Altering the management of affairs

 This new transfer has just been so slow. It feels like time has just stopped and I have to push every hour forward in order to get to the next one. 

I am now the designated driver, which is stressful- I haven't driven this much since before my mission almost a year ago. It's kinda scary but so far I'm doing pretty great. 

Elder Rigby was sick for the first half of the week then it was my turn and I was sick. 

On Wednesday we went to visit with a family that's returning to activity and they told us when they get sick they would just eat some Garlic and it would get rid of the sickness. I was hesitant to believe that's true, but at this point Elder Rigby was just done being sick. So we drove to Safeway right after the lesson and bought a chunk of Garlic. And as soon as we got to the car he broke it open and popped one in his mouth and gave me a piece too. He was fine for a few seconds then started dying. I started chewing on my piece and. . .WOW. it was like 500 degree heat just going through my body, it came out my ears. It was like the spiciest feeling ever and I wanted to vomit so bad. It seemed as though it kind of reduced the symptoms. 

So that was fun. 

Thursday was powerful. We met with Pugal and he set up a goal to be baptized June 17th! He's pretty funny and really loves Jesus. He also wants to help clean the church house. 

We also met with Emma, she is the one who was led to the church house by the spirit. She loves to talk. Like alot. So that was fun. 

Thursday evening we had a very unique member meal, we have a member who's son recently died by suicide. Our ward has been making sure that she's not alone and the family that signed up to feed us Thursday was also being with her. So we met at a restaurant and tried to be happy and not talk about 'it' at all. But she started asking Elder Rigby and I alot of really deep questions straight from her heart about where her son is and what's gonna happen to him. It was kinda difficult but luckily we knew where to find the best answers we could give and left her with resources. One key thing was that we turned every answer towards Jesus Christ, His atonement and the temple. 

That was very powerful for all of us.

On Friday we experienced another miracle with our Indian brothers and sisters. We were tracking around just being rejected and having fun when we knocked on a door and an Indian woman about 30 cokes from behind us up to the door we just knocked on. So we explained why we were knocking on her door and offered to say a prayer with her. She looked confused and then went inside for a minute and came back to the door with her husband. She explained we were gonna say a prayer. He looks like we're interrupting his day and he doesn't care and we're about to just give up and say "have a good day" and I saw into their home, hanging up on a wall, just barely in my field of vision, a picture of Jesus Christ!

So without thinking I cut off the conversation that was happening and started the restoration- "we also share a really special message about Jesus Christ and how the church he set up whilebhe was here on Earth has been restored" and then a moment of silence. . .

"Would you like to come in?" Was his reply 

So epic. We sat down with them and taught the full restoration and left them with a Book of Mormon. We got to learn more about them and it was really fun. Their names are Davis and Tess. We've prayed for them every day since. 

Saturday is when I really started my turn of being sick. I was dripping water out of my nose everywhere and my head hurt a bunch. So I went to the fridge and pulled out a piece of garlic, maybe it will work?

Nope. This time was way worse than the first. Maybe it aged or was a bugger piece? Idk but it was sooo awful. My whole body was just screaming on the inside. It was so bad I actually threw up most of the Garlic chunks.

Then we went to play cricket in the park with some Indians and other missionaries. I love cricket. I'm just not very good at it. . . .yet! (Growth mindset is something I've been working on a lot especially in relation to ASL and Driving)

Well on Sunday I woke up and MY voice was 3 octaves lower. And I felt like garbage. Also I was giving a talk on the ASL branch. That was tuff.

Emma and Pugal came to church so that's crazy epic. After church I just fell asleep then all the sudden it was 9:00 so I went to sleep again

Monday was memorial day so we had a big breakfast, I just wish I weren't so sick so I could have enjoyed that more. We sat with the ASL branch and I actually completely followed the conversation(s) there were like 3 all at the same time just going on all around me. Pretty cool.

I was in bed most of the day Monday too and eventually I was just so angry that being sick was taking all my time away so I asked Elder Rigby to give me a blessing. It was a beautiful and powerful blessing. I'm so thankful Elder Rigby lives his life so worthilly and consecrated so that when the time came he could give a powerful blessing. 

I felt great so we went out and contacted nobody who said no to us that night. Everybody prayed with us and let us share a message. 

Then we had interviews the next day and I told president about all the miracles that Elder Holladay and I have seen with our Hindi friends and part of me was expecting to get shut down and told that I just need to focus on ASL- but he was actually really proud of us. He encouraged us to keep doing it! He said that they've been trying to get traction with the Indians for a really long time and it's just never stuck so he wants us to keep doing what we're doing! So that's epic. 

This weekend is stake conference which is crazy cuz I was here for the last stake conference. I am really worried about Interpreting for that so plz pray for me so I can do good lol. 

And also, if you could, please pray for our Indian brothers and sisters. The work is progressing and we can't let it stop. Pray for more Miracles and for the church in India. These people are like, the pure example of people kept from the truth because they don't know where to find it. 

Also, in 7 days my trainee arrives! Elder Searle will be here! I'm so excited for that!

Ok, one more thing before I close. I am just about wrapping up the "war chapters" of Book of Mormon. And one thing that has really stuck out is all the fortifying Moroni does. There's one phrase in Alma 49:11: "for Moroni had altered the management of affairs among the Nephites" that really stood out. Moroni completely altered the way they fought and protected themselves. He really changed a lot. And that is why they completely won so much. So with our "battles" with Satan we need to alter our management of affairs. Maybe you need to throw mounds of dirt around the city and put works of timber around until it's an exceedingly strong hold. Find ways you can better fortify yourself so when you are attacked by temptation or trials you stay strong. Maybe it's listening to more conference talks, praying more, starting a gratitude journal, reading more scriptures, listening to church music, spending more time with family. Whatever it takes to fortify yourself and alter the management of affairs so you can win every battle.

Love you all

Have an incredible week!

"Be happy" and the work is progressing

 

Elder White left. So we back to a companionship for 2 weeks! Then back to Trio with my Son, Elder Searle. He is in the MTC right now and I can't wait to meet him.

Anyways, t'was a good week. Also super long because I had extra days without a pday.

I got a video call from a random deaf man in Pakistan. He signs a different Sign Language than me so we struggled to understand each other but every time I help up the book of Mormon he got really excited so that's good

Also Cricket is progressing! I am slowly loving the Indian Culture and people more and more! We teamed up with our district and one companionship has a friend who is an Indian! He came and played cricket with us for a hour. It was actually really fun. So many Indians walked past us and just smiled. We asked all of them if they wanted to join us and they were all like "I'll just watch for now." 

So we need to get better first then we can really start using this. 

2 days later, our Indian friend who helped us learn, Sarihari (सारिणी) was baptized! It was beautiful. I also had a very powerful experience, while they were getting changed, Elder Holladay was just playing hymns on the piano. I had the feeling over and over again to walk up to the front and share my testimony. So then I didn't. So then the feeling got stronger. I looked around and there were a handful of people being taught by missionaries there. So I was like ok ok ok and stood up and walked to the front. Elder holladay looked up from the piano and was like "?"

And I just went at it. Testifies of baptism, the book of Mormon, and Jesus Christ. Powerful. Very thick spirit there. Then I sat down and Elder Holladay went up and shared his testimony! 

It was beautiful! 

Then after that we got to go help at "happy smiles" this huge service where they do free dental work. Except that they had nothing for us to do. So I picked up like 10 pieces of trash and watched the procedures. (I took a Dental Assisting class before my mission and loved it so it was cool to be surrounded by that environment again.)

Sunday was wonderful! We had some guy who we've texted like 2 times show up. He ends every text with "Pastor" like "thank you Pastor" or "ok Pastor" but he showed up! His name is Pugal and he's. . . .from India! He speaks Tamil and a little English! He was so kind and also very shy but our ward just enveloped him in welcoming-ness. 

Also- brace yourself- this part is epic. During Sacrament meeting i was like "Hey guys we meed to go get a Book of Mormon for Pugal" and as we're coming back from that we see a brother in the ward with some woman we've never seen. He stops us and is like 

"Hey Elders, this is Emma, she just walked in. She said she's been looking for a church and prayed for the spirit to guide her. She said the Holy spirit led her here"

She looked up at us with eyes that had very clearly been crying alot. We shook her hand and introduced ourselves and her smile was full of love and sincerity. We're going over tomorrow to teach her more! 

So cool. 

Then In ASL Church. I interpreted for a High Council speaker. I knew going into it I was going to mess up. So I prayed for the ability to have a growth mindset and choose to learn and grow rather than feel awful about my mistakes.

And it worked! I messed up so much and missed even More! But I didn't feel awful!

There were so many times I looked down at Elder White and he just signed and I copied. Then hebsat on his hands and I was like . . .ok. 

But he smiled and told me I did great.

 Monday was the worst pday ever because it wasn't pday. We just went around and said to families elder white is close with. 

And Tuesday was the last day with Elder White. We went to the MO, hung out, then went to the temple- wow- so good. So much peace and power. What a beautiful experience. 

Then we had pizza and left. 

During my last hug with Elder White he said "be happy" and that really stuck with me. So I'm going to try and be better about that and choose to be happy. 

And real true happiness that lasts forever, or Joy, comes from Jesus Christ and doing what he has asked us to do. Repentance, scripture study, service, participating in covenants, and a lot of other things are wonderful ways to find this joy. 

I love you all! If you remember to, I would ask that you include in at least one prayer this week the Indian people and that missionaries can find more success in inviting them to come unto Christ. 

Also, 'Our Prayer to Thee' from April 2022 is soooo good! (President Nelson wrote this song)

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Momentum and Confidence

 

5-15

Good news, I am now noticeably more buff than I was when I started all my fitness goals. Which I'm really excited about. I feel like I now have sufficient momentum that will just replenish on its own. 

This week was a challenge but also had many opportunities to learn; some of them I took, others I ignored. 

On Wednesday we tried to have a bunch of lessons but every single one fell through and absolutely nobody was home until the Velasquez family. Legends. Me and elder Rigby re-found them a few months ago during our Member Audit. They’re all members, they just hadn’t been to church in a long time. We started going over once a week every week since we re-found them and there was no signs of success up until 2 weeks ago when they actually came to church, then again the week after. So we have this momentum and we cannot lose it because this family is precious. So we brought their ministering sister and brother to come with us, listened to “The Imperfect Harvest” and i was able to do that thing again where I get to be a powerful tool in God's hand and the spirit fills the room and I know it's because I acted in faith and opened my mouth. I testified of all the changes I’ve noticed in their home and in them as we’ve been coming over and testified all the blessings they’re receiving are real. It was epic. Then they came to church again on Mothers day and got to watch their daughter sing for Sister Velasquez. So wonderful.

The other exciting thing started a long time ago but we lost all momentum until Thursday. And that is Cricket. As you know (if you’ve been reading any of the past few emails[it's ok if not though]) teaching Indians is super hard. So we have been counseling with our stake presidency on how to find and teach Indians. The best solution is to start playing cricket. And on Thursday we just watched Cricket videos for an hour and went through each “piece” (the bat and ball and pegs and stuff). I was honestly pretty excited and ready to just go outside and try to play. 

On that note, My Hindi is coming along so great and I am still dedicated to becoming fluent. I just need more resources for learning Hindi. It's gonna be an exponential growth once I start getting some more friends here that speak Hindi. Lemme know if you know anything about Hindi.

Off that note. We got to go up to Richmond, which is about an hour and a half North of us to give a Deaf friend a blessing. That was pretty fun. I did the anointing (in ASL) and I learned that I really actually know ASL. I just need more confidence. I knew all the signs I needed but I was still looking to my companions for reassurance (which they didn’t give anyways). I really just need to commit and go and have more confidence. I can't let little things get to me, I need to focus on my purpose and all the things I do know rather than what I don't. 

Also, we got to help an old Deaf man move into an old peoples home and like 6 other Deaf people showed up to help! None of them were members! So that was a legendary experience because now 8 more Deaf people are closer to joining the church. It was super fun though and they gave us a bunch of pizza and cookies. 

So ya. Happy Mothers Day! 

Also, this is my last pday on a Monday. They're all gonna be on Wednesdays from now on. So adjust your schedules now so you'll be ready and you can still have time to read my emails and text me.

Also read the Book of Mormon every day and try to be more confident with me. 

Love you!

-Elder Owens

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Top-Secret underground Hindi speaking

 Good week. Except that I'm not doing incredibly well. So I spent all my free time on Duolingo absolutely GRINDING the Hindi Language. 

I now with 85% confidence know every single letter/syllable in the Hindi alphabet. That means I can read Hindi things (but I would have no clue what I'm saying) I do know a handful of words though! This is their word for book: किताब (ki ta b) 

Pretty cool right?

We don't have a Hindi language program here even though 80% or more of the people we talk to are Indians that know Hindi. That actually kinda frustrates me. The rule is you need a unit of that language in the area before you can start a missionary language program of that language. And we don't have a Hindi unit anywhere. But we can't ever have a Hindi program if there are no missionaries teaching Hindi speaking people! We do have 1 member that knows Hindi in our ward. So maybe if I can get like 5 more that'll be enough and they can send Hindi assigned missionaries. 

There's another Elder in my district who feels the same way and we're learning together. The idea is we're gonna grind it till we're legends, eventually be companions and start an underground Hindi program and just baptize every Hindi speaker we see. I want that sooooo bad! That is my dream! Just thinking about it makes me happier than I've been in a while lol. I guess just like Alma in chapter 29, I sin I'm my wish. For I ought to be content with the things which the lord hath allotted unto me.

(Alma 29:3)

ANYWAYS. In Tuesday we met the most prepared man in the entire mission. His name: Akash (आकाश) that's right- he's a Hindi speaker!!! (Thats also fluent in english) we've been trying to meet for a bit and finally did! Basically some sister from New Jersey have been texting him on Facebook and he's incredibly interested! He saw missionaries all the time as a kid in Northern India and always wanted to learn more but his family wouldn't let him. He's always wanted to be religious but he said he let the world distract him and wasn't sure how to start. We gave him a tour of the church house and there was one super epic part where we were ready to keep going, but I stopped at a picture of Jesus Christ during the atonement in the garden. And I mega testified of Jesus Christ and the Atonement. Akash loved it. That was one of those moments I talked about last week where the spirit was there and it just brings so much peace and joy to know that you did a good job letting the spirit guide you. So powerful.

Also I asked Akash if he can teach me Hindi and he said he'd love to! 

Then the next day we had Zone Conference. . .the last one with President and sister Smith. . .

So powerful. We studied the priesthood together and the history of authority. All the way back to Adam. Pretty epic. Also President and Sister Larsen, the soon to be leaders of this mission sent us a like 15 minute long video where every member of their family introduced themselves. 3 out of 4 of the kids were "sim- coming" (simultaneous communication) that means they were signing and talking at the same time! That got us pretty excited. I will have access to soooo much help with ASL when they arrive!

And not much else really happened. Except we did go down to San Jose and worked in the sun weeding a forest of thistles for 3 hours. And then I got to film my testimony in ASL for pur ASL Facebook page (with beat up sore hands) so that was. . . Fun. I spelled my name wrong the first time and the sun was layering into my eyes. So much fun. So when it's posted and it looks funny it's fine- I will do better next time lol.

Oh! And we had our open house for the church on Saturday. We've been passing put flyers and inviting everybody for about a month now. We even had a huge sign in front of the church inviting everybody to come! And the ONLY people that came. . .were people that were walking past the church and we invited them to come take the tour real quick AND a few members(? Idk why they wanted to come take a tour of the place they go at least once a week?) So in total about 15 people.

There apparently was one woman who a missionary ran up to to invite her to take the tour and I guess she had a pretty big problem with it cuz she called the number on our church's Google maps (which, is ours) and left a message about how she felt very unsafe and scared and with all the crime happening we shouldn't do that. So we prayed for her. The missionary that scared her was one of my comps and I can see how she may have gotten scared. . .(I love my comps!)

Then fast Sunday! I bore my testimony in ASL Church so that was good. I saw way more people nodding this time than last time. So I hope that means they understood. 

Well, I love you all. This week I just wanna te-extend all invitations I have given before; serve a mission and help others to serve their missions, read the Book of Mormon every day no matter what, set lots of goals and put them in places you will see them a few times every day, re-commit to taking charge of your own testimony, and be healthier. That's basically it. There was also study "This Day" from Elder Rasband and "Adventures of the Spirit" from Elder Robert E Wells. 

So hopefully, you have a busy week because you'll be busy doing all these things.

This church is incredibly true. If you don't know that with your whole soul then pray to know it with your whole soul, act on what you receive, and then you will! 

Love you all so much!

Also, I just hit 300 days. So that's cool.

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Dinner was a trap.

 Well

This week was: 'service'

But it started with a dinner immediately after preparation day ended. Understand, on P-day I don't put as much effort into my hair and I'm at the very end of all my proselyting clothes. So I usually end up with a blue shirt and pants that are wrinkley. It's always been fine because we only work 3 hours after pday ends and it's usually dark.

But this meal. . .oh boy. It was with our ward mission leader. We got there (me wearing a blue shirt and having poofy hair) and then they let us know, "Hey, we invited the Perries"

. He's in the temple presidency and everybody who knows him expects to hear a talk from him in general conference soon. He's a legend. And I'm wearing wrinkly blue shirts AND blue pants that don't match plus you can't even tell which way I parted my hair.

For the first time in a while I was nervous. 

Luckily it ended up being fine. He was mega nice and even gave me 2 hugs! One before we ate and one after! We gave a really powerful message about "love is the motivator" especially behind missionary work. I got to mega bear testimony and DANG there is not a feeling I love more than the mega mega feeling of the spirit being in the room because of my willingness to be an instrument in God's hands and say what he needed me to say. I especially love it when I look at my companions and can can see the amazement they have at the amount bofm pure spirit that is present.

No other feeling is better than the companionship of the Holy Ghost. 

Well, Tuesday wasn't worth sharing except for one part. A little bit ago we got a call from a woman named Irene. Her brother had recently died and she was left to do all the paper work and tale care of the house. She found out about the Clothing Swap our ward was doing and wanted to donate everything to us. So multiple times this week and last, almost every day. We've been going over and picking up the stuff. I've gotten so many cool ties and vests and even a new study chair! Plus we got cool mountain pictures to put up in the apartment!

Also we spent 2 hours planting giant flower bushes in the MIDDLE OF THE DAY at PEAK SUNSHINE. But it's fine. I guess.

Then the next day we drive all the way up to San Francisco. And we even went on the Golden Gate Bridge (I think that's capitalized I'm not sure though) unfortunately, it was purely and completely surrounded by a cloud. I looked up and it literally looked like just huge cement walls going up and down. So that was brutal on my expectations. 

But we met with a bunch of Deaf people up there and I would tell you more but I have no clue what happened. Except inside good morning( in ASL ofc) to some guy ( I think his name was Michael?) And it was 4:30 and he just looked at me like 'bruh' (he said it with his face, although there is a sign for 'Bruh' [kind of]) also he was easily over 60. And at the end I said "nice to meet you" (in ASL ofc). I learned a few things from that trip, the main one was I need to get better at ASL.

The rest of the week we helped with the clothing swap. Basically 2 times a year our ward has the mega huge giant thing where people donate all their stuff that they don't need and others who do come in and take whatever they want. It's all 1000 percent free. The gym just gets full of all sorts of ridiculous things and we have to set up every table we have to hold all the clothes. It's crazy. So many people came! Afterwards all the leftovers were donated to a textile recycling thing and they give money based on the weight and then we donated all that to a food bank. I'll let you know how much money it was next week. Remind me if I forget.

We also weeded 2 members' yards. 1 hearing 1 deaf. Both inactive for frustrating reasons. But we still love them.

Also I got to go on a blitz exchange with my ZL, Elder Taylor. And, just to let you know, I'm not doing mega well at the moment. Comps are radiating trunkiness and prompting thoughts that create homesickness and trunkiness in me and I don't want that, they're also just really difficult sometimes, ASL is a whole new language and I'm struggling with that. . .alot, and many other things. Anyways during the blitz I just dumped everything on Elder Taylor and after giving wonderful advice he was like "Elder Owens, would you like a Priesthood blessing" and I was like ". . .ya" 

So we parked the car and he went to the chair behind me, took the headrest off and gave me a blessing. In the car. And it was exactly what I needed.

I know that the priesthood is real. Priesthood holders really hold God's power. Priesthood blessings are real too. It's not just a special way to give advice, its truly a way to hear what God would have you know. What an amazing gift God has given us through His Priesthood. 

Another epic gift he's given us is the Book of Mormon. Nothing else can bless your life more than a habit of studying that book every day.