We were out and about allllllllll day! It is annoying that we haven't had any time for emails lately.
Just know I love you!
~Elder J. Alger
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Week 59
This week we went to the temple and I, Elder Alger, courteously played
the role of driver so my email time has been shot dramatically to 15
minutes.
I am doing great!
My companion is a superb missionary and I love him bunches.
My area Otay Mesa is da best! By the way Sam O'Dell is going to be
baptized this week! (86 year old husband to a lifetime church member.)
he says "I have been sleeping with a Mormon girl for 66 years! I think
is about time!"
I love you all! Have a wonderful week!
~Elder J. Alger
the role of driver so my email time has been shot dramatically to 15
minutes.
I am doing great!
My companion is a superb missionary and I love him bunches.
My area Otay Mesa is da best! By the way Sam O'Dell is going to be
baptized this week! (86 year old husband to a lifetime church member.)
he says "I have been sleeping with a Mormon girl for 66 years! I think
is about time!"
I love you all! Have a wonderful week!
~Elder J. Alger
(I asked for more pictures of his face and this is what I got. hahaha)
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Week 58
This week has been pretty crazy. We had something called a mission tour. It is when a General Authority comes to the mission and does some training on things that the mission is lacking at. Apparently our mission is doing alright. We just got hammered on working with members
better and utilizing the resources. I took a lot of great notes but I will have to send them next week because of what happened on Fantastic Friday.
We exchanged on Friday, switched companions for 24 hours. I got to spend a whole day with my dream companion, Elder Orullian. We made a goal that day to literally talk to everyone and literally ask everyone, who do you know and it was amazing! We had many teaching appointments and a few of them were on the fly. We did service for a less-acitve sister, Cutting down a small thicket
of trees. And afterwards we asked who she knew and she gave us he name address and number of her acquaintance. We were off to a good start. Then we went out and did some street contacting in an apartment complex. We contacted 3 individuals we had never met prior to that day and added them as investigators! How sweet is the work. And to top off the day we had a wonderful lesson with one of Elder Orullian's most progressing investigators and remembered to ask them who they know right after we left the door and were walking down the driveway. As soon as it came to our recollection we turned around and knocked on the door again to ask. They did not have anyone for us that day but the Elders Quorum president noticed our diligence and was expecting it when we asked him he knew. He said not yet but soon. It was exhilarating. We were exactly obedient in those two principals that day and we saw many miracles come of it. That was the highlight of my week. But living the missionary life is the best life.
Love you all!
Elder Alger
better and utilizing the resources. I took a lot of great notes but I will have to send them next week because of what happened on Fantastic Friday.
We exchanged on Friday, switched companions for 24 hours. I got to spend a whole day with my dream companion, Elder Orullian. We made a goal that day to literally talk to everyone and literally ask everyone, who do you know and it was amazing! We had many teaching appointments and a few of them were on the fly. We did service for a less-acitve sister, Cutting down a small thicket
of trees. And afterwards we asked who she knew and she gave us he name address and number of her acquaintance. We were off to a good start. Then we went out and did some street contacting in an apartment complex. We contacted 3 individuals we had never met prior to that day and added them as investigators! How sweet is the work. And to top off the day we had a wonderful lesson with one of Elder Orullian's most progressing investigators and remembered to ask them who they know right after we left the door and were walking down the driveway. As soon as it came to our recollection we turned around and knocked on the door again to ask. They did not have anyone for us that day but the Elders Quorum president noticed our diligence and was expecting it when we asked him he knew. He said not yet but soon. It was exhilarating. We were exactly obedient in those two principals that day and we saw many miracles come of it. That was the highlight of my week. But living the missionary life is the best life.
Love you all!
Elder Alger
Here are some pics of what I eat and see every day.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Week 57
I am doing amazingly I have a great new companion, Elder Mahoney and the area in which we serve is on the border of Mexico! It is a whole lot of fun. The landscape is very hilly and it never gets over 90 degrees. Paradise! I am enjoying it while I can. The Ward I am in is very small but it is a powerful bunch. They are all very strong members and the ones who are not as strong we teach!
I would have to say that sharing the Saviors love with others is my favorite part about being a missionary. That paired with helping others recognize the spirit makes for a wonderful experience.
This week has been significantly slower but we are still teaching and having people come to church.
I think the most strenuous part about missionary work is finding people to teach. When we do it on our own it is very hit and miss but when we do it with members and their friends it usually works out. When we talk per se to people in a busy place, half the people do not speak English, another quarter won't talk because they do not know you and about an 8th of the total will talk to you about Christ then out of that about a 16th will let us teach a mini-lesson with them and about about half of those people will let you contact them again. But this all happens relatively fast. If you are doing it right you are talking to at least 30-40 people a day so you get to talk about Jesus quite a bit.
On the other hand when you find people to teach through members you skip most of those odds. Their friends speak English, they want to talk to them because they know them. And more than likely they would be willing to talk about what they believe. That brings it down To a 50/50 chance! The thing that makes working with members a bit more difficult is members are nervous to open their mouths. And helping them sometimes takes a little while.
But yeah that's me.
~ Elder Josh Alger
I would have to say that sharing the Saviors love with others is my favorite part about being a missionary. That paired with helping others recognize the spirit makes for a wonderful experience.
This week has been significantly slower but we are still teaching and having people come to church.
I think the most strenuous part about missionary work is finding people to teach. When we do it on our own it is very hit and miss but when we do it with members and their friends it usually works out. When we talk per se to people in a busy place, half the people do not speak English, another quarter won't talk because they do not know you and about an 8th of the total will talk to you about Christ then out of that about a 16th will let us teach a mini-lesson with them and about about half of those people will let you contact them again. But this all happens relatively fast. If you are doing it right you are talking to at least 30-40 people a day so you get to talk about Jesus quite a bit.
On the other hand when you find people to teach through members you skip most of those odds. Their friends speak English, they want to talk to them because they know them. And more than likely they would be willing to talk about what they believe. That brings it down To a 50/50 chance! The thing that makes working with members a bit more difficult is members are nervous to open their mouths. And helping them sometimes takes a little while.
But yeah that's me.
~ Elder Josh Alger
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Week 56
I am doing swell! I have a brand spankin' new elder and he is great! More about him next week though.
This last week was the best week of my mission so far. We taught so many lessons I lost count! We are teaching repentance for sure! To add on to the excitement I had a surprise baptism. Ainar, one of my investigators in my last Ward was baptized and asked me to baptize him! I was so honored but due to complications I thought his baptism would be postponed to next week. But...... surprisingly it was not! I got a call at 1:50 last Saturday with Ainar's current Elders saying "Ainar's baptism is in 10 min. Where are you!?" I rushed half way across San Diego in 25 min just in time for me to baptize him. Literally, the person before him was getting in the water. I made he fastest change in my life and baptized Ainar. I was so full of adrenaline that I started saying the beginning of the blessing of the sick instead of the baptismal prayer... Lol then after a few tries I finally got it out. It was glorious!
Miracles!
That is what this week has been. Miracle after miracle after miracle. I honestly and truly believe that it is due to our diligence and exact obedience. We talk to everyone in this mission. And we have seen miracles because of it. Two nights ago we were walking back to our car with Paola, one of our most progressing investigators, and I looked behind me and Elder Mahoney was talking to Valerie. I did not see Valerie but Elder Mahoney did. By the time I got over to them Elder Mahoney was about to write down our number and then before we knew it we were teaching the restoration to this person neither of us had known prior to that moment. It resulted in Valerie taking, literally taking, both a Book of Mormon and a pamphlet from us and taking our number as well. She said that she would text or call us when she has read and prayed about both the Book of Mormon and what we have taught her that night. It was a great experience! It made us late to our apartment.... but it was well worth it in the long run. Lol!
We need to work on asking "who do you know" to everyone. That is how we find solid people round here. One of the fruits of this is Debbie. Debbie is a single mom who was talking to Paola one day and said "why don't the Mormons come to my door?". Luckily we asked Paola who she knew that could hear about what we are teaching her and she told us about Debbie. We are meeting her tonight and it will be glorious.
~ Elder Josh Alger
This last week was the best week of my mission so far. We taught so many lessons I lost count! We are teaching repentance for sure! To add on to the excitement I had a surprise baptism. Ainar, one of my investigators in my last Ward was baptized and asked me to baptize him! I was so honored but due to complications I thought his baptism would be postponed to next week. But...... surprisingly it was not! I got a call at 1:50 last Saturday with Ainar's current Elders saying "Ainar's baptism is in 10 min. Where are you!?" I rushed half way across San Diego in 25 min just in time for me to baptize him. Literally, the person before him was getting in the water. I made he fastest change in my life and baptized Ainar. I was so full of adrenaline that I started saying the beginning of the blessing of the sick instead of the baptismal prayer... Lol then after a few tries I finally got it out. It was glorious!
Miracles!
That is what this week has been. Miracle after miracle after miracle. I honestly and truly believe that it is due to our diligence and exact obedience. We talk to everyone in this mission. And we have seen miracles because of it. Two nights ago we were walking back to our car with Paola, one of our most progressing investigators, and I looked behind me and Elder Mahoney was talking to Valerie. I did not see Valerie but Elder Mahoney did. By the time I got over to them Elder Mahoney was about to write down our number and then before we knew it we were teaching the restoration to this person neither of us had known prior to that moment. It resulted in Valerie taking, literally taking, both a Book of Mormon and a pamphlet from us and taking our number as well. She said that she would text or call us when she has read and prayed about both the Book of Mormon and what we have taught her that night. It was a great experience! It made us late to our apartment.... but it was well worth it in the long run. Lol!
We need to work on asking "who do you know" to everyone. That is how we find solid people round here. One of the fruits of this is Debbie. Debbie is a single mom who was talking to Paola one day and said "why don't the Mormons come to my door?". Luckily we asked Paola who she knew that could hear about what we are teaching her and she told us about Debbie. We are meeting her tonight and it will be glorious.
~ Elder Josh Alger
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Week 55
Today I do not have a companion. I am staying with the Zone Leaders until I pick up a new missionary. I don't know who yet. Elder Webb is from Lehi, UT but he just got transferred back to ASL work. We did not have much in common. But that has been the same for pretty much all of
my companions. And that is awesome! I like getting a new perspective on things and to be able to find traits I like about each of them and apply it to myself. Elder Webb is a great friend to all of our investigators, which make a world of a difference!
I have been thinking about the many places I have been and was thinking about whether or not I had a favorite. I decided I cannot have a favorite. To compare two wards is like trying to compare apples
to oranges. They are all good but they are all just so different that it is hard to compare them. My first area had a great Ward council with a determined Bishop but missionary work was an afterthought. Plus, I was walking in my first ward and that make a huge difference. My second ward had a rather dysfunctional ward council but the spirit of the ward was unlike any other. And with the extremely high density of people in that area, there was always someone to talk to about Christ. And in this, my third ward, the ward council is new, but strong. Our bishop is very missionary minded and the members are very supportive. There area has hardly any places we can find investigators through our own efforts so we need to find them through members. And so far things have been working out. I think my favorite ward is which ever one I am in. The work is great everywhere and the Lord knows perfectly what I need.
The Otay Mesa Ward has been flourishing in missionary work lately and it has been because of our resent investment in finding and teaching investigators through members. We have been developing relationships with the members in a way that they feel more inspired to be a member missionary. And by result of that we have 17 investigators and 3 of them are progressing to being baptized on August 27th!
It is kind of exciting counting down the days for a new opportunity, with me getting new companion and all. But I enjoy even better the experience of making this day count. If I live every day to the
fullest the I will have no regrets. While keeping in mind the days ahead I choose to make this day the best one yet!
~ Elder Josh Alger
my companions. And that is awesome! I like getting a new perspective on things and to be able to find traits I like about each of them and apply it to myself. Elder Webb is a great friend to all of our investigators, which make a world of a difference!
I have been thinking about the many places I have been and was thinking about whether or not I had a favorite. I decided I cannot have a favorite. To compare two wards is like trying to compare apples
to oranges. They are all good but they are all just so different that it is hard to compare them. My first area had a great Ward council with a determined Bishop but missionary work was an afterthought. Plus, I was walking in my first ward and that make a huge difference. My second ward had a rather dysfunctional ward council but the spirit of the ward was unlike any other. And with the extremely high density of people in that area, there was always someone to talk to about Christ. And in this, my third ward, the ward council is new, but strong. Our bishop is very missionary minded and the members are very supportive. There area has hardly any places we can find investigators through our own efforts so we need to find them through members. And so far things have been working out. I think my favorite ward is which ever one I am in. The work is great everywhere and the Lord knows perfectly what I need.
The Otay Mesa Ward has been flourishing in missionary work lately and it has been because of our resent investment in finding and teaching investigators through members. We have been developing relationships with the members in a way that they feel more inspired to be a member missionary. And by result of that we have 17 investigators and 3 of them are progressing to being baptized on August 27th!
It is kind of exciting counting down the days for a new opportunity, with me getting new companion and all. But I enjoy even better the experience of making this day count. If I live every day to the
fullest the I will have no regrets. While keeping in mind the days ahead I choose to make this day the best one yet!
~ Elder Josh Alger
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Week 54
Well things back here are good as always. This week has been very eventful with the fact that we had 4 investigators at church! We had Stephanie and her daughter Angelica join us in our ward and we had Amerika and Vanessa join other congregations in the area. It was a miracle! It was crazy because we spent all week pinky promising investigators to come to church and we started sacrament without any investigators and then right after sacrament Stephanie and Angelica came! I was so elated! I love the Lord's work. I really respect everything our investigators do. They have to leave behind the life they grew up with and are comfortable with for a whole new life with a whole new vocabulary and with all new people. Ultimately it is the hardest and the best thing they will ever do with their lives. It is incredible. They come from a crazy world where you can trust next to no one and everyone is only there to help themselves. Missionary work is the most rewarding work because it brings the most positive change. It is so worth it. Love you!
~ Elder Josh Alger
~ Elder Josh Alger
Notice Kiana Cullimore? That is not what I expected to find in my church building.
What a fun surprise!
Two pics to show how many people came to the Alex Boyé / Mission Pres. fireside.
This is my area. Not much of anything huh? Lol
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