the missionaries of santa rosa, california

A Letter From Sister Cottle

2012-01-23T12:29:00.000-08:00

Dear California Santa Rosa Missionaries,

President Bunker asked me to write this weeks e-mail, which I am grateful and humbled for the opportunity. I hope and pray that what I say will be what Heavenly Father wants each of us to know and feel at this time in our missions.

I feel impressed to share with you a little about my whole mission experience starting at the very beginning...

When I came out on my mission, I like most was sad to leave home, and a little afraid of the unknown. You hear about missions and missionaries coming home and how it was, "the best 18-24 months of their life." But my question was how? How could leaving my family for 18 months be the greatest journey of my life? How could leaving my job, my friends, cars, music, boyfriends, girlfriends, school, and whatever else we leave be the best 18 months of my life?

Something President Bunker said to us at our last zone conference was, "we can't just serve TIME, we need to serve a MISSION."

Each of us made a CHOICE to be here. Maybe we felt pressure, maybe we felt prompted, or maybe we just didn't know what else to do, so we came. But the point is we are here. Whatever the reason is, it got us here, and that is great. We are all here physically. But are we mentally in our missions? Spiritually? Emotionally? Is every fiber of our being here in the mission?

At the beginning of my mission I think the only thing that was here was my body. But the rest of me was longing for 'what used to be.' I hadn't yet tasted of the fruit "that was desirable above all other fruit," and "could make one happy." And I couldn't until I let go of my own will, my own wishes, my own desires. I couldn't taste of that fruit until every piece of me was clasping to the iron rod.

Someone of great wisdom once told me, our life is much like driving a car. When your car is in drive and your foot is on the gas pedal you move forward. As you move forward your eyes must be focused on whats in front of you. Every once in a while it is important to look into the rear view mirror and see what lies behind you. But if your focus is on whats behind you, not only will you crash, but you will miss great opportunities that could be yours.

That was me, I was that missionary driving forward but looking backwards. Our call letter states, "You have been recommended as one worthy to represent the Lord as a minister of the restored gospel. You will be an official representative of the Church. As such, you will be expected to maintain the highest standards of conduct and appearance by keeping the commandments, living mission rules, and following the counsel of your mission president. You will also be expected to devote all your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs. As you do these things, the Lord will bless you and you will become an effective advocate and messenger of the truth."

I realized that if my mission was going to be some of the "greatest 18 months of my life," I was going to have to sacrifice much more than just physically being here on the mission. I was going to have to give my WHOLE self to the Lord. In True To The Faith under the word sacrifice it reads, "To sacrifice is to give up something we value for the sake of something of greater worth."

Laman and Lemuel WENT and they came home. They technically obeyed but they didn't change. They just completed a mission.

What kind of mission do we want to serve? What kind of mission are we serving?

Elder Holland said speaking to us as missionaries, "If we're going to be disciples we better have something to show for it. We need to have a moment in the Garden of Gesthemne... a moment on the Road to Calvary. Christ's ressurected body, his scars on his hands feet and side, he will carry the evidence that there IS sacrifice in serving our Father in Heaven. "

Bruce C. Hafen said, "We need grace both to overcome sinful weeds and to grow divine flowers. We can do niether one fully by ourselves. But grace is not cheap. It is very expensive, even very dear. How much does this grace cost? Is it enough to simply believe in Christ? The man who found the pearl of great price gave "all that he had" for it. If we desire "all that [the] Father hath," God asks all that we have. To qualify for such exquisite treasure, in whatever way is ours, we must give the way Christ gave---every drop he had: "how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not." Paul said, "if so be that we suffer with him," we are "joint-heirs with Christ." All of His heart, all of our hearts."

The Lord doesn't ask us to do it all at once. But "line upon line, precept upon precept." The sooner we do give our all, the sooner we will find that "pearl of great price."

I would like to invite each one of us to prayfully ask the Lord what else we need to sacrfice so that we can become, "joint-heirs with Christ." So that our missions will in fact become "the greatest 18-24 months of our lives."

I love each of you, and I will forever treasure this time that I have had and will have to serve with you here in one of the greatest opportunities of a life time.

Love, Sister Cottle

Eureka Stake Conference

2012-01-22T12:07:00.000-08:00

We were in Eureka last night and this morning for Stake Conference. We really enjoyed the time we were able to spend with these great people! We were inspired to be better and we appreciate all of those who work so hard to move the work of the Lord forward in His kingdom. Here are a couple of pictures of the missionaries serving there. It was hard to catch them all at once because they are all busy taking care of "their people". Thank goodness!

Elder Braegger and Elder Weiland

Front - Sister Hernandez, Sister Tucker and Elder McQueen
Back - Elder Farnsworth, Elder Clark, Elder Merrill, Elder Bryson Anderson, Elder Ellsworth,
Elder Windholz, Elder Cannell, Elder Edwards, Elder Carter and Elder Christensen

What a happy group!

Recent Visitors!

2012-01-21T11:45:00.000-08:00

We were so excited to meet the parents of our wonderful Elder Sam Bringhurst today! Of course, Elder Bringhurst is now just called Sam, but we had a wonderful visit and count the opportunity of meeting our missionaries parents a very special treat! I missed meeting Victoria, but look forward to that day very soon, I hope! They are a wonderful family and we thank them for supporting their dear son while he served in the California Santa Rosa Mission. Thank you for taking the time to come and see us!

Diane, John and Sam Bringhurst

Dinner Guests!

2012-01-16T21:30:00.000-08:00

We got to share a meal and a message tonight with some wonderful Sisters that are serving in the Santa Rosa area. It was a treat and I wanted to share a photo with their parents. They are doing well! We love them!

Sister Biggs, Sister Liston, Sister Carroll and Sister Erlebach

A Letter From Elder McBride

2012-01-16T10:11:00.000-08:00

Dear California Santa Rosa Mission,

What a beautiful week it was. It was so wonderful seeing all of you this week at zone conference and I hope you have all been able to apply the things that you learned. It was very spiritually uplifting for me and I enjoyed being in your presence each day I was around you. It has been exciting to see the growth the mission is taking already, and I pray that will continue to improve. My remarks this morning to you are going to be from the things that we've seen with zone conference and I hope to call your attention to the need for constant striving.

This zone conference we focused on three main points in our workshops and I want to reiterate those points to you and invite you to continue to focus upon those. Teach three lessons a day, be actively living the doctrine of Christ by inviting to baptism early and often, and help your investigators come to sacrament meeting. We are all striving to be the best that we can and sacrifice for the Lord, and these will help us continue in that direction. I want to share some experiences with you that Elder Gardner and I had this week. While we have been working to apply the things that we learned from zone conference, we noticed specific blessings that came. We taught three lessons a day, almost every day this week and that was a good reminder to us both that it is possible, we just have to dedicate our time and planning to achieve those. Then Saturday, a random number called us and a Brother Brockway told us about a commitment he made to some missionaries back in 2004. We invited him to come to the church and get a tour and if time permitted him too, we would teach him. When we taught him and gave him a tour, he mentioned to us he felt the spirit and felt enlightened. We invited him to be baptized and he said yes, but would not set a specific date. All of these blessings came because of a determination to leave it all on the field, to follow the spirit that had touched our hearts and taught us what we might do to be better during zone conference. It is miraculous to hear that others around the mission are seeing similar miracles occur. The promise is there, if we will give the Lord everything we had that day, He will chang our perspective and lead our area.

While I was sitting in zone conferences, thinking about how I am going to apply all this into my missionary effort, I was reminded of the talk given this last general conference by Elder Christofferson, "The Divine Gift of Repentance." As we move forward from what we have learned, many, if not all of us, feel the need to repent and to rededicate ourselves to this work and to the mission. There are a few comments from Elder Christofferson's talk that I want to emphasize. He said, "repentance means striving to change. It would mock the Savior’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross for us to expect that He should transform us into angelic beings with no real effort on our part. Rather, we seek His grace to complement and reward our most diligent efforts (see 2 Nephi 25:23). Perhaps as much as praying for mercy, we should pray for time and opportunity to work and strive and overcome. Surely the Lord smiles upon one who desires to come to judgment worthily, who resolutely labors day by day to replace weakness with strength. Real repentance, real change may require repeated attempts, but there is something refining and holy in such striving."

Elders and Sisters, there is something refining and holy in such striving. You may not get three lessons every day a week, you may not get a new investigator with a baptismal date, or your investigator might not show up for sacrament meeting, but you didn't stop trying, you never stop trying. Striving to teach at least three lessons a day to help others come to know about the gospel of Jesus Christ, inviting them to live the gospel and follow the example of Jesus Christ, and to work each day to help those you teach come to feel our message is true through sacrament meeting attendance. That is what our striving is. We must be striving to change, we must strive to have the Lord be well pleased. I love you Elders and Sisters. We have been given an opportunity to grow, an opportunity to give our time and ourselves to the Lord. I pledge with you to do this fully and wholly.

With love,

Elder Michael McBride

Look Who's BACK IN TOWN!

2012-01-13T09:59:00.000-08:00

Gordon and Sarah Snow (formerly Elder and Sister Snow) have returned to Santa Rosa/Ukiah for a visit! We feel very blessed to have spent a little time with them on Friday afternoon. They are doing very well! Happy, healthy and as fun as ever. We love you Snow's, it is great to see you!!!

Zone Conference - Fairfield, Vacaville and Woodland

2012-01-12T14:09:00.000-08:00

Today we were in Davis for our third day of Zone Conferences. We met with the Fairfield, Vacaville and Woodland zones. It was great to be with these wonderful missionaries today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Elder Sivley, Sister Fenn, Elder Noris,
Elder Bittner, Sister Lim, Sister Uehara, Elder Hoskins,
Elder Pilkington, Elder Roe, Elder Cosman and Elder Brower!!!

Woodland Zone

Fairfield Zone

Vacaville Zone

Zone Conference - Eureka, Santa Rosa, Lake County and Ukiah

2012-01-11T21:05:00.000-08:00

Today we were in Santa Rosa for a Zone Conference with the Eureka, Ukiah, Santa Rosa North, Santa Rosa South and Lake County Zones. It was a very good day! We love these missionaries and we are very excited to invite more people to be baptized, teach more lessons, and make sure "our people" are getting to Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. "Our people" include our investigators, the almost 1000 recent converts from the past couple of years and all of the people that are on the ward lists in our areas. I think we are all feeling like we have a lot to do and we are ready to get busy! Here are some pretty adorable pictures!

Elder Edwards best imitation of Elder Spendlove! (You are not forgotten!)

Eureka Zone

Ukiah Zone

Lake County Zone

Santa Rosa South Zone

Santa Rosa North Zone

Today my husband celebrated the birthdays without me :(...so I didn't get to take a picture! (so sorry!) Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Sister Neuenschwander, Elder Miller, Elder Ruvalcaba, Elder Jenkins, Elder Meile, Elder Brad Christensen, Elder McBride, Elder Clark, Elder Binkerd, Sister Carroll, Sister Cluff, and Elder Jordan Anderson!

Zone Conference - Napa, San Rafael and Vallejo

2012-01-10T21:15:00.000-08:00

Today we were in Napa for Zone Conference with the Napa, Vallejo and San Rafael Zones. It was a wonderful day! We felt the Spirit with us as we reviewed some important principles in the morning and learned about doctrine; what it is, where it is found, and why it is important to understand, in the afternoon. I love spending the day with our wonderful missionaries. They are great people with big hearts. I learn a lot from them every time I have the opportunity to be with them! Enjoy these fun pictures...

Elder Kucinski wants his parents to see the green stuff on his plate. He ate every bite! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Sister Stephensen, Elder Benjamin Johnson, Elder Longstaff,
Elder Mahrt, Elder Penman, Elder Sherrow, Sister Osorio and Sister Adamson!

San Rafael Zone

Vallejo Zone

Napa Zone

A Letter From President Bunker

2012-01-09T09:56:00.001-08:00

January 8, 2012

Dear California Santa Rosa Missionaries,

I hope that you each are doing well and enjoying this wonderful stretch of dry weather. Having lived here for the past 2 ½ years I can tell you that it is very unusual for it not to be raining this time of year so live it up! I think in due time the rains will come, and that is always a good thing.

Recently, one of the missionaries who were getting ready to go home sent me his final email report. I was touched by many of the things he mentioned and reported about but one thing in particular stood out to me. I would like to share just a portion of what he wrote about being a disciple:

“Each and everyday I have learned the lesson to “Follow”. It is such a simple command and yet it takes us more than a lifetime to perfect. We do not have to face the world alone, nor is that even expected of us. We are simply asked to follow. When we fully and completely submit our will to God and accept He knows life a little bit better than we do, then we can come to understand the joy and the power of being a Follower. I have loved the past two years of my life of being humbled and learning how much God loves me. By way of that love, He sent His son to show us the way. I have loved repenting and working each and everyday at trying my best to follow that path. I am excited and looking forward in continuing this life journey of following!”

The Book of Mormon is said to contain the “fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ”. The Book of Mormon teaches the fullness of the gospel—the message of salvation in Christ—with simple plainness. A repetitive focus in the Book of Mormon is upon such principles as faith, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost, enduring to the end, the Atonement, bodily resurrection, and eternal judgment. While some of the more distinctive doctrines of the church are found in the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price, the Book of Mormon teaches what it teaches best—namely, the doctrine of Christ and that our happiness and joy are to be found only in following the Savior, and in seeking after Him in order that we might be changed.

To choose Christ is to choose change. The Fall of Adam and Eve created a separation between man and God that could only be bridged by and through the infinite and eternal atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is clear from the scriptures both ancient and modern, that we cannot forgive our own sins, change our own nature, raise ourselves from the dead, or glorify ourselves hereafter. That is only the work of God, even the work of the Son of God. Aaron explained it this way to King Lamoni’s father (Alma 22:13-14):

“And Aaron did expound unto him the scriptures from the creation of Adam, laying the fall of man before him, and their carnal state and also the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, through Christ, for all whosoever would believe on his name.

And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory.”

As you journey through your mission and your life, real joy and happiness will come only through following Christ and submitting your will to Him. You cannot change your own nature without Him. You cannot merit anything in this life or beyond without Him. He will not force us nor compel us to obey. He invites all to come and feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet and to thrust their hands into His side of their own volition. He invites all to follow Him (2 Nephi 31:10): “And He said unto the children of men: Follow thou me.”

I am convinced that people who lose their way in life or who once had the spirit with them and now do not, have stopped relying wholly on the merits of Jesus Christ to save and to guide them. Instead they have relied on their own wisdom, money and worldly comforts, and the philosophies of men to justify their sins and to blind and rob them of real joy.

Let us choose this day to remember the Lord and to follow Him, and only Him. Let’s not get distracted by Satan or distracted by the trappings and enticements of the world. Let’s have an internal reverence and gratitude toward God and His son and have that reflect in our countenance and in our lives.

My love always,

President Bunker

Zone Leader Council Meeting

2012-01-06T11:38:00.000-08:00

Today was Zone Leader Council Meeting. I love to come and share lunch with these great missionaries and my husband. I even got to share in the end of a discussion they were having before they broke for lunch. I have decided, any day spent with our missionaries is a great day! We are grateful to have wonderful leaders serving in our mission. They really set an awesome example and willingly serve with love. Thank you for all you do!

Elder Penman & Elder Sherrow - Napa

Elder Evans & Elder Weber - Woodland

Elder Vomocil & Elder Felix - San Rafael

Elder Edwards & Elder Christensen - Eureka

Elder Brower & Elder Bracken - Fairfield

Elder Bacon & Elder Gifford - Vacaville

Elder Hanson & Elder Vasconcelos - Vallejo

Elder Hatch & Elder Bills - Ukiah

Elder Walker & Elder Brady Anderson - Lake County

Elder Phipps & Elder Barrett - Santa Rosa North

Elder McBride & Elder Gardner - Assistants to the President

Elder Scott & Elder Richins - Santa Rosa South

PS- Do you notice what a nice day it is...in January? I am loving my winter in California!

Training Meeting and Assignments!

2012-01-04T10:54:00.000-08:00

This morning we had a training meeting with the new missionaries and their trainers. We talked a little about our purpose, the doctrine of Christ and how we can be successful missionaries. After, everyone received their new assignments and companions! The excitement that was in the air was almost electric!

Sister Facer & Sister Thomas - Dixon, CA

Sister Carro & Sister Powell - St. Helena, CA

Sister Osorio & Sister McKay - Novato, CA Spanish

Sister Tucker & Sister Hernandez - Eureka, CA

Sister Anderson & Sister Garo & Sister Skroski - Windsor, CA Spanish

Sister Noot & Sister Cluff - Middletown, CA

Elder Hyde & Elder Fullmer - Napa, CA Spanish

Elder Blake & Elder Johnson - Vallejo, CA

Elder Windholz & Elder Farnsworth - Crescent City, CA

Sister Liston & Sister Biggs - Santa Rosa, CA

Elder Wood & Elder Mahrt - San Rafael, CA

Elder Sivley & Elder Thompson - Vacaville, CA

Elder Schulte & Elder Bliss - Vacaville, CA

Sister Hale & Sister Orrock - Vacaville, CA YSA

Elder Tanner & Elder Ruvalcaba - Santa Rosa, CA Spanish

Elder Bohnet & Elder Young - Sonoma, CA

Elder Hunt & Elder Camper - San Rafael, CA

Sister Lewis & Sister Williamson - Cordelia, CA

Sister Erlebach & Sister Carroll - Santa Rosa, CA YSA

Elder Zufelt & Elder Garity - Woodland, CA Spanish

Elder Foyston & Elder Pelton - Fairfield, CA

Sister Cottle & Sister Kimzey - Napa, CA YSA

Second group picture! Don't they look great?

We look forward to witnessing the "great" things that these "small and simple" missionaries will accomplish.

Transfers!

2012-01-03T22:19:00.000-08:00

I left our orientation meeting to deliver a couple of things to missionaries being transferred, so I took my camera and snapped a few photos. Only a couple of zones had arrived, so I didn't get much. But here is something:

The Senior Missionary Couples have everything so organized...transfers happen like clockwork. It is amazing and fun to see it all happen. New companions, new cars, luggage issues, you name it, it happens at a transfer! Thank you to everyone who is there to help, to make sure it all goes smoothly! We love you!

NOW, let's get busy and see some "real growth" in the California Santa Rosa Mission! :)

Arriving TWENTY TWO!

2012-01-03T16:00:00.000-08:00

Today we went to Oakland to welcome twenty two new missionaries to the California Santa Rosa Mission! Here is President with his Assistants Elder Gardner and Elder McBride.

This is always a fun experience...seeing the new, energized, radiating missionaries come off the plane. This is what twenty two missionaries looks like. (A lot of missionaries and a lot of luggage!) We feel so blessed!

First group picture!

A trailer full of luggage! Now we are off to santa rosa.

We had a great orientation with these wonderful new missionaries; eleven Elders and eleven Sisters. They are anxious to be assigned and get to their areas and begin their service. Here they are one by one:

Sister Jasmine Kimzey - Sugar Land, TX

Sister Katie Liston - Provo, UT

Sister Allison Noot - Peoa, UT

Hermana Jennifer McKay - Salt Lake City, UT - Spanish Speaking

Elder Derryk Sivley - Seattle, WA

Sister Alex Williamson - Meridian, ID

Elder Daniel Wood - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Elder Zachary Young - Provo, UT

Elder Daniel Garity - Stillwater, OK - Spanish Speaking

Hermana Pavela Garo - Orem, UT - Spanish Speaking

Elder Ricardo Ruvalcaba - Alatadena, CA

Elder Ian Bliss - Provo, UT

Elder Mitchell Camper - Royal Oak, MD

Sister Sofia Carro - Simi Valley, CA

Sister Jenna Erlebach - Emmett, ID

Sister Kourtney Facer - Providence, UT

Elder Taylor Foyston - Chandler, AZ

Elder Ryan Fullmer - Layton, UT - Spanish Speaking

Sister Ashley Hale - Sweet, ID

Sister Ana Hernandez - Smithfield, UT

Elder Joseph Farnsworth - St. Charles, MO

Elder Dax Johnson - Sandy, UT

Welcome to the California Santa Rosa Mission! We are excited to have you here and look forward to serving with each one of you!

Departing Twelve and Departing Six!

2012-01-02T20:22:00.000-08:00

Since December 15th we have said good-bye to 18 of our missionaries. Does anyone feel our pain? It is always difficult to say good bye when the time comes so we have decided to say, "See you later." The first twelve that we had dinner with on the 15th of December are below.

Elder Greyson Bankhead - Providence, UT

Elder Nathan Crowther - West Valley City, UT

Elder Keaton Epps - Wake Forest, NC

Elder Jordan Sharples - South Jordan, UT

Elder Tyler Pratt - Alpine, UT

Sister Michele Gunnell - Shakopee, MN

Sister Bianca Gorder - West Point, UT

Sister Jaclyn Kahrs - Las Vegas, NV

Elder Joseph Larsen - Dolores, CO

Elder Chad Brady - McKinney, TX

Elder Travis Robinson - West Jordan, UT

Elder Caleb Condie - Powell, WY

The six that we had dinner with tonight are:

Sister Jasmine Tonumaipe'a - Kearns, UT

Elder Jake Thorpe - Madison, MS

Elder Brian Webber - Warsaw, OH

Sister Jessica Thurston - Logan, UT

Sister Jessica Madsen - Highland, UT

Sister Heather Pina - Louisville, KY

We have loved serving with each one of these missionaries! They are all amazing and they have all served so faithfully and lovingly and with all of their hearts! We wish them the best in all they do...

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

We love you!

A Letter From President Bunker

2012-01-02T07:57:00.000-08:00

January 1, 2012

Dear California Santa Rosa Missionaries,

Welcome to the year 2012! I look forward to sharing the coming year with each of you and I anticipate that we each will experience wonderful things in our life.

A new year is always a time to reflect on what happened during the past year and to also set new goals and heights to accomplish in the coming one. I hope that each of you had a wonderful time speaking with your families and loved ones on Christmas Day.

I hope you are looking forward to shaking off some of the holiday rust and gearing up for your work with renewed vigor, energy, and purpose. Let’s make this a memorable year not only for you personally but also for the mission collectively.

I pledge my full focus, energy, and love to each of you during this coming year and count my time as your mission president as a highlight of my life.

Recently I was asked by Sister Hsiang-Hua Wang, one of our former missionaries who finished her mission last August, if I would be willing to write a letter of recommendation for her. She was applying to graduate school at several universities here in the United States and I eagerly agreed to write her a letter.

My instruction was that the letter was to be sent to the various universities directly in a sealed envelope with my signature along the sealed portion so as to ensure those receiving it that it did come from me, and that it was not a forgery. I was struck by how vigorous the admission committees were in ensuring that no false or fake letters could be submitted. I was also a little concerned because the only thing that I could comment on had to do with her time here as a missionary since I had no experience with her professionally or educationally.

As I attempted to write the letter, I had to start over a few times because I didn’t feel comfortable that I was telling the committee who she really was, regardless of her educational or worldly credentials. I wanted them to know the person that I knew and that it had little to do with her prior grades or status. This is just a little of what I wrote to the various committees in the letter:

“It is a privilege to write this letter of recommendation for Hsiang-Hua Wang for consideration to your graduate program.

Hsiang-Hua is a very driven person with an infectious personality. She is happy, funny, articulate, and has a passion for learning and understanding people. She demonstrates leadership and maturity beyond her years. She mastered the English language both in speaking and in writing very quickly and she served as a trainer many times to newly arriving missionaries. She also served with distinction in the various wards and stakes of the church throughout the mission and all who met her were taken in by her sincerity, her compassion, and her faith. She will make an outstanding student and I predict will be at the top of her class should she be admitted. Her drive to achieve and to make of her life a life of service to her community and to her fellow man is exemplary. In short, she is an inspiration to me.

I recommend her without reservation and urge you to consider and accept her application to join you.”

In writing this, I realized that this is how I feel about every single one of you. You each are an inspiration to me. You each are so valuable and cherished by your Heavenly Father and if it were up to me to write a letter of recommendation to Him or to the Savior about you, it would be a privilege to do so.

I know how much He loves each of you and how deeply proud He is of your life and of your desires. I know that mission life and life in general can be at times difficult and challenging, but you each are so capable with unlimited potential.

I look forward to the New Year. This week we receive 22 new missionaries. This Friday is Zone Leader Council meeting and the following week we will be holding our zone conferences. Over a third of our mission has turned over since September. We have our work cut out for ourselves.

It is exciting to consider our future and what we can accomplish if we are unified, obedient, and dedicated to the Lord. Let us all, myself included, do all that we can to establish the church and to bring about real growth in the hearts of our people.

I love you each. Words nor tears will ever adequately express that love but I hope that you will feel it and know how much you each mean to me and even more importantly, how much you mean to your Heavenly Father and to your Savior.

My love,

President Bunker

A Letter From Elder Gardner

2011-12-26T08:19:00.000-08:00

My Brothers and Sisters of the Santa Rosa Mission,

Another Christmas has come and gone. It is crazy to me that my second Christmas on the mission is over! I hope all of you had a great day and that you were able to feel of the spirit that comes with Christmas. There is something we cannot deny this time of year. No matter what your beliefs are, where you come from or what culture you are a part of I think anyone can know and feel of the feelings, emotions and the spirit that surely comes with Christmas each year. It is no coincidence to me that we celebrate our Savior Jesus Christ's birthday during this time when we feel all of this. I just wanted to share with you some special experiences I have been able to have this amazing time of year. I hope all of you can be uplifted in some way from this message.

Last night Elder McBride and I had the chance to have dinner with a member of our ward out in Monte Rio just NW of Sebastopol. When we arrived to dinner there were some family members of the host who I had never met before but were members of the church. These good spirited woman had gone through a lot of trial this last year and requested that Elder McBride and I give them a blessing. We gave them blessings and tears of joy ran down their face as we hugged and thanked them. It just kept running through my mind through that moment that this is what Christmas is all about. I have never met these Women before in my life but I felt a love for them and felt charity for them and what they may have been going through in their lives. I was thankful to have been able to have that experience. Even though we were in a very small foreign looking town, spending Christmas Eve with some people I didn't know there wasn't anywhere else I'd rather have been. I am thankful for that.

After we left their home as we were driving back to Sebastopol some thoughts were running through my head of some productive things we could do for that evening. I thought of the money, candy, and food we had received for Christmas and although not much I wanted to give those things to some people who were without. I thought of the people we were teaching and not knowing if those people were in need we made the decision to drive to downtown Santa Rosa to give out what we had. We drove the streets for a little while looking for potential people we could approach and give our gifts to. I quickly realized I couldn't be picky with who we chose so we parked the car on a random street and Immediately when I opened the door I saw a man walking toward us. He was dressed in some older clothes and as soon as I could have an impression on this gentleman he said "Are you guys out playing Santa Claus tonight!?" I laughed and put out my hand to introduce myself. He said his name was John. He told me that he was on his way home from an Alcohol Anonymous meeting and that he was trying to clean up. We asked him if he had anything or anyone to go home to and he said humorously that he had a bologna sandwich but not much more. I explained to him that we were missionaries and what our objective for the evening was. We handed him our bag of left overs from the Christmas dinner and he willingly accepted and thanked us. We prayed with him and he went on his way. It didn't matter what John's situation was. If he was telling us the truth about his life and what he was going home to. I felt a love for him in that moment and cherished that time we had with him. When I looked in his eyes I felt Heavenly Father's love.

Shortly after John a few hundred yards we saw a bearded fellow walking slowly toward us. We quickly walked toward him and introduced ourselves. He told us his name was Paul. From this man's appearance I could tell that he was homeless. He asked what Church we were from and told us he'd been baptized in the past in the "Church of Christ". We told him that was wonderful and gave him a Restoration pamphlet in which I had taped a 20 dollar bill on the "First Vision" page. I told him that I had put something in there and to really look through the pamphlet and not just disregard it or throw it away. We said a prayer with Paul and wished him a safe evening. I could see Heavenly Father's love for him as we talked with him and I was grateful for that experience.

We then kept walking down town on more of a main street where we finally ran into a man and a women probably no older then 25. His name was Simon and hers was Jessica. They told us that they were travelers and that they had gone to a church earlier to eat and that they were taken care of. I told them who we were and I handed them a small bag of food I had gotten for Christmas and told them I wanted them to have it. On top of the bag was a Gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlet. They sincerely thanked us and as we looked into Jessica's eyes we could see tears as we wished them a merry Christmas and said our Goodbyes. We walked back to the car and dropped the remaining packages off at a less fortunate members home and one of our investigators.

It was definitely a special night that we had and I know Heavenly Father blessed us with many small miracles that evening. As we walked the streets we couldn't help but think that everyone we were running into had the name of apostles. We joked that we would run into another after we left Paul but sure enough we found Simon. Looking back on it now I felt my commission in those moments. I didn't feel like I was doing anyone a huge favor or going beyond my call because I was not. I am commissioned of Jesus Christ right now and I represent him. That is what I am called to do. I felt with each one of them regardless of the mistakes that they had made in their lives, or what may have been going on up to that point that there was hope for them. I felt like I was seeing each person as though they were my brother and sister and I felt as though I could see their potential. I felt as though they really were disciples of Jesus Christ as their names reflected. I felt as I feel Jesus would have felt toward Simon Peter when He called him out of the humble state he was in and told him to follow him. Jesus saw the potential in Simon Peter as he did that it didn't matter what he was or what he had been. He saw everyone the same, He wanted to heal and bless them. This is just one night of many that I have been able to feel what Jesus Christ may have felt when he was walking on the earth. We have that opportunity every single day. This is our calling.

I hope this story of our Christmas Eve will mean something to each of you as you are called to go forth to serve and teach your brothers and sisters regardless of who they are. I am grateful for the many experiences we get to have each and everyday representing Jesus Christ. I am thankful for each of you dedicating this time in your life to serve Jesus Christ. My hope is that we can strive to live up to our calling each and everyday of our mission. Let's end this year on a high note Elders and Sisters.

With love,

Elder Gardner

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A Letter From President Bunker

2011-12-19T10:45:00.000-08:00

December 18, 2011

Dear California Santa Rosa Missionaries,

Today Sister Bunker and I are celebrating our 30^th wedding anniversary. Just think, we have been married longer than you all have been alive. I think what that really means is that we are simply old!

I love Sister Bunker and count her as the greatest gift that Heavenly Father has ever given me. She is as kind, loving, and easy going at home as she appears to be to each of you in public. There is neither pretense nor false image about her. Sister Bunker is “steadfast and immoveable” as the scriptures invite us all to be. In the Topical Guide under the heading of Steadfast, the other topics of a similar meaning that we are invited to study are commitment, courage, dedication, dependability, diligence, endure, faithfulness, integrity, loyalty, obedience, and perseverance. Someday I hope to grow up to be like Sister Bunker for she is all of those things, including a heavy dose of love, patience, and charity for all.

In DC 31:9 it counsels us to “be patient in afflictions, revile not against those that revile, govern your house in meekness, and be steadfast”. Thank you Sister Bunker for 30 years of your christlike example to me, and to our family, and to all you have influenced. I know my life would not be anything like it is without your example, your help, and your goodness.

Today I would also like to talk a little about one of the synonyms mentioned in the topical guide of being steadfast, and that is being dependable. In its simplest form, the word dependable to me means trust and to me, trust is everything. A good watch or timepiece is very valuable when it tells time accurately, but a watch no matter how beautifully adorned with gold or jewels is of little use if you cannot depend on it to tell time accurately. So it is with us. We have so much to offer to the world as missionaries; we have so much to offer to each other as brothers and sisters of a loving Heavenly Father; we have so much to offer a spouse, a family, and all those who come into our life if we can be counted on.

Once there was a class of young women who had planned a service project to help an elderly widow clean up her yard. The young women had promised to be at the widow’s home at 9:00am on a Saturday morning with rakes, hoes, a lawnmower, and trimmers for garden’s work. On the Saturday for the project, only the young women’s advisor and one young woman showed up at the widow’s home. Although they worked very hard until 1:00pm in the afternoon, they were able to accomplish far less than their goal because two people were trying to do the work of many. Answer to yourself these questions: How do you think the two who kept their commitment felt? What responsibility did the other class members have? How do you feel when other people make commitments and then fail to keep them?

Consider this observation give 40 years ago:

“There is a thought from Confucius that touches upon the point of many personal and public problems. ‘A man who lacks reliability is utterly useless,’ he said. In this there is much of what is wrong with the relationships of man to man – not being reliable, not being able to count on people to perform their part, to do what they say they will do when it needs to be done. And so disappointments and disillusionment occur from day to day. Someone says he’ll have something ready at a certain time, and it just isn’t ready. Someone borrows and says he’ll pay back or bring it back at a certain time, and it just isn’t paid back or brought back. Someone signs a contract and agrees to perform certain services, and just doesn’t do it. The list could be endlessly lengthened. Often there are unavoidable reasons, but sometimes it is a lack of reliability – and in some situations this could become not only frustrating but frightening. All this could perhaps be compared to a parachute that opens only part of the time, or brakes on a car that can’t be counted on consistently. Suppose we couldn’t count on the promises of God. Suppose the astronauts in orbit couldn’t count on the calculations that others have made, or couldn’t count on the universe being run reliably. Suppose we couldn’t count on the tides, or the sun, or the seasons. It isn’t the hit-and-miss performance that makes life possible, but the degree of reliability, dependability, consistency that can be counted on.” (Richard L. Evans, Ensign, Oct. 1971)

I understand that there will always be times in life when unforeseen circumstances, or when the frailties of mankind and lapses in judgment of people lead to mistakes of dependability. We all have been subject to those moments. When we are the innocent victims of such instances, let’s forgive fully, easily, and regularly. When we are the cause of someone else’s disappointment because of our lack of diligence, let’s ask humbly and sincerely for forgiveness, make amends if we are able, and strive to never repeat our mistake. Even as the world falls more and more into a place where it is rare for someone’s word to be counted on or relied upon, let us not fall into a similar pattern of skepticism, retaliation, or cynicism about the potential of people, nor the impact that our positive example and way of life can have on others, no matter how small our “sphere of influence” may be.

There is great power in the commitment of one or a few to change the attitude and direction of many. Just because there are so many who fail to have integrity or reliability and don’t have faith in society, don’t let that become a reason to lower your standards or expectations of behavior for yourself. Be a model of dependability.

Let’s all strive to be not nearly dependable, but always dependable. Let’s be faithful in even the little things as well as the big ones. When we keep commitments and accept responsibility fully, our lives will have greater value, just like a watch with no fancy jewels shows its value when it can be depended upon for the accurate telling of time. Such a watch and such a person is of great value.

Be a person who is of great use and worth – a person who can be depended upon. The single most important characteristic that I was attracted to in Sister Bunker all those years ago (yes, she was and still is very pretty!) was her dependability. She was no flake; she loved the Lord and wanted to live a life centered in Him and in the gospel, and I felt safe that I could entrust my life and future to her and with her. She has never once let me down or disappointed me, and she has been a north star for me to look toward in moments or times of uncertainty.

I express my love for each of you. I thank you each for your sacrifice and dedication to serve a mission. I express my admiration for you and for your dependability and for the integrity of your word. Let us be people who not only talk of Christ and preach of Christ, but who also walk like Him and who can be counted on by Him in even the small and simple things of life.

My love always,

President Bunker

Christmas Conference!

2011-12-15T21:29:00.000-08:00

Today we had a wonderful All-Mission Conference for Christmas! It is such an amazing experience to have the entire chapel full of our missionaries. There is a great, great power with us all together. It truly was a beautiful experience today. We have twenty missionaries that are departing and we were able to hear testimonies from each of them and many, many musical numbers. We sang together, prayed together and laughed and cried together. It was a day to feel very united and bound by our love of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. We are so blessed to be in the mission field at this time, proclaiming the "good news" of Christ. It is a very sacred experience to spend Christmas in the mission field. It was especially sweet to spend some hours together learning and growing in the gospel together. Here are some pictures taken at lunch! (The food was pretty awesome too!) Enjoy!

Birthday boys...Elder Hubbard and Elder Kucinski!

Birthday boys...Elder Kent and Elder Burnham!

Birthday boy...Elder Elison!

Birthday Girl...Sister Gunnell!

Birthday Boys...Elder Pryor, Elder McQueen and Elder Hubbard!

Happy Birthday Elder Pryor, McQueen, Hubbard, Kucinski, Tanner, Weber and Larsen!

Happy Birthday Elder Blowers, Sister Gunnell, Elder Richins, Elison,
Kent, Burnham, Rollins and Pryor!

Also, Happy Birthday Sister Christensen!

Sister Johnson and her daughters (Fairfield Stake), Sebastopol Ward and Sister Donna Smith
THANK YOU FOR A DELICIOUS LUNCH!

Look who was back in Santa Rosa with us for a few days!
Welcome home Otto Bosch!!!

A gift of ties!

Presents in Pillowcases!

Lots and lots of them!

Fun tables thanks to our Senior Sisters!
A good time was had by all.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Two New Senior Couples!

2011-12-12T22:34:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Elder Dean and Sister Shanna Christensen! They come to us from Wellsville, Utah. We are so excited to have them serving here in the California Santa Rosa Mission. Their first assignment is with the Rincon Valley and Brush Creek Wards here in Santa Rosa. We look forward to serving with them!

Also, we want to welcome Elder and Sister Powell from Windsor, California. They are serving a church service mission and we are so grateful to have them working with the Healdsburg Ward.

Senior missionaries make such a difference, where ever they are serving! We feel so blessed to have such faithful, wonderful people here, building the church in the Santa Rosa Mission!

A Letter From Elder Condie

2011-12-12T09:43:00.001-08:00

Dear Elders and Sisters,

I have been given the assignment this evening to say goodbye to the mission. I suppose that can be taken to mean both the place and the people. But know this: I sincerely hope and am confident that this will not be the last time I ever see all of you nor the last time I come to our mission. There are people and places here that mean so much to me now. I've come to love this mission in a way that I probably never thought possible. I've come to love missionaries. I've learned to love others more than myself (a little better than I used to; still trying!). Most importantly, I've learned to really love the Lord and His work. This work is true. If it wasn't, it wouldn't work so well! The whole act of just being on a mission is a miracle! The fact that people can go on missions is a miracle! We're living miracles each day and may the Lord be thanked for it! I hope you all realize what a precious opportunity this is. Take it for everything it is, the opposition, the success, the presence of the Spirit, the learning process, the lifestyle, everything! If you don't embrace the whole package, you won't get nearly as rewarding an experience as you would have otherwise. I want so much for each of you to have at least as good a mission as I've had, if not better. I know I haven't done everything perfectly, none of us will, but I feel accomplished. I feel like I've done the work I was sent forth to do.

We saw a bumper sticker today that read "Change is inevitable. Growth is optional." Isn't that so true? Things change a lot in a mission. I could make a list a mile long of all the variables that exist in the mission field. But what are you going to take from it? Will you let yourself be pulled around and buffeted by winds of change, or will you steer into the wind, welcoming both the challenge and the Lord's help? I have confidence and trust in each of you. I know that I can go home assured that the Santa Rosa Mission will continue its course of growth and development. As we've been taught in the past, there is no ceiling. There is no limit to the things we can accomplish when we trust in the Lord and make Him our strength.

In closing, I want to quote a few lines from a poem I memorized once upon a time. It was written in the aftermath of World War I, but I believe that a portion of one of the stanzas has application here when read from the perspective of departing missionaries to those who are staying behind to carry the work forward. The poem is called "In Flanders Fields" and this is the part I want to share:

"Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you...we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high."

The torch is yours, elders and sisters. Hold it high, remember who you are, and remember who you stand for. You all know who the foe is. Don't give in. Don't let your investigators give in. They need you. We all need you. Most of all, the Lord needs you. I love you all and look forward to seeing you Thursday at our mission conference. May God bless each of you.

With love,

Elder Caleb Condie

A Letter From President Bunker

2011-12-05T07:55:00.000-08:00

Sunday, December 04, 2011

Dear Santa Rosa Missionaries,

In a recent letter I received from one of our California Santa Rosa returned missionaries, he quoted Elder Neal A. Maxwell who said this:

“One’s life cannot be both faith-filled and stress-free”.

In this life we will certainly experience stress in all its many varieties, intensities, and difficulties. No one will be spared and all of us will pass through adversities of every kind, and yet we have the promises from the Savior of His perfect atonement to calm us, to guide us, and to provide the mercy and hope we need to navigate this life (Alma 7:11-13) if we will have ‘eyes to see and ears to hear’. Unfortunately for many, that word IF looms large and is a stumbling block to faith.

Why is it that so many struggle with being faithful or faith-filled regardless of the stresses of life? I suppose the reasons and answers to that question also have as many variables and varieties as there are sands on the seashore. However there is truth in Elder Maxwell’s statement and perhaps it might simply come down to choice. Will we choose faith when faced with fear, doubt, or stress? Will we choose faith; will we choose the prophets; will we choose prayer; will we choose the scriptures; in short, will we choose the Lord?

One of my favorite scriptures is provided in Jacob 4:13:

“The spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. It speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly.”

The greatest wickedness, to me, that Satan perpetrates on the souls of man is to rob men of their faith and to lead them into a false belief that Heavenly Father picks winners and losers at a whim, and that He is someone to be feared or to be angry with, if they even believe in Him at all. The world is certainly filled with difficult circumstances and unfairness, and yet it is also filled with truth, love, and light. We can choose to see the world through the eyes that Satan desires, or we can choose to see it through the eyes of the spirit, which “lieth not” and which will show us plainly how things really are and how they really will be.

We don’t need to fear or doubt. I too have many questions about life and why things happen a certain way or why they don’t happen a certain way, but I have learned in my life to not question with the intent to find fault in God, nor in His love or fairness. It is only Satan who wants to take away our faith and our belief by instilling in our hearts a rage and bitterness or doubt against God that slowly but surely will lead to becoming “past feeling”. To be past feeling is a dangerous and dark place and Satan is a master of leading men carefully to such a place by their sin, pride, anger, and doubt. A choice of faith in God even when all seems lost, and in His love, existence, and His perfect Son and plan is a choice of peace and brings feelings of hope, charity, and light. Nothing that Satan offers can compare to such a feeling.

In the Family Proclamation to the World it states the following:

“All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life.”

I believe this statement and humbly testify that I know it is true. I know that each person who has been or whoever will be born on this earth is a son or daughter of heavenly parents. I know that we each have a divine nature and a divine destiny. I know that our destiny and nature is a work in progress and will be for as long as it takes until we obtain eternal life and exaltation. I know that life on this earth is very short and yet is an important step and part in our eternal progress.

In DC 38:7-9 the Lord says:

“But behold, verily, verily I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me;

But the day soon cometh that ye shall see me and know that I am; for the veil of darkness shall soon be rent, and he that is not purified shall not abide the day.

Wherefore, gird up your loins and be prepared. Behold, the kingdom is yours, and the enemy shall not overcome.”

I also know this scripture to be true. He is in our midst. He is not an absent master. He is the Redeemer, Messiah, and promised Savior to the entire world. When the stresses of life come upon you, now and in the future, square your shoulders and set your face into whatever wind is blowing at you and walk forward with faith in Christ, His atonement, and His perfect love for you. God is His father and He is our father too. To know the Father is to know the Son and visa-versa. Demonstrate your faith and your love by keeping the commandments by choice. Lay your burdens, including your stresses, questions, and doubts at His feet. Stop warring against Him either outwardly or inwardly in any degree.

“And in that day, all who are found upon the watch-tower, …shall be saved.

And they that have been scattered shall be gathered.

And all they who have mourned shall be comforted.

And all they who have given their lives for my name shall be crowned.

“Therefore, let your hearts be comforted…; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.” (DC 101:12-16)

I express my love for each of you. I pray for you every day and night and I thank Heavenly Father for the privilege of serving here with you. I pray that you will feel Father’s love for you and that His spirit will be upon you so you will see this life and beyond how it really is, and how it really will be.

My love always,

President Bunker

Sister's Conference

2011-12-02T09:21:00.000-08:00

Today we had a wonderful Conference with all of the Sister's at the Mission Home. We really enjoyed the opportunity to be together, to be taught, to get new ideas, to remember good, old ideas, to eat, to laugh, to cry, to hug, to feel loved, and mostly to feel of the Spirit and know that we are all in this great work together...supporting one another! I think we have 40 of the best Sister's serving in all the world! I feel so blessed to be here, serving with them! Enjoy these 200 photos (warning...there are a LOT!).

Happy Birthday President Bunker!

Goodbye to Elder Harrison!

2011-12-01T19:22:00.000-08:00

Tonight we had a sushi dinner to celebrate this wonderful missionary and the two years he has spent in the service of his fellowmen. Elder Harrison is a very special person who has overcome a lot of adversity and heartache on his mission. He has been faithful and obedient and he has blessed many, many lives here in northern California. He will be missed by us all, but we consider him forever connected to us here in the CSR mission. God bless you Elder Harrison! We love you forever! Can't wait until we meet again!

Elder Jake Harrison - Hamilton, New Zealand

Leadership Training Meeting

2011-12-01T10:52:00.000-08:00

Today we had a Leadership Training Meeting. Those in attendance: Assistants, Zone Leaders, District Leaders, Trainers and Exchange Sisters. It was great to be together, learning what our responsibilities as Leaders in the Mission are, learning how to be better missionaries, remembering to observe and listen and discern before speaking. Those were just a few things I took away from the day. Here are some photos from lunch, enjoy...

Notice how beautiful the tables look. It was really a lovely setting today.

The Adamson's, the Neuenschwander's and the Murray's
a few of our wonderful Senior Missionaries.

Exchange Sister's

Trainer's

District Leader's

Zone Leaders & Assistants

The Simpkin's

Shiloh Park Ward Sisters who provided lunch.

More Shiloh Park Ward Sisters. Thank you ALL!

Dessert was Delicious!

A Letter From Elder Condie

2011-11-28T08:39:00.001-08:00

Dear Elders and Sisters,

It was great to see many of you this week at transfers. It was also good to meet with all of you who are new to the mission. I love you all and am grateful that you're here serving. I also hope that you all had a great Thanksgiving and were fed well. I hope that you were also able to take some time to really reflect on the blessings that you have in your life. I know that you're all blessed. The first thing I want to say this evening is how much I love my mission. I love being here and being amongst you. There isn't really any other opportunity like this and I am glad beyond words that you each chose to come and have this experience. My companion often comments that the mission means something a little different to each one of us, depending on our backgrounds and who we are, etc. And I believe that he's right. Your individual mission is very much a part of who you are as person, especially once it's over. There's a lot of people that go on missions, but it's the ones that truly apply themselves to the work and give it their all that really get a rewarding, life-changing experience out of it. My prayer is that each of you will have that kind of transformation take place during your mission.
You can imagine that as my own departure day grows closer, this concept has been on my mind a little bit more frequently. I know what you're all thinking now: "Condie's trunked for sure...." Well, you're mistaken if you are thinking that and I'll tell you why. When you get to this point, you realize how much work you still have to do! The end of your mission is no longer this indefinite point in time that will never really come because you can't really fathom it or whatever. It gets super real super fast. It becomes this fight to concentrate all you can on your work because you know that the end is just around the corner and you don't want to face it because you don't think your ready or you haven't accomplished everything you think you need to.
But if you're working hard and are really involved in your mission, things will be taken care of. This is the Lord's work and he'll keep it moving. He's so grateful for each of you and the service you provide and He's calling others daily to be a part of this too. Many more are joining us here in our mission and around the world, so be grateful that you get this privilege to be here right now. It's incredibly precious and I know that if you do this right, you'll never want to have traded this for anything.
Something I've kind of had stuck in my head the last few days is the thought that going home is kind of like leaving on a mission again. It's not like a vacation where you're just gone for a little bit and then you get home and normalcy takes over. The mission is kind of the opposite. When you come out here, you get established. Sure, you get transferred around and go to lots of different places, but for the most part, you've come to your mission and set up shop and you eat, sleep, and drink this for a couple years solid to the point that it becomes all you really know and when you have to make that change of going back to wherever you're from, you pretty much have forgotten what it was like to live the way you did before serving a mission. And it's a little nerve-wracking! But you know what? It's okay! Because you've come and you've served and you've been something other than your own for the time you were here. You've been the Lord's, and there's no greater blessing than that, than being an instrument in His hands, doing His work, and just submitting yourself to His will and guidance on a daily basis. It's beautiful and so fulfilling.
Now, many of you have much more than just a couple of weeks left. So, it's time to really dig in. If you're not yet who you think the Lord expects you to be, do some prayer, scripture study, and companionship inventory to get yourself headed in the right direction. You can really make this happen for you. I want it for all of you. You'll never really love something with all your heart if you don't give your whole heart to it.
You're all doing so much already. I couldn't be happier than to be serving here at this time with all of you. There's going to be a lot missing in me when I'm no longer around you all so frequently. I have total confidence in you all and I know you'll be great. Have an awesome week. You're the best.

Love,

Elder Condie

Training Meeting and Assignments!

2011-11-22T08:04:00.000-08:00

This morning we had a training meeting with the new missionaries and their trainers. It was great to learn together and then they received their new assignments. We are so excited about these new companionships. Good things are going to be happening in their areas!

Sister Kahrs, Sister Thomas & Sister Carroll - Santa Rosa, CA (YSA Ward)

Elder Mahoney & Elder Pryor - Santa Rosa, CA

Elder Webber & Elder Tubbs - Windsor, CA

Elder Millard & Elder King - American Canyon, CA

Elder Anderson & Elder Ellsworth - McKinleyville, CA

Elder Johnsen & Elder Polson - Winter/Dixon Spanish

Elder Goynes & Elder Buchan - Vallejo, CA

Elder Johansen & Elder Volksen - Vacaville, CA

Elder Noris & Elder Tanner - Spanish Branch Fairfield, CA

Elder Timberlake & Elder Newman - Lakeport, CA

Departing Twelve!

2011-11-21T15:02:00.000-08:00

Tonight we had a dinner and a family home evening with these great missionaries that will be returning home tomorrow. It is hard to say good bye to these great servants of the Lord. They have led our mission in remarkable ways for the past many months. We are so proud (in a very humble way of course) of the great men and women that sat before us tonight. We love them with all our hearts and we thank them for the great service and work they did here in the California Santa Rosa Mission. We feel so blessed to have been able to serve with each of them! May God be with them in all that they do as they return to their homes and families! We love you!!!

Sister Ceri Christensen - Eagle River, AK

Sister Kaylene Fulton - Mesa, AZ

Sister Dorothy Anderson - Myton, UT

Sister Brittany Nestman - South Jordan, UT

Elder Brad Allen - Pleasant View, UT

Elder Zachary Glaus - Palm Harbor, FL

Elder Alex Ames - Mt. Pleasant, UT

Elder Nathan Hancock - Lehi, UT

Elder Christian Spendlove - San Antonio, TX

Elder Viliami Fifita - Murray, UT

Elder Kyle Gregory - Shelley, ID

Elder Cameron Wright - Hooper, UT

Arriving Ten!

2011-11-21T13:54:00.000-08:00

Today, we went to Oakland to pick up nine new missionaries fresh from the MTC! This is always a great day. We love to come and pick up our wonderful missionaries as they arrive in the mission field!

After we picked up their luggage, we stopped for a group picture!

Then we loaded up the trailer and drove to Santa Rosa.

Here they are, one by one:

Elder Brian Timberlake - Ft. Duchesne, UT

Elder Riley King - Livonia, MI

Elder Joseph Johnsen - Kearney, MO (Spanish Speaking)

Elder Cory Goynes - Houston, TX

Elder Nathan Tubbs - Provo, UT

Elder Joel Pryor - Tacoma, WA

Elder Nathan Johansen - Salt Lake City, UT

Sister Talisha Thomas - Taylorsville, UT

Elder Spencer Ellsworth - Payson, UT

Elder Michel Noris - Winnetka, CA (Spanish Speaking)

This afternoon, Elder Noris arrived and we were able to have a little orientation with all ten of our missionaries. We are so thrilled to have these new missionaries here, serving in the California Santa Rosa Mission with us! May God bless you as you begin this important work! We love you!

Good-bye Elder Bringhurst! We love you!

2011-11-21T05:37:00.000-08:00

This morning Elder Samuel Bringhurst returned to his home in Kimberly, Idaho. We love Elder Bringhurst dearly, and we are so grateful for the wonderful missionary that he was, and for all that he did to help those he served here in California! He has blessed the lives of his fellow missionaries, the members and mostly his investigators! He has such a gentle spirit and he genuinely loved those he served. God bless you Elder Bringhurst as you return home. Our prayers are with you!

To surprise him at the airport were his family (aunt, uncle and cousins) from Modesto!
Don't they look happy! It was fun to meet them all!

A Letter From Elder Gardner and Elder Bringhurst

2011-11-21T04:07:00.000-08:00

Dear Santa Rosa Mission Family,

Wow. Another transfer has come and gone. Time on my mission has just flown and continues to fly by every moment of everyday. All the more reason to cherish every moment and live each day like it's your last out here on the mission. I hope all of you are optimistic and excited about your assignment this next transfer whether it be new or old. I hope you cherish each moment and do your best because before you know it, believe it or not it will be gone. Change is good and I hope those of you who do have changes will embrace your change and let it mean something to you, or embrace your lack of change if your assignment has stayed the same.

President Bunker has asked me to write to you today about some things Elder C. Scott Grow taught us while he was here. It was an amazing weekend to be around a special witness of the Lord. I was truly touched by the spirit and loved each moment that he was here with us. I hope that each of you also had those same feelings about his visit and that you were uplifted and inspired.

Among the many thoughts that were provoked by Elder Grow and the many things he touched upon there was something I know President Bunker noticed and something that many other missionaries I've talked to have mentioned as well. That was that Elder Grow spoke directly from the scriptures on almost every topic and question. It was amazing to see the knowledge he possessed on the gospel and it was straight from the books you and I all have. It definitely was a wake up call to me and I am sure to many of you that we do not study in depth enough. So I would like that to simply be the theme of this letter to you all today. I would like to convey that the scriptures are our source to living waters as it tells us in John 4:11.

Something that has been on my mind a lot lately is that we in times of doubt, or confusion turn to the world. We turn to others opinions and our own thoughts at times to give us answers. Sister Grow said something in the conference that really stood out to me. She said " What we don't need won't help us. We can not get what we need by looking around. We need to turn to the lord for affirmation not others". It seems at times in my life I give the world to much influence in my life. I look to others around me before I turn to the Lord. I have been chastened lately and realize that is a lack of Trust. In Proverbs 3:5-6 it reads " Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths".

A few questions I would like to Invite you Elders and Sisters to ask yourself is " What does the Book Of Mormon mean to me?" "Do I truly rely on the Book Of Mormon to satisfy my hunger and quench my thirst?" "Do I trust in the Word of God more than the Word of the world?" Something I felt when we were with Elder Grow is that He has trust in the scriptures. His will is truly God's will. He had such a firm understanding of the scriptures and he used them so often that he and God were in unison. They were truly yoked as one. The last few days I have been trying to ask myself and find out what the Book of Mormon means to me. I have been trying to put my trust in God by not just reading the scriptures but studying them and making them my own. Our answers are right here in our scriptures. We don't need to turn to anyone or anything else. We have the Gospel Elders and Sisters and it is such a wonderful blessing in my life to know that If I put God first in my life everything else will play out as it is supposed to.

One of the most important things in this life is to learn how to trust our Heavenly Father. We learn how to trust him through his words. We must drink deeply of living waters often and trust. My testimony and prayer is that as you do this God's voice will drown out any voice or influence that the world has on you and we can feel confident that the Lord confirms and directs our choices.

Elders and Sisters I am looking forward to a great transfer with many miracles. Keep pushing forward no matter where you are, who you are with, or what your assignment is and make the most of it. "Look unto me in every thought. Doubt not, Fear not" D&C 6:36. If we do that everything will be fine.

With all of our love,

Elder Gardner and Elder Bringhurst

A Letter From Elder Webber

2011-11-14T09:57:00.000-08:00

My Dear Elders & Sisters,

It has truly been a blessing to be in the midst of Elder C. Scott Grow this weekend. On Thursday and Friday, Elder Grow toured our mission. On Sunday he presided at the Santa Rosa Stake Conference as a new stake presidency was called. These spiritual opportunities are very special to me and I am certain they are for you. I pray you were able to write down impressions and feelings that will bless you in your mission. Right now I would like to have a "comp study" with you and share what I learned. So pop a squat!

Elder Grow stated that we are all "Called to Rescue." When were we called? In Alma 13:3 we find the answer:

"And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such."

I like this scripture because it says we exercised exceedingly great faith!! Yes, Elders and Sisters that was us!! We exhibited great faith before we even came here. And because of this great faith we now have this holy calling: a calling to rescue. How noble is this calling? Well in fact it is so noble that only heirs of the kingdom of God qualify! Before this life, we understood that we all would make mistakes. But God had a perfect plan. He knew that we would need a Redeemer to save us. Jesus Christ was chosen to be that Savior. We accepted the invitation to not only rescue, but to be rescued ourselves-ultimately by Christ. I know with all of my heart that Jesus Christ is the Advocate with the Father. I testify that His motives are pure; and they always have been.

Now some of you may know this, but I come from a small branch of 30 active members back home. My two brothers and I were the only active members of the church in my high school. Most of my friends weren't religious. In high school I learned very quickly how to be "in the world; but not of the world." But it is very hard to do sometimes. Recently I found out that some of my closest church friends are making decisions that are leading them away. One of my friends has a child out of wedlock. It saddens me. I want with all of my heart for them to do what is right. My earliest memories with them are when we sang in Primary together. We all woke up for seminary. We were so valiant! We had that "exceedingly great faith". The question I am asking is not "what happened?". It's "Why am I so lucky?" "Why am I still valiant?" and "Lord, what will Thou have me to do?" Somewhere deep in their hearts, I know that exceedingly great faith is embedded in their souls.

I want to share another scripture with you that Elder Grow shared with us:

"Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them." (3Ne. 18:32)

If we are to rescue those who are part member or less-active, it is imperative that we look at them as the Savior would. After all, He is the ultimate rescuer. When you speak to them on their doorstep they don't need to hear your voice. Rather they need to recognize that same voice after the Son of Man in the pre-mortal existence: "Here am I, Send Me!" The Holy Ghost will bring all things to their remembrance. They will recognize the ultimate Redeemer through you. The Lord himself will "heal them; and we shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them".

This work is true Elders and Sisters. I testify that no matter how far we have strayed; we can return. I have high hopes for not only my friends back home, but for each and every single one of you! I love you! Now let's RESCUE!!

Love,

Elder Webber

Mission Tour - Day 2

2011-11-11T08:09:00.000-08:00

Today we met with the other half of our dear and wonderful missionaries! Elder and Sister Grow were amazing! We have had a very sweet and spiritual few days with these wonderful people! We feel grateful and blessed and thank our Father in Heaven for pouring out His spirit so richly upon our mission!

Lake County Zone

Ukiah Zone

Eureka Zone

Napa Zone

Santa Rosa North Zone

Santa Rosa South Zone

one practice picture for your viewing pleasure!

Mission Tour - Day 1

2011-11-10T21:40:00.000-08:00

Every year, each Mission in the Church, is visited by a General Authority and his wife for a "Mission Tour". This year it was our pleasure to welcome Elder C. Scott Grow (of the 1st Quorum of Seventy) and his wife Rhonda to the wonderful, California Santa Rosa Mission! :) Today we met with half of our missionaries in the Vacaville Stake Center. It was a day none of us will ever forget! We felt so strongly of the Spirit, we were taught and edified, we felt love, we were strengthened to continue in our work as full time missionaries! We are so grateful to the Grow's for coming prepared to bless our mission with the things we were in need of.

San Rafael Zone

Woodland Zone

Vallejo Zone

Vacaville Zone

Fairfield Zone

These are some practice pictures that were taken while the missionaries were waiting for President and Elder and Sister Grow to arrive. ENJOY.

A Letter From Elder Ames

2011-11-07T15:41:00.001-08:00

Dear Elders and Sisters,

When I say I am humbled to write you this night, I truly mean it. As I have sat here pondering upon what I should write about, all that comes to my mind are the faces of each of you. I love each of you so much. Even if it was just a wave, smile, short conversation, or correcting my bad actions; each of you, in some way or another have helped me become who I am today. I testify, that each of us knew each other before this life. We are a family. Before this life we chose to follow Jesus Christ, together.

We, (The missionaries of the California Santa Rosa Mission) are on the front lines of battle with the devil himself. Satan is attacking the family, like he never has before. I would like to quote a few words from "The Family: A Proclamation to the World."

"The Family is ordained of God... Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful... families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."

The desire of my heart, is that we can live that which was quoted above. We are a family. We have eternal ties. You are my brothers and my sisters. We are in this together. I am in this with you. I will forever be here for you.

Some of us, have struggles within ourselves. We try to hide them, but we as brothers and sisters know when something is not right. Whether it is sorrow, pain, anger, etc.; we can see it in each others countenances, and eventually in the actions that we take. My plea to you this day, is to love yourself. God loves you. He knows you. He knows your difficulties. He wants you to be happy. He has given us commandments and mission rules, to give us the opportunities to be happy. Although we are in this together, we each have our individual choice. We can either choose the rewards that come through obedience, or choose the consequences of disobedience. Most of which is not another person punishing us, but us punishing ourselves. It is our choice; happiness or sorrow; joy or pain; love or hate; we choose one or the other. No one else can make that decision for us.

I want our mission family to progress, together. I want each of us to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; to pray for each other; to repent of our wrongdoings to each other; to forgive each other of all mistakes; to respect and love one another; to have compassion for each other; to work together in a spirit of unity; and to participate in wholesome recreational activities that will bring us more close together, not tear us farther apart through competition. Each of these words in bold letters, are listed above, as the way to establish and maintain a successful (mission) family. I know that as we do these things, our hearts will be softened and we will see the good in each other, and the ways that we can help each other improve.

I pray with all of my heart that each of you will feel the love of God in your lives. I pray that each of you will love yourself, and remember who you are; a child of the living God. Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself for each of us. Now, we must ask ourselves, what are we sacrificing for Him? These are the final words I leave with you, my mission family. I love you. You mean the world to me. This is not the end, but only the beginning.

Love,

Your servant, brother, and friend,

Elder Alex Ames

Zone Conference - Santa Rosa North, Santa Rosa South, Lake County, Ukiah and Eureka Zones

2011-11-03T22:19:00.000-07:00

Today we had Zone Conference in Ukiah. Again it was wonderful to be with our missionaries. It was raining today so our senior missionaries had extra fun while inspecting the cars. :( We have wonderful, amazing senior missionaries! We are so grateful! We love all of our California Santa Rosa Missionaries!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Elder Edwards, Elder Hancock, Elder Tomoser, Elder Ames (front), Elder Weiland, Elder Braegger, Elder Evans, Elder Simkins, Elder Neuenschwander, Sister Kahrs, Sister Fulton and President Bunker!

Zone Conference - Napa, San Rafael and Vallejo Zones

2011-11-02T21:51:00.000-07:00

Today we had Zone Conference in Napa. It was so fun to be with our missionaries again. We learned together and we left with a vision, a goal and a plan! Life is good! Here are some pictures of lunch time...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Elder Neuenschwander, Simkins, Crowther, Ram, Hanson, Epps, Bohnet, Hermana Robinson, Elder Sharples and Vasconcelos!

Elder Russell with Garrett Wixom.
Welcome back Garrett (Elder Wixom). He and his parents stopped by for a quick visit!

Clean Apartment Award!

2011-11-01T21:46:00.000-07:00

Elder Merrill & Elder Pope

Today I went and visited Elder Merrill and Elder Pope's apartment. I was pleased at what I found! Good job Elder's in keeping your apartment clean so that you can feel the Spirit there! Keep it up!