这个星期我们有很多的奇迹

"It has been another great week here in Eastvale! I am so grateful for this amazing opportunity to be here and to serve my Chinese brothers and sisters. I love them so much and I love this work!"

Elder Willes and Elder Nelson (thank you to Elder Nelson's mom for the pic)

Hello everyone!! This past week has been pretty awesome and Elder Nelson and I have seen a lot of miracles!! This week we have been able to find 3 new investigators and we also had 4 investigators that came to church on Sunday! The Lord has blessed us immensely and the work is really starting to pick up here. Elder Nelson and I are excited to continue to work hard and to help as many Chinese people as we can to truly Come Unto Christ.  

Thank you all for your letters and prayers. Thank you for sharing all of the things that I can pray for to help you at home. For my mom-My health is doing super awesome and I feel great! I am sleeping pretty well too! Much better than before which is good. 

This past week, right before Elder Nelson and I were about to head home for the night (because it was 9 pm), I felt really prompted that we needed to stay and talk to a Chinese lady that was walking around the park. We started talking and walking with her and she was really nice! We ultimately navigated the conversation towards the Gospel and she agreed to let us to share a message with her! We are meeting with her tonight at 8 pm. Isn't that cool? Her name is Sue Ren and she is really awesome! Please pray for her and all of our investigators! 

Here is how my week went. It started off pretty awesome because we were able to visit with Tony and Tina, a Chinese couple living in the Eastvale Ward, who are going to the temple this Saturday (October 14th) and being sealed. They are really excited and it will be an awesome day for them. 

Elder Nelson and I are trying to improve the missionary work in our Zone. We had our Zone Accountability [meeting] and things are looking up for us!! At English Class we had the opportunity to meet with Mary Kong, a lady that we contacted in the park just over a week ago. We taught Mary about Jesus Christ and His earthly ministry and also we talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon. It was a great lesson! Please pray for Mary that she can read from the Book of Mormon! We only had one person that night show up for our English Class, so that was kind of a bummer. 

Thursday we had our Mission Leadership Conference, where all of the leaders in the mission gather together for one big meeting and we received various trainings from President and Sister Hammon, and also from the Assistants. I learned a lot and am excited to implement what I learned into our Daily Missionary Efforts!! That night, we had the opportunity to teach Jeff and his wife Sunny. We first tracted into Sunny's house in August, and haven't been able to meet until this Thursday. We taught them the message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and invited them to read from the Book of Mormon. Please pray for them that they can read from the Book of Mormon and know it is the Word of God.

Friday morning we had some good service at the Jensen Alvarado Ranch. We cleaned out irrigation lines again and that was pretty cool!! That night, we had a pretty awesome English Class! After our class Elder Nelson met with Annie Zhang and her 10 year old daughter Angela. I got to teach Xun and Sara along with Li Di Xiong. It was a great lesson and Angela accepted a baptismal date for November 12th. We are really excited for that!! Please also pray for them.

This week Elder Nelson and I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with the AP's, Elder Dew and Elder Anderson. I went with Elder Dew and we had a great day. We were able to pick up 3 new investigators for them in their area. I had a similar experience as what happened in the park earlier that week. Elder Dew and I were walking down this sketchy street and it was almost 9 pm. We walked by this one guy, and I felt prompted that we needed to go back and talk to him. We went back and contacted him. He rejected us and wasn't very nice about it either. But I know that Heavenly Father wanted me to do that. I know that that was inspired of God and that if our promptings propel us to do good, they are from Him. 

Sunday was pretty awesome too!! We were able to have 4 investigators come to church! Xun and Sara, Diana, and Angela all came to church! The Spirit was really strong and it was really awesome to be there and worship God the Father and His Only Begotten Son, the Savior, Jesus Christ. Also, we got to teach Elders Quorum on the spot, so that was pretty fun! We taught about faith. It went pretty well! The rest of the afternoon and night were spent doing some good old Seeking With Faith, trying to find more prepared Chinese people to teach. 

It has been another great week here in Eastvale! I am so grateful for this amazing opportunity to be here and to serve my Chinese brothers and sisters. I love them so much and I love this work! Love you all and hope you have the best week ever!!!!

Elder Willes

THE WEATHER IS FINALLY COOLING DOWN BUT NOT THE WORK

"General Conference is like Christmas. It is seriously the best couple of days. 

I learned so much and felt the Spirit so strongly."

Hello everyone!! This week has been another great week here in Eastvale. Elder Nelson and I have struggled a bit this past week with finding more people to teach, but we are going to continue to work our very hardest to help as many Chinese people as we can to truly come unto Christ! We currently have 5 investigators and are working our hardest to find more people to teach! We will find them! The weather is finally cooling down a bit (but not the missionary work) and it is so nice. It has been a super hot summer! My Chinese is still pretty decent. :) I am so grateful. I don't think I had much language loss through the last English transfer, but I may have forgotten just a few words. We have 6 companionships in the Jurupa Zone. It is a great zone and is pretty fun! Elder Crowther went to serve in the UCR area with Elder Yang. Elder Sorensen stayed in Hemet when I transferred to Eastvale. Hank and Tina [previous converts that have been in Northern California for the summer] moved back too so that is exciting!!!! 

Last Monday, which was also transfers, Shanon's son, Elder Xiao (who is serving in Boston, MA), called us!!! [Shannon was just baptized]. It was so cool having the opportunity to talk with him, and rejoice together because his mom was baptized. Shanon's story is such a miracle. It is a huge blessing that I have been able to get to know her!

We met Christine Xiong again this week! Keep praying for her. On Thursday we spent a full day doing some good old fashioned Seeking With Faith, trying to find more prepared Chinese people in our area!!

We still teach our English Class every Wednesday and Friday. It is really fun. On Friday after class we had the opportunity to meet with Xun and Sara, a couple that has been coming to English Class. We taught them the first couple of points from the Restoration. Christianity is a big leap for the Chinese culture but the Spirit was really strong during the lesson. We invited them to be baptized, but they declined, and want to continue to learn. Please pray for them! 

Saturday and Sunday were two awesome days of General Conference. General Conference is like Christmas! It is seriously the best. I learned so much and felt the Spirit so strongly. What a blessing it is to have the opportunity to hear from our modern-day prophets and apostles. 

I really loved President Uchtdorf's talk from Priesthood Session about Light. I loved how he said that darkness always vanishes in the presence of Light. We need to constantly CHOOSE THE LIGHT, and follow in the Light of Jesus Christ. 

I also loved Elder Hallstrom's talk from the Sunday morning session about Miracles. Having faith that God can save us, but having faith in His plan if it is not His will. I love that! Being a child of God, receiving a body, the Gift of the Savior and His Atonement, and the possibility of Eternal Life is a Miracle!!! Love that. 

I LOVED Elder Andersen's talk to finish up General Conference in the Sunday afternoon session. What a powerful experience that he shared about President Nelson and the Chinese people, the words of Elder Hales, and the words from the Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. Read the Book of Mormon. It will make your life better. It has made my life better. 

Time and time again General Conference provides such a spiritual experience, and strengthens my testimony of modern-day Prophets and Apostles. Conference is the BEST!!!

Thank you for all of the updates, letters and prayers. They mean more than I can explain. 

It is super super awesome to think that Kenz is a missionary now!!! She will bless many many lives and will be an incredible missionary. Bummer about WX and BYU Football! Honestly, sports don't mean nearly as much to me anymore.

Love you all have a great week!

Elder Willes

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