Painted pumpkins, Angels, & departing Missionary testimonies

 Greetings from the land of gorgeous weather!  The weather here in Chula Vista has been continuously beautiful, typically with sunshine & in the 70's...... virtually every day - although we do usually get a little marine layer of clouds for an hour or two in the mornings - we have really enjoyed the mild climate. 😊😊😊.

Our FHE activity with the YSA's on Monday night (after a spiritual thought) was to paint pumpkins - I am always amazed & a little jealous of their creativity & artistry (I wasn't blessed with much!):

On Tuesday, we had the last district meeting with the young Missionaries before transfers, so we offered to take them all out to In n Out for lunch - they were excited!!  They were even more excited when we told them they could have anything on the menu, including shakes!!!  It is great to be considered their friends & they rewarded us with happy smiles:

Debbie prepared dinner for our institute class again - some baked herb chicken legs, mashed potatoes with gravy, and string beans with bacon.  One of the eager students piled about 6 chicken legs on his plate & another YSA student came after class was over, just to eat the dinner that was prepared!  I think Sister Hardy is spoiling the youngsters!

The lesson this week was on how the angels in Heaven assist & help us in our repentance process, & how this can happen in people's lives. In Elder Neil Andersen's book, " The Divine Gift of Forgiveness",  Chapter 17 discusses how Angels "office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance"  and that "Angels have been part of the Lord's work throughout the history of time..... and that [they will be] round about you, to bear you up".  "Many times those most interested in our welfare are those connected to us but are now beyond the veil."  Elder Andersen  reminded us of the touching story that President Nelson shared with us in the April 2016 General conference about two angel daughters who intervened to accelerate the repentance and bless the lives of their good father and brother!  

We had the opportunity on Thursday to go to the Mission devotional & departing Elders testimony meeting.  It was a choice experience to hear the strong testimonies of those Missionaries.  Some of the messages included:

1. One Elder during his Mission was prompted with this question, "Did you come on this Mission to serve or be served?  This helped him to re-dedicate his service.
2. Another Elder said that we need to "seek that Jesus".
3. Another said even though it might be a cliche, "This has been the BEST 2 years of my life."
4. Another was grateful for the life experiences that he has learned.
5. "The Lord was always with me & has not left my side."
6. "I have seen many miracles in people's lives as they accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ".
7. "Jesus has saved me; He has redeemed me".

President Merritt, our Mission Leader reminded the Missionaries that "The Lord can't drive a parked car!"  The Spirit is strong in the Missionary meetings & I am convinced that there is nothing more edifying, testimony building, joyful, preparatory for life, marriage, and eternity than for a young man or young woman to serve that Lord for 2 or 1 1/2 years.  Many Missionaries come into the Mission field a little timid & shy, but leave with confidence, and a strong testimony & witness that God lives & He has a plan for each of us.

I am also amazed at how the Church can adapt many situations to help Seniors fulfill Missions.  One of the Senior Missionary couples in the Mission here is a "threesome"!  They have a twenty something handicap down syndrome child (Amy) that they care for, so the Lord called all THREE of them on a mission here together!  Amy proudly wears the Mission badge & is helpful with the Mission effort!

Amy & her parents are the 3 in the middle:

Friday night was another fun YSA volleyball activity.  They seem to like volleyball & soccer the best when it comes to sports:

Saturday gave another chance to do some "Seek & Finds" with the hundreds of names of YSA's that are "lost" - most of the addresses we go to are not current & the occupant can't or won't tell us where they are!  But sometimes we find one & invite them to the activities, institute and Church, so the Lord has blessed us.  

We are grateful to be here & hope to be able to make a difference in some young person's life.  We are trying to THINK CELESTIAL!!