46th Letter From California

This week was really interesting. Elder Whiting started listening to some lectures by Truman G Madson on Joseph Smith. There was some really deep stuff in there. For Example he said that Doctrine and Covenets 76 could have been as long as the entire Doctrine and Covenets if the people had been ready for it. The mental effort of trying to comprehend everything that he said was phisically exausting for me. Elder Whiting said to me that he loved listening to that kind of thing but he stil felt like he didn't know enough to teach. I had an impression while we were listening that all we need is the basics of the gospel. Not to say that the deep stuff is not good but we need to make sure we have a good foundation of the basics especially since that is what we are out here teaching.

Then we had another great experience with a lady named XXXXXX. She stopped us outside of Office Depot. She said it was part of her ministery to give Elders money. As she hands us a 20 she gets choked up. Then she tells us her ex husband just died. She vented to us about how he diddnt believe in God and they couldn't agree on how to raise thier children and thats why they split. One of the coolest parts was Elder Whiting gave her a finding faith in Christ pass along card and that picture immediately lifted her spirits. We were able to meet with @@@ again but that did not go as well as we would have hoped. I gave him the wrong chapter. I meant to give him Alma 22 which was the story of king Lamoni's father but I gave him Alma 18 instead and the discussion spirald in a completely diffrent direction. We had to drop ******* because she leaves for Korea in a week and wont be back for a year and a half.

I got the Halloween package it was great however Elder Whiting and I are planning on dressing up. We need to be in the apartment by 6 pm just so they can say they know that missionaries arnt pulling pranks (or people dressed like missionaries aren't pulling pranks) So we will plan for a couple of hours and dress up after we are done. We are planning to dress up like what non lds people think we are. I will be a vampire and Elder Whiting will be a werewolf.

love you more than candied apples,
Chris

45th Letter from California

That is a little wierd that they have taken this long but our timing and the Lords timing are two completely diffrent things. I havent gotten the package yet because right now Elder Whiting and I will not have a permaent home untill later today. We were living with some members in the ward, the Jensen family. I absoulutely loved living with them because it felt like being with family again. Sister Jensen is formerly a RN but she stays at home now. Borther Jensen works in finances for a company that makes medical equitptment. He might even be the CFO I'm not sure. They have a son Zach that is a junior in high school and plays varsity water polo and swims. They have a daughter and her husband that are moving back in with them. This is what is making the living situation unfavorable to having missionaries in the home so we will be moving in with the Jergensen family. They are empty nesters with a son on a mission in Leeds, UK. Brother Jergensen works as a pharmasist.

Elder Whiting is about five foot four with black haire and is really laid back. he goes home in six months. Hhe is still working hard though. We are gettlng along really well thankfully. Poway is kind of half city half country. It has its main town with the Walmart, Office Depot, Stienmart. But it is also common to see someone riding a horse on the sidewalks. We also dodge the droppings on a daily basis. There is a rodeo ring and horse stable not to far form the house. Unfortunatly no In and Out.

We had couple a pretty coool experiences this week. The first came when we picked up a formaer investigator. His name is @@@ @@@@@@@@@. He was first taught by Elder Marler and Elder Pfile almost a year ago. (Both elders were my zone leaders at diffrent times) @@@ stopped my district leader in the street and said that he was intrested in taking the lessons again and wanted to start in mid October. That was an incredible discussion we taught bits and pieces of every lesson really. He said that if he were to join any church it would be ours becuse we practice what we preach, but he struggled with believing in God. We explained that we are God's childeren and that we were given the opportunity to gain experience here on earth. He told us that that opened up a relm of thought that he had never concidered before. Elder Whiting and I are way pumped to continue teaching him.

love you more than Chocolate eclairs,
Chris

44th Letter from California

Dont Worry Mom. You dont need to worry about it life just happens some times. I think we both need to work on being a little easier on ourselves. You will do great especially if you contincure to rely on the Lord through prayer and study. You will be blessed you need to have faith and confidence that you are recieving revelation for the relief society sisters.(I just love it when he councils me!)

Things have deffinately started to turn around here over this past week Elder Whiting and I have picked up two new investigators and they are both really solid The first is a lady named $$$$$$$$. We street contacted her this past Wednesday and we taught her the next day that was the most intense lesson I have had in a long time. We taught the Restoration and she soaked it up like a sponge one of the coolest parts was she told us that she believed that men had full right to break the law of chastity because that is part of their more agressive nature and they are also the bread winners. Elder Whiting and I turned to the exact same scripture with out any communication at all (Mosiah 3:19) She really seem to agree with it and then she asked us about some Plan of Salvation questions which we quickly covered and explaned that we would cover them more in depth in our next lesson which is actually tomorrow. I cannot wait!!!

Then there is !!!!!!!! this is another really cool story. She was a referal givrn to us by our district leader this past saturday. We made our first attempt to contact her in Sunday but she was not home.

Then it was zone conference the next day. It focused a lot on the inportance of using the Book of Mormon in our teaching and illustrating the imprortance of keeping commitments and emphasing kneeling prayers to our investigatiors. We were challenged by either President Brady or the assistants (that is really bad that i cant remember) to find a new investigator and give them a Book of Mormon with our testimonies written in it. The fun part abouti it was they wanted it done that afternoon. So we were let out of zone conference early to place our Books of Mormon. Elder Whiting and I had an appointment with &&&&&&& &&&&&&&, a recent convert. As we were walking to that appointment he drives by, calls us 10 seconds later and says he needs to reschedule. So we decide to go check on !!!!!!!!. She was there this time and we taught her the Restoration on her doorstep and she soaked it up like a sponge. Everything seemed to make sense to her and she said that she would read the introduction and title page of the Book of Mormon and kneel and pray about it by or next appointment this coming wednesday. She even said that she would see if her mother was intrested. So that was pretty much our week.

Love you more than a nice big juicy artery clogging animal style in and out burger,
Chris

43rd Letter from California

Well I thought about not writing this week because it was so hidiously pathetic. We have had one lesson this past week. Then yesterday every single appointment we had fell through. Conference was great though. My favorite talk was by Elder Hales during priesthood session, Dad will know what I am talking about. It really got me thinking about our relationship. I also felt impressed that I need to read the Book of Mormon more often. I am know reading a chapter aday as part of my personal study.

love you more than listening to Christmas Music in October,
Chris