YOU IDIOT, YOU TURNED OFF THE FLASHLIGHT

Dear Family,

  Well since last Thursday we spent 2 hours of weekly planning, on changing the "white"board to fit our new layout that we were given by our zone leaders. We visited Reuben, he is the son of a former investigator, he seemed interested and we got a return appointment for Friday of next week. We tracted some more and met a crazy guy that was just messing with us and was trying to pull our chain. We tried a house on Muanoa Loa and the guy said he wasn't in the mood for us to teach him because he said that he would be very rude and may say some offensive things. IT THEN STARTED TO RAIN!!!!!!! We then ran off to Richard an investigator that we found here when I first got here and he is progressing, he is a southern Baptist, who said " I am caught between two churches yours and mine" inside we were like YES!!! The spirit is working on him, now to just get him to get to church with us instead of the southern Baptist church. We then read 1 Nephi 22 and got him into 2 Nephi, and got him a large print Book of Mormon. We then had dinner at subway, don't worry I am eating fresh sandwiches, Sisters Cass and Sephen were there and we taught the cycle of faith (Read Elder Bednar's talk, 'Seek learning by Faith.') We then set up for a funeral for a person in the ward, and visited a less active after that and did How To Begin Teaching with them.

   Saturday, we woke up at 5:30 pm to go get our clothes at the zone leaders house, and to get changed and pick up Elder's Brown and Wedel for the mission conference, Elder Bednar came and was supposed to give a talk to us, but he instead opened it up to a QA session with him. We got to ask questions, express concerns, and I will tell you this NEVER have I felt so rebuked and yet loved at the same time, and wanting more.  He told us not to write a dictation, follow the Holy Ghost and to GET OUT OF THE WAY for the holy ghost to teach. He encouraged us to ALWAYS read our Books of Mormon (sorry, had to change that last bit, not the correct saying(my companion loves the best 2 years.))  He told us a story on why and I quote "YOU IDIOT, YOU TURNED OFF THE FLASHLIGHT", and told us to stop playing as the Mormon culture "Guess What Is In My Head." Elder Bednar then continued and he told us he was prophesying about the church in Africa and then pointed out the only African there (Elder Ogbonna,) not knowing, Elder Ogbonna or any of his background and continued to teach and prophesy.  He then left an Apostolic blessing on us, as he was leaving we were given the opportunity to shake his hand, and I tell you this NOT ONE PERSON DIDN'T SHAKE HIS HAND. So when we went up and shook his hand, I could have died right then and there and would have been fine with it, because I got to shake hands with an apostle of the lord.

   Sunday, we had ward council and we talked about how we as a ward could help us with missionary work. Later in the day, the main thing that we got to teach is Elder Bednar's stories, in particular the Flashlight, little kids love it because they can see it and understand it, and they are willing to actually do it.

I thank you all and hope that you are all blessed, as much as you bless me,

From your son in the field,

Ammon

Temple Tears, Gandalf Style

Dear Family,

  Whoever is praying and fasting for me, thank you I needed it, and I hope you are blessed for your faith.

  We went to the park to play basketball with the new elders in Santa Fe, it was whitewashed. I was so psyched that I forgot my p-day shoes at the apartment and I had to play in my proselyting shoes. It wasn't as fun as playing in my p-day shoes but it was better than cleaning the apartment again. We had dinner at the Noel's at 6 pm but it wasn't served until 7 pm and we didn't get to leave until 8:30 pm, which is something that we are working on, cutting dinners down to 1 hour instead of 2 - 1/2 hours. We then received a text asking if we could help a member move, we then dropped our dirty laundry off with Elder's Low and Infanger. We found Elder Infanger in the Hot Tub, because his back was hurting and he said he got permission from President Hobbs, but that seems kinda out of character for him, but then again I don't know and probably shouldn't jump to conclusions before I weigh all of the evidence. Later in the apartment I received a talk from Elder Chamberlain entitled "Who Cares".

   We had district meeting, and in it I was actually paying attention to what was being said. They were talking about how we should approach studies and how we need to go find people and invite them to church. And our district weekly actual left a lot to be desired only 8 % were making it to church out of our 17. And we set the goal to hit our district standard of excellence. We were told that we make or break the mission in the first 4 hours of your day. We met with a less Active, Bro Hickman, who told us the story of his marriage and how they worked it out, he then told us that as we serve missions that he has seen his sons, and the blessings that they have received that they wouldn't have other wise if they hadn't gone on a mission. He then wished us the best of luck that he could wish for us at that time, it was really needed that day, he then told us that as a member he loves us as people and as missionaries.

   We went and tracted some more and we tracked into a guy named Arnold who has recently gone blind due to a shotgun to his face, he was interested, and told us to come back tomorrow. We then found another Spanish family for the Spanish sister, we have already passed off 3 families to them and this family seemed super solid to us, so fingers crossed. We then went to help the member move... out of a storage unit, we were asking people while tracting if they wanted to come to church (our ward mates used this technique and got 3 potential families from it in 1 day) and we got 1 person who said yes and she said that she liked Mormons but that she was super busy so we would have to catch her whenever we could if we were to teach her. There was a JW pamphlet left on her fence next to our card, she threw away the pamphlet and kept our card (Do people throw our cards away?), we plan to see her in the near future, for dinner. We had breakfast at the members home and we taught about Prayer and Moroni. There was a moth flying around terrorizing the family and I garbed it out of the air in mid flight and they were really amazed by that because I caught it. Later outside I released it and said "watch I'll summon the eagles Gandalf style" we got a good laugh out of it.

  We did service and taught less actives out of Elder Bednars talks.

 We weekly planned and rearranged the study room, we had a lesson with Richard an investigator on the gospel of Jesus Christ and we got a member there and he extended the commitment to come to church but was then promptly rejected because Richard is a southern Baptist. Bro Casino then bought us dinner, when we got back I had 15 minutes to pack for exchanges.

   We tracted, we taught, and we walked. We talked and had a good time.  We shared talks, our opinions, our feelings on Elder Bednar's talks and what we felt from them, and we bore our testimony on them and on what was taught.

Ward Counsel was today and it was great we actually had the auxiliaries interested in who we were teaching and how THEY could help, it was awesome we need more meetings like that. We got Arnold his tapes of the Book of Mormon and in testimony meeting we had 2 investigators (1 was one that had dropped us and only came because he felt loved here instead of the ward he's in at Apple Valley) go up and bear their testimonies and SING over the pulpit, and one didn't want us to teach him so the other missionaries have to teach him now.  Elder Chamberlain said "that it is similar to being dumped by your girlfriend and she goes out with your best friend." We later got dropped by more investigators and we are really tired of it, why don't we do what J. golden Kimbell said " BURN IT ALL UP AND DO BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD" I mean the summer should do most of it for us, but when we would die we would have to do it then, so we procrastinated instead of saved.

   We did service for a member here who served in Holland, and we were shoveling compost, and he commented that he could tell I was dutch because I was able to shovel and dig, he then asked jokingly that if I ever worked on a dyke. 

   We went to the temple here in Redlands, and it was awesome. We got there early so we did initiatories, and there were so many elders there that we had to go do sealing, and it was very emotional.  I am not a crier but I cried, it was touching, and it was hard not to cry. We later went into the Celestial room and I thought I was out of tears but apparently not, I cried some more.

I love you all,

from a servant of the lord,

Elder Van Engelenhoven

Elder Ammon Van Engelenhoven and Elder Chamberlain

After the Temple with Elder Ogbonna

Crap*

Dear Family,

   Life is okay, it is a bit slow, because people here are dropping like flies. Our potential investigator pool has dropped from 20 to 10. So we decided to visit former investigators, and a lot of them are Jehovah Witnesses, and I have a few questions for you dad,

     1) For Jehovah Witnesses, they claim to be the church of god but they are nothing more than a study group.

     2) They claim to be the church of god, if that is so where do they claim their authority to preform ordinances such as baptism

     3) They go out a "Teach" the gospel as "Missionaries" but don't you need to be called of god and given that authority to act in god’s name for the salvation of his children.

 

This past week and a half has been just CRAP* (said in a Scottish accent) because it has been nothing but people dropping us.

 

Thank you dad for filling out my taxes.  I like cookies.  I would like the recipe to your hot chocolate, there are few people that even approach it, but even then it still missing something.  Thank you dad you prepared me in building my testimony, out in the field Satan tries in every which way to break and discourage you, but you have built me up enough that when I become discouraged I can fall back on that testimony that we have built together and continue on in the work.  There has already been a missionary that has come out with me that has gone home, due to being discouraged and which it brought back his depression. Thank you for loving me enough to build me up (see Helaman 5:12). I am living alright within my budget, food is slightly cheaper here but not by much.  I would say the most difficult thing is dealing with people that say no to the gospel even after we have taught them.

 

Ari, yeah those headlights are bright, a lot of people out here have light bars on their cars and it’s useless because everyone is in by 8 and it doesn't get dark till 7:30 pm. How was the baptism, were there lots of people? Who talked and on what subject, were there any investigators that showed up to it, if so how did he/she feel about it?

 

Seth, that is awesome you can once again play sports, and you get to do honors classes.  I recommend going as heavy as possible with AP classes so that when you graduate you have some college credit to use, if you can get it now, even better.  How is the room, is it in one piece, is it messy, what is it like to have a room all to yourself?  If you can find my notes to any of my old classes you are welcome to use them to study, I can't vouch that they are understandable.

 

Abigail, I haven't seen your hair, but I hope you love it.

 

Ambria, I hope you have a good freshman (or err woman) year. I highly recommend to pay attention to your studies because some people out here didn't and they are paying the consequence for that choice. I hope you continue in basketball, if you go on a mission you will know why.

 

Braden Barton, I hope and pray that you will succeed in whatever you do, whether it be school, job, or a mission, I hope the best for you now and in your future. And quick question have you asked or planned to ask anyone to Mormon prom or school prom, which is something that I wished I could get a do over on (looking back with hindsight). You have no idea how badly I want to listen to anything that is not MOTAB.

 

Stirling White, I hope school is awesome for you.  I meet a nurse anesthetist out here and she loves her job and has an okay life now, it was better, her husband died in a car accident, thus we are teaching her. I hope you go on splits with the missionaries there because they are nice to have with a member. In fast and testimony meeting bear your testimony, there is nothing more powerful then bearing witness of Jesus Christ.

 

I love you all, and there is nothing in this world or the next that will change that.

 

Sincerely yours in the service of the lord,

Elder Ammon Van Engelenhoven

 

*Reference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJVFJ2kb62c

 

 

Water

Dear Family,

 

I wish to say that I love you all.  Seth I hope that you read your blessing every day and that you will continue in your path for magnifying your priesthood. Ambria and Abigail I don't know exactly what your hair looks like but if it looks good to mom then it’s good for the mission. Ari all I can say is that you are lucky that you didn't have to replace a tie rod instead of a headlight. And Kyler I haven't heard from you but I would like to encourage you to pursue school, and to continue in your progression to become a nurse, some missionaries need a good nurse, (not that I have needed one;) and dad as I have been out in the field I have realized how much you were preparing me for the mission, and I thank you for it, because there are some things out here that if you didn't prep me for I would have been stumped in the questions and in their clever wording. Mom, I thank you for the love that you have given me (even when I didn't deserve it), because there are a lot of families out here who don't have parents that care or "friends".

 

2-15-16

    We had to change our cars out, a Cruise for another Cruise but with a different paint job. And the new cruise NEEDS a good washing because it is so dirty that we were willing to go back to our old cruise. We then played Chess-Capades with its inventor Bro Davies, it’s fun but it sucks up all your time on a p-day so you only play it if you don't have anything to do, and can dedicate the day to it.  We later played basketball and had an investigator come and play, after that we went back to Bro. Davies to finish the laundry and finish the game.

 

2-16-16

   We had an interesting District Meeting, because Elder Carson broke his wrist in 6 places, and was in the hospital down the hill in Rancho, so Elder Hatch had to conduct, and it was funny and awesome when he did it.  We retaught the plan of salvation to an investigator, and had dinner at a Mexican restaurant and I found it to be lacking but it was okay.  We then taught another lesson to another investigator and he liked the Fatherhood comparison to himself and Heavenly Father.

 

2-17-16

    We did service at The Lords Table today and it was great, apart from the rude manners of one of the people in line waiting for food, who had just gotten out of jail that morning, and was hungry by a lot. We then came home and skipped lunch to make it to an appointment on time, but we didn't teach them because they were all screaming and yelling and they were not at all able or willing to calm down, so we got up and left ASAP. We visited potential families and then had dinner. IT THEN RAINED!!!!!!! And a poem to go with it

 

                       "Water, water, everywhere,

                        and all the boards did shrink,

                        Water, water everywhere

                        and not a drop to drink."

 

This poem applies so well to California, because all the people are thirsty for a drop to drink, that they look for the gospel AND THEY WASTE IT ON THEIR LAWN TO WATER THE GRASS!!!!!!  (A curse upon them and their lawn)  We then to taught the restoration to a member and watched the HOUR long movie, 'The Restoration.'

 

2-18-16

We taught Malveua Thomas (a golden drop of light that fell from the sky) and I need to work on my delivery.

 

I got to go, I love you all,

 

Sincerely from the field,

Working

Dear Family,

 

I have been well, and am currently on the way to be a better missionary.

 

2-8-16

We cleaned the apartment today, more for the deep cleaning of the carpet and for the counter tops and the dreaded stove, (you apparently aren't supposed to burn everything out of the oven then clean it because it could light the oven on fire) so we had to scrub it for forever but thanks to hot water and scrub brushes we finished cleaning it.  We then left to the zone activity which was Volleyball, which looked suspiciously like soccer and football.  We left the activity a little later then we planned so we had to have a 10 minute COLD shower, because the hot water has to travel so far (not even 20 feet), but the pipes go up out of the top and make a u-turn and go under the house and provide water for us and our neighbors, but when we were leaving for our appointment they called us and cancelled.  We then went tracting and had dinner at the James’ and we were served Philippian monkey rolls (which is pork because you can't  buy monkey meat in California (the one none too crazy law they have here)). Later we saw a truck that said "JUST DIVORCED"; oh how the world has warped it's perceptions of what is right and wrong, they purposefully mistake Good for evil and evil for good.

 

2-9-16

Zone meeting was today, the main portion of the meeting was on preparing for your investigators and not "winging it", and it lasted from 10 am to 5 pm (I was in a meeting for 7 hours and wasn't bored out of my mind.)  After we talked about everything in the first hour of the meeting we actually went into the doctrine, we asked questions and bounced them off of each other. It was a very insightful meeting, they even had an activity for those that were visual learners, they drew pictures, and I got to read more. We were late to our dinner, they drove FAST, not like 5 mph but like 15 mph, (assuming he means over the speed limit LCVE) we got there safely and told ourselves never to be late again.

 

2-10-16

We did Mormon.org training today, we later taught Richard to use the footnotes in the Book of Mormon to gain a further understanding. We then went and tracted Chestnut and found 3 potential FAMILIES that we could come back and teach (Thank you for your prayers and fasting), although one the members of a family got arrested for Drug use and not reporting in to his parole officer in 3 months (yes, people in California are arrested for drugs.)  We tracted some more but my companion, Elder Chamberlain was grumpy for the rest of the night because we got no one else. We then had dinner with the Pluffe family, we had a sandwich and taught a short lesson on Honesty, then tracted the rest of the night with a grumpy companion (yeaaaaaaaaaaa, NOT) we then went to Bro Rowland to boost ourselves up some (my companion more than me, I was still on a spiritual high from meeting 3 potential families).

 

2-11-16

We met with Malveua Thomas and taught him the restoration, he accepted it and our challenge to read and pray about the scriptures and tracted the rest of the day.

 

2-12-16

We ripped out carpet for some members that were using it as a dog room and the carpet was still wet in some places, all of our appointments cancelled but Malvuea called us and wanted to be taught the next lesson. And we tracted the rest of the day.

 

2-13-16

We did service with the Elder's Quorum and cut wood for the widows and the widowers.  We cut about 1 and a half to 2 cords of wood.  We then weekly planned for the day because guess what... our appointments dropped us for dinner.  We went to the Orozco's and they told us not to preach to their family.  We then went back and finished weekly planning.

 

2-14-16

Malvuea Thomas came to regional conference, and he liked it so much that he requested a copy of the broadcast, we then visited members and tracted till dinner, which by the way we were put in between a rock and a hard place, they said "come out to eat with us or we will have a pizza dropped off at your place" it's a Sunday, I believe that there is something called keep the Sabbath day holy and we weren't able to convince them that they didn't have to give us a pizza but they gave us one anyway.

 

Sincerely yours in the service of the lord,

Elder Van Engelenhoven

 

 

Pie, Shot-Guns, & Shoot-Outs

Dear Family,

  First I would like to say that I am sorry for not saying this last email, But HAPPY BIRTHDAY SETH!!!!. I ran out of time so I wasn't able to tell you, I hope you had a great birthday. Oh and dad could you please send me my license, mine is about to expire and I need it to get the green light and be able to drive.  Please have it here no later than March 13th 

  A short recap on last week: we had Zone conference it was great, we later had ribs for dinner, when we got home we went out and tracted and we didn't get anyone.  We planned to teach the Law of Chasity and give the proclamation to the world to the Nolan's, but never got the chance because they left on an impromptu vacation to go to a wedding of a parent. We later gave service and were fed lunch, they fed us apple pie and no one, I repeat no one ate the apple pie for the entire hour that we were there for lunch so as any good boy from Missouri, I sacrificed my self and ate the ENTIRE pie (NON HACKERS.)  Tracted some more, then had dinner and taught the plan of salvation. There were 4 baptisms scheduled for that week but all of them dropped because they were unsure and didn't know for themselves. We went and visited some less active people and taught the restoration. We visited a guy who fried his brain and wanted to find god.  Oh, and we met a couple over here that are still having kids in their 60's. We have to teach gospel principles because there is no ward mission leader at the moment to teach the lessons.  The bishop on Sunday, taught something very profound, he said " Because I hold the Priesthood keys for the ward, I am dismissing the ward, so go home and enjoy the Sabbath day" (yes, out at 3:30 instead of 4, we could make an appointment). Oh and Mom, my side of the room is spotlessly clean and organized, so the rest of you can all stop the looks of disbelief and shock.

2-2-16

District meeting was today it was awesome and fun. Elder Hirst has a bread maker out here and has offered to make 2 loaves of bread for 5$, it's nice considering that we pay 3-4$ a loaf and that is for the cheaper stuff. We went tracting and found 3 new potential investigators, we later had dinner with a member of the ward, he served in Holland, speaking Dutch.  Later that evening went and taught scripture study and prayer, and the person we taught has surgery on his eye and is only able to get 2 days off instead of the full week that the doctor said.

2-3-16

We had a 4 week training meeting "down the hill"(everyone says that here and it gets annoying when EVERYONE  says that in every sentence). In the meeting I learned that I need to utilize the first 3 hours of my day better, we got back later then we intended.  We met a crazy guy who was going off about how the Roman Catholic church is not the true church and how we all are going to burn in hell because we don't belong to the Roman Catholic church all I have to say to that is READ the Book of Mormon and Chapter 40 of Jesus the Christ.

2-4-16

We did impromptu service today by moving a compost bin.  (Everyone out here is into their own garden, and being a young boy from the church and Missouri we are highly desired because we get in and do the work and we offer tips like raised beds or train your dog to eat the coyotes.) We were dropped by an investigator today because he didn't want to meet us ever again. We weren't able to teach anyone much because the NBA game was on and people didn't want to miss it.

2-5-16

Weekly planning sucks. It takes up way to much time in our day, we got to meet with a lady who doesn't come to church because the Bishop here is still Bishop, she is a VERY HIGHLY OPINIONATED woman on how she thinks the church should be run.  Again, tracting the day away trying to met people, part of me is tempted to let a dog bite me so that we can go up and actually talk to the person, and maybe teach them but alas the only dogs here that could do that is Vlad, who is not even in our area and is roughly the size of Aslan (from Narnia, who actually lives here in our area but we can't go see him because tours are on Saturday's) and to make matters worse he is nice and belongs to a member, so not an option. We had dinner with Bro. Rowland and he stuffed us proper with food. And then we had exchanges.

2-6-16

Elder Carson and I were on exchanges here in Mojave river, and we tracted the whole day, we dedicated the entire day to visiting less active and recent converts and no one was home, no one, even members would answer the door at night or in broad daylight. We visited a family who had the flu, don't worry I didn't catch anything... (sorry I sneezed)  We visited a person with a fried brain who was on the way to go meet people at a fast food place but he sits in the corner and doesn't talk to people at all, even to order. Had an appointment that we had canceled, so that was our exchange.

2-7-16

We had a walk-in investigator come to church today and we got him to stay all 3 hours, he got up and bore his testimony. He is interested in the Plan of Salvation so we are setting something up for us to go and visit and teach him. Bro Rowland also fed us dinner again.  We tracted into a Jehovah witness who was bashing against us, and we didn't even engage him until we wanted him to go away, so we asked him "where are the prophets and apostles of his church, if god has called them in the past where are they now?" Needless to say he couldn't answer our question and we were finally able to leave.

Oh, the Elder's quorum here had a shotgun shoot out, in which they had fun, but they were talking about how they hit something like 17/30, and all the while I'm thinking to myself (well, no wonder California is against guns, no one here can hit anything). California is weird and crazy, it is like Missouri but drier and the crazy people here are not in a asylum. Please send me information on how thing are going back home because I am feeling a little out of the loop.

I love you all!

Sincerely yours in the service of the lord,

    Elder Van Engelenhoven

Bloody

Dear Family and extended ward and friends,

  I am doing well, I am currently serving in the Mojave River ward, in Hesperia, or as more commonly known to the people in the mission as the "Elderly ward". I thank you from the bottom of my heart/taste buds for the Pepper, most of the food I have been preparing has had need of such flavor, because the pepper here is so finely ground that it goes up your nose by just sprinkling it on your food, so again I thank you for it, for anything else that I might need I would like to have a sweater and an electric razor please. The times that we can go and email is sometime after 10:00 AM on Mondays. I would like to congratulate you on losing 25lbs dad, at the rate that I am eating, I may join you. For personal study I can study for a full 1 and 1/2 hours personally, and a full hour as a companionship. In my studies I have been reading through the Book of Mormon and have thus far been enlightened in my understanding and edified spiritually as to the ways of the Lord. I have also been studying Preach my Gospel, right now I am okay on my money, I have budgeted accordingly so that I can have a little wiggle room for right now. The dinner appointments have thus far been good (oh have I got a story for you but we will get to that latter) we have about 2-4 dinners a week from the ward. I have been able to focus more and more, but I have been more careful in the way that I have been teaching so that I have their attention comparatively to the TV. So onto the week of adventure for Elder Van Engelenhoven, He is a man and he is on a mission (if you can't tell that last sentence was done in an announcer’s voice for the cheesy cartoons back in the day). A LOT of people here say that "well Back in my day...............3 hours.... later.....because of the (fill in the blank and I think you get the jest of it) so on to my week.

   1-25-16

Well, we went shopping I made the painful discovery that razor heads are expensive on the mission, I also discovered that Potato bread is cheap, and tastes good. Elder Chamberlain and I played Monopoly and it started out as a tie but we worked it out to a stalemate (hahaha, work that one out), we then played Basketball for a while, I had to take a break I ripped the blister off the bottom of my foot (my foot is fine now) while playing.  I can now dunk, kind of, depending if I can get a running start, so some elders were playing Dungeon and Dragons, and all I have to say about it is that they were not smart in anything as to their approach of getting me to play or to accomplish anything of relevance such as MISSIONARY WORK!!!! It’s a game that is best suited for NOT ON YOUR MISSION. We then taught an Investigator, James, we read the first part of the Book of Mormon.

    1-26-16

We started off the day by giving out food to day in a soup kitchen, in Victorville and let’s say that the people there liked to talk (to anyone or anything) we then came home and finished our studies.  We taught another investigator, Richard Nathan. We later had dinner with Bro Hickman, (this is the later story that I said we would get to) he fed us spaghetti and meatballs, it was so good it was delicious unto my stomach and to my soul; but I then had to have 2nds because Elder Chamberlain went up and refilled our plates, I was properly stuffed, so we had the absolutely brilliant Idea to follow the plan and go tracting, (this is not the end of the dinner story.)  Then ran into another investigator who told us to come back at a later time, so we made it back to the apartment and updated the Area book and weekly planned, upon the conclusion of our planning and prayer I got up off my knees and made it to the bathroom and promptly threw up all of my dinner, and Elder Chamberlain saw blood in my throw up but it was not my stomach that was bleeding but my nose, I THREW UP SO HARD THAT I GAVE MYSELF A BLOODY NOSE, that was a fun sleepless night.

And I am almost out of time,

Sincerely yours in the service of the lord,

     Elder Ammon Van Engelenhoven