O Wretched Man That I Am

To answer your first question.  Nope, he isn't better yet, but he does have more of an appetite. (He lost ten pounds) so it's good that his appetite is back. So the beginning of the week was staying home. I did manage to do some things productive, for instance, I made the "off the beam alley oop!" It's not exactly the temple, but it will do in a pinch. 

Well we Had zone conference on Wednesday and that was awesome talked about things we were struggling with and how to fix them at one point Elder Bailey (zone leader, body builder, Texan, fellow brother in ADD struggle) asked if anyone had recently been able to really study the Saviors life, I was the only one to raise my hand. So that was an eye opener for me. 

After zone conference and after we got home and Elder Leavitt couldn't even pull himself into his bed without help. I fell into the trap of my pride and started thinking about how I was not doing good enough I wasn't helping enough, wasn't working hard enough blah blah blah, I got sick of my pity party, (because being alone in my whining, I was also alone at my party) so I decided to clean the pad. I cleaned my desk and then vacuumed and then Elder Leavitt said Sister Villanueva was coming this weekend. So I scrubbed the shower down, did the dishes, sang songs I didn't know all the lyrics too so I either sang the same part over and over or sang like "consider the somethin somethin field, it's a touchdown, gross what touched my hand" and so on. It was fun. I ended up cleaning the whole pad. 

And still I felt down. I was like "great, depression, I would cry right now, if I hadn't wasted all my tears knowing I couldn't snowboard this year" I think missionaries in snowy places have better comp unity because they get to throw snowballs at each other instead of talking. So much easier. Anyway I decided I would do some studying "Surprise! All I really can do."

In my studies I came across a quote that hit home. Here it is:

"the vertical pronoun I has no knees to bend, while the first letter in the pronoun we does." 

So I went to my knees and prayed, and while I was praying and noticing how much of a prideful punk I was, the prayer was more like a giant apology and me seeing how stubborn I was in my pride, I was forced to my knees and that wasn't enough I fell flat on the ground.  I just laid there and whined about how hard it was. O wretched man that I am. 

Our new visitor.  Welcome friend.

Well after I had been humbled for the umpteenth time, I went on exchanges with Elder Bailey, on the cleaning of the pad/me day I went on exchanges with Elder Stinson. But that's for later. We left right before Sister Villanueva got here with the humidifier and food and went out into the great unknown, we visited some missionaries We then went to visit someone else. Then we went back to Elder Baileys home and I told him about my humbling experience and we felt the spirit and it was awesome cause...  Spirit. 

We then went to dinner with one of the south Pasadena members, and with the APs, which was fun. We talked for a while and we sat down and the members asked me about my life and stuff. Sadly, I don't think the APs or that family had ever laughed at dinner, because one of the APs started laughing so hard he was crying and the father of the family asked them to transfer me to south Pasadena so I could be in his ward, I said it was a nice offer, but South Pasadena is a zone leader/AP area. We left early from dinner and went and taught a family who is golden and wants to get baptized, it was so good to see. 

I mus serve in Pomona!  I literally has my name on it!

We went back to Elder Baileys apartment and we had a little time, so we decided to say a prayer, and we asked if we could just find somebody to help, we walked outside and stood for a second, then both of us just started walking to the right, we talked to one person who brushed us off, but then we saw two people who looked higher than the clouds, we walked up and they asked for a dollar Elder Bailey gave one of them a 5$ bill. (Which he regretted later) and I gave the girl a dollar for the bus, She then proceeded to tell me her life story, and that I was her favorite "Godfather" ever. She really needed someone just to listen to her.  We walked back to the car to go home knowing we had been led, It was pretty cool! I felt immensely happy to be the Lords servant right then! 

So today is good! I'm glad to be here! Church is true! Well now I have to tell you about the other exchange, we only went for about an hour, but we went with an awesome recent convert, his name is Hector, he was an enforcer in a Chinese gang here. He got sent to jail for hiring someone to kill somebody, the kill was unsuccessful and he went to jail for 11 years, he got stabbed and he stabbed. He decided to stop hurting people and he went in search of religion, nothing rang true, an inmate had gotten a Book of Mormon to use the pages to roll up drugs. Hector bought it off him and read it, he felt the spirit and when he got out, he called the missionaries, and now he is a very strong active member. Crazy. Oh and he said we were bros, so now I'm officially bros with a gangster. No biggie. Well he came with us. 

Wpulled up to a "house for the mentally unstable" in other words, I felt like I was back at the pad. Haha.  We walked in and sat down with this guy, who as soon as we sat down started telling crazy stories, ca-Ray-z. I was  like "well, this is very strange" one guy sat in apt he corner talking too himself and staring at us, I thought he was going to come over and eat me. It was a very interesting experience, he told us that the Methodist church was true and as soon as he said that the spirit was gone and we couldn't get it back, we stopped and asked if he would say the prayer, he said sure I just want to tell God where we are and then I want you to finish it. and I was like "awesome! The spirit is going to come back and we are going to leave him feeling it" 

Then he prayed "Dear God, this is Arnold, I'm here in this Hell-Hole with the missionaries at 555 Orchard Dr. In the cafeteria, the window is open, and we are on earth, in the Milky Way Galaxy," well I was now biting my tongue to not laugh, then he said "now the missionaries will finish the prayer. Well we said a short prayer and told him we would pray for him then we left. He has a long way to go, but at least he tried to pray! 

So just keep trying even if you have a few screws loose and sometimes refer to yourself as "the boy". Well that's what happened! I hope you all are well! I love you all! Feel free to talk to me. I like questions! K bye! 

Elder Rollins

Where are you going for Thanksgiving? Idk

How is Heather doing? She trying to find a jobHave you seen or talked to Victor lately? Nope, he hasn't respondedWere you able to feel the spirit this week? Yes when we just went out and worked,I was trying to think of something that you needed to survive your imprisonment.  I was thinking of some good books.  What do you think?    Yes that would be cool.

It's a Hard Knock Life

Preppy, baseball playing, biker

What's up y'all? Hope everything is staying cool (hehe see what I did there!?) hopefully I can say something to warm you up! Like for instance, I've been sitting in California and you all are still more tan than me. 

Before we begin today's session, I believe that we have a new deacon in the family? If I am correct, I believe that a welcome to the priesthood beatdown is due. I am pretty sure that is a real thing.  Right?  Maybe Jacob can take care of that.  To the parents of said deacon, brace yourselves, I see mood swings in your future. Happy bday Sambo!

Well now back to boring me, so we will begin by answering the now age-old question that is yes he is still sick. Now to all parties who are worrying about my health hanging out 24/7 with a contagious dude. People, I love you, but I have the amazing immune system of my father, I promise you I am fine, you don't need to worry, I'm sure if something happens grandpa will let you know! So if that happens you have permission to worry, seriously I'm fine physically! Your prayers have kept me from getting sick so please keep it up. And if I get sick, you won't hear about it anyway! Hahaha I'm so evil I know! Mom, it was a joke, I'm fine, really, really, Dad, don't let her drive here she has 4 other boys to worry about! 

Ok well my week was completely uneventful until the awesome meeting with the area authorities yesterday, (Brother Sitati has an awesome accent). I saw some of my homies from the MTC.   The speakers talked about having the Holy Ghost as our companion and told us how important it is (I quickly decided that I hadn't been talking to myself, I was talking to our third companion. It made me feel better!

So I have to tell you that this week I honestly felt like just giving up, not going home, If I'm going home early it's only because President Monson told me too, other than that I'm staying right here. Anyway I didn't want to do anything anymore, and just as I hitting my lowest point, Heavenly Father helped me to realize that I had some pride issues that I needed to take care of.  I remembered a talk I'd read by D. Todd Christoferson where he says "I'm the Gardener here" so I swallowed my pride and I feel much better. 

So all is well in this part of the vineyard.  Anyway I love you all. I hope that soon I will be able to tell you of all the investigators I have! Love you much!

Elder Rollins

Your poor companion!  Has he had a blessing?     Yes

Are you still able to attend church?                  Si

How do you exercise?                 However I can, push-ups, playing on our mini basketball hoop

Are you able to get to the store for food and such?          Yea the store is really close

Is your apartment cleaner than ever?         Yes, it freaks me out cause I'm the one cleaning it.

Were you able to go out at all this week?         No

Were you able to do any teaching?                  No

What are Elder Leavitt's parents saying?          I have no idea

What is your mission president  saying about Elder Leavtit?       That he just needs to wait it out

Are you still feeling healthy? Yes

Are you being obedient? Yes.  It was harder this week to wake up on time to go nowhere, but I pulled through. 

What do you feel you learned this week? That pride truly is the downfall of man

When did you feel the spirit this week?  When I finally swallowed pride, the mother of all horse pills, but the

swig of Living Water I took helped wash it down. (Whew, that analogy though)

Do you need anything?  Just a CTR size 8.5 ring for a Chinese missionary and a sweater, mostly for

everyone to smile!

Thanks mom, remember you and dad need to share your testimonies often with the boys. I wish I had heard it more, maybe I just wasn't listening. Anyway I'm not your boss. Love you lots! Stay chill don't freak out anymore.

This Week from the Battlefront!

Well hello fellow members of the human family! Hope that you all have had a fantabulous week!  Because, sadly my companion is still sick. We did get him to the doctor and they gave him drugs, drugs that make him exhausted. Great.


For those of you who are wondering, yes, I have lost my mind a couple of times. But after I roll my eyes back into my cranium a few times I find it again.   It is usually hiding near the corner of normalcy and oblivion. But I have survived again. 

Despite his dreariness we were able to get a few lessons, he was just barely coherent at them. For instance, Elder Leavitt was talking about the Book of Mormon to our investigator Victor, We taught Victor for the first time last Monday, and he committed to be baptized on the 30th!   Wow.  Later we found out that he is living with his girlfriend, loves coffee, loves to party, and may have a drug problem If the weed he left on his windowsill is any indication. Just a guess though. Needless to say we are praying for a miracle. He is 30 years old and has been going to a bunch of churches looking around to see what he likes, he prefers some Japanese church. He tried explaining it to me and said that they basically have little stones that give you certain attributes if you carry them around. Strange. So that's some info about him! Well anyway, Elder Leavitt was talking about the Book of Mormon and suddenly Victor is like "Dude, you look exhausted and like you are about to fall asleep, do you want some water?" We responded in the affirmative. We had only biked six miles to victors house but Elder Leavitt was used to his electric bike and he hadn't charged it so he had to peddle the whole way. He was saying
how bad it was and then I think he realized that that's how I feel after every bike ride. Well after we had some water the lesson went pretty well but he was so tired we had to just go home and he slept for like  3 hours. 

During those three hours I ate, and cleaned my desk, and read talks and scriptures. I know that I'm going crazy
because whenever he is asleep, I end up talking to myself. Sometimes he is awake, but I don't know so I'll say something, and he will say "huh" and I'm like "Just talking to myself". I think he is getting a little scared. 

Anyway now about Jackie. Well I believe I told you that she admitted she had a crush on me, I didn't think it was a big deal because after all Z.Z. Top told me that "every girls crazy bout a sharp dressed man!" I guess I didn't realize how broad of a word "crazy" is. Well this being transfer week, she called EVERY day, sometime multiple times and asked if I knew I was getting transferred, I repeatedly told her no I wouldn't know until Sunday. Well we went to the lesson with her and she was being really weird.  She wouldn't look at me or interact with me.  Well after the lesson she hands me an envelope. Inside is an 18 page letter with pictures. It was strange. Well in the letter she said she wouldn't meet with the missionaries anymore, so she is now dropped. She said it was too hard to make friends and then have them leave. So she was converted to the missionaries, not the message. I hope she finds it for real one day. 

Well that's basically the most exciting stuff! Other than that I tried to keep sane!

Love you all!! Keep on keepin on! Sianara!

Elder Rollins

Did you get your comp to the doctor?  Yes 

What was Elder Leavitt's diagnosis?   Whooping Cough

Is he doing better?   No

Were you able to work? Yes it was much better

How are Jackie and Heather?  Bad, Heather is doing good!

When did you feel the Spirit guiding you this week? When I changed up the teaching order a little bit for Victor.

How was church? Are you learning to love the ward? It was the primary program! That was good! Still trying!

What do you feel you learned this week? I have learned that I am not the one to judge.

I Will Survive.

Happy birthday Rachel and Jenn!!! Hope all goes well! Is Jenn like 50 now? Lol

Served at a Thai members house.  I asked him if he ate it.  He said "Nope, not all of it.  Couldn't do it." 

Hello to all! Hope everyone had a good Halloween! Hope you all got a lot of candy to send to me!! Well apparently, I haven't learned my lesson yet. Because Elder Leavitt was sick again. Poor fella. So we again spent a lot of time sitting at home. I finished Jesus the Christ. It is not nearly as difficult as people make it sound. 

So unfortunately I have few things to write about.

Uhhh it got pretty cold for Cali. Like 40 degrees. I had to wear a sweater. I'm becoming one of them. I wish there was some snow. That would make going to appointments way more fun. Speaking of appointments I'm forcing my companion to go to the doctors office. He is so stubborn. Much like Jackie who has literally called every day to find out if I am getting transferred. Apparently she is "crushing" on me.  Great.   

We had a less active lesson with this guy named Daniel. We biked three miles there, talked for fifteen minutes, then three miles straight back to home base. Super fun. Only lesson of the week.

Dying.

Boredom. Boredom is my number 1 enemy. After I finished Jesus the Christ I had no purpose so I sat and span in my chair until I was sick. Then I pretty much just talked to myself. I actually had some deep conversations. But I realized most of the conversation was in my head. But at random times I'd say something out loud. I think it scared Elder Leavitt a little bit. But that's ok. 

Oh I put my tag through the washer and dryer this morning so it's sparkling clean. I think that I'm becoming a hermit. But besides all that because struggles are boring the church is true! Despite all my problems I still know it! I am 110% closer to my Savior than I ever have been! We are great friends! He had definitely helped me through my most recent trial. I have had many hours to sit and think. And each time I come out of my "Force heal" ( Star Wars reference) I feel much better.

Actually, since I know you all care, I have put some of the things that have come across my mind, some are spiritual, others are to make sure I could still make myself laugh.

• Most of the time, when you've done all you can, the Spirit prompts you to go just a little further. That is when you find success.
• Halloween reminds me a lot of my mom waking me up all those mornings before school, some scary person bangs on your door, demands things of you, then turns and leaves.
• The hardest part of missionary work is when you stop working.
• Sometimes I just want to cry, then I remember that my uncles replaced my tear ducts with testosterone dispensers... So I do awesome dunks on our 6ft hoop...
• When people ask why I am out doing this and I tell them because it makes me happy, they always look at me like I grew up under a rock.
• I said wow to somebody referring to the word of wisdom. Instead I got a 10 minute lecture on world of Warcraft. I don't get the connection. 
• I've noticed that people promise to do something in their prayers, and then if they don't do it they think God never wants to hear from them again.
• When I look at a person, I have to put off the Natural Man and stop judging them, then I put on my "Charity Glasses" and look at that person how Christ looks at that person.

These are very few of the many things that have gone through my head. Another thing I did was make videos, those will be sent later. Don't judge me. I've been stuck in a small pool house for 2 weeks.

Well I love you all! Hope you have fun in the cold! Hope you all have a fantastic day/week and that your prayers will be answered! Much love to you all! Smile! Help somebody! PEACE!

Shi-Shi (thank you)

Elder Rollins

Is your companion feeling better? Has your companion been to the doctor? Are you still ok health wise? No, he is still sick.  We are going to the doctor tomorrow hopefully.  I'm good.  Of course!  I never get sick.   

Are you warm enough?  Are you going to need a sweater or a sweater vest?  A sweater would be nice

Did Jackie change her mind about being baptized? I dunno. She is going crazy. 

How are Heather and her sister doing?  What health issue does Heather have? Heather is better I don't know what she had. We haven't talked to savannah in a while

Have you gained any weight since you left? No, I have lost 4 pounds. 

Did you get your Halloween package? Did you share it with your comp? Yes I did! Thank you very much! I was actually super confused on why there were so many kids out dressed funny. No, he is sick so I get it all. 

What did you learn from your week where you weren't able to go out and work? I learned that I have to just push harder. No matter what

When did you feel the spirit this week? I felt the spirit when I was reading Jesus the Christ. It was good for me to read that.

What topic have you been studying? I have been studying Jesus Christ it helps keep me sane.