Alysa Webb Begins Mission Service

 
    Alysa Webb, daughter of Brad and Bronwyn Webb, has left for her full time mission in Rancagua Chile.  Rancagua is just south of Santiago, Chile.  Even before leaving she said she "loves it already!" On her last Sunday before leaving she performed a vocal solo in Sacrament meeting as well as give a farewell talk.  In it she said she has recognized her true identity, and that there is no greater joy than having a change of heart.  Her mission has already strengthened her testimony. We are sure that Sister Webb will be an outstanding missionary.  This picture was taken on the day she went to the Sacramento Temple with her parents to receive her endowments.

Debra Smith Newest Convert to the Church

  Sister Debra Smith (second from right) was baptized January 11 by Jett Godi and was confirmed a member of the church the next day.  She began her mission lessons with the elders, then was transferred to sister missionaries Sister Ball (left) and Sister Hamilton (right.)  The Spanish sister missionaries sang a special duet "Like Him" as part of the service.
   Sister Smith said she was excited to become a member of the church, and looked forward to learning more about it and meeting all the members of the Mokelumne River Ward.

A New Presidency for Young Women

Young Women begin the new year with an excited Young Women Presidency.  The group attended the temple January 24 to worship and get inspiration for their new responsibility.  L to R:  Kaela Burke, secretary; Brenda Casper, first counselor; Hilary Sroufe, president; and Lisa Holden, second counselor.

Missionary Plan for the New Year

   On the last Sunday of 2019 the entire ward from age 11 and up met together to discuss ways to make the ward mission plan come to life.  Ward Mission Leader Eric Fairbanks and the Elders Quorum presidency had arranged circles of chairs in the cultural hall.

  Each circle discussed and made notes in three areas that were each presented on slides showing on the stage screen.  The areas were those that had previously been discussed in Ward Council: 
1. Prepare
2. Invite
3. Support

Left: Brother Fairbanks takes the microphone to each circle of members and they use their notes to report their ideas in each area.  Don Daley, Elder's Quorum President, and Casey Haynes, Elders Quorum First Counselor, were there to assist.

Some of the ideas expressed from the notes were:

Collecting items for homeless shelters; walking dogs at humane society, making hygiene kits for the "Days for Girls"program; ward-wide food storage program; involve non-members in cemetery and other cleaning projects; share extra garden produce; have a yard work service plan, help the Salvation Army; have an activity at Lodi Lake and many more.

   Our ward missionaries are Sister Ball, left, and Sister Hamilton.  They are eager to work with ward members in finding people to whom they can teach the gospel.