Sunday, August 4, 2019
ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY - 1 August 2019
August 1st is the one year anniversary for Michael serving his mission. He has only one year left. It is amazing to think about how fast the time has gone. Michael has had so many great experiences and he is such an amazing young man.
Weekly Email and New Name Tag - 29 July 2019
Salam everyone!
I hope everyone's week has been good I had a good week. We found a lot of cool people and were able to teach some really great lessons. On Friday I was on exchange and I was with the other 2 zone leaders and we had a packed day but were able to squeeze in 3 lessons and we found a really solid guy it was really cool! One thing that was really cool to see was that after our 3rd lesson we took a quick break to write down how we felt in the lesson and each record it and then walking back to the car at the end of the day we met the golden person! And if we hadn't taken a moment to be still recognize the spirit and write to down we would not have met him in the perfect spirit led way that we did! I know that if we all just take time to slow things down and notice all the little instances where God is working in your life. I love you all and have a wonderful, spirit filled week that is filled with noticing miracles!
Love Elder West
When Michael submitted his papers to go on a mission, there were two questions about leaving the US and speaking a foreign language. He said that he didn't want to leave the US and didn't want to learn a foreign language. He received what he asked for, he was called to California on an English speaking mission. Sometime though, Heavenly Father has a slightly different plan for us and has placed Michael in a Persian Branch with Farsi speaking missionaries as companions (of course they also speak English). Michael was given a new tag to use when he is out and interacting. Here it is:
I hope everyone's week has been good I had a good week. We found a lot of cool people and were able to teach some really great lessons. On Friday I was on exchange and I was with the other 2 zone leaders and we had a packed day but were able to squeeze in 3 lessons and we found a really solid guy it was really cool! One thing that was really cool to see was that after our 3rd lesson we took a quick break to write down how we felt in the lesson and each record it and then walking back to the car at the end of the day we met the golden person! And if we hadn't taken a moment to be still recognize the spirit and write to down we would not have met him in the perfect spirit led way that we did! I know that if we all just take time to slow things down and notice all the little instances where God is working in your life. I love you all and have a wonderful, spirit filled week that is filled with noticing miracles!
Love Elder West
When Michael submitted his papers to go on a mission, there were two questions about leaving the US and speaking a foreign language. He said that he didn't want to leave the US and didn't want to learn a foreign language. He received what he asked for, he was called to California on an English speaking mission. Sometime though, Heavenly Father has a slightly different plan for us and has placed Michael in a Persian Branch with Farsi speaking missionaries as companions (of course they also speak English). Michael was given a new tag to use when he is out and interacting. Here it is:
Missionary Leadership Council - 25 July 2019
It seems that we don't get as many pictures of Michael texted to us from Church members now that he is in the Persian Branch so we are excited when the mission's facebook page has several posted with him in it. On July 25, there was another Missionary Leadership Council held and Michael is still a zone leader and attended. Here are a couple of pics of him at the meeting. It is great seeing that he is doing so well and healthy. We talk to him on the phone or skype each week and he is very happy and doing very well.
Weekly Email and Hydration - 22 July 2019
Hi
Sorry that my subject titles are never interesting. Its just what I put :). I hope you all had a good week. This week was good for me too. We were busy everyday with little to no time to go finding this week and we found 3 people! Whats cool about this number is that 3 was our goal and we were able to achieve it! We were able to teach some really cool people too. This week my study and thought and everything theme was relying on the Lord. When we put our whole trust in Him then we have no reason to fear, When we put our trust in Him we have no reason to doubt, When we put our whole trust in Him we can feel and understand our true potential. If Christ had to He would have walked up the hill to His death over and over and over again if that was the way. But in a way He did. As He was walking up He was thinking about what we each are going through. He knows what your trials are, when you are sad, when you are ready to give up He knows. I love the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I hope you don't think that I am struggling I was just inspired to share my thoughts. Thanks for your prayers and all that you do for me and my family and you will be in my prayers as well!
Love Elder West
It is good to see that he is staying hydrated. It has been in the 90s there. Here Michael is with his Persian speaking companions.
Sorry that my subject titles are never interesting. Its just what I put :). I hope you all had a good week. This week was good for me too. We were busy everyday with little to no time to go finding this week and we found 3 people! Whats cool about this number is that 3 was our goal and we were able to achieve it! We were able to teach some really cool people too. This week my study and thought and everything theme was relying on the Lord. When we put our whole trust in Him then we have no reason to fear, When we put our trust in Him we have no reason to doubt, When we put our whole trust in Him we can feel and understand our true potential. If Christ had to He would have walked up the hill to His death over and over and over again if that was the way. But in a way He did. As He was walking up He was thinking about what we each are going through. He knows what your trials are, when you are sad, when you are ready to give up He knows. I love the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I hope you don't think that I am struggling I was just inspired to share my thoughts. Thanks for your prayers and all that you do for me and my family and you will be in my prayers as well!
Love Elder West
It is good to see that he is staying hydrated. It has been in the 90s there. Here Michael is with his Persian speaking companions.
Fargo 1st Ward Visitor - 21 July 2019
The Wilson Family from Fargo 1st Ward was visiting SoCal and they made the special effort to attend the Persian Branch in Newport Beach just so they could see Michael. Brother Marc Wilson was Michael's Young Mens president when we were in the Fargo 1st Ward. Michael was so surprised and excited to see him and his family. What an amazing experience!
Companions and Branch President's Family - 8 July 2019
Michael is still serving in a trio companionship with Elder Bradshaw (from Texas) and Elder Cox (from Montana) in the Persian Branch in Newport Beach, California. He is really enjoying his assignment and doing very well.
Elder Bradshaw and Elder Cox are on the left next to the Branch President and his family.
Weekly Email - 8 July 2019
Michael was busy and forgot to send out a weekly email last week so here is his group email.
Hello hello hello,
Just another day here in paradise. Sorry that I didn't email last week we had a lot of things we had to get done (and I forgot) but 2 weeks ago we had the 1st baptism in the Persian Branch. And that baptism was really cool and the spirit was so strong and the words that were spoken were so powerful and strong. I was conducting so I had the privilege to listen really well to everything and was able to sit next to President Clark his last night which was really cool to sit next to him and talk to him. The rest of the week we were running around busy like crazy which was fun and really really tiring. Then this week was really exciting on the 4th of July we had an earthquake! Not strong enough to hurt anything but not week enough to not be noticed. It was definitely noticed. Then we had a zone activity for the 4th and that was really fun. I really appreciated our freedom of religion that we have in this blessed country. And just how blessed we are to live here. We all take it for granted just how good we really do have it. Then on Thursday we were at the Persian branch president's house and there was another earthquake that was stronger than the last one! I had never felt an earthquake before this week and now I think I'm good. I don't need to feel one ever again. It's a weird experience. Well I love you all and hope you have a great week because I'm going to have a great week!
Elder West
Hello hello hello,
Just another day here in paradise. Sorry that I didn't email last week we had a lot of things we had to get done (and I forgot) but 2 weeks ago we had the 1st baptism in the Persian Branch. And that baptism was really cool and the spirit was so strong and the words that were spoken were so powerful and strong. I was conducting so I had the privilege to listen really well to everything and was able to sit next to President Clark his last night which was really cool to sit next to him and talk to him. The rest of the week we were running around busy like crazy which was fun and really really tiring. Then this week was really exciting on the 4th of July we had an earthquake! Not strong enough to hurt anything but not week enough to not be noticed. It was definitely noticed. Then we had a zone activity for the 4th and that was really fun. I really appreciated our freedom of religion that we have in this blessed country. And just how blessed we are to live here. We all take it for granted just how good we really do have it. Then on Thursday we were at the Persian branch president's house and there was another earthquake that was stronger than the last one! I had never felt an earthquake before this week and now I think I'm good. I don't need to feel one ever again. It's a weird experience. Well I love you all and hope you have a great week because I'm going to have a great week!
Elder West
MIssion Leadership with New Mission President and Sister Reeves - 29 June 2019
Michael's mission was changed from the California Irvine Mission to the California Newport Beach Mission. This change is in effect on 1 July 2019. This change took part of the California Carlsbad mission which is to the south and brought part of that mission into the Irvine Mission. Michael's address is still the same except for the name of the mission has changed. I updated this on the heading of his blog. Here is a picture of all of the mission leadership with the new Mission President and Sister Reeves.
Zone conference was held the next week and here is Michael with the Newport Zone missionaries.
Zone conference was held the next week and here is Michael with the Newport Zone missionaries.
Last Leadership Meeting with President and Sister Clark - 27 June 2019
President and Sister Clark have finished their mission as Mission President of the California Irvine Mission. President and Sister Clark are amazing people and I am personally grateful for the love and support that they gave Michael. Thank you President and Sister Clark!!!
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