October 14, 2008

Dear Mom,

The wildfires are raging here in the Valley. Thank goodness it's up on the hills north of my area and very northeast of us. We're sitting in the middle part of it so we're mostly unaffected. No worries, until it starts to head towards Northridge I wouldn't worry at all. But, I've been smelling ash and smoke for the past day including today. There are helicopters going in and out all day and all night. So basically the fires are raging. Several thousand acres of uninhabited land has been scorched and some rich people's houses have been burned pretty bad. We were at a member's house yesterday playing tennis and she showed us the news. Those palm trees burn real fast! The Valley was covered in smoke most of yesterday morning. Man, I can't stand the smell of ash in the air. Apparently it gets like this a lot. I haven't had to deal with it because I went to Sta. Clarita after their raging fires that were really crazy and before the Valley ones started. So...here I am!

By the way, what was the last picture I sent you? I can't remember because my memory card is getting full and I don't know which ones I can delete so...just describe or attach it so I can delete them and start anew. But, I have some sweet pictures for you all!

The work is going so well. Very well, actually. A few ups and downs, but mostly ups. The Lord is preparing this area and I probably will just be the beginning instruments of such success. I feel this is my mandate, to finish strong here and hope for the best! Mike is doing great, and our Korean woman unfortunately is going through financial difficulties so she's put us on hold for now until it's all fixed. But, she's doing well considering the circumstances.

By the way, our less active (but now very active and rolling fast it's crazy ridiculous) Luna family met with the bishop last week and they're almost ready to go to the temple. When the bishop called me to let me know...I was in shock. I didn't know what to do, yell, scream, or throw things...I was puzzled of how I should react. So I just calmly told Woods with a big grin on my face. Soon accompanied by a bigger grin on his face. In six weeks, of consistent attendance to church and activities, they're to take the six week temple preparation class and then soon afterwards go to the temple to be sealed for all time and eternity. The wheels are turning, the car is rolling, and we are on our way to the temple! I'm so excited!

Highlights! So we basically cleaned up the sister missionaries apartments last p-day and most of the next day because it was A MESS! Woods and I weren't going to let that apartment go in that mess, so we helped the sisters clean it up. It took almost all day to do it, but at the end...we were like...yes, another dirty elder's apartment is officially clean! Last p-day we used a carpet cleaner to clean ours, then the next morning we cleaned another elder's apartment, then the sister's to finish it off. It was amazing! The rest of the day was non-existent. Showered, dressed, went to dinner with our really vocal Gospel Doctrine teacher (he thinks he knows it all) and went around trying to visit some investigators and stuff with Elder Sara in Sherman Oaks ward (he's training a greenie so his greenie came in on Wednesday- he was stuck with us!). Got to meet some really cool families and people in the end. And we had a sweet Nerf gun fight all night. It was very entertaining to say the least.

Wednesday! We were in Sherman Oaks most of the day just cruising around trying to contact investigators for Sara and we had mixed success. But, I admit, there are some crazy people in his area. When we contacted on Ventura Blvd., there were some crazy people. Well, we met an Argentine who talked with his hands like the Italians did. He told us his life story, so we couldn't really contact him about the Gospel. We did our best so...it was weird. We dropped him off so he could go to Sta. Clarita to pick up his greenie (who is a good, humble kid from St. George Utah, Elder Frei (or Fry as it's pronounced)). We ate with our high councilman, Bro. Calderon, and we talked about how we can get the missionary work started and stuff. We did get a brand new ward mission leader so we're on a roll right now. We went on team-up with youth AC Black, who loves to do missionary work whenever he has time. He's going to be one heck of an elder when his time comes. His brother is just as amazing. We visited a less active who had a stroke and is terminal with brain cancer, so we taught him to pray and it was a great lesson. We prayed in a circle for him, first me, then Woods, then AC. He didn't feel comfortable praying with us three so he thanked us instead. He says to give him time...I don't know about that but I gave up so we'll not pressure him as much. Pretty sweet stuff.

Thursday! We took Sara and Frei shopping in the morning because they had no food, but we gave one of their less actives a blessing because her wisdom tooth got infected and she didn't treat it so now it's spread to her throat. Her fault. Not pain-free at all. We went to a member's house to update our area book maps and they fed us a delicious lunch of grilled cheese sandwiches. Yum! We had a Q&A with a ward missionary, Sister Ulloa of Costa Rica, and shared a thought. Zoomed to Susan Lar because she freaked out the other night. Some scripture she kept reading creeped her out, so damage control with the Spirit did the job. Superstitious Filipinos...but she's doing great now. Just a little scare. Our dinner was full of fun and we just get along with these loving members. The 'other' Picketts, Dave and Cyndi (Jared is Dave's older brother and is more outgoing, thus the 'other' label). Little kid Mikey loves to play with Woods so he's sitting on him and stuff. Really fun to watch. We committed them to read the scriptures and they said they will, 3rd Nephi 18. They've changed. They had a great spiritual experience when we committed them to pray for guidance for work, and so they listen to us now. We zoomed to the Lunas and taught them the Gospel lesson from Preach My Gospel. They knew it all. We just had to hammer in the details for them. Along with our sweet object lesson, Senor Huevo (Mr. Egg). We get a Gatorade bottle and a boiled egg. We put the egg in...doesn't work. Do you have faith? Repent! Peel the eggshell off...still can't fit. Baptism! Dip it in water. Still doesn't go in. Baptism of Fire! Put some rubbing alcohol in there and light a match. Throw it in, it lights up, and you immediately (after the flame disappears) put it on top...the egg gets sucked inside the bottle. The egg endured to the end to get in the bottle! Really cool demonstration and it worked! So that was our great day!

Friday was super busy. We had the first tri-zone district leader training meeting and I was so pumped to go out and work and convert everyone! We had our development meeting and ended up planning what we are going to do in our district meetings. We had zone council...and met stiff opposition from missionaries who wanted to do it their way, meaning they didn't want to work as a zone. So that was difficult to say the least and the Spirit was gone. So it was a waste of time. The rest of the day rocked though! We taught Mike and he's still pumped for baptism so I'm excited for him when it happens (it'll be a while). We knocked some doors and street contacted along a street. We usually don't do that. But we went to a referral the day before, talked to him, then started to knock his neighborhood then the first person we meet suggests we knock a street further down because she took a walk around there and she heard arguments and stuff. So we had some great contacts...that night and the next day (Friday). We had some great chili for dinner with our Ward Mission Leader Bro. Kline and we did a simplified overview of the ward mission for him. He's a bit overwhelmed, but his commitment is there. He wants to help missionary work. A great organizational meeting and we walked out of there just excited for this transfer! We went to see the Lunas at their softball game since it's on our way home. Really funny. We couldn't find them at first so we call them. Their daughter picks up and is all tired then gives us which field to go to. We get there (this is right before we go in for the night) and say hello and the wife Cindy is so happy to see us. We say 'How's it going Bro. Luna?' and he just laughs and smiles nervously as he goes to bat. That expression was priceless. Must've been thinking...family...friends...wife...missionaries...nervous..don't mess up. They told us the next day that they won, but barely. Just a great day and a great time. I love to work!

By the way, the winds are picking up because it's fire season. Intense! Saturday was full of appointments. Seven appointments. Crazy. Susan was reading a basic book on the Plan of Salvation that a member gave her, a Q&A book, so that was an easy lesson. She knew it all. James Warner, the less active who didn't like to pray, was doing alright I guess and he said he'll work on public, vocal prayer. We visited an older man, Bill Cox, and he's struggling right now due to financial difficulties. The state won't pay him anymore, even though they owe him. So he's in a bind and says he knows what he has to do, but he knows now it isn't easy. We encouraged him as best as we could. We got lunch and took care of all our stuff and went to Abel Gomez, a former investigator. He was stubborn as heck. He accepted prophets, then contradicted himself. He said I can't accept Joseph Smith as my Savior. Woods went over prophets again and emphasized Joseph Smith was a prophet, not a savior. Abel said the same thing. I interrupted him and bore my witness that Joseph Smith was a prophet, God called him to do a work, and through God's power we have the Book of Mormon. It wasn't me talking, it was the Spirit working through me. He shut up his objections and listened to this chastisement of the Spirit. I felt different, because I know the Spirit was working through me to get to his own spirit. I was prompted to testify that his baptism meant nothing without the authority that Joseph Smith received from Jesus Christ himself. He will not be saved without a proper baptism. I basically condemned him...because the Spirit wanted me to. It was powerful. Bold. Honest. But, in a loving manner. We left, and if he wants to listen, he'll call us. I wasn't myself, because I knew Abel needed to hear something that didn't come from me, but from His Father in Heaven. I walked outside with Woods, and we were in awe and amazement. The Lord's tender mercies. I felt like Joseph defying the vulgar jailors, and I am grateful for that opportunity I had to allow the Spirit to testify to a stubborn son of God. From that we visited Bruce and had a hard time with another less active family whose father wants to fight the bishop. His wife was sarcastic but honest, said, 'but we're missing the temple' due to their inactivity. He brushed her off. We had the best time with the Lunas, teaching the Commandments and the priesthood to Junior. It was so fun, but very spiritual. He knows it all, he just has to review it all. The Lord's work won't be stopped.

Sunday was even greater! We fasted to double convert baptisms and the Spirit really uplifted us both. My understanding was opened and I just felt the Spirit all day long. I was hungry, yes, but I was spiritually fed. We went contacting after church and wow! We contacted with the Spirit even stronger than before! Feeding off the Spirit! We had a great dinner with the Sanders, who want to be more diligent in home teaching and a great family home evening with the Lunas. We had a great lesson on following the prophet and Word of Wisdom, and played some fun games. The Lord sent me here to find the Lunas and bring them back. I don't remember what I said, but it made a difference. The Lord's tender mercies, indeed. Their daughter Stephanie wants to pray, and that makes them proud. Cindy thought she wouldn't when she volunteered, but when she repeated Cindy's words, Cindy was suprised. And I know she was touched to know her family was changing to be strong in the Gospel.

I know this work is the Lord's. I love my Savior. I know he loves all his children on the earth. Stay strong, be diligent and vigilant, and all will be well!

I love you all. Talk to you soon!

Love,
Spencer