Sunday, December 28, 2014

He Truly Knows that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will Help Him




From Karsten Hinckley
Teaching in Thailand


We did have a family come to church this past week who are investigators: a husband, wife and their small child. They were very willing to come to church and I was thankful that they came! Over the past few days we were able to talk to them over the phone and have a phone lesson with them. This man explained that he has no money and that they would be getting kicked out of their home soon. We asked to meet with this man and his wife just the other day. He told us that he has about three more days to pay the rent or they will be kicked out of their apartment. He said that, “If only the person could wait till the 5th,  then we would be able to pay it but they cannot wait.” He then asked us if we would give him the money to pay it and he would give us his bank card so we would be able to take out the money that we need. He really said, “You could just take all the money.” This man is willing to do a lot for his family. We explained to the man that we are not allowed to that. It is a rule of ours that we can’t do that, and he just said okay. So we talked about faith and about how he can quit smoking and how that can help him a little with his money problem. He said he would try and quit. We did tell him that, “If you look toward Jesus Christ and follow the commandments, then you and your family will be taken care of.” We asked him to say a closing prayer and what he said almost made me cry! He said, Thank you, God, for sending me these teachers and thank you for sending me this challenge so that I will be able to learn and grow from this.” That was all he said and it was the most humble prayer I have ever heard! This man does have a Christian back ground so he truly knows that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will help him! 

Sunday, December 21, 2014

We Can't Realize the Love He Has For Us



From Xaviere Page
Teaching in Nicaragua

This week, an incredibly beautiful thing happened. We had been teaching this lady and her baptismal date was for the 13th. She had no money and she had lost her job. My companion told her, ´' Teresa (her name) if you are baptized on this day and have the sincere desire to follow Christ, the Lord will bless you with a job. The day after her baptism (her confirmation), she was told that a lady was looking for some help and had a job for her. She was super happy, and now she is employed. I don’t know what the Lord is going to do or when, but He is so loving of His children. We can’t realize the love that He has for us. I am striving everyday to develop this love, and to love how He does. I will never be able to love how He does, but that is my goal in life. I think a few people will see this right? To all that see this, God loves you and you are loved by others. Smile and remember: everyday is the first day of your life. What happened yesterday cannot be touched or done over again. You can only keep moving forward. 


Much Love!

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

All We Have To Do Is Act

















From Bralan Bean
Teaching in Peru


This past Tuesday we had changes here in our mission ....before changes we decided that we wanted to go to Polvo Azules which is where you can buy clothes, shoes, cameras or whatever for really cheap. Anyway, we were there looking for a camera for Elder Gonzalez. As we were looking, I saw that a shoe store had a lot of Jordans that are really hard to find in the United States, so of course Ii had to check it out. They were really Jordans, [they]  just had a little flaw and that is why this store had them. We looked for a while, gave her a pamphlet, and then left. As we left to go look at other things, I told my companion that we should go back to the store to see if we can get her to give us a deal on these shoes. So we went back. and when we did she explained to us that the things we had told her and the pamphlet we gave her really had an impact on her. Then she told us that the night before she had a dream where she was in a font of water, she was fully submerged, and in this dream she saw two young kids wearing suits, that looked just like us. Elder Gonzalez put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Well hello, hermana, we are right here.” It was really funny, but she was definitely prepared by the Lord to hear our message.

Another experience I had ....We were playing soccer as a district, I saw a kid a little ways off playing basketball. I went over and started to play with him, got to know him, shot around, and then I started to talk to him about the gospel. He is currently looking for a church; he wants a better relationship with God. He asked how he could be a part of our church, and why baptism is important. I took him off to the side; we sat down, and I taught him about the restoration, invited him to baptism, and he accepted. He as well does not live in our area, but in the end I was an instrument in God’s hands. He knows I like to play ball, [so] He put me in the position to where I could use my talents to bring to pass His purpose. God will place people in front of us. He knows how and where and when we can help people, all we have to do is act.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Sweet Experiences



From David and Viola Ricks
Teaching in Germany

Last week we went to Stake Conference in Nurnberg.  It was really good.  We got to meet the Stake Presidency and some of the couples.  It was all translated into English so we could understand everything.   The youth choir that sang wore their helping hands vests.  They sang "Have I Done Any Good in the World Today" of course in German.  It was tender.

A sister in the ward sat next to me in the Relief Society crocheting activity.  She said her son, named Luca, age 12, was inactive and she was very worried about him.  He won't even let the Elders in with a message anymore.  He kind of calls the shots, and his single mom lets him "rule."   The Elders were awesome and did some amazing things---like juggling, the one elder knew a lot of coin magic tricks.  Anyway---during one of them he swallowed a $.20 coin accidentally!  The boy and his friend loved them, but as soon as they tried to share a short message, the boy and friend left the room.    Neat thing though----the sister talked to me today and said her son would like them to come back.  They are going to share with him the u-tube: Sainsbury's OFFICIAL Christmas 2014 Ad.  Any of you who would like to see this u-tube ad, it is just amazing and wonderful and short. 




We visited a very old man and his wife this week.  She is 88 and he is 86.  He is very sick with Parkinson's disease.  He is a High Priest and loves the church.  His wife is a non-member.  She waited on his every need--- and they were many.  It was the first time we have visited a family with limited English.  I sang my song "I Am a Child of God" in German and dad tried the best he could to get acquainted and share a short message.  It was a sweet experience.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

The Season for Giving (and Riding Elephants)



From Karsten Hinckley
Teaching in Thailand

This week was really good! I was buying some chicken on a stick and some sticky rice when a guy on his motorcycle drove up to me and asked if we taught English. I said heck yeah we do and I pointed down the street to our church. I didn’t have a English card to give him so I gave if a baptismal card. We ended up seeing this guy at English and so I asked if he would come to church on Sunday and he said yeah. He speaks really good English for a Thai person. So I was able to have a good conversation with him. Anyways he came to church with his friend and I asked if we could teach them after the baptism that we had the day and he said yes. So he and his friend were able to see a baptism. So when we got to the teaching part, we taught about the Gospel of Christ, Word of Wisdom and Law of Chastity. We showed him a picture of the God head and he said that is God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost. Elder Gage and I looked at each other and were pretty amazed! Then when we taught about the two commandments he was mouthing what is forbidden while we were saying it all. So Elder Gage and I were like, “Okay, where did you learn this?” He said the internet. We asked where, and hee said Mormon.org. I was very impressed that he did that. It was revelation to give him a baptism card. He is way good! I hope we can teach him and his friend some more. His name is AAron and his friend is Fang. 

The Next Week…

This week was a really good week…We were able to teach our new investigator AAron. He is a miracle I never saw coming! We taught him the restoration and when he heard what the prophet Joseph Smith about what happened when he prayed, AAron said that he got chills! Ha that was really cool! AAron is way good! He is praying and reading the scriptures! He is a really good guy. He is about 21 and can speak English. He is planning on going to New York in a year for school... We are also teaching his friend, Fang. So pray for him, because AAron and Fang have been best friends for a long time and I would like to see the both of them get baptized and share these experiences together. 
Other than that we taught our newly baptized sister, sister Peem. She is way good. She said that ever since she has gotten baptized her and her family have gotten along so much better. She also told us that since that happened her husband has started to drink less and that is great! She just has this glow about her! You can tell that the gospel has blessed her life. It is way cool to see. We also taught another newly baptized sister, sister Boo. She tells me every time I see her that I am getting better at speaking Thai. I guess I will take her word for it. We taught the Restoration and she is so good! She has questions about what she reads in the book of Mormon so that is great! We try and answer her questions the best we can.


… I am thankful for the season of giving. [For Thanksgiving] we all gathered at our church - which I have never said is a rented building, if that makes a difference. Anyways, members from the ward all brought something to eat. Before we ate we all had an opportunity to share our testimonies with one another. After that was over we got to eat. You will never guess what I ate for my Thanksgiving dinner! Can you guess? Well I will tell you that I had my first chicken claw!  Ha! One of the members said that I had to eat it so I did. It was pretty good, considering it tasted like chicken. When we were done we helped clean up and then we were about to leave when a member gave me half a chicken to take home and eat. I said thank you and went on our way. Well, on our way across the bridge…I saw a homeless man just laying on the bridge. I looked at what I had, I thought about how much I have been given and about Jesus Christ. I gave this man the half chicken that I had received. Now I had asked this man to go to church before and he said no, but that is not the point. I still thought about how grateful I am to have food and give thanks to all that I have. I thought to myself, I will do what Jesus Christ would do. I felt happy for what I had done. This season is for giving not receiving. 

Saturday, December 6, 2014

The Greatest Gift Anyone Can Receive



From Trent Winn
Serving in Michigan, USA

I would just like to say that missionary or not, Christmas is the greatest time to share the gospel.

Just think: what is the greatest gift you could give somebody this Christmas holiday? The restored gospel is the greatest gift anyone can receive over holidays! Why? Well one, because everyone in life has challenges, member of the Church or not, and the only thing that can bring true peace in the world today is the gospel of Christ. He really is Christmas. The Book of Mormon is the greatest book on this earth and is the greatest gift you can give to anyone this year! It is not anything that you buy from stores, but a gift from the heart: a gift of giving!

May we all reach out and help someone this Christmas holiday and make it the greatest one in our lives.  I know that God loves us all and works through us to help others. May we be that vessel this holiday and reach out others and share to joy we find in the Church!

Happy to Serve!



From Allison Hepworth
Teaching in Pennsylvania, USA


 The Spanish elders and the zone leaders both had a baptism yesterday, and we wanted to go to the English speaking one, but somehow missed it and ended up at the Spanish one! It was super fun! I didn't really understand much, but it was a great experience! She looked so happy, and I can't wait to find an investigator who truly desires a change in their lives! I guess I will just keep working and whether or not that happens, I am just happy to be serving our Heavenly Father who has done so much for me!