July 15, 2013

Dear Family,

It is always so good to see pictures of everyone and hear the latest updates. Tyson and Dawn look like they are going to have a some good years coming up for them, that is exciting he is starting Dental School. It is amazing to see how everyone in our family is progressing and growing and becoming successful. I better get my act together so I can do the same! Now Julene, I said that you better be careful. You better stay in "just a relationship" for 19 more months ;) No really it is good to see that you aren't too prone to the post mission malaria.

It's been another good week in Huntington beach. This Tuesday is transfers and an Elder that has been in this ward the whole time I've been here is going home so that is sad. He was in the ward for almost 9 months I think so he had has a huge impact on the area. But he is ready to go home. It's funny/sad seeing the missionary dieing process in action. With the transfer we also have new leadership calls that come in. Last transfer I became a trainer and that lasts 2 transfers so I'll be continuing that with Elder Jensen. That has been going very well. Elder Jensen has been learning fast (I am learning a ton too) and he wants to work hard as well so it is good situation for both of us. We are doing the best we can. But then I got a call Wednesday that I am going to be training again but I'll still keep Elder Jensen and finishing his training and getting another Elder and training him, so we are going to be in a trio. It is going to be awesome! He is a visa waiter but they have a reputation of being here for at least 2 or 3 transfers. Especially with all the missionaries now that are going to be waiting for visas. So that means I'll be able to totally train him most likely. This is going to really help the work here I think. There are some ladies here that we haven't been able to go into her house and teach them because we only had 2 of us and that's against our rules and they would never set appointments so we couldn't get a member with us to be able to get in. But now with 3 of us we will be able to go into any house at any time. I am super excited about that. It is crazy though that I'm out 3 transfers and Jensen is out 1 and now we will have a fresh guy. We are a super young set, which will be to our benefit because it seems as missionaries get older they loose some of their excitement. This will be an opportunity to grow as well. To stop leaning on my own understanding but to lean unto the Lords. Whither I want to or not it will cause me to put myself aside and realize I can't do it on my own and that this is only possible through Gods help, only after everything I can do. I am excited to see what happens these next few week. Here is a cool little story that doesn't sound big but is neat. Our zone had a high goal of investigators to church and so all week we have been inviting after lessons, street contacting, knocking doors, phone calls. We were trying really hard to get our part there. No one was going to come all the way until Saturday and still we had no one. Then we were walking in between visits and a guy walked around the corner I didn't know but Elder Jensen had meet him several weeks ago when he was in another area on splits and they had invited him to church then but didn't know if he had gone. We start talking and he says he tried to go to church but couldn't find the building and asked where it was and we gave him directions and his words "awesome, that sounds good. I'll see you in the morning" and walks away. We didn't know what had just happened, stuff like that never happens! It is awesome to see that when you do all you can and try your hardest God will ALLOW you to then have success. It really puts you in perspective of where the power really comes from. It's Gods work. With out him this is all futile. I love you all! I'm excited to hear from you all next week!
Elder Jolley