Well Transfers have come! This Tuesday I will be going to Huntington Beach again! This time to the Mile Square Park Ward named after a park that is in the middle of the area. Mile Square Park in Fountain valley. My new companion's name is Elder Ellen. He has been out for 3 months. This week has been really good! Transfers always bring a lot of change. Especially when you are leaving. I have served in this ward for 3 Transfers or 4 1/2 months.
I have really seen that in my time hear I was someone here to help prepare for the harvest. The seeds have been planted and sprouts have come up. Now the fruit is beginning to blossom.
I really saw the work and guidance of Heavenly Father this week in our plans specifically from one event. We had planned to go to an area (a section of a neighborhood). After going by the first of 4 people in that area we decided we would walk from the next location on. The next 3 people we had planned to go by were each on the way to the other. After visiting the 3rd person (who was not home) we walked passed a group of people who had just walked out of their house. As they walked passed us we were unsure of their desire to talk to us, but just as we were past them one turned around and said,'HEY Elder's. Where are you from?". We continued from this brief conversation to our last person we had to go by in that area when a man and his daughter cross to our side of the street from the opposing sidewalk. Normally this is unusual because people will usually do the opposite and cross to the other side away from us. This man ended contacting us in the same way. "Hey Elder Where are you from?" . He is a catholic, but his mom converted to the church when he was older. Our conversation was very brief with him and we visited the next house, and found they were not available. What came next was unplanned as we walked back towards the 2nd person's house was ,where the car was parked. we decided to go visit another person , unplanned, in the area we had not seen in a while. As we approached his house a family, a college girl, and her dad got out of the car. The college student said "Hey You guys want some cookies?' We have some girl scout cookies and some that my sister made." We couldn't say no to that and went in the house, meeting the rest of her family inside. We spent the next hour or so talking with this family who has had contact with missionaries before and were visiting their daughter, Megan, from Redlands, CA. who had just graduated from Long Beach State and works at Disneyland as Ariel.
This experience really showed me that Heavenly Father will place people in your path. This family had contact with missionaries before, but as we talked with them we had opportunities to share about our families and the fun it is to be on a mission!
This week I had really been trying to understand what it means to be patient and I came to an understanding when I was talking with my companion about it this morning. Patience is trust that everything will be GOOD in the end. I use this good as Jesus Christ uses the word Good. " There is no one that is Good, but my Father which is in heaven." So everything will end up good in the end means all evil will be taken away in the end and only good will remain. Patience means that we trust in the promised blessings of Heavenly Father, to endure to the end, and know that even though wickedness will continue to be around you in the world, you can know that everything will be GOOD in the end! My example for this is the Parable of the Wheat and the tares. The tares (weeds) were not removed from the fields until the day of harvest and then the tares (weeds) were burned and the wheat was gathered together as one. I really feel so much happier studying the gospel. As we read and understand the parables and the words of Jesus Christ, we will begin to understand and know what he knows. We will understand what Jesus is taking about when he uses words like "the day of harvest" or " we will be as one fold". I know the book of Mormon and the Bible are the words of God! and prophets are on the earth again!
LOVE YOU ALL! Keep up the awesome work.
"life is a story you are writing. So why not make it inspiring"
LOVE ELDER VAN KAMMEN!
Pictures:
The family we met that invited us in for cookies.
A Moto Cross bike at a guys house we are doing service for.
A picture of the Goodman's The member I Skyped at their house. And Their dog who always has a toy.
Mission President Tew
I have really seen that in my time hear I was someone here to help prepare for the harvest. The seeds have been planted and sprouts have come up. Now the fruit is beginning to blossom.
I really saw the work and guidance of Heavenly Father this week in our plans specifically from one event. We had planned to go to an area (a section of a neighborhood). After going by the first of 4 people in that area we decided we would walk from the next location on. The next 3 people we had planned to go by were each on the way to the other. After visiting the 3rd person (who was not home) we walked passed a group of people who had just walked out of their house. As they walked passed us we were unsure of their desire to talk to us, but just as we were past them one turned around and said,'HEY Elder's. Where are you from?". We continued from this brief conversation to our last person we had to go by in that area when a man and his daughter cross to our side of the street from the opposing sidewalk. Normally this is unusual because people will usually do the opposite and cross to the other side away from us. This man ended contacting us in the same way. "Hey Elder Where are you from?" . He is a catholic, but his mom converted to the church when he was older. Our conversation was very brief with him and we visited the next house, and found they were not available. What came next was unplanned as we walked back towards the 2nd person's house was ,where the car was parked. we decided to go visit another person , unplanned, in the area we had not seen in a while. As we approached his house a family, a college girl, and her dad got out of the car. The college student said "Hey You guys want some cookies?' We have some girl scout cookies and some that my sister made." We couldn't say no to that and went in the house, meeting the rest of her family inside. We spent the next hour or so talking with this family who has had contact with missionaries before and were visiting their daughter, Megan, from Redlands, CA. who had just graduated from Long Beach State and works at Disneyland as Ariel.
This experience really showed me that Heavenly Father will place people in your path. This family had contact with missionaries before, but as we talked with them we had opportunities to share about our families and the fun it is to be on a mission!
This week I had really been trying to understand what it means to be patient and I came to an understanding when I was talking with my companion about it this morning. Patience is trust that everything will be GOOD in the end. I use this good as Jesus Christ uses the word Good. " There is no one that is Good, but my Father which is in heaven." So everything will end up good in the end means all evil will be taken away in the end and only good will remain. Patience means that we trust in the promised blessings of Heavenly Father, to endure to the end, and know that even though wickedness will continue to be around you in the world, you can know that everything will be GOOD in the end! My example for this is the Parable of the Wheat and the tares. The tares (weeds) were not removed from the fields until the day of harvest and then the tares (weeds) were burned and the wheat was gathered together as one. I really feel so much happier studying the gospel. As we read and understand the parables and the words of Jesus Christ, we will begin to understand and know what he knows. We will understand what Jesus is taking about when he uses words like "the day of harvest" or " we will be as one fold". I know the book of Mormon and the Bible are the words of God! and prophets are on the earth again!
LOVE YOU ALL! Keep up the awesome work.
"life is a story you are writing. So why not make it inspiring"
LOVE ELDER VAN KAMMEN!
Pictures:
The family we met that invited us in for cookies.
A Moto Cross bike at a guys house we are doing service for.
A picture of the Goodman's The member I Skyped at their house. And Their dog who always has a toy.
Mission President Tew