20 - Underneath a red supermoon

Email address (preferred):
rachael.clark@myldsmail.net

 Mission address:
 Sister Rachael Geniel Clark
 California Long Beach Mission
 6500 E Atherton St.
 Long Beach, CA 90815

Things are doing alright here. The ward is a lot like my ward at home, if not identical. That is nice, although they seem more busy in their personal lives to visit with us than my last ward, and I still don't quite feel like I belong, but hopefully that will change as time goes on and I meet more people. Its so strange to not have to worry about the ward list since it's updated weekly and we get a new one weekly as well (too much wasted paper in my opinion). We also don't have to worry about the calendar, although I liked having our own and being in charge of it if anything suddenly pops up, we can see who is down for the day and make other arrangements on the spot instead of playing phone tag. They also don't feed us as much either, although they haven't had Sisters in the ward for almost a year now so its probably unusual for them to worry about another set of missionaries to feed. I thankfully have lots of food to cook now that our apartment has a WORKING stove and oven.

Our new apartment was a 3-4 month vacant ELDERS apartment outside our area (1/12 the size of my last ward, one day I imagine they will have missionaries over stakes like they do in Utah down here). We spent a couple days slowly in our free time cleaning, de-staining the carpet, de-molding the bathroom (bad humidity 90% and above this year), and deep cleaning the fridge and kitchen. They left food for the next elders around the place and it clearly didn't get word to them that they would be the last residents till we came to use it..... I hope this is my last Elders apartment, three in a row isn't fun to clean. Al least this one had a check list of cleaning that I can post in all the area books. I am at to let others know what to do in the future. We also found that there was no information about the area, no shopping locations posted, no places to avoid or anything, so we were really whitewashing this area. Last one at least I knew most things before hand. At least we have an apartment of our own now, before we were WAY out of our area with two other Sisters and things were cramped and noisy. Driving was hard too and packing twice to move was a nightmare. We also got the Elder's car so that helped too.

We met 1 less active Marie, she is real nice. She stopped us on our first day and invited us over. Our other successes were finding multiple Do Not Contacts to report back (they were nice unlike my other area where they made you want to cry they were so awfully rude and insulting or slammed the door in your face). We did meet a few good potentials. One man gave me a wooden pen, it was so neat. he was over 90 years old and loves woodworking. Even though he wasn't interested, and deaf from hearing loss, he still gave us a pen he made and said if we ever lost ours we knew where to get another.

Another one was Sophia. We felt prompted to talk to some people then on our way back from walking and talking with them we met her and talked about prayer. She liked us so much she gladly gave us her information and hopefully we can have lessons with her! If I didn't suggest seeing someone on the street, then we wouldn't have been around to meet Sophia! Its amazing how that works out if we follow the Spirit's promptings.

We also got to see the lunar eclipse, missed it turning red sadly, but we did get view of it all black. So cool and eerie, Sister Culala loved it! She had never seen that before, and in Utah it's usually to late in the morning so I miss it or wake up too late.

We walked around and MANY people were out, mostly having moon viewing parties, or busy, but we met an atheist man who kept trying to prove us wrong, but we got him to accept a Book of Mormon and gave him a Moroni's promise bookmark and asked him to not take our word for it but to try it out for himself by praying, reading, then asking in prayer if it is false. He said he would. I doubt we will hear from him again, but he was nice and let us use his binoculars to view the moon earlier. He kept going on about science and logic and stuff like that but since I love science too and know that with this example: if the Wright Brothers had it in their head that their attempts at flight would NEVER work, then of course they would fail. If you pray and read the book of Mormon that way too, you will find similar results. The Wright Brothers didn't yield to others mocking or logics of the time. They went forth with faith that their plane would work, and eventually it did! So too is like finding out the truth of scriptures and belief in God!

It may not be the first time or even the second you will know it is true, but after awhile or even the first time you will know. Its the Light of Christ in us that tells us it is good and it is from God! Nothing dark or evil comes from him, so only peace, comfort, and love can come. The enemy might try and stop you, but its your decision to keep on going and don't give up!

Sort of reminds me of this video, SO GOOD! its about a man deep in despair in his life and his true story, very good locations, imagery, and one of the best videos I have seen so far that's a documentary.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-07-006-the-hope-of-gods-light?category=topics/prayer&lang=eng

19 - Amelia's baptism, a marriage and area #2!

Email address (preferred):
rachael.clark@myldsmail.net

 Mission address:
 Sister Rachael Geniel Clark
 California Long Beach Mission
 6500 E Atherton St.
 Long Beach, CA 90815


Got word that I will be transferred to Huntington beach north stake, Ocean View Ward. Should be interesting!

Spent the last couple days deep cleaning and prepping the area books for them to take over. Sadly, our appeal to president about how to split the ward for safety didn't work out after all. I imagine if we had more investigators we would split the ward since this ward disparately needs Sisters here, but that's how life goes. 

AMELIA WAS BAPTIZED! Such a nice evening. We had the youth sing, and Brother Matthews played the piano so beautifully that it was like being at the symphony, he was so good! Amelia felt the spirit so strongly, and so did everyone else. Half the ward came and even Sister Tew (who had to leave part way because of the departure fireside), the Wassmers, and the Elders from the zone, too! Even more impressive was that the zone leaders came. They could have gone to the farewell departure fireside, but they came to support us and Amelia instead and brought their investigators too! I did a talk on the spirit, and Sister Paw did the one on baptism, so it was amazing!

Other than that, not much to be honest, lots of cancelled appointments all week long and many MANY interviews for Amelia and a few mishaps with our scheduling with that. That's how life goes though. It all worked out in the end so its all good!

Angel Becker and Jeff Enomoto got married on Saturday, and we got summoned over for the after part to help consume some leftover sandwiches for our dinner (they found a way to get us over; I knew she would come up with some way to get us in and still be 100% within the mission rules).

Sorry for the short letter, honestly not much has happened this week. Just lots of no people home and cancelled appointments, and TONS OF TRAININGS. I have sat down enough this week, I want to get out and walk. And lots of hitting the books to clean up the area book. Our zone leaders were impressed about how well we turned around the books, maps, and apartment. The Elders after us are very particular about cleanliness so they will be so happy. I just hope my new area is the same. They did a training about it on Saturday, big time. Its been an ongoing issue, so hopefully things will get better now on. Time will tell.


Things are much better between Sister Paw and I, and we are enjoying the fruits of our hard work, apartment and book wise. 

18 - Locked doors and happy people

Email address (preferred):
rachael.clark@myldsmail.net

 Mission address:
 Sister Rachael Geniel Clark
 California Long Beach Mission
 6500 E Atherton St.
 Long Beach, CA 90815


We got locked out of our apartment yet again, this time after we went shopping first thing in the morning. Sister Paw and I have been checking for keys, but this time she thought she had them with her. Next time I will have the keys and we will have to present them in order to ever go out of the apartment. Thank Goodness we had our phone and car keys this time around. We went to the mission home and did studies with Sister Tew this morning, we were going to do it at our apartment already, but this time we had no choice. It was so much fun that we will do it again with her latter this week! Hopefully at our place. We have had to go back and forth so many times it is ridiculous, but we are still good on miles considering. I just say that we are following God's plan for us which is to learn and grow, we have excelled at that part of his plan this transfer!

Looks like we will definitely have elders in the area next transfer, I just hope I will still be there. I love the ward despite its unique stubborn qualities, and at times odd love of feeding us but forgetting our appointments on occasion. The other day we went to the Carlton's for dinner and we got on the subject of dying plants, I suggested chicks and hens plants among other drought tolerant plants, and Sister Carlton loved the pictures of the more exotic vibrant green and magenta ones. She will get some and plant them right away. it is such a drought it makes it hard to grow much anymore, and they limit watering to 20 minutes a day twice a week, or you get big big fines (like $500 fines) per each offence of doing any more watering than that.

I love the ward members and have found so many ways that life and knowledge that I obtained before my mission has been helping with almost everyone. I also received a blessing that said that THIS IS MY AREA, I was purposely sent here for people in here. It will be interesting to see how things play out two Tuesdays from now on with transfers. It's so odd to think I have been out already 4 months and after this next transfer I will be out almost 6 months! That's a third of my mission gone by. I am starting to see what they mean that this mission flies by and it's so brief in your life, it is almost too short in some ways.

Not much in the way of lessons. Everyone cancelled on us other than the ever faithful Amelia and Beckers, they always love us over, which is such a relief at the end of the day and you don't know where else to turn, and you are almost to the point of discouragement from doing nothing but driving to place to place in hopes that someone is home or will be kind enough to listen, even if they disagree. It really makes a difference in our day to have someone listen and let us in. It gives us a big boost, and sometimes is an answer to our prayer or concern we have. It's amazing when that happens. The other day Amelia told us that NOTHING will stop her from being baptized! She was so proud to say that, it's so heartwarming. When I first met her she was unsure about the concept of being baptized again in another church and many other things, now she won't let anything get in her way. I really do think having her at that girl's baptism really touched and changed her heart forever. I am so grateful for people like her and her constant love of making sure we never leave without food or a smoothie.

The Beckers are doing pretty good considering on the 19th Angel gets married to Jeff, we read more scriptures to them and even if they bring up not the most positive discussions, they know not to dwell so much on those things and to even bring up something positive! I am so proud of them. I also love it when Angel folds her arms and sits there waiting till we say the prayer, she will even look right at you till you start with a prayer. That is her way of saying I want to get down to reading scriptures so why the wait.


Other than that, Sister paw and I had a rough patch the middle of this week, but after meeting with President Tew a couple times due to time, we found the root of the problem is the area and frustration with it and the ward was getting to Sister Paw and a miscommunication one day set her off. we both got things straightened out and are working more on communication and talking more with one another to help from letting things get bottled up. Its been very hard for her because this area is honest to goodness hard, but I haven't had troubles with it and have been happy with it for the most part because its all I have ever known. When those two things met, it was causing lots of turmoil between us and hard feelings. I am just happy that its all worked out. 

17 - Ever productive school days

Email address (preferred):
rachael.clark@myldsmail.net

 Mission address:
 Sister Rachael Geniel Clark
 California Long Beach Mission
 6500 E Atherton St.
 Long Beach, CA 90815


This week has been interesting with how everyone is getting back into school, finishing their summer vacations, or labor day trips. That translates to NO ONE to teach other than our ever faithful Amelia who is happy to see us any day for the most part. We also helped tile Sister Bosse's floor. She sadly is in the hospital with pneumonia, so Brother Baxter and some other members of the elders quorum had to sort of break into her home to finish the tile job, then afterwards re-secure her home and feed her dogs and make sure they are OK. Thankfully the neighbors look out for her dogs for the most part when they find out she goes to the hospital. The last time she was there she was gone for over a month. She now has beautiful tile floors, and I cleaned the hallway walls and started on cleaning out her fine china in the cabinet that was being moved for the tile work. Lots of eager do it yourself dads were present, and despite experience, they helped out. Wasn't the most pretty job, but I went behind them here and there and straightened a few tiles out so it would fit better down the line while they were busy and put in spacers too so they wouldn't budge if someone accidentally moved it (which happened every now and again). In the end it looked real good. Sister Paw and I mostly took rags and cleaned off the tiles once they were placed and dried for awhile and got any grout off of it before it dried on. Hopefully today they will get the filling grout in. We would have helped if it weren't our P-Day. We were told by the stake president, bishop, and through the zone leaders about area restrictions, which we were already following as it was (to Sister Paw's annoyance) so nothing new about that. Looks like Elders may take over, or they will put them in and split the ward again. Better get finished with the book soon and make copies for some people both sets of missionaries seem to visit due to circumstances.

We finally got a lesson with Luis and his mom of all people. She is curious about what we believe but made clear that she believes what she does and won't budge, but hopefully with the next couple times it will soften her heart. Already the lessons with Luis have softened her to join us at the very least. She told us her experiences with Jehovah witnesses and how she couldn't feel the Spirit of Christ around them with their yelling at her after she disagreed with them. Thank goodness we don't do that. She said she felt the spirit so strongly when she watched us from the upper floor window while we were studying scriptures with her son and she said just that alone said to her what we teach is good. I sure hope we can get her help in getting Luis and her to church later on. Slow but steady wins the race, not fast, so be it with them. But this is far greater a cause than any race.

We talked with Amelia about the 10 commandments and her trouble with keeping the law of not saying the Lord's name in vain. She tries so hard. She goes above and beyond the call of duty. I wish all members where like her. We also calmed her worries of passing the baptismal interview. She is also getting her citizenship interview on the 16th so she is extra worried about passing that test too. I know she will make both, though!

Other than them, it has been a discouraging week of no shows, cancellations, and no one at the door, forgot our dinner plans, no answers to phone calls, texts, and to little to no lessons. Its just that kind of week. I hope next week will be better. Lately it seems like everyone keeps putting more and more restrictions to our area because we are Sisters, I am getting quite tired of things. I somehow wonder if that is the secret plot of the ward to force president to give this area Elders again. I just hope it means Sisters stay too; this area NEEDS Sisters desperately too.

Today we were doing laundry and accidentally got locked out of our apartment. Sadly, the closest "member" was our ward building, and we walked half an hour to the building (made some of it up by walking through the statue garden along the way and to get my mind off of the situation too), and we used the zone leaders' phone to call the office and waited to get a ride to get the space key. Normally this would never happen, but I suspect the lock got jiggled and when the door closed, it slipped into lock position (it happened before in the past, only that time we had the key with us). Quite the experience without a phone, neighbors having no phones either odd enough, and even if we did have one, no numbers memorized other than our own to call. So frustrating, but we did get back after spending a third of our day doing that. We live in the middle of nowhere as far as members in the ward boundaries, which makes things so hard. What a way to start our week.

Other than that, things are going well. Sister Paw and I are getting closer than before, but we still have a long way to go.

16 - One more clean apartment

Email address (preferred):
rachael.clark@myldsmail.net

 Mission address:
 Sister Rachael Geniel Clark
 California Long Beach Mission
 6500 E Atherton St.
 Long Beach, CA 90815


Temple day! We were trying to go to the 7:00 Session, but missed it by a few minutes due to traffic. Good Grief it takes forever to go to the temple here, Utah its 15 minutes from my hours not just to 1 temple but 2, even longer to 3 or 4. Here its almost 2 hours to get to just 1. Sister Frosty was so kind to drive us there. Most missionaries went to the 5:30 session, so we were all alone this time as far as missionaries go. Sister Frosty doesn't go by herself so it was nice for her too, just wish it weren't so early to skip 4 hour long trip traffic. While waiting we did some initiatories. Normally we don't do that because of time, and that's not really why we go in the first place, but this time we didn't have any other option. Sister Frosty just read in the bible and got through 8 chapters. It worked out well in the end and was good! We may even look around Little India again latter today since it's Tuesday and stores are open! so exciting!

This week we FINALLY got our apartment in proper order, clean, desk set up (with exception to my papers filed away and stuff like that), and its been somewhat cooler this week end so that was a blessing. Sister Paw wasn't feeling to good so while she took a nap (she gets permission for that once a day as needed). I did some tender love and weeding of the Area Book, potential sheet mostly. Almost all the Spanish potentials are out, corrections, duplicates, and summaries done. So many duplicates that one can loose their mind. Our book is looking real good and proper, and they are done by street and area so we can find the ones we need for backups so we never have to say, "Now what do we do?" when all plans fall through. So happy! took forever though.

We finally met up with Luis and will try to continue with him and possibly his friend who is a girl. We shall see, if we can get her support, then we may even get two people, which would be amazing! He is still ever faithful about reading the Book of Mormon even when we didn't see him for a couple weeks and keeps trying to ask others to read it too! So wonderful, I just hope we don't loose him, he is so good.

Amelia is going strong, struggling with coffee every few days (she does it for energy due to 24/7 care taking). I hope we can help her quit, other than that she won't drink champagne anymore and gave away all that she did have and refuses any she has been offered. Way to go for her, we are so proud.

Met a few more potential strong investigators. School started, so we have lots more people to meet and have lessons with and service opportunities too! Who would have thought how much school impacts our lessons and service to others.

Pony petting zoo cancelled, but we did get to an hour in advance help Sister Becker organize some trunks full of things and donate some stuff she didn't need (got some free organizers to use. HURRAY, it was much needed and wanted including skirt hangers, answer to a prayer there.)  And got to set up a wall phone that was at one time a desk phone and convert it over (it was a puzzle to do that with out the instructions, but it was fun because I love puzzles) and install it on her wall in her garage. Her old one was broken, falling apart, and nonfunctional. Best yet was she was going to get rid of it because she had no space for a large desk one, so it cost her nothing. 

I am doing well. Things are coming into order and with our books in almost top shape. We now know where to focus on and how to do it so things between Sister Paw and I. We are getting along much better than before. We also talk a lot more with each other and have been enjoying our journey through this interesting transfer. I am going to make it a goal for me personally after this area book project is over, to learn one new skill or talent. Here I go!

15 - Fields of white

Email address (preferred):
rachael.clark@myldsmail.net

 Mission address:
 Sister Rachael Geniel Clark
 California Long Beach Mission
 6500 E Atherton St.
 Long Beach, CA 90815


I do have exciting news this week: we worked on a big service project that the Elders Quorum and High Priests put on, I was happily surprised when it actually when through, and even more so on the even bigger turnout of people and things they were doing for Sister Bosie's home. She will be getting a new floor with tile so it will be easy to clean and maintain, new cabinets in the kitchen and counter top, and her walls scrubbed clean and roaches evicted from those rooms as far as we can help it. Sister Paw and I came in after they hauled off most of the kitchen and flooring and helped with the vacuuming up left over dust and flooring around the walls, scrubbing clean the walls in the rooms, and any furniture that had cobwebs on them. It was looking so much better after we left, I can't wait to see it once we are all finished and done two weeks from now with the new floor in! We couldn't stay till 8pm like everyone else, but we did what we could. By the end of the day she had a temporary counter top in and running working water in her faucet and sink (which they got a new working one for her too!) I am so glad everyone pitched in so she could get this. She has been without water working from her tap for years,  and no plumbing to speak of either, it was so corroded. Finally the 5 or so layers of uneven and breaking flooring was removed so she can scoot herself in her wheelchair around her own home. SO EXCITING! She has been living in faith and hope this whole time, she deserved this after all that she has been through. Best yet was that everyone had such a humble and uplifted outlook from the service and noted how serving her was more fulfilling than anything they had previously planned for the day. The children even helped too with what they could help with, mostly dustpan duty and keeping Sister Bosie entertained while we were hard at work. It must have been overwhelming for her to see her home that is so beloved be torn apart and changed, but it honestly needed to happen, for her safety and the home's livability.

We met with James again, and he told us of how his foster parents would ban him from meeting with the missionaries, so he would sneak out and take lessons and go to church until they died recently. He had such a happy look in his eye and felt the spirit so strongly when he had the restoration lesson, he even proudly showed his new Book of Mormon that other elders gave him since his other copy was completely worn out from use. I wonder if he was already baptized or not. Either way he definitely has a testimony of Christ, Joseph smith, and of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints for sure.

Amelia went through the baptism questions with us so she wouldn't be surprised about anything when she does get her interview. She is truly ready to be baptized and is excited for the 20th. She gets her citizenship interview on the 16th, so that is exciting too!

Luis sadly hasn't been keeping appointments, so our next visit may be our last, but I won't give up on him until then.

Dp moved, so we wish the best of luck with him.

The Castro family went to the family History center with us for the first time. They were overwhelmed a bit by the resident family historian GURU, but he did teach them ALL they needed to know about family search and how to do everything there was. next time we will try and go over things again much slower and practice with Sister Castro when she gets more names, dates, and possibly pictures/stories to post on there too! Sister Castro was so excited to possibly do work for some relatives that she has had on her mind for a while, so she definitely loved the experience, overwhelming, but spiritual. I hope to do much more with her soon and Sister Paw as well. Its been hard for her since there isn't much she can do weather she likes it or not, but she can always learn so she can help others when we get more people in.

We visited with many less actives this week, read scriptures with them and got to know them. This week we got loads of less active referrals so this week we have lots of work to do, possibly a part member family to teach the gospel to their husband who previously was overwhelmed by the visits by missionaries in the past who we hope will be willing to give it another go with more space to grow and learn, but still help him stay on course and in communication with him during the week.

Sister Paw is doing better after seeing more of how this ward are done by the times she asked about what we can do and talking with our ward mission leader. It has been so hard and discouraging for her coming from a thriving, flourishing, bible bashing area, to a desert of a teaching pool, half white washing in for the both of us, areas we have teaching restrictions on, and many more frustrating circumstances beyond our control. I like to think of it as how the pioneers first felt after going across the plains and their first impressions when they arrived in the valley in Utah, WHY here, its barren and dead. Thankfully now we see their efforts in the barren wilderness as a thriving, beautiful valley, with more protection and resources than they ever imagined.


The field is white, already to harvest here. It truly is white, we just have to think outside the box here to be able to harvest it, that will take time for us to get used to, but it is doable, and the potential of this area is nothing short of a miracle! Sister George and I saw it, and so can Sister Paw, she is just a bit slow to see that right now. I just have to be patient in the mean time and continue with faith.

14 - No man caves, please

Email address (preferred):
rachael.clark@myldsmail.net

 Mission address:
 Sister Rachael Geniel Clark
 California Long Beach Mission
 6500 E Atherton St.
 Long Beach, CA 90815

I moved, I was told after sports last P-Day that Sister paw and I had to move into the elders apartment since they were being pulled from the area due to new zone leaders being trained. I wasn't the most happy at first because it was last minute and just dealt with it, THEN they told us at 10 pm that we not only had to move, but to be gone the next morning (and get up at 4:30 in the morning to take Sister George to the airport and help other sisters move until Sister Paw comes) Needless to say I had to pack up everything I set up that day earlier for Sister paw and I and stayed up till 1 in the morning. It was a long day! The elders apartment was a wrek sadly and was left with things strung around everywhere, dirty dishes in the sink, who knows how old food in the fridge and cuppboards, musty bathroom, and 100 degree F apartment WITH fans running and AC on. After much help the Lakewood sisters came for an hour the next day to help clean and straighten up the apartment. I tore down the man cave they set up because it too dark and even if it did bring the temperature down 1 to 2 degree's it still was HOT AS AN OVEN! I would rather like light and fresh air in the apartment than a dark walled up man cave! We are getting by, the mornings are real nice and cool which is nice during personal study, but nights are too hot, its cooler outside than in due to poor construction. Little India is right next door which is cool if it weren't for the insane amount of construction going on all around us, it takes forever to get out and preach the gospel! Oh well, it could be worse, so that I am thankful for, that and the cheapest laundry services around downstairs! The one and only perk of the place! Other than that, half white washing into an area especially with nothing about the area is no fun!

We organized the area book for a short while to get the two on the same page, having four area books for 1 MASSIVE area is confusing! I imagine we will be getting other missionaries within the next two transfers ( I hope!) so it would be better to keep them separate, just need to make copies for people who both area's visit because of gender related issues and so we don't have the problem of last time with half our area misplaced in the others book. The elders never left their teaching scheduled or anything behind so I had to play hide and go seek around the apartment for their progress records (which some are still missing)and rely on memory from the past week's ward correlations meeting. We visited Dp (teepee we found out latter it is just spelled Dp) and Santa his wife. They are going through job troubles and trying to get social security so they can get a green card, and their kids are in Nepal still which helps. Santa has been working two weeks without pay, good grief! I hope that they get a job soon or they will be forced to move elsewhere. Dp in Nepal had a thriving business in accounting, but his building was destroyed by the earthquake which forced them to come to the US for better prospects.

We also visited the Schaffers, a partially blind couple who are principles for a school for the blind in LA, they drive and everything and even the husband mark has a guide dog who is so sweet! Sister Schaffer is the daughter of a church priest (i think that is what he was called) that latter became a mega church (stadium row seated, mega screen filled church that the speakers and musicians get payed to do things there and costs to come into). She was dissolutioned from the bigger buildings, and she refused to get paid to play at church the piano and left that church completely. Her belief is that no one should get paid to teach about Christ and his doctrine and share their musical talents for church. She even went to a high up bible school and is well educated with the scriptures. Somehow she heard about the Mormons and decided to take lessons. It took a while, but she got baptized and her husband also did! They are currently inactive. Sister Schaffer is on and off coming and looks forward to taking the temple class finally after a long while. They were offended due to someone telling Mark he couldn't bring his guide dog into church (which by the book is allowed), and by them being invited to the temple and marriage classes, but when they overlapped by 1 week were told they couldn't come to the temple class. They also were treated poorly by the members who would give them something to read, then would take it back or skip them when it came time to read and made rude comments about them not being able to see (which they can!) All they wanted was to be treated like everyone else and go to the temple. Hopefully with my efforts to the ward council they can get the temple class going on (because they NOW have enough reason to open the class with four people... In my opinion  1 person is enough to do the class, a person shouldn't have to wait till they have enough people to want to receive the blessing of the temple. This ward has lost many people to in activeness due to this reason!) Anyways, off my soap box, they are such wonderful people and I know that despite the difficulty of working the whole ward we were to meet them, hopefully many others too!

We saw Sister Boise, an elderly woman home bound due to severe arthritis. We visited with her and sang songs to uplift her. Next week we will help with deconstructing her kitchen with elders of the ward and help put in a new cabinet and sink so she can use it. Right now she has no water, way of even getting it, and if an earthquake happened, I bet the while sink and cabinets would come crashing down. It is just hanging on who knows what. Her house is also in great need of bug spraying and cleaning. Oh and tile on the floors for her too! The ward council wasn't the most willing to help her out other than food since she is almost starving, but some people paid out of their own pockets since they were so upset from the lack of care for her to have cabinets and a proper home that is clean, safe, and accessible! It is really sad, but hopefully this will help her. She has been in and out of the hospital the last 5 years and is partially blind, but EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL. Even with the passing of her husband years ago, she still greatly desires to go to church! Sadly she is "too far away to receive the sacrament from hom." Not by my book, just because she is in Hawaiian gardens doesn't men she is excluded from the rights of the sacrament, and I hope to make a stink about it next week in ward council. If us sisters can go in, so can anyone else in the ward! They just need to go in more than pairs if need be!

We also saw Amelia. She had miscommunications and thought we would never see eachother again, so she was in tear of joy to see me, and Sister Paw too. We taught the Word of Wisdom, and we found out she drinks coffee in the morning and 20% alcohol wine on the rare occasion. 20% is still alcohol so she was bummed about it, but she said she would follow The Word of Wisdom! She also went to one of Sister Paw's investigators, a little girl named Bella's baptism on Sunday. She was saying she kept seeing herself in that girl's place and was crying by the end. I hope that that was the spirit touching her and bringing her closer to baptism.

Other than that, its been a long, tiring, HOT week. So many disappointments too, and blessings to see those we did see without appointments, but we are managing. Next week should be much better, we just need to find where to park on Thursdays to avoid getting ticketed again for street sweeping (we found out that unlike everywhere else, ALL the streets in this block are no parking Thursday, including Little India. I for one will not walk for a mile to park before and after personal studies, too much of a waste of our day). Hopefully we got a spot at the complex in back. The elders never told us, so I have to track elder T. down and ask somehow.