Elder Field Won't Have To Eat Sardines!

There is a story about sardines I will tell a little bit later. Anyway, this week was pretty fantastic.  We put in a lot of work and we're able to see some cool miri'curl's (shout out to USA curling team. The only reason I know is we were joking about curling with a member. Then he texted us in the middle of the week with the news) We did a ton of tracting and were able to find a couple of people who invited us back. They seem pretty cool and solid, hopefully I will report next week with an awesome amount lessons :) 

We had lessons with Kaelani and Diana(kind of) this week. Kaelani's lesson went great and we are still on track for the 10th of March. We are going to have her baptismal interview this weekend which we are pumped about. And Diana, well she is Diana. It's getting harder and harder to meet with her. We went to have a meeting with her this week and she couldn't make it because she lost her keys on campus, so we went over and helped her look for them. We found them. But meanwhile we walk in on a rally that they were having to remove the stature in the Arcata square..... Idk fam...... I'm sick of everyone getting offended by everything but it's whatever. Tried to talk to a few of them, but they weren't having it. So that was our "lesson" with Diana. A haha basically just reminder her to read from the Book of Mormon. But yeah. Life goes on. We are gonna meet with her this week hopefully to establish something to work towards.

We did tons of tracting this week. Found a few cool people who want us back so hopefully those go well. The best thing about knocking doors is you’re never quite sure what's gonna be on the other side. For example, we knocked a door where an old man who couldn't speak very well just stared at us and mumbled. Or another time a girl came to the door with so many piercings in the face that I could barely keep a straight face, or the time we knocked on a door and got called white supremacists. Or what about the time we knocked on a door and the dude was so high that he could barely talk. Knocking doors man. It's a blast. Yall should try it sometimes. 

So, the sardines story. So, with our zone focus for battle of the belt we decided that you were allowed to do companionship throw downs. Which basically a public exclamation during district meeting that you are going to do better than a companionship in the district..........  So basically it is a bet..... I know we are terrible but whoever wins the throw down gets 5 extra points and what not. Well to do a demonstration we threw down with the sisters and said we would find more investigators than them. Well they wanted to spice it up a bit and said losers have to eat sardines. Well long story short, after a tremendous battle the last day the sisters called us said they didn't want to eat sardines and they didn't want us to eat sardines and that this was a horrible idea and they promised never to do it again haha, but if we tied no one would have to eat sardines. So, we planned to tie and all is well. But I will tell you. It was tempting to just get one more than them...... So tempting...... 

Anyway, this week was a great one. Realized I still have a lot of things I need to change and work on before my time is up. So, I'm going to work my hardest to get those things changed. God is real, he knows and loves all of us, the Book of Mormon is true. It's there to help us remember everything God had done for us. Jesus Christ is the Messiah. And Joseph Smith saw what he said he saw. Have an awesome week! 

God is Good,
Cheers!
-Elder Riley Field

Elder Field Drives To Santa Rosa Again....

We actually stayed 2 days in Santa Rosa this time. Once for a half mission conference with a member of the 70 and the other day was MLC with that same member of the 70. He actually spoke in conference this last April. Elder Clayton is his name. Cool guy. Got to love the 4-hour drive. :) I do actually enjoy it though. 

Anyway, this week wasn't too eventful it was just full of meetings. And a ton of finding. We probably grafted 4 full apartments complexes this week. Met some strange humans. We did find a really cool girl who is super nice. She just got back from scuba diving, so we talked about that. And guys. I want to go scuba diving. She got me so pumped to go. But anyway, her name is Erica. We knocked on her door and she yelled through the door "who is it?" we said "the missionaries" then through the door we heard her say "wa..... The missionaries?" and then she opened the door and she was pretty cool. Found out she is catholic, but she also is 50% Jewish decent. Her birth father is 100% Jewish. So, she told is some cool stories of when she went to Jerusalem. So that was cool. We hope we can get back in contact with her.

We had a lesson with Kaelani.  She is still doing awesome and on track, turns out she was already living the word of wisdom. So that's cool. Haha she doesn't like coffee or tea and refuses to drink alcohol so woo hoo! Haha. We are also still teaching Diana. She is doing alright, we are just trying to figure out what our next step with her is. Not exactly sure. We are hoping to get her back on date :) 

But anyway, I don't have much more to report, I know I'm lame. But we went down to Santa Rosa and visited with Elder Clayton which was way fun. He taught us a ton of things about how to be better missionaries and gave us a ton of ideas that Elder Serassio and I are trying to implement. I took a ton of good notes and am really hopefully for the future! Hope you all have a great week! 

God is Good,

Cheers!
-Elder Riley Field

Elder Field Shakes Elder Holland's Hand!

Hey Friends and Family!! THIS WEEK WAS CRAZY COOL! Not only because we got to meet with Elder Holland and shake his hand and be able to see him pound the pulpit right in front of our eyes, but we also found AN amazing investigator named Kaelani!!! She literally has already accepted a baptismal date. I will tell you about her more in a second, but I just want to start off by saying meeting Elder Holland probably was a life changer. At least my missionary life changer. Never have I been so lovingly taught and rebuked at the same time than I have sitting in the same chapel with Elder Holland. That man is the most intense guy I have ever met. But so loving. So crazy loving. I just felt like, even though he didn't know me, he totally loved me. Which is weird. Really weird. But awesome the same time. 

Okay before I go more into Elder Holland I want to tell you about Kaelani jones! So, we got a call from the Arcata elders this week telling us they had a referral for us. They had gotten a church headquarters referral and they went and visited her and she was a YSA, well they had a lesson with her and she wanted to meet again the next day. So, they brought us along. Well, we had a BOMB plan of salvation lesson where we really emphasized starting a new through the atonement of Jesus Christ and baptism. We invited her to be baptized and she accepted! So her date is March 10th! We then met with her 2 days later to teach about faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the holy ghost. And she is just tearing through the Book of Mormon. She loves it!!! She reads it every day!! She already knows it’s true. She is so amazing!!! The blessings of working hard and being persistent. Such an amazing experience. I'm so glad to be a part of her conversion! I thank God every day for it.

Anyway, on to Elder Holland and then I will wrap this email up.

He taught us all about how important our missions were. He explained how much his mission meant to him. And how every blessing he has ever received has been through that short 2 years as a missionary. He also kept relating us to himself saying how much missionaries are like apostles. Apparently (this is pretty cool) Apostle is a Greek word, it means "One who is sent forth" well guess what, Missionary which is an Indo-European word means "One who is sent forth". He went on to explain that both us and him have set our self apart for full time service in the lord’s kingdom. The only difference is he has to die to get out of his calling (which he said looks pretty appetizing at times XD ). He said we are apostles with a little 'a' while he is an Apostle with a big 'A'. So, that was pretty cool. We then opened up to John 3 and he just tore that story apart. For those who aren't familiar with John 3, it's Jesus teaching Nicodemus about baptism. We dissected the lord’s way of teaching and how he addresses Nicodemus and taught him. He then did the same thing with the next chapter John 4 (which is the woman at the well story). He showed us how the savior taught and then basically commanded us that we teach the same way because there is no better way than Christ's way. Haha needless to say we all accepted the challenge. His 3 lessons were, 1. The gospel is for everyone so for the love of all that is good and hol,y open your mouth and talk to EVERYONE. As demonstrated in the 2 stories Nicodemus (who was a Pharisee and was part of the Sanhedrin) and the woman at the well (Basically a Samaritan prostitute) Christ taught all manner of people. 2. We need to provide spiritual experiences for each investigator. Spiritual experiences will over power any doubt and concern the investigator might have.  3. Get them into the Book of Mormon. Immediately. In 1 Nephi 1:12 it talks about when Lehi reads the book he was filled with the spirit of the lord. So, I need get people in the Book of Mormon as quick as possible. And that has proven itself to me time and time again. He talked about just working hard and serving with all our hearts. There was a point, after his remarks where we all stood when Elder Holland left. I was looking at the ceiling just being filled with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my mission. I really love my mission. So much. My mission has meant the world to me. Doesn't mean it hasn't been hard or difficult, but it means I have learned so much and have developed such a strong testimony of the gospel (and of modern day prophets) that will set me up for the rest of my life. But it was in that moment of awe inspiring gratitude that the spirit quietly pointed out that only have 4 months left. And this is where the tears started. Thank the lord for Sister Dean who was sitting in front of me, she gave me a tissue as I balled my eyes out. But while feeling so saddened by the fact I only have 4 months left I really made a new commitment to my Father in heaven to squeeze EVERY LAST drop out of my mission. The lord has been so merciful to me. He has made me a tool in his hands. And I pray that he will continue to use me. I love this gospel. I Love my Savior. I know he Lives. I know he has called prophet in these last days to lead and guide us. The creator of the universe knows us. He is our loving heavenly father. He has brought forth the book of Mormon for us in our day so that we may know how to return to him. Repentance is real. And it is only possible through the atonement of our lord as savior Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is true and I love you all! Have an amazing week!

God is Good,

Cheers!
-Elder Riley Field

Elder Field Is Gonna Meet Elder Holland!!

It's confirmed!!! Elder Holland is coming to the mission this freaking Saturday!! So, I get to drive down to Santa Rosa again from Eureka!! WOOOO! I love driving haha. Even if the drive is 4 hours I know a lot of other missionaries everywhere else in the world have it way worse, and plus, I enjoy the drive.  It's super pretty, and I will get to meet Elder Holland by the end of it ;) sooooooooo I literally have no reason to complain, life is good homies, life is sooooo GOOOOOOD! 

Anyway!!! Its transfer week this week! That's right and guess what!! Elder Serassio and I are staying together for another 7 weeks! Pretty pumped about that.  We have been able to put in some good work this transfer and I'm excited where this transfer will take us. I'm super excited for this transfer because my BOY ELDER HARKER (he is from PG) is coming up in zone with us! Elder Harker, Elder Serassio and myself are all buds from when we served in Santa Rosa.  This will be the 3rd time I have served around Elder Harker! Love that guy. Some of my PG peeps might know him. Guess WHAT!!! We are getting other PG Peeps! Elder Larson that came into the mission a transfer or 2 ago is from PG and literally this Wednesday we are getting another PG peep. Sister Kate Porter. Doubt she will remember me but it's whatever hah. So now the California Santa Rosa mission is now 4 PG peeps strong. #CASRM #PGTakeOver

So just as an update for Diana! I said last week she would be baptized last Saturday and unfortunately it fell through, it's okay though. She still REALLY REALLY wants to get baptized, we are just waiting for some outside circumstances to happen so that her desire will become a reality, so we are going to set another date with her.  Probably within the next few weeks! So, I'm not even bummed. :D But we are going to start her family history which she is super excited about. Let's see if we can find some Mormon ancestry! Fingers Crossed!

So, an update on the others we are teaching. We just can't seem to get ahold of Daniel anymore, but we are going to give it a few more chances before we give him a break. Makes me sad, had high hopes for the guy. We weren’t really able to meet with any of the other people we recently found, BUUUUUT! Guess what! So, we had something pretty cool happen.  Elder Seegmiller and I had knocked on this one girl’s door, her name was Daisy like, before Thanksgiving break! So we kept seeing if he could catch her but we never could. So, we gave it a break.  Well Elder Serassio and I this past Tuesday we're like, "Yo it's like 10 mins before we need to go in, let's go knock on Daisy’s door just for kicks and giggles". Well a few kicks and giggles later, guess who was home!! AND GUESS WHO WAS PUMPED TO LEARN THAT JESUS CAME TO AMERICA! So, we set up a return appointment for that Thursday and gave her a Book of Mormon with 3 Nephi 11 to read. We came back, and SHE HAD ACTUALLY READ. Guys that like never happens, I about fell over when she told us she had actually read it and how she got curious and started it from the beginning and was already at 1 Nephi 7. She said it was super interesting and is super pumped to continue to read. So, on Thursday we shared the message of the Restoration and after we talked about the first vision we asked her how she felt and she said, "I feel just a warm and calm reassurance that God really does love us.” We explained how that was the Holy Ghost telling her this was true, and she totally believed it. We extended a soft baptismal invite (basically we said if she came to know that all of this was true, would she be baptized) and she accepted and said she totally would be baptized. Daisy is so solid, I’m really praying she goes all the way to baptism. Excited to keep teaching her! 

Well we put I some awesome finding in this week. We found 5 people who wanted to meet with us again (2 of them literally just texted us while I'm writing this and said they actually didn't want to meet but would keep our phone number if they wanted to learn more 😭😭😭😢😢😤😊😁😁  haha life goes on) One of them named Yasmine seems like she could be super solid.  We have a meeting with her tomorrow :D 

We had some pretty fun service this week. We cooked over 100 hamburgers for a scout jamboree or however you spell that. Super fun! Everyone seemed to like them haha. After that service Brother Boone (he is from Eureka 1st ward) took us on an adventure into the steeple of the chapel, yeah! You can get there!! It requires a few special keys and some climbing and walking through really tiny doorways and climbing some ladders, but it was pretty cool if you ask me! haha!

Anyway, I think that's all for this week! My revelation for the week, was just how much I have come to crave the sacrament each week, it makes me so happy after I partake of it. It literally fills me with so much JOY!  I just love it. That and I have come to realize how much I love to pass the sacrament, I get to help others renew their covenants. Man, I wish I knew that as a deacon. Anywho! I love my mission, excited to hit the ground running this new transfer! My goals this transfer are develop more charity for people and circumstances and also just to speak more positively and be more grateful! Wish me luck!

The Book of Mormon is true! Joseph Smith was and is a prophet, Russell M. Nelson is the prophet today! and Jesus Christ is MY Savior, and he knows and loves all of you too. Love you all!

God is Good,

Cheers!
-Elder Riley Field

Check out this view one of the members has from their porch 

My shoes...... my heel has worn down so much I’m trying to build it back up with shoe goo 

(update on the shoe goo, didn't work haha!)

Vampire penguin, I can't quite describe what it is. It's like a snow cone shake but way fancier and they put chocolate and cookies and stuff on it...... that and it's more like snow than shaved ice..... I..... idk...... you just got to try it. Some members took us, and it was alright haha. Didn't live up to the hype.