Elder Taylor Ferguson-- October 29, 2012

Well mom, the video/audio clip or whatever it was didn't work. and  I didn't get any other emails from you guys...

The week was good, Tuesday we went on exchanges w/ the ZL's and it was a really cool experience, 

 

I made sure to act/vocalize every promp I got, and in doing so we saw lots of miracles and met some really cool people. Then the last few days were good, on Friday night i ate dinner w/ Brother N, a guy who made gregs "M-Tad" infared system so we talked about that stuff and it was really cool, but this week was bike week, and was suuuuper windy! cause of that hurricane. We're meeting w/ J. U. tonight! He's such a funny guy, acts like a 14 year old surfer bum, it's pretty hilarious/sad that he has'nt grown up. Then on Saturday night the ward had a trunk or treat that was suuuper fun it was for the 4 wards in our area and it was really fun. We're meeting with this family of a suuuper rasta dad and his wife, and their son M . they are really awesome, but right now our teaching pool is prettty small, so we're trying to expand it. 

 

I bought a jacket today cause freezing the last few days! and I don't have any long sleeve things (other than my suit coat.) the work is great, and I love hearing from all of you. Thanks mom for the little Work sheet, and talk, it was one of my top 5 from conference for sure! I'll try to send Brooke and Eli's B-day stuff next p-day, or tuesday so hopefully it gets there on time. I'm happy for ya'll. Keep me posted w/ life. We're carving pumpkins in a few minutes, so i'll take some photo's and send them to you next week, o and tomorrow I'll be on exchanges w/ the Portugese elders so wish me luck hahaha

LOVE YOU ALL

OSCULO!

Elder Ferguson

Elder Corbin Moore-- October 29, 2012

Well we had an amazing week down here in San Pedro. So we did some more exchanges this week, because since we have two new missionaries in our zone we have to go out with them. So on Tuesday I went over to the Redono area. I was nice to get back out on a bike and just getting my legs back into it. Riding up big hills, and then zooming down them. What a great time it was and the great view, just made it. Well the Elders in that area have been doing a lot of tracting and so we were doing a lot of that. One of the streets that we were on, I guess is super popular for Halloween and Christmas, because all the house on that street decorated there house and what not. And for Christmas there is even one house that gets snow shipped in. Usually they bus thousdands of kids into this neighborhood, for halloween, and during Christmas it is a 15 min drive just to the end of the street. So we went around offering to help put up Halloween decorations. After all I do have my fair share of training in that area. Climbing up on the roof, every year to hang up Jack Sparrow. We didn't have too much success but it was super fun.

The following day I was on exchanges with the other new missionary. We had a good day and were able to teach a couple lessons, with some new investigators, and some less-actives. Turned out to be a good day. Then Elder Hardman did a ton of exchanges reports so that we could them up to the office by Thursday.

Ok so now I'm going to tie in the subject for this letter. So on Saturday, Elder Hardman and I were having an interesing day, so we decided to go to 7 Eleven, to get some slurpees. We went in and we standing in line to check out we this kid came up to us dressed in a white robe. He put his head in a cloth and then lifted his face out of it. There was a picture of Christ on the cloth, and he said that he was Jesus for Halloween. We were kinda surprised but then decided to talk to the mother. She said that she was sick of all the scary costumes of Halloween and she wanted her kids to be something nice. We asked them what their plans were for that night. They said that they didn't know, and so we invited them to come to a ward Trunk-or-Treat that we were having. We gave them the address and went our separate ways. Well 30 minutes into the party, the M. family walked in. We were blown away. We got some members to mingle with them and then close to the end of the party, the dad came up to us. He told us that he was an inactive member for like 30 years. He told us that his wife was wondering if we could teach her the lessons. Apparently she had been taking the lessons like 6 years ago. So last night we took them to a musical fireside and they loved it. We are so happy for them, and are excited to see what happens. Miracles do happen, even if you are just getting a slurpee at 7 Eleven. Have a wonderful week.

Con Amor

Elder Moore

Everything.Happens.For.A.Reason

There.Is.No.Such.Thing.As.Coincidence

Elder Taylor Ferguson-- October 24, 2012

Hello!!!!!!!!

So 1st day w/ Elder Cooper during comp study he's like what hymn do you wanna sing? I picked "High on a Mountain Top" and said "check it my great great g pa wrote that" and he was all "wait, wait EB BEEZ is myyyyy relative!" so we're cuzins haha somehow, he's from Taylorsville, and he's been out for about a year and a half and is super cool, he's great. :) I';m glad you all got my letters cant't wait to get my reply's :)

Glad that dad is golfing a lot, still bummed about the Braves but go Tigers!!  That's cool about the bedroom set. Today we drove right by Harry potter land/world whatever haha :)

The work is.....rough right now, but we're doing our best and we just keep plugging away, chipping away. The funny thing is in our area there are soooo many people, its annoying we can't teach even a good portion of them. but we know theLlord has a plan, and is preparing the ones he wants to hear the gospel.

It was funny the other day we were over in the ghetto and it's like alllllllll black people right? So were cruising down the street looking around and I see a white person walking down the street up ahead, i thought nothing of it, untill we got close and I realized it wasn't a white person, but a "light" black person. and it was then that I realized that about 90% of the people we see out here are black. it's weird, and the funny thing is it's been almost 8 weeks out here, and I'm just realizing it hahaha.

It's great everytime we go over to the Swaseys house for dinner/or a meeting or anything, Sister Swasey either hooks me up w/ a full pineapple, or a nice freshly cut bowl full!! She's so great!!

Keep helping Bronch thanks, I love the photos!

I talked to a guy a few times this week who was.......interesting, his religion is Econcar. (ekkancar) something crazy it come fromhte book "the tigers Fang/claw?". He's nuts, but the first time we met him we taught the restoration and we asked soo do you think this is true?/could happen? and he's all oh yeah totally,II don't think it, I know it. rIGHT? so we gave him some BOM reading, and we go back, and ask him how it was, he said ".....hmmm interesting, we said oh YEaH? how so? he goes well, starts reading reads like a verse and a half, and stops after is says something aboutC hrist telling us to be baptized, and he goes, we don't need to do that! We were like oh yeah, cool, how come? And he's like well we only do it to join a church, not to follow Christ. we can follow him without that, we asked well then why was he baptized? And he said so he could show us what we're supposed to do..but we don't need to be baptized to be saved....a brotha is crazzzzzyyyyy.

Did I tell you about the ARCH ANGEL we met like my 3rd or 4th week out? she was great. hahaha

gotta go, love you all!!!!!!!

Elder Corbin Moore- October 24, 2012

Well to start off I would just like to apologize, for not sending a e-mail last week. We had to go to Pep boys to drop our car off, and it was crazy. We didn't end up getting it back till like 7 30 that night. Well this week has been a crazy one. Elder Hardman and I have been going on exchanges with the elders in our zone. Also we had singing practices, for a choir piece that we sang last night up at the Visitor's Center. I was able to go on exchanges on Friday, and we went to their ward Trunk-or-Treat, it reminded me of the trunk-or-treats down in Bountiful. This weekend with be the Trunk-or-Treat for the San Pedro ward, should be good. So Friday night Elder Hardman got sick, with the 24 hour flu, we think, and then I got it Sunday morning. It wasn't the funniest weekend that I have had here in the mission. But like I said, we did sing up at the visitor's center, seven of the elders from my zone. It went really well, we all sounded great.

Not much is happening with the work right now. We have found a couple of new people but its to early to tell wether or not they are really interested. But one of the things that I have seen these past weeks, is the topic family. I have been working with a lot of people that are struggling in their lives because they have screwed up all of their family relationships. And so because of that I have been pondering on those concerns and problems. I have come to the conclusion that all the problems in the family stem from pridefulness. Someone who will not forgive another, because of something that was said or done years prior. Someone who puts their own selfish wants first. If we fully comprehend the family, and the role that it plays in God's plan for us, I believe that a lot of these "problems" would be eliminated. Let us continue with our lives, by getting over the things of the past, and prepare for the future.

Con Amor

Elder Moore

Everything.Happens.For.A.Reason

There.Is.No.Such.Thing.As.Coincidence

Elder Taylor Ferguson-- October 15, 2012

Note:  Our Bishop knew Elder Zwick was doing a mission tour in Orlando and told him TJ was there and to say "hi" to him. 

Mom,

Today we were informed of transfers. and Elder Costa is leaving! mid training! Yeah it's nuts. His great training skills are really needed in Cocoa Beach and now I'm the "native" in olympia! So it's super crazy here and I don't even know where to start haha. This last week we didn't get much teaching/in cause of meetings and such this week. So it's crazy the mission conf was super great. It really added to my favorite talk from General Conf. By Elder Holland.  We talked about how that applied to needing a good foundation, (a lot) and continually increasing our spirituality. Again i'm out of time. So friday night we're sitting in our apt. at about 9:45 at night and we get a Phone call from Pres. Hall, (he wouldn't call for transfers/training/ responsibilities.) so I literally thought someone died back home, Elder costa talked to them for a minute, then hands me the phone saying: "Elder Zwick": so I'm all "hello?," and he told me he want's to meet with me tomorrow? I'm like surree?? and he says cause your bishop really loves you and he said I should talk w/ you. So we biked over to the temple and had a nice 15-min meeting, then the temple presiden't took this picture of us! It was a suuuuuuuper awesome experience. But I'm glad eli is doing so well potty training, and you all are too haha Let me know whats going on still.

LOVE ya. look to the mail. :)

About Elder Matthew Whittle-- October 13, 2012

Hi Everyone!

Here is a note that was sent to Matthew's cousin, Krista, in Logan, Utah from Matthew's companion.  Thanks for sharing Krista!!!!

From:  Krista

I got a postcard from Matthews Companion Ty Rupp, who I know from high school. Matthew mentioned him a couple letters ago, anyway thought i would share with you what he said!

 

"Your Cousin Elder Matt Whittle wanted me to say hi for him. I thought it was pretty cool to find out that you guys are related. Elder Whittle is one of the best missionaries I have ever served with. All your family should know that he shows his love for people unlike any missionary I have met. So it is an honor to be serving here in Vista with him. We are going through some struggles but with patience, miracles always come through. I love the mission and love serving the Lord with your cousin, he really is a stud."

 

Elder Ty Rupp

Elder Corbin Moore-- October 10, 2012

Hola a todos!

 

       Well wasn't this week just a blast, with a great finisher like conference, why wouldn't it be. So this week was just another week down here in San Pedro. Elder Hardman and I are still in the finding game but had a couple of kewl experiences this week. It was Wednesday night, Elder Hardman and I had gone to visit everyone that we had planned for that day, it was 8 30 and we had half an hour left before returning home. We were trying to figure out what to do and then we just felt like we should go to Office Depot to finish some of the zone goal stuff that we were planning. So we went up there and when we got there we went to the copy center to get some stuff done. As they were doing our order we decided to just walk around the store. As we walked we came across a lady that had a huge dog. She told us that she needed to talk to us, we proceeded to talk with her, she told us that here favorite quote is, "Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy", we were both amazed that this lady wasn't a member of the church. We told her that we had General Conference this weekend and then explained how she could watch it. She was pretty excited and then we set up an appointment to go back and she her this week. Interesting how all of this came from an unusual impression to go to Office Depot. I will keep you posted on what happens with her.

       So conference was amazing. I was pumped when President Monson annouced that Elders could leave at 18, and Sisters at 19. I can't wait see what is going to happen with all the young people that will be coming out into the field. I imagine there are going to be a lot of sisters coming out. I'm excited to see the effects of this annoucement. So Keyton what were your thought? You could be leaving on a mission in 1 year and a half. Wow it is the most amazing thing you will ever do. There is nothing that will bring you more satisfaction then helping others recieve the blessings of the gospel. I love my mission, it has changed me in so many ways, and I can only imagine the role that it will play in your life. With that said, Bryson you are following right behind. Even though it may seem far away, now is the time to prepare. If there is one thing that you can do, it would be to strengthen your testimony, through reading the Book of Mormon. I can't begin to express the countless times pepole have tried to tell me that I was lost, and wrong. You have to be prepared to stand your ground and defend those things that you know to be true. If you are struggling to know if this is true, take Moroni's challenge, figure it out. The only thing that will bring you through all the struggles you WILL have is your testimony of the gospel. Work on it, do all you can to continue in the gospel and when you get to the end of the road, and you can't see the path in front of you. Take the next step in faith, look for the fruits of the gospel, and ask God. For anyone who may be struggling at this moment in your life, I challenge you to do the same. Don't take one step away from the gospel. It is the ONLY thing that is going to get you through these times. This world is only going to get more trying, and if we are not firmly rooted in it, we will fall. Continue doing the things that you know are right.

 

Con Amor Elder Moore

 

Everything.Happens.For.A.Reason

There.Is.No.Such.Thing.As.Coincidence