Week 57

Mon, Jul 22, 2013 at 9:40 AM

Hey family and friends,

So this past week was really good in a lot of ways.  I picked up my new companion on Tuesday.  His name is Elder Nelson and he's from Meridian, ID.  He's a star and is doing great so far.  He really has a desire to learn and is ready to work hard.  He was only in the MTC 12 days...and guess what...he is 2 days older than Christopher...that was weird.  When he told me that I was like, wait a second...it's like I'm training my little brother...anyways...weird stuff.

Anyways, so the day after transfers, we went on exchange, which means that can I go with one of the Elders in another area for training purposes.  Well, seeing as how Elder Nelson had been out a grand total of 1/2 days, I figured I wouldn't make him take over the area, so he went to Zebulon his first day.  The other days went pretty well, but we were ridiculously busy, but didn't have the opportunity to get out there on the bikes and such. 

So, semi funny story...we were at our investigators house for a lesson we had set up the night previous and after several knocks a couple of kids came to the door, informing us that the investigators weren't home...we were briefly talking with these kids when one of them decided to walk up next to me and promptly tooted on my leg, followed by giggling hysterically.  He was probably 6 or 7.  We were like, "what?!?!?!"  haha...funny though.

On a more spiritual note, the baptism on Saturday was ridiculously powerful.  Following a lesson on Wednesday and some follow up discussion with our Ward Mission Leader on Thursday, we were trying to work out what we wanted to do for the time when they would be changing back into regular clothes.  We wanted it to be powerful because we had been informed that there would be several less active and non member individuals there on top of some of our investigators...so, Saturday morning rolls around and due to lack of communication, we don't really have anything decided upon.  After talking with our Ward Mission Leader and the father we started to put our brains in gear.  We wanted to show a visual thing but didn't have a lot of time to search for one.  We had about an hour to spare, so we were going to go down to the library and search some videos on mormon.org.   Then, I remembered that I had this DVD of mormon messages given me by a member that lives up in Kinston that does a lot for the whole mission in terms of missionary work. 

We sifted through a couple and then watched this one by Pres. Eyring for some reason or other called Choose this day.  Watch it.  When we watched it, Elder Nelson and myself, we both felt the spirit very strongly and knew that that was a strong possibility.  We still had intentions of going to the library to check out some other things...but then we realized that we just need to do it and show that video that we felt so strongly about.  Long story short, we did.  and yes, it was powerful.  When the video ended, we went up to the front to push the tv out of the way and stuff and we were walking back to our seats, but it just didn't feel right to just walk away after that video, so we both bore our testimonies about the decision that Susan just made to choose this day and other truths.  It was amazing.  Then right before the closing prayer, Susan jumped up to say a few words impromptu.  She definitely wasn't intending on doing that; her step mom had actually mentioned earlier to me that there was no way she would get up to bear her testimony.  It was amazing as well and touched a lot of people.  One way that we knew that the video had so much power was the fact that afterwards, 2 people approached us and asked us about the video saying that they knew some people in their home wards that could really use that video.  It was a huge testimony builder for me to see how important it is to follow even the smallest of spiritual promptings because this one small decision of ours to share a video at a baptism that we had seen on a little 7 in. screen in an apartment in little ol' Wake Forest may end up sending ripples of influence across the state and perhaps the world.  We never know the impact we can have...and we may never realize it impacted anyone until many years from now.  The important thing is to simply trust that His ways are higher than ours.

Life is really good though.  I still can't believe July is here and gone.  Thanks for being my family.  And I mentioned to DJ that I'm so grateful that we are all unified and united in the gospel.  I’m so grateful that we all are converted to our Savior Jesus Christ.  The fact that you, mom and dad, were able to somehow facilitate that is absolutely amazing.  Definitely a feat worth appreciating.  Not that we don't all have struggles or not that we never had our low periods, but we never once have completely turned our back on the Savior.  I love this gospel.  I love His plan.  May we forever be one, as a family within God's family. :)

Love so much,

Elder Patty

Week 56

Mon, Jul 15, 2013 at 9:18 AM

Re: Mid Summer Spectacular!  

well family...well well well....

Why do I feel like I won't recognize anyone or anything upon my eventual return home?? I don't know.  Anyways, life is going well :)  Sounds like things are going pretty well for y'all.  I can't believe it's only a transfer away that DJ's getting married.  Crazy stuff for sure.  Sounds like y'all had a great sacrament meeting.  That's always a bonus.  We had ward conference on Sunday, which means a lot more when you're not a youth anymore.  When you're a youth, ward conference just means a joint 3rd hour with the young women and some stake speakers...but my eyes of understanding in regards to the organization of the Lord's church have been opened since my mission, and I see the bigger picture.  We had a good ward council run by the Stake Presidency.  We were able to attend.  Then our Stake President spoke in sacrament meeting, which was really good.  The meeting went extra long though.  Almost an hour and a half. 

For mom, I am biking more.  This past week not as much.  but my legs are getting beefier, so oh yeah :)  haha.  Letters wise I forgot to write them down, but I believe I received one from grandma with a gift card in it :) thanks grams, 1 from mom, holly, sis. nelson/o'dwyer. 

A lot of good things are going on here in Wake Forest 1st ward.  It is super exciting.  In fact...a lot of great things are going on in my district period.  We are definitely seeing a lot of growth.  This Saturday, we'll be having a baptism of the daughter of our high priest group leader...I can't remember if I told you last email...she had been taught and interviewed in California, but her interview was 5 weeks ago, so we had to go over the lessons with her and reinterview her.  It all went well, but I've never taught those lessons so fast :)  Then next week, one of my favorite families is getting baptized.  At least the mom and the 2 kids are ... the dad is already a member.  They are great and loving everything.  The dad received the Aaronic priesthood yesterday which was a powerful experience, so he'll be able to baptize his family.  So amazing.  I love this work.  This is the reason that I'm here serving the Lord...to see God's precious sons and daughters make sacred covenants and unite as a family in order to one day return to live together with him.  It makes everything worth it. :)  Last night, we got a text from the dad and he told us that his wife, the one that will be baptized in 2 weeks, just completely defended keeping the sabbath day holy to her dad, who wanted to buy something for her yesterday, but she wouldn't let him because it wasn't right to make other people work.  WOW.  I love it...all of it :) 

So, on Saturday, we heard from our zone leaders who informed us that only two members of our district were being transferred.  The assistant to the president who has been there for 9 months and a sister who is going home after 18 months.  So, myself and Elder Warren are staying....except....on Sunday morning, we got a text from President Bernhisel asking us to call him when we could.  We did.  And he informed us that due to some events that occurred with one of the elders in the mtc, (he'll be staying in the mtc till August), one of the prospective Spanish trainers no longer had someone to train.  Well, President Bernhisel, under the influence of the spirit, rearranged some things so that Elder Warren is being transferred down into Raleigh to be trained by the Spanish trainer in a Spanish area, so I'm really excited for him :)  Consequently, I now need a new companion, so I will be training again this transfer, not a visa waiter this time.  Crazy stuff.  I feel bad for Elder Warren though because he has to miss these 2 baptisms.  Funny part about it is, the Spanish area he's going to actually covers our area, just in Spanish (and a lot more ;) ). 

Well, I don't have much else to say.  We are seeing a lot of growth overall, which is great.  Halfway through July already blows me away.  We've been getting a ton of rain recently, but I love rain. :)  It is truly amazing what the gospel can do for us -- what Heavenly Father's plan of happiness truly means.  I know the Book of Mormon is truly scripture and I'm not sure in the least bit where I'd be without it.  Modern revelation is amazing.  As Brigham Young said, it's the most important out of any and all scripture we have. 

Thanks for everything you all do.  I love y'all so much.

Love always,

Elder Patty

Week 55

Mon, Jul 8, 2013 at 9:54 AM

Hey family,

So life's been going well.  Sounds like y'all are staying busy.  Where are y'all going on vacation??  Anyways, I honestly can't believe how fast this past week went by.  It's crazy stuff.  So, let's see...what to say this week.  Hmmm...well...I did receive I think only 1 letter this week, from mom #54 I think.  It was good.  I should probably mention how appreciative I am of you (mom) and Grandma for writing me so consistently. :)  It truly means a lot and I am very grateful.  And as a side note, people are pretty impressed when I tell them my mom writes me a hand written letter every week.  How grateful I am that my mother cherishes the little things.  While writing this, it just made me think about how so many other moms in the world are  so much into the world, and into working, and always being busy, busy, busy doing things for them or doing things for money or doing things for status, except you don't do any of those things, and I am so grateful for that.  I honestly can't imagine the difference there would be in our family--in our relationships, in our conversion, in our testimonies, in everything--if you had chosen to work so we could have fancier cars or more extravagant vacations.  Simply put, y'all are the best, and I love you so much.  And dad, the fact that you made that a priority for your wife to be a mother, a mom, a mommy instead of just a birth-er means the world to me.  How you all did it and how you knew escapes me, but I am eternally, and yes, I mean eternally, grateful for it.

But anyways, 4 of July was interesting, that is to say, completely uneventful...honestly, holidays don't exist on a mission.  All that holidays do is slow the work and make it ridiculously difficult to get exchanges.  The most exciting thing that happened on the 4th of July was when we were biking home that night after trying to visit some people, a full on flash bang grenade blew up in the neighborhood we were biking by.  Okay, maybe it wasn't a flash-bang grenade, but it was ridiculously loud and I saw this orange-ish light flash across my vision, and I wasn't even looking the direction of the explosion.  Intense, to say the least, and definitely illegal.  In North Carolina, if it goes bang or up, in terms of fireworks, they're illegal.  South Carolina is their Wyoming, if you catch my drift ;) 

Sad day that Colorado's on fire.  That's no fun.  I hope we get some rain soon. 

So, things are still going well in terms of the work.  In fact, things are going really well.  We are seeing a ton of growth.  We had 5 investigators in sacrament meeting yesterday.  We learned yesterday that we will be having a baptism on the 20th for a girl who was being taught in California, the daughter of the High Priest Group Leader, who will be receiving a convert baptism here.  Most likely due to some extraneous-to-you details, we will be having to interview her again, which has to happen by this Saturday, so again, things in the mission are always fast paced and crazy, but amazing all at the same time.  Then the following week we will be having another baptism for the wife and 2 kids of this returned less active which will be absolutely amazing.  This work, the work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is absolutely amazing and unstoppable.  I love it. 

I can't believe though how fast it's all going by.  I can't believe this transfer is over next week.  I think I got here yesterday, and I'm pretty sure I stepped off that airplane no more than 2 weeks ago. 

Did I ever tell you that in December, I get to go to my first sealing ceremony!!!!!  I'm so excited!!!  One of the individuals we baptized in Morehead is getting married to his long time member friend, and because I was part of it, I get to go!!!!!  I love those people soooooo much.  I'll tell you what.  This right here is what missionary work is all about.  Seeing people enter the waters of baptism to begin their journey on the strait and narrow path back to our magnificent Father in Heaven and experiencing the incredible joys of the temple covenants and promises along the way as they seal their families for the eternities.  I.....LOVE....IT......SO......MUCH!!!!!

I'm really coming along in my Spanish though.  Which is good.  Me gusta Espanol. 

We had a good zone conference last week.  Our whole district (which is the best district in the whole world) was beautifully unified by the vibrancy of the color purple.  That's right.  District Unity.  We definitely learned a lot.  I know I did.  You want to know what's weird.  Well, at this zone conference, an Elder who will be departing this next week after serving for 2 years bore his testimony.  He was my first district leader...and what makes that even more bizarre...is that he was about my age when he was my district leader...and now he's leaving...

Well, family.  I love you all so much  and friends too :)  Thanks for all the love, support, prayers, and care you send my way.  Know it is much appreciated.  and also know that I know this Gospel of Jesus Christ as restored through the prophet Joseph Smith is true, and it is the one and only way established by our Heavenly Father to return to his presence, perfected by the Atoning blood of our loving Savior, Jesus Christ.  It was created long before this world was, and it's the only thing that will ever bring us lasting joy and peace, unite us eternally with our spiritual and earthly families, and make these 80-90 years, if we're lucky, worth anything at all.  I hope we all, everyone, capitalizes on these miracles that we take for granted much too often.

I love you all.

As always, until next time :)

Love,

Elder Patty

Week 54

Mon, Jul 1, 2013 at 9:48 AM

June....nam nam nam...month monster is hungry ;)

Hey family!!! 

Sounds like life is treating y'all at least relatively well.  I'm glad y'all had fun at youth conference and everything.  That's good.  So July 4th is nothing special for us...holidays don't exist on missions ;) 

The work is going great.  We'll be having 3 baptisms at the end of this month, and hopefully some more not long thereafter.  We're teaching or will soon be teaching a lot of great individuals/families :)  It's exciting. 

So, may I just say that I have the absolute best family in the entire world!!!  That's right.  Best family spot...claimed! by me :)  I received the package this week, which was ridiculously fast and amazing!  I love it!!! My journal writing has gone through the roof...honestly, I wish I had started with this recorder!  So much better.  It gets my personality.  It gets the details of the day.  My feelings more.  .... it gets ME!  and I love it.  Thank you all so much!  and for the shoes and the goodies :)  Y'all are the best!

I also got letter 53, 1 or 2 from grams, one from nelson rock.  Good stuff.

Weather has actually been not TOOOO bad thus far.  Still ridiculously humid, and Dad, you're right...rain doesn't cool anything off, it just ups the humidity to 1000%.  But I still love the rain...especially the thunder :)

Mother, yes, I am being fed...pretty much every day of the week.  Our meal coordinator here is fantastic.  She does a lot more than just pass around the calendar on Sunday.  She, as requested by our fantastic ward mission leader, is focusing on part member/less active/investigator families which is so great.  (I'm trying to send some pictures, but the stupid computer is dumb as dumb could be...I hate it)  So sorry is if this email is short...

Let's see...Elder Warren and I getting along well.  I'm learning more Spanish, which is good :)

Besides all that...I don't really know what else to say.  At this point in the game, I've realized that a lot of this missionary work stuff is completely second nature now.  It's an interesting challenge I hadn't expected in training, but it's hard for me to remember that so much of the stuff I say or do isn't simply common knowledge. 

Okay, Dad, if you want the in's to a ridiculous ward mission process look at the Alma Amulek story...our ward mission leader explained it to us last week...oh my goodness....in short, to start you off...Amulek, who was he...a less active...how many times had he been hardened against the word (I think at the beginning of Alma 8)...too many to count...he has a rich spiritual background and is prominent in the world sense too...yet why and how did he become what he became...look at the details...it wasn't because of the angel...we know that to be true as we remember the account of Laman and Lemuel...so what was it??  Someone told Amulek that he was needed to feed a very hungry servant of God.  He was needed...to feed a representative of Jesus Christ, who was away from home and his family...ringing any bells?? :)  So, what happened...Alma went into Amulek's home and sizzled Amulek's socks right of his feet.  He blessed his women, his home, he brought the spirit in power into his home.  THIS is what led to this being the time that Amulek softened his heart.  Then what did Alma do.  He requested Amulek's help again..."Hey Amulek, thank you for everything, but I really need you.  I need your help.  I'm going to go preach to the people of this city again, and I need you to be my junior home teaching companion...will you help me with that??"  Why of course!  I love being needed.  And BAM!  the rest is history.  The same will work with our brothers and sisters that we love.  Pray about it :)

Anyways,  keep up the good work. 

Until next week.


I love you all,

Elder Patty