46th Week—July 23-29, 2012

We fed 8 elders this week.  After dinner Elder Kuo & Elder Alvarez
stood on empty soda cans without crushing them.

I meant to put this in last week's blog.  This is the flyer that our ward mission leader,
Hermano Martin Pioquinto, made for the openhouse.

This homeless man was taking a siesta on the side of the road.

          Monday we had a potluck dinner at the Family History Center.  Following dinner we were to share a pioneer story from one of our ancestors.  As Dale and I prepared our stories we found out one of his ancestors, Frank Hammon, was one of my Grandpa Baker’s boyhood friends.  Frank Hammon was also my grandfather’s  bishop. He spoke at my grandfather’s funeral— and he even wrote a couplet about grandpa for the funeral. Dale could not find how he was related to Frank Hammon only that he is in the book Levi Hammon and Polly Chapman Hammon Bybee EARLY UTAH PIONEERS and they are Dale’s GG-grandparents.

          We stopped by to visit Jose Guzman this week.  When we stopped by he had a beer sitting on the front porch.  He told Dale it belonged to the next door neighbor.  We had a good visit with him but he just can’t give up the beer.

          Elder Alvarez and Elder DiPaolo taught Jorge Arzu the Restoration lesson.  As we visited with Jorge, he said they would come to church this Sunday.  He, Marisol, Lesly, and her friend, Christina, came together today.  It was so good to see them together as a family.  They looked happy today.  I hope Jorge Jr. will join in with them when he is released.

          We met again with Hermano Felipe Estrada. When we asked if Hermana Estrada was there he went into the bedroom and Dale could see her lying on the bed, but when he came out he said that she was not there.  (I guess this was at least partially true because she had been sleeping.  He appeared like he had been taking a siesta also.) Dale read parts of Ether 12 with him about faith being an anchor.  He said he would be a home teacher and he and his family came to church today.

          This week has been somewhat quiet and slow.  We had some cancellations, no shows, etc.  We do have a better planned week this week.

          We have been thinking about the many things we have learned on our mission.  Below we will name a few:

·       We have learned we can live very comfortably in 750 square feet with a few household items, clothes, a few church books, laptop, cell phone and family pictures.  We have even gotten along with one bathroom and there have been moments when that has been a problem for us old people!

·       We can get along with one vehicle—at least for now.

·       Smiles, hugs, handshakes, and the spirit feel the same in any language.

·       Missions are not for the fainthearted but for those who can go forward in faith.

·       Missions, like everyday life, have very enriching days and some not so good days and lots of ordinary days.

·       Ordinary days are good.

·       Now we know what Eileen meant when she said, “Letters from home are like manna from heaven.”  (Email is every bit as good as snail mail.)

·       The future of the church will go forward boldly with the rising generation.

·       Love is the strongest force for good in the world.

·       The Lord looks after and protects his missionaries.

·       We were so blessed to be born and raised in Idaho where the  fullness of the gospel was taught, saving ordinances were administered, and as the words of an old song says we had “good friends and gentle people who lived and loved in our hometowns.”

·       People are more important than programs.

·       Learning a new language is hard.

·       We were doubly blessed to be born in America—the promised land, where the ancient church was restored.

·       If you don’t think the above statement is true, just ask someone who came here at great peril to their lives and no matter how bad things are here, they don’t want to go back to their native land. They are so grateful to be here and that their children will have a better life than they ever dared to hope.

·       The Book of Mormon, Bible, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great          Price, complement each other.  They are all testaments of Jesus Christ.  As we (really Dale) have/has taught people the teachings of Jesus in the Book of Mormon, we have seen their testimonies bud and grow.  As they have prayed with real intent and pondered its teachings, they have gained testimonies of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith and latter day prophets.

·       This mission has been one of greatest blessings in our lives.

·       For members to stay active there has to be a “Great change of heart,” for they truly do have to make many, many changes in their lives when they join the church. If this great change of heart does not happen in their lives, they    become less active or even completely inactive.

·       There is no greater feeling in the world than to watch someone who is not interested, decide to listen and pray, and watch his/her testimony grow until he/she is baptized.  All this happens because of the great change that occurs in their heart.

·       Home and visiting teaching are one of the most important services we can render in this church.

44th & 45th Week—July 9-July 22, 2012

The Petersens, Coopers, Shumans, & Sanfts by Air Force One
at the Ronald Reagan Library.

Dale & Connie in front of statue of
President Ronald Reagan at the
Ronald Reagan Library in
Simi Valley, CA

Piece of the Berlin Wall

Burial Place of Ronald Reagan

His wife, Nancy, will also be buried here also

Dale at a News Conference

Kay Shuman, Statues of Ronald and Nancy Reagan,
(They were a little taller than life size.  Nancy was 5'4" and Sister
Sanft is that height.)  Connie, and Sue Sanft.

Portrait of President Reagan and the Presidential Seal

From President Reagan's Campaign

Dale walking back to the church from hanging flyers up for the openhouse.

          To continue on with the Arzus. We are still meeting with Jorge.  This week we had the full time missionaries, Elder DiPaolo and Elder Alvarez go with us to see Jorge.  They were going to start the lessons when Jorge just started talking to us about all kinds of problems they are having in their family.  Jorge and his wife, Marisol, are now having problems.  It sounded pretty bad.  We were devastated.  There is good news today—Jorge and Lesly (I have misspelled her name previously) came to church!!!!!  We were so happy and excited.  We are meeting with him and the missionaries this week to begin the lessons. 

          The past two weeks we have met with Pedro Portillo again.  He has to be one of the sweetest men alive.  He has some health issues but he loves the gospel and wants his wife, Maria, to join but she loves her Catholic religion—even though she never goes.  At first she was quite cold towards us but she is starting to warm up to us.  We usually just try to befriend them and leave a short message from Christ’s teachings in the Bible.

          Maria Cartegenas and her three children Michael, Madelin, and Julie are just a cute very nice family.  They always seem so happy.  She teaches reading to members of the ward who never had the opportunity to learn.  Most of them are older women.  When they were young, boys were sent to school but not the girls.  That was such an injustice.  Anyway we went to talk to her about a lady in the other ward who would like to learn to read.  We found out her husband has been to church several times but does not want to meet with the young elders.  We are hoping we can teach him Christ’s teachings from the Book of Mormon.

          We inspected Elders’ apartments again this week so this has been a very busy week. 

          Sixth Ward had a missionary open house on Saturday, July 14.  There were only two non-members that attended and one new member.  If the missionaries are able to teach them, it will have been a success.  The ward mission leader said we did what we were supposed to do so it was a success.  It just didn’t turn out like we had hoped.

          Last Monday we went with the three other MLS missionaries to the Ronald Reagan Library.  He is the only president I have campaigned for.  (I was secretary treasure of the Mini Cassia Republican Party back in 1980.)  You never know if you voted for the right person until their deeds are recorded in history.  I can now say without reservation that he was one of our great presidents.  The library was fantastic and every enjoyable.  I have included some of my favorite quotes from him and some of the pictures of the library.

 

Quotes from President Ronald Reagan

On his desk in the oval office:

IT CAN BE DONE!

 

Also on his desk:

THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT A MAN CAN DO OR WHERE HE CAN GO

IF HE DOESN’T MIND WHO GETS THE CREDIT.

Before surgery after the assassination attempt:

President Reagan jokingly said, “I hope you’re all Republicans!”

The doctor said, “Today we all are, sir!”

 

From his diary March 1981 following the assassination attempt:

Whatever happens now, I owe my life to God

And I will try to serve him in every way I can.

 

Also in his diary:

I opened my eyes to find Nancy there.

I pray I’ll never face a day when she isn’t there.

 

A violation of human rights anywhere

Is the business of free people everywhere.

 

Diary entry:

…band played the national anthem…Somehow The Star Spangled Banner

When you hear it in another country, brings a tear to the eye.

 

We know only too well that war comes

not when the forces of freedom are strong,

but when they are weak.

It is then that tyrants are tempted.

Governments don’t produce economic growth; people do.

I’m reminded of my parents’ teachings. . .everything works out for the best and individuals determine their destiny through ambition and hard work.

For Dale Bunn and Becky Robins:

There is nothing better for the inside of a man

Than the outside of a horse.

The doors of this library are open now and all are welcome.  The judgment of history is left to you, the people.  I have no fears of that, for we have done our best.  And so I say, come and learn from it.

42nd & 43rd Weeks—June 27-July 8, 2012

Dale & Connie at Mormon Night at Dodger Stadium

Front Row--The Olsens, Hardys, Fowers, Sister Jackson (He took picture)
Row 2--The Shakespeares, Andersens, Petersens, Shumans
Row 3, Sanfs on right side 

2nd from Left--Jay Bird (don't know if that is his real name)
Jay Bird baptized man on left.  The man on left baptized man on right.
The man on right is going to baptize the black man.
Jay Bird was a drug addict and alcoholic.  He is now a ward missionary and
choir director.  He brought 17 investigators to the ballgame.

Dale & Connie, Marisol, Jorge, Leslie Arzu, Christina, Grandma Segovia, Fernando,
Sister and Obispo Segovia at the Galaxy Soccer game at Home Depot Stadium

Donut peaches--very sweet, yellow meat, more fibrous than regular peaches.

Last Friday we went for a long walk down to Verizon Wireless.
We found a farmer's market on the corner of Vermont and Wilshire Blvd.
The fruits and veggies were wonderful.  The strawberries were sweeter than any we've
tasted.  The mangos are 33 cents each.  Connie eats 3-4 a week.  The plums had a
very dark purple meat and were also very sweet.  Their corn and tomatoes were
also very good.

July Birthdays

Happy Birthday Dear Nate—July 4—30 years old!

and Happy Independence Day to everyone!

Happy Birthday Dear Becky­-July 15­-Sweet 16!

Happy Birthday Dear Kate—July 17—2 years old!

Happy Birthday Dear Ridge—July 22—15 years old!

Happy Birthday Dear Brad—July 23—38 years old!

Happy Birthday Dear McKenna—July 26—7 years old!

MISSIONARY WORK

          Friday, July 29, we went with the other senior couples to Mormon Night at Dodger Stadium to watch the Dodgers play the New York Mets.  We had fairly good seats, all the free hot dogs, nachos, peanuts and soda pop we wanted—all for $28 per person.  President Uchtdorf threw the first pitch and Alex Boye from the tabernacle choir sang The Star Spangled Banner.  We all had a great time. 

          Sylvia Campos is progressing and we enjoy visiting with her.  She has told us she will be baptized “soon.”  Don’t know when her “soon” is.  She asked me if I knew how to make cupcakes.  She said she had never baked anything so last week we made cupcakes and while they were baking and cooling we read the Book of Mormon.  We had a great time!

          Andres Ascension’s wife, Sylvia Cabrera, left a week ago for Guatemala.  Before she left she confided in us that she wants to take the temple classes when she returns.  She also talked to him about finding out if the church is true—especially finding out if the Book of Mormon is true.  She told me about it in her limited English and in my limited Spanish, I told her we would pray for him and her.  She is just the sweetest woman.  She has been feeding elders every week for many years.  When we visited him a week ago he told us the company he works for lost their contract at the airport and he would be traveling a lot in the next several weeks.  There are several locations associated with this contract.  So the company has to have all its equipment removed or make inventories to sell to the new contractor.  Andres has to go to the different company locations to help with this process.  He also said he has quite a bit vacation time and decided to go to Mexico to visit his family.  Dale taught him how to use the Topical Guide and how to use the cross references in the scriptures.  He told Andres about the promise in the Book of Mormon and the Joseph Smith story.  When he asked Andres how long it would take to read the Book of Mormon—he answered about three hours!  We thought he was joking—he wasn’t!  (Andres is very intelligent—still goes to college and is capable of working at several diversified jobs.)  However he added it would take much longer to really study it.  We asked him to read and study and pray about it while he is away and has extra time in the evenings.  He said he really wanted to know if it was true.  He wanted a triple combination with tabs so he had all the scriptures to study.  We made a quick trip over to the distribution center to get him one before he left.  He then showed us his wife’s book where the missionaries had written in it.  He wanted us to write in his.  Please send some prayers up for him.

          We have been visiting with Laura Escalante and trying to set up a time to talk with Carlos again.  The new elders met with them and Carlos consented to take the lessons!  We were so excited to hear about them last Saturday!!

          Jose Guzman was doing really well for 3 weeks with his alcohol addiction.  We felt he had a “change of heart.”  Yesterday before we met with him he started drinking again.  He kept saying if he had to work he had to drink and he had to work for money.  His family feels he needs to go to a place to dry out and they are probably right.  They can’t afford to do that for maybe a year.  His drinking is so hard on them but he can’t see past himself.

          Now the Arzus—we had been talking to him about the whole family going to Mormon Night at the Home Depot Center.  (Remember he was a professional soccer player from Honduras.)  He really wanted to go but didn’t know if his daughter,Leslie, would go—she likes to spend time with friends instead of family.  She loves soccer and track and is a really good athlete.  We were visiting with him on July 3 and while we were there Leslie came home.  Dale asked her what she was doing for the 4^th.  She said she wanted to go to the Home Depot Center to watch the fireworks after the game.  We had given up on taking them, but asked her if she would be interested in going to the game.  When she said yes, it surprised— all of us including Jorge!  That evening Dale wrote what happened. . .

              WE ARE SOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!! It is 10:30 pm and we just returned home from getting six tickets to the LA Galaxy vs. Philadelphia Union soccer (fútbol) match for tomorrow.  For those of you who may not about the Arzu family here is a quick up-date: We started working with Jorge the father about five or six months ago, just teaching him about what the Book of Mormon teaches about Jesus Christ. About three months ago Jorge, the son, got involved in a gang fight at school and was sent to juvenile detention for 6-months. Jorge Sr. would not go anywhere because he was so concerned about Leslie the daughter making bad decisions getting involved with the wrong type of friends. So he would not come to church without her and she was unwilling to come because she did not want people to ask her where Jorge was..

              The dad has gained a testimony and says that he will get baptized when the son gets released. President Baker wants the Elders to do the lessons preparing him for baptism. This will begin shortly. In the meantime the opportunity for a Mormon Night at a Galaxy fútbol match came up. We have been trying (thru her father) to get Leslie interested in going, but she refused. We have not been able to catch her home. Then today while we were teaching Jorge she showed up. We asked her what she was doing for the 4^th (Jorge had already told us that she probably would only want to do something with friends and not the family.)  We were all surprised that she said she wanted to go The Home Depot Center to watch the fire-works.

              We were surprised because that was where the Church members were meeting for the game! So we asked her if she wanted to go to the game using the Mormon night tickets and she got excited and said yes, she would like to go and take a friend! That was a little before 3:00 and we have been working ever since then to get the tickets. It worked out that Pte. Chaves only had $70 tickets instead of the $30 ones. The attachment shows that the $30 tickets were going for $15. So our tickets should be a lot better. Their Bishop (Segovia) was there wanting tickets. Pte. Chaves gave him four tickets next to ours and they just happen to have a handsome son who will be bringing one of his friends! Since this is a Mormon Night the Arzu family will get in free!  Who knows what will happen now!

          The rest of the story is that the Arzus had a great time at the game.  It was so nice to see them doing something fun together.  The Galaxy lost but other than that the night was wonderful.

          We had virtually nothing scheduled on the 4^th and kept wondering what we could do.  President and Sister Baker asked us to help with the new sisters and elders coming into our mission the morning of the 4^th.  We helped with lunch and clean up.  It was very enjoyable.  So our 4^th turned out very memorable with the Arzus and the new missionaries.



38th, 39th, 40th & 41st Weeks--May 28-June 26, 2012

Dallin & Kate, Jennifer & Claire at Los Angeles Temple

Grandma, Claire, & Kate at L.A. Temple Visitors Center
Dallin and Jennifer in background

Dale, Connie, Jennifer, Kate, Dallin, Claire by Christus

Kate & Claire at Los Angeles Temple Visitors Center

Claire and Kate at the aquarium at Long Beach

Feeding the birds nectar and a very tired Kate

Jennifer, Claire, Kate touching sting rays

Claire and Kate at Water Cycle Exhibit

Add caption

Claire making rain

Grandpa, Grandma, & Kate on boat ride

Celebrating Claire's birthday at Bubba Gumps

Add caption

Connie, Dale, Jennifer & Kate, Dallin, Claire at Bubba Gump Shrimp

Kate, and Grandpa Dale


Claire, Dallin, Jennifer, Kate at Dana Point Beach


Eating Mexican food at Olamendis at Dana Point.
(One of President Nixon's favorite restaurants. George W. and George Bush also ate here.)

Our mission was half over June 5^th.  It is a bittersweet feeling.  We are so thankful we are here but we are looking forward to seeing our family and friends again.

June Birthdays

Happy Birthday Dear Zack—June 8—7 years old!

Happy Birthday Dear Ray—June 12—39 years old!

Happy Birthday Dear Nate L.—June 27—40+ years old!

Congratulations!

Cliff Cole was sustained as bishop June 3.

Missionary Work

May 28-June 2

          Here we are trying to catch up on 4 busy weeks.  We are still working with the Olasavas, the Arzus, Andres Asención, the Campos, Celso Castillo, and the Guzmans.  Everything is progressing steadily and well with all of them except Jose Guzman is still struggling with the beer drinking. 

          We had an exceptionally great meeting with Sylvia Campos this week.  She opened and told us about her past life and how she has always had a prayer in her heart for many years.  She told us how her year old baby died.  She said she knows the Book of Mormon is true but has a hard time accepting modern-day prophets. So we talked to her about the fact that some of the Apostles in Jesus’ days were fishermen and one was a tax collector, and then asked for the copy of her husband’s Liahona. We opened it to the centerfold showing the General Authorities. She was quite surprised and very impressed when we explained that President Uchtdorf was in the German Air Force and  German Airlines, Elder Nelson a world renowned heart surgeon, Elder Scott an Engineer and Elder Oakes a Federal Judge and that they all left their professions when were called to be Apostles just like Peter, James, and John. She still needs a stronger testimony of the Joseph Smith but says that she will be baptized but isn’t sure when it will happen.

June 2-June 6

Saturday evening, June 2, Jennifer, Dallin, Claire, and Kate came to see us.  It was so fun to have family again.  Kate was a baby when we left and now she is talking and running around.  When they stayed in St. George, Claire called their motel a “home ‘otel.”  She called our apartment the same thing.  I think that is a fairly good description for it.  They had a 14 hour drive to get here. That is two days to get here and two days to return for three days here with us!  Thank you so much Jen and Dallin.

          Sunday after sacrament meeting everyone wanted to meet them. Everyone was so happy to meet part of our family.  After dinner we went over to the Los Angeles Temple Visitors Center.  The girls had fun doing some of the activities for kids there.  We watched the John Tanner movie.  It is a great movie about sacrifice and generosity.  If you haven’t seen it, we highly recommend it.

          On our way home we stopped in front of Graumans theatre in Hollywood to see the footprints and signatures of the stars.  Of course there were several people dressed up like movie heroes.  They were hoping to have you take pictures with them and tip them between $15 and $20.  Claire said it was like a “Halloween Circus.”  She reminds me so much of Jennifer when she was that age.    

          Monday we drove to Long Beach Aquarium.  It is a fairly large aquarium and lots of hands on things for the kids.  The girls enjoyed seeing all the fish and displays.  They touched the jellyfish but Claire was a little shy about touching the sting rays until it was closing time.  They especially enjoyed the water cycle display and making it rain.  They had parrots we could feed nectar to that was fun to watch.  We took a boat ride of the harbor and that was fun.  Afterward we ate at Bubba Gump Restaurant.

          Tuesday we spent the day at Dana Point at the beach.  The tides were exceptionally high that day so we didn’t get to see the tidepools.  We had fun in the water and sand all day.  That evening we ate at Olamendi’s Restaurant that has delicious Mexican food.  It was a favorite place of President Nixon.  Gorge W. and George Bush also ate there.  Wednesday morning they started the long ride home.         

June 7-June 17

          We visited a less active member, Rosa Baires.  Her sister, Isabel Chicas, was there and seemed interested as we read in the Book of Mormon about Jesus to them.   This week we had a sweet lesson with them.  Rosa came to church Sunday but Isabel had to work.   We all felt the spirit as we read from the Book of Mormon.

          We decided to work with Evelin Ramirez to help her become more active and get to know some of the members better. They were very happy to see us again. Once more we are trying to work with Carlos, the non-member husband-friend of Laura Escalante. (He had told the Elders that he was not interested in getting baptized.) Hermano Sostre showed up in church with his brother and was happy to see us, so we made an appointment. They were Home! This is the family that we tried without success to visit countless times around Christmas time.

          Wednesday, June 13, we went with the other three mls missionaries—the Shumans, Coopers, and Sanfts to the J Paul Getty Museum.  It was phenomenal.  The buildings are wonderful.  They had many paintings from many famous artists.  They also have fantastic gardens.  We spent a great day there. We hope to go again sometime.

          We also inspected Elders’ apartments again this week.

          Somehow we missed 3^rd Ward’s Father’s Day dinner but we did attend the 6^th Wards dinner.  They had a wonderful beef (for the first time) and rice dinner.  They even had a small dish of ice cream for dessert.  They had a nice program with several singing over the PA system to their spouse, and then dancing.  We had a long week and were very tired so we came home about 9:30.

June 18-June 24

          This week was a bit of a downer—the Sostres were not there for our appointment nor for the elders´appointment just like they did around Christmas.  Isabel Chica was not at Hna. Baires either.  She isn’t interested.  The good thing is Rosa Baires, has been to church 3 weeks in a row now.  Celso Castillo and Reyna Portillo aren’t getting married and we aren’t teaching him anymore.  He did some things we won’t discuss. 

          The highlight of the week was zone conference.  We had a general authority visit—Paul Johnson from the 70 and Commissioner for the Seminary & Institute programs of the church.  I am sure most people love their mission presidents.  We have the utmost respect and love for President and Sister Baker. 

          Sister Baker is a very intelligently spiritual, woman.  I just love her talks and her insight.  She talked about the Good News—the atonement.  The purpose of the atonement is:

          l. To restore all that was lost because of the fall.

          2. To provide for repentance.

          3. To provide the power to resurrect and to exalt.

          Christ did not just endure all things but he conquered all things.  He knows all trials we have intimately and personally. 

          President Baker talked about recognizing and understanding the Holy Ghost.  The more we have the spirit, the more we want it.  The Holy Ghost has the power to change us.  He read and discussed the following scriptures:

1Kings 19:11-12                           3Nephi 11:3                      2Nephi 1:15

3Nephi 19:9                               D&C 6:14-15                     D&C 8:3-4

Elder Bednar’s talk from April 2011 general conference

BE OBEDIENT AND LISTEN CAREFULLY—YOU WILL FEEL THE HOLY GHOST.

1Thessalonians Chapter 2 speaks of the love of missionaries.

       Elder Paul V. Johnson started his talk by stating “When we submit our lives to the will of God it changes our lives.” This really impressed me because I have been wondering about the great changes that the newly baptized members have to make their everyday lives, and that so many only do it for a short period of time. Then become “less-active”. I have asked myself many times: “How can we help them submit their lives to the will of the Lord?!” I am still not sure how this is done.  Maybe the clue is what Elder Johnson said next, when he referred to 1Ne 11:11 & 27:13, 14 and D&C 93 where John the Baptist talks about Jesus going from grace to grace.  We still have a lot to learn as we strive to help them.