CSDM AP Reunion

For the past two years, the APs in our mission have been holding onto a surfboard and a framed painting of the San Diego Temple. Every past assistant has signed it, and the plan was that those two things would be given to President and Sister Giménez right before they leave!

We coordinated a time for all of the former APs that served with President and Sister Giménez to hop on a zoom call so we could surprise them with the surfboard and painting! It turned out to be a super cool experience, it made Pres and Sis Giménez cry to see everyone and chat with them. All 16 of the former APs made it too.

We are transfer planning tonight with President. Times flying!

I've been diving into the Old Testament lately. It's very interesting to learn about all the animal sacrifices they did back in the day in anticipation of the Savior's Atonement. And all the information about the ancient temples and the priesthood is pretty interesting. 

My new bootleg Military Relations name tag came today. Elder Udall and I both ordered some to wear to the MCRD!

Elder Pettit

One Year

Hello!

Lots of exchanges this week, from the Imperial Valley to Ocean Beach!! I don't have any time to write, so enjoy the pictures! 

I'll hit one year as a set-apart missionary tomorrow. This is the Lord's work!

Elder Pettit 

Yoked To The Savior

Hello everyone!

This week was jam packed, so was today! We just finished having a New Missionary Orientation for a Tagalog Elder. This was a week full of spiritual learning and growth. I feel like I learned more about Jesus Christ and His Atonement this week than I have throughout my whole mission. 

At zone conference, President and Sister Giménez led a discussion with all the missionaries about what Christ's Atonement, or his sacrifice and victory over sin and death, means to us - along with how it can help us. We all prepared for this discussion by reading three past general conference talks by Elder David A Bednar. Here's a quote from one of the talks, which is called "Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease" from April 2014:

"The unique burdens in each of our lives help us to rely upon the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah (see 2 Nephi 2:8). I testify and promise the Savior will help us to bear up our burdens with ease (see Mosiah 24:15). As we are yoked with Him through sacred covenants and receive the enabling power of His Atonement in our lives, we increasingly will seek to understand and live according to His will. We also will pray for the strength to learn from, change, or accept our circumstances rather than praying relentlessly for God to change our circumstances according to our will. We will become agents who act rather than objects that are acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:14). We will be blessed with spiritual traction."

Jesus Christ's Atonement is something that enables us to overcome and persevere through struggles and difficulties. We are guaranteed support if we "yoke" ourselves to the Savior. 

 

It's been a great week. I love it out here! This is the Lord's work!

Elder Pettit

$1.09 Fish Tacos

There's not a ton to write about this week!

We had 5 exchanges this week. After one of them in Encinitas, we went to El Pueblo's Mexican Food to get the famous 99 cent fish tacos. Upon arrival, we saw that they had an updated sign out front that said the fish tacos now cost $1.09! So corrupt!

Haha, anyways, I hope everyone's having a good week!

Elder Pettit 

Traje Week

This last week was super busy! We had transfers, New Missionary Orientation, Missionary Leadership Council, and we had to do a ton of little administrative stuff as well. 

 We had a great lesson the other day with a man named Perry. We read that he previously had been taught quite a bit, so we decided to be a little bit bold in the lesson. He said he wanted to improve his standing before God, so we talked about how he can do that. We shared the five steps of the gospel of Jesus Christ as found in the scriptures: 

1. Faith in Jesus Christ 

2. Repentance

3. Baptism

4. The Gift of the Holy Ghost

5. Enduring to the End

At the beginning of the lesson, he told us he just wanted to have a study, he didn't want to "join". By the end of it, he said he'd be willing to find a new job so he can come to church on Sunday's and get baptized soon. It was an awesome lesson!

The MCRD this Sunday was a super uplifting experience. The testimonies that the graduating Marines bore were powerful. Many of the things they experience truly do give them a deeper understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. There were lots of recruits who wanted priesthood blessings after sacrament meeting. I think we all administered about three of four blessings each.

We went to the temple this morning with President and Sister Giménez. Afterwards, they told us that the incoming president, President Merritt, wants to come to lessons with us on one of the days after they arrive. It'll be a super interesting transition period for sure!

Enjoy the pictures this week, I think I wore a suit 6 of the last 8 days!

¡Espero que todos tengan una buena semana!