March 2nd 2015

This week has been a crazy week. We are really starting to find some success! It has taken awhile for things to start going, but they finally are! Elder Kurth and I have been praying everyday specifically for our less actives and investigators and things are starting to roll. Around 7 people stop going outside. Haha I don't know what it is. But around here there is nobody to talk to after dinner. So we always try to schedule member lessons and when that doesn't work we just go parking lot contacting! Haha we seriously go sit at Target and harass people that don't want to talk to us. But one day I was super bummed and was like yo this sucks, lets go get drinks. Haha so we went to the gas station, I bought a sweet straw hat, and found 4 new potential investigators! Haha it was insane! One of them is even taking us to dinner on Wednesday. Haha soo, good things are happening. (:

I need to start writing down like the highlights of my week because when it comes time to write people I have no idea what I did! Haha the days just merge together and I cant remember when stuff happened. So I guess ill just start rambling about things that pop in my head. Haha I went on exchanges with one of the AP's this week. This is the second time I have been on exchanges with him. He is super cool, and hes is from Idaho. It is crazy how wise the AP's are. I admire them! Its hard for me to even be around them because they are such good missionaries! But its always a good time. We had a couple lessons that went awesome! We even got a guy in our ward to base everything he said in his testimony about the message we shared at his home after dinner. I like to share a Mormon message and then just talk about it. It makes for a really easy message. Haha So we shared "Earthly Father, Heavenly Father" (The guy that directed it is from Idaho! Haha he also directed Napoleon Dynamite!) It is sooo good! I recommend watching it! If you haven't already. But it hits you hard, even if you don't have any kids. Haha annnnd your on a mission..

On Thursday we did some service on the beach! I guess the waters in Baja are to warm so the Red Tail Crab all moved up here and then they all died and washed up on shore. So we got some rakes and shovels and cleaned up 2 tons of crab. Haha it was crazy! The people there are so rich and stuck up it blows my mind! But once and awhile we would have someone stop and thank us for cleaning up all their beaches. It stunk so bad!

We got to go to the temple this week! It was so cool! The temple here is beautiful! It is pretty small, but its incredible! There is a sweet story behind it! I guess the people here really wanted a temple but the church wasn't going to make one. So the people here decided they would pay for the whole thing if they could make one. Haha so I guess the church said if they can always keep it busy and get as many people as possible to donate then they could make a temple! I guess there was a guy here that asked if he could pay for the whole thing. Haha people are so rich here its disgusting.

We had a golden referral this week! We got a text telling us to call this lady, so we did. And she told us that she knows the church is true! She said that she asked a guy for a blessing a few years ago and ever since she has known the church is true. And now she is finally ready and willing to make the change. We have a lesson with her on Wednesday, so keep her in your prayers!

I don't have much else to say. Haha the church is still true. Don't ever forget it.

Elder Holman

March 9th 2015

This week was great! We had our first Baptism! I had the opportunity to Baptize our investigator Halo Babazadeh! Actually his name is "Jack Halo Culp" but nobody told me that until like 10 minutes before the baptism, so I almost messed up the whole thing! Haha but it went well! Halo is 9 years old. His dad is Persian and tells him everyday how stupid the church is! His mom is a less active member and kinda forced the baptism on his at first. The first day we met him he told us he didn't want to get baptized for like 2 years! And then the closer we got to him and the more he learned he decided he wanted to be baptized for himself. He is such a cool kid! The day of the baptism he really opened up to me and acted like we were friends. I am proud to call him my first! Haha

We got to go to a farm and do some service! It was freaking nutty! When you think southern California you think crazy rich people and Asians! Or atleast I do.. So we got called to go help at this crazy like 4H school! We got there and there was like 10 random animals running around with these little kids! It was insane! Im pretty sure there is some freaky jazz going on there! But it was fun to get out and actually do something. Like it sounds weird. But I am having an itch to get out and build something! Haha we set up a service appointment with one of our favorite families. We are going to demo/rebuild their closets. Its going to be rad-gnar! We are pretty excited.

I also thought I would share about our neighbors! The people that live next door moved here from Russia and have TONS of guns! Haha all they do is smoke all day and drive around in their suuuuuper sketchy van. I wont lie.. we are pretty sure they are terrorists! And I don't know if this is true, but I heard if you turn in a terrorist and it turns out that they really are terrorists, you get like a millions dolla bills! Haha so we are going to turn them in! (:

Our Golden investigator decided not to get baptized this upcoming weekend after we already scheduled the whole thing. She wants to put it off until the first of April so her parents can make it. I think it is a terrible Idea to wait! After receiving a witness of the Holy Ghost satan is going to work on her like crazy! So I think it is a bad idea to wait.. but what do I know? Haha keep her in your prayers! Her name is Jill Priebe!

That's all for this week! This church is still true I hope. All is well in California! Farewell friends.

                                                                         Justin's 1st Baptism - Halo

 

P-Day cleaning up crab on the beach

 

March 16th 2015

I got a new comp! Elder Harrison (My comp from the MTC) got transferred into my companionship! So we are in a trio now! Haha its so fun! I am stoked about it! He got his visa and there was some trouble in one of the other comanionships so they thought they might as well just throw him in with us while he finishes up training and waiting on the Visa! I am so pumped for him to go to Brazil! I hope I get mine within the next month and leave with him! He reports on the 14th of April to the Brazil MTC! He is jacked, and I am bummed. Because I will still be stuck in Cali. Which is still much better than Idaho! But its still not quite Brazil!

I hit my 3 month mark a week ago and I cant decide if it has gone by fast or not. I cant decide whether to be happy or sad. I cant even decide if I am where I should be at three months! I don't know why it hit me so hard. But It did! I have been putting a lot of thought into it! And I think I am well on my way to becoming the missionary im supposed to be. I know im supposed to be here, but I always wonder why im not in Brazil and when I will get there! I always wonder why I am being delayed on getting there. I know I have met people I was supposed to meet but it is hard to come to terms with Gods schedule. Haha

I broke my watch! Well, Elder Kurth broke me watch. We were wrestling as usual.. Haha and he started choked me out in like a triangle something? If that's a choke hold? Well anyways I like fought my way up and head bucked him as hard as I could. And at some point during that he hooked my watch with his thumb and broke it! Sooo im pretty bummed about that, but I think the head butt made it all worth it. We are in love and its just for fun.. But it was nice to release some anger! (:

I had to give the training in District Training Meeting. And it was on being a successful missionary. I don't know why they would give me that topic since I still know nothing about missionary work and I especially don't know anything about being a successful one! So I started reading the section in preach my gospel and expectations really stuck out to me. So I talked about our expectations being too low. When I got out here I was told that this mission isn't really known for baptisms and that we will be lucky if we have two. and that hit me hard! I always wonder why people would say that to a greeny. I think our expectations should be the clouds! I think we should expect great things. I think that applies to our daily lives as well. If we expect great things and work for great things we will find success. But if we keep doing what we are used to here and are fine with whats happening we aren't ever going to get any better. annnnnd then afterwards I could tell that I offended everyone and that im a greeny and don't have any room to talk.. Haha

There is an 83 year old guy in our area that hasn't been to church for 65 years and has absolutely no intentions to return, but we do what any missionary would do, and harass him. Haha he really likes us though! We convinced him to start giving us tennis lessons once a week! So he hooked us up with some rackets and he teaches us how to play! He is still super good at tennis and golf. We are working on getting to the golf course.. But that one might take awhile. Ever since we met him he has been asking me what my first name is and i always tell him Elder. But i finally cracked and told him. So now all he calls me is Justin. It sucks! Haha #rookiemistake

Yesterday we stayed in the apartment all day because Elder Kurth got food poisoning! He decided he was hungry enough to eat some left over lasagna that he accidently left outside overnight! Which would have been fine in Idaho! But it doesn't get under like 50 even at night here! Haha sooo yeah he got super sick! So i was in charge of the cooking yesterday. So i cooked up some fancy left over bread that a member gave us and when i was like 3 slices in i realized it was all moldy. luckily i still feel alright but im sure im the next to get poisoned! Wish me luck.. Haha

Not really much else! Jill Priebe should be getting baptized this Saturday! BUt we will see. She is so ready it hurts! But she wants everyone to make it, so we cant find a day that works for everyone! I am certain that is satan! We are figuring it out though. She is awesome and im stoked about it! We have some really golden referrals we haven't been able to get in touch with yet! But from the sounds of them, we will be going swimming a lot in the next couple months! (: I hope all is well! #TCIT

Elder Holman

Elder Kurth and Holman

Elder Kurth has been Justin's companion since he arrived in California

March 23 2015

I don't even know where to start with this guy! It has been such a good week! The work wasn't great.. Haha actually it kinda sucked. Worst numbers we have had since i got out.. But other than that it was a great week! Our only solid investigator, Jill Priebe, is finally on date. but not for another month! She is getting baptized on the 25th of April! I am stoked for her! She is so ready and sooo golden!

Sooo since i got out here i have just been trying to focus all of my attention on the work and becoming a missionary. I have been trying to accept that i am here for a reason in Irvine California with all the Asians instead of Brazil. So i haven't thought for one second about my visa. I haven't worried at all! The only time i would think about it was on P-Day when every single person i know would ask me if i am ever going to Brazil. I have just been trying to learn and grow as much as i can while i am here and i actually understand what people are saying! In preach my gospel it says to learn the Gospel and how to teach it in your native language first and then just put it into your mission language. So that is how i have been looking at being here. I have been looking at it as a pit stop to learn more about the Gospel and how to teach it. When Elder Harrison got put into my companionship all he ever talked about was Brazil and his visa so i got pretty bummed about it. And i started to get pretty jealous! So that night i "Wrested with God" (-Alma something.. I read it in my studies this morning.. Haha) in a sense and i poured out my heart about getting my visa. And the very next day i got a call from President telling me that i got my visa! That has been the most spiritual moment of my life. I know that prayers are answered. And i now have a firm testimony of praying for specific things. I have been praying everyday for a couple fat stacks of cash.. but those prayers haven't been answered.. yet. I am leaving the 14th of April with my Boi Elder Harrison! We fly out at 8:30 in the morning to Atlanta. And then we fly into the Sao Paulo the next day at 6:30 so that is going to be a little rough. But i am stoked! I am even excited for the MTC! I have to go back for a 2 week refresher and then its go time!

Last night we had a training on the new Easter video coming out. It was soo cool! The video is amazing. I honestly tear up every time i watch it! I don't think it comes out to the public for a little while..? Maybe. I don't remember! But it is going to be the main advertisement on youtube on the 5th! The church def knows what its doing! The video is incredible! We had like a little training on the purpose of it and how to share it and stuff. It was aight.. Haha annnd then, David Archuleta showed up! Haha it was so sick! He gave us like the exact same talk/report of his mish that he gave us in the MTC. But it was awesome! He sang like 4 or 5 songs again. I recorded all of them again.. didn't know i wasn't allowed to until the very end when President said we couldnt take pictures with him in the chapel. but by then it was too late!

A member in our ward bought me a pair of Cole Haans. Haha i love this place! Not sure what else to throw in here. I really don't want to write anymore.. So that's all folks. Have a good week! God be with be with you till we meet again or something. (;

Elder Holman

Justin and His Mission President and Wife just after he arrived in California

President and Sister Orgill