Skydiving and the Book of Mormon

This week has been really revelatory for me on how to be a better missionary. I went on exchanges with an assistant this week and really learned a lot on how to talk to everyone; how to speak the Californian language and be well versed in the ways of the Cali. Unfortunately, the way people listen to us is by making a joke and usually providing them a reason to stop. It’s so strange. I have tried to avoid being sarcastic and a little blunt but its proving a really good way to open a conversational door. The first two lines are generally a comment that will make them stop then the next few are general conversation. Compliments, can I share this or general pleasantries are not working. I have found several good potentials by starting like this. It’s a totally new way for me to talk and I try to get away from it as fast as I can after the first few lines but it’s a strange development. 

Spiritual: This week Bill Wentworth’s son, David, was admitted to the hospital from a heart attack. This was quite the traumatic for the 91 year-old recent convert. We went over to visit him and while there we felt inspired to tell him that he could give his son a Priesthood blessing. He was absolutely terrified. One of the members was giving him a ride over and he really wanted to give his son that blessing. He was concerned about what to say and we promised him that he would know what to say when the time came. We followed him over to the hospital and watched him wheel over to his son and say "David, I have the priesthood authority of God. I can give you a blessing. I have been waiting my whole life to finally use my hands for something for you." What a moving statement. David obliged and sat up in his hospital bed. His 60 year-old body strained to sit up. Bill wheeled over and then placed one hand on his head and gave such a powerful blessing. David, against all odds was discharged that night. When we were there earlier in the morning we were told that there was no chance that he would be getting out any time soon. It was incredible. The Priesthood is real. The power and authority to act in the name of Jesus Christ is not something to be taken lightly. Its real and it does provide blessings. 

Funny: This week we have had a goal about talking to everyone. One of the people we talked to was a super old codger who was a professional weekend skydiver. He had done over 4100 dives and was so funny. He was a retired electrical engineer and just went and jumped out of airplanes all the time. His name was Mr. Nobody. Strange things happen to old people who have too much money and too few kids. 

Where I am at: I met my cousin. What a crazy day. Brian Black. It was a crazy meeting. He is in the high council and we had talked before about our common ancestor William Black. He asked me where I lived and I told him Murray. He said "That’s next to Holladay. My grandparents live there." I asked him what part and he said "Right next to the Cottonwood Mall.” I then asked him what their names were. He said “Ed and Alice.” I replied “That was the name of my great grandparents.” He said "Wait. What? Seriously?" It was a funny meeting. It’s so strange the people and the connections that you have. No baptisms yet but some should be right around the corner. This is definitely my last transfer in Pleasanton. I love it so much here, it’s going to be way hard to leave. The ward is really stellar. I am very happy. It’s getting warmer here. It’s gotten up to like 80 degrees. So hot! hahah for California... I love you all and appreciate your love and prayers. I love you all!

Radioactive Cows from Livermore meet ET.

This week was nuts. Absolutely crazy! Okay, Elder Baumert got emergency transferred to Livermore and Elder Moesser and I have been placed into a normal companionship once more. We also lost Sister Ferrin to an ET this past week and it’s been crazy. There have been so many crazy things happening. Wow.

 Spiritual: This week we have started teaching a man named Jeet. He is a Nepalian man who found his way to America. He likes it here and believes that God placed us in his path to meet him. He has some very interesting challenges with the gospel. Jeet does not believe in free agency. He does not believe that he has a choice to do anything! It’s the strangest struggle I have seen so far. It’s not one that I thought I would have to do some serious study and prayer about to seek for inspiration to know how to teach him. Jeet believes that everything that he does has already been written and that everything he does has already been decided. It is so hard to teach him. It’s a very Hindu belief. It’s a hard struggle to fight because we believe that if we asked him to be baptized he would immediately say yes. The problem is that he is so in the belief that whatever happens is God’s will that when the next pastor  comes along and tells him it is God’s will that they meet, he will join them. It’s an interesting problem to have. I have realized how grateful I am for the knowledge I have for some of the more "Basic" things in the gospel, from my knowledge of agency that God will let me choose my own path, to the creation that the earth was made for us to enjoy. There are so many wonderful truths that people have to think way too much about and get so confused and loose hope over. God loves us and will let us make mistakes. Oh it is wonderful!

Funny: Last night we visited a less active member who told us about Bikini Island where they tested the nuclear bomb on and how they were using some of the animals there for experiments still here in America. She concluded this long monologue by saying "And do you know where these radioactive cows are?? Livermore." She was so serious it was so funny. 

 Where I am at: After the ET for Elder Baumert and Sister Ferrin we are still trying to get back to a normal way of life here. The weather here is starting to warm up and things are going really well. There have been a lot more crazy investigators here recently and we are still trying to figure out how based in reality you have to be to get baptized. This is a different mission than I was expecting. I love it here so much! Things are going really well and I am happy. 

They took a zone hike up to a waterfall. We found out that he has a lot of girls in his zone. (Funny since he only has one sister who is really mellow, worked at scout camp, and has three brothers. He believes that he will have a lot of daughters someday since he knows how to work with them now. )

They call themselves "Laborers on Vineyard" since they live on Vineyard Ave.

Birthday photos

This week was a really funny week. Elder Moesser is back to full activity and things are going super well. We have had several miracles happen this week. We are so excited for the future. This afternoon we are going to go meet with a black pastor. Wow. This should be interesting.

Spiritual: I met Nick on the street this week. He was in a huge hurry and I stopped them and talked for a second. A little background on what had been happening. I was pondering on all day the promise that the Lord will give us what we need to say in the very moment that we need it. I trusted in that promise and wanted to see its affect. I prayed and asked for the promise to be fulfilled that day and headed out. Nick was the last person we saw that day and the promise was not yet fulfilled. However, when I was talking to him, I felt I should depart from the normal way to contact and started asking him about his family. The Spirit was there and it was so strong. The Lord answered my prayers miraculously. He is completely atheist but after that conversation he now considers the possibility that there may be a God. It was nothing I would have normally said, and nothing that I thought of. It was all the Lord blessing me. The Lord always keeps His promises. 

Funny: This week we were tackling the P3 less active list. We went to one home where there was a longer walk way to the door and for some reason there were lots and lots of garden gnomes. These were zombie garden gnomes and looked like they were either about to or in the process of feasting on human/gnome flesh. It was really strange and as we were walking up to the door we fell strangely silent. The door was located in a set-back little area that had the roof hanging over it quite a bit. It was a fairly dark door way. We walked up rather slowly and approached the door. (I was proud of myself for not stealing a clementine hanging from the clementine tree outside their door. It was hard to resist.) We walked up and stood there for a moment and paused, waiting for something to come to pass. I reached out to ring the bell and as soon as I pressed it, the pigeon of death was upon us and we were sore afraid. It exploded out of the rafters and scared us to pieces. After that trauma we decided to try again the next day. I am glad its pigeons that frighten me and not gangs or guns.

Where I am at: Things are good here. There are large miracles taking place here in Pleasanton. I am so happy to be here for another transfer. There are awesome things taking place. I love you all and I am so happy to be here in the work. 

I love you all! Elder Ammon Black

Ammon was so happy about his birthday. Lots of people in the ward stopped and talked to him and the family he had dinner with made him his favorite meal and got him a Pleasanton hoodie. He said that he really felt loved!

Birthday P-Day

Update on the concussion: I threw a small kickball type ball and it hit him in the eye while playing. purely an accident. President keeps making fun of me for it. We took him to the ER the next day and I actually got to talk to his mom. it was really funny. she was a true Texan. Perfectly calm and really funny. 

I am so sorry I have not written at all for the last three weeks. It’s so strange when your busiest day is p day. It’s kinda crazy. I am so sorry. So consider this my repentance! haha It’s been a fantastic birthday so far. It’s awesome being where I am and I love this work so much. Holy cannoli I sound like a missionary. haha I love you all. I made myself crepes for breakfast this morning. It reminded me of home. One of the member families that I have gotten really close with is making me chicken alfredo for dinner. Elder Black is very happy here.  haha

Spiritual: We went over to Alex’s house on Wednesday for dinner. He is such a cool guy. We seriously just had microwave meatloaf and it was awesome. He is body building right now so he will eat over 2 pounds of solid meat a day. the other day he went to In & Out for a triple run. Three triple triples in a row. He is crazy! It was so much fun. We started talking about how he is doing in the gospel and he said that he had a small surprise for us. He was getting his patriarchal blessing soon! It was such a happy day for us. To see someone who when we first met him was talking about how he was mildly interested in this whole gospel thing. Didn’t even know if it was worth it to make the jump and come back to church to see him start coming to all three meetings and be ready to get his blessing. The Spirit is the thing that has caused him to change. We did nothing but be worthy to interact with him. I love love love this Spirit. It is amazing to see how we can ask people the same questions and they won’t respond. But when the Spirit is there, people respond under the influence. It’s amazing. The Spirit is the thing that provokes people to action. If you are feeling like life is not worth it or you are going through rough times, ask if you have the Spirit with you. The Spirit will influence you to move and go and do. 

Funny: The other night we had correlation with the sisters at the church at 8. We had another lesson so we booked it over there and didn’t have time to stop for dinner. (the one night this week our dinner canceled.) We showed up to the church huffing and puffing and no one was there. So Elder Baumert and I sat and ate peanut butter tortillas and laughed. Sometimes everything does not go as planned on a mission and you just have to learn how to laugh. 

Where I am at: The Lord seriously loves me. I am not leaving Pleasanton! The heavens smiled upon me and I am so blessed to not be transferred! Heavenly Father sent me the nicest birthday present of all time. Life is really good here. We have been working on setting some serious goals here in town for this transfer. We feel that there are 4 baptisms up and coming here in the P2 ward and we are going to find them. We have Max, who is getting really close, and Rena and her husband who are new investigators who are really excited to learn about the church. It also helps that they are member referrals. They are going to get wet here soon. There are several others that are really getting close so we just rounded up. This has been prayed about and we are expecting miracles to happen. 

 Ammon always requested crepes for his birthday so he made them himself this morning. (We suspect that he did not enforce the "you have to have one with protein first" rule.)

"We also got to labor in a vineyard for service. Bwahaha the reason that Elder Baumert in not in the picture is because he is talking to the master of the vineyard."