Week 60: Goleta

November 29, 2021

Today we went to the Zoo! Pretty expensive, but a fun time and a nice place. Afterwards, we went to the other district activity and played some pickle ball. A fun day. We also went to IHOP in the morning for some breakfast. We did a lot of stop by's tonight, which was productive. Then we had a Zone Leader Zoom and finished off the day. We have a really great couple of districts here in the bottom of the Zone. 

November 30, 2021

The last day of November was really solid, it was a good one. We did a bunch of "clerical work" as Elder Marks calls it, and did some stake reports. We had a fun time, and I almost got a little too casual, but the Spirit told me to get back on track. President told us that we need to be asking the Spirit what we can do better, and brace ourselves for the answer. So that's what I'm working on right now. 

We also started teaching Dwight. Had a good rest of our day, the day gets dark earlier and the fog is around more often. But it's really good to be a missionary, I'm tremendously blessed and I owe it all to God. It's so good to be alive. 

December 1, 2021

Today we did an exchange with Elders Kelly/Galvez; I went with Elder Kelly. He has improved a lot since I last went on an exchange with him. It was another fun day of learning Spanish and walking the streets of Lompoc. We had a fun member visit with the Thomisson's and helped them decorate their tree. On the way back to Goleta, we had some travel issues, and Elder Kelly and Galvez get to stay the night now. Sleepover time. 

December 2, 2021

Today it was a pretty regular hustle and bustle, until we had a great lesson with Juan and Hannah. Juan is interested in coming back into Christianity, and I think they felt the Spirit when we were teaching them. 

We also had a lesson with another guy who just struggles with opening his heart to some new ideas. So we gave him a Book of Mormon, or the "the great sifter." I was kind of fired up today about the Book of Mormon, just wanted to completely tear apart any argument in opposition to it. But I need to be more meek, and be loving with people's concerns. 

But we had a good day, stopped by and saw a lot of people, met some interesting folks. Still good to be alive. 

December 3, 2021

Today we had a great district council with the Santa Barbara District. I gained some new insights on the definition of hope in the scriptures as compared to the real world. 

We finished up stake reports today, and got on our way. We had a pretty unsuccessful day, in terms of finding more people to teach. but unlike the other times in my mission that had the same results, I let God soften my heart and help me not feel discouraged or comparative with other missionaries. 

I grew my faith in the Book of Mormon today, I just felt the Spirit radiate from verses today that I read. It was a good day, there is nothing that has been more fulfilling to me than loving and serving the Lord. 

December 4, 2021

Today was a great day. We got to go with the Santa Barbara Elders. I was able to go with Elder Wright and Elder Tree went with Elder Johnson. We stuck around in Santa Barbara, got some great stuff done. 

We had a lesson with a fairly recent convert and talked about the Oath and the Covenant, trying to get him ready for the Melchizedek Priesthood. It is a very profound doctrine, something that makes complete sense. 

Elder Wright is a great elder, he's really good at holding his own, even though he is in his first transfer. We had some powerful moments testifying to people today. We also found someone to teach last minute, which always is a big boost. 

We met with the Santa Barbara bishop, Bishop Lund, and with their Ward Mission Leader, both great people. Had a fulfilling day, we had the Spirit in our lessons like I haven't had in a little bit, so it was so rejuvenating. I'm excited to be back at it tomorrow. 

December 5, 2021

Today was a good day, a little touch and go at some points. We had a lesson with Brother Azunna and Brother Pearce, we're going to try to teach some of Brother Azunna's family. We also had a lesson with Dustin, and he and his wife got mixed up in some anti. The lesson was a fight, but we ended up all right in the end, Brother Amundsen was a huge help. We had a good rest of our day, had a fairly slow week, found one person to teach, but I still feel like we got some good progress going. 

I think my testimony grew more this week than it has in a while. I had a lot of opportunities to bear my testimony this week with all of my heart. The Lord has blessed me immensely.