Email Letter - June 17, 2013

Hey everyone, this is the last email that will be sent out.

 

This week was really great, we had some really solid lessons with our investigators, especially the new ones we found a couple weeks back, Brian and Carrie. They're so awesome. After we answered a couple of questions about the family proclamation that we gave them about the Pre-Mortal life, we had Carrie say the closing prayer. She was really specific too, She prayed and thanked God that we showed up  while they were searching. They are searchers. We're so excited for them to progress, they slept in and missed church but they felt so badly, and we'll be more on top of them being awake next week.

 

Greg made it to church with his daughter Chrissy, they had to leave early for father's day activities, and Chrissy didn't want to leave. Which surprised us. We're getting really excited for the growth of that family.

I'm happy to see such growth here. The ward is becoming more and more missionary minded and they're really helping out. Things are looking up for the Loomis 2nd ward.

 Life is good, I'll see you next week!

Email Letter - June 10, 2013

Hey everyone it was another great week here in Loomis. I sure love it here. We had some great success and things are looking good. With Greg, we met with him almost every day again, and he is starting to realize that because he knows the Book of Mormon is true, that he can't keep putting off keeping the commandments. Once he finally commits he'll start making larger steps. We're putting a bit more pressure on him now too, and we feel that will help him make the decision to move forward and act.

 

We also found a middle-aged couple to teach this week. We emphasized with them the importance of family, and how it can be eternal and there can be more peace at home.  We see things going well with them.

Life is going really good, Elder Livingston and I are both happy and unified and working hard. I love you all!

Email Letter - June 3, 2013

Hey all, life is still going great. We have seen so many miracles this week and it has been so amazing. We're still meeting with Greg almost every day, and he's doing awesome. He still won't commit to a baptismal date, but we're making progress to that point and he's doing awesome.

I had a great experience with one of the Assistants this week, it was one of those days where it doesn't look like we would be able to get everything we needed to done in the time we had. But of course it all worked out. We had to get their car into the shop to get their tires replaced and brakes changed, and because of that we were on foot all day. No big deal, except their area covers two stakes out here. Which made for a lot of fun. It was truly miracle after miracle though. We had members pull over and ask if we wanted rides, which was the only way we made it to appointments on time, and also just in the right amount of time to pick up the car, if that member hadn't shown up they would have been carless all weekend. So all of that plus all sorts of miracles in the Loomis area. It's really been amazing to see that just like it says in Preach My Gospel, obedience brings blessings, exact obedience brings miracles. As Elder Livingston and I haven't shirked off our duties just because we go home soon, we've seen a special outpouring of miracles, on us and those around us. And we will continue to work in such a way that pleases the Lord.

Life is good here, I'm sure it is there too. I love you all, take good care!

Email Letter - May 27, 2013

Hey everyone! Life is going good, we've seen a lot of miracles in the Loomis area this week and it's been so great to have them around us.

This week we met with one of our investigators every day except for one, and it's been great. Everything we taught was accepted so well and so readily. He's been tithing at his other church for 3 years, and is just fine switching to ours, as well as live the law of the fast, the word of wisdom, and the law of chastity. All of which we taught this week and he committed to live. How cool is that! All he needs is an answer about the Book of Mormon, which he is looking for. Once he gets that he'll be ready to go. He doesn't want to set a baptismal date until he receives that answer, but it's becoming more of a "when I get baptized" in stead of "If I get baptized" situation. Life is good.

 

Things are going great, Liv and I are getting along great, and things are starting to pick up and flow well.

I love you all, happy Memorial day!

Email Letter - May 20, 2013

Hey everyone! We had a really good week this week. There were a lot of miracles that happened, just little things. But miracles just the same. I'm so happy out here.

Among the miracles is that we had one of our investigators come to church for the first time, and he really enjoyed it. We're super excited on how he's progressing. We were praying on different ways we could help him progress, and really pushing to come to Sacrament meeting was the biggest thing. We also committed him to read from the Book of Mormon, and meet with us every day this week, with the promise that if we does that and continues to pray about the Book of Mormon that at the end of this week he will receive an answer that the Book of Mormon is true, and so is this church. We're working hard to make that work, and so is he. It's really great to see his dedication to finding an answer.

As I said things are good. I love you all, and hope all is going great. Take good care!

Email Letter - May 13, 2013

Hey all! Transfer week this week so it'll be a shorter one because there is a lot to do today. Things are going really well and we had a great week last week capped off by a baptism and confirmation. It was really a great service, with a lot of the ward coming to show their support. Even with a few non-members there to witness the ordinance as well. We hope that those will all turn into investigators, as the Spirit was definitely there to testify of the truth. It was very great to see all that happen, especially with the confirmation and the blessing that came from the Lord via Elder Livingston. It's great to see some of those great experiences happen in someone else's life. I love being an instrument for the Lord.

That's all, I love you all very much, hope your mother's day was as great as mine. Take care and have a great week!

Email Letter - May 6, 2013

What up everyone! Things went well again this week. We're  just getting things set up for our baptism this coming friday. We're really excited for that, and so is Katelyn our investigator. She's doing great and sure loves how things are going. We watched Elder Holland's talk on the Book of Mormon from a few years ago with her yesterday and she loved it. We're excited for her.

A sad thing this week is Elder Livingston and I had to call a few of our missionaries to repentance. One of the districts we're over has been having a few issues that needed correction. I think they may hate us now but that's their problem. We had the Spirit with us as we talked to them, and it was pretty interesting to see. Afterwards Liv and I were talking and we both felt that the fact that they didn't say anything attested to their guilt and we felt like Nephi did the multiple times he confounded his older brothers. I hate babysitting but that's what it has become. hopefully that district will be shaken up a lot this coming transfer next week and things will shape up.

We're also seeing a lot of success in our area with some investigators that are progressing extremely well. We taught 3 lessons to them last week, and had a few other visits with them. They agreed that when they found out the Book of Mormon is true that they'll be baptized, and we plan on setting a firm date this week. We're really excited for them. The Church really needs them here in this area.

Things are going well, I'm happy and healthy with no reason to complain. I love you all and will talk to you soon!

Email Letter - April 29, 2013

Hey all! Things are still going strong here in Loomis. We're keeping busy, doing a lot of knocking and talking to people, but we're sure to get some good teaching in there at the same time. We've set a goal this week to pass out at least one copy of the Book of Mormon each day. We're determined to keep pushing strong.

The work is going great. We still have Katelyn, the 18 year old we're teaching on date for Friday next week, and she is moving forward. Now that she's finally decided to commit to a date she's on fire. Still quiet, and doesn't want to make any other decisions, but on fire nonetheless.

Our other investigators are doing great also. They came for a chapel tour last week and really enjoyed it. Especially the peace in the Chapel. We're really excited on how they're progressing and are hoping to set a baptismal date with them as well.

We're having a good time here, a really good time. Things are going good and life is grand. I love you all and am grateful for each of you. Have a great Week!

Email Letter - April 22, 2013

Hey everyone! Another great week here in Loomis. We had a couple of pretty great experiences this week. We were able to set a baptismal date for the second week in May, with an 18 year old girl who is planning on attending BYU-I with one of her friends that is a member. She is great and things are moving forward with her.

The other experience is a great one. One of those ones you hear every time you go to a welcome home for a missionary. Last night we had an open house for the Stake at our church building. Our responsibility was to set out proselyting literature and to welcome people in. Especially the non-members of course. But we had an extra set of missionaries, due to the Spanish elders coming for a Puerto Rican family that didn't come. So Elder Livingston and I went out to talk to some people that were walking on the street near the church. They ran away, but we opted to knock on some of the doors near by and invite them to come. No one was interested. It was time to start, so we were headed on our way back and outside of the church there were two young men standing and talking, wearing jeans and a t-shirt. We asked them if they were there for the open house, they said yes, but felt that they were underdressed. We invited them to come back in, although underdressed, saying that the singing part that they were they for to support their friend was about to start. After a bit more talking they agreed and we walked in, sat in the back, and enjoyed the performance.

After the performance we talked to them briefly, and they agreed to hear the lessons. They don't live in our area, but they are looking forward to meeting the missionaries in Rocklin. Miracles are everywhere in missionary work!

Things are going great. I can't complain. I love you all and have a great week!

Email Letter - April 15, 2013

Hey everyone, so the first full week in Loomis was also great. I don't have a ton of time but here are some highlights. We found 2 new investigators that are really sincere and want to learn. We set a baptismal date with one of our other investigators and they're more excited than we are for it. He is an exceptional kid, and is just looking to get things going right for him.

I was sick, pretty bad for a couple of days and am still recovering but I am much better now and can work really hard for most of the day instead of not at all which I like. A virus hit the house we live in with a member family, I think I got it from other missionaries and then brought it home. It hit me and one of the others in the house Thursday morning. Not a fun experience.

We were able to get an investigator to a baptism, and start teaching a few less-active families.

Sorry it's short, I'll time it out better next time but I was learning all the lame reports today. Shouldn't be so sorry of an email next week. I love you all take care!

Email Letter - April 8, 2013

Hey everyone! Let me tell you this week was awesome. I'm happy to be where I am and am really enjoying it here in Loomis. This week was hectic though, but I'd rather have that than boring. Let me break it down.

I arrived in Loomis on Tuesday right about 12:30, we babysat another missionary until his companion got into town, then went to dinner at this house I thought was huge at the time. That opinion has changed a bit. After that we had a lesson with a less-active and things were good.

Wednesday we had a sweet lesson with a young woman that will be getting baptized soon. We're hoping the 27th, we're just trying to find the right way to stop members from jumping in after we extend the invitation to be baptized. We also threw down on the non-member half of the part member family we ate with. Of course it doesn't matter when they don't care, but we won. That's the important thing.

Thursday was littered with meetings and planning sessions, another lesson with that same woman and a lesson with a 9 year old that was baptized on Friday.

Friday was the crazy day. Zone leader meeting in Gridley, almost 2 hours away, that started at 9 and ended at 2. We had a lesson with a new investigator at 4, then we rushed over to fill the font for RJ, the 9 year old, to get baptized, while that was filling we cleaned the area and set up the chairs for the crowd of people. After the baptism, which was awesome, we then cleaned up the area and took down all the chairs all on our own. Then, at about 8:30 we went home and ate dinner.

Then we had the weekend to relax, at least for 2 hour periods. Conference was amazing. In between sessions was crazy though, fitting in more lessons and lunches and all sorts of other craziness. But the Spirit was there and it all worked out.

Two talks that hit me really hard, I learned a lot from all of them but I really enjoyed Brother Beck's talk in the Sunday Morning session about acceptance and Elder Kopischke's talk that afternoon about ministering. It was really a great conference.

I appreciate you all and love you all, take care and we'll talk again soon!

Email Letter - April 1, 2013

Hey everyone! Things went really good again this week.

It really slowed down but we got a lot of good work done and enjoyed a good time.

We had a really high amount of Less-actives show up for their semi-annual church attendance for Easter which was nice, we got to meet some new people and set some dinner appointments with a few of them and it'll be a lot of fun getting to know them. Or at least it would be. I'm getting Transferred down to Loomis 2nd ward, as zone leader in the Lincoln zone. It'll be a lot of fun I think.

I've only heard good things about the area and about my companion so I'm really excited for it. It'll be a good area to finish in I think. That seems to be what will happen.

Anyway, aside from all the transfer excitement, which there isn't much because I'm the only one leaving from my zone, not much is going on. Just looking forward to a new area and a new adventure. Much love to you all!

Email Letter - March 25, 2013

Hey everyone. We had another good, but fairly uneventful week this week. Things are trucking along just fine and things are good. Elder Ballard and I are getting along really well and we're working really hard to get things going.

Life is going really well. Transfers are next week and I think I'll be leaving to go to another area. We'll see how it goes.

This last week I went on exchanges into the Spanish missionaries are and it was really fun messing with people to make them think I know Spanish. Using the proper form to address people respectfully and the such. It was pretty funny when they would ask if I spoke Spanish, and I would promptly tell them no. They would usually be taken aback. It was pretty funny.

Anyway, life is like I said uneventful, just a lot of doors. I love you guys and will talk to you again next week!

Please enjoy the following pictures.

Email Letter - March 18, 2013

Hey everyone. We had an exceptional week this week. As far as numbers go we had the best week of my mission with 25 lessons, 4 less-actives to sacrament and 1 investigator to sacrament. We worked our backsides to get those numbers, and we're feeling pretty good that we can do it again this week.

The idea is to help motivate the other missionaries and also to inspire the members to help us out. Member trust will hopefully skyrocket. Especially since we had a huge report to give this Sunday, while the stake presidency and other stake leaders were in the meetings due to ward conference.


Some highlights: We ran into a less-active member for the third time in the last two weeks, and were finally able to set an appointment with her as she realized that God was putting us in her way for a reason. We ran into her on our way to dinner, members had given us some money and we were going to go to the Chinese place, but as we passed the town's burger joint I changed my mind, and since I'm the driver what I say goes. So we stopped, and as we got out of the car, this less-active was getting out of her apartment on the other side of the street. That was the third time,  and we got things set up for tonight at another member's house.

Another cool experience happened as we were meeting with a less-active that we've been teaching for a while. Her sister was just diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer. We were able to testify of the hope that comes from living the gospel of Jesus Christ. We also outlined the events that led up to her meeting with us. Her daughter was baptized, so she started going to church in Corning, where her daughter and son-in-law are, then the  missionaries there told us about her and we got over to her house and started teaching her. The lesson before she found out about the cancer we taught about the Plan of Salvation. We were able to testify that she had been led by the Lord to us and that with the Gospel she would have greater strength and would be able to stand stronger with the sorrow of her sister's illness.

Those were just a few of the miracles we had this week. It was full of great things and hard work. I love you guys, have a great week.

Email Letter - March 11, 2013

Hey everyone! Things are great. Life is good. We had a great meeting with Elder Niel L. Anderson, Craig C. Christensen, and our area 70 last Saturday.

Here are some main themes and notes:

• We can't be so hard on ourselves. When we're doing self evaluations and introspective thought we need to realize and remember that we are not 100% and never will be until we return to Heavenly Father. So we need to be patient with our weaknesses and work to make them strengths.
• We need to remember that everyone has their agency, and that we can't make them follow the Lord. Elder Anderson taught about Alma 42, and taught that those who choose not to come are not compelled to come, but also taught how that chapter teaches about the beauty of those that do accept the Gospel and how they grow and benefit from it.
• Elder Christensen taught about the word "hasten" as that's what everyone is saying about the age change. He taught about how the word Hasten doesn't just mean to quicken, but also to broaden and deepen. He taught about how broadening and deepening our conversion and also the member's conversion and find our place in the member's lives and help them remember their conversions and missions.

All in all it was really good and really enjoyable feasting on the spirit. I learned a lot about myself from the conference also, and I think that was the most enjoyable and fulfilling thing.

That's really all to report from this last week, nothing big is happening. Things are just the way they should be. I love you all and will talk to you soon.

Email Letter - March 4, 2013

Hey everyone! It was a pretty alright week this week all things considered. We had a few good lessons with people, but most of them were just drop ins, as every single set appointment except for one cancelled on us this week. But that's been known to happen. It made it so we could get out and talk to more people and really look for more people to teach.

We didn't actually have any success in that department this week but we keep trying and working and things are good.

Elder Ballard and I are doing much better too which is really good. We're more united and that makes it easier to teach.

This coming Saturday we have an exciting event! We're having a full mission conference with a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Presidency of the Seventy and also with our area authority Seventy Frank B. Trythall. Rumor has it that the Apostle is Elder Anderson. I'll flip out if it is. He has become one of my favorites. Whether it is or isn't though it'll be a very good conference and will definitely be really enjoyable. I'm super stoked for that. Plus, the conference is in Roseville, so it'll be fun to be there again even though it won't be for very long.

Anyway that's all for this week, I sure love and miss you guys. Have a great week!

Email Letter - February 25, 2013

Hello everyone! Things are good, it was a really good week this week. A lot of good is going on and we're teaching a lot of people now. The work has really picking up and going well. But with all of that there isn't a lot to say.

One thing we've been dong since Christmas is some service at the food pantry here. We're meeting a lot of people and getting our faces and names and persona out for the people to see. So when we or the Spanish missionaries go tracting people recognize us and know we're out doing good. We're more accepted now and things are going good.

Like I said not much to report, we're just getting geared up for our mission conference on the 9th with an Apostle and member of the presidency of the Seventy. They won't disclose who but we know it's gonna be good and we're looking forward to it. I love you guys and will talk to you soon!

Email Letter - February 18, 2013

Hey everyone! Things are good here and life is good. We had transfers this week, and nothing's changing for us. So not too much is going on.

We had a really good week and got a lot of things done. We had some really great teaching lessons with some of our solid investigators and things are going really great with them. We're planning on extending a baptismal date to them soon. We also picked up a new investigator, a younger lady that's going to Chico state but lives in Orland. She had missionaries coming over to her house when she lived in Bakersfield 10 or so years ago and remembered that she liked them so she invited us back and we have another appointment with her this Friday.

We also found some less-actives that want to be taught and we're going to start teaching them this week. So things are really looking up for us here in Orland, and the work is really picking up quickly now too. We're excited about how it's going. Anyway there isn't much to say, but I love you guys and will talk to you soon.

Email Letter - February 11, 2013

Hey everyone! It's been a good week and things are going really well. We actually had the best week lesson wise since I've been in orland with a few members coming to lessons and a lot of new people we talked to and also some good less active lessons. It's been a blast. I've got a pretty bad cough but it isn't slowing me down, and things are good. There isn't a whole lot to say about the week. We do have a half-mission conference tomorrow in Gridley which will be good. It's always really good at those.

Ballard and I went fishing this morning on the bishop's property. Turns out he has about 1.5 thousand acres. Most of it is nut orchards, there's some citrus and other fruits in there too. So we went to a little water hole in the middle of it, didn't catch a fish but sure had a good time. Here's some pictures:

Email Letter - February 4, 2013

Hey everyone! it was a good week, very enjoyable. We had a few good lessons, and made some good contacts. We had Stake conference broadcast from Salt Lake and Elder Paul V. Johnson, another of the Seventy, and Elder Perry and a Sister speak to us and it was really good. Elder Perry talked a lot about how there will be a flood of missionaries coming in and that the members of the church really need to step up and help out with the work, or it won't matter if they have extra missionaries or not. I wish that things like this would really get people motivated but you really can't create motivation from an outside source, I've found out. That's been a real struggle with a lot of my companions throughout the mission.
 

This last week we had a great time shearing some sheep and stuff. We didn't actually do any of the shearing because you have to be certified for that, but we got to search out any dirt, poop, or skin that was taken off from the cutters or whatever and take that out. It was a lot of fun! Plus, my hands were super smooth from all the lanolin. It was good.

I hope all is going good, I love you guys and will talk to you soon!

Here's a picture with my teddy bear Floyd:

Email Letter - January 28, 2013

Hey everyone, it was another good week.

Things are starting to really pick up in the area and work out. We've been able to meet with a lot of people, and some members are helping out set some appointments and helping us find people to teach. So it's going well. No big complaints here.

We picked up a new investigator this week which is exciting, the first since I've been here in Orland. The man moved up from So-cal recently and was riding his bike around. He sells solar panels and saw the huge south facing roof of the church and thought he would  go check it out, he saw it was a church house and saw the visitors welcome sign and decided to check it out. He went on Mormon.org and looked up the meeting times and all sorts of stuff. It is really cool to see how prepared people like that are and how ready they are to accept the Gospel.

He travels a lot so we won't be meeting with him again for a while but we will in a couple of week and plan on extending a baptismal date that day as well. We're excited to see how that goes. As I said things are going well and looking up, it's nice to have a companion that likes to and wants to work. I love you all and have a great week!

Email Letter - January 21, 2013

Hello from Chico!

So it's been an interesting week, my giant companion and I have really hit it off and gotten some good work done. We're seeing some good fruits from it too. That's when you know what you're doing is good, when good fruits sprout from your efforts. It's pretty cool. People that Knight and I couldn't get a hold of are coming out of the wood works and we're finding new people to teach as well. We also have a few members working hard to help us too which is something I haven't had my whole mission so it's pretty enjoyable. I'm really having a good time.

 

Here's a funny moment from the week: big boy Ballard and I were in the car, and I said something sarcastic, just being me and all. Well he doesn't like sarcasm too much, and said so. So what do I do? I say "Sorry elder, I grew up speaking sarcasm, English is my second language." Whoops. Oh well, I thought it was funny at least. This could be a really fun transfer, we'll see how it goes. I love you all and have a great week!

Email Letter - January 14, 2013

Hey everyone! Transfers this week, and I'm getting a new comp. It'll be interesting, He's kind of a giant. 6'6" and big. really big. I had  dream last week that I was getting a giant, and I was right!

Anyway, not much happened this week mostly we tagged some rams, and we'll be shearing them each Saturday for the next few weeks. That'll be a ball, I'm excited for that.

Again not much to say, I think this transfer will go much better than this most previous one. It was rough, but that's alright we just move forward.

I love you guys and will talk to you again soon.

Email Letter - January 7, 2013

Hey everyone. So it was a good, but fairly uneventful week. Dennis, the super prepared man from last week's email cancelled his lesson but we'll be getting back with him this week to begin teaching him. We're excited for that. Aside from that the main thing to bring up is something I'm not too happy about but may cause some excitement on your end. Due to the age change, the MTC time will be shortened. And to accommodate that, all missions world wide will be having a 5 week transfer next transfer. What this means is that all missionaries that are in the field for that transfer will be coming home one week early. That makes my return date June 25th as opposed to July 2nd. It's been officially announced and the reaction I've seen for the most part is the same  as mine.

It will all work out, I guess it's what the Lord wants right now so I'll go with it. All the more reason to make the best of what time I have. Myself and the rest of the missionaries around here will just have to move on and accept it. But maybe I'll be able to get some sort of permission to stay or something. It'll all work out to how the Lord wants.

Recently I've been really focusing on my relationship with Christ, I heard a talk a little bit ago that mentioned that it isn't enough to know about him but that we really have to know him, and that's what I'm looking for now. I've realized that recently I've come to know him much better than I did before, but I'm not where I want to be yet. It's kind of interesting because as I've been on this train of thought there have been a few scriptures that have all linked themselves together. Christ calls Himself the Truth (John 14:6), in Doctrine and Covenants 93:24 Truth is defined as a knowledge of things past present and future, or in other words the Plan of Salvation. There were two big things that come from knowing the Truth that I picked up on as well. First, the Truth will set you free( John 8:32) and that when we really come to know the truth we would rather die than sin (Alma 24:19). What's really cool as that all of those scriptures somehow came up in my study this last week as I was reading in the General conference Ensign and Jesus the Christ and where I am at in my Book of Mormon reading. 

 

It's been really cool and I've enjoyed it a lot.

 

I love you guys, have a great week!