April 14, 2014
Mother
dearest,
Your
letters are wonderful! I have so much to tell you and fill you in on.
First
off I am in Van Nuys (pronounced Van Ice) with Elder Davis and we are on bikes.
The
area is wonderful. It’s a little bit cleaner and filled with apartments. We
only have 6 blocks in our area so it will be perfect and easy to cover on bike.
It is packed with Latinos which is just what we like to see! I am excited to
really dig into it and find those families that need the truth.
Our
apartment is old but really spacey. We have 2 bathrooms and a walk in closet.
After a bit of nightly cleaning it really turns out quiet nice. I am always
trying to take Dads advice and leave it better than I found it. There are still
some roaches though...but it just adds to the fun of having a daily "kill
count".
A walk in closet! |
My own bathroom |
Also
big highlight is a huge ceramic panther resides in our home. I moved from the
Zebra to the Panther Pad. I wonder what's next!
Hello, Panther Pad |
Elder
Davis is a 26 year old returned Marine with a heart of gold. He is so loving
and very knowledgeable at referencing scriptures, which is something I
need to be better at. He has been out 10 months and is the same mission age as
my trainer Elder Speth. I love him dearly! We are going to do great things. As
of right now we are trying to still test the waters but our potential is great.
My
ward is great…really young and very active! Van Nuys seems to be a pretty
young, family-ish city. I am excited about that. Our Obispo is very on top of
things and involved in our work. As far as the District I am in, I don't know
the members very well but I have worked with some in the past and I know we
will do great.
Okay now that the fine print is out of the way I want to talk about what really made
my week, my mission really. Elder Kent F. Richards of the Quorum of the Seventy
came and held a mission wide (English, Spanish, ASL, Korean) Conference. He was
also joined with our Area Seventy Elder Garns. I don't even know where to start
to explain the love and wisdom of our Father in Heaven. I wish so dearly I
could share with you all he taught but I have never been so close to
experiencing what it would have been like personally learning from the Lord
face to face. Elder Richards is truly a man of God filled with the Spirit and
amazing understanding of the mysteries of God. I cannot get over how amazing it
was.
He
taught with the Spirit and it was the most pure doctrine I have ever heard. He
explained and taught deep doctrinal truths of the gospel with simplicity and
power. Nothing was misunderstood or skewed. I was taught so much. It changed my
life.
Three
main points to teaching simply were
1.
Teach and Testify of truth
2.
Invite to Act in Faith
3.
Minister (help, bless, support)
I
encourage you to keep these in mind as you serve in your calling. If it’s not
true, don't say it. If it’s not spiritually inspired it’s not what God wants
you to say. Strive to teach simple truths, pure doctrine in all that you do. I
know that as you do your class and those you come in contact with will hear the
voice of the Lord.
Elder
Richards changed my life.
I
don't know what's going on in my old area. Part of a transfer is leaving the
fruits of your labors to be carried on by other Elders. I won't be able to see
if Salvadora is baptized but I don't need to. I am at peace with what I left
behind and I am excited to try and do the same here in Van Nuys.
I
love hearing about all the missionaries preparing to leave from Utah. Not a lot
comes close to the life changing moment of opening a mission call. Spain
doesn't know how lucky they are to soon have Hermana Marsh as they're
missionary. I am so happy and proud of her. I can't wait to hear her Spanish.
European Spanish is very sophisticated and beautiful…a lot of vosotros form and
unique vocab. I hope she's down to teach me some :)
Love
you Mom…a lot. I am so happy to hear your progress and work in personally
growing your testimony and love for the Savior. Something really great to do
that you have personal control over no matter what our family does Easter Sunday
is to share your testimony with Lauren and Alexis. They would love to hear from
your mouth the importance of Easter. Also in "Jesus the Christ" it would be
awesome to read the account of the resurrection. I think it is somewhere around
page 670 as well as review Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s talk on it as
well. I think that would make Easter really special.
Until
next week :) I am looking forward to Mother's day too,
Elder
BagleySam would love these zappatrias |
We look GOOD... |
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