Week 44

heyooooo! This week was pretty good. Its getting really hot out here, and its hecka dry. The wind is like a blow dryer in your face its a struggle.

Tuesday after d-meet E. Boltz had his departing interview with Pres Hobbs. That was the last time I saw President, he leaves for Idaho tomorrow. Super weird. We get to meet the new president this Thursday though which is cool.

Wednesday we saw the Samasoni's again, they had to cancel on Monday. They didnt have a tonne of time but we shared a quick scripture, then they both told us that they were going to change jobs so they could start coming to church! #blessed

I hope it happens sooner rather than later. We also had a really good lesson with the brother in law of a less-active Samoan member. We read Moroni 10 with him and it went super well, he said he will read and pray.

Thursday.. I dont really remember what happened on thursday haha whoops.

Friday was E. Boltz temple trip so I went into a trio witht he Tongan Elders. Haha we had way to much fun. We took the Subi out for a rip on a dirtbike track haha. But don't worry we still got work done. We saw Shanay and her friend Candice, who was there for our initial contact 4 months ago. Candice said she would come to church with Shanay. (spoiler she didnt 😢)

Saturday was really interesting. We weekly planned because we didnt have time on friday, so we didnt get out until after lunch. Our zone has a goal of being out and walking on Saturdays so we walked 30 minutes to our closest Samoan member, who ended up not being there, and then walking back 30 minutes in 40 degrees! it was sooooo hot.  But after we were done walking and realized all our Samoan members were at the temple or out of town we headed into north Adelanto, (by car now thank goodness) where we had a really interesting experience.

We visited a member who lives in a trailer park, and his trailer is #nasty but we endure to save souls. Anyway I notice a few 'Simply Lemonade' bottles lying around the trailer, lets just say it wasnt lemonade. Then this member asks E. Boltz to fill up his cup with some lemonade from the counter, which in reality was urine. This member took a gulp of it then shouted "no Bueno! Where did you get that?" Then plays it off like he didnt just drink his own pee. haha gross, the hardest part was maintaining my composure until we left then I laughed so hard I cried.

Sunday was interesting as well. A tongan member named Nalgou ate a handful of the sacrament bread and downed 3 cups of the blessed water like shots. Interesting. Then in the middle of the talk he said, rather loudly, "Man this guy is putting me to sleep!" There are other things he did but I'd rather not say what it was haha.

Interesting week. It was a lot of fun though haha.

✌

Elder Ockey

Week 43

This week has been suuuuper stressful! but in a good way! We had a lot of things we needed to do for Shanay and Kiarrie's baptism but it all eneded up kosher 👌 Got quite a bit to talk about so hopefully I can string it all together to make sense

Monday we had a really good lesson with Lance and Angela, we read from the BofM with them and overall just got to know them a ton better. The next time we saw them on friday it went super well to, they were way more relaxed.

Tuesday we didnt have d-meet but Elder Wilding had his toe all cut up at the doctor, its way nastier than mine was. We went to an addiction recovery program with one of our less-active/part-member family members. It went pretty well but he would rather just go through the book with us rather than go to the meetings. He said they were super depressing haha.

Wednesday we had zone conference w/ P. Hobbsy himself! It went pretty well. just suuper long. it literally took up 6 hours of proselyting time. President Hobbs usually rushes everyone out but I guess he is to trunky to care anymore haha! 🎒

Okay so a little background, Shanay has been tauught all the lessons to this point, but Kiarrie hasnt had them all. THey both came to church enough times but we had to teach a lot of lessons in just a few days to prep them for baptism, so we had the spanish sisters help us. (its a running joke that "sister lessons" are better for teaching kids and elders are to good for that drivel haha) but anyway the Hermanas met us at Shanays house on thursday and of course they werent there. But thats okay because we still had friday to teach them. 

Thursday night we ate at an all you can eat buffet with a member fam, thinking we wouldnt be eating again that night we ate A LOT. THen we had splits which went pretty well. I went with Bro Sagapolo but we didnt have a ton of luck seeing anyone. So by the time we all meet at the church its 9:20 (we hafta be home 9:30 at the latest) and then Bro Hamilton and Bro Sagapolo decide to take us out to burgers! GOsh I was already so full I almost died. Thenw e didnt get home until 10:10 so I guess we are apostates now. 😉

Friday morning we got to see the Samasoni family again (Lance and Angela) we read 2 Nephi 31 with them, a super sweet chapter on baptism and repentance, and asked Angela what she thought about baptism (Lance has been baptised already). Overall the lesson went super well, even though we didnt get a solid baptismal date she said she would once she found out for herself.

After that we tried by Kiarrie and Shanay again witht he Hermanas and they were home! we cruised through a ton of lessons in 2 hours and left feeling enlightened by the spirit of sister lessons hehe.

Then we "weekly planned" (haha that picture is us "weekly planning")

Saturday we had SHanay and Kiarries baptism at the Phelan building. for some reason all the baptismal fonts are in the most remote areas in the desert. Oh well. It went super well. Not a ton to say other than super grateful! We tracted into them my first wednesday in the area! crayyyyyyyyy

Sunday we confirmed our RC's and we also gave talks in sacrament meeting. Lets just say by the end of sunday I felt 100 pounds lighter after having done all we did in the last few days. Happy Fathers day btw!! 🛂 (thats the best emoji I could find, cuz it looks like hes about beat someone) Our dinner on sunday was the last dinner witht he Timoteo's. They are moving down the hill and then eventually out of state which sucks! They are super cool. During dinner Sister Timoteo found out the her ten? year old daughter has snapchat to which she said, "If any of you have snapchat, you might as well call it slapchat! because I will slap you!" Haha throw down. It was hilarious.

Oh I forgot! Saturday we went to the Savea's and they gave us hecka manapua's to eat and take home #blessed #islandfood

This week is supposed to be major heat! the water in our water bottles not only heats up but straight up evaporates in our car. Save me.

Dang, busy week dough. 

Love you all!

Elder Ockey

1. Baptism!

 2. Weekly Planning 😜

3. Manapua Sunday brekkie!

4. zone piuc w/ Pres!

Week 42

yoooooooooooo! So this week was super! 

Monday we went trunky shopping for E. Boltz at the mall. We were gonna head for Barstow but it didnt end up happening.

Tuesday we had a zone meeting. We have hecka time wasting meetings these next few weeks it kinda sucks. We have 3 meetings, 2 with the President Taylor and 1 with President Hobbs. I hope this new pres is as chill as P. Hobbsy (haha dont tell him I called him that) The Hurtado house did a safety thought. As usual we blew it way out of proportion but it went awesome haha.

Wednesday was pretty normal. Ya feel? Oh! This happened earlier in the week but Ill write it here. We are allowed to were hats now! E Boltz and I went and got some sick ones from walmart. view attached pics #dapper

Thursday we went to the homeless shelter in the morning for service. nothing out of the ordinary. We saw some peeps during the day and at night we went to AppleValley to bless the home of someone who moved into the ward a while ago. Super sad because her fiancee was killed right in front of her in her apartment. Pretty dark but she has a strong testimony so she can make it.

Friday we got to see Shanay who is getting baptised next Saturday! Also she wants her daughter to be baptised with her. The daughter has been to church enough times but we will need to teach a heckofa lot of lessons to then this week to make it. #wewillmakeit 

Saturday we didnt get a whole lot done I'll be honest. Our comp study turned into talking with the other elders to deep cleaning the house. #hurtadoservice #dontjudgeme  But we got out and taught a bunch after lunch so its all good in the hood.  We also went to our Samoan part-member fams graduation party/dinner. It was a lot of fun. Jk missionaries arent allowed to have fun 😉

Sunday was funny. Bishop Pauga kept making fun of E. Boltz saying things like "maybe the work will pick up after July 3rd(he leaves on the 4th)" or "did you guys get out of the house before4 o'clock at all this week?"  Haha he is hilarious!  Then we met with another PM fam and LA fam. ended up talking about paranormal activity in Samoa. #scary #nosleep 

but yeeeaaa that was my week.

Its cray that wyatt reports on wednesday. killin it with the talk obvi. We are all giving talks in the adelanto ward on fathers day. you talk so much as a missionary already dont they get that!? geez. haha jk Im willing I just hope they are ready for a 1.5 minute talk....

Stay Sweet

Elder Ockey

Oh! Shoutout to Elder Wildings dad who sent us all shirts and bottles from his bike shop in Idaho Falls! 

Week 41

This week was super long! Its so freakin hot out right now it sucks.

I guess I'll start from wednesday because we emailed on tuesday...

Wednesday we had exchanges. I went to La Paz ward with Elder Ward. It was pretty much useless. everyone spoke spanish so it was boring.

Thursday we did a bunch of service at our house. We finally cleaned the whole backyard! there were hecka leaves from super long ago but now its all clean an nice. Other than that we taught some peeps. brought them unto repentance nbd.

Friday we went to a Spanish baptism. A few weeks ago I guess I made enough of an impression so they asked me to be a witness so that was cool, except it was in spanish so I had to relearn the prayer. 

On Saturday we went to this guy whos name is on the LA list that we never saw (in Adelanto ward) we had a cool talk with him, he lives in the middle of nowhere but he has a bunch of fruit trees. He ended up giving us a huge bag full of apricots it was really sick. We also found a big tractor tire in the middle of the desert so we took it hom to flip it around. That night there was a graduation/goodbye party. It was crazy, I got attacked by a ton of little Samoan kids and they stole my nametag and planner and shoes. I got it all back though haha.

Sunday was really good, a lot of less-actives and investigators come to church it was super nice.

So we pretty much know everything with NBA finals because the members always have it turned on 

when we show up for dinner or any appointment. I'm going for Golden State obvi.

Sorry it was a quick email. Weird day today.

Hope you all have a good week!

Elder Ockey

Week 40

Hello! Sorry, memorial day was yesterday so we didnt get to email. I am sure you were all up all night waiting for my weekly report. haha

Last monday, not much happened. Can I tell a secret? In the missionary handbook it says not to bleach you hair, but, it says nothing about sun-in! haha Elder Boltz and I and a lot of other peeps in the zone have been putting sun-in into our hair. but dont worry it isnt blond its just a lighter brown/red haha awesome #bendingtherules #Ineedtorepent  

Oh! we had a super cool FHE with the Savea's and their AoG fam. It went super well and the spirit hit super strong.

Wednesday was a really good day. We taught a lot in the morning and evening. Elder Wilding and I went on impromtu exchanges in the afternoon because E. Loveless was really sick. Our dinner apt spent way longer than I would like to admit answering our questions and telling us about Samoan culture. Specifically the tatoos they get, dang those sound painfull.

Thursday was really cool. The house next to us has been empty for a few weeks and now some non-member Samoans are moving in! #blessings

We helped them clean out their back/sideyardss because the people who lived there last had layed carpet and nasties in the dirt. We saw snakes and cockraches and mice galore! It was disgusting but its all clean now.

Friday we saw the Samasoni family again. They are going to be travelling for a few weeks so hopefully they can keep up with thier reading/praying. I have high hopes for them. I honestly cant remember what else we did. I promise it wasnt apostate though

Saturday morning/night at 1am I found out that dinner from the previous night decided to poison me so we didnt get much done. Well I didnt get anything done but we went on mini exchanges while I died slowly on the couch.

Sunday was Sunday

Monday was super fun! We decided not to show up to the missionary activity because we went to a Samoan BBQ from 12-6 haha it was awesome! We played baseball and frisbee and all sorts of fun things. We had investigators show up as well as a lot of less-actives. A really good and productive p-day in all if I do say so myself.

But now you are all caught up. Sorry you hafta wait another week in agonizing anticipation before you hear from me again

😻

Elder Ockey