A Changing Summer in the Northwest June 2014

It's a wonderful life...the life of a missionary. And it's a lot like life! Always changing and ever interesting. In the middle of June, we learned that we were going to be transferred to another area. There are not enough senior sisters coming  to be missionaries as there are needs to be filled, so consequently, we find ourselves now serving in the city of Kent. We will miss the Marshallese people of the Olympic Branch and will now be working with the Clark Lake Ward. They have some Marshallese, but also Koshi, African, and a sundry of other folks to work with. Should be fun. The Lord is ever in charge and because we love him, we follow him.

A recap on adventures this past six weeks or so as we've served in Auburn and a few pictures of some of our friends from there.

The Olympic Branch had a Memorial Day celebration and also honored one of the young missionaries who had returned home and a week later returned with his family, sort of a "meet the Branch". The people gather together and sing and present gifts to the family and especially the missionary whom they love.

Benny G, Myle M., Henry big and Henry little getting the chicken on the grill

Elder Giles with all the women of his family

Myle helping with the barbecue

Rumi, me, Nora, Rosita, Ines, and Lekoj

Jawe with Jenna, Erika, JunJun, Clara, Andres, Joshua 

Clena and her son Raul's daughter

Instead of blankets, spread out mats to sit on

Noan, Clara and Erika

Just a bunch of cute Marshallese children from the Branch

Elder Giles, all decked out and his family being sung to by branch

Isn't he cute?

We so enjoy working with all the senior missionaries. We get together monthly and usually enjoy a luncheon together before the meeting. This was the last time we were together before Sisters Moreton and Sister Lance headed back home. We ended up replacing them in Kent. Two new sisters working with Employment were added as well as a temporary sister with Sister Rex who is waiting for the replacement for Sister Webb.

Me, Sisters Henderson, Lance, Moreton, Elder and Sister Evans,Sister Evensen, Greer, Rex and ?

The baby shower for Florina and her new little daughter was different than what I'm used to. Lots of friends come but they bring all their children and the children run around like crazy outside and when it's time to eat they come in and get a plate and continue on with their outside activities. I think some of the dads were outside supervising because the women were all inside having a good time visiting and playing silly games.

Angie, Florina, Rumi, Kathy and children

Melody, sister to Florina finishing up the decoration. That's a diaper cake!

Carlina, mother of Florina with all the goodies and favors served

Party goers, Shannon, Sarah and Rebeca, family of Maria Domenden Tipay

Florina and new baby girl, Nailani Ku'ulei

We enjoy our District meetings and this was the last time for this group of elders and sisters

Elders Bradford, Johnson, Goodell, Cairo, Cook, Brown; Sisters Walker, Henderson, Peterson and Lloyd

We went to lunch with the sisters that were going home and took some pictures of some of the people in the restaurant. The little girls, who were from Peru, were part of an orphan's choir. The wonderfully dressed up ladies were with their church group enjoying some food together. We shared our Family Search cards with them.

Peruvian members of the Orphan's choir

Looking fine in her pink

The hats were the best

The Northwest is a beautiful place and I never can resist the opportunity to take a few shots of THE mountain. I loved the fact that there were fisherman there and it reminded me of Rog and how he liked to get out into nature and fish.

The mountain looks like it's almost suspended in the air

We stopped by to say goodbye to Sanny, JoJo and their cute kids and #3 on the way

We love our young missionaries and we have enjoyed Brother Wilkinson and his words of wisdom as he treats the Auburn Zone to a monthly get together of breakfast mostly, but this time it was dinner, and he always shares some great gospel message. We will miss this!

One of the last things we did in the branch was attend another Kemen, this time a first birthday for Kennedee Dupree (mother is Charmi, daughter of Richard and Rumi Domenden, and dad is Lucas). This was a rather unusual Kemen as it started pretty much on time and was all wrapped up in about three hours. They played lots of Disney sons as the theme was sort of "under the sea".

It's another pig feast

Three generations: Charmi, Kennadee, Rumi

The disc jockeys, Biamon and Richard (grandpa)

Rommel and his nephew, Tristan

Some of the dancers who put on a little bit of Hawaii

Cousins

Charmi, Luke and Kennadee

 A few more pictures of some of the members we've been working with, especially the cute children that we will miss. It's such fun to get great hugs from them and they mostly are excited to see us.

A great group of Relief Society sister on our last Sunday in the branch

Allan Laborce with Chris and Lance and nephews Joey and Danikan Davis

Me and Petunia Harry

Susan, Sis Henderson, me, Glenna, Jawe, Rosita, Lala and ?

Debra and her children

Cute Marshallese children

I took this because of the oversized shoes he was sporting

Me, Mari, Manuel, Marsieen

Sister Henderson with Hedel and her children

Stanny, Darling and Benjamin

We went to our last Kemen and it may be our last. The invitation had said come at 5. We came at 7 and they finally served dinner around 10 p.m. There were a lot of hungry children by then (and probably parents, too). Marshallese time is sometimes a bit too late.

Sister Henderson at the Kemen with Debra's sister

Nemerley and Edwin dressed in their greens for his first birthday

The centerpieces were like candy pussy willows

This foil container of food was for just one person, Sister Avery. Wow

 The last picture are the children I acquired while in Auburn. Every mission I've prayed for more grandchildren, but didn't bargain for this. A mother bird decided she would build her next in our fuchsia hanging plant and we had to leave it behind as the birds still haven't left the nest. Just hope the neighbor doesn't forget to water.

Baby birds growing up and getting feathers

Enjoy the changes in your life. It's what makes it interesting! Happy Summer Days and hugs to everyone.