Transfer 14 Week 6- July 29, 2013

So we got transfer calls on Saturday!!!!!! So the transfers are as follows.......................................................................................(drum roll)......................................................................................Elder Villa has been called to serve in the San Leandro 2 Branch on bike!

Elder Clark will be staying in Oakland 6th

And Myself, after 8 transfers in oakland (which is the equivalnat of 48 weeks, just under a year) has been called by the spirit of the Lord to labor in the area of....................Oakland 6 South!!!!!!! The same area!!!! He will finish training Elder Clark (if he doesn't get his Visa) and is still the district leader.  

At this point, I hope I stay here for the rest of my mission!!!!  I've already spent more than half my mission here, why not finish it here!

It was Elder Bradford's last week so we made sure to remind him everyday!  We had cake as a district on monday!  We had planned to give service to some of the members in our area who just had a baby!  We were gonna cook them dinner but when we got there they already had everything ready to go for a barbecue!  We helped them cook everything and then ate so much!

We went street contacting at The BART Station and there was a huge line for WIC (not too sure what it stands for or what its for) and 99% latinos in that line.  We invited them all to english classes!!!!!  90% of them were interested.  

After church yesterday, we went by Milagro ("Miracle" for you gringos), and she was really sad that she doesn't have any family support but she is super prepared to get baptized and she has so much support from the ward!

 Well that's all from this part of the Vinyard!

Love,

 Elder Luis Gonzalez

Transfer 14, Week 5- July 22, 2013

The ISC  was  closed part of this week so for excercise we played basketball at Brookdale Park.  We be playing street ball.
 We had a carne asada with Alberto!  I burnt my finger eating chicken.
At the new missionary follow-up training Elder Clark, Elder Villa and I were SURROUNDED by sisters.
We sang "Placentero nos es Trabajar"  to Elder Bradford at our dinner with Los Mejia.  I was hoping he would cry, thats the song they sing at funerals.
This week makes 5 years since I was baptized!!!!!!!!!  Its really awesome!
 Saturday night we, the help of Hno. Calderon, were able to set a baptismal date!
On Sunday Los Mejia were super happy about getting there calling!  We also had 2 new investigators at church!
Thats my week in a nutshell!
God speed!
Sincerely,
Élder Luis González

Transfer 14, Week 4--July 15, 2013

So I added yet another trio to my resume.  This one included Elder Bradford again! It was also the last time with Elder Bradford. Elder Clark and I both went into his area.  It was also a 48 hour exchange which made things pretty crazy.  At the end of the first night I couldn't believe we still had a whole other day in the central area.  But it was a miraculous day indeed. But I will limit it to only 2 miracles.  

 1.  At the end of the day we had a lesson at the VC with a family from our english classes.  They have been looking for a church and want to figure out how Jesus Christ can bless their family!  We watched Finding faith in Christ and they loved it!

2.  We invited Victorio to church although he was not interested in investigating.  He then came to church and after sacrament he told us that he wants to prepare to be baptized.  We tried inviting for August 11 but he said that was too far.  So he has a date for the 28th of this month.

 Busy P-dy, gotta go!

Love 
Élder Luis González

Transfer 14, Week 3- July 8, 2013

 Transfer 14 Week 3 "Mam, Milagro, and Mateo"

We had a family home evening with the Rodriguez family!  Afterwards we had nachos and hot dogs with bacon!  Dinner with recent converts is the BEST!  Then we had a lesson with Milagro and her son who is recently arrived from El Salvador.

Tuesday morning we went to the Family History Center and did the familyhistory trainihg for Elder Clark.  In the videos I saw President Wade and tons of missionaries that I know that have gone home.  That night we taught a Guatemalan family that speaks mostly mam.  They had tons of questions about baptism and we were able to answer their questions and they decided they needed to be baptized.  We have a lesson with them tomorrow!

Wednesday we taught english classes!  We had 13 people who attended!

Thursday we had district meeting and then went out and contacted all our investigators.  Our dinner canceled that day so we went to a taqueria and ate burritos and tortas!  After we finished our daily planning we went out to the roof and watched the fireworks as we ate Popsicles. Elder Villa described all the noise as a war zone.  

Friday night we had an awesome lesson with Milagro where she ALMOST accepted a baptismal date!  Then at church one of the members invited her and us to dinner!  We are super excited!  

Saturday we passed by Los Calderon and we got to see their new baby! Mateo!  

Godspeed!

Élder Luis González

our Fourth of July lunch

Transfer 14, Week 2 July 2, 2013

 Transfer 14 Week 2 "Faith in Every Step"

So the title of my email this week is taken from the theme of my Oakland 6th's 30th Anniversary.

I am so grateful to be here for such great celebration!  Many of the former bishops and branch presidents were in attendance.  On Saturday, we had a fiesta!  There was many cultural dances and presentations from the ward members and past ward members.  It was a so much fun! Then on Saturday there were many guest speakers!

Sunday, Los Mejia got confirmed!!!!! There son had a fever so they almost didn't make it, so we went over and gave him a blessing and everything was OK.

 

This week was super hot!  Not really but I've gotten use to the weather here, so it feels really hot to me.  And because it doesn't get crazy hot, there is no AC in the apartments.

We are back in the finding game.  Our teaching pool has disappeared so it looks like we will be hitting the pavement this week and doing some good old finding!

The Family History Center where I email from is closed for carpet cleaning so I don't have too much time today! 

 Love!

Élder Luis González

Moroni 7:15-16