Week 60 - The Sacrament

Monday 12/19/2016 

A Rainy Week In Southern California 

In the morning we went over to start our laundry at Elder Beddes/Jones apartment. We then went and did some shopping and what not. We then hit the mission office and helped them sort a ton of packages. We hit max muscle and got some in body tests. Then Cali taco with Elder Henkel/McMurry/Lopez. We stopped by target before we went to pday activity. They played volleyball with a exercise ball. Elder Thomas got a helicopter that squirts water so I went with Elder Philips/Thomas/Hansen on a battery run. We played a little gator ball before it was time to leave. In-N-Out for dinner with Brother Ryan's son. We finished the night getting our laundry and Walmart. 

Tuesday 

We did finding for most of the day. We talked to Armillo about the Christmas season and his atheist friend. We went to the church to drop off our stuff for the Book of Mormon challenge. It turned out to be a zone Elder meet up. We did more finding till dinner. Our dinner was with the Deans at El Chef taco. We saw Paula and talked with her. Brother Walker met up with us and the sisters at the Baskin-Robbins to end the night.

Wednesday 

In the morning we went to my cardiology appointment. It was the longest appointment I had there by far, it was filled with waiting. It was busy with all of the kids not in school. Just so happened we needed to be somewhere. We left then headed back to the apartment and quickly went to the Lora building for the Christmas music devotional. We were just a few minutes late. It was a good program. We got some good pictures. After the devotional we had a lesson with Megan, we were met by her outside the apartment complex playing in the puddles from the rain. Brother Larkin came and we taught her the gospel of Jesus Christ. We had a service over at the Dean's, we helped them do somethings outside they couldn't do. We had a birthday dinner with the Walkers for sister Jensen at sammys stack house. After dinner us and the sisters Caroled at the bishops house. We then met up with the district to go caroling for the rest of the night. After a while it started to sprinkle then it began to actually rain. So after a lot of walking we all were completely soaked. There was iPads to worry about though. There was some water fights in the knee high water. We got back to the church for a picture then went back for the night. 

Thursday 

 In the morning we had district meeting we focused on the last of the Christlike attributes. We had a zone lunch Elder Pruitt made crepes and we did a elephant gift exchange. After we did stop hunger now with the sisters we packaged 600 meals. We then went to dinner with the Kaaiakamanus, we shared the nativity with them. They enjoyed it. We were able to see Lisa and Pedro then share some of the restoration with them. We then went and exchanged with the zone leaders and I stayed in the area with Elder Pruitt.

Friday 

After studies we went to the Citrus hills nursing home. We helped them with bingo. After lunch we went out to do some finding. We met several people none interested in listening. We stopped by the Schollick family and shared a message with them. We got invited to their Christmas Eve party. They recommended that we visit Sister Griffin so we did. We met this YSA that was pretty interesting to talk to. After dinner more finding and a lesson that fell through. We stopped by Nehra then exchanged back. Some guy in a truck decided to go crazy drifting and etc in the wet parking lot while we were exchanging back.

Saturday 

In the morning we stopped by the Walkers to pick up our breakfast for Christmas morning. We went to a party at the Schollick house pretty solid lunch we jumped on their trampoline. We left then met up at the circle with zone leaders and the district. We chalked the circle for a while it was well covered. We left then went to dinner with the Sheslys. After dinner we met up at the church for caroling, well our district did the zone was supposed to be there. So got to the circle and start caroling then people started to show up we did that till we had to turn in for the night

Sunday 

In the morning we headed to the church and the zone had parking duty. The stake sacrament service was pretty cool. The church building was packed with people they ran out of chairs in the whole building. They broadcast it to the other rooms of the church. After we went back and Skyped our families till dinner time. We had dinner with the Owen family. They were cool they even had machines that shot out fake snow as you walk out of their house. We went back to the church and the Zone leaders were there with Elder Beddes/Jones. They left the whole building unlocked and all the lights on after the meeting. The result was a transient less active member was in the building. So we hooked her up with the transient bishop and got her some blankets. We then turned all of the lights off and locked the building. That we pretty much the end of the night. 

The Sacrament 

It has been a busy week. Well I have not put any thought into a topic. Now thinking today was a special day. We had the opportunity to partake of the sacrament on Christmas Day, the day we celebrate the birth of Christ. We truly have been blessed with a great gift. We too often forget the meaning of why we partake of the sacrament. One thing I have been trying to do to bring great meaning to the sacrament is trying to only think of Christ as the sacrament is passed. 

Hope y'all have a great new year 

Pictures 

Week 59 - It is a Faith Problem

Monday 12/12/2016 

In the morning we dropped off Elder Wrights laundry. We stopped by Ross and Deseret Book. We then traveled to Fullerton with the district to go bowling for Elder Wrights birthday. We grabbed Joe's after, then headed over to pday activity. We got everyone to play sock soccer, probably one of the best games. We had to leave as they started gatorball. We had a birthday dinner with the Walkers at Islands. We went to our appointment with a less active family in the ward. We discussed the Christmas initiative with them and service. They wanted us to come back before Christmas to teach there children who Christ is and the story of Christmas. We are looking forward to working with them and Brother Walker started some plans. We went back and I got ready for an exchange. I went to the Palmyra area with Elder Jones.

Tuesday 

In the morning after studies we went to my last apartment in Placentia. We met there with Elder Rubio/Clark. We got the apartment prepared for someone else to move in if some one has to move in, in the coming months. We cleared everything except mission furniture. So we threw away everything previous missionaries had left behind. We headed out then had lunch before we went out to do some finding. No good success in seeing people. We had a lesson with Herby, we taught the plan of salvation. He is a smart guy he studies a lot of philosophy and literature. Sister Anderson came to the lesson too, that was cool because she used to work in the mission office. Then we went to the family history center and got him started with family search. We had our dinner with the Redman family, pretty fun. They had a cool looking dog. After we did some finding before we got ready to exchange back. We waited at the church for a while with Elder Lee while Elder Hansen practiced a musical number. We then exchanged back. 

Wednesday 

In the morning after our studies we had a service for Brother Reyes. We helped clean up his backyard and landscape. We then went over to Deans to do some service for them helping them with yard work outside. We went back and had lunch. We saw Megan and taught her the Plan of Salvation she grasped it pretty well. After we stopped by the mission office to pick something up. We then went back for dinner. We went out to find for the night. We saw a few people including Nehra to setup an appointment for latter in the week. 

Thursday 

In the morning we had district meeting, the Taggarts came. We covered virtue a Christlike attribute in district meeting. We also focused on the safeguards for technology. We did a grab then gather for lunch. We went back and got ready then headed out, we didn't catch anyone before dinner. We went out and saw some less actives like Sister Neese. Sister Neese and her grandson fight like a old married couple, which is entertaining. Then we finished with the Wrights with Brother Walker. 

Friday 

We had service at Mary's kitchen after lunch. Elders Hansen/Pruitt,Philips/Thomas came. We finished up and then had a lesson with Nehra and the Larkins came. We taught her the restoration. It was pretty solid we recommitted her to commitments. We asked her if she was doing anything during the time church was and she said no so there is no reason for her not to be there. Our dinner was with the Ellis family, they had all kinds of nativity's from all of the world. Over fifty unique nativity's. One of the highlights of my favorite is from Jerusalem made of olive wood. The Sister did the dinner message with the Book of Mormon challenge. We got some possible names. We saw Linda and Pedro, talked with them and we got a bunch of names for the Book of Mormon challenge. We ended the night doing our coordination email with the sisters. 

Saturday 

We went to stop hunger after companionship studies. They have a bunch of extra supplies from an event that IBM threw, but didn't complete. We were able to get over 15000 meals completed in four hours. When we were finished the district and Elder Hansen/Lee were able to make it. We grabbed lunch. Then came back for dinner shortly after our late lunch. Then we weekly planned which took the rest of our night

Sunday

Ward council in the morning before we did some studies. Sacrament meeting was solid. Brother Larkin gave a talk about the Savior and Christmas. He mentioned how over the forty years that he has lived in his neighborhood he has seen a change. There used to be a few houses decorated with lights and everyone had a nativity or something relating to Christ. As time has gone on there has been a shift to where now there is only a few not decorated and non have anything about Christ. Gospel principles we learned about the Plan of Salvation as if it was a big football game taught by the sisters. After church we had dinner with the Walkers. We tried some people before the end of the night. 

It is a Faith Problem 

I was reading D&C 49 this week and there is something to be learned. There are those people that only accept a part of the gospel. Often these parts that they hold on to are just appendages. The problem is they are only accepting this one piece of the gospel missing the gospel in entirety. When people often have problems related to principles of the gospel they are faith problems. So they must start with the first principles of the gospel and build up their faith. There are great things that can be obtained through our  faith. Best wishes for everyone's Christmas 

Pictures 

My collection of taking pictures with people's pets continues. 

Week 58 - Stop Complaining have some Patience

Monday 12/5/2017

We started our laundry in the morning at Elder Beddes/Jones apartment. We went to Garden Grove to the Costco. I was able to get my food for the month. I met this guy with his 12 days of whiskey advent calendar, he was so proud of it and was showing us. We stopped by Walmart then Joe's before we dropped the stuff off. P Day activity was good, we actually played some activities. After we grabbed dinner and picked up our laundry before the night ended. 

Tuesday 

We stopped by post office in the morning to get something sent off. We then went to the mission office to get somethings printed off. Elder Beddes/Jones wanted to do temporary exchange for a lesson, do to one of them being sick. We got there and they decided they didn't want to do a temporary exchange. We had an appointment with a referral Sarah. Sarah wants her 10 year old daughter exposed to different religions so she can make a decision for herself. So we taught Megan her daughter the restoration. Megan is a really smart kid, she is a little hyperactive so we had to make sure to hold her attention. We invited her to church and setup a return appointment with them. They are going to have some trouble coming to church, but that can be worked out. Megan gifted us with some cool jingle bell necklaces before we left. We went and saw Ron that we saw the previous week. I kept from dropping Ron the week before since Elder Wright was hopeful. Ron went on several tangents this time the end result was, he got dropped. He doesn't want to change from where he is so we left him with the cards he was dealt as he put it. He is pretty entertaining to watch and listen to though, just not an great use of time. Our dinner was with the Deans at El Chef Taco. We stopped by a new move in family from Michigan. He told us some of his mission stories and we shared the Christmas initiative with the family. We ended the night at the Wrights. We focused on following the prophet with the Wrights. On our way home we got stuck at a railroad for a 30 minute train. That isn't exaggerated either it was timed.  

Wednesday 

After studies we were going to go to Ruby's for cheap hamburger day or something like that, but the line was too long. So we did lunch with Beddes/Jones. We did service at the Dean's home doing various outside tasks. We also reconnected them to their wifi. They were on the phone for two hours for something that took us a couple minutes. I then went on a temp. exchange with Elder Jones since Elder Beddes was still sick. We went out visiting people. I got some pictures with a wooden bear on someone's door step. We went to dinner with the Shinotos. They were a super cool family too bad they are in the other ward. We then went to a lesson with Nehra. The plan was to drop her, but I asked the baptismal interview questions. She is pretty solid except her keeping the commitments. So I ended up having a serious talk about commitment and the possibility of dropping her if she doesn't start keeping commitments. She has had missionaries for three years, but hasn't progressed. So we are going to see if she will progress now. We went back and waited for Elder Wright/Beddes to exchange back. 

Thursday 

In the morning we had zone training we talked about the Christlike attributes. One attribute that was focused on a lot was the importance of charity. We learned that without charity we are nothing (Moroni 7:44). Our dinner was with the Fairbanks at Los Cabo's then we did a temp. exchange with Elder Beddes/Jones. I stayed with Elder Beddes, studied and discussed life. In the mean time Elder Wright/Jones went to an institution to visit someone that isn't all there. We exchanged back then invited some people to the ward Christmas party. We ended the night by stopping by the bishop's home to pickup a turkey he cooked for us. 

Friday 

We went out between studies and lunch. We didn't find anyone we tried home. We did our weekly planning for the following week. We got some pretty solid plans. We had time to go out and see people. We met Rosie who was so happy to see us which isn't normal. She told us about some of the trials she has gone trough recently like two spinal surgeries. We also were able to see two less active families and invite them to the Christmas party. The night ended with the ward Christmas party setup with all of the ward missionaries. We got it done after a few hours of work. 

Saturday 

We had the morning ward breakfast Christmas party. It was pretty good they had the missionaries be greeters with reindeer ears. I got Santa to sit on my lap. We had to get out of there just at the end for a service. We went to a school with most of the zone to help with science kits. That was a majority of the day. We finished the service and went to the Fairbanks to do more service and to get some food. We were there for a while trying to help them get their Christmas timers setup. We also had to get their wifi situation on the lock down so they could operate the timer from their phone. That is where the night died. 

Sunday 

Our sacrament meeting was on the pure love of Christ or charity that seems to be a reoccurring topic this week. After church we had a missionary meeting then dinner with the McQueen family. They gave us another name for the Book of Mormon challenge. We met up with the zone leaders to give them some things for the Book of Mormon challenge. Elder Beddes/Jones got the zone leaders in their ongoing car prank war. They covered their car with stockings filled with dying singing cards. They don't produce pretty sounds. We visited some less actives and got a return for Monday night. We also were able to meet Brother Ryan a less active that says it will probably take a crowbar to get him back to church. Hey I'm always up for a challenge. 

Stop Complaining have some Patience 

I'm not sure what to focus on this week so many topics. I was going to do being bold, but that is for another time I guess. Someone recently told me I don't complain. Well my thought is what is there to complain about? Is there anything that is really worth complaining about? Of course I don't complain. Who wants to be or hear a complainer? They kind of kill the mood and tell us the obvious sometimes. 

Anyway patience is a great Christlike attribute. It allows us to overcome things that may be annoying and such. It may not be charity which without we are nothing, but it is nice to have. I think after charity patience is close, to follow along with all of the other Christlike attributes. What is it we must do to gain these attributes? First we want to get charity since it seems to be the most important. If we read at the end of Moroni 7 it tells us how we can obtain this pure love of Christ. We must pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love. As we continue to follow his example and seek for these gifts, they can all eventually be received. I could continue to drawn this out, but I see no reason to. The concept is simple to understand the hard part is usually applying it. So let us try to apply it. The Lord provides us with everything we need, it is up to us to go out and receive. We can't sit there yelling at the furnace to heat us if we don't do our part and go to get the wood for it to burn. We will freeze. 

Week 57 - Fears of Inadequacy

Monday 11/28/2016 

In the morning we finished our packing for our transfer. We moved everything in the apartment into the back room. It will give the illusion that the apartment is empty when they send the truck Elders to close the apartment. We loaded all of my stuff into the car then headed to the mission office where Elder Russell joined us. We went to find my new apartment to drop off all of my stuff. Once we finished we met up at Cali tacos to have a going away lunch for some of the missionaries departing. Joe's ice for a final time with Rubio and Russel for now. Then back to the mission office where we left Elder Rubio to get some things taken care of. We journeyed down to Garden Grove to pick up Elder Russell's new companion. Then back to the office. I then was with Elder Wright my new companion and we followed the other three up to Placentia. We loaded up Elder Rubio's stuff then stopped by the Placentia P Day activity before dropping off Elder Rubio with the ASL missionaries. We dropped off Elder Russel/Mills, then went to Orange where I unpacked my stuff for the rest of the night. 

Tuesday 

In the morning we went out to find people we caught a few people, but didn't get the chance to talk with them. We did lunch then cleaned till the zone leaders came to do apartment inspections. It really isn't the best time to do apartment inspections after transfers. Still managed to get a high score. Went out after dinner and tried some referrals. We met Ron a interesting guy that says he would rather stay in his ignorance then join a religion. Well if that is the prospective he wants to take there is not much we can do. We had a lesson with Linda and Pedro. After we went to the church and met Bishop Watkins and Brother Walker our ward mission leader. The Sisters attended too, Sister Lorton got her new trainee Sister Jensen. The Bishop told us of their goal to make it the best ward that missionaries serve in, which we shall see. We headed back after our meeting. 

Wednesday 

 After studies we had an early lunch before we headed to Mary's kitchen. We did Mary's with Elders Cortez/Lee/Smith/Pehrson. We stopped by the mission office to drop off our car report, then hit Joe's ice. We did some finding, no one interested. We picked up a dinner from Sister Riley. We shared the Lighttheworld video and talked about the Savior with Nera. She told us about the service she has done for the homeless. She makes a bunch of lunches then brings them to the homeless. When we were finished it was time to go back in. 

Thursday

We had district meeting in the morning. Since it was the first day of the 25 days we did a district service. We got some candy canes and tied cards with scripture references to them. We went to a nursing home and handed out the candy canes and sang them Christmas hymns. We all grabbed In-n-out for lunch then went back to the church. We went out finding and talked to Armando. Armando was a cool guy with a lot of faith. After dinner we went and saw Linda and Pedro. We answered some of their questions and clarified some things for them.

Friday 

Service in the morning with the whole district at joyful. We stuffed bears that with be going to Choc (Children's Hospital of Orange County). We all got lunch at Cali tacos. We stopped by the mission office so I could drop off a phone and apt. key from my last area. Joe's ice. We did weekly planning till dinner time, but no need eat for the rest of the day after a Cali burrito. We went out to find, but didn't really talk to anyone for that long. We went back to the church to send our weekly correlation email with the sisters to Brother Walker before the night ended.  

Saturday 

Early lunch before we helped Mike the owner of Joe's at his house. We met Elder Hanson/Lee there. We helped take things out of a garage and put some furniture into a truck. We also helped him get all of his Christmas decor out of his garage. We finished up then went to go help Sister Walker with another service. We took more Christmas decorations out of storage for a single woman in the ward. Sister Walker brought us to Five guys for dinner. We tried to see some people before the stake live nativity. The nativity was pretty cool they had live goats and the Taggarts came. The funny thing was we walked in the door and I see a little kid drinking from a water container spout. I got him in trouble with his mom by saying "hey look at this kid". We had a lesson with the Wright family and talked about various different topics. That ended our night. 

Sunday 

Ward council in the morning with a mix of studies in between. If was a good fast and testimony meeting. It was more of a story time at some points so it went way over. We taught the lesson on the millennium in gospel principles class. I talked with Sister Smith from Ohio after church. During fast and testimony she was going to do the OH while I was on the stand so I would say IO, but she decided against that. After church was The First Presidency's Christmas devotional. So we went to the Sheffield's home and watched it with dinner. I liked President Henry B. Eyring's remarks on Peace, his family tradition and service. We went to the Orange circle after dinner to checkout the event that was going on that blocked off all of the roads. We ended up missing the event, but we still had the opportunity to walk in the street without having to worry about getting hit by a car. I also was able to get some picture with random strangers. No one seemed interested in talking with us about Jesus at a Christmas thing though. We did a little finding before the night ended. 

Fears of Inadequacy 

Feelings of inadequacy it is a thing I have seen in various people including missionaries. If we think back to Exodus where Moses was feeling inadequate when the Lord wanted him to be his spokesman. Moses's feeling is understandable having uncircumcised lips meaning stammering lips and slowed speech then getting asked to be a spokesman for the Lord. Well that seems like a very daunting task. We can see that Moses seemed quite troubled with his weaknesses. There is something we can learn from this just as Moses did. We must learn to trust in the Lord. Moses was eventually given Aaron to be a spokesman. We are given weakness and these weaknesses are humbling. It often takes someone to be humble to enable themselves to learn. When we are lifted up in pride we all to often don't like to listen for some reason. So the Lord gives us these weaknesses to ultimately help us. Growth often isn't comfortable that is why there is pain associated with growing hints growing pains. 

In my reading I came across this verse this week that helps illustrate the Lords purpose in giving us weakness. 

Ether 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

He wants us to be humble and as we are humble and exercise our faith in him our weaknesses will become strong no matter how painful. As we trust in the Lord and have faith any inadequacy will fall away eventually, sometimes it takes time. The Lord is always willing to bless those who are doing the things he has asked of us. So let us all trust in the Lord and be confident in the weaknesses the Lord has blessed us all with. So the weaknesses will become strengths. 

Pictures 

Didn't get to complete the water bottle sculpture before we left the area.

Some pictures from last week a Harry Potter wand from universal studies.

Joyful service stuffing bears.

Some pictures from the Orange circle event thing I got random people to pose as my family and friends.

Didn't get to complete the water bottle sculpture before we left the area.

Some pictures from last week a Harry Potter wand from universal studies.

Joyful service stuffing bears.

 Some pictures from the Orange circle event thing I got random people to pose as my family and friends.