HOW DOES THE HOLY GHOST SPEAK TO YOU? (MONDAY, MAY 15th, 2018)

I have a challenge for each of you. I would like to invite all of you to figure out, or start to find out, 

HOW does the Holy Ghost speak to YOU? Then email me back! 

There are many different ways that the Holy Ghost speaks to us. God knows us perfectly, and He uses a perfect way for each and every one of us to communicate with Him. Just as the Prophet, President Nelson, said, 

"We will not be able to survive spiritually without the ability to recognize Personal Revelation." 

That is a challenge I give to all, and I will do that too! 

Amy's Baptism Day - Elder Crowther, Elder Nelson, Amy, her husband, and Elder Willes

This past week has been another pretty incredible week here in the good old California, Riverside Mission. Elder Crowther and I have been working really hard, and we have seen a lot of success over the past week. We are crazy busy and that is a huge blessing. This past week, Joanna, Matt, and Amy all came to Church! 

Tuesday morning we had our DLC, and we discussed how we are going to improve the missionary work in our Zone. As a Zone we found 16 investigators 2 weeks ago and so we were super happy about that! I also had my interview with President Hammon. We discussed missionary work, and the ecclesiastical questions that I need for my BYU acceptance. President Hammon is so awesome and he has helped me so much in becoming a better missionary. That afternoon, we had the opportunity to teach the Zhang Family again! We talked about a lot of different Gospel Principles with them, and discussed the Word of Wisdom as well. Mr. Zhang is struggling to give up smoking, tea, and coffee. We actually had to pause the Zhang family later in the week as they were not progressing, after trying everything and anything we could think of to help with these addictions. It was really sad actually. Pause is a hopeful word though, because pause is not quitting. Rather it is just giving someone a quiet minute to think and reflect and hopefully feel compelled to change through the love of God.

We had about 10 people come to our English Class on Wednesday morning. That was a super great turnout! We also had a big turnout on Friday. Our English class in Eastvale is filled with members from China and investigators. These people are very dedicated to improving their English. It is very important to them. That evening, we went over to Brother Hanstad's house with President Hammon, so that Amy could have her interview for baptism! Seeing someone I care about make baptismal covenants with God is really just the best thing ever. 

This past week I went on exchanges with Elder Jackson, one of the District Leaders in our Zone. I definitely learned a lot from him. We were not able to teach anyone on Thursday in their area, but we did a lot of Seeking With Faith, which was fun. We set up 9 future appointments for them in their area. That was pretty cool.

On Friday we had another exchange. Elder Simpson, the other District Leader in our Zone, came to be with me in the Chinese area. That morning we worked at a member's home and did some yard work in their backyard. Service has a way of clearing your mind and heart and helping you to feel love. Love for others and love of God. We also had another lesson with Amy over WeChat. Elder Simpson and I taught her the rest of Lesson 5, and it was a great lesson. Amy told us the story of her husband becoming active in the Church again, and also sharing his testimony with her. It was super cool, and the Spirit was very strong during that moment. 

Saturday was busy busy busy. In the morning, we had a big service project called "Making Riverside Clean & Beautiful." We went and with our Zone, cleaned a big street in Riverside. That was fun and hot. After wards, we had a lesson with one of our investigators named Margaret. Margaret lives in Corona, and her daughter is a less-active member of the Church. We taught her the importance of prayer and why we need to pray. We read through 2 Nephi 32:8-9 with her. I love scriptures about prayer! 

2 Nephi 32: 9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

Saturday evening, we went to dinner with Jacky! We went to a Korean BBQ with him in Riverside. He is a young college age man so we are trying to love him and be his friend, hoping to help him. The Korean BBQ was all you can eat meat, so that was great :) We then drove straight back to Corona to visit a referral named Pan. We knocked on the door, talked to him for a little bit, and he invited us to share a message with him! He is a very devout Christian, and we got to share a little bit about the Restoration with him, specifically about the Book of Mormon. He liked it a lot,and said that he would be willing to read. Please pray for him!

Sunday was super busy, but an incredible day! We had 3 investigators that came to church! Matt and Joanna, and also Amy, all came to church this past week. I had the opportunity to do Sara Guo's Confirmation in Sacrament Meeting! Sara was baptized last week. I haven't had the opportunity to do a confirmation that since Brother Ning. That was an amazing experience. Sara is so awesome and will be a great member of the Church! 

Sara and her family

After Church, Elder Simpson and I had the opportunity to teach a Chinese man, Leo Zhou. We first contacted Leo and his wife late one night on exchanges this past week. We taught him about the Restoration at the park. Late at late, at a park teaching about the Restoration. Isn't that cool? It was an incredible experience! We are meeting with him and his wife tonight as well. After our lesson with him on Sunday we then hurried back to the church building for Amy's Baptism! It was such a spiritual experience. Amy has changed a lot, and I know that this change comes only through the Savior, Jesus Christ. I felt the Spirit very strong as I heard her bear her testimony of The Gospel of Jesus Christ at her baptism. It was incredible, and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to teach Amy and be apart of her learning process! We finished off our marathon Sunday by visiting some former investigators, a family, that we are hoping to meet with soon. Please pray for them as well! 

This past week has been another incredible week. I have a challenge for each of you. Over the next couple of weeks, I would like to invite all of you to figure out HOW the Holy Ghost speaks to YOU. There are many different ways that the Holy Ghost speaks to us. God knows us perfectly, and He uses a perfect way for each and every one of us to communicate with Him. Just as the Prophet President Nelson said, "We will not be able to survive spiritually without the ability to recognize Personal Revelation." That is a challenge I give to all, and I will do that too! 

I am so grateful for the sacred opportunity to help others to come to know our Savior, Jesus Christ. I love the Lord and I love His Work! Love you all have a great week! 

Elder Willes

I will have a list next week of some scriptures I love about receiving personal revelation and how the Spirit speaks to me! What will you share?

Elder Willes was so tired, but happy and extremely FOCUSED!
He wanted to spend our 40 minutes of Skype talking about missionary work.
We love him and miss him, but wouldn't have Elder Willes any other place. We are team Riverside!