Dear family and everyone else,
It's kinda warm today: 64 degrees. It's warming up already. On our way to the Ham Building, we rode by a baseball field completely flooded. It looks like you could walk knee deep in it. It's not going to drain anytime soon. It rained a lot last night. It also rained again earlier this week. This really is an El Nino year. It's raining pretty good around here. I hear it's snowing a lot from what my family is saying. One of the pictures that my family received was Elder Wardle and me eating dinner with the Gonzalez's. It was chicken and dumpling soup. It was really good until the dumplings expand in the stomach and make a person more full, but still good. Their little girl had a cold and could barely breath, so they did soup for her. Brother Gonzalez was picky and didn't eat his dumplings of all things. He said, "They look uncooked because it tastes squishy." I was chuckling on the inside.
Last night, as we rode in the rain, we taught Felix finally, so we now have a new investigator. When he was in his 20's, he went to prison and taught himself self reliance. He taught himself to read and write, and become a kinder person. He is a total natural cook and can literally create new food ideas. He's been thinking about starting his own bakery. He said he makes really good cheesecake donuts. That totally perked up my ears. I totally want to try out his food. He lives with a recent convert of 2 years, Claudia. His faith in Christ has been developing over the years, and one day he talked to the missionaries when he felt alone and stood by the train tracks. The Elders rode up and asked if he was alright and said a prayer with him. That sparked his interest because of the love and service that was offered to him, so he wants to become a Mormon after that experience. We will be working with him toward baptism in these next 2 weeks or so. It depends on when he starts coming to church and other commitments that lead up to it. He's also been saying that he wants to marry Claudia, and Claudia felt the same way, so I hope that won't be an interview inhibitor when the time comes or else he will need to get married or move out. He has nowhere else to go.
On Friday, I went on an exchange with Elder Laubman again. This time, I drove all over the place. A lot of it was on the 99 freeway. I'm comfortable with the freeway on ramp now after doing it like 4 times that one day. We went up to Wallace for a baptismal interview that the San Andreas Elders just had that next day. Then we went all the way to Galt to work in his area for only 3 hours. It was a nice relaxing car ride. I've been having a hard time, so Elder Laubman gave me some council and I felt better. He also said to me to consider the homeless people too in the work. Although they don't have a home, if we show kindness to them and give them a Book of Mormon to read, they will remember that and when they are self reliant again and have a home, they may find the missionaries again and be baptized. That changed my mindset for many people. Be more kind. Work really does make a difference in missionary work.
That night I dreamed a parable, and I'm not going to say much about it because it was awful. That morning, I pondered on it as I stretched, and the Lord said in my mind, "I will destroy what I will destroy, but for you, thou shalt forgive all men of their trespasses, and declare repentance." I thought about that saying again and again. I then came with a new goal to think of God's love for his children by saving his children from sin, and the power of the earth and all of it's creations. I told myself, "Creation is more powerful than destruction." You know how kids are fascinated with powerful things, well, I still have that childhood mentality and I am moving on. I will have greater virtue like the Christlike attribute in Preach My Gospel. Then will I be happier and find greater joy and consideration for the other people I do meet and for God's many beautiful creations. May we all show greater love and kindness to others as we go out in the world every day. "Peace on earth, good will toward men."
We also picked up Peter. He was a referral from the Spanish sisters. He seems slow in the mind so we are deciding how we will best teach him this next little while. We also taught John Piplono again Saturday. He says he's humble and willing to change and come closer to Christ. He said he would be at church yesterday but didn't show. If he wants a better spiritual life, he needs to do something about it and exercise faith. We also have been trying to get my oil back, but we keep forgetting or we become too busy in the evening to go get it, so hopefully I can get it tonight finally. Transfer calls are this Saturday by the way, so prepare to await "The News." One other thing, all missionaries are having a training this Wednesday from the first presidency, so we are all looking forward to that.
Have a great week everyone.
Elder White
P.S. Of the other pictures, I am laughing at a picture my family sent of my cat Tibsey under my sister's blanket. Also that thing I said about the flooded field, there's a picture of that as well. The other: Elder Wardle broke his acoustic guitar so he's playing his electric on his little speaker. Yup, I'm crazy. Till next week, bye
Eating chicken and dumpling soup. Yum!
Tyler gets a picture of his cat from home that he likes.
Elder Wardle plays the electric guitar.
Lodi got lots of rain, and the park flooded.