Our Beautiful Mission - All Things Bear Witness of Him

The first day here in Santa Rosa, as we drove up to the mission home, I looked at the steep angle of the driveway and thought to myself, “oh my, that is going to be hard to shovel snow off of it.” A minute or so later I realized that it doesn’t snow in Santa Rosa! I felt much better about the driveway.

Mission home driveway. It is steeper than this photo portrays it to be.

It is now January. I am missing the beautiful white blanket of snow that typically covers the ground in Chicago this time of year. However, it is 54 degrees and sunny in Santa Rosa today and I am not missing the need to shovel my driveway.

Ken, Sam, Elaine, and Hannah Francis with Sister and President Quinn (Grammy and Grampy)

This week we have driven our daughter Hannah, her husband, Ken, and our two cute grandchildren Elaine, and Sam Francis around the different areas of our mission. They have been in town to visit for New Years.

I am always amazed at the beauty of Northern California. From the coastal large waves and rock formations, to the giant redwood forests, to the miles of vineyards, and south to the Golden Gate Bridge there is beauty all around. The rain of late has made everything so green!

The Golden Gate Bridge

Our mission area consists of eight mission geographic zones. Each zone has its own beauty and personality. This is great because it gives our missionaries a lot of diversity, not only of topography but also of people as they transfer from zone to zone. Below is a video we show our new missionaries to introduce them to the California Santa Rosa Mission. Click on the arrow to see all eight zones: Eureka, Ukiah, Santa Rosa, San Rafael, Napa, Fairfield, Vacaville and Woodland.

As this video shows, the beauty of the world is not something to be taken for granted. The earth’s grandeur always fills my heart with gratitude. Observing creation makes my spirit feel God’s presence - His strength and omnipotence. Moses 6:63 reads: “All things are created and made to bear record of me.” Our mission bears a beautiful testimony of the presence of God. I know our Heavenly Father lives and loves each one of us and that His Son Jesus Christ, who helped create the earth, atoned for us so that we might live again with our Heavenly Father one day.

Please see below for more photos of Northern California.

This week we also had two former missionaries come by to say “hello.” We love it when missionaries come back to visit!

Sister Cragun and Sister Diepeveen, visit with Sister and President Quinn

We also held Missionary Leadership Council (MLC) on Friday. Hannah, our daughter, spoke to our missionaries at MLC and did a wonderful job!

Elder Kreimeyer, Elder Knudsen, Sister Palmer, and Sister Roberts- leaders in our mission.

Elder Sherman, Elder Dixon and Hermana Gundry, Hermana Ward - leaders in our mission.

The Francises left today. (Sunday) We so enjoyed having them here. We will miss being able to visit them in their home in Texas. It is always great catching up, going sight seeing and just sitting and visiting with our family.

Ken and Hannah with Elaine and Sam Francis

Hannah and Elaine (daughter and mom) - Fort Bragg and it’s sea glass beach is a favorite place to visit.

Here are some more photos showing the beauty of our mission here in Northern California. And a personal invitation.

The California Poppy flower

The ground is covered with clover.

Sun coming through some redwood trees.

Pacific Ocean rock formations.

This photo of the vineyards in Napa was taken during the summer. In the winter the vines are beautiful yet bare.

After seeing all these photos, I know you want to come visit! So come! You’ll love it here. And you will love meeting our missionaries - the BEST part of the California Santa Rosa Mission! We would love to give you a hug and catch up. Have a great week! - Sister Quinn