Life Here In Cali Is Pretty Great

Hey everyone! I hope you all had an amazing week.

Last week we had zone conference in MONTEREY!! It was so beautiful. Seeing the ocean again made me so happy!! It was a gorgeous sight. I love my mission so much. So a ton of things are changing in the mission. At zone conference we were taught to teach with the pamphlets and use the pictures, but only keep the lessons to under 10 minutes and then invite the investigator to read the pamphlet themselves and pray about it. We don't count contacts anymore or lessons with active members. President is trying to help us to solely focus on the people, not numbers. It has been amazing!! We are now only focusing on souls. He doesn't want us to be out contacting all day. We are to focus on getting more sit down lessons with non members, lessons with recent converts, and more lessons with returning members (less-actives). We are still a "just serve" mission, so we try to get at least 10 hours of service a week. For service, we usually go and volunteer at the food pantry or at goodwill. Sometimes we help out at the alpaca farm which is always a good time.

So Gus wasn't baptized this week either because we found out that he has some court issues that he must settle before being baptized. We will continue teaching and visiting him, he WILL get baptized! He is so ready.

We picked up 6 new investigators this week including a family of 4!!! So we're super pumped about that. It's difficult thought because most of them are hardcore catholic along with 80% of the Latinos around here. But, we will show them what the true church has that they don't.

Everything is going great here in the mission. I love it so very much. 

I studied obedience this week. I was reading the teachings of Joseph Smith. He made a rule for himself: "When the Lord commands, do it". This rule has helped me a ton in the mission. Sometimes we don't know why Heavenly Father has some commandments, but we have to remember that He knows best. If we willingly obey them, instead of having the mindset that we "have to", we will be blessed immensely. All the commandments and laws we are given are for our benefit. It is all a part of Heavenly Father's grand plan. He is preparing us for heaven. Shortly after he returned home from his mission, my brother Josh told me something to always remember on my mission: "Obedience brings blessings, exact obedience brings miracles". I can personally testify that if we follow the commandments with exactness and always remember the covenants we have made, miracles will be ushered into our lives and we will be ready for that great and dreadful day. For if "ye are prepared, ye shall not fear". 

I love you all. Have a remarkable week.

Elder Felt

Car wash service and my companion and I showing comp unity by matching.