WE ATE FUTU

So this past week has been pretty great! We haven't been able to find a lot of success, but we have been working hard and that's made us happy. 

To help find people, we've been making lots of videos for Facebook, but also a lot of member lessons. We've even had some great dinners and discussions with these members. One family heard that Elder Kinnaird and I served in Africa and they wanted to make us some African comfort food. We told them about futu and such, but we were a little skeptical. When we went over, lo and behold, THERE WAS FUTU. It was real. It was sticky. I ate it with my hands. They also had pineapple and plantain chips, so it was very nostalgic. We loved it so so much and our bikes and stomachs carried some extra weight on the way home.

Eating with the Andelin family

Sunday night, we taught the Restoration to a member family and the spirit was SO STRONG. And our teaching was so good. Great questions, good scriptures, and everyone was anxiously involved. Our companionship trio has gotten a lot closer because of it and we are all teaching and working so much better together.

We have also gotten massage chairs in our apartment (long story) and the ceiling started leaking too! You win some and you lose some.

We taught Bob last night and he is progressing so well. We challenged him to make a better effort of reading the Book of Mormon. When we met with him, he gave us a detailed summary of the first eight chapters of Nephi. He basically taught us which was so awesome.

We taught Maureen the rest of the Restoration. We invited her to join our ward Sunday School discussion (on Zoom), but then she wasn't able to join, so hopefully this week!

We also had our online zone conference! We talked about the efforts we are doing and how we can change the way we do things to help our work. Personally, I've started focusing more on the people during our studies and it has helped me so much. I've already seen so much revelation come because of it. 

After Zone Conference

California has been locked down still, so we are based out of our apartment and the church. We can't really gather yet, in person church is not happening, and neither is in person school. Some members have moved out of the ward so that their kids can attend school in person somewhere else. So, we are mostly inside all day, unless we have an in person visit or service. I've taken up some cooking. I made a giant pan of Mac and Cheese, I'll make omelettes in the morning and smoothies are always bomb in the heat.

I learned more about Christ's Atonement this week. When He atoned for us, none of it was for Him. It's not like He got a share of the profits at all. He didn't need forgiveness from His sins or for His body to be perfected. Hence, His Atonement was completely selfless and out of love. How many times do we serve to expect food, a glass of water, a thank you, or something in return? I find myself in that work-for-reward mindset often. But, Christ was perfect and served perfectly which is without Himself in mind. 

It's been a great week and I'm so so excited for this next week. I LOVE THE MISSION!

Elder Brooks

Doing service at some members

Some sweet rock sculptures near our apartment

The area!

Om my gosh.  I love Chipotle.

Heat Wave in SD

Hello all! It's been a rough week, but with many blessings as well.

We were able to find a new person to teach on Wednesday. We found Maureen through our ward mission leader's wife. She wanted a spiritual message, but then had many questions about our church, so we began to teach the Restoration. In talking with her, she admired our church, especially the youth, for their example and good nature. We weren't able to finish the lesson, but she seems genuinely interested, so we're hoping good things come from it!

A bike trail we ride in our area

More from the bike trails

We were also able to help serve our community by helping members and also serving at a thrift store by the sea. We gave a chapel tour to a family that had some interest in the building and we're hoping that they still want to be taught! It's been nice to actually see people haha

After the Thrift Shop Service (THAT'S THE OCEAN)

Using Facebook has been it's own type of beast. I've realized how little I've been using it, so I'm trying to make more of an effort to use it and try to find people to share the gospel with. So, go out and make sure to follow Come Unto Christ in Northern San Diego, our page changed. But now we have a greater audience to share to! 

Also, as members, you can like, comment, and share the posts from your local page or from others. Because then the missionaries are able to get their reach out farther and spread the gospel! It's a great tool which we are blessed with.  (Go watch the latest post of him singing.)

Also, there's been a heat wave here , and our apartment does not have A/C, so it gets a little spoozy in the joozy in the afternoons. 

Also, my glasses broke when I took them off. Weird. But I have another pair.

And... During my personal studies, I found the scripture from Isaiah that talks about some of the names of Christ, as used in The Messiah, Wonderful, Prince of Peace, etc. 

The French Isaiah chapters are no joke, people

My favorite one is Counselor. I used to think of it like a bishop's counselor or maybe a counselor to God in some way, but this week I read that verse and imagined Him almost as a therapist. We can come to Him with our problems and He can counsel us in them. And, I'm pretty positive that He has the best advice. So reach out to Him! Pray! Ask for help! He knows all and can help all! He is our brother and our friend who only wants us to succeed! 

2 Nephi 26:24 - "He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world..."

Elder Brooks

Training, Tough Thighs, and Bike Rides

So, training is a beast. Let's get into it

Last P-Day, we picked up Elder Doman!! He is my trainee and he is such a cool guy! He grew up in Oregon on a ranch, so he works super hard and had such a good attitude about everything. He was originally assigned to Peru, speaking French! It was such a miracle .... jk, he learned Spanish haha! So, I guess I'll be learning some Spanish with him!

Elders Kinnaird, Doman, and Brooks

After the airport, we helped some members pour some concrete and while we were there, there was a rattlesnake. So Elder Doman killed it. Well, not killed it, but beheaded it. He had been in California for about 2 hours and he had already killed a rattlesnake. What a start.

This whole week has been a lot of settling in and showing the newbies the area (haha I haven't even been here for a transfer and I'm not even the newbie).

with Elder Doman

Elders Kinnaird, Brooks, and Doman

We were able to teach Monica yesterday and talk about her desire to be baptized which was awesome. She didn't accept our invitation, but we have lots of good ideas on how to help her. 

We've been trying to get in contact with members, but it's been pretty difficult, so it's been pretty rough trying to find new people to teach. One night, we met with Marty, who had been previously taught, but didn't want a spiritual message. Our plan was to ask for referrals and for service opportunities. After talking some around his campfire, he asked,"how do you convert people?" Then, Elder Kinnaird basically shared a spiritual thought about how the spirit teaches. It was pretty cool.

Yesterday, we biked so much through our area to different meetings and such. The area is super hilly and so our legs are going to be as chiseled as temple cornerstones 

I found a talk this week about how the Savior's Atonement is for sinners and saints alike.  It redeems us from sin and purifies us, but we can also receive strength to do better from it. I've been trying to use it more through these harder times when we aren't finding many and aren't teaching much. It's been comforting to know that we are never alone.

Elder Brooks

Garlic Parmesan Pasta!
(Gluten Free of course)

Notes from our video call:

Elder Doman is from Crane, Oregon and Elder Kinnaird is from Colorado Springs.

They spend an hour each day working on Facebook - sometimes they spend it creating content.

Their area has some suburbs, ranch areas (hence the snake and the pigs), and some lemon groves.

They do role playing each day.  It comes in handy to have three of them - two missionaries and someone to teach.

They cook some of their dinners and have the members provide some.  He is trying a new recipe each week.  The five elders in the apartment each cook for themselves.  The dinner hour is usually prime time to find people to teach, so his mission hasn't usually eaten with members on weeknights.

Transfers and Training!

So our transfer document came out on Sunday with some crazy changes for the whole mission. I will be training a new Elder, Elder Doman! I'm also going to be in a trio with another new companion Elder Kinnaird who was serving in Côte d'Ivoire with me! (We never met each other, but same mission) I'll be picking them up later today, so I'll try to send a picture of the three of us. Just about every companionship changed. Elder Doolen is going to be the Zone Leader over our zone, so I'm glad he'll be around. Our mission actually added another zone with all these changes. Here's the breakdown of the rest of the week:

TUESDAY- We taught Bob on Tuesday night and he is continuing to progress so well! We also bought In-n-out for dinner, so it was bueno.

WEDNESDAY- We served the Stanford family in our ward today, helping move some things around their house. 

Serving the Stanfords

THURSDAY- I had my first interview with President Giménez and it was awesome! I asked questions and he responded with the exact answer I was looking for and we had some good laughs while doing it all. I love hearing from him, because the Spirit bears witness that he is called of God for this mission and for me.

FRIDAY- We didn't have many lessons this day, so we did a lot of work over at the church, like editing the latest French Class (this is most definitely a plug to go watch them on our Facebook Page "The Church of Jesus Christ in Del Mar and Encinitas")

SATURDAY- We volunteered at a thrift shop! It was located right by the sea and so there were lots of people coming and going. It was pretty great to talk to others and feel those beach vibes without actually going to the beach haha.

SUNDAY- The transfer document came out right as we were sitting down for dinner and nobody cared about dinner even though we were fasting! We all went a little crazy for about 20 minutes reading the whole thing. 

Us studying at the church.

"Blessings" - Crunch Berries at night

We also did a mission night with the youth. We all met on zoom and discussed what a mission is, why they should serve, and how they can prepare. We left them all with a challenge to read the BoM every day and finish PMG by the end of August. We're going to have follow up appointments with them all. It seemed like they were all actually interested ... for teenagers, at least.

MONDAY- I received training on being a Trainer and President Giménez told us (29 trainers) that the Lord has chosen us. I felt that.

Elder Doolen and I also did some prep for the transfer. We got to pick up a car for some other Elders. It has 28 miles on it. It was smooth as smooth can be. 

The new Toyota we picked up.

It's been totally crazy and a lot of fun serving with Elder Doolen. But, I'm excited for the future and also very humbled at this opportunity. I realize now that I have to trust in the Lord to get this done. Nothing else will work. So, I've been able to learn a lot and I haven't even met Elder Doman yet! Anyway, the Lord calls us for certain things in life. We can't do them, unless with His divine help.

Love,

Elder Brooks

Notes from our phone calls:

He learned how to make tacos from Elder Rodriguez one day and then some members fed them tacos for dinner too.

After serving at the thrift shop, they got a discount on whatever they wanted to buy.  He bought a new shirt for serving for $2.

He stayed in the same area, (which is good since their area has gotten so many new missionaries lately) but he had to move bedrooms since he is now in a threesome and their are only two Spanish speaking elders in their apartment now.

They have a service appointment tonight with some members for Elder Doman's first night in the mission.  They have Zoom training tomorrow with Pres. Gimenez, but the new missionaries didn't get to meet him in person yet.  They were all picked up at the airport by their companions.