Week 63: Goleta

December 20, 2021

Today was an interesting day, because we only had Preparation Day until 1:00pm. We did some more service for Cindy, and kind of did a service pass-off to the SB elders. We were able to find someone named Marco today, he is a nice guy who has a couple of kids, and we'll go by to teach them more about the Plan of Salvation! It was kind of a grind day. We got to practice as a district, to prepare for our discussion/musical number that we are going to give tomorrow at Zone Conference. It's going to be fun, realized how bad I am at singing, haha.

December 21, 2021

Today we had Zone Conference, we were the top four zones in the mission there. Those are the San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Zones. We had a big "Life of Christ" program, where we all gave a dissertation on different parts of the Savior's life. Our district spoke on the Transfiguration, the Triumphal Entry, and the Sacrament. Elder Tree and I had the focus on the Transfiguration, a topic that is really easy to brush by, but is really important. So our Zone Conference was a very uplifting experience. We were also able to find our friend Raul, who is pretty awesome, and humble too. It was a good day, spiritually uplifting. 

December 22, 2021

We had some baptismal goal settings today with the Santa Barbara District. Elders Parker, T. Johnson, Wright, C. Johnson, Swanson, and Wilding, along with Sisters Sprague and Pratt. They are all really solid missionaries, and I am humbled by all of the hard work and soul that they have put into their areas. 

We were able to have a church tour with Peggy, she really is just the sweetest old lady in the universe. It started raining super hard today, so that made it a little difficult to street contact, but we kept busy. It's always nice to go to sleep listening to the rain. 

We also had a last minute visit with the Villanueva's, we had an ok lesson, just have some expectations to set. 

December 23, 2021

Today we did goal settings day 2, and did goal setting ourselves. It was our very own Goleta district, Elder Hales and Lauaki, along with Sisters Rasmussen and Pollard with Hermanas Ngalu and Allred. We even got some studies in today, which helped a bunch to keep us going strong. We had an absolute downpour today; if we were in a colder climate we would probably have about three feet of snow. 

We had a couple of lessons cancel, but we visited as many people as we could. We had a really good lesson with Raul, and everything we taught him clicked with him. 

We stopped by the Cruz family and were able to share a Christmas message with them. It was pretty cute, we gave their four year old son a picture of Christ, and his mom told him to go put it by the Nativity. So he shushed everyone and then tip-toed over to Baby Jesus, careful not to wake him up. After our lesson we stayed productive for the night and then turned in. 

December 24, 2021

Not a lot to report on today actually. We had goal settings the whole day with the Lompoc District (Elders Kartchner, Coverley, Kelly, Galvez, Barnes, and Murdoch; Sisters Walker and Ormond; and finally Hermanas Braun and Malouf.)

Afterwards we headed back and had dinner with the Amundsen's. They're a good family, ate a lot of tri-tip and apple pie. Very thankful for their willingness to have us over, Christmas Eve was fun today. 

We already turned in for the night to be safe in our apartments, and so we've been cleaning and getting everything prepared for tomorrow. 

I've had the strangest feeling, although a good one. It's a feeling of missing my family and friends, but feeling the Spirit confirm to me I need to be out here right now. It's been good. 

December 25, 2021

Today was Christmas. We got up and played some chair soccer, and then came back here to the apartment to do some chores. I thought it would feel like a regular day, but it felt different, a special day, which is the idea, right? We opened up our presents, and I was very happy to find a mini waffle iron that I'll be able to use for many things. We have also collected more candy than I'll be able to eat. The Jones' family gave us a ton of candy, and gave me a yard of Snicker's candy bars, which totals out to 18 regular sized bars. We also did a little bit of caroling, and were able to give some food and clothes out to the homeless around Goleta. We had dinner with the Jones', and then went to play some Ping Pong at the park in Old Town Goleta. Good times. 

After turning in for the night, we did a scripture Jeopardy with our Zone, it was fun. We also had a Living Christ testimony meeting today for the Mission, and are now going to bed.

I've noticed recently that my life on the mission has been fulfilling. It seemed like for the longest time, I was living life in a daze back at home, like I hadn't fully awakened myself yet. I'm not exactly sure how to describe it. Like living with spiritual "blurry vision." Memories came and went, life experiences worth having were scarce. But I feel now on my mission, that it's the opposite. I have never felt such a "real" sense of life, and it has never had more meaning. I can see my soul and the passage of time through a less blurry lens, and making life worth it. It's pretty indescribable, but I do know that it's a gift of God for doing my best to keep His commandments. I'm looking to the future with hope, and pleading for Christ to lead me and change me as I stumble along. 

December 26, 2021

Today is the start of a new journal, and the start of a new chapter in the mission. We got transfer calls, and I'm being transferred to Newbury Park to be companions with Elder Larson. It'll be the first time I'm assigned out of the Santa Barbara Stake in nine months, so I've gotten to know this place well. I've had good times here, and an incredible amount of personal growth. It's been a good time, but I'm going to have to cut this one short. Lots to do tomorrow!