Wednesday was our preparation day. It was a bit slower but still went well. Today was temple day, but since we went to Oakland last Saturday, we decided to stay in Hollister. We went shopping at a cute Mexican store with toys and clothes from different parts of Mexico and got some Oaxacan shirts. The workers were super nice and gave missionaries a discount. Afterward, we visited a couple of sites. While driving, we saw someone's van stuck in the mud. Apparently, he had pulled over to make a call and got his car stuck. Luckily, Elder Isaacson and I had some rope, so we tied it to the back of his van and pushed him out. It was crazy that our car had enough force, but we got him unstuck. I'm glad we could help. We ended the day visiting the Lepe Martinez family. Martha was grateful that President Nordstrom (who is a dentist) helped her get her teeth cleaned. We talked about their positive experience at church and explained how the church is organized and the importance of the Plan of Salvation. Also, we got a message from Diego saying he wants to be baptized on April 13, which is awesome!
Thursday was pretty eventful. We started by teaching Daniel about the Plan of Salvation, explaining the spirit world and the time between physical death and the Resurrection. We read from Alma 40:4-12, clarifying the difference between Spirit Paradise and Spirit Prison. We then introduced the topic of temples and baptisms for the dead. Daniel struggled with this concept and expressed his disbelief. He and Hermano Montuy had a discussion, sharing scripture verses for about half an hour, while Elder Isaacson and I listened. We concluded by sharing our testimonies on the Restoration, the Book of Mormon, and our purpose as missionaries. Daniel has potential but needs some guidance, as he's very knowledgeable about Christianity but set in certain ways. We need to help him understand the correct doctrine given through the Restoration. He's interested in learning more, but it will require effort.
After lunch, we waited for Diego at the church, but he called to reschedule for the next day because he forgot to set his alarm. After leaving the church, our attempts to contact people were unsuccessful. We then assisted Hermana Claudia by picking up free furniture she found on Facebook Marketplace. Later, we visited Perla and Mitchell, a nice couple found by Elder Isaacson and Elder Parry a few weeks ago. They live in a trailer home behind a ranch. I introduced myself and got to know them, reteaching them about the Book of Mormon and explaining the first half of the Plan of Salvation: the premortal life, the creation, and the Fall of Adam and Eve. We emphasized the importance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and its connection to the Fall, using 2 Nephi 2 or Alma 42. We finished with a great lesson with Juan and Dora at the church, with Hermana Trisha from the English Ward assisting us. We showed them a video explaining the Plan of Salvation and God's plan for us. We read from Alma 40, explaining the Spirit World and the Resurrection. Sister Trisha shared her powerful testimony on the Resurrection and the Savior's power, despite the tragic loss of her four-year-old daughter in a swimming accident. Her testimony deeply touched Juan and Dora, and they have great potential to progress on the covenant path. We ended the night with dinner.
On Friday, we had a meaningful discussion with Diego about the Restoration. He loved the story of Joseph Smith and his calling as a Prophet, and he felt the Spirit while learning about the Restoration. He has a sincere desire to follow the Savior and make a covenant with God. After a few more contacts, we helped the Montuys by taking down shelves and moving them to the second floor of their barn. It took a good part of the day, but it was worth it. I always enjoy serving the members. Afterwards, we visited some less-active members, assuring them of our support and care from us and the Branch, offering prayers and service. I've learned that criticizing inactive members doesn't work; showing genuine care and love is key to helping them return to the covenant path. We concluded the night by teaching a family from Oaxaca. The mother didn't understand any Spanish and laughed because she couldn't understand me. Dialects are crazy! Her daughter was nice, and Elder Isaacson spoke with Juventino about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration.
On Saturday, we watched General Conference. I really enjoyed the first two sessions, especially Elder Anderson's talk. After the morning and afternoon sessions, we did some contacting in Little Mexico, talking to our friends. We tried to talk to Lauze, who the Elders had spoken with before, but he was busy with his phone. His house looked like it was straight out of Mexico. He was a nice guy but not too interested. Then, we talked to Cesar, who had spoken with missionaries before. We explained our church services and the importance of the Atonement, had him read Mosiah 3, and explained how the Book of Mormon clarifies the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Afterwards, we visited Javier and Veronica. Javier was tending his sheep, so we walked with him while Veronica rested. We explained General Conference and the importance of a living prophet and 12 Apostles. Later, we met with Diego at the Chapel, read 2 Nephi 31 with him, and explained the doctrine of Christ: faith, repentance, and the covenant relationship entered into at baptism. We explained the need to be sanctified by the Holy Ghost and the blessings received. We watched the evening session of Conference with Diego who enjoyed it. I liked Elder Uchtdorf's talk about making church a welcoming place for everyone. We ended the night contacting some friends.
Sunday was quite eventful. Our Branch was hosting a watch party for the first session of Conference, but we got a call from the Spanish sisters who had locked their keys inside their apartment. We tried to open their window for about 30 minutes, but it wouldn't budge. Eventually, we tried lifting it off, and we were close, but we pushed too hard and shattered the whole window. Glass was everywhere. Luckily, neither Elder Isaacson nor I were hit, but my jacket got a rip. I'm grateful I was wearing it. The sisters were shocked, but we laughed it off. We called the housing coordinator, who told us not to worry about it and that he'd get a replacement. After helping the sisters clean up the glass, we headed to the Chapel to watch the morning session of Conference. Our friends Daniel, Erika, and Laura Gladys were able to come and enjoyed the session. I appreciated President's talk about discerning truth from error and using our agency correctly, something we can all improve on.
After the session, Hermano Montuy and Daniel discussed the Resurrection and the story of Lazarus. I bore my testimony on reading and praying about the Book of Mormon and the truthfulness of our church's doctrine. Daniel has potential but needs to be more open to understanding our teachings. We watched the second session of Conference at our apartment. All the talks were great, especially President Nelson's. For being a hundred years old, he looked really good. I loved his emphasis on virtue and charity and striving to be peacemakers. Contention truly is of the devil and causes more problems than it solves. I'm excited to reread the talks and study them in detail.
After eating with the Starkweathers, we visited Benji, who we found through a referral on Facebook. He lived far out in a migration camp used during picking season. He and some buddies were still living there. We taught him about faith, read Alma 32:21, and explained the Book of Mormon and its history. He seemed interested, so we'll visit him again. He's also interested in English Class.On Monday, we started with District Council, where we discussed our learnings and favorite talks from the recent Conference, emphasizing the significance and blessings of making sacrifices. After lunch, we had a productive lesson with Diego, focusing on preparing him for his upcoming baptism. We clarified the Gift of the Holy Ghost, distinguishing it from the general influence of the Spirit, and stressed the importance of enduring to the end. We also read from 3 Nephi 11, explaining the covenant relationship established through baptism and the reciprocal blessings. To supplement our teaching, we shared President Nelson's talk and a conversion story from a former pastor. Later, we spoke with Marcos about the Restoration and Joseph Smith's story, bearing our testimonies on the importance of conversation and the power of the Book of Mormon. We also taught Evangelica, and despite her initial disinterest, we shared insights from the Book of Mormon. The day concluded with dinner and a lesson with Hermana Kratzer and Laura Gladys, where we discussed the doctrine of the soul, our premortal existence, the Creation, the Fall of Adam and Eve, our purpose on Earth, and the saving power of Christ's Atonement.Tuesday began with teaching Erika about the Plan of Salvation, with Hermana Kratzer assisting in explaining the Spirit World, Resurrection, Judgment, and the Kingdoms of Glory. Erika shared personal spiritual experiences, which was very touching. Another lesson with Diego followed, where we covered the Spirit World, Resurrection, Kingdoms of Glory, and the path to the Celestial Kingdom. Diego's growing faith is truly inspiring. We then taught Daniel, using the "que es el libro de mormon" video to highlight the importance of the Book of Mormon. We read from 3 Nephi 11 and clarified details about Jesus Christ's life, emphasizing the complementary roles of the Book of Mormon and the Bible. We shared scriptures like Helaman 5:12, Moroni 7:27-31, and Moroni 10:20-24, focusing on faith, miracles, and the Book of Mormon's teachings. Although Daniel seeks to understand the Book of Mormon better, we encouraged him to read and pray for a testimony.
Following this, we revisited Javier and Veronice, reinforcing the importance of acting on faith. We shared a convert testimony video to illustrate how the Gospel transforms lives. After visiting their farm, we assisted with an English class at the church. Later, at a store, we felt inspired to speak with a Columbian couple who expressed interest in learning more about our Church and the Book of Mormon. During this discussion, a man named Erica, who studies Christianity and has authored books, asked to observe. We explained the Atonement, Resurrection, and the unique aspects of our church. His interest led to exchanging contact information. It was a good way to end the night! Elder Copeland
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