The Best Thing is They Keep Trying

From Mason Blettenberg
Teaching in Ireland

If we don't try were just 

LATTER-DAY SINNERS

if we don preserver were just

LATTER-DAY QUITTERS 

and if we don't allow others to try were just 

LATTER-DAY HYPOCRITES

as we try to preserver and help others to do the same we are truly 

LATTER-DAY SAINTS 

- Elder Dale G. Renlund 

HOWDY EVERY ONE!

I found this quote my studies today and I really like it. Why? Well I have really understood how unperfect I really am as a person. I mean, I'm not all that great. I sin, lie, think bad thoughts, am sometimes lazy, and I complain. But you know what I really am? I am a hard working missionary that puts my his shoulder to the wheel every week to try to be better, think better, and act better. No one on this earth is better than another. We are all beloved children of God and this is something that we need to be smiling about. The best thing about Latter-day Saints is they keep trying.

 

This week has been up, down, left, and right. First, to start of the week, we had to travel to the area were I started my mission for exchanges with the zone leaderss and a leadership meeting. I got to go teaching with the first man I baptized. That was a cool thing to do, to teach with him...

 

A Church member who is coming back to activity stopped contacting us for the whole week, so we gave her space and then tried visiting  her at the end of the week. She is not doing too good. My heart goes out to people like her who are trying so hard. Just trying is hard for them. I know how they feel and  I love them for it. The number one thing I love about my mission is God's children. They are what puts a smile on my face. You always hear missionaries say, "love the people," but you really don't know what it means unttil you love them. It is the greatest thing ever to love and preach the gospel at the same time. What a blessing!

Well, I wish you all well and love you all so much. And don't forget to be a Latter-day Saint !

 

Elder Blettenberg

In the Right Place at the Right Time

From Trevor Wells

Teaching in Canada

Yesterday, something interesting happened. Elder Leigh and I were headed out to go tracting. Just before we were about to cross the street, this huge white truck pulled up to the stop sign. "You guys Mormons?" He yelled, his voice really course, probably from cigarettes. 

"Elder Leigh talked to him for a minute and he told us he was from Mexico and was working up in Alberta. He guessed we were from the states. Then he said he knew where Twin Falls was, which blew my mind. We told him our names and he said his name was Aaron and that he'd like a Book of Mormon. He then said, "I really need this in my life right now." And we said goodbye and was gone.

We just happened to be in just the right place at just the right time. I hope he's been reading it, and hope it helps him.

God's Blessings are Sure and His Love is Real: A Parting Testimony

From Natalie Willes

Recently returned from teaching in Arizona

It has been the best, craziest, most fulfilling 18 months of my life. After 11 companions, and 5 areas later, I've come to know some of the most amazing people in the world. I am so grateful to those who have changed my life. I love Arizona, Mesa is a great place with many different characters in it. I think the main thing that I am grateful for, is the testimony that I've been able to gain. I've always had a testimony of some sort since I was a little kid. Over time it has been strengthened and built by experiences that cross my path, but in the last year and a half, it's grown immensely.

I know even better now that I have a Savior, who is my best friend. I always knew He loved me, but now I've gained the knowledge about why He does. He died to overcome the two things that would keep me from returning to live with God:  Sin and death. He suffered for me in the Garden of Gethsemane and sweat drops of blood just for you and I. He knows us personally. He heals us if we allow him to and because of this love we will never ever be left alone. I've come to the realization that it is so easy for us to forget this relationship we have with Christ. He doesn't wait for us to run half of a race before he shows his love, he is running the race along side us cheering us on every step of the way. He will buoy us up and pick us up if needs be to help us cross the finish line. Where is the finish line you may ask? Well, eternal life, living with our Father in Heaven. That's the goal, and because Christ died and suffered for us we can get there. One of my favorite scriptures of all time is found in the Book of Mormon, in 3 Nephi 9:13-14 which says " Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?" "Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me." I know this to be true.

I know that God has a plan for us. He sent us here and provides us the means for joy and happiness in this life through our families. We are a part of His, and the main goal in this life is for us to return to
live with him, and our families forever. We learn of this plan through prophets. I know that he has again called prophets in our day. I know that Joseph smith was called to restore the fullness of the gospel to the earth and that because of his faithfulness, we again have the Book of Mormon. I know without a shadow of a doubt that the Book of Mormon is true. It has blessed my life and the lives of those I've had the privilege to teach.

My vision for life is quite simple. I promised God that I would be a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ. My purpose is to come unto Christ, and I'll continue helping others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and most importantly, enduring to the end. President Monson once said "Our purpose is to steer an undeviating course towards our desired goal- even the celestial kingdom of God." and that is my goal. I want to return to live with my Heavenly Father. There lies happiness, joy and everlasting life. I can always be with my family there, and there is no other place I would rather be. I will keep doing the little things God asks me to do, and in turn it will be easier to keep doing the big things that God requires of me. I'll fulfill my roles in callings, in church, or at home. I'll keep the temple in my sights, and Christ in my daily action. I'll serve those around me like Christ would, and I'll smile everyday and laugh and enjoy life's ups and downs. God's blessings are sure, and His love is real. I will always trust Him with all my heart.

I Call Them My Answer Book

From Mason Blettenberg

Teaching in Ireland

We had such a blast this week. I think what made it so good is how much me and my comp studied the scriptures together; that’s what changed it. There is just something about the scriptures that draw me in like a bug to a light. i just keep reading to find answers. I call [the scriptures] my answer books.

We have one investigator with a date to be baptized, so that is exciting. But the highlight of my week was visiting a less active man name Mike. Mike is a long-term less active member of the Church and he has so many addictions its not even funny. He is literally in his house all day smoking, drinking, and doing drugs. He just can’t stop what he is doing. But he loves elders so he lets us in. so we made a plan to clean his house so he could feel the Spirit. I have seen a lot of dirty houses in Ireland and Scotland, but nothing like this. So we brought bags to just start slow and pick up rubbish. We started but he did not like it; it made him feel bad that we had to do it for him. So I prayed and fasted over what to do. He is on my mind all the time. I love this man, so we went over to try once again and same thing happened: he did not want to do the clean up. Then I looked at the fireplace and the still small voice whispered to me and told me to use the fire. So we made a fire in the fireplace and slowly started to put things in the fire. Now that felt good! We did not stop him from drinking or force him into anything, but we had a campfire and had some small talk about his life and the Book of Mormon. I love this gospel and what I’m doing on my mission. I will return with honor.

 

Elder Blettenberg

Miracles in Arizona

From Natalie Willes

Teaching in Arizona

This week we ran into an 81 year old man named David! He was a stubborn but kind old man who believes the bible is the only true thing, and that it is his religion. Interesting, but we talked with him for a while and a little boy came up the stairs right behind us and starting deliberately yelling and making noise in our direction, but we ignored them. They were just little kids, probably no older than 5-7 years old but they didn't have any supervision. So they kept at it and eventually while we were talking, they collected rocks. They than proceeded to start throwing them at us. I heard a few clink on the ground beside me, and even heard the boy say "Ah I missed!" But he could not hit me. No matter how many times he threw and aimed, he could not hit me or my companion. I felt a bit like Samuel the Lamanite! David looked very upset when one came close to hitting me in the head by a mere two inches, but it didn't hit me and instead hit his foot because of the angle it was thrown . He chided the boy telling him to return home and that he'd be having a word with his father. It was a very unexpected experience.
We also had story time this Friday. I was asked to narrate the story of the brother of Jared. I hadn't narrated for little kids in a while, So the first time we went through a practice, it was a rough go, but when we actually were about to do the skit, I prayed to Heavenly Father and asked for the words to say that would touch these precious kids hearts. And the words came. I didn't even need the papers I was holding in my hands that would simplify e story. The words were mostly smooth, not perfect, but they came. So that was a miracle.

I Had Goosebumps!

From Karsten Hinckley

Teaching in Thailand

This last week Elder Taylor and I have just been so lucky to be teaching amazing people! Great investigators. We were talking the other day and we came to the conclusion that we don’t want to go home. It has been amazing to see how the Lord has worked the past three months. We have seen so many miracles. 

One miracle was a former investigator that we contacted the other day. We made an appointment with her and she came. She is only 16 years old and she is one of the most prepared people that I have met. Her only problem is that her parents will not allow her to be baptized. I really dislike that. Sometimes parents just need to trust their children with a decision like this to follow Jesus Christ. We asked her," Have you ever felt the spirit before?" She wasn’t sure. For the next two days that we met with her we told her how the spirit could feel and how she could know. We fasted with her that her parents would open their hearts. Yesterday at church, after the fast was over, we asked her how the fast went.  She replied, "I did what you told me to do. I waited while I prayed and I felt something that I have never felt before in my life! I had goose bumps! I loved that feeling!" Oh, that made Elder Taylor and I very happy. We told her to write a letter to her parents about how she feels about Jesus Christ and how she would like to be baptized. Well, she did that and when she is ready she will give the letter to her parents! I am sad that I won’t be able to work with her anymore but that is okay. I was still able to see her progress! 

Sister Yuki told us of some missionaries experiences that she had the other day which has really strengthened her testimony of the Lord. She was in a taxi telling a friend about what she had learned at church. Her friends got out of the taxi and she then went home. In the ride home, the taxi driver started to ask her questions about what she was telling her friend. The driver was interested and she got his number. She then called us and told us she had an investigator for missionaries in another area. She was really happy to share the gospel with that person. I am telling you all that sharing the gospel is not hard at all and that it is possible. All you have to do is be ready to open your mouth when the time is right.