Hey, guys! I hope everyone is doing well! Sorry for the late/combined email once again haha. I've been busy finishing up my time in Greenfield and trying to do the work to the best of my ability. I'm being transferred to an area called Livermore with Elder Astle and Elder Johns. Funny enough I was supposed to be companions with Elder Johns during my first transfer in Watsonville (until President changed it with Elder Empey) and Elder Astle (who served in my district and who I was companions for a week with Elder Isaacson when Elder Candia got emergency transferred.) The best of it all is that I'M NOT IN LEADERSHIP 🥳. I seriously pray that I'm never in Leadership.
During the past weeks, however, we were able to visit Hermano Villa and help him clean up his kitchen and lift him. We helped Tony budget out a couple things. While at his house his neighbor came and asked us for a blessing. However, when we tried to go over there, her son, who was severely drunk, threatened us and told us to leave. 🤣. So, his mom called the cops on him, and I had to be a witness for them. I don't know whatever happened to the guy, but I'll be praying for him. Also, we were able to meet and give a friend of the sisters a blessing. She has been recovering from a shooting in King City and is trying to learn how to walk again; she sadly lost her sister in the shooting. It was definitely a super humbling experience and I'm glad we were able to help her out a little.
We also helped out Hermano Mateo by giving him and his wife blessings! He's going through a pretty hard situation with his family back in Mexico. They won't accept him since he's a member of the church while the rest of his family are Jehovah Witnesses. It's super sad and hard to see but his willingness to keep going is so inspiring! We, also, helped members move furniture and boxes from storage units.
On a lighter note, I was able to dance and learn some sign language with Johny! That family is the best! Also, we were able to have the baptism of Clemente and Irma! It was such a good day! Funny story though, since Elder Candia was unable to come down, I was asked to baptize Clemente and Irma. The font that the Greenfield chapel is pretty small, and it isn't very spacious to say the least. While baptizing Clemente, we were standing a little too close to the edge. After saying the prayer, I went to submerge him, but I bonked him on the side of the font while doing so 😭. I was able to somehow get him down still, but I was so embarrassed. The witnesses and the crowd were in shock (and so was I). Thankfully, he was not hurt and thought it was pretty funny! Caleb (Clemente and Irma's little son) thought I was hurting him, so he started crying while his dad was in the font 🤣. We kept reassuring him that everything was fine, and he eventually stopped haha. I wanted to breakdown in the font but luckily, I kept it together. The baptism of Irma went so smooth! I made sure she was standing further away and that she made sure to bend her knees! After, Hermano Mateo gave Clemente the Gift of the Holy Ghost while I was able to give Irma the gift of the Holy Ghost in Spanish! It was one of the most special days of my life! I'm so incredibly happy for them! They're going to be lifelong converts without a doubt! I'm so excited to see them one day enter the temple!
Throughout the weeks, as well, we were able to visit and teach our friends Eloise, Jose, Arturo, Camilo, and his family, Susana, Freddy, Brian, and Cesar, Silvia, Elvira, etc. Elder Paxman, Elder Ayerids, and their new companion are going to do great serving in Greenfield, Soledad, and Gonzales! What they decided to do (which I don't necessarily agree with) was to put English Sisters in Greenfield! But, they'll be covering the English speaking of Soledad, King City, and Greenfield while the other Elders and Sisters will be covering their areas, but only doing Spanish. It's going to be really hard for the English Sisters with how much they are going to have to drive and how little English there is down in this area. I guess they'll figure it out 🤣.
My final days in Greenfield I was able to say goodbye to everyone! We had dinner with Tony, Adri, and Estaban, and I was able to say goodbye to them! I'll be forever grateful for them and their kindness and generosity towards me! I loved being to go over there and help them with what they need! They also made us incredible food! I'm excited to see how Tony, his family, and his business ends up doing!
The next day, I was able to say goodbye to everyone! Saying goodbye to everyone was so hard. I first said goodbye to Hermano Villa! I'm so grateful for the time I had with him! I lifted him in and out of his bed for six months and I loved every minute of it! He has such a strong spirit and such a positive outlook on life, regardless of the situation he has been put in. He got pretty emotional saying goodbye to me! He truly is one of the best men I've ever met! He even wrote us a poem just letting us know how grateful he was for us! I'm seriously going to miss him so much!
After, I was able to say goodbye to Silvia! Silvia was the best as well! We would always go and visit her throughout the weeks! On Sundays, we'd always go over and visit with the other Elders and talk Chisme, etc. 🤣. She was the sweetest lady ever! After, I had to go say goodbye to Freddy, Brian, and Cesar! This was so sad! Brian and Cesar were basically my family away from family! I really hope that they can continue to come to church throughout the years and grow up in the gospel so that one when they are ready, they can get baptized and become members! I was also sad to say goodbye to Freddy. Seeing him progress throughout my time in Greenfield was so special. He changed so much physically, mentally, and spiritually! He was able to overcome some hard things in his past, get a job, receive the Priesthood, and of course, seeing him get baptized was awesome!
After, we got to say goodbye to Ayrelle and then Clemente and Irma! It was so sad saying goodbye to them! It was so awesome to be able to find them and help them progress! Seeing them grow in the gospel was so amazing, especially their baptism! While visiting with them, we talked and joked about our time together! They even let Caleb sit on my lap, which was the cutest thing ever! He would always bring us waters when we'd come over! I'm seriously so happy for Clemente and Irma and for them planning on entering the temple when they can! After, I said goodbye to Susana! That was super sad! I'm so proud of Susana and how far she progressed! She has an amazing future! I'm happy I was able to help Susana be baptized and give her the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Susana was our friend we could always go to talk; whether it be gospel related or not!
We ended the night by saying goodbye to Mateo and the district! I'll forever be grateful for the friends and people I have met down here in Greenfield! Not only did Greenfield change me as a missionary, but it changed me as a person for the better! I'm most definitely planning on coming back here and visiting these people. The members and the people down here will forever be lifelong friends of mine! I'm so grateful for the time I had down here! On to the next! Elder Copeland
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