New Sister Missionary Delights

   Sister Harris (on the left) is our new missionary who hails from Meridian, Idaho and has been in California for five months. She serves with Sister Cyr and they work hard to introduce people in Lodi to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before coming she studied at BYU Idaho for one semester. She took a trip to Nauvoo and while there she met a senior sister missionary who advised her to  go on a mission.  She's glad she did and is thrilled to be serving in the Mokelumne River Ward.  She says, "I love this ward.  It's everything!"  She also loves waterfalls and approved this picture. We are thrilled to have her with us.

Primary Children Learn About the Pioneers

    The primary presidency and teachers wanted the children to get a feeling for what the pioneers did to maintain their religious freedom.  Everyone had fun rotating through booths of soap making, carving, butter making, rubber band gun shooting, log sawing, gold panning, stick pulling, and milking a cow. In the upper left picture Bishop Sroufe is riding the the Ship Brooklyn! Pioneer food was enjoyed by all. Kevin Stewart shared a message about pioneers and how we can keep the faith like they did by remaining faithful and doing their work in the temple.  

Relief Society Monthly Activity

 The theme of the night was “Our ward is like a "charcuterie" board.” The purpose of the activity was to develop friendships and get to know each other more closely--as that helps in ministering. Sisters contributed food which made a beautiful charcuterie board. Everyone ate and played bingo to get to know each other.

Relief Society Sisters Learn to Play Pickleball

     The cultural hall now has two pickleball fields laid out, so the sisters took advantage of it and had a fun pickleball night! Those who knew how to play taught the newbies who wanted to learn but never had the opportunity to play. The pickleball pros did a great job of teaching rules and skills. Thanks pros for helping the sisters learn the game and have a great time. It really strengthened friendship and appreciation for others.  Appreciation goes both ways--for those who are sharing their knowledge and for those who are willing to try something new and learn.  In addition exercise, is important for healthy bodies.

     The sister missionaries joined the group and had a wonderful time.  One of them (Sister Gasser lower right) already knew how to play and was very helpful. The cute little girl (lower left) wanted to play too! She was darling to let us take her picture!

Shull Family Welcomes New Baby Boy

 

   Lincoln Timothie Shull wasn't supposed to arrive until June, but he surprised his family by being born May 13, 2023.  It was the day before Mother's Day--a special gift for his mother Ginny.  He weighed 7lbs 2oz and was 19 inches long. Ginny says that he is loved by his four sisters and is sweet natured and the perfect caboose to their family.  We welcome him with great joy.  Congratulations Tim, Ginny, and girls.

Primary Children Enjoy Dinner, Games, and Learning About Christ

    Mokelumne River Ward Primary held an all primary activity.  The children were invited to come and play games, have dinner, enjoy one another's company, and remember stories from the New Testament.  There were scriptures that went with every game.  One example is "Pin the baby Jesus in the Manger."  The scripture was chosen from Luke, chapter 2 to remind the children that Christ was born and laid in a manger.  After the games were played, the children had fun with glow sticks, and the lights were turned down to have a dance party.  Our goal was to have each child that attended feel love from the leaders, happiness comes from being in primary, and that the scriptures are full of adventure and stories of our Savior.

   

An Amazing Young Woman Is Graduating From High School

    Lily Mogler (on the left) has been wrestling for many years and has been successful. At the senior awards night at Tokay High School she was awarded the "Female Athlete of the Year" award. She is the daughter of Chene and Andrea Mogler.  Her mother said, "Girls wrestling has been our second home between all three of the girls over the past 9-10 years."

    But wrestling isn't everything for Lily. She is a talented musician which started in the 5th grade on the violin and then she switched to double bass in 7th grade.  In the farewell concert at Tokay High she not only played, but arranged and directed the orchestra for one of the numbers: "Fantastic Beasts." During her senior year she was chosen to play in a program at Carnegie Hall in New York City.  To her, music is magical and she and her family are grateful for the teachers who have taught and inspired her love for music.

     But wait!  With all this going on, how did she get recognition for her very high GPA?  She was awarded three scholarships and was accepted to BYU Idaho.  Congratulations Lily!

 

A Delightful New Missionary

 

       Sister Gasser (right) has a new companion, Sister Cyr on the left.  They are both amazing missionaries.  Sister Cyr hails from Bury, Connecticut and this is her first assignment on her mission. You would never know it.  She acts like she is an experienced missionary.  She prayed to Heavenly Father about going on a mission, and when she got her Patriarchal Blessing she was told she would be a missionary. She is 19 years old, graduated from high school a year ago, and his been working since then to prepare for her mission.  Her mother was raised in the church.  Her father is a convert. She has two brothers.

   Sister Cyr is skilled in ceramic sculpturing. She learned from her grandmother who had a ceramic store and that's where she developed her skill. She learned about art at school and that helped her to create beautiful ceramics.  Welcome Sister Cyr!

Ward Members Enjoy Outdoor Activity Featuring Corndogs

 

    The event was planned and produced by the ward Activities Committee, headed on this occasion by Andrea Mogler (with the corndogs) and assisted with Shawna Banks and Tammy Woods.   Andrea purchased 275 corndogs, and no one went hungry.

     Other delicious sides and desserts were provided by volunteer ward members and enjoyed by families, couples, singles, and friends.  It was a beautiful day, and fun to be outdoors.

  Chrissy Plines and her daughter Bella were popular with their face painting on the children.  Christy Macham arranged games for the youth and children.  There was the game of cornhole, as well as volley ball.

      We are not sure what game these girls were playing, but they were so cute we had to take their picture!

Three Beautiful New Babies!

   New baby Cruz Haggard with parents Lucero and Matt. Cruz was born October 13, 2022.

   The Simmons family welcomed beautiful little Rozlyn into their home on April 6, 2023.  Her mom Rebecca reports that she is a good sleeper and often has the hic-ups. Rebecca and Trent are a bonded family and Rozlyn is the first they have had together. They plan to have all the children sealed to them later this year. 

 

   Zachary and Megan Blackwell welcomed their daughter Delilah Rae Blackwell into their home on March 30, 2023.  In the pictures with her parents Delilah Rae is enjoying the blanket and cap made by Joyce Dickerson, a sweet ward member who does this as a service project. 

Beautiful Easter Sacrament Meeting

  President Russell Nelson asked the wards to only have one meeting on Easter Sunday.  It would be dedicated to why Easter is so important in our lives. Our bishopric planned a special program that involved musical numbers interspersed with teachings from the scriptures about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The ward choir sang, the primary children sang, there was  a trio of young women who performed a beautiful number, a group of young men sang, an adult brother sang a beautiful rendition.

  Before Easter Bishop Sroufe sent everyone in the ward a letter inviting us to read the scriptures and "Savor these sacred verses and find every way you can to thank our Heavenly Father for sending us His Only Begotten Son. Because of Jesus Christ we can repent and be forgiven of our sins.  Because of Him each of us will be resurrected."  We have a wonderful bishop, and this program was a wonderful, beautiful time to worship Christ and thank Him for His sacrifice.

Many Good Deeds Go Unknown

      There are some callings in the ward that are very time consuming, but they're not done in the chapel or classroom.  Here are two sisters who fall into this definition of service and we would like to tell you about them, then continue to add others throughout the year.

Ardell Gillingwater:  Ardell is the Service Coordinator for the Relief Society.  She has several sisters who work under her.  One of them sends cards and remembrances for a sister's birthday or a family who has a new baby. Others make sure the poor and the sick have meals when needed. Some help when there is some physical work needing to be done. Another works with Ardell to help those who are disabled or ill.  It may be taking them to the doctor, or hospital, making sure medicines are taken on the correct schedule, finding help they may need to get back to a normal pain-free life. They cheer up those in need, home bound, or depressed.  

Joyce Dickerson: Her husband passed away several years ago and Joyce fills her life with all kinds of activities.  She likes to sew so decided to make blankets for new babies. She watches for sales of material and buys enough for five or six blankets at a time. Hobby Lobby is one of her favorite stores for fabric bargains. Joyce keeps awake in the evenings by crocheting warm little hats for the babies. She can make two in an evening. She said she does this because "It makes me feel good!" She says it comes from her heart--not to make fame.  She said God blessed her a lot. He allowed her to make extra money. "It's also an education" she said "because I have to use my brain most of the time to figure out how to do things!"

Here are two babies enjoying the talent of Joyce.  On the left is Cruz Haggard.  On the right is Delilah Rae Blackwell.