September 17,2018 Good Lessons!

This last week was a good week. We were pretty busy with meetings, tradeoffs, and lessons but still had a spirit filled week. Probably the highlight of my week was all the lessons we were able to teach. A lot of times, we set lessons and people will cancel and we end up finding people the whole day which isn't the best! This week almost every lesson went through and we spent most of our week teaching. We were able to give a blessing on Monday last week and it was super spirit filled. We were able to teach a lesson to Jimmy and his family who we havent been able to set up a good time since we got here and we have another lesson with them tonight. We were able to go out with a few members and they were able to fellowship some of our people and invite them to church. It all in all was an amazing week!

One crazy thing that happened is I went to the dentist to get my filling replaced. The dental office is part of a Dollar General building which was weird. We went in and I filled out paper work and they gave me a tour of the place. When they took me back to my room, they gave me a tour of the place which was weird and there really wasn't much there to see. I sit in my chair and the dental assistant is Hispanic and doesn't speak a lick of English. She took x-rays of my teeth with a super ancient machine and she prepped my mouth for the filling. When she was doing this, she was having me hold her machines and tools as she went back and forth between each side of me. She didn't know too much of what she was doing or at least it seemed that way. After she finished prepping me, I sat with my mouth open for around 45 minutes before the dentist came in and did the filling. She left the sucking hose hanging out of my mouth and I was able to snag a picture while they were gone. It was a crazy experience but at least I got my tooth fixed! Haha 

This week I was reading in Ether and there was a scripture that really stuck out to me... 

Ether 12:

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

We are given weakness so we can become strong. As we are humble, we are able to grow from our weakness. Christ knows us perfectly and as we turn to him, we can grow from our shortcomings. Hope you all have an amazing week! I love you tons and are so greatful for my mission! 

Pictures:

1. We ate at bigwood and I got a steak! It was awesome!!! 

2. A super sketch vending machine that has rappers and empty things as the display. 

3. Grilling with the boys

4. At the sketchy dentist

Big Trees

Elder Adair Photo bombing my picture

Guy sleeping in church

Check out the plate in the window

Elder Elgaaen

 

 

September 10, 2018 The Swat

This week was a good one. We had some cool miracles happen and really felt the spirit. This week, we had some conference which is always a spirit filled meeting. The focus was on using all the tools we have been given. We also talked about being organized and doing everything with order. The Lord works in order and that is how his church is organized so as we show the Lord we care by taking care of the tools he gave us we are blessed. It was also stake conference which was another meeting filled with the spirit. The stake President talked about the Lord's work being hastened. The Lord is ready to give us personal revelation but we are what can hold that back. We need to put in the work to see the miracles and guidance we need. He challenged everyone to attend the temple, have the Missionaries in your home, and read out of The Book of Mormon in the next 6 months. As we do these things we are opening our hearts to Receive revelation and spiritual guidance. 

Some awesome things that happened this past week are: 

1. We found 4 awesome new people to teach

We had a great week of finding new people. We tried by some potentials that were further away trying to clean area book up and be organized. In doing so, we were able to find 4 awesome people. 

2. I played some kids in basketball

When we were knocking in a area, there were some kids. One of them was wearing some Stephen Curry basketball shoes and so I asked if he liked basketball. He told me he did and he was better than Curry. I asked him to show me how good he was and then after a few shots, recited to humble the kids. Haha or just play them in a short game. We played to 3 and I won but we had a good time. I'll send a video or two of us playing. It really made the kids interested in what we do and they wanted us to come back and share more about Christ. 

3. A 7 year old kid was spreading the word

So we were working in an apartment complex and there was a little kid that asked who we are and so we told him that we shared a message about Christ. We offered to give him a pass along card and his friend wanted one too. We gave them one and started on to the next house. The kid zooms around the corner on his scooter and asked us for 4 more cards because some more of his friends want them. We give him the cards and he goes on his way. We are talking to a lady and the kid comes up to us again. He asked for more cards! We give him 20 cards and then he presumes to scoot over to the neighbors house and knock on his door and start talking to him and give him a card. Then he says, on to the next one and goes to the next house. Haha it was super funny. Me and Elder Adair were like we should probably go before people think we put him up to it. Kids are awesome! Haha

4. A members kid got baptized 

One of the members kids got baptized. The service was awesome and he had a lot of support. Bradley (the one getting baptized) knows a lot about the Gospel. It wax funny when the lady was giving a talk on the Holy Ghost. He was answering all of her questions before she even finished asking. He is an awesome new member! 

Well, I hope you all have an inspiring spirit filled week. Continue to read the scriptures, participate in missionary opportunities and make the temple your goal. I know as you do you will learn and grow spiritually so much. You all are awesome! Love ya a million!

 

Elder Adair and Elder Elgaaen

Patrick Patterson & Jacob Elgaaen

 

September 3,2018 The Beard

 

Hello Friends and Family!

My first full week in Life Oak is complete! This week was a very interesting one and a lot of crazy stuff happened. There were also many miracles. So on Monday night, we had a lesson with one of our people and we were talking about the restoration. About 1/2 way through the lesson, we could see she wasn't completely focused and so we brought up Family History. She was super interested and excited to participate in doing family history work and is planning on coming to the Family History Class on Wednesday. 

 

On Tuesday we went to an area and were knocking on a few doors. As we were going around, we met some awesome people. One in particular was Teri. We knocked on her door and she told us she had met with the Missionaries in the past and knew a member that lived close to her. We fell prompted to offer her service if she needed any and she accepted. We went by on Friday and were able to help her clean her porch. After helping her, we shared a scripture and she really opened up to us about how she has been going through some hard things. We shared a little bit of our message with her and promised her that it could help her find joy in her trials. She is super elect and open to learning more. Later on Tuesday, we found Jennifer and Ron. We were trying to find s member of the congregation and found them. They are super desirous to be baptised and act on the message we shared. We went back Friday as well and they had read from the Book of Mormon and were excited to learn more. 

Wednesday was a weird day. A lot of crazy things happened and Elder Adair and I laughed a lot. We met a blind guy who is a member and he was super nice. He is in a wheel chair and his care giver brought him to the door. He listened to a scripture we shared and then we were leaving and his care giver had left somewhere in the house. So we closed the door and he just sat there. It was kind of weird. We also met a lady who had a full on beard. It was super crazy and pretty gross. Then just to put a cherry on top, we met a guy who thought that a rock formation called devil's something in Arizona is a giant tree trunk that when giants came to the earth, they cut it down. He believes that giants would bring different races of people to the earth as their slaves to mine resources and that is why there are lots of different types of people on the earth. He was pretty crazy! He also said that there were two creations and that Adam wasn't the first man on the earth. After today, I am so glad that I know what I know about the restored fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is such a blessing that each of us need to remember to not take advantage of and be so greatful for each day. 

Well, I hope you all have amazing weeks. Remember to look for the blessings in everything we do. I love you all and am greatful for every day! I am greatful for my testimony of Christ. This is one of the most essential things to being eternal happiness. I love you! 

 

Spider eating spider

Spider

The Elders

Tracting in the rain

Water Pressure

 

August 27,2018 Live Oak Tooth Trouble

This week was pretty great. To start, it was my last 1/2 week in Orange Park and I really didn't want to leave. On Tuesday we did service for Helen and she took us to a Thai food place that was pretty good. After, we went with her to Jerimiahs and got Italian ice and Gelato which is amazing. After we finished packing all of our things and we had a correlation meeting which was fun. At it Elder Hansen burned a shirt and we had a good time. The next morning, we packed up early and went to Breakfast for the last time with Grandpa Girard. Then we drove to transfers and I helped bring some cars and supplies to the church for the new Missionaires. Grandpa Girard let me leave all of my stuff in his car and drove with us to our new place in live oak. On our way, we stopped for lunch at Whataburger. So my new area is very similar to Georgia, Waycross where I first served. It is a small branch with around 80-100 active members. The night we got there, they had a party for us which was awesome. They are super excited to have Missionaires back in the area and we are excited to work with them. 

The next few days went by quite fast and we had a few good miricals. We were in a area and were trying to contact a guy. We didn't contact him but on the way back to the car we found 2 potential people who were interested. We set up 4 lessons for Saturday which was awesome. We had 2 of 4 but still It is great to see the enthusiasm of the people in this area to learn. On Sunday, a sister showed up to church and said she has a desire to be baptised and wants to take the discussions. We are super excited to work with her. We also went by a potential person and met her husband who seemed really interested and we set up a lesson for this upcoming week. This area has been so full of miricals and has been a blessing to us as missionaries.

Now some sad news... while Tracting, I had a mento in my mouth and while we were talking with a guy, I was chewing and but on something hard. Immediatly I thought it was my tooth that had a crown on it and eventually will need to be replaced. I then realised that it was the tooth right above and the back part came off. Now I'll have to find a place and time to get that looked at . 

Live Oak is awesome and I am so greatful to be serving here. I know that the Lord truly knows me and knows each one of you. Listen to the promptings of the spirit and be willing and ready to share your testimony. President Monson said, "Reguarding one's testimony, remember, that which one willingly shares he keeps, while that which he selfishly keeps he looses.... Teach and Testify. There is no better combination." Testimony are so powerful. It is a blessing to be on a mission and share my knowledge of the gospel with everyone. It has been a huge blessing to me! I love you all and hope you have an awesome miracle filled week. Remember to smile and look for the best in everything! Love ya

1. Me and Elder Adair at Big Woods Resturaunt

2. My name on cactus 

3. Sisters street?

4. Me

5. No smoking sign next to tons of cigarettes 

6. Puppy at persons house

 

August 20,2018 Transfers to Live Oak Florida

NEW ADDRESS: 

2231 MEL MARGO AVE. NE

APT. 1106

LIVE OAK FLORIDA, 32064

This week has been pretty great besides the fact that I am getting transferred and leaving Elder Hansen, it was an alright week. I will be going to live oak with Elder Adair. From what I've heard he is awesome and he is in my zone right now and seems like a cool Elder. 

 

This week flew by. We had a hard time finding this week. It ended up working out well in the end. For me it was a test of my patience and trust in the Lord. Sometimes you feel as if your doing everything right and nothing seems to be going your way. I have found that prayer and hard work is the best solution. The Lord has asked us to thrust in our sickle with all of our might and he promises to bless us. We also have to remember that the Lord knows what we need and when we need it. 

Well, I hope that everyone has an awesome week. Remember to always be your best self and the Lord will make up for the rest. I love you all and appreciate all that you do for me and all the support I receive. God loves and knows each of our needs. Just put your trust in him and everything will work out!

3 Nephi 13:

25 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he looked upon the twelve whom he had chosen, and said unto them: Remember the words which I have spoken. For behold, ye are they whom I have chosen to minister unto this people. Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin;

29 And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, even so will he clothe you, if ye are not of little faith.

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Love ya!

Love, 

Elder Elgaaen

 

August 13,2018 "Tyler's Baptism"

This week was pretty great. We had Tyler's Baptism! It was super awesome. I also went on a trade-off with a Spanish missionary, had interviews with our mission President, we got to get lunch with Grandpa Ray Girard. We also got fishing licences for a year so that is awesome. Last of all, we got to play basketball again! 

 

So on Tuesday and Wednesday, we had a tradeoff. I went with the zone leaders companion Elder Squire. He is super nice. They do missionary work as lot differently because they mostly just look for Spanish people. We had a few good contacts which I understood nothing, set up some good lessons, and had dinner at a Spanish part member families house. For those of you who don't know, it isn't polite to "say no" or not eat all that you are given in the Spanish culture. So when we were at dinner, we ate and they brought us in the middle of our meal, a huge plate of what we were eating. After we all finished, the other elders were pulling straws for who got to finish the food. It was kind of funny. I probably understood less than 10 words the whole time I was there. They did speak English but were more comfortable with Spanish. Interesting day! Later that night, we got a call from the other elders in that area and they had gotten a flat tire on there ride home and so we got to go pick them up. Also the sisters in that area got a new desk chair and put the seat on backwards so we got that and fixed it for them as well. It was a long day but a good day. 

 

On Thursday we had interviews with the Mission President. Everything went well. The mission President usually asks how we are doing personally as well as a companionship. He also asked us how the work in our area is going. I gave him all good reports and hope that Elder Hansen and I stay together for another transfer together. That would be the best! 

 

The following day, we ate lunch with Ray Girard. He always spoils us and brings us Gatorade and other delicacies that Missionaires don't usually get. After, he took us to Arbys for lunch which was good besides the fact that there was a hair in my sandwich (can really throw off your appetite Haha). It all worked out and I got an extra sandwich because I already ate over half of the other one. Hopefully there was only one hair in it...? We also got fishing licences so they will last us the rest of our missions and now we don't have to pay $20 each time we go for a  3 day pass. 

 

On Saturday, we had Tyler's Baptism. It was super awesome! He is so elect and ready! The program was really good and there was a bunch of people there. After, they had some sandwiches and someone made a Peanut butter cup cake. It was so good! His confirmation was also awesome. We were both able to take part in that as well as later when he received the Arronic Priesthood. This was probably the highlight of our week. It's so awesome to help someone experience so much joy in the gospel as they change there lives. 

 

Well, I hope all of you have a week that can be close to how awesome mine was. Something our mission President always says is "change your words, change your world." Remember to always have a positive attitude and remember Christ knows what we go through and how to best succor us. Turn to him every day through prayer and scripture study. I love you all and hope you have an amazing week! Love ya!

 

Love,

Elder Elgaaen 

 

August 6,2018 Weekly

What's up family and friends?

This week was one to remember. We had a lot of good things going on and we were able to find some good investigators. One awesome miracle that happened this past week was on Sunday we went to church and we had 4 investigators there. There was also another guy who showed up at church and said he feels like he needs to find something. He is lonely and has found himself a little down. We were able to share with him how the gospel has helped us find peace in our hard times. He seemed really interested in learning more. It was amazing how strong the spirit was. It has been such a blessing being able to see how the Lord works in mysterious ways. 

The sister Missionaries in our area have gone to the emergency room twice this week so that has been pretty eventful. They are both doing fine but we had a few opportunities to serve. We gave a couple blessings and it was awesome. It is such a blessing being able to serve everyone around us and seek out opportunities. Service is the best! 

Last week we went fishing and it was a party. We caught a few fish. I caught a jack travail or something like that. It was cool. Also elder Hansen caught a stingray was pretty big. It is awesome and we want to go again in the next week or so. We also went to the driving range and that was super fun. I can still hit a ball further than 10 ft. But not much further. Well I hope y'all have an awesome week. Love ya

Elder Hansen's giant stingray