The week:
Monday: Today was pretty simple! We got up emailed, shopped, and went to the church in Thousand Oaks to have district activity. We played basketball the whole time. It was awesome! We had dinner with a part member family, the Fouts! Sister Fout's husband is a baseball coach at Pepperdine, so he is always super busy! They are really awesome! They gave us a ton of healthy eating tips! After dinner we tracted a street and found quite a few mean people which was interesting. Kinda weird but it's okay we did find one decent guy that talked to us for a bit and said we could go by anytime. We decided to save the best for last and visit Laura. She is always awesome to talk to!
Tuesday: In the morning we talked with a man named John Greenwood. He isn't necessarily super interested but he is very friendly and welcoming to us. He showed us his hot rod, a '55 Chevy. He told us all the specs too, it had a Merlin 3 block and he's pushing up to about 900 horsepower in it. It's pretty slick. We also handed out a pamphlet to a guy and asked if we could drop by sometime to follow up and he said we could go by tomorrow! We had lunch and comp study next, studying to find ways to involve members in the work. We went out to follow up with a few other people and had to drop a few sadly. They just weren't all that interested. Then we traveled to another neighborhood to try and contact some member referrals. And we ran into a man who called us false teachers and right from the get go he dug into us and tried to tear down our testimonies. At times like these you can't help but laugh a little because people seriously don't know or understand the fact that all we try to do is make people's days better. After that we drove up to Oxnard and had an interview with the mission President. We were there right up until dinner. We ate at the Downes' home. We talked a ton about camping and outdoorsy things. Then we headed home for the night! It was a bit busy which always is good.
Wednesday: Our day started out well. MLC was yesterday so the zone leaders wanted to have a DLC and relay the news and counsel to the districts in the zone. So we met at the church and went over that. It was a lot of reiteration of zone conference so we can all work on and focus on those things we learned. We had lunch with the zone leaders and the other district leader and his companion. Then we headed back and saw a bunch of youth playing basketball at a park so we wanted to go challenge them and ball up haha. One of the youth actually turned out to be one of our members and his friends from school who weren't members. Elder Campbell played while I watched and held onto everything. It wasn't very long of a game because they all had to split before they could finish. We talked to a few of them and left. We stopped by the Scheu's to check up on how they are doing and visited for a bit. And we had companionship study next. We played scripture baseball, where one of us randomly thumbs through the book, being either the Bible or the Book of Mormon, until the other says when to stop. Then the one trying to figure out which book and chapter the verse is selects which verse. Its pretty fun but it's always challenging when using the Bible haha. Well we had dinner with the Hansen's, they fed us waffles and it was amazing. Haha tonight also just so happened to be a stake youth activity for the priests and the laurels. So we attended that after convincing the two Hansen boys to go to it. It was pretty fun. The YSA ward was trying to get some of the graduating seniors to start attending their ward and then we played basketball with some of the youth. Elder Campbell and I and two youth members VS. 4 youth members. All I can say is we won haha. Well we had to bounce out of there pretty quickly so we could be on time to our recent convert lesson with Laura! We taught and reviewed the Plan of Salvation. The Barker's are the ministering couple assigned to her so they are the ones that focus on the teaching. We get to sit back and fill in at any time to clarify or support what is being taught. Today was great, a good refreshing day.
Thursday: Today went well. We had a good weekly planning session writing whitewash sheets and planning for our next transfer. We had to take a lunch break and go to Baskin Robbins for some ice cream cones because it's the 31st and there is a minor discount. We also got pizza so our calorie count is pretty high for today haha. After that we headed to the Scheu's and did some service and tried teaching their daughter a little bit about what happens when someone dies because they recently had a death in the family and she had particularly been struggling with it. We also took care of some pigs haha. When we were done with service and had dinner with the Barker's and we had even more ice cream so I'm dying of sugar overload haha. And we finished the night with a really good feeling of the spirit. I really enjoy the honor and privilege it is to serve the Lord for this time I have set apart. I love that I get to wear this name tag each and everyday.
Friday: Today we had district meeting and it was super good!! A few of our discussions were on obedience which tied in well this week. We then went out and contacted some potentials but it was right at the time that everyone is working and not home. So we didn't catch too many people home. We picked up dinner from the Villafuerte family which was pretty good. Then we set out to see a few potential that is a referral from another member. The referral is a youth that has been going to scouts with one of the youth members. We talked to him, his name is Brandon, but his parents weren't home so we have to go by sometime later. But transfers are happening and I don't know if I'm gonna stay.... Oh well. I love this area so much.
Saturday: Well today was alright. We started out with a lesson with a man named Richard and talked a ton about the Plan of Salvation. He is progressing in a very different sort of way. He agrees and has come to understand a lot about what we teach and tell him. We had lunch and companionship study and we tried to see a member family, the Purcell's, but they weren't home. We saw Laura and talked with her for quite a bit. Then we had dinner with the Penfield's and they fed us some enchiladas. Then we saw a few potentials and caught both of them home but and we set up a time to see them next week. Then we went to Dean's. We got our transfer calls, and I'm leaving. Going to Santa Maria 3rd ward with Elder Reichman, I have heard really good things about him so I am pretty excited! Pretty sad to leave this area though.
Sunday: Well today was a lot better than yesterday, I have had more time to think about transfers. I am super bummed to be leaving. It's hard to leave people you have come to love. Well we had church today and I was able to say bye to some of the members, then we had dinner with the Metheny's a newish family in the ward that have the biggest hearts. After them we saw the Barkers and said goodbye to them and right after we saw the Hansen family and said goodbye to them. It was a super sad day to me at least. I wish I could stay but the Lord needs me elsewhere I guess. It was an okay week.
- Elder Smith
