TEACHING AND A BAPTISM (Monday, April 30, 2018)

Sara bore her testimony. She was so overcome by the Spirit and became emotional. Sara shared that Yoyo Li (a primary age friend from the ward) asked Sara the morning of her baptism, 

"Why were you not baptized at 8 years old?" Sara replied by saying, "Maybe it is because I was lost."

Elder Willes, baby Grace, Sara, Elder Crowther and Elder Nelson
Look at cute Grace looking up at Elder Willes

Elder Willes and Blair



Hello again Everyone! This week has been an incredible week here in the Eastvale Ward. The Lord has really blessed us this past week, and it has been amazing to be a part of so many Miracles. The week was so full of highlights, I don't even know where to start but here is how my week went down!

Monday night we had the opportunity to go and do a home visit with the Su Family. They are so awesome! We discussed the importance of prayer, and also praying for missionary opportunities. That was great! I hope you are all being good missionaries at home and sharing and praying for opportunities to share this amazing gift that we have. If you are not, now is a good time to start. 

Tuesday morning we had our District Meeting and also our Zone Introductions. We have some great missionaries in our Zone and it will be awesome to work with them over the next transfer. Elder Crowther and I will serve as the Zone Leaders here in Eastvale. After our District Meeting and some studies, we then had the opportunity to drive down to Lake Elsinore, CA, to visit Evangel and Blair! It was so good to see them. They are doing great. It is crazy to think that they were baptized almost a year ago! We met Aaron Li ate the park while we were out seeking with faith. He was playing basketball and we shared a short message about the Restoration with him. That was super cool and definitely a miracle. 

Evangel, Blair, Elder Willes and Elder Crowther

Well, it's never great when an investigator falls asleep during the lesson. We went over to see William this week. He is a really funny Chinese guy. Elder Nelson and Elder Crowther have been working with him for the last little bit, so we went by and tried to share a chapter in the Book of Mormon with him. But he fell asleep during the lesson. A funny experience for sure haha. We also taught Lorenzo and Jen Ceballos. Lorenzo is a less-active member and his wife, Jen, is Chinese, and is a nonmember. We taught them almost a year ago and then taught them again this past week! We read through Alma 7 with them, and focused on the importance of the Savior's Atonement. It was a great lesson! We also had Sister Zhang with us. Please pray for them that Lorenzo can be strengthen his testimony and get back to church and that Jen can come to know of the truth! We also taught Amy. She is Chinese and is married to an American less-active member as well. Amy is preparing for baptism next Sunday (May 6th). We went into that lesson thinking we were teaching one thing but instead followed the Spirit and talked about forgiving ourselves and others. It was a very spiritual lesson! Please pray for Amy! 

Thursday afternoon we had an awesome lesson with another new investigator from this past week, Cathy Xu. Elder Johnson and I actually first contacted her at RCC, but she lived in Eastvale. Cathy is trying to finish her degree and is going to school. We had the opportunity to teach her at the Harada Park! We taught her practically the whole Restoration, and it was a pretty great lesson. We then hit the streets and did some more Seeking With Faith. We contacted a Chinese guy, Mr. Zhang, outside of his house. He was super nice, and said he wanted to meet with us. We asked him if we could share a message right then and there with him, and he said no because he is renting a room, and it wouldn't be convenient. Instead, we asked if he could follow us in his car, and we could drive to a park to have a lesson! He agreed, and so we got in our cars, and drove to a nearby park, and taught him the Restoration! He loved everything, but had a small hangup on saying the closing prayer. Finally he did pray and it was definitely a cool experience to be a part of. 

On Friday morning we cleaned up the main road in Eastvale, Limonite. That afternoon, we had an amazing lesson with a couple that we are working with named Mr. Zhang and Mrs. Wang. They have 2 kids, a 6 year old daughter and a newborn baby. They are so nice, and very prepared to accept the Gospel. They are currently on a baptismal date for May 13th. Please pray that they can reach that goal and continue to keep the commitments they are making. They are so awesome and it is super cool to be working with a great family! We also taught Sara Guo on Friday. Xun (Sara's husband) got a job with a trucking company and so he is super busy. But, Sara is progressing very well! We arranged things for her baptism this Sunday, and also talked with her about the importance of baptism. She is doing great, has great fellowship with ward members, and will continue to be a strong member of the Church. It is super cool to see the change being wrought in her having had the opportunity to teach her over the last couple of months. I love this little family.

Saturday was another great day. We had the annual Transfer Breakfast at President Jergensen's home. That afternoon while out Seeking we had the opportunity to meet with 苗弟兄 and to make a baptismal program for Sunday. We also attended Stake trainings and the Saturday Evening Session of Stake Conference, which was amazing! A afternoon/evening full of Revelation. That was awesome! 

Sunday was another incredible day! I'll always remember days like this. They are really special and don't come around that often. Watching someone make baptismal covenants is just amazing. Sunday was the Jurupa Stake Conference, and it was awesome! We had 4 investigators that came to church! Mr. Zhang and Mrs. Wang, Amy, and also William Zhang. It was super amazing. 

Yes this was the highlight. We had the amazing opportunity to attend Sara Guo's baptism after Stake Conference!!!!! It has been awesome working with Sara these past couple of months, and she has really grown a lot. President and Sister Hammon also came to the baptism, and that was super cool! At the end of the service, Sara bore her testimony. She was so overcome by the Spirit and became emotional. Sara shared that Yoyo Li (an 8 yr. old young friend from the ward) asked Sara the morning of her baptism, "Why were you not baptized at 8 years old?" Sara replied by saying, "Maybe it is because I was lost." Sara proceeded to share her testimony, and the Spirit was so strong. It was incredible! 

Sunday afternoon we also were able to visit a referral in Lake Elsinore, CA. We also had a guy named William Zhang, someone that we contacted this past week, send us a picture of him attending Stake Conference. We had no idea that he had shown up! We ultimately asked if we could meet, and talk about what he had learned. We drove directly to his house, and taught him the last half of the Restoration, including about the Book of Mormon. He told us that he had 4 distinct things that he loved about attending Stake Conference, one of them being how everyone was together with their families. Super cool! He is going back to China soon but I know that he will continue to progress!

Elder Willes and Elder Johnson

Sorry this weekly update is super long but it has been another amazing week! I love my Mission. I love my Savior. This work is the most important work on the face of the earth. I know that, and I love it. I am so happy out here. Elder Crowther and I are working really hard and having a good time. I am still having pain in my hip, but I know it was a wise decision for me to be back in a car. It is allowing my leg to rest a little bit not being on a bike. I still need to get back in to see the physical therapist, but I know medical care is expensive and honestly all of this is just a hindrance to the work. I just don't want to sacrifice the time. There is so little of it left. Everything is going to be perfectly okay. I am confident in my body and the way that I am taking care of it right now. My body continues to keep going each and every day. I remember Will telling us towards the end of his mission how tired his body was. The Lord has really blessed me beyond belief with the energy and the physical capability to do missionary work. I owe it all to Him. I am so grateful. Please pray for all of our investigators. They need all of your prayers. 


Love you all have a great week! 

Elder Willes