Week 98--Murray, UT

Sorry Mom for the indecision. It is not within myself. It is a battle between what I decided and what the spirit wants. 

I'm spending most of my computer time signing up for classes.... Sorry

Here's a few pictures:

Joseph Smith Memorial Building

"Two handsome Elders eating a lot! We really appreciate Elder Archer and Elder Bass. They work hard and have strong testimonies. Thanks for raising great men!" -Steve & Renee Scheidell

Mission Pictures

Murray Zone Hike

Week 97--Murray, UT

I originally wanted to fly back on my own, but i feel inspired to say I would like y'all to come and pick me up and fly back with me. I honestly don't want y'all to but the spirit has been bugging me. I don't want it to be a financial burden or anything but I really feel God wants y'all to come for some reason. I think he would give you a confirmation if you pray. Sorry to put extra stress on your back.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! LOVE YOU!

I don't feel like writing a letter this week. We found a family this week. That was about everything exciting that currently comes to mind.

I do want to write 5 things I appreciate about Mom:

1. You have written me every week regardless of how much sleep you did or didn't have and regardless of stress and everything else.

2. I loved the way that I was raised. I know that child raising was never something that you took lightly. I know that your child raising was aided with God's hand! THANK YOU for taking the time and energy and dedication to receive God's guidance.

3. I know that no matter what I do or don't do that although I may receive a scolding or something like unto it I will always be loved.

4. I always know that you would give up almost anything for our(me and my siblings) happiness and welfare.

5. I appreciate your dedication to keeping God's commandments that set an example for us to follow.

Hope you have a great day!

Later notes:
At some point i met with a drunk guy named Caleb. I had an interesting experience where we gave him a blessing and messed with Terra cards. I was stupid and let him give us a terra card blessing where cards chose us and he interpreted those cards. We had originally left and then i chose to go back because i was interested. It was a mistake because i remember God taking away his spirit for a portion of time afterwards. We even said to each other that it was evil when we left the first time but decided to go back anyways

Week 96--Murray, UT

This week was good and I experienced an intensity of many emotions.

Joy- Autumn was baptized and I love see people's baptisms and helping people get there it fills everything with joy. 

Love- I had an experience this week where I felt a little of what it's like to feel the love God has for one of his children. I wept.

Disappointment - the same person who I felt that love for, later that the week we found out she was abusing drugs.

Discouragement - many of our investigators have suddenly dropped us including Melanie who realized her only way to progress was move out of her boyfriend's home and fly back to Antigua where she can convert her children.

Love y'all!

Elder Bass

Also on a comical side note. We went to one of our wards and this was what the program said. I told elder archer when she was trying to remember my name tag to put on the program, she must of gotten distracted with the memory of everything else.

Autumn's baptism

Later notes:
It is hard to describe what i felt that night for Raquel. I explained it the best i could in my journal so ill just refer you there. In synopsis of that experience, I felt a very pure and powerful love as i was teaching raquel and expressing my desires and feelings in the lesson. As i was riding my bike back to the apartment, I realized that a day before i had prayed for God to show me his love.

Week 95--Murray, UT

This week was awesome!

Trent was baptized on Tuesday. It was a great service. There was a few
people that bore their testimonies and Elder Archer and I shared the
restoration in the middle of the service! Trent is a great guy and
hates attention but I think that he thoroughly enjoyed the service. He
denies it, but I saw him shed a few tears!

Melanie watched conference with a family from the ward. It was awesome!They cooked a big breakfast that was super good! She also went to a black fireside where there was singing and dancing and shouting and praising the name of the Lord. She was excited to see some of her culture integrated into the church!

I had a unique and touching impression during conference about one of
our investigators named Raquel. I really have a love and caring for
her. She has had a crazy life and is in the perfect position to learn
about the gospel. I felt the impression that when she saw what her
life was going to be like down here while in the pre-existence, she was
pretty upset about all of the hardships she would go through. One of
the highlights of her life was us bringing the gospel to her. It was
like I could see Elder Archer and I through her eyes. I could see the
light she saw in us and the mantle that qualifies us to be representatives
of the Savior. Upon further thought, I realized things have worked out
very favorable for us to teach her. Things that normally wouldn't
happen and doors that typically wouldn't open.

I have seen many mighty miracles on my mission for which I will praise
his name forever. (Alma 26)

Sent from my iPad

Later notes:
One of the nights, i remember meeting my future family. I went to a dinner appointment where i saw a family. It was a warning for me. I could tell that the mother was yearning for something that was missing from her home. They had a bunch of great kids and the husband was apathetic. Thats what the wife was yearning for a father in the home. The dad just seemed disconnected lazy and apathetic. I reasoned that i had the possibility of turning out like this if i didnt do a few things. This man was an engineer so it naturally deterred me from the field of engineering. It was a quite testimony to me that i should pursue the field of law.