Week 39 - I received my mission call OVER a year ago.

High School throwback. Miracles. District Meeting. Two Jews. Appointment with the Lord. Talking with Weed dudes. Training comp. Tears in lessons. Missionary costume. Fixing cars. Fasting. Boom. 

It was quite an awesome week! My new comp. Elder Hall is loving the work out here, even though the mission is nothing like he imagined it to be haha. I don't think the mission is what ANYONE expects. WELCOME TO THE ATM!

Part of training! 

Last week, we hitched a ride with the ZL's and apparently Elder Banner went to Layton High and was friends with a lot of people I hung out with too...it was awesome. We started listing off people and we were both really close friends with them. Haha small world!

Let's move on to the miracle part of this past week. In District Meeting, I focused the training that week on 'finding'. We set apart a time of the week to do 2 hours of specific finding and to do an appointment with the Lord. Elder Hall and I prayed, looked at a map, tried to focus and pick one we both felt was a good one, then prayed about what time and what day we were going there. Saturday came, the day we had the appointment with the Lord. We showed up to the (disappointing park) at 1pm and there was like no one there haha. Crap. I still had a good feeling. Sometimes you only have your Faith to run on. 3Nephi27:21. 

We talked to a couple people who are homeless. Their names were "Jersey" from New Jersey and then Brian. They were nice to us but then quickly had to leave. Then we headed over to the other side and saw some college kids 'passing around' some stuff...nice. So we went and talked to them haha. They were really chill, maybe because some were stoned, but hey, whatever works. One of them was Eli who was super chill and just got clean and was interested in the institute at UoA. Awesome. Had a good time talking with them. But then a family of 4 walked up to the park....YES! We slowly secretly made our way over to where they were...and the lady was really friendly to us! They are a black family. My blessing says "many nationalities" when talking about my mission, so I always feel comfortable around people, regardless of their ethnicity. Her name was Mosette and got talking and said she just recently started reading the Bible and accepting Christ more into her life. We had a good talk, Elder Hall introduced the BoM to her, and we got an appointment to go back! Wow. So awesome. While we were leaving, Elder Hall said, "Wow...did that just happen?" It was pretty cool. Been praying all week to try and get some cool things to happen to start off Elder Hall's mission well.

Just found out my dad is leaving the Mo-Tab (spoiler alert)...it's sad and sucks, because Waldo will be even harder to find....buut it's for the best! :D

Nick is one of our investigators who we found on the street. He came to church yesterday and still has a BD! He's one of the nicest people I've taught, and we're excited for his progress. He had a picture of Moroni on his wall the first time we met with him....that's quite the 'sign'.

Then we also have John and his new gf/fiance Laura. They both came to church yesterday and looked like new people....holy crap. John was all cleaned up and has been sober for a week! Laura was dressed nice too and had tears throughout fast and testimony meeting. We've been trying to go over there most days, and it's such an awesome experience to have worked with John for weeks now. John is sober, and at our lesson last night, he read! He usually can't read! John is like a new person and he wants us coming over. Last night he grabbed some sunscreen and he said, "I love the way sunscreen smells. Makes me think I'm at the beach!" and then wiped a huge glob on his face haha...it was 8:00pm. John gave me an Irish Necklace (which I forgot to take a picture of, crap) and gave it to me. Apparently he's had it for years. The Gospel certainly has enlightened them both, and they are both comfortable at church now and are receptive in lessons. Man they rock.

A shirt from my Mom given to her by my Sister Jolie. YES.

It's crazy to think that I received my mission call OVER a year ago. Wow. It literally seems like yesterday I got home from WSU and was waiting for my call to come. There's nothing else I'd rather be doing than serving the Lord. It BLOWS my mind to think I've been out for almost 9 months (on Wednesday). Especially with having my comp. being out only 3 weeks...so crazy. It seems like Demnation was yesterday, but now I'm creepin' up on halfway. Whaa?

This morning at the bank haha

I love you all and all the support that's been given. My family, the Ward back home, my friends, and everyone else. This church is so awesome...and although I still think of drinking a Monster EVERY time I see one....and sometimes think of blasting music in my truck when I see a Tacoma....I know there's nothing else the Lord would want me to do. Elder Hall and I were just talking about how we get to separate ourselves from the world for 2 years, and have a simple lifestyle, although stressful at times. I'm grateful for my Savior. Even though my sins and pains added to His, I know his sacrifice was out of love for His Father and his brothers and Sisters. The church is true and can bless families, whether you're in much contact with them or not.

3Nephi26:9:

"And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them."

Hope everyone has a good week! Don't be a total tard.

-Elder D. Hales