DIVERSITY IN THE WORK

Querido Familias and Amigos,

No two days are ever the same.  One day we are teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in words and then next moment we are teaching by deeds.  We can go from a sacred lesson when we feel the spirit profoundly and the next minute we are helping a sister sort through 30 years of "stuff" so that she can sell her house. We love it all.

SPECIAL TRAINING:  Every now and then you listen to a lesson or attend a training that totally changes your perspective--a paradigm shift that changes your lens forever.  We had such an experience last week at the San Marco Stake Missionary Correlation meeting.  A brother Lindsey talked about the idea that each one of us has a passion, hobby or talent that brings us great joy.  We look forward to finding time to engage in it and when we do, we loose all track of time.  He then explained that many of us have a negative, guilt reaction to missionary work, or family history work and even ministering work.  But in reality, it is all "God's work and his glory", so it is just His WORK.  What he suggested we do is that we take the "JOY" thing that we are passionate about the and try to figure out how we can use it to bring others closer to Christ.  

Let me give a simple example.  You all know how much I love woodworking. The other day I noticed that a sister we were visiting needed her butcher block countertop refinished.  I offered to help her.  I was so excited to spend a morning just sanding that beautiful wood and in the meantime I built a relationship as we talked and laughed working side by side.  I loved every minute of it and we were being a good missionaries.  President Nelson said, "anytime we do anything for anyone on either side of the veil..."  I used my passion to do  a simple service and it was joyful for me and a blessing for her.  Her non-member husband was so happy that we would spend time to help his family, that he decided to attend the ward party so he could thank us.

FINDING BENNY and ANNIE: In our ward list was the name of Benny Serrano and his sister Annie.  No address was listed but we found a phone number in the area book.  We called and Benny invited us to visit him.  The address he gave us was in the adjacent stake and another ward boundary.  With that information we called the missionaries in that area and arranged to meet them at Serrano's door.  Upon arrival we met Benny, a 19 year old who had joined the church with his sister Annie just before Covid.  Church was closed and the stake was divided and these two new converts became "lost coins".  Benny greeted the missionaries and committed to go to church next Sunday at his new ward and take his sister.  He wondered what happened to the church who left him behind.  This was truly finding the lost sheep.  We did the hand off.  The next Sunday we learned Benny was sick so priesthood holders from the new ward went over and gave him a blessing.  A sheep had been brought back to the fold. It totally made our day to find them. 

WHITE SHIRTS:  I have been collecting white shirts and ties from the mission office and in missionaries apartments.  These items are left behind as missionaries depart for home.  So I brought several shirts and ties home to clean them up and pass them out to some of our Spanish Young Men who need them.  Tonight we took a size 18 white shirt and a tie to the home of Jason who is 15 and has been less active.  He is really shy but when he put on the shirt he cracked a big smile and I could see he was happy.  We hope this will encourage him to come to church on Sunday.

TEACHING FIDELA: Today we were finally able to give Fidela another lesson.  She has been in Ensenada where she lives and has been recuperating from knee problems.  Today we started out reviewing the Gospel of Jesus Christ which we had taught her on our whiteboard,  she could recite some of the steps.  She has been studying the Joseph Smith story and is slowly gaining and understanding which is leading her toward baptism.  We then taught the commandments, sabbath day observance, and prayer.  When we came to the commandment to follow the prophet, I opened my Ipad to a recording of President Nelson bearing his testimony of Christ in the holy land on the Mount of Olives.  It was powerful.  Fidela listened closely, her eyes welled with tears as she felt the spirit.  It was amazing.  It was why we do what we do.  Both Luci and I could see and feel the Holy Ghost telling her the truth in her heart.  Even though she can not read very well, she is growing as she listens.  She committed to pray, to continue to read, and study the Gospel. She will be gone for about another month in Mexico.  When she returns she will set a date to be baptized.  It will be truly a thrill to see her become a member of the church.

HELPING SARAH WITH MUSEUM DISPLAY:  Last month we planned for a day of service for Brad to help him jackhammer his patio, so this month we offered to help Sarah for a day to install a display at her local historical museum.  She is a member of the Board the the Lemon Grove Historical Society and spent hundreds of hours developing an informational display that filled a whole room, about the local woman's  organization called the "Forward Club" which was started in 1922.  We volunteered to spend a day to bring her vision to reality with the tedious work of placing each graphic on the walls.  What a fun day and the finished product was amazing.  If you are ever in Lemon Grove you will have drop by and see it!

Sarah and Luci, finishing up a service day installing display.

MALLORY'S BIRTHDAY: Last Monday we were able to sneak away for a quiet lunch for Mallory's birthday!  It's hard to believe that she is 15 years old.  It has been a blessing for us to be close enough to see her theatre performances.  Next week we have tickets see "Peter Pan"...Becky, Penny and Mallory are in that show AND Leah and Penny's annual dance recital. They are incredibly talented! It is  certainly the most special part of our mission...taking time to connect as grandchildren.

Brad, Becky and Family

Mallory, Sweet 15!

DIA DE PADRE FIESTA:  Brother and Sister Flor offered to host a party at their home for Father's Day.  Throughout the week the missionaries canvased the ward making certain that all were invited.  We had four non-member friends that joined in the festivities and some members that we had never met before. How our latino friends love to eat and dance! Fun was had by all.

Los Flores dancing with their bird, Lucy

Elder Fowers and Julio (the mechanic), teaching
non-member friends at fiesta.

Vista Ward Misionerios: 
Elders Hales/Call, Hermanas Palmer/Beam

NEW CONVERT NIGHT: We were recently called to serve as New Convert Night Coordinators for the four southern stakes of our mission.  So once a month we promote and organize a time with the San Diego temple where newly baptized members can have their first temple experience by being baptized for the dead.  It is a sweet experience to be with them as they feel the sacred feeling of holiness in the temple for the first time.  

Angel Moroni against the night sky.

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder and Hermana Fowers

INTRUMENTS IN HIS HANDS

 Querido Familia y Amigos,

MISSION MIRACLES:  Everyday we see the hand of God in our work.  He truly is in every detail of our service as missionaries.  Sometimes it comes as a thought to drop by and see someone, other times the clear ideas that are put in our minds as we teach or even a random encounter on the street.  God knows who He is preparing to receive his gospel and He orchestrates every part of our work.  It is such a blessing to be an instrument in His hands.  Here are a couple of examples from my journal (I hope you can read it), along with one of Elder Fowers' daily entries:

Elder Fowers' Journal:  

May 23: Today was one of those days that you know that God has a greater overall plan. What we plan is painfully short sighted.  Such was the case as we entered the Bonilla home today.  We regularly visit this young family of recent converts to help the girls with English.  Luci teaches English while I separately teach the father about the priesthood to which he was recently ordained.  As we entered today we found a young man out front helping fill boxes with family possessions. This did not seem too unusual in that they will soon be moving to a new rental a few miles away.  He introduced himself as René.  We greeted each other and entered the home to begin our lessons. As I was sitting down to teach the Priesthood, Sister Bonilla brought René into the room, introduced him as her nephew who will now be living with them, and told me to teach him the gospel. I was a little taken back by the boldness of the moment. He is 27 years old, no English, working and his parents live in Mexico so he came to live with his aunt and will help pay the bills with his job in a local restaurant.  René was like an open vessel wanting to know more about God. His uncle, Brother Bonilla bore a strong testimony urging René to listen to our message.  I then explained about prayer and gave a prayer as we departed. I thought afterwards that René must be one of those who God was guiding to the truth. 

TEACHING ENGLISH:  The Bonilla family, who were recently baptized, have not been living in the United States very long and their two young girls are struggling in school due to lack of English.  I have been giving them English lessons once a week for several months. They are so sweet! They live in a tiny back house so I teach them in the yard.

English lessons

SERVICE DAY:  Another missionary day of service at the Vista Manor mobile home park.  Also, another visit to the jungle to help an older lady cut down a 20 ft. tall bird-of-paradise plant that was leaning on the neighbors awning.  In the last 3 months, our hard working Elders and Sisters have donated more than 200 hours of service to the residents in this mobile home community...and always with a smile on their faces! 

Vista Zone missionaries chopping through the "jungle."

Enjoying lunch together after the service.

SPANISH ZONE CONFERENCE:  About one third of the missionaries in the Newport Beach Mission are Spanish-speaking, so they have often have special training in Spanish zone conferences.  This last week we had a very interesting conference to talk about the challenges of language and culture that impact teaching the Hispanic people.  Beyond that we talked about the fact that all of these members are immigrants that are living on the very edge of survival to working two jobs to get food on the table, which often trumps listening to the missionaries.  The entire meeting is conducted in Spanish so that is a bit challenging for me (Luci).

Training on "La Restauración"

Hermana Fowers with all of the Spanish-speaking sisters in the mission

YM CAR MAINTENANCE CLASS:  One of our YM activities was to teach the boys basic car maintenance. I took some tools and we set up in the church parking lot.  Julio Lopez our member mechanic came and demonstrated how to change a tire, and check fluid levels.  Julio had a crankshaft in the truck so we explained some basic principles of an engine. We let them experience using the tools and even let them jack up the car.  It was obvious that some had never held a wrench but all of them enjoyed the learning experience.  They are starting to gel together as a group.

Basic mechanics

All in!

SENIOR MISSIONARY FRIENDS:  For those of you who have served senior missions, you will understand the sweet bond that forms between the other senior couples.  About once a month we get together for a potluck (often on the beach) just so we can share their journey and deepen our friendship.  These other missionaries that are serving in the trenches with us become life long friends.  We were sad to see the Elder and Hermana Hanks leave... they will be sorely missed. As the only other Spanish-speaking senior couple in our mission, they will take a big chuck of the support for our Spanish units! 

Newport Beach Senior Couples:  The glue that holds the mission together.

Goodbye to Elder and Hermana Hanks

VISTA WARD BAPTISM:  Sister Nancy was baptized on Saturday.  Our valiant missionaries have been working with her for several months and she made the courageous decision to follow Jesus Christ by being baptized.  She is a young, single mom with two autistic children, but is an amazing example of love and patience.  She was supported by many members of the ward, along with 6 non-members that were in attendance.  I think the momentum in our Vista Ward is beginning to shift!

Hermana Fowers shepherding a new Friend.

Ultimate Joy~Nancy: A Convert Baptism

BRAD'S DEMO SERVICE DAY:  We are so blessed to be close enough to a couple of our kids to spend time with them and their families.  Last Saturday decided to give a service day to Bradley.  They are starting a big remodel project and needed to demo their patio.  The wall went down in about 30 minutes and we were thinking it was easy street until we ran into six inches of concrete under the pavers that needed to be blasted out with a jack-hammer.  I could not move for a couple of days, but it was fun to work with Brad and family to help their project along.

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

We hope that you can feel a small part of the joy of our service.

Con Mucho Amor,

Los Fowers

Entryway of the Newport Beach Temple

Ode to Joy

Querido Familia y Amigos,

There are no pictures of the moments that really count.  When we are sitting in a lesson and the spirit is so profound with feelings of joy and well being, we don't stop everything and ask for a photo.  When you are deeply into a conversation to clarify doctrine or encourage active faith, again, no photos.  The absolute heart of this work is impossible to convey in this blog, but we have felt such joy many times and are deeply grateful that we are but a small part of this great work!

So here is the photos of the other treasured moments that we could document:

BUICK'S NEW HOME: Sarah and Mark decided to donate their unwanted and unneeded 1997 Buick Century to someone in need.  Their mechanic estimated $500 to get the car road worthy again.  Well, our friend and mechanic Julio was just the prefect candidate for the donation.  We mentioned him earlier in our blog.  He is a returned missionary from a very poor part of Mexico.  He is self taught mechanic working in his father's shop in Oaxaca. He was delighted to receive the gift from the Lewis family.  He immediately went to work fixing the windows which had not worked in years (simple wire unhooked).  He purchased a new radiator cap for $4.75 and that was all it needed.  Runs like a new car.  Sarah: get a new mechanic! This donation is taking this humble man to a new level.  He is now busy developing his own auto repair business.

Julio, $4.75 Fix...New Radiator Cap

Julio, Proud New Owner

YOUTH ACTIVITIES: One of our primary focuses of the Vista Spanish ward has been to build the youth programs.  As a result of COVID and a difficult leadership change, there had been no organized Young Mens (Jovenes Varones) for some years.  Our first week in the Vista Ward we were asked to help resurrect the program.  We started with one ordained Aaronic Priesthood holder and three young men with severe autism.  Little by little (poco a poco) we have worked with a newly called YM leader and built up the program.  Last week we had 11 young men attending our activity night.  Following are photos of some of the activities we have helped to organize. "If you build it they will come". 

YW/YM Cook-off Competition

    

The Cook-off Judges...Obispo Cordada and Fowers

YM Making Mother's Day Gifts

Authentico Taco Night, YW's Camp Fundraiser

Chatting with dear friend, Rosio.

TEMPLE TRIP WITH SOCIEDAD de SOCCORO:  Elder Fowers is brave.  He accompanied myself and six other Relief Society Sisters on a temple trip to the San Diego Temple. After the session, there was some head turning when that "Mormon Elder" walked into the restaurant trailed by seven women!  

Beloved Sisters in the Gospel.

CEVICHE: We don't eat at members' homes too often, but Bro. and Sister Gomez invited us to join them for a Sunday afternoon meal.  We didn't quite know what to think when they brought out a huge pot of cold seafood ceviche.  It was swimming with shrimp, squid, crab and octopus, all of which were raw! It was prepared by soaking the seafood in lime juice for hours and then seasoning with raw onions, spices and tomato juice. Hmmm??? It was absolutely delicious!  We gorged ourselves on the delicacy.

Generous Hospitality

Seafood Ceviche

CUTTING THROUGH THE JUNGLE:  One of the elderly residents, who must have been an amazing gardener at one point, hasn't been able to work in her little mobile home yard for several years due to health issues.  We were asked to bring in a team of Elders for a special cleanup project. The yard was so overgrown that we had to hack our way through the jungle to get to the rear of the trailer, where Elder Fowers discovered a major water leak that had been irrigating the jungle with hot water for months.  Six Elders and ourselves worked for 3 hours hauling dozens of dead potted plants, to the dumpster, cutting back foliage and trimming shrubbery and only made a dent in the project!

Helaman's Army

Mountains of overgrown pots.

Hacking our way through the jungle.

BAPTISM:  On February 20, we met the Gonzales family when were asked to teach their daughter Sofia some simple lessons to prepare her for baptism.  Every Monday evening, over a period of about a month, we would drop by and teach Sofia a lesson.  We had an instant bond with the family which has deepen over time as we taught the simple truths of the gospel.  Eventually the sessions turned into missionary lessons for Sofia's dad, who is not a member.  What a remarkable family that has welcomed us with open arms and open hearts to receive our message.  Yesterday Sofia was baptized...oh the JOY.  These simple teachings have affected the whole family.  They have returned to the church after decades of inactivity.  What more need be said?

Extended Gonzales family celebrating Sofia's special day.

One last photo:

Love letters from the Grandkids!  💖

Con Mucho Amor,

Los Fowers