ENORMOUS EXPERIENCES

Querido Familia y Amigos, 

TRAILER PARK SERVICE:  Table Rebuild and Pipe Repair

A coupe of weeks ago, Gui, the manager of the Estrella de Oro Trailer Park, whom we have been working with for some time, asked if I could possibly help her rebuild her dining room table.  She was planning to host her family for Thanksgiving but her table was too small. She asked that I expand it by a couple of feet.  After a trip to Home Depot to buy some maple plywood, having had it cut at the store we proceeded to put it together in her garage.  Such a simple build but to her is seemed monumental! We took a couple of hours to trim the edges, sand and stain to create a beautiful table. We love Gui and have truly developed a kind working relationship with her. It is one element of our mission that we are very proud of...the ability to push into the community to give service. 

Table rebuild for our friend Gui

Finished Product

Clarke's Journal Nov. 13: This morning we took Elder Prater, who is an expert plumber, with us to Tanya’s trailer  #36 in Estrella de Oro. We had been asked by the park manager to help her fix the water problem in this old trailer or the county health department would condemn it and she would be homeless.  Tanya is a beautiful older lady from Thailand who speaks little English.  To get water, she goes outside, turns on the main water valve, then fills buckets and tubs with water in her bathtub.  She then returns to shut the water valve off. There is a major water leak somewhere and Elder Prater finally discovered it under the water heater.  So we hammered out several cinder blocks in the foundation to obtain access. We cleared away the broken cement pieces making a hole big enough for me to crawl through.  The only problem was the main gas pipe.  I laid on my back crawling head first, squeezing under the gas pipe, on the wet cement pad with cobwebs brushing my face. About three feet underneath the trailer I cut a hole in the ancient insulation and found the broken “T” water line...  

Luci's Journal, Nov. 14: Today we witnessed a bit of a miracle.  After 7 years of having no running water in her home, Tanya now has running water! Elder Prater and Elder Fowers put their heads together and discovered a major leak.  With a $15 part and a muddy, dirty effort of climbing under the trailer, they fixed the leak.  I was standing next to Tanya in the kitchen when we heard the water turn on.   I reached out and turn on the faucet and she welled up with tears in her eyes.  It truly was a sacred moment.  An evident of truly religion-caring for the widows and fatherless.  

Going in...

A very tight fit!

JULIO  BACK to WORK:  Elder Spencer had asked Julio if he felt good enough to change out the rear brakes on his Ford SUV.  He agreed and I volunteered to be his helper.  Julio still uses a walker but is getting more flexibility in his bad leg.  We loaded up his tools and met Elder Spence and his vehicle in front of his apartment. I unloaded the jack and tools while Julio positioned himself on the asphalt near the rear wheel.   Julio pushed around with great agility as we extracted the wheels, disks, and pads. Within one hour we had both wheels off and headed to NAPA for the parts. In another hour we completed the job and I told Julio that we should go into the mechanic business together.  Elder Spencer gave him $100, which he reluctantly accepted wanting to give me half.  I told him it was his to help his family.  Julio is always so appreciative and willing to do anything even with his temporary disability. He is an inspiration.

Changing Elder Spencer's Brakes

DINNER WITH PRESIDENT/SISTER PRATER'S BIRTHDAY: President and Sister Carter come to Vista once a transfer to interview the missionaries so I invited them to join us for dinner.  It is such a delight to spend a bit of time with them.  I also invited the Praters and the Spencers to join us.  The last minute Sister Carter bowed out due to a nasty cold she had been fighting, but President joined us.  We also had the blessing of helping Sister Prater celebrate her Birthday.  Lots of laughter and lively conversation circled the table.  We are so very blessed to be here at this time, with these good people.

Blessed to know these folks.

Happy Birthday to Sister Prater

JOY'S DANCE CONCERT: We were able to take a few hours to attend Joy's Dance Concert at Helix High School.  Joy is on the competitive Jazz troop.  She danced a bit in middle school but she joined the danced team as a freshman.  She has developed as a dancer in so many ways and it was fun to watch her.  We had a crazy, busy missionary day so we barely made it on time.

Joy in Motion...beautiful.

Joy with team...(difficult to take photos while on stage.)

DONATIONS TO "SOLUTIONS FOR CHANGE": We recently had the opportunity to tour a local, non-profit facility operated by Solutions for Change. Their primary purpose is to lift families out of homelessness. We were beyond impressed by its mission and vision.  It is based on principles of self-reliance and servant leadership.  We invited the Newport Beach Senior Missionaries and our family to join in a little service project by donating unwrapped toys to the center.  Here is a photo of their very generous response.  Thanks to everyone who donated.  You will make a child who has struggled with homelessness very happy.

Donated Gifts for the Homeless

FIDELA'S BAPTISM: Luci's Journal , Nov. 17:  The day had finally arrived, after 8 months of teaching and nurturing, back and forth between Vista and Ensenada.  We had planned out every detail. When Fidela arrived I led her into the restroom to get changed.   Peeked into help her get changed and I found her praying.  So tender.  I will keep that image in my mind forever!  The service we beautiful and I even gave a talk on the Holy Ghost in Spanish. I was literally buzzing with joy.  As Elder Fowers baptized her, I could feel his his emotion...the spirit was so powerful. She courageously bore a sweet testimony, expressing her love for the Savior.  This is a sacred day that I will ponder in my heart forever.

Elder Fowers Journal, Nov. 17:  Yes, today is the day for Fidela to be baptized. I instructed the missionaries to fill the font 6 inches lower than normal because Fidela is very short.  People arrived bringing  treats for the after celebration. Fidela came with her son and cousin’s wife.  I gave them a short tour around the building and chapel.  They were very attentive . Brother Mariano conducted and his wife gave the first talk on baptism.  Then I entered the font and led Fidela down the stairs.  I briefly instructed her and then performed the baptism.  I felt the authority of the priesthood fill me as I spoke the words of the prayer in Spanish.  She was easily baptized and I remember the look on her face as she came out of the water.  It was as if she were surprised and happy.  Joy filled us both.   As requested by her, I confirmed her and pronounced the Holy Ghost upon her.  The bishop and Relief Society leaders welcomed her to the ward and then Fidela stood and bore a sweet and soft testimony thanking all who helped her come unto Christ. Luci and I were filled with quiet and peaceful joy to have been in the path to help this choice sister step onto the covenant path.

Baptism Check List

Rejoicing with Fidela and her family.

Anabel and Cesar Mariano, long time friends of Fidela

SENIOR OUTING TO VISIT TROLLS: What a wonderful day!  We joined the other seniors missionaries for an outing to see Thomas Dambo Troll sculptures at a local botanical garden.  They were really quite amazing!  Fun was had by all.

JEFFREY'S ORDINATION: We continue to work with the young men in the Vista Spanish Ward.  Today I was able to stand in the circle as Jeffrey Sanchez was conferred the Melchizedek by his father.  Jeffrey is the first to prepare for a mission and we hope our other young men will follow his example. 

Jeffrey Sanchez Ordained an Elder Fowers

Con Mucho Amor,

Los Fowers

THE RICHNESS OF OUR BLESSINGS

 Querido Familia and Amigos,

YOUNG MEN ACTIVITIES: Here are a few Young Men Activities during the past two weeks.

    

CHALK ART:  Positive graffiti!  We held a YM and YW combined activity with chalk art.  We secured permission from the stake to draw on the church sidewalk. The youth divided into teams and each team had to portray  their favorite scripture in chalk art.  We got a rendition of the tree of life, the three degrees of glory and shinning your light and many more. 

RECITING YM THEME:  It is quite impossible to express how this photo makes us feel.  It is the evidence of much of our work while serving here in Vista Spanish Ward.  Eleven young priesthood holders stood in the opening exercises of Mutual, to recite the Young Men Theme.  The Young Men's program did not exist when we arrived, but little by little, one activity, one invitation at a time it has built up to a thriving group Young Men.  We have transitioned the leadership of these boys to a great Young Men advisor, Bro. LaBarge and we trust that it will continue when we leave.

    

KICKBALL:  The YM always like a little competition so tonight we had a game of kickball. We have four autistic boys and one with palsy which limits their ability.  However the boys are very kind to them  and allow all to participate.  This tolerance learned here will serve them well throughout their lives.  

ALEX'S BAPTISM:  We rejoiced with these young missionaries, Elders Gargano, Anderson and Gough, this week when Alejandro Antonio Juan Miguel was baptized and confirmed the newest member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a cherished member our Spanish Ward.  Our ward turned out in force to support his choice to follow Jesus Christ and be baptized.  (See our friend Julio in the foreground.)

SENIOR MISSIONARY FRIENDS.  We are enjoying our new couple, Elder and Sister Spencer from Chicago.  They are working with the YSA wards and help with institute at a couple of the local colleges. They come with great experience having worked YSA in the Chicago area. Here we are sharing a Sunday meal with then and the Praters (on the left). We also found time for an hour of Pickleball this week with four senior missionary companionships in a mini tournament.

 

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS:  In our neck of the woods, we don't really celebrate Halloween, rather there is much energy surrounding the Hispanic holiday... Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).  In nearly every home we entered they take time to make a little memorial of their deceased family members.  They put of pictures of their loved ones and focus their thought and memories on those they love that have past.  Below is a photo of Hna. Elena Mendoza with photos of her family adorned on the kitchen wall.

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ELDER'S QUORUM COOKOUT:  The Elders quorum gathered for a cookout last week.  This is the first time Julio (on the left) was able to come to church since the car accident two months ago.  As he came hobbling into the back patio of the church with his walker, everyone arose and gave him a standing ovation.  It is nothing short of a miracle how he has healed from five broken and shattered bones in his legs.  He brought his two brother in laws, Cirilo and Roseno, to the activity who are not members.  Afterwards I gave them a tour of the church and talked about the Book of Mormon. I explained that Christ visited the Americas after his resurrection.  That caught Cirilo's attention and he wants to learn more.  We will follow up.

BARBER/SHOESHINE SHOP OPEN:  Preparation Day was changed to Halloween this week so the missionaries had a fun, easy day, so they hung out at the church when we opened our Barbershop/Shoeshine Station.  All together I cut hair for 11 Elders, including trying to repair a couple of haircuts they gave themselves.  Elder Fowers polished about a dozen pair of shoes! We want our missionaries looking their best from head to toe. The very best part of the service is the opportunity to get to know individual missionaries.  While I am cutting their hair, we have a very captive audience, so we take the time love and encourage each one.

ESTRELLA DE ORO SERVICE:  Today was perhaps our last day of service for the mobile home parks.  We look 16 missionaries and served different tennents throughout the park. We trimmed, pulled weeds, pruned and cleaned up tons of trash and yard waste.  We spent the morning service much like Christ would have done, in total donating more that 50 hours.  Over the past 10 months we have served in these two trailer parks many times totaling hundreds of hours.  We have developed a sweet relationship with Mary and Gui, the managers of Vista Manor and Estrella de Oro, respectively.  They have come to depend on us and absolutely love our missionaries.  Our time in the parks has been a blessing to both our missionaries and the park residents.  We have left a positive impression of the church through this Christ-like service. 

MISSION-WIDE ZOOM:  

Every Sunday evening at 9:00 President Carter gathers his missionaries via a Zoom Conference call.  Every missionary and Senior missionary joins the conversation.  There are more than four screens full smiling missionary faces as they gather to be instructed and inspired.  All the individuals who were baptized in the previous are announced and a testimony is given by the missionaries who brought them to the waters edge.  Even though it is virtual, it is a very unifying experience as President and Sister Carter lead the charge and energize the missionaries for the coming week.

JOY'S RACE:  Joy, our granddaughter, is running cross-country as a freshmen at Helix High School.  During her last race of the regular season, she qualified to run on the Varsity team at the District finals.  Sarah invited us to come and watch her run.  I love this picture of the start, just as the gun went off.  Joy is lost in that group of green Helix uniforms!  She hung in there and finished strong, but it was tough to run varsity for sure.  Way to go Joy. What a blessing to sneak away for a couple of hours to watch her run.

SOCIEDAD DE SOCORRO (Relief Society) ACTIVITY :  We are so proud of the ever increasing strength of the leadership of our ward.  Every organization, is gaining traction and organizational prowess as the ward matures.  When we first arrived, the ward had an average attendance of 60 but recently we see attendance as high as 90.  This week the Hermanas in the Relief Society had a Super Saturday activity with fun crafts and lots of food.  More than 25 sisters attended and oh my goodness, they had so much fun together! They have taught me a lot about what sisterhood looks like...💗💗.

My sweet friend Maria, returning 
to church after many years away.

OLIVA'S TEMPLE EXPERIENCE:  This morning we met Oliva Zavale at the NewPort Beach Temple.  She was accompanied by the sister missionaries who taught her and she came to perform  baptisms for her deceased parents and her brother.  We previously helped her prepare those names through Family Search.  The baptistry was reserved for her alone so we took time to explain a little about the temple and the symbolism therein. After changing into the white clothes, we placed Oliva as a witness and I entered the water and was baptized for her father and brother.  Then Oliva entered and I baptized her for her mother. After changing, we met in the confirmation room where confirmation was done. Afterwards, I commented to her that now she was not the only member in her family now and that these ordinances were recorded in heaven because we have the authority to perform them here on the earth.  We took pictures at the temple entrance and she gave me a big hug and I know she felt the spirit. It was a special day for all of us.

Hnas. Simmons, Beam, Oliva, Hna. Palmer, the Fowers

Con Mucho Amor,

Los Fowers