I'm sorry I've been writing short emails. The longer I've been out the more use to being away from home I am and the less I care about being there and just want to be where I am. Get everything done that I need. I've been a bit selfish with my time. I should know that it's not my time. For one and ultimately it's God's time and I do what He wants. And 2 it's yours, dads, and everyone else that has helped pay for me for my mission. I will write better emails. Thank you momma.
I LOOOOVEEEEE MY MISSION!!!!!
We are seeing A TON of miracles in the 11th ward. My companions are amazing. They've taught me so much and we get along so great. Trios are a ton of fun and you get ton of work done if you're all focused and I'm grateful we all are. Elder Penuelas has taught me a lot about being effective and getting things DONE. He's focused, knows how to work, loves to work, and knows how to help people get baptized. Elder Welck keeps the work fun and is a light hearted guy. He's very easy to get a long with. Loves to laugh and finds joy in just about anything.
The 10th elders gave us this referral that we all thought was going to be very unsolid. It turned out to be a great lesson and she's already come to church twice! It's hard for her to come to church because she gets claustrophobic from being inside without windows for so long so we're working on getting her to stay for the rest of church. Our ward isn't very excited so she hasn't liked it too much unfortunately. But she's on date for November 29!
We picked Lee Holt back up. He's been pushing back because he doesn't understand prophets and doesn't allow us to teach him about it and gets so caught up in what he doesn't know. We're seeing him tonight and going to lay down the law and teach very simply.
The first week here we street contacted a lady that was telling us that the LDS faith was a bunch of bogus. It ended with her being excited to talk to us again and for us to teach her. She's super elect and has just been blinded by the world. Her daughter is just as solid! She's loved everything that we've taught her. We've only taught twice though since she's out of town and is hard to catch.
We're really sad to hand off another really solid investigator named Victor. He's 18 so he needs to go to the single's ward. He felt the Spirit strong in our lesson with him. He was really really excited for us to teach him again. He doesn't have a social life since he works so much. He's a really excitable guy and will be a great missionary!
We haven't been able to teach Loni all that much. We've only taught her twice and we haven't been able to make it inside her house yet. She likes it all but is flakey and works a lot. Hopefully we can teach her again soon other wise we need to drop her.
John Merritt is really amazing! He got really down after his baptismal interview when he found out that it might be awhile for his baptism. He left the church for a little but came back and is in church whenver he's in town. He's more active than his wife that's a member. Well he'll be baptized within the next 4 weeks!
Holden is 22 but married so we have a great relationship with him. He's open but busy but we should be able to start teaching him twice a week and then set him on date soon.
We had one of the most intense lessons of my mission. Dusty and his son Garrett. We taught Dusty a long time ago but he's been busy for a long time. He's so ready for baptism though. He loves everything we teach him. And not the way normal people love what we teach. Him and his son cracked out their Bible and were asking the whole time where what we said was found. The funny thing is they accepted the Book of Mormon as scripture without much explanation so if it was found in the Book of Mormon that was good enough for them. They had such a thirst and wanted to learn everything we had to teach and know all the details. Dusty is in his late 40's and his son is in 20's. Some of the nicest people I've ever met. Dusty divorced very early after being married but he is extremely respectful towards women and very friendly and polite to everyone. His son is the same. Both very knowledgeable, wise and humble. Deeply spiritual. Very open and loving to everyone. And very very interested. They're some of the most elect people I've ever met. They're also very hard working so it's hard to teach them often enough.
We haven't been able to teach Justin Quinton yet. He's very busy. He's also a charitable guy but hard working so we're trying to nail him down to a time.
We're going to teach Annie again and start teaching her son on Wednesday. He's very interested.
The Rivera's are moving but have been reading the Book of Mormon here and then.
We had a deep lesson with Joe the New Yorka. Things have been really hard on him through his divorce. He opened up a lot and told us a lot about it. He said that we've helped him a lot through it. All we've ever done though is smile and teach him doctrine. He's always been really busy but we've promised to just take 10 minutes of his time so we just teach one or two principles and then pick up the next we see him. But every time we've taught him doctrine. It's crazy how much just teaching him has helped. There's a quote that says the study of doctrine will help behavior more than the study of behavior. We've helped Joe more by teaching him about the Restoration than talking to him about his problems.
They Gray's have been out of town in Panama for 2 weeks but get back on the 5th. They've fallen behind a little and gotten a little lax so as soon they get back in town we're going to fearlessly jump on it. I was too intimidated and afraid of loosing them the last few times we've taught them but that's only slowed them down. There's no reason to be afraid when you have the truth so when they get back we're going to boldly testify to them!
Eddie the body builder dropped us unfortunately. It's crazy how uncomfortable people will feel around us for no reason at all. All we've ever done was smile and ask about them and be so happy about the message we share but for whatever reason the next time we see them they're really uncomfortable. Dustin Jackson is an example of that. He had a baptismal date and was ready to go. Then he fell away and last we saw him at the Halloween party he barley would look me in the eye let alone acknowledge my existence. It's unfortunate that people are afraid of the truth. Why?
We had a great zone conference. Sister Murdock has two kids on missions as well. She told some missionaries once about how jealous their moms are of her right now. That she gets to be in their presence. How she and their mothers would give anything to be able to watch their children be missionaries for at least 5 minutes. We took a member out with us and she loved watching us teach. She said it reminded her so much of her son that's on a mission. So go out with the missionaries momma! It'll almost be like watching me!
I feel like the beginning part of my mission was for me. I needed to be converted first. I had no idea what I was doing but tried my best. I at least had one conversion being myself. Now I feel like I actually know what I'm doing and know how to baptize and help people get there. I'm really really excited now to work as hard as I can with these last few months I have left and bless as many people as I can and then continue being a missionary forever!
I might leave this area in 2 weeks so that's really unfortunate. There's always the chance that I could stay one more. I love this area for the people that I've been able to teach. Some of the most elect people I've ever met.
I love you all!
-Elder Edgel
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Blessing Blessings
So there's a few things this week. The transfer is the biggest. I am really really really really really really REALLY excited to be serving with Elder Penuelas! We're going to baptize a lot. We both talked about how we can just feel it. Not dreaming or being over hopeful and niave. We're going to have good plans on what to do in order to lift the members to do missionary work, bring the Spirit to many investigator's lives, and lift our zone to all baptize. We're excited! Amazing things are happening in our mission. We are eradicating disobedience in the Colorado Denver South Mission. Let it be known that this mission is an exactly obedient mission! We're going to get there.
Another thing I am very happy about is my grandson Elder Ostland! Elder Dean is training!! I'm so happy. Elder Ostland is such an amazing man. He's going to learn and grow so much on his mission. He's gone on splits with missionaries for 2 years prior, worked very hard his whole life, prepared very well, and even worked for two mission presidents. I'm very proud to have him in my posterity. He calls me grandpa all the time. He gets impatient with Elder Dean at times which is funny to me haha he'll learn.
So there's this family, the Wynnes. They are some of the most amazing people I've ever met in my life. They are very spiritual and righteous people. They truly have a sound understanding. There seems to be nothing that they're not willing to do for the Lord. They are legends. They live out in Whitewater and are always sharing the Gospel with everyone around them and more than that actually bringing people to be baptized! They've been great fellowshippers for the Grays. They had us come over and serve them the same time as when they're friend who lives on their property would be cutting wood and then followed up with him on their invitation to him to take the lessons and re-invited. We're really excited! We've quite a few people this week actually that are very promising.
Sister Herrara's non member husband's view on the church has changed here recently and is more open to the lessons which we will have to teach powerfully. Joe is from New York and recently he's been coming closer to God since his split with his wife and has never really understood who Jesus Christ is. Eddie is a yoked body builder that has never understood organized religion but is very interested and can discern truth. We're going to be teaching a young single mother named Kassandra who we had a powerful lesson with a month ago but haven't been able to see. Loni was eager to read the Book of Mormon and learn more from us and her husband is open. The Rivera's have been reading a little from the Book of Mormon. We're going to start teaching Dusty who was very spiritual and solid but needed a month or two for things to slow down. He's been interested his whole life but has never had any of his LDS friends invite him to learn.
The Grays are still amazing! They already know the church is true. They've been led so much to it. They just need to have a more stable and solid foundation and resolve some concerns while gaining a testimony. They'll have a date here soon. The amazing thing with them is that they will undoubtedly bring many with them into the church. They are that amazing. He will be a Bishop one day and she will be a Relief Society President. This Sunday Jaida had to leave early and so Blu was left in charge of all the kids, Stone 12, Steal 10, Violet 7 and Jhett 1. Well leave it to the men, Blu left Jhet at church haha. We are sooooo excited for this family. I pray for them several times a day. I will not let Satan have room to get in the way.
As you can see the Lord is getting ready to pour out a huge blessing on the Grand Junction 11th Ward!! And we cannot wait! We're also going to be going around prayerfully selected members and invite them to give out a Book of Mormon to their friends and teach them how to do it naturally and with ease. Many of us have invited our friends to do things and then we check it off. Got it done. That friend just isn't interested. Which is great that we have in the first place! But if they are truly our friends, then wouldn't we never stop? If we truly really love them. And more than that, have we given them a Book of Mormon? And if we have do they even know what it's all about? Or why it's important? Or how it's blessed our life? Or how it could bless their life? I'm really excited. I know that a huge blessing is going to pour down on our area and on the members because they're so fantastic. Another thing I realized though is this outpouring is going to be much dependent on how worthy and ready the 11th ward members are. I know through inviting them to give out a Book of Mormon though that it will bring many blessings down on us. It may not be directly the way we think. It may not be that specific friend or anyone related to it. That Book of Mormon handed out with so much love and tenderness and testimony could very well be thrown behind some books on a book shelf never to be touched. They may forget, but God notices and sees every good thing we do. NO effort is EVER wasted. God ALWAYS will bless us for trying. It may come through the window when we've opened the front door expecting it, but it will come. Let me know of the blessings being poured down on San Miguel!
I love you all!
-Elder Edgel
Another thing I am very happy about is my grandson Elder Ostland! Elder Dean is training!! I'm so happy. Elder Ostland is such an amazing man. He's going to learn and grow so much on his mission. He's gone on splits with missionaries for 2 years prior, worked very hard his whole life, prepared very well, and even worked for two mission presidents. I'm very proud to have him in my posterity. He calls me grandpa all the time. He gets impatient with Elder Dean at times which is funny to me haha he'll learn.
So there's this family, the Wynnes. They are some of the most amazing people I've ever met in my life. They are very spiritual and righteous people. They truly have a sound understanding. There seems to be nothing that they're not willing to do for the Lord. They are legends. They live out in Whitewater and are always sharing the Gospel with everyone around them and more than that actually bringing people to be baptized! They've been great fellowshippers for the Grays. They had us come over and serve them the same time as when they're friend who lives on their property would be cutting wood and then followed up with him on their invitation to him to take the lessons and re-invited. We're really excited! We've quite a few people this week actually that are very promising.
Sister Herrara's non member husband's view on the church has changed here recently and is more open to the lessons which we will have to teach powerfully. Joe is from New York and recently he's been coming closer to God since his split with his wife and has never really understood who Jesus Christ is. Eddie is a yoked body builder that has never understood organized religion but is very interested and can discern truth. We're going to be teaching a young single mother named Kassandra who we had a powerful lesson with a month ago but haven't been able to see. Loni was eager to read the Book of Mormon and learn more from us and her husband is open. The Rivera's have been reading a little from the Book of Mormon. We're going to start teaching Dusty who was very spiritual and solid but needed a month or two for things to slow down. He's been interested his whole life but has never had any of his LDS friends invite him to learn.
The Grays are still amazing! They already know the church is true. They've been led so much to it. They just need to have a more stable and solid foundation and resolve some concerns while gaining a testimony. They'll have a date here soon. The amazing thing with them is that they will undoubtedly bring many with them into the church. They are that amazing. He will be a Bishop one day and she will be a Relief Society President. This Sunday Jaida had to leave early and so Blu was left in charge of all the kids, Stone 12, Steal 10, Violet 7 and Jhett 1. Well leave it to the men, Blu left Jhet at church haha. We are sooooo excited for this family. I pray for them several times a day. I will not let Satan have room to get in the way.
As you can see the Lord is getting ready to pour out a huge blessing on the Grand Junction 11th Ward!! And we cannot wait! We're also going to be going around prayerfully selected members and invite them to give out a Book of Mormon to their friends and teach them how to do it naturally and with ease. Many of us have invited our friends to do things and then we check it off. Got it done. That friend just isn't interested. Which is great that we have in the first place! But if they are truly our friends, then wouldn't we never stop? If we truly really love them. And more than that, have we given them a Book of Mormon? And if we have do they even know what it's all about? Or why it's important? Or how it's blessed our life? Or how it could bless their life? I'm really excited. I know that a huge blessing is going to pour down on our area and on the members because they're so fantastic. Another thing I realized though is this outpouring is going to be much dependent on how worthy and ready the 11th ward members are. I know through inviting them to give out a Book of Mormon though that it will bring many blessings down on us. It may not be directly the way we think. It may not be that specific friend or anyone related to it. That Book of Mormon handed out with so much love and tenderness and testimony could very well be thrown behind some books on a book shelf never to be touched. They may forget, but God notices and sees every good thing we do. NO effort is EVER wasted. God ALWAYS will bless us for trying. It may come through the window when we've opened the front door expecting it, but it will come. Let me know of the blessings being poured down on San Miguel!
I love you all!
-Elder Edgel
Thursday, October 9, 2014
A mission is better than the Lord of the Rings
I am staying! This past weekend has been a lot of fun and quite interesting. Ready?! Here we go!
Tuesday we MLC's in Vail, then dinner, then missionary correlation, then stake correlation. So no time for proselyting which was sad. MLC's was amazing. Our President is cracking down on the mission. Elder Lawrence said that our mission is too relaxed. I left feeling so much more committed to obedience and helping others see the blessings of it as well.
I realized the difference in the obedient missionaries is they prepared before their missions. So their missions mean a lot to them and don't dare mess it up through stupid disobedience. SO YOUNG MEN!! Prepare prepare prepare! Elder Cook said our actions need to be in line with our goals otherwise we are serving two masters. Too many young men he said think it's enough to just show up to their mission. Is that enough to show we're ready to represent our Savior in His work?
President interview Elder Donovan before we left. Dun dun dun!! I knew off the bat what it was for. At the begginng of the transfer we made a bet that if he's the new assistant he has to shave his arm pits and if he's not then I'll shave mine. We both thought that it was the safest bet of our life. But of course I was more safe. He currently has some pretty itchy pits!
We found a new awesome investigator Loni. She is so eager to learn everything. She hasn't read or watched conference though so that's a bummer. But she recognizes the truth in what we shared so we're excited for her.
We've only taught 7 lessons this week but every single one of them were good solid lessons. 5 of which had members to. I can't tell you how exciting everything is right now. The work of the Lord is the most exciting thing in this whole world. My whole life I've dreamed of being on an adventure. I never realized how the Gospel is that adventure that every boy dreams of. It's way more filling and satisfying than any Lord of the Rings or Star Wars movie. To go out and find out lost brothers and sisters and see their lives completely change as they grab hold onto the iron rod. To become a man and stand for the truth and not let up with many others justifying. To have the Lord work through me and say things I never would have thought of.
Elder Donovan left Friday so we did a lot of final planning together Thursday and Friday which was very productive. Since then I've been with Elder Kamrowski and Elder Dean and the Assistants. Elder Merrill is going home so the other Assistant, Elder Barfield and I teamed up. I was able to get a lot of things done though with all the down time of them doing Assistanty stuff. There was A LOT of things I needed to do and it was getting overwhelming so that was a tender mercy. I finally feel caught up. It is so lonely without Elder Donovan though. I love that missionary so much. We became brothers and could read each others thoughts often. We have our zone meetings this Thursday and it's going to be a big deal. This Zone Meeting all the Zone leaders are emphasizing obedience and going to teach the reasons and blessings so that our whole mission can become exactly obedient. We made a lot of plans on how to do that this last MLCs.
I've been praying for my investigators every single day by name and specifically. If anything, I feel more focused, more confident, more love. Satan has been attacking our investigators. They all start dying when we put them on date... literally. Jerry did die before I got here when he had agreed to baptism. Dusty fell off a steep cliff like hill and now has partial paralysis, whenever we have an appointment with Lee Holt he ends up in the hospital that day and when we had a dinner with the Gray's and other awesome members they had to take their 2 year old to the hospital. So this family (the Wynnes who I admire as if they were in the quorum of the Seventy) taught us about protecting our investigators through prayer. We had a baptism every month scheduled and our investigators were excited and ready but now we have nothing. It's really sad but I know God will deliver.
The Grays actually attended General Conferance! So we're excited to see how that went! Man we're so excited to see them baptized. We'll put them on date soon.
I love you all!!
-Elder Edgel
Tuesday we MLC's in Vail, then dinner, then missionary correlation, then stake correlation. So no time for proselyting which was sad. MLC's was amazing. Our President is cracking down on the mission. Elder Lawrence said that our mission is too relaxed. I left feeling so much more committed to obedience and helping others see the blessings of it as well.
I realized the difference in the obedient missionaries is they prepared before their missions. So their missions mean a lot to them and don't dare mess it up through stupid disobedience. SO YOUNG MEN!! Prepare prepare prepare! Elder Cook said our actions need to be in line with our goals otherwise we are serving two masters. Too many young men he said think it's enough to just show up to their mission. Is that enough to show we're ready to represent our Savior in His work?
President interview Elder Donovan before we left. Dun dun dun!! I knew off the bat what it was for. At the begginng of the transfer we made a bet that if he's the new assistant he has to shave his arm pits and if he's not then I'll shave mine. We both thought that it was the safest bet of our life. But of course I was more safe. He currently has some pretty itchy pits!
We found a new awesome investigator Loni. She is so eager to learn everything. She hasn't read or watched conference though so that's a bummer. But she recognizes the truth in what we shared so we're excited for her.
We've only taught 7 lessons this week but every single one of them were good solid lessons. 5 of which had members to. I can't tell you how exciting everything is right now. The work of the Lord is the most exciting thing in this whole world. My whole life I've dreamed of being on an adventure. I never realized how the Gospel is that adventure that every boy dreams of. It's way more filling and satisfying than any Lord of the Rings or Star Wars movie. To go out and find out lost brothers and sisters and see their lives completely change as they grab hold onto the iron rod. To become a man and stand for the truth and not let up with many others justifying. To have the Lord work through me and say things I never would have thought of.
Elder Donovan left Friday so we did a lot of final planning together Thursday and Friday which was very productive. Since then I've been with Elder Kamrowski and Elder Dean and the Assistants. Elder Merrill is going home so the other Assistant, Elder Barfield and I teamed up. I was able to get a lot of things done though with all the down time of them doing Assistanty stuff. There was A LOT of things I needed to do and it was getting overwhelming so that was a tender mercy. I finally feel caught up. It is so lonely without Elder Donovan though. I love that missionary so much. We became brothers and could read each others thoughts often. We have our zone meetings this Thursday and it's going to be a big deal. This Zone Meeting all the Zone leaders are emphasizing obedience and going to teach the reasons and blessings so that our whole mission can become exactly obedient. We made a lot of plans on how to do that this last MLCs.
I've been praying for my investigators every single day by name and specifically. If anything, I feel more focused, more confident, more love. Satan has been attacking our investigators. They all start dying when we put them on date... literally. Jerry did die before I got here when he had agreed to baptism. Dusty fell off a steep cliff like hill and now has partial paralysis, whenever we have an appointment with Lee Holt he ends up in the hospital that day and when we had a dinner with the Gray's and other awesome members they had to take their 2 year old to the hospital. So this family (the Wynnes who I admire as if they were in the quorum of the Seventy) taught us about protecting our investigators through prayer. We had a baptism every month scheduled and our investigators were excited and ready but now we have nothing. It's really sad but I know God will deliver.
The Grays actually attended General Conferance! So we're excited to see how that went! Man we're so excited to see them baptized. We'll put them on date soon.
I love you all!!
-Elder Edgel
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Just love people, be natural and do your best
We've had a great week this week! Appointments still cancel left and right but overall we had some great things happen!
This week though we did have really effective exchanges with a great but struggling missionary. He has ADHD so it's a struggle to stay focused and be diligent. But he's making excellent strides and has a great testimony. We've butted heads a bit these past 3 transfers but we had a great exchange and lifted each other.
On another exchange we had a great first lesson and are starting to teach an awesome new family of 4! They're in their 20s and have a 3 and 4 year old. They're all a lot of fun! They just moved in and are looking for a new church and are looking to have a fresh new start in their lives. They're both so funny! She's pregnant and he keeps telling us to pray for his new babies because he says it's going to be triplets haha. They couldn't come to church this Sunday but should next Sunday. We found them through a strange way. It was dark and around 7:50. Our plans fell through and we had an appointment at 8 so we decided to street contact any one. We prayed fervently before we went out. We've been working and haven't seen much. We saw an SUV with their car door open so we decided to let the people know and started talking to them. We didn't have time to teach them but they allowed us to come back and they've been awesome since! We told the ward at PEC and they jumped on it! They're excited to fellowship. Our Bishop is great. That's what I'm most excited about from this week!
On a sad note, the Greer family, the awesome new members that came that are on fire with missionary work. Their 3 or 4 year old son Mason passed away. It's been really sad. They're very strong. We haven't seen them since because they're in Provo with family and had the funeral there. They are outstanding though. Being so strong and growing close to their Father in Heaven and their family.
I learned a valuable life lesson this week. So simple yet I allowed my fear and anxiety to allow me to forget. The principle of just loving people, being natural and doing my best. Being myself. Allowing 5 minutes of just talking to someone sincerely about each other and then testifying and accepting that not everyone will get it. I only have to find the ones that do want it and accept the simple gentle invitations. I know that the Lord is preparing someone for all of us to fellowship and love. We challenged a family to specifically pray to know who they can share the Gospel with, what to do and for the opportunity to do it. And the next day he called us and told us about the great yet simple experience they had in answer to their prayer!
God love us so much that He gave us the way that we could experience the most joy in this life! And because it's so true and real, He will lead us to share it with others! He is preparing people. He truly does want everyone to be a part of this Gospel . It's that real!
WE ALL OUGHT TO LOOK AROUND US AT THE ONES WE LOVE THE MOST ALREADY WHEREE WE NATURALLY WANT THEIR HAPPINESS AND PRAY FOR THE ORPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS TO THEM HOW MUCH WE LOVE THEM AND HOW MUCH THE GOSPEL HAS BROUGHT US HAPPINESS AND HOW WE KNOW IT CAN BLESS ANYONES LIFE!
I love you all!
-Elder Edgel
This week though we did have really effective exchanges with a great but struggling missionary. He has ADHD so it's a struggle to stay focused and be diligent. But he's making excellent strides and has a great testimony. We've butted heads a bit these past 3 transfers but we had a great exchange and lifted each other.
On another exchange we had a great first lesson and are starting to teach an awesome new family of 4! They're in their 20s and have a 3 and 4 year old. They're all a lot of fun! They just moved in and are looking for a new church and are looking to have a fresh new start in their lives. They're both so funny! She's pregnant and he keeps telling us to pray for his new babies because he says it's going to be triplets haha. They couldn't come to church this Sunday but should next Sunday. We found them through a strange way. It was dark and around 7:50. Our plans fell through and we had an appointment at 8 so we decided to street contact any one. We prayed fervently before we went out. We've been working and haven't seen much. We saw an SUV with their car door open so we decided to let the people know and started talking to them. We didn't have time to teach them but they allowed us to come back and they've been awesome since! We told the ward at PEC and they jumped on it! They're excited to fellowship. Our Bishop is great. That's what I'm most excited about from this week!
On a sad note, the Greer family, the awesome new members that came that are on fire with missionary work. Their 3 or 4 year old son Mason passed away. It's been really sad. They're very strong. We haven't seen them since because they're in Provo with family and had the funeral there. They are outstanding though. Being so strong and growing close to their Father in Heaven and their family.
I learned a valuable life lesson this week. So simple yet I allowed my fear and anxiety to allow me to forget. The principle of just loving people, being natural and doing my best. Being myself. Allowing 5 minutes of just talking to someone sincerely about each other and then testifying and accepting that not everyone will get it. I only have to find the ones that do want it and accept the simple gentle invitations. I know that the Lord is preparing someone for all of us to fellowship and love. We challenged a family to specifically pray to know who they can share the Gospel with, what to do and for the opportunity to do it. And the next day he called us and told us about the great yet simple experience they had in answer to their prayer!
God love us so much that He gave us the way that we could experience the most joy in this life! And because it's so true and real, He will lead us to share it with others! He is preparing people. He truly does want everyone to be a part of this Gospel . It's that real!
WE ALL OUGHT TO LOOK AROUND US AT THE ONES WE LOVE THE MOST ALREADY WHEREE WE NATURALLY WANT THEIR HAPPINESS AND PRAY FOR THE ORPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS TO THEM HOW MUCH WE LOVE THEM AND HOW MUCH THE GOSPEL HAS BROUGHT US HAPPINESS AND HOW WE KNOW IT CAN BLESS ANYONES LIFE!
I love you all!
-Elder Edgel
Monday, September 22, 2014
So many tender mercies
Man I wanna say this has been a Spiritual last few weeks but it's been a spiritual last few 13 months! Especially ever since I was called as a zone leader though. I've never been a part of more spiritual things. I've heard from the dude over the Proselying in the church over the whole earth, Brother Hemingway and his companion Brother Gonzalez. Heard from Elder Oaks of the 12, Elder Martino of the 70, Elder Lawrence of the 70 and his wife. It's helped me so much more in my missionary work.
There's not much time today. We've worked hard this week but it's been a struggle. We're trying to work more with the members. It's an investment and it's not always immediate results. But we're having great results. We go out there on the streets and we testify and testify and testify. And not many people listen. This week we found 0 new investigators. It's been a while since I've only gotten 0. It's so sad. We give out our heart on those doors and testify of how it's blessed our lives and what amazing things the Gospel has done for our lives. People will half smile to be polite and tell us not to come back. It's rough but we're happy giving our all. This week we even literally ran from door to door to talk to more people. We know that the Lord is noticing our efforts and rewarding us. No effort is ever wasted in sharing the Gospel. I wouldn't rather do anything than I am now. "Thou are my servant, O Isreal, in whom I will be glorified. Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for naught and in vain; surely my judgement is with the Lord, and my work with my God." 1 Nephi 21:3-4. That's the difference with this work than any other work. Despite how many people say no, I still feel successful. I'll never stop working for this. There are so many tender mercies and miracles in this work. Guiding us in everything we do.
One awesome thing is the Gray's come to church! I get so happy thinking of them! We can't wait to see their continual progression. The Wynnes, an amazing older couple I've fallen in love with, were so excited to see them. We had told them about them when they asked if they could be a part of someone we were teaching. Sister Wynne made sure to sit with them in Relief Society and they invited them over to the house to have a picnic so we're excited! They are the perfect examples of member missionary work and fellow shipping. I want to be like them one day.
I love you all!
-Elder Edgel
There's not much time today. We've worked hard this week but it's been a struggle. We're trying to work more with the members. It's an investment and it's not always immediate results. But we're having great results. We go out there on the streets and we testify and testify and testify. And not many people listen. This week we found 0 new investigators. It's been a while since I've only gotten 0. It's so sad. We give out our heart on those doors and testify of how it's blessed our lives and what amazing things the Gospel has done for our lives. People will half smile to be polite and tell us not to come back. It's rough but we're happy giving our all. This week we even literally ran from door to door to talk to more people. We know that the Lord is noticing our efforts and rewarding us. No effort is ever wasted in sharing the Gospel. I wouldn't rather do anything than I am now. "Thou are my servant, O Isreal, in whom I will be glorified. Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for naught and in vain; surely my judgement is with the Lord, and my work with my God." 1 Nephi 21:3-4. That's the difference with this work than any other work. Despite how many people say no, I still feel successful. I'll never stop working for this. There are so many tender mercies and miracles in this work. Guiding us in everything we do.
One awesome thing is the Gray's come to church! I get so happy thinking of them! We can't wait to see their continual progression. The Wynnes, an amazing older couple I've fallen in love with, were so excited to see them. We had told them about them when they asked if they could be a part of someone we were teaching. Sister Wynne made sure to sit with them in Relief Society and they invited them over to the house to have a picnic so we're excited! They are the perfect examples of member missionary work and fellow shipping. I want to be like them one day.
I love you all!
-Elder Edgel
Saturday, September 20, 2014
The Gathering of Israel
We're learning to work with the members more. I'm really excited. It's a whole new ball game. We have worked and worked and worked and WORKED and it's almost like spinning our wheels in the dirt. No effort is ever wasted and I needed to do it with Elder Donovan. We grew so much from it and bonded and saw many miracles from it. But it's time to move on to bigger and better things. We'll still work our fannies off though. Members are more of an investment though. You can see progression faster with personal contacts but with members it's tricky. LDS members don't have many friends so it's harder for them to share the Gospel. I love the story of Ammon for that. He went out of his way to make friends with the lowest of the low to have more opportunities to share the Gospel. Ammon is my role model. Members can be such powerful missionaries. They can develop a real love for their friends. You can while tracting but it's different as a member. I love finding out of our own efforts because it's taught me a lot about how to be a missionary for the rest of my life and the importance of it.
The 9th Elders had to pass off their most progressing investigator family on Monday when Elder Donovan accidentally found out that they actually live in our boundries by 300 feet out in the country of Palisade. The Grays are such an awesome family! Blue, Jaida, Steal, Stone, Violet, Jet and their dog Cash. Everyone has an awesome name. They have been taught on and off for 2 years and said they feel it's finally God's timing for them to look more into the Church. They have been reading everyday and praying about it everyday! It's amazing! We're so excited for them!
Lee Holt almost dropped us as a result of the last member we brought with us... Just remember to love the people the missionaries bring you to. Everyone thinks that it's the missionaries that must gain the trust of the members which is very true. But the members also need to gain the trust of the missionaries. This work is soooo important. It should never be treated lightly for a second. Realize what your signing up for when you go out with the missionaries. It should be no light thing. These are Heavenly Father's children and He's on the edge of His seat hoping that His children can make it back to Him. He puts a lot of trust in us. Fortunately the member we brought with us go a long great and calmed him down so he still wants to continue.
I got to serve with Elder Dean!! It was amazing. He has changed so much. He is so confident and converted and still has so much fun. He is so much more of a man. I hope he can train soon. He's so ready. New missionaries need trainers like him.
Tuesday Elder Lawrence spake to the whole West Side of the Mission. That only happens once a year. It was amazing beyond words. I've never learned so much in my life. His wife taught us for 2 hours on the Gathering Israel starting with the premortal existence and ending with the Second Coming. It was so powerful and sacred. I had no idea how sacred and important and the magnitude of my calling as a missionary. Words cannot even begin to describe. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the Gathering of Israel. You said that the missionaries could have looked at you as a Gentile and I had no idea what that meant till now. But so many questions have been answered. I feel so much more love for people and confidence in my calling and importance of the Gospel. It feels like a missing piece to a circuit that when completed everything lights up! If I have any recommendations for missionaries preparing it's to study in depth the Gathering of Israel. It took 2 hours to teach us all of that. Which is still taking time to expound on for myself to understand more. You can understand why no words can do it justice. I feel so much more Spiritual Power to say the least.
I wish I could say the smallest part that I feel so members would understand the importance of Sharing the Gospel and non members would feel the importance of what I as a missionary represent. It's far more beyond anything any of us can imagine. It deserves our entire hearts, mights, minds and strengths. It deserves all our energy, all our focus, constant thinking about, constantly sacrificing for. I LOVE MY MISSION!!!!!!
I love you all so much! Hurrah for Israel!
-Elder Edgel
The 9th Elders had to pass off their most progressing investigator family on Monday when Elder Donovan accidentally found out that they actually live in our boundries by 300 feet out in the country of Palisade. The Grays are such an awesome family! Blue, Jaida, Steal, Stone, Violet, Jet and their dog Cash. Everyone has an awesome name. They have been taught on and off for 2 years and said they feel it's finally God's timing for them to look more into the Church. They have been reading everyday and praying about it everyday! It's amazing! We're so excited for them!
Lee Holt almost dropped us as a result of the last member we brought with us... Just remember to love the people the missionaries bring you to. Everyone thinks that it's the missionaries that must gain the trust of the members which is very true. But the members also need to gain the trust of the missionaries. This work is soooo important. It should never be treated lightly for a second. Realize what your signing up for when you go out with the missionaries. It should be no light thing. These are Heavenly Father's children and He's on the edge of His seat hoping that His children can make it back to Him. He puts a lot of trust in us. Fortunately the member we brought with us go a long great and calmed him down so he still wants to continue.
I got to serve with Elder Dean!! It was amazing. He has changed so much. He is so confident and converted and still has so much fun. He is so much more of a man. I hope he can train soon. He's so ready. New missionaries need trainers like him.
Tuesday Elder Lawrence spake to the whole West Side of the Mission. That only happens once a year. It was amazing beyond words. I've never learned so much in my life. His wife taught us for 2 hours on the Gathering Israel starting with the premortal existence and ending with the Second Coming. It was so powerful and sacred. I had no idea how sacred and important and the magnitude of my calling as a missionary. Words cannot even begin to describe. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the Gathering of Israel. You said that the missionaries could have looked at you as a Gentile and I had no idea what that meant till now. But so many questions have been answered. I feel so much more love for people and confidence in my calling and importance of the Gospel. It feels like a missing piece to a circuit that when completed everything lights up! If I have any recommendations for missionaries preparing it's to study in depth the Gathering of Israel. It took 2 hours to teach us all of that. Which is still taking time to expound on for myself to understand more. You can understand why no words can do it justice. I feel so much more Spiritual Power to say the least.
I wish I could say the smallest part that I feel so members would understand the importance of Sharing the Gospel and non members would feel the importance of what I as a missionary represent. It's far more beyond anything any of us can imagine. It deserves our entire hearts, mights, minds and strengths. It deserves all our energy, all our focus, constant thinking about, constantly sacrificing for. I LOVE MY MISSION!!!!!!
I love you all so much! Hurrah for Israel!
-Elder Edgel
Friday, September 12, 2014
How to be a great fellowshipper
HELLLLLLOOOOOOOO WORLD!!!!!
It has been a physically, mentally and spiritually draining last few weeks. So many things have fallen through and so many bad things have gotten in the way of our investigator's happiness. But the Lord never fails us. He catches us at the last moment. Just when we think we can't go on. Like he did Alma and Samuel the Lamanite. Just when they gave up He came to them. All of our investigators are being attacked. It's hard to not get really frustrated. You just can't think about it. You have to think about the hope and the things to look forward to. It's like paying attention to a bratty child. When you pay too much attention to a bratty child (or Satan in real life) he sees that and it makes him happy and fuels his brattyness. But if you're just like, whatever punk, God is so much better than you. Then he does get more and more mad. But you're at least the boss.
Lee Holt is awesome. Our fellowshipper though is questionable. Lee has a lot of questions and gets overwhelmed and our fellowshipper gave him every prophet book and told him to read them to answer his questions... Don't do that if you're a fellowshipper... I feel like we need to teach classes on being a fellowshipper. So many people don't know how and if I never served a faithful mission, I wouldn't either. You really need to be their friend. Not just mere professional acquaintences that shares their testimony when called upon. You have to be so excited that you don't even wait for the missionaries to tell you to bear your testimony. And be so excited for them that you don't wait for the missionaries to ask you to go by and see them. These people are making one of the most important and at times difficult choices in their lives! They are deciding whether or not to change their entire life style to follow the Savior! You bet they're going to need some support and love and encouragement! I'm talking random texts of support, dropping off them delicious Mormon Cookies, inviting them to every single ward activity (having a ton of ward activities) inviting them into your life, having them for dinner, hanging out with them you name it! These people need it so badly! Please don't take for granted the amazing blessings you have in the Gospel!! My mom didn't have those blessings!! It's almost unbearable to think of where people's lives are and where my mom's life was. The Gospel has changed it. EVERY BODY needs this!! They need to know they need it! This cannot be too casual. Being a fellowshipper is not just during a lesson. It needs to be 24/7. They need your help. You need to be their new best friend. Imagine yourself without the Gospel. To what extent would you want your friends or new friends to help you along? Imagine that was your family member suffering without the Gospel. This is soooo important!!!
One of the biggest reasons I came on my mission was to learn how to be a missionary and fellowshipper for the rest of my life. I love sharing the Gospel! And am excited that my mission never has to end!
The Bedoys are so awesome. I love them so much. On Saturday we had an appointment for every single hour of the day (saturdays are the hardest days too) I got to go on exchanges with none other than Elder Hamblin!! He's a district leader in our zone so it was really good seeing the change in each other. And last week was a real struggle. By Saturday we had only 7 lessons. Well on Saturday 4 appointments canceled or fell through and they STILL doubled our lesson count. It was so refreshing to seeing this really is God's work.
Well we have to get going. We have an awesome zone p day today and we have to help some missionaries clean their apartment because they're really struggling and one has ADHD and a clean apartment is impossible but we love a lot anyway.
I love you all!!
-Elder Edgel
It has been a physically, mentally and spiritually draining last few weeks. So many things have fallen through and so many bad things have gotten in the way of our investigator's happiness. But the Lord never fails us. He catches us at the last moment. Just when we think we can't go on. Like he did Alma and Samuel the Lamanite. Just when they gave up He came to them. All of our investigators are being attacked. It's hard to not get really frustrated. You just can't think about it. You have to think about the hope and the things to look forward to. It's like paying attention to a bratty child. When you pay too much attention to a bratty child (or Satan in real life) he sees that and it makes him happy and fuels his brattyness. But if you're just like, whatever punk, God is so much better than you. Then he does get more and more mad. But you're at least the boss.
Lee Holt is awesome. Our fellowshipper though is questionable. Lee has a lot of questions and gets overwhelmed and our fellowshipper gave him every prophet book and told him to read them to answer his questions... Don't do that if you're a fellowshipper... I feel like we need to teach classes on being a fellowshipper. So many people don't know how and if I never served a faithful mission, I wouldn't either. You really need to be their friend. Not just mere professional acquaintences that shares their testimony when called upon. You have to be so excited that you don't even wait for the missionaries to tell you to bear your testimony. And be so excited for them that you don't wait for the missionaries to ask you to go by and see them. These people are making one of the most important and at times difficult choices in their lives! They are deciding whether or not to change their entire life style to follow the Savior! You bet they're going to need some support and love and encouragement! I'm talking random texts of support, dropping off them delicious Mormon Cookies, inviting them to every single ward activity (having a ton of ward activities) inviting them into your life, having them for dinner, hanging out with them you name it! These people need it so badly! Please don't take for granted the amazing blessings you have in the Gospel!! My mom didn't have those blessings!! It's almost unbearable to think of where people's lives are and where my mom's life was. The Gospel has changed it. EVERY BODY needs this!! They need to know they need it! This cannot be too casual. Being a fellowshipper is not just during a lesson. It needs to be 24/7. They need your help. You need to be their new best friend. Imagine yourself without the Gospel. To what extent would you want your friends or new friends to help you along? Imagine that was your family member suffering without the Gospel. This is soooo important!!!
One of the biggest reasons I came on my mission was to learn how to be a missionary and fellowshipper for the rest of my life. I love sharing the Gospel! And am excited that my mission never has to end!
The Bedoys are so awesome. I love them so much. On Saturday we had an appointment for every single hour of the day (saturdays are the hardest days too) I got to go on exchanges with none other than Elder Hamblin!! He's a district leader in our zone so it was really good seeing the change in each other. And last week was a real struggle. By Saturday we had only 7 lessons. Well on Saturday 4 appointments canceled or fell through and they STILL doubled our lesson count. It was so refreshing to seeing this really is God's work.
Well we have to get going. We have an awesome zone p day today and we have to help some missionaries clean their apartment because they're really struggling and one has ADHD and a clean apartment is impossible but we love a lot anyway.
I love you all!!
-Elder Edgel
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