Duck, Zone Conference, Exchange

Hello friends and family, I can't believe it's been another week!!! They have been flying by recently! Hope you had a good one, here's mine. 

Monday was pretty good! We played flicker ball as a district which is always pretty fun! We also got some papusa's from the other district and those are sooo good! Then we went and helped a man named Pez move things around in his house. 

Tuesday we had district council which was pretty good! We focused on knowing who we are as missionaries, representatives of Jesus Christ. As well as the importance of teaching by the spirit and allowing it to guide us in all that we do! We had dinner with the Lee's and there was a ton of food! And probably some of the most interesting things I've eaten on my mission (DUCK, cornbeef), both weren't bad, but not my favorite. We also have an emotional resilience class that 2 of our friends go to, and this one was on helping people feel heard and the importance of saying the right things to help them feel better

Wednesday we had a great member visit with the Stephen's who have some excited little kids, as well as a dinner with the Arnold's who are amazing and have a son serving a mission as well! We went to Malibu Canyon which is the bottom of our mission, if I would've missed the exit (LA here I come), but I didn't. That night we got in contact with one of our referrals who wants a new church, didn't come Sunday, but is still contacting us so hopefully it goes well with him!!! 

Thursday we had a lesson with our friend John who loves God and doesn't hate the idea of the Book of Mormon, but he also doesn't like meeting more than once a month which is a little weird... we also had a great lesson with our friend Dan, he is Jewish, but is starting to open up to the possible of Jesus Christ being the Savior of the world, which is cool to see! We had a great visit with the Heimuli family (most missioanary minded member ever), then we had a pretty good lesson with David about modern day Prophets, he loves the idea of them and will watch conference!!! 

Friday we had zone conference!!!!! I always learn a lot, this time around I learned friend President Rodriguez the importance of using and trusting the power of the Book of Mormon. And the blessings that come as we use it in our lessons and challenge others to read and pray about it!! I got to see some old faces including one my old comps who's going home this transfer(shout out E. McKenzie). We had a great visit with the Wyse family who are super sweet! 

Saturday I was on exchanges with Elder Hoschoer in his area and one of my old areas, Dos Vientos. We taught their friend Mike who has experienced some tough times and is turning to God, he's super sweet! Then we walked, because it was walk day! Talked to a super nice lady named Chrissy who just simply needed someone to pray with her and we happened to be in the right spot at the right time!!! 

Sunday was awesome! We had Harvey Ana, and their daughter Victoria at church and they absolutely loved it!! The ward embraced them well. They are the couple that was supposed to be baptized, but them coming to church was a big step (answer to prayer)!!!! Had a doorstep lesson with Calvin that went well, had a visit with the Coons, and had a couple lessons fall through. 

I love this quote by Elder Eyring about our Heavenly Father, "He is firm in the timing and the sequence of His intentions, yet He ensures that sacrifice often brings continuing blessings that we did not foresee." God's timing is perfect. And as we submit our will to His, blessing come, in many ways and we truly become instruments in His hands! 

Love you all, have a great week!! 

Pics: Sunset, E. Echols and E. Brown, Elder McKenzie, Matching ties (Thanks to Elder Echols mom), Elder Shwartz, The Newbury Park Zone, Elder Hoschoer 

Missionary Service and Hard Work

Hello friends and family, I had a great week, I hope yours was amazing!!!

Monday I played volleyball with one district which was super fun! That night we went to the Lang’s home and talked a lot about Patriarchal blessings because he used to be a patriarch. Such a sweet family!!!

Tuesday we had district council, we talked about the power of our testimonies, then had a mini testimony meeting! It's truly amazing how strong a simple testimony is. Then we did service at James Storehouse which is always fun and there are great people there! Then we had a dinner with the Nevers who are such a sweet couple, and they are leaving to serve in the Knoxville Tennessee mission here soon!

Wednesday we had a bunch of tech meetings in the morning which are not fun to sit through... Then we had an awesome lesson with our friend Dan. He is super kind, we'll see how well that he progresses. We had a fun and delicious dinner with the Skinner family! And then stopped by a couple of our friends who live around them!

Thursday we knocked a lot of doors. But it was nice to talk with a less active member who is super sweet, probably won't come back, but didn't mind us stopping by so we'll have to more! We also met Calvin who seems pretty cool and willing go learn! Other than that not much success, but we keep working!

Friday we had an awesome visit with the Ray's. We got to hear a lot of stories about their lives and things they did! Then we had an awesome lesson with our friend Elizabeth who gave up some Word of Wisdom things, and has a strong desire to grow closer to God and has seen the changes that are happening in her life as she puts Jesus Christ first! Super awesome lesson with Harvey and Ana, a great couple that loved the Plan of Salvation. They have a lot of faith and love everything we teach them!!

Saturday was full of service. Started at 6:30am moving someone which took a while. Then built a retaining wall and some steps for someone else and that was pretty fun! Then we went on a mini exchange with Elder Espinoza. Me and Elder Echols were with him for the day and we had a great conversation with a lady named Alex, as well as our friend Arpita!!

Sunday was a great day! Had our friend Samantha come to church and she brought her daughter. They both loved it! After church we stopped by the Evans and Princes who are both less-active, but really nice and will hopefully come back to church soon!! Then we got to hear all the new missionaries testimonies!!!!

3 Nephi 26:11

Behold, I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people.

I love how our Heavenly Father wants us to have faith. He never gives us all of the information, he gives us just enough so that we can take a step of faith and truly trust in Him. I know as we continue to try our faith, God will continue to bless us, guide us, and strengthen us!!!

Pics:  Sunset, My comps/sunset, District, Big palm tree, Funky stairs, After the retaining wall

Ventura ➡️ Agoura

Hello friends and family, I hope you all had an amazing week, here is what mine was like!!!! 

Monday was the last preparation day of the transfer, we went to the Ventura Cross and hiked around it a little bit, it is such pretty spot!!! Our YSA activity was mafia and our friends seemed to enjoy it!

Tuesday was the last district council of the transfer, we talked a lot about loving and serving others, as well as the importance of seeing them the way that God does. Then we had weekly planning at the cross(new profile pic was taken), had a great lesson with Dani and her member friend Ade! We met with the Ramirez family who were baptized last Sunday and they are all so excited to go to the temple!! 

Wednesday we had a visit with Alexis and we said our goodbyes just in case one of us was transfered, she was super sad to hear that we weren't all staying together. We were able to go to a senior living home and sing for them, they all loved it and we brought them a lot of joy!! Had institute and learned about the importance of applying the scriptures and the blessings that come as we apply them! 

Thursday I found out I was being transfered to Agoura Hills which is at the very bottom of my mission, so I packed up, and then visited the Griffeths, Susana and Davey, and Bro. Shepard. So I got to visit with all 3 of them, brother Shepard took us out to Woodranch which was amazing! Then had a lesson with the Ramirez family and said goodbye to them all!! 

Friday was transfer day, so we met up with a bunch of missionaries at the mission office and I met my new companions, Elder Echols and Elder Brown, who I am excited to work with!! I got to see some members from a ward here that I used to serve in which was super nice!! Then I met the ward mission leader of the Agoura 2nd ward Brother Barrus and he fed us dinner and he is the nicest human being ever, constantly asking us if we have dinners and if not he'll cover us. So we are well taken care of!! 

Saturday we helped the sisters in our district build a retaining wall and steps for a person they're teaching, then we thought we were done with service until we got a call from the district leader saying they had a mountain of mulch to move, so we went and helped them and that was tough! We got to go to dinner with the Lorenzens who are great member missionaries and have a desire to share the gospel online!!!! 

Sunday I got to meet both wards. The Agoura 1st ward is a little small, but it is full of amazing people, the Agoura 2nd ward is a little bigger and has more young families! Both are great!! We went to a luncheon for Elder Arnold who is going to Australia Vietnamese speaking. I got to meet more ward members there and get to know them!!! We went to Bro. Brown’s house for dinner and got to know them!!! 

"Testify that you know by the power of the Holy Ghost that what you teach is true. As you testify, the Holy Ghost can bear witness to others." -PMG Ch. 4

I love how a simple testimony can touch the hearts of many. It's been amazing go see the effect that the spirit has on others and the joy they are filled with as we testify to them about their Savior! 

Hope the week treated you all well, I am excited to continue to serve in Agoura Hills and see the growth that this area will have!!!! 

Pics: 

Elder Echols, Brown, and Arnold, Ramirez family, Service, Sunset, Goodbye to Elder Pickrell and Webb, Davey and Susana, Sister Griffeth 

Ramirez Family Baptisms

Hello friends and family hope you had a great week, because mine was amazing!!

Monday was a great preparation day, we had a great homemade breakfast and then water balloon fight in the rain! Both activities were really fun! Then we had a visit with the Henkels who are an awesome family and the Cagnacci family as well! 

Tuesday we had district council that was all focused around asking the right questions, and helping our friends recognize where they can get their answers from! I had the opportunity to do a baptismal interview for a lady named Cammy Thompson and it was a great experience, she has an amazing story and strong testimony! We had a great lesson with John who has a lot of great questions and is excited to learn! We also met up with our friend Destiny who is just trying to get to know Jesus Christ and follow him better, and it is amazing to see the joy she has as we teach her about the gospel. 

Wednesday we went boothing on Ventura College campus, started teaching a girl named Tonya who loves studying the Bible, asking questions, and learning about the church! We also met Emily and Jessica who are super sweet as well! Then we had institute, Tonya came and loved it and said she'll be back next week! 

Thursday we had dinner with an old friend of Elder Pickrells that lives in the other ward in Ventura, we went over the baptismal interview questions with the Ramirez family to prepare them for that! We also met a lady named Tiffany who is super sweet, and it was cool to see that conversation go from her saying, "No I'm okay thanks" to, "That sounds amazing" and that is just what the Spirit does!!! 

Friday we had a fun Mission Leadership Council. I always love hearing/learning from President Rodriguez, he talked a lot about what it means to lead as the Savior did. Ministering to the one and doing it with kindness, seeing our friends and fellow missionaries as Jesus Christ does. I got to go on an exchange with Elder Brian and Elder Mansfield which was fun. Elder Brian usually serves up on San Luis Obispo but was down for the day and so I got them both and we had a good day! We had the Ramirez's baptismal interviews, met with our friend Erick, and visited recent converts Davey and Susana!! 

Saturday I was with just Elder Pickrell for morning and we went to the swap meet, but it was raining so we talked to a couple of people while staying dry under their canopy, gave them a pamphlet, and one seems pretty likely to go to church up in Santa Barbara!!!! Then we went to Bishop Roger's house and we made Bolo ties with him which was super fun! We went to Lamb of God with our friend Pablo and I got to see Jorge Alonso from way back in Simi Valley! And we saw some Senior missionaries that used to be in our mission! 

Sunday we had the baptism of Amber, Amathyst, Robert, and William Ramirez. Their family has seen major changes since embracing the gospel and it was truly amazing to be a part of this step in their lives. They absolutely love the gospel and I can't wait to continue to see them grow and learn in the church! We had a lot of support from the ward which was amazing to see! Then we went and had a visit with Bro Shepard and he actually taught us with planes!! 

"They felt joy and thanksgiving even in the midst of their afflictions. They had not yet arrived in the promised land, yet they were rejoicing in the promised blessing because of their consistent and resilient trust in Him"

This quote is talking about the Jaradites who came across the sea in barges. They has hard times, yet found joy and recognized the blessings God had given them and remembered the blessings that were ahead! 

Hope you all had an amazing week and saw God's hand in your life!! 

Pics: 

1. Lamb of God 

2. Baptism 

3. Baptism(Amber and Amathyst)

4. Bro. Shepard 

5. Davey and Susana 

6. Water balloon fight