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.