Today is our one year anniversary of being Senior missionaries!!

 With every missionary transfer day, we have new missionaries serving at MCRD.  Because of this we hold a MCRD district training meeting the day after.  Working as a young missionary at the base is very different than other missions.  These young men teach lots of visitors that come to church humble and teachable.  Each missionary teaches one on one with a visitor instead of with a companion. All of these lessons take place on Sundays in the same room as the priesthood lesson, interviews, etc. are happening. This requires focus and attention to the spirit despite the things happening around them.

 The missionary on the far right has just been out one day and can't believe he is lucky enough to have the MCRD branch as his first assignment!

We had another graduation as always, but sometimes, we have a Marine like the one pictured below who was in medical for seven months and finally got picked up by Mike Company and is graduating!  This is a super happy day as we always worry they will go home because of some medical issue. Pictured with his family.

 This Marine was baptized at MCRD by Elder Stecklein and was at the reception and has been a faithful member since his baptism.

 This Marine was also from Mike Company and was baptized while at MCRD.  He had no family coming for his graduation, so we are his family and took him to lunch and to the Mormon Battalion site.  He loved it.  There is part of the tour where one person puts on all the gear that the men wore in the battalion and the Marine could not in his uniform, so Elder Hodges put it on in his suit!!

We have learned from a Bishop of one of our recruits the remarkable change that has taken place with him. Below is an email we received from an MCRD Branch Councilor.

 I just got off the phone with a stunned Bishop in Salt Lake.  I was speaking to him about a young man we have had in Alpha Company - Kevin Flores (he graduates this week).  Kevin wants to be ordained an Elder when he gets home.  He is a great kid and will make a great Marine humble, obedient and understands the Corp’s values. He experienced some profound changes during his time at the MCRD.  His Bishop said he and his parents can’t believe his letters, the deep spiritual things of which he wrote.  He is in the Reserves and went into the Corps to get some finances for his education; no real desire to serve a mission.  His last letter asked if his Dad would be willing to ordain him an Elder when he got home and if they could perhaps ask the Bishop if he could begin a missionary application.  He said because of what he had experienced in basic training, the miracles he experienced and saw and the powerful influence of what was happening all around him at church he has come to know of the power of the priesthood.  Through answers to his prayers he also understands the reality of his God. 

We are so profoundly grateful to be able to see the growth of these young men as they struggle through boot camp and turn to the Lord.  We see and hear of angels lifting and helping them as they ask sincerely through prayer. The gospel is true and we know it and are witnessing the gospel in action every day!