Week 89--March 30, 2015

Well, another week has come and gone and we have definitely had a great week and have seen some miracles.

Probably the biggest miracle this week happened on Wednesday and Thursday of this past week. Things really weren't going very well and we were struggling. We decided to go and to visit the Bishop. When we were talking to the Bishop he told us about a family that he was going to visit that night. They are not members of the church, but all of their family is. Bishop told us that he would let us know how it went. Well Bishop called us at 6:32 the next morning, two minutes after the alarm went off, and told us that the family not only wanted to take the missionary lessons, but they want to get baptized. It was pretty exciting! We went by to see them that day, their name is the Ostlers, and we get there Brother Ostler comes out and he says, "What took you so long, we've been waiting for you?" It was pretty funny, our reply was that we had meetings earlier that day. We taught them the restoration, and come to find out that between January and now they have read all of the Book of Mormon, all of the Doctrine and Covenants, and all of the Pearl of Great Price. It was pretty amazing. They have committed to be baptized, they are working with their family for a date, but It was definitely a miracle.

We got to go to the Temple this week, That was good as always! I realized that before my next temple trip, which will most likely be my last as a missionary, I will most likely have to renew my temple recommend. 

Last week I also got an e-mail asking for information so they can book my flight home. I can't believe I already got that e-mail. I guess I've been out here for a long time or something.

Here are some scriptures that I liked from my Scripture Study this past week. "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." (James 2: 14-18) I love this scripture because it raises the question: Are we acting on our Faith? Or are we just saying that we believe? 

I know without a doubt in my heart that Jesus Christ lives, he is our savior! He lived for us and set a perfect example for us to follow. He suffered, was beaten, and crucified for our sins and for all of us. He rose on the third day, and He Lives today!

I love you guys,

Elder Bangerter

Week 88--March 23, 2015

It has been another interesting week here in Mira Loma.

There have been some frustrating things happen this week, and some really good things happened this week.

So, on the frustrating side, Mark dropped us this week. He feels like the Catholic church puts less pressure on his personal life. We finally felt like we were going somewhere with him, and he was starting to come to church and keep commitments, so it was frustrating when he dropped us. Then the other really frustrating thing that happened was out of the Ten or so people that committed to come to church only one of them came. It was very disappointing.

The good things, Terry is progressing great! He has cut down from 20 cigarettes a day to 2 cigarettes a day. He is doing so awesome. He has lots of fellowship, he came to church, and gave some awesome input to the lessons in church. It is awesome! Another thing that was super good that we found out about is that this Friday the church is releasing a new video for Easter called Because He Lives, all the missionaries have gotten to see the video already and it is awesome. It really helps me focus on what is possible Because Jesus Christ Lives today. There are also going to be three video's released between Easter and Christmas as supplements to The video. I encourage you all to share this video, and flood the world with the spirit of Christ! The video will be able to be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube beginning on Friday, as well as on HeLives.mormon.org

Well My New Testament reading, this week I have been all over the place, but I have been reading a lot in Jesus the Christ to go along with my reading. But I really liked What I read in Thessalonians. Here Paul is speaking of how he feels about the converts to the church, but this can apply to all of us, to the families that we home or visiting teach, or to anybody for whom we teach or have responsibility over. "So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us." (1 Thes. 2:8) and then also "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy." (1 Thes. 2:19-20)

Well I love you guys,

Elder Bangerter

Week 87--March 16, 2015

Well another week seems to have gone by, I'm not quite sure how it goes so fast but it does!

This week has been kind of interesting, Elder Warren has been sick again so a lot of our week has been spent inside, and at meetings that we had to go to. So needless to say we didn't get a ton accomplished this week, but that does not mean that it was a bad week! Of the time that we were able to get out we saw many miracles. One of the people that we have been teaching on and off is named Terry, Terry hasn't really been progressing because he likes to drink and to smoke. Well he was out drinking and smoking this past week and got beat up pretty bad. He told us when we saw him that he want's to stop doing those things and be baptized! It was pretty darn exciting for us!

I was reading in the scriptures this week and this scripture stood out to me. It is in Acts and it is Peter and John, Right after they are delivered from Prison, and it says: "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." (Acts 5:41) I think it is incredible the zeal that the early apostles had. I wish that I could be more like that.

Sorry this is so short,

Love Y'all

Elder Bangerter

Week 86--March 9, 2015

Well another Transfer has come and gone, and I am staying in Mira Loma with Elder Warren! I'm really excited we have a lot of work going on for us right now. Hopefully we will be able to keep it up! I have to say I Love it here in Mira Loma. The people are awesome, There is such a diversity, and it is totally different than any area that I have ever been in.

This week has been great, We found quite a few new investigators. There are two Part member Families in the ward that we have started working with, that haven't been worked with before. There is the N family, and the W family. Both families reached out to us this week and asked us to start teaching them! It is awesome! Hopefully we will be able to have some success there. Other than that, we are working with Veronica still, she is still working towards baptism in April. Lyzette has been gone all week, so we haven't been able to meet with her at all. Lots of stuff fell through towards the end of the week.

I have been reading a lot in the New Testament recently, and this week I have read several of the Epistles of Paul. While I was reading I especially liked the Epistles to Timothy. Some things that Stood out to me: "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;" (1 Timothy 2:1-3) Paul Teaches us here that we should pray for all men. We should pray for our leaders whether we like them, or agree with them. I also liked this: "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, where unto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:12) I love how Paul is teaching us to Fight the good fight! It also raises a question, Are we fighting the good fight? Are we doing those things that will let us lay hold on eternal life? Can we honestly say that we have professed a good profession before many witnesses? In the words of Alma "And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?" Are we doing those things to continue to grow our testimonies and deepen our testimonies? I hope that one day we may all be able to say the words of Paul "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" I know that I am not perfect, but I know that through the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ I can say when my days are through that I have fought a good fight, and that I have kept the faith. I love what Paul teaches Timothy in 2 Timothy, This is pretty much Paul's last words before he is martyred. I love what he teaches Timothy about the Scriptures: "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:15-17)

Well I love you Guys!

Elder Bangerter

Week 85--March 2, 2015

Sorry--I didn't realize that I had forgotten to actually post this on his blog! Sharon

Wow I have been in Mira Loma for 5 weeks now! It definitely does not feel that long. That means that transfers are coming up this weekend. I'm pretty sure I am going to stay put, but it is what ever Heavenly Father needs.

This week has been awesome! Elder Warren and I set a goal at the beginning of this Transfer that we were going to hit the new Standard of Excellence at least once before the end of the Transfer. We have come so close every week and we finally got it this week. We would have gotten it last week but Elder Warren was Sick so we were inside for quite a bit. It took quite a few miracles but we were able to do it this past week. It is really awesome to see that as we are diligent the Lord will bless us.

Part of the new standard of Excellence is that we have to find 3 new investigators a week. We had an awesome experience with finding this past week. So Alfredo, who just got baptized, referred us to his Girlfriend, and his nephew. So we started teaching his Girlfriend Lyzette, and at the end of the lesson I invited her to be baptized on March 28th, and she asked why I picked that day, my reply was "Because it is a Saturday." Then she asked how I knew that she could be ready by that day, and we then explained to her that as Missionaries we can receive revelation as to when people could be ready to be baptized. It was super cool. She is doing awesome. There are some things that we need to work out but She should be ready to go on the 28th.

Well I love you guys!

Elder Bangerter