Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Hey!Well we had our last interviews with President Stoddard last week. He's so cool. Something pretty cool but random, is that, first of all I translated the paper of instructions for the ward area book, to give to my ward, when we started to get things going with it. Come to find out none of the other missionaries had one in Spanish. So at interviews I showed it to President Stoddard in case that it would help in the other wards as well. He said recently that two Zone leaders just finished translating it as well, so we are going through them to see which one we should use.

Then on Monday, 15 min. into District Meeting, guess who walks in, President Stoddard! Freak man, I’m not going to lie, I was pretty nervous. But everything went well, we talked a lot about things we could do to help the missionary excitement in the ward, such as activities or what-not, and he was able to give in his input. He stayed for about 30 min. I'm going to miss President Stoddard, that's for sure. President Stoddard leaves at the end of this transfer, which is in about 2 weeks already.

So the other night there was a thunderstorm, don't know for sure cause I only heard a few, but there were two that I heard and woke us up, but honestly it sounded like a plane blew up right above us, cause they fly right over our house and shake it a lot. But it really sounded abnormal and not like a normal thunder strike. It was CRAZY but AWSOME! Well things are well, hoping they can improve, but we'll see what we can do. I accidently hit a button and changed the font and don't know how to reverse it. I think we are going to pull out the bikes soon but these roads are horrible here for it. Maybe we'll have some good stories from it though. That's what's most important, right! Hope all is well. Take care! Later!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Hey!
Zone conference was super good but hard cause it was President and Sister Stoddard's last one and it was super hard for everyone. I had never seen President even come close to losing it but he struggled at the end this time. They are awesome! It will be super hard without them. The Lord comforted me and kind-of smacked me across the face at ZC, because after that hard week and thinking that I wasn't doing much, come to find out the familia Acosta was there as helpers serving lunch so I was able to finally see them again and really see the joy and change they have experienced. The scripture of how great of joy will be yours in the kingdom of God if you only bring one soul kept coming into my mind and I was greatly humbled for having the privilege of teaching them and being able to feel that great joy that comes from nothing else. They are the family that we met on the corner of the street in Hermosa Park when I was with Elder Stuart. They are super cool! They were super excited to see me and helped me realize why I’m here. It was the best thing that could have happened at this time.

Things are picking up again and going well. Loving it here, and also the special experiences that I am receiving daily even if they come as a smack to the face from the Lord. No matter what, it feels good. You just always need to be diligent and humbly serve the Lord, no matter what, cause the blessings are too great to pass up. Be diligent..."it's an outward expression of an inward commitment." -President Stoddard

Thanks for everything, all the letters. I'll try to write back as soon as I can.

Take Care!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Hey!

What's up! Starting on Sunday, up until now, we have 25 appointments set, one for each hour of the working day, and about ALL canceled! Out of them all we only had 3 lessons. It was a disaster. One of the lessons we did have was with an awesome family. Hilario and Patricia. They are a younger couple and super cool. So we just barely received those new pass along cards here. They still don't have them in Spanish but at least in English. They have been super hard to use cause I’m not used to them. But we actually were going to have an appointment with a guy this morning in his restaurant but guess he wasn't there. But on the way back to the car there was a garbage man guy collecting the big ones and I overheard his radio that was talking about "gospel stuff" and about the grace of God and all. So I felt like I should just give him a card. I didn't say much just that I overheard his radio and how we share a message about how the truth has been restored, and how he can go to the website to learn more. And then left. It didn't feel right to fully contact him mainly cause he was working but I just didn't feel it. So who knows what will come about of it but it has really started off the day well.

But after reading those letters and reading mine, it seems like my mission is boring or that I’m not accomplishing much. I'm not one to say much about what has happened or about experiences cause they seem normal to me. But when I compare them they seem lame compared to the things the others are experiencing. It kind-of feels like I haven’t changed much. It is hard sometimes cause everyone is having these experiences but it seems like I am not. I'm afraid to come home and look back and this time, which everyone remembers and shares experiences of throughout their whole life, and not have much to share or say. I can see coming back and really feeling like it was a dream and as a dream nothing much was accomplished. I guess if this is a struggle I have to pass through to reach success later on then I’ll do it cheerfully but it is just hard not to see results or even feel results now. But these things are true, and they are burned into my heart. I just hope it's good for something.Have a great week. Lift someone up over there in Nevada for me this week. Later! D&C 81:4-5

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Hey!
We have had some good lessons this past week and have started off the week well. Found some new investigators as well. I have really received a lot of strength recently. I feel like I really am being supported by something.

Last night we were knocking some houses and we knocked the street and were headed back to the car. We parked on the corner of the street perpendicular to the one we were knocking and it was about 8:45. There was a huge house on that corner, and we were approaching the car but I felt like we should knock it. Don't know why, wasn't where we planned, probably cause it was huge and they'd be kingdom builders, but I knocked it and a cool young family came to the door and I introduced ourselves, talked a little about families and how the gospel blesses families, she then said, " oh, we are catholic, but you actually just caught us while we were praying." Nothing came up of it but gave them a Book of Mormon card and went on our way. They were humble and cool but it just made me think, about how maybe we were supposed to knock that door, but why, cause they didn't really except it. Maybe they were praying for something but then didn't recognize an answer. I don't know it just made me think for a while and made me wonder "why?” It was cool to have an experience like that, hope they except it later, but just weird to think about. "Why them/why then?" Congratulations Daniel. Hope it doesn't sound rude but I’m pretty glad I wasn't there. Graduations are pretty boring especially when you are the one that has to sit down there in a dress in front of tons people. I felt like such a Sasquatch in my graduation. Later!