If I wasn't endowed I'd be dead.

 

We helped at yet another move lol. After we got everything into the truck we headed to a storage place and I was taking a giant mirror out of there. I was gonna put it to the side so we could get the big stuff out. Then a big blast of wind came around the corner and I hit the bottom of the mirror on the ground-oof. The mirror shattered and a shard of glass went right to my leg, it tore a hole in my pants and I felt it against my leg. I was sure this was gonna be pretty bad and there’d be blood. But I look down and there's nothing. . .

You wanna know why? My garments. The glass had been stopped by my garments. my pants were destroyed lol-But everything under the garments was fine. So we threw away the glass and proceeded with the move.

We started exchanges with the Chinese Elders. We ended up starting really late- which was actually divine because as we head out to the car, we see a ton of Indians all walking together. Prolly in their 20s. So I just shouted to them “मेरा यार क्या चल रहा है?!”(my dude what's up?) They stopped walking and stared at us so baffled and confused. And one of them is like “you speak hindi..?” and so I say “हाँ जी क्या आप हिन्दी बोलना है?” (yes sir, do you speak hindi?”) All the guys with him are laughing and can't believe there's a white teenager, dressed up in church clothes standing next to a Taiwanese guy in pajamas. The next thing the indian in front says is “what's your number i wanna be your friend!” then Elder Tien pulls out my hindi flashcards from my pocket and shows them my plan of salvation hindi phrases. It was insane. we got home at like 11:30 though… 

I made banana bread.

My trainer, Luke Prestwich, came and visited me. Man it was incredible to see him again. 

My ASL trainers, Hyatt White and Shepard Rigby, also came and saw me- super amazing. These 3 elders have impacted me so much and taught me everything. The mission is so divine! Now that I am training, again, It was eye-opening to see how much I love and respect my trainers and it's like…am I being a good-enough trainer? Will Elder LaBar feel this way about me? How can I make the rest of our time together sacred and significant for him? I hope I'm doing a good job. 

Yesterday we were on our way to our car when outta nowhere a car with 3 teenage girls pulled up. We’re already at the car and I’m told in my mind “I timed this just right for you to go speak to them. they need to hear your testimony” so I look to Elder LaBar who was already tryna get in the car and i'm like “hey, lets go talk to them real quick” I came over to the chick driving and motioned for her to roll the window down. She waves implying “no” and for 1 second I wanna accept it and just go to the next place, get outta the sun and get in the car. But, come on! I know better- so I wave again and the window comes down. I introduced us and saw that 2 of the girls were indian. All the sudden they all open up and keep saying “i have one more question” we answer it, testify, then they ask again “i have one more question” it was like a dream come true. I wish everybody would just ask us questions. lol We talked a ton about the Book of Mormon and prophets, the Word of Wisdom, Polygamy, missionary work. I also got to speak hindi with them and show off. There's not very many things I love more than speaking hindi. They also wanted to know what the best thing that's happened to me during the past 23 months was and so I shared the story of Pugal. It was crazy powerful and for the first time, all 3 of them were silent after that story. I wish we could have kept talking but then somebody's mom comes out and calls them inside. She gave us an interesting look lol. But I know that the spirit will make sure they remember us. They will remember the spirit that was there and according to God's plan they will meet with missionaries again and they’re gonna get baptized for sure. 

I love being a missionary in the California Bay Area. There is nowhere else in the world like this. I love doing God's work. I love the Book of Mormon. I love driving here. I love Indian food. I love American Sign Language. I love my YSA ward. I love Hindi. I love the missionaries I serve with. I love my mission leaders. I love this church so much. You already know I will never ever step away. Imma serve God for the rest of my life.

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

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!