Week 55 - Littlerock

 

Hey everyone, how's it going? This week was a really good week. It was mostly just finding, but we were able to find 6 people. My new companion is straight from the MTC, and he is a very cool person. He is trying his best and wants to work. His spanish is very gringo, but President asked me to fix that, and have people's heads turn when he speaks.... I hope we can get that done. This week we planned to set two people on date, but they weren't home. One of them answered and said we could come by in the upcoming week. It has been an awesome week. One day we decided to carry around a small whiteboard and show people a simple gospel plan lay-out. It was pretty fun.

"Who you need to be is somewhere along the path of who you want to be."

"Learn who God wants you to be, and let the Atonement change you; maybe it's not God's idea that you make the change, but someone else helps out."

"Expect miracles!"

I love you all, and thank you so much for your prayers and the comments you've made. 

Hello, this is Elder Coburn from the California Bakersfield Mission, Elder Sant left his email open. I have been serving around Elder Sant for almost 5 months. I wanted to tell you how amazing of a missionary he is. He is the district leader over 7 missionaries, his district loves him. He has had a big affect on my life and others. I am very thankful for the opportunity to serve in the same zone as him.

Whenever the Elders in the zone have a question about the scriptures we ask him, we all keep telling him he will be a bishop really young, being humble he doesn't take it haha. Thanks for raising an awesome son, he is doing great things!

-Elder Coburn

Week 54 - Littlerock

 

 Hey everyone! This week was better than it has been!  As this week went on, I didn't feel too happy. I think it was Friday night when I was very down. We hadn't been having success, and it was 8 o'clock, and we decided to do windows of heaven, where we pray, pick a few streets on the map, and we tract it. We chose a street, got a little lost, and no one was outside. I was getting more and more disappointed in myself, and to be honest, in the Lord. As we walked, we saw a Hispanic family and we started talking to them. We asked if we could share a message about Jesus Christ, and they said we could. We shared the restoration, and captivated them. It was powerful for me and for them. They asked questions, and we answered them. We asked them if they would follow the same steps Joseph Smith followed by reading and praying to find an answer, and they agreed. We were bold with the invitation, promising blessings, and we're going to meet with them on Friday, possibly on exchanges because our area will be split and it'll be the area of the other elders. We went by Grace, and she was just on her way out, and she said that we could meet up with her later. We also talked to Rosa Parreira. She is doing as well as ever.

    This transfer I am staying here in Littlerock, and I will be training, and our area was split. I get all of Littlerock, and the others get all of my old part of Palmdale. I know that the Lord knows what He's doing. As I told mom about it, she said that she could feel the Spirit really strongly confirm that this was right. The Lord loves us. Alma 13:24  says that the Lord is preparing people for us and for you all who need you. That is what I can see. I bear testimony of that and I say so in the Name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

By the way, keep praying for us here! Please.

Week 53- Littlerock

 

 

Hello, mi familia, como estan? This week was a very weird week. We tried to go by Grace this week twice, and no one answered both times. We tried to get into contact with Rosa, and she said this Tuesday would be best for them. There were other people who all said the same thing. It was a big planning week for this upcoming week. I have been faltering a little in my faith because I have trusted a lot that the Lord provides for those who try their best, and I am begging for some fruits of my labors. I am imperfect, but I know the Lord has people in this area who need me. I am going to trust the Lord, that He knows what He's doing. I'm sure He's trying to teach me something, and I am learning a lot, but I am impatient. 

   My companion is doing as well as ever, sadly, but we are working hard. Madore really has helped this area since coming in. He's just not happy. But I am grateful for this time I have to serve, I really am. I just want some miracles. I can put forth a better effort, but I still just need His guidance and help. I got that email that says that my life is not my own. What the Lord has planned is better than that which I have planned. Someone in the district, Elder Francom, said that God has a goal for me, and it is aligned somewhere along my desires. The Spirit guides us in our lives and loves us so much. He is the magnifier of our efforts, and when we have it with us we are granted success. When we are trying to follow the Spirit, the Lord will never let us go too far without warning us . 

   We were driving in Littlerock, and we decided to make a u-turn, and we got stuck in some sand. A man came and pulled us out with a chain, and sadly it ripped part of the bumper. It was a bad choice by us, but we were able to get out. We called elder Morris and he's going to assess how bad it was and what will happen because of it. 

   The Lord can bless us and He will. Thank you for your prayers and for all the support. I love you all, and please keep us in your prayers. 

   --  You can't tell, but I'm wearing someone else's tag, and someone's wearing mine. 

Elder Daniel Jacob Sant

"Go and Do"

Week 52 - Littlerock

Hey everyone. This week was pretty good. This week we tried to go by Grace, but when we went by, we had a member who was planning on going with us, and she got there first, called us, and said that there was a bunch of police officers outside her house. We arrived at the house, and she was outside, so we started talking to her, and she said that two drunk men drove by and crashed into their parked car. Luckily, none of the family was harmed, but we were unable to teach a lesson. We also went by a family, named Rosa and Elva Parreira, and when we went by we mostly talked about the Love of God. We visited them twice this week, and the second day we went by, she needed help with service, so we moved some exercise equipment from the upstairs to their garage and moved some drawers and such. It was a fun experience. We invited her to church: we said "You know, our purpose as missionaries is to help people get closer to Christ, and one of the best ways to do that is the sacrament." She said, "Oh, I'm sure that'll be great for you two..." She did not want to go. But we tried, and when we got to church, there was this family there who had talked with missionaries a year earlier, and they decided to come by again. We picked them up, and we're going to visit them this week. It was a tender mercy of the Lord. In district meeting we talked about the Plan of Salvation, and the importance of diligence in the work. We were able to learn a ton. 

   This was a good week overall. We have been praying for help, and the Lord was able to help us. I am grateful for that. Thanks for everything you guys do for us. We love you, and thanks for all your prayers for us. 

This was a part I felt I could share with you, but not everyone. Share it with the immediate family for suggestions:)

 Our investigators are kind, showing that they're interested while we're there, but they never keep commitments. I believe that is the problem; we promise blessings and they don't believe them. It's like Jesus when before He rose Lazarus from the dead, and said "Your brother will live. Mary or Martha said, "Yeah, I know we'll all be resurrected...." and Jesus says "I am the resurrection." and she limited God's miracles by their lack of beliefs or expectations. Maybe that's something we can share with them, and say, "We promise this message does bless families." 

   Something I feel is going on in this zone, because there are some problems, is a lack of love. It makes me think of that chart where it has the high and low expectations and fraternity and hate. I feel like we are in the no-love and high-expectations right now. The Zone leaders are trying to unite the zone in ways that don't show real love, and they are swallowed in numbers. They have told me a few times that if I "don't have high numbers, [I'm] not leading or inspiring" my district. The zone is not doing very good in numbers or love, and both are a problem, but I know that the Lord provides for the missionaries who are devoted. I believe that the best example I can give is knowing the Lord provides in a hard area. I want to achieve my goal for august baptisms. This is my year-mark month, so believe that I do, but the way to get that done is obscured and I need to learn to trust the Spirit. We cannot do that if we are stressed about numbers and feel a lack of love.  

   I am not writing this to complain, but to tell you what I see is going on in this zone, and to see if there are any solutions, because it is a problem that needs to be addressed. 

   I've been saying that Madore has been doing well, but to be honest, this week he took off his mask. He admitted it, that he doesn't enjoy the work, that he feels like he has failed in his mission, and that he sees no purpose in serving. He is good at it, but as soon as he's done talking to someone, his smile drops and looks angry. I feel like sharing things like, "God know or understands" would just be cliche and he'd say "Yeah, I know, I know..." I did believe he was doing great, but he just puts on a mask. We haven't done comp study either, not really. I am praying for him, but he is truly trunky. He is losing his patience. 

      I am not complaining at all, just saying what's been going on in case someone knows how to help. 

 

Littlerock did not flood but some of the mission did.  These are pictures from it.