****I have been WAY behind in posting what I've been given, so if you're confused about the timeline of the posts I'm sorry, I'll eventually catch up and get on top of things again! Love, Shell****
Hello again maybe way too soon,
Our children have been asking for pictures from our mission. Sister Heaton and I are not really on top of that so one of our good friends forwarded this picture of our Ward that we are serving in. I hope that you do not have a problem remembering what we look like, otherwise it will be a little like "Where's Waldo?"
The lady on the front row 3rd from the left to the right is getting baptized this Sunday. Sister Heaton and I have been helping to teach her. The lady on the 5th row front to back and 2nd from left to right along with her husband are the first of the Bhutan refugees from Nepal to be baptized. Her husband was working the night of the picture.
This ward is very reflective of the population of Oakland. They are as diverse as any in the world. They come in all shapes and sizes. There are deaf ones and blind ones. Here are a few of the countries that I can remember that are in the picture African Americans, Africans, India, The Philippines, Mexico, Bhutan as mentioned, all kinds of Island people like Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, HAweaii etc etc. Not pictured are Cambodians, Vietnamese, or Chinese of all kinds and most Hispanics because all but the Vietnamese have their own Branches to g to etc etc..
We are currently teaching a man from Sri Lanka who has committed to baptism on the 21st of March so add Sri Lanka. He is a refugee that went to Thailand and ran into the missionaries there and then was redirected to Oakland. We get to reap the harvest from the seed that they planted. It is a wonderful thing to watch some of HEavenly Father's children with such different backgrounds work together to bring about His kingdom here on the earth. This is a miracle in itself! The Holy Ghost has touched each one of them just as it has you and I.
We just got back from Mormon Night at Oracle Arena where 25 missionaries sang "The Star Spangled Banner" then Jazz beat the Warriors. Afterward Thurl Bailey spoke to those that wanted to stay and hear him in the arena about what is important to him. Tomorrow he will be speaking up by the Temple. It was great to see the support we received from everyone there. All we heard in Utah about the area was Prop 8 and how bad it made the church look. In reality it has brought the church unbelievable respect from people that we may not have otherwise been able to touch. That is all for now.
With our love as always,
Elder and Sister Heaton
