April 16, 2018 Transfers

This week was transfer calls. I am staying in High Springs and getting a new companion Elder Hanson. It is going to be exciting.... I hope! haha This week was also our Stake Conference and we had one of the 70's come and speak to us. It was super cool. We removed a huge tree from a neighbors yard and got 3 new potential investigators from that experience. We had a couple good lessons and all in all it was a good week.

Transfer calls were a day early because President Lee was asked to speak in our Stake conference. I was fine with anything happening. I am going to be the senior companion and will be staying in High Springs so my address is the same. I am excited and hope to move the work along. I also hope to try some things that Elder Gibby was against that will make missionary work more enjoyable and hopefully bring some good success. 

At our Stake Conference, we had some good talks and the spirit was strong. They focused a lot on ministering and doing it one by one. It was good to get more on the changes and have them better explained. The organist during the adult session on Saturday night was crazy! He was playing like he was in phantom of the opera. He was moving all over and playing in a flat key and putting a bunch of extra notes in. It was super funny and really brightened the mood. The messages were very powerful and one that I really liked was about looking to children as an example and ministering in a loving way. There were many different ways we can minister that were discussed. A few were.... Church callings, In our home, Neighbors, Sick and afflicted, less active... It was cool to hear some stories of how we can better minister. Miricals will happen as we implement the gospel into every aspect of our lives and use it to bless and be an example to everyone around us. What are some ways that you can implement ministering this week in your every day activities? 

 

On Saturday, we cleaned up and removed a huge tree. I sent a picture last week of it. It took about 3 hours but out of it we found an potential that was walking down the street. Also the neighbors that had the tree fall asked how they could repay us and we said invite us into their home and learn why we do what we do. We should meet with them in the next week or so. Its awesome how miricals happen as we serve others. Later that day, we got asked by another non-member if we could help her move her couch to the 3rd floor of her apartment and she also wanted to repay us. Boom another potential! Haha. While helping her move, we met one of her coworkers who was a member and has been less active for a few years. Another miracle! 

This week was super good and the main message I got out of it is that as we serve and love those around us, the Lord will bless us in so many ways. I challenge all of you to find one way to serve/minister this week in some way or another. I can promise that you will recieve blessings as you do so. I love you all and am greatful for all that you do! Thanks for the letters, emails, and encouragement that you give! Love Ya!

 

Once I set God loose on somebody, it's on!

-  Stephen Lillard, High Springs Florida

$3 dollar bill

$30 pure silver coin worth $600

Chess game we were given for doing servie

Fireworks

Jacob being crazy

New pants and tie for Easter

Large tree we helped clean up

weird caterpillar

 

 

April 9, 2018 Tradeoff's and Teaching

This week was a good fast week! Not much went on because we had 2 tradeoffs so I was only in my area with Elder Gibby on Thursday. We had a good time on tradeoffs and got some good finding in. On Thursday, we had a great lesson with Jimmy and Carol. On Friday and Saturday I was in Gainsville on a tradeoff with Elder Sorenson and on Saturday we did farm share.

I was first with Elder Carter (District Leader) on Tuesday and Wednesday on a tradeoff in our area and it was good. We had our scripture class where 2 mission bound young men were there. They went on a exchanges after with us which was good. On the exchanges, we were able to heart attack a bunch of doors of members and investigators. After we did that, we knocked a few doors around the area and talked to some awesome people. It was super fun. We finished our tradeoff and traded back Wednesday afternoon. On the tradeoff, we found a potential investigator and had a really good time.

 

On Thursday, we were able to go out with a member to a lesson with Jimmy and Carol. Ralph has been spending a lot of time in a different area and working so we haven't been able to meet and continue teaching him but something has really opened up his mom and her boyfriend and they are anxiously investigating. It is very cool to see how much they love to feel the spirit and how they are so engaged and willing to listen and learn. We have felt the spirit so strong in their home as we go there and as we teach them. They have such a desire and we are doing all we can to love and help them come to Christ. 

 

On Friday we traded off again and I spent the day with Elder Sorenson. We had a good time and spent a good time cleaning their appartment because it was super dirty and unorganized. We also did some family history and we found some names to take to the temple which was super fun and always brings joy. If you haven't done it, try it! Its awesome. We had to trade back super early in the morning because we had Farm Share.

 

Farm Share was super fun. We bagged food and other donated materials and then handed the to people in cars that would drive up. It is all donated food and it is awesome to serve and give it to people in need in the community who don't have food. There were a bunch of first responders there serving as well which was super fun. Defiantly a blessing to serve. They gave us a bunch of "Breakfast boxes" that have different foods and treats in them because they had extra and it was starting to rain. It was fun! I am glad that I was able to serve.

 

This week was super eventful and I am glad that I was able to serve those around me. We can all serve and do our best to help those in need. I know that as we look for opportunities to serve we will bless those around us and be blessed as we do so. I am greatful for the spirit and the comfort we can feel as we strive to have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion in our lives. This week I challenge all of you to serve someone around you and to also strive to have the spirit with you each day! I know you will be blessed as you do so! I love you all and am greatful for your support and love. Have an awesome week! Love Ya!

Handle to fix member's car

Selfie

Fixing car in the dark

Lady Viping?

Rain

Fallen Tree

 

April 2, 2018 A Prophet of God for Sure!!!

This week was such a good week. The highlight, was defiantly General Conference! We also went on splits for the first time in my mission, Had interviews by President Lee, had an awesome game night, and met a cool guy who was from Ghana.

I will save the best for last so I will tell about Splits! Splits are where the 2 missionaries in a area split up and go with 2 members. The 2 members we went with were 2 soon to be missionaries. I went with Jeff Jacobs and Elder Gibby went with Colt Mills. We decided to do some tracting which was unusual especially for going with others. We have some events coming up at our church for a 4 week counting so me and Jeff decided to invite people to church. In about 1 hr., we invited over 20 people to church. It was a good experience for Jeff to get to talk to people and get out of his shell in a way. I remember taking to people being one of the hardest things to do and it still is. We defiantly felt strength from the Lord as we went out of our way to talk and invite people. It was awesome! 

 

Once a transfer, President Lee will interview all of the missionaries and make sure they are doing good. Our district has 16 missionaries and interviews usually go from 5-20 min. After 2 hours, we were just starting on the 6th missionary! It was going so slow. We started our district meeting at 11:00 and finished around 4:00! It was such a long meeting and to make it even better, I got to give a training. I think it went well even though thoughts were a little scattered. I trained on why Members of the Church need Investigators. There are so many blessings from doing missionary work and Investigators give us the opportunity to receive those blessings and feel of the spirit more in our lives. One quote from power of every day missionaries that is talking about balancing Church Callings and missionary work said: 

 

"I decided to search the Doctrine and Covenants to see what guidance it might offer our ward and stake leaders for balancing these trade-offs to achieve proper focus. We found that the Doctrine and Covenants, as the instruction that God gave us for building the kingdom of God in the latter days, is filled with remarkable promises that God has offered to those who accept His call to share the gospel. Far from putting the kingdom out of balance, if our ward and stake leaders were to focus on leading their members to share the gospel, many of the other problems that fester in our hearts and homes, and in our wards and stakes, would resolve themselves through the blessings that come from accepting the call that God has given each of us to be missionaries"

This really stood out to me as why missionary work is so important. We all except the call to serve the Lord as we are baptized. Do we fulfill that call every day? I know that as we do, our problems in our day to day life will in time solve themselves and decay into nothing. It is so important to do missionary work. Also, we are able to practice teaching what we are living and practice the gospel more fully as we teach it to others. Lets all make missionary work the focus of our every day lives and I know our lives will dramatically improve and flourish

 

On Thursday, we had our 2 monthly game night. It had around 30 people and it seemed as if everyone was having a great time. We only had 1 investigator there but we had a lot of members who got to know each other better which is always good. It was a fun time and I almost memorized how to completely solve a crazy 12 sided Rubik cube. 

We met some people from Ghana as we were going to a dinner appointment. We were 2-3 minutes early so we started talking to this guy and his wife. They were moving apartments within the apartment complex because their old apartment flooded. They had just finished moving all of their stuff over so we weren't able to help in that way. We got talking about something and it lead to talking about wood work. He mentioned that he was trying to find a space to set up his machine shop and get some wood working done. This guy was really into lathe work and so we got talking. He had built his own lathe and made a living from making chair legs and vases. It was cool to get to know him and talk about a common interest. He invited us back to come talk with him any time we are in the area. Awesome experience! 

So, last of all General Conference was so spiritual. For me the most spiritual part was the sustaining of the Church Leaders and The Prophet. As I stood and sustained the Prophet, the spirit hit me so strong like a huge wave. At that very moment, I had gained a witness from Heavenly Father that Russell M. Nelson is called by him to lead the church today. The spirit was so strong. It was probably one of the most spiritual experiences of my life. I have a testimony of Latter day Prophets. President Nelson is a Prophet and I sustain him with all my heart. I hope you all were able to feel a similar spirit as you sustained President Nelson. There defiantly is a sweet spirit that comes from General Conference and I know that as we study and ponder the talks given throughout our daily lives, that we will find power and peace as we live by the council of the Prophets and Apostles of the church given to them by the Lord himself. Please heed the words of the Prophets and keep them alive in your hearts and homes. They will bless you and your family in every aspect of your lives. I know this to be true and leave you my testimony In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

 

I love you all and hope your weeks are full of the spirit. Keep pressing forward and working each day to be the best you can. That's all the Lord asks.

Quote of the week:

"Look after the man behind the one in front of you."

- Harold B. Lee

caterpillar

Fat Dog

Fat Dog 2

 

March 26,2018 Almost Conference!

This past week was a great week! We had a lot of opportunities to serve and help which in my opinion is one of the best aspects of missionary work. I also had the opportunity to listen to a few General Conference talks each day leading up to the upcoming General Conference. This week we also saw some tender mercies and miracles. But one of the best things was we got a little bit of bacon and also we started a new "challenge" of how to read the Book of Mormon. :)

And the best thing was we had great church attendance and a great lesson with Ralph, Carol, and Jimmy 

One thing I have grown to love more and more on my mission is serving others. This past week, we had a lot of opportunities to help some people. We helped Brother Luthie pack up some things and get ready to make the drive to Utah. We also got to help Brother Barber a lot. I had been wondering how I could best use my talents and abilities to serve those around me and hasten the work. This week as I prayed for opportunities, I was given many. A few opportunities I had were fixing Brother Barber's car window that was rolled down and wouldn't go back up. On his other car, he broke the handle off and I helped him get it apart so when he gets a new handle we can put it back on. I helped him change his battery, helped him load some fire wood in a guys car, did other small things... but most importantly, I was able to help give him and his grand daughter a blessing. As I prayed for opportunities to serve in greater capacity, I was given many opportunities. Some things I have been reminded of is as we pray for things, God will provide. As we serve with no desire of reward, we get the greatest reward of Joy and many other blessings. Imagine if everyone took 1 hour a week to serve someone else with no desire of reward. The world would be a better place in just 1 hr.! 

Now about General Conference... I wanted to better prepare for the upcoming General Conference so I decided to listen at least one General Conference talk a day. As I have done so, it has been such a good opportunity to renew and increase my spirituality and better have the words of prophets on my mind. Something that I have recently been able to practice and learn is that as we put in the effort to study and prepare for messages given to prophets and apostles by God, we will get a lot more out of what is shared and said. Also as we continue to study and apply what we learn, we will receive blessings. If we put in the effort to show we care about what the Lord wants us to learn and know, he will enlighten our hearts and minds and bless us even more. 

This week was filled with tender mercies and miracles. Some weeks as Missionaries, life seems like it is just falling apart. We can't seem to get anything to go right no matter how hard we try. We invite 15 people to church and 0 show up, we have 8 set lessons and they all fall through. This week was an odd week when things just worked out. We had a bunch of different lessons happen, and it was super good. We started inviting people to have a question and read a chapter from the book of Mormon while praying and writing inspiration to Receive answers for themselves. We met with an investigator who hadn't been contacted for months and had an awesome lesson with him. We set up a lesson to meet with Ralph and it fell through twice! It was very sad but he said he would be at church with his Mom and her boyfriend. And miracles happened! He showed up to church with his whole family. They loved it and had a great time. Our mission leader had a good chat with them before they left and set up an appointment for that night around 6. We went at 6 and had an amazing lesson with Ralph. He said he wants to be baptized and is willing to put in the work to make it happen. He was smiling the whole time we were having the lesson with his mother (Carol ) and her Boyfriend (Jimmy). You can tell he was filling the Holy Ghost which was something he loves. The lesson we had was super powerful and the spirit was so strong. Carol and Jimmy could defiantly feel the spirit and many tears were shed. 

 

Last of all, Sister Grieve gave us some bacon. We were expecting a box or 2 of the 12 piece bacon you buy for campouts. She ended up giving us a 10 lb. bag of bacon! We can now eat bacon every day for every meal and never run out! Haha. The members here are super awesome! 

 

I hope you all have an awesome week and continue to prepare for General Conference and be open to inspiration and prayerfully ask questions. I know you can Receive answers as you do so. I love you all and appreciate all you do for me! Make this week the best week yet! Love ya!

 

“Success isn't given, it is earned. On the track, on the field, in the gym. With blood, sweat and the occasional tear.”  

- Nike

Apartment Sunset

Bacon Donated by Member

Driving home from church

Elder Gibby?

Bowl and Marble Slab from Tongan Temple

Protein