Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Primary!

Hey so I don't have a super ton to say about this week! But I have some fun stuff.
On Friday we had an FHE1 with the branch and it was really, really cool!! We took a plane to the Celestial Kingdom2. We moved from room to room in the church building and in each room we taught a different part of the Plan of Salvation3. The Hermanas (Santiago and Deroche) both said they were really impressed and excited when they heard me teaching in Spanish. I taught basically the Gospel of Christ. Which is that we have to have Faith, Repent of our Sins, Be Baptized, Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost and Endure to the End. It wasn't that good. I get really nervous in front of big groups. >.< But all in all it went good. My favorite part was when we crashed the plane and I was in charge of the lighting and sound effects in the gym for the crash and it was super intense. It was awesome!!! I wish I could explain it but you had to be there.
Yesterday - Sunday. Elder R and I went to Primary4 so that we could help three of the sister’s investigators kids go to primary. They won’t go unless we are with them because the twins who are 7 and the youngest boy who is 5 don’t really speak any English so they go and we sit next to them and translate. Which is really, really hard. But it’s fun.  Because they help me translate for them. I sit with the twins and Elder R is with the 5 year old. But no joke these are some of the most well behaved kids I have ever seen in my life!! They just sit and listen because they understand a little and if they have a question they lean over and quietly whisper it to me. Why can’t all kids be that good!!!!! After the sharing time I taught the 7 year old class. It was really fun actually. The kids had fun and the sisters came with us because we couldn't be alone with them. And they said I did a really good job teaching. So I’m happy about that.
That's all the time I have though. My companions have all just been kicked off the computers so I'm going to get off so we can go and they don’t have to wait on me. I'll write everyone something today though :)
I hope everyone has a good week and that you all have opportunities to share the gospel with your friends, family and neighbors. And it’s as simple as inviting them over for a dinner with your family or just being a good example.
I love this gospel and know this church is true!!
Elder Zachary Gore
1-      FHE =Family Home Evening                                                                             
2-      Celestial Kingdom - Where God lives, and where He wants us to return
3-      Plan of Salvation - our Heavenly Father's plan for His children
4-      Primary - Sunday school for children ages 3-11 

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

The Work Continues



This week we had some good lessons and taught some good stuff. The most exciting thing was that we had a combined mission conference with the Rancho Mission and we all heard from Elder Neil A. Anderson.  (to read more about him - https://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/what-are-prophets/bio/neil-l-andersen?lang=eng)  It was super cool he shook every single missionaries hand and spoke to us for about an hour. I don’t have any pictures cause we were in the chapel, so obviously we weren't supposed to take pictures, even though we saw some people take them :/ but also I was in the very, very, very, very, last row, all the way at the back of the gym. But it didn't really matter. We could feel the spirit regardless of how far away we were. Something that I really liked that he told us is that when the Apostles are doing the Missionary Calls they purposefully reserve some of the best missionaries for the United States. He said they did this because the United States is the "bread basket" of the Church. If the Church isn't growing here then it’s not going to grow in other places of the world. I really liked that. I have more notes from his talk but I don’t have them with me.
On Monday (last week) we were at the store and this guy walked pass me, stopped took a step back, looked at me and asked "are you a Mormon?" and I said "yes I am" and then he asked "are you on your mission?" and I said "yes I am" and then before I could say anything else or ask him anything he goes "that’s chill" and then walks out of the store and I couldn't follow or stop him cause my companion was buying something. But it was just kind of a weird, cool, interesting experience.
Tuesday we had Zone Meeting, which is when all the missionaries in the Zone, as in the missionaries that cover the branch and the 2 English wards all meet and have some training. It was good. We talked about setting expectations with investigators through the How To Begin Teaching Points. It was cool. A lot different than the Zone and District meetings in Coachella but I liked this one a whole lot more :)

Wednesday I crashed my bike, not going to go into any crazy details. But I flipped over the handlebars and luckily landed on some grass and I had my bag on so that cushioned my fall. I just got back up and started riding again. I'm fine, the bike is fine, no injuries. Just a little embarrassment cause I flipped in front of a big RV with like 20 or 30 people on it. But it was kind of fun.
Thursday we rode past the bike shop and decided to go inside since we had nothing really to do for about an hour; and we were looking for the pant straps to hold your pants from getting stuck in the chain and also Elder Baer asked if we could pick him up some new brake pads. We got that stuff and then I asked the guy that owns the place if they had any handlebar extenders. Like the bars that stick up to give you more leverage when you ride. And he started looking around and he found a pair and said they were used and asked if that was fine and I was like yeah sure that’s fine. And then he said "They are free". And I was like "Woot Woot!!" Cause I mean like they are really nice ones too. So I was excited. Then he gave us a discount on everything we bought. It was sweet! We found out that he is good friends with a member who owns a bike shop in Fontana I think so he gives all the missionaries pretty sweet discounts :)
Saturday. After the conference I couldn't find my odometer and I was looking and looking and looking and I asked the other Elders if they had seen it and Elder Baer asks me "Have you prayed about it?" "Have you prayed all night like Enos did?" Which is funny because that’s something that Elder Anderson told us. I can tell you about that one later but I was like nope. And so I walked into our study room and I prayed and asked Heavenly Father to help me find it. I stood up and then I realized I hadn't looked in my bike bag and so I walked over to it and opened it and the very first thing I saw was my odometer. And I was just like. Wooooow.  I then went back into the study and said another prayer thanking Heavenly Father for helping me find it. It wasn't anything important. I don’t need the odometer. I spent the first 2 weeks of the first transfer here without it. But I like having it on and see how fast I’m going and how far we have gone and I really liked this experience showing me that Heavenly Father cares about us and the things that are important to us. It was just an odometer but He helped me find it, and for that I am very grateful. It’s a testimony builder of the power of Prayer. It does work and God is Listening and He will Help Us.

Sunday. We were able to help David, a less active Priest1 in the branch, come to church and he was able to help bless the Sacrament. It was super awesome because most weeks it’s either the missionaries or adult members. And we actually have 4 Priest age youth in the branch and they all live in our area. We have decided we are going to kind of make that our focus, also the Branch President told us to, help the youth; because we have all 4 of the priests, 2 of the 2 Teachers2, and both of the Branches 2 Deacons3 in our area. So that’s kind of the work right now. Is to help get these youth back to church, fulfilling their priesthood responsibilities and receive the blessing.



The picture is of me and a boy who just got baptized, everyone says I look like him when he grows up and is a missionary.
I love you all. Have a great week!
Elder Zachary Gore!



11-  Young men who are 16 years old and all male converts 16 and over. They help the bishop or branch president watch over Church members by giving service and assisting with temporal matters; on Sunday’s they bless the sacrament.
22 -   Young men who are between 14 and 16 years old; they also help give service including preparing the sacramental bread and water on Sundays.
33-  Young men who are between 12 and 14 years old; they do the same as above and on Sunday’s they pass the sacrament to members of the congregation.


Monday, March 10, 2014

Another Good Week in Banning, CA



This last week has been interesting. I mean not because we did a lot. It was just a good week on account that nothing bad happened. We had some good lessons and have been working with the less active families’ a lot. We visit them almost daily. Giving support and teaching and talking and trying to get to know them so that we can figure out who in the ward can help them. Its hard work sometimes, especially for me, some people talk really fast and it’s hard for me to understand sometimes. But I'm getting better and I'm doing a lot better at asking people to explain something they said in a different way and asking what things mean. I admit I don't like asking for help. But I'm trying to let go of that and my self-consciousness and just put myself out there. I'm getting more confident and sometimes, well often I find-myself thinking in Spanish. Which helps me focus because it’s like I only can say certain things in Spanish so if I'm thinking it then I can only be thinking about teaching, finding, and the people we are teaching. So that's nice. I still haven't had any dreams in Spanish. But I'm hoping soon I will. 


Elder Baer
In other news: Elder Baer (pronounced Bear) is a boss. He is funny but also knows how to be serious. His Spanish is good. But he seems to like speaking English more. It’s an interesting difference between Elder Moore and Elder Baer. He is also my "brother". As in he was also trained by Elder Cebreros except he has been out for 11 months and I've only been out 7. Holy Cow!!!! I've been out 7 months. That is sooooooooooooooooooooo weird!!!!!!

Our investigators: Well we have two really good ones and one that we haven't seen in a couple weeks and well a lot of people have this phrase which is "Si Dios quiere" which basically means "if God wants" or "if God is willing". Basically it is a way to get out of making a decision to go to church or not. These people believe in God and they believe in Him a lot but they use that phrase to be an excuse and if something happens and like they wake up late or its too hard to get everyone ready to go they say well obviously God didn't/doesn't want me at church today.  It’s like come on people. God wants you at church. It’s a commandment. He is going to help you do it if you make the decision and then try you’re very hardest to do it. Which means you'll be at church. It’s kind of rough sometimes but we are trying. 

Elder Renovato and I are good. We are working together well and he gives me tons more opportunities to speak Spanish.
Elder Renovato
Oh and yesterday (Sunday) Elder Renovato and I went to Primary with one of our less actives. It was a lot of fun. I miss primary. I don't think I could really teach it but it was fun to be in there and do all the dancing and singing and hearing the powerful testimonies of the little kids. It’s really amazing if you think about it. Who really are the best teachers? The little kids, because they grasp the concepts and ideas of the gospel at such a basic and simple level. It’s so cool to listen to them.

Oh and we haven't had planners for the last week. That was really fun. Were there planners back when Dad was on his mission? Were they not allowed to keep them like we do? Cause I've never seen any of his. But weekly planning is pretty tough without a planner. But it was ok. We made it work and we finally got planners yesterday. So things will be a bit more smooth on our side at least.

I hope everyone has a great week and has lots of missionary opportunities!
I'll talk to you next week!

Elder Zachary Gore!