Giving Thanks!

We have so many things to be thankful for.  We are blessed with a wonderful family, children, grandchildren and so many dear friends.
Last week, I was feeling very homesick. I suppose it was inevitable to happen, but I thought it wouldn't....
I was missing my children and grandchildren.  Even tho we can talk on the phone or face time, unlike the younger missionaries who can only call home two times a year.

For Thanksgiving we went to Glendora California, two hours away (again as Senior Missionaries we have more privileges).  I have an Aunt and Uncle who live there and cousins too.  I have never been to their home as they have always lived here and I have lived in the east.

The above picture is my cousin, Bruce and his beagle, Lola
Below is Aunt Maureen and Uncle Richard Myer (my dad's brother)

Uncle Richard is a wonderful artist and sells his bronze sculptures. We had a chance to go out to his shop and see all the fabulous art!

Below is my cousin Laurie, she had two of her children there with their spouses to share a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner.

Yesterday, we had FIVE baptisms!! Amazing!
The young elders we have serving at the Marine Corps Base are so great at teaching.  The member recruits are also good at bringing their friends to church and sharing their testimonies with others in their platoons.

I have the opportunity to teach gospel fundamentals class to the newly baptized.  They are so humble and teachable.  I know they feel the spirit because I am often close to tears as I share the simple doctrines of the gospel.

I know our Heavenly Father loves all of his children more than we can possibly understand in this mortal sphere.  I am constantly thankful for His guidance as I serve each day here at MCRD.

I am also thankful for the service of these very awesome young men that have committed themselves to becoming United States Marines and working to preserve our country's freedom.

Volunteering

We had another graduation today.  It is so wonderful to see the recruits graduate as Marines.
After graduation one came up to us and gave me a hug and thanked us for helping him become a Marine.  We only support and help them by reminding them the Lord loves them and He will help them in all that they desire to do.

For about six weeks now, I have been making baby quilts to be given to military families who need them. So far, I have completed five baby quilts.  It is a nice volunteer job because I can work on it any time I have a minute at the apartment.

This week as I dropped off the baby quilt the Director of the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society told me they just had one of my quilts that was picked by a wounded soldier for his new baby.
I wish I could have been there, but I can imagine the smile and it makes me happy...

Elder Hodges and I will also be helping with babysitting the children of military parents on the Saturday after Thanksgiving so the parents can go Christmas shopping ...... :-)

HAPPY 239TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES MARINES!

Last week we were very fortunate in attending the Marine Corps Birthday Ball.  We had a wonderful time. There was over one thousand people in the Hilton San Diego.  I tried to take pictures, but it was with my cell phone and they did not turn out as good as I'd hoped.

In the picture below you can see the reenactment.  They also had marines come out dressed in all the Marine Corps uniforms since 1775 when the Marine Corps was formed to today.

They do a cake cutting to represent the passing of the traditions of the Corps from the oldest marine to the youngest marine.

The guest speaker was a three star general that was in OCS the same year as Jim.

We were at table #77 and as you can see did not have the best view, but never the less, we loved the night.

We have had several more baptisms and continue to love working with the recruits and marines.

The last week of basic training is called the Crucible and it is very tough.  One of the new marines bore his testimony today about how he tries to recognize the little things the Lord blesses him with. He said the second day of the crucible, he was ready to quit and he prayed for help and when he got up for the day, he saw the most beautiful sunrise and felt it was the Lord reminding him, He loved him and would help him.  Another marine bore his testimony about keeping a prayer in his heart the whole way thru the crucible and when he felt he could not carry his 75 pound pack any further, he prayed for the Lord's help and the pack felt lighter.  We hear some amazing testimonies!!

What have the crucibles been in your life?  

Have you felt the hand of the Lord lightening your load?

I know I have.....

Halloween week....

We continue to love our mission!

We have a family home evening the first Monday of the month with the other senior missionaries.
This Monday, President Schmitt, our mission president was in charge.  He showed us a video of President Uchtdorf's talk to mission presidents. It was amazing. It was the first time I ever saw President Uchtdorf choke up when speaking.  He was reviewing the life of Jesus Christ and also about Peter and his fear.  He spoke of all of us having fear of opening our mouths and sharing the gospel message.  He told a story of an amazing young elder who said "He feared no man." He also told of this elder's companion and how he struggled in the companionship because he did fear.

We also have a FHE with just the military senior missionaries.  The couple that was in charge did an amazing job, decorating and dressing up and really getting into the Halloween spirit.  We had such fun visiting and getting to know each other better.

On Halloween night, we went with two of the senior missionary couples to Balboa Park and watched Phantom of the Opera in black and white with Lon Chaney.  This is the Organ Center at the park and the organist accompanied the silent movie with his own arrangement. It was wonderful!

One of our LDS recruits was featured this week in the graduation program and in the MCRD paper the Chevron.  You can see it on the MCRD website.  http://www.mcrdsd.marines.mil/Portals/3/Documents/CHEVRONs/2014/10-31-14.pdf
He was made an Elder on family day by his grandfather who was also the one who blessed him to live after the car accident in his sophomore year in high school.
We continue to be impressed with the faith and testimonies of these young men.

Family Day for Bravo Company

I think I already mentioned we have graduations every Friday (except for a few because of holidays), but we also have Family Day every Thursday before graduation.
It provides a chance for us to recognize those LDS Marines who will be graduating and we get to meet their families.
The week before, I call all the families and invite them to come and celebrate with us.

This past week was Bravo Company's graduation. It was also a special occasion for one of our LDS marines as he became an American citizen.  (He was from Tonga) He invited us to the ceremony and we enjoyed seeing it.

I have mentioned how hectic Sundays are partly because everything takes place in the same room, sacrament, priesthood, interviews and missionary lessons.  I finally was able to get some pictures of the room to give you an idea of what it looks like.

In the above picture you see the newest marines of Echo Company standing in front.
The Branch Presidency goes to each one to congratulate them and give them their LDS serviceman tag.

It is a wonderful blessing to see the gospel in action.  These young men will serve  our country and we are proud of them and are honored to help them build their testimonies while in boot camp.

MCRD= Mormon Church Rid of Distractions!

I heard this saying from one of the MCRD Branch Presidency members.  It is sort of true because the recruits here are unable to have contact with the outside world.  No internet, TV, Cell phones, etc., they are only focused on being trained to be marines.

I have heard so many testimonies from these recruits.  They rely on the Lord in their day to day training.  When they are hurting or when they just need emotional support.

I heard a story this week about a recruit that asked for a blessing every week to know how he could be accepted of the Lord.  He continuously asked to understand this.  He had it in his heart when he went to the last week of training which they call the Crucible... it is very intense, but after they climb what they call "the Reaper" they finally become marines.  This recruit was at the Crucible when they were told to stack their rifles in a tent. One of the other recruits put his rifle bayonet down into the dirt.  The DI went crazy. He threatened everyone in the company with harsh punishments if someone did not fess up to doing it.  The recruit who was always asking how he could be accepted of the Lord did not do it, but felt prompted to say he did in order to be accepted of the Lord.  He stepped up and told the DI that he had done it even tho he did not in order to save his whole company from punishments....He knew this was his test and he completed it.  This is just one example of the many instances of  humility, answers to prayers and blessings we see here at MCRD.

We had another baptism this week and Elder Hodges was able to get a better picture of the font after the baptism.

We went to a missionary fireside on Sunday. It was amazing!  All of the young Elders and Sisters came up the sides of the chapel singing "Called to Serve".  I cannot express the strength of the spirit during the whole fireside.  It was so well done.  The many talented missionaries sang in solos, and quartets.  Videos were shown and then President and Sister Schmitt spoke at the last. Wonderful!
Elder Hodges spent a long time talking to a Captain in the Navy who was not a member, but visiting with a neighbor and some young men from Utah.

This is the Lord's Church restored to the earth today.... and we are so blessed to have this knowledge.

Another exciting week!

Yesterday we had two baptisms and I thought I would show a picture of the font we use.  It is so small that the recruits have to kneel and bend forward to go all the way under, but it works right?!

We have been attending graduations every Friday and also have had our Thursday LDS family receptions.  It is hard to tell how many Marines will show up with their families because they have lots of other activities on family day.

I have been teaching every Sunday to many of the recruits that have been inactive since they were children or teens. It is interesting that they realize the importance of turning to the Lord as they struggle through boot camp.  We just do the basic Preach My Gospel lessons.

Other news:  I had a meeting with the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society this week about possible volunteer opportunities.   At first, I thought I could answer phones, etc., but I quickly realized that I did not know enough about the military bases or anything else in the area to be able to answer any questions the callers may have.  I talked to the director and she said they have an urgent need for baby quilts/blankets as they give one to all the families that are having children not just at MCRD, but also at other bases nearby.  She also wants me to help with mailings they send to new parents.
No problem!!  Right after the interview, we immediately headed to JoAnn Fabrics for baby quilt supplies.  I am so happy to be able to do this as a volunteer activity because it allows me to work whenever I have some time.

Today was the day we do our errands, etc. but, afterwards we still had a little time and went to the Mormon Battalion site.  What a wonderful place!  We learned the history and it was fun too!