Saturday, January 31, 2015

Memorial City, Week 18: January 20, 2015 - January 25, 2015

Monday, January 26, 2015

So, this week wasn’t stellar. Johnny didn’t come to church so he can’t make February 7 now. Neither did Brian, but he’s on hold because he’s got family drama. But, Eva came to church and is good for this Saturday. We had a great time yesterday. She and her husband made friends as well. That’s a huge part of converts commitment, gotta have friends and fun at church. Johnny has stopped smoking this week. He just needs to come to church, get married and see us more often. He’s been working a lot and we’ve only had one lesson with him. The Bible to the office situation is done. He never called back or anything. So, all we did was drop off the Book of Mormon and Bible last week


We don’t knock doors, no, but we knock on neighbors doors of those that we work with and aren’t home. Bike riding is okay. It’s been warm this week, only rained once I believe. But, now its usually in the 70s. Bike works like a bike, esta bien. My companion isn’t too trunky. Yeah, a little, but its a good kind and its understandable. He’s sad he’s leaving this ward. So, we had interviews with president on Tuesday. Went great. He likes me and made me feel cool by talking about all the good I do. He just told me i need to fill out my indicator tracker more, a sheet that shows your goals week by week, so he and I can see trends.

 We got fed on Thursday!  That hasn’t been happening, but that went swell. I am close to that family. They’re the ones that moved in from San Fran a couple weeks ago. We’ve been over and they give us rides frequently. I got to give Krista, the wife, a blessing! And, it was even more exciting because I taught her husband, Rob, how to do it. He’s a recent convert and has never done a blessing, so he did the anointing and I did sealing and blessing.

Basketball went good. I was out training people with another good friend, Chase. Elder Davis did the lesson and I came back later and hung while everyone played. Friday, we went to an old folks home and visited an old sister named Maria. I love doing that. I even got to wheel her around! Saturday, again we hung with the old sisters. Three of them met us at Dimassi’s, a Mediterranean grill, and they paid for dinner. That was cool. But things are sweet. We also got fed last night and went to priesthood stake conference.


Love ya,

Elder Janz  

A family I worked with in League City baptized their son

Monday, January 26, 2015

Memorial City, Week 17: January 12, 2015 - January 19, 2015

Tuesday, January 20, 2015


Today is P Day. Since yesterday was a holiday, they wanted us to work and move P Day to today. Sorry about the confusion, I didn’t know. But this week was amazing, seriously. Wednesday we went to go see a guy who was pretty promising from an OYM. He actually called us over since he recognized us as servants of the Lord. So, that’s a prayer answered and then we met him talked for a few mins. We found out he has tons of faith already, just wants to learn how he can show it. So, on Wednesday, we went over for our first lesson and things went off the wall. Lesson went great and he told us he wanted to be baptized!! I invited him to be baptized on Jan 31 and his response was that he could do it even sooner. What is this? haha  So then we set the date for Jan 25. We've been working with him almost every day now. But turns out he didn’t come to church this week. One of the baptismal requirements is attending church two times. His girlfriend was sick, so he stayed with her. But I have never met anyone who is so excited to come to church. We found out he also needs to marry his girlfriend since they live together and he needs to stop smoking and coffee. So with all this against him, unfortunately he won’t make Jan 25 but he decided he can make it by Feb 7th.


Business bldg where we dropped off scriptures
 On Thursday, it was pretty funny. We got a referral text from church head quarters saying we needed to drop off a bible to some dude. We looked up the address and It’s actually a massive business, sweet!  So, we figured we would just be Mormon infiltrators and go up to the top of the business, where he’s at, and drop off a Bible. Buuuttt, we looked and didn’t have one on us. I decided just to leave a Book of Mormon instead with a note saying I’d bring the bible tomorrow and that both are true and help us learn about Christ. Sneaky huh? So, that was a first. Going up 8 floors into a nice office building doing missionary work.
Another view
We did not get any new investigators handed off and we still gotta hand ours off. So the street ballers... they’re non members and they come from rough backgrounds. Basketball is their life. The ward just met a few of them and then started the program to help them feel more peace in life but still do what they like. We play every Thursday. I meet new guys every time and grow closer to the ones i see weekly. We taught basketball again that night. That’s goin great. The guys are really warming up and they don’t mind doin the lesson before they hit the court. We actually did one lesson and went to go play and then some guys came in late and bishop told us to teach another lesson to those that came late! So, we went and taught the same lesson again. It was cool.

Friday was slow. We biked all day and nothing was working out. Took a lot of thinking and seeking revelation. But, it finally came. I thought to go see a less active couple that wasn’t home last time we tried. We went over and they answered! Turns out they’ve been living in Columbia for a while so that’s why they haven’t been at church and answering. But we got to know them. They fed us a little and we taught about prayer. They had the nicest house. They have a giant metal horse in their living room.

Saturday, we got in with a guy we OYM'd on New Years Eve. He’s been busy and we’ve been missing him since then. But we finally taught the first lesson and it went super. His name is Brian and he accepted to be baptized as well. The Lord is so merciful and proving his power to all of us. Were just glad we can tag along with his work. People really are prepared out here. So now we have 3 dates. Eva Jensen- she was out of town this week but will be ready Jan 31. Johnny- Saw him a ton. We found out we gotta work through quite a bit, but he can make Feb 7. Brian accepted Feb 7 as well and we need to get to know him through a follow up visit.

It was nuts on Saturday night I got into my first confrontation and sketchy situation. We were about to head in when a drunk old man started talking to us. He told us we needed to dress warmer and he’s been watching us. Turns out Elder Davis has talked to him before, long ago and he did the same thing. Tells us we’re dumb about not dressing warm and then rips on the church. Things got heated as he threatened us and interrogated us about our belief. My companion was gettin all mad and i was just thinking, this is so unnecessary. So when things were bad and he wasn’t letting us go, I just said "we’re going. We got other things to do Sir, have a good night" and then we walked way. It was stupid. I just told Elder Davis let him be. It’s his problem. I know that you, Dad, and the Savior have taught me a valuable lesson. Fighting is ridiculous. Real men walk away. So thank you.

But on another note, twas a good week, good good week. We’re working as hard as we can. We biked a ton yesterday. Gets painful sometimes haha., but its worth it as we've seen. But things are swell out here. Plenty of work to do since the Lord throws it in our lap. I love it. Plus yeah, we get a little service vacation on the side ;)















Love you,
Elder Janz













Houston Space Center Photos

Information about Janz' visit to the space center  is posted in Week 15.

View from shuttle of sunrise







Mission Control


Flight Directer Deans


Houston, we have a problem!



Saturn V - Rocket at space center