Weekly Email - 23 September 2019

Hello Everyone!

This week was a fun one for sure! We were able to do a lot of fun and missionary like jobs. The 1st thing that I can remember that was really cool was we were walking down a street and an old Hispanic man was trying to load his truck with tons and tons of palm fronds so we went over and helped him load it all into his truck and I got to use all my very broken Spanish but it was really cool to be able to help out. 

 

Then we were able to teach and testify in fun new ways one was when a guy invited us to his BBQ and we went and it was him and his girlfriend and we told them about the Book of Mormon and our favorite parts! It has just been really cool to be able to do things in a very new and different way that I have.

And I have a testimony that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that it will bring everyone who reads it so much closer to Christ, I know God loves all His children and will help and support all who seek after Him.I love you all and appreciate your support! 

 

Love Elder West

Concert - 21 September 2019

Michael was helping with a Stake Activity that had the Nashville Tribute Band playing. His responsibilities were to help and to talk to anyone who wanted to know more about the Church and to show that members are normal people too. He really enjoyed the activity and enjoyed the music.

Nixon Western White House and Groceries - 20 September 2019

One of the members (Sister Hatch) of the Military branch serves as the Relief Society President (Church organization that oversees the women's needs and welfare). She took Michael and his companions on a tour of President Richard Nixon's Western White House mansion that is located in San Clemente. This is where Nixon was and retired to when he resigned as president. One of the best blessings, is that Sister Hatch also takes the missionaries to Costco and buys them all the groceries that they want. Wow, what an amazing person and great example!

Teaching a Family - 20 Sept 2019

This is a family that Michael and his companions (Elder Marquez and Elder Dyer) are working with. They are planning on getting baptized. She cuts Michael's hair.

Service - 19 September 2019

While out looking for people interested in hearing about the Church, Michael and his companions came across an older gentleman who was cleaning up palm fronds from a tree in his yard. Michael asked him if they could help and he was happy to let them. Here Michael and Elder Dyer are giving service. It is good to be able to give service to those in need.

Transfer Day - 16 September 2019

Michael was transferred back to San Clemente, CA from Newport Beach. This was his first area in which he served when first arriving in California. He is very excited about being back in this area. He is serving in a different capacity here. He and his companions serve in the military branch which is part of the US Marine base located in San Clemente. He works with Church families at the base and with Marines that are interested in learning more about the Church. He is also excited about being able to see the ocean again. Transfers occur on preparation (p-day) day so he did not have time to send out a weekly email. Michael was excited to see Elder Burrows who was one of his trainers when he first arrived in the mission.

P-Day Hike - 9 September 2019

Michael and his companions found a trail not too far from their apartment and enjoyed a nice hike.

 

Weekly Email - 9 September 2019

Hey Everyone,

Sorry for the super lame email. But I am doing well I am having a great time on the mission! I know that Christ lives and that He hears us and wants to help, all we have to do is reach out. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father that He knows each and everyone of us perfectly. I know that God has and does call prophets and will for the benefit of His children. I know that through sincere and heart felt prayer we can ask questions to our Father and feel peace. Thank you all for your prayers and your love! I love you all! In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

 

Love Elder West

Weekly Email - 2 September 2019

This is my spiritual thought email this week. Enjoy!

 

Before my mission I worked at a garden center, and I was responsible for taking care of the trees. And sometimes the trees would not sell for a while so they would keep growing and get to big for the pot. So what I would need to do if take a tree and use a big knife and cut around the edge of the pot so that the roots are not attached to the pot. Then I would have to rip it our of the pot and start cutting the roots, pulling at them, and moving them to places that they did not want to be. They were used to the old pot they had been in for a long time. Then after I would tear up the roots I would bring over a bigger pot and put nice new soil in it and fertilizer and I would then put the tree into that pot. Now with more capacity to grow to become bigger, stronger, and better the tree was now worth more. This is like our lives. We are all getting "torn up" daily with little and big things, but we must recognize that we have more potential now, we have more space to grow now, and we have more tools and things that will help us grow and be more effective.

 

Love Elder West

Music Devotional and Temple Grounds Tour - 1 September 2019

The Newport Beach Mission is blessed to have a Temple adjacent to the Stake center and Mission office. Often they have a Sunday music devotional and Temple grounds tour for people who are interested in learning more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Michael and his companions had the opportunity to attend in September with a gentleman named 'Mike' who is interested in learning more about the Church. They found him when getting a haircut.

Weekly Email and P-Day 26 August 2019

Michael did not send out a weekly email this week but did send a photo of himself and his companions on their preparation (p-day). I am pretty sure I could not fall asleep like Elder Bradshaw in the backseat with Michael driving in California ;)

Zone Conference - 20 August 2019

Michael is still serving in the Newport Zone within the Persian Branch. Great thing about zone conference is that they get a great meal that they don't have to prepare themselves. Michael is standing in the food line directly across from his mission president, President Reeves. Looks like they also enjoyed some ice cream treats being handed out by Sister Eyring (granddaughter of Pres. Eyring).

Weekly Email - 19 August 2019

Hello,

This week was really cool. On Saturday we decided to start our 30 minutes of finding time with stopping by a woman we had taught last transfer and even though she works like everyday once again for the second time she was home! And she thought that it was such a crazy miracle that we met her the 2 times recently she just happened to be home! so we taught her and it was a great experience. Then earlier this week we were in a more southern part of the mission doing some stopping by of our Persian friends, since our are is the whole mission we go EVERYWHERE!,  and we went to an apartment complex and we tried to stop by our friend but they weren't home so we are walking back to the car and we see this old man and we say "HI!" and he responds "OH MORMON MISSIONARIES!!!!!" and we all thought in perfect harmony YEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!. SO we start to talk to this man and of course 

1. he is Persian :)

2. he lived in Utah!

3. His son went on a mission and is a "500 % mormon"!

4. and he is a member that hasnt been to church in a long time!!!!!!!

so we read The Book of Mormon in Persian with him and he really really liked it! He hadnt read it fir like 30 years and had never seen it in Persian. He was tearing up at the end and there was a really great spirit. We are going to try to get him to church!

These and so many miracles like yesterday we had 11 nonmembers at church in our branch or 12! and millions of others! These are all testimonies that the Church is truly Christs church. I love it so much and I love my Savior and know that He is waiting and ready to help anyone and everyone that needs it and asks!

Have a good week!

Love Elder West