7 May 2017

The past couple of weeks have been filled with opportunities to minister to military people, teach institute, reach out to less-actives, go on splits with young missionaries, and such. April was a bit exhausting and expensive in that we provided supper for the YSA each Sunday evening for scripture study at our apartment and each Tuesday provide supper for the DLI students on the Presidio for our fellowship night. We won't do scripture study again until perhaps September.

The Tuesday fellowship group is growing in numbers, at least right now. We had 17 out for last Tuesday. There are a couple that are leaving on orders soon, so it may drop a little. We've had some fun experiences of being prompted by the Spirit to reach out to someone who especially needed our support at that moment. For example, yesterday, we felt impressed to call and ask to visit a family. They have five children. We had a nice, short visit, got acquainted, and left a blessing on their home and family. Today, the wife called and wanted some counsel as to how to deal with their oldest son who is getting into some problems. She needed that support at this moment and we were prompted by the Spirit to reach out. This has happened other times, as well. Stephen's training and experience with mental health and addictions has especially been useful, both with the full-time missionaries and also military personnel, single and families alike.

Summertime is a busy time of transfers in the military, and we are beginning to see several families finish up school at DLI or NPS and moving away to another assignment. We have attended graduation exercises for both schools and provided a "Put on the Whole Armor of God" honor coin to each. We should be seeing new students arriving for both DLI and NPS in May and June.

We've participated in one baptism and a priesthood ordination since being here. We have helped several new military families just arriving get situated and oriented with their new wards. Today, we drove a young wife and her little daughter around, showing her where to find the Post Exchange, the Commissary, gas station, and the church meetinghouse in Seaside. It is fulfilling to minister to and help people.

We've visited Point Lobos and watched mother seals give birth to babies. Today, we walked along the shoreline in Pacific Grove. It was a clear and beautiful California day, but the breeze off the ocean water was a little chilly. Several fishing boats were out getting their daily catch. We visited the John Denver Memorial at the site where he was killed in his small airplane crash. I didn't realize it had happened in Monterey Bay or that he owned a home in Pacific Grove. I thought he was strictly a Rocky Mountain High guy.

This morning we met with Rick Johnson who heads up the Monterey events office. Spent about an hour talking over support needed for the 4th of July parade in Monterey and Christmas events. We are hoping to provide 20-25 LDS people to help with the parade. In the past, the "Mormons" have really been helpful and appreciated by the city. We hope to keep that going. The full-time missionaries are also helping with the car show at Spanish Bay and Elaine and I are also helping to set up and tear down.