Life is Good

This week we had a really neat experience. It's amazing how the Lord
places us as missionaries to help others. We got a phone call from a
chaplain at a vet.hospital saying that a man had requested a visit from
church members of the LDS faith.. We had a little extra time and we
were close to the hospital so we made our way over shortly after we
got the message. We parked the car and made our way into the building.
This hospital is different than most in that it's only for war veterans.
As soon as we walked in the door I felt a calmness that you just don't
normally feel in hospitals. I felt so much peace when we started making
our way down the hall, I know that was the Holy Ghost telling me that
we were supposed to be there at that moment. It felt as if time has
slowed down while we were there at the hospital. We asked a woman
about the name we were looking for and she pointed us in the right
direction. We finally made it to the room we were looking for. Kenneth
Walter Flanagan was his name. He was so happy to see us! He was weak
and could only whisper very quietly so to hear him we had to get very
close. we sat and talked with Kenneth for a while, he held my hand
tightly as I asked him about his life and told him about mine, he told
us 'I was hoping it was you' and then asked if we could give him a
blessing. We blessed him and read scriptures for a little while. In his
his faint whisper he thanked us and we made our way back to the car.
The spirit was so strong when were there talking with Kenneth. He
looked me right in the eyes as I spoke with him and I could feel his
gratitude right down to the center. I could truly feel God's love in
that moment. As we were walking back to the car I reflected on life
and how short it really is, and that is why it is so important for us
to do all that we can in this time that we are given.

Anyways life is good thank you for your love and prayers! I hope all
is well have a wonderful week and tell everyone I love and miss them.

LOVE Elder Blandon

Transfer

So things are going really well, alot of changes in the last few
weeks. I like change tho so its been really nice. Julian had his
confirmation in church last Sunday. Bishop Sapiga gave him the
blessing. The ward has done a wonderful job at fellowshipping Julian.

This week my testimony of missionary work has really been growing
alot. I've seen alot of miracles this week! I'm really grateful for
our Father in Heaven and his love for me. I have been able to feel the
peace and comfort that comes from the Holy Ghost so much in these past
few weeks. I love missionary work and seeing the changes that people
make in their lives as they grow closer to the Savior.

So anyways it looks like I'm in a new area. Transfers happened
yesterday. It was really weird driving away from Hayward. As I was
driving away, it didn't really dawn on me that my work as a missionary
was done in that area. I had been there for over 7 months! as I got on
the free way it kinda hit me. I mentioned it to the others in the car
as we were driving "woh I just realized i'm leaving Hayward!" my
companion said "yup you're driving away right now." I felt good about it,
I heard the missionary that is replacing me is really good. I left the
area in really good shape! there were a few baptismal dates set up and
a good number of investigators. I knew I had worked hard and that the
missionary work would continue after I left.

A new chapter in my missionary work begins, I'm now serving in the
Martinez ward on the north eastern side of the mission, its about
45-60min drive from my last area, its alot different! I really like it
alot. I could almost live in this area.... maybe.. I have a new
companion Elder Sekiguchi from Tokyo Japan. He's AWESOME. he kinda
reminds me of a japanese version of Michael sometimes.. anyways I
really like the area alot. and I am grateful for the opportunity to
serve.

This week will you pray and ask Heavenly Father to give you
opportunities to serve!!??
I know the Lord will bless you as you seek for those opportunities

I miss everyone. The work is going wonderfully. Thank
you for all your prayers--keep praying

Love, Elder Blandon

Still Here

Blog,
Well Everybody looks like I'm going into my 5th transfer! I've been out just over six months now!! life is really good. I love missionary work. So I'm still in Hayward (my first area). The Lord still has work for me to do here so I'm really excited about this coming transfer.

We (Elder Bryant and I) had a Baptism this last Saturday: Lupe Conela. It was really nice! The Spirit was so strong! Lupe's family is Catholic and they weren't able to make it to the Baptism, she is really good friends with the Rohner family(members). the Rohners gave really nice talks and a song. Lupe is a great example of exercising Faith, she has a wonderful testimony of the Gospel. We are super excited to have her as a member of the Church. Right before Lupe's Baptism we got to sit in a Baptism for the Castro Valley 3rd ward (Tongan!) I love Tongan Baptisms they are really cool. they sing so good!

So my Saturday was filled with the Spirit. It helped me reflect a lot on the importance of Baptism and the Covenants we make and renew.

I really Love the Hayward 1st ward. The members are so great! They really take good care of us. this last Sunday was fast and testimony meeting it was so good! the topic was quickly turned to missionary experiences that members have had. it was so good to hear the different ways that the members were sharing the Gospel. I've been here long enough now I know a lot of the members well so that's been really cool.

Anyways things are going well. I'm learning alot about my self but most of all I'm learning so much about the Savior and his love for me.

I love this Gospel I love missionary work I hope everyone is doing well. have a blessed week. HANG ON summer is coming.

I love you all.

Love Elder Blandon

Dear so and so

This week was great. we got to teach a lot. it was way better than last week thats for sure! everything seems to be going well. I getting a new companion this week. so that means we are going to be in a trio! YAY! three is a crowd, but its really fun. I'm still going to be seinor comp. and i will be training elder Hurst until he gets his Visa to Brazil. but yeah things are going great.

We started teaching a family that was referred to us by a member, the Beverly family. I'm so excited to see how the Gospel is going to bless them in their lives.

Helen Beverly is the mother of three girls, her girls are ten, five, and a little baby I think about 8 months. Their family is so special. They've had a really hard life.

Rayeal Beverly (the daughter that is five) was diagnosed with Leukemia. She is such an amazing little girl. Helen and her family have such a great spirit and love even tho they have such a huge trail in their life. because of medical bills from the daughters leukemia, the Beverly family was force to move out of their home. Right now they live in a shelter.

I feel the Saviors love so much when I serve and teach them. We had a lesson in a members home with Helen and the girls on saturday. We tought them about the Plan of Salvation, the Spirit was so strong! at the end of the lesson we asked Helen if she would like to pray, she said she didnt know how. So Elder Barria (the missionary I was with during the lesson) asked if he prayed if she would follow his prayer and repeat what he said. she agreed. shortly after the prayer started all three little girls joined in the prayer. it was such a special moment to her their little voices praying along with Elder Barria. Helen excepted the lesson and said she believes it to be true, she commited to come to church the following sunday. Elder Hurst and I waited for the Beverly family at the doors the next sunday, it came time for church to start and she didnt show. I thought "just a little longer" We waited until the sacrament was about to start and then went in and sat down. My heart was broke, I wanted them to come to church so bad. I said a little prayer and I felt calm. Sacrament meeting was great. After the meeting someone told me there was a family that come in late on the back row, IT WAS THE BEVERLYS!! they all went to primary and we joined them as well.

We are so blessed in our life. We dont even know. We have the Gospel and we have our families.

I love everyone. have a great week

P.s. please write me back. :)

Things are going well, trianing is still going - its about that time that I start helping Elder Hurst really step out of his comfort zone, but in the most loving way possible of course! :) He's great tho, he is a really good missionary. So I've been under a bit of stress making sure all our responsibilities are taken care at the same time giving Elder Hurst opportunities to do things on his own. It's small things really, but everything we do is important. Even the smallest things like returning someones phone call or stopping by to help someone with a small chore, small things like this can make the biggest difference in building trust with people. I'm trying my best to help Elder Hurst realize these things but its harder done than said.

We have seen a lot of miracles this week. We went to visit a referral we had been given from temple square - we just happend to show up at this persons house at just the right time. Everything fell together for this person's heart to be softened to let us come back for another visit. In the ward we have 3 youth that come to Church every week and attend early morning seminary, they are not baptised members of the Church because they don't have consent from there guardian. Its really sad to see when people harden their hearts and deny another person (or child) the blessing of the gospel, it really hurts me to see that happen. Payton is one of these kids, this week we got to sit down with him and talk about how he can help his mom see how the gospel has changed Payton, we told him if he wants to be baptized the Lord is going to make him work for it. We told him he needs to be obedient to what his parents say, he needs to get good grades in school, bring the Spirit into his home by serving others and praying and reading his scriptures. We are praying for Payton and his Mother that her heart my be softened and that Payton can take the lessons and be baptized.

Things are going well tho. Over the holidays our numbers dropped (we weren't teaching very much) but thing are on the rise! so thats great for us and for those we are teaching..

I'm not sure if I told you about Randy Childs? An investigator we are teaching. He's about 30 and has two kids. When we first started teaching at him one of the lessons he started telling us about how he wanted to stop drinking, thats funny cuz we never even said anything about drinking or even the word of wisdom, we asked if he had any alcohol in the house, he was like "yes I do" "well lets poor it out!" Elder Canova said, we all went to the kitchen and watched as Randy poured out his drink. The spirit was so strong! Randy has been going to Chruch with us for three weeks now, we've been helping Randy take that next step in getting married to his his girlfriend.

I love this Gospel. I am so grateful for this opportunity I have to serve others, for this time to serve the Lord.

Love,
Elder Blandon

Thanksgiving

It sounds like you had a good Thanksgiving! I missed you so much!! I was thinking about the family all day.
Elder Canova and I got to have a SAMOA Thanksgiving!! It was great! They had two pigs and two turkeys and tons of sea food and it was so yummy!! We got to visit alot of families in the ward, less active and active families. We visited about 6 families so even tho I really really missed home, going shooting and chillen around the house watching movies and eating yummy food... ...we were still loved by our church families so it was ok..

we have a few new investigators! Zina (23) and her mom! Elder Canova and I decided to go on a Less Active SPREE and we found Zina at a less active's house while we were visiting! so now we're teaching them..

Anyways, my mission has been so good. I'm really loving the studies I've been able to do. I've been able to learn alot about the church, but I've also been able to learn and understand alot about how this earth was created, space and time, spirituality and where we come from.. The gospel teaches so much if we are willing to really dive into the doctrines and search for answers. Alot of what science is discovering now was already revealed by Prophets of the church long before scientists even had the technology to discover things like 'space and time'. The thing I like most about studying this as a missionary - is that I have the Spirit with me, the Spirit testifies of TRUTH!! so when I read about things like 'The Creation' my eyes of understanding open and I can comprehend 'Matter Unorganized' and that God in his infinite power organized that matter- thus creating the Earth! Science with out the Spirit is so limited. its like a computer without a screen.. it works, but you can't SEE anything!!! haha

I'm doing well. Tell the family I love them and miss everyone tons!! I LOVE YOU

LOVE
Elder Blandon

By the Spirit

How is everything going?? HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Me and Elder Canova are going to the Napoleone's house for Thanksgiving, Bro.Napoleone is the BEST. He's from Samoa. His family is big, they have like 7 kids and a ton of other people (cousins) living with them. All the youth in the ward really like hanging out over there cuz their house is so fun.. bro napoleone is such a happy nice person..

Anyways I'm really excited for this week. This last week has been SOO GOOD. We had a district meeting and we were learning how to teach better. During the lesson I was giving something just clicked. I had finally realized something about teaching and how I can teach better, it has alot to do with the way we ask questions, (it takes a while to figure out so i won't try to explain it) but it was really cool to see how i can better invite the spirit.. it's really interesting to see how people answer their own questions through the Spirit.

anyways so after this training i was like "SWEET I'M GONNA TRY THIS' we had a lesson later that day with a lady named Annie so i thought i would try my newly learned method.. it was kinda rocky.. haha but the spirit was there to make up for it. as the week went on i was able to ask better questions and really perfect asking better questions.
so we had contacted a guy named Elon later in the week, he told us to come back the next day, so we returned, when we started talking to him he stopped us mid-sentence and said "are you guys mormons?" and of course we said yes.. after that he said "I'll be right back" he kinda looked mad, and i was really scared but i knew i was there for one reason.. to testify of the gospel.. he came back and stepped out on the porch and closed the door and said "ok what were you saying?" he looked ready to counteract anything i was about to say but i just open my mouth and i started to testify of prophets.. the spirit was so strong, i was able to ask him questions that really got him thinking and we told him why we believe in Joseph Smith and why this was the restored gospel, my trainer was just standing there looking at me like "DAAANG" and after we left the doorstep i was like "DAAANG" haha.. i didn't really know what i said, but i knew i had prepared myself and the Lord had placed me there, i opened my mouth and I testified.

anyways it was really cool... my testimony is growing alot. my comp. is going home in three weeks.. :( we'll see what happens, i know i'm going to stay in hayward for another transfer AT LEAST.. i'll prob be here for 6 months tho.

I LOVE AND MISS EVERYONE A TON!! happy thanksgiving