Elder On The Hilltop

Hello everyone I've officially been in the field for 3 days and it's been amazing! I landed in Oakland last Friday and was able to meet the mission president and meet my new companion Elder Sultan. Elder Sulton is amazing I'm already learning so much from him and he's already such a great example and he has so much faith. When I got here we went to the temple right away and got to go the the visitors center and for those of you who haven't visited the Oakland temple need to because it sits on top of temple hill and overlooks all of the bay area and its just so amazingly beautiful. After we met at the temple and got a short introduction we had to head out right away and because Elder Sultan can't drive before I knew it I was driving through bay area rush hour traffic and it only took us 30 min to get to our area but driving in a mission car and dodging people and angry drivers it was a wild ride. But right away we went to visit this one family who the mom and the oldest son are members but haven't been too active so we visited them right after I landed and we were able to teach the son Aljamair and his 2 friends about agency and making good choices so we can feel happy it was so spiritual and crazy that I was actually there teaching. And after that we were able to knock some doors and talked to more people normal missionary stuff lol. But in our area there's been so many cool people we've met one of my favorite members is a new member Dontella. On Saturday she came with us to some lessons but they all canceled so she hit the streets with us and she was going to workkkk she was talking to everyone with us about how the book of Mormon changed her life and how everything is true she was able to get someone to church! And we also were fed really well on Saturday we got 4 meals! I had some of the best carne asada tacos from Louis and his wife Katie who just got married and are getting sealed in the temple soon they just have to wait for Louis to get his endowment because he hasn't been a member for a year yet but they are so faithful and their spirits are strong. I've leaned there are so so so many people and members here who are so nice and so faithful it's been overwhelming I love it so much. Another person we are teaching right now is tysean and his lessons have been so so spiritual and he is so excited to learn and he works really hard with all the new scriptures and study you can tell he loves it. He is on date to be baptized in 2 weeks so we are pumped. Our ward is amazing and the bishop is amazing and there's honestly so much more I can say but I gotta process it all haha been very eventful! I miss everyone so much for sure but I'm doing good and loving it so far in Richmond! I keep everyone in my prayers and I think about you all everyday! 

Jesus loves you and so does elder Newman!

1) first lesson selfie with aljamair and his friends.

2) me and the comp 

3) Oakland temple 

4) at the train station on our way to the airport

5) last hoop session at the mtc 

6) saw an old friend at the mtc and he delivered me some Baja blast!!!