More Bright Moments...

Elder Meese had a great happening last week when he attended the monthly meeting with Groveland's genealogical society at the library.  One lady was having trouble finding her ancestors in Sonora.  He told her if she'd fill out what she knew in this booklet, he'd be glad to help her next meeting.  

But the coolest thing happened next, when he introduced the people there to "thefhguide.com", a new training resource for FamilySearch. Before Elder Meese left the library, one man came up to thank him for the tip, from which he had just found three documents on people he'd been searching for in Italy!!

I think next month's gathering will be even more exciting!




It's difficult to share all the wonderful things that happen each week on a mission, but here are a few 'bright moments' I captured in photos:

One of our zone leaders.  He's so wonderful.  Prepared, spiritual, humble... I have loved every zone training we've attended.  I learn so much. Before this last training they asked us each to ponder when it was that we gained our witness that the Book of Mormon was truly the word of God.  I will remember the experiences and honest feelings shared during that meeting for a long, long time.

At the end of the meeting, they gave us each a new  Book of Mormon and an' invitation' from President Palmer to read it in the next three months, highlighting every title or name of the Savior in one color, every direct quote from the Savior in a second color, and every reference to missionary work in a third.  I hate to admit it, but I've been using digital scriptures so long it was quite a transition.  But it's also strangely enjoyable to be on paper for a while.  I can feel it's going to be a testimony-building experience!

Speaking of gaining testimonies, Brother and Sister Boyack (remember him, our high councilor) spoke in church.  She told of her conversion as a teenager.  When her friend suggested they attend a service with the Reverend Moon, she said, "I just had a wonderful feeling when my family visited temple square at the end of our vacation.  I think I'm going to look into that religion instead."
The telephone rang it was the missionaries, following up on a referral from her visit in Salt Lake signed on their trip.   Coincidental timing?  

Her testimony is wonderful.  We loved listening to both of them!

We had the greatest family 'happen by' our branch this Sunday.  Like the President said, 'Only the faithful seek out a branch when they're vacationing', and they were golden.  Their twin sons passed the sacrament for us, and several people mentioned in their testimonies after what a blessing it was to have deacons pass the sacrament to them! That hasn't happened in a long time. The introduction of wonderful youth just energizes a congregation.  I have a feeling we'll get to see many as the summer moves in!

This weekend we also had a chance to be with the other senior couples in our mission.   The Palmers invited us to the mission home for dinner.

The two couples in the center serve in the office.  Yup, we're the only couple 'in the field' in our mission.   But  we hear rumors that another couple may be arriving next month!

Anyway, President and Sister Palmer fixed us some delightful Mexican food for Cinco de Mayo (even though our Spanish-speaking missionaries said it's mostly an American holiday).

Hey, you want to see an adorable couple?  This is Scarlett (left) and Rhett.  They are therapy dogs that train at the Little House where we volunteer.  They train them to be taken to the local elementary school, where young students read to them!  Yup, they are trained to sit and listen intently while the children read books to them, one on one.  They said it really helps the children improve their reading, and the dogs love it.

This was an experiment for next Friday's volunteer time at the Youth Center.  Our director, Jennah, wants to try to hold a 'tea' for the girls because of the upcoming Mothers Day.  And she asked me to try making strawberry-basil scones!  (Hey, she gave me the Pinterest pages; what could go wrong?!)  Anyway, this is our first test scone about to pop into the oven.  It actually turned out semi-decent!  By next Friday, we should have it down!  I think Jennah's so wonderful for wanting to make a special celebration for these young girls.


We make a lot of trips down the hill to 'the city', and do you remember the white blossomed trees a few blogs ago?  Well, this is what those trees look like now:

Evidently they're almond trees!  I hear our area is famous for its almonds.  We've also been told that the trees only last perhaps 30+ years, after which they rip them out and begin again with small ones....like below.   Okay, sort of a lame picture.  We're always just flying by these fields!  But I hope you can expand it.

Well, that's it for this week.  We are very happy because more and more opportunities to serve keep opening up.   We feel more and more at home in the community and we feel the Lord's guidance wherever we go.  And also, where can you take morning walks where the 'deer and the turkeys roam'!  Love you all.