The Back Row Pew: Under the Boardwalk...Down by the Sea

PSA!!! More Senior Missionaries are needed...Due to the lack of incoming senior missionaries, they are making us work hard now!! We are now working in the office 2 1/2 days and one day in the Carlsbad Interfaith Community Service Center which services the homeless. In the office, Reed is Assistant Housing Coordinator with duties of moving furniture from apartment to apartment and to storage, scheduling apartment inspections, following up on problems and whatever else Elder Dong tells him to do. He is also over the Temple Information Booth where he schedules the young missionaries for their shifts and organizing supplies needed at the temple booth. Julie assists Sister Fife and Sister Dong with Incoming Missionary files, baptismal records and fulfilling missionary needs which could be anything from kitchen supplies to bedding to office supplies. It is a fun and rewarding assignment. We work with young Service Missionaries who are in the office everyday helping things run smoothly. San Diego is piloting a great Service Missionary program and these young Elder's and Sisters do fabulous work and service while still living at home. We knew from England how hard these office missionaries work but it is pretty incredible how dedicated and how intense it can be. We also get to interface with the young missionaries and we are getting to know them better. In addition, we have picked up an ordinance worker shift at the San Diego Temple on Saturdays. Things are busy around here. The San Diego Temple will close for 8 weeks at the end of September which will be just in time for us to teach a class or two at the Institute and get ready for a new session of Pathway. We continue to enjoy the YSA by socializing and supporting them in any way we can. We go to lunch or dinner with them, invite them to activities, continually text them and encourage them in their spiritual and social lives. We love hanging out with them. We had the opportunity to substitute the weekly institute class for Brother Walton a few times this summer which was nice.

The California San Diego Mission Office Staff...
Elder Fife, Sister Fife, the Pew's, Elder Dong, Sister Dong, Sister
Kingsford and Sister Jensen. (Sister Jensen has served for two years
and has now signed on to serve for two more)

Love working with Sister Abby Ward in the office. Sometimes when
we need a break we do online shopping together.

Elder LeBaron and Elder Towne are the current AP's in the Mission

Going over incoming missionary packets. Missionary Photos are
looked at by many people all day long. It made me realize how
important a good missionary photo is.

Celebrating the upcoming marriage of two of our YSA
couples. Stevey Gabbitas and Amanda Santelo
will be married mid-October in Los Angeles.
Jon Hamilton and Melinda Beccarri will be married in
November in Hawaii. Both these girls are from Brazil.

We spent a Friday taking our Bikes to Coronado
and riding them around the beautiful Island. It
was spectacular.

Coronado Bridge in the Background

San Diego Skyline on our Bikeride

Ferry from San Diego Bay to Coronado

YSA come and go... It's hard to say goodbye and Amy
Crockett is as good as they come. She left San Diego
and is on her way to George Mason University in Virginia
to get her Doctrate

Sid Tate is a fabulous UCSA Student from Orem.
He graduated top of his class from USU and is here getting
a Doctorate in Economics. He and Elder Pew dressed alike
one Sunday.

Monique Mendoza feels right at home in our flat and
occasionally takes a nap here.

BISHOP WING WAS RELEASED
We love Phil and Mindy Wing and are grateful
for our friendship. They have been a blessing in our mission.

We have loved the Bishopric Councilors and wives.
Linda Lowder and Sarah Chipman have been so
welcoming and fun to be with.

Former Bishop Phil Wing and New Bishop Mark Costellano
They have been friends and neighbors for 35 years. It will
be an easy transition.

Taco Tuesday at Oscars with the YSA and
several from the 7th Ward

Swing Dance Night with the YSA for FHE.

The Senior Couples in the Mission
gathered at The Organ Pavilion at Balboa Park
for a concert.

It took some major coaxing to get Reed to attend this
Organ Recital.

Come Follow Me Group continues and we love our Sunday Nights.

The Elder's Quorum put on a fabulous Pulled Pork
Dinner for all the YSA. 65 people attended and had
a great night.

David Yang our Elder's Quorum President
was in charge and proved that he was a fantastic
Chef. Monique assists.

Stevey and Amanda...always helping

Brandon and Monique...having fun.

We finally sat in this swing and watched while the YSA cleaned up
the party. They are so resourceful and basically do everything.

We had a fun night at the Bayside Symphony Concert/Broadway Songs
with Jeff Schwarting and Monique Mendoza. They were good sports
for hanging out with so many OLD people.