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!

Lots of pictures......a glorious week!

Yesterday we went to the San Diego Temple.  Isn't it gorgeous?  Inside it was too!  In the upper part of the celestial room there is an atrium with lots of plants and glass with light streaming in from above.  When we looked up out of the glass enclosure, we saw the angel Moroni that sits on top of the temple.  It was amazing.  It is hard to explain how beautiful and light filled this temple is. I guess you just have to be there.

 On Friday last week we did not have a graduation but for the next eight weeks we do and will be very busy.  Another senior missionary couple wanted to show us around.  They took us to Coronado and we went to the Hotel Del Coronado.  It was amazing. The whole area is beautiful and we hope we can explore some more at a later date.

This Friday Charlie Company will graduate.  This pictures shows the wonderful LDS graduates.
Thursday is Family Day and we will have a reception and cake cutting ceremony for all of these Marines and their families. As of today, we have over 100 people coming!

We also had a baptism this past Sunday. The Marine on the left baptized the Marine on the right.
Again, I say, the gospel in action.  Bringing souls unto Christ!

Last night we had Prayer Leader training and some of the graduating marines bore their testimonies of the sure knowledge that they were helped as they endured the Crucible and the Reaper and at last made it to becoming a marine.

Listening to their experiences strengthens my testimony of our Heavenly Fathers love for his children and the sure knowledge that Jesus Christ gave His life for all of us and understands the pain and struggles we each go through in this life.

We can do this....

This week we have had numerous wonderful experiences.  We have Charlie Company graduating next week and will contact all the LDS families to attend our special reception and cake cutting on family day.

It is amazing to feel the spirit as we meet with these recruits.  They have a desire to be faithful and listen to the spirit as they assist each other through the stresses of boot camp.  We hear many testimonies at prayer leader training of how they help and uplift each other, including Elders giving blessings when needed.  It is the Gospel in Action!!

We have some time this week as there is no graduation this Friday so we explored the beach area.

It is such a beautiful area.  We explored Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. There are lots of rental places should anyone want to visit!!

I took a couple of pictures of our little apartment. While it is small we have everything that we need.

I even brought the Marine Corps quilt I made as it seemed appropriate for this mission serving these young men who will be future Marines.

On the base we went to a volunteer fair yesterday to see how we could serve within the community.
After we signed up, Jim with the Marine Corps Museum and I will volunteer with the Navy Marine Relief Society, we went out to lunch at the Bay View Restaurant on MCRD.  The view was beautiful.

We know our Heavenly Father is blessing us with inspiration and know he loves all of his children and desires us to return to him.  I have been studying for the new member class I teach every Sunday and this Sunday it is on keeping the commandments and our covenants.   I know as we do, we will find peace and joy in this life.  May the Lord bless each of you as you continue to strive to be the best you can be!!! The Marine Corps values are: Honor, Courage & Commitment....These apply to living the gospel too!

It is graduation day!!

Today we enjoyed our first Marine Corps graduation!  It was wonderful and our recruits were proud of their accomplishments. We feel a little like we are graduating too as our 6 day training is finished and Elder and Sister Jensen are on their way home leaving us to sink or swim.

We also met "Smedley" the bulldog MCRD mascot of the Marine Corps.  This was the debut of this dog as the previous one retired.  I even got to pet him on his way to the parade deck. So cute!

At the graduation we sat in the reviewing stand with the reviewing officer and other distinguished guests.  A wonderful view!

We are learning so much.  We train prayer leaders from each of the six platoons on Tuesday and Sundays.  We spend lots of time on Sundays (this Sunday will be our first without the previous Senior Missionaries).  We are still learning all the paperwork, which will be one of our biggest challenges. We have an easier time growing to love the recruits.  They are great young men and are working hard to become Marines.
We feel the Lords love as we serve his children and are grateful for this blessing!!

First Sabbath Day at MCRD.....

We attended our first Sunday on the base.  It is hard to explain how it goes with all the recruits and leaders together in one large room. We heard that the mission president said it was organized chaos and now we can see why.

Today we had two baptisms before the Sacrament meeting. Then they were confirmed. The font consisted of a large rolling tub. Otherwise, I am really not sure how to explain it. Sister Jensen is hopefully sending us pictures.....

After sacrament they hold priesthood meeting in the front of the room (2 Elders, and several Priests were ordained); also in the back of the room, missionaries were teaching lessons, and the branch Presidency was conducting interviews.
Also, at the end any who wished blessings were given them. Elder Hodges even gave two recruits their blessings, but many more were given.

There is lots of paperwork to be done and the Jensens will continue to give us training this week.

After the meetings were finished we went to the hospital to give another recruit the sacrament.

Tonight we will drive up to Camp Pendleton for a fireside for the recruits who are there.

How wonderful it is to see these young recruits striving to live the gospel even in the most difficult weeks of their basic training.

I know Heavenly Father loves each of his children and is guiding us as we serve these wonderful young Marines.