These People Are Good And This Is Where I Need To Be: Either cars don't like Elder Greenberg or God needs us to walk

Not very much happened this week until the last couple days and then it got a lot better.

It rained a little bit on Monday, a little more on Tuesday, and then on Wednesday it poured all day long (apparently it was some of the most rain that Southern California has gotten in the last like 20 years). Luckily on Wednesday, when the rain was the worst, we spent most of the morning in the mission office then in our district leader's car so we stayed a little bit dry. With all the rain and then the fourth earthquake in the last four weeks (this one was the biggest yet at a whopping 4.8) us missionaries are preparing for some crazy disaster of some sort which hopefully will bring a humbling and some miracles to the California Irvine Mission.

Thursday we were able to meet a guy named Ned, while we were out tracting, who told us that he really loves Mormon people because they helped him out a lot when he lived in San Diego, so we were able to get his phone number, so we could get in contact with him, so that if he needs anything we can help out. Then, when we contacted him, we told him that if he wants we can also meet up with him to teach him more about why it is us Mormons are such nice people and he responded super enthusiastically saying that he would love to learn more so hopefully as we keep in touch with him something amazing will happen.

Friday was by far the highlight of the week. We got to got to the temple again which was amazing as always. Being able to go the temple while on my mission has been a huge blessing and I'm so grateful that we have one so close by. While I was in the Celestial room I was able to read some scriptures that were the exact answers to my prayers and that have helped me push through the tougher times and I was also able to talk to one of my friends from the San Clemente YSA ward while she was working in there and she was able give me some good advice so that was super helpful too. After the temple we attempted to meet with a less active man in our ward who wants to start coming back to church but he didn't show up; as we were about to leave a car pulled up in front of us and one of the kids that got out was somebody we gave a copy of the Book of Mormon to a couple of weeks ago who wanted to learn more but he said he got a new phone so he took our number down again and said he wants to meet up with us so since we ran into him again we have high hopes that something will work out. When we started biking home from that we stopped at a park to contact and met a man and his son and we were able to have a good chat with the father and we found out that he wants his son to find a religion in his life so we gave his son a copy of the Book of Mormon and he told he would read it and his dad said that if Brandon, the son, wanted to learn more he would let us know. After that we hopped back on the bikes and continued home but we didn't make it far before Elder Greenberg cut in front somebody trying to leave a parking lot and he got hit, luckily he was again protected and the only damage was to the bike so we are back to just on our feet, which, let me tell you, isn't the most fun thing in the world, but maybe we are supposed to be walking everywhere for some greater purpose, or cars just really don't like Elder Greenberg, so far I'm not sure which one it is.

We didn't end up getting to meet with Gabriel this week because all the rain led to a lot of leaks on the projects he was doing at work so he was kept super busy roofing but he continues to read the Book of Mormon and hopefully we will be able to meet with him this week and set a baptismal date for him.

Despite the hard times and crazy weather we keep working hard and having faith and patience that everything will work out in the end and that things will pick up in our area and we will begin to see the results of our efforts as promised in Alma 32:42-43 "42. And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white,yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not,neither shall ye thirst.

43. Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering,waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you."

I know that there are people out there being prepared by the Holy Ghost and I know that our Heavenly Father wants them to find the help each of them needs in their lives. I know that each one of them is good and I know that if its in God's plan for them and me I will be able to be with them and help them.

Love

Elder Cheever

At the temple