Final Channels Walk

The weather here has been spectacular the last several days.  This morning was no exception.  Even though it is Sunday, Elder Mecham had to be in the office for several hours this morning.  I chose to go for a final walk around the channels, something I haven't been able to do for quite some time. 

Good bye, friend heron

Tender Feelings

We will be leaving in three days.  We are in the process of packing up.  I shall miss many things:

* being around enthusiastic and dedicated young elders and sisters.

* being instructed and led by a loving mission president.  We love President and Sister Castro and their sweet family!

* associating with wonderful people all the time, in the Mission Office, in our wards

* going to church with investigators and converts

* the beautiful climate and vegetation and flowers

Looking forward to:

* hugs and kisses from children and grandchildren and parents and other family and friends

* getting reacquainted in our home ward and stake

My heart is aching and excited all at the same time.

I absolutely loved the Women's Conference last night!  Every talk was wonderful and the music was heavenly.   It was all SO good!

Kim came, with April.  She was so excited to attend her first ever conference.  Unfortunately, she ended up leaving almost immediately.  Just after she sat down with her plate of food at the dinner, Chase, who was watching the kids at the motel, suddenly showed up at the dinner, wanting to get Audrina's booster seat.  Kim discovered that there was quite the discord among the children, and ended up leaving and returning to the motel to remove her children from the screaming and hitting that was going on. It seemed every word spoken and sung at the conference would have uplifted her and been such a benefit to her - I am so sad she wasn't there to partake of the spiritual feast.  She was so looking forward to it!  Sigh.  I do not wish to speak unfavorably of the Belisles.  They have overcome much, for which I admire them greatly.  But Pyper has some extreme issues which they seem unable to handle.  Screaming and hitting should never be allowed.  Oh my!

I have not heard from or seen Shawntele for a very long time.  Must call her and see her before we leave Ventura.

Shawntele and Kim are the two women we were involved in teaching and friendshipping before and after their baptisms.  They will always be dear friends.  Wish I could move them both to Idaho with us :)

Visit in Placentia

Today we traveled to Brent and Diane's place in Placentia. (Brent is Randy's brother :)  We've talked of doing this ever since we got here - and finally made it, just four days before heading back to Idaho.  We had a great visit with them, and they treated us to a fun lunch at a Korean BBQ place, where we cooked our food on a little grill in the middle of our table. Where was my camera during lunch?  Beside me in my purse!  Sigh. 

One thing we are not going to miss as we return to Idaho is the insane California traffic.  CrAzY! Today's trip reaffirmed our position regarding this!  (Placentia is about an hour SE of Los Angeles.)

FAN-TAS-TIC NEWS

Kim has been accepted into a transitional housing program!  HOORAY!  Beginning October first, she and her little ones will be in an apartment and she will be getting some much needed assistance.  I'm so excited for her.  She will be taking classes to help her deal with her past domestic violence, get help with custody issues and court restraining orders, and much more.  She is learning to forgive herself and to realize what an amazing person she is, that she can stand alone and make a go of it.  It has been a rocky couple of weeks for her (understatement!).  BUT she is making tremendous strides in all ways.  She has felt and recognized the Holy Ghost in various situations.  She has seen the hand of God as He watches over her and takes care of her.  Miracles.  Love her and those beautiful kids!

I don't know/understand the details of the program, but she will have a roof over her head and be provided some much needed assistance.  Prayers being answered . . . thank you, Heavenly Father!

Trip to Paso Robles

Tuesday we drove up to Paso Robles to visit my sweet step-sister, Elaine.  Along the way we stopped to retrieve a handcart at an apartment where we had left it when we assisted their move in.  Unfortunately, the handcart moved in too.  But in a way I was happy, because we got to see Elder Buckmiller one more time. He is fun loving and always has a smile, and he is a good missionary!  He spent quite a bit of time in Oxnard, then was a zone leader for a few transfers.  Now, his last six weeks, he is training a new missionary.  What better trainer could Elder Barlow have?

We also stopped in Grover Beach to deliver some things to a missionary apartment.  On the way back we made a couple of stops as well to take care of some mission business. It was a beautiful day, we had a great visit with Elaine, and we got to see some missionaries too. A good day!

Elder Buckmiller

Lunch in Paso

Elaine has been working out and looks terrific.  She's my inspiration as I go 

home and try to live a healthier lifestyle.

Open House at Sister Clark's

Sister Annette Clark graciously hosted an open house for us in her beautiful house in Ventura overlooking the ocean.  Thank you, thank you, Sister Clark!!

It was such a pleasure to see and visit with our friends from the Ventura First Ward.  Enough good cannot be said about the lovely people you will see in the pictures below!

Sister Dawn Neal

Dawn is a classy lady.  She was our choir director and I was privileged to sing under her direction.

She is a true professional and demands hard work and the best we can do.

Right after Christmas, she had heart surgery and we only saw her once again, and

that was on Mother's Day.  Now her health is returning, she is back to church, and

will soon be back to directing the choir again.  Lucky 1st Ward!

(Dawn is in her 80s)

Kim Enriquez, Audrina, Ashlynn, Daimein

 

Mary Ledbetter

Mary makes sure to welcome and speak to anyone new attending the ward.

She volunteered in the Mission Office when it was located in Ventura.

Elder and Sister Blue worked with her there.

Ruth and Lee Pulsipher

Wonderful examples of service and dedication.

He was bishop in 1st Ward for seven years a while back.

Lorne Henkel

Former Ward Mission Leader, now 2nd councilor in the bishopric.

Convert of 10 years.

The darling Henkel family

(Lorne's wife, Keely, is daughter to Ron and Sandy Rasmussen)

View from Sister Clark's patio.  Best ocean view was right into the sun,

so we didn't get it

Stake President, Greg Jones and Sister Lori Jones

Mary Ledbetter

Michael Espinoza

(Michael was our photographer for the evening - Thanks Michael!)

Lori, Chris (Bishop) Hooke and daughter Katherine 

Samuel, Sister Castro, and Hannah

Chase and April Belisle and Pyper

Daimein Enriquez

Charlie and Catherine Neville

Brother Neville was bishop when we first attended this ward.

He then served on the High Council and is now Ward Mission Leader.

Sister Neville was instrumental in teaching the Saal family.

Sister Marvine Wilcox

Ole Ingwerson and his daughter

Sister Joan Beem (R.S. President)

Sister Annette Clark

Precious Audrina 

Luigi and Logan Falcocchia and daughters.

The missionaries are working with Luigi.  Beautiful family.

Logan was just put in as YW President and previously served as Primary President

Dane and Sherry Nielsen

Brother Nielsen fixed my broken tooth early on in our mission. 

Sherry is his dental assistant.  Great couple!  They serve in the temple every Saturday.

(Logan Falcocchia is their daughter)

When we first attended the ward, I was excited to see someone I knew :)

Sandy and Ron Rasmussen

Sandy is Stake R.S. President.  Ron was bishop prior to Bishop Neville

Our good friend Michael

Trumans

We have enjoyed serving with Elder and Sister Truman the past nine months and have spent many hours in their company.  It has been a pleasure serving side by side. They are an amazing couple.  They love the Lord and serve whole heartedly.  We know they will "carry on" valiantly!  We shall miss them!

Macaroni Grill with Elder and Sister Truman

last Friday, September 20

Thank you for dinner!  We had a lovely evening together.

A rare occurrence -- Elder Truman in the back seat of the van :)

He prefers to drive!

This time, the assistants drove us to Santa Paula Chevrolet to pick up some

brand new Chevy Cruzes to add to the Mission's fleet

 

Sister Truman and I went to one of the local fruit stands Saturday morning.

This pumpkin field was right next door.

Thats a lot of pumpkin pies!!!

 

Random Pictures

Oxnard 2nd Ward Elders

Jensen, Stewart, Thornell, and Fagan

Our neighbor, Salvador

(he took pictures with the Elders)

Typical traffic going to LAX

 

We laughed at this sign the first time we went to our local Laundromat.

We're still laughing - and trying to figure out exactly how to get the best results :)

Elder Whited

We have watched him progress since his arrival, as he serves

his fellow missionaries.  He has been a zone leader and is

now serving as a traveling trainer

Elder Thornell and Elder Smith

Our Traveling Trainers, Elder Smith and Elder Whited

Side note:  Elder Smith's grandparents live in Preston and

know my brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Dorothy Rich

MLC

 

The most supplies we have ever given out!!

Before

 

 After

 

Sister Training Leaders

Sisters Coleman, Bartschi, Bennett, and Burwell

 

 

Elder Hofheins and Elder Eastman

Elder Paz and Elder Jenkins