Week 10 - November 22, 2023

 Hi again!  Another week down!  I hope everyone has been doing well. This week was a hard, but spiritually strengthening and fulfilling week.  I've experienced a lot already!  I'm definitely still homesick, but it's ok.  I'm sure the majority of missionaries feel like this starting out.  It's crazy to think I'm already halfway through my first transfer.  My Spanish is coming along a little better.  I've been forcing myself to teach and talk more in Spanish.  It's been difficult, but it's already helping.  I still have a long way to go!  Me and my companions are doing pretty good.  I'd be lying though if there weren't things here or there that bother me.  It's ok though, I've definitely had to humble myself.  As the Jr companion, you're kinda forced to be bossed around.

WEDNESDAY (11/15/23):  Today was my second preparation day out in the field.  We got a bunk bed and shelves for our clothes.  I was able to move my clothes out of my suitcase.  It was super nice to be able to clear up some space in our apartment.  After we went shopping, we went to our multi-stake center to play Ultimate Frisbee and Basketball.  It was pouring rain the whole day, so we had to spend most the time indoors. After our p-day ended, we tried calling Esmeralda.  Her phone was on silent, so we missed her, sadly.  She's doing really well though and is attending church frequently.  To end the night, we had English class.  Our friend, Julian, was there.  One of our friends we taught, called me a "default" when I told him I was from Utah, which was pretty funny.

THURSDAY (11/16/23):  We met up with Gerado to start our day.  Gerado is a recent convert who is struggling.  He had currently relapsed on meth and was going through withdrawals.  He was extremely sick, jittery, and unstable when we saw him.  He felt extremely guilty about his actions, so we taught about repentance and the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  In addition to this, we gave him a Priesthood blessing which helped him calm down.  After, Elder Hammet had to do a baptismal interview for Angel.  Angel is one of our friends the sisters have been teaching:  He passed!  We said hi to Hermana Burgess and then went to a baptism for one of our friends that Elder Thompson and Elder Bailey de Jesus had previously taught him.  It was my first baptismal experience in the mission field!

FRIDAY (11/17/23):  Today was a very busy day.  We met a man named Monet Diego to start the day. Before we met him, he told us that he had a feeling that he needed to go outside of his house.  He also told us that when he saw us, he hoped that we'd come up to him.  He shared with us his prison and rehab experiences and the difficult things he went through as a child. We shared with him Alma 36, which is the story about Alma the Younger.  After meeting Monet, we met a Catholic teacher named Yolanda Moran.  She was very respectful and was interested in learning more about the origins of the Book of Mormon.   After, we met a young girl named Freya.  She wanted nothing to do with us but eventually became very interested in what we were teaching.  We gave her a Book of Mormon and invited her to read 3 Nephi 11.  We explained to her and clarified to her a little more about what the purpose of life was.  To end the night, we went to an Addiction Recovery Program with Gerado and taught Nelson the importance of reading our scriptures daily.

SATURDAY (11/18/23):  After our social media training, we tried meeting up with Monet Deigo again.  Sadly, he wasn't home.  So, we tried meeting up with Luz Marina and she wasn't home either.  However, on the way into her apartment complex, we met a man named Meno Solarez.  While praying for him, I prayed for him and his family to have good health and that they'd be able to feel the Holy Ghost more prominently in their lives.  Afterwards, he explained to us how his aunt had just recently died and that his mother had cancer. We taught him about the Plan of Salvation and the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  After talking with a Catholic man named Moses, we had our ward's Thanksgiving party.  It was such a fun party.  Other than me and my companions, everyone else there was Hispanic.  I was able to share what I was grateful for in Spanish.  Also, everyone there said I looked like the kid from "Meet the Robinsons," which was pretty funny.  

To end the night, we had to help our friend Sébastien jump his car.  For some reason, he had left the light on inside of his car the whole time during the party. 

SUNDAY (11/19/23):  Nelson came to church again!  A lot of the friends we invited didn't end up coming though, which was pretty discouraging.  Diego was busy with his mother the entire day, so he wasn't able to attend church today.  A cool little miracle happened today.  A lady in our ward had lost her 10th anniversary ring that was given to her from her deceased husband.  We looked through the dumpster, kitchen, and the entirety of the church and had no luck.  Miraculously, one of the members in our ward had found her ring in a bucket used for the party.  She was so happy that she began to cry.  It was honestly such a wholesome moment for all of us.  After church, we met up with Alfredo and Anderson again.  We read through Moroni 8 with them and why baptism is so important.  We went to Angel's baptism which went really well!  To end the night, we attended our church's cottage meeting with Gerado.  I shared what I was grateful for in Spanish.

MONDAY (11/20/23):  After our studies, Freya called us in tears.  She told us she was going through a difficult breakup and that she needed our help.  We shared with her about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and he understands everything she is going through and more.  We were able to help her calm down.  After, we taught our friend Trini about the Book of Mormon.  She really enjoyed it and was interested in learning more. 

TUESDAY (11/21/23):  We knocked on a house with the Lord's Prayer written on the door.  We were expecting a priest to come out, but to our surprise a little lady with Down Syndrome opened the door.  She slammed the door on us instantly, which was pretty funny.  After, we ate with an investigator.  She shared with us how years ago she had met with missionaries and had attended church, but stopped when she got cancer. She loves the gospel but is afraid to be baptized since she's been Catholic her whole life.  We'll work with her!

Elder Copeland

Week 9 - November 15, 2023

How is everyone doing?  I can't believe how fast, yet slow the days are going.  I'm starting to get more adjusted to being a missionary, but I still have a long way to go.  I knew the mission would be hard, but I didn't realize it would be this hard in all honesty.  There are so many things I miss back at home: (My car, BYU and school, Vasa, golf, my family and friends, my schedule, music, basketball, etc.) I know you guys probably aren't interested in my sob story, but I never realized how many little blessings I had back at home.  As I talked about it my last email, I've already become way more grateful for things I have back at home.  I'd be lying if I didn't say I was homesick, but thankfully it doesn't affect my work as a missionary.  Me and my companions are starting to get a long a lot better now which has been good.  There are definitely things they do and say which I don't agree with, but I'm sure that's how the majority of companionships are.  They're the Zone Leaders and I'm the Jr. companion, so I don't have much of a say in what I can and can't do.  I've definitely had to humble myself and just go along with whatever they tell me to do!  Here's how my past week went:

WEDNESDAY (11/8/23):  My first preparation day out in the field.  It was such a blessing to be able to talk to my family and friends today.  I was able to get my laundry done and organize my suitcases.  Elder Thompson had to get a haircut, so we went and did that.  Afterwards, we were able to go shopping thankfully.  We had been living off rice and beans [which I can't eat] in our apartment since it wasn't an "emergency."  So from the time I had gotten to San Jose until P day, we had no food.  My companions love to eat fast food, and I don't, so whenever we go out I just pack my own lunch. While shopping, I tried buying one energy drink, and that immediately got shut down by both of my companions.  In all honesty, that really got on my nerves.  I definitely agree energy drinks aren't the best for you, but I only wanted one for my workouts.  Also, you can't convince me that wanting to eat Taco Bell every day is healthier for you than drinking an energy drink.  After, we went and played basketball, chair soccer, and volleyball at the stake center.  It went OK. Once our P day concluded, the Zone Leaders had a meeting with the Stake President and our Mission President.  They talked about how companionships were doing and the importance of getting ward members involved in the work.

 

THURSDAY (11/9/23):  After our studies, we had a lesson with Diego.  Diego is one of our friends right now who is super interested in our church.  Right now, he's living out of a Motel 6.  Our lesson was about faith and I shared Alma 32:21 with him in Spanish.  Overall, the lesson went really well.  After, we had weekly planning which took way too long.  After, we went to go check on one of our friends, Luz Marina.  She wasn't home, but we left a card.  On our way out, we prayed for a man and then went to dinner with one of our members named Linda.  Such a nice lady!  It made me pretty sad when I found out she had no family and not that many friends, so we're making an extra effort to be her friend.  After we had a lesson with a new investigator named Carmen Meza.  She made fun of me for my broken Spanish, which was pretty funny.  We gave her a Book of Mormon and a Bible and shared two scriptures about faith! (Alma 32:21 and Hebrews 11:1).  After, we had our weekly seminar with David.  It went on for about 40 minutes, couldn't really understand what he was saying, but his knowledge of the doctrine contained in the Bible is unbelievable.  He shared with us Hebrews 11:1, which was the scripture verse I shared with Carmen Meza, so that really caught my attention.

 

FRIDAY (11/10/23):  Since my companions are Zone Leaders, I had to go with them to MLC [Mission Leader Conference].  I was the only Elder/Sister in the whole conference who wasn't a Zone Leader or a Sister Training leader.  In all honestly, I definitely felt out of place, but it was good to learn how it works.  They really emphasized the importance of getting members involved in the work and telling us to ask them, "How can we help you?" instead of, "Can you help us with...?"  We had another lesson with Nelson and clarified some questions he had about baptisms for the dead and the Plan of Salvation.  Hopefully, we can get him to come to the temple with us soon.  To end the night, we had sports night.  Artulo, the member who loves taking selfies, is such a good guy.  He's super encouraging to me and helps me with Spanish.  Also, one of our friends (Sébastien) came and played with us.  Soccer is definitely not my sport!

SATURDAY (11/11/23):  The adjustable weights my dad ordered for me came and they're amazing.  It's nice to be able to workout with dumbbells now and not with bands.  We had another lesson with Diego and taught him about repentance and what happens to us after we die.  We invited him to church as well!  After, we knocked on Luz Marinas' door, but no answer.  On the way out, we met two guys named Anderson and Alfredo.  Anderson was super interested in our message while Alfredo wasn't.  Alfredo is agnostic and doesn't believe in scriptures.  Werner wasn't home, which was a bummer, but on the way out, we met a lady and her son.  We offered her a prayer.  When I told her I was from Utah, she was sarcastic with me and said, "None of you guys are from here, it seems."  It was pretty clear she had talked with missionaries before.  We had to end the day earlier and drop people who weren't interested in our message anymore.

 

SUNDAY (11/12/23):  Diego came to church today which was awesome.  However, it was the Primary program today.  So the English and Spanish wards, alongside with the Vietnamese branch, had a combined sacrament meeting.  The kids all sang in English, so the majority of people didn't understand what they were saying.  Diego still seemed to enjoy it though.  After, we had another contact with Anderson and Alfredo.  We taught them about the kingdoms of glory, and I shared with them (1 Corinthians 15:40-41). Anderson was super interested, but not Alfredo.  He basically believes that scriptures are the "philosophies of men."   Alfredo had a cat named Bobi, and he had it on a leash.  We all got a good laugh out of it.  We met some kids and had a few more lessons.  We taught two of our friends, Honorio and Cesar, about the Book of Mormon.  We read the introduction and the testimonies of Book of Mormon.  They invited us to come back next week.  Sundays are usually our most busy days.

MONDAY (11/13/23):  We had Zone Conference and District Council today.  We did some activities that represented the importance of working with our members.  Our Zone Leaders, my trainers, really emphasized the importance of getting members involved.  If you couldn't tell by now, President Larson is really emphasizing the importance of getting members involved.  Statistically, more baptisms/conversions come from referrals that come from members.  In addition to this, in our district council, we all made a goal to do our best to meet as many new people as possible while contacting.  This is something I definitely need to work on.  I struggle going up to new people and talking with them in Spanish.

 

While walking, we met some eighth graders playing football.  I played around with them for a bit. They were so surprised that we didn't get paid for doing our work and how we weren't allowed to listen to music, see movies, etc.  They thought we were lawyers at first. After we met a man named Favian.  He has had a rough life, and wanted to know the purpose of why he was still alive.  We shared 2 Nephi 2:25 and explained to him that one of our purposes here on earth was to feel Joy.  After, we met another man named Diego.  He was such an awesome guy.  We hopped in his car with him, I left the door open, and talked with him for a bit. He seemed interested in coming to our English class and church.  We taught him about the restoration.  To end the night, Elder Thompson conducted a baptismal interview for our friend named Julian.  He passed and is preparing to be baptized this Saturday, which is exciting. 

TUESDAY (11/14/23):  In all honesty, this was probably one of my least favorite days in the mission so far.  We had a lot of people cancel, and we had to do exchanges.  Elder Astle is such a smart and intelligent missionary, but he had very little motivation to work. One thing that did go well was teaching Diego again. Diego is so close to being baptized; we'll invite him to be baptized soon!  Also, we had a lesson with Vanessa on her door step.  We read the introduction to the Book of Mormon with her and clarified/explained what we do as missionaries and what the Book of Mormon is about.  Overall not the best day, but some days are like that.

This email was pretty long! I'm so grateful for the support and love for everyone in my life.  I pray daily for all of you guys!  Spanish is still really hard, but I'm taking it day by day.  The mission has really taught me the importance of patience.  I'll talk again next week! Also, pretty random, but we have this really interesting painting in our apartment with past prophets in temple clothing.  In all honesty, it's kinda weird haha.

 

-Elder Copeland

-Scripture: 

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Week 7 and 8 - November 8, 2023

Hello, everyone!  I hope everyone has been doing well! Sorry if this email is extremely long.  No worries if you skip over this one!  I'm basically fitting two emails into one since my P-day changed.  Also, I kind of use my emails as my personal journal since my grandma, shout out to Grandma Laura, makes a book where it contains every email on my mission. Wednesdays are now my preparation days, since I'm here in San Jose.  

Before I begin, I want to say I had such an incredible time at the MTC.  It was such an amazing experience.  Words can't explain how much fun it was.  It was such a spiritually strengthening experience.  With that, I also met and made some amazing friends, while also being able to see some of my best friends!  (Elder Watson, Elder Black, Elder Bailey, Elder Xanthos, Elder Johnson, Elder Andrus, Elder Winger, Elder Kinkade, Elder Martin, Elder Tucker, Elder Larsen [My Comp], Elder Clayson, Elder Kellog, Elder Tucker, Elder Fernandez, Elder Mendenhall, Elder Gull, Elder Peterson, Elder Nelson, Elder Blackmun, Elder Tucker, Elder Wong, Elder Preece, etc.) Sorry if I forgot your name, it's a lot. 

FRIDAY: Me and my companion left the MTC.  We had to take Trax and Frontrunner to the airport, which was interesting.  Upon arriving in San Jose, we met our Mission President, President Larsen, who is awesome! I met my trainers, Elder Thompson and Elder Hammet, who are also Zone Leaders.  They're pretty cool, but pretty strict but that's OK.  They're such good teachers and they speak amazing Spanish.

 

  

SATURDAY: After finishing our studies, we went contacting.  We met a guy smoking weed and basically told us to [censored] off.  He didn't want our "bible". After, we met a lady name Juana.  She was super nice, and I was able to bear my testimony to her in Spanish. We ended up giving her a Book of Mormon and invited her to read 3 Nephi 11.  Third Nephi 11 is such a great chapter for those who know and love Jesus Christ, but aren't LDS.  After, we had dinner with a member for one of their kid's birthdays.  The food was really good, but it was hard to talk with them since they spoke only in Spanish.  After the party, we taught a recent convert named Nelson about baptism for the dead.  After teaching Nelson, we ended up meeting a JW at his house.  He was honestly trying to bash us, but he couldn't since we were being so nice to him.  It was honestly a really cool experience to share our beliefs with one another. 

 

SUNDAY: Today was my first Sunday in the mission. We had a combined lesson for first hour and testimony meeting for Sacrament.  I was able to bear my testimony in Spanish, even though it was difficult.  I never realized how hard it was to pronounce Spanish until my mission.  We did personal study after church. After, we taught Eric and Stephanie in their apartment. We taught them about the importance of receiving personal revelation and praying to receive answers. We invited them to read Moroni 10: 3-5.  In addition to this, we taught this one couple on the restoration, and I shared the first vision in Spanish.  The idea of temples is really holding them back, which is hard to see.  Also, they had a dog named Luna!  I talked with them about how I also had a dog named Luna.  We ended the night with a cottage meeting for those who weren't able to come to sacrament meeting during the day.

MONDAY: After Zone Council, we went out contacting. We met some highschoolers and gave them a Book of Mormon.  While my companions were teaching at a door, I hung out with one of their little kids.  It was pretty fun.  He wanted me to do push-ups and pull-ups which was pretty funny.  Before leaving, we met a lady on the street named Paula.  She was a Christian and seemed really interesting in the Book of Mormon.  We gave her one and invited her to read 3 Nephi 11.  After, we helped Irvine, someone who has agreed to be baptized, prepare for his baptism.  After, we taught this super nice lady named Luz Marina.  We taught her about the fall of Adam and Eve.  To end the night, we had dinner at our Bishop's house with a family interested in getting baptized.  We shared a powerful message about Jesus Christ with them.

 

TUESDAY: Before meeting one of our friends named Carolina, we ran into some lady at her house.  She got really mad at us and told us she was the wrong person to be talking to, which was pretty funny.  Carolina was having a really hard time because her friend had just recently been diagnosed with cancer.  We shared a message about the Plan of Salvation and Jesus Christ with her.  Later on in the day, we had dinner with Danita.  Super nice old lady in our ward who fed us dinner.  After dinner, we taught Irvine again and a recent convert named Gerado about the importance of the Word of Wisdom.  After, we contacted this really cool guy named David.  We ended up having a 40-minute conversation with him about Christianity and Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.  I could only understand a few parts here and there, but his knowledge of the doctrine was so strong.  He seemed super interested in the Book of Mormon.

I'd be lying to you if I was saying my mission experience has been easy so far.  I really miss the MTC, and especially my family and friends.  When I got called to San Jose, California, I didn't realize I would actually be serving in San Jose, Mexico.  Jokes aside, it's like living in a different country down here.  Every single person speaks Spanish in San Jose.  It's pretty frustrating not being able to teach and understand them since I know so little Spanish.  In addition to this, my companions are pretty strict and are all over of me: which can be pretty frustrating in all honesty.  Daily scripture study and teaching/serving others is what has helped me the most.  My problems are nothing compared to what a lot of people experience down here.  So many people experience poverty, homelessness, and loneliness.  Families of 6-plus live in apartments the size of our bedrooms.  The mission has already been such a humbling experience for me. I've become even more grateful for the things I've been blessed with in my life.  Thanks, you all, for the support, and I'll write again next week! 

 

-Elder Copeland

-Scripture of the Week: Mosiah 2:17:  "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

Safe Arrival in Mission Field - November 3, 2023

Dear family of our missionary,

Sister Larson and I are delighted to have received Elder Copeland to our mission today! He, along with the other new missionaries, had lunch at the Mission Office and then met their new Trainer/Companions. They spent the afternoon receiving orientation from our Senior Missionary couples regarding vehicles, housing, and MSF card (debit cards).  After orientation, they received missionary training given by Sister Larson and me, along with the Assistants.  Attached is a photo with Sister Larson and me and his new companion(s).  

To follow what is happening in the mission, we invite you to join the mission Facebook page.   https://www.facebook.com/groups/1669761150164784

We are so excited to watch as the service he renders blesses many lives. He will be a powerful instrument in the hands of the Lord to teach the Plan of Salvation and to bring many souls unto Christ!

So that our missionaries may remain focused and enthusiastic about this most important work, we ask parents to regularly communicate with their missionary by sending encouraging, uplifting letters and/or a weekly email. Missionaries are allowed to call parents on P-day (Wednesdays) by audio and/or video. Whenever sending mail, please use the first and last name of the missionary. We encourage that all letters and packages be sent to the Mission Office via First Class or Priority Mail, and they will be delivered to your missionary.  

The Mission Office address is: 1336 Cherry Ave, San Jose, CA  95125

Thank you for your prayers and support, and for sharing Elder Copeland with us here in the wonderful California San Jose Mission. Sister Larson and I love him already! We know that this mission experience will forever bless his life.

Much love,

Benjamin S. Larson
President, California San Jose Mission