Hello everyone from very hot Fresno – though from what I’ve heard, we are probably at about the same temperature this time of year!

It has been a very busy week – don’t I say that all the time?  This week was Zone Conferences.  There are 11 zones in our mission (11 stakes).  To make it easier on everyone, the 11 zones are grouped as the 4 North Zones, 4 Fresno Zones, and the 3 South Zones.   This time, the South Zones’ conference was Tuesday; the Fresno Zones’ was Wednesday and the North Zones’ was Friday.

Sister Besser and I went to all 3 conferences giving nutrition training about eating healthy and not eating out as much.  We didn’t say they couldn’t go out, as everyone can choose that for themselves – hey!  I go out!  Just not much - We usually go out to dinner on Thursday nights before going to the temple, as we don’t have time to come home and fix something before leaving.  We HAVE brought dinner to the Mission office and eaten it there, but it’s nice to go out!

It was fun – the training was just before lunch, so there are all these starving missionaries and we are pulling out all of this fruit, and veges, and healthy snacks, etc.  Near the end, we briefly talked about quick snacks, so I took a flour tortilla, spread some peanut butter on it, peeled a banana, put it on the peanut butter, rolled it up… I said, “This is a quick, healthy snack!” … and proceeded to take a bite.  The Missionaries were so hungry that the audible groan as I ate the tortillas was funny!  President didn’t make them suffer much longer.

President is always nice to have the Senior, and Sister, Missionaries get in line first, though after the tortilla, I wasn’t that hungry….  There is such a great spirit being around our Savior’s representatives.  I just love it and I love them!  They are my foster mission family.

We were given permission to go to Cayucos, CA as requested.  We appreciate that!  President doesn’t have to let us do anything like that, so we are excited to go.  We are told to go see the Hearst Castle; elephant seals; Morrow Bay Rock (didn’t know you could walk up to it!); and some other thing – like a farm, further south….  That seems like a lot for just overnight, but hey!  We’ll overbook and end up doing just what we want, so it will be perfect!

We were invited to dinner at a member’s home, so I will need to finish later as it’s time to go!

That was last Sunday!  It was very nice to go, and talk with them, and eat a good meal, and just be with their family as we miss our own families.

We did have a great time at Cayucos and Morrow Bay!  I will put in some pictures.  We stayed at a quaint little place called Seaside Motel.  Our room was the Birdhouse Bungalow.

    

There are only 12 rooms – it has been run by the same couple for over 30 years.  Some people from the Fresno 7^th Ward, and the Elder and Sister Williams from the Mission Office suggested we go there. 

There isn’t any air conditioning in the rooms, but it was only 69 degrees for a high, so we didn’t need any air conditioning!  It was a little stuffy late into the night, but we just cracked the window a bit, and were fine.  I must be used to the heat in Fresno,  because I was cold enough to put on a jacket some of the time!  That’s unusual for me!

The rooms are all decorated differently – you can google search Seaside Motel Cayucos and see. 

It’s not that cheap, but most of the rooms around the area were about the same price according to Sister Ball who did some comparisons.   What’s even more amazing is our neighbors upstairs go with his family every November to the same hotel.  His parents rent the house behind the hotel for the month of November, and the kids and their families rent the hotel rooms for whenever they can come during the month.  Pretty cool!  That would be a great family tradition ~

We went to Morrow Rock – you aren’t supposed to climb it, which I didn’t want to do anyway, but I did touch it. It looked really cool shrouded in fog.  There were all kinds of birds there, and apparently there are some eagles there as well.  We didn’t see them, as far as I know.

 

 

 

 

 

We went to dinner at a place called the Sea Shanty in Cayucos – I had some really good halibut!  Then we went to the pier, it was windy and chilly, but such fun to see and hear the ocean and waves. 

 
 

  

 

 

Sister Henrick is almost 75 years old, and has a bad back, so we just plan around that, and make sure she has the rest she needs, so we didn’t stay too long.  We went back to Morrow Bay, the town, found a Red Box and rented the movie “Oz”.  I’ve not rented from there before, strange as that may seem.   It was a good movie – I liked it.  Right across from the Red Box is McDonalds – so that’s where we went for breakfast the next morning!






This is right after checking out -







The next morning, we checked out, went to McDonalds, then we went to Morrow Rock again, saw some otters that were just napping.

 

We bought a ton of salt water taffy from a couple of places; one that made the taffy themselves the first day, which was good, and the second day from Sweet’s Candy from SLC, at a different store, which was much better!  We strolled about the shops and did a ton of eating – it was all good!  My camera is broken, so Sister Ball took all of the pictures.  Thanks to Sister Ball for sharing!

There was a place called Duckie’s by the pier where the Williams said we should eat.  They had some really good fish and chips for lunch.  Sister Henrick had a fish sandwich, which she really didn’t like which was too bad.

 

We had Sister Henrick get in the water.  I wouldn’t say she was forced, because in planning the trip, she said she had never been to the Pacific Ocean, and she just wanted to put her toes in the water!  Well – she found out the water was cold from Sister Ball and I putting our toes (and feet and some of our legs) in, that she wasn’t so sure anymore!  We convinced her she needed to do it so she didn’t regret not doing it, and she did! 

    

I don’t think she had her shoes off for more than 10 minutes though.  Sister Ball and I were in there a little longer – once your feet become accustomed to the cold, it’s not so bad.  There were swimmers, boogie boarders, and surfers, but most of them had on wetsuits.

 I think we look like rainbow sherbet.

 

We drove by the otters again, and they were out playing in the water -

                                       

We drove up just past San Simeon to where there were elephant seals all over the beach; young, old, etc.  When we were there, it was just the males, as the females and the newest babies were not there yet.  One of the volunteers there said the seals come and lose their hair/fur while they are there.  It takes about 4 weeks for it all to come off.  It’s really thick, and very coarse hair.  The “brown” seals are the ones with their hair, and we saw different stages of hair loss.  I’m sure I could make some comment about that with Tom and Thomas’ hairlines but I will leave it as it is….

 

Sister Henrick would not have been able to make the tour of the Hearst Castle, so we went to the visitor’s center.  I almost got a State Park speeding ticket, but I slowed WAY down that the officer thought better of pulling me over.  Sister Ball will need to go back and tour the place when her family comes in November.

 

We didn’t have much time after that, so we headed home to Fresno.  It was a fun outing!

I have about 2 months left - I’m sure all you returned missionaries know how it feels to even think about leaving the mission, let alone going home – you will have to give me some pointers for when I do come home.

Thursday was Sister Ball’s birthday!  It was interesting trying to have everything in place before we went on our little excursion, but it worked out for the most part!  We had lots of people at the Employment Center, which was fun; delicious Costco chocolate cake and ice cream!

 

The rest of the week was filled in with medical work – it’s never ending but isn’t that “job security” in most places – For me, as President says at Zone Conferences, you only have so much time; our days are numbered even before we arrive in the mission.  There will come a day when you have to leave. 

That is applicable for our lives as well – we DO only have so much time – some have more than others.  What will we do with it while we have it – it’s up to us ~

I am still working through the scriptures about Jesus Christ in the index of the Bible.  I enjoy it!   I’m not moving at a very fast pace, but moving forward none the less.
I hope everyone is happy and healthy – I am so grateful to see my Father’s hand in my life.  I need to be more bold in sharing the Gospel with those I come in contact at stores or anywhere else.  We are still handing all kinds of pass-a-long cards!  We bake treats and goodies for the Missionaries and a couple of families here in our apartment complex.  After our initial car “break-in”, we’ve enjoyed being here!

I best go – we have a Missionary that isn’t sleeping well (okay, we have more than one!), but this one in particular is going to get a sleep help cd tonight.  I hope it DOES help!

The Gospel is true!  Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer!  Our Heavenly Father is a God of miracles!  I so testify!

I love you all tons – Sister Ure

 

We have had a busy week – there’s always something to do!  At our last Zone Conference, which are always so uplifting, President asked us to consider out of so many people on the earth, what did Heavenly Father see in each one of us that He would place us in the California Fresno Mission at this time?  It is so easy for me to believe that all of the younger missionaries were foreordained to be in this mission at this time.  Their talents and their personalities were needed to find specific people and, they were foreordained to preach them the Gospel! 

When the Spirit reminded me that I was also foreordained to come here, it was harder to believe.  I’m not sure why that was, but it’s interesting to ponder.  This has been such a learning experience!  I’m very grateful to be here – to help how I can.  I love the younger missionaries – I tell them they are my foster kids!  I love the senior missionary couples and my companions as well – they are new friends who have become family.  It’s great to have more come, but so hard to see people leave!  It’s what President Gelwix says each farewell fireside (where missionaries bear their testimonies, and can invite people to see them one last time to say goodbye), that we lose such good people, but coming on the plane the next day will be more good missionaries to pick up the slack.   We all have only so much time – but that’s the same in everything we do, every part of life.

 

In the Orchard View Ward, our new ward, we have been given a list of 14 names of Sisters who need a little extra care, according to the Relief Society Presidency.  We have been to visit 3 of them, but have seen only 2 as one wasn’t home.   We did visit a non-member instead though.   We did leave a harvesting blessing with her (we prayed for her and her family).   We have had a harder time adjusting to this new ward, and were contemplating going to another  where we know the missionaries need some help, but Heavenly Father let us know we are to stay where we are, visit whom we can, help however we can, teach, play, lead, etc.,  so we shall.  It seemed like people were becoming a little more familiar with us today too, so that is good.  We won’t wait around to give help, though!  That’s the best way to feel a part of things!

We asked our District Leader to give us some training about talking with people wherever we go.  It reminded me of K.I.S.S. which according to Daniel is an acronym for Keep It Simple Stupid but I am changing it to Keep It Simple Sister!  I have a tendency to try and teach the whole plan of Salvation when I’m in line at a grocery store…..  not really but almost!  Or it’s the other way, I don’t ask if they want to have someone come talk with them.  It was pretty informative, and helpful,  and yes!  we had role playing!

It has been summer hot here!  UGH!  The week where the temps were 109 or higher was a killer!  I really can’t complain too much, because I don’t get outside for very long too often, but it’s hot going to the car, getting in the car, going to the apartment.  (I know - oh wah!)   It’s amazing when it’s 90 we think it’s pleasant.  For someone that doesn’t like the heat – that IS amazing!

For the 4^th of July, we went to the Sequoias.  Though I had been there before, Sister Ball and Sister Henrick had not.  If you can believe it, I got car sick!  We went through the gate, and I asked if I could get out.... this first picture is right after getting out of the car.  I ended up driving Sister Ball's car.

It was only 85 to 90 degrees in the upper part of the park!  It was great!  Here are a few pictures.  I hadn’t been to the falls, so that was cool!  The falls are down the back side of the mountain, lower in the valley, so it was hotter down there.  I felt like jumping in the water, but I didn’t….

Looks fake to me - cool photo

This was really hard to find footing, and my hips hurt for a couple of days afterwards.  

Gettin' old I guess ....

 

Sister Henrick and I by the Sherman tree, or is it the Grant?

Awesome waterfall!

oops - there's part of my head - my mom seems to take pictures where part of the person's head isn't showing - I'm a little opposite - part of it IS showing

That's the valley we drove down into - you will notice my hair - when it was this short before, someone said I look like a 14 year old boy - I said, "I look 14?!?  Woo hoo!"

Sister Ball and Sister Henrick by the big tree (Sherman or Grant)

At least, not all of me got in the water - this is down stream a little.

We have these really pretty flowers here – I don’t know what they are, but really nice all over the apartment complex.  There’s roses in one area, and other flowers elsewhere – just nice.    There are crepe myrtle trees too.   Apparently though, the crepe myrtle trees are a mess to clean up – I just get to look at them!  

 This is a picture of an entry into a shopping area.  There were flowers and trees on both sides.  There were so many flowers and plants it felt like the Garden of Eden ~

These fine looking young men are 4 of our missionaries.  From L- R is Elder Tausinga, Elder Mecham, Elder Topper, and Elder Tesimale.  They are just a hoot!

These next couple of photos are of our tomato plant, Fred.  The first is before watering when he was pretty young; then after watering; now you can see there are actually tomatoes growing on the plant, where we thought we would be tomato-less for the season, then the last is actually how big Fred really is!  There are 9 tomatoes! I am pointing at one of them - I hope they get big and ripen soon!  Yum!  Fresh tomatoes!

I have been training my replacement - it's kindof a weird feeling, but one that has to happen.  She is a local service missionary who is a surgery nurse with 52 years experience!  I think the Missionaries will be in great hands!  Her name is Sister (Violet) Besser.

Thomas posthumously, graduated with his MBA on May 4^th.  He doesn’t need anything where he’s at, but I just felt that this should happen if it was possible.   I was prompted too many times to ignore, and now, I feel like I have done something for him.  Thank you to Chad and Holly for finishing it up for me!  I am most grateful!  I was going to show some pictures, but I'll have to see if Holly still has them as I can't find them.

It’s getting late – when I started this, it wasn't past curfew - 

I hope this finds everyone healthy and happy!  My time here on the mission is quickly coming to an end.  I would stay forever, but that’s not possible nor logical.  I am so grateful for my blessings, and the knowledge I have, and am gaining.  Life is beautiful!  I am blessed much more than I deserve - I love you all!  Sister Ure