Week 32: Up the hill...

Well, I GOT TRANSFERRED!!!! I am super excited to be serving in a new area this transfer, but I will miss the people in the Walnut Park Ward that I have come to love so much. Funny story: last night our zone leaders called us and told me I'm going to be serving in Rancho (Cucamonga)...

Or that's at least what I thought they said over the phone.

Turns out I was going to be serving in the Ranchero ward haha. Either the zone leaders told me the wrong info over the phone, or it's because of my partial hearing loss in my ears. 

So children, the lesson here is that you should wear earplugs when you are with the drumline or playing the drums. 

The Ranchero ward is "up the hill"... so now I'm in the DESERT, woohoo!!!! Aghhhhh I am so excited to be here, I can't even put it into words!!!! My second companion Elder Jessee is in our district too, so I'm happy about that! The desert is almost a different subculture than that found "down the hill" in the valley haha, and I can already tell that the people here are different than the people in the valley, but I like it; it gives variety for me to experience. My companion is Elder Hulet who's from a little town outside of Parowan, Utah (southern Utah). He's down to earth, and seems to have a good attitude about the work, which I like to see in missionaries. This is his last transfer in the mission before he goes home, so I hope to help him make the most out of it. Our ward covers Hesparia and I think a little bit of Oak Hills. We drive a Nissan SUV, and part of our area is dirt roads, so to me that adds a little bit of excitement to my time that I will be here haha! 

I know that this work that I do, that all missionaries do, is the Lord's work. He works through us "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." And as you try your best to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, you can be an instrument in the Lord's hands too. We can all make a difference! The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored, and I know that to be an absolute fact. I defend that truth with all my heart. 

I have much love and appreciation for all of you and for the influence you have been in my life. I have learned something from each of you in one way or another, not matter how small. Thank you. 

Choose the right, live the gospel, and let the gospel change you into the kind of wonderful person your Heavenly Father would have you be. He loves you all, so very much.

Have a good week y'all.

-Elder Ruiz

Here are some pictures of me while I was still in Chino last week. Sorry I didn't get a photo of my new companion and I. I'll make sure to get one by next Monday though haha.

Brother Rodriguez (who served with my uncle in Colombia), and his mother, who knew my grandpa back in the day. Small world when your'e LDS haha!

Remember when I first came to Chino I told you about the recent convert that has tattoos all over him...well here he is, the one and only Brother Pierce! He went through the temple two weeks or so ago and received his endowment; it's amazing to see the progress he's made and how much he has grown in the gospel!

​Interesting picture I took of Elder Morton and I weekly planning on Friday. 

Alas, we must go our separate ways. Till we meet again Elder Morton!

Week 31: Mission Mormonaries

This last week was great! We were blessed with 3 new investigators that want to learn more, so I'm very happy about that! My companion went to the Los Serranos Ward in Chino Hills for exchanges on Saturday, and Elder Robbins from that area came to our area for the day. We had a great exchange! We were able to teach Jose. He didn't read the Book of Mormon chapter that we asked him to read last time. He told us he doesn't like to read. At that point I was feeling a little fired up because we've been trying to work with him for a while now and he hasn't been reading the Book of Mormon since our third lesson back in February. So I decided to be fearless with him and tell him that we don't come to his house to hang out or simply talk about God and Jesus. I explained to him our purpose as missionaries, and how if he doesn't read, then we can't progress in the lessons. And wow, I felt the Holy Ghost put power behind my words and give me the words that were meant to be said to him! I could see that Jose understood what I was trying to tell him, and because of that we were able to clear up some misunderstandings. Bottom line is that Elder Robbins and I heavily emphasized how important it is to read the Book of Mormon, for it is the only way one can know whether or not the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Jesus Christ's church, if Joseph Smith was a prophet, and if the priesthood really was restored to Joseph Smith by heavenly messengers. It truly is the keystone of our religion. 

Other than exchanges and our lesson with Jose, nothing big happened last week. Elder Morton and I are still trying to work our hardest finding people to teach and inviting everyone to come unto Christ! This is the last week of the transfer, so I'm more sure that Elder Morton or myself are leaving. 

Love you all, have a great week! Make good choices. Strive for humility, for it is when we are humble that we can learn the most. The greatest leaders are the greatest followers. 

-Elder Haven Ruiz

Only the finest (donuts): I thought I'd get some donuts from this doughnut shop that I've been to before around the corner, since this is the last week of the transfer and I might never partake of this manna from heaven. They are made fresh every morning! It's hard to say whether or not they're better than the donuts at Day's Market in Provo haha. Also, what's the difference between donut and doughnut? I don't know

Week 30: The 909

Hey happy Mother's Day (yesterday of course haha). I hope you all had an enjoyable Sunday yesterday. I enjoyed being able to talk to my parents; but it is strange to think that I only get to see their faces twice a year haha. 

The weather last week was great; it was cloudy with a slight breeze, so most of the week it was cool temperatures. I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with the Spanish elders in their area, and I learned a few Spanish words, and I even learned how to bear my testimony in Spanish, which I am super happy about! There is a convert of about a year and a half named Jerry that went to the Redlands temple on Friday and received his endowment, which all of us were really excited about. He has long hair with a beard and mustache, but it was weird seeing him with short hair and no facial hair haha. I'm so happy for him.Our investigator Jose finally came to church again after weeks of not being able to meet with him. And the new investigator we  picked up last week we ended up dropping yesterday morning because he said he is good with where he is at in life right now, but he appreciated us teaching him and caring about him. Oh well, maybe now is not his time to meet with the missionaries haha. All of the brethren in the ward sang "I am a Child of God" in sacrament meeting during the Mother's Day Primary Program, and I'd say we weren't too shabby for only practicing during opening exercises for Priesthood meeting haha.

Well, two more weeks left for this transfer! I'll be trying to live it up while I still can here in Chino if I get transfers! I love you all, thank you for the love and support that you have expressed for me! Have a great week!

-Elder Ruiz

Thing  1 and Thing 2! We are twinners today haha.

Week 29: I.E.

Hey everybody, this past week was great! 

Monday was crazy. It was cloudy and windy all day, and then right as we got to a member's house for dinner, it started to sprinkle. And as soon as we stepped onto their porch, it just started POURING!!!! And it kept on pouring all during dinner, and then it stopped just minutes before we left their house. Crazy experience! 

On Thursday Elder Morton and I biked a mile or two out of our area ( don't worry, we had permission haha) to the stake center in Chino Hills to assist with the Red Cross blood drive that took place there. It was pretty cool being able to see how they do the donating of blood and stuff. 

I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with one of our zone leaders on Saturday in our area! There were so many miracles that happened, and we even picked up a new investigator and had a lesson with him about the plan of salvation...in his garage! We also were able to set a return appointment with a potential investigator, and we also obtained 2 other potential investigators! I gained valuable insight as to how I can do better at street contacting, it was awesome. I could feel the Spirit strongly several times throughout the day. 

Well, nothing else major has happened, but I have a feeling that great things will happen this week. Remember that the future is as bright as your faith! So have faith! Love you all!

Elder Ruiz

Week 28: Brownie Waffles

Greetings fellow earthlings, this past week was spledid! Elder Morton and I have been doing a lot of tracting these past few weeks to try and pick up some new investigators. We had to drop one of our investigators named Bernie because he hasn't been keeping commitments that we have given him, but oh well, maybe he'll be ready in the future! Since my companion Elder Morton is the district leader, he went on exchanges with Elder Robbins in the Los Serranos ward, and his companion Elder Muhlstein went with me for the day in our ward. He's a great elder; he's from Riverton Utah and likes to snowboard. It's funny how many Utah/Idaho missionaries there are in this mission; a lot of us know each other from back home. For example, Elder Muhlstein knows one of my previous companions (Elder Jessee) from back home because they both went to the same high school! Haha it's a small world here in California being LDS. For dinner last night some members made us brownie waffles, and they were actually pretty good! The weather in Chino has been getting better these past few days (at least in my opinion haha); the heat streak finally ended early last week, and since  then it's been in the 80's during the day, and the nights have been very cool with a slight breeze. It's been great weather; we've even been sleeping with the windows open because it's so cool outside, it's great! 

I want to leave you with my testimony of the Book of Mormon. I know it to be the word of God. I testify of the authenticity of it, and am not afraid to tell anyone that it is "the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and (that) a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." I cannot even describe how much the Book of Mormon can change people. I know that it has changed me for the better. I am eternally grateful for it. The blessings it brings are innumerable. It can strengthen you when you feel all hope is lost; you can find joy in its words; it can strengthen your marriage and family; it can answer questions of the soul; and you can find true peace as you study and live its teachings. It is evidence of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that Christ lives, that through Him we can find eternal joy, and eventually return to live with our loving Heavenly Father. 

I love you all, and am grateful for each and every one of you. Choose the right, love and serve others; follow the loving example of our Savior Jesus Christ. He loves you. 

-Elder Ruiz

Also, I LOVE this testimony given by Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles back in the 80's. He gave this speech only a few days before he passed away. It it so powerful and moving to me every time I watch it; to see his conviction and emotion, and his love for Jesus Christ. I hope it can inspire you in some way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLqQ_Smimvc

Week 27: Heat Streak

Howdy y'all, this past week we experienced many miracles and tender mercies. Elder Morton and I were tracting down a few streets in Chino, and we came across several people who were quite interested in learning more, and said we could come back. Also, we tracted into the parents of an investigator's family that the Spanish Sisters are now teaching! Now that was meant to be! They spoke very little English, but their son said they like Mormons and that we could come by this week and talk more! Woohoo, I'm so pumped! We went and visited less-actives with a returning less-active member, which was awesome! For the past two or three weeks my bike hasn't been working well, and on Wednesday I could no longer shift (it's the gear shifter lines that broke), so this afternoon I took my bike in to a bike shop to get fixed, and I'll be picking it up tomorrow. On Friday we had a great visit with a less-active member. Elder Morton and I taught him the importance of the Book of Mormon and challenged him to read it. I had such a strong feeling to just be direct with him and ask him why he doesn't come to church, so I just flat-out asked him, and he simply told us why, which is what I've been waiting for him to tell us this whole time we've been seeing him! It's amazing how when we act on promptings from the Spirit, we can do amazing things! I know without a doubt that I was guided by the Spirit to ask certain inspired questions, and that the less-active could feel the Spirit, as well as the power of our testimonies and the message we shared. On Sunday we had a great stake conference, and Adrienne (recent convert) came to all of it, which is good!

The Gospel is real, and the Church is true! If we want to see blessings, we have to live the Gospel; it's as simple as that! Have a great week, I love you all!

-Elder Ruiz

"The baking of life’s best cakes takes time. Don’t despair of tarrying and trying."

     -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Week 26: 5th Transfer

Hello again everyone, today is the first day of my 5th transfer out here on my mission, 6 month mark! Transfer calls came, and I'll be staying here in the Walnut Park Ward in Chino. I was looking forward to being transferred to another area, but it seems the Lord has something else in store for me haha.

Nothing too big to report about this past week, but it went well. On Monday we had our zone activity at a park in Chino Hills; we played Indian Ball (it's similar to football; I don't really know how to put it into words haha), and we also played capture the flag. Tuesday we had a great zone meeting, Thursday we taught the Plan of Salvation with Bishop Smith to a recent convert. Friday I could not stop thinking about transfers, because I totally thought I would get transferred (staying in one area for 6 months is pretty long), and the other elders in our apartment even said they thought I'd be leaving...but lo and behold, the call never came haha. Elder Morton and I are still companions, and he's been called to be district leader, so I'm looking forward to going on exchanges with the zone leaders! Chino received a fair amount of rain this past weekend, which I am very happy about. The storms keep the temperatures cool during the day, which I like. Sunday was great; while I was fasting I felt spiritually strengthened and nourished, and I even went up to the stand and bore my testimony (which I never did back home haha). 

I have been thinking lately about the difference between how I felt spiritually before my mission, and now during my mission, and how much my testimony has grown. And I can definitely say that I'm a lot better on my mission! This morning I thought of a question that I asked to myself: 

Do the things I say, think, do, or participate in:

-Help me grow closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

-Help me feel the Spirit more throughout the day?

I encourage you all to ask that same question to yourself. I can't help but think of the phrase "Surround Yourself With Greatness" (I can't remember if that's a book title or something, but whatever).

By ourselves, we cannot make those changes that are necessary to align our will with the Lord's will. We must humble ourselves and ask Him to help us. And He will gladly help us, all we have to do is ask. Because through Christ we can do all things!

Applying the gospel to your life does not hurt you. It does not make life boring or hard. It does not make you seem weird to other people when you actively live it (and if they criticize you for it, then that's their problem). The gospel of Jesus Christ was created to help us return to live with our loving Heavenly Father. It helps us when we need all the help we can get. It can bless ourselves and those around us. It is a tool that can be used for any task; all we have to do is pick it up and use it! Stand up for truth and righteousness!

I love you all and wish you a wonderful week!

-Elder Ruiz

Our beloved Chino Zone! Two Elders are missing in the picture because they got a drink of water, but whatever haha. My companion Elder Morton is the Elder that's laying on the ground haha.