Getting Ready for a New Semester - Where Did the Summer Go?

Wow! So much time has passed and I just simply didn't get anything posted! So, here I am, trying to remember everything we did in July and August.

I think I last posted after the 4th of July.  Summer Institute continued through July.  It turned out very successful, and we were able to get to know a lot of different students in the area.  In total, we had about 150 different students attend at one or more of the classes.  On July 8, Elder McGuire and I decided to take a break and go to the zoo.  San Diego Zoo is amazing, and since we have season passes, it's great to go for just a short time, knowing you can go back anytime.

At the zoo

In addition to taking care of Summer Institute, we spent time this summer teaching Temple Prep to various students.  We teach during Sunday School time in both of the wards, and then we would meet with students here at the Institute if they had missed lessons. So far, 15 of the students we taught have received their endowments, and we have others who are ready.  Many of them invited us to go to the temple with them, which has been such a joy.

I've been asked to play the piano for several baptisms in our Stake or Zone.  We're always happy to attend those, they are such wonderful occasions.  One of them was for Alexandra, an investigator from "The District" videos.  The church missionary department came and videoed the entire program.

Many of the missionaries we have worked with are completed with their missions and returning home.  When possible, we've tried to take them to lunch for a last goodbye. On July 14, we were able to meet up with Elder Hansen (from Kaysville), and we went to Tacos El Gordo.  We worked with him for a long time in the 1st Ward and really learned to love him.  Can't wait to see him again.

Us with Elder Hansen

Julianne, Natalie, and Kristina came to visit July 15-18.  It was so much fun!  Julianne brought Livy and Kristina brought Henry.  I was able to spend 4 days just doing "girl stuff" - went shopping, to lunch, to church, etc.  It was relaxing and just so much fun.  I love my girls!

Kristina, Julianne, Natalie, and Me - Lunch

Henry and Olivia

Natalie, Me, Kristina, and Julianne

On July 17, while the girls were here, we attended a Fireside by Alex Boye.  It was a great experience for all of the YSA's - they loved him!  Beginning July 18 through August 11, we spent just about every noontime on campus at a booth for campus orientation times. Because we have had so much trouble with getting LDSSA approved on campus, we have turned instead to working with the Campus Religious Council.  Brother Mackay has been very instrumental in organizing this, and it allows us to participate in campus activities as a "group".  It's been very interesting to get to know people who work with other religious groups - Catholics, Jewish, Methodists, Lutherans and Episcopalians. Hopefully, it gives us a little more "presence" on campus.

We did apartment checks for the Elders on July 21, then attended the temple with another of our Temple Prep students, Joel James.  He left on his mission to Houston the second week of August. On July 23, we helped with a Stake Primary Activity in the morning, a YSA Regional Conference in the afternoon, and had dinner with Elder McNaughton that evening.  (He requested Cafe Rio Salads.)  We worked with Elder McNaughton for a long time in the 1st Ward.

Working at the Pioneer Photo Booth for the Stake Primary Activity

The San Diego YSA 1st Ward had 2 wonderful baptisms - Jesse (July 29), and Tyler (Aug. 6).  On July 30, we attended the Temple with Carmen Rodriguez, who had attended our Summer Institute class and invited us.  She was a single mom who had overcome some really hard times to reach the point of temple worthiness, so it was really rewarding to be there.

On August 1, we had a Senior FHE at the Chula Vista Institute. They have an Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, so the speaker was a young LDS woman who goes there.  She is the Alternate for the Olympics in Archery.  It was so interesting to see what is involved in the training to become an Olympic Athlete.  

Sisters Harris, Moore, Johnson, Parkin, McGuire, Perry, Butterworth, and Richardson

Elders Butterworth, Perry, Moore, Parkin, McGuire, Johnson, Harris, and Richardson

On August 2, we worked at the Temple Information Booth. August 8, we had lunch with Elder McCloy at SoupPlantation.  He was the first missionary we really worked with.  When we arrived, he had been in the YSA 2nd Ward for one week and stayed for about 6 months.  We interacted a lot with him, he sang on several occasions and I accompanied him.  We worked very closely with him with the ward members and investigators and really learned to love him.  He lives in Farmington, so we'll be anxious to see him again.

On Aug. 13, we were in charge of the luncheon for the Regional Seminary Training Meeting (about 80 people).  We started out with yogurt, granola, and parfait sundaes.  Lunch was Ham and Cheese Sliders, Spinach and Strawberry Salad, and Lemon Bars.  We had help from the Perry's, so that was fun.  The following day, we hosted a Regional Fireside on "Self-Reliance".  Brother Price from the Grossmont Institute was our guest speaker.  We had about 45 in attendance. For refreshments, I baked Monster Cookies.

On Monday, Aug. 15, we had our Zone Meeting.  We are really fortunate because most of the zones don't invite their Senior Couples to attend, but the Richardsons, Harris's, and us go to ours.  It's just so delightful to see the hard work of these Elders and Sisters.

Zone 2

On Friday night, Aug. 19, we attended a Barbecue at the Butterworth's for the Parkin's (who left Aug. 23).

Butterworth's, Parkins, Us, Richardson, and Iverson's

Sunday, Aug. 21, we took care of Linger Longer for the 1st Ward since the Bishop was out of town. We plan on 60 in attendance, so I made 4 big crockpots of potato soup.  On Saturday, Aug. 20, to do something different, we had lunch at Lucha Libre.  It's a Mexican Wrestling themed restaurant.  Fun!

Elder McGuire at Lucha Libre

Currently, we're busy preparing for school to start next week.  We attended the temple with Lei on Tuesday.  She was the first baptism we were here for, and she went through the temple on her one year anniversary of her baptism date.  So wonderful to be there for that.  Wednesday, we took a little time to go to the Safari Park.  

What a blessing to be here.  We now see some of the results of our work with these kids.  To see people progress from baptism to going to the temple is amazing.  This is truly the work of the Lord in the last days.  His work is hastening, and we are all called to be a part of it.  The church is true, Joseph Smith is a prophet and we have a prophet now.  Our Savior lives, and has provided a path for all of us to return to live with him.  Of these things I testify, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.