Teaching in a Halfway House - Tuesday, Sept 30th, 2014

Hello everyone!

What an adventure it was serving in the North area of the Central Tucson Ward. I have learned so much there as a missionary. Serving with Elder Talbot was a great privilege. We worked hard together, and learned lots from one another!

Today was Transfers, and Elder Talbot stayed in the Central Ward, and is going to serve with Elder Hearn. Elder Talbot will have a big opportunity to show leadership in this situation. I have full confidence that he will work hard, and be obedient. Elder Talbot so far I believe on my mission has been the most diligent of all my companions in serving the Lord. I was transferred today to Sierra Vista on the Fort Huachuca Army Base. I am really excited for this! I went from a large down town city to rolling hills of desert. It is quite different, but I know there is a reason why I am here. My new companion is Elder Sigland. I haven't met him yet, but I hear great things about him.

It was pretty sad to leave Central Ward. The goodbyes were pretty hard. Especially with the Investigators that Elder Talbot and I have been teaching. But I know it's just a see ya later. I'll definitely come back to visit the Tucson mission.

Things are getting pretty exciting here in the mission! They are about ready to announce the ground breaking date of the Tucson Temple. It will spur lots of Church curiosity and activity! There are lots of great things happening in the mission. I'm excited to be here and to witness them!

Yesterday, in my last day in Central Ward and 8:00 PM we went to see a referral in a half way house which was really sketchy, and the promise of someone genuinely interested wasn't very likely. But we went there anyway and we had to sign in because of security reasons. We met with the referral, Chris. A security guard had to go bring him out of the house and escort him over to us, and on the way over to us we saw that this guy was HUGE! He had a beard, pony tale, only 3 teeth left. Elder Talbot and I overheard the Security Guard telling him firmly that we were not allowed to go inside, and that we need to remain outside, and he is not allowed to touch us at all for our safety and for his... so this had me kind of worried. On the way into the complex, two cops walked up and asked "Are you missionaries?" and we replied, "Yep!" And he asked "Are you brave missionaries?" So all these events weren't making me too comfortable. Long story short, we sat down and talked with Chris, and he is a great man. Really genuine. He has a sincere desire to change. He has been investigating the Church in Prison for about 7 years now. He was sent to prison for a mistake he made when he was 16 years old. We had planned on teaching him the message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but he ended up teaching us the lesson and sharing his powerful testimony, wanting to be baptized.

I testify that repentance is real, and it is for every single person who ever has been, is, and will ever be on the face of the Earth. It is so important to view all of God's Children with an eye of charity, which is the pure love of Christ. In the Central Ward it has been hard to do that, due to the mass variety of people and characters, but I soon came to realize that everyone has a path and is being guided, and has a divine potential. I have learned to see people not as who they are, but as what they can become. Then I as a missionary am better able to understand how they need to be converted. I know that this Church is true, and that we have living Prophets today, who we will have the privilege of hearing this coming weekend. I implore EVERYONE to listen to their counsel, their advice, teaching and direction, because it is from our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I love all of you, and hope that you have a great week!

"Savior Redeemer of My Soul" - Monday, Sept 22nd, 2014

Hey family, 

Sorry, I was having a blast reading all of your emails, so this will be really short! Elder Talbot and I have set a record in this area for # of Investigators and # of lessons on a week! We are working hard! This week, we had the opportunity to go to the Gila Valley Temple. It was awesome, because I got to be baptized for some of Sister Jones Ancestors. (First time in a year I have been fully submerged in water haha) (Sister Jones is a former student of mine who is a convert and now serving in Micah's mission. She got to take some names from her family to the temple...and Elder Wise got to go assist!) It was a real cool experience.

Singing in sacrament went really well I thought. I sang "Savior Redeemer of My Soul" from Joseph Smith the Prophet. You can look it up on Youtube. (not of me, but the arrangement) It's beautiful. It has a violin in it. Sister Corbit played the violin. She majored in violin performance in college, and SHE SOUNDS SOOOO GOOD!!! The Piano player was Sister Walker, Stake President Walker's wife. I LOVE THE WALKERS! President Walker and I are pretty tight. I brought my bike over to his house this week, cuz it was being stupid and we worked on it for an hour or so.

But not to toot my own horn (well yah, I'm gonna toot my own horn) haha but Eder Talbot said that by the end of the song almost everyone was crying in the congregation. Some people told my that I'm "gonna go places with that voice". At dinner last night with Sister Price, she said I would be sooooo good in movies, because my emotion is "so perfect and precise with the music and what is being said" idk... They are all really nice compliments I receive. (Elder Wise really does have a beautiful voice and I'm so happy to see he is using his gift in his mission. Makes me happy!)

This week has been really great! We were able to find 2 new Investigators this week from other Investigators we have! They introduced us to their friends and they are pretty interested in the Gospel! This Saturday, our Ward had a talent show. It was SUPER fun! We all have talents, and we need to let them shine! And magnify and practice them! I love you all, and sorry for the short email! Have a wonderful week! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MICAH!!!! - Monday, Sept 15th, 2014

Hey family! 

I had a great birthday! People in the Central Ward really take care of you! Haha! It was fun! Thank you for all of your birthday wishes. 

Man, the work in the Central Ward is crazy! Right now we have 4 baptism scheduled for the 27th of September and many more to follow. By the end of this month, Elder Talbot and I are hoping to have 10 baptism dates set. We really are raising our vision for this ward. 

We had a long week of finding and finding and finding! We only found 1 new Investigator this week. It's interesting how there are so many who have been prepared, but you are just looking in the wrong place! But our Investigators, Jim and Joe are continuing to progress. One of them has invited 3 people to listen to the missionaries and come to church! So we are meeting with them this week! I'm pretty excited! 

Funny tracting experience: We were knocking doors in this apartment complex, and we came to this one door, and this old hippie guy came out, and he stared for like 10 seconds at my name tag and SLAMMED his screen door shut. He then said that we are the servants of the DEVIL! And that he was athiest (Hmmmm believe in the Devil and not God....), that he believes in freedom from religion, and that we have been brain washed since we were born, yada-yada=yada... Anyways, we just walked away, and he said if he sees us again he is calling the cops! So we knocked on the next door and he's like "THAT'S IT! I'M calling the cops right in front of your face! And I'm taking a picture to prove it!!!" And so he comes up like 3 inches away from my face and starts taking pictures. By this point Elder Talbot just walked away. Haha! Probably the smartest thing to do.. I just walked away then too. BOY HE WAS CRAZY! I think all we said was "Hi, how are you doing today?" And he calls us the servants of the Devil... Stock don't let this make you afraid from coming on a mission. Tracting is where you get the best stories! Anyways, just thought I would share that.. .It was strange...lol 

Next week, I am singing in Sacrament meeting "Savior Redeemer of My Soul" from the Joseph Smith the Prophet. I have a piano player and an AMAZING violinist accompanying me. It'll be fun! Well I'm winding down on my time in the Central Ward of the Tucson Stake. It's been quite the adventure. I love the people here. The people of Tucson are so unique from any one else in the world. It truly is it's own culture. Maybe I will get transferred out of Tucson this time! haha! 

I forgot last week to wish Grandpa Roy a HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! What is he like 30 now?? ;) 

Anyways, love all of you and hope you have a great week! 

"Stay Away from the FUMES and the PERFUMES" - Monday, Sept 8th, 2014

Hello Family!

Right now outside there is a crazy Monsoon happening. Roads are literally turning into rivers. They even have HUGE ripples in them, like white water rafting! We saw 3 cars stuck and dragged down the road. A tow truck had to help them get it out. Crazy weather down here. I welcome the season of Fall with open arms! (yep, he is a true Northwesterner lol)

This last week we had 4 baptism dates set up. Now we only have one. :( Robert felt a little too pressured, Juan couldn't attend church yesterday due to family matters, and John smoked a cigarette right when he left church yesterday! But all of them are continuing to progress. We just have to reestablish a date that they feel comfortable with. We gave John a Priesthood blessing last night to help him overcome his addiction. 

There is a family who has a 9 year old girl who's b-day is on SEPT. 10! So they are going to take me out to dinner on Wednesday. So that's nice of them. Man, it's weird to think that Elder Talbot is 3 months old. I remember being there, and it felt like I had been out forever! I can't believe he has been out that long! Time flew by! I can't believe it. It is still strange when I find myself talking with two other people from Camas. Talking about the teachers we had in High School, memories and places of the Milltown. We all usually have dinner together at members houses, and when they find out that we are from the same small town in Washington they freak out! haha! It's always fun to see! 

Not much happened this week. But we are trying to keep up with all the new investigators we have! When Elder Talbot came in, this area has been in the best shape it's ever been! He's a hard working missionary! We taught a lot this week about the Plan of Salvation. It used to be my least favorite discussion to share with people. But now it is turning into one of my favorites! I feel the Spirit so strongly each time we share it with people. And to see the look and glow on their faces when they learn the Plan of Happiness strengthens my testimony so much! It is great to know that everyone will receive some degree of Salvation. I believe very strongly that we have a loving Heavenly Father, who is going to reward us for even making the decision to come down to Earth and to face these mortal experiences. But we have a divine potential to achieve so much. If we live faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I know that we will receive a fullness of joy living in the presence of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and our families. The Plan of Salvation is my favorite gospel topic, because you don't have to do anything to know that it is true. It makes too much sense to deny. 

I love you all! And hope school is going well! Stock, stay away from the fumes and the perfumes! ;) Have a great week! 

ELDER WISE IS ONE YEAR OLD!!! - Monday, Sept 1, 2014

Hello family! 

This week was great! We were able to get 4 Investigators to church! 3 of them have baptismal dates in September! One of them was there for the first time and he LOVED IT! He was taking intense notes in his study journal in all three blocks! Right now we have baptisms lined up for 3 weeks in a row. I'm excited to see them progress! Someone from my last area in the Tucson North Stake called me the other day, and said she was getting baptized and she wants me to baptize her! It's so exciting to hear that she is progressing. She has such a strong testimony now. The things she said that she believed, she was bible bashing with when I was there. 

Well we all know that when there is spiritual progress, there is always opposition. And that opposition is the U of A. School started last week, and I'm sure you all have heard that the U of A is a pretty big party school. Our small apartment complex is right next to campus. haha! This week there was a sorority party right outside our window. It was terrible. It was like Sodom and Gomorrah. DON'T LOOK BACK! But now our area and down town is terrible with traffic and TONS of people. Being in the college atmosphere is pretty exciting, but we can't get distracted. On Friday there was a U of A game and we are right next to the stadium so we heard the game go on all night. 

Our first Investigator is Robert, who is the fiance of a member who has been interested in the church. Then we have John, who is really big into alcohol and drugs, but he has committed to live the Work of Wisdom and ever since then every time we see him we can see him getting cleaner and cleaner and stronger and stronger both physically and spiritually. Then Juan, who is amazing. He is someone who has truly been prepared by the Lord. We have taught him twice so far and Saturday night he called us and said, you know what guys, I've been thinking a lot about what you guys have told me and I've come to a conclusion... I though he was going to drop us right there, but then we said that this is where he belongs and this is where he is going to stay. He already believes that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God, and that Joseph Smith is a prophet. He is amazing. He shared with us what he has gone through, and truly he has been prepared. 

This week, we had a member of the Second quorum of the Seventy come and address our mission. His name was Elder Malm, from Sweden. He told us that the purpose of missionary work is to gather Israel, the elect of God, and the elect are people who have been prepared to receive the restored gospel. But how do we know who the elect is?? They don't hold a sign on the side of the road that says I'm the elect, so how do we tell? We need to talk to as many people as possible. That's our job as full time missionaries, and that is your job as member missionaries. To talk with and invite as many people as possible. As we do so, we will hasten the work of gathering Israel and preparing the world for the return of Jesus Christ. I love you all, and have a great week!