Quotes of the Week

When you feel far from God, you need only make the decision to turn from sin and face the Savior, where you will find Him waiting for you, His arms outstretched.
--Larry Y. Wilson

This is the grand privilege of every Latter-day Saint...that it is our right to have the manifestations of the Spirit every day of our lives.
--Lorenzo Snow

Jesus Christ is "the way, the truth, and the life." No one comes to true happiness except by Him.
--Jeffrey R. Holland

When we do anything that shines a light in the lives of our fellowman, we create an opportunity for them to feel of the love their Father in Heaven has for them.
--Gerrit W. Gong

Quotes of the Week

Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins.  All of them.
--Dieter F Uchtdorf

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ--real faith, whole-souled and unshakable--is a power to be reckoned with in the universe. It can be a force through which miracles are wrought. Or it can be a source of inner strength through which we find peace, comfort, and the courage to cope.
M. Russell Ballard

When individuals and families immerse themselves in the scriptures regularly and consistently, other areas of activity will automatically come. Testimonies will increase. Commitment will be strengthened. Families will be fortified. Personal revelation will flow.
--Ezra Taft Benson

Holiday Visitors, Stitches Out, Elder Pearson Comes to Minister to Us

The holidays are a popular time for visitors to come see us. Former Sister Darlene Catenza came to visit.

Former Sister Nadia Terrón had her family with her when she stopped by the mission office for a visit.

Some of our former Spanish missionaries were taking advantage of the Christmas break from school to come to Southern California--Hermana Sabrina Thomas and Jared Hickman (who are dating each other) and Hermana Abigail Ericksen.

As mentioned in the previous post, we were making runs to the airport on Christmas Day clear through New Year's Day to take missionaries home. On New Year's Day we stuck around the airport to receive a new missionary. 

I had taken down the Christmas decorations and was feeling sad about it as we felt like we did not get a chance to enjoy the holidays this year. We were surprised to get a package on New Year's Day that had been misdelivered and rerouted until it made its way to us.

Inside the box were these adorable Christmas stockings handmade by one of our sister missionaries' mom. They brought me such happiness as it helped prolong the Christmas season just a little bit longer for us as I had them sitting on our kitchen table for a week bringing me some much-needed post-Christmas cheer.

I did make the transition from my big surgery boot to my smaller surgical shoe some time during the holiday week. It's so much more comfortable and easier to walk in, that's for sure.

The ice pack that came in the soup meal sent by Barbara came in handy as it was just the right size for me to cinch into that shoe.

A few days after New Year's I went back to see Dr. Dustin so he could remove the stitches in my foot. Then I could finally shower! Hurrah!!!! 

We had a training meeting with this group of trainers and missionaries who have been in the mission 4 weeks. 

We tried out a new restaurant close by the mission office called Ciao's. Glen had done an exit interview with Hermana Pierce (at the far end of the table) who was going home a little early in the transfer so she could start school on schedule. We had a meeting the next day, so we were unable to take her to the airport. This was her farewell meal with us. 

We have an office staff meeting once a transfer. Sister Burris is a walking example of the new directive from the First Presidency that allows sister missionaries to now wear dress slacks. 

It was Sister Miller's last meeting with us. She will soon be finishing her mission. Sister Van Aarle brought cupcakes for the occasion.

And the cupcakes were also in honor of Elder Burris's birthday a couple of days later. 

Elder Kevin W. Pearson, our Area President, came to the mission to have an all-mission meeting with the missionaries. We appreciated his efforts to make time in his schedule to come and minister to us and to our missionaries. 

We got invited to participate in the Carlsbad stake conference and had received a letter with the times for all the meetings, so it was a sad thing for us to realize we hadn't been given the correct start time for the leadership meeting. We got there halfway through.

The Primary room was all set up with the sound on, so we sat in that room and listened to Elder Anthony D. Perkins, the visiting General Authority. It actually turned out great for us as Glen was able to walk around and around the room while listening and I was able to elevate my foot while listening. 

We weren't late for the evening session where we had been asked to speak. On Sunday they had a cone all set up for us in our reserved parking space. We get treated like royalty and we feel so undeserving of the royal treatment. 

Former Elder Wallace (goes by Trae) Jordan brought his girlfriend Brenna for a visit so we could meet her. 

Of course we had to have them stand in front of the palm trees for the obligatory visitors' photo shoot.

I have always loved Elder Jordan's smile!! 

It is always interesting having missionaries return to visit and we can see how they are doing and learn about all the positive things they have going on in their lives.

Quotes of the Week

Prayer is your personal key to heaven. The lock is on your side of the veil.
--Boyd K. Packer

My dear brothers and sisters, if you are struggling to find the strength to forgive, don't think of what others have done to you, but think of what the Savior has done for you, and you will find peace in the redemptive blessing of His Atonement.
--Massimo De Feo

There is so much we can all learn from studying the experience of women throughout Church history. We need to listen to the voices of women from the past--to hear their counsel, learn from their examples, and be strengthened by their testimonies.
--Quentin L. Cook

The first great truth of all eternity is that God loves us with all of His heart, might, mind, and strength. That love is the foundation stone of eternity, and it should be teh foundation stone of our daily life.
--Jeffrey R. Holland