Week 19: Camarillo, CA

California is having some incredible weather and I have attached a photo of the snow in our mountains. I wear my coat every day. But Dad and I are very safe. We really love California and the wonderful friends we are making here!

Last week was transfer week, and so we drove twice to the Santa Barbara airport. One missionary went to Zimbabwe, and we got up at 1:50 AM to help him make his flight on time. We were so tired for the rest of the day, even though we took two naps. We are getting older and these airport runs can wear us out. But we enjoy talking with the young missionaries on the drive and getting to know them. Our second drive was taking a missionary to the same airport two days later so that he could go home for knee surgery. His flight was later in the morning, so we checked him into the airport and then we found a little breakfast place in Santa Barbara and had a great breakfast before we headed home. I had huevos rancheros. So good! 

We kept really busy all week. We visited Catholic Charities to see their new clothing closet, which we organized for them. We were so happy with how it all turned out. We helped our friends with their passport applications and in appreciation, they gave us a bag of lemons and three quarts of strawberries. When it rains really hard, they cannot work, but yesterday, the rain was lighter, and the fields were filled with people, some of our friends, wearing massive rain gear from head to toe, spacesuit hats, huge boots in the deep mud, picking strawberries and doing all sorts of work in the fields. For the rest of my life, when I eat a berry, I will be grateful for these hard workers who make our food possible. I made lemon bars to take to our friends tonight. 

We got some beautiful flowers at a roadside market this week. We went on a double date with another couple who work in the office. Their assignment is making sure that all the young missionaries have an apartment that is safe and clean. We also helped drive a few more new cars for the mission couple who have the car assignment. They keep all the 62 cars safe and maintained. We enjoy getting to know these couples. They had a huge fight in the office a couple of weeks ago, and we feel really bad for them, so we just try to help and keep our heads down. We are fortunate to not work in the office. Sometimes the stress can be difficult. On Sunday we attended 3 church meetings. First, the El Camino Real ward at 9:00 AM where Dad leads the music and I play. Then the Valley Vista Spanish group at 11:30 where I play and Dad teaches the lesson. Then, the Spanish evening meeting for people who are required to work on Sunday, where Dad leads, I play, Dad prays, and Chase Bethers blesses the sacrament. We also try to go on a walk every day that doesn't have rain. We saw our friendly coyote on the road today, walking ahead of us. I tried to take a photo, but he looks very small. We stay SO busy! And we love it. 

Week 18: Camarillo, CA

Our calling here is MLS, which means member leader support . . . and LOG, which means logistics. You are probably familiar with our MLS duties, and they include teaching, playing and leading music, speaking, giving our friends rides, planning weddings, etc. We really enjoy this part of our mission. Our LOG part is a bit more practical, and this involves driving to and from airports in the area. This week, our LOG duties also included driving new cars off the lots and up to missionaries in Santa Maria, about a two-hour drive. Thus, this week we spent a lot of time in brand new cars. I have to confess that I've been grateful to Dad for doing all the driving in California on the crazy 7-lane freeways, but when we learned that we were each going to be driving a separate car, Dad started coaching me so that I would be ready. And I passed the test. On our first day, Dad and I picked up the new cars in Thousand Oaks, and we drove them back to the mission office in Oxnard. At the mission office, they were equipped with a device that monitors speed, seatbelt use, reckless driving, etc., and if a missionary has too many violations, he or she becomes an elder on a bike. As we were approaching the office, I stopped at a red light, and after waiting a minute or two, BOOM, someone rear-ended me. I couldn't believe it! The car only had 25 miles on it. So on this 6-lane road, I got out of the car and approached the other driver. He tried to convince me that the damage wasn't bad and that I could wash it off in a car wash. I told him that the car didn't belong to me and I would file a report. He was really angry. So I walked around to the back of his car and said his license number aloud. The front license had come off in the wreck. I told him that he MUST drive with me to the parking lot so that we could exchange information. I do not think he would have done it if I hadn't memorized his license plate number. Dad said his car smelled like marijuana, and he was probably worried about getting a DUI. Fortunately, even though Dad was ahead of me, he heard the wreck and he stopped and helped me. We exchanged information and the guy drove off. Everything ended up okay, and that new car is now in the north part of the mission, being driven by two sisters. 

On one of our study days, Dad and I were looking out our back window, and I saw a coyote. Of course, I didn't have my glasses on or my camera nearby, but I called it out to Dad, and he saw that the coyote had a rabbit in its mouth. We were amazed. The coyote just trotted along the back of our duplex and then at a low point, jumped over the fence with that rabbit to the dry arroyo in the back of our yard. We were so impressed. Now we always look for him. 

On the day we drove cars to Santa Maria, we stopped in Santa Barbara on the way home to have lunch. We found this wonderful taco place where we could eat outdoors by a fountain. We loved it. The food here is really good! When we arrived home, we got a request from Elder Bethers and his companion to teach a man named Fidel with them. So we drove back into Oxnard, and we entered into a one-car garage which had some shelves, a couch with a mattress on top, and a lot of water bottles. Fidel was a very kind man who lives in this garage. He was dressed in a coat and a winter hat on his head because he has no heat and the nights can be as cold as 36 degrees. He works every day and he loves talking to people. I'm sure he is lonely in that garage. Of course, he gave each one of us a water bottle because of his amazing generosity. We are always so impressed with the generosity of these people who are grateful to be in the US even though they don't have much. When he needs to cook or use the bathroom, he has permission to go upstairs where the owner of the house and garage have allotted certain times for him to use the facilities. We realize that in many of the homes and garages we see, there are probably about 20 people living and trying to make a living. It's really eye-opening. 

On Saturday, we talked with another lonely man who is 90 years old. His wife died 4 years ago, and he loves visits. He sort of flirted with me, which is strange. Ha ha! He called the US a country of pure gold. He loves this country, and all of his seven children, who were born here, speak English, have succeeded in making good lives for themselves. That makes us really happy. I wish there were a way to invite everyone who wants to come to make a new life in the US, but I know that the issue is not a simple one in any way. We just try to love people where they are with what they need. That night we had another teaching opportunity, so we drove 30 minutes to arrive, but our friend cancelled, which happens a lot. So we went out for ice cream. We heard of a great ice cream store called Michoacan, and we tried it. They have some fun flavors, like cookie monster (Chase's favorite), guayaba, many exotic fruit flavors, chiclets gum flavor, picante cucumber flavor, etc. I got coconut and Dad got abuelita, which is Mexican hot chocolate with a touch of cinnamon. Fun! 

Finally, yesterday, we were very busy at church. Dad translated a talk again, and he did an amazing job. He is very talented at translating, and our friends understood very well. We played and led the music. We hugged as many people as we could. It was a great Sunday. But then, the family that made us the incredible meat roll for Christmas Eve dinner reminded us that we promised we would have dinner with them on Sunday. Dad had been trying to find creative ways to take them out to dinner or some other means of avoiding the meat roll. But, alas, no. We went to their home. Out back, the brother was cooking beef, pork, onions, peppers, etc. on a griddle. Then he covered the whole thing with a ton of cheese. It looked a LOT like the meat roll, scrambled. He served a huge portion on each of our plates and we started to eat. Then he remembered the corn tortillas wrapped in cloth and the grilled fresh pineapple. We put the meat mixture with pineapple and pico de gallo on these incredible homemade corn tortillas, and we tried the tacos. They were amazing! We loved them so much! We have had some of the most amazing food while living here. Now, the next time they invite us over, we are going to be so excited! 

So yes, we had a wonderful week. Sometimes we say to each other, "Who gets to do this?" We feel so lucky and blessed. We have giant strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries every day for breakfast. We feel spoiled. 

Week 17: Camarillo, CA

This week was busy and beautiful, from a lot of dimensions. First of all, we drove to San Luis Obispo for a zone conference there. We loved seeing young missionaries there, singing with them, eating lunch, and learning how to plan more efficient days. Our zone conferences are pretty cool. They are spiritual of course, with messages about Christ, but also useful. We learn about planning, organizing, using maps, saving gas, keeping apartments clean, using smoke alarms, eating healthy, talking kindly with people, listening, all sorts of life skills that are useful for lifelong habits. For some of our missionaries, this practical training is life-changing. 

Because San Luis Obispo is such a long drive, Dad and I decided to sleep overnight. We got a small hotel on the ocean and we spent the afternoon looking at seals, sea otters, and California sea lions. The sun was shining on the ocean, and the views were so beautiful. We loved this little break and chance to enjoy this incredible planet. Once we got home, we were busy again. I now have two piano students, so I taught lessons. We are helping a family get passports, so we filled out a lot of paperwork and took pictures that we hope will be accepted by the passport people. 

On Friday, we went to the temple with some missionaries who are going home next week. The temple is in Los Angeles, so on the way home, we stopped at the Getty Villa. It was pretty with views of the ocean and amazing art. On Friday night, we were asked to bring the enchiladas to a party of our friends in the Spanish group. So we went to the store. Then we volunteered to bring the cake to a wedding of our friends on Saturday, so we went to the store again. Then, our prescription came in so we went to the store again. In the meantime, we needed a ruler for the passport pictures, so we went to the store for the fourth time. So much for the "saving gas" and "planning your day" lessons we heard at zone conference! 

On Saturday, the women in our Spanish ward brought flowers from their yards, used tablecloths and decorations from the church closets, and spent their own money to buy sandwich supplies. They put together a beautiful wedding for our friends from Mexico who have two children but are not married. A young woman from the ward sang a love song, and the wedding was really beautiful. We loved it! It was a really special day. Then on Sunday, we brought our enchiladas to a good-bye party for one of the sister missionaries who we have been working with, and they were a hit. The people at the party, mostly from Mexico, looked at me with doubt and said, "YOU made these enchiladas?" I think they liked my enchiladas, and they didn't think a gringo could make them. So I was proud. 

On Sunday, we always go to two hours of church in Oxnard from 9:00 to 11:00. Then, after a 30-minute drive, we attend a two hour church in Camarillo from 11:30 to 1:30. And yesterday, we added a sacrament meeting for those who are required to work on Sundays from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. It was beautiful because our bishop decided to stand and sing "I Stand All Amazed" a capella. This means that Elder Weatherford and I attended 5 hours of church and took the sacrament 3 times. We think that might be a record. So yes, we are keeping busy, and we love the opportunities to serve and to learn more about our neighbors from Mexico, and to meet and love new people. 

Fifth 3-week Update for President Carter

 Hello dear Pres. Carter,

 We're doing well and hope that you and Sis. Carter are doing the same.  We pray for you both often.

In the past 3 weeks, we have given rides (to airport, or medical appts) to the following missionaries: E. Gustafson, Hna. Valentine, Hna. Braun, Elder Nunley, E. Pickrell, Hna. Marshall

We were privileged to teach 15 lessons with the junior missionaries!  Always a highlight for us.  One particular lesson i wanted to share with you re: Abraham (who you first met in Sta. Maria, then later at an Oxnard baptism)...he is so excited about the new principles he's learning from the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, that he asked his missionaries (E. Larsen, Bethers, Rosenlund) for 33 Books of Mormon to share with his fellow 'celery field' workers!  We obtained the books and had him dictate his testimony to us 4 missionaries (he can't write) and we wrote it in the front of these precious books.  The next morning, the Elders hauled these books out to the field and distributed them with Abraham!  wow, so impressive!

I must say wrt Abraham, that i was super impressed with your memory of meeting him in Santa Maria, when he didn't even remember it himself.

We went 3 times to Catholic Charities in Ventura and helped with their food pantry and have also helped them organize a new clothing closet.  Now that we've moved to our Camarillo duplex, we will probably transfer to their OASIS services (older adults) in Camarillo.

We have spoken in the Camino Real ward Sacrament meeting (and are scheduled to do so again next week).  we also had dinner with the EQ President and his wife (Miguel & Belia Soto) to get to know them better.  Lastly, we attended an English Connect Class in Lompoc and they did a good job (4 attendees).

Week 16: Camarillo, CA

We had a wonderful week! We had zone conferences all over the mission. This means that Dad and I drive to be there, we help set up tables and chairs, we attend the meetings, and then we have lunch with the missionaries. I take pictures of as many of them as I can for the friends and family Facebook page, then I post the photos. After the conference, usually at about 2 PM, Dad and I take some time to see the sights where we are. Last week, we spent time in Santa Barbara  at the courthouse, at a Mexican taco place, and driving on the street to Oprah's house, as well as a lot of other mansions. We had a lot of fun doing that! There is still quite a bit of water damage, but most businesses are open. Our first choice for dinner was still under repair, however. We had a zone conference in Oxnard and we loved seeing Elder Bethers teach his zone. In our breakout sessions, the mission president tests how well we know the points of the discussions in Spanish. Dad and I are doing pretty well at memorizing them. The pictures in this message are mostly from our Santa Barbara day.

We also visited with some of our friends. We are preparing a wedding for a cute family who pick strawberries and give us quarts and quarts each time we visit. We feel so spoiled. They will get married on Saturday, and we are bringing cake. It is exciting! 

On Friday, we woke up at 3:00 to get to the LA airport. Chase stayed the night with us so that we were ready to go. We got to Utah in time to have lunch with Josh and Emma, and I completely forgot to take a photo. Then we attended the viewings on Friday night.  We had the beautiful service on Saturday morning. We visited grandma and we got a tour of her new place. I loved it! It has a common room with games and puzzles, the apartment is big, with washer and dryer, and the people who live there with grandma seem really nice. I am so grateful that grandma was able to find such a nice place. Later that afternoon, we met Chase at the airport and flew home. We went to bed at midnight with Chase in the spare bedroom and then went to church the next morning. Ha ha! We may have made a couple of mistakes playing the piano at church, but all in all, we had a very special day. It was nice to be back.