BACK IN THE SADDLE

Querido Familia y Amigos,

NEWPORT BEACH NEW CONVERT NIGHT:  Oct. 13, Elder Fowers Journal~I drove to the temple with Brother Rosales, Sister Gante and Sister Navarro.  It was our monthly New Convert Night at the Temple.  There were only 6 new converts from the 10 stakes within the mission so we had ample time to instruct and assist.  We had several male family names from Cecilia Navarro so I asked brother Wright if he would like to perform these on her behalf.  Being recently baptized himself, this was his first time inside the Temple and he felt honored to do so.  He is an older guy kind of rough around the edges but I could tell it was a spiritual experience for both he and Cecilia.  Likewise in the confirmation room, we took a moment to understand the impact of what we were doing, that these ancestors now had the opportunity to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ just like themselves had recently done. It was another special night in the temple.

Hno. Rosales, Hnas. Navarro and Gante with Elder Fowers

HOME FOR MEDICAL CARE:  Last blog, we mentioned that we were having difficulties getting adequate medical care to figure out of what was happening to Luci.  After two frustrating weeks, she finally decided to fly home to work with our trusted family doctor and try find some answers to the strange symptoms.  Family and friends were so kind to watch over her while she was home alone.  Luci even got to attend a Cookies and Milk gathering with her siblings which raised her spirits.  All the medical tests took much longer that expected and she was home a full 10 days.  After all that, she returned to the mission without a  positive diagnosis, but with the assurance that the doctors back in Utah they would work with her to manage symptoms from a distance. She is feeling much better...back to work!

Found a fridge full of food from dear neighbor Kilee.

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Big Sister, Terry's tender care after medical procedure.

GRANDKIDS CONNECTION: I was antsy and frustrated to be at home so I decided to focus on spending time with my older, adult grandchildren.  They made it their mission to "take care" of Grandma and keep her company.  Several sweet interactions with my "grands" reminded me what amazing people they are and how much joy and love they bring into my life.  They are such a treasure to me.

John and David Hanging out with Grandma.

Helping Ellie celebrate her birthday.

Dinner with Tim, adult grandkids and friends.

Joy of Family

BEAUTIFUL FALL: One other blessing...I returned home during the peak of the fall colors.  They were so beautiful this year. I immersed myself in the beauty of the season through my daily walks.  I am so grateful for the beauty of this world.

FIRST DAY BACK: Oct. 16, Journal of  Elder Fowers~A busy first day back in the saddle with Luci.  Attended Zone council and district meeting in the morning.  Took Elder Fisher out to lunch for his birthday.  He is 25 and has an interesting story about leaving the church for a time.  His younger brother brought him back into the church via nightly phone calls while he was serving as a full-time missionary in Florida.  The Lord knew Elder Fisher's heart and his potential.  He presently leads the mission with 5 baptisms in the last six weeks.

 We then taught Fidela another lesson, reviewing the apostasy and restoration.  She really got it this time and is positively preparing for baptism on Nov. 11.  Luci did a good job with her improving Spanish and I felt guided in my teaching.  We assured her that she can be a member even though she does not read and that there are many ways she can grow and learn. I believe someone in this last general conference stated:  "It does not matter where you are on the covenant Path, just get on it" 

We then went to the Bonillas and helped their two daughters progress in their elementary education.  Last time we challenged the parents to take an active role in reading and helping them with their homework. Many time our Latino parents wrongly assume that the public school system is responsible for their children's education. In our meeting today we could see they took our words to heart and the girls are completing their homework and reading with their Dad.  They are improving and feeling more self confident.  

Later we greeted the new mission couple the Spencers who will be living in our same complex.  They are our same ages and are called as MLS missionaries to the YSA wards and CES/Institute.  They come from Chicago and have extensive experience with YSA.  We hope to teach them pickleball!

Hosting Elder and Sister Spencer

TIM TEACHING GAMING TO VISTA YM:  We invited our son Tim, via Zoom, to share his journey as a game designer and introduce our Young Men to some fun on line games.  They played an interactive game with him on their phones and had a good time.   He gave them some great advise during the question and answer period.  He taught them how important it was to accept feedback during the creative process and make adjustments along the way.  When we open ourselves to input of others we can adapt and accomplish our goals. Thanks Tim for taking time to interact with our Young Men!

Tim's virtual class via Zoom to teach YM about gaming.

 Con Much Amor,

Los Fowers

Never a Dull Moment!

HECTOR'S LESSON:  We have been teaching the Gonzales family for more than 6 months, with our focus on the dad, Hector, who has not yet been baptized.  We taught them for the first time in about six weeks, as they postpone lesson after lesson.  We knew he needed to hear and feel the Spirit powerfully in order to move him more seriously toward baptism.  We prepared and prayed for inspiration on what to teach. Among other doctrines we decided to show him a short segment from “The Chosen” series where Christ meets Nicodemus at night and asks him to follow him. It is one of the most powerful portrayals in the series. After reading the scripture in John and the showing the segment, we asked each one present what they felt.  Luci followed up with some inspired questions which brought a strong spirit into the discussion.  Before we left, he committed to find out for himself the truth of our message.

"Chosen", Jesus Christ and Nicodemus 

 SANTA MARGARITA RANCH HOUSE: We spent a beautiful morning with the other senior couples touring the Santa Margarita Ranch House which is situated in the center of the Pendleton Marine Corp base in Northern San Diego County. It was part of an old Ranchero that was established in the 1790, and it has been maintained by the Military since its purchase in 1942. We spent a couple of hours walking through the history of it with some well informed docents, but really it was just another excuse to get together with the other seniors friends.

Newport Beach Mission Seniors

Santa Margarita Ranch House Courtyard, 1864

SCHOOL ADVOCATE:  We have been meeting with the Bonilla family since we arrived.  Typically Elder Fowers teaching Bro. Bonilla Sanchez while I spend time tutoring Chelsea (10 ) and Issabella (9).  Their struggle in school is intensified by the fact that they have minimal English, but as 4th and 5th graders they are expected to understand content in a language they don't understand.  This past week, we attended a conference with the school principal, acting as translators and advocates.  It is so interesting so see how as senior missionaries we use experience and talents to serve wherever we can.

 Tutoring project with these sweet girls!  Chelsea

Issabella

JULIO COMES HOME:  Julio called saying that he would be released from the hospital at 5:00 today.  We volunteered to get him because his brother-in-law, Cirilo, was still at work. At the hospital we were given discharge instructions, pain prescriptions to fill, then we carefully loaded Julio into a wheelchair departing what had been his home for the last 32 days.  It was emotional for him. He never imagined such an accident would happen to him.  He had to slide down 10 stairs like a baby toddler while I held his legs to get to his downstairs apartment. Once down the stairs, he can manage a walker fairly well.

The next day we stopped by his apartment and found him in great pain and unable to get comfortable on the couch.   Luci pulled out her phone and found a medical supply company in Vista with a extending, lift recliner available for monthly rental.  So off we went in Cirilo’s pickup which was full of greasy old car parts.  I took off my tie and made room for the chair, while Luci negotiated the chair rental.  Soon we were back soliciting the neighbors to help us get the chair down the stairs and into the apartment.  It was a tight fit, but thanks to someone thinking outside the box we got it inside. Julio immediately felt relief.  It will be several more months before he will be able to work. In the meantime he will have regular physical therapy. 

Going Home after 32 days!

FEIDLA TO MEXICO: Sometimes as senior missionaries you have to think outside the box to make things happen.  This was the case with Fidela.  We have been teaching her for some time and she is preparing for baptism. However, every other week she returns to Ensenada, Mexico to tend her grandchildren. She needs to be fellowshipped by her home ward so we offered to take her home to Ensenada and attend church with her.  She was thrilled that we would offer to take her.  We got approval from the mission president to leave the mission and the country. On Saturday afternoon we set out on the two and a half hour journey.  I drove while Luci sat in the back seat showing Fidela some Book of Mormon videos. 

Once we arrived in Ensenada, Fidela began to give me specific instructions to her home. I turned left at an intersection, thinking she wanted me to do a U turn.  She then said no, turn left, so I proceeded to make the correction in the middle of the busy intersection.  Well, a cop came out of nowhere and put the lights on me immediately. I began sweating bullets as he pulled me over. I did not need another Tijuana jail story. The policeman approached the window and asked what I was trying to do in the intersection.  I explained  we were from the US and a little confused. He was not convinced. He then asked for my drivers license and why I was in Mexico.  I explained that we were missionaries and showed him my missionary badge.  He then said ok, be careful and don’t do that again and returned to his patrol car.  Needless to say, I was greatly relieved for that tender mercy.   We arrived at Fidela’s home and met her daughter’s family.    We enjoyed a meal of Kentucky Fried Chicken with her family (she thought that as Americans that would be the perfect meal.  Little did she know that some local street tacos would have been our preference). We then dismissed ourselves to a nearby Airbnb for the night. 

The next morning we attended the Ensenada Hidalgo Ward. The members there were so open and friendly.  They wrapped their arms around her in the first few minutes, and we just stepped back and watched the magic happen.  It was such a powerful example of Christlike inclusion.  They will need to play a vital role in her development and retention. 

It was even worth the 3.5 hour border wait to get back into the USA. 

 

Warm welcome to Hidalgo Ward.

WEIRD SYMPTOMS: About 10 days ago I woke up with a swollen eye and cheek which was rather random.  The symptoms of this strange malady progressed to include pain around my eye and at my temple, jaw pain and debilitating headache.  The mission doctor thought it might me something serious so he suggested we go to the ER to get checked out.  In SoCal everyone goes to the ER for the slightest illness because they can get free care.  They are so overloaded with patients that I am certain the seriously ill patients could die while waiting!  We ended up in a MASH tent in the parking lot. Eight endless hours later, we left the hospital with no diagnosis and no medicine, but still had all the weird symptoms. Doing much better now with a short course of steroids.

Droopy Eye!

Endless Wait in ER.

FAMILY HISTORY:  The Elder’s Quorum sponsored an evening at the family history library located in the Foothill building.  We had about 12 people attend which put every computer on duty.  The Elders quorum president brought a non-member couple for the first time so I volunteered to help them open a free Family Search account.  In a short time, we had three generations of her family posted on her tree.  You could see their interest in their ancestry come alive as we discovered nuggets of information in the Mexican census records.  It was a successful night by all who attended. Through out this mission, we have been helping more than 20 different individuals with Family Search.

Spanish Ward Family Search Activity

GENERAL CONFERENCE: There is something very special about listening to conference as a missionary.  The "spiritual bubble" of missionary service prepared us to hear more clearly and feel more deeply.  So many messages were tailor-made to guide us in our current challenges.  We loved our time with members as we share food and fellowship together between sessions. Julio was able to join us in our apartment for lunch and the Saturday afternoon session of conference.

Sharing fellowship between sessions.

Conference at the Fowers Apartment