Week 100--June 15, 2015

Well This week something happened that I thought never would, but I will get to that in a minute.

Tuesday, Elder Brent H. Neilson of the Seventy held a conference for the North Half of the mission. It was really good! He talked a lot about the enabling power of the atonement. Through Jesus Christ all things are possible. We can be cleansed of sin, but we can also be lifted up and strengthened by him. Such as in Matthew 11 when Christ invites us to come unto him and take his yoke upon you, that he can strengthen you. He is always willing to help us, but are we always willing to come unto him? Sister Neilson also spoke, she talked about relationships with our companions. It was really good, and I definitely learned a lot. In the Afternoon Elder Neilson opened it up for questions and of course one of the first questions was "When are we getting iPads?" To which he gave the answer "Hopefully soon." He talked a lot about them, and talked about a lot of things. One of them is from Elder Russell M. Nelson: Elder Nelson talked about how this generation has a much different struggle than the previous generation, the biggest worry of the brethren for the previous generation was the Word of Wisdom, now it is Pornography. He said that Perhaps the biggest reason they are giving missionaries iPads are to teach them how to avoid temptation, and keep themselves clean after their missions. Elder Neilson talked about the training for that, and as I thought about it I think that it is something that I am definitely going to apply when I get home. There are 3 steps: 1) Avoid Temptation, 2) Have a Plan for when Temptation arises, 3) Learn and Improve. In addition to those things, every four days have a Device Audit. A Device Audit is when someone else has the information to get into your device, and you trade devices and go through their device to hold each other accountable. I am definitely going to do that when I get home, If we are doing what we are supposed to we should have nothing to hide in our Devices. I really enjoyed the conference.

Well we did have some really good lessons this week. We had a really powerful lesson with the Tavis Family. We taught about the Plan of Salvation. I really Love teaching about the Plan of Salvation because it truly is what can make us the most happy. It was really good to see them come to understand Heavenly Father's Plan for them. I Love the Gospel! 

Well I guess it is time to talk about the thing that I never thought would come. On Wednesday Night I got a call from President Mullen asking me to come to Riverside on Friday for my Exit Interview. So on Friday I had my Exit Interview. I was the First one to have the Interview too. It was a really good experience. President Mullen gave me some really good advice. He asked about my goals, and told me that I need to get married. He said that if I am not married in 10 years that there is something wrong. I would probably agree. The Interview was good.

Well I love you all!

Elder Bangerter

Week 99--June 8, 2015

Can it really already be a week in to June already? Time surely flies by! I sure wish that I could slow it down.

Well this week has been good, hectic but good. It is really different covering the whole ward now. We do have some super awesome new investigators now. So we will start with Diana. Diana is super cool, and she is on date to be baptized at the end of this month. Her biggest concern is her family. They are Catholic and do not want her to be baptized. She already has a testimony and she wants to be Baptized but she is struggling with her family. So we have invited Sister Jordan from the ward to help fellowship her. Sister Jordan just returned from her mission and she was baptized at 16 or 17, and she went through similar situations with her family, in fact she was more or less kicked out when she got home from her mission. Hopefully it will be good! Then there is the Tavis Family, We got a referral for them from the Bishop, and we stopped by on Tuesday. It turns out that when we got there we found out that several missionaries have tried to teach them but none have got in the door. We were the first to get in the door, and not only that, the committed to be Baptized! They haven't set a date yet but they want to get baptized. It was definitely a miracle! 

I was reading in the scriptures this week in the Book of Mormon, and there was one scripture that I read that really caused me to ponder. I was reading in Mosiah 18, and Alma has just become converted because of the preaching of Abinadi, so he goes and he starts teaching and sharing his joy with others, and then he starts baptizing. The scripture that stood out to me in this chapter this particular time around was verse 30 "And now it came to pass that all this was done in Mormon, yea, by the waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon; yea, the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise forever." This verse talks about how beautiful the Waters of Mormon are to those who were converted there. This caused me to ponder upon my conversion, and how beautiful the places where I experienced my conversion are to me. Such as a Mountain side in New Mexico, or a Dance hall at a university in San Antonio (EFY), or by a swimming pool, or on a stage with a choir, or in a garage in Moreno Valley, California. Where are the places that you have experienced your conversion, are they beautiful to you?

Well I Love you guys,

Elder Bangerter

Week 98--June 1, 2015

It just hit me that tomorrow I will be in the most senior group of missionaries in the mission:( 

Well Another transfer has come and gone and........ I am......... getting..... to stay here in Jurupa 2nd with Elder Luedke for my last transfer! I am pretty excited! There will however be some changes starting today. Until now we shared the ward with another set of Elders, and as of now we cover the whole ward, and with that we get a Car (2015 Toyota Corolla). Along with that we also are moving to where the other Elders were living, and another set of Elders are moving into Sister Smith's home. I am sad about that I am really going to miss living with Sister Smith she is really great. 

With the combining of the ward we inherited a lot of investigators from the other side. We did have a blitz in our area on Saturday and from it we picked up 12 new investigators so we have a lot to work with.

Well We really don't have a ton of time today, but I love all of you guys

Elder Bangerter

Week 97--May 25, 2015

Sorry, we've been inundated with rain her in Texas. I meant to get this up a couple days ago. Sharon

This week has been really good! We were able to pick up several new Investigators this week, so that is always good. 

Well this week we had my last Multi-Zone Conference. It was really good! I always enjoy going and being trained by President and Sister Mullen, and the Assistants. All of the trainings were helpful. One thing that was a little different this time around was that President Mullen had the missionaries in Corona invite members to be people for the missionaries to practice contacting. It was good to see some members that I have served around too. Then we found out about a Elder Neilson of the Seventy is coming to our mission in two weeks so we get to prepare for another great conference there! I did have to bear my testimony as one of the Outgoing missionaries for the next two transfers so that was really weird. I am glad that it didn't make me too trunky however, so that was good.

Like I mentioned earlier, we picked up a few new investigators. The most solid one is probably a guy named Mario. We just found him out walking in one of the neighborhoods that we were in. He is super cool, and he is a really big guy. He is super prepared for the gospel! It always amazes me that as we keep working hard Heavenly Father will bless us with people to teach!

Well I love Y'all

Elder Bangerter

Week 96--May 18, 2015

Well this past week has flown by, and so will this up coming week most likely fly by too with all the meetings that there are.

This week has been pretty frustrating, most of our appointments canceled, nobody has been outside because it has been raining, and so on and so on. Then on top of that Elder Luedke broke two spokes on his bike. Unfortunately we had to walk everywhere for two days, fortunately it wasn't too hot, unfortunately it was the days that it rained almost all day, fortunately we were able to get his bike fixed so now we can bike. Well on top of that our week wasn't that great, but that is okay because we found a super solid new investigator this week. His name is Michael, and he is super cool. We have an appointment with him tonight hopefully it goes well.

Tomorrow is my last multi-zone conference as a missionary, I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. I am going to have to share my testimony because it is my last. I guess it is okay.

Well I love all of you guys,

Elder Bangerter

week 95--May 11, 2015

What is more exciting than rain in Southern California? Having a Baptism that was so well attended that we had to move into the chapel. What is more exciting than that? Having 60 family members of the couple getting baptized in attendance!

The Ostlers were baptized on Saturday! It was very exciting! There were so many people at the Baptism I couldn't believe it! It was definitely a reaffirmation to me that it is never to late to come unto Christ! The Ostlers children, and grandchildren are all members of the church, and they have been praying for over 50 years that this day would happen. Some of them had even gotten to the point that they weren't sure that they would be baptized in this life. But Miracles happen! The Lord hears our Prayers, and he will answer in his own given time. We must be patient, and never loose faith in Heavenly Father or his miracles. Believe in Miracles! Pray for Miracles! Expect Miracles! They happen every day. It is truly amazing to see a family come together in such a way as happened this weekend.

Well, I hope everything is going well

I love you guys

Elder Bangerter

Week 94--May 4. 2015

It's May Already!?!?!?!?! Where has all the time gone? It is so crazy to me that May is already here! It is weird!

Well this week has been a little bit slower just because of meetings every day, but I guess that happens sometimes. Everything is all set for the Ostler's baptism this weekend. They both passed their baptismal interviews yesterday. Now We just get to wait until their family starts coming on Thursday and then the Baptism will be this Saturday! It is all coming together, and it is exciting! I have to say this will be probably one of the most exciting baptisms that I have been a part of. It is so cool to see families come together for a baptism.

The Last time that I was at a baptism where so many family members have been planning on coming was in November of 2013, it was Oscar's baptism. Now Oscar has been sealed in the temple and is raising a family. There is just something about this work, something special, something sacred, seeing families coming together to make covenants that will one day allow them, to be with each other forever. That is what this work is all about! That is why we do missionary work, that is why we do temple work, so we can share the blessings that have been extended to us in and through Jesus Christ with others. I have often reflected about that. We have something so beautiful, so glorious, and so joyous, and why would we not want to share that with others. Why would we not want others to feel of that joy and happiness. Someone asked me what the greatest joy that I have enjoyed as a missionary is, My reply is that the greatest joy of missionary work is not having hundreds of baptisms, or teaching fifty or more lessons a week. The greatest joy of being a missionary is seeing the change that takes place in someones life, as they come to accept the gospel. Seeing the change in their eyes, feeling of the love that they come to feel for Jesus Christ. The greatest joy is seeing families come together realizing that they can be together forever.

I want all of you to know that I Know that God Lives, He loves each and everyone of you. If you are reading this, know that he is aware of you and your needs. He is constantly waiting to help you! He loves you so much that he sent his only begotten son in the flesh. I know that Jesus Christ lived, He lived each and every minute of his life for each of us. He suffered, bled, and died for all of us. Most importantly He Rose on the Third day! He Lives! Because he lives, we will be able to be forgiven, and we will live again. Jesus is the Christ! He is our savior!

I Love all of you!

Elder Bangerter

I got this picture yesterday in my email inbox. I assume it's from someone in the ward Andrew is serving in. Those boys look great!  Sharon