ITS CRAZY HOW MY AREA IS ONLY 5 1/2 SQUARE BLOCKS. There are hills in the area so that makes up the difference. I'm getting my exercise. A lot has happened in the 2 weeks I have been here. Crazy right time is flying! There is definitely a different environment for working in this area. Many of the members and people to visit are not home until after dinner. Even Saturdays which should be the most effective, are a struggle sometimes many times from people going to the beach. This was pretty much last Saturday for us. I even got sunburned for the first time last Saturday from no one answering doors. We were outside mostly the entire day. I love the weather here so I cannot complain. The fun part is that when it's 90 degrees here or 100 twice last week THERE IS NO HUMIDITY :) though super dry air :/. OH and funny story about the picture with the A/C unit. Most houses in Huntington Beach I am learning do not have air conditioning. I was blessed to have one in my first apartment. (this is my second apartment). We found one in our apartment on the back ledge/balcony and decided to put it in the window, using a dry erase board and a pillow to insulate :D! We eat dinner almost every single night at a members house which is a ton of fun because most of the ward is full of young families. To put into perspective there around 30 children under the age of 3 in the ward. The ward is relatively new about 6 months. They created this ward taking parts from surrounding wards in the stake. Elder Miller and I have the opportunity to continue to work with them in setting up new ways to work with the members and teach our investigators. The ward is super strong though really active in activities so I am going to look forward to the next couple months.
Huntington Beach is a tad step up now seeing homes versus a lot of apartments. There is a street called main street that runs right along the beach. We had the opportunity to go and eat at a place called BJ. While there I had Squid for the first time though they are more deep fried and looked like onion rings more then anything. For those of you back in Chicago its like Naperville shopping area, but with a lot more people and wider variety of culture/people/ ethnicity! Look at it on a map its a very energy filled part of town.
We only have 2 investigators,Ron C, at the moment who is married to a member we had a baptismal date but it fell through when others found out about it. (he wanted a small baptism not a lot of people ) but he is still meeting with us and continuing to read. Even better we had a lesson on prayer and now he is praying before he reads the Book of Mormon ! :) He is understanding so much more since doing it.
The second is The Taylor's - a younger family with 3 kids. They are strong investigators, but are moving to Boise,Idaho soon. We are trying to prepare them so they find the missionaries there where they can continue to learn about the gospel.
This week I have gained a true testimony of Prayer and the power it has. Communicating with Heavenly Father is one of the greatest gifts we have. We can ask him for answers to questions, comfort when in need, strength when we are at the end and for the opportunity during the day to make a difference.
HOPE YOU ARE ALL HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME!
KEEP IN TOUCH!
As as always....nah lets switch it up....
"KEEP SMILING LET THE WORLD WONDER WHAT YOU'RE UP TO!"
LOVE
ELDER VAN KAMMEN
MAILING ADDRESS
ELDER Van Kammen
6500 E Atherton St
Long Beach CA 90815
The pictures below are the more funny ones.
One is the picture of sky painting it says big summer #pepsi
Then one of the members has 5 chickens :D.
Christopher with schedule.
Christopher in football helmet.
Huntington Beach is a tad step up now seeing homes versus a lot of apartments. There is a street called main street that runs right along the beach. We had the opportunity to go and eat at a place called BJ. While there I had Squid for the first time though they are more deep fried and looked like onion rings more then anything. For those of you back in Chicago its like Naperville shopping area, but with a lot more people and wider variety of culture/people/ ethnicity! Look at it on a map its a very energy filled part of town.
We only have 2 investigators,Ron C, at the moment who is married to a member we had a baptismal date but it fell through when others found out about it. (he wanted a small baptism not a lot of people ) but he is still meeting with us and continuing to read. Even better we had a lesson on prayer and now he is praying before he reads the Book of Mormon ! :) He is understanding so much more since doing it.
The second is The Taylor's - a younger family with 3 kids. They are strong investigators, but are moving to Boise,Idaho soon. We are trying to prepare them so they find the missionaries there where they can continue to learn about the gospel.
This week I have gained a true testimony of Prayer and the power it has. Communicating with Heavenly Father is one of the greatest gifts we have. We can ask him for answers to questions, comfort when in need, strength when we are at the end and for the opportunity during the day to make a difference.
HOPE YOU ARE ALL HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME!
KEEP IN TOUCH!
As as always....nah lets switch it up....
"KEEP SMILING LET THE WORLD WONDER WHAT YOU'RE UP TO!"
LOVE
ELDER VAN KAMMEN
MAILING ADDRESS
ELDER Van Kammen
6500 E Atherton St
Long Beach CA 90815
The pictures below are the more funny ones.
One is the picture of sky painting it says big summer #pepsi
Then one of the members has 5 chickens :D.
Christopher with schedule.
Christopher in football helmet.