Hey all!February already starts! This is the month of ¨´Carnavales´´ here in Peru! where you have to be careful cuz whatever person will soak you with water walking down the street! hahaha its awesome. Cuz i as a missionary walking all day you sweat. And being white, everybodyWe will have a marriage comin up real soon of Gustavo, who is a less active, and Antonella, who is an investigator! They have their eyes set on the temple to get sealed. Antonella is preapring and is way exxcited for her baptism also. They have now assisted 3 Sundays in a row! With their little boy Santiago who is just turned 1.Today i will travel to Lima and sleep in Chorrillos, because tomorrow we ahve a leaders meeting at 8 in the morning, these meetings are always filled with the spirit and i love them!Elder FrazierHeres a picture of an exchange i had with the Elder Barrera from Utah this past week and also a picture of the service we did, me wearing my gpa fraziers hat and a member wearing an old ladys hat ahhahaOn Mon, Jan 25, 2016Hope everyone had a great week like I did:)Had a ton of lesosns this past and found lots of new people to teach:) We are teaching a family, Cesar, Rosa and their 8year old boy Jordin.The dad Cesar has been recovering from some of the problems he had and is changing. We had a lesson with them the other night and when we got there, they had been fighting and said they couldnt attend us. So we hjust asked how they were doin, and they said more or less. All we did then was just invite, we just invited them tocontinue to read and pray, and that Satan is working right now in this moment so that your family isnt eternal. They agreed, the folowing day beingsunday, they came to church early and were back to normal and happy:) The scritptures and prayer are so powerful and are there in times of need. I couldnt be more greatful for them!i love you all and hope that you guys continue reading and praying everyday, even in the problems and challenges that arise!Elder Fraziertghe past week we were able to visit an old slave house and it was way cool! And here was one of the old churches. And the zone of Chincha:)On Mon, Jan 18, 2016Another awesome week!I have learned this past week a lot about the importance of trusting your companion. We had a family home evening and it went great. I feel like my companion dominated a lot of the lesson though and i learned an important lesson from that. Which is trust! WE have to be in tune with the spirit and be able to trust that our companion is following the spirit when he is teaching. And in this way we can trust that he will teach only what is necessary for the investigator in that specific moment. Instead of just trying to cover to whole lesson and get it done. But to be able to do that we have to be in unity and in tune with the spirit.We also had a young family come to church yesterday, Sister Anthonella and brother Gustavo. He is a less active and she is an investigator . And they both have dates of rescue and baptism! and their minds are comppletely set on the temple and the blessings that are in it. It was great to see their repentance as they show it going to church and reading the chapters in the book of mormon we leave them. They understand that putting God first in their lives will bless them with the things they need temporally and spiritually. I love this work and i especially love these people!Elder FrazierPeruvian Pizza!! jajaja:)On Tue, Jan 12, 2016Smiles:)I was able to see a personal miracle this week when iwoke up sick! I woke up feeling very ill and weak but i continued doing the things normal like my Dad taught me to do when i get sick. Did exercises and ate as much as i could for breakfast and studied. But after we left the house i got way weaker and was way light headed. And i just kept pressing on with a prayer in my mind and praying that my God would help me because we had very important lessons and things to do. And yes it was really hard throughout the whole day, but as we visited the people, I regained my strength. Or in other words, when we taught, i had strength. But when we left and started walking i lost it again. But it happened in every lesson! and i coulnt help but have a smile on my face seeing the miracles that were happening as i put my trust and diligence in Christ. In this day we also put a baptism with brother Marco Napa, who is reading praying and asissting early every Sunday. I gained a testimony of Diligence this day!Elder FrazierIm way excited for this new transfer and to be here helping the people of Chincha.On Mon, Jan 4, 2016An awesonme Christmas and New Years!!This past Sunday we were able to have Cesar and Rosa come to church early! They are a family with whom we recently put baptismal dates. Cesar doesnt know how to read, but it is so awesome to be able to see how they read as a family and can all learn together. Also they have a little 8 year old boy named Jordin who is just a little ball of energy! They are headed for the waters of baptism and then we well keep our minds focused on making them an eternal family in the temple.We also had an investigator Marco Napa come to church early and tell us that he doesnt want to live a sad life anymore and that he can see other families be happy so why not him? And its so true! He told us he wants to get baptized and start keeping the commandments. Wha t a miracle it was to hear and see him there! The Lord is working in every moment!Love you all! Have a great week!This is whjat they eat here! Chocoton and Paneton for Christmas!Love you!On Mon, Dec 28, 2015Christmas and New Year!We had a baptism that completed the family Puma. The daughter Nicol was way excited as she got to do this covenant with God. It was great to hear her testimony throughout this whole process. When we first started she didnt know if it was the true church. Then she said she was started to believe and she read and prayed everyday. Then finally as she shared her testimony after her baptism we could hear her say that she knew it was the true church.Missionary Work is the best thing in this world!Love you all! Look like you all had an awesome Christmas passing it with the family! Until next wek:) Heres a pic with the baptism service and also the christmas with the zone! One of the sweetest christmass ive had!!Love Elder FrazierOn Mon, Dec 21, 2015Feliz Navidad desde Papa Noel en PERU!We had an awesome mission night activity with a whole lot of recent converts, less actives, and investigators from all over Chincha! We were able to see three of the videos about Christ and Christmas and then we watched the talk by Elder Bednar from the Christmas devotional. And with a few recent converts and less actives sharing their testimonies in between the videos it was way powerful! Then we were able to have everybody interact playing the flour game that you showed us! We had 6 tables out and everybody was having a great time playing the game. Then we did a little skit of the King and the Begger which also want well! Then to finish we sang as a zone Regocijad, Jesus Nacio. And then the people enjoyed some paneton and hot chocolate! It was an awesome activity with a whole lot of interacting of the missionaries and members putting it all together!I will teach you all the flour game another day:) Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a loving and charitable one:)Love you all!Elder FrazierHeres a pic from my room on the fourth floor and also my christmas tree made by mom!!
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Words from Elder Eli Frazier in Peru
On Mon, Feb 1, 2016
Words from Samuel Isaacson in Argentina
well i hit my 6th month mark last friday!! and so we opened my bag of reeses pieces to celabrate for the victory!!1 haha
this past week has been pretty good nothing exciting has happened or anything funny! but we did talk to all of our investigators!!
Edwardo: he is doing good he still reads all the time he has come to church twice so now we are planning on baptizing him this saturday!!(PRAY) well we were talking to our other investigatores and edwardos mom pasted us so we waved and they asked how we knew her and we told her that we were teaching her son. then they started making gay jokes so we asked them cause that was our worry that he was gay. and they said yeah he is flaming gay!! cause i guess she is cousins with him and yeah he is gay!! but we said we asked him straight and he said that he isnt gay!! so well i guess we ask him again and see whhat he says if he says no we just have to trust him!! (SO PRAY)
Javier Y Gabi:so we were visting with these guy yestureday and they had just tole us that Edwardo was guy! so my comp trys to make the situation better by saying people have problems with drugs and alcohol people have problems with porn. and when he said that Gabi looked at javier and said he does!! and then he said she has one worse!! then everybody started to laugh so hard!!! so yeah my comp trying to help the situation turned out to being making it worse!!! haha but its right everyone has their problems and satan knows what they are and will use them!!
umm i dont really know what else happened this past week! nothing really more exciting then that!!
well we had to clean the fount for the sister missionaries cause they had a baptism! and the drain doesnt work so yeah we had to use buckets and get water out that way!! haha so yeah it was way fun!!!
really sorry for the short letter!! i promise to do better next week!! ill remember the days better and not let them blend together!!
thanks to everyone tht wrote me!! i love you all!!!
Words from Elder Chandon Herring in Washinton DC
Ahhhh!!! Time is going too fast! Help! I do not like how time flies
when you are having a good time. This week there were several
experiences that made me reflect on my mission and how I feel so
comfortable feeling that I finally know how to do missionary work and
I have like less than 5 months left. But it means I get to work like
crazy and effectively for these next five!
So this week was a good one. We did have to spend quite a bit of time
preparing for this coming transfer this week because they have changed the way we do things now. So we are having fun juggling that. But we
had several really good teaching opportunities and experiences. The
first during the week was with Sis Bruce. (They have been working with her since Oct. She is a "returning member" as Chan puts it😉) She is making such good
progress. We read with her in the Book of Mormon because she feels
like she is struggling to understand what is going on. We helped her
understand who people were and she instantly was relating their
experiences to her own life! It was incredible. She was saying things
like, "So when this happened to Nephi he did this so I could do it
like this." It was a good time. She related a lot of it to her and is
absorbing so much more now. We got her a calendar that has temple
pictures that she can use to help remind her of when the next temple day
is that we are aiming for her to go to. She is taking things one bite
at a time and doing well.
Another awesome visit we had this week was again shoveling snow. We
were called by a member who said his wife needed some help. We showed
up and she was out trying to get the snow out of her driveway and we
finished it for her. She is a great missionary and agreed to help us
service tract to find more people. We found Tom. He let us dig out a
car and he wanted to pay us. It is so fun to watch people so
bewildered that we don't accept any payment. We invited him to a few
Ward activities because he turned down a 5-20 minute visit. But one
more touch. The member is so good. She introduced us to several
people.
The last awesome experience i will share was Saturday night. We had
been told our Ward had an activity that night and we convinced a less
active family to come. They have not been to church since I have been
here in Rockville. We get to the church and it was cancelled! No one
was there! And right behind us was them! Darn it! We still went inside
with them because they had brought food and why not teach them when
you are with them. We had a great talk and played soccer with them.
Their names are Andrew, the Dad, and Ben, the 11 year old incredible
soccer player. We played in the gym and it was a blast. It was just
what they needed! It helped their relationship and helped us
understand it better since the parents are divorced and we got to
become Better friends that they trust. It was a great experience. The lord
works in many ways.
So life is good. Transfers are coming but we are still teaching! Elder
Ord and I have changed a lot of things about being in this area and it
is helping a lot. I hope you all have a great week. I love you all and
remember to choose the right! It may not be easy but is ALWAYS worth
it. Have a great week!
-Elder Herring
Words from Sister Brittany Platt in Colorado
Olo everybody!
So, this e-mail's going to be short, but I wanted to tell you two stories from this past week!
The first one is about getting rejected by a cat! It was hilarious. The other day we were knocking doors at a trailor park and a cat answered the door! It was the funniest thing ever. It kept meowing at us like it was having a conversation, and when we asked if it wanted to learn about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, it sounded like it meowed "no" and then walked away! We totally got rejected by a cat! Haha. #missionmomentsofpureawesomeness
The second one, is we met with a young man named Treavor at the library to teach lesson 3 - the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He's 24 and a bit physically disabled, but one of the sweetest, most wonderful young men I've met! He truly is searching for truth. He'd met with missionaries before, and he asked us for an Institute BOM study guide as well as one of the R.S. Teachings from the Living Prophets books. We brought both of those to him as well as a Gospel Principles book. He had some really great scriptural and doctrinal questions. Questions that at the beginning of my mission would have totally stumped me! But it was incredible as I felt the Spirit work through to answer his questions based on the scriptures and the doctrine that I've learned over the past year and a half. By the end of the lesson he accepted baptism and a baptismal date!! We were so excited. But we have to pass him off to the YSA sisters! Man, I was so bummed. But, I know that if he sincerely wants to know, he will receive the answer that this church is the true church of Jesus Christ once again on the earth! I'm just excited to find out what happens with him.
Well, things here are still great! We got our license plate stolen so that was fun. BUT, the police are working on it and hopefully we'll get another one soon. We love it here so much and we love the people! We had so many non-members and less-actives at church on Sunday! It was amazing!
Have a wonderful week and keep going! Especially when the going gets tough. If you're feeling down, go out and serve. Service brings joy more than anything else! Especially serving the Lord! Love you all and God bless you!
Love, Sister Platt
Have a wonderful week and keep going! Especially when the going gets tough. If you're feeling down, go out and serve. Service brings joy more than anything else! Especially serving the Lord! Love you all and God bless you!
Love, Sister Platt
#Godisgood
#501
Words from Elder Levi Crosby in Tennessee
Hello everyone! How is everyone doing?? I heard its getting cold over
there?? Here in TN it's been in the 60s and man it's been nice..
Anyways last week was exciting. On Wednesday we had our normal
district meeting and this time it was down in Jasper, TN. Which is
right on the southern border. Anyways after that we got to go to
Georgia! Because there is one town in Georgie that is still in our
mission(don't worry I didn't leave my mission mom) it was pretty cool
because I have never been there before. On Friday we had Zone
Conference. Our mission president only has like 4 months left so it
was good to see him there. We were trained on the 3 pillars of
missionary work. Which is faith, patience, and diligence. When we
talked about faith he mentioned the scripture in Ether 12:6, which
talks about how we receive a witness only after the trial of your
faith. And my mission president said a really cool quote. He said "You
don't know how strong the anchor is, until after the storm." And that
really hit me. It's so true. We only see how loving and caring God is
after the trials he gives us. Because he knows when we overcome those
trials we will become more like him and that's our purpose on this
earth. So always remember that. He also mentioned the story about
Winston Churchill and how he never gave up in world war ll. So never
ever give up. There is your motivation for the week. Anyways enough
preaching from me. I hope you all stay warm! I heard about the intense
wrestling match! It gave me the goosebumps just thinking about it! Go
redskins! Haha I love you all and take care!
This is my new motto. "The kingdom of God or Nothing" - President
Gordon B. Hinckley
- Elder Levi Crosby
there?? Here in TN it's been in the 60s and man it's been nice..
Anyways last week was exciting. On Wednesday we had our normal
district meeting and this time it was down in Jasper, TN. Which is
right on the southern border. Anyways after that we got to go to
Georgia! Because there is one town in Georgie that is still in our
mission(don't worry I didn't leave my mission mom) it was pretty cool
because I have never been there before. On Friday we had Zone
Conference. Our mission president only has like 4 months left so it
was good to see him there. We were trained on the 3 pillars of
missionary work. Which is faith, patience, and diligence. When we
talked about faith he mentioned the scripture in Ether 12:6, which
talks about how we receive a witness only after the trial of your
faith. And my mission president said a really cool quote. He said "You
don't know how strong the anchor is, until after the storm." And that
really hit me. It's so true. We only see how loving and caring God is
after the trials he gives us. Because he knows when we overcome those
trials we will become more like him and that's our purpose on this
earth. So always remember that. He also mentioned the story about
Winston Churchill and how he never gave up in world war ll. So never
ever give up. There is your motivation for the week. Anyways enough
preaching from me. I hope you all stay warm! I heard about the intense
wrestling match! It gave me the goosebumps just thinking about it! Go
redskins! Haha I love you all and take care!
This is my new motto. "The kingdom of God or Nothing" - President
Gordon B. Hinckley
- Elder Levi Crosby
Words from Sister Abbie Waite in Texas
The greatest miracle in time and eternity is the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made. (Alma 34:9)
We are not responsible for the Fall of Adam and Eve, but we are responsible for our own sins. We are taught in the scriptures that God cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance, and sin prevents us from living in His presence.
Nephi teaches us that if our works have been filthiness, then we ourselves are filthy and "... the kingdom of God is not filthy, and there cannot any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God (1 Nephi 15:34)."
Because we are fallen human beings, we "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)."
None of us are perfect. None of us are clean enough to enter the kingdom of God on our own.
In the ultimate act of mercy, Heavenly Father sent His Son to atone for our sins.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:16-17)."
Christ paid the penalty for our sins. He alone was able to do so because He was perfectly clean.
"Though He suffered beyond comprehension-so much so that He bled from every pore and asked whether it were possible that this burden be lifted from Him-He submitted to the Father's will in a supreme expression of love for His Father and for us (Preach My Gospel, pg. 52)."
"Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered (2 Nephi 2:7)."
The triumph of Jesus Christ over sin through His suffering and over physical death by His Resurrection is called the Atonement. This is the greatest miracle of all time and eternity.
Through the Atonement we become worthy to enter the presence of our Heavenly Father permanently. We grow. We change. We become clean.
As a missionary, I have had many, many, many opportunities to see the Atonement work in people's lives.
I have watched people I have taught apply the Atonement in their lives and it brings me such joy to see the change it has made in them.
I have been a witness to missionaries around me growing and changing into powerful servants of the Lord.
I have seen my friends and family grow through living the gospel and accepting the Atonement of Jesus Christ more fully in their lives.
I, myself, have experienced a mighty change of heart. I am not who I was one year ago. I am not who I was three months ago. I am not even who I was yesterday.
This week has been one full of growth and change and love. I love my companion and I thank God every day that I was given the opportunity to finish her training, as unexpected as it was. I am grateful for the trust the Lord has in me. I am grateful for all of the companions I have had who have helped shape me. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a mission historian for the last two transfers, and a sister training leader for the next. The change that has taken place in me over the last 13 months would not have taken place had I not been called to serve the Lord. I cannot adequately express the joy that is in my heart because of the gospel I have the privilege to declare to these wonderful people of Texas.
"Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.
"Who could have supposed that our God would have been so merciful as to have snatched us from our awful, sinful, and polluted state (Alma 26:16-17)?"
"And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these things; for why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him... (Jacob 4:12)"
The miracle of the Atonement is real. It has worked in my life. It will work in yours.
And it works wonderfully!
Love,
Sister Waite
Words from Sister Hannah Platt in Honduras
Dear friends and family,
First off, i just want to wish a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my beautiful mother!!!! Call her up and send her lots of love!! Cuz she is pretty dang great.. just the greatest mother in the whole world!
Well another week has passed.. and its febrero?! Que???? I am soo amazed. Well happy Febuary!! I hope its a pretty great first day of the month. THis week was pretty dang good. We started it off by going to a multizone conference.. and let me just tell you that it pretty much changed my entire life... One of our assistants, Elder Duncan, talked about how Satan works. He said that he uses the exact same tools that we, as God`s servants, use. He preaches, he works diligently, he searches a lot to find people, he has hope, and a bunch of other tactics.. then he said that with those same tactics that we use, he is winning! He coninces us that we are not good enough, he puts doubts in our minds. And he works sooo hard. But, we have a secret weapon, and that is the Spirit! Its a weapon that Satan does not have and won`t ever be able to have! And we have the gift of the Holy Ghost which mean s taht we have the constant right to its company. But, we, as humans, do a lot of things that drive the spirit away. We have negative thoughts, we talk bad of others, we are disobedient, etc. SO he gave us a challenge and its a challenge that is changing my life and i want to share it with you!! He told us to make a list of things that could possibly be stopping us from having the spirit. Then, you do a 40 day fast from every single one of those things! you start it with a regular fast, (for 24 hours) and then for 40 days you tyry your hardest to avoid doing every single one of the things that drives the spirit away. My companion and i started it this week! And i have already noticed a difference!! But, satan will work hard as well!!!! He will put the things on your list even more in your way! We have sure seen that this week. BUt God has given us soo much strength and i have felt the spirit soo much more. So my challenge is for each of you to do the 40 day fast from the things that are stopping you form having the spirit. And i promise you will see a difference! You will feel the spirit in your life! And you will be happier.
Things are great here in Comayagua!!! MIracles are still happeneing. I am sooo happy and greateful to be here!!!! God is soo good! We have a girl of 12 years that is preaparing for baptism and we are teaching her mom and sister as well. They are amazing! Our families are progressing slowlly but surely. I am just soo grateaful for thise gospel!!!
I sure love you all ! Have the most incredible week!!!
Love,
Hermana Platt
Words from Elder Eli Frazier in Peru
Family and Friends!
So this week we will have our grand activity as a ward! We are way excited as our stake president is allowing us to take some time and to share the Christmas videos about Christ and to be able to remind everyone what true gift they can really give this Christmas. Im way excited to see how its going to turn out. We also have a baptism planned for the 25th of december which will be a day that Nicol Puma will never forget!
This past week we have been also able to see an increase in the trust with the members and with us. This is one of our gooals that we have for this transfer. And we are starting to see a difference in the forms that the Bishop is talking to us and inviting us even to have lunch with him! Im way excited for this Chrsitmas and also the tools that God has given to help these people here in Chincha learn more about JesusChrist.
Love you all and hope you have a great pre christmas week!
Elder Frazier
Words from Elder Garrett Davis in Thailand
Lopburi!!:)well it was another good week in Lopburi we had the chance to do something we hardly ever do on Preparation Day and that is rest:) haha we had the chance to go to a members house and they fed us mango and sticky rice it was great as usual one of my favorite thai deserts:) and tuesday we had district meeting and we went by had something i needed to do at the post office and the we met with sister dang before english. She is awesome doing well and is strong and active its been great to meet with her i have had the chacne of teaching her since i got here and its been a great experience! then we taught english class its good they are getting better you can see the ones who come regularly wednesday we had switch offs witht the other elders in my area elder hunt was my companion he just got done being a greene and is doing well picking up the language fast we had some interesting lessons with one of his rcs who has been gone for a while but he cam to church sunday so it was a success! the we finsihed off inviting at the city:) thurday we long planned and taught a couple lessons and then we left to go to Bakret to switch off with the zone leaders friday i had the chance to be companions with my old companion Elder Sayavong he is from loas and so we went and taught some leas that were loas and it was cool experiece because i could understand most of what they are saying:) and we the invited and taught recent converts and then saturday we invited taught more recent converts and met with the bishops and ward mission leader it was going well the vision that we are putting together should help the new eldders coming in a lot:) sunday we ahad church and then we went to an recent converts house sister pimjays who feed us dinner it was great:) this week was good and i am thankful for the letters as well! i love you guys! oh shout out to Tan Man who tore it up at state! hope you guys have a good week and best of luck to the guys going to regions!:) love you guysElder Davis:)Elder Sayavong and a market we invited at:)On Mon, Jan 25, 2016 at 1:17 PM, Stephen Davis <stephen.davis@myldsmail.net> wrote:Lopburi!!:)well this past week was had a good time and saw some miracles and were lucky to see the baptism of two people they are Mother and daughter its really sweet to see them baptized together! Monday was fun we went to the zoo and then we played some basketball and one of our members works for a guy from Mesa Arizona but he came over and took us out to eat his name is Brother Sharp not sure about the first name:) but he is a cool guy tuesday we have district meeting and hen had to go get somethings for zone conference and also taught an recent convert sister dang and then english class thats always a good time:) wednedday got started early had to wake up go to bangkok for training and we stayed there all day came back in the evening it was sweet go to see my companion elder Sayavong he is a stud one of my favorite companions! also elder Davenport, thursday we had anohter world wide training which was two hours long but then change to 4 hours long becuase our computer was slow haha friday we meet with investigators and recent convert tlaking about the Book Of Mormon and sautrday we had the cahnce to make somtom and play sports with some members and teach more recent converts sunday we had the chance to meet a qurom of the 70 and have two baptisms:) it was a busy week lots of trainings but i am excited to see how this one goes! thank you for your letter i am responding but a little slow:) i love you guy hope you guys have a great week!Love your friendElde Davis!this is sister duan and dan they are awesome and got baptized yesterday:) and this is an recent convert she is awesome and its also 60 degrees outside the thai people are cold:)On Mon, Jan 18, 2016 at 1:05 PM, Stephen Davis <stephen.davis@myldsmail.net> wrote:Lopburi!:)welll another week in the books and it started off great and we had pday down in bangkok which was an adventure by its self first time i have been traveling some where and not knowing how to get there i am just glad i can speak some thia:) haha but it was fun went to a market down there and came back upo and then tueday we went and visited and less active at her house and it good to see her she is now coming back solid her name is tip then we had enlgish class later than night it was fun we had about 10 to 15 people there:) the wednesday we invited and went and saw another less active who was doing great but we brought some old members along with us and they knew the less active it was so cool to see them talk and everything i love it they are very humble people and then we had book of mormon class and thurday long plan and went and invited for a while and talked to some recent converts and then friday the same invited and recent converts which was good but in the evening time we went to a market and invited there were tons of people and also some guys selling this huge python i tried to take a picture but i did not succeed saturday we had the chance to call people and play some sports with some recent converts and sunday was great because we had investigator less actives at church but its coming along tryiong to get people to come to church its going great this area is about to get a new church too which is going to be really nice:) we then went and explored the city and invited some more then went home andhad sunday night dinner:) but all is well and the work is going great this was week 9 in lopburi and its been great i love the members here they have been huge examples of charity. I loev you guys i wish you he best and i want to congrats everyone who wrestled at DOC WRIGHT you guys are studs! I love you guys hope all is well!:)Love Elder Davis!:)sun set in bangkok and messing around at a pond by the church!
Words from Elder Samuel Isaacson in Argentina
Hola como están ches
--
this week was good!
well this week we taught our investigator that is progressing alot! we taought him almost every lesson in 2 weeks!! he reads everything we give him like 2 times or more!! he will hopfully be getting baptized in a week or 2!! he came to church yesturday and said he liked it and that he liked the people he met in the church!! its good when people help the missionaries not give some lame excuse like they normally do!! haha but it was good his name is edwardo!!
our other investigator is named natalia! she is awesome we only got to talk to her once in the pst week because she has been really sad because her husband had to leave for work! he is and andar maria. which is a type of police and he works in buenos aires for 6 months at a time! sounds to me like every wifes dream! six months with a husband and 6 months without a husband!! haha but no she was really sad!! i made her cry cause i asked where he was!! yeah i kicked myself pretty hard for that one!!! but we finally got to talk to her it was good!! she still wants to be baptized!! so thats good!!
well the other family that we are teaching is the guy that love english music!! when he sings he doesnt have an accent!! but he has no idea what he is saying!! but anyway he has been reading and always has questions about the stuff he reads!! so thats good he believes in the BOM but not in jose smith! haha so thats what we are working on!! but he will figure it out one day!! oh yeah and im probably gonna get a metallica shirt from his wife cause she sells clothes!! (really his girlfriend)
okay to the funny story of the week!!
so there was a big world broadcast to all the missionaries in the world!! so we went to it and after the first speaker the power goes off so we cant watch it! well the power was off until the last speaker so we heard the first and last speakers!! but it was still good! but after the braodcast we wanted some icecream so we went to the store called Grido! they have really good icecream! so we get in there elder hoopes goes and orders first with no problem at all! so its my turn i tell her what size i want. then she asks what flavor i say ´´Blanco alfajor´´ then she asks ´´que´´ i say again ´´Blanco alfajor´´. she looks at my comp and asked what i want. he says ´´Blanco alfajor´´ just the exact same as i said it!! but she understood him!! then some fat lady in line behind me looks at me and tells me (in ENGLISH) ´´your spanish is very bad´´ but i laughed and thought about telling her how bad her english was but i held my tongue!! but when we where walking out she told me angain in english that i need to practice speaking spanish!! again i held my tongue to what i was thinking!! haha but yeah that was great!!
and almost every member we have talked to tells us we dont speak very well!! so yeah great confedance booster!! ghagha
this week was great learned alot
thanks for all the letters!!!
i love you all very much!!
Elder SCIsaacson
Words from Elder Chandon Herring in Washinton DC
Hello! Another amazing week here in DC! Except there was a bit of a
twist in the normal routine of events. There was a massive blizzard!
(Massive in terms of what DC normally gets) we ended up with 2-4 feet!
Outside of our apartment we have a good 3 1/2 feet. It is crazy! But
let's us see the beginning of the week first before we get to the
snow.
Tuesday... So today we had a glorious morning solving issues. I need
not go into detail but it took the whole morning. We did have a
fantastic lunch with Kerry Harding. He was in the DC3rd Ward and is a
good friend of mine. He thought I had completed my mission but we ran
into each other and he invited us over for lunch. He is a good man. He far exceeded my highest dreams and hopes for lunch. He contacted my dear mother and provided the perfect Elder Herring meal. It included a
roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, carrots, salad, rolls, and all sorts
of goodies. Topped of with 4 layered chocolate dessert, and lemonade
to wash it all down. I have not been so happy to see food in my entire
life I don't think. I missed this traditional Herring-style meal! He
also provided us with some very helpful insights on networking and
building relationships of trust with people to help us in our lives.
It was very helpful and eye opening. I will have a large headstart
after serving in DC. After sharing a lesson and thanking him we were
off to go check on some referrals. It was so cold! We did get a few
return appointments, thank goodness, but it was cold and windy!
Ahhhh!! I swear that The farther you get from the celestial kingdom,
the colder it gets. But overall a very successful and good day!
Wednesday... Today was a world wide missionary broadcast. It was very
good and presided over by 6 members of the twelve. They re emphasized
our purpose as well as some other chapters of PMG. I went down to
Suitland to watch it and it was a great experience. After that we had
our normal staff meeting and transfers talk. But then all of a sudden a whole inch of snow fell and you would have thought the world was going to end. People here are not used to it at all. President
knows this and told people to go home. On our way home we saw at least
7 accidents. One of them broke through the median on the freeway. We
had some missionaries not get home until 1:30am! Traffic was at a
complete hault everywhere. This was very reassuring with the news of a
record breaking blizzard on its way. But no one was in a wreck.
Thursday... We had specialized training part two! This group that came
in are just amazing missionaries. They are on top of their game and
willing to work hard. We had our trainings and then we're off to a
meeting with President to prepare for the storm. The state of Maryland
and the District declared a state of emergency and issued an order to
have people off of the streets by a certain time. We worked out all
the logistics and arranged for the missionaries to be ready in case
they lost power and all those luxuries they are used to. After that we
had a great dinner with the Griffins. I went with him to help him fill
the air on the tires of his snow blower. He taught me a valuable
lesson. Don't ever, ever, ever buy a snow blower with tubeless tires.
It is a pain in the rear. But we were successful. We ended the evening
with a lesson at the visitors center. We had a potential investigator
who has no background or belief really in God or Christ. It is amazing
and a lot of fun shaping people's beliefs and helping them find the
truth. We had an amazing lesson and the members that were with us are
both return missionaries which was perfect! They shared powerful
testimony and taught well. I loved it!
Friday... We had to be in by noon so we were not in the storm as it
came. So not too much happened today other than we played board games
and studied... The roads around all of the stores were packed and the
stores were empty. People are crazy if things like this happen. So
ya... Cabin fever begins...
Saturday... We played in the snow! The storm was still coming down
down but we had to get outside. Elder Tanner made a tunnel about 10
yards long that we all crawled through until a snow plow ruined it.
But we messed around for a couple hours, watched church movies,
studied, all that jazz. Fun fun times...
Sunday... So today we were authorized to bless the sacrament and held
a mini sacrament meeting in our apartment. It actually was a very
spiritual experience. We sang, prayed, and shared testimony with each
other. The sacrament is such a blessing and wonderful gift. We then
got dressed in our snow clothes and went to work. We shoveled and
scraped and shoveled and shoveled some more the rest of the day. We
cleared the path at the mission office. Cleaned out two driveways,
over a dozen cars. It was great! I am grateful we have a truck that is
4X4 so we can get around still. It was a ton of fun. We had so many
people offer to pay us and they were just shocked that we did not
accept it. They almost did not Know what to do. By the end of the day
we were a little tired. But hey we got a few new investigators and a
good workout. We did the mission office last at night and raced to the
car after we were done. We all stood in a line on untouched snow and
ran. I had a quick lead but was passed at about the half way mark.
This made me sad so I shoved my competition to the ground. So needless
to say I won :) good day!
So life here is fun but cold. We are doing some good work and enjoying
the rest and change of pace. But we are also a little restless. Well I
love you all! Have a great week!
-Elder Herring
twist in the normal routine of events. There was a massive blizzard!
(Massive in terms of what DC normally gets) we ended up with 2-4 feet!
Outside of our apartment we have a good 3 1/2 feet. It is crazy! But
let's us see the beginning of the week first before we get to the
snow.
Tuesday... So today we had a glorious morning solving issues. I need
not go into detail but it took the whole morning. We did have a
fantastic lunch with Kerry Harding. He was in the DC3rd Ward and is a
good friend of mine. He thought I had completed my mission but we ran
into each other and he invited us over for lunch. He is a good man. He far exceeded my highest dreams and hopes for lunch. He contacted my dear mother and provided the perfect Elder Herring meal. It included a
roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, carrots, salad, rolls, and all sorts
of goodies. Topped of with 4 layered chocolate dessert, and lemonade
to wash it all down. I have not been so happy to see food in my entire
life I don't think. I missed this traditional Herring-style meal! He
also provided us with some very helpful insights on networking and
building relationships of trust with people to help us in our lives.
It was very helpful and eye opening. I will have a large headstart
after serving in DC. After sharing a lesson and thanking him we were
off to go check on some referrals. It was so cold! We did get a few
return appointments, thank goodness, but it was cold and windy!
Ahhhh!! I swear that The farther you get from the celestial kingdom,
the colder it gets. But overall a very successful and good day!
Wednesday... Today was a world wide missionary broadcast. It was very
good and presided over by 6 members of the twelve. They re emphasized
our purpose as well as some other chapters of PMG. I went down to
Suitland to watch it and it was a great experience. After that we had
our normal staff meeting and transfers talk. But then all of a sudden a whole inch of snow fell and you would have thought the world was going to end. People here are not used to it at all. President
knows this and told people to go home. On our way home we saw at least
7 accidents. One of them broke through the median on the freeway. We
had some missionaries not get home until 1:30am! Traffic was at a
complete hault everywhere. This was very reassuring with the news of a
record breaking blizzard on its way. But no one was in a wreck.
Thursday... We had specialized training part two! This group that came
in are just amazing missionaries. They are on top of their game and
willing to work hard. We had our trainings and then we're off to a
meeting with President to prepare for the storm. The state of Maryland
and the District declared a state of emergency and issued an order to
have people off of the streets by a certain time. We worked out all
the logistics and arranged for the missionaries to be ready in case
they lost power and all those luxuries they are used to. After that we
had a great dinner with the Griffins. I went with him to help him fill
the air on the tires of his snow blower. He taught me a valuable
lesson. Don't ever, ever, ever buy a snow blower with tubeless tires.
It is a pain in the rear. But we were successful. We ended the evening
with a lesson at the visitors center. We had a potential investigator
who has no background or belief really in God or Christ. It is amazing
and a lot of fun shaping people's beliefs and helping them find the
truth. We had an amazing lesson and the members that were with us are
both return missionaries which was perfect! They shared powerful
testimony and taught well. I loved it!
Friday... We had to be in by noon so we were not in the storm as it
came. So not too much happened today other than we played board games
and studied... The roads around all of the stores were packed and the
stores were empty. People are crazy if things like this happen. So
ya... Cabin fever begins...
Saturday... We played in the snow! The storm was still coming down
down but we had to get outside. Elder Tanner made a tunnel about 10
yards long that we all crawled through until a snow plow ruined it.
But we messed around for a couple hours, watched church movies,
studied, all that jazz. Fun fun times...
Sunday... So today we were authorized to bless the sacrament and held
a mini sacrament meeting in our apartment. It actually was a very
spiritual experience. We sang, prayed, and shared testimony with each
other. The sacrament is such a blessing and wonderful gift. We then
got dressed in our snow clothes and went to work. We shoveled and
scraped and shoveled and shoveled some more the rest of the day. We
cleared the path at the mission office. Cleaned out two driveways,
over a dozen cars. It was great! I am grateful we have a truck that is
4X4 so we can get around still. It was a ton of fun. We had so many
people offer to pay us and they were just shocked that we did not
accept it. They almost did not Know what to do. By the end of the day
we were a little tired. But hey we got a few new investigators and a
good workout. We did the mission office last at night and raced to the
car after we were done. We all stood in a line on untouched snow and
ran. I had a quick lead but was passed at about the half way mark.
This made me sad so I shoved my competition to the ground. So needless
to say I won :) good day!
So life here is fun but cold. We are doing some good work and enjoying
the rest and change of pace. But we are also a little restless. Well I
love you all! Have a great week!
-Elder Herring
Words from SIster Brittany Platt in Colorado
Olo everybody!
So, this last week was awesome! Oh my goodness. We're serving in such a ghetto area and I love it! We're in Commerce City and we've already had several cat calls (once while we were taking out the trash....apparently that's attractive here) and we had a motorcyclist flag us down. We thought he was either going to kill us or hit on us, but he just told us to turn on our head lights. Haha! Fun fun. Our apt was super gross and dirty (the elders did not clean it) so we spent about five hours cleaning and sanitizing it, and Sister Mendenhall let us go buy new stuff for it like a shower curtain. I love elders, but they're just plain nasty sometimes. But, now it looks like home and we love it!
So, my greenie/baby is from Florida and she's almost as obsessed with Disney as I am. We're best friends already! Haha. She's SO beautiful and sweet and hard-working. I'll send a picture of us both. I don't have much time, but I want to tell two miracles, maybe three.
So, this last week was awesome! Oh my goodness. We're serving in such a ghetto area and I love it! We're in Commerce City and we've already had several cat calls (once while we were taking out the trash....apparently that's attractive here) and we had a motorcyclist flag us down. We thought he was either going to kill us or hit on us, but he just told us to turn on our head lights. Haha! Fun fun. Our apt was super gross and dirty (the elders did not clean it) so we spent about five hours cleaning and sanitizing it, and Sister Mendenhall let us go buy new stuff for it like a shower curtain. I love elders, but they're just plain nasty sometimes. But, now it looks like home and we love it!
So, my greenie/baby is from Florida and she's almost as obsessed with Disney as I am. We're best friends already! Haha. She's SO beautiful and sweet and hard-working. I'll send a picture of us both. I don't have much time, but I want to tell two miracles, maybe three.
The first one is we felt inspired to go visit a widow in the ward Friday night. She's active, but her husband just passed away last year sometime. When we showed up, she let us in and with tears in her eyes, told us we were an answer to prayer. Apparently, she's been so depressed with her husband's passing, she was planning that night to call a friend to give her dog away to, and then she was going to over-dose on pills (this lady's in her late 60's, early 70's). But, she couldn't find her phone anywhere and then we showed up at her door. I've never felt so close to the Spirit and so full of love for a person I just met as I did in that moment. It was a very humbling experience. We met with her Saturday as well and did service for her and then she fed us dinner on Sunday. She met with the Bishop on Sunday and had a really good talk and is coming to the temple with us in February. She hasn't been in a long time, and we're really excited for her. How grateful I am that we followed the Spirit that night!
Another miracle is we stopped by a less-active family's home on Sunday and had one of the most amazing lessons I've had on my mission. They've been trying to come back, but haven't cuz it's been so hard. I'm praying and hoping that we can help them to become active again and to heal their family. We also had another less-active family at church and a new investigator that the Spanish elders gave to us (we gave him to the zone leaders that we share the ward with - he'll just do better with them). Also, kind of a funny story: we passed by this horse barn and arena and I saw some people outside riding horses. They're all Spanish. So, we pulled over and trecked through the mud and puddles and quite shocked all the people that were there! We waved hello and asked if there was any service we could do? They pointed us to the owner, Raul, and he laughed and said we could come this week as long as we didn't come in skirts. Haha! I'm sure it was quite the shock to see to pretty girls walking through the mud in skirts asking if we could muck stalls! It was fun, though, and the Spanish elders are coming with us and I'm hoping they'll be able to teach Raul and his family.
Well, that's all I have time for! I hope y'all have a wonderful week! God bless you!
Love, Sister Platt
Love, Sister Platt
#501
#Godisgood
Words from Elder Levi Crosby in Tennessee
Hey everyone! How has everyone been??:) I'm sure you guys are doing
good like always! I hope your staying warm! Believe it or not we got
snow over here! It was awesome! Our mission president put us on house
arrest because he didn't want us out on the slick streets! Or maybe
because he knew we would go play in the snow... Lol but it was great!
This last week was pretty good. On Wednesday we had a Worldwide
Missionary Broadcast! It was awesome! They haven't had one of those in
a decade! In the trainings they really emphasized how everything we do
and say affects the spirit we carry and it encouraged me to always
strive to be a better person and especially a better missionary. So we
always need to say and do things that bring the Holy Ghost into our
lives. I know when we do that we will grow closer to our savior and
our Heavenly Father. I love and appreciate all of the support y'all
give me! If you ever need anything just let me know:) here is a
picture of my companion and I playing in the snow!
Love, Elder Levi Crosby
Words from Sister Abbie Waite in Texas
Dear all,
I don't really know how to describe this week. It was incredible, yes, but also crazy! But I guess those are both good things...
This week was AMAZING!
We had an incredible zone meeting and had the opportunity to learn at the feet of prophets, seers, and revelators on Wednesday during a world wide missionary broadcast. I have learned so much in so little time!
Also on Wednesday, I had the opportunity to learn from Sister Reece. She is a powerful missionary with an incredible testimony of this gospel. I learned so much!
Early Thursday morning, though, we got a call from President Slaughter, informing us that Sister Johnson would be leaving the area immediately and I would be receiving a new companion. We were not expecting an emergency transfer, and after a whirlwind of packing, I found myself in the driver's seat of our Ford Fusion with a new companion, Sister Kirkman. She will be my companion for the rest of the transfer and I will be finishing her training. This was not something I expected to happen ever. It has taken a lot of prayer, but we're working together and the Lord is with us every step of the way! I am humbled by this sacred trust from the Lord, and I can feel His hand guiding me.
Our first night together, we received a phone call from the man I talked about last week (the one who lived in the less active member's apartment and allowed us back to teach his family the Restoration). He asked us if we could come over that night, one night before our scheduled return appointment. We went by and taught them and they committed to be baptized on February 13! Sister Kirkman bore powerful testimony! It was great! We went by again on Saturday to teach them the Plan of Salvation and they loved it. They have wonderful questions and I can hardly wait for their baptism. At church yesterday, Sister Stephens (the mom of the family) told us that she has been looking for something all of her life and has finally found it. THEY LOVE THE GOSPEL AND IT'S ONLY BEEN ONE WEEK! The Lord is preparing the hearts of His people!
We were part of a small gathering recently in which subjects for sacrament meeting talks were being discussed. Each member of the group gave suggestions, and eventually it was my turn. Without having to stop and consider my response, I answered: "The Restoration." Almost immediately the group was in a quiet uproar. "Do you think there's something we're not teaching our classes?" "Is someone struggling in their testimony?" "Why would you make that suggestion?" I waited for the group to get over their initial shock before I responded. As members of the church, especially if we grew up in member families, we are taught the Plan of Salvation so often that we can almost mouth the words our teacher is saying when we are taught about it yet again. We are taught that we must have faith, repent, be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end almost before we can walk! But how many times do we just glaze over the Restoration, making it seem as though it is just another event in church history, instead of the reason FOR church history. How often do we forget that the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the second greatest thing to ever happen on the earth? If we can come to understand that, and help others understand, our testimonies will be built on the solid bedrock of truth!
The blood of the Restoration flows in my veins.
The fire of the Restoration burns deep within my bones.
As a missionary, I have come to know my loving Heavenly Father, who has taught His children His gospel since the very beginning. I have come to know my Father who chose Adam to teach his children the gospel. In like manner, He chose Noah, Abraham, and Moses to lead mankind and teach repentance.I know our loving Heavenly Father who sent His Only Begotten Son to not only lead us and teach us repentance, but to make repentance possible. It is only through Jesus Christ that we can be saved (see Mosiah 3:17).
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul talks of a 'falling away' that must happen before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This falling away happened, and we call it the Great Apostasy.
I have come to know my Father who, after the foretold falling away, has called prophets today to lead us and teach us repentance.
President James E. Faust said:
"What has happened to David’s living God? It is the greatest insult to reason to suggest that God, who spoke so freely to the prophets of the Old Testament including Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and the other prophets, now stands mute, uncommunicative, and silent.
We may well ask, Does God love us less than those led by the ancient prophets? Do we need his guidance and instruction less? Reason suggests that this cannot be. Does he not care? Has he lost his voice? Has he gone on a permanent vacation? Does he sleep? The unreasonableness of each of these proposals is self-evident."
God does not sleep.
He has not left us alone.
He will never leave us alone.
Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ when they appeared to him in a grove of trees near his home. They did indeed call him to be the Prophet of the Restoration. Through him, Christ restored His gospel. We can learn of it's fulness today.
After enduring ridicule for his testimony, the Prophet Joseph said:
"...I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it..."
Joseph knows it. God knows it. And I know it. And I will never deny it.
Love,
Sister Waite
Words from Sister Hannah Platt in Honduras
My dear friends and family,
Well, where to start?! This week was completely incredible and one of the most amazing and blessed weeks of my mission!! I am back in Comayagua, one of my old areas. I was here about 5 months ago. So i am in my old area, but we opened up a new area. They have 3 companionships here right now as this area is just on fire. I am with an american, Hermana Craner, who is from Utah! :) She is incredible. THis is here last change so i am "Kiling" her (as they say here in the mission). She is such an amazing teacher and speaks spanish like a native. So i am learning soooo much from her. This week was just full of miracles. We arrived on Tuesday, and found a house to live in.. We call it the cave.. as thats pretty much what its like.. Haha. But i love it. Weve made it home :) Then we went right to work. We arrived with NO people to teach.. absolutely nothing.. and without an area book... but the Lord has provided. This week, we saw countless miralces. We found 5 new families to teach, two of which are married (miracle here in Honduras!!) and we found soo many prepared people. The members immedietely started leaving with us and giving us references. And we were both just sooo amazed. The greatest miracle of all happened at church yesterday! I decided not to call anyone to tel lthem i was back because i wanted to suprise them all at church. SO, we got there a little early and waited. Sacrament started and no one that i had taught was there.. I was so sad. As i though that meant they were inactive. Then about ten minutes into the meeting, they started walking in. Every single one of them came. The best part was seeing their faces!!! :) But the greatest miracle of all is that Evelyn and Nelson (the family i was teaching here before) got married and got baptized and were there!!!! As i talked to them afterwards, i was just soo amazed by who they were! They are not the same people that i left 5 months ago. Nelson didn't believe in God and loves the color black. Yesterday, they showed me pictures of their baptism with him in white!! haha :) He was soo different. And it was such a huge miracle for me to see the change that this gospel makes in our lives. It CHANGES people. I KNOW with all my heart that this is the true church. It is the ONLY true church here on this earth. There is a living prophet today who leads and guides us through the revelation that he recieves directly from God. I KNOW that Jesus Christ lives. His teachings, the gospel, change us if we will but live them. I saw that this week! I know that is true. The world is a very scary place. there is lots of evil.. But, we have the gospel! We know the plan that God has made. As long as we are doing the best we can and keeping the commandments, we have no need to fear!! I love you all with my whole heart! I wish i could take more time to tell you every detail, but i have to go. Thanks for all that you do for me! have a wonderful week!!!!
Love,
Hermana Platt
Words from Sister Brittany Platt in Colorado
Olo everybody!
So, I'm getting transferred to the Denver North zone, Woodglen South ward. And I get to train a new missionary! I'm so excited to have a baby again, and not as an STL. That was crazy trying to do both. And I'm excited to have that greenie fire for my last transfer! It'll be great. Our transfers are now on Wednesday, so I'm getting transferred tomorrow. And my companion, Sister Dennis, is getting transferred as well. It's been a bit of a shock for us both, to say the least, and we're really bummed we're both leaving. It's okay, though. We'll have some tough times ahead of us this transfer and some miracles as well!
So, I'm getting transferred to the Denver North zone, Woodglen South ward. And I get to train a new missionary! I'm so excited to have a baby again, and not as an STL. That was crazy trying to do both. And I'm excited to have that greenie fire for my last transfer! It'll be great. Our transfers are now on Wednesday, so I'm getting transferred tomorrow. And my companion, Sister Dennis, is getting transferred as well. It's been a bit of a shock for us both, to say the least, and we're really bummed we're both leaving. It's okay, though. We'll have some tough times ahead of us this transfer and some miracles as well!
Anyhow, this last week was crazy and wonderful! My companion got sick and hurt her back, so we stayed inside for 3 days. First time that's ever happened on my mission! The first day was pretty nice, relaxing for the first time for a whole day. The second day was okay. The third day I was goin crazy and getting cabin fever so bad! We did go on some mini exchanges, though, so that was nice. I was able to get out and teach some of our investigator's and less-actives so that was good!
We got to go to the temple with Kirsten to do baptisms for the dead, and to do the baptism for her deceased husband. It was one of the most incredible experiences on my mission! I also took family names and it was a very wonderful experience. As Elder Hollingsworth was baptizing me for my ancestors, he started to cry and said "Can you feel that? One of them, if not all, are here right now." I could definitely feel it. It was amazing and I couldn't help but cry as well. Kirsten did baptisms right after me, and then we both sat in our wet suits and watched Elder Hollingsworth get baptized for Kirsten's husband, Brian. He was definitely there, because the whole room seemed to be filled with joy. We both cried and it was wonderful. Kirsten was just so happy! She's going to go through the temple next February on her wedding anniversary and get sealed to Brian. Sister Dennis and I will both be there and it will be even sweeter. What a wonderful thing this gospel is! It brings so much joy and happiness to so many people!
Well, I have more to tell you, but alas I am out of time. I love all of you and am so grateful for your love and support! I know my last transfer will be a good one and I'm grateful for the opportunity I've had to serve in this mission. It's changed me for life! God bless you all!
Love, Sister Platt
Love, Sister Platt
#501
#Godisgood
Pictures: We went to the Butterfly Pavilion with the sisters in this zone, and I held a turantula...last time I'm doin that! When the other sister's held it, it was moving all over their hands. And then when I held it, it just sat there frozen. I thought it was for sure gunna bit me or attack my face or somethin! But, I got a stick for it. Woo hoo! :) And the other picture is of us with Kirsten at the temple.
Words from Elder Chandon Herring in Washington DC
Time sure is flying. Life here is so good! It is sad that when you are
having fun and doing well that time just speeds up. But that is life.
This week really was a super good week. We had a few really good
teaching appointments and did a good job training. We are working on
changing the mission culture and have been doing a training in all of
the zones. We have had a good response as people are now thinking twice
about each decision. They think if it will positivity or negatively
effect the mission culture. This week has been super busy. We have had
a lot of luck and fun in finding and teaching. We have been focusing
on building relationships of trust (BRT) with members. This is best
done at dinner ;) haha. It really has been good. It has been difficult
in the past to get members out on exchanges but lately we have had
many more say yes. We have two maybe three this week! It really makes
a difference in the work when members come. They have a different
impact on the people because they have more experience and seem more
relatable. So if you can't remember the last time you went out with
the Elders/ Sisters. Repent and do so soon! Call them and go out! If
you have not done it for over a month or two. Please repent and go
again :) you have a great impact on investigators and less active
members.
We had a good experience of being led by the spirit this week. We were
out checking on a list of people the ward does not know and as we were
doing so we had a miracle. This is how it went down. We were knocking
and there was no response and we had to get going for a scheduled
event but as we were getting in the car we felt like we needed to
knock on the one house across the street. We did and just like that we
got a new investigator!... For the French missionaries! But still! He
is from Benin and is great. We also just so happen to have a member of
our ward who is from Benin and not only that. He was the first member
of the church from Benin! He will help out in teaching and being a
friend.
Anacostia... We had some chances to go back down there this week. The
first one was for exchanges. They were great! We did a lot of them
this week and we have some amazing teachers. We were there and I was
with Elder Tanner and Elder Crandall. We got a new investigator from a
media referral and taught the plan of salvation to their investigator.
He is so prepared! We had a great lesson and he gets it. At the end
the spirit decided we needed to invite him to be baptized. So we
prepped him and were really super bold in telling him this church is
the ONLY true church and he had to come if he wanted to return. Then
invited him and he is set! He is so solid! It was a great lesson. The
second time in Costia was for a baptism on Sunday for Christine
Mewborn who I had taught when I was there. We reactived her daughter
but she did not commit. It was so good to see her finally make the
step. Even in spite of the snow and broken hot water heater :) she was
cold. But so happy!
So those are a few highlights of life here in the greatest mission in
the history of life. It is good and we are killing it! Our mission is
changing for the better and we are seeing the fruits. Love you all and
hope you have a good week!
-Elder Herring
Words from Elder Adam Otto in Idaho
Ooohhhdalolly! The days just keep on flying by!! It's at the point where p-days are getting annoying, because you have to take a break from the work. But I guess it's good. It just gets un poco frustrating. Haha! I love my mission :)
Amazing week this week! It snowed a WHOLE bunch, and now it has been raining all day. We were going to go sledding as a zone, but we may change our minds!
Tenlie is super ready for baptism this Saturday! We are so excited and can't wait for her! Her family has been progressing a ton, and it's been amazing helping them.
We had soooo many miracles this week, and we taught the most lessons I have ever taught in this area! So things are going super well. The work is progressing, and people are moving along. My love for these folks increases everyday!
We've been doing lots of service (snow shoveling and moving people). It's a winter wonderland! We've gotten stuck so many times in the snow, and there have been car wrecks all over the place. It's kinda freaky driving, (my companion refuses to drive). We are having lots of fun though! Many good things going on!
I have learned so much this week. I am really working on consecrating myself and forgetting myself. I want to be FULL of charity, and it's been an amazing process. I am so grateful for the service I am able to do for others for 2 years, and for the rest of my life. The Savior died for all of us, not just ourselves. I am so excited to see the miracles happen :) Our Heavenly Father has a plan for each and every person! I have a firm testimony of that! Loving others as Christ sees them is priceless. It's a simple choice we have to make! It starts in our head, and then our heart follows! If you want to change, tell yourself to! You can do it! :)
Thanks so much for all yall you do! You are wonderful! Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Elder Otto
Words from Elder Samuel Isaacson in Argentina
hola mis hermanos y hermanas!
--
this past week has been good!! the first week in clorinda already down for the count!! we had some really cool exspirences this past week!! well it being my first week here i am still trying to get to know the area! and the people!! and so far i like all the peaople in the area! we have some investigadors that have lots of potential for baptism so thats really cool!!
edwardo is our fisrt peroson that we are teaching!! he is a great kid always reads what we ask him to and is aleays waiting for us to come to his house and talk to him!! he is just a little fem! like alota fem!! haha but he is a good kid! we taught the law of chastity and straight up asked him if he was gay he said no so that was a big relief!!
natalia: she is great she is gonna get baptised! she is already married and has a couple kids that are already grown up! but her husband works 6 months out of the year in buenos aries! so they only get to be togather for 6 months! he works in a type of police that he has to be cathlic and if he gets baptized he would have to do a lot of stuff and possibly loose his job!! but he said we could baptise his wife!!
javier and gabi: these two people are a young couple but arent marriad but have a young son! they were gonna get married but then diddnt feel right about it! but they are awesome!! he loves american music! but the other day we went to talk to them and i sat in a chair that was kinda unstable and when i leaned back i just didnt stop so i fell out of that chair!! haha it was funny!! but the next day after the lesson with them! i was talking to him about what music he liked and he started naming songs and i started naming songs then he satarted playing some good songs that i knew!! but i had told him that i liked metallica and then he changed it to a good metallica song!! so him and i were jamming out to this metallica song while my comp was playing vollyball with some little kids!! haha so im excited to go back to his house!! haha maybe another concert!! haha
well later that same day we were in a far part of our area and no one wanted to talk to us so we started heading back to our appartment and we say a little bond fire and a couple guys playing vollyball and so we walk buy and they invite us to play with them because we are greengos and dont know anytihng!! but its a good thing that i had kennis to teach me a few things so i didnt make me look too foolish!! haha but my comp played in highschool so he knows how to do stuff!! but these guys for never being couched were pretty dang good!! cause everything that they had learned was from watching stuff on tv!! but my comp was stoked cause he got to block one of the big guys spikes! haha i wont say how many he missed!1 haha
but this week really was good getting to know more people and figure out the area im in!! haha
it was great to hear from all of you guys that sent me and email!! and for those who didnt i have already forgotten your names!! haha but really!!
i love you guys all so much thamks for everything!!
Elder SCIsaacson
Words from Sister Hannah Platt in Honduras
My dearest Family and Friends,
Well, i have soo much to tell you all!! Lots of crazy suprises! Our mission has been having a lot of changes and this week we have transfers. So we just found out that i will be leaving my area and i will be returning to Comayagua! I will be opening a brand new area with another American as the STL´s. It was a huge suprise. I am very excited but also really sad because they will be closing our area and will be putting in a new companionship of hermanas. But i know that the Lord has many wonderful things planned for our area and for my new area in Comayagua! :) i am amazed at how well He knows what to do. He always knows what is best. And i am soo excited to be returning!
This week was a week of small miracles. I just wanted to tell a small story that happened that was such a cool experience for my companion and i. We were walking one day, trying to contact but not having to much success. We decided to go to a part of our area that we haven´t really been to before. My companion said she had a feeling we needed to be there and chose where we would start. The first couple of house, we had no success. But, we both noticed a house on the other side of the street and felt the need to go there. So we went and i rang the doorbell and we got the typical, ´´¿Quien?´´ trhough the intercom (WHo?) we started to explain who we were and that we wanted to share a message about Christ. And right away, the Hermana said wait right there. 10 seconds later we were rushed into the house and were surrounded by a beautfiul family of 4. I could hardly believe how kind they were about letting us in! Turns out, they are less actives who just moved to that area. But, the mom of the sister isn´t a member and told us how interested she felt in the church. We had been praying so hard for new investigators and it was such an answer to our prayers. It was so amazing to experience the guidence of the spirit. And i know that if we seek that still small voice, we will find it and will be led to do the things that the Lord desires. I just can´t expalin how grateful i am for this area. It has been the area wehre i have grown and learned the most. This mission is amazing. I say that every email, but i mean it with all that i have. I love this place with my whole heart. And i sure love everyone of you! Thank you for your love and your support of me.
Love,
Hermana Platt
Words from Sister Abbie Waite in Texas
Dear all,
What wonderful week it has been! We have seen many miracles and found so many who are so ready and prepared to receive the gospel. We have taught repentance and will baptize converts. We are fulfilling our missionary purpose!
There are so many stories this week! I don't even know where to begin! I'll share two:
• We were in search of a less-active member and got lost in her apartment complex. As we were searching, we passed a balcony with a small dog barking at us. Used to dogs, we continued onward, not noticing the much larger dog on the porch next to the balcony. A loud bark split the air and Sister Johnson and I turned to see this dog with it's teeth bared and quickly realized that nothing was restraining it from attacking us. Remembering someone once telling me that the best way to avoid a dog bite is to show the dog you aren't scared, I promptly turned and continued walking as if I didn't care about the dog, bracing myself for pain, Sister Johnson right by my side. We heard the dog run down the stairs, all the while snarling and barking- not something I ever want to hear again. Suddenly (out of literally nowhere), a woman appeared by our side and scolded the dog, who promptly slunk back up the stairs with it's tail between it's legs. Long story short, we didn't die and learned to avoid dogs that don't like us.
• We found this less-active member's apartment, and found out that she didn't live there anymore. But we didn't almost die for nothing! The man agreed to allow us to come back and teach his family. We taught them the Restoration last night and they are so prepared for the gospel! The First Vision left them speechless and they are excited to join us at church on Sunday!
I learned much about testimony this week.
When my family lived in Idaho Falls, I remember frequently standing at the pulpit and bearing my testimony on Fast Sunday. I testified of what my little 8 year old heart believed and quickly returned to sit with my family. I do not remember what I said (although I could probably guess), nor am I sure that it really was all that often, but I do remember the feeling of bearing testimony.
After moving back to St. Johns the summer before fifth grade, the frequency of bearing my testimony diminished almost to nothing. At first it was because I was shy in front of new people, and then it was because I felt shy in front of everyone anyway. I did not feel like I had the words to express what I believed or that I could say anything particularly inspiring. So I sat in the pew and listened. For nearly 9 years.
Preach My Gospel teaches that a powerful testimony is not dependent on eloquence (thank heavens!) or the volume of your voice but on the conviction of your heart. A testimony is a spiritual witness and assurance given by the Holy Ghost. We are taught that as we testify, we seal the truth of the principles or doctrine we are teaching.
As a missionary, you have the opportunity to testify often. You do not have the time to shy away or think that you do not have anything to say. It is your privilege and duty to bear testimony to everyone you meet! I admit that the years of silence were difficult for me to shake. I would often find myself drawing back as we approached a door or someone on the street. I have worked hard to overcome that, and I still have work to do, but bearing testimony has become an experience I treasure.
This week, I had many opportunities to testify. However, it seemed as though each time I opened my mouth, I would get cut off.
"Joseph Smith was-"
"The Book of Mormon is a powerful-"
"Your family can receive-"
"My family has been-"
"Jesus Christ is our-"
Sometimes it was the person we were talking to.
Sometimes it was my companion.
Sometimes it was a loud truck that just happened to drive by at that precise moment.
As the week progressed, I began to wonder if perhaps I was not meant to testify of anything. I began to hold back. I allowed my companion to do the talking. I sat through moments of silence rather than be cut off just one more time.
On Saturday, we had the opportunity to teach a couple who had visited the Mesa Temple Christmas Lights and wanted to learn more about our family-centered message. That morning in personal study I pored over the scriptures and practiced again and again what I would say. When we sat down to teach them, nothing went according to plan. The questions they asked were not the ones that we had prepared to answer and our train of thought was derailed several times by outside distractions. Finally, the thought came to me to pull out a picture of the Mesa temple. I showed it to the couple and they talked about how beautiful it was and how much they loved the lights. I do not remember the exact words that I said, but I do remember the strength of the Spirit that entered into the room as I testified of eternal families and the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ that makes that possible. I felt again that wonderful feeling of bearing testimony I was so familiar with as a young girl. We were then able to successfully teach the message of the Restoration. They asked wonderful questions and committed to read from the Book of Mormon.
As I have come to better understand my purpose as a missionary, I have concluded that in order to fulfill my purpose I must testify at every opportunity. This allows those we are talking to to feel the Spirit and desire it more in their lives. I will never allow myself to miss another opportunity to testify of truth.
God is our loving Heavenly Father. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for our sins. Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Restoration and the instrument used to restore the true gospel of Christ to the earth. The Book of Mormon is powerful evidence of this. Because of the priesthood power that has been restored to the earth, all mankind may take part in the ordinances of salvation, including baptism by proper authority. There are living prophets and apostles who have been chosen by God to lead His children. This gospel has blessed my life, and it can bless your's as well if you will let it.
Love,
Sister Waite
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