Pictures from June and July 2012

Transfer 8 Week 6 November 26, 2012

Dear Everyone who still bothers to read these,

Well we got transfer calls.....And well my second transfer call as a
District leader was just as boring as my first one...my whole district
is staying here in Oakland. But from the sounds of it, next transfer
is going to be when we get a huge burst of missionaries.

This week I went on exchanges and had an amazing experience. As I
looked for all the positive things Elder Bradford, I saw him more as
our Savior does and was able to appreciate more fully the members of
my district do.

Thanksgiving was AMAZING! I was fed 5 times!!!!!
In the morning we got to help decorate the Visitor's Center for
Christmas! With all due humility I must say that the Visitor's Center
looks legit! Elder and Sister Weise made us breakfast while we
decorated and we were able to take a break and eat (alot). Then we
went and offered service to a family in the ward, los Calderon, and
then we ate!!!! Then we went to the Bishop's home along with the
other 6 missionaries in the ward and ate TONS. By about 6:30 we were
FULL beyond imagine. By we trudged on to our 7:00 appointment with
Los Preciado and ate once agian. Then at 8:30 we headed to our last
appiontment. Luckily it was just a soup that helped us easily finish
the night. But either way, Elder Arauz and I felt HORRIBLE, he puked
out the window as we drove home.

So now Thanksgiving is over, and the super good news is.....People
will stop thinking I'm crazy because I am listening to Christmas music
and have a nativity scene set up in my apartment. I am so excited to
be in Oakland for Christmas!!!! The temple lights are amazing.

"And the priests were not to depend upon the people for their support;
but for their labor they were to receive the grace of God, that they
might wax strong in the Spirit, having the knowledge of God, that they
might teach with power and authority from God." Mosiah 18:26
How blessed are we to be in a church that teaches us to receive the
grace of God on our own. We come to have a personal relationship with
God as we pray to Him and read of Him and strive to follow Him.
Having our own personal experiences with God costs much labor but we
come to know God on a great personal level.

Happy Holidays to all!

Sincerely,

Élder Luis González

Transfer 8 Week 5 November 19, 2012

Saturday I got one of the worst phone calls of my whole life. It was Maria's husband (they finally got married!!!!!!! yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!! She happily showed us the marriage certificate!) and told us not to come by any more because Maria would be unavble to pay tithing. So then we called Maria and we were unable to get as hold of her!!!! To say the least that was a pretty sad day. However on Sunday, her fellowshipper called her and was able to talk to her. We learned that Maria has no problem with living the law of the Tithe but that her husband feels like he has tons more power now because they are married. She still desires to be baptized. So that was a relief, now we just have to try to reestablish contact.

Saturday night we had a ward thanksgiving activity. There was tons of leftovers. Guess who they gave it to? Thats right the 8 missionaries in the ward. And last night the tongan elders who live near us brought us tons of tongan food that was given to them. Our fridge is FULL. I feel disgusting eating so much. The positive side is that it pushed Elder Aruaz to finally run!

A member in our ward ,that had a stroke and is only capable of using one of his arms and his face is half paralyzed , has been helping us as we visit our investigators. He brings such a great spirit with him. He helped come back to church and he has been doing absolutely great! He has also been abe to give us a couple of good referals.

I love Abinadi! I never realized how straight up he was (not sure if that is a reverent way to describe it but don't how else to say it). The priests ask him:

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings; that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good; that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth;

Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion;

Break forth into joy; sing together ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem;

The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God?"

Then he asks them "have you kept the law of moses" Then he straight away says "no you haven't" then he he quotes the 10 commandments. Then he quotes Isaiah 53 and tells them how Christ would suffer . He tells them that the law of moses can't save them and tells them how much they need christ. Then he finshes by quoting the scripture they asked about and expalains that those who truly share the real gospel of christ will have beautiful feet. And explains that Christ is the greates savior. What a great missionary!

Sincerely

Élder Luis González

Transfer 8. Week 4 November 12, 2012

Dear everyone who finds my emails interesting to read,

This was my week:

Tuesday- We taught this family where the father is semi-active and his son is refusing to go to church. We had a great lesson and were able to help to see the son who God really is.

Wedneday- I got to do a baptismal interview of this 15 year old boy. Reminded me so much of myself!

Thursday- We went to the temple!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love going tothe temple! Its such an amazing palce. So much to learn, so much revelation to recieve.

Friday- I got to go on exchanges with Elder Sturgell!!! As our companions went to a training we got to go out and work. And we taught Maria, our solid investigator. She sadly expressed to us that her "husband" was unwilling to get married. We told her to pray and have faith. Then we had dinner with the Weise, the senior couple in our ward and district. Sister Weise and have share a birthday and we had to celebrate.

Saturday- We had another lesson with Maria and she told us that her "husband" had said that they could get married. What a miracle! Thats what happens when one excercises faith.

Sunday- We had a lesson with Maria at the Visitor's Center and taught her about living prophets. She felt the spirit! It was an awesome day!

As I ponder the the things I have learned on my mission the scriopture keeps coming to mind "And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his
goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel." Mosiah 4:11

I know I quoted it last week but it is so TRUE! I of myself am nothing but thru God, I may inherit all that the Father hath.

Sincerely,

Elder Luis Gonzalez

Transfer 8 week3. November 5,2012

Dear Everyone!

What an amazing week! Our investigator, Maria, came to church this
week and she even took the day off of work because she wanted to come
to all the classes before our sacrament meeting. When we taught her
on Friday we were going to teach the law chastity but before we even
taught her she commented to us "I was thinking about my "husband" and
I and I feel like we need to get married, I"m tired of living this
way." Isn't that such an amazing miracle? She is a humble seeker of
truth and the Lord had prepared her to receive the message that Elder
Arauz and I had prayerfully selected. After teaching her the lesson
she set goals and made plans to get married as soon as possible. Then
the next day we taught her the Word of Wisdom and she said "NOTHING
will keep me from getting baptized on the 25th" she resolved to quit
coffee right there and told us that she had given her "husband" an
ultimatum. I don't feel as if I have done anything special in
teaching Maria, I don't feel like as if I have been a super great
teacher in our lessons, but I know that the Lord has truly prepared
her. I have learned that it doesn't matter how great I master the
skills in preach my gospel, or how well I memorize the thing that are
in there, and the list can go on with things you would expect a great
missionary to do. It doesn't matter what I do if I don't seek
revelation in this the Lord's work. I need to trust in the Lord and
do exactly as he tells me. That is the only way I will ever succeed
in bringing to pass the Lord's work.

The day after Halloween, we stopped by an investigator's home to
invite to the ward Halloween activity later that night. They invited
us for some tacos, and since it was our dinner hour we gladly
accepted. Elder Arauz mentioned that it was my birthday so then the
mom and her little daughter Vanessa, brought out a cupcake and put a
candle on it and said "Feliz cumpleanos hermano!"

On Saturday I went on exchanges with Elder Sturgell into his area
so.........I got to be on bike!!!! We almost had to bike up temple
hill which probably would have killed me but a member was able to help
us out.

Yesterday there was a baby blessing in the Tongan ward, so naturally
that means that they have to have a full out feast. There was about
30 tables set up n the cultural hall each one with its own roasted
pig. I could not believe how much food there was. I was positive
they were celebrating something super uber important I was in absolute
disbelief when I was told that it was just a baby blessing.

I have a new found appreciation for all the cleaning my mom did after
this halloween's deep cleaning. I was so so so so so tired! And
Elder Arauz was amazed by all the costumes.

"And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come
to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his
goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of
your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls,
even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in
remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his
goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and
humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name
of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which
is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel." Mosiah 4:11

This scripture really stood out to me this week as I realized my own
nothingness and how much I truly rely on the Lord.

Sincerely,

Elder Luis Gonzalez

P.S. We had to go to Wal-greens on Halloween to get some things for
our Halloween cleaning. And can you guess who someone decided to
dress up as???? Yup you guessed it, Taylor Swift. It strengthened my
testimony that Heavenly Father has a sense of humor.