What a week! This weekend, Angelina Merced and Joshua Funk were baptized and confirmed as members of Jesus Christ’s Church here on the earth!. What an amazing experience that was!!
The week was mainly consisted of us preparing for the big day. Elder Tokelau and I were both able to participate as I was able to baptize Josh and then confirm Angelina the next day. The coolest moments to me was being able to see the change in Angelina and Josh in just minutes. Before the baptism they were nervous, shy, scared, and honestly not their normal self. After the baptism we gathered together after changing, and the countenance of both Josh and Angelina were so different. They became very outgoing and talking to all of the members who came to support them on their big day! It reminded me of the simple symbolism of baptism of how it ends your old life, and starts a life anew with God’s sustaining power. It was amazing to be apart of their conversion.
This week we did some exchanges with some elders. On both exchanges I was assigned to be with the Spanish missionaries. I got to be with Elder Cottle, who is going home in a couple of days. We served together in the Cypritos zone awhile back and I love this Elder. We talked about a lot of things and he taught me lots. The next exchange was with Elder Gomez Gil from Columbia! He is a beast! He is so genuine. He doesn’t speak great English but you can tell he has the gift of tongues for sure. We had a great time in the Spanish areas and I learned so much from those Elders.
On one of the exchanges, those elders apartment is COVERED in cockroaches. It is so nasty. I don’t like messy stuff and I can’t handle bugs at all. So, we decided to take our dinner hour and the rest of the night time deep cleaning the crap out of their apartment. I lost count, but in the process we managed to kill over 55 cockroaches! I’ll take that as a W tbh.
We also had the chance to go to a members home. Sis Cable, is apart of the legendary Del Bello family from West Anaheim! She invited us over and the Del Bello gang was there! We chopped it up for a long time and it was so fun being able to see them again! Can’t wait for our Disney trip for sure.
Well, transfer news dropped on Sunday evening and unfortunately my time here in Long Beach has come to an end. I genuinely have never been more sad after opening the transfer report. I have grown such a great love for the crazy people of Long Beach. I’m going to miss the hood and going to miss all of the crazy things that happen each and everyday here. Being here in LB with elder Tokelau has been one of, if not the best transfer of my mission. With only 2 transfers left I am likely headed to my last area. I am going to the Anaheim stake serving in the ward that covers Disneyland I think
! I will be with Elder Stuard who I am excited to be with though! We came out together and he has always been one of the homies that I talk to at zone conferences and stuff. So it should be a pretty good transfer
Gonna miss LB!
This week I wanted to share with you all something that stuck out to me during one of my personal studies this week. In Alma 7 its famous for verses 11-13 about the atonement of Jesus Christ. But, I especially love verse 23 which says, “And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.” I LOVE THIS VERSE! It struck me to be way more humble and the blessing that comes with it are blessings we all need in this life. It also struck me that we are told to ask God for help! Sometimes I feel my prayers can be a burden for God when in reality he asks that we pray to him and then he just asks that we are thankful for the blessings.
I love you all and I hope you have a great week! See you sooooonnnn!
Elder Lando
If anyone can tell me who’s house I’m next to, I will love you forever.
