Elder Black : July 7th 2014 email "Happy 4th of July!"

I hope everyone had an amazing 4th of July! Even more importantly, i hope everyone had an amazing 6th of July which is the anniversary of my papa's birth. Dad, i hope it was a fantastic birthday for you. One year older and wiser too! or something like that. ;)

This week was a good week for us. On tuesday and wednesday we helped the Elders of a neighboring ward paint one of their investigator's floors. We had a good time over there. She lives in a trailer park and decided to rip up her floors and paint everything under it. So we helped her out! We had a great time together, and she made us lunch the size of a thanksgiving dinner both days. And people wonder why missionaries here get fat. haha

On Tuesday we Celebrated Canada Day with the Hamiltons. They celebrate it every year so they know how to have a good time. We had lots of great food and lit off fireworks. Sadly in California all Aerial Fireworks are illegal, so that is no fun. Canada day was a good time though. I was introduced to Nanaimo bars for the first time. They are on point.

The Fourth of July was fun. It wasnt nearly as exciting as it has been in the past, but we still made it fun. We went to a ward Breakfast in the morning, and then went to a small zone conference to meet our new president. He told us about his life and about his family. Then he was telling us about how he was called and how that process works, and while he was talking about when he opened the call and read California Sacramento, I got the chills stronger than i ever have before and felt the spirit bare witness to me that he was called of God to be our new mission president. I felt the spirit testifying to me that he would know what is best for our mission, and that he will guide us well. I look forward to the guidance that President Jardine will bring to this mission.

After that meeting we went out and biked around contacting people in the street. I attatched a big US flag to my bike which was a great conversation starter. It was pretty fun biking around with the flag. Then at 6pm the whole zone got together and we played kickball up on Temple hill. There is a big grass field there right next to the temple. It was great.

We met with Dalila a few times this week. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and she thought it was beautiful. It all made sense to her and she loved it. Then we did a temple tour with her on Saturday. She felt the spirit strong up on the temple grounds and really enjoyed learning everything about LDS temples. Then on Sunday she came to church and we had another lesson with her after church. We met at the Hamilton's mortuary and taught her the Law of Chastity, Word of Wisdom, and Law of Tithing. Every time we go into those lessons we are nervous that the investigator is going to have a problem with one of those commandments, but she loved all three! she said that is how she is raised and thinks it is perfect. Dalila is so elect and has been so prepared! She is planning on being baptized this sunday afternoon, BUT she still needs to get permission from her husband which we are all worried about. So will you all PLEASE pray that Dalila will have the courage and power to talk to her husband, and that his husband's heart will be softened?? We are going to need a miracle. But the Lord will make things happen according to his will.

So that is what is going on with Dalila. That is about all the exciting things we did this week. Actually we went out to sushi this week and Elder Dorff ate 2 clumps of wasabi. If anyone is familiar with wasabi you will be able to imagine the pain he was in for the rest of the night. haha

Well. God has been blessing us for our hard work. I have loved serving him. This is the greatest work that anyone could be involved in. I love Jesus Christ and am so grateful for everything he has done for me.

Have a great week

Love,

Elder Gage Black