Elder Kasey Crafts
Dear Friends and Family,
This week was for sure another great week here in Fort Hancock! We were finally able to move to Tornillo. (we had been living in Fabens which is about 10 min out of our area.) Our PO box will remain the same.
First of all i was thinking i'd walk you through our life here as missionaries. We wake up at 6:30 and for exercise and either go play basketball at the church with some other Elders, or go work out with an 18 year old named Alonzo who is leaving on his mission in December. At 7:00 we eat breakfast and get ready for the day. At 8:00 we begin personal study! (I love personal study) I've been reading alot in Jesus The Christ and Preach My Gospel. At 9:00 we do Companionship study and go over lesson plans and do role plays. at 10:00 since we are learning Spanish, we do an hour of language study. At 11:00 since im still new, we do one hour of training. And this is where Elder Westover enlightens me with knowledge. At 12:00 we eat lunch and study a tiny bit more and then leave the apartment at 1:00! We then try to find and tell anyone we can about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Between the hour of 1-5 it is pretty hard to get scheduled appointments because all the men are at work. At 5:00 we eat dinner. About 5 days of the week we eat with members. We get taken very good care of down here! The members are amazing. Then at 6:00 we begin proselyting again. We usually are able to get more appointments at this time of the evening. And then at 9:00 we go back home and prepare for tomorrow!
I have gained a strong testimony this week of a section in Preach My Gospel called "The Iceberg Effect." Which means if an investigator doesn't want to get baptized it is because there is something deeper of a reason. We stopped by Gabby's house this last week to see how she was because she hadn't been able to meet with us for a while. We started, and her father came in and they got in a huge argument. (He is very catholic, and lives in her house and really doesn't want her to convert) From this we found that the real reason that she wasn't accepting a baptismal date is because she has fear of being rejected from her parents.We will continue to help her in any way that we can.
Also one of the members here that I would like to talk about is called David Hernandez.He was baptized when he was about 20 years old and then went inactive for about 35 years and began drinking and smoking. And then a couple of months before i got here, he just started coming back to church and stopped drinking and smoking cold turkey. He has been coming out with us almost every week to Fort Han cock to introduce us to all of his friends that need to hear the gospel. He has such a desire to do missionary work! It is amazing. Having him at the lessons is also very crucial. If Elder Westover and I had just knocked on their doors it wouldn't have been effective as having David Hernandez who they know and respect knock on their door with the missionaries ready to teach and help.
This week is General Conference!!! General Conference to missionaries is like a midnight movie. We've been looking forward to it for months. It truly is an amazing opportunity. Sometimes i think we take General Conference for Granted. But in reality its where God is speaking to the entire world. We've been inviting everyone we can to come to General Conference with us.
Love you all a lot and I hope you receive great revelation in General Conference!
Elder Crafts
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Sister Hannah Walker!!
Hello, hello hello :) This week has been just fantastic :) It was filled with lots of teaching (FINALLY!) We've been finding a lot of new people lately and have gone back to continue teaching them. :) One family in particular stands out. We found them while trying to find a former investigator that the Elders were teaching a couple years ago. We show up at the house and ask for a Pennyeda. Haha the woman at the door takes one look at us and says "I have no clue who you're looking for because we da Smiths, and that's Amanda..." and she continues naming all the neighbors around her. Haha most of the time down here in the south, it's harder to get people to close their mouth than to open it. You can say just about anything and usually, they'll launch off into some life story. It was no different with Miss Reissa. After the first 15 minutes of standing there at her door, we learned all about her 2 grandkids that she has custody of, and all her health problems and the fact that she'll have custody of her 9 months old grandson soon. After hearing so much about her grandkids, we told her we'd have to come back to meet them, so we did. Hahaha man they are the most energetic 6 and 7 year olds I have ever seen...in a long time at least. They have drawn us enough pictures to make a book and one of the first things I remember them saying to me was that they loved us. I could feel that special spirit that kids bring. They say the darndest things! Like when we went over the third time, they were looking through my purse (they're also quite nosy. We clean out our purses before we go now) and found my scriptures. They pulled them out and Alexis (the 7 year old) started flipping to random verses in the Bible and told us to shh while she read them. Here are a few that she read: Acts 2:17, 41 "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams." and Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing shall be impossible." haha We all listened and I was stunned. It was awesome. Then her brother Caden found Sis Anderson's Book of Mormon in her purse. I gave them each a little sticky tab to put on their favorite page in the scriptures and after Sis Anderson told him he could have that book, he opened up to Mosiah chapter 3 and put his bookmark there. He looked up at me and asked me to read the part in vs 18 where it says "men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent." Holy powerful! Their grandma continued to ask questions about our Book of Mormon as well as how we use the Bible. Overall, they're such a cute family and we love going over there. We made the kids little notebooks with Jesus on the cover and the temple on the back for them to draw and write in. OH! we also made them each a name tag like ours so they quit stealing ours ;) haha they're adorable! When they tried praying for the first time, Caden got on his knees and put his head on his hands on the couch right next to me. He said, "Sister Walker and Sister Anderson, thank you for coming over and for bringing us stuff"...haha he's a cutie :)
We've also been working with a less active named Ciria. She. Is. Amazing. We stopped by her house on a rainy day and she helped us make a big lunch. Afterwards, we watched the Restoration with her and discussed Joseph Smith. She didn't know he was martyred. But we spent a long time talking and him and studying his history. I just want to take a sec to let y'all know that I know for a fact that Joseph Smith was a prophet. You gotta wonder why he had so much persecution against him....SO MUCH!! It's because Satan knew that he was a prophet too. And he wanted to destroy him. Plus, how else could he have translated the plates!? Only through the power of God. I've written down every person mentioned in the Book of Mormon and I still can't keep them straight! Too many! Anyway...Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God :) The more study we did with Ciria the more I could feel her testimony growing and her conversion deepening. She started saying "I need to teach this to my kids. They need to know this. I am hindering them by keeping them from church." Man. She is so in tune :) Let's just hope her husband's heart is softened to let her come to church...He's kinda scary... :P
A couple more things....the General Woman's conference was amazing :) I encourage y'all to go and read the messages if you didn't get a chance to listen to them. And I really really want everyone to go on to lds.org and watch the new mormon message. it's amazing. Truly inspiring and I got so many chills every time I watched it this week...(which was 3). You truly never know how much good you do.
Awesome quote by Elder Holland: "Every person in every era has had to walk by faith into what has always been some uncertainty. This is the plan. Just be faithful. God is in charge. He knows your need and he knows your name." ....amazing :)
haha now for your enjoyment: Letters to God from children :)
Dear God,
Church is alright but you could sure use better music I hope this does not hurt your feelings. Can you write some new songs?
Your Friend
Barry
Dear God,
I have got to know something. What is it like in heaven? I know it's nice but what kind of nice? What happens when it rains?
Marty
Why can't you even keep it from raining on Saturday all the time?
Rose
haha I love these :) We got a book of them from a member...awesome :) Well, I hope you remember that "life is a bowl of cherries.." haha :)
Love life!
Love,
Your favorite Sister :)
Hello, hello hello :) This week has been just fantastic :) It was filled with lots of teaching (FINALLY!) We've been finding a lot of new people lately and have gone back to continue teaching them. :) One family in particular stands out. We found them while trying to find a former investigator that the Elders were teaching a couple years ago. We show up at the house and ask for a Pennyeda. Haha the woman at the door takes one look at us and says "I have no clue who you're looking for because we da Smiths, and that's Amanda..." and she continues naming all the neighbors around her. Haha most of the time down here in the south, it's harder to get people to close their mouth than to open it. You can say just about anything and usually, they'll launch off into some life story. It was no different with Miss Reissa. After the first 15 minutes of standing there at her door, we learned all about her 2 grandkids that she has custody of, and all her health problems and the fact that she'll have custody of her 9 months old grandson soon. After hearing so much about her grandkids, we told her we'd have to come back to meet them, so we did. Hahaha man they are the most energetic 6 and 7 year olds I have ever seen...in a long time at least. They have drawn us enough pictures to make a book and one of the first things I remember them saying to me was that they loved us. I could feel that special spirit that kids bring. They say the darndest things! Like when we went over the third time, they were looking through my purse (they're also quite nosy. We clean out our purses before we go now) and found my scriptures. They pulled them out and Alexis (the 7 year old) started flipping to random verses in the Bible and told us to shh while she read them. Here are a few that she read: Acts 2:17, 41 "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams." and Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing shall be impossible." haha We all listened and I was stunned. It was awesome. Then her brother Caden found Sis Anderson's Book of Mormon in her purse. I gave them each a little sticky tab to put on their favorite page in the scriptures and after Sis Anderson told him he could have that book, he opened up to Mosiah chapter 3 and put his bookmark there. He looked up at me and asked me to read the part in vs 18 where it says "men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent." Holy powerful! Their grandma continued to ask questions about our Book of Mormon as well as how we use the Bible. Overall, they're such a cute family and we love going over there. We made the kids little notebooks with Jesus on the cover and the temple on the back for them to draw and write in. OH! we also made them each a name tag like ours so they quit stealing ours ;) haha they're adorable! When they tried praying for the first time, Caden got on his knees and put his head on his hands on the couch right next to me. He said, "Sister Walker and Sister Anderson, thank you for coming over and for bringing us stuff"...haha he's a cutie :)
We've also been working with a less active named Ciria. She. Is. Amazing. We stopped by her house on a rainy day and she helped us make a big lunch. Afterwards, we watched the Restoration with her and discussed Joseph Smith. She didn't know he was martyred. But we spent a long time talking and him and studying his history. I just want to take a sec to let y'all know that I know for a fact that Joseph Smith was a prophet. You gotta wonder why he had so much persecution against him....SO MUCH!! It's because Satan knew that he was a prophet too. And he wanted to destroy him. Plus, how else could he have translated the plates!? Only through the power of God. I've written down every person mentioned in the Book of Mormon and I still can't keep them straight! Too many! Anyway...Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God :) The more study we did with Ciria the more I could feel her testimony growing and her conversion deepening. She started saying "I need to teach this to my kids. They need to know this. I am hindering them by keeping them from church." Man. She is so in tune :) Let's just hope her husband's heart is softened to let her come to church...He's kinda scary... :P
A couple more things....the General Woman's conference was amazing :) I encourage y'all to go and read the messages if you didn't get a chance to listen to them. And I really really want everyone to go on to lds.org and watch the new mormon message. it's amazing. Truly inspiring and I got so many chills every time I watched it this week...(which was 3). You truly never know how much good you do.
Awesome quote by Elder Holland: "Every person in every era has had to walk by faith into what has always been some uncertainty. This is the plan. Just be faithful. God is in charge. He knows your need and he knows your name." ....amazing :)
haha now for your enjoyment: Letters to God from children :)
Dear God,
Church is alright but you could sure use better music I hope this does not hurt your feelings. Can you write some new songs?
Your Friend
Barry
Dear God,
I have got to know something. What is it like in heaven? I know it's nice but what kind of nice? What happens when it rains?
Marty
Why can't you even keep it from raining on Saturday all the time?
Rose
haha I love these :) We got a book of them from a member...awesome :) Well, I hope you remember that "life is a bowl of cherries.." haha :)
Love life!
Love,
Your favorite Sister :)
Elder Joshua Nieman
This week was pretty cool and awesome and just a lot of walking. haha Wow it is really nice to get out of the MTC and starting to teach people. I love the people here and how happy they are. Well at least most of them. When I got off the plane in Peru and started to hear the people talk, I had no idea what they were saying at all. I have no clue what anyone is saying and it is really hard to think that I will be able to understand. It is very different than Mexico. I just wish I could understand them better so I can teach better. It kind of sucks just sitting there and watching two people or more have a conversation in spanish. Im not frustrated I am just really wondering if I am going to understand any of these people ever. This week has been really confusing but really awesome to. I invited someone to be baptized and they said yes. It was really cool and it was incredible that they understood me. I know the language will come but for now it is really hard cause I dont understand. I pray every night for the gift of tongues but I know I need to study hard. Anyways my new companion is Elder Alacama. He is from Bolivia and he is super awesome. I have no idea what he says most of the time but that is ok cause that is how I am going to learn better. Haha he is super happy all the time and I can tell he will be a wonderful companion to work with. I also think he has a lot of patience which is good for a trainer to have. Peru is freaking awesome though. I just love the culture and I like how everything here is different. HAHA it looks like I am going to be taking cold showers for the next couple of months cause the showers are way cold and freezing. I have to be more quick also cause we need to cross the streets with cars coming cause the roads here are not good at all. ha but I will be safe dont worry. The food is super good and I havent got super sick yet. haha There is a lot of rice and we usually have chicken a lot but we also have hamburgers which is way awesome. The drinks are really weird and they taste like dish water. haha but that is ok. We have pensions here that make our food and do our laundary so I dont really have to do anything. It is super nice. My pensions name is Walle. He is the coolest person I have ever met. He helps me learn spanish and just is a really awesome person. His whole family is really nice to me and the other elders. The other elders I am living with are Elder Martinez and Elder Jenkins. They are both really cool and they are super funny. Oh and one more thing there are so many dogs here. You have to be careful cause they come up and try to attack you. haha I already got bit by one of them but all I had to do was hit him with my book of mormon. haha I am fine though so dont worry. I love everything so far which is a good sign since it has only been the first week. I am so happy that we got the chance to talk with each other at the airport though it really lifted my spirit and made me stronger. There was so much I wanted to say but I had no time so I just want to say I love you all forever. I am running out of time but I will talk for a couple more minutes. Also I got the package and It was awesome to finally have some american food. I got it right as I came to the mission home. I am glad that everyone is doing good and I just want you all to know that I love you all and I just wish you guys could be here to watch me grow cause I can feel it in me. Except for the spanish I am never going to understand that. haha but no I am super excited to learn more and more and teach more and more.
Love you all forever
Love Elder Nieman
This week was pretty cool and awesome and just a lot of walking. haha Wow it is really nice to get out of the MTC and starting to teach people. I love the people here and how happy they are. Well at least most of them. When I got off the plane in Peru and started to hear the people talk, I had no idea what they were saying at all. I have no clue what anyone is saying and it is really hard to think that I will be able to understand. It is very different than Mexico. I just wish I could understand them better so I can teach better. It kind of sucks just sitting there and watching two people or more have a conversation in spanish. Im not frustrated I am just really wondering if I am going to understand any of these people ever. This week has been really confusing but really awesome to. I invited someone to be baptized and they said yes. It was really cool and it was incredible that they understood me. I know the language will come but for now it is really hard cause I dont understand. I pray every night for the gift of tongues but I know I need to study hard. Anyways my new companion is Elder Alacama. He is from Bolivia and he is super awesome. I have no idea what he says most of the time but that is ok cause that is how I am going to learn better. Haha he is super happy all the time and I can tell he will be a wonderful companion to work with. I also think he has a lot of patience which is good for a trainer to have. Peru is freaking awesome though. I just love the culture and I like how everything here is different. HAHA it looks like I am going to be taking cold showers for the next couple of months cause the showers are way cold and freezing. I have to be more quick also cause we need to cross the streets with cars coming cause the roads here are not good at all. ha but I will be safe dont worry. The food is super good and I havent got super sick yet. haha There is a lot of rice and we usually have chicken a lot but we also have hamburgers which is way awesome. The drinks are really weird and they taste like dish water. haha but that is ok. We have pensions here that make our food and do our laundary so I dont really have to do anything. It is super nice. My pensions name is Walle. He is the coolest person I have ever met. He helps me learn spanish and just is a really awesome person. His whole family is really nice to me and the other elders. The other elders I am living with are Elder Martinez and Elder Jenkins. They are both really cool and they are super funny. Oh and one more thing there are so many dogs here. You have to be careful cause they come up and try to attack you. haha I already got bit by one of them but all I had to do was hit him with my book of mormon. haha I am fine though so dont worry. I love everything so far which is a good sign since it has only been the first week. I am so happy that we got the chance to talk with each other at the airport though it really lifted my spirit and made me stronger. There was so much I wanted to say but I had no time so I just want to say I love you all forever. I am running out of time but I will talk for a couple more minutes. Also I got the package and It was awesome to finally have some american food. I got it right as I came to the mission home. I am glad that everyone is doing good and I just want you all to know that I love you all and I just wish you guys could be here to watch me grow cause I can feel it in me. Except for the spanish I am never going to understand that. haha but no I am super excited to learn more and more and teach more and more.
Love you all forever
Love Elder Nieman
Elder Tyler Peterson
Hey everyone!
How are you guys? Legitly, it seems like everything is pretty good, including here! :) Lots of super good, super not good, and not a ton of in-between!
Super good: Last Monday was AMAZING! Taught some really Spirit filled lessons (hearing an investigator say your message touched his heart? AHHH!!! AWESOME!!! :D) I did like the best street contact I've ever done (by the Spirit of course! I couldn't have done that alone!) and they're looking really good, and we went to get Nitos (the Mexican version of Twinkies that are WAY better) and we got a golden investigator there! Roberto has a drinking addiction but he wants to quit SO badly, and the lesson we had with him was incredible! Interviews with President Morales really helped me out a ton! :) They said that my spanish was the best out of the Americans in my generation (gift of tongues is real!! :D) And Saturday we had a miracle! We had a box of brownie mix but no oven (which is a real problem) so we tried putting them in the microwave and it worked! :) After like 70 seconds on power high we had the moistest box brownies ever! None of us have gotten salmonella yet, which probably is also a miracle ;)
Super not good: Ate part of a legit habañero for the first (hopefully last!) time Tuesday!! I love habañero salsa, so I felt ready for the real thing. NOPE. It wasn't as hot in my mouth as I thought it was going to be, but once it reached my innards (for lack of a better word) OWW!!! It hurt a ton, and I could literally tell exactly where it was in my body, cause it like burned way bad wherever it was! Pepto-bismol and milk saved my life! Had a fun discussion with a sister that hates Americans, and then we had Noche Mexicana! That was actually way fun! But we missionaries had to do an act, so we ended up singing 'You Belong With Me' by Taylor Swift, and so there I was singing T-Swift (in the same octave that she does!) in front of the whole ward with none of them understanding me! Luckily, I forgot to have someone record it, so none of you have to suffer like they did! ;)
But the work is progressing so well in our area! Lots of potential for baptisms, any second, something amazing's gonna happen! Love you all! Always seek the Spirit in everything, and have a great General Conference! :)
Elder Peterson
P.S. Also ate Nacho Libre corn!!! :D Super good! It's called Elote, I forgot to take a picture, so that means I'll have to eat some more ;)
P.P.S. Pics! :) Noche Mexicana, and the miraculous microwave brownies! :)
Our area wall! Elder Gómez had this idea, and it's got post-its with names and info and goals on it now, super cool!
Be good!
Elder Tyler Peterson
Hey everyone!
How are you guys? Legitly, it seems like everything is pretty good, including here! :) Lots of super good, super not good, and not a ton of in-between!
Super good: Last Monday was AMAZING! Taught some really Spirit filled lessons (hearing an investigator say your message touched his heart? AHHH!!! AWESOME!!! :D) I did like the best street contact I've ever done (by the Spirit of course! I couldn't have done that alone!) and they're looking really good, and we went to get Nitos (the Mexican version of Twinkies that are WAY better) and we got a golden investigator there! Roberto has a drinking addiction but he wants to quit SO badly, and the lesson we had with him was incredible! Interviews with President Morales really helped me out a ton! :) They said that my spanish was the best out of the Americans in my generation (gift of tongues is real!! :D) And Saturday we had a miracle! We had a box of brownie mix but no oven (which is a real problem) so we tried putting them in the microwave and it worked! :) After like 70 seconds on power high we had the moistest box brownies ever! None of us have gotten salmonella yet, which probably is also a miracle ;)
Super not good: Ate part of a legit habañero for the first (hopefully last!) time Tuesday!! I love habañero salsa, so I felt ready for the real thing. NOPE. It wasn't as hot in my mouth as I thought it was going to be, but once it reached my innards (for lack of a better word) OWW!!! It hurt a ton, and I could literally tell exactly where it was in my body, cause it like burned way bad wherever it was! Pepto-bismol and milk saved my life! Had a fun discussion with a sister that hates Americans, and then we had Noche Mexicana! That was actually way fun! But we missionaries had to do an act, so we ended up singing 'You Belong With Me' by Taylor Swift, and so there I was singing T-Swift (in the same octave that she does!) in front of the whole ward with none of them understanding me! Luckily, I forgot to have someone record it, so none of you have to suffer like they did! ;)
But the work is progressing so well in our area! Lots of potential for baptisms, any second, something amazing's gonna happen! Love you all! Always seek the Spirit in everything, and have a great General Conference! :)
Elder Peterson
P.S. Also ate Nacho Libre corn!!! :D Super good! It's called Elote, I forgot to take a picture, so that means I'll have to eat some more ;)
P.P.S. Pics! :) Noche Mexicana, and the miraculous microwave brownies! :)
Our area wall! Elder Gómez had this idea, and it's got post-its with names and info and goals on it now, super cool!
Be good!
Elder Tyler Peterson
Elder Kyler Olsen
Well I dont have much time today. But Thats good cause ya. It has been a tough week.
HOwever I have learned sooooooo much and I have prayed and become so much closer to my heavenly Father. And learned humility. Ya dont worry about me, I will make it through... Haha.
I always said I would never marry a peruvian. And then our pencionista told us that the girls here are actually straightforward and if they like a guy they will tell him. And it saves sooo much heartache. So all you highschoolers feeling lost and alone with out a novio o novia, move to peru. haha jk. But maybe I will stay here a little longer when I finish.... hahaha totally kidding.
And I ate pota. Octupus, And i am pretty sure that a little bit of my shoe sole could have been mixed in and I wouldnt have known the difference haha. I could not stop imagining the tentacle slices all coming back together and writhing around in my stomach.... haha anyways ya. Try and eat now!
Love ya all sooo much, if you didnt get a chance to send me your favorite memory with me, dont worry I will wait.
Keep reading your scriptures, you can find such comfort there, pour out your heart to the Lord in whatever your desafio sea. and never ever forget how much the Lord and I love you. Never EVER EVER give up. THe Lord siempre las ayudarà.
Party on, keep smiling and being happy, I love you all soo much, sorry for no pics, my card is being dumb. and ya. Until another week passes! (2 month anniversary today celebrated by baking cookies, so I willl have pics next week)
Elder Olsen
Well I dont have much time today. But Thats good cause ya. It has been a tough week.
HOwever I have learned sooooooo much and I have prayed and become so much closer to my heavenly Father. And learned humility. Ya dont worry about me, I will make it through... Haha.
I always said I would never marry a peruvian. And then our pencionista told us that the girls here are actually straightforward and if they like a guy they will tell him. And it saves sooo much heartache. So all you highschoolers feeling lost and alone with out a novio o novia, move to peru. haha jk. But maybe I will stay here a little longer when I finish.... hahaha totally kidding.
And I ate pota. Octupus, And i am pretty sure that a little bit of my shoe sole could have been mixed in and I wouldnt have known the difference haha. I could not stop imagining the tentacle slices all coming back together and writhing around in my stomach.... haha anyways ya. Try and eat now!
Love ya all sooo much, if you didnt get a chance to send me your favorite memory with me, dont worry I will wait.
Keep reading your scriptures, you can find such comfort there, pour out your heart to the Lord in whatever your desafio sea. and never ever forget how much the Lord and I love you. Never EVER EVER give up. THe Lord siempre las ayudarà.
Party on, keep smiling and being happy, I love you all soo much, sorry for no pics, my card is being dumb. and ya. Until another week passes! (2 month anniversary today celebrated by baking cookies, so I willl have pics next week)
Elder Olsen
Elder McKlayne Marshall
Sooo This week was absolutly crazy so many different and crazy expierences that were just balled up into an awesome week in the lord vineyard!!!
So Last MOnday, I got on a plan in Trujillo and flied to Lima Peru, it was so fun because i got to go back with all the kids in my group that came with me to trujillo! soo yah there like my best friends in the mission and yah I love them to death! WE got there at like 8 and we walk out of the security and this dude has a white board with my name on it, haha it was pretty funny! He was with the Church person so we all just went with them, I still dont know why he had my name on a white board! yup i was scared! WE got to eat pizza that night and it was sooo good
on Tuesday we went to interpol and waited in line to get our visas, I got mine so were good! totally met an austrailian girl in our mission she is the coolest she totally has an australian accent when she speaks spanish! hahah just kidding i dont think thats possible! man basically i just had a great time talking to everybody, Its soo cool what happens when you get to know someone more in depth! CHALLENGE: Meet a new person this week and get to know them! Its soo fun! so do it!
WEdnesday we had a cool meeting with everybody and I played the piano, that was great! played a musical number as well and yah without practicing i felt like i nailed it! but yes I learned so much from it
alright I dont have a lot of time right now but Friday I had my first intercambo, which means i switched comps , Elder Contreras he is my zone leader and he is great so I spent all friday with him! and I learned so much! He definanlty taught me alot and we had so many great expierences together!
Saturday we went to Huanchaco beach and cleaned up garbage and wow it was soo fun! I definanlty burned my feet and my ears, but yah! it was sooo funnn! Franciso came, he is the greatest!
UPDATE ON HIM! He will be Baptized this saturday at 3pm and man he is so excited! Love him to death!
ahh I just need to get better at my emailing time, Its so hard but I really just want to thank you all for writing me and for all your prayers! I Love you all!
Always Smile
Love Your Friend
Elder Marshall!
Sooo This week was absolutly crazy so many different and crazy expierences that were just balled up into an awesome week in the lord vineyard!!!
So Last MOnday, I got on a plan in Trujillo and flied to Lima Peru, it was so fun because i got to go back with all the kids in my group that came with me to trujillo! soo yah there like my best friends in the mission and yah I love them to death! WE got there at like 8 and we walk out of the security and this dude has a white board with my name on it, haha it was pretty funny! He was with the Church person so we all just went with them, I still dont know why he had my name on a white board! yup i was scared! WE got to eat pizza that night and it was sooo good
on Tuesday we went to interpol and waited in line to get our visas, I got mine so were good! totally met an austrailian girl in our mission she is the coolest she totally has an australian accent when she speaks spanish! hahah just kidding i dont think thats possible! man basically i just had a great time talking to everybody, Its soo cool what happens when you get to know someone more in depth! CHALLENGE: Meet a new person this week and get to know them! Its soo fun! so do it!
WEdnesday we had a cool meeting with everybody and I played the piano, that was great! played a musical number as well and yah without practicing i felt like i nailed it! but yes I learned so much from it
alright I dont have a lot of time right now but Friday I had my first intercambo, which means i switched comps , Elder Contreras he is my zone leader and he is great so I spent all friday with him! and I learned so much! He definanlty taught me alot and we had so many great expierences together!
Saturday we went to Huanchaco beach and cleaned up garbage and wow it was soo fun! I definanlty burned my feet and my ears, but yah! it was sooo funnn! Franciso came, he is the greatest!
UPDATE ON HIM! He will be Baptized this saturday at 3pm and man he is so excited! Love him to death!
ahh I just need to get better at my emailing time, Its so hard but I really just want to thank you all for writing me and for all your prayers! I Love you all!
Always Smile
Love Your Friend
Elder Marshall!
Elder Kyle Andrus
HELLO!!!!
First transfer is already over. Stayin in Harborne with Elder Battles. LETS GO!!! Time is flying out here.
Wow. This week was interesting. ALOT of things happening. We decided that we would go out and GQ as many people as we could, and it was really cool because one day, we got like 9 people in a row that were interested. We called them made appointments and 3 of them actually came to church! We were pretty pumped. The 3 that came were Gallert, Manning, (as in payton manning) and Raymond. We made way too many everybody loves raymond jokes. Way to many. HAHA. But he loved the attention! All chinese. I love chinese people so much. I wish i knew better chinese so that i could communicate better. But i know quite a bit so that is good. Taking Chinese in school definatly helped. But didnt help me know how to spell definatly... Oh well!
Man. We got a call from Fiona today. She is going to get baptized!!! She watched a baptizm on sunday, and she asked him why he got baptized and he said it was a leap of faith. the spirit worked on her, and she decided that getting baptised was the right thing for her. We were sooooo excited for that. So grateful.
Christian is still struggling to find his answer. He wont come to church either so we are going to have to teach him a lesson on the importance of sabbath day observence.
Cheng hao. What a roller coaster. He didnt answer our calls until thursday, Met with him friday. Commited him to quit smoking and seems really pumped about it, commit him to come to church on sunday, then doesnt come to church, and wont answer our calls. We are trying to get in touch with him still. I am really connected to him because this is the first person i really am going through the whole cycle with. I GQed him, battles is letting me lead the lessons with him so that is really cool. i just feel like he is a person who has been prepared for me to come teach... I hope we can come back into contact with him.
Jing Hui is still jing hui! So happy up beat spunky and hilarious. She is keeping all her commitments and hopefully she will be a little more accepting for baptism. But man, she is the happiest person i have ever met.
I had to teach Sunday School this week. So that is super interesting. haaha Luckily it was on an easy subject, honesty. I just thought you guys would get a kick out of me teaching a lesson in sunday school.
Interesting week for sure. I Am just feeling more and more like i am finding my missionary groove. Its starting to not feel so foriegn now. I am kinda getting the hang of waking up at 630 to excersise no less, making my own food. working for the whole day, and finding my teaching groove. Its going good out here.
I love you all!!!
Elder Andrus
#everybodylovesraymond
HELLO!!!!
First transfer is already over. Stayin in Harborne with Elder Battles. LETS GO!!! Time is flying out here.
Wow. This week was interesting. ALOT of things happening. We decided that we would go out and GQ as many people as we could, and it was really cool because one day, we got like 9 people in a row that were interested. We called them made appointments and 3 of them actually came to church! We were pretty pumped. The 3 that came were Gallert, Manning, (as in payton manning) and Raymond. We made way too many everybody loves raymond jokes. Way to many. HAHA. But he loved the attention! All chinese. I love chinese people so much. I wish i knew better chinese so that i could communicate better. But i know quite a bit so that is good. Taking Chinese in school definatly helped. But didnt help me know how to spell definatly... Oh well!
Man. We got a call from Fiona today. She is going to get baptized!!! She watched a baptizm on sunday, and she asked him why he got baptized and he said it was a leap of faith. the spirit worked on her, and she decided that getting baptised was the right thing for her. We were sooooo excited for that. So grateful.
Christian is still struggling to find his answer. He wont come to church either so we are going to have to teach him a lesson on the importance of sabbath day observence.
Cheng hao. What a roller coaster. He didnt answer our calls until thursday, Met with him friday. Commited him to quit smoking and seems really pumped about it, commit him to come to church on sunday, then doesnt come to church, and wont answer our calls. We are trying to get in touch with him still. I am really connected to him because this is the first person i really am going through the whole cycle with. I GQed him, battles is letting me lead the lessons with him so that is really cool. i just feel like he is a person who has been prepared for me to come teach... I hope we can come back into contact with him.
Jing Hui is still jing hui! So happy up beat spunky and hilarious. She is keeping all her commitments and hopefully she will be a little more accepting for baptism. But man, she is the happiest person i have ever met.
I had to teach Sunday School this week. So that is super interesting. haaha Luckily it was on an easy subject, honesty. I just thought you guys would get a kick out of me teaching a lesson in sunday school.
Interesting week for sure. I Am just feeling more and more like i am finding my missionary groove. Its starting to not feel so foriegn now. I am kinda getting the hang of waking up at 630 to excersise no less, making my own food. working for the whole day, and finding my teaching groove. Its going good out here.
I love you all!!!
Elder Andrus
#everybodylovesraymond
Elder William Hansen
Dear family and Friends!
How is everybody doing!
just want to start with another miracle! Yesterday at church, and mom and daughter showed up, after seeing the elders on bikes all the time, then researching our church online! they come and want to learn, and these things bascially rarely happen apparently and im pumped to help them (even though they said any church that thinks God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are seperate beings are wicked, thats pretty normal)
this week was good, we worked hard, had some success. I biked through water half way up my leg, so that was cool. a guy said he will jjoin the churhc if we give him USA citizen ship so if anyone knows how to go about doing that, please help.
played duck duck goose with some little kids which was super fun after we taught em english.
met a 7th day advent and got a cool book about why he is so much more right than us.
Had an oppurtunity to speak at a funeral, it was so sad, and strange cuz the custums are different. its the family of a investigator whose wife died of brain cancer and we showed up to deliver a note saying we will help, be he ended up making us all say stuff in front of his family, and the body of his wife just right there in his home. it was awesome because the spirit was so strong when we spoke, and i pray that he felt and recognized that and why it was there.
not much happened this week, so have a good week everybody! everything here is good! thanks for the emails and the love, have a good week!
Love Elder Hansen
Dear family and Friends!
How is everybody doing!
just want to start with another miracle! Yesterday at church, and mom and daughter showed up, after seeing the elders on bikes all the time, then researching our church online! they come and want to learn, and these things bascially rarely happen apparently and im pumped to help them (even though they said any church that thinks God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are seperate beings are wicked, thats pretty normal)
this week was good, we worked hard, had some success. I biked through water half way up my leg, so that was cool. a guy said he will jjoin the churhc if we give him USA citizen ship so if anyone knows how to go about doing that, please help.
played duck duck goose with some little kids which was super fun after we taught em english.
met a 7th day advent and got a cool book about why he is so much more right than us.
Had an oppurtunity to speak at a funeral, it was so sad, and strange cuz the custums are different. its the family of a investigator whose wife died of brain cancer and we showed up to deliver a note saying we will help, be he ended up making us all say stuff in front of his family, and the body of his wife just right there in his home. it was awesome because the spirit was so strong when we spoke, and i pray that he felt and recognized that and why it was there.
not much happened this week, so have a good week everybody! everything here is good! thanks for the emails and the love, have a good week!
Love Elder Hansen
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Elder Kyle Jensen
Yes, saving souls indeed. This past week I got to go to the Seoul Temple!!! Ahhh!!! What an incredible blessing I have not only to be serving God's children in a foreign country, but also the opportunity every transfer to serve God's children who have already past on. Wow ^^. The temple is such an amazing place, even being able to walk around the grounds is special. It was really surprising to find the temple because it's tucked into a big city haha. The temple, ah, love it.
Last week I extended a challenge and I want to hear about it haha! So please, if you tried picking out a Christ-like attribute and strived to learn and grow in that area, tell me about it! ^^
This past week I picked out Faith and I really wish I could learn everything about these characteristics, but even if I studied them my whole life here on earth, I wouldn't know everything. Anyway, faith. From what I got from faith is that a majority is expressed through our intent and ACTIONS, and diligence to go beyond what we normally do. This past week, I've learned about having faith in other people because that one thing I sometimes struggle with. Having faith that our investigators will keep commitments, meet with us and much more. One of our investigators has really been taking a big leap of faith and it's been cool to work with him. His name is Champ and he is Napalese? Haha, we have a few foreign investigators, and he is quite the guy. He's in his 20's doing some studies in Korea, and yesterday night was such a tender mercy and miracle. When my companion and I were doing our daily planning for the next day, Champ calls us. The previous meeting we had with him we finally got a BoM in his native language and we gave it to him. We asked him to read, to pray about the BoM according to Moroni's promise. Anyway, yesterday night he called and set up the appointment for us haha and said he wanted to meet and talk about the BoM. Him and another investigator, Kim Song Su, have really taken big leaps of faith, and I thank God daily for giving us these people to work with as they strive to learn more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The acts of faith we put towards to support and help other people go a long ways, and I was so thankful I got to focus on faith this past week.
Just a word of support for any who are worrying about the future, what's next in life, I would guide you to 3 Nephi 13:32-34. Take no thought for tomorrow, and SEEK God and His kingdom first. If we sincerely put God on the top of our priority list and seek to obey His commandments, he will provide the means you need to get by. God is real, and he is supremely merciful.
Oh, a request for all of you along with the Christlike attribute. General Conference is coming up!! But... I don't get to listen to it until the week after it actually happens. So, if you would, I would love to hear from all y'all about what your favorite line or talk was from this coming conference. That way I can get a head start haha ^^. It would be much appreciated!
Some randomness for ya. I had ice cream for the first time in my life at Baskin Robbins... In Korea haha. There are a few American joints here but the food isn't worth the price. But we found this place called Dos Mas, and it had some incredible burritos, wow. So there's a little bit of a culture mix, but not too major. I'm still waiting for a really foreign food to eat, like pig intestines, squid, octupus... when that happens I'll be sure to tell ya, but ya. Korea's awesome ^^
~Elder Jensen
Yes, saving souls indeed. This past week I got to go to the Seoul Temple!!! Ahhh!!! What an incredible blessing I have not only to be serving God's children in a foreign country, but also the opportunity every transfer to serve God's children who have already past on. Wow ^^. The temple is such an amazing place, even being able to walk around the grounds is special. It was really surprising to find the temple because it's tucked into a big city haha. The temple, ah, love it.
Last week I extended a challenge and I want to hear about it haha! So please, if you tried picking out a Christ-like attribute and strived to learn and grow in that area, tell me about it! ^^
This past week I picked out Faith and I really wish I could learn everything about these characteristics, but even if I studied them my whole life here on earth, I wouldn't know everything. Anyway, faith. From what I got from faith is that a majority is expressed through our intent and ACTIONS, and diligence to go beyond what we normally do. This past week, I've learned about having faith in other people because that one thing I sometimes struggle with. Having faith that our investigators will keep commitments, meet with us and much more. One of our investigators has really been taking a big leap of faith and it's been cool to work with him. His name is Champ and he is Napalese? Haha, we have a few foreign investigators, and he is quite the guy. He's in his 20's doing some studies in Korea, and yesterday night was such a tender mercy and miracle. When my companion and I were doing our daily planning for the next day, Champ calls us. The previous meeting we had with him we finally got a BoM in his native language and we gave it to him. We asked him to read, to pray about the BoM according to Moroni's promise. Anyway, yesterday night he called and set up the appointment for us haha and said he wanted to meet and talk about the BoM. Him and another investigator, Kim Song Su, have really taken big leaps of faith, and I thank God daily for giving us these people to work with as they strive to learn more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The acts of faith we put towards to support and help other people go a long ways, and I was so thankful I got to focus on faith this past week.
Just a word of support for any who are worrying about the future, what's next in life, I would guide you to 3 Nephi 13:32-34. Take no thought for tomorrow, and SEEK God and His kingdom first. If we sincerely put God on the top of our priority list and seek to obey His commandments, he will provide the means you need to get by. God is real, and he is supremely merciful.
Oh, a request for all of you along with the Christlike attribute. General Conference is coming up!! But... I don't get to listen to it until the week after it actually happens. So, if you would, I would love to hear from all y'all about what your favorite line or talk was from this coming conference. That way I can get a head start haha ^^. It would be much appreciated!
Some randomness for ya. I had ice cream for the first time in my life at Baskin Robbins... In Korea haha. There are a few American joints here but the food isn't worth the price. But we found this place called Dos Mas, and it had some incredible burritos, wow. So there's a little bit of a culture mix, but not too major. I'm still waiting for a really foreign food to eat, like pig intestines, squid, octupus... when that happens I'll be sure to tell ya, but ya. Korea's awesome ^^
~Elder Jensen
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Elder Joshua Nieman
September 23, 2014 (Mexico CCM)
Today I leave for Peru and I am super excited but still pretty nervous. That is fine cause I have the spirit with me all the time. Mom and Dad I don’t know if you will answer but I am planning on calling you tonight but it might be a process cause I need to buy a calling card or something like that but I will try my best to call. I have a book of mormon and I am going to try to give it to someone in the airport. haha that will be interesting but we will see. It was a challenge that my district came up with and we are going to try to hand one out. Oh and I packed all my stuff just like you (Dad) so I am pretty good with that. Mom wanted to know if Elder Osborne was in my district and he isn’t. He is going to Peru North mission. All my district is going to Peru East and a couple more from another district but it will be great just to get out of here and start. I am super excited.
I am guessing my pday will be Monday. If not I guess I will have to wait to tell you. Also I am really nervous to see who my Senior Companion is cause he might be a Latino and I wonder If I will be able to communicate well enough. My flight is a 6 hour plane ride and it leaves at 1150 p.m. We leave the CCM at 8 o clock this time and we will go through security and I will see if I can buy a calling card. I think I will get to Peru around 550 a.m. and I am not sure how long it takes to get to La Molina but all I know right now is that I have to get on a plane at 1150. Haha
I think Dear elder is a really good tool and I like getting letters that are actually in envelopes but all mail is good. I got Moms letter she sent on September 11 and one from Jann from Dear elder. I got your letter a couple weeks ago and I got one from Sister Burnham in the ward. It was really nice and I put your letter with the others the sisters and mom gave me. Sister Burnham said she was prompted to send me a letter. It was a really good letter and it made me feel good. Oh man I am going to Peru I am finally starting my mission like officially. It hits me every couple minutes but it is really cool that I made it through the CCM.
Ok I have to go right now so I love you all forever and I will try to call you tonight but if not I will talk to you guys next week
Love Elder Nieman
September 24, 2014 (Peru Lima East)
Hey I made it to Lima Peru and everything is going really great. Everything is so cool here and my house is really awesome. It was really nice to talk to you guys at the airport and I just want you all to know that gave me a lot of motivation. Peru is really smoggy and it is overcast right now. Oh and just to let you know my companions name is Elder Alacama and he is really nice and cool and I think he is going to help me out a bunch. I will have to send some pictures of when I left the CCM cause I didnt send you guys those pictures of Elder Osborne and Hermano Soto. I met my mission president also and he is the man. He is super nice and it feels like he loves me as a son. It really made me feel more calm about this whole situation. I have a picture of him too that I will have to send on Monday. Tomorrow I think we start teaching and I hope everything will go the way it should. I felt really confident in my spanish but now I feel like I dont know anything. That is ok I will learn.
Love you all
Love Elder Nieman
September 23, 2014 (Mexico CCM)
Today I leave for Peru and I am super excited but still pretty nervous. That is fine cause I have the spirit with me all the time. Mom and Dad I don’t know if you will answer but I am planning on calling you tonight but it might be a process cause I need to buy a calling card or something like that but I will try my best to call. I have a book of mormon and I am going to try to give it to someone in the airport. haha that will be interesting but we will see. It was a challenge that my district came up with and we are going to try to hand one out. Oh and I packed all my stuff just like you (Dad) so I am pretty good with that. Mom wanted to know if Elder Osborne was in my district and he isn’t. He is going to Peru North mission. All my district is going to Peru East and a couple more from another district but it will be great just to get out of here and start. I am super excited.
I am guessing my pday will be Monday. If not I guess I will have to wait to tell you. Also I am really nervous to see who my Senior Companion is cause he might be a Latino and I wonder If I will be able to communicate well enough. My flight is a 6 hour plane ride and it leaves at 1150 p.m. We leave the CCM at 8 o clock this time and we will go through security and I will see if I can buy a calling card. I think I will get to Peru around 550 a.m. and I am not sure how long it takes to get to La Molina but all I know right now is that I have to get on a plane at 1150. Haha
I think Dear elder is a really good tool and I like getting letters that are actually in envelopes but all mail is good. I got Moms letter she sent on September 11 and one from Jann from Dear elder. I got your letter a couple weeks ago and I got one from Sister Burnham in the ward. It was really nice and I put your letter with the others the sisters and mom gave me. Sister Burnham said she was prompted to send me a letter. It was a really good letter and it made me feel good. Oh man I am going to Peru I am finally starting my mission like officially. It hits me every couple minutes but it is really cool that I made it through the CCM.
Ok I have to go right now so I love you all forever and I will try to call you tonight but if not I will talk to you guys next week
Love Elder Nieman
September 24, 2014 (Peru Lima East)
Hey I made it to Lima Peru and everything is going really great. Everything is so cool here and my house is really awesome. It was really nice to talk to you guys at the airport and I just want you all to know that gave me a lot of motivation. Peru is really smoggy and it is overcast right now. Oh and just to let you know my companions name is Elder Alacama and he is really nice and cool and I think he is going to help me out a bunch. I will have to send some pictures of when I left the CCM cause I didnt send you guys those pictures of Elder Osborne and Hermano Soto. I met my mission president also and he is the man. He is super nice and it feels like he loves me as a son. It really made me feel more calm about this whole situation. I have a picture of him too that I will have to send on Monday. Tomorrow I think we start teaching and I hope everything will go the way it should. I felt really confident in my spanish but now I feel like I dont know anything. That is ok I will learn.
Love you all
Love Elder Nieman
*more pics from last week on the blog: joshison.blogspot.com
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Elder Kasey Crafts
Dear Friends and Family,
Everything is going great here in Fort Hancock area!
Well first off i would like to tell you about some of the amazing members that we have here in Fort Hancock. One member in particular named Cesar Morales. (he's the son of Sister Morales) He is 18 years old and just graduate High School. He is a really cool guy and has come out with us missionaries once or twice. One thing about him though is that he only has 1 out of 4 limbs. He only has his right arm. His left arm and two legs are missing. And if thats not cool enough, he's evening working on his mission papers! he should be getting a mission call here in several months. He's a big testimony to me because he has a legit medical reason for why he wouldn't go on a mission but he is still going.
This week has also been amazing because we were able to attend stake conference Saturday and Sunday and then go to the Temple in Albuquerque on Monday! (yesterday the 22). We had quite the crazy experience of getting to the temple though. Elder Westover and I were riding Elder and Sister Kendle. They are a new Senior couple in our area. He knows a lot of spanish and was teaching us a lot on our way down. After about 2 hours of driving we realized we had driven 90 miles in the wrong direction! Our session was at 10:30 and it is normally a 4-5 hour drive from El Paso to Albuquerque and now it was 6. we had no idea what to do. Even if we sped all the way there we wouldn't get there until 11:30. We called a lot of people and we kept driving towards the temple. A miracle happened and they said they could hold the session for us! we were able to get there at 11:30 and still go with all of the missionaries. Temples are amazing. We were all in a big hurry and worried we might not make it in time but as soon as we entered the temple a great big feeling of peace just came upon us and we just felt like everything was going to be okay. Attending the temple is a huge blessing!
I have another amazing temple story. El Paso (which is considered the safest city in the US) is separated only by a gate from Juarez Mexico (which is considered to be the most dangerous city in the entire world). the closest temple is in Juarez and a lot of members go there. I have heard some pretty scary stories about going to Juarez and never coming back. Elder Westover told me though that the Stake President promised the stake that if they would attend the temple in Juarez, and if they would go straight there and go straight back, and not stop for anything, then the Lord would protect them and they would return safely. I thought that is an amazing promise! Members here are pretty frequent goers to the temple. They have some strong faith. Its just like Lehi's dream and the Iron rod. If we hold fast the iron rod and don't let go for anything the world offers, then you will be safe and protected from any kind of danger.
Yo Se que los templos son la casas del Senor. Asistiendo el templo es un gran bendicion en nuestras vidas! Vayan a mucho!
Les Amo todo!
Elder Crafts
Dear Friends and Family,
Everything is going great here in Fort Hancock area!
Well first off i would like to tell you about some of the amazing members that we have here in Fort Hancock. One member in particular named Cesar Morales. (he's the son of Sister Morales) He is 18 years old and just graduate High School. He is a really cool guy and has come out with us missionaries once or twice. One thing about him though is that he only has 1 out of 4 limbs. He only has his right arm. His left arm and two legs are missing. And if thats not cool enough, he's evening working on his mission papers! he should be getting a mission call here in several months. He's a big testimony to me because he has a legit medical reason for why he wouldn't go on a mission but he is still going.
This week has also been amazing because we were able to attend stake conference Saturday and Sunday and then go to the Temple in Albuquerque on Monday! (yesterday the 22). We had quite the crazy experience of getting to the temple though. Elder Westover and I were riding Elder and Sister Kendle. They are a new Senior couple in our area. He knows a lot of spanish and was teaching us a lot on our way down. After about 2 hours of driving we realized we had driven 90 miles in the wrong direction! Our session was at 10:30 and it is normally a 4-5 hour drive from El Paso to Albuquerque and now it was 6. we had no idea what to do. Even if we sped all the way there we wouldn't get there until 11:30. We called a lot of people and we kept driving towards the temple. A miracle happened and they said they could hold the session for us! we were able to get there at 11:30 and still go with all of the missionaries. Temples are amazing. We were all in a big hurry and worried we might not make it in time but as soon as we entered the temple a great big feeling of peace just came upon us and we just felt like everything was going to be okay. Attending the temple is a huge blessing!
I have another amazing temple story. El Paso (which is considered the safest city in the US) is separated only by a gate from Juarez Mexico (which is considered to be the most dangerous city in the entire world). the closest temple is in Juarez and a lot of members go there. I have heard some pretty scary stories about going to Juarez and never coming back. Elder Westover told me though that the Stake President promised the stake that if they would attend the temple in Juarez, and if they would go straight there and go straight back, and not stop for anything, then the Lord would protect them and they would return safely. I thought that is an amazing promise! Members here are pretty frequent goers to the temple. They have some strong faith. Its just like Lehi's dream and the Iron rod. If we hold fast the iron rod and don't let go for anything the world offers, then you will be safe and protected from any kind of danger.
Yo Se que los templos son la casas del Senor. Asistiendo el templo es un gran bendicion en nuestras vidas! Vayan a mucho!
Les Amo todo!
Elder Crafts
Elder McKlayne Marshall
So this week was awesome!!! I LOVE this work!
First time Barfing in Peru, that was fun.
First time being offered Acohol in my life
First time being called a liar for my beliefs
First time being asked for my autography as a missionary
So, we had this awesome meeting on Wednesday, with a 70 Elder Uceda, such a great meeting....but im sitting there alright and its really hot and for some reason im feeling a little queesee, and then i leaned over to my comp and said hey we got to go to the bathroom like now! so we ran to the bathroom and I decided to throw up lunch, but can i say im very skilled because i did not get anything on my suit or tie! legit! WE missed a few talks cause I barfed a few more times, but its okay MOM that is part of the journey here, the elders call it Double Headed Dragon. im gonnna let you figure that one out! Anyways the meeting was about the Work of Salvation El obra De Salvacion, and it was soo good, it was all about working in UNIDAD with the consejo de barrio, ward counsel. It was a spectuacular meeting!
We went to one of our appointments to teach this lady who really wanted to talk to us, but she owned a little tienda, there were some guys that were drinking some cerveza, and were talking to them and they looked at me and offered me some, and I stopped for a second and thought to myself, I think that this is the first time in my whole entire life that I have been offered to drink alcohol! I am Soooo Blesssed!
Alright were walking down the street, I really like to make eye contact with people so then I can say HI buenos dias or whatever, so I make eye contact with this sorta old guy, and He just looks at me and SAYs loudly, Mentiroso, which means liar, and he just kept saying it, we decided to just keep walking, but it hit me, somebody is calling me a liar for what I believe in, thats a first, It was an interesting expierence.
Alright and than yesterday, we had this awesomely spirtual fireside in a stake center east of my area, all the missionaries sang a few songs for this meeting, it was really powerful, we sang How great thou art, if ya get a minute read the 3rd verse, soo powerful. I know with all my heart that Jesus Crist died for all of us, he suffiered for you and for me, so that we could live with him, in so much happiness and peace above all imagination, FOREVER. I know this. Anyways when it got over this cute little peruvian girl came over to me and asked me for my autograph, so I signed Elder Marshall! it was great!
UPDATE
Carlos: hes still doing great he didnt get baptized cause his cousin died and he had to leave town for a few days but were looking at the 27 or the 4th
Francisco: Hes doing soo goood, he came to church early and greeted everyone he also talks more than everyone in priesthood legit, he will be baptized on the 4th as well
WE had 5 investigadors and 4 Menos activos come to Church this past sunday which was SOOOO GREAT!!!!
I love this work, Thank you for writing me and praying for me, If you have any questions, or im not writing these letters as well as you want me to, like feel free to complain. But I love all of you back home!!!! Keep being Good yah!
Love Elder Marshall
Oh also i learned my missionary comission in spanish the other day here it is
Soy llamado de Dios
Mi autoridad esta por encima de todos los reinos de la tierra. Por revalacion he sido selcionado como un representante personal del senor Jesucristo. El es me maestro, y el me ha escogido como su humilde siervo. Para ponerme en su lugar. Para decir y hacer lo que el diria o haria si el personalmente estuviera ministrando a la gente a la cual el me ha enviado.
Mi voz es su voz y mis actos son sus sctos mis palabras son sus palabras y mi doctrina es su doctrina
Mi comision es lo que hacer el ha hecho. Dicer lo que el ha dicho. Para ser un testigo actual de su palabra en su grande y marviollsa obra en estos ultimosos dias.
Cuan Grande es mi llamamiento!
I hope that was right! ahh i love that so much, look it up in english if you dont know spanish, its incrediblE
So this week was awesome!!! I LOVE this work!
First time Barfing in Peru, that was fun.
First time being offered Acohol in my life
First time being called a liar for my beliefs
First time being asked for my autography as a missionary
So, we had this awesome meeting on Wednesday, with a 70 Elder Uceda, such a great meeting....but im sitting there alright and its really hot and for some reason im feeling a little queesee, and then i leaned over to my comp and said hey we got to go to the bathroom like now! so we ran to the bathroom and I decided to throw up lunch, but can i say im very skilled because i did not get anything on my suit or tie! legit! WE missed a few talks cause I barfed a few more times, but its okay MOM that is part of the journey here, the elders call it Double Headed Dragon. im gonnna let you figure that one out! Anyways the meeting was about the Work of Salvation El obra De Salvacion, and it was soo good, it was all about working in UNIDAD with the consejo de barrio, ward counsel. It was a spectuacular meeting!
We went to one of our appointments to teach this lady who really wanted to talk to us, but she owned a little tienda, there were some guys that were drinking some cerveza, and were talking to them and they looked at me and offered me some, and I stopped for a second and thought to myself, I think that this is the first time in my whole entire life that I have been offered to drink alcohol! I am Soooo Blesssed!
Alright were walking down the street, I really like to make eye contact with people so then I can say HI buenos dias or whatever, so I make eye contact with this sorta old guy, and He just looks at me and SAYs loudly, Mentiroso, which means liar, and he just kept saying it, we decided to just keep walking, but it hit me, somebody is calling me a liar for what I believe in, thats a first, It was an interesting expierence.
Alright and than yesterday, we had this awesomely spirtual fireside in a stake center east of my area, all the missionaries sang a few songs for this meeting, it was really powerful, we sang How great thou art, if ya get a minute read the 3rd verse, soo powerful. I know with all my heart that Jesus Crist died for all of us, he suffiered for you and for me, so that we could live with him, in so much happiness and peace above all imagination, FOREVER. I know this. Anyways when it got over this cute little peruvian girl came over to me and asked me for my autograph, so I signed Elder Marshall! it was great!
UPDATE
Carlos: hes still doing great he didnt get baptized cause his cousin died and he had to leave town for a few days but were looking at the 27 or the 4th
Francisco: Hes doing soo goood, he came to church early and greeted everyone he also talks more than everyone in priesthood legit, he will be baptized on the 4th as well
WE had 5 investigadors and 4 Menos activos come to Church this past sunday which was SOOOO GREAT!!!!
I love this work, Thank you for writing me and praying for me, If you have any questions, or im not writing these letters as well as you want me to, like feel free to complain. But I love all of you back home!!!! Keep being Good yah!
Love Elder Marshall
Oh also i learned my missionary comission in spanish the other day here it is
Soy llamado de Dios
Mi autoridad esta por encima de todos los reinos de la tierra. Por revalacion he sido selcionado como un representante personal del senor Jesucristo. El es me maestro, y el me ha escogido como su humilde siervo. Para ponerme en su lugar. Para decir y hacer lo que el diria o haria si el personalmente estuviera ministrando a la gente a la cual el me ha enviado.
Mi voz es su voz y mis actos son sus sctos mis palabras son sus palabras y mi doctrina es su doctrina
Mi comision es lo que hacer el ha hecho. Dicer lo que el ha dicho. Para ser un testigo actual de su palabra en su grande y marviollsa obra en estos ultimosos dias.
Cuan Grande es mi llamamiento!
I hope that was right! ahh i love that so much, look it up in english if you dont know spanish, its incrediblE
Elder Tyler Peterson
Hey guys!
What's up? This week was actually really good I think! And crazy! But hey, I'm crazy, so that makes it all better right? ;) No really though, this week helped me out a ton!
We really had some adventures this week! So first off, there's this Christian church down here, Pentecostal I think, but they're crazy! In short, due to poor choices and a lack of following the Spirit, Elder Gómez and I saw this guy pray for half an hour, shouting and spitting and crazy stuff the whole time! It was pretty rough, and I felt terrible, but I believe that it's strengthened my conviction to follow the promptings I get from now on with exactness :)
Second adventure! So ever since that first cockroach there have been TONS more (I'm a roach-smashing champ now! Pretty cool huh? ;)) But there's one creature that LOVES eating roaches, ya know what that is? If you guessed TARANTULAS, you nailed it! So yeah, we were doing weekly planning when we heard Elder Layton scream like a girl, so we went and looked, and there was a stinking tarantula in our living room!! If the cockroach was bad... this was way worse!! (It's like the type of creature I have to conquer keeps getting worse every week! If this rate keeps up, I'll end up being like a pro panther hunter or something crazy like that by the end of my mission! ;)) I was legitly scared to death, and we were gonna freeze it to death, but then the other Elders started playing pranks with a live tarantula! AAAHHH!!! Yep, I was happy when it was good and dead, that's all :)
Last adventure! We missionaries teach the Gospel Principles class, and yesterday right before it started, Elder Gómez was like, "Hey you're teaching today." Sooo... I ended up trying to teach Gospel Principles in Spanish to a bunch of adults. That wasn't the best! It wasn't that my spanish was terrible, or that I didn´t know what I was teaching, but the fact that my spanish wasn't super great combined with the fact that I felt super unprepared that made it pretty bad, Elder Gómez suffered for like ten minutes of this then taught most of it from there. But I guess I did okay for being in México for only three weeks :)
Revamped my personal study and my exercise this week, and that really helped me a lot! :) Doesn't take a lot to work up a sweat here ;) But I also really learned another huge lesson this week. I've had this really wrong idea that the love for the people was some overwhelming love that you started to feel for everybody that just kind of came with the call, and I didn't feel like I was feeling it (big surprise there ;)) So I talked to Elder Gómez about it, and he said that it's a really hard thing to learn, and that probably the thing that brings it fastest is seeing ugly things happen in the lives of the people you serve. So that day, and the days after, guess what started happening? Ugly stuff. Within two hours of Elder Gómez saying that, we were walking on a street when these niños from a family we've been trying to reach were just crying next to their gate, and we found out that it was because they were super hungry, their mom was working, and they had nothing to eat. So we ran and bought them some food, but I really wished we could have bought them more. I've never seen children crying out of hunger like that in my life, and it really hit me hard. But I really did feel love for them that I wasn't expecting before, and more stuff kept happening to people that was super rough, and at times I had no idea what to do. But I thought about it, and I think I figured it out. Just like how the Savior personally atoned for our sins, pains, and afflictions one by one, that's how love of the people works: one by one, serving each one as much as I can until I really love them (and then keep serving them :)), and they all add up and it grows into something that I can't ever fully comprehend nor ever forget. This was absolutely crucial, and I'm so glad to have learned this lesson early, especially since it was tough, I think that'll help it stick :) (if that doesn't, I don't know what will!)
Yep, super good week! I love having Elder Gómez as a companion! We both legitimately are nutcases, and he really pushes me to work hard, so it's a party and a growing experience at the same time! :) Just remember to love and serve as He would, one by one! Be good, take care, I love you all! :)
¡Nos vemos!
Elder Tyler Peterson
P.S. Crazy crazy crazy crazy factoid: within our ward boundaries we have about 700 members within our ward boundaries, and like 150 to 200 that are active. WHAT?? Why? Down here in México, home teaching and visiting teaching are literally non-existent! There's a reason why that pops up in D&C 20, and it's so sad to see what a lack of giving a few visits a month can do. So everybody do yours, that'd be great! :)
P.P.S. Pics! Me and a box of Oreos= Happy Elder Peterson :D (though frankly, they're not as good here :O) and the TARANTULA (it's dead in the photo, but my companion tells me that he's seen them 3 times bigger! OH MY HECK!!! Pray I don't die!)
Hey guys!
What's up? This week was actually really good I think! And crazy! But hey, I'm crazy, so that makes it all better right? ;) No really though, this week helped me out a ton!
We really had some adventures this week! So first off, there's this Christian church down here, Pentecostal I think, but they're crazy! In short, due to poor choices and a lack of following the Spirit, Elder Gómez and I saw this guy pray for half an hour, shouting and spitting and crazy stuff the whole time! It was pretty rough, and I felt terrible, but I believe that it's strengthened my conviction to follow the promptings I get from now on with exactness :)
Second adventure! So ever since that first cockroach there have been TONS more (I'm a roach-smashing champ now! Pretty cool huh? ;)) But there's one creature that LOVES eating roaches, ya know what that is? If you guessed TARANTULAS, you nailed it! So yeah, we were doing weekly planning when we heard Elder Layton scream like a girl, so we went and looked, and there was a stinking tarantula in our living room!! If the cockroach was bad... this was way worse!! (It's like the type of creature I have to conquer keeps getting worse every week! If this rate keeps up, I'll end up being like a pro panther hunter or something crazy like that by the end of my mission! ;)) I was legitly scared to death, and we were gonna freeze it to death, but then the other Elders started playing pranks with a live tarantula! AAAHHH!!! Yep, I was happy when it was good and dead, that's all :)
Last adventure! We missionaries teach the Gospel Principles class, and yesterday right before it started, Elder Gómez was like, "Hey you're teaching today." Sooo... I ended up trying to teach Gospel Principles in Spanish to a bunch of adults. That wasn't the best! It wasn't that my spanish was terrible, or that I didn´t know what I was teaching, but the fact that my spanish wasn't super great combined with the fact that I felt super unprepared that made it pretty bad, Elder Gómez suffered for like ten minutes of this then taught most of it from there. But I guess I did okay for being in México for only three weeks :)
Revamped my personal study and my exercise this week, and that really helped me a lot! :) Doesn't take a lot to work up a sweat here ;) But I also really learned another huge lesson this week. I've had this really wrong idea that the love for the people was some overwhelming love that you started to feel for everybody that just kind of came with the call, and I didn't feel like I was feeling it (big surprise there ;)) So I talked to Elder Gómez about it, and he said that it's a really hard thing to learn, and that probably the thing that brings it fastest is seeing ugly things happen in the lives of the people you serve. So that day, and the days after, guess what started happening? Ugly stuff. Within two hours of Elder Gómez saying that, we were walking on a street when these niños from a family we've been trying to reach were just crying next to their gate, and we found out that it was because they were super hungry, their mom was working, and they had nothing to eat. So we ran and bought them some food, but I really wished we could have bought them more. I've never seen children crying out of hunger like that in my life, and it really hit me hard. But I really did feel love for them that I wasn't expecting before, and more stuff kept happening to people that was super rough, and at times I had no idea what to do. But I thought about it, and I think I figured it out. Just like how the Savior personally atoned for our sins, pains, and afflictions one by one, that's how love of the people works: one by one, serving each one as much as I can until I really love them (and then keep serving them :)), and they all add up and it grows into something that I can't ever fully comprehend nor ever forget. This was absolutely crucial, and I'm so glad to have learned this lesson early, especially since it was tough, I think that'll help it stick :) (if that doesn't, I don't know what will!)
Yep, super good week! I love having Elder Gómez as a companion! We both legitimately are nutcases, and he really pushes me to work hard, so it's a party and a growing experience at the same time! :) Just remember to love and serve as He would, one by one! Be good, take care, I love you all! :)
¡Nos vemos!
Elder Tyler Peterson
P.S. Crazy crazy crazy crazy factoid: within our ward boundaries we have about 700 members within our ward boundaries, and like 150 to 200 that are active. WHAT?? Why? Down here in México, home teaching and visiting teaching are literally non-existent! There's a reason why that pops up in D&C 20, and it's so sad to see what a lack of giving a few visits a month can do. So everybody do yours, that'd be great! :)
P.P.S. Pics! Me and a box of Oreos= Happy Elder Peterson :D (though frankly, they're not as good here :O) and the TARANTULA (it's dead in the photo, but my companion tells me that he's seen them 3 times bigger! OH MY HECK!!! Pray I don't die!)
So we've got Elder Gómez and a lizard he caught (just found out it's called a Toloque, it runs on two legs, and it has tiny teeth that it can try to bite you with, which I found out trying to get it out of our house! Yep, we're pretty smart guys ;) whoops, I meant Elders ;))
And the other one is the reason why I should be a pro photographer ( though being here makes taking beautiful pictures a cinch :))
Y'all are the best!
Elder Tyler Peterson
Elder Kyler Olsen
Hello all, what is up??
I hope things are as great there as it all is here! Shoutout to sammy, peru is the very best country ever.
This week was amazing, we had low numbers and all that, but the ones we had were the best ever! I had my favorite lesson ever, with a less active 15 year old that I related to soooo well. Like desafios and problems I had to go through fit perfect to his and by the end of the lesson I was about to cry. He didnt want to say the closing prayer, so I did, but then after I did, he was like, actually, can i? and so he did and then I cried. The spirit is amazing you all listen up to it!! I was truly guided to help him, and also leave a note for a family, who was having a super hard time. The Lord knows all, truly, and he directs all the heavens and stars and I cant describe how amazing this makes me feel, to look up to the stars and know that my father is there watching out for every single one of his children! I cannot tell you how cool it is to have lessons where the people have immense faith and are willing to put it to the test of prayer. I have learned sooo much and had some amazing experiences helping these wonderful people in peru. Saw a huge spider, like the size of my hand, ate a fish that was looking at me the whole time i was chewing..... ya you should never do that. Any ways thanks for all the support, remember about my blog, elderkylerolsen.blogspot.com, and dearelder.com I sure would love to hear from you. Oohhh and I have an assignment: I am working on a project right now, so I need everysingle one of you to send me your very favorite memory with me, and 2 memories or times that were super hilarious, ok? Dont you dare leave me hanging! :) Hope everything goes super great, dont forget to pray and smile! :)
Elder Olsen
Hello all, what is up??
I hope things are as great there as it all is here! Shoutout to sammy, peru is the very best country ever.
This week was amazing, we had low numbers and all that, but the ones we had were the best ever! I had my favorite lesson ever, with a less active 15 year old that I related to soooo well. Like desafios and problems I had to go through fit perfect to his and by the end of the lesson I was about to cry. He didnt want to say the closing prayer, so I did, but then after I did, he was like, actually, can i? and so he did and then I cried. The spirit is amazing you all listen up to it!! I was truly guided to help him, and also leave a note for a family, who was having a super hard time. The Lord knows all, truly, and he directs all the heavens and stars and I cant describe how amazing this makes me feel, to look up to the stars and know that my father is there watching out for every single one of his children! I cannot tell you how cool it is to have lessons where the people have immense faith and are willing to put it to the test of prayer. I have learned sooo much and had some amazing experiences helping these wonderful people in peru. Saw a huge spider, like the size of my hand, ate a fish that was looking at me the whole time i was chewing..... ya you should never do that. Any ways thanks for all the support, remember about my blog, elderkylerolsen.blogspot.com, and dearelder.com I sure would love to hear from you. Oohhh and I have an assignment: I am working on a project right now, so I need everysingle one of you to send me your very favorite memory with me, and 2 memories or times that were super hilarious, ok? Dont you dare leave me hanging! :) Hope everything goes super great, dont forget to pray and smile! :)
Elder Olsen
Elder Kyle Andrus
Hello everyone!
Well this week was hard. hahah. We lost alot of investigators, gopal called us and said he isnt getting baptized this week. That really put us down in the dumps. He said he had to go to london. So yea. That happened.
Christian was also supposed to get baptized this week. But he is not very close. He still expects a vison. A giant manifestation of some kind. He isnt praying as specifically about Joseph smith and about other things. He just prays and says show me the way. We are trying to get him to be specific to god about what he prays for. But he isnt really listening. We keep trying to help him, but he is struggling.
Jing Hui is doing pretty well. She has a few concerns about the word of wisdom. Tea. She is from tiawan so that was to be expected. We are trying to help her get away from tea so that she can feel the spirit and be uplifted and come closer to Christ. She has been doing pretty well so that is good!!!
Cheng Hao is also doing way good. He really loves coming to church. He couldnt come this week and he was so sad. We are hoping we can see him soon this week. He accepted a date on the 12th of october So that is amazing.
We handed fiona to the sisters. We really tried to help her and her situation, but a 19 and 20 year old boys wouldnt really be able to understand. We figured a couple of older sisters would be able to maybe connect more emotionaly and be able to help her.
Mickey is a solid new investigator. She wants to be a member already. We just have to teach her everything she needs to know and she will be ready!!!
Frank and Ailen are also doing well. Frank has a date on the 12th so that is amazing. We are seeing both of them tonight and cooking them some food!!! so that will be way fun!
We lost yuki because she moved to belfast. We lost fiona, we lost the 3 chinese girls because they moved to the sisters area. Gopal... we dont even know. But the lord will bless us for working. We just have to accept his timing because it is for the best. I know it. but it is kinda hard.
This week it rained hahah surprise. But it has been pretty cool. Man the work is moving forward over here in the good ole motherland!!! We made some Korean pancakes and those were so amazing. I mean they were perfect looking. I made some chicken ramen as you can see below. Really tasty stuff.
Enjoy this picture of a mosquito as big as my hand.
Gotta have a few artsy pics yo. Look at it. hahah
Hey. i love all of you and i appreciate everything you guys do for me!!! I can feel your prayers and am so glad you guys are!
Talk to you next week!!!
Love,
Elder Andrus
#tomosquitosasbigasyourfist
(modern family quote)
Hello everyone!
Well this week was hard. hahah. We lost alot of investigators, gopal called us and said he isnt getting baptized this week. That really put us down in the dumps. He said he had to go to london. So yea. That happened.
Christian was also supposed to get baptized this week. But he is not very close. He still expects a vison. A giant manifestation of some kind. He isnt praying as specifically about Joseph smith and about other things. He just prays and says show me the way. We are trying to get him to be specific to god about what he prays for. But he isnt really listening. We keep trying to help him, but he is struggling.
Jing Hui is doing pretty well. She has a few concerns about the word of wisdom. Tea. She is from tiawan so that was to be expected. We are trying to help her get away from tea so that she can feel the spirit and be uplifted and come closer to Christ. She has been doing pretty well so that is good!!!
Cheng Hao is also doing way good. He really loves coming to church. He couldnt come this week and he was so sad. We are hoping we can see him soon this week. He accepted a date on the 12th of october So that is amazing.
We handed fiona to the sisters. We really tried to help her and her situation, but a 19 and 20 year old boys wouldnt really be able to understand. We figured a couple of older sisters would be able to maybe connect more emotionaly and be able to help her.
Mickey is a solid new investigator. She wants to be a member already. We just have to teach her everything she needs to know and she will be ready!!!
Frank and Ailen are also doing well. Frank has a date on the 12th so that is amazing. We are seeing both of them tonight and cooking them some food!!! so that will be way fun!
We lost yuki because she moved to belfast. We lost fiona, we lost the 3 chinese girls because they moved to the sisters area. Gopal... we dont even know. But the lord will bless us for working. We just have to accept his timing because it is for the best. I know it. but it is kinda hard.
This week it rained hahah surprise. But it has been pretty cool. Man the work is moving forward over here in the good ole motherland!!! We made some Korean pancakes and those were so amazing. I mean they were perfect looking. I made some chicken ramen as you can see below. Really tasty stuff.
Enjoy this picture of a mosquito as big as my hand.
Gotta have a few artsy pics yo. Look at it. hahah
Hey. i love all of you and i appreciate everything you guys do for me!!! I can feel your prayers and am so glad you guys are!
Talk to you next week!!!
Love,
Elder Andrus
#tomosquitosasbigasyourfist
(modern family quote)
Elder William Hansen
Dear all,
We had two miracles this week.
one answered many prayers. Bang eka, who previously said he had no
desire to learn, recontacted us, said he missed something from the
lessons, and wanted to continue preparing for baptism, even if he
parents will freak out, he is starting to gain a testimony, and
realized what he needs to do, he is still a little lazy and scared,
but itsw a miracle he wants to learn and make the commitment again!
second miracle.....elder barlow didnt die! he was rideing his bike in
front of me through traffic like usual, and then suddenly a car door
swung open at the perfect time, hit his handle bars, flipped him
completely upside down, his bike stopped in place, he landed on his
back (which was also good) and skidded for a bit. no other cars or
scooters hit him and he got up and even though he was furious, acted
very calm to the man who had hit him. (perhaps a third miracle eh?)
got some more news: two possible three new followers on instagram.
bang eka and another investigator bang jesse followed me haha. if you
want to go stalk them or something. it was weird to go look at it when
i pulled it up for him. like a completely different life that im not
even a part of anymore! so crazy!
theres super bad smoke in the air this week from a huge fire, and
because of it the sun is an awesome red all day. id send a pic but, my
computer is not working with that right now.
heres a funny story. the other elders (pujianto/zollinger) are
teaching a guy who has recieved consent from his parents to be
baptized into our church....but only in jerusalem in the river jordan.
which is a noble efoort, and they say its cuz if he does that he'll be
saved no matter what, but ya...kinda described christians around here.
kinda believe whatever and only listen to their pendeta ( pastors who
are usually freaking crazy gila)
SPeaking of which. we met a pendeta this week, who said we could be
freinds and hang out and lend each other money and sleep over at each
others houses, but NO SHARING CHURCH MESSAGES. yaaaa so we didnt go
back to visit him.
not much else happened this week. does anyone have any questions about
indonesia? i cant say we eat cool stuff cuz we cook french toast or
noodles for sunday then eat on the street every other day. fried rice,
normal rice with chicken. fried noodles (pretty much only time in my
mission i will eat noodles lots of chinese here hence noodle shops)
apparently food here is boring so im excited to try some new kinds in
a few months. something that will shock my parents, is that ive eaten
like every kind of fruit i wouldnt eat at home. and more. im branching
out, the rice is getting to me.
haha so im chilling here on the ground, in my little email cubicle (no
chair is normal) and some indonesian school kids come up look look at
my screen, and im like hey what do you want im emailing my family and
they like freaked out cuz i spoke indonesian, people here definitely
dont excpect white guys to speak any indonesian!
ok everyboyd. have a super good week! stay safe, good luck with everything!
Love
Elder Hansen
ps #rainyseasonhasbegun
Dear all,
We had two miracles this week.
one answered many prayers. Bang eka, who previously said he had no
desire to learn, recontacted us, said he missed something from the
lessons, and wanted to continue preparing for baptism, even if he
parents will freak out, he is starting to gain a testimony, and
realized what he needs to do, he is still a little lazy and scared,
but itsw a miracle he wants to learn and make the commitment again!
second miracle.....elder barlow didnt die! he was rideing his bike in
front of me through traffic like usual, and then suddenly a car door
swung open at the perfect time, hit his handle bars, flipped him
completely upside down, his bike stopped in place, he landed on his
back (which was also good) and skidded for a bit. no other cars or
scooters hit him and he got up and even though he was furious, acted
very calm to the man who had hit him. (perhaps a third miracle eh?)
got some more news: two possible three new followers on instagram.
bang eka and another investigator bang jesse followed me haha. if you
want to go stalk them or something. it was weird to go look at it when
i pulled it up for him. like a completely different life that im not
even a part of anymore! so crazy!
theres super bad smoke in the air this week from a huge fire, and
because of it the sun is an awesome red all day. id send a pic but, my
computer is not working with that right now.
heres a funny story. the other elders (pujianto/zollinger) are
teaching a guy who has recieved consent from his parents to be
baptized into our church....but only in jerusalem in the river jordan.
which is a noble efoort, and they say its cuz if he does that he'll be
saved no matter what, but ya...kinda described christians around here.
kinda believe whatever and only listen to their pendeta ( pastors who
are usually freaking crazy gila)
SPeaking of which. we met a pendeta this week, who said we could be
freinds and hang out and lend each other money and sleep over at each
others houses, but NO SHARING CHURCH MESSAGES. yaaaa so we didnt go
back to visit him.
not much else happened this week. does anyone have any questions about
indonesia? i cant say we eat cool stuff cuz we cook french toast or
noodles for sunday then eat on the street every other day. fried rice,
normal rice with chicken. fried noodles (pretty much only time in my
mission i will eat noodles lots of chinese here hence noodle shops)
apparently food here is boring so im excited to try some new kinds in
a few months. something that will shock my parents, is that ive eaten
like every kind of fruit i wouldnt eat at home. and more. im branching
out, the rice is getting to me.
haha so im chilling here on the ground, in my little email cubicle (no
chair is normal) and some indonesian school kids come up look look at
my screen, and im like hey what do you want im emailing my family and
they like freaked out cuz i spoke indonesian, people here definitely
dont excpect white guys to speak any indonesian!
ok everyboyd. have a super good week! stay safe, good luck with everything!
Love
Elder Hansen
ps #rainyseasonhasbegun
Elder Kyle Jensen
First, I wanna share that poem I finally finished. 2Nephi 30: 5-7
It's these sclaes of darkness that hinder our fiath and sight
satan's preventative measure to try and hide Christ's light
A seemingly harmless layer coating the surface of our eyes
Leads mankind to unhappiness, wickedness, and despise
Wandering around in disheartening blindness, our hope slowly dissapates
NEVERTHELESS, christ our lord saves and a delightsome hope He creates
A miracle directly from the hand of God! Rejoice! Rejoice and say:
"Believe in Christ! He lives and leads the way!"
Our scales of doubt, unbelief, and insecurity begin to shed
All because this people came to a knowledge of what their fathers said
Through Jesus christ, Son of Man, a birhgt light will shine
A phenomenon so indescribable, so glourious, and so divine
Jesus Christ lives through us by sharing His light
So it's crucial to serve with all our heart, mind, and might
We will falter, we will stray, and we will feel utterly lost
But if we rid ourselves first of these dark scales, Christ will comfort and pay the cost
Sorry for mispelling or anything, I'm usually nit picky with it but time is gold on here haha.
Anyway, I had a super fun experience this week! As part of being missionaries here in Korea, we have a family English program we do where we teach English for a bit, then the Gospel. It's a wonderful program because it helps us introduce our gospel through another source. Anyway, our district got to help out with an English "camping" trip with one of our investigator's sources. There were about 25 kids there that we got to teach English through a bunch of games haha. Yes, we even got a snack time haha ^^ Oh boy, it fulfilled one of my dreams in Korea by getting to play a little bit with the kids here, I loved it. another exciting thing is that I ate at a gogi buffet! Haha, yes, it's not totally quality, but it sure filled a bunch of missionaries up. Most of the restaurants here have a stove in the middle of the table where you usually cook your own meat and other food, sitting crossed legged without shoes. So nice, right? ^^ Ah it makes me happy. Talking about food, one of our investigators sure likes to feed us. His name is Jong Jong Hoon, and he is quite the character, I love him. We are teaching him through our English program, but he has really taken a leap with exercising his faith through reading the Book of Mormon. He is so excited when he reads that for the past couple days he has been calling us in the morning to 1. practice his english and 2. report that he read the Book of Mormon. I really hope he continues and realizes the power and revelation it contains. Oh, and I forgot, this guy is like in his 50's and he decided to die his hair! Now I'm not saying that to make fun of him in anyway, I just want to tell you about his fun personality haha ^^. I really love it over here guys. This week I have been focusing on the Christ-like attribute of Charity and Love and I can tell you it's really made a difference in my life through my actions, thoughts, and much more. I want to extend a challenge to all of you to implement a Christ-like attribute each week in your life (found in Preach My Gospel pg. 126). I promise you that if you pick one each week, focus on it and do something every day to help you grow in that area that God will pour out His blessings even more abundantly upon you. You will find greater knowledge and be a better person. After each day and would challenge you even more to RECORD how you implemented that characteristic each day throughout the week. It's really a simple task with profound effects. Doing this has made me so happy, and it was one of the greatest feelings in the world to forget myself and focus on others.
A few thoughts I would like to share. I ran into a really cool quote and analogy while reading the Liahona one day. It says, "Calm seas don't carry barges to the promised land - stormy seas do." Let's be real here everybody, life isn't always rainbows and butterflies haha, BUT, because we endure through our trials, we receive the greatest gift in the world, our "promised land." So I pose a question, what's your promised land? Many times throughout the BoM it mentions this promised land, but now apply. What is yours and what are you going to do to obtain it?
One more thought from 3 Nephi 28. This chapter talks about three of Christ's desciples who desired to stay on earth to serve God's children. I think the scriptures described them "even such as angels." I can testify to you that angels will bear you up in your life if you remember and come unto Christ. These "stormy seas" are really really REALLY hard sometimes, but we have SO many resources to help bear us up; God, Christ, angels, scriptures, other people. This work is real, and I love it so much.
Please know that I really do love you all, and I try and express this love through my words and challenges. I love hearing from all of you and your experiences back in Utah. I hope all is well ^^
P.S. I didn't really get a great picture of the kids or with the kids, sorry!
First, I wanna share that poem I finally finished. 2Nephi 30: 5-7
It's these sclaes of darkness that hinder our fiath and sight
satan's preventative measure to try and hide Christ's light
A seemingly harmless layer coating the surface of our eyes
Leads mankind to unhappiness, wickedness, and despise
Wandering around in disheartening blindness, our hope slowly dissapates
NEVERTHELESS, christ our lord saves and a delightsome hope He creates
A miracle directly from the hand of God! Rejoice! Rejoice and say:
"Believe in Christ! He lives and leads the way!"
Our scales of doubt, unbelief, and insecurity begin to shed
All because this people came to a knowledge of what their fathers said
Through Jesus christ, Son of Man, a birhgt light will shine
A phenomenon so indescribable, so glourious, and so divine
Jesus Christ lives through us by sharing His light
So it's crucial to serve with all our heart, mind, and might
We will falter, we will stray, and we will feel utterly lost
But if we rid ourselves first of these dark scales, Christ will comfort and pay the cost
Sorry for mispelling or anything, I'm usually nit picky with it but time is gold on here haha.
Anyway, I had a super fun experience this week! As part of being missionaries here in Korea, we have a family English program we do where we teach English for a bit, then the Gospel. It's a wonderful program because it helps us introduce our gospel through another source. Anyway, our district got to help out with an English "camping" trip with one of our investigator's sources. There were about 25 kids there that we got to teach English through a bunch of games haha. Yes, we even got a snack time haha ^^ Oh boy, it fulfilled one of my dreams in Korea by getting to play a little bit with the kids here, I loved it. another exciting thing is that I ate at a gogi buffet! Haha, yes, it's not totally quality, but it sure filled a bunch of missionaries up. Most of the restaurants here have a stove in the middle of the table where you usually cook your own meat and other food, sitting crossed legged without shoes. So nice, right? ^^ Ah it makes me happy. Talking about food, one of our investigators sure likes to feed us. His name is Jong Jong Hoon, and he is quite the character, I love him. We are teaching him through our English program, but he has really taken a leap with exercising his faith through reading the Book of Mormon. He is so excited when he reads that for the past couple days he has been calling us in the morning to 1. practice his english and 2. report that he read the Book of Mormon. I really hope he continues and realizes the power and revelation it contains. Oh, and I forgot, this guy is like in his 50's and he decided to die his hair! Now I'm not saying that to make fun of him in anyway, I just want to tell you about his fun personality haha ^^. I really love it over here guys. This week I have been focusing on the Christ-like attribute of Charity and Love and I can tell you it's really made a difference in my life through my actions, thoughts, and much more. I want to extend a challenge to all of you to implement a Christ-like attribute each week in your life (found in Preach My Gospel pg. 126). I promise you that if you pick one each week, focus on it and do something every day to help you grow in that area that God will pour out His blessings even more abundantly upon you. You will find greater knowledge and be a better person. After each day and would challenge you even more to RECORD how you implemented that characteristic each day throughout the week. It's really a simple task with profound effects. Doing this has made me so happy, and it was one of the greatest feelings in the world to forget myself and focus on others.
A few thoughts I would like to share. I ran into a really cool quote and analogy while reading the Liahona one day. It says, "Calm seas don't carry barges to the promised land - stormy seas do." Let's be real here everybody, life isn't always rainbows and butterflies haha, BUT, because we endure through our trials, we receive the greatest gift in the world, our "promised land." So I pose a question, what's your promised land? Many times throughout the BoM it mentions this promised land, but now apply. What is yours and what are you going to do to obtain it?
One more thought from 3 Nephi 28. This chapter talks about three of Christ's desciples who desired to stay on earth to serve God's children. I think the scriptures described them "even such as angels." I can testify to you that angels will bear you up in your life if you remember and come unto Christ. These "stormy seas" are really really REALLY hard sometimes, but we have SO many resources to help bear us up; God, Christ, angels, scriptures, other people. This work is real, and I love it so much.
Please know that I really do love you all, and I try and express this love through my words and challenges. I love hearing from all of you and your experiences back in Utah. I hope all is well ^^
P.S. I didn't really get a great picture of the kids or with the kids, sorry!
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Elder Joshua Nieman
September 18, 2014
I cant believe this is my last week in Mexico. I think it went by so fast. By this time next week I will be in Peru¡ I am so stoked and super excited. I am not nervous in any way. haha just kidding. But I think all will go well. I got my flight plans this week and I am leaving on tuesday night and my flight leaves at 1150. I will be flying all the way to Peru in one flight. 6 hours I will be on a plane but it is at night so I can sleep through most of the night. Oh and I am not sure if I should do this but I heard that I can call you guys from the airport. That might be around like 9 or 10 o clock. I am not sure but if you get a call from a random number than make sure to answer it. haha and there is a chance that I might not call. Two distircts are leaving to Lima Peru East. When I got my flight plans I just got so excited and so ready to go to Peru and speak some crappy spanish for a couple of months. haha but I know the language will come if I have faith in my Heavenly Father and if I give all my effort to the lord. I feel like every week I learn more and more spanish but it feels like I am saying the same words a lot. So that has kind of freaked me out but dont worry cause I have been studying some more vocab. Elder Sitterud is still here but he is leaving monday to go back to Salt lake and it will take him two months to recover. He might come back out but then he might not. This week I finished the Book of Mormon and wow. The book of mormon is so true and I feel the spirit every time I read it. When I finished the spirit was so strong and I could feel in my heart that this book is true. That was a really good moment cause I was really down that day and that kind of just boosted me back up. Today we went to the temple and that temple is such an awesome temple. I cant believe how beautiful it was and it was just amazing. Since it is going through some construction right now I wasnt able to go through it but we went on a tour through the visitors center. We saw the cristis i think that is how you spell it and so many other cool things. We watched a video about families and how families can be together forever and I just cried my eyes out. I could feel the spirit and I could feel your love back home. 2 years is a long time to be away from the people you love but it is going to be so awesome to live with all the people we love for eternity. I loved that video so much and gave me so much strength to keep on moving forward. I feel like every week is a blessing cause I get to look back on what I have learned and what I have done. Every day being out here will be challenging but I know everything is going to be ok and everything will be for the good and strengthen me every day.
Brooks is so amazing. I cant believe he is here and I cant believe that I wont get to hold or play with him for two years. He is so beautiful and I just love him already. Tatum and Bridger seem like they are treating their little brother really well. Brooks is going to be one and almost two when I get back. I just cant wait to love him and play with him and just try to be the best uncle I can be. I love being an uncle and I hope you all know that. When I opened up the email and saw his face it just brought tears to my eyes cause he was just in heaven. He was just with our heavenly father and I can see his brightness and his amazing joy just from the pictures you have sent. Thank you and dont forget to tell him that his uncle josh loves him and just let him know that his uncle josh is going to be there everyday of his life. Even when I am on a mission and he probably wont recognize me when I get back I cant wait to get to know him. Kaylee I just want you to know that you are so strong to do it without any medication. It is so amazing and I am so proud of you for doing that to bring Brooks into this Life. I hope you are alright and I hope that everybody is healthy. Wow just thinking about all this makes me think about when I start a family, I am going to try me best everyday to be the type of father and husband that just loves his family everyday. Wow I am so filled with emotion right now and I am so happy that everything went according to plan. I just know that Heavenly Father will help all of us. When I have my hard times I always look at the card Joni gave me and read the letters from all of you and it just helps me get through most of my days. Thank you for being such an amazing family. Also I want to let all my friends know that I love them so much and they have made me the man I am today. Well next time I send another one of these emails I will be in Peru probably really confused and hopefully just doing work.
I love you all forever
Elder Nieman
September 18, 2014
I cant believe this is my last week in Mexico. I think it went by so fast. By this time next week I will be in Peru¡ I am so stoked and super excited. I am not nervous in any way. haha just kidding. But I think all will go well. I got my flight plans this week and I am leaving on tuesday night and my flight leaves at 1150. I will be flying all the way to Peru in one flight. 6 hours I will be on a plane but it is at night so I can sleep through most of the night. Oh and I am not sure if I should do this but I heard that I can call you guys from the airport. That might be around like 9 or 10 o clock. I am not sure but if you get a call from a random number than make sure to answer it. haha and there is a chance that I might not call. Two distircts are leaving to Lima Peru East. When I got my flight plans I just got so excited and so ready to go to Peru and speak some crappy spanish for a couple of months. haha but I know the language will come if I have faith in my Heavenly Father and if I give all my effort to the lord. I feel like every week I learn more and more spanish but it feels like I am saying the same words a lot. So that has kind of freaked me out but dont worry cause I have been studying some more vocab. Elder Sitterud is still here but he is leaving monday to go back to Salt lake and it will take him two months to recover. He might come back out but then he might not. This week I finished the Book of Mormon and wow. The book of mormon is so true and I feel the spirit every time I read it. When I finished the spirit was so strong and I could feel in my heart that this book is true. That was a really good moment cause I was really down that day and that kind of just boosted me back up. Today we went to the temple and that temple is such an awesome temple. I cant believe how beautiful it was and it was just amazing. Since it is going through some construction right now I wasnt able to go through it but we went on a tour through the visitors center. We saw the cristis i think that is how you spell it and so many other cool things. We watched a video about families and how families can be together forever and I just cried my eyes out. I could feel the spirit and I could feel your love back home. 2 years is a long time to be away from the people you love but it is going to be so awesome to live with all the people we love for eternity. I loved that video so much and gave me so much strength to keep on moving forward. I feel like every week is a blessing cause I get to look back on what I have learned and what I have done. Every day being out here will be challenging but I know everything is going to be ok and everything will be for the good and strengthen me every day.
Brooks is so amazing. I cant believe he is here and I cant believe that I wont get to hold or play with him for two years. He is so beautiful and I just love him already. Tatum and Bridger seem like they are treating their little brother really well. Brooks is going to be one and almost two when I get back. I just cant wait to love him and play with him and just try to be the best uncle I can be. I love being an uncle and I hope you all know that. When I opened up the email and saw his face it just brought tears to my eyes cause he was just in heaven. He was just with our heavenly father and I can see his brightness and his amazing joy just from the pictures you have sent. Thank you and dont forget to tell him that his uncle josh loves him and just let him know that his uncle josh is going to be there everyday of his life. Even when I am on a mission and he probably wont recognize me when I get back I cant wait to get to know him. Kaylee I just want you to know that you are so strong to do it without any medication. It is so amazing and I am so proud of you for doing that to bring Brooks into this Life. I hope you are alright and I hope that everybody is healthy. Wow just thinking about all this makes me think about when I start a family, I am going to try me best everyday to be the type of father and husband that just loves his family everyday. Wow I am so filled with emotion right now and I am so happy that everything went according to plan. I just know that Heavenly Father will help all of us. When I have my hard times I always look at the card Joni gave me and read the letters from all of you and it just helps me get through most of my days. Thank you for being such an amazing family. Also I want to let all my friends know that I love them so much and they have made me the man I am today. Well next time I send another one of these emails I will be in Peru probably really confused and hopefully just doing work.
I love you all forever
Elder Nieman
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Elder McKlayne Marshall
This week has been sooo fantastic!
Update on the Investegadors!
Francisco: Bautismo SEp 27
Carlos: Baustismo Sep 20 we are hoping and crossing our fingers
Carlos looks like the crazy scientist guy on Back To The Future but he is Bald, its actually really funny!
WE have been teaching so many people, this work is incredible! I love it so much! I dont really have a lot of time today to tell you about it but I will in the weeks to come!!!
2 months i believe I have been out, isnt that crazy! its beeen the best two months like ever! I love it so much!
Okay so funny story! BAsically ever day is funny Elder Kaelin and I just have a blast together he is the man! I love him to death! WE have a quote wall and we write about 5 quotes a day and then whenever we put one up we read the majority of them and jsut laugh! We cleaned our apartment today, while blasting JG Josh Groban...this defines our compship!!! legit!
Our companionship is becoming stronger and we are teaching with the spirit, I decided this week that when a comp has comp study and feels the spirit during the comp study time you will teach with the spirit!
It goes the same for all you great people, If you take the time to do your personal study in the morning or night you will have the spirit with you and you will be an example of Christ in all you do!!!
Also this week My testimony of the Obra de Templo y Historia Familiar! DYC 128 we have been blessed with a temple so close, the most advance technology and THE GOSPEL!!! AHHH! Family History work! To recieve salvation we must do this work, we MUST! sooo like I challenge everybody to start today, i mean everybody says to do it, nobody does it, but Hey DO IT!!! I can testitfy that you will see the blessing be poured down upon your life!!!
WE preach everyday, WE paint every service project haha peoples house, bricks so we go paint them cool colors like nasty greeen, we did that this past week, and we PRaY oh do we pray, I think i counted this week! about 27 prayers a day. Its a lot! I challenge ya all to go find a True to The Faith and REad the part about PRAYER you will learn so much! its a two way conversastion. Give him time to speak to you. ahh
I love you all, thank you for writing me, I willl doo my very best to write you all!!! you are in my prayers, go be your best, when we sometimes arent our best, Christ is right behind you to fill in the mistakes! I love this work! its increadible!
Tu Amigo ´para Siempre!
Elder Marshall!
This week has been sooo fantastic!
Update on the Investegadors!
Francisco: Bautismo SEp 27
Carlos: Baustismo Sep 20 we are hoping and crossing our fingers
Carlos looks like the crazy scientist guy on Back To The Future but he is Bald, its actually really funny!
WE have been teaching so many people, this work is incredible! I love it so much! I dont really have a lot of time today to tell you about it but I will in the weeks to come!!!
2 months i believe I have been out, isnt that crazy! its beeen the best two months like ever! I love it so much!
Okay so funny story! BAsically ever day is funny Elder Kaelin and I just have a blast together he is the man! I love him to death! WE have a quote wall and we write about 5 quotes a day and then whenever we put one up we read the majority of them and jsut laugh! We cleaned our apartment today, while blasting JG Josh Groban...this defines our compship!!! legit!
Our companionship is becoming stronger and we are teaching with the spirit, I decided this week that when a comp has comp study and feels the spirit during the comp study time you will teach with the spirit!
It goes the same for all you great people, If you take the time to do your personal study in the morning or night you will have the spirit with you and you will be an example of Christ in all you do!!!
Also this week My testimony of the Obra de Templo y Historia Familiar! DYC 128 we have been blessed with a temple so close, the most advance technology and THE GOSPEL!!! AHHH! Family History work! To recieve salvation we must do this work, we MUST! sooo like I challenge everybody to start today, i mean everybody says to do it, nobody does it, but Hey DO IT!!! I can testitfy that you will see the blessing be poured down upon your life!!!
WE preach everyday, WE paint every service project haha peoples house, bricks so we go paint them cool colors like nasty greeen, we did that this past week, and we PRaY oh do we pray, I think i counted this week! about 27 prayers a day. Its a lot! I challenge ya all to go find a True to The Faith and REad the part about PRAYER you will learn so much! its a two way conversastion. Give him time to speak to you. ahh
I love you all, thank you for writing me, I willl doo my very best to write you all!!! you are in my prayers, go be your best, when we sometimes arent our best, Christ is right behind you to fill in the mistakes! I love this work! its increadible!
Tu Amigo ´para Siempre!
Elder Marshall!
Elder Dominique Rogers
September 15, 2014
So this week has been really fun. We have been trying to get a lot more teenagers going to church. The missionarys before me started doing mutual. It's really cool, but the problem is that there are like no girls going so me and Elder Mata have been trying to get more of the girls to go.
So for Mutual last week we played ping pong and down here in South America ping pong is really big. A lot of people play it. I didn't realize how much mutual can help people go to church, or just less-actives to go back to church. We actually have two kids named Julian and Lucas; they are 9 and 11. Their Uncle is the guy who is with us when we do mutual and they aren't members. We have started to teach them and they are super cool. Most of the kids that go to mutual are 12 to 18, but since their uncle helps us we are happy to let them come, they have already been to church twice!!!
The weather down here has actually not been that great, ha ha, It has rained for almost a week straight and it can be really cold sometimes. But it blows my mind how when it is cold no one is outside and for instance this week they canceled mutual because it was raining, I thought that was so weird because in the states that would never happen. But here a lot of people drive motorcycles or walk, so it makes sense.
I hope you all have a great week.
Sincerely,
Elder Rogers
September 15, 2014
So this week has been really fun. We have been trying to get a lot more teenagers going to church. The missionarys before me started doing mutual. It's really cool, but the problem is that there are like no girls going so me and Elder Mata have been trying to get more of the girls to go.
So for Mutual last week we played ping pong and down here in South America ping pong is really big. A lot of people play it. I didn't realize how much mutual can help people go to church, or just less-actives to go back to church. We actually have two kids named Julian and Lucas; they are 9 and 11. Their Uncle is the guy who is with us when we do mutual and they aren't members. We have started to teach them and they are super cool. Most of the kids that go to mutual are 12 to 18, but since their uncle helps us we are happy to let them come, they have already been to church twice!!!
The weather down here has actually not been that great, ha ha, It has rained for almost a week straight and it can be really cold sometimes. But it blows my mind how when it is cold no one is outside and for instance this week they canceled mutual because it was raining, I thought that was so weird because in the states that would never happen. But here a lot of people drive motorcycles or walk, so it makes sense.
I hope you all have a great week.
Sincerely,
Elder Rogers
Elder Kyler Olsen
Hey all.
Another week has passed. whewhey it was a toughie! We got rejected a bunch and all that, our investigators went on vacation, etc. And then i got super sick. Wednesday i woke up and felt crappy, but went out and had a decent day. And then I went to bed super early like at 9:30, thinking that that would help. But I woke up several times freezing or super hot. At about 4 in the morning i thought my head was gonna explode and my skin was going to catch fire. Wow. I was moaning so bad kinda half asleep. Elder Lopez woke up and gave me a blessing and i spent the rest of the day in my bed, probably 8 hours of it asleep. But after my fever went away, my stomach was still in bad shape and I was stuck eating soup drinking herbal teas. And without anything solid, it sure felt like my insides had liquefied. ya that was not a fun experience. But, i am better now! So ya.
We had splits with the district leader, Elder Boza, and I had a blast! At dinner we had one of the funniest conversations about how the mission prepares you for marriage,with the pencionista. And haha how you have to be direct, right from the first date, with invitations and promises, and always propose, with a date, from the beginning, like we do with baptisms. Ya it was soo great, i found out what fun is again....
Church was so great. I was ontop of the world. We brought 2 ancient less actives, from7 and 15 years ago, and an investigator, and every single one of them found someone in the ward to be thier friend, who remembered them, and I was indescribably happy. Ya. We are hoping to teach a lotmore this week!
Oh yeah, pday, we went to this waterfall, hitchhiked in the back of a pickup going like 45 haha, and I was climing around and exploring again, it reminded me of homeand the canyons and landscape we have! Go outside and enjoy the beautiful world God has blessed us with! Love you all, hope things are going great, I want to hear your stories, pass a smile on to someone for me!
Elder Olsen
Hey all.
Another week has passed. whewhey it was a toughie! We got rejected a bunch and all that, our investigators went on vacation, etc. And then i got super sick. Wednesday i woke up and felt crappy, but went out and had a decent day. And then I went to bed super early like at 9:30, thinking that that would help. But I woke up several times freezing or super hot. At about 4 in the morning i thought my head was gonna explode and my skin was going to catch fire. Wow. I was moaning so bad kinda half asleep. Elder Lopez woke up and gave me a blessing and i spent the rest of the day in my bed, probably 8 hours of it asleep. But after my fever went away, my stomach was still in bad shape and I was stuck eating soup drinking herbal teas. And without anything solid, it sure felt like my insides had liquefied. ya that was not a fun experience. But, i am better now! So ya.
We had splits with the district leader, Elder Boza, and I had a blast! At dinner we had one of the funniest conversations about how the mission prepares you for marriage,with the pencionista. And haha how you have to be direct, right from the first date, with invitations and promises, and always propose, with a date, from the beginning, like we do with baptisms. Ya it was soo great, i found out what fun is again....
Church was so great. I was ontop of the world. We brought 2 ancient less actives, from7 and 15 years ago, and an investigator, and every single one of them found someone in the ward to be thier friend, who remembered them, and I was indescribably happy. Ya. We are hoping to teach a lotmore this week!
Oh yeah, pday, we went to this waterfall, hitchhiked in the back of a pickup going like 45 haha, and I was climing around and exploring again, it reminded me of homeand the canyons and landscape we have! Go outside and enjoy the beautiful world God has blessed us with! Love you all, hope things are going great, I want to hear your stories, pass a smile on to someone for me!
Elder Olsen
Elder Kasey Crafts
Dear Friends and Family,
Everything is going great as always!
Transfer assignments came and i'm for-sure staying here for at least another 6 weeks! wahoo! Our PO box will be the same. This area has really helped me a lot with my spanish. There and tons of amazing people here as well. One thing my companion has suggested to do is buy a small pocket sized dictionary and memorize one page a day. (it was a good idea because my other one was falling apart) There are about 35 words on each page. If i study and memorize at least 20 of them and use them then by the end of the transfer i should have about 1,000 new words!
We've been teaching alot of great people. One of them is named Joseph. He is the boyfriend of one of the daughters of 1st counselor in the Branch Presidency. He's about 21 years old. He's a really brave guy and in a really tight spot. The daughter wants to marry a member of the church in the temple but really likes him (he doesn't really have a religion.) and his mom really doesn't want him to join the church. (Shes catholic) He's had missionary discussions before and his mom has hid The Book of Mormon from him so he cant' read. He's in a really tight spot. We are going to start teaching him on Thursday.
Another person we've been teaching is a lady named Guadalupe. She is about 50 years old. We had taught her the first couple of weeks into my mission but stopped seeing her for a while because she didn't want to progress. We went back this last week to see how she was doing and share a message. We talked a little bit more about the Book of Mormon and the bible and how they supported each other. After a while of talking with her and taking alot of time my companion asked her "if God came down right now and told you The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church would you change?" She said no. Experiences like that never cease to amaze me. Asking questions like that are really good because it will save alot of time. We could have taught her forever and she wouldn't have ever changed. I've read alot lately about true conversion. Conversion in essence is when your entire attitudes, desires, and behavior changes and become inline with the will of God. As missionaries we asked people to make some pretty big changes in their lives. Its important to keep trying and help them as much as you can but if they just don't have the desire to change then their is nothing we can do about it.
Another great experience we had this week was talking to Fabian. He is an ex-green burrey. ( i really dont know how to spell it.) which is basically the biggest most hardcore thing anyone can do in the armed forces. He is atheist but has a desire to have faith. He has a lot of really interesting questions. He asked us alot of questions about Adam and Eve. While we were talking with him i thought of a question my self. Why did God not just put Adam and Eve on the earth and skip the taking of the fruit part? The next day i found the answer while studying in 2nephi 2. It all comes down to the fact that "man" had to choose to leave the presence of God. Man had to use their agency. Just like Adam and Eve, God is never going to "kick us out" of His presence. God is always their to help us in all that we do. The times when we feel that God is not there are the time when we refuse to knock and ask for help.
We are all really excited to go to the temple this next Monday! Its about a 5-6 hour drive from Fort HanCock. Temples are a huge blessing!
love you all and i hope you have a great week!
Elder Crafts
Dear Friends and Family,
Everything is going great as always!
Transfer assignments came and i'm for-sure staying here for at least another 6 weeks! wahoo! Our PO box will be the same. This area has really helped me a lot with my spanish. There and tons of amazing people here as well. One thing my companion has suggested to do is buy a small pocket sized dictionary and memorize one page a day. (it was a good idea because my other one was falling apart) There are about 35 words on each page. If i study and memorize at least 20 of them and use them then by the end of the transfer i should have about 1,000 new words!
We've been teaching alot of great people. One of them is named Joseph. He is the boyfriend of one of the daughters of 1st counselor in the Branch Presidency. He's about 21 years old. He's a really brave guy and in a really tight spot. The daughter wants to marry a member of the church in the temple but really likes him (he doesn't really have a religion.) and his mom really doesn't want him to join the church. (Shes catholic) He's had missionary discussions before and his mom has hid The Book of Mormon from him so he cant' read. He's in a really tight spot. We are going to start teaching him on Thursday.
Another person we've been teaching is a lady named Guadalupe. She is about 50 years old. We had taught her the first couple of weeks into my mission but stopped seeing her for a while because she didn't want to progress. We went back this last week to see how she was doing and share a message. We talked a little bit more about the Book of Mormon and the bible and how they supported each other. After a while of talking with her and taking alot of time my companion asked her "if God came down right now and told you The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church would you change?" She said no. Experiences like that never cease to amaze me. Asking questions like that are really good because it will save alot of time. We could have taught her forever and she wouldn't have ever changed. I've read alot lately about true conversion. Conversion in essence is when your entire attitudes, desires, and behavior changes and become inline with the will of God. As missionaries we asked people to make some pretty big changes in their lives. Its important to keep trying and help them as much as you can but if they just don't have the desire to change then their is nothing we can do about it.
Another great experience we had this week was talking to Fabian. He is an ex-green burrey. ( i really dont know how to spell it.) which is basically the biggest most hardcore thing anyone can do in the armed forces. He is atheist but has a desire to have faith. He has a lot of really interesting questions. He asked us alot of questions about Adam and Eve. While we were talking with him i thought of a question my self. Why did God not just put Adam and Eve on the earth and skip the taking of the fruit part? The next day i found the answer while studying in 2nephi 2. It all comes down to the fact that "man" had to choose to leave the presence of God. Man had to use their agency. Just like Adam and Eve, God is never going to "kick us out" of His presence. God is always their to help us in all that we do. The times when we feel that God is not there are the time when we refuse to knock and ask for help.
We are all really excited to go to the temple this next Monday! Its about a 5-6 hour drive from Fort HanCock. Temples are a huge blessing!
love you all and i hope you have a great week!
Elder Crafts
Elder Crafts
P.O. Box 2754
Faben, TX 79838
Elder Kyle Andrus
Hello Everybody!!!
Man. We had such a good week. We have gotten super blessed with all of these solid people coming in. We are continuing with Jing wei and christian and gopal, and we gained so many other amazing investigators. We gqd this really solid chinese guy who wanted to come to church! His name is Cheng Hao. He went to university at Kansas! He is a jayhawk! We talk to him alot about it. But he is so solid. He is really interested in learning the gospel. We taught him once and he came to church so that is good. But in elders quorum we talked about the spirit of elijah. So i dont think he really comprehended most of it. But the next lesson some missionaries taught so that all the investigators at church could actually understand something. But he really enjoyed it and we are seeing him tonight!!!
We also got a referral from a solid RC Du xiao bo! His name is frank! he is equally as solid as cheng hao. He is super excited to hear about everything.
Next Investigator we got this week is Ailen! She came to the lesson with frank and she is on the same level as frank and cheng hao!
A girl named yuki came with us to church and we are going to start teaching her tomorrow.
And the final investigator we got this week is vick. He is this solid tiawanese dude. We have taught him twice and he is pretty solid.
Christian. Oh christian. He is on a date for this week and we are hoping he will live up to it. He keeps praying for an answer and he keeps not getting one. We talked to him about it, and he just feels like he needs a vision or something. I asked him if he has gotten no for an answer. He said he hasnt. I said well your baptizm is coming up soon. this week. And he hasnt told you no. If this is not what heavanly father wanted you to do, he would warn you. This not getting a no is just as strong as getting a yes. This is the right path for you. He seemed to really like that. but i am hoping that he accepts it. He has such a strong faith in god and jesus christ. He just needs to know that this is the lords church on the earth today.
Gopal. What the heck. He is getting baptised on saturday!!! What the heck! where did that come from. He met with us and he said he wants to get baptised on saturday!!! We were so thrilled. He doesnt want alot of people there so we are going to do it on saturday. I am so happy he has made this choice!!!
Ching wei is so solid. we tried to extend a date to her this week, but she seemed a little hesitant to accept. She will. Her faith has grown so much, she prays and reads every day, comes to church, which is exactly what you need to do to retain/gain a testimony. The spirit will work inside her and she will come to see that is the church of jesus christ and be baptised.
I cant even believe how great this week was. We have been so incredibly blessed. I was reading today in alma chapter 4. And they were being blessed as well. But they let it go to their head and they ended up being repremanded for it. So Elder Battles and I have decided to not let that happen to us. we will keep our thoughts turned on the lord and we will hopefully not be prideful.
I love all you so much!
Elder Andrus
#gogopal
Hello Everybody!!!
Man. We had such a good week. We have gotten super blessed with all of these solid people coming in. We are continuing with Jing wei and christian and gopal, and we gained so many other amazing investigators. We gqd this really solid chinese guy who wanted to come to church! His name is Cheng Hao. He went to university at Kansas! He is a jayhawk! We talk to him alot about it. But he is so solid. He is really interested in learning the gospel. We taught him once and he came to church so that is good. But in elders quorum we talked about the spirit of elijah. So i dont think he really comprehended most of it. But the next lesson some missionaries taught so that all the investigators at church could actually understand something. But he really enjoyed it and we are seeing him tonight!!!
We also got a referral from a solid RC Du xiao bo! His name is frank! he is equally as solid as cheng hao. He is super excited to hear about everything.
Next Investigator we got this week is Ailen! She came to the lesson with frank and she is on the same level as frank and cheng hao!
A girl named yuki came with us to church and we are going to start teaching her tomorrow.
And the final investigator we got this week is vick. He is this solid tiawanese dude. We have taught him twice and he is pretty solid.
Christian. Oh christian. He is on a date for this week and we are hoping he will live up to it. He keeps praying for an answer and he keeps not getting one. We talked to him about it, and he just feels like he needs a vision or something. I asked him if he has gotten no for an answer. He said he hasnt. I said well your baptizm is coming up soon. this week. And he hasnt told you no. If this is not what heavanly father wanted you to do, he would warn you. This not getting a no is just as strong as getting a yes. This is the right path for you. He seemed to really like that. but i am hoping that he accepts it. He has such a strong faith in god and jesus christ. He just needs to know that this is the lords church on the earth today.
Gopal. What the heck. He is getting baptised on saturday!!! What the heck! where did that come from. He met with us and he said he wants to get baptised on saturday!!! We were so thrilled. He doesnt want alot of people there so we are going to do it on saturday. I am so happy he has made this choice!!!
Ching wei is so solid. we tried to extend a date to her this week, but she seemed a little hesitant to accept. She will. Her faith has grown so much, she prays and reads every day, comes to church, which is exactly what you need to do to retain/gain a testimony. The spirit will work inside her and she will come to see that is the church of jesus christ and be baptised.
I cant even believe how great this week was. We have been so incredibly blessed. I was reading today in alma chapter 4. And they were being blessed as well. But they let it go to their head and they ended up being repremanded for it. So Elder Battles and I have decided to not let that happen to us. we will keep our thoughts turned on the lord and we will hopefully not be prideful.
I love all you so much!
Elder Andrus
#gogopal
Elder William Hansen
Well hello! hope everyone is doing well!
This week we got a lot of fun questions.
"hey do you guys drink blood?"
"its the jehovahs witnesses"
you dont drink blood?
haha those we got asked....maybe ten billion times.
but its all good. I had easily a pretty terrible day, when a member decided she knew more than the missionaries, and told us we were wrong in front of two investigators, they thought it was hilarious, then that night bang eka our baptismal commitment, decided to not learn from the missionaries anymore. so ya. it was super bummer.
but the next day, we were at an appointment. and then we stumbled across a land we termed. Teletubby land, sesame street, or mr rogers neighborhood, because no matter where we went, everyone was so nice! everyone invited us in, gave us food, listend, took BoM's, gave us drink, gave us referals. like we talked to three huge families in ten mintues and scheduled three lessons. It seems like magic and the thing is they probably have never seen white people before, and everyone in that area has no interest in learning they just like hearing about jesus so they love missionaries who tell stories, but once we teach baptism, or memntion our churhc is the only true churhc, they get kinda....offended, and invite us to leave. but we are teaching lessons so its good. its only the one spot in our area thats like that but its a start! plant seeds, find even one person with interest! Oh we went to a buddist temple, that was super fun! weird but fun! everything is going good here, and I hope all is going swell back home! good luck everybody with all of everything going on!
Love Elder Hansen
ps it rains so hard here. like. one second. dry next second. its an entire ocean on the road, and i only am exaggerating a little!
Well hello! hope everyone is doing well!
This week we got a lot of fun questions.
"hey do you guys drink blood?"
"its the jehovahs witnesses"
you dont drink blood?
haha those we got asked....maybe ten billion times.
but its all good. I had easily a pretty terrible day, when a member decided she knew more than the missionaries, and told us we were wrong in front of two investigators, they thought it was hilarious, then that night bang eka our baptismal commitment, decided to not learn from the missionaries anymore. so ya. it was super bummer.
but the next day, we were at an appointment. and then we stumbled across a land we termed. Teletubby land, sesame street, or mr rogers neighborhood, because no matter where we went, everyone was so nice! everyone invited us in, gave us food, listend, took BoM's, gave us drink, gave us referals. like we talked to three huge families in ten mintues and scheduled three lessons. It seems like magic and the thing is they probably have never seen white people before, and everyone in that area has no interest in learning they just like hearing about jesus so they love missionaries who tell stories, but once we teach baptism, or memntion our churhc is the only true churhc, they get kinda....offended, and invite us to leave. but we are teaching lessons so its good. its only the one spot in our area thats like that but its a start! plant seeds, find even one person with interest! Oh we went to a buddist temple, that was super fun! weird but fun! everything is going good here, and I hope all is going swell back home! good luck everybody with all of everything going on!
Love Elder Hansen
ps it rains so hard here. like. one second. dry next second. its an entire ocean on the road, and i only am exaggerating a little!
Elder Kyle Jensen
Wowowow, it's been quite a crazy week, and to add I don't have a lot of time to write everything I want to say. Anyway, here we go.
So this last week was super nice because we ate so much food haha :) The Koreans will feed you until you throw up, and that's quite literally. If you don't tell them to stop they will keep putting food on your plate and you HAVE to eat it all because you don't want to disrespect them. Luckily, I haven't been fed until I've thrown up haha, it sounds like no fun. We got to eat a meal at one the member's home and it was fantastic. But not only that, we always get to leave a spiritual message with them as well. The branch I'm with is so fun. One of the biggest things we focus on with missionary work here is to really strengthen the wards and branches, keep them strong and going. It was hard last week because we had only about 7 members show up to church because of the holidays. The work is hard, but the people we work with are amazing and I love it.
becuase missionary work was slow (not the only reason of course) we had a big mission conference where we did a lot of fun activities and a talent show with our whole mission. It was super fun, yes we still have fun on missions, don't worry haha :)
Due to time, I would just like to share a special experience. I want you to all know that God loves us so much. These weeks have been pretty hard emotionally, but more overly mentally, and in result it was fairly hard. But, I can testify to you all that if we "pour out our whole souls" unto our Heavenly Father in prayer that He will always answer. After a super hard day, I prayed so hard, so sincerely because I was broken and needed healing. The next morning in my studies God led me to D&C 84:88, and through that my head was lifted up and I was wrapped in His tender arms of love. Our Heavenly Father will do that to you all, I sincerely know that.
"To reach a goal you have never before attained, you must do things you have never done before." This past week has been filled with things I have never done, and God has blessed me so much for the efforts of my companion and I. Next week when I have more time (hopefully) I need to send that poem I finished forever ago in the MTC.
Anyway, sorry I couldn't say much, but I know that these things are true. Christ is walking by our side, smiling at our success, and sobbing with our sorrows. I love you all, have a wonderful week! :)
~Elder Jensen
Pics: My birthday bash with our district haha (Elder Ely, Elder Despain, me, and my companion Elder Wilcox)
Giant spiders are here in Korea haha, the picture doesn't give it justice. they're really creepy and everywhere by shrubbery outside
Wowowow, it's been quite a crazy week, and to add I don't have a lot of time to write everything I want to say. Anyway, here we go.
So this last week was super nice because we ate so much food haha :) The Koreans will feed you until you throw up, and that's quite literally. If you don't tell them to stop they will keep putting food on your plate and you HAVE to eat it all because you don't want to disrespect them. Luckily, I haven't been fed until I've thrown up haha, it sounds like no fun. We got to eat a meal at one the member's home and it was fantastic. But not only that, we always get to leave a spiritual message with them as well. The branch I'm with is so fun. One of the biggest things we focus on with missionary work here is to really strengthen the wards and branches, keep them strong and going. It was hard last week because we had only about 7 members show up to church because of the holidays. The work is hard, but the people we work with are amazing and I love it.
becuase missionary work was slow (not the only reason of course) we had a big mission conference where we did a lot of fun activities and a talent show with our whole mission. It was super fun, yes we still have fun on missions, don't worry haha :)
Due to time, I would just like to share a special experience. I want you to all know that God loves us so much. These weeks have been pretty hard emotionally, but more overly mentally, and in result it was fairly hard. But, I can testify to you all that if we "pour out our whole souls" unto our Heavenly Father in prayer that He will always answer. After a super hard day, I prayed so hard, so sincerely because I was broken and needed healing. The next morning in my studies God led me to D&C 84:88, and through that my head was lifted up and I was wrapped in His tender arms of love. Our Heavenly Father will do that to you all, I sincerely know that.
"To reach a goal you have never before attained, you must do things you have never done before." This past week has been filled with things I have never done, and God has blessed me so much for the efforts of my companion and I. Next week when I have more time (hopefully) I need to send that poem I finished forever ago in the MTC.
Anyway, sorry I couldn't say much, but I know that these things are true. Christ is walking by our side, smiling at our success, and sobbing with our sorrows. I love you all, have a wonderful week! :)
~Elder Jensen
Pics: My birthday bash with our district haha (Elder Ely, Elder Despain, me, and my companion Elder Wilcox)
Giant spiders are here in Korea haha, the picture doesn't give it justice. they're really creepy and everywhere by shrubbery outside
Friday, September 12, 2014
Elder Joshua Nieman
Every week gets going faster and faster and It gets me so so excited to get out of here and start teaching people in Peru. Well this week I got to get out of the CCM¡ My companion has been having some health problems and we had to go to the hospital. He has to get surgery and they are going to be sending him home to get the surgery done. All of that is super sad but it was really nice just to get out of the CCM and see different things. The police here arent afraid to show off their guns. haha oh my gosh but that was really interesting to see. I took some pictures but they arent good cause I wasnt sure if I was allowed to take any pictures so they might be a little... well not good at all. The hospital we went to in Mexico was pretty clean and the doctor we talked to seemed really nice and really seemed like a good doctor. It made me think a lot about if I might get sick and I would have to go home. I wouldnt want to be in that situation at all cause I am working so hard and I would just feel like all of the things I did was for nothing but anyways this week I had my ups and downs. Going out of the CCM was really relaxing and it was really nice to take a break. It made me think of me going out in the field and how much better it will be out in the field just being free to walk to other places other than the streets and buildings I always see in the CCM. The first couple weeks of the CCM were really nice but now it is getting old and I just want to get out. haha. I am pretty happy throughout the days and I think that helps out a lot cause even by smiling and just having so much fun here makes everything so worth it. I met this kid Elder osborne my first week and I forgot to tell his amazing story but I might need to shorten it up a bit. Well he was riding his 4 wheeler and he turned really hard and it rolled on top of him. He was all alone but he had a friend riding somewhere else. Well he started to suffocate and the only thing he had was his pocket knife and so he made the decision to start stabbing himself cause he didnt want to suffocate and die that way. He stabbed himself 12 times and sliced his throat. His friend came and found him before he about died and got some help. His dad gave him a preisthood blessing and prayed so much to our heavenly father. Through all the praying and blessings Elder osbourne survived and is here in the CCM today. The doctors said he couldnt walk ever again but through hard work he learned how to walk. Wow that is so amazing and when he told that story I was just amazed about how God and Jesus Christ can help us through anything. When he told that story I felt like I wanted to come home and I was really just wanting to come home. I think he was prompted to tell that story to me so I could get in my head that I can do this and Heavenly Father will be there for me. Elder Osbourne and me are pretty good friends now and I will have to send a picture of me and him but I dont have it yet.
That is an amazing story and I probably should have ended my letter with that but I am just going to talk more about how my week went. All my week was study study study. Oh and during gym time I do work out sometimes but then I play soccer with the Latinos and that is so much fun. Me and the Latinos are tight and we are all pretty good friends. Just so you know the Latinos dont kill us we have actually one them a couple times and it is just so much fun to play with them. Im not getting fat If that is what you were asking. hahaha but I do have to watch myself cause who knows how much calories are in the food we eat. The only thing that I thought was pretty good was the enchaladas but that is really all there is. ha I will have to get used to all of that when I am in Peru. Oh and the one time we have american food, we have freaking pizza. haha It wasnt that bad but still I do not like Pizza.That is it but Mom and Dad and family and friends I just want to tell you how much I love you all and how your prayers are affecting me more than you know. You guys are great. Haha by the way I am the only one in my district that hasnt recieved a letter. hahaha I am totally fine with that but I dont know whats up with all the mailing service. haha but I read mom and the sisters letters every night and I look at all the pictures that I have and it just really helps me out so much. Haha even though I love this watch that has wonderful diamonds on each corner and I just look fabulous I would like to buy a new one. I am good with whatever you guys want to do. Thank you for just being amazing people in my life that have helped me get through the thick and thin and I just want to thank you for helping me prepare for this. Well one more week and I will be off to Peru. Oh and that is crazy that it has been a month already. Well I guess there is 23 more to go. haha wow. BUt once again I love the heck out of all of you and I love all the emails I am getting from everyone. Dont be afraid to write me cause I do read them all and I try me best to answer everyone that writes me. Well I love you and I will talk to you in a week.
Love Elder Nieman
***Joshua emailed later and let us know that he got our letters today!!! Yay! Now his mom can sleep tonight! He has really appreciated the emails from everybody. Thank you for being so caring and supportive. The pics Joshua sent are all on the blog.
Every week gets going faster and faster and It gets me so so excited to get out of here and start teaching people in Peru. Well this week I got to get out of the CCM¡ My companion has been having some health problems and we had to go to the hospital. He has to get surgery and they are going to be sending him home to get the surgery done. All of that is super sad but it was really nice just to get out of the CCM and see different things. The police here arent afraid to show off their guns. haha oh my gosh but that was really interesting to see. I took some pictures but they arent good cause I wasnt sure if I was allowed to take any pictures so they might be a little... well not good at all. The hospital we went to in Mexico was pretty clean and the doctor we talked to seemed really nice and really seemed like a good doctor. It made me think a lot about if I might get sick and I would have to go home. I wouldnt want to be in that situation at all cause I am working so hard and I would just feel like all of the things I did was for nothing but anyways this week I had my ups and downs. Going out of the CCM was really relaxing and it was really nice to take a break. It made me think of me going out in the field and how much better it will be out in the field just being free to walk to other places other than the streets and buildings I always see in the CCM. The first couple weeks of the CCM were really nice but now it is getting old and I just want to get out. haha. I am pretty happy throughout the days and I think that helps out a lot cause even by smiling and just having so much fun here makes everything so worth it. I met this kid Elder osborne my first week and I forgot to tell his amazing story but I might need to shorten it up a bit. Well he was riding his 4 wheeler and he turned really hard and it rolled on top of him. He was all alone but he had a friend riding somewhere else. Well he started to suffocate and the only thing he had was his pocket knife and so he made the decision to start stabbing himself cause he didnt want to suffocate and die that way. He stabbed himself 12 times and sliced his throat. His friend came and found him before he about died and got some help. His dad gave him a preisthood blessing and prayed so much to our heavenly father. Through all the praying and blessings Elder osbourne survived and is here in the CCM today. The doctors said he couldnt walk ever again but through hard work he learned how to walk. Wow that is so amazing and when he told that story I was just amazed about how God and Jesus Christ can help us through anything. When he told that story I felt like I wanted to come home and I was really just wanting to come home. I think he was prompted to tell that story to me so I could get in my head that I can do this and Heavenly Father will be there for me. Elder Osbourne and me are pretty good friends now and I will have to send a picture of me and him but I dont have it yet.
That is an amazing story and I probably should have ended my letter with that but I am just going to talk more about how my week went. All my week was study study study. Oh and during gym time I do work out sometimes but then I play soccer with the Latinos and that is so much fun. Me and the Latinos are tight and we are all pretty good friends. Just so you know the Latinos dont kill us we have actually one them a couple times and it is just so much fun to play with them. Im not getting fat If that is what you were asking. hahaha but I do have to watch myself cause who knows how much calories are in the food we eat. The only thing that I thought was pretty good was the enchaladas but that is really all there is. ha I will have to get used to all of that when I am in Peru. Oh and the one time we have american food, we have freaking pizza. haha It wasnt that bad but still I do not like Pizza.That is it but Mom and Dad and family and friends I just want to tell you how much I love you all and how your prayers are affecting me more than you know. You guys are great. Haha by the way I am the only one in my district that hasnt recieved a letter. hahaha I am totally fine with that but I dont know whats up with all the mailing service. haha but I read mom and the sisters letters every night and I look at all the pictures that I have and it just really helps me out so much. Haha even though I love this watch that has wonderful diamonds on each corner and I just look fabulous I would like to buy a new one. I am good with whatever you guys want to do. Thank you for just being amazing people in my life that have helped me get through the thick and thin and I just want to thank you for helping me prepare for this. Well one more week and I will be off to Peru. Oh and that is crazy that it has been a month already. Well I guess there is 23 more to go. haha wow. BUt once again I love the heck out of all of you and I love all the emails I am getting from everyone. Dont be afraid to write me cause I do read them all and I try me best to answer everyone that writes me. Well I love you and I will talk to you in a week.
Love Elder Nieman
***Joshua emailed later and let us know that he got our letters today!!! Yay! Now his mom can sleep tonight! He has really appreciated the emails from everybody. Thank you for being so caring and supportive. The pics Joshua sent are all on the blog.
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