Week 2 Torrey Pines YSA - Miracles for Days

Hey everyone!

So this last week was quite the turn around! Love it when that happens. Last Monday I totally rolled my ankle playing basketball, but remarkably it didn't effect my week at all.

Tuesday we had dinner with the Cross's. They are super cool. Their son Daniel is in our ward. They really like us and are really funny. He worked at Sea World for his career as a trainer! After dinner we did service for them. That consisted of us refilling ammunition for his guns. Basically, we were taking shells, filling them with gunpowder, and putting the projectile together. It was cool!

Wednesday we got a referral from the Encinitas elders for a less active named Chris. He moved here from Utah for rehab. He hasn't been to church since he was 14 years old. We contacted him and invited him to institute. On Thursday, Chris was picked up by Dallin (a super solid member). When we got there, there were three of them. Chris talked one of his non-member friends, Cisco, to come. They both felt the spirit and it was just awesome. We gave them both copies of the Book of Mormon. Then we had a late dinner with Vanessa and Gosha. Vanessa is from Brazil and Gosha was baptized 2 weeks ago. She is from Polland. It was super good.

Friday we ate dinner at the Pecks. Their daughter just got home from a mission and is a member in our ward. We ate Greek. We were eating and I thought, "This is really cool tasting beef. I wonder how it was cooked." Right then I heard someone say, Will you pass the lamb?

.... I turned to the Sisters and said, "What am I eating?!" "Lamb"

".... Alright... Cool." So yeah. I ate lamb. And then after dinner they showed us their bunnies. They were adorable.

After dinner we went to Dallin's. We set up a personal mission plan and asked him how he thought we could move the work forward in  our ward.

Later that night we were contacting around. This Christian guy came up to us and asked if my feet hurt. Duh, my feet hurt! So he asked if he could pray for my feet. I was like, yeah sure. He did and told me to walk and test it out... So I did. He asked if it was 100% healed. I said no, but it felt better (didn't want to lie or hurt his feelings). SO he tried again, but now touching my foot telling the Lord this pain was to leave my foot. This time when he asked if it was healed, I said yes (because of time and convenience).

Ironically, 5 minutes later one of our Non-Members, Devin, called us over across the street at this burger place. He had a work accident a few weeks ago where a forklift broke his foot in 3 places and 1 break in his knee. We prayed for it with him last week. He said, "The pain is completely gone! Will you pray for it again." So he popped his foot up and asked me to lay my hands on it to pray. (yep. GROSS) I think I was touching it with just my finger tips, but he said he felt relief!

Saturday we did a sweet service project. But here's the miracle of the day.

We were driving around Encinitas looking for a place to park. The Encinitas Street fair was going on and we knew there was a ton of people there to talk to. As we were driving, I saw 2 familiar faces. I yelled out the window and Jaycee McMaster and McKayla Evans from Twin Oaks Valley came over where we pulled the car over. Jaycee is dating Frankie, my investigator from TOV and Mckayla is Bishop's daughter. We talked about Frankie and how he is doing. She said he has been busy and a little nervous about getting baptized and said he missed me. She told us when we could visit him at work, which is in Cardiff right by our apartment.

Less than an hour later, we decided to walk down this dirt road. We had no idea where it went to. Lo and behold, standing there by his car at the end of the road is Frankie! It was super crazy. We talked about him being taught and baptism. He actually asked if we could teach him. That made me sad to have to say no. But It was good for him.

What are the odds they would be right there at that time. Both of them! Heavenly Father works in so many amazing ways.

Tonight we are performing a skit in the talent show tonight for FHE. That will be interesting... We will let you know how it goes.

I love you all. sorry the email was so darn long. Have a great week!

Elder Erik Kapp

-- 

Elder Erik Kapp

California Carlsbad Mission

451 West Bobier Drive

Vista, CA 92083-1906

Torrey Pines Week 1

Hey Everyone! The transfer went smoothly. I am now serving in Del Mar Stake in the Young Single Adults ward. It is cool! It is very different from what I am used to in Twin Oaks Valley or even Utah. I live real close to the ocean. Close like, I am looking at it right now from the library. How many people get to do that on their mission? The work is slower here. There isn't as much to do, but I am still getting used to it. I really like being in YSA. The people are the coolest. Being around people similar to your age is cool. Your first transfer is like being a greenie all over again. I feel like I don't know much and I'm a bit overwhelmed, but I am really excited.  

Right now we aren't teaching anyone. That's a bummer, but we are working hard to change that soon. I really enjoy having a full time car, but we bike sometimes too. It is crazy to see the ocean every day. The members are really cool! On Friday we went to dinner with Olivenhain Elders and we went to one of the co-founders of Rubio's for dinner. They were super cool!

There are lots of fancy stuff here. Fancy houses. Fancy cars. You name it! It feels weird serving here. It feels like I am on vacation. I will send some pictures, but my computer at the library won't let me. So they will come soon.

The one thing I have picked on is the importance of being humble and obedient. The commandments are given to us for a reason. We need obey EVERY commandment. We can't pick and choose. Heavenly Father blesses us no matter what. We should give him the same courtesy. Because once we stop obeying one, it leads to another, and another, and another, and before you know it you are far away from the straight and narrow path. Don't ask questions and obey and I promise you will find blessings.

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

Elder Kapp

Transfers

Hey everyone!

So transfers are this week and I am getting transferred. I will be serving in Torrey Pines YSA! I am so excited! I will be over all of the young single adults in the Del Mar zone. Our apartment with be in Cardiff and Elder Phillips (my trainer) will be my zone leader! I am super excited! It is the promised land of the mission. Our apartment is close to the ocean and everyone says it's really nice. I leave tomorrow. My companion's name is Elder Spencer. Should be a great time.

This last week was a long one! I knew I was getting transferred and it was really hard to say goodbye. We were able to finish strong and find more people to teach. We dropped David because he hasn't been able to sober up. Frankie is excited to get baptized, but was really bummed I was leaving. Bonnie (the sister's investigator) was baptized on Saturday and it was amazing to be there for that. it was so cool!

I was privileged to have the opportunity to go on exchanges with Elder Miles, our beloved zone leader. That was a lot of fun and a great experience. He is a great example and I learned a lot. 

 

Twin Oaks Valley has been one of the best experiences of my life. I have had a lot of fun and hope that I am able to return to visit this ward again. Today we were with Michael Weaver, one of the guys in our ward who reports to the MTC on Wednesday. He said something really cool. He said, "I think you and Elder Phillips were called to this area for me. When you guys met me I didn't think I would be going on a mission. You guys helped me a lot and made me want to go." That meant a lot. Yes, I do wish I was able to baptize over the last 5 months, but you have to do your best and let people use their agency. I feel good knowing I was able to help Michael get ready to go. In the long run, that's just as good as a baptism because he is going to bring others towards Christ in South Carolina. He will be in my prayers.

Well, I don't really know what else to email you all. I am very nervous, but excited. So pray for me :) I do know that this is Christ's church. If you ever have doubts or questions, take it easy because the church really is true. Heavenly Father is there and always is. There is nothing we can do that we can't fix with the power of the atonement. I know I was put in the path of Frankie and all the other investigators we met for a reason. Even though they weren't baptized yet, those seeds have been planted. I love this gospel and I love this work. I am excited for what Heavenly Father has in store for me next. 

Elder Kapp

(This picture is of Frankie)

(2nd Brother Birch)

-- 

Elder Erik Kapp

California Carlsbad Mission

451 West Bobier Drive

Vista, CA 92083-1906

Miracles for days

Hey!

This last week was one of the best weeks of my mission. It's been so much fun and a great experience. First thing, we found David. He relapsed and is drinking again. We aren't teaching him anymore, but we are still helping him clean up his life a bit.

Next miracle... We randomly stopped by Alex and Joanita's with Brother Grochmal (Elders Pres who served his mission in South Africa). We were there for over an hour and a half! Alex and Joanita connected with Brother Grochmal super well. Later he sent a link to Alex for general conference. The next day, Alex sent Bro Grochmal an email saying, "Thanks for the link. ps, thanks for coming over and sharing your stories and experiences from your mission. I think your visit helped Joanita and myself see the importance of the church." The spirit is real! We are hopefully going to start teaching them again! 

The sisters gave us some teaching records of some people in our area that they found in their area book. It was weird we never got them. One of the people was found 3 days before we got here. Anyways, we stopped by 2 of them this last week and set up an appointment to teach Martha! Miracles do happen!

Frankie is praying about being baptized on April 30. He is doing so well. Yesterday he was telling us how much of a change he has seen in his life since we have started teaching him. His "Nana" died this last week (Great grandma). As he was saying goodbye to her, she faintly said, what he thought was, "You're so mature." He responded saying thanks and how he's 19 now. She got a little upset and said, "No! JOIN THE CHURCH!" He said he wanted to. We are so excited for him and he has told us how he has been able to comfort his family because of his new understanding of the gospel.

On Wednesday we had dinner at the old folks home. The manager is the YSA bishop's wife. It was a lot of fun. We were there with our missionaries and YSA. We got pizza and hit on by old ladies. That was a first and really awkward. She kept wanting to give us hugs and stuff.

Conference was of course an amazing experience. It was weird being on a mission. I felt a little bit homesick, especially with all the talks about families. But it was an amazing experience. After the morning session on Saturday, I was able to go with the Escondido zone to a swap meet. It was a Mexican market! I got a soccer jersey for $10. It was a lot of fun!

This next week is transfers. I will let you all know what happens. I am pretty sure I am leaving. I am really nervous to get transferred, but it should be okay. It all happens for a reason. I am so grateful for all I have been able to learn. It has been so much fun. Heavenly Father always is there and answers prayers. He blesses us for following the commandments. He really does want us to be happy. I know that this gospel is the most important thing. I am so happy I get to be a missionary.  I love you all! Have a good week!

Elder Kapp

                            A member in Erik's ward visiting SLC for conference took a jar of Erik's 

                                           favorite homemade hot fudge sauce back to Erik.