Hello All,
We have been enjoying beautiful, warm sunny days all week. We live inland from the ocean about 10 miles, tucked away in the foothills of Vista, California. We moved into an established apartment that many generations of MLS Couples have lived in. The apartment itself is pretty basic, but the amenities are amazing. I am excited because there is just a pool a few steps from our front door so I can swim laps again. Elder Fowers is excited because there is a full exercise/weight room. If any of you would like to visit, their are lovely gathering rooms and game rooms for the kids and we have an extra bedroom. As lovely as it all is, the best thing is that it is right next door to our meeting house. We can walk to our meetings in about 3 minutes. (I am certain that is why this apartment was selected.)
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| Bobier Building is huge with a double chapel. |
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| Our apartment building next door to Chapel. |
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| View out of our front window. |
We are still kind of spinning as we try to get settled in our new area. We have been assigned to serve in two different Spanish Wards: the Vista 4th Ward in the Vista Zone and Buena Vista in the Carlsbad Zone. We have been trying all week to find out who the key leaders are in each of the Wards so that we can get more complete membership lists and set appointments to meet with them. The couple we are replacing did amazing work and they left us an a detailed record of member situations in both wards. We will get some traction very soon and start our search for the lots sheep.
Wednesday evening we attended a Relief Society activity in the Vista Ward. I was a bit anxious because the entire meeting was conducted in Spanish and I wasn't sure how much I would understand. Amazingly, I held my own and was able to understand a great deal and I even made a comment. I think if I am earnest in my language study, Spanish will finally click in my brain this mission. After our struggle with members in Spain this meeting was a breath of fresh air. There were about 20 sisters there and the entire focus of the activity was to teach the sisters how to minister! I was so impressed and deeply felt their desire to care for each other.
On our third day in our area, we went to the hardware store to get a few things to help us make our apartment more livable. In the process of installing a few items I needed to use some glue. I tried to pull it open with my hand with no luck, so I pulled on it with my teeth. All of a sudden I heard a "Pop" and then I had the horrid realization that I had broken of my front tooth (which was capped years ago.) Once I looked in the mirror, I totally panicked! How was I going to meet people with a missing front tooth? I was nearly in tears. Of course, I called Amy. Our go-to lady for all things dental. She spoke to Rick, who spoke to Chris, his partner in his practice, who spoke to Dr. Garcia, his old college friend who live just 30 minutes from us. He was able to see me the very next morning and glue the section of my cap back into place so at least I could meet people, until he can schedule me in to make a new one. When I asked how much it would cost to have the new tooth crafted, he said, "NO Charge! I'm going to give you the family discount!" I was stunned. I didn't even know this man and I know how expensive cosmetic tooth repair can be. God takes care of his missionaries! I felt so relieved, so humble and so blessed.
Thursday afternoon we went to meet a man to buy a used printer so that we could manage our visit records better. He was a nice, old, Jewish gentlemen. We explained that we were missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He lit right up and said, "I have a question for you." In all seriousness, he said, "I heard that prophet of yours, John Smith, had visits from aliens and they told him to start a church. Is that true?" It was just about all we could do to keep from busting out laughing, but we pulled it together and we had a lovely opportunity to share the real story of Joseph Smith's first vision and help him understand that we are devote followers of Jesus Christ.
Elder Fowers here: One name on our visit list left by the previous couple was Connie De La Sierra. I called this 64 year old sister and found her desperately depressed. Her 50 year old son who lives nearby, suffered a heart attack yesterday and was in the hospital. Connie had no way to visit him because neither of her two cars were running. I told her that maybe we could help repair her cars. I then began to search the internet for my old sweeper truck mechanic Ron Kane. I knew he lived in the Vista area somewhere. I found an address that looked familiar so we went to the address. Ron had just moved from there 6 months ago. However across the street was a halfway house where Ron lived while on probation, after serving 17 years in prison (another story for another time). The director knew Ron well and gave us his number. After almost 10 years Ron and I reconnected. He had remained clean and sober and is doing well. He was born in the church, but alcohol took him on a different path. He does have a testimony of the gospel and the church. We will help him along the path. So next week Ron and I will work together again, as mechanics to repair Connie's car.
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| View across the valley from the far side of our complex. |
The members have been so warm and welcoming. We were invited to join a group of church friends for a potluck dinner tonight. As the Spanish swirls around me, and I was desperately trying to cling to a few words that I can identify, I still feel their love, not just for us as missionaries, but for each other and for their Savior.
Con Mucho Amor,
Los Fowers
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| Day #1! Stopped for a snapshot as we drove the coastline. |
