Things are going pretty well here in California. We’ve had pretty good success these first two weeks. We taught nine lessons the first week and eleven lessons this past week. The mission standard of excellence is twenty lessons a week, but it’s a lot harder to get those kind of numbers down here in Newport Beach than it is in places like Santa Ana that are pretty much Mexico. In fact most of the district only gets about five or less lessons a week. That’s kind of what we did the last two transfers as well. Elder Keeler is pretty good about getting lessons though so we’ve been doing lots better. I really like how he works. He’s not obsessed with tracting like Elder Grange was so we only do it when we have to. It’s not very effective in this area so that’s a big relief for me. I was getting pretty tired of tracting every day and never finding anyone.
Michelle is doing better. We’ve been meeting with her a bit more often and have been able to help her a lot not only spiritually, but temporally too. She moved out of her old apartment on Saturday the 21st to the complex where we live. It’s only across the street, but she can afford it better. We had lots of members come and assist with the move so it was a really big help. Now she knows some of them and has a better connection with the ward. One family that has helped a lot in particular is the McArthur family. Sister McArthur has MS as well so she can relate and help out. They have come to a couple lessons with us now and are helping in other ways. We still haven’t gotten her to church yet because she has such a hard time getting her three year old son ready to go and in the car, much less herself. She has absolutely no physical ability to force him to do anything, so unless he wants to get changed and wants to get in the car, there’s nothing she can do about it. Next week we are going to have a member help her get ready so she can go. We are going to set a baptism date for the 20th of December so hopefully everything works out.
On Tuesday I worked with Elder Cromarty for exchanges, while Elder Keeler went to NB 2nd with Elder Olsen. It was a pretty good day and we taught two lessons. On Wednesday, when we were teaching a recent convert (as of July) named Lori Wenzel, we told her and her husband that Michelle had no one to eat thanksgiving with so they offered to invite her over. It was really nice of them and was a good service opportunity. So we went and ate some turkey and taught a lesson to the three of them on Thursday evening. We actually had three thanksgiving dinners on Thursday. We had one at 2:00 with the Jacobsens, one at 3:30 with the Emrichs, and then one with the Wenzels that night. I like food.
Friday we helped the Hawkin family unload all their stuff, which they had had in storage, from a huge truck and take it in their house. Then on Saturday we ate dinner with them and taught a lesson about the tree of life and the importance of reading the scriptures etc. They even had a non-member friend over that joined us. Last night we had a lesson with some former investigators whom Elder Grange and his trainee Elder Taka (now my zone leader) had taught. They are really nice and we challenged them to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it (like we always do with people). It has been a long time since I taught someone a first lesson so it was refreshing for me. Their names are Nathan and Carrie Simon so we hope they progress towards baptism.
I was very glad to hear that BYU beat Utah. I’m excited for the read up on it. Thanks for sending all of those. It sounds like they did pretty good this year. Did they win the conference, or did TCU beat us out? I don’t like that team very much. The weather is still pretty nice over here. It was 85 on Thanksgiving lol. It’s pretty weird. It doesn’t feel like Christmas could possibly be approaching already with the weather like this.
Dad, we were at a member’s house the other day and they were looking up where the name Keeler comes from and they happened to end up on Ancestry.com and I was like, Hey, that’s my dad’s company! It was pretty cool—I was proud of you. I’m glad you are enjoying work these days still and that it is successful in these hard times.
Elder Keeler is from New Mexico about 20 minutes from the border of Mexico. He’s a funny guy and has a good personality. He’s been in Spanish most of his mission so we’ve been talking to a lot of Spanish people—though most of them are members. It’s been good and I am still learning, though it’s at a much slower rate.
I love you all as much as all the dogs in the world. Have a wonderful week
Elder Curtis
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
A Servant of Jesus Christ
It’s another one of those hot days. You jump in the car and have to turn up the AC just a little bit more. The humidity is perfect and the sun is up, leaving the world at 70 degrees. You wonder what it’s like to be cold, and sometimes you wonder what it’s like to be hot and to sweat. You wear short sleeves all day and think that it is tiring just to walk from one house to another. Usually the car does all the work for you.
Many people are already Christian and are just missing one little piece of the puzzle. Others are wondering if there even is a puzzle. Some are Jews and some don’t understand English. Many go to Mariners church just down the road from the “Mormon church with the gold statue on top.” After all, why go to an LDS service when you can go to church to socialize, eat doughnuts, listen to the rock band, and maybe even do some skating at the indoor skate park at Mariners?
Or isn’t money a good enough God? After all, I have all I need in life to be happy…so they say. Doesn’t a huge house by the beach, a beamer in the driveway, and a little partying every now and then when you’re not working equal happiness? But we respect what you do, they say, and good luck, though they offer none to you.
So you get back in the car and drive to the next house…but they are too busy at work to be at home to greet you. So you knock more doors, though there aren’t many who are interested or kind enough to honestly say they aren’t.
Then you finally go to an appointment and your companion speaks with such power that the spirit flows through you and energizes you. You speak and you realize the words you say were not what you at first intended. It seems almost as if the spirit is using your mouth to speak its own words, and you don’t resist. After all—if ye have not the spirit, ye shall not teach. D&C 42
You then go to a dinner appointment and marvel at the strength and conviction of the members as well as their unfailing generosity and kindness. They come with you to lessons and teach things only experience can bring.
You teach another lesson, or strengthen more members—always leaving a commitment and a feeling in their heart that only could come from some loving Father above. The truths touch your own heart as you recount how they have influenced and guided your life.
They realize what you have is precious. And they commit themselves to change. You see their hearts and lives take different form and meaning. And finally, they take the first step of covenant and happiness—and you realize you had nothing to do with the change. For you are only an object to bring the truth. An instrument that only the spirit can play with that master touch. One who only has success by miracles and being guided by someone more powerful. For he shows you what to do and where to go and especially what to say.
And you realize you are happy. For what can bring happiness except service and a loving family back at home? For giving is not giving. Giving is receiving. And the more you give, the more you receive and you know your debt can not be paid.
But Christ died for us all and did so out of Charity. He has bought us with a price and we are His. For He has engraved us on His hands and feet. We are not our own so our lives must be in His service. We know the precious pearls we have and we want to share them with all the world. For Charity seeketh not her own, but rejoiceth in the truth. Moroni 7:45-48 Without Charity, I am nothing.
For God seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. Therefore, I will waste and wear out my life in the service of others, for when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God.
Yea, I know that I am nothing. As to my strength I am weak. Therefore, I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in His strength I can do all things. Yes it’s true, I am a servant of Jesus Christ.
Love,
Elder Curtis
Many people are already Christian and are just missing one little piece of the puzzle. Others are wondering if there even is a puzzle. Some are Jews and some don’t understand English. Many go to Mariners church just down the road from the “Mormon church with the gold statue on top.” After all, why go to an LDS service when you can go to church to socialize, eat doughnuts, listen to the rock band, and maybe even do some skating at the indoor skate park at Mariners?
Or isn’t money a good enough God? After all, I have all I need in life to be happy…so they say. Doesn’t a huge house by the beach, a beamer in the driveway, and a little partying every now and then when you’re not working equal happiness? But we respect what you do, they say, and good luck, though they offer none to you.
So you get back in the car and drive to the next house…but they are too busy at work to be at home to greet you. So you knock more doors, though there aren’t many who are interested or kind enough to honestly say they aren’t.
Then you finally go to an appointment and your companion speaks with such power that the spirit flows through you and energizes you. You speak and you realize the words you say were not what you at first intended. It seems almost as if the spirit is using your mouth to speak its own words, and you don’t resist. After all—if ye have not the spirit, ye shall not teach. D&C 42
You then go to a dinner appointment and marvel at the strength and conviction of the members as well as their unfailing generosity and kindness. They come with you to lessons and teach things only experience can bring.
You teach another lesson, or strengthen more members—always leaving a commitment and a feeling in their heart that only could come from some loving Father above. The truths touch your own heart as you recount how they have influenced and guided your life.
They realize what you have is precious. And they commit themselves to change. You see their hearts and lives take different form and meaning. And finally, they take the first step of covenant and happiness—and you realize you had nothing to do with the change. For you are only an object to bring the truth. An instrument that only the spirit can play with that master touch. One who only has success by miracles and being guided by someone more powerful. For he shows you what to do and where to go and especially what to say.
And you realize you are happy. For what can bring happiness except service and a loving family back at home? For giving is not giving. Giving is receiving. And the more you give, the more you receive and you know your debt can not be paid.
But Christ died for us all and did so out of Charity. He has bought us with a price and we are His. For He has engraved us on His hands and feet. We are not our own so our lives must be in His service. We know the precious pearls we have and we want to share them with all the world. For Charity seeketh not her own, but rejoiceth in the truth. Moroni 7:45-48 Without Charity, I am nothing.
For God seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. Therefore, I will waste and wear out my life in the service of others, for when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God.
Yea, I know that I am nothing. As to my strength I am weak. Therefore, I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in His strength I can do all things. Yes it’s true, I am a servant of Jesus Christ.
Love,
Elder Curtis
Friday, November 20, 2009
One more dear year of Preachin and Teachin
As my companion would say, “Howdy ya’ll from down here in California.” Nope, it’s not Elder Grange anymore. Elder Grange was transferred to Placentia to work with Elder Vaha (also previously in my district) so now I’m here in Harbor Hills working with Elder Keeler. He is from New Mexico and he was my second district leader on the mission, so I already know him pretty well. He’s been in Spanish most of his mission so we are really going to work on speaking, learning, and up-keeping our Spanish. It’s going to really be a great experience. He’s an awesome missionary and loves the work. He grew up on a farm growing peppers I think. He’s a short, ball of fun so I’m pretty excited. I learned a lot from E. Grange and it was fun to work with him, but now he moves on. It’s about time too because he’d been here for ten and a half months. That’s a super long time. My new district leader is Elder Olsen.
This week was good. I went on exchanges with Elder Cash on Tuesday. He is a really nice guy and our personalities go pretty well together. His family isn’t members/active members so they didn’t really want him to serve, but he is anyway and is being a great example for his younger brother—half brother. He has three nieces and nephews like me so we related pretty well to each other. It was fun to be in the Corona Del Mar ward. It is one of the richest in the world I believe. Houses go for millions of dollars. They are right by the ocean and even cover a small island called Balboa Island. Saturday I went on exchanges with Elder Vaha in the Newport first ward. We went to a wedding reception and a ward party so it was a pretty laid back day.
Not too much else this week I guess. Friday we taught the Hawkins family. Elder Grange and Elder Queen took their son James out tracting on Saturday. He’s 19 and not sure about a mission, but they said he enjoyed it. We had dinner with John Geyer and talked about the Book of Mormon Friday night. He’s not a member, but his wife is. He’s progressed a lot and comes to church all the time, but he said he’s kind of going at his own pace right now and is happy where he’s at. He’s a super smart guy and enjoys everything about the church so far; he just is being really careful about his decision and is taking it really slow. I really hope he comes around some day.
Oh yeah, we went to the temple on Wednesday! I love the temple. Having it in my area has really been a blessing. I wish I could go more often, but I guess there’s a time and season for everything. It’s such a pretty temple—I can’t wait to take you guys there. I guess President Hinckley was kind of skeptical about putting it in, thinking it wouldn’t be used much , but I think it is one of the most active small temples in the world now. It’s a very peaceful and pretty place.
Oh wow, my week is finally coming back to me. Thursday we had mission conference. It was half the mission on Thursday and the other half on Friday. It was really neat. Elder and sister Foster of the 70 came and spoke to us. I enjoyed it and heard some great stuff.
Sunday we taught Hailey Tweter and finished up the recent convert discussions with her finally. We visited a couple people so Elder Grange could say goodbye and then we went home so he could pack. We had dinner with an interesting family. The father is on a quest to find the brass plates. He’s one of the smartest men I’ve ever talked to and thinks he knows where they are. He says they are somewhere in a 15 mile radius down in Panama and he is going to go look for them. I’ll explain more about it next week, but it was really interesting to talk to him.
That’s it for this week I guess. My year mark is this Friday. It is the strangest thing in the world. I guess I’ll just have to keep enjoying everything and not worry about it. Have a fantastic week everyone. I love you as much as all the sands on the beaches.
Elder Curtis
This week was good. I went on exchanges with Elder Cash on Tuesday. He is a really nice guy and our personalities go pretty well together. His family isn’t members/active members so they didn’t really want him to serve, but he is anyway and is being a great example for his younger brother—half brother. He has three nieces and nephews like me so we related pretty well to each other. It was fun to be in the Corona Del Mar ward. It is one of the richest in the world I believe. Houses go for millions of dollars. They are right by the ocean and even cover a small island called Balboa Island. Saturday I went on exchanges with Elder Vaha in the Newport first ward. We went to a wedding reception and a ward party so it was a pretty laid back day.
Not too much else this week I guess. Friday we taught the Hawkins family. Elder Grange and Elder Queen took their son James out tracting on Saturday. He’s 19 and not sure about a mission, but they said he enjoyed it. We had dinner with John Geyer and talked about the Book of Mormon Friday night. He’s not a member, but his wife is. He’s progressed a lot and comes to church all the time, but he said he’s kind of going at his own pace right now and is happy where he’s at. He’s a super smart guy and enjoys everything about the church so far; he just is being really careful about his decision and is taking it really slow. I really hope he comes around some day.
Oh yeah, we went to the temple on Wednesday! I love the temple. Having it in my area has really been a blessing. I wish I could go more often, but I guess there’s a time and season for everything. It’s such a pretty temple—I can’t wait to take you guys there. I guess President Hinckley was kind of skeptical about putting it in, thinking it wouldn’t be used much , but I think it is one of the most active small temples in the world now. It’s a very peaceful and pretty place.
Oh wow, my week is finally coming back to me. Thursday we had mission conference. It was half the mission on Thursday and the other half on Friday. It was really neat. Elder and sister Foster of the 70 came and spoke to us. I enjoyed it and heard some great stuff.
Sunday we taught Hailey Tweter and finished up the recent convert discussions with her finally. We visited a couple people so Elder Grange could say goodbye and then we went home so he could pack. We had dinner with an interesting family. The father is on a quest to find the brass plates. He’s one of the smartest men I’ve ever talked to and thinks he knows where they are. He says they are somewhere in a 15 mile radius down in Panama and he is going to go look for them. I’ll explain more about it next week, but it was really interesting to talk to him.
That’s it for this week I guess. My year mark is this Friday. It is the strangest thing in the world. I guess I’ll just have to keep enjoying everything and not worry about it. Have a fantastic week everyone. I love you as much as all the sands on the beaches.
Elder Curtis
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
But Who's Complaining?
Week six is here again oh week six is here again oh send all letters to the office, week six is here again oh week six is here again, oh who knows what’s going to happen. Actually, today isn’t even my P-day. We are going to the temple on Wednesday, so that will be my day of preparation. I have to write today because Wednesday is Veterans Day so the library will be closed. Actually, I had to do laundry and shopping today as well so I don’t run out of food and clothes—so who knows why they even change P-day at all. But who’s complaining?
This past week was crazy. We went on three exchanges! Two of them were in a row on Tuesday and Wednesday so I didn’t get Elder Grange too much this week. Tuesday I worked in the Newport Beach first ward with Elder Queen, and Wednesday Elder Tagg came to work in Harbor Hills with me. Saturday Elder Olsen came and worked with me as well. It was pretty fun. Wednesday we taught the Weigs. They have two lessons left until they are finished. Thursday we had a lesson with a member named Hayley Hanssler. She recently started coming to church again and it is a good opportunity for her to learn more and strengthen her testimony.
Saturday we taught Bro. Emrich’s mother again, who wants to be baptized in a year when her grandson gets home. It was a good lesson about the Plan of Salvation. Yesterday we taught the Doane family the first half of it up to death. We had another great lesson with Hailey Tweter about some of the commandments and had an awesome couple there to help us—the Reeves. Church was fun with the primary program and everything, but I really enjoyed the stake Priesthood meeting last night. It was all about the Book of Mormon. They had Elder Grange and Elder Ofa (who was in my district last transfer) speak about how it changes lives. Then there was a return missionary who had the same topic. Then President Clayton spoke about the same thing, then Elder Holland spoke about the same thing (i.e. we watched his talk from conference). It was super powerful and I immensely enjoyed finally hearing that talk again. I can’t wait to put it on an electronic device when I get home so I can listen to it lots and lots.
We weren’t able to teach Michelle this week. She’s still having a really tough time and she wasn’t able to make it to church either. I sure hope she can at least be baptized next transfer. Speaking of next transfer, we think there are going to be some changes in this district. E. Grange has been here 10 ½ months of his mission (including when he was here before) so we are thinking he might be leaving. However, if there are so many new missionaries that the ward gets a new set of missionaries, we might both be staying (not together though) to train the new ones in the area. We’ll see what happens, but it should be interesting. Other Elders in the district have a high possibility of moving as well.
I guess the only other news is that the Roostapisheh family moved back to Germany on Wednesday so we don’t get to teach them anymore. Hope everything goes well for them over there and that they stay strong in the church. This week should go by pretty quick because we have to do two more exchanges. Elder Grange kind of saved them all for the last couple weeks, but that’s okay. Things are more exciting that way. We also have a mission conference this week. That only happens when someone important visits the mission and this week Elder Foster of the 70 is coming. Anyway, hope you all have a wonderful week.
I love you as much as all the fish in the sea, Elder Curtis
This past week was crazy. We went on three exchanges! Two of them were in a row on Tuesday and Wednesday so I didn’t get Elder Grange too much this week. Tuesday I worked in the Newport Beach first ward with Elder Queen, and Wednesday Elder Tagg came to work in Harbor Hills with me. Saturday Elder Olsen came and worked with me as well. It was pretty fun. Wednesday we taught the Weigs. They have two lessons left until they are finished. Thursday we had a lesson with a member named Hayley Hanssler. She recently started coming to church again and it is a good opportunity for her to learn more and strengthen her testimony.
Saturday we taught Bro. Emrich’s mother again, who wants to be baptized in a year when her grandson gets home. It was a good lesson about the Plan of Salvation. Yesterday we taught the Doane family the first half of it up to death. We had another great lesson with Hailey Tweter about some of the commandments and had an awesome couple there to help us—the Reeves. Church was fun with the primary program and everything, but I really enjoyed the stake Priesthood meeting last night. It was all about the Book of Mormon. They had Elder Grange and Elder Ofa (who was in my district last transfer) speak about how it changes lives. Then there was a return missionary who had the same topic. Then President Clayton spoke about the same thing, then Elder Holland spoke about the same thing (i.e. we watched his talk from conference). It was super powerful and I immensely enjoyed finally hearing that talk again. I can’t wait to put it on an electronic device when I get home so I can listen to it lots and lots.
We weren’t able to teach Michelle this week. She’s still having a really tough time and she wasn’t able to make it to church either. I sure hope she can at least be baptized next transfer. Speaking of next transfer, we think there are going to be some changes in this district. E. Grange has been here 10 ½ months of his mission (including when he was here before) so we are thinking he might be leaving. However, if there are so many new missionaries that the ward gets a new set of missionaries, we might both be staying (not together though) to train the new ones in the area. We’ll see what happens, but it should be interesting. Other Elders in the district have a high possibility of moving as well.
I guess the only other news is that the Roostapisheh family moved back to Germany on Wednesday so we don’t get to teach them anymore. Hope everything goes well for them over there and that they stay strong in the church. This week should go by pretty quick because we have to do two more exchanges. Elder Grange kind of saved them all for the last couple weeks, but that’s okay. Things are more exciting that way. We also have a mission conference this week. That only happens when someone important visits the mission and this week Elder Foster of the 70 is coming. Anyway, hope you all have a wonderful week.
I love you as much as all the fish in the sea, Elder Curtis
80 Degrees
Hi! How is the weather treating everyone? It’s about 80 degrees right now…J Thanks for the fun Halloween card! How did you manage to get it to me Halloween night? Must be skill :D We had a pretty fun week. Friday we had a ward party/trunk-or-treat. It was great because they first had a chili cook off and asked Elder Grange and I to be the judges. There were probably 20 pots of chili that we both got to taste test. Some of them hadn’t cooled down sufficiently so my tongue got a little scorched. They were really good though. There was also lots of cornbread, but we didn’t have a competition for that. After dinner, a pie eating contest, and some games, everyone went out to trunk-or-treat. For Halloween on Saturday we had dinner with the Sneary family and they fed us chili J It might have been left over from Friday lol.
Tuesday we taught the Roostapisheh family and they said they might get sent back to Germany so we hope they are able to stay. We also met with a less-active named Bro. Johansen and he was really nice. We ate with the Loveridge family for dinner and it was Bro. Loveridge’s birthday. I also got to play the Ukelele while we were there and I thought it was pretty cool. Wednesday I was on exchanges with Elder Lambert. We had a good time and even taught a couple lessons to members chosen by the ward mission process. I can’t believe that was this week. It seems like forever ago.
Thursday we taught Michelle Christian the Gospel and asked the McArthers to come with us. Sister McArther has MS so she can relate to Michelle really well. In the end, only Bro. McArther came, but it was really good for them to meet and we had a good lesson. If she comes to church the next two weeks she can be baptized on the 15th of November so pray that she can come and that she can get an answer before then! She’s really nice though and it’s been great teaching her. She didn’t make it to church two weeks ago because she hit her head on her toilet (she has a hard time controlling her muscles) and had to get 7 staples. We don’t know why she wasn’t there yesterday though.
Yesterday we had dinner with the Lewis family (our ward mission leader). I just love that family. They are the nicest of the nice and are so excited about missionary work. Bro. Lewis is perfect for the calling, even though he is new to the ward and doesn’t really know anyone. They live in a really nice place with a pool and a hot tub in the back. We had BBQ chicken and it was superb. They are pregnant with their second son right now.
We have our primary program this coming Sunday so that will be pretty cool. Too bad we don’t have a nursery program. We have 5 nurseries! I guess they aren’t as good at singing…There are tons of little babies and kids though and lots on the way. I guess that’s what happens when you have a college in the ward. I can’t believe Lauren and Devin are getting married!!!!! That’s amazing. Didn’t he just get off his mission? They must have really gotten to know each other at college. I think they both went to BYU-Idaho. That’s so funny—they will be such a fun couple. That’s great news about Susan Purdy. I got to know her in the singles ward. She is one of the coolest people ever. Everyone in the ward loved her. She was even one of the Sunday school teachers.
I got to see Erasmo last Saturday at the temple tour so that was fun. He said he is leaving—possibly to Mexico. Hopefully we can stay in touch. Guess that’s about it. Love you guys.
Elder Curtis
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