Happy New Year!, Testimony, Rosca de Reyes, Senior FHE, YSA Ward

Here is what I wrote in my Journal on New Years Day!  

"Happy New Year!  It's like opening a very large container and you can't see what is inside.  You just have to jump in and, one day at a time, and in 365 days, we'll view it all!"  Kind of crazy, but that's how I could best describe what beginning a new year feels like.

The missionaries experienced a fun treat for New Years Day.  Half of the mission (the other half of the mission did these same activities on Christmas Day, a week ago) all met at Ocean Beach.  The missionaries have a hard and fast rule of no touching the sand!  That means no beach for them.  But on this one day of exception, they all swarmed to the beach, wearing their casual clothes, ready for a beach cleanup.  After the clean up, there were donuts and hot chocolate and beach volleyball and other games.  It was such a fun joyful afternoon for them, and us, too!  

Can you see Stan out their on the court?  He just can't resist playing with the youngsters!

When we were ready to leave, Stan suggested we find a place to get some dinner.  So I pulled up my phone to see what I could find.  When I saw "Hodads" listed, I knew we had to go there.  The Allen's, from our Northbridge ward who served  at the Mormon Battalion, had told us about this restaurant.  This is how they described it:  "It looks grungy, but just beachy, and so good and worth it.  All the missionaries know about it."  It's a local hamburger, onion ring and milkshake kind of place.  So we went there.  It was exactly how they described it.  As you can see from the pictures, the walls are covered with license plates, etc.  The food was great, but as I laid in bed that night with my stomach girgling, I decided that meal was a heart attack in waiting!  I sure can't (or shouldn't) eat like that anymore!  But it was fun, and we're glad we did it once!  Thanks Allen's!

We had several opportunities to meet with the Elders at their teaching appointments this week.  This is one of our favorite things to do; to meet with and help to help teach and bear testimony to the friends of the missionaries.  One evening we received a call from a set of Elders asking if we could meet with them in 30 minutes to help with an appointment.  We were at the grocery store at the time, and by the time we finished and got home to put the food away, we would be too late.  So the Elders suggested that maybe they could call and we could bear testimony at the end of their lesson on the phone.  I agreed.  

So after we finished at the grocery store, I dropped Stan off at our apartment with the food, and headed to another store to get a few things they didn't have at the first.  I had just finished my purchases and got in the car when my phone rang.  It was the Elders asking me to share my testimony.  I asked them what their lesson had been on, and he said it was on Temples.  Well, I love to talk about the temple.  So as I bore my testimony of my love for the temple, I could feel the Spirit.  When I finished, I told them I felt a sweet spirit and asked them if they felt it as well.  They said they did, too.  I commented on how distance doesn't matter, we could all feel the spirit together.  As I drove home, I pondered over what a sweet spirit I felt in the grocery store parking lot.

It's been three weeks since we've had a YSA activity (because of all the Holidays).  It was so good to get back together again, with the few that came.  We were wondering where everyone was, when three Hispanic young men came in; none of us knew who they were.  Apparently the Elders had visited with them earlier in the day and invited them to our activity.  I'm so glad they came, we sure needed them.  The gal  in charge of the activity found out that one of them is her neighbor.  It seemed like a few of the YSA's had some kind of connection with them.  I think they had a positive experience.  

We also celebrated Rosca de Reyes, Three Kings Day.  The Hispanic culture  has a tradition of "eating the decorated bread 12 days after Christmas, marking the day when Christians believe the Three Wise Men followed the star to Bethlehem and arrived with gifts for baby Jesus."  There is a plastic baby baked into the cake, and whoever gets the baby, they are supposed to make homemade tamales for their friends.  Guess who got the baby?  Me!  I told them they have to teach me how to make tamales.  

We had a fun time playing Telestrations.  One thing we learned is that the young adults have a different language and thought process than us Seniors do!  Sometimes we just don't get what they're talking about!  It's all fun! 

Last night we enjoyed a gathering with all the Senior Missionaries for a yummy meal and some musical games and activities.  My two favorite things about serving a mission are rubbing shoulders with the young missionaries, and gleaning from the older and wiser Senior missionaries.  At least we know their language!

Today we taught our last Temple Prep class.  I wish we had taken a picture.  We've loved this opportunity to teach these choice young people about the temple, and share our love for the temple with them.  I look forward to seeing many of them make the decision to move forward on the Covenant Path.  

This morning at Ward Council, I was sitting by our ward Mission Leader, Charlie.  He is in the Navy.  I turned to him and asked him how he felt about all the activity that is going on in the Middle East right now.  He said "That's what I signed up for."  It stirred my heart to hear his reply and see the  determination on his face to serve our country.  I thanked him.  I'm grateful for young people like Charlie.  

Christmas 2023, Baptisms, Newport Beach Temple

 Ahhhh!  We are finally to the last day of the year in 2023 - What an interesting year this has been!  From the normal life in St George for half the year, and then whisked away to a new life as Missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chula Vista, California serving a highly active group of Young Single Adults.  Our association with this amazing group of Young Adults has caused us to have greater hope for the future.  The young Missionaries have great faith & amazing testimonies of Jesus Christ and His restored gospel - we are continually uplifted by their purity & the consecration of their FULL time in gathering Israel!  

Christmas was the first of our week - Monday - so we decided to host a Christmas morning breakfast for 9 of the young Missionaries in our small apartment, so that they would have a small "family" type get together first thing in the morning.  Debbie made plenty of egg, sausage, and cheese quiche for all of us, and then a pile of pancakes with REAL maple syrup and butter.  After breakfast was cleared up, we all sat down & shared with each other thoughts & impressions we had about Christmas & Christ!  It turned out quite nice & brought a beautiful spirit into the room.

For Debbie & I, the Cello case became our Christmas "tree" with a couple of Amazon gifts at the bottom; simple but comforting that we were here striving to bring Christ's gospel to others - the true meaning of Christmas!

Following breakfast with the Young Missionaries, we ended up throughout the day visiting family using skype, face-time, & messenger - ah, the wonders of technology!!

It was meaningful to still share some time with each of our kids & grandkids - It was fun to feel of their enthusiasm to give & receive gifts.  One particularly funny 2 year-old granddaughter (Tilly Hardy)  was so completely enamored with her yellow & blue "Snow White" dress AND purse that she couldn't stop smiling & twirling!  I had a feeling that if anyone had tried to take away her new purse, she would have yanked their arm off to prevent it!!  No way was she letting go of it!

We decided to try something new for Christmas dinner, so we found a Himalayan restaurant that was open Christmas day with some wonderful dishes of Salmon, rice, vegetable dumplings, and some kind of special sauce - all very delicious!

Most of the weekly YSA activities got cancelled because most of them spent Christmas with their families but we were able to participate in several baptisms.  One of them was a young Hispanic Single adult who had wanted to date the Elder's Quorum President's younger sister and as the story goes, the EQP said it probably wouldn't happen unless he got baptized!  Well, it started the young man taking the Missionary discussions & developed into a spiritual experience for him, so he decided to get baptized!  Fortunately along the way, he developed a testimony of the restored gospel, not just a desire to date the EQP's sister!!  

The other Baptism we got to experience was with our Grandson Gideon Kirkman via Face-time.  As an 8 year old, he was excited to have his Dad baptize him & his family support him!

We did manage to get up to Newport Beach Temple to enjoy the Lord's Spirit in His Holy Temple - The Temple helps us to focus on what really matters in this life & God's plan for us to follow.  We are thankful to be able to go!

One of the most enjoyable activities we experience here is helping to teach the friends of the Missionaries - we had two lessons with them & 2 different friends, both progressing towards baptism.  They have good questions, and really appreciate the truths they are learning about God's restored gospel & His plan of Salvation for His children.  The simple truths starting with who they really are (children of a loving God) & the truths about our Heavenly Father & His Son, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are game changers for them.  The world is so confused about the nature of the Godhead, but the reality & simple truths that we know brings peace and helps us develop faith in God!

We wish all of you peace & joy in the year to come!

 

From the California San Diego Mission, we wish you a very Merry Christmas.  Love, Stan and Debbie

Cookies, Caroling, Cello, Coronado and more...

One of our favorite family traditions for many many years has been to go Christmas Caroling.  We asked the Elders and Sisters to join us this year.  We had a choir of heavenly angels going from door to door to bring the Christmas spirit to whoever would open their door.  We made four batches of cookies to take as a gift to those we met.  Stan made up a page with scriptures from the Bible and the Book of Mormon that prophecy of Jesus Christ's birth.  We made copies of this along with a copy of The Living Christ and rolled them up in a scroll to hand out with the plates of cookies.  Some people were very grateful for the homemade cookies as well as the messages of Christ. Others, well, not so excited to have a group of young adults caroling to them.  The funniest one was a couple who were obviously on the other side of the door. We could see the husband watching us from the stair landing, and the wife standing in their entryway, but never opened the door.  Maybe they just wanted to listen; who knows!

We also wanted to give a gift to our pickleball friends.  We have shared messages about the Church, Jesus Christ and what we're doing here with many of the people we play pickleball with, so naturally wanted to share a Christmas gift with them.  Each person received an ornament with a name of Christ, the handouts I described above, and a bag of candies.  They seemed to be very grateful.  One lady came up to me the next day and told me she really liked reading the words about Christ. She said that there isn't much said about Christ at Christmastime anymore, and she was grateful for the reminder.

We invited the Elders to pickleball on our P-day.  Some of our pickleball friends enjoy it when we bring the missionaries with us.  Stan has fun teaching them the game, and then beating the youngsters!

Stan performed at the Mormon Battalion for the third time this month.  The Battalion sponsored a Christmas concert every Friday this month.  About an hour before the concert, the missionaries would walk the streets of Old Town San Diego (lots and lots of people on the streets on a Friday night) talking to and inviting people to come to the free concert.  They usually had a few takers.  It's been a great opportunity for Stan to be part of the mission music crew!

With Christmas near, things have slowed down with the young adults.  Many of them have left to go home to their families for the holidays.  We did have a fun White Elephant gift exchange at the Bishop's house.  The craziest gift was one that one of the Elder's selected.  It was a pink fanny pack that had the image of a man's hairy belly button on it.  The poor Elder couldn't get anyone to "steal" it from him, and ended up taking it home. I don't think he's going to put Books of Mormon in it to hand out to people!

Since we didn't have Institute this week, we decided to drive over to Coronado Island and look at the lights at The Del (Hotel del Coronado).  The Del was built in 1888, and was "considered an architectural masterpiece.  Outfitted with electricity and every modern amenity, The Del was a destination resort before the term existed."  

We enjoyed a lovely stroll around The Del, watching the changing lights, listening to the Christmas music, and being amazed at how lovely the temperature is here in December!  No need for winter coats here!

It's hard to be away from family this time of year, but we feel grateful to be able to share a message of Jesus Christ with those we meet.  We've noticed that there is very little if anything about Jesus Christ in the stores, or displayed on people's front yards. Occasionally we'll see a Nativity on a front lawn display, but it's not very common.  Everyone says "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas".  In talking to people, we find that there are others that feel the same way we do.  Let us not be afraid to speak of Christ in our homes and with our friends and neighbors.  

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ, the Lord."  Luke 2:10-11

You need Jesus! , Mormons worship cows in the Temple?, Another Great Granddaughter! Jay gets baptized.

 This has been an interesting week!  I woke early this morning thinking about the young single adults that we are trying to help along the way; but in particular, those that perhaps are considered "outcasts" of society that have found their way into the gospel net that is spread wide.  We had our young single adult institute "Christmas" party last night, & we met a young lady who is now 24, has been in and out of the foster care system for many years, has been in trouble with the law in various states,  has failed 3 times out of college trying to go to school, and has had a very messed up life.  In almost every way, she is an outcast of society; yet her Mother, that she is temporarily back living with, told her "you need Jesus" and referred her name to the Missionaries earlier this year.  After being taught by the Missionaries, she was baptized a member of Christ's Church and became a  member of the Young Single Adult Ward.  She is trying to piece her life together, start on the pathways BYU program and find steady work so when she leaves the government help program in a year, she won't become homeless.  Yet despite her troubles, she is smiling and has found a home with the group of diverse Young Single Adults, all trying to "find Jesus" like she is.  It is a testimony to me that our kind, loving Heavenly Father & His perfect Son Jesus Christ truly love all of us, and certainly his "lost sheep" just as preciously.  The discarded, downtrodden souls who seem to be forgotten are sought after by a loving God!  It reminds me of the parable of the lost sheep & the Savior seeking after, finding, and carrying the lost sheep back to the fold on His shoulders.  Truly the outstretched arms of the Savior continues "all the day long".  I can't help but feel grateful & even guilty that I was blessed with such loving parents & a family who cared for me so much to provide such a wonderful start in life!  As a funny side note, this young lady is now trying to get her Mom to come to Church, but she said she won't come yet until she finds out that the "Mormons don't worship cows in their temple"  I had a good laugh when I heard this, and then shared with her a picture of the temple baptismal font sitting on the backs of 12 oxen explaining that we don't worship cows, but that the oxen are a symbolic representation of the 12 tribes of Israel!   

Another Young Man, recently baptized, shared with us that he was bullied & beaten by his Father earlier in life, but recently found the Church, was taught by the Missionaries, and has found meaning in life with the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  He was baptized just a few months ago & is so excited about his growth in the gospel & his future.  His life has greater purpose & meaning now that he has "found Jesus".   We all so desperately need to "find Jesus" in our lives because He can make so much more out of our lives, than we can make ourselves without Him!!  

Tuesday & Wednesday were both busy days for Debbie & I when we were asked by the Mission Leaders to help feed (with one other Senior Missionary couple) close to 80 Missionaries during leadership training & new Missionary meetings those days - we fed them ham, cheesy potatoes (funeral potatoes), tossed salad, rolls, beans & bacon, brownies and ice-cream.  It took most of our day during each of  the 2 days, but it was rewarding to meet some of the Missionaries!

The Young Single Adults had their Christmas party on Friday night so we enjoyed spending the evening with them - they sure love getting together & visiting with each other in such an accepting way!

Saturday morning, we were able to participate in the Baptism of Jay.  A month ago, we helped to give him rides to Church & Church activities when he asked us how he can be baptized into the Church, so we explained that the Elders could help him with that!!  So, yesterday, we gave him a ride to his baptism & had a wonderful time seeing how the power of God is manifested in the ordinances of the gospel.  Jay is from Haiti & finally got permission to emigrate to the United States on a 2 year work permit - he says things are bad & politically unstable in Haiti, so he is the first of his family to come to the United States - he lives in very humble circumstances in a house with several other Haitian people, sharing bathrooms and kitchen, and has worked at various jobs to help pay for the rent.  We got him in touch with Deseret Industries to help get some better job training & he seems to like it there.  He is hopeful to get the rest of his family to the US, but in the meantime, found the Missionaries & loves the Church & the Young Single Adults.  

We hit another jackpot this week with the birth of another great granddaughter!  One last week and another this week!  Freya Nagle was born this last Wednesday coming in at 6 lbs 14 ounces, 20 inches long & all 10 toes & 10 fingers!!  She is a cutie!  She wasn't due until early January 2024, but I think that Mom & Dad wanted the extra tax deduction this year!!

We are grateful for our Mission & are learning to love the Young Single Adults.

We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!

Gingerbread, Testimonies, Posada and Live Nativity, and an Apostle

Our new baby great granddaughter, Camille, is thriving and doing well.  I just have to share some pictures (can't be helped when you're a Great Grandma so far away).

Here's a picture of the proud Daddy, Shayden.

For Family Home Evening, we made gingerbread (graham cracker) houses with the YSA's.  It's the perfect time to visit and share with them.  While we were visiting with one of the sisters, we found out that she is a criminal investigator; she works for the Navy.  Now I know why she was so good at asking me questions!  I'll watch what I say next time (HaHa jk)

We attended two different testimony meetings this week.  At the last District Council meeting of the Transfer (every six weeks), we all share our testimonies.  Then, there is also a Departing Testimony meeting for the whole mission.  Those missionaries who have finished their missions share their testimonies.  It's a wonderful, sweet time to listen to the missionaries share their experiences of learning, growth, and leaning of their Savior, Jesus Christ.  Listening to these testimonies is a powerful witness to me of the inspired missionary program of the Church.  These young people gain so many life skills and experiences, as well as testimonies, that they would not receive without the hard and challenging experiences they have.

I mentioned that transfers were this week.  In the past, the missionaries would receive an email on Wednesday night telling them if they are being transferred, where they will be going, and who their new companion will be.  The President decided to change the protocol.  To prevent gossiping, they were only told that they would be transferred, but that was all.  Friday morning, all who were being transferred, met at the mission office building, found out who their new comp and area would be via an overhead screen.  I think this made it more stressful for the missionaries, not knowing for two days.  But, I get the reason.  Apparently there is some gossip that goes around when all is revealed two days before it happens.  Sometimes missionaries talk about other missionaries and tell things that might not be the most positive.  As our President says, he would not want to be judged by his worst day.  Neither would any of us!  

So our District changed quite a bit.  We no longer have any sisters - all Elders!  I will miss our Sister's at DC.  I love the Elder's too, just can't give them hugs.  

After the Transfer meeting, we went over to the La Jolla Institute building for lunch.  All the Senior missionaries who work with YSA's and all the Institute teachers were invited for this lunch.  The food was delicious and it fun to get to know some of the others working with the YSA's.  

When we drove up I-5 to the Institute we saw the San Diego temple off the freeway.  It is in a process of being remodeled.

That evening we headed up to the Mormon Battalion for the Posada, Live Nativity and music program.  A Posada is a reenactment of the journey Joseph and Mary  made trying to find an inn where they could stay and Mary could have the baby.  Near the Mormon Battalion, there is a street with historic homes.  This was the area used for the procession.  There was narration and singing as they went from house to house, ending up back at the Mormon Battalion where an outdoor stable was set up.  Mary, Joseph and baby, along with live animals, were staged for pictures and pondering by the onlookers on this momentous historic scene that changed the world forever.  It was really a beautiful and moving experience.  There were probably about 500 people following the procession.  

A stage was set up at the other end of the lawn and Primary children and missionaries put on a musical program with singing, stringed instruments, trumpet and guitar creating beautiful music about the birth of Jesus Christ. Stan was asked to sing in the choir.  We found out that there were hundreds of people from the community that came to this program.  They also had a service project set up, as well as hot chocolate and cookies.  It was quite an evening to behold.

We've found that Saturday afternoon is good for visiting, so we headed out with a list of names and addresses, bags of treats and a handout with a quote from Pres. Nelson.  We didn't have very good luck finding people home.  But we did have one success.  We found one young man home.  His mother answered the door and invited us in, when she realized who we were.  She invited her son in, and his girlfriend as well.  The young man's name is Hinckclair, which is an unusual name.  I asked him if he went by this name or a nickname.  He said he goes by Hinckclair, and that he was named after President Hinckley (an earlier prophet).  His mother proceeded to tell us that when she was pregnant with him (she was living in the Philippines) that Pres. Hinckley came to visit the islands.  When she was in the same room with him, she said the baby started kicking and moving around; she thought he was going to come right then!  So, that his why he is named Hinckclair.  Interesting story.  

Apparently he hasn't been to Church for awhile, but would like to come back, but he works on Sunday's.  We invited him to our activities and to Institute.  He attends college right across the street from the Institute, so maybe he'll come over for dinner and the lesson.  His girlfriend is a member, too, so maybe we can get them coming to Church again.

Sunday's can be a busy, but fulfilling day.  We started off with a Stake Missionary Correlation Meeting.  I'm impressed with the good works that are happening with the missionary work.  We have been asked to teach a Mission Prep class beginning in January.  This will be mostly high school seniors and young adults who are interested in preparing to go on a mission.  This should be a great experience.  We need to get the word out with some advertising, and work on lesson preparation.

We're also teaching a Temple Prep class in our ward.  I'm loving teaching about the temple and preparing the young adults to get a temple recommend.  It will be a blessed experience to go to the temple with these young people; I look forward to that day.

This evening we had the blessing of being able to attend a Devotional for the YSA's in the region up in Escondido, 45 minutes away..  Elder Gary Stevenson, an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, was the invited speaker.  We gave a ride to our newly baptized Eric from our ward.  We had a delightful visit with this amazing young man.  He is so committed to Jesus Christ and His Church upon the earth.  He told us that he wants to be part of the Church for the rest of his life and into the eternities.  That's commitment!

Because the devotional was for YSA's, we sat in the very back of the cultural hall.  We couldn't even see Elder Stevenson, except on the screen.  He gave a wonderful Christmas message, quoting scriptures from the Book of Mormon that tell of the birth and life of Jesus Christ.  He reminded us that we only have two weeks until Christmas Eve.  He showed on the screen this picture of a Christmas Tree made up of words and phrases of things we can do for others. (Not sure if you'll be able to read the words or not.  Sorry.)

He invited all of us to think of what we can do to show love, share with others, and invite people to come and see what we're all about.  He encouraged us to do the things that we were thinking about in the next two weeks.  Not to let this time pass.  

At the end he bore a powerful apostolic testimony of Jesus Christ.  The spirit was palpable.  I wondered what I did to be so blessed to have been in that room with the young adults and Elder Stevenson.  It was an evening to remember.