Thursday, May 22, 2014

May Was Filled With Many Wonderful Activities & Celebrations!

The Dana Ward brought their ward council with their families to enjoy a Family Home Evening at the Visitors' Center. They came to learn how they can use this amazing facility to accomplish missionary work. We all have the same goal, to bring all Unto Christ. It was a great learning experience.


Bishop Eyring with about 40 members of the ward, and missionaries

Sister Tingey entertaining the children

Sisters Tamaurawa and Finau explaining the video clips that contain information and stories from the Book of Mormon. The display shows the Book of Mormons in 82 languages.

Sister Brown having a great time teaching the children about putting on the whole armor of God.


           Some New Missionaries!



Hermana Castillo from California with her two companions Hermanas Leon and Mayorca
Sister Grow from California with her companion Sister Avanesjan

Hermana Embley from Utah joins her companion Hermana Taboada



 More new missionaries come to Mesa. Some have been reassigned from the Ukraine. Our mission president, President Jenkins, brings all new missionaries to the Visitors' Center within the first week of arrival. They receive instruction and guidance to enhance their teaching by visiting and better utilizing this wonderful, dedicated building. The VC sisters gave them a tour.

Sisters Avanesjan and Grow showing these new missionaries how to enhance their teaching by using the diorama of Jerusalem in the exhibit, "Savior of the World".

Sister Weedman and Beaudette explain how to use the temple panels and the interactive panels to answer questions  for visitors. 



Sister Duffin demonstrates how to access the mighty testimonies of the President of the Church and his Apostles that are recoded in this exhibit.

Hermana Luna explains the Neighborhood Exhibit. 

Our VC Sister training leaders, Sister Brown, Hermana Orr and Sister Finau give further encouragement and training to all the missionaries.


...becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, and full of love...Moisah 3:19
Sister Ballard loves to spend time with the children in the Visitors' Center. A mother took this picture and shared it with me. We were having a wonderful discussion. I love that the children are so open with their love of the Savior and they ask interesting questions. They make me smile!




Mother's Day in the Mission Field was different but special!



Elder Ballard and I went shopping for Mother's Day at Charming Charlies, wow what a store!

Everything is color coordinated, what a sight. For those that love their colors all together this is a dream come true. It reminded me of teaching the colors class at the IRS and the friends I have that line up their M&M's in colors. Also everything was so very neat and tidy. Fun!

Elder Ballard bought me some nice things!

My children made my Mother's Day special with phone calls, gifts, flowers and cards. I miss them but they make me feel loved. I do like mushy cards and notes!

My mind was filled with thought of my mother and how much I appreciate all she taught me, which is every good thing I can think of. I owe her a lot. She was and still is a perfect example of all that is good in the world to me.

As I watched Facebook and all the beautiful tributes to women, I gave thanks for all the women in my life that have touched my heart and my life with their love and nurturing ways. There are many. I can learn much from them all!


These beautiful women came by on Mother's Day to bring a card, flower, and sing a lovely song to me! Wow am I lucky! 
Hugs all around! What could be better.

This was on my cubby!





 Service Project on the temple grounds, fun!


Sisters Hourrutiner, Dunlop and Taumarawa, know how to use a shovel.

Elder Cameron getting out the weeds and grass

Herman Orr, and Sisters Brown and Tingey

Sisters Tingey and Weedman. They are happy serving.

Sister Cameron and Sister Finau working hard!

Sisters all lined up in a row. Sister Avanesjan in the back, Sister Grow then Hermanas Jeppson and Alcocer.

Christine Webb the temple expert was our trainer and gave us rides in her cool cart! I even hitched a ride, yeah!

Hermanas Mayorca and Leon getting busy.
And you thought I was only taking pictures! 

Hermanas Alcocer and Orr ready to clean up.

Donuts, the reward, Yum!


                  May Birthdays!



Hermana Taoada, Sister Younce, Hermana Mayorca and Elder Andrus, Happy Birthday!
Elder Andrus got this horse for his birthday. When you turn 80 you can have whatever you want. He says it's for the grandkids. Sure.

We always bring cakes for breakfast on birthday celebration preparation meeting! We have  a texas sheet cake, an orange cake and jello poke cake. We try to have a variety. 

Sister Younce got a package with party stuff in it so we had us a little mini party. Two birthday girls are in it, Sister Younce and Herman Mayorca, with Sister Beaudette and Hermana Castillo. 


       Talents put to use! We are always so impressed with the amount of musical talent here in this                          
       mission, Wow!


These Elders and Sisters are practicing for a zone conference performance. Sister Andrus is always the talented and willing pianist. From left to right, Elders Moore, Henderson, Krause, Allred, Waite, Robinson, Hermanas Hurd, Duffin, Haynes, Luna and Sister Adrus at the piano.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Celebrating Four Sisters Moving on to New Adventures!

It is difficult to say goodbye to such sweet missionaries. However, knowing they are on to new adventures you just can't be sad for long. They have touched our hearts and the hearts of many others here in Mesa. Their example of service and love with remain with us. Farewell for now and may your focus always remain to help others Come Unto Christ!

Hermanas Garcia and Weber came to lunch, but we didn't get a good picture so we took it the next day.

 Hermanas Taboada and Longshore and Sister Smith and Weedman, came for lunch.
Hermana Longshore and Sister Smith are returning home.

We sure love these missionaries! They promise to keep in touch!

I hope to see them all again in Ogden! Hope, hope, hope!

This was such a good picture of Elder Ballard had to include it. 

Celebration breakfast at the Camerons. 

Sister Younce, Sister Brown, Hermanas Mayorca and Garcia, Sister Avanesjan, and Hermana Leon all line up!
We served pancakes, sausage, juice, milk and fruit. Yummy!

Sisters Rios, Smith, Whitten, Weedman and Hermana Orr, can't wait!

Hermanas Hourrutiner, Alcocer, Longshore and Weber are next!

Hermanas Taboada, Jeppson, Sister Tingey, Hermanas Cude and Duffin then Sister Beaudette.

Sister Pickett, Hermana Ricks, Sisters Taumarawa and Finau and Hermana Luna, still some left! 

Through the tears of the morning saying goodbye, they can still smile!

Tulips make a nice centerpiece, just like the missionaries!

Elder Cameron making sure they get enough to eat, and cleaning up.


The final photo op for these four that are returning home with honor!

The cooks all wore blue! Had to snap this one. It's Sister Ballard, then Sister Andrus and Sister Cameron.


Oh what a lovely bunch of missionaries!


We have had lunch with some of the others that were leaving which I haven't posted. Some I forgot to take pictures of, oops. Thought I would add some here. I'll try to keep better track. We enjoy feeding the missionaries assigned to our ward and also the Elders. We like to get to know them and this is a great way! This is our tradition now so I will document it better in the future. We missed a few, sorry.


We had lunch with Sister Gordon before she left,

and her companion Sister Finau. They were also so kind to us and got to know us. 


Sisters Brownell and Brown and Hermanas Jeppson and DeMille. came to lunch before we said
goodbye to Sister Brownell and DeMille. These sister are precious and we will miss their presence, and their
many talents.

Hermanas Valledares (leaving us) and Mayorca, Sisters Hamstead (leaving us) and Younce.
What great missionaries they are and we all learned so much from them.