Prayer works

 

 

 Just a note our family started praying for the Nieto family. We have been praying that they would come to church last week. This week we are praying that Sis. Nieto will try to give up coffee and commit to living the word of wisdom. It is so fun to feel part of our sons mission in this way. I love prayer. Many blessings come from prayer and our Heavenly Father does hear and answer them. 

Karen Emerick Jacob's MOM

 

Hola Familia,

How are you guys? This week was pretty sweet! One of our investigators made it to Stake Conference! It was so cool to hear about her going! Also transfer calls are this week. We think Elder Schooff might be leaving but we'll see! The member's are continuing to feed us all the time. I love it! Spanish work is the best! I always say to myself that if I was called to English work I don't know what I'd do! haha It's just so fun to learn a new language and eat all the time! I love Escondido, there are so many people to talk to and meet! We are always meeting with new people and have stuff to do. Almost half of the people here are Hispanic! The people are very poor but also very open and loving. I hope that we can help Radolfo and Gloria Nieto make it to church again this week! I'm sure that if they continue to read the Book of Mormon and come to church that they'll be baptized soon! How's the weather back home? It's still SUPER HOT like atleast 100 degrees everyday! I think they said that the heat should go down a little this week! I hope that you all continue to look for ways to share the gospel! There are so many blessings in that. Have a great week! Love You all!

Elder Emerick

Bike Problems and Resolved

August 24,2015

Jacob with Elder Schooff

Alley in Downtown Escondido CA

Elder Emerick and Elder Banana

Elder Emerick with Elder Banana

Hola a Los de mas,

So this week was pretty cool! We didn't have any bike problems! Yay! First time this whole transfer! We think that Elder Schooff just needed a new tire and we haven't had any problems since. Some new stuff is that we're continuing to teach people. We have a few newer people and we're trying to bring more members out with us. Church is great, all the classes are well put together and everyone is so loving. We're thinking that Elder Schooff may be transferred this transfer because he only has two more till he goes home. That means my next companion may be younger than me! It's so wierd I feel like it just started but already I'm coming up on 1/3 of the way done! By Christmas I'll be 1/2 way done! The time really flew and I'm thankful for this opportunity I've had in my areas. One family that we're working a lot with right now is called the Nieto Family. They're son is a member and is attending the YSA Ward. It'll be cool if we can get both of his parents to come to church as well to the Spanish Ward. They're just a little afraid of meeting new people but I think that they'd love it. Everyone is really nice here and humble as well. We're getting fed well too. We're even starting to get invitations when we already have appointments! Double Dinners! It's crazy, I hope I don't get fat. Anyways I'll let you know if any more cool stuff happens! I'll also send more pictures as well next week! I've seen the restored gospel bless so many people, the Holy Ghost really does comfort us and guide us. He's helped me a lot on my mission. Well have a great week! Les quiero!

Elder Emerick

 August 18,2015

Que Honda familia?

That's pronounced Onda, the H is silent. It's means What Up!? So this week we just had a bunch of bike problems with Elder Schooffs bike. Popped tires stink. It just takes up so much time and energy to fix. We didn't have too much new stuff going on this week. We recieved a new part of Escondido that we can prosylyte in now that we got back from the Sisters. They couldn't make it to that part of the city as much as we could. (We live in it but there area doesn't have too much going on so we gave them that part but it's to far for them) The areas in which missionaries proselyte change all the time. I also went on exchanges with Elder Banana! He's from the Philippines and came in when I did. He's from New York as well and went to the Provo MTC. He's awesome! We got so much work done and I hope that we can be companions sometime in the future or alteast serve around each other a lot! Maybe he could teach me Tagalog! Anyways nothing much else is new here. I went to the Erickberto's restaurant with Elder Spencer (English Elder we drive around on P-Day) that Sheena told me to go by. It was pretty good! There's so many places to eat in Escondido and San Marcos. But other than the exchange it was a pretty normal week. Find, Teach, Baptize everyday, all day! My Spanish is better everyday still. I am suprised at how well I understand and express my thoughts as well. I remember when I first started I couldn't really say too much. Hope you guys continue to stay busy as Summer Ends. It's still Hot as Heck down here! Over 100 in Esco pretty much everyday of the Week! Why can't I be in Oceanside? Hopefully that's where I'll go next. Well have a great week everyone!

Elder Emerick

Good byes and Hellos

Gorge  with Elder Emerick

 August, 10, 2015

Hola Familia,

So you're probably wondering what the subject means. It says 'It's Adults, not Adulterers.' Pretty funny right? Well while I was at Ward council in my new ward for the first time I was explaining how we found our new family investigators. They were a refferall from the Young Single Adult ward Elders. Their member is our new investigators' son. So I explained that their son attends the Young Single Adulterers ward but then after I saw them all laugh I figured out what I had said. I felt silly because I knew what I should've said but nonetheless I still make mistakes all the time haha. Just one experience that I'll remember about learning spanish on my mission. The family that we picked up has a son that goes to the YSA Ward and the family speaks spanish. So enter us and now they are our new invetigators! There names are the Nieto Family. They are super awesome and want to be baptized as well, they just need some help and teaching. They're a little afraid to go to church after the rough experiences they've had with  another religion.  But Elder Schooff and I are excited to have picked up such solid investigators. We helped a member named Martin dig a hole. He needed to find his gas pipe so they can do some excavating on his plumbing. He's another Legendary dude among Spanish missionarys. Remember Julian from Temecula? Well he's the Julian of San Marcos/Escondido. He has a pet turtle named Frijolito that is always the subject of jokes about making him into tacos. They say that turtle meat is nice and tender. I have a feeling I'll have some newer types of tacos here. Tacos de Lengua (Tongue) Tacos de cabeza (Meat from the head of the cow) it'll be interesting. But I'm loving it in Escondido! Can't wait to meet some new people! Have a great week!

Elder Emerick

Elder Emerick with Elder Sedgwick They look so young

Turtle in new area

El Norte, Escondido

 August 3rd, 2015

 

Hola Familia,

There's an old Spanish song sung by members from the 70's it's from an album called Musica de los Setenta's and it's basically church music and other Spanish music by church members. One song is known as the Escondido song because it sounds like they are singing Escondio in it. But they aren't haha But si pues I'm in Escondido! The El Norte Ward is Massive! It contains all the members in the Escondido stake which includes Escondido and San Marcos. Over 600 members! We bike a lot here. I bought a speedometer for my bike to measure the distance and speed we bike. It's way more flat though so it's alright. haha It's so cool to contact 95% Spanish. No white people! There are 5 companionships in the Ward. The sister split San Marcos and us 6 Elders split up the majority of Esco. Needless to say there's tons of work to do! Be it Less actives, Part member families or just the classic street contacting we meet a ton of new people every day! It's not uncommon to have a ton of success here in Esco. Remember Elder Wockenfuss? Well he's in Temecula now and I'm in his area when we began our missions! We just switched places! I hope I'll get to serve with him sometime. In our district also is Elder Garcia (From Utah but also from Guadalajara) and Elder Banana! (Came in with me, is from New York but also from the Philippines!) Elder Banana speaks English, Tagalog, and now Spanish! No one can hide from him! Our bishops name is Obispo, Adrian Parra (Obispo is bishop in Spanish) We get fed a lot too! Thank you for the letter's everyone! It's great to here from you all! I hope you all have a great week and I'll tell you more about our area next week when I learn it better! Que tengan una Buena semana!

Elder Emerick

Pictures are always Good!!!!

Baptism of Reina she is in pink

The Herrera family, he's sec counselor, super cool family

With President Perez

Elders christensen, Ellsworth, Ellquist, Emerick, Richards, Sisters Nelson and Rentz

Reina's baptism, us with Hermano Vicente. He came out a lot to Dulce's house to teach. He is an awesome Dude!

Reina's Baptism

Elders Christensen, Ellsworth, Ellquist, Emerick, Richards and Sisters Nelson and Rentz

Jacob over the 4th of July!

Hola mi Familia,

Ok so to start out I'll answer some questions. Sometimes questions aren't getting answered because they are just written into the letter and I miss it. So that's it, haha I just miss them sometimes  Next, I only talked to you guys in Spanish one, because other missionaries don't have the privelege to 'talk' with their family members other than on Christmas and Mother's Day. 98% of missionaries have no family in their missions. I just thought it'd be a little unfair to be able to say something to you guys through a video via my cousin who lives down the road! hahaha Also I want to show you guys how much I've progressed in the language. I hope that this hasn't come off as that I don't want you guys knowing what I'm saying but simply showing you guys the work I've put in and how much Heavenly Father has blessed me to be able to understand and communicate with people that before I couldn't. Besides I'll be happy to translate them once I get back! hahaha 6 MONTHS!!!! Isn't that crazy?! I can't even believe it myself sometimes and it's a testimony to me that Heavenly Father WILL provide a way. ALWAYS.  Another thing, send packages to me earlier in the week so that they'll be there for me that Monday. Becasue ZL's pick up mail on Friday and deliver it on Monday. Probably because they don't want to make any missionaries trunky on a day that's not P-Day with a letter from their novia. Haha I'll be sure to tell you guys how I liked the package next week. I'll open it today when I recieve mail and tell you....From my NEW AREA! I'm getting transferred on Tuesday! And from what we think may happen I will either go to Escondido (Most probable), Vista, or Oceanside. Anyways whichever place it is there will be FAR MORE HISPANICS to talk to! So there's that, also we had our baptism on Saturday it was great. Elder Ellsworth baptized her and I gave a talk. The spirit was super strong there and right after it they went to the temple! Just outside but that was really cool to hear that! She couldn't get confirmed this Sunday but next week she will because she won't have to work then. I'll be sure to send the pictures. Speaking of which I have a ton to send! It's been a while since I've sent any but know I got a ton. Plus with my new area I'll have more the next couple of months to send. Anything else? Well I hope you have a good week! And if you have any more questions let me know!

Les quiero mucho!

 

Elder Emerick

She's getting Baptized!

Hola Familia,

It's been raining the past few days so that has been different. I've had to use my paragua a lot. Anyways Reina passed the baptismal interview and now she for sure will be baptized the 25th! I'll be sure to send some pictures as proof. She's so cool and it will be cool to see how the gospel will (and has been) changing her life. She has a lot of family in Mexico too so I'm sure she'll share the gospel with them too! (Your welcome missionaries in D.F.!) We've been pretty smart about using the car too. We have saved miles so that we can use more on certain days. We had a lesson with a new investigator this week and he's super Catholic (Like 75% of people we teach) but he was open enough to talk with us and have a return appointment in a week. I won't be around much longer in Temecula, only for 1 more week till I'll leave for somewhere else. So right now we're just preparing for the next transfer for Elder Ellsworth and his new companion. (Or new spanish Sister's if they pinkwash the area) We're seeing a lot of blessings from sharing the gospel with other people and inviting them to come unto Christ. Missionary work is cool and there are always people out there that are being prepared to receive the restored gospel. Well I'll be sure to send home more pictures soon, I haven't taken many more because I've taken most I think I can from the area. But when I get transferred I'll be sure to take plenty more! Well that's about it for me this week, hasta la proxima semana!

Elder Emerick

 

Jacob also shared with us that he will find out this Saturday his new area. So excited for him and know he will do fine with the change!

A Date for a Baptism

7/13/2015

Que tal familia,

So this week one of our new investigators is getting baptized! The 24th of July, that's the last Saturday before I leave Temecula. Her name's Reina, I don't know if I told you about her but she's visiting from D.F. for 6 months with Hna Samperio and she's really liked church and everything about it! She's little by little gaining more and more of a testimony everyday we see her and everytime she comes to church. This week she said that they decided on the 24th for the date so that's awesome! I'll have to tell you more later because she still hasn't had her interview yet so it's not official but it looks like she'll be good! It was such a blessing to have her be introduced to the church and a blessing for us to be able to share the gospel. In other news I'm feeling a little under the weather. I've had a runny nose/cough for the past few days but hopefully it will pass soon. This month me and Elder Ellsworth have been smart with our money so we're not freaking out about not having money haha. I'm driving too, so that's been a little weird to do again. Some people in the branch told me yesterday that they're going to miss me when I leave, I guess they know that I'm gone soon. But it will be cool to meet new people and new missionaries. I have to take someone to the doctor's in a bit so I should be able to come back and write a little more later but I'm not sure. If I don't though have a great week!

Elder Emerick