11-18-13

Hey guys!

How is the weather back down south this time of year? Right now in Murrieta it’s about 78 degrees, it doesn't feel like winter at all! It’s crazy! Never thought I would say this, but I actually miss the cold and the rain. Living in this kind of weather gets old after a while, there's not much variety. It’s just perfect all the stink'n time!

So yesterday during sacrament we found out that our ward mission leader is being released, it was completely unexpected. It’s going to be tough losing him, he was really on top of things and engaged with the work in this area. So were going to be training the new one here very shortly. 

So we stopped by Robert last week and he told us he's going through a very tough time financially. The elders who started teaching him before us left a blessing on him and his home, and he ended up getting a lot of job opportunities and work from it. So he's been pretty busy with work and hasn't been able to meet with us and he’s started to lose the job opportunities that he’s had. He also prayed to have a day off from work and he ended up getting, can you guess? Yes, Sunday. So he's taking these things as a sign that there is something missing and Heavenly Father is trying to tell him something. I think we’re going to be seeing a lot more of Robert in the near future. I really think he'll learn to embrace the gospel. He's super friendly and very humble and wants peace and direction in his life, luckily for him we've got all the answers, and more. 

We had our zone training meeting last week and at the end the zone leaders showed the video about how missionary work and the atonement are intertwined. I showed it to you before I left, I don't know if you remember. But anyway, there wasn't a dry eye in the room. That message means so much more and I understand it completely now that I'm in the field. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that I’m apart of the most important work on the earth right now. There's seriously nowhere else I'd rather be. I don’t want to think about what I would be doing or where I would be right now if I didn’t go on a mission. Anyone who is thinking about serving needs to just go out there and do it. Spencer told me before I left all the Lord requires is a willing heart, and it’s so true. That’s all He requires, He will help you along the way and use you as a tool in His hands. There’s no real way to truly feel ready to serve a mission, you'll never feel ready until you’re on that plane flying to the MTC.

 Tomorrow we have our zone conference with Elder Packer. Not the apostle, but one of his close relatives. Should be awesome! I’ll let you know how it goes.

 I love you all, I can’t wait to see you guys and hear your voices! Stay strong, stay true, and look out for each other, alright?

-Elder Daniel

 

(Elder Anderson say hi! He leaves for home at the end of this transfer :( and he wont 

be going back to Alabama because his family moved to Utah, so were making the most of 

his last days as an elder.)

11-12-13

Helloooooooo Family!!!

So we had transfer meeting this Tuesday. My Companion is now in Vista and my new companion is Elder Jacobsen from Bountiful, Utah. He's been out for about nine months, he's pretty soft spoken and chill, but he's a really hard worker, he's funny, and he knows how things work. I’m still a little rough around the edges, so I’m glad I have a comp with a little bit of experience who I can learn from. His first Sunday in the ward he got thrown under the bus a little. So one of the youth speakers had an anxiety attack and never showed up to give her talk, so Bishop Nordstrom asked a bunch of people to come up and bare their testimonies on the theme that the talks were on that day. And guess what it was? The Law of Chastity! haha, welcome to Cole Canyon Elder Jacobsen! 

We taught Rhiannon the Plan of Salvation last night at a member’s home. We invited her to be baptized but, she turned it down because she doesn't know how her dad will feel about it, and she said she isn’t ready to make that kind of commitment. Well definitely keep working with her and doing anything we can to help her understand and overcome the barriers that are keeping her from being baptized. It’s been a little tough facing rejection and opposition, not just from investigators, but people we try to talk to as well. I’ve been praying very hard to know what I need to do have success and how to improve the work in this area. I remembered something that I felt very strongly in the MTC when I was going through somewhat of the same thing. 'This work isn't about you at all, it’s about serving others and bringing your brothers and sisters to a knowledge of the truth." That's something I had forgotten for a little while, you get so caught up in the work and comfortable being a missionary going through the motions that you can forget what you came out for in the first place, if that makes sense. I'm begin obedient, I just haven't been as bold and focused on baptism as I could be. I haven't truly lost myself in the work yet. That's when miracles happen, when you forget yourself and focus solely on those you love and care about. It all comes back to truly living as the savior did and following his example. That's all missionary work really is, doing as our savior did. I'm also taken back to a scripture in DC 24: 8. We’re going to be put through trials and hard times, it’s inevitable, but the Lord is always with us and that’s something that we need to always remember. More than anyone, He knows exactly what we’re going through, and He's always there to help.

We started doing service at a sports park repainting fire lane curbs and stuff and guess what was in my sight every time you looked up? A skate park, begging for me to ride it. It was pure torture.

 

(My man Peanut and I, were pretty chill)

 

Yesterday we also started doing service on Sister Dempkey's horse ranch way up on this huge mountain. Cleaning pens, changing water, and feeding the horses. It’s something were going to start doing now every Tuesday. It’s a pretty sweet change of scenery. Her son David, who is autistic, helped us out too. It was a ton of fun.

 

(My new comp, Elder Jacobsen and David in his cowboy gear)

 

Whelp I'm out of time. Speaking of time where has it gone? I've almost been out 6 months in December, Holy Moses!! 

I love you all. I pray for you all the time. Stay true, remember those who sacrificed so much for this gospel, and always look out for each-other.

 -Elder Jon Daniel

11-4-13

FAMILY!!!! How are ya!!!

I love hearing about everything that you guys are doing back home! It looks and sounds like Halloween was a blast, I love yall's costumes. Ant, yours was super cool dude!

Looks like Adeline is having the time of her life right now too. I keep forgetting that you’re a teenager! I already mentioned this before, but you guys are growing up way too fast! Slow it down!! haha. I hope everything goes well with what you decide to do with the house. Hey guess what, the youth in my ward are going to the Gilbert Arizona Temple open house for their youth conference, how stink'n cool is that! I wish I could go so badly, at least I was able to see it when I drove Grandma Gwen home in February.

So this week has been pretty sweet. The work is progressing, I can see it and feel it! We were able to meet with Rhiannon this week at a member’s house and we taught her the Restoration. She is progressing a little slower than others, but we’ll continue to work with her. She's not a member, but she goes to mutual every Tuesday, a bunch of her friends are LDS, and she goes to all the dances and youth conferences. She even went to trek. So were going to get her baptized, it’s just a matter of time. We didn't really get to see very many other people, my companion was sick a couple days this week and Halloween was this week also. We have been teaching a lot of the members this week as well.

 

We went on exchanges with the zones leaders this week. I went with Elder Roundy. He really showed me how to plan and the importance of planning. He showed me things I never even thought of before. It’s funny how you think you’re doing amazing, when you’re really not, haha. We also had a ton of fun. It was a great exchange. Learned a lot. The next day after exchanges, I used what he had taught me when we planned for the day and the results were pretty crazy. We don't usually have very many contacts during the day just because of how small our area is and it’s a bedroom community too. But people just kept falling in our laps one after another, we had 23 contacts that day, which doesn't sound like a lot, but for us and our area it’s a ton. So that was one small miracle. It’s cool to see how the Lord places people in your path when you plan and act faithfully.

 

I've also been praying for people to teach, who are seeking for the truth and for healing. On Friday when we were on exchanges we got a call from some elders in another area that there was a lady at the church who wanted to talk to us. So without delay we rode our bikes over there at the speed of light. We got there a little early and we were locked out of the church and she showed up a couple minutes later. Her name was Kim. We got to talking and we found out that she is going through a very hard time psychologically and financially. She's bipolar, has extreme anxiety, and is about to lose her house. As we were talking I just felt so terrible, I wanted to help her so bad. We told her we would get in touch with our bishop. Then the next day we saw her in a restaurant and she mentioned that she might come to church. So on Sunday we looked everywhere for her and couldn't find her. And we just assumed she wasn't there. So we got up and bore our testimonies because it was fast Sunday, and let me tell ya, it’s still scary getting up there even when you’re a missionary, but you feel amazing afterwards. I don't know why but I felt like I should bare my testimony of the book of Mormon so I did. The coolest thing happened after sacrament. We found out that she had shown up a little late and she sat in the back, I felt terrible that she sat by herself because of her anxiety, but we got to talking with her and she said "can I get a copy of that book you were talking about?" and luckily I had three copies in my bag that I have been lugging around this entire transfer because are contacting hasn't been too shabby. So now she has a book of Mormon and a seed has been planted. Another small miracle.

We have transfers on Tuesday. My companion is leaving and I’m staying. I’m gonna miss him. He's got a great work ethic. He's a country boy from Wyoming, so we both can relate to working hard with our hands and getting things done. I hope my new companion is ready to trust in the Lord and work hard, because we’ve got a lot to do. I'll let you guys know how that goes next Monday.

Well I’ve gotta go buy food so I don't starve during the week, haha.

Thank you guys for all your support and love, I can feel your prayers in my life every day.

Stay true and look out for each other alright? :)

 - Elder Daniel

Washington District is the best!

Elder Adams and I from our hike this morning, overlooking Murrieta CA

 

 

 

Pictures 10-28-13

 

Exchanges with Elder Wilkensen, love this kid to death. super funny and an outstanding missionary

Little drainage ditch we pass on our walks that looked pretty cool.

 

Still got some life left in them though

 

my new source of transportation, that's right, a penny board (I wish)

Noah Broadhead sent me this, very inspiring words. " when things get tough just keep on rolln"

This is Cameron Grieter, soon to be elder Grieter. Leaves for his mission tomorrow. Hell be in there the same time as Cheslea

 

Our hike to the Adobes this morning.

10-28-13

Hey guys!!

Chelsea reports on Tuesday, that's crazy!! Mom you’re so right about how you can’t lean on others testimonies. You have to find out for yourself through faith, prayer, and experience. That’s something that I have learned firsthand since being out here. I thought my understanding and testimony were strong before I left, but my testimony and knowledge of this gospel has grown tenfold. It’s just awesome, I don't know if I say this a lot, but I'm so glad I chose to serve a mission.

Thank you for sending me some extra stuff and for being amazing and for all your support, hopefully I'll get it from the zone leaders today.

I got a brick from Nauvoo from Aunt Danna and Uncle Gerry. I keep it on my desk next to my favorite picture. I wish I could've been there with you guys! Tell them thanks for me!

 

Dad thanks for the video, I miss webelos!!

 

This week has been good. We’re starting to pick things back up slowly but surely. I was able to go to a baptism in my last area in Fallbrook. It was one of my old investigators, Jason, who has been investigating for about five years now. I was asked to be a witness. It was a very neat experience, he's been waiting for so long and it was a privilege to be a part of it. It was also fun to see everyone who I had grown to love and worked with in my first area. It was like a little family reunion.

 

 

We’ve also done a ton of service work, sanding and painting doors and picking up trash. And we’ve helped a bunch of people move. I love doing service. It always makes you feel good, and I get to use my painting skills from working with dad which is cool.

For p-day last week we played kickball with the entire zone, it was tight! So much fun. And I forgot to shave my mustache beforehand, jk it’s Elder Graves'

Contacting has been going better. Being a trainer really forces you out of your shell and to talk to everyone. He's looking up to me and is following my example and I don't want him to become a pile missionary, so I've really been stepping my game up with opening up my mouth. My ward mission leader gave a talk in sacrament a few weeks ago and he said some things that really stuck with me. He said that "if we don't open our mouths and try to invite people to hear what we have, than we are very well deciding for them whether or not they have the gospel in their lives" he also said when he was on his mission in Australia people would always ask him why he was out doing what he was doing, he would always tell them "a religion not worth sharing, is not worth having".

 We need never be afraid to share our beliefs with others. They chose to accept the gospel and to come here in the life before this one, we just have to remind them. Remember that.

One of the members of our ward, Brother Featherstone, always talks about his mission. His crazy stories, things he's learned, and scriptures. He still uses his mission scriptures and those things are marked and tabbed up and down. He's inspired me to do the same, I'm almost there. I got these scriptures at the distribution center at the temple, my other ones were falling apart.

 

Well guys I’ve got to get back to being a missionary. I love and miss you guys. A couple more weeks and I'll get to see all your beautiful faces!! I can’t wait!!

Stay true and look out for each other while Im gone, alright? Love you guys

 

-Elder Daniel