Prince of Peace

On Monday, December 12, 2016 5:36 PM, Dustin Thelander <dustin.thelander@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Chino is the coolest place ever. I really love it here. Sunday at church we had our Fast and Testimony meeting, and it was incredible. During the YSA testimony meeting there was a break in the action, and I literally felt the spirit pick me up out of my seat and I went up to bear my testimony. I didn't really want to, but my body stood up and there I was. I talked on how one of the names of the Savior is the Prince of Peace. There is one thing that Satan cannot mimic, and that is the feeling of peace. I love that fact. When you feel peace the spirit of the Lord is with you.

Monday's P-Day was pretty darn good last week. In the later part of the day we met together as a zone and had a ping pong tournament. I played against two Asian members of our zone... and won. Then I played Elder Brough and won taking me to the championship against Elder Kleinman. I did win that one as well. I won the whole dang thing! It was really fun.

Tuesday I was in the most amazing meeting ever. Each member trained for 5 min. The spirit was so strong, and I really felt the love that Jesus Christ had for me in that moment. Wednesday we had a great day of lessons. There is a member of the YSA ward, and his cousin has showed interest in the church. We stopped by and had a lesson with the two of them. Chincha is what we call her- Cynthia is her real name. The lesson went very well, and she will be meeting with us again later this week. Then we say less-active Jesse. He was baptized at 8 but was never active in the church. We are doing our best to help him feel the Spirit in his life. He is kind to us, but we are not too sure how much he enjoys the lessons. But, as long as he invites us over, we will continue visiting. Later in the evening after a great dinner with the Tanner family (President Tanner is in the mission presidency), we had a visit with Paul. Paula wasn't feeling very well, but we talked with Paul for a while and read 2 Nephi 31 with him. He really enjoyed how much he feels the Book of Mormon compliments the Bible and how it supports what he already knows.

Thursday we taught a lot as well. We visited Sister Bean, and she just went on and on about how much she appreciates us coming over. She, toward the end of the lesson, asked if we could help her set up her Christmas tree this coming week. That is a big deal as she is the most independent person on this planet. She is 86 and going strong. Then we ate dinner with the Dunn family. The husband is not a member of the church, and the wife is not around all that often. There are three kids as well. The dinner was great and we were able to share a great thought with them. Sister Dunn is amazing at the piano, and she played a couple of numbers for us. Then after all that we saw Jose again. He has continued to read the Book of Mormon and he tells us how much it is changing his life.

Friday we got packing calls, and news came that no one expected. Elder Jeppsen, my companion, got the call to pack his things. It was sad. But that evening made us forget our sadness. Why? Because Paul and Paula came to our Christmas party. What was better is that the ward jumped into action and did a great job at fellowshipping them. I couldn't have talked to them in that evening if I wanted to. They had a wonderful time, and I think that night is a game changer in their investigation of the church. They went out of town for the weekend and were not able to attend church, but they set up a meeting with us for this week. Saturday Elder Jeppsen packed, and we spent a lot of time at the Zavalas. We attended the Rolling Ridge ward Christmas party as well to sing in a program they were doing. Sunday was go go go. We had a meeting with the local leaders in the morning, two church services to attend, dinner, obtain transfer information for the whole zone, and then run a community Christmas concert. All was amazing, and the day went super fast. So Elder Jeppsen getting transferred means I would be getting a new comp. I did indeed get a new one, and I am so excited. I am with an Elder Ludwig. We have known each other for a while out here and are both equally stoked to be companions. We will keep Chino going strong for sure. I love you all so much. Crazy day today, more info to come next week.

Scripture of the week is from Alma, chapter 5, verse 16, "I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?"

I would love to hear those words, and I strive to live so that I may. I serve so that others can hear that as well.

Love,

Elder Thelander

photos- the Chino zone and me waiting impatiently for transfer news this weekend...