August 4, 2014 Stuck in First Gear

Everthing is going well here in San Marcos. Just another week of Finding. We have been finding a lot of people who have showed interest and have even set a few return appointments. However they are either busy or just want to bash.

 

We had an awesome contact on Tuesday night. We didn't really know where to go or what to do. Then Elder Tyger was prompted to stop by a former investigator in a trailer park. When we got there, their next door neighbor was out side taking out her trash cans. We asked her if she needed any help. She said no the walked away. Then while we were locking up our bikes she came back and said that she did need help pulling weeds. We got talking and taught her the entire restoration, gave her a Book of Mormon, and set up a return appointment to teach her more and pull weeds. We went back on Saturday. When we arrived she said that she did a lot of research about the mormon church. She decided to google it, and ask her pastor about it. To make a long story short. She said that she only believed in the one true and thought that we worshipped Joseph Smith. I was pretty frustrated at this point. I was hoping and praying that we would be able to pick up a new investigator and set a baptismal date. Insteade we were bashing with a lady who had now idea what she was talking about. We gave her a long talk about getting information from the first sources. I was so made I even told her that her pastor was only in it for the buisness. Probably not the best thing to say.

 

Elder Paget

July 28, 2014 Second Week in San Marcos

Well things are getting better now that I am getting a little more accustomed to my new area. We are finally getting more potential investigators and hope to start teaching them soon. It is a Beast of a challenge to get things going again in this area, but I am ready and willing to get it back on track. Sorry these computers here really don't like me and are constantly trying to kick me off. Sorry it is short I will let you know of the details next week!

 

Elder Paget

July 21, 2014 Discovering the Hills

This last week has been a little challenging. It is always rough beening transfered. Saying goodbye and meeting new people are definately not my strengths. I now have been transfered to the City of San Marcos, and am serving in the Discovery Hills ward. My new companions name is Elder T. He is from Hyrum, Utah. We spilt a ward with a pair of Sister missionaries. Our side of the ward is challenging. We have a  very large hispanic population. Which makes things hard. We have been discovering the hills to just try to find people who speak english. It is going to be a challenge over the next little while, but I am ready to FIND, TEACH, and BAPTISE!

 

Elder Paget

July 14, 2014 Pink Wash

Well I don't even know where to begin. This week has been absolutely crazy! So much has happened in such little time. This week Elder Metcalfe and I went to the temple, got pulled over by the police, and had to say goodbye to all the people we have come to love in Murrieta.

The Temple was amazing! It always is. We went on Tuesday morning down to the San Diego Temple. The greatest thing about the Temple is the peace, and comfort from the spirit there. My favorite thing about the Temple is sitting in the Celestial Room. I love to sit there and ponder questions that I have. I have always left the temple with my questions answered every time. Never once has the Lord failed me. I only wish we could go more. After my mission I want to set a goal of going at least every other week to the temple and maybe I can even be a temple worker.

The next day after our wonderful trip were getting ready for Zone Training meeting. We had to pick up two other sets of missionaries and take them there. Then got a call around 9 am from the Zone Leaders. They told us that the Sister missionaries in the Winchester Ward needed to have their car jump started. So we had one hour to pick up and drop off two sets of Elders, some how find jumper cables, jump start the sisters car, and arrive at our meeting on time. Need less to say that desperate times call for desperate measures. So let me just say I was doing everything in my power to be on time. We had just picked up the first set of missionaries and were on our way to get some jumper cables from the Rodriguez family, when we were pulled over by a Murrieta Police motorcycle cop. I had quite a few thoughts going around in my mind at that point. I was thinking crap I can't believe this is really happening. I am going to lose my driving privilege. I am going to get a ticket. But surprisingly I felt calm as I pushed out those thoughts with praying to our Heavenly Father to help us in our time of need. 

The police officer walked up to me and told me he had pulled me over for speeding. He said I was going 48 mph in a 35 mph zone. He asked for my drivers license. As I handed him my license, I noticed him take a look at my name badge. He said, "Hold on one moment, every state licenses are different. I just need a little while to find the expiration date." As he said that, he reached to his side and turned on his radio to call in my license. He then paused for a few dreadful seconds. Turned off the radio, handed my my license and said, "Just slow down." He then walked back to his motorcycle and drove away.

I was completely shocked. I though for sure I would get a ticket. There was absolutely no reason why I should not have gotten one. I was going almost 15 mph over. I didn't say anything to to convince not to give me a ticket. There are only two things I can think of reasons why he didn't give me a ticket. 1. It was the the first couple days of the month. He didn't necessarily have to get his quota just yet. Or 2. The Lord answered our prays and provided a way for us to get to our meeting on time. It was definitely the our Heavenly Father watching out for us. I don't think the officer was a member, and I don't know what he was told by the spirit. But I will always remember the day my pray was answered in my time of need, and that ABSOLUTELY NOTHING can stop this work from progressing.

We learned this week that Elder Metcalfe and I will both be leaving this transfer. We are getting Pink Washed. Which means sisters will be coming in and taking our place. It was really sad to say goodbye to all the people that I have come to love over the 7 1/2 months I have served in Murrieta. I am going to miss each and everyone of them very much. I was hard to say goodbye to Autumn who we have been working with for the last month or so trying to get her Mom's permission to get baptized. It was hard not to say goodbye to Christine and give her encouragement not to give up. As she is going through some really hard times. It was sad to say the Fittons despite, the crazy times we have had there. It will be hard to get a new companion. Elder Metcalfe has been great. However, I am looking forward to my new area, new companion, and new adventures.

Elder Paget 

July 7, 2014 It is True

We had a pretty good week. We had a good Fourth of July even though no one was home. The protests on the Border Patrol Office sure made things interesting. I have never seen so many news crews in my life.

But most importantly, we finally picked up a new investigator! It has been probably 6 or more weeks that we have been trying to find people to teach. I am glad it is all over. His name is Gabriel. I told you last week on how we met him and gave priesthood blessings to him and his family. We started teaching him this last week. We taught him the Restoration, in one of the coolest lessons I have ever had. It was incredible. As we were teaching him about Joseph Smith and his experience. We told him that we would like to share it in Joseph Smiths own words. After we shared it we would have a brief pause and we told him to break the pause by telling us how he felt. Elder Metcalfe gave the first vision, and we pause just as we said we would do. Then we sat there in silence for what seemed to be an hour, but really was only five minutes. Then he said, " It is true! You know the whole time something, just kept telling me "What they are saying is true!" They words came into my mind. It is true. It is True!" We explained to him that it was the Holy Ghost telling him it was true. Then we invited him to be baptized on August 3. He accepted and then said, pointing to his 2 year old daughter, " How old do you have to be to be baptized?" We told him you have to be eight years old. He said, " I want my whole family to be baptized! Can we do it at the same time?" We told him that his kids older than eight could be baptized at the same time. We told him as missionaries we teach people and prepare them for baptism and that we would like to start teaching his whole family the next time we came. He agreed and we set an appointment for 6 pm tonight. Unfortunately he just barely cancelled but we will meet with them soon. Can't wait!

Elder Paget

June 30, 2014 Potentials Galore

This has been a great week. We are working as hard as week can. I am working as hard as I have ever worked on the mission so far. We are making sure to talk to everyone. This week our focus was to see how many potential investigators we can get in on week. We talked to about 175 people and we found 15 potential investigators. That means for about every 12 people we talked to, we found someone who was willing for us to come back and teach them. It is really cool. It is so amazing to see so many people show interest. In a good week would usually find 2-3 potential investigators. It is a miracle found so many. Now we just have to start teaching all of them. We have had quite a few miracles this last week.

First we ran in to a guy by the name of Gabriel last week. We were asking him if he needed any help with anything. He said no, but that he could use a prayer. He said he needed healing and wanted to have me pray also for his kids protection. So I prayed with him. Then asked him If we could give him a card with our number so he could call us in case him or his family needed anything. I handed him a pass along card with the picture of Jesus when he appeared to the people in America. As I gave him it I explained what was happening in the picture and briefly told him about the Book of Mormon and gave him one.  He though it was really interesting. We set up a return appointment for Wednesday to teach him more. We called hp on Tuesday to see if we were still on for our lesson. He said that he got shingles and his kids had chicken pox and told us not to come over. Elder Metcalfe and I have already both had the chicken pox and told him it was not a big deal for us to come over. He said it we should reschedule anyway, and that he just needed prayers. We told him about blessings and that we had the power and authority to act in Jesus's name. He then changed his mind and allowed us to come the next day. When we were there we taught him and his family about blessings and doing it in the way that the savior did it with oil. He though it was really cool. HE had read in the bible about it but had never heard or seen anyone doing it that way. We gave his kids blessings and then it was Gabriel's turn to get his. The spirit was really strong and everyone recognized its presents there. We then were able to set up a new return appointment to come back the following Wednesday to teach him and his family. I can't wait. It was great to be able to be in a position to help those who stand in need. I know this church is true and love being a missionary!

I will let you know of the other miracles next week.

Elder Paget