David & LaReita Berky

Honestly, this week didn’t hold anything too exciting. I may be getting to the point in my mission where this becomes mundane, after all, I have been doing it for ~18 months now. But let’s get into some events.

4: Bible study and Game night We have been meeting with a guy Joel and his theologist friend Ethan lately. They also run a bible study and game night on the campus here. We got invited, and honestly besides the Spirit-less bible study it was fine. I’m really glad that I was blessed enough to have been born into the true church, because all other churches can be proven wrong logically. I think that’s really why we were led there, To see how empty other churches are. Aside from some neat knowledge about history, there was no spirit. They certainly did have plenty of board games however! Aunt Julles you have nothing compared to them! Literally every game I could think of, or have seen in an obscure Eugene Oregon nerd shop, was there. Reminded me of some games that I’m definitely going to pick up when I get back, and have money and space for.

3: Sure, why not go to 2 sacrament meetings? Along with covering the Klamath Falls 3rd ward, Elder Hoenigman, Smith and I also cover the Keno and Yanna Valley branches. After church here in Klamath, we decided to send it the 30 minutes to the Keno branch and grow their Aaronic Preisthood class by 200%. It was cool, we met some cool people, and felt a great spirit there from the people who were so committed to the gospel that they were both the conductor, opening and closing prayer. (Very small branch)

2: Zone Conference Went over great, we had plenty of good segments, plenty of cringey segments, and segments that made me say; “If someone mentions the Hobbit one more time, I WILL consider it cannon” (Also, I am looking for cheap Tolkein books at thrift stores now for my morning studies) But I think the greatest part of Zone Conferences are the opportunity you get to meet the different missionaries that you haven’t seen for several months, catch up and see how each other have grown. It reminds me of the time when the Sons of Mosiah and Ammon meet up again after having completed their missions, and they talk of the success they had among the Lamanites, and how they glory in the Lord. (It’s Alma 25&26)

1: Swedish Meatböl? Because we have been able to pool 3 elder’s grocery budgets together we have been able to make better dinners for ourselves. My personal favorite was our Swedish Meatballs, fried in butter. We felt so bad after eating them, but it hurt so good. I think I have a picture somewhere.

I love the great goodness that the Lord has bestowed upon us. Greatness like Swedish Meatballs, and other such wonders.

Ya Boi,

Elder James Berky

What did yall think about conference? I thought it was great, even if I fell asleep for one of the talks. President Nelson’s subtle flexing with the church’s charities was my personal favorite.

4: The West Coast Avengers! Elder Hoenigman and I were talking about what the future of the Marvel movies might be, (Because he’s as big of a nerd as I am) and I said that “I don’t want any more big space battles, can’t we just ave something really low-key, like, the WESt CoAsT AvengERs?” After that we were off to the races, talking about who would be on the team, who they could fight, some basic plot elements, etc. But we weren’t finished there, we planned out a whole movie series of 4 movies involving low-tier, trash avengers that we want to see on the big screen. The one character who stole the show was the UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL! Who is now over 50, smokes, and essentially just harasses the rest of the Avengers. It’ll be great, trust me, I just need to get in contact with some Disney higher-ups.

3: Why are P-Day’s for the boys? During the Mission Leadership Conference President Orton said that all p-day activities will be segregated, with elders and sisters meeting separately. So, sad that we don’t really meet as a zone anymore, but hey, that’s alright. Now we just get to hang out with the boys!

2: Joel and Ethan have some very good questions Toward the beginning of the week, we had a lesson with a couple guys at the college. It was really good, we had a nice Theological discussion, trying to make sure that we understand each other’s points of views. It wasn’t really bashing, and we all bore powerful testimony. They gave me some good questions to think about, namely; At what point did God allow non-Levites to hold the Priesthood? So that’ll be a great point of study this week.

1: New Phone, who dis? Unfortunately my phone had become broke. The glue that holds it together has started to become undone. Fortunately, it still works, it’s what I’m using Right now, but the battery is totally unreliable. I pretty much have to keep it plugged in all the time to make sure that I can use it. The problem is the battery will just die randomly. I’m so thankful for a loving mother who is willing to get me a new one so that I can keep doing the Lord’s work in this modern day. (But it is really nice not to have a tether though)

Love you all, hope that the Lord could speak directly to you through his prophets this weekend!

Ya Boi,

Elder James Berky

5: I don’t have to worry about speaking spanish! That’s right, my companion elder Holiman is no longer with us, and I am a Tri-panionship with the Zone Leaders! It’s been fun so far, knocking on people’s door, and suprise! I’m there! It’s also fun just walking down the sidewalk, which are designed for 2 people, so someone is usually left walking in the street, or left behind.

4: Pizza time! So we haven’t had pizza at all this week, I was just thinking about Spider-man 2. Point is, we’re going to be doing some great dinners, now that we have the collective money to do stuff like Swedish Meatballs, and Chicken Pot Pies. So if anyone wants to send me some recepies, that’d be great!

3: Richard R has a fantastic house! That sounds like a movie title, and it would make a cool movie. Brother R is a member that we tracted into, and because it was cold out, he let us in and gave us a tour of his house that he has been remodeling. It is a masterpiece! Although small, because the house was built in the 1930s, there are a lot of hidden gems in this guys’ place. He has a fantastic kitchen with all sorts of neat appliances, and his shower was the shower that Elon Musk probably has. My new goal in life is to have a house like Brother R.

2: That’s all the snow we got for this cold? I want a refund. It has been getting CHILLY recently, and tracting has been ‘fun’ because of it. Everyone takes pity on us, but hardly anyone is letting us in. 🙁  We were hearing some rumors about a nasty snowstorm coming our way on Sunday, and the clouds rolling in were incredibly threatening. When I woke up Sunday morning, expecting a white Christmas, all I got was a light frosting of the trees and rooftops. I was upsetti spaghetti. Should’ve learned from No Man’s Sky, don’t fall for the hype.

1: Baby’s first district council! So after ~15 months of being a missionary, President Orton finally held me down long enough to make me district leader. And even with no training, (Still haven’t gotten any btw) my first district council turned out alright. We talked about how we can teach like The Master, and the ways that Christ taught. It went well, and I hope that I can pin President down long enough to get some actual advice on how to be a District leader. 

Well, that’s all folks! 

Love Ya Boi

Elder James Berky

Picture is of Last Transfer when we helped the senior couple in Alturus, California with their technological problems. 

Sorry for not writing last week, but it was a weird week. We had our temple trip on Thursday, which was the new pday, so I just decided to not write at all. Anywho, I’ll make this short cause I want to go get some fried chicken from Albertsons. 

4: Staying the several nights in Medford! While Elder Johnson went on his departing temple trip of the mission, I got to stay in Medford for a couple of nights with Elder Thorson! We did stuff like; do laundry, wait for the zoneleaders who forgot that the temple trip was that day, and… wait for the zone leaders. That was fun, we went to Costco, because I have a Costco card (Thanks Julles) and got some pizza (Kash Money Kerbs sent it on a full pizza, thanks bud.)

3: Cleaning and packing Because Elder Johnson is leaving, and so am I, we have been packing and cleaning. Sisters will be coming in, so we have to clean our apartment REAL good. But that’s not enough for me, so I’m writing weird things down on 3×5 cards and hiding them all over the apartment.

2: Why am I leaving? I’ve been transferred in-zone over to the 3rd ward, but that’s not enough Shenanagins for me, I’m also getting a Spanish Elder! 

1: Ihr Sprachen paar espanol So in addition to doing our work in Klamath 3rd ward Elder Holiman and I will be finding Spanish people. Elder Holiman will be teaching in Spanish, and I will be sitting there, trying to follow along.