Open your mouth and it shall be filled!

Hey Everyone,

 

Wow, we had another incredible week. Every week out here miracles happen. Just when I think it can't get any better it some how does. I have only been out for a little more than two months now. Time is flying by. Weeks feel like days and months feel like weeks. Elder Moon and I have had a lot of incredible, miraculous experiences this week. We had a baptism, confirmation, found 3 new investigators (2 for other missionaries and 1 for us), gave a blessing, you name it we did it.

 

On Tuesday we were riding our bikes and I noticed I had a tire that was low. So we stopped at a gas station that was on our way to Fred's, one of our investigators, house. As I was filling up my tires, a 15 year old boy,named Devin, came up to Elder Moon. He asked him if he was on duty, and if he had time to talk. He started to talk to him and he said that he is just so full of Jesus and he loves to talk about him. We told him we would love to talk some more and if we could meet again. He said we could and we exchanged numbers. We called him a few days later and set up a lesson with him. He told us that he wanted us to meet him at Chick-Fil-A instead of his apartment. So on Friday we meet with him there at 12:30. We taught him about Jesus and all the things we could learn about him in the Book of Mormon. He was interested, however we found out he lived in the Encinitas Ward boundaries. It was sad to have to give him up, but it is still cool to have someone come up to you and ask if you can talk. I wish it would happen more often.

 

Friday, was a busy day getting everything ready for the baptism. We first had to clean the font. It was an interesting experience, we should have changed into different clothes before hand. We were in our usual shirt and tie and we were cleaning the font with tilex with bleach. We had to take off our socks and shoes, and roll up our pants so that we would not get any bleach on them. We had to carefully scrub and wash the font. We then had to set up chairs and fill the font all the way up, because Savannah is really tall. At Savannah's baptism the spirit was so strong. Sister Toolson and Brother Halverson gave great talks on baptism and the Holy Ghost. There was also a special Musical number that her friends, Rebecca, Julia, Josh, and Elder Moon sang, Come thou fount of every blessing. I feel sad that her family was not there to support her. She had a lot of great friends and ward family that was there to encourage her. One of the coolest things that happened was that her friend Josh Atkinson, the person who started it all by giving her a Book of Mormon, got to baptize her. Awesome right.

 

Sunday we had the confirmation of Savannah, and she wanted me to do it. I was super nervous. It was my first time confirming someone, and there was a lot of people there for the sacrament. I didn't really know what to say. I kept praying for the spirit to be with me and to lead and guide me. I knew that it wasn't me giving the blessing, I was just the voice, an instrument in Gods hands, and the spirit would be guiding me through it. There was a moment when I stopped for a few seconds trying to think of what to say. I thought the words would just come to me. But they didn't. I remembered a scripture in the D&C it says that open your mouth and it shall be filled. I realized I would be there forever just thinking of what to say. I had to open my mouth and just start saying something. It wasn't until I opened my mouth and started to speak that my mouth was filled with what I should say. It was cool and it helped me realize that I needed faith, it would happen. It takes faith and effort on our part in order to receive the blessing we need. We must show God we are willing to do what he asks, and in turn he is willing to do what we ask.

 

Then later Sunday night, we were stopped on the side of the road, and a lady named Krista came up to us and asked if we could do her a favor and give her friend a blessing. She said that her friend, Aurora, had been going through some health issues and need help. Krista was on her way over to Auroras house and was talking to her on the phone. She saw us and asked Aurora if she would be interested in receiving a blessing. She said that it would be great. We went over to her house and gave her a blessing and taught her about the importance of the scriptures and how they can help her in times of trial. The spirit was so strong that she started to cry. We were able to give her a Book of Mormon, and she is wants to learn more. Sometimes we have to be humbled and brought down to our lowest levels so that we a can be brought up to our highest. It is sad that she is sick, but by being sick it was able to open her eyes and help her find the gospel. That she would probably never have had the chance other wise.

 

I Love and Miss all of you thanks for all you do. I Love hearing from you.

 

Love

 

Elder Jaden Paget

Cardiff Cookies

Another week of has come and gone. This last week has been very busy. We had to make all the final preparations for the new missionaries. So we spent all of preparation day color coding the ward directory, making a new area book, copying maps, setting up appointments for them to teach. It was a lot of work but we we finally got it all done just in time for them to come.  After we went to our ward beach party. Yes I know that we are not supposed to go to the beach, however we got special permission from President Kendrick. We never got on the sand but we got up to the edge of it. We had an amazing contact. This guy just came up and tapped me on my shoulder, and asked if I was from Utah. I said yes and he ask if he could talk with me. I said sure. He told us that he had been reading the Book of Mormon and knows that is true. He told us that he has done a lot of research wants to move to St George, Utah because of the climate and there are lots of mormons there. He said his wife was also interested and is doing her own research. We told him that we could teach them and answer any questions that he had. I asked him for his number so we could contact him. He said he would have to go talk to his wife first and come back. We stood there waiting and he never came back. It was a golden contact, and he just slipped right out of our hands. Hopefully we will run into him again. 

 

The Missionaries finally came after the long anticipation, on Tuesday. There names were Elder Sparks and Stones. They are both from Utah. Elder Sparks has been out for 7 Months and came from the Riverside Mission. Elder Stones is brand new from the MTC. It is great to only cover half the area, and focus more on a specific section of the Cardiff ward. It was cool to see all the new missionaries come in, because I was in that same situation 6 weeks ago. At the transfer meeting we got our mail, and to my surprise my mom had overnighted me five dozen cookies. IT WAS AMAZING. However since I have so many cookies, I have been eating them non stop for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Elder Moon and I have been doing our best to eat them all before they go bad. It didn't even cross my mind that I could freeze them for later.

 

Savannah is going to be baptised on Friday. She has talked to her Mom and finally got permission. So all systems are go! It was because of her faith and her desire to become like her heavenly father that made it possible. With the lord on your side you can do anything.

 

Love

 

Elder Paget

 

Sorry my letters are so short, I will do my best to make them longer. If you want to hear more ask my parents for my journal entries.

Catching the Wave in Cardiff

We have been super busy this last week. We have been getting everything ready for the new set of missionaries in our ward. We have had to find a place for them to stay, make a new area book, map book, find people for them to teach, etc... Finally they will be here tomorrow. When we have not been working on all the new stuff for the new missionaries, we have been teaching.

 

We finally got Savannah to commit to a baptismal date. Savannah has been wanting to be baptized for a long time, but her mom would not let her. So it is really exciting. She is going to be baptized on Friday, August 23. Right before she and all of her friends leave for college. She has still not told her parents yet about the date. However Savannah said that her mom told her that she could do what ever she wanted. So it is not exactly set in stone yet, but Savannah has a lot of faith that her mom will let her be baptized. She has put her trust in the lord that it will work out. Sometimes that is all we can do. Turn our problems over to the lord and let him do some of the heavy lifting.

 

I went on Emergency ( last minute) exchange on Friday. Elder Moon was called be be the new district leader. So instead of weekly planning, Elder Moon had a meeting from 8 to 2 that he had to go to at the mission office. So I went with the Vista Zone Leaders during that time. It was interesting being in temporary threesome companionship. We had the usual morning personal and companionship study. Then since it was Friday I helped them plan for the week ahead. I had a great time. Elder Moon said that in the meeting they said that they were going to create a new district in our area as well. So once again we have more work to do to set up a new district. Right after setting up a new area. Whats next? Are we going to have to set up a new zone soon. Who knows? The work is progressing so fast that they are just creating and changing things left and right. It is cool that I get to experience all of it.

 

Anyway overall it was a great week with a lot of progress. I look forward for even more.

 

Love

 

Elder Paget

Daily Miracles

Hi EVERYONE,

 

It is amazing to be here in Cardiff, there are so many people that want to learn more about the gospel.  Last year in the Cardiff Ward there were zero convert baptisms. This year there has been 10 already. The Lord is truly hastening the work. That is why we are receiving an extra set of missionaries to help cover half of our ward. As the Lord and the church is working harder to bring others unto Christ. Satan is working harder two. He is trying to counter attack the wave of missionary work. This week has been evidence of that. This week has been really slow. It seems like no one is ever home or available for us to teach them. When we do find someone to teach all they want to do is Bible Bash, and tell us how wrong we are. Or drunk guys telling us to throw our scriptures away and to follow the devil, and have a beer with him. Yes this happened. However this only makes me stronger. All of instances we have faced over the last week only help me to realize how important the gospel is. It helps me to realize how many people don't have the gospel. They are suffering because they don't have true happiness and reassurance that families can be together forever. This gives me more motivation to work even harder in crying repentance unto this people. For I know that Good will finally conquer evil. Through daily miracles that us a missionaries, and members of the church create each day. By our examples we set and the service we render. Testifying that we can Live with God again in never ending Happiness, for time and all eternity with our families. Changing lives, softening hearts by the simple actions we do each day. Such as reaching out, smiling, and saying hi. Making friends with others that don't have many. It is by these small, simple, daily miracles that lives are changed for the better. Helping them come closer to Christ and receive sacred saving ordinances. This is what missionary work is all about. I love you all, and apprieciate everything you have done for me. 

 

Love,

 

Elder Paget