Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Elder L. Does Yoga?
This Past week has been pretty normal. Me and Nielsen are getting along great we are both from out East so we have a lot we agree on!! He says I'm his funniest companion so far haha. I don't know how difficult the competition is but I'll take it haha!
This week was pretty good. I'm defiantly getting used to being a missionary and what I have to do to be more successful!! Me and Elder Nielsen are working on being more bold with invitations and working on being 100% obedient. I'm getting to the point where I'm finally getting to know our investigators more and really loving them and the work!
We taught Richard again and he is accepting the gospel wonderfully and loves to tell us stories about his life. If it was up to him he would tell us stories all day long haha! His only concern is that he doesn't feel like he is ready to go to church. It made me sad and I tried to convince him that he is ready, but he said that he was going to come when he feels ready so we just had to accept his answer.
We also met with Aaron again, he had a lot of concerns about the church. He read a lot of anti on the internet but thankfully me and Elder Nielsen were able to clear up his concerns. Elder Nielsen gets a little feisty in those kind of meetings but he stayed calm and we were able to keep the spirit with us while we taught him the truth.
Every week we meet up with a recent convert named David and he is AWESOME!! He loves to read and just recently discovered the library at church but he is super interested in learning more deeper stuff. Every time we meet he tells us about how he does yoga and gave us some exercises to do haha. We will see how that goes...
Yesterday we taught Dunia who is an awesome member referal! We have taught her twice so far and she has been to church once. Yesterday we invited her to baptized and she said yes. Her Baptism is set for October 11, just 9 days before my birthday. We are also trying to get one for the 18th! That would be an awesome birthday present haha!
I am loving California. The weather is amazing everyday!!! I love teaching downtown and the people in San Diego!
Last night we ate at a members house and they had a golden doodle that reminded me so much of Dexter haha. The ward I'm in is pretty awesome but also pretty small but there are some really supportive members and our ward mission leader is amazing!
Me and Elder Nielsen are also giving up sugar, soda and fast food. I guess California is rubbing off on me haha!
Well I love you all and pray for you all daily! I'm so thankful for the Atonement and know this church is true!!!!!!!
Love,
Elder LaRochelle
P.S. Don't forget to write/email me! I want to hear how you all are doing!!
This week was pretty good. I'm defiantly getting used to being a missionary and what I have to do to be more successful!! Me and Elder Nielsen are working on being more bold with invitations and working on being 100% obedient. I'm getting to the point where I'm finally getting to know our investigators more and really loving them and the work!
We taught Richard again and he is accepting the gospel wonderfully and loves to tell us stories about his life. If it was up to him he would tell us stories all day long haha! His only concern is that he doesn't feel like he is ready to go to church. It made me sad and I tried to convince him that he is ready, but he said that he was going to come when he feels ready so we just had to accept his answer.
We also met with Aaron again, he had a lot of concerns about the church. He read a lot of anti on the internet but thankfully me and Elder Nielsen were able to clear up his concerns. Elder Nielsen gets a little feisty in those kind of meetings but he stayed calm and we were able to keep the spirit with us while we taught him the truth.
Every week we meet up with a recent convert named David and he is AWESOME!! He loves to read and just recently discovered the library at church but he is super interested in learning more deeper stuff. Every time we meet he tells us about how he does yoga and gave us some exercises to do haha. We will see how that goes...
Yesterday we taught Dunia who is an awesome member referal! We have taught her twice so far and she has been to church once. Yesterday we invited her to baptized and she said yes. Her Baptism is set for October 11, just 9 days before my birthday. We are also trying to get one for the 18th! That would be an awesome birthday present haha!
I am loving California. The weather is amazing everyday!!! I love teaching downtown and the people in San Diego!
Last night we ate at a members house and they had a golden doodle that reminded me so much of Dexter haha. The ward I'm in is pretty awesome but also pretty small but there are some really supportive members and our ward mission leader is amazing!
Me and Elder Nielsen are also giving up sugar, soda and fast food. I guess California is rubbing off on me haha!
Well I love you all and pray for you all daily! I'm so thankful for the Atonement and know this church is true!!!!!!!
Love,
Elder LaRochelle
P.S. Don't forget to write/email me! I want to hear how you all are doing!!
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
M.T.E.'s (see below)
So most of my week was pretty normal.
Elder Nielson and I are getting along great. We have lots of fun but we are both focused on what's important.
Friday we had M.T.E.'s (Missionary Training Exchanges). It's when a couple of zones get together and the zone leaders and assistants go out with other missionaries and coach them. Our coach was President Schmitt! I was crazy nervous to teach in front of him - haha - but it was an amazing day!
We started off contacting a potential investigator named Aaron who only wanted a Bible but last time we visited him we gave him a Bible and a Book of Mormon. When we talked to him Friday he didn't really want to talk to us at all but President bore testimony that the message we had to share was going to change his life so he decided to meet with us at a nearby park. At the end of the lesson Aaron offered a prayer and was touched by the spirit so deeply that he was crying uncontrollably. It has been one of the coolest experiences that I have had, It was amazing to see the hand of Lord in our work!!
Later in the day we taught Joseph who is a previous minister. He is pretty hard to teach because he doesn't believe in praying or in faith and he asked us really hard questions but we are going to keep trying to teach him.
After that we taught Richard. We taught the Plan of Salvation and he accepted it wonderfully. At the end of the lesson I asked him if he would be baptized and he said yes!!!!!!! It's awesome and I know it's not by chance that he was put in our path. I'm never going to forget Richard, the first person I asked to be baptized.
Friday was a day of miracles and I'm so glad President was with us. I know this Church is true!
Love you all and keeping you in my prayers :).
Elder LaRochelle
Elder Nielson and I are getting along great. We have lots of fun but we are both focused on what's important.
Friday we had M.T.E.'s (Missionary Training Exchanges). It's when a couple of zones get together and the zone leaders and assistants go out with other missionaries and coach them. Our coach was President Schmitt! I was crazy nervous to teach in front of him - haha - but it was an amazing day!
We started off contacting a potential investigator named Aaron who only wanted a Bible but last time we visited him we gave him a Bible and a Book of Mormon. When we talked to him Friday he didn't really want to talk to us at all but President bore testimony that the message we had to share was going to change his life so he decided to meet with us at a nearby park. At the end of the lesson Aaron offered a prayer and was touched by the spirit so deeply that he was crying uncontrollably. It has been one of the coolest experiences that I have had, It was amazing to see the hand of Lord in our work!!
Later in the day we taught Joseph who is a previous minister. He is pretty hard to teach because he doesn't believe in praying or in faith and he asked us really hard questions but we are going to keep trying to teach him.
After that we taught Richard. We taught the Plan of Salvation and he accepted it wonderfully. At the end of the lesson I asked him if he would be baptized and he said yes!!!!!!! It's awesome and I know it's not by chance that he was put in our path. I'm never going to forget Richard, the first person I asked to be baptized.
Friday was a day of miracles and I'm so glad President was with us. I know this Church is true!
Love you all and keeping you in my prayers :).
Elder LaRochelle
A Couple More From The MTC
Elder LaRochelle and his friend Elder Bailey
This is Elder LaRochelle with a guy who served with his brother in the Washington DC South Mission - then known as Elder Hansen.
One More of LaRochelle & Johnson
You saw them on their way into the MTC. Here they are leaving
the MTC for the Airport at 4:30am.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Elder L. Sighting! Sort of.
Another former missionary we knew in Ohio was on vacation in San Diego and saw Elder LaRochelle's name in what appears to be a Sunday bulletin. He's only been there a week and a half and already a sighting! Sort of.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
1st Week In San Diego
It's hard to believe I have already been out on my mission for a week. I can't believe last Tuesday I was at the MTC and was up at 3 am to catch my flight! Me and Elder Johnson were on the same shuttle to the airport though so I saw him one last time before I left. There were only 5 of us from the Provo MTC going to San Diego.
When we landed we were greeted by the missionaries that were going home from San Diego. It was way cool!!! When we met President Schmitt he informed us that there were 13 other missionaries coming to San Diego from the Mexico City MTC. It was crazy!
When we all got to the mission home some members prepared a lunch for us then we just got to relax the rest of the day. It was pretty awesome.
The next day I met my trainer Elder Nielsen. He is way cool and we are serving in the San Diego Zone, the San Diego Stake, and the San Diego 1st Ward in Downtown San Diego. It's pretty awesome!! He is super patient with me and has helped me so much. I'm glad I went out with missionaries as much as I did before my mission. It definitely helped!
When we all got to the mission home some members prepared a lunch for us then we just got to relax the rest of the day. It was pretty awesome.
The next day I met my trainer Elder Nielsen. He is way cool and we are serving in the San Diego Zone, the San Diego Stake, and the San Diego 1st Ward in Downtown San Diego. It's pretty awesome!! He is super patient with me and has helped me so much. I'm glad I went out with missionaries as much as I did before my mission. It definitely helped!
My first Sunday in California was interesting. We had some homeless members and dogs in the chapel but it was still pretty awesome.
Yesterday we taught and gave someone a blessing in the Navy hospital. We had to be escorted everywhere we went. It was crazy but such an amazing experience. He had read all of First Nephi in a week and you can already tell he knows that the book of Mormon is true. We want to commit him to baptism but he can't leave the hospital right now so its kinda hard!
We also taught someone named Chris who's been an investigator for 18 months!! He wants to be baptized but he has to wait for permission from the First Presidency because he went to jail but he has changed and has accepted everything the missionaries have taught him. He is awesome!
Yesterday we taught and gave someone a blessing in the Navy hospital. We had to be escorted everywhere we went. It was crazy but such an amazing experience. He had read all of First Nephi in a week and you can already tell he knows that the book of Mormon is true. We want to commit him to baptism but he can't leave the hospital right now so its kinda hard!
We also taught someone named Chris who's been an investigator for 18 months!! He wants to be baptized but he has to wait for permission from the First Presidency because he went to jail but he has changed and has accepted everything the missionaries have taught him. He is awesome!
Missions are awesome!!! Church is true!!! Love you guys!!!
Elder LaRochelle
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Email Updates
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Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Welcome to San Diego
Dear Parents,
We are so grateful that your sons and daughters arrived safely in San Diego today. They were a bit weary due to early morning travel, but we were able to feed them lunch, get them some rest (along with a letter written to you), and feed them again! I was able to individually meet with each of our 18 new missionaries and am so impressed by their dedication and desire to follow Jesus Christ. Tomorrow morning, we will assign them their first area and missionary companion.
Thanks so much for your love and support of these great young people. It is truly our privilege to serve alongside them.
May God's choicest blessings be with each of you.
Jonathan S. Schmitt
California San Diego Mission
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