TWO SIDES OF THE COIN

Missionaries who speak some foreign languages don't always arrive at regular transfer times.  They enter the MTC whenever there is someone to teach them, and they leave there on different schedules from the main groups.  We received three Laotian speaking elders last week.  One of them was an all-star high school athlete who was being heavily recruited for college.  When diagnosed with cancer, he was told that he would need a cadaver bone inserted into his leg, a lengthy process that would take 2-3 years.  When he asked about serving a mission, he was told that it wasn't likely, since he'd need to be under constant medical supervision.  He chose to have his leg amputated, just below the knee, and arrived in the field in less than a year.

First day.  Because the President was engaged, these three elders were met at the airport by the office elders and oriented by the president's assistants.  When they arrived at McKay House, where they would spend the night, the assistants carried Elder X (who is nameless to protect his innocent parents), without his prosthetic, but with a concoction of ketchup and strawberry jam dripping from the stump, into the house, where the office elders were.  Their hysteria at having run him over was supported by Elder Walker's (no protection here) hyperventilating.  I guess they staged a good show until someone smelled ketchup.

What depth these young missionaries have.  Gotta love 'em.

HIGHS, NO LOWS

We're havin' a heat wave.  It was 100 degrees today in sunny Sacramento.  A few leaves have started changing color, but this isn't like October is meant to be.

Here's a plug for the pass-along cards that you'll find in this month's ENSIGN.  Put them in your purses and/or pockets, then remember that you have them.  Given the political climate, it's easy to say to people, "If you're interested in learning more about the Mormon Church, you could visit this website."  No pressure...just free information.  Missionaries use them all the time.  Make sure your kids have some, too.  I'd be disappointed if I thought that those cool cards weren't being utilized.

This may come as a surprise to missionary moms.  A package arrived addressed to an elder and decorated with colored paper leaves for autumn.  Several other elders picked up the package and made such comments as, "Wow, this elder's mom really cares about him," or "This guy must be pretty special."  I told them I was surprised that they even noticed, much less appreciated the effort.  They assured me that they would love to get a fun package like that.  So, for what it's worth...

Another elder had to go home for medical reasons.  This was an injury he sustained in a YM/YW basketball game.  I've been surprised at the number of medical issues that have arisen.  I'm also surprised at the number of fender benders that have occurred.  But I remind myself that we are dealing with over 200 teens and young adults.

One of the new office elders is a cocky, fun-loving computer head (and I say that in the most loving way).  He reminds me of Adam.  The office sister in Adam's mission gave up and went home early (Adam disclaims any credit).  I'm trying not to be so entertained by this elder, who shall remain nameless in case he hacks into my blog, that I encourage his antics.

Next blog I'll share some more serious moments.  There really are great things happening here.

HIGHS'n LOWS

First the high:  California has wonderful sunsets, and last night I saw a sun that looked three times its normal size.  By the time I got parked and took a picture, it was dipping behind trees, but it was stupendous.  You'll have to trust me on this.

Now the low:  Same evening.  I attended my first (and last) Daughters of the Utah Pioneers meeting.  There were four women besides me.  The captain sort of officiated and brought brownies.  One of them read a three-page, single-spaced, history of her grandfather.  And one of them gave the lesson....on purses.  It actually might have been interesting if she hadn't read an entire pamphlet to us.  After about six pages, my eyes glazed over and I had to really concentrate to keep from falling off my chair.  I am not nearly infirm enough for this group yet.

Saw this bike in the hall the other day.  So I started watching the biking sisters, who are Islanders.  When they ride, they take the flowers out of their hair so they can put their helmets on.  When they get where they're going, they wipe the sweat off their brows and put flowers back in their hair.  The bikes they ride are loaners from the Elders, so they make quite a picture in their skirts on men's bikes.  They're tough.

Sisters Angimarau and Agavale

GOURD FESTIVAL

Every Gourd Society in Northern California, and there are a surpringly large number of them, displayed their wares at the Gourd Festival today.  There was quite a range, with the top of the scale being breathtakingly beautiful artwork.

There was a cultural diversity theme in the entertainment and food.  We watched authentic hula dancing and some Aztec-inspired dances.  Lunch was Bratwurst with sauerkraut and German potato salad, and Italian ice for dessert.

Cute Chloe taught me how to rotate my pictures.  Still takin' care of me from afar....

 There were corn mazes and all the fun kid stuff.  One thing I'd never seen before was the bubble ride pictured here.  Wouldn't that be great fun for everyone except claustrophobiacs?

Temperatures were in the high 80's, but we had a good time, in spite of the heat.  Since no one dressed up as gourds, though, the Chicken Festival wins, handsdown.  Can't get too worked up about the eggplant festival next weekend, but we'll see......

The mission's going gangbusters this month.  There were 25 baptisms today, and 26 more scheduled for next Saturday, bringing the monthly total to 91!

FOOD COLUMN

First, a funny story.  For Sister Wells' birthday I bought a large tiramusu cake from Costco.  I didn't have room on my side of the fridge to store it, so I put it in the fridge at work.  (The mission home is housed is the chapel where we also attend church.)   I checked on it Saturday afternoon; all was well.  When I went to retrieve it on Sunday for the birthday dinner, the "cupboard was bare."  I finally figured out that the scouts found it in the fridge and concluded that it was a donation for their fundraiser, and auctioned if off.

My own fault for not putting a note on it.  Had I been in charge of the auction, I probably would have surmised the same thing.  Anyway, word got around, and while we were having dinner, Sister Wells got phone calls from members inviting us all to their homes for cake and ice cream.  Both Sister Wells and I felt that the cake had gone to a good cause, and she got mileage from it on Facebook, so the birthday was a success.

Now for a recipe shared with me by Elder Fifita.  Bring a saucepan of water to a boil with the seasonings from Ramen soup.  Put the compacted noodles (still compacted) into the water for only 45 seconds to a minute.  Then drain and coat on both sides with egg mixture, as you would for french toast.  After cooking this, layer on some cheese and enclose in bread.  It's known in the mission as a Tongan Pancake.  Can't vouch for it personally, but maybe without the extra bread?

Elder Fifita

CHICKEN FEST

Chicken Day was all that I'd hoped for, and more.  I didn't factor in people wearing zany costumes and chicken hats.

Eat your heart out, Heather.

And, yes, they did serve chicken, which I thought was irreverent, if tasty.  There were surprisingly good bands playing country music, food and craft vendors, and everybody's dog in attendance.

I don't know why I keep taking "sideways" pictures when I don't know how to rotate them in this program, but I have to share the 81-year-old woman who was handing out suckers to the children from her chicken bag:

Later that evening, we returned for a community theater production of Best of Broadway.  The venue was great and the tap dancing was fun, but the sound mixing was off and many of the singers were sub-par.  Still, the addition of roosters crowing at odd moments added to the fun.  (They really do wander throughout the whole village, free range.)

Sisters Porter, Wells, and I in our festival T-shirts

We were celebrating Sister Wells' birthday, and we had a great day.

APPLE HILL

There's an area in the Sierra foothills, just north of here, known as Apple Hill.  I don't know how many square miles it encompasses, but it began with 16 original "ranches," and has more than that now.  I haven't figured out why they're called ranches, because they're orchards.  From Labor Day until Christmas Eve they are open to the public, selling apples and all things apple, plus some other fruits and arts and crafts.  Some of the bigger ranches have ponds for fishing, ponies for riding, etc.  Closer to November, the Christmas tree "ranches" start selling trees.

Brooke and I went there last Saturday.  The fritters weren't great, but the cider is wonderful.  Best of all was the scenery.  It felt like we were driving through a National Park.  Even though it's next to a freeway, it's so shrouded in trees that it feels more remote.  I loved it--even saw 1 or 2 leaves that had turned color.  Great celebration of autumn.

This Saturday is the Chicken Festival in Fair Oaks Village, where the chickens roam freely all the time.  I already have my chicken souvenir, though.  At Apple Hill I found a chicken made from horseshoes--perfect for my place back home.

With the Gourd Festival coming up next, I should be able to celebrate all season long.

Oh, and the work's going well, too.