Jacob Winegar: September 2021

Friends,

Hope that you are all doing well. Not much to report this week you guys. We didn't find hardly anyone we did teach 27 "lessons" though, so that was sick.

There was not a ton that happened this week. Or maybe I'm just so chronically exhausted I had a harder time being aware. I still loved the people that we talked to this week though. The people of Monterey are so unique and have such a diversity of perspectives and lifestyles I think it's very cool. A lot of them don't like us. We took some hard L's for sure. But that's okay. We respect the freedom of choice. It's essential.

Onto some summarized events/interactions:

An altercation involving gunfire occurred around 2 AM behind my apartment and I woke up to hear the whole thing from start to finish, gunshots to 911 response.

We helped with a food drive and a really funny Italian man would yell out the number of families per car in an Italian accent and we all thought it was hilarious.

My comp did a really amusing and startlingly blunt impression of a catholic shutting us down. He cracks me up. What a goof.

Met a very interesting street poet with some WACKY formatting in his poetry. His name was Rich. He was an interesting fellow. A poem included below.

We met a woman named Nova Celeste with some very profound insights on what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Although we are here to teach we are often led to those who will teach us.

Song for the week (a few of many):

Chasing Waves--Vista Kicks

Thousand Words--Cordae

Lump--Presidents of the USA

KissGoodnight--IDKHOWBUTTHEYFOUNDME (wow that formatting is excruciating)

At the Beach--The Avett Brothers

The Birdwatcher--The Fearless Flyers

In Heaven--Joey Dosik

The Death of Us--Theo Katzman

This week I continue to work on my Faith. As I progress, I find that there are so many things I don't understand now that cause me internal conflict. I am impressed by an account in John chapter 6. Jesus Christ spoke some controversial things for his time and many of the people who had been loyal followers decided to "walk no more with him"

This next passage affects me deeply.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

There are many things in this world that we can put our faith in. I have put my faith in many of them. But I will tell you from experience that faith in Jesus Christ has brought me deeper joy and growth than anything else. It can do the same for you. I'd you don't believe me, try for yourself. He loves you. He's waiting for you.

I love you all. But not as perfectly as He does.

peace out homies,

Elder Winegar

The Missionary

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Sorry for the makeshift email in the form of a reply all. Technology hates me and my schedule is ridiculous.

But anyways everyone I really gotta go but my communications should stabilize after this week. I'm terribly sorry if I haven't gotten back to you individually and sorry for the shoddy update this week. I have a Plan. It'll be better I swear. Yikes.

Remind me next week to tell you about the homicide behind my apartment and some thoughts I've been having that I wanted to share.

I love you greatly. I mean it.

Catch you soon.

Elder Winegar

Re: Your Very own Missionary

Monday, September 20, 2021

Hey homies what's crackin'

Wow wow where to start. This week was straight fire you guys. First of all thank you to everyone who reached out this week. You have no idea how perfect your timing was. Seriously miraculous.

Perfect timing. I like it. I'll start there. So as far as finding new people to teach we found virtually none this week. Which sucks for sure but also it's fine because my comp. is like this spiritual guru guy. He's low-key super awkward when it comes to social interaction but this guy receives freaking revelation I swear. Anyways to get to the point even though we didn't find people to teach we followed our prompting and it was amazing. It felt like we walked where Christ would have walked if he was here. We showed up at countless places at the exact time someone needed us to. Multiple people said we were "sent by God" to them at that exact moment. As I was able to serve such a diverse group of people that make up this community, my love for them grew so much. So much.

Now I will proceed to tell you about some of my most interesting/favorite interactions this week.

Alexa was a relapsed alcoholic who was struggling greatly. I mostly just felt very very sad for her. She wasn't really all there so I don't think she received the comfort we were trying to extend to her. She did say we were a sign to her from God though. She also told us in her Russian accent that we were gluttonous sinners for eating sugary cereal for breakfast lol.

I'm unsure of his name because I've tried to block the details of the experience out of my mind but there was one crazy man playing the drums out of the back of his truck who listened to us for 5 minutes and talked about his sexual escapades in explicit detail for 40.

He was really something. Hope we meet again someday.

Victor and Grace I can't talk about in too much detail because of their interesting situation, however they are from North Korea and are practicing speaking English with some Ward Missionaries. I have a deep affection for them that I can't quite explain but they are really cool people.

Another person whose name I'm unsure of, but they entered sacrament meeting in some very atypical attire and waved their sacrament bread around in the air and was making big hand motions throughout the meeting. They had some good energy. Definitely kept me awake through my four hours of meetings.

Uncle Bennett (or Bennett to normal customers) who is the owner of a local sandwich shop and gives missionaries free cake.

Lastly Mama Vega who is a fiery woman from the south with very questionable cooking.

In other news I think about home far too often. It's probably detrimental to my success but I'm still working to get past it. I miss getting up to shenanigans with you all. I miss sleeping in haha. I miss my stalwart vehicle ol' blue. I miss The Conjuring (I may have cast some devils out this week…) I miss the canyon. And most of all I miss music Holy Crap. So on my behalf please listen to the following songs this week.

Whatever that "Better Together" Jack Johnson song is
Rollercoaster by Briston Maroney
Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra
Elevator Days or frankly any Backseat Lovers song
Disco Ulysses and Wait for the Moment by Vulpeck (oh how I miss you Antwuan…)

But all memes and jests aside. This week I have been humbled and reminded of the core truths that I am really teaching. Heavenly Father loves us, his children, in the most individual and sacred way possible no matter what we choose to do or who we choose to be. And because of that he provided us a way to overcome any obstacle, Jesus Christ. He understands us so deeply and so precisely because he has literally felt exactly what we are feeling. His empathy is perfect. He can show us the way through. He just wants us to take the first step. Turn to Christ.

much love from me to you,
Elder Winegar

P.S.
If you know anyone that wants to be included in these that is not...let me know.

201 Glenwood Circle, #23C
Monterey, CA 93940

Pictured:
I dunno some beautiful sights I guess.

Your Very own Missionary

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Dear Friends,

I hope that you all are doing well. To be completely frank this has probably been one of my hardest weeks to date. I never expected that this could be so difficult, but then again when has anything ever lived up to its expectations. I miss my home. I miss my family and friends and anyone that's not a random stranger that doesn't want to hear what I have to say (mostly what I deal with here).

I feel a great deal of doubt and anxiety. I never really understood the meaning of those words till now. I am being pushed to my very limits and my faith is most certainly being tested. But that's how we grow. By pushing our limits. Doing what we never thought we could do. Becoming who we never thought we could be. And certainly by sacrificing what we never thought we could sacrifice.

Unfortunately the changes that growth demand are not comfortable. I have most certainly felt that discomfort these last few days. However I have found solace in the words of the Lord to the people of Alma while they were in bondage, "And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions." I know that difficulties are for our benefit and that rather than taking them away, God will help us through them.

I know my redeemer lives. He loves you. And so do I for what it's worth. :)

Thanks to everyone who kept in touch this week. Your were my strength. I'm sorry for delayed responses communication is pretty strict over here but I'll do my very best to get back to all or you as soon as I can.

See you soon.

Current Address

201 Glenwood Circle, #23C

Monterey, CA 93940

Keep in Touch!

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

[edited by Aunt Linda for privacy reasons, but the important stuff is in here, mainly where to send packages & letters and that he gets to chat with parents on P-days!!!!]

Sister Smith and I are happy to report that Elder Jacob Winegar arrived safely in the California San Jose Mission!

We are grateful for the opportunity of having Elder Winegar in our mission. We assure you the service he renders will bless many lives. He will be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to teach The Plan of Salvation and to bring many souls unto Christ.

So that our missionaries may remain focused and enthusiastic about this most important work, we ask you to regularly communicate with their missionary by sending encouraging, uplifting letters and/or a weekly email. They are also allowed to call parents on P-day (Monday). We encourage that letters and packages be sent to the Mission Office via First Class or Priority Mail, then they will be delivered to your missionary. Whenever sending mail, please use the first and last name of the missionary.

The Mission Office address is:

1336 Cherry Ave.

San Jose, CA 95125

Thank you for your prayers and support, and for sharing Elder Winegar with us here in the wonderful California San Jose Mission. I know that this mission experience will forever bless his life.

Sincerely,
Gary A. Smith
Mission President
California San Jose Mission

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