Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!

I'll have to add pictures another time - sorry ~

This part was written before Christmas:

I think I mentioned Martina before; I don’t remember if she’s Catholic, or some other Christian religion.  She came into the office looking for whatever help she could get for work.  Many people come in thinking we are a staffing agency.  At times, it’s too bad we are not, but that is not our purpose.  We are a resource for job seeking skills, though we do have a tendency to try and match people and jobs together.  I have seen too many times in the almost 9 months that I have been here, where a job will come open, someone comes in the office in the next day or two needed that type of particular job, the person is referred, and a job is acquired!  It is amazing!  The Lord’s hand is definitely in this work.

It was one of those moments for me, however, when Martina came in the office just before Thanksgiving.  It is rare to see true, child-like faith as strong as Martina’s.  I was at a place where I needed to literally SEE her faith.  It surrounded my heart!  Another tender mercy in my behalf.  We have sent Martina job leads since she came into the office about 3 weeks ago.  She hasn’t responded much, but did send a txt back once that said she was applying at a couple of places.  We sent her a txt asking how things were going just in the last couple of days.

She actually called, needing help.  As she hasn’t been able to find a job, her power was turned off.  She had food in the fridge and freezer she was worried about, and! It was getting cold (for here) (in the low 30’s – I know – stop laughing all you cold weather folks!).  She thought of us, and asked if there was anything we could do.  I spent some time on the phone trying to find the right resources.  United Way has a program when called, which is 2–1–1, gives the names and numbers of resources that are willing to help.

Unfortunately, Martina has already used up some of these resources.  I did, finally, find someone from what would be her ward if she were a member and talked with the Bishop’s representative (Long story).  I don’t know what can be done, or even what should be done, but someone will go and make an assessment to see.  It certainly made me grateful for people that are willing to go out of their way to see what help can be given.  It has reinforced the knowledge of how grateful I need to be for all that I have; all the blessings from Heavenly Father; and all Tom did to provide for our family.  I recognize my dependence on others, in many ways.  I truly am blessed beyond measure – I am so grateful for all I have; all Heavenly Father is trying to help me become.

Martina emailed me back just the other day, and said the ward where she lives gifted the money she needed to get her power back on.  She is also going to church with one of the families from that ward.  Someone didn’t have to freeze, and hopefully that same someone will join the church.  Awesome!

Sister Morris and I have found the best thrift store!  I remember you, Mom, saying you had found one in one of the towns you served in!  It’s called American Vets, where the proceeds are giving to programs for veterans.  We have found some really cute skirts/tops, etc for us, and even some for the young Sister Missionaries.  After finding some several times, we decided our budgets just can afford that, so we talked with our Stake Relief Society President (who just HAPPENS to be in our ward!), got the names of the Relief Society Presidents of the different wards in our stake, emailed them asking for gently used skirts, and ending up with skirts, blouses, sweaters, even coats! from our ward, and I will be going to pick up things from another ward in the stake as well!  I know there are over 100, possibly 200 pieces of clothing on Sister Morris’ bed!

Sister Morris has been in Virginia this past week, attending her granddaughter’s baptism.  She received permission from President Gelwix to attend.  She will be back Saturday night (15^th).  Most of what is here will have been taken to Sister Gelwix before Sister Morris gets back.  I am currently looking for hangers, and a way to put what size each piece of clothing is.  It’s awesome to see such generosity!  Just like any person feels, it’s fun to get something new and different to wear when you have the same clothes day in and day out to choose from!

There is a sister in the ward whose husband died about the time Sis. Morris and I arrived here.  She is a sweetie.  I saw her at Michaels yesterday.  She was buying plastic flowers to put on her husband’s grave.  It was a hard moment for her, so I spoke with her for a bit, then I was talking with the cashier about it, and how sad that was.  She said her marriage ended about 3 years ago in divorce, which is just like a death or a loss, and how difficult that had been.  I told her I understood as my husband had died 2½ years ago, and said I was so glad I knew Jesus was there to help me/us through.  She said she believed in Jesus, so I handed her the Christ coming out of the tomb pass along card for her to “look at” when times were tough.  I’m always glad there are numbers on the back which people can call!

This part is written after Christmas:

Sister Morris bought a headstone for her grandfather’s grave.  We took it up today, to Winton, which is outside Merced.  It will be placed in the ground in about 2 weeks, so we will drive back up there to see it so Sister Morris can have a before and after shot.  Her grandpa has been identified!  It was a sweet tender moment for Sister Morris.

There was a funeral going on while we were there, which was why we could go up on a Saturday.  I started feeling that feeling we all get when we are supposed to share the gospel with someone.  I told Sister Morris I didn’t know what I was doing, but took out some Spanish Pass along cards.  We started taking with a couple who were walking back to their car that we were so sorry, and were they related to the deceased?  It happened to be the wife’s cousin.  I gave them the pass along card with Christ coming out of the tomb, sincerely told them I was sorry for what they were going through.  They were very kind and said thank you very much.

For some reason, we got into the car, and started driving around closer to the gravesite.  There were all these people with black shirts on, with something on the back, and we were thinking they were with an organization or a gang.  When we got closer, we realized it was a picture.  We asked one younger man if we could see the picture.  He said sure!  It was of a nice looking young man, with a nice smile.  He told us it was their 21 year old friend who had been found all shot up.  He said something that really gave us pause to think – “You know – that’s life.  He’s in a better place now.”   Isn’t that just sad?  Thinking being shot up and killed was “life”. That’s a pretty awful way of life.  The man saw the Christ pass along cards, and asked, “Can I have one of those?”  (What do you think I said!)   Then he asked for some for his friends.  WOW!  We told him we were so sorry, and to tell his friends the same.  He said, again, that his friend was in a nicer place, but this time, there was a question in his voice.  We said of course he was, then we drove away.  Heavenly Father is really so very good to us, to allow us to participate in spreading His gospel.  Whether or not anything comes of it, we followed the promptings of the Spirit, and when we do that, we are NEVER sorry.

On Sunday, Dec. 23^rd, I received a blessing to be able to function as the Mission Medical Coordinator.  Sister Gelwix really needed the help, and no one else offered, so I told Sister Gelwix I would.  It’s been an interesting experience so far!  Lots of computer input, and talking with Missionaries!  How cool is that?  It will be a great way to get my medical skills back into practice, and keep them strong, as well as helping these people who have dedicated their lives to Heavenly Father.  I’ve had some phone calls, so that’s good.

While we were there talking, President and Sister Gelwix said they were delivering the Missionaries Christmas gifts to the north and south parts of the mission.  We offered to go north so President and Sister Gelwix didn’t have to go south AND north.  We were able to see some of the Elders in Merced, Turlock, and Modesto and sang “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” to those at the stake center drop off points.  The last drop off however, in Modesto, was at a humble member’s home.  They found out we were just heading out to come back to Fresno, and invited us to dinner.  They welcomed us into their home; into their family, to share their Christmas Eve dinner.  As we were leaving, they gave us a little gift.  How kind is that?  It really touched my heart

Christmas was nice.  I skyped with Camden, Taegen and Karla; talked with family members; went to see ‘Les Miserables’, came home and helped Britta with the finishing touches for Christmas dinner with her family; talked with more family!

My father in law, Willis had broken some ribs, then had a problem with his bowel, then had a stroke.  He is apparently doing much better than last week, for which I am most grateful!

I had my "hump" day on the 26th - it's hard to believe I'm half way finished!

We went to the Fresno Fair Grounds to see the Hmong’s New Year Celebration today.  It was loud, colorful, entertaining, and the food we had was good.  We had Pho soup, purple sticky rice, grilled chicken – We met some people who were helping as much as possible with the organizers over lunch.  The gentleman felt happy to be called a VIP.  We asked a bunch of questions, and understood most of what he and his wife said.  These people are refugees from Mongolia, starting first in Laos then going all over the world.  There were some Elders there at a booth.  Their names look really different and long in Hmong.

We are giving a presentation at a ward tomorrow that starts at 8:30 am - ugh!  We hope it will go well.

We will probably have a movie night here on New Year’s Eve.  We are inviting lots of people, but most people are already busy.  Hopefully we can find a good movie.  Our friend Becky says Native Americans from all different tribes from all over will be having a Pow-wow at the convention center here in Fresno on New Year’s Eve from 12 noon to 12 midnight, and Becky asked if we would like to go.  We said sure!  As we are working during the day, we won’t be going to all of it, but if it’s anything like the Hmong celebration – it will be really cool!

I gotta go – yup – bedtime!  Things are going well – we are always busy, which is why it’s been so long since I’ve written.  I made an appointment so I could send this out!   I'm mostly kidding!

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers, for all that you do for me!  I am blessed to have the privilege of serving Heavenly Father, and am grateful to be here.

I hope all is well with everyone – Happy New Year to one and all!  Love, Sister Ure