20 May 2018

We spent most of this week reaching out to members who we have not met or who are less active. We attended DLI graduation on Thursday for 3 LDS men graduating in their languages. Two of the men we have not been able to get to respond to us, but when we met them at the graduation, they were friendly and positive. It is a little baffling why LDS men away from home and loved ones don't warm up to the local church and be at least somewhat involved. But they didn't, and, yet, we felt such love for them and good spirits. I do understand just how demanding the school is, so, I'm not judgmental at all, but would think they would want to partake of the sacrament each week.
       In other ways, our work has been a little slow this week. We've had the normal things: FHE on Monday, Fellowship on Tuesday, bread service on Wednesday, volunteering at the family history center on Friday, cleaning the church on Saturday, and busy Sundays, but actual opportunities to minister to LDS families and singles has been more sparse. We have spoken by telephone with several families, especially sisters whose husbands are out of the country for a few months just to ensure their needs are fulfilled. We are trying to get volunteers from the local wards and DLI to help with the 4th of July parade in Monterey.
       We made our reservations at Yosemite and the Fresno temple for our 50th wedding anniversary later in June. We're looking forward to that. Not much news from home. Our Europe senior missionary couples are having a reunion this month. We'll miss being with them.
       We learned some about the history of the presidio by going to the museum. Father Junipero Serra established a mission here in 1769, which was later moved down to Carmel. The Presidio was a Spanish fort until Mexico won its independence from Spain. Then, in the Mexican-American war of 1812, Monterey came under U.S. control. The U.S. Army (cavalry and artillery) occupied this place from 1902 until after WWI. Buffalo soldiers (all African-Americans who got their name from the plains Indians in the 1860s) lived here. Some of the old horse stables still exist, but are collapsing. Some of the old wooden structures (many used for military housing and instruction) built in the early 1900s are still standing. The Presidio is quite an historic place. We've included photos of the Ft Marvin monument, Father Serra statue, the old horse stables, the Presidio museum, and such.