Had a great week this week of contacting some awesome people! The best story of the week is about this guy DAVID! He is 54 years old, single, has had his struggles in life, and found out recently that he has a life threatening disease. With this news he has had a greater desire to seek out God and want to make everything right before he leaves this life. About a week ago we were teaching one of our newer investigators Jose. Oh here is a recording with the story on it :) yay! Anyways David comes over and contacts us. We gave him a pamphlet since we were teaching a lesson and set up a return appointment. When we came back he said he had read part of the Plan of Salvation pamphlet!
Here is a link to it - the pamphlet.
https://www.lds.org/bc/content/ldsorg/content/english/manual/missionary/pdf/36950_the-plan-of-salvation-eng.pdf?lang=eng
So that was last week. This week he came to church... got to church early! Ended up going to 2 sessions of church - the LB 1st ward (ward= a group of members within certain geographical area) and our ward, the LONG BEACH 4th. He ended up going to around 2 hours of sacrament meeting (Sacrament meeting is the first part where everyone meets together.Hymns are sung, 3 people (usually ) give talks ) and 2 Sunday school classes! Anyways, we met with him again yesterday and found out he had read through both pamphlets we gave him! (We also gave him a pamphlet on the Restoration)
Here is the link to it : https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/language-materials/36920_eng.pdf?lang=eng
These pamphlets are so good! After reading through both of them, he was able to teach us what we taught him! He has accepted a baptismal date for October 12th and will remind us of the date! :) He is prepared. Heavenly father has been guiding us the last 6 weeks to this point. Along the way we taught 3-4 people in the halfway house ( a place for people who struggle with drugs, addictions or mental health. The home's purpose is a place for those who have gone through recovery and are now working to put their life together.) However, many continue to coast and not work hard to make it better. :(
Then I had the opportunity to go to 2 other areas on Exchanges (switching places for 24 hours with 1 elder in a companionship (I go there, "he" comes here or vice verse).
The mission really has changed my life more then I ever could have Imagined. A few things I have learned this week are that one must learn to have a vision and set goals in their life if they want to achieve great things.
Another things is learning to apply ourselves to every situation. What this means is as you serve others or work with others, set goals that will help you accomplish your desires. Sharing your strengths with others. Seek greater things with help from Heavenly father through prayer.
I LOVE YOU ALL!
ELDER VAN KAMMEN!
Here are pictures of long beach and one of the long beach skyline
Fried Twinkie
Lunch with mission president
Here is a link to it - the pamphlet.
https://www.lds.org/bc/content/ldsorg/content/english/manual/missionary/pdf/36950_the-plan-of-salvation-eng.pdf?lang=eng
So that was last week. This week he came to church... got to church early! Ended up going to 2 sessions of church - the LB 1st ward (ward= a group of members within certain geographical area) and our ward, the LONG BEACH 4th. He ended up going to around 2 hours of sacrament meeting (Sacrament meeting is the first part where everyone meets together.Hymns are sung, 3 people (usually ) give talks ) and 2 Sunday school classes! Anyways, we met with him again yesterday and found out he had read through both pamphlets we gave him! (We also gave him a pamphlet on the Restoration)
Here is the link to it : https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/language-materials/36920_eng.pdf?lang=eng
These pamphlets are so good! After reading through both of them, he was able to teach us what we taught him! He has accepted a baptismal date for October 12th and will remind us of the date! :) He is prepared. Heavenly father has been guiding us the last 6 weeks to this point. Along the way we taught 3-4 people in the halfway house ( a place for people who struggle with drugs, addictions or mental health. The home's purpose is a place for those who have gone through recovery and are now working to put their life together.) However, many continue to coast and not work hard to make it better. :(
Then I had the opportunity to go to 2 other areas on Exchanges (switching places for 24 hours with 1 elder in a companionship (I go there, "he" comes here or vice verse).
The mission really has changed my life more then I ever could have Imagined. A few things I have learned this week are that one must learn to have a vision and set goals in their life if they want to achieve great things.
Another things is learning to apply ourselves to every situation. What this means is as you serve others or work with others, set goals that will help you accomplish your desires. Sharing your strengths with others. Seek greater things with help from Heavenly father through prayer.
I LOVE YOU ALL!
ELDER VAN KAMMEN!
Here are pictures of long beach and one of the long beach skyline
Fried Twinkie
Lunch with mission president