News From CAM                                                                             September 19, 2016

Dear Loved Ones All,

Elder Macbeth pointed out that it has been 3 weeks since I wrote an email.  Even though it doesn’t seem that long, and it seems that there hasn’t been that many interesting or at least different things happening to use up so much time, he showed me on the computer that indeed it is true. Sigh, I must do better. I used to think that being a detective or private investigator would be an awesome job.  Well, I think that our work as MLS missionaries could almost be in the same category.  We have a long list of members who haven’t been visited, seen, nor heard from, some for years, and it is a challenge to try to find them.  Getting access to some places, like following cars through gates, or casually walking into locked apartment building alongside of residents, waiting for someone who has a fob to use the elevator, and any number of “covert” actions seem to fit the definition.  We did discover that if you go in on foot behind a car that there might not be an exit to walk out, because gates automatically open for cars leaving, but not for pedestrians, and there may or may not be an accessible gate for walking out.  You only have to learn that lesson once. Finding parking is even worse and seems to be especially a problem in our area because of Disneyland.  Nobody wants to pay the exorbitant price for parking, so they have in the past just found a residential street somewhere nearby to park.  Now there are signs everywhere that to park on most streets or in apartment parking places you need a permit with the current date visibly displayed in the car window.  Otherwise it is a game of Russian roulette to come and your car has been towed away at the car owner’s expense.  Sadly just last week a couple of missionaries came out form teaching a lesson to discover their car gone and they had to call the mission couple to give them a ride, and to go in the morning to the impound to retrieve it at great expense, which the young missionaries had to pay themselves.  We also have been warned about paying attention to signs specifying no right turns on a red light because there are cameras that help enforce that, as well as places for no U-turns.  Thank goodness we can learn from other’s experience!

We also have had more exposure to health issues, especially in some that are very young.  One gentleman we visited has to walk with a walker, have an oxygen tank, and can barely speak above a whisper.  We were shocked when we saw a picture of him a year earlier.  He had lost so much weight I would not even have guessed he was the same person.  Anyway there are multiple people in our ward here that have such poor health that it makes us super grateful for such a great blessing in our lives as to being able to “run and not be weary, and walk and not faint.”

We continue to visit Keith in the hospital. He has spent a week in ICU, and by now 4 weeks in various rooms.  Last week we had to start putting on a gown and gloves to go into visit.  Then a mask was added.  They continue trying to eliminate various maladies and to pinpoint exactly what is the matter.  So his expected stay has gone from a couple of weeks to more than a month.  He has designated Elder Macbeth as his financial manager and has asked him to go to the bank to transfer funds, or to deposit money into various accounts or to go pay his rent.  In addition he has decided that Elder Macbeth is his personal organizer so when we come he always has him move things he has saved off his tray or that someone has brought him from one bag to another just in case he should need it in the future.

On a positive note, unless they have moved, or in a couple of cases died, when we finally get to meet the less active members they are a delight. Many of them used to be super active with positions that required much responsibility.  They are happy to visit and usually for us to come back for visits.  More rarely they take the invitation to come to church, which really makes our day.

On Wednesdays we still serve lunch for the homeless at Mary’s Kitchen. They always seem delighted to see us, and many express their appreciation. This month it our ward’s turn to clean the church building which is usually pretty fun. I sewed a couple more baby towels for the few babies being born in the ward and one for Eli. I continue to bake 6-7 dozen cookies for Thursday’s district meetings, to mend pants for the elders, and occasionally to make dinner to take to someone one who needs it.  We have been invited to dinner a few times, but we do not put our name on the calendar for the missionary dinner because the young elders and sisters need that.  We have even invited the young missionaries to dinner at our place.  Last night the young elders came and consumed nearly all of the 3-pound roast, all the bruschetta, and a good portion of the potatoes, carrots, and salad.  I sent them home with some of the left-over cookies from Thursday. 

We got to surprise Brad and Becky and kids at the Great Wolf Lodge when they went there for Libby’s birthday.  We got to hold Eli while Brad and Becky took the older kids on the water slides, etc.  Brock was even willing to sit with use for a while to warm up. Fun, fun, fun. We also were able to go down to visit in Laguna Niguel.  That is always a treat. The grandkids are growing so much and they are always a delight.  Baby Eli is cuddly and fun to hold, and he smiled so cutely and the other three are busy little beavers that are entertaining just to watch.  Brock has turned into quite a talker and still loves balls, and a new favorite, pictures on phones.  He wanted to watch the videos we took of them at the water park.

Elder Macbeth continues doing a great job as Bishop Kimbrel’s executive secretary, I get to teach R.S. on the 2^nd Sunday. Oh, and I get to go to the Family History Center occasionally. That about sums up what we have been doing, and some of the things we have learned.  Hope this finds you all well and especially grateful for the blessing which you have. Go! Fight!! Win!!!

Love from California, Sister and Elder Macbeth.