January 10, 2011

OK, well this week has definitely been a roller coaster. We were preparing all this week for our investigator Levi to be baptized, and on Wednesday we are on exchanges so I was serving in westpark. That night when my companions came to switch back with me they looked really sad and told that Levi had called and said his parents back in China extremely oppose him being baptized. So the next day we went to go teach him and asked him about the whole situation. He said that his parents had heard bad things about the church and they did not want him to be baptized. So he called them and tried to explain how he knows that the church is true and he bore his testimony to his parents but they would not believe him and went further and said if he is baptized or even goes to church, they will cut him off financially and make him come back to china. Since Levi's parents are supporting his education and everything he has, he cannot afford to be cut off from his parents. The hard part is that he wants to join the church so bad, he has such a strong testimony. They now call him everyday to make sure he has nothing to do with us...it is a very tough and sad situation but we are still trying to work through it. I can admit my companions and I were very sad about all of this, but we are pushing through and putting our faith in the Lord that things will change for the better. I refuse to let this get me down because I know the Lord can do anything and there are still more people out there that are ready for the Gospel. This week we also found a new family from Taiwan, they were a referral from church head quarters, so we went to the address we were given. One thing I have learned about California is that there are a lot of gated communities. And this one we went to was particularly intense. We pulled up to a gate, and a man came to our car and asked us the purpose of our coming, then he asked us the address we were planning on visiting. He looked at his computer and then said "I don't see any scheduled appointment here, can I have your name?", and then he called the family we were planning on visiting. They asked who it was and so the guard asked me for my name, out of habit I said "Elder Ellis" and he looked at me all confused so I just said "Josh" and somehow miraculously, they gave me a pass and opened the gate! ha ha, it was an intense but cool experience :). The family was very nice and we have another time set up to go meet with them again! This Sunday we had 6 investigators come to church! Today is transfers, and nothing is changing in our companionship. It is still me and elder Kim and elder bray. The only thing that switched is Elder Bray is now driving. It is crazy to think I have already been in this same area and branch for over half a year now! I love this area and the people so much! I am so excited for this transfer because I know great things will happen!! There is more I could say but today's email is bit shorter because of transfers. I love you all and thank you all for your support!! Hope all is going well!! Wo ai nimen! zaijian!