"Take ye heed, watch and pray:" Mark 13:33

We have just ended a zoom call with our missionaries discussing the plan for Hurricane Hillary which is approaching Southern California. The storm has been weakening but will in all likelihood drop large amounts of rain in the region and flooding is a major concern. In addition, strong winds can down trees and power lines. We feel very fortunate, and see the Lord's hand in the timing of our efforts to update emergency backpacks that are kept in each apartment. Just this week at zone conference missionaries brought backpacks and while they trained, our senior missionaries emptied, inventoried and refilled the backpacks. Planning for this happened weeks in advance of any news of a storm. This is a great comfort to us and yet we know we are still in need of your prayers and appreciate any that you can offer on our behalf for the safety of our missionaries and all those impacted by Hillary. And now onto other mission news.

The mission home is graced with the presence of fruit bearing trees, now including newly planted fruit trees. From the moment we received our assignment to serve in San Diego, Armenay, who grew up in the neighboring county of Orange, wondered about the fruit bearing trees that might be in the yard of the mission home. We were delighted to learn there were a number of citrus trees and since arriving have showered them with TLC, removing ground cover, pruning and fertilizing the trees. We are eagerly awaiting the harvest from these citrus trees, that is if we can keep the critters in the yard away from them. In addition to the citrus trees, we found a small olive tree in a six inch pot from Trader Joes that had been left on the back porch during the bathroom remodel period. We transplanted that into a larger pot and this tiny little thing is producing a few olives.

For our fortieth wedding anniversary in December Armenay decided it would be fitting to plant an avocado tree at the mission home. Our children got on board with this idea and provided a Mother's Day gift so we could plant an additional avocado tree as well as a pomegranate bush. So the mission home will be bringing forth fruit. "That they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord". Isaiah 61:3

God is mindful of seeds, fruits and harvests, these themes are woven throughout the scriptures. In fact, just tonight in our hurricane prep meeting we read a scripture referring to the harvest being safe from the storm, it seems fitting to share snippets here. "Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm . . . neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds. . . but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them. . . But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest." Alma 26:6-7

But back to our point, it takes faith to plant a seed, it takes effort and care to grow that seed into a plant a bush or a tree. Our harvests are often (not always) related to our efforts. While Norm and I may not harvest the fruit of the trees we have planted here in San Diego, and in fact, for the most part, have removed blossoms so that the newly planted trees can put their energy into becoming established trees that will bear fruit once the root and branches have sufficient strength, we believe they will provide fruit to be enjoyed by many cohorts of missionaries. As Christ declared, "The harvest truly is plenteous." We believe that will be the case with the fruit trees we have planted here.

We were very blessed to have all of our children and grandchildren here in July! We had a ton of fun packed into just a few days that went by all too quickly. It may be the only time we are all gathered here given schedules and demands but we are still hoping for one sunny Christmas together. There are a few photos below. On to mission news.

We have had baptisms in each of our new small language programs since our last post. It is wonderful to see these missionaries teaching themselves languages and seeing the fruits of their labors. Our first MTC-trained Haitian Creole elder arrived just this week and we are so ready put him to work. In June we had a visit from Elder and Sister Bragg who were here for a mission tour. We were richly fed by Elder Bragg who taught us to rely on the spirit and allow him to be the senior member of our companionships. We held our July Inspire programs outdoors and again in August and plan to do so in September. We are able to host many more people outside and feel the momentum growing behind this monthly program of music and messages of hope.

As far as miracles go, they continue to occur. A set of our missionaries were out knocking doors one day and had found a number of families that wanted messages of Christ. They felt impressed to knock a particular building of the complex before departing. On the first door of that building, a woman answered and said, "Let me grab my husband." She came back and her husband explained that he had just been praying on his bed in need of help, and the missionaries knocked on his door. He and the missionaries felt the Lord's hand in that timing.

We teach our missionaries to be forces for good in the world. A set of Elders were making plans to visit some friends and, following a prompting they received, went in an order that did not make sense to them. We always encourage our missionaries to be efficient with their miles - but following this prompting they were not efficient. On the way to the friends house, they saw an elderly woman, lying on the sidewalk. They immediately pulled over and hopped out of the car to help her. They learned that she had fallen while taking her trash out and unable to get up on her own she had been there for about five minutes. They were able to assist her and help her back into her house. We are certain the Lord was mindful of this dear woman and prompted these Elders to go this less efficient way so they could be there to help her in her time of need.

We feel so blessed to be engaged in His work and to see His miracles each and every day! We pray that we will see them as we ride out this storm and thank you for your prayers.