District Councils, 2nd Trainer Follow-up, Safari Park, General Conference Weekend

We attended the Bobier district council Tuesday morning.

Our second trainer follow-up meeting was that afternoon for the missionaries who have been in the mission 8 weeks.

They do a lot of role plays during the meeting. It gives them good practice in teaching.

Glen usually likes to go out working with missionaries on the week we go to district council meetings. For some reason he did not feel like he should make plans to do so. It became apparent why we needed a free evening that day when one of our new missionaries cried out for help.

We headed to Murrieta as soon as our meeting was finished. To avoid the usual heavy traffic going north that time of the day, the GPS took us on an alternate route on the back roads. 

Let's just say it turned out to be quite the adventure when we went literally up and over the mountains to get to our destination. Narrow, winding roads wound us up all around until we eventually saw civilization again. Whew!! Relief!! We definitely avoided traffic. For the longest time it felt like we were the only ones on those roads. 

It felt like I was in counseling with the companion of the missionary who needed counseling with the Mission President. It took a long time, but eventually the missionary had calmed down and we were able to leave. I was happy to know the missionaries had been invited to the Sattleys (one of our senior missionary couples) for dinner that evening. That would be a lovely environment for the distraught missionary to be in following the long counseling session.

We decided to eat at RJ's Sizzlin' Steer before making the drive back home. As if that hadn't been enough for one day, we ended up driving to Encinitas to have the sisters who had been in the car accident fill out some paperwork for the Missionary Department. Late night!

Wednesday morning we went to the Fallbrook SPANISH district council. The zone leaders and I didn't understand the majority of what was being said. It was nice to see how the newer missionaries are doing. One really impressed us with the Spanish ability for only being here such a short time.

That afternoon we drove to Escondido to meet with a struggling missionary who was requesting professional counseling.

Then we went back to the mission office where Glen met a missionary so they could call the stake president and talk about some things together. Yet another day where it became evident why Glen was glad he hadn't scheduled working with missionaries.

Thursday morning we went to the Oceanside SPANISH district council. I was assigned English role plays with the zone leaders. Glen fits right in with the Spanish role plays. It's such a blessing for him and for the Spanish-speaking missionaries.

Since our Friday was fully scheduled, I suggested we do date night on Thursday this week so we would have a few extra afternoon hours to go somewhere.

We decided on the Safari Park as we hadn't been there in quite a while. We were ready to commune with nature for a few hours until the park closed.

Our first animal spotted was this blue parrot. I instantly felt calmness come over me.

Upon arrival, we had been told there was a new baby elephant. We headed that way to see if the baby would make itself known.

We took the free tram ride around the African plains.

We saw a baby rhinoceros.

The baby giraffe didn't come into good view for a photo.

As it was nearing closing time, we had to stop by to see the baby gorilla who was hanging on for dear life to its mother's back.

The pink flamingos are a noisy bunch of squawking birds.

We took one last look at the beauty of nature before heading for the exit. It had been a lovely, rejuvenating few hours for us.

Glen decided to turn left instead of right out of the park and we soon found ourselves on a narrow, winding road reminiscent of the one we had driven on earlier in the week.

When we finally arrived in a small town, we looked around for a place to eat. Not a lot of choices in a hick town, but we decided to give the Boll Weevil a try. Sounds appetizing, right?!? After all--it's famous, or so the sign says!

We don't usually veer off the beaten path too much, so it was very odd to have such countrified experiences twice in one week. When I saw this row of mailboxes, I just had to hop out of the car and take a photo. 

There was another stretch of narrow, winding roads before we found the freeway. Who says all our adventures have to happen on our Monday morning adventures?!?!? 

Friday morning we had a shortened Mission Leadership Council (MLC). This group of new leaders and their companions were already assembled at the mission office before we even got there. Glen always holds a short meeting with the new leaders to teach them about councils.

We had MLC and then Sister Burris had lunch ready for us when we were finished. In the afternoon we met with the assistants for our weekly planning meeting. We wanted to keep the weekend free for general conference.

A fun moment in the week was when all three of our sisters from the Philippines were at the mission office at the same time. The one in the middle is going home next transfer and I was afraid she wouldn't be able to meet our newest missionary. As suspected, she was so happy to know she is now no longer the smallest missionary in the mission. 

We usually take a photo like this with each new missionary to send home to their parents.

Since this missionary was so tiny, we felt the need to take another photo with her as well.

General conference weekend is such a much-anticipated event for the missionaries--and for us!! Elder Bangerter had informed us he would be speaking in the first session. It was so fun to see him now that we know him. His talk was fabulous about making our homes sanctuaries of faith.

Mark's text about Elder Bangerter made me laugh.

It is a delight to watch our 94-year-old prophet in his role as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His emphasis on using the correct name instead of the nickname was very emphatic. 

This is the Lord's true and living Church here upon the earth. It should be called by His name. He directs the affairs of His Church through His chosen prophet. I feel it every time I hear President Nelson speak.

It was interesting how he challenged all the women to go on a 10-day social media fast. I was happy to know the girls in the family are doing just that. I didn't know whether to publish this post or wait the 10 days. For me, this is the way I do my journaling, so I feel it is okay to post it. 

I have been made aware of the time I spend on social media as I have abstained from it the past 24 hours. I have enjoyed staying connected with the family through the direct line of Instagram. But, for the next 10 days, the girls in the family will forego that for a better cause.

I am thankful for a prophet who is inviting us to be better. To draw ourselves closer to the Lord by re-reading the Book of Mormon before the end of the year, highlighting any references to our Savior and intentionally talking about Christ. We are invited to learn more about temples and to establish a pattern of regular temple attendance. We are invited to participate fully in Relief Society, read the words in the Relief Society Declaration and be the women who the Lord needs us to be at this time to help gather scattered Israel.

We have work to do as we continually strive to do as Elder D. Todd Christofferson taught. The gospel of Jesus Christ must penetrate our heart and soul. It must be the defining focus of our life and our character.