June 25,2018 What's UP? Fake Identity

Hello Everyone!

This week has been a good one. For the start of the week, I went on a Tradeoff with Elder Karl. It was interesting and kind of like the good old days. Right after, we had a sleepover with the other Elders. It was fun. Elder Karl and Hansen both were going to the temple. 

On our tradeoff, we did service by laying sod. We did it for around 5 hours and it was just 4 Missionaries because the lady failed to announce it earlier than the morning of. It was super hot too this past week. It was over 100 for a few days which was pretty great! At least we had the car. 

There wasn't much else going on this week. A guy in sacrament told a story I really liked so I will try to retell it the best I can. 

The Great Ape:

Th are was a guy who had been out of a job for a few months and nothing was working out. He was looking through the job listings one day and he saw a job opening at the zoo. He applied for the job out of desperation and got called in the next day for a interview. The zoo owner asked him to raise his hand and take an oath. He asked what the oath was for. He said that the great ape was sick and was going to die and that his job would be to dress up in an ape costume and act as the ape until they could get the replacement. He said that would be easy because he had done gymnastics in High school and college so he was put to the test and hired on the next day. Over time he became a really big hit. He made the news and hundreds of people were coming from all over to see him preform. One day there was a crowd of around 500 people watching him. He was flipping majestically all over on the trees and ropes. As he was super high up swinging on one of the ropes, the rope snapped and he fell down right into the lions den. He got up in a panic and started pacing back and forth like a gorilla would do. Not knowing what to do he decided to give up the oath. He started saying I am just a man, please don't eat me. The lion got up from where it was sleeping and started walking over. His lip pulled up over his teeth as he approached. The man started yelling and doing everything he could to give up the fake identity and so he might live. Then he heard a distinct voice say, stop giving yourself away or you will end up getting both of us fired. 

Sometimes in life we put on fake identities. At times it may make us feel good or help us get somewhere we want but we may get stuck in a situation and what will we do then? We always need to be ourselves. If we don't like who we are then we can change through the atonement. I love you all and hope you all have an awesome week! Love ya

Very Hot Temperatures

Jacob's Weights

Service on Exchanges

 

June 18,2018 My Week of Wonders

This week was a good one. We had a interesting week because we had a tradeoff, zone conference, and stake conference. So our week was packed before we made any plans. We had a lesson with Anthony, Dwayne, and Leishia. Leishia and Anthony are both new super awesome investigators. We also were able to get in contact with a good amount of investigators we haven't met yet. 

On Wednesday, we had our zone conference. It was a long meeting but the spirit was there. The topic of this meeting was the power of the spirit. The Spirit is so awesome and essential to every aspect of our lives. Something I really liked was the spirit is something we need all the time. It isn't like an old sweater that we pull out of the closet before we go out of the door. It is something we need to constantly have with us. As we constantly have the spirit, we will be able to withstand the temptations of the adversary and receive revelation. Receiving personal revelation is so important to each of our lives. It is needed to further the work of the Lord as well as help us to be tools in the hands of God. 

We had some good lessons this week. Anthony is a less active members husband. He is in the military and was open to letting us teach him. We talked about desire in our lesson and how if this is something he wants he will need to put in the work to receive his answer. We talked about the power of prayer and how important that is in conversion and gaining a personal testimony. Super awesome lesson! Next was Dwayne. Dwayne plays the piano at another church and has for some time. We shared the restoration with him last lesson and so this lesson we followed up with him on the importance of reading and praying. We talked about how to strengthen the testimony he has with the Book of Mormon. Last of all was Leishia. Leishia was a potential for some time and on Sunday we decided to stop by. She had just gotten back from her vacation and we were able to share a brief message with her. We talked about how God loves each of us and how trials can strengthen us if we have the right attitude. She lost her mother when she was young and so she said she has been trying to strengthen her relationship with Christ and its been hard. She is super excited about learning more and is an awesome investigator. 

In Stake Conference, the main focus was Ministering. There was a lot of good talks that really helped me see the power in ministering. Just like in zone conference, I think one of the most important things we can do with ministering is seek the spirit and receive personal revelation. As we do this we can be guided in all we do and be the most effective instruments in the hands of our Heavenly Father. Each day I have strived and done my best to always have the spirit with me. It has been such a blessing in my life. I challenge you all to seek the companionship of the Holy Ghost each day in your life. Always have the words "What would Jesus Do" on your mind as you go about your day and go out of your way to serve as Christ would do. There is so much power in Service. 

Last of all, I want to thank my Dad, Grandpa, Uncles, Cousins, Neighbors, Priesthood Leaders, and any other fathers out there that have played a part in my life. I am Eternally grateful for your examples and guidance you have given me in my life. Your are doing an awesome job and what you do! I love you all and hope you had an amazing Fathers Day. Fathers have a sacred call to exercise righteous dominion with their priesthood and to be the vessels to bless Gods children on earth. I am grateful for each one of you and all you do for me! I love you all and hope your weeks are full of tender mercies. Seek the positive and remember attitude is everything.

Eating a Grasshopper

Large Grasshopper

Eating Lunch with Grandpa

Bike

Rainbow's

Water balloon Tub

 

June 11, 2018 A Long Week

This past week was a week full of hard work. We only had 1 lesson so we were super packed with finding. We have been trying to set a standard or carry the District in a way because there is little motivation in the district. It really helped out this week and we did a lot better in our efforts over all.

There was a few things this week I would like to tell about. First, we found a super awesome potential investigator named Anthony, Second we got to sit in a sweet Corvette, and last of all I got to fix Elder Hansen's horrible hair cut. 

 

So probably the highlight of the week was finding Anthony. We were out finding and we felt prompted to go knock on a door right across the street from where we parked. We knocked on the door and met a guy named Anthony. He was talking to us and then out of nowhere, he gets shoved out of the way and his wife is there screaming out of pure joy to see the Missionaries. She was a member who was baptized a while back and since moving to Florida she hasn't gone to church. Her records aren't moved and so we are going to help her do that and we invited her to church. After talking with her, we asked if Anthony was interested in taking the lessons again with us. He said he was and we have a return appointment for this coming Wednesday. They have a son named Jacob and they are a super elect family! What a Miracle!!!

So next, we were tracking in a different area and Elder Hansen and I both love Corvettes and Camaro so we point out every one we see. We saw a guy who had a super nice Corvette and so we decided to knock on his door and ask if we could take a picture with it. We knocked, and he answered and while closing the door and saying not interested, I asked if we could take a picture with his car. He said sure and so we started taking a few pictures. After a minute or so, he came out and asked if we wanted to get in his car so we did. It was super awesome and the guy thanked us for the work we did even though he wasn't interested. 

Last of all, Elder Hansen got a hair cut at great clips. He paid $16 and his hair looked horrible. It looked like a bull cut and a flat top mixed. He had a leadership meeting on Wednesday and he didn't want his hair to look bad so he begged me to cut it. I was scared that I would mess up his hair even more than it was before and so I didn't really want to do it. After a while, I finally decided to do it. It ended up looking a lot better then it did after he got it professionally done. Maybe I am a future hair cutter. Haha

This week has been super long and tiring. The most important thing I learned is that as we give our all, the lord truly will bless us in every step of the way. Lets all recommit to do a little better each day and even if its a minute a day, devote that time to the Lord and thank him for all he does for us as well as strive to do his will. Blessings will come. I know that and hope you all will find joy in living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love living the Gospel. Its brings me so much joy. I hope you all have amazing weeks full of Joy! I love you all and wish you all the best!

fixed hair cut

Bad hair cut

Sweet Corvette

Rainy week

Sitting in a sweet Corvette

 

 

June 4, 2018 Transfer's to Orange Park

Hello Family And Friends! This week has been a great week. On Wednesday, I got transfered to Orange Park with Elder Hansen. Elder Hansen is so awesome and we get along super well and work well together. We got white washed into the area and so we don't really know that much of whats going on but it has been all good. There are some super awesome investigators and we have been able to meet a few. The members of the Orange Park Ward are super involved in our missionary work and it has been such a blessing getting to know them and having them help in the work. 

In my new area we have had some cool and weird experiences each day. On Thursday it was raining and we decited to go tracting in a area about 2 miles from our appartment. We decited to just walk to the area. While we were walking it started to rain a little. We knocked on a few doors as we were walking to the area. On the way, we met a lady who was walking in the rain. We decited to let her share our umbrella. We got talking and she was walking home from the gas station because her car broke down and her husband took it to the auto shop to get it fixed. We talked to her about having faith in Christ and she talked to us about how when we pray and ask for Gods help, he will send people and that we were an answer to her prayer. 

On Friday, we werer walking again and there was a lady who was yelling off in the distance. We just ignored it and kept walking but after a good minute of hearing it, we turned behind us and looked. We saw a lady and went and talked to her. She was a member and her son was in Utah on his mission and was struggling. He was possibly coming home and he was going to call and talk to his mom and make a decision. She asked us for a blessing because she wanted to know what to say and how to best help her son. We were able to go over to the Church and give her a blessing and she said we were an answer to her prayer in the right place at the right time. 

Last of all, on Saturday we decited to walk home from our dinner appointment instead of get a ride. It was only about 3 miles and we decited to go tracting while we walked home. We went and didn't really find any success and so we were heading home and it was raining so we were walking under a overhang over a bunch of buisnesses. A guy called us out and ran up to us and said he was in a bad posstion in his life right now and that he needed us to say a prayer for him. We were able to pray for him and invite him to church. Another opertunity to be an answer to someones needs and prayer. 

On Sunday, President Nelson addressed the youth and the challenge he gave was really awesome. He wanted all the youth to join Christ's Battalion and stand out and make a difference in the world. He wants all of us as members of the Church to learn how to rely on the spirit and how to use it to better ourselves and grow. If you didn't get a chance to watch it you should watch it even if your not a youth! It is so good and inspired by God. 

This week was awesome and I think the main focus or what stood out to me was the power of prayer. Prayer is so essential and as we pray and then act, we will be able to better be an istrament in the Lords hands. I challenge all of you to pray for something and act on it. Miracles will come because God does hear and answer our prayers! Have a great week! Love all of you!

 

Tracting with Elder Hansen

Pushing the button

Superman!

 

May 28, 2018 Being Transfered from High Springs to Orange Park

My tooth

Dabbing muscle men

This week has been a tough one. I am getting transferred and am sad to leave the amazing High Springs Branch. It is such a good area and I learned so much! I am going to Orange Park Florida and will be serving with another Elder Hansen. I went on a tradeoff with this Elder Hansen in my first area in GA. It is super exciting to serve with him and I am looking forward to it. 

This past week has been quite good. We were able to have a super awesome lesson with James and he accepted baptism but said he would have to think on a date of when he wants to be baptized. He is super elect and will probably be a member in a few months. Something else that was awesome to me this week is that almost everyone does have an interest in the gospel. As a missionary, my job is to discern that need and invite the spirit to teach and testify of the truth. 

It has continued to rain almost every day this past week. We did have a possible tropical storm that was going to be bad come through but I think it got directed somewhere else. We did get a lot of rain though but it has been super good. It reminds me of the song I like to look for rainbows. Even through the worst storms in life, there is always some good we can find. Also the trials we go through really do strengthen us and know that through the atonement we can be made clean just like the earth after a rain storm. 

On Wednesday, I got some shocking news. I had a dentist appointment because one of my teeth had what I thought was a cavity. I was right and was able to get it fixed. The Dentist took a few X-rays of my mouth just to make sure there was nothing else but there was something else... 

So I have a tooth that had a root canal done on it a few years ago. My gums around the tooth have always been a little irritated and there has been a darker something right under my gum line on that tooth. I have always thought that it was just part of the Root Canal that they did. I guess that it was actually a big cavity. It has grown down the side of my tooth and I was told that my tooth will be lost! What great news to hear when you go to take care of a tiny problem. I know that the "cavity" has been there for longer than I have been on my mission and wonder why the previous dentist didn't ever point it out. Now I just have to schedule an appointment to go get my tooth removed which is super exciting! Haha

 

On Thursday, we had a cool miracle happen. We were going to an appointment up in High Springs. It fell through and we were going to head onto the other side of town to see if we could meet with a few more people. I looked at the map because I thought maybe there was another reason we are in the area. There was a member who lived right across the street from our investigator. We turned around and went to her house. She said that a tree had fallen on her gate and knocked it off. She was going to try and put it back on herself and had thought about calling us but didn't want to because she wanted to have something for us. She said that us stopping by was a miracle. It was cool to see how the Lord has a plan for each of us and as we follow his plan and listen to the spirit, we can accomplish so much!! 

 

Thankyou everyone for all of the letters, prayers, and love from home. I love you all so much and know with all my heart that this gospel message is so true and is the only way we can find everlasting joy and happiness. Don't only live the gospel but love it. Love is what changes hearts! 

Tracting

 

 

 

May 21, 2018 Trust in the Lord With all Thy Heart

This week has been a long week. It has rained all week and so it's been wet. I got drenched a few times in full Proselyting clothes. The worst part was it was on tradeoff and so I didn't have a new set of clothes to change into. Good thing all the apartments have dryers. On Tuesday and Wednesday I was with Elder Robinson and we had a great time When we were biking back to the appartment, it started lightly raining. We were biking as fast as we could and it started pouring buckets! By the time we got to the appartment, we were biking in 8 inches of water. My shoes got super soaked and took 2 days to dry out. They are back in working condition though. 

On Friday we went finding for a few hours and had some awesome success. We found 6 new investigators this past week and everything seems to be going good and strong with the work. There are lots of great things happening in our area and the work is defiantly moving along. We had a few super spirit filled lessons and kept seeing mirical after mirical. Such an awesome week! 

Today we went down to Cesar Key to see the Gulf of Mexico and it was cool. I enjoyed it. There was a ton of cool old buildings and other things. It was a awesome day. We also drove out of the rain which was nice because it has been raining for so long. 

This week I think one of the more important lessons and things that has been on my mind is trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thy own understanding. In our area the work has been super slow in the past but has been speeding up recently. We have also been trying to expand into a ward and have been and I have been wondering and praying about what we can do to help move the work along. I have found that as we trust in the Lord as well as the council of our leaders that we can best accomplish the work at hand. We have seen so many miricals as we have followed the council we were given. I challenge all of you to follow the council as well as the example of the prophet, local leaders, and most important of all, Christ. I know that as we do that we will be blessed and further the progression of the Lord's work. 

Love you all and hope you have an awesome week and see miricals each and every day. If we have faith, we can move mountains! Always keep the faith!

Elder Hansen and Elgaaen

Doing the Work