Walnut Canyon Ward & The Three Amigos

Wednesday: I had a great last preparation day in Paso! We went and had a mini pickleball tournament that was really fun! That night packed up all my bags, and we had a lesson with Flores family(I really miss them)! 

Thursday: Transfer day!!! Got up real early, made it to Santa Maria, had my final goodbye with Elder Tate... then hopped in a car and drove down to Goleta, caught up with Elder Clawson, Elder Hokenson, amd Elder Novac, then kept driving to Oxnard, dropped of an Elder, and drove to Newbury, where I met my new comps, then we headed over here to Moorpark, and got to work! We went tracting, found potential people, and started off the transfer great! 

Friday: Did some service to set up for the Hoedown, had a great lesson with our friend Gary, who mentioned how he really wants the Holy Ghost, which I totally understand, the Holy Ghost is amazing!!!! Then we went to the Hoedown and had a blast, we helped people park, then had a great dinner there as well! 

Saturday: Did some more service, yardwork for a nice man who hasn't been super interested in the past, hopefully we can get him!! Then lots of door knocking, that didn't lead to much, but you have to have the bad to appreciate the good! 

Sunday: First Sunday in the ward was really good! Had an amazing musical number(I can do all things) and some great talks on missions, as well as having a testimony and what that really means! Later that night we had a great visit with the Nelson family, talked about Love, Share, and Invite! Then we had a dessert visit with the Satterwhite family, they were super fun and made some really good banana cream pie!!! Then I got to hear Jorge, from Simi Valley, bear his testimony to other recent converts on a zoom!!! 

Monday: The first District Council here was amazing, kind of because I didn't have to plan it lol, but we talked a lot about relying on the Spirit, why it's so important and how we make sure we have it with us all the time! Then we helped the Hymas family move some furniture, they fed us an awesome lunch, then the rest of the day was full of studies, and planning...

Tuesday: We helped out with foodshare, gave food to the needy, it was amazing to see grateful people, and meet a lot of sweet people!! Then the worst tracting of my mission(maybe I'm just exaggerating), but everyone was not interested, and not nice when saying no... but to finish the day off, we talked with Prince, who is an awesome kid, who we gave a Book of Mormon to!!! 

Read this quote this week and love it: 

"A grand objective of mortality is not merely learning about the Only Begotten of the Father but also striving to know Him"

I love how this life is to grow closer to Him and everything we experience is to help us do that, and we have the scriptures to first know about it, so that we can truly know Him!!! 

Hope your week was awesome, love you all, have a great week! 

Pics: 

 Pickleball, Santa Maria, Last goodbye

Experiences & Transfer News!

Wednesday: Last preparation day before transfers!!! We played tennis, it was really fun!!! Then we were able to visit Jade who said come back on Monday, then we had ward coordination which is always a good time! 

Thursday: Exchange day!! I was with Elder Brian up here in Paso and it was so fun!! We had a short visit with Barbara, shared a scripture with her and she said she was going to be at church, but didn't show up... then we had a really good conversation with Julian who is super cool, met his wife Mary, hopefully they come around!!! Then we had a great lesson with Mayra and met her husband Rafael! We gave them a Book of Mormon and Elder Tate will be stopping by them tomorrow to check up on them!! 

Friday: We met Josh who said he was down to go to YSA activities, hopefully he's been going! Then we knocked a lot of doors, didn't see any success, but that's alright! Then we had an amazing Thai dinner with the Walrods, and visited with them, then had a visit with the Zinns and their friend Don who participated well, and knows to much about the church to not be a member. 

Saturday: We helped set up a June Teenth celebration down in San Luis Obispo which was really fun. Then we attended a Catholic baptism of our friends kids, didn't quite get the chance to tell them why it's not needed... It was all in Spanish so I was lost the whole time. Then we had an awesome lesson with Missy, she really wants to be baptized, but when we tried to give her a specific day, she wasn't too sure... but very Spirit filled lesson! 

Sunday: Father's Day was awesome! I got to talk to my dad, which is always a good time! Church was great, we had 2 great talks about earthly fathers and how they are like our Father in Heaven! We had a great dinner with the McCauley family and they are so sweet and we got to meet Bro McCauleys non member mom! 

Monday: Last District Council was great! Talked a lot about Charity, how we obtain it, and how it helps us in missionary work especially with our friends! I had a great call with a friend from Facebook, so hopefully I'll be able to continue to meet with him! 

Tuesday: We had a fun service in San Miguel laying some bricks, it got pretty hot, which made it tough. Then we did a lot of stop by's, didn't have much luck. Had our lesson with Missy fall through, but she rescheduled for Thursday! 

I love this scripture from Alma, that talks about how God really does take care of us! 

Alma 31:38

"And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith"

As long as we pray with faith, God will provide us with whatever we need! It may not be in the way we want it, or when we want it, but He will provide!! 

Found out that I am being transferred down to Thousand Oaks, being put in a trio, so we'll see how that goes! Hope you all have an amazing week, love you!!! 

Pics: 

1. Sunset in San Miguel

2. Fathers day

3. Last District Council 

 

Exchanges and the Big Move!

Wednesday: We played some volleyball as a district and it was way fun!! Then we started teaching Bruce! He's about 20 and is wanting to learn some more about this amazing gospel!!!

Thursday: Did a super successful brownie run! Got in contact with the Gazardo family and they are doing a lot better! Also stopped by the Flores, gave them some brownies as well and set up a visit for Monday!!! Went up to San Miguel, tried to find some people up there and just had to stop teaching someone...

Friday: Had a great lesson with Barbara who said she was going to come to church, then she didn't... We talked to a guy that we've stopped by before, but he was drunk when he said to come back, so he didn't remember us and wasn't interested.

Saturday: Went on an exchange with Elder Pickrell and met some really cool people!! Carlos was watching soccer, but said we could go back and talk about Jesus, I was a little sad he didn't invite us in. Glenn, we shared a scripture about faith with him and he loved it and didn't mind if we stopped back by and shared another one! Troy, talked about the Plan of Salvation, he loved it and wants us to go back to answer his questions. And Samantha, who is a young mom that we also shared a scripture with!! I also had 2 video calls with people set up and they fell through.

Sunday: First Sunday with the new bishopric was great! Had talks on becoming peacemakers makers and how we can have more Christlike poise! The Kings had us over for dinner, cooked us some good burgers and we were able to play some basketball with their sons!!

Monday: Had a great district council about being patient amd realizing God's timing is better than ours, as well as how we can better teach to the understanding of our friends! Then we picked up some boxes so that we could move apartments, then we packed a little, had our study time, then planned for our friends and what they need for the upcoming week, then packed some more!

Tuesday: Took all morning but we got moved into our new place, then headed out with Elder Isaacson(Assistant to the President) and we knocked a lot of doors and started teaching a couple people! Jessica who is a young mom that wanted to hear more about the Book of Mormon, Adam, who has a Book of Mormon and Satan tried real hard to have him say no, and Jade who was on her way to a soccer game, but wanted to learn more, then we got more settled in!

I love this scripture that I read this week: 2 Nephi 31:3

"For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding"

The gospel is simple and God helps us understand what we need, and what we can understand!

Love you all have a great week!

 

Pictures: Nice rock, Great breakfast

San Miguel, Elder Isaacson

 

 

Exchanges, Zone Conference, 11 months!

Another week down and another month mark hit!!!!! Can't believe I've been a missionary for 11 months now, it has gone by way too fast!!!!! But this week was a good one!!!

Wednesday: As a district we played some soccer, and it felt weird playing again, but it was really fun! Then we drove down to Atascadero and played some basketball with other Elders from our zone!

Thursday: I had an exchange with Elder Pope. We drove over to Morro Bay, helped some Elders over there with service project, and then came back and had a lesson with Isabella!! We had our apartment inspections, and then had the opportunity to do some service at the local homeless shelter! Started teaching Fred, who has an awesome mustache, and we're looking forward to teaching him more!

Friday: Did some service up in San Miguel, had a good time with that, helped out at a fundraiser for the SLO food bank, tracted quite a bit, and didn't see much happen...

Saturday: Called a friend from social media. He lives in Zambia and loves the Book of Mormon, but it's sad because there's no missionaries in his area... I was on an exchange with Elder George, we drove out to Shandon, got in contact with one of our friends named Rylee, hopefully things start picking up with him!

Sunday: Got invited to a non-members birthday party, ate a good lunch to break the fast!!! That night we had a great member dinner with the Ivie family. We got a new bishopric so that was a cool change to see!

Monday: Still weird that it wasn't preparation day, but it was a good day! Went to Zone Cenference, had an amazing time there! It was really focused on finding joy in the gospel, and helping others realize they can feel the same joy! We also talked a lot about what the difference between having a testimony and being converted is, which was a fun discussion to have!!!

Tuesday: Talked with Moses some more(Social media friend), had a couple lessons fall through, but we were able to set up appointments with the Gazardo family again, as well as Carlos and Susan, so hopefully those will go through this week!!

Love this quote that was shared at zone conference: "Knowing by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ is important and necessary. But earnestly coming unto Him and giving our whole souls as an offering requires much more than merely knowing. Conversion requires all of our heart, all of our might, and all of our mind and strength" I love you all and invite you to find ways you can more give your whole souls to Jesus Christ, it will truly bless you, and help you find more joy!!! 

Pics: soccer, Elder Pope, Elder Tate, Funny sign, Last time seeing the Carters

Exchanges and Interviews

Wednesday: We had a super fun preparation day last Wednesday!! We played some pickleball, me and Elder Tate were definitely the top companionship there!! We had the privilege to drive out to Lake Nacimient, super beautiful out there!!

Thursday: Super fun filled day that didn't feel fulfilling(Say that 10 times fast). But it was amazing and looking back at it, it was so productive! We had interviews with President Carter. I talked to him about praying to know that the Book of Mormon is true, when I have already figured it out. And he said that he prays to know how to apply the true teachings in the Book of Mormon in his life, rather than praying to know that it is true!!! After interview we went tracting and 6 doors in a row opened up, met Lucifer, she is quite the character, but invited us back for Tuesday and we'll get to that! We also ran into Patrick, who had a lot of gospel knowledge, knows there's one path back to Christ, but he's not sure where it is... So we'll be teaching him and his wife Mary!! Sorry, Thursday was baller!

Friday: Stopped by a member just in time for them to need a blessing, that was awesome! Helped a lady in San Miguel move some stuff, had a great visit with Brother Anaya! And then we stopped by what we thought was a less active member, turned out to be a girl named Fernanda that is interested in learning more about how Jesus Christ can bless and strenghthen her!

Saturday: Did some fun yardwork in the morning, then went and visited a less active family that is super cool! Our lesson with Evelyn fell through because she got sick at work... Got some fun people to teach on Facebook!

Sunday: Church was great! We went to a memorial day Barbecue at the Hogelands house, then knocked some door and didn't get much of a response...

Monday: Had an awesome video call with a Facebook friend, we talked about Jesus Christ's Atonement and he really liked it and were calling again, on Friday!!! Then we Had an amazing District Council on the Book of Mormon and Bible supporting each other and what it truly means to have a testimony!!

Tuesday: Exchange with the zone leaders. I was with Elder Merrill up here in Paso, and it was so fun! We did some service, used our spanish skills to invite people to English class, taught Lucifer (AKA Toby), she was completely blown away by the atonement, and thought it was so cool how one person would do that!!! Then we set up a service with Nate, who is a non-member with the cutest family that we'll hopefully start teaching!!!

I love this Quote from Elder Uchtdorf:

"If you hesitate in this adventure because you doubt your ability, remember that discipleship is not about doing things perfectly; it’s about doing things intentionally. It is your choices that show what you truly are, far more than your abilities," God loves us, wants us to help others feel of that same love, and we can't hesitate, we must act!!!

Super crazy week, it was so fun, and I am looking forward to another awesome week, Love you all!!!!!!

Pics:Elder Merrill! Baby birds in a door we knocked Elder Tate! Cool car! Strawberries!!! Lake Nacimiento!