Monday, June 29, 2015

Week 20 - Lessons from Charity (and Lack Of), and Furthering the Work

My Dear Family,

I loved the video and pics of the sun shower! so cool! :D I did [receive] my tie for July, and I think it is so awesome looking! I'm not sure if you meant to send that one because of Independence Day (the tie being red and blue after all), but if you did, that makes it even awesomer! haha I'm actually wearing it right now! I haven't tried on the suit yet, but I plan on wearing it this week! All the packages have come in that you are curious about, and I love them! haha

Tell Brother Knoerr that I did get his email! :)

This week, Elder Jensen and I have been exploring our area some more, and finding new people! We picked up a new investigator that's in a part-member family, and we plan on going by tonight and teaching him more about the Book of Mormon!

It's been super hot this past week, and there was one day in particular that was dreadful! we were in an apartment complex, and our water bottles had been empty for a while, and we were so thirsty that we just knocked some doors for the sole purpose of asking for some water. What shocked me was that every person that answered their door refused to give us water. That really just boggled my mind! but later on, and almost every other day, there's always someone that comes to us and asks if we want water. I don't let it bother me when those people refused us water, I'm not even mad at them. I just hope that one day their door will be open to have someone give them the water of the Gospel.

We're starting to get more involved with using the members in missionary work in our area this week! Almost everyday this week we have a member coming out to teach with us! It's awesome! :)

Today I studied a bit about Charity, and before today, I didn't realize that to have Charity is commandment from God. He wants us to strive as best we can to love everyone as much as He loves us. And by exercising this love, we become better people. We don't talk negatively about anyone, we avoid anger, frustration, and all other bad feelings that separate us from the Spirit. So that is something that I am definitely going to strive for!

This picture that I included is when I was leaving my first area. This is the Salvador family. They are such a great family! He's the one that cried, telling me about how much I've grown and everything.






The other picture is of me and my study desk, wearing one of the ties from May, I believe. I have gotten a haircut since then, so it's not super ridiculous right now haha




Please continue to write and email when you can! I love hearing from you all!

With much love,

Elder Patrick Wockenfuss

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Week 19 - Exploring Escondido and Sharing a Scripture with a Family

My Dear Family,

Well, I guess you already know, I got transferred to another area of the El Norte Ward! They split up 2 of the areas in the ward into 3 areas, and Elder Jensen and I are opening the new proselyting area here in the Ward, so we know almost nothing about it haha (It's a part of San Marcos and Escondido,) But I am super excited about it! I'm really excited at the prospect of exploring the new area and finding those people that are ready! We also picked up our first New Investigator this week! We found him through a 2 year old Potential Investigators list that we had been given. We knocked on his door, and was super excited about taking the lessons! He said he talked with missionaries 2 years ago, but they never came by. and so he's really glad that we're here now! Miracles are already happening here!

Elder Jensen's a really great companion! He's actually the District Leader here now! But he's super awesome! Him and I get along super well, and I feel more like myself! It could be just that I'm getting over being a greenie, but I'm opening up more now! I'm not struggling with confidence like I did before! Everything is just awesome now!! :D

As I was getting ready to leave the area, I went to go say goodbye to some people that I got attached to, and with one family in the ward I wanted share the scripture about weaknesses becoming strong, because it became a testimony builder for me, and I asked the Dad to read it, and we felt the spirit very strong so that he cried as he read it (and because I think he knew what I wanted to say with the scripture.) I almost didn't have to say anything after he read it, because he could see exactly how this scripture helped me. He told me about how much I've really grown here in the ward. He spoke about how when I got here, I hardly said anything in spanish. And he saw my struggles and that I was really trying to speak,  and now, I was speaking so much more than when I first started. He told me about how I was really a good missionary, that I effected the lives of his family, and that I will continue to do a lot good things in the mission. He told me that if and when I come back while in the mission, and even after the mission, their door is always open to me. That really touched me. :)
...And then I came back into the ward haha but they were happy that I am still here haha

I am super excited for this area, and I'll let you know what other miracles happen soon! :)

I did get the Prime Pantry box today, and I got the recipes last week, I believe! Thank you so much! :D

Please continue to write and email when you can! I love hearing from you all!

With much love,

Elder Patrick Wockenfuss

O, also, a less active that Elder Martin and I found (that hadn't been visited in a couple of years) gave me a personalized pocket watch the night before I left my old area! It has my name (Elder Wockenfuss) on the front, and my service times on the back (12/31/2014--12/13/2016). She got it for me because we were the first missionaries or anybody that came along to check up on her and help her and her family in a very long time. I don't have my camera today, but I'll send the pictures I took of it next week! :)

Monday, June 15, 2015

Week 18 in the Carlsbad California Mission

My Dear Family,

Yesterday was awesome! I got the chance to confirm Yolanda and Aislinn in spanish in church yesterday! I was excited and nervous all at the same time! haha and I was able to speak Spanish! :D it definitely made my testimony grow of "opening your mouth and it shall be filled.," and doing what can, and the Lord taking care of the rest. Because I'm still learning Spanish, and I'm in no way perfect! But I studied as best I could for different wordings I could use in the confirmation, and because I did my part in studying and seeking, the Lord did the rest, and made it so that I could speak the words He wanted me to say.

It has been confirmed on Saturday evening that I am leaving Escondido! I'm excited to find out where I'm going tomorrow! I'll let you know next week where I got sent! And I'm not sure if I told you all about it, but 2 transfers ago, our mission president created 2 Spanish Zones in the mission for all Spanish missionaries to be in, a North Zone and a South Zone. But we found out just yesterday that they're actually dissolving the Spanish Zones and going back to normal intermixed English and Spanish Zones. So we'll see what happens tomorrow! SO many surprises and mind-blowingness going on right now haha

If you could clean and fix those suits and then send them to me, that would be awesome!

I got the butterfly knife comb, tie, and oreos! They are awesome! :D I love the tie! I'm actually wearing it right now! haha it looks so super cool! just so you know, I am never trading any of the ties that you send me on the mission! I keep them special, and I mark on the inside what month that tie is for haha

I haven't gotten the recipes yet, but I'll be looking for them :)

I love you all so much! Please continue to write and email when you can!

With much love,

Elder Patrick Wockenfuss


[More that he wrote to Mary]

We also found 10 new investigators this week! Almost all of them from contacting people out on the streets! It was great! :D But I won't be around to teach them, because I'm getting transferred on Tuesday! I'm leaving Escondido! I'm excited to find out where my next area will be! I'll let you all know next week! :)

I kinda want to do something as a missionary as a gift for Dad in a sense, but I don't know what to do yet. I'll have to pray about it.

Monday, June 8, 2015

Week 17 - Two Baptisms and a Trip to the San Diego Temple

My Dear Family,

The best thing to happen to me this week is that 2 of our investigators got baptized yesterday! :D It felt so amazing! The spirit is so strong when people get baptized, I think especially when it's people that you taught and helped to bring to that point. I also got to give a talk in the baptismal service about El Espiritu Santo (the Holy Ghost)! I would send you a copy of the talk, but I didn't write anything down at all. I just went by the spirit when I spoke. Elder Martin and all the others in my district that were there told me that I did a really good job! And so did the investigator that got baptized :) I'm including some pictures this time! :D



Elder Wockenfuss and Elder Martin with Yolanda, Aislinn and their family


Also, after Yolanda and Aislinn got baptized and as we were waiting for them to change, the spirit was so strong and I was praying in my heart, and discussing it with God, and I felt in my heart, and God confirmed to me, that before this life, in the premortal life, that I knew Yolanda, and I told her that I would find her in this life and bring her to the waters of baptism. So that was super amazing to know! :D





We had a Zone Temple trip this past week, and it was awesome! The San Diego Temple is huge! It felt so great being there! When we went through the session, Elder Martin and I listened to it in Spanish, and somehow, I was able to understand everything that was said! The Gift of Tongues is a real gift! :) I'm telling Mary a little more about this experience as well. :)



The San Diego temple - photo by Elder Wockenfuss


Also, yesterday, I was talking with one of the YSA's in the ward, and he was telling me about how, of all the missionaries in the ward, I'm the one that he and other people feel the most comfortable talking with. We figure that it's because of a mix of my personality, southern hospitality, and the fact the I'm a Mormon haha It made me feel pretty good that people like talking to me haha

I'm glad that it's finally stopped raining there haha Have you just been stuck inside everyday?

Thank you so much for writing! Please continue to write and email when you can!

With much love,

Elder Patrick Wockenfuss


[Here's the explanation of the temple experience, as e-mailed to Mary.]

This week we went to the temple as a Zone, and it was awesome! It feels so good to be at the temple! And since it was my first time being in a huge temple like that, it was super amazing! We also got the opportunity to take names through the temple for a member in the Del Mar stake. I got the name of a "Frank J. Veit" to take through. and when I was sitting and waiting to go through a certain part, I was looking down at the name and I got an overwhelming feeling of happiness and peace, and I knew at that moment that Frank was ready and waiting for this ordinance to happen, and then a thought came to mind "You brought me here Elder, Thank you." So I felt super amazing after that!

My testimony of Family History work has really been growing lately! I think it started with the experience that I had the week of the 10 years since Dad died, and it's just been growing ever since.  One time, I was thinking about member missionary work, and how it's really important to do, and then I was also thinking about how there are missionaries and people that have died that are doing as much work as they can to teach the souls in prison about the gospel, and they're helping us to find people as well and do our work, but then. what are we doing for them, to help them in their teaching and bringing people to Christ? After that, My desire to do Family History has really grown! So when I get home, expect me to be helping you find our ancestors :) That's definitely one way that God has been working in my life!
hey btw can you send me a pedigree fan chart of our family history?

With much love,

Elder Patrick Wockenfuss

Monday, June 1, 2015

Week 16 in the Carlsbad California Mission

My Dear Family,

Those pictures of your flooding are crazy! I've never seen it so high before! I hope it happens again one day when I'm there haha

Yesterday, Elder Martin and I gave a lesson about the Restoration during a baptismal service in Spanish. I was pretty nervous before hand, and I could hardly think of what to say for the first point, but Elder Farley (our District Leader) was there and helping us, and he suggested that we pray, and so immediately we did. I offered the prayer, and in my heart and in the prayer I pleaded for help and comfort because I did not know what to do. Afterwards, we went back to practicing and I was able to speak my mind and use different wording than I have in the past, and we definitely had the spirit with us. Prayers are answered! And God does give the gift of tongues!

The baptism for our investigator got pushed back to this upcoming Sunday, but we're still super excited about it! :D Elder Martin and I want to play and sing "When I am baptized" (Cuando Me Bautice) on guitar for her baptismal as well! we picked up a members guitar at dinner yesterday, and we started playing and singing it there in the house. It was awesome! haha I was wondering, could you send me a copy of the primary songbook in Spanish? I'd like to start memorizing them and singing them.

We brought a member out with us yesterday who has just finished his first year of college. We've brought him out with us a few times before, but after the lesson yesterday, he became so super excited for missionary work, and I saw him smiling more that night than I have before! He wants to start coming out with us even more now! :D

Please continue to write and email when you can, I love hearing from you all!

With much love,

Elder Patrick Wockenfuss


[In an e-mail to Buddy, Elder Wockenfuss said that he discovered The Lego Movie mentioned in the scriptures. Here's the reference.]

1 Corinthians 3:10 - According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereon.