A Pair of Pants, A Borrowed Guitar and 4 Jars of Peanut Butter

My Companion and I

Hello there, I am speaking to you people I cannot see, and there are yet Many of you whom I will not for a long time, at least another 365 days until my time is up, and I become one year wiser.

Thanks a bunch for the HAPPY BIRTHDAY wishes, it was really cool to be able to read the many emails and messages that you all sent me. 

We have been busy this week. To add to an Apostle coming last week, we had Zone conference on Wednesday. This meeting takes up most of our day, and we are lucky if it isn't far away and won't eat up our miles. Regardless, it is a great experience. Many missionaries get a chance to show the talent they may have in playing the piano, the violin or even singing. One Elder, who happens to be my zone leader, played us a Hymn he arranged himself. This was his last Zone conference, so he put his heart and soul into what he played. It was a very sweet moment for us who knew him. This Elder in particular is a masterful piano player. He, just for practice, would have two piano - one on each side of him, and he ,without looking, at each could play almost any song we could request, he is GOOD! 

My Companion is a Piano Man

I was able to finally meet with a new family of members that moved in in the past month. They are a very talented bunch. They each like to participate in plays or in other "Theater production" as they might say. They also "Dabble" in guitar and singing.  The mother of the family makes the clothing for may different theater programs, so right on the spot she offered to tailor our suits, hem up our pants and even fix any ripped clothing us missionaries could bring to her.  

Missionaries help lots of people move in and out of homes, and many of those times we don't get a chance to dress in normal clothes. In one of the experiences I had helping people move, I squatted down to pick something up, and heard a "tearable" sound, a sound that once heard can never mean anything good. Sure enough my pants had ripped, but not completely, I was temporarily safe.... butt not for show. 🤣 (I'm so funny, laugh with me not at me).  Anyways these members have saved me. 

Our Entire Mission when the Apostle Came to Visit

We were looking for one of our friends we had lost contact with in the past month, we didn't catch him, but before we left this trailer park we got a feeling that somebody there needed our help. So we started tracking and found Brandy.

Brandy is a super cool lady. She is heavily involved in another church and works hard to serve those who have less than she does (homeless people). She loves our church and what us missionaries do for the people. She talked with us for a long time, while conversing withe her, we found that she had just finished moving and was on her way to her new home. It was about then we found that we were going to be late for a meeting. We got her new address (then lost it later) and before we could go, she told us about somebody who had just lost almost everything and his electricity was turned off. His name is Lewis. 

We came back to the trailer park to meet Lewis the next day. When we first met him he was hesitant about talking to us, saying he was too busy and did not have time for us. Then my companion at the time (we were on exchanges), Elder Robb asked him, "what if meeting with us is God trying to reach out to you". Those words stumped him. He told us that he was baptized into our church a few years ago, but he fell away because he felt like everything he worked hard at failed, he thought that it meant that God didn't love him. We met with him the next day and he told us that his wife (who alps happens to be a member also said that, "meeting with us was probably God trying to reach out to you". He then knew that he no matter what had to come back to the church, and try his best to repent and come unto Christ. It's so cool to be apart of a conversion experience like this.

A Gift - They only have girls, which explains the bag

Reminds me of another conversion story in the Book of a Mormon. 

In Alma 38:7-9, Alma is talking to his son about how the Lord helped him turn from his old ways and repent. 

  7 But behold, the Lord in his great mercy sent his angel to declare unto me that I must stop the work of destruction among his people; yea, and I have seen an angel face to face, and he spake with me, and his voice was as thunder, and it shook the whole earth.

  8 And it came to pass that I was three days and three nights in the most bitter pain and anguish of soul; and never, until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy, did I receive a remission of my sins. But behold, I did cry unto him and I did find peace to my soul.

  9 And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness. 

Yesterday, the members who were feeding us found out it was my birthday, and for my birthday, they let us borrow a guitar and sent us home with 4 jars of peanut butter! OH YEEAA! I couldn't have gotten a better gift.

Anyways, thank you for your letters and messages, they really help brighten my day when I read them. 

A Moment of Silence

Cool New Way of Tying a Knot - Elderedge Knot

Lots has happened since I wrote last. Some moments good and some moments bad, but overall some experiences that I will never forget.

On Tuesday we met this referral that was given to us by the Marshalese missionaries, they were going around on our turf and found a nice older woman. After meeting with her we found that she is an avid reader and that she was given a Book of Mormon from the other missionaries. She hadn't started yet, but she promised us that she won't be able to put the book down until she had read it all.

Now yesterday we tried to go back, but we ended up missing her by a few minutes and we instead met one of her kids along with his friend. We talked for a bit getting to know them, and they seemed pretty normal for a couple of teenagers, (especially nowadays). We asked them what they knew about God, and they told us that they had a very limited experience with church and God. So we started in the beginning by telling them who God is. "He is our Loving Heavenly Father". Then we proceeded to tell them about His plan for us starting our life with Him before we came to earth... They thought it was so cool. We did not have too much time to talk with them, but we did leave them a little pamphlet that explains the whole Plan of Salvation along with our number in case they have questions. Now we got them excited for us to come back and talk with us further, and hopefully they will tell their mother about the fun experience with missionaries.

My Turn

We went to an ARP session, (we were invited) and I would say as a missionary I am not too used to it yet. For starters we are asked to come in normal clothes, but still wear our badges, (it's weird because missionaries don't normally go to any meeting without proselytizing gear (white shirts, slacks, and a tie).

It was a really cool experience, I can't relay talk about the details because confidentiality is a big part of the activity, it brings a great spirit to be felt. Just a genuinely cool experience, and you ought to try it some time.

We finally were able to meet with Nathan and Kiersten again. It's been way too long since I've been able to talk about them again. They were both able to sit in on a lesson this time, Nathan just got laid off of his main job, so he is now more free than ever before. We taught them about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and they felt that what we taught them was true. They wanted to look around our church building so we offered a church tour and they got super excited about it. 

Hard Day of Work at Camp Comia

The tour was on Saturday, and once they came in the less religious of the two said that it felt right. From there they enjoyed every part of the church, especially the primary room, but once we got to the baptismal fount they told us they both hadn't been baptized...... and would like to be. So right then we set a date for September 7th! 

They came to church the next day and had such a good experience. The members were all over them, showing them around and inviting them to book clubs and game nights. Some members even set up a lesson for us on Wednesday! The members in Sunset Ward are on top of it this week. The greatest of it all was that Nathan and Kirsten felt right at home, and they even identified the spirit and knew that this church was the one they had been looking for for quite some time now. The search had finally ended. 

Cages of Rats and Mice

On Thursday, we had some service lined up for us, but the day before we had gotten a call to help somebody move first. We had the Silverlake companionship join us because they needed some service for the day. Anyways on the way to help this guy move in, we get a call from a dear good friend of ours in the ward. She was in tears because at that moment her dog was dying in her arms, (the culprit was old age). She is an older woman who's family has moved out, so this dog was part of her family and she was about to loose it. 

We drove as legally as we could in our rush to make to to Jeanies, but we were too late. The dog had already passed on. 

After a prayer for comfort and peace she asked us to help us bury the body (she has a fake arm and a broken arm) she was unable to dig on her own.

The rest of the story, we wrapped up at our friends then went to help out with the move, we moved tons of snakes and rats to feed the snakes. This guy breeds snakes as a cash hobby..... It was gnarly.

This talk about a death makes me want me to share a quick scripture about where our spirit goes immediately after we die. 

Me - Aged with a Face App

Alma 40:11

11 Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

I myself have never died, but I can imagine it can be an excruciating experience and because Heavenly Father loves us, and we are his children, I know that he would be there with us to comfort us and to guide us home to Him once our time comes.

Thanks to those who sent me an early birthday present, but you are a couple weeks early, my birthday is on the 25th.

Thanks you guys for reading this far and for the support you have given me thus far in my mission. 

Smoky Evening - Fire Season

We Crashed a Party Before it Began

Looking Dapper at the Thrift Store

Well, we had transfers last Thursday, and I had to day goodbye to Elder Ruth.  Now my new companion is Elder Nelson. Even in the small time we have been together we have seen many strange miracles, many of the people who were left as potentials from previous missionaries are being found by us.

      The first of the people we found (literally the first door we knocked on this transfer) we were looking for this person named Eurma, but found Esteban instead. He is a very humble man.  He has suffered many rough and dangerous paths before coming to Airway Heights. He and his family was even shot at and suffered a few bullet wounds. "But we were safe and protected by God, I knew we would be okay." Wow! He is just an amazing man, and I say that mostly because he can play the accordion... This goes out to all the missionaries I send my emails. How many of you guys know a person who plays the accordion? It is such a cool instrument, but man, talk about an expensive and excessive hobby. Anyways. We have been trying to get with him again, but he has been too busy.

Good Bye, Elder Ruth

      Next we were walking around in an area we go to a lot. (We have lots of people being taught there) We walked d by a woman who seemed to be having trouble with her bags. We offered help, but she said she had it. Then from there we had a very engaging conversation about her life and how her and her husband Jeremy have been through lots of crap together. She was mostly concerned about her baby on the way at the moment but that didn't stop her from trying to get a job to support her husband, whom of which is trying his hardest to make enough money to keep his apartment, even after he lost his job.

      We were able to get a lesson in with them yesterday. Unfortunately the wife was not able to make it, but Jeremy was there and told us how he had had it rough since he moved out of his parents house at 18 and he had been misused and abused by people his use to trust. But he knew that he had gone through these tough experiences to become who he is right now, and he is happy with that thought.

My New Companion, Elder Nelson

 We taught him about how the church is centered on families, and showed him,The Family a Proclamation to The World, and shared Helaman 5:12 from the Book of Mormon with him:

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

After hearing what we had to say, he said he would like to talk to us again, and build his future family on a sturdy foundation, which is Christ.

      We had many more things that happened and people that we got to meet and talk to, but I have to explain what the title is about.

Elder Woodhead - who can whistle like me

We were looking for a potential in the area, and we like to talk to people as we see them and as we go. We met a few nice people that just brushed us off but just at 8:00 we saw some "college age" kids smoking on their 3rd level patio. It started as most average conversations go we asked them, " Hey, How's it going?" They said "What's up?" Then we told them we were missionaries and what our purpose was. Then we asked, " Do you believe in Jesus Christ?" They said, "Yea, I believe in Jesus." Around this time more and more heads were poking out over the balcony down at us. Some of them whispered and giggled while looking at us as if to say, "Look at those silly Mormons down there". At this point we asked them "What are you all doing up there?" and they said something in the lines of, "We are going to a party and get so used.." which translated from edgy young adult to English means, very very drunk.

      After a while, more of them started showing up, and some even came down to talk to us. We sat in the grass and just answered questions. If you have been on a mission you know what questions they asked, but for those who don't know they asked us: 

• Can you drink? 
• Can you smoke? 
• Why? 
• What's the word of wisdom?
• What do you think about repentance? 
• Why do you have the law of Chastity? 

This went on for an hour, and I would say there was about 20 people in this group setting in a circle. So that's how we crashed a party before it began. 

A Red Sunset

That's about the whole of what happened in the past few days.