WEDNESDAY (6/26/24): After shopping, doing our laundry, and cleaning up, we didn't end up doing much. I was still feeling pretty sick, so we didn't end up doing much. We walked around the streets of downtown Greenfield. It really is a mini-Oaxaca down here. We found some shops along the street; I was able to buy some souvenirs, an Oaxaca hat and a Greenfield Beanie. Also, we found a little store selling a bunch of Mexican candy and chips! I bought a bunch to send home to my family. We spend the rest of P-day in the chapel talking with our families and using the computers. After the Missionary Correlation Meeting (where we talked about the importance of Love, Share and Invite, the importance of getting members involved in the work, and making sure converts are fully committed and ready to become a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ before baptism). Also, Brother Jones shared a funny story of how when he served a mission, he helped reactivate an area by playing for a local basketball team. After that we went and visited with Susana again. After watching Tik Toks with Susana, we asked her how her reading went with the Introduction, the Testimony of the Three and Eight Witnesses, and the Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. She thought it was interesting and seemed genuinely interested in learning more about it! She had questions about the Urim and Thummim. We explained to her that the Urim and Thummim was an ancient tool used by prophets in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith to be able to translate ancient texts. We also sent her "Topics and Questions" about the Urim and Thummim. Afterwards, we showed her the Testimony of Elder Holland on the Book of Mormon and the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith. We ended by bearing our testimony of the Book of Mormon and how it has led to our personal conversion into our church. We also shared how the Book of Mormon teaches us about the Gospel and Doctrine of Christ, the Plan of Salvation, our purpose here on earth, etc. We invited her to watch Alma 31-34 and explained the Book of Mormon video.
THURSDAY (6/27/24): We had interviews today in Salinas; we were up there most of the day. My interview with the President was pretty chill. We talked about how we can balance finding and teaching while also visiting inactive members! We also talked about the importance of helping people endure to the end and helping them become lifelong disciples of Christ. Also, apparently me and Elder Candida were the second-best companions in the whole mission when it came to finding and inviting people to church! After, we had a training session with President Larson where we talked about the importance of teaching from the Book of Mormon. One really cool thing that he mentioned is that the Book of Mormon calls the Plan of Salvation "The Plan of Redemption" almost every single time. The Plan of Salvation was prepared from the beginning! Jesus Christ is the reason we can be redeemed. He is the reason we can be saved from the Fall, as long as we can follow his Gospel and apply his Atonement in our lives. Interviews took up most of the day, but we were able to go looking for a couple hours. One of the ladies we found needed help getting her son out of the swing set 🤣; I helped lift him out. Afterwards, we had dinner with the Varneys. The Varneys are counselors for President Larson; they're so awesome! We talked with them for a while. Afterwards, we had an amazing lesson with Clemente and Irme. President Varney came with us, and he did an amazing job. He served his mission in Brazil and speaks Portuguese, but he learned how to speak Spanish so that he could come out and teach with the missionaries. We read from Mosiah 18: 8-10 and talked about some of the requirements needed to be baptized. We also talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and read from 3 Nephi 11: 33-41. We invited them to be baptized! Irme was hesitant at first because she told us she was afraid that she wouldn't be good enough after being baptized and that she felt like she didn't know enough. We all bore our testimonies on the importance of having a desire to follow Jesus Christ, how we all still learn and grow each day, and how the Atonement of Jesus Christ can help us overcome our imperfections and weaknesses. President Varney bore a powerful testimony on how much he could feel their Spirit and how ready they were to receive the blessings associated with the covenant of Baptism! We put them on a date for July 6th and they accepted! They are more than ready to be baptized: and they're ones who won't fall away. They have developed friendships with members in the ward, have testimonies, and have a desire to continue to progress and learn; desire > knowledge
FRIDAY (6/28/24): I had exchanges with Elder Isaacson today! I was feeling pretty sick today but that's how I've pretty much felt the whole entire week. We put some posters up around Soledad and Gonzales and met some people! We walked around with Autumn and met some people with her! She is very ready to be a missionary! She was bearing her testimony and story with people; it was a super spiritual experience not only for her, but me and Elder Isaacson as well! She is leaving for Utah in a couple days, so we wanted to spend some time with her before she had to leave! Afterwards, she still had questions about the restoration. We watched parts of, "The Restoration," and explained to her the story of Joseph Smith once again. After, we had a dance party with Johnny. One of the funniest/best moments of my mission for sure: it was hilarious 😂. We ended the night by having Autumn record a video of her sharing her conversion story and testimony! We're going to have her send it to the Mission social media page! I really hope I get to serve with Elder Isaacson one day; he is amazing and so fun to be around. We think and act the same as well! We're going to be companions one day: one way or another.SATURDAY (6/29/24): We had to help lift Hermano Villa out of his bed into his chair. Hermano Villa and Hermana Villa were attending a funeral for a close friend of theirs in the Spanish Branch in Solenanas. We talked about temples and the importance of making and keeping covenants. Afterwards, I was feeling so sick. This whole week I've been so sick. It's been really frustrating since I haven't had any energy. I had pushed through it the whole week, but I physically couldn't today. I ended up sleeping from 10:00 to 5:00 🤣. I could have kept sleeping, but I was already feeling like I was being a terrible missionary. I pushed through it and began our day. We visited with Freddy to see how he was doing. He was pretty frustrated since he still hadn't been able to find a job. He told us he's still trying! Getting a job down here is difficult! We're keeping him in our prayers! He still had questions about "Heaven and Hell," so we explained to him how hell is essentially being cut off from the presence of God. We also talked about the importance of making and keeping covenants to bind ourselves to Heavenly Father. We talked about the Love of God and explained to him how God always answers our prayers, but in ways we may not expect or want (God is all knowing). We also explained to him how when we repent, we do it through action (reading our scriptures, coming to church, etc.) We invited him to church so hopefully he comes! After playing with Cesar and Brian, we visited with Susana. We got to hold her cats again, what TV shows she was currently watching, and how she felt about the Book of Mormon and the Word of Wisdom. While talking, she had to run inside to grab her jacket. However, when she tried to open the door, it wouldn't open. The door had gotten stuck. We tried helping her and her family open the door for 20 minutes, but it wouldn't budge 🤣. We had to leave for curfew, but it was pretty funny. She sent us a text later in the night though telling us that they were able to get the door open.
SUNDAY (6/30/24): I was able to sleep a little longer this morning; I was coughing up blood during the night hahah; I just haven't been able to get over this sickness. I was able to go to church though. Clemente and Irma texted us this morning saying they weren't able to go to church this morning; they had to help get Clementa's sister get her passport! However, Susana came, and she came the whole time! The sisters in our ward gave fantastic talks about the temple and the Covenant path! Brian, Cesar, and Adan came to church as well! After walking home with Susana and the kids, we were able to go administer the Sacrament for Hermano Villa and Sister Villa. Afterwards, we went to the park. We found a couple people, but they weren't terribly interested. After, we headed down to King City for night church. Only Hermano Mateo showed up, haha. We read from Mosiah 13 and taught about the Ten Commandments! We ended the night by having dinner with Tony and Adri.MONDAY (7/1/24): Today was a pretty hard day. I was still feeling pretty sick. While at Zone Council, we got a call from President Larson saying that Elder Candia would be transferred today as a Zone Leader, because the companion he was replacing was becoming the new AP, up in Saratoga. So after the Zone Conference, we had to go back to Greenfield and help Elder Candia pack for his transfer. We had to drive up to Gilroy for Elder Candia to be dropped off with Elder Palmer and Elder Rosalez. They showed up pretty late, so we ended up coming home pretty late. I'm very grateful for the time I had with Elder Candia; I learned so much from him and I'm very grateful for the time I had with him! I seriously enjoyed my time with him! I'm definitely going to stay in contact with him! We ended the night by going to Greenfield as a trio of me, Elder Astle, and Elder Isaacson.
TUESDAY (7/2/24): In all honesty, we woke up pretty late due to the fact we got home so late. After cleaning up and preparing the apartment for the week, we went up to Soledad. It was over 100 degrees outside, so not many people were wanting to talk. We decided to do our laundry, make some phone calls, and prepare for the rest of week. After, we headed down to give blessings to a family living in King City. Their story is pretty sad but miraculous at the same time. They were involved in a drive-by shooting and were affected by it pretty badly. The husband was shot in the chest twice (one of the bullets was an inch away from his heart, the Wife was shot in the leg and thankfully the son was affected. The husband was supposed to die, but he was able to survive thankfully. Before the blessings, we read from Moroni 7:27-31 and talked about how we can still experience miracles to this day! We also taught them about the Priesthood and showed them videos from Mathew 10 where Jesus Christ gave the apostles the Priesthood. After the blessings, we taught them about the Book of Mormon and shared our testimonies on the importance of the Book of Mormon and the peace and comfort that we have experienced from reading the Book of Mormon. We read 2 Nephi 31:20 and shared how through Jesus Christ, we can gain Eternal Life! They're really cool! The sisters are going to do great with them. After, we had a lesson with Clemente and Irma; it was a rough lesson since they had developed such a good relationship with Elder Candia. We started the lesson by reading from Mosiah 2:41 and bore our testimonies on how we receive blessings, both spiritually and physically, when we keep the commandments of God. It also didn't help how we had to teach them about the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Tithing. They had some concerns about the Word of Wisdom, specifically, when it came to coffee. I still believe that they will get baptized, probably just not this Saturday. They are still interested in visiting the Temple! So, we are going to try and go with them this Saturday! Elder Copeland
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