Royal Generation

So Chris we haven't been able to meet with Chris since our last visit because his schedule is up in the air always. but we are pretty optimistic about his progression.

Micheal we are meeting with him this Friday, and lately he has been showing  a lot of initiative to get a lesson scheduled. so when we meet with him we will see where he is at in his progression. He also came to church this Sunday!

We also had a surprise at church when a lady we met on the street showed up. I can't remember if i told you about her but we met on the street and she started asking questions about Jesus and what our purpose was she talks super fast like unbelievably fast. So she asked where we went to church so we gave her the address and time. well... she actually showed up with her daughter. She said she really enjoyed the service even though she showed up late was only able to attend relief society. Her first language is farsi so it is kinda hard for us to communicate but God works by miracles big and small and there was young woman in the ward that spoke farsi... go figure. So the young woman was able to communicate to her for us so we could get some more information. The farsi lady's name is Susan and emigrated from Afghanistan for freedom of religion and is looking for a church to join. But since she speaks farsi we are going to refer her to the farsi elders in the Carlsbad mission. 

So yesterday Elder Maughan and I were in need of some guidance in our area about where to go so we said a prayer and headed down the street. We ran into a man that we talked to for about 20-30 minutes. and basically he was telling us how he is moving to Idaho because California is getting to crazy, he was telling us how society is now moving away from God and traditional values such as families. 

One thing I have noticed since coming out here is how people are noticing things changing in society and they are scared about how it will effect the world and our way of life. Almost everyone that is willing to stop and chat with us for a few minutes brings up themselves about how the world is getting more selfish and less charitable. It is not just members of the restored Church of Jesus Christ that are seeing the difference everyone is... but not everyone is willing to admit it. 

Royal Generation

"For nearly six thousand years. God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
While our generation will be comparable in wickedness to thee days of Noah. when the Lord cleansed the earth by flood. There is a major difference this time. It is that God has saved for the final innings some of his strongest children, who will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly. And that is where you come in, for you are the Generation that must be prepared to meet your God. All through the ages the prophets have looked down the corridors of time to our day. Billions of the deceased and those yet to come have their eyes on us. 
 Make no mistake about it--You are a marked generation there has never before been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time as there is of us. Never before on the face of this earth have the forces of good and the forces of evil been as well organized.
Now is the Great day of the devil's power, with the greatest mass murderers of all time living among us. But now is also the great day of the Lord's power, with the greatest number ever of priesthood holders on the earth. And the showdown is fast approaching!"
-President Ezra Taft Benson 1987

I love this quote I found it hanging on the wall at the MTC in an office and I snuck in there to take a picture of it... I got caught which is a story to tell but It was worth it!

Love Elder Palmer

Eternal Perspective

I have been praying lately that we would be able to finish our harvest so it is good to hear that we were finally able to finish. I just hope that others in the area are able to finish also. something that just came to mind as i was typing this is how grandpa every year used to always say "there was one year where we did not turn aaaa Wheeeeeel... until October first."

Now for what is happening on the promised land. Brother Brittian (the legend) took us out for lunch to Phils BBQ it was soooo good I got this burger that was huge! they literally stabbed a steak knife through it and Elder Maughan and I had to wear bibs because we were in our white shirts. 

We also had the opportunity to visit the stake president (super amazing guy) and after we shared a message with his family his youngest son asked for a priesthood blessing. so president Clyde asked who he wanted to give the blessing... the son literally look directly at me, now I did something that is regretted immediately, I pointed at Elder Maughan under my belt so nobody else saw. once I did it I felt so bad not because it was it was a bad thing but I had the opportunity to bless somebody to help them and I in a way turned it down. after I told Elder Maughan about it and we laughed for like 5 mins straight.

We also got to teach Chris this week! We went there planning on teaching the restoration. but as we were talking to him I felt like we should teach the plan of salvation. but since I still am pretty new I was to scared to tell Elder Maughan or just start the lesson with the first point of the plan of salvation so I said nothing. when it came time to start the lesson Elder Maughan told Chris that today we are going to be discussion the plan of salvation. I love how the holy ghost impressed upon both Elder Maughan's and my mind that Chris needed the plan of salvation.  As we taught the lesson we showed Chris some scriptures form the Book of Mormon and he would say "man that is some good stuff" he even asked for a copy before we could offer one to him. he has a super busy work schedule but he said that he is going to try and move things around so he can attend church with us this next coming week. 

We also visited a man who we have been trying to teach and the second he opened the door he invited us in. he said he only had a few minutes to chat. we had gone over a few times before and each time he invited us in even though he had no time. it amazed me how even though he was a busy man with kids and a job he was never to busy to let somebody into his home for literally just a few minutes. It really made me think about when I get home how I want to have a open door to everyone. and let everyone in for even just a few minutes even when I am busy like making supper, just sitting down for dinner, or putting the kids to bed. those where all times that he let us in by the way.

So I invite anyone who reads this to invite someone over for dinner or take them out to dinner...no matter how busy you are.

On Sunday our PQ3 ward had a sacrament meeting with only hymns a person would get up and talk about why they chose the song and then the congregation would sing the first and last verse. It was a really cool experience and I recommend it. Elder Maughan got to play his guitar in sacrament meeting at the pulpit so that was pretty neat not to mention the guitar he has, he found in a dumpster and had to duck tape it back together. 

We had exchanges yesterday with the District leaders and I had the opportunity to take over the area... so basically I was freaking out because I had no idea what to do. so anyways one thing on my mission that I have been struggling with is knocking on doors. It literally terrifies me to death I don't know why. I think it is because I'm scared of the door getting slammed in my face or a few choice words. Like the hundreds of doors we have come up on these last few months I was literally shaking and praying nobody answered. But long story short I was super unsettled about knocking on some doors today and Elder Burton noticed I was more uneasy today than usual and thought maybe we should say a prayer. The rest of the day was so fun and when we came up to a door I was not nervous at all I was completely calm it had taken me two months to get over this fear but that day was the day I felt like I overcame my fear of knocking on doors. I know God answers prayers even though they may seem small and insignificant because he answers mine.

Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-8

   7 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

   8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

We may have heard days, months, years and lives but if keep a eternal perspective on our lives we will come to realize that our lives a but a small moment in our our existence. "birth and death are mile stones in our eternal journey" and "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience we are spiritual beings having a human experience" 

Love Elder Palmer

God is a God of Miracles

Hey sorry this is going to be short I have literally no time.

So last week we had a super good lesson with Michael and it really made I'm think, to the point where he said "I should really study the book of Mormon and figure this out" so we are excited as we watch him progress

Chris the man we street contacted like 5 weeks ago. We have been trying to Meet with him for so long but he would. Never answer. So we assumed he ran Into anti material. But we were walking around yesterday and walked at his house (which is gated so we can't knock) and as we passed Elder Maughan look back right as we were rounding the corner to. See. The garage door open. So we stopped and turned around to go talk to him. Turns out he works a lot like 15 hour days and 6-7 days a week. So we set an appointment to meet with him on Thursday! 

I want you to all know I am loving my mission not because it is fun or easy but because I love seeing how I can improve myself to become the disciple of Jesus Christ that God want me to be, but my favourite part is after a long hard day looking back to see the hand of God in my day. It takes time at first to recognize it but I promise as you pay attention to the details you will see the daily miracles In your life. God is a God of miracles but he works according to our faith.

 

Sorry it is short 

Love 

Elder Palm-tree 

God still speaks

I literally don't remember anything from this week. We had another lesson with Tiffany where we kinda realized that we had been teaching maybe to simple. With her because she opened up a bit about the resurrection and the second coming which was kinda cool to hear the different beliefs of the second coming. But we also realized that, that knowledge isn't what helps her come closer to Christ. So we kinda twisted it into the plan of Salvation. 

We do, do lots of service but it is not a crazy amount we are just always asking everyone if there is anything we can help them with. And service is a really good way to find because it is non threatening and you both are stuck there for an hour or so. 

Our lesson with Michael fell through last week but we are going to teach him today and he is a lot more enthusiastic about it today because he watched a lot of conference so he has some questions. 

So usually everyday we visit lots of formers and will drop in on some random members for a few minutes but 

Yesterday we decided. To visit nobody and just walk around allllllllllll day. We started right after lunch and worked until dinner we talked to 10 people on the street! I know that sounds like a low number but you have to understand that nobody is ever outside. And when we knock on the doors to track literally everyone is at work. This may sound weird but it felt so good to have my legs burning, we didn't stop once to take a break because for some reason we felt like we where in a very urgent hurry everywhere. So we walked from noon to about 6 for a dinner then we walked for two more hours. I'm not complaining i am just stating that for some reason elder Maughan and I just couldn't stop walking even when we were about to, we would run into somebody. It was a really fun day to we met a lot of cool people but I just wish they could understand how the restored gospel of Jesus Christ would bless their everyday life. 

Conference was so amazing i loved literally every talk. I can't remember exactly what each talk was about but I just remember the feeling I had the whole time that God still speaks and the heavens are open.

My favorite talk was Elder Rasband's about how we have no need to fear. Because fear is not of God. I will send you some more of my thoughts from his talk next week when they come out onto gospel library. 

And of course when President Nelson gave his talks i was paying very close attention, his main talk was on on the name correction though and I thought it was really cool how President Nelson explained how this isn't a whim, a rebranding, or cosmetic it is not inconsequential. And my favorite part of course is the promise... 

“I promise you that if we will do our best to restore the correct name of the Lord’s Church, He whose Church this is will pour down His power and blessings upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints, the likes of which we have never seen,” President Nelson said. “We will have the knowledge and power of God to help us take the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people and to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord.”

These are exciting times but we can't expect to sit around waiting for God to do his will. D+C 123:17 

"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power, then may we stand still with the utmost assurance to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."

Love Elder Palmer 

HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING!!

Six weeks

And thus ended my first transfer of the rein of Stubbs.

Wow that was fast. This transfer the mission opened 10 new biking areas. And they reopened some areas/split some because we have about 150 missionaries compared to the 200 we used to have at the beginning of the year.

So we taught Micheal again on Wednesday the plan of salvation and it went pretty well except we had to do it outside and it was so cold, it was getting down to 65. I was actually shivering...with a blanket on. But he is a super nice kid and is very spiritual. He has a lot of things going for him. 

We also taught a lady named Tiffany this week and it was a really good lesson. She came to church on Sunday for the first time in 3 months!

Oh not that it is a big deal but I'm getting a flu shot today because apparently San Diego got hit really hard last year with the flu about a third of the missionaries were sick at a time and it cycled through 80% of the missionaries or something like that.

I'm so excited for conference! I have heard all the rumours too. But I think it is important to remember why we actually watch it's ... not to hear the new changes(if there are any) but to hear the word of God. Remember during the apostasy, the priesthood (the power and authority to act in God's name was taken from the earth) so nobody could say "thus saith the Lord..." but today we have that priesthood authority and it has been given to our leaders so we must remember that it is God speaking to us. Addressing problems of our daily lives. I am excited to see if there are any big announcements but let's not forget that we watch it to learn how we can change and how we can closer align our will with our fathers through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Now the spirit constrains me from writing more concerning the work of salvation among San Diego.

Love Elder Palmer