Teaching the Gospel is a Miracle happening...

Hey family hope all is going well for you this week and that you had a wonderful Sunday experience yesterday!! :) This week ended up being really good for us and we had a lot of fun and saw of cool things come about. 

http://meetthemormons.com/post/99500117644/meet-the-mormons-new-movie?cid=HPWE100814481

We spent the first few days of the week going through and sharing the flyers for the Meet the Mormons movie to the members in the ward, it was really fun to see how excited a lot of the members were for this movie to come out and how excited they were to share it with their friends, it turned out being an awesome experience and one that I am sure will help bring a lot of people into the church at least give a better understanding.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-08-013-daily-bread-experience?category=mormon-messages/mormon-messages-2013&lang=eng

Friday we had a cool experience stopping by former investigators.

• We stopped by and he was super excited to see us and ask us to come in to his home. We sat and talked for a little bit got to know each other and he said he would love to have us over for lessons, so we set up that appointment I am grateful and super excited to discuss the gospel of Jesus Christ with him. He was raised Roman Catholic and in his religious journey, he has come back to this faith as his true religion and in that religion it is written down the apostasy didn't happen and is having a hard time accepting that it truly happened, so we shall see. 
• The other cool experience was this former member. We stopped by her house and she was super excited to see us too.  She still remembered the missionaries that started teaching her like 5 years ago, so that is impressive. She told us that she wanted to have us over and set up an appointment for a lesson.
  

The ward is going good, we are working hard and doing all we can to work our butts off to show the ward we are working and doing the things necessary to bring our own people to church and into the waters of baptism. So, hopefully as we pick up our own work the ward will start to come out to play too and help us, but we wont be waiting for them, we are just going to go and see great things happen I know it!!!

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2010-07-128-obeying-spiritual-promptings?lang=eng

Example of giving a priesthood blessing to someone who is sick

• Last night we had this awesome experience, we were walking around at about 7:30 and as we were going back to the car a thought ran through my mind lets go see someone and the name was specific.  It is night time on a Sunday good criteria for at least a "hello!" - we have not been able to catch this guy for 2 months almost. While we are walking around we come across a man with 2 kids walking around and so we go and talk to him, and offer him a Restoration pamphlet which he takes and we continue on our way. We see the door to this guys house that we have been prompted to go see and it is open, we knock with no answer, we then ring the door bell and about 25 seconds later (we usually leave at 30) a girl comes to the door. She's like elders how are you? we are like oh hey we are looking for so and so. She is like "Oh yeah he is my Father-in-law, he is out walking my 2 kids (remember the pamphlet guy, that was him) but you have the right house." Thank you for coming and She goes on to say "My husband has been really sick all day and I have been asking to get a blessing but he hasn't accepted, but now that you are here could you give him one?" We of course respond; we can, so we go in, give him the blessing, after we are done he says to his wife, How did you get a hold of the missionaries? She says honestly I didn't,  they just stopped by looking for your dad. So he said "elders tell your families thank you for supporting you because you are answering prayers and helping a lot of people." It was a really cool experience especially after a testimony meeting talking about following promptings, it was just so awesome to see it all play out and to look back on all the things that had to happen to get us to where we were at that time. 

Anyways not to much else to report on for the week. Miracles are going to happen I just know it!! You FAMILY are the best and I know Heavenly Father has a work for me to do as I close up my mission. Have a great week and know how much I appreciate all you do for me!!

-- 

"Fourth Floor Last Door"

Elder Amric Zane Sobczak

California, Carlsbad, USA

January 2013-June 2013

California, Irvine, USA

July 2013-December 2014

Challenges brought with Miracles

So this week has been full of weird stories and miracles. 

Lets start with the weird stories and then we will move into the miracles that happened this week...

So weird story number one: 

We got a call Wednesday morning from the elders in Cardiff with this conversation happening
Elder Ouimette: You Elder are not going to get the car today
Elder Neal: What happened?
Elder Ouimette: Actually nobody is getting the car for a long time.
Elder Neal: ...What happened??
Elder Ouimette: Elder Moon rear ended a car in the Vons parking lot...the car is getting towed to the shop...
Yep your son has just been put on full time bike in Carmel Valley. At least the weather is perfect. The lame thing is that we had killed ourselves on the bike Tuesday and Monday, biking around 40-50 miles expecting the car to take a break, nope no break for us. So that has been fun to adjust to. 

Weird Story number two: 

We did a service moving some people ;)  they had no idea what they wanted or where things needed to go. Person is putting a wood floor upstairs so we had to move all the furniture out of the way. We would move it and they would be like no no not there, move it again, actually put it back! Or no no do not lift that its to heavy (nothing more than 100 pounds) And again thursday for the same amount of time. Moving everything back! 

Weird story three: 

This challenge came in a phone call at 5:00pm asking for a lesson at 7:30 so we grabbed Brother B. Went and showed up and started talking to her and she just unloads ... we ended up giving her a blessing of protection, comfort, counsel and more protection.  Super crazy time. Thats what the mission is for. We let her home teacher know (and that's what home teachers are for). 

Weird story number four: 

A lady we met with on friday I think it was saw us on the side of the road at 8:50 pm at night and started talking to us about how her husband  -- we she said he is high on prescription drugs and her daughter is taking a friend to planned parenthood and she was freaking out. She just kept saying pray for me and help me. We prayed with her on the side of the road at 9:00 at night and she asked us to go bless her home. So at 9:15 pm we stood outside her home and blessed it. Again another weird experince that makes a mission full of stories. 

Miracle: 

Short and to the point: #1 Sister Thanos (bless her <3),  this week she had a difficult time to get member meals to us, so she brought us food for thursday and friday! She made philly steak, onions mashed piotatoes, vegetables and gravy with hoggie rolls, she also brought homemade chicken alfredo like 3 or 4 pounds with homemade apple crisp and vanilla ice cream. So awesome!! it was so awesome to see there are those poeple out there :) #2 Oh and Brother Wilcox saw us walking on the street the day we found out we lost the car and took us out to lunch. So your son is getting taken car of.  #3 Met with Troy Small who is the most solid recent convert ever. Has a rock foundation Testimony.

The work out here is going super well, I am changing physically and spiritually. I know this Gospel and Church is true without a doubt in my mind. 

Hey Hey Look at you guys!  The house looks amazing, you guys are st
uds and hope all works out for you. Stay awesome stay classy and Remember I love you so very much.

Deep thought: 

Do we have the faith Nephi showed in 1st Nephi 17:8-9

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/17?lang=eng

Do you think Mormon Pioneers had what is
introduced in 1st Nephi 16:10?
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/16?lang=eng

Love you so much...Transfer calls are this saturday, a week early so next week we will know for final and certain if I am leaving or staying. Love you lots and that is all. Have a great week.

-- 

"Fourth Floor Last Door"

"That's What's Up"

Elder Amric Zane Sobczak

California, Carlsbad, USA

January 2013-January 2015

I am a WitNess...

Let's start the letter with some interesting news:
I am being Transferred. 
Today is my last day in gorgeous Dana Point. 
Hard to accept, but hey! the Lord knows more than I do so I know that I am needed at this point in time to go to another place the Lord needs me at.   We have a thought, as an apartment that I am going to get assigned to the Temecula Stake because in 4 weeks Murietta (Mur-e-etta) Stake is becoming a part of Carlsbad mission from the Riverside mission.
No missionaries from the Riverside mission are staying so they are going to be whitewashing a whole Zone. Thus we think a lot of us will get assigned out to Temecula, then moved into Murietta in four weeks. I will go and do but dang ...

1. It is HOT out there in the summer like 115*! 
2. Whichever I get assigned tonight will probably determine the mission I get assigned to!
3. If I get assigned out there I wont be able to come to any baptisms in Dana Point because I will be to far away. So who knows???   but I will let you guys know next week where I am located. Mail still goes to same place so dont worry about mail you have already sent, I will get it, AND keep sending them!!!

Okay, now for some area news from the past week of being here in Dana Point. We have been crazy busy in getting the area ready for new missionaries to come in and that has taken a lot of time out of our week - because of all the stuff we needed to do (Planners, Map, Appointments, different things like that). But hey! it has made the time go crazy fast. Weird to think that it is the 9th of April already. Time is moving so fast and I am sure every transfer will just get faster and faster throughout the next two years. 

http://www.lds.org/?lang=eng

Elder Henry B Eyring 

Elder L. Tom Perry

Elder Fallabella

Elder J R Holland

Conference was amazing. First off, did you hear President Eyring Basically say out loud he has seen Jesus Christ "I am a witness of the resurrection of Christ" and "I know as surely as Joseph Smith did in the grove".  All the missionaries were freaking out that he said that. I mean we already know they have, cuz really they are apostles! but still, when they say it like that it just gives you goosebumps.   Also, It looks like Elder Perry has been taking Pulpit Pounding tips from our boy Elder Holland. Man, didnt Elder Perry throw down? It was AWESOME!!! SIN WILL ALWAYS BE SIN!! THE blessings of God are IMMUTABLE!! Yeah, I will tell you what, I totally felt the power dont know about you but hey! that was one of the best conference sessions I can remember.   Did Elder Fallabella come speak in Omaha? I know his name and could have sworn while he was speaking that I had heard that voice at a stake conference adult session. Let me know if he did...What about a temple in Cedar City huh?? The conference crowd gasped when he said that, who would have thought another Temple in Utah. 

Lets see what else???? 

K and her girls are doing good. We had an AMAZING lesson with them last thursday night. It was so cool I can't really explain what happened, just that the spirit was so strong and I could feel it testifying of truth to her and everyone else that was in the room as well. After the lesson I had the opportunity to give her a blessing of comfort and counsel and it was super cool. I seriously cannot remember anything I said, but when Sister T was telling about what she was feeling during it she said in her "50 odd years of life that was one of the best blessing she has ever heard". That it was so well worded. 
She and Brother T said I remind them of Nephi, Large in stature and spirit hahaha! That was really cool to hear that from them. They said I will be a great missionary and affect a lot of lives with the way I teach. I wish I could remember what I said but thats the thing, I didnt say it, the Spirit said it through me, those words are not for me to remember, They were meant for K and everyone else and are for them to remember. Our new investigator S and her less active boyfriend J are doing amazingly well! They are both honest seekers of truth and just want to know if God is really there and what He wants for them in their lives right now.

I got to say my goodbyes last night to the Rubalcava's, Tomlinson's, and Keli and her family. It sucked to say goodbye but i know I will be back to visit when the mission is over so this is not the last time I will see all of them. Brother Rubalcava told me I had to come and visit and he would take me out on his sail boat and we could go to Catalina Island. So parents, put that in your planners for April 2015. Coming back to visit Amric's mission!

Tell Dad this, Sell the Mazda  I love the car but its just a possesion and we do not need it right now. I love the car but we dont truly need it.  In this three months I have seen a single mom with a 3 year old child with severe ADHD be happy living in a 300 SQ foot flat paying 900 a month for rent. I have also seen people driving Ferrari's, Lamborghini's, Aston Martin's, and all sorts of other exotics.  People living in Ginormous 6,7,8 thousand sq foot homes be happy as well. The Mom has the Gospel and the others do not. Who will be happier in the long run? The mom with the Gospel and her child. Family and religion are two things that dont mix well here in So Cal. all you need to know is that I could have a 30 year old Lemon car or a Aston Martin. I will be happy no matter what because I have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and a family that loves me no matter what. The car is a possession that will go away. The family - the love and faith we have, that won't go away and thats what makes everything worth it. Sell the car, its just a possession! 

I know you are probably like who is this and where is my son? But this mission has changed me a lot up to this point and will continue to change me over the next two years so WATCH OUT!

The experiences that I have been able to have these past three months have shaped me and molded me onto the path of who I need to become. Heavenly Father has a specific plan for me in whatever mission I end up in. I know that I have had experiences and a certain testimony that is meant for at least one person in every area I serve in. With that Knowledge I close my time in Dana Point, I did not die with knowledge left in me and I will never die without my testimony out on the table. Stay strong to the faith, know that I am out here because I have a testimony that I was selected by revealation to serve in this part of the Lords vineyard for a specific task or reason. I love you all and hope all is going well. Stay true to the faith and do all you can to do the Lord's will.

I love you all...Peace Out!

"Fourth Floor Last Door"

"That's What's Up"

Elder Amric Zane Sobczak

California, Carlsbad, USA

January 2013-January 2015

He is snugly tucked in

This entry got lost in the cloud somewhere it was written on Jan 2!

Today is bittersweet.
Amric is now available for letters ASAP!!!
He was very anxious to get on with this. Jenni told him "don't worry Amric when you get in there they will put an orange dot on you so others will just know you are new today!" Amric responded "ain't nobody stickin no dot on me"!!
What do you wanna bet - they stuck a dot on him!!!!??
We spent the 31st with Tyler, Amric was glad to see him and get to visit! Tyler gave him a bunch of ties - he knows how to pick 'em!! He gave lots of advice and shared several stories! We miss him.
We were also glad to visit with Noyes and Parker's and here story upon story! Amric said he was glad to hear the things Jenni, Maurice, Zane and Marion had to say about serving a mission.
Anona and her family shared New Year's Eve with us, what a wonderful family! We had a great great time. We played games and ate food til our faces hurt from laughing and our stomachs hurt from eating! Awesome family!
Come wed jan 2nd. Austin, Anona Sammy and felicity said goodbye. Apryl facetimed adios Elder and Marion, Zane, Jenni the nieces and porter came to see him off! He was grateful for support from family.
What a great kid with a wonderful personality I know he will bless the lives of others for the next two years and that if he is obedient and prayerful his life will be blessed for the eternities!

God bless you elder Amric Zane Sobczak!!

He's Set Apart

He spent the day with his best friend Brianna and he went to say good-bye to the friends from Burke.  Today was better than Christmas!  I think Christmas was tuff, no "worldly presents" the money was all spent on "the mission".  Reality has sunk in, and time running short - Christmas was brutal.

Tonight we went to the stake center to be "set apart" - a blessing to guide and bless Amric as he embarks on this next two years.

The things that stuck out to me were the comments about obedience.  The idea that he should immediately start "opening his mouth" proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Tons of blessings if he is in tune and seeking after the spirit and in the mission will follow the rules.  Also that he must communicate weekly with the parents, but he hesitated...(I'll be curious to see how he communicates) he said it was in accordance with the Mission President.  Amrics spirit is humble and anxious.

Say your prayers for him and us!!! (teehe!)  Tomorrow we are off Ayris, Amric and Us... to start brand new books not even new chapters!  Hold on to your hats!!!!