Hot Wheels

 Being a missionary is good tough. This whole week I've been struggling to sleep because I get upset at myself for that one person who we didn't go talk to or that one thing I felt like I should have said and didn't. I just can't stop my mind from thinking about the what-ifs. I am really having a hard time learning to be patient with myself and accepting that sometimes-no matter what you say- people don't want to hear you. 

I realize it's literally been 2 weeks since I got here and there is absolutely no way that I'd be able to figure out being a missionary in a week. But, as my father's son, I pretty used to just being really good at everything I do. Now that I've found a lot of things that I'm not even close to good at it's very humbling. Luckily humility is a Christ-like attribute. So at least I'm doing something good. Lol

I think I was under the false impression that if I interacted with people the way Preach My Gospel says to then everybody we talked would listen, that there's some kind of 'golden speaking pattern' that guarantees baptismal dates. Turns out EVERYBODY has agency. 

I've decided to accept that I don't know anything and just learn as much as I can and that has been much nicer.

Anyways. I ate some expired hot dogs and I'm fine! 

I went on exchanges with the zone leader, Elder Call. He's an absolute legend. He's on his last Transfer and I'm on my first. One of the first things he said was that he's excited to learn from me….. Learn from me?? The dudes been out 2 years and I've been out 2 weeks! I'm here to learn from HIM. Anyways, he's in the Spanish program and so I didn't have to do my talking unless we met some English people in between appointments. It really was epic and I had an absolutely blast. I guess the main thing I learned was humility. Elder Call was still learning even though he was almost done. He told me about how humility is one of them. Out important christlike attributes, he described it as a prerequisite for all the other ones. Which is pretty cool and totally makes sense. That's helped me alot because I've been humbled over and over again and now I can see it as a good thing.

He said he Learned to pray for happiness from me. I always pray for happiness and he noticed and really liked it. So now he's gonna start doing that! I'm really glad I actually did teach him something lol.

Sister Smith, mission president's wife, showed us this cool website. It's churchofjesuschrist.org/share and it's got all these epic ways that you can share the gospel with people in easy natural ways. One of them is to leave a rating(5*) of the churchhouse on Google maps. Just like how when we wanna find somewhere to eat we use Google maps, when people are looking for a church to go to they are likely to use Google! If we have good rating on our church then people will be more likely to come. 

We already saw fruits from this! 

There was a ward dinner and we stopped by and asked them all to leave a rating and talked about churchofjesuschrist.org/share.

Then. Boom. 

A day later somebody called us and told us they were interested in coming to our church. 

Also here's the drive for pictures

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https://photos.app.goo.gl/DYM8hzqfMfgxUFWZ7

Oh ya. Somebody gave us a bhagvadad gita. We gave them a bom tho. Strange interaction and like- ok. Whatever. So now we have a bhagvadad gita and I think its funny

Cali Things

 Ok. So-

The MTC was absolutely amazing. But now I’m in California and its real and so much better. My last days in the MTC were nonstop blast and also really hard cuz we all knew that we only had a little bit longer together and then we wouldn’t see them for at least two years. 

On Wednesday we woke up at 3 so we could say bye to some elders who were leaving, Then me and Elder Taufer woke up again around 5:00 so we could get ready and go. I felt amazing. I thought I would have been scared, but I knew that everything was going to be ok and that I was doing the right thing and that gave me courage and strength to keep going and not be scared. We rode a big bus, a train, and then another big bus and then we got in a plane and it took us to San Jose

The rest of the day was taking pictures and getting to know missionaries who are already here and we got our comps. I feel real sorry for all the other new missionaries because they didn’t get my trainer. Elder Prestwich is literally the absolute best. He is super bold, really funny, and is so patient with me. He keeps me far enough out of my comfort zone that I’m growing but also close enough that I’m not freaking out. He has a really strong desire to be here and make a difference and Its been like 6 days and were best friends. He’s definitely the exact trainer I needed. 

We had a lot of classes at the mission office, basically just more orientation and making sure we’re all aware of the new rules and stuff. One of the main themes of the California san Jose mission is ‘Love, Consecration, and Obedience.’ Consecration is the one that keeps standing out to me. I already am familiar with the other two, but consecration is a little more new to me. I think of consecrated oil and how it is set apart for a specific purpose and nothing else. I think its important for us as missionaries because we are to consecrate 2 years of our lives. We consecrate our mouths, our actions, our time, and everything. All set apart for our purpose as missionaries. 

SO- while I was in the MTC I was able to get my hands on some Olivia Rodrigo song files. I PROMISE I only listened to then once! And that was while I was waiting for laundry to finish. In my mind I think satan had helped me to validate those songs and think ‘its ok as long as I dont listen to them alot- I’ll just save them for a bad day. I desreve to be able to listen to what I want to sometimes’

ANYWAYS. After learning about consecration, those songs just kept coming to my mind and I KNEW I needed to get rid of them. . .I just really didn’t want to. Well then guess what. My companion, Elder Prestwich talked to me about how he has gained such a strong testimony of obedience and how happy it makes him. So- I told him about the songs. He let me make my own choices and the next day I pulled my phone out and deleted all of them. And you know what- I feel happier and I’m glad I made that choice. 

We’ve done alot of street contacting and tracrting (well, at least alot compared to the amount I did back home) and thats just so tough and uncomfortable for me. About 80% (it feels like) just want us to go away and dont like us. It hurts, of course, because they make it obvious that they dont like us. But also because they dont even know or understand they joy, peace, and comfort that they’re missing out on. If they would just let us talk with them for 1 minute then they would feel the spirit and if they had actual intent to listen to what we say I know it would change their life. But nope. They close their doors, they walk away, they keep saying no. Alot of people give a little speech about how they’ll ‘be honest with us’ because ‘we’re still so young’ and that we ‘should do our own research’ and they ‘respect what we do’ but ‘nobody wants to hear you guys over here’ 

And we just smile. We say “Have a good day!” and we walk away trying to stay happy. Its been super discouraging but eventually we find somebody who lets us pray with them or read a scripture or who will at least talk to us for a bit. So far only one person has let us leave a book of Mormon with them and I love him a bunch. His name is Rodney and he was so enthusiastic. He was totally uninterested at first but he listened and I think the spirit pushed him to be a little curious.

I love being a missionary, even though the sight of my name tag makes people hurry away and turn around, even though being a missionary makes people forget I’m a person and makes them just see me as something to be avoided, even though I spend all day trying to get to know people and have about 5% success–I love it. I have never felt so ALIVE. THIS is what life is about! What could be more important than the gospel?? What could be more important than trying to help people come closer to God? 

OH YA! OK, S Mark Palmer spoke st the mtc. He's this super cool member of the 70 and from New Zealand. Then my first dinner with members....was his brother's family. So guess what. They called him for us. I got to tell Elder Palmer that I enjoyed his talk! He was like "Elder Owens! I'm so glad to talk with you! Tell me about yourself!" It was so cool.

If you're considering going on a mission, don't let anything stop you. If you feel like you need more gospel knowledge, just go! Please just go onna mission! You will learn more about the gospel on a mission them at home. If you feel like you need to earn more money, then just go on your mission now! Your ward and family and friends will tak3 care of you. Sacrifice brings blessings and if you let others help pay for you then they are richly blessed. God will make sure that there's a way for you to be supported throughout your mission.

A mission is the best thing you can do with your life. Don't let ANYTHING or anyone stop you from going on a mission. Go pray about it now.

I love you all and miss you alot. 

It's p-day btw

So text me on messenger or Google chats!

Arrived Safely - From the mission President and his Wife

 Dear Family

Sister Smith and I are happy to have received Elder Caleb Owens to the California San Jose Mission today! He, along with the other new missionaries, had lunch at the Mission Office and then received their new Trainer/Companions. They spent two hours street-contacting where they were able to pass out copies of the Book of Mormon, then they came to the mission home for dinner. He and his companion will return to the Mission Office tomorrow to receive orientation from our Senior Missionary couples regarding vehicles, housing, and MSF cards (debit cards). Following the orientation, they will receive missionary training given by Sister Smith and I, along with the Assistants.

We are grateful for the opportunity of having Elder Owens in our mission.  We assure you the service he renders will bless many lives.  He will be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to teach the Plan of Salvation and to bring many souls unto Christ.

So that our missionaries may remain focused and enthusiastic about this most important work, we ask parents to regularly communicate with their missionary by sending encouraging, uplifting letters and/or a weekly email. Missionaries are allowed to call parents on P-day (Monday). Please be aware of the following instruction given to missionaries found in Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ:

"You (the missionary) should initiate all text message conversations, online messaging, phone calls, and video chats.  If your family needs to contact you, they should contact the mission president first."

Whenever sending mail, please use the first and last name of the missionary.  We encourage that all letters and packages be sent to the Mission Office via First Class or Priority Mail, and they will be delivered to your missionary.  

The Mission Office address is:  1336 Cherry Ave., San Jose, CA  95125

You are invited to join our Facebook group where Sister Smith regularly posts photographs:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/274905436326648

Should you wish to contact me, please feel free to call me by phone at (408) 858-9001 or email at garya.smith@churchofjesuschrist.org.

Thank you for your prayers and support, and for sharing Elder Owens with us here in the wonderful California San Jose Mission.  I know that this mission experience will forever bless his life.

 

Sincerely,

Gary A. Smith
Mission President