I'M GOING TO THE AQUARIUM TODAY :)!!!
ANOTHER WEEK IN THE CALIFORNIA LONG BEACH MISSION!We still have no rain. I have seen more cops in the last 2 days then I feel I have in my entire life. We had a member really willing to come out with us this last week, Tristin. He is 17 years old, loves the gospel, and it pretty much saved his life. He had done some hard core things before he found the gospel. The days we took him out, he could go and contact people without us telling him to do things. He is getting better the more we take him out at testifying of the restored gospel.
I am loving this ward! Elder Christian and I are super similar. I can see myself in him almost exactly. Its funny we found out last night even our school colors and mascot for high school are the same. I have been noticing more recently an increase in the desire of worldly things. Its like as I become a better missionary, and have a greater desire to become close to God and really want to understand the purpose of Missionary work and the authority I hold, the more prevalent it becomes! This ward has an awesome Bishop. Our ward mission leader is great and there are members to come out with us! I finally feel like I did in the Lakewood YSA ward and Los Alamitos. I feel like I "connect" with the area. I'm really trying to understand my purpose. I had the opportunity to talk to Elder Pollard and Roe's investigators this week while they were waiting for their baptismal interviews with Elder Christiansen. Velma one that just got baptized is from Angola, Africa. I had the opportunity to help explain the plan of salvation to her for her sake of understanding it better. It was so cool when I talked to her and just taught the doctrine. She opened up without me even needing to ask. She told me a personal story when someone had just recently passed away and her friend was feeling lonely. She mentioned "that he is watching over her". Then a rush of wind came across her that felt peaceful.
It stinks one of our most solid investigators Lucio just fell off the radar and then we found out yesterday he overdosed on drugs and is now looking for a sober living home to stay for awhile. We still have 1 family that is super solid, Cintia/Joel. They already want to start paying tithing because of a lesson from Gospel Principles on tithing :D! Then we had our investigator Ryan who wants us to come by this Tuesday and wants us both to be there because he likes how we both explain things together :).
Love,
Elder VanKammen
ANOTHER WEEK IN THE CALIFORNIA LONG BEACH MISSION!We still have no rain. I have seen more cops in the last 2 days then I feel I have in my entire life. We had a member really willing to come out with us this last week, Tristin. He is 17 years old, loves the gospel, and it pretty much saved his life. He had done some hard core things before he found the gospel. The days we took him out, he could go and contact people without us telling him to do things. He is getting better the more we take him out at testifying of the restored gospel.
I am loving this ward! Elder Christian and I are super similar. I can see myself in him almost exactly. Its funny we found out last night even our school colors and mascot for high school are the same. I have been noticing more recently an increase in the desire of worldly things. Its like as I become a better missionary, and have a greater desire to become close to God and really want to understand the purpose of Missionary work and the authority I hold, the more prevalent it becomes! This ward has an awesome Bishop. Our ward mission leader is great and there are members to come out with us! I finally feel like I did in the Lakewood YSA ward and Los Alamitos. I feel like I "connect" with the area. I'm really trying to understand my purpose. I had the opportunity to talk to Elder Pollard and Roe's investigators this week while they were waiting for their baptismal interviews with Elder Christiansen. Velma one that just got baptized is from Angola, Africa. I had the opportunity to help explain the plan of salvation to her for her sake of understanding it better. It was so cool when I talked to her and just taught the doctrine. She opened up without me even needing to ask. She told me a personal story when someone had just recently passed away and her friend was feeling lonely. She mentioned "that he is watching over her". Then a rush of wind came across her that felt peaceful.
It stinks one of our most solid investigators Lucio just fell off the radar and then we found out yesterday he overdosed on drugs and is now looking for a sober living home to stay for awhile. We still have 1 family that is super solid, Cintia/Joel. They already want to start paying tithing because of a lesson from Gospel Principles on tithing :D! Then we had our investigator Ryan who wants us to come by this Tuesday and wants us both to be there because he likes how we both explain things together :).
Love,
Elder VanKammen