Transfer News

Well, this transfer cycle had a very unexpected result. Elder C got transferred and I received a new companion. His name is Elder M from St. Louis, Missouri. Elder C got transferred to one of the best areas in the mission... Fox Hills!!! I gave him a lot of info to take with him so he could get a good head start in the area. He is going to love it there! After the mission, Elder C, Elder D and I can go back together to visit! 

I had some new insights on covenants this week. The first is that the sacrament helps us to renew all of the covenants we have made with Heavenly Father, not just baptism. I was stuck in that mode and did not realize that for some reason. The second is that the New and Everlasting Covenant is not marriage. It’s the gospel!  It is every covenant that we have entered into with Heavenly Father. I used to think it was only marriage. I read it in the Ensign and looked for it in Principios del Evangelio (Gospel Principles). Cool huh? I learn something new every day!

Before Elder C left, we met a former investigator that dropped the missionaries a year back or so because they had laughed during the prayers and didn’t take the gospel seriously. It is sad that the bad example of someone a long time ago can make a difference now in the decisions we make. We missionaries are noticed and watched by everyone around us. We must always represent He who's name we have on our chest.

We also discovered that Katy Perry lived in our area a few months ago and that Ron Pearlman does now. We met him, although I have never seen the movie he was in. A member in our area has a daughter that is a HUGE Harry Potter, LOTR, and Star Wars fan! When I walked into their house, I thought I was walking into my room! She has so much Harry Potter memorabilia – it is nuts! I will have to take a picture the next time we are over.

We spent the week talking to lots of people and getting a few return appointments. During the week we met a member from Boston who gave us lemonade and talked to us for a few minutes (on the 4th of July). Turns out there is a missionary in her Boston ward from Utah, but she couldn't remember his name. I asked if it was Elder H, but she didn't know. I got her info and am going to ask him in the next letter I write to him. Two of the people we ran into this week were members in Guatemala, but are inactive out here.

 Last night we actually found this mom and son who are awesome! E, the mom, is very busy, but wants to make time to meet with us. She wants her son to meet with us, too, and she was honest and asked great questions. She used to run cross-country and is trying to get back into it. When I told her I had stopped track for two years to serve a mission, her eyes got big and she told me I should keep training. I chuckled at the thought of me training and serving a mission at the same time! We had a blast talking with them and she seemed really interested in learning. The trick will be working with her crazy schedule. The world moves too fast and we must all try to slow down a bit so we can focus on the things that matter most.

Well time is up, so I will talk again next week. Hope you had a great 4th of July and stayed safe! I love you!

Would you like me to describe it to you? Or would you like me to find you a box?

Goodness gracious! This transfer has blown by! I cannot believe that six weeks here have passed. Both Elder C. and I were really confused when other missionaries asked about our transfer predictions. It snuck up on us really quick. Well, I have been trying to be more effective in my letter writing and emailing, so we will see how it goes.....

I loved President Monson's talk entitled "Believe, Obey, Endure" from the Ensign. It had a very cool story about how seminary changed a father’s heart as he waited for his daughter all those early mornings. On Wednesday, we had two separate women (at different times of the day) tell us they were members of our church. It was interesting because neither of them got the name of the Church right, and both of them had blue hair. For some reason I thought of the cosmic knowledge fish – I don't know why! One of those experiences happened while we were street contacting on Sunset.

One man named J. opened up to us when we began talking about his car and what he needed to do to fix it. He has a Book of Mormon and we read a little bit with him. He told us he is going to read it, so hopefully he uses his agency! D. and J. went to Mexico and will not be home until later in July, so if one of us is transferred it will stink like a dead skunk in the middle of the road.:)

We have been playing basketball a few times a week at our church building. I was comforted to know that I can still dunk it.:) So I hear it has been hot over there? Have there been any fires up the canyon? I have a feeling this July will heat up out here as well. This Wednesday is transfers, but more importantly, it is G.'s BIRTHDAY! Booh yeah! Don't get too old now, you hear! A. always said I made her feel old. Now I suppose it is only fair that her son returns the favor.;)

We got the new Ensign on Friday, and Elder C. and I loved it! I'm afraid I read a lot of it in one sitting and need to go through it again. One story led to another. I loved the one about the couple telling their 35-year conversion story! I also read the “Covenants” one and a few more towards the back. I related to the temple cleaning one and the future plans not working out. Those future plans are still a little fuzzy for me. :) One thing I never realized, though, until I was looking through the Ensign and Principios de Evangelio, was that the "new and everlasting covenant" – which I always assumed to be marriage – is really all of the covenants of the Gospel combined! I was really impressed. Love the Spirit!

Well, I think that was better. Yay for effectiveness! I love you all and hope you have an awesome 4th of July and a great week! I hear the 4ths of July out here are nuts! For sure we will have to stay inside. Maybe we'll be able to see the fireworks at the Dodgers Stadium from here.;) It is only a mile away. I will let you know if I get transferred, but I am very hopeful Elder C. and I can stay together at least one more.:) Love you!!!

Almost July???

Santa Vaca! I cannot believe the time has gone so fast! Elder C. and I have already been here for almost 6 weeks now! It is almost Gregory's birthday, too! Not to mention the Fourth of July! Sorry that I didn't get to email on Monday; the library closed early for some reason, and they kicked us out before we could finish!  Luckily we got permission to write today.  Elder C. loves beans and eggs, by the way. He thought they sounded gross until I actually made them. Now he has stocked up on ranch-style beans and eggs!:D

Our neighbors above us had a baby and we got to know them a bit. The husband asked us for a Book of Mormon so he can read it, which was a surprise, although we had hoped they would come along one day. The kids always say hi to us and the parents are really friendly. They were amazed to find that we speak Spanish (or at least try). Other contacts: we met a girl reading on the street who said she wanted to come to church. A teen named L. read the first 2 chapters of the Book of Mormon after our introductory lesson last week!

We got lost trying to find a member's house and found ourselves on this hill with lots of expensive homes. We drove up to the top out of curiosity and found this HUGE house! It is called the Paramour, we think, and there was an event going on. We don't know who owns it, but the bodyguard/bouncer was pretty cool and said I could put a pass-along card in the mailbox! When we shook hands, though, I felt like he was going to crush my body!

Although L.A. is crazy and very worldly, we see good things every day. We saw a dad holding hands with his three small kids while walking down the street, and it was really cute (pardon the word). I had to stop him and talk to him. He may not attend church or let us come to his house, but a seed was planted in what appeared to be fertile soil.

We had a Zone Conference/Mission Tour with Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy last week. It was a really cool conference. Elder C. and I got one of the clean car awards, which was nice, and I also got to talk with Elder Ri. and Ro. from the MTC! I think the most important thing I learned was that we really do have an immense influence on the people we teach.

D. and J. (who were recently baptized) were able to go to the Temple on Thursday and do baptisms for the dead! D. even submitted names and was baptized for several of her ancestors from Mexico! Super cool! There is nothing as rewarding as seeing recent converts go to the Temple!

I loved Sister Dalton and President Monson’s talks in the YW session! If you haven't read them or reread them, I highly suggest it! I especially liked how Sister Dalton said that a "shiny" countenance does not rely on makeup or fashion. It comes from our personal purity. It made me think of all my sisters and especially Mom, who were always the best example of that. Thanks to you, I have a pretty darn good start on what I want to look for in a wife. I love you all and hope you smile lots today! Keep your chin up and never forget who we can become!!!

A Smashing Father's Day to You!

Olo Familia! I hope you all had a smashing Fathers Day yesterday!!! It seems like just yesterday that I wrote, and I won't have too many updates to give, but there is always something going on out here.:D

After attending the temple last Wednesday, we played soccer and then ate lunch at a Subway on Sunset. I was wearing my LA Galaxy jersey with my name on it when I ordered. I was all sweaty and tired (yummy) and the guy who took my order honestly asked me if I played for the Galaxy! It was awesome! Made me smile.:) I heard about R's mission call to the Philippines! That is SO crazy! What language/dialect will he be speaking?? Yay for missionaries being llamado al servir!

We found a new “game”: proselyting while in the car..he he he. We were stopped at a red light and thought it would be fun to hand out pass along cards through the window. I have always wanted to do it, but never actually thought about DOING it. It is really fun! It sure makes tracting doors look easy, though! We always have some cards in the car now, so we can give them out if we so feel inclined. Don't worry, we never do it unless stopped at a red. It rarely works out perfectly, but it makes for some fun experiences.

I recently finished the conference Ensign and I loved it!!! I especially liked Elder Vincent O. Halleck's talk about vision. He stressed how important it is to see ourselves (and others) as the Lord sees us and our potential. Christ saw so much in the fisherman who saw little in themselves at first. It is something I have always considered important. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks of us, as long as we and our Heavenly Father think well of us. Looking over the entire conference, I realized that the family was a central theme. I think about 85 percent of the talks were focused on improving and enhancing our families! We have some work to do...;)

The other day we had several cool things happen to us. One return appointment seems promising; he seems to have been prepared through another church. Another man stopped us in his motorized wheelchair to ask if we were Mormons the same day. Later that night, while attempting to contact a referral, we were delayed by talking to an English-speaking woman and were afraid that we had lost our chance to find her (the referral).  As we were pulling out, a woman pulled up and asked, "Who were you looking for in that complex?" We told her the name. I knew before she answered that it was her. It had to be her. We had a brief lesson on the curb before retiring to our apartment by the 9:30 lesson curfew. She was a member referral; she became interested in the Gospel after her dog died. The member told her that her dog was in heaven and asked her to talk with us...so you never know how things might work out. We have been back once since then and will return again tomorrow night to finish el Plan de Salvacion!

The Gospel is the BOMB!

The temple was AWESOME and I thought of every single one of you in the celestial room. Isn't this gospel the BOMB!?!? 

I feel like it has been forever since I e-mailed last week. We have had lots of really cool things happen to us here. I recently called Elder W. to ask him to zone-mail me some things that I left in Fox Hills, to find that they have 5 baptismal dates set for people that I taught!!! I hope I can go back to see the baptisms! P. and her friend M. are both getting baptized, as well as two of their kids and a guy that Elder D. and I found named J.! Super cool! It is such an amazing feeling to know that the seed I first planted has taken root and is growing away! That made my day when I found out!:D Now to this area....here goes the overload.

We drove by Paramount Studios the other day, and our zone leaders saw Kobe Bryant!  Weird!

The other morning I was thinking about how impossible it would have been to make up the Book of Mormon.  Try to imagine yourself doing it... it is 531 or so pages, written in Reformed Egyptian, has incredible detail about an ancient civilization, has no contradictions to the Bible, relates to everyone who reads it, and was translated in like 60 days! Not to mention that a bajillion  (yes, bajillion) people will try and critique it, so it has to withstand everything. When I tried to imagine myself doing this, I realized that no man could. The only answer is that it was brought about through the power of God!

Our investigator O. has a baptismal date set, but we are unsure if she will make it because she’s in the hospital. We hope to get back to her soon.

Elder C. almost started his tie on fire while trying to burn the fuzzies off with a lighter...:D That was a classic moment! My favorite moment of the week happened after an appointment fell through. We were walking in the hard, desensitized streets of L.A. when a large, raised SUV passed us. A very big, tough-looking man was inside jamming out to Little Mermaid (“Under the Sea”) with the windows open wide! It was hilarious!  I couldn't help but laugh to myself. Yet again, another hug and boost from my Heavenly Father.:)

We were walking by a house and we decided to knock it. Before long, we had 5 or 6 young kids crowded around us, all raising their hands, eager to ask and answer questions about Jesus. It was an incredible experience! After a little while, the father came out and asked us to leave very impolitely. The spirit of the visit changed so abruptly it was sad. Even though an older daughter protested that we were talking about God, he said that he "didn't care". We did manage to give them a few pamphlets with our name and number on them before we left. One day in the future they will remember us and the experience they had, and then they will be baptized!

Our new game plan consists of praying over a list of former investigators that we compiled last week. We then plan 4 or 5 names into our schedule for the next day. So far we have found very few of the formers, but we keep finding new people in the area where the formers used to live! :D It is awesome! In the next week, we have 6 return appointments through this method! I also want to pray over a map to decide what streets to tract, and then the actual doors, too!  Elder C. and I both feel that something great is coming. We are more focused and devoted, so we are ready to have people progressing! I can't wait to teach the 6 people we found. At least one of them is going to progress and be baptized, if not more!:D I hope to report back with great news next Monday! I love you! How is your mission going? Life is a mission; we all need to serve well and share the gospel with all! I love you more-a!