Day by Day...

Merry "early" Christmas! 

This week was amazing! 

Fun! 

And nice! 

So we ended Pday last week with a bang! We are dinner 

with our Ward mission leader and their family is awesome! After we ate dinner there we meet up with most of the Ward missionaries and corralled to some of the members of the church. We sang " we wish you a merry KISSmas and a happy ROOTBEER. Then we handed them a big bag of Hersey kisses and a big pop bottle of root beer! It was fun to get to know the Ward missionaries and see the happiness on the members faces.

On Wednesday we made invitations to the Ward Christmas party for our investigators and such. They turned out cute. 

We then went to go find more people and 

let me tell you

 the way to get to some of these house is  kinda scary  -- diving up the cliff 

but then you look out the window and 

you see hills and green and 

beautiful natural landscape.  

It has been foggy the last couple of days

and it looks like Scotland!

Anyway we happened to knock on Melanie's door and she invites us in and about 10 minutes into the discussion she starts crying and letting all her problems go. All she wants is peace  in her life and she doesn't know how to find it. Seeing her in such confusion made me feel two things: of course sadness for her but relief to me in my life that I know where I am going, knowing that I can repent through my Saviors sacrifice has brought me tons of peace. We shared a few scriptures and she felt comforted and accepted to meet with us again in a few day! I was so excited! 

Later we met with the zone leaders to see what we can do to help each missionary in the zone. Then we had a transfer dinner helped by the stake. This stake is so gung ho about missionary work. I love knowing that the more missionary minded members there are the more work progresses! They even have a intense, spiritual bible class going to happen so our former investigators that we can release can still learn, less actives and so on.... it is amazing. I wish I could go. We got to have a little class and I learned so much! It was simple teachings and the Spirit was so strong! 

We met with Melanie again and this time she brought her boyfriend. 

All was going well a member even came with us and bore her testimony and then Melanie said "oh! Matt, is of different faith and he said ... instead of what you said" 

They were a little mean about it and kept asking questions about differences and trying to make us get fumbled in our words and such.

 So Sister Davis and I bore our testimonies invited them to read the Book of Mormon 

and to follow Moroni's promise at the end. And a chapter in the Bible. 

We have a lesson on Wednesday. So pray for that one. 

We had a few lessons with members asking for referrals and 

helping them in the Light the World initiative! 

I love all these daily things that we have to do. 

We shared about how our gift that we can give to our Savior 

is helping the light of the world grow ... 

that sometimes we can be like the wise men and 

bear gifts to others 

but sometimes we can also be like the shepherds giving only their praises to him. 

That struck me because when I feel that I am doing not enough 

I think again and remember that is also the small things that count. 

Like saying hi or thank you, smiling, doing the dishes for those we love, 

actually sharing the gospel -- give away Books of Mormon, etc.. 

I love how is Christmas all he have been ask to give us to act like our Savior! 

On Friday was district meeting and it was really cool!We went over more on the simplified planning guidelines and a lot of role plays  ---- which are bomb! 

The building we have them in is in old Placerville and it is so cute! 

It is getting pretty cold up here.

Anyway, that night was the best 

because Chris got baptized. 

Everything ran really smoothly. 

I am really excited to teach him 

the new member lessons. 

He is awesome! 

He even bore his testimony at his baptism 

and it was really nice. 

Saturday night he got in a car accident in Southern California and couldn't make it to his confirmation at church in Sunday!  It was sad because he texted us while we were at the Ward Christmas party with his nonmember family. We even had to tell them.   The rest of the night we were trying to see who could go down and help help out with the kids and with Chris... good thing President and Sister Jardine was there ( there was another baptism happening! ) because Bishop said that Chris couldn't get confirmed on Christmas Sunday so probably Jan. 1. 

Not ok! So we are crossing our fingers that Chris is ok and everything works out! 

We also did service serving elders people a Christmas meal for four hours!

It was so nice to see them happy and full tummies!  Some families came too! 

I served the gravy and then I served the stuffing, green beans, sweet potatoes. 

We went through a lot of food! At the beginning we smelled something funny and gross. We kept serving the food but something was wrong 

so we told one of the in charge ladies she looked at the turkey meet and her eyes go big. 

The meat was spoiled and we already fed at least a their of it to the people. 

So we just hoped and prayed that no one got sick. 

Some of the leaders ate it before we found out 

so since that day we have been asking them if they felt sick at all. 

They keep saying yes so cross your fingers! 

Then this morning we helped the zone leaders wrap 70 Books of Mormon! It took us two hours. Hey had e missionaries write their testimonies about the Book of Mormon and glue it on the back of the front cover. It turned out so nice so now 7 sets of missionaries have ten Books of Mormon to hand out this week! 

We have temple Conference tomorrow and I am so excited!  

Jesus + Others +Yourself = JOY

This week was an eventful one! 

I loved it!

On Pday,  we had a Zone activity.  We played volleyball with most of the zone! It was tons of fun! Sister McDonald played with one arm and was doing really good.  At least I thought she was until she punched the ball in my face on accident. It was one of the funniest things ever! 

My face felt like it just came out of the dentist office and 

they gave me too much numb medicine. 

Hahhaha. 

Although, my head felt awful for the rest of the day and the next day. 

Later the evening, we went to go to YSA Family Home Evening and there we received a miracle! Almost two months ago we met this awesome guy Carlos! Then something happened and he stopped meeting with us. It was really sad, but the miracle came from the Northridge sisters telling us that he wants to meet with us --  we read and shared the whole restoration lesson. AND he wants to be BAPTIZED!!!!!!! 

It was such an awesome  miracle! 

On Wednesday one of my old companions Sister Erickson came to visit us sisters for a short while! It was nice to see her and see how she is doing! We went to Cafe Rio and it was pretty good with her and man! Miss her tons! We had a good time then went to go find some more people! Love finding! Not a lot of people opened their doors but the people on the sidewalk. 

We had an amazing district meeting. So for our zone training that we gave two weeks ago we talked about joy being in every aspect in our lives and the different ways we can be joyous. Elder Calvert broke it down even more! It was awesome. Those times we we felt happy and so on. We felt those moments when we first focused our thoughts and actions on Christ! And at is so true! 

I felt joy before my mission but I have recognized at I have felt more joy on a consistent basis here on my mission. Just trying do what he has done 24/7 has really blessed me. Then we see that we feel joy of the happiness of others. We thought about those joyous times we saw our investigators progress and learn more in the Gospel. 

Then it comes to ourselves. 

When someone has done something for us and when we just feel happy! 

And with all that we become humble to feel that joy! 

Jesus + Others +Yourself  = JOY  

Later that night we had a lesson with Carlos! We had a really good How to Begin Teaching lesson and also about reading the scriptures, prayer and desire to be baptized! He excepted the invitation to be baptized! The lesson was amazing. He is reading the Book of Mormon and loves it! That was one Joy moment right there !

Friday we became a trio because Sister McDonald's companion finished her mission so she came with us and it was awesome! 

We went to the Sacramento live nativity -- Right by the temple -- with Sister McDonald's investigators! They loved it and I did too! I loved when they read something from President Monson's talk about let us become like the sheperds and the wise men -- coming to praise our savior everyday  -- especially this Christmas season! 

We went to a baptism and Carlos was able to come! 

He loved it and was able to relate himself to Larry who was the one who was baptized! We had a lesson after the baptism where some members were able to join us! We shared what he needed to hear at that moment! 

Saturday night I got my transfer call! 

I am going to the Rescue Ward in El Dorado Stake 

and my companion will be Sister Davis! I am sooo excited. 

So, Sunday, I said my goodbyes to everyone. One of the best things that happened that day would be that when we went to the Northridge Ward.   One of the investigators who was there, turned out to be a guy named Bill. Bill was the same guy Sister McDonald and I met in the pouring rain one day on exchanges. When we spoke with him, he told me about the day we met him -- He said he had intended to end his life that day -- but decided not to when we were talking to him.  When Sister McDonald said that God loves him -- At that moment his heart softened.  Now he is going to church and taking the missionary lessons. We had a lesson with him Sunday and he has changed so much. He said that he didn't want to talk to us that day and was going to blow us off but 

he is glad he didn't because now he is so happy! 

I broke in tears knowing that God placed him in that moment in his life for us to be there and have the Holy Ghost touch his heart! 

I know this was a long email, but I am so happy -- 

all the miracles and 

changes that this week has brought! 

Have a joyous week! 

Oh .....

and we saw Santa!

Can't Hardly Even Begin ...

...to tell you how happy I am.

This week has been super busy and awesome!   

We had MLC Tuesday and it was amazing!  We talked about how to use our simplified planning guidelines more and it was so good!! After learning about simplifying -- we went into setting our goals for December. President Jardine, switched the idea of setting goals to setting a standard of excellence. I love this new way!  We all have to try our best in our companionship goals to help the whole mission!  They talked about my favorite word --  JOY. I have been learning about joy so much and it can come in any aspect of our lives and in missionary work!

Sister Munk and I had a exchange with the Eastern Ave and Ashton Park sisters! Sister Turner came here with me and we had the an awesome time. She is so bubbly and a great missionary! Learned tons form her.  We went to go teach Ron about preparing during the week for sacrament meeting. We had things planned and such but really we just went by the Spirit! And it was the bomb! The spirit was so strong and he got it. It was nice to see him at church.

We also went on team ups with the Northridge sisters. I went with Sister McDonald to their appt. We taught this amazing women about the commandments and enduring to the end. I love sister McDonald so much ... she awesome is smiling and laughing. She makes everyone feel good.

We had zone training and after preparation it was awesome! We trained on joy, and simplified planning guidelines. We did some awesome role plays for it and ... it went awesome! 

We got to hear Sister Kirby bear her final testimony before she leaves for home.

 She was a amazing missionary and an amazing person!

After working with Samantha we had nothing! No one wanted to listen, 

biking wasn't getting us any where and a bunch of other stuff. 

So... we had a blitz with our zone and found Tom! 

He is ready to build his relationship with God! 

We made an appt with him Wednesday! 

Can't wait! 

Then the elders found us a solid potential! 

The next day we decided to call some of our "formers" in our area book and ..... Robin answered, we explained who we are, and she oh good, I was really thinking about be baptized and continuing my path towards god. She made an appt with on today at six! Pray that it will go well and that the spirit will be soooooo strong!

Christmas finally came around our house! 

We put lights in our bedroom and in our study room! 

A member gave us a little Christmas tree so one day at lunch hour we put it together! 

I love Christmas!

We started the 25 ways over 25 days AND OH.... 
I love it so much! 

It is amazing to have the opportunity to be constantly thinking about our Savior 

when you are seeking for opportunities to serve people in more of a specific way that day!

I also loved the Christmas devotional!

What a wonderful time of the year to be joyful and and celebrate our Savior's birth! 

I love 2 Nephi 18:6. It reminds me of the Handle's Messiah. He truly is wonderful, wonderful to me!

Transfer calls is this Saturday! 

Sister Munk and I already know what most likely will happen but we will see Saturday!

 That means Pday is next Tuesday! Change comes and goes very quickly.

Thanksgiving and LIGHT THE WORLD

Hi everyone! 

Happy Thanksgiving !! 

Hope it was nice for all of you this year! 

This week has been very interesting! To start off ...  

Sister Munk and I had exchanges with the Northridge sisters. Sister Kirby came here and we had tons of fun! 

We didn't get to talk with very many people until, the very end. We went inside this one apartment complex and tried to find some potential investigators but none answered and some didn't even exist. We had one last person - His name was Carlos but he was moving to Los Angeles. He welcomed our message about how families can be together forever. He said that that was a comforting thing to know since his son died a few months back. We gave him a Book of Mormon and a card to Mormon.org so he could find the missionaries down there. We asked if there was anyone else we could share this message with and he directed us to his neighbors, Linda and Jimmy. 

We then knocked on Linda's door. She let us in and we had a really good discussion of the restoration! 

She asked really good question and I felt the spirit. She then pulled out her notebook and said that she would like to share us something too. She started to read this vision she received last week about the election and who is going to win, natural disasters that we need to be ready for and how she needs to stay true to God. She then said.. I don't know girls, but if God gave me that sign.. then I am not going to leave my church. I know that your Church has already said a few of these things already and so on but I will not change and I will not read that Book of Mormon. We bore our testimonies of our Saviors love for her and everyone and a few other things. 

We said a prayer with her then went on our way. 

We then did service for Project Linus with the girls from 

College Oak YSA Ward.  

It was fun to make the blankets for these kids and to get to know these girls who we serve. 

The next day, we met this guy named Matt.  He pretty much is going through a Alma the Younger experience. 

We shared with him Alma's story and he related to it so well. We got his contact info and we will see home this week!! I am so excited! He just needs to know how much 

happiness and joy we can receive from the gospel and our savior!

The day before Thanksgiving, Sister Munk got food poisoning -- so we had to stay in.  

We went out Thanksgiving Day to a senior residence home and spent time hearing their stories and sharing laughs! We had dinner at 2 with the Carmichael Ward Relief Society. They're family was so nice to have us over. 

We gave a zone training on the new Christmas initiative! We made a turkey has had the missionaries write down what they are grateful for. 

The next day Sister Munk didn't feel well, again, so we went home. 

We stayed in for the rest of the day and the next as well.

 It is no fun being sick as a missionary!   I feel so bad for her. 

 The Gunns, the mission doctor and his wife, brought us dinner that night. 

It was so nice of them Sunday came around! And oh how I love church! 

It truly helps me feel better and get ready for he next week.  

I had to get up in the Fair Oaks 3rd Ward and introduce the new Christmas initiative! 

I love the video and the calendar of letting us become more like our Savior this Christmas! 

I encourage you all to go to Mormon.org and check it out! It is awesome!

LIGHT THE WORLD!! 

 A lot of our recent converts came to church today and it made my day! 

They are all doing well! Holidays make it tough to see everyone! 

Samantha is doing great! 

She shared her testimony and her conversion story in Relief society and I started to cry! 

The Lord loves us so much! What more can we do for him to tell him Thank You!!

Hope ya'alls week has been awesome! 

Love ya lots, Happy Holiday and Light the World!

Turkey Bombs, Facebook and Different Points of View

This week has been crazy! 

It seems that I always say that in every weekly later. 

Oops oh well. 

A lot of things have happened this week some great some not so good,

but the outlook of life gets me through. 

First, my companion Sister Munk hit her year mark -- 

so now she is one of the oldest sister missionaries in the mission! 

Time goes by so fast because I remember when she came in! 

It is crazy that time flies by so fast when you work for the Lord! 

We have been biking a lot trying to find people to teach, 

we had some close encounters with some that seemed interested 

then turned out to be just nice people but not ready yet.

We started reading the Book of Mormon with the Harris family.  I love reading the Book of Mormon with recent converts and their family.  I think it is amazing that we were all reading together but different things stood out for each of us. 

Like in 1 Nephi 2  -- Sister Harris liked verse 9 b/c she needs to be firm in the gospel for her kids. 

Sister Munk liked verse 3- being obedient unto the word of God, and I liked verse 19 where we need to be humble and rely on the Lord always. 

It is amazing that a book written so long ago can touch us in different ways for different people now. 

On Wednesday, we did Fair Oaks park service and it was a lot of work! 

It is always nice to pick up a shovel or another thing. We pretty much spread wood all over the place. Let's just say my arms and torso were really sore after we were done. 

So for Thanksgiving, the zone,  gets to do service together --  so we got with the zone leaders to see what service opportunities we can do. It was fun trying to look for things in our stake boundaries. We might get to do some activities with the elderly! That will be tons of fun! 

Thursday was eventful! Our mission was chosen to pilot Facebook. 

The representatives of the social media online proselytizing came to see how it is going. We were informed to be there at a specific time because we were chosen to be in the board interview.  It was really nice to talk about the impact it has made on our missionary efforts here and what things we can do to make it better -- Like how we have used it in our areas, 

what are some things that the program can improve on to help missionaries know what to do to use social media better etc.. 

The people conducting the interview were really funny and nice people.

After that whole thing was over we had district meeting and it was great! Our district leader is Elder Calvert from Alabama and this is his first time being a district leader.  He was awesome!! The focus of the meeting was on patience with others and boy!... was that a revelation for me! I need to be more patient  -- but it really helped me for the rest of the week because more than 
normal everyone seemed was really rude!! Maybe they just had a bad four day weekend but .... yup. 

We had exchanges with the Ashton Park sisters -- Sister Kaufusi came here with me! 

She is a ball of open sunshine and super happy to just bear her testimony to anyone we teach. 

It is always nice to be biking then her hear laughing or singing behind me. 

She just makes me smile! 

We tried to go see this potential investigator, yesterday, Elaine

aaaannnnd... it didn't go well. 

We knocked on the door and this guy opened it  -- and suddenly 

we smelled alcohol and Mary Jane.  Not a good smell at all. 

Who are you he said... we are missionaries ... ohhh....( in my mind - oh no!) 

Ok let me see...What are you mormons....yes we are ... WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE happens when you die? (started to tell him)  

No, what do YOU believe?  What do YOU believe?

Oh, whatever  -- you know I love meeting happy people 

and you are not (pointing at me)-- You are serious and a little bit sad.

I can see that in your life. Then he points at Sister Munk ... you are just straight up serious, not happy, not sad, just serious about life. 

That will be good for a news caster. 

He goes on for about ten minutes.. 

of how he knows the how and what we are -- 

we tried stopping him to bear a quick testimony and be on our way 

but ... then he said that we are not on a journey cause we born into it

-- we are brainwashed! 

The whole time he was talking -- I just stared into his eyes with a smile on my face and said a silent prayer to Heavenly Father for him to know that He loves him. He finally let us leave after saying that our religion is a waste.  

We have met a lot of people that weren't interested.  

It just made me really sad to see them not have 

the blessings I enjoy in this life.

Enough on those events! 

Oh! We almost got turkey bombed! 

We were walking to our car and all of a sudden 

one flies right in front of us and we run away  

--- so! My life flashed before my eyes!

Happy Thanksgiving!!! !!!  I am so grateful for everything! 

I can not say the smallest part of what I feel. Thank you to ya'all!!