Cops

Hey Everyone! 

Not too much going on this week but there definitely was some miracles! 

Mike is doing really well! He is changing and preparing for his baptism. I've really seen a huge change in his countenance the more we meet with him! Yesterday we talked about temples and family history work. He got really excited about that and said he wants to learn more. Elder Snooks and I don't know much about family history work so all 3 of us are going to learn together these upcoming weeks! 🤙🏼

The reason "cops" was my title is not really that series. Here's the short story. The other Elder in my apartment got pulled over because he forgot to turn on his lights when he was driving. The cops were nice about it and said they knew who we were. They let us off with a warning so that was a cool little miracle.

This week my comp and I talked to a lot of interesting people on Facebook. A lot of people are stressed about an upcoming event but there's a lot of amazing people out here. Unfortunately a lot of them are not ready to listen to the message of the restored gospel! 

Please continue to pray for us here in Woodland Hills/ Calabasas. I hope more people's hearts will be softened. I know there are people here who need the Gospel! 😁 

I hope everyone has a great week! Love you all!

-Elder Espiritu 

Our meeting with Mike 

The po po 

Scary!

We love our ward Come Follow Me class!

New Companion

What's up everyone! 

Pretty solid week! This last week was transfers so I said bye to Elder Owens and I got a new comp. My new comp's name is Elder Snooks. He's from Eagle, Idaho. He's supposed to be going to Italy for his mission but got reassigned here. He's way sick and played football in hs so we have a lot to talk about. This is his second transfer in the mission. His first area was in Compton. 

Some of the stories he was telling me were tight and it legit sounded like he was in another mission. He said Woodland Hills is way different! He went from the hood to a real boujee area haha. He's a great missionary and we're working well together. I'm excited for this upcoming transfer. 🤙🏼

Mike is progressing well. He has some Word of Wisdom issues but we've been bold with the scriptures we read with him and the things we say. He really liked that. We told him we're going to give up sugar and sweets while he's giving up one of the things against the Word of Wisdom. He really liked that idea. So we're going every step of the way with him. Yaaaa boy! He's preparing for his baptism and Heavenly  Father is softening his heart. If everyone good continue to pray for Mike that he'll be able to prepare every day I'm sure he'd appreciate it! 

Love you all have a great week. 

-Elder Espiritu 

My new comp Elder Snooks 

Dinner with the apartment (the Elder on the very end is new in the apartment his name's Elder Taylor)

Last time with my district before transfers

Saying bye to the apartment on transfers 

Foggy morning 

Training Again

What's good everyone! 

Still loving it here in Woodland Hills/Calabasas California! Well first off here is the good news about the week. 

I wanted to share the miracle that happened! The last couple of weeks I've been talking about our one friend named Mike who's been taught by missionaries since the beginning of this year. He's a funny dude and he loves the church. He comes to Elders Quorum & Sunday School every week. He knows more members than we do probably. 

We had a lesson with him and our Bishop this last week and invited him to be baptized... and he said yes! He picked November 13th for his date which is funny because that's Friday the 13th Haha. (which we didn't think he knew when he picked it) He said he wanted to push all the "evil" away and do something GOOD that day.  If you all could pray for Mike that he'll be able to prepare for his baptism that would be great! 

Here's the sad news... we got transfer calls yesterday and I'm... staying here in Woodland Hills (which isn't bad at all cause I love this place) but my comp Elder Owens is transferring to the other side of the mission! So that's sad I'll miss him but he's a beast and he'll kill it. My new comp is a brand new missionary. It's going to be fun to train another new missionary back to back. I'm going to meet him tomorrow so excited for that! 

I'm so happy I get to stay in this area for a little longer, help this part of the Lord's vineyard, and progress in the work! 

Yesterday we had our first ever testimony meeting over Zoom! It was super spiritual. Brother Blackstone (the returning member we've been working with) came to our virtual church for the first time and it was amazing! Right when he got on he introduced himself and the ward members welcomed him back so well. He called us after and said that was one of the best feelings he's had in a long time. He was actually the first person to bear his testimony. It was a simple but a powerful one! 

Mike bore his testimony too and it was great. We thought it was so cool that the two people we're constantly working with were able to bear a testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ and see the progress they've made. 

I'm so grateful for my mission and the people I've met and the example of Christlike love they've showed me! I'm excited for this upcoming transfer😁🤙🏼

Hope everyone has a great week! 

-Elder Espiritu 

I went on an exchanges with Elder Norton!

Brother Blackstone on our Zoom call 

A church member gave us lumpia and we had to fry it...burnt it a little bit. Sorry Mom!

Loved General Conference

First off shout out to my dad! It's his bday on Wednesday October 7 so again everyone go wish him a happy bday on Wednesday! He's been my role model growing up and has taught me so much especially about always being positive no matter what! Love ya Dad!

Well before I talk about General Conference, here's a quick update about our friends we're teaching! We found 2 new people in the last two weeks! Sarah and Alex! 

Sarah was a referral and she's amazing. She's really funny but doesn't know too much about God. We're teaching her slowly but surely! We introduced prayer to her and she loved it. 

Alex was former person that was taught in the past and just lost our numbers, but was so excited to talk to us when we called. We've called him a couple times and he's doing great! 

Mike is doing great (I'll talk more about him later in the email) 

Brother Blackstone! He is a returning member. H'es engaged and has 2 daughters. We've been in daily contact with him sending him scriptures and Conference talks! He loves it! We help him with some spiritual stuff and he tells us all about our fitness and diet (he's shredded and has taught us a few things🤙🏼). This last weekend he got to watch a ton of Conference and he said his fiancee watched Womens session and so did one of his daughters! Last night he texted us and asked if we could get some of the Sister missionaries to start teaching his fiancee! We're so happy and excited to see what happens to them! 

As everyone knows General Conference was this weekend! I'm telling you when you're a missionary General Conference weekend is equivalent to Super Bowl Sunday because you just get so hyped. I love it!  

Growing up I went through a ton of different phases when it came to General Conference. The first phase was the bingo phase when I was really little and I would be constantly listening for certain words so I could fill my bingo sheet. The next phase was the mid teen years when I would be on my phone taking "notes" and not really caring. Then came senior year when I really needed to be listening to get ready for my mission. NOW I love General Conference! I was engaged the whole time I eating up all the counsel the Brethren and Sisters gave to us. I'll tell you why I was so engaged this time. 

One of my favorite talks (Power to Overcome the Adversary) was given by Elder Peter M. Johnson. He said this in particular during his talk about his Book of Mormon studies:

"My Book of Mormon studies tend to go better when I read with a question in mind. As we read with a question, we can receive revelation." 

As we study any sort of Gospel resource it is great to always have a question in mind so we are actively listening to the Spirit to help us receive revelation. So this General Conference Elder Owens and I decided to invite our friend Mike to do just that! 

When we asked him to come up with a question he said "Why don't we all just come up with a question?" We told him that was a great idea so we did. We all got to watch Conference and right after the last session we met with Mike and shared our answers to our questions. Mike was able to receive an answer to his specific question. It was amazing! We're so happy we were all actively listening to the counsel from all the speakers! 

I want to share about my question. "How has faith helped me in my life?" 

My question was answered actually 4 times this Conference. Joseph Smith's story in Liberty jail was mentioned 4 times this conference! The trials they went through and the tribulation was so difficult! He even said in D&C 121:1 "O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?" 

At this time Joseph Smith's faith was really being tested but he continued to have faith even during this difficult time in his life. And that answered my question. Even during our trials and difficult times, even if we just have a speckle of Faith we'll be able to get through anything. As we have Faith in Jesus Christ we will overcome any challenges. 

In my life I've realized that even if I have a little bit of faith Heavenly Father has guided and directed me out of troubling times! I know the Gospel is true! It really is the answer to any problems we have in life. 

Hope everyone has a great week! 

-Elder Espiritu 

Cool view of LA while we were in Calabasas 

We filmed this video a couple weeks ago. Check it out on Facebook if you haven't yet 

I love the President Nelson & the Apostles

Cool car Bro Blackstone has