Missionaries who volunteered to help the Red Cross following the destructive earthquake in northern California Oct. 17 were described by one volunteer coordinator as "the greatest group I have ever worked with."

Some 121 missionaries of the California Oakland Mission donated more than 20,000 hours at the site of the collapsed Interstate 880 freeway and at reception centers. Missionaries in the California San Jose Mission also made significant contributions in San Francisco, where 14 worked in the Marina area, and many others provided vital assistance in the damage zones farther south.Marion McConnell, coordinator of disaster center volunteers in Oakland, was pleased when the missionaries showed up. "I have never met a finer group of young people in my life," she said. She described them as willing, consistent and dependable.

"They were so supportive of us when we so desperately needed help. Both the elders and sisters were equally great," she said. Many of the missionaries worked at the freeway site where coroners risked their personal safety to perform the grisly work of removing bodies.

"The missionaries were positive throughout the whole thing, and they dealt with the situation very well. They were enthusiastic and filled a great need. I just wish I had them all the time."

Pres. Conrad B. Jenson of the Oakland mission said missionaries speaking nine languages were able to serve as translators while help was given to minority residents affected by the earthquake.

Missionaries were obedient and resourceful in accepting assignments. Their organizational abilities helped resolve difficult challenges, Pres. Jenson said.

He recounted the experience of one missionary who found a crisis developing at an overcrowded shelter that needed to be extended.

"They needed lumber, but they didn't know where to get it. They prayed that lumber would be donated, and before long a man from a lumber company offered the materials they needed to build the structure."

Pres. Jenson said missionaries have since resumed proselyting, but are still filling a shift of four missionaries every eight hours around the clock at one occupied shelter.

Pres. Leo Douglas in San Jose said bilingual missionaries in the southern area assisted Red Cross workers in many ways. Other missionaries helped clean up rubble, delivered water, served in food lines and on loading docks, assessed damage, and offered consolation.

"One director of the Red Cross in San Francisco asked me, `Where in the world are you getting these young men you are sending me? I have never seen young men with such clean minds and strong backs.' "

Elder Gene R. Cook of the First Quorum of the Seventy toured members' homes in the damaged areas, and reported that despite a great deal of property loss among some, members have "a great and optimistic spirit."

Elder Cook, president of the North America West Area, toured the Santa Cruz, San Jose, Oakland and San Francisco Marina areas that were hard-hit by the earthquake, and met with members who were affected.

"As we met with the members, I extended to them the love of the Brethren, and told them that the Brethren were aware from the first hour what they were suffering," said Elder Cook.

"Many of the people feel very humble; they are back to basics and will have to start from scratch. The most serious problem is how to handle the homes that were lost. It will be tough financially; many lost everything they have."

In the past week, an additional report of a death of a member was received. Elida Ledesma Ortega, 44, living in the Watsonville area died Oct. 17 at the Fort Ord medical facilities. She was taken to the facilities for treatment after being injured in the collapse of a Watsonville bakery store.

In assessing the situations of members in the Santa Cruz stake, Pres. Bradley M. Macdonald said, "We are probably more hurt than we thought."

At stake conference on Oct. 29, "We had 800 people out, and they shared their testimonies. People were in good spirits despite their troubles."

The Santa Cruz stake has received heaps of clothing and food, more than was needed or could be used. Donations of money have also been mailed directly to the stake president, which created bookkeeping challenges. Pres. Macdonald suggested that those who want to contribute to earthquake relief do so through the regular fast offering funds.

Pres. Allan H. Nelson of the Alma Branch, at the epicenter of the earthquake in the summit of the Santa Cruz mountains, said aftershocks continue to rattle windows and frighten children.

"We got a pretty good one Monday (Oct. 30). We feel them all the time." He said children become super-sensitive to the tremblings of the earth, and run away from their homes when aftershocks hit.

Of most concern now are cracks in the mountainside above some homes that have deepened in last week's torrential rain storms, said Pres. Nelson. Cracks have also appeared above a tract of mountain homes. However, authorities monitoring the situation promise residents that they will have adequate time to leave if the cracking becomes worse. One LDS family lives in the tract, said Pres. Nelson.

Crews from nearby stakes continue to help in the clean-up, he said. Many of the volunteers are professionals in the construction business. However, despite all the volunteer service, those who lost homes may face paying on the destroyed homes, as well as financing the rebuilding projects.

"We are coming down to realities and talking about loans," said Pres. Nelson.

In Watsonville, the Craig Winter family erected a sign near their ruined house: "Site of future home of the Winter family, courtesy of the Oct. 17 earthquake."

In the Golden Gate Ward in San Francisco, Bishop J. Stanford Watkins said most members are back in their homes but without natural gas to fuel their heaters. As a result, cool weather and ocean winds are chilling members. But gas crews are working longer and harder than expected, and members are optimistic they will soon have gas for their heaters.

Bishop Watkins said crews from the national religious television company, Vision Interfaith Satellite Network, filmed their services Sunday, including testimonies and experiences of several young men who spoke.

"The young men were very appreciative of their blessings," said Bishop Watkins. "It turned out to be a very healing experience."

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(ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)

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The telephone calls go through

Despite difficulties with telephones during the early hours following the Oct. 17 earthquake, leaders were able to receive several critical phone calls.

Pres. Leo Douglas of the California San Jose Mission said that by 6:30 p.m., he had accounted for all the missionaries except those in Santa Cruz, where telephone service was generally out of order, and the Marina area in San Francisco.

Then the telephone rang with a call from the missionaries in San Francisco, who had felt impressed to call their president. A short time later the Santa Cruz missionaries called. It was the only call the missionaries were able to make that evening, said Pres. Douglas.

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