4/28/15 There are Trees!!!

Las Vegas, New Mexico - There are Trees!

Hey everyone this is my new address I don't have a lot of time this week. Talk to you next week.  there are trees here and I love it.  I love all of you also have a great week!

720 Mills Ave apt #36, Las Vegas, New Mexico 87701

I haven’t taken really any pics of my new area. I am in Las Vegas, New Mexico.  It’s a little town and it is one of the furthest areas north in the mission. We are at 6500 ft. and it is one of the biggest areas in the mission if you could combine butte falls and Ashland that’s where I am at. My companions name is elder Pohlsander. Jerky is fine and letters and maybe some nice ties.  It’s actually 7000 feet but I am breathing a little better.  I have been running sprints at a high school track so my lungs get stronger so my breathing is adapting.

4/21/15 - Leaving El Paso - Some of my favorite people are there

     

El Paso Driving - Watch the Frontage Roads

El Paso's Views

It's brown.

 

  

It's Flat

There is a whole lot of nothing

  But .... Some of My favorite People

The Jensens

Elder Goff (and our Second Apartment)

William - One of our Converts

   

The Perkins

   

The Henajosas - Sergio and his nephew Abraham

  

Our Ward Mission Leader Jose Montoya - He killed your father, prepare to die ;)

 

The Gruenwalds

  

Dwight

  

 

Brother Butterfield

 

The Aguires and the taco truck

4/13/15 Holla Mommy - Transfers

Holla Mommy, 

Well I knew the mission would be hard, but I never thought it would be this hard to leave an area. I love it in El Paso and I am getting the boot! I definitely feel like I left it looking better when I came in. And it is exciting that my companion elder Goff is going to be training.  They should be having some baptisms - that will be nice for the new missionary coming in. I get to spend my last night with my first convert family, which will be amazing.  they cook so good I am going to miss it...... I just found out one of my best friends I have been talking to from high school, Allie Meyers, … is getting baptized.  I am ecstatic! I got to speak on Sunday to the ward about the Atonement and got to relate a cool experience I had on Brown Mountain to it. It was a good way to end my time in El Paso 11th ward I almost cried, but I pulled through. I love you all! I don’t have a lot of time I’ll let you know where I end up!

[When I asked how the transfers work – bus, car, pick up? He answered with a joke meant to make a Mom’s heart beat faster:] 

They beat me up, put a bag over my head some time tonight and throw me and my stuff on the outskirts of my area and I find my new home.  No, actually, I stay in my apartment tonight and drive to the other end of town in the morning. I go to a transfer meeting on the west side at 10am tomorrow.   They load my stuff up and I go to another transfer meeting in Las Cruses.  If I stay there then I go meet my new companion. Or I get to make the long drive up to the transfer meeting in Albuquerque. I’ll find out where I am going when I get there...

It’s sad.  Elder Goff and I are going to miss each other.  But it’s about time I served in New Mexico. I will let you know next Tuesday where I went.

Yeah, I am nervous. I get to spend the rest of my day at the Jensen’s which makes me happy. I spoke at sacrament meeting and at the end of my talk I announced me being transferred. Is it bad for me to be happy that I saw the whole ward get sad when I said that, lol?

It’s hard leaving them.  It’s like leaving home again I love them so much.  :(

4/7/15 - Family History

Hey y’all gonna be short this week running on short time! This week our mission president wanted each of us to learn more about family history - for 2 of the less productive hours of the day. We went and I learned how easy genealogy is! I have found more than 100 of my deceased ancestors. In the church we believe that baptism is something necessary for eternal life.  Many people who didn't get to hear the restored gospel went to the spirit world without being cleansed from their sins. In sacred holy temples we perform essential ordinances like baptisms for the dead, using our bodies as proxy so that everyone from every dispensation has the opportunity to receive full celestial glory. I am so happy for those people waiting in the spirit world that will have the work done for them. Family history work is just as important as missionary work and it is fun to see where our roots go!

Next week is transfers - P day will be on Monday I will let you all know whether or not I am still staying in El Paso.  General conference was great and so many wonderful talks: Jeffery R. Holland and David A.  Bednar and Boyd K. Packer’s talks were a few of my favorites - what were yours and why? Watch and read over the words of Prophets and Apostles and all of your questions will be answered! I love you all have a wonderful week! 

Watch or listen to the conference talks here:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/?lang=eng

For the specific talks I mentioned:

Jeffery R. Holland:    https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/where-justice-love-and-mercy-meet?lang=eng

David A. Bednar:   https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/therefore-they-hushed-their-fears?lang=eng

Boyd K. Packer:  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/the-plan-of-happiness?lang=eng

Thank you all for the Easter Packages and letters – and for all your love and support!

3/24/15 - a 19 year old marriage counselor

        [If you missed conference - you can still listen or watch here:  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2015/04?lang=eng  ]

          Another week in the mission field full of greatness, so we went over to a less active families house for dinner they bought us Little Caesars on Sunday.. the husband who has been trying to get his wife to come to church with him and be more active was the one who bought it. She was frustrated because he didn't love her she said he just cared about her going to church. He said "I love you so much I went and bought you a new phone last week if that's not true love I don't know what is" the worst part is I think he was serious. this brother every time we meet with them I feel like a 19 year old marriage counselor and I am talking to children. We wrote out a list of things to do for them when they want to argue, (we just made them have a companionship inventory like out of section 8 of preach my gospel) We found out that they weren't praying together and I remembered a talk that president monsoon gave when he recalled the wards the ordinance worker in the temple gave them when they were sealed together that as  long as they lived if they would kneel and pray by there bed every night switching each night who gave the prayer, that they would never have a disagreement longer than a day. The wise man said a couple who prays together stays together. I love how when we invite the holy ghost in our lives he truly reveals to us what really matters and can help us see forward with an eternal perspective. 

Another week in the mission field full of greatness.  so we went over to a less active family’s house for dinner - they bought us Little Caesar’s on Sunday... the husband, who has been trying to get his wife to come to church with him and be more active, was the one who bought it. She was frustrated because he didn't love her - she said he just cared about her going to church. He said "I love you so much I went and bought you a new phone last week, if that's not true love I don't know what is." The worst part is I think he was serious. This brother, every time we meet with them I feel like a 19 year old marriage counselor, and I am talking to children. We wrote out a list of things to do for them when they want to argue, (we just made them have a companionship inventory like out of section 8 of Preach My Gospel) We found out that they weren't praying together - and I remembered a talk that President Monson gave when he recalled the words the ordinance worker in the temple gave them when they were sealed together  - that as long as they lived, if they would kneel and pray by their bed every night, switching each night who gave the prayer, that they would never have a disagreement longer than a day. The wise man said, “A couple who prays together stays together.” I love how when we invite the Holy Ghost in our lives he truly reveals to us what really matters - and can help us see forward with an eternal perspective.

I am excited for general conference this year and for the opportunity we have to hear from our Apostles and Prophet. I want to extend the same commitment for conference we have extended to all of our investigators - write down questions or concerns of your soul have on a piece of paper and then watch general conference. I guaranty that all of them will be answered. I was greatly impressed by a B.Y.U. devotional that elder David a Bednar gave. He was talking about searching the scriptures for answers. He said while reading through the Bible and Book of Mormon he found several instances that people could not understand something with their carnal mind, but they understood with their hearts. Don’t over think the gospel. The prophets of old and now testify of Christ - hear their messages with your hearts.

The Prophet testified of Christ and the true revelations he received also." And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good." -2 Nephi 3:10 listen and study to the words spoken by God's true messengers. And listen to the truth confirmed to you by the still small voice of the Holy Spirit."

 I love you all dearly and thank you for your prayers and pure hearts talk you next week.

P.S. :  Please send that package  - I'm out of singular and the Mulberry trees around here are killing my allergy's - I'm a snotty, sneezing, mess

Looks like he is on the Moon - pictures in El Paso

I kept after him to send me pictures of the El Paso.  He finally did - with a sigh, saying it is a whole lot of nothing - very brown - and his garments were turning the color of the area.  Elder Goff took the pictures while he drove.

  

  

  

Elder Pedersen, Elder Goff, and William who they baptised.

 

  

3/31/15 - Another Eventful Week

Another eventful week. So we met a family this week who was driven away from the church because someone in the ward offended them. They have been without gospel fellowship for 8 years now! That is devastating to me. She filled us in on the situation and it was serious but I won’t specify to protect the problem all I can say it was a tough situation. Regardless everyone should feel welcome at church member or not active or not. It broke my heart to see some ones faith practically lost over any subject. Regardless of what our faults are none of our able to judge one another I sure know I am in no place to judge and nobody but God is able to that. We all sin some just differently than others. Each of us are brought into the world with our own trials we need to bear no one needs to judge us on what our troubles are. Jesus said -Say unto them, ye hypocrites, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. The only person we are responsible for is ourselves and for some the ones they are appointed stewardship over. Why worry about what others do when Jesus said "they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." instead of focusing on others faults we should take care of our own problems and help our neighbors with their struggles because we off all people should know how hard it is to overcome our own trials. Instead we should focus on that Christ died and is risen and lives today to help us. The debt has already been paid it’s our job to accept it and not condemn others I see hope for this family and for all of us that is the best thing about this life there is no limits on how awesome you can become! I love it because I know I need to make up for a lot of my own faults but one day I can become perfect Vince Lombardi said “Perfection is impossible but chasing it will bring excellence. The atonement of Jesus Christ makes up it all if we repent of our sins his purpose is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man not for us to wither in our own pride. Please remember Christ's example always and it will change your life”   JOHN 316 ¶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.

 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

I love this gospel and what it can do to change us from our natural state happy Easter! And happy general conference. I love you all dearly and am so happy Moroni is getting his (Eagle Scout) court of honor this week!

3/24/15 - Musing and ConversationsMy mission president gave me permission to read miracle of forgiveness, the only problem is I don't have a copy of it.. I lovee you! how has your week been?

Jill just said" I just realized that when I'm grumping  at you I sounded just like Rick. I'm going turn out just like Rick" 

I just laughed and said, "sounds about right"

and she said, "Actually - I'm OK with that"

 :)

My mission president gave me permission to read miracle of forgiveness, the only problem is I don't have a copy of it.. I lovee you! how has your week been? 

(I read and loved  "a marvelous work and a wonder" I am sending you that. See if u can get permission to read it whole I try to get you a copy of their miracle of forgiveness.  )

Send me both. I am a book worm now I'll read them both.  My eyes get stronger every day. Elder Goff and I are on track to finish the whole triple combination in this transfer - 6 weeks!  It is awesome.  I'm on my 2nd time this year and I am loving it! I set a goal at the beginning of the year to read to whole missionary library.  So far I have read Our Search for Happiness, True to the Faith, Our Heritage, the BOM and I am finishing the BOM (Book of Mormon), Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) and Pearl of Great Price this transfer.