Elder and Sister Prater in Newport Beach, California Mission

We were able to end our week attending a performance at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido with a couple of friends.  What a wonderful evening of worshipping our Savior through uplifting music.  This really helped us prepare for Easter and think more about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.    In April General Conference of 2023  Elder Gary E. Stevenson said  Dear brothers and sisters, the time has come, foretold by prophets of old, “when the knowledge of a Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.” 8   We are seeing the fulfillment of this prophecy before our very eyes, through the witness of Jesus Christ found in the Book of Mormon. No book does more to show that: Because of Jesus Christ, everything changed. Because of Him, everything is better. Because of Him, life is manageable—especially the painful moments. Because of Him, everything is possible. His visit as a resurrected Savior, introduced by God th...

  Elder Ady and Elder Jessop  This transfer we had a very close competition with three companionships tying for second place for the shiniest apartment award but Elder Ady and Elder Jessop went above and beyond not only polishing the door of their fridge but decluttering and organizing every single closet in their apartment.  They definitely went above and beyond to have the shiniest apartment.   Because every single companionship had a very clean apartment we decided to reward everyone with a lunch of nachos after district meeting. We have loved every missionary in our zone this transfer and will miss those who were transferred some where else on Friday.   Front row- Elders Watts, Stevens, Sister Thomas and Burggraff  Second row- Elder Jessop, Thornton,  , Senoir, Shepard, Sister Perez, Bryant, Priestley, Dahl, Simmons, Third row- Elder Fisher,  Wilingham,  Livingston, Carlson, Ady, McKane, Nelson  We had our monthly Adult Fam...

We spent the last two weeks getting our apartment inspections done for the transfer.  The competition is fierce again.  Next week at district meeting we will be announcing the winner of the shiniest apartment award.    Elder Prater, Elder Ellis, and Elder Shepherd during inspections I sneaked a couple of pictures of Elder Prater in action during a lesson and at the Family Search Center.  We enjoy seeing the younger missionaries practise teaching the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ at district meeting.  We love and respect these missionaries.   Even though our days are filled with service, housing and apartment needs, temple visits, family history work and missionary meetings- we still are able to make time for visits from family and friends.  I suspect the last three months of our mission will fly by as each day seemed to fill up fast with commitments.  Elder Prater and my brother, Dard Nancy and Dave Sanchez  Us  Our son,...

A highlight of our week was to go whale watching with my brother, Dard, who is visiting Newport Beach for the week.  As I was thinking about how wonderful it was to be back in the Newport Harbor where I spent endless hours of my childhood, I mentioned to my brother how I never imagined that this would be where I would serve a mission.  His reply was that he was glad because other wise we would never see each other.  He lives in Utah and can't really travel to South Carolina.  Over and over again I am reminded of just how much Heavenly Father loves us and wants to bless us.   As we were watching dolphins, pelicans, seagulls and seals feeding on small fish, our boat nature guide explained how seagulls can not plunge dive into the water to catch fish.  They can only grab fish that are on the surface of the water.  If you are like me, many times have I been on the beach and watched seagulls steal food from beach bags.  I have had a prejudice agai...

  On Valentine's night we attended the   Journey: Reflection  performance of the BYU I nternational Folk Dance Ensemble at the Center for the Arts in Escondido.  A member of the ward invited us to join him and his twin brother.  It was an amazing evening with so many talented performers.  We spent that morning visiting the Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center which is near by.  They had a great variety of nuts, candy and preserves.  The farm also had some caged animals you could feed.   We have a routine of traveling to a couple of stores about every other week to buy our favorite California foods.  We start by going to Mrs. Taco in Vista, driving up the street to the strawberry stand, stopping at Northgate Market for tamales and chile rellenos, and than finally our last stop is Frazier Farms grocery for chips and salsa.   We spent our afternoon of Valentine's Day in this routine.  During our usual routine of visiting...