Contact Info


jason.riches@missionary.org

Mission Office Address:

Elder Jason Carl Riches
California Ventura Mission
3301 W Gonzales Rd
Oxnard CA 93036
United States

All Packages need to be sent via USPS

Sunday, January 14, 2018

WEEK 24: MY NAME IS GO + ELDER RENLUND [JANUARY 8, 2018]


Hello Everyone!

This week was pretty off and on. Two days were amazing and on the rest of the days nothing much really happened. 

Thursday was the first really eventful day. My companion went to a leadership meeting and I was with two other elders from our district. We went to Taco Bell to grab some lunch. When it was my turn to order, I accidentally said I wanted my food to stay. I corrected myself and said "I mean to go." The cashier got a really confused look and said, "Go? as in G-O?" I told her yes (wondering why she was so confused). She then said she would call my name when my food was ready. My first thought was she didn't ask my name, but I shrugged it off and went to get my drink. When I walked over to the other elders they said "Hi Joe!" At first I was confused, but then everything made sense. When I had said, "To go." She had asked me what my name was, and the other elders thought I said my name was Joe. When they came out with my food they said "Order for Go!" It was kind of embarassing, but at the same time it was pretty funny.

The other big thing this week was that Elder Renlund came to our mission! We also had Elder Pimentel come. It was a really powerful zone conference. Before it started we all got to shake their hands and tell them our name and where we are from. When I shook hands with Elder Renlund and told him I am from Murray he asked me if I was a spartan (my school mascot) so that was pretty cool. Elder Renlund talked about how when we do missionary work, or anything else in life, we need to be ourselves. He also talked about how we need to have a good attutude and then put in a good effort, that's when the miracles will happen. Another big thing that was talked about was how it is pretty easy to share the gospel with those around us in a non threatening way. When someone asks us about our week, use the term "my church." For example: "I taught a lesson at my church." They said for those who aren't interested, they will not really acknowledge it and those that are prepared will start asking questions.




Elder Renlund also had three messages to share
1. God loves us and is grateful for our service.
2. We are called by prophecy to this area and are here for a reason and we are entitled to ask God why, and that the answer will change our missions. I have yet to find out but I'm still praying.
3. President and Sister Nakken are called by revelation too, and that they're the best mission president and wife in the world!


















To close in honor of President Thomas S. Monson, I would like to share his last talk with you. He was definitely my favorite prophet and I'll miss hearing him in general conference.


"This morning I speak about the power of the Book of Mormon and the critical need we have as members of this Church to study, ponder, and apply its teachings in our lives. The importance of having a firm and sure testimony of the Book of Mormon cannot be overstated.

"We live in a time of great trouble and wickedness. What will protect us from the sin and evil so prevalent in the world today? I maintain that a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His gospel will help see us through to safety. If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so. If you will read it prayerfully and with a sincere desire to know the truth, the Holy Ghost will manifest its truth to you. If it is true—and I solemnly testify that it is—then Joseph Smith was a prophet who saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

"Because the Book of Mormon is true, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s Church on the earth, and the holy priesthood of God has been restored for the benefit and blessing of His children.

"If you do not have a firm testimony of these things, do that which is necessary to obtain one. It is essential for you to have your own testimony in these difficult times, for the testimonies of others will carry you only so far. However, once obtained, a testimony needs to be kept vital and alive through continued obedience to the commandments of God and through daily prayer and scripture study.

"My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives. I so testify with all my heart in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."








We went to see a member in the hospital.  They gave us visitor stickers with our names on them.  The picture should say enough:


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