Elder and Sister Prater in Newport Beach, California Mission

  Getting ready for our nacho bar  We attended our last district/zone meeting this week and announced our winners for the shiniest apartment.  Amazing enough we had four companionships that tied for the cleanest apartment so we gave all of them a certificate and drew a name for which companionship took the trophy home.  Afterwards we served the missionaries a nacho bar and said our good byes.  Elder Ady, Stevens, Nelson, Yardley, Livingston, Madsen, Jackson, Willingham, Madsen, Sisters Watson, Wright, Elder Jean, Lowe, Ellis, Maxfield, Sister Dahl, Greenhalgh, Evans, Allen  The trophy winners -Sisters Watson and Wright  Elders Jean and Lowe Elders Jackson and Willingham  Elders Ellis and Maxfield  At our last day serving in the Family Search Center, the director had a good bye pizza party for us and gave us a copy of Pres. Nelson's book- Heart of the Matter.  It was hard to say good bye to all our friends that we have worked with in the past year.  We loved our time in the Family S

 Another week of lasts.  We did our last Newport Beach, California mission apartment inspections.  Elder Call is giving up the trophy from last transfer Elder Duren and Stevens Elder Maxfield and Ellis Elder Prater, Lowe and Jean  We also visited the temple with Rod and Karl for the last time.  We had spent so many happy hours in the service of our ancestors with these two brothers.   We also attended the Adult Family Home evening for the last time but I forgot to get pictures.   For the lesson, Elder Prater and I shared some of our mission experiences. It was a good review for us to see how much the Lord has blessed us as we have strived to serve him.  Another last was spending our last day with the Natellas visiting us.  We had a great time going to Seaworld in San Diego.  We also ran into another missionary couple, The Snyders at Sea World.  We had our last visit in our mission from our daughter and her family on the weekend.  And we attended the Double Peak Ward for the very last t

  This man can clean a bathroom! We spent some time this week getting an apartment cleaned up and ready for missionaries to move in next transfer.  Afterwards we tried a Korean BBQ spot which was yummy.  It is definitely feeling like our mission is coming to a close as we are saying our good byes during our visits now.  So many wonderful people that we have met and come to love.  Pres. Nelson said "The greatest joy you will ever experience is when you are consumed with love for God and for all his children" I testify that this is true!   We have felt so much joy on this mission! We took the opportunity to check out Palomar Mountain Observatory this week.  The drive up the mountain was very windy but beautiful and the view at the top was so worth it.  We met with our wonderful mission president and his wife this week for an exit interview.  Pres. and Sister Carter has been amazing examples to us of sacrifice, faith in Jesus Christ and loving those whom you serve. We will dearl

 We attended our last Zone Conference in the Newport Beach, California Mission this past week.   San Marcos Zone April 2024 This is just the beginning of us saying, this is the last time we will be doing such and such.   We did several apartment inspections this week and that was the last time we would be inspecting those particular apartments.   Once again we were so happy with how shiny the apartments are.  On Saturday the Spencers organized a Senior Missionary outing at Leo Carillo Ranch as a farewell activity for us.  We enjoyed the company of many of our wonderful friends including Pres. Carter and his wife.  Afterwards some of us met for lunch at Coyote Cafe in Vista for a lovely lunch.  Elder and Sister Cooper, King, Horlachers, Us, Pres and Sister Carter, Spencers and Elder Crawford  Lunch at Coyote Cafe Sunday, Cinco De Mayo, was fast and testimony day.  We loved testimony meeting.  Our Stake President McMasters had invited us during Stake Conference to lead with Christ.  This