The Goat Named Tapatio

This week was crazy. Lots of things happened and we had so many events this week. We did everything from going on splits with Tongans from the SFE Stake, to driving to San Mateo for a meeting, to helping an old guy piddle around his house. It was a fun week. I am loving being with Elder Matthias. I love the guy and I love this area. We are having a great time and seeing miracles every day. 

Spiritual: A lot went on this week. We got the chance to attend an ARP meeting with our returning member friend. I want to talk about what that meeting is like. As soon as we walked in I felt the Spirit. There were not a lot of people there, but the power of the Spirit was so real. It was an intense feeling in the room as people would share their experiences about their personal struggles and how they have overcome them or are in the process of using the Atonement to overcome them. That meeting touched Elder Matthias and I so much that for the next couple of days we studied the ARP (Addiction Recovery Program) booklet to find out how to more effectively teach the atonement and help people go through the repentance process better. I saw more and more how powerful the atonement is in the lives of those people who want to change. I know it is real and I know the power for change that lies within. It can be so so so hard to ask for help. From both friends, ecclesiastical leaders and from God, but He will give us the help we desire if we ask and follow the path to change. The moral of this message is that change is real and is Possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

Funny: On Friday night we went over to eat with the Johnston family. Oh my goodness I love them so much. They have a set of twin girls who are about nine and one other girl who is about six. This is the most adorable family ever. Lots of dolls and cute things. We went over and were having pulled pork sandwiches. Yum! The mom pulled us aside and told us how the night before they made the unfortunate mistake of watching Charlotte's Web. She told us that the girls were less than enthused to be having pulled pork for dinner. The girls gave us the stare down as we ate. 

Where I am at: Almaden is going well. We are super excited for Conferences! Both Zone conference coming us in the next few weeks and General Conference coming up soon. We are going to the temple this week and I am really looking forward to it. I love that place. I am going to be a good missionary now and FOLLOW UP on the challenge that I gave last week. We have made a lot of plans for Conference and having people watch it with us. Our goal is to never watch alone. The nice thing about conference is that if people don’t have a ton of time they can watch one or two talks, feel the Spirit and then go out again. We have made a lot of plans and set a lot of goals on how to meet with people more this week. Thank you so much for your feedback and your suggestions. I love you all and I feel so much love and support from friends and family back home. I love you all!

P.S. This is the reason for the title: A member told me they went to a farm and there were goats named after hot sauces. I thought that was the best name for a goat. 

See Them as They Might Become

Spiritual: This week despite some health setbacks, we were able to find two new investigators. The theme that I have seen for these new investigators is to see people not as they are, but as they may become. We got a phone call from brother Ainge (who happens to be the proud father of the well-known basketball star Danny Ainge) who told us that he had a Vietnamese family coming to his home to have lunch and that he wanted us to meet them and to start teaching them. We were thrilled. We went over with some Vietnamese missionaries just in case they didn't speak English, but we were so surprised when they spoke beautiful English. The thing that amazed us the most was the fact that they were so involved already in learning about the gospel. They had an employee in their company who had met them and started to introduce the gospel to them and they had met several other members who had shared the gospel with them. They were already so well loved and welcomed in. We went over and taught them the plan of salvation. We have taught several folks without a Christian background over the course of the mission but this was an interesting experience because they were actually willing to learn and grow. The spirit was so strong as we taught them why there were so many different ideas and concepts about deity. When we bore testimony the spirit filled the room. They were touched at what we said and I would bet that they didn't understand very much of what we said. They would later that day go over and have dinner with the bishop of another ward who would talk even more about it to them. They came to church on Sunday and are progressing very well now. It was so cool! We asked the employee what made him share the gospel with this couple and he said that when he first looked at them he saw a former mission president in him. What an example to follow. If we could all see our bosses as former mission presidents or as even just children of God, think about the impact that would have on our daily interactions. Our moments of opportunity would become precious and we would treat them as beings with divine potential. Our world would be a better place.

Funny: Today in District meeting we had a

Toast (We don’t know why the T was in there)

Thrive

On

Awkward

Situations

Turtles

Moments. Where we would reenact scenes from awkward times on missions. There were car scratches, attacking drunk ladies, drug dealings, breast feedings and so many more awkward things. Oh I love missions.

Where I am at: All of the investigators that we are working with seem to have one major problem. They all are very busy people and do not have a ton of time to meet with us. This also happens to be the biggest concern that they have about joining the church. They are concerned about the balance of time between the family and the church that they might have to give as well as the things that they would be asked to do. So... This week I am putting out a special Challenge to all who would like to participate. Please email the answer to this concern to me and I will pass along all of the responses to our investigators. Other than that, I am doing great. I love love love Elder Matthias, and we work really well together.

CHALLENGE QUESTION OF THE WEEK: How do I prioritize my church life vs. my family life?

I love you all so much. Things are great here in Almaden and I can feel the spirit very strongly.

The week with no letter

No letter from Ammon, but a few facebook photos. He was supposed to get a new companion this week.

Men on a Mission

This week was a good week. We are gearing up for transfers and for another busy week of putting pieces of the puzzle together. It never quite comes together until the very end. Then it works out perfectly. I love this work.

Spiritual: One of the goals I have before I end my mission is to make as big of a difference as I possibly can. I truly believe in my heart of hearts that Heavenly Father shows His love for us by providing us with small tender mercies. Small acts of kindness that help us know and understand Him better. I have seen that pattern over and over again with investigators and even with myself. He blesses us often times with small things that over time have a large impact on our lives. I have tried to follow that same example. I want to make a big difference, so I have been praying and asking Heavenly Father to help inspire me with little things that I can do to make a difference in someone’s life that day. The result has been very inspiring. This week has been full of little opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life. Small ways every time, but still meaningful ways. These things included leaving an orange on someone’s desk, putting my arm around and Elder and just telling him how awesome he was, picking up things for people, telling a joke or two, listening to a friend and writing a note. Every time not only did I feel the spirit confirm that what I was doing was pleasing in the sight of the Lord, I saw their lives get a little brighter as they realized that someone cared about them. Often times in the Gospel, we are so concerned with the big things. Do I have a testimony? or The Second Coming could happen tomorrow! Do I have my food storage? It would be good for us to remember that the ways God communicates with us, through small feelings, thoughts and impressions, are ways that we should emulate as we communicate with others. One of the purposes of the gospel is to bring joy into our lives and give us a vehicle to bring joy into the lives of others. Heavenly Father will inspire you with ways to bless and help those around you. The key is to let Him know through prayer that you are willing and ready to act on those promptings and be a blessing in the lives of others. The Spirit will bear testimony to you that what you are doing is right and you will see the impact in the lives of those you love. 

Funny: In the mission we are driving a huge 8 passenger van while our other car is being loaned out to another set of missionaries. Almaden valley right now is going through a massive crime wave. We have heard that there is a 400% crime increase in the valley. As such there are a lot of concerned citizens who are constantly on the lookout for suspicious looking characters driving suspicious looking cars. Unfortunately we look pretty suspicious. The other night at dinner we were talking to our host, Brother Yu and he got a phone call. A concerned neighbor had reported that two suspicious looking men in white shirts walked into his house! He said that they were missionaries and had a good laugh. We thought it was funny and moved on. It would be an okay story but then it happened again the next night! Good heavens! A woman came over during dinner and told the host the same story. Two suspicious looking men driving a huge van were in the home! She in turn introduced us. We wanted to have her make a payment of listening to the missionaries for false accusation but we decided not to. :) 

Where I am at: Things are great in Almaden. We just had a lesson with Lori and she is doing great! Learning and growing. She wants to know what she is getting herself into before she commits to be baptized. She is so cool! I love it here. Things are going really well and I am happy as a clam. I love you all! 

Orange you glad I didn't say banana?!?

Testimony Meeting

This week ended on a great note. We are so excited for things to come. We should be having two baptisms in the next few weeks and we are so excited about it! 

Spiritual: This week ended in a miracle. We have been trying to teach Sam and Lori. Sam is 10 years old and Lori is his mom. Lori was being taught in Oregon before she came here. They both came to church during fast and testimony meeting. We took them up to the front and sat down. Testimonies started but they were pretty sparse. I went up and bore a quick testimony of the Savior then sat down. Sam was acting pretty figidity. All of the sudden he leaned over to his mom and asked her a question. She shrugged and pointed at me. He leaned over to me then and asked if he could bear his testimony! We said that he absolute could and so he took a quick breath of courage and stood up. What a kid! His testimony went something like this "Hi! My name is Sam. This is my second time walking through those church doors. I have been going through a lot of trials recently and I feel like I have been helped by the missionaries and by Jesus. I feel like this church is a good fit for me and my family. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen." Of course at the end of that his mother and just about the entire congregation was in tears. It was so powerful. Later Lori would tell us that during the sacrament she had prayed to know if this church was the right one. She had asked for a sign to tell her if this was the right path for her family. She said that when she saw Sam be so confident and so articulate then she knew that she had gotten her sign. Wow. 

Funny: We taught Fatima this week. An Iranian lady who a member referred to us. Great lady! We went in and started to teach. We got all the way through the lesson and asked her what she thought about it. She said that she believes it all! Yay! We probed a little more and she really just believes everything. Sigh. Belief and testimony are two different things. Might have to work on that. :) 

Where I am at: Things are going great. We are excited for Sam and Lori and several others that we are working with. Transfers are coming up so things are going to get a bit crazy. I am so excited for the next chapter on my mission. Things are going great and going better every day. I am so grateful for the Lord for sending me to this wonderful place. It’s exactly where I need to be. I love you all!