Zone Conference & Exchanges

Monday: Preparation day was awesome!! We went and saw a field of wild flowers with the district and hiked up a mountain as well! Then I played b-ball with an Elder in my district and then we went and then did some service for a good friend of our  mission leader!

Tuesday: ZONE CONFERENCE!!! We drove down to Santa Maria I got to see some past companions and really fun people I’ve gotten to know while on the mission!! The assistants gave a discussion on how to teach the commandments more simply and help those that we teach understand them better! Our zone leaders gave a discussion about what makes a good study session and the importance of having them!! President Carter talked a lot about the importance of faith, finding, and teaching. What makes a great finder, what makes a great teacher, and why it's important to have faith!! Biggest take away from it for me was what President Carter said in his closing remarks. He said, "This is the only work that overlaps into the next life". I love that missionary work continues in the Spirit World!! Also, me and Elder Clawson got the award for the cleanest apartment in the mission!!!

Wednesday: A bit of a let down of a day. Going into it we had a lot of lessons set up, but when we confirmed they were busy, out of town, and unable to meet, so we ended up doing a lot of finding. Then I had an awesome experience with a kid named Brian. We called him in the evening and the phone called started a little awkward, he seemed nervous and I had a thought to ask if he wanted to pray. He said he would love that, so I prayed for a couple of specific things that he needed, and we both immediately felt The Spirit!! He felt completely different with the things he was struggling with and so we set up another time to meet!! I loved how we were able to feel the Spirit even over the phone call!!!

Thursday: Day full of service, then in the evening we talked to Chrissy(Cristy from my last email), and she was down to talk more and learn about our beliefs! Then we talked to her neighbor Ashley as well and her family was interested too!! So we're going back to both houses to share more!!

Friday: EXCHANGE DAY!!!! It was with our zone leaders and I was with Elder Merrill! He's a great missionary and we were able to do some service and then taught a family that came from a member referral!! So invite your neighbors friends and people you meet to talk with the missionaries!!!(I know you had someone pop into your mind:))

Saturday: EXCHANGE PT.2!! This time it was with some Elders in my district. I was with Elder Pope in his area and it was fun!!! The sun was beating down on us the whole time, but we had 2 Spirit led lessons and had a great time!!

Sunday: Had the family we taught in Friday come to church. The wife and daughter loved it, the husband wasn't able to come, and the son was a bit of a handful, but towards the end of the second hour he settled down!! Then we had dinner with the King family! We had Tacos so it felt like home!

I love you all and hope that you can look for opportunities to share the Gospel with those around you by, serving them, helping them find joy, or bearing your testimony to them!!

Have a good week!!!

Pics: Flowers, Sunset, Zone Conference, Cleanest Apartment

Faith, Service and More Faith

Monday: My first preparation day activity here in Paso was pretty good! We played some basketball, a little bit of soccer, then pickle ball!!!! That night we street contacted a little bit, then decided to knock 2 doors. First door was super nice, talked for a good minute or so, then they closed the door... Second door opened said come back tomorrow then shut it.

Tuesday: District Council was great! We talked a lot about Faith and the importance of praying with the faith that God will answer our prayers! I really love this quote we talked about by Elder Ciro Shmeil in Apr. 2021, "Through prayer and scripture study, the Lord has always given me the strength to act and endure one more day, one more week, and to try one more time" Then we helped Cowboy Larry with some service and unfortunately had members show up to do a lesson that fell through...

Wednesday: We had an awesome lesson with Matthew about prayer and the importance of having a relationship with our Heavenly Father! That night we set up appointments with Javier, Maria, and Cristy!

Thursday: Interviews day!!! Had a great lunch, then President and Sister Carter led a discussion on how to get more out of our studies and the importance of having great studies! I love meeting with President Carter and gaining insights on how to become a better missionary!! That night we helped a lady move and then I got to call Bryce for his birthday!!!! 

Friday: We did more service today, pulled lots of weeds, and painted a nice fence!! Then we walked the streets of downtown Paso Robles! Which may seem like there's not a lot of people here and so it wouldn't be busy, but it was!! So many people there, so many people talked to, and we found one person!!! One, we met on the street, but he lives in our apartment complex, and wants us to share Christ centered messages with his family!!!! 

Saturday: Day full of Service! Helped a lady named Katie move, pulled weeds for Peggy's son, stacked wood for Brother Brimhall, and last but not least helped another lady move! 

Sunday: Church was great, I loved the come follow me lesson that Brother De Graw focused on having faith to see the miracles happen in our lives! Then we had a great dinner with the Reamer family!! 

Turns out this week I read a lot about Faith, talked a lot about Faith, and prayed a lot for Faith! "We need to ask in faith to know the will of the Lord and accept that the Lord knows what is better for us." I hope you all will focus more on faith this week and pray to know that whatever happens it’s all part of God's plan for us all!!

Love you all, hope this is another great week for you!!!! 

Pics: 

1. Delicious dinner

2-3pretty views

4. Deer

Service, Service & Transfers

Monday: Last district activity of the transfer we went to a park ate some pizza, and played some sand volleyball which was super fun! That night me and Elder Novac had our last visit together with Bishop Johnson's family!!! Also found out I was being transfered all the way up north to Paso Robles. 

Tuesday: I had quite the busy day. Woke up at 6:00am to get to the Newbury building, went to the mission office, got to see Elder Jackson(MTC companion)!!! Then drove with Elder Horne (Stud Spanish missionary) all the way up to Goleta, got to see some old friends there as well, then squished in the back seat of a truck and drove for an hour and a half to Santa Maria, got to see Elder Cosentino (My trainer), Elder Anderson (dope companion) then drove all the way up to Paso Robles! Super fun day, it was a beautiful drive, God's creations are amazing!! 

Wednesday: Me and Elder Clawson drove down to Arroyo Grande for a doctor's appointment that went well! We got back and had an amazing call with our friend Bunny, she us a super sweet old lady who has so many questions so we're going over tomorrow for a lesson with her!! Went and tried to get to know some of the other friends they had been teaching, but weren't able to talk to them...

Thursday: The whole zone helped unload an entire Semi-truck full of food from Salt Lake. It was so hot, there was so much food, and it was so fun!! Plus some of my district was on the local news!!! Then we had more service at the ECHO homeless shelter. It was amazing to see people so happy to have a meal and have them leave with a smile on their face! 

Friday: Helped a local legend (missionary known) Cowboy Larry. We fixed his fence and helped with some smaller jobs! Then we went and helped the Atascadero Elders (Pickrell and Brian). We helped a lady move into a house and they fed us lunch! We took a drive out to the middle of nowhere, met a couple of less active members, and set up a time to go share something with one of them and do service for another!!! 

Saturday: Had the first District Council of the transfer, it went super well! We talked about the importance of the restoration of the gospel and how to share it! Then me and Elder Clawson went and pulled weeds in a ladies front yard. Then as we were driving home, saw another lady pulling weeds, so we pulled over asked if she needed help, she asked how much we charged, when we said free she said, "Are you Latter-day Saints"? Of course we said yes, helped her out, and she wants to learn more about the Plan of Salvation! 

Sunday: Our Easter service was amazing! Had a couple really good speakers and a nice musical number by the primary! Then we walked around and talked to those who were out, spent some time in Downtown Park and met some cool people!! 

It was amazing to remember the Savior’s resurrection and the gift that it is to us all!! I encourage you all to listen to "The Greatest Easter Story Ever Told" by Gary E Stevenson and recognize what a blessing the knowledge of the Atonement that we have is!! 

Pics: 

1. Last dinner with Elder Novac

2. Tuesday goodbyes 

3.Great drive

4. Elder Cosentino and Brown 

5. Paso District

6/7. Drive in the middle of nowhere

Conference and Cool Families

 Monday: For our district activity we played some pickleball and basketball at the park! That night we had an awesome visit with the Neilsen family!! 

Tuesday: The last District Council of the transfer was pretty good! Talked about what a successful missionary is as well as why it's important to have charity for those we teach, those we serve around, and most importantly having charity towards ourselves! Then we had a great lesson with Judy where we talked about the Bible testifying of the Book of Mormon and she liked it, still didnt agree 100%, but she is so close to coming to know for herself that the Book of Mormon is the word of God!!  That night we had dinner at the Merrills house with our friend Vicki!! 

Wednesday: Did some fun service at the James Storehouse for the last time... Then talked to our friend Rick, met Skip for the first time, and talked to a lot of nice people! 

Thursday: We had a mission zoom about virtue and why that's an important attribute of Christ! Then we were able to have dinner at the Thaynes house, played some ping pong against their son, and lost... then had a visit with the Badureks and the McCleods, both are super fun families that I will miss! 

Friday: We helped one of the Spanish Elders friends move which took a while, then we did service for Trish, stopped by our friends Carlos and Jill, who hopefully watched conference and come to Easter! We're technically not teaching them, but invite them to everything! We met Aussia who is a super cool college student who is sadly moving back to Oregon, but was way fun to talk to and took a pamphlet. She said we, "Changed her view on religion" so I take that as a win!! 

Saturday/Sunday: Watched the General Conference sessions with Bishop Johnson's family, learned a lot, felt a lot, and I am grateful for a modern day prophet that leads and guides the church today!! 

I really enjoyed Elder Gong's talk! One thing I got from it was, consistent faithfulness brings miracles. So as we put our faith in Jesus Christ, He will perform miracles in our lives!! Look for miracles that happen in your lives and if your going through a rough patch, trust in Jesus Christ to perform a miracle!!! 

P.S I got transfered to Paso Robles!!! 

Pics: 

1.The Book of Mormon!!

2. Bible and Book of Mormon!!

3. Cool sunset 

4. Cool sunset pt. 2

5. McCleod family 

6. Johnson family