Email August 11, 2014

Greetings from Grass Valley, Golden State! Man, how true though? California is kind of awesome. Just saying. The Auburn zone is so pretty, we actually just went and saw "Big Tree Trail" which is a really short trail but we saw some big trees...go figure! Not quite redwoods like the other missionaries said they were, but they were still really big and sweet! I got some pictures and will send them. :) And goodness the drive to them was gorgeous too!!! AH. It was awesome. Oh and I got bit by a wasp! :D That was exciting. A couple other missionaries did too, haha. So in news concerning investigators: No one besides Brother Steve Dooley and his son Nick Sparks is progressing. We have different ways we're going to try to help the other ones progress and we're constantly trying to find new investigators, but we aren't seeing a lot of success. So we have started working on a new OYMing approach (I think I said what OYMing is...? It stands for Opening Your Mouth - it's street contacting) where we show a quick mormon message based on family or whatever we decide and we ask a few of their opinions on the topic we decide to show the video on. We have heard similar approaches have seen success in other areas/missions so we want to try something like it, but with a video to try to add a little more of the Spirit that those videos can bring. We're excited to start trying it soon and I'll let you know how it goes! Having mentioned that Brother Dooley and Nick are still progressing, I have some news: Brother Dooley basically set his own baptismal date for September 13th!!! And if we can get permission and things to work out, Nick will be able to be baptized by him the same day! Man that would be incredible! Please pray that it will be able to work out that way! It would help them strengthen their relationship so much. But really though, this whole time we've been working with them it has been incredible to see Brother Dooley's change. He started off ready to pick the church apart and prove it wrong but in all of his investigations (mind you other than the 10-year-old-ized lessons we have given to his son that he sat in on he has investigated all on his own) he just kept finding truth after truth with no faults (crazy how that works out in the true church...). And he prayed and received an answer that it is true. I have absolutely loved seeing the change take place. It is incredible and indescribable. I love the Dooley family, they are the best!!! I am so excited for Brother Dooley and Nick to receive a remission of their sins through baptism of water and spirit and to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. And Sister Dooley is returning super strong as well. They're just an amazing family. They actually texted us the other night asking if we had a dinner appointment, which we didn't, so they invited us over and took us out to Maria's, a place a lot like Bella's. It was so awesome, both being with the Dooley's and the restaurant haha. They're an incredible family, I love them so much. Title story! We got a text from President Marston late Saturday night saying he was going to be to our PEC and ward council the next day so we texted him back saying that would be great and asking if he knew what time it was at. He texted back with the completely wrong times and also asking if it was the "Liberty Ward" to which we said no and that he had texted the Grass Valley ward. It was 10:24 when we texted him that and our curfew, at which we are to be in bed and obviously not texting anyone, is at 10:30. He texts back at 10:34 apologizing that he got the wrong set of elders and told us, "Hurry to bed - mission rules you know." To which we didn't reply because it was after 10:30, haha. It was super funny! At least to us it was. Those darn mission rules! Haha no, I'm kidding. Mission rules are great and I have recently noticed how much they have really helped me out. It's awesome. Well, everyone. This week was pretty incredible, being blessed to have Steve and Nick be set on date for baptism and all. And it's going to be in my second transfer here so I'll probably be able to see it happen this time! :D Hahaha. Miracles are real and the gospel is true. This church truly can change people and bring joy, peace, and comfort into their lives when they don't think those things can be found anywhere. I have seen it do just that and more. I know the church is true! I love you guys! Love, Elder Cevering