Emmi Shines

Just recently, Emmi scored the highest on her classroom tests and got a reward of a 5 minute call to home to let her family know how she is doing.  Boot Camp is probably the hardest thing anyone could go through.  Emmi has persevered and stood tall among all the people she has come in contact with.  She is 100% committed to the gospel and gospel standards.  We are so proud of her and of the example she is setting to those around her.  She is totally on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while getting through boot camp training.

Lynda Ann and Jeff received this letter at a time when they most needed to hear how Emmi was doing:

July 1, 2019

Jeffery & Lynda Gerson
209 W Nautical Drive
Stansbury Park, UT 84074

Dear Jeffery & Lynda:

We recently learned that Emmi has joined the military and is attending basic training at GLRTC, Great Lakes, IL.  We are pleased to inform you that she has been attending the Church services on base and are grateful for the spirit she brings to the meetings.  Walter Hartje is the Church leader at GLRTC and will do all he can to help strengthen Emmi's faith and testimony.  We appreciate your support and know you join with us in asking that the Lord will guide and protect her during this time of uncertainty and turmoil in the world.

In these troubled times, it is heartwarming to see sons and daughters courageously step forward to help preserve our freedom and way of life.  You can be proud of the part you played in molding Emmi's character.  Courage and patriotism do not come automatically;  they are planted I the hearts of children by their parents.  We express our gratitude to you for your selfless service in her nehalf.

We have a deep and abiding interest in Emmi's welfare and want to ensure the blessings of Church membership are available wherever she is stationed.  As military members move around, occasionally they are unable to find out where and when the Church meetings are held.  Our Military Relations Division can assist them.  Likewise, we can help concerned parents locate the bishop or branch president where their son or daughter is stationed.  In addition, many times we can assist in locating the name of a group leader aboard a ship or at a deployed location around the world.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the Military Relations Division at (801) 240-2286 or e-mail them at PST-Military@churchofjesuschrist.org.  We know that the Lord is mindful of Emmi and the challenges she will face as she valiantly serves in the military.

Sincerely,

Larry S. Kacher

I already posted her incident with having stress fractures in both her legs and how the Church was able to get missionaries to the hospital to give her a blessing.  What a comfort to know that the Church has members all over the world.  Members are never far away.

To add to this post, Lynda Ann just got off a night shift early this morning and got a call just as she was going to bed.  The call came from someone in the branch who was off base and was making some personal calls to family and friends.  He told Lynda Ann that Emmi was doing great and attending her meetings faithfully every week.  Not only attending her meetings but bringing investigators with her each week, some of whom have continued to come.  (There is a lot more detail to this incident that I choose not and cannot write.  You should ask Annie - the details make the story even more amazing!)

No one can dispute the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ.  No matter where we go in the world one can always find members who are willing to look out for the Lord's sheep.  What a comfort and a blessing it is to have that knowledge when parents are sending their children on missions, college, the armed forces, etc.

We love you Emmi, we pray for you and for all those members who are watching over you while you are away from us.

Day 6 - Saturday Fun Day

Saturday was the climax of the trip for Abby.  This day is called the fun day for all guide dog trainers and puppy raisers.  I've never been so impressed to be on a campus in San Rafael - Terra Linda and see hundreds of dogs and their trainers.  Every single dog, without exception, was well mannered, obedient, non aggressive and not one dog barking at another dog.  It was like a huge family all gathered together to enjoy a fun time with the guide dogs.  There were booths that you could buy things and they served us a delicious lunch.  I don't know how many people and dogs were there but I would guess hundreds.  We got to see the puppy trucks and the new buildings for the puppies and
recalled dogs for their final training before being assigned to a non-sighted person or maybe assigned to another type of service dog.

 These are the padded and air conditioned puppy kennels that the puppies travel in to their perspective trainers.  The trucks stop every couple of hours to let the puppies out and run around and exercise.  The kennels are large enough that they can put more than one puppy in a kennel.

 It was a great experience to be there and see more about the program and the training of these amazing dogs.  While we were there, Annie got a happy surprise call from Emmi.  Timing was perfect and Lynda was able to visit with Emmi for a long time.  I even got to talk to her for a minute.  She sounded great.

 We left the campus about 2:00 and headed to the airport.  Annie got a little frustrated trying to find the airport and trying to find the car rental return.  But everything turned out perfect and we made our flight without a hitch!

 A picture of the usual fog hanging over San Francisco.

 We landed safely in Salt Lake.  Happy to be home and filled with memories of a life time!  Annie figured she drove 1,182 miles on that incredible trip.  

 Thanks, Annie, for your amazing planning of this trip, for driving all those miles safely and for you and Abby creating a trip of a life time and letting me be a part of it!  Loved every minute of it and especially laughing so hard so many times that I couldn't breathe!!!  Love you both.

Day 5 - Friday

Our first stop was the San Francisco Civic Center (after we found our reserved and pre-paid parking place - thanks again to Annie's expert planning.  She had also pre bought tickets for the tour bus and we climbed right on and, of course, ended up on the top of the bus (where I might add, we nearly froze to death!)  The tour took us all around San Francisco and across the Gold Gate Bridge.  It was almost fogged in, incredibly windy and colder than a witches kiss!  Even Abby and Annie were freezing.  But we survived it and had a great time touring the city.

 This picture is of Digby on their laps.  Digby was always warm.  In fact, I'm guess he loved the temperature.

 Annie had her fortune told and she was told she was beautiful and the best trip planner in the whole world!

 Abby's fortune told her that she had an incredible future ahead of her with lots of great adventures.

 Abby going for another non-penny.

 After we toured the city, we went to Pier 39 and ran into a group of guide dog trainers that were in the area for Fun Day on Saturday.

 It was now lunch time and we had not eaten breakfast so we wandered into Hard Rock Café and had a delicious lunch.

 This was my plate of nachos.  Holy Cow!!!  They were absolutely delicious.  Wish I could have eaten them all but that just wasn't possible.

As we were walking the area we walked by a bakery.  The smell was wonderful and the temptation to go in and buy something was huge, but I knew that the bread wouldn't keep until we got home so had to keep walking.  Look at the fun creations they made out of bread dough.

We wandered in and out of shops and found some great shirts and sweat shirts and bags.  What fun we had shopping.  Even found a hat for Digby!

We next went to Ghirardelli Square and wandered around there a bit.  Stopped and had a hot fudge sunday and bought some chocolates.

We went back to the car and finished out the long day by driving down the Russian Hill (crookedest street in the world.  And from there back across the Golden Gate Bridge.

This is a picture looking up the crooked street.

 Golden Gate Bridge.  First time it wasn't fogged over.

End of an incredible day.  Great picture of Annie and Abby!

Day 4 continued . . .

We, I think by accident, came across a place called Garberville.  It was up in the woods, I think along Highway 1.  There was this huge tourist trap store that was full of all kinds fun things to buy and great picture taking spots.  Here are a few.  You can see we had a great time and laughed and laughed.

W.e did buy a few things and then back in the car and headed for Fort Bragg along with the beach that is know for broken glass, called (I think) the Glass Beach.  Knowing me, I'm probably almost right, close, but not quite right.  :_)Notice the black sand.

 Again, the beach was cool and foggy.  Temperature was in the low 60's.  Chilly, brrrrr

 Cute little varmint of some kind.  He wasn't afraid of anyone.  I couldn't believe how close he let me get to him before he scurried into his burrow.

 Cute picture of Abby.  She LOVED being on the beach.  Didn't care how cold it was.  She was happy to be there.

 The glass on the beach has been so picked over and taken as souvenirs by travelers that you really have to hunt to find any.  This was some of the little tiny pieces of glass that we were able to find.

One last picture.  We were traveling some distance to get to our Thursday night San Francisco motel that Abby decided to feed Digby in the car while we were traveling.  It actually worked out perfectly.  I don't think he spilled a drop of food or a drop of water.  What a good puppy.

We reached our destination safely, thanks to Annie's expert driving, and settled in for a good nights sleep.

Day 4

Thursday we continued our journey to the Avenues of the Giants.  The trees were amazing.  .Located in Miranda, California.

We next hit Myers Flat where it is totally a tourist trap where you can pay $10.00 to drive through a three.  We all decided why not.  Probably never be back this way again so we did it.

 There is more to this day but I'm tired of blogging.  I'll finish this up tomorrow.  To be continued!