News from CAM                                                                                               November 8, 2016

Dear Loved Ones All,

I don’t know how my days seemed so filled, but I guess that’s good. . . leaves no time to be bored.  I haven’t seen broken baptismal clothes or troubled ties for a long time but I got to repair my first damaged dress and fix 5 pair of problem pants.  Some are easy repairs but others take a long time and a lot of ingenuity.  I also made some rice bags for our new mother in the ward, but I used flax seed because it is smoother and seems to hold the heat longer.  Baby is having a tough time adjusting to his new world and mom is very frustrated.  Took in another chicken casserole and arranged with the compassionate service coordinator to start taking in meals.  Of course we voted (thanks Jayann for sending our ballots) but I wasn’t much impressed with some of the candidates.  Doesn’t give one much confidence in the government, but so far we have it better than anywhere else.  I made frosted sugar cookies this week but for some reason used baking soda instead of baking powder.  It gave the cookies a different taste but not one person noticed.  The young missionaries at Zone training gobbled them right down.  I took some to the mission office and they liked them as well.

We picked up the vacuum that we took to be repaired before going to our Hungarian lady’s home.  The elders were waiting patiently for us to arrive so they could go start the yard work while Elder Macbeth and I went inside.  Elder Macbeth gets to vacuum the carpets, for which he was grateful for a functioning vacuum cleaner, while I wash the dishes and counters.  She always has a collection of meals brought “for the poor people.”  She doesn’t like most of it so she saves them for the elders.  I’m not sure they like the food either, but the little cartons of milk and orange juice are definitely welcome as is the single servings of fruit. 

We were so short of time on Thursday evening that we went to an all you can eat buffet.  It was called the Tempanyaki Grill, so it had many American and Asian dishes as well as crab legs, soups, desserts, etc.  They also had Sushi and a grill to cook your food as you watched.  Sadly we only had about 20 minutes to eat so I think I want to go back sometime when I can be selective and not in a hurry.  Book of Mormon class continues to go well.  I challenged everyone to think of something every day that gave them joy and to write it down.  The sister who was baptized recently and her 8 year old son who was baptized shortly thereafter were and they said they had started a “Joy Journal.”  How cool is that!

We went to seen K. whose apartment we cleaned and who came home last week.  His place is already starting to get piles.  He wanted us to clean his bathroom and the kitchen.  Including scrubbing the floors.  He wanted all the dishes to be put back into the cupboards plus the spices, but he left others in boxes for when he has the exterminator come.  The only thing he was willing to get rid of was a little packet of ranch dressing because it was not in the fridge.  I must admit that I was irritated for which I’ll have to repent of my uncharitable thoughts.  I hope I learn to be more loving soon or my temper just may get me in trouble.

One of our recently attending less-actives asked us to come give him a blessing.  He also wanted to know about testimonies because he says he is about ready to share his, so he wanted a little clarification on a few points.  He is a great example of trying to know the Savior and learn His Gospel.

Saturday I talked Elder Macbeth into taking me shopping before we needed to meet with the Sisters at the church with one of their investigators to show him the baptismal font.  We also watched the broadcast on “Teaching in the Savior’s Way.”  Then I had a R.S. training and luncheon while Elder Macbeth filled the baptismal font for one of the few Primary age kids in our ward.  When it was time for the baptism to start everybody wondered where the Bishop was, because he was supposed to conduct.  Finally Elder Macbeth texted him, but it was way past time to start so the 2^nd Counselor did it instead.  Bishop said he would be there PDQ, but he didn’t arrive until everything was done but the welcoming to the ward talk at the very end.  It turns out that Bishop decided to be really efficient and had set his clocks back an hour when he got up Saturday morning.  When he went to pick us his son earlier he asked his dad why he was so late, and he remembered he had changed all the clocks.  However, he did the same thing when he didn’t remember the baptism.  At least he was on time for his interview right after the baptism.  We stayed for an extra hour for that, which wouldn’t normally matter, but we told Elder Macbeth’s sister Carla, Barry, and Aubrey that we would meet them at our place at 5:00 o’clock and by then it was already 4:00, and we still needed to pick up take-out for supper since we didn’t have time to make something.  We were about 4 block away from home when we got a phone call saying they had arrived at the gate, but it wasn’t opening.  Of course they patiently waited for us and we had a delightful supper together.  Then we went to Joe’s for Italian ice.  Yumm!  And to see the big tree that the missionaries call the “Tree of Life.”  Fun evening.

Sunday we got to go to Laguna Niguel for Eli’s baby blessing.  Brad gave him a wonderful blessing.  I also told him to congratulate his young men for making sure the sacrament cloths were straight.  It is so annoying to see the sacrament table looking caddywampus.  Afterwards we went to Brad and Becky’s home for a lunch of soups, salads, and crescent rolls, and of course desserts.  I loved the chocolate torte but all of it was delicious.  And of course the company was really the best part.

It is late and Elder Macbeth is waiting for me so I’ll close.  Have a great week and look for JOY.   Love,

Sister and Elder Macbeth.     Go!  Fight!!   WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!