Thoughts from Craig

Our view at lunch

On Friday, we traded p-days with another couple so,they could spend time with family visiting San Diego (what's up with that!) So we went to a place called Fins for lunch and look at our view-- the amazing San Diego temple. BTW, the fish tacos were fab too!

We have learned the San Diego temple is of great interest and well thought of in China. As such, when visiting in the USA,  the Chinese frequent the temple grounds. We are able to distribute copies of the Book of Mormon to them. This is the only way the Book of Mormon is allowed into mainland China, if it is personally carried in by a citizen.

Thursday became our p-day and we made a trip trip to Presidio Hill to see, you guessed it, the Presidio, as well as a site to commemorate the Mormon Battalion's arrival to San Diego. Presidio Hill would have been the site Battalion members originally set camp, etc. this is very close to Old Town where the present Mormon Battalion Historic Site is located.

We later traveled east to see the first mission in San Diego as well. Every fourth grader remembers their mission report as they studied CA history. We plan on using our p-day effectively each Friday! One small benefit of being a senior missionary.

 

We welcome site visitors regularly from all over the world. We host visitors from Russia, Israel, China, Europe and of course the USA. Yesterday we gave a tour to a gentleman from Russia, a family originally from Russia via Israel and now working for Qulacomm in San Diego. The Mandarin speaking sisters love giving tours to those visiting from China. Spanish tours are quite popular. I will learn the Spanish tour as well.

Yesterday a group of young men came in about 8:20 pm. They were the BYU men's tennis team just having completed a tennis match vs University of San Diego. They were polite, but still had a good time. Those crazy Mormons!

Blue Water

A former San Diego resident and now a member of our ward in Midway recommended a seafood market. We have been twice in our first two weeks here! It is the real deal! There is always a line out the door.  We also found a nice Indian place called Kasi. We have met the owner and beside getting complimentary samosas we invited her to the Battalion as our guest. OK the Battalion is free to everyone, but we still invited her.  She is very nice and has a fab place. As you can see we are not starving and loving the new eating out/ethnic food! Found a very popular sushi place with Tokyo prices included. I promise we do serve sometimes at the Battalion or temple, when we are not eating out!

We had Donnie Osmond in sacrament meeting today. The ward we attend is a combined hearing ward/deaf branch. He shared he has two older brothers that are deaf. He said he looks forward to hearing them sing in the hereafter! Interesting. Never a dull moment as a missionary!

We enjoy serving together. We especially love being able to teach about the temple and the eternal blessings provided in these sacred buildings.