Best Ward Party Around

We just returned from a ward party in Hillsdale area which the Arabic members hosted and invited the other ward members and their friends too.  They cooked all the food and the Arabic missionaries helped serve. English members showed how they were learning Arabic in their weekly class from one of the new Arabic members, groups danced, the women trilled with their tongues, the food was incredible...baklava, falallas, kabobs, domas, and a bunch of other things I cannot spell or pronounce but it was very entertaining and not your average ward party.

 One of our Arabic speaking missionaries.  This is one Dad called up at the MTC and asked him to learn Arabic. Great Elder

 This is the stake president and one of our Arabic speaking missionaries who dad asked to learn Arabic

In other news we finished up this round of interviews. I have to admit I learn a lot sitting and talking to the missionaries while they wait for their interviews.  They really do tell me a lot more than they realize.  On Thursday I met up with an investigator at the Mormon Battalion with one of her friends.  We have met with her several times and she loves being with us and  watching our videos and apparently bringing her friends to it too.  Just need to convince her it really will be ok if she prays about it. But it was a good experience.
This morning we went to the battalion to check out a new apartment near by because we are getting more battalion missionaries and need more apartments.  Then we walked into Old Town to explore some more.  We found some neat new shops.  We also checked out the Old Presido on the hill behind the Battalion which is where the fort the soldiers went to original stood.  It is an incredible view of the ocean and the city.
This morning we woke up to a marine layer that made it feel like we were in a cloud. All we could see was the fog.  It was kind of neat.

 It really looked a lot more foggy than this

 Part of the tribute to the Mormon Battalion on the Hill

This statute is on the site of old Fort Statton where the Battalion originally came.

Well that's about all the news for this week. Tomorrow we get to go to our own ward where our missionaries are doing the whole sacrament meeting.  They have invited 13 investigators and asked that we be there. I think we can oblige them.  They are such good missionaries

Then it is off to Imperial Valley for a mission President devotional in Calexico where Dad's counselor will speak (in spanish). We also have a few missionaries to check on so we will spend the night  then head home.  The FM group is coming to do some repairs at the mission home on monday. They are also going to put a new light system in the kitchen. So life stays interesting on the west coast.

We love you all and pray for you.

MOM