New tie who dis?

 

🌄We started the week off at 3:30 on p-day morning so we could go hike up a mountain with the other missionaries. However, it was raining a lot. So we got McDonald's and hiked a much smaller hill instead. 

Every 6 months the Central Park Ward (one of the wards I've been serving in for nearly 18 months) has a giant community activity they call the 'clothing swap' where everybody in Fremont and all the surrounding cities rounds up all the junk in their home and brings it to the church where we sort it out on tables. Then everybody comes and just takes whatever they want. 

Within the first hour there's unbelievably giant stacks on every table, more than 100 people in the gym, and an overpowering interesting smell that just sticks in your nose.

We got to help out with that thursday-saturday! I got a new tie- so all the weird smells were worth it.

Saturday morning I was studying Preach My Gospel about to finish a paragraph and to blow my nose when somebody knocked on our door- I answered the door and it was my ASL Trainers- Shepherd Rigby and Hyatt White! We caught up and hugged. It was so weird to see them again...at the apartment we used to all live in and then again at the clothing swap- a year ago I was with them serving at the clothing swap…

Then we went and got pizza- at a place I went to with them about a year ago. So many feelings lol. I love them very much and I'm excited to hang out more in like 5 months!

I got to go on Exchange with the ASLders again on Monday. We went and tutored at the Deaf School, some of the teachers recognized me and we caught up. 

That night we met with a family I had found a few months ago and they'd come to church and had been reading the Book of Mormon on their own...so Elder Serban and I asked them to be baptized and gave them a preview of our hope for their future. We talked about the word of wisdom, sabbath day, tithing, and temple and they just said yes yes yes! They are ready to change their life! It was actually amazing and had me wishing everybody was as good as they are with "Agency" . I have never met anybody who is so good at keeping every commitment we give them. They were at church the Sunday after we met them and They've been studying the Book of Mormon as a family every week since. So if you want, you can pray for the Vance family. They set a goal to be baptized on the 13th of April! 

This week in my study of the Old Testament I was reminded of something President Griffith taught me back when he was my Bishop. One thing I heard more than anything else was "the first leadership is self-leadership. You cannot lead others where you are not"

In 2 chronicles there's a few chapters about king Amaziah (we'll be focused on chapter 25:1-13). He was pretty cool (most of the time...had an unfortunate but sadly common ending to his story 25:14- 28)

Like always, he's getting ready for war and councils with the prophet about what to do. Before he talked to the prophet he had bought help from Israel (he's the Judah king) the prophet says "tell them you don't need their help- Gods gonna win this one for you"

Amaziah is like "dude I paid them like 100 talents- you really want me to tell them to go home?"

Prophet is like " yup- God can give you way more than 100 talents if you do it his way" (amen amen)

So Amaziah tells the Israel army to go home and here it is:

 "11 And Amaziah STRENGTHEND HIMSELF and LED forth his people" (capitalization added)

And if you're curious- they absolutely won.

I love that it says Amaziah strengthened himself BEFORE he led the people to war. That is leadership- you have to know how to build yourself up and get motivated and fired up- THEN you can "lead forth [the] people''

The first leadership is always self leadership. You cannot invite people to do things and go places when you're not doing those things or in those places. So- do amazing things and gain a testimony of them and then invite everybody to do the same! 

And like always, keep the fire burning (Levi 6:13)

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

We were in a trio this week and I hated the third guy but learned a ton from him.

 That was fun. 

Starting last Tuesday I had the most incredibly awful growth on my forehead. It's funny because just a few days prior I expressed to Heavenly Father that things were starting to get easy and I was ready for a challenge, ready for something to humble me.

Then on Tuesday morning I awoke with a giant thing on my forehead. Dark dark red and absolutely awful. I didn't want to leave the apartment. I didn't want anybody to see me. However, we had district council and zone council. I tried to drape my hair over it-nope. Nothing could cover this up. 

District council was great. I hit the leviticus 5: 6-7, 11 and talked about what kind of sacrifice we are giving but also telling them as long as they're doing their best, their offering is accepted. 

That night all the Indians we talked to had to comment about the guy on my forehead and offer advice and tips on how to get rid of it. It actually hurt a ton and I was ready to just walk out. 

I think it's unfortunate how much my appearance really matters to me and those around me. It is so so great to be attractive and handsome and have people think you're cute- but it is so much more important to have a pure heart, beautiful personality, social skills, sense of humor, and strong spirit. I suppose that's what really makes us attractive- true beauty comes from the inside. I know I am a beautiful person. But having a lump of dumbness on my face made me feel pretty ugly even though I'm still the same person.

Anyways. 

We went to the temple and did sealings. THAT was a special opportunity. One thing I learned/started learning is that really the entire mission of the gospel is to help everybody receive the new and everlasting covenant and become part of the Abrahamic Covenant and know how to keep that covenant forever.

We visited the Gill family a few times this week and it's just so crazy. They have so many extra people living in their home right now. We try so hard to take control of the situation but there's SO MUCH happening! Neither me nor the guy on my forehead could focus. 

However, last night, I had enough. In the middle of the chaos I just stood up and was like “can everybody be quiet and can I get all the Gills over here. Please give me your attention for the next 15 minutes.”

Then we just boldly straight up told them if you want to be baptized you need to do all the things we have asked you to. If you cannot read the book of Mormon everyday then you will not be ready for baptism on the 16th. They nodded and said they'll do better. We started asking about how the Word of Wisdom had been going and just like that their extended family came over and was like “no tea? No coffee???” In hindi, but little did they know, both me and my constant companion, Elder Red Pimple-Mountain on my forehead have been studying hindi a ton and so I knew she was not saying very encouraging things. 

Then, like a legend, Sana shut them down by saying she knew what we said was true and she knew God had asked her to remove those things from her life. I'm so proud of her.

Sandeep offered a prayer and he pleaded for strength and help for his family to be ready by the 16th. Then he thanked God for sending 2 angels to his home. So sweet. I don't know why he said 2, we are clearly in a trio this week. (Elder Lewis, me and my friend on my forehead) 

They also gave us a ton of curry and I had a ton, afterall, I am eating for 2 right now.

The most powerful verse I found from the Old testament this week was 2 chronicles 20:12 I will cut it down so it's a little more simple but it says:

“[my] God, [I] have no might, neither know [I] what to do: But [my] eyes are upon thee” 

This is from king Jehoshaphat when a GIANT army of Ammonites is headed to them set on destroying them. Jehoshaphat tells everybody to fast and pray and this was part of his prayer. I think this is exactly how we should face trials. The most important part is that our eyes are upon God, we focus on him. 

Not that we don't know what to do or that we are powerless- but where our focus is. 

The story continues and the prophet Jahaziel tells the king that the lord is with them and nobody will even need to fight the Ammonites. His prophecy is fulfilled and all the opposing armies destroy each other.

Sometimes our trials are like that,but often our trials don't always end this way! Sometimes we actually do get hurt! Sometimes we lose! Sometimes we get a huge red Brother on our face!

“But our eyes are upon thee”

Jesus Christ makes everything right. He can take trials away, he can also help us through them so that they make us better. “His hand is stretched out still” we just need to look to him and trust his will and everything will work out.

I know this is true because I woke up this morning and my forehead looks normal. It's gone! It was a tough week and now i'm gonna wash my face even better lol but in the end- everything was ok!

Love you all!

Have a fire week and keep the fire burning (levi 6:13)

Buses amongst planes

 A few weeks ago Elder Lewis and I drove past a little airport thing. There was a big plane lot with at least 20 pretty cool, large planes. Next to all these planes was a single bus.

We both noticed this bus and talked about how it would be really tough to be a bus amongst so many airplanes.

I imagined this bus watching the planes around him go flying and landing and all he gets to do every day is drive on the ground.

It would be kinda tough.

My eyes were opened and I realized I was the bus. 

When I started my mission it felt like I was driving on the ground while my trainer and all these other incredible missionaries flew in the sky.

When I joined the ASL program I was trying so hard to sign but no matter what I just couldn't fly like Elder White or Elder Rigby. 

It's hard to be a bus when you're surrounded by airplanes. Sometimes you feel like you're failing because you can't fly. 

We are too hard on ourselves.

Good news tho- I would now consider myself an airplane when it comes to missionary work or ASL. I think it's natural for us to grow if we're trying. If you feel like a bus- keep trying. Keep going. Ask the airplanes around you for help. 

And ask the most incredible airplane, Jesus, for help.

I know he can give you wings and change you and help you fly.

One sister told me “enjoy the process of becoming.” I know as we include Jesus Christ in our “process of becoming” we will find joy and we can become planes! 

In 1 Chronicles 22, King David is talking to his son, Solomon, before he dies. David's whole mission was to prepare Israel to receive a temple. He was not allowed to build the temple himself because of sins but he was promised that Solomon would build it. David saved gold, silver, and brass- all so that when the time came they would have stuff to make the Lord's house. 

The very last verse has been on my mind since I read it : 

“Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God. . .”

I love the feeling in the phrase “SET your heart and soul” like SET. “Set” concrete will not move, its solid. We “set" nails Into wood. 

My heart and soul are SET on seeking God. I will not be moved. My discipleship is set for life. 

I also have pondered in how I can “arise. . .and build the sanctuary of the lord” 

I remembered my body is a temple- so I could work out a ton. Maybe it has more to do with my spirit inside my body? Building that up. Or it has to do with getting the actual house of the lord inside of me? Making and keeping covenants? Lemme know what you think.

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

2 kings 4:16 moment and Alma 26:27 moments

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

On Thursday night we had finished all of our contacts in the area and we had 15 minutes left and nothing to do. We could have gone back to the apartment and cleaned or done some language study but Elder Lewis pulled out his phone and found we had one person whom we had talked to once nearby. Jesse. I remember him being not that interested but we went over anyway.

We got there and his wife just told us to come inside! They are both from Punjab and speak Hindi! We had a powerful lesson with them. Even though it was the first time we had met them, Harpreet, Jesse's wife, opened up and told us they had been having a hard time getting kids and really really wanted a baby. So we prayed for them and we were able to give Harpreet a Priesthood blessing! As I sealed the anointing several accounts of prophets promising a child to faithful women came to mind and so I did just that. (Most recently I read about Elisha in 2 kings 4 to a woman who let him stay in her home a few times)

I love Jesse and Harpreet so much!

The next evening we headed over to the Gills. Before we went in we said a prayer in our car and as we looked up, Sana and Sandeep were standing by our car waving at us! We went in and gave them the “preview” lesson. Kind of reminding them of our purpose as missionaries, telling them about commitments we will invite them to make, all the blessings and then talking about baptism. They are 100% on board. They gave us a huge list of sobering news and trials they have, so we gave them all priesthood blessings. We finished off the evening by inviting Sana to pray. 

She was a little awkward about it but eventually tried and it was beautiful.

“Father, I don't know how to pray. . .but I know you listen. . .and, I am not the right kind of person to pray, but I will try” 

It was amazing! Nothing I can say or do could have been more powerful. That was exactly what her family needed.

During the weekend one of our dear not-active indian families had us come over for a “prayer-meeting” a loved one had passed away so they wanted some prayers. They invited all of their non-member family as well! Elder Lewis and I stumbled through some plan of salvation doctrine in Hindi and they loved that. Some amazing sister missionaries accompanied us over there and they shared powerful personal experiences and testimonies of the plan of salvation. Even though it was English, the people there that prefer hindi and don't know as much English were still deeply moved by their words. 

Then we all ate a bunch of curry.

The Zone Leaders wanted to exchange with the ASLders, since elder Ardinger is Deaf that wouldn't work- so they just said “Elder Owens, you're coming with us.” So we did TRIO exchanges. It was actually great. I got to be back in the ASL world for a day. We got to go to a lesson about 30 minutes north of mission boundaries! I love asl work lol.

And last night we went back to the Gills! Sana’s parents were with us so we got to show off our hindi and they were impressed! Then we opened up the scriptures and read from 2 Nephi 31! It was amazing! The spirit said “go for it” so we set a goal with them for a family baptismal service on the 23rd of March! They could not be more excited. 

Even amidst all these incredible hindi miracles, I have had my questions and doubts about whether or not the hindi program is supposed to exist in the way that it does. We have plenty of friends who can only be taught by somebody who speaks Hindi but a majority of our work, although not as effectively, could be accomplished by English missionaries.

This has been the subject of many prayers and meditations. However, this week in my chronological reading of the book of Mormon I got to Alma 26. Ammon's mission homecoming speech. There are so many parallels between his experience with Laminates and my experience with Indians. It's such a perfect match I think Ammon said this just for me.

Verse 27 struck me right in my heart:

“Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites (the indians), and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.”

I believe that was my answer.

I testify the scriptures are true and divine. Studying the scriptures will help you find answers to your questions, solutions to your problems, relief from stress, peace in storms, and power in weakness.

Please read the scriptures.

Indians and leprosy

 This week we had 4 lessons with people who legit only know Hindi and it was basically a success! 

1 woman, Pardeep, has had dreams about angels giving her the Book of Mormon. Most recently, she dreamt about baptism and Matthew chapter 10. We didn't know about this dream until after we read 3 Nephi 11 with her- she freaked out because a lot of it correlates with Matthew 10. 

We asked her if she knew the Book of Mormon was true and she said हाँ. So we invited her to be baptized and she told us she would pray about it and do whatever God told her to do.

Wow.

Our brother, Dipak, has like 100 English words, luckily we have 600 hindi words. So we had a nice lesson with him and read and testified about the Book of Mormon. He really wants to come to church this week!

Then we have Harbinger, he lives with like 20 indian dudes and they were all teasing him for talking with us but he didn't care. He sat with us and read with us and asked for a hindi bom, even after a few of his friends told us not to give him one! He also complimented my Hindi and I almost cried because I really really needed to hear that. #tendermercies

Then some औरत named Binder- no English. She opened the door and told us “no English” . I winked and said “hindi?” She said “हाँ” so I WENT OFF. She was shocked and I testified of Jesus and the Book of Mormon. I placed one in her hands but she was too shook to notice. We will be back this Saturday.

These are just a few of the incredible miracles I've seen this week! 

I have been stuck at a verse in 2 kings chapter 5. In the first verse it introduces my bro, Naaman. It says he was a great honorable man, and a mighty man of Valor. It explains that he had delivered Syria! An entire nation! Naaman is what the cool kids call “a legend.” All this great stuff about him is followed with the hard truth “but he was a leper” 

I drew some connections to myself. I think a lot of people know all the cool stuff about me like “oh, he learned ASL and now Hindi, he has 7 younger siblings, he can crochet…or wuteva” and I always add on my own “but I am a leper” in my mind. “ but I can't be social with people, my handwritings not great, I still have acne, I don't floss as much as i should or whatever it is” (jokes aside, I have a lot of weaknesses/leprosies and it is really frustrating and discouraging when they get in the way.)

The cool thing about Naaman being a leper is that through God's Power he was cleansed!

“And his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, AND HE WAS CLEAN” (v 14) 

Just like Naaman, if we do what we're supposed to and repent with faith we will be clean. Our own unique “but-he-was-a-leper- attributes” and flaws can be cleansed away and our flesh can be pure as a child's. We can ACTUALLY BE CLEAN. 

There is a ton ton more to be learned and I'm not the best at explaining. So. If you want you can go read it and ponder it yourself. It's pretty good.

Curry and a heart perfect with the Lord.

 

Photos

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

Pugals video:

https://www.facebook.com/BayAreaChrist/videos/7043080879094308/?mibextid=l2hJJHjNVOBSwHk4

This transfer I have had so many indian foods it's just a little concerning- My belly feels spicy just about always. I am starting to smell like curry. Normal American food is starting to just taste….bland. 

I had so much curry that on pday while we were playing a pool-ball game called “skunk” I was playing a whole different kind of “skunk” if you know what I mean. 

Pday evening we had no plans and also no meals. However, we got ready to plan and Elder Lewis and I both were like “We could go visit Sana..?” Same person on both of our minds- I'll take that as a yes.

So we drove over and they were home! (It's also raining like CRAZY outside at this time)

Sana tells us “Elders, I'm so glad you are here. I need you to pray for me- my grandfather just passed away earlier today.”

So we taught her about the spirit world, resurrection, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. She cried through the whole thing. We got her kids to join us for a quick book of Mormon study and got to practice our हिन्दी. Sana's English is like 6.5/10 so if we can teach or testify in hindi that would be best for her. And just a little extra miracle to this miracle salad- she fed us dinner. More spicy svadisht Indian food- but absolutely incredible. 

I know that God is watching out for all of us!

We also met with Pugal this week! He gave us a bunch of curries and other exciting Indian foods and spices! We watched his video the SM sisters made. And he was shocked at how amazing it was. I feel the spirit so strong every time I see his video and I know Pugal was too because after a few moments of thick silence when it had ended he said “Elders, I need to share this.” Pugal is somewhat popular on Facebook lol. So having the courage to post his testimony like that for over 1000 people (most of whom have very different beliefs) taught me a lot about what his true values and priorities are- and before friends and even family he has: ‘tell everybody about Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon.’ if you have not seen Pugal's video- what are you even doing? He is the most incredible and extreme disciple of Jesus Christ I have ever met. 

We have one fairly eccentric Indian buddy, Praveen. He is not a member but has been in contact with missionaries for YEARS. This week he specifically requested as many missionaries as possible to come over so he could cook for them. (#itsanindianthing) We had like 2 hours so we texted everybody whom we thought would be near and 1 trio of amazing sisters pulled up. Then we ate a bunch of vegetarian curries! The sisters taught Praveen's friend and ended up giving him a hindi Book of Mormon, while we taught Praveen about how to actually pray. What a powerful feeling when there's 2 sets of deep sincere testimonies being shared in the same room st the same time! Super cool.

This weekend was stake conference! Our (old) stake president specifically requested that we come to the leadership meeting and be prepared to tell everybody about the hindi program. So when he asked us to stand and share, I handed Elder Lewis the mic and he concisely and powerfully shared the purposes and goals of the Hindi program. I hope it ignited some fires in the hearts of those present. 

In 1 kings 15 we get a few brief histories of some kings of Israel- most are pretty bad. But one of them, Asa, was actually a legend. Verse 14 days “Asa's heart was perfect with the Lord all his days”

This started a round of introspection for me about my heart and who I am and if my heart is perfect with the Lord. I think I still have a lot to do before I can confidently say “My heart is perfect with the Lord” but I want to be able to.say it! I will work for it every day and continue to repent daily. There is 2 reasons I can pull from my study of why Asa's heart was perfect with the Lord.

1. Asa knew how to repent.

The first things Asa does when he is king is removes all of the idols and idol stuff (and other bad stuff) from the kingdom of Judah. We need to be like Asa and remove all of our idols and "bad stuff" from our hearts and lives. That process is called repentance! I'm sure Asa faced a lot of opposition from friends, family, and everybody else when he totally changed the kingdom- but he did it anyways. Repentance requires courage but it is always worth it.

2. Asa was a peacemaker.

From king Solomon up to this point the rich have been getting richer and the poor have beem getting poorer. One cool thing Asa did was he gave a bunch of gold and silver to his servants. This helped a lot of things to balance out and be just a little more stable. 

Another cool peacemaker move he pulled was when he sends some presents and a nice letter to another ruler named ben-hadad. The letter basically says "hey, we are on the same team, let's work together"

How can you repent and be a peacemaker so that your heart can be "perfect with the lord?"