Hard Boiled Baby Chicks Appetizers - DISGUSTING

March 21: We had a ton of lessons today! It was fun to be teaching a lot. We had a lesson with a member and his wife who recently switched to Christianity from Shamanism. We taught them with 5 members of the Ward including the Bishop. We basically talked about how in the beginning when the world was created God gave power to Adam so he would be stronger than Satan. Pretty interesting way to help them leave the Demon worship stuff behind. It seemed to work really well though!

March 22: Today we took some new missionaries who flew in yesterday out street contacting! It is super fun to see someone who has never taught the Gospel before just walk up and be like "Hey! We teach about Jesus!" Hahaha it is super fun. 

March 23: Today was pretty fun! President Mackay came over for a little bit to talk about our area. It was pretty fun! Then a member made us Squirrel for dinner! They didn't skin it so it was pretty not good but we lived! 

March 24: Today we headed out to the Vineyard! We tied the grape vines up to the wires so when they grow they don't rot. Then we had our Ward Easter Party. It was super fun! Several of the people we are teaching came out so that was awesome. There were several activities that were fun but the most intense was "Watch people eat hard boiled developed chicken eggs!" So, they had us white guys crack open some eggs and inside was a hard-boiled baby chick. Wings, feathers, bones and all! Three of the 4 of us ate it. I swallowed it but it didn't stay in my stomach for very long hahaha. They thought it was pretty funny to see a shite guy throw up some nasty baby chick so they had a good time. I, on the other hand, don't think I will be doing that again!

March 25: Today was a pretty good day! Sunday's are always the best! Church is always fun in Hmong! We were able to contact some pretty cool people after church. One of them was an Old Hmong Lady who was teaching us what kind of vegetables you can and can't eat during different seasons of the year. It was pretty interesting. 

Well hope everyone has a good week! 

-Elder Yskes

Riding the Transit System to Church

Tues: Today the members who we had dinner with told us that their son is turning 1 this week. I was in the Ward before he was born... That is crazy. I have been here for a long time hahaha.

Wed: This morning we had a temple trip! It was awesome! Temple trips are the best way to do our morning studies!

Thurs: Had a meeting this morning. It was really good. President trained us on how to use the missionary handbook more effectively and what the purpose of leadership is.

Fri: Today was super busy and we got to teach a lot! It was really good! We have some awesome people we are working with and are excited for them!

Sat: We were out knocking doors and one of the doors we knocked into was a Hmong Women who invited us inside to meet her husband. Her husband created a modified written language and he has written several books and dictionaries in it. So, after teaching us how to read it he gave us about $200 worth of dictionaries and other books. It was pretty cool. 

      Then we had a party with the missionaries that live next to us! We made brackets of transfers as we awaited transfer calls! Aaaaand I am still not getting transferred!! Transfer 11 in the same area, here we go!

Sun: We had an awesome day at church today! 4 of our investigators came and 3 of them we rode on the bus with to and from church. It is really fun! Except the bus was late so we missed our transfer bus and ended up at church 20 minutes late... Thank you very much "fast efficient transit system" for that! Hahaha.

      Then we had another party awaiting where everyone will be going who got transferred. It was fun! 

-Elder Yskes

Couch Moving and Smart Phone Training (Boring....)

Mon: We had a super fun family home evening with a member family that doesn't come to church that often. It was super fun and a really good lesson.

Tues: Another Exchange! Today I was with Elder Lawrence in my area. We had a good exchange and were able to teach a pretty good amount. Also, we had a church BBQ tonight and a 16-year-old we have been teaching came out and afterwards we did a church tour. He had a really good time and thought our church was super cool! 

Wed: Today we had Zone Conference! It was the most boring Zone Conference I have ever been to because all they did was play training videos about the smartphones we will be getting. We got through it though! After Zone Conference, we had a little time before dinner and heard a member that lives nearby was getting rid of a couch. We told her we would take it and she was like alright. After we took it out of her apartment she was like "So.. Where is the truck?" We then picked up the couch and carried it a quarter mile to our apartment. (Don't worry we took turns so we wouldn't die, there were 4 of us) She thought we were insane but hey! We have a couch now! Our gym memberships have been working! 

Thurs: Spent most of the morning helping decorate the church for a women's conference and filling out missionary paperwork. We had a lesson with some members who have an orange tree. Elder Israelsen had never picked an orange before so he was pretty excited! 

Fri: Today we helped move in 2 couches for the member we took the couch from earlier this week. It was a struggle because it was just Elder Israelsen and I because the other Elders were busy. We made it though! A couple more weeks of this and we will have the biggest fore-arms in the mission! 

Sat: Today we met a 91-year-old Hmong guy! He is the Oldest guy I have ever taught! Him and his wife said they would be willing to ride the bus to church tomorrow as well so that will be fun! 

Sun: This morning Elder Strong and I went together to go teach a lesson so the other Elders could go to Ward Council. We were able to teach a super cool family then go ride the bus with the 91-year-old and his wife! It was fun! 

Hope everyone has a good week! Till next time! 

-Elder Yskes

Multiple Exchanges This Week

Tues: Today I was on exchanges with Elder Hinckley! It was super fun! We went way out into the boonies to a couple small towns looking for Hmong people. We found a good size population of Hmong people but they are all related and have super super traditional shaman beliefs and wouldn't listen to us. Oh well! It was fun!

Wed: Today we did a Temple walk around tour with an investigator. It was super fun because she is Buddhist and wanted to see what one of our temples looked like. It was pretty cool!

Thurs: Today we went on exchanges again so I was with Elder Royce today. We had some pretty cool lessons and were able to meet some Lao people who are members of the church. Some were visiting to Utah and others lived here in Fresno but just weren't active in church. It was a good time and we were able to tell them about the Lao congregation and refer them to those missionaries.

Fri: Today we went on ANOTHER exchange. So, I was with Elder Ikimau in the Heritage YSA area. It was pretty fun. We went around and met a couple families and taught some people so that was good! Also, I was given the opportunity to interview their investigator and give him the approval for baptism! It was pretty cool! He will get baptized tomorrow!

Sat: Today we met a guy who was drunk and high. He said if we drank and smoked weed with him he would listen to us or if he got super super high he would be open to our message. We left. Hahaha. It was funny.

Sun: Church was super good today! We had a lot of good testimonies and the classes were very good. We also had a super good lesson with some investigators and their son is planning on coming out to activities this Tuesday. It will be fun!

Love yall! Have a good week!

Elder Yskes

Picture of missionaries sitting outside waiting to email because the doors are locked. Notice Elder Isrealsen in a tree.