California Screen Writers

Elder Ruby is doing really great.  He didn't give us much to write about this week for the blog.  He did not get transferred, so he will be in San Louis Obispo for at least 6 more weeks.  He will continue in SLO as a Zone Leader.  He arrived in SLO when college was just getting out, so he's excited to still be there when the colleges start up again.  For those of you that don't know, SLO is where Cal Poly is located.

Sister Felix wrote on their mission blog about a fireside in a different area of the mission.  From what I can tell, Elder Ruby did not attend this fireside, but it sounds like the speakers were great.  Here is what she wrote:

Just a FYI:
A couple of weeks ago two screen writers for Despicable Me 1 and 2, The Lorax, Horton Hears a Who and other movies spoke at a fireside in Simi Valley.  Cinco Paul and Ken Dario are members of the Church.  They related those movies to the Gospel and our own lives.  Horton, from Horton Hears a Who, is Joseph Smith. Someone who knows they have heard (seen) something and is persecuted for it and eventually changes the lives of millions.
In Despicable 1 Gru is a villain and Baxter is a super villain.  They are opposites.  There is opposition in all things.  Gru changed from evil to good due to the influence of the girls.

These men have stayed true to their values in their profession.

Zone Leader Conference (Hyrum is right in the middle)

Setting Goals and Mark's baptism

Life in SLO (San Louis Obispo) is beautiful.  I would like to have a stormy or cold or windy day every once in a while:)

Now that I have been out on the mission for almost a year, my thoughts have turned more toward a reflection.  I am evaluating my progress as a person and as a missionary since last September.  My testimony of my calling grows daily as I realize what little time I have to magnify it.

I have finally discovered/understood the principles of goal setting and planning.  These princples apply to all aspects of life.  We have a desire, we set a goal, we plan specifically how we will achieve that goal, and then we do all we can to follow through and follow-up with those plans.  This week we desired to teach all of our investigators two lessons each this week, we wanted to have daily contact with Mark, who got baptized on August 8, and we wanted to set up/teach at least one lesson to the referrals that the sisters gave us.  This turned out to be 14 lessons.  We wanted a member at every lesson.  That is quite a few lessons for us in one week.  Then we went to our daily plans, set up times and called people.  We were able to fit all 14 lessons in despite being gone one day for Missionary Leadership Council.  I know it sounds a bit nerdy and obvious, but all it takes is some time, a desire, a plan, and staying faithful to the plans.

Mark is the tallest one.

Mark's baptism went well.  His mom came, which was an answer to his prayers and our prayers.  While he was getting dressed, we handed out note cards to everyone for them to write something meaningful to Mark.  Then we collected them and now Mark has them.  The talks were good.   Richard, Mark's friend, compared getting baptized to washing off after playing in the mud before entering your home/Heavenly home.


I wanted to share something I learned in my studies.  I noticed that Alma chapter 7 gives 6 reasons for Christ's Atonement:

1. That the word might be fulfilled
2. That He may loose the bands of death
3. That His bowels may be filled with mercy
4. That He may know how to succor His people
5. That He may take upon Him the sins of His people
6. That He might blot out our transgressions

 I hope you enjoy reading Alma chapter 7!  Transfer calls are this Saturday.  Wow how the weeks fly!

Bad Smell!

I can't believe the fair is already here!  One year ago I was washing and blowing the steers and preparing for that crazy, busy week.  Don't worry, we will all be having crazy, busy weeks.

I have to tell you a story.  So, for the last month or so I have smelled something kind of bad in the kitchen.  But I haven't been able to put my finger, or rather my nose, on it.  We thought it could be the top of the microwave.  Well, the other night the smell was the worst it had ever been.  Oh, it was Sunday because I had my black suit on.  I was in the kitchen smelling around when Elder King suggested that it may be the sack of potatoes on the counter.  I thought this idea was silly because potatoes never smell like that in Wyoming.  I quickly picked up the sack of potatoes and a brown liquid splashed onto my suit jacket, my shoes, and the floor.  Then came the most disgusting smell!  We did some cleaning and put on the fans, opened the windows and held our breath.

Elder Ruby sent us a short letter this week.  He is doing really well and will hopefully have more to share in his next letter.  From this letter, you can see that he is having all kinds of life experiences:)

Ocean View

This week we went on a hike at Montana de Oro.  To my right was the ocean.  The water was blue and the waves were a beautiful, frothy white.  We stood at a cliff that overlooked the Big Blue.  I could sit there for hours just watching the waves, reading a book, and writing my thoughts.  Don't worry, I love our mountains, but there is something of beauty and awe that the ocean holds.

This week has been busy, stressful, exciting, miraculous and relieving.  The most stressful part was transfers.  We got a call from the Assistants to President Felix on Saturday with all the transfer information.  We then called everyone in the Zone with their new assignments.  We had a lot of changes.  We had to combine a ward, close an apartment, move around a companionship, and figure out rides down to transfers for everyone.  Up here in SLO the missionaries drive themselves down to transfer meetings.  So we as Zone Leaders, have to figure out luggage and carpooling.  It's a lot to think about.  We made sticky notes to represent cars and luggage and people.  (He is my son)

The best part was teaching Jose.  We taught him about the Plan of Salvation.  We felt really good about it.  At the end Jose prayed to know if the Book of Mormon is true!  He also told us that during the week at work (a fast food place), he pretty much bore his testimony to some of his co-workers that God is real and loves them.  Jose has a baptism date for Aug 2, but that will have to be pushed back because he hasn't been able to attend church yet.

I was so happy to attend the Fresno temple on Tuesday.  We get to go to the temple in the month of our birthday.  Elder King's birthday is in July.  Our Relief Society President and another guy drove us there.  The temple was really small, even smaller than the Billings, MT temple. We were there for a couple hours and felt that sweet peace that can only be found in a the temple of God.

That same day we had interviews with our Mission President, President Felix.  He and Sister Felix are AWESOME! They love the missionaries SO much and they love the Lord even more.  Sister Felix looked through our Area Book and talked with one of us while the other was in an interview with President Felix.  

All week the SLO wards were feeding the Special Olympians from Dubai who will be competing this

week in LA. They were awesome.  If only I knew Arabic.

I am really enjoying my mission.  I like to work hard.  I like responsibility.  I love to serve.  I want to work harder, love more, and fear less.

Elder King and Elder Ruby (Zone Leaders) with Elder Dorius (Elder Ruby's MTC companion) in the background.