Week 37: Solvang

June 21, 2021

Had a very productive Preparation Day, got everything done that we needed to. For our activity, we played some sand volleyball, which was fun. We also bought me a new bike, and it's super awesome. It's really light, and it's a really good bike. But I looked on the receipt later, and the tax for this $750 bike and $25 bike chain was $60, that's 7.75% tax on this thing. That's what everyone talks about when they say California has high taxes. So that's pretty crazy, but other than that, we just did some normal missionary stuff until 9:00, and then called it a night. And now we're ready for the new week. 

June 22, 2021

We got a referral today, a really nice lady named Karen. We talked to her in the park, and she knows just about the regular amount that people usually know about us. But she was interested in the Book of Mormon, and so we gave her one, took her number, and we'll send her to the Lompoc Elders. I loved being able to just bear simple and sincere testimony to someone whose mind is open. Hopefully it will go somewhere with the other missionaries. We also did some contacting, we had some contacts with some inactive and we'll hopefully get some lessons there. After that, we had a lesson with Gary and Eileen Johnson and that was it. We have about 20 Johnson's in our ward. 

June 23, 2021

Today we left the apartment at 8:15am and didn't come back until 6:15pm, as we had Zone Conference in Oxnard. Got some really good insights on how to help the people we're teaching. For Sheri, I think we need to talk about temples with her and how that's the end goal. Because we've been focusing on baptism and figuring out her situation with Dan, we have completely forgotten to factor the temple into the rest of her life. Because if she wants to go to the temple, then that will pretty much be a deal breaker. So we'll probably talk about that in our next lesson. 

I've really wanted to go back to the temple for a while, and they said in the coming months missionaries will be able to go. So I'm excited for that. I didn't have a great grasp on the temple ordinances the first time I went through, so I think going through again would bring much greater meaning to the temples for me. 

June 24, 2021

We had a lot of street contacting today, and we didn't get much going, although we did get a referral for the Spanish Elders. Did a lot of walking, but we didn't find too many people around. but things are good, we're keeping this area marching forward. It was one of those days where you just kind of grind and put in the work, and put the rest in the hands of the Lord, which is something I'm trying to be better at doing. I've been reading Isaiah in the Old Testament lately, and there's some good stuff in there if you read the Institute notes with it. That's been nice to read with, because Isaiah is usually hard to understand.

June 25, 2021

Today was good, we took our bikes and tried to find some places where we could put them. There's not too many, but there's enough for us to work with. It was fun and good to get a little exercise. 

For the rest of the day, we did every kind of finding we could, but we weren't able to find anybody interested. Everyone around here is nice, but they're just not interested, more often then not. There are a lot of awesome Christian people around here, but they just don't feel like something is missing. But what we try to say is this Gospel isn't just for people whose lives are in upheaval, this is for anybody, and can really benefit everybody. We just try to help them see why they need the Restored Gospel, while not trying to be offensive or poke holes in their beliefs or lives. But the generally widespread comfort here in our area isn't going to carry over into the next life, these people need celestial-level treasures in heaven. I read a while ago in the Old Testament in Ecclesiastes 5:15 that kind of talks about this, it's kind of a widespread saying I've heard before. There are great, God-fearing people here, but just being God-fearing doesn't seal your family to you for eternity. It doesn't give you the priesthood, proper baptism, a prophet on the earth, a complete fullness of the Gospel, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, a true understanding of the plan of salvation, etc. So that's what we try to get at, while still trying to be meek and humble. 

June 26, 2021

Today we got to do exchanges with the district leader, Elder Olson. We switched in the morning, after district exercise, to save miles. So I had my bag all packed up with a towel, change of clothes, belt, tie, all that stuff. So I was all set, until I realized I forgot my shoes. So I wore Elder Anderson's shoes he's a big elder, size 14. 

We had a good day of lessons, a member dinner, and contacting, most of which was in Spanish, so my part was pretty minimal. But this guy's wife came in during one of our lessons, and went off about Catholicism and how she will never change from it. Too bad, hopefully her heart softens in the future. Good day, learned a few Spanish words. 

June 27, 2021

Today was a good day, and we had a good church meeting. Brother Millett gave a really good discussion on the ordinations of the priesthood. After some studies, we did a pass off lesson from Sister Li and Sister Gowan's for somebody named Susan. She seems really awesome, I'm excited to teach her more. We also had dinner with the Schmitter's, and taught Ray for the last time before their vacation, so that might be the last time that one of us teaches them. But we'll see, anything can happen. We also had a visit with the Nash's, good family, great people. 

Now we're done with the 4th week of the transfer. Brother Millett is super funny, he said about the extra-virgin olive oil for consecrating, "How virgin can you get?" And he actually had an episode after church where he passed out (he's 93) and said that maybe next time we can talk about dedicating graves. Funny guy.