From October 31

Hey Guys!

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! Man, was I ever glad to get that box of goodies from you guys, pumpkin bread and all. I have been making friends with all the senior couples that work in the office as I have been sharing my spoils, and they all say "thank you so much." Thanks to the grandparents, too, for the treat they sent me in their Halloween cards! I will be putting it to good use for sure :) I just love you guys so much.

 

To answer your questions...This past week what kept me the most busy was definitely transfers. We just have a lot of things to do that nobody thinks about, but somebody has to do it. Update lists, make graphs, update baptismal records, reconfigure apartments, take cars, give cars, deal with missionaries getting hurt, or doing stupid things, rework calendars, schedule buildings and events, plan Zone Conference, ZLC, MLT, and on and on and on. I know it sounds really boring and not like real missionary work, but it is missionary work -- just a different kind.

 

I am happy to be serving the Lord, however and wherever He needs me to serve. It has been great though, being able to interact with President B. for multiple hours a day. He has taught me so much, even just by watching him and how he reacts in different situations. One day I know all this training and practice will come in handy in the business world and in Church administration and so I am trying to be as sponge-like as possible.

 

So, because of all the madness, I spent probably a combined total of 4 hours in my new area this past week so I do not know it at all...and I will have to go on exchanges with some Zone Leaders in my area this week, so that will be an adventure for sure.

 

I am getting used to the new apartment even though we are never there. We stay in the office 'til like 10:20 at night and then head back to sleep and nothing else, so a bed in a shed would be enough to keep us alive up here, but they give us an apartment anyway. I fall asleep so fast; it is great. Elder H. talks in his sleep and it is pretty funny because he just keeps working on office stuff. For example, last night he was explaining how he had the graphs organized at 2 in the morning. Elder G. said that he left the office with the "talking in his sleep" problem too. He said the office does things to your mind and you literally never stop working, even when you are horizontal and your eyes are shut haha so I guess I have that to look forward to. Actually, I refuse. I refuse to go crazy..I just won't do it...but I will keep you posted on my progress.

 

Things with Elder H. are going really well, actually. He is a great companion and very patient which is good because I still have a lot of questions while I am getting the hang of things. We are doing well together, and have a lot of fun. He really reminds me of Bennett for some reason, so that makes it even better! He looks kinda like him I guess, just taller.

 

What am I enjoying most? That is a great question...I am not really sure yet because it is all still new and I haven't experienced all of it yet, but I am liking all of it. I really like being able to work so closely with President and being able to do things and plan things that affect the whole mission. I also like being able to interact and help so many missionaries and I like joking around with the senior couples in the office. I am just loving it all.

 

The hardest part so far has been not being able to get to the area and I miss the Latin people I came to know and love, but I really am having a blast on my mission. The Zones have already gone from 7 to 9 so we are trying to keep up with all the changes, but it is going well.

 

The craziest day was definitely Wednesday when we had to get up early, load up the truck with luggage and departing missionaries and drop them off then pick up incoming missionaries and watch them come down the escalator all awe-struck and confused. Then we trained them, the trainers, the new senior comps, the new District Leaders, and the new Zone Leaders and had no time to breathe or eat or anything, but I loved every second.

 

I am sorry this email probably seems pretty scattered; missionaries keep coming up and interrupting me. I love you guys and I will talk to ya' next week.

 

Love,

Elder Molinaro

From October 24

Hey Fam!

 

So, I am pretty sure that today is the first day of the busiest week of my life to this point. Transfers are Wednesday and the board is not all figured out, and President is recently back in town so we definitely have some work to do, but I am excited to see what the Lord has in store. He has already thrown us quite a few curve balls.

 

So this past week, President B. was out of town at a Mission President's seminar for the western and northwestern regions and he and his wife were in Portland. So, Elder G., and Elder K. and I were holding down the fort, and of course things started to go wrong. It was like Satan knew that the brains of the operation was out of the picture for a while and problems started happening that I can't really talk about, but to say the least, we ended up with two other missionaries for a few days. We were babysitting until President got back. Sometimes it is hard to believe that 20 year old young men can act a certain way, but the problems got resolved and all is well right now.

 

It has been so much fun being here for the last week with my 3 companions. Three comps is only temporary because Elder K. (the referrals secretary from New Zealand who plays rugby for the country's All Blacks team) is headed out on Wednesday for New Zealand, and Elder G. is getting transferred. So our party of 4 will shortly turn into a group of 2 but we will still make sure it is a party.

 

As for your questions, I now live in Westwood in an apartment that is literally right next to the Temple which is cool. It feels weird not to fall asleep to the sound of sirens and the hope that cockroaches don't crawl on my face at night with ridiculously loud ranchera music like I had in Huntington Park, but it is going good so far.

 

My companion's name is Elder H. and he has two transfers left and goes home in January. Come to find out he is way funny and we are getting along great. He is from a farm in Springville, Utah and is a really good missionary.

 

Yes, we still have our studies, but we do them in our office...or is it a workspace? :) So for studies we can go on lds.org ormormon.org and of course read the scriptures and things, but it is cool to have resources. In fact, the other day I looked up Ash on Mormon.org and her page is way good! You should all do one!

We travel the mission for different things and meetings. For example, last night we had the departing missionary fireside where all the departing missionaries come and share their testimonies with all their recent converts/investigators/members from their missions and I was the one conducting this meeting. Holy nervous! There were easily 400 people there! But, I got to thinking about it and realized that if I messed up who cares!? I am learning, and it is just part of it, right? I ended up doing OK and I know the Lord helped me out in a big way. I could not have done that myself and especially not a year and a half ago. I am grateful for the skills I have been able to develop and fears I have been able to conquer.

 

As for my responsibilities, that is a great question. I am not quite sure on all of them, but right now it has consisted of transfers and more transfers. It is pretty fun, but you don't truly understand what goes into it until you have to do it. We have to figure out missionaries personalities matching, teaching skills meshing, what wards and stakes need, District and Zone composition, who gets what car and who is able to drive, who gets what apartment, who is ready to be District Leaders, Zone Leaders, senior companions, and trainers. There is a lot of prayer that goes into it, and it is amazing how President really cares about not just producing baptisms, but building the kind of men that the Lord will need for the future of the Church.

This week is big with transfers. We must drop off departing missionaries at the airport, pick up incoming missionaries, train Zone Leaders, District Leaders, trainers, and then pick trainers for all the incoming missionaries. I am a little nervous about driving a 12-passenger van in Los Angeles traffic, but it is a new challenge and those are always fun, right? haha.

 

We still have an area, but the office work takes priority over the area. Our area is called La Brea Park and it is by Korea Town and the Wilshire area. There are a lot of Jewish people and a lot of black people which is a big transition for me, along with the ward which is an English-speaking ward called the Wilshire Ward and we meet at the LA stake center every week. I am in the mission office a lot more, and I have my own office -- well, kinda -- it is shared with Elder H.

 

Fear Factor is still chugging along, but yesterday we helped President announce to all the Zone Leaders that we are switching from 7 zones to 9 zones. Still trying to figure out logistics and such, but it is going to be good.

 

Last night at the departing missionary fireside The P. family came, Hma I. was there, and Hma Is. came, too, along with some members from HP and Inglewood Second wards. It was so good to see them all, and so good to know that the Lord is continuing to take care of those I love so much. Hma Is. is still teaching Primary, and Hma I. is going to church with her sister. Hma E. and her daughter M. got confirmed, and Elder H. said Hma K. and Hmo H. should be baptized this next week, so hopefully I get permission to go to that.

I am loving my mission and am happier now than I have been in my whole life, I am pretty sure. I love you all so much and can't wait to live through this week and let you know how it went! Pray for me! haha

Good questions this week, excited for some more next week! Have the grandparents ask 'em, too. Like compile a list from everyone and I will try to answer as many as I can!

 

Thanks Guys for being who you are and for making me who I am. The Lord is really blessing me as He holds me in the hollow of His hand. I feel your prayers and am so grateful to be serving the Lord.

 

Love,

Elder Molinaro

From October 19

Dear Family,

 

How are things? I really don't know where to start with reporting what has gone on this past week and a half, but I might as well try, right? Last week was really good, and Elder H. and I got a lot done. Our investigators are progressing well, and Hma E.and Hma M. both got baptized! Break out the victory nachos, Ty!

 

So Sunday morning we had stake report meeting, and after the meeting, President B. said he needed to talk to me for a minute. Having no idea why, I went into a room with him and had a short interview. "Elder Molinaro," he started, "you have been in Huntington Park for a long time haven't you?" "Yes, President I have." "Well, Elder Molinaro we are so grateful for all the hard work you have put in and for all your dedicated service, but we have a new assignment for you. Elder Molinaro we are going to ask you to come up to the office to work with us and be my new Assistant, are you ready to do that?"

 

Needless to say I was surprised, but I am the new Assistant to the President (AP) here in the CLAM! That is quite the news to be told on a Sunday when I needed to finish planning a baptism and getting Hma M. and her mom baptized.

 

As if the stress wasn't already enough, it was a tough Sunday to stay focused on the here and now. The weirdest thing is that I remember it like it was yesterday when Elder W. went up to the office and left Inglewood, but it was almost 11 months ago. Well, the same thing happened to me on Monday morning. The Assistants came up to Huntington Park and grabbed me and my stuff; Elder H. is staying there with a young man who is preparing for his mission.

 

So far in the office it has been great. It's really fun getting trained on all the new things I have to do by the current Assistants. We have had several multiple-hour meetings with President B. to work on transfers, and it is like a huge puzzle except almost the opposite where the hardest pieces/missionaries to place are at the very end whereas in a puzzle the last piece is the easiest.

 

I am so sorry this Email is so broken, but I am in the family history library and keep getting interrupted by missionaries coming up and talking to me and Elder G. (the AP I am coming in for).

I have been praying really hard lately trying to align my will with the will of the Father, and I am ready to do whatever He will ask of me. I don't know a lot of the things I will be doing, but next week I will be able to update you better.

 

I love you all so much and will answer your testimony questions later. Please keep me in your prayers, I am going to need it!

 

Love,

Elder Molinaro

From October 10

Hey Fam,

Schools here are so bad, it's ridiculous. In fact, this world is just an evil place, and Los Angeles is far from the name (The Angles). I see so much bad every day, but it is such a relief and blessing to have the gospel and the perspective that it brings.

This week has been really good, and "Fear Factor" is going so great. It really works well for the District Leaders to have the responsibility of picking the District's Fear Factor weekly, and people are staying pumped and excited as they switch it up every week. In fact, yesterday the Assistants informed us that Metro Zone is on top of the mission in every single key indicator there is. The Lord is really blessing us.

Baptisms are like cookies. If you want to double the recipe, you have to double every ingredient. If you double sugar but not salt or butter, then they taste nasty. To increase baptisms each key indicator must also be increased. I think we are really starting to catch the vision of that.

Now the answers to your questions:

The best part of going on splits with other Elders is what you learn. Overall I would have to say I have learned that there is no one right way to do missionary work. Every single missionary works in a different way, and just because someone works differently than me doesn't mean they are wrong...it's just different! I have learned a lot about that on my mission. Just cuz someone does something differently doesn't mean they do it wrong.

We don't knock doors too terribly often just because lately we have had a lot of people to cuidar and visit but it is effective...It's more effective to talk to people outside on the street or in their yard, as long as they aren't drunk which is rare around these parts haha.

We are really close to the members in our area, so they do give us referrals, but the ward as a whole, not so much...not the ward's fault, but the missionaries gotta build relationships with members, and it is done through the little things.

There is no one right way to do a door approach either, just follow the Spirit and talk about whatever He puts in your mind when they open the door. It is also important not to take yourself too seriously or psych yourself out cuz a lot of the time it is way awkward but we are used to it so we remember it's awkward for two white guys speaking Spanish to knock on their door, too. The best way is to make them feel comfortable and joke around with them so they see you are normal and then just testify and if they accept they are elect. If not, they aren't ready and we can spend our time better with other people.

Most people have seen missionaries, or know a member somehow, especially the people who are from El Salvador and Guatemala cuz there are tantas missionaries there, but they don't usually have one common question...I dunno it's not a science but it kinda is. It's all about experimenting to see what works and what doesn't. It's all good.

Love you guys so much! Gotta go.

Love,

Elder Molinaro

From October 3

Family!

Hows it going? This week was a short one, especially with Conference taking two days out of the few and another I was out of my area with Elder H. on exchanges, and a lot of the other time we have been planning/prepping the zone goal for october, and we actually presented it today, and it.  was.  epic!  I will start off by telling you about that, and then answer questions...

So this month we decided to go for a Halloween theme and the name is Metro Fear Factor.  The goal focuses on raising a key indicator each week, based on which one was lowest for the week before...it is their districts "fear factor", and district leaders set goals for them to reach and overcome their fear as a district.  As key indicators consistently improve, baptisms will follow.  September went well, our baptismal goal was 11 and we pulled 10, but getting missionaries to baptize monthly is our overall vision.  So, on a personal level, each missionary will come up with something that is their fear factor, or something that scares them about missionary work, it could be knocking doors, talking to everyone, inviting people to be baptized, or speaking the language, or a number of things, but they will be striving to overcome that fear as they go throughout the month.  

So monthly personal goal, and district weekly goal.  As each missionary rises to a higher plain and overcomes their fears, we will all rise to a new level and all be blessed as we progress together.  Holy cow there is a lady yelling in Spanish at this little boy and I am laughing inside jajajaja...ok sorry, easily distracted.  So its called fear factor and we have these sweet cards that say fear factor on them and they put them in their planners and move them day to day, and there is Psalms 27:1 written on there too...look it up :)  

So the name, obviously inspired by the show, is what we played on to present it.  We had everyone walk up onto the stage, and there was an eerie red light on, and a fog machine running, and everyone sat down, and we had a black light and a ton of stuff written in highlighter so it really popped and we had three scriptures chosen from the Old Testament that introduced three different challenges that three contestants from each district had to participate in.  For example there was a scripture about the power of the tongue and it translated into a Sister Missionary wheeling out a boiled cow tongue, super nastified and the three people had to eat it.  There was a scripture about bowels gushing out, and boiled cold pig intestine followed, and worms eating flesh was the third, and we had them eat these weird korean silkworm cocoon thingys...it was so cool!  

We were like the hosts and the black light and the fog and the missionaries were lovin it and cheering and egging each other on, and I am fairly confident that the excitement will carry the goal through the rest of the month.  It was so fun to plan and throw together having limited resources and lots of restrictions obviously being a missionary.  It was definitely something I will never forget.  We wheeled the tongue out on a cutting board with a big knife sticking out of it, death to the chef style and yeah...I don't know if you can tell but I am still excited about it haha.  We timed the contestants and the district that ate their stuff the fastest won.

As far as your questions?...I really loved Conference, it was great and it is really different trying to listen to it for yourself, and trying to listen for someone else too, like Oh man I hope Sister E. heard that, or I hope Brother U. is paying attention (he actually went to Utah with his in-laws to see it so we're hoping he really liked it).  I think the themes were for sure the Book of Mormon, and the scriptures in general, and how to better my teaching abilities and relationship with God. I liked the talks about prayer, and about how there is nothing too small for the Lord to answer if I just have faith...like President Monson and the guy coming in to speak that was way funny.  I really liked his talk too about how the ten commandments are still in effect, and even thouh people think religion is outdated, it is our job to be in the world not of the world.  Always weird when people refer to their missions in talks for like 20 seconds, like my mission was great and I learned a lot...as a missionary it feels like they need to really explain all that goes into it...third period art could be great and you could learn a lot, but it is hardly the same!  Just kinda funny.

 

The new training program doesnt really affecet me, except for things we need to plan because we have two trainers that are on different schedules than the rest of us.  They study in comp study for two solid hours with a strict curriculum, and it pretty much brings the mtc into the field for a little while...12 weeks :)  In the mtc now they focus primarily on teaching skills and here they focus on the doctrine of the lessons and the trainer trains during comp study on a few different subjects.  So far it is still in the pilot stages, but as far as we can see, it is going well. 

The best thing about being a zone leader is being so busy all the time and really getting to be in a position where I can think about the welfare and progression fo so many of God's servants.  The busier I am, the more I feel like I am doing for the Lord, and there comes a greater satisfaction.  For example, today was my 7th zone goal that I have had to plan and present and execute in Metro...that seems like a lot!  And every month we think of something, and we always say man what on earth will we do next month, but when we wait on the Lord, the revelation comes in the moments of need.  

I love getting to get to know so many missionaries and care for them personally and on so many levels.  It is a lot of added responsibility and a lot of extra prayer, but it is worth every minute of it.  The hardest thing is correcting people that I have grown close to.  I become friends with those in my zone, but then they make some dumb choice, and it is my responsibility to correct and guide...that means I can't be doing anything wrong because they watch our every move...talk about pressure!  Now of course there are times when we mess up, and make a dumb choice, but I guess the most important thing is the next choice I make after that.  

My investigators are doing well, Sister E. came to Conference and the Visitor's Center yesterday and loved it, and she is preparing for baptism.  My chin doesn't go down to my chest anymore haha mom I know how you feel...guess I carry stress in my shoulders too, but it is all good. I am absolutely loving my mission and have no doubt that it is the best two years for my life too :)  Love you guys so much!

 

Love,

Elder Molinaro

September Clean Apartment Awards

September Zone Leader Council

September Zone Conference

August Zone Leadership Council

Temple P Day

July Zone Leadership Council

From September 28

Hey guys!

So, this week has been a long one because today we went to the temple, but it was a really good week.  Really good.  Brother O, Sister H. and Sister R. got confirmed, and we are still working with them, making sure they are keeping all their covenants and continuing their daily reading and study.  We have gone over there so much we just feel like part of the family, but its good...in fact, now that I think about it, everyone that I have helped to baptize just feels like family.  They are just people that I love so much and get really close to, so it isn't ever oh this person is getting baptized or this person didn't read, but its more like my best friend is getting baptized, or what can I do to help my friend understand the importance of these things...change of perspective kinda.  

I don't even know what to say about what happened this past week...you guys gotta ask questions because honestly everything feels like its the same and I have no idea of what might interest you...you should have some questions from people in the family for me to answer every week!?  That would be way easier.  While it is hard to put my finger on one specific thing that has happened, I can think of a couple general things.  

Well first off, we were teaching Brother O. and Sister H. and while we were teaching them, they watched their Chihuahua get smashed by a car!  It definitely drove the spirit away, and they were all bawling and screaming, especially Sister R, it was the first pet she had ever had...there is no scripture that says that all dogs go to heaven...we didn't know what to say, so that was really tough to see the people I love so much suffering.  Also, we have new investigators coming out of the woodwork. Since last monday we have found at least 20, and all of which are starting to progress, we are just super pumped and working harder than I have ever worked in my life/mission.  And the greatest thing is that the people we are finding aren't like one here one there, but we are finding families who want to learn and we are teaching boldly and simply so they know what we expect of them and then they do it! 

October gearing up to be a sweet month, can't wait!  Well guys it has been great to chat with all of you, I love this email thing haha can't wait for Conference, please keep Sister E. in your prayers, she will be baptized any Sunday now!  Love you guys so much :)  Can you have some questions for me on Monday?  Thanks!

Love,

Elder Molinaro

From September 19

Dear Family,

I...have not been transferred, and neither has Elder H.  My eleventh transfer in the mission and still in just my second area haha I wasn't disappointed at all to tell you the truth.  I like staying in an area for a long time because then I really get to build relationships with members and investigators and you really end up internalizing the area book and keeping formers and referrals and stuff in your head...kinda cool.  It is also easy to tell when people are lying when they say oh yeah I have already talked to missionaries...then I ask how long ago and they say oh about 4 or 5 months...gotcha!  I have never seen you before in my life and I was here 4 or 5 months ago! You end up making friends with the homeless people at the different stop lights and the dumpster divers looking for recycling, especially when you see them out there and run them out a few plastic bottles.  

All in all, I am really enjoying my time in Metro, and I am glad I get to stay, but I highly doubt I will stay one more because Elder H. has one left after this, and I doubt they would flush us and pretty sure I won't stay 7...but its possible I suppose.  Only time will tell...speaking of time, where is it going!?  It is almost hockey season again!  This past week was good...actually I will say great, this past week was great.  Transfer day was crazy nuts with all the new stuff happening, but Metro officially has a new face...quite a few of them, and lets just say its gonna be interesting haha I am excited for the diversity and the comical stuff that I am positive will ensue.

We have three missionaries training brand new missionaries, and the MTC has officially changed their curriculum which affects stuff in the field, so there is a new training program called The First Twelve Weeks, and it is pretty cool/intense.  We got a crash course of it at MLT on saturday and it is in depth studying and a different schedule and pretty cool actually.  We got two new district leaders.  One its his second transfer as a DL and the other is brand spankin' new, so that will be fun to be able to help them improve and reach their potential.  

Investigators?  Sister E. is doing well, really strong desire to learn, and she wants to be baptized bad so that is a big step, but her 2 year old child is an F7 tornado and it is hard to get the spirit there for any extended period of time when we teach her...any ideas moms, grandmas and future moms?  Please?  haha he is a great test of patience, but she is doing really good.  Brother U. is starting to show more interest, still stuck between wanting to be a kid and realizing he has a wife and a kid now and he can't have both.  We have received a few really good referrals this past week too that show a lot of promise and I am so excited to be able to work with them.  

And...Brother O, Sister H, and Sister R. got baptized yesterday!!!!!  Yeah baby!  We were so thrilled!  Their baptismal service was right after Stake Conference, and the service went so well, went off without a hitch which is rare.  We invited a ton of people, and the ward gave good support, and the Young Women came together to sing a special musical number and really invite Rosa to do stuff, and the spirit was strong, and it was so good...so good...can't even really put it into words, but it was terrific, and I was/am so happy!  Thanks for all your prayers and fasting, etc, every little bit has helped and they are strong in the gospel and looking forward to learning more.  Hopefully the pictures I attach go through ok.  

What else happened this week?  Two more things.  After mail pick up at the temple, we are standing by our cars, waiting for some missionaries to come outside and this white Ford Explorer pulls up and we hear, "hi Elders," look over, and there is David...David Archuleta.  Turns out he was in LA for some meetings and was doing baptisms at the temple and he thought he would come and say hi and give us some referrals for friends he has in San Pedro...great guy, Sara I approve haha!  

Oh yeah haha last saturday we walked into our apartment complex to find a ton of people practicing dances and planning something.  One of our formers was there and told us about the quinceanera coming up for one of our neighbors...which ended up happening on Saturday night...or should I say Sunday morning?  Needless to say, we had a live mariachi band outside our window blaring on tubas and trumpets until 4 in the morning.  There were balloons, food, presents, and beer...so much beer, and probably about 200 people there to consume it all.  Lets just say it wasn't the best nights sleep of my mission with a live band, dancing, and 200 of my closest drunk latin friends.  What a combination, I can't wait to show you all videos of it haha it was pretty epic.  

Well guys thats pretty much the haps for this past week.  I am absolutely loving my mission and learning something new every single day.  I love the struggle of doing hard things, watching myself and testimonies grow, figuring things out, working with zone members, and most of all I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I have gotten to know him so well over the last little while.  Love you guys a ton and I pray for ya every day.  Peace be the Journey :)

Love,

Elder Molinaro

Elder H, Sister R, Sister H, Brother O and Elder Molinaro at their babtism