So this week was really busy and P-Day was too.
The Dotson's are doing great. We met with them literally every day last week. They had signed up to feed us dinner twice because she feels bad when our dinner calendar has an empty spot. Then on the other days, we were over there to help Emily prepare for her baptismal interview because she hadn't really been as involved with the other lessons as she could have been. On Tuesday we went over the baptismal interview process with them. We aren't supposed to directly ask them the questions, we're just supposed to cover the topics involved in the interview. Edwin and Emily were interviewed on Friday and everything went find, but Jacqueline had to wait until Sunday because that was when President Grant was available. But things went fine with her too. So this week will just be preparing for their baptisms.
The Dotson's are doing great. We met with them literally every day last week. They had signed up to feed us dinner twice because she feels bad when our dinner calendar has an empty spot. Then on the other days, we were over there to help Emily prepare for her baptismal interview because she hadn't really been as involved with the other lessons as she could have been. On Tuesday we went over the baptismal interview process with them. We aren't supposed to directly ask them the questions, we're just supposed to cover the topics involved in the interview. Edwin and Emily were interviewed on Friday and everything went find, but Jacqueline had to wait until Sunday because that was when President Grant was available. But things went fine with her too. So this week will just be preparing for their baptisms.
As for Jonna and her family, they were not able to attend church this week. Her husband is kind of holding her back, which is really unfortunate. They want to go to church as a family, which would be great, but on the other hand, that leads to a lot of excuses. This week there were some changes being made to his work schedule, so he will know better next week if they will all be able to attend together or not. We are trying really hard to get her fellow-shippers and have daily contact with those members and we're doing everything we're supposed to, and yet it's not working. She loves the members she knows and they get along great and she appreciates the texts, but it hasn't quite helped her come to church yet. They did come to the ward party though and had a great time.
Now for the ward party that was held on Saturday. It was a blast! It was held at a ranch one of our members owns up in the canyon north of Moreno Valley. She has a ton of land and a "Saloon" and a playground and it was just beautiful. They were able to get a lot of members involved in a lot of different ways, between those bringing the animals (pony rides and a petting zoo with pigs and chicks and stuff), bringing the food, preparing for and running the activities like BB shooting, and so much more. It shows what can happen when a Ward really supports an activity. It was super fun, but it was also super long and hot. It was like 103 degrees that day (yes we are hitting triple digits in MoVal almost daily now, it's great :P). They also had a mechanical bull (which Ken had a lot of fun being behind the controls of for most of the day), a pie eating contest, stick horse parade and races, and lots of space for the kids to run around. I don't think as many non-members came as people were hoping, but it was well attended by the ward membersand everyone had a great time. Jonna was able to meet and talk to a lot of people that will hopefully help her feel more comfortable at church and the Dotson family enjoyed it as well.
So for P-Day today, it was our quarterly Crossfit with the Mission President. For the first time ever, I think I did all the exercises. Well not quite, on the set of 6 I just couldn't make myself do the burpees, but that was the only thing I skipped, and I was able to keep up with President much better this time. Then after a little while to cool down and get a drink, I was able to convince enough people to go out back in the parking lot and play Ultimate Frisbee and that was so much fun. It was especially fun because I had Walker, Andrew, and Truman on my team, so it was a little family reunion of sorts. After that I tracked down Elder Mecham and we went and played some board games for a bit before taking a picture and saying goodbye for the next year or so since he will be finishing his mission in just 2 weeks.
We attained the standard of excellence again this week and the Mission President has assigned us to host a young man from the Corona Stake who wants to serve a mini mission. (Apparently in this area, you don't serve your mini mission in your home ward. The Mission President decides where to assign you.) This week will also be Elder Andrew's "Senior" week. We'll want to make sure that we have a really good week for our mini mission young man. That means I probably won't be as ornery as I was with Elder Walker during "Senior" week. With Elder Walker, I was every bit as ornery as Elder Camper was with me. I wouldn't do anything on my own; I had to be asked or told to do everything. Basically I was trying to simulate being a green missionary, and a bad one at that. But with us having the young man from Corona and the baptisms this week, I won't be quite so ornery for Elder Andrew. It will still be good training for him, and I'll do my best to let him lead all the planning and finding and teaching situations.
See you soon,
Elder Cornaby
"Get on your knees and pray, then get on your feet and work." - Gordon B. Hinckley