TWO parking tickets and meeting a WWII veteran -- November 9, 2020

Aloha!

This week has been BUSY which I love! We had lots of appointments with members and with friends we are teaching. We also did a lot of service this week. We went to the food bank again! It was slow this time which is weird because last time we went there we were running around like crazy all day long. So we actually left about two hours early because there wasn't anything else for us to do. After service we helped a member from our ward organize a little bit and take some things to good will.

We met with Michael again this week! He's the one from Brooklyn who was hit by a train. We stopped by to see how he was. We caught him at a bad time so we're meeting again this week. He asked us if he could come to church! He said that he would come so we're praying that he does! If you could, please pray that Michael will come on Sunday!

Sister Isralesen and I got a parking ticket this week..It's for a stupid reason and we shouldn't have gotten it but that's besides the point. 😂 We just paid for the dumb thing and moved on. Well later in the week we were driving to meet Michael and we saw ANOTHER ticket on our windshield. We were so confused as to why we got this ticket. Sister Isralesen thought that it was a joke but I wasn't convinced that it was. The ticket said, "abandoned car has massive poo mark on windshield" as a note. Our car does have a lot of bird poop on the windshield..haha.

When we were leaving Michael's, we saw that we both had a missed call from Elder Potter who is an AP. We call him and tell him about the ticket and turns out Sister Israleaen was right. Elder Potter and Elder Jimenez pranked us. Elder Jimenez got a parking ticket not that long ago so he erased the pencil from his and re-wrote the one we got in pen. I'm a terrible driver though so I really thought we got two parking tickets. And I'm gullible so that doesn't help either. I really can't trust Elder Potter anymore because I think everything he says is true. 😂

On Saturday we had a few awesome things happen! We had two lessons planned, one with a former named Steve and then with Sylvia. Both lessons were canceled so that was a bummer. Sister Israelsen and I have been trying to visit everyone in our area. We're doing it slowly but surely. On Saturday we met two awesome people! The first was a former named Charla. Her daughter is a member but she and her husband are not. She was so kind and we hope to meet with her soon!

The second person we met was Gene. Gene will forever hold a special place in my heart! He's a 97 year old man. He talked to us for about an hour and a half. He served in WWII which is crazy. Most veterans from the war have obviously passed away, so it was a blessing just to meet him. I love history and have always been interested by war so I was fascinated. He was here in Hawaii when Pearl Harbor happened and he remembers it. His dad was a Japanese soldier before the war. His family moved to Hawaii before Gene was born. He was born in Hilo which is on the big island. He told us about some experiences from the war. He told us that he was in Japan when the atomic bombs were dropped! I'm not certain how that's possible, but that's what he said. He said he was just a few miles away from Hiroshima when that bomb dropped. I felt SO blessed to have met and talked with him. He was so cognizant and aware despite his age. He knew the exact dates of the war, his birthday, etc. He kept telling us that he has lived a good and happy life. He has a special spirit and I am so grateful that we met him. He was so happy that we came to visit him. He told us that missionaries hadn't been to visit him for about two years and he was sad about it. He was so funny too. We love Gene and are grateful for him!

I want to share a scripture that stood out to me in personal study this week. It's Ether 4:12 and it says, "And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good; he that will not believe my words will not believe me—that I am; and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me. For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world." I love this scripture because it applies so much to this world right now. Good comes from Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. Evil, bad, hate, anger, and all contention is of Satan. So who do you want to follow? Who do you want to be more like? Jesus Christ is the light, life, and truth of the world. He can heal us. He can bring light into our darkness. We just have to ask for it and turn to him. I testify that he will give you that light. What a blessing it is to know that!

Have a GREAT week everyone! Thanks for all of the love and support! I couldn't have asked for better friends and family! I'm praying for you all! Make sure to email me and keep me updated on things in your lives!! 💙

Service!