I never know what to write here.

 12-26

Well, 

I went to zone conference but surprise! Its actually a Christmas party. So, instead of trying to stay awake while President Smith and the APs Preach Doctrine to us, I had to sit uncomfortably with other missionaries while we played games and talked and made gingerbread house things.

I much prefer normal zone conferences.

But! I was able to see Elder Taufer, my companion for the MTC days. Normally we go to a different zone conference BUT we went to that one because the next day I had a Dr. Appt for my scaphoid.

At the appt Dr. Margaret Cook told me I didn't have to wear the brace anymore- well- that's what I heard. Really she said I could start weaning myself out of it. So I haven't worn it once since. I still have to take vitamin D³ but whatever.

It hurts sometimes which is concerning I guess but I'm sure it's fine.

If you ever break your hands wrists or feet or something and your in Pleasanton I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Margaret Eileen Cook. She was great to be with and made sure I understood what was going on and was genuinely Interested what I said. If I broke my wrist again I'd go to her. 

Then we did missionary work all day for the rest of the week. 

On Christmas day our deaf branch was combined with the hearing ward. So we were interpreting english→ asl the whole time. I helped with one song and I did the closing prayer almost completely on my own. It was really hard but I was told by some very honest people that I did a good job, and also the things I messed up on. Good thing I love getting constructive criticism….sometimes….

It's ok, it's ok, it's ok, I'll get there eventually.

On Christmas night we had dinner with the Branch President of the ASL branch and his family. He's deaf. So they all sign. Alot. It was kinda scary to see a 5 year old signing that good. These kids can teach me more sign than my comps can. They all speak perfect English of course amd guess what- they also know Spanish. So dinner was wonderful and then President Peterson asked us to sing for him. 

Which is interesting because he's deaf.

But it's actually a fun game. You sit right next to him and get your mouth as close to his ear and then they blast the music and you sing as loud as you can and then he pays attention to the vibrations and stuff and then guesses the song.

It was actually kinda cool.

That's the first time I've ever performed a solo like that. Like- I've never sang on my own in front of other people. 

I went twice and he was able to guess both times. So pretty cool.

And now it's pday. I'm writing my email while everybody else plays volleyball and I can't do volleyball because Dr. Margaret Eileen Cook said to avoid impacts and stay out of sports for at least a month.

So that kinda sucks but I'm OK with it.

Well, that's everything worth sharing.

Soooo please pray for me to learn ASL or not- I'll still learn either way but I know it will go faster and smoother if there's at least a few people praying for me. 

I love you guys! Merry Christmas! 

If you didn't take Elder Rasbands council to renew your commitment to read the Book of Mormon every day back in October or you did and the habit has already died---then This Day I invite you This Day to re-watch his talk and make a new years resolution based on what the spirit teaches you. Whether that's reading it daily or giving one away or helping somebody else renew their commitment to read the book of Mormon every day or whatever it looks like- do it!

Love you all

Dannnng

 

12-19

Merry Christmas

Oh boy I dunno where to even start.

What an absolute week.

One cool thing was we went and visited a disabled member. He was so happy to have some company. It was such a warm visit. He started talking about the 49ers and how much he loves them. It was getting to the point like. . .ok- we gadda go brother.

But! It was actually divine! We were supposed to be there for the exact amount of time we were there for.

Heres why- as were walking out of the disabled members apartments we see a woman walking her 2 dogs.

I turn to elder white and mutter "lets go ask her if she wants to be baptized"

So we walk over and i say the " hey were the missionaries in the area. . . ."

And she looks up and starts MOVING HER HANDS AND FINGERS AROUND HER FACE.

Im like hol up…why she signing…oh…she just signed " im deaf" in ASL

Me and elder white drop everything we're holding and start signing back " WERE ASL ELDERS! WE KNOW ASL! " 

She gets mega excited and is just so happy to have somebody to sign with. We invited her to church, got her VP number. It was epic.

The next day we were walking around a gated community trying to find a way in (happens alot here lol) and we see a car drive towards the gate so its like "yes! A way in!"

But the car slows down and stops right by us.

The window rolls down

"Elder..i think we in trouble"

But nope she looks at us in shock and has tears in her eyes "are you the missionaries?!"

We say ya and she explains she's going through the hardest time ever in her life and hasn't been to church in over 10 years. She explained how she was gonna go to the liquor store and then she saw us!

We said a beautiful prayer for her and we'll go back over later this week.

Then elder simien went home to do a service mission…im in a trio now. The 3 of us cover the entire mission a big chunk above, below and to the side. If there's a deaf person we teach them. 

Trio life is tuff. Elder white and rigby already are really close and im kinda just…there.

Last night we did mega language study. They made me teach the restoration in ASL. If I didn't know how to, then I had to fingerspell what I knew.

I was fine for the first bit but after a few mistakes and frustrations I was on the verge of tears. I was so angry and ready to straight up call president Smith and tell him " get me outta here! I hate this!" 

I turned away for a few seconds, said a prayer in my head and then turned back.

We made it to the end and I bore my testimony of the restoration and book of mormon. I was overwhelmed with burning peace. The room felt warmer and brighter. 

Suddenly I didn't see my comps as mean for correcting me so much but loving. 

Now I was holding back tears for a different reason. I realized this was my first time feeling the spirit "in ASL" or from ASL communicating.

They felt it too. It was beautiful and wonderful.

Anyways. 

Have a good christmas. Plz pray for us to find more deaf people to teach. We need them so much and even more than we need them- they need the gospel. They need the Book of mormon. They need to know about the peace and joy that can come from the atonement of Jesus Christ. The hearing people need it too, so you can pray for them too i guess.

Luv you all.

Imma answer to prayers

 12-12

Well

I'm fr fr an ASL missionary now. We live in a 4-man- so all 4 of us ASL missionaries are together. It's been incredibly stressful. I opened up "Adjusting to Missionary Life" for basically the first time and actually needed what it said. They have told me it's impressive how fast I'm picking stuff up! That made me mega happy.

SO! watch out for me on "ASL followers of Jesus Christ in Northern California" facebook page. I'm working on learning how to sign Mosiah 2:17 then hopefully I'll get it up this week. 

Anyways. The ASL program is a completely different experience than anything else. The first huge difference is the level of obedience here. Obedience in mission culture has to do with how you follow the mission standards- which a lot of missionaries do, but there's so many that choose to follow some and justify disregarding other rules. Here, we follow every single rule. It's because we have so many privileges as ASL missionaries- we have a TV in our apartment (for video calls) it would be so easy to watch shows and movies- so we have to be obedient so we don't lose that or use it wrong. We can also travel anywhere in the mission and pretty far out of the mission as well! That's a huge privilege! We have to make sure President Smith can trust us with that. We also need the gift of tongues (hands) and obedience brings blessings, especially with the gift of languages.

On Sunday I got to go to the deaf branch and dannng what a beautiful service- I wish I knew what they were saying though. I got prolly 10%. 

Then the 4 of us ASL missionaries had a in person meeting with President Smith at the MO to find out how we can find more deaf people to teach. It was wonderful. So basically- turns out- the ASL branch is struggling. They've been praying a lot for help…and then I told President Smith I know some ASL…now I'm in the program. So I helped answer a prayer. Now I just have to prove useful.

Well

That's what I've got for this week.

Merry Christmas.

Love you guys.

Pray for me to learn asl plz?

New Companion, Elder White

The fotoz-

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

Expectations

12-5
https://photos.app.goo.gl/DYM8hzqfMfgxUFWZ7


Wow.
Transfer #3 is over.
So i'll tell you the important stuff now so you don't have to read the rest.
I'm going to the ASL program.
It's in Fremont cuz there's a school for the deaf there.


Anyways, good week- well, like yes, but also not really lol.
I got my cast off on Wednesday. I let president know and we texted a bit about the plan and decided i'd wait one more transfer to do ASL(yes, turns out the lord had different plans)
I got a silly piece of plastic with velcro on it that I'm supposed to wear now. I can take it off though- so I do. Alot.





Then we went to the temple and it was wonderful. I gadda see my trainer Elder Prestwich! And my other favorite missionary Elder Davis! And I got to participate in temple ordinances and that's always wonderfully amazing. Then we got on the bus and had sandwiches.

I guess this is worth sharing- we had a member give us 100$ worth for Outback steakhouse and we got there and had wonderful steak and we went to pay but somebody already paid for it. We found the guy and guess what- his son is on a mission in Boise right now! So I'm like "that's where I'm from!" It was mega cool.


Then we got transfer calls.
And despite my huge expectation and desire to be training- i'm going to ASL. I saw the call from the president and i was so happy cuz i thought he was gonna ask me to train.
But nope "Elder Owens, im calling to let you know the Lord wants you to do ASL this transfer" he acknowledged my broken wrist and said i'll learn faster and easier this way. I was feeling pretty discouraged and not great and he could tell so he said we'd call every week and see how i'm doing with it. So that'll be good but also it's gonna be tough.


Then on Sunday I had to tell Huseyin I would be leaving and hebwas pretty sad. He said he'll just come to Fremont to visit me. Then I packed everything into suitcases (why are they called suitcases? I hate putting my suits in those.) I hate packing. Alot. But whatever i guess.


One thing I've learned is how much expectations can affect our emotions. I expected to stay here and train- that didn't happen so now I'm upset. But logically I should be super happy- I'm going to be an ASL missionary! That's what I have been working towards for a few months now! And now I get it! But I guess our brains don't always work logically? Cuz I'm upset. But whatever. I am looking forward to a new comp and a new apartment. That'll be cool.


Anyways. I love yall. I miss ya a bunch. Merry Christmas. Invite every friend you have to your ward Christmas parties. Learn something in ASL and send it to me.

️