July 3, 2009

Today I've decided that I need to strive to be more positive and more grateful. This first part of my mission is tough, but I'm sick of being down all the time. It's all about my attitude. Well today was good. We both had the thought that we should o and stop by James', even though we already dropped him. We had a good talk with him. He told us that he thought E. Kieth was too pushy when he dropped him (I was there too, but never had the experience of "dropping" anyone, so I didn't say much). It offended him, and that's wy he wasn't at church last Sunday. I stand by E. Kieth and think that it needed to be done, but I'm glad that we went over today to talk to him so at least he doesn't have hard feelings against the church. He is really searching for truth, but wants it proven to him. He wants his answer to come from scholarly work and we keep telling him that it's going to come through prayer. We are going to fast and pray for him, and hope that we see miracles. We had dinner tonight at the Broker's. The Hocks' and Sis. Bray was there as well. It was fun, and we all had a good time. It's always entertaining to eat at the Broker's.

July 2, 2009

Today was a pretty great day. Today we met President Wade - I honestly have no complaints at all. I love him! I think he is going to be an awesome mission president. He has 3 kids - a 14 year old son, a 10 year old daughter, and a 3 year old daughter. He hasn't changed any rules yet, but I think some changes are coming. He told us that he is going to help us get out of our comfort zones more, then he called an Elder up out of the congregation to sing a hymn with him! It was pretty cool. He worked for the missionary dept. before he came, so he knows how to deal with disobedient missionaries, so I'm excited. He has some cleaning up to do. But it was good. Today we met with Tina, and she isn't really progressing too well, but we are going to keep going over there and try to teacher her daughter Anna. We also got to finally teach Todd today. We found Todd tracting, like my very first week here, and have dropped by tons of times but have never been able to sit down with him and teach, but today we finally did. It was good. We just taught a quick first lesson and gave him a pamphlet. It was good. I'm so spoiled here in San Ramon. Things are good. I need to be more thankful for all that I have and not worry so much. I need to get focused and be positive.

July 1, 2009

The BIG change has been made! SAN FRANCISCO is no longer off limits! The mission boundaries have been officially changed and San Ramon is the bottom of the mission (on our side of the hills). Our apartment is actually right on the border! Across the street from our complex is now the San Jose mission! It's good stuff. Well things are good. I'm still trying to adjust to the mission way of life. It's hard to swallow the fact that I really won't see my family and home for 2 years! It's a beautiful thing to be on a mission, but once the "greenie excitement" wears off and you're just left with raw facts it can be hard. But things are well. The Lord is blessing me and watching out for me, but some days 2 years seems like forever! Right now things are not going well with me and E. Cain. I can't stand him anymore. We are so different, and he takes everything I say wrong. He's very different. I don't think that my patience has ever been tried as hard. He has attitude! But I'm trying so hard to continue to be patient and have charity. But we are teaching some great people. Victoria (who at first we thought was a lil' bit crazy) seems to be progressing well! We have definitely seen a change in her. She believes the church is true, but doesn't want to get baptized because she knows that it will upset her husband.

June 28, 2009

Wow, things have been busy at night. Yesterday we had splits with the Zone leaders. This time I stayed in San Ramon and E. Cain went up to Concord. E. Kieth came down with me. It was amazing! I learned so much from E. Kieth. I think I learned as much from E. Kieth in one day than I have from E. Cain in the past 9 weeks! No, probably not, but I really like E. Kieth's style. He doesn't like to waste time (and he's not angry all the time). He is the kind of missionary I want to be. Sometimes I get so frustrated with E. Cain. He is so angry, an doesn't like to be told anything. There is a lot I have learned from him, and can still learn, I just need to be humble and follow the spirit. I really feel like the Lord is blessing me, and that my testimony is growing. I also learned the past few days that attitude is key. I'm only out here for 2 years and only get to do this once - so make the best out of it. Work hard, and be the missionary that the Lord would have me be. Well, today was a good day at church - even though none of our investigators came. James was supposed to but didn't. We dropped him yesterday. We told him to read and pray about the Book of Mormon and come to church, but that it is pretty pointless to continue teaching because he is just not progressing. I hope that he comes around. He was so close to being baptized!

June 25, 2009

Today was good. We had a really good district meeting this morning about prayer and following the spirit. A lot of good things were said, and powerful testimonies borne. It was good, but it also frustrated me. I have a hard time "following the spirit". How am I supposed to know the difference between the spirit and my own thoughts? And how do I know that I'm teaching with the spirit or if I even have it with me? I'm trying to have faith and not doubt but I just get so frustrated/doubtful/homesick and it's not fun. Not to mention me and my comp. don't get along so well. I know I shouldn't whine, but missions are tough. Today we had a good lesson with tina. We have a hard time talking to her, because she doesn't speak or understand English too well so we had to be very, very blunt and just tell her that baptism in the Catholic church as a baby was wrong, and she needs to be baptized again. We asked her - I mean committed her to read and pray about the Book of Mormon, and ask God if she needs to be baptized again. I really hope she felt the spirit and acts upon it. Well yesterday I forgot to mention that James (our investigator) took us up to Bollinger Canyon to show us these ostriches! It was cool. Someone up there just owns like 5 ostriches and a zebra too! They keep them in a field. It was fun.

June 24, 2009

Today was very interesting. It has been a roller coaster - ups and downs like crazy! It started out pretty lame - we were supposed to go street contacting at the park. When we got there, there was plenty of people to talk to, but E. Cain didn't want to because he said they are too busy. Too busy to hear the gospel?! Heck no! But we didn't. We didn't talk to anyone - except one old lady walking her dog. Then we ate lunch and went out, again. We tried to contact some potential investigators and some focus families but no one was home, so we unhappily began to tract - because we didn't have anything to do. While we were tracting me and E. Cain got in our biggest fight yet - over a door knocker.  How stupid is that?! It was retarded. We kept tracting and after about 30 min of walking in silence I asked if he was going to stay mad at me forever over a door knocker, and he was still being a baby about it. Man we are so different, but it takes all types. But we made up and forgave each other before our 7:00 appointment tonight with the Mason's - and it went amazing! Hazel Mason is a member, but her husband Brad is not. Hazel is not active, but she bore such a powerful testimony tonight. It was amazing! Such a great lesson about Joseph Smith and the restoration.

June 23, 2009

We had a good P-day yesterday. We shopped, emailed, and Bro. Zapettini took us golfing again. It was way fun. I think I'm getting better. Then that night we had dinner atthe Kidd's. Jared is a member, but his wife, Miseray (she is Japanese), is not. Miseray cooked Japanese food for us, and it was good! Then we talked about our Heavenly Father and prayer - because she doesn't even believe in God. It went well, and I hope she felt the spirit and starts praying. Today was good as well. We biked today and it was HOT! We had appointment on the far side of our area, up in Windemere - so it was a long ride, but it was great to get some good exercise! We met with Victoria and Kiavosh. Both the lessons went well. It has been a pretty tiring day. And I think I'll hit the sack....

June 21, 2009

Missions are rough. Some days I just feel like crap and wonder if I can do this for the next 2 years. I miss home and my companion and I do not get along. I'm struggling with my testimony and continue to doubt. It's just rough, but somehow I'm holding on. I'm going to fight through it. The Lord loves me, and blesses me with tender mercies and miracles every day. Today at church I was feeling pretty crappy about every, and a member (Bro. Crockett) walked up to me, put his hands on my shoulders, looked me in the eye and said - "Focus. Missions suck at first don't they? Hang in there, it gets better every month". I was surprised because that was exactly what I needed to hear. Things like that is evidence that God loves me. Well it was Father's day today. Tina and her family came to church again today and brought a friend as well. They only stayed for Sacrament meeting, but it was good, I'm really glad they came. We had dinner at the May's and ate homemade lasagna. It was so good! I was so full! They are a great family. After dinner we went tracting on a full tummy. After we tracted we stopped by a less active family - the Chotes'. They are an older couple. He has some sweet cars! We took a look at his cars and talked for a bit. It was a good night.

June 20, 2009

Today was pretty amazing. This morning at 9:00 am we drove up to Concord to the cannery. Our investigators - Shawna and Johnathon - wanted to do some canning and wanted us to come along. It was actually pretty fun! We wore hair nets and everything! We helped Shawna and Johnathon can their goods, and they loved it! Then right after canning E. Cain had a district leader meeting so I sat and waited and talked with the other missionaries that had district leaders as companions. We also had an unplanned lesson with James today - we just stopped by. I really hope that he feels the spirit. But the best part of the day was our district BLITZ. The ZL's came down so that me and E. Cain could finally have a chance to split (we usually can't because our district is mainly all sisters!). Well I went tracting with E. Lugetatomboa (from Hawaii) and it was great! I love the way that Elder L. tracts and I learned a lot from him. We also spent a lot of time just talking about missionary work. He only has 2 months left so he's seen it all! He shared some of the lessons that he has learned. Some that stuck out to me was to never argue with your companion. Contention is of the devil and it drives the spirit away. Also to ask yourself - What do members see when they look at me? Do they see a hardworking missionary, or a lazy one just looking for a free meal. It was good. He also said that in missionary work, you have to put up with a lot of crap about 90%. But you have amazing experiences that make up the other 10% and it makes going through the 90% so worth it!