Adventures of the spirit.

 Well

We went to a Chinese family and elder Slade taught them in chinese. I caught about 2 words. But they were really nice. They gave us coconut water in cartons. They had such a blast watching our reactions they busted out real coconuts, cut the top of and stabbed straws in then for us. So I got to drink a whole coconut. They also shared some walnuts, the most nutty tasting nut I've ever had. 

We had our district council and the sisters are both mega going through it, lots of trials that we really can't help with going on ( the district is just me, elder slade and the 2 sisters right now).

I kinda without realizing it asked if they wanted blessings and in tears they said ya. These 2 blessings were extra special. I've known one of the sisters my whole mission and the other is one I love hanging out with on p- days past 2 transfers. Since I knew them so well and really cared for them, the words came so easily and everything felt right. Both blessings I gave were totally different but I knew it was what they needed. 

Blessings are mega powerful. If you feel like asking for one- do it. If you don't have a priesthood holder- find one.

If you feel like offering a blessing- do it.

Other experience- teaching Natasha, she was in a very interesting mood. She asked us how many people we've converted then told us she feels like God doesn't love her. She told us she prays to Mary and that doesn't do anything for her at all. So we mega testified of the book of mormon, the atonement, and the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints being Gods restored church. She told us she'd make Converting her new year's resolution. 

Another experience- at church Huseyin introduced me to members of another ward like this " This is my brother, Elder Owens. He knows everything, all doctrine, all scriptures. He's shown me the way"

I was like " huseyin, i don't know everything- you've taught me a lot too!"

In Sunday school they asked me to share Husyein's whole story and introduce him to everybody. It was really tender and the first time I've teared up around people in a while. I love Huseyin so much, he's become one of my good friends. I'm so happy I was able to meet him and teach him.

Then we got invited to dinner! Us missionaries and Huseyin too. It was great. 

Last experience- the talk " adventures of the spirit '' Robert E Wells 1985.

Dang. I stumbled on this after searching "kneeling in prayer" or something. This talk instantly became a favorite. Its full of tender miracles and the incredible blessings of missionary service. It makes you treasure spiritual experiences you have and anxiously crave to have more! I needed that talk so bad.

I have seen recommendations for talks and stuff in emails and texts before- I too almost never actually click on them. So- you mega dont have to- but if you can then you should listen to it:

Adventures of the Spirit

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1985/10/adventures-of-the-spirit?lang=eng

Luv u guysss

Its brutal out here

 11-21

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

Lets see, this week was good. I got to go to the chinese branch's karaoke night. Didn't understand a single word but I had a lot of pumpkin pie. 

A wonderful beautiful break from the norm.

It was the most meh week ever really.

Basically nothing happened. 

I did pass off another set of scriptures with president's wife, Sister Smith. Now i'm working on the 3rd lesson, the gospel and doctrine of Jesus Christ.

I cleaned out all the cupboards and the freezer so that was nice. 

Ummmm 

Be a missionary but as my friend Bishop (President)(?) Griffith always said:

"The first leadership is SELF-leadership, you can't lead others where you're not"

Mega mega truth 

How you gonna invite somebody to read the book of mormon every day if you arent reading it every day yourself? How you gonna invite them to take charge of their testimony if you havent been nourishing your own? How you gonna invite them to let God prevail if you arent making Christ the focus in your life and striving to align your will with His? 

I learned this alot our here. I invite people to make very difficult changes in their lives, it would be impossible to do thst effectivley without having expirienced repentance before. 

I wish and pray for all of you to be effective leaders in the gospel, and that will be because of your self- leadership.

I love you guys. 

Mega miss yall right now

The power of actually trying

 Ok. So. This week has been the hardest so far. Basically me and my comp have been having a hard time creating a real relationship. We have different views on how to do missionary work and almost complete opposite interests and passions. We couldn't be more different. I had kinda given up on trying to get along well and had just accepted it and was looking forward to the next transfer.(which is a really dumb thing to do). I would be praying almost all day for patience and power to be ok and endure and for time to fly by. 

Then God basically told me I was doing it wrong. We had a zone conference and afterwards president smith found me and asked if he could give me a priesthood blessing. So very sneakily we left the room and went to a nursery room in the church and talked for a bit.

I had not told anybody i was struggling with anything but president Smith hit almost all concerns and gave me council that i had not even considered. THEN he gave me a blessing and it was perfect. I began trying to be happy and looking for ways I could show gratitude and serve my comp and genuinely care about his interests. I found ways to serve him. I tried to share it with him. 

And nothing really changed…

Till one night. I opened up. I told him i was feeling discouraged about ASL. He opened up and told me all about his struggles with learning Mandarin chinese. He gave me lots of really helpful tips and insight. It felt like the first conversation we ever had actually communicated. 

Then we were up till 12, he taught me a bunch of really really really difficult maths and math ideas. It was a miracle. I was fully engaged and wanted to understand what he was saying and actually did! He was comfortable enough with me to share his passion for math and it felt like we were united. 

I cannot change him. I can't pray for him to change. I have control over myself. I can change. I'm learning so much right now. I am excited to become better friends with him and learn more.

It'll be great.

The actual work:Huseyin had his baptism interview. He's not willing to be a full tithe payer. So were gonna wait a bit.

Im excited for him,im glad i get mire time to teach him. I love huseyin so much, hes so wonderful. I know his faith will grow.

That's basically it. 

Love you guys. 

Usually I invite you to go on a mission…but there's a bunch of you that can't go on a mission for whatever reason, so this week, you get the invitation! Be a missionary at home! Invite your friends to churchy opportunities! Share a verse with them! Bear your testimony! Go out and find and teach with the missionaries in your ward! 

And please! Be an example! People should know that you are happy and that you have the spirit with you. Love you're life the way the gospel teaches you to so that people can feel the spirit when they are in your home and with you. Study the book of Mormon every single day so you can have that essential power with you all day. 

bye bye bean man.*

well🐳

this week was basically just a bunch of garbage. We had interviews and it was great. but my man Elder Scott walked out of there with tears in his eyes and muttered "president is sending me home" basically his meds were hurting his heart and so he gadda go home to get adjusted to new medicine and figure out stuff. Elder Scott is an incredible missionary and while we served together he became my best friend. He is an absolute legend and changed my life. We worked together so well and got along perfectly. So ya- im pretty upset he's going home. I'm actually really, really upset. 

Another missionary from our district is going home too. so now me and his comp are together, covering 3 wards---including the chinese branch cuz they were chinese program elders. 

I don't know chinese. The majority of their work is chinese.

Last night I dropped Elder scott off at the Mission Office. It was really hard. much cry.

President told me he trusted me and knew I could do this. 

With elder scott going home i had a lot of anger at President and even God. The whole time, deep down I knew it was God's will and there's a reason why president has been prompted to do that. Then I remembered Jacob 4:10 especially the part about "taking counsel from His hand. . .he councels in wisdom and mercy" or something. So I decided I need to do that. and since trying to do that I've had mega peace. It's cool that even though I'm going through something really hard and still sad about it-i can still have peace and be happy. 

i also got my wrist casted finally. gonna be in it for 3 weeks. 

so technically. . .I'm in the Mandarin Chinese program. My new comp, elder Slade is incredibly eccentric about the language and teaches me all sorts of things about the language basically nonstop. So I will likely be fluent by the end of the transfer.

i'm continuing to learn ASL and it's just plain incredible how easy it is flowing into my mind and hands. Even with limited use of one hand, I'm still just loving it.

So basically send a lot of prayers to Elder Scott. 

and as always, do everything you can to get out on your mission. start now. Call your bishop. Read the Book of Mormon. pray a bunch. . .whatever YOU need to do, and YOU know what it is. . .do it!

*Elder Scott had a cool way he said "beans" so everybody started calling him the bean man.

the photos:

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

thas what i got.