We're still here
On Thursday nights we take the
leftover YMCA food over to our ward. We were asked if we would take down all
the Christmas decorations because no one wanted to. I guess we were either in the right place or right time since now all the Christmas decorations are down.
Apparently, there is a ward that has the youth help put up the Christmas decorations at the temple one night and then they come back one day and help take them down.
Before Sister Potter became house
bound, she used to visit Mary Ann and Penelope in two different care centers. Although
our ward has lost track of them, Sister Potter has kept in touch with these
ladies by phone over the years.She asked us to visit them when
we could.
Mary Ann was moved out of her
Care Center. We were able to get a hold of the
bishop of Mary Ann's new ward. We then got to introduce Mary Ann to a member of her new Relief Society Presidency.
I think we told you about the
Senior couple (Armstrong’s) that left our mission and went home to St. George.
They assist in our “Zoom” Miracle Moments every Monday night from St. George. They also come
back down every 6 weeks for the weekend to help bring in our new missionaries.
If you see them (they may be
working in the temple there in St. George) tell them how devoted and wonderful
they are…
We don’t do a whole lot of outings but we have had a couple.
*New Years Senior Outings. We told them of a Chinese Restaurant, and they all loved it.
*Single Sisters celebration
Christmas dinner outing
I just had to show you this!
He
delivers our can goods to the YMCA. He was so excited because he was showing me
that (I think it was the Syrup), was from our church. He was trying to show me
the Church's stamp.
(0-Sorry not a clear picture)
Avi, our famous YMCA leader, sponsored an appreciation breakfast for all those who help her.
(Sister Snyder was not there that day since she's not supposed to lift anything heavy.)
Our two elders are in the back on the left. The little red headed lady in front of them is our second in command, Debbie. Avi is in the front to the right of her with the long black hair.
(Our beautiful fearless, kind leaders. Avi and Debbie)
The younger guys and some older are from the rehab house that come and help. The rest are some volunteers who just come.
In this picture a few more of our volunteers showed up. Avi's taking the picture.
Once again, we were invited to give rides to the missionary's friends. We picked up at USC (University of Southern California) and drove them to UCLA (University of Los Angles) They were celebrating the Chinese New Year.
Once again, we were able to help Baylee feed the new missionaries super and breakfast.
In helping Brother and Sister Hall clean out apartments of missionaries this is what we found! Interesting that missionaries would have this! Right?
I give them the benefit of doubt that it was left by another tenant who didn't have a place for it and didn't want the hassle of getting it out. AND it was a hassle getting it out of that apartment.
Now let’s take a walk down the lane for our morning walk.
Down Santa Monica....
Good morning to our "Bench Lady" who is still in bed. On my way back she should be up cleaning herself, sweeping her sidewalk and packing everything up for the day to leave under her bench.
It really is a nice path.
Time to turn around and head home!
Oh dear! It looks like she is sleeping in this morning.
Before leaving let's just see a few of the obstacles I encountered.
Really? Right in the middle of the sidewalk.
Yes, I can go around.
On my way back and he's still there.
The Childs will be going home soon. They have been kind to us Single Sister missionaries. The other day they took us out for a picnic and a visit to the Forest Green Graveyards.
Sister Snyder and Sister Miller
This is Elisabeth! Oh excuse me, you must call her Sister Child!
She has loved her mission here and as her parents prepare to go home, she is very unhappy to leave the young missionaries and California.
Today she pulled this face because she is not too happy to have to spend the day with the OLD Missionaries.
Before signing off let us just show and tell you briefly about these famous graveyards that you find all over down here. They are called "Forest Lawn" and this is their creed.
The Builder’s Creed This is the Builder’s Dream;
I believe in a Happy Eternal
Life.
I believe those of us who are
left behind should be glad in the certain belief that those gone before who
believed in Him, have entered into that happier life.
I believe, most of all in a
Christ that smiles and loves you and me.
This is where our church got the idea for the Christus!
From Forest Lawn
I therefore know the Cemeteries
of today are WRONG, because they depict an end, not a beginning. They have
consequently become unsightly stone yards full of inartistic symbols and
depressing customs.
I therefore prayerfully resolve
on this New Year’s Day, 1917 that I shall endeavor to build Forest Lawn
as different, as unlike other cemeteries as sunshine is to darkness, as Eternal
life is unlike death.
I shall try to build a Forest Lawn a great park, devoid
of misshapen monuments and other customary signs of earthly death, but filled
with towering trees, sweeping lawns, splashing fountains, singing birds,
beautiful statuary, cheerful flowers, noble memorial architecture, with
interiors full of light and color and redolent of the world’s best history and
romances.
I believe these things educate
and uplift a community.
Forest Lawn shall become a place
where lovers new and old shall love to stroll and watch the sunset’s glow,
planning for the future of reminiscing of the past;
a place where artists study
and sketch; where school teachers bring happy children to see things they read
of in books, where little churches, triumphant in the knowledge that from their
pulpits only words of love can be spoken;
where memorialization of loved ones
in sculptured marble and pictorial glass shall be encouraged but controlled by
acknowledged artist; a place where the sorrowing will be soothed and
strengthened because it will be God’s Garden.
A place that shall be protected
by an immense endowment care fund, the principal of which can never be expended;
only the income there from used to care for and perpetuate this garden of
memory.
This is the Builder’s Creed!
We'll sign off now and enjoy the rain some more.
We have a full next couple of weeks with watching kids after church so parents can attend the Self-Reliance class, assisting in the "Walk with Him" Relief Society Social, and preparing and serving 120 missionaries each day of the two-day Zone Conferences. We need your prayers for these next two busy weeks.
Take care everyone....We love and miss you all....
Love, the Sister Sisters
Rita and Veva
