Hey all!!
What an
incredible week it has been out here in Garden Grove. Sorry to get to you so
late in the week. We just attended a session at the Newport Beach Temple. This
was my second time going to it. We only get to go about once in every 3-5
months. I loved it! I love going to the temple. It is a place where one can be
inspired by the Spirit in whatever situation he/she may be in. I love having a
temple in the mission where I serve. What a blessing.
This week has
been crazy. So remember Ana right? Well we are also teaching her kids named Anthony,
who is 11, and Jose, who is 8. They have been coming to church with us these
last few weeks. So, Elder Walker and I were going to invite them to be baptized
soon. But the funny thing was that during sacrament meeting on Sunday Anthony
leaned over to Elder Walker (I was with another investigator) and said,
"Hermano, I wanna quit all the bad stuff I’m doing and I wanna be
baptized." I was amazed. Because the last week we were teaching them and
he told us that he didn't want to be baptized at all. But I guess he
experienced a change of heart and decided how great that would be for him. What
a Miracle! He is surrounded by a group of guys that aren't the best influence
for him. So to see him want to change was amazing! And his brother Jose has always
had a desire to be baptized. So what we did is we set a date for this Sunday.
We got permission from the father and mother. Which was difficult because they
are in the process of getting a divorce. And they both approved. So we are
going to see them everyday and then get them baptized. What a miracle,
huh? I am so grateful that the spirit was able to testify to them of the
importance of being baptized. Wow!! We'll let you know how it goes!
Also, So I
was talking about the Gomez family the last time. The mom and daughter just got
baptized and are now inviting everyone. Well we've been doing a lot of focusing
on the other kids that live in the house. There is Diego and Joslyn. They are
14 and 16. They haven’t really shown much interest in the church at all. Especially
when I first got here to Garden Grove. Lately though, they have been showing a
desire to listen. We had a huge miracle happen to both of them. We had this
awesome lesson with Diego. Where Elder Walker basically talked to him about his
life experience and how he related a lot to Diego. He kept going about how he got
his testimony of the church and how important the church is to him. Elder
Walker said that if he had to, he would give up music for the church. That is
something that he is going into for a career after his mission. It was really
neat to see the spirit work through him. What did I do during all this? I
didn't say a word. Why? Because the Spirit told me to keep my mouth shut, and
let Elder Walker do it. It really pierced Diego's heart. After that lesson he
committed to be baptized. He also committed to coming to church. We went out
and got him a shirt and tie with some slacks for church. He was so excited and
he came for the first time to church. Which that family thought would never
happen. He loved it too. Once again on the spot I had to teach Gospel Principles
with Elder Walker. We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was a great lesson
and Diego enjoyed it. He loved priesthood too. It was a miracle. Joslyn never
talked to us and straight up told us that she was never ever ever going to come
to church. But I think due to the influence of her younger brother and older
sister she actually came to church and she loved it. Everyone was so amazed. It
was an amazing Sunday. We had 7 Investigators at church this week. The best I had
had before that was 4. I think that was the best Sunday of my mission. So many
miracles happened that day. Yahoooooooo!
Gudelia is
doing well. We are still trying to teach her as much as we can. It's hard
because she is always gone. She came to church with her brother and nephew this
week though. I sat by them at sacrament meeting. Which was all about missionary
work, which is exactly what the ward needs right now. Anyway she loved it, but
had to leave after sacrament to see some family that came to visit. She is
reading and doing well as always.
So that is
all of the big stuff that is happening in our area. We are very blessed over
here. Right now we have 8 people committed to be baptized. We are going to do
everything we can to get them there. We know we can.
Also
something fun that I did this week was I went on exchanges with Elder Arjona,
my district leader. He is actually from Madrid, Spain. He is also a very hard
working missionary. We had an incredible day in his area as well. We went out
and started to find like crazy. We found a former investigator who was actually
back into reading the Book of Mormon when we found her. She committed to be
baptized as well. We also found more formers that said that they liked our
church the most out of all the other churches they had attended. So that is a
lot of great potential there. We ended up teaching seven lessons. All in a bike
area, too. I rode a regular bike, where Elder Arjona rode a "fixey" That
is a fixed gear bicycle, which is a huge thing over here in this area. Haha. It
was fun cause the weather was perfect. It's been pretty chilly over here like
65 to 70 degrees hahahaha.
I am loving
the mission. We have seen so many miracles over here. All thanks to the Lord,
too. I'm hearing of a bunch of miracles that are passing by back home too. I
love doing the Lord's work. No matter how hard it can get sometimes. The
important thing is to remember one thing. It's something my trainer would yell
at the tops of his lungs. That is "Go Forwards! Not Backwards!" I
love that verse from the Doctrine and Covenants. It's D&C 128:22. I love
it. Thank you all for your support, and you love. I love you all. I hope to
hear from you soon!! Les Amo Siempre. Espero que Dios Les bendiga este semana!!
Elder Dallin M. Ollerton
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