It was so great to hear you on Friday to celebrate your birthday with you. Although it was rather awkward because I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate or not, I did feel at peace afterwards. Sister Kramer, whom you talked to, is a member of the ward. She is a ward missionary and is in charge of our dinner calendar, she & her family often has us over for dinner.   (Sr. Kramer woke up Ellen by calling to say happy birthday.  Elder Sharp then told me how much he enjoyed having Allen as a companion, and how polite he is.  Allen and I only exchanged “happy birthday” and “I love you”.)

How are the testimonies coming which I’ve asked you to write? Has dad had the chance to write me? I would really love to hear from him as well as you.

This week, we have slowly been wrapping up training. I have one more week of that and then you might be able to call me a normal missionary. Both Elder Sharp and Elder Peterson have done a great job at training me.

This week has been slow with our current investigators. One of our investigators, Rick, is wanting to take a few weeks off to make sure he’s doing the right thing. A family of investigators has been busy as they are expecting a baby soon. Our other investigator may have come across some anti literature, so we’ve been trying to help her to gain her testimony again.

We have been reached our standard of excellence for contacting again this week. It takes a lot of faith and hard work to be able to reach this. Hard work to knock on doors, faith to help them be accepting of our message. We have found a few people who may be interested in hear our message at a future time, so now we need to go out and talk to them again to find out if they are still interested. We met a few interesting people who were rather rude and full of vulgar, but they didn’t tear us down at all.

Yesterday during Sacrament Meeting, I played a musical number on the organ. It is a beautiful, lush rendition of “Come, Follow Me.” Afterwards, I taught the Priesthood organization lesson in Gospel Principles.

Elder Blodgett
California San Fernando Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

It’s nice to see all is well in Zion…excuse me, Wisconsin.

It was a relatively slow week this week as not much progress has been made. One of our investigators wanted to take a break from talking with us as he feels that we are moving too fast for him and wants to take some time to think about things. Our other investigators were busy this week and canceled last minute.

This week as we were knocking, I had the impression that the next person we talked to would be solid. We went across the street and met somebody who lived in another mission but is a less active member. We went back across the street where we saw somebody else. He was working on his motorcycle and was interested in the Addiction Recovery Program. We came back the next day, picked him up as a new investigator and he went to ARP!

Not much else has happened this week. I’ll report again next week.

Elder Blodgett
California San Fernando Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

IMG_0932–A view of the San Fernando Valley
IMG_0937–A beautiful sunset
IMG_0951–Made the church logo out of letter pasta that a member gave us

It’s been an adventurous week. We have picked up 5 new investigators! YAY! A family of 3 and a mother and daughter. They are all super interested and seem to be comprehending everything in which we teach. We are continuing to teach a few other investigators, but they don’t seem to be progressing at this point.

This morning, a brother in the ward here took us electric mountain biking. It was so so so cool! He manages an electric mountain bike magazine. Because of his job, he is able to take home bikes all the time to test out. We helped him test them out today. It was so fun. Never before in my life has biking uphill been so darn easy.

The church leaders have set a standard of excellence for contacting potential investigators each week. That number is 140 contacts. Between myself, Elder Peterson and now Elder Sharp, each week of my mission thus far has met or exceeded that goal.

For my studies, I’ve been watching a set of DVDs that were being given away at the ward library. It is the April 2005 General Conference. It’s really awesome and a few of the talks are great for a lot of the people in this area. For your enjoyment, I thought you’d like a quote that President Monson shared to start his Priesthood Session talk. “I like to read obituaries; and many of them say, ‘Gone fishing.’ Another one, ‘Gone hunting.’ But I read an interesting one the other day: ‘Gone home teaching.'”

Elder Blodgett
California San Fernando Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Miracles have been seen in great abundance this week. I am adjusting quite well to having a new companion. Elder Sharp is really great, and I will enjoy learning from him how to be a better missionary.

This week the entire zone had the opportunity to participate in the special olympics which is happening right now in Los Angeles County. The Serbia and Timor Leste teams were hosted at one of the buildings in our stake prior to the opening ceremonies. We helped feed them and gave tours of the chapel. Afterwards, we got to paint a pickup truck.

This week, we were able to meet once again with our investigator Rick who has really been understanding everything we have been teaching him. Also, we picked up a new investigator Tobin who right now is really just wanting to learn more about why he is here and where he is going. The two times we’ve met with him, he has just been asking questions as we have answered them.

This week we did more fire hydrant painting. It was nice to spend more time learning about Elder Sharp. He is a fantastic singer by the way!

Yesterday, at church, the stake president here was on direct assignment from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The sacrament meeting was on the importance of the sacrament. We had the talks first and the sacrament last. The two times I have seen this done, the spirit during the sacrament has been so much stronger.

My new companion is Elder Sharp. He is from Herriman, UT. He is almost finished with his mission (only 2 transfers left). He’s great and is a wonderful teacher. He’s great at teaching simply.

This week has been kind of sad because of one our investigators dropped us. His mother called us and told us that he had been in an “accident” and that he’d “call” us when he is ready to meet with us. We’ve been praying for his recovery and that his heart will be softened.

We picked up a new investigator in whom Elder Peterson and I first found knocking last month before the temple trip. His name is Rick and he has read from the Book of Mormon before and used to live right across the street from the Los Angeles temple.

Ever since we started #KnockOut (In the past 1-2 weeks, the entire mission is praying at 3:55pm, then knocking doors from 4-6pm), we’ve experienced many more miracles. We’ve found so many more people who seem to be willing to hear and are ready to hear our message of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s so exciting.

Yesterday, I was asked to play the organ for our sacrament meeting and the missionaries who serve in the Korean branch sang as I accompanied them. I just can’t seem to remember the song they sang.

Elder Blodgett
California San Fernando Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

This week is transfers. The church recently came out with an in-field 12 week training program for new missionaries. Unlike many new missionaries, I will not be spending the full 12 weeks with one trainer. Elder Peterson is being transferred out, and I will be the senior companion in the area. Elder Peterson will actually be a zone leader. Good for him! Transfer meeting is tomorrow, so I will know who my new companion is then.

This week, I did a first for me. I placed a copy of The Book of Mormon! It feels a small miracle. We were tracting and we knocked on the door of a hispanic family and I essentially taught them the entire Restoration lesson on the door step. The father was excited about the Book of Mormon. He has family in Utah who are members of the church and wanted to read it to learn more. We even set a return appointment for this next Saturday.

One of the changes that President Henrie has made in the mission is to knock every day, Tuesday through Sunday from 4pm-6pm. There may be no other meetings scheduled between those times. He has asked all to pray for the missionaries at 3:55pm to find success in our finding efforts. It would be a blessing if you could do so as well. (5:55pm your time)

We’ve started doing service at a new place. It’s really fun. A lot of fire hydrants in the area are in need of paint jobs. We’ve been recommended by the area chamber of commerce to paint them.

Elder Blodgett
California San Fernando Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

To start off the week, we had zone conference with our new mission president, President Henrie. He is absolutely amazing. I am going to love him very much as he leads and guides the missionaries in the Great California San Fernando Mission. The spirit was super strong during the zone conference.

We learned early on that Sister Henrie is a convert at age 11. He is really emphasizing that we need to be united as a mission. Because this is not just one person’s work, this is OUR work

We finished up serving at the member’s family whom were preparing for a Fourth of July barbecue. We even went over on Saturday for party. They’re super great cooks. They had ribs and burgers. YUM! We also had a breakfast at the chapel in the morning to celebrate the holiday. It’s safe to say I ate way too much.

We’ve been doing a lot of knocking this week. It hasn’t been yielding much fruit. Although, we have been able to set a baptismal date this week. YAY! HIs name is Gilmar and we invited him to be baptized and he said yes. We were explaining the subject of the degrees of glory and he wanted to know how he could enter the Celestial Kingdom, so I slipped in that you need to be baptized and invited him. We’re aiming for August 1^st.

This week I’ve been studying a lot from my patriarchal blessing. I felt impressed by a part in it that mentions that my tender heart and sensitivity to the spirit will help build up the kingdom of God on the Earth. So, I wanted to know what having a tender heart means. I’ve been studying a lot about it both from a dictionary we have in our apartment and from the scriptures. I definitely don’t feel like my heart is very tender, but the Lord must know that I can work and that I can work to have a tender heart.

To start off the week, we had zone conference with our new mission president, President Henrie. He is absolutely amazing. I am going to love him very much as he leads and guides the missionaries in the Great California San Fernando Mission. The spirit was super strong during the zone conference.

We learned early on that Sister Henrie is a convert at age 11. He is really emphasizing that we need to be united as a mission. Because this is not just one person’s work, this is OUR work

We finished up serving at the member’s family whom were preparing for a Fourth of July barbecue. We even went over on Saturday for party. They’re super great cooks. They had ribs and burgers. YUM! We also had a breakfast at the chapel in the morning to celebrate the holiday. It’s safe to say I ate way too much.

We’ve been doing a lot of knocking this week. It hasn’t been yielding much fruit. Although, we have been able to set a baptismal date this week. YAY! HIs name is Gilmar and we invited him to be baptized and he said yes. We were explaining the subject of the degrees of glory and he wanted to know how he could enter the Celestial Kingdom, so I slipped in that you need to be baptized and invited him. We’re aiming for August 1st,

This week I’ve been studying a lot from my patriarchal blessing. I felt impressed by a part in it that mentions that my tender heart and sensitivity to the spirit will help build up the kingdom of God on the Earth. So, I wanted to know what having a tender heart means. I’ve been studying a lot about it both from a dictionary we have in our apartment and from the scriptures. I definitely don’t feel like my heart is very tender, but the Lord must know that I can work and that I can work to have a tender heart.

IMG_0811-Somebody loves us!
IMG_0810-Zone picture with President Henrie

We have a new progressing investigator. Yay! His name is Andrew and he’s 19 and super awesome. He wants to be baptized, but he hasn’t set a date yet. We just taught him last night and we taught him the Plan of Salvation.

The biggest news this week is that President & Sister Hall leave tonight and President & Sister Henrie arrive today. We’ll meet them this Thursday at Zone Conference.

We did go bowling this week as a zone. It was super fun to get to know more about the fellow missionaries. I am also terrible at bowling. Oh well.

We’ve been doing a lot of service the past few weeks. A family in the ward here is preparing for a big Independence Day bbq and the wife is in much pain as she needs hip replacement, so we’ve been helping them a lot. We also provide service at Habitat for Humanity Restore a few days each week.

We’ve still been doing a lot of tracting. The mission goal is that we come in contact with 20 people per day per companionship, so 140 contacts per week. We’ve been reaching that goal each week and exceeding it!

That’s about it for this week. I love you and love the gospel and love Jesus Christ!

Elder Blodgett
California San Fernando Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

P.S. I’ll send pictures when another computer frees up. Until then, I went to Office Depot today and bought some supplies for studying and am getting my personal copies of the proselyting pamphlets bound so there is a few charges on the account for that.

This week has had mixed emotions. Funny you mentioned Doctrine and Covenants Section 129 in your email, we were talking about that as a companionship earlier this week. It was also funny that you mentioned not playing the organ frequently as it felt a little strange playing this week at zone conferences with not playing very often.

So…with President Hall leaving, we had zone conferences this week. The spirit was super strong. We first were instructed on the process of succession in the church.

Then Sister Hall talked about how the events that were going on in Joseph Smith’s lifetime still are going on now–there is a time of great excitement which causes the people on the earth to be called up to serious reflection with much uneasiness. What do we do?  Which of these parties [Is God even real? Which God is real? Moral Issues (same-sex marriage, women’s rights), etc] what is right; or are they all wrong together? If any one of them [obviously that would be The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] be right, which is it, and how shall I know it? We must do as Joseph Smith directs, which he did from the apostle James direction, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”  (James 1:5)

Then President Hall spoke again on the importance of remembrance and how it applies to missionary work. After lunch, all of the departing missionaries gave their testimonies and then the Hall’s bore their testimonies as well.

In a few weeks, we’ll be back together for another zone conference with President and Sister Henrie who arrive on June 29. I’m excited to meet them, even though it will be sad to see President and Sister Hall leave.

This week, a few of our investigators that we found knocking dropped us. They told us they weren’t interested any longer. It’s rough to have them tell us that. I never take it personally, but I do feel sorry for them. At the end of the day, they still have their agency though.

We have gained a new investigator Gilmar from the YSA sisters as he will be too old to be a member of a YSA congregation.  (YSA=young single adults.) We met with him on Tuesday. He seems to be progressing!

Please go ahead and post the mission office address on my website. I’ve been walking on average about 5 miles per day for my exercise. I don’t really know how my weight is doing, I haven’t had the opportunity to step on a scale recently. I am still tackling thank you notes. I suppose I have been on the Ronald Reagan Freeway (as a child Allen was a big fan of Ronald Reagan), it seems like every other freeway that I’ve been on.

Elder Blodgett

10025 De Soto Ave #127        apartment address
Chatsworth, CA   91311

California San Fernando Mission
23504 Lyons Avenue, Suite 107       office address
Santa Clarita  CA   91321-2530

D&C 129                 https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/129?lang=eng
Epistle of James    https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/james/1?lang=eng

This week has been fantastic. Words really can’t describe how well the work is progressing at this point. We’ve been continuing to do a lot of tracting, but unlike last week we have actually found some promising contacts.

First up was the temple trip. The LA temple is weird, but in a good way. Like all temples of chorus it’s extremely beautiful, but the layout of the building is very different. It’s one of the few temples left that you progress from room to room through the endowment session. To do it with film makes it even more different. The murals in the creation, garden, and telestial room are beautiful, but it seems strange to have them when it’s dark during the film.

Anyways, to have 100+ missionaries in the same endowment session was powerful. The spirit was super strong! President and Sister Hall were the witness couple and boy what a cute couple they were in the temple.

On Thursday, Elder Peterson and I went tracting and knocked on the door of a lady whom we taught the Restoration lesson to and invited her to read the Book of Mormon. She seemed really solid, but she’s moving out of our area, so we sent a referral to the missionaries there. We then tracted for another 15-20 minutes and knocked on the door of Brenda whom we taught the Plan of Salvation lesson to. We were able to set a return appointment with her for tomorrow.

Friday, we had an all day meeting up in Santa Clarita. It was super neat to be with a bunch of missionaries again. There won’t be many opportunities in life to be surrounded by so many missionaries. It’s a cool feeling.

On Saturday, Elder Peterson and I went tracting yet again when we knocked on the door of Van. We taught him the restoration lesson as well, invited him to church and set a return appointment for yesterday. He was busy yesterday at the time we set, so we set yet another appointment for Saturday. Then we tracted again for 5-10 minutes on Saturday and contacted Andrew across the street and we met with him yesterday as well and taught him the restoration lesson also. He seems to be understanding it and we’re trying to get a return appointment set up. Back to Saturday again, we knocked for a few more minutes and knocked on the door of Jason, he seemed to be interested in hearing our message and as we were talking to him, his Mother came through the conversation to get to her car and she said that he needed to talk to us! GO MOMS!

How about that for Miracles?

I know without a shadow of doubt that the Lord led us to these people. He is in charge and he know that these people are ready to receive the gospel.

2^nd email – same day.    So Elder Peterson’s mother sent him an email stating that their family has some Blodgett’s in their family tree dating all the way back to Nauvoo. We may be distantly related, who knows?