Memorial Day Service Project

Every year the Serramonte Ward, along with many other groups, helps place tiny flags on all of the 116,000 grave sites at Golden Gate National Cemetery. Saturday morning, Tom and I were at the cemetery at 7:30 AM and left just before 10:00 AM to prepare to go teach English to the Chinese. Our group had not completed placing all the flags in our assigned area when we left.

We learned that there are 131 National Cemeteries in the US.  Never before had I visited a national cemetery. Many of the servicemen have a spouse buried in the plot with them. The rows of headstones go on and on and on. So very many have made sacrifices that I can enjoy freedom. How blessed I am.

Modified Assignment

Elder and Sister Leavitt have arrived in the mission and been given Golden Gate and Bay Wards as their assignment. Tom and I are relieved! It was impossible to adequately cover all five units. now we can concentrate on Serramonte Ward (Filipino), San Francisco 7th Branch (Chinese) and Le Camino Ward (Spanish.) As it is, our units are spread over quite an area and use 3 different chapels.

Presently we are teaching two investigators: Jennifer Tobin who hired an LDS nanny about 10 months ago and liked what she saw in her and Julie Neva, an immigrant from Russian, who is an artist and became friends with an LDS singer. Both are wonderful women and we treasure the opportunity to teach them.

We're also busy teaching Lydia Hernandez the new member lessons, working with several inactive families and continuing to teach English to the Chinese three times a week. All in all, it keeps us thinking about what each person needs and happy because we are busy.

Does the Wind Blow in Pacifica?

Elder and Sister Brighton, the director of the Visitor Center in Oakland, and Sister King, the new mission nurse, came for a walk on the beach and dinner. The picture shows how windy it is here.  Good thing I was raised in windy Southern Alberta.

Sister Lee is 23!

Sister Lee wanted to come to our apartment for her birthday dinner. All the district came. We ordered a cream/sponge cake with macadamia nut paste center from a Chinese bakery. She loved it!  The young elders got creative so everyone could be in the pictures. Note the up-side-down water glasses and the line-up of cameras.

Entertainment

Some of the YW of the Branch did a Chinese dance and our young missionaries put on  a skit. Bobby, who was recently baptized, "MCed" the evening and had so much fun entertaining everyone. He used to work as a tour director and he brings plenty of enthusiasm to the job.

Our students were anxious to bring food to us, or fill our glasses with water etc. It was very touching how they wanted to serve us. It was clearly evident that they appreciate English class. And we thoroughly enjoy them too!

Daophin, Bill and Elder Chan.
Daophin came a little late so he wasn't in the first group picture.

From left to right: Jin Yin, Susan, MJ, Tom, Sue and Bill