Exploring the neighborhood

The last couple of weeks have found us exploring our nearby neighborhoods. On our way to the LDS distribution center in Fountain Valley, we approached the Vietnamese American cultural center on Newhope St. Children were learning from teachers on the porches, and there was a feeling of peace. The next photo was taken just a few blocks from our apartment. Flower Street in Santa Ana is aptly named and is a wonderful street to explore slowly -- with the windows down -- to catch the wonderful fragrances. But on this street there are no cookie-cutter homes. All are distinctive in architectural design. This is one of our favorites.

One evening Signe wanted to go to someplace different for dinner. Knowing that Signe likes ribs, Gary asked Elder Monney -- also a ribs-lover -- if he had found an authentic place for ribs. We ended up at this place, whose owner looked like a transplant from New Orleans. (In fact, there was a house across the street that looked like it was moved from New Orleans, it was so different from the Hispanic barrio homes surrounding it. Anyway, we had a wonderful meal outdoors.

Our Facebook page has lately been festooned with former missionaries from our mission. We have about 20 now, and half of them will be at BYU when we get home. We hope to have a party for all of them to show our appreciation for their wonderful service and friendship. (Three of them are from Korea and two served as office elders.)

The work progresses. Gary had three accidents to report last week, including that of an elder who ran into a fire hydrant on his bike. He also finished upgrading 50 missionary cell phones by using the programing from Sprint to make them operable. Today both of us were involved in the Palmyra Ward sacrament meeting by giving the two prayers and by Signe playing the Bach Double Concerto for violin with another member. Gary played the prelude, postlude and congregational hymns on the organ.

John McClintock has been learning from the missionaries for nearly a year now. Well, yesterday he was baptized into the Church and told everyone that the people had made a big difference for him. His family was not very supportive, but he was finally confident in making the decision: and his countenance showed it. He was absolutely radiant, and very different from when we first met him many months ago.