Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Portland, bikes, Elder Woodward, iPads, sang at baptism

Hey family! 
I'm sorry to hear about Kim, Thomas and the rest of the people involved with the accident! It's hard to believe that that would happen. Hope everyone is doing good! 

This last week has been a little different than I am used to. I just came from an area that covered all of the city of Vancouver and the surrounding towns as well. We had about 2000 miles and so I drove a lot. Now I am in a walking or biking area. It's really fun! It's been a long time since I've been walking for multiple says in the week. I am sad to say that my shoes probably won't make it another 11 months. I've worn the same pair of shoes for the past 13 months haha. They are so close to making it all the way. So in other words I am in no need of shoes. Elder Woodward and I are doing great. He is about 5'2 and is about 18 years old. Really into technology. Specifically computers and other things like mine craft haha. We have been doing great in this area so far. I'm a district leader again and it's going to be great! I get to work with about 6 other missionaries. This transfer I want to focus on developing an attitude that will shape or alter their way of missionary work to a more productive and faithful driven experience. Elder Williams and I in our past area were on to something with the NGI and we started to see some great things! Being in leadership is such a great opportunity to learn about myself and especially about the others that I serve, seeing their strengths and helping them overcome their weaknesses. It's challenging at times to find what trainings to give so that their concerns and needs are met each district meeting but it all comes back to developing a love for them and the words come. That's what I've come to understand. That if we want to truly help people we must first love them and everything we do for them with the intent to help because of our love then we truly have helped them. In other words if we can only have charity. The pure love of Christ.

This last weekend Sharon Jones was baptized by her son JJ Jones. Our recent convert was able to help his mother and soon his dad ( my fingers are crossed ) to enter into the waters of baptism. It was a incredible experience. Sharon had previously wanted to hear me sing because she would hear me in sacrament meeting and other meetings like FHE and I was never able to. So for her baptism I sang "Savior, Redeemer of My Soul". It was awesome. I still struggle with one or two high notes toward the end because of the key change but it ended up being great. I think she liked it. Thanks for sending me all that music. I'm starting to sing a lot more in groups and other things with my guitar and the songs that I have for that. If there is any music back home like hymns or just books like John Denver or something I wouldn't mind.
Oh and something I was curious about. My iPad can receive PDFs and save them in my iBooks. So I know there are a ton of gospel books that you like mom and that are great. If there are any that you think I would like you can forward the PDFs that you find on the Internet to me and I can save them onto my iPad. Also, I received my new iPad this Wednesday. We are transferring all of my photos and videos to usb drives and so they will be showing up at home soon.
I was curious if I could have my sunglasses shipped to me. Just for driving and other things like that. When you're in Portland and the sun comes out its really bright because we don't see it for a while sometimes.
The Jones family starting from the left is. Treasure, Sharon, Henry, baby Henry, Lavaughnda, Elder Williams,






Sharon the week before her baptism, and Henry just started meeting with us.

Young Single Adult Ward, transfer to Portland and Jones family

Hello family! 
This last week has been great! Little bit different with the missionary work just because there comes a point in missionary work when you have an over abundance of names and you lose tract of what is what. We ended up driving around grabbing information on a lot of YSA members and non members as well. It ended up being pretty awesome. The YSA Ward is a little different just because we are looking for people ages of 18-30 and so its a little more difficult but much more joy when you happened to tract into some. And that was the case this past week. We had a former investigator that we were trying to catch and he happened to have 4 room mates that all are now investigators. It's amazing how the gospel really does effect and touch everyone in a certain way. Non believer to believer. A testament that there truly is a God out there with so much love as to allow each and everyone of his children to find joy in the life that only comes through the gospel of Jesus Christ in its purest form. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ has touched so many lives and will continue to do so. I've been privileged to be a part of this great and marvelous work. 

Sadly this is my last full day with Elder Williams. I am getting transferred to Portland. I'm now in a biking area and it's going to be interesting. I have heard a lot of good things about the food down there and the people are awesome as well. I'm going to learn a ton. I've noticed that I have truly been blessed to come to this area of the world especially Portland/Vancouver. The world is getting crazy and wild and being on my mission in the heart of all of that. If you know Portland you know what I'm talking about. I get to experience all of the opposition on my mission and learn how to cope with it, it will be that much easier when I got off my mission to stay on the path.

We are currently teaching the Jones family still. Jj and LaVaughnda Jones recently got baptized and now his mother is following him into the water. She is getting baptized this Saturday at 2pm. It is going to be amazing to see her make this commitment. The whole family will be there including her sisters who are pastors for another church. It's going to be great! Along with that her husband Henry Jones is now investigating the church and is truly contemplation on a date for baptism as well. All of these amazing things are happening because of one simple contact from a missionary that wasn't afraid of someone smoking and drinking in their yard. This work is incredible and is the work of the Lord. Things happen for a reason and I know that God gives us things in this life so that we can truly deem ourselves worthy of his presence. Make the best of what we have received and God will give the increase. I know that THAT is true. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

P.s. Hope Rhiannon is doing good! Thomas you're the man! Emmie! Swimming is the best! Until next week! 

Love you!
E.

Duran family, positive thoughts and being consecrated

Hello family!
This past week has been incredible! Lots of miracles are continuing to happen! Since we are covering two wards we are able to branch out to a lot more proselyting opportunities. We've been finding the so many investigators recently, more than we've found in the past couple months. The areas are blowing up with people to teach and we are shrinking on the amount of free time we have. The struggle is real haha. Not really a struggle though it's amazing.

We are teaching the Duran family and they are doing great. All of them are non-members and so it's really exciting to see them as they keep commitments to read and come to church. Ellie, the mom, is a Seventh Day Adventist and so things are interesting because they are keep the Sabbath on Saturday. She agreed to change it if the church was true. We have been teaching all the kids and her specifically on the atonement because her second youngest daughter has been struggling with depression and we believe that will help. How does a seventeen year old girl have depression? It's crazy how Satan will try to destroy such bright spirits. It's sad to see them do it to themselves as well because of a false ideas such as 'I'm not attractive', or 'I don't have any friends', 'Jesus Christ isn't real', etc. all of these things are false doctrines taught by the adversary. Anything that is negative or that is contrary to the spirit or teachings of Christ are false. Shoutout to my mother! I love the activity that you did with the lap counter. How you counted all of your positive thoughts throughout the day. You said that you could tell the difference because your spirit became more uplifting and positive. That is something that I've been doing a lot throughout my mission. Really striving to have good uplifting thoughts continually to help have a better experience.

You were wondering about my trip to the doctor this past week or so. Right now we live with two other Elders and they happened to be teaching a man that had tuberculosis. One of the Elders in the apartment brought that up to the mission doctor and he had him go see the doctor. Long story short he ends up testing positive for tuberculosis and we get quarantined until we had a test results back. So we ended up getting a TB test. That was a long two days haha.

This week we have another zone meeting haha. This month has been loaded with meetings but this one is still going to be great. We are hoping to help the zone internalize the doctrine of Christ so that they can not only teach with power but become consecrated themselves. It's definitely a life-long process but if we can strive to be a consecrated being on the mission we can move mountains. As we were receiving training from President Taylor about being consecrated I couldn't help but think of My Dad. I can't remember one time when he was selfish and did what he wanted to do. He was always giving up his time and money for his family and I am forever grateful for that. In my eyes my Dad is an example of a consecrated being. Love you dad. Sorry about not writing last week. Hope everything is good at home!
E. Archibald

Monday, February 9, 2015

Duran Family & Becoming Consecrated

Hello family! 
This past week has been incredible! Lots of miracles are continuing to happen! Since we are covering two wards we are able to branch out to a lot more proselyting opportunities. We've been finding the most investigators recently, more than we've found in the past couple months. The areas are blowing up with people to teach and we are shrinking on the amount of free time we have. The struggle is real haha. Not really a struggle though it's amazing. 

We are teaching the Duran family and they are doing great. All of them are non-members and so it's really exciting to see them as they keep commitments to read and come to church. Ellie, the mom, is a Seventh Day Adventist and so things are interesting because they are keep the Sabbath on Saturday. She agreed to change it if the church was true. We have been teaching all the kids and her specifically on the atonement because her second youngest daughter has been struggling with depression and we believe that will help. How does a seventeen year old girl have depression? It's crazy how Satan will try to destroy such bright spirits. It's sad to see them do it to themselves as well because of a false ideas such as 'I'm not attractive', or 'I don't have any friends', 'Jesus Christ isn't real', etc. all of these things are false doctrines taught by the adversary. Anything that is negative or that is contrary to the spirit or teachings of Christ are false. Shoutout to my mother! I love the activity that you did with the lap counter. How you counted all of your positive thoughts throughout the day. You said that you could tell the difference because your spirit became more uplifting and positive. That is something that I've been doing a lot throughout my mission. Really striving to have good uplifting thoughts continually to help have a better experience. 

You were wondering about my trip to the doctor this past week or so. Right now we live with two other Elders and they happened to be teaching a man that had tuberculosis. One of the Elders in the apartment brought that up to the mission doctor and he had him go see the doctor. Long story short he ends up testing positive for tuberculosis and we get quarantined until we had a test results back. So we ended up getting a TB test. That was a long two days haha.

This week we have another zone meeting haha. This month has been loaded with meetings but this one is still going to be great. We are hoping to help the zone internalize the doctrine of Christ so that they can not only teach with power but become consecrated themselves.   It's definitely a life-long process but if we can strive to be a consecrated being on the mission we could move mountains. As we were receiving a training from President Taylor about being consecrated I could help but think of My Dad. I can't remember one time where he was selfish and did what he wanted to do. He was always giving up his time and money for his family and I am forever grateful for that. In my eyes my Dad is an example of a consecrated being. Love you dad. Sorry about not writing last week. Hope everything is good at home! 
E. Archibald