The Miracle of the Pen

(When asked what was lost in his last bag and what we needed to send.)So president Watkins is super nice and asked me for a list of the things that I lost and it was actually quite the miracle. I only lost the Gospel Library, a Bible, 1 shirt, all of my ties, a pair of garments, a few posters, a pair of pants, and that huge binder that had all of my seminary notes and things in it. I also lost my wonder journal (a journal where he recorded times every day when he felt the Spirit.) It was really hard to get through losing that. My heart just aches for it. I had all of senior year in it. But other than that I didn't lose anything else! All of my electronics and other stuff was in my other bags. I am very blessed. Unfortunately it was stolen along with two other missionaries stuff. So I don’t know if they can get it back. It’s been quite a while.

Funny: So awkward moments are a lot of the mission. I was contacting on the streets and I like to talk to people about their children because, who doesn't like to talk about babies? It’s a really good way to start a conversation. So I was walking and I saw this lady ahead of me pushing a stroller and I looked inside and said "Wow! What a cute little guy! He is quite the stud!" She turned to me and said (with a hint of malice) "It’s a girl." then stormed off. Awkward. My companion really likes this story and its gotten all the way to President Watkins. Sigh.

Spiritual: It’s been an intensely spiritual week this week. We have had so many miracles happen to us and to our investigators. It’s really amazing. On Thursday we went over to an around 85 year old brand new convert named Shirley. She is absolutely bonkers. She is so so so funny! Oh my goodness. I love her to death. She talks to everyone she meets about the gospel and she still wears a cross to church and we love her. So we went over to her house and she asked for a blessing. She had a really hurt back and so we gave her a blessing. She has so much faith. It was so cool. My companion in the blessing commanded her to be healed. We came back the next day and asked her about it and she said she was perfectly fine.

            That was more of just a mission miracle; a personal miracle for me is about my pen. Strange I know. I will send you a picture next week (I forgot) but this pen is almost out of ink. It’s the only pen I have used for my entire mission basically and this is the first time I think I have ever run a pen out of ink before! When I lost my carry-on I was in a bad place. I really was cut up about losing my journal and it hurt just a little bit more that I had the thought to not take my journal with me on my mission. I ignored it and went forward. Bad idea. It was stolen, along with a few other items. I needed some serious comfort. I prayed really hard that the Lord’s will should be done and I put all my trust in him to just make me feel okay. Not even to have it back, I just needed to feel okay. It was a rough loss. The Lord answered my prayer in a very strange way. I got the feeling of comfort like everything would be okay and from then on it was. It still saddened me to think about my lost journal, but at the same time in my heart I just felt okay. The other part of this blessing was that this pen that I guess I kinda treasure, can’t get lost. It’s amazing. I can’t lose this pen! I love it! I feel amazed that it’s almost out of ink and I really believe it’s a tender mercy from the Lord to give me this strange blessing. I lose it all the time, but it keeps coming back! (It’s a tender mercy for sure!) and yes it’s weird. :) The Lord looks out for his missionaries!

 Ammon and President and Sister Watkins upon his arrival.

Where I am at: Things are going well here in the Pleasanton 2nd ward and we have three baptisms lined up! Laura and Robert are the first two and Gavin is the second. I eat really really well here. It’s crazy! The houses here are gi-freakin-antic! It’s awesome! I met the CEO of Safeway yesterday and I found out the bishop works for Google and there are people here that work for Ebay in the legal department! It’s so crazy! There are also a lot of interesting people around here. I was in a house and they live next to a golf course on a place called Ruby Hill. Look it up. It’s awesome, huge huge homes. They had a Steinway just chillin there that was worth more than our cars at home! It was intimidating, especially since we did service there.

Family: I love you. I am doing well, paper letters are easier to respond to and so might want to switch to that. Keep the faith! I love you all! I sleep well, have a cool bike and am happy as a clam. I feel like I am gaining more confidence in teaching and talking. It’s just the scheduling I still don’t get. My comp is not liking my new independence. Tehehe still love him though! It will be good. All is well! Scripture of the day: 2 Nephi 25:26. Love you!