That's Right. Mormons are People Too (Week #21)

Heyoooo! 

We had an exchange where I went with Elder M, and we just biked on this trail around a resaca (basically a river) and talked to like 8 people and they all accepted. People are progressing..just not as fast as we'd like I guess. Spanish is going good. Yeah we study when we can. 

We've had tons of service to do this week in the mornings. Helped like 3 people move.. 

The random unknown number guy didn't show up. We're going by him this week to see what's up. 

M is doing good on smoking. G is great. His friend is now really interested (more on that later). He did come to church and loved it. He has no problem stopping doing drugs but he gets super bad pains.

 

What has been your biggest challenge this week? 

Biggest challenge was having people committed to come to church and then not showing up. Really frustrating but stuff happens. 

What has been your biggest concern? 

We had a zone exchange and I was with Elder V. He lives in our apartment and we get along super well. But it's weird to go into a lesson without knowing their teaching style. It went great though. Loved it.

What has been your biggest success?

We had a lesson with G and his friend B in the church. And at the beginning of the lesson she didn't care at all. You could tell. But then she slowly got more and more into it and agreed to a baptism date. She said "you guys believe the same things we do mostly. I don't get why people avoid you guys". That's right. Mormons are people too. And then she came to a little bit of church!

Who has been your favorite person this week? Why? 

G. He's a big example to me of love. He cares about everybody. We had this lesson with him where the member we brought basically asked if he'd seen the church. He said "No, can we go right now?" (never Happens.) We go outside to the cars and heard this weird chittering sound. And we turn around and there's this huge rottweiler just destroying this tiny baby raccoon. Swinging it around all over the place. We sort of stood their stunned and We look and see G run and try to jump the fence to try to save this baby racoon! He almost got his leg ripped off! But he's amazing. He greets everybody with a hug and is awesome. 

What has been your most significant tender mercy?

Having the exchange. Elder G came in. He's the nicest guy. We were just sitting there talking and he looked at me and was like "Elder Hess. You're a good guy. You don't worry. You get frustrated but you don't worry. I like that" Made my day. 

What are you looking forward to this coming week? 

This week We're really trying to help V with baptism. He basically doesn't want to get baptized alone without M and J. So we're going to try to help him overcome his doubt. 

Do you have a goal set for this coming week? Tell me about it. 

Our goal is to help M get baptized. 

Which scripture has had the biggest impact on you this week

I actually read talks about the afterlife from the teachings of prophets. Gave me some really good ideas and such.

Love you guys!

Elder Hess

Iwo Jima memorial down the street

our group from the exchange

B (J's daughter) fell asleep on me during a lesson....

Working to Bring Joy (Week #20)

This weeks been pretty good. P came and visited. It was good to see him again. 

Language study is great. All the elders in my apartment keep saying my Spanish is amazing but whatever. Still workin on it. 

I've been taking pictures and I haven't missed a day in my journal yet! 

We had this guy call us from an unknown # and I answered and he said he was a member and he hadn't been to church in 4 years because he doesn't have friends and he wants to be our friends. Little weird but he likes me a lot haha.

I did get the new bike thank you! It is just like the old one but it didn't come with a lock or a helmet...so I'll have to get those eventually.

What has been your biggest challenge this week? 

Finding time for everything. Having basically 2 areas is tough because you have 2 sets of investigators, members and less actives you have to go by and only so much time. Planning is a super big challenge but we're working on it.

What has been your biggest concern? 

M and J. They're our most promising investigators and they really want to be baptized. Trick is they gotta get married. And they're only 18. They're really into it but they don't have a lot of money. And M has to stop smoking. Like now. But so far he's done pretty good with it.

What has been your biggest success?

Me and Elder H OYMed this kid outside his house who had just got out of the hospital. We talked to him again yesterday and it turns out he was in the hospital for withdrawal pains. He basically told us everything and that he wants to change. We said a prayer with him and after the prayer, I looked up and the dude is just sobbing. Like uncontrollably. So we had him pray and he said he just wants to be normal. He's really prepared and humble. Just a great guy.

Who has been your favorite person this week? Why? 

Elder M. Me and him get along really well. We had an exchange together and had a great time. He makes missionary work a lot of fun. One of my favorite missionaries I've met so far.

What has been your most significant tender mercy?

Having M and J and V show up to church. The baptismal date we set with them is coming up quick so if they miss a Sunday they can't get baptized this month. and yesterday they almost didn't show up. Their mom works super hard in 2 jobs and was just exhausted but they dragged her to church so they could go. They were a little late but they made it.

What are you looking forward to this coming week? 

We're going to go visit G ( the crying guy) again. And hopefully we can get his whole family interested. Apparently his family has been torn apart by drugs so we can help them out. 

Do you have a goal set for this coming week? Tell me about it. 

To plan well. We have to visit a lot of people so we're working on a system to set it all up.

Which scripture has had the biggest impact on you this week?

The 3rd Nephi chapters about when Jesus visits. The joy the people had and how we try to bring the same joy.

Love you guys!

Elder Hess

Too Many to Teach (Week #19)

Sorry about the bike thing...Really freakin dumb...

I got transferred! It's all in english. So I have to be really good with my studies. But my comp is Elder H! Of Grants Pass Oregon!!!! So great! And another elder in our zone is from Forest Grove! Elder M! Good to be around Oregon folks.

What has been your biggest challenge this week? 

Biggest challenge has been changing teaching styles and getting used to a new area. In Spanish, it's easy to teach simply cause you don't have the vocab to go over people's heads. But in English it's easy to blow people away. So I have to change how I teach. Also Leaving Los Fresnos. I made some great friends there. 

What has been your biggest concern? 

Not speaking Spanish. I'm worried I'm going to lose it. So our apartment is going to have a Spanish week where we only speak Spanish.

What has been your biggest success?

We got this kid, V, to church. He has no interest in it but he showed up and his sister's boyfriend went to classes with him. The boyfriend, M, after Sunday School thanked the whole class for helping him feel better about life. 

Who has been your favorite person this week? Why? 

My entire apartment. I live with elders H, M (Utah kid but a poly.) and V. They're really fun guys. We talk and laugh all the time. This 4th of July would've been really boring without them. 

What has been your most significant tender mercy?

Having a fun loving companion. 

What are you looking forward to this coming week? 

Teaching more people. Our area recently got mixed with another and so we have way too many people to teach at once.

Do you have a goal set for this coming week? Tell me about it. 

Our goal is to help our investigator, D, to quit smoking. He's really ready for baptism but he has to stop smoking for 2 weeks before baptism.

Which scripture has had the biggest impact on you this week?

D & C 123:17. It's my favorite and Saturday found a lot of great scriptures that can work along with it about trials.

I got to say goodbye to S for about 5 minutes. Said my goodbyes and thanks and everything, When we left he had a smile like I've never seen before. One of those moments where you see the difference you're making. 

 

I can't send pics this week. The computers being dumb...

Love you guys,

Elder Hess

Zion in Every Relationship (Week #18)

Ok so first off...My bike got stolen...from inside the church. We were running late on Tuesday and so we put our bikes inside the church and had a member take us home. We came back the next day and the bikes were gone. So we filled a report and talked to the guy about a replacement. The dude wants to talk to you guys. Just say you're my parents. His # is xxx-xxx-xxxx. Just leave your number and he'll call back. He wants to help out and stuff.

Anyways weekly email!

 

What has been your biggest challenge this week? 

Finding time to contact referrals. Things have been super busy this week for some reason.

What has been your biggest concern? 

D and K. They want to move their baptism back because the dad, F, isn't coming to church with them and they want to be baptized together. Which is great but he's really hard to meet with....

What has been your biggest success?

B family. They're one of my favorite families and they couldn't come to church because of work. But now the mom gets every other Sunday off! Prayers Answered!

Who has been your favorite person this week? Why? 

Brother L. He's a guy we're teaching the new convert lessons to. He's been a member since he was way young but he never got taught them. He's always willing to help. S needed to go to the doctors for a check on his foot and we couldn't find anyone to give him a ride. So we called Bro. L like 5 minutes before and he took him there and back with us! And this Sunday he got the Melchizedek Priesthood!

What has been your most significant tender mercy?

Stake conference. One of the best I've been to. They talked about Zion and how it should be our goal in every relationship and situation and the importance of callings and member work.

What are you looking forward to this coming week? 

This week is transfers. So i'm looking forward to see what changes.

Do you have a goal set for this coming week? Tell me about it. 

This week we're trying to contact more. We have some really good people we haven't had time to meet yet.

Which scripture has had the biggest impact on you this week?

I've been reading Jesus the Christ and the stories of how Jesus dealt with the Pharisees and scribes was really interesting. He told them straight up and called them to repentance.

Anyways that's my week!

Love you guys!

Elder Hess

Us in the library. Emailing. Right now...