Happy Halloween
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Hide Details FROM:Alexandra Hartvigsen TO:Carol Ferguson carol@clubferguson.com Dave, Lisa and Family 11 More...Message flagged Monday, October 31, 2011 11:41 AMMessage body
Dear family, I hope you have a very happy Halloween. I was in the VC his last week giving a tour to a family that just recently moved into our ward. The 7 year old son asked me what I was going to be for Halloween because He was going to be Wolverine. I told him that I was going to be something so scary that even grown men run and hide. I am going to me a Missionary. Later the kid walked up to his mom and said that he had changed his mind. He was going to be a missionary instead of wolverine. He wanted to have his Book of Mormon and his little missionary in training tag. I gave him some VC pass along cards that he can go trade for candy. It was really cute and funny. Later his mom asked him what they did in the temple a few months before when they were all dressed in white. He promptly responded, " you left me" She wanted something more along the lines of they got sealed rather than they left him. It was funny. I got my transfer news on Saturday. I am finally leaving my first Spanish ward. I am going to a Spanish branch that is also in Mesa named Valencia. I think the biggest shocker was that I am going back to Sister Nishiguchi. By the end of this transfer I will have been out a year and be on my 2nd companion in AZ. It will just be for this transfer because she is going home at the end of it. It will be an adventure. Thhis week has been really good in our area. On Monday we were able to have 4 member present lessons. We met with a women and talked about the importance of diligence and obedience. We ate dinner with a less active and her children and talked a about the Atonement with them. Later this week we met with her again and talked about prayer. We read a scripture in 1 Nephi 14 about how we need to pray first and inquire of the Lord before he will give us an answer. She shared an experience about having prayers answered. It was really cool because she admitted that she hadn't thought about prayer for a while but she recognized that she has had prayers answered. We also invited them to come to the trunk or treat that the ward was having so that they were able to meet more people in the ward. We had a family night with a women and her daughters as well as a member family who did a cookie run with her. It was a really good lesson and they ended up sitting all together during Sacrament meeting. We were given a referral for a less active women and her granddaughters by a women in our ward. Those three girls were very excited to see us. We taught them how to pray and each one of them wanted to say a prayer with us right then. Later this week we went to the VC and had a lesson with them about the Plan of Salvation. We had a lesson with a couple together again this week. We invited them to pray together and attend church. They are not really progressing right now so i think we will be dropping them for a while. On Thursday Sister McKee was with us for the day and we had a new investigator. We explained our purpose as missionaries and talked about the firt have of the Restoration. He is searching for something doesn't know what. We set up a time so that we can meet with him and his wife together this next week. We met with a family and taught about how our families can be together forever as well as why we are given commandments.
I have been studying 1 Nephi this last week. What really stood out to me is the contrast between how different people react to the same situation. Nephi hears Lehi teach about the his vision and goes and asks the Lord to help him understand. His brothers do not understand because they do not make the effort to inquire of the Lord and find out for themselves. Heavenly Father expects work to fix a problem. We have to ask and make an effort before the Lord will answer. Otherwise we wouldn't appreciate it and wouldn't learn anything.
I love you all. I hope you have a great week.
Love Alex
K TOWN MISSIONARY MEMOS- A collection of letters from LDS missionaries from the Kaysville, Utah area.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Elder Corbin Morre-- Oct 31, 2011
Hola mi familia y amigos,
Where to begin, I dont really know, jajaja. Well I flew in to Los Angeles on wednesday, we had a good flight here. When we arrived the mission president and his wife were there to pick us up. So I met them and then we loaded up all our bags and headed to the mission home. We got to the mission home and they started making lunch for us, while we did some orientation things. We ate dinner and then were assigned to a temporary companion for the first day. My first day trainer was Elder Conlin, his is a good mission and has been in the mission for like almost 2 years. I was also with another missionary from the MTC because we were "white-washing", where all the missionaries put there are new to the area. So us three went out and began to tract, because we hadn't recieved an area book because it was a new area. So we went make the appartment and dropped off our stuff and then looked at a map. My trainer had us, each pick one street and then we drove to those streets. We arrived on the street that choose, and my trainer turned to me and said okay, this whole street is yours. Wow I was taken my surprise. So I proceeded to start knocking all the doors that were on the street. I went to the first door and knocked. No came to the door so we just moved to the next door. The next house was looking like we might find someone who would listen. So I approached the door feeling like this one was going to be good. Well I knocked on the door and then we heard a bunch of dogs start barking. There was two doors a metal gate type door and the wood door behind it. The door opened and the three dogs pushed open the metal door. The man started screaming way loud and kicked the dogs back inside the house. He slammed to metal door and then turned back to me, and said I DONT WANT YOU GUYS AROUND HERE, I DONT WANT TO SEE YOU AROUND HERE, and then slammed the other door. Who would have thought that my first door would have been the worst and the funniest at the same time. jajaja. So I continued to knock the rest of the doors, and we went to some of the other streets the other Elders had chosen. Then night ended quite fast and we returned to the apartment for the night. We woke up the next morning and traveled back up to the mission home, for more and lunch and more training. We had lunch which was way nice to have and then we had Pres Baker talk to us, and filled out some worksheets, had interviews, and talked with the APs about the zones that they have here. They have 9 zones, 2 of which are brand new zones from like 2 months ago. After we had talked with them for awhile, Brother Olsen, the vehicle coordinator, came and pulled me out to go on a driving test. He gave me the keys to the car and we went driving in the city of LA. I was absolutely
absurd. There are so many people in LA, and so many cars. People drive so differently than what I am used to back home. But no accidents happens so that was good. He had me do some parking test and what not, and that was it. We went back to the mission home where they assigned us our permanent companions for the next 12 weeks. Turned out that I was going to be staying with Elder Conlin to white wash the area. We also receieved another companion because there isn't enough spanish speaking trainers so they had to double up some companionships, and since my area was being white washed they gave us one more missionary. The missionary that we recieved was my companion from the MTC, Elder Boyd. So those are my companions, Elder Conlin, Elder Boyd, and Elder Moore. Elder Conlin is from New Orleans, and is a very hard working missionary he is pretty awesome. So we got our companions and out we went again. And since we didn't have an area book, we just went and did some more tracting. Knocked on a bunch of doors, and then we had correlation meeting. Which is with the ward mission leader, the bishop, and the elders quarom president. I was difficult to report on anything because all three of us were new to the area, and 2 of us were right out of the MTC. Not to mention that the meeting was only spanish, and I couldn't really understand what was going on. Jajaja. We returned to our appartment and the APs dropped my bike off at our appartment, which (was and is) still in the box. I haven't really had need for the bike yet, because Elder Conlin the is the district leader and so we have one of the brand new cars in the mission. So not really sure about the bike yet. Our main goal right now is to find some people to teach. When have a bunch of return appointments hopefully they won't fall through. I went to church yesterday, and man was it so crazy. We arrived and there were so many people that came up to us and started rattling out thier spanish, I could basically understand what they were saying and even responded with some of them. The bishop came up to us when we arrived and told us that we would be singing in sacrament meeting wow that took us by surprise. So we hurried and went into another room and practice. The whole day was pretty crazy in Spanish but Im learning more ever day. Well thats about it for this week, hope everyone is having a good time back home. Talk to you all soon
Con Amor
Elder Moore
Where to begin, I dont really know, jajaja. Well I flew in to Los Angeles on wednesday, we had a good flight here. When we arrived the mission president and his wife were there to pick us up. So I met them and then we loaded up all our bags and headed to the mission home. We got to the mission home and they started making lunch for us, while we did some orientation things. We ate dinner and then were assigned to a temporary companion for the first day. My first day trainer was Elder Conlin, his is a good mission and has been in the mission for like almost 2 years. I was also with another missionary from the MTC because we were "white-washing", where all the missionaries put there are new to the area. So us three went out and began to tract, because we hadn't recieved an area book because it was a new area. So we went make the appartment and dropped off our stuff and then looked at a map. My trainer had us, each pick one street and then we drove to those streets. We arrived on the street that choose, and my trainer turned to me and said okay, this whole street is yours. Wow I was taken my surprise. So I proceeded to start knocking all the doors that were on the street. I went to the first door and knocked. No came to the door so we just moved to the next door. The next house was looking like we might find someone who would listen. So I approached the door feeling like this one was going to be good. Well I knocked on the door and then we heard a bunch of dogs start barking. There was two doors a metal gate type door and the wood door behind it. The door opened and the three dogs pushed open the metal door. The man started screaming way loud and kicked the dogs back inside the house. He slammed to metal door and then turned back to me, and said I DONT WANT YOU GUYS AROUND HERE, I DONT WANT TO SEE YOU AROUND HERE, and then slammed the other door. Who would have thought that my first door would have been the worst and the funniest at the same time. jajaja. So I continued to knock the rest of the doors, and we went to some of the other streets the other Elders had chosen. Then night ended quite fast and we returned to the apartment for the night. We woke up the next morning and traveled back up to the mission home, for more and lunch and more training. We had lunch which was way nice to have and then we had Pres Baker talk to us, and filled out some worksheets, had interviews, and talked with the APs about the zones that they have here. They have 9 zones, 2 of which are brand new zones from like 2 months ago. After we had talked with them for awhile, Brother Olsen, the vehicle coordinator, came and pulled me out to go on a driving test. He gave me the keys to the car and we went driving in the city of LA. I was absolutely
absurd. There are so many people in LA, and so many cars. People drive so differently than what I am used to back home. But no accidents happens so that was good. He had me do some parking test and what not, and that was it. We went back to the mission home where they assigned us our permanent companions for the next 12 weeks. Turned out that I was going to be staying with Elder Conlin to white wash the area. We also receieved another companion because there isn't enough spanish speaking trainers so they had to double up some companionships, and since my area was being white washed they gave us one more missionary. The missionary that we recieved was my companion from the MTC, Elder Boyd. So those are my companions, Elder Conlin, Elder Boyd, and Elder Moore. Elder Conlin is from New Orleans, and is a very hard working missionary he is pretty awesome. So we got our companions and out we went again. And since we didn't have an area book, we just went and did some more tracting. Knocked on a bunch of doors, and then we had correlation meeting. Which is with the ward mission leader, the bishop, and the elders quarom president. I was difficult to report on anything because all three of us were new to the area, and 2 of us were right out of the MTC. Not to mention that the meeting was only spanish, and I couldn't really understand what was going on. Jajaja. We returned to our appartment and the APs dropped my bike off at our appartment, which (was and is) still in the box. I haven't really had need for the bike yet, because Elder Conlin the is the district leader and so we have one of the brand new cars in the mission. So not really sure about the bike yet. Our main goal right now is to find some people to teach. When have a bunch of return appointments hopefully they won't fall through. I went to church yesterday, and man was it so crazy. We arrived and there were so many people that came up to us and started rattling out thier spanish, I could basically understand what they were saying and even responded with some of them. The bishop came up to us when we arrived and told us that we would be singing in sacrament meeting wow that took us by surprise. So we hurried and went into another room and practice. The whole day was pretty crazy in Spanish but Im learning more ever day. Well thats about it for this week, hope everyone is having a good time back home. Talk to you all soon
Con Amor
Elder Moore
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Elder Matthew Whittle-- October 25, 2011
Matthew's new address is:
Elder Matthew Whittle
451 West Bobier Drive
Vista, CA 92083
O and by the way. Yes I did get the bike, and the package. Thank you so much. We bike half the week and have a car for the other half. Love you!
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 11:34 AM, Matthew Whittle wrote:
Hola mi madre bonita!
It's amazing being in the field I love it. We have so many miracles everyday. I'm in Oceanside and it's great. We're definitely in the Ghetto haha. It's a really good thing because there are so many people who are having hard times, and are humble. Most of them listen to us, and we're just focusing on finding investigadors because we're white washing the area right now. Our first night we had an amazing miracle with a man named David. Dad has the details in my letter to him. Whenever we don't know where to go next, we both say a prayer, and then wait for impressions. We always know where to go after that, and it seems like Heavenly Father is putting people in our path that are ready to hear about the restored church of Jesucristo. We contacted all day yesterday, from 2 until 9. It was a long day, but we had a lot of miracles. We were walking down the street and we saw two mexicanos unloading a truck with a couch in the back, so I ran and said peudo aydarle. They said no, but I just walked up and said pero quiero ayudarle. so they said ok and I grabbed the other end of the couch, and now we have an appointment with the family to come teach them. They said that they are looking for a new religion, kind of a fresh start in their lives. So that was just one of the many miracles we have been having. I love this work it's so amazing. I hope everything is ok at home. I love you all, and pray for you everyday. Keep doing what's right, and remember to always reach out to others. God puts people in our paths for a reason, don't ever be afraid to share the gospel with them. Adios!
Love Elder Whittle
The mission is amazing. I love it here. My first night out, my companion and I prayed before getting out of the car to know where to go. We looked around a while, and then we both had an impression to go to a certain house. We went there and there was a sign that said beware of dogs and a chain link fence. The yard is all dirt with holes everywhere from the dog. So we went in and knocked on the door. Nobody answered, but the owner came around from the backyard. His name is David and he only speaks espanol. We talked for a long time, and he said that he has been making a lot of changes in his life with drugs, and drinking. Then you wont believe what he said to us, but he said you know what, you guys wanna make me mormon, then come on over. So we set up an appointment and we've taught him once, and hopefully we'll teach him today. I challenged him to baptism the first lesson, and the spirit totally hit him. It was amazing. He is going to try and find out if it's what he really wants. He's an awesome guy.
My companion is Elder Kidd from Idaho. He's a great trainer. We are being exactly obedient in everything, and the Lord is guiding people to us. I'm in Oceanside right now in an area called pazole, and central. It's a sweet place. It's the ghetto of ghettos in pazole. Its a lot of fun. Don't tell mom this but it has the highest murder rate in Orange County. Someone was killed last week on the basketball court so it's pretty intense, but they respect us because they see that we're missionaries. We're white washing so we're just trying to get investigadors mostly right now. It's hard work but really fun and rewarding. Our goal was to contact 30 people on the street yesterday, but we ended up contacting 65! it was crazy. A lot of people here have been prepared to receive the gospel for sure. Well I hope all is well. Te amo tambien.
Elder Matthew Whittle
451 West Bobier Drive
Vista, CA 92083
O and by the way. Yes I did get the bike, and the package. Thank you so much. We bike half the week and have a car for the other half. Love you!
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 11:34 AM, Matthew Whittle
Hola mi madre bonita!
It's amazing being in the field I love it. We have so many miracles everyday. I'm in Oceanside and it's great. We're definitely in the Ghetto haha. It's a really good thing because there are so many people who are having hard times, and are humble. Most of them listen to us, and we're just focusing on finding investigadors because we're white washing the area right now. Our first night we had an amazing miracle with a man named David. Dad has the details in my letter to him. Whenever we don't know where to go next, we both say a prayer, and then wait for impressions. We always know where to go after that, and it seems like Heavenly Father is putting people in our path that are ready to hear about the restored church of Jesucristo. We contacted all day yesterday, from 2 until 9. It was a long day, but we had a lot of miracles. We were walking down the street and we saw two mexicanos unloading a truck with a couch in the back, so I ran and said peudo aydarle. They said no, but I just walked up and said pero quiero ayudarle. so they said ok and I grabbed the other end of the couch, and now we have an appointment with the family to come teach them. They said that they are looking for a new religion, kind of a fresh start in their lives. So that was just one of the many miracles we have been having. I love this work it's so amazing. I hope everything is ok at home. I love you all, and pray for you everyday. Keep doing what's right, and remember to always reach out to others. God puts people in our paths for a reason, don't ever be afraid to share the gospel with them. Adios!
Love Elder Whittle
The mission is amazing. I love it here. My first night out, my companion and I prayed before getting out of the car to know where to go. We looked around a while, and then we both had an impression to go to a certain house. We went there and there was a sign that said beware of dogs and a chain link fence. The yard is all dirt with holes everywhere from the dog. So we went in and knocked on the door. Nobody answered, but the owner came around from the backyard. His name is David and he only speaks espanol. We talked for a long time, and he said that he has been making a lot of changes in his life with drugs, and drinking. Then you wont believe what he said to us, but he said you know what, you guys wanna make me mormon, then come on over. So we set up an appointment and we've taught him once, and hopefully we'll teach him today. I challenged him to baptism the first lesson, and the spirit totally hit him. It was amazing. He is going to try and find out if it's what he really wants. He's an awesome guy.
My companion is Elder Kidd from Idaho. He's a great trainer. We are being exactly obedient in everything, and the Lord is guiding people to us. I'm in Oceanside right now in an area called pazole, and central. It's a sweet place. It's the ghetto of ghettos in pazole. Its a lot of fun. Don't tell mom this but it has the highest murder rate in Orange County. Someone was killed last week on the basketball court so it's pretty intense, but they respect us because they see that we're missionaries. We're white washing so we're just trying to get investigadors mostly right now. It's hard work but really fun and rewarding. Our goal was to contact 30 people on the street yesterday, but we ended up contacting 65! it was crazy. A lot of people here have been prepared to receive the gospel for sure. Well I hope all is well. Te amo tambien.
Sister Alex Hartvigsen--October 25, 2011
Dear family,
This week has been really good. I can not believe that it is already the end of the transfer cycle. We find out transfer news on Saturday night. I have been in this ward for
over 8 months and I'm not sure if I will be staying much longer, but who knows, my trainer was in this ward for over a year. This week we were able to meet with several
of our investigators. We met with a women several times this week and read in the Book of Mormon with her. She has a testimony and wants to be baptized but she
wants to include her daughters more in this. Yesterday we had a family night activity with her and the a family from our ward. We invited them to do bring some treats to
this women's family to kind of break the ice. It went really well and people seemed to bond over the cupcakes and cheesecake that they brought. She has been
fellowshipped into this ward really well and we are working on fellowshipping her daughters. It was a really good night.. We met with a women this week and talked about
paciencia, diligencia y obedencia.(patience, diligence and obedience) We talked about the importance of following the commandments and how we will always be blessed
as we do that. Something that our mission president has really been stressing the last little while is to have the peopel we work with do whats called a cookie run. When
someone does a cookie run they bring a treat ( or in the hispanic community sometimes tortillas) to the house of someone else so that they can get to know more people
and establish friendships. We are planning on having this women do a cookie run this next week to a less active family that lives in her trailor park. We had a lesson with a
couple. They are having some pretty serious struggles and we challenged them to pray together as they strive to find the answers to the problems that they have. We met
with a women. We read with her a little in the Book of Mormon and talked about her relationship with Heavenly Father. She has a really hard time reading but we were
able to locate the recordings of the Book of Mormon so that she can listen to it. On Sunday we had a really cool meeting with a couple They have been meeting with
Jehovah's witnesses for a while. We watched Finding Faith in Christ with them. We talked about how we can come to know that Jesus Christ is the Savior. We talked
about the Holy Ghost and explained to them that the feelings of peace that they felt during the movie were from the Holy Ghost.
This week in my personal study I started the Book of Mormon again. I have read it several times in my life but the Spirit is strong every time that I read it I am excited to
learn new things this time around. As I read it I find myself applying the story of Lehi to that of our investigators. Many of them have left their homes, traveled in the desert
and are looking for the truth. Like Nephi they have the opportunity to search the scriptures and then to ask Heavenly Father if it is true and he will always answer them.
(and us). Its weird to think that I have been in AZ for more than 8 months. The time is really flying. I can't believe it.
I love you all. Have a great week
Hermana Hartvigsen
This week has been really good. I can not believe that it is already the end of the transfer cycle. We find out transfer news on Saturday night. I have been in this ward for
over 8 months and I'm not sure if I will be staying much longer, but who knows, my trainer was in this ward for over a year. This week we were able to meet with several
of our investigators. We met with a women several times this week and read in the Book of Mormon with her. She has a testimony and wants to be baptized but she
wants to include her daughters more in this. Yesterday we had a family night activity with her and the a family from our ward. We invited them to do bring some treats to
this women's family to kind of break the ice. It went really well and people seemed to bond over the cupcakes and cheesecake that they brought. She has been
fellowshipped into this ward really well and we are working on fellowshipping her daughters. It was a really good night.. We met with a women this week and talked about
paciencia, diligencia y obedencia.(patience, diligence and obedience) We talked about the importance of following the commandments and how we will always be blessed
as we do that. Something that our mission president has really been stressing the last little while is to have the peopel we work with do whats called a cookie run. When
someone does a cookie run they bring a treat ( or in the hispanic community sometimes tortillas) to the house of someone else so that they can get to know more people
and establish friendships. We are planning on having this women do a cookie run this next week to a less active family that lives in her trailor park. We had a lesson with a
couple. They are having some pretty serious struggles and we challenged them to pray together as they strive to find the answers to the problems that they have. We met
with a women. We read with her a little in the Book of Mormon and talked about her relationship with Heavenly Father. She has a really hard time reading but we were
able to locate the recordings of the Book of Mormon so that she can listen to it. On Sunday we had a really cool meeting with a couple They have been meeting with
Jehovah's witnesses for a while. We watched Finding Faith in Christ with them. We talked about how we can come to know that Jesus Christ is the Savior. We talked
about the Holy Ghost and explained to them that the feelings of peace that they felt during the movie were from the Holy Ghost.
This week in my personal study I started the Book of Mormon again. I have read it several times in my life but the Spirit is strong every time that I read it I am excited to
learn new things this time around. As I read it I find myself applying the story of Lehi to that of our investigators. Many of them have left their homes, traveled in the desert
and are looking for the truth. Like Nephi they have the opportunity to search the scriptures and then to ask Heavenly Father if it is true and he will always answer them.
(and us). Its weird to think that I have been in AZ for more than 8 months. The time is really flying. I can't believe it.
I love you all. Have a great week
Hermana Hartvigsen
Monday, October 24, 2011
Elder Josh Terry--October 24, 2011
I would like to thank all of you who have had Josh in your prayers as he has valiantly struggled with this illness. This has been a challenging time for our family as we wrestled with the best way to handle Josh's situation. I can only say that a sense of peace came for me last week as I recognized and admitted my own limited ability to "solve" this problem and finally just put it in the hands of the Lord.
Josh was given permission to call us yesterday to discuss his options. Clark and I both feel strongly that it is time to bring him home for needed medical attention and, of course, some rest and TLC. As you can imagine, it was difficult for Josh to "give up". He has tried so hard to hang in there and work through the pain. However, once the decision was made I think we all felt better.
We look forward to seeing him again and to finding the source of and solution to his illness. We pray that it is something that can be taken care of quickly so that he can return to the missionary service in Minnesota that he has come to love. I know that is what Josh desires and we pray that the Lord wants that for him as well.
Thank you again for your love and support. I know that Josh appreciates it so very much..,as do I! Following is his email from today.
Love,
Stephanie
Hey!
So it looks like I will be coming home tomorrow or Wednesday. It really is so hard to think that I have to be home for a little bit. I wouldn't change this experience for anything though, I know it has really helped me grow. Besides that, I just checked my sent messages from the first day I got here within the first hour and I said I had headaches and dizziness. Hmm. so I don't know that it is MN related after all.
It will be nice just to come and get everything figured out so I can serve with full strength in 6 weeks or so. I just hope it only will take 1 transfer until I'm back out. Well, I am so grateful for you all. Thank you all for the letters and the support that you have given me. I know that we didn't plan on me having to come home and I've used just about every excuse to not get sent home, but the lord may indeed have bigger plans.
As I was pondering this morning I had the impression come to me that I should try and see Alex Tamayo, the one that Tanner Williams said he had that experience about in the temple - that he was ready for the gospel. Well, Matt and I were supposed to do that and we never really got around to it. I am going to go talk with him when I get home. I'm not saying that's the reason for me having to come home but it definitely helps and will keep me productive. I look forward to going on splits and studying with everyone back home. Tell Tyler we are going to have to go out to do missionary work a lot. That would be a lot of fun.
So we went and visited the Will's family last night. That great family who helped us with everything. I am so grateful for them. I got their info and we will keep in touch. Also, there is a less active lady in our ward who started crying when I told her I was leaving. I felt bad but I think I'm going to go have one more lesson with her early tomorrow and also a lesson with Lynch and the Kolbes tonight. It will be my opportunity to leave my final testimony with them until I come back! Hopefully when I come back it will be to Andover sometime.
It's comforting to know that I will be back. It's weird how you get attached to places that you serve like this. I can't even imagine how much more I would love my mission if I was in full health!!! I really love just talking to people now. I love that we have the knowledge that can bring so much happiness. However, it has made it that much harder when people push you away.
I love you all so much and look forward to our time together to grow closer as a family, especially on our spiritual side! It truly is amazing what the gospel can do for us in our lives. Have a great day and it looks like I will be seeing you soon.
Josh
Josh was given permission to call us yesterday to discuss his options. Clark and I both feel strongly that it is time to bring him home for needed medical attention and, of course, some rest and TLC. As you can imagine, it was difficult for Josh to "give up". He has tried so hard to hang in there and work through the pain. However, once the decision was made I think we all felt better.
We look forward to seeing him again and to finding the source of and solution to his illness. We pray that it is something that can be taken care of quickly so that he can return to the missionary service in Minnesota that he has come to love. I know that is what Josh desires and we pray that the Lord wants that for him as well.
Thank you again for your love and support. I know that Josh appreciates it so very much..,as do I! Following is his email from today.
Love,
Stephanie
Hey!
So it looks like I will be coming home tomorrow or Wednesday. It really is so hard to think that I have to be home for a little bit. I wouldn't change this experience for anything though, I know it has really helped me grow. Besides that, I just checked my sent messages from the first day I got here within the first hour and I said I had headaches and dizziness. Hmm. so I don't know that it is MN related after all.
It will be nice just to come and get everything figured out so I can serve with full strength in 6 weeks or so. I just hope it only will take 1 transfer until I'm back out. Well, I am so grateful for you all. Thank you all for the letters and the support that you have given me. I know that we didn't plan on me having to come home and I've used just about every excuse to not get sent home, but the lord may indeed have bigger plans.
As I was pondering this morning I had the impression come to me that I should try and see Alex Tamayo, the one that Tanner Williams said he had that experience about in the temple - that he was ready for the gospel. Well, Matt and I were supposed to do that and we never really got around to it. I am going to go talk with him when I get home. I'm not saying that's the reason for me having to come home but it definitely helps and will keep me productive. I look forward to going on splits and studying with everyone back home. Tell Tyler we are going to have to go out to do missionary work a lot. That would be a lot of fun.
So we went and visited the Will's family last night. That great family who helped us with everything. I am so grateful for them. I got their info and we will keep in touch. Also, there is a less active lady in our ward who started crying when I told her I was leaving. I felt bad but I think I'm going to go have one more lesson with her early tomorrow and also a lesson with Lynch and the Kolbes tonight. It will be my opportunity to leave my final testimony with them until I come back! Hopefully when I come back it will be to Andover sometime.
It's comforting to know that I will be back. It's weird how you get attached to places that you serve like this. I can't even imagine how much more I would love my mission if I was in full health!!! I really love just talking to people now. I love that we have the knowledge that can bring so much happiness. However, it has made it that much harder when people push you away.
I love you all so much and look forward to our time together to grow closer as a family, especially on our spiritual side! It truly is amazing what the gospel can do for us in our lives. Have a great day and it looks like I will be seeing you soon.
Josh
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Elder Matthew Whittle-- October 17, 2011
Hola mi madre bonita!
Yo he tenido muchas experiencias bueno en la CCM pero estoy listo por el campo. Estoy muy animado. I did get the package from the Andersons. Tell them thank you for me and that I love them all. Tell Danny and Mary thanks so much and I love them. They're great. Thanks for setting up the whole thing with the bike. I already have a referal for my mission. A father who has a daughter in the MTC right now who is inactive who lives in Escondido! I can't wait to get down there and knock my first door! It's going to be such a great experience. My companion left this morning at 4 and that was sad. Elder Prince is one of the greatest Elders I have ever met. He's very obedient, fun, and humble. We have had some very good lessons filled with the spirit. I feel like I have worked my hardest in the MTC and feel like I'm as ready as I can be. I'm not too nervous, more so just excited.
I'm glad Elder Terry wasn't sent home yet. I pray for him everyday. He's a great Elder and I think the Lord will get him through this according to his faith. I took some pictures yesterday at the Temple. I'll try and send you some when I get a chance. I leave the MTC tomorrow at 5 in the morning and hopefully will have time to call at the airport. I'm pretty sure I will. I bought a time card here in the MTC bookstore so I should be good to go. Thanks for everything madre. I love you. Keep smiling. Everyone in my district said you have the nicest smile, and as a missionary I understand why that is so important. Keep making peoples days around you with that smile. Elder Wirthlin once said, "The next time you're tempted to groan, you might try and laugh instead. Come what may and love it." I love all of you. Tell everone hi for me. I will talk to you tomorrow!
Love Elder Whittle
Hope you and mom have a good UEA weekend. I'm not in the field yet, but I will be tomorrow around 12 in the afternoon. I'm really excited. I can't wait to knock on my first door. I have a referal for a family in Escondido already so that will be great. I'm glad you had a good time camping. Thanks for helping Trude. He's going to be a great missionary. Estoy listo por el campo. yo he trabajando duro en la CCM y siento que estoy listo. Ofcourse I will work my guts out because I know who I'm serving and why. no tengo muchas tiempo pero te amo, y yo oro para usted cada noche tambien. hablare con usted en la maniana. Vaya con Dios! Nos vemos.
Elder Whittle
Yo he tenido muchas experiencias bueno en la CCM pero estoy listo por el campo. Estoy muy animado. I did get the package from the Andersons. Tell them thank you for me and that I love them all. Tell Danny and Mary thanks so much and I love them. They're great. Thanks for setting up the whole thing with the bike. I already have a referal for my mission. A father who has a daughter in the MTC right now who is inactive who lives in Escondido! I can't wait to get down there and knock my first door! It's going to be such a great experience. My companion left this morning at 4 and that was sad. Elder Prince is one of the greatest Elders I have ever met. He's very obedient, fun, and humble. We have had some very good lessons filled with the spirit. I feel like I have worked my hardest in the MTC and feel like I'm as ready as I can be. I'm not too nervous, more so just excited.
I'm glad Elder Terry wasn't sent home yet. I pray for him everyday. He's a great Elder and I think the Lord will get him through this according to his faith. I took some pictures yesterday at the Temple. I'll try and send you some when I get a chance. I leave the MTC tomorrow at 5 in the morning and hopefully will have time to call at the airport. I'm pretty sure I will. I bought a time card here in the MTC bookstore so I should be good to go. Thanks for everything madre. I love you. Keep smiling. Everyone in my district said you have the nicest smile, and as a missionary I understand why that is so important. Keep making peoples days around you with that smile. Elder Wirthlin once said, "The next time you're tempted to groan, you might try and laugh instead. Come what may and love it." I love all of you. Tell everone hi for me. I will talk to you tomorrow!
Love Elder Whittle
Hope you and mom have a good UEA weekend. I'm not in the field yet, but I will be tomorrow around 12 in the afternoon. I'm really excited. I can't wait to knock on my first door. I have a referal for a family in Escondido already so that will be great. I'm glad you had a good time camping. Thanks for helping Trude. He's going to be a great missionary. Estoy listo por el campo. yo he trabajando duro en la CCM y siento que estoy listo. Ofcourse I will work my guts out because I know who I'm serving and why. no tengo muchas tiempo pero te amo, y yo oro para usted cada noche tambien. hablare con usted en la maniana. Vaya con Dios! Nos vemos.
Elder Whittle
Elder Josh Terry--October 17, 2011
Message body
Thank you to all who have been praying for Josh. The latest word from the Mission President is that after the apartment cleanup was complete he would give Josh a few days to show signs of improvement (It has been a day and a half - nothing yet. Clark's employee has a son who suffered from a mold allergy who exhibited the exact same symptoms as Josh...it took a week before he showed signs of improvement after being completely removed from the source of the mold). If he does not improve quickly he will be transferred to a new area and given a few more days to improve. At that point, if he is not on the road to recovery, President Clements plans to send him home for testing and treatment.
Please pray for a miracle. This week will be critical in determining the course that is taken. As you know, Josh has such a desire to stay and serve. We want to see him restored to health - no matter what it takes!
Thanks again,
Stephanie
Family
How are we all doing this week?? I love to read all of your letters and emails. it is what gets me through the hard times and the trials.. So, about the mold... they mainly found the black mold on the shower curtain which was nasty. So i chucked that as soon as i could. I was shocked that people had let it get that bad in there. You would be so shocked at all of the stuff we did to that apartment..
Before i get carried away i should probably tell you that I am not feeling much better. But I am not coming home either. I am determined that I will work through this, no matter the trial. . I've heard more times this week through sacrament and other meetings as well as letters that our god is a fourth watch God. There is someone that the adversary doesn't want me to find. I know that eventually everything will be ok, so try not to worry too much on my behalf. And if they end up making me go home i will try to make it a quick recovery. This has all been a huge learning experience and though it really has been probably the biggest challenge, I wouldn't change a thing. I've grown so much from this. I've learned that you have to bear all you can and give the rest to the lord. So even if they force me to come home for a while I will never forget that.
So there is this family (the Wills) that has us over for dinner about once a week. they are such a nice family. Anyway, i told him that i may have to go home and he didn't like that at all. He gave me a lot of compliments on the work getting done here. He is so nice. Anyway he came over and inspected the apartment. I was shocked at how much he did for us. He said his main focus right now is keeping me on my mission and in Andover. So he came and had the carpet professionally cleaned, threw away all the cloth furniture, donated us his couch, bought us new mattresses, painted the entire apartment, bought us new lamps, bought us a new shower curtain and had like 10 people come over and lysol the whole place. Also, he put a dehumidifier and an air purifier in our apartment for the next little while. Now all we have to do is get that tilex stuff and finish the bathroom. but he is such an amazing person for doing that. I am so grateful. We should be good in that apartment.
So, one thing Elder Watkins said the week before last, when I was trying to get more rest, was that as long as the Lord sees that we are doing our best he will still provide us with investigators. I found that hard to believe seeing as we wouldn't be out hardly at all. But, one day as we were taking out our garbage this lady stopped us and asked what we were all about. We got talking and she told us (without us asking) to stop by sometime and talk to her about religion because she needed all the help that she could get. It really goes to show that the Lord works in mysterious ways and he is always aware of the situation of everyone. That was a real testimony builder for me that the Lord is preparing people for us as well as preparing us to find them.
It's really cool to see all the little miracles that happen each day as a missionary. I keep running into surprises as I'm reading, that talk about being patient with faith and the Lord will lighten your burden and give you success. I feel like he is talking directly to me sometimes. It really is crazy how the scriptures can talk to you when you go in with the intent to learn.
Well, thank you for all you guys do for me. I love you all so much. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be out here spreading the word of God. Thank you for everything. I always look forward to Mondays when I can hear from you. Love you! Talk to you next week.
Thank you to all who have been praying for Josh. The latest word from the Mission President is that after the apartment cleanup was complete he would give Josh a few days to show signs of improvement (It has been a day and a half - nothing yet. Clark's employee has a son who suffered from a mold allergy who exhibited the exact same symptoms as Josh...it took a week before he showed signs of improvement after being completely removed from the source of the mold). If he does not improve quickly he will be transferred to a new area and given a few more days to improve. At that point, if he is not on the road to recovery, President Clements plans to send him home for testing and treatment.
Please pray for a miracle. This week will be critical in determining the course that is taken. As you know, Josh has such a desire to stay and serve. We want to see him restored to health - no matter what it takes!
Thanks again,
Stephanie
Family
How are we all doing this week?? I love to read all of your letters and emails. it is what gets me through the hard times and the trials.. So, about the mold... they mainly found the black mold on the shower curtain which was nasty. So i chucked that as soon as i could. I was shocked that people had let it get that bad in there. You would be so shocked at all of the stuff we did to that apartment..
Before i get carried away i should probably tell you that I am not feeling much better. But I am not coming home either. I am determined that I will work through this, no matter the trial. . I've heard more times this week through sacrament and other meetings as well as letters that our god is a fourth watch God. There is someone that the adversary doesn't want me to find. I know that eventually everything will be ok, so try not to worry too much on my behalf. And if they end up making me go home i will try to make it a quick recovery. This has all been a huge learning experience and though it really has been probably the biggest challenge, I wouldn't change a thing. I've grown so much from this. I've learned that you have to bear all you can and give the rest to the lord. So even if they force me to come home for a while I will never forget that.
So there is this family (the Wills) that has us over for dinner about once a week. they are such a nice family. Anyway, i told him that i may have to go home and he didn't like that at all. He gave me a lot of compliments on the work getting done here. He is so nice. Anyway he came over and inspected the apartment. I was shocked at how much he did for us. He said his main focus right now is keeping me on my mission and in Andover. So he came and had the carpet professionally cleaned, threw away all the cloth furniture, donated us his couch, bought us new mattresses, painted the entire apartment, bought us new lamps, bought us a new shower curtain and had like 10 people come over and lysol the whole place. Also, he put a dehumidifier and an air purifier in our apartment for the next little while. Now all we have to do is get that tilex stuff and finish the bathroom. but he is such an amazing person for doing that. I am so grateful. We should be good in that apartment.
So, one thing Elder Watkins said the week before last, when I was trying to get more rest, was that as long as the Lord sees that we are doing our best he will still provide us with investigators. I found that hard to believe seeing as we wouldn't be out hardly at all. But, one day as we were taking out our garbage this lady stopped us and asked what we were all about. We got talking and she told us (without us asking) to stop by sometime and talk to her about religion because she needed all the help that she could get. It really goes to show that the Lord works in mysterious ways and he is always aware of the situation of everyone. That was a real testimony builder for me that the Lord is preparing people for us as well as preparing us to find them.
It's really cool to see all the little miracles that happen each day as a missionary. I keep running into surprises as I'm reading, that talk about being patient with faith and the Lord will lighten your burden and give you success. I feel like he is talking directly to me sometimes. It really is crazy how the scriptures can talk to you when you go in with the intent to learn.
Well, thank you for all you guys do for me. I love you all so much. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be out here spreading the word of God. Thank you for everything. I always look forward to Mondays when I can hear from you. Love you! Talk to you next week.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Sister Alex Hartvigsen--October 17, 2011
Message body
Dear family, I hope that you all have had a really good week. I heard that it snowed in Utah. I am starting to love the weather down here again. We fluctuate between 70-100 now. Its really nice. I'm half way tempted to become a snowbird once the mission is over. ;) My week has been really good. We were able to teach several people. On Wednesday we received a referral from the visitors center and decided to contact her. This referral is amazing She was a referral from her dentist with whom she had an appointment earlier Wednesday morning. She was really receptive. She told us that God has blessed her in many parts of her life and that she wants to learn more. She has never smoked, drank or used drugs. We are really excited to be able to teach her. We invited her to come to church this last Sunday but she was unable to because of a previous work commitment. We went to the Visitors Center with a less active women and her 2 teenagers. We talked about the Plan of Salvation and how Heavenly Father wants us to have joy in our lives. We invited the kids to be baptized when they have received an answer from Heavenly Father that this message is true.. We met with a women and her daughter and talked about the importance of knowledge. Her daughter is a member and was able to complete part of her personal progress during the lesson. We met with the a less active family. We talked to them about some ways that we can make our homes a refuge from the world and put the Savior as the center and then everything else will either fall into place or fall out of our lives. We also challenged them to pray together and invite someone to meet with us in their home. They agreed and we will be following up with them during our next appointment. On Saturday we were able to contact a referral from a member. On Sunday we met with a recent convert family and talked about the Word of Wisdom and how we can have more liberty as we keep the commandments. That lesson was a little bit harder because I am still learning some vocabulary about the word of wisdom and they kept asking what kind of teas they could have. I didn't know the word for chamomile tea which they drink sometimes. but, i think I got it cleared up. On Saturday I went on exchanges with Sister Vause for a dinner appointment. We ended up eating with an English family. While we were talking it came out that one of the men there knew Uncle Dale Hartvigsen from High School and also grew up in Downey. His name is Dean Morris. If anyone talks to Uncle Dale, I'm supposed to say Hi from Dean Morris. Its a small world ;)
I hope that you all have a wonderful week!
Thank you for all you do
Hermana Hartvigsen
Dear family, I hope that you all have had a really good week. I heard that it snowed in Utah. I am starting to love the weather down here again. We fluctuate between 70-100 now. Its really nice. I'm half way tempted to become a snowbird once the mission is over. ;) My week has been really good. We were able to teach several people. On Wednesday we received a referral from the visitors center and decided to contact her. This referral is amazing She was a referral from her dentist with whom she had an appointment earlier Wednesday morning. She was really receptive. She told us that God has blessed her in many parts of her life and that she wants to learn more. She has never smoked, drank or used drugs. We are really excited to be able to teach her. We invited her to come to church this last Sunday but she was unable to because of a previous work commitment. We went to the Visitors Center with a less active women and her 2 teenagers. We talked about the Plan of Salvation and how Heavenly Father wants us to have joy in our lives. We invited the kids to be baptized when they have received an answer from Heavenly Father that this message is true.. We met with a women and her daughter and talked about the importance of knowledge. Her daughter is a member and was able to complete part of her personal progress during the lesson. We met with the a less active family. We talked to them about some ways that we can make our homes a refuge from the world and put the Savior as the center and then everything else will either fall into place or fall out of our lives. We also challenged them to pray together and invite someone to meet with us in their home. They agreed and we will be following up with them during our next appointment. On Saturday we were able to contact a referral from a member. On Sunday we met with a recent convert family and talked about the Word of Wisdom and how we can have more liberty as we keep the commandments. That lesson was a little bit harder because I am still learning some vocabulary about the word of wisdom and they kept asking what kind of teas they could have. I didn't know the word for chamomile tea which they drink sometimes. but, i think I got it cleared up. On Saturday I went on exchanges with Sister Vause for a dinner appointment. We ended up eating with an English family. While we were talking it came out that one of the men there knew Uncle Dale Hartvigsen from High School and also grew up in Downey. His name is Dean Morris. If anyone talks to Uncle Dale, I'm supposed to say Hi from Dean Morris. Its a small world ;)
I hope that you all have a wonderful week!
Thank you for all you do
Hermana Hartvigsen
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Elder Corbin Moore--October 13, 2011
Well this week has been basically the same as any other week here in the MTC, jajaja. But its been so crazy in the mtc in the past week,because they are shutting down like two buildings so everyone in those buildings have to stay in other buildings, and so they have been putting more bunk beds in our room. So we should be getting more missionaries in our room today, or possibly tomorrow. This week we had Sister Julie B. Beck come and talk to us. She is a really good speaker, and talked to us about when she lived in Brazil as a little girl. I couldn't help but think that i have a brother that is down there also. The language is getting a lot better we are almost to the end of our language book, and then they will have taught us all that we will learn in the MTC. Its crazy to think that I can communicate in a different language, but awesome at the same time. Well I only have a week and a half left here in the MTC. Its crazy to think that I got dropped off 8 weeks ago. Every wednesday new missionaries come in, and I look out my classroom window and watch them get out of their cars, i seems like just the week before I was getting dropped off. Time goes by so fast when you are constantly busy in the Lord's work. Later tonight I should be recieving my flight plans, so I will know the exact date that im actually leaving the MTC. Im so excited to be able to get out into the field and begin talking to people. Even though im not a pro in the language, Yet. What better way to learn in than by language immersion. Its going to be a little more difficult to learn ive been told. Because im not leaving the country and so there will still be a lot of people who will be speaking English to us, but none the less a lot of spanish speakers also.
Well thats all i have for this week. Dad, yeah I am able to lift weights here in the MTC, the food is getting old, but im loving the drinks. Mom, the language is coming good, and i just want to get out of here, jajaja. Sess, our investigators are both our teachers, and people who come into the MTC to be taught, its called the TRC.
Con Amor Elder Moore
Everything.Happens.For.A.Reason
There.Is.No.Such.Thing.As.Coincidence
Well thats all i have for this week. Dad, yeah I am able to lift weights here in the MTC, the food is getting old, but im loving the drinks. Mom, the language is coming good, and i just want to get out of here, jajaja. Sess, our investigators are both our teachers, and people who come into the MTC to be taught, its called the TRC.
Con Amor Elder Moore
Everything.Happens.For.A.Reason
There.Is.No.Such.Thing.As.Coincidence
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Sister Alex Hartivgsen-- Oct. 11, 2011
Dear Family, I hope all is well for you this week. This last week has been really good. It is really cooling down. I have even have had to wear a sweater last week a few days when the temperature fell below 80 (brr....) On Tuesday we met with a less active that the English elders had contacted. She loves the church and wants to come back but faces stong opposition from her husband who sees no point in organized religion. She has asked us to come by and teach her because she has forgotten a lot about the gospel in the time that she has been away. We met a women and taught her about virtue and the importance of standing up for whats right even when we face opposition. Later this week she came to the VC and took a tour. We had a meeting with a family It started off a little bit rocky whenthe wife told us that she feels guilty that she is meeting with the Jehovah's witnesses and us at the same time. She did open up throughout the lesson as we taught about the plan of salvation and the Savior's role in the plan. All we can really do is testify of the truth and then invite people to pray and have Heavenly Father tell them if it is true. We met with a less active women and her sons this week. It has been a real challenge to teach them because her sons are all under the age of 9 and one of them has downs syndrome so its been really hard to get them to participate in the lessons. After carefully praying we were inspired to try teaching the restoration lesson using primary songs and giving the boys the challenge to memorize them. It was a huge success. We got a call 2 days later from the women saying that her sons had memorized 3 of the songs and were working on the others and that they have been happier ever since we gave them this challenge. We used the songs I know my father lives, Families can be together forever, follow the prophet, He sent his Son,Joseph Smiths first prayer, book of Mormon Stories and a Childs prayer. We put them on a cd in both English and where it was available in Spanish. When we went over last night there was definately a better feeling in the home that hasn't ever been there before. This has also been a great motivator forthe mom . She has been inactive for about 4 years but seems to really feel the Spirit through song and music. (DyC 25). We are really trying to focus on teaching to the needs of people and I feel like we were definately inspired to do this for this family. We are excited to continue to see them grow. We met with a man and his wife for the first time together this week. We challenged them to pray together this week and ask Heavenly Father to guide them in the challenges that face their family. We met with another women and taught her and her daughters about the eternal nature of families. I think this has really struck home with them becausesheis going to give birth this Friday and her husband was able to make it back from Mexico to be with her and her daughters. We are going to keep teaching their family and try to get her husband interested in meeting with us as well. We met with a women . We taught her the Restoration and then invited her to church. She has a few doubts about organized church because she thinks all churches are just after money. We met with a recent convert family at the VC and talked about Sacrifice and overcoming challenges with them. It was a really cool lesson because for the first time, the wife really opened up and participated. Normally she is content to let her husband do all the talking. It was really powerful to hear her testimony. I love you all and I hope that you have a great week.
Love
Hermana Hartvigsen
Love
Hermana Hartvigsen
Elder Garrett Allen
CONGRATULATIONS Garrett!!! Garret received his mission call last week and will be serving in the Argentina, Salta Mission. He leaves December 21, 2011. We are excited for you.
Elder Matthew Whittle--Oct. 10, 2011
We told Matthew to send us a short e-mail so he had time today to write Elder Terry who is struggling with his health. He is serving in Minnesota. Everyone please remember Josh in your prayers!
I wrote Elder Terry and I hope that it will help. I put his name in the Temple today too. So I leave next Tuesday, Oct. 18. I report to the travel office at 5 in the morning and then my flight leaves at 8:45. So there's a possibility that I could call home as early as 6:30, so I hope someone will be home when I call haha. I love it here in the MTC but I'm ready to get out of here. I gave a talk on Sunday and it went really well. I felt very comfortable with Espanol durante mi discorso. I guess I'll see how it is out in the field, but the fact that I've only been speaking Espanol for the past 6 weeks straight I think I've been doing my part so I know that the Lord will continue to help me as long I as keep working hard at it. I'm so excited to get out and serve the people of Carlsbad! I have a really good feeling about it. Thanks for everything. I hope the wedding went ok, and Meg is doing better. I love all of you, and I pray for you all cada dia. Gracias por sus ejemplos. Vaya con Dios!
Love Elder Whittle
p.s. Tell Garret I'm so proud of him and would love to get a letter from him when he has time. That's awesome that he's going to learn Espanol!!! Whoo!
I wrote Elder Terry and I hope that it will help. I put his name in the Temple today too. So I leave next Tuesday, Oct. 18. I report to the travel office at 5 in the morning and then my flight leaves at 8:45. So there's a possibility that I could call home as early as 6:30, so I hope someone will be home when I call haha. I love it here in the MTC but I'm ready to get out of here. I gave a talk on Sunday and it went really well. I felt very comfortable with Espanol durante mi discorso. I guess I'll see how it is out in the field, but the fact that I've only been speaking Espanol for the past 6 weeks straight I think I've been doing my part so I know that the Lord will continue to help me as long I as keep working hard at it. I'm so excited to get out and serve the people of Carlsbad! I have a really good feeling about it. Thanks for everything. I hope the wedding went ok, and Meg is doing better. I love all of you, and I pray for you all cada dia. Gracias por sus ejemplos. Vaya con Dios!
Love Elder Whittle
p.s. Tell Garret I'm so proud of him and would love to get a letter from him when he has time. That's awesome that he's going to learn Espanol!!! Whoo!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Elder Corbin Moore-- Oct 6, 2011
Well unfortunately conference is now over. But what a great conference it was. I enjoyed all of the great talks and the annoucement of some new temples. A new one in Provo, Columbia, South Africa, Wyoming, and Paris France. The work of the lord is really going forward and will continue to do so. I love the talk that was given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, in the Priesthood Session. Wow there was some really good stuff in there. Hopefully Keyton and Bryson were both listening during that talk was specifically for you guys and it was such a good one. That talk was also for me, currently serving and for mom and dad also. They need more senior missionaries. "I'm going to get in my face a little, nose to nose, just enough fire to singe your eyebrows". I loved when he said that. jajaja. The other talk that I loved was Elaine S Dalton's Talk. Wow that was a great talk. Even though I don't have to worry about those things for a couple years, the talk really hit home. On tuesday we had a speaker come and talk to use. It was Chad Lewis, who came and talked to our stake back home also. So yeah it was pretty good. I also had an interesting experience at the temple last week. I was standing outside of the temple talking to a missionary how had recently got off his mission to Brazil. And I was telling him that i had a brother who was there, and although he didn't know Brayden, out of nowhere, this another guy came up and was like "Elder Mooooore", i was wondering who is this guy. I then came closer and realized that i wasn't Brayden, but that I looked exactly like him. He asked if i had a brother who was in Brazil and i told him that i did. Well apparently he served with Brayden in Brazil, and is actually in our stake. His name is Spencer Hatch. Well anyway if you are reading this e-mail Brayden, he says Hi. jajaja.
Dont have much time left. Dad yeah it is kinda weird that they switched out teacher, but yet again yesterday we found out that we would be switching teachers again. So we will have had five teachers here in the MTC. Crazy huh? I have seen Elder webb a bunch, and I see Elder Whittle every tuesday and sunday in choir. His spanish is amazing. Im sorry to hear about Josh and the things that he is going though at this time. I wrote him a letter on monday so hopefully he will be getting that soon. Im so pumped for Garrett, that is so great man. You will be a great missionary, and will love the Spanish language, just work hard at it.
Con Amor Elder Mooré
Everything.Happens.For.A.Reason
There.Is.No.Such.Thing.As.Coincidence
Catch.You.On.
Dont have much time left. Dad yeah it is kinda weird that they switched out teacher, but yet again yesterday we found out that we would be switching teachers again. So we will have had five teachers here in the MTC. Crazy huh? I have seen Elder webb a bunch, and I see Elder Whittle every tuesday and sunday in choir. His spanish is amazing. Im sorry to hear about Josh and the things that he is going though at this time. I wrote him a letter on monday so hopefully he will be getting that soon. Im so pumped for Garrett, that is so great man. You will be a great missionary, and will love the Spanish language, just work hard at it.
Con Amor Elder Mooré
Everything.Happens.For.A.Reason
There.Is.No.Such.Thing.As.Coincidence
Catch.You.On.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Elder Josh Terry-- Oct 3, 2011
As you know, Josh has been sick for most of his mission. He got a virus in the MTC that went through his entire district. After arriving in Minnesota, the stomach virus subsided but not the severe headaches and dizzyness. He has had extensive testing. He was treated several weeks ago for a sinus infection - given 5 pills - to be exact. We (along with our wonderful Bishop and Stake President) were contacted by the Mission President regarding the situation. We were given permission to contact Josh directly to assess the situation and to determine a course of action.
Thankfully, we were able to have a wonderful family friend (who has been a mission president and is a doctor) talk with Josh and evaluate the situation. He has started Josh on a strong antibiotic and feels that with this medication and much needed rest he should be able to kick the worst of this in 7 - 10 days. Josh's companion has been wonderfully supportive and helpful. Between him, the Bishop, and the Ward mission Leader, they have said that they will do all in their power to help Josh through this and allow him the time he needs to heal. They plan to have members come in to be with Josh and do splits with Elder Watkins. We are so grateful. The mission president expressed his love for Josh and his confidence in him as a missionary. It is Josh's greatest desire to heal quickly and to get back to work!
Thank you for keeping him in your prayers. With God's help, some good medication and rest he will hopefully be much better the next time you hear from him.
Warm regards,
Stephanie
hello!
this week as the family knows has been one of the most emotional and toughest yet of my whole mission. before i go into how the work has been moving i want to share that experience with everyone else wwho didnt hear. i want to bear my testiomony of the power of prayer, and that god will always be there to answer. being sick this past month has been so hard, especially when all you want to do is get out there and get things moving. the lord has definately humbled me. almost 2 weeks ago i decided to just see if it was all in my head and started telling everyone including the mission president that i was doing fine. i wanted everyone to stop worrying. so for the next week thats what i did. however at the end it was still unbearable so i went to mission president and told him. he told me that he was worried about me and that the next step would probably to go home and get it checked out. that thought killed me, i couldnt stand the thought of going home. i JUST got out here. so i asked him for another week to try and get better and finally friday i just slept trying to do anything i could to not have to go home. finally, feeling defeated i called the mission president and we decided i probably will have to head home. i have never been down on my knees praying for so long in my life, multiple times throughout the day. i wanted more than anything to know if i should go home and get better or if i should stay and see if i just get better out here. i had a strong feeling that if i just kept that question in mind it would be answered after conference. as i watched each session and prayed as much as possible in between sessions. after conference was over i didnt feel like i had an exact answer yet on what the lord had in store for me. so i felt like he just wanted me to go home and figure it out. after a long day we headed back home for weekly planning at about 745. a little while after being there i decided to offer up one last prayer on the subject. it was simple. i just said god if you want me to stay, just please let me know, and if not i will go home and get this all figured out. i stood up took not even one step when my companion comes running out the door with the phone saying that someone from utah was calling. naturally i thought it was the mission doctor that lives in utah and i wasnt super excited to hear from him again. however i answered, and on the other side was dad. words cannot even describe to you how i felt at that moment. i can honestly say i have never felt as at peace as i did at that moment when i heard my dad say 'elder terry how are you doing? is everything okay??' that experience will forever be with me in times of trial. i know that god is with me and hears my prayers. i want all of you to know that god listens and answers your prayers as well. he will just do so in his time. i cannot thank my heavenly father enough for that experience. i still don't know that i will be better soon but at least it gives me some hope of getting better!! Thank you dad for being so inspired to call me in that exact moment of trial. i know that was god asnwering my prayer that he is there and he knows what i am going through. there is just no way you can write that off as a coincidence that you would get a call from home(approved by stake president :) ) at that exact moment. thank you so much for living you life in tune with the spirit.
well as you can tell this week has already been an interesting one. The days really all blend together. so one quick story that i don't know if ive told you before. i think it was this last week. So we were out tracting. yes thats where all the fun stories come from, and we get to this ladies house with 2 barking dogs on leashes out front. i wasnt gonna let to dogs get in my way of my call to preach the gospel to every house on that street. so i just walked past them and rung the doorbell. this lady answers the door and i say hi and tell her we are the missionaries and before i can get any further she starts yelling and freaking out at me saying that im crazy for walking past her 'vicious' dogs and they could have attacked me. she said she was going to sue me for tresspassing. hahaha i really would like to see that. but anyways we just told her to have a nice day and she freaked again so we decided to leave. her dogs were honestly not even big at all i think she took to much pride in them. oh well. also on the same street this huge guy came to the door without his shirt on. i will never be the same after that. im scarred. anyways on a more spiritual note, we had 2 great things happen through all the trials this week! my companion challenged lynch to be baptized after the plan of salvation lesson and he said he would! we are shootin for about a month from now. we just need to get him to church. ALSO we had a lesson with Tim. i challenged him to be baptized after a really spiritual restoration lesson and he accepted! he is also going for about a month from now. so i hope those two both work out! and lynch has 2 daughters that would be baptized as well. so keep them in your prayers. i sincerely hope that i am here to see it. this week has definatly had its highs and its lows. what a wonderful week to have conference. i am so blessed of the timing of this. i dont think anything is quite as encouraging as hearing from your leaders. also just before conference i ran into the scripture DC 122:7 ' and if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murders, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, MY SON, that all these things shall give thee experience and shall be for thy good. I dont think it was a coincidence that it was said twice in conference. i know that was for me.
im so happy to hear that everything is going well back home! we got the ties and elder watkins says a big thank you. that is so thoughtful of you. im a little jealous that mom got to go hang out with mckenna to get them but i think i will get over it haha. i love the pictures you sent me. thank you. nicki and lane, im sad to hear you dont find out until TOMORROW meaning i have to wait another week to find out if it is bambino or bambina. you better let me know asap! thats so awesome im excited for you :) JARED! that is so awesome that you got your call to Africa. your a stud. i cant wait for you to join the work out here you are going to be such an amazing missionary. and is it just a rumor or is it true that you are all coming to visit k-town right when i leave! haha anyways i love ya. Jake howard i am so glad to hear you are doing well. i sure love you bro! your making a great missionary out there i can tell just through your letters. argentina is blessed to have you. I love you all so much. tell tj gert and the crew back home i love them as well. thank you everyone for your prayers and letters. they mean so much to me. well until next week!! i will leave a scripture with you that you will have to go read. its definatly one of my favorites. 2 nephi 32:9. i love you all and look forward to hearing from you soon!
Josh
Thankfully, we were able to have a wonderful family friend (who has been a mission president and is a doctor) talk with Josh and evaluate the situation. He has started Josh on a strong antibiotic and feels that with this medication and much needed rest he should be able to kick the worst of this in 7 - 10 days. Josh's companion has been wonderfully supportive and helpful. Between him, the Bishop, and the Ward mission Leader, they have said that they will do all in their power to help Josh through this and allow him the time he needs to heal. They plan to have members come in to be with Josh and do splits with Elder Watkins. We are so grateful. The mission president expressed his love for Josh and his confidence in him as a missionary. It is Josh's greatest desire to heal quickly and to get back to work!
Thank you for keeping him in your prayers. With God's help, some good medication and rest he will hopefully be much better the next time you hear from him.
Warm regards,
Stephanie
hello!
this week as the family knows has been one of the most emotional and toughest yet of my whole mission. before i go into how the work has been moving i want to share that experience with everyone else wwho didnt hear. i want to bear my testiomony of the power of prayer, and that god will always be there to answer. being sick this past month has been so hard, especially when all you want to do is get out there and get things moving. the lord has definately humbled me. almost 2 weeks ago i decided to just see if it was all in my head and started telling everyone including the mission president that i was doing fine. i wanted everyone to stop worrying. so for the next week thats what i did. however at the end it was still unbearable so i went to mission president and told him. he told me that he was worried about me and that the next step would probably to go home and get it checked out. that thought killed me, i couldnt stand the thought of going home. i JUST got out here. so i asked him for another week to try and get better and finally friday i just slept trying to do anything i could to not have to go home. finally, feeling defeated i called the mission president and we decided i probably will have to head home. i have never been down on my knees praying for so long in my life, multiple times throughout the day. i wanted more than anything to know if i should go home and get better or if i should stay and see if i just get better out here. i had a strong feeling that if i just kept that question in mind it would be answered after conference. as i watched each session and prayed as much as possible in between sessions. after conference was over i didnt feel like i had an exact answer yet on what the lord had in store for me. so i felt like he just wanted me to go home and figure it out. after a long day we headed back home for weekly planning at about 745. a little while after being there i decided to offer up one last prayer on the subject. it was simple. i just said god if you want me to stay, just please let me know, and if not i will go home and get this all figured out. i stood up took not even one step when my companion comes running out the door with the phone saying that someone from utah was calling. naturally i thought it was the mission doctor that lives in utah and i wasnt super excited to hear from him again. however i answered, and on the other side was dad. words cannot even describe to you how i felt at that moment. i can honestly say i have never felt as at peace as i did at that moment when i heard my dad say 'elder terry how are you doing? is everything okay??' that experience will forever be with me in times of trial. i know that god is with me and hears my prayers. i want all of you to know that god listens and answers your prayers as well. he will just do so in his time. i cannot thank my heavenly father enough for that experience. i still don't know that i will be better soon but at least it gives me some hope of getting better!! Thank you dad for being so inspired to call me in that exact moment of trial. i know that was god asnwering my prayer that he is there and he knows what i am going through. there is just no way you can write that off as a coincidence that you would get a call from home(approved by stake president :) ) at that exact moment. thank you so much for living you life in tune with the spirit.
well as you can tell this week has already been an interesting one. The days really all blend together. so one quick story that i don't know if ive told you before. i think it was this last week. So we were out tracting. yes thats where all the fun stories come from, and we get to this ladies house with 2 barking dogs on leashes out front. i wasnt gonna let to dogs get in my way of my call to preach the gospel to every house on that street. so i just walked past them and rung the doorbell. this lady answers the door and i say hi and tell her we are the missionaries and before i can get any further she starts yelling and freaking out at me saying that im crazy for walking past her 'vicious' dogs and they could have attacked me. she said she was going to sue me for tresspassing. hahaha i really would like to see that. but anyways we just told her to have a nice day and she freaked again so we decided to leave. her dogs were honestly not even big at all i think she took to much pride in them. oh well. also on the same street this huge guy came to the door without his shirt on. i will never be the same after that. im scarred. anyways on a more spiritual note, we had 2 great things happen through all the trials this week! my companion challenged lynch to be baptized after the plan of salvation lesson and he said he would! we are shootin for about a month from now. we just need to get him to church. ALSO we had a lesson with Tim. i challenged him to be baptized after a really spiritual restoration lesson and he accepted! he is also going for about a month from now. so i hope those two both work out! and lynch has 2 daughters that would be baptized as well. so keep them in your prayers. i sincerely hope that i am here to see it. this week has definatly had its highs and its lows. what a wonderful week to have conference. i am so blessed of the timing of this. i dont think anything is quite as encouraging as hearing from your leaders. also just before conference i ran into the scripture DC 122:7 ' and if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murders, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, MY SON, that all these things shall give thee experience and shall be for thy good. I dont think it was a coincidence that it was said twice in conference. i know that was for me.
im so happy to hear that everything is going well back home! we got the ties and elder watkins says a big thank you. that is so thoughtful of you. im a little jealous that mom got to go hang out with mckenna to get them but i think i will get over it haha. i love the pictures you sent me. thank you. nicki and lane, im sad to hear you dont find out until TOMORROW meaning i have to wait another week to find out if it is bambino or bambina. you better let me know asap! thats so awesome im excited for you :) JARED! that is so awesome that you got your call to Africa. your a stud. i cant wait for you to join the work out here you are going to be such an amazing missionary. and is it just a rumor or is it true that you are all coming to visit k-town right when i leave! haha anyways i love ya. Jake howard i am so glad to hear you are doing well. i sure love you bro! your making a great missionary out there i can tell just through your letters. argentina is blessed to have you. I love you all so much. tell tj gert and the crew back home i love them as well. thank you everyone for your prayers and letters. they mean so much to me. well until next week!! i will leave a scripture with you that you will have to go read. its definatly one of my favorites. 2 nephi 32:9. i love you all and look forward to hearing from you soon!
Josh
Sister Alex Hartvigsen-- Oct 3, 2011
Hi Everyone. I hope that this week has been really good for you. It sounds like its been a very busy week for people. This week has been really good down here. Its starting to cool down a little. I've heard a rumor that we are going to hit 80's or 90's in the next few weeks. (We are going to freeze ;)) On Tuesday we met with one of our investigators and watched Finding Faith in Christ and talked about faith and how we can trust in the Lord to help us in all situations of life. It kind of reminds me of that man that Tyler is working with who was selected for the intervention program after doing everything else that he could do to solve the problem by himself. We read in the Book of Mormon about how the people of Alma were delivered from their enemies only after the Lord tried their patience and their faith. After this lesson we had a lesson with a less active family . We talked about the importance of families and watched Together Forever with them. On Wednesday we tried to contact some of our referrals and were able to contact 2 of them. We were also able to have a lesson with a less active women about prayer. We have been meeting with her and her sons for a while but its always a challenge to help the kids stay interested in the message. Sister Beu and I are going to try something a little different this week. We went through the lesson and are going to try to teach it using the primary songs. We are excited to see how this goes. On Thursday we had a lesson with an investigator and her daughter about charity and how we can develop that in our lives through sincere prayer and effort on our part. On Friday we met with a women and talked to her about how the Savior is our true friend and how he will support us in our difficulties regardless on how others choose to use their agency. We also tried to contact a few of our referrals. When we knocked on one house, a man and his aunt answered and invited us in. It turns out that the man who were were trying to contact is this man's brother but he is currently is prison. This man had been meeting with the missionaries about a year ago but had some word of wisdom issues that he is still working with. He was really excited to explain to his aunt about the Gospel. We talked to them about the Restoration they both seemed interested. We set up an appointment to meet with them again this week.
This week I also had the "opportunity" to eat cactus in a members home. It was actually pretty good. I didn't know what I was eating and it kinda tasted like green beans.
We watched conference in the stake center with some of our members in Spanish. For 3 our of the 4 sessions I had headphones so I could listen in English but during one session my headphones malfunctioned. I definitely prefer English because you get the chance to listen to the prophets' voices but I was able to understand most of the Spanish translation as well. It was a really good weekend.
I hope you all have a wonderful week. I love you all,
Love
Hermana Hartvigsen
This week I also had the "opportunity" to eat cactus in a members home. It was actually pretty good. I didn't know what I was eating and it kinda tasted like green beans.
We watched conference in the stake center with some of our members in Spanish. For 3 our of the 4 sessions I had headphones so I could listen in English but during one session my headphones malfunctioned. I definitely prefer English because you get the chance to listen to the prophets' voices but I was able to understand most of the Spanish translation as well. It was a really good weekend.
I hope you all have a wonderful week. I love you all,
Love
Hermana Hartvigsen
Elder Tyler Hartvigsen--Oct. 3, 2011
Hey Everyone, how is everyone doing? i doing alright, its been another hard week, but i love it here. i had a pretty gnarly fall on my bike the other day, i was going like 15 mph in the dark, and there were car headlights in my eyes so i was pretty blind, and i hit a pole.... hahahaha i flew off my bike and landed and skid like 10 feet on the ground. it was intense. ii didnt get hurt luckily. the lord was watching my back! ;) my bike's sprocket got bent and wasnt working, so we went to an investigators house and asked if we could borrow a hammer, we talked to him while i banged on my bike and beat the sprocket back into shape. it was a pretty redneck fix, but it works. i am getting pretty good at jerry riggin things now. it is my two monthh mark on my mission.. it seems like ive been out for longer for some reason. haha conference was really good this weekend! did you all have a chance to watch it? i really liked robert d hales talk, it gave me more motiviation to perservere through my tirals. anyways, i love you all, and i got to run, thanks for all the supprot. it means so much! :)
-Elder Hartvigsen
-Elder Hartvigsen
Elder Matthew Whittle--Oct 3, 2011
Como le va mi madre bonita!
Wow conference was so incredible. I love the power the general athourities speak with. I'm so grateful for them. I learned so much this conference session. Let's just say about 16 pages full of notes. I loved it. I learned that I get a lot more out of it when I actually go in with questions, and wanting to learn more about the gospel. O wow Elder Holland's talk was incredible. You need to listen to it soon. He spoke with so much power and authority. What was your favorite talk or quote from conference?
I'm sorry Meg is sick. I will definitely pray for her. Tell her to have faith and everything will be ok. Yes I'm playing soccer again. It's really fun, and I'm being careful don't worry haha. I only have two more weeks in the CCM so that's probably a good thing;) Thanks for setting up the bike thing for me. I think I would rather have a bike helmet because my one for smoto is kind of heavy. I'm so excited for Trude. Tell him hi for me and I love him. I'm looking forward to getting your dear elder tonight. Thanks for everything you do for me! I love you mom. Tell the family I love them all. I pray for all of you every night! Puede el espiritu santo este con ustedes! haha
-Love Elder Whittle-
-Vaya Con Dios!
Tell prestonion hola para me. I really like a talk Elder Bednar gave a while back talking about how to recognize the spirit. He said, "Stop worrying about it" That's my advice for Prestonion haha. Tell him to just keep doing whats right and let the Lord take care of it for him. It will all work out in the end. He's such a stud. Tell him thanks for writing to me. And I also like the quote from President Monson. He said, "It's better to look up", so I think when it get's hard instead of putting my head down I'm going to put it up. I love this quote from President Monson. I love it here in the CCM even though sometimes it does feel like a prison. The Spirit makes up for it everyday. That's totally fine that Trudy Booty is driving smoto around town. As long as he doesn't get hurt on it before his misson. I want him out here with me so bad. he's going to make such an amazing missionary! I hope that Megan will be ok. I will pray for here this week. I'm glad you had a great temple experience, I went today and felt the spirit very strongly, as I read in Luke about Christ's atonement in the Celestial room and pondered about it. I love the Temple. I wish I would have gone everyweek before my mission. It's such a great blessing. i love this work, and I'm glad that I can serve my savior with my whole heart for two years. Christ lives, I know it! I'm so grateful for his atonement and his love. Thanks for everything you do. Te amo.
Wow conference was so incredible. I love the power the general athourities speak with. I'm so grateful for them. I learned so much this conference session. Let's just say about 16 pages full of notes. I loved it. I learned that I get a lot more out of it when I actually go in with questions, and wanting to learn more about the gospel. O wow Elder Holland's talk was incredible. You need to listen to it soon. He spoke with so much power and authority. What was your favorite talk or quote from conference?
I'm sorry Meg is sick. I will definitely pray for her. Tell her to have faith and everything will be ok. Yes I'm playing soccer again. It's really fun, and I'm being careful don't worry haha. I only have two more weeks in the CCM so that's probably a good thing;) Thanks for setting up the bike thing for me. I think I would rather have a bike helmet because my one for smoto is kind of heavy. I'm so excited for Trude. Tell him hi for me and I love him. I'm looking forward to getting your dear elder tonight. Thanks for everything you do for me! I love you mom. Tell the family I love them all. I pray for all of you every night! Puede el espiritu santo este con ustedes! haha
-Love Elder Whittle-
-Vaya Con Dios!
Tell prestonion hola para me. I really like a talk Elder Bednar gave a while back talking about how to recognize the spirit. He said, "Stop worrying about it" That's my advice for Prestonion haha. Tell him to just keep doing whats right and let the Lord take care of it for him. It will all work out in the end. He's such a stud. Tell him thanks for writing to me. And I also like the quote from President Monson. He said, "It's better to look up", so I think when it get's hard instead of putting my head down I'm going to put it up. I love this quote from President Monson. I love it here in the CCM even though sometimes it does feel like a prison. The Spirit makes up for it everyday. That's totally fine that Trudy Booty is driving smoto around town. As long as he doesn't get hurt on it before his misson. I want him out here with me so bad. he's going to make such an amazing missionary! I hope that Megan will be ok. I will pray for here this week. I'm glad you had a great temple experience, I went today and felt the spirit very strongly, as I read in Luke about Christ's atonement in the Celestial room and pondered about it. I love the Temple. I wish I would have gone everyweek before my mission. It's such a great blessing. i love this work, and I'm glad that I can serve my savior with my whole heart for two years. Christ lives, I know it! I'm so grateful for his atonement and his love. Thanks for everything you do. Te amo.
Elder Tim Jones-- Oct 3, 2011
I've learned lately that missionary work, ya the main focus is the get people to join the church and everything. But there really is so much more. Just helping inactives, members, giving blessings to people that ask you and stuff. There really is so much to missionary work that people don't realize.
Last night was cool. We got failed for a cita and so we heard people in the room across the hall. We knocked and knocked and nobody answered. But we just kept knocking. Finally a lady answered and let us in. She is a member (less active) that we didn't even know about and she was so happy that we came and knocked on her door. She said how she had been praying for something good to happen and then we knocked on her door. Just cool stuff like that. I feel like those "cool stories" about misionary work are starting to happen.
So this saturday we had the baptism of Pedro!! It was way good. He´s a stud, so you guys probably wanna find out more about him so i´ll give you a little story.
So he is from bulgaria and he is 21 yrs. old but he left his family in Bulgaria because his parents didn´t treat him very good and he heard that he could find work in spain. So one day he pretty much just left. He went to Malaga with only like 100 euros and started looking for a job. He looked and couldn´t find one. Then one day he was praying for help and later that day the sister missionaries contacted him on the street, and they gave him a BOM in bulgarian and taught him the first two lessons. Then pedro heard that there was more work in Granada so he decided to come here. The hermanas called us and told us about him but they both finished their missions last transfer. Anyone so one day we were just contacting and it was a miracle but we found pedro just walking down the street. It was awesome. We didn´t even know what he looked like and we literally ran right into each other. And from there on out it´s just been way good. He´s is just a straight up stud. He reads like 15 chptrs a day in the BOM. So for the past month me and elder Becerra have been meeting with him every other day teaching him, and we committed him to the 3rd and everything. it was pretty cool. So last saturday he was baptised. It was way good
Last night was cool. We got failed for a cita and so we heard people in the room across the hall. We knocked and knocked and nobody answered. But we just kept knocking. Finally a lady answered and let us in. She is a member (less active) that we didn't even know about and she was so happy that we came and knocked on her door. She said how she had been praying for something good to happen and then we knocked on her door. Just cool stuff like that. I feel like those "cool stories" about misionary work are starting to happen.
So this saturday we had the baptism of Pedro!! It was way good. He´s a stud, so you guys probably wanna find out more about him so i´ll give you a little story.
So he is from bulgaria and he is 21 yrs. old but he left his family in Bulgaria because his parents didn´t treat him very good and he heard that he could find work in spain. So one day he pretty much just left. He went to Malaga with only like 100 euros and started looking for a job. He looked and couldn´t find one. Then one day he was praying for help and later that day the sister missionaries contacted him on the street, and they gave him a BOM in bulgarian and taught him the first two lessons. Then pedro heard that there was more work in Granada so he decided to come here. The hermanas called us and told us about him but they both finished their missions last transfer. Anyone so one day we were just contacting and it was a miracle but we found pedro just walking down the street. It was awesome. We didn´t even know what he looked like and we literally ran right into each other. And from there on out it´s just been way good. He´s is just a straight up stud. He reads like 15 chptrs a day in the BOM. So for the past month me and elder Becerra have been meeting with him every other day teaching him, and we committed him to the 3rd and everything. it was pretty cool. So last saturday he was baptised. It was way good
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