It's May! Week #91

Hey Momma! 

Wow you already got my return itinerary? Haha what the heck, that is pretty weird to think about. I cant believe its May either! It's also starting to get warm here, yesterday it hit 105 so that was a little hot. Just trying to prepare myself for the hot summer again. Luckily I'm not biking in the heat so it isn't too bad...

Yeah our area is doing really well right now! Marqus and Amanda are doing GREAT and are still planning on being baptized this Saturday! It will be one of the coolest experiences but also a crazy busy day😂 I've never had 2 baptisms in one day! Amanda has come such a long way, she has changed so much because of the Gospel and she is basically a new person. You take one look at her and you know that she loves the Gospel. 

Marcus is the same exact way! He acts basically like a Mormon already,  and is super prepared and ready for the Gospel. He has been coming to church and has grown a ton. He now understands what his purpose is he has a lot of joy because of that. His baptism is going to be so fun, his friend group reminds me a lot of mine. The homies are real, these guys have been amazing examples to Marqus and that's the reason why he was interested in the first place. If we could just always live what we believe and stick to our standards, we would be baptizing everyone. They would see the light of Christ in us and want to have it too.  I'm excited to be a much better member missionary when I get home :)

Yeah I think I will probably finish my mission in this area, I don't want to move again. Now that I'm in YSA I'd rather not go back to a family ward, that's sounds bad but YSA is super fun :)

Anyways so about my eye, I got some sample daily contacts that I've been using for the last few days. They are doing good so far. I may need to get some when my sample run out. I'm nor sure though, I will have to talk to my doctor. Hopefully I can get back to normal soon.

So I had a cool experience this week. I had a friend from home, who isn't a member, email me saying that she has been reading the Book of Mormon and met with missionaries for the first time this week! I had taught her a little bit a year ago over Facebook but she wasn't ready yet,  and now she is! I'm so happy for her! She will most likely be baptized here pretty soon.  There isn't a better feeling then knowing one of your friends is discovering the truths of the Gospel! 

I think that was it for the week. Sharing the Gospel is a party, seriously it's super fun when you understand how to do it. I'm excited to continue to share the Gospel, I love it! Have a good week Momma! I love you!

Mission work crew

I ran into the Garner family at the temple this week!
I was so happy to see them all :)

This is Marcus, (wearing the black hat)
 who will be getting baptized on
Saturday, thanks in part to the amazing
example of his crew (friends).

It's Summa Time Again..Week #90

Hey Momma!

Sorry for the day late email.  Our P-day was changed this week so we could attend the temple one last time before it closes for renovations. 

Where do I begin, so much happened this last week it's unreal. Blessings were thrown at us left and right and we are trying to handle all of them. I love YSA so much, people are so much more receptive and willing to try new things. That's probably why YSA areas are the most successful. We have so many activities that we get to invite people to it's so fun. 

Like last night we had Juan the Taco man come to the church and we had a huge get together with the whole ward and 4 nonmembers came! It was ridiculous, we found two new potentials from that activity. That's basically how it happens every time😂 Plus when you bring non-members to family ward activities, you are kind of scared because you don't know how the ward will react. In YSA everyone goes nuts and just wrap their arms around them like a best friend, it's soooo awesome, especially for us😂

The reason why we had such an amazing week is because we have two solid new investigators that we put on date for the 12th of May! It was nuts how fast it happened! They literally both fell into our lap and now they both want to be baptized! We were praying for people to baptize in the month of May and we received! It's cool because there is one in each ward. In one of our wards there hasn't been a baptism in 2 years! That's going to end now! Their names are Marcus and Amanda. They have been really great! I'll try to get some good pics with them this week. None of the credit is ours though, it was all of Heavenly Fathers doing. He's the best! I love seeing Him direct this work, it testifies to me that He is definitely in charge :)

We went to the Mesa temple for the last time before it closes :( I'm going to miss going there and feeling the spirit. I won't be able to go back for a few years but I will definitely come back to Mesa when it re-opens after my mission. I love that temple, it has a special place in my heart now. 

OH...Shout out to the Jazz for beating OKC. I've been hearing all about it :)

That about all I have to say this week! I'm very grateful that I have the privilege of serving in Mesa, I love it! It's an adventure every day! I love you Momma! Have a great week!

This is Amanda. She's AMAZING!
She is going to be baptized on the 12th :)

Our district. We are the only people
 in YSA in our entire mission.

It is SO bright here!

This is ma boy Elder Cox

Mesa Week #89

Hey Momma!

Everything is going super good! YSA's are a party all the time. There are so many returned missionaries that are super hyped for missionary work, it's so cool. At Church the only thing they ever talk about is doing missionary work and sharing the Gospel, which very different from the other wards I've served in. Everyone makes the joke that this is just preparing me for home😂 They don't help with making me feel a little trunky! 

Yes so I went to my eye doctor again and the giant papilaries came back so I'm back on the eye drops. I may need to get another bottle of eye drops, and I'll probably end up switching to daily contacts. At first I was really bummed out about that but now I don't even care, I just don't want to wear glasses anymore 😂 Its not bad though, I literally don't even feel any pain. If anything it feels dry sometimes...it could be worse right?

To answer your question, we just live in a members house, but only Elder Brown and I and our roommates live there. It's super nice, we all sleep in the front room every night and have some good conversations😂

(mom note: We received and email this week from the Mesa mission telling us that Elder Findlay's official release date will be August 14th! Yay!) 

Ya it's weird that my release date is out. President sent out an email to us and said that 45 missionaries are going home in the next three months, and that is about 1/3 of our mission! The mission is going to change sooooo much when we leave.

Thanks a ton for getting everything set for school Mom, what would I do without you! I will definitely be busy, I hope I can handle it all😂 My classes sound good, ..And yes please sign me up for institute! 

So we had a huge miracle this week! There is a cool member in our ward that has a friend who is a non-member and his name is Marqus and he's awesome! We instantly connected because he loves basketball just as much as me.  He is sooo good at ball. Anyways, we talked with him this week and he says that he has grown up with a good group of Mormon boys his whole life. They all went on missions and are now back, and he finally feels ready to be baptized and join the church! He's been reading the Book of Mormon daily and coming to church so we are starting the lessons with him this week and then hopefully set a date for baptism! Miracles and blessings from the Lord! 

I'm trying to think what else happened this week...oh yeah it was Elder Simpson's Birthday so we went to cheesecake for dinner. He's our roommate. He's pretty fresh out. Also on the morning of his birthday we flipped him out of bed and shot confetti guns at him haha it was super funny.

Well, I think that's about it.  We're just working hard everyday, sharing the gospel with whoever will listen to our message.  I love missionary work a lot, it's always fun when you are teaching great people. I love you Momma! Have a good week! 

Love Elder Findlay

Elder's Findlay and Brown at a
 member's home for dinner this week.

Celebrating Elder Simpson's Birthday

This is what you get for having
 a birthday in our house!

Elders Fitsumanu, Brown, Simpson
and me on P-day

YSA Wards Week #88

Hey Momma!

I'll have to admit YSA wards are a party😂 It's been a very busy and fun time being around a bunch of kids my age! I didn't know that YSA did so many different activities throughout the week... we've been to like 5 or 6 different activities. It makes me excited to be in a YSA ward when I get home. I've gotten along with everyone really well, it's easy to connect with people your age. Oh and there are a bunch of OKC fans in our wards and we've been having fun trash talking each other😂 I've already learned a lot about being a young single adult, and our Bishops are spiritual GIANTS. They understand that we can't do the missionary work alone. It's pretty sweet being here.

So my new companion is Elder Brown and he is from Hawaii. He's a chill guy, he is definitely from Hawaii haha. He has a sweet Ukulele and a bunch of Hawaiian ties. I've gotten a lot of gifts from him😂 He served in Fiji for 7 months and he's got some pretty crazy stories. He's definitely going to be having a different experience here. He's been a little tired because of the time change but he's adjusting okay.

So we live in a interesting place. We live in a double wide trailer that is pretty nice. It's just super old. Elders Fitisemanu and Simpson are our roommates. They are fun haha, I forgot how fun it is to have roommates😂 We have a good time together. We both have cars so we don't ever have a problem getting around which is super nice. We have plenty of miles a month as well, which is awesome. 

So my eye was fine for a while but now I can feel it acting up again so I'm going to go back to my doctor and have him check it out again. I'm not really sure, I might have to switch to daily contacts...I hate wearing glasses.

Our teaching pool in these wards is kind of small but it's okay. The members are super motivated for missionary work which is really helpful. We have some referrals that we are going to meet with this week. Hopefully that goes well. It's kind of cool because one of my wards covers all of the Mesa East Stake which was my second area. So I've been able to see a few of the members from my old wards. 

We just finished watching the movie Coco and holy cow. That was soooo good. It was approved to watch today on our P-day, so we watched it in Clyde's theater. Super good.

Anyways I think that's all for this week. Since we are white washing this area we are still trying to figure things out. Thanks for the email Momma! I love you so much! Have a good week!

Love, Elder Findlay

Sorry I didn't take many pictures this week but here are some pics of my new digs...the double wide.

 And I found a car kinda like mine this week...

Ch ch ch Changes...week #87

Hey Momma!

You are correct! Transfer time again, but now it’s my turn to leave! I’m pretty bummed out about leaving this area, because we have some really good work going on. And I don’t know what I’m going to do without the Garners. I don’t think I’m going to survive haha😂 Every time you leave an area a piece of your heart gets wrenched out of your chest, but you learn to love all of your areas. I don’t like change haha, but I’m excited for what’s ahead. Me and Elder B are pretty bummed out about getting separated too. We have become really close friends

 So yeah I’m being transferred to a new YSA area with two wards, Candlelight YSA and Chapparel Park YSA. It should be pretty interesting. I’ve heard good things about Candlelight YSA and I’ve actually been on exchanges in Chapparel Park, that was when I served in the Mesa East Stake. So it's cool that I get to go back to the Mesa East Stake! But there’s a catch😂 President called me and told me that I’m white washing the area basically alone😂 I say that because my new companions name is Elder Brown and he isn’t even in Mesa yet. He started his mission in Fiji and then came home for 6 months, then he was reassigned to Mesa and now he’s my new comp! I’m excited but I’m also a little nervous. I’m basically training again, but this time with all new surroundings that I know nothing about😂 Pray for me. Also, good news is that I’m back in car! Just in time for the summer heat (just like last year), I am the luckiest missionary in the world. So I will finish my mission in an air conditioned car😁

I’m glad you guys had a blast in San Diego. I LOVE that place. I bet it was nice taking a break from life. 

This week was super good. We had a bunch of awesome lessons with our investigators. We had several lessons with Waldo and they were AMAZING. We’ve noticed a huge change in him as he’s been reading the Book of Mormon and praying more. He also notices that he feels the spirit a lot more and wants to feel it more. He is becoming more and more converted every time we speak to him. Elder Burningham and his new comp will most likely set a baptismal date with him this week or next, I’ll be back for it! Waldo is a real dude👍

Sorry for the short email but I’ve been packing all day trying to get ready for transfers. It will be an adventure that’s for sure. I wouldn't be able to do it without the Lords help, and luckily I know that He will:) I’m grateful for the blessing of serving a mission and getting thrown into new situations haha, you really do learn a lot even if it’s uncomfortable. I love you Mom! Hope you have a good week!

Love Elder Findlay

Mom note: I have received many texts and pictures of Elder Findlay from Sister Garner as he has served in this area of his mission.  The Garner family has been very kind and generous to Elder Findlay and his companions. She recently sent me this message after hearing that he is being transferred: "I just wanted to let you know how much we will miss having Elder Findlay in our home. My husband and I both agree that he is the most mature missionary we have met. He is so thoughtful and spiritual.  We absolutely love him and hope he will come back and visit (as he promised)!!! Thank you for sending him out. You raised him well."

As a mother I am so grateful for the Garner family for their amazing kindness to my missionary son.  

Last district meeting

Our favorite dog Coco :) Always has his tongue out!

The last supper with Elder Orse

My last lunch sack drawing from Sister Garner.
It's a Hoonicorn Mustang.  She knows him well :)

Garner's son

Car pic

Bringing forth of Zion Week #86

Sorry this is Cams email from last week.  We were out of town and I didn't get his blog updated :)

Hey Momma!

Ha Sister Garner is such a saint! Every time I am over there I feel like I’m with family, it’s a huge blessing. And yeah we had some fun playing in the sand, Jake showed us all the the bells and whistles that came with it😂 their kids are our best buds (Elder Findlay spent Easter morning and watched a session of conference with the Garner family, who have been so kind to him since he has been in this area)

Man conference was so good! I was expecting some change but not that much😂 I really felt the spirit as I heard about all of the changes, there is no doubt in my mind that the Lord is running His church. It’s such a huge blessing to have modern revelation, I can’t imagine where we would be without it. I highly feel that these new changes are going to hasten the work of strengthening and building up the Kingdom of God. 

The Saturday session was good too. Remember when I lived at that really nice home(The Browns) with the queen beds? Well Elders Thompson and Jones live there now and they invited us to watch conference with them so we did that. It was a party. We even got Jalepeño Bucks for lunch😁

As I was watching Priesthood session on Saturday night, I was listening closely to President Nelson’s words. I felt an overwhelming feeling of love towards him and I felt the spirit confirm to me that he IS the living Prophet of God. And he is doing an amazing job, there isn’t a ounce of sadness in that man😂 At least none that I can see. I already love him as our Prophet and I was glad that I got to stand and sustain him. We are so blessed to have a prophet. I mean reading through the Book of Mormon and learning about all of the old prophets is so cool! I love the Prophet Mormon, he started at such a young age and literally devoted his whole life to God. It’s a great responsibility to be a Prophet and I know that President Nelson will be amazing. 

Fun fact, I ate alligator for the first time this week. It was actually super good. I would get it again if I had the opportunity👍

I am so sad that the Easter Pageant is over now, but I was glad that I got to enjoy it one last year before it stops for a few. We went Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night this week, all with really great people. We had to fight like lions to get good seats up front haha, luckily the missionary badge helps. We are now working with a new family, the Claytons. They are a family that hasn’t been to church for a really long time but we stopped by Brother Claytons last week and talked for a while. He expressed to us that he wants to come back to church fully so he can baptize his son next year when he turns eight. It was a very spiritual and emotional conversation, he is such a good man. He is going through some hard things right now and our plan with him is to get him back into things and then his family will follow. We love them, they are amazing people. Anyways they came to the Pageant on Tuesday night and it was so good! They loved it! 

We took a few of our investigators to the Pageant as well. One of our investigators in particular has been really struggling. Last week her husband died unexpectedly and she’s been going through a hard time. We were super surprised to hear the news, we were actually teaching her husband the day before he passed away. We knew that the Easter Pageant would be good for her and bring her some peace. It took a lot for her to get there but she came! She really felt peace and the spirit. I know that the Spirit of God is waiting to comfort us when we need it, all we need to do is open our hearts and receive him. 

We are now teaching a 9 year old named Logan. He is a super smart kid. He wants to be baptized and hopefully he will be in the next month or so. The obstacle there is that his Mom kind of expects him to be perfect before he can get baptized, she’s pretty hard on him😂 Which isn’t really how it works so Bishop is helping us help her understand that that’s not the case. Hopefully her heart will soften and Logan can get baptized soon:)

Yeah so we get transfer news on Saturday. Hopefully I stay, I really want to. Especially now that we might have a baptism in April. I would hat to leave and miss it, we’ve worked so hard😂 We have so many good families that we are working with and it will be really hard to leave them when I do get transferred. I don’t like change, luckily I will only have 1 more area😁 

Well I think that’s about it for this week. Oh I heard that the National Championship for March Madness is tonight! That flew by, I hope Villanova wins again. I also hear that the Jazz are mobbin! Apparently they have a pretty solid team put together, I hope they go far this year in the playoffs😂 Anyways I love you all so much! I love the Gospel and the hope it brings! Have a great week in Cali!

Love Elder Findlay

Super good pastrami burger!

My eye doctor is the eye doctor for the Chicago Cubs,
 so he has a championship ring. Pretty sweet😂 

Alligator

Dinner with Elder Bs uncle after priesthood session

Easter with the Garner family...

And this weeks cool car pics!