Email February 10, 2014

Greetings Everyone! I hope all is going well back home. Things over here have been going pretty well. I'll get to that soon. But I have to share a cool experience that has to do with the rain (snow where you are all at). So I've heard from my Mom that Utah fasted for rain/snow and also parts of Nevada did as well. And, as I'm sure most of you probably know by now, California did too. Yuba City is actually one of the biggest exporters on a lot of different crops and the lack of rain was/is really hurting the agricultural pursuits over here. So there is a lack of both city water and water used for farming in Yuba City and some of the water from Yuba is actually ported to Los Angeles and some other big southern cities as well. Needless to say, there was a huge need for water. *Cue testimony of fasting and praying* IT WORKS. It has rained here for the last 4 days, and should be raining again by Friday. Amazing. Yeah, it's been a pain in the butt to bike and work in, but I'm just glad to see rain come to such a drought stricken land. Plus, the title story actually has to do with working in the rain. I'll explain soon. :) In other news/funny stories, Elder Perkins and I are getting along really well still. We both tend to quote movies or videos and the other person is able to guess them, continue quoting and then we end up laughing because it's so funny that the other person knows the quote haha. Another fun thing happened this week that I want to tell you all about. I think in past emails I've explained how big my area is in the Hillcrest ward. If I haven't, someone tell me and I will explain next week. Anyway, we got a member named Devin Hungrige (he's about 20 and has recently turned in his mission paper and is waiting for his call, super awesome guy) to drive us around the southern edge of Yuba City. It's a good 30 minute bike ride to these houses and probably 15-20 minutes to bike between each house as well (and that is still only the southern edge of Yuba, our area expands to a city called Robbins and beyond - a good 25-30 minute DRIVE). Anyway, so we are with Devin and driving around and visiting these houses and none of them are opening their doors to us. It's a rainy/overcast day and since we busted through all of the names and ideas we had to visit in about 30-45 minutes, we decided to go see a road real quick that was on the west side of our area. It's called Moroni Road and so we HAD to get a picture with it. Picture is coming soon! So we went out, it's suuuuper muddy and wet and we're taking pictures with this street sign and it was just awesome. We all had a great time and we did our best to do some missionary work as well. Nothing turned up, unfortunately, but at least we tried! Title Story: So, like in weeks past, Elder Perkins and I have been trying all day every day to find a door that will open and hear our message. Whether it be tracting, knocking on Less Active Members' doors, knocking on Part Member Families' doors, or just Active Member visits, we do our best to be out and about trying to spread the gospel and find referrals. As in weeks past, we have had very little to no success. However, this week as the rain began to fall, we saw success! *Narrator changes into the third person* It was a cold, rainy day. Two Elders biked down the wet pavement, spraying mud and other wet and nasty street leftovers onto their slacks and coats (and this because they hadn't bought new fenders yet). Nevertheless, they biked on through the contrary wind and biting rain to visit a man with whom they desired to deliver a lesson to. To the Elders' dismay, the man was not home and had left these two young men nearly three miles from home, a 20 minute freezing bike ride to the south-western corner of Yuba City, with a backup plan that didn't seem too promising for they had tried it before to no avail. Nevertheless, they pushed and biked on. With wet knuckles, they knocked on a white door a little ways down the street. This was a door that was fabled to hide an LDS couple, a referral having been given them by an older, Catholic man living next door. The door opened this time, and the residents invited the young men inside to escape the bitter rain and temperature (I was drenched by rain!). *Narrator changes into the first person* They let us in!! And they talked to us about how they aren't LDS, but they have family and friends who are who have been great resources to talk to when it comes to religious ideas and questions. They feel like it might be time to start looking into religion and they want us to come back! They have been prepared, brothers and sisters! Thank you for the prayers in behalf of our missionary work! They have succeeded! Not only with these two people (the Filby's), but we also visited a potential investigator who we have a lesson with this Tuesday. Her name is JIll and we shared a short blurb about the Plan of Salvation on her doorstep and she invited us back as well. And also, yesterday we spent some time tracting and we ran into Elise who flat out said that she wanted to learn more about Jesus Christ when we told her who we were and what we do. Amazing things are happening down here! Thank you so much for the prayers, they have succeeded. This week has been amazing. And I hope this coming week is the same. The church is true, everyone! I know that for a fact. I love you all and thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you, never forget it! Love, Elder Jacob Cevering