48th & 49th Week—August 6-19, 2012

Bullet proof glass in Kentucky Fried Chicken

Best Fish and Chips ever in Malibu

Four pictures of a Hindu Temple we came upon in Malibu Canyon.

Very serene and beautiful

Bulletproof Glass in Kentucky Fried Chicken
Opposite of beautiful and serene

News Flash:

  WE HAVE A NEW GRANDSON!! 

BENJAMIN ROY GOURLEY

BORN FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

******************

Week 48

          Tuesday this past week we took 3 visa waiters to the Mexican Consulate to get their visas.  They had been here waiting 4 transfers (a transfer is 6 weeks).  They were so excited to be finally going to Mexico.  Dale goes in to the consulate with them and I “babysit” the cars, adding money when the meter runs low.  I usually take the time to study and sometimes I call some of my kids.  There is a park there and so I can usually find a shady spot near the car.  Anyway, they left for Mexico today. 

          Wednesday we had to take all their papers, etc. to the mission office.  We try to go to the temple once a week so if we have to go to the mission office, we go to the temple then since the mission office is in the same building as the visitors’ center and the Family Search Center right across the street from the temple.  Currently the temple is closed for cleaning for two weeks so we drove down Highway 1 to Malibu Seafood and Fresh Fish Market and had fish and chips.  Three senior couples told us this place had the best fish and chips they had ever eaten.  When we arrived about 3 p.m. there was a line coming out the door.  We didn’t have to wait too long to place our order.  We went out on the patio and found a table and waited for them to call our number for our order.  We hadn’t eaten lunch so we were very hungry and the fish fillets were very large and delicious.  

          On our way home we stopped at Pepperdine University.  I had always wanted to see it since one of Lori’s friends in high school, Cami, got a huge scholarship to go there.  It is right on the ocean and it is an absolutely beautiful campus.  It was started 75 years ago in Los Angeles  by George Pepperdine who owned Western Auto.  It is a private school founded on Christian values.  In 1977 they moved the university to Malibu so all the campus and buildings are fairly new.  They have a law school and a prestigious Business School.  It is every bit as clean and cared for as any of the LDS church schools. 

          From there we drove up Malibu Canyon and we came upon a beautiful Hindu Temple.  They wouldn’t let us on the compound but when we drove in the parking lot, Dale took some pictures.  We didn’t get a panoramic view but took the picture in four sections.

          As we progressed up the canyon we stopped and bought some strawberries and Washington Cherries from a man selling out of his truck on the side of the road.  They were the most beautiful and  best tasting strawberries.  They were so sweet. He had picked them that morning in Camarillo. We turned on Mulholland Drive which had big houses nestled in the canyons with a lot of horse corrals and barns.  Now that’s more like the LA I would like. 

          Missionary work went about like it has for the past few weeks.  Nothing astounding or new has taken place.  We did have appointments to teach the Ramirez sisters, Jorge Arzu, Sylvia Campos (who was called to work), Roberto Cartegenas (who had to take his son somewhere and didn’t get back in time for his appointment), and Celso Portillo (who was still at work when we went for his appointment.)  It was a very discouraging week.

          Friday night Shumans invited us and Sanfts to eat at the Sizzler and to go to a ward play—The Imaginary Illness by Moliere.  We weren’t too excited to go but it was one of the best plays we have seen.  It was better than most plays we have paid to go see. There is so much talent here in LA where they have access to so many opportunities.

Week 49

          When the missionaries in our wards have birthdays, I take cupcakes to correlation meeting and we sing Happy Birthday to them.  This week I took German Chocolate Cupcakes and they loved them.  Hno. Pioquinto, the ward mission leader, loved them and took one home to his wife.  Sunday I asked her when his birthday was so we could celebrate his birthday also. She went on and on about how good they were so I said, “I guess I ought to make you some for your birthday.”  Almost before I finished the sentence she said, “August 16!” Needless to say I made her some this week.

          This week we went out and looked for people on our list that no one knows.  Most phone numbers were wrong.  They change phone numbers quite often here.  Most people were no longer at that address.

Note:  (Dale wrote the next 3 paragraphs.)

          We did visit with Meritza Navarate, a sister the Elders told us about. She has been a member of the church most of her life. Her parents and most of her brothers and sisters are members also, but when she came to the USA at age 15 she stopped going to church and married a non-member. Now she has grown children and she and her sister have decided that they want to become active again. At the beginning of the visit when I asked her to tell us about herself, she opened up and in her humble sweet way told us a brief history of the family. They are spread all over the USA, some here, some in Florida, some in Washington DC and some in the Great Lakes area. She was very sad when she told us about her brother who has kidney problems and needs a transplant.

          When we read the book of Mormon scriptures, I did not have to explain page numbers; she knew chapter and verse, sometimes even finding them before I could. As we read you could feel the spirit so strongly. She just nodded her head in agreement with almost every passage. This was especially true when we read in King Benjamin’s speech in Mosiah chapter 4. She especially felt the joy and peace that that the Nephites felt explained in verse 5. Then we read verses 6 and7 talking about being diligent in keeping the commandments and persevering to the end and the atonement and salvation. Once again we had the same wonderful feeling.

          Finally we read in Alma chapter 46 verse 39, which I generally do not read, and verse 40, which I have never had anyone read before. In the middle of verse, 40 she started to cry. She was thinking of her brother with kidney problems. He had just started going to an Herbal practitioner, and she had high hopes for the treatments. It was a wonderful visit and she did come to out church for the first time this Sunday!

          We had a good visit with Evelyn Ramirez.  She sacrificed a lot to get baptized.  She has two girls and she was living with their dad but they never got married.  She wasn’t sure she wanted to marry him so she had him move out.  She  found a job and started working.  She told us they haven’t paid her the last few pay periods and her rent is overdue and her daughter needs school supplies. (These owners sure do take advantage of these “non-documented people!)  The girls’ dad says he can’t afford to help. She is really struggling. Evelyn came to 6^th ward today instead of 3^rd ward because she has to go to work at 1:00 pm.

          We had a good visit with Ximora Ramirez and her daughter, Karen. I tried to keep the two little girls occupied while Dale taught the lesson.

          We had two appointments with the Garnica Family and we just caught them leaving both times.  The bishop keeps sending us back there, but we feel that they really don’t want to spend time with us. 

          We also had a good visit with Hno. Cartegenas.  He has a hard time at church because no one is perfect.  He doesn’t seem to understand that we are all imperfect and Christ came to teach the sinners and not the perfect. 

          Mabel Hernandez’s health is slowly improving.  She is working now and seems to be doing better. However most of the time she cannot work the full 4-days a she hired on to do. The owner is very understanding and agrees to let her do it until she gets better. (Some are certainly a lot better to the “undocumented” than others!)

          Dale had a good lesson with Celso Portillo.  The Elders had a conflict and did not show to teach him the restoration lesson.  When Dale went in, Celso was reading 2Nephi chapter 31. He commented about the importance of baptism, as explained there. After talking about that Dale taught Celso about the atonement.  You could tell that he could really feel the importance of what Jesus did for us.  He is doing better at understanding what we are teaching him. He should get his passport soon and then they can get married

          Transfers were this week. Elder Matheson is going home—actually he is going to BYU to do the long jump for their track team. We are going to miss him.  He was a good District Leader. We got Elder Clements back which we were very excited about.  We worked with him in 6^th ward.  Now he is in third ward and he will be great there.  Since Elder Matheson is leaving we had all the elders (nine) in 3^rd ward over for dinner Saturday night.  We had beef stroganoff, rice, peas, salad, French bread, and crepes for dessert.  After dinner we had Elder Matheson give is a departing speech.  He talked about always having faith that if you do what is right, the Lord will bless you.  You can learn something from every situation and always be positive about where you are and who your companion is.  It was really good.

          We had a special surprise today.  Elder Maddox (who has gone home and has been released) came to church with his parents and his younger sister.  It was so good to see him.  He was an outstanding elder.  He is in ROTC at Utah State.  He will eventually fly for the air force. 





Week 47 July 30-August 5, 2011

Ximora Ramirez's girls with Dale. 
(As with most Latinos here, their beds are in the Living Room/Kitchen.
Many do not have bedrooms or couches to sit on)

We took some of the "Visa Waiters" (elders waiting for their visas)
to the Mexican Consulate to get their visas.  While we were their they had
Mexican dancers and a band entertaining.  Connie was the only one that got to watch it..

They were celebrating 25 years of ?  I never could figure out what.

When they were finished with their dances this teenage girl asked me to dance with her. 
One of the Mexican men also asked me about the same time.  I was relieved she asked me first as I didn't think I should be dancing with him when I was a missionary.  I was very relieved Dale and the missionaries weren't there to watch me.

(Note:  Dale wrote most of this posting>)

August Birthdays

Happy Birthday Dear Cheyenne—10 Years Old—August 1

Happy Birthday Dear Sarah—8 years old—August 9

Happy Baptism Day!!

Happy Birthday Dear Dale, Dad, Grandpa—70+ years old—August 26

Happy Birthday Dear Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma—89 years old—August 31

Missionary Work

          It has been a very interesting week, starting on Sunday with Dale being sick enough with the flu to return home after the second Sacrament Meeting (not staying for Sunday school or Priesthood.) This continued until Wednesday pm when we met with Jorge Arzu with the Elders giving the restoration lesson and Pedro Portillo with his wife, Maria teaching them (her) about love as contained in 1John 4. Both went well.  Jorge agreed to make a decision on when he will be baptized and Maria softening up a little more. Thursday Connie cooked a luscious lasagna dinner. The nine Elders assigned to 3^rd Ward loved it. On Thursday we were able to meet with the Ramirez sisters again with hopes of helping Evelyn become active and Xiomara gaining an understanding of Jesus in the Book of Mormon so she will want to listen to the Elders’ lessons. Then on Friday we had a special meeting with Roberto Cartagena, husband of the very active Maria. He had talked with several pairs of Elders and was not interested. She feeds the Elders regularly.  She was not very confident that he would want to listen to us.

          When we started, he was pretty doubtful, I could not even get him to agree that he wanted to listen to us! He did not say no, so we started in. When we got to 2Ne:31, I really stressed the plainness that Nephi loved, and that the Book of Mormon is written plainly. I did not force any decisions upon Roberto about his baptism just explaining that it was his decision and no one else. I just stressed that he had to have “full purpose of heart”, with “no hypocrisy” and “real intent”, as Nephi explains in verse 13.  He accepted this very well and you could tell that he was very sincere in what he was thinking. The spirit was strong when he said, “You are right, the Book of Mormon is written clearly.” When I asked him if he would read and pray about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon he agreed and when I asked him who he wanted to the prayer to close the meeting, he responded that he would and gave a very sincere humble prayer. We are now going to continue teaching him next Friday.

          Saturday we were finally able to get back in to talk to Silvia Campos and her husband, Jose. She has such a hard work schedule, not knowing from week to week or day to day what her schedule will be. We had a good lesson reading in 3Nephi and then got very serious with her, asking about her about her baptism. Since the next day would be Fast Sunday I explained fasting and fast offerings to them. Then I asked her if she would fast and pray about her decision of when to be baptized. She said that she would and let us know her decision the next time we met.

          We met with Celzo Portillo several weeks after he had deserted Reina for her sister. What a shocked that was. We had thought that we would not see him again. He is back with Reina and she is as happy as can be. First we talked with her about our concerns for the situation.   Then we talked to President Baker and he gave us the go ahead. So last week we gave him a very strong lesson on chastity, especially adultery. He accepted it and said that he was willing to live the law of chastity. We then reviewed the law of tithing and fast offerings, which he also accepted and would live.

This week we asked him what the law of chastity meant which he remembered. (When we met with he had a hard time learning, and still does.) Then he did very well in remembering the details of the restoration and what the word prophet means. He replied correctly in his own simple way. So we are asking the Elders to start teaching him next week.

          The week ended with a slight downer--Hna. Gloria Navas was not home for her scheduled appointment.  We will try again.

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.