Words from Elder Trent Jensen in South Africa

"Elder Jensen bids a fond farewell to Lesotho... (referring to Elder Spencer Platt from St. Johns) oh yeah

thats right he was here wasnt he?

got transfer news yesterday: im now being assigned to Pinetown. its in Durban. my area is right next to the

office, so if anyone sends me mail ill have it in a flash. its apparently a town which means that during

apartheid it was a big people area full to bustin with Afrikaners and English.since this was the end of

the transfer, there wasnt a whole lot going on, Leribe is a good area with lots of potential, but i couldnt do

much more there. im now going to Pinetown. cant wait. not that much happened this week that i can recall. i

will miss lesotho tho thats for sure well i guess i should go now, i love you guys and i cant wait to here from

you again.peace out."

Words from Elder Eli Frazier in the CCM (MTC)

"Well hola everyone! Its crazy to think im already half way done with this place! I would compare my spanish to a 3 or 4 year old mexican child. hahah and as of right now i can conversate, pray, testify, and give lessons all in spanish, and also right now im just working on learning as many words i can memorize. it may be alittle slow but i can get around. and also memorizing important scriptures. i have the first vision, and about 6 other scriptures memorized that i use in my lessons. nothing much changes around here. the normal routine is classes and study time. but gym time from 130 to 3 is awesome! i am getting pretty good at soccer if i dont say so myself. thats the most played thing here. there was a devotional we had from a member of the seventy, and he talked about how he had a little who lived for only one day. he was not at her birth cuz he was at work outof the country, the next day at work he celebrating and giving his workers chocolates(that is just a common mexican culture thing i think) andthat is when he got the call that he his little girl had passed away. he talked to his wife about this and shared with a scripture i cannot recollect but it was about how families are eternal. so as he was at work he still kept handing out chocolates and one of his workers asked him how and why he could still celbrate. he told him he would explain if he had a couple hours to listen. he explained it to him and that man who he had taught was later baptized and has now gone through the temple and sealed to his family. this story really touched me and the how important temple work is. i thought id share this with you. i fi can find the scripture he shared with his wife i will tell you. we have those kind of devotionals and meetings all the time. of miraculous stories and teachings.

Well now im going to go play some soccer, get a haircut, finish my laundry, eat lunch, and then see whatever comes next. i love and miss all of you! i hope you are keeping god and his son in all the decisions you are making. for that is what is truly going to matter when it is all said and done. please also excuse my grammar as i dont have much time and this keyboard is not that great. Love you! Ill update again in a week!"

Words from Elder Chandon Herring in Washington DC

"ok family sorry for a short letter that is a little late but I was super busy today (Monday). I was able to successfully spend a lot of money! I have none left for the month because I went to Costco. I will have plenty of food for some time. I also bought a Gym membership.. We are starting to get up at 430 in the morning and biking 5 miles to a gym and still making it back by 7.

Ok Tuesday. We had a great start to a contest of getting the most contacts in a week. We ended up winning and today was a great start. We had a delicious breakfast at Ceasars home. It was so good but you could roll me home if you wanted to. We had our normal studies and facebook time where I saw a super awesome video about America. We were given dinner by the Walkers in our ward, They had these stuffed shells that were super good and they came with a half loaf of banana nut bread. I have been eating super good and those beans have been working out great mom super easy and delicious. No roast yet.

Ok Wednesday. This was a temple day. We saw the new movie. We talked a lot with JS armstrong who is a member who is dedicated to helping missionaries. He brings us our mail and takes us wherever, whenever. It is great. He is super old too.

We had a great ward coordination to. Our Ward mission leader is the best. He is so into everything we do and great with being involved with everyone. He is just perfect. I hear he is the best in the mision. Oh ya on the way to the temple E Brian, who is in our neighboring area, hit a pole on the way to the Metro stop. I wish i was there to see it! It was supposedly super funny to watch!

Thursday. Ok I went on an exchange with E Hansen. He is the ZL. He is great but weird. He was a good example of being disciplined and working hard everywhere. He started me on a memorization thing so I will learn 1 new scripture a day. It will be so good! It is super hard tho. We had a great time meeting with... no one really. All of our appointments cancelled so we just had a district meeting and did some contacting. We had a great time on the metro. The people here have and unspoken rule of do not speak unless spoken to on the metro. So all we have to so is say hi and they will almost always talk back. i love it!

Friday. I made beans this day! THey are awesome! We met Richardo today who is a transfered investigator from the spanish. He is already on date for baptism. :) He is awesome! We also had another meal at Ceasars because it is his birthday week. He fed us a lot again and i love him! He is so happy and nice! We were able to see sis onyeka who is the black lady who randomly undresses during a lesson. She is so weird. 70 yrs old and still does not know manners ;)

Sat

BASEBALL! We went to the baseball game! It was awesome to go but the game was terrible But this day started great! we helped two guys move and they were REALLY nice to us. But not creepy nice. I think... But it was good. E thornton and E Eishet were taking a couch up and they went to the wrong floor. They Noticed and came down to where they thought was the right floor But when the elevator opened they saw me and E Hart coming. they were super irritated because they just unloaded the coach from the elevator. They were Right back to where they had started. :)

Sun. 203 contacts total this week with a decent number of lessons :) We won and are going to get pizza! Hurray! We had fast and testimony meeting today. I LOVE IT! Sis mack bore\sung her testimony. she was baptist and sings a song that they used to sing. it is super good and the whole congregation sings with her. Is it bad if i recorded it? I will send it to you. You will see how awesome our ward is. We had dinner at Ceasars and gained more weight. But I am now 275 lbs because I have not been eating junk like I used to in GIlbert. You know that whole eat out all the time at work. I dont do that anymore so i am getting skinny! and now with a gym i will get huge! I bought protein.

Mon. Well today was good. We started st 4:30 we went and did sunrise pictures with E Fuller who was late because he got hit by a car. It was funny to hear that. We called to see where they were right when he was getting off of the ground. He is fine tho. So is the car. We had a solid day of go go go go. We signed up for a gym, went to costco, did sunrise pictures at the mall, I sent those to you. and we went and taught a few lessons. I love the peole here!

Well thank you all for your love and support. It is great hearing you are all doing well. Remember Madi, Jacob Simmons will kill, you know who, if he needs to. just let me know. (Awwww...still taking care of his little sister even though he is on the other side of the country. It's like a mafia thing "I've got a friend who can take care of that"...Haha!) Congrats to dad on making your life more stressful! (Our stake just created two new wards. We are in one of them and Mike was put in the bishopric) You will do great tho! Mom sounds like you are trying to get used to a routine again. Summer messes us all up and now you have to soon be called to RS pres. ;) I am just saying that because you are the only one who could do it right! (So not the case but I'm glad he has confidence in his mommy...or he wants another pkg...lol) I love you! Aunt steph good luck with school you will be able to be the best in class because you are that type of person. You can do it! It stinks but you can do it even with Hollan.

So happy to hear about all of the exciting Birthday parties in Russia. (Code word for baptism and he speaks Russian but is actually in the Baltic) I wish i could go there with Rex to celebrate. He is a stud. I love him. Nothing from Kort yet but I bet she is rocking it.

thank you all for all you do. I love you and I know that you all will be great. Remember that we are always protected and helped by angels. I almost died a few times this week, yet again, and for some reason I am still here. So it must be true. New favorite speaker..... Neil A Maxwell!

Mom everything is awesome. We are loving it. Those recipies would be awesome I will try them all. I am going to make a big thing of Mexican Haystacks this week. It will be great. I am so out of lifting shape but E thornton is mad because I was able to keep up with him for most of the workout and he is super dedicated. :) But I am awesome so......... (and ever so humble...)"

Words from Sister Kortlynn Herring in Japan

 

"Hello! How are ya? I'm doing great! I'm exhausted! We had temple
pday this week, which is why my email is a day late! I LOVE the
temple! It's so amazing, and we are so blessed to live so close to
one! Sounds like everyone is doing well! I got letters from the
moores, and my lovely family and the ward young women's and it was
great! Thanks so much! You are all so wonderful and loving, and I'm
so stinking blessed! Thank you! Grandma Carol, thanks for writing
every week, it means a lot! I really enjoy reading Emily post
etiquette! Thank you family for all your love and support. I'm sorry
I'm lame and don't have much time, but I wish I could write you all
back individually, but just know I love and appreciate you!

So this week was good. We are able to meet with Akimoto San, Hiroko
San, Andrea, and a couple of less actives. Akimoto San is amazing!
She just has to overcome her struggles with the Word of Wisdom, and
tonight we have another lesson, super pumped! Hiroko is one of my
most favorite people! She is awesome! She is moving right along,
just has a fear of he change that baptism brings. But, she will come
around as her faith is strengthened. Andrea is from Brazil, and we
teach her English and the gospel. Yesterday we had an awesome lesson
with her, where the spirit was mecha felt and tears were shed, as the
spirit entered the room and testified to her heart that she has a
father in Heaven who loves her, and hers her prayers. It was awesome!
We were able to teach one of my favorite less actives about one of my
favorite things to teach, the Plan of Salvation! Her name is hosoya
Shimai and she has been less active forever! But she is so ready to
come back, and it's such a blessing to be a part of the process.

Eikaiwa has been super miracle filled lately. We have been having
lots of people come and lots of them are willing to hear about the
gospel. I love Oyama, the people here are great! Oh, so aunt Anna
mentioned getting proposed to, well, the creepy men in Oyama have a
thing for me, I now have two proposals, and many men wondering if I
have a boyfriend or time on Friday night. Awkward! They are all
either old men, men who aren't there mentally, or foreigners. Haha!
It's always an adventure when working around the train station. Don't
worry, I was only tempted for a moment to say yes....something about
his gray hair and missing teeth just got to me! Hehe!

So, today we got to go to the temple, and then a zoo! I got to spend
some time and see a lot of people that I have come to just love! The
sisters in my mission are amazing!!!

So ya, that was a bit about what has happened to me recently. You
know, the usual, me just being in awe of how amazing this work is and
how blessed I am to be a part of it! I love you all! I hope you have
an excellent week! Dad congrats and good luck! Family, I know you
will do great in the new ward! Change is hard, but so amazing! The
more people you meet and have relationships with, the more you are
able to learn grow and change. I have met some of my greatest
friends, right after changing from something I didn't want to leave.
It's going to be awesome! I love you all! The church is true! The
Book of Mormon is great! And Heavenly Father always answers our
prayers! Keep it up! Love you!"

Words from Elder Austin Davis in Oregon

 

"Well family this is my last week here in the Oregon Portland mission
kinda crazy. Don't understand it. I'm tired for sure. I have learned a
lot of life lessons some I don't even understand why I went through
the trials that I did. And others it's perfectly clear. This is just a
weird email to be typing time went by fast and slow but defiantly
faster than anything else. This week I had the opportunity to see the
cha's and Ing family they are from Woodburn. Sis.cha was like no way
it's only felt like six months since you left. I assured her it had
been 18 months :) we talked about change and the atonement and
baptism's and everything it was great to catch up. Then I started
thinking about my knowledge of the scriptures and just how much change
has happened.

Anyways going on to Tuesday we had a couple lessons then we went on
splits I went with good ol brother Johnson one of the funniest guys in
the ward. we had three lessons fall through so he was like let's go
get a blizzard and he talked about his mission and how much change he
saw in himself and how good it was for him.

Then Wednesday rolls around and we are with our WML and he brings it
up holy cow you have less then a week and a half. Thanks man:) ha it
was good to talk to him and just talk about the life lessons that have
changed the way I view things. It's just weird how much you grow and
learn. I think once principle I have learned a ton about is just
forgiveness either it's for me or my companion or me again. Or members
just tons of things you make everyday choices either to forgive or not
and it will have an impact on whether your friends with them or not.
The Lord forgives those who forgive. Sometimes it's so dang hard to be
humble and repent but once it's over it's fine you feel better that
person feels better and you know you did the right thing. And
sometimes you don't even mean to hurt feelings but the other person is
totally offended. That's when you have to rely on The Lord and just
act as he would and repent with a full heart. I know it's hard but if
you need to apologize to someone do it. You will never regret it and
it will add to your testimony, promise.

Well moving onto Thursday today we had the opportunity to have a
little weekly planning and to call a lot of people and try to set up
lessons and we have a lot of lessons set up finally so that will be
good. The life lesson I learned today would probably just to know how
kind God is. He truly knows us it's weird to think yeah there are so
many children we think, "oh how can he know me there are so many
people?" Sometimes Heavenly Father answers my questions before That
question comes to mind. I know God is kind. He has forgiven me and
will continue to forgive me. Even though we feel like we suck
sometimes we screw up. But this life is about progression not
perfection. So keep your head up God didn't provide a savior for us
for no reason. Use that atonement that he performed for us.

Friday what a joy I went on an exchange with elder mike Johnson a good
friend of mine. We saw a lot of curve balls and knuckle balls today. A
man walked up to us and all he could Talk about is pornograpghy & sex.
He was so engulfed in it. It was disgusting it was hard to see some
one have all of that and not want to rid themselves from it. So this
is the lesson I learned today is you must "Look in the situation
slowly."kinda like baseball you have to look in he pitch slowly! This
experience he did not want to give it up satan, satan had ahold of his
mind and his will. So as we look situations that might seem harmless
will lead us down trails we should not travel. He did not truly
understand why we are here on earth! It is to come closer to our
eternal maker. I wish I would have kept a journal of the life lessons
I learn daily I would have had 730 I have less because I've forgotten
some. I'm just thankful for my savior and I read this a couple days
and it came into my head as I was typing so I felt like I should
share.
Enos 1:4-8
4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I
cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul;
and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came
I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.
5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven
thee, and thou shalt be blessed.
6 And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.
7 And I said: Lord, how is it done?
8 And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast
never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall
manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made
thee whole.
Talk to him The Lord is kind as we are humble and seek him.

Saturday ah Saturday today we had two lessons his morning. Then we
went out to lunch with Oregon city second elders. Elder dunshee and
elder Lewis they are goofy and just funny weird but they grow on you
ha:) today I learned how valuable true friends, real friends just put
things in to perspective. I'm thankful for true friends because they
are not afraid to put you straight and give you the answer that
sometimes you don't want to hear. But you will always heed to your
true friends council. I received a priest hood blessing this week and
how thankful I am for my friends holding the priesthood just as the
apostles of old. Tonight we had the opportunity to go to a baptism and
how cool it is to see people to make an eternal covenant with God.
Thankful for covenants that we make because covenants brings
blessings. The temple is such a sacred place. Thankful for it. Well
this is my last week of being a missionary I'm just going to treat it
like I have been out a year. It still hasn't hit me yet. Onto Sunday
:)

Oh good ol Sunday well bishop ask me to bear my testimony today. There
are so many things I can bear my testimony on. How about a mission how
about I bear it on my mission. Missions might not be your first choice
if you have scholarships if you have a job. If you have just a bunch
of opportunities of worldly things. But this is your one chance your
one opportunity to wear his name for two years. We are so indebted to
him, I am so indebted to him. I may not be perfect but I'll always try
to be progressing. Because I know he doesn't need perfection right now
but I do know he needs my will and my heart and everything else I can
give him and he can save my soul. Missionary work is hard. It's even
harder when your going through trials. It's even harder when you are
rejected and struggling win your testimony. So I guess my simple
testimony that I have earned in the past 24 months is just that
Heavenly Father needs for us to go through hard times to see how much
we really love him to see how strong we are. But he wants to see where
we will turn when we fall will we turn to the dark and ignore God or
at our weakest state will we be humble enough to ask God for help. Ask
him prayerfully that we may have safety for our souls. My mission has
provided me the tools and capabilities for safety for my soul and for
that I am eternally grateful for my companions that gave up two years
to save my life. My mission presidents have given up three years. The
members giving up hours out of there day and weeks to come out to
teach and visit. For this I'm grateful for a great change has been
written on my heart. I know that Christ lives. I know that pain that
he felt when the nails went through his hands and feet were for me. I
am eternally grateful for his service and the atonement he preformed
for me.


Alma 7:11-14
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and
temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled
which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his
people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of
death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their
infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to
the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his
people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God
suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins
of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according
to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony
which is in me.
14 Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the
Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of
heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be
washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who
taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to
cleanse from all unrighteousness. Well I'm on my last week I have to
push myself. Thanks for being so steadfast and being an example to me
I love each of you. You probably know that.
With that I would like to say Thank you to everyone that has supported
me. Those who have said prayers for me and fasted for me thank you for
all you do.


Love from a servant of The Lord"

Words from Elder Tyler Johnson in Kansas

"this week was an amazing week. We were on bikes the whole week and the weather was perfect. It was nice and cool. the ruff part about the week was we had run into some hard hearted people one was a less active that did all he could to prove are religion was wrong. that one we saw coming and ended it ASAP. following that person we were riding our bikes all around town and were seen no success, so we prayed to find a family right after we got done praying we ran into a guy and he was super nice! we told him who we were introduced the Book of Mormon and he smiled and said come back and i would LOVE to talk to you and also learn more! so that following day arrived and we were super determined to help bring the spirit in his home. We knock on his door and he answers lets us in we sit down and his wife walks in and shakes our hand. we were so happy to be there they both were so nice! as we get comfortable and sit down we offer a prayer in the home when we closed we started talking about our saviors love for us. All of a sudden a knock is at the door and it is his grandma who comes in with a bible and notebook. i thought to myself this is ether a really good thing or bad, So we continue talking about the saviors love for us. after we got done right before my comp started talking they started teaching US!! and started talking about the Mountain Meadow Massacre! and my heart just stopped! They seemed so prepared. as we left the house we both looked at each other and laughed. it was a funny lesson they had allot of facts from man and how the church could be false but the power of our testimony and the promise of the Book of Mormon was left for them to act upon. we then left and found many other investigators. i love how we go threw each week and have such a ruff time but as we keep pressing forword in righteousness satin cannot win. righteousness will always win. i have a testimony of faith and how when it gets hard if we just take one more step and then another, each time are faith is strengthened. "if it is to be it is up to me"

Words from Elder Jared Anderson in Brazil

"So this was a very interesting week. Our baptism, Aleksander, recieved the Holy Ghost Sunday, it was a very special moment for me. I felt so at peace and knew that this IS the Lord´s work. Everyone was so happy and we exchanged hugs and went our ways after church. We had an appoitment with him that night at the church and as we waited for some time for him, we finally relized that he wasnt coming, we tried calling him many times, we would answer and hang up. we were a bit frantic at this point and finally got a hold of him. His voice was very shakey and he told us he was not interested anymore and hung up. I was absolutely dumbfounded. I did not understand. we called him up again and tried to find out were he was, he would not say and finally just turned off his phone. I was completely be wildered in all my time knowing him he had never uttered or done anything like this. We prayed and went to were we thought he´d be with a calmness about us. We were guided to the house of his brother were we knocked on the door with no response, we continued persistantly because the tv was on. finally we jsut sat and waited at the door. he eventually came out with the Book of Mormon in hand. He tried giving it to us and said ¨I am not interested anymore.¨ I was shocked, what had happened in 5 hours to change his mind, we said ¨Alright but before, we want to share a message.¨ After must persistants he gave in. We began with a prayer and immediately after began rattiling of scriptures and bearing, the spirit was so strong, but it had no affect on him, he said God was not listening to him that the Gospel was not helping that he was not happy in life and many many other problems. he was very firm in his decision and said no. I thought Father please we love thy son so much please have mercy on him. I coould think of nothing else but to leave. So we told him, Aleks we are leaving now, we will end with and prayer, and you WILL say that prayer and you WILL recieve and answer. He argued but finally gave in. It was a very simple prayer, but it was defintly heard, peace filled my body, he ended and we looked to him, my companino looked and him and said, how do you feel? He looked at us with a smile from ear to ear and said, i am so happy. I wanted to kneel down and thank my Father in Heaven for His mercy, my heart was so full of joy peace love everything! It was one experience on the mission i will never forget. The Lord is listening to us and He WILL answer each and everyone of our prayers, in His time. (Isaiah 55:8-9), love you all."