Feb 26 The Work Moves on

Subject: It is February 26th?

Well well well, another week has gone by and my oh my it has been a fun and interesting one. 

Why does Omaha over react about all of their storms. Everytime they do that the weather is perfect. Its when they understate that becomes the issue.

Spiritualness...The investigators are starting to pick up little by little...

• Well except for last oh tuesday when we were going to have to split to hit two appointments one of the investigators told us basically I dont want Elder Sobczak to come teach me without elder Armstrong because I have been with him longer and I dont want to start anything new...So Yes...I got dumped on my mission never thought that would happen haha...
• K and her girls are still moving forward. The dad of the two younger girls has been reading Anti stuff, his girls told him to look at LDS.org which led to him being confused about what the real truth was and now wants to meet with us so he can sort everything out and see if he really wants to allow his girls to be be baptized. So that is real progress. 
• Another investigator PD is a completely solid guy and will one day be a bishop/stake president if he joins. He is an honest seeker of truth and is true and honest in all he says and asks. He has grown up all over the world, Air Force airplane load crew so he traveled a lot and just wants to know why God would allow all of his children to follow religions even when he knows  that religion wont allow them to come back. We asked the same question back after explaining a little bit and he said well i think this whole thing has to do with Agency...Yes thats awesome just wait until he starts hearing about the plan of salvation! 

Lots of planning and preparing and then more planning and preparing...

Slowly but surely the Lord is allowing my mind to be opened to the deeper doctrine so I will teach better lessons and they will be more spirit filled.

This whole mission thing is really opening up my eyes to a lot of new found truth. Its really cool to see how eevrything works together and flows back and forth and supports each other. No matter how hard people try to they can never prove us wrong on any point of the Bible/Scriptures/Gospel because if they could we wouldnt be the True Church of Jesus Christ. We may not know for sure how to show them but through diligent heart felt study we can bear testimony of our knowledge and faith which for some will be all the proof they need. 

The time is at hand for men to prepare to meet God and his Son Jesus Christ. This time is when Jesus Christ WILL appear to the world, he will meet the invited ones at Adam-Ondi-Ahman and the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints WILL hand the keys of the church over to its rightful master. We are in the last days, but I KNOW through Faith in Jesus Christ we can be saved and through Him we can come to know how to return to our Father in Heaven. 1000 years of peace will come to all. Think of that. the time period of 1013-2013 is how long the millenium will be. Christ will reign...We Will know Him...We will prevail in the fight against evil...This is the true church that is the only one authorized to show and participate in the eternal life saving ordinances for mankind.

 Be prepared but dont be scared, if you are doing the True Right not the World Right you have nothing to fear. This is my Testimony...In the name of our Lord and Savior, even the Son of our Heavenly Father Jesus Christ 

Amen

--

"Fourth Floor Last Door"

"That's What's Up"

Elder Amric Zane Sobczak

California, Carlsbad, USA

January 2013-January 2015

Newport Temple Trip

Armstrong and Sobczak

Elder Armstrong

Elder Armstrong, Kitchen, Goulding and That's me on the right!

New Missions Announced

SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Friday the creation of 58 new missions, including one in Utah.

The announcement came after the LDS church saw a drastic increase in members interested in serving missions following LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson's October announcement that the church would lower the age of mission eligibility to 18 for men and 19 for women.

Men were previously required to be at least 19 years old for missionary service; women were required to be at least 21.

The response to the announcement led to the church's missionary force exceeding 60,000 for the first time in many years.

The 58 new missions include one in Utah — the Salt Lake City East mission — and two in Idaho, in Nampa and Twin Falls.

Three new missions were added in Central America, and eight were added in Mexico. South America, too, saw a significant increase, with seven missions being added to Brazil alone. The additional missions raise the number of missions from 347 to 405.

The full list of new missions can be found here among them:
America West Area

• California Bakersfield
• California Irvine
• California Rancho Cucamonga

Progression

Hello Family and Friends,

So it is that time of the week again. 
First thing; 

Newport Beach Temple

I got to go to the Newport Beach Temple this morning. It was amazing. So cool to see it. They have this painting in the first room that is so good it looks like they took a panoramic picture blew it up and wall papered it on. It is a painting of Crystal
Cove in New Port. 

Crystal Cove

Coast Highway driving by Laguna Beach

The drive to it was really cool as well. Driving along Pacific Coast Highway through Laguna Beach along the ocean.
Yes the area is gorgeous last couple days have been sunny from 65-85 with a breeze,  basically "it's amazing" (Said in Penny voice from Happy Endings)  hahaha!
Sending some things home; Clothes I don't need, my planner from MTC, ties, flip flops, and calendar from this area.  I am really starting to get anoyed with this whole "Letters to mission home" thing. I am getting some of your letters that are dated the 7th, 8th or 9th of this month. Shouldn't take 10-12 days to get a letter from Utah&Nebraska. Got a letter from Aunt Sharon which was a real surprise!  It was really cool to get a letter from her. Didnt think I would haha.  She's great.  It made my day!  :)

John Baptized Jesus by Immersion

The investigators are picking up.  It's weird to think I have been gone for 7 weeks (3-MTC 4-Mission). Feels like yesterday dad was caling the church a cult because he couldn't walk with me into the doors of the MTC haha :)  

Funny Story (well kinda) Comitted a girl to baptism last Thursday.  She didn't show for church on Sunday.  Later found out that she wasn't at church is because she had a massive hang-over!  So it's a work in progress, we might need to teach the Word of Wisdom!!   WORK IS GETTING DONE HERE!

This is a "Quad"
(we call it that because it has
4 books of scripture in one)

Thank you Mom for the box you sent, I love the Quad, now I am trying to figure out how to mark it.  The magnet is hilarious "Remember Who You Are" because my Comps mom told him that as well. Cool that you scared me all the while I drove with taking my license if I got tickets...Because of my record I got to drive as a "greenie".  The only trainer that couldn't drive is mine because he is used to driving on the opposite side of the road!  Thus if I'd had a ticket or accident I wouldn't be with him OR be able to drive!  THX :)  Also, thanks for the Rugby articles.  You took them from a New Zealand Website didn't you?  Awesome!

Elder Sobczak on his baptism day
 with Ayris,Nanny and Apryl playing piano in the background!

I really am loving the mission. Its a hard life to get used to and I have to watch myself so much in everything i do, say, wear, and look like. Its teaching me a lot, even if it is only that I need to grow up and be an adult!  hanging out with high school kids for the past year and did not need to grow up, so its something I have to do now out here in the mission field. Thanks so much for keeping this all in your prayers, I do need them. I really do love you all so much and I am learning a lot.

I have been, and am being humbled here ... A LOT!  This is a learning process, and I learn for I must learn.  I have to change my outlook so much or I will be held back a lot  in my progression.  Love you all be safe I keep you in my prayers you guys are the Bom dot com!!
Weekly thought: If anyone ever says "Before Earth we were in the Pre-Exsistence" or something like that call them to reptentence. We have always Exsisted we all need to call it the right name "Pre-Earth Life". Look in I believe the 93rd section of the Doctrine & Covenants and you will find were it talks about it. 
Love you go and Read it, Ponder, Pray, Discuss :)
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/93.30?lang=eng#29&30   

Also note additonal links to read along with this blog today;) 
http://www.lds.org/churchmagazines/EN_2010_10___09210_000_000.pdf
http://www.lds.org/new-era/2013/02/mornings-with-promise?lang=eng&query=newport+temple
http://www.lds.org/liahona/2005/11/forgiveness?lang=eng&query=newport+temple

"Fourth Floor Last Door"
"That's What's Up"
Elder Amric Zane Sobczak
California, Carlsbad, USA
January 2013-January 2015

Don't Worry I am Here...

Do not worry Amric is here...

Yesterday was Lincolns birthday so instead of just celebrating it on PRESIDENTS day California likes to split up the birthdays and Lincoln, Washington and all other presidents get their own day to be celebrated. Yes it is ridiculous i know :)

So, this week has been a tough but a good one at the same time. I wrote this in a letter I sent home at sometime but I loose track and can't remember when or even if i really did haha!   Life is tough out here. You get ready and arrive our here thinking you know all you need to know because everyone at home tells you "oh you're going to be great", "you'll be awesome",  "you know so much" and so on and so forth! It makes you "Puffed Up" So to speak. When you get out here and you realize you can't get by with the basics anymore. You have to gain a deeper understanding of the gospel not for your investigators, they are fine with the basics, but the depth is for you. When you come to a deeper understanding you know how everything connects so you can explain to the people you are teaching in a simple bold statement. When you give them that statement and they understand it - well, it makes the 2 or 3 hours of studying that one topic worth it haha...

When I get home you guys will not even know who I am!  One reason will be because I have completely changed my view on studying. I never knew how important it was or really how to "Study." I have a study journal with all my notes, scriptures, analogies, insights etc...are also connected into each principle of Preach My Gospel. My PMG is very colorful and I have not even gotten close to finshing my studies...dont think I will until maybe the plane ride on the way home hahaha....  I know now why the Missionary must be converted when they come out here or that they must become converted while they are out here before they can ever imagine of truly expecting to convert other people. 

Another way I have learned a little more is teaching seminary...The seminary teacher for the Dana Point/ San Juan Capistrano Wards is in the Dana Point ward and is busy with work because he does something with surgeries. So we have taught seminary probably 5 or 6 times in the four and a half weeks I have been in the mission field. I can feel for the kids because just a year ago i was in their shoes...6 in the morning some old person telling you something you already think you know asking why must i be here..   It helps understanding that and having compassion for them being able to relate to their "feelings"  because it helps me at least know how to teach ...  Mom I dont know how you did it for 17 years...Its so intense...

The people here in this area are awesome. The members are great and they love to take care of us. 

The days are pretty much the same everyday. I Wake up at 620 go run for half an hour get ready, study, seek people out or study, then eat repeat eat teach members/investigators return home plan, sleep repeat hahaha!

 I am having a positive attitude about it all so I am getting better.  :) Yesterday on P-Day we went "thrifting". I hit three second hand stores big lots marshals and ross. I bought three ties (of the skinny variety) and a pair of vans which where a steal. We then ate at staks which is  a pancake place here in Dana Point. So good we will eat there when we return to visit. 

So thats my week really..sorry theres not much more but not a lot of crazy spiritual experiences are happening too.

Question to ponder: If there is oposition in all things even for those who have seen Jesus Christ in this dispensation, if they have seen perfection and light in the flesh (Christ) who else have they seen????

example: Adam and Ever Garden of Eden, JSH 1:15-16, "My soul was racked with torment,"  just a question i am throwing out there for people to think about. 

You'll be proud to know that I do know how to shop, buy, pay for and cook food for myself!  I cook lunch for myself everyday.  I'm learning to eat food out of my comfort zone like this week I had homemade tomato stew!  My comp put a half a head of lettuce down the garbage disposal so that was fun clogged it up bad.  Water and ground up lettuce everywhere, disgusting!

My comps are awesome one from Colorado one from Sandy I believe. We went to 5guys the other night after Stake Conference, that was nice.  We are teaching people and the members of the ward are AWESOME and VERY HELPFUL, I'll write about them in a letter.  Happy Birthday to Pax and Olaf, Hi to everyone, hugs and all that - REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE, CHURCHING IS TRUE!

No email this week :(

Really??? 

We are already skipping an email day!!!!

  I'm not impressed :(

April 2012

Jan 2013

Grab the Tissue!

 Well, well well....My how fast this past week has gone. It doesnt seem like its been 7 days since I last checked in. This has been a good week but it has been hard at the same time. 

We are teaching the "word" to the people of Dana Point and some are accepting of it...

   Im slowly but surely becoming a better teacher to the investigators and to the members. This family that we are teaching moving closer and closer to baptism as a family. Keli told us that if we ever needed a place to stop in to eat, say hello, or just talk her house was always opened  to us. She has her own business. She said after we are done with our missions to come back and she would teach us the basics of surfing. She's a total surfer chick.

   Well, we are part time bikes and I dont know if you have read anything about Orange County but the hills here are AWFUL. Really makes me appreciate having a car on the days we have it. I am becoming better at bike riding though and I can feel my legs toning up since we run for thirty minutes up and down hills everyday and we ride bikes every other day. Our mission area is huge.

Sunday we had a cool experience with a member family. We show up after stake conference to have lunch and this girl and guy are there...Assuming they are members we ask if they go to singles ward they laugh at the question say they should and that they are engaged. Cool cool all normal...well midway into lunch we start talking about how kids these days dont know the 'WHY' and that is what leads them to drink and smoke because they dont truly understand why they arent supposed to. At this point, the girl who was there says "Actually, I'm not a Mormon and I want to know why I cant have the occassional drink cause I dont think it is bad."  We were caught off guard because we thought she was a member. Turns out shes a non member renting a room from the family and she got engaged to a less active member of the church...
Well we answered her question helped her know how to talk to friends about her thoughts and then she asked "Why do you guys think you need a prophet?" We answered back with a question! We can come back and have more discussions with you. Long story short we got her number and picked up a new investigator. Pretty awesome how that happened.

My first Sunday in the ward I sang in the Ward Choir...Stake conference adult session I sang in the choir!  At our Zone Training meeting I was called to lead the music!  Some lady in another ward in our building said she wanted me and Elder Armstrong to sing a duet in her ward!  I think the Lord might be trying to send me a message that I need to pick up singing again!. Starting to get my singing voice back.  It is like the LORD taught if given a talent and it's not used - You'll have it taken away!

Thank you all so much for your letters. They are really inspiring and make the week better. There is talk my mission will reach the 250 missionaries by the end of the year...if that happens they will split the mission into two. So who knows I could  serve in 2 missions while i am gone for 2 years!  So keep that in mind.

I have the family picture on my desk and it keeps me going everyday. Im writing in my journal so that i will always remember these times. In my prayers I always - no matter where I am  ask - "Help us to always remember who we represent and who we are" (Grab the tissue box mom!). Ill send you more in a letter

I love you all so much. I have been out for six weeks already I know weird to think.

 Keep on Keeping on...Again I love you all so much

--

"Fourth Floor Last Door"

"That's What's Up"

Elder Amric Zane Sobczak

California, Carlsbad, USA