January 18, 2016 - Solvang Ward

Hey All!

So, this week has been super interesting. With the fact that I obviously hurt my ankle last week, but I also ended up getting real sick. Haha. Everything tends to hit you at once, right?

So, Monday we chilled out at a church building with our District. The rest of the week, we tried to make it out to as many people as possible, but weren't able to do much because of the situation. Which is okay! More studying for me and Elder Hubbard! Elder Hubbard is really cool. He is from Riverton, Utah. Youngest of six, and he served a two transfer mission in Ogden before coming to Ventura! He served in Ventura, until he was emergency transferred to be with me! We have a lot of commonalities, the main one being our love of music. So it has been a good and easy transition! 

So. I AM AN UNCLE! Kinda. Not really. We got a call on Wednesday that our investigator, Vanessa, was in the emergency room! HER BABY WAS COMING! Ah. I was so excited, but was too sick to show any emotions. So, we called our District Leader (they were in the hospital that is out of our area, but in everyone else's area...) and they went over with the Spanish Elders, and the Hermanas, and went and saw them and gave Vanessa a blessing before she went in for her c-section! It was awesome, the Hermanas went and sang a song to her and prayed with her and gave her support, and then my two Canadians, Elder Bradley and Elder Jo, went and gave her the blessing! It was great to hear about this, and we got permission to go and we got there just after little Jeremiah was born! We saw him, and Rick was through the roof excited to be a new Dad again! It's brought him and Vanessa closer, and we are really excited for what is in store for them! 

There is a youth here with us right now. His name is Braxton. He wants me to say hi. So he says hi :)

Well, we didn't do much else this week. Being bogged down by the flu and a bum ankle really stinks, but, there's a good scripture that explains what I have thought about this past week! 

"2 For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.

 3 Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.

 4 For after much tribulation come the blessings.Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.

 5 Remember this, which I tell you before, that you may lay it to heart, and receive that which is to follow.

 6 Behold, verily I say unto you, for this cause I have sent you—that you might be obedient, and that your hearts might be prepared to bear testimony of the things which are to come;

 7 And also that you might be honored in laying the foundation, and in bearing record of the land upon which the Zion of God shall stand;" (Doctrine and Covenants 58:2-7)

Okay, I got your email about my contacts, and I think the prescription is right, it just is supposed to be in "-". My glasses are perfect, but I was looking at my other contacts, and instead of a plus it's a negative as well. Those are my thoughts, because I remember them saying something about a contact lens script. So yeah. 

As far as my ankle goes, everything has seemed to be fine. I am doing physical therapy this week for it, and then I should have this stupid boot off in no time! 

 

Anything else? I am not sure. Oh! We had Zone Meeting this week. And it was good. We are focusing on Preaching Repentance and Baptizing Converts, something that Elder Oaks has told all the Mission Presidents will be the focus of the WorldWide Training on Wednesday! WHICH I AM SO EXCITED FOR. We think they are going to announce some new training videos for us. It's exciting!

Well, I hope that everything is going well! But yeah. I also heard about the football games. How crazy is everything that is going on in the NFL! LA Rams! Maybe we will go to a game. ;)

Have an amazing week! 

Love,

Elder Harvey

January 11, 2016 - Solvang Ward

re:  #curveballs #whoneedsligamentsanyways?

Hey all!

So, you are obviously wondering what the subject means.... I will get to that later. Let's just say, it has been a very interesting week! Sounds like things have been going well at home. Good on Emerson for stepping up yesterday! (at the last minute Bryan's companion speaker couldn't make it so Emerson went in his place) That is awesome. You will find on your mission that you have sudden moments where you have to really step up and get things done. Good prep!

This week was filled with a lot of doctors appointments, and, sadly, an emergency transfer. On Wednesday, we knew that Elder Lamb was going home, and he left Saturday morning. We didn't get out of the apartment very much at all this week, only really for dinner appointments and anything else we can set up while Elder Lamb was feeling able.

On Wednesday night, the young men in our ward invited us to come and play broom hockey with them, and so obviously we did! It's funny to hear "Uh Oh! Here comes the Canadian!" When you walk in! It was a really fun time with them, and they even had some non-members there, so that was awesome!

So, I will spit it out then. Friday, we were saying goodbye to a couple of the youth in the Ward, and we decided to play a little basketball with them! I went up for a lay-up in the first ten minutes or so, and I landed on the side of my foot. Obviously, this always happens, right Dad? Not only that, but someone else landed on top of that foot, while it was sideways on the ground. All I can say is... ow... I wish I had a picture to send, but I forgot my camera at home. It swelled to about three times it's size almost immediately, but naturally, I drove home! So, we got ice and stuff on it, and yeah. I drove to Santa Barbara and back on Saturday morning to pick up my new companion, Elder Hubbard, and no way was I being stuck in the apartment! I bought a brace, and we went to work. Until 6. Because I couldn't...... walk...... haha.

So, all is fine right? Just elevate it and it should be okay. The swelling had gone down and everything should be alright! Nope. Sunday morning, it was MORE BRUISED, and it had swelled up EVEN MORE! So we call Sister Felix, because I couldn't even get my shoe on, and she told me to try and see what you can do, so I wore slippers to church. Oh boy, was that ever a fun Sunday. A Physical Therapist in the ward took a look at it, and said it was probably broken because of all the swelling and bruising (which went up to my toes...) So we were in all day Sunday.

So, resolution now? Kinda? I don't know. We went to Santa Maria this morning to an urgent care, and they took x-rays and apparently nothing is broken. Good news right? Not. Nothing is broken, BUT, I tore almost every ligament on both sides of my ankle. YAY! So, I am in a boot. And I am supposed to try and elevate it as much as possible in the next 2 weeks, and not use it as much as I normally would. He said it is going to take a long time to heal, but it will be okay!

Fun week, eh? :) Oh, so my companion. Another Utah kid. Haha, his name is Elder Hubbard! And we are in Solvang still! So that's good. I was looking forward to getting some work done, but obviously the adversary doesn't want that! Haha. Exactly like you said Dad, Come what may and Love it! I have another talk by Elder Wirthlin that I read a couple weeks ago, and he said "No Matter how dark your Friday is, Sunday will always come." Trials are everywhere, but you just gotta keep going! The Hermanas gave us six referrals of people who they've talked to in our area, and so we are getting ready to contact them and get rocking and rolling again!

Anyways, glad to hear everything is going well! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! 27 again this year? Haha. Just kidding. Love you!

Hope you all have an amazing week, and know how much I love all of you!


Love,

Elder Gimpy

January 4, 2016 - Solvang Ward

Hey All!

So, just some quick thoughts.... I read the Chilliwack 2nd Ward Bulletin that is conveniently sent to me every week, saw that Brother Noftle was released as a High Councillor, saw that President McKenzie was Presiding, and immediately assumed that Brother Noftle would be Bishop Noftle now. HOW COOL IS THAT! Dang, he is going to kill it in that new calling, same with Brother Nelson and BroMac. What a powerhouse Bishopric! I really am sad to hear that Bishop Guenther was released, he helped me a lot and his counselors as well! Exciting time for everything back at home! :) Did the 1st Ward get changed up too?

So, this week has been pretty... interesting. It's tough, it was a tough week. Not much has happened this week. We went and saw the "cane lady," and beforehand I was looking through the area book, to see if this lady was a Former Investigator, and she was! Liz had been "dropped" about six or seven times prior, and yeah. So we went to see her one day, and she wasn't really interested. At all. Anyways, this past week was also transfers, and you will never believe who is in my district now. His name is Elder Jo, and he is companions with Elder Bradley! And where is he from? Toronto of course!!!! Kinda awesome. There are three Canadians in our District now. The running joke is that we are taking over now. Tell Emerson to get sent to California Ventura!!! :) 

We had a couple lessons with Christie this past week, and she is still really struggling with the Word of Wisdom. BUT, she has committed to make some awesome progress this next few weeks. Her baptismal date is for February, but if she doesn't stop everything with the WOW by January 16, we are going to have to set it back a bit. We will see what happens! 

Also, something else kinda cool happened. We went to go and see Dania on Saturday Morning, and she was getting into her Ford Raptor as we drove by her house, so we stopped and talked with her and set up an appointment for Monday night. So we both drove away, and we stopped beside each other at the first stop light, and she rolled down her window and asked us if we had had lunch yet, which we said no, and she said to follow her and then zoomed off. So we followed her, completely convinced that she was leading us to our death, when she suddenly turned into the Marriott Hotel in Buellton, and so we parked and went in, and she took us down these stairs and went into the restaurant, and everyone welcomed her. It was like she was a superstar. She sat us down, paid for our lunch, and left. It was hilarious! So that was fun.

We've been in the apartment a lot this week so I'm taking the opportunity to transfer my seminary scriptures into my quad! Trying to be as productive as possible!  

Anyways, glad to hear everyone is doing well! This New Year is going to be a good one! I set a goal (again) to lose some weight. Obviously. It might be hard when people like Bonnie and Virginia send me money up the whazoo, (THANK YOU!)  but I will try to make it below 290 by the end of the year, and STAY at under that weight for November and December. It will be fun!

I like Dad's New Year's Resolution a lot. (to be more charitable and Christ-like) I did a in-depth study of Chapter 6 in PMG in October and November, and I think that doing so makes us realize how much more Christlike I need to be.  We have been learning and trying to do better with correction in our mission, and the thing that is pivotal in effective and meaningful correction is something that I have already mentioned, and that is LOVE! Doctrine and Covenants 121. We are supposed to reprove each other with sharpness, because we all need correction, but what is supposed to happen while doing it? An increase of love! 

Anyways, have an amazing week! We are supposed to get a bunch of rain this week, and so we are definitely excited for that! Excited and scared. California is supposed to get wrecked by this El Nino. I love you all, and I hope that you all are able to have an awesome time celebrating Mom's Birthday on Sunday! Wednesday, there should be a letter at the PO Box :) 

Love you all!

Elder Harvey :) 

PS: Oh hey, I forgot to mention that! We had dinner with a recent convert family, and she went online and bought me a jacket from target with my gift card!! (THANK YOU AUNT TARA!)  So I should be getting that soon :) 

December 28, 2015 - Solvang Ward

Hey All!

So, this week has been awesome! It has had it's own challenges, but for the most part, we had a really great time with our Ward this week and with Christmas :) It has been a great week to end a great transfer!

It was awesome to talk to the family on Friday! So great to see all of your faces, and to see Jameson fall asleep on the couch! Just like old times.... Haha! You all are looking great! I have no idea what Mom is talking about... "getting the family in shape"... you all are awesome :) 

We have had a great week. Solvang is a difficult place to proselyte in during holidays, because right now, there is a massive flood of tourists coming into the town, and everyone is leaving to escape all the tourists! We saw everyone we could though. We drove down to Camarillo on Tuesday for a Doctor's appointment, so that was fun! Let's see.... oh, and Rick and Vanessa. Something huge happened with them this past week! Basically, on Saturday we got a call from Vanessa, and she told us that Rick had moved back to Bakersfield and that everything kinda dissolved.... So we were naturally shocked, and have been in contact with her since then on a daily basis, trying to meet with her and see what the heck happened! Anyways, that same day we went to see Eric, a really awesome guy who knows he needs to get baptized, but yeah. Anyways, while we were walking up the apartment that he lives in, and this lady with a cane trying to fit groceries in a little cart out of her trunk, and we offered to help her, which she respectfully declined and said "Are you going to #8? Because I can't do it today, so maybe you can come next week?"  ...... Obviously, we said OKAY! And then Elder Lamb asked if there was a better day for us to come, and she said any week day. So... we still aren't sure what the heck happened. But we are super excited! 

Oh yeah. Transfer calls were really exciting. We are both staying. Woot woot! First time that has ever happened so far! Which is nice, especially when you and a companion get along so well! 

Anyways, not much to say this week! Hopefully the VAN (not truck ;) ) Gets fixed soon! We have to take our car in sometime today or this week and have all the tires changed. Yay! 

Like I said, it was really nice to see you all on Friday! Thanks again for all the gifts, and thanks for everything! Glad you all have had such an awesome week! :)

Oh yeah, and I cut my hair mom :) haha. Knew you were wondering about that. Sorry it was so long!

Love you all!

Elder Harvey :) 

Doctrine and Covenants 127:2

The Christmas PJ's I sent him...all the boys had the same :)

December 25, 2015 - Skype Phone Call Home

We were so excited to finally see and talk to Jaxon!  He skyped us at 7pm Kingston time on Christmas Day - it was a long day of waiting!

It was great to talk to him, to see his face and we also got to meet his companion - Elder Lamb.  We spent 40 minutes soaking him in and trying to talk about everything we've been wanting to talk to him about.

He is doing well.  He expressed his gratitude to all of those who have sent him emails and cards and gifts.  He especially loved the pillow case sent from Chilliwack 2nd Ward and expressed that he would cherish it.  He loved that the Young Women in the Chilliwack 2nd Ward also thought of him and he loved the package that they sent - thank you!  He appreciated all the gift cards he received and looks forward to using them.  The area they are in right now isn't a really big town and there aren't many amenities so the ones he can't use now, he'll save for later!  

He is doing well.  He is loving serving on his mission and loves the area he is in right now.  He is enjoying his companion and they are getting along great - which is always a concern when you are all of a sudden living with someone you don't know 24-7.  He said transfers were coming this week and they both hoped that they wouldn't be moved.  

He expressed his love to his family and friends that are supporting him through letters and prayers.  We closed our time with him with a family prayer and eagerness to talk again on Mother's Day.

We sure love that boy and are sure proud of him and the choices he is making to give up the world for two years of his life and focus on serving and loving the people around him.  

December 21, 2015 - Solvang Ward

Hey all!

So, this week has been a fuuuuuuun one! First off, make sure to send my thanks to a ton of people. Holy, yeah so on Monday we got home from emails and there was a few letters waiting for me, and say thank you to the Chilliwack 2nd Ward for that pillow case! Seriously, such an amazing gift, and one that I plan on keeping forever! And then to Grandpa and Grandma Shirley, and Tara and Erinn for their presents that I got this week! It was awesome, Friday we walked out to the mailbox, and I had six packages waiting for me! I didn't open the package that says not to open until Christmas, and yes, I got the Amazon letter. there was a tear in it, so naturally Elder Lamb looked into it and refuses to tell me what it is. Thank goodness! He taped it up and it won't be opened until Christmas Eve :)

So, Skyping.. basically, we are thinking that I will be calling at 4:00 our time, so 7:00 your time, just depending on the time that Elder Lamb is calling. I thought I would just plan around him, he is planning on doing a three way Skype with his brother who is serving in Spokane! So if it isn't 4, I guess I will just call you and let you know or something. But until then, plan for 4:00 :) Really excited to see all of you!!!!

This week has been a blast! We spent ten hours this week at the Catholic Mission doing a ton of service there! That explains the picture right? Haha! They have been putting on this thing for years in which they have people in the Santa Ynes Valley sponsor families, and they buy a bunch of gifts for those poorer and needier families in the area! So, we were asked by a member in our ward to actually go and help them out, wrapping, organizing, and handing boxes of presents out to the families! It was an amazing experience! Yes, it was great for missionary work, a lot of people had a ton of questions about us and what we do and why we are here, but mostly, it was an amazing way to help out those people in our area who need it most! 

We have been teaching Rick and Vanessa more and more, and they are progressing more and more towards baptism! They are really great, and are trying really hard to become the best they can be! Vanessa's baby is due in a month, and so she is wicked sick all the time almost! Should be an interesting month for us in teaching her! Our other investigators are awesome! We were supposed to meet a referral from a member here, but that got cancelled last minute on Wednesday, so that's too bad! Johnathan hasn't been able to meet with us as much, so we can't baptize him on Saturday... We taught the Word of Wisdom this past Saturday, and that has made it so we have to push his date back at least three weeks! Christie is doing awesome, still fighting through addictions and such, but is such a trooper and is doing her best!

Zone Conference was on Thursday, and that was an absolute blast!!! Elder Lamb and I ended up being 40 minutes late, because we got stuck in some nasty traffic! Solvang is so out of the way, we are basically on our own out here, and so it was nice to see so many other missionaries and to see a ton of friends on Thursday! We talked about the Doctrine of Christ, and my favorite part was when we were able to talk about Angels, and about having the ability to be angels, and to have angels attend us! We were given a soft cover of the Book of Mormon and some pencil crayons (or colored pencils in American lingo...) and were given the challenge to read it through by March Zone Conference, marking each aspect of the Doctrine of Christ in a certain color, throughout the Book! President also gave us the challenge to circle every time "angel(s)" is mentioned! I have read Alma 30-43 so far, and angels has been mentioned 9 times already! It is awesome to know that Angels really are in our midst, and that myself, as a missionary, can be someones angel in their darkest hours! 

Saturday was awesome. We had our Ward Christmas Party, and man was it great! Definitely highlighted by the primary's nativity scene, where a little girl (dressed as a donkey) went up to the manger during a song, and took baby Jesus out and ran off stage. Hahaha. It was absolutely hilarious. Then on Sunday, we were able to go out with our Bishop to a elderly member of the ward and give him and his wife the Sacrament and give both of them blessings! It was awesome, and then we went out with his family to carol to a bunch of people! 

Yeah, so this week has pretty much been awesome! I love every minute of being out here, and I wanted to share something that I read out of the Ensign this past week! 

"Some years ago I heard a radio interview featuring Bishop Desmond Tutu, the Anglican archbishop in South Africa. He had just published a book with his daughter about the reconciliation that had taken place in South Africa following apartheid. Basically, the book’s message is that there is good in all people.

During the interview the host asked a perceptive,inspired question of Bishop Tutu: “Have you found that your relationship to God has changed as you’ve grown older?”

Bishop Tutu paused and then said, “Yes. I am learning to shut up more in the presence of God.”

He recalled that when he prayed in his earlier years, he did so with a list of requests and solicitudes. He would approach heaven with what he called “a kind of shopping list.” But now, he said, “I think [I am] trying to grow in just being there. Like when you sit in front of afire in winter, you are just there in front of the fire, and you don’t have to be smart or anything. The fire warms you.”

I think that is a lovely metaphor—just sit with the Lord and let Him warm you like a fire in winter. You don’t have to be perfect or the greatest person who ever graced the earth or the best of anything to be with Him."

That was in this month's edition, by Elder Christofferson :)

Anyways, that's all from me! Let the Spirit of Christmas warm you! Just sit and reflect this week, especially during the nativity scene, and think about that little manger. Ponder about what really is the meaning of Christmas, and think about the quietness and stillness of the Baby Jesus. 

Thanks for being so amazing! I sent you a little card last Monday, so you'll get it sometime soon I hope!! Love you all!

Love,

Elder Harvey!

Service work at the Catholic Mission

December 14, 2015 - Solvang Ward

Hey All!

So, this week has been pretty meh. But that's okay! We are still seeing a lot of work happening, still working hard, and still having people progress towards making those sacred covenants with our Heavenly Father!

So, our investigators are seriously doing AWESOME! We saw Johnathan (Baptism on the 26th) on Tuesday and shared the Plan of Salvation with him. We have only been able to seem him twice in two weeks, so we need to start seeing him more often if he is going to be baptized on the 26th! He is really desirous to become closer to Christ though, so we will be trying to see him every chance that we have! Christie (Feb 10th) is doing well too! She like absorbs all that she reads, and tells us perfectly what she has read since our last lesson! She quit cigarettes on Friday, and she is just going strong and trying to progress towards baptism! She said she knows that this Church is true, she just needs to actually put it into action! Super cool to see someone know what they need to do, and to see them being willing to actually do it! Dania went into ghost mode this week. She went to Santa Monica, so we will have to set her date back a little bit. 

We did have four investigators at Sacrament Meeting yesterday! It was awesome, and highlighted by Rick and Vanessa! They are super awesome, and going through a lot! They have found comfort in the church and in the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and it has been amazing to see them progress closer and closer to baptism. They are praying for a baptismal date, and will let us know by the end of this week. It's a big step, because they also have to figure a lot of things out, and setting a baptismal date for them will also be setting a date to get married! Super exciting times :) 

Service? We do a ton of things. We have been helping a member renovate his house, helping people decorate for Christmas, and this week we are going to be going to the Catholic Mission to do some Christmas thing. Not sure what, but it will be a great experience! 

Glad to hear everything is going so well at home! I am not sure what the family's Skype is that we are going to on Christmas, but I will give them your name thing tonight! I did not get a sweater or coat yet, I might end up getting something today if I have time. Contact paper is some roll of clear paper stuff that basically laminates something without actually having to use a laminate machine thing. 

The Branch sounds interesting! And I am sure excited for Christmas time! Things are just going really well, and we have Zone Conference this week!!! Always an exciting time, and just really gearing up to finish the transfer strong!

Oh yeah, Dad I bought some pastry thing. I will send you a picture, but IT IS SO GOOD! I think I put maybe 20 bucks on the card on Monday. I will let you know if I buy a sweater next week!

I love you all, thanks for everything and thanks for keeping me in your prayers :) Merry Christmas! 

Love,

Elder Harvey :)

PS- I am loving the crazy awesome advent calendar :)

Elder Harvey and Elder Bradley - Elder Bradley is from Bellville which is about an hour from Kingston.  They didn't know each other before going on their missions.

Solvang Pastries