EASTVALE - ROUND III

Elder Willes, Elder Crowther, Shannon & Elder Nelson

Hello everyone!!!! This week has been another good one here in the good old California, Riverside Mission. This past weekend I found out that I was being transferred, and I am back in Eastvale now!!!! I seriously am so so excited. Elder Nelson and I will be the Zone Leaders, serving in the Jurupa Zone. We are so so excited, and it is going to be a lot of fun. 

This past week, Shanon and Liam were both baptized! It has been a really good week and we have seen many miracles. 

Yesterday, (Sunday) I had the opportunity to attend Shanon's baptism!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was such a special day and something that I will never ever forget. Shanon has experienced such a change of heart, and I know that is because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She is so amazing and will be such an incredible member of the Church of Jesus Christ. It was an awesome day, and a day that I will never ever forget!!!! I wasn't able to go to Liam's baptism because the times were conflicting but Elder Sorensen said that is was super cool.

Sorry this email is short, but I know that the Gospel is true, and the it changes lives. I am so excited to continue to work hard, and to help my Chinese brothers and sisters Come Unto Christ. Love you all have a great week!!

Mom note:

The beautiful story of Shannon...

So before any of the missionaries met Shannon, she was on her way to China to see her husband and the flight got re-routed to another airport. While at the airport she met a gentleman who offered to give her a ride to the changed airport, since he was in the same situation! This man told Shannon he was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Shanon was shocked by this as she had a son who had recently converted to the church in college and had left on a mission to Boston! This man (who the missionaries still don't know who it is) told Shannon that there is a Chinese group in Eastvale and they would love to have her if she would like to learn more. When Shanon got back from China she went to a Sacrament meeting and there she met Elder Willes and Elder Crowther and they began to teach her the following week.

Shanon had a hard time believing and thought the scriptures were just stories. Shanon would come to church every single week but would not commit to baptism. Elder Willes was transferred and Elder Nelson and Elder Crowther continued to teach her and basically started over.

Shanon told Elder Crowther and Elder Nelson that she was leaving to go back to China for 3 weeks but that she would be baptized when she got back. "Then the spirit sucker punches me and Elder Crowther and we were prompted to tell her, "If she wasn't baptized before she left, she never would be!" She said "Thanks. I appreciate the concern and I will pray about it." Then Elder Crowther said the same exact things. This time I noticed it clicked a little more. She thought for awhile and said she would pray about it. So we finished the lesson and left a little discouraged. We came back the next week and followed up on her prayer, this time she asks what the process is? I get all giddy and explain the process. She then said, I  quote, "I can't be baptized this week but I can next week!" Me and Elder Crowther were in awh!!!!" [Borrowed from Elder Nelson's Blog]

Elder Willes

MIRACLES EVERY SINGLE DAY

Elder Willes and Elder Ly 

Hello everyone!!! I have seen miracles this past week. I see miracles every day. GUESS WHAT?????? This past week, the Jurupa Chinese Elders gave us a call and informed us that Shanon will be getting baptized!!!!!! She has fasted and prayed about it and knows that it is the right thing for her to be baptized. Shannon's baptism will be held this coming Sunday and I hope that I get to attend. How cool is that?? That should be super super amazing. Also, we are hoping that Liam's baptism will happen this Sunday as well. He had his baptismal interview. Please please pray for these individuals that I love so much. 

This past week we had the opportunity to go on exchanges with the San Jacinto English Elders. Elder Watson and I worked in their area for the day and we had a super awesome day! We picked up three new investigators, and even put one of them on date for baptism! It was a big blessing and a pretty fun day! I love when the Spirit works on people's hearts and compels them to make choices that will help them become closer to Christ.

Also, this past week we ran into a Chinese guy in our area!!!! Elder Sorensen and I were biking around our area and we passed a guy walking on the sidewalk and tried to contact him in English. He looked Chinese and when he didn't respond to us I just starting speaking Chinese to him. All of the sudden, he quickly turned around, and I started to talk to him. We talked for like 15 minutes on the sidewalk, and his name is Lu Di Xiong. :) It was definitely a blessing and a miracle for me! I love the Chinese people and miss them so so much! 

On Saturday, we had another lesson with DeeDee, and also the father of her kids, Ronnie. Ronnie is pretty interested in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and wants to turn his life around and be a better dad. Sadly, Ronnie or DeeDee didn't come to church this past Sunday, but we are going to do our best to try and help them out. Please pray for them too.

We had Stake Conference this past weekend. I learned a lot and want to apply what I learned into my daily missionary efforts. We continue to see miracles every single day and we are excited to continue to work hard, and to help those prepared souls to truly, Come Unto Christ. Thank you for your constant support, love and prayers. Love you all have a great week!!!

Elder Willes

Pics "borrowed" from President Hammon's blog

REFINE US

"What if you woke up today with only the blessings that you thanked your Heavenly Father for yesterday?"

Elder Willes and Elder Sorensen

Hello everyone!!! This week has been another pretty good week here in the San Jacinto Zone. Elder Sorensen and I have been working hard, and have been able to find 5 new investigators this past week. We are finding them, but now we are working and praying so we can get some of them to church. Church is a big step for people. Sadly, none of our investigators were able to make it to church, but we are going to continue to work hard, and to help those prepared souls Come Unto Christ. Here is how my week went!!!

Tuesday morning we had our weekly district meetings and Elder Gossett and Elder Watson gave a great training. We all learned a lot! My mission reminds me that every day we can become closer to the Lord and every day we can make choices that help bring the spirit into our lives. Then we all gotta ACT. Get going and act on those special helps the Lord gives us.

We continue to teach Liam! He has such a strong desire to be baptized!!! It is cool to see a young kid search out and recognize God. Please pray that he can get to church so he can move forward. We had the opportunity to go on exchanges with the San Jacinto Elders. Elder Yang and I got to go out together!!!!! I love him. He is so awesome and we spoke Chinese pretty much all day which was nice! We were also able to sit down and teach Monse Lamas, who we met while trying to visit a potential investigator. 

This week I attended my first MLC (Mission Leadership Council)! All the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders and APs get together, and we receive training. It was a really great day and full of the Spirit and learning. I want to be the best missionary I can be and every day I strive for this. President and Sister Hammon taught us a lot. I love them.

MLC

We also had another opportunity to teach DeeDee again this week! We answered some of her questions. We read through 3 Nephi Chapter 11 with her and the Spirit was so strong. The good news is, DeeDee's boyfriend, Ronnie also wants to learn and change his life around!

10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.

11 And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.

Any free time we had this week we went out doing some good old fashioned seeking with faith trying to find more people to teach! Sunday is always a great day. We didn't have any investigators that came to church, but we will. 

Something that was awesome that I really enjoyed from this past week's MLC was this, "Trials, hard days, hard weeks, and struggles are not to define us, but to REFINE us." I know that every trial, every hard day, and every hard week comes in order to improve us, and to help mold us into a better person. I am so excited to continue to work hard and to labor in the Lord's Vineyard. I love the Lord and I love His work!!! Love you all have a great week!!

Elder Willes

SHORT ON TIME...REALLY SHORT

Hello everyone!!! This past week has been awesome. Elder Sorensen and I have again found 9 new investigators. We are working really hard. Sadly none of our investigators came to church but I know the spirit is working on them. 

My email time is cut very short today. I don't have any time. Busy here and hot. I am so so thankful for all of the updates and prayers. Keep them coming. I love you all tons. I love this work. I love the Lord. Have a great week!!

Elder Willes

HOT IN HEMET

"Front porches, out in yards, doesn't matter. The spirit of the Lord can help and teach anyone who is listening."

Hello everyone!!! This week has been another pretty awesome week here in the good old California, Riverside Mission. We have seen many miracles and the Lord continues to bless us daily. Are you guys taking notice of all the small ways the Lord helps each of us every single day? 

Elder Sorensen and Elder Willes

We found 9 new investigators this week!!! It has been pretty awesome and we are excited for them. Hemet is super hot! Today was over 110 degrees. Well, everyday is like that but it has been awesome! We got to attend the temple today too!!!! It was such a blessing and I LOVE the temple. It is the best place ever.

At the temple

This week we spent any free time doing some seeking with faith trying to find more prepare people to teach. We spent a lot of the day on Thursday trying to visit the less active families in our ward. We had a lot of good visits that day and a couple of them came to church this past Sunday! We also had another good lesson with DeeDee this week.  Keep praying for her. We also had exchanges with the Fruitvale English Elders. Elder Frisby and I went out together and we had a really good time. We picked up 2 new investigators, Karen and Joseph, who we taught outside of their house!  We also had a great lesson this week with another investigator, Dominic, on his front porch. He accepted an invitation to be baptized on October 1st. Front porches, out in yards, doesn't matter. The spirit of the Lord can help and teach anyone who is listening.

Saturday was pretty great. That morning, we had our Weekly Blitz and Elder Yang and I went out together. That was fun being with him and speaking some Chinese. :) We were able to find 2 investigators for their area too! 

Sunday was awesome. One of our investigators came to Church! Liam, a 16 year old kid, came to church. Isn't that so cool to think about? Elder Sorensen and his former companion have been teaching him. Liam is on date for baptism on September 10th and we are super excited for him! 

This week has been awesome. I am excited to continue to work hard and to Labor in the Lord's Vineyard. I love the Lord and I love His work. Got to attend the temple today! What a special experience that was! I love the temple and the sacred work that goes on there. Keep working hard at home. Elder Sorensen and I are excited to continue to work hard and to help as many people as we can Come Unto Christ. Love you all have a great week! 

Elder Willes 

WEEK ONE IN SAN JACINTO

Hello everyone! This week has been another great week here in the good old CRM and we have seen many miracles. This week has been absolutely crazy and busy but a good week overall! Hemet is VERY hot and very dry. I got the Hump Day Package. Thank you so so so much!!!! You guys are the best!!! We went and got some Cold Stone ice cream that night to celebrate. Elder Sorensen is awesome. He is from Elko, Nevada and has been on his mission about 13 months. He is a really hard working missionary. I love that about him. He literally reminds me of Timothy Corey. He even looks like Timothy  too! And talks like him. Elder Sorensen is awesome and we get along great. He has been serving here in Hemet for about 3 transfers now, so he knows the area pretty well. Our Zone has 10 missionaries and 2 Districts.

It is interesting approaching people in English. My English has gotten worse and sometimes I say things using Chinese grammar that make no sense. I do miss serving in the Chinese area but know that there are people here I need to find. We are working really hard and found 7 new investigators from this past week!!! 

Elder Sorensen and Elder Willes

On Monday night we went over and taught one of our investigators, Chuck. We taught him a little bit from the Restoration and invited him to read from the Book of Mormon. Chuck is African-American, and has some concerns about the Church, but we have answered his questions, and he has accepted an invitation to read the Book of Mormon! Please pray for him to continue to progress as well as reading from the Book of Mormon! This will help him. We also had a lesson this week with Ryan. His wife is a less-active member of the Church. We taught him a little bit about the temple and how through the Gospel of Jesus Christ families can be together forever. It was a great lesson! 

Thursday was pretty awesome. That night had a lesson with Carlos and his girlfriend Jessica. We met Carlos this past week while out seeking with faith. He said that we could come by again so we went and taught him and Jessica about the Restoration! It was pretty cool and we are hoping that they can continue to progress!  Friday night we had a lesson with Gabino, an investigator that we picked up this past week. We also met him while doing some good old seeking with faith. The days are long and hot but pay off when you get to teach and share a message and can feel the spirit. Friday night we also went by and visited Brandon, another one of our new investigators from this past week! Brandon is a former Marine and served in Afghanistan. He has had some very select experiences that have strengthened his belief in God and his faith in Jesus Christ. We taught him half of the Plan of Salvation. It was a great lesson! I love these people. Please pray for them.

Saturday we tried to visit some of our potential investigators and lot of some good old seeking and seeking. We gotta keep looking for those who are looking for goodness. 

Sunday was super great!!! That afternoon, we went to see a referral that we had received from the Spanish Elders. Her name is DeeDee and she is awesome! She is very prepared and has a strong desire to Come Unto Jesus Christ. She accepted a baptismal date for October 1st! We are going back this week to teach her again. It was a huge Miracle! That night we also had a lesson with Ryan, another new investigator that we picked up from this past week. Ryan is a baller. He also is a truck driver, so he is pretty busy with his travel schedule. We invited him to be baptized but he turned down the invitation...for now. Please pray for him! 

The rest of the week was filled with DLC and DDM Meetings. Elder Watson, one of our District Leaders gave a good training on the importance of the Book of Mormon. We also met with Brother Mackie this week who is our Ward Mission Leader. He helps us a lot. Any free minute we spend out walking and talking with people. 

For p-day today we went golfing. It was pretty fun. I shot a 45. It was the first time in over a year that I've golfed.

I've gotta get back to work. This week has been pretty awesome. Elder Sorensen and I are very excited to work hard and to bring the prepared souls in the San Jacinto area to Come Unto Christ. Love you all have a great week!

Elder Willes