On Monday, April 24, 2017 4:20 PM, Dustin Thelander <dustin.thelander@myldsmail.net> wrote:
I literally have no idea where to start. I don't really know when I wrote last, the last little while has been interesting. On Saturday last week, we helped a family move in the morning, a really easy move that got done on time for a change. Following that we met with a less active member in the YSA. He is Corbin, and he hasn't been to church for a long time but was at church a couple of weeks ago with a friend. Well, that friend is now at college, so we need to bug him from time to time to remind him where he needs to be. In the evening, we had a session of our Stake conference. It was fantastic, especially when President and Sister Taylor spoke. Both are great speakers, and the messages were fantastic, I left there very spiritually uplifted. Sunday was Easter- that wonderful day we celebrate the empty tomb. Stake conference session two took place, and our stake president gave a wonderful message that I really took to and will remember. He talked about the story of when Christ comes to Peter and his fellow fishermen on the sea of Galilee. He told them to cast out into the deep. In essence to give something new a try- to really go for it. When they had the faith to do so, their nets were filled beyond capacity. He challenged each of us to in our lives to cast into the deep. To have the faith to do whatever the Lord tells us to do, even when it may not make sense (all good fishermen in the area knew that you only fish in the shallows in the sea of Galilee). Each commandment is this same way. In today's world, it may not make social sense, but it sure does make sense to the Lord, and He is the one that should direct our paths not the world. We had dinner with the Rasmussen family that night, and they too good care of us. For dessert they had a Chinese couple over that live next door. They are the cutest old couple you have ever seen!!! Better yet, we took their address down and the Chinese Elders went over there and are now teaching them the gospel! Member missionary work at its finest.
So, last Monday. It's usually P-Day, but alas, this day it twas not. For, on Friday I was to attend the temple thus Friday became my P-Day for the week. So, we did a little shopping (necessity), ate lunch, and then got to work. Well, the day amounted to nothing at all really. Best part was we met with Veronica at the Neeley's home. It was supposed to be FHE, but nobody remembered. So, we taught her the Family a Proclamation to the World. She loved it, said it was her favorite pamphlet that we have given her yet. It was meant to be.
Tuesday was district meeting, which was great, but the highlight came when we got access to the most coveted location in the mission, The Country. This is a gated residence where the likes of Snoop Dog owns property. Suffice it to say, massive homes were within. We helped an old member of the Diamond Bar ward move some stuff around then toured the neighborhood. Got some good pictures out of it, and some quality time with our Chinese missionary friends. Before dinner, we had some time so we tried a name on our YSA ward list that we didn't know. On stop one we got in the door with the Till family. An interesting bunch- very open and free with their comments. The daughter eventually came home, and she is kind to the church but has decided to not be a part of it anymore. We will go back again this week to see what her concerns and doubts are. She said she didn't have any, but leaving the church totally typically comes with some sort of concern or doubt. Wednesday has literally nothing to report aside from our dinner at a place called Vanilla Fish with the Rock family (young couple going through dental school). I ate a good amount- not all that typical for me.
Thursday we spent most of the day in Rancho Cucamonga taking Elder Sabir to a doctor appointment. We got supplies on the trip as well, and then we just had to wait on him to finish. Well, the small wart they were to remove was much larger under the skin as expected. So, that took a good bit of time. But, we made it back home in time to eat dinner and meet with the "P" family. It was a wonderful visit that Brother Inskeep joined us on. We read the introduction to the Book of Mormon and bore testimony of the power of prayer. It turns out that they as a whole haven't really been praying. Then Brother Inskeep bore powerful testimony to Sister P that the Lord will help her raise her two teenage sons alone, that He will never leave them alone. I love that in the scriptures the Lord says consistently that "His hand is stretched out still".
Ah, Friday was amazing. I met up with Elder Ludwig, and we headed to the Redlands Temple. We met there Veronica, Olivia, and Cheyenne to do baptisms. Veronica had two family members she was to be baptized for, that she found doing family history work herself. Veronica she got really emotional because the spirit was so so strong there in the House of the Lord. Then Elder Ludwig and I took turns confirming the people that they had baptized members of the church. Now, the individuals that had that work done for them can choose to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the spirit world (that resting place between death and the resurrection and judgement). What a wonderful chance they were provided that day by a faithful recent convert to the church.
Afterward we decided on going to Cafe Rio for lunch. So, Elder Ludwig and I heard that the missionaries going home today were at the temple with President Taylor the same time we were doing baptisms. We joked that we would run into him at Cafe Rio with the missionaries going home. Haha funny joke. We got our food and were getting our drinks when, though the odds were slim to none, President came in the door with the returning missionaries. Classic. Let me paint you a picture. We are in Redlands (out of our mission by a good bit), Elder Ludwig is in Apple Valley and myself in Chino (a long way to go to meet up), and we seem to be alone. The sisters going home (Wall and Holt) we both know very well, and when they say us their jaws hit the floor. Their faces said, what the heck are you doing here?! It was classic. I talked to one of them who said "gosh you are the good elders, why would you be here?"(Mission rules state that we need to stay within the area in which we are assigned to serve). We then indicated to them that we were at the temple for baptisms. President and Sister Taylor were so happy for Veronica whose baptism they did attend.
Saturday we met with this guy named Elton, and he is one interesting cat. I give it one more lesson to see where he really is. He has been taught for over a year and hasn't made any progress, but hopefully we can help him along. We then weekly planned as we didn't get to do that on Friday. Sunday was church and then we went to the Kilburns in Diamond Bar for pancake Sunday. The best pancakes ever with maple syrup, heaven on earth. Then it was to dinner, and after that we got the news for all of the transfers. Oh, good news! I am staying in the area!!!! Will probably finish up my mission here!!!! Today we had to run to Rancho to pick some bikes up and then we shared lunch with Elders Kleinman and Low. And now here I sit. I am looking forward to another great transfer here. I want to get it going so badly, so we will be working like crazy. I love you all, and I want to you know how much I love the Lord.
Scripture of the week is from Mosiah, chapter 18, verse 25, "And there was one day in every week that was set apart that they should gather themselves together to teach the people, and to worship the Lord their God, and also, as often as it was in their power, to assemble themselves together."
Love,
Elder Thelander
