Monday, April 28, 2014

What Is Good, Everyone?!?!

What is good everyone!!!!???? I had a pretty sick week so lemme spill it out! 
     
Okay, so on Tuesday we met with a new gator and her name is Courtney.  Her boyfriend is a less-active member and they both just wanna come closer to God and I was like "So do I!!"  Hahaha, well we taught them the first lesson and it went really well.  We have another meeting with them tomorrow, so keep them in your prayers please.  Pray that they will have the desire to learn more and be able to act on that!  That would be greatly appreciated! 
     
Wednesday was a cool day.  We didn't have time to go volunteer cause we had a meeting but we did get a lot of street contacting in.  We talked to a guy named John and he was super interested in learning more but he doesn't live in our area.  We gave him our number and told him to let us know if we could hook him up with the missionaries in his area. So, we went on and the whole rest of our evening we were literally trying to talk to everyone and no one wanted to listen!  It was so sad. We left the waterway and went over to Market Street to see if we had a better chance.  We said a prayer before we got out of the car and in that prayer we said, "Heavenly Father we have the faith that we will be able to talk to someone and teach a lesson."  The only thing about this place is that we cannot directly ask people if they wanna hear a message because security has asked us not to.  So we just smile and say hi to everyone and those that wanna talk to us will have to say something.  It's kinda risky! Hahaha.  

So we did a lap and no luck.  It was like 8:53 and we are supposed to be in by 9 unless we are in an appointment; then we can be in by 9:30. We live like 10 minutes away but we both were like, "Let's do another lap."  We started walking and sure enough God answered our prayer, as He always does.  We passed this guy and said hi and he was like, "Whats up guys?"  We actually passed, then turned back around and asked him if he wanted to hear a message and he was like "I don't know, do I?"  He said it in a cool way though. He wasn't being mean.  This guy reminded me of my brother Zack.  I don't know what it was about him, but he was just a cool guy.  We talked to him about our beliefs and he was asking really great questions and then we'd answer them.  It was so sick. I'm glad Elder Christensen was there with me cause he knows the Bible so well and I do not!  Hahaha, well then these other two guys walked up and they were his friends and I think one of them was his brother.  They ended up wanting to meet up again sometime so we have their numbers and they have ours.  This was one of our miracles this week.  ( :
 
Friday we had district meeting and that was sick.  We have a solid district and I really like going to those meetings.  We practiced someone saying no to an invitation to being baptized, then working it into asking for a soft commitment. "As you come to know these things are true, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God."  It was a good opportunity for all of us! 
     
Saturday we had a ward talent show that we were able to attend at the stake center. We even got to perform! I played a song I learned on the piano! Just kidding.....I wish.  I love the piano, but we didn't do anything besides help out Brother Harris when he roller skated.  You guys, he is so freakin good!  You have no idea!!!!  We held out these sticks and he jumped them on the ground then we lifted them and he was like jumping over them.  High too!  Then he went under them, and he took a skate off really fast and sat on one skate and went under laying down!!  I was amazed! Seriously my jaw must have been touching the ground.  I probably looked ridiculous up there, but its all good.  ( : 
     
So, Sunday I saved someone's life.  I really did.  This is not a joke.  Elder Christensen and Neville had another meeting so Elder Tanner and I were going to my ward correlation meeting and we passed by this turtle that was about to cross the road.  We almost hit it!!  It was like 50 yards before a red light so I jumped out of the car (at the light) and sprinted back to go save this lost soul.  I seriously was dippin!  I didn't know I could run that fast.  Elder Tanner was laughing hysterically!!!  I was seriously sweating when I got back in the car.  So I put this little dude in my bag cause I wanted to keep him and put him in the wilderness later that night.  When we got into out meeting I was like, "Sorry we are a couple minutes late, I saved a life."  Brother Harris was like "uhhh huhhh" and then I pulled him outta by bag and he was like, "Oh! hahahaha!"  (( :  I don't lie you guys!  Don't worry.  This isn't like a formal meeting.  Brother Harris is our ward mission leader and he is so sick.  I put the turtle in his back yard and everything was all good.  I made him a little play area for when we went to church, but HE ESCAPED!!!!!!!!!!  I know.  You are probably just as sad as me!!  It's ok....at least he wasn't run over by a car.  We went to share a message with them last night and I looked for him in the backyard with my flashlight, but no luck.  Squirdle was gonee.  Oh yeah, I named him that cause he went pee pee on my hand!  Hahaha, don't worry.  I washed them! 
     
So today we took our car into the dealership cause the a/c broke!  We should get it back tomorrow though! 
     
So we have transfers next Tuesday so if anyone sends anything, send it like today or tomorrow cause there is a possibility I won't get it for a long time if I am transferred.  It is not likely, but you never know!  I will let you know for sure next Monday cause we will know Sunday night!
     
Alright, well all of you have a wonderful week and know that I love you all!  Stand up for what is right everyone!  Be different.  Show people what you believe!!  Thanks for everything! 

Love this crazy fool, 

Elder DeLuca


I had to take my suit coat off cause I was on fire!!! There is Squirdle!! Sorry, he is shy!


I really hope you guys will still love me even if I'm bald.....Seriously it's bad.  I am working on it though.  I have Nioxin shampoo and conditioner and I am taking florasteride.  Straight up, I am fighting it. I am not a quitter, so just know if I come home bald, it was not my choice! 


This is on my Bishop's door into his garage.  I lovee it!  I will get some for my home someday!  I really miss shooting, but I have more important things to do for now! 

Thursday, April 24, 2014

The Best Week Ever!!!!!

Oh my goodness.  I had the best week ever!!!!!!!!!  I don't have a ton of time, but Ill try to get everything in here.  ( :
     
So Monday, we went golfing and that was surprisingly pretty fun!  I never thought I'd say that.  I wasn't any good, but it was fun.  Plus, we got Chick-Fil-A after.  Can't go wrong there! Mmmmmhmmmmmm.  ( :
     
So Tuesday, we had another exchange and I was with Elder Tanner and we had a wonderful day.  We had a lesson with one of our gators that we team teach with the sister missionaries and we went to a member's home. 
   
Wednesday we volunteered at PCI again and I had the opportunity to mow the grass and side-walk with the horses! Soooo fun for me! 
   
Thursday was so sick.  We had interviews with President Pingree!  That is one remarkable man.  Straight up, like he is such an inspiration to me and I've only known him for like 2 in a half months or so, but I feel like we have known each other forever..... We had a great interview and I had mentioned how I am already seeing blessings back home just by me being out here.  Yes, I'm talking to you, fam.  You all are wonderful people and I love you guys so much.  I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for each of you. 
     
Check this out, we had received a call from President Thursday night while in a meeting so we called him back.  He had said that he wanted us (Elder Christensen and I) to come with him to a youth conference tomorrow.  Not his AP's, not any of the other 282 missionaries.  He wanted us to come.  That was crazy and I was kind of nervous!  So Friday, we met him and Sister Pingree and their son Joseph at a Home Depot parking lot at 7:30 in the morning.  We drove up to a member's ranch like and hour in a half away to go to this youth conference.  We made a pit stop at McDonald's on the way and just the way President talks to people is amazing.  I wanna be like him.  He got two ITL's just in the drive through.  Anyways, we go to this youth conference and it is Book of Mormon themed and so we roll up in our church clothes and everyone is in dirty old clothes hahah!  Pretty cool.  So there were like 4 different stations and we were the Missionary Work station.  Each group had like 70-80 youth in it so President talked for a little then he kinda turned the time over to us. 

We explained why we had the desire to come on missions, what it is like and the blessings that come from it.  This is my favorite part and I am about to cry just typing this.  As I looked out among these youth as I talk to them, I am scanning back and fourth to see the majority of them taking notes as I speak to them.  You guys, this was my favorite part of my mission.  I was kind of in shock..... Straight up.  Who in the world would take notes from me? I know so little.  One of the leaders came up to me after one of the sessions and she came up to me and she shook my hand and looked me in the eye and said "Thank you Elder DeLuca.  You are effective.  I felt the Spirit so strongly when you spoke to us."  Honestly, I feel like that was why I was there.  There have been times when we teach a lesson or something and I'm like "Yo, did you feel the Spirit in there?  Because I don't really feel like I did."  I seriously feel that some missionaries get used to having the Spirit and they don't notice it as much.  I know I do, but this lady was there to reassure me that she had felt it.  That was the best day ever.  We stood out in the baking sun from like 9:30 to almost 1 in the afternoon, and it was the best experience ever. 
     
Saturday, we met with two less actives and we visited one member who I seem to have a "click with" if you will.  I don't know why, but when he talks to us, he like straight up stares at me 98 percent of the time.  Not like in a creepy way or anything, but just like talking to me.  To my soul. It is really cool.  He is from Jamaica so you gotta listen close or you will lose him.  I love him so much and we are going to try to get over there more.  It's hard cause we don't wanna seem pushy or anything! 
     
Sunday was sick.  Justin came to church again all on his own!  We are gonna meet with him this week so Ill let you know whats up.  This Easter has been the illest!  I loved it so much.  This has been such a great time for me to focus on what the Savior did for me.  He performed the Atonement for all of us, so try to see what he has done for you personally and how you can use the enabling and strengthening power of it. 
    
I love y'all! <---- Had to do it  ( :  I actually tried it once to this guy who looked like a real Texan and he talked with us. Some people here won't even give you the time of day if you were to say "Hey guys, how's it goin?"  Crazy huh?  Not so much in The Woodlands, but there are a few real Texans here.  Anyways, excuse me for my rambling!  I love you and so does Heavenly Father!  Keep up the great work you all do! 


This was us at interviews!


College Park Ward, what uppp?!


President and Sister Pingree.  Best examples ever, with everything!!!


King Benjamin's Tower at youth conference (I did not preach from up there!) hahaha ( :


This guy looked so cool, we wanted a pic.  He made that himself!


See, I got a li'l sunburned from being outside all day!  It was so worth it though!!

Monday, April 14, 2014

Crawfish-eating, Golfing, Lawn-Mowing Missionary Work

So this week was pretty sweet.  Wednesday, we were able to go over to Roy's house and were able to help out by cleaning his garage.  That was a great service opportunity!
     
Friday, we had district meeting and talked mostly about the Atonement, where we were able to make it more personal as we teach.  I would encourage you all to study the Atonement and to really think about what you are doing when you are partaking of the Sacrament.  What the Savior did for us is truly incredible and it is such a blessing to be able to use the Atonement for strength when we are going through hard times, and to help us be even better when we are doing well.
    
Saturday, we went over to Brother Jackson's house and we helped him clean up his yard.  I was able to mow his lawn, and it was really fun for me!  I haven't gotten to mow any lawns in a long time, and it's something that I enjoy doing. After that, we went to a Stake Crawfish Boil where somewhere between 2,000 and 2,500 people showed up and a lot of these people were non-members!  It was truly an amazing experience seeing the bonding between community members.  A plus was that I got to eat some crawfish, which wasn't too bad.  It wasn't my fave, but it was alright. 
     
After the Stake Crawfish Boil, Elder Christensen and I went with The Woodlands elders to Dairy Queen!  My Reese's blizzard was very good, but I kind of regretted eating the whole thing after I left.  We were able to talk to a guy who seemed somewhat interested in learning more about the Gospel, but doesn't live in our area and will be moving out of the Houston Area shortly. 
     
We had a similar experience on Sunday, with a guy named Daniel on the Waterway.  He studied different religions, but has never heard about the "Mormons."  So we gave him our card with our number so that he could contact us if he wanted to know more.  We had a really good conversation with him, though.
     
Well there are the highlights of my week.  It was awesome! My weeks are going by really fast......it is so weird.  I love you all and I look forward to talkin' with ya next week.  Have a great week! 

Love, 

Elder DeLuca





FHE at the Harris' house.....I love them. : )



We went real golfing today!!!!!



This was my ball and my ride.  The ball wasn't supposed to go there!  Hahahaha!  : )



There I am!  I got my first free haircut yesterday.  That's what's uppp!!!!  : )


Monday, April 7, 2014

Well, Hello Everyone!

Well, hello everyone!  This week so saaaweeett!  I hope you all had a really good week too.  We all can choose what kind of week we want to have.  It is all about perception and what you make of everything.
     
I don't have a ton of time.  I was busy golfing today!  I know some of you are like "Seriously, you golfed??"  Haha, well in all honesty, no I didn't golf! This guy Roy (My bishop's friend) has a putting green in his backyard and he invites us over.  So we did that for a couple hours today.  And, of course, I washed the car.  ( : 
     
So, on Wednesday we met one of the members of our ward at the park to talk with him.  He is struggling with something and he likes to meet with us so we can chat with him and try to help him out in any way that we can.  We usually go to his apartment, but I suggested that we meet him at the park cause it was a nice day!  So we met him at the park and we were talking to him then this other guy came up to us and asked if he could borrow a phone and after he finished his call, he was asking about my name tag.  He spoke very little English so Elder Christensen had to use some of his 5 years of Spanish, only to come to find out that he forgot a lot.....haha!  Not good.  We gave him a Book of Mormon and a reading assignment and then called the Spanish Sisters to meet him there the next day.  We had to pick them up from the park on Thursday cause they don't have a car, and they told us that Luis had read our assignment outta 3 Nephi and he was wanting to read the whole book!  How sick is that?!  We aren't teaching him, but that is besides the point.  He is coming unto Christ and that is what matters.
     
Friday, we had Zone Meeting and that was really good.  We talked about the first principle in the Restoration: God is our loving Heavenly Father.  It is something that is really easy to talk about fast, but it is the most important.  Any principle of the gospel comes back to "God is our loving Heavenly Father."  Everything we have comes from Him. Remember that.  We talked about this for a while and looked for scriptures to go with it.  Then we practiced bringing a new investigator to Sacrament and explained it as if we were doing it for real. 
     
GENERAL CONFERENCE WAS SO SWEET!  I'm gonna be honest here, I used to dread general conference.....I know.  I was an idiot!  I obviously wasn't paying attention back then.  This past one was incredible.  I took notes from each person who spoke.  I seriously don't have a favorite but there were probably three that really stuck out to me.  If any of you didn't have the opportunity to watch it, I would highly recommend you watching or reading them.  Like I said, I don't have much time to write today, but remember who you are and what you stand for.  Remember to always stand up for what is right, even if you stand alone.  We do not have much time here to prep before meeting Heavenly Father again, so do what is right.  We are all gonna make mistakes at some time or another, but use the beautiful gift of the Atonement for strength to push through and when you mess up, get right back up and change what you did wrong and learn from it.  God knows us perfectly and He wants to help us return back to Him and He has provided a way.....the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Follow it and we can all return home!  Remember we only have four minutes to prep.  Prepare yourself well!
     
I love you all and I thank you for all that you do for me.  Have a great week everyone.  Choose to have a great week no matter what! 

Love,

Elder DeLuca

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Guess Who Is Driving?!


Guess who is driving?!  Watch out everybody!  Elder DeLuca is coming through!  Haha.  ( :  You seriously have no idea how happy it makes me to drive.  I love it so much!  So much.  It is nice to drive this transfer because we are getting trackers next transfer so we can't "be late to appointments" anymore, if ya know what I mean.....Hehe.  ( : I actually washed her this morning. I'll show you a pic! 
     
This week was really sweet! We had the opportunity to do a lot of service!  On Wednesday we volunteer at Panther Creek Inspirational Ranch and we work with children that have disabilities and that is always such a neat experience for me.  It shows me how strong they are, and how weak I am.  It truly humbles me to work with these children.  I love it! 
     
I read my Patriarchal Blessing this morning, and it is so wonderful every time I read it.  It's literally Heavenly Father speaking right to me.  How sweet is that?!  Elder Naville and Elder Tanner were at our apartment this morning and I had told them that I read my Patriarchal Blessing, so Elder Naville shared this story with me.  The gist of the story was that there was a teenage boy who lived by a Patriarch and he wanted his Patriarchal Blessing.  He was told to get the recommendation from his Bishop, so he did.  He came back to get the blessing and the Patriarch had mentioned in his blessing that he was the one/one of those to cast Satan out.  So, as a result, he was disabled in order to protect him.  I love this because most people that it's a sad thing to see someone with a disability.  Obviously there are going to be struggles for that person and for the family, but they have been blessed in order to not have to deal with the adversary as much as someone who isn't disabled.  It is literally Heavenly Father protecting them. Think of how special they are to him!  I love working with children that have disabilities because I truly see the light of Christ in them.  Satan is nowhere to be found when you are with someone with a disability.  They are simply angels from heaven that have physical bodies. 
     
We also helped out our ward on National Earth Day.  We cleaned up a park and just walked up streets in a neighborhood to pick up trash.  All of the cigarette butts we found we put into zip-lock bags and there is actually a company in Vegas that uses them to make poker chips and some other stuff that I cannot remember.  DO NOT LITTER PEOPLE!!
     
Friday and Saturday, we helped out at a Presbyterian church with a garage sale that they had.  That was interesting to see how they ran things there.  Lets just say I was grateful to be at our church on Sunday
     
On Sunday, Elder Christensen and I taught a lesson in Gospel Principles about families and how they can be Eternal. This was interesting for me to talk about because I kinda have a complex family, but at the end of the day, we all love each other and I know that Heavenly Father will work things out after this mortal life.  I know that my future spouse and I will be sealed in the temple for time and for all eternity. It is so sad to me when I hear "Til death do us part" because if that was true, then you wouldn't be able to live with your spouse after this life but I know that I can and I will.  I am only in control of my actions so I can honestly say I will be sealed in the temple because I wouldn't want it any other way.  Families are the center of our religion and I love that because my family means everything to me.  I love you guys! 
     
We also had a guy named Justin come to church unexpectedly.  That was so sick!  We were just chillin' in Sacrament and this lady was like "Are you Elders expecting anyone?"  We said no but she was like well go check the halls 'cause I saw a guy out there in jeans and he looked lost!  We hurried out there and found no one!  Came back in and there he was sitting in the very back row and Sister Prows was talking to him. He ended up staying the whole time and we told him about General Conference and he was like "I wanna see that."  So I'll let you know if he shows up. 
     
Well I love you all and I know that Heavenly Father does too. Have a great week and do not forget to watch General Conference! It's gonna be so good! 

Love, 

Elder DeLuca 





This is Quito! I love this guy. He tries to kiss me though and thats a li'l awkward! haha



Here is the tongue of the black coyote!



Forgot to tell ya my Bishop is a taxidermist! We help him out. We had to get the meat off of these. The one on the left is a black coyote and a hog on the right!


 After we got them all cleaned up and ready to bleach!


There is our baby, all cleaned up and ready to go saves lives! : )