Trevor Woods Returns from Idaho Mission

   Trevor Woods has returned from a two-year mission in the Idaho Falls, Idaho mission.  He reported with an excellent talk in Sacrament Meeting March 24. Trevor is the son of Tammy Woods and she was so excited to welcome him home. (Left)
   Trevor said he had learned many things on his mission that will help him in life.  Here are a few:
1.  How to lead and how to follow
2.  How to communicate with people from all levels of life
3. How to set goals and achieve them
4.  How to gain and strengthen a testimony of Jesus Christ and his church.
     All missionaries have challenges that help them grow.  Trevor shared some of his.
1.  Being with someone 24 hours a day, seven days a week was a challenge for me at first.

2.  I didn't know the gospel very well when I was first out.  I wish I would have studied more.
3.  Giving training at meetings and giving talks.
    4.  Talking to random people about the gospel was terrifying.

Trevor and his companion teach an investigator in Idaho

     Trevor faithfully wrote home each week to his family and friends.  Here is a quote from one of his recent letters.  "I have loved every moment of the mission.  There have been difficult moments but nothing even close to overshadow the many wonderful experiences I've had.  I love this gospel!  It is truly a gospel of repentance.  Our mission culture is that we teach repentance and baptize converts.  Baptism is the gate by which we enter to the covenants we have to make with our Heavenly Father to be saved.  Faith and repentance is what we need to do to prepare ourselves to make and keep those covenants.  I'm grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ."

8-year-old Hazel Sroufe Baptized

Hazel Sroufe was baptized by her father Adam Sroufe February 2, 2019. Brother Sroufe expressed his love for the opportunity to use the Priesthood to perform saving ordinances for his daughter.

On the day of her baptism she poses with her parents Adam and Hillary Sroufe and her brother Asher and sisters Willa and Starr.

In the picture on the left below, Hazel stands between both sets of grandparents.  On her left are her dad's parents, Dan and Teressa Sroufe.  On her right are her mother's parents. 

Both sets of parents participated in the baptismal program by giving "twosome" talks.

In the picture on the right, Hazel holds a poster made by Grandma Teressa which she used in their talk.  It tells the trials of some of the women in the scriptures. Hazel loves it and has it displayed in her room.

Unique Funeral Service for Perry Ulufanua

A beautiful funeral service for Perry Ulufanua, Leka Rosenbusch's brother, was held February 23 at the Ham Lane building.  The cultural hall was decorated in colorful Samoan items.  Friends and family enjoyed listening to speakers tell childhood memories and sing Samoan songs.

 Ward member volunteers provided a delicious breakfast after the Samoan funeral.  Then a typical religious funeral was held in the chapel, followed by a catered lunch.

Stake Leaders Behind the Scenes

Some of the Mokelumne River Ward members have stake callings and are often out of sight, but are always doing important things that need done.  In this case, Ruth Anderson, left picture, who is Stake Relief Society President, needed to plan several meals for a recent multi-stake conference that featured several general authorities and was hosted in our stake building Feb 9-10. She is working with Sherrill Adamska who volunteered to help.  Sherrill is also helping Cathy Leonard (center picture) who is the Stake Relief Society Secretary. On the right, Neil Anderson also helps out. The top picture shows the table setting for one of the "family style" meals.

Joe Ramos Blesses Grandbaby

On February 3 Joe Ramos blessed his latest grandchild in Sacrament meeting, assisted by the bishopric as well as Loren Perry, Cliff Kerr and Dave Gillingwater. The baby is Carly-Ray Esmerelda Alfaro and was born July 25, 2018. Her parents are Ray Alfaro and Sally Ramos. The
family lives in Stockton.

L to R: Stephen Aberle, Ray Alfaro holdng Carly-Ray, Sally Ramos, and Joe Ramos

Mokelumne Ward Mission Action Plan

Eric Fairbanks, Ward Mission Leader

    On January 20 after Sunday School the Elders' Quorum presented a "Fireside" directed by Ward Mission Leader Eric Fairbanks.  He said their goal is to share the Gospel with ALL.  "Every soul is precious to Heavenly Father," he said. "This includes active, inactive, non-members, and ancestors."
    Brother Fairbanks presented a PowerPoint that explained the ways we can help.  They included four activities:
1.  Find and prepare people to hear the Gospel.
2.  Assist, by going out with missionaries and hosting lessons in your home.
3.  Fellowship those being taught.
4. Prioritize activities to prepare all ward members for full-time mission service.
     The Elder's Quorum plans to have quarterly missionary firesides.
    Following the fireside, ward members enjoyed a "linger-longer" time, enjoying delicious soups and cookies provided by ward volunteers.

Zac Stapleton Newly Baptized Member

L to R:  Zac, Sister White, Sister Schokker,
 and new missionary Sister Guymon

      In an interview with Ann Kerr, Zac Stapleton, a student at Lodi High School, said he was dating Naomi Gonzalez, who also goes to Lodi High, and she introduced him to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.











Zac was taught the Gospel by missionaries Sister Guzmon and Sister Schokker.  He accepted and was baptized January19 by Gideon Gonzalez.

Relief Society Sisters Learn Financial Planning

   A welcomed guest speaker in January for Relief Society was Brother Winstrom Burke who is well versed in the banking and financial arena.  He talked about paying tithing, setting budgets and planning for the future.  "He understood that we are all in different situations in our lives and he gave information based on our needs," said Kathy Cowley who attended the lecture.
   "The lecture information was so helpful to young couples and young adults," commented Cathy Leonard. "He presented a lot of good principles, many from Dave Ramsey & Financial Peace University."    Brother Burke graciously answered the many questions sisters had, and was willing to answer individual questions at the end.
   This event was the first in a new quarterly series planned by the ward Relief Society.  It was a "teaching" evening.  The next one in the quarter will be "serving" and the third will be "social."

A Temple Experience for New Member Julie Evans

   New member Julie Evans has a deep interest in family history.  As soon as she was baptized she wanted to take family names to the temple.  The sister missionaries who taught her were able to go with her, as well recent convert Jen Tovar and three couples from the ward: Travis and Cathy Leonard, Dave and Ardell Gillingwater, and Earl and Betty McOmber.
   Julie was baptized for three of her ancestors and a few more from other families.  President Anderson, who was also there, did the confirmations.
     It was cold, rainy, and windy outside, but inside the temple was a great warmth.  A happy occasion for all who were there on a busy temple day.

Left: Sister Evans (center) with Sister White and Sister Schokker. Right picture L to R: Sister Schokker, Sister White, Julie Evans, and Jen Tovar light up the world with their smiles on a blustery day.

Jeremy Banks Called to Serve in Washington Tacoma Mission

 

      Jeremy Banks, son of David and Shawna Banks, will be reporting to the MTC/Provo on February 13 to prepare for serving an English speaking mission in Tacoma, Washington.
    Prospective missionaries in the digital age do not wait for a big white envelop to arrive in the mail containing a letter calling them to a certain mission.  They get an email that the call has been sent, with instructions on where to find it. When Jeremy got this email he decided to wait until he could be joined  in the Relief Society Room with family and friends to learn where he would be serving. (See photos below.)

     Jeremy's mother Shawna said he began to consider a mission while at BYU-Idaho.  His roommates were returned missionaries and had a positive influence on him.  His bishop at BYU-Idaho challenged him to read the Book of Mormon, which he did.  Then he knew that he wanted to serve a mission.  The Mokelumne River Ward wishes him well.

A Beautiful Musical Sacrament Meeting for Christmas

   The chapel and cultural-hall-overflow were filled for Sacrament Meeting the Sunday before Christmas with members and guests who came to celebrate the birth of Christ.  The program was music oriented, with spiritual readings by Joseph Stringer, second counselor in the bishopric.
  The primary children sang "Picture a Christmas" and "Can I Hold the Baby?" The ward adult and youth choir sang two numbers with a special duet in between--"A Christmas Medley" piano/organ duet by Rocky Shore and JP Tingey.
     Sister Liz Kirkley directed the choir in their beautiful renditions. The congregation joined the choir singing "Silent Night," followed by a testimony of Jesus Christ and the significance of his birth elegantly given by Bishop Eric Holden. The closing song was a vocal solo "O Holy Night" by Caden Webb, accompanied by Ann Broughten.
      The pictures below are the adult/youth choir practicing in the Relief Society room the Sunday before the performance.

    The entire program was planned and orchestrated by Ward Music Chairperson Jackie Perry.  Jackie is a musician herself and had this to say about music in our lives, and especially at Christmas.
    "Music is a part of heaven and has been from the beginning.  I'm sure that at this moment angels surround God's throne singing and praising Him.  David O. McKay said that music was the fourth greatest need of man.  First is food to sustain life; second is shelter to protect us from the elements; third is clothing to protect our bodies; and fourth is music to sustain our souls and protect our spirits.
   "Music is of great importance here on earth as we express happiness, joy, love, celebration and worship and continue to praise God and His son.  I can't imagine Christmas without music, as it touches a special place within us and makes the birth in Bethlehem come alive.
   "God delights in the song of the heart and a song of the righteous is a prayer unto Him."

Sharing the Love of Christmas

      Achievement Day Girls brought the spirit of Christmas to Ashley Place Assisted Living.  The girls sang their hearts out with beautiful Christmas songs.  In addition, they mingled with the audience and handed out Christmas cards they had made.  Achievement Day Leaders are Ginny Shull, Sara Farlee, and Suzanne Fairbanks.  Primary teacher Katie Brown also joined the group, and Teresa Sroufe served as their pianist.