Email July 28, 2014

Hello Everyone! I hope all has been well with you. The last few weeks have been pretty tough. But just as Alma the Older and his people when they were in bondage to Amulon and the taskmasters, I can honestly say that I know The Lord does strengthen His people enough to bear their burdens. It's not easy out here and I wouldn't want it to be. To summarize what Elder Holland once said, why would it be easy for us if it was never easy for Him? We must experience our own Gethsemane in order to understand a little more His Gethsemane and allow Him to help us. In our Gethsemane's, Heavenly Father sends us help just as He did with our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that is true. So to talk about this week: We had a lesson with Trent, the gold guy haha. But it was great! We only talked about gold a few times and so most of the talk was about the church! It was awesome! He talked about coming to church and asked some things about what it would take to become a member. It was super cool, even though he didn't come to church it was an amazing talk. He lost two of his dogs to the pound and has been super stressed about it. But we feel that the messages that we have shared have been helping because it seems to be showing in his attitude. Steve Dooley, the potential investigator stepdad of Nick Sparks who is on date to be baptized on August 30th, keeps coming to church and makes awesome comments about what we teach. He talks more than half of the people in Elder's quorum. He hasn't accepted a formal investigation, but he is basically investigating. His son is still going along great. But keep the Dooley family in your prayers. They are going through some super tough stuff and they could use the support. Other than these few lessons and successes, no one else was really home. :/ So I'll go to the fun type stuff. So on Monday mornings we have dinner with a couple in the Nevada City ward. We all call them Mama and Papa Russ. We leave around 9 in the morning and have a huge breakfast with them. It has been different every week, there were pancakes on week, waffles another, and breakfast burritos another. It is fantastic! Elder House, my companion, is a pretty nice guy. He has been wanting to work hard because his last companion had depression and was also just lazy at times so they didn't get out nearly as much as he wanted to. So it has been good to get out and work. He has some interesting quirks, just like all of us haha. He has weak lungs and so he sighs really weird and really often, he talks in his sleep somewhat frequently and sighs in his sleep very frequently and it's REALLY loud haha. During lessons he tends to dominate the conversation and same with just normal conversation. And whenever we have a normal conversation at dinner or whatever, he always has a story to top the other person's story. ALWAYS. Haha. Not a bad thing, but it is getting old because he tells the same stories over and over and over again. And he'll do really random, awkward subject changes to talk about stuff he wants to talk about. Idk, I don't mean to talk bad about him because he really is a sweet guy. Just some interesting quirks. :) Like singing out of tune too, haha. I think I have only had 1 companion who can actually carry a tune. It's pretty funny because I totally called it before my mission. There is a really sweet EFY song that we have on our thumbdrive that we listen to as we drive and it has the line, "Just believe the mistakes of the past don't define you They refine you." AWWWWWW BABY! Man, it was fantastic. I love that so much! I know that probably a lot of you saw me post that on facebook already this week, but I love it so much that I just had to use it to close my thought on a spiritual note. It's so incredible to know that even though we have made mistakes that they can be forgiven. Though our sins be as scarlet they can be white as snow. It doesn't matter how bad, as long as we are willing to undergo the process to cleanse ourselves WE CAN BE CLEAN. That is what I love about the gospel and that's what I want to try to help spread here in California and across the world. That there are second chances. That our guilt and despair can be swallowed up in joy and happiness! Again, I know this church is true. That Christ did suffer for us that He could strengthen us. That He can do what He says He can do. I love that and I love you! Have the best week ever! Elder Cevering 2

Email July 14, 2014

Hello family! Transfer weeks are always crazy, and this week has been no exception. Having to pack up and leave the place that has become home to go to a place you know nothing about, miles and miles away is scary, nervous, exciting thing. Grass Valley is a lot smaller than both Yuba City and Redding, it has about 12,000 people compared to 65,000 and 80,000, respectively. The streets are really small and the downtown is awesome. It's really small and the buildings are all old brick, a ton of different stores down the streets. It's just got a really old town feel, I like it a lot! But outside of the main town it's all complicated and confusing and really spread out. The ward here has an average active member attendance of 91. It's really small, but everyone came up to me and shook my hand and welcomed me to the ward. It was great! I felt very loved, appreciated, and welcomed. It was awesome. :) I haven't met very many of the investigators here yet, we have a big emphasis on less actives...that makes sense, haha. But the ones I have met are super nice and cool, they all just lack the usual thing I have to deal with - not coming to church. Elder House, my new companion, also tells me that a lot of them have Word of Wisdom issues. So lots of stuff to do here. :) The last elder before me had depression and was lazy so they didn't get much done here. So I am excited to start picking up where he left off because there is a lot to work with - nothing! Hahaha that'll be fun. So the title comes from a visit we had with an investigator, Trent. He is obsessed with gold. Quick fact, Auburn (I'm in the Auburn stake) and its surrounding areas were/are known for its/their gold and other precious materials. So this man looks at rocks all around his house and the valley and tries to find rocks that may have gold veins in them. And his friend, who I think may be homeless, tells him all about gold and rocks he has found with gold crystalline/powder or whatever in it and has him getting all into the gold search. So we were over at his house this week talking with him and he was taking us all around his house showing us these rocks and talking about the golds and metals and stuff. I picked a rock up and he looked at it and his first reaction was, "G-OLD!" He literally, like, choked on the word as he yelled it out. It was so funny!!! And then he grabs it from me and runs to the light to look at it and then gets all calmed down and stuff and tells us it's gold. And we're 99% sure there is no gold around his house at all, haha. He's just super obsessed with it. It's one of the few things he talks about. We (well more he) ended up breaking more rocks and finding more "gold" and he kept saying, "Hey that's gold, man!" and substituting "man" for "dude" and those kinds of pronouns. It was hilarious. Well, the rest of the week has just been getting to know the area and getting used to a 4 elder apartment. It's crazy! I worry that I'm going to get shot by a nerf dart whenever I'm praying or studying or eating. Haha it's very random and unpredictable. During our lunch they taught me how to play a new card game, it's a crazy and confusing game, but a lot of fun. I can't wait for all of the antics that will happen this transfer, there are already a lot of things they do and games they play and there have been tons of awesome moments already. It's a blast! About the area: I was pretty backward for the first few days but I'm getting the main routes down now. And being in a car I already feel like I'm getting fat. In fact, one of my first dinners when I asked for two more pieces of chicken, Elder House quietly leaned over and reminded me that I'm in a car now. Hahaha yeah, I'm going to get fat. :) Elder House and I get along well and we both want to see the work here improve since it was doing so badly from the last few elders. This ward hasn't seen a convert baptism in 2 years and we both want to change that and it looks like we might because we have some awesome investigators and are hoping to find more! I hope you guys all have a fantastic week, I'll sure have a good one! Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us so much, I truly gained more of a testimony of their love for us as I studied the Atonement in Preach My Gospel this week. it has been incredible to see their hands in my life helping me and steadying me and building me up along the way. Have a great week, I love you guys! Love, Elder Cevering

Email July 7, 2014

Heyllo! Well, transfer calls are in! And as the title story so beautifully tells, "Another [area] bites the dust." This is me when we got the news: -> :( Not cool. Again, just as we were getting more potential, and this time so close to a couple of baptisms, I am being transferred. From the Redding heat to the hippie town (or so I have heard, should be awesome!) of Grass Valley. I'm sad to go for a few reasons: there were things happening here and now it's all gone for me! The members here are awesome and I really liked the area a lot too. And probably one of the worst is that I'm going to be in a car which means that I'm going to get FAT! I'm gonna lose my beautiful, muscular biker legs to sitting in a car. I may or may not send a picture home for motivation to get un-fat when I come home. Back on topic! But as for Grass Valley, all I hope is that there is a lot of potential ramping up down there. But if not, then I'm going to do whatever I can to make some. That's for sure, haha. My new companion will be Elder House from Washington state, he actually came out the same time as Elder Rosenbaum did so that'll be cool. He sounds like a good guy and missionary so it should be awesome. OH! And I'm going to be in a 4 missionary apartment, like my older counterpart, Elder Michael Cevering. Should be interesting, first time for me! As for updates for the rest of the week, not much happened unfortunately. Elder Rosenbaum wasn't feeling up to par for a couple of days, including the 4th of July, so we didn't get out a ton those days. But some good news is that we got in contact with Pao again! He's living in a different ward's boundaries now, but he can still be taught and baptized because on the radar once more! So that is good. We couldn't meet with Mary, she has had some more health issues pop up. Please keep her in your prayers, despite me leaving Redding. And Pao. But as for the rest of the updates, nothing new. There was an awesome miracle this week though! This last Saturday, our Zone Leaders called us with a referral saying he wanted to be baptized!!! His name is Mark Childers and they wanted us to contact him. So we called him up and sure enough he told us he wants to be baptized! He was going to come to church the next day, but woke up with a really bad backache and ended up not coming. But he is still a GREAT referral and will most likely be baptized really soon. So I'm excited for Rosenbaum and the missionary he will be training here in Redding 2nd ward. Not much else to report, I'll have a little update about Grass Valley's area next Monday. One thing to think about, though, is that I might be in Grass Valley for my year mark, which happens in...3 transfers, which has been how long I've been in each area. Cool, cool. And this will be my first area and zone without a missionary I look up to a lot, Elder Pruitt. He has been my Zone Leader since I got in the mission because he was transferred up to Redding with me, but now I'm going to the Auburn zone and he's not. So, yeah. Just funny fun facts. :) Well, nothing else that I can think of. I love you guys, I love it out here, and I love the gospel! It is so true! Words of wisdom: YOLO (you only live once), but CTR (choose the right) because TCIT! (The Church Is True.) Love you! Love, Elder Jacob Cevering

Pictures of Whiskeytown Lake and Brandy Creek Falls near Redding, California, his last picture with President & Sister Weston, and a HUGE wolf spider at their apartment

Email June 30,2014

Hello my Dearest Brothers and Sisters! I hope you are all doing fantastically...fantastic. :) So to begin this email, I will give some pretty big updates: Just a heads up! Since transfer calls are next week and since I've been here in Redding for 4 1/2 months it's a good chance I might be transferred. So if you are wanting to send a letter wait until next week's email so you know the address if I have moved or if you can still send it to the same address. Thanks, guys! Also, there is a HUGE transfer happening: President Weston has finished his service as mission president for the California Roseville Mission and President Marston will be the new mission president as soon as he arrives, which happened around 12 noon today. I am SO sad to see President Weston go because he is an incredible man, he has helped me SO much and I love him so much! This mission has grown to amazing new heights because of his leadership, faith and drive. President Marston has big shoes to fill. But I am confident that he will be amazing as well. I know that I haven't talked about President Weston much but I want it clear that I love the heck out of him, that I am so grateful that he was my mission president for these 8 months for his leadership, testimony, faith, and love, and that he was an incredible man. I hope to stay in contact with him after my mission. He is phenomenal! Well, onto the main body of the email: Not too much happened last week, other than I got trunky and homesick hearing a few different stories from home. One, that Hannah Warburton had passed away. I can say that knowing the sadness and mourning it caused many of my very good and close friends definitely saddened me and made me wish that I could be there to help them. I know that because of the Plan of Salvation that when we lose ones that are near and dear to our hearts, they are not gone forever. They are unseen to us for a time and season, but when we rejoin them on the other side we will be able to see them, converse with them, hold them close and continue the glorious and beautiful relationships we had in this life. It made me want to work harder so that I might be able to help someone else who is going through a tough time, help someone know of the Plan of Salvation that they might be comforted in their time of affliction. That they might be able to have the atonement help them overcome their struggles, trials, afflictions, problems, etc., and look forward with faith to a brighter future. I know that the Plan of Salvation is real! One thing I know for sure, is that "to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." It may not happen the way we expect and often not the way we want, but things happen. But everything happens for a reason. Quotes come to mind, one of them being, "The battles we fight today make us stronger for the battles we will fight tomorrow." We all struggle with different infirmities and weaknesses. But they are meant to make us stronger. To develop us into the person we want to be and need to be. I know it's tough. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know it is tough. But they're on our side so they won't give us something above our ability to handle. So when we think something is too hard, remember they are on your side! It is with them that we will make it through the cliffs and crags and perils of life. It is with the atonement of Jesus Christ, the grace that is so mercifully given by and through Him. How beautiful is it to know that we can make it, no matter what? Well, quick updates from the week: Ben and Mary Francis came to Stake Conference last Sunday!!!! :D :D :D :D :D But they didn't come yesterday... :( But hey! It's okay, she has a baptismal date set for July 19th and so she didn't have to come this week in order to make it. But definitely keep her in your prayers. We picked up a former investigator, Jeremiah McCall. Jeremiah is 12. His dad is a member, but his mom is not. And since his mom and dad divorced before he was 8, he wasn't baptized into the church because his mom would not give him permission and talked him out of it when the missionaries tried a while back. But we have recently started going back and it seems promising this time (Everything seems promising...and then boom. Where is the person who is throwing these wrenches?! But we are keeping the faith this time, it is going to happen!) because his mom doesn't have as raw feelings toward the church now. So we have taught him the Restoration, Plan of Salvation, and Word of Wisdom (he's not struggling with it, we just have taught commandments with his lessons because he's only with his dad every other weekend and always on Mondays and Tuesdays and we're trying to get it all in before his baptism). But he already knows everything, we just kind of fine tune it. It has been amazing, and he has expressed a desire to hold the priesthood and pass the Sacrament! Awesome!! Pao. He disappeared. Literally. He is just gone. He was living in a sober home and one day we tried to see him the people there said he hadn't been there for a few nights so we tried a few days later and the people said that he still wasn't back. So...he's gone. But from what Pao has been through with missionaries in the past, I guess this is a normal thing. I love him and hope he finds the truth someday. We promised that we would go through the Salt Lake temple together one day and I hope to be able to keep that promise. Gah, it has been really hard and sad. We have picked up a lot of potential investigators that we are hoping to sit down and have lessons with this week. It seems like people are being put in our way, even though they don't have a full desire to learn quite yet. But hey, in Preach My Gospel it says that honest seekers of truth may not recognize missionaries and the message is true and sent from God at first, but in time as they pray and read the Book of Mormon they will come to know of it's truth and reality. And with our other investigators, not a lot is happening. :( BUT! We're doing the best we can with what we have! It is amazing out here, I love it! I have learned a lot and have recently applied a new study technique and it is helping me out a lot too! So that's awesome. I hope to continue it. :) I am happy, I am safe, I am have an amazing time! I love you all! Love, Elder Jacob Cevering P.S. Happy 4th of July!!! :D