Week 48 - Littlerock

Hello everyone. This week was a good week. On Tuesday we had a lot of blessings. One weird story which was kind of interesting was when Mendoza and I were walking down this street, and across the street this one lady said something we didn't hear, so we walked up to her and asked her to say it again. She said "You two have images above you." We asked her what she meant, and she said "It looks a little ghostly". As we talked to her, interested now by what she could be seeing, she asked us if we had heard any news from Jesus in the past 9 years. We just kind of asked if she needed help and gave her a card. It was interesting. On Thursday we had interviews with President. They went well. In this area, Littlerock, I've been feeling a little like we haven't been seeing any permanent changes. We get some pick-me-ups from the Lord, and I just really want something actually effective and meaningful from the Lord. I want to change someone's life here. We got transfer calls this week, and Elder Mendoza will be leaving and I will be getting Elder Madore. He was in East Lancaster with us at around Christmas time last year. This is going to be his last transfer, so hopefully he will be all in. We were able to help this one family move out. We were walking down the street and saw a u-haul. We asked if they needed help and we started helping. It was a good experience and the guys had a lot of questions. They were black, and when they found out I was from Louisiana, they said "OH, you got some soul in you!!" It was a good week overall.   I really want some miracles. I don't want to be able to say " I tried my best and served my mission", but rather, "I tried my best and the Lord changed lives through my efforts. He magnified my efforts". I love you all!!!

Week 47 - Littlerock

 

Hey everyone, how are you doing? This week was pretty good. Monday was a normal day for us, except that we were able to email family because on Tuesday we went to the temple. It was a beautiful experience! I was able to really learn a lot there. We came about 5 minutes late, so we went to the visitor's center, where we saw some of the new meet the mormons. It was cool. After we visited the temple, we went to a restaurant and ate lunch there. 

   For district meeting this week we talked about how to follow the spirit. We studied chapter 4 

of PMG. It was really good. I learned that most of chapter 4 is about prayer and how to have meaningful prayer. It is very cool. We learned about something very cool. Sometimes we say a prayer and then give no thought to what you thought or said to Heavenly Father. What should be done is waiting, with a notebook. The Lord said "Knock and it shall be opened unto you", and sometimes we doorbell ditch our Father. We need to start waiting to receive, and thereafter write the impressions we receive. The Lord will be ready to answer us when we're ready to listen and act. This week we were able to find a few part-member families, but we haven't been able to see the non-members. We got one family to come to church. They lived in Idaho, and moved here and never got their records moved. Hopefully we can talk to the non-members of the family. It was a pretty good week overall. I know that the Lord loves us so much. I know we have a loving heavenly Father, and a Spirit guides and inspires us as we wait for Him, and a Savior who takes us by the hand when we fall. This week we will be more bold and powerful in all that we do, and do what it takes to be worthy of miracles. I love you all, and thank you for everything!!!

Week 46 - Littlerock

Hey everyone, how is everything doing? This week was pretty good. The Lord was able to provide a miracle for us. It was really cool. We found a less-active member whose records are in Idaho, and she's the only member in her immediate family. It was really cool. She's a sweet lady with 2 or 3 kids and one on the way in like 2 weeks. For a district activity on Monday we played volleyball, which was a ton of fun, and some board games!

This week, I have had a few thoughts to share. First, in this area, I've been feeling a little down, so in my email to president Layton two weeks ago, I promised him that we would get a miracle to report in the next week. In the last two weeks we've found three part-member families that nobody has known about before. Thus, this week I will promise that we will get a baptismal date, along with one other miracle.

My intentions are not selfish, and it's not pride by any means either, from what I understand: I just do not want to waste time here, and we need the extra motivation, so we make the commitment beforehand; it worked before, why not now.    

Also this week, we went on exchanges with the zone leaders. I went with Elder Olson. We were walking down a street after a few investigators said not right now, and we decided to knock a certain door. A hispanic man answered, and as we talked to him, he said, "I've always wondered, if there is one God who loves us, why are there so many churches and religions that teach so many different things?" He then said, I decided this morning that I was done dealing with all of these churches, and I was going to just stay with God by myself, and you guys knock on my door." We asked him what he supposed that meant, and he said "I think it's a sign from God."

Since he wasn't in our area, we sent him off as a referral for the hermanas in that area. 

   
In district meeting, we discussed being bold in everything we do, and we shared a few scriptures to get that done. It was pretty good.

We went to stake conference, and that was really good. I learned a few things I'll share here. When we receive a calling, we receive all of the rights, powers, privileges and authorities necessary to accomplish the work called to get done. I was reading in Abraham, and I think the first few verses of chapter one explain how he was so awesome: he was searching greater happiness, peace, and rest. He sought the "blessings of the fathers", the right thereunto to administer in the same, he had been a follower of righteousness, and DESIRING to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, possess greater knowledge, father of many nations, a prince of peace, receive instruction and commandments, and become a rightful heir. I thought his desires were very interesting. 

  
This district is getting better and better, but truly, we need to learn to follow by the spirit, to teach by the spirit, and know where to go and what to do, by that spirit. The Lord has been providing for us. I love you all, and thank you for everything you do! Thanks for keeping us in your prayers, and please continue doing so.

Week 45 - Littlerock

Hey everyone, how have things been doing?

   On Sunday in church, after sacrament meeting, the first councilor in the branch presidency called us over, and it turns out that there was a less-active member who wanted to come to church, and his non-member daughter brought him. She said we could come over, and we will do that! And that was at the end of the week, too! During the week, we decided to go by an old investigator we had basically dropped, because we hadn't seen her in a long time, and it turns out that she had surgery recently and has been unable to have us over. It was great to know that she wasn't avoiding us and is in a situation that is life-changing that we can help her with! nd that your efforts will not be in vain but your works will continue after you leave."

   I realized recently how short comparatively this mission is to the rest of your life, and I wish it were longer. 

   During district meeting I had planned talking about working with the ward and how to do it, and we were able to get to that, but as we reviewed key indicators, we did our own small training, where we talked about how to receive and expect miracles. We got a list of the following:

   Miracles

Attitude, and we found that this affects all the other attributes in the list; when you're happy and excited to get out of the car, you want the other attributes.

Pray, and expect it to happen

Faith- increase it

Hope

Repentance

Obedience

Dilligence

Charity

Patience, esp. with alma 17

Humility

All other Christ-like attributes in preach my gospel. 

As we try to follow Christ, He gives miracles. 

I've been really trying to let the goals motivate me this week. It has slipped my mind before, and I have forgotten about them at times when they would have helped, but hopefully I get better.

We went to McDonalds and there was a 69 cent burger deal.  Together we bought and ate 79 burgers!

Week 44 - Littlerock

Week 43 - Littlerock

Hey everyone. This week was a pretty good week.    This week was a pretty good week. The Lord blessed us to be able to find some people who I hope were prepared. So far I have been waiting for a miracle, not waiting passively, but better said, expecting one. This week I was thinking about the story in Daniel where they were to be put into the furnace for not worshiping the idol, and they said the Lord will save us, but if not, we still won't worship that idol. I know the Lord will provide a miracle for us, but if not, I will still be faithful to the Lord. I am truly very grateful for this chance I have to serve. This week I have seen faith grow in my companion and I.  The Lord will provide. I was reading in Jacob 5:21-23, and I learned the following: It's a poor spot of ground- it's a desert- but the Lord nourished it and it brought forth fruit, because the branches (Little Rock 2...) had to trust in His nourishment!

Week 42 - Littlerock

Hey everyone! This week was a little crazy. The hermanas in our area have an investigator that was going to get baptized on Saturday, and I was going to interview him, but as I talked to him and as the hermanas and Elder Mendoza and I talked about it, we felt like he was doing this to get financial support from the church. Our Branch President felt the same way and was relieved to hear what we thought. He did not get baptized on Saturday. This week we got transfer calls, and Elder Mendoza and I are both staying in this area. We went by an investigator named Cynthia, and she asked us to help feed her horses. We went into what we thought was a small backyard, but it was actually a huge yard with a tall fence. She took us to the fence and opened a gate, and the yard continued with a small ranch. She also had about 100 chickens. It was crazy. We fed the horses and talked to their family. It was pretty cool.

   
Something that I've been seeing is a lack of real faith in the district: I'm imperfect, and I include myself in this. I was talking to Elder Mendoza about this upcoming transfer, and he explained to me that he had been here for six months without seeing large success, and that this one transfer wouldn't change too much. I told him that we were planning a baptism this upcoming month, hopefully, according to our goals, and he basically said "Why wouldn't any success happen earlier". Therefore, faith is something we will be working on. We set the goal: if we say we're going to find "3 new investigators" and "2 with a bap. date" and "2 at sacrament meeting", we will and must do everything we can to accomplish it. I am expecting a miracle, because we are going to need it, really. I am so grateful for this chance to serve, and I hope my experiences I gain here will have an eternal effect. 

  
In district meeting we taught more about the doctrine of Christ, and president has been talking about that a lot, and said "We do not understand the Doctrine of Christ enough".

And do you know Elder Patterson? He lived in Pride, LA, and he'll be in the zone. Also, the hermanas in the district are staying and so is Elder Mcgill, and he will have Elder Frankum with him, who is a pretty cool elder.

Elder Mcgill and Frankum are English, but the hermanas are Spanish. I hope it is, but there is a lack of faith here. I was talking to Elder Mendoza about this upcoming transfer, and he explained to me that he had been here for six months without seeing large success, and that this one transfer wouldn't change too much. I told him that we were planning a baptism this upcoming month, hopefully, according to our goals, and he basically said "Why wouldn't any success have happened earlier".

 It was a pretty good week overall. I love you all, and I am so grateful for everything you guys are doing. I appreciate it so much. Thanks for praying for me, and please continue doing so. I l love you all!

Week 41 - Littlerock

Hey everyone! This was a pretty good week. This week was pretty good. We had interviews with President Layton, and it went pretty well. We also went to La Michuacana again with the awesome member who feeds us every week. On Saturday we went to the branch mother's day party, and I got to conduct. It was a lot of fun, and we sang a song during it. I'll include a video of us practicing, with Elder Mendoza playing the violin. Super fun. The Lord has been blessing us in the work. As a district leader, I check to make sure people have things down, and I prepare district meetings, and do calls every Wednesday and Sunday. The work is going pretty well. I really can see that there are people waiting here for the Gospel. I feel pretty good about everything, however to be honest, I still feel unqualified to be a district leader in this area. Nothing too much is new, walking in the desert is still fun, not getting old. Something funny is Elder Holland and Elder Coburn. They're in the other district and they're the funniest. Also, Justin Timberlake lives in their area. I am trying to stay hydrated, but last week I got that sore throat worse than I had ever had it before. I could not even sip water without feeling like I was going to die. I was able to fix a pair of my suit pants with a hole. and for your love. I love you all so much, and please keep us in your prayers. 

Week 40 - Littlerock

Hey everybody! This was a super cool week! We were able to go by some investigators this week. We have an investigator named Cynthia, and she's a single mother of two kids. She is a cool young lady with a lot of faith in Jesus Christ. Her son was put into a mental institute for a while and just got out of it. We also are teaching a family of a mother and her daughter with her children. It's really cool. They want to learn more about Jesus Christ and what He can do for them in their lives. It's been pretty great. We also found this guy who was super excited to see us. He had talked with us before, but he hasn't been keeping appointments. The Lord has blessed us and this work. We went to a restaurant with the Familia Rosario, and it was fun. Afterwards they took a video of me for my mother on mother's day! Happy Mother's Day, Mom!!! We went on exchanges with the Zone leaders on Friday, and I went with Elder Crane, who was my Zone Leader in my first area. I learned a ton from him. It was a lot of fun. We were walking down the desert in Little Rock and we found this little stream with a cute family fishing. We started talking to them, and they are really cool. During District meeting this week, the topic was part one of the Doctrine of Christ! I applied the doctrine of Christ to the Book of Enos. We did a scripture chain about it, with the following as the chain:

 Vs. 2*

3-5* 3 Nephi 12:6

6* 1 Nephi 2:12, 16

7-8* Mosiah 26:23, 27:24-27

23* Alma 11:43-44

27* D&C 45:3-5

All about the doctrine of Christ, and it was really cool. The Lord loves us so so so so much! It is true. 

   On Sunday I got the chance to talk to my family over Skype! It was so great! We were able to talk and have fun, and afterwards, we closed with a family prayer, my first one with my parents in almost 9 months. It was very cool and powerful.

   I love you all, and really the Lord trusts those who really trust Him. He is proud of everything we try to do right. He loves us and has a purpose and a plan for us.

Week 39 - Littlerock

Hey everybody! This week was pretty good. Last Sunday, I held my own personal fast to try to find people, and this week, we found 1 more person than our goal. Hahah. It was awesome. This week we didn't have district meeting because we had Zone Training Meeting, and it was a pretty good meeting. And it was also the last. We learned about accepting miracles and teaching repentance with a cool scripture chain that explains why we need to repent and the hope that repentance brings. It was pretty cool. We went on exchanges this week and I went with Elder Mcgill. It was pretty fun and we were able to work. I forgot to add, but last week we found out that the Zone Leaders have an investigator who is deaf, and I cannot teach him because if he decides to get baptized, I'll have to do the baptismal interview. It's pretty cool. Luckily they have a member who knows sign language who'll translate what the missionaries say for them. It's pretty awesome. During call-ins, the zone leaders explained that they noticed the same stuff that I did about the district, and we talked about ways to fix it. One thing they have is that some missionaries have goals of what bad things they can say they've done on their mission. They legit have a bucket list and imagine "funny things" they could do. The mindset of being on a mission is off. They also have seemed to forgotten how to work. But the Lord will bless us as we keep going on and hopefully I can receive revelation on what they need here in this area. I love you all and thank you for your continual prayers for me!

Week 38 - Littlerock

Hey everyone, so this week was pretty good. On Tuesday we had Zone Conference and we learned a lot about the Gathering of Israel. One thing I learned is that when we use the Book of Mormon in our lessons, we are able to get out of the way and let the Spirit teach. Also, if you bash using the Bible, you will win, but you only convince yourself that you know what you're talking about and embarrasses the guy and he won't want to talk anymore. Just use the Book of Mormon to end conflicts. We had district meeting, and it went pretty well. District meeting went well, and I do believe we were able to inspire the district. We focused on Mosiah 7:33 with the bondages, or weaknesses or stumbling blocks we may have, and did a chain with how He delivers us in Ether 12:27, Mosiah 23:21-24, and then how to trust Him and hold on in 1 Nephi 3:7, Deuteronomy 29:9, 30:9-11, and 1 Nephi 11:17. I think it was inspired, and I'm grateful for the help the Lord gives us. I believe that can be applied to us all. We gave a blessing to our ward mission leader last week, and that night he went to the doctor for an appointment. He had something wrong with his heart. After the blessing he felt better, and when he went to the doctor, he was healed and the doctor was speechless, saying that that should not have happened. We were able to give a blessing to an investigator and her mom, and they liked it. We also gave a blessing to a member. It was a lot of miracles. Finding has been low here, so yesterday I did a personal fast to find prepared people, and we'll see the miracles of the Lord from it. I know this work is true, and I know revelation is real. I love you all, and please keep us in your prayers!

Week 37 - Littlerock

 

Hey everyone! This was my first week as a district leader, and it is pretty cool. On Monday we met with the bishop, and with Esther, and with Jorge, a less active. On Tuesday we had transfers. Our area is a part of Palmdale and all of Little Rock. It's probably the biggest area I've had so far. But there is like no work. We're going to change that. We went to the branch president, President Villanueva. He's a great president. We went to the branch sacrament meeting, and it was really awesome. We had district meeting, and the focus was D&C 20:37. We need to focus on these things the moment we set them with a date or even before that. In order to do that, we need to teach the doctrines of the gospel (the lessons), the plan of salvation, and what they need to do to be happy (commandments). They do sacrament meeting after all the other meetings, which is pretty cool. We had a meeting with the branch president after sacrament, and it was good. He has a view for what the branch needs to do and what it needs to become. It was really good. I can see a lot coming from this area moving forward. I love the Lord, and in my studies, I've been learning a lot about grace. 1st Nephi 1:20 explains that the Lord chooses the faithful to make mighty. The tender mercies of the Lord are over the faithful, and makes them strong. This is how we receive the grace to accomplish things. I love the Lord, and as we move forward, He can provide. 

My address is

38121 25th St. E. apt. J204

Palmdale, CA 93550