Week #1 of Transfer 7

This Transfer started out hard.

We had a really hard week. God gave us a lot of miracles and a lot of success, but sadly something really bad went down this week. I can't give details but now one of our actives has run away and Karina will probably not continue meeting with us. After such a wonderful experience with her, it has been a heartbreak for me. It is not set in stone, but what she saw was horrific. What I learned this week is that Satan is super sneaky. He knows us better than we think. And not only that, but he knows the people around us even better than we do. Don't give him an opportunity to bring you down, because others will fall with you. 

I learned this week the importance of being a strong member. Of being an example. We are being watched and are actions are noted by not only angel in heaven, but future members of the church. Be your best. Be Jersey Strong.

Although I was very sad for a while, my companion and my friends have really shown they care. I love the bishop here. I love my friends and my family that I have made out here. Yesterday, Alma came up to me at church and said that she always thinks about me when she hears about this food called "tlayuda." She said she had bought some and that this tuesday we would have some. I will be sure to take pictures. Her and her family are my family now. And not because of the food or anything that they give us, but because of the way I feel around them. 

Sometimes I think about coming home to dance parties and soccer games and music concerts. It seems so easy back at home. I know its not, but it sure does seem like it. I would be too embarrassed to come home... lets be honest... but I also would miss my mission. I would miss my friends and family here. So I tell myself to enjoy the moment. I truly feel grateful to be a missionary. I love you all and I hope this week is a good one for you all.

Stay Strong. Jersey Strong.

TY

Second Best Lesson

my good friends and I at the beach

Well. It has been a good week. We worked hard. I am wasted. 

Tomorrow is transfers and nothing really has changed in our zone that is worth telling you all. I get to stay with all of my friends and kill it here in Freehold for one more!

I love Freehold. I love the members, I love the ward, I love the area, I love my investigators. I love my companion. It is a high point in my mission. 

This last week we found 4 solid new investigators and 2 not so solid. Our week was super busy and I can't remember a lot but I would like to share one of the most powerful experiences I have had here.

We contacted this lady named Karina. She was interested, and I felt she was special. Sadly, I almost walked right by her without saying anything. We set an appointment up with her but forgot to get her number. We went over to her house and tried super hard to get in. Sadly the people living there told us she didn't live there. I was almost positive though that she lived there. We left, and I felt that we had lost her. Honestly I felt so strong about her. We decided to not go by ever again because we tried so hard to get into that house. I think we scared them.

I went on an exchange with E Nilssen (he is super cool. He speaks korean but is now english to be our zl) and we were walking down this street. I was on the phone and this lady walks up to him and starts balling saying "Elderes Elderes Elderes!" I quickly ended the call and tried to figure out what this lady was saying. I told her that he didn't speak spanish but that I did. She turns to me and tells me she came to the US 2 months back. She is a member. She said she had been searching for the church and that she felt to go try to get a job. She encountered us and knew it was an answer from God. I couldn't help but tell her "God is real." I felt the Spirit very strongly as we talked and we shared 1 Nep 21:16 with her. She was so sweet and kept telling us she found her family. she found her home. We set up an appointment and went over there on Thursday. We got to her home before she got home from the work that she had received that same day she contacted us. Her cousin pulled up and I went over to open the door for her. I helped her out and I looked into the back seat and saw Karina. She got out of the car and I almost screamed "Karina!" I guess I said it out loud and the member says, "you know her?" And we said yes. The member didn't know her either but the member (juana), karina, and the cousin all went into the home of Juana and her cousin. There we sat down with Karina and Juana and got to know them a bit. We almost started to share the book of mormon with her when I felt prompted to ask her if she feels alone. We talked for a bit and Juana shared her testimony of feeling the love of God through the church. I then felt prompted to share the same scripture that we had shared with Juana when we met her. We explained to Karina that jesus christ was nailed to the cross, and when he was resurrected he still had the scars. We told her that those scars remind him of her. That he engraved her upon the palms of his hands. I saw this understanding in her eyes and a smile came onto her face. I felt the spirit so strong. to my surprise the smile faded and she bowed her head. She started crying. 

Seeing Karina recognize what Christ did her for her is hard to explain. To think that through my words, the Spirit touched her and testified to her that Jesus loves her. That lesson I felt the Spirit very strongly. Second best lesson only to Aldo's last lesson with me.

Again, we had problems getting her correct number so when we tried to help her get a ride, we couldnt. I lost hope she was coming and that we lost her again. I then realized only God could change the situation and I lost faith he would. I was translating the sacrament meeting for the hispanic members when I saw Juana and Karina walk in. I stopped talking. I was so surprised and happy and grateful. 

I am grateful for this opportunity to be a missionary and feel the love I feel for these people. Its hard sometimes when I want to come home and comfort my family and friends when they are having a hard time, but I think God will do that for me.

I love you family. Keep praying for us and them! These people are worthy of your prayers. And its working.

Stay Strong. Jersey Strong.

Training Week 5

Time flies by so fast. Mijo is growing up so fast... He is a great missionary and a good friend. He serves me and talks to me a lot. He is such a sweet kid.

This week we had zone conference and they asked us to start contacting 10 people a day. We have tried and fallen short almost everyday... but we are having so many miracles because of it. We are teaching and walking and contacting and having a good time. We both got angry at each other on Wednesday but we cleared it up. I am grateful he has the guts to tell me what I do that bugs him. It helps me share my feelings too. We are great friends and it shows in our area! We have 293473589 potential investigators and have set appointments at almost every hour these last few days.

This week i got kind of trunky. I thought a lot about home and old memories. Its hard to stay focused all the time on the work. I am getting better at it. I am learning that as I work hard to stay focused, the Lord immediately blesses me. I am never going to stop entirely thinking abot family and friends, but I am gonna turn these people here in Jersey into my family and friends so I dont miss home so much. 

This month we are working for more love. I want to leave the apartment everyday because I love to do missionary work, not because I have to in order to be "obedient." I want to share my beliefs with Alma and Adrian, Marcos and Elsa, and anyone else because I love them, not because i feel i have to.

I want to stay out and serve the Lord because I love these people and the Lord, and not because I couldn't stand the shame of coming home. I want to truly love my mission because of the people I meet and the things I feel.

Luckily this kind of love is a gift. Its something I can ask for and have. God is cool like that.

 

On Saturday it poured like no ones business. It was so stinkin cool! But I got drenched. Luckily we had two dinner appointments so we got dried pretty fast.

I love New Jersey. Its becoming my home more and more. The ward here is so great. They are the best member missionaries I have met. Cant wait til you can meet them.

Sure do love you family :) Hope this week is better than last week! I am grateful for you all. I miss you. I love you! Stay Jersey Strong.

Ty 

Super Good Week

This has been a fast week...

Already my companion has been out here for a month. He is growing up so fast. He and I are having a blast. Doing work and playing hard!

Monday we had a blast. We went to the beach. It was crazy cool. I miss playing in the water and building crazy sandcastles with you all. Cant wait to bring you out here and show you the East Coast swag.

I cannot remember what we did this week. There were so many miracles but I am so tired I cant remember all of them.

Luis is now in Peru. He didnt come to church due to preparation for the trip, but he said he is going to go there. We are going to have to push back his baptismal date. Oh well, he is super cool and will come eventually to the waters of baptism. 

Alma and Adrian are outstanding. They are so ready. She will read multiple chapters a week and then retell the whole story back to us and then telling us how she it applies to us and what we can learn. I learned something about the Book of Mormon from her the other day.

Today we had zone meeting. Our new monthly focus is on love as the motivator. I need this so bad. Sometimes I think I just do things for the number of lessons or people at church, but I need to focus myself on the people. They matter. They are the ones I love. Not the numbers. I like having success and having good numbers, but obviously it has no importance unless those numbers are people that I love very dearly.

God is blessing us with new investigators. We got 2 new investigators this week from members. One is the friend of the member and I believe he is more prepared than we suspect (we will see). We also now have the son of one of our faithful members as an investigator. His name is Jesse. He loves his mom so much. It makes me miss my mom. He is about 25 years old and is reading the Book of Mormon to see if it is true.

Overall, a super good week. I am doing well. I feel God is in control and I feel happy. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve.

Sure do love you all.

Ty

Elder Palmer is growing up fast.

Last P day we went and picked peaches. Freehold Ward missionaries right here!

Our district minus our district leader and companion.

Here is Elder Camper and I, also E Palmer and I built legos... that was fun

Something I drew this week

penny board and mijo

Family!

Hello. Its been a week, and I am so happy to be writing you. I have thought a lot about you this week. 

E Palmer is growing up so fast. He is getting a lot better at spanish and our comp unity in lessons is a lot better. We have a specialized meeting this week that we are both excited to go to. He is doing super well and we have been having fun! He is a great kid and we get along well. 

Today we are trying to make it to the beach, so I don't have much time.

We have 2 new investigators this week. One is super solid. He wants to learn and find out for himself if this is the true church. His girlfriend is a less active we found the week before and we are going to go see them tomorrow. Hopefully they will get married and start a family in the true gospel.

Other than that, it was a pretty slow week. We taught a lot of members and less actives. We had 2 less actives come to church yesterday that havent come to church since I have been here. Hopefully they have come back to stay!

I have been focusing on having fun while we work. We played soccer on saturday with some members that we ran into. A bunch of their friends were there and it was fun to play for a bit. 

I went on exchange with e. Camper. He is a giant. It was funny to see all of the people stand next to him. He is about to go home so it was nice to gather some of his outlooks on how to be a successful missionary.  

I got a penny board from a member so I have been riding that around when I can. Other than that... I am pretty boring.

If you could keep praying for Alma and Adrian, Esperanza and Veronica, Marcos and Elsa (especially elsa-- she cried and vented about how hard it can be... she is super strong. A mother that gives EVERYTHING up for her kids.), and now Adelfo and Nancy. Pray for them and we will see miracles. 

I love you family. Thank you so much for the package. That was the best! I have been wearing the shirts everyday... they are so nice! be looking for a package from me soon.

Waz good.

I love you family. Stay strong. Jersey Strong.

Week 2 of Training

Right to left: E Franke(trainee) and E Gossner(trainer) and Me (trainer) and E Palmer (trainee)

My companion is from South Jordan... not Ogden.

This week was phenomenal. It was super hard the first couple days because my focus wasnt right. I wanted to get a certain amount of lessons a day and we werent hitting our goals. I decided in the middle of the week to pray for the people that are ready to receive the gospel. My focus changed from numbers to the people. Soon after I shifted my focus, we started to have great lessons and the Spirit came with us. Don't know how, but we hit our goal of weekly lessons. God wants me to focus on first my companion and second the people. I noticed this week that if I focus on the prepared people, God will put them in our path. I don't have to run distances to find the people. I only have to be happy and try.

We have a new investigator named Luis Espinosa. He is going to get baptized on September 21. He would be baptized before then, but he is leaving to peru for a couple weeks. He is super cool and wants to learn. He hasnt asked if it is true yet, but he came to church and said he liked it! He is coming every week he says.

Alma received her answer. She knows it is true. Although she cant be baptized, we are going to visit her to help her in her conversion. Baptism will come later, but certain steps can come before complete conversion. She is fantastic. One of God's special daughters. 

I like to meet new people and learn to love them. Elder Palmer and I get along well and we are laughing a lot. He is a wonderful example to me. We are so blessed because he is here.

I miss home. A lot. I would love to come home and go on those bike rides and pet exotic animals and drop Adam off at school. I miss my family most, though. Miss you all so much. 

Its ok though. I love being out here. I love being with these people. They change my life. I am so grateful for what I feel out here and for the faith that I have. It brings me a lot of happiness. 

Love you all

Ty

Last Week With Elder Blanco

Nelvin's Baptism

 Trainer's Conference

 Elder Flores

Mustaches

 Elder Anding 

Elder Blanco has been the best companion. He is so funny and outgoing. I have learned how to be an effective missionary. He helped me be me. I am super sad to have him be leaving. We have worked super hard this last week, although we were only together for half of it. We found a couple new investigators and....

NELVIN WAS BAPTIZED YESTERDAY!

Nelvin is the kid of Marcos and Elsa. We weren't sure if it was going to go through. We had talked with the bishop about him being baptized. The bishop didnt feel right about it. E Blanco and I prayed about it. Bishop decided he would have an interview with his parents to see if they would support him and be a good influence for him. We had an amazing lesson with Bishop Linares. We all felt the Spirit very strong. He said he felt good about it. Then Nelvin passed his interview (no shock there, he is a smart kid). We had his baptism, and it was amazing. We went over to there house last night, and the feeling was different. it was awesome!

This week I got called as a Trainer. I will be finding out my companion tomorrow morning. I am a little nervous, but I feel confident that I can be what this new missionary needs.

This week was crazy. With E Blanco's interview and getting ready to go home, and then with my trainers meeting, and on top of that a baptism, we are a bit wasted. I am super pumped to start this next transfer. It should be miraculous. 

Family, we need your prayers! Our investigators have circumstances that aren't letting them get baptized. Our ward is having all of the members pray for our investigators. They are doing it and we are having miracles (like Nelvin). Please put Marcos and Elsa, Esperanza and Veronica, and Alma and Adrian. Most if not all of these investigators would be baptized if they could bust out of a couple situations that they have repented of. Please pray for them. I love them a lot.

I love you a lot too.

Stay Strong. Jersey Strong.

was good.

bye