PICTURES!- September 1, 2013

I wish I had labels for all of these pictures, we'll just have to wait and hear about them when Luis gets home!

 

September 9, 2013

Mon 9/09/13 2:35 PM

Transfer calls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 So I will be...............................................(drum roll).......................................................................I have been transferred to a new area, I will be serving in Pittsburg 4 branch.

This week we taught 17 lessons to recent converts and less actives.  we had tuaght them earlier in the week, but when we found out that I am leaving we went back and visited them and said goodbye.

English classes were so much fun!  There was a really short student that Elder Clark towered over.

have to go pack!

Love,

Elder Gonzalez

 

one year in one place: two things happen 1.  You really really love some of the members and your recent converts and never want to leave 2. you really really get excited to leave because you get tired of the members who don't want to do anything

unusual for my mission? yes

i have learned many great things here's a list

1. patience

2. long-sufferring

3. way too much about the Visitor's Center

4.time is a valuable resource

Transfer 15 Week 5- September 2, 2013

 "Way Too much Food"

We had dinner with members everyday this week!  And also some lunches.  We ate way too much.

We are trying to find new investigators right now.  We did some contacting up at the temple because there are always so many latinos up there.  We got a couple of contacts that we are gonna visit.

 

We started morning english classes so we hope we get a better turn out.

 Nothing else was very new.  A pretty normal week.

Love, 

Elder Luis Gonzalez

P.S. I hit my year mark in this area on the 4th!  :)

Transfer 15, Week 4- August 26, 2013

"The Mystery of the Mattress"

So Elder Felt, a senior missionary delivered a mattress to our apartment this week.  I have no idea why.  My guess is I'm going to be in a trio again.

The whole mattress thing has preoccupied my mind this week but these are some of the things that happened this week:

Our new investigator gave us all his coffee!  we carried around coffee all day with us.

We ate pupusas with our recent convert Milagro and the primary president Hna Celis!  I ate way too much!

Yesterday was the confirmation our latest converts.  They were so happy.

Love, Elder Gonzalez

Transfer 15, Week 3- August 19, 2013

 "How do you say 'BAPTISM' in Chinese?'

so much craziness this week, I don't even know where to start!

Monday!

We had a family home evening with our investigators and recent convert.  The kids tried to wake up Elder Clark as he was "sleeping."  They did not succeed until they read the instructions on the paper we gave them.  We then taught the importance of reading the scriptures t help us find solutions to our problems.

Tuesday!

I got to go to the Chinese program for a day!!!!!! My purpose was to learn more about how to make our English classes more effective for proselyting.  I definitely did learn about that but I learned so so so much more!  We taught a lady who accepted the invitation to be baptized.  I however had no idea that is what happened. I am still practicing on saying "I am a representative of Jesus Christ" in mandarin but i got pretty good at saying "God loves you."  All the chinese missionaries laugh when I say it, probably cause I say it pretty bad.

Wednesday!

ZONE CONFERENCE!  I learned so much!  The best way for me to describe it would be in missionary terms but then none of you would understand! haha

Thursday!

7 new investigators!  1 family.  They are from Guatemala.  Yes they speak mostly mam.

Sunday!

Los Piedra were baptized!  Their family came! It was so cool!  We are going to start teaching them this week!  We went to the VC afterwards and took pictures with the Christus!

I LOVE THIS WORK!

H-A-P-P-I-E-S-T time of my life!

Love,

Élder Luis González

Transfer 15 Week 2- August 12, 2013

Ireland: I
 went on exchanges with Elder O' Farrell. We salvaged a member dinner and lunch!  Then we were able to find a new investigator with a handful of potentials.   People seemed to be so impressed that someone from Ireland can speak spanish.
Cow Tongue:

I thought it was delicious.  The other elders not so much.

The Stones:
In spanish it is said "Los Piedra"  which is  the name of thefamily we are teaching.  They came to the ward picnic and loved it! their little girl went swimming!  Then we went to the VC and watched the Joseph Smith Movie at the Visitor's Center.  Last night we had a mini testimony meeting after church.  Another person who  lives in the house and who had never joined us before came in and sat down with us.  She had tons of questions.  She asked us why we were so calm and just over all peaceful.  My answer has been something I have reflected upon often in a very short amount of time.

"I guess the reason why we are so full of peace is because....that although we have tons of personal problems, here and back home, and plenty of worries, that is not the focus of our lives.  The things I think about most and worry about most are who i am going to teach, who i am going to find so that i can teach, how I'm gonna help these people come closer to Christ.  That is my life right now. "

Sincerely,
Élder Luis González

Transfer 15 Week 1- August 5, 2013

Milagro was baptized.  I was so happy!  I am so grateful that we went street contacting on the streets of Oakland that May afternoon!  The Lord truly puts people in our path.  
Love,
Élder Luis González