Life Is Gooood In The Mission

Not everyone can get roses from their companion.

Believe it or not, Elder Elmer found a spot for some tomato plants.

My exciting purchase from the Flea Market.

Crystal Richardson, Chloe and Gisell.


Before service at the Mosers.


After service at the Mosers.




Elder Parker is anticipating a win from Elder Elmer, finally.

Elder Sparks, is that a brace on your ankle? How did you do that?

Elder Schuetzler (DL) on right and Elder Vanderhoef .

Elder Swallow and I were greeting people who came to the Emergency Preparedness Fair.

Sister Palmer, Driscoll, and O'Shaunessy had the canning area under control.

Lunch for the Elders at the fair, pizza.

A little Basketball after the clean-up was done.

Hello from Santa Cruz. Hope everyone is doing well. Things are good here in the mission. We have officially been on our mission for 2 months. We have had our second Zone Conference, and interviews with President are this Friday. It is indeed going fast.

President Jackson invited us to our first Transfer Meeting to see what is was all about. Don't worry my companion stayed the same. He reminded the Elders that we were the only missionaries that had permission to walk on the beach. Our Zone is always saying they can't wait to be a senior couple, so they can get all these cool priviledges. We actually lost a few of our elders to other areas at that transfer. I didn't like that. We've become attached. We love the missionaries, having fun with them and learning from them.

We are presently working with less active families. We are teaching a few of them the lessons, so they can remember the spirit they felt as the doctrines were taught to them so many years ago. They are good people. Sis. Richardson is coming back, and asked if we could help her with teaching the gospel in her home. She has been away for so long that she feels like there are gaps in her understanding. We are also teaching 2 sisters the Temple Prep lessons. We hope that we will be able to go with them to the temple when they go. One sister is anxious to be sealed to her husband, who died in a car accident 9 years ago. The other sister was baptized about a year and a half ago.

I want to say thanks to Steph for her Potato Swiss Soup in the family cookbook. We took it to a brother who is less active, and his wife said he loved it. We're hoping it opened his door a little wider for us.

We love our walks in the morning. The flowers in this place are amazing! Half the time when your walking, your also sniffing. They have dog parks here, which I had never seen before, because everyone here has a dog, if not multiple dogs. The really bad thing about this area is parking. It can definatley be a distraction to the work. You have to have permits to park on the street. I guess the good thing is, that when you finally find a place to park, you can street contact ,while walking a mile to the house that you wanted to go to.

We love being missionaries! I have to say, that we have had some disappointments lately, but we press forward knowing how important our message to the world is. We continue to study, and work hard, so we are worthy of the Lord's direction. I've been reading in the Book of Mormon lately about Alma and Amulek as they tried to teach the people of Ammonihah. What incredible missionaries they were! I love the story of Zeezroms's conversion. I love the care and respect they gave to one another. I have a great companion, too! He truly loves the work.

We love each of you so much! Thank you for your prayers. They mean so much. Take care! Congratulations to Joe and Steph for having their first college graduate. Way to go Annie! Happy Birthday to Toni!

Sorry, if I repeat something. I just can't remember everything we've told everyone.

THE Easter Message

Let us give thanks in humble prayer
For God gave us his son.
That we may live and be like him
The battle he has won

His life he gave the ransom paid
He beckons us to come
I Stand amazed and humble, still
His work it must be done.


We love you all so much, the work of the Lord moves forward. We love this clip. Truly, this is an Apostle of the Lord

Love Dad

"Its ya birthday"

We went to the Red Woods on P-Day

Elders are wonderful! It sure was good

to be in our Jeans!!!!

This is a beautiful tree we pass about 10 times

a day. It's at at a buzy intersection so Tanya

snapped this as we flew by.

Disrict Development Meeting

most of the Zone was here for this one

My birthday door! I just love all the

cards and especially the ones drawn by little hands

The only bad thing about my brithday is that it

is followed by TAX day. What a bummer!

We have had a wonderful two weeks since our last post. My birthday was terrific. It started out with four Elders on our door step singing early in the the morning. I feel great for a 58 yr old dude. We celebrated with Elder and Sister House who drove over the mountain from San Jose to go to diner with us. We knew the Houses in the Phillippines. They are really fun.

We are starting to really get into the mission. I can get around really well in the city now. It is really not that big so we see alot of it over and over again. We have met many wonderful people. Tanya is the best companion ever. She has really stepped up. She has had a number of conversations with our neighbor and invited her to learn more about the church. She accepted and we plan to teach her and her family soon. We are teaching two less active families the lessons and one recently activated. We are really growing as we prepare and teach.

Recently we are having alot more success finding investigators. We went to a referal with a member today and met a family of four, along with a boy friend of one of the girls. We have scheduled a lesson with all of them in the members home week after next. We have located two other potential investigators who are familiar with the church and we hope to invite soon to hear more. Most of our time is spent finding those that are lost. We have many who are in the ward but less active. Some do not want to be found. I love to see the surprise on their face when they see us at the door. Its like oh no they found me!! All are surprized some are very kind but not interested. We do not let them off easy we invite as many ways as we can think of to come to church to relearn or to let us serve them. It is great. We have only had a few say we could not come back. We consider that progress.

Especially thanks to Gracie, Livie, Ella, Jack, Matt, & Nathan for the beautiful birthday and easter cards.

We appreciate and feel all your prayers. This is a blessed work. Thanks Brad and Ash for taking care of things there.

Love you all

Papa J and Grandma T

Hard At Work

President and Sister Jackson

(they are FABULOUS!)

Out the door ( we do miss our jeans).

I I need a Pensioniesta!!

Preach My Gospel, don't go to sleep without it!!

Elder and Sister House playing the psaltry.

Well, we've been here in Santa Cruz for 3 weeks. I think we are starting to feel like we are settling in. Jerry is getting around like he has lived here for years. I haven't driven for a month or written a check at Target. Boy, my life has really changed. Anyway, we love being missionaries! We have met some wonderful people. Most of our time is spent getting to know the members of the ward, and trying to help less-actives. We are teaching a man who is 63 years old, and has not been to church since he was 17. He has some very serious health issues, but is interested in understanding a little more about the church he belongs to. It will be hard to get him to church, so we're working on bringing the church to him. He is a very kind man, and seems to be receptive to learning the messages we are trying to share.

Another thing we love is our Elders! We have the priviledge of working with some fine young men. I am just in awe of them. Our Zone Leaders are also in our ward (Capitola Ward), so we work and coordinate with them alot. I can't even tell you how amazing Zone Conference was, and how much we love our Pres. and Sis. Jackson. It's a wonderful work we are engaged in, and we are learning everyday. I have to admit that after being asked to speak in Sacrament two minutes before it started, being asked to give two talks in two weeks, and singing acapella with 6 sweet soprano singing sisters in front of 60 or so people (my companion almost lost it on that one), I was almost ready to put my 2 week notice in. I guess with the Lord and Jerry as my companions, I'll hang in here a little longer. No complaints about my comp. He is a joy to work with, and a wonderful missionary. I hope Pres. doesn't change us anytime soon.

We love serving in the community! We help at the Soup Kitchen on Tues. They serve about 200 to 250 homeless everyday from 12 - 1. We have met some wonderful volunteers. Last week we were the greeters. There are alot of homeless and jobless people in Santa Cruz. It's a very hard thing. We also help at Grey Bears on Fri. mornings. This organization bags excess food and produce, and then loads cars and trucks to take the bags to shut ins, needy, etc. It's fun to do! Our Relief Society Pres. is there on Fridays too, and she has been great to work with. I feel like I've known her for years.

One of the Senior Missionary couples from the office came over from San Jose to go to dinner with us for Jerry's birthday. They play an instument called the psaltry. Elder House (we knew them in the Philippines) actually makes them. Sis House is a musician (fiddles), and she does the music. They are great people! Sis Mcnally (RS Pres) invited 6 0r 8 people over for a little fireside. The Houses played, and shared a thought. It was nice. The best part was when Sis Mcnally brought out her ukelele. I said do you know I'll Be Down To Get You? She did, so every one joined in and we sang oldies for the next 30 minutes. Dad, wish you could have there. One of Sis. Mcnally's non member friends was there, and she seemed to enjoy herself. It was a very enjoyable evening.

Tomorrow is PDay. YEA! I have got to clean my floors. We try to keep a schedule like the young elders, but sometimes its hard. We weren't having anytime to fix dinner, so we have to plan in our daily planner to stop and fix dinner. We do have invitations from time to time. Tomorrow we are going with our Zone to see the Redwoods. We're going to have hamburgers, and we made Potato Salad, and chocolate cake for Jer's birthday. Should be fun, and we can were jeans!!!!! Some of the Elders will be on bikes, and the rest will be walking.

I have started reading the Book of Mormon again. I have my own personal study early in the morning, just before Jerry gets up at 6:30. I am reminded again of the committment that Nephi had to the Lord. He was indeed steadfast and immovable in his faith. What a wonderful example he is. I am grateful for this book in my life. Just like the Prophet Joseph said, it does bring me closer to my Father in Heaven and Savior when I study and ponder its truths. What a wondrous message we have to share, and speaking of sharing messages, it's late and I have work to do, so I'll close for now. Thank you everyone for all your love and support.

Were off and RUNNING

t Our Placques at Last

Our wonderful group of senior missionaries

Nice little view a block down from our apartment in Santa Cruz

Our Zone, How about our ZL ELder Chessman 6'11"

This is our first blog on the Mish, (as our kids would say). The last two weeks have been absolutely terrific. Tanya and I were sooooo surprized by our fabulous four. We were eating the traditional , get all the Elmers you can together dinner in Lehi, when we heard a familiar voice behind us ask if he was included in the party. I whipped around to see David right behind me and to our absolute unbelief Kristin, Karen and Brad as well. We were both blown away. Needless to say we cried, laughed and talked together for two days. Tanya and I have never felt so loved and supported by our family. That goes for our extended family as well. We are grateful

for all our freinds and family who have aided us in this effort.

The MTC was a blessed experience we rubbed shoulders with some of the finest people on earth.

These senior couples come from all over to serve the Lord in the fall of there lives. Some of these wonderful people are serving their fourth mission as a couple. They are unbelievable. The training was first class and the place runs like a clock. We were so grateful to be there and to watch the young elders and sisters (almost 3,000 of them) was inspiring. We saw Elder Derrick Asay and Elder Taylor Swan in the MTC as well as Ammon Andelin and Christian Pratt. Matt's great uncle, grandpa Walkers brother and his wife, were also there working in the MTC.

We had the opportunity of hearing from Elder M Russel Ballard at the devotional. The whole experience was beyond words.

Then it was over and we were off to San Jose. We drove across Nevada and arrived on Saturday the 21st. Sunday was Stake Conference, broadcast from Salt Lake. We rushed to get here in time to hear the council for this area from the brethren.

We spent the night in the mission home with Pres Jackson and his wife. They are terrific, about our age and they were so glad to see us we talked for hours about life, family and the mission.

He gave us our assignment and kicked us out the door monday morning. We drove over the mountains to our new apartment and first area. Santa Cruz. We are actually in the Capitola ward. We have been running like crazy since. We have met with the Bishop, the Relief Society Pres. the HP Grp Ldr and about 10 families. (Mostly Less active and Elderly)

The area is like a vacation spot, tons of retired folks and the ward has alot of elderly. We have many, many less active families. Lots of part member and some unbaptized youth. We will work with the ward council to sort it all out on Sunday.

We have our first investigator and teach our first lesson next week.

Love you all

In Utah Preparing for the MTC

Well, here we are in Utah. We got in last night about 6. We checked in at the hotel, changed into our dress and suit, then met Joe, Steph, Annie, Judy, Aaron, and Teana for dinner at the Bombay House. It was fun! I have to admit when they started talking about EFR, I was contemplating how to address getting a 3 day pass from Pres. Jackson in July. In case, it doesn't work, remember the keyword is PICTURES LOTS OF PICTURES! The place looks great, and will be enjoyed by all, I'm sure.
Our first day in Utah began with a 1 1/2 mile walk in the cold (of coarse; we didn't pack to much for this kind of weather). While we were walking, we were watching so as not to slip on ice and spend our MTC week in the hospital, and commenting about the great blessing of serving in San Jose with no ice. We then enjoyed a nutritious breakfast, minus the Diet Coke. Yes, the mission will be full of little adjustments, but we can do it. I also started my journal(4 pages). Not a great writer, but it felt good.
The rest of the day was spent dragging Jerry around trying to find clothes that make me look like a missionary. He was a great support, and we were somewhat successful. He was particularly thrilled when I bought a coat (which means no more blue sweater coat with the swans on the inside). We hit the Distribution Center, Deseret Book for a few more CD's, Franklin Covey where he bought me a cool backpack to carry my books (not quite as big as Aunt Cheryl's book bag), and we dropped off his first tie fatality (Indian food) to the dry cleaners.
We then came back to the hotel , and I took off my hose and shoes, Jer took off his shoes and loosened his tie, and got comfortable. I sure hope the Lord blesses us with a little more stamina, because I'm beat and we haven't even started yet.
I think we'll break for dinner, and then study. Hopefully tommorrows errands won't take long, and we can maybe go visit a few people.
Anyway, that's it for my first blog entry. We are grateful to be here, and look forward to our MTC experience together. We love each of you very much, and are grateful for your support.

Do you know the way to San Jose

Its hard to believe it is here. After much prayer and preparation (Almost 40 yrs) we are just about ready to go! We received our "CALL TO SERVE" on December 27. The big white envelop arrived and we waited with great anticipation for our family to gather. The Lord has called us to the San Jose Mission. We are both soo00 excited to go. There is some anxiety OK alot of anxiety about our inabilities and the unknown but at last we are about to leave for the MTC. We will spend a week there and then off to California.With the help of our sweet daughter in law (Thanks Toni) we have set up this blog to keep everyone informed and to share some of what we experience.God has been good to us to allow us this time and we promise to work hard and to be obedient.Getting ready to go has been a bit of a challenge just getting all the doctor stuff done was a major hassle. I had to get my knee fixed (surgery) and both Tanya and I got new orthodics, Yip Pee. Getting older is a pain. I didn't even know what orthodics were until I was 50. Eye glasses etc., all the fix em up stuff you have to do to your self has been real fun.I've been thinking that the young people who go out really have no idea of this part of the program. They for the most part breeze through this and are off. But us older or should I say "senior couples" well its kind of a get everything fixed so you can go deal. Its all for the best, they don't want us to break down on the mission.Well enough, with the Lords blessings and our faith in Him we are set and ready to serve. We so love and appreciate the support of our family both immediate and extended. Thank you all for your examples, your love and help getting ready.Elder Jerry and Sister Tanya Elmer(Sounds pretty cool)