We invited T--- to be baptized.  He gave two reasons for not being baptized:
1) He said he loves the teachings of the Church and everything about us, but that he can't be baptized because he will not pay tithing to any church, no matter what church it is.
2) He said that he gets things his way, and he wants to be baptized only if he can do it naked...

So I said, "No problem!  You don't have to pay tithing to the Church, just to God, and we can head over to the church and I'll baptize you naked right now, I don't mind one bit!

He got a kick out of that and just laughed.  It is pretty sad to see that something so simple is the only thing holding him back from spiritual progression.  But I really think someday it will click.  He is so close. 

At any rate, this week was super good!  We had a few good lessons with our investigator, J---.  His family made a Japanese dinner for us on Friday, and then he showed up to church on Sunday!  He stayed for all 3 hours, and afterward they had a lingerlonger with some refreshments.  The ward was super awesome at fellowshipping him and a sister in the ward invited him to come over and eat with us last night.  So we went over for dinner and had a pretty good lesson.  Ha Ha.  I think he was kind of overwhelmed and confused wondering why the Mormons are so weird and how come all of these people are being so nice to me, but it all went really swell.  He has gone from smoking 10 cigarettes a day to only smoking 4 in the past 2 days, so that's pretty cool.

Today is transfers and last night, I got the call from the assistants to the President that I will be the new district leader here.  Wow!  I was not expecting that!  Ha ha!  It's pretty safe to say I felt a little overwhelmed and unsure.  I can hardly even handle myself, let alone an entire district.  One of the assistants, Elder Reese told me that I needed to seek out a confirmation from the Lord to know whether or not this was really a calling from Him.  So before I went to bed, I knelt down and just simply thanked my Father in Heaven for the opportunity and asked Him for "an undeniable confirmation" that indeed it is Him that has assigned me to this calling and if I am worthy and capable of measuring up to what the future holds.  Sure enough, almost immediately it felt like a super cool, weird wave of sensual calm energy filled my chest and mind circulating for several seconds.  I tried to hold onto that feeling as long as I could.  It was pretty awesome.  I can't say I have ever received an affirmative answer to a silent prayer that fast and that assuredly before.  So here goes nothing!

I'm staying in Carpenteria, just moving over to the other area (the non-beach side...) and my new companion is Elder Sorensen, who has been out a little less than me.  I have gone on a few exchanges with him.  I'm excited, because he is an awesome missionary.

Love,
Elder P

We are teaching some filthy rich people, so when I say rich I'll try to put it in perspective...

Oprah Winfrey is worth like what 15 billion? She lives in my area--just bought a house from Bob Veloz for 15 million cash.  He moved to an 85 million house just up the street. They say, "Yeah- Oprah has money, but she's not considered rich to the rest of the people here," which confuses the heck out of me.  Our investigator, T--- does all of their landscaping.  He has anything and everything money can buy.  He offered to take us swimming in Malibu at his beach house on Wednesday.  He said we can zip down in his Ferrari, but if that takes too long, we can just grab the helicopter instead.  Wha???

  

Anyway, he is super cool, because he says he literally has the whole world at his fingertips, but still knows he's not happy and recognizes there is a gap in his life.  I asked him what his spiritual needs are, because obviously his physical and material needs are met in every single aspect.  He says he relies on himself too much and gives himself credit for everything when he knows really it is from God.  But after all of his impressive talk, all I saw was a lonely guy that needs the gospel.  I'm excited to help him find what he needs.

So last Monday, we went on a hike for Pday.  I don’t know how, but I managed to get a really nice case of poison oak!  I swear I didn’t even go off of the trail very much (ha ha), so that has been fun.  I knew what it is and have had it enough to know what to do, so it’s no big deal.  It’s just my face and legs and arms are itchy.  It’ll be gone soon.  So Carpinteria is about the same. 

This week we taught a great lesson with J---.  He is about our only investigator that always welcomes us.  He is 21, loves to read the Bible, is very spiritual, and is one of the deepest thinkers I know.  We have previously taught the restoration and this week we taught the plan of salvation and he agreed with everything perfectly.  He has been struggling a lot with just the meaning of his life, and his relationship with some family members.  He has accepted baptism, but not a date.   We have an appointment with him tomorrow, and are planning to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ using Lehi’s dream.

We randomly ran into one of the members from the Carpinteria ward downtown one day.  As we were talking to him, everyone that passed by he just jumped out and said, “Hey!  Do you know who these guys are?  They’re missionaries and they changed my life, and I know that they can change your life, too!  You should listen to them!”  Ha ha.  He kind of freaked some people out, but it was awesome.  I think every member could learn something from his excitement for sharing the gospel.  We also taught L---- again, and had another great lesson about how we can never fail when sharing the gospel.  She gave us a referral who turned out to not be interested at all, and she felt kind of bad about it, but we assured her with a quote from President Eyring, promising two things to those who share the gospel.  One of them being that even the people who reject us will someday thank us for offering them something that means so much to us.  I can’t remember the whole quote, but it had a positive impact on me, as well.  I was able to just take a step back and say, “You know what?  Regardless of our numbers and all of the people who don’t want to talk to us here in Carpinteria, everyday is a successful day as long as we opened our mouths.  If we didn’t open our mouths at every opportunity, then that is an easy fix for tomorrow.  We can focus on the things we can control, and the Lord will do the rest.

Love,

Elder Parrish

We had another great lesson with L----.  She invited us over for dinner, and we shared the talk by President Uchtdorff called "Walking in Circles."  We talked about the importance of having spiritual landmarks.  The Spirit was powerful as we shared testimony of the temple and how important it is in this life.  She shared a desire to be sealed in the temple with her adopted daughter.  We talked a little more and discovered that she has not received her patriarchal blessing.  We talked about patriarchal blessings and it turns out she had no idea what they were.  We encouraged her to talk to the bishop and ask for one.  She came to church on Sunday and seemed really, really happy.  The bishop is on vacation, so she couldn't talk to him, but hopefully next week.  She also gave us a referral of a lady who comes an helps take care of her daughter.  We don't have many investigators, but we are still helping out the less actives. 

I had exchanges with Elder Sorenson, and that was a really great day.  He is a great example and has such a desire for the work.  It was 8:54 after a visit with a former investigator.  We had to be back in 6 minutes and were getting in the car, so I said, "Do you think we can have a declaration in 6 minutes?"  So we ran to the end of the block and saw a guy standing on the street corner waiting for another guy who was a little behind him.  We talked for a bit, and they were 2 ripped guys from Brazil heading for the gym to work out.  We talked a bit about the purpose of life and left them with a pamphlet on the Plan of Salvation.  They gave us their address and said we could come by again.  We got back to the apartment right on time.  It was kind of just a little tender mercy from the Lord letting us know that as long as we are being good stewards and not wasting a minute, we will find success.

M---- is about the most solid investigator we have.  He doesn't necessarily agree with what we share, but is willing to listen and supports his wife, who is a member.  He invited us to stop by his Superbowl party yesterday, but we just stayed in the garage and ate hot wings. 

We had a great Fast Sunday yesterday, as all of California is fasting for rain.  It trickled a little bit for an hour, so even the tiny bit of rain we got was an answer to all of the members' prayers.

There is a member who shoots sporting clays.  I talk to him all about that, and he wants to take us out shooting.  It was hard to tell him we are not allowed to.  Ha ha. 

Love,
Elder Parrish

The Carpinteria area is awesome. It is so beautiful.  There are really just pro surfers and old retired people.  But we have literally zero work, zero people to teach.  Zero.  In the past two weeks, we contacted every single person in the area book and nothing.  We separated the wheat from the tares, but all we were left with were tares.  The ward is cool, but they haven't had a convert baptism in years.  They are sure to tell you that, and don't have much faith in the work here. But they are super nice (and super rich).  We are in a car share area, which means we car and bike every other day.

 

We did have an awesome lesson with a less active member named L----.  She adapted a baby like 15 years ago, and when she was 2 she had a seizure that lasted for an hour and 45 minutes and caused severe brain damage.  So taking care of her teenage daughter is a 24 hour job, and the main reason that she is off and on in going to church.  In teaching her, though, it was obvious to my companion and I that she definitely has a testimony of this Gospel.  She has a friend in the Santa Barbara ward that goes and visits her quite often and helps her out a lot.  She was VERY meticulous in inspecting our clothing for creases and any hint of wrinkles... haha.  She straight up ripped into Elder Henriod for not having a visible crease in his pants, and then I felt pretty good when she was pleased with my pant crease...but upon further inspection, she was sure to let me know that there was no crease in my shirt sleeve and that it was unacceptable.  She told us that when we come see her, our clothing better be in tip-top shape, ironed and starched with visible creases.  She did attend church yesterday and seemed very content.  She said she wants to learn the lessons again, and that we can stop by and teach her once a week. 

 

We were invited to Ward Council meeting yesterday, and from what I understand that is the first time the missionaries have been present in a very long time, so that was great.  The members all seemed very willing to help us out, and a few even took the initiative to say that they and their families are going to make personal visits to some of the investigators in the area, which from what I understand is a pretty big change from how it has been in the past.  I'm pumped to make somethin' out of nothin' and start to build up the area.  I am determined to turn it around, but if we can't, then I guess there's only one hope for this area... sister missionaries. (haha)  They're pretty much the best.

Love,

Elder Parrish

 

oops!

Millions of book reports later, and the day finally comes...haha.

 

Elder Parrish and Elder Henriod



My new district.

 

This is the awesome house I live in in Carpenteria. We live with a 94 year old WWII vet and he is amazing. He gets around the house up and down the stairs like a champ, and tells us war stories every night. He was a waist gunner in a B24 bomber and has some pretty sweet stories. The house is huge, and we live in the upstairs. It has spiral staircases and is all decked out with American flags and eagles all over the house. It's the most patriotic place ever.  I love it!  It is like a hundred yards from the beach that we run to every morning. We can look, but can't touch. :)

 

 

Well, my last week in Santa Barbara was a good one.  We had some great lessons with a couple that has been inactive for the better half of 20 years.  They left the Church, because they got offended for something, and haven't been back since.  But we finally got in (after knocking the door 30 times the past 4 months) and had a good lesson on eternal families that really touched their hearts.  They went to a branch party at the church and also last night they came to watch "The Testaments" with some of our other investigators.  I'm really excited to see them start to return and see them rekindle those friendships they had in the branch 20 years ago.  The husband is probably one of the most interesting men on the planet.  He is from Argentina, but speaks perfect English, is super smart, works on cancer and radiation equipment.  He never gives a specific answer to anything and always answers in the most peculiar analogies.  He is the kind of guy I just want to sit down with and keep talking to for hours and hours.  We are going to try to stop by his house tonight before I leave, so maybe I can get a picture. 

On Saturday, J--- was baptized.  We had to run to Goleta to give a sister missionary a blessing, and our ward mission leader flaked on us, so we had a quick little panic making sure there was sufficient water in the font that got us started a little late.  We had missionaries running all over the place with 5 gallon jugs dumping cold sink water into the font to try to get enough water... but the Spirit instantly filled the room after the first little talk and as Hermana Linford and Hermana Wright played "I Stand All Amazed" on the violin and flute with a piano accompaniment.  I'm so grateful to be the one that he chose to baptize him.  We went down into the water and I couldn't believe it- the water was super warm!  It was a tender mercy of the Lord.  It was shallow, but warm, and everything went smoothly as I pushed him waaay down and all the way back up again with my back, just like my first baptism.  The whole service was great.  Three of his friends showed up that were nonmembers, and he was so excited that they were able to make it.  It was such a blessing to see him join the church, even though last week, we weren't sure if he was going to be ready, but after fasting and much prayer we felt impressed by the Spirit that this was the right time for him.  Now, his biggest desire is for his grandkids to attend church with him and be baptized as well.  When the Branch President confirmed him yesterday, he mentioned something in the blessing about him being a future missionary to his family and grandkids that was really neat. 

I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity I have had to serve with Elder Griffin the last two transfers.  He's definitely taught me so much and we have learned and grown so much from each other and seen many miracles here in the Los Olivos branch.  We're pretty much best friends now.

My testimony has definitely been strengthened as I see that as long as we are doing everything we can and leaving it all out there every single day, despite all of our many shortcomings, the Lord makes up the rest and blesses us beyond measure.  Tomorrow, I head to CARPINTERIA with my new companion, Elder Henriod.  It is only like 20 minutes away, but it is zebra work... which means 90% English and 10% Spanish, so hopefully I can keep up with my Espanol.

Love,
Elder Parrish