I last posted on December 23 - feels like forever ago!! So much has happened!!
On December 24, we had a Christmas Eve dinner here at the Institute for the missionaries and any investigators or members that needed a place to come. It was fun - several people dropped in, ate, and left for other things. We played Church Christmas videos and music. We had a great spirit and enjoy the people so much!
Just of few of the dinner attendees!
After we got home, Christmas Eve was quiet for us. We opened our new Christmas jammies, and watched Christmas Eve on Sesame Street on You Tube (family tradition!) The next morning, we were up early so that we could be at the Military Base (the Marine Bootcamp) for an 8:00 am program that the missionaries presented. That afternoon, we went to a Christmas Day dinner at Bishop Goff's house (they had several ward members over.) Very different, but very rewarding Christmas experience.
Christmas jammies!
Christmas Program
The next day, Saturday, Dec. 26, Ananth was baptized. He and his sister prepared a true India feast for us afterwards. As usual, the baptism was a wonderful experience, with a great outpouring of the Spirit. Ananth's sister is not a member, but supports him fully. (It may just be a matter of time for her - we hope!)
Elder and Sister McGuire, Siya, and Ananth
The next week we set aside to do some cleaning up at the Institute. On Monday we cleaned the storeroom, We continued to work that week on reorganizing and cleaning up shelves, etc. in the rooms and offices. We're trying to do a little purging and redecorating.
It wasn't all work that week though - we took time to visit the San Diego Zoo Lights, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and the San Diego Temple Lights. We had no classes scheduled, a lot of the YSA had gone home for Christmas, so it was very quiet at the Institute.
Elder McGuire on the tram at the San Diego Zoo Lights
San Diego Temple Lights
On the safari tram at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
One thing that's interesting about the temple lights - they are put up entirely by the YSA Wards in the San Diego Area. It's one of only 12 temples that have a temple light display. So, our 2 YSA Wards spent a few Saturday mornings putting up and taking down lights. It was gorgeous!
Now the fun begins - our quiet, peaceful time came to a halt! El Nino hit! I have never seen rain quite like what hit us. It came down in buckets, flooding streets, drenching parking lots, etc. We drove through water on the streets that was up to the bottom of our car, running like a river. When it first hit, we were driving one of our ward members to the Bishop's Storehouse to fill a food order. By the time we got him back to his place, the missionaries helped us carry in his groceries, and they were drenched almost immediately! Suits and shoes were soaked. We offered to dry clean the missionary's suits for them - it was a small price to pay for their help!
Elder McGuire, Elder Kunz, and Elder McCloy
The missionaries are always helping us. The next day, they came over to the Institute, and for service hours they cleaned the kitchen for us. I don't know how many years it had been since the top of the cupboards and refrigerator had been cleaned!!
Hard working missionaries!
That week, we also had our monthly Senior Missionary FHE, a wedding reception for two of our YSA's, haircuts, etc. By Thursday, we were finally starting to see some sun break through. One thing San Diego has is beautiful sunsets!
San Diego Sunset
We had a fun experience on Friday, Jan. 8. Our Institute Director was out of town, so we went to the new student orientation on campus (SDSU) and represented our Institute at the Religious Council's booth. Four other religious organizations have representation on campus, and we spent time getting to know their ministers/leaders. I was very glad we were there and able to make that connection.
On Monday, Jan. 11, we flew out at 6:30 am to Utah. Kristina had the opportunity in October to adopt a baby that was due on Jan. 12. He's a little boy whose parents are from the Marshall Islands (although they live in Arkansas now.). He's a cousin to the two little kids that Jordan and Kallie Hunger adopted. So she flew to Arkansas, and we flew in to tend her children for a week. The baby was born on Monday, Jan. 11, and is absolutely beautiful! He's a little miracle for us all, one of the "tender mercies" of our missionary service! Kristina will be bringing him home on Jan. 22, after the court hearing. Arkansas does not have a waiting period, so the temple sealing is scheduled for Jan. 30.
Henry Owen Swenson!! Grandchild # 17
We did not tell any of the other grandchildren we were flying into Utah. So, when we picked up Kristina's car at the airport, we drove to the kids school and surprised them. Then went to McDonald's to eat. I've almost forgotten how crazy it can be to have a zillion grandchildren all talking and running around at once!
A few of the grandchildren at McDonald's
A few more
We headed to Mapleton that afternoon to take over tending Kristina's kids for the week. Tuesday was Emma's birthday (it was also Kenslee's birthday), so I took her shopping, made a special birthday dinner that she invited friends to, and let them watch a video together. We continued to help at Kris's house, trying to help her catch up on laundry, getting kids where they needed to go, etc. On Thursday, after school, we loaded up the kids and headed back to our place in Kaysville (they didn't have school on Friday). We stayed at our house until Saturday night, then drove the kids back to Mapleton so they could attend to their church duties. All 3 of them had to see the Bishop and the Stake President to get temple recommends to attend the sealing next week. Sunday night, Natalie came and picked us up to take us back to Kaysville. Nate's parents were coming that night to stay, and his brother and wife were coming over to stay until they got there.
So, Monday, I planned too much to do (as usual). We (Julianne, Natalie, and I) planned to make crockpot freezer meals that day. We bit off a little too much - only got 30 of our planned 50 made. Our flight back to San Diego was at 9:50 that night, so we arrived back at our place pretty late.
So yesterday, we came into the Institute to see if we could catch up on things a bit. Plus, we are flying home again on Jan. 27-Feb. 7 for Julianne's baby's birth, Jacee's baby's birth, and Kristina's baby's temple sealing and blessing. I keep telling my husband "happy is the man that hath his quiver full" (Psalms 127:3-5)!
We missed our missionary work here. There were baptisms, stake conference that one of our YSA's spoke at, etc. Today we attended a Worldwide Missionary Broadcast for the morning. Classes start next week and we are teaching every day, plus a Tuesday evening class. We are doing the luncheon for the Seminary Training on Saturday (90 people), the Linger Longer on Sunday, plus planning 2 Forum meals that we can prep and have ready to serve while we're gone.
Fortunately, one of the other Senior Missionaries will teach our classes for us while we're gone. He's a former Seminary Teacher and loves to teach!
We are so blessed! The blessings that have come to our family while we are on our mission are incredible. And we are having experiences that we will never forget. We love the Savior and want to teach/preach about him all of the time. As it says on our plaque at the church, "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. (2 Nephi 25:26)
No comments:
Post a Comment