Powerhouse PB&J

What a great week it has been! We have been keeping busy here in the Rancho Bernardo ward. It's been rewarding to see little progress here as well. This next week should be really good for us and really help us to start the area rolling again. We both want to see a baptism here in this ward. 

Elder Cullimore and I

In other news, I had my first PB&J!  Kinda weird, I know, but I finally got around to it!

The legendary PB&J

Anyways, we got to hear from some great devotionals. One, for missionaries, was from Elder Holland and he spoke about how missionaries HAVE to have the Spirit always in order to teach. Another devotional was for the youth of this area, by Brother Wilcox, specifically about the blessings of the gospel and how we need to choose to stay true to it. And then we had Zone Conference after all of those, so it was a powerhouse packed week. At Zone Conference, we focused a lot about asking questions and how we need to really care and ask questions sincerely. 

At Zone Conference, Elder Cullimore and I were asked to do a roleplay for a training around inviting others to be baptized. After the APs had explained what the right way to do it was, it was our job to do it . And it was in front of all the missionaries there, and our Mission President, and the man who we were roleplaying too (he was a bishop and an ex Mission President). We were only a little nervous. But it went well and we actually learned a lot from it as well!

Our role play at Zone Conference

We also had a potential first lesson with a kind lady. We had a member come with us. During the first moments, this lady's dog started to bark, and didn't stop. It was very disruptive. My intention and thoughts was to just "power through," start teaching, and come back to keep teaching. The member with us stopped and asked if there would be a better time for us to teach. This lady agreed and we left to come back another time. After leaving, I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to start teaching. But I imagined what it would have been like to teach in an environment like that with the dog constantly barking. This member's example helped me to realize how we teach people, NOT lessons. Each person we teach (and each person we know) is a diverse and loved child of God. Each with their own needs. It's our job as missionaries to find those needs and to help them where they are. It is simple, but makes such a big difference! I love teaching!

Elder Brooks

Many Mini Mighty Miracles

I have now been serving in my new area (Rancho Bernardo) for one whole week! It has definitely been an adjustment. The people here are more well off and the vibe here reminds me of my first area here in San Diego (Olivenhain). 

Great Froyo!

It has been a joy to be able to have so many activities now in person, rather than on zoom. In fact, this past week was our first week with in person District Councils since the first week I was here, back in July. What a blessing that was for us. As Zone Leaders, we attend both of the districts in our zones. So, I've been to three in person district councils in San Diego, one in July, and then two last Friday. I find that funny how it works. 

Our District - now in person!

The work here has been slow for a while, but we are seeing so many miracles. During our weekly planning session, we received a referral! We texted it and actually set up a lesson and met with Rania the next day. We taught about the Restoration of the Gospel and she opened up to us and we were able to help her needs. It was wonderful. 

We also had a neat experience. Elder Cullimore and I gave a blessing to a lady in a care center nearby. Afterwards, we were talking with the receptionist of the building and she said we have "an aura." Both of us have been on our missions for over 18 months and this is really the first time either of us have had that happen to us. It was incredible.

The Rancho Bernardo ward is great. It was hard to leave Granite Hills, but I already feel so welcome into the ward. We had church outside underneath tents on Sunday afternoon. Elder Cullimore played a song on the piano for Sacrament meeting and I bore my testimony. Many members were very appreciative of us. 

I've been studying the Book of Mormon now with a focus on looking for where Christ is: His names, His attributes, His doctrine, His words, and His Atonement. It has been eye-opening and refreshing to see how much is really there. It has strengthened my testimony of the Book of Mormon. It is full of truth!

Elder Brooks

From our hike this morning - Potato Chip Rock

The End of the Granite Hills

I am being transferred!

I am moving up into the town of Poway, to work in the Rancho Bernardo ward. I will be still serving as a Zone Leader with my new companion, Elder Cullimore. He was originally assigned to Thailand and goes home in a couple of months. 

It was a great last week in Granite Hills. It was very hard to leave. You don't know how hard it is to leave a place until you leave. 

The four from Granite Hills

Tom and I
(the member I've lived with for the past six months)

For Elder Day and I, we tried our best to find a new person to teach, but to no avail. I feel like it was one of my best weeks as a missionary, helping to invite others to come unto Christ. So, I think I improved in some sense, and that's what counts.

Elder McKean and I after exchanges

I don't have a lot of time to talk, but I am so grateful for this great work and for the miracles that we can each accomplish in our own areas of life. We can really make a difference in someone's life in some small way as we strive to be more like our Savior Jesus Christ.

Elder Brooks

Notes from our video call:

For the first time in his mission, he and his companion are the only ones in their apartment!  (He has always lived with 4 or 6 Elders in the past.)

"Arise, O God and Shine!"

I love being a missionary!

Happy Easter!

Sister Gimenez told us that General Conference will apply to us in different ways throughout our life and for this instance, it is purely about becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. I feel so much that I received what I needed to hear there. I hope you were all able to feel the same with the divine talks and guidance that was given.

For Elder Day and I, we tried to watch most of the sessions with others. Some fell through, but we got to watch one of the sessions with Gusman and Esther, the family we've been teaching. The same session we watched was the session when Elder Mutombo, from Congo, spoke. It was a miracle because that is where Esther is from! I still find it amazing how the Lord works.

We've been struggling to even get lessons with those we teach and struggle to contact them even. We have more lessons set up for the future, but it's always a bit worrying. We are also focused on getting more interactions and lessons with members. 

I love so much the clear doctrine about God's Plan of Happiness. It has been on my mind a lot recently. I absolutely love the constant need for Jesus Christ and the overarching theme of God's love for each of us. One of my new favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon is 2 Nephi 9. I used to never really understand everything, but once I really tried to understand it, I find that it is full of such truth and testifies of God's love. Go ahead and check it out if you haven't read it in a while!

Also, don't forget to apply at least one things from Conference!! (I really love the song Arise O God and Shine)

Elder Brooks

General Conference Pizza!

Denny's for Pday Breakfast!

Notes from our video call:

San Diego is moving to the Orange tier!  

The pizza was 28 inches.  They ate 3/4 of it :-)