Dear family and friends,
Here's a quick update on our mission experiences.
We’re revising our schedule for fall. We’re adding a sports night on Friday night to accommodate YSAs at the downtown end of the LA stake. There is a building there that was built to be a stake center. Demographics have shifted as many Latter-day Saint families have fled the high housing costs of LA. Stake boundaries have shifted and this building now only houses one ward. It has a huge gym, and a two level parking garage. We are moving in for fun evenings of basketball and volleyball being played crosscourt at the same time, pickleball in the parking garage and competitive games of speed scrabble and liars dice on the stage. This mission is so fun.
We’re still hosting FHE at the ball field behind the temple with 80-100 attending each week. Julie takes attendance on a paper plate. A bit goofy but takes the formality away of checking a roll sheet for each event. It may be a legacy. “Do you remember the Jefferys taking roll on the paper plate? Hahaha, that was so funny.” We have been challenged to take roll on a paper cup. Mel still enters it into a spreadsheet (he is the accountant) so we can try and keep track of the comings and goings of these sweet, fast moving, young people.
These activities are a great place to come to find friends and feel the strength of the members of the church in a city that can be overwhelming spiritually and emotionally. We still teach a few traditional classes but the focus is asking the question, ”What can we do to support you in your desires to draw close to the Savior?”
The western states area of the church hosted a conference where great speakers were broadcast and local events were held in person. We were able to man the registration desk welcoming everyone from stakes in the LA basin. It was two nights of great food, carnival games and dancing under the stars.
We live close to the coast, about a mile from the beach. The daily fog has given us “May grey” and “June gloom”, but July and August offered some welcome blue skies. We're moving into September with a return of fog in the evenings and mornings. But those blue skies gave a few twangs of homesickness for the brilliant blue skies of New Mexico.
We take advantage of the beach nearby as we host beach parties for our YSAs. We also enjoy bike rides along the 22 mile long beach bike path and evening walks through the surf for some sweet time together.
Family visits have been sweet as well. Mel’s brother Jon, his wife Ali and their son Austin live an hour south of us. We took a day of exploring the canyons and beaches of Orange County and topped it off with an evening at Jon’s beautiful home. Mel smiled as he realized this is the first time since college he has lived close to one of his brothers.
Our sons Michael and Joey arrived for a week of adventures with Julia, and Michelle (6), James (5), Helen (3) and Cedric (18 mo). Busy times for us, reminiscent of days of yore. Cedric is a Covid baby as he was born just as Covid locked the world down. He has not had babysitters or exposure to many people outside of his family. He is especially clingy to dad, mom and beloved uncle Joey. But we are proud to report that we were able to win him over and enjoy snuggle time together and give others a break from his wanting to be carried.
We took our hike up Topanga Canyon that starts with a walk through a 100 foot culvert under the road and into the canyon. Then we climbed and hopped along the rocks down the creek. The culvert is nicknamed the time tunnel so imaginations can run wild. The kids decided hiking sticks were necessary equipment for all.
Beach fun included a sand volcano, sea creature hunting and boogie boarding. And we also enjoyed visits to the LA temple visitor’s center, zoo and Legoland. Julia’s parents live in Long Beach. Her mother Eva just had hip and back surgery so this was time for her to make a Covid postponed, long awaited visit.
To cap the family visits we enjoyed Mel’s parents driving down from Utah. Everyone is impressed with a 91 year old dad who can brave the LA freeways.
It is a joy to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We hope you feel the love of our Savior as we have in this work. We know he loves us, these wonderful young people we work with, our family and friends.
From the busy freeways, beaches and ball fields of So Cal,
Elder and Sister Jeffery
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