San Diego 4th Ward is geographically large, at least to us who come from Harper Park Ward. It's boundaries along with San Diego 1st Ward make up most of the inner city. Our borders go from Interstate 8 on the north where the very new and nicely appointed Stake Center is located, clear down to the coast just below Coronado Bridge. The I 805 and I 15 run north to south through it along with Highway 94, a east/west freeway. I would guess the north/south length is about 10 - 12 miles and the east/west is about 5 miles. We live about 3 miles east of the ward boundary but it is a quick trip west on El Cajon Boulevard or on I 8 to arrive within our ward area.
The missionary companionship assigned to our ward, Elder Smith and Elder Sheppard live in an apartment complex right on I 805 in the heart of our ward. Going through the city to get to their apartment is an education in cultural diversity. There are neighborhoods of people from what seems every area of the world overlapping into each other. Driving west on University Avenue yesterday we saw a group of people leaving "church" dressed in what appeared to be traditional Somali clothing. There are two very ornate Buddhist temples in the area, colorful murals on the walls of schools, obviously with a Mexican flavor. The San Diego mission has missionaries who teach in Thai, Arabic, Mandarin, Tagalog and of course Spanish (there are about 10 elders assigned to the Spanish ward that meets in our building and the Spanish branch which is close to Coronado in Barrio Logan) and probably other languages. The shelf in the office of Books of Mormon in other languages must have at least 20 languages represented and they get calls for all of them.
Not only is there a diversity of cultures, there is a conglomeration of neighborhoods that continues to surprise us each day as we search out members. Vast neighborhoods of small, probably 3 bedroom, 1 bath homes build in the 1950's cover the hills and spill down the hillsides. Many are now rundown rentals in areas that once housed the postwar boom families who have long since moved out. Many areas have apartments interspersed with these little homes on narrow lots and more than once we have found members or investigators living in little extra buildings on the back of the lot, down the driveway. Streets run for miles but if a canyon intersects, then the street stops and then just continues on the other side of the canyon. Thank goodness for Google Maps.
The majority of the people we are looking for live in gated apartment buildings, thus we can't get in; have phones that are disconnected, or in some cases they just haven't answered our calls - yet. But...lest you or we get discouraged we have had some success.
We were sent to find a single sister with three boys who has had a very difficult life and is struggling to turn her life around. The elders helped us find her on Sunday, February 15. She is without transportation so we offered help. With follow-up from the elders and us, we picked her up Sunday morning, she happily came and expressed several times how glad she was to have been there. From a phone call and a follow up visit we found a mother of 4 children whose husband had left her 2 weeks before for a cute little 18 year old. She is devastated. Although she was married in the temple 15 years ago she has not been living the gospel but feels the need to come back and make it part of her and her children's lives. She came to church on Sunday also. Two women who chose the world for many years and are now trying to choose the Lord's way. It will be a very difficult road but they have made the first critical step.
It was interesting to sit in our Sunday meetings looking at everything from the perspective of wanting so much for these women to be able to change their lives through gospel living. The sacrament hymn and the sacrament itself had greater meaning to me. Our prayers have become more focused on the needs of those who need the gospel.
We have also visited Yousry, an Egyptian married to a member, who is interested in learning about the gospel. Today we began a lesson on the First Vision which morphed into trying to answer his concerns about who or what God really is. We shall address that in greater depth next week. He is seeking truth, but with a Muslim background. His thoughtful questions will keep us thinking. Happily he wants to meet every week and Bruce is happy to oblige with the teaching while I try to keep him from overwhelming Yousry with doctrine. Our two meetings have been quite worthwhile.
Our Elders, whose picture I couldn't post, are wonderful. They work effectively and well together and are very pleasant to be around. Transfer calls come tomorrow. We worry that we may lose one of them. Such is the life in the mission. At least our companionship will remain in tact not just for two weeks or two years but hopefully through eternity.
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