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