Go Forth With Faith

Almost a year ago, while Don and I were on vacation, we decided to attend the Los Angeles Temple, where we were married. Without any previous conversation about the subject, I mentioned to him on the way out of the temple, after the session, that I had felt inspired during the session that we should serve another mission. His response was, "So did I."  We were both surprised, to say the least, that we had received the same feeling, but that day we decided to check the missionary website online when we got home and see what might be possible. We began to fill out our papers.

As most everyone knows, our hearts were set on returning to England. Yet, from the very beginning of this mission, we have seen over and over again that Anaheim was place we were meant to serve. It began as we were driving to Los Angeles, when I had the distinct impression and message come to me that this mission was being given to us as a blessing, and it certainly has been just that.

While serving this mission, we have experienced many tender mercies and miracles, from healing to protection to guidance and inspiration. We have experienced divine intervention - even miracles - in ours and our family's lives. We have accomplished the work we were sent here to do, and we feel blessed to have had the privilege. In addition, we've made about 200 new friends when you add up all the missionaries and ward members and other people we have gotten to know and come to love. We care deeply about each of them and hope our paths will cross again in the coming months and years.

We have loved living and serving in California, where there is so much cultural and ethnic diversity. The California Anaheim Mission, which includes Anaheim, Garden Grove, Orange, Santa Ana, Stanton, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Fullerton, Placentia, Brea and La Habra, is only about 20 miles wide in geography, but it is densely populated with about 750,00 people. There is a large Hispanic population, as well as many from Korea, Japan, China, the Pacific Islands, and elsewhere. Come July, the size of the mission will nearly double when the Anaheim and Long Beach missions merge - bringing even more cultures and languages into the mix. Each culture adds something unique and beautiful to the vibrant, colorful fabric of Southern California. Everyone knows how congested the traffic is here and how many people are crowded into this part of California, but when you get to know people and their stories one-on-one, there is so much you can learn about life!

It has been a privilege to wear these - and similar - name tags for 3 years of our lives. (Actually, 5 1/2 years for Don.)  They have been a daily reminder to us of our desire to serve others and make a positive difference in the world. The world is increasingly difficult to navigate and many people are struggling. We have our own set of problems and challenges to face, but serving others often magically lightens our own burdens.  There are so many ways to serve, no matter where we live or what our circumstances are.  Serving doesn't have to come by assignment. It can be done in the simplest of ways. It brings growth and blessings - both to the giver and the receiver. Now, as this mission (likely our last) comes to a close, our biggest desire is to continue to go forward with faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and do what we can to make the world a better place. 

Newport Beach Temple

Departing missionaries' temple trip

With President and Sister Golden