Loving Life as Missionaries

Entertainment for the ward barbeque at Twin

Lakes Beach, by Sis. McNally & Gohnert.

Sis. Fuller brought her son and two grandaughters

to the barbeque, who we are prayful that we can

teach the gospel to. They are a great family!

Anybody want to guess what we are going to do

with this peace of Banana Cream Pie?

We're going to be in a pie eating contest. Never

got any training on this type of missionary activity

in the MTC. Elder Elmer did pretty good, but may-

be would have done better with an apple pie.

California has great fruits and vegetables,
and they don't just eat them.

At the Santa Cruz County Fair, they use them to
make animals to aliens.

This one was one of our favorites.

We went with Dean and Lulu Moser, and of coarse;

this plumber by profession, was attracted to the dis-

play using a toilet. He wanted to get it for his collection.

Zone activities are wonderful for creating unity.

This P-Day, we had Subway sandwiches and

played volleyball at the sand courts. You should

have seen the sand and bodies flying everywhere.

This is Remy and her girls, Sydney and Sophie.

We have been teaching the lessons to them. Remy

and Sydney have been baptized. Sophie is 11, and

has asked Elder Elmer to baptize her on Christmas

Day! We love this little family!

The Santa Cruz Mystery Spot.

This is Pierce, Cody, and Ella Howard. When we

eat with them, it feels like home.

These are their parents, Jerrid and Missy, and

little Brigham. When we watch them, it feels like

we're home.

This is Bob and Adelaide Soria. We have been

blessed with the opportunity to serve them.

We are teaching Adelaide the lessons. Unfortunately,

Bob is in poor health, and had to go to a care facility.

They are good people!

Look who we found at Bubba Gumps. It wasn't

Forest Gump, but it was OUR KIDS! YEA!

Look what we found inside this clam, at the

Monterey Bay Aquarium, OUR KIDS!

Charlie loved swinging at the Dennis the

Menace Park in Monterey, and we loved

watching her swing.

Giant Redwoods at Henry Cowell Park. This is a

beautiful place to hike.

The beach was fun for finding shells, making sand

castles, and running from the waves.

A trip to see Papa J and Grandma T in Santa Cruz,

wouldn't be complete without going to the Boardwalk.

Papa J and the boys wrestling.

Charlie liked hearing Papa J sing Primary songs,

that he is learning to play on the Ukelele.

Grandkids are the best medicine. Thanks

Dave and Toni!!!!!!

Santa Cruz Zone Temple Day! What a

blessing!

Notice anything different about this picture? I'm

not the only sister! What a blessing these young

people are in our lives!

The McDougalls. Matt joined the church last year.

We are excited to be with them in the temple, for their

sealing.

Called to serve Him, Heavenly King

of Glory. What an incredible blessing for

Jerry and I!

Hope this new blog finds everyone doing well. Once again, we made it through another transfer, where is the time going. We will reach the halfway point of our mission, next week. We are still in Santa Cruz, and that is probably where we will stay. We love it here, and still feel like we have more to do. However, we will do whatever Pres. Jackson directs us to do. We continue to have lots of opportunities to serve, and that is great! Mostly Jerry works, and I supervise. We fixed sprinklers, weeded, put up a fence, cleaned and painted a kitchen that had caught on fire, moved people, and more. In some of our experiences, the service has opened doors for us to teach. We work hard on our goal, to teach 20 lessons a week. We have added two more less active members to those teaching opportunities. Although, I have a long way to go to be a master teacher, we have been promised great blessings as we strive for this goal. Our ward is really trying to work on their missionary efforts, too. The Soria's (pictured above) is a result of that member missionary effort. Our Bishop is really supportive of us, and the Elders in our ward. We are having more activities to bring our friends, and neighbors to. We do Priesthood Finding the One nights, where the priesthood, including YM, go out to find and invite members who we don't know, or have never met. We found 2 people who definately wanted contact, and 4 who said some contact. No effort is wasted. We are so happy to welcome members back. Remember Sister Manarello? She has been to church 3 times now. She may not understand everything, but she is there, and we know the Lord is mindful of her. One of the keys to this finding the one, is Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching. It's so important!!!!!

Our mission has been challenged by our Mission President to read the Book of Mormon. This six week transfer is from Elder Hollands conference talk. Conversions happen, and last, when the Book of Mormon has been read, and prayed about. We are grateful for this challenge. I know it will help us, as we work with members and investigators. We had actually started reading it as a result of our Ward Mission Leader's challenge from a month ago, so we are reading it 2 times with one ending at the end of the year, and the other ending Jan 18th. Boy, that should help us, don't you think? We love the Book of Mormon, and are so grateful for our knowledge of how it came to be.

The holidays are fast approaching. Is everybody ready? We have been invited, with our Zone Leaders, to go to the Blakes for Thanksgiving. However, we couldn't not have pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving, right Matt C? On the 16th, our Zone will be joining us for this traditional Jerry Elmer Family meal. We have reserved the apartment clubhouse for this occasion. Everyone seems to be looking forward to it. We will miss you guys, but we'll send cheers your way with Martinellis.

We love each of you so much! Thank you again for all the prayers, love, and support. We remember each of you as well. We are so grateful for Heavenly Father's plan for eternal families. We love our Savior, and all that he has done for us. We testify of the truthfulness of this great work, we are all engaged in. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Love, Jerry & Tanya

Where Did Summer Go?

Jerry is the proud owner of Shauntel, the Ukelele.
Now he just has to find time to learn to play it.

Only in Santa Cruz!

Luncheon for the sisters at the Mission Home.

The Senior Sisters in the California San Jose
Mission.

The appetites of 12 Elders requires alot of ribs

& barbeque chicken.

Nice job Elder Elmer! I think they liked it.

Now really, who wouldn't want to be apart of this.

Elder Huls & Elder Baker (Our Zone Leaders)
Grammie, you should hear Elder Baker on the

piano.David Trevino baptizes his sister, Danelle.

We are teaching the after baptism lessons

to her. She's wonderful!

The Gilroy Garlic Festival. I wonder if Blue Bell

ever thought of this flavor.

Elder & Sis House, and Elder & Sister Norris

went with us.

The last stop on the way out is the, you guessed it,

it's the hand sanitizer and mouthwash booth,

sponsored by Target.

I didn't realize it until now, height just doesn't run

through the Elmer gene pool.

Our dear friend, Lamar Baldwin.

Such a treat for us. We got to see Leah (not Wingo

anymore) & Hector. A great couple!

Sweet Sister Quinn, passed away on Aug 20th.

We will miss reading scriptures with her.

Jerry spoke at her Memorial Service.

We hope this blog finds everyone doing well, unlike us. We have both had the flu, and are finding it hard to kick. It is not fun being sick on your mission. We've just got too much to do. We did manage to teach our new investigator, and also a young 11 year old we're trying to get ready for baptism. Such wonderful experiences! We teach, and are in so many elderly homes, and hospitals, that we have to be so careful. We have just tried to lay low a little bit this week. However, Sis. Quinn's memorial was Saturday, and we had to be there. Jerry was to speak. He was so sick. We were in need of the Lord's help, and that is exactly what he did. He carried Jerry right through to do what was required. Within 30 min of the end of the service, he was home in bed. He was truly blessed!

We continue to be humbled to be apart of this great work. I am so grateful for the gospel in my life, and the blessing of eternal family. We see lots of broken people and families. We have a responsibility to help others know that through our Savior Jesus Christ, we can be healed. It is such an important message to help them find happiness here, and in the life to come.

My companion is amazing! He ordained Bro. Moser to be a Priest last Sunday. Next Sunday, they will be blessing the sacrament together. How great shall be your joy!!

Well, that's about it for now. Take care of each other. We love you each so much! Thank you to my family for not yelling my name out during Uncle Joe's group's, The Snoring Song.

It was so great to see Peg and Malerie, a couple weeks ago.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Leigh and family with her upcoming surgery.

Happy Brithday 7 years old

HAPPY 7th BIRTHDAY, BRYNN!

WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!

Love, Papa J & Grandma T

Catchin Up

Elder Grigg & Elder Parker loving the Double

Double at In-N-Out.

This is the favorite stop on the way home from the

temple, for all missionaries.

The Oakland Temple on the day when the whole

mission got to go.

Jerry and I were able to teach Temple Prep.

classes to Sis. Fulton. We were very happy

to be able to be with her on that special day.

This is the concrete ship off Seacliff Beach, were we

sometimes go on P-Day to walk.

Claro gets baptized.

We love this sign. Especially when there

is literally no parking places at the hospital.
(Clergy Parking Only)

Sis Irma Emory goes to the temple. She has been

a member about 3 years. She is from Mexico, and

wonderful.

The Santa Cruz Zone. We love these missionaries!

David Levy gets baptized. A great day!


Senior Couple FHE. We sang oldies around the piano.
Jerry and I actually sang a duet that night, a classic
called Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey.




Flowers from Guitarman down at the Soup
Kitchen. We taught him the song, There Is Sunshine
In My Soul.

Sis. Roberta Manarello, someday we'll get her back

to church. We love our visits with her.

Well, we got a little behind on our blog. Things have stayed pretty busy around here, but I now know how to add pictures to the blog, so I'll try to keep up. We are doing fine! We love being in the service of the Lord. I wish there was a way we could really describe to you the wonderful miracles, big and small, that we see everyday. We (mostly me) have a few moments of discouragement from time to time, but the Lord in His love, provides me with a sweet thought from my companion, an expression of love from someone less active, or the spirit reminding me that the work I am doing is vital to God's children. The Lord is in this great work! It is His work, and I am grateful to be apart of it. We press forward with a steadfastness in Christ. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true, and I am so grateful for my testimony of it.

The time we spend with our Elder's, provides us with laughter, love, and strength. The other day in District Meeting, we had to give a prepared talk on an assigned topic. It falls under practise and application. After you give your talk, the district is suppose to critique you and give you suggestions for improvement. We also say what we like about the talk. So far, even though I could use some improvement suggestions, nobody feels very comfortable critiquing Sis. Elmer. However, one day when Elder Guthrie said what suggestions could we offer Sis. Elmer, there was silence, then our Elder Swallow said I've got one, she might try doing a little something different with her hair next time. We all laughed, I accepted his suggestion, but told him that was more of a difficult thing to do, than any suggestion he might have given me about my talk.

Well, it is hard to believe that EFR is over. We loved being able to see you all, and hear Uncle Jeff and Peggy's report from their mission. Seriously, could our family get any better? We love each of you so much, and are indebted to you for your love and examples. We loved the number idea on the shirts. Good work to Joe and Steph, and all those that contributed! We will see you all at the next reunion.

Congratulations to Casey and Amanda on???????? We didn't know the outcome of the name voting.

Welcome back to the US, Zach, Steff, and family.

Did we hear that Dan Elmer won the shopping spree? Awesome!

Thanks for all your fun blogs. We try to read them on P-Days, but just don't have time to respond to all of them.

Congratulations on John and Donna expecting another grandbaby.

That's all for now. We love you, and are grateful for your prayers in our behalf and of those we serve. Take care of each other.

We know school starts pretty soon. Have a great year! Dad keep swimming! Grammie keep walking. Love, Jerry & Tanya

How Great Shall Be Your Joy

Dean Moser was Baptized on the 4th of July

Dean is 80 years young


Dean and His wife LuLu

Dean, Lulu, and some of their family that attended

What a wonderful 4th. We celebrated the birth of our country and the rebirth of Dean Moser.

We met Dean and LuLu our first day out. It was one of those miracles. There are not words that explain all that has happened to prepare him for our invitation to hear the gospel one more time. Dean and LuLu have welcomed missionaries into their home for 54 years. She thinks probably more than a 100. Each had a part in preparing him. If they only knew that he was finally baptized. People came from all over the area. The Chapel was filled for his baptism. Member friends from Fresno and San Jose drove to Santa Cruz to attend. It was wonderful. The best part for me was to watch as each of his children and grandchildren (two great grandchildren) came up and embraced and wept with him after the baptismal service was over.

Dean has supported his wife in her activity over these many years. They have put three sons on missions and have a number of grandsons who have served. One is now serving in Chili. The entire family was so excited to see their beloved father and grandfather come into the Kingdom.
They shared with me how long they have prayed and waited and waited and prayed that someday he would soften and join. Some had almost given up. Even Lulu was surpized when he made the committment to be baptized. Most said they would not believe it until the saw it. Perhaps thats why there were so many there. Deans family came from all over the country to be here. He was baptized by his youngest son Brett and Comfirmed on sunday by his eldest son Victor. When Dean came up out of the water he simply said in a loud voice WOW!

My heart has been so full these past months as we have served and taught Dean. It has been a humbling experience to witness the hand of Lord as he touches the lives of his children. I am so greatful for the spirit of the Holy Ghost which is ever present in this work. I have felt its promptings as we teach and extend invitations and committments. I know that people are prepared to hear the gospel message, that we can never give up on those that have lost their way or those who seem to be hardened. Deans conversion is a witness of the love that God has for all his children. In the words of one of Deans daughters. "Your mission has been a success, you helped my Dad come into the Church"

Now we need to get him ready to receive the Preisthood and get to the temple a year from now. We appreciate all of you who have prayed and fasted for us and for Dean. It made all the difference.

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY GRACIE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A WONDERFUL GRANDAUGHTER

FROM YOUR MISSIONARY GRANDPARENTS

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!