Yet again I forgot to say that its transfer week in my last email! We got transfer calls on Saturday and it turns out I'm being transferred again. I'll be still be in a car area and be a zone leader. I think I'll be going up to Santa Clarita with Elder Jones. I would love that, but I don't find out till tomorrow! The rest of the zone is basically being whitewashed. There are 3 areas in our zone that are being closed and only 3 companionships of the 13 that we have are staying together. It's going to be a big transfer meeting tomorrow! There are a ton of missionaries going home and a ton of people being transferred. It should be a good change for the mission. That's what this mission needs right now is hope and change, and transfers are a good way to spark a new fire in a missionary sometimes. Its a time to re commit to be obedient. to go hard! To use the Atonement! That's how we have hope for Eternal Life, and that'll drive anybody if they let it! Its just like Moroni 7:41. Read it! Ah man I could go off on tangents all day long, but lets move back to what I was talking about. Transfers. My companion is going to be in a zone leader trio. That'll be interesting. Really interesting. It's a little scary honestly. I don't know how that's going to work, but I guess that's the way the Lord wants it. That happens so much at transfer meeting. When I hear the names of two companions getting put together I'm just like really!? That'll never work! It's especially scary if you're in their zone, but it always seems to work out and everyone learns something from the other. It's awesome!
Well moving on to my week. We went on an adventure last P-day up to the mission border that overlooks the whole san Fernando valley and a little into downtown LA. It was sweet. We also drove to this dudes house named Stan Beckman who we found programmed into both of our GPS's. I wanted to knock on his door, but my comp didn't want too, so we didn't. You should look him up for me. I want to know who this mysterious man is that is randomly programmed into all the Garmin GPS. He lives in the hills of Encino. It's pretty cool up there. We also went to some ghetto thrift shops in Van Nuys. That was a little disturbing, but I did find some pretty neat things. I got a haircut. . . . I don't think I've ever really told you what we do on p-days. Well its usually full of fun things like hiking, basketball, basketball and more basketball. Sometimes we play Ultimate Frisbee, or some other fun games, but I have played a lot of basketball on my mission. Not so much in this zone though. Last week we did a California snowball fight. That's where you fill socks with flour and wack each other with them. its pretty fun. Today we're having a zone bbq which is going to be awesome!
Anyways, We also started teaching this really old less active member who knows a lot about church history and wants to come back to church. His name is Alvian Schatz. Yes his name is kind of funny, but he's Jewish so its ok. He used to go the Studio City ward so he started to go back to that ward this past week, but he's going to church. He also wants us to teach his daughter so that'll be sweet once that happens. He's a great guy and he has a testimony, its just really hard for him to get to church. He's willing to put in the effort though.
We are also working with our focus fifteen families a lot. This ward is the only ward in the mission that actively has 15 families assigned for the missionaries to teach. Unfortuanately most of the appointments that we set with those families fall through, but we try our hardest to make them go through. Everyone on it is less active, and they're less active for a reason, so its hard to meet with them.
We had Zone conference this week as well. it was really good, but I worry about this zone a lot. I'm being transferred and I still worry about it, but I'm hoping that this next transfer things will smooth out here and the work will improve. I've done everything I could, honestly. Its just sad to see missionaries who have so much potential not take the necessary steps to fulfill that potential and make it to the next level. We focused a lot on what makes a successful missionary in zone conference. Something that Sister Hall said was "Success isn't measured by a grade or by numbers, but by how much you change and grow." That is so true. If only missionaries could grab on to that statement and realize what truly causes one to grow the most out in the mission field. Lose yourself in the work and you'll grow and change in ways you never thought you could. "Forget yourself and go to work" to quote President hinckley. I'm really hoping that I'll be able to get my next zone to do that and to recognize the happiness that comes from it. The thing is so many missionaries here know that, but they've forgotten. I'll do my best and serve to the fullest in my next area and help the missionaries take Moroni's counsel and "remember!"
Anyways, zone conference was good and I found out what I could do better and what I can change. That's what its all about. We went on a small little blitz/exchange on Thursday with Encino. The first door we knocked on we found a new investigator. It was legit! He had actually been reading the book of Mormon for a little while and we just ran into him. It was a miracle.
Highlight of the week though was Saturday. Saturday we were able to teach Lyndsay Lucas. We'll be passing her off to the Y.S.A sisters next week. She is awesome. She hasn't been reading though, but she planned in time to do it this week and to start praying, which has been a real struggle for her. We also taught Hugh. he is doing well and he's continuing to pray and read. He couldn't come to church this week, but will come next week. We're also going to try and start teaching his mother. She is never home though and we've never spoke to her. Hugh is thinking about baptism though, so it's pretty urgent that we get in contact with her soon. I love that kid. Satyurday night we went to the temple visitors center with Lloyd Tackwell and his wife. it was so cool! The spirit was so strong and he loved it. We watched Meet the Mormons with him after the tour and he loved that too. He's still coming to church and we also taught him a great lesson on tithing yesterday. He's 85% sure about his baptismal date for May 17th. He's still praying about it, but everyday he says he feels better about it.
Those were the highlights of this week. Its been pretty good for us. Not for the zone though. Everyone is super stressed out about transfers and its taking its toll on the work. Things will smooth out this week though.
As for things back home, its super weird to see the house basically destroyed. I feel like its not even real. it'll be weird to come back to a remodeled home, but I'm excited to see how it turns out! Sounds fun living in the basement and what not. Also good to hear that Connor came to visit you mom! I love that kid! I love you all! Thanks for all your support!
Elder Nelson
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