HAZEL's

Well, this week was pretty dang good! We were able to teach a lot of lessons this week! Which is always a good thing to have! Still in the YSA ward and I am still loving it! There are a bunch of awesome people to support us and all that goodness! I am still alive and whatever

But this last week E.O and I went to this place called Hazel's it's apparently some famous place in this area. But anyway....they are famous for this huge burger called the Willy burger! It's literally the size of a Frisbee, like it was huge! I ATE ALL OF IT! I felt like I was going to get so sick after, but I ate it :D It was hard eating dinner that day, because I basically ate 4 different hamburgers with everything on them when I ate the Willy Burger! It was fun though! Elder O didn't eat it all....But that's okay! He only had a little bit left! 

Other than that we met with a few of our investigators! E--- is a guy found at LMC he is awesome! He is a Jehovahs Witness and he is very spiritually in tune! We taught him the plan of Salvation and he actually grasped it pretty well! He asks a lot of questions and they seem like good genuine questions! We also added a new investigator named C---! He is from the Congo! He used to be really religious but then he started asking questions and he lost his faith. Which is sad because questions are supposed to build our faith. But we taught him a little bit about the Restoration and then prayed with him and got a return appointment! So that is exciting! We also taught N---, who basically just tried to tell us that she got her answer and that it was a no. So that was awkward...but we invited her to go to the temple and she accepted! So we can't wait for that. Then...oh man...this gets weird. So, the Antioch 2nd elders gave us one of their investigators named J---, they told us that she was pretty solid and that she is interested in learning about the Gospel. So we were all like! Okay! cool! We will teach her! So we give her a call and set something up.But in the end, she and the family were not that serious and it was a really crazy visit... so I am not sure what happened with them prior to that. We had to kindly visit, and left without any opportunity to get a lesson in. They had to leave.

My favorite scripture story right now is in Mosiah! Chapters 20-24 when it talks about 2 different people in bondage and how the both respond to that bondage differently! It's awesome to compare how they relate! My challenge to you this week, is to look that up and let me know your thoughts!

Love you all!!!

August 24th: Short but Sweet

Sorry....This email is unfortunately gunna be really short!

Basically I am staying in Antioch with Elder O!!! WOOT WOOT! Our new AP is Elder B!!! He is one of the district members from the MTC, and also from San Ramon! So that is really awesome! Both AP's are my friends! They are the best guys ever!!

We weren't able to meet with any of our investigators this week because it was the first week of school. So no one wanted to meet. But I am doing well! I love being out here in Antioch with E. O! We have been so busy and have done so much...and I love that we can continue ..We have some things to do for today that will take me away soon.. So yeah! Sorry this email is so short! I hope everyone is doing well! How did Quinn's game go and how did Tatum's concert go???

Here are some YSA pics with Carl.. we have a great group of member missionaries who help us a ton! Plus some with Elder A
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August 17th: Blessing From the Lord

Hey Family!!!! 

This week was a pretty d a r n  good week! A few have had to go to school last week, but most of them will leave in like a month or so....Cayson Renshaw or WML left us to go to BYU already so I am sad about that! A lot of people either go to school here at the local colleges either LMC or DVC but then a lot go to BYU or BYU-I if they are members... 

The weather here has been really hot :( I have been seating a ton even with the A/C in the car on full blast! So we don't really bike since it is hot, but right now my bike is at the mission home! Safe and sound! Was the picture on the ward program actually a good one?? OR nah? haha. Tell Tatum good luck on her harp thing! Who does Quinn play on Friday?? Elder O is from West Valley!! He is really cool, but we have our moments of disagreements. We just have 2 different styles of teaching and leading, neither of them are bad. They are just different. But we are definitely working them out! He is an awesome missionary and I love working with him, he has taught me a lot of things about myself and I appreciate them, even if it seems like I don't sometimes ;) 

Umm, well too be honest we had a lot of training and a lot of house keeping things to do this week! We had our ZTM and ZLC which was just normal stuff, we talked about how to help our investigators progress in the gospel through effective planning teaching committing and following up! It was a good time! Then we also had a "special training" and it was hilarious, because EVERYONE in our zone thought it was going to be Ipads! Elder  O and I knew it wasn't because President told us what it would be about.... But then we only saw 2 of our investigators this last week :!!!! It was a good time! though! We just prepped them for baptism and every thing! It all went really smooth and it was fantastic! WE dropped like 6 of our investigators because we haven't been able to meet with them for like weeks! So because of that and the baptisms we are down to like 4 investigators as of today! So we are going to be doing a lot of finding this week! But we are excited, because the local college is opening today and that's where all the YSA people are! 

So the Baptism! It was super awesome! It was really long though, but still totally worth it! So, it was right after church everything was going really smooth! Until we realized that there are too many people to fit in the baptismal room during the actually talks and stuff! So we had to move everyone into the chapel, which ended up being full! It was crazy how much support there was! We ended up having 3 talks and they were all really good and really spiritual! Then we had the baptism! I GOT TO BAPTIZE N----! IT WAS THE SCARIEST, COOLEST, MOST TERRIFYING THING EVER!! I was shaking just as much as N---!! But I kept it together! Afterwards when I was changing I felt sooooo good! I was just smiling to myself in the mirror like really happy, looking back it sounds weird. But I really felt my saviors love for her at that moment, and it's something I won't forget. I was so grateful I got the chance to do that! Also when C--- was being baptized S--, the big guy in the picture with the white lava-lava, while he was about to say the pray for baptism. HE just started bawling and then everyone did and it was just a huge crying fest! Because S-- had known C--- forever and they were basically brothers and it was just sooo cool! AHHH baptisms are just so awesome! I love them :D The spirit was testifying to all of us, the joy of the gospel.

I love you all so very much! 

Tatum! Good luck at the Harp thing! I miss hearing you play!

Quinn! Don't hurt yourself on Friday! Play hard! Can't wait to see what opportunities will come your way!

Samantha! I can probably beat Ima up! Have you gotten your Patriarchal blessing yet?

Love you! 

Elder Meier

Indian Food!

Exchanges with Elder B
Temple Trip for days!! (Don't mind the elder with the Ipad. He is from the San Jose mission.)
yeah. we were bored.
"Ain't Nothin' to it. Gangsta Rap made me do it ":)
#Ihavegonecultural




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August 10th: ACCEPT CHANGE

August 10th:
Hey Y'all!

Also, sorry I am coming on so late. I was on a hike with some members! It was a good time!  It was weird cuz it was yellow and there are a ton of hills. Not the same kind of hike like in Utah, but it was still pretty :)

Well lets get down to business! This week was pretty bomb! So our investigators...we only saw C---, N----- and R----. C---- and N---- are still good for this Sunday! Woot Woot! We haven't gotten all the details yet of who is doing what but it is happening! It's been kinda hard to schedule it though, because it was first going to be on the 16th, but then it was moved to the 15th, then it was moved back to the 16th. Mainly because C--- wants to be confirmed that Sunday. But we were finally able to work it all out so everyone is happy :) N--- is solid as well! Really not much to report. R--- was also really solid. She is just kinda meeting for info, but she is starting to open up a little more. She mentioned how if God opens another path for her she usually takes it, but for some reason, the LDS isn't one she thinks she should take. So we are helping her see God is showing her a better way to go! I just think it will take a little time for her to come out of her shell.

We also had MLC, there has  been a change in rules concerning music....we are now only able to listen to MoTab and Hymns :( I fought long and hard to keep it anything spiritual, but I guess missionaries always push it so President wants to make it this way...It actually hasn't been too bad! It helps with the spirit so I guess that isn't too bad. And I should not have tried to direct anything..I know its for the best...

 It was a good week. OH I ALMOST FORGOT!  I went on exchanges with E.A on his birthday! It was a good time! He is an awesome elder, and I am always learning from him! Such a stud! Here are some pictures...but I am sure you already saw them!!!

​Love yall!!!

Elder Meier

Aug. 4 TEMPLENESSITY & YSA Missionary Minds

Hola!

So to first answer some of your questions from the last email (see I read them haha!) 😀I think we are going to start working on the basics once again, I think that will really help the mission. Tomorrow is MLC and we usually figure out what President Frandsen wants us to change. The Grill is going pretty well, it was all cleaned up and it was working, but we got super excited and grilled a lot. But now there is no propane in the tank so it is useless right now until we fill it up.

Our investigators are doing awesome! N--- is still on date to be baptized on the 16th! She is so cool, I was thinking a lot about how much she has changed over the past few months and it has been ASTOUNDING how much progress she has made! She is literally soaking everything in! C--- is the exact same way! He is super stoked to be baptized, he is doing everything and learning everything and loves all of it! He has soooo much support it is awesome! Man he is soo cool! He was actually at the All-Poly camp last summer, so you probably saw him....Nadine is also doing pretty good! She is still asking weird questions but she is reading. Which, for her, is a big step in the right direction! R--- is a new 'gator and so is a guy named N--! They are both really curious and ask awesome questions! Nico might play for Dixie (cuz I recruited him) haha! jk. But he is a baller and so he might go play there! M---- showed up to church with her  friend E---! Which was super awesome, E---- is getting active and now he is doing missionary work! Man I love that guy! He is so funny! Tomorrow after MLC we are going to the temple with Him, M---, and our Ward mission Leader Cayson Renshaw (Courtney Browns cousin).I seriously love the YSA ward! It is just basically a group of homies all hanging out doing missionary work! I love working with all of them, the all have a really strong desire to help with us or give someone to us to teach! Really an amazing ward! Our apartment is like 2 minutes away from the chapel! So it is nice to be really close!

We weren't affected by the fires but we definitely saw them! They were really close to a few of our members homes. We didn't feel the earthquake, so it must've not been very big. No one has talked about it, like they did with the one in NAPA. I have been reading the B.O.M., and then I end up getting transferred and then I start over ... and so I read it like that, and also I find topics. But I have been marking a lot of scriptures and studying them to get more out of it now. I think probably a month to get through it again. We haven't had anyone get through the whole thing, while investigating. So that has been a factor, which is really nice, because they don't need to have the whole pie to know it's good. Right? They just need to read a part pray to know it's true and then get baptized. Then read the rest. That sounds weird but true.

There for sure have been missionaries from Utah, but I don't know any of them...I have lost hope in people being called to my mission! I knew gramz was serving with some sisters! That is crazy!! Small world...

But I went through the temple today!!! AHH man it was awesome! I love going through there. I wish we could go more, because it is nice to hear about all the covenants you are making and it's a good reminder. Cuz, sometimes I am too scared to sacrifice things to help the Lord. It was kind of a slap in the face today, because there are a lot of little things that I am still holding on to that I need to let go to build up Zion. So I was glad to get that reminder and focus on the things I need to give up!

Well I hope this is a good email for you! I left my cord back home...I had temple pics. Whoops. But I LOVE EACH OF YOU!

LOVE YOU MOM!

LOVE YOU DAD!

LOVE YOU SAMANTHA!

LOVE YOU QUINN!

LOVE YOU TATUM!

LOVE,

ELDER MEIER :)