A missionary without the "why" has no motivation to row.  Once you see "your island," you will row unwaveringly.  Pray that you can see your island.

30 minutes of planning in the morning is the most important proselyting time of your day!

Look at the headings in Abraham 4-6.  Even the Gods planned.
Planning is an act of faith.
Alma 37:36-47 -- this is about planning.  The missionary planner is a type and shadow of the Book of Mormon liahona!

If the Holy Ghost is the most important gift we receive, we need to teach our children how to listen to his whisperings!!

His Hands

On Wednesday, May 22, a former business partner of Elder Truman's, Brother Bliss, just dropped in at the office to see the Trumans.  They had not seen each other for several years.  Brother Bliss found the Trumans by googling Elder Truman's name - and finding it on this blog!  He happened to be in this area teaching a sailing seminar.  (How fun would it be to attend that!)

One thing he has done over the past months is prepare a video.  Using a video produced by the church, he has put it to specific music (mostly "His Hands").  We were able to watch it on his laptop.  It is amazing!  Once the music people give their consent, he will put it "out" - on fb and youtube.  When that happens, you can be sure I will share it.  It was spiritually powerful!  I loved it!

It was interesting to learn that anyone can use the church videos - you don't need permission nor do you pay anything - they are there to be used to share and teach the gospel messages. 

Strawberry Planting

I'm so bad.  I intended to continue journaling this entire process.  Here it is 10 months later, and I never got the necessary pictures.  I am going to publish this anyway, and if I happen to get pictures to complete the story, I will add them.  Otherwise, this will be "it."

 

The whole strawberry planting process has been fascinating to us.  Here's how I described it previously in this blog, and following are the pictures to correspond.

The last few weeks they have been preparing acres and acres to be planted with strawberries. It has been interesting to watch. You cannot believe how many times they go over the ground with various equipment. Just when you think they must be done, you see them going over it again. Then they lay out watering pipes and water it really good, then remove the watering pipes. Then they make deep furrows with a flat surface between. White plastic is laid on top of the long flat rows. Much of the land has been left at this point for several weeks; I'm not sure why unless they get all the little starts at the same time. Then a machine comes along and pokes holes in the plastic. The strawberries are hand planted in each of the little holes in the plastic. Then the water pipes are laid again to water them. When we first arrived here, the white plastic was completely covered with strawberry plants, and the pickers were in the fields every day. Now the workers help with all this process. I'll keep an eye on how long it takes the plants to get to the producing stage again. We drive by these fields every day on our way to the office.

One field's progress

July 30, a view of the flat rows and furrows

July 30, laying the plastic

Aug. 6. The plastic has been laid.

The fields lay covered in plastic for a full two months before the next step took place on October 8:

The holes are being made so the young plants can be planted.

The hole-making machine

Wouldn't you know, they planted on transfer day, October 16.  There was no way I had time to go picture taking!  Dang!  But I did get the fields snapped the next day after they were planted.  Here are those pictures.  The new tender plants are being watered in these pictures.

You can hardly even see the little plants, but they are there in neat little rows.  I feel bad I didn't get a picture of the field workers as they planted. Sigh.

If you look carefully, you can see that the back portion of this field, which was planted a few days previously, is already growing and has a green tint.

See how much they've grown in two weeks.  Pics taken Halloween Day, October 31:

One week later, November 7:

Dinner wth the Elders

Could not find a suitable park to take a picnic Saturday - so we again took the elders to the Main Street Steakhouse Restaurant.  Good food - good company.  Michael Espinosa came with us as well.

Michael, Elder Spackman, Elder Wallace, Elder Mecham :)

Willow Tree Lovlies

These lovely Willow Tree figurines were given to me by Sister Labinpuno, one at Christmastime, and the winged one she gave to me at our final recital with the cute thank you card.  As busy as she is, she often brought us tasty Philippino treats.

 

 

 

 

Jocelynn brought delicious strawberries from time to time, and Linda brought her delectable banana pie and cake pops too.  Sweet ladies! 

Office Orchid

This beautiful orchid adds a touch of elegance to our Mission Office.  Elder Mecham split the unsightly plant several months ago.  It had been on his file cabinet since we arrived.  (We don't know if it ever previously bloomed.)  All of a sudden, a stem shot up and before long, buds developed, and then these little beauties opened up one at a time.  Of course, I whisked it out to the front desk where we could all enjoy it :)  -- which we have, for over a month now.  Elder Mecham just repotted the other half of the plant; perhaps we will get to see it bloom as well.  It seems he has a green thumb, aye?

Final Recital

Tonight I turned over the "reins" of the Keyboard Course I have been teaching to Sister Linda Dunham.  These lovely ladies performed their hymns well this evening.  I love each one of them and shall miss having weekly contact with them.  Hopefully I will be invited to their next recital.

They have each been so thoughtful and sweet over the past months, bringing treats, strawberries, and homemade goodies to share.  Each also has unique challenges and trials in her life, and I have learned much from them.  Although I've been the teacher, I feel that I have gained the most through my association with these special sisters. 

Jocelynn is blossoming into a pretty young lady.  Her family works hard and has opened their home to relatives, so there are many living under one roof.

Linda's elderly mother fell last week and is still recovering in the hospital.  It sounds like she may have to go into a nursing home where she can be watched more carefully, as she forgets things now.

Jennifer's husband is not supportive of her church activity.  But she is very excited, because her son is returning from his mission in just a few days!

Mother's Day Delights

Mother's Day came and went, surrounded by crazy busy days.  Here are some distinctive pleasures I am still enjoying :)

 

 

A poster from a couple of the sister missionaries :)

An Orchid named Kim

About a week before Kim disappeared out of our lives, she gave me this orchid.  She told me I should name it "Kim" and think of her when I took care of it.  It had little nubs on it that later opened into delicate blooms.  I think of her often anyway, but always when I view this little flower. 

When it is finished sharing its beauty, we will repot it.  I hope to have it for many years to come.  It will always remind me of Kim.

We still have not seen or heard from her.  We continue to pray for her and her little family.

Going Home

Fifteen wonderful missionaries completed their service and are headed home.  We love them and wish them well!

Unfortunately, my "straight on" pic did not turn out

Elder Haws

He was zone leader in Oxnard when we arrived to the mission.

Elder Cary

We spent a lot of time with Elder Cary.  As an Assistant, he

was frequently in the office.  He was also in our

ward in Ventura for a long time.  Love him!

Sister Hunter

Elder Aguirre

Elder Gigena

One of the first to teach Shawntele

 

Such fine missionaries!  

A New Perspective

Brother Ron Rasmussen in our ward returned from the temple yesterday with some wisdom from the Temple President.

One remarkably positive thing that will come from having younger missionaries serve is this:  many of the future marriages will be where both bride and groom are returned missionaries -- righteous men and women who have learned how to recognize and use the Holy Ghost in their lives.  They will use this gift and knowledge as they raise faithful, strong families.  Families are going to need to be good and strong as the war between good and evil will get even nastier in the future!

I had not thought of this aspect of having our missionaries serve at a younger age. But it makes perfect sense!

Ed Finkle

 

 

Edward Finkle, 81, passed away last Monday.  He served 13 years as the volunteer fleet coordinator in the California Ventura Mission.  Although he had retired from that service by the time we arrived, we were privileged to get to know him in the Ventura First Ward.  Every week he would come early, open up the chapel, greet everyone and hand out programs.  He attended the Gospel Essentials class every week.  One of his favorite sayings was, "Well, everyone loves their sins.  I know I have some favorite ones."  He had was a positive influence and example to many in the ward.

As I browsed his facebook page, I could see that the missionaries who knew him enjoyed him.  Thirteen years is a long time to serve!   I know we will miss seeing him each week at church and anticipating his remarks in Sunday School. 

Yesterday was his memorial service.  Bishop and Lori sang "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy" acapella - it was lovely.  Right after his "adopted" son, Mike, read some excerpts from Ed's recently-written testimony, I was privileged to sing, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives."  A former missionary shared some tributes from various missionaries and former mission presidents.  Bishop Hooke gave a great sermon on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which touched some of the non-member friends in attendance.  I think Brother Finkle would have been pleased the service.

(The pictures I posted are from his facebook page.)

Cinco de Mayo

Last evening the Spanish ward hosted a Cinco de Mayo "party."  It was actually a fund raiser for their YM/YW.  It was festive and the food was delicious.  Lots of missionaries were there, and friends from the ward too. 

Jerri and Charles

they remind us a lot of Raymond and Dora Hann

from Pocatello

Elder Wenz and Elder Wallace

 "Our" ward missionaries - Ventura 1st

They are wonderful missionaries! 

Sisters Bennet, Siddoway, Burwell, and Hernandez 

 

 

Bishop Chris and Lori Hooke

Our friend, Michael Espinoza

 

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