Dear Loved Ones All,

Somehow I am not the most reliable corresponder.  Since Paul writes the weekly report to President Taggart, it is only right that I do the e-mail.  We continue to be challenged with: parking (either no available space or parking by permit only); either no answer, then no replies to phone messages; and all the locked gates to places we want to be.  Despite that we have had some successes.  The least-actives ( a.k.a., inactives) sometimes say they will come and actually do, and other times not.  Kind of like playing Russian roulette…you just never know.  We have been working with the Huntoon family. She is a returned missionary, he joined the church before they were married and have been sealed in the temple.  They have a 6 year old son.  Anyway, long story short, the husband has drifted into inactivity.  We dropped by with a loaf of hot homemade bread and a small one for Ezra.  Truth be Josette knew we were coming. Andy loved it.  We picked up Andy and Ezra up and brought them to church on Mother’s Day because she works some Sundays and arrives late.  I was looking on our list and discovered that next Wednesday was Andy’s birthday.  Josette said that his favorite cake was “Germanys,” so Wednesday morning after fixing Elder Salyer’s pants (bicycles are so unforgiving) I baked a devil’s food cake before going to Mary’s Kitchen to serve the homeless lunch.  Elder Macbeth got to fix breakfast and wash dishes while I finished getting ready. I called Jayann to send via phone the recipe for German chocolate cake frosting.  On our way to deliver the birthday cake we took a detour to see if Daniel Gudmunsen was back yet.  We have been trying to catch up to him almost since we got here. He was there, very young.  He has a wife and 5 month old baby who were still at her mother’s.  He said he would come to church on Sunday to see his great uncle who was the first bishop of the Anaheim 4^th ward where we are serving.  They hadn’t seen each other since Daniel was quite young.  Then we delivered the cake.  We had to double park on the street because there was no parking within at least 2 blocks.  Andy was thrilled.  Our week seemed to continue in like manner. Thursday was super fun because we got to meet up with Brad and Becky at the Newport Beach Temple.  Brad and Becky delivered flowers from Michelle and cards and candy from them, and they got me a rolling pin which I have wanted on numerous occasions.  On Friday we had a Senior Missionary Staff Meeting at the Mission Office.  It was great, and President Taggart shared a story that was on one of the Sister missionary’s report.  As I recall it seems this mission was not where she originally thought she wanted to go.  Well she was out tracting in a place that her great grandmother had lived and met a lady that knew her great grandmother years ago before she passed away.  Anyway this lady brought out an afghan made by the great grandmother and explained that for a time she didn’t know where it was.  After it was found she didn’t know what to do with it but for some reason she kept it.  She then handed it to the Sister missionary saying, “You know, now I understand.  She didn’t really make this for me.  She made it for you.” This is a tender mercy from the Lord for faithful service.

 We also met another set of MLS Senior Missionaries, the Westergards from Bountiful.  It has been fun interacting with them since they live on the 3^rd floor of our same apartment complex.

Sunday was the icing on the cake so to speak.  All the Huntoons were there.  Andy asked if the frosting on his cake was homemade because it sure wasn’t Betty Crocker. The Gulls, and Daniel, and another inactive member who lives in the same place as he does also came in. Yea! 

I continue to make cookies and as more elders discover I have a sewing machine I am being approached by more “problem” pants.  Our days seem to be filling up so that we don’t always get some of the things we ought to do done, but as is pointed out to me lately, we are really here to support! Elder Macbeth seems to have a lot to do as the executive secretary to our Bishop as well as missionary duties.  Our place has the pictures up on the walls and the furniture is arranged to my satisfaction, and now I just need Elder Macbeth to print some of the family photos off my phone to put up for me to see. 

Thanks for all the e-mails and the wonderful Mother’s Day Skypes.

Sister and Elder Macbeth