It's HoT HoT HoT

Hola Familia!

It's hot? Ha it's really hot out here. Especially riding bikes for like 2 hours in the Mid-Day heat and sun. The good news is though that we got a car now! We still have limited miles but it's better than nothing! We'll just have to plan out really well where we want to go and everything like that. As far as work goes we worked a lot on finding this week. We got 3 new investigators this week! Hopefully they'll have some potential for baptism! The members helped us out a ton with that and they work really hard too. It's supposed to be super hot here again this week ugh. But at least we have the car now. We don't have our Spanish zone anymore we're back into the Temecula English Zone which is alright too. Dulce and Blanca got to go to the temple for the first time this week! They said that the peace that they felt there was so strong and powerful. It makes me want to go back again. Try to get to the temple as much as you can! As far as if you want to send me anything, giftcards and ties are about it. There is 5 P-Days in the month so that means money will be getting a little tight for us as missionaries. We get tons of stuff to eat from members though so don't feel bad for us. haha Other than that not much other stuff to talk about. We are fine, no sickness, our health is good. We should be setting a baptismal date with Bijan here soon so I hope all goes well there. Well that's it! Have a great week! Les quiero mucho! (The way to say love you in a familiar way is to say te quiero! If you say te amo you usually save that for like your wife or something haha)

Hasta Luego!

Elder Emerick

Sign Language! OH NO!

June 15, 2015

 

Hola Familia!

How are you? Everything is SUPER HOT HERE! It gets really hot during the summer and its too much! Other than that it's the same here, I can't believe it's been 6 months already, I'm 1/4 done! Ha ha I didn't even realize it. We found out that I'm not getting transferred yet. So I'll be in Temecula for at least 6 more weeks. The Spanish is the same, little by little I'm learning a few more words here and there. I've got a lot of grammer down and can explain my thoughts fine. One Elder in our District is training! I felt bad because I speak more Spanish than him! He has been out a year but hasn't spoken too much, although he knows a lot. Hopefully it will help him out to speak more. Also they are probably getting rid of the Spanish Zones, which means we'll go on exchanges with English Elders again which I don't mind but I like having another Spanish companion with me. Where as an English dude is a vegetable during lessons haha. We biked to Winchester yesterday and it's a super long bike ride. We do get a lot more people noticing us which means more honks from members driving by waving and middle fingers from non-members driving by haha. It's funny because from that we can discern real quick if they are Elect or not! Anyways the members are being super supportive of us too. They give us rides and accompany us to appointments too. We'll see, transfers are Tuesday so we could get a car but we don't know at all. So we are still going strong! In the Desert or on top of the mountain on the land or by the sea we'll seek out the righteous where ever they may be. Hope you guys have a great week!

Hasta la proxima semana!

Elder Emerick  

6 Months Strong

San Diego Temple

         Things in my life have been moving fast, but I wanted to write a few things that have been on my mind, as I have been keeping this blog for Jacob. First I can't believe he has been out 6 months and has grown so much.  He has learned the language quickly and this has been such a blessing for him, and our family. God is certainly Good and has taken care of us and him as our family has tried to follow what He our Father has asked of us. As we have shared Jacob's adventures, many have been super curious and we welcome that curiosity. We are not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have experience true and everlasting happiness by keeping the commandments and putting our family first. We welcome any and all questions about this adventure and Jacob's decision to spend two years of his life, serving His Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ. He is loving serving the Spanish Speaking people of Carlsbad California. He has developed strong friendships with people who have the same ideals, goals and standards in life. He is discovering what he is capable of, he is learning to put his trust in our Heavenly Father, and he is becoming the man that our Heavenly Father means for him to be.

June 8,2015

Hola Familia,

Dulce, Jacob Her Grandson and other Missionaries

We had a baptism this week yea! Dulce is my first convert on my mission! I could definitely see the change that the gospel has made in her life and will continue to make. How's everything back home? We are tired all the time!!!! Biking has taken a toll on us this past week so we did a lot of walking and bus riding. Also the members are kind enough to give rides too. We actually had a Less active member come out with us to proselyte! It was cool. Before our baptism we had Seventh Day Adventists come and talk to us (They were missionaries too). We were about to 'answer' their questions but right before Pres Perez called us for our ride to the baptism haha. Also we went to the temple in San Diego this week too! It's soo cool, maybe not as cool as D.C. but its pretty awesome. Anyways the Sanie were at church again and they had their records moved over to the Branch too! Other missionaries have told us that the members from our branch they talk to have nothing but great things to say about us. Needless to say the members are awesome, they help us out so much and if it wasn't for them we wouldn't be able to do anything. After all the best way to find is through members! Haha I'm so grateful for the opportunity we had to go to the temple. It helps you to let go of worldly things and just feel at peace for a few hours. It really helps one to recuperate after lots of work. Everyone should make it a goal to go to the temple at least 1 a month. Because you aren't just blessing your life but the lives of others when you do work in the temple. I'm so grateful I was able to embark on this journey and help other people change their lives! Hope you all have a great week!

Church of Christ Church. It is a Philippine Tagalog speaking. Not of our faith.

Elder Emerick 

June 1, 2015

Hola Familia!

Como han estado? Necesito mas poder! No puedo usar mis piernas algo mas! jaja Biking all day is fun, but if you're a missionary it's tough sometimes because you want to get to certain areas and have the freedom of a car but you just have to keep going! Yesterday we had church, walked to dinner, had dinner, and walked home! Easy day! haha Anyways we are having a baptism for sure this Saturday! Yay! First convert! Dulce has come a long way since I first met her she has grown in so many ways! Also the Ben got clearance from the Branch President Perez and he will baptize his son Bijan! Yea! Second Convert! I feel like all that hard work and talking to people and hard beginning to my mission really payed off as now we are starting to see some results of nuestros trabajos! I got a ton of groceries today and I also am thinking of starting to eat salad more because when I ate a salad after I got back from a rough day of biking I just felt awesome while I was eating it. Anyways that's going to be awesome! The members are supporting us well and giving us transportation if we need it. I'm getting so tan here it's not even funny my arms are golden brown. But yeah, we're still meeting with people helping people out and dieing at the same time in this heat! It was sad to hear about Elder Perry. He was a good apostle. I can't believe it's already Junio! The time is moving! Transfers are in a couple weeks but I don't think I'm going yet, we'll see. Anyways hope you all are doing good! Que les vayan bien!

Elder Emerick

May 26, 2015

Hola Familia,

Jacob after a long day biking.

Como les va? So we don't have a car now. Yep we're biking all over Temecula and there are so many stinking hills it makes those bike trips with the youth child's play. So needless to say I'll be in shape when I get back because over half the day of being a missionary now is exercising! Ha ha Dulce and Bijan are super close to baptism and we should have my first convert baptisms soon! Yea! I sort of inherited Dulce but I've taught her over half of her lessons. What else, we bike a ton, now I can eat like the members want me too because I'm burning so many calories in a day. I weigh 150 pounds more or less now so I've gained weight but I hope to make most of it muscle from now on. Same old with me, we go out teach people and come back and sleep. We didn't have too many lessons this week because now it will take us so long to get to and from our lessons. We did have a really good lesson with Dulce about baptism, and things like that. I hope that I can continue to progress in the language. I've got a ton of grammar down now and I need to expand my vocabulary a little bit. It's easier to communicate than it is to think of stuff to say but I'm working on it. We are super tired now all the time but at least that means we are working hard. I am thankful for all the members here, they are awesome and help us so much. Yesterday a member gave us and our bikes a ride back from his house because it's over an hour bike ride back from his house. Me and my companion are getting along fine too. We teach well and work well together. I need to take more pictures, I'll get a camera battery charger today I hope. Well that's about it for me right now, Have a great week!

Elder Emerick

Jacob! Jacob and more Jacob!

Fernando, Jorge,  Julian, Jose,  Thomas and Ben Sinie

Missionary joke

The Sanie Family

The Santos family

English Elders

The Morgan Family Dad is Branch Mission leader. He went to Columbia on his mission.

Michael, Blanca and Dulce

May 18, 2015

Hola Familia,

Como les va? Same old same old. It’s nothing but white people here in Temecula! Sure there are Latinos but it's like an Easter egg hunt, and even when you find an egg, a lot of the times there's no candy inside. One Elder said it’s like finding hay in the needle stack. It is definitely hard to find new people but we're working hard.

We have 3 investigators that should be getting baptized here in the next couple of weeks! We're really excited. We also helped confirm Erik Zapot who was baptized last Wednesday, to receive the Holy Ghost. It was really cool, you could definitely feel the spirit there and it was a really cool experience to help confirm someone. He was a child of record baptism so in terms of numbers for the mission it doesn't count because he's 8 and both of his Parents were members. Still we helped them get back to church and become active again, so that's the important thing.  I'm super grateful to have the investigators that we do have.

A lot of times missionaries have a hard time finding solid people to teach. Anyways we are doing great up here and the members love us.  Me and my new companion Elder Ellsworth are getting along great and we work really good together. I hope that everyone back home is trying to do their part to help the missionaries. They work hard and it's discouraging at times when you don't get too many new investigators or investigators at all. Just keep doing your best and the Savior will make up the rest.

I know that the church is true! Read the Book of Mormon and find out for yourself if it’s true! Missionary work is so rewarding. When you get to see the blessings that people see in their lives it’s incredible.

A family that we contacted is getting baptized this Weekend, they were English but we contacted them and referred them to English Elders who now have them on date to be baptized this weekend. They told the missionaries that their lives have been changed dramatically just from talking to a bunch of 20 year old kids about their Savior, Jesus Christ. There are blessings from living the Gospel and especially in sharing it as well. I hope that you guys have a great week and pueden seguir adelante!

Elder Emerick

Just another week

Hola Familia!

Yesterday was so wierd. It's wierd to talk to your family through a computer. I hope you all had a good mother's day! This week was a pretty slow week for us. I have a new companion, Elder Ellsworth from Georgia. He's cool and I just need to help him get to know the area. He's been out for a little over a year. We had some pretty cool lessons with a few investigators this past week. We shared a comfort scripture with Ashley who was feeling nervous about reading the Book of Mormon, but after that she was balling. She said that she felt muy bien and didn't know why she was crying. I was so grateful to have the spirit testifying to her that it was true. She's super Elect and she is progressing spiritually so much. When I get home everyone better know how to make Carne Asada, I don't know how I'll live without it. Look up recipes online and try it out, it's literally my favorite Mexican/Latin dish ever. California burritos are really good too. The Sanie family were at church again. They are off and running again in the gospel, its only a matter of time until Bijan is baptized. I'm telling you, if you don't know if the church is true. ASK! I'm seeing so many people blessed just from a simple testimony from the Holy Ghost. The Gospel Blesses lives! We all have pruebas in life but after our trial of faith is when we receive the fruits of our labors. I hope you all are doing good back home. Seriously when I get back we're going to have a contest and I'll see who has mastered Carne Asada like a true Mexican. It will take a while to get good at it, so start practicing! Haha Temecula is so cool, but it's so white.(not enough Spanish people) I can't wait to see what Escondido is like, they say its a spanish missionaries dream! We're all good here, working the best we can. It's hard, but so worth it. Entonces ya vamos! Siga adelante! Have a great week!

Elder Emerick

There should be tons of pictures.

No hernia

Hola Famila!

Por que piensan que estoy enfermo? No sabeis que soy un missionero?! Missioneros estan enfermos nunca! (Because you guys think I have a hernia?! Don't you know that I'm a missionary? Don't you know that missionaries don't get sick?!) But seriously no I don't have a hernia. I talked with a RN and she said it was just some intestinal distress from EATING TOO MUCH TOO QUICK. Haha I knew it wasn't a hernia. Anyways this week was the last week that I am with my trainer. He's getting transferred but I'm staying in Temecula for at least 6 more weeks! YAY!!! We said goodbye to some members and they were all sad to see Elder Martin leave but they have faith in whoever is called to serve the Lord. I'm a little bit nervous but I know that the Lord will guide us. So, this Sunday we had 5 investigators at church! That's the most I've had on my mission so far! It was also fast and testimony meeting so the spirit was super strong. One family, the Sanie, came back for the first time in over 10 years. She is from Chile so speaks it natively. He is from Iran and came to America, met her and then was converted in the 90's. They both have strong testimonies of the Gospel and I was super honored to help them get back to church and re-find their testimonies. We're teaching their 11 yr old son and he is probably going to get baptized soon. Speaking of which we are having a baptism this week! This Wednesday is the baptism of Erik Zapot, both his parents are members but have been inactive for 3 years. She's been coming for the past 3 weeks but he finally got his Sundays off from work and was there this past Sunday. I'm going to give a talk on the Holy Ghost, so that will be fun! He just turned 8 but it still was great to help them get back to church so that he could get baptized. Also Dulce one of our interpreters  (She's been having lessons since Jan) is getting baptized on 6 June. I feel like she is learning more and being more sure of herself and this baptism every time I see her. We're going through commandments with her and she's doing really good! We found 5 new investigators this week! One was an antiguo (Old investigator that missionaries stopped teaching for a while because he didn't want to progress) and he was at church too. On Saturday night we stopped by a reference from a recent convert who told us about his relatives that live down the street. The husband is really interested. We said that we had to leave and he said, "Awe man! It was starting to get interesting!" Haha 
Did I tell you that Ana Sanie bore her testimony in the meeting? It was great and she really helped her family and herself to feel the Spirit. The spirit is the most important part in helping people change and convert themselves. Because we don't do the changing or converting, its the Holy Ghost. Transfer meeting is tomorrow and I'm getting a new companion. Also for this Sunday I'm not sure about where or when yet. I think it will probably be around 5 ish your time because It will be after church. As long as you guys are in your house and waiting for the phone or computer at 4 or later there won't be a problem. Well that's about all for now, wish me luck as I take over the area!

Tenga un buen dia!

Elder Emerick

My Belly button hurts

Hola Famila!

Lo siento por mis cartas que son bien cortas. Estoy aprendiendo como escribir todas las cosas que necesito poner en mis cartas a ustedes. Pero voy a tratar para escribir mucho mas! (Sorry my letters are rather short, I am still learning how to write letters and what to put in my letters to you) I will try to write more.

So how is everyone doing? Busy, Busy, Busy here in Sudo California. We are starting to feel the toll of having the entire zone to us for Spanish work but we're still progressing! The hardest part is just planning how we're going to drive from one place to the other in time and still have time for an appointment. But we are working hard!

We have about 4-5 people who are solid investigators but we still have to help them overcome a couple of things.  From helping people to have the faith to move to another place away from their crazy girlfriend, to  helping someone have the courage to ask her husband to come to church, or just simply helping gain/re-find that testimony they need.

Yesterday we got a call from one of the members who told us that her nieta (Granddaughter) wanted to talk with us. So we went up and had a little lesson. It was on God wanting to help us in this life and the Atonement. The spirit was really strong but I wasn't sure if she was getting all of it/understanding it. (She's 14 and a member but hasn't been to church or really had a testimony) So at the end we asked her to say a prayer and she told us she couldn't. But all three of us me, my comp, and Julian offered prayers before her to give her an example. After all our prayers she did pray. It was a simple prayer and short, but after she said In the name of Jesus Christ, amen, the spirit was so strong in that room. In fact she immediately started to cry, she cried for about 5 min. I knew that the spirit was working on her and as she pondered about that short prayer she let the spirit in her. I don't know if she has ever felt like that before. So before we went to say goodbye we went into the other room and the Grandma asked us how it went. She asked me 'how is she?' I said we felt the Spirit. She paused for a moment looked at me, nodded, almost to tears, and said 'que bueno.'  What good. She was thankful that we could help her nieta feel the spirit and perhaps start to bring her Grand- daughter to feel the love of Heavenly Father and I know that because of that she can pick herself back up and keep trying.

 In other news, the Spanish is going pretty good! There are times when I understand perfectly and then there are times when I think 'What the heck are they saying.' Haha I think I may be eating a little too much. I have been starting to feel pain in my bellybutton. Elder Stevens said if you eat too much, or have your stomach distended too much from eating you can stretch it a little and make it hurt! I never in my life had had this but because of these Latin people putting 4 servings of food on my plate at once I may be getting pain in my bellybutton. We had a district meeting Tuesday and we used little kid tables and chairs because in the Sky Cannon building they're very strict about their stuff and we need a key to use them. After the meeting we went to cici's pizza. Later that night at a member’s house, (THE BRANCH PRESIDENT'S) we had tortas for dinner. I took one bite of it and went to the bathroom, threw up all of my lunch. I didn't make much of a mess, and went back out to finish the sandwich! She even gave us eaticate to take home (leftovers).

 Also we had our quarterly interviews with President Kendrick and I asked him what do I tell all these people who ask me  where I'm going after I die?(the Mormons) Should I say I'm not sure how we're going to be judged or start explaining what we believe about death and the degrees of Glory or what? He told me 'Sure! Just tell them you're going to heaven Elder Emerick because you are! You are going to heaven Elder Emerick!'And then invite them to find out for themselves. He's a great leader and I'm so thankful to have him as a Mission President. Entonces yo espero que usds les gusta esta carta y tambien voy a mandar muchos fotos! Gracias a ustedes y tenga una buena semana! (I hope you like this letter. I am sending lots of pictures. Thank you and have a good week.)

Elder Emerick