Hey Family:
I hope everything is doing well! I love all of you. Those
pictures were crazy, Alex is so big what in the world?! Maylin is so cute in
her little uniform.
So down to business of what happened this week.
This has been such a crazy week and so long!
Zone Conference: Elder Gay taught us so much about how to
work with ward leaders more efficiently and more about the power that we have
as missionaries. He said, "We have the power to astonish the world!"
I learned so much from him about how to work with the ward leaders better! We
were interviewed by him that morning. The Zone leaders called us and told us
that our district is going to be interviewed by him. When he interviewed me he
just asked me questions about, what’s hard about my mission? things like
that. he gave me some tips about how to improve my language and things like
that.
Familia Garcia: We saw them every single day last week
before their baptism! We scheduled their baptismal interview for Thursday the
day before their baptism on Friday. We moved their baptismal date up a day to
reach our goals for the month of August. So on Monday we met with them them
before family home evening at the church. We taught them about how to honor and
obey the law. When we finished the lesson we told them how excited we were for
them and happy. Before we finished Brother Garcia told us that two days ago he
drank two gulps of coffee. After he had said that my heart just stopped. I
never felt so much, "NOOOO". I didn’t know what to say or how to
react. We asked him more details about it and everything and he said that he
felt really bad and that is why he told us. The other thing that was better
though about it is that he wasn't addicted to coffee and never drank it before,
it was just there and he didn’t think about it. After the lesson that night we
called President Meredith and talked to him and asked him what should be done.
He said because of their situation and that he wasn’t addicted or anything that
it would be ok to proceed. The wife, sister Garcia has been fighting and
avoiding coffee. She had the addiction but the husband didn’t. president
Meredith said that we could proceed with the baptism if we recommit him to live
the word of wisdom and we teach it again more clearly. We did that and
everything was good.
So on Thursday was their interview. This was the most
touching experience I have ever had. We had the interview set for 2 in the
afternoon. Because of that we weren’t able to find a member to bring them to
the church. We had called everyone and no one was able to because of work. We
visited the Garcia family an hour before the interview to tell them that we couldn’t
find a member, and they said that they could just ride the bus and there wouldn’t
be a problem. We felt so much better. As we walked out with them to the bus
stop, the bus was leaving! It wouldn’t be back for another hour! The other
problem we had is we had a lesson we needed to be at. We told them to wait for
the next bus and that we would be back. We went to our lesson and of course the
person wasn’t there. We had margarito with us also. We drove back to the bus
stop to wait with them and try to find a ride. When we got back they weren’t
there. We called them but they didn’t answer, so we were getting nervous. We
ran to their apartment and knocked it to see if they went inside to wait or
something, but no one was home. We then thought maybe the bus came early or
something and they are already on their way to the chapel. As we drove to the
chapel we saw them WALKING!!! It was him, his wife and then their granddaughter
that is like 5 years old. He had his cane and was having trouble walk and she
is almost 70 years old! It just broke my heart and it was 98 degrees outside.
We drove past them and didn’t even look at them. We can’t carry investigators
in our car, it’s a rule. We drove a couple streets up and parked our car. We
then walked to meet them and walked to the church. As we walked we talked with
them and it was such a special experience.
What got me was that they had enough faith, they knew that
this was true enough to walk all the way to their baptismal interview. I thought
about the stories of people walking miles to church or to the temple because
they understood the importance of the church. It was the most humbling testimony
building experience for me to be all there with them walking to the church.
When we finally got there we had their interviews and they both passed with
flying colors! The district leader was very impressed with them. We were so
happy! They walked home again because they couldn’t catch the bus again. We
felt so bad but they said it was worth it. It just killed me but to see the
faith that they had strengthened mine! They truly are amazing and special.
THE BAPTISM: So.... the baptism. How do I want to describe
this. Brother and sister Garcia chose two of the members to baptize them. One
of them was MArgarito and the other was another member. Brother Garcia wanted
this member to baptize him so he called him and asked him to baptize him. The
member didn’t know what to say and was so happy! We got to the chapel and about
5 to get things started, fill the font etc. We got everything ready and then
people started to show up. The Garcia's showed up with their son and
grandchildren. We got them all dressed and everything! They were so happy and
excited. The ward missionary leader directed the baptism. So many members came
to support them which was awesome. Sister Garcia went first for the baptism.
The member that baptized her was his first time and wasn’t quite sure what to
do. He baptized her and her foot came up out of the water. She is so old and
had a hard time bending back. Everyone was trying to tell the member to put his
foot on her feet, but he wasn’t getting it. We had to baptize her 5 times
until we got her all under the water. She didn’t care she was happy but it was tough because the
members were all over and I felt bad.
(Austin and his companion Elder Rodriguez)
Margarito baptized Brother Garcia. Brother Garcia has really
bad knees so he could bend at all. Margarito baptized him and the other member
stayed in the water behind him to help if something went back. MArgarito did
good but wasn’t able to get him all the way under. The second time they had to
really push him down and took a while but got it. It was so bad but funny but
good. After the baptism Brother Garcia bore his testimony and it was so strong
and amazing. They didn’t care that it wasn’t perfect but that it was done. They
said that they have made a commitment with God and that they will be faithful
and do everything they can to uphold their covenant. They are so amazing. Words
can’t describe them. I love them so much!!!! On Sunday we had their
confirmation and they asked the ward mission leader to do it. We had the privilege
to be up there in the circle. It was such a special experience. I was so happy
for them and they were so happy and grateful. They get it and understand everything,
that is the best part. They are so strong.
Transfer Calls: So we were supposed to get our calls Saturday
night but we, my companion and I received them that morning from president
Meredith. My companion was called as a Zone leader in San Leandro. He was
shocked but I told him he would do awesome. He will be companions with his
TRAINER which is so rare. After his call We received another one from President
Meredith for me. He called me to be the District Leader of the Concord 4th
branch. I am staying again but as the new district leader. I was super nervous
but since then I have been doing everything I can to be a good district leader.
It has only been 2 days but last night I did my first indicator call in report
from our district to the Zone leaders. I actually did it really well because I
have learned from my other companions. I have so many things I want to do for
this branch and this ward. Yesterday we met with the ward mission leader and I
expressed my desire to help strengthen the Ward. I told him that as district
leader I would like to be able to keep in frequent contact with him to update
him on things going on in the area. He said that that would be perfect and that
we needed it. Before this ward never really worked with the full time
missionaries too much. I also talked to him about turning the missionary classes
on Thursday nights into missionary night where all the branch missionaries and
the fulltime missionaries split up and visit all the less active families,
recent converts and members in the ward. He said that that was an awesome idea
and we will get it going the next upcoming weeks. I know I am the youngest in
the district and I am a little nervous, so that is humbling me, but I recognize
that God called me so he knows I can do it which gives me confidence. When I
did the indicator calls last night one of the sisters told me it’s weird me
being the district leader because she said I’m like her little brother. I just
said oh great! yeah so I am the youngest in the district and the district
leader. I have a lot to work on but I am excited to learn. I am excited.
My new companion is named Elder Borgway. I don’t have a clue
who he is, but what I have heard is that he is from Argentina and doesn’t speak
English very well. So that is awesome because my Spanish will increase even
more. It will be a really hard but good transfer. I will learn a lot! I don’t
know though because no one knows who he is.
I put a recording of my in the email, I don’t know if it
will work I just wanted to try it. Don’t laugh at it but yeah :) ***NOTE from mom: The recording was awesome! Good to hear his voice. He spoke for awhile in Spanish. He is really good!
I love everyone this week has been crazy and really busy. So
much more went on more details but don’t have a whole lot of time just wanted
to include the things big that happened. DAD! dad could you write me a
letter and include some of your stories or experience and some tips for me as
district leader. That would be awesome! I am going to see if I can write
grandpa today because I want to ask him for mission advice, like working with
members, ward leaders etc. Also on some leadership tips. that would be awesome
I have so much to learn oh heavens but that’s good. I am just humbled to be
called and will work the hardest I can. Love you all! tell Holly I said hi and
that I will write her when I can ill be really busy soon so yeah but I love the
mission and I am working hard. I want to work really hard with the less actives
and things because there are too many that have fallen away. Like Christ said
in Luke chapter 15 "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he
lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go
after that which is lost until he find it? And
when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing."
Thanks family. Hope to hear from you soon. Can’t believe it’s
already September where did time fly! Love you.
Elder Hill
P.S. I forgot to tell you some things that happened. This
week was so long I forget things.
We did an activity as a Zone
where we went to " De los Santos" park in Concord and drew with chalk
a huge plan of salvation. It was the coolest thing ever. My companion and I
drew the kingdoms of glory. So many people came to us and asked us about it, it
was awesome! We then had watermelon after. It was so cool! Also we were
sleeping one night at 11 at night. We heard some cop sirens and didn’t think
anything because its normal. All of a sudden outside our window like 10 feet 5
cops just flew up our room lit up in red and blue, cops jumped out of their car
yelling get on the ground. My companion and I just sat in front of are windows
and watched 5 cops arrest some guy on a motorcycle. It was so crazy but funny.
Yup that’s all!
This is what is called a Scraper - Oakland baby!!!!
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