San Diego service a two-way benefit
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SAN DIEGO, Calif. — In the course of regular missionary service, elders and sisters of the California San Diego Mission have developed a mutually beneficial relationship with the community.
As with all missionaries, those in this Southern California mission are permitted to give up to four hours a week in service to others, set up by the missionaries in their area. But over the years, the missionaries in San Diego have refined their community service in close cooperation with the city to the benefit of both.
Every six weeks, in conjunction with transfer day, the missionaries work half a day under the direction of city supervisors to improve parks, recreation centers and other facilities.
Lucy Hernandez, volunteer coordinator for the city of San Diego, said, "The missionaries have been a special group and we have been working with them for years." The program was formalized in 1996, she said.
Over those years, there has been a close working relationship. Mission President Eldon D. Olsen said the missionaries have a reputation for "rolling up their sleeves and going to work." He added, "(Government) supervisors rave about getting good help from the missionaries."
Elder Nick Fisher from River Heights, Utah, an assistant to President Olsen, helps Ms. Hernandez with the organization of the service project that involves about 135 missionaries. Elder Fisher said she is very good to work with, keeping track of the number of missionaries in each area so they can be matched with needs in those areas.
Ms. Hernandez said that the city works supervisors let her know the number of missionaries they would like on the service day. "Sometimes they don't get the numbers they want," she said.
She matches the missionary pool with the need, then has the assignments printed and delivers them to the mission office, Elder Fisher said.
There are usually four to eight missionaries who team up with a park supervisor to do the work, Elder Fisher said, adding that the supervisor provides gloves, tools and other resources needed to get the job done.
"They've been pretty friendly and nice," Elder Fisher said about the supervisors. "They often get kind of curious about the Church."
The jobs usually involve park maintenance such as pulling weeds, planting trees or working on trails. There is also maintenance done at community recreation centers. The sister missionaries work together on their projects which might include painting, cleaning and organizing, Elder Fisher said.
"The harder the project the more enjoyable it is," he said.
President Olsen said it keeps the missionaries occupied as they prepare for transfers.
Ms. Hernandez said the missionaries are among 25,000 people who have helped in the city's volunteer program, saving the city an unspecified, but sizeable, amount of money.
She also noted that the missionaries seem to have a great time volunteering. "Our community is so diverse and the missionaries really enjoy interacting not only with the staff, but also with the people they meet," she said.
Through their work at the recreation centers, the missionaries have become well acquainted with the people on staff there and are always greeted warmly, Ms. Hernandez said.
To acknowledge the missionaries' service, Ms. Hernandez said the city gives new missionaries a gift pack containing sunscreen, a pencil and a lunch bag.
Other than that, the missionaries simply make the most of the opportunity to serve.
"The good thing is," Ms. Hernandez said, "the citizens of our community really get to see their work and appreciate it."
E-mail to: ghill@desnews.com
