Week 40

Whatup my people,

It's been an interesting week for sure.  Adjusting once again to the circumstances, as you may remember I'm currently serving in Selma, California!  (The Raisin Capital of America!)  So far I've passed by the Sun-Maid warehouse 3 times.  You know, I'm not really a big raisin fan, but, maybe I'll come around?  My new companion is Elder Grant.  He's from Wyoming.  He's a good guy.  We currently share an apartment in a small town called Reedley with a couple of Spanish Elders, we basically cover the same area but we do the work for English speakers.  It's been a cool couple of days, I got to Fresno Tuesday afternoon with my grown up greenie, we picked up a couple burgers from our fellow missionaries, and we waited at the temple to get transferred.  It was a sad farewell, but I'll see him around.  I got my new companion and we took of southward!  Elder Grant must've been busy all morning, because he drove back in a panic, his phone almost dead (which had the directions and internet), swerving on the road, and on our way to give a blessing to some remote members about 30 minutes out of the way.  Quite the ride!  After the blessing I guided him to a main road and from there he knew the way home.  We had various teaching opportunities this week, we've been staying pretty busy, and as part of a new project our mission is using to increase our online proselyting efforts, we've made Facebook pages for our areas to share posts about Jesus Christ and to be a source of inspiration for those in our area.  Last night we took Elder Grant to a small river and the surrounding beach to take a video of him sharing his testimony.  It was nice to be outside.  We do a good job of filling in the day with meaningful study and proselyting, and we go out for a walk or to play basketball periodically in the day to get some sun.  The weather here's nice, it's been in the 70s most of this week.  I like standing on our back porch in the morning to breathe and think.  One day this week, we got to do service for an older member, which was cool.  We mowed his lawn, it's been a while, I've missed it.  We helped with various tilling and planting in his garden as well.  It's nice to get out.  I've been reading the Infinite Atonement, maybe I've mentioned that, it's been a good read.  I think it's nice to acknowledge points of the Atonement to better appreciate Jesus Christ's sacrifice.  I would say each chapter has something new for me to learn, but, what I think is most important is that we've been given so much.  Gratitude is one of the most important attributes to have, and realizing that this earth, this life, is all a free gift, prepared so we could have joy and experience the incarnate.  God watches and loves us, and waking up and seeing the sun beam against the housing, smelling the morning rain, and looking on the mountains in their dominion and majesty.  All was organized in such beauty to inspire awe and admiration.  I enjoy where I am, at this time.  I enjoy the earth.  Find something beautiful to appreciate this week, I love you all. 

"Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart"

Elder Gneiting