Steve:
Another week has left us and it has again been one with both good things as well as things that make us sad.  We both continue to learn and feel that we are moving forward, even though it may be at a snail's pace at times.  We also had a new missionary join our zone and she is from Glendora, California which is near where my family lived after I was discharged from the Air Force.  She knows one of Lorene's cousins who is in her home stake.

We both had good experiences at the Family History Library including the following "Elijah Moment" that I shared with our Zone Leaders:

"Earlier this week I was helping a guest find her 3^rd Great Grandmother and her family.   The guest had information on the 2^nd Great-grandmother and we began a search for number 3.  As a result of our search, we discovered that the information was incorrect as it related to both the formal birth date and name of her 2^nd Grandmother.  We researched FamilySearch to no avail and then moved onto Ancestry to try and find information on her 2^nd Great-grandmother where we discovered the correct name, the marriage date with a copy of the banns record (formal announcement of intent to marry), and her birth year.  The following day I continued, on my own, researching information for this family and was able to locate information from both the 1901 and 1911 England/Wales Census which provided information on her 3^rd Great-grandparents and their children.  To put closure to my research I sent by email copies and images of the information that I discovered to the family in Australia to help them grow their family tree.  I have since found that the associated information has now been added to their FamilyTree. 

As Missionaries we don’t necessarily have huge spiritual experiences as we conduct our own research or help guests with their research on a daily basis.  However, through the Spirit of Elijah we are able to find our hidden ancestors and provide names for temple work to continue our family circles.  Our research efforts are enhanced as we not only let the Holy Ghost guide our efforts, but also as we utilize the efforts of our fellow Missionaries to assist us in our research.  I am grateful also for the assistance of other missionaries for their patience with me and their encouragement to not give up.  Truly line upon and line and precept by precept we are able to help the Lord as He hastens His work."

 
Towards the end of the week came some very sad news.  While checking the local San Bernardino news on line, I came across an article about how the death of local police officer had hit the faculty "hard" at San Bernardino High School.  Upon reading the actual article, I discovered that the police officer was a friend of our family, and he was killed on duty after his car was broadsided at an intersection by a driver who may have driven through a red light.  Bryce Hanes leaves a widow and three children under the age of thirteen.  I have been very touched by this incident not only because of the sorrow I feel for the family, but the remembrance of our own mortality and especially that of our children.  Bryce was only a little older than our oldest son and they were good friends.

To end my portion of this post before turning it over to the Editor in Chief, I would like to report about the Music and Spoken Word broadcast that we attended this morning which was a touching salute to Veterans.  It was very meaningful to me as a Veteran and made me proud and grateful for the opportunity to serve in the U.S. Air Force as well as serving in the Vietnam War.  I am proud to be an American, although at times I am very saddened by the actions and beliefs of many of our citizens.

Lorene:
I don't have much to add this time, but I did find a missing son in a family on one of my collateral lines this week.  He showed up in a census as having the same first name as a son born 2 years after this census was taken.  At first I thought that it was the same son, but then I realized that the differing middle initial was not an error but was indeed a different child.  Through this and another experience with a census record, I have learned not to be hasty with my assumptions.  This other record (of a different family) had the names of two of the three children spelled wrong, so at first I thought it wasn't the family I was looking for but on closer examination I realized it was.

This is a great work we are doing and we are glad to have a small part in it.  We are grateful to be here and grateful to all of those who support us with love and prayers.