Week 43: Goleta

August 2, 2021

We had fun today, for our activity we walked up and down Santa Barbara State Street, it's this cool downtown area where you can hang out and eat food, get ice cream, walk around, and spend a lot of money. After writing emails and calling home, we went to this awesome restaurant called the Nugget Bar & Grill. I got a really good burger, it was massive. I haven't eaten like that in a while. We had some funny/weird contacts tonight. The first one we started talking to this lady who was walking really fast, and she said we could walk with her and talk to her. So we walked across half of the town so we could talk to her.

Then we talked to this old Mexican lady who was pretty much rebuking me, completely in Spanish, so I just nodded my head and said "si." We also talked to this kid named Josh, someone who we got an address for, and while we were talking outside his door, his mom opened it. She asked him what was going on, and he said he told us we could come back. She then gave him the most judgmental, dirty look I have every seen, it was so funny. So we'll go back and see if he's allowed to talk to us.

August 3, 2021

Today we went finding for most of our day. We didn't start teaching anybody new, but we got together a lot of potential. I'm going to start practicing some Spanish, because the Spanish I know barely gets it done haha. It was a good day, we put in some work and made progress in this area. 

We talked to someone today and they said they received a personal witness from God that the Book of Mormon was not true. I didn't really know what to think, but it's simple. People will be accountable for their words and beliefs, and those words need to be sincere. The bottom line is, he's wrong. God isn't divided. He doesn't give one answer to one and then an opposite answer to another. When someone says that, then there's not much us missionaries can do, you kind of have to wash your hands of it, and let that person be accountable before God for it. 

But it was an awesome day, and the work rolls forward!

August 4, 2021

We had a little bit of a different day today. We had a ZLC where we went over what we'll be teaching in COC this week. I'll be talking on increasing our personal conversion to Christ. Pretty easy topic, should be pretty straightforward. 

Talked to a shirtless cowboy today, said there is no sin or free will or any right way or wrong way. It seems to be something we've heard a few times before. We did a lot of walking around, and talked to a bunch of people. Got a few numbers, just some more potential. Good day of work.

August 5, 2021

Today we had the blessing of teaching Emilio and Mateo. They are both very intelligent, and they have good questions. We talked about the Plan of Salvation and what the meaning of life is. We'll pass them off to the YSA sisters sometime. They are kind of agnostic Christians, but I hope that they'll find this truth eventually.

We also got to teach Melinda today, she's a nice lady who we met on the street a while back. We talked about the Restoration, and about how the Book of Mormon is so important to the Gospel. We also felt inspired to share about the Spirit World and how everyone gets a chance to hear the Gospel. She said she had that question for a while and that none of her Christian friends had any answers to it. To me, the Spirit World is one of the links in the Plan of Salvation that cannot be broken. No matter what we think the Gospel is, or what we teach, if not all of God's children get an opportunity to hear it, then we're wrong. Any idea that says otherwise flies in the face of a just God. If there is no Spirit World, no chance for everybody, then God is not just, and like the scriptures say, He would cease to be God. But He is just, and there is that chance. The Plan of Salvation makes perfect sense and is true, as soon as people who are in tune to the Spirit can hear it. That inspiration today is something that really grew my faith and trust in God, and in His willingness to lead us in the work. 

We left off with a member visit with the Bunker's, they're a nice family. It's always fun teaching a bunch of little kids.

August 6, 2021

Today we had a combined District Council up in Solvang. It was good, I was spiritually uplifted and I felt the Spirit. To be cleansed, sanctified, and inspired but the Holy Ghost is one of the greatest things we can give to each other as missionaries. I gave a discussion on increasing our personal conversion to Christ. After, we went to El Rancho and got a Jordan. That stuff is so good. We had some good contacting today and got some referrals and numbers. We might start teaching this Muslim guy we met, that would be a new situation. 

We made some more calls, and we are all making an effort to do more Facebook. Just in time too, Santa Barbara County is now starting an indoor mask mandate. We got to talk to Amy unexpectedly, she was dropping off Perry's car in the church parking lot, because he got into some trouble. She's an awesome lady.

August 7, 2021

We got to have some lessons today, taught some great people. We taught Angela, she is this Italian lady who likes to talk a lot haha. We had some dinner with the Archibald's, a great missionary-minded family. Then we taught Oscar and his girlfriend Giselda, along with their handicapped son Oscar. They are great salt-of-the-earth people. They are humble and are willing to talk more with us about Jesus Christ. They have been having a hard time with Jacob, their paralyzed son, understandably. But I think the doctrine of the Resurrection and eternal families will hopefully ring true to them. It truly is a blessing to be able to teach people who really need the Gospel. There could not be a more worthy cause than missionary work, whether on the mission or at home.

August 8, 2021

It was a good Sunday, we were able to get a lot done. After some calls and other stuff, we had a nice dinner with the Mann family. I always appreciate member dinners. After that, we did a lot of contacting and just being out with the people. The best is when you can bear testimony and the people listen and really consider what you say. Every time they do that, at least as far as I can remember, we can usually get a number or return appointments. Good finish to week 4 of the transfer.