Elder Black : May 25th email "Week of Learning"

This week consisted of lots of learning and growing for Elder Black.

On Tuesday we had interviews with President Jardine. President is such an inspired man. The spirit that he has with him is incredible. IT is so amazing knowing that the man that is leading us really does receive revelation from on high. There is no way he could orchestrate 250 of us 20 yr old kids, doing the work we are doing, the way it is done, if he did not receive that revelation daily. During our interview we talked about many things to help me, the missionaries in my zone, and the mission as a whole. Everything we talked about revolved around the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Since that interview i have looked at my mission and my life in a different way. It is hard to explain, but it has been amazing.

This week we were also about to go on an exchange with Elder Shaw, on of the AP's. He is going to BYU this year to play basketball. He is tall. haha Not only is he an amazing basketball player, he is also a fantastic missionary. He taught me many different ways i can lead to be more effective as a leader. He taught me how to be a more effective missionary. And ultimately he taught me how to be a better human being. All in 24 hours. It is amazing what those BYU Basketball players can do. He said something that was mind blowing.

"Being humble is not thinking less of yourself... it is thinking of yourself less."

I don't know where he got it, but it is brilliant. I hope everyone remembers that.

Elder Williams and I have been biking a lot in the areas of our missionaries that are in family wards to help them find people to teach. The college campus is now shut down for a few weeks because Finals ended on Tuesday. That means Elder Black and Elder Williams need to get creative. It has been cool being able to spend some time on a bike again to help our missionaries find more people. We hope that will boost their morale. A lot of them need it.

We met a cool guy named Tony this week. The way he met missionaries is pretty amazing. He called the number on the back of a pass along card he got a few months to get a free DVD. Sister Missionaries from who knows where, called him and started teaching him over the phone. They have now been calling him every other day for a few weeks and have almost taught him everything. We found him this week and he is wanting to be baptized on June 27th. He just needs to quit smoking and Drinking. He could use prayers to help him not have the urge to smoke and drink. I am excited to see what he is able to do.

There were about 25 ETs (emergency transfers) in the mission this week. That means a bunch of missionaries got moved around in the middle of the transfer because of different reasons. We lost one of the district leaders in our zone, so that means we get to take it over. Double duty.

Today we were able to go up to a place called Coloma with all the missionaries that I go home with in July. Coloma is a historic site of where the first Gold was found that started the gold rush. Turns out it was members of the Mormon battalion that had a major role in starting all of it. We were able to pan for gold a little, learn all of the history, but more importantly we were able to spend the day with all of the mission buds. it was a good time.

Life is good here in California.

Love you all.

Elder Gage Black

Here is a picture of one of the couples giving us the tour at Coloma. I served in their ward out in Georgetown a few months ago. They are way cool. :)