Exit Interview With Mission President Done- 3 Weeks Left

 

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 dearly miss seeing them and learning from them weekly.  

Pres. Carter had us read D&C 126 and insert our own names- 

Dear and well beloved Elder and Sister Prater, verily thus saith the Lord unto you, my servants, Elder and Sister Prater, it is no more requited at your hand to leave your family as in times past for your offering is acceptable to me.  I have seen your labor and toil in journeyings for my name.  I therefore command you to send my word aboard and take especial care of your family from this time henceforth and forever, Amen. 

Our emotions are bittersweet as we wind down this chapter of our lives and think of leaving behind so many beloved friends and yet look forward to being with those we love in South Carolina.  God has richly blessed our lives with friends. 

And talking about friends- the Natellas came to visit with us for a couple of days.  We talked, laughed, ate and best of all attended the Newport Beach, California Temple.  What a great week!

Karyn and Joe Natella, Joe and Alice Prater


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rough Week- My Brother Passed Away Unexpectedly

Image
 What does one write in a blog the week that a loved one passes away?  You testify of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Nephi said as he begin his record in the Book Of Mormon that he has seen many afflictions in the course of his life but nevertheless he was highly favored of the Lord.  That perfectly describes my week.   My brother, who is my husband's age, suffered a massive heart attack on Tuesday and after paramedic's and doctor's attempts to save his life, he passed away on Wednesday morning. That is an affliction in the course of my life.   We got the news that my brother, Glenn was being taken to the hospital and that it sounded serious around 7 p.m. on Tuesday night, August 29.  We then kept receiving update texts til about 10:30 that night as we understood that he was stable and fighting.  Of course I couldn't sleep and about 1 a.m. as I sat on the couch I wondered why I hadn't just gotten into the car as soon as I heard the news and head up to Camarillo whe
Read more

Saying Good Bye For Now To Glenn

Image
 There is a scripture in D&C 89:20 which states- Therefore, in the  ordinances  thereof, the power of  godliness  is manifest. To me this means that when we participate in the ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ and make sacred covenants with our Heavenly Father he will show his power in our lives.  Namely the power of the atonement of his son, Jesus Christ.  As stated in Alma 7:11-12, Christ's atonement covers pains, afflictions, and temptations of every kind and he loosed the bands of death both temporally and spiritually.   Because of the covenants that I have made and kept, I have seen the power of godliness manifested in my life and the lives of my loved ones in the past week as we came together to temporarily say good-bye to my brother, Glenn.  We celebrated Glenn's life in several ways- by getting together as siblings whenever possible during the weekend, with a graveside service with family and friends on Friday and the dedication of his grave with his siblings
Read more

Tranfer Week- We Moved

Image
The highlight of our week was attending the temple with Jay and his mother, Kathy to perform the sealing ordinances for our family members.  This time was extra special because we have attended the temple together several times- first to do the baptisms for Kathy's parents, and brother.  We then proceeded to attend the temple to complete all the ordinances for her parents and brothers ending with the sealings that we did this week.  It was a very special time and we knew that Kathy's mother was smiling!  It was transfer week for the young missionaries and we did move but those two things have nothing to do with each other.  We have been living in Vista which is outside our ward boundaries and 25 minutes away from the church building.  Another senior couple, the Hanks, returned home last month and their apartment is only about 8 minutes from the church building and 5 minutes outside our ward boundaries.  So we moved into their apartment getting us closer to where we serve.  (We
Read more