On the Road Again - Northward to Eureka
Driving on Highway 101 to Eureka.
When the outside temperatures begin to rise as Summer comes our way, the hands of our missionaries also rise as they volunteer to be transferred to our Eureka Zone - especially Crescent City. It can be 15 to 20 degrees cooler in these areas as opposed to the much warmer inland areas of Fairfield and Woodland. In addition, the people up here we are told are “easy going and friendly.”
Our mission boundaries begin as the Goldengate Bridge feeds into the beautiful North Bay area of Marin County and go all the way through the redwood forests up to the Oregan border - about a ten-hour drive from the Bridge. The other direction, our boundaries go east from the coastline through the vineyards to Sacramento – about a three-hour drive. Our mission is diverse in geography as well as people. This gives our missionaries a wide variety of experiences in their service.
President Quinn and I spend a third of our time traveling to and being with missionaries across our mission. This weekend we have been on the road again as we have headed northward to Eureka. We make this trip every six weeks. We left two days earlier than usual so we would have the opportunity to drive to Crescent City our furthest northern area and to have more time to spend with the missionaries and members there.
Tourist shop along the highway of 101 towards Eureka.
The drive from Santa Rosa to Eureka is magnificent and it doesn’t get old as you weave through the majesty of redwoods along Highway 101. If you’re a believer in Big Foot, you are in luck as you can stop at the Big Foot Souvenir Shop along the way. This stop offers everything Big Foot along with many items carved from redwood, including some cute wooden toys, wooden bears, and wooden wind chimes.
View of the area from President Dieker’s home in Eureka area.
It is a long four-hour drive, and we try to get work done from the car, or call a family member, yet unfortunately we lose cell service. President Dieker the Stake President here smiles and says, yes Eureka is off the grid as it is nestled in the forests. He says many people come here to “get lost.” It makes his job as a Shepard to the saints a little trickier. This area which comprises Humboldt and Del Norte Counties are the perfect place for the outdoor enthusiasts, and to be honest the marijuana grower. We met up with Elder and Sister Rupp one of our Senior MLS (Member Leader Support) missionary couples Friday evening in Eureka for dinner.
Elder and Sister Rupp with President and Sister Quinn.
Battery Point Light House in Crescent City.
The next day we were off for Crescent City a one and a half hour drive. As you get closer to Crescent City you will witness the fusion of redwoods on one side of the road and the Pacific Ocean on the other side. The beauty makes this coastal drive on highway 101 very popular.
Crescent City is a small coastal town where you can find everything from tide pools to backcountry hiking. I loved breathing in the cool coastal air as President Quinn and I listened to the sea lions barking with the quaint Battery Point Light House in the background. It was fun to meet up with the missionaries and see the LDS church building there. Inside the building’s gym has been nicknamed Noah’s Ark by the missionaries for obvious reasons. Ha ha! (See photo) President Quinn was able to hold interviews with the four missioanries assigned here. We took the missionaries and Bishop Morris and his wife Kerry to lunch. It was nice to get to know the Morrises.
Elders Gover, Brough, President Quinn, Bishop Morris, Kerry Morris, Sister Quinn, Elders Cherry, and Jensen.
Crescent City LDS church building.
Inside the church building is the Noah’s Ark looking gym.
Driving back to Eureka we spent the evening and had dinner with President Dieker and his wife Audrey. We met their youngest children the twins Henry and Max. They live in a beautiful home tucked in the trees with a wonderful view of the ocean in the distance and fabulous sunsets.
President Dieker, Audrey and two of their seven children Henry and Max, with Sister and President Quinn
We spoke in the McKinleyville Ward Sunday morning. We then drove to the Eureka Ward so President Quinn could do more missionary interviews. The Rupps kindly invited us to dinner at their home. This made it so we didn’t have to go to Mod Pizza or Sour Dough Bread, our usual haunts. It was fun to visit with them again. The Rupps also made it possible for us to meet the Agapinan family - members of the Mckinleyville Ward who are ceramic artists and own a pottery making studio in their garage. They let missionaries make their own pottery on P-days which has made them famous among our missionaries. The Agapinans showed us some of their beautiful pottery they make for different galleries to sell. We were able to purchase a piece of their pottery
President & Sister Quinn, Sisters Jones, Butterworth, Sargent and Steinfeldt with Sister and Elder Rupp in the Mckinleyville Ward Building.
The Agapinans in their Studio.
We’re sitting here in the Eureka Holiday Inn making phone calls and preparing for zone conference which begins tomorrow. We have a busy week ahead as we will have zone conferences each day across our mission.
Below are more photos from the week. We spent a wonderful and emotional week saying farewell and thank you to six amazing missionaries and saying welcome to five new excited missionaries.
The work moves on and it is amazing to witness.
Elders Metcalf, Hawkins, Hill, President and Sister Quinn, Sisters Breshears, Hinton, and Lamb - honorably returning home.
Sisters Risser and Meyer, Sister and President Quinn, Elders Batz, Arrington, and Rondina! A big welcome to these new missionaries!
