Well this week has brought a much different perspective to the work! I have forgotten what it was like to bike as a missionary and to make plans with no car. We talk to a lot more people being on bike and really helps you to plan with a path in mind :). It feels great. The first few days were rough. My legs were stiff and we run 20 minutes every morning so trying to get out of bed in the morning was fun :)!
We found quite a few new people to teach this last week!
We were biking later in the night and saw this Filipino man, I think maybe Vietnamese, sitting in a folding chair out on his driveway and decided to talk to him. His name is Danny and moved to america about 40 years ago got married and I think has 2 kids in their 20's. As we talked with him we shared the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and By God through Joseph smith the Book of Mormon was translated into English. He has such an Open mind has wondered how we have so many religions and that they all teach so many different things from Buddhist to Christian and all must have come from somewhere! (Which is a really cool thought) He shared his beliefs and felt to give him a Book of Mormon. He showed such desire to take care of It! He is going to Florida for a few weeks so we wont be able to meet with him for a little bit but he said he would start to read the Book of Mormon well he is out there. :) hopefully we can catch him in October !
Then We talked to Elizabeth again! We were going by a member in our ward, passing her apartment on the way, when she came out :)! It was a short visit but we had not seen her for a few week and was great to be able to say a prayer with her before she left :)!
Another person we met lives with a member, Sister Curtner, we visit every Thursday. Her name is Leah. She is 19 and living there for some time. She has a really open mind and found a Christianity as apart of her life about 2 years ago. We were able to share and answer a few questions she had. Then Talk about the Book Of Mormon. She is a youth leader at her church so she has the opportunity to work with Young teenagers in helping them set standards and This last week they were talking a lot about Drugs which was awesome because, Sister Curtner just happened to have a for the Strength of Youth pamphlet/ booklet. This is a booklet made for youth and members that talks about having standards such as modesty, dating, drugs, and preparing for the future.we are going to talk to her again when we go to Sister Curtner;s this Thursday. Another great part is that Sister Curtner, who has become more active over the last 6 months and as she works with Leah her testimony will strengthen.
Here is a link to it to read it: or know more what it is :https://www.lds.org/youth/for-the-strength-of-youth?lang=eng
Check it out its pretty cool!
Then we Visited Dennis someone who the Spanish missionaries passed off to us because they teach specificly Spanish speaking people and we focus on English speaking people. Dennis Is about 40 and has another Roomate Jerry who when we went over to see Dennis and noticed I had talked to him twice on the street around well walking around this complex they live in.We got to answer his questions and share a little bit more that the Spanish missionaries covered. HE is looking for answers about why we are here and how Animals fit in to the plan on this earth do they have souls too? etc. The cool part was earlier in the day I saw a dvd in our apartment just as we were walking out and had the thought to grab it thinking we could watch it with someone that day. Well we ended up giving it to Dennis !
Then we got to Teach A young Couple Eric and Alex again this week :)! We were able to give Alex a Book of Mormon this week. Since she is There for the lessons alot more recently. Then She really makes the lessons! She asks a lot of Questions that Eric who is very logical and not seeking as much as Alex. We had a break through moment too! It is hard to teach sometime because they believe that God the father and the son are one person and not 3 different people. But Alex began to talk about it and It allowed us to come to level ground to teach and be able to share with them the way they can know for them selves if what we teach is true! If Joseph Smith really translated the Book of Mormon and if God Continues to call prophets today!.
This coming week Is General Conference where we get to hear from people God has Called to share truths with us and help us be happy in this life by teaching simple principles we can live!
Here is a link to watch it there are 4 opportunities to watch it !
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/?lang=eng
I learned something really cool this week about the Scripture. "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass". The small things of this life can be truths. Simple Truths are simple and "small" per-se. simple truths are what change the heart! When we learn it is because we have been taught simple truths! The heart is changed by Small and simple things!
Alma 37:6
Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
Pictures of us Biking and A cool sunset (thanks to biking :) )!
Love you all!
Elder Van Kammen
We found quite a few new people to teach this last week!
We were biking later in the night and saw this Filipino man, I think maybe Vietnamese, sitting in a folding chair out on his driveway and decided to talk to him. His name is Danny and moved to america about 40 years ago got married and I think has 2 kids in their 20's. As we talked with him we shared the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and By God through Joseph smith the Book of Mormon was translated into English. He has such an Open mind has wondered how we have so many religions and that they all teach so many different things from Buddhist to Christian and all must have come from somewhere! (Which is a really cool thought) He shared his beliefs and felt to give him a Book of Mormon. He showed such desire to take care of It! He is going to Florida for a few weeks so we wont be able to meet with him for a little bit but he said he would start to read the Book of Mormon well he is out there. :) hopefully we can catch him in October !
Then We talked to Elizabeth again! We were going by a member in our ward, passing her apartment on the way, when she came out :)! It was a short visit but we had not seen her for a few week and was great to be able to say a prayer with her before she left :)!
Another person we met lives with a member, Sister Curtner, we visit every Thursday. Her name is Leah. She is 19 and living there for some time. She has a really open mind and found a Christianity as apart of her life about 2 years ago. We were able to share and answer a few questions she had. Then Talk about the Book Of Mormon. She is a youth leader at her church so she has the opportunity to work with Young teenagers in helping them set standards and This last week they were talking a lot about Drugs which was awesome because, Sister Curtner just happened to have a for the Strength of Youth pamphlet/ booklet. This is a booklet made for youth and members that talks about having standards such as modesty, dating, drugs, and preparing for the future.we are going to talk to her again when we go to Sister Curtner;s this Thursday. Another great part is that Sister Curtner, who has become more active over the last 6 months and as she works with Leah her testimony will strengthen.
Here is a link to it to read it: or know more what it is :https://www.lds.org/youth/for-the-strength-of-youth?lang=eng
Check it out its pretty cool!
Then we Visited Dennis someone who the Spanish missionaries passed off to us because they teach specificly Spanish speaking people and we focus on English speaking people. Dennis Is about 40 and has another Roomate Jerry who when we went over to see Dennis and noticed I had talked to him twice on the street around well walking around this complex they live in.We got to answer his questions and share a little bit more that the Spanish missionaries covered. HE is looking for answers about why we are here and how Animals fit in to the plan on this earth do they have souls too? etc. The cool part was earlier in the day I saw a dvd in our apartment just as we were walking out and had the thought to grab it thinking we could watch it with someone that day. Well we ended up giving it to Dennis !
Then we got to Teach A young Couple Eric and Alex again this week :)! We were able to give Alex a Book of Mormon this week. Since she is There for the lessons alot more recently. Then She really makes the lessons! She asks a lot of Questions that Eric who is very logical and not seeking as much as Alex. We had a break through moment too! It is hard to teach sometime because they believe that God the father and the son are one person and not 3 different people. But Alex began to talk about it and It allowed us to come to level ground to teach and be able to share with them the way they can know for them selves if what we teach is true! If Joseph Smith really translated the Book of Mormon and if God Continues to call prophets today!.
This coming week Is General Conference where we get to hear from people God has Called to share truths with us and help us be happy in this life by teaching simple principles we can live!
Here is a link to watch it there are 4 opportunities to watch it !
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/?lang=eng
I learned something really cool this week about the Scripture. "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass". The small things of this life can be truths. Simple Truths are simple and "small" per-se. simple truths are what change the heart! When we learn it is because we have been taught simple truths! The heart is changed by Small and simple things!
Alma 37:6
Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
Pictures of us Biking and A cool sunset (thanks to biking :) )!
Love you all!
Elder Van Kammen