we've attended: a Spanish-speaking one in Costa Mesa. Fourteen-year old Karen Guzman was baptized by Elder Zamora, but she was also taught by Elders Sharp, Keeler, Sua and Montague. (Signe took the photo for the mission's records.) We enjoyed singing the hymns in Spanish, and Elders Matthias and Keeler interpreted the rest of the service for us. The Spirit was there in abundance. This was one of 18 baptisms this weekend! In church earlier, Gary was asked by the bishopric to play the piano for priesthood every Sunday now -- just like he has for most of the 40 years of his membership in the Church.Monday Gary's brother Mike and his wife Ginny came to the Mission Office to pick us up for lunch at Polly's in Orange. They are in town because their daughter Caroline was just hired by the Children's Hospital of Orange County two miles from us. We had fun with them and help them get settled in our spare bedroom for the next three nights. (The same place where any of you are welcome to stay if you come to Disneyland or any other reason.) Tuesday night they went with us and the other office staff to Tustin's excellent outdoor performance of Cole Porter's "Anything Goes." It was a very fun evening, punctuated by 30 jets flying over us on their way to landing at John Wayne airport.
Wednesday Mike and Ginny spent some time with other relatives and went swimming in our pool. In the evening the four of us went to the very colorful and inexpensive Chili Pepper Mexican Restaurant in Orange. The food was very good!
Thursday morning Mike and Ginny headed south to San Diego.In the afternoon ... well, can you imagine four elders, including Gary (with white shirts and ties) marching down the aisles in Wal-Mart with one cart apiece filled with three vacuum cleaners, three microwaves, six wastebaskets, six mops and two lamps? It must have been quiet a sight to strangers! They had to buy some basic household supplies for some new apartments the mission has acquired for the growing number of new missionaries that are coming to the mission.
In the evening Gary went with the elders to visit a less-active sister. Signe was home to receive a SKYPE message from Jacob with the happy news that Rebecca Grace Hale was born (7 pounds 7 ounces). We also found out that Signe's niece Michelle Deus West had moved to Anaheim Hills (in our mission). So with our granddaughter Keely moving here next week, we have family here!
On Saturday Gary was doing his exercises in the pool and then had a 'missionary moment' in the spa -- and possibly new friends. Ezekiel and Meredith came out to get some sun and were very friendly -- and had just moved into the complex. When they found out that Gary was a missionary, they announced that they too were believers and went to a non-denominational church. We hope to see them again -- and often. Then, in the evening, we invited Elder and Sister Budge, plus the senior sister missionaries, to watch "Anything Goes" in our apartment: the 1956 version with Bing Crosby and Mitzie Gaynor. We had a wonderful time together! We can easily understand how missionaries miss the people they serve with.
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