Silly Hama

 First off, please check out my good friend's Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/28i9MTT2FW1FnGmjkUdBLL?si=_XS7cnQzTEWpI82M6Ae3hQ

This is Elder Francom. He is one of my best friends I've made out here. He's super tall and so funny and just a blast to be with. Plus he's an incredibly talented musician. Please listen to some of his songs!

This week we had a giant ASL missionary Devo where they told us a little bit about how ASL missionaries can now be transferred between certain missions. Brother President Smith (my previous mission President) kinda gave the whole presentation so that was neat.

Then we made an Easter Video- start to finish in 1 day. Very stressful but luckily I have Indians and sister missionaries to help me. 

On Easter Sunday we had lunch with a somewhat new-to-the-ward family, the Johnstons. In December she gave a talk about our Christmas gift to Jesus that had significantly struck me and helped me to take some steps I needed to. This lunch was kind of my first time ever talking with her so I let her know that her talk kinda changed my life. 

She was a little shocked- she thought she did awful and was amazed I remembered anything or could have even learned anything.

I know that giving our sins and pains and frustrations to Jesus Christ is good! It's what we're supposed to do. It's at the top of his Christmas list. When we give our garbage and darkness to Jesus it shows that we trust him and that we love him. If we love Jesus enough to repent then naturally we will love him enough to be a true disciple. True repentance is how we come to know who the savior really is…and he wants us to know Him.

So. That was a really special moment. I'm glad I got to thank her.

I went on Exchange to the Chinese area. On our way out of my apartment some lady yelled at us to help her find her dog. So we did. We ran into an Indian couple who had the dog, told them we had just met the owner a few minutes ago and then led them to each other. Pretty cool miracle. Plus I spoke hindi to the couple and they almost gave up the ghost. We actually had a decent conversation! The exchange was actually so good. Elder Tien is a legend and he inspires me to be better.

We dropped some letters off to some sisters in the zone and we got there at just the right time. They had a service earlier where they got like over 3000 dollars worth of beauty products. So we each got a little goodie bag with all sorts of stuff. So now Elder Lewis and I both smell like women.

This week I read Esther, which means ‘star’ in Persian. It's a pretty neat story. One lesson I would share with you all is the foolishness of Haman. Haman was incredibly successful and had every reason to be happy and pleased with his life. However he decided to focus on everything that was wrong with his life-which was literally like…1 thing…Mordechai.

He let 1 person destroy his joy and peace….and ultimately….kill him.

You'll have to read the story, it's in….Esther. 

Mordechai is kind of an example of the opposite. He was surrounded by non-jewish people who persecuted and hated him yet he never let go of his faith. Even when other Jews would bow to Haman-he never did. When the awful news was posted all around saying all jews would be destroyed- everybody just cries and mourns. Of course Mordechai does too- but he was the only to ACT. He strategically mourns outside the palace so he can start a series of messages to Esther. He gives Esther the charge to talk to King Thesaurus. (That part is a joke. You'll have to read it to see his real name)

Haman is killed.

Mordecai becomes the king's right hand man.

Basically, don't let small things that don't actually matter and that you can't control anyways bother you!

And when everything goes wrong and life is awful, do something, act with faith! Be wise and never give up. 

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The Priesthood is SOOO REAL

 नमस्ते! 

This week was just saturated with spiritual power and miracles. I look through my journal and I just can't believe how incredible everything is. Starting off I gave my first ever baptismal interview to a sweet sister named Deanna. It was a beautiful experience to see and hear her testimony and how much she cares about joining this church. Powerful. Later that evening we went and practiced ASL with our ASL branch president, President Peterson and we were there for over a hour. . .we got through the first 3 points of the restoration. But we received way more than 3 points of feedback and suggestions. I was actually praying to not get upset, accept the feedback and be happy. And my prayers were answered! I didn't feel defensive once. I was laughing and smiling and everything was great. So God answers prayers indeed.

As I'm sure you already know, because the Gospel Library keeps reminding us, we got a new Preach My Gospel! So that's cool lol.

Then the next day we were in San Jose all day long. I had training on how to be a District Leader in the mornings till afternoon then we had "Transfer 1" training (training for new trainees and trainers) . It was actually pretty fun. This was the last one by President Smith. Basically I just need to follow the spirit and be a good leader and teacher. Easy. And trainering- I just need to trust my trainee and God. 

Then we had dinner at the Mission home and interacted with all the other trainers and trainees- there's one new sister missionary who is literally Deaf but she has 2 cochlears. And she doesn't know any ASL. I kinda feel sad for her. If her batteries run out- that's it. Luckily she's in our zone- so we'll teach her ASL. 

Then we drove home and as we got to Fremont the APs called "Hey Elders. . .we have Elder Owens' Scripture bag. . .don't worry were almost to Fremont"

Oops. So they stopped by and gave it to us (it's 10:00) and then they head back to their car. We turn around and a minute later we get another call from the APs. "Hey Elders. . .we both just had the prompting to ask if either of you would like a Priesthood blessing?"

Yes! That'd be wonderful! So they came back and…wow..

I'll just tell you all this- I have a list of things I stress about some of them are things people can learn just by spending time with me- others are very secret and I keep to myself. The blessing that Elder Wood gave me addressed perfectly every single one. He also blessed me with every single spiritual gift I was currently seeking. These are things that I don't tell people about! Maybe they're in my study journal somewhere. But he mentioned everything. 

Elder Searle's blessing was the same thing.

So now they head out and we hug. And a Few minutes later they knock on the door again- they forgot their phones in our apartment. So I said "it's ok, happens to the best of us"

I told Elder Searle we needed to go write down everything we remembered. So we didn't go to bed till quite late lol.

Then on Sunday we got Quran Bashed. . But he was very very nice. Actually really nice compared to what transpired the next day. But ya. That's all I'll say about our Muslim friend.

But the next day- oh man. We got a referral- this is a good thing! We start talking he says he wants to meet us at the church. So we're excitedly like yes! He pulls up. We introduce ourselves, find a room and sit down and instantly I'm like "this is not right. There's a reason why he looks like a cartoon villain character…." And I was right. He started bashing us so hard there was nothing we could do. Fr fr. Every time we said anything he pulled out a verse, misinterpreted it and told us we were calling God a liar. It was sooo bad. I wanted to cry. So after that we listened to some hymns and met with Emma. Oh she's so sweet. She wants to go to the temple! So we set a tour up. 

Then we thought we had dinner with Pugal and the Hornbergers but turns out Pugal was cooking and it was actually going to take 6 hours to be done

So. 

We taught a quick lesson about the plan of salvation, epic, then we had to go home.

But it ok because on yesterday we got the leftovers and wow. It was स्वादिष्ट(which means delicious and is pronounced: sw(v) adisht the w is supposed to be a v but it really sounds like a w instead.

Well yesterday we were able to go back to the Indian family with the sick grandma. We took a recent convert from another ward named Srihari who is good at indian languages so he was translating and helping them understand.

And the first thing they told us was about the grandmother, for months now the doctors have been trying medicines and none are working but the day we went over and gave a blessing all the medicines started working. How incredible is that? They asked us to give her another blessing. It was so amazing. I used just about every Hindi word I have and it made them so happy. I love that family so much. 

Then we went out finding and the only people we ran into were Indians so I exhausted my already exhausted Hindi skills and learned as much as I could from each person. And the way they light up! All I have to say is 2 words in their mother tongue and they just look so happy! What an amazing experience! We also met a Couple that only spoke Tamil, luckily I had a few tamil words and they were so shocked. Not interested in Jesus Christ (not yet) but we still had a good talk. And we wouldn't have if I hadn't used my tamil words.

And finally- President Smith is going home. Like tomorrow. He concluded his mission by bearing his testimony of Joseph Smith and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Powerful.  

I will miss him. But i'm still excited for President and sister Larsen.

That's all for now, have a fire week!

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