July 13, 2015

Hey so this week was pretty good.

On Monday we had a good Noche De Hogar with the G Family, at the T house. The R, R, and DeJ families came too. It was soooo many people but it was good. Some of the people shared experiences that we think really helped the G family. But Monica is still excited for her baptism on the 1st of August. 

On Tuesday we had Zone meeting. It was the last one. That was really weird. It went over so I didn't bear my testimony at the end. But that’s ok I don't like talking in front of big groups of people anyway. I'm going to die at my despidida >.< But I've been working on a hymn on the piano. Nearer My God to thee and I can play it pretty decently now. I can sing while I play it. So I'm going to play it at my last district meeting. After that we went with the Zone Leaders (Elders R, and N) to DQ and got some burgers, and ice cream. After that we went back to the apartment changed and headed out to work. We were supposed to have English class, but nobody showed up so we went to the *M(South) families home and read in the Book of Mormon with Hno & Hna. We decided to start in Mosiah because everyone starts at 1 Nephi and so it was actually really cool because randomly in the first chapter it says.

1 And now there was no more contention in all the land of Zarahemla, among all the people who belonged to king Benjamin, so that king Benjamin had continual peace all the remainder of his days.
2 And it came to pass that he had three sons; and he called their names Mosiah, and Helorum, and Helaman. And he caused that they should be taught in all the language of his fathers, that thereby they might become men of understanding; and that they might know concerning the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths of their fathers, which were delivered them by the hand of the Lord.
3 And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, saying: My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God.
 4 For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates; for he having been taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling the commandments of God, even down to this present time.
5 I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct.
6 O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true. And behold, also the plates of Nephi, which contain the records and the sayings of our fathers from the time they left Jerusalem until now, and they are true; and we can know of their surety because we have them before our eyes.

And then it comes to verse 7 and it says 

7 And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers.

Elder J and I were just like whoooo. That was cool … and so we talked about it and so they committed to read the rest of the chapter.

Wednesday. Basically everything fell through until we had a lesson with the G's. It went super good. We taught the Restoration and Monica is still going good towards her baptism, Felipe is having some doubts just because he doesn't "feel" it yet. He has desires and he is reading the Book of Mormon and praying so it’s just a matter of time. 

Thursday. So we went over to the *M (Recient Converts). And Hna. L from the San G ward in Beaumont was there, I guess Hna. M is going to house an exchange student. But I had gotten permission to call Hno. Lizama to give him some invitations for my despidida, but I wasn't going to give them to him until Friday, so I was just like dang it, haha. Could have given them to Hna. but I'd left them at the apartment. But after that the day was alright. We had a good dinner with hna, V, and a good lesson with the M family.

Friday. So we met up with Hno. L by the hospital and I gave him the invitations. It was really cool to see him again. After that we booked over to the Church because Elder J was going to have his interview with President, cause we weren’t able to go to our last ones. But it was cool. Sister Van Cott was there and we just talked. She said that out of all the transfers of incoming missionaries she remembers Elder M and I at her home the most vividly. We talked about how it was crazy how fast the last 2 years had gone by and how their last year is going to be like a blink of an eye. And then President told us that I was one of their favorite missionaries because I didn't cause problems. I just do what I'm told to the best of my ability and yeah. So that was really nice to hear. But then president told me my final interview was gonna be like a half hour long, which is an eternity when my longest interview was maybe 7 minutes. haha. But it'll be good. After we went back to the apartment for dinner and then it was time to go to the Charla Foganera (Fire Side) and we got to the church and opened it up and were inside waiting and the sisters called and told us it had gotten cancelled. So we went and tried to stop by some less-active families and talk to people, but nobody was out and nobody was home so yeah haha. Our day ended. 

Saturday. So we had a great day planned and we had things set and all of a sudden at about 1 everything fell through, so we walked around and talked to some cool people until it was time for our Ward Correlation Meeting. It was super weird cause I wasn't going to be there for most of the stuff they were planning. But then we had tacos. And that made me super happy. I love tacos soooooo much. We had tacos de Pollo (chicken), Carne Asada (steak), Al Pastor (lamb), and Chorizo (pork). They were soooo bomb. I ate like 13 or so. Sooooo good!!! I'm gonna miss tacos >.<

On Sunday we had dinner with the V family and they gave us Tacos a Vapor. So they are tacos that are cooked using steam. They were amazing!! I need to ask for these recipes. We also had a good lesson with the S family. It was cool Hno. S actually prayed, well sort of, he helped Charlie do it but he was telling the words to Charlie so that was really cool! After that we went to the M family’s (south) house and we had a good lesson. We read from the Book of Mormon some more and it was really good.

That was the week! I know this church is true. It’s been a great 2 years. I'm gonna make this last week count. I'm grateful for all the support and help I've gotten from everyone. I hope you have a great week! I'm in Moroni 8. But I started Moroni like a week ago. So I've been reading like a column every day haha. So we'll see how I finish. But I hope you have a great week!

-Elder Gore

* We have 2 M families. The North and the South, as in they live in the north and south. The Norths are Recent Converts and the Souths are less-actives.