Elder and Sister Prater in Newport Beach, California Mission

Besides our usual visits this week we enjoyed Thanksgiving with family and a couple of missionaries.   I made some oreo turkeys for the missionaries in our zone this week.  Being in California made it possible for us to spend Thanksgiving with our children and grandchildren. We also had a couple of missionaries from our district join us for dinner.  It was a very pleasant week.  On Sunday we had the opportunity to visit our niece's ward in Irvine and hear her daughter report on her mission in Sweden.  She talked about how she learned as most missionaries do that when she quit relying on herself and turn to her Savior that is when she experienced the most joy despite her circumstances not changing. Her focus changed and that made all the difference.  Like Pres. Nelson taught "The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives".   This is one reason I love serving a mission, our focus is on our Savior as it

 On Tuesday, we had our regular busy schedule for the day but ended the evening with a dinner provided by Sister Fowers.  Pres. Carter was in the area doing interviews so she invited him, us, and the Spencers for dinner.  Little did I know that sweet Sister Spencer made me another birthday cake!  What a surprise, it was delicious!  We started out our week with an Adult Family Home evening. Jay taught the lesson and focused on family history.  He did a great job.   We get many opportunities  to serve right here in our complex. On Wednesday, a Thanksgiving dinner was held for all the residents.  We were able to help and serve the dinner.  We found a new park to walk at, Discovery Lake park, it was very busy and well used.  Thursday was my actual birthday.  We played pickle ball, went swimming, worked in the Family Search Center, had lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory and than drove up to Newport to visit with my brother who was here from Utah.  And that is how you celebrate on a senior m

  What do I always want to remember that I learned this week?  In my scripture study this week I was reading in the Book of Mormon-   Jacob:  71  And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and   a labor   in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the   b last time   that I shall   c nourish   my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come. 72  And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things. I realized that God is talking about my husband and myself.  We are the servants laboring in his vineyard and we are having joy in the fruit.  A couple of Sundays ago, during the sacrament I was praying that we as missionaries could be more diligent in follow

  The Highlight of our week happened on Saturday when Elder Prater was able to baptize the son of a recent convert.  The convert had been baptized last June with her oldest son after which her whole family moved about an hour away.  Last Sunday we received this text from her about her second son- We happily accepted the invitation and spent the day at Ivan's baptism and lunch afterwards.  Because I didn't ask the family if I could include their picture in my blog, I am not posting the picture of the family.  We hope to return one day soon when her husband is ready to be baptized, as he is preparing for it.  Such a blessing to be apart of seeing other begin down the covenant path.  Our district meeting this week fell on Halloween so I made some fun treats to share with the young missionaries.  This was also the week that we awarded the shiniest apartment award which Elder Curzon and Elder Johansson earned. They went the extra mile and scrubbed down all their cabinets! Our fun di