PICTURES!

WEEK 36

This week went very well! We found more people and some of them are very promising! On Tuesday we went on exchanges and I was with Elder Jacklin from Utah. It felt like a super short exchange because we had member splits that night. I took one of the young men with me to see the Filipino family and it went super good! Jules the 17 year old was the only one home so it was perfect. We talked about how he felt about baptism and his questions and the spirit was super strong. In the past couple months I have been making book marks of scriptures in the bible and that support and answer gospel questions. They came in handy and Ezekiel 37:16-19 is awesome to read/explain to people. You see the little light bulb turn on and then watch as they accept the Book of Mormon. So many scriptures in the bible that people over look or misinterpret that can be answered by other scriptures. At the end of the lesson Jules and his mom Maggie both agreed and said they know they will be baptized, they just want to have a sure testimony first so we are helping with that now.

Wednesday we had interviews with President and Sister Weidman for the last time. Amazing how inspired a mission president is in knowing exactly what each individual missionary needs to talk about and what they need help with. Going to miss him with our new mission president coming in June 30th.

Thursday we had a lesson with the Filipino family again and found out that Maggie has been drinking coffee. We talked about the word of wisdom and she kept claiming that she wasn't addicted to it. So I stood up, went and took the coffee after the prayer, and we left haha. She wasn't happy but she came to church today and all was well and she hasn't bought any more! Jules is keeping her accountable haha.

Friday we went on exchanges with our zone leaders and I went to a Spanish area for the day with elder Wheelwright. I got to learn some more Spanish and practice it which was nice! It’s getting a lot better.

Saturday all of our lessons fell through.. It was a lot of walking, driving, and talking to people on the street but we found quite a few new potential investigators!

Sunday we gave 5 min talks in sacrament meeting and the rest of the day we had dinner, and then had a lesson with a recent convert and said goodbye to people! I am being transferred to the Torrance North in Gardena. Also I am now a district and I'm on bike! So that will be fun. Elder Lupeni is staying in the Tongan ward but switching apartments. Big surprise haha. But it was a good week! Gonna miss this area and I'll keep you updated on if Maggie, Jenina and Jules get baptized. 

Love you all!

WEEK 35

 This week went great! On Tuesday we took Virginia, Marcelo and Maggie up to the visitors center/temple and it was awesome! The spirit was super strong and they loved it. I apologize for the short letter and not responding to everyone last week but the members house that we do laundry at/email their wifi was down. But the temple is always such an amazing experience and I always feel better after going. 

Thursday we had a goodbye party for Virginia and Marcelo at the Lambsons (who are Filipino as well) it was super fun and we had Filipino food! Their kids are the same age as Maggie's kids so they all had a lot of fun. It was really hard saying goodbye to Virginia and Marcelo. Probably won't see them again because they have no way to email in the Philippines. We gave them our emails though so maybe one day they might! They are such awesome people and a great example to their children and grandchildren. Like I said before Virginia reminded me a ton of grandma Olsen, in other words she was awesome! Marcelo was hilarious and would always crack jokes. He tried to hook me up with his granddaughter but that's another story haha. They will be an awesome strength to the church in the Philippines.

 Friday we went on exchanges with the other elders in our district and I went with elder Pearson in his area which was on bike! So I got to ride a bike for a day! We all know how much I like helmets.... But it was super fun! It's a little crazy though riding on LA roads with all the LA drivers. Had a lot of members wave to us so that was fun! Had a lot of non members acknowledge our presence as well... Haha.

Saturday we had a Tongan feast at a members house for their daughter who just graduated from university. First time eating a full crab! It was a lot of fun though and it's awesome how much the Tongan people love the missionaries. They had saved us seats at the family table and everything. And I have learned how to eat a lot haha. Which is then followed by morning and night exercise or we would be fat. Sunday was the usual but only Maggie came to church which was frustrating.

Saturday night Jenina, Jules, and Christine all promised they would be there. Just gotta be patient though and keep inviting. Feel like that goes for all missionary work.

Again, this week went great! Maggie has progressed a ton because of visiting the temple. Our lesson. Saturday night we asked them all how they felt about the restoration and they all said they knew it was true, but being baptized would take time due to leaving Catholicism (still talking about the Filipino family) but they said it will happen. Sad to see tradition delay blessings but again patience! That's something I had to exercise this week. Thank goodness for all the days I went fishing and developed it beforehand haha. Love you all, miss you all and hope you have a great week!

ST- Acting now allows God to bless us, acting later delays those blessings. The longer we delay, the more time we give Satan to rob us of those blessings completely.

Love, Elder Bennett

WEEK 33 >> MOTHER'S DAY

Well this week was just full of fortifying our Filipino family so not too much to say. The grandparents both got interviewed Saturday night and passed so the baptism is all set for tomorrow! Super excited! Love seeing the change in people. Awesome to see how much of an impact the grandparents are having on the rest of the family. Great examples go a long way! They grandson came to church with them yesterday and he loved it!

  

As far as our other investigators we had to turn one over to the Lord because of his family situation, and the rest keep rescheduling appointments so that's frustrating. This weeks going to be a lot of finding new investigators! We really only have the Filipino family that we are working with full time. Jenina (the daughter) had a friend who just moved in with the family who is a new investigator and she has a lot of potential! She talked to missionaries before back in the Philippines and she seems super excited to learn! Cool to see the little chain reaction. Virginia (the grandma) is hilarious! Reminds me of Grandma Olsen with all her smart comments haha. We taught the word of wisdom last week and went through the things and she said "I don’t do any of those, and I don't have enough money for drugs so can't do those." Haha and then we were teaching the Ten Commandments and jokingly asked if she had killed anyone and she said "Not yet." So she is super fun to work with!

  

But that's about it! Not too much else happened this week other than Mother's Day! Always so exciting to skype home and see everyone. So grateful for my Mom and all she's done for me! I definitely have the best Mom I don't care what anyone else says :) haha! Love you all and have a great week!

Love, Elder Bennett

WEEK 32

Well this week went super fast. The Filipino family all accepted baptismal dates which was amazing! The mom had always been skeptical but we had a lesson on Tuesday night and the spirit was super strong. We just followed up with church and the Gladys Knight fireside, answered the moms questions and testified a ton. Super cool to see the change she has made. 

We taught them the word of wisdom Thursday night and they all had a problem with either coffee, tea and wine but in the end they all committed to live it by the end of the lesson. But they told us that they wouldn't be able to come to church because their family from Calgary... was coming down to San Diego so they were gonna meet them on Sunday there. So we weren't expecting anyone at church on Sunday because our other investigators were sick, asleep, or out of town as well. Then at church just before the bishop got up to conduct the Filipino family walked in! Their family from Canada decided to just come to their house and weren't going to be there till the afternoon. So the Filipino family came to church without us reminding them to! So that was a huge miracle. Worked out perfect too because the mom had missed our plan of salvation lesson last week and in gospel principles the teacher taught the plan of salvation. Awesome to see how things like that work out. Definitely not just a coincidence!

We also did 4 hours of service and an elementary school festival thing on Saturday. The weather is starting to get hot! Gonna have a wicked farmers tan by the end of the summer haha. Working with the Tongan ward is still fun as ever! Most of our dinner appointments are at #1 buffet and Royal Buffet. When we have home-cooked meals they only speak Tongan so I've had to start picking up the language a bit. Gonna take some time.. Haha. I am known as Elder Palangi. Which means white man, or English speaker. They are always cracking jokes! Loving the new area so far. Love you all and hope you have a great week!

 Love Elder Bennett