25 FEB 2019 ~ Week 17? - Please just Love

G'Day Mates!

This week I hit my 6 month mark! Definitely scary, because 1/4th of my mission is already over... Still don't feel like I've accomplished/experienced much yet, but I could just be hard on myself or have extremely high standards/expectations. Anyways, this week was... fun? Well maybe eventful.

We had tradeoffs with the Tamworth Elders, they came to our area and it was a nice change of pace. I made Navajo Tacos 3 times this week. Definitely not mom or grandma quality, but my dough is getting better! People don't know any better, so as far as they know my bread is the best. My companion has been feasting on it. He said once, "You know last night I was thinking 'Man, we're gonna have Navajo Tacos again tomorrow with the Pococks...' but now I just can't wait." Haha so needless to say, he's enjoying them. Navajo Mow is now making Tacos!

Friday was Zone Conference and we got to be with our mission president and his wife! They are honestly the best. During the training we got, the way we do missionary work is going to change a lot. We aren't going to be doing as much tracting (door-knocking), but rather do more member missionary work. So helping them to find opportunities to share the Gospel in a normal and natural way. I'd invite you to check out this video (https://www.lds.org/study/video/online-proselyting-videos/2016-07-1060-help-members-find-through-facebook?lang=eng#title1). Start thinking of people you could share the Gospel. They don't have to meet with the missionaries right away, but even just mentioning you're a member or sharing a video/scripture. It's easy! Have faith (https://www.lds.org/study/general-conference/2008/04/ask-in-faith?lang=eng#title1) Check out this talk by Elder Bednar, that talks about how you can pray in faith and how you can do missionary work.

We had interviews with President and Sister Runia, and it definitely seems like some changes will be taking place during transfers next week. So stay tuned! Also they took us out to some Korean BBQ afterwards! Plus sides for being the last to do interviews!

I'd like to emphasize how crucially important it is to be kind to everyone. You do not know the full story. So, as Brigham Young taught, "understand men and women as they are, and not understand them as you are". This extends to everyone you come across. Friends, family, and yes even missionaries. You have no idea what people are going through, and how critically they just need a friend who will listen to them. I'm learning about a whole new world of mental illness that I've never really come across before. I've never seen it's crippling effects. Elder Holland so greatly addresses it in his talk "Like a Broken Vessel" (https://www.lds.org/study/general-conference/2013/10/like-a-broken-vessel?lang=eng#title1).

"So how do you best respond when mental or emotional challenges confront you or those you love? Above all, never lose faith in your Father in Heaven, who loves you more than you can comprehend... “That love never changes. … It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve [it]. It is simply always there.” Never, ever doubt that, and never harden your heart."

If you are experiencing these things, please seek help and find someone to talk to. Anyone. If you need me, please reach out.

Elder Brandon Escamilla
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Australia Sydney Mission
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18 FEB 2019 ~ Week 16?? Losing track...

안녕하세요 Mates!

Well, nothing to report. My companion's migraines have kept us in the flat pretty often, so I get a lot of study time. Umm... yeah...

This transfer, people must know that we just have all the muscle because we've been asked to help families 3 times this transfer. On Valentines Day we moved an inactive member all morning. Then he showed us all his Chinese and Japanese ancient swords. So of course, like the young blokes that we are, we had to play with them and get some pictures. So that was fun. I'm glad that I'm physically capable of offering service in this area. I've lost track on the number of lawns we've mowed. We now have 3 WORKING LAWN MOWERS!!! So, Navajo Mow is a booming business, and may very well be making frybread as well! Possibilities are endless.

I got to use my Korean for the 2nd time!!! IT was an Elder's birthday today, and he wanted to get some Asian food. So we went to their area in Maitland to this restaurant that we thought was just Japanese, but turned out to be Korean and Japanese! So we were able to talk with the waitress in Korean. She was so excited to speak Korean with us that she gave us some free dumplings! Tender mercies. Church is true. We didn't get to talk to her too much about church, but got to know her and the best part was that I understood EVERYTHING that was said between her, my companion and I! Pretty happy about that. Baby steps.

Anyways, I'm pretty excited about the new changes for talking with families as a missionary. For any family that would like to hear more about my mission from a one on one perspective, let me know! I can only call on P-Days, but I'd love to talk with any family about the experiences I'm having hear as a missionary in Australia. Email me and we'll work it out! Love you all and have a great week!

Elder Escamilla
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Australia Sydney Mission
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11 FEB 2019 ~ Talking to Ghosts.../Why Would You Leave?

안녕하세요 매이트! G'Day Mates! (sorry, long one...)

So a funny doorknocking story. We get to a door, knock. Wait for a response. Knock one more time and then we hear,
Voice: "There's no one here!!"
Elder Neas: "Oh really, there's no one here? So who are we talking to?"
Voice: "A ghost"
Us: "Ok ghost, you have a good day then"
Ghost: "Thanks, you too"

So we went over to a friend of ours house for some board games and Elder Neas offered them my ability to make Navajo Tacos. This lady and her husband are a young couple. Missionaries have been visiting them for a long time. Not a lot of teaching has been done, but she has always welcomed the missionaries and is sometimes keen to learn more. Her husband is good guy, fireman in the Air Force, and has seen all the... "interesting" YouTube videos about our church from people not of our faith or against it. So he has had heaps of questions. He's not necessarily keen, but he asks plenty of questions and scenarios that keep us on our toes.

While he was asking questions and scenarios, he finally asked, "Ok. Honestly, is there anything that would cause you to leave the church? Like what would it take for you to leave the church? Like what if the person you dislike the most becomes one of those counselor guys (we had just explained about the Prophet and his counselors, and didn't fully get it haha)?" We were surprised, made an honest effort to think, but came up with nothing. After our time with them, Elder Neas and I drove back to the flat and talked about it a little. We had both tried thinking what it would take, but nothing. Elder Neas said: "maybe if they banned (b/c Elder Neas is part Korean) Asians from holding the Priesthood. But even then, it would be more awkward than anything, but I'd still know the church is true. Everything links back to the Book of Mormon. I know it's true. So everything else just stems from that."

So I guess I'd like to ask you the same thing: What would it take for you to leave the Church?
A "blessing", if you'd call it that, that I've noticed while I've been on my mission is that I've been exposed to many questions about the Church that I've never thought of. Mostly from people arguing or honestly asking. A lot about the Book of Mormon (Revelations/Deuteronomy, "adding to the Bible"), about Church History (Polygamy, African Americans not being able to hold the Priesthood, etc.), about the legitimacy of Joseph Smith's First Vision ("Well I could go in my backyard and have a vision and start my own church!"), about the reasoning behind all our mission rules ("why do you call each other Elder?", "why can't you play Playstation with me?"), etc. For a lot of them, I think, "hmm.. You know, I've never thought of that" or "I'm not actually sure why." However, through the response of companions or someone else it all falls back on the Book of Mormon. Do you believe the Book of Mormon to be the Word of God just like the Bible? Well, how do you know? Have I done all the research? No. Am I very knowledgeable of the scriptures? Goodness sakes, no (I'm working on it though, don't worry). Have I seen an angel or had a vision like Joseph Smith? No. However, we learn in Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, faith...". In Moroni 10:5 we learn that "by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." When Jesus Christ was asked His disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?", why was Peter's response praiseworthy of Jesus? "Blessed are thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is heaven." (Matthew 16:17).

Through the Holy Ghost, we receive the witness and testimony from our Father in Heaven that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. In addition to this, as I have studied the Bible and the Book of Mormon I have received that witness from the Holy Ghost that they are the Words of God. The reason why, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we put so much emphasis on the Book of Mormon (so much that, to others, it seems that we esteem it as higher than the Bible) is because if it is true. If it is truly the an additional witness that Jesus is the Christ (which it is). If it truly "teach[es] all men that they should do good" (2 Nephi 33:10), then... Joseph Smith truly did see God the Father and Jesus Christ. That Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God to restore the original church established by Jesus Christ when He was on the Earth, that was lost once all the Apostles were killed, and the proper Priesthood authority was taken from the earth. That Joseph Smith truly had the Priesthood of God restored to the earth through him, and has been passed on to every worthy male in the church since him. Then God still continues to call prophets today, and President Russell M. Nelson is truly a prophet of God in our day like Adam, Moses, Isaiah, Moses, etc. That there is a reasoning behind all our Church history and we must trust God, that there was a purpose behind it, even if we don't fully understand and that it was for a "wise purpose".

However, all this ultimately comes down to whether or not the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Ultimately, in Moroni 7:16, "the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God."

I know with all my heart, that I have received that witness from the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ and that His church, that contains the FULNESS of His Gospel, is found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We don't mean to undermine other churches, only that they are missing bits and pieces. Still containing truths like Jesus is the Christ, but missing things like the full Plan of Salvation, that not only talk about just Heaven and Hell after judgement, but the Degrees of Glory - Celestial, Terrestrial and Telestial Kingdoms (1 Corinthians 15:40-41). Ordinances like Baptism for the Dead (1 Corinthians 15:29). And more. So if you don't have that witness, know that I have one and lean on my testimony. Just study the Book of Mormon with a sincere, honest desire to know if it truly came from God. Pray and seek truth from the source of all truth. Spiritual questions MUST REQUIRE spiritual answers. My answer came over a series of days, weeks, months, years. I haven't seen an angel, flesh and blood haven't shown me, but from our Heavenly Father in a way that only I could understand and know with a certainty that it was from Him. It's different for everyone, but we have to put in that honest, humble, sincere effort. I promise you won't be disappointed. But don't be disappointed if it doesn't come right away. It takes time. It took some time for me, but it came. And when it comes, it's the greatest feeling that you could ever feel. And you cannot help but know that it is from Heavenly Father. So please try it. Fortunately, the Book of Mormon is free anyways. Just find your nearest missionaries and I'm sure they can hook you up with a free copy. Love you all. Happy early Valentines Day! My "date" will be one of the Maitland Elders since we'll be doing trade-offs then. So either Elder Wu or Elder Fellingham. Who will the lucky guy be? Haha hope you have better luck with Valentines Day dates than me. Have a great week!

Elder Escamilla
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Australia Sydney Mission
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04 FEB 2019 ~ Week.... - Flower Boys

안녕하세요, 진구와 가족!

So this week was probably one of the slowest weeks this far... Sorry sending this email pretty late, but really nothing too... yeah nothing went too well for us this week. My companion struggles with some pretty frequent migraines and is having his own personal struggles. To be honest, spirits are pretty low here for us, because we're running out of ideas on how to spend an extra 6 weeks in Port Stephens. Work really isn't progressing and yeah... Hate to send this email, but yeah we're struggling in this area. I've gone through heaps of old records and this area has just been worked heaps by many missionaries. Members have given many referrals, and have assisted the missionaries with visits and lessons so many times. This area just seems pretty burned out and worked. We struggle to find things to do, people to visit, etc... Kind of the same vibe throughout our district, especially these northern parts of the mission outside of the Sydney...
Drove by some Koreans! However, they were just tourists in the beach town part of our area...

I came across this really great quote talking about the importance of seeking revelation during our personal study of the scriptures in correspondence with 1 Nephi 15:2-11...
"If we harden our hearts, reject continuing revelation, and limit our learning to what we can obtain by study and reason on the precise language of the present canon of scripture, our understanding will be limited to what Alma called 'the lesser portion of the word'.
"If we seek and accept revelation and inspiration to enlarge our understanding of scripture, we will realize a fulfillment of Nephi's inspired promise that those who diligently seek will have 'the mysteries of God... unfolded unto them by the power of the Holy Ghost" - Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles.
Additionally, "God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what He will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them."

The state of Nephi before his vision also provides further insight (1 Nephi 11:1): "... after I had DESIRED to know the things that my father had seen, and BELIEVING that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat PONDERing in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord..."

Spiritual Questions must require Spiritual Answers.

Elder Escamilla
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Australia Sydney Mission
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Pic 1 - Tried to have some fun with a new idea - Flower Finding! Mostly a joke, but tried a couple doors with them on our ears and the people either almost laughed, or were a little more comfortable (seeing that we're normal... mostly).

28 JAN 2019 ~ Week 13: Greenie No More! Happy Australia Day!

안녕하세요 여러분!!

Happy Australia Day! I believe it's the day that Captain Cook first landed in Australia... it's comparable to our Columbus Day. Basically an extra day off for the Aussies to drink, and a day that the aboriginal people hate because well... Yeah... It was Saturday and we spent about 5.5 hours in the morning moving a member in our Branch into a new home.
Don't have much from this week, except for more funny "Elder Escamilla identity crisis" experiences:

1) We're driving back to our flat for the end of the day and we see an Asian couple going for an evening stroll on our street. Elder Neas says their Chinese and says it's not worth our efforts (I know that sounds really bad, but he meant in regards to being able to speak Chinese... He's had many experiences of Chinese people who won't stop talking to him in Chinese even though he tells them he's not Chinese, but Korean, and doesn't speak Chinese... In Chinese...). So he just goes inside. However, I got pretty excited because, well, you don't see very many Asians in Port Stephens and since I'm Korean speaking... I'll take what I can get. So I "strategically" roll out our rubbish bin to the street right when they walk by our flat, so I can talk to them. I say,
"Hey how's it going! Pretty nice weather for a walk hay?" Then they start speaking to me in Chinese!! ".... ummm.... Sorry?" *Chinese* "... uhh..." *Chinese "Taiwan?" Chinese* "Um, no American" *Chinese "Mei guo ren" Points to our flat* "Yeah I live here..." *Chinese* "Umm... ok.. bye..." *Chinese, walks away*....
They thought I was Chinese, but when I didn't understand, they thought I was Taiwanese... Guess I better start learning some Chinese...

2) Every week, we email our mission president updates on our area, our personal well-being, whether we've killed our companion or not, if so who won, you get the idea. Well last week, President Runia emailed back to me...
"I'm putting you on a special assignment... it's after much pondering and prayer that you serve in this new area."
I get this the day after transfer calls. I'm thinking... "but President, transfers were yesterday... I guess you can make changes. You are the mission president after all."
I email him and text him back the next day, asking if I can get more information on this, but also understanding that he's very busy looking over the combining of the North and South Sydney Missions with over 280 missionaries. So I wait. Wednesday is when all missionaries report to their new areas. I expected to get something before then, nothing. So I wait some more. I don't call him or bother him anymore than my email and text, I understood he was probably busy. I was way excited for the inspired assignment that my mission president had for me from our Heavenly Father. I wasn't prideful about it, I hadn't even told me companion, but I was prayful that I would be able to fulfill the assignment that he had for me. Nervous and excited. My mind wondered, thinking about what's gonna happen. "Are they reopening the Korean program!?", "Are they opening a Korean Branch and he wants another Korean missionary and I to build the Branch!!", "Is he turning me into Chinese speaking?....", etc.


Then the email comes last night, "Call me Elder Escamilla, and we will talk about this." So I gave him a call this morning...
"Hey President, you wanted to talk to me about the special assignment you had for me?"
"Yes! So right now you're serving in the Spanish Ward with Elder.... Pickering, right?"
"Umm... No... I'm serving in the Port Stephens (very White, Aussie, English Speaking) Branch with Elder Neas..."
"Oh... Wait... Uhh... I'm so sorry. There seems to have been a mix up... I meant to send that to Elder *Something Hispanic* from Guatamala... I guess I confused the two of you since you're name is Escamilla... I'm terribly sorry... *Long pause* So how are you doing?"
So my hispanic name strikes again, confusing another poor soul. I've come to learn that Heavenly Father and I have a very interesting sense of humor with each other...

Besides that, very uneventful week. this Wednesday I finished my 12 weeks of training as a new missionary and am no longer a 'Greenie'. Then a month from last Tuesday, I will hit my 6 month mark. So crazy, time is flying. Still Navajo Mowing. No Koreans yet. UV Index is Extreme. Still humid and hot-az. No A/C in our flat is "the best" (Nacho Libre). We still see kangaroos. The Book of Mormon is still the Word of God. The Church is still true. I love you all and have a great week!

Elder Escamilla
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Australia Sydney Mission
호주 스다니 선교부

21 JAN 2019 ~ Week 12: TRANSFERS!!

안녕하세요 Mates!!

This week we got transfer calls!! WOOT WOOT!! So drum roll.... Elder Neas and I will BOTH be...... staying... Haha yeah, we're staying in Port Stephens. I'm good with it. A part of me wanted to go to the city for a change of scenary and a possibility of speaking Korean, but also I wanted to see if our Navajo Mow finding technique goes somewhere.

Well speaking of Navajo Mow, we were in Stockton knocking doors, and a lady covered in tattoos opens the door. We start our shpeal, "Hi! We're just going around the neigborhood..." She looks at our nametags and says, "Oh hey Elders!" Elder Neas and I just look at each other... Turns out she's a less-active member who wasn't in our records and moved into the area a year ago. She asks us to come back another day because her daughters have been really keen to start coming back to church. We met with them on Saturday and just had a great time. They had heaps of concerns and questions and we were able to answer them. We gained their trust through laughter and testimony. We invited them to come to church, and "if you don't come to church, we will find you. We know where you live. If you're 'sick', we want a detailed doctors note." Haha they enjoyed our sense of humor. Come Sunday, they came to church! They enjoyed it and we were surprised the mom even came too! It was so great to see them come to church and enjoy it.

They have a lot of hurdles to go through, and were nervous to come back because they have tattoos and feared judgement from the members. We told them that everyone has struggles and weaknesses. No one is perfect. If the church only accepted perfect people, then no one would be allowed to go to church. Instead the church is a hospital for imperfect people, trying to be healed and become perfect eventually. Elder Holland - "Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually" (https://www.lds.org/study/general-conference/2017/10/be-ye-therefore-perfect-eventually?lang=eng#title1)

I pray that we never judge people honestly trying to be better. My companion told them a story from his last area.... Members had noticed a stench of cigarette smoke coming from a couple of people who had been coming back to church. After a couple Sundays, the members began to get annoyed and tired of it. They went to the Bishop, asking him if he could ask those people who stunk of cigarette smoke to stop coming to church because it was disturbing everyone. The Bishop replied, "You know, I love it when I smell cigarette smoke during Sacrament. You know why? Because it means those people are coming to church and are honestly trying to be better despite their condition." Please never judge people for their sins or condition. Never be the reason why people stop coming to church, but reach out with a hand of love and support. Welcome them home. Our Heavenly Father wants all of His children to come home. Luke 15:4-7

"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."

Elder Escamilla
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Australia Sydney Mission
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Showing one of the Bible videos. Just a sweet moment, that I wanted to secretly capture


"Hey Elder get a picture of this!"

14 JAN 2019 ~ Week 11: Tamworth, the Country Music Capital of Australia....

안녕하세요!!

We spent this entire week in Tamworth (3 hour drive away) for trade-offs. It's further north, and definitely in the bush/boonies. Historically, they sent the "bad missionaries" here as a form of "banishment."  Now it has 2 very hardworking missionaries.

Quick Miracle Story:
We'd been knocking doors for about 2.5-3 hrs. It was 38°C, about 100°F. Not quite AZ, but the sun is very direct since the ozone layer is very thin, so hot. Elder Raab is bilaganaa (white) and was turning red, while I was getting a very nice tan. We met some nice and some very... interesting people, but no one is really keen to learn more. Our goal was to talk to 40 people. By the time we hit that, Elder Raab says, "Sweet, that's 40! Let's head back to the car and cool off." I was keeping track of the number of doors knocked and I say, "Hey, but we're at 92 doors. Let's just finish it off to 100." We check to see if there are 8 more doors. There were, so we went to the next door.  We knock on the door, and Brad opens the door. We start talking with him. Brad is 25, Atheist, owner of a milk-delivery company, and a really nice guy. We ask him why he's Atheist. His parents used to be Christian, until their first set of twins were born, both got Cancer, and died because of it. After this they became Atheist, because how could a "loving God" allow 2 innocent children to suffer and die like this. Then Brad had just picked up their beliefs. He has traveled to over 100 countries, tried studying every type of religion (even researched Native American stuff.... I just kept quiet and didn't go down that path...) and just settled with Atheism.

We share with him what is said in Moroni 8:8, 11... "Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them...
... little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins."

... He was intrigued and we told him more about the Book of Mormon. We gave him a copy, said he'd read it that night and would even come to church! Then he let us in, enjoy his AirCon, and gave some us some nice cold Cokes, and 3 cartons of the best Strawberry and Banana milk that I've ever tasted (Oak's Milk, good stuff).

But that's not the miracle... ok maybe a little, but the point of this was going the extra step. We can't just settle on baseline or just getting TO the finish line. In cross country and West Point, they would teach us to run past the finish line, do the extra repetition or exercise. Just one more. If we're gonna be successful in life and achieve our potential, we have to be willing to go the extra step and go PAST the finish line. Had we just been satisfied with just those 40 people. We wouldn't have met Brad. We were lucky to catch him because he had just gotten home and is normally working rather than being home. Sure maybe Elders would've knocked on the door some other day, but he may not have been there and this interaction wouldn't have happened. I don't know what will happen or if it will go anywhere, but I'm grateful to say that I went the extra step and wasn't satisfied with our baseline goal. That Heavenly Father granted us that tender mercy and I was able to be a part of this little miracle. 

I love this quote from Elder D. Todd Christofferson:  "Let us not be content with where we are, but neither let us be discouraged."

I love you all and go the extra step. Let me know how it goes!

- Elder Escamilla
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Australia Sydney Mission
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Spider of the week


Dinner on the Go!


Made Navajo tacos! Not quality, sorry mom and grandma, but the boys really enjoyed it. They just wanted to eat the bread.


Elder Raab and I enjoying our Milky Miracle


Beautiful Aussie sunset

07 JAN 2019 ~ Week 10: Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Mates!

What did I do for New Years, you may ask? Nothing, because we were good, obedient missionaries who went to bed at 10:30... Plus, we had to be back in our flats by 7:30 so... yeah... I finished the Book of Mormon though! A little rushed, but finished that night! Congrats to anyone who did the same, & Pat yourself on the back for following the Prophet's invitation! *Patting back*

On Tuesday, companion exchanges w/ the Zone Leaders in Maitland. I went w/ Elder Wu, from Hong Kong, to teach a lady about the Plan of Salvation. Katrina was physically handicapped, but I don't know all her physical issues. From what I saw... She was in an electric wheelchair, one leg in a brace & the other only existing to the knee, weight issues, and has been confined to her house for years... Her house was unkept, but that's just cause she's not able to clean it up.
When we taught about the Plan of Salvation, she had so much hope and eagerness for the Resurrection. I read this:
"The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame" - Alma 40:23

She said something like "I can't wait for the Resurrection". To have a perfect body without flaws or impediments. I became more appreciative for what I have. Working legs, hands, brain (for the most part), etc. I can read & scratch the millions of Mossie (mosquito) bites on me. As we taught Katrina, there would be moments where we'd make her laugh or smile. Those were the sweetest moments. Her countenance was miserable, but when we left she was smiling & it seemed we brought some hope or at least some happiness in her life. That was rewarding. We felt the Spirit, or that TRUE HOPE, PEACE & JOY that is felt as we TRY living the Gospel of Jesus Christ - Having FAITH in JESUS CHRIST & His Atonement, REPENTing, being BAPTIZEd/receiving the GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST or renewing those baptismal covenants/promises each Sunday at church, & then ENDURING TO THE END... 

Later on doorknocking, we'd get cussed out, & threatened to be pushed down the stairs by this tatted, pierced up guy. Don't worry, we called his bluff as he came busting out of his house & we just stood there staring at him and he just stood there too...

Message from Zone Conference from Sister Runia (Mission President's Wife):
Our FAITH is NOT in BLESSINGS, but in in the GIVER of blessings. Our faith is trusting in Jesus Christ, that He knows best & that eventually we'll see the blessings, outcomes & results. So it's up to us to just keep "press[ing] forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men... feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure the end..." - 2 Nephi 31:20

Today we'll be heading off to Tamworth. Hopefully we won't hit a kangaroo again like last transfer... But hey, when in Australia! Have a great week! 수고하세요! 포기는 없다! 힘 내자!

Elder Escamilla
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Australia Sydney Mission
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Elder Wu and I after a long day pf walking since neither of us can drive. Him cause he doesnt have a license from Hong Kong and me because the mission office hasnt approved me to drove yet.


One of the beaches in Stockton

We took a break and stopped at a nice lookout over the beach in Stockton. Stockton is one of the beach areas where it is MUCH cooler with the nice ocean breeze. Much better than other parts of our area.

31 DEC 2018 ~ Week 9: Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

G'day Mate,

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, and gearing up for a Happy New Year! Our Christmas was pretty busy with HEAPS of food! Started off at the Branch President's house for breakfast & calling home, an "investigator"'s for lunch, a member's for 2nd Lunch, and another member's house for a surprise 3rd lunch/dinner... The only break we had from eating was the 30 minute drive between each house... A great day though! Also I hope you're enjoying your cool, winter weather because it is hot-AZ here. It's heating up quickly and getting humid as well. We've been doing heaps of yard work service, so I'm getting a nice dark Lamanite tan. Then we've been blessed with the opportunity to test our patience and endurance with a flat without AirCon (A/C). We have 4-5 fans that just circulate the hot air. Besides that we hope people will have their hearts softened and let us into their nice, cool, AirCon filled house as they see us walking around in this hot-AZ weather... Pray for us...

***** Book of Mormon Thoughts *****
A couple weeks ago during Christmas Conference, our mission president shared how he loved the Prophet President Nelson's invitation to the Youth and the Women of the Church to finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year.

****Side note****
I love the responses by many of the members to this invitation, who are actively striving to complete it. The willingness to follow the Prophet and not take him lightly. Similar to the responses found in the scriptures:
(1) Alma: Commanded to return to the city of Ammonihah and preach repentance, then "after Alma had receive his message from the angel of the Lord he returned SPEEDILY..." (Alma 8:18).
(2) Samuel the Lamanite: Instructed by the Lord to return to the city of Zarahemla and prophesy. Well the people wouldn't let him back in, locking him outside the walls, "therefore he went, got UPON the wall, stretched forth his hand, cried with a loud voice, and prophesied..." (Helaman 13:4).
How can we be more responsive to our Heavenly Father's instructions and invitations given through angels, Prophets, or promptings from the Spirit, in our lives?
****End of Side Note****

So President Runia felt the men were missing an opportunity to follow a Prophet's invitation. So he extended this invitation to the Elders! Originally, during my Book of Mormon study I had 2 goals:
(1) Deep study with cross-references, tabbing, etc
(2) how the Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ.
I've had to scrap the 1st and just do the 2nd, and start plowing through 15-20 pg/day. I eventually got to 3 Nephi, Chapter 17 which is one of the chapters that gives an account of the resurrected Jesus Christ's personal ministry in the Americas.

****Story (If you know the story you can skip ahead to my thoughts on the story)****
Prior to this chapter, Jesus (as He did in Jerusalem) gave His sermon on the mount, talks about Him fulfilling the Law of Moses, explains that they were the "other sheep" he referred to in Jerusalem (John 10:16), and gives other teachings. So heavy, and a lot of material. Much like many of us towards the end of General Conference, He notices that the people are tired and not completely understanding everything He's saying. So He says,
"go ye unto your homes and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand and prepared your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again."
He decides that while He lets the people rest and prepare themselves for tomorrow, He will visit other "sheep" elsewhere in the world like He had just done in America.

However, "when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about... and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them." As a result, He decides to change His plans and stay with them a little longer, "my bowels are filled with compassion towards you", and "He did heal them EVERY ONE..." their sick, afflicted, lame, blind, etc. Additionally, He bid them to bring their little children and "He took their little children, ONE BY ONE, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them." (3 Nephi 17:21) As a result, the heavens opened and angels descended from the heavens and did minister unto the children.
****End of Story****

****Thoughts/생각들****
Is that not beautiful? The character of Jesus Christ. I love that we get this additional account in the Book of Mormon. He had a job to do, to visit the other people around the world. A task given to Him from Heavenly Father himself! If it were me, I'd probably be like, "sorry guys, gotta go. Got a job to do, really don't wanna keep Father waiting. I'll be back tomorrow anyways, so cheer up." Haha seriously though, but no this isn't what the Savior did. Keep in mind that the number of people here is about 2,500 people, men, women and children. So this isn't just taking a couple minutes to pray for everyone at once, say a general blessing, or snap His fingers and BOOM everyone's healed. No. He takes the extra time to heal them, bless and pray for them, ONE BY ONE. If you wanna do some math... If Jesus were to spend 1 minute with each person, that would add up to a total of 41 hours. If 30 seconds, about 21 hours. If 15 seconds, about 10.5 hours... Either way, it's HEAPS OF TIME. The time it takes to heal every person, to bless every child, to allow the angels to minister, and all... Just wow... This is our Savior, our Redeemer. The Son of God. The one who suffered the pains, sorrows, depression, feelings of hopelessness, loss, and failure of every single person that has lived, is living, and will ever live. This is who we strive to follow, strive to become like one day. No matter how long it takes. The Atonement makes it possible. Possible for us to repent, change and slowly but surely bring our lives in harmony with God's will and plan for us. I'm grateful that He is the head of our Church. He leads us through a living prophet today. The Book of Mormon is another testament of JESUS CHRIST. We are His restored Church. We are the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints. Not the Mormon church or Church of the Latter-Day Saints.

"And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called Moses' name then it be Moses' church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel... Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day... this is my gospel." (3 Nephi 27: 8, 20-21).

I'm grateful that we were given additional scripture that gives us an additional witness of Jesus Christ. That together, we can have the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. "This [the Book of Mormon] is written for the intent that ye may believe that [the Bible]; and if ye believe that [the Bible] ye will believe this [the Book of Mormon] also” (Mormon 7:9).

Have a Happy New Year! Only 12 more hours for us until 2019! Don't really have any plans. Mission President just wants us to be in our flats by 7:30 to protect us from drunk driving or anything too crazy. Have a great week!

포기는 없다! 힘 내자!!
Elder Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 스다니 선교부

P.S. First time teaching the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" (one of the discussions) yesterday!



Our Christmas visit with Noni. We were supposed to just visit because she said that she wasn't doing anything for Christmas. However, it turns out she had some surprise plans and got busy in the morning, then when we came in the evening, she had prepared us a surprise 3rd lunch/dinner... After we had already eaten 3 full meals... She's great though!


Christmas Eve lunch with the "Good Guys"


How sure are we that the Book of Mormon took place in America?.... I mean why else would there be an Alma street in Port Stephens?


Yes that it Mia. She's the crazy one out of the 3 of us Escamilla kids.


That is Paige. Don't let her cool, chill vibes fool you. She's also crazy, but slightly less than Mia.


Merry Christmas for the Escamilla Family!  Sending much Love from Mesa, Arizona and Port Stephens Australia!

24 DEC 2018 ~ Week 8: Merry Christmas from Port Stephens Australia!

Merry Christmas from Port Stephens Australia!!  

Elder Escamilla and Elder Neas


I love Port Stephens! (Or at least that's what the sign said...)


An Aussie Christmas Gum Tree! One of the the members' Christmas Tree! Hahaha every year they switch between a gum tree and a pine tree. Pretty funny


Yeah that's right, I'm not completely useless. I can make banana bread. Didn't know what I was doing, but somehow came out with this!


Another beautiful sunset from the Port Stephens Area in the Maitland Zone of the Australia Sydney Mission!


Merry Christmas from the Port Stephen Elders


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