Whew! This week was the last week of transfers (similar to the context of a month but 6 week period of time instead). We have 18 "transfers" in 2 a year period of time. We found out that I am going to be STAYING in the Mile Square Park ward (Fountain Valley, CA pretty much). There is a park that is a "MILE Square" so they call the park Mile Square Park... Any ways, with the transfer coming to a close we find if we are going to leave or stay. My companion Elder Shaffer will be leaving, going back to Long Beach. This is unusual because I have been in the area for 6 months and he has been for four and a half months.
This whole week has been a learning experience! See the way that Heavenly Father works. He loves us so much! When we are planning activities we can ask him for help. This help comes as we need it and in the moment. Sometimes without us even knowing or asking. When we focus on loving others; doing what we need to do. Everything else will work out. I know that we are prepared for everything we need in our lives.
We taught Jimmy this week!. He is struggling with some addictions and this week said he wants to change them! There is a program called ARP, addiction recovery program, run by the LDS church and the member in the area that does the class called Jimmy and Jimmy said he would go to it this Thursday night!
At the end of each transfer there is what's called a Departure Fireside. This is where missionaries ,like me but instead going home, have the opportunity to share their experiences from the last 2 years with those that come to it. Also, missionaries from our mission have the opportunity, through trying out, to sing/play an instrument; "play a musical number". We had a great experience to share this with Joyce yesterday. She loved it and had a great experience! We had tried inviting so many of our investigators and even a member the day of to invite her friend, but no one was able to come. I had a feeling this time we would be able to go, but it didn't seem so much so. Especially when we came home after church and didn't have anyone. The feeling was still there and the thoughts of "have I done all I can?" came to mind. I said, "yes",but we had no one for the fireside to go. the Thought of after all ye can do ask God. SO I did....I thought of Joyce whom we did not call yet. Then She needed a ride. I didn't know who could take her last minute. Then the senior sister came to mind, they were going already and could give her a ride! It was an experience that seemed led all by the spirit. Asking God for help makes so much more sense now!
Love you all!
Elder van Kammen
Pictures: Someone gave us some Beany Babies so we went to another missionary's apartment and put them in their door.
This whole week has been a learning experience! See the way that Heavenly Father works. He loves us so much! When we are planning activities we can ask him for help. This help comes as we need it and in the moment. Sometimes without us even knowing or asking. When we focus on loving others; doing what we need to do. Everything else will work out. I know that we are prepared for everything we need in our lives.
We taught Jimmy this week!. He is struggling with some addictions and this week said he wants to change them! There is a program called ARP, addiction recovery program, run by the LDS church and the member in the area that does the class called Jimmy and Jimmy said he would go to it this Thursday night!
At the end of each transfer there is what's called a Departure Fireside. This is where missionaries ,like me but instead going home, have the opportunity to share their experiences from the last 2 years with those that come to it. Also, missionaries from our mission have the opportunity, through trying out, to sing/play an instrument; "play a musical number". We had a great experience to share this with Joyce yesterday. She loved it and had a great experience! We had tried inviting so many of our investigators and even a member the day of to invite her friend, but no one was able to come. I had a feeling this time we would be able to go, but it didn't seem so much so. Especially when we came home after church and didn't have anyone. The feeling was still there and the thoughts of "have I done all I can?" came to mind. I said, "yes",but we had no one for the fireside to go. the Thought of after all ye can do ask God. SO I did....I thought of Joyce whom we did not call yet. Then She needed a ride. I didn't know who could take her last minute. Then the senior sister came to mind, they were going already and could give her a ride! It was an experience that seemed led all by the spirit. Asking God for help makes so much more sense now!
Love you all!
Elder van Kammen
Pictures: Someone gave us some Beany Babies so we went to another missionary's apartment and put them in their door.