Our most constant interaction at the JC was with other service volunteers. We replaced the Okiishi's, an amazing couple. Ted had been the branch presid. & Rae was a fireball. They did the work of two couples! During half the week, we hosted daytime tours & evening concerts at the BYU Center. The other time was spent doing community humanitarian work.
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Two other service couples always helped us with hosting. Initially it was John & Christine Jackson, both MD's -- in charge of student food, housing & personal needs. Shari & Mike Ohman oversaw all music events.
Carl & Melanie Harris handled all Church and other matters in the Galilee Branch (Tiberias). They made every visitor welcome & useful. They also helped us with hosting when others were away on field trips with the students. After the Becksteads left, the Harrises traveled across the country to Haifa every week for Church duties there.
Merrill & Nanette Beckstead (far left, behind her sisters) coordinated local membership and outreach efforts in Haifa -- especially serving Filipino caregivers there. Also, as they were District Young Men and Young Women Presidents. On 11/11/10, we held a farewell dinner for them at Caeseria-by-the-Sea. Next to us were Ohmans, Becksteads, Jacksons & Harrises (plus Ann Killian, the Fall 2010 Nursing Director).
In May '11, the Harrises left for home in Utah. In July '11, Ray & Bobbie Graham replaced them in Galilee. She was the sister of John Tanner (a BYU V.P.) and was a descendant of Anson B. Call from Col. Juarez. They both spoke & taught Spanish -- a dire necessity in their branch.
No one knew the organ better than Mike. A BYU music professor emeritus, he helped to install it in 1987, then came to tuned it up in 2004. In 2011, he cleaned, tuned & adjusted all 3,113 pipes & other elements. He also played it for church mtgs. But his main assignment was to play for all tours -- 24 each week.
For Halloween 2011 and again in Feb. 2012, he played non-stop 1-1/2 hours ech time for silent movies -- Phantom of the Opera and The Freshman (Harold Lloyd). [See volume, Our Holidays.]
John & Christine Jackson. How often are both spouses medical doctors (certified for Family Practice, no less)? They cared for the health of students & the JC itself -- over all food, housing & special needs. John was the District Presidency 1st Counselor over financial matters. Christine was the District Relief Society President. Earlier this year, she feared a relapse of her brain tumor and so returned to Utah. After all tests proved negative & some adjustments, our prayers were answered and she returned in Jan. '11.
The Chapmans. Replacing the Jacksons were Val & Arlene Chapman from Mineral, VA -- site of a big earthquake while they were gone. Both had great Church youth leadership & were terrific additions to our team. Val replaced John in the District Presidency and had been both a "gentleman farmer" (for 15 yrs.) and a practicing M.D. They had a real flair for the dramatic.
After July '11, when the Chapmans replaced the Jacksons, these were the senior couples who served our last 6 months -- until we & the Ohmans left in Feb. 2012.
Norman & Dorene Squires. They arrived on 2/3/12 to replace the Ohmans and had been here 2x before -- in 2004-05 and 2008-09. They were perfectly delightful -- the 1st couple to be older than us at the JC! Dorene's office was next to Neomi's and Norm replaced me as District Clerk (his 3rd time in that position).
A CPA by profession, Norm had trained on the organ with Alexander Schreiner and played most of his life. Both Norm & Dorene were very willing and friendly.
Bob & Elisabeth Schafer. They arrived on 2/23/12 to replace us over Hosting & Humanitarian Services. Like Ted Okiishi, he had been a stake president and professor (Sociology) at Iowa State Univ. Retired in 2002, they then moved to Seattle -- her home town. He became the Jerusalem Branch President on 2/25/12.
We took the Schafers to visit 18 charities in Jerusalem & Bethany on 2/26 - 28/12.
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