Sunshine, but Only in My Soul

Laguna Niguel

It's been quite a long week of work. We did a bunch of service towards the end of the week that just has me really tired. Like I just dont feel like I can get caught up on enough sleep to get the energy back. We helped a lady move out of her house but we also had another project that was happening at the same time so we were trying to hurry. The worst part about that one was that this lady was not nice about all of the stuff that she wanted done. I love helping people that are really thankful for the help and don't just expect us to do everything. Moving that lady exhausted me physically and emotionally. 

Right after that we rushed off to help in a huge stake thing. They partnered with Stop Hunger Now and the stake raised enough money to package 85,000 meals to be shipped off around the world. As part of that they want the community to be the ones to do the packaging. So 600 volunteers showed up and in 4 hrs and made/packed all of the meals. Our bishop had a huge camera in the building and he is sending the videos and pictures up to Salt Lake to be in the church news. Hopefully they will make a Morman Message about it with his video. And then also during the week we did rats and snakes again. 

So we also had a bit of rain (it is much needed) on Friday and a bit on Saturday night. But it has been cloudy most of the week which sucked very really bad. It just seemed to put a damper on things. Then on Sunday, when the sun finally came out, it totally lifted our spirits!

We have a ton of work that is happening during the coming weeks! We have a guy who is investigating the church now because his girlfriend is a member of the church. He is really interested. We did the Restoration Lesson with him on Thursday and he loved it. His favorite thing about the church is the fact that we preach and learn on Sunday but then everyone goes out and lives their faith. He is a guy that has been working in the rehab world for most of his life and he loves the whole community of the church. Then we are going to start teaching another lady who is dating a member of the ward. We also have 2 baptisms in the ward coming up in 2 weeks. We haven't taught them at all but we are going to jump in on the teaching here in a bit cause they are going to move into the ward. 

Any who, it's been crazy and it's going to get a lot more crazy. Today we cleaned our apartment. I will get some pics of the apartment and send them to you next week cause I don't think anyone really realizes just how ghetto it is. It basically looks just like that pic of Kade's apartment. The inside is not that great either. We had to do a deep clean cause our fridge has been leaking and we have had mold problems since the beginning of my mish.

I can't wait to be able to talk to ya'll on Mother's Day! I LOVE EVERYONE SO MUCH!

I Just Thought it Was a Good Idea if you Were Baptized

Laguna Niguel

So this first pic is of me and Rob doing the thinking man pose. The second pic is, from left to right, Elder Hancock, Mcgary, Jardine then me!!! Elder Jardine got here at the beginning of this transfer and he was a visa waiter for the Netherlands. We took him to the air port this morning at 5, so ya that sucked! But it was good to say good bye to him. Elder Mcgary and Hancock were companions in the MTC and they are like best friends, so we hang out all the time and Mcgary is just way cool. I freaking love all the people that I am working with and those I am teaching!

So the baptism was incredible! Rob showed up and the ward just kept filling in. It was insane the number of people that were there for his special day! There were a few non members there and the spirit was incredible! There were about 6 companionships that were there in attendance because people had heard so much about Rob and they wanted to come see him. Me and Elder Hancock prepared a few videos for the half time entertainment and then said the opening and closing prayers. We had a few people in the ward that he knew give talks about baptism and then the Holy Ghost. Probs the best part about the whole thing was that at the end Rob bore his testimony and it seriously made the whole place bust out in tears. So ya, it was quite the incredible first baptism!!!!! 

After the baptism we went to dinner with a family in our ward who we have been helpping out with some yard work. They took us to Pei Wei (it's like the best place on earth) but that is like the 3rd time in a week they have fed us. They are quite simply the best people ever!!! 

On Friday we did another lesson with Rommel who we talked about the concept of baptism a few days before and he didn't like to think that God hates the people that don't get baptized so we talked to him about the Plan of Salvation. He loved it! It was incredible to see how happy the whole concept made him. My favorite thing he told me was the concept between the word for happy in Portuguese and the word for joy in the Portuguese. The difference is that happy is a smile and acting happy but joy was really feeling it in your heart, no matter what your circumstance! It was awesome to hear how he didn't like other churches talking about how they try and scare you into joining there church by talking about the devil and stuff. It just made me realize that everything we talk about has nothing to do with fear or doubt, it's all about love of our Father in Heaven and how we have the choice to do what we want but that we will ultimately make the choice that makes us the happiest. 

So I am just a tad bit jealous about the whole Elton John thing! Thats so sick that you guys went and did that. It's apperent that I was holding you guys back from partying hard by living at home!!! Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! Sorry that I forgot. I don't mean to be cheesy but I got a baptism for your birthday soooo ya you're welcome :) I hope that you had the best birthday ever!! 

So the happiest news that I have gotten so far is that I am staying in my area for another transfer! I would have been so mad to leave cause there is so much that is happening and I dont think that I can bear leaving the members here. So I am super happy! A transfer is 6 weeks, so ya it's crazy to think that I am on to my 3rd one. Time is flying by!

I hope ya'll have a great and glorious week and know that I love you all so very very very much!

PS...

Oh yah, and our dryer just died this last week so this is what I have to do from now on...

Easter & Conference

Laguna Niguel 

So the Easter week was awesome. We watched all the sessions in the Stake Center cause they don't want us watching it with members for some weird reason. But it was all good. I took notes on every talk. It wasn't hard for me to stay awake this time cause it's hard to fall asleep when you have to wear a full suit :( But my favorite talk was definitely Elder Holland's and yes, I was super happy when he mentioned snow canyon!

Oh I forgot to tell you my district leader's name is Elder Losse and he is from Santa Clara! He would have gone to school with me but he was home schooled. You should go look them up! My other favorite talk was the guy who talked about how his sister left the church and then came back. It just made me think of some of the people in the ward here who are struggling with the same issues. But then when he said that we are all the "prodigal son" it was a huge eye opener for me. I thought that I was ok but no matter what we are all fallen and need Christ. 

Anyways, after the Sunday sessions we went to the Hanson's in the ward and had a huge Easter dinner. It was more of a family reunion and we had an easter egg hunt which was crazy! They had money stuffed in most of the eggs... Hancock got about 10 bucks, I got about $1.75 and then they had a golden egg that was hidden that had about $150 in it -- so it was sorta a mad dash. But it was awesome! 

It was a bit of a slow week on the missionary work side but that was a bit understandable. Rob, who is getting baptized on Saturday, came to the Priesthood session and loved it! He also watched the Saturday morning session and then Sunday morning session and loved them both! He is seriously the greatest guy! It's hilarious cause a bunch of the people in the ward know him but none of them really liked him at first, but he says that he has been humbled and we have seen a mighty change in his heart!  

On a side story, we went to Outback Steakhouse after the last session of conference. There was about 9 of us elders all there. It's sorta a tradition I guess, but after we were all done the waitress came over and told us our whole bill was paid for!!!! It was seriously a $100+ meal it was insane! We knew who it was so we went over to him and said thanks and stuff. It turned out that he served in our mission like a century ago! It was way fun. 

i got the pics of Jessa she is so freaking cute! I can't take it!!!! I can kinda see Paige being a bit not happy but I am sure she will come around to her. :)

Ya I ordered a song online cause some kid sang it in the MTC and I loved it then! It was at the end of a movie I watched while Hancock was sick. I just loved it, so I bought it and it is way fun to play. I try every now and again to play but i don't get much time to practice...kinda sucks. 

Elder Hancock goes home July 8th so it is coming up. I hope to be able to kill him (send him home). He found out today he has at least another transfer in Laguna Beach. I am hoping to stay also, transfer calls go out this sunday so keep your fingers crossed! If i stay we will be getting a new car and hopefully a new apartment! 

Going on exchanges is probs not my favorite thing. You usually have to go overnight so you have to pack a day bag which sucks. Then you go to a new area and you are more or less just along for the ride. Then there are the times that you stay in your area and your comp leaves which also sucks cause you have to drag another guy who has no clue what is going on around with you. All in all, I don't like them. You usually go on one at least every transfer. I have been on 3 already, and they try to do them in the beginning of the transfer. 

I can just see dad as this huge, hardcore, iron-man athlete when I get home! I am going to have to start working out so I can keep up with him when I get home. 

Oh and I got the package with the frisbee in it and the shirt. I love the shirt! I am wearing it right now! I think there is a family that is going to drive through St. George here soon so I might ask them to grab some stuff from you guys here soon, I think. I want my rugby ball and I know it is weird, but me and Hancock want the banjo! But i will give you a heads up.

I love you all so freaking much I don't even know how to put it in words!

Great News!

Laguna Niguel

That's way cool about all the youth family history kids in the ward! Who is all a part of it now? 

So Rommel is doing pretty good. We had another lesson with him on Wednesday at the Caserio's home. Their dad is the one who can speak Portuguese so that's really nice. We read the B.O.M. a bit and he really likes it but we had him read 2 Nephi 31 about baptism and the Doctrine of Christ... He doesn't like all the rules and how we can't be saved unless we are baptized. So we are going to teach him the Plan of Salvation and I really think he will like that and it will answer some of his questions.

But that isn't even the greatest news of the week! So a member invited a guy to church 3 weeks ago who has a daughter on the same soccer team as his daughter. He really liked it and then I told you we would have a new investigator by the end of the week. Well we went to the member's house on Tuesday where Rob, the non-member friend, was coming to have a lesson. That night we committed him to baptism and he is really looking forward to it! The Lord really has been working on him for some time. His baptism date is April 11th (Hancock's birthday) and since Tuesday we have had 3 lessons with him. 

In church on Sunday he was asked to answer some questions about finding the church and other things as part of a lesson about the ward mission plan (it was a combined 3rd hour class). Rob killed it! He is an amazing public speaker and he nearly brought everyone to tears when he talked about how he felt at home the first time he came to church!!! All in all, I really can't believe this is happening! This last week we killed it on teaching lessons with members. We had a total of 6 member-present lessons which is a huge number for us. We usually don't plan on any during the week.

Thanks for all the little helps with my lesson on patience. It turned out really good. It was one of our better district meetings we've had in a while just cause of how good all of our lessons built on each other.

So have Clarissa and Drew come up with any names yet for baby? Or are they keeping it all a secret? I bet Tylee is just freaking out down there! hahaha:)

Anyways, that's just about the sum of my whole week. I went on exchanges on Thursday and I led our area for the first time. It was interesting. It's hard to try and fill the little time with productive stuff between appointments. I had to teach the Plan of Salvation for my first time to Rob without Elder Hancock :( The elder who was with me was a very shy guy so I did most of the talking. But the lesson turned out to be a huge success and it helped to have a really great member helping me out along the way. 

I love you all!!!

Kye

Eeeee! David Archuleta!

Laguna Niguel

I remember when those pics were taken! I am not going to lie, I look like a little kid in those pics, but dang I liked my hair looking long like that! I have had several people tell me I look like an actor named Andrew something or other from the new spiderman movies and I tell them they should have seen me when I could let my hair get a bit longer. 

Anyways, this has been a great week. It all sorta came together yesterday during church. We had a great lesson with Rommel at a member's house and we are getting really close to inviting him to the glorious waters that are baptism! But during church we had like 3 families come to us and tell us that we should come over to their houses and teach one of their friends that they invited to church. We are hopefully going to have one new investigator by the end of the week and get another a baptism date! The ward here is like super incredible at missionary work. We also had a less active invited to church by a guy in our ward and he just came and is already right back into things! He participates in all the lessons in church and he is a super intelligent man, it's awesome! I will keep you updated on all that jazz!

So thanks for all of the insights into patience. I think with what you have said I can add that to what I already got and teach a fetching good lesson! 

Yesterday we also had a mission training on our new Easter initiative. It's called "Because He Lives". There will be a bunch of stuff happening with it. On April 5th, the church will be the sole advertisement for their video for Easter on Youtube. Be sure to watch in cause it is incredible. We are going to start using that and a bunch of other things to do with it in our missionary efforts. On that day an estimated 250 million people will watch the video on youtube. 

Also at that meeting we had the privilege and honor of having DAVID ARCHULETA!!!! What!?!?!?! That's right! it was him in the flesh, come speak to us and then sing a bunch of church songs! It was awesome! He came just because he was in the area and he wanted to talk to all the missionaries. He found out we were having a meeting and called up our Mission President. He sang about 4 songs, one of which was Glorious. It was a new song he has that is awesome.   

I got to watch the last minute of the Utah basketball game. We were eating dinner at a local Mexican place and we sat and ate to watch the highlights. I really hope that they beat duke on Thursday. It would make my whole week. This is a chance to have faith that they can pull through! And I would totally wear a Utes tie if I could. I have gotten a fair bit of guff for my 2 Utes shirts that I wear to p-days hahah! 

Anyways, I love everyone and this gospel and the whole church for bringing me the most happiness I have felt ever! 

After the David Archuleta Fireside 

Group photo!

Family History Work

Laguna Niguel

Dang! I am jealous of your Seattle trip. That mall sounds like it would be so cool. I have an extreme desire to go shopping on my p-days. I just want to go out and buy new clothes all the time but I am holding back with all the will power I possess. I loved seeing your pics with the, "I see dead people" and I love your family history ideas you all have! 

I have been doing a fair amount of family history. We go on Tuesday mornings and I might go on Wednesdays too. I have found about 5 names so far and that has taken all I have to find them but I am still trying. Do you guys ever use the Hope Chest thing? It's way cool and can help with finding names to take through the temple. Elder Hancock has been using it a bunch and he has about 110 names already to take through the temple. Could I get mom's email stuff for family history so I could share some of my names that I find with ya'll? We have had some amazing contacts with people who have been centered on family history. People are just really interested in their ancestry and stuff and when they find out that I know some of the stories about how my ancestors joined the church they get really interested and it invites the spirit in real quick! 

Our lesson with Rommel went way good. We read the Intro to the BofM in Portuguese with one of the members of the ward translating. The whole restoration just sorta made sense to him and he said he was going to read more of it and pray. So we are going to have a follow up lesson with him on Wednesday and we are going to cover the concept of prophets and the apostasy and maybe get into the priesthood and the gospel of Jesus Christ. We want to invite him to baptism. He has already attended church like 3 times and he loves it, and we don't think he will have to much of a problem with the commandments. I am so fetching excited!!!! 

Other than that not much is happening. We have another hopeful baptism invite for the coming week! Our p-days are pretty much the best thing in the world! We do studies till 9 or 10 then go to the library for emailing for an hour or two. After that we go do what ever we want. There is a zone activity every p-day but you don't have to go if you don't want to. and then we usually go to dinner around 6 and then back to proselyting. Today I think we are going to go to a mall and hang with some other missionaries and I might buy a long board just for something to do. 

Do you guys ever have the missionaries in our ward over for dinner? I was just thinking about that the other day and I thought that would be something they would love cause mom's cooking is like the best in the whole wide world!

Anyways, that's just about life for me. Oh and I have been asked to give a district training on patience... not this week but next so anything you guys can think of that can help would be awesome!

I LOVE EVERYONE SO MUCH!!!!