Thanks for Your Service

Dear Family and Loved Ones,

   I can’t believe it is August.  We are really enjoying our summer vacation from school and it will be a bit difficult to get back into the hectic routine of early mornings and homework again.  Missionary work doesn’t seem to be too effected by summer, although some areas get pretty hot (nothing compared to most places) and there are a lot of people on vacation.  The work continues to move forward despite losing the amazing missionaries who finish and return home and other challenges, another testimony that this is the Lord’s Work.

     Monday we had several families from the Ward over for Family Home Evening. We watched the DVD of our Stake Pioneer Trek, it was great!  It looked like the youth had a great experience, the trek was well planned with re-enactments of the Mormon Battalion, Sweetwater crossing, Hole in the Rock, etc.  There are so many dedicated scout and youth leaders here, we are so grateful for their sacrifices of time and for their many hours of service.

     Scott and Cristy surprised Ben and Mari with a visit (one of the great perks of working for JetBlue).  We all loved spending a couple of days together and appreciate their making time for a visit despite their very hectic schedules.

     Tuesday Dr. Jackson, our area medical advisor, and his wife came to the Mission Home for lunch. They are a great couple and serve patiently and steadily. We really enjoyed their visit.  Doctor Jackson took about five phone calls during the short time he was here.  He covers the sixteen missions in California as well as the mission in Hawaii and is on call to give medical advice 24 hours a day!

     We had a wonderful family p-day on Friday. Last week was Navy week in San Pedro, four navy ships were docked there and free tours were given of the ships. San Pedro is less than 30 minutes from the Mission Home so we thought we would be able to make the trip, tour the ship and be back home within a few hours . . .  When we arrived and saw the line we knew there would be a wait so we asked one the security personnel how long the wait would be, she said that no more than two hours.  Two hours is a long wait but we felt like it would be worth it for the chance of a lifetime to tour one of the ships.  The wait outside was a little over two hours but once we got inside the terminal there was another long line . . . this time the wait was over three hours!  A few times we thought about giving up but we had invested a lot of time already so we persisted.

Looking around the room at the others waiting in line was a lesson in patriotism.  There were people of all ethnicities, all walks of life, all age groups and genders.  We saw MANY veterans, some who had served in the navy and who were eagerly sharing with their children experiences and details about the military service.  Two gentlemen standing behind us in line were from Taiwan, one had served in the military there. As we endured the heat, sore feet and the very long wait we all seemed to bond.    Ben and Mari were good sports although they wouldn’t have minded giving up and going home.

     We finally got our tour of the ship, the Princeton (the Lincoln, an aircraft carrier was there but not open for a tour on Friday).  We all decided that the tour was worth the wait.  The ship was old but in remarkable repair, the young men and women serving on board were well trained, enthusiastic and considerate.  Some of the most impressive aspects of the ship were the control room, the guns and the helicopter hanger.  As the crew would leave the ship and walk down the gang plank they would turn and salute the flag at the bow of the ship. Their patriotism and dedication were inspirational! Ted greeted each seaman with, “thanks for your service”!  We left with a sense of pride and gratitude for those who give so much to protect and represent our country.

     We are coming up on transfers again next week – here we go again  :)

 We love you all!

The Long Beach Buberts