WEDNESDAY (5/29/24): Pretty fun P-day! After doing laundry and shopping, we headed down to Soleded to hang out with Soleded Elders. After, we got together as a district and headed down to Carmel by the Sea to go to the beach! The beach and the houses down there were so beautiful! It was pretty fun to be able to walk around the beach and see the ocean! I was also able to see Pebble Beach (the golf course) again which was pretty cool! After the beach, we headed to the Seaside building to sign transfer journeys. We ended the night by teaching English Class and saying goodbye to Elder Markham and Sister Maxwell!
THURSDAY (5/30/24): Today was a weird day for some reason: We got work done, it just felt off; we had to weekly plan this morning which is never that fun. We're going to try working with recent converts more this transfer. After weekly planning and our studies, we were out for the day. We were out driving when we saw one of our friends (Santiago) walking around. We had dropped him since he wasn't very interested, but we still pulled over and talked with him. He still wasn't very interested, but he said he'd come to Freddy's baptism. After, we went to see if Luis was home just as a contact. To our surprise, he was home! This guy is crazy haha but I love him. We started teaching him the gospel of Jesus Christ and the importance of baptism. While talking, the wind blew open a page in the Book of Mormon; Luis was telling us it was a sign from God, so he began reading it aloud. It was 2 Nephi 29 (which talks about how the Book of Mormon is another Testament of Jesus Christ and how there will be those who oppose the Book of Mormon essentially). He read the WHOLE thing out loud with us; he loved it. We explained to him how the Book of Mormon and the Bible go hand and hand with one another. We're going to get this guy baptized if it's the last thing I do; he's a little wild but his desire is huge!
After trying to visit some people and not having much success, we met a recent convert of Elder Johnson's named Cesar Badilla at his house. We talked with him and got to know him; he's currently about to graduate, works in a pawn shop, and likes learning more about Gospel/Church History. He's not active right now, but we're gonna try getting him to start coming back. We talked about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how we're save from spiritual and physical death through the Atonement and the gospel of Jesus Christ. We read through Mosiah Chapter 16. After, we went and played some football and games with Cesar and Brian; after, we talked about how we can love one another. Later, we talked with Freddy about his upcoming baptism on Saturday. We went over the baptismal questions one more time and he passed them easily! We explained to him how his baptism would take place. We also explained to him how baptism is symbolic and the symbols used (water, white clothes, etc.) He'll be ready for his interview the next day.
After, we had a lesson with our friends Irma and Clemente (the ones who had found our card). We taught them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the principles of Faith and Repentance. We read from Alma 32 and Hebrews 11. They both understand really well the importance of covenants and baptism! They want to learn more about our church before they commit to being baptized, which is totally understandable! We'll help them get there. We ended the night by helping recent converts in our ward, Genaro and Jessica, with some comfort and guidance as they are going through a difficult time financially. Genaro, who works every single day, had his money used for his rent stolen from him; please keep them in your prayers!
FRIDAY (5/31/24): After my daily workout, we had to go help lift Hermano Villa out of his bed; after, we drove over to Tony and Adrian's house to help clean out their garage; they had piles and piles of garbage, junk, and items that we had to throw around and reorganize. This took up most the day; after helping clean up and organize the garage, we were able to talk to and get to know Tony more! Tony is literally the coolest member I've ever met; he's a convert to the church. He shared with us his past experience and how much he's grown and changed in the five years since being baptized. Before being baptized, he was living a pretty crazy life. He was partying all the time, part of a gang, drank and partook any substance you can imagine, etc. In fact, he used to grow marijuana in his garage! He had a tent where he would extract it from. He told us that he used to be a judge at marijuana contests. He still had a BBQ rub w' marijuana in it that he had used before becoming a member 🤣. He also showed a cannabis bottle he used to take shots from. He told us how he grew up and how he was baptized into the Catholic church, but later began attending the Jehovah Witnesses and other Christian denominations. He said that he felt that none of them ever felt like home, so eventually he stopped going. He told us though that one day while scrolling social media, he saw and clicked on an ad for the missions and the rest is history. He's been baptized for over five years now and is one of the most solid members you'll meet. He's been able to go to the temple and get sealed to his wife (Adri). He doesn't miss a single meeting and feeds the missionaries twice a week. He's seriously one of the coolest people I've ever met. He's the perfect example of how the Gospel of Jesus Christ can change your life.
After leaving Tony and Adris and helping Hermano Villa again, we had Freddy's baptismal interview; Elder Thompson and Elder Bailey De Jesus came down for it: he passed! He was really excited! He told us, "This is what I need in my life right now." After he passed his interview, me and Elder Candia started preparing for the baptism by creating pamphlets, making calls, and setting up/decorating the room for the baptism the following the day. We ended the day by heading to King City to get some things for the sisters and our baptism.SATURDAY (6/1/24): Today was a stressful but good day; we had to prepare for Freddy's baptism most of the day. After finishing everything we had to do in the morning, we went over to the clerk's office to try and print out the pamphlets for the baptism. However, when we got there, the computer stopped working. So, we had to go over to the library to try and print out the pamphlets. However, when we got there, it turned out they didn't accept a card haha. So we had to go back to the apartment, grab change, and then head back to the library. After having to wait for a while for everything to print out, we had to rush back to the church to start filling up the font. Freddy is a taller/bigger guy, so we had to start filling up the font a couple hours before the baptism. After, we went and visited a couple people, bought some pizza and cookies for after, and then went back to the church to finish setting up some last-minute things. The actual baptism went very well! Elder Isaacson and Sister Wilson gave great talks and there was great music. I was able to baptize Freddy as well! All in all, it went really well. We ended the night by visiting Natalia and a couple of our other friends. Definitely a different type of day today; but a baptism is awesome! We're all so happy for Freddy!
SUNDAY (6/2/24): After helping lift Hermano Villa out of his wheelchair, we headed to church! I bore my testimony in Fast and Testimony meeting about the Book of Mormon and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. After, one of the Sunday School teachers came up to me and asked if I could teach a lesson last minute. I thought the lesson went ok. It would have been better if I was able to plan it out beforehand haha. After, we were able to give Freddy the gift of the Holy Ghost before Sacrament; Elder Candia gave a powerful blessing! After the sacrament, we took Cesar and Brian outside in the hall really quick to watch a video with them. We watched a video by Jeffrey R Holland (such an amazing video) that explained the importance of the Sacrament; the kids were focused the whole time surprisingly 🤣. Every time we end with prayer, we all go around and take turns saying prayers. These kids are seriously so ready to be baptized; please pray for them that one their father will allow them too. We're doing everything we can to help them out.
Our really cool friends, Clemente and Irma, came to church and loved it! They already understand the importance of covenants and being baptized; they're definitely going to get baptized soon! We just have to teach them a couple more things. All in all, it was a good Sunday. After, we had to help Hermano Villa out again; and then after, we get a text from an inactive family asking for help moving furniture. For the next two hours, we helped wrap and move their furniture for them; I love doing service for people who need it! I've been so incredibly blessed in my life. In all honesty, my life is so easy compared to what a lot of people go through. We show our discipleship to Jesus Christ by the way we act and speak! After, we were pretty exhausted, so we took like a 2-hour nap. After, we visited a little kid in our ward named Cesar; he wasn't able to make it to church since he had a soccer game! He's really cool though! After, we headed down to King City for House of Prayer. No one showed up sadly, so we just headed over to Tony and Adrian's to end the night.MONDAY (6/3/24): Today was kind of another weird day; we had District Council today which went really well! We talked about the importance of a first contact and the best way to introduce yourself as missionaries and your purpose. We talked about how we have authority from God to be able to go out and preach the gospel! We made another goal to try and find as many people as possible this week! We tried finding today, but we didn't have that much success to begin with. We got bashed by three Catholics today, which was pretty funny haha. We didn't bash back but we defended ourselves to the point the others had no response. I just can't believe/understand how people can literally reject the Book of Mormon. It's literally "another Testament of Jesus Christ." I feel like as a Christian I'd be extremely intrigued by the Book of Mormon if I had never heard of it. We were able to help some guy on the side of the road crying. He was going through a difficult time with his family. We read Alma 36:3 with him and how we can overcome difficult challenges in our life; we don't know how much he'll progress, but it felt nice to be able to make someone's day. After, we were able to meet with Natalia and Susana. We talked with them for a while which was fun; it was nice just being able to talk to someone without getting rejected or bashed again. Elder Candia and their brothers boxed which was pretty funny 🤣; we were also able to go through Elder Candia's Instagram on Suzana's phones. Let's just say Elder Candia was a way different person before the mission haha! After, we taught them how receiving a mission call works, how our church is a worldwide non-profit organization, the importance of temples and covenants, and the Sacrament and what it represents. A member is going up to the temple on Thursday and offered to take Natalia and Susana! We're going to go up on Thursday with them as well and take them around the temple grounds and the Visitor Center: me and Elder Candia belive it'll be beneficial for them as they are still progressing! After, we went over to play some kickball with Cesar and Brian. We talked with their dad for a while trying to see if we can receive permission from him to baptize them. He said he still has to think about. We're going to continue to pray that their father allows them to be baptized soon! These kids are so ready!TUESDAY (6/4/24): Another weird day; a heat wave is hitting California right now which hasn't been fun. We went finding for a couple hours and found some people. We got bashed by some Catholic for like an hour again haha. We disproved every single point he brought up, with love of course, but he wasn't having it. He told us he was going to come to our church this Sunday to tell our "pastor" why he is wrong. Little does he know we don't have pastors haha. The Catholics are so stubborn haha; it takes a lot of patience with them; I still love everyone though! After studying and finishing our contacting, we went back out! We visited with Neveah and her family again. We read from Mosiah 4:14-15 and talked about the importance of loving one another and serving others. We also talked about the importance of families and the blessings we can receive through the Plan of Salvation. We also focused on how to use our strengths and grow our weaknesses. We're probably going to have to drop them. They're too young and not mature enough to progress yet. They live a really difficult life which is super sad to see. Please pray for them and their family!
After, we visited Freddy and talked about the Plan of Salvation and how God created us in his imagine (of flesh and bones). After, we talked about Agency and how we have the choice to choose bad or evil. We also talked about how others' use of agency can affect our lives, for better or for worse. The concept of agency and free will fascinates me! We also talked with Freddy about resurrection. After, we tried visiting Cesar and Brian, but they were sleeping. After, we had a mini mission prep class with Kevin! His mission papers are in and he's currently waiting for his call.
After, we had a pretty cool miracle! While pulling out of the church, we saw Israel walking. We pulled over really quick and began to talk with him. We talked with him for a bit and then taught him about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Elder Candia out of nowhere asked him if he'd like to be baptized and he said yes! We found where he lived and set up a return date with him. We ended the night by visiting Clemente and switching phones with Elder Astle at our apartment since we had accidentally grabbed each other's phones while leaving on accident.
Elder Copeland
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