Week 24 - Happy New Year

Shalom y'all

Welcome to the wubulous world of Modesto California, known for George Lucas and car egos.  It's been a runaround of a week, but that ain't no problem.  Monday, we got a bunch of food in preparation for this week, not realizing how many dinners we would have, and left-overs we'd take home.  The bright side is, today we don't have to buy hardly any groceries.  We had a visit at a friends home, we read out of the Book of Mormon and taught some of the commandments, and showed him a book of Mormon video online, he likes them a lot!  It was a super awkward one but he still enjoyed it!  And he understood the point it was trying to make!!  We're trying to help him progress as much as we can, he feels intellectually underprepared for baptism, so we're reading with him and helping him build his spiritual confidence and self-reliance.  Tuesday was district council, it was the first one in the new area, but it was a good discussion and we had some cool role plays.  There's lots of good teachers in our district who really know how to explain hard doctrine simply, it's motivating to work with them.  We spent the rest of the evening hopping from house to house, eating dinners and desserts at members and friends homes, including members from my first ward, so it was cool to reconnect and say hello.  Christmas day was a busy one, we started the morning at a members home, and her inactive husband taught us a bunch of pool techniques, so we practiced for an hour and then he challenged us to a 2 on 2, elder Leishman and I felt prepared but we still lost to him and Elder Falke, mostly to the other guy's credit.  He was really cool, and they let us call home from their place, which was nice.  We went again from home to home, eating, visiting, and leaving.  The first appointment we had was in an old folks home, a lady in the ward wanted to feed us so we came over, she would lose track of her conversations a lot so we'd listen to her go on about some 4 topics, interrupt herself, and start over.  Conversation was easy, and the food wasn't bad!  We saw a few more friends and ended the night at bishops house, where we had one last dinner and got to choose an animated Disney movie.  We watched Atlantis, and whether the movie is better than I remember, or that any movie I watch out here is gonna be 10 times better, me and the companions were laughing the whole time.  Thursday morning we spent doing administrative work for Elder Falke as he prepares to go home in January, but later that night we got to go out and teach.  Elder Leishman got sick on Christmas and for the next few days he was knocked down, so we had to split with missionaries frequently to make our appointments and so Elder Leishman wasn't alone in the apartment.  It was fun to go out with a bunch of different missionaries, I always see something new or learn something useful when I'm with someone new.  Saturday night, we're winding down and getting ready for bed, we get a call from President.  We kinda freak out, thinking we had done something wrong, but he asked to talk to Elder Falke.  He told him he needed to come down to Fresno for the departing ceremonies on Monday, and that he'd spend the last couple weeks of his mission in the Fresno area.  It was crazy, so the next day we spent packing and saying goodbye to more friends and members.  It's gonna be weird going back to a normal companionship, but it's been fun, and it's time we take the area over.  And I get more time to shower!  He's a good friend and it's been awesome working with and learning from him.  I wrote in my journal a lot this week and was thinking about potential, and the importance of remembering our potential with the eternal perspective.  When you set goals, when you want to get better at something, when you want to change your life, it's important to remember the comfort that comes from our divine heritage.  Heavenly Father is watching over us, when we makes mistakes we can make it right, and no matter how hopeless things look or how difficult a trial may seem, when we trust Heavenly Father and press forward, keeping the commandments and working with a righteous purpose, everything will work out.  Life does get hard, but that's what makes the easy times easier.  It makes us smarter, and we can handle situations better.  I love Heavenly Father and am so grateful for the Plan of happiness.  I hope y'all had a good week, and that as you set goals for the upcoming year, you make them with the eternal perspective in mind.  All things can be accomplished through reliance on Jesus Christ and personal determination.  See y'all next week.

Elder Gneiting

I'm distantly related to the player who signed this volleyball.

  

Week 23 - Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas y'all,

It's been an exciting and busy week.  I've been on a million exchanges because of various things the dinner lady has been trynna fix in the district.  Dinner lady is code for District leader, one of my companions. 

Monday night, a member friend took us to Kobe's, a Japanese sushi restaurant.  I ate a ton of food, we sat at a sushi bar and there was also a buffet dinner side in the back.  I'm only in Modesto, but I ate soft shell crab, octopus, salmon, yellowtail, tuna, eel, ahi, it was insane.

We've visited a ton of members and also found a bunch of new friends to start teaching.  A lot of them came to church yesterday too!  I ate at olive garden on one exchange with a Spanish missionary who is in training right now, he likes their breadsticks, so we biked over there before we went finding that night. 

One night this week, we were visiting a family and while we were there, a pizza guy showed up and we got a bunch of pizza to take home.  But while we were visiting, I was impressed to share a scripture from my personal study that morning.  It was an obscure scripture that seemed out of context, but the family started crying and talking about their meaning of Christmas since they had a child who passed away a couple years ago.  It was very emotional, and the spirit was strong.  I was blown away by their openess.  Heavenly Father loves all his children, and this season is the time to remember the sacrifice he made, that of his Son, Jesus Christ.  Though we have trials and struggles in our life, he knows how we feel, and we can place all our guilt, regret, and pain in him.  He can carry our burdens if we carry our cross and follow him. 

At another part member home, a nonmember husband of a lady in our ward had some intense questions about the hereafter, and about the various perspectives of different religions.  He used to be very involved in the Catholic faith until a mentor of his insulted him, and other doctrine that he didn't agree with made it a little easier for him to distance himself.  It was awesome talking to him and communicating our perspectives to help him build his faith and to encourage his search for truth.  

We had dinner with a family on the weekend, they are very musically talented, so they had a bunch of instruments.  Including guitars, so I got to play a few songs again, we'll have to go over on a preparation day to play again.  They all showed off their skill at our Christmas service here in the Modesto second ward, it was awesome to here them sing and play various instruments.

We also had the privilege to attend a Christmas zone conference, we had present exchanges and fun games.  I dressed like a Christmas tree and got a Lego set.  We also went to the temple Saturday, we did baptisms with a recent convert from my training area.  He was taught by a lot of missionaries so a lot of us were there, including my trainer, so we took a multi-generation pic.  It was sweet to do baptisms again.

Overall, it's been a busy week, lots of teaching, lots of eating, lots of biking in the rain, I wish I had more time and more space for detail.  Have a merry Christmas and enjoy some pictures of me and the companions enjoying each other's company.

Love,

Elder Gneiting

        

Week 22

Hey y'all

It's been a blast of a week.

I honestly didn't realize how much fun I could have in a trio in a city I already know, but it's actually awesome.  Ceres was cool, but I wasn't finished with Modesto.  Tuesday morning, I drove down to Fresno and met up with Elders Falke & Leishman.  They are from Germany (Hamburg area) and Canada (Cardston, Alberta area) respectively.  We drove the 2 hours back up to Modesto, and when we got to the apartment, it was ill-kept.  We spent most of the day throwing away trash, cleaning out the fridge, the bathroom, the kitchen, and the bedroom.  There's only 2 beds in the missionary apartments, so we got a mattress from some other zone leaders and it's on the floor and that's my bed for now.  We live in a duplex thingy, and we have a grill in the back, and we used it on the first night. 

Wednesday was a good day to settle in, we got used to having 3 elders and also got to drive around the area, not too much success that day but definitely a good day to settle in and check stuff out.  Thursday, we went out and contacted some members and formers, and we ran into a member I had already met in my training.  He's got some issues so we were able to bounce outta there while staying cordial.  I had been studying in the kitchen so we boonked a table from some sisters in our zone that night.  Friday was a runaround, we met with members and people we're teaching, and that night we had a Christmas party with the ward.  The ward is small and old again but it's okay cause I know how to work with that now.  Saturday we met with the Elder's Quorum president, and got more information on how to work with them to help build up the ward.  Things are kinda slow with the climaxing of the Christmas season, but we're planning on continuing momentum after the new year.  We also helped load a piano and deliver it to a members home from a donut shop that she frequents.  It was the first time I moved a piano like that, and I hope I don't have to again soon, but she gave us cookies so maybe it was worth it.  We also had a lesson with a recent convert and he bore his testimony on the gospel and the friendliness of members which is awesome.

Sunday, we went to our ward meetings, we talked with our ward mission leader, and we scheduled to meet with our members for the next transfer.  We had member visits, meals, contacts, and then that night we met up with a friend from my training area, Elder Falke also served there previously, and we visited another member who is housing a German exchange student, so Elder Falke was able to talk to her and while we were there the member realized her dog was missing, so we prayed right then and like 10 minutes later we went out and found the dog.  We decided we'd get their missionaries to come over soon and to get the exchange student in contact with German missionaries when she goes home. 

It's been a good week, and I'm happy to be back in Modesto.  I'm excited to do work and I like being in a trio.  I hope y'all are having a good holiday season, whatever holidays you might celebrate, and I hope you have opportunity to share charity and good will with your friends, family, and neighbors, as Christ would.  Drive safe in the snow for me!

Elder Gneiting

   

Week 21

Dear friends and family,

It's been quite the week.  The transfer is ending, and it's hard to believe it's already a week into December.  Though, not a whole lot has happened.  The weather has been changing, which is exciting.  It's been kind of a coast of a week, but I guess that happens sometimes.  I wish I had some progress to report on, but that's alright.  We had some exciting activities to do, there were a couple parades the missionaries were invited to, we made it to the first one Friday night.  We walked along side a float and wore Christmas lights on our shoulders, and then we would run into the crowds on the sidewalks and talk to people and show them Light the World.  That was pretty fun.  Saturday night, we opened our Christmas Tree Lane booth, but we lacked some supplies and we ended up putting it down and walked around the neighborhood, handing out invitational cards and getting to know people from Ceres, kinda like the night before.  I enjoy walking around, seeing people, and talking to people who make eye contact.  It's crazy how bad people are at talking, everyone is so awkward and they just walk away from you.  Now maybe it's 'cause I'm walking around in a shirt and tie in the rain with a badge that says "JESUS CHRIST" that's turning some people off, but then again, I saw some weirder stuff out there, like drunk elves stumbling over Christmas hymns and Grinch fanatics blasting ranchero music.  It's safe to say a card from a skinny teenager could be more appealing.

Later that night, we got our calls for transfers.  I'm leaving!  I spent Sunday waiting to find out where exactly I would be going, as part two of transfer calls is Sunday night.  During sacrament meeting, the speakers referenced The Beatles and U2, the lines they said were "All You Need Is Love" and "You can't throw anything that I haven't already heard", talking about following the example of Jesus Christ to find happiness in this life, and also looking at Christ's atonement as a reminder that he's been through every pain conceivable.  When we rely on the Savior, all things are possible.  Not only his example, but his sacrifice, paved the way to heaven.  

Anyway, I'm getting transferred back to Modesto.  LET'S GOOOO!!  (I'll be serving with my trainer's trainer and an elder from my training area... trio?) 

I've been thinking about the Lord a lot, and also about myself.  Christmas time is a good time to think about the relationship I have with him.  All the blessings I have because a child was born in a humble stable over 2000 years ago.  Jesus Christ was willing to come down to this fallen earth and suffer the pains of the world, to be mocked, betrayed, and crucified for my sake.  Pray we don't forget these simple truths as we approach the celebration of our Savior's birth.  I love you all and am trying my best to make you proud, I wouldn't be out here without the influence I've had from you wonderful people.  Stay safe in the snow!!

Ya boi

Elder Gneiting

The carts don't haunt me anymore

Week 20

Life is good. I'm still thinking about that talk I mentioned in my last email. An absolute truth is that happiness is a choice. It's a state of mind. Happiness comes from doing what happy people do, and I'm really working on being happy. Working really hard. And that's okay. I hope y'all are also trying to be happy. Or, if you feel happy enough, that you're trying to make those around you happy.

We had a good couple days, we taught a bunch, we invited a bunch, including our Jewish friend, he actually went to Salt Lake and checked out Temple Square. He also checked out the Cathedral and Synagogue downtown, and we had a good talk. We've been getting real with teaching which is sick, I just told my comp that we were gonna get on the list of former people, less actives, and part member families, knock on their doors, and ask if we can teach them. So far we've had pretty good lessons. I wish our ward was younger, because I feel bad dragging around the same 4 guys aged 60+ from Elder's Quorum to try to "fellowship" with the single mothers and teenaged boys we're teaching. I'm hoping to find a family with Melchizedek Priesthood potential, because then it'd be less awkward. Either way, the people who want to come to our church will, and maybe we're meant to cook a new batch of members to take over the existing ward.

We did service this week, Wednesday morning we helped a lady pick persimmons, they're super wack fruit that I had never heard of before. They taste super wack too. We helped a member and his family move, with various packing and moving projects. On Saturday, we helped set up decorations at a members home, because on their street is a big Christmas celebration, everyone decorates or has booths, so the population here has something to do every night leading up to Christmas. We will have a Light The World booth, which will be fun. Thanksgiving was good, not many people wanted to talk to us that day, which was okay. We ate at a members home, they had lots of classy Thanksgiving food just like home, no chicken feet or cow intestines, so I was stoked. After we ate, I taught their family how to play pirate dice, and then they let us play Battleship, it was nice to stay in and have a small break. 

Saturday morning, after service, a friend in our teaching pool who I hadn't met took us to breakfast at this sick small town diner. We caught up with him and invited him to church the next day. It was a good start to our weekend. Later that afternoon, a member called and asked if they could take us to pizza. Heck yeah! Two meals in one day? It's been a fat minute since I had pizza, it was fantastic. That night, we visited some cool people, and this former who hadn't been seen in a while. We talked with their whole family, Elder P let them all know that I play guitar, so they grabbed one for me and huddled around. It was nice to play again. Then they made us hot chocolate, gave us some Mexican pastries, and we showed them the Christ Child! We hope they start to soften up soon.

Sunday was good. Not a lot going on, our friends didn't come to church, but it was fine. We met with some members, brought the sacrament to the bed-bound, and gave a light the world lesson. I also got to read some crazy books by Elder McConkie, my companion got from a member. Just a regular day. 

I found a verse this week that just recently appealed to my mind. When Abinadi prophecies about Christ and explains the concept of redemption to king Noah and his priests, to dissuade them from their weak attempts to comprehend the law of Moses, he beautifully relays the infinite power of Christ. "He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death" Mosiah 16:9

Because of him, "death is swallowed up". I know the Savior paid the price for all mankind from ancient to contemporary. I know that the purpose of life is to better ourselves and to follow the example of Jesus Christ. I know that, despite our imperfections, we can live with God again. That it really isn't that hard to live righteously. We can make a good choice every day. We do it over and over until we make lots of good choices, and then hopefully, almost always good choices. Remember Christ, remember that he loves you. I love you all too. 

Smiles and prayers,

Elder Gneiting

By the way, it's been raining all week here in Ceres. Enjoy some pictures from the crazy weather & service.

   

Week 19

Fellow Americans,

 I would like to quote a scripture to keep in mind as I discuss the previous week.

 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Gal. 6:9)

 I have thought about this scripture while I was reading over some general conference talks Monday night. Amid reading, I churned in my mind decisions I had made that led me to where I am, and what decisions I can make that will lead me to where I want to be. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we choose not to faint, and we choose to do good. Please remember, as the First Presidency reminds us in the new Missionary Standards handbook, 

 "Jesus Christ...commanded [His disciples] to 'make disciples of' (see footnote a to Matthew 28:19) 'all nations'"

 It might seem like a task, however, making disciples of all nations starts with us and our examples. Please continue to sacrifice and do good to those around you, as King Benjamin proclaimed, "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings" (Mosiah 2:17), you are doing what Jesus would do, "the will of him that sent [you]" (John 6:38) 

 We had zone conference Tuesday, and we talked about family history, expectations from the area presidency about the covenant path, and the new handbook. Something President said that really stuck out is how in the book, it makes it very specific that we are agents unto ourselves, and we do the work of the Lord because we love him, not because it's rules, if we were true disciples, we wouldn't look for loopholes, we wouldn't rationalize. We are extensions from the Apostles to spread the word worldwide, and when we remember our covenants, and the temple, we realize we need to give up a lot of ourselves for what's at stake.

 Our zone had the opportunity to go to the Fresno temple Wednesday. It was great to be back, it feels like forever. On our way back, we ate at a barbecue place called the Dog House Grill in Fresno, and it was wayyy good. Elder Pendleton and I have been focusing a lot on encouraging our members to get excited for Christmas season, because we hope that if we can motivate them and give them a spiritual boost, they'll want to share it. Us missionaries have early access to the Christ Child video sponsored for Light the World. It's a great video and I encourage you all to watch it when it releases and to share it with EVERYONE!

 Covenants are a blessing. The promises we make to God help us become more like him. When we remember our promises, we are less likely to give into temptation, and more likely to find joy in the simple things. Mission expects a lot from me. Not as much as some other missions, maybe not as much as other missionaries, but I was given this assignment to better myself and prepare to live along the covenant path, the Plan of Happiness. God wants us to be happy, and living the law that he has provided did bring happiness. If you haven't found that to be true, live it a little better, it might change your mind.

 I had an exchange with the district leader this week. It was good to have a break, to lead the area, and to drive. Elder Pendleton doesn't like to share the wheel too often. He had some good advice, a specific line I needed to hear was, "control what you can control", I realized anything was possible as long as I had the drive and determination to change. To take control. I was really able to recalibrate and decide what I wanted for the area, and what I was going to do about it. Because of that experience, I feel motivated, and I've taken initiative with my area and with my companion, despite some of the trials and setbacks that cause the work to suffer. Sometimes I forget that there's people on my side, encouraging my success. I'm grateful for my leaders out here. 

 On Sunday, we talked about casting out our idols, or burying our weapons of rebellion, as talked about in Elder Renlund's most recent conference talk. In sacrament meeting, there was a talk on living after the manner of happiness. Happiness can be found, even in situations of distress or sadness. He shared insights from stories and former conference talks, but what stuck out to me was the idea of "doing what happy people do". When someone is truly happy, it's because they make decisions to serve others and to be patient with their trials. He talked about the patience and lack of looting that took place in Japan after a devastating earthquake in 2011, in comparison to the impatience and abundant looting in other places around the world amidst similar circumstances.

 We finished that night by making some visits, especially with some former investigators. Most rescheduled, but one contact turned into a full on lesson, and we invited the guy and his family to church and some ward Christmas stuff, and he said he would do it. We're excited for him and his family.

 Please don't forget that you are never out of God's reach. You are never too far gone. Because of Jesus Christ, we can all turn our lives around. I want each of you to CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL this week. As you sacrifice your will to the will of the Lord, you will have MORE blessings, MORE happiness, and MORE success in that which you focus on. It's easy to be lazy, but it's not okay to stay that way. It's okay to ask for help, but it's lazy to always need it. You know what you can control, so just do it.

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all

Elder Gneiting

Enjoy some pics of me mobbin' this week. (The teddy bear was the "cleanest car" trophy for our zone, we won. Literal soft flex) 

     

Week 18

Ayyyyye

My testimony has grown significantly.  The Lord's timing still manages to surprise me over and over again.  Last Sunday, a man on a religious quest arrived at our chapel on a whim, the sister missionaries brought him to us, and he attended all of church.  He had some questions, wrote more questions down during sacrament meeting, and afterward we had a long lesson on the restoration, the plan of happiness, and his questions.  He's a very cool guy, and he's missionary age, but he recently moved to the central valley from the bay area.  He's getting used to adult life and finding himself spiritually.  It was a great opportunity to see another perspective and to have an enlightening spiritual conversation.

On Tuesday, we did service for our local Seventh Day Adventist church, which we do most Tuesday mornings.  We help unload and organize donated food for people in the community.  It's a good opportunity to meet people in town, make connections, and build trust with people, and also to get our name out there so "Mormon" stigma among local Christians will go away.  Maybe we'll find a teaching opportunity out of it.  We also had a lot of recent success contacting former friends. 

We taught one of our recent converts again this week.  Sometimes he tells us what his coworkers say concerning his conversion into our church.  One of his friends said,

"You know all Mormons have trampolines, right?"

That has got to be the funniest thing I have ever heard about members of the church.  Our friend responded that he had a trampoline growing up, so he didn't think it would be a hard transition.

Since meeting, my companion has been helping me to have spiritual experiences to make me more sensitive to the Holy Ghost.  For example, he woke me up in the middle of the night to cast out a devil from the apartment.  Then, he read the account of the angel condemning Laman and Lemuel for beating Nephi and Sam, and claimed to be that very angel, premortally.  I decided to take his word for it.  The other night, he wondered out loud, 

"I wonder where I can find some sage"

I replied, "what for?"

He jeered, "I'm part Cherokee, and I give blessings"

I'm still waiting for my blessing.

I've also discovered his fear of spiders, and other creeping things.  Whenever he senses a bug in our midst, he makes it a point to grab me and then stand a ways back as I defend the apartment from the arachnid intruders, rolled Ensign magazine in hand.  Overall, it's been a fun week

Saturday I had the privilege of attending the baptism of a friend I taught in my last area.  Even though I felt kicked out and robbed at the first of this new transfer, I'm now happy to see progress whenever it comes.  I know the Lord prepares people, friends and missionaries, to meet.  Even though I wanted to be there to convert him, it was never me, and never will be.  The Spirit converts, and the progress of our friends is according to God's timing, not mine. 

The Lord is awesome.  I don't get him a lot, or a lot of stuff for that matter, but I know that living the gospel of Jesus Christ brings happiness that can't be found anywhere else.  I'm grateful for his atonement and the privilege I have to repent and try again everyday and every minute to be a better person.  The blessings of the Temple and the Priesthood are phenomenal, I know that God loves his children and this gospel is meant only to bless them.  Recently, my Mama pointed out how in Alma 30 during the exchange of Korihor and Alma the younger, he describes the mental state of those following the commandments as "frenzied", and honestly, sometimes it can feel that way.  I know what he means.  However, I want to promise you all that I've never found more ataraxy then in the times I've chosen obey, and to kneel and thank my Creator for all the blessings I've seen in my life.  I invite you all, whatever your spiritual tendency, to reach out to the higher power and supplicate in appreciation for the life you have the privilege to live today.

Ya boi

Elder Gneiting

Week 17

Ooh boys and girls

It's been a good week.  Tuesday I had an exchange with Elder Crane from Colorado.  He's way cool and did a summer semester at BYU and we might've met before serving together - crazy right?  Anyway, we rode our bikes all over this tiny town called Waterford, he's a Spanish missionary there so I got to practice what little spanish I remember from high school, and Duolingo, from that morning's language study.  Sadly, most of our teaching appointments fell through and we kept running into english speakers.  However, one lesson was complete spanish, it was sick cuz I was able to follow the entire lesson and what little I offered still brought the Spirit.  Maybe next time the gift of tongues will kick into first and I'll spit straight español.

Since Christmas music is a staple for Elder Pendleton, he has a USB thumbdrive plugged into the Maliblu with over 800 songs, basically any conceivable rendition of every Christmas song.  One of those happens to be Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by U2, so I've had my music fix until next year.  Elder Pendleton also showed me his favorite frozen yogurt place, Super Mama's.  That action started a chain of daily ice cream intake, a habit I'm now trying to break.  It was tasty, but not very nutritious.  This week we had zone interviews with the President.  It was pretty nice to talk, to gain some encouragement, and to remember I always have someone to call on if I feel like it's getting too hard (especially if I'm personally struggling).  I've been working hard at being a better companion, and a better missionary, but that only comes as I rely on Jesus Christ.  

I've had many opportunities this week to better my understanding of Christ's atonement as I explained it to those we visit.  The atonement is infinite.  The sins have been paid for.  The deed is done, death will not overcome!  But we have to accept it, otherwise, the healing won't begin.  The change won't happen.  It's not easy to rely on him, but it's necessary.  When you labor in his vineyard, when he really is the boss, you begin to see that picture more clearly, his commands are a little more direct.  Learning to rely on the Savior is work in itself, how do I recognize when God is answering prayers?  How do I let go of guilt while still truly repenting?  Many of these questions that we have won't be answered for a very long time, after stretching our patience and testing of our faith.  I studied a lot about meekness this week, and about "enduring well".  I think I complain a lot, so first: my apologies for that.  Second:  I'm working on it. 

I don't want to complain, I want to be like Jesus.  Do my future children want a complainer?  My future employer?  My wife?  My Father in Heaven? I doubt it.  The beauty of "working on it" means I can take it one step at a time, and be reasonable with myself.  You all can, too.  The time, however, is always now.

"It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule".

Love y'all

Elder Gneiting

Week 16

 "A great and marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

 Behold, I am God; give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my word.

 Behold, the field is white already to harvest; therefore, whoso desireth to reap let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God.

 Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God.

 Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you.

 Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion"

 Zion is my life, and this call extends from eternity to eternity.  I'm praying for patience and charity this week.  We get to listen to Chrsitmas music starting November 1st until December 31st, and in California, you really gotta be dreaming for a "White Christmas".  So excited for a palm Christmas-tree.

 Elder Pendleton and I had frequent inventories to better our relationship, so we could work together and so I wouldn't be so angsty.  He told me to "go with the flow", and I really needed to hear that.  I haven't decided why God chooses to give me certain trials, but I realized I don't need to.  He doesn't "give" trials, but he doesn't always intervene either.  I need to go with the flow, and let the Lord take control.  I will have different struggles with different companions, but that doesn't mean it was a mistake.  That doesn't make me a failure.  The work will continue to move, because it's not me pushing, the Lord is pushing, He just happens to use my arms every once in a while.

 "...the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song...", so I must let Him push, and I must sing His name.  I've been studying a lot about the ministry of Christ, and being able to compare all the gospels side by side, along with the prophecies of the Old Testament, I see the purity and purpose behind His miracles and teachings.  Along with the inspired translation by Joseph Smith, the message of Christ's church is simplified and simplified again.  

 "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it"

 "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen"

 Like the disciples of old, I have the privilege of this call, to cry repentance and salvation to the children of men, to deny of myself and to give my life to the Lord.  It may seem hard, but any good thing is worth working for.  Things might get me down, but never for long.

 "In the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer. … There’s some good in this world … and it’s worth fighting for"

 

 Elder Gneiting

Week 15

Hello All,

This email's theme is TRUST.  For one reason or another, the Lord and I are offering mutual trust to each other.  Honestly, I don't know why He's putting so much trust in me, maybe He just wants me to put trust back in Him?  There's a lot that I don't understand and I need to be humble and make sure I trust the Lord and learn to align my will with His.  I have a new companion, Elder Pendleton, originally called to the Modesto mission which closed in the first quarter of his call.  He leaves in January.  He does missionary work very differently than I do, but that's ok.  We will learn to draw the positives out of each other and become effective missionaries, more effective than those passed.  If he wants to, that is.  I'm helping clean out this area's teaching pool and other projects, and paving the road for consistent and diligent obedience and work.  I had the privilege of speaking to my new ward this last sacrament meeting.  I felt inspired to write on humble obedience to the Lord, His commandments, and the Altar of Sacrifice.  Ironically, my new companion introduced me to the idea of the Altar of Sacrifice.  When you want blessings from the Lord, you find the commandment connected to the blessing and follow it better.  For example, if you want exaltation and celestial glory, you place your imperfections on the altar and sacrifice those vices and sin for the reward of God.  It can be smaller things too, like wanting to be more energized, so you go to sleep earlier.  You want to be more spiritual minded, so you fast and pray for spiritual strength.  I love the Lord and know that He blesses His children, especially those who are obedient to the commandments.  I took commandments for granted back home, but I have learned that every commandment, even the small and menial ones, are necessary.  I encourage you all to read Elder Uchtdorf's talk "Living the Gospel Joyful" and Elder Klebingat's tall "Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence",  both from 2014.  I also encourage you to look at the Altar of Sacrifice and see what more you could offer.  I love and miss all of you.  Thank you for the encouraging emails, you're all remarkable friends.

Love,

Elder Gneiting

Week 14 - Ceres

Good morning,

I've had a lot to think about this last week.  We've been in and out of teaching and contacting, we've been in a trio this whole week because one of our zone leaders finished his mission a week before transfers.  One of the assistants came and stayed with us for a few days before he leaves at transfers.  They're cool Elders, and it helped me develop a lot of skills I felt I was lacking.

Just when I thought that I was being productive and beginning to be a good trainee/missionary, we get a call for transfers.  We're being doubled out, and I'm going to Ceres.  I guess I'm supposed to have faith that it's what God wants, or that it's what is best for both the area and for me, but its hard to think so.  Everything I think I know gets flopped on it's head, everytime I think I'm doing good, the work stops.  I feel like Jonah, the Lord wants me to do something that I don't think I can do.  And even if I do it, I probably won't be happy about it.  But I guess my ways aren't God's ways, so I'll have to suck it up and do what he wants until I learn to enjoy it.

Elder Gneiting

Enjoy some pictures of me and my trainer at the northern boundary of the California Fresno Mission, and variety.

  

 

 

Week 13

Brothers and Sisters

The Lord hastens His work.  It's been a busy week.  Our second transfer ends soon and it's hard to believe that training is also nearing it's end.  We had Zone Conference this week, and I went on two exchanges consecutively.  First with a zone leader and then with our district leader.  Both of them are going home after this transfer.  As I watch the cycle of old and new missionaries, I see the time slip away.  Two years isn't long, and there's only so much work we can actually do.  The moment we recommit ourselves to diligence and obedience, the fruits of our labor spring forth.  As was spoken to Moses, 

"...My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest" (Exodus 33:14).  

The Spirit of the Lord gives me rest.  It can give rest to all who seek it out.  Strive to have the Spirit in your homes, in your neighborhoods and wards.  Cling onto the Spirit when it cloaks you, and refuse to let it leave.  I haven't felt joy like I've felt out here.  The Lord, 

"[is] the good shepherd, and know[s his] sheep..." (John 10:14).  

He knows us, and He knows them.  No matter where you are, the work is needed.  Pray that the Spirit will guide your friends and neighbors, pray that they will feel peace and love.  Be an example of His ministry.  How privileged am I to carry His word on my side, His name on my chest, and His spirit in my countenance.  Only He can change us, He guides us home.  His sacrifice meets all ends, and is neverending.  The truth rings remembrance in the ears of our Brothers and Sisters.  Though I shuffle in discouragement and wade in unbelief, the work progresses.  Somewhere, another of our siblings is brought closer to Christ.  Another family is blessed eternally.  

"I... have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people. For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.

 And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good" (2 Nephi 33:3-4).

Your efforts are not wasted.  I cry and pray for each of you, especially those of my friends and family preparing for or beginning their missions with me.  You will not be perfect, yet no effort is wasted.  Who am I, a child raised in Utah, only knowing the gospel of Christ, with no significant afflictions to restrain me, to convince and persuade my experienced siblings of this good news?  Nothing, for it is the Spirit who teaches, and I am a vessel.  

"Verily I say unto you, ye are clean, but not all; and there is none else with whom I am well pleased;" (Doctrine and Covenants 38:10)

Stay yourselves a clean vessel.  The enemy shall not overcome.  I am afraid, yet the Lord pushes me push forward.  I am weak, yet the Lord gives me strength.  I weep into my corrupt and broken hands, but it's profane to believe any of my misdeeds could stop the Lord's rolling stone.  God loves His children.  The work always continues.

Elder Gneiting

At zone conference, I took a 3 generation pic with dad and grandpa, Elder Pumipayup gave me a Supreme shirt.  Elder Scheel and I like to goof around.  

   

  

Week 12

Whatup

Last Monday I had the privilege of enjoying a morning hike in a nearby town with my companion, another companionship, and a couple members from our ward.  All of us went up to a trail that leads to a well-secluded climbing wall, with views over a close valley and reservoir.  We hiked over everything from soft dirt to volcanic rock until we reached the base of the wall.  It was cool and quiet, and it felt nice to get back against a mountain.

Visits with members has gone well so far, they are enthusiastic about us and our work.  We're teaching a new friend, his mother is a less-active member and he has a desire to be baptized.  We are excited for him and are trying to teach him to feel and recognize the Spirit to help him make these decisions on his own.  

Having the opportunity to meet so many new people, I get to explain what being a missionary is, and what it means to me, especially to those who aren't of our faith.  At one point, we knocked on a door who initially turned us down, and then opened their garage to call us back over for Gatorade and then they offered us dinner.  Turns out, their daughter is a member, but they don't know a lot about the Church.  We got to explain and get to know them very well.  Although they don't seem particularly interested right now, we have made friends with them, and they will be prepared for when the time is right.

I enjoyed conference, I hope you all had the opportunity to enjoy it as well.  Happiness truly comes as we choose to align our will with the Lord.  Prophets, apostles, and officers are called to help us understand His will.  We need only listen and obey to discover that happiness these people preach from the pulpit.  Love of the Savior, and submitting to His plan will give us safety and happiness in our personal relationships and in our roles in this life.  His plan extends to all.

Last Sunday, we sang I Need Thee Every Hour, and it was nice.

"I need thee ev’ry hour,

In joy or pain.

Come quickly and abide,

Or life is vain"

What the heck does that even mean though?  

Each verse describes a beautiful variant of the many possible relationships we can have with the Savior.  I have learned to love the Savior in times of both joy and pain, but what is this final line, "life is vain"?  We know without Jesus Christ's sacrifice, we would have been subject to permanent spiritual and physical death.  His sacrifice is His perfect and sinless life, His ministry, His atonement and crucifixion, and His resurrection from the tomb.  Because of this-His ability to forgive us of our mistakes and to rend the shackles of mortality-life goes on.  The plan continues.  As God designed, we can be happy.  We can make others happy.  We will live again.  His work and His glory is mine to share with the world.

His mission, His son

Elder Gneiting

  

  

 

Week 11

How grateful I am for a Savior.  We had zone interviews the the President again, having a new transfer started, and when we weren't interviewing we participated as a zone in "Zone Training" and talked about some specific points, like baptismal invitations and making the principle of "God is a Loving Heavenly Father" real for us.  We had to make some tough decisions this week.  In an effort to jump start our evanescing teaching pool, we took some new steps.  We dropped all we were teaching but 2, the only 2 progressing, and have been meeting with members nightly to pray with their families that we can find more friends.  That they can find more friends.  Without offending our bishop or any members, we have to ask them to do more.  The work out here needs to change.  The ward is trying to support us, but the missionary's role is to support the ward in finding and inviting others to come unto Christ.  We are slowly implementing this new approach to, hopefully, gather Israel at an unprecedented level, as was encouraged by our Mission President.

Monday night, our zone sent in voice recordings of miracles that happened to each companionship this week, they call it "Miracle Monday".  It caused me to reflect on the things that I have witnessed, and did not consider a miracle without this retrospect.  The Good Shepherd loves All His Sheep.  I was reading in 3 Nephi this week, and I can't help but get emotional when I read in chapter 17.  Jesus loves us, He gives time to each of us if we simply reach out to Him.  Even for those who haven't reached to Him, who don't know Him, He suffered your pains and He knows you perfectly.  Christ was perfect so that we don't have to be sad anymore.  So we don't have to feel pain anymore.  I think about the time we live in, how great it is to spread the gospel of love and eternal life to all ends of the Earth.  Death is not the end.  Birth was not the beginning.  John wrote, concerning the second coming of Christ, 

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" 

Sometimes I am ungrateful for this opportunity to give a little back to the older brother who did everything for me.  I am selfish to think that my problems could ever compare to, or ever get in the way of, the work of salvation to all men.  We are all promised happiness, I feel His arms around me, I feel His love every Sunday as I take the sacrament, or when I sit in His holy House.  He has given so much to me, how can I not proclaim His joy to all those I meet?  It doesn't matter how strange church history gets, it doesn't matter how hard it is to believe, the Book makes you feel good, doesn't it?  If only everyone I asked would simply read it and ask God themselves.  How unworthy am I to proclaim His word, yet He qualifies me every day.  Yet He forgives me of my sins and beckons me to come closer, to try again.  I cry for His hand every night to touch this work when I feel I have wasted His time, yet He allows me to wake up and try again the next day.  His work will go on, and as Paul wrote,  

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life...nor things present, nor things to come...

Nor height, nor depth... shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord"

No matter what you think, They will always love you, and They will always receive you with open arms.  Thank you all for your letters of encouragement, I think of you all when I press forward.

Love

Elder Gneiting

  

  

  

Week 10

Our Zone Leader, Elder Bastian, went home.  He finished his two years of service.   Many missionaries I serve with right now will be going home in the following transfers, it's kinda wack.  Before I know it, I'll be a veteran.  Last Monday morning we spent saying our goodbyes and having food.

Monday night we began preparations to make jalapeno mac n cheese, which includes decorating the apartment with electric fans to gust out the spicy fumes of fried pepper.  The preparation takes a large portion of our precious dinner time, until we found out the peppers we bought had spoiled and we would need to put all the fans away.  I was happy how prepared we were, even when disaster didn't strike.  Hotdogs and plain mac n cheese sufficed.
Our friend Nichols took us to an old lady's house, they're friends, she's not a member but she likes to give missionaries tons of food, we went to her son's house afterwards and gave him a priesthood blessing, he's recovering from surgery.  We're hoping the missionaries in their area will make successful contact.
We had another opportunity to bless a sick child in our ward, he's the son of the girlfriend of one of our primary investigators.  It was my first time sealing the anointing, and I didn't find out until later, but the child's appetite returned almost immediately and hadn't thrown up since that day.  I was pretty excited.
We had been visiting for odds and ends this week, and made a couple trips to our family history center in an attempt to help a recent convert family get temple names.  We didn't have any ready by our temple date, but we still took the family to the temple and it was great to be back.  I definitely took for granted the blessing of temples back in Utah, and the saddest part is I didn't fully realize the importance of, and knowledge I received from, the temple until I began my serious study out here.
We spent a day with our new zone leader, the other one was in Fresno for the day, so we did work in the YSA area and also did 2 shifts at our "mall presentation", I think I've mentioned it before.  We put on our salesman faces and handout pictures of Jesus and Scripture in an attempt to interest the mall-goers.  It's pretty degrading, but it's nice to have variety in the degrading tasks of being a missionary.
I spend a lot of time in the Book of Mormon, and am now more comprehensive in the timeline and lineage, however that doesn't help too much in teaching about feeling the Spirit.  The Spirit is the most effective way to come closer to Christ, by seeking the Spirit every day we learn more about Him and the blessings from Heavenly Father's plan.  Being entitled to the Spirit at all times, I become very aware when the Spirit is absent.  Luckily, that feeling isn't too familiar.  I am grateful for the examples I had in my ward back home.  We have a strong bond and although I was just a youth, I felt like a member, a part of something bigger than myself.  I didn't always take responsibility as a member of our "family", and I regret that.  The best way we, as active members, can invite others closer to Christ is to simply invite all our friends to our homes.  Church is becoming family and home oriented for that reason.  We must be firm in our faith and make sure others are very aware that our home is one centered on Christ AND family unity.  I miss my family everyday, but just how my home before had pictures of Christ & my family, so does my desk.
Thank you for your individual emails, if any of you ever have questions or simply want to talk personally, I'm only an hour behind!
I love and pray for you all.
Elder Gneiting