WONDER how #2 survived September

Playing catch up.

     I have had experiences on my mission where we were able to discern someone's need and teach to it. People don't usually tell you what is going on, they might give you little things, but that's just the tip of the iceberg and their real major concerns are still concealed. I had a lesson with T like that. We had to ask inspired questions and pay attention to the promptings of the spirit, and we also left plenty of silence in between statements and questions to allow the spirit to speak. She was concerned about not being able to give her whole self to the gospel and she didn't tell us that concern after we had already taught about it. The spirit was prompting us through that lesson.

     Stuff like that happens fairly often. There was a recent convert that I had a hunch he was smoking, and I ended up being right and we had a great heart to heart with him.

    Everyone has a dog out here, especially in Belleview, everyone with have 3 or 4 big dogs up there! It was really annoying when we were knocking doors because then all 4 dogs would rush the door and jump on it and try to break it down to get to us, and the owner would just shout "I can't get to the door" and we'd move on to the next house. It was obnoxious, I have realized that I don't like most big dogs, at least the ones out here because they aren't trained well. I don't mind if Buddy (our family shitzu) jumps up on my leg or on my lap, but big dogs out here do that and they HURT! 

     I can't believe how old the kids are getting! I'm not going to recognize them when I get home and they will all be so OLD. Bleck! The kids are already starting school again too, time goes by fast! At the end of this school year is when I get home I've realized, that makes it seem like I don't have long left! Just one school year doesn't seem long at all! Looking back on school it seems like each year just flew by. It would be cool if they got some of the teachers I've had, hopefully I left a good reputation, I was a punk in school, but most teachers seemed to like me because of it. I've thought a bit about being a teacher, I think I could be a good teacher, the only problem is that I don't want to be one. at least not right now. I still have no clue what I want to do with my life after my mission and that makes me anxious sometimes, my future after my mission is in the unknown zone, which is kinda scary.

    That is soooo cool that #3 is teaching R!!!! He has been a friend of mine for the last 7 months or so! He was a librarian at the library we go to everyday and we helped with a few service projects at the library, ran the library 5k, etc. We helped another librarian move to Atlanta Georgia, and then a couple months later, R asked us if we could help him move to Albany! We helped him move everything out, he had another guy there, but he just sat around most of the time, so he really appreciated our help, we helped him for about 7 hours. Before he left I gave him one of the book of Mormons you guys sent me about a year ago with my testimony in it. Also we gave him a restoration pamphlet and encouraged him to investigate the church. We also set up missionaries to help him move in and from what I have heard they rolled out the red carpet for him! I'm so excited that #3 will be teaching him, I told Rabout him and that he might meet him. Small world!!!!

    T is taking a break because her sister from new York is in town, hopefully we will continue working with her this weekend. She has concerns with the word of wisdom as well which I think she is apprehensive about. We will keep working with her.

    I'm doing well!  I'm stressed about the future like I mentioned before, but I'm ok, let me know if you have any ideas that could help. I love you tons and tons and hope to hear from you again soon!

     This week was a really good week, Elder D and I have finally gotten in a groove together and have some good unity, we are friends and we are enjoying the work we have to do each day. I've been sick with the summer cold that has been going around, I got  a blessing and they blessed me that I would be well and be able to perform all the things I needed to do. I was dying after that still, being sick is not fun, but we were still able to get work done that we needed to, I took a couple hour nap on Saturday, but that was it.

     We haven't been able to see T, but we have been in touch. Her family found out she was interested in the church and told her that they don't want her to join and told her a bunch of anti information. She still answers our texts sometimes and I think she is still reading and praying, I hope we can meet with her soon and help her. She has not shut the door yet, but there is a big obstacle she has to get over now. We pray for her and do as much as we can, so all we can do is just hope for the best!

     This week has been a really fun week, Elder D and I decided to get creative this week finding new investigators because I don't want to tract and tracting isn't usually very effective. We went to the gas station by our house, locked up our bikes and then we walked around the station while people were filling up and we had the window washing things in our hands and asked people if we could wash their windows! It actually worked really well! Peoples guards aren't up as much at the gas station and almost half the people let us wash their windows, and at some point they would ask why we were washing peoples windows for free and that's when we would introduce them to the gospel. We contacted 30 people in less than an hour! We would have done more but we ran out of cards! tracting you usually get 5-10 people an hour, and none of them usually show potential, but we got some good potential investigators out of it. We also went to stores, Office Depot, Home Depot, and Lowes and talked to people while they were shopping, it was really hard at first, but we eventually figured it out. The best way to do it is to either try to start a conversation about something they are shopping for, or start off by saying, "hey I know this is weird to come up to you while you are ____ , but..." and then go on to invite them to learn more about the gospel. We have found some nice people shopping and they gave us their numbers to have further follow up with them! Talking to everyone is a lot better than tracting! and I really enjoy it, because then we have a bunch of funny stories to tell about what we did to contact people.

     Yesterday at church a member said that they needed to go out on exchanges with us more often because I'm leaving soon and I've been here for 9 months. I didn't think that was so great. After that all the members came and said goodbye and that they'd miss me and stuff :p I don't even know if I am going next transfer, and next transfer isn't for another month anyways. I think the ward must really want to see a new face, because they keep telling me goodbye!!! Chances are I will be transferred, but I don't want to plan leaving, I'd rather just let myself pretend I'm staying here forever so I can "act upon this land as for years" or whatever that scripture says.

     Elder D is adjusting really well, he has started talking to people and opening up, being himself, etc. I remember I really struggled with that at the beginning of my mission to, so I'm really glad that he has figured it out. He is a good companion and good teacher, he also has a real love for the work which is great!

      Things are going well, thanks for all the prayers and letters! I love you and pray for you everyday, stay awesome and don't ever change!!!!

     Today is District P-day, so I don't have a whole ton of time to e-mail. I hope you are enjoying your labor day! T is still struggling. We did touch base with her earlier this week, but nothing seems to have changed. We want to get her husband involved in the gospel and I think that would make everything better, but her husband is totally against any sort of religion at this point. We haven't taught anyone we met at the gas station yet, but the most solid potential we found doesn't live in our area, hopefully the other missionaries are teaching him. Everyone at church yesterday said "oh, you're still here?" It was kind of funny, I think the ward is ready for a new face :)

       The work is going well here and we are finding a lot of success with the members. We have finally got member exchanges going and it has been a great help to us. We go out with a member of the ward almost every night and teach lessons to investigators or less-actives. The ward trusts us a lot and sees that we are working hard and that we are doing our best in this work and I think that's been a great thing. It kinda makes me sad that I will most likely be leaving soon, It will be hard to say goodbye, I really like it here, I never thought I would, but I really do, it only took 7 and 1/2 months :p

     Something I have been thinking about a lot this week is about small and simple things. I read Alma 37 this week and I've been thinking about all the great blessings and promises that Alma gives to his son Helaman, just for reading the scriptures! It seems like such a small thing so it is really easy to put off or not do. But there are so many blessings that come from scripture study that we really need. I love reading the scriptures. They are great for me.

     Its great to hear that things are going well at home and that members of the ward continue to reach out and help us. I've learned to accept help on my mission, its not bad to let other people help and I've learned that. I love to serve other people, but we also must allow others to serve us.

    One last thought. I've found great blessings from doing service for Elder D everyday, I think he is still dealing with a lot of stress and stuff because he is new and things at home that are worrying him. The other day I cleaned his bike, he was in the other room and didn't know, and I didn't tell him. He didn't say anything about it, so I'm 99.9% sure he did not notice. At first I was kind of sad he didn't notice, but then I felt the spirit really strongly confirming to me that I had done the right thing and that Heavenly Father knows what I did, and that's enough. I really like doing service when people don't know that I did it, I think the spirit is strongest when Heavenly Father is the only one that knows what we did. There are scriptures that talk about "your father who seeth in secret shall reward you openly" or something like that. It is definitely true.

    I hope you all have a great day! I love you tons and tons! 

     We had a great district p-day, we went to a sushi place for lunch and I had legit sushi for the first time ever! I didn't really like it though, I liked the cooked stuff, but the raw stuff was kinda hard to choke down so I didn't like it :p after sushi we went to the indoor soccer place I have been to a couple other times, it was really fun! I miss playing sports.

     We have pretty much dropped most of our investigators, they are not answering or returning our calls and texts and we can't get in touch with them by stopping in, so its safe to say that they aren't ready. We are dropping them in hopes that they can continue being prepared and someday later they can be taught again and baptized. I think that T will join the church someday, but her husband definitely needs to be softened up a bit more and she could be more prepared, I hope that they will be baptized someday, T was a great investigator, I think it was pretty much her husband and family that held her back.

       Something I have been learning a lot about this week is humility and meekness, Its been a tough week, I never should have prayed for help developing those attributes! Jk, I think that it is a blessing to go through humbling experiences that help us to become more christlike. I read a talk by Elder Ulisses soares from the October 2013 conference called "be meek and lowly of heart". It really touched me and gave me a strong desire to change. you know better than anyone that my pride gets in the way a lot, and this time I have on my mission is probably the best opportunity I will ever have to change so that's something that I've been working on, I study about it all the time and I also pray for it. I find when I do those things, its on my mind and then when I start acting prideful or self-righteous I'm able to catch myself better, I still struggle, but I will improve day by day. I just need to work hard and be patient with myself, I won't magically become humble overnight, I wish it was that easy, but its really not. as Ive been thinking about this it so happens that I read Alma 60 and 61 this morning. Those chapters are when Moroni totally rips on Pahoran for being a terrible person and was very bold and very powerful in the language he used. Pahorans reaction to me is inspiring, he didn't get angry or get offended, he saw that Moroni was only wanting to protect his people and fight for the right and respected and even complimented him on that. Pahoran didn't get angry or fling back and moroni a letter chewing him out for getting angry at him, he was meek and humble, he was more concerned about the problem than he was about who was more right.

    anyways, I love you tons and tons! Take care and tell everyone how much I love them!

     It is still as hot as heck :) haha, things don't start cooling down here until the end of October. But I am finishing up my last summer which I'm really excited about it doesn't start getting hot again until June and that's when I go home! Ha! No more summer for me after another month! :) 

   Next transfer is the 23rd, I am getting transferred, president told me :\ I don't know how I feel about it, I really love the people here, but at the same time I knows that it is time for me to move on. I have started saying goodbye to and taking pictures with members, it makes me feel sad, but it also makes me feel happy that there are a lot of people here that are going to miss me, I had a lot of members give me some heartfelt goodbyes, I still will see them next week too though. 

     These last two transfers have been difficult for me, I have learned a lot though. As you know well, #3 and I were constantly arguing for most of our lives. I don't remember being friends really until after I came home from college. This was my fault, I don't really know why I had such harsh feelings towards him, I don't remember anything he did that made me so mad, but I remember my reactions, and I feel really bad about it. I feel like I truly understand now the weight of that sin of hating #3. It has taken 15 months of mission time, but I think I get it now. It took me being in a place where I could know what it felt like to be hated unconditionally by someone who is supposed to love me. I have learned a lot about forgiveness and love too. #3 continually put himself out there and reached out to show love towards me, but I either returned cruelty in return or decided not to be grateful, but he never stopped. I had long given up and decided that I didn't really care to have a good relationship with my brother, but he never did, he never gave up. I am learning that now. I'm grateful for trials, and the way they humble us, and wake us up to a greater sense of purpose and duty. We rely more on The Lord when we go through trials, and we receive greater strength. I have learned not to give up, never ever ever. Not on yourself, not on other people, not on God, never. As long as you keep trying it will turn out alright. If you fall down or fail 50 times, you have to get up and try again 51 times. I will never again give up.

    I have found strength beyond my own as I have sought to love and forgive, to be meek and humble, and not give up on people. I still struggle a lot with those things I just said, but I feel I have improved. I really hope I don't sound prideful as I am talking about all this. I am by no means a saint, I still struggle a lot and often, but I am doing better than I was. I feel more prepared to be a better father, husband, brother, uncle, and son than what I was before. I can see why people often say that missions are kind of like the MTC's for life. I'm learning a lot of great and important things here and I'm grateful for all the opportunities to learn and grow here.
      Thank you so much for your unconditional love for me and your prayers and letters and such you send my way. They are felt, and needed. I hope I don't sound over dramatic or weird in this letter, this has been what has been on my mind for the last week. I love you tons and tons. Please don't think that I'm struggling or depressed or anything because of what I wrote. I promise I am doing well, happiness and sadness aren't just things that happen to you, I am still doing fine and finding happiness. Thanks for all your help. Take care! Don't ever change!

   It has been a really tough week. It has been super stressful, a lot of tears, a lot of prayer, a lot of scripture study. I have learned a lot this week and it has been a really good learning experience. Official transfers are Tuesday, I am getting transferred, but only to Ocoee north, so I will be in the same Ward, just a different area and companion. I live about 5 miles from the temple now which is really nice.

     I am at the church across the street from the temple now with a whole bunch of missionaries, we are doing basketball and tie trades, board games and so forth. I'm excited for a new transfer and a fresh start. Time still is going really fast and I'm loving the missionary work. We were tracting and we found a family of four yesterday and that's super exciting! It was fun working with Elder N, he is Japanese and has been out for 21 months, we did great work together because we are both experienced and know what we are doing. My companion starting Tuesday will be Elder P, he has been out for 3 months, but I have met him and talked to him a bunch the last few days, since we are in the same Ward and I like him. 

    Just one more though I want to add at the end. I have been thinking a lot about forgiveness this week. I have felt many times this week that even with all the really tough things going on that I just need to let it all go. I can't hold on to any hard feelings or negativity, I've seen it destroy too many people. I read the thing you sent me about a pocketful of rocks. I have started keeping a tally of all the nice things that people do for me and it is really helping me to be a more positive and happy person. Thank you for sending it to me about a million months ago. Have a great day! I love you tons!!

     Yeah, last week was one of the hardest weeks of my life, but i've learned that hard times pass in time :) This week has been a really good week. I do feel at peace with things, and I feel like everything that happened was all part of Gods plan and it worked out. So I don't remember if I told you, but my new companion is Elder P, he is from midway Utah, he has been out for 3 months and is awesome! I really enjoy him and we do good work together. He seems to really have a grasp of his purpose and knows what he is doing, which is great because I am new to the area and have no idea what I'm doing!!! :)

     The Ocoee ward is awesome, and it is totally different from anywhere I have ever served before. They are all crazy!!! I love it. I will tell you more about where I serve if you promise not to freak out. Promise? ok, I serve in the "hood". I don't want you to think I'm in danger because I'm really not. Its just sketchy. It is really weird for me, I'm used to happy valley Utah. The people here are really humble, they are all struggling temporally and spiritually and they want help. people turn us down as much as they do in other areas, the only problem is that they don't keep commitments because they are not in a consistent situation.

      We do have some really solid investigators though. There is a Haitian man named K that has a baptism set up for November, he is ready, but he wants to get divorced first, he was abused by his wife and they have been separated for years. He comes to church every week and is awesome! we also are teaching J, she is 23 or so and she was dropped for a while, but she texted last Monday and told us she was ready and wanted to be baptized, she is coming to church too, the main concern with her is that she is hard to get a hold of, so she is hard to set up appts with. We are teaching a Haitian family, a member just teaches them since we don't speak Haitian, so its kinda like a missionary present lesson. The son knows English though, so I taught him while the member and Elder P taught the rest of the family. They are not coming to church because of work, so you can pray for that! They are the St. P family.

     I am super excited for conference! I read conference talks all the time, it will be nice to have some fresh talks to read and go over. One of my favorite ones I have read many times is "be meek and lowly in heart" by Ulisses Soares. I love the talk because that is something that I really want to work on is becoming more meek and lowly in heart. Its not an easy lesson :p I've been learning a lot of hard lessons out here in the mission field, but I am grateful for them.

    I love you tons and tons and think about you all and pray for you all. I hope that all will go well for you and for #1 and #3 take care!