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SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Though they were caught in the turmoil caused by the disastrous fires raging here, missionaries were "antsy" to get out and help others, according to California Carlsbad Mission President Richard B. Brady.
His missionaries were volunteering at evacuation centers scattered around the mission as he spoke to the Church News Tuesday evening, Oct. 23.
The Church and its missionaries were helping throughout San Diego County as it was overwhelmed by fires that destroyed thousands of homes and other structures and led to the evacuation of hundreds of thousands.
Before they could turn to serving others, President Brady's missionaries had to take care of themselves in traumatic situations. Some spoke to the Church News of their tense experiences as they volunteered at an evacuation center set up at the Del Mar Fairgrounds near the Pacific Coast about 20 miles north of San Diego.
The first affected were Elder Joseph Liddle of Orlando, Fla., and Elder Scott Manning of Las Vegas, Nev. They were serving in the central-county town of Ramona near where the fire first broke out Sunday, Oct. 21. Elder Liddle said they were told after their Church meetings to evacuate to the city of Poway where they stayed with a member family. But, he said, they were awakened about 4:30 a.m. Monday and told they had to evacuate again. Poway ended up being one of the hardest-hit communities with hundreds of homes burned.
Elder Bryce Packard of Springville, Utah, said he and his companion had only about five minutes to get out of their lodgings in Rancho Bernardo, another heavily burned area in the Escondido area.
Although the missionaries were stirred up as much as the general population, as soon as they were able, they turned their efforts to service. Elder Garrett Carlile of West Valley City, Utah, and his companion, Elder Jake Layton of Centerville, Utah, heard volunteers were needed at the evacuation center set up at Del Mar Fairgrounds. Seeing that many more volunteers were needed, they reported to their zone leaders who, working with President Brady, provided 14 more missionaries to the fairgrounds.
There, they kept the shower facilities stocked with towels, shampoo, soap and other necessities for the comfort of hundreds who had been driven from their homes. The missionaries also jumped in to unload a steady string of vehicles bringing donations such as food, drinks, blankets and hygiene items, then organized the items for orderly distribution.
"I love it," said Elder Corey Nieves of West Jordan, Utah, as he pitched in to help.
"I don't know if we stand out from the rest of the volunteers," said Elder Packard, "but a lot of people appreciate that we're here."
Elder Trevor Ellis said, "We're doing the best we can."
That was good enough for volunteer supervisor Ashley Pugh who said, "These guys have been tremendous. They haven't stopped all day."
Elder Nieves said they called investigators and explained the Church's belief in the importance of service and offered to help them if they had any needs.
At the end of the day of service the missionaries scattered to wherever they had been relocated, mostly with member families. They were grateful that members opened their doors to them. Among the reasons, according to Elder Ellis, was being provided meals prepared with "more than a toaster and a microwave."
President Brady said other missionaries served at such evacuation centers as Escondido High School and the Escondido California South Stake Center.
All Church service was valuable throughout the disaster area, according to Escondido California Stake President David Wilkinson. He said that the Church taking care of its own relieved some of the pressure from other organizations helping evacuees. Again, members provided service while often experiencing their own stress.
President Wilkinson said his family was happy to host the family of his brother-in-law, Bishop Kevan Butler of the San Pasqual Ward, Escondido California South Stake, when they were evacuated from their home Monday. Then Tuesday, after Bishop Butler's family was allowed to return home, they opened it to President Wilkinson and his family, forced to evacuate their home in Valley Center. While all who had been forced from their homes were welcome to stay in meetinghouses, President Wilkinson's first counselor, President Chuck Nielsen, said arrangements were made for any who wanted to stay in the homes of members.
Finding such homes was easy, he said, as members were "just begging to be able to serve."
E-mail to: ghill@desnews.com
