Easter Promptings Miracles and Traction

So we had a pretty good week out here in the good ole' California Irvine Mission. The main cool thing was that Elder Neil L Anderson came and talked to all of us and then on Sunday for Easter he came to our stake and did a Stake Conference. It was awesome. Some Highlights of his and others from the weekend talks are as follows:

• We are the Salt of the Earth. Salt is put into to bread to raise the bread, we are sent out to "Raise the Faith." I thought that was a really good way to look at that because I have always looked at that phrase as a negative, this is from Elder Anderson.

• Sometimes the Lord knows we have the Faith to be healed and have Faith in Christ to heal us, but sometimes what is being tested is our "Faith to Endure." How well will we continue to be faithful and obedient when we are not seeing the outcome right off the bat of doing the good things. I have determined that that is what is being tested with me right now. Will I continue to do what needs to be done even when nothing seems to be happening. Obviously tweak things that need to but ultimately will I stay obedient or will I say it doesn't matter. So that was really cool, that thought came from our stake president.

• We need to be more thinking of ways to forgive the people around us. I mean come on, Christ forgave the people that were killing Him and the people that were next to him on the cross. This came from Sister Haney I believe, wife of area seventy

• Again, Apostles have seen the Resurrected Christ. Elder Anderson read President Packer's testimony from last conference and even now, I just feel the Spirit confirm to me the truthfulness of His words, his added testimony to that of Joseph Smith. Elder Anderson then said, "I add my witness, I am His Witness, He Lives, I am His Special Witness." Oh man the spirit that was there when He said that, Oh man even now it gives me the chills.

• Elder Anderson talked about all the places he has been and will be going to and basically rebuked the whole stake with out them even realizing it, it was so subtle. He basically said that the people in third world countries are much happier because they are humble. Again I don't have the exact quote but it was much more subtle than what I just said.

Those are the things I remember. It was an awesome Easter Weekend. On Wednesday night right before I went to bed I felt prompted to start a 24 hour fast for better guidance and strength in "finding" and to know how to stay more consecrated. We had Zone Training Thursday and Elder Campbell was sitting next to me, he is another DL in the Zone. He was talking about how he just started a 40 day fast, where you give up a list of like 10 things for 40 days, in the hopes to become more consecrated and become more open to the spirit. I was like; "Oh man sweet I will do it with you". He was like; "you have to start it with a 24 hour fast". I was like; "I already am, I felt prompted to start last night". He was like; "No way, I was trying to find a companion to do it with because mine isn't".  So it was cool to see how following promptings will end up helping someone as well as helping yourself. You have to follow the prompting as they come into your mind.   Don't ever pass up an opportunity to be guided by the spirit.

Nothing really else to mention. Except Monday after emailing we saw Kobe Bryant and Fashion Island, a mall here in Newport Beach. He was getting his Five Guys. Pretty cool. So lets see....Oh so I am officially accepted to SUU for Spring 2015. I also applied for the WUE scholarship, the lady over new freshman scholarships told me to follow up in October to see if I am being considered for the scholarship. Still waiting to hear back from BYU so we shall see how that works out. Really would love to go to either one,  so we shall see what happens???

Nothing else to mention. Transfer is going good, already week 4 cannot believe it. Hope all is going well, the loneliness is kind of going away, my comp just goes to bed super early so I never know what to do from 9:30 to 10:30, but I do have stuff to do. But it is going better so I am doing all good. Being on a mission is hard in alot of different ways, even though it is so awesome too.

Love you all so much Hope everything is going well. I have a package to send, but it can wait until I have a new address to send it too. Love you all so much, Thank you for everything you do. 

Oh quick side note, could you send me my cleats? The orange/yellow ones I wore in rugby? we do a lot of outside sport (soccer rugby ultimate Frisbee) so it would be nice to have some traction.Love you all so much keep up awesome work!

 Love you all so much :)

-- 

"Fourth Floor Last Door"

Elder Amric Zane Sobczak

California, Carlsbad, USA

January 2013-June 2013

California, Irvine, USA

July 2013-December 2014

Be obedient. Keep the Commandments!

Hey there family and friends of My Blog world,

So I just wanted to stop in and say hello and give you an update on some impressions that have come to me over this past week...

So let me start off with saying that this area is pretty amazing. The members out here take awesome care of us and are always willing to help us out with rides, going to lessons, splits amnd loads of other things. They really love us! So having good Elders in the ward  - they love it and want to help us out as much as they can. Elder Armstrong and I had to go and make the announcement that the area would be split for proselyting and so we would need to have two dinner calendars because we cannot leave our areas to go eat especially since we get referrals from members and we cant teach someone from another area. So we said this in Relief Society and oh man you would have thought we were telling these women the ward boundary was changing and they were switching wards. These women freaked out that we were not going to be there missionaries anymore and they werent going to get to feed us! It was pretty funny, made me want to sit in on Relief Society, probably would be a bad idea though because I would just get a kick out of everything that happens, to many tears for me thats for sure!  Ward Members - DO YOUR MISSIONARY WORK!!!!

the armoire at home!

So oh man, Friday and Saturday were some crazy days. Friday Elder Armstrong and I had to go and help this sister in the ward pick up some furniture to bring it back to her new place that she got. Okay so no big deal!  But we were the only two people who showed up to help. We had to load up this Armoire - I am talking 8 feet tall rounded top flat back nothing to grab onto (think that huge one that we have drug around)! That thing maybe weighed 150 but with 70% of that weight being in the top half and only being able to lift straight up from the bottom it made for a fun time!  Especially having to go down two flights of stairs. It was ridiculous! But hey we got it down all in one piece and loaded into the bed of a truck.

Well, it wasn't as bad as this!
but you see my point!

   Dad you'll love this part, the whole load in the bed of the truck, the big cabinet thing, queen sized head board and dresser the length of a F-150 Small Box and about 2 feet wide were all strapped down with what???? BUNGEE CORDS!  oh man I almost died looking at it. We had to drive back down the highway at 70 MPH with all this stuff with an open tailgate with bungy cords securing it down. Needless to say I stayed my distance from the back of the truck, actually once we left I was never behind the truck for fear of it falling on our little Corolla. Then Saturday we got up and at 8AM go to finish the move. 4 storage units!  So that was an easier move because the Elders Quorum showed up to help with that one. Halfway through our move - so at about 930/10 in the morning we get a call to let us know we have to go help another family move into apartment!  Yes, 2 moves back to back with what we did on Friday, It was a long couple days. Good thing I have experience at this since we've moved so much!!! 

Elder Strong at the MTC

 But hey the second lady we moved in on Saturday moved in from Laguna Hills 2nd ward and knows Elder Strong because thats the ward he is serving in and she is an active ward missionary!  :) So she said he said "hello, and that he wanted to see how I was doing".  It's always nice when stuff like that happens.

Although it would have been nice to have your truck here and follow behind in my own car!!!

Quick update on some of the souls that I am responsible for :)

K and her family are doing well. They are set - they know baptism is the right thing for them to do.  Couple of changes have to be made, pray for them to have the courage and strength to make them.   She and the girls love studying the scriptures and coming to church. A the younger one actually read the 3rd article of faith and prayed in primary this past week. So proud of her.  So they are going to get baptized before the end of May (that's the goal).

M Is again doing awesome. He has found a love for Gospel Principles and it has been helping him develop a better understanding of the Gospel and the Scriptures. He has started having experiences with the Book of Mormon and is moving closer and closer to Baptism. Again just like K he will be baptized in May, hopefully more towards the end of April. He loves the Gospel so muich and he can see how much it is helping him in his life.

E has her questions and concerns about this whole "religion thing". Its super weird, she beleives in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father but she also believes in Evolutionism. She has questions and concerns which when answered will help her move forward and become more converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She is courious, one interesting thing that I have noticed is the difference between her(Mid/late 20's), M & K(Late 40's/Early 50's). The older have had more life experiences and trials and they can see the Gospel truly changing thier lives. But E has not gone through those yet so she doesn't quite see the need for "religion".

Spiritually preparing - Had a super spiritual happen this week?? We had a mind blowing companionship study on 2nd Nephi 31:7 which was absolutely amazing.  From dictionary questions and other church materials are the KEY to a deeper understanding of why everything happens in this world. Challenge is: study for yourself and we can discuss, feel free to write me what you think that the scripture is saying.  Very Cool Stuff!

7 Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be ^aobedient unto him in keeping his commandments.

Cool experience at the bike shop where I got my bike fixed:

The owner knew we were missionaries and that we need our bikes a lot to travel around and get all of our work done. He had a friend, actually it was his bestfriend when he was growing up who was a member and they grew really close which gave him a deep love for the Mormon people and religion. He talked with us a little about all his experiences in the church and then when he handed me the final amount for the bike "fix" he told me they knocked about 20 dollars off and did some extra work that needed to get done but did not charge for it.  All because he had a great experience with the church while growing up. There are good people out there, you just have to wear a suit, nametag and tie to find them :) 

Tender mercies that help really go a long way, especially in missionary work.

side note:

All the Biking and running every morning really keep me awake, help maintain weight and I really feel good all around.  

All is moving well out here in Dana Point California.  Can you believe that they are making a law banning plastic bags from the stores?  Starting April 1st Dana Point is issuing an ordinance that prohibits retailers from using ...Plastic bags!!!!?!

 I am  Glad the weather is not as bad here, as it is in Omaha but I do miss home everyday.   Thank you for all the support and prayers and the help that you give me. It really does mean a lot to know that there are lots of people out there who are always thinking and praying about us as missionaries. Just keep praying I need those prayers!  Thanks for the "Green" box Mom, it took me a couple says to click! "Oh Pistachios are green, green box, leprechaun stickers! -- OH!!! This week is St. Patricks Day" 

Stay Classy and know that I love all of you and all that you do. The Gospel is true and I know that through a deep undertstanding of the gospel your whole life will be able to be turned into a even better one. 

Stay Safe Godspeed

"Fourth Floor Last Door"

"That's What's Up"

Elder Amric Zane Sobczak

California, Carlsbad, USA

January 2013-January 2015