Still Grinding

Hello po sa inyong lahat! 

Pretty normal week, but filled with a lot of miracles and spiritual experiences. 

Quick update on one of the friends we're teachin:

JULIA 

Julia is doing soooooo good. The past week we've been teaching her the Commandments. Julia is amazing and so willing to accept the Gospel in her life. She is eating up everything we throw at her. She was able to come to our drive in church yesterday and she said she absolutely loved it. She told us she felt so welcomed and felt the Spirit very strongly. I'm so grateful that Elder Moody and I have the opportunity to be helping her on this journey. Continue to pray for Julia. Her baptism is coming up soon! Feb 6th!

So yes we did have drive in church yesterday. It is for sure different but I'm glad we can kind of go to in person church. Elder Moody and I had the opportunity to speak in Sacrament meeting so that was wonderful. I've really missed going to church in person. I can't believe it's almost been almost a year since I've been to normal church. So for those of you are going in person do not take it for granted:) I'm happy the Lord provides a way for us to continuing worshipping on the Sabbath day:) 

I went on exchanges with Elder Norton on Saturday and I guess the rumors are true... California does get some rain. It was raining all day. Elder Norton and I had a really good exchange we had an amazing lesson wit Julia and Mike. Mike is doing very well. He's still working on getting the priesthood. But Mike has started to build a testimony. I'm super proud of him!

I'm grateful for my mission and for the opportunity to represent our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I love and miss you all! 

-Elder Espiritu 

Post morning run

Service

Lesson with Mike

Hollywood sign

 

New Companion!

Hi everyone! 

We had transfers this last week! Unfortunately the era of Elder Snooks and I have ended. I figured out that I will be staying here for another transfer (by the end of this transfer I'll be here for 8 months!) and I'll be getting a new companion and Elder Snooks will be moving to another area right next to ours. So he's not too far, but it's still sad. We wanted to stay together one more transfer but the Lord has called him another way! He's still in our zone so I'll see him a ton still. He is such a good missionary and I will cherish my time I had with him 😁🤙🏼

NEW COMP:

This next transfer I have the opportunity to be companions with a brand new missionary in the mission field! His name is Elder Moody. He's amazing, such a stud, and a spiritual giant! He's from Magna, Utah and went to Cyprus HS. 

He is also a reassigned missionary. His original assignment is the Tokyo North Mission. He's already a beast at Japanese and so diligent! 

Our first day together, Elder Moody and I soon realized that our personalities are opposite! 😂 He's a very quiet guy who is a great listener and I love to talk and can't stop talking sometimes. Even though we are companions I know for a fact Heavenly Father has put us together for a reason. We are both going to learn a ton from each other. Even though we're opposites we both have that love for Jesus Christ that bonds us together. I'm really looking forward to this transfer!

I wanted to share an amazing story with you that happened this past week! Elder Moody's first day was on Tuesday. When we got back to the apartment we had a self referral we still needed to contact that Elder Snooks and I received on Monday. The referral's name is Julia! 

We called her and had a wonderful conversation with her. She told us how she found us and her background with missionaries in the past. She said she was actually on another Christian website when a church ad from our church popped up. So she said to herself why not and filled out all the information. That's how we got her number. 

Julia continued to tell us in the past she would avoid missionaries at all cost and was very mean to them. But on the phone she was accepting and full of love. Throughout the call some of the church's beliefs came up and we started talking about the Bible and The Book of Mormon. At the end of the phone call we set up an appointment for the next day and said we could drop off a Bible and Book of Mormon to her right after the call. We could tell from her excitement that she was truly prepared by Heavenly Father to receive the message of The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

We invited her to a Book of Mormon class that missionaries run in our zone every Tuesday night. She went and absolutely loved it. The missionaries running it decided that they would read and discuss 2 Nephi 31 talking about the doctrine of Christ. The topic of baptism was brought up and apparently Julia was asking all these questions about baptism and was truly curious. Most of the attendees in the meeting were recent converts (including Mike). They shared their experiences with baptism. 

Julia loved it and learned a lot about baptism. The next day we had our appointment with her and we re read parts of 2 Nephi 31 and talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and about the 5 principles that are within the Gospel. She loved everything. Elder Moody and I felt impressed that we needed to invite her to follow the example of Christ and be baptized...so we did...and she said YES! She will be baptized on February 6th! She's so prepared and willing to follow Jesus Christ. She came to church yesterday and she said she felt so loved by the ward members. I'm so excited for Julia! She has already finished 1 Nephi in the Book of Mormon and I know she's only getting started! 

I wanted to share that experience with all of you because I know it wasn't a coincidence that Julia happened to find an ad from the church on another Christian page. That truly was Heavenly Father leading her into the amazing path towards Christ. 

Even during these hectic times Heavenly Father is preforming miracles in the hearts of others. I have a strong testimony this is the work of the Lord and what a blessing it is to be serving during this time. I love Jesus Christ and he is our Savior!

I hope you all have an amazing week and try to serve others around you! 😁 

-Elder Espiritu 

Elder Tew and I 

One last district pic before transfers

Exchanges w/ Elder Norton 

said bye to Elder Adolpho 

Elder Moody

The Apartment

Saw my guy Elder Lewis at transfer 

Shirts from Mike!

Happy New Year 2021

Happy New years eve everyone!

Hope everyone had an awesome Christmas and have a fun New Years! This week was amazing! So many blessings but I just want to talk about 2 with all of you! 

One of our friends we're teaching named Angel is a miracle itself! Early in the year Angel was living in another part of LA and used to meet with missionaries, but just recently moved here to Woodland Hills. Some Sister missionaries saw him in their area book and decided to call him. He was super willing to meet with them and after several weeks they started trying to figure out where Angel actually lived. The Sister missionaries ended up contacting us. 

Over the last couple of weeks we've been doing lessons all together to slowly transition Angel to us. This week was the first week we were able to have the lessons with just Angel, Elder Snooks, and me. We met with Angel a couple of times and he really wants to feel the love of God in his life, but he can't really recognize it. His desire to learn and grow is amazing. Our last lesson we had with him was great.  One of our members joined us. Brother James was amazing and really related to Angel. 

We talked about our purpose on earth and how we really need to prepare in this life. The whole lesson was directed by the Spirit and eventually led into the Gospel Of Jesus Christ. We talked about faith, repentance, and baptism. Every question he asked was perfect. Eventually Elder Snooks and I were prompted to invite Angel to be baptized so he can prepare to meet Heavenly Father and feel His love. And he said yes! His date for baptism is February 13, 2021. I'm excited to continue meeting with him and helping him prepare for baptism! Everyone keep Angel in your prayers please! 

This week the Woodland Hills ward was able to do drive in Sacrament meeting. It was amazing. There was so much effort put into it. It was the first time I've been to church in person for 9 months! (Even though were in cars) I've definitely missed church and seeing people in person and I don't think I'll ever take it for granted again. I'm excited to worship together in person someday :) It was such a blessing!

Transfers are coming up next week. Elder Snooks and I really want to run it back here one more transfer, but we will see. I know wherever I go is where the Lord wants me to go! 

I'll keep you all updated soon 👀 I'm excited for the new year and the blessings I'm going to be able to see! Hope everyone stays safe! Love you all!

-Elder Espiritu 

Elder Adolpho and I 

THE ZONE with President & Sister Cordon 

Drive in church