Week 7: Thousand Oaks

November 23, 2020

Today was P-day, but we didn't do an activity because everybody was late. But we did go to Chili's, and when we showed up, we soon learned that a member saw us show up and said he would pay for all 14 of us elders. So then I got the $15 Boss Burger. After eating 1500 calories in one meal, we went to the Erbes church building and called our families and whatnot. Then we got to finding, but once again, we were unsuccessful other than getting a few phone numbers. 

November 24, 2020

I went on exchanges with Elder Moore today, and he's a great elder. We did volunteer work at Foodshare today, and I really liked serving the people and just getting to see and know them a little bit better. It's more often than not that these people who are going through rough times are more prepared to receive Christ and His Gospel than others. It was super busy, but fun. After that, we went to Subway, and then we grinded some Facebook until the exchange was over. But Elder Maeser and I listened to some really good talks today called "Remember Lot's Wife" and "Wrestling With Making Comparisons." I highly recommend anyone reading this to listen or watch those BYU devotionals. 

November 25, 2020

Today was another exchange, but it was with Elder Sexton today. He's a good elder, and it was a good exchange. We had a solid day, and I learned a valuable lesson during one of our member visits. I was the one leading the lesson about the Restoration, and I went into the lesson thinking I had it in the bag. I had taught the exact same lesson before, and it was gonna be a piece of cake. But when I got into the lesson, I really struggled with my words and even forgot to say the opening prayer. It went fine, but I didn't do so well when I wasn't relying on the Spirit. From now on, I'm going to over prepare and use the Spirit mostly. We met with someone named Tom, who is actually a really nice guy who is a born-again Christian. He has faith in Jesus Christ, and he prays a lot, but I don't th ink that he is going to be very open to change. But we'll try anyway, hopefully we can reach him. 

November 26, 2020

Not much to say today, other than we had Thanksgiving dinner with a super nice family called the Ferris's. We ate good, and now we have some more friends in the mission. 

We didn't find anybody, but we did find a very atheistic man who is sadly raising his children to believe that they are walking blobs of meat and they'll never know, for their childhood at least, that they have another Father in heaven that watches over them and blesses them. They won't know that they do have a purpose in life, and they need to fulfill it. It's a sad thing, and I hate for the blame to be on their parent's heads, but it will be. when you reject the Gospel and its blessings, it will affect your family too. I really hope they can all be brought to the truth while they are on earth, but if not, I'll have to stand witness against him at the judgement bar and testify to God that I tried to give him the truth. 

November 27, 2020

Today was good, and we had Zone Conference. I learn a lot from the higher-ups, especially President and Sister Carter. they always bring the Spirit, no matter what they say. We tried to find some more people, but we just got more rejection, but that's all right. We met with the Dubin's again, and invited them to continue to preach the Gospel. Good day, but not a whole lot to say.

November 28, 2020

We went on another exchange today, and I went with Elder Herget. It was our first transfer for both of us, so I thought we were going to have no idea what to do, but we did a good job. Someone from the outside would probably not even notice that we are new missionaries. I am constantly humbled, as soon as I start think I'm getting the hand of this. Every time I learn something new, ten new things that I could do better show up. I guess that's part of learning how to do pretty much anything new. 

It's the end of my fourth week, and everything has been a blur so far. I have long days, but short weeks. I have started to miss things about home, like music, hanging out with friends and my brothers, and going on dates. Things that I took for granted when I had them. I've even felt regret, yes, even at the young age of 18. I wonder if I could've done more, seen more, and experience more. I'm hesitant to even write anything other than "glad tidings", but this is my journal, after all. Maybe I had been wasting my time while I thought I was enjoying it, maybe I hadn't lived it like I should have lived it. I hear stories of what people have done and the things that they've done, and it can be easy to want some of those things myself. But I know I have a lot ahead of me, I just have some hard work and time to get through, and I am more than ready to do it full steam.

November 29, 2020

Today was a great Sunday, and I gave a talk in our church broadcast today on the topic of callings. It went well, and I'm grateful for that. Also, for anybody reading, I'm sorry for the drama sesh I wrote yesterday, it was a little bit of a rough day and I didn't remember how many blessings I have. Also, I recalled a part of the talk "Remember Lot's Wife." Thinking back on the past is a waste of time, and to yearn for the past is an act of unfaithfulness in our Savior. To wish for days past is to not believe that the Lord can give us endless happiness in the future. I shouldn't wish I had been happier because I have so much happiness ahead of me! I can't look back and slow myself down, I need to have faith that better times than I've ever seen are straight ahead! And I would invite anyone who is reading this to do the same. Don't look back at the time you think you've lost. Look forward to the joy the Gospel of Jesus Christ can give you! It may be hard to do so, but I have faith that it will bring me more happiness than I ever could have known.