Zone conferences for this transfer cycle started in Murrieta with the Murrieta and Temecula zones. Glen decided not to wear his arm sling to the zone conferences so he could wear his coat normally.
He didn't shake hands or hug any of the missionaries to protect his shoulder. He iced his shoulder each evening.
We get our vehicle inspected every time zone conference week rolls around just like the young missionaries do. We enjoyed the love notes this time written by the missionaries who inspected our car.
That evening Glen put his arm sling on to give his shoulder a rest while we met up with a former missionary Elder Trevor Patton. He had requested we go out to eat for our visit.
He wanted to do it up right with cheesecake for dessert while we watched him eat it.
Day 2 of zone conference was held with the Escondido, San Marcos and Del Mar zones. It was right before school started, so one of the women who was helping with the food brought her grandchildren to help serve the missionaries.
During the morning part of each zone conference, we talked and learned more about the Prophet Joseph Smith, the events leading up to The First Vision, and Joseph Smith translating the ancient record into The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The missionaries had a chance to practice teaching The First Vision several times.
Notice the sister all wrapped up in a blanket. She always brings a blanket to meetings because she is always freezing.
The man sitting at our table is Joel Touchet, a counselor at LDS Family Services. He helps any of our missionaries who might need professional counseling. A missionary can have up to 6 weeks of counseling if needed.
We had invited Brother Touchet to spend a few minutes after lunch talking with the missionaries about stress and anxiety and other types of things they deal with on their mission. Then he talked about some ways the missionaries can cope in constructive ways if they are struggling with something.
After that we had the missionaries who will be going home at the end of the transfer share their final testimonies and then Glen wrapped it up with his teachings, remarks and testimony.
It never feels like he has enough time. He always does a powerful wrap-up and sends us all on our way determined to be more Christlike, better missionaries and kinder, more productive human beings.
Day 3 of zone conference was held in the church right around the corner from us. It was for the Carlsbad and Vista zones.
These missionaries were the car inspectors this particular day. Elder Van Aarle, our vehicle coordinator, chooses different missionary companionships each zone conference day to help out with the inspections. The perk is they get to join in with the other missionaries for lunch.
The sisters wanted a photo outside after the meeting.
It is always a relief at the end of zone conference week. We felt really good about all that had transpired.
We were ready for a nice Friday date after our busy week. We decided to go to the Surf Museum in Oceanside.
We learned about China Beach during the Vietnam War. The China Beach Surf Club was a place for rest and relaxation on the beach for servicemen and women during their tour in Vietnam.
This is a replica of the Surf Shop where the soldiers would borrow a surfboard for a while to go out in the ocean. The troops found a way to continue their love of surfing despite being at war. China Beach was a place where wounded troops were sent to recover and others went there for brief recreation.
There were other displays about different kinds of surfboards and how they are made.
There is an outside part of the museum called The Secret Spot. We didn't really get the point of it, but it was colorful.
My favorite part of the museum was the display about Bethany Hamilton, the 13-year-old who got attacked by a shark while surfing, which severed her left arm just below the shoulder. A movie was made about her.
This is her actual surfboard and swim suit she was wearing when it happened.
It is quite amazing she was determined to surf again and taught herself to surf with one arm and was able to compete once again. She is now married and has two sons.
The sign on the restroom door was funny. There was more information about surfing to be learned inside the restroom.
We walked down to the pier and decided to have dinner at Ruby's at the end of the pier.
Ruby's is where the missionaries always wish they could go. We ate a meal in their honor. It was a fun experience, once. The food wasn't that great. We won't be going again, but it was fun. Once.
We had noticed there was going to be a Miracle Healing Crusade that evening. We sat in on it for a few minutes to see what it was all about. Not that many people were interested in being healed. We didn't stay long.
Our favorite part of the evening was sitting on a bench watching the ocean as the sun was setting.
Brooke was eager for us to go to our mailbox one day and get the card she had made for us. She is very creative.
Speaking of creative...Haley likes to paint rocks and she was teaching Carson how to paint designs on rocks.
I love back-to-school photos and this one did not disappoint!! Such a cute photo of Jacob's children holding up their sign indicating the grade they are starting this year. They look like model students. Won't their teachers be happy to have them as their students!!
How well I know the feeling Laurie is expressing about having all the children in school. It was definitely a lonely feeling at first, but then you adjust. And it's fun to have them return back home and report on the day.
