Conferencia General

​​​​Hola Everyone!

Hope you all had a great week and General Conference weekend! Elder Jarnagin and I had a swell one!

Hangin with Elder Leon

We had a pretty sweet lesson with one of our investigators in the forest in South Lake Tahoe. He brought his four ADHD dogs so it was a little hectic but we got settled down and enjoyed a lesson in the beauty of God's Creation. Really could feel the spirit there!

Heading out to the forest with one of our investigators and his dogs.

I found a wiener dog that looks just like my old dog, Ed!

On Wednesday Elder Jarnagin was super excited to get to eat at one of our less-active member's homes, the Rodriguez Family. He was excited because they are from Guadalajara Mexico and he was excited for some "genuine" Mexican cuisine. Much to his chagrin, they had forgotten about out appointment and had to order a pepperoni pizza. I was laughing pretty hard as he sulked over his za'.

More quality time in the beautiful outdoors of Nevada.

We also met a semi recent convert who unfortunately fell back into some bad habits of hard drug abuse, but we are working with him and pretty much talking to him every day and he is already really improving. He is in the process of giving up the hard drugs and he's even trying to quit the smaller stuff like smoking and what not. He reeeally wants to go to the temple so that's his driving factor. Also he keeps having dreams where he sees Jesus's face, so that's probably a good sign!

Service work in the snow.

Friday we dug a motorcycle trailer out of a ten foot pile of snow for a disabled veteran who is one of our progressing investigators! It was actually a lot of fun! His kids are goobers though and kept dumping snow down my shirt!

Then this weekend we watched some General Conference with our recent convert Claud and with some awesome members in our ward, the Millers!

A view from the hills during our hike this week.

Some down time with my fellow missionaries. Note my sweet Texas Forever shirt my mom sent me.

The main thing I took away from Conference this weekend is that I need to work on having more charity towards others. I find I am quick to judge and not be as Christ-like as I should be at all times. So I am working on seeing others as Christ would see them!

Not much else went on this week! Just working hard to bring others unto Christ! Hope everyone has a great week, adios!​​​​

Another great week in el campo (field)!

Buenas dias weras!

We found another investigator in South Lake Tahoe, and yes, he is weird! How did you know? Jeff was the guy that showed up drunk to church a few weeks ago and has been attending regularly since. We went and had a really interesting talk on the snowy beach in Tahoe about his life and what not. He is a very interesting gentleman, but he did seem genuinely interested in our church, so we will see where it goes. We were kind of interrupted in the middle of our talk because apparently we witnessed a very old sailboat sinking in the water nearby. Apparently Jeff had seen that sailboat many times before, and was quite distraught to witness it's passing. We sang "God Be With You 'Till We Meet Again" as we saluted the sinking vessel. Not really, Jeff's Catholic, he doesn't know that one.

Spending quality time with Elder Leon

Elder Jarnagin and myself studying scripture

Last week has kind of me just being a klutz. I was frying some salmon and accidentally splashed some hot oil onto my arm, so I have some gnarly burns on my arm. Also I cut my leg getting out of the car last Friday.

Elder Jarnagin lost his card that let's him drive so for a couple days I have been driving. I've only hit like 3 cats so I would say all in all I'm not doing too bad.
Elder Jarnagin and I also deep-cleaned the house last week. Apparently it was motivated by a mouse-sighting by Elder Jarnagin. His name is Stewart. But we haven't seen Stew since then so maybe he booked it after eating all of my peanut butter. The house is looking pretty spiffy right about now though, and it helps relieve the stress a little when there isn't random food from old missionaries everywhere. Cleanliness is next to Jesusliness.

Carson Zone conference with President Chestnut

Another pic from Zone conference

Been having a good time and have been learning lots about the gospel. I am preparing a talk about member missionary work so it’s been an interesting learning process. Also the Spanish is coming along nicely. I don't actually use it super often, but when I do people don't flinch anymore, so that's a good sign I think! #NoMoreMrWhiteGuy

Site of our recent off-roading shortcut

Posing at sunset

Had a pretty fun week this week! We had Zone conference and got to learn a lot from President Chestnut. Also our car was inspected so that was nice. We had to do some off-roading and it was a pretty good time. We literally forded a river because we are trying to save our miles lol. So we cut across another huge off-roading park, and this one included a little stream. Thank goodness for 4x4!

We have been working with a family up in Tahoe and they are doing very well. We will be seeing them and another family this week and we are going to try to set them with baptismal dates.

Not much else been going on. It's not super busy up here right now, we are just trying to find some more investimagators.

I have a joke that I would really like to share.

Que le dijo la wera a la otra wera? Werare joo?

Nos vemos gabachos! Have a great week everyone!​​​​​​

Daylight Savings and a New Typewriter

We had daylight savings time yesterday night. That kinda sucks. Missionaries are finely tuned machines, and one less hour of sleep is really throwing a wrench in the works. But the work goes on.

Still battling the snow in Lake Tahoe

We have been finding like crazy in South Lake Tahoe! We have 3 new investigators there this week. One is named Enrique, and he is a man who has had a rough past and is just trying to do right by God. We have discussed what the BoM is and he is reading it right now. The other 2 are John and Alexis. John is a disabled veteran with Alexis (wife) and 3 youngins. They moved from Salem, Oregon (shout out) about 2 years ago. We just now got the referral for some reason, but it's ok, because we think the time really might have helped soften his heart. He and his wife are very prepared to hear and listen to our message, and we very accepting and understanding of our message of the restoration. They have also committed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon, so we look forward to continuing to work with them.

In another development, Elder Jarnagin and I have started doing bi-weekly service at a GoodWill-esque thrift store called Fish. Annnd my first day there I found and subsequently bought an electric typewriter. I am currently cleaning and oiling it and I have purchased (via some members with Amazon Prime) some ink ribbon to get her up and running like new. Before you assume I have totally lost my marbles, typewriters are actually quite useful out here for missionaries without iPads:( because we can type much faster than write, and we don't have to worry about handwriting. Also typewriters are cool cuz they make sweet noises and stuff. Elder Jarnagin's handwriting is terrible so he uses his typewriter for just about everything. Including almost all mission-related paperwork. But anyway, I am quite excited to start writing on it. If you get a typewritten letter, it means I love you. If you don't, at least Jesus loves you.

The latest in personal communication devices.

Saturday, I got to attend two baptisms, and those are always fun! Elder Jarnagin and I both spoke at a man named Robby's baptism, and it was a pretty dunk-tastic experience. Robby actually has a little bit of a mental disorder, and is extremely afraid of water. So obviously the actual ordinance of him getting baptised was quite an ordeal. But after we wrestled him under the water, all was well.(just kidding of course ;)) No but it was a great service and we had a great time, and of course learned a lot from preparing our talks.

The same day we also got to attend a baptism for a man named David. He has had a very interesting past, and he actually turned himself into police because he wanted to repent and be baptised so bad, even though he knew he would likely be facing a prison sentence. Miraculously, however, his sentenced was waived and he was given an alternative punishment. Which means he got to be baptised Saturday! God is great! A lot of people had heard his story so there were like 50+ people at his baptism, including us! I've only known David for a short time but he really is an awesome guy and it just goes to show that the gospel changes lives!

Helping out at the local thrift store.

Oh also! We did a really sweet object lesson about the Gospel of Jesus Christ through making chicken parm! A member took a video of it, so it will probably be in next weeks email. It was awesome!

Nothing really else been goin on. Just the J Squad tearing it up here in Carson Valley and South Lake Tahoe. More like Salt Lake Tahoe by the time we're done with it;). Anyway, hope everyone has a great week and don't forget to spay and neuter your pets.​​

Adios!

Howdy, Howdy, Howdy

Hola!

Last week we were pretty low on our allotted miles for the month, so we biked home from South Carson City back to Gardnerville. It was pretty fun, and I think it was very good to help work off all the food I ate at dinner. Also something pretty weird happened on the ride. We were like half a mile from our house, and right before we rounded a corner, we heard some crazy loud screaming. So we get around the corner and see this lady leaned up against the her door screaming that she's having a heart attack. So we use our phone to call 9-11 and the operator is like, "Chill, that lady just has anxiety, she's fine. We have some people already on the way." We were like uhhhh. So then while we wait for the "people" to show up, we just listen to this lady start screaming about some totally random stuff, having nothing to do with a heart attack lol. She's screaming about her dog, and then her husband who left her, and how she is going to sue the Lutheran church down the street because they didn't call the cops for her. Then eventually a cop and ambulance show up and we started talking with another by-stander who lived nearby who came over because of all the noise. We got his number and he said he might be interested in meeting with us! Cool! Anyway yeah that was a weird night.

Downtown Gardnerville, Nevada, population 5,600

In other news, we found two really great new investigators in South Lake Tahoe. One of them is a very average man, like seriously the most average person you could ever meet. Never really gotten into a religion before, but says he would like to. When we taught him and gave him a Book of Mormon, he acted like it was the most exciting moment of his life, so that's sweet!

The other investigator we met is quite the opposite. We were actually trying to see Johnny, our African American KKK member investigator, but his roommate said he wasn't home, but that we should come in anyway. We go inside and he is listening to sad country music with tears in his eyes. He said he needs help, and that he can't find happiness in his life. He said he has been Pagan all his life, and that it doesn't mean anything. He is a member of a very notorious biker gang, and has been in prison for half of his life. We shared a message of the Plan of Salvation, and by the end of the lesson, he said he already felt happier, and he asked if we had a book that we could give him, because he learns by reading. So naturally we told him we could go get him a Book of Mormon right away. He said, straight faced, "Good, and if you do not, I will find you." We're like, dude, it's literally in our car right over there. He goes, oh ok good. Well hurry up then. South Lake Tahoe is a preettty weird place. But the gospel is for everyone!

Nothing much else happened this week. I though it was going to start warming up here, but we got a foot of snow yesterday :( I miss Texas heat.

Sorry, I don't have many pictures this week because my camera is falling apart, but I should be getting a new one soon, and then I will be posting pictures faster than a 14 year old on instagram with multiple personality disorder.

Hope everyone has a swell weak.

Adios
#drinktahoetap

Drunk people in church, accidental mudding, and a new companion!

Hey everyone, hope all y'all are doing great.

We had a pretty good week this week. Elder Guzman left and although he is missed, I now have Elder Jarnagin. He's pretty great too, and I have been having fun guiding him around the area.

My new companion, Elder Jarnagan.

Had some fun with the results of the rains we've had this past month. We were out pretty far a few days ago and as we were trying to save some miles, we cut through a mud road. Elder Jarnagin got a little excited and slammed pretty hard into a huge rut of mud, but luckily our half-jeep made it out. I reeaally didn't want to have to get out and push in my slacks.

The rains have finally subsided ... and left us a lot of mud.

Yesterday was probably one of the weirdest Sundays at church I've ever had. There was a man who gave a talk who didn't really understand much about the gospel. He kinda just read off an Ensign talk and mentioned every part that he didn't understand. It was actually really funny though. Afterwards we went and talked with a man that we had never seen at church before and as he struggled to introduce himself, my companion and I both got an incredibly strong whiff of alcohol from this guy's breath. We realized this guy had been brought in by a member but was drunk as a skunk. We took him to a Gospel Principles class, and between the senile man in the corner butting in to everything, the talk guy who didn't understand anything, and this drunk guy trying to relate everything back to Catholisicm, it was quite a juggle to stay on topic to say the least lol. But that's ok, we all learned something, and once he sobered up a little he said he would love to meet with us again later.

Making our rounds.

One interesting calling this week occurred when we performed a Spanish lesson with an elderly Catholic lady and we had an English speaking member with us. It was humorous because the lady was making fun of him for not understanding what was going on a lot.

Still dealing with the snow.

On one of our trips to the California portion of our Mission we went to a Less Active family's house and when we got there they went ahead and stashed their weed and bong and other marijuana paraphernalia because they forgot we were coming haha. California is great though.

Making new friends.

Collectibles?

We also got to meet some horses and found a man's old postal jeep collection. Anyway, that's about it for me. Hope you all have a good one.

Adios

Transfers!

Hola everyone.

We have great news! I am staying in the best area ever! Unfortunately mi papi Elder Guzman is leaving, but he will be going to Reno, so that's cool!

Elder Guzman prior to his transfer.

I will be getting an Elder Jarnagin to be my new companion in this area. Which is funny because he trained my district mate in the MTC Elder Gurr. Apparently Elder Jarnagin is a very hard worker, so I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together.

The area has been going well. A little slow on investigators, since 2 weeks ago we were given a list of 45 names of Less Active Sisters to go visit by the new Relief Society President. We wanted to get on her "good side" so we visited every name and have quite a bit of follow ups with them. She was very grateful! Anyway, things have been going well and I am continuing to see the blessings of obedience.

We were at a members house with some other less actives as well, and they wanted a picture. The members that live there have 7 kids total. The youngest one Brigham dabbed right before they took the picture. So of course we all had to get a picture dabbing. It was pretty amazing.

The Spanish is getting better slowly, I started having Spanish dreams again like in the MTC, so that is a good sign. Whenever I am transferred I am hoping for an all-Spanish area so I can actually be immersed.

Ran across this sweet ride while out visiting.

Not really all that much happened this week. Just learning and learning. I guess one thing I haven't mentioned is that I have been kind of teaching (not really) myself piano. Whenever we have free time during District Meetings or on P-days I like to sit down and just play some songs from the Hymn books. I've got Be Still My Soul, High On The Mountaintop, Nearer My God To Thee, and Come Ye Children of The Lord down to two fingers, but I gotta work on using both hands now to get the tenor and bass lines. And I'm really close with Praise To The Man! I am not very coordinated so its a little hard. But I have been practicing and now I can get most songs in there just doing the melody. Piano is fun! Now I'm gonna have to be one of those Mormons who teaches all their kids to play piano and has an upright piano in every room.

Anyway, not much else to report! Hope everyone had a great week.

Adios!

Moving on Up

Things have been preeettty cool up here in NV.

We have two boys, Frankie and Tony, set for a baptism on the 25th of Feb. Their younger brother has lots of medical problems, however, so they might have to book it to a hospital in California on a moments notice.

I had some exchanges with another Elder last week, and things were pretty wild. I finally got to drive, and I was a little rusty, I'll be honest. But I only cut someone off and screeched the tires like 4 times, so it's all good. We went to a homeless shelter to talk to an investigator, and everyone started gathering around and it felt like we were preaching a sermon haha. We passed out like 5 Books of Mormon. Also, miracles happen people. Those Elders had a pineapple investigator who was ready to get baptised, but was not doing well financially. He lost his phone and had no where to stay, however, so they basically thought they had lost him. But, as we preached the "sermon" in the homeless shelter, he walked up and shook our hand, and said "I've been looking for you guys." Crazy!

​​Zone Conference

I also was able to give a training to my district this week about learning by the Holy Ghost, it was pretty great and a good learning experience.

Last Monday our Zone had an activity in which we all prepared a meal from home. So of course I made my mother's famous turkey chili. However, I have somewhat outgrown my gringo roots and more further adopted a Mexican lifestyle, therefore I added 3x the chili powder and drowned it in Tapatio. All of the white people in my zone said it was good but almost too spicy. That was very much a compliment. And the paisanos (Mexicans) said it was good but could have used a bit more heat. What to do. Anyway, there was a bunch of awesome food there and it was sweet. We have a Sister from the Philippines here and she made some awesome chicken stuff. lit

Molletes (mexican dish)

Ceviche (ghetto mexican dish)

Elder Abbotts beautiful pie that no-one ate

In other news, Elder Guzman and I totally whitewashed (literally, like, with bleach) the old organization method and revamped it. We are now more qualified for revelation! And I think we were rewarded for our efforts, because 3 days after, we committed a young man(and soon his wife) to be baptized in March. This individual used to be somewhat anti-religion, but his heart has been softened with many experiences throughout his life. It's truly a blessing when we find those who have been prepared to hear this message.

New Board (don't worry there's more people than that on there lol)

Also, I was on exchanges again this week with Elder Young, and it was a ton of fun to drive up the icy roads of Northern California to the lake. Talk about a thrilling ride, especially when I am behind the wheel!

Elder Guzman and I have been working out and dieting every day, because he only has so much time left on mission and he still has a lot of baby fat to work off before he has to go home and find a wife. El se mira como un marrano gordito ahorita jajaja.

Final thing, this week we had some cray cray wind storms. Our neighbors lost a couple little trees that scared the crap out of us when they slammed into our window at night lol. And some people down the street lost a HUGE tree. We also lost power for a little while but good thing for candles.

There was nothing firm about that trees foundation (*rimshot*)

Hope everything is great for you guys!

Adios locos