WEEK 43

On Wednesday, after waking up and working out, we decided to go up to Salinas to buy some ponchos. The Zone was having a BBQ for the fourth of July but me, Elder Isaacson, and Elder Astle felt like doing our own thing. We still went and got the Zone Leaders cookies and drinks for the BBQ. While shopping, some homeless lady with wrappings around her arms (from drug abuse) asked if we could buy her cigarettes. We told her that we wouldn't buy her cigarettes, but that we'd buy her food instead. We ended up buying her some milk and cereal. It's so hard/sad to see what drugs and addictions can do to people. We invited her to get help and remove any harmful substances that she was partaking off. 

After, we found a cool little flea market where they sell ponchos, clothes, toys, cowboy hats and boots, etc. We found some ponchos with the Guadalupe Maria on it. Me and Elder Isaacson thought they were pretty funny, so we bought them; They're actually really cool! (Don't worry, we don't believe in the Guadalupe Maria haha) After getting some tough pictures and shopping, we headed back to Greenfield to put away our food and clean up our apartment. 

After talking with our families and using the computer in the church, we began our day. We visited with Hermana Zepeda to see if she could still potentially take Irma and Clemente to the temple. While at her house, Kevin and Hermano Mateo were there as well! Kevin was taking Temple Prep class and Hermano Mateo was there as well! (I still don't know exactly why Hermano Mateo was there, but it was a miracle) Hermana Zepeda told us she was pretty sick and most likely wouldn't be able to go anymore; however, Hermano Mateo said he'd be able to take them! He also told us he wanted to go have a lesson them! We weren't even planning on visiting them tonight; it was a miracle he was there and was able to go visit Clemente and Irma with us later in the evening. 

We first had a lesson with Susana. We talked with her for a little while about a variety of topics, and then we began going over the baptismal interview questions with her. She still isn't sure about Joseph Smith and there being a modern-day prophet (since she's heard some anti from her other church). It's ok though, we'll get her there! She just needs to read more from the Book of Mormon. After, we had a great lesson with Clemente and Irma. We brought them some apples and grapes which they loved. Hermano Mateo bore a powerful testimony on the importance of the Priesthood and how Jesus Christ gave the authority/taught about the commandments. He talked about how keeping the commandments has blessed his life (Law of Chasity, Law of Tithing, Word of Wisdom, etc.). We set up the temple trip for this Saturday and moved their date to the 20th of July to help them prepare and be ready for their baptism!

Thursday was the 4th of July. After waking up and working out, we headed to the ward breakfast! Susana, Clemente, Irma, Clemente, Brian, Cesar, and all came! Tony put on a parade for the kids as well! They were wearing funny outfits, car shaped boxes, hats, etc. It was really wholesome! While I was hanging out with Susana and the kids, apparently members in the ward were bearing their testimonies to Clemente and Irma on the importance of baptism! The members were asking if they were members; Clemente told them no but that they were working towards it . While heading out to play water games with the kids, we got a call from Elder Butcher asking if we could drive down to Bernal to drop off one of the cars for the other set of Elders who were on bikes since we had an extra car. It took about an hour to get down and two hours to get back because of the traffic. Me and Elder Isaacson got to drive down together the way there while Elder Astle drove the van; me and Elder Isaacson are homies! We think, act and feel the same way about missionary work and the mission as a whole. I also got to talk to my family and my extended family! I was so homesick seeing everyone party at our pool; it looked like such a great time! 

After getting back from Bernal, we headed down to King City to give the Sisters blessings and have a BBQ with Tony and his family. It was over 100 degrees today, so it was hot. After heading back to Greenfield and parking the car due to curfew, we decided to head down to the park on our bikes to watch the firework show! The park was popping off; the whole town of Greenfield was there! We watched fireworks with Susana and her little sister. We also got to talk to Generado, a recent convert of the church, and even talked to a man who had been taught by missionaries in the past: we got his number! We also got to say hi to Brian and Cesar. Brian and Cesar have Facebook now so we're able to message and call them now . It was one of the funnest nights of my mission! We may have broken the rules, but it was so fun! We spent time with progressing friends, new converts, and reactive a grey dot! Most importantly, we had a quite time as a companionship! Biking around with a bunch of fireworks going off after the show was so fun! Being away on the 4th of July was extremely difficult, but I had a good night!

Friday was a hot day today! Being in a trio is fun, thanks to Elder Isaacson (I love him so much: we need to serve together one day) but it's so hard to get work done since we're covering three areas. We started the day by visiting Susana in the morning; we were sweating buckets. After talking about music, how her fourth of July went, her plans for school at Hartnell, and talking about hot it was and was about to get, we began talking about the Book of Mormon and the importance of the Book of Mormon in our lives. We talked about Jeffrey R Holland's testimony on the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith and how they died for what they knew to be true (B.O.M). We read from the introduction of the Book of Mormon and told her about the story of Lehi and his family leaving Jerusalem for the Americas. We explained to her the difference between the Nephites and Lamanites and explained to her how Jesus Chris visited the Americas after his death and resurrection. We explained to her how he taught his gospel. We explained to her the way we apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives is through his gospel. After, we bore our testimonies on knowing Joseph Smith was a prophet because of the Book of Mormon, how prominent the Atonement of Jesus Christ is in the Book of Mormon. To end, we invited her to watch 3 Nephi 11. 

After, we visited Brian, Cesar, and Adan. We took some pictures with them in sunglasses: they were being crazy as usual. They were fighting and kicking each other . Also, they were dumping water and coke on each other! They're crazy, but I love them to death!  After, we headed up to Soledad to begin the day up there! I texted almost every single blue dot I could! I'm almost positive I'll stay down here in Greenfield for one more transfer; I'm going to be working a lot more with the inactive members down here! 

After visiting the friends of the Soledad Elders, we tried visiting Zarate. I had met Zarate before; in all honesty, he should have not been baptized haha. He drinks, smokes, and a variety of other things members of the church should not do . While knocking on his door, we saw some drunk man dancing next to his door. I went over and started dancing with him . He liked it at first, but then that's where things turned. He got up all in my face and started getting confrontational with me. I couldn't understand most of what he was saying, but he was essentially telling me that the devil was present and that I needed to get the "F" outa there; after, he started poking me in my chest. We got out of there really fast . 

After, we headed up to Salinas to give a baptismal interview for one of the friends the Zone Leaders were teaching. While Elder Isaacson was giving the interview, we taught a friend of the man being interviewed about the Book of Mormon. After heading back to Greenfield, we found out that Clemente wasn't going to be able to go to the temple anymore since Irma had to work the following day. We told him we'd plan on another day. Hermano Mateo told us as well that we could plan on going another day! We're going to try and visit them tomorrow instead!

Saturday was a very slow day. A lot of the day was spent up in Soledad in the other Elders' area. We found a guy.  After, we visited one of the friends the Soledad Elders teach named Mike. Mike is a homeless man that lives near the Soledad movie theater; he built a hut near the side of the mountain. His living condition is pretty sad but were pretty sure he chooses to live like this. We read from 2 Nephi 26:33 and explained to him how all are alike unto God regardless of our situation! After, we went and visited Johny and Kevin. We didn't have much time to talk with them since they were going out to eat but it was nice to be able to see them. After, I sent a message to every single greet dot possible and tried to invite as many people to church as possible. 

We were also able to go see this pretty cool car show that was taking place on Soledad main street. We stood out like a sore thumb, but it was alright haha: it was pretty funny. We were the only white guys there. This took a couple hours, but after we were able to go down to Greenfield and visit with Susana. We talked a little about the Three and Eight Witnesses again and how they support the Book of Mormon being true. We also talked about how the witnesses never denied their testimonies, even after many of them had left, and we explained to her the improbably of the Book of Mormon being man-made. But in the end, we really testified to her that the one and only true way to be able to know if the Book is true is by reading and praying about it. We also personally testified of what we feel like we have learned the most when reading the Book or Mormon (for me it's the Atonement). After, we hung out with Brian and Cesar. Elder Isaacson was throwing Jesus cards off top of the balcony, and they were going crazy over them . 

We ended the night by visiting a really cool inactive member named Roy. Roy has been a member for a couple years and used to be somewhat active. However, he told us it's hard for him to come since his wife is Catholic. Apparently, missionaries have tried talking to her in the past but haven't had much success. We shared a scripture verse from 4 Nephi 1:3 and talked about how Jesus Christ is the heavenly gift that Heavenly Father has given. We bore our testimonies on the importance of going to church and reading the Book of Mormon. He told us he's going to try and start coming again! After concluding with a prayer, he asked us if we could take a selfie: of course we were down! Later, without us knowing, he posted it on Facebook and tagged me, which was cool!

On Monday, we woke up, worked out, cleaned up the apartment and drove up to Salinas to sign Transfer Journals. Most of the people in our Zone were staying but a few were leaving. Elder Thompson, my first trainer and Zone Leader, had finished his mission. We got to sign each other's journals and say goodbye to one another. It was honestly pretty sad haha. After, we headed back to Salinas and said hi to Johny and Kevin. While we were talking, Johny put on President Nelson's proclamation about the restoration for us to watch which was awesome! After dancing with Johny for a minute, we had to help Elder Astle pack all of his things. He was not excited to leave as he wanted to stay in Soledad: poor guy! I actually felt pretty bad for him. We ended the night by bringing his things down to the Greenfield apartment. Since packing took so long for him, plus we had to do our laundry, we weren't able to get anything else done!      Elder Copeland