Still working hard....

Hey everyone,

This last week has been very different. I am with my new companion, Elder Wilde. He is from Idaho Falls and was serving in La Costa, Del Mar before here. He has been out for 5 months. He is a nice kid and we are working hard.

Tuesday we picked up an interesting Potential Investigator. His name is David and he works at Walmart right by our apartment. We have talked to him quite a few times and he had told us he grew up in this religion that is like Amish, but more modern. (...?) I saw him on Tuesday and he said he wanted to meet with us. Because he is YSA aged and we don't think he is in our area, we told him we could set him up with the YSA Elders, but he said he wanted to talk to me. So we are still trying to work on that and try to pass him off to the YSA. He is awesome though.

On Wednesday we had our Worldwide Missionary Broadcast. That was really cool. Elder Fu, who was serving in the Chandler's ward was on it. He was in a group that talked to the general authorities. (I remembered him from when he came to Swig with the Chandlers.) It was cool to think that all the missionaries in the world were watching the same thing. 

On Thursday we taught Saralyn Alsnaur. She was inactive for over 25 years and decided to come back to church over a year ago. She has 2 crazy sons. They are fun. Her husband, Rob, isn't a member, but said he doesn't want to hear our lessons. But his wife asked if she could take them as a refresher and Rob usually sits in. He comes to Sunday every week with his wife and sons. So he is an "active nonmember". The awesome thing is Saralyn was called as Second Counselor in the Primary on Sunday, so we are SUPER excited for her.

Friday we worked really hard to meet with Kevin and teach him, but he wasn't there. We also met with another Potential Investigator, Adam. He is 16 and lives in a boys home. He wasn't there when we went to teach him, but we ended up catching him on Saturday. We went to this restaurant with the sisters because we didn't have member dinners and this older member from another ward saw us and paid for our meal and asked us to sit with her and her family/friends. It was a blast. I love old people:)

Friday night, we realized we had the potential to teach 4 lessons on Saturday. Elder Wilde and I decided that we were going to make Saturday "the best day of our mission". We did, but not how we wanted. Kevin, Marilyn, Adam, and this man we had an appointment with all bailed!!! It was frustrating! But we still met TONS of people. We contacted over 55 people and picked up a couple potentials. To end the day, we got rained on. It wasn't very fun because we didn't see it coming. 

Sunday was ward conference. The stake was there and it was a really good day of church. No investigators showed up, but we got to eat dinner at Al's. That is always the best. He is such an amazing member. I can't believe all that he does, especially after being a member for only a year and a half. But last night, after Al's, we met with a Less Active, Part Member family and the non member wife said she would cut our hair for FREEEEEEE!!!!! When we were walking back to the apartment we met this kid walking his dog and I stopped him and talked to him for a minute. We set up a time to teach him. His name is Kevin. We are teaching 2 Kevins. 

Today is our Zone Activity. I still don't know what we are doing, but the Zone Leaders said they would bring their lacrosse sticks. That will be fun to play lacrosse again!

The week was a little bit hard, but I know we just have to be patient. Heavenly Father is always there for us. We sometimes feel inadequate or lonely, but He always is there. Like always, I am being taught patience this transfer. It's okay. I have 2 years to figure it out ;)

I love you all and hope you have an enjoyable week!

Elder Kapp

                                                      TOV youth Crab Soccer Team

                                                            We saw a possum

                                                           New Comp. Elder Wilde

"When there is no peril in the fight, there is no glory in the triumph"

Hello from the warm lands of California. (It's in the 60's here!)

This last week was very different.

Monday was my last P-Day with Elder Phillips. We had fun and were able to do things with our zone and the Escondido zone.

Tuesday I said goodbye to Elder Phillips and hello to my new companion, Elder Wilde. The transition is hard, but it gets better after a certain point. Elder Wilde is a younger missionary. He has been out 3 transfers now. He was serving in La Costa, Del Mar. So this is very different to him. He never encountered homeless people, drunk people, or people yelling at him. On the second day we were walking towards our apartment and a car drove by and swore at us. I asked him, "You get that much in Del Mar?" He said, "No, that is probably one of the first times I've ever been cussed at." I said, "Elder Wilde, you're not in Kansas anymore."

Wednesday we went to the Zone Welcome. There were only 4 new missionaries in our zone. Altogether it was really good. I was in charge of the "get to know you" game. I made it really entertaining. We then split off into our districts. We made a decision as a district that we were going to be the hardest working district in the mission. (Not that it could be measured or anything. We're just going to work hard)

Thursday we went to the New Missionary Meeting because Elder Wilde is a new Trainer. All the missionaries were brand new except Elder Gull. We sat by each other and 'enjoyed' the meeting for the second time.

Friday we got to work. We have been visiting less actives, potentials, and formers like crazy. We fill our planner up and we don't have enough time to finish half of it. We met with 3 less actives and made plans to come back, taught 1 former investigator, Ron, and had a miracle...

 

My first week in the mission this random kid showed up to sacrament. He was wearing a hoodie and shorts. His name was Kevin and he shared how he went to Utah the week before and was amazed by all the beautiful Utah Mormon girls... He is 22, lives at home, and has a 3 year old baby, but he isn't married and isn't with the mother anymore.  But we never saw him again. This last week we were meeting with the Skousans. They are awesome. Bro Skousan told us that a member of the ward drove Kevin home and he told us what road he lived on. On Friday we decided we were going to try to find Kevin. We went on his road and I just prayed. We knocked on a door and an older Hispanic lady opened the door. We asked for Kevin and she looked at us funny. We told her we were missionaries then turned around and said, "KEVIN!" Kevin came to the door! We talked with him for 45 minutes and he said he would come to church on Sunday with his little brother.

Saturday met few less actives.

Sunday, we had meetings and were waiting for Kevin before sacrament. Sacrament started and he didn't show up. The first speaker was about half way done when we saw him sitting in the hallway on a couch wearing a t-shirt and shorts. He said he went running and forgot, but then didn't want to be rude so he came. He ended up staying all 3 hours! We plan on teaching him this week.

Moral of the story... Heavenly Father wants us to show faith. We had worked hard for 6 weeks with little results. If we had given up, we wouldn't have found Kevin. We are finding a lot of success and it is all due to our previous and constant hard work. I am excited to see where it goes with Kevin and all of our other potential investigators. All the hard work has made the success that much more amazing. My dad shared the quote, "When there is no peril in the fight, there is no glory in the triumph." I have seen that truth this last week.

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Elder Erik Kapp 

Transfers.....

Transfers are this week. We got the news on where we are going and.....

Elder Kapp....................................... 

Is going............................................. 

To......................................................

... be staying in San Marcos, Twin Oaks Valley 😊

Elder Phillips on the other hand is going to Del Mar to be a zone leader. My new companion is going to be Elder Wilde. (NOT PHILLIPS!) He is pretty young to the mission. I think this is his 3rd or 4th transfer. The only thing I have been told about him is, "Elder Wilde? He looks like he is 12!" But we are going to work our tails off to bring some life into our area. He sounded like a cool kid when he called the other day. On Tuesday I am going to be with the zone leaders, Elder Richards and Elder Glover, which is going to be a blast. Those two have taught me that you can be obedient and work hard and still have fun. 

Elder Phillips told me he submitted to President Kendrick that I could train, so I am a little less stressed out knowing I'm not training.  

We set new goals for this next quarter. As a mission, we are...

1) Baptizing 101 people

2) Every MISSIONARY (not area) will baptize.

So we have a lot to do. This week I set the goal of 6 new investigators based on the solid potential investigators, former investigators, and referrals we have. I have decided I have a lot of faith or if I am just out of my mind haha. But I know that won't just fall into our lap. We will be working like crazy this next week in order to get stuff done. We still don't have any investigators... YET!

I decided I need to start being happier. I have been so stressed and down on myself. I need to make my work fun. It is hard to see the positive when you have been working for 6 weeks and have only taught 2 lessons, but who am I to measure my success? I was reading in D&C 122. If you think your life is too hard and you need a break, read it. Then realize you are blessed. Joseph Smith is basically saying, "I am going through all of this and it is just getting worse. Can you give me a break?" and Heavenly Father says, "Well, Jesus Christ endured all the pain you are going through and more. 'Art thou greater than He?' " It helped a lot.

So many of you might have heard, but it rained here. A LOT. There was also a tornado warning, so we had to go inside on Wednesday. I got soaked!!! We had to borrow the sisters' hair dryer because both of our shoes were still soaked. It is too bad because there is nobody to talk to in the rain. Californians are weird when it comes to rain. Like, earthquakes? No big deal. But as soon as moisture starts falling from the sky?! HOLY COW! It's like the world is ending! They drive SOOOO SLOW! It is really funny. The other bad thing is the ground is super dry, so when it rains the dirt and weeds plug up the storm drains and it floods roads and sidewalks... Where we walk... But it could be worst! I actually have enjoyed it.

Last night we went over to Al's so Elder Phillips and Sister Larsen could say goodbye. It was so much fun! I have never laughed so hard in my life. Ron was there. Ron is in his 30's I think. He has some mental disability, but he lives by himself.  He is the funniest. He walks into church with a bag of chips, a big gulp, shorts and flip flops. He is super honest and he basically roasted me all night. I will see if I can send a picture.

So I am excited to be staying in TOV. This ward is the best. We are going to make something happen.

I am super grateful for all the support. Really, every email means a lot. I try to email everyone back. If I am missing any one's email just have them send me a quick one so I can add them! I love you all and appreciate everything! 

Elder Kapp

                                                                      Drying our shoes

It rained

                                                                   This is Ron

Square One

Hey everyone,

So this last week went very different than we hoped.. This was probably one of the most frustrating weeks of the mission (I know I haven't had a ton but still). Last email I said how, after lots of patience and hard work, we had picked up some new investigators. We lost 'em. We got dropped and Akilah moved to San Diego, which was really not fun because we taught her and she said she would be baptized. So some lucky missionary in the San Diego mission just got a golden referral for an investigator that has already committed to baptism.. We called Derek last Monday to set up a return appointment and he said he didn't want to be taught anymore and how it was time for him to start teaching...

The whole week was just hard. We lost our investigators, our potentials we were excited about weren't really interested, and we received A LOT of rejection. We were cussed at. Doors were closed on our faces. People went out of their way (literally walked up the street) just to "bash" with us. And we were just not finding people to talk to. It was hard. It is sad that their are people in the world who think it is sickening and unacceptable to have a Mormon missionary say hi to their child or offer them service.

So this week has been a bit slow. We got a couple of potentials, but nothing solid. we are working so hard and trying to find new investigators!!!  I have never worked so hard in my life. Last night I walked in and went straight to planning by myself because Elder Phillips had to get numbers as a District Leader. I finished and just face planted on my bed. I woke up the next morning with my shoes on, still tied, still wearing my proselyting clothes. Elder Phillips said, "Yeah, I was on the phone with the zone leaders and started talking to you. Then I realized you fell asleep in 3 seconds." I am exhausted ever day. But, I LOVE IT.

However, the week had SEVERAL incredible moments. We were able to contact one of our potential investigators. They are a young couple, David and Amie. Amie was sick, so we couldn't teach her, but I pray I will be able to email more about them as we teach them. We got a lot done on the ward list. We found out about lots of members who had moved or weren't interested. We set multiple return appointments with less actives.

We were taken to lunch last Monday by a member in another ward in our area. He was rewarding us for contacting so many people. We went to a barbeque. Like a fancy one. Where I got a $30.00 meal AND he gave us all presents. I got a small bag and candies. This guy, Victor, is in his late 20's maybe early 30's and he is LOADED $$$. He was wearing a watch that cost $37,000! It had diamonds all over. I will send a picture. He starts businesses and was baptized a year ago. He bought watches and suits for the Elders that went shopping with him after lunch... I wish I went shopping with him after lunch... 

On New Years we went to the Birch's. They gave us root beer floats and we got some referrals and made plans to visit them. (I promise we don't just go for the root beer floats...)

So transfers are next week. They did away with transfer meetings which everyone hates. But I will get a call this Saturday figuring out if I am going or staying in TOV. We will see! Pray I stay!

This church is true! It has been very hard, but I love it here. I enjoy every day. My companion and I get along really well and are always laughing. I know we haven't found much success this week, but Heavenly Father is just keeping me humble ;) . I know as we keep working hard and doing everything we can we will find the people Heavenly Father has prepared for us.

I love you all and hope you enjoyed your New Years!

Elder Kapp

                                      "Greenies" at the Christmas party with the AP's (elves)

                                                                             (left to right)

                     Elder Nanny, me, Mills, Phillips, Gull, and Gantner (he's the one from Switzerland)

Mini Missionary, Brother Carr

This is just a picture of our area. I want to hike that "mountain" (hill) one day.