Week #71 11-30-15

Hey everyone! This week was really really bittersweet! Obviously I really miss you guys, but we had an awesome week hanging out with members on Thanksgiving! We had like four dinners! It was insane! I don't think I have ever eaten that much on my mission before! It was crazy! We went to a lunch that was supposed to start at 1:00 but didn't start until 2:00. Then we went from there to our dinner at four! Then we went to our bishops house who was supposed to start at 5:30 so we thought we were off the chain for eating when we got there because it was 6:30. But when we pulled up they pulled the turkey out of the deep fryer so we got some more! Then after that we went to the other bishops house and just had dessert so it wasn't too bad there! But it was a lot of food! Other then that we didn't do too much!

Update on Brittney! So we had a lesson with her and we taught the Restoration, and it was pretty awesome! We also committed her to baptism and set a date for Jan 9th! It was pretty awesome! Other than that not much has happened!

This week I have learned a lot. Mainly about failing! Which isn't new to me, but I actually started paying attention to what God has been trying to teach me! I have learned that even when we mess up and fail, all God expects us to do is keep trying our hardest. After we do that, He will strengthen us to the point where we can succeed! So that is my thought for this week! Give iit your all and turn it over to Him!

Love you guys! Thanks so much for all the support!

Week #70 11-23-15

Breakfast with the Haws family in Nampa.

Elder Berry on exchanges

Hey everyone! How is it going? Life in Idaho is great! It is freezing, but good!

So this week was really good! I went on exchanges twice this week! One of them was with Elder Price who is from Scottsdale! He is a super cool kid and we had a blast! He lost a bet so he had to wear my white suspenders around all day and it was really funny!

My other exchange was with Elder Berry, who is from Alaska! He is funny! We had a good time! That day sucked though because we knocked on like 20 doors and nothing happened! It was kind of a bummer, but that is okay because we had to take our car into Nampa to get fixed and we got to get breakfast with the Haws! That was really good to see them!

So we found a new investigator this week! That is seriously the first new investigator I have found in over three months! it was great! Her name is Brittany and she is GOLDEN!! Her Fiance got off his mission a year and a half ago and he has basically taught her the lessons already! They read scriptures together and are just awesome! So I am super pumped because she is ready to get baptized and it is going to be a good time! They are getting married on Dec 19th so we will see if it is going to be before or after that!

So on Sunday we had to speak in Sacrament and I had my talked all prepared and I was gonna talk about member missionary work and it was gonna be awesome! But in the middle of the sacrament I got the prompting to bag my talk and just go up and preach! So When it was my turn to speak I took my Book of Mormon and my Preach My Gospel and went hard in the paint!~ It was really cool, because I would have never been able to pull out a 20 minute talk before the mish! But now I can! haha!

16 And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken these words unto my brethren, they were angry with me. And it came to pass that they did lay their hands upon me, for behold, they were exceedingly wroth, and they did bind me with cords, for they sought to take away my life, that they might leave me in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts.

17 But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound.

18 And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto them again.

Faith is a very very powerful thing. More specifically Faith in Jesus Christ! When we have Faith in Him, all things are possible. Faith is what gives us the opportunities to perform or receive miracles! So If you want Miracles to happen, start with Faith!

I love you guys and thanks for all the support! You are the best! Love ya!

Week #69 11-16-15

A little piece of AZ in Idaho!

Elder Rogers with Breydyn & Riley

Hey everyone! So Homedale is awesome! I have already found like four people that have had connections! Like our Ward mission leader knew Gpa and Gma Rogers! And this family in the ward moved from Gilbert and the Kids went to Gilbert! It is crazy! There are so many people who moved here from AZ! haha But I am in car and we live with the members! The Brownings! They have the coolest piano ever and let us play it so that is fun! The weather here SUCKS!!! It is so cold and windy! I think I might die! haha But one really cool thing is that there is a herd of Deer that live at our house! So every mornign and night we get to see them! My companions name is Elder Huff and he is from Riverton Utah! He likes the Guitar and singing!

So this week we had zone meeting! That was fun, it was all about the Book of Mormon, The Atonement, and how we as missionaries have a special power! It was really good! The area has ALOT more going on then Nampa did! On Saturday we had a baptism for these two little kids. Their names are Breydyn and Riley Ford! They are super awesome!

I just want to take a second to thank My Savior for the sacrifice he made. It is truly the most selfless and kind act anyone has every done. Because of Him we are now able to be forgiven of our sins and overcome any future temptations satan throws at us. And the best thing is all we have to do is follow the commandment and make covenants! It is literally the coolest thing ever!!!!! 

Well I love you all and thanks for all the support! Dueces!

Week #68 11-9-15 TRANSFER TO HOMEDALE

Last Week with Elder Barrow!

Decorating Cookies at the Burgess home.

Elder Lopez from Mesa

Sister Sorensen from Highland HS

Elder Tupo

Elder Payne former companion

Hey everyone?? How is it going? I am doing good! So I just got transferred to Homedale, so I am in the Caldwell zone now! Homedale is a little farm town kinda like Melba, so I am excited! My new companions name is Elder Huff and he is from Riverton Utah. I think we will get along and have a good transfer!

So it was sad to say goodbye to everyone in Nampa! I really like Nampa but I am excited to get out of the city!

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phillipians 4:13

Even though life can sometimes suck. And a lot of times we don't see why we have to do something, and we think there is no way of getting through it. But as we turn to Christ and ask for his help, he will carry us when we can't walk. Because of his Atonement, we can be enabled to do ANYTHING. Literally anything can happen if we have the faith and the right intentions! Well I love you guys and thanks for all the support and love! Dueces!

Week #67 11-2-15

Sporting his new jacket.

Good Missionary Service.

Bummer!

Hey everyone! How is it going? Things in Idaho are going good! It's starting to get cooler and cooler and I am really getting nervous! Other than that, things are going pretty good!

This week we did a lot of service. We moved this guy into the other elders ward, and he had a semi truck full of stuff! And some how I was always involved in the heavy lifting.

So i know this area hasn't been the most fruitful area, but we have had some cool experiences this week. One day we didn't really have anything to do so went and knocked on some doors. We were walking up to one door and I watched this truck drive by. I don't know why it stood out to me but it did and I watched it go down the street and turn out of the neighborhood. So I didn't think about it and we knocked on the door and no one answered. Then on our way to the next door the same truck turns into the neighborhood and starts driving towards us and I thought we were gonna get shot! haha But it pulled and the lady driving rolled down her window and says " Hey elders sorry I drove away, I didn't want you to think I didn't want to talk to you." Haha! So we talked to her a little bit and found out that she is a member and grew up in the church. Then she told us how she wants her fiance to start taking the lessons! So we are going over there tonight and hopefully can get things rolling! I honestly hate tracting and I never thought that it was productive. But Guess what God has to say about that! haha Well that was my experience for the week!

Sometimes God makes us do things that we don't want to, to see how dedicated we are. We can't expect miracles right away, but we can expect them as we continue to do what Heavenly Father has asked! Love you guys! Have a good week! Pictures on the way!

Week #66 10-26-15

Hey everyone! So this week was really good. The weather is cooling off and it is actually cold out! Well at least to me! SO the members we are living with are actually moving. So they are pretty much moved out so we have the whole house to our selves! We throw parties like every night! haha

So this week we did a lot of service. One morning we woke up and went to help his guy in our ward chop down a tree in their front yard. It was actually really fun, because we haven't done service in a long time and I miss doing stuff like that! haha But I almost died! It was awesome! The guy was up in the tree cutting a big limb off and I was holding the rope tied to it. My job was to pull the limb as it fell so it didn't hit the house or the fence. So as he was sawing I started to pull and the limb snapped and started to fall. It was then that I realized I was standing right underneath the limb! haha One of the little branches whipped me in the face on the way down and I turned my back to the falling limb. When I turned around, the thick limb was like six inches away from my face! It was crazy! I am pretty sure Heavenly Father was looking out for me because I probably would have died! haha

The other two days we did service, we were just moving people! We helped the members we live with move some stuff to their new house, and it is freaking sweet! He is a Contractor so he builds homes all the time and they built this one and it didn't sell so they decided to move into it and sell the one we live in! Also, there is a family in our who lived in AZ for a while. They are super cool and they grew up on Mesa. It was fun to talk to them about AZ and reminisce!

Well that is pretty much my week! Thanks for all the support and love! Love you guys!

Oh also, Elder Van Wagoner, My trainer, came down this week for a baptism, so it was fun to see him!

Week #65 10-19-15

Elder Ainsworth.

Hey everybody how is everything going? Life in Idaho is great, it is starting to cool off and I am not excited for it! I like the heat better! It has been raining the past couple days which has been really nice actually! I miss the monsoon season! haha Also, can you believe I only have nine months left?? Crazy! It has gone by so fast!

Well this week was pretty good. We went on exchanges and I got to go with Elder Ainsworth. He is from Georgia and he is freaking legit! We get along really well!

Thanks for all the support and prayers! You guys are the best! Love you!ve you!