Elder Field Is Going To Miss Eureka

Hey Friends and Family!

Well, I have sad news today.... Elder Field is being transferred..... I'm actually pretty sad about it I have really grown to love the people of the Humboldt Ysa branch!! I have made a ton of friends. I think that just naturally happens when the branch is about 15 people strong! ;) I have made some lifelong friends up here that I will for sure keep in contact with. Man..... I just can't believe that my time up here is done....Feels like yesterday I got transferred up here. But before I talk about the things I have learned while serving up here let me tell ya where I'm going!

I'm going to Woodland California! I'm going to be serving in the Woodland First Ward.  Woodland is just north west of Sacramento if yall know where Sacramento is :D My new companion is (and I'm going to slaughter the spelling) Elder Baumgarten.  He actually is a Spanish elder! So that means I'm officially in a zebra companionship! (That's just when an English elder and a Spanish elder are companions!) Hopefully that means I will be able to pick up a little more Spanish before my time is up. Guys..... It's crazy to think that Woodland might be my last area (this was also another reason I was sad about transferring) Man time..... Where did it go?

Anyway, things I have learned while serving up in the north ;)

I have learned that even if someone is kinda weird, they are still a human with a ton of potential. Especially if you see them as God sees them. And they can become a pretty amazing friend. 

I realized how important each function of the church is to the overall wellbeing of a unit. The church organization is so inspired and is a well-oiled machine if run properly. 

I realized the importance of home teaching. Even though it never really happened while in the branch, I finally can see the importance of it.

I learned that you truly can have a strong connection to your Heavenly Father through prayer. Prayer is always something I never really understood. I'm still trying to figure out how to really talk to my Heavenly Gather instead of just saying prayers. But I feel like for once in my life, I really was talking to a living breathing being. Who loves me. 

The importance of daily repentance. To be honest I figured this one out in my first area, but it was just reaffirmed to me while serving here. Especially if you want to progress in life or in your own personal growth.  Either physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Repentance is always necessary. That's how we change. That’s how we let God help. He will show us the areas we need to improve. 

I have learned I am terribly unathletic, but I have the power to change that haha. And boy do I have some goals when I come home :D

I have learned that this life is a battle. A legit battle. It's a battle for our hearts. Between good and evil, who is going to win our heart. The cool thing is we have a huge part in that battle. After all, we do have our agency and in large part it’s just a choice we need to make. Are ya gonna follow God, or are you gonna shun him?

I have learned when you know the church is true. You can't pick and choose which commandments you are gonna live. If the Book of Mormon is true.  All of the things we are commanded to do, come from God. Our loving Heavenly Father. You are either all in or all out. You may receive partial blessings for following only a few commandments, BUT to truly be able to receive all that the father has is by doing all that he asks us to do.

Anyway, that's just a few things I have learned. And I hope to keep learning a ton from each area I serve in and each person I meet. Anyway, let's talk about some exciting things that have happened!

DIANA GOT BAPTIZED!!! YAY!! Hahaha after a long journey Diana has become an official member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and she loves it. I will make sure to send some photos. The baptism went super smooth. We had a cool moment. She actually was pretty sick before the baptism. It lasted like a full week before the baptism. So, a day before her baptism we offered a blessing. She was pretty hesitant because she didn't want to get us sick. But we promised we wouldn't get sick and that this blessing would help. She was a little skeptical if it would, but she agreed and let us come over and do it. And guess what!! Just like we promised, the next morning she woke up feeling super great! She sent us a text the moment she woke up and assessed how she was feeling. She was so happy and appreciative and said, "Wow those blessing things work. They really do work. I'm getting a blessing every time I'm sick." The priesthood is pretty cool. Anyway, Saturday she was baptized and Sunday I had the opportunity to confirm her a member. I will never not be humbled by an experience like that. The fact the Lord has us, puny weak humans, confer the constant companionship of a God to someone will always blow my mind. And I'm super grateful for that experience. God is so good :D

We just did a ton of knocking doors and saying goodbye. It's been a good area. Probably the most pretty area I have served in. Redwoods on one side and the ocean on the other???? Doesn't get much better than that. If I was going move anywhere in Cali (which I doubt I will ever move out here *knocks on wood*) It would be up here in the northern part of Cali. 

I think that's all I have to say this week. I’m going to miss everyone up here. But I know more adventures await me and I'm excited to see what happens!! I love you all!! I'm going to go madly pack and then prepare for about a 4-hour drive! WOO! I love driving!!! Have a good one!! I know the church is true. The Book of Mormon is too! And I love being a missionary!!!

God is Good,

Cheers!
-Elder Riley Field

Okay here is a whole slew of photos I'm going on attempt to explain them all:

1. District Squad

2. The sisters blew a tire on the freeway so we stopped to help. Yes, I'm the one who has the hunch changing the tire while they took a photo haha

3. District squad again

4. The Agapinans from the Mckinleyville ward (the reason a few photos are of people in scout uniform is because I had to catch some of them at a court of honor haha)

5. Logan Bailey. Probably one of the greatest friends I have made up here. Man, I'm gonna miss that kid. 

6. Brother Fjirsted. What stud (Everyone I stand by I tower over.....)

7. Logan again haha

8.The Daines. Super awesome hipster couple who make some DANG GOOD COOKIES. And are awesome. Love those guys.

9. Whitney Dawes, Kaelani Jones, and Saili Miranda Good peeps

10. Diana and Asher! No, my arm isn't that long haha the picture makes it look like I have my arm around both of them

11. Whitney, Kaelani and Saili again

12.The branch presidency and our investigator Jay! He is the young guy by me. To the left is President Chris Johnson, then Casey Jones (who is a total goober) and the myself Jay and Mike Willis who is the most joyful man you will ever meet

13. Kelly Hamblin. Haha she is weirdo. She worked at Disney and that's all she would talk about.

14. Domani Ralphs. This girl single handedly gave me such a hard time for the whole time I served in the branch. Hence the reason we are doing the weird face

15.Caitlin Rednar Just someone from the branch haha.  I don't have a funny description of her

16. Diana's baptism! 

Elder Field Meets A Really Drunk Dude.....

Hey family and friends! We had a pretty good week this week. Wasn't to eventful but we did meet some crazy people when tracting. I love knocking doors now a days just because of the crazies you get to meet. That and it's just fun. Like I get to spend hours at a time with a companion whom I love dearly, and we get to just hang out and try to talk to people about Jesus. Yes, there are rude ones but ultimately you just let it roll off ya. That and hey, persecution for the sake of Jesus Christ are just security for your blessings in heaven.

Anyway, this week we did some prep work for this coming week and Diana's baptism. She was gone for spring break (as was 7/8 of Arcata) so we weren't able to meet with her, but we got times and dates for the baptism and also for lessons this week. She is still looking super solid for Saturday! She is super excited! 

Other than that, we just did a bunch of finding.  With little success. We did find 2 investigators who seem pretty promising.  One of them is named Maria there other one is named Amber. They both told us to come back after spring break was over, so we will see if they are truly interested. 

That was...... pretty much it...... I know...... We didn't have any lessons. Well we did have a lesson with Daniel. He is doing super awesome. We taught him the Word of Wisdom and he was kind of wary about it, but he said he would give it a try and pray about it. His sincerity blows me away. I was about to write him off as not interested but Elder Serassio and I kept feeling we should just keep going back. And low and behold. He now has a baptismal date and he came to church this week! So that's exciting!!!! He is doing good.

Fun story this week. We were tracting on Tuesday night and boy people were...... strange..... we met a guy who was drinking. He opened the door and said, "Oh your knocking on everyone's door huh?" Then slammed the door. We laughed about it and walked up stairs. All of a sudden he opens the door and starts playing this Hardcore Screamo music..... It was nuts.....like it was saying "Praise Satan" hahaha like what?!?!? We laughed about it. Someone upstairs opened the door and asked what was going on. We explained the situation and she laughed about it and was super kind and even listened to our message because of it. So, thank you angry drunk dude. 

That's all from me this week! I love you all and wish you the best of weeks! We find out transfers this week! I will let ya know where I'm going!! Love you!!! GET PUMPED FOR CONFERENCE FRIENDS!!!! IT'S GONNA BE AWESOME!!!

God is Good,

Cheers!
-Elder Riley Field

Hey, I forgot to tell you all a story!! Here is an excerpt from a letter I sent to President! I forgot to include it into my weekly. I am too lazy to re-write it but here it is copy and pasted from the very email I sent to President! It was a special one and I wanted to share it with all yall!

So, the Hermanas have an investigating family who seems pretty cool. They have a son who is 18 who said he would be interested in some activities that the branch would be doing. We sent him an invite to a game of basketball we would be playing. He said, "I'm not very athletic but I will come!" I assured him that I wasn't either and he came! Well he showed up, and we were both right, we were both garbage at basketball :D So we sat out of a game or 2..... or 3....... okay we really didn't play any basketball that night, but I had such an awesome conversation with this kid named Noah. He is a SUPER SHY kid. So, I just decided to talk to him for the rest of the night. Turns out he is super in to photography! Well my mom is as well as my sister, so we were able to talk photography and cameras and what he wants to do with it, then we got on the topic of video games! And guess what president!! I played a lot of video games back home. I know shocker right. Probably contributed to the fact I'm not that athletic anywho! We talked about all of the games he was playing, gave him some recommendations of what he should play (don't worry I promise gospel related stuff is coming) We then got on the topic of music and guess what president!! WE LIKED THE SAME KIND OF MUSIC! This was awesome, it just seemed we had everything in common. I had such a strong feeling that I knew this kid....... He reminded me so much of...... ME........ We became fast friends. We quickly got on the topic of religion and what he believes. Turns out his dad is Jehovah’s Witness and how his mom is another Christian denomination. So, him being part Jehovah’s Witness I had TONS of questions for him and what not. We talked about what their services were like and their basic beliefs. He had only been to a few services, so he explained them and then told me what HE really believed, like what his beliefs on God were. That was pretty cool. He told me the things he knew were true were, that God lives, That Jesus is his savior and that there is a heaven. That's all he knew.  Then he asked what our beliefs were and what our services were like! BINGO! Then the missionary work began.We offered him a tour, so we took him on a tour of the building and talked all about services and basic beliefs. He just kept commenting, "Yeah, I like that." Showed him the font, the chapel, the primary room, the Family history center, all the photos of the prophets and apostles. But the coolest part was when we stopped at a picture of the first vision. He asked what it was. So, I got to explain what it was and that God the father and Jesus Christ came and visited this young boy. I got to hardcore bare my testimony of the reality of Joseph's Smith's vision. President, if there is one thing in this world That I KNOW. It's that Joseph Smith was a prophet. He did see God. I KNOW it. I had the spirit confirm it to me when I was in Carthage jail. The spirit was so strong. I was only 14-15 at the time. But I knew that where I was standing was a place where a prophet of the lord gave his life in the service of his savior. No one can shake me of that conviction. I got to share the first vision with a kid I barely knew who I had developed such a love for within minutes of meeting him. He made mention of how he wanted friends. Good friends. That's something I so desperately wanted at his age. and I just wanted to hug him and tell him I would be his friend and that there are 14 MILLION other people who wanted to be his friend and love him and support him and help him reach his full potential. President I think I found one of the reasons I came to this mission. I was sent to this mission to meet Noah.He isn't even our investigator, but I was meant to meet him. We had an amazing chat about what the Book of Mormon was. I asked him if he had ever actually listened to the sisters, he said he didn't really pay much attention but that he would definitely start paying more attention and that he would read the Book of Mormon. I told him if he had questions he was free to ask me or the sisters. I even asked if I could follow up with him and he accepted and said he would love that. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who gave me that chance to meet Noah. I have no clue if he will join, I have no clue if he will even remember me. But I know that I was meant to meet him. I have a feeling I met a pre-earth buddy this week. I just hope I said what was needed. because boy. I felt so much love for this kid. God is so Good. So so good!

Elder Field Loves Eureka. (Still)

 Hey friends and family! I went for a less risky subject line ;) my mom will appreciate it ;) Anyway I really do love Eureka, and just the mission in general. It has been such a blessing to me. I have learned so much and grown a lot since coming up here. Anyway, let's dive into this week!

Kaelani got baptized this Saturday!!!! Man, what a beautiful experience. Super stressful and we had some complications with who was going to preside and conduct and our pianist not showing...... but...... even after all that, she has been baptized and was confirmed a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints the next day. The spirit was so strong. It has been cool to ponder about how much Kaelani has benefited from the gospel. She has grown and changed a ton since when we first met her. She is a lot more confident and just overall happier. It truly was a humbling experience. She has asked me to baptize her. Wow! I will never forget that day. The lord has used me and my companion as instruments in helping her find the true and living gospel. I am so grateful for that experience and will treasure it always. Now the next step for Kaelani is the temple! So wish us luck! we are going to get her to do baptisms for the dead :D

That was the big highlight of the week. The rest of the week was spent preparing for the baptism and trying to find people and trying to visit as many of our investigators as possible before they all head out of town for the spring break! hahaha Arcata is going to become a ghost town again :D yay........ Just got to mean we got to work extra hard to find those who are ready to receive the gospel. Look out you lonely YSA we are coming to find you! 

Uhhhhh yeah...... I think this maybe it for my email. Short one I know...... OH! Yall remember Daniel Robinson???? The guy who invited us in and then proceeded to drink through the entire lesson???? WE GOT BACK IN CONTACT WITH HIM! And guess what?!?! We set a baptismal date with him!! He said he wants to change his life :D So we his baptismal date is in May so we have some time to work on some things. so that was pretty exciting. So, pray for Daniel that he can overcome all of his vices! :D

Funny story of the week. We knocked on this one dudes door later in the evening and he came to the door, wow, higher than I kite man. Bloodshot eyes like he had been smoking for a long while just blazed beyond belief. Well he came to the door and we asked him if he wanted to hear a message about Jesus Christ's ministry in the Americas and his eyes got all big and he yelled really loud "JESUS CAME TO AMERICA???? D*** I NEED TO HEAR THIS S***" so we proceeded to talk to him and teach him about the restoration and the Book of Mormon. He was pretty enthralled. but said he wasn't interested. Ahahah his name was Jerome. Good old Jerome. 

Anyway, I think that’s it. I love you all and wish you the best of weeks! God is real and he loves all of you. 

God is Good,

Cheers!
-Elder Riley Field

Elder Field Knocks On A Door And Is Received By A Man With A Knife!

Okay so just to put my mom's nerves to ease as she read that subject line I will explain quickly right now what that means. We knocked on a dude’s door and he came wielding a large kitchen knife then sheepishly put it down and explained,  "Oh, uh, yeah I thought you were my roommate’s friends, it was supposed to be a joke, I did not mean to intentionally threaten you with a knife, oh man, I feel, stupid, I'm so sorry, anyway *laughs nervously* yall are Mormons?" 

Anyway! My week was great and the experience I explained above was the 2nd highlight of the week. Hahaha it was a slower week. We did a lot of finding but didn't see much come from it. Which is okay because hard work always pays off. In fact, It did on Sunday. While going about church (We had 3 investigators there.  Jay, Diana, and Kaelani) Diana walked up to us after we had finished third hour and informed us she is getting baptized on the 24th of March! Like. What. Yeah, she is super excited about it and even has picked out a day she is going to tell her parents about it. So, there will be nothing holding her back! We are super excited and super blessed to be a part of that. In fact, both of us will be at her baptism. It's before transfers. The lord has been awesome. And has blessed us much. 

We were able to pick Jay up as an investigator, he is a referral from President Johnson. (Branch President) We taught him the first lesson and he was super cool. Seemed to accept it and believe.  We invited him to read the Book of Mormon as usual. We are hoping to extend a baptismal date to him this week so wish us luck! 

I don't have any cool thing or story to tell...... Sorry I'm a lameo..... But overall, I'm doing good. Zone is doing good. Life is good. And you already know it, God is Good!

Have an awesome week!

Cheers!
-Elder Riley Field