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 

I'M HEADED TO HEMET ... ENGLISH SPEAKING

Elder Willes and Elder Jensen with Bao Jie Mei who has returned to her home in China

Hello everyone! This week has been another great week here in Eastvale. I love Eastvale and I especially love the Chinese people who I teach and serve with here. On Saturday morning, I received a phone call from President Hammon and was called to be a Zone Leader. I will be serving in the San Jacinto Zone, and my companion will be Elder Sorensen. I am very humbled and excited to have this opportunity! I am very sad to be leaving Eastvale and will really miss serving the Chinese people, who I have come to know and love so much! I am just going to work my hardest down there. I am going English so please pray that I don't lose my Chinese! I guess like most good experiences in our lives, this is very bitter-sweet.

Last Monday after our p-day finished up, we stopped by Rocky's house to visit him. He answered the door and let us in! We had the opportunity to teach him about the Restoration and picked him up as a new investigator! It was a great lesson and we were pretty excited about our visit. This week we also taught Shanon about the law of tithing. She is progressing quite well and we are just trying to work with her in order to set a baptismal date. Please pray for her. We had another lesson with Jacky. It was really great and he will most likely be baptized this next Sunday, August 20th. Please also pray for him. 

Jacky and Elder Willes

Thursday morning we drove to Lake Elsinore and finally got to meet with Evangel again! We taught Evangel and her daughter Blair more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and it was awesome! Evangel still has very strong faith and we are excited to continue to help her! They took us out to lunch after our lesson and that was pretty fun!!! On Saturday morning we had a super awesome lesson with Johnson, his wife Suzy, and their daughter named Katy. We tracted into them a couple of weeks ago and they came to church last Sunday! It was a great lesson and it is so cool to see the way the Lord helps us to find people who need and are seeking Him.

Other info from the week - On Tuesday morning we had our weekly "DLC" and "DDM" Meetings. I gave a training on receiving revelation through the Book of Mormon. It went pretty well, and I felt the Spirit really strong! I am also happy to report that Elder Nelson and I won the "Clean Car Award" for the 2nd Straight Time!!!!!!! #Back2Back :) Haha that was awesome. English class continues to go really well. And on Friday morning we had some good old service at the Jensen Alvarado Ranch again. That was pretty fun! 

Sunday was another amazing Sabbath Day!!! We had 3 investigators come to church. Jacky, Shanon, and Apple all came to Church! It was so awesome and I felt the Spirit really strong as I got to worship with all of them! The Lord loves these people and so do I. After church, we drove to Riverside, to have another lesson with Louise! She is doing so awesome! She has read all of 1 Nephi in one week!!!! She is progressing very well, and will be coming to church next Sunday. Overall, another super awesome Sabbath Day!

I've had another pretty great week here in the CRM. I hope you all are having a super good week wherever you are. I am excited for this new opportunity this upcoming transfer. Please pray that we can find those souls in Hemet, CA, that are ready so that we can help them come to know the Savior, and Come Unto Christ. Love you all have a great week!

Elder Willes

ENDURE TO THE END

Hello everyone :) This week has been another super awesome week here in the California, Riverside Mission! We have seen so so many MIRACLES, and the Lord continues to bless us everyday. We are so excited to continue to work hard and to labor in the Lord's Vineyard. The most amazing miracle is that Bao Jie Mei was baptized!!!!! From beginning to end it has been such a special experience. More details on that to come! 

Miao Di Xiong, Elder Willes, Bao Jie Mei and her daughter Grace

Monday Night Bao Jie Mei called us, and said that she would be going back to China on Saturday, August 12th. It was a little later than expected, and she expressed her strong desire to be baptized. On Tuesday night we had another lesson with Bao Jie Mei and we taught her about the word of wisdom and the law of chastity. It was another pretty great lesson!!! That same night, we met with Miao Di Xiong to discuss Bao Jie Mei's situation. 

After contacting President Hammon about the situation with Bao Jie Mei quickly leaving to go back to China, the most important thing that President Hammon requested was that she had fellowship, and could attend Church in China. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to be baptized at this time. That night, we found out that Bao Jie Mei lives in a smaller city in China but we could still email one of the church leaders in China and figure out if there is a Group of members there near her small city. Miao Di Xiong told us that it wasn't likely, but we could still try. That day, we fasted for Bao Jie Mei. We knew that she was so prepared, and had faith that she could be baptized on Sunday. 

On Wednesday Miao Di Xiong called us, and told us that they DO have a Group of members in Bao Jie Mei's City!!!! It was a Miracle. Once she gets back to China, she will be able to attend Church!!! We have met with her everyday this past week to finish teaching her. 

On Friday we went on exchanges with the Eastvale English Elders. Elder Gulbranson came to our area to be with me, and Elder Nelson went to their area. That morning, we had another lesson with Bao Jie Mei. It was a great lesson and she expressed her strong desire to attend the Temple, and help her husband and friends learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Sunday was so awesome too!!! We had 6 total investigators come to Church. Bao Jie Mei, her daughter Grace, Apple, Jacky, Shanon, and Ada all came!!! Directly after church, we had the opportunity to attend Bao Jie Mei's Baptism!!! I had the privilege of baptizing her, and it was a special experience. The Spirit was so strong, and I know that Bao Jie Mei will be an awesome member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She bore her testimony and said that she will Endure to the End!!! Truly we saw a huge miracle this week.

This week we also taught and had another good lesson with Ada! She is doing awesome. We taught her the Plan of Salvation. Please pray for her, and all of our investigators that we are teaching! We also got to meet with Guns and Anna. We finished the Plan of Salvation with them, and they really loved it!!! We visited Jacky at work who made sushi for us. We taught Shannon. We had a home visit on Thursday with the Su Jia Ting in our Chinese Group. They are awesome! Jacky called us later in the week and told us he wanted to be baptized on August 20th!!!! It was so so so cool!!! Much of Saturday we spent out doing some good old Seeking with Faith. It was a good day.

Elder Nelson, Jacky and Elder Willes

 

Sunday afternoon, because Elder Nelson got sick, Elder Gulbranson and I went to visit Louise Lee, a referral that we had received a couple of days ago from some other missionaries. We taught her about the Restoration and she really enjoyed it!!! She is from Taiwan, and accepted a baptismal date for September 17th!!! Please keep all of our investigators in your prayers.

Sorry this email has been so long, but we have seen so so many Miracles and I wanted to share them with you. We are so so beyond blessed and I am so grateful for this amazing opportunity to Represent our Savior, Jesus Christ. I am excited to continue to work hard, and help people truly Come Unto Christ. Love you all have a great week!

Elder Willes

TALK TO GOD

Elder Willes and Elder Nelson

黃色的西瓜

Monday, July 31, 2017

你們好!!! 這裡是魏長老. I hope you all are having a great week at home. This week has been another pretty great one here in the Eastvale area! We have seen many miracles this past week and we are excited to continue to work hard! Here is how my week went down. 

Tuesday was a great day!!! That morning, we drove to Riverside, to have a lesson with a referral from a member. Sister Dietrich, a member in Riverside, has a daughter, who has a friend, (still following?) that is from ShangHai, China. We went, and taught her the message of the Restoration and it was a great lesson. Her name is Rono. At the end of the lesson, Rono said a prayer for the first time ever and I felt the Spirit really strong. It was really cool! It is amazing to see someone realize that we can really talk to God. That afternoon, we also had a lesson with Apple. We contacted Apple on the street about 2 weeks ago, and scheduled a time to meet with her. She is from Taiwan! It was a really great lesson. We hope that she will be coming to church this Sunday!!!

We had a lesson with Echo and Joanna Zhou. Joanna is actually a former investigator that we had to "pause" a while ago, because we couldn't meet with her. She came to our English Class this week and we taught her and her friend Echo too! We taught them about the Restoration. At the end of the lesson, Echo said that she wanted to pray about our message to decide if it is the right thing for her to do. Please pray for them that Heavenly Father can answer Echo's prayers and that she might recognize that answer!

This week I gave a training for our weekly DDM on the role of the Holy Ghost in Conversion. The Spirit was strong and helped us all o learn that day. Our English class is going well. It is pretty awesome and a great help to us in finding. We are doing our best to get as many people as we can to attend. We also went on exchanges this week with our Zone Leaders. Elder Williams and I spent the day together and we were able to pick up one new investigator for their area. We also had a lesson with a man named Skylar. It was really powerful. At the start of the lesson, Skylar was smoking a cigarette, and not really paying attention. A little bit into the lesson, he dropped the cigarette, and started paying attention, and answering questions. It was really cool to see the Spirit of the Lord work on someone. Such a cool experience!

Saturday was another pretty awesome day. That afternoon, we went to Guns's house, to have another lesson with him! We finished teaching Guns about the plan of salvation. Guns is very involved in his current Christian church, so please pray for him and his family that they can continue to learn and progress! That night, we had another lesson with Jacky! We taught him more about Jesus Christ, and His life. We were able to put him on date for baptism, for August 20th! Please pray for him, that his work will allow him to come to church on Sundays, so he can be baptized on that date!

Sunday was another awesome day. We only had one investigator come to Church. Bao Jie Mei came to church, and it was awesome! She expressed her strong desire to be baptized, but sadly is going back to China this next week. We know that whether now or in a future time, Bao Jie Mei will accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was a good Sabbath Day, and I was grateful for the opportunity to worship my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

This week has been awesome. We are really 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 hope you have a great week!

Elder Willes

傳教士的生活

Hello everyone!!! Elder Nelson and I have seen many miracles and the Lord continues to bless us everyday. I am excited to continue to work hard and to help more Chinese people Come Unto Christ. I have 2 cousins coming out soon to the mission field. I am so excited for Michael and Joseph. They are gonna be awesome missionaries and are gonna love this work. Go teach it boys!

Our district is doing well and it is so great to be able to serve. I gave a training this week on The doctrine of Christ. It went pretty well!  Our English Class still continues to grow. That is a great blessing. It is a really great finding tool for us. I teach the more basic English and Elder Nelson teaches the more Advanced English. It is enticing to people when we offer different levels and it has been working!!! 

We met this week with Brother and Sister Meaders, a couple living in the Eastvale Ward. They both are converts and are really cool! We shared with them a new Ward Mission Plan that we are implementing soon. It was an awesome visit!!! We've done several visits this week with more members in the Eastvale Ward. It is so helpful when members share the Gospel. We visited with the Deng Family and Tina and Tony. They all are so awesome and have a strong desire to help us further the missionary work here!!!

We went to Gun's house to have another lesson with Guns, Anna and Bao Jie Mei! Sadly, Anna was putting their kids to bed and Grace was asleep so we just taught Guns and Bao Jie Mei. We taught a lot about the importance and power of the Book of Mormon. It was a really great lesson and the Spirit was strong!

Friday afternoon we had another lesson with Jerry. Jerry has a lot of faith and a strong desire to learn about Jesus Christ. We are really really excited for him! We also had the opportunity to go and give Shanon a Priesthood blessing this week. She hasn't been feeling well recently and so we went over to give her a blessing. We also met her husband who was visiting from China. It was a really really powerful experience. More on that later!!!!!!!!!!! 

Saturday was another pretty good day!!! That morning, we had another Weekly Blitz. Elder Phipps and I went out together. It was Elder Phipps's last Weekly Blitz on his mission because he is going home tomorrow! We talked to a lot of people and were able to get 2 referrals for the Eastvale English Elders. Working to the end!!! That afternoon, Shanon texted us, and said that she felt much better. It was such a miracle. The Priesthood is real and I am so grateful for this amazing blessing of the Priesthood of God that the Lord gives. We spent much of Saturday evening out seeking with faith and talked to a lot of Chinese people. I love them so much.

Sunday was also another awesome day!!! We had 3 investigators that attended church. Bao Jie Mei, Jerry and Ada all attended church!!! This past Sunday was the special Chinese Sacrament Meeting that we do as a group once-a-month. It was awesome and I felt the Spirit really strong! Sunday night we had a lesson with Zhao Di Xiong and his wife Susan, our 2 new investigators that we found this past week! Zhao Di Xiong is actually a former investigator that Elder Crowther and I taught. We talked to him again in the park a couple of nights ago with his wife, and set up a time to meet with them! We taught them a little bit about the Restoration. It was a great lesson! Susan said the closing prayer and I felt the Spirit really strong.

I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to represent our Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so excited to continue to work hard and to help more of my Chinese brothers and sisters to truly Come Unto Christ. Love you all have a great week!

Elder Willes

ANOTHER AMAZING WEEK IS IN THE BOOKS

"We continue to see the Lord's hand in our work every single day and I am so so so grateful 

to be able to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent the Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I love Him and I am grateful for his atoning sacrifice for each one of us."

Another amazing week here in the CRM is in the books!!! I love this work and I love the Chinese people here!! Christine Xiong was baptized!!! It is always a special day to see someone enter into a sacred covenant with their Heavenly Father. It is definitely the highlight of any missionary's week to watch faith in Jesus Christ that grows in someone you love.

Elder Willes and Christine Xiong

Our investigators are just awesome. Last Tuesday afternoon we had the opportunity to go to Shanon's and have another lesson with her. We followed up on her commitments and taught her about the Word of Wisdom. Shanon has agreed to live the WofW for one week. She likes to drink tea. Tea is really part of the Chinese culture so please pray for her, that she through living the commandments, can know of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was a great lesson and she is super awesome! Guns and his wife Anna came to church and Guns came in a white shirt and tie too!!! It was awesome. Also, we texted Hank (who was recently baptized) and he said that he is going to help with their Ward Trek!!! How cool is that? I love that guy. We are also trying to get Evangel to the temple in the next couple of weeks.

We had an exchange this week with the Eastvale English Elders. Elder Porazzo (Elder Gulbranson's new trainee), came to be with me in our area. We had a great day together! That afternoon we had an amazing lesson with Bao Jie Mei!!! We taught her about the Plan of Salvation and the spirit was really strong. Bao Jie Mei really has a strong desire to learn and we are excited for her to continue to progress and Come Unto Christ. That night, we had another awesome English Class. We had a ton of people there too! After our class we had a lesson with Zoe, one of our new investigators. Zoe has been coming to English Class for awhile. It was a great lesson and Zoe was really happy! 

Thursday morning we had our first interviews with President Hammon. I love that guy. He is so awesome. You can feel of his love that he has for the missionaries all of the time. It was super awesome!  

Friday was another great day too! That night, we had another awesome English Class. We had a lot of new Chinese people come. After our class I taught Wang Di Xiong and his wife, Song Jie Mei (who we found through our English Class). Literally while I was teaching them, in the same room, Elder Nelson was teaching Michael! We had a lot of lessons that night. Isn't that the best problem to have?! Immediately after teaching Wang Di Xiong and Song Jie Mei I then sat down with Li Di Xiong and taught Jacky! A busy and awesome night.

Saturday morning we had our Weekly Blitz for some other missionaries in our Zone. Elder Williams (one of my Zone Leaders) and I went out again together. We found one awesome referral!!! He mentioned to us that his Grandpa passed away three weeks ago and also he had a 12 year old daughter that had passed away. It was so sad for him but also so powerful as we talked about the Plan of Salvation in his garage. His name is Javier. Please pray for him! It was such an amazing experience and one that I will never forget. I love that through the Gospel of Jesus Christ we are able to be with those we love forever. That is a gift of hope that just simply cannot be replaced with anything else. 

This week we were able to attend the best Ward Party ever. Our Chinese Ward Activity is one I've gone to before. Everyone brings stuff they don't want and everyone exchanges items. It's like a giant White Elephant Ward Party. Sunny, Vivian, and Sunny's 11 year old daughter, Isabella all came too! It was fun and a good opportunity to invite some of our investigators to attend as well! 

We had another lesson with Guns and his wife Anna, Bao Jie Mei, and her daughter Grace. It was so so so cool! We taught them all the Plan of Salvation. During the lesson, Guns told us that ever since we have been coming by it has planted a seed in Anna and given her an increased desire to follow the Savior, Jesus Christ. Elder Nelson and I were looking at each other like holy cow!!!!!! We had the biggest smiles on our faces. Guns and his wife Anna are on date for baptism for August 20th!!!! Keep praying for them.

Sunday was so awesome. Christine was BAPTIZED!!!! It was a special day and I will never forget it. Brother Miao and Brother Jiang spoke at her baptism. Brother Xiong, Christine's dad, baptized her. I felt the Spirit so strongly and it was a really special day for me. I hope and pray that the entire Xiong Family will continue to learn and grow in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Elder Crowther, Elder Willes, Christine, Brother Xiong and Elder Nelson

This week has been amazing. We continue to see the Lord's hand in our work every single day and I am so so so grateful to be able to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent the Savior, Jesus Christ. I love Him and I am grateful for his atoning sacrifice for each one of us, so that we can repent and truly develop a personal relationship with Him. Love you all have a great week!

Elder Willes 

8 INVESTIGATORS AT CHURCH

Hello everyone! :) This week has been another amazing week here in the CRM!!! We had 8 investigators attend church AND we picked up 5 new investigators this week!!! To top it off, Christine Xiong had her baptismal interview on Sunday and was found WORTHY to be baptized!!!!!! Christine will be baptized this coming Sunday. She is awesome and super excited for her baptism and we are so excited for her! 

We taught Michael Li this week, a new investigator. We contacted Michael a long time ago and he wasn't super interested at the time, but we planted some seeds baby. Michael called us recently asking for help translating a document. So of course we helped him with that and also taught him the first couple of points about the restoration of the Gospel. It was a great lesson and he even said the closing prayer. We also continue to teach Shannon and shared with her Alma 32 this week to help her faith grow stronger. The spirit was really strong during that lesson. I love teaching the Gospel and love when you see that someone is feeling the spirit and learning.

We met our new Mission President this week, President Hammon! President Hammon is such a great guy. I love him. You could tell from the second he walked into the room that he loved all of us missionaries. He introduced himself and also shared a lot of cool "spiritual things" with us. I can tell he is going to be a great blessing to our mission and that I will learn a lot from him. I am excited to serve around him.

On Thursday morning we went down to Lake Elsinore to have a recent-convert lesson with Evangel and Blair!!! It was awesome. I feel so blessed to have met and taught these 2 great ladies. We are also teaching Ada, one of our new investigators. She is a member referral from Sister Yu. Ada is super great. Please pray for her and her family to accept the Gospel! We taught Michael Xu this week. He is doing well and still keeping all of the commitments that we have extended to him. He is so awesome! On Saturday, we went to Hemet (which is quite a long ways away from us), to have another lesson with Cher. We taught her the Plan of Salvation. It is a long distance, well over an hour, for her to come to church. So please pray for her to receive the help she needs so she can come to church and progress. We also taught Steven and Jerry. They are awesome. 

Elder Willes and Elder Nelson (thanks to Kenzie for the best themed packages ever)

This week we did some service at the Jensen Alvarado Ranch. I always enjoy the time when we give service. Also, our English Class is booming and we are so grateful. We usually have around 15 people coming now!! It has grown so much. On Saturday morning we had another weekly blitz for the Jurupa Elders. It was so fun. Elder Williams (one of the Zone Leaders) and I found some referrals for them! 

Sunday was super amazing! This past Sunday, I had the opportunity of giving a talk in Sacrament Meeting about missionary work. We had 8 investigators come to church which was awesome! Sunday night, we had an AMAZING lesson with a new family that we found, Guns, and his wife Anna. We met Guns at Orchard Park awhile ago. We taught Guns and Anna along with Sister Bao and her daughter Grace. It was an amazing lesson. Please pray for all of them so that they can Come Unto Christ.

This week has been amazing. I am so excited to continue to work hard and help people Come to Know the Savior. Love you all and know that I am praying for you so you can all have the best week ever!

Elder Willes