Week 50: Goleta

September 20, 2021

Today we went bowling, had a good time. We have a good Zone, got to see most of them. The Santa Barbara District had a cupcake competition, and we got to be the judges. 

After our activities and dinner, we made some great progress with our area. Set up some appointments, and had some great member visits. Oh, and we also had some delicious Pad Thai for lunch.

September 21, 2021

We had an exchange today with Elder Olson and Elder Kelly, I went with Elder Kelly to Lompoc. And we had a very successful day, we got a bunch of referrals for the sisters in Lompoc. One of Elder Kelly's strengths is that he can teach/contact very simply, so it brings the Spirit. Lompoc is a pretty sketchy place at night. After about 8pm, you hear a lot of gun shots and sirens and whatnot. We also are staying at the Lompoc English elders apartment, so we don't have to drive back up here in the morning, because we're doing the Lompoc district's goal-settings tomorrow. Another fun day, while also very productive. 

September 22, 2021

Today we had goal settings, so that meant five hours of sitting. We did break it up with a lunch break to Wing Stop, so that was nice. But it really took it out of me, Elder Marks and I were totally baked. We did have a lesson with Diego, who we started teaching, and then we had some more finding time and a member visit. Trying to get to bed a little early, so we can have energy to function tomorrow. 

September 23, 2021

Today we had a short mission Zoom where we talked about good stuff in the Gospel Library for new converts to use. Then we had lunch and we were off for some more baptismal goal settings with the Goleta District. After that, we had another Dave's Dog's run, and then went and saw Susan. Such a sweet soul, she just needs to realize she's not too busy to come to church. 

Then we proceeded to almost start teaching this guy named John, we just forgot to leave him a commitment. But he said the main problem for him is his smoking. He doesn't think it's possible to quit, but we bore testimony that Christ can help him to kick it. So we'll start teaching him later. We found some more solid potential, and had a good member visit with the Gutierrez family. It'll also be a busy day tomorrow as well.

September 24, 2021

Today was unusual, but it kept things interesting. We went up to Santa Barbara for a district council, which was really spiritually uplifting. One of the invitations was to write down a way we found joy today in our journals. Here it is: I really related to someone in a contact today, and it helped open her heart and we were able to give her a Book of Mormon. 

After the Council, we were able to have some really good goal-settings with the Santa Barbara district. Then we got some super good burritos at this place in town, and then started a finding flood, which is where the whole district and the Zone Leaders all go in the same area and find for a couple of hours. It was pretty successful. Then we kept our exchange with Elder Swensen and Elder Merling going, and we were able to find some more referrals for the Santa Barbara sisters. Elder Swensen is a great elder, he just needs to be more confident and know he's doing a great job. But it was an awesome day, we'll get to focus on our own area a little more tomorrow. 

September 25, 2021

We had a normal first half of the day, and Elder Marks was actually able to get a language study in, which has not happened much this transfer. After lunch, we went and did a baptismal goal setting with Elder Merling and Elder Swanson in Santa Barbara. Afterwards, we had a lesson with John and started teaching him, he's a cool guy. He has a little religious background, and he seems to be humble and looking for some more truth in his life. We also got to start teaching another person named Jessica, she was at this one house where we run into different people every time haha, and she seems willing to learn more. 

Later in the night, we made a bunch of calls, and then ran over for a visit with the Evelyn's. She is a talker haha. We did what elder Marks calls "word association rodeo," where we try to relate anything and everything back to the gospel topic. But they are very nice. It was a very sporadic yet productive day.

September 26, 2021

It was a good fast & testimony meeting, and later we even got to sit in on the teacher's quorum lesson with Sister Alice Valen, who is an older lady that members take the sacrament to. 

Then we went and had a lesson with Jim. We'll be dropping him, he just hasn't been progressing, and he's just not quite ready yet. So we'll put him in the Areabook for the next elders. We've been pretty good this transfer with dropping people that need to be dropped. We've been very blessed as we have prioritized our time, and found people that are willing to put in the effort to meet with us. 

We had a delicious dinner with the Tate's, and then some finding, and then some visits with the Douglas family and the Giroux's. I'm excited for General Conference next Sunday, we're getting as many people as possible to watch.