Cerritos!

Hi!

My week went by very fast. I'm trying to remember what  I did so I can at least tell you something fun or interesting. Where Elder Welch and I live is pretty cool. There are a few pretty interesting people that we regular interact with now. One of them is an old Filipino lady who is sometimes on the sidewalk just outside of our apartment complex. She always wears a pink beanie and asks people passing for the time. The first time we contacted her on the street she just asked us what time it was so we told her. She kept asking even though we told her so we asked if we could do anything for her. It's kind of hard to understand her because she doesn't really have any teeth and I'm not sure how much English she speaks but it sounded like she asked us to take blood. Haha so we told her we had to go. I like talking to "time" because she's nice and she brightens up my day.

There are a lot of really great people here. It has been so interesting for me to meet so many people from so many different backgrounds and beliefs. Something I have really learned on my mission so far is that no matter the circumstance, following Jesus Christ will change your life for the better. It is simple. As we follow Him we will receive blessings both spiritual and physical. I feel blessed to be in a position where I can be an instrument in God's hands as I invite people to follow Christ just like He would if He were there. Where I can show people how living the Gospel could really bless them and their family. I also like having a message that I don't have to prove. I don't go into someone's home and make them believe what I believe because of a scripture or how flattering the words I say are...I go talk to people about what God has done and what we believe God has done recently and give them evidence of that and invite them to find out for themselves.

I'm going to attach pictures this week of Elder Welch and I drinking a sketchy basil seed drink that he bought at "H Mart" an Asian market very close to our apartment. It was pretty gross. We also picked this giant lemon that wasn't ripe but was actually the size of a football. We cut that in half and there was not fruit in there so that was a bummer. So besides working very hard we are having fun too!

There are a lot of Polynesians in our ward and they love to feed us as much as possible. We visited the Tupu family and they got us a big bowl of three scoops of ice cream and three cookies. We talked to them and after we were done we were given three more cookies and scoops as big as the first helping. I can't believe I could still bike after that ha. They are really great people. Very giving and very loving. There have been many people here who want to give us dinner whenever we don't have someone to feed us.

I've liked being a zone leader so far. We get to answer any questions the missionaries have about the work and we get to help them. I like helping people a lot so why not help the missionaries who are trying to help people too? This morning we got a call from some elders that had their car towed last night. He was pretty mad at himself for parking in a tow zone so we got to cheer him up and spend some time with them as we drove to where there car was this morning. There are a lot of fairly new missionaries in my zone and I think they are really great.

Can you believe I've been gone for a year on Thursday? Me neither. I also can't believe we're moving and I hope you travel safe! Well I love you all and I hope you have a great week.

Love

Silas

First Week in Norwalk/Cerritos/Lakewood/Artesia/Hawaiian Gardens

Yes,

There are five different cities in my area. I really like it though! We have "little India" in our area so that was fun to discover. We were riding our bikes down Pioneer and I started smelling curry. I'm excited to try one of the restaurants and eat some chicken tikka masala again.

This is what I wrote to President Tew:

"It has been a week full of miracles as Elder Welch and I have come into our new area. It is a neat experience to white wash. It has helped me develop trust and hope that God will put us in the right place as long as we get out there and minister. I've already enjoyed having the responsibilities of a zone leader. I like getting to know and really care about them like Christ would if He were in my place.

The Lakewood Zone is full of great missionaries that work hard. I'm excited to get used to being a zone leader and being able to inspire them to be the best they can be. Something Elder Moala taught me is that we should work the hardest we can to show God the love that we have for Him."

We went to the mission office on saturday for a Mission Leader Council and it was really good. All of the zone leaders and sister trainer leaders met with the assistants and the mission president. One thing that's kind of funny is that now we're not going to use back packs anymore. So I'll be shopping for something else I guess. There was a missionary with a nice fossil brand satchel and it looked pretty nice actually. I think I'll look silly but I'll probably get used to it.

Elder Welch and I get along really well and we're having a good time. He's a good companion and I think we'll have a lot of success here. I'm excited for the next few weeks. Good luck family moving! Sorry my email this week is short!

Love

Silas

Transfers! (letter from 7/15)

Hey everyone,

This is my last P-day is Whittier! I am moving to the Cerritos 1st ward. My new address is: 16031 Pioneer Blvd #B13 Norwalk, CA. This week was pretty good. Wednesday night President Tew called Elder Moala and I to be zone leaders. That basically means I get to help not only people around where I live but also the missionaries that I serve around. So I get to help missionaries with any problems that they have and  try to be an example to them. The general area or zone where I'm going is "brand new". Last transfer there was one pretty big zone and now there will be two zones with about 20 missionaries in them. 

I'm excited to have the opportunity to be in the Lakewood zone with my new companion Elder Welch. He was Elder Moala's trainer and he said I'm going to really like him. I am sure I will have a lot to learn from him about being a good zone leader. I'm very humbled to be put in this position to serve and do so much good for others. I've been studying chapter 12 of Preach My Gospel in the hopes that I'll have the chance to interview my first baptismal candidate! 

I know I'm leaving the Colima ward in good hands. Elder Jensen is a good missionary and he knows where he wants to take the work. Yesterday I glanced over and saw Grace take the sacrament and renew the covenants that she made just two weeks ago. I am so happy to have had a chance to help her come closer to Christ. Every time I leave an area I realize how much I have enjoyed knowing the people that I've met. There are many families that I've grown close to and I've had a few chances to take pictures with them. I'll post some.

I finished the Book of Mormon this week and applied Moroni's promise. I'm grateful for the witness of the Holy Ghost of the Book of Mormon. I feel that same witness as I get ready to leave for the Lakewood zone. I've also been reading through the Old Testament still and I am in Jeremiah right now. It's interesting how the Lord speaks to the people in Jerusalem through Jeremiah. I like how God is very straightforward with us. If we're doing the wrong thing we won't receive blessings and we may go through trials to help us repent. On the other hand if we're following God He'll give us all He has. 

I took a picture with the Budge family. They asked Mom what my favorite food was and made me french toast for my birthday. I'll miss them! I couldn't get a picture with the Montierth's because they are in Utah. I'll miss them a lot too. I'm sure we'll keep in touch though. Well I hope everyone had a great week. Can you believe I'm only two weeks away from being out for a year? 

Love 

Silas

Last Week of the Transfer

What an interesting couple of months this has been for me! 

I am now in a trio again! That makes for five companions in two months which is pretty extreme. One of the missionaries in my ward (there were 4) went home so the lonely one came and is now with Elder Jensen and I. His name is Elder Moala and we actually came out together! He is a great guy with a big heart from Tonga. He lived in UT for four years before he came on a mission but he is still very Tongan which is cool. I'm learning some Tongan. Fakalongalonga means be quiet haha so we like saying that to each other. Tuku means stop. Afu is love. 

I met my new mission president and his wife and I really like them a lot! President Tew is from Wyoming and he is a very spiritual/intense man. He gave a training to my zone and as he talked to us he would look straight into each of our eyes and it seemed like he looked into our souls. He interviewed Grace for baptism and while they were in another room, we had a lesson with her daughter Gracie with Sister Tew. Grace's daughters are very sweet girls who are also looking into the church and they came this past Sunday.  The baptism on Saturday went really well. Grace was really happy and she said she felt the Spirit really strong. Her boyfriend Steven baptized and confirmed her and his family showed her a lot of support. 

HAPPY ALMOST BIRTHDAY EDEN! I can't believe you are almost a teenager! That is crazy! I miss you and I wish I could come to your my little pony party....kind of. I would come for you not the decorations. I love you! 

My 4th of July was pretty fun. We had dinner at the Kings and there were a bunch of people there. They have a ping pong table and I found myself playing ping pong! It was really fun. I can't wait to play Dad again! Everyone there who played really wanted to beat me. 

The pictures are of the bike bath right next to our apartment with Elder Moala, and Grace and Steven right before the baptism! 

I hope you have a great week! 

Love

Silas

11 Months!

Hey!

I always get excited to email you about my week. I feel like I've been getting worse at writing about my week but I'll keep trying to write a lot. Today I have been on my mission for 11 months. It is amazing how many experiences I've had in these short 11 months. The people I've met and loved will always be a part of my life and who I am. I am lucky that I made the decision to leave everything and come on a mission. 

This week Elder Jensen and I have gotten to know each other a little better and have been able to teach Grace a few times. Sister Cossio has been a really great friend to her and they are there to strengthen each other. Grace is really excited to be baptized this Saturday! She is changing her life around and she can feel how much it's blessing her life already. I'm really grateful for all the blessings in my life right now.

There was a woman at church yesterday who gave a talk on recognizing the blessings that God has given her. She talked about how she would keep a blessing journal where every once in awhile she would just write a few things she was thankful for. She said that recognizing the blessings in life have helped her with the trials she has gone through. I would guess that everyone that I know and meet is going through a trial right now. Whether that is physical or spiritual, counting your blessings can help you see God's hand in your life. 

I'm grateful for the priesthood that has been restored for the salvation of God's children. It's that priesthood that will wash Grace's sins away and allow her to covenant with God to always follow and represent Him. I'm just about out of time but I hope you all have a good week. I miss you a lot. I can't believe it has almost been a year since we've said goodbye.

Love,

Silas