Week 16

AREA: North Las Vegas (Deer Springs/Waterfall)       
COMPANION: Elder Steward  

I forgot my journal so I'm going to just sum up my week that I remember.
I'll just talk about the highlights of my week.
We taught Jen on Tuesday about the law of tithing.  It went well and
she is willing to do so when she is baptized which is to be announced
because her husband is still not allowing her too.  Hopefully he
changes his mind soon.  The coolest thing that happened this week was
the baptism for Kash.  Not only Kash but his sister Michelle decided
to get baptized too!  Michelle is 17 and took the lessons about 5
months ago but her brother Kash set a good example and Michelle felt
strongly that she needs to be baptized too.  We found out Thursday
night and the baptism was Saturday.  So on Friday went through the
main idea of all the lessons which took about 45mins then she had her
baptismal interview.  It was a miracle to find out she as well wanted
to be baptized.  Michelle and Kash are awesome and have testimonies of
the true church.  Michelle definitely felt the spirit strong, she
cried a lot as the spirit touched her.  Especially at the confirmation on Sunday.  Their grandpa baptized and confirmed them both.  Amazing
experiences I have had this week.  We also got 2 new investigators
this week, named Brenden and Rey.  Brenden is 17 too and he is from St
Paul Minnesota originally and still goes back to live with his dad in
the summer I believe.  His brother James Henry goes to lives in
Woodbury somehow and goes to Woodbury High School.  He's 15 so I
believe he's in the 10th grade.  We invited Brenden to the baptism and
he planned on coming to the baptism late because he didn't feel
comfortable coming but luckily the baptism started late and he really
enjoyed it.  Then we had a lesson with him after the baptism about the
Restoration and he had lots of questions we were able to answer.  He
couldn't understand what he read when he read the Book of Mormon and I
had similar problems in the past and still do.  I shared what I've
done to help me understand and he was willing to try it.  Also Rey is
now a new investigator, we have known him for a while.  We go over a
lot to get water when ever we need it and they have fed us dinner
before.  At first he wasn't interested in taking the lessons but now
he is willing to listen to what we have to say now that we know him
well.  A lot of great things happened this week and hope to have more
miracles like I've had.  Love you all and miss you!
Mosiah 5:15
15 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable,
always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent,
may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have
everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power,
and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in
earth, who is God above all. Amen.
Great scripture I've found from the study we did to prepare for Zone
Conference.  I love how direct it is and talking about how powerful
God is.
Love you

Week 15

AREA: North Las Vegas (Deer Springs/Waterfall)       
COMPANION: Elder Steward 

Monday- Today we bought new shoes for Elder Steward it is Elder
Stewards birthday the 8th.  They were really nice shoes I might get
some similar soon.  The brand is Winthrop.  We had normal p-day
activities and then had dinner with a family.  Later today we found
out two boys in our ward got hit by a car in there neighborhood while
long boarding.  Both are 12 years old and one had it bad and the other
was just bruised and sore.  Jayden broke his Femur, arm, and a rib I
believe.  He is going to be in the hospital for a while.  It's pretty
scary what a car can do to someone at low speeds.
Tuesday- It's Elder Stewards birthday so I cooked him pancakes.  Also
I let our dinner appointment know it was his bday because she is a
super fun lady in the ward that I thought she would like to know.
Today we were on bike and were trying to find people.  We had a lesson
with Jen about the Law of Chasity and it went well.  Overall good day.
Wednesday-  We had a lesson with a guy named Michael who we tracted
into.  He is cool, he said right now he is going to a Jehovah Witness
but then says he believes Christ is huge when Jehovah Witnesses only
believe he's a good person.  So we will try to teach him more soon.
Then we had a lesson with Joe and he isn't doing to well.  He is
moving out of the house soon because he is getting a divorce so he
struggling right now.  Then we had a lesson with the Brewster's about
not comparing ourselves with each other. Good lesson and good day.
Thursday- Today we had the chance to go to the temple and the temple
is so awesome.  It's on a hill top looking over the strip.  It's a
cool view, I will have to get pics from a Elder that took them because
I didn't bring my ipad with me.  It was a strong spiritual experience,
every time I go I learn something new.  We had a lesson with a guy we
tracted into and named Andre and he agreed everything we said but then
explains what he believes which was completely different. He didn't
have very good concentration or listening skills.  I think he has a
disability but we will try going by again another time.
Friday- Today we got in contact with the McDonalds and we taught them
about 2 months ago so it took a while to catch them.  They are very
busy but still interested, we will text them in two weeks to set up a
lesson with them.  We had dinner with the Gwin family and they were
funny.  We talked a lot about his mission and politics.  I heard that
Marijuana was legalized in Nevada and some other states, that sucks.
We have been trying our hardest and haven't had a lot of people to
teach.  It's a hard area but I know we are doing a good job in our
area.  We have a baptism for Kash next Weekend the 19th.  I'm excited
for that.  We have almost all of it planned out.
Saturday- Today we tracted into another Michael and he was cool.  We
had a discussion on what we believed and talked about why organized
church is important and how Jesus Christ organized the church when he
was on the Earth.  He gave us a super cool Action Bible book.  It's
pretty much a comic strip of the whole Bible with cool illustrations.
Stake Conference is tomorrow so I'm excited for that.
Sunday-  Today we had a good stake Conference. President Walker had a
great talk about missionary work and the joy that comes from it.  It's
a blessing to serve the Lord. Other than that it was a pretty normal
day?
This week I have really been working on having more effective studies.
It's been working out good, I read a chapter out of the BOM and the
one out of the New Testament.  I study out of the student Manuel to
understand everything I'm reading.  I also try to think of what I
study throughout the day.  I know your studies are very important to
keep your testimony strong and growing.  It's always helpful to start
your morning off with studies because you think about it through pout
your day if you have a true study.

Week 14

AREA: North Las Vegas (Deer Springs/Waterfall)      
COMPANION: Elder Steward  
 
This week has gone great.  We had transfer calls and found out we are
both staying so that's cool.
Not a very exciting Halloween, it was P-day so we did normal p-day
stuff and then ate dinner at our apartment.  Then at 6pm we had to
stay inside our apartment for the rest of the day due to trick or
treaters and stuff.  Other than that the week has gone great.  We
taught Jen and she has been excited to learn.  We taught her the Word
of Wisdom and she was very accepting of the principles taught.  She is
a health freak so she is already doing all things we taught so that's
awesome.
This week has been super busy finding,  we are knocking lots of doors
and street contacting.  A lot of finding but not a whole lot of
finding people interested.  We taught a very strong catholic lady and
realized the catholic faith is very close to ours in a lot of ways.
She is happy for us to come back but she is a die hard catholic so it
will be tough to convert.
A lot of negative comments from people we ran into on the street this
week.  A lot of people were talking about how this world is to
dangerous for us to be walking around and talking to people.
This week I have focused on building our knowledge in the our faith.
One of Christ's attributes is  knowledge and that's something we all
can work on. And I know that the scriptures are the key to build our
knowledge.  And the Holy Ghost is a big part too.  Moroni 10:5 And by
the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
Sorry for a shorter email but I have to go love you!

Week 13

AREA: North Las Vegas (Deer Springs/Waterfall)    
COMPANION: Elder Steward  
 
What's up! Happy Halloween!  Day 97! Almost a 100 already!
This week has been awesome, I had my first baptism, we baptized Sara
Bachmura, her boy friend baptized her.  She is 16 and we have been
teaching her for a while.  That was definitely the highlight of the
week.  Also on Sunday I confirmed her,  it was awesome to be the
person to officially a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day-Saints.  Having the power of God with me to give me the
opportunity to give someone the Holy Ghost.  I have a much stronger
testimony of the Priesthood and love for Christ church.  Other than
that we have had a great week as well.  We made a contract with the
Lord to commit to knocking 10 doors a day, 8 lessons a week and better
companion studies.  It has been going very well,  we have not found
any new investigators yet but we did get a few referrals that could
turn into a new investigator or new family to teach.  This is the last
week before transfers and it's likely I will get a new companion.
I've enjoyed spending time with Elder Steward and he's a good trainer.
His younger brother just received his call to go to Nova Scotia,
Canada, something like that I know it's in the area near Maine.  Also
someone in the ward just got her call for Tucson, Arizona so Ryan will
most likely see her out there.  Her name is Sister Haskin.
Baptism is such an important ordinance that we are given to do.   Most
importantly is the priesthood we are given to perform baptism and
confirmation.  It is very special to see someone be baptized and find
the happiness and joy in the gospel.  Especially when you are the one
who taught them and see them grow.
I love the joy that comes from this gospel.  This is the one and only
church.  And I know that through the power of the Holy Ghost.  I'm
having the time of my life out here!

Baptism

Happy Halloween!

New tie I traded for. Not my favorite but it's a tie.

 

Week 12

AREA: North Las Vegas  (Deer Springs/Waterfall)
COMPANION: Elder Steward  
 

Monday-  Today was a normal P-day besides the fact we found a new
investigator named Nick.  We taught a lesson outside his door because
his house is crazy.  He is taking care of 8 dogs and they all bark
like crazy.  Other than that it was a normal P-day.
Tuesday- Today we had Zone training meeting  and it was about having
using members to help you do missionary work.  Invite members to help
teach lessons and we role played how to do so.  Both our lessons fell
through, one with Jen and one with Sara.  We finished visiting less
active members for a list of people we had.  None were to interested
in coming back.  One of them was blind and obese so his life sounds
pretty depressing.  He got some disease that spread and made a lot of
his not work which is what made him blind.  Today we found out the
rule changed for music so now we can listen to EFY and other spiritual
songs.  We used to only listen to MOTAB.
Wednesday-  Today did service for Brother Stevens and we tore out a
lot of big weeds.  Also we had a lesson with Nick and taught the plan
of Salvation.  But after the lesson we realized he is a single adult
so we will have to refer them to the YSA Ward missionaries.
Thursday-  Today we taught Joe Downing and taught about what come
after baptism and it was really interesting to him.  He has been
taught for 3 years by missionaries and he didn't know anything we were
talking about.  Callings, temple marriage/ baptism for the dead, and
service.  It was a good lesson to show what he can do after baptism.
Other than that it was an average day.
Friday-  We were on exchanges today and I was with Elder Flores.  We
met a lady today named Christine and she is very knowledgeable with
the Bible.  We taught her for about an hour and a half on her porch
and it was mostly of her talking.  Good day overall.  We also went to
a car show for 30 mins and talked to some people there about the
gospel/cars.  It was a fun day.
Saturday-  Today me and Elder Steward made a contract with the Lord
today to get a new family to teach and another investigator by the end
of the transfer.  On our part we will knock 10 doors a day and have
more meaningful and productive studies and work with members in our
teaching visits.  It really helped us through out the day to stay
positive. We had another lesson with Christine and we found out she is
sexist towards women.  She thinks women shouldn't be able to speak in
church because in the Bible somewhere in 1 Corinthians it talks about
that.
Sunday-  Today we had a good lesson in church about gratitude and
about not complaining and I can see it is really important to do so.
For dinner a family gave us papa murphy's pizza and it was BBQ chicken
pizza and I thought they stopped making that but it was good.  Overall
good Sabbath day.
I know that having the spirit is the most important thing to have as a
missionary.  Without the spirit nothing goes how you want it too.
Being exactly obedient is so important and I have seen it my life as a
missionary.  Also complaining is a terrible thing to do as a
missionary.  I can see the difference in the day if we complain vs
not.  So I'm life don't complain and you'll be happier.
Also I found a scripture I really like I'd like to share.
2 Nephi 31:13

Week 11

AREA: North Las Vegas (Deer Springs/Waterfall)
COMPANION: Elder Steward

Monday-  Today was a pretty tiring P-day, tomorrow I hope to be more
alert tomorrow.  We were going to have a lesson with Mike and Maria
but they weren't home.  The rest of the evening was street contacting.
Tuesday-  Today we had district meeting and it was probably the
highlight of my day. We were on bike today and we biked 7 miles in the
afternoon to go to a lesson and they canceled 15mins before the
lesson.  It was above 90 degrees so that was kind of annoying we biked
all the way there for nothing lol.  Then we tried to go to our next to
lessons and they both fell through.  For dinner we ate at the
Crossman's again, the people with the goats we milked.  Then on the
way to our other ward boundaries to go try to see less active members
I got a flat on our bike so we walked it for about 2 miles to find a
member with a patch.  We ended up trading bikes with a member so I
could get home.  We ended up trading back a day later.  Rough day
today.
Wednesday- Today we went to do service for Brother Stevens again but ended
up just having a conversation with him and his friend.  Talked about
how they were inactive and how we can change that but they weren't to
interested in changing.  So we ended up talk about politics and cop
stories they have.  Then later that day we had a lesson with Joe
Downing about enduring to the end.  It was good we set him with some
goals and how to keep progressing.  That's about all that happened
today worth mentioning.
Thursday-  Today we had weekly planning and I was leading but we
only got half way done since we had a lesson in the middle of it with
Sara and it was about following the prophet and keeping the
commandments.  She is still progressing and has a baptismal date set
for October 29th.  Also we later in the night had a scorpion and black
widow spider fight. It wasn't that exciting as it sounded but it was
cool. Video attached at the bottom.
Friday-  Today Elder Cornish was coming for a conference. He is in the
70 and he spoke in conference recently.  He is a very funny and good
man.  He had a lot of good words to say on how we should be in unity
with the ward.  Also how we as missionaries should be more organized
and more prepared for lessons and ward council meetings.  Then we
ended the day with tracting after dinner.  Good day!  I took a lot of
notes.
Saturday- Today was an interesting Saturday. We checked on Joe Downing
to see how he was doing.  Just checking on his goals and have a quick
spiritual thought.  He is reading his scriptures everyday and said he
is really trying to go slow so he can understand everything.  We also
went to see a less active family, the Perry's.  The reason why they
are not active is because there daughter is fighting with her mom
about going to church.  The daughter is 15 and claims she is
Egyptianist but she knows nothing about the religion she claims she is.
Elder Steward new a little bit about her religion so he started
talking about what she believes and she knows nothing.  Then we taught
them a quick lesson of good and evil then asked if we can teach the
daughter the missionary lessons and the mother got excited.  But then
the daughter totally broke her moms heart and says thanks but no.  It
was pretty sad.  Then we had a dinner afterward with and really loud
and obnoxious family.  sister Robb works at a place where you study
dead bodies and she talks about cutting legs off and eyes.  Let's just
say she talks about dead bodies like me talking about cars, it's
pretty weird.  They were super hard to talk to, the whole meal we
pretty much just listen to them talk.  It was an interesting day today
overall.
Sunday-  Today was good, nothing to interesting happened today.  We
had the primary program today in church.  It was pretty funny to
watch.  Dinner was interesting, we had dinner with a family with 3
teenage boys and they were all extremely quiet.  Then we had  a lesson
with Brother Brewster which was good.
Love this gospel and love you guys.

Week 10

AREA: North Las Vegas (Deer Springs/Waterfall)
COMPANION: Elder Steward

Sorry for the last two emails, they were pretty short.  The first
short one was because of transfers and I stayed in the same area.  The
second email was because we were shopping for too long and had barely
any time to type emails.  And we are only supposed to write emails for
an hour every pday.  Sorry I'll work on having more detailed emails.
Monday-  Today was a good P-day.  We went shopping and went to a
restaurant called Canes and it has chicken strips and they taste
really good. And then we wrote emails and played volleyball for a
little bit.  After our dinner we had a family home evening planned
with the Van Buskirk family.  They are a cool family, they are really
into dirt biking, snowboarding, long boarding, cars, ect., a lot of
things I enjoy.  They also had a unicycle which I tried but wasn't the
best at.  Anyway they are a cool family but the older brothers, 18 and
20, are inactive and don't seem interested in the church.  The dad is
a little inactive and the mom is active.  Then they have a daughter
that's 16 and son that 12.  So we taught them a lesson and it was
about good vs. evil. I planned the lesson and I put a lot of thought
into it.  I showed them a video called the Hope of God's Light.  The
video seemed to thought the father and daughter. I also shared Mosiah 7:13, 16-19 and then bore my testimony of how nothing else in the
world can make you happier than being close to God and being dedicated
to this true gospel.  Good day.
Tuesday- Today we were on bike again because every Tuesday we go on
bike to conserve miles. It was a good day, we were able to meet with
Jen Mujick today and taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson. We also
had district meeting andElder Flores taught about recognizing and
using the spirit as a missionary. Also while we were biking there was
a guy who threw fire crackers out his window at us and they exploded
while riding past them, it was pretty funny and a surprise. Other than
that it was a pretty basic day.
Wednesday-  Today we did service for Brother Stevens again. He's an
old guy with a big property who can't take care of it very well.  So
we helped him pick pomegranates and we picked a whole wheel barrel
full also we trimmed a tree of his.  We taught Joe again and we showed
a General Conference talk to him, it was by Elder Wilford W. Anderson,
called the Music of the Gospel.  Really good talk, I would recommend
watching it.  It talks about how we should go through the motions.
Thursday-  Today we had weekly planning but had 3 lessons planned for
today.  Instead we only ended up having one lesson because the others
canceled.  We just taught Sara the lesson was about the law of
tithing.  It was good, we also had a lesson with the Bulluck family
and they are returning to activity.  We taught about the 12 tribes and
it was cool to see them hungry to learn.  I need to study that more
myself cause not all of it makes sense to me yet.
Friday-  Today we were able to finish off weekly planning and teach a
lesson to Kash about teaching, learning, and service.  Tomorrow we are
goi g on exchanges and I'm with Elder Talani.  He is a cool guy, it
sound likes he likes to have fun(not use his time wisely).  We have
two lessons planned for tomorrow so it should be a good day.
Saturday- Today was an interesting exchange, I was with Elder Talani
and he is cool but doesn't follow all the rules but he's an okay guy.
He was hard to keep him on track in companion study, he would always
get off topic and he wanted to to nap for an hour and he did while I
polished my shoes and read General Conference talks. We taught two
lessons but neither were the ones planned for the day.  One was on the
street with a family, there name was Maria and Mike and we taught them
for about 15 minutes about the restoration.  It was good, I'm pretty
sure they felt the spirit and I did strongly.  We set up a time on
Monday to come back.  We also taught a guy named Gamelel and we have
run into him before and we just stopped by to see if he was home.  We
ended up trying to teach him but it was more of him trying to argue
with us that we are full of crap.  He would ask questions that we new
the answer to but he would give us any time to answer them.  It was
pretty frustrating but a good experience, we had him pray at the end
because he didn't want us to pray because he says we believe in a
different Jesus which is so dumb that he thinks that.  Then we ended
are exchange and went to bed.
Sunday- Today was fast Sunday, it was a good Sunday but nothing too
big happened.  It was just a very spiritual sacrament meeting, I was
able to bless the bread.  We didn't have any of our investigators at
church today so that was a bummer.  Then it was more meeting later in
the day, not much else after that, just street contacting and trying
to knock on less active doors.
This week I have really focused on being more confident in myself and
don't be so self critical and it has really helped me be in a better
mood.  I know that if we are less negative in our lives and we are
happier every day.  So look for the blessings and miracles in your day
and you'll be better off.

GTR in our apartment complex, really weird to see that. It was a bit of a surprise.

Good scripture, Moroni 7: 13, 16-19

Liking my new uglyish tie.

Two ties I got from a trade.

 

Bored during weekly planning. Stupid humor.