Go and Do (Week 5)

This week not much happened. We had some good member lessons. We started going to this good sandwich place every Wednesday so that's hype. On Thursday we taught a lesson at these members homes and the Dad guy owns all of the Krispy Kremes in Utah or he at least is part of some ownership position with all of them. He gave us ten free 1 dozen glazed doughnut ticket things. So we went to Krispy Kreme that night and pounded a dozen doughnuts. It was awesome haha. Brother Yang took us to a Mongolian BBQ place on Saturday and it was pretty good. We had a member lesson on Sunday and they had dinner for us as well. That's the food highlights for the week, haha.

Nephi was commanded to build a boat. He wasn't given the instructions or materials, but the Lord guided him as he went forward in faith doing what he was commanded to do. He was also commanded to go get the brass plates. He didn't even know where to go but he knew what the Lord commanded and went forward in faith, listening to the spirit. The same is true for missionary work right now, and honestly for everything else as well. We don't have a guidebook for how to navigate our lives through Covid, but we do have Jesus Christ. God wants us to GO forward AND DO what he has commanded us. He will guide us but we have to DO something about it. It's really fitting that the youth theme for this year is Go and Do. 1 Nephi 3:7

Today we went to Newport Beach. We were able to go to the Deseret Book there and that place is hype. We also went to Balboa Peninsula. We had our first street contact there. This homeless guy came up to us and talked about how we are doing a great work and how he is proud of us. He said that he almost got baptized and we talked to him about that for awhile. We said a prayer with him and gave him our phone number. It was a cool experience. I also saw a load of other homeless people and some dude fishing on the pier for little tiny fish. Newbies, but I guess fishing is still fishing.

The highlight of the week was that on Saturday I got to watch Auston's baptism over zoom. Auston (my cousin for those who don't know) is such a great example to me. He loves Jesus and he loves his neighbor. I want to be like Auston when I grow up.

Here's my favorite quote from Lord of the Rings: 

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.

“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

Gandalf is right, we all probably didn't want covid to happen, but it did. We have to decide what we are going to do, be accountable for it, and make the best out of our situation. Luckily we aren't alone and we can rely on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Elder Shockley