Mi Familia,

 

Que Pasa!! Can ya’ll believe I've already been out a month? Crazy, huh? Yes you got the pictures!! Dad, sweet new whip! How’s the cougar doing by the way? Have you sold that old clunker yet? haha. And I was just thinking of you and Webelos and how ya’ll were doing. Looks like ya’ll are having a blast! But you’re still flying solo?! They’ll call someone soon though, I hope. Mom, the watch still works, the plate on the bottom broke off and I can’t get it back on is all. Thanks for mailing my board to Noah, I really appreciate it. Hang in there Madre, you can do it!! And that’s so cool you guys are going to Nauvoo, Andy is going to the Coast guard, and Jerry and Dana are moving to Chicago. That stinks though, I haven’t even seen them yet, and Aunt Dana said she would bring me cookies!! haha.

 

Alright, so yeah my Spanish is getting better. I've been on two exchanges with the Spanish elders and that’s helped out a lot, One of those was with elder Hansen who is 6 foot 10, dude is a giant, we had a bunch of lessons planned but they all cancelled, so we ended up meeting with a former in Oceanside and talked with him about his goats or "chivos" haha, it was a good time, you have a lot of adventures on your mission. Spanish work is so fun! They’re such nice and funny people. So were still working on finding people. We mostly visit less actives and formers. We had a ward activity that we hosted called "night with the missionaries" that was a big hit, I had no hopes of anybody coming to it, but we had a big crowd, it was fun, and we may have gotten some investigators out of it. So that was good.

 I went on another exchange with one of the head honchos, Elder Lewis, who is one of our zone leaders. He really opened my eyes to how much authority and power we have as missionaries as well as how important the work is. We drove up to a curb and we saw some folks walking down the street and he said "Elder, we need to talk to these people right now!" I’m like, "what?!” like right now?!" So he jumps out of the car and chases this woman down with her two kids and starts talking to them and he told me to talk to the guy across the street, so I ran across the street and stopped this guy walking his dog and talked to him about what we believe in. It was pretty crazy!! haha I've never chased someone down like that to talk to them before. Anyway he explained to me that there are three reasons why we don’t contact people. Fear of man, fear of rejection, and laziness. And he made me realize I’m not just out here in Cali just chillin. But I have a duty and there is no reason to fear. And if you get over that fear you will be so blessed and edified and the work will progress tenfold.

Well it’s that time again, wish I could write more.

Love you guys, look out for each other and stay true

 

-Elder Daniel

 

P.S. - When you guys mail me anything make sure you put my first name as well because there is another Elder Daniel in the mission!!

7-16-13

Daniel Family!!!

 

     So great to hear from ya'll!!! I'm glad you got the picture! I promise I'll get some more to you soon. I'll be sending the SD card home in a couple of days, I just haven't had time. Daylon lives in Vista!? I'm in the Vista Stake!! He's not in my area, but he's pretty close. I might refer him to the Elders there maybe.

Alright, this week. It's been pretty slow. We're doing A LOT of finding. I'm getting better at my Spanish, haha. I can do a basic contact to any Hispanic person we run into now. Elder Thompson is teaching me a little bit during his language study everyday. It's been kind of hard with the less actives we've been meeting with. Marrital problems, addictions, and the fact that they don't want much to do with us has been a challenge. It's been a great learning experience. We learn how to help them with their personal problems and struggles and you learn to develop a love for these people, even though it may be hard at times. Helping them understand that they are not alone and that they're Heavenly Father will always be there for them with his arms out stretched is such a sweet feeling, let me tell ya!

 

I'm also learning that the spirit is so crucial and essential in this work. I am starting to recognize how it works. I'm doing all I can to have it's influence present in this work. It is so important that it is always there guiding you and touching the hearts of those you teach and testify to.

 

Even though sometimes you can get discouraged out here, I am reminded of why I'm here, I can either be a loser missionary and come home the same way I left or let this short time I have to serve the Lord change my life forever. Those times of trial and discouragement just make you stronger. I'm doing things that I never thought I could ever do. I love this work and I'm so glad I decided to come out on a mission.

 

 

Well I'm out of time, you guys sound like your doing great at home. Keep staying righteous and being good examples. Love one another. Do everything you can to have the spirit present in your lives.

 

I love you so much guys, look out for each other!

-Elder Daniel

 

First week In Cali 7/9/13

DANIEL FAMILY!!!!

Alright! So last week on Tuesday July 2nd we packed our bags and headed to the airport from the MTC and got released back into the outside world after two weeks, haha.  I wish I could live there, I miss it so much, especially the food. Nah, the spirit is just so strong, you meet so many righteous people, and its just amazing, I love it there, no place like it anywhere else. I want to be a teacher there when I get back.

 

I digress; anyway we got on our plane with about twenty other missionaries and headed for San Diego. Palm trees everywhere!! We met out mission president and his wife and headed for the mission home. When we got there he told us all to take a nap, which will be the only time that will ever happen on my mission, while he was interviewing us all. It was sweet, slept like a baby. After that we went to the transfer meeting were we got a run down on our mission specifics, received our bikes, and got our new companions. How they did it is President Kendrick called their name of the greeny, told a little bit about him, and then he would say who their trainer would be. Then the trainer would come up and give you a hug then you both would go sit back down as companions. So he called me up, told a little about me then said "and Elder Daniel's trainer will be Elder Thompson!” This kid who is about a foot shorter than me comes running up and says "NEEHO" and gives me a big ol' bear hug. haha. It means "son" in Spanish. So Elder Thompson is my dad and I'm his son because he's my first companion/trainer and I'm his first greeny, get it? haha. He's been out for about 14 months and he is a Spanish speaking missionary. This is actually his first time in English work this transfer. We get along great! He's from Hurrican, Utah and he's a pretty chill guy. A little on the eccentric side, but he's a very hard worker, very patient, and he knows his stuff.

 

So were living in a members home in a gated community off of a road called Mission Street. It's kind of like living at your grandparents though because they re always hounding you and you also have to obey their specific rules, haha. It's all good though, they re a nice retired couple.

 

So the area I'm in is called Fallbrook. It’s so gorgeous here! On our way to the member’s home from the stake center in Vista we drove through the hills in Oceanside. It was like a scenic roller coaster!! haha. Yeah it's just beautiful here and the weather is superb. I'll send some pictures.

 

So the work right when you get to the mission it’s off to the races, you drop your stuff and go. I had only been home for about five minutes and then we were out getting contacts, its crazy!! Sometimes it doesn’t even feel real, I have to look down at my name tag every now and then just to remind myself I'm a missionary, yeah its just crazy. So right now we are working on finding because we are in a drought when it comes to investigators. We go street contacting everyday. It's sucks because everybody is Hispanic, so I just smile and nod while my comp does all the talking in Spanish, haha. I can say " soy de la Iglesias de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimo Dias" which means I’m from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, that’s about it. Its fun though, I learn a little bit every day, and I didn’t think I was going to learn a new language! haha. We get honked at like a million times a day and have people yell out their windows " GO MORMONS, YEEEEEAH!" so that’s fun, haha. We’ve ran into a basher in an apartment complex who was drunk, he didn’t make very much sense with his questions, but we answered them all and went on our way, so that was fun. haha. Going on splits with the missionaries back home really prepared me for the field I tell you what! We picked up six new investigators last night! So Elder Thompson had me looking through the area book and I said "let’s go here!" to a neighborhood full of trailer homes, like grandpas when he lived in Anaheim. We went to a house on the list that Elder Thompson thought that we should go to and we met the Father outside smoking. We talked to him for a little bit, he invited us in, and we had an awesome conversation/lesson with his entire family and they want us to come back! So that was a little miracle I've seen thus far.

 

 We eat like kings for dinner every night! Holy crap mom I didn’t believe you, all the members are pretty much loaded here so they eat good. It's awesome!

 

I love the work. I'm so glad I've decided to go on a mission. I love that I'm immersed in the scriptures all the time and learning so many new things about life, teaching, and this gospel. I love doing service and helping others come back to their Heavenly Father. AHHH I love it!! I love it here.

 

Alright, I got to go.

I love you guys, watch out for each other. Say your prayers every morning and night. Read your scriptures everyday. Be good examples. Don't be afraid to stand up for want you think is right. Don't ever lose sight of how important this gospel is, it's why we're here, it's everything, never forget that.

 

Until next time,

-Elder Jon Daniel

Has Arrived Safely

Elder Jonathon Daniel has arrived safely to the Carlsbad, California Mission and will be serving in the Vista area mission. July 11, 2013

Provo Temple

July 2, 2013
I just went to this temple today! And it was amazing! I got to do a session with my district and a ton of other missionaries, it was so sweet.

It's so beautiful here mom, I wish you could see it. The wasatch mountain range is gorgeous. Me and Elder Mather are going to hike it once we get back! You can even see the "Y" on the mountain from BYU. It's cool actually being here after Iv'e talked for so long about it.

I love it here. I wish I never had to leave tha MTC. It's like heaven, haha. It's going to be hard saying goodbye to everyone. Our district is so close. Well I love you guys so much. I pray for you all the time. I hope all is well.
Take Care of Each Other, Elder Jon Daniel