Hello!
We had an amazing week this week thanks to everyone and everything. As you can see, we had the baptism, but that was just one of the many things that made the week awesome.
There was one day that we were out biking in the low teens with a wind chill that probably hit 0 degrees at some point in time. My brain felt frozen after we got off of our bikes.
Then another day of biking, it was a downpour. We got so soaking wet that I could ring out my pants, even after taking towels to them at our lesson. I felt bad because we were wet but we sat on towels and what not. That was pretty fun too. I love biking. Except that my bike breaks broke on the journey. So I biked home without brakes. Its not too flat around here either.
Then during the baptism, a tornado came about 10 miles away in Pittsboro and shut out our power during the talk on the Holy Ghost. That was pretty crazy, but after a crazy hail storm passed by us it was pretty okay the rest of the day!
I love this work, and my testimony is only growing leaps and bounds being out here. Hope your week wasn't as wet and cold as mine! But if it was then I know how you feel. Keep up the good work!
Love,
Elder Kent (lots of people here think I look like Superman too!)
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Monday was pretty consumed with basketball. We played like all preparation day. And had Chik fil a. It was pretty neat. Then from Tuesday on I've had kind of a cold. So in the mornings I would nap til noon and then we would go out and work after lunch! I wonder what my companion did in the mornings haha. Tuesday was what we call "deep clean day" and it happens quarterly. We have a ginormous checklist of things we have to clean and organize in the apartment. It took forever. Like all day and a little bit on Wednesday. Then I attempted to fix my bike brakes but I think I will need to just get new ones. They are old and worn down, and I need to stop because if I don't there's other things I will run into.
So we finished organizing everything and our apartment (to this day) is pretty spotless. Like even more than when I got here. I found out that they bought this apartment when the complex was first opening up, so it is one of the really nice ones that they used as a demo and had open houses in and what not. So it's pretty much the best apartment ever. And now its the most organized one too.
We found a few new investigators this week! It is really exciting because it is very hard to find people willing to listen in a place like this. The people are very comfortable, so they need a reason to be humble or else they probably won't listen. But since we found a few new investigators and a couple more last week the members are getting more excited about our efforts and helping us out, as well as finding more people for us! They are beginning to feel like they can trust us with their friends.
Anyways, great things are happening out here! And it sounds like pretty great things are happening over in rock town too! I wish I was able to see some of the rugby highlights! Maybe if you sent them I could find a computer that will work to watch them.
LOVE YA
Elder Jeffy
PS I bought ice cream and started making smoothies every now and then so I feel more energized and healthy :) It's nice. It's very nice.
I am just deciding now to slow down and be joyful. We had a really rough week. Lots of cancellations, mental and emotional stress, opposition from every corner. But hey, that's life. How can you appreciate the good times without the bad? How can you know if you would be happy through your trials if you aren't going through any trials? How can you conquer anything if there is nothing to conquer?
I'll tell you: you can't! But guess what? That doesn't mean you have to be sad or discouraged. Maybe for a second but you can change that! I am learning to be myself no matter what the situation is, because of the perspective I am gaining. Some missionaries come out and become 'robots' where they are in a routine and are all business, but they end up just being in a weird state of being for two years and then go home and go right back to how they were before. That's not what I am here to do. I came to have fun, to be me, to be happier and more enthusiastic, to find more peace and joy than I ever have by helping people come to a knowledge of the Gospel! I have come not to temporarily change what I do for 2 years, but to build off of my strengths and get rid of my weaknesses! Permanently!
I know I won't be able to do that all in 2 years, but I am getting support and have come a long way, and I know I am going somewhere with that. I am finding joy in the little things again :) my goofy, dry sense of humor is coming back (yes it was gone for a while), and most of all, I am coming to love everyone I get to serve and serve with, especially my Savior.
Heck, I never thought I would say this, but I LOVE reading. I absolutely love it! Reading the Book of Mormon that is haha. I don't know about other books because I still don't like reading them. But I read all of 2 Nephi in under an hour this morning. And got a lot out of/understood all of what I read. How does that happen? I got through high school without reading a single entire book front to back haha. I read a few pages here and there, but I didn't like reading that much that I was able to get through high school (and last year at KU) without reading an entire book. How is that possible? What has changed?
Nothing! Nothing has changed. I am still the same person. But I have a new light and fire. I hope yall can recognize it when I get back.
Anyways, we didn't find any new investigators this week, but we found 3 last week and couple before that, so we have been working with them and trying to find more! Many people have told me that this area is hard to find in, that the people are comfortable and stubborn and don't want to listen, and that there are not often baptisms, let alone new investigators, and that we don't end up teaching much. I want all of you to know that I don't believe any of that. The Lord will do His work wherever He wants it done, wherever there are His worthy servants doing all they can. So if that attitude ever develops in the Rocklin 1st ward or wherever you are, don't let it. I can guarantee that there are families in every part of the world that are just waiting to hear the gospel. You know them! We all do. They need it, and we need to invite them to learn more about it!
Just do it! There's not much more to be said haha.
Anyways, I am really happy. I am so blessed to have you as my family and friends. You rock. Like a lot. And I love you. <3
Love,
Elder Kent (SUPERMAN) the younger and what not :)
I'll tell you: you can't! But guess what? That doesn't mean you have to be sad or discouraged. Maybe for a second but you can change that! I am learning to be myself no matter what the situation is, because of the perspective I am gaining. Some missionaries come out and become 'robots' where they are in a routine and are all business, but they end up just being in a weird state of being for two years and then go home and go right back to how they were before. That's not what I am here to do. I came to have fun, to be me, to be happier and more enthusiastic, to find more peace and joy than I ever have by helping people come to a knowledge of the Gospel! I have come not to temporarily change what I do for 2 years, but to build off of my strengths and get rid of my weaknesses! Permanently!
I know I won't be able to do that all in 2 years, but I am getting support and have come a long way, and I know I am going somewhere with that. I am finding joy in the little things again :) my goofy, dry sense of humor is coming back (yes it was gone for a while), and most of all, I am coming to love everyone I get to serve and serve with, especially my Savior.
Heck, I never thought I would say this, but I LOVE reading. I absolutely love it! Reading the Book of Mormon that is haha. I don't know about other books because I still don't like reading them. But I read all of 2 Nephi in under an hour this morning. And got a lot out of/understood all of what I read. How does that happen? I got through high school without reading a single entire book front to back haha. I read a few pages here and there, but I didn't like reading that much that I was able to get through high school (and last year at KU) without reading an entire book. How is that possible? What has changed?
Nothing! Nothing has changed. I am still the same person. But I have a new light and fire. I hope yall can recognize it when I get back.
Anyways, we didn't find any new investigators this week, but we found 3 last week and couple before that, so we have been working with them and trying to find more! Many people have told me that this area is hard to find in, that the people are comfortable and stubborn and don't want to listen, and that there are not often baptisms, let alone new investigators, and that we don't end up teaching much. I want all of you to know that I don't believe any of that. The Lord will do His work wherever He wants it done, wherever there are His worthy servants doing all they can. So if that attitude ever develops in the Rocklin 1st ward or wherever you are, don't let it. I can guarantee that there are families in every part of the world that are just waiting to hear the gospel. You know them! We all do. They need it, and we need to invite them to learn more about it!
Just do it! There's not much more to be said haha.
Anyways, I am really happy. I am so blessed to have you as my family and friends. You rock. Like a lot. And I love you. <3
Love,
Elder Kent (SUPERMAN) the younger and what not :)
Sounds like you had a crazy dry week! But fun too. My week weather wise was quite the opposite really. We had snow (about 6 inches) over Tuesday and Wednesday, and by Friday most of it was melted. Yesterday it also rained and it is raining quite a bit more now. Hopefully we can get a ride home from here......
I am sad that the ward split! Speaking of splitting, we are splitting the area with sisters starting next week. It will be kind of crazy, especially because most of the members in this ward live in a very concentrated area: the neighborhood right next to the temple. So one of the missionary companionships is going to get the short end of the stick or the 'memberless' part of the area.
This week was really eventful I think. We got taken to a sushi place on Monday and the member (one of my favorites if that is allowed haha) bought me 2 entire rolls for myself. Elder Wood doesn't like fish, so I had his roll too haha. Then Tuesday it had snowed about 3 inches by the time we left for home at night, and I got to drive home in it. There were no cars on the road, so you can bet I had a little fun. Just ask Elder Wood I think he is still nervous about it. On Wednesday, the entire city of Apex and surrounding areas were shut down. Nobody knew what to do with the snow. It was pretty hilarious if you ask me. School was even cancelled on Tuesday for "possibility of snow" even though it didn't snow until dinner time. Then, nobody had school for the rest of the week because some places weren't completely clear of ice (i.e. there were some really small patches of ice in shady areas of neighborhoods). So we had a few cancellations this week.
At our district meeting, the sisters in our district were talking about their investigator who wants to get baptized, except she is afraid that her Catholic mother might literally die if she does. They asked for suggestions on how to help her, and I asked, "Do you think that if you taught her about doing baptisms for the dead she would be more willing to be baptized?" The sisters were kind of shocked that I made that joke but everyone else was laughing too hard for them not to join in. It was pretty funny. I liked it anyways. Haha.
Elder Wood was supposed to teach the Young Women in this ward about photography (the young men didn't want to learn haha) on Wednesday, and he was really excited about it. Maybe too excited. When we set the plans for that the day before, I told him we should set backup plans, but he was confident that it was going to happen. So, instead, I wrote this as a backup plan:
"Chant 'CRY!' as Elder Wood curls up into a ball and cries."
Believe it or not, that is pretty much what happened when we found out it was cancelled because of snow. Okay, so he didn't really cry but he allows me to say he did shed one tear. Like I said, he was really excited.
Then on friday, I made frito salad for dinner. OHHHHHH YEAAAAAHHHHH.
Saturday was day 200 of being in the field. How crazy is that? I can hardly believe it. Then Sunday, at fast and testimony meeting, the little kids were up there preaching some interesting points (not on purpose of course haha) but I think that my favorite was "I know that Joseph Smith suffers because of our sins" or something to that nature. Little kids are hilarious.
Anyways, it was pretty fun this week. Nothing like a good laughing fun week to lighten up everyone's mood and to help us appreciate the little things we have. I love you!!!!!!!!!!
Love,
Elder Clark the younger
I am sad that the ward split! Speaking of splitting, we are splitting the area with sisters starting next week. It will be kind of crazy, especially because most of the members in this ward live in a very concentrated area: the neighborhood right next to the temple. So one of the missionary companionships is going to get the short end of the stick or the 'memberless' part of the area.
This week was really eventful I think. We got taken to a sushi place on Monday and the member (one of my favorites if that is allowed haha) bought me 2 entire rolls for myself. Elder Wood doesn't like fish, so I had his roll too haha. Then Tuesday it had snowed about 3 inches by the time we left for home at night, and I got to drive home in it. There were no cars on the road, so you can bet I had a little fun. Just ask Elder Wood I think he is still nervous about it. On Wednesday, the entire city of Apex and surrounding areas were shut down. Nobody knew what to do with the snow. It was pretty hilarious if you ask me. School was even cancelled on Tuesday for "possibility of snow" even though it didn't snow until dinner time. Then, nobody had school for the rest of the week because some places weren't completely clear of ice (i.e. there were some really small patches of ice in shady areas of neighborhoods). So we had a few cancellations this week.
At our district meeting, the sisters in our district were talking about their investigator who wants to get baptized, except she is afraid that her Catholic mother might literally die if she does. They asked for suggestions on how to help her, and I asked, "Do you think that if you taught her about doing baptisms for the dead she would be more willing to be baptized?" The sisters were kind of shocked that I made that joke but everyone else was laughing too hard for them not to join in. It was pretty funny. I liked it anyways. Haha.
Elder Wood was supposed to teach the Young Women in this ward about photography (the young men didn't want to learn haha) on Wednesday, and he was really excited about it. Maybe too excited. When we set the plans for that the day before, I told him we should set backup plans, but he was confident that it was going to happen. So, instead, I wrote this as a backup plan:
"Chant 'CRY!' as Elder Wood curls up into a ball and cries."
Believe it or not, that is pretty much what happened when we found out it was cancelled because of snow. Okay, so he didn't really cry but he allows me to say he did shed one tear. Like I said, he was really excited.
Then on friday, I made frito salad for dinner. OHHHHHH YEAAAAAHHHHH.
Saturday was day 200 of being in the field. How crazy is that? I can hardly believe it. Then Sunday, at fast and testimony meeting, the little kids were up there preaching some interesting points (not on purpose of course haha) but I think that my favorite was "I know that Joseph Smith suffers because of our sins" or something to that nature. Little kids are hilarious.
Anyways, it was pretty fun this week. Nothing like a good laughing fun week to lighten up everyone's mood and to help us appreciate the little things we have. I love you!!!!!!!!!!
Love,
Elder Clark the younger
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