Hey family of man all across utah and the country!
This week has been quite the Roller Coaster. I didn't e-mail yesterday because the library was closed for Columbus Day, we didn't even know it was Columbus day til we tried going to the library. Missionaries are a little shelterd at times. Anywho, here I am today, alive, breathing and teaching the good news!
Last week was pretty interesting, We have had some great things come to pass, and Satan has won a few battles as well. To start out we taught the entire plan of Salvation to Keri, it was pretty quiet because her little 3 year old Brooklyn had fallen asleep. To give you a little bit about Keri, just think of a quiet Rena. We taught her and commited her to come to church. She called us around 10:00 sunday morning saying she wasn't feeling good so she didn't go to work... but she still coming to church and needed directions. WooHoo!! So we waited at church until about 1:15 then called her, she said her car broke down (overheated) and couldn't find a way to get there, but she also said nothing is going to stop her from coming this week. So its really good to see her desire to come to church. I know she has been so well prepared to recieve the gospel... even though it took 4 other missionaries to do it.
That's kinda what we are picking up on, playing a little clean up with the former investigators in the area, Because we taught another girl who I think 4 or 5 other companionships have taught, her name is Rosio. She has a 6 year old girl Ashley. We commited Rosio to baptism for the 8th of November. She couldn't come to church last week because she had to work, but we hope and plan to see her this week.
Salvador, he is the story of the week! We couldn't stop by on tuesday this week but we've been trying to daily contact him as much as possible, so we swung by to say hi on friday, he wasn't there but his brother was working on a bike. Come to find out Elder Oswald knows quite a bit about fixing bikes. So he took of his jacket, rolled up his sleeves and got tinkering! I sat and talked with his mom in spanish for awhile, it was a really good oppurtunity to meet the family and really let them know we're good guys. Who knows maybe we'll start teaching them sometime soon. We pray so! After tinkering and talking for awhile, Salvador shows up! So we talked with him for awhile, we set another baptismal date for the 25th. He really only has one more lesson to go, we asked him if he got to watch any of conference and he started talking about how passionate Elder Holland was! Booh Yeah!! On top of all this he came to church on sunday in a suit! He is getting serious about getting saved! I'm so stoked for the huge progress he's made this week. Pray that he can make even more the coming week so he can get baptized.
On a downer note, we had a good lesson with Oscar this week. We had arranged for a member to meet us there, but we were on bike and got about 20 minutes behind schedule. So we finnally get there and he and Hermano Jerez were just talking up a storm! They talked about scriptures, baptism, repentance, prayer.. almost everything! We had a really good lesson with him and set up a return appointment for Sunday... so where's the downer you ask? Saturday night comes around I give them a call for a reminder of church and... they say they can't cause they are taking the kids to the dentist. Dumb! Then on top of that they cancelled the appointment we had with them. I was so frustrated after that. We swung by yesterday and set up another appointment, if they don't keep anymore commitments they're going to be dropped until maybe some other missionaries can play clean up.
So a lot of up and downs this week. Also we've done a lot of finding work. Looking through our area book, we made a huge map of our area with colors and pins and the whole ten yards, we haven't found a lot but a little.
I did get to see one of the people I taught while I was in the trio get baptized yesterday, it was a really good service... but... we had to improvise a while because we filled the font too hot. Kinda funny that it was too hot this time and not too cold. When we asked Marie how it felt she just said it was a nice warm bath.
The work is going, my companion and I are trying our best to get along. We either have really good days, or really hard days. But maybe your right Dad, I'm just getting prepared for something. I just need to get through this transfer then we'll see what's after that mark. They might be splitting our area cause we have to look for another apartment in the northern part of our area.
I love you all, I thank you so much for your love and support. I wouldn't be able to do this without you.
Hasta luego!
Elder Groves
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
10/5/09
That's my new comp. Elder Oswald. He's from American Fork and has 3 months left, he's already getting a little trunky. He's... well... interesting. He started the transfer saying... "There are a few things you need to know about me" that was at like, 10 am wednesday morning. We didn't get out and working til 3. I hope this goes by faster then I think it will. He's really cool at times and I'm impressed with some of the ways and tactics he uses while teaching. He is also very loud, very messy, and has anxiety and ADHD. It's going to be a very interesting transfer. I think Heavenly Father is testing my patience with this one. This is his second time being Senior companion, and he goes home in december.
Also he's testing me with my area. We had 3 people we wanted to see at church this week and all fell through. We did have a pretty good lesson with Salvador, we brought a member and her really seemed determined to follow through on everything we asked. We stopped by a couple days later un announced just to see how he's doing and all the fire and enthusiasm he had befor was gone. I called him saturday night to remind him about coming to church to watch a session of conference with us and he said he wasn't going to cause he had work. I kinda got frustrated and just told him that he needs to focus less on work and more on his spirituality. I hope he didn't get the wrong impression.
We've had a lot of hit and miss this week with all our investigators. It's tough, cause when I was with Elder Amundsen we were going nuts with all our investigators, now it's really slow and everywhere else is going crazy. I just pray for one baptism this transfer and I'll be happy.
Conference was awesome! It was a whole lot different sitting and watching it in a chapel rather then at home while dad makes breakfast. It still was really good and really powerfull. I can't wait til the Ensign comes out so I can learn it all again! Like I said we didn't have any investigators come, but if they did they would have heard exactly what they needed to hear. Everytalk I thought of one of our investigators who that talk would especially help. Luckily I could watch them all in english and the one spanish building we did go to were showing both. Had that not been the case I don't think I would have had learned as much as I did.
That's about it for this week, we didn't teach very many cause a lot cancelled, our area did change to a car/bike area so I'll be using my bike a lot more. I hope everyone enjoyed conference, it was fun to see some boys I recognized in the aaronic priesthood choir for priesthood session. I didn't see any from our ward though, what's up with that?! 66th we gotta represent!
I did try to attach some pictures this time 174 is at Edwin's baptism, 188 is the baptism of the two boys sergio in blue and anthony in the suit. 200 a sign we found at a church in our area, pretty rockin right?! 202 The Avila-Hernandez family, Elder Amundsen's last day in the area. They were a less active family we've been having Family Night with. She makes some Chile Rellenos that blow Gecko's out of the water! One of my favorite family's in the area.
I hope that explained them well enough. I hope all is well back home, it's starting to get cooler here, we have to wear our jackets every night after 6:00. Hasta luego!
Elder Groves
Also he's testing me with my area. We had 3 people we wanted to see at church this week and all fell through. We did have a pretty good lesson with Salvador, we brought a member and her really seemed determined to follow through on everything we asked. We stopped by a couple days later un announced just to see how he's doing and all the fire and enthusiasm he had befor was gone. I called him saturday night to remind him about coming to church to watch a session of conference with us and he said he wasn't going to cause he had work. I kinda got frustrated and just told him that he needs to focus less on work and more on his spirituality. I hope he didn't get the wrong impression.
We've had a lot of hit and miss this week with all our investigators. It's tough, cause when I was with Elder Amundsen we were going nuts with all our investigators, now it's really slow and everywhere else is going crazy. I just pray for one baptism this transfer and I'll be happy.
Conference was awesome! It was a whole lot different sitting and watching it in a chapel rather then at home while dad makes breakfast. It still was really good and really powerfull. I can't wait til the Ensign comes out so I can learn it all again! Like I said we didn't have any investigators come, but if they did they would have heard exactly what they needed to hear. Everytalk I thought of one of our investigators who that talk would especially help. Luckily I could watch them all in english and the one spanish building we did go to were showing both. Had that not been the case I don't think I would have had learned as much as I did.
That's about it for this week, we didn't teach very many cause a lot cancelled, our area did change to a car/bike area so I'll be using my bike a lot more. I hope everyone enjoyed conference, it was fun to see some boys I recognized in the aaronic priesthood choir for priesthood session. I didn't see any from our ward though, what's up with that?! 66th we gotta represent!
I did try to attach some pictures this time 174 is at Edwin's baptism, 188 is the baptism of the two boys sergio in blue and anthony in the suit. 200 a sign we found at a church in our area, pretty rockin right?! 202 The Avila-Hernandez family, Elder Amundsen's last day in the area. They were a less active family we've been having Family Night with. She makes some Chile Rellenos that blow Gecko's out of the water! One of my favorite family's in the area.
I hope that explained them well enough. I hope all is well back home, it's starting to get cooler here, we have to wear our jackets every night after 6:00. Hasta luego!
Elder Groves
Transfers!! 9/28/09
That's right transefer calls are being made! Elder Amundsen got one last night, before I tell you I'd like you to remember I "broke" him. He trained me on his 3rd transfer. So he's only known me and his trainer. President told him last night he was moving, and training, and becoming a District Leader. So he's pretty excited about that. He will be one of the youngest in the mission. Then again the whole mission is really young. As far as I know, I'm staying here, I don't know who my new companion will be but we we'll find out either tonight or tomorrow. Pretty exciting stuff.
This week has pretty good. We got Salvador to church yesterday! Yes!! We also had a really good lesson with him on tuesday. He's sorta on the right track. He doesn't have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, but keeps all the commitments we leave him, so we asked him to read JSH and to pray specifically about it. Leave everything else out. So we'll see what happens.
Dropped Stacy this week. That was pretty sad. She's one that when I come back to my mission in a lot of years, she's a relief society president or something. She would be so strong and needs the church!
We've pretty much dropped Bobbie too. We can never get in contact with her to follow up on a first.
Wednesday we had Zone Conference and Elder Pace from the 70 spoke. Awesome!!! So good! He told us to "become" something on the mission. I dunno if it was because we just were super stoked and pumped from Zone conference, but we went to a referral right after and taught a really really good lesson. Elder Amundsen wanted to set a baptisimal date, but I didn't feel it was right. We almost started discussing it right there. It would have been a good time, she understood everything but it just didn't feel right to me.We haven't met with her again since.
We did start teaching Burnedett, or Burnetta as she says. She is either currently or past user of drugs, and wants to turn her life around. She doesn't read. That is going to be the challenge. Our ward mission leader gave us a couple of the Living Scriptures DVD's that we could use with her, but other then that I don't know what kind of commitment we will be able to leave her.
We finally met with Oscar and Janet again! The lesson was SOO Good! Oscar kept asking questions about the right things at exactly the right time. Like Who's Joseph Smith and Why do we need the Book of Mormon. We commited them to be baptized the 25th of October. The only hard thing that we will have to face with them is getting time to teach them. He sometimes has a job and sometimes doesn't. When he does he goes to Orange County for 5 days to work. They have to sell things just to get gas so he can go. Times are tough with them. They really are interested and want to learn.
We haven't met with Keri this week, but we've talked on the phone a few times. We are going to see her tomorrow. She still is pretty excited and eager about learning, just some things with her daughter have popped up.
We've started teaching a former Investigator again. Her name is Rosio, we met with her and taught a first. She seems to be coming good. She's got a little girl that sits in on the lessons.
We had one of our two Music recitals yesterday. I sang a solo of I need thee every hour, it was really fun. It reminded me of doing theatre. Some of the Elders got a few referrals from it and we hope to get more tonight.
That's about it this week. Just pushin and working hard here in Compton. It's still really hot here! I just hope it cools down after Conference because after next week, we have to wear our suits after 6pm.
I saw the pictures of Arsenic Dad sent. The set looks so cool! Looks like you had a lot of fun building and putting on the show. Congrats on Fezziwig Dad!! That's so fun. Plus a solicitor. That was one of my favorite parts last year, cause I got to have fancy clothes for all of that. Plus I was bundled up a lot for the end of the show when we shook hands outside. Send me the cast list so I can tell you who I know. Tell John, and Marilyn, and Sally and all them I say hi!
I better get going, we still have lots of laundry and things to do. Until next week!
Elder Groves, over and out!
This week has pretty good. We got Salvador to church yesterday! Yes!! We also had a really good lesson with him on tuesday. He's sorta on the right track. He doesn't have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, but keeps all the commitments we leave him, so we asked him to read JSH and to pray specifically about it. Leave everything else out. So we'll see what happens.
Dropped Stacy this week. That was pretty sad. She's one that when I come back to my mission in a lot of years, she's a relief society president or something. She would be so strong and needs the church!
We've pretty much dropped Bobbie too. We can never get in contact with her to follow up on a first.
Wednesday we had Zone Conference and Elder Pace from the 70 spoke. Awesome!!! So good! He told us to "become" something on the mission. I dunno if it was because we just were super stoked and pumped from Zone conference, but we went to a referral right after and taught a really really good lesson. Elder Amundsen wanted to set a baptisimal date, but I didn't feel it was right. We almost started discussing it right there. It would have been a good time, she understood everything but it just didn't feel right to me.We haven't met with her again since.
We did start teaching Burnedett, or Burnetta as she says. She is either currently or past user of drugs, and wants to turn her life around. She doesn't read. That is going to be the challenge. Our ward mission leader gave us a couple of the Living Scriptures DVD's that we could use with her, but other then that I don't know what kind of commitment we will be able to leave her.
We finally met with Oscar and Janet again! The lesson was SOO Good! Oscar kept asking questions about the right things at exactly the right time. Like Who's Joseph Smith and Why do we need the Book of Mormon. We commited them to be baptized the 25th of October. The only hard thing that we will have to face with them is getting time to teach them. He sometimes has a job and sometimes doesn't. When he does he goes to Orange County for 5 days to work. They have to sell things just to get gas so he can go. Times are tough with them. They really are interested and want to learn.
We haven't met with Keri this week, but we've talked on the phone a few times. We are going to see her tomorrow. She still is pretty excited and eager about learning, just some things with her daughter have popped up.
We've started teaching a former Investigator again. Her name is Rosio, we met with her and taught a first. She seems to be coming good. She's got a little girl that sits in on the lessons.
We had one of our two Music recitals yesterday. I sang a solo of I need thee every hour, it was really fun. It reminded me of doing theatre. Some of the Elders got a few referrals from it and we hope to get more tonight.
That's about it this week. Just pushin and working hard here in Compton. It's still really hot here! I just hope it cools down after Conference because after next week, we have to wear our suits after 6pm.
I saw the pictures of Arsenic Dad sent. The set looks so cool! Looks like you had a lot of fun building and putting on the show. Congrats on Fezziwig Dad!! That's so fun. Plus a solicitor. That was one of my favorite parts last year, cause I got to have fancy clothes for all of that. Plus I was bundled up a lot for the end of the show when we shook hands outside. Send me the cast list so I can tell you who I know. Tell John, and Marilyn, and Sally and all them I say hi!
I better get going, we still have lots of laundry and things to do. Until next week!
Elder Groves, over and out!
9/21/09
Family of mine!
Hey, It's great to hear from y'all again. Sounds like everything is just rolling great! I definately want to see that painting of Grandpa. I also need a picture of Dad with his beard and long hair! Things are going pretty good hear. We've run into some hiccups. We can't seem to get anyone to church. A couple weeks ago, president told us to, unless the spirit says strongly "no", to commit baptism the first lesson. We've done that and have had a few yes's. The thing is, they don't come to church! We call them the night before, they're all good to go. Then we don't see them the next week. That family I told you about last week, who came to church after a tracting contact, we haven't seen them since. We've commited an older lady Bobbie, she didn't come to church. I don't know what is so scary about mormon church!! So that's what's frustrating me. We had stake conference this weekend, Elder Pace spoke. He's also going to speak at Zone Conference wednesday. He talked a lot about getting your own testimony. I think I needed to hear it to make sure that the people we are teaching have that. That they know that the church is true. That they know, Joseph Smith saw god and his son, and that through him the church was not "made" but restored.
Something crazy that happend this week, we go into an some elderly apartments about once a week, a less active and some investigators live there. Well one day we go in and some police walk up to us and ask us to help them out. Elder Amundsen had to reach through a window and unlock a door of a house cause the lady didn't have the strength to do it herself. So we did that, then went on our way. We came over about a day or two after to see that apartment black, and some repairmen working on lighting. Come to find out, that night after we had left. The lady had fallen asleep and a cigerette or something caught her apt. on fire. She had oxygen tanks so it caught pretty quick and she couldn't get out. That was a crazy shocker for us. We didn't know her at all but it still is pretty sad.
To lift your spirits now, we have 3 investigators with a baptismal date! Woohoo! I ask you all to pray they can follow the commandments and go to church so they can be baptized!
Our new convert, and new member are doing well. We will have Family night with the two boys and their families tonight. We're playing Jeapordy!
I don't know if I told you but one of the office Elders saw Allan at church and said he says hi. With Allan at that ward, he's keeping me out of the office for this next transfer ;) which is in a week. I'll probably stay here but Elder Amundsen is leaving... probably. It would be very strange if he stayed. With the Mission being so young there is a chance I could train, but I don't think my spanish is good enough for that.
That's about it for this week. A lot of work still left to do, a lot of baptism dates to set, a lot of people to teach. We definately have our hands full. We only got 2 hours of tracting in this week cause we have so many people to teach.
I love you all! I hope the lord continues to bless you, I know I've been. Talk to you next week!
Hey, It's great to hear from y'all again. Sounds like everything is just rolling great! I definately want to see that painting of Grandpa. I also need a picture of Dad with his beard and long hair! Things are going pretty good hear. We've run into some hiccups. We can't seem to get anyone to church. A couple weeks ago, president told us to, unless the spirit says strongly "no", to commit baptism the first lesson. We've done that and have had a few yes's. The thing is, they don't come to church! We call them the night before, they're all good to go. Then we don't see them the next week. That family I told you about last week, who came to church after a tracting contact, we haven't seen them since. We've commited an older lady Bobbie, she didn't come to church. I don't know what is so scary about mormon church!! So that's what's frustrating me. We had stake conference this weekend, Elder Pace spoke. He's also going to speak at Zone Conference wednesday. He talked a lot about getting your own testimony. I think I needed to hear it to make sure that the people we are teaching have that. That they know that the church is true. That they know, Joseph Smith saw god and his son, and that through him the church was not "made" but restored.
Something crazy that happend this week, we go into an some elderly apartments about once a week, a less active and some investigators live there. Well one day we go in and some police walk up to us and ask us to help them out. Elder Amundsen had to reach through a window and unlock a door of a house cause the lady didn't have the strength to do it herself. So we did that, then went on our way. We came over about a day or two after to see that apartment black, and some repairmen working on lighting. Come to find out, that night after we had left. The lady had fallen asleep and a cigerette or something caught her apt. on fire. She had oxygen tanks so it caught pretty quick and she couldn't get out. That was a crazy shocker for us. We didn't know her at all but it still is pretty sad.
To lift your spirits now, we have 3 investigators with a baptismal date! Woohoo! I ask you all to pray they can follow the commandments and go to church so they can be baptized!
Our new convert, and new member are doing well. We will have Family night with the two boys and their families tonight. We're playing Jeapordy!
I don't know if I told you but one of the office Elders saw Allan at church and said he says hi. With Allan at that ward, he's keeping me out of the office for this next transfer ;) which is in a week. I'll probably stay here but Elder Amundsen is leaving... probably. It would be very strange if he stayed. With the Mission being so young there is a chance I could train, but I don't think my spanish is good enough for that.
That's about it for this week. A lot of work still left to do, a lot of baptism dates to set, a lot of people to teach. We definately have our hands full. We only got 2 hours of tracting in this week cause we have so many people to teach.
I love you all! I hope the lord continues to bless you, I know I've been. Talk to you next week!
Sept. 14
Hey family of mine!!
Great week this week, thursday we went and looked up a former investigator that was in our Area book. Her name was Lupita. We actually talked to her sister and mom but they all seemed really interested in starting the lessons again. The member that was working with them was one of the girls friend. We didn't recognize the name so decided to go look them up too. Come to find out they are active but in another ward. Something with the mom not being active for a while and only going to a certain ward I dunno. They seem really cool, we talked with the daughter and come to find out she has a cousin that is interested too. The only problem will be getting her parents to sign the permission slip. So just by visiting a former investigator we got three refferals! How cool is that!
On saturday I got to finally put my bike to use! Every once in a while the mission does a "Car Free Day" not a missionary in the mission uses a car unless with special permission from president. So we had some appointments across our area so Elder Amundsen borrowed a bike and we hit the streets! It was really fun, it reminded me of riding around the neighborhood with Jason. We had a couple appointments fall through so we got a lot of tracting in that day. We knocked on one door, a spanish guy answered invited us in gave us some cold water, as we were talking he started to tell of how he's been searching for a church, seen us around a few times, didn't like how he's felt at other churches, wants a church that his whole family would like. Whoa! He said all the right things! So we invited him to church for the next day. We fixed him a ride and... He and his wife and two of there three little girls came to all 3 hours of church yesterday!! I can't wait to find out what they think. I don't want to get my hopes too high, but it was awesome to see them come after just talking briefly for a couple of minutes. They're names are Oscar and Janet. It was cool!
Also on sunday, Sergio and Anthony were confirmed! Yeah! Elder Amundsen confirmed Anthony and I confirmed Sergio. I was a little nervous to do it in Spanish, but it worked out great! We showed them pictures of our family's and taught about temples this week. That was really fun.
We have Noche De Hogar tonight with them and we're doing it a little more scripture then fun activity but I think they'll like it. The Armor of God was awesome, so we thought this time we'd maybe do something on the Book of Mormon.
Had to drop Jose this week, he just hasn't come to church and is never home for our appointments. Who knows maybe he'll remember something we taught him. I kinda have a feeling he's not all there, so I hope he at least learned something from us.
Salvador is going strong... ish. He still hasn't come to church, don't know why. We have an appointment with him tomorrow. We gotta get him to church! Other then that he's on the road for baptism. However, if he doesn't come to church soon, we're going to push the date back. Which would be unfortunate cause Elder Amundsen is probably leaving this transfer.
Stacy is tomorrow too, I'm excited for her. I can't wait to find out what she found out. Tomorrow is going to be a big day!
That's about it for me. I loved the e-mails this week! Sounds like the show is going to be great! Again... send pictures! Especially of the set, and mom as a old murderous lady. All's good here in Compton. Love you, miss you!
Elder Groves
Great week this week, thursday we went and looked up a former investigator that was in our Area book. Her name was Lupita. We actually talked to her sister and mom but they all seemed really interested in starting the lessons again. The member that was working with them was one of the girls friend. We didn't recognize the name so decided to go look them up too. Come to find out they are active but in another ward. Something with the mom not being active for a while and only going to a certain ward I dunno. They seem really cool, we talked with the daughter and come to find out she has a cousin that is interested too. The only problem will be getting her parents to sign the permission slip. So just by visiting a former investigator we got three refferals! How cool is that!
On saturday I got to finally put my bike to use! Every once in a while the mission does a "Car Free Day" not a missionary in the mission uses a car unless with special permission from president. So we had some appointments across our area so Elder Amundsen borrowed a bike and we hit the streets! It was really fun, it reminded me of riding around the neighborhood with Jason. We had a couple appointments fall through so we got a lot of tracting in that day. We knocked on one door, a spanish guy answered invited us in gave us some cold water, as we were talking he started to tell of how he's been searching for a church, seen us around a few times, didn't like how he's felt at other churches, wants a church that his whole family would like. Whoa! He said all the right things! So we invited him to church for the next day. We fixed him a ride and... He and his wife and two of there three little girls came to all 3 hours of church yesterday!! I can't wait to find out what they think. I don't want to get my hopes too high, but it was awesome to see them come after just talking briefly for a couple of minutes. They're names are Oscar and Janet. It was cool!
Also on sunday, Sergio and Anthony were confirmed! Yeah! Elder Amundsen confirmed Anthony and I confirmed Sergio. I was a little nervous to do it in Spanish, but it worked out great! We showed them pictures of our family's and taught about temples this week. That was really fun.
We have Noche De Hogar tonight with them and we're doing it a little more scripture then fun activity but I think they'll like it. The Armor of God was awesome, so we thought this time we'd maybe do something on the Book of Mormon.
Had to drop Jose this week, he just hasn't come to church and is never home for our appointments. Who knows maybe he'll remember something we taught him. I kinda have a feeling he's not all there, so I hope he at least learned something from us.
Salvador is going strong... ish. He still hasn't come to church, don't know why. We have an appointment with him tomorrow. We gotta get him to church! Other then that he's on the road for baptism. However, if he doesn't come to church soon, we're going to push the date back. Which would be unfortunate cause Elder Amundsen is probably leaving this transfer.
Stacy is tomorrow too, I'm excited for her. I can't wait to find out what she found out. Tomorrow is going to be a big day!
That's about it for me. I loved the e-mails this week! Sounds like the show is going to be great! Again... send pictures! Especially of the set, and mom as a old murderous lady. All's good here in Compton. Love you, miss you!
Elder Groves
September 9th!
What a crazy week!!
Lets start off with the baptisms on sunday. All three went great! First off we went Edwins which was in the gorgeous coast city of San Pedro. We got there a lot earlier then we had expected which was good. It gave us time to wright him a letter of congratulations, since we don't really have much money to get him anything. We did do a rubbing of our name tags which I think was pretty cool. His wife Vanessa started crying when he went under. She later bore her testimony and said she's so happy to see him make this step. Even though it took 2 years and 6 sets of missionaries. It really was a really nice service. We bounced really quickly from there to get back to our ward baptisms that both Elder Amundsen and I were preforming. We got there to find out our investigators weren't even there yet. So we went and got changed then when the boys finnaly arrived we could breathe. They all went well, I baptized Sergio first, stuttered at the prayer in Spanish but made it through the first time, then Elder Amundsen of course. I was talking to the boys afterwards and Anthony said, He felt good, and different. That kid is going places! Sergio asked if he could be baptized again, I told him when he's 12. I sang at the service, Venid a Cristo, Come unto to Jesus. So Sunday was a really really good day.
Monday we went and visited our friend Rosy, we did this because one of the other Elders who had had dinner with her earlier that week said that she told them her husband was going to move out so she could get baptized. Woohoo!!! Sad... but... Woohooo!!! We went and talked to her, it's not all completely worked out, we still need to talk with him. The hard thing is you can never tell when he's serious and when he's not. Hopefully we can get something worked out this week.
We had a good lesson with Salvador this week. He told us he was going to try to come to church. Unfortunately he got sick and has been sick for a couple days. We have an appointment with him tomorrow and so hopefully we can work some things out.
Stacy is the lesson of the week!! It started with a meeting our zone had with President Blackburn, he told us we need to commit baptism on the 1st lesson. That's tough. Not only that but he said all investigators who don't have a baptismal date need one in the next appointment. That's Stacy. So we went and talked to her about the Book of Mormon, while talking and reading she actually brought up Authority. So... we extended the commitment. She sat there... thought about it.... we let the Spirit soak in... then she said she would have to pray about it. It's not a yes but it's not a no. Aftward we started talking a little more... she did a little more thinking... then she asked "So if what your saying is true... everyone needs to be a Mormon?" Our member that was there testified and said yes. Awesome!!! The spirit was the strongest I've ever felt it in a lessson. She definately understands the need of the restoration of that priesthood authority! I can't wait til tuesday!
Work is really picking up, we are doing less tracting and more appointments. Unfortunately we will probably be dropping Jose this week, and maybe the Florez family cause we can't get in contact with them and they stand us up on appointments. However we've got some other potentials we've come across and some good less actives to work with. Plenty for us here. Just keep praying that they all can come to know the truth and have the deseo!! (desire!) without the knowledge and desire the spirit gives, nothing is going to happen.
One funny thing that did happen this week, and I thank my animal loving and skills from my mom for it, was while we were tracting we came across a house with a big black dog. we approach the fence, as does the dog, I stuck my hand out to let it sniff me. It did and then started liking my hand. So I opened the gate so we could go knock on the door. My companion isn't that much of a dog lover. He still didn't want to go in. While we sat outside talking about it, the dog pushed the gate open the rest of the way then took off down the street!! We didn't want to introduce ourselves as "The missionaries who lost your dog" So we went after it! He would stop, pee on something, then run down the street to pee on something else. Every time we got near, it would take off farther down the street. This patter continued for 10 minutes. Finallay we get the inbetween us and where his home is almost a block down. So he starts running the other way, eventually he stopped and just trotted back to his yard, walked through the gate, and started his nap in the shade. We knocked on the door and no one was home. Grandpa was right, there are a lot of dogs in LA, unfortunately this one likes to drives us crazy!
That day we talked to all our visits about dogs. I heard about BYU yesterday at our meeting with the President. GO COUGS!!!! That's so cool, after the meeting we went to wendy's for lunch and saw a poster for the new NCAA football game for X-box, and who's on the cover but one of the Utah Utes! That's was fun to see, my companion and I had a lot of Utah pride yesterday.
Well that's all about that's happening here in LA, we had ashes on our car a couple days ago from the forest fires. I hope all is going well at home. I love you all and miss you all!
Elder Groves
Lets start off with the baptisms on sunday. All three went great! First off we went Edwins which was in the gorgeous coast city of San Pedro. We got there a lot earlier then we had expected which was good. It gave us time to wright him a letter of congratulations, since we don't really have much money to get him anything. We did do a rubbing of our name tags which I think was pretty cool. His wife Vanessa started crying when he went under. She later bore her testimony and said she's so happy to see him make this step. Even though it took 2 years and 6 sets of missionaries. It really was a really nice service. We bounced really quickly from there to get back to our ward baptisms that both Elder Amundsen and I were preforming. We got there to find out our investigators weren't even there yet. So we went and got changed then when the boys finnaly arrived we could breathe. They all went well, I baptized Sergio first, stuttered at the prayer in Spanish but made it through the first time, then Elder Amundsen of course. I was talking to the boys afterwards and Anthony said, He felt good, and different. That kid is going places! Sergio asked if he could be baptized again, I told him when he's 12. I sang at the service, Venid a Cristo, Come unto to Jesus. So Sunday was a really really good day.
Monday we went and visited our friend Rosy, we did this because one of the other Elders who had had dinner with her earlier that week said that she told them her husband was going to move out so she could get baptized. Woohoo!!! Sad... but... Woohooo!!! We went and talked to her, it's not all completely worked out, we still need to talk with him. The hard thing is you can never tell when he's serious and when he's not. Hopefully we can get something worked out this week.
We had a good lesson with Salvador this week. He told us he was going to try to come to church. Unfortunately he got sick and has been sick for a couple days. We have an appointment with him tomorrow and so hopefully we can work some things out.
Stacy is the lesson of the week!! It started with a meeting our zone had with President Blackburn, he told us we need to commit baptism on the 1st lesson. That's tough. Not only that but he said all investigators who don't have a baptismal date need one in the next appointment. That's Stacy. So we went and talked to her about the Book of Mormon, while talking and reading she actually brought up Authority. So... we extended the commitment. She sat there... thought about it.... we let the Spirit soak in... then she said she would have to pray about it. It's not a yes but it's not a no. Aftward we started talking a little more... she did a little more thinking... then she asked "So if what your saying is true... everyone needs to be a Mormon?" Our member that was there testified and said yes. Awesome!!! The spirit was the strongest I've ever felt it in a lessson. She definately understands the need of the restoration of that priesthood authority! I can't wait til tuesday!
Work is really picking up, we are doing less tracting and more appointments. Unfortunately we will probably be dropping Jose this week, and maybe the Florez family cause we can't get in contact with them and they stand us up on appointments. However we've got some other potentials we've come across and some good less actives to work with. Plenty for us here. Just keep praying that they all can come to know the truth and have the deseo!! (desire!) without the knowledge and desire the spirit gives, nothing is going to happen.
One funny thing that did happen this week, and I thank my animal loving and skills from my mom for it, was while we were tracting we came across a house with a big black dog. we approach the fence, as does the dog, I stuck my hand out to let it sniff me. It did and then started liking my hand. So I opened the gate so we could go knock on the door. My companion isn't that much of a dog lover. He still didn't want to go in. While we sat outside talking about it, the dog pushed the gate open the rest of the way then took off down the street!! We didn't want to introduce ourselves as "The missionaries who lost your dog" So we went after it! He would stop, pee on something, then run down the street to pee on something else. Every time we got near, it would take off farther down the street. This patter continued for 10 minutes. Finallay we get the inbetween us and where his home is almost a block down. So he starts running the other way, eventually he stopped and just trotted back to his yard, walked through the gate, and started his nap in the shade. We knocked on the door and no one was home. Grandpa was right, there are a lot of dogs in LA, unfortunately this one likes to drives us crazy!
That day we talked to all our visits about dogs. I heard about BYU yesterday at our meeting with the President. GO COUGS!!!! That's so cool, after the meeting we went to wendy's for lunch and saw a poster for the new NCAA football game for X-box, and who's on the cover but one of the Utah Utes! That's was fun to see, my companion and I had a lot of Utah pride yesterday.
Well that's all about that's happening here in LA, we had ashes on our car a couple days ago from the forest fires. I hope all is going well at home. I love you all and miss you all!
Elder Groves
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