Not Your Usual Saturday!

Saturday, July 23rd proved to be different than our usual Saturday. Every other Saturday we would be preparing to teach English to the Chinese and at 11:00 AM we would leave to drive into San Francisco to begin the class at 11:30 AM. However, this Saturday Elder and Sister Leavitt taught for us. Tom and I met with Elder Lapierre to review his budget for the upcoming college year. Almost all missionaries return home to their home area immediately upon completing their mission assignment, but Elder Lapierre is the exception. If he steps on Taiwan soil he will be drafted....compulsory military service. So he wanted somewhat of a parental view of his plans. He has a binder with all his information and he has prepared well!!

While our class was in session, we drove to San Mateo to pick-up Lan.   She only has one more month in San Mateo for her summer internship and then she'll be returning to Monterey to complete her master's degree. The Brightons  wanted Lan to meet Shan Gao who works in Monterey so they planned for us all to meet in san Francisco Chinatown for lunch. Shan's mother is presently visiting her from China; so we had the pleasure of meeting her as well. We met up at the Caltrain station because none of us are familiar enough with Chinatown to know where to meet. Lan and Shan seemed to hit it off very well and lunch was delicious!

After our late lunch, we dropped Lan off at the Caltrain station so she could travel to Palo Alto to visit a friend who is studying at Stanford. Then we hurried back to Pacifica to prepare for the baptism of Julie Neva. We found out her official name is Yuliya Nekludova. She took the first two letters and last two letters of her Russian name to form the one she uses in the US. The baptism was well attended. The Primary room was packed. Everything went very well!!!Now we will be involved in teaching her the new member lessons and we're so glad we can still be closely involved with her.

Jin Yin Chow is Returning to Taiwan!

Jin Yin is a favorite in English class so we are so sorry to hear she will be returning to Taiwan. She's been looking for a job for over three months now and so far nothing that will pay a living wage. During this time she has been living with her sister and brother-in-law and apparently they are ready to have the house to themselves.

It is extremely difficult for new immigrants to find decent employment. Many are discouraged. Jin Yin is an excellent seamstress. I gave her my favorite fitting skirt and she made me an identical without a pattern, and within two days it was finished. She's a wonderful, smart lady who is running out of options here in the US.

Our English class decided to have a potluck Friday night to celebrate our good fortune of having Jin Yin with us so far.  After dinner, the class members were to demonstrate some skill using their best English. Jin Yin is in the rosy v-necked top.

Trevor Edwin Brown has arrived!

Trevor was born Wednesday the 6th of July to Beth and Randy. He's healthy, whole and beautiful. Sure wish I could be close-by to hold him and to  help out. By the time we return home, he'll probably be walking!

Our mission district went hiking on the 4th of July. As you can see from the picture, the day was cool and foggy, but that's not new for Pacifica. One bumper sticker says it all, "Where in the fog is Pacifica?"
Then last Saturday, we drove Lan Bao to Oakland to the temple grounds and the Visitor Center. Her heart was touched by the message of the young sisters and by the film at the Visitor Center.

Ham Radio Certified

President Wade and Tom are now ham radio certified and they have their new radios. Hopefully there will be no emergency occasion for them to use them.

Monday at Muir Woods

Monday morning we stopped at Golden Gate Bridge before going on to the redwoods at Muir Woods. Being a typical day by the ocean, it was foggy so part of the bridge was hard to see. However, the sun did break through and the redwoods were stately.

On the way home, we played at Golden Gate Park.

Tuesday was cold and drizzly, and besides, Elizabeth and Rachel weren't feeling well so we had a quiet day. We did the tour of the Daly City chapel and the Sunset Chapel where we teach English to the Chinese. All of the five chapels that we use in the San Francisco area are very different from the typical LDS meetinghouse. The chapels here are massive, with basements, main floors and sometimes upstairs. It's hard to envision really how large they are. And three of the five buildings don't have a parking lot or at most a very tiny one. Can you imagine big Mormon families not having a place to park their Suburbans to let their children out in a safe, non-traffic area. Here you have to know how to parallel park and to do it on a steep hill.

We LOVED having the Zundels here!!It was a very special time for us.

The Zundels Came to Visit!!!

It had been six whole months since we had seen Karen, JR, Elizabeth, Rachel, Hannah and Sarah. That's a long time to not be with a daughter and her family. Sarah was only two months old when we last were with her. She is a beauty!!! It was GREAT to see each of them!

The Zundels arrived on Saturday morning and we spent the afternoon at Fisherman's Wharf.

Sunday, after Stake Conference, there was a Chinese Branch baptism. Again, the Chinese members are so considerate of us, they translated the whole service into English just for us.

Following Sunday dinner, we headed for Oakland to the mission home, mission office, the Visitor Center and , of course, the temple.

Julie Neva

Julie Neva was born in Russia. Shortly after her birth, her mother and father divorced. Her maternal grandfather became the father figure for her. He was a bright attorney with a strong personality and a dominant figure for the whole family. After his death, Julie's capable mother replaced him in his role as the leader and director of the family.  She became a well-known dress designer in Russia. Eleven years ago, when Julie was 13, her mother married an American and moved to Half Moon Bay, CA. Moving to America has been very difficult for Julie's mother because she feels like her talent has gone unrecognized here. Julie is an artist and her mother is anxious that Julie develop her art and become somebody. This puts tremendous pressure on Julie to perform. Julie has been very courageous and solid in her commitment  to learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ and to live it. On Saturday, July 9th, she is going to be baptized. She is experiencing a lot of opposition at home, but she is steady in her decision. She has been amazing to teach. Although her grandfather was a communist, without any religious belief, she has developed a strong relationship with the Savior over the years as she has coped with her challenges. He has been her trusted friend over her whole lifetime. When we have taught her a principal of the gospel of Jesus Christ, she has said," I believe that, I know that is true." What an experience we've had with Julie.

Elder Wu's Birthday Luncheon

From left to right: Sister Yu, Sister Lee, Elder Wu, Elder Chan, Elder Guan and Elder Anderson. Poor Elder Anderson was fresh from the MTC and struggling with Mandarin. He'll make it, but it's pretty tough!!

This is the same old restaurant we've been to before. The food is authentic and the Chinese missionaries love it and it's a cheap treat for the district for us. What a dedicated group of young adults.