Genealogy Researcher Jim Mason

      Did you know Jim Mason is becoming a Family History expert?  And we thought his only specialty was gardening!  When Jim joined the church he made a promise to himself that after retirement he would do genealogy/temple work for his family.  He especially wanted to do it for his grandmother who always visited revivals and churches and had strong spiritual feelings that affected him.
   Another reason Jim wants to do genealogy work is because he is a convert to the church and never had a chance to go on a mission.  "I've always felt that the best missionary I can be is doing family history. I'm not afraid to talk to my neighbors about it because there is no rejection," he said. "I feel my concern in doing as much as I can for not going on a mission."
  Jim senses the urgency of this commitment he made as a youth.  He has many books with ancestor stories and pictures.  His cousin Janet went to England and interviewed relatives.  He keeps in touch with her.  In tracing his family history he has even found a line that goes back to Jesus Christ.  "This was like a urgent reinforcement of the need to do this right away," he says.
  Although he sometimes uses the Lodi Family History Center, most of his work is accomplished on a laptop computer set up in a corner of his bedroom.  He provides names for ward members to take to the temple, as well as putting some in the temple drawer where anyone can pick them up and do the temple work.  Jim is really enjoying the journey, as well as providing his ancestors with an opportunity to have all the blessings of eternity.

Elder Trevor Woods Mission Update

    Before Sister Mikayla Kidd left on her mission in  January,  Elder Trevor Woods was the only missionary in the field from Mokelumne River Ward.   He is the son of Sister Tami Woods and began his mission leaving from Lodi Third Ward and is serving in the Idaho, Idaho Falls mission. 
 

 While preparing for a mission Trevor often went with the Lodi  missionaries when they visited and gave discussions to prospective members.  He is a skilled singer and guitarist and used his talents to bless others.
   

Elder Woods, left, enjoys teaching discussions  with his companion in Idaho.

      Now he is also using technology.  He has the ability to teach using Skype, and can even go outside his mission with permission from his President.  Elder Woods says, "Missionary work is truly the Lord's work.  I love this gospel and I know this is God's church on this earth.  He leads and guides this work. I'm striving on my mission to be exactly obedient, work hard and have fun.  My testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ has grown.
    "The gospel changes everyone's life and will help everyone to progress.  I love being a missionary!"
     Elder Woods' mother Tami said this of him:  "Trevor's mission has provided so many opportunities to grow.  I think he has developed personally more in the year he has been on his mission than the 20+ years he spent with me.  The mission provides so many leadership opportunities and he has grown into a great leader.  The shy little boy from primary who couldn't give talks is now speaking in multiple wards on any given Sunday and is leading and training his fellow missionaries.  He is thriving on his mission and is happy living and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Shulls Welcome Baby Allison to Their Home

Allison Lynn Shull was born January 21, 2018, weighing 10 lbs., 2 oz. and was 20.5 inches long. Her mother Ginny said "Allie is such a sweet addition to our family.  All her big sisters adore her, and call her 'Allie Bear'!"  Congratulations to the Shull family.

Boy Scouts Advance in Court of Honor

Several young boys received merit badges and other awards in a recent Court of Honor.  Tyler Daley, a program leader, received 12 merit badges and advanced to Life status in scouting.
Matt Schiess  received several merit badges and advanced to 1st Class.  Tommy Seifert and J.R. Ramirez also were awarded merit badges.
Their scout leaders are Ben Brown, Tim Shull, and Eric Fairbanks. Jason Casper is Scout Committee Chairman.

Front row L to R:  J.G. Robinson, Gavin Casper, Matt Schiess, J.R. Ramirez
Back row L to R: Ben Brown, Tim Shull, Tyler Daley, Eric Fairbanks, Tommy Seifert, Jackson VerSteeg, and Jason Casper

Welcome to new member Robert Stanley

   Brother Robert Stanley was baptized March 24, 2018 by ward mission leader Brad Parker, and confirmed a member of the church the next day in Sacrament Meeting. Special guests at the baptism were his parents and a brother.

L to R:  Sister missionaries Sis. Lau and Sis Shafter
 Robert Stanley, Elder Yazzie, Elder Morley

    Robert first encountered the sister missionaries near Christmas time.  He works across the street from their apartment as an IT (Internet technology) specialist. They talked, shared Christmas cards, and he visited mormon.org where he learned more about the church and asked to be visited by missionaries.  He was referred to the Elders who taught him, and he has attended church every Sunday since then.
    He has a testimony of the Gospel, and a great personality.  Mukelumne River Ward members welcome him.

Relief Society Birthday Dinner -- WOW!

     At the beginning of the new year, church leaders counseled us to have a council meeting in Relief Society and Priesthood during the first Sunday of each month.  At the first one, January 2018, our RS presidency decided we would discuss how the sisters in the ward could get to know each other and blend together as sisters from two different wards.  RS First Counselor Ruth Anderson led the discussion; there were many suggestions; and several of them have been implemented.
                      
   One of the ideas was executed at the annual RS Birthday Dinner March 15.  It was to have an activity modeled after "speed dating," made popular by millennials who wanted to learn about many possible dating prospects in a short period of time.
   After a delightful dinner, sisters sat across from each other at a very long table.  Serena Powell had prepared some questions to be asked if ideas were needed.  After a few minutes of questioning each other, Kaela Burk who was MC for the event, asked sisters on one side of the table to move down one, and everyone began learning about another sister.
   Angie Boswell, chairman for the entire birthday party, said many people expressed how wonderful the game was that they had a lot of fun, and at the same time enjoyed the whole aspect of getting to know each other better.

                               

   Another idea for getting to know each other was implemented by Angie. As sisters came in they were give a cute nametag (hand-made by Angie) with a tiny colored ribbon bow on it.  If you got a yellow one, you sat at a table with a yellow gingham table covering.  There were nine different tables, and again there were suggestions of questions sisters could ask to learn more about each other.

      Angie Boswell is very talented with paper art.  Having helped her daughter Kate with a school project 5 years ago that involved making paper dolls, Angie had many of their components left over. She got them out and recruited her husband to use a glue gun and paper punch to put them together. They ended up enhancing the salad bar table with lots of different creations, just as we are all different.  So cute!

                          

                

    The salad bar dinner was amazing!  So many wonderful items to choose from.  A little glitch happened when the crew (Angie, Chrissy Plines, Shawna Banks and RS Second Counselor Wendy Weight) came to the stake center at 5 pm for final preparations before the party began at 6 pm. Upon opening the refrigerator where they had stored the pre-prepped salad fixings the night before, they found NOTHING—a totally empty refrigerator. TERROR! Wendy recruited her husband Curtis to make a quick trip to Costco, then sent a text to everyone she could think of to come immediately to the church kitchen and help cut up veggies and other tasks to get ready. Cathy Leonard put a post on Facebook. People came immediately to help. In addition to those already mentioned were Mark and Judi Wilcox, Ruth Anderson, Julie McGhie, the Sister missionaries, and the Spanish missionaries.

    Meanwhile at 6 p.m. the party started, and sisters began getting acquainted with others at their table.  Everyone was too involved in this activity to notice a lot of action going on in the kitchen and at the salad bar.  Then the delicious meal was enjoyed by everyone, and only a few knew that a crisis had been averted by a group of amazing women in our Relief Society

    Sister Weight said of this experience: “The issue was resolved quickly, and the challenge was invigorating. It helped our newly formed events committee learn to trust and rely on each other more. It gave many sisters a chance to serve in a way that felt rewarding. The time spent chopping the vegetables the night before was important for forming bonds through intimate conversations that could only have taken place while quietly serving together. And I'm certain that there are several other benefits to the whole experience which are beyond my perception. In the end we had a wonderful meal and a successful event.”

Pinewood Derby is always a hit with Cub Scouts

Annual Pinewood Derby January 25th

Let the Race Begin!

The new track was up, the cars were weighed in and on their stands, the decorations looked great and the refreshment table was stacked with delicious treats.  The scouts had an opportunity to race the cars multiple times.  Great evening!