Tsunami Day in Pacifica, CA-03-11-11

We were abruptly awakened by a phone call at 4:10 this morning. The evening before we had visited and taught Christine Peterson and she kindly called to warn us of an approaching tsunami. Christine lives on the block next to the ocean only about 15 feet above sea level. She was preparing to pack up and drive to the local high school that was serving as a shelter. We quickly turned on the TV and sure enough there was a tsunami warning for our area, but our apartment is on higher ground (approx. 60 ft above sea level.) While we were processing this new information and thinking about other missionaries who were also living in low lying areas, President Wade called to alert us. Both he and Tom were concerned about the missionaries who live in Half Moon Bay. President Wade had been unsuccesful in reaching them by phone so he requested that Tom and I drive to their apartment to check on them.

We quickly dressed and headed for Half Moon Bay. We took the route called "Devil's Slide" because it is high above the water even if it is windy. When we arrived at the address Pres. Wade had given us, there were no missionaries. So we called Elder Mayo, the senior missionary in charge of housing for the mission. Apparently, Pres. Wade had the address where the monthly rent check is sent, not the location of the missionaries. Once we had the correct address, it was a piece of cake to find the missionaries. Tom went in and they quickly came out with him and we headed back to our apartment. By this time the roadways in Half Moon Bay were lined with police directing traffic away from the roads nearest the ocean.

So once more we went over Devil's Slide and back to our place. We watched the updates on TV and ate hash browns, scrambled eggs, toast, jam, fruit and juice and counted our many blessings. The water crested at 8:09 am and was really a non-event, thank goodness! The ocean just looked like a normal winter storm day...a little rough and larger than normal waves. 

Once we knew the worse was over, we reported in to President Wade and drove the missionaries back to their place. When we returned home, both Tom and I were exhausted. We must have been more anxious than we had realized. Karen, Susan and David each called to check on us. It was great to talk with each of them.

A New Student for English Class

Peijun has recently come to the US. In China, she studied English for five years and her pronunciation shows it. We welcome another bright, hard-working student.

Can you tell the church is cold? Most classtimes we wear our coats, but we sure have fun together.

Welcome to English Class

Teaching English to the Chinese is one of our favorite activities. They are focused, dedicated students. Here's the Advanced Class: Jim, Bill, Anna and Renee.
- Jim has recently joined us and the class is challenging for him, but he works at it and learns a lot every time we meet.
-Bill has been in the US for four months now. During the day he attends English classes at the community college and three times a week he meets with us. He comprehends written English very well and his conversational English is improving in leaps and bounds.
-Anna likes to talk and her conversational English shows it. Her reading is improving.
-Renee understands English quite well. She has been a little hesitant to speak it for fear of making errors. Our classroom atmosphere is very comfortable and she is participating more all the time. We like errors for we can learn from them.

Thank You, Carrie Ussery!

It became very clear this week that my time and effort spent practising the piano has paid off. I've been playing for Primary each week in the Serramonte Ward (Filippino.) Unbelieveable as it may seem, they don't have any one in their unit who plays much better than I do. The children had been singing unaccompanied; so they were ever so glad to have whatever level of help I could give.

This week was the real kicker. President Wade calls on missionaries out of the blue to fulfill assignments and he doesn't accept excuses etc. I was quite aware of this after attending the "New Arrivals" meeting. He asked Elder Kesler and his "greenie" companion to sing a hymn, knowing full well that Elder Kesler isn't much of a singer. Afterwards Pres. Wade commented on how Elder Kesler had fulfilled his assignment without excuses and with dignity. I'm sure you get the picture. Anyway, at the monthly Senior Missionary Training, he annouced that I would play and Sister White would conduct the music. Actually, I played quite well and I wasn't nervous. I even was proud of  myself!  It was a good piano and the sound was rich and full. Something I did learn though,  I should start carrying my piano glasses with me. Thank you, Carrie for all of your helps. It has made a positive difference. Remember, we're going piano shopping together when Tom and I come home.

A Day in the Life of a Senior Missionary

Last Friday was a typical day for us. Our focus is somewhat different than the young missionaries. Often we work with the older, homebound members or those who need help becoming involved again with the Church. Last Friday we had an appointment with a Filipino couple who are struggling in their marriage and to feel united with their two adult daughters and granddaughter who live with them. It was the fourth week for us to meet with them so we felt pretty confident that everything would go as scheduled. So far our visits had been very rewarding for us. The first time we met with them, the husband and wife were not talking to each other and their relationship was very strained. We listened to each of them and carefully tried to uncover their issues. It was like peeling an onion....one layer after another, but by the end of that visit they seemed to feel like they were both understood. We made a simple suggestion and they commited to it and by the next visit they were talking and even smiling some of the time. So last Friday we prepared another simple step for them and also prepared some pictures for their granddaughter and we were feeling good about the visit. However, we were stood up. At first we were concerned that it had been a bad week for them and their relationship, but thankfullly they had just needed to run an errand at that time. We'll meet with them this Friday. Not keeping up the momentum with them was disappointing.

But Friday night was terrific. It was the first meeting with David and Grace Palacious. Eight years ago when David was released as branch president of the Spanish branch, he and his wife quit coming to church. It all seemed so out of context. How could someone go from being so involved and steady to just quitting. At first we just tried to get to know David and Grace. They had come from El Salvador thirty years ago. David helped organize the national elections there at that time. There was a military leader running for office and another person. The voters supported the other person, but the military leader won.  David knew  unrest and violence would follow so they left the country. Grace has been working for 30 years now for San Mateo County and is a delightful person. David is very bright and forthright. They told us they were just completely drained from all their work to keep the Spanish branch going. I can somewhat relate. The church units here have tremendous needs and few strong to help. I at least can rereat to home in 18 months; so I have an escape from the overwhelming needs.There were few members and most were needy. There have been many over the years who have reached out to the Palacious family, but we were fortunate to come when they had mended enough that they were ready to step forward and to make a new start. I think it helped also that we are pretty close to their age and have served enough to know there are times when you have to modify your efforts to preserve your physical health and your mental health. You have to make sure you don't neglect your marriage and your children while you are serving others. Tom is good about keeping in balance and I think the things he said resounded with David Palacious. Poor David Palacious has been tortured by the thoughts that the Spanish branch might not survive without their support and that the work is divine, but he had nothing left in him to give. Sunday he and Grace attended church and were warmly welcomed. However, they will be adjusting so there is balance in their lives. There is a good chance that they will not be attending the Spanish Ward, but will go to their regular neigborhood ward instead.  It looks like it might meet their needs more. Meeting  the Palacious family was a very SWEET experience!

So all in all, Friday had it's ups and downs and that's the way most days go. There are challenges and inconveniences and then there are wonderful moments when you feel the Lord using you as His servant.

Loving My Orchid!

Tom often buys me an orchid for Valentine's Day. He knows I love their elegance and how long they bloom. Here's this year's.