---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Matthew Courtright
Date: Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Subject: 4.13.09
HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE! <--- on sunday
HAPPY END OF LENT! <--- on monday
no go party hard
Hey all.
How are things with yall? thanks for all those who consistently write me on a weekly basis whether in email or mail. i love them all.
Well transfers are today and in case you are wondering i am staying right here in arvada. i have mixed emotions about it but mostly happy! i will explain in a bit.
On saturday, we had the baptism of shane howard.
Shane is a Iraq war veteran who had half of his face blown off, suffers from ptsd and was heavy into drinking and drugs for awhile. However, he has truly changed fromt he man he used to be. Before we taught him the first lesson, he had read the 1st book for Nephi and by the time he was baptized he was half way through alma. it was incredible. He is married but his wife is an alcoholic so he moved out into a friends BACKYARD! he gives all of his money to his wife to help support the kids. the baptism itself was teh most spiritual baptism i have ever seen.
Now for the mixed emotions. I am not sure how much i should talk about this, but i need a stress relief so...hi. my companion, elder caillier, hasnt been the most hard working guy on the planet. in fact, president put me with him to teach him how to work. (thats a quote from president). after we had taught a couple lessons, i realized that he didnt know how or what to teach in the missionary lessons. that was a shocker to me. He has been out 20 months and had no idea..that was a hard pill to swallow. So for the past 2 weeks i have had my patience tried and i think for the most part i am doing pretty good. We are still on lesson 1 because he forgets so much over night, but this is a true test of my patience and teaching skills. i have never had to teach someone how to teach. its a very different thing but i think if you saw me work, you would be throughly amazed.
Also on saturday we did a "missionary for a day" thing with the youth in a neighboring stake. we got to take a young man, Braedy, age 14, out with us to teach. the appts. were already set up, but that was okay. we taught a psuedo active guy about faith, repentence, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost, and enduring to the end. then we took him tracting. he was scared but he did pretty good overall. the street we were asked to tract was tracted literally 2 days before and the 1st house was a house where members lived. it was mostly lame, but fun too.
well, overall things are great. if you have written a letter recently, i got it but havent responded because i am slow and busy. my bad. i am working on it though. i have alot on my plate that i shouldnt have.....
love yall,
Elder Courtright
From: Matthew Courtright
Date: Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Subject: 4.13.09
HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE! <--- on sunday
HAPPY END OF LENT! <--- on monday
no go party hard
Hey all.
How are things with yall? thanks for all those who consistently write me on a weekly basis whether in email or mail. i love them all.
Well transfers are today and in case you are wondering i am staying right here in arvada. i have mixed emotions about it but mostly happy! i will explain in a bit.
On saturday, we had the baptism of shane howard.
Shane is a Iraq war veteran who had half of his face blown off, suffers from ptsd and was heavy into drinking and drugs for awhile. However, he has truly changed fromt he man he used to be. Before we taught him the first lesson, he had read the 1st book for Nephi and by the time he was baptized he was half way through alma. it was incredible. He is married but his wife is an alcoholic so he moved out into a friends BACKYARD! he gives all of his money to his wife to help support the kids. the baptism itself was teh most spiritual baptism i have ever seen.
Now for the mixed emotions. I am not sure how much i should talk about this, but i need a stress relief so...hi. my companion, elder caillier, hasnt been the most hard working guy on the planet. in fact, president put me with him to teach him how to work. (thats a quote from president). after we had taught a couple lessons, i realized that he didnt know how or what to teach in the missionary lessons. that was a shocker to me. He has been out 20 months and had no idea..that was a hard pill to swallow. So for the past 2 weeks i have had my patience tried and i think for the most part i am doing pretty good. We are still on lesson 1 because he forgets so much over night, but this is a true test of my patience and teaching skills. i have never had to teach someone how to teach. its a very different thing but i think if you saw me work, you would be throughly amazed.
Also on saturday we did a "missionary for a day" thing with the youth in a neighboring stake. we got to take a young man, Braedy, age 14, out with us to teach. the appts. were already set up, but that was okay. we taught a psuedo active guy about faith, repentence, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost, and enduring to the end. then we took him tracting. he was scared but he did pretty good overall. the street we were asked to tract was tracted literally 2 days before and the 1st house was a house where members lived. it was mostly lame, but fun too.
well, overall things are great. if you have written a letter recently, i got it but havent responded because i am slow and busy. my bad. i am working on it though. i have alot on my plate that i shouldnt have.....
love yall,
Elder Courtright
--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.
