Hello from sunny, very warm Fresno!  I am loving this town and the weather right now.  It’s just beautiful – well, actually today is a little warm!  I’m thinking it’s time to get me some sandals!  I checked the weather and this week Sun - Sat it’s supposed to be 88; 88; 89; 89; 86; 87; 86.  I hope it cools down just a little bit, and then waits for a little bit to get hot but it doesn’t look like it will.  Nothing like going through 2 summers when one is not too fond of the heat!  Just the right things to keep me humble!  It’s too bad it’s hard to do! (keep me humble, that is)

My new companion arrived on Monday night the 8th of April.  Here are some pictures of she and I, of her daughters, and at the mission office.

Welcome Sister Ball!

Cute family!

At the mission office (closed eyes and all)

 

It was great to be home for the weekend.  I was able to spend a lot of time with my family.  We watched a movie, went out to dinner, made chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, just hung out, played games… One of the best things was the baptism of course.  It really touched my heart.  Karla’s dad kind of laid Camden down in the water, then lowered him further into the water.  That was such a great way – I didn’t know how Camden was going to bend backwards, and then he didn’t have to.  Karla’s sister, Sue, took a lot of pictures, (no – not of the actual baptism.. ) and I hope to be able to get some copies from her.

 

Camden and me before his baptism

Willis and Cindy

Sharon and little Richard, Rick and Jayden, Janessa

Taegen!

Janessa and Jayden; Kate and little Richard

Dan!

 

We helped with Mormon Helping Hands again this year!  It was fun!  It was a lot of hard work, and my shoulders are killing me – but fun none the less!  There is a bike path not too far from Britta’s house, which Sister Morris and I used to exercise on.  Our ward was cleaning up this very bike path!  Of course I had to help!  I’ve used it!  I would anyway, but there was a double reason!  Here are a couple of pictures from it.

(l-r) Me, Sister Aldrich (from New Hampsha), Sister Ball

Sister Ball raking up what was cleaned up - ugh!

Elder Neave from Australia

Elder Williams, local ward members (vehicle coordinator) and

his wife, Sister Williams (housing coordinator), in the background

The almost completed project

Cute, cute kids from the ward - the little guy (Tyler) was sharing his sour gummy worms

Part of the 4 mile path with stuff to be cleaned up in the middle

The end of the day - people from the ward, including the Bishop in the white t-shirt

Our friend, Becky, has, supposedly, moved.  She has left no forwarding address or message.  How sad is that?  Our dear Becky who helped me more than I could possibly help her!  Heavenly Father knows where she is, and what she needs.  I can only have that hope through our Savior that things will work out the best they can.  I miss her -

Last night, Sister Ball and I were going to a double baptism in a Spanish ward here in Fresno.  One of the Coordinating Sister’s (Sister Jamison) companions (Sister McArthur) wanted to also go to the baptism, as Sister McArthur helped teach this sister and her granddaughter.  President Gelwix will let the younger Elders and Sisters go to those special baptisms if they have been transferred out of the area before the baptism takes place.  The companionship involved needs to make sure the work in their area does not stop, so someone needs to take the person wanting to go to the baptism, and then the person remaining needs to find someone to be their companion while they are gone.  The time they take in this process is taken out of their preparation day activities.  Sister Jamison tried to find someone to have as a companion while Sister McArthur went to the baptism, but couldn’t find anyone.  Sister Ball and I asked what needed to happen, and Sister Ball told her she would be the companion while I took Sister McArthur to the baptism.  I have been on “splits” before and wanted Sister Ball to experience the great treat and blessing that is.

The baptism was no less enjoyable.  The one of sisters being baptized was Maria.  She is 83 years old and blind in both eyes.  She doesn’t walk much, and gets around in a borrowed wheelchair.  The other sister was Lupita.  She is older and has some learning disabilities.  Sister McArthur was asked to give the talk on baptism.  One of the things she told the sisters that the moment after baptism was that they are perfect; they are clean and spotless! 

There were 2 Elders in the font with Maria.  They carefully led her down the stairs, and had to re-adjust where they were standing quite a bit, but finally got to the right spot.  The Elders baptized her about the same way Camden was baptized, as it would be hard for Maria to bend backwards as well.  She stood straight up, and I noticed she put both her hands to her mouth.  I felt like she knew she was clean and perfect before our Savior.  The Spirit was very strong –

Lupita had a little harder time, and kind of got water up her nose, but she was happy and giggled and was smiling to beat the band.

I was speaking with one of the Elders about Maria’s baptism and the Spirit which was there.  I told him my feelings about that moment.  He said he asked Maria how she was.  She said “I see something beautiful!”

How amazing is our Father!  What witness Maria received I do not know, but I know it was just for her!  Our Father knows everything about us, and knows our needs.  He will do whatever He can do, according to our faith in Him! 

I skyped with Taegen and Camden this afternoon!  What fun!  They are great!  I had a nice message from them too!  I got to see a good majority of Camden’s ‘Skylander’ guys – pretty cool looking dudes and dudettes!

Sister Ball and I went to another baptism tonight; this one was in English!  The young man being baptized was Parker – or was that his last name?  The speakers were Young Men, I would think 14 and the other was 16.  Both gave very impressive talks and touched our hearts.  The 2^nd young man – the 16 year old, spoke of how he wanted to know if he was God’s son.  He didn’t receive an answer to his prayers right at first, and was feeling very lost and dejected, but went to stand from asking our Father a last time, and received an overpowering witness of Heavenly Father’s love for him – that he was, and forever will be, a son of God.  My heart received the witness of the truth that we are all sons and daughters of an Eternal Father!  How could it be otherwise?  I have been so blessed to see Heavenly Father’s hand in my life, and the lives of others here more powerfully than I ever have.

I am blessed beyond measure, and I am so grateful for all that I receive – which is much!  I am forever grateful to my Savior for all He has done for me!  How do you repay someone for saving your life, let alone saving it more than once?  It isn’t possible!  But it gives me reason to try the best I possibly can.  I fall short of “the best” more times than I want to admit, but I know, because of my Redeemer, I can keep trying!

Life is good!  I feel full of light – full of love for my Father and His Son!

Will everyone please pray for my mom who is having knee replacement surgery Monday?  And, of course, Willis, my father in law, who is recovering from a stroke.

Thank you!  I love you all – Sister Ure