MIRACLES (Monday, March 19, 2018)

"We believe firmly the best time we have in the mission field is being with missionaries. They are wonderful. They are smart. They are spiritual. They have testimonies. They are innovative. They want to serve the Lord. They want to do good things. They want to progress and grow. They are some of the finest young men and women in the entire world." President Hammon, California Riverside Mission 

We tried to send Elder Willes cupcakes in the mail for his birthday. Mostly they melted. :)

Hello everyone! This past week has been incredible. Thank you to so many who have remembered me in some way for my birthday. Messages from home sure pump me up. Thank you so much!!

Elder Johnson is my new companion, and he is from Layton, UT. He is a great missionary! We have a lot in common and are having fun and working hard together. We have been able to find 4 new investigators, and 2 of them came to church this past week! The Lord continues to bless us everyday, and I am loving the work! Here is how our week went down. 

Elder Johnson and Elder Willes

The incoming missionaries and their trainers. (Pics borrowed from President Hammon's blog.)

Monday and Tuesday I spent with Elder Osberg, who is training this transfer as well. We spent a lot of time out and about, doing some good old Seeking With Faith. We also did a home visit with a really cool family in the Spanish Ward. Elder Yang has been transferred to an English speaking area before he heads home to China next month. He was really happy about that and I'm happy for him.

On Wednesday morning Elder Osberg and I went to the Mission Office for the trainer/trainee meeting. We had a meeting in the morning for all of the trainers, after which we got to meet all of the new incoming missionaries and have lunch with them. After lunch, we then were paired with our new companions, and then we had a testimony meeting! After that, our companions got to put their pictures up on the board in President Hammon's office, which was cool. Right after our meeting ended, about 20 minutes after, Elder Johnson and I taught a lesson! We taught a lady named JiYi. Elder Johnson got to invite her to baptism, and that was super cool! We also taught this week 2 new investigators. We taught Allen Lou, and his friend Dona. 

Friday was amazing. In the afternoon, we had the opportunity to meet with Wang Guili! The next part you guys are not going to believe - but I am so excited to tell you!!!! When we followed up with Wang Guili about her Book of Mormon reading, she told us that she had read up to Jacob 3. That is 147 pages in the Chinese Book of Mormon!!!! When we asked her what kind of things she has learned from the Book of Mormon, she replied and told us that she reads it as if it were any other book, but when she faces a challenge/struggle, she REMEMBERS what she has read and applies it into her life. WOW!!! It was an incredible lesson, and she is doing awesome! She has accepted a baptismal date for April 22nd. Truly a Miracle! 

Saturday morning we had another Weekly Blitz. Elder Pells and I went out together, and we found a lot of referrals for the missionaries in their area. That afternoon, we did some good old Seeking With Faith. In the evening, we had the opportunity to teach another new investigator from this past week, Fan QingSong! He is super cool, and likes to skateboard. We taught him about the Restoration, and he also accepted a baptismal date for April 29th! We are super excited for him. 

Sunday was another great day. Fan QingSong came with Hank to the University Heights Ward, and also YiHang Yuan came to the YSA ward! That evening after some Seeking With Faith, we then went and visited Hank again. He is doing awesome, and we are preparing to help him receive the Mel. Priesthood. Please pray for him and all of our current investigators! 

Sorry this email is super long haha but there were just so many Miracles, I was so excited to tell all of you! Anyways, I love the Lord, and I love my mission. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is perfect. The Book of Mormon is true. Love you all have a great week! 

Elder Willes

[Mom note: The California Riverside Mission has become a smart phone mission. It was strange to see that Nathan
had updated his Facebook page. Elder Willes hasn't shared much with us about his feelings about the smart phone.
I'm sure it's a bit of an adjustment.]