Just so you know

Last night Mark and I were asked to speak to the San Diego East Stake High Priest Dinner at the Stake Center.  This is our home stake and our ward in the stake is La Mesa 1st.  So it was our home crowd and they have been welcoming and helping the mission president for years. So we put together some facts that we thought they would enjoy.  so I am passing them on to you
As of November we have
169 missionaries
1/3 are sisters
22 Battalion sisters plus one here for 2 months from SLC temple square.  They work at the Battalion for 6 hours each day and then do 6 hours in a City area
Languages:
57 or approx 1/3 of our missionaries speak Spanish
7 Tagalog (1 is waiting for his visa to the Philippines)
4 Arabic  Another native speaker coming in Feb. (1 sister has basic Arabic now and another one coming in January  opening up the ability to expand Arabic teaching to the Sisters as well)
4 Swahili -one native speaker
3 ASL- all are hearing
3 Lao-one Thai native, two Americans
3 Mandarin Chinese who work at the Battalion
2 Mandarin Elders who could but are not speaking it now
2 French (capable not specifically assigned)

Senior Couples
21 work in the office, military relations, CES, YSA
Not included in that number is the Battalion Director and his wife and couples at Camp Wildwood

Things I have learned so far in San Diego as mission president and wife:

·      Being a mission president is like being a kindergarten teacher – all the colds and sniffles.

·      I know the location of all the bathrooms in all the stake centers in the mission.

·      Wards are very pleased when Sisters are moved in to replace Elders

·      Wards are very pleased when Elders are moved in to replace Sisters

·      Lifting the mandate to require the missionaries to run 3 days a week makes you popular

·      Ice cream in the mission home freezer doesn’t last more than 2 days. (because of missionaries)

·      California Burritos and Street Tacos are gourmet food in San Diego. (for missionaries)

·      Every street in San Diego begins with Del or El, or San, Los, Linda, or has Rio, Rey or Camino in the name.

·      San Diego is the 14^th busiest traffic city in the country. (That is a fact)

·      I have figured out the formula to determine how long it will take to get somewhere in San Diego, take the number of miles, multiply by 3 for example:  15 miles takes you 45 minutes.  20 miles takes you 60 minutes.

·      If you miss your exit you have to do several U turns on strange streets to get home.

·      Motorcyclists in San Diego have a death wish.

·      The legislature must have allowed the motor cycle rule of driving between cars in order to reduce the number of motorcyclists in California.

·      Your car almost bounces down the freeway when the jets fly overhead on I-15 by Mira Mar.

·      Coyotes are alive and well on Mt. Helix and leave calling cards.

·      Most trips across the Mexican border by our missionaries are unintentional.

·      Not all unintentional trips across the border result in Mexican Traffic Tickets, but some do.

·      There is not a Short Cut to El Centro from here.

·      Short cuts to El Centro could result in unintentional trips across the Mexican Border.

·      Water bottles can still melt in your car in El Centro in September.

·      90 Degrees really does feel cool in El Centro.

Some other observations:

·      We really do have some of the best young men and women in the church in our mission.

·      Probably 95% of our missionaries are coming into the field with testimonies and ready to work. 

·      Senior Missionaries are angels in disguise. 

·      Senior Missionaries are over-worked and under praised.

·      The members in the California San Diego Mission are very supportive of the missionaries and the missionary work.

·      The Gospel is true, and the Church is true.

I

iIn other news.  We have had interviews all week so there really aren't any pictures of that.  We decided to drive to El Centro on Sunday night for interviews on Monday.  It was our way of getting our of town and relaxing a bit. Mark of course had  to find a new way to El Centro which meant driving on the old highway 94 which basically takes you right along the border.  I was pretty sure we were going to see Radiator Springs and a the car characters and we came close. Here are a few pictures.

 This claims to be a hot springs. I don't think so

 Mark's favorite place to eat in El Centro. Good ribs

 Mark liked this sign

A big hole in the border wall. Hummmm.  Couldn't figure that out. Don't tell Donald

We have also had lots of critters at the house this week. I stepped out of the car one night and almost stepped on this.  (No it wasn't in a box, Mark did that to throw it away. There are bait traps all around the house.  Apparently they work. Yes that is a RAT

And the coyote has been leaving us little packages on the driveway and patio. He is getting a little too comfortable around our place for my liking.

Sorry no pictures of us.  Why would you want that when you can see rats and coyote poop?

We send our love and are so grateful for you. We hope it is a great Thanksgiving for you all.  We will be thinking of you. WE are looking forward to Mike and his family and Nathan Box and his.

I did find some boogie boards for the ocean so those who missed that you will have to come back and I think we will try Coronado island. There are bikes you can rent to ride around the island as well.  So come back or just come. We are finding more places.

We love you all

MOM

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