"Oh Happy Day" - When we get to see and listen to family

One fun evening about 11pm, 7am in Utah, we talked to the Jones family.

Starting out was little baby Jack...what a cutie.

He was smiling and talking and wide awake.

Next, Drew told us he was happy to have graduated from Kindergarten.










Then Henry showed us his Monster truck he received for his 4th b-day. Wow.

It was also a Lego party. Heather said they had about 20 kids over.

Henry then said he gave his friend Star Wars Play dough at a friend's party.

Drew told us he caught two fish.

Henry and Drew then both started showing us their gymnastic back flips using Heather's exercise ball.

And because they both swim good they told us about jumping off the high dive.

Too much fun. But then we had to say goodbye...They were off to Drew's swim team practice.

Then we talked to the Winterton family.

When Xadrian finally woke up he started telling us about their fun camping trip to Topaz mountain.

He said he found Obsidian rocks.

 But hurt his knee falling out of his toy John Deer 4 wheeler.

He said he was going fast.

Christian showed us their yard with an Iris and tree they planted, fire pit, garden, etc. He talked about the great feeling of finishing the yard...for now.

And then showed us his College Associates Degree certificate...Yea!

Then Xadian wanted to give little Kendrix a hug.

Debbie talked about their fun time at Topaz, camping. She then mentioned about having to leave town for work again soon.

Then little Kendrix had to tell us all that is happening in his busy life.

Like learning to walk...yes, walking. We thought he wanted to say he was ready to go places.

That was really fun to see them all. A beautiful family. The Wintertons.

We enjoyed this great video that Kristine and Newell put together about Newell's elementary school music classes, showing all the great kids he had the opportunity to teach.

Check out the video  Newell Bullen, Music Teacher, Composer, Choral Conductor


Of course we talked to the Bullen's and had fun with them.

Baby Ginny was doing OK but a couple of weeks go had to go back to the Hospital for more tests and procedures. We keep praying for her.

Newell mentioned going to interviews for various music related employment opportunities.

Sleepy Laura Klein was slower to join in on the conversation.

She talked about her friends and having fun.

Kristine talked about playing her oboe and Newell talked about getting involved in the Heber Utah Stake for music.

We had a lot of fun talking to the Bullen's...a wonderful family.

LDS Missionaries helping out in Mangilao, Guam

About a two minute walk from our Bel-Air Gardens apartment on Corten Torres Street, Mangilao, Guam, lies a bus stop in need of the "right kind" of attention. Sister Carla McClellan, pictured left, put together a service project to revamp this school bus stop.

Sister McClellan, Elder Meyer, Sister Martin, Sister Roberts, Sister Orrock, Elder Waimila, Elder Walters, Elder Seguin

Her plan was to involve the Micronesia Guam missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who would be arriving on different flights, days before a Leadership Training Conference, held at President and Sister Mecham's home.

Elder Walters scraping off old paint and graffiti

When the missionaries arrived and began removing the graffiti, many local residents and school students thanked them for working on it.

Sister McClellan mentioned that the government coordinator overseeing projects like this, didn't even want a "before" picture posted on their Facebook page because the Graffiti and swear words were so bad. They usually post the "Before" and "After" photos to let the community know what's going on.

The initial scraping and cleaning lasted about two days. Different teams/groups would go at different scheduled times to help out. This ended around noon on May 31st.

Elder Lyman, Sister McClellan, Elder Holt, Elder Malais, Elder Cook

Later that day they began painting the base coats. As they were painting the fresh new look, many more people came by to tell them how much better it looked than before.

Elder Obray, Elder Selander, Elder Hansen, Sister McClellan, Elder Cook,
Elder Holt, Elder Gardner, Elder Malais, Elder Bowers

Sister Norgrant(top left), Elder Jeppesen & Elder Land(top right), Elder Obray and Elder Selander(middle),
Elder Bowers(bottom left), Sister Whipple, Sister Ande and others mentioned before(bottom right)

During the few days that followed, Sister McClellan continued to paint the family and the song title, "Families Can Be Together Forever".

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints literally believe this, as couples are married and families sealed by God's authority for time and all eternity in holy temples. For more information, see lds.org or click this link LDS Temples (Mormon Temples) - The House of the Lord.

Sister Martin and Sister McClellan,
just about to paint some more.

 Sister McClellan, the Micronesia Guam Mission nurse, missionary, and free lance artist, enjoys painting landscapes on canvas in her free time. She has had very little free time however. As the nurse for over 100 missionaries, on over 10 islands from Palau to Kosrae, she hardly gets a breather.

This bus stop was painted by missionaries in June of 2013.

One year ago she organized another group of over twenty missionaries to help her paint another community eye sore that turned into this beautiful bus stop. This one had the song title "Love at Home", another family oriented theme.











After a few more hot summer days and a few mosquito bites, the project was finally completed.

Congratulations to all who helped!

The final pics.

Family painted by Sister McClellan

Helpers included Elder Lyman and Elder Hansen who traveled from Awak, Pohnpei. Elder Holt and Elder Bowers came from Saipan. Elder Malais and Elder Dopp flew in from Palau. Elder Cook and Elder Gardner from Palikir, Pohnpei also pitched in. Elder Waimila and Elder Meyer traveled in from Yap. Sister Martin and Sister McClellan live in Mangilau. Sister Roberts and Sister Orrock currently live in Sokehs, Pohnpei. Elder Walters and Elder Seguin and Elder Walters who live in Harmon, Guam. Sister Norgrant who just flew in from Saipan. Elder Jeppesen and Elder John who drove down from Dededo north area. Elder Obray and Elder Selandar are from Nepukos, Chuuk. Sister Whipple and Sister Ande who also drove down from Dededo to help out. Elder Despain and Elder Land also traveled all the way from Kosrae for the weekend.

Coconut Festival and the Mango Festival...but we missed the Crab Festival

About a month ago we went to the Coconut Festival in the village of Inarajan, about a 20 min. drive south of our apartment. These festivals are usually about food, vendors, and sometimes a queen is selected.


When we arrived at the coconut festival, we walked around and then enjoyed a demonstration on all the uses for coconuts. See picture showing a knife, fork, spoons, a soup ladle, cups, hair clips, tools, etc.

Then they showed us how coconut leaves are used to make mats, place mats, bags, hats, etc.

Inarajan is on the south east of Guam, on the coast.

We also saw this cool statue/monument. We enjoyed a nice slice of pizza made in an old stone oven and then drove back to Mangilao.

Yesterday started out to be a slow moving P-day. Then the Hursts came by and said they locked their keys to the car and apartment inside. They said they were on there way to a wedding. We offered that they take our car so they wouldn't be late, since they were asked to offer advice to the bride and groom.

Then we decided to go to the wedding also and go in Sister McClellan's car with the wedding cake she made. It was a nice wedding with lot's of fun advice given, tons of food and deserts, and good company.

After the wedding we went back to our apartment to do laundry and clean.



Then we had an opportunity to go to another baptism. There are several on Guam every Saturday. The work is progressing so rapidly here it's amazing.

Chelsea is ten years old. Her mom was baptized just a couple of weeks ago. Other investigators, currently considering baptism, also attended.

Then in the evening we went to the Mango Festival. It was in Agat, also by the ocean.

The first thing we bought was a Mango/Strawberry slushy drink. Not bad.


Then we watched part of the selection of the Mango Queen. I think they were all under 10 years old.











They had really big Mangos.

And all types and kinds of Mangos, displayed various ways.

Ah-Oh, look where your going.

Then we looked out over the ocean...beautiful!

More video calls to Children/Grandchildren - Fun - Fun

Over this past month we've enjoyed a few more video calls with family. One of our favorite things to do so we decided to post for all to see.

Starting off with the Winterton Family. Xadrian wanted to tell us about helping to move dirt in the backyard with his wheel barrow. Then he talked about his fishing trip, and catching a big fish. Christian said he was more excited than Christmas morning. Little Kendrix had gone to bed.

Then we talked to the Davis Family. Carol told us more about finishing her Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy. Her new title is Dr. Davis or Carol Davis O.T.D. She wasn't able to walk for her graduation, so the family surprised her by setting up a graduation ceremony at the church. She said it was so wonderful she could hardly hold back the tears.

Becca and Diana told us all of their latest news, like dancing and a field trip they were looking forward to.

 

It was good to see Bryson too, although very briefly.

Next we talked to the Hossfields. They had a lot going on.

They were all excited about their Jr. Ranger books that they worked on at a National Park. they mentioned Ronda and Nate also went.








They told us all of the interesting things they did.

Even Heidi was excited to show us her book.

And we were excited to see all that they showed us.

Shannon told us more about her home schooling and her journey to find and choose which of the many great resources/methods she will use.

Seth then began teasing Shannon about using her hands to talk.

We had a lot of fun listening to all they had to say.

Then we connected with the Sparti family.

Gage had a lot to tell us this time.

He showed us his Spiderman night light.

He was happy to tell us about his big fish he caught.

Grace tried to help Gage show us how big the fish was.

Gavin was practicing for  a dance festival at his school dancing to the new popular song "Happy". He and Grace were selected for the swim team.

Aliza and Lindsay painted the boys room while they were out fishing. Aliza is going to start playing her flute in the fall.

We also talked to the Milners. Dave is working a lot of hours now, but their new exciting news was their new purchase-a sailing boat.

Oliver had already gone to bed. Apparently they were up late the night before camping. Stephanie was playing with her hair.

We are so lucky to get to talk with our family about once a month. We love them all. We love the Lord