Week 99: Oxnard

August 29, 2022

Today was pretty cut and dry. Played volleyball with our district, and had a fun time with the Zone Leaders at the thrift shop. We then had all of our lessons cancel for the night, so we just ended up working on some transfer boards just outside the church. Long day that felt short at the end.

August 30, 2022

Today we drove Elder Skinner down from Santa Maria, but not before we got some Hot Cheeto burritos at the Santa Maria mall. Then ensued carnage. 

We worked on transfers for a few hours, and then we visited Harlen, a new friend named Pulu, and Charlie. Harlen is very fired up for his baptism, and Charlie has some struggles, but is pushing through. It's been very busy, but a great time.

August 31, 2022

Today we played some Scatterball and dropped off our truck to get an oil change. So we were dropped off by the Spanish Elders at the church. We were there for a while, stranded until lunch. So Sister Peterson, as awesome as she is, offered to get us some lunch. So we enjoyed some Chik-fil-a, thanks to her. she shall not lose her reward.

We spent a lot of time on transfer stuff, and figured out where everyone will be living next transfer, with help from the Snyder's. got some Subway for dinner, and had lessons with Roxana, Paul, and the Basua's. Luckily we'll get to see the Basua's on Sunday for dinner again.

September 1, 2022

Today was another really busy day. We started off running some essential errands, which was doing some laundry and then finding some more blue shirts for Elder Skinner. We coordinated some more transfer train stuff, and worked with the office missionaries to get the right keys to the right places. 

Had an awesome lesson with a new friend named Jovanna. She is a referral from a youth in our ward, and we had an awesome lesson where we taught the Plan of Salvation. It was tough, because we let some lessons slip through amidst all the business. That's exactly what we don't want, and that's what we try to avoid. But it all ends well, and Christ helps us to get done what we need to, whatever that is.

September 2, 2022

A pretty wild day, we were pulled in a bunch of different directions. I probably sound like a broken record at this point. We started off with some skateboarding. Went down to Simi Valley for district council. I took good notes because I'll be in Elder Johnson's shoes soon. After lunch, there was an unexpected option to move into a new apartment, which we took. Spent most of the day moving in to the apartment, but this option will work way better for the Elders next transfer. 

We finished off the night meeting with Charlie, and he is going to smoke his last cigarette tomorrow. I'm ready for the new transfer. There's not much left for me to do here, and I'm ready to move on to more good things.

September 3, 2022

Today we finished transfers and cleaned the apartment we moved out of. By the time we finished doing that, it was time to head off to our usual slew of lessons in the evening. 

Said bye to Roxana and Christian. Such sweet people, I'm excited for their future. It's a blessing that I'll be able to email them from my new area. To finish off the night, we got some tacos from a taco stand and did some calls to the leadership of the mission, telling people if they're going to be district leaders or trainers. We should have a good day at church tomorrow.

September 4, 2022

My last day in the Channel Islands Ward. Thankfully, I already know what I'm going to be doing and who I'll be with. I'll be in the Arroyo Vista Ward training an Elder George, in the area just neighboring where I was trained. I'll be in a four man apartment with Elder Anthony Anderson and his trainee. 

But anyways, at church we had five friends come and four recent converts. A huge blessings, a great day. Later on we had a bunch of lessons, had dinner with the Basua's, a lesson with the Liporada's and had testimony meeting for the departing missionaries. Another side note: We got to meet the Carter's son Jared tonight, so that was interesting.

A snappy transfer. Thus begins my last.