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.