Hola!
Wow, things sound really bad over there (Japan). We've seen some of the destruction footage as we've been over at members' and investogator's homes, but I hadn't heard about just how much damage it caused. It's good to hear all the missionaries are OK, and hopefully, they'll be able to help out the people there who really need the help. I'll make sure to keep them in my prayers.
Bishop Nelson is still doing well? When does he start treatments? It's good he can focus on his health now. It looks like being a bishop is really stressful, and that can take a lot out of you. How's Drew doing with the new calling? How are the rest of the Henrys' doing with it?
KAYTLIN IS GOING TO HER FIRST DANCE?!?!?! Wow, that's REALLY weird. She's 14 already? Wow...How was the ear-piercing? Must have been fun...but my advice for dancing and boys! Dance with everyone, but if anyone is a jerk, WALK AWAY! Oh, and then have Justin go take care of him. At least, intimidate him. But, all joking aside, dance with everyone. Have fun! But just remember - Keep your standards, and ALWAYS remember that you're a daughter of God. Who is anyone else to make you feel less than that?
Congrats, Justin!!!! That's way awesome!!! It's going to be really fun, for sure a new experience, work (for sure) but most of all, FUN! Make the best of it, and enjoy every minute! You'll be meeting a lot more new people, learning a lot more things than you would have learned in High School (Unfortunately, not all of them good. Just keep reading your scriptures every day, and I promise, things will work out well). Again, CONGRATS!!! And tell Julie I say "Hi!"
Keep it up with the school-ing the school, mom!! Dean's List - That's way cool! It takes a lot of hard work to be on the Dean's List, right? Congrats!!! Way to go!
Oh, and yup! You can send pictures! Actually, you've always been able to send pictures. I just haven't. I don't know if I said that or not, but that's the way it is! I'm looking forward to picking up that uploader today, so that I can send some sweet pictures next week!
So, with the word on how things are going here:
By the time I e-mail again, the next transfer will already have started. It's weird to think that it's already over...again! Another transfer, came and went. We've done some good work here, but I know there's still more we can do. I know I need to talk to a lot more people (OYM), and we still need to somehow coordinate our area better, so that we can work it more effectively.
We've talked to some great people, and the Andrade family is doing wonderful! They're not members yet, but they already have a responsibility in the branch! They set up the Gospel Principles class, with the books, chairs, and Himnos. Hopefully, her divorce goes through soon so that they can get married and baptized!
Well, that's about it for now, but I'll try to get a letter out!
Les amo! A infinidad, y mas alla!
El Devinator
Monday, March 14, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Week 41 - Military Intelligence
Hoooooooooola!!!
Haha it's funny that you mention the eye-patch fact today! Elder Kobayashi just picked up an eye-patch for fun, and has been wearing it while shooting off his cap gun. He's a full-fledged pirate now!! I'll have to send some pictures!
And thank you MUCHO for the smoothie 'recipie,' or info...whichever category it falls under. I've been experimenting with different things recently, and some haven't really...turned out that great. But never fear! I'll perfect the mint chocolate chip milkshake one day! Haha but at least it still tasted pretty good!
Well, I can't remember if I told you this last week or not, but we talked to this Marine Intelligence officer. And all those jokes about "Military Intelligence?" They're wrong. He asked me where I was from, and when I said California, he said, "And from Chico, right?" It didn't register right then, but later I thought, "How in the WORLD did he know that?" He told us that he did investigations, and when he would talk to people, he could tell if they were lying or not. And apparently, he could also tell the area they were from as well! That was CRAZY!!
Oh, Joshua Arnett is going to the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Mission. It sounds like he is doing well. The Arnett's have already gotten a letter back from him, but they still don't know which day his P-day is in the MTC. It's weird to think that it's been almost 2 weeks. It seems like Joshua is just on a long vacation! Sister Arnett has been handling it well, though we can tell it's tough sometimes.
OH, and VERY IMPORTANT THING: WE CAN SEND PICTURES OVER THE COMPUTER NOW!!!!! YAY!!!! So I was wondering...That card-picture attacher thing that I had a while ago, but sent back to you about 4 transfers ago - Should I go and buy another one, so I can send some pictures, or did you want to send that one back? Just wondering.
Well, this is really short, and I guess, kind of uninformative. This next week will be interesting to see what happens. Things are good, and I hope all is well at home! Give my best (greetings, hello, wish of health) to Bishop Nelson! I hope everything goes well with him!
Les amo! A infinidad, y mas alla!
El Devinator
Haha it's funny that you mention the eye-patch fact today! Elder Kobayashi just picked up an eye-patch for fun, and has been wearing it while shooting off his cap gun. He's a full-fledged pirate now!! I'll have to send some pictures!
And thank you MUCHO for the smoothie 'recipie,' or info...whichever category it falls under. I've been experimenting with different things recently, and some haven't really...turned out that great. But never fear! I'll perfect the mint chocolate chip milkshake one day! Haha but at least it still tasted pretty good!
Well, I can't remember if I told you this last week or not, but we talked to this Marine Intelligence officer. And all those jokes about "Military Intelligence?" They're wrong. He asked me where I was from, and when I said California, he said, "And from Chico, right?" It didn't register right then, but later I thought, "How in the WORLD did he know that?" He told us that he did investigations, and when he would talk to people, he could tell if they were lying or not. And apparently, he could also tell the area they were from as well! That was CRAZY!!
Oh, Joshua Arnett is going to the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Mission. It sounds like he is doing well. The Arnett's have already gotten a letter back from him, but they still don't know which day his P-day is in the MTC. It's weird to think that it's been almost 2 weeks. It seems like Joshua is just on a long vacation! Sister Arnett has been handling it well, though we can tell it's tough sometimes.
OH, and VERY IMPORTANT THING: WE CAN SEND PICTURES OVER THE COMPUTER NOW!!!!! YAY!!!! So I was wondering...That card-picture attacher thing that I had a while ago, but sent back to you about 4 transfers ago - Should I go and buy another one, so I can send some pictures, or did you want to send that one back? Just wondering.
Well, this is really short, and I guess, kind of uninformative. This next week will be interesting to see what happens. Things are good, and I hope all is well at home! Give my best (greetings, hello, wish of health) to Bishop Nelson! I hope everything goes well with him!
Les amo! A infinidad, y mas alla!
El Devinator
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Week 40 - Our Commission is to Testify of Christ
Buenos dias!
So looking back, we definitely haven't been putting the emphasis on OYM-ing that we should. This past week, we had 8 of our 10 dates fall through, for lack of attendance at church. I think we've been thinking that if we focus too much on OYM-ing during the week, that it will throw off our lessons. But the thing is, we really need to build our area, and we can't build it simply by hoping to find one or two good people. If we really focus on OYM-ing during those times, we can build up our area so that no matter where we are at, we can still bring people unto Christ. This past Sunday, not being able to teach anyone, and having one of our awesome investigators get called into work, really made me think about what we are doing here, how we are working, and what we can do better. I really want to return to being a Preach My Gospel and Standards of Excellence missionary, and I want to make sure Elder Kobayashi is right there with me.
During this past week, we had a very unique experience. I have a sound testimony that the role plays we do in our companionships and in our conferences really are inspired of God. This past Saturday, we went and visited a less-active member. She was there with a new investigator we began teaching this past week. We started teaching her, because she hasn't been to church, and we really want her to remember why we go: to take the Sacrament and renew our covenants. Into the lesson, we asked if she could read a scripture for us out of the Book of Mormon. She said she couldn't read very well, so this investigator who was there offered to read. We let him read, but then he started asking a lot of questions. They weren't deep questions, or even questions with a clear direction. Just like in the role play, he was trying to pull us back into a discussion of the Bible and churches. While we did want to bring everyone in the room unto Christ, our purpose in going was to rescue this less-active member. Our focus was on her. We could come back and teach him, but our drive and desire was for her to return to church. When Elder Kobayashi and I talked about it afterwards, we realized that those role plays we did came to both of our minds during the lesson, and we had really tried to turn the focus back on her.
Also during this same lesson, this investigator started into a discussion on the Bible, and comparing scriptures in the Bible to scriptures that he wanted us to read out of the Book of Mormon. In that time, something I learned (and stuck with me) at mission conference came to mind: that we are not here to be taught, we are here to teach. That doesn't mean shutting someone down when they begin to express their thoughts and impressions. Quite the opposite, actually. But what I learned (one thing among many) during this lesson was that we know our message is true. We know so many gospel truths that others are still looking for, yet still don't know them when they see them. And our comission is to testify with power and authority from God that these things are true. He has called us to make them known to others, and He wants us to bring souls unto Him. We are not here to be taught, though we learn every day. We are here to teach, baptize, and help each of our investigators endure to the end.
As for how things are going in the Arnett home: Joshua Arnett left on his mission this past Wednesday. With him packing up leading up to his flight out to Utah, I remembered what it felt like in those few days leading up to the MTC. The Arnetts are still waiting on hearing back from him, on when his P-day is and everything, but hopefully, his MTC experience is going well!!!
And that pretty much does it for updates out here! Oh! But I had a request!
We discovered that the Arnetts' have a blender...Which we used for the first time today. And so I was wondering...What was the base you usually use in the smoothies? What are some of the really good-tasting smoothies that you've made? That would be really good, to start eating a lot healthier and having some smoothies on most days. How much splenda do you usually substitute in there? Just wondering .
Hmm...What else....I think that about does it for here! Sounds like things have been pretty exciting back at home! That 'Red Asphalt' is always a big hit (haha NOT!) How'd Justin do with it? How's everyone else been? Has Hachi stopped barking so much?
Well, my time's about up. Last time, my sign-off was cut short, because I sent the e-mail at 2 seconds...I'd not like to do that again... So I have time!
Until next time!
Con mucho amor, a infinidad - y mas alla!
El Devinator
So looking back, we definitely haven't been putting the emphasis on OYM-ing that we should. This past week, we had 8 of our 10 dates fall through, for lack of attendance at church. I think we've been thinking that if we focus too much on OYM-ing during the week, that it will throw off our lessons. But the thing is, we really need to build our area, and we can't build it simply by hoping to find one or two good people. If we really focus on OYM-ing during those times, we can build up our area so that no matter where we are at, we can still bring people unto Christ. This past Sunday, not being able to teach anyone, and having one of our awesome investigators get called into work, really made me think about what we are doing here, how we are working, and what we can do better. I really want to return to being a Preach My Gospel and Standards of Excellence missionary, and I want to make sure Elder Kobayashi is right there with me.
During this past week, we had a very unique experience. I have a sound testimony that the role plays we do in our companionships and in our conferences really are inspired of God. This past Saturday, we went and visited a less-active member. She was there with a new investigator we began teaching this past week. We started teaching her, because she hasn't been to church, and we really want her to remember why we go: to take the Sacrament and renew our covenants. Into the lesson, we asked if she could read a scripture for us out of the Book of Mormon. She said she couldn't read very well, so this investigator who was there offered to read. We let him read, but then he started asking a lot of questions. They weren't deep questions, or even questions with a clear direction. Just like in the role play, he was trying to pull us back into a discussion of the Bible and churches. While we did want to bring everyone in the room unto Christ, our purpose in going was to rescue this less-active member. Our focus was on her. We could come back and teach him, but our drive and desire was for her to return to church. When Elder Kobayashi and I talked about it afterwards, we realized that those role plays we did came to both of our minds during the lesson, and we had really tried to turn the focus back on her.
Also during this same lesson, this investigator started into a discussion on the Bible, and comparing scriptures in the Bible to scriptures that he wanted us to read out of the Book of Mormon. In that time, something I learned (and stuck with me) at mission conference came to mind: that we are not here to be taught, we are here to teach. That doesn't mean shutting someone down when they begin to express their thoughts and impressions. Quite the opposite, actually. But what I learned (one thing among many) during this lesson was that we know our message is true. We know so many gospel truths that others are still looking for, yet still don't know them when they see them. And our comission is to testify with power and authority from God that these things are true. He has called us to make them known to others, and He wants us to bring souls unto Him. We are not here to be taught, though we learn every day. We are here to teach, baptize, and help each of our investigators endure to the end.
As for how things are going in the Arnett home: Joshua Arnett left on his mission this past Wednesday. With him packing up leading up to his flight out to Utah, I remembered what it felt like in those few days leading up to the MTC. The Arnetts are still waiting on hearing back from him, on when his P-day is and everything, but hopefully, his MTC experience is going well!!!
And that pretty much does it for updates out here! Oh! But I had a request!
We discovered that the Arnetts' have a blender...Which we used for the first time today. And so I was wondering...What was the base you usually use in the smoothies? What are some of the really good-tasting smoothies that you've made? That would be really good, to start eating a lot healthier and having some smoothies on most days. How much splenda do you usually substitute in there? Just wondering .
Hmm...What else....I think that about does it for here! Sounds like things have been pretty exciting back at home! That 'Red Asphalt' is always a big hit (haha NOT!) How'd Justin do with it? How's everyone else been? Has Hachi stopped barking so much?
Well, my time's about up. Last time, my sign-off was cut short, because I sent the e-mail at 2 seconds...I'd not like to do that again... So I have time!
Until next time!
Con mucho amor, a infinidad - y mas alla!
El Devinator
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