I have gained a greater witness of the Atonement of Christ

Email #90
Area: Oaklands Park
Companion: Elder Turcotte

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Last night, I was reading back through my mission journal for the first time in a very long time. As I read, I had feelings that I have learned to recognize better! I began to wept because of the love I felt for those precious memories. From the MTC to now, the overwhelming feeling that I have felt while rereading my own accounts, is love. Why I came out in my mission is a little different then why I stay. I have realized just how much I have changed. I have gained a greater witness of the Atonement of Christ for I have seen it again in my life!

I have reflected back to Doctrine and Covenants 122:9 again and again. "Hold on Thy way... fear not.. for God shall be with you forever and ever." Hold on they way... I'm holding on Mom! More and more, I remember why I still hold on.

The week started out with a really fun district Pday! We got together and played sports at the chapel and games. We played a game called poison for a while which is basically a game for basketball. It was a lot of fun and very refreshing. One of the assistants was showing me how to do some crazy karate for when people on the street get too crazy haha. He is really good and wasn't even trying honestly. I've seen him go off on a poor punching bag and man he almost broke it haha. Now with some personal training, I'm ready for any guy who tries to mess with us lol.

Through the week we tried something a little fun to help motivate the zone. We made a scale to keep track of how many potentials we were finding through the week scale was the tree of life and our eyes are to the temple! I'll send a photo so it makes sense. We filled in the scale each night and sent it to the zone with a text for motivation and encouragement.

We did a lot of jetty finding this week giving it a better shot. It is actually a lot of fun to try to go and find on the jetty because people are a lot nicer out there. They will be fishing or walking along enjoying the view and we just always catch them in a good mood haha. Many were catching squid and even a dude who I was talking to let me have one to take home. Unfortunately we have no idea how to take it home or even how to cook him, so I didn't take it.. would have been good though I wish I did haha. Even saw some dolphins out there and a seal.

We are teaching a recent convert's daughter who is 8 years old named C.......... Her mother is so close with God!!! She is from Gauna Africa and this week she had us over for dinner! It was really good African food and things I've never tried before. She told us about some of the miracles in her life one being her daughter. They miscarried many times and she prayed so hard to have a child. She said in a prayer if He will bless her with a child, she will name the child after Him, hence C.......... The other huge miracle is two years ago when missionaries found her and taught her the gospel. Remember my trainer? He apparently taught her! Now we are teaching her daughter! That's pretty cool to me!

Love you heaps and have a good week!


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

This week was a lot easier but still has its struggles. I am really wondering how this next transfer will go. Much of these past to transfers I just want to move on from because it has not been my favorite time I have had on my mission. I'm hoping to move on to the final chapter and that I may make the most of it. Transfers are this Sunday, so next email you will know if I stay or go. I am honestly hoping to go outlying again.

There was one pretty funny moment that was also kind of disappointing, but I bet you will find it amusing. So we have been teaching this one kid named Alex. He was being taught about a year ago by other elders but he dropped off for a time. He just showed up to church one day and so we talked to him of coarse and that is what happened a year ago as well. The reason is that he has a long distance girlfriend that is in the states and she is a member of the church. She really wants him to look into it so he did. Anyway, we went over to his house to teach him more and found out a few things. He was just on his computer the whole time and he told us how he gets home from work at 2 and then plays video games the rest of the day until it was time for bed. His mom would just bring in food for him and took his garbage that he was done with as well. She was really nice to us as well bringing us these frozen yogurt things that were super good. Anyway, he told us that he really is just going just to impress his long distance girlfriend. Apparently she asks him what he learned at church every week... He showed up again this week to church and we realized the whole time he was in class he was just playing poker on his phone. At least we got frozen yogurt out of it haha wasn't a complete waste of time.

Guess what!!!! So I contacted Ford this past week to catch up because it has been one year since he was baptized! He told me that at the end of November or early December, his wife and him are getting sealed in the temple! He asked me to attend! I hope I can get permission to go because that would be such a blessing! Their family means the world to me! His son I found out will be turning 18 in May and will be getting baptized as well! He goes to seminary, church, and even gave a talk this past week apparently! So great!

Love you heaps and have a good week!