Mon 11/25/2013 9:38 AM

This last week was busy meeting with people before Elder Pope took off.  Transfers were amazing!  I was able to see so many of the people I have become so close to and my heart has been swelling with great gratitude for the opportunity I have had to meet and become friends with so many wonderful people.  My heart rejoices, like Alma the Younger when he saw his friends again, the Son's of Mosiah, in seeing how far they have come and that they are still his brothers in the gospel. 

 

As I previously said, it was transfers! Elder Meservy and I are having a great time together and are honestly feeling a little bit overwhelmed with the amount of work that needs to get done here, along with a great excitement because of the potential this area has.

 

This Sunday we also finally have a Branch Mission Leader!  He is a member in the Branch Presidency and his name is Moises (Moses in English).  He is a return missionary and an awesome guy, so we are stoked to work with him.

 

This last week we had a Thanksgiving Talent Show which was a lot of fun.  It sure was interesting having Hispanic style turkey!  It was actually pretty dang good!  There were also a whole lot of non-members there; it was a nice little turn out.  We weren't able to stay for the show though.  It got started too late.  I was going to sing in it, but we had to get back home.  As we went out to the car it was SNOWING!  Unfortunately none of it stuck.  It has been getting a bit chilly over here.  It was 19 degrees this morning without the windchill and it was pretty dang windy.

 

Yesterday was Pop's birthday and that was a lot of fun with a great beef stew and Reese's ice cream cake.  We have been having a whole lot of fun and good time working hard as well.  Also, we have stumbled across a pretty fun game which I would encourage those who love to laugh and act out ridiculous things, to look for.  It is called Hilarium and is an awesome game.

I do not know what more to say other than, I LOVE and am GRATEFUL for this wonderful gospel!  I LOVE and am GRATEFUL for all of the wonderful people the Lord has placed in my life, especially my wonderful family!  I LOVE and am GRATEFUL for the opportunity to be on a mission, to share the wonderful message of the gospel with others!  I LOVE and am so GRATEFUL for the LOVE that our Savior has for each and everyone of us and that he gave his life willingly, that we may once again return to live with him!  I LOVE and am GRATEFUL for the Book of Mormon!  Every time I pick it up to study it and squeeze the juice out of it, my understanding INCREASES; the LOVE, EXCITEMENT and GRATITUDE I have for this gospel and desire to share it with others INCREASES! 

For all of you reading this, I want you to know that I know this gospel is true.  I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's church fully restored on the earth today and that we are guided by The Good Shepard who is Jesus Christ, through the loving Prophet Thomas S. Monson.  I am so GRATEFUL for the LOVE, PEACE, added strength and Spirit the Spirit of GRATITUDE brings into our lives.  I know that as we seek to see the Lord's hand in our lives and our many blessings from him and our loved ones, our GRATITUDE and LOVE will INCREASE as a result.

 

There is so much power in GRATITUDE, brothers and sisters and I hope with all my heart and with all my soul that we will search for the Lord in our lives and therefore find him and all the many things He has done for us.  I know this is true. I leave these things with you in the name of our LOVING Savior and Redeemer, even Jesus Christ, amen.

Wed 11/20/2013 10:25 AM

Well, Elder Pope is leaving me after only a transfer.  He is going to Franklin, MA and I am getting Elder Meservy as my new companion.  He was from my district in the MTC, so this will be pretty interesting!

 

This last week we have been saying good byes to people for Elder Pope and have had some great visits.  We have been working a lot with the members in our branch and helping them get more excited about missionary work; letting them self-discover how wonderful it truly is for themselves with our help =D.  If only we as members of the church could realize the direct correlation between our own personal righteous desires and goals for ourselves or our families and missionary work.  It's so amazing.  Truly as we seek first and foremost to build up the Kingdom of God everything else in our lives will be blessed and the windows of heaven will be opened and we will receive blessings so abundant that there wont be room enough to receive them!  It is amazing to see those things first hand in the lived of others and my own as well.

 

We have a family starting to see this in their lives.  They started by inviting a non member friend/family to activities, to church and we have been working with them to help this family come to know the truth of it for themselves.  Now they are inviting another non member family to a talent show we have this Sat. and to church on Sunday!  Can you imagine if all we did was invite those in our lives, who we already know, to come to such activities or church?

 

It is amazing to see the reaction on peoples faces when we talk  about missionary work, our baptismal covenant and then show them that we start doing it by simply inviting and introducing them to us at church or the event and other members.  Then if the person is interested, the member asks them if they want to meet with us!  It makes for a less awkward experience and better flow of things. 

 

We have been working with a less-active family who lives 30-45 minutes away from where we meet for church. The father is a recent convert and they have 3 kids.  A wonderful family, and it is amazing to see how faithful they are.  They cannot come, simply because they don't have a way to get there.  Their car is having issues and won't get that far.  Yet, they still read in the Book of Mormon as a family, have Family Home Evening and are doing everything they need to.  We have been looking for ways to get them to church, but so far haven't found one that can get them there every week since they live so far away.

 

This last week we had Zone Conference and Gifford Nielson, one of the Seventies, came to speak to us.  Yes, it was the EXCLAMATION POINT guy from General Conference, and yes, it was amazing!  He also went in depth a lot more about what prompted him referring to exclamation points in conference.  I would pose the question, how often do we pay attention to the way the Book of Mormon is written, and the "why" it is written the way it is?  He showed us some examples of where the exclamation points are and how it changes the way we read and understand the meaning. 

 

We also had a great lesson on what the word Repent means from it's definition in Greek, Hebrew and Latin and how it has changed so much to where people think of it as a scary thing because of how it comes across in Latin.  But, it really is just a beautiful thing that brings about a complete change in us to where we become new creatures, more beautiful and extraordinary beings like a caterpillar changes into a beautiful butterfly, and it means that we turn back to God.  There is nothing scary about that!  I wish I had time and the ability to explain everything so much more because really repentance is a beautiful concept when we get what it truly means and how it was used back when all the Apostles and Christ use to go around telling people to Repent.  Hopefully I haven't lost any of you in all of the information I am trying to throw out in such little time.  In short, the work is going great!

I love seeing people's lives change for the better coming to know our Savior more as they come to know the truthfulness of the gospel.  I have seen how it has changed my life and still is and how wonderful it is!

 

I know that this church is true.  I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the World and invites all of us to turn back unto him and repent - to become a new, more beautiful creature through His Atoning sacrifice and grace, that allows us to do so.  I know that as we become this new person, the person He would have us be, a desire in us will grow to bring others unto Him through the knowledge we have come to know.

 

I know that as we strive to invite others to taste and experience this change within themselves, the Lord will open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings in our lives that there won't be room enough to receive them.  I leave these things with you all, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Tue 11/12/2013 11:04 AM

Some wonderful news!  It snowed this morning, and so that means that the time will soon come for me to freeze over!  It is starting to get just a little chilly here, but not too bad.

The work here in New London is going pretty well right now. There is a lot to do though.  We are still working with the people we have set for baptismal dates.  We are trying to help them based on their needs.  The members have been helping a lot as well which is wonderful because they do have some concerns, but nothing the Lord can't settle.

It is crazy that a whole transfer has already almost passed by.  Time sure does fly.  It will be interesting to see what happens.  Lately it seems like Elder Pope and I have been using a lot more English than Spanish, so we have come to the conclusion and set the goal to speak Spanish all the time, especially when it is only he and I.  So far it has been going pretty good.  It is nice to both be on the same page and want to push each other.

 New London has been a great blessing in disguise.  I love it here so much and the people, but it has also been a very trying place. The wonderful thing though is the Lord has been there by my side the entire time, even though at the time it may not have felt like it. We are all to go through times of trial where it may seem very hard for whatever reason.  The Lord requires us to go forward in darkness to test our faith and willingness to follow him.  I know that even though he requires us to do this He is there gently leading us along, planting little speckles of light just enough in-front of us to help us press on, but not seeing any more than that until the next saving speckle of light appears.  Oh how great the wisdom and love of our Heavenly Father!   I am so grateful that he allows us to have these experiences, for truly out of them we come to know ourselves, Him and our Savior so much more.  We come to develop our character and our ability to better help others.

For those of you who may be feeling that you are overwhelmed or are struggling with whatever it may be, I encourage you to press forward!  The Lord is there and I promise you that indeed a man or a woman does not stand taller than when they are on their knees praying to our Heavenly Father for help and guidance.  I know that as you move forward and press along, that the speckle of light will appear, even at those times where it seems you have nothing else to give. 

I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the World.  I know that he has walked that path before us and therefore is able to guide is where we need to go.

I invite all you who may be laboring and feeling heavy-laden to turn to Christ for surely He will give you rest. I say these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Mon 11/4/2013 1:04 PM

This past week has been pretty good.  We had Stake Conference and were invited to the Saturday night session.  It was all about Hastening the Work and our Mission President was there with his wife and gave wonderful talks.  They had all the missionaries stand up to introduced us.  There was 38 total.  It was an amazing night.

 

The next day was equally amazing.  We had another wonderful time listening to the talks prepared.   Afterward we went over to a member's house for lunch with a family that is investigating the church.  It turned out to be a really good lesson.

 

This past week we were able to meet with our Branch President and talk about the work in the branch.  It was a very spiritual  experience.  We let him know why we are there and that we want to work.  We also brought up a lot of great ideas that could help the work get moving along and the members involved.  It is cool to see how many times the things the Lord already has revealed to you can be applied to every situation and area.  Sometimes however, a little twist is required in order to fit the needs of the people and area.

 

Our people "finding pool" has been growing a lot and we have currently 4 baptismal dates extended and accepted.  Three to the family that we have been teaching for 2 weeks now and one to a lady we haven't met yet.  Her name is Alexandra, and the English missionaries met with her before and found out she is more comfortable with going to the Spanish Branch, so we need to get to know her now.  All of their baptismal dates just so happen to be on the same day, December 15th!  So, we shall see where all this goes and hopefully they will all be ready for that date. 

 

I am so grateful for the area I am in now.  It has been an area where I can see the Lord is developing me into the man He wants me to be.  It is a great blessing to look back at the time I have been here and see His hand in all of it.

 

I know that this is Christ's Church and that He lives.  That he has a plan for each and every one of us.  I say these things in His name, even the name of Jesus Christ, amen.