Steadfast Faith in Christ: A Missionary Journal

Perpetual Chaos of a Wandering Mind: The Scorpion and the Frog

2011-03-27T12:46:00.000-05:00

Perpetual Chaos of a Wandering Mind: The Scorpion and the Frog

Happy November, Well What a Week!

2010-11-01T14:14:00.002-05:00

Date: Mon, 1 Nov 2010 13:35:34 +0200
Subject: Happy November
Well What a Week!

It really has been just a great week of hard work and fun. Because Missionary work should be fun and if you make it fun it will be and then you are more productive and get more accomplished and the blessings just keep coming. So I'm having the best of times with Elder Hinkson right now and we really are having so much fun. The work is going and I feel the support of prayers of many. When the spirit leads you it is just great.

First last Monday we had an awesome family home evening with this way cool family the B------'s. The have a single mom with 5 kids that very in ages but are so much fun. The mom gave the lesson purely on thinking about past family nights and thinking about one that was most memorable to us. It really hit me hard to think about all the wonderful times that I have been able to spend with my family over the years and all the many lessons my wonderful parents have taught me. I love my family so much and I'm so grateful for the relationships we have in our family, I couldn't imagine it any other way.

Tuesday, We had a sweet lesson with this guy named K-----. It is always great when someone says that they are looking for something for their soul (because it just so happens we have something to give to help with that). He is way interested but he travels on business like crazy so we only had that meeting with him but we have one already set up for this week, so I'm way excited!

Then we had Beginning English and it went pretty well. We talked about Halloween and then I had brought a Cake I made to share for a mini Birthday Party, it was great fun!

Wednesday we had a way good combined District Meeting out by the temple which was great, always good to go out there. Then we came back and went and met with this partially paralized guy but he isn't too interested and we found out he's had a Book of Mormon for 15 years he just doesn't really care, which is way sad. Then we had an awesome lesson with the B----- Family and our Mission Leader came with us and it was great we talked about establishing a baptismal date but they wanted to talk about it.

Thursday was a bit of an interesting day with some random lessons and the adventures of stopping by Less Actives (they can be quite the adventures). We had Advanced English where we just talked about Halloween a little more in depth.

Friday Morning we had a way sweet lesson with just P----- the father of the B----- family. We found out that he and the kids feel ready but the mom is still hestitant she wants to be sure. So we talked about how we can help her and just as we were leaving she walked in and he was like "talk to her" so we talked to her about it and said we'd come with a plan for them our next lesson. Later in the day we had a way sad Less Active visit. It was way sad because it is just heartbreaking to see someone who has made baptismal and temple covenants go away from what they know is true. It really is one of the hardest things to see. We were able to lift our spirits after by visiting with a great member family and talk about their missionary work.

Saturday during study I got a call from my cousin Mark and so then we got it all planned so that we could meet eachother before his temple session. It was so awesome to see him and visit for a little bit. The weird thing was just how normal it seemed. We swapped mission stories and talked about the work here in Kyiv vs where he is in Moscow. It was such a neat thing to see him! All of our lessons fell through on Saturday but we were able to create a way tight plan to give to the B----- which brings us to Sunday.

As always Sunday was the greatest day of the week. It was even greater because we got to have an extra hour of sleep. We went off Day Light Savings a week earlier than the states so that extra hour was way nice. We then headed to the church. First we had the international branch which has just a comfort feeling about it. Some great talks about gratitude. J----- the L------- were glad to hear that you are doing well.

Then it was the Vinohradar Ward which was way good. The best part I think was the 3rd hour. It was 5th sunday combined and pretty much ward leader after ward leader got up saying what needed to be done, like missionary work, less active fellowship and all this great stuff. The greatest part was when the Bishop was like I think we should fast for the B----- family tomorrow to help them journey towards baptism so today we are fasting with the ward for the B----- family. It is so wonderful to have that support from the ward leaders and all the members. After church somehow I got dragged into being the pianist for the Holiday Choir they are having for some different service things like singing for the blind and such. That was quite exciting to accompany as they are telling me different things mainly in Russian. My piano skills have definitely been blessed by being a missionary.

Then we had a sweet lesson with this babusya (grandma) V--------. V--- our MCL came with us and she basically understands the Book of Mormon like I have never seen before. She basically recited the whole 1st chapter of Nephi with explanations. The one thing she doesn't really understand is that if this is the only true Church of Christ, the one she is currently going to can't also be true but we are working with her and she is awesome.

Then came the highlight of the entire week. We swung by home to pick up the special birthday cake I made and then we met a member T----- to go to meet the B----- with us. They went to the village so weren't at church which was way sad but we have retaught the importance of them coming so I have high faith in them this week. We presented them with the awesome plan we prepared for them that has what we want to teach again and then it also has goals, including their baptism on the 20th of November, and priesthood ordinations and a temple sealing next year. They were way excited for the plan. I had told them I'd bring a cake for my birthday but it was the first time I had a chance so then we celebrated with them and it was really one of the greatest meetings of my mission.

Wow well that was my awesome week. I'd like to welcome my new cousin E---- to the family and hope she and Aunt R---- are doing well. I'll be excited to meet Eliza sometime in the future! Well I love you all and I love this gospel! Thanks for your support and love!

Love
Elder Alexander Larsen

Happy Day!

2010-11-01T13:59:00.002-05:00

Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:08:11 +0300
Subject: Happy Day!

It really is a happy day! And I have had a fabulous week! Thanks first off for the many Birthday Greetings! I'm so glad that I have such a wonderful family to support me and send me their love. Thanks for the awesome Birthday cards too, I have recieved them all and also that hand delivered package mom so thanks so much for thinking of me. I'm going to take Elder Hinkson out to lunch to celebrate so that should be fun. So now to my fabulous week.

First I'm working with Elder Hinkson which is like working with one of my best friends! It really is just amazing! We were great friends in the MTC spending everyday for 3 months together and now we get to serve together and it is great! We both want to work hard, be obedient, and just go have fun doing the work of the Lord so that is what we have done. We are running everyother morning which has been fantastic and praying the snow holds off so we can keep doing that even though it is crazy cold already in the morning. The cold won't stop us though, haha. So serving with Elder Hinkson is just grand and it makes the work so much fun!

My Branch (international) and Ward are sweet! I love the members and the leaders we get to work with, they have just been awesome! Jeremy thanks for the connection to Brother Luschin, everyone in the mission knows he is the one from President Uchtdorf's talk but that is way cool your family new them in Germany, I'll be sure to pass a hello. We have had some great interactions with members and I'm way excited to be working with them.

So last Thursday I got to go to the temple with Elder Oldham and it was so nice! It was so peaceful and just what I needed. I had such a enjoyable time there and it just felt familiar even though it was my first time for a session there and there were many things in Russian. They did have head sets for English which was at least nice. It'll probably be January before I make it back to the temple but I can't wait. The temple is what it is all about. I'm so grateful for the covenants we make with the Lord. I also ran into Elder Mark Larsen's old companion Elder Grover who was here for a visa trip so that was cool. Hopefully this week I might be able to see Elder Larsen himself.

Okay the best part of the week was working with the Boyko family. I first met them last Monday and they are such an awesome family. The dad Pavlo is wanting the truth for his family and they are just the greatest family. We had some really sweet lessons with them where the spirit was so powerful. They have three kids a 14year old boy, 12 year old girl and a 2 year old girl. The kids are great and so happy to learn about the gospel. The highlight was seeing them walk into Stake Conference. They hadn't come to church yet and that has been holding back their progress but they loved Stake Conference. We actually went to their apartment this morning to read the Book of Mormon with them and it all went well. We should be re-extending a baptismal date with them on Wednesday, so I'll be praying that I'll goes well. I'm so happy to be working with a family and seeing them progress in the Gospel. It is the most rewarding thing and I just can't wait to see them baptized and then eventually sealed in the temple. That is where my focus is now.

Alright so yeseterday was Stake Conference. It was really good! Most of it was in Russian but I suprisingly understood most everything (at least the jist of it). My favourite talk was President Galbraith the Temple President. He is just wonderful to listen to. He reminds me a lot of Uncle Fred, which is just fun. He was in a temple president's conference last week with the first presidency and the 9 of the 12. He was eating with Elder Bednar and asked him to teach him something, so Elder Bednar did. He told him to read the scriptures through "temple eyes" he then admonished us to do the same.

Alright well it was just a great week! I'm happy, I love the gospel and it is true! Thanks for your love and support family you mean the world to me!

Love,
Elder Alexander Larsen

Greetings from Vinnigrader

2010-10-18T13:04:00.000-05:00

Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2010 12:48:10 +0300
Subject: Greetings from Vinnigrader

Hi Family,

There is so much to say today, we'll see if I can remember to say it all. Well I got transferred sure enough and I'm now serving in Kyiv. I'm in northern Kyiv in the Vinnigrader ward. I also cover the international branch (more about that in a bit). I'm serving with Elder Hinkson who was one of my roommates in the MTC so needless to say we are compeletly stoked to be serving with eachother. I'm sad to have left Vinnytsya but I'm so excited for what is ahead. And as you said dad change is a part of our Heavenly Father's plan for us as we grow in the gospel.

So there is so much potential in this area right now it is crazy! We are working with a family, the B-----, who are temple refferals and way close to being baptized. That is right a family! I get to meet them for the first time tonight and I'm so excited, just pretty much giddy with anticipation to teach them tonight. The only thing really holding them back from baptism is coming to Church so that will be a big focus this week, I'm going to be praying none stop for them to come to church this week. We also have a few other people who are progressing.

So I'm serving in a ward! It was the coolest thing ever on Sunday to have a bishop! And to have everything run without the missionaries help (ya we are willing to help but it was nice to watch the church run how it is designed to). There are so many strong sweet members and I can't wait to get to know them all. Because of this months primary theme we were invited to visit primary which was a blast and really just made me so happy to see the real importance of this gospel in uniting and building strong families. It was great to reflect back to my primary days and everything I learned there and share with the kids what helped me want to be a missionary. I sat down on the piano and sang "I hope they call me on a Mission" with them, it was so great!

In addition to the ward that I'm serving in we also go to the international branch Sacrament Meeting. It was so awesome to be in an English Sacrament meeting and was just way comfort feeling. The Branch is filled with girls here for the International Language Program just like cousins M--- and B---- did and they went to the same branch. Sacrament meeting was great as we got to hear from the L-------, he was in charge of building the Kyiv temple (so they'll be moving soon) but it was just a sweet meeting.

It is strange to once again live in a big city, been over 2 years since living in London, but I love it. We live at the northern part of the city so I think it is comparable to living in Camden Town (but don't worry too much mom, it's way safe). I'm excited to just get straight to work here and do all we can. Elder H------ and I have already started off with fire and I know this transfer will be one to remember. We also had some sweet planning training this week. President feels like he let some things go the past 6 months with so much focus on the temple, so with his help we are working hard to get things really going.

Also I'll be going to the temple this week most likely. And then after this transfer the policy will be that we can go once every 2 transfers, so another 4 or 5 times while on my mission. I'm so excited to be able to go to the temple, it will be such a blessing to me. Well family I love you all and this gospel is true! I have come to reallization after reallization of what I need to do and I just love this gospel. Glad everything is going well with everyone at home and that you had an enjoyable visit to M-----'s house. Thanks for your love and support!

Love
Elder Alexander Larsen

Midnight Baptism

2010-10-11T13:18:00.002-05:00

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:10:21 +0300
Subject: Midnight Baptism

Let me try starting this again, the internet club we are just had to restart every computer. Hopefully we won't have any more problems.
Yep that is right we had a baptism Saturday night! Okay it wasn't right at midnight but it was pretty late I think he got baptized at about 10 o'clock. Needless to say Saturday was one of the craziest stressfull days of my life but with many prayers all things were overcome and one of my new greatest friends entered into the covenant of baptism. Mom if you got the picture from the baptism from the Ewarts please forward it with this e-mail to those you send this e-mail too.

Okay now I'll back up a little. If you remember 2 weeks ago C---- got baptized and his friend S-- came to the Baptism and the very next day told us he wanted to be baptized as well. So we had set the 9th of October as his goal. Well we met with S-- pretty much everyday for the past two weeks preparing him for the day. S-- got greater and greater and more and more excited for his baptism. So on Friday he had his interview and as a result it was determined he would probably need to visit with President Steinagel. We weren't able to get in touch with President until almost 10:30 Friday night. We then found out he could meet with S-- tomorrow if we got him to Kyiv. Sam was all in and didn't want to wait any longer than he needed to. So we got up early Saturday morning to meet S-- at the Voksal (train station) to get him on a train to Kyiv. Got everything sorted out and sent him on his way. I then made all the arrangements with Elders in Kyiv to get him back after his interview. So then we headed off to Church to watch Conference. Had a lovely time watching the first session, at the end of which S-- should have been arriving. However, the adversary was doing everything in his power to stop S--'s progress and his train was over an hour late. So I spent much of the afternoon conference session on phone calls with S-- and President Steinagel working everything out. Eventually they were able to met up and got him to President's office by the temple. Everything went well with the two of them and then began the work in getting him back. With the help of many different Elders we were finally able to get him on a Marshrutka (small bus) back to Vinnytsya. We had no clue though when it would arrive back in Vinnytsya. I had asked S-- if he wanted to get baptized when he got back or wait till Sunday to do it. He told me this was the day he'd been waiting for and he wanted it as soon as possible. He was however worried about us as missionaries not getting home on time, but with President's permission saying that a baptism is important enough to be out late we told him we'd have the service when ever he arrived. So we scrambled to get things together for the baptism that would happen sometime just not sure exactly when. The hardest thing was finding white underwear, which I won't go into too much detail in that story other than we eventually found some for S-- because he'd be coming straight there. So then we just sat and waited at the church. We had some members there and I felt way bad because they waited as long as they could but had to leave about 9 because otherwise there wouldn't be public transport to get home. So it ended up just being the 4 elders, the Ewarts, S---- (who got his mission call this week to Yukaterinburg Russia), C---- and another Nigerian friend J---.

S-- walked in just after 9:30 pm after the longest day of his life and having prettty much not eaten a thing all day. He got changed and then we were able to hold a simple beautiful baptismal service. I was hoping that it would work out for C---- to baptize S-- but S-- had been pretty persistent that I do it so at about 10 PM I had the wonderful privelege of baptizing Sam. Then because Conference was this weekend for us and there wouldn't be a sacrament meeting we had special permission to also do the confirmation right there. The spirit was so strong and it was a day and experience I will not forget for the rest of my life. S-- was so happy and after going through trials that many of us have never faced was able to recieve the greatest gift on earth, the Holy Ghost. Yesterday we were able to meet with S-- and watch Priesthood Session and he loved it and is so excited to live the Gospel! He kept having us pause the priesthood session so he get written down something that really struck him. He also had somethings work out in his life yesterday that have been problems for years. The Lord is surely showing his love and giving his blessings to his son who has been so faithful in coming to his Gospel. So that is my big story of the week!

A few other things. Tuesday morning we wake up at 3:30 to catch our 4:30 train to Zone Meeting and it was the coldest most miserable train ride of my life but there is a price for everything and we had an amazing Zone Meeting that has truly blessed and enriched my life as the blessings of the Lord after trials. We were able to do a role play and zone meeting that was so needed for a lesson the next day and helped us have the spirit in an extraordinary way in that lesson which has created a lot of progress with our investigator N------.
Conference was so good by the way! Loved all that I saw, going to have to go back. Was able to watch all but the last session in English. Had an investigator for the last one so I watched in Ukrainian and got the jist of everything. It was fun to see people I know in all of the choirs. (Including the mr. blanch look a like katie) Cousin Elder Larsen in Moscow thanks for the note you had delievered somehow, was really funny how it eventually got to me. Mom I was talking to a missionary who was standing next to A----- M---- so she found missionaries that know me. Aunt C-------, Elder F---- from your ward has been in my district. Um I'm running out of time. Transfers are this week and we haven't been told yet but I think I'll be leaving Vinnytsya which makes me so sad but I know the Lord has a plan for me in his work. I love you all! Thanks for all your prayers. Sister Ewart is really sick again, please pray for her.
Love
Elder Alexander Dean Larsen

Trust in the Lord

2010-10-04T12:49:00.001-05:00

Date: Mon, 4 Oct 2010 11:55:02 +0300
Subject: Trust in the Lord

Well I'll first answer your question about conference. I've only seen one session but it was awesome. Because of the time delay our branch will be watching conference this next weekend instead of live. We were however able to watch the Sunday Morning Session live at the E---- apartment last night and it was incredible. We went there with Ch--- (who just got baptized), Sa-- (Ch---'s friend who will be getting baptized on Saturday) and Se--- (who was only there for the end and will eventually also be getting baptized, it is just a matter of when). So it was just awesome! The spirit was so strong and we all had such a great time and I learned so much. I absolutely loved President Eyring's talk on trusting in the Lord and I hope to use it is the map of the rest of my life, everything comes down to trusting in the Lord and it was something I really needed to hear this week. I can't wait to watch the rest of conference this coming week, I love conference so much. And also I have to say since we were in London the quality of the Internet broadcast has dramatically increased. We had to run home (to be home by 930) so we weren't able to watch the thing on Kyiv. But yep I know Elder Sorenson (I served with him for a week during the open house) very well and you know his aunt (Cindy Morris) very well to mom.
One thought I had this week was about how much I love being a missionary. It is so great! It really is just the best thing ever. I don't have any of the worries that other people might have. For example I don't have to decided what movie to go see because I don't watch movies or I don't have to decide on who to take on a date to the movies because I don't date. All I have to decide is what would be the best use of my time to try and help someone come closer to Christ. And the even better thing about being a missionary is how I feel. I'm living my life right now so that I have to be in tune with the spirit. I can't do anything to detract from that and it is an amazing feeling and I'm trying to think now what I can do to allow what I'm learning now to effect me through the rest of my life, a pretty big challenge but that is why I have a good while to figure it all out.
Alright to some things from the week. We have been working a ton with S-- lately making all the preparations for his Baptism. I am so excited to see someone else be baptized. It will also be really good for C---- to have a friend in the gospel with him. It's been pretty fun to teach in English too. So Sa--- is doing well and I can't wait to report about his baptism. C---- continues to be awesome and yesterday I had the privilege to confirm the Aaronic Priesthood on him and ordain him a priest which was once again such a special experience for me. It is just amazing to be guided by the spirit and I learn more and more from the spirit everyday. Thanks dad for being such a great example on always being sensitive to the spirit and seeking its promptings. I'm so glad you know what is important and I love your constant reminders to me to seek the spirit and live worthy of it. We also have continued working with Se--- who is just an amazing man. There are a few hurdles to overcome on his path to baptism but I know he will get there. He has a wonderful desire and wants to be ready. Keeep him in your prayers and I know the Lord will be able to help him through challenges and oposition he is facing.
We also have been doing some good member work, and we strengthen then and they strenghten us. I think we are gettting them to reallize their role in this work and that they can actually play a vital part through their simple efforts. This branch is so great and I love them all so much. This saturday I should find out if I'll be staying another transfer or not, I hope that I'll be staying because I'm just not ready to leave Vinnytsya.
Well not too much more to say but thank you. As we learned so well from the prophet yesterday we need to always make sure we express our gratitude. So thank you so much my wonderful family and friends. You all have made such a great impact in my life! It is so wonderful to know that there are so many people who love and support me back home, it really helps a missionary to go when the times are tough. So thanks for your love, kindness, prayers, thoughts and friendship. I love you all and wish you a most happy of weeks!
Love
Elder Alexander Larsen

Hidden Treasures in the Ukraine

2010-09-21T21:05:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Elder Alexander Larsen, a cousin in the long reach of our extended family. We currently have none of immediate descent serving missions, but we want to continue sharing to joy found in serving the Lord and spreading His Gospel.

*****

Happy Fall All!
It is a great time of year. It has gotten cooler sometimes even a bit chilly, and today is quite rainy but we are supposed to just have good fall weather until November, at least that is what all my Ukrainian friends tell me. The work continues to go very well here. We had an absolutely stellar week and we were just constantly busy, which is the greatest feeling ever as a missionary. Today even we are super busy with a lesson and baptism prep, so much for Pday but then again who really needs a Pday when there is work to be done.

Last Thursday was zone conference and it was fantastic. We journeyed out to Lviv and I'm even getting used to the night trains (except we almost weren't allowed on, but that is another story). Lviv is just beautiful and we had a great zone conference. It was all focused on the new Preach My Gospel training and so we focused on teaching the doctrine of Christ. There isn't anything better to teach and it is just so much fun! I have also changed my study because I want to have a greater focus. I had just started the Old Testament which I planned to read before the years end and so I would have completed all the standard works (some multiple times) and Jesus the Christ in one year. But I came to the reallization that I need to be focussing on what I'm teaching and I just need to learn it more and more so that I can teach it better and better. I need to be able to open the scriptures and teach from them, knowing them so well. So that is my new goal. I think it is a better less selfish one too.

This week started slow with lessons but we worked hard to make them happen and they were all great! I love being able to teach. We had some really great lessons with both Chidi and Serhi. I have been blessed to see time and time again the Lords hand in this work. I quote chidi who said this week "It is like the Lord sent you to me knowing what I needed to hear and the words you are speaking are not your words." Another great thing to hear came from Serhi "I would love to live the law of Chastity." Also another one from Serhi "I want as many people as possible to hear about the church in Ukraine." And thus we are meeting with him and his friend on Wednesday. Serhi is abosultely amazing but sadly I don't think he'll be getting baptized this week because he thinks he isn't ready as he has a complete understanding of what it means to be a member of the church and even created a personal goal to go to the temple. He is ready and we just need to help him reallize that so that is where much of our energy is going now. Chidi is doing just great and ready to jump in that font on Saturday as he won't let anything stand in his way from his decision to be baptized. It is amazing to see how he is effected by the spirit in our meetings and how he just loves being happy.

We taught both of them the Word of Wisdom as well last week which they both immediately accepted. Serhi commented on how hard it would be to not start the morning with a cup of tea but he was so willing to do and we brought him some herbal tea to enjoy the next day to help him. It is amazing how you can come to love people through the gospel. I think that is really truly the only way we can love someone is according to the principles that we learn in the Gospel. The first commandment is to Love thy God, which I think is easier to do when we reallize that God is Love and therefore we are simply gaining more love by loving God and those around us. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is just so beautiful and perfect. I want people to understand it the same way I understand it because it has made my life everything that it is.

Well there is probably more I could say but I'll just end by sharing my love with you and telling you that the Church of Jesus Christ is on the Earth today and only true happiness can be found by living the Gospel taught therein. Jesus Christ lives and is our Saviour! I love you all!

Love,
Elder Alexander Larsen

Lost Sheep

2009-08-10T18:30:00.003-05:00

On Mon, Aug 10, 2009 at 12:35 PM, Matthew Courtright wrote:

hey all. sorry if yall have missed me over the last weeks. its been crazy hectic. God has been having fun with my health. Dont worry, still no AIDS or anything serious, just a series of fun little things to try my patience. I started off by getting sick. I have never had a summer cold before so that wasnt fun. I took lots of Nyquil and about 2 days later was over it..for the most part. the next 3 days were spent with very little energy. The slightest amount of anything wore me out. Walking up stairs was hard becuase i had so little energy. I slept alot. I had never been so effected by the flu. Then about the middle of last week my tooth started to hurt. I ignored it (which is what every 18 - 24 year old does) and hoped it would go away. it did, but was replaced by massive headaches. So i called one of the 9 local dentists in the ward and asked him to check it out for free. He didnt even think twice, just said yes. He also wrote me a perscription for ammoxcicilan to kill anything. i went in this morning and he removed a filling i had to see what was up. He thought i was crazy at first but he said that i had been grinding my teeth which is a sign that something is up. When he removed the filling he said "uhhh, bad" then proceded to scrape away at my tooth with out telling me anything. i was lost. turns out i had a cavity under my tooth. He said that it wasnt anything i could do to prevent and that it was probably the dentist who put in the fillings fault. (By the way, i got that filling in Oklahoma...which is to say Canada.) Apparently the cavity was dangerously close to the root. So he fixed it and then refered me to a root canal specialist (who coincidentally is also in the ward. Freakin lots of dentists here). SO i might need a root canal and hopefully i can get it for free. a perk of being a missionary.

So it better news, a couple weeks ago i mentioned that we had had a miracle but never expounded on it. Now i will. So my companion and i were walking down the street to go and visit a family that had just moved into the ward. ON our way, we stopped and contacted to asian girls. They were very timid but their uncle said "come back. you need teach them. they go to church" (all asian like). we set up a time to come back but were very...hesitant because he wanted us to teach them, not him. we came back though with one of the youth and began to teach them and their 10 year old brother. We had to start at the basics. They had little to no concept of God or the spirit or anything. It was kinda sad. However, when we pulled out a Book of Mormon they said oh we have one. turns out the girls are members but tony was not old enough to be baptized. We were led to 3 of God's lost sheep. It was nothing short of a miracle. Since then, they have come to church and been fully welcomed into the ward. Tony has made some great friends already and the 2 girls, Kocky and Luly, are opening up. Tony is getting baptized on the 22nd of August and is super stoked about it.

Well, i am out of time and would write more if i could. Be good Yall. Love ya.

Elder Courtright

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

Extending Mission

2009-07-03T09:53:00.002-05:00

From: Elder Andrey Pearce Dated: July 02, 2009

Dear family

I am sorry that i didn't have a chance to write to you. We were very busy so i didn't have the chance to write. As i read the letter today i found out that there are some very big decisions that had to be taken and i am sure that there were taken. I didn't really know the reasons. I stand firm with my decision that i have made to extend my mission. I am sorry for the plans that it is affecting and hope that you know i took the choices with a prayer in my heart. It was not an easy choice that i made.

I want to walk the road less traveled to bless the most that i can my family and all that the Lord sees fit for me to bless. It all stands to us the type of generation we will be. The time is coming ever so soon that it will be up to us. Will we see angels as the Book of Mormon times. Will we be as alma as ammon or moroni.

I know that with small steps and decisions we will be the generation to wake up the world. I am so thankful that the Lord helped me see that on my mission and strengthen my testimony. About studying it wont be an easy transaction i will have to see what i can do to correct my English and get back in tune to studying. I will have to look for other resources to see how i can start my studying.

Dad i am sorry i didn't write on Fathers Day i hope you know that i love you very much and hope to become the father that you have been for me. I look forward to following your example in scripture studying i have had great opportunity to teach about my father in the Little time that i have had. They are looking forward to meeting my father. They all think you were the Greatest Dad.

Well its almost time to get back to work the Lord is Reading (ready?) to push a Little bit more here we are getting ready to change houses we had a baptism last week a sister that is friends with some members. The work moves along pray for me that i will have strength to keep giving all i have. I have been a Little anxious knowing that the end is coming soon. I have had some dreams and know that some of the biggest decisions in my life is coming up. How fast the time goes by just 3 more months.

Elder Pearce

Fwd: 6.29.09

2009-07-01T22:59:00.001-05:00

The latest from Elder Courtright. Enjoy.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Matthew Courtright
Date: Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Subject: 6.29.09

Hey all! I will go ahead and wish you all a Happy Independence Day! Woo! just know that i will be watching (not blowing up) fireworks with y'all and you will be in my thoughts...probably.

So whats new for me? well, we had a really cool experience this week that started out pretty crappy. It was kinda like Satan got ahold of all our investigators and the less actives we have been working with and just ate them. It was a pretty sucky weekend. However, i kept reminding myself to be patient in adversity or as the scriptures so often put it "bear with patience your afflictions." It was hard but it paid off. here is how. So sunday morning we got a call about 11 from a family who we have been trying to work with, the Bruces. Sister Bruce is a member but Bro. Bruce is not. They invited us over @ 7 that evening but was pretty secretive about why. Kinda shady. Anyways, so during the Sacrament (or communion as so many call it) I thought and prayed about our situation and the troubles our investigators were going through. The answer i got so suddenly and so clearly was "dont worry, I got ya. Just wait till tonight at the Bruces." I knew that they were the answer to our prayers and hard work. When we went to the Bruces, we talked for about 10 minutes and then sis. Bruce nudged her husband as if he needed to say something. the next words out of his mouth were "How do i go about joining the church?" Thank you God for operation: Shock and Awe. It was amazing. We set up the baptism for the 18th of july and all the appts and interviews between now and then.

I know that God is watching out for us. He knows our situation, our troubles, our needs and he is there with an outstretched arm guiding us. It has been an unforgetable experience to learn the importance of patience. It was hard. (probably my weakest point) But the blessings of patience are amazing.

Well, i hope you are all safe this 4th of july weekend. Shoot some Roman Candles at each other for me please. the more burns the better.

Love yall

Elder Courtright

p.s. Sister Bruce has the sexiest southern accent i have heard on my mission yet. i love it.

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

Life In The New Branch

2009-06-20T10:28:00.001-05:00

From: Elder Andrey Pearce Dated: June 15, 2009

Dear family

Well the work keeps moving forward as my english moves farther and farther away. I feel like the time has gone by so fast.

This week we had a great activity with our district which is Nagarote. we went down there to play soccer and to spend some time with the young men. Rudi one of our investigators came with us also Brother Vladimir Estrada also came with us. We brought our flag that the name of the church. We went down there and played about 3 games. 2 we tied and the other we lost by two then we made a team together and we won against the team that was there of people wandering around.

Then we ate together something that's called Quesillios and went up to the Mirador the lookout of nagarote. We spent good time and helped the boys get to know one another. its true we lost and they felt a little bad but we had a great time and learned that some times we loose together. Next time they will come down to Mateare. It's about 40 minutes ride in a bus.

We also had a [Get together] in the get together that we call Noche de Hermanamiento. We play games, have some instruction or counsel on life and watch movies of the church. It went really well as we have been trying to show the people that the church is in Mateare.

We put our flag up on the house of Rudi in his subdivision and many wanted to know what it was. The pastor of Rudi's mom wasn't very happy and came to talk to him to tell him that the church was false and that it was the lowest church he could join. He let him know that he loved the church and that we as members of The church of Jesus Christ don't believe on criticizing others. I have felt like the church is moving very well here.

The young women Presidency went to work this week visiting and had a great activity. The church actually looked like a real church of Jesus Christ. With the new pulpit and the sacrament table. We are trying to work hard on bettering our organization because there is some challenges to start new things and it's time consuming for the people that don't have much time. All the things that the people do here is by hand. wash their clothes or cook by a fire so it's a hard work to take care of the place and have kids have work and have a responsibility.

So we are trying to teach that as we get better in organization we will improve and the time will be better. We made a calendar this weak and also a cleaning role and a talk list so we are getting better and cutting down on our time. I have learned something about the gospel of Jesus Christ. The more we work the more we sacrifice the further moves along the work of God and the more blessings we enjoy later in life.

I had cold this week but i didn't let it get me down. i kept moving along. I officially extended my mission as i went down to the office i talked with president and he finally approved and told me it was OK. He really wanted to send all my group home to study. I was praying hard to know what i should do and felt really strongly that the road i want to walk in my life is to learn and do a little bit more that i can in my mission. I felt like just a little more matters all to my future family and to the people that i will be serving.

I love the lord and i am thankful for revelation that we can receive in our life. I love you all very much and thankful for the letters and the counsel that you give. Thank you Dad for writing each week.

I can't believe how fast the time is going by! almost another month has gone by.

Elder Pearce

New Companion

2009-06-17T12:57:00.002-05:00

From: Elder Andrey Pearce Dated: June 9, 2009

Dear Family,

Thank you Mom and Dad for your letters. Well i did get my companion his name is Elder TIRADO he is from Chile. Is the first companion i have had from chile. I think he will be my companion to finish the mission. He is a very good companion he has 14 months on his mission.

Well i have been feeling more and more like my mission is ending they have officially asked for my plans. I really want to extend my mission but President Fraatz wants that i can get home and study. I have been thinking really hard and am waiting for the revelation to know if i should extend or if its time to go home and get on with forming my life.

I am so blessed to be a servent of my Heavenly Father i can't belive the wonderful time that he has given me to work here. Mom they are trying to by my plan ticket it would be good to call them as soon as posible. The other day they called me from office and i told them you will be calling. Please mom as soon as possible so there aren't any problems.

Well this week we had changes i was traveling all week up and down none stop i was very tired from taking bus there back then to my disctrict then to managua then back to my area. Getting back we went to work the members were a little sad because no one was in the area. Also that my companion went home so they were down about that a little bit. We went to work getting to know all the people. My companion got used to the people and the work very fast he has helped me a lot take some weight off my shoulders. He just gets in and helps as he can. We went to work on visiting people this week and had a very good turn out. 64 came to church we are exited and set the goal to keep our attendence at 80 so we will be working really hard.

We found another family that came to church this week and liked it so we are exited to work with them. They have sent the podiam or the pulpit and other things so the house looks a lot like a church. We also have a piano we have been asking all around who plays the piano and we have visited them to invite to church and to convert with the help of the Lord. It reminded me of The Prophet Joseph Smith when he sent some one to go find an arcitectore and bring him to zion.

This sunday i had the great privladge to guide the meeting it went all well. We had some lovely testimonies. Then interviews with the members. All is starting to go very smooth. Then we had a meeting at 4 with all the presidencys it went really well all have desire to work really hard.

Also this week came the Relief Society general president to Nicaragua so our relief
society and young women presidents went to that meeting. They came back with lots of joy and experience to work and to give all that they have. I love the work of the lord. All is well with me i am starting to have more strength to serve. I know that to bring forward more the work there's more to sacrifice and more to work and push. Over all the guidence of the Holy Ghost is realy importent he has bin my Guide as we have had some great desicions to make.

We also have found another spot its the Center of Mateare in front of the central park. On one side there is the alcaldia the center goverment place of mateare. On the other side the catholic church on the other side The central bar of mateare and the other side will be The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints if its the will of the lord we are all exited because all will know that there is a church in mateare and if for some reason or chance some one wonders in from the catholic church the better it is. I love this work and hope and pray that i will keep giving all i have to this work that i will live to the best maner that i can to honor my call and to represent The Savior Jesus Christ and be His Example to all.

Love you all take care and Mom i hope you enjoy the camp out. Dad i hope that the end comes soon to the struggles.

Elder Pearce

Re: mmhmm..

2009-06-08T12:26:00.001-05:00

Here's Elder Courtright's latest

On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 11:54 AM, Matthew Courtright wrote:

coincidently, that subject title is also the title of an approved music cd by Relient K :)

well not that i have been keeping track but my amazing abilities at math told me that today marks my 8 month mark and 1/3 of my mission. all i can say is what the world? where is the time going? man... not fair.

this week was really different. Arvada (where i used to serve) had its missionary for the day event for the young men in the Arvada stake. It was awesome to go back to Arvada and help out with that. I got to go because i was the only one who knew how to get to the specific building in arvada. its tucked nicely into a neighborhood with no really connecting main streets. annoying. but we went down and had alot of fun and good experience. its so important for those boys to get a taste of bearing sincere testimony and tracting. fun. we each had a boy and i went with one of the spanish elders, elder lawther, (he speaks english better than spanish. he is from oregon) to an appt. the 4 of us taught the first lesson about the restoration of the gospel. it was awesome. Elder Lawther and i guided the lesson and had to the 2 boys bear testimony and explain basic principles like "what is a prophet?" "how has your family blessed you?" etc. THen we took them tracting. We had a 90+ year old guy answer the door in his whitey tighties and tell us we were selling souls and to "Scat." i miss arvada.

this week we also had zone conference and the theme was "forget yourself and go to work." it was amazing. and has really changed my perspective on what i am doing. i am excited to apply the principles i learned

well, be good kids and write me back. let me know how things are going. i love you.

-elder courtright

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

Re: 5.26.09

2009-05-27T21:32:00.001-05:00

On Tue, May 26, 2009 at 3:01 PM, Matthew Courtright wrote:

hey all.
well things are going well in westminster. crazy, but things are well. we had dinner with the racist lady (who's daughter is on a mission in houston) on thursday of last wek and i said something about houston and she tried to argue with me. how is someone who has never been to houston trying to argue with someone who lived there for almost 20 years? re-freakin-tarded. However, thats why we have companions. he jumped in real quick and changed the subject. needless to say they are the least awesome family.

we did alot of cool stuff this week. we went to the temple on wednesday which was alot of fun. there were about 20 other missionaries there as well so it was a big reunion. we went to eat at applebee's across the street and 2 of the denver south mission missionaries were there. that was fun for us.

we had transfers yesterday, memorial day, and i didnt get transfered. its about freaking time. i have packed my bags every transfer so far so i am hoping that it does happen between now and then.

we have had alot of success with some of the less active families in the ward. the culmination of which was 15 less actives at church on sunday. some of them we have been trying to get there for a long time so we were definately thankful for the divine help we received.

oh, by the way, 15 is an amazing amount.

well, thats all for me. tell me whats up with yall and your plans for the summer. i need to live vicariously through your beach activities and what not. take pictures for me :)

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

Re: 3.18.09

2009-05-19T11:06:00.001-05:00

On Mon, May 18, 2009 at 12:18 PM, Matthew Courtright wrote:

hey all! Things are going great and the best part is that summer is here! it was only late by about 2 months. the sun is out, the temperature is up, and i finally have a decent tan. You guys would probably be amazed at the darkness of my skin. We are so much closer to a big ball of flaming fire here in denver. kinda scary actually.

Well, this week we got a referral from church headquarters for a guy named Robin Mitchell. He talked with the missionaries about 20 years ago and even went to church for about 6 months. unfortunately however, one of the missionaries said something really dumb and he asked them not to come back. We have high hopes for him though. Robin has a wife and 2 grandkids living with him. They also sat in and talked with us. One thing about Robin i like is that he has a severe speech impediment. He stutters pretty bad about every 3 words or so. However, he is really open about it and even jokes about it. its great to see other people take their difficulties and make them into a plus.

well, i hope all is well for you, but as usual i am short on time. i love yall!

elder courtright

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

Exciting Missionary Work

2009-05-14T00:03:00.004-05:00

From: Elder Andrushka Pearce Dated: 05.11.09

Dear Family

what a great energy boost it was to talk to my dear family. I felt i was right at home. I could just picture everyone around the table in dads office. Then i was a little sad because i couldn't finish the call. The phone ran out of batteries. Well i would have loved to tell mom how much i loved her and appreciated all the time that she put into my life. The love the care that she for so many years showed me. Love you mom. I love reading the letters of my family and knowing more about all of you. I do have to confess that my English is struggling but my Spanish is getting better and better.

THis week as i went down to Nagarote i had the chance to meet a leader of another church and we went right into teaching him about the priesthood power and what function it has in the Lords church. Then the sisters called me and told me he will be going to church and he wants to tell his whole congregation that he has found the church more organized and that it is the church of the Savior. Well he didn't end up going but we will sure give him a follow up to encourage him i am sure the other members were quick to desanimate him.

We also have officially become a branch. I am very blessed that the Lord has been behind all that we do. There is a lot of work to be done here. Well the meeting went well i gave a talk on missionary work with a little bit of pushing emotion that all could get involved in the mission work. We will have to see how all goes.

Talking to my family really made me think a lot about home and what i am going to do. I look forward to it. I look forward to another adventure filled with the Savior and the Holy Ghost guiding my decisions and my actions.

Love you all with all my heart. I hope all the very best. Hope all are reading there scriptures and looking for their Husbands. Amy, Emily, Andrea.

Elder Pearce

Elder Cook Visits

2009-05-04T21:13:00.005-05:00

From: Elder Andrushka Pearce Dated: 05.04.09

Dear family I am very grateful for a kind dear mom and dad that i have it means a lot to me to get a letter from you each week. I have come to realize that my English has bin very lost. I also realized that i am old on the mission.

The experience about Elder Cook is. I was all ready to give my part so nervous as i got there i found out at the last minute the plans changed and that he had very little time so he took his time on giving us a very good training that i loved. So i was very grateful and i was ready for such and experience.

Then that night we went to his talk to all Managua that he did. As i was there i saw many of the people that i taught and the wards that i worked in. I saw family Martinez from my first area i was up on the bleachers as i saw them i was nervous to see and so happy at the same time. As i got down the dad i gave a big hug i was so happy to see them he is president of elders quorum and she is president of the women. I was so happy to see the small efforts of mine and the greater of our Heavenly Father.

This week we went out on a camp out with the elders de Mateares by the permission of President. It was a great experience many ideas came to me what we need to do and how we need to work. Very good experience it reminded me how much i miss the mountains.

OH by the way i cant believe how close i am getting to being done with my mission the comments of mom about the plans made me think wow it has come and gone. I am a little bit sad because i want to end with all i have. I am looking, praying, studying, fasting and learning how i can finish my mission with all i have that i can give a great last punch that i have in the army of the lord here in this place. I know that i will have all my life to server the lord. I pray that i may give all i have to this work.

Today president was talking about giving your whole soul and i want to give so much more to the lord. I have come to realize that the only thing i can give the lord is my will my heart that he will mold me and that i can be willing to serve him in all time in all place. So i will be buckling down on giving all i have. I love the lord and i know it is his will. I wish there was a way to recharge your batteries quickly and return to the work.

This Sunday i was a little down. Well my body was hurting from hiking up the mountain playing baseball and other moving activity and sleeping in a hammock well the little sleep that i got. Then getting up hiking down in the sun tired as i could be to take a shower put my clothes on and go out to work the zone leaders came over to do a visit to some families. The camp out went great as we got to know one another better.

So in the meeting Vladimir had a meeting so i was directing and i was tired as it came my turn to be my testimony. Then one by one the new converts got up to share there testimony oh how my heart was filled with love to know i had a little part helping them. They expressed their love and thanked us the missionaries in this area. How i love this area how i love the people here they have grown so much. I am so thankful with my Father IN Heaven for opening doors and helping us with so much. To finish got up the daughter of Vladimir and gave her testimony i was so happy to be there. The meeting got done with lots of joy and feeling of a great family that we are Mateares. So i have bin thinking about the plans and what we can do here.

I pray and hope all is well there. May Dad get better and feel better. May all my sisters find their husbands. To be ready to get married when i get home. May they that are inactive find a testimony of Jesus Christ.

Love you Mom and Dad i will let you know my plans for when i will be coming home. Elder Pearce.

Fwd: 4.4.09

2009-05-04T19:41:00.001-05:00

The latest from Elder Courtright.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Matthew Courtright
Date: Mon, May 4, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Subject: 4.4.09

hey everyone. how are things with yall?! my week has been pretty spacy and i am definately ready for my psuedo-day off. We had some really cool things happen though. On friday we painted this lady's son's room. He name is Nicole..and she is a Jehovah's Witness. Now, in case you didnt know, J-W's usually dont like mormons. Fortunately she isnt active. Her husband is catholic and they used to have a less active and a baptist living with them (they moved about 5 days ago). we call the house "The Mine." We talked with the J-W and the Catholic about alot of different things and are going back on friday to do some more service and to hopefully have a lesson.

This weekend was stake conference. It was pretty good but that is about the extent of it, i think. OH! i almost forgot....story time!

So we were leaving Nicole, the J-W's, house. One of our investigators texted me and asked us to come clean his garage. now, i am a seasoned texting while driving person so i figure on a bike it cant be much different. so there i go, texting like the wind, and i looked up to make sure i wasnt about to hit a car or the curb or something like that. I wasnt, but there was a dog! It was looking away from me and all i had time to think was "oh crap, the stupid dog isnt looking at me, i am going to run it over." (it was a cockerspanial.) So i ran it over. my front tire went entirely over the dog and then i fell off. I was so mad at the dog and said something like "see, even God punishes dogs who run away." In hindsight, its a great story. i just laugh about it now. See kids, dont text and drive! IT KILLS!

love yall

Elder Matt Courtright

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

Easter and Progression

2009-04-22T13:10:00.003-05:00

From: Elder Andrushka Pearce Dated: 04.22.09

Dear family,

It is joyful to hear from so many married brothers and sisters of mine. I loved the letter from Eric it has been a long time since i have read a letter from him. Congratulations on your new call. A little that i have learned about that call is that it’s the biggest call of doing and being in action. How wonderfully Eric and Tomi put their families and described about there kids. Thanks Dad for your report as always.

Well about the work here. All is well this was the last week of this change so we worked hard of finishing of well. We had the opportunity to help the sisters to baptize and confirm. This week i was really looking forward to resting and not being so involved. So we organized the sacrament very well. Vladimir was assigned to start the meeting. We chose all the people to give talks in advance gave them time to prepare. We did this week Easter in our ward. The first talk was about the birth of Jesus Christ. The second on the life of Jesus Christ 5 min. Third on the Atonement and Death of Jesus Christ and the last and the one i was most looking forward The Resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christ.

Well that was all planned out until we got up in the morning and started to do our early morning visits to see how everyone. Our third discursante as we got to her house started crying and was busy working. We asked her what was wrong and she told us that she has had a very busy week. That her work pushed really hard and that she was very tired and that her husband left and she had a lot to do so she will not be going to church and she was very stressed about the talk. So we took the talk away as it was a great honor for me to give the talk. Then we calmed and helped her about the house things and she got ready to go to church. After church she was joyful that she went because it helped her with more spirit to keep fighting.

I was thinking how wonderful opportunity we have to take care of this area and the fathers sons and daughters our brothers and sisters. Well as well this week we had a great opportunity as we went to adventista (Adventist?) church and we both got a strong testimony how thankful we are that our church has a prophet and twelve apostles. To guide this work the order we have. We went really well represented and the preacher was the owner of the house that we are leaving in. Gave us a great welcome and we sang songs shook hands with all it was a great occasion. I am looking forward to getting home and getting to know other churches. I have learned that they have some parts that they do well. As some have great devotion for what they do. The fulness and the Truth is what they don’t have. Well with many other things.

Also this week we had a great opportunity to represent Mateares in a stake actividad as we had our responsibility and we had great support from the priesthood. We did a very good job. The activity was great success we had 76 investigatores come and over all 205 people. Um this week we also ordained on of our converts that has 51 years a Aaronic priesthood. The work is growing great. After church we did a baptism for the sisters as they had a hard time entering water in there baptismal font. The member were there to help us and we finished at about 5. As we left in the streets was the best view. I will Call it Sacerdocia en Mateare. We were walking in the main street of mateares and as i looked we were spanned across the whole street all in white shirts about 6 or more of us. As we walked the people were looking at us like who are they and what are they doing. What a look as the greatest power of God we have as humans was shown in the streets of Mateare. I know that this is the church of Jesus Christ this is the work of Our kind and Dear Heavenly Father. I love him and thank him for the work that he has put in my hands for the comfort that i have had. I know he loves me. The hard times we go through is to help us to become better i know that he is molding me to be better to help more people.

I love you all keep up the letters.

Fwd: 4.20.09

2009-04-20T12:36:00.001-05:00

The latest from Elder Courtright.

From: Matthew Courtright
Date: Mon, Apr 20, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Subject: 4.20.09

hey all. things are going great in arvada. this weekend (friday and saturday) were pretty much the most fun i have had while not being able to feel a single part of my body. on friday it snowed literally all day. we had the biggest snowflakes i have ever seen. so on saturday we spent all day removing that snow from people's driveways and sidewalks. it was alot of fun. it also rained the entire time we were removing the snow so that wasnt the best. i had a brain freeze almost all day. no bueno. i think we shoveled about 15 driveways at least. we were all worn out when we were done but it was really productive.

sunday, the culmenation of a week of work. we had 2 investigators at sacrament meeting and 11 less actives at sacrament. that was amazing! we were so excited to see so many of them who we have been working with alot finally show up at church.

well, things keep moving forward. we have great days and we have pretty crappy days. sometimes all it takes to me a day awesome is the last 5 minutes. in fact, it seems that way most days. i dunno if yall notice that in the "real world" but i know out here, thats what makes a day...the last 5 minutes.

hope yall are doing well. keep up the mail. i love it! and yall. i love yalll.

deuce

elder 'studley' courtright

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

Strong New Leaders; Thoughts on Carissa and a Bit Trunky

2009-04-16T01:33:00.006-05:00

From: Elder Andrushka Pearce Dated: 04.13.09

Dear family

The letters rushed a sense of memories from last year about a lot that really has happened. It strengthens me to know that i passed those moments and that the gospel of Jesus Christ made me feel at ease with it. I love Carissa and know that i will see her one day. In the celestial kingdom.

Well as always there is a lot that happens. This week we had our first meeting in the new house. It was a little rough with the little room that we had and not much air that passed through. So for next week we will have to see how to over come this challenge.

We baptized three. A son of our convert that turned 8 years. Fransisco who we found thinking he is member but he wasn't. we set a goal and he reached all his goals. It reminds me when we came to do an interview for him with our leaders we found him studying on the table he had the book of Mormon the pamphlet we left him a dictionary of theory and a bible. He worked hard to reach his goals filling out the pamphlets that we would leave with him. He has 51 years. Another great leader one day.

Also we had a great joy helping a father of a family that we have been working for time to reach his goal. He left drinking coffee and maybe not because he understood but because he knew it was necessary. He is another prospect of a leader. I am so happy for this area because really the Lord has blessed this area. We also had a pool party as we didn't enter the pool but our quorum of Elders made sure we would be drenched without entering water. I will try to send some pictures about it.

Then after the pool party with surprise visit of president Fraatz and His assistant that gave as notice of two minutes came by to see the house that we have rented and gave as a interview personal. He was very happy for the work that we have been doing here. He gave me lots of great council. I have come to have lots of respect for President Fraatz and what he has done for this mission. He is a very big example for me in my life to be firm and to bring the spirit to do the work of the Lord just like he would like us. If we make mistakes we repent and do the best we can. My stress is coming down and i am feeling greater because lots of my stress is coming to resolve. Pres told me this is His work and to have confidence in Him that he will help and that its not all on me.

I love the experience that i have had here. How i love this area and all the people here. Sunday we had a meeting with the elders we were all together 8 we studied the history of The Prophet Joseph Smith and the history of the church. It was a great 2 hour meeting and then they wanted to make a plan to visit the members and work to return the lost members back to church. I think the spirit touched their hearts and the joy to move forward and work hard in this work. So we were there tell 6:30 talking and planning i could see the future and was happy for this ward. They have grown so much in little time.

President in my interview asked me and what would you like to do. I meditated for 2 minutes and told him i would love to keep going in this area. I hope that i could stay here for the next change i will let you know in a week and a half how it went. I know that there is a lot of pressure but i love it here and know that i am progressing and He is blessing me to learn and gain a stronger testimony.

I love you all I can't believe how fast the time is going by. I Can't believe that Mike got home. It made me really trunky thinking when i will get home. Ooooh in half a year. Be strong and true the Gospel of Our Savior Jesus Christ. Elder Pearce

Fwd: 4.13.09

2009-04-13T20:48:00.001-05:00

The latest from Elder Matt.

---------- 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

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

An Apostle's Easter Thoughts on Christ

2009-04-10T20:46:00.001-05:00

An Apostle's Easter Thoughts on Christ

2009-04-10T20:45:00.001-05:00

Lessons From Conference

2009-04-07T12:43:00.004-05:00

From: Elder Andrushka Pearce Dated: April 7th, 2009

Dear Family

Well the life is getting better. After the conference i feel so much better. It charged my soul with courage and deep devotion to my Savior to keep giving all i have. How i love the words of the prophets and apostles.

After conference we had a emergency meeting as a mission as we did last year to have a repentance session of the mission. I loved it. It reminded me the importance to keep on repenting for the little things we do.

Being a representative of Jesus Christ is a big responsibility. I love it. I know that the life is about having joy something that came to my mind and i love it. Is that fear makes doubt making us to have less faith. That i don't have room for fear to enter my life. Thinking about many things i have to do, comes fear. Fear of standing up in rooms of many people. Fear of not doing the best. So it helped me realize fear is not of God. This time i was there for all the sessions of the conference.

As we worked hard to help our Elders attend the morning Saturday session and the priesthood it went well as we had about 8 people or more there with us. What a great joy to be in this area and keep pushing forward.

The papers are still being filled out [to become a branch] . This week we changed houses and i could feel a strong spirit like that is the house. I just feel a sense of home in the new chapel and know that the Lord blessed us to be there. We are decorating it with pictures of Jesus Christ.

Mom about the camera it doesn't turn on i have taken good care of it but i don't really know why it doesn't turn on. So i am trying to find a way to fix it.

I am feeling better with my health. I am looking forward to keep pushing on. How sad it was to think that this is my last general conference in the mission. I started to think a lot about my mission and what i want to accomplish there are many things that i have come to reach and some i am very far a way from reaching. I have really worked hard to reach some of the goals and i know that i have a long long way to the presence of God but i have the tools and know were to have the map. The goal that i have to reach in this 6 months is to come to know my savior Jesus Christ and have a personal understanding and relationship with him.

I have also bin thinking a lot about families. As the mission changed its focus we are not allowed to baptize easily if they are not a family they need to go to church 8 or more times to be baptized if they are not a family. So i have been reading a lot about family becoming a counselor and expert on married and families and i have enjoyed learning so much. It reminded me a lot of you Mom and Dad. Many of the things that you have reached and put in practice and that has blessed my life and many of our lives.

Its 2008 leadership training or something like that and many other things i have been studying. I was thinking to myself the other day we may not all become leaders or be called to move thousands of souls to repentance. We all will one day be fathers and leaders of our house and our children. That gave me courage to keep fighting for the best and keep pushing forward. Many leadership skills i have and need to learn still. Well that's what comes to my mind this week i love you all take care.

Elder Pearce

Fwd: 4.6.09

2009-04-06T17:34:00.001-05:00

Today's letter from Elder Courtright.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Matthew Courtright
Date: Mon, Apr 6, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Subject: 4.6.09

hey everyone. It has been snowing all week. Why cant it be 80 degrees like where yall are, for the most part. on wednesday, i went on exchanges. I went into the arvada 1st ward. It was alot of fun. We went tracting and about 20 minutes after we started, it started hailing. we ran 500 feet through hail smashing into our faces to the car. It sucked so much and it hurt. then a blizzard came 20 minutes later so we were house bound for a little while. what a way to spend an exchange....

Well, as many of you know, General Conference was this weekend. It was really good. Did anyone notice how stylish D. Todd Christofferson is? He is very stylish, in case you missed it. It was a very crazy weekend. I loved Elder Hollands talk. it blew me out of the water.

Also, who does Neil L. Anderson think he is? An apostle of the Lord? haha. we had a really funny conversation about that for awhile. i think it was one of those had to be there moments for the most part. Well, between a couple of the sessions, we eat and played games as a district. (by the time we got to food, ate, and got back to the stake center there was no time to prosylete. I felt weird. I wasnt being disobedient but it was out of the norm) I taught the district how to play dominos. We had fun with that.

Things are going well, we have a baptism on saturday and we are doing some missionary activity with the youth of the westminister stake next saturday (the 11th). They are part of our zone which is why arvada missionaries are getting pulled in. The youth are going to have a "teaching appt." and go tracting with us to give them an idea of what missionary work is. I am really excited for that.

Love yall,
Elder Courtright

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

A Little Child Shall Lead Them

2009-03-31T18:08:00.004-05:00

From: Elder Andrushka Pearce Dated: March 23, 2009

Dear Family

this week i reached 19 months on my mission. I cant believe that i am coming to an end. I look at it all that i have 6 months more to give it all i have. To be honest i hope that my system holds up on pushing as hard i am pushing to help.

This week Vladimir got better from Varisela and we got back to work with him visiting his friends. We had another baptism a sister of Vladimir. Her name is Yaoska and she has a cute little daughter of 3 years old. She was a huge help for us on helping baptize. The first time we came by to talk to her she didn't really want much or to talk to us we only got in 5 or 10 wards making an invitation. Then each time we came back inviting little by little to church. We came by one day and invited the daughter and she went of telling her mom. I want to go to church so she went to church. There are only a few more left in this family to be the whole family members. It was a lovely baptism and i know that the lord is blessing us a lot.

I had a chance to give a talk this Sunday and it went well i could feel the spirit helping me give the talk. Do to all that needs to be done i wanted to give a talk on Sabbath day. as i stood up to give a talk a whole other theme came out and it was a very good talk on fallowing our savior Jesus Christ through all. To be willing to give your life for his name sake. Then also inviting all to give all to the work of the lord and not hold anything back.

Then we had a classes and since we called a teacher we can supervise and have a little less of stress. So i got to be a little part of primary and watch out for little once. Then we divided for Priesthood. We taught how to tie ties and it was a great class. Teaching the importance of white shirt and a tie to be ready to serve the Lord Sundays. We also confirmed 3 more to the Melchizedek Priesthood. SO we are with 7 we need 9 to send our papers in to become a branch.

We are very exited to keep pushing forward this work. We have two more in mind to help become we are hoping in two weeks to be ready. We have made a DVD to send also and the papers with the goals completed as there were giving to us. We also this week found a new house to move into next week. We are very exited because we have found a lower price and a very nice house with a swimming pool to baptize here in Mateares making it more part of our ward to participate in baptisms. Write now we have to go far and pay to travel for every baptism. I have seen the Hand of the Lord in this work as he helps us to make the work more efficient. How i love this work.

Walking to the District meeting today i heard my name as a convert that i help baptize shouted my name. At first i was a little scared because the man was dressed with a guard uniform with a pistol and everything. We talked for a little while and i let him know that with my mom and dad we will be passing by. I love this work. How i wish i could have more to give it. Well Better then wishing is preparing for the feature to be the best i can be. This is the True Church. I know it by the Holy Ghost. Elder Pearce I love you all and hope all is well.

Oh That I Were An Angel

2009-03-31T17:56:00.003-05:00

From: Elder Andrushka Pearce Dated: March 30, 2009

Dear family

This week was one of the hardest weeks. There are some good news and some hard ones. Lets start out with the good news. This week we got another Melchizedek priesthood holder and president told us that was enough he invited us to his office. To deliver the DVD that we made. Then to our surprise he invited us to go out to eat with his wife. It was a great blessing as we went out to a restaurant very nice and i hardly even new how to eat. He thanked us for our work and let us know that he will be sending the papers in. What a blessing it is to me to know that we are growing here.

Vladimir this week gave a talk and it was a very good talk about the mission work it really animated many to go out and work. He has been spending a lot of time with us working. We also had the opportunity to go down to a stake meeting in another stake as we did divisions and brother Vladimir went with me in representation of our ward he did really well. How i love the lord and the opportunity that he is giving to me.

I love this work. This week i was very stressed out and i think i have come to my limit and my nerves were sick i have never felt so tens. So i had a great talk with the president as he gave me a lot of tips on how to work and give the rest work and depend on the lord not just on my strength. I have so much more to over come but i am so happy and joyful to jump in and do all can do. I have bin making comments for a while that my goal is come home crazy and i think i am very close to being there.

SO this week i got a massager for my back and i am taking time resting my mind and taking vitamins i have never felt so at the end of my strength. i am thankful for this opportunity i hope that i can relax a bit because if i don't i think i will be changed and i don't really want to live this area yet.

Some of the stress that i have had is getting done we are moving house we have finished our contract we came to the terms that we both like on the house. We are trying to keep our room at the other house and just rent the house as a church will see how that goes. As we finished church many members walked out saying good by to the house i know going to the next house is going to be a great experience.

how i love the lord and know that he guides his people. How i wish i had more strength. AS Alma once said only if i were an angle and had the desires of my heart. Not to proudful but to be stronger to push this work along. I love you all.

Mom don't worry about it. I had a great interview with the president he gave me a lovely blessing that helped me know much that i need to do and i need to give my worry to the lord he is bound wean we do what he says. I love you all take care.

Let mike now that i will be home shortly. Mom let bj know that i can not write to him being on my mission. It became a new rull not to long a go. So i will be respecting the rull. So he is not afended that i am not writing to him.

Mom If you could also let Brooke know that i am doing well and that she only has 6 more months to wait. i have not bin able to send that many letters to her. If you could do such a favor for me.

Elder Pearce

Re: 3.30.09

2009-03-30T17:42:00.001-05:00

On Mon, Mar 30, 2009 at 11:56 AM, Matthew Courtright wrote:

hey all,
Well, this week was definately out of the ordinary. The first half was pretty uneventful. However, thursday we had a massive snow storm bust in on us. Blizzard conditions. When we woke up at 6:30 there was a light dusting and by the time i got out of the shower (i think i took the second shower) at 7:35 there was 3 inches or more on the ground. That is alot of snow, really fast. it snowed for 12 hours straight. it was bad. We had district meeting though. WHen that was over, we literally had to shovel the car out of the parking lot. it was awesome. we spent the day with a member driving to different peoples houses and removing snow from their sidewalks and driveways. i think we did 8 people so i am pretty good now. We did 2 people who werent members and didnt want to talk about Jesus so they gave us 20 bucks each to go away. I made dinner with that (chicken tacos...yum). We also did lots of old people. it was pretty amazing to me cause i had never been in weather conditions anywhere near as bad. It was fun too because my hair was wet from the snow and then everytime we got out of the car, my hair would literally freeze. That was a first. The rest of the week kinda revolved around the snow. cleaning up after it, making sure old people werent dead. that kind of thing. It snowed this morning as weel but not nearly the same. maybe half an inch at best. however, because of the snow...things look greener. yeah!

On a side note, i heard that Josh Johnson and Lindsey Shurtliff got their mission calls. where to? anyone know?

well, unfortunately the world wont stop spinning and time doesnt stop so i gotta take off. I wish i had some amazing theoritical thing that i could throw at you that would make you think twice about life. I dont have anything though. I did read Alma 5 this week and realized that i suck at life alot of times. (thats the chapter where alma makes the people of zarahemla evalutate themselves with lots of questions.) Question: did you know that families can be together forever?

Love ya,
Elder Matt Courtright

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

Fwd: 3.15.09

2009-03-21T09:47:00.001-05:00

Here's the latest from Elder Courtright.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Matthew Courtright
Date: Mon, Mar 16, 2009 at 11:42 AM

hey all.
well, week number 2 is completed in arvada and it was one crazy week. we had zone conference on friday which was freakin amazing. we studied the personal application of the atonement. as missionaries we alsways say the words "we" "us" "them" but for that one day, we had to focus on saying "i" and "me". it was amazing to make the atonement more personal and to talk about it for 8 hours. so fun. It was also cool because i got to see 3 guys from my mtc district who i havent seen in 5 months.
Oh, and Zone conference was in Boulder, CO. Little background on boulder. People call it the Republic of Boulder and it is home to CU (university of colorado). It is amazingly liberal and everyone there wants to push it onto you. i love it. the best part though is that everyone smokes pot there. everyone. so at 730 in the morning, with 5 dudes in the corolla, we rolled down the windows and the sweet smell of marijuana crept into the car. People in Boulder literally breathe marijuana on a daily basis. good stuff. moral of the story, i would kill to serve there.
Well, things were pretty lame this week. nothing amazing happened outside of zone conference. hopefully that will change this week. its hard though. we tracted for 8 hours and found 0 new investigators. i wish i had kept a tally of every door i have knocked...you would be amazed.

well, hope all are doing well. once again thanks for the gifts. and sis freeman, picture will be in the mail today hopefully. :)

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

New Elder's Quorum President

2009-03-16T19:10:00.003-05:00

From: Elder Andrushka Pearce Dated: March 16, 2009

Dear Family

This week first my companion got sick. With high fever and with other pain. Then i found myself sick. So this week was kind of a slow week not doing much. It seems that as we solve a challenge we have 3 more added upon but with more work more blessings.

We were thinking that this week we would have a really low attendance at church. From what happened last week. It was the same we are balancing about 50 normal. We have been focusing a lot on teaching about families and working on our priesthood.

What a look it was this week as our new Elders quorum President came with a white shirt and a tie to bless the sacrament. Not only him but he went visiting and helped the other priesthood come with a white shirts also. I am so thankful for his work it takes some weight off us and helps us focus on making our meetings a little better. We have been putting a lot of focus on our Melchizedek Priesthood and we have 4 and other 5 are preparing. In all we need 9 so we are doing well. We are hoping to teach them really well their duty.

I am so blessed to not have changes as i talked with President he told me are you willing to keep working hard i let him know i am. He has had his heart on this area for becoming a branch soon. We are working hard. WE will be working a lot harder this week.

The mission is great this week i had many opportunities to teach. I have come to love teaching people some times its hard but the more you teach the more you know how to have the spirit with you and not be working about so much what you say or be scared of teaching.

My companion gave a great talk this week about enduring to the end and that we should focus on the Our Savior Jesus Christ.

The other thing i have learned is that when we get something into our hearts its very hard to throw it away. That's why its really important what we put into our minds as it reaches deep in our hearts. I am thankful that i have love for the service of god deep in my heart. I am working hard to become a great force for the work of God.

The owner of the house told me that it is great that we are in the front line fighting with all our might the war of God. I know that the more we study the more we pray the more we pour ear and mind to the spirit of god the faster we reach the hearts of other people our brothers and sister. I am amazed by the vision of life of the servants of God like President Clark and President Fraatz. It opens my vision bigger and helps me to dream to be better and to reach that goal. Love the Lord I love his work. I love you all. Thanks mom and dad for writing to me.

Almost a Branch

2009-03-15T23:15:00.005-05:00

From: Elder Andrushka Dated: March 9, 2009

Dear family,

I will finally be ready to send you some of my pictures of what is happening. The camera is not working right now i don't really now why it wont turn on. I was able to get a hold of the camera of my companion. How i love this work. He is the one that dose this work. We are instruments in his hands. This week the most amazing thing that happened is that our largest challenge in the ward came to an end. I was very pleased that it came to an end. I know that the lord guides this work that he made it possible. I have bin praying that we could know how to finish it. All that we did activities everything inviting our leaders to speak about it nothing ended. Then a miracle of Our Heavenly father happened an accident and it bright all down as everyone know is unified and in better working condition.

This week we had our anniversary OF 3 Years in Mateares. We made a video with the help of a reporter that is member of the church. It was very good as the video ended all jumped with joy with applause. The spirit was very strong.

We also had the privilege of having the assistants to the president there they loved it. It has become an area really productive and all have there eyes on the area. Presidente Fraatz as well as Elder Clark. We have sent our papers in and they have bin postponed tell we have 9 Melchizedek Priesthood members that are worthy. We are close we have 5 and 5 more in training.

I have come to love this area. As i expressed my feelings trying to help end the problem i realized how much i have become involved to wanting to bless this people with all my heart. What they all mean for me. How much they care and want to help me also. The more i serve the clearer i see the picture. The Picture of this life which is based on the work of Our Father In Heaven and Our savior Jesus Christ. I hope that i will have many opportunity's to serve.

In this area i have learned many positions and the importance of them. What function they have and why its important. The work goes freater with the bishopric and all there leaders. How i love the lord. He has blessed me so much. I thank him for all that he gives me and trains me and gives me more patience and love to keep giving. This week we helped a brother santos receive priesthood as we transferred his file from the states to here he is ready to serve and help. What a miracle happened. We past by and he was drinking about 3 months a go. We invited him to church thinking he wouldn't even remember tomorrow. The next day he was dressed with his bible in hand at church.

Thinking to our surprise he is not a member talking to him a little more we found out he is a member of the church. He made the choice and left his other life behind and is very firm in the gospel. Goes to church each week and pays his tithing every week. He is one of the members that's the most on time.

Felicidad Dano y Bienvenidos Carrie a nuestro familia. Dios bendiga su familia para siempre mantener felizes en su camino hasta la Exaltacion. Quidance uno a otro siempre. Espero de conocer muy pronto Carrie. 6 meses y poso mas. Mom the translation was good there was somethings little of being incorrect of order. I understood very well.

About wean i had 14 months on the mission i asked president to extend i will be coming home on month after my date. I would love it if you would come down and get to know some of the greatest families on earth. I still have lots and lots of time. Well i would put it like that because i don't want to think about leaving the mission. The mission is the best place to learn and it capacitates one to be the best in all. To be a great Father To be a great leader. I remember when the bishop told me that i would be learning how to be a better father. It is very true. Seeing so many families here. Giving so many talks (not that many) On families i feel more capable of running a family.

I gave a talk this week on Sunday about i and my house will serve the lord. It went really well as we are trying all as a mission to start more the family prayer scripture reading and family home evening. I let all know about our system as it was and about my mom and dad. The great examples they are for me and many people that i have taught. I can't believe that all are coming home so fast i remember that we just started and now we are finishing. Love you all take care i will sure pray for Amy and Dads business. Elder Pearce

Fwd: 3.9.09

2009-03-09T13:54:00.001-05:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Matthew Courtright
Date: Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 1:29 PM

Hey fetchers!
Well week 1 of Arvada, CO is complete. It was a pretty good week all things considered. Just to let you know, Our house, like every house in Arvada is on a hill. infact, the entire city is one big hill...full of white people. I was curious so one of the members looked up the demographics for Arvada. 98% white. Holy cow! i didnt realize that number was possible.
Anyways, so we met the only mexican in arvada. he is a less active guy who got out of jail on...Monday. He got caught with a pound of marijuana on him so he served 5 months. He is also a member of the north side mafia <--a gang. He is about as active in that as he is in the church though, so atleast that is good.
We also met a part member family yesterday. the Browns. They have been married for 25 years and he is stil pretty much decided on the fact that he doesnt want to be baptized. I dunno why though. Maybe i will ask. We had brownies and did alot of talking with them. They are all pretty cool. They have a son on a mission in Milan and a 17 year old daughter. She is definately pretty...and a fake baker (lots of fake baking). But i didnt notice that. my companion did.
This ward is pretty cool though. Small primary so it will be easy to make them love me. THat is my new goal for my mission. to make every primary in every ward love me. Cant be too hard

--Elder Courtright

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

Yet Another Miracle

2009-03-03T17:19:00.003-06:00

From Elder Andrushka Pearce Dated: March 2, 2009

Dear Family

Well The work just goes on and mericles grow more visable. How i love the work of the lord and to see how much my heavenly father loves me. This week we had a major mericle. Do to the privacy of the family i will not be explaning evrything.

We have bin working with this family for about 3 months the daughter of theres is member of the church and has more then a year the mom realy wants to be member and dad also. They have gone to church many acasions they love it and want to be part of it. They have wanted to be baptized for a while. To baptize them we need to merry them to merry them we need to take care of some ligal problems we have a lowyer working on the ligal problem. We have found lots of hoops to jump through that i can not explain fully. We have jumped through many hoopes with them finishing.

The mericle is that they told us that to solve it they have found a way they found the person that we need to visit. They told us he lives on the other part of the highway to leon wich is over the mountins. We then called to get permission and we were given permision saturday morning as we went to the house they told us they didnt want to go and work on this any more they are fine as they are. My companion and i taught them that its better to try and do all right then run away from things. (learning from Dad and his experiance)

So after a little talk she told us his name and the buss stop the only thing she new is that he lived far inn in a vilage. So we had the bus stop the name and nothing els. We then went to the house of Vladimir talk him into post poining his meating and he after listening to the adventure and experiance gave the go. So at 1:00 pm we left on the adventure to Managua then to the destination traveling about 2 houres or more. As we got on the bus it was a great experiance as the buss filled and we were standing.

As we were standing Vladimir made a coment to a sister that was sitting and she had a little daughter siting there. In a realy hush tone he told my companion it would be good if she could cary her daughter on her lape. In a joking way. Well she heard and picked her daughter up and invited him to sitt down. Wean he sat down he started to talk to her and asked her about the bus stop she said she was going there and then we asked her if she new this man she said yes his my next door vecino(español).

What a mericle that we came to that stop she was the only one that got of at that stop that live in that farm area that new who he was. How the lord takes care of his servents and what they do. It gave me a testimony that the lord loves me and that i am realy doing his work. We got of walked to there with this great sister talking with her daughter and with her. She led us to his house and told that he was.

The mission that we were there didnt go so well because he didnt want to help out at first explaining the case good he went away happy we tooke picture with him and went on our way. We stoped at that house and gave a pamflet to read about the curch.

I know this is the work of the lord. Before we left my companion told me something if its the work of the lord we will find him. We came back from that experiance knowing that this is the work of the lord. What a great apertunity that vladimir had the chance to be part of the mericle and strengthen his testimony.

This sunday we sustaind ordaind three a melchesedik priesthood and one a aronic presthood. we also called and sustaind first and second counsler and a chorum president its a sight to see here in this ward. That is newly started that they are familys they have little kids. I could picture all the little kids serving missions being strong guideing one another together. I love this area i truly hope that i can spend a little longer here.

I know that it sounds that i am tired but to the lord i am willing to give my best and not just dream about it but to do it. Something that our mission president taught me is find a way and do it. We call it Haron azul(the blue vase) I love The Lord with all my heart. I have 7 more months to give it all i have. I looke forward to coming home all draind out giving my all. I love you all have A great weding i hope that my presence will be there. I love you brother and saport you in your desicions.

Vladimir Gets Baptized

2009-03-03T17:13:00.002-06:00

From: Elder Andrushka Pearce Dated: February 16, 2009

Dear family

Truly love giving all i have to the mission. The more you give the more you see your weekneses and the better you can over come them. This week we had 3 most wonderful baptizims. We went to visit the son of Vladimir in the Hospital talkind to him a while. He is a very good person and i know that the lord has prepared him to help serve here in this area. He has bin wanting to go to the states to make some mony to send to his family. As we were visiting him. He told us he wanted to get baptized but he couldent live his son in the hospital.

We let him know we are ready whean ever he says he is ready to fallow this big step. Then we went home on thirsday he called saing that he and his son were released and they are home. He said he wanted to talk to us as we got there. We talked to his wife and he told us that this saturday he wanted to get baptized and his daughter also. So that was the best news.

The third is his sister that we merried also that was strugiling a little bit. The day of his baptizim she said she was at work and decided to get on line to read the book of mormon as she got on line some fealing came over her that she should get baptized also. She said she called her husband and told him she was going to get baptized. THe whole pueblo new it and we were the last once to find out. It was a very good news for us. This little branch is growing realy well. I have bin anxously waiting for Vladimir take this step. He is latino but he has done a lote of studing in other places.

This sunday as we got all ready to start the meating we were short on priesthood so then at the start of the meating as we started with a song and a prayer we confirmed him and ordainded him to the ofice of a pristhood in the Aronic Priesthood. He then we explaind him the sacrament and he blessed it. He did it with lots of emotion and spirit. It was a bit new for all the members but it went well.

The branch is strogiling a bit with some things. We had a meating with some of our priesthood brethren to talk about the problem that is hapening. This week we have a lot of work to do. I feal a bit sad but know that i have to give it all i have and i dont looke for the reward from the members. As a lidder i have bin very respectful and a little hard to have better order and that all is done with the spirit. I know that the members have respect and that in front of me that they dont realy show the chalenge that is happening. Its about talking about other members or rumers as we say. Its a little sad. Its deviding our little branch. I looke forward this week working hard to over come this chaleng.

There is a lot of people that want to take care and help with this chalenge. We are wokring alot with familys mission president has pout a goal to help in NIcaragua by baptizing family and its proven and i have seen it that familys have a better chance to stay active. i love this work i love pushing forward. The lord has placed in me lots of confidence i pray and plead that i will keep that confidence and be always worthy of the Holy Ghost in my life. I never thaught i would grow so much on the mission or as i have grown. I am starting to feal that i have 40 years.

Talking about Years Happy Birthday Dad. I hope you know how much i love you and am gratefull for all that you have done in my life and the great example that you have always bin for me. Your testimony is an example to me that you hold strong to the things that you belive. I to want to hold strong to the things that i belive as my father showed me to do. Being here on my mission i have realized what an amazing father i have truly had. What a lider he was in the home,of ours. The prayers that we did as a family. The family home evngings full of fun. The trips that we have gone on.

I am also greatful for all the time that i was corected. The time i had playing basketball building a half pipe and the many activitys that you helped me saported me. I am thankfull that you were strong inof to not let me do what i wanted to do. To show and know better that i should be doing. I love you dearly. I hope you can feal as you read this letter my love for you! Thank you for being my Father, My Example, My Teacher and My Friend. Thank for sharing with me your testimony, your time and your talents. I love you, respect you and know you as My Father.

Elder Pearce

: 3.2.09 Back in Denver!

2009-03-02T16:49:00.001-06:00

The latest super terrific letter from Matt. Enjoy.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Matthew Courtright
Date: Mon, Mar 2, 2009 at 4:05 PM

Happy Birthday Me!
Well, just as an fyi to you, the only person who's present i've gotten thus far is God's gift. What did he get me? Well, a transfer to Arvada, CO and 70 degree weather today! That's right, i am officially out of Cheyenne as of about 6:30 tonight and its 70 degrees today. its amazing! Why havent i gotten the things yall have sent? Because transfers are today so they hold all the mail until after transfers so anything yall have sent i should get in about 2-3 days if it was sent this last week.

On to things that have happened this week. Well it was the last week of the transfer so there had been alot of speculation about who would do what but never in a million years did i think i would leave Cheyenne. Its known as the black hole of the mission. Missionaries get put here and then dont ever leave. One missionary who recently went home 4 months ago served in Cheyenne for about 18 months of his mission. Yeah, couldnt do that. But i asked Pres, mostly as a joke, that for my birthday (since it was on transfers) if i could go down south to denver. I got my wish. Hopefully i wont regret it. My new companion is Elder Callier and we will be in the Arvada 2nd ward. Arvada is on the mission boundary so i will be in the south (coveted). Being in Denver is like the most desirous of all areas. There are like 6-8 different areas in Denver, so more than half the mission, but everyone wants to be there.

Skipping over the entire week because it none of it matters compared to Sunday. On sunday we went and saw a bunch of members and said goodbyes and took pictures. We went and saw the top 5 families in both the Western Hills/Indian Hills wards. Then at 5 we the baptism of Jerry Bennett and i got to baptize her. She is 79 years old and cried through the whole thing. She was so happy though. It was awesome. Then at 7 we had Mark Minigell's baptism. He is 21 and his wife is a member. Last night was amazing. Jerry's baptism was so cool because she is...old and yet after 60 years of smoking, she quit because she wanted to be in the Church of Jesus Christ. It was awesome. (i think i have said that like 5 times now and will say it probably 5 more times.) Then Mark's baptism was just as amazing. His Father-in-law preformed the ordinance and he was so happy. He is a really quite guy who doesnt get excited over much but when he was baptized he had a massive grin and his wife (who i am 6 days older than..weird) was so happy. They are also moving to Texas in the summer, so mad props there. It was so cool to bring a laborer hired at the end of the day to work in God's kingdom and to make a psuedo-broken home, whole. Mark is going to let me know where they move to in Texas so i can hit them up in....19 months. No, I am not counting. Mark wants to work for the border patrol in Maine but before he can do that he has to work on the southern border for 2 years...thus Texas.

Well, thats all i have time for today. Next week when i write, i will be in an entirely different state and climate. Good luck to all of you in whatever you are doing this week. Thanks for the birthday wishes. I really appreciate it and the late V-day presents.

--Elder Courtright

Hannah--Please tell me you are kidding about not getting that letter!
Rufus--Definately worth the wait. I loved the story of Riley playing transformers with the printer..i could definately see it happening.
Freemom--I fail. I will mail you one this week though! Scouts honor!
Brent/Jordizzle--I love stuff!
Hannah Minton--I have been practicing my mini golf. When i got your card, i was so tired it took me literally 2 days to get the thumb-bunny. i suck.

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

Re: 2.23.09

2009-02-23T20:56:00.001-06:00

The latest from Elder Courtright.

Enjoy.

On Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 2:14 PM, Matthew Courtright wrote:

Well, i wish i could say that i had the most productive week ever, but unfortunately, i cant. Elder Walker, one of my companions, was sick from wednesday until saturday and he still isnt perfect. He was really tired, week, dizzy and light headed. The best part though is that he was delusional. He was out his mind crazy. What did Elder Paull and I do to pass the time? We played Texas Hold 'Em for push ups, sit ups, lunges, jumping jacks, etc. I worked out alot this week and it felt good. I did over 300 push ups, sit ups and jumping jacks, in 1 day. Good stuff. I definately enjoyed being sore for the days to follow.
ON sunday we have 2 people getting baptized. Mark Minigell who we have been waiting for like a month to baptize and Jerry Bennett who just last week stopped smoking after smoking for 60 years. Thats right, she's ancient. We are super excited for both of them.
Working in 2 wards, having a 3-some, and having a sick companion definately hasnt been the best thing of my life, but next monday all that changes. We are anxious for saturday night to see what is gonna happen. There is definately gonna be a huge shake up for us. One of our zone leaders goes home, some of the missionaries in Cheyenne have been here for 8 months or more, and then there are the 3 of us. Anything could happen. Literally. But mostly i am worried about making it through the next week. It could definately be a long week. Dont really feel the need to explain it though.
Well, sadly thats all i got for y'all. I gave a talk on sunday in one of the wards and talked about going to Vidor, Tx after hurricane Rita. I said some things that only someone who lived or had been to Vidor would know that i was insulting Vidor. I assumed no one in the ward knew where Vidor was. I was definately wrong. A guy came up to me and asked me how i liked Vidor. He said that his sister just moved from there after living there for like 25 years. I laughed, but he agreed, once you go to Vidor, you can never leave. :) and you marry your cousin....

That's all folks
--Elder Matt Courtright

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

School of the Elders

2009-02-23T20:28:00.002-06:00

From Elder Andrushka Pearce Dated: February 23, 2009

Dear family

well the work keeps moving forward and there are more and more members here and more and mre mericles.

this week a family of 4 got merried a mom dad and there kids it was a refrence of Vladimir and he helped us to baptize them. He has bin working alot with us and helping out. He has bin looking for familys to teach and then makes and apointment for us.

I love working here. THis week we mostly worked hard to prepare this family to be members and to work out the chalenges. THis week for our meating i invited two priesthood members to sit with me up front and start teaching them the order of things. At first they were a bit scared to be up there and do something tell i expland they wont be doing anything yet this week. So it was a great experiance teaching them the order and somethings that are taken care by the bishoprick.

The membership of our church is about 80 members now and each week we are at 50 to 60 members. THis sunday we had 59 it was a great turne out and you could feel the spirit well with so many priesthood ready to serve and help. THe mearing went well. We invited a missionary thats our zone lider to come and give a talk about gosip and it went well you could feal the desire of the members to change.

We have formed school of the elderes to start teaching melkhesedek priesthood. We have 13 of age to recive this priesthood that is trumendous for a branch and we are not yet iven a branch. President was very happy about that.

Well the work goes one i dont have much to say. I feal a bit sick but dont worry its nothing to worry about. I will have to ask for a blessing from my companion and take care of my self more. Love the responsebility that the lord has given me to be here and to work and to do all that i can. May the lord bless you all in the eforts that he has called each one of you. I love you all dearly.

Elder Pearce

Vladimir Gets Baptized

2009-02-22T00:24:00.003-06:00

From: Elder Andrushka Pearce Dated: February 16, 2009

Dear family

Truly love giving all i have to the mission. The more you give the more you see your weekneses and the better you can over come them.

This week we had 3 most wonderful baptizims. We went to visit the son of Vladimir in the Hospital talkind to him a while. He is a very good person and i know that the lord has prepared him to help serve here in this area. He has bin wanting to go to the states to make some mony to send to his family. As we were visiting him. He told us he wanted to get baptized but he couldent live his son in the hospital. We let him know we are ready whean ever he says he is ready to fallow this big step.

Then we went home on thirsday he called saing that he and his son were released and they are home. He said he wanted to talk to us as we got there. We talked to his wife and he told us that this saturday he wanted to get baptized and his daughter also. So that was the best news. The third is his sister that we merried also that was strugiling a little bit. The day of his baptizim she said she was at work and decided to get on line to read the book of mormon as she got on line some fealing came over her that she should get baptized also. She said she called her husband and told him she was going to get baptized.

THe whole pueblo new it and we were the last once to find out. It was a very good news for us. This little branch is growing realy well. I have bin anxously waiting for Vladimir take this step. He is latino but he has done a lote of studing in other places. This sunday as we got all ready to start the meating we were short on priesthood so then at the start of the meating as we started with a song and a prayer we confirmed him and ordainded him to the ofice of a pristhood in the Aronic Priesthood. He then we explaind him the sacrament and he blessed it. He did it with lots of emotion and spirit. It was a bit new for all the members but it went well.

The branch is strogiling a bit with some things. We had a meating with some of our priesthood brethren to talk about the problem that is hapening. This week we have a lot of work to do. I feal a bit sad but know that i have to give it all i have and i dont looke for the reward from the members.

As a lidder i have bin very respectful and a little hard to have better order and that all is done with the spirit. I know that the members have respect and that in front of me that they dont realy show the chalenge that is happening. Its about talking about other members or rumers as we say. Its a little sad. Its deviding our little branch. I looke forward this week working hard to over come this chaleng.

There is a lot of people that want to take care and help with this chalenge. We are wokring alot with familys mission president has pout a goal to help in NIcaragua by baptizing family and its proven and i have seen it that familys have a better chance to stay active. i love this work i love pushing forward. The lord has placed in me lots of confidence i pray and plead that i will keep that confidence and be always worthy of the Holy Ghost in my life. I never thaught i would grow so much on the mission or as i have grown. I am starting to feal that i have 40 years.

Talking about Years Happy Birthday Dad. I hope you know how much i love you and am gratefull for all that you have done in my life and the great example that you have always bin for me. Your testimony is an example to me that you hold strong to the things that you belive. I to want to hold strong to the things that i belive as my father showed me to do. Being here on my mission i have realized what an amazing father i have truly had. What a lider he was in the home,of ours. The prayers that we did as a family. The family home evngings full of fun. The trips that we have gone on. I am also greatful for all the time that i was corected. The time i had playing basketball building a half pipe and the many activitys that you helped me saported me. I am thankfull that you were strong inof to not let me do what i wanted to do. To show and know better that i should be doing. I love you dearly. I hope you can feal as you read this letter my love for you! Thank you for being my Father, My Example, My Teacher and My Friend. Thank for sharing with me your testimony, your time and your talents. I love you, respect you and know you as My Father. Elder Pearce

Fwd: 2.17.09

2009-02-17T13:09:00.001-06:00

The latest from Elder Matt.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Matthew Courtright
Date: Tue, Feb 17, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Subject: 2.17.09

I feel really off right now because we are emailing on tuesday. Yes, we are allowed to because yesterday was presidents day but it still feels weird. Its amazing to me how being a missionary can become so routine and when that routine is thrown off just a little bit, it throws off your whole day. It might be that way to keep us doing what is right. the world my never know.
Things have been going well. With 2 wards, there is alot more to do and yet it seems like we have nothing to do because its hard to coordinate it. Elder Paull has no idea about the Western Hills area and I have no idea about the Indian Hills area. It definately makes it hard to coordinate those efforts because of that. Also, we have had to change our sunday around because we are there for an extra 2 hours. Those 2 hours were set appts. for each week so that is definately making things alot more difficult. We are having to rearrange alot of things but we are making it work and the ward is being very understanding.
Things are going slower now than they were last week. Mark, who I've talked about a couple times, is ready to get baptized and now we are just waiting for the date to come. That is the most frustrating thing, but its less than 2 weeks away. We are really excited for him and we are going to go see him tonight.
Another investigator with a baptismal date is Jerry Bennett. SHE is 77 years old and is raising a 10 year old girl, Krista. Krista is in a very difficult situation and i dont fully understand how it came about but just understand its not good and kinda weird. Jerry however is working on giving up smoking. I have faith that she can do it. She wants to be baptized and whats to change her life around. She married (like 50 years ago) a guy who was a member of the church. Several years after their marriage, she found out that he had another wife. Not bueno. Since then she didnt want to have anything to do with the church but she has had several friends and us who have changed her opinion. Its awesome to see people who have been prepared.
Well, i have a short amount of time today because we have a lunch appt. at noon with the people in the stake who make sure we ahve houses to live in. Love you all

--Elder Matt Courtright

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

Three Marriages

2009-02-10T19:24:00.004-06:00

From: Elder Andrushka Pearce Dated: February 9, 2009

Dear family

this week we had alot to work with. This week started realy slow and our investigetores wernt progressing. So my companion and i got to gether thirsday and recived the awnser that we need to merry them all that we can. So we went around and invited them all to get merried this week in three days.

We went to work inviting them all and getting ready for there wedding. As we went to choose the cake we walked in and sat down the laddy gave me the booke to choose the cake and was looking at me like i was getting merried i started to fealy realy nervouse because i was scared i was thinking to my self ooow its coming realy fast in my life.

We worked realy hard to get the weding ready. We decorated the house and called the lawyer to get evrything ready we ran around and didnt have very much time to dedicate to other things we needed to. The wedding went realy well as the lawyer came with her husband they are from my old ward that i was at and she gave a realy good counsel and merried them all my companion tooke some great pictures as soon as i can transfer them to my camera i will send them.

Vladimir got merried and now he wants to be baptized. The daughter came to us the other day or before the wedding and said dad whean you are merried then we can be baptized. The other day we gave him manuel to study the melckesedek priesthood. He is progresing alot and fast. He is from Nicaragua but studyd in russia and i am not sure why his name is like that.

We did the cake sharing each couple gave a pice to his or her companion over all they all loved it and it was a great activity for the members to see that it is important and is posible to get merried and not be afraid of it. I am so thank full with my Heavenly Father that he gave us the chance to do such a great work. It was a lot of stress to merry 4 couples and prepare evrything.

The next day we got up at 5 in the morning with the work of inviting all the members. we had a hard time to find some one to get up and go with us. THen at chuch we didnt have the pristhood we need and we ended up blesing and giving talks and running the meating. I am a little bit tired i am also a little sick. I am happy to have a little brake today and thankful to sacrifice and give all that i have to this great work.

That is my testimony that he lives the harder i work the more i know how real it is how blessed i am. I was thinking the other day i would never have done or know the things if i wasent her on my mission. What a blessing it is to me to be here on my mission to be learning and walking with angels. The mericles just keep coming and dont stop. The harder one works the more he belives the more He blesses us.

I am thankful to be a son of god and represent the Savior Jesus Christ. I always herd storys like this but i never thought it would become my life to serve in an area like this and have such great experiances.

well all seems well at home i am very happy for dan and carrie. From his letter he is in love and its the right thing to do. How i love my family. Hope all is well all are happy thanks mom and dad for writing to me. Elder PEarce

Forming a New Branch

2009-02-10T18:26:00.004-06:00

From: Andrushka Pearce Dated: February 2, 2009

Dear family

Well as always there is so much that is going on. I am so glad that Dan is getting merried and let him know that its ok i will get to see some pictures. I hope that all is well with Eric and Lean and hope that they will take the best desition that they can may the lord guide them in what they will do.

Great news i wasent changed and the best part is that i am given the apertunity to know how to change and form a branch. President kindly and dearly after changes asked me to go with him. It was a great acesion to get to know his wife. They stoped by mckdonalds. I have not eaten there for a realy long time and it reminded me of mom and many times that she kindly invited me to eat with her. Also to see a family how much love they have one for another.

Then we got to gether and i was given papers to start fealing out. I got a new companion and he is from peru Elder Maldonado he has 20 months on his mission. Well all is well we worked realy hard this week. We were blessed to help three people enter the waters this week and the spirit was strong we are hoping that the familys that we have bin teaching will resolve there chalenges.

I remember that in the mtc my teacher told me that we will be docters, psycholigest, Counslers and its true we get to do a little of evrything. As we had a chance to give some merrieg counsel to a family and we have three family that are waiting to be baptized and we need to help them get merried.

There is a man thats called Vladimir that has bin to russia and is realy smart he cant yet get baptized because he is not merried and we are helping him out. he has bin teaching all his friends each time we teach him something he goes out to teach his friends what we teach. By this they have chosen to take the step to listen to us and actualy have made apointments with us.

The work is moving along very well. I am very thankful to be part of this work. How i love this work. I feal like i have 70 years old but i am thankful to bless the people here. I love leaving so clean that the lord blesses me with revalation to bless other poeple. this is the work of god i am a little tired i will write a little more next week. Elder Pearce

Fwd: 2.9.09

2009-02-09T16:04:00.001-06:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Matthew Courtright
Date: Mon, Feb 9, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Subject: 2.9.09

Well, in mission news this week, there was in E.T. in my district. That's emergency transfer for those not well versed in the lingo. One of the Elders in my district got sent home because he has been vomitting and has had diarrehea for the last 3 weeks. So his companion is now with us. That makes 3 of us. Elder Walker, Elder Paull, and myslef. The first 2 days were hard making the ajustment. But everything is smooth now.

We had a baptism on saturday for Jessica Kear. It was awesome. While she was getting changed, Elder Paull and I taught an amazing lesson. It was the Restoration, but it was probably the best i have ever heard myself do. The Bishop of the ward (who is not my friend) decided he thought he could tell us, the missionaries, what to do for a convert baptism. I wasnt having none of those games. You might think to yourself, "oh crap, he ran his mouth." I didnt. I did tell him nicely though that baptisms were our show and that it was all our decisions. He wanted to make petty things a big deal. Hommie dont play that yo.

On sunday, i was able to confirm Jessica a member of the church. that was an awesome experience for me. Definately intimidating cause there were like 10 people in the circle, one of those was the stake pres. Not what i wanted for my first time.

Things have been going really well for us. Since there are 3 of us, we are covering 2 wards which is double the work load. we are constantly busy. Hope everything is going well. Someone tell Chris i say hi, and he better hit me up with an email and pictures, and remember my birthday is on the 2nd of March! Thats the big 2-0!

Be good

Elder Courtright

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

Christmas Greetings from Nicaragua

2009-01-26T17:39:00.001-06:00

Misioneros de Managua Nicaragua!

2009-01-26T17:09:00.005-06:00

Nicaragua Managua Mission Blog

Someone in Andy's mission has made a fun video of the missionaries and has started a mission blog. I think Andy is right at the end of the video and is performing a baptism.

This is the video from the blog.

Working Hard Brings Growth

2009-01-26T16:51:00.003-06:00

From: Andrushka Pearce Dated: January 26th, 2009

Well the week went a little bit sader as it was well forsean to see it go up so high and satin fight to bring the work down. The work still movies along very well here. We have so many investigatores and many chalenges to over come with them. THis week the asistence droped to about 50. Wich is still very well for what it was before. We are very exited to push forward. I realy hope that i dont have changes. The other day we let our investigatores know that its posible that some one could have changes wich motivates them realy well to push with greater zeal for there baptisim. All the investigatores said they want to get baptized but only if we dont have changes. I have a realy good companion he works hard and loves the lord. I have felt realy happy in this area and hope that i can be here as long as i can. The apertunity that i have to grow is very big. As well as the presure is a little bigger. I have found out that the harder one works the more he seas his faults and the more clearly one can see his faults and errors he has a bigger chance to fix them the way the Lord wants. I have come to realize the great potential i have in life but that i have to work realy hard to over come the atumbling blocks in my life. How i love the work of the lord. I also had this week an apertunity to translate and make a call to the United States for a man and they thought i was from Nicaragua and told me my english is very well. I am glad that my English is still very well. We are also teaching English classes twise a week. We have had great experiance with finding some investigatores that have a great potential in blessing this work. This sunday went realy well. My companion gave a talk about the life Of Jesus Christ and i gave a talk about the resteration then we had a very wonderful doctrin class were i had the apertunity to teach about the articles of faith and how to defend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint. The class went realy well as they asked questions about the baptisims for the dead and many other wonderful doctrines. Like the patriarcle blessing. At the end of class there were many that wanted there patriarcle blessing and to go to the temple. How i love to see the light of Christ shine in the eyes of members as they come to discover the Church and many blessings that they bring. How i love to make a little change in there lifes and to help guid them in the small way that i can. I have come to realize through my many experiance and fealing the spirit that this is the True Chruch of our Savior Jesus Christ and his Heavenly Father. He loves and cares for us.
I Love you all i will let you know what will hapen at the end of this week. I realy hope that i dont have changes i hope that i can be here 6 months. Loves Elder Pearce
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyYwLlMIcQM

Fwd: 1-26-09

2009-01-26T13:10:00.001-06:00

Here's the latest from Elder Courtright who has some strange ideas about snow and flip-flops. Silly, silly boy.

Enjoy.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Matthew Courtright
Date: Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 1:00 PM
Subject: 1-26-09

Well, this has been a crazy week as far as weather. Sunday thru thursday was anywhere between 35-65 so i wore short sleves. it felt good. But then on friday a storm kicked in and it hasnt been above 10 since then. We have gotten atleast a good ft of snow in the past 2 days and that makes everything less fun. Infact, this morning i went to the car to get some clothes out of it and i was too lazy to put on shoes. so i threw on my flip-flops and walked out into 8 inches of snow...yum. my feet were so numb by the time i got back inside. I was in it for maybe 45 seconds but i wanted to die.

So for events of the week. Hmm. well, as for last week we had an amazing week. Lots of less actives at church. 3 investigators at church and i didnt get to tell you about it at all cause it was MLK day. Lame. who is he? Not anyone important to Cheyenne. But this week wasnt as great. Infact, this was definately the worst week in the area since we got here. But, we have a pretty amazing baptism scheduled for the 7th of Febuary. I am pretty stoked for it. Her name is Jessica Kear and she is super solid.

We also have another guy (both of these people, Jessica and Mark, are on the military base) Mark who has a baptismal date in the super future. last monday we had a family home evening with him at the Elders Quorum presidents house and this monday we have another FHE with him at another super cool members house. we are super stoked for that too!

Then to top it all off, there is a guy on base, Garrett Bollington, who we havent met yet but is great friends with a member who has read the BoM, prayed about it, read tons of P My G, several conference talks from last conference, and knows the church is true. He would baptize himself if he could. However his wife grew up in a very anti-LDS home. Like she hates the church but its all based on hearsay and things like that. She doesnt actually know anything. Hopefully we will meet Garrett soon.

Well, all is well. Hope it is the same for yall. Keep me updated on Chris! i am excited to hear from him ;)

Also, its cold, tell it to stop that.

love.
--Elder Courtright

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

Miracles in Mateares

2009-01-19T22:12:00.002-06:00

From Elder Andrushka Pearce Dated: January 19th 2009

Dear Family

The work just moves along as the members of mateares set History this week. I wish i could explain the spirit that runs through my body as it testifys to me that this is his work and how blessed i am to be here to witnes this little town write their history of the church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. Well this week started out as last week we envited President Fraatz to the meating. We wernt to sure if he was coming the members got the word out that he might be coming and set it in there minds that yes he was coming.

Wendsday we had the zone leader call him. He came back telling us that he wont be able to come because he has a meating with the 70ty. As i got back thinking to my self we cant let it just go like that. He has taught all out mission if you want to do something find a ways to do it and dont take no for an awnser. I ask the permision from the leaders and gave him a call. As he awnserd he told me he wouldent be able that he will send his first counsler. Thinking before i asked him what time the meating would be done he told me 3 i asked if we could have the sacrament meating at 5 and he told me yes.

We jumped the first part getting president come to our meating its 50 minutes or so from the city. Then we went to work cleaning and dacorating the place and pouting pictures up it looked very good organized and evrything the house. Then we got all the members informed and let them know that they could write the history of the church. The week went by realy fast as we were getting ready for the president and inviting all we could to the meating pouting plans together how are we going to reach our goal of 80 poeple at church.

We also had a baptizim this week that was a 22 year old reporter of mateares that has gone to church 19 times but never has goten baptized we found him and started talking. He told us the reason he hasent got baptized is that its always saturday and he is realy hard to find this day. I let him know that what ever day he wanted we could baptized. we invited him to be baptized tomarow and he accepted. We got the members ready in the morning sunday they were all exited that he was finaly getting baptized. We got up in the morning and he wasent there. He had a call and raised of to work. So then we started to looke for him. We got to a members house and there boy told us that there was an acident in the road so we raised of knowing he would be there to film it. We got there and wasent there so we left the members in charge to find him and give us a call. As we had to move with all energy if we wanted to reach our goal this week.

We went and found some of the members that we have never taught or new they were members of the church. They told us they would be reay to go to church at 5. The classes started at three and pres comes at 5 also the houre of the sacrament meating. They found him called us we got there raise of to the church of the zone leaders and baptized him. How i love this work and love over coming what comes in the way. The members are amazing here how i love them and hope i wont be changed from this area. Coming back we called evryone for a meating explaining and we gave a talk how this day is very importent for mateares and how it will change the lives of there kids and make all the difrence how they work together 27 of the members went to work inviting there family friends and all they could. They went of from that meating realy exited to go find all and reach the goal that we may have a chapel here in mateares.

We started the church i gave a class on 10 comandements we had about 70 before 4:00 then we went out to invite more investigatores my comp stayed as we did devisions with the priests i went out to make sure that all are coming. As i was gone president and his wife came and all there children. Also our branch president came from nagarote. As i was walking in the streats the poeple were walking for the church. What a site it was to se so many poeple in the church as i got back it was filled poeple were seated on the stairs and in evry part there were poeple in the back revrently waiting for the president and his wife to speak. 113 or more poeple came some didnt make it all the way trough for there kids were sick or screaming. The meating was full. It truly was history in mateares as 113 poeple came to church in a small town of mateares.

President loved it and made some great coments thanked us for our work and told us we need to find a map as soon as posible and that we will be making this unity a branch as soon as posible. It truly was the greatest experiance to work with the members as the meating got done all the members went and president stayed back a little talking with us. Lovly family they are i had a great time sitting on the stand with president it was a great honer for me. the work here moves along they have also just made plans to make here a district with other parts close by.

I am so glad to be here working and that i am growing. It trys my faith to work and be so tired but i love the lord and give all i have to him. How i am thankfull for all that the lord has given me in my life. I love this work. I love you all and hope that all is well.

Happy birthday tomi 30. It has bin 30 years filled with great example for all of us. Love you and hope and pray that your family will keep as great as they are doing. I love you all and let me know whats going on. i cant belive that i will be compliting 17 months on my mission it has gone by so fast and i am thankfull for the next 8 months that i have to give it all i have.

Tribute to Carissa

2009-01-14T11:15:00.006-06:00

Tribute to Carissa Part 2

2009-01-14T11:15:00.005-06:00

Work Hard, Then Work Harder

2009-01-14T00:41:00.004-06:00

From: Elder Andrey Pearce Dated: January 12th 2008

Dear Family

Well the President has told us in confrence that we are only to write to
family not extended only to our family. Its a huge change on the mission but
we all are going to grow and recive blessings from obeying it.

What a week it went. We started with the confrance. The president was very
exited that the little unity of Mateares is showing up as a branch. I hope
it becomes a branch realy quickly. He made the coment and asked us how are
we reaching the outcome we are. I think the key is the members here in
mateares.

You will see how tired this week they were and how we kept on
pushing. How the Lord loves us in our eforts to push forward. I have bin
also tried more to push foraward. We got back from confrence and let all
know that the President was very happy about the work. He asked us to get a
map Of mateare and the list of all the members that are gowing. We also
recived a notice that we are going to get more books and suplys to help the
work along.

We in turne invited President Fraatz to the meating this sunday
its going to be a great meating and the members are realy exited to get the
goal to reach 80 asistence. They are Inviting all to church and they dont
just invite they keep asking tell you tell them you are going to go. Then
that isent all they falow up and go to there house to invite them to go to
church and walk with them.

I also had the apertunity to go work in Nagarote
this week witch is 45 min away. It was great to get to know that area and
the missionarys. Also pass some time with the branch president of mateares
and nagarote he told me his life story and the great times he has had
serving the lord and the apertunity he has had getting to know some of the
general authoritys. What a great man he is. Presidente Antonio he is one of
the elderly branch presidents in NIcaragua.

Then coming home we had some activitys. ALso this week we had a baptizim
that a yung man that has dificultys in his life is trying to change his life and
coming Crist.

I love this work to see the Hand of The Lord work and bring to
pass his imortality. It moves with his servents as they go to work. Then sunday
we got up at 5 to get ready to go out to looke for our team that goes out inviting all to
church and animating. To our surprise Ronald that hasent bin partisipating
that much was there exactly at 6:00. We went out got our team full of spirit
and went to work this week went alot difrent as the people were tired.

As we got to there doors they said no. A sister we got to the door we knocked and
knocked and she didnt awsner we stayed there knocking for 30 min nothing.
Her family is one of the bigest family that are members. Then we went on
inviting our investigatores we got back and her door was open. We called she
answered and told us that she was not going to church we let here know that
the Lord would love nothing more then if she and her family went to church.
The lord touched her hart as she got the family ready. It realy tride me to
stand and to keep going back that they would go to church.

We had the asistence of 36 witch was kindof sad but that is not the last part. We only
had sacrament by the pleading of our branch president. Then we had
confrince. As we got done with church a thought came to my mind we can not
leave like this asistence this week. We got the group ready and gave a
little talk and send them out to envite all we can to go to confrince that
is 45 mintues away. We had a bus come from Nagarote. Well we went to work as
we with faith walked the streets inviting all we could sending them out to
the curch and keeping on walking.

As i got back to my surprise the whole outside was field with people how over whelmed my hart was. The branch Presindet came with 24 in the but as 66 from Mateares filled the bus to
travel the distence to see the stake president to counsel them. The spirit
was filled. Another great thing hapend is that we talked and helped the bus
driver and his friend to also enter the confrince you never know if in some
feature that they will have a desire to join the church Of our Savior Jesus
Christ.

HOw i wish i was stronger to help this work go farther. I feal like
i am on the front row of the battle and that it is trying me. How i wish
that i was stronger that i was more capble to serve the Lord my God. How i
love this work. I know that he will bless me for my work. I hope to give all
i have in this last part of my mission that i have. I love the Savior and
know that He Lives.

Elder Pearce oh there is another mericle as a member that has some dificultise serving
because of his work resinde to go to confrince and to help the work along he
has 24 years and he just made the coment he would like to serve a mission i
cant belive all that is happening in this little area. We will do all we
can. Pray for us to reach the goal that we have set for this week.

Fwd: 1/11/09

2009-01-12T13:34:00.001-06:00

Here's the latest from Elder Courtright.

Enjoy.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Matthew Courtright
Date: Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Subject: 1/11/09

Wow what a week! on monday we set a guy for baptism..in july! a date is better than no date though. On wednesday i got to go on exchanges into my old area which was really fun. we saw some of the less actives and investigators that i had helped teach. We also went to see some of my favorite members. We committed one of the members to not have another stroke. (he had a stroke 2 days before but it wasnt bad) He laughed and agreed.

Then on friday we helped one of our investigators, Jim and Karen Vance, take down their 12 foot tree. and then had cobbler and a really good lesson with them. It was amazing berry cobbler. and Jim finally opened up a little. he is very masculine and doesnt like to admit when he is upset. but he said that when the missionaries come they only teach Karen, they gave Karen a BoM, they bring her DVDs, etc. Well, its probably true, Karen is definately the more spiritual one and looks forward to the lessons when jim only wants to joke around. But we gave him a Bible and he loved it. he told Karen that his was "better than hers." it was really funny to watch them debate that subject. Karen came to church on sunday which was awesome because elder walker and i were speaking. Elder walker is...monotonous, but outside of that he had a great talk. and then i gave my talk, and used an Obama quote in wyoming (best part), and talked about karen and jim and one other investigator, jessica kear, who was at church. I had karen crying in seconds. she only stayed for sacrament meeting cause she had to go see her mom in an retirement home but she told many of the members that she would be back next week. we are so pumped for her. coming to church i think was the last big hurdle for her!

Did i mention that i quoted Barack Obama, in Wyoming, in sacrament meeting, from the pulpit? not many people got the huevos mas grandes for that.

today is gonna be a good day. we are gonna eat dinner with a Col. in the military. He's important. I can name drop him :)

every morning elder walker and i go running for 2 reasons.
1) elder walker is fat
2) i cant breathe the air so i am working on trying to breathe
but today we couldnt because there was a good 4-6 inches of snow on the ground and i wasnt about to run through that. we might have to put running on the shelf because the snow doesnt melt. it hasnt snowed since december and there were still patches of snow. we had many 40 + days so it should have melted, but logic doesnt work in wyomin'. Why you ask? cause its wyomin'!

Well, be good all. Look forward to hearing from you.

--Elder Courtright

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

Miracle Growth!

2009-01-06T21:09:00.000-06:00

From: Elder Andrushka Dated: January 6th, 2008

Dear family i am so thank full for you all.
I am thankfull for all that i have to serve. This week we had a new years eve party with all the members. We had talents then we ate food and did a piñanta for kids and a game for people that are older. It went very well. The members are very animated in this area. We talked about our goals and what we want to reach as a ward. They Were realy exited and full of energy to help us out. The mericle continous this week the members got up at 4:00 in the morning some of them to come to sing to my companion because it was his birthday. As they got to the house they were thinking we were a sleep and started to throw things at our window as we watched them pass us by. Because we wake up and go shower away from the house because there isnt any shower in the house. So we walked up behind them they just looked at us and didnt know who it was and kept on singing. Then they all turned around with a little suprise to see us watching them singing. IT went realy well. Then we all went out in the streets enviting all to church. The member worked realy hard. One sister went asking forgivnes of members that she had done. It realy touched my hart to see this sister to take the advice that we left with her. With all the work of the members we hace reached the goal of our president of the mission. 62 as we all went out side to take the picture. We had to bless the sacrament twise and sit poeple down on the stairs. We have 40 seats and 62 came to church. The members were over welmed to see us reach this goal. i know its a mericle of god that this little unit is growing so fast. This week i had a chance to interview 2 prists and a deacon as his dad confirmed him deacon. His last son. This father is a potential to become a stake president we all make coments that he will be the branch president and always encouredg to read his scriptures the mission presidnet left a triple with him. SO hi could study. I had a great talk with him as we drove to talk to the branch president that lives 45 minutes away. we had a great talk and he signed the ordination that we did. I have bin a little overwhelmed with all the work. We have 17 investigatores that have gone to church so we are seing how we are going to organize it all to get going. Almost each day of the week we have a meating of some kind. I have learnd that working with members and helping them grow has bin the sweatest experiance of my mission. The members are the key of the mission work as they get going the work starts to have mericles. In a meating that we had one of the sisters told us that the jehova wtneses just purchased land to start building there church. That motivated them to help the church of our savior to be part of this work. This week we got to know the area and its big we have bery touched the area to the mission work. They have a realy big potential. I love the work i love the lord. I am growing so fast. I feal realy overwhelmed with the love of my heavenly father with the great apertunity he has given me. He has confidence in me that i will do his work. I love you all. COngrates mom on setting goals and starting to reach them. Well Dad as always is getting so much done. Let Emily know i love her i will be praying for her. Elder PEarce

Fwd: 1/5/09

2009-01-05T18:12:00.001-06:00

The latest from Elder Courtright.

Enjoy.

HOLY NEW YEAR!!

This was an awesome week as far as spiritual experiences go. i dont have any funny or weird things happen but still a great week.

We spent the week preparing for Matt Fowles's baptism. he is a 10 year old kid with an amazing spirit. i love him. We talked with alot of people on the days before it and many of them came. Half of his primary class came and that was really good. we also had a less active guy and his family and a lady who is an excommunicated member and her daughter there. they are all amazing people who are trying to put their lives back together. The baptism itself was amazing. Matt is one of the smartest kids when it comes to his knowledge of the gospel.

Sunday we also had a great day. The Bishop in the ward is sorta unwilling to work with us for some reason. We dont know why but we have been doing everything we can to make him see that we are working hard. Sunday was a great day in that reguard. There was a lady who bore her testimony and talked about Matt. Her son told her "Mom, i know he reads the scriptures" because of how smart he is. Then she talked about the +1 lessons we are doing with the ward where we teach a short spiritual thought and then set missionary goals with them. She talked about how she didnt really have any friends outside the church but that this program is really helping her meet new people and such. It was awesome! it was just the boost we needed cause that was where the Bishop was most stand off with us. He didnt want to have any part in missionary work but i think that it will be a real eye opener for him when he sees how well the program works. We then had several other "important" people talk about how we had blessed their families. it was awesome!

Earlier in the week we had a member ask us if we could help a lady move into a trailer down the street from his. We did and spent a rediculous about of time doing it. it took almost all day but it was well worth it. The lady said that once she is more settled she will have more time to talk with us. Bro. Jones, who is the one who lives down the street, will be keeping contact with her and will let us know when she is ready. we are excited

Overall everything is going well. I figured out recently (like a month ago) that the sun in Cheyenne is broken. Literally it has no effect on the weather here. Earlier in the week it hit a high of 50 for several days and it was sunny and cloudy. However yesterday it hit a high of 12 and that was after the sun went down. Yesterday it was also very bright which just increases my knowledge that the sun is broken. Grr!

Well, if there is anything that you guys need let me know.

Hannahs -- i am super excited about your letters, i patiently await them. i can only be patient for so long though...so make it quick. jk!

Leila -- i love your letters ;)

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

doing a dance...all over cheyenne!

2009-01-03T09:42:00.001-06:00

hey all!

well just wanted to say thanks to all those who sent me something for Christmas and a thanks to anyone who thought about me. just a couple important people to mention

Doug and Ary (quick story with this one): so on new years eve i gave my last 4 starbursts to a member who is semi active and whos son is getting baptized on saturday. it was a joke/promise kinda thing. anyways, i was blessed for keeping my promise with 2 massive packages of starbursts. that was awesome. oh and a picture of a married couple. as a reminder that i am not? ..thanks jk!

Sister Ricker: for keeping me humble. i love you!

Hannah: for sending an email. made my day :)

and like i said earlier thanks to anyone who is sending or sent or thought about me. i really do appreciate it.

So things that happened that were cool:

Well, we talked with a family, the Nations, who are less to semi active in the church. we shared a quick spiritual thought with them and were about to leave. Brother Nation had been silent all night, as if he didnt really want us there. As we were leaving he just opened his mouth. He told us a story about how at the end of his mission he got sent to an area that had been closed (without missionaries) for over a year and a half. he really didnt want to go but he was determined to finish his mission working. The branch in his area had only a couple active members who really werent solid themselves. and no investigators. they decided to start strengthening those members. as they did, they got investigators. after 3 1/2 months of hard work, the night before he went home, they had 7 baptisms. he then shared his testimony. it was an amazing experience. too bad he is too lazy to come to church. we have decided to reverse the situation. he has become one of those members who arent very solid and just needs strengthening. it was like he was telling us, verbally, exactly what his needs are.

There is a former investigator who lives in a trailer park on the south side of cheyenne. we drove past the other day and noticed that her pipes had burst. well being winter the water froze. her entire driveway and all down her street was one massive block of ice. well we spent an hour in 20 degree weather with the wind blowing 30 plus miles an hour wind, chipping at ice, with no gloves. it sucked but very rewarding. we have an appointment with her on tuesday.

May favorite moment:
We have a list of people who at sometime talked with missionaries in the area. one of those names is Ruby and James (i forgot their last name.) we knocked on their door cause we had nothing better to do and their son came walking out of the garage as we knocked. we went over and talked with him. oh, important note, he is black. he told us his name was dennis and that his parents were in texas. everytime i hear the word texas my ears get excited. i told him i was from texas and asked what part. he told me abilene (lame) but i told him i was from houston. the following is a direct quote from 1 of 3 black men in cheyenne. "well, we can be hommies then!" you have never seen a more excited me, ever. thats all i could think about for like a day. not because i havent heard that before, but cheyenne is lacking in diversity and all diverse interactions make me happy.

well, we had an amazing christmas as far as teaching goes. we had are most amount of lessons in a week, this week with 33. which doesnt sound like alot, but is. i hope all are doing well, be good and remember, Santa's watching :)

--Elder Courtright

--
Penny Freeman
Gratitude is the essence of joy.

2008-12-30T14:34:00.002-06:00

From: Elder Andrey Pearce Dated: December 29, 2008

Dear Family

i am so thankful that i got a great while to talk to my family. It was a great experiance trying to remember English. Wean i got going i could remeber it just fine.
It sounds like all is well and evryone is groing. I cant belive how much has changed.
Well the lord blessed us trumendously this week. THe members had a little welcome party for us. WEll sharing testimony and thanking that we were there to work harder. It Gave me a desire to work harder and give all that i have. THe members told us we came in like a huracane and started to pout things together. THe lord has had his mericle waiting for this little town of Mateares. Before we came it was falling apart and the members were scared that it was going to fall all apart. THe asistence (attendance) at church was going down it came down to 14. As we got there we changed the room how it looked pout some pictures up of christ cleande all the rooms well. Organized our gospel library called a librarian and went to work to make all looke well. Last week the asistence (attendance) went up to 31. THis week we got up as usual 5:00 in the morning to get to work walking our missionary team (or the members that help us out) we left to envite all we could to church. The members of Mateares set a record of 52 people coming to church. WE didnt have inof seats to sit down. I had the lovely time prisiding and anouncing the meating. It went realy well we had a lovely spirit. We had talks about reading scriptures, Praying and going to church. My companion gave a talk about seting goals as we finished the last song. YOU could feal and hear the spirit and the change in the way that the last hymn was song. 10 of the poeple that came to church were envestigating the church so we have alot of work to do. The lord has given me a great apertunity to grow and stretch. Then we split for clases. My companion taught the yung men and i gave the gospel doctrin class. I gave about the plan of salvation. It went very well we had great questions and i had the chance of explaning well that we can become Gods. Its a subject a little harder to explain Here to members and invetstigatores. The spirit was present and they captured it well. The secratary from Nagarote came to see how all is going. Gave us the great news that the Branch President will be coming next week. I had apertunity to give a interview for a yung man to recive the rank of a priest. I am over whelmed how much the lord has blesed me to learn. We as members and missionarys worked realy hard this week. I feal tired but ready to rise and give all again this week. I have come to love this poeple here. In not a very long time. I feal like i have so much to learn and over come i hope i can give all i can. I love my Heavenly Father and his beloved Son Jesus Christ. I cant belive how fast the time is flying by. I love you all. I hope to here from all of you how your doing. From Amy, Lydia, Emily, andrea, Dan those are the ones that told me they will write. Thank you mom for your lovely talk. Thank you dad for your letters each week. Well its almsot time to get back to work. Love Elder Pearce

Feliz Navidad 2008.....Transferred

2008-12-30T14:29:00.002-06:00

From: Elder Andrey Pearce Dated: December 22, 2008

Dear Family
Feliz Navidad
i am sorry i didnt wirte to last week i had changes. I have bin given a great apertunity that the lord has called me to serve in mateares. Its a place were the church is starting out this week we had atendance of 31. I am so exited to work here. I was a bit nervous to preside this meating and was greatful for the help of my comanion. Hes name is ELder Oscal and he has 5 months on his mission. I had the apertunity to give a talk this sunday i have it about my life and navidad that the lord has blessed us to have Jesus CHrist in our lives. Whos birth we selibrate in this great time. I then had a chance to give the class and not knowing that i was going to give. As missonary we are always prepared to teach something. So i taught about the 2 Great Problems that we have in our lives. The Sin and Death and that the lord was born that he was chosen and he humbly came to this wold to solve this two problems in our lives. I taught that the gospel of Jesus christ is that He Was Chosen before this world. That he Came here on earth Paid for our sins and that he resurected and that he lives and loves us. It was a great lesson. Then after church we had all the men meet together and we talked about presthood and what it means to have pristhood it went well. Then at 3:00 we had a meating with the sisters of our ward as we talked about unity and planed a activity in wich we are together going to give christmas to a family here in this part of the world. I am so tired but i love wokring here. I have bin working hard studying and given my all to help here. I have one week here and have a geat love for this poelpe here. I have come to know them. Well i love you all and wish you the greatest christmas and i am thankfull to the lord all that he has done for me. I am thankful for this time in wich we can give and feel the same love that the savior felt. I am thankfull for his example in my life.
Mom happy birthday i am sorry i am a little late. I love you and thankfull for the time that you have spent helping me understand my life and my perpose here on earth how greatly i love you. Mom and Dad thank you for the packedge and the mony will be pout to great use. Mom i still havent got the packedge in wich are the garments or the chip for the camera. Happy Christmas i looke forward to talking with you i have lost a little of english and i have an acent will see how it goes. If you could call me on 25 december you can choose the houre it would be best at 12:00 or at 5:00 nic houre 930-1628. Mom if you could do me a huge favor and envite willy to this call i feal that i need to talk to him a little bit. I love you all and looke forward to the call that i will be resiving. Loves

Baptizing two new families

2008-12-30T14:25:00.002-06:00

From: Elder Andrey Pearce Dated: December 8, 2008

Dear Family
My hart is swelled with all the love that i have recived from my family and from my loved ones. Heavenly Father has blessed me so so much this week. I feal so joyful i feal like crying with joy. ( i am in cyber so i wont) This week the greatest news is that we had 5 baptizims. Familia Sanches and Family Sevilla. What a week saturday we had a baptizim pland for 11 in the morming as it fell through we saved it to do at 5. We got to there house 4 and started to see how we can help them get ready and how there were with evrything. We got there and Pedro wasent there so we were woried we saw him come home with his son whos a pastor or a preacher for another church. We talked with pacions and peace and they got ready ate and we went of to the stake center to baptize. The greatest part of this day that the members of Nindiri saported us in all our strugles as they changed there plans to be there 5pm. The baptizim went well the maria has 53 years and husband Pedro 62. Then we helped them get on transpertation for there house and we tooke a taxi to 21 for The family Sanches. We got there and the family was ready. As we were walking to there friends who were going to give them a ride who came from managua. Lisa told us she didnt want to get baptized she had some chalenges. So we started to talk to her. She reminds me of Lydia alot. She has 14 years old. We talked and i let her know that she will have the chanse to talk to the zone leader who will interview her again if she wanted. So we got to the chapel it was 7 y 30 then we helped her to meat with the zone leader as he talk to her. The family got dressed ready to take pictures. She got back and sat down saying no. so we as companionship desided to talk to her one more time. It was a very spiritual lesson that we gave her that i will remember good part of my life. As she told us she will get baptized. She asked if she could make a call she made the call got dreased and the whole family got baptized. What a mericle that the lord gave ua. Albin who is her step dad thanked us for helping her. What a bryte happy family they are. The part that they live there isent many members so they will be one of the first family there i know they will help the work move along. Love the mission and all the work that my Heavenly Father has helped me to be part of. I hope that i have a chance to serve him all my life. Well my thoughts are not all together i am a bit tired from last week but realy happy. Another great thing hapend we went to the christmas devotional as the stake president pout his arm around me and told me that he was very thankfull for all the work that we are doing in Nindiri and for teaching his poeple. I could feal a great spirit with the stake president. I am thankful to the lord and my mom and dad for all that they have tought me. i am so blessed in my life. Hope to honer my Heavenly Father in this life work hard to do all the good that i can. Thank you for all your letters i love you all. I cant belive that i am 21 i feal a little old. I love my sister carissa and the great example that she has given me in my life and the apertunity that i had to share the same day with her. I know that she is happy. I thank my Savior Jesus Christ for all that he did for me. Love you all have a great week.
mom & dad i havent goten any of the packedges i think they are waiting to give them all for christmas. Thank you for all that you do for me

Elder Matthew Courtright: Christmas week :(

2008-12-23T11:50:00.002-06:00

From: Matthew Courtright
Date: Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 3:30 PM
Subject: Christmas week :(

so this week is christmas and my companion and i are keeping score of presents and letters we receive. currently it looks something like the following table:

Elder Courtright Elder Walker
Letters | Packages Letters | Packages
2 0 1 7!!!

Come on now guys. that makes me sad. By the way, my 2 letters are from the Mission president and brother reid! man, this is gonna be the best christmas ever. i dont have to worry about getting better stuff than my comp, cause you cant beat getting nothing :) well, i have full confidence that this pity letter with help motivate some of you. Now lets recap the things that I, Elder Courtright, find joy in.

1) music
2) ties
3) pictures of you
4) number 3 especially if you are a girl
5) Starbursts
6) Cheeze its
7) stephen colbert "quote a day" calendars
8) love
9) lots of long letters
10) Edible AIDS
11) all the above individually wrapped so it looks like i get alot of stuff in a giant box with bubble wrap :) (bubble wrap!!!)

okay now for a recap of the week. on tuesday we had a christmas devo in Greeley colorado. we each had to get a white elephant gift. i got a fireman and cop rubber duckie and bubble wrap (see, its awesome, i got it for free from dollar tree. they love me.). we had a white elephant gift exchange. the gift that i originally ended up with, cause i am infinitely lucky, was a box of..drum roll...peanuts and lots of candy bars with peanuts. then we played a game and passed the presents around and my final gift was even better. It was a tiara and earings and a big fat ring...too bad it all cut the circulation to my head and fingers off but it was good stuff. wednesday we went to the temple. i forgot my temple recommend which kinda made the day start poorly but president ely got me into the temple and then to brighten my day, there was a....little person in the temple. out of respect for the temple, they can be little people for a day, but he was there. the day was then perfected! that night we went to a mexican restraunt and i had some good orchata. yum! i drank like 5 glasses of it. thursday we set a 10 year old kid for baptism. he is so cool. he is like a red headed step child. literally. saturday we spent 5 hours on base and it was so cool. the military base families are so awesome. sunday we had dinner with a multi racial family so that made my day. they adopted 3 black boys who are 7, 6, and 5..i believe. they all have the same mom and different days, who would have thought? then we went to a stake christmas devotional which was amazing. hope all is going well with you all wherever you are. have a merry christmas and remember, i am important! haha. just kidding...not really though

--Elder Courtright

Elder Matthew Courtright: ether 12:4...my favorite

2008-12-23T11:47:00.002-06:00

From: Matthew Courtright
Date: Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Subject: ether 12:4...my favorite

so this has been the most terribly cold week of my life. fortunately we roll in an '06 Carolla now! so monday was transfer day and that was crazy. i quickly learned that we, as missionaries, are really nothing more than pawns on a chess board and at any minute we can be go and told to do something that is 100% opposite of what we were told an hour ago. not fun. anyways, got a car. when my new companion, elder walker, and i first sat in it we had a moment of silence. it felt so good. then we commenced meeting the ward. we spent all week pretty much meeting the ward council and that kind of thing. i was one again being swept into an area so neither he nor i new anyone. we have 40+ part member families in this ward so thats where we are starting as far as the work goes. we have met about 5 of them and atleast 2 have real potential to no longer be part member families. there is a 10 year old who we are setting for baptism this thursday. his parents are seperated and it took 2 years for her to agree to let him be baptized. i am so excited for him. (also, everytime i think the word "baptized" i hear it the way Bro. Sagastizado says it. lots of emphasis on the 2nd syllable). uhh, well lets see if i can think chronologically. on friday we had weekly planning and i was looking through the ward list (it was really old) and (everyone who has lived in the olde oaks ward for more than 3 years will be suprised/amazed by the following) i saw a name that jumped up and punched me in the jugular. Ben Isom. Holy small world. for a little background on that, brother isom lived in the ward about 3 years ago and was in the air force. he confirmed me a member of the church. he was small, really small, but athletic, and in the Young Mens program. Now, you might be thinking like i was thinking. what are the chances. so i kinda ignored it and just kept on going. well sunday at church, the Relief Society president asked me where i was from and i told her houston. she said "oh, we just had a family from houston move about 3 months ago. did you know the Isom's?" i proceded to discribe him and turns out they are one in the same. ben isom and his family moved from houston to wyoming (i remembered that part) but i didnt know where. and in august they got transfered down to odessa (i think) which is back in texas. that was really sad for me. but one of the air force guys emailed him on his black berry and is gonna get back with me with a response. he lived in the ward where i now serve. crazy! also, the bishop of the ward, 25 years ago, lived in oak creek village which is also in the ward boundaries...crazy small world.
In other sunday news. the high for sunday was a high quality 1 degree. most of the day was spent at about -2 degrees. morally of the story: who the fetch willingly lives in wyoming?!

I heard it snowed in houston. REPORT!

love you playas!
--Elder Courtright

Elder Matthew Courtright: transfer!

2008-12-23T11:46:00.002-06:00

Matthew Courtright

Date: Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 1:13 PM
Subject: transfer!

so as the subject might suggest i got transferred. but before i get to that let me give you some back ground

So this week i got to go on exchanges with one of the zone leaders because my companion is the district leader so thats how we roll. the ZL's work in the young single adult branch so i got to meet some of them. One guy is working on putting his papers in. His room mate is not a member but listens to all the lessons. His roommate is also training to be a UFC fighter. he had his first fight on thursday. he won. Anyways, all new missionaries who go to there house have to help him train. what that means is you hold to pads infront of your face and he kicks them....oh my gosh! IF he straight kicked me in the face it would a) hurt more than being stabbed in the shin and b) kill me. The dude was huge. it was so fun. we went to some other appointments that day. On thursday we went to district meeting and then walked back to our house throughout the day stopping for several appointments along the way. I was being stubborn that morning and didnt put on a heavy coat cause i am a Texan and thats how we roll. there were no clouds at night and about 5 the sun went down and it got to -7 degrees. Needless to say i was really cold and possibly (probably) near frostbite. Luckily a member saw us on the way home and picked us up. I sat infront of a fire for an hour before my hands stopped tingling (a painful process) but my thumb didnt regain full feeling until the next afternoon. needless to say, i wont make that mistake again. then on friday night we had dinner with one of the members of the bishopric. his wife, for dessert gave us ice cream (on the same day it snowed 3 inches). this ice cream was really good at first but about half way through i found a fun suprise! peanut butter cups! luckily it got no further than me biting into it. i went to the bathroom for awhile and then we left. we had an appointment later that night which i was so excited for but my stomach was cramping and jumping and all that fun stuff for the rest of the night...which leads to transfers. so i knew that i was getting a transfer like a week before and as the week went on it got more and more obvious. i was hoping for Boulder or Aurora cause they are the crazy cities. However, i got transfered to literally, 5 minutes away. In a neighboring ward in Cheyenne. I am excited for it though. half the ward lives on a military base so thats always fun. and...even better, we get a car! yeah! no more frostbite for me. I told the sister who gave me the ice cream that they were transfering me cause she poisoned me. And quickly told her i was kidding. We had a good laugh for awhile about it. SO thats been my week. Crazy? i think so! We are having alot of success and things are really starting to pick up....as i leave. oh well. i am needed elsewhere

--Elder Courtright

Elder Matthew Courtright: I sting like a butterfly and baptize like John the baptist!

2008-12-23T11:42:00.002-06:00

From: Matthew Courtright <theilliterateone@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Dec 1, 2008 at 1:25 PM
Subject: I sting like a butterfly and baptize like John the baptist!

So it snowed like 4 times this week! who thought that was a good idea?

Well, this has definately been a week of ups and downs. We set a lady for baptism on the 27th of december. however, one of our investigators babysits 3 boys and those boy's grandmother said they arent allowed to go to "mormon services." thats a real drawback because she babysits them like 5 days a week. including but not limited to sundays. man, we went to pick her up and everything and then she couldnt find someone else to babysit. Depressing. but baptism on the 27th!
also, so as some of you know, goals are part of missionary work. you set daily and weekly goals. i set a goal of baptizing 1 midget (or little person for Rufus) in the next 2 years. if i dont make that goal, then i will be sad, but other baptisms will make it all better. However, if i baptize a black midget/little person, then i dont care how many others i get. 1 black midget will make all 2 years perfect!
On a serious note, missionaries arent allowed to discuss politics, and wyoming is super conservative. one day this old toothless lady told me how obama would destroy the country and he is evil. thus i have decided that anytime someone mentions how obama will ruin the country, i will retort with "but he is black, what could go wrong?" its great because i dont think anyone in the city of Cheyenne has ever met a black person..let alone talked, smelled, or high 5'ed one. they really should get around to doing that.
Thanksgiving was great. we had it with the members who we live with. they are really cool. their names are sam and maureen zimmerman (not jews =/). We call Maureen, Mama Z and I call Sam either Uncle Sam or Brudda Z. That was what they said to call them. well, i invented the Brudda Z name but whatever. We had turkey (suprise?) and potato, and corn and stuffing (yum!!) and root beer. oh, it was snowing really hard on thanksgiving so for awhile we couldnt go outside so we played clue. i won 2 times. yeah! i love winning.
i also lost 5 pounds on the "eat lots of turkey and play dodgeball for 2 hours last monday" diet. Its a good diet cause turkey makes you think you are full and dodgeball is a man sport.
Baptism the 27th!
We have a bunch of part member families we are gonna start work on. who knows how that will go? i mean my first transfer is in 1 week and i could easily be in a different area. infact, its pretty likely. who knows? not me. take care all.
ps. christmas is coming up. i like ties. and anything from colbertnation.com and letters. send me your family christmas letters fools!

Courtright out! Get to work

Elder Matthew Courtright: Emailing like a ninja

2008-12-23T11:41:00.002-06:00

From: Matthew Courtright

Date: Mon, Nov 24, 2008 at 1:19 PM
Subject: Emailing like a ninja

Haha. so not much time to email today. we started this new thing where we email Pres so that takes up like half of my email time. I will say that we got the most golden refferal to date. It was for a guy named Ray Filer. He is less active. we went to talk to him and he lives with his girlfriend (not a good start) but he had been looking to come back to church but didnt know where to go and had looked at buying scriptures online. that was exciting. his girlfriend is a non practicing catholic and is willing to listen to the lessons. Ray came to church sunday so that was super good. Unfortunately, one of talks on sunday was one of those that you want to pull all Less Actives and investigators out of. it was super morbid. The lady who gave the talk is like 50+ and is married to a 22 year old Excommunicated member. The beginning was all about this mother bird who saved her kids during a fire but died in the process. it was about a 5 minute story and she spent 3 1/2 talking about how the bird was burned alive and crazy, nasty, morbid things. Then she continued to talk for 25 minutes. the entire time i wanted to make her stop. and punch her in the head. uhh, what else? we got 5 new gators (investigators) this week. all on like the last 2 days of the week. still not really snowing. had a couple of flurries but thats it. OH! we met a lady this week and she used to live in Champion Forest area and in Humble. You wouldnt believe who she used to work with. Adele Puffer! that was so awesome. i showed her pictures i had of Leila and Cyrus. she asked if Cyrus was my kid. totally wanted to say yes. But we talked about Adele and Leila (sorry to talk about you leila. sending your mom a letter with all the details) for like 20 minutes. good stuff. yea. thats the most of it. Just keep on trucking. i will probably be in a new area next transfer because of the massive influx of new missionaries. not really looking forward to that. oh well. bring it!

Elder Matthew Courtright: Holy No Snow!

2008-12-23T11:39:00.002-06:00

From: Matthew Courtright
Date: Mon, Nov 10, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Subject: Holy No Snow!

I was freakin out all last week cause it was supposed to snow. and it did. for like 10 minutes. man, they need to tell me it is going to snow only when it is actually gonna snow hard. However, there was a bunch of wind this week. My companion and i were riding downhill and the wind was so strong that it was overpowering gravity. I dont like having to pedal hard to go down hill. that is unnecessary. And apparently they have "wind storms." I have never been in a storm i hated so much. The wind was gusting at like 50-60 miles an hour. i had on like 4 layers of clothes and was sure i was about to get frostbite. i lost feeling in my thumb for awhile. And we were walking everywhere. i have never been more sad in my entire life than i was during those 5 hours that we were outside in the bitter cold. Anyways, so other than the wind everything is going well. the family we live with is super cool. they say that i remind them of their son because i like simple things. like shiny objects, soft things, flashing lights, and i sleep with a penguin. And apparently he and i have similar sayings, motives, and thoughts. i love this kid and i probably will never meet him. he is serving a mission in japan and wont be home until may. its sad that i wont meet him cause 2 me's are awesome but i dont wanna be in wyoming in the deep winter.

Oh, so big kinda news. i had my inteview with Pres. Ely (the mission president) and then i was talking with his wife afterwards. (1st off she really likes me cause i was the only convert in the group that i came out with and they are converts to) So she asked me how much spanish i knew and i told her i took 3 years, but lived with a spanish family for awhile and can hear it really well, but i only speak a little bit and have a hard time with the verbs. we talked about how much i knew and all that and then (this is the best/worst/scariest part) she gave me an El Libro De Mormon. which if you cant spanish says Book of Mormon. She told me to start studying it. I might end up being a spanish missionary before too long. That is an excitingly scary thought. i love the language and all that but i dont think i know enough to teach in it and i definately did not get 6 weeks in the MTC to learn it. Oh well. Well, i read 1 Nefi 1 this morning and i understood it pretty well and i can read it outloud without sounding horrible gringo-y so who knows? thats super exciting. uhh, as for teaching people. We have 1 really solid investigator which i think i mentioned last time. she is super good. she wasnt there last monday because her friend made her go see a new born baby. However she had every intention of being back by our appointment. we are going again tonight. hopefully it will go really well.

so the cheyenne stake had its stake conference yesterday and it was a broadcast from salt lake. 2 of the speakers were Elder Hales and Pres. Eyring. they were both really good talks. I took notes for the first time ever and i actually reread and used them. Crazy. Who would have thought that i would do such a thing? certainly not me. well, hope everything is going well in whatever city you may or maynot be in. Take care

--Elder Matt Courtright

Elder Matthew Courtright: Cheyenne

2008-12-23T11:38:00.002-06:00

From: Matthew Courtright
Date: Mon, Nov 3, 2008 at 1:18 PM
Subject: Cheyenne

Wow. What a week. So as i mentioned last letter i was opening this area. it pretty much is crazy cause my companion and i had no idea where we were or where anything is. After the first day though, we had a map, and just went to work. We figured out that our ward boundaries are about a 1/2 mile wide at the largest point and about 7 miles long. just to top it off, we live on the very southern tip. so to get to the top of the boundary, on bike, takes about an 45 min to an hour. fun. Also, i am pretty sure that to go anywhere you have to bike uphill. its retarded. Uhh, lets see. so we have 3 people already preset for baptism. two are on the 22nd of november and the last is one isnt until marchish. Thats pretty exciting to only have to teach them and not find them. We also found an older lady who we just started teaching saturday night and we are going back tonight. I am pretty stoked for that. my companion decided for me that i am going to commit her to baptism. Not sure how i feel about that but you have to start somewhere. uhh, as for the current weather forcast. tomorrow calls for snow. not gonna enjoy being out in that. snow is alot nicer when you arent outside.

Some of you have been asking what my address is so...

Elder Matthew Courtright
Colorado Denver North Mission
11172 N. Huron Ste. 21
Northglenn, Co 80234

No matter where i am, Amah, for the next 2 years you can send me stuff there.

the ward here was pretty tiny. like there was 1 family per pew. but everyone i have met so far is really nice and super faithful. Even the people who dont wanna talk to missionaries are nice. Its so different that i am currently facing climate and culture shock.

Ha. so my funny thing for the week is...

We went to visit a less active in the ward at this really ghetto apartment complex. the apartments used to be hotel rooms but the turned them into apartments and all they have are a bedroom and bath. They are smaller than most dorm rooms. anyways, so knocked on the door and the guy across the hall opened his. He asked if we were knocking on his door. The funny thing about this guy is that he was definately high on a super drug. and by his demeanor i would guess meth. anyways, he like ran back into his room and hid. then the guy we knocked opened his door and instantly a wave of marijuana and incense hit me. I have smelled lots of weed before (i went to a journey concert :) ) but this was so concentrated and the incense just made it worse. The Less active we were talking to was high as a kite. it was different... So we left and probably wont be back. i had to wash that shirt 2 times to get the smell out.

Hope you all are taking good care. If you get a message saying i lost 2 fingers to frostbite, dont be too suprised. Stay Safe

--Elder Courtright

Elder Matthew Courtright: week 2

2008-12-23T11:36:00.002-06:00

From: Matthew Courtright
Date: Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Subject: week 2

wow! what a week. I realize that some of you wont know the names i use but just know that they are important people.

So i am gonna do this all really fast because i have less than 25 minutes to write but here it goes

So on tuesday, we had the BYU devotional and you wont believe who came to speak. If you were thinking Elder Richard G. Scott then you are absolutely correct. And i had amazing seats cause our district joined the Missionary choir so we sung a Be Still My soul and then had bleacher seats to watch elder scott speak. He was amazing. He is also really funny. Afterwards he offered to shake everyones hand. Heres probably a little known secret. He is so short, with piercing blue eyes, and super soft hands. It was awesome. And when his spirit is like a punch to the face. So the week passed, not much happened. We got new missionaries. That was a fun day. Uh, bonded with the district who is leaving right before us so that was cool. Oh, i taught my first lesson to an "investigator." Not a real investigator, but still, close enough. i think me and my companion did really well. the Spirit here has been amazing and that was no different. i loved it. I have only been here almost 2 weeks and i feel like i could come home and write a super inspirational talk with a bunch of stories and take an easy 20 minutes. Wow. Then last night at the fireside we had another amazing speaker. Sister Sheri Dew. In case you dont recognize that name she used to be in the Relief Society General Presidency and is now CEO of Deserett Books and Is the US ambassador to the UN Womens Council or some fancy title like that. she also had an amazing talk. Everything here (except the food) is amazing. I got my flight plans to denver and i leave a week from today at 8:10 AM. So it will probably be 2 weeks before i get another email out but fill my inbox up :) uhh, what else? i dunno. if anyone of you guys have any questions just put it in an email and i will definately answer them. i am hoping that when i get to denver i will be able to use my Gmail account but i will let you know. until then send any email here. also, i will be sending pictures to someone so that you guys can see my district and the stuff that we do...sometimes we are very unproductive. Hope everything is going well with yall. Send me letters, i think i am losing in the letters received department. Kimmy, send me baby pictures! i know its gonna pop any day now if it already hasnt :( write me fools. if you need my address its on a note on facebook. The rest of this email is for sis freeman but you are all willing to read it.

Sis Freeman!
Thats so exciting about paul being home. It sucks that i miss him by just a few weeks but oh well. He is really blessed since he served a mission. I cant believe that i was ever hesitant on coming. The feelings, inspiration, and answers that i have gotten in the last 2 weeks are incredible. Everything happens alot faster because i need it. i love coloring my scriptures. i am so anal about it. i hope all is going well in houston with the ward and what not. I miss the crying babies. and i must say that when you cant hug a girl, everything sucks. Guys just cant fill that need for attention. Ya Know? At least i know i cant be gay! :) Not that i didnt know before but..yea. just stop there before i dig a bigger hole. i love you and thank you for your advice and help over the years. I probably am not supossed to write except immediate family but the ward is immediate family to me.

Love.
Elder Courtright

P.s. still not used to that name

Elder Matthew Courtright: the real beginning

2008-12-23T11:35:00.002-06:00

From: Matthew Courtright

Date: Mon, Oct 27, 2008 at 7:00 PM
Subject: the real beginning

well currently i am sitting in the Colorado Denver North MIssion home writing this email. Today has probably been the most overwhelming day thus far. I got up at 3:30 AM to get read to get on the bus to the salt lake airport at 5. the plane left at 8:40 and we landed at about 1015. This afternoon we had lunch in the mission home and then had interviews with the mission president. I found out where my first area will be...i am in so much trouble. I am gonna be in Cheyenne, Wyoming. From the stories that have been told it can get down to 30 below 0. not looking forward to that but i think i wont be there late enough to feel that much cold. This is the highest baptizing mission in the central US and Canada. and Cheyenne is one of the highest in the mission. My companion is a district leader and we will be opening an area. The church here is expanding rapidly. They are getting 40 extra missionaries this year so i might literally be training on my second companionship. That is a scary thought. I am so excited. I might die of frostbite but I will be stronger for it. Uhh, what else? I dunno. i am so excited to get started tomorrow. i have to get a bike because my area is an all bike area so i will lose all the MTC weight. i hate these 5 pounds. Love you guys all so much. thanks for everything you do. Y'all are my heroes. Be good.

--Elder Matt Courtright

Life in Nicaragua, Wonderful Family

2008-11-24T16:29:00.002-06:00

From: Elder Andrushka Date: November 24, 2008

Dear family.

Well dad asked me to let you know about the travels and food and all that kind of stuf so i am going to start letting you know some what about nicaragua. Well travels is by taxi evry where or busses. As taxis cost alot we travel by busses. The Buses fill up so much that you dont have room to move and sometimes leave the bus. The food here is rise with beans whats called gayo pinto. They like fryed chees that is the most tipcle food. There is alot of cocunut and bananas and lots of difrent froot. We eat alot of fruits. The people are more humble here and get by what they have. IT is normal to just start a fire and walk away and leav it burning. There are other parts were we walking realy long were its contry and the poeple are realy humble in this parts. Ah there is also three wheelers its like carissas bike but two wheels in front one in back and they give you a ride and charge you mony. Um what els. Over all it seams normal to me and like its my home. this week we had our prayer awnsered as we are working with family Sanches and its second time that they have gone to church. So we will be setting a date to get baptized. .They are understanding evrything realy well. The other day we taught them plan of salvation and the mom was so exited to learn that she tooke out a notebook to take notes. The daughter remindes me of Lydia a bit. We asked her after teaching the plan of salvation and was it nessesary for adam to eat the fruite and she said yes if he didnt we coudlen exist. There are realy prepared and chosen. So i will back up a little and let you know how we found them. We have a part in our area that is far a way we take the bus there to teach. We know that the missionarys have tried many times to start a branch there. Having sacrament there and atendece but all the members there are realy young in age. So we got there and thouaght Elder Garza and I. If we want to help here we need to find a realy good family. So we walked and found a house were only the mom came to the door she was intrusted and here husband came home at the same time as we were talking he let us in and we taught about the ward of wisdome. Wich led to asking for coffe and taking in away from there house. Familia Sanches. They are very prepared by Our Heavenly Father. Well another great news is that the stake President came to our ward and the greatest part is that we had a great atendance. Wich made me realy happy that the stake president could see the progres there is so much more to do. Ah we had a elders chorum meating and we had so many people there that we could not fit in the room what change we can see. That is only doing little changes not the greatest. We had a bonfire as a branch last week as i learn how to cut treas down with an axe. Also how to work on the field. It was great getting ready. It brought lots of unity the atendence was 75 wich is great for a ward here. This branch is progresing but much to be done. I hope that i will send good amount of time in this area. Love the poeple here love the members. I have come to know them and there chalenges and disires. Thanks for all that you do for me. Oh this week i also had a great study session learning about the atonement and how its posible. It has awsnerd alot of my questions of how and whys. I love the mission and feal proud to suffer some times for such a great cause. That its rewarding but it costs to have succes. LOVE YOU ALL.

Working, Teaching, Baptizing

2008-11-10T12:07:00.003-06:00

Working Hard and More Teaching and Baptizing

2008-11-10T11:59:00.001-06:00

From: Elder Andrushka Dated: 11.10.08

Dear Family
It sounds like all is going well. What a family we have there is never a doll moment. It sounds like all is as normal. Evryone working hard to make things hapen the best. What a great mom and dad we have that are great examples and work to have all the most perfect in our lives. This was a great week as we helped two more enter the waters of baptisim. I realised this week that my english is getting realy bad i dont know if to worry about it or to just keep going. I think i will start reading my scriptures in english. Well last week was A sisiter named Julissa that has 22 years old and is a wife of a member. This week Is a mom of another member that we have worked for a 2 months about Sister Leda Ortega. Other is a son of a family that are all members that got baptized in 2000 and inactivated promtly after we activated the family and he got Baptized Luis Ortega but no relation to Leda Ortega. How hard we worked this week i feal like my mind my hart my evrything feals realy tired. I hope that this day i will find some rest. I am exited to go back to work and give it all i have. I feal like my spiritual strength is growing. I cant imagen the aposltel that work all there lifes what strength they have. I am more greatful for the prophet and apostles bishops and all that serve the lord what strength it takes. We finished our paper this week i will try to send a copy of it to you guys if i can. I am sorry that i havent send a picture of my self. I hope that i can next week. For the rulls i can not reaturn inles i ask special permision to do so. How i love evryone of you. Send my congratulations to nick and crystal let them know how proud i am of them. Let Crystal now i am honered to have her as my sister in law and that i hope that she will take care of my brother. Let nick know i love him and that he will make sure that crystal will reaturne to the presence of our heavenly father. Love evry one of you and thanks for all. Mom no i havent goten the packedge. Thank you for sending them to me i will let you know if i got them. Loves Elder Pearce

Becoming a Ward!!!

2008-11-10T11:53:00.001-06:00

From: Elder Andrushka Dated: 11.03.08

Well Dear Family
This week we pushed realy hard to reach our goals. this week we also had a baptisim and it was a very spiritual. I have seen the meetings that we have to get better and better. From each one we get more and more experiance. How i love the mission and all the experiance i have had. THis week we came up with the idea of monthly paper for nindiri of the church and we are working on desinging it. The branch we just got the word that it is going to made a ward and that they are starting the proses of building the chapel they have the land. So we are looking in about 6 months this branch has grown so much. As we grow there comes new chalenges. How i love chalenges because that means more work and more succes and more growth. I love serving here i hope with all my hart that it is the will of the lord that i may serve here 6 more months to see the chapel go up. THis change we have worked realy hard with the members. You could see the spiritual change in the meatings. You could see the revrence during the sacrament. How i love the work of the lord. I pray and hope that i will grow more and that i will be able to help more poeple. Heavenly Father has pout so much confidence in me. Lets see what els hapend this week. We had a chaleng in the church in elders chorum. We had a special meating after and talked things out. As the work progreses the enemy pouts his couple sentences in as he can. May we all keep pushing forward in this work of the lord. May we never set our sword down. May we keep it sharp and ready at all times. With all love Elder PearceT he work go´s on.

Working to Become a Ward

2008-11-10T11:50:00.001-06:00

From: Elder Andrushka Dated: 10.27.08

Dear family
well i dont have much time to write this week. We have bin working realy hard and had a great succes. Santos who had 82 years old got baptized last week. This week we have another baptisim. We are working realy hard on all little by little we have reached almost our goal were we would like to be. I know that this week we will work harder and reach more. The atendance this week reached 105. The ward is starting to work and c ome together. I think that we arnt that far away to become a ward. The church has the land they are just waitig that we reach a goal of 30 elderes to start the church i hope that i am here to see that church go up. The people here have bin waiting a while to see the church. Love this work i love the lord and hope that all is well mom i will send a picture next week. Love you all

Shining Shoes

2008-11-10T11:43:00.002-06:00

From: Elder Andrushka Dated: 10.20.08

Thank you for your letter Dad.
Dear Family well this week i have learnd alot as always you see whean you have more presure if you realy have become a better person and a better missionary the lord ask us to do the work with a chearful hart. This week we had the chance to go to the market and to shine peoples shews and to ask for refrence. It was a realy good experiance that we did as a zone the poeple came to realize that we practice what we teach as we were humbled to bring about this work and the poeple were humbled also they at first thaught we were trying to get somthing but it was awsome experiance. My camera is full but i will send some pics all that i have. I only have of the other activity that we did. We worked realy hard this week. I feal joyfull to see the result of our work. THis week we filed our rented chapel full that there wasent anyamore room. What a joy it was as 96 or so asisted the church i love this little town with all my hart. We have pout a project in to action and hoping that it will double the asistencia i dont have much time to epxlain the plan. We devided Nindiri in 11 sectore. Each sectore we called al lider and he has a team of 5 people or so. They are 2 with pristhood and 2 of sociedad de socoro. Evryone is realy exited to work with this plan as we spent some time working with branch president and chorum president to get this plan going. We as missionarys will be helping suprevise this work. Its to help retain our efert. Love this work and i am exited for the next week. We had a baptism he has 88 years old and he is just needs to go to church one more tim e he has 2 in the church and he needs 3 to baptize some one. The reason he cant go to church is that he has bad health.This week we will try to get permission from the president to baptize him. Also found two new familys i will let you know how thats going next week. Love you all. Be ye all strong in doing good and keeping the commandments.
Love Elder Pearce

Buenas

2008-11-10T11:37:00.003-06:00

From: Elder Andrushka Pearce Dated: 10.13.08

Dear Family
Well lets see what hapend this week. We had a very good turne out on our mutual night for the whole ward. We also got to help a family get merried and it was a very lovely time. I got to learn a little how to decorate and plan for a weding. I remember at the end i gave a little advice and i could give an example of my lovely mom and dad. Also this week we had a meating with the stake were all the missionarys got to teach all the bishops counsler and all about Preach my Gospel and it went realy well. It amazed me how much experiance we have with preach my gospel. Not only we read it i could see how we live. I got to teach about camitment and i got to learn realy well about camitment. THis week has gone realy fast we are working realy hard. THis week we have a 81 year old brother he lives with his son who is mamber. He is very faithful do to not having much strength to go to church he has walked and sacrificed to go. I have come to realize that the spirit dose the work we live worthy to fallow the spirit and to be in the presence of him. I HAD SOME mericles hapen this week as we got on a bus a brother told me he has bin looking for me. He said elder pearce i have bin looking for you to prepare my wife to get baptized he told me in english. We started talking and i found out he is from nicaragua he lived in maiami and that he has served a mission and has 41 years. I could feal the spirit tell me and testify that i have seen him before and that i was ment to be in this area at this time to help him and his wife. I love this work i love seaing mericles. I will let you know what els hapends. Oh another quick mericle. In nicaragua there is a lot of home shops. They sell candy and lots of stuf. We past by one and my companion baught a loly pop one for him one for our mission lider and one for me. As he gave me mine i felt like i shouldent eat it and that some one needed one. It was amazing because the spirit was clear what he wanted. I could feal like some one needed it so i pout it in my pocket and kept on walking. At the same time looking in the streets like who needs this. I pased by some small children nothing. Then we past by a les active person and a little boy steped out with a black eye. We asked what hapend and found out he has some sicknes in his eye. I then new that it was for him. The spirit is clear if we are prepared to recive it. This week we also got to have a zone confrence in wich presindent Fraatz talking about repentance i love the talks about repentance that he gives they are realy clear and motivate to do better giving up not only the big things that you do but also the little things that you dont do and do. Love this work love evry single one of you keep up writing. Elder Pearce

uno mas año

2008-11-10T11:33:00.001-06:00

From: Elder Andrushka Pearce Dated: 10.06.08

Dear Family
The time is just pasing by like a rushing river. We got in this are and started to work hard we had a mutual with all the members. We watched legasy and talked about sacrifice it went well as the branch president caught our vission and is ready to help and work hard. We are starting a project were we can help with home teaching feloshiping and retaning new converts i am exited to work on it. We had a set back this week thinking that i could do it with out the lords help. I had to be humbled and ready to work harder this week. We have had many meatings with the branch president and our mission leader and the elders chorum president. They are starting to catch the vission of what we are doing. We had a baptisim this week in a old church baptisimal font as we cleanded it out it lookes like a swiming pool it was a great experiance. I have come to love this are i know that there is so much work to do. Also this week we went to the market with all the missionarys and started singing to get atention of all then as we had a box we one by one got up on the box to share with all the message. Not many stoped by to leasten we gave away pamphlets and it was a great experiance to get up and loose the fear in the work and share with peopel why we are here as misisonarys. I loved standing up and sharing with all a desire to come closer to our Savior Jesus Christ i know this is the work of the lord it moves and will be sounded in evry ear. The work is growing here. Our mission president has a very big vission. I am so glad to be here and to be part of this work. The best part as you loose your slef in the work you come to find awnsers to what is measing and what needs to corected in your life. Congrats nick and crystal i love you dearly and will next week send pictures. oh all my family is going to be together. Know dearly how much i love each one of you. Loves Elder Pearce

First Week

2008-10-15T10:24:00.011-05:00

From Elder Matthew Courtright, dated October 13, 2008 (edited for punctuation, capitalization, and sacred or personal third-person content)

Hello Sister Freeman!

If you haven't assumed as such yet, this is Matt, or Elder Courtright, as I have been called lately. This has been one crazy week since I left Houston 1 week and 2 days ago. Uh, I got to Salt Lake at 3:30 on Friday afternoon and [a couple newly affianced] picked me up. Awkward! I have never had such a desire to scream and explode. We picked up Bro. Steward at the Church offices and drove home.

Saturday was [General] Conference. so we just watched that and that's it. Sunday, [a brother and sister and their respective fiances] and [the female fiance's] brother and I went to the Sunday morning session of Conference at the Conference Center. We had the most amazing seats. We sat on the floor 50 feet from the prophet. If I had sniffed hard enough, I could have smelled him. It was amazing. We also saw [Elder Groberg] (or however you spell it), the missionary from the movie The Other Side of Heaven. He's old now, as you might assume, but I saw him.

Then Monday and Tuesday happened. And Wednesday, Sis. Steward and Daina brought me to the MTC. I met my companion, Elder ----, who, outside of being super weird, is a great man. He is really passionate about this work. He encourages me to do things I wouldn't normally do because I am too prideful. My other 2 roommates are Elder Hiatt and Elder Albino. Elder Albino is from Hawaii, so we are learning lots of Hawaiian words, and Elder Hiatt is from N. Carolina.

We met the rest of our district Wednesday night. Only 3 out of the 12 people in our district are from Utah, 0 from Idaho. Pretty amazing huh? We have a really close, spiritual district. We bonded closely within 2 days. Unfortunately, 7 of us are going to Denver, 3 to Washington, D.C. and 2 to New Zealand. It's gonna be a really hard day when they split us up.

Uhh, what else? The lessons have been amazingly spiritual. I remember everyone telling me that, but I never would have imagined the magnitude of it. It's incredible. I love it. I have learned more in 1 week and felt the Spirit more than I did probably the entire time I was home this summer.

Today we went to the temple and that was a really good experience. I [participated in a prayer] and the lady [next to me] was bawling throughout the entire prayer. I felt such a love for her and when we were in the Celestial Room, I was impressed to thank her for her faith and testimony. I dunno why, but I was. Also, turns out in the MTC rules, elders aren't supposed to [participate because] it's holding a lady's hand. I plead ignorance this time.

I have been super lucky here because I forgot some things at the Stewards' house, but Hannah has brought them to me. If you think of it, ask Sis. Lyon for a Houston Temple Recommend holder. I asked Hannah to call her, but I forgot. My box number is 120 in case Daina didn't give that to you. It's great having friends work at the MTC.

Also, I think I am the only one in my district who hasn't been homesick. I don't think I can be since I have already lived away from home for so long. I am the 3rd oldest, and older than most of the missionaries here. It's weird cause I graduated a whole year before them.

Well, time is almost out. Just so you know, THE GOSPEL IS STILL TRUE! I WOULD KNOW! Send my love out :)

--Elder Courtright

The End of One Chapter, the Beginning of Another

2008-10-13T18:55:00.011-05:00

Editor's note:

Dear Reader: This week marks the end of an eight-year saga for the Freeman family, that of experiencing the joy of a son's missionary service. It has been nearly four years since we have not had a son serving a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Words cannot express the great joy and rejoicing I take in the decisions my sons have made to serve the Lord in preaching His Gospel, and I know that service will bless them their entire lives.

The change this will bring about in the lives of the Freeman family will be a significant one. However, I am not removing my eight-year-old 'missionary mom' tag from my key chain just yet. Since the loss of correspondence from my sons leaves a vacancy in this blot, I have recruited a young man in our ward who himself is a convert to the Church. Matt Courtright was baptized when he was about 16 years old (if I understand correctly), and is the only member of the Church in his family. I have watched him grow and mature in the gospel over the past four years and know he will make an outstanding missionary.

Elder Courtright, called to serve in the Colorado Denver North Mission, has graciously agreed to be my surrogate missionary son and I hope I can be of some support to him while he takes these two years to serve the Lord. While he is not in the Tarbet-Neves family and unknown to any but the Freeman branch of it, he is definitely in our ward family, and his contributions, like this blog itself, will continue to share faith-building experiences and hopefully instill in members of the Church a greater zeal for missionary work.

Enjoy.

Penny Freeman

Last Email as a Missionary

2008-10-08T13:06:00.007-05:00

From Elder Paul Freeman, dated October 8, 2008

Dear Mom,

You said it yourself. It's hard to think of something to write. But, you didn't have to worry yourself about sending me a "trunky" email. I don't get trunky. I just have a hard time sleeping at night when I get to thinking about not knowing what direction my life will take me. It's not that I'm worried so much as struck with wonder. Then I realize this wonder is going to accomplish nothing but a groggy morning when I wake up. It's an exciting time. But, just like you and Dallas have been telling me I look forward to making the most of this final week.**

Friday, there is a baptism for a lady we started teaching up in Victorville and had to hand her over to the english missionaries. She kicked her boyfriend out, moved her kids in, and quit smoking. As far as I know she's been going to church every week for a few months now. Her name is June. It was so cool to teach her and now she will be baptized on Friday and confrimed Sunday at the Samoan sacrament service.

This week, we are working in Rancho Cucamonga with Elder Krebs and Elder Johnson. They've been without investigators for a while, so they could really use the help. Yesterday we taught like crazy. Elder Krebs and I went tracting yesterday morning, and the very first person to answer the door invited us in. His name is Patrick and he said he's muslim.

This guy is really cool. He is the nicest and meanest guy ever. He talked about how he used to pride himself in being bigger and badder than anyone else. He wasn't just cocky either. Seriously, this dude is big and bad. He said if he ever got caught and convicted of everything he did, he would be in prison for 200 something years. But, one time he was seriously beating this guy in the face, saying all kinds of foul stuff to get him into submission, when an old guy came up and said to him "Boy! Leave that man alone". That made him angry but the old guy told him something that hit him like a ton of bricks, he said "A weak man can never show mercy". He said what that old man told him just played over again and again in his head and he finally realized how weak he really was.

Later, he got into the Nation of Islam but they kicked him out for "being too radical". He was telling everything he thought about how Islam is messed up. He made a lot of interesting points. The only thing is the subject matter and his language isn't appropriate to repeat, but he had a valid argument. This whole time he was commending us missionaries for the work we do. He seemed to admire it. He also seemed curious about what it was that motivated us. Elder Krebs said a few things that impressed him and after we taught him about the Book of Mormon he said "There most be something to that book". Then, he sent us on our way with a couple of Oreo cookies and we left him with a copy of the Book of Mormon.

After lunch, we didn't really know where to go and I suggest we go to a certain area. Elder Krebs led the way and determined the street we should track and we ended up spending the rest of the day on only one side of that street. Several people weren't home, other weren't interested, but there were like 5 houses in a row where we taught good, meaningful lessons. We ended up with one new investigator and a few potentials. It was nothing short of miraculous. We ended up teaching 7 lessons on that one half of the street. It was amazing. What an amazing way to spend the last week of a mission.

Thank you both Mom and Dad for making this possible. I don't think I could ever do or say enough to show you what it means to me. Without your love and support it never would have been possible. I am so looking forward to seeing you next week, and especially getting started on your to-do list.

Love,

Elder Freeman

** Editor's note: Elder Freeman will be arriving at the George Bush International Airport on Tuesday, October 14, 2008, at 2:14 pm. He will be flying Sky West from Salt Lake City.

I'll Be Home for Christmas

2008-10-01T13:58:00.003-05:00

From Elder Paul Freeman, dated October 1, 2008

Dear Mom,

I appreciate your email very much. I'm glad the power is back on and you and Dad can get back to regular every day living. And, these pictures are amazing. The new Park has a volley ball net?! That is terribly exciting. Ever since I got transferred out of the Samoan ward I haven't played volleyball.

Oh, as far as jury duty goes, I might as well stick to that date and get it over with. I'm not sure if you read about it in my last letter, but I checked my application status online a couple weeks ago and it said I had been denied to BYU Provo. I'm not really sure where to go from there, but going to school in Idaho doesn't sound all that appealing. I check out both the University of Texas and Sam Houston University, but still I'm not convinced one way or the other. I've got the idea that I can start out like Adam did in community college and see where it takes me from there. Especially because I really don't know what career I want. I know I've got plenty of time to figure it all out and only two months at home doesn't sound nearly enough to get grounded before heading out to school. I'll leave it at that for now.

I always say there is plenty of time to think about those things on the plane ride home.

We've spent the last week here in Upland, searching for new investigators. At times it feels like we're not doing as well as we should be. That just means I need to step back and remember that this is the Lord's work. All I have to do is make sure I'm focused on doing it His way. Whenever, I try to take over to do it my way it hardly ever works out. We've talked to really great people who are sincere about learning the gospel. I feel so blessed when we finally find someone like that. Each time is a miracle and a breath of fresh air. It feels like I've been out forever, but I really wouldn't have it any other way because I know I have been about my Father's business.

I'm so grateful for everyone who has made this possible. Especially my parents.

Thank you both Mom and Dad.

Love,

Elder Freeman

New Area

2008-09-29T15:35:00.002-05:00

From Elder Andrushka Pearce Dated: Sept. 29, 2008

Dear Family

Noooo I changed area and now I am in Masay. I love this area but miss the old one. It’s called Nindiri. My companion has 6 months and his name is Elder Garza. He is a very good missionary. We went right down in planning what we are going to do for this branch. Yes, it’s my first branch and I hope and pray that I will have 6 months here.

We got to know the branch president. He is a returned missionary and knows what missionary work is like. We have to do a lot of work to win the confidence of all the members here. I think the missionaries have a not very good reputation.

It is a very beautiful department (area?). The weather is colder and drier. I am starting to get used to it.

I have got a feeling that in this area we are going to reach miracles. I have been thinking a lot how fast my mission has passed me by. This area I hope to arise to a new sense of urgency. Believe me when I say I do have it. One year more is not enough time. I want to bless as many lives as I can. I have become a little hard. Meaning I preach repentance but this week I have put a goal to teach with more love.

I think sometimes it’s hard to make all the difference with love but that is what makes all the difference. I have come to realize the work of Mom and Dad. That it was hard. I have been feeling lately how blessed I am to have such a wonderful family. I love you all. Thank you Dad and Mom for all that you do.

Oh, we also opened this area. It was closed. What a wonderful experience. This life is full of experiences. The only thing we do is choose what we do. Will we rise to the challenge or will we run and hide?

I love my Savior. I love this work. It is truly the Lords church.

To you all who can read these words, Love You!
Elder Pearce

Three Weeks

2008-09-28T10:41:00.001-05:00

From Elder Paul Freeman, dated September 24, 2008

Dear Mom,

I love being a missionary. Yesterday we went around talking to people looking for someone to teach. We talked to many people and taught many lessons, but no one could see how much this gospel can bless their lives. Last night we talked to a man that had basically pulled himself out of the gutters of LA. He supported his family in a nice home by working cement. He's a tough guy but you could feel his frustration when he talked about losing everything. I wanted more than anything for him to know the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. He flat out rejected it. I told him that if came down to his last ditch effort, that reading the Book of Mormon is what he should do. I don't know if he'll ever consider it. All I know is that if he does, it will change his world around completely for the better. He will have more hope, and more strength, even more love. But, that is a big if.

The rest of the night I thought about how troubled the world is. I longed for nothing more than to see people turn to God in a way they only talk about.

We talked to a young man who said he would never follow a prophet of God at the risk of missing the mark. He said that no man should stand between us and God. Then, when we commited him to read the Book of Mormon, he said he would have to ask his pastor. No wonder the Savior said that they honor him with their lips but their hearts are far from them.

Just know that I am finishing strong. This is the greatest opportunity I have to teach the Gospel. I appreciate every minute of it. I hope you all are doing well and if the power's not on that it will be soon.

May the Lord bless and keep you.

Love,

Elder Freeman

A Dry Desert

2008-09-10T16:14:00.004-05:00

From Elder Paul Freeman, dated September 10, 2008

Dear Mom,

This new assignment has started out a little bit more challenging than I had hoped. We've been going out every day since last Friday looking for people to start teaching. Our goal is to find 15 new people who are willing to set up appointments for the missionaries in this area to come and teach them. We go out tracting and ride around on our bikes talking to everyone, which of course is what missionary work is all about, but we seem to be coming up short every day. There is very little to show for our efforts.

We do report how many hours we spend specifically finding new people to teach, and that shows our efforts, but the number of new people that we actually find shows the fruits of our labor. So, we have a lot of hours to report but not a lot of people. The main reason it concerns me is because that is our main responsibility. We don't have a ward and we don't have to worry about a lot of others things, so it should be simple and straight forward enough. I think the key is being in the right place at the right time and knowing it. All that depends on being obedient and following the Spirit.

Yesterday, we spent all day finding, and I was getting frustrated because we taught some good lessons and even handed out copies of the Book of Mormon. They could have counted as new investigators only if they would accept a specific return appointment. But, they all said they were busy. We were on our way to dinner when we saw this lady in her garage and decided to stop and talk to her. My companion did most of the teaching and she turned out to be our only new investigator that day. We felt really blessed.

I began to understand better about how this work is the Lord's and it will be done His way. I just need to continue to be diligent and steadily improve and strive to follow the Spirit. It's a challenge but I'm grateful for the opportunity. It's definitely is keeping me focused and busy, so I don't need to worry about slacking off.

Thanks for writing to me about everything that's going on at home. I'm super excited for Matt and it's great to hear how much support he's getting from the ward.

Dallas wrote me and said he's excited about the idea of me going to BYU, and I am too. I just checked my application status and sure enough, they received the ecclesiastical endorsement and believe it or not, I've already been admitted to BYU-Idaho. Now, I just have to wait to receive word from BYU. There could be a letter in the mail before I get home. If it does come, go on and rip it open and you can email me what it says.

Thanks again for everything you do.

Love,

Elder Freeman

Bus Contacting

2008-09-07T23:38:00.004-05:00

From Elder Andrey Pearce Dated September 1st 2008

Thank you so much Dad for the talk that you send me. I have realy come to
learn what it means to teach by the spirit because wean i dont have the
spirit i couldent teach not knowing spanish. It helps now knowing
spanish. This last week we had a 70 come and talk to us Elder
Clarke What powerfull serventsh he is. Leaving that meating i felt like i
was ready to talk to the whole world. This week i have had quiete the
experiance. The first one Elder Clark chalenged us to stand up and contact a
bus. So i told my còmpanion i am giong to do it. So heres the story. So we
get to the bus station and i am already nervous. So we enter a house write
were the bus passes and teach the man that was there. Then we left the
house and came the bus. So i let my companion pass by then i got on the bus
write in front of the buss driver and i asked him if i could talk to
the whole bus. He said sure. So i braiced my self and started talking i
started out hi then i asked a question as all faced me and my hart
started to beat boom boom. Then i made the mastake to ask a question and
a lady in the back replied wich made things easier i talked about the
booke of mormon and envited all to church. The hardest part was walking
back to my seat as i didnt have anything to brace my slef. Hahah i thaught
to my slef next time i will prepare a talk to give on the bus we will see
if i will have the couredge to preach on onther bus there wasent more
then 20 people but all that know me i dont like talking in huge
grupes ahahah. Well then we had a mutual in ruben dario. We set a
goal to have 30 poeple there and as we didnt have time we chalenged the
members to invite all and they did we had a lovly mutual or meating. I
taught about unity i have come to love this ward alot. I have come to
realize a trick to life i am the happiest wean i serve. Wean i forget about
my slef and go to work. I hope that i can learn how to better forget about
my slef and work. We also had a baptisms this week wich was a mericle.
Cesar he has 26 years we called him over the phone because he works far a
way and we can only teach him saturday and Sunday he goes to church by him
self o evry other sunday because of work. Each time he came he came with a
friend. So we called him and asked if he was ready to be baptised thirsday
and he said maybe. We told him if he pased the in terview he said yes.
Sunday morning we had scedualed the intrerview for 6:30 in the morning and
he showed up. at 7:00 we envited all members and they came he passed the
interview then we baptized in sacrament meating was confirmed and i could
feal the spirit strong as i sat with him testify to me that it was write.
I love the work i have to much to wirte So i will end with my testimony.
I know that the savior is center of this life we cant do anything or go
anywere without him. May we see his will each day and do what he would
have us do. I love him with all my hart. I know that with his help i will
reaturne in the presence of my heavenly father. Love you All
Thanks for your prayers. Congrats Tomi 3 kids is it a boy or a girl?
Thanks mom and dad for all you do!

Foxes Have Holes

2008-09-03T15:06:00.002-05:00

From Elder Paul Freeman, dated September 3, 2008

Dear Mom,

There has been a most unexpected development in my mission carrier. Not only have I been transferred out of my last area, leaving my companion behind, but I've been assigned to be a Traveling Elder. My companion, Elder Futch, and I are responsible for going to certain areas in the mission and strictly find new investigators to be taught by the missionaries in that area. We're starting off here in Rancho Cucamonga with two elders who just whitewashed into two wards.

To make things even more interesting, my companion and I will be relied on for our language skills. Elder Futch is a Spanish-speaking missionary. President Sanchez mentioned sending us to English, Spanish, and Samoan units. We'll be doing this for the entire transfer and will be my last assignment. It came as a complete surprise. I was expecting to go back to the Samoan ward for this last transfer, but it turns out the sister missionary from Samoa is training a new sister missionary and they put them in the Samoan ward.

I don't know how that is going to work if we are to help them find new investigators, especially since we don't have a car. But, the idea of at least visiting for one last time is exciting enough for me. I'm a bit reluctant though on account of how much out of practice my Samoan is. Hopefully Elder Futch and I will get some study time.

It's also something that will keep me busy and focused. I don't expect it will feel any shorter but at least I have strong motivation to work hard until the end. Also, finding new people to teach is not one of my strengths. Hopefully I'll be able to grow. I look forward to working on a bit of Spanish too, but not at the expense of my Samoan. It'll be a lot of fun too, going around to all different areas in the mission.

Oh, I did get your box. They did deliver it to the mission office by the 26th, but it took another day for them to forward it to our apartment. I actually got it Wednesday after we did our shopping. Thank you so much, it really was a party in a box. I regret not making the cake though. We didn't have any vegetable oil and it was the end of the month. The CD is fantastic and we listen to it all the time. Thanks a bunch.

Thanks also for the emails and the prayers.

Love,

Elder Freeman

A Marvelous Work and a Wonder

2008-08-27T14:26:00.004-05:00

From Elder Paul Freeman, dated August 27, 2008
Note: Elder Freeman's birthday was August 26, 2008

Dear Mom,

What fantastic things you've been up to! I so appreciate everything you've done. I'm very impressed with the website and thank you for all the neat video clips. Unfortunately, the computers at the library don't have speakers and missionaries don't have headphones, so I'll have to figure out something.

But, I want to let you know that I have re-applied for BYU in Provo and Idaho. I was super excited to find that they still had my application from 2005 when I first applied. All I had to do was long on with my user name, after calling for help with my forgotten password, then I found all the information was there from 3 years ago. I only changed a few things, the ones that have to do with serving a mission, and revamped my essay. They still had my ACT score and my high school transcript.

The only thing that was no longer valid was the ecclesiastical endorsement. So I printed off the form and sent it to President Sanchez. Hopefully he will send a positive endorsement :) . The deadline for applying for winter semester in January is October 1st.

Exciting still was the 30$ I payed last time to process the application is still good. I thought about taking a shot at Hawaii, but just decided not to. You were absolutely right on the family blog when you said I change my mind with my socks. But, there are a lot of things that are drawing me to BYU and really only one thing keeping me back and that's finances. However, I'll continue to pray about it, and if BYU is the place for me I won't worry to much about money. I don't want to be impoverished, but I know that money isn't everything. I'm not even sure what I want to study.

Anyway, that stuff will all work itself out in time. It's more difficult than I thought putting it to the back of my mind. The last thing I want is to lose focus this last transfer and bum out like so many others. One of our roommates complimented me on my lack of "trunkiness" and now I feel frustrated because 1) he spoke too soon and 2) now I have to live up to that :) . But seriously, there is so much to enjoy while still engaged in this work.

Thank you for sending the package. No, I haven't received it yet but yes, I just barely got a CD player from a garage sale for 5$. And my companion can't wait to send me home so he can have all my stuff.

Thanks again for everything mom, you're the greatest.

Love,

Elder Freeman

I Know Heavenly Father Loves Me!

2008-08-26T01:38:00.003-05:00

From Elder Andrey Pearce Dated: August 25, 2008

It’s been a treat to read the letters from Mom and Dad. This week has been really hard as we worked super hard. I feel like some times on the mission my faith is tried and if we pass, we gain a stronger testimony. We pushed hard this week to accomplish our goals and hope to see the progress in the future.

Dad, I started my mission 22 de Agosto. I think I am starting to learn how to be better in Spanish than English. I was thinking the other day it’s easier to write.

This week we found a lot of new converts and we had conference which was very well done and spiritual.

The other day I had an experience that led me to understand that my Heavenly Father loves me so much. So, we are walking to our appointment to eat. We are just tired, the rain is coming down and we don’t have anything to cover us. I really didn’t want to get my shoes wet. As the street are like rivers, I am jumping around, dodging the puddles. I come to one part that I have no where to go. So I start thinking, “What am I going to do?” I walked back and forth for awhile. It’s dark, I am looking for rocks to cross and nothing. At the moment that I was about to jump, up rides a man on a bicycle and tells me to jump on, so I did and he passed me through the water without getting wet. I jumped off and thanked him. He drove off and I didn’t know if he was a member or not.

I just remember what he looks like. I was thinking at that moment what love my Heavenly Father has for me, that He provided a way for me to cross the waters.

We are still working with the Munoz family but they’re having a hard time. They don’t want to change their Catholic beliefs so we are going to meditate a lot this week to see what we can do for them.

This week we had another Mutual with members. We talked about unity and it went very well.

I love this mission and all the opportunities that I have to serve, to learn and to give of myself. I hope this next year that I can give more and do better.

I was thinking the other day, when we first start out mission, we just jump in and start swinging our sword but not really hitting anything, just making noise. Then as we gain experience we sharpen our sword and with every blow we make a difference having strategy how we battle. I know this is the work of God. I love my Savior and hope to come to know him better and shape my life after Him.

Loves,
Elder Pearce

Lehi's Dream

2008-08-20T13:19:00.004-05:00

From, Elder Paul Freeman, dated August 20, 2008
[note: Paul's paternal grandfather died on Saturday, August 16, 2008, at the age of 94].

Dear Mom,

Your latest letter was very much appreciated. It was masterfully composed. I found it most uplifting and reassuring. I really enjoy hearing about everything that is going on.

I found out about Grandpa's death when I called President Sanchez on Monday to ask him about something unrelated. He told me he had news that Grandpa passed and that you wanted me to know. I appreciated it very much and thanked him. The thought didn't even cross my mind to grieve or feel sad, because I know the plan of salvation. That's how amazing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Grandpa was a good man and Grandma had been waiting, and it all makes the plan that much more real. I'm eternally thankful for the power and mercy of our Heavenly Father that allows families to be sealed for time and eternity. The last time did talk to Grandpa he said he wanted to try to make it to 100 yrs old. He came pretty dang close.

I also got excited to hear about Eric and Leanne's new arrival, even though I could have been spare a few details. :) And Adam and Ariane are finally moving in. I can't wait to see it all put together.

I'm also excited to hear about your efforts with Dallas and Lynda. I hardly know anything about want went on over the past year. But, I look forward to staying in contact more when I get I'm. I still haven't settle on what school I want to go to. I'll take a little time now to look at application deadlines for BYU.

Thanks again mom. I Love you.

Love,

Elder Freeman

Touched by the Spirit

2008-08-18T19:43:00.002-05:00

From Elder Andrushka Dated: 08.18.08

Dear Family,

Yay! I can’t wait to get to know my new family members (He just found out about Amelia being born and Eliza being imminent).

The work goes on and it got more intensified as we dedicated to work harder here and in Leon.

This week we had an amazing baptism. His name is Guillermo. I remember the first time we talked to him. It was four months ago. He didn’t want to hear about baptism, letting us know that he was baptized and he didn’t see a reason to change. He is the husband of a lovely lady that is a really strong member and has wanted to go to the temple and to be sealed as a family for awhile now. We have come to learn that when the Spirit touches someone’s heart, they get ready to be baptized. As much as we spoke as much as we could do, without the Spirit, we could not have helped him.

The baptism was lovely as lots of members were present. This ward each Sunday looks stronger and stronger.

So this week at the end of the sacrament, the first counselor asked me if I could give the Gospel Doctrine class or the Book of Mormon class. I looked at the manual and I don’t know why I said yes, but I did. I was given 5 minutes to prepare for class. As I started thinking to myself “What am I going to teach?” The Spirit came to me and let me know what the lesson was about and what I should talk about and teach. As I stood in front of all, I started to tremble, thinking how am I going to teach in Spanish? So we sang a song and started off into the lesson. I know that the Spirit was present. The class was lovely and interesting. I know that Spirit helped me a lot.

I also learned that’s why we plan on our mission. I love the work and each progression. I hope this second part of my mission will be just as great or greater. I hope that I will learn all I need to help the kingdom of God here on Earth. Love the Savior and His work. Love being a representative of Him. Hope to be a better one. Thanks for your prayers!

Noche De Hermanamiento"

2008-08-18T00:25:00.002-05:00

From Elder Andrushka Dated: August 8th, 08

Dear Mom, Dad and the family,

This week was an awesome week, with the ward, not so much with the investigators. The ward just seems to have come more together in the last 4 months that we were here. We started to do, “Noche De Hermanamiento”. It’s a gathering for everyone to learn the gospel Friday nights. We have come to form the ward together more. My comp and I have been switching off from area to area each week. It has energized the ward more. We are ever happy to be part of the work.

The other day I was driving back in a bus from on of these activities that we were in charge of. I thought to myself, “What an experience of my life to be in Nicaragua, to be speaking Spanish and to help this group of 24 feel the spirit, sing with them, and share their difficulties.” I thought, “How did I end up here?” and was ever excited to work harder in the Gospel to help more people.

It is very true out here there are many experiences to learn from Bishops. We have come to learn how each position in the church works. How truly inspired the organization of our Savior is. I know he leads this church. I have come to see the results each small part in the church has to do.

From the smallest assignment comes out the great life saving result. I have excitement to become better, to learn more. At times I get down thinking to myself how I wish I took life more seriously when I was younger, when I had all the time in the world. Instead of dibbling the ball outside for hours wishing being in the NBA. That I would have ready my scriptures, prayed more. Then I realize, I get up and do all that I can do.

I have come to realize how awesome my companion is. He supports me. All that I can’t do, he can. We have become a great team together and I have grown so much just this change. His name is Elder Flores. We have some activities coming up that we have planned out and are so excited.

The Munoz family have not yet made the choice. There are others that are just waiting for their answers to prayer.

I too can’t believe that I almost have a year on the mission. I did get the package. As I read Dan’s talk, tears streamed down my face and I had to walk outside so everyone wouldn’t see me crying.

I have come to be stronger on my mission. At times there is a lot of pressure to stand and talk to all. Through all the pressure I have come to know more who I am. What my Father in Heaven wants me to be. Stand up and be bold to this pressure.

As with my vitamins, I am great taking some almost every day now. Thank you mom for all the work you put into sending me this. Thanks Dad also for all that you do. Hope all is well at home. Seeing the photos of all the family together just missing me was sad. Don’t you worry. I love working in the Lord’s kingdom preparing for the second coming. Inviting all to partake of the atonement of Our Savior. I LOVE YOU ALL!

3 is the Magic Number

2008-08-13T13:24:00.000-05:00

From Elder Paul Freeman, dated August 13, 2008

Dear Mom,

It has been and excellent week for us. Saturday three people were baptised into the Church. We struggled to organize two separate baptismal services, but everything turned out fine in the end. The key to having a good baptism service is preparation and good ward members. We organized the program last Wednesday with the ward mission leader and made all the phone calls and coordinated everyone for the baptisms. It was truly a miracle to have everything fall into place the way it did. Then, at the services you could tell how supportive the ward members are. They really did own those baptisms as a ward. President and Sister Sanchez came to the first baptism and that was good.

The only the we really should have done better is filling out those stupid forms. We should have just taken care of it all at one time, but I kept forgetting to bring them. First, I left them home for the baptism, and then left them again for the confirmation. But, now we've got them mostly finished and we should send them in today.

We're also working with many other people who are learning about the restored gospel and it's exciting to see those who exercise their faith and strengthen it through study of the lessons. Elder Lestarge is doing very well. He will probably end up assistant to the president.

Anyway, the Library is terribly distracting today and I'm struggling to get anything else out. Thanks again for your love and letters.

Love,

Elder Freeman.

Another Week

2008-08-06T20:23:00.003-05:00

From Elder Paul Freeman, dated August 6, 2008

Dear Mom,

It's been another excellent week as far as the work is concerned. We've got two baptisms coming up on Saturday. Actually, it will be a total of 3 people being baptized but on account of scheduling conflicts there will be two separate services. We're excited. It truly is a blessing to come into the area with 3 people already prepared and committed. All we've got to do know is get other people moving and progressing in the gospel in preparation for more baptisms.

We're currently working with several people and the traveling elders came through and provided several more new people for us to work with. Elder Lestarge is doing very well also. He's far more helpful than I was when I first started. We're having a good time too, even though we're on bikes out here in the arid desert of Victorville. We've developed pretty good tans. I also like to think it's helping shed the extra pounds. Even if I am or not I still had to end up buying two new shirts. So, thank you very much for the additional funds.

I also couldn't resist a book called "The Inevitable Apostasy and the Promised Restoration" by Tad R. Callister. It's pretty amazing. He paints a pretty clear picture of what happened to the primitive Church. His primary source is the scriptures as well as modern day revelation from prophets. Even more amazing is the cherry on top he includes as writing from first century saints. President Sanches actually approved it as well.

It seems to be one of the major concerns that people face when learning the restored Gospel. It's difficult to accept that the authority to teach the gospel and perform its saving ordinances. People see it as God turning his back on the people, or refute it on grounds that there have always been Christians since the time of Christ. What is difficult to explain is how the people in the early days of the church actually turned their backs from the original teachings of Christ and polluted it with their own philosophies. It's hard for people to accept even when the majority of the New Testament was written because of that fact. The epistle were written in hopes to bring the people back in line with the original doctrines. Even the Book of Revelation starts off with the Lords admonitions to the Seven churches of Asia. He even warns the saints that if they don't repent he will take away their church.

But, still no matter how much evidence we produce, people will never believe the truth until they are humble enough to rely on Heavenly Father to show them the truth. The Savior Himself taught us to rely on our Father. That's the key to everything we do, and if I haven't got it then I wouldn't have made it this far.

Thanks again Mom for your constant support and prayers.

Love,

Elder Freeman

Addendum by separate cover (response to questions posited):

1. You already dumped more than enough in my account to qualify for a birthday present. [note: Elder Freeman's 21st birthday is August 26th).

2. I'm almost positive they have purchased a plane ticket for the 14 of October. (That means hold off your birthday festivities for at least a day). I am positive I finish on the 14th and the secretary did call and ask about which airport.

3. I took 6 pair of unopened garments I've had since I left and traded them in for a size bigger at the Beehive clothing in Upland. I'm fine mooching off my companion for sunblock, and yesterday I pulled out 3 sticks of Chapstick from of my bag.

4. I've lost the cable for my camera. So, I've got to go get prints from Walgreens. And buy stamps and envelopes.

5. You're the greatest. Love you

Elder Freeman

The Church is True and Life is Crazy!

2008-08-04T20:53:00.001-05:00

From Elder BJ Bernards, dated August 4, 2008

Dear Mom,

I don't want to put any undue stress on you but I really need garments. I heard that if you put what you really want in the beginning of the letter it shows how important it is.

Thank you for supporting me on my mission. It is going great! We are really working hard and feeling the Spirit guide us and inspire us every day and this district were leading is doing better than ever, and so is our area. We have been able to find two more families to teach as well as a couple individuals that are really neat, spiritual all, and we got to watch them teach themselves with the Spirit.

I am excited for the move thingy but sad too. Not sad like I'm gonna mope around all the time kinda sad, but the sad that it's the end of a beautiful phase kinda sad, like you wish a awesome day or time would never end but you've got to say goodbye I guess. I say goodbye, I committed my life into the hands of the Lord and just like He is preserving you and Dad and the family from day to day and even though I miss your goodness and all the changes that are happening I know that I will be fine. God has never ever ever let me down yet and I don't think he plans on doing so anytime soon. Life passes me by, and I will wave bye-bye with sweet gratitude for my Savior and this most compelling and mind-absorbing work of his. I leave my life and give my life so that others might achieve theirs, and in doing so I achieve mine. It's true that the more you sacrifice the more committed you are to it.

Can I get some pictures from you? I would want pictures of the house, the changes made to it inside and out, my bedroom please as well as the loft and pictures taken from the windows looking out at the vista of Alpine. Pictures of all the kids and you and Dad. That may be the only time I'll ever have to look from those places with those people ever again. Would you do that for me? Or assign someone else to do so? To tell you the truth and to be frank and honest with you, I feel like my requests get sucked down a black hole and never get back. I have to fight so hard in the short space I have to get what I need. I know my problems may not be as bad or as dire as some other people, but if I could get those things I would feel grateful to you and the family.

And I always do. You have given me the things that really get me through. The supplies that never run out and the nourishment that never ceases.

I really have to go.

Thanks, Please send me that stuff if possible?

Ben sent me some pics which was really awesome, I saw Kiki had a camera. Maybe Kiki can send me some too. Don't forget!

Love,

Elder Bernards

Busy, Busy, Busy

2008-07-30T20:18:00.000-05:00

From Elder Paul Freeman, dated June 30, 2008

Dear Mom,

Well, we finished off the first week in our new area. We really have been blessed. It started out when the assistants told us the traveling Elders would be comming to help us out in our area. Now, there are two elders assigned to travel from area to area finding new investigators. So for 3 day[s] all four of us worked together in our new area. Now we've got solid appointments for the next week and a half. One of the elders is a good friend of mine who lived in the same apartment when I was in the Samoan ward. The other is a very good missionary and I learned a lot from him.

Elder Lestarge, my regular companion, is really taking to the work. He's keeping up every step of the way. We've got 3 baptisms set up for the 9th. We've got a whole lot to look forward to.

As for other things, I have no idea what address our apartment is, but the mission address is 8280 Utica Ave Rancho Cucamonga CA 91730. And I had no idea about any earthquake. We're too busy to worry about things like that. But, thanks for keeping me in mind.

But, I'm having a hard time focusing. This library is pretty noisey. But, thank you so much for the extra money. I may really end up needing it today, depending on when they top off our MSF. Thanks again for your love and letters.

Love,

Elder freeman

The Church is True

2008-07-28T20:35:00.003-05:00

From Elder BJ Bernards, dated July 28, 2008

Dear Family and Friends,

I love being a missionary! Yesterday after church when we were taking a lunch break, we listened to the new Mo-Tab [Mormon Tabernacle Choir] CD called "Called to Serve" and the songs on there rang true with my soul. It stirred me up and as we went out I felt more bold than ever and the excitement of serving the Lord and proclaiming His gospel of Love filled my soul.

to work towards his baptism at the end of We were able to see some cool miracles happen too. Mike Corte didn't come to church again so we took a new elder who leaves for Switzerland in August with us to see him and he wasn't home. So right as we were pulling away he rolls in and invites us in and before we even said a prayer, a sermon comes out of my mouth as if I had practised and practised and memorised those scriptures and worked hard to organize it, and the Spirit aided us all as we taught Mike about repentance and baptism and getting a clean new life to start over with. He seems recommitted to work towards his baptism at the end of September and were seeing him tomorrow.

We were able also to see Peggy finally after a couple of days of no contact with her and she is loving us more and listening and responding more than ever. Usually she just changes the subject or refuses to answer, but her heart is softening up and she is growing and getting answers to her prayers.

Rohit Khada gave us a scare because we weren't sure if he could get baptised because he wont leave his traditions of Hinduism behind but claims that it supports his worship of God and Jesus Christ whom he believes in and prays to. So we called Pres. Newman and he told us that he is pretty sure it comes down to who you worship and keeping the commandments so he's pretty sure that he can be baptised. But, he alled the Church Headquarters to ask them for clarification and they counseled him to call India and ask them how they deal with Hindu's there so we can give Rohit good advice for his future.

We found a family last night as we followed out in our back-up plans. As we planned the night before we felt that we needed to see Dee who we had dropped from lack of interest, who lives in our apartment complex right at 8:30. Our plans earlier in the day were all shuffled around but it it all worked together for our good and ended up being there at 8:30 and her lights were on so we knew she was home! But she didn't come to the door.

Then the thought came to me to try a door of a lady we had briefly talked to in our parking lot and she gave us a date to come back but she was sick and didn't seemed too interested other times we saw her. But we knocked on her door and she said, "come in come in! This is my husband Bob, and he'll turn off the TV and here are our daughters, and sit down sit down lets talk." So we did, and had a wonderful time as we discussed revelation and answers to prayers and the gospel blessing families and extended a commitment to read Lehi's Dream and were coming back tonight with a couple in our ward.

We're also seeing Debra Baron who is a referral from Salt Lake who we saw earlier this week and who told us that she had read the chapter we had left, loved it and wanted another one and for us to come back tonight! That same couple is coming with us.

While we were over at the bishop's house last night for dinner, their neighbor girl who is 18 burst in and said, " Oh, I'm so glad you Elders are here cause I really need to talk to you guys. You remember when you ate at our house two days ago and you asked me about my friend who might be interested? She came to me with a billion questions and I was scared and unprepared and she wants to meet with you guys next Monday night at our house!" Holy cow, that is awesome.

We also had a great lesson at the bishop's home whee we taught the Restoration which never fails to invite the sweet spirit of Christ into the room and it uplifted everyone there.

I am grateful to be a servant of the Lord and know and witness that He lives and that He guides us in our daily endeavors. I got a letter from Sydney Bently who is the girl I baptised in North Platte who said " Every were I go I can feel the Holy Ghost with me! It is so awesome and I love every day. I have never felt this happy before in my whole life! Thank you and Elder Fallon for teaching me Sooooo much!"

I shared with the bishop's family last night the conversion story of Sydney and how she received a witness of the Book of Mormon's divinity as we read together 3 Nephi 11. We were inspired of the Lord to read it with her, and the Holy Finger of the Lord reached into her sweet heart and touched it and purified it and sanctified her soul and she knew then that this is the true and living church of God upon the earth, restored by the prophet Joseph Smith.

I love you family and I love your examples of enduring to the end. Please pray for me as I strive to work hard and be diligent for the next few months of my life. I need them.

Love,

Elder Bernards

Change, Change, Change

2008-07-23T13:24:00.002-05:00

From Elder Paul Freeman, dated July 23, 2008

Dear Mom,

How many curve balls can they throw at me in one week? First, I got a phone call on Thursday from the assistants telling me I had a package waiting for me in the mission office. Lies. It was their cute way of telling me I was being assigned to train a new missionary coming in from the MTC. So, we both knew that meant one of us getting transferred.

Then, we get the phone call on Saturday and our District leader tells us that we are both being transferred. That means we get whitewashed out and wherever I'm going with my new companion, we get whitewashed in. Several minutes go by and the phone rings again with the assistants on the other end. They tell me I'm also going to be District leader.

It all left me somewhat dazed. I didn't really know what to think or expect, I just wasn't excited about whitewashing into a new area. I had just barely been in that last area 6 weeks and they just ended up turning everything upside down on me.

Yesterday was transfer meeting, Elder Goodwin and I spent the morning packing and preparing the apartment for the new elders coming in. I was expected to be at the building where transfers were held and 2:30 for a trainers meeting, and the actual transfer meeting started at 3:00, maybe. I met my new companion before it started and got to know him a little bit. His name is Elder Lestarge from Chicago Illinois. He looks like a good missionary, soft spoken and obedient.

We ended up being transferred here to Victorville in the Green Tree Ward. I had a little experience in this area when we were working with the Samoans up here, but none of them live in this ward's boundary. Most of them are in the ward just south, so they're pretty much right across the street of where our ward ends.

Last night we got into our apartment around 5:30, the family scheduled to feed us dropped off money so we went out to Carl's Jr. It was fun. We don't have a car. We ride our bikes. I'm very out of shape.

So, after that we went and visited a couple names the other missionaries left behind and finished off the night with a trip to the ward mission leader to introduce ourselves. We talked to at least five people who saw us and thought they had talked to us before. We told them we had just got here but all missionaries look the same. I was pretty sore though by the end of the evening. It's a good time to get in shape though. It'll be the hottest part of the season pretty soon. It doesn't help that I've already run out of money on my mission card.

Nevertheless, we've got a lot to look forward to. Last night we met a guy named Ryan Freeman, of Irish decent, no relation though. He looked like he could use our help and he invited us back. We weren't sure how sober he was but we hope to go back before next week. Then, last night we called an investigator they'd been working with and got an appointment for tonight.

So, we're being taken care of and it's not quite as hard as I feared, yet. We've got good roommates and a real nice apartment. I'll keep you updated. Thanks for the letters and picture, prayers and love.

Love,

Elder Freeman

I'm in Trouble!

2008-07-16T19:55:00.005-05:00

From Elder Paul Freeman, dated July 16, 2008

Dear Mom,

Everything is going great. It really has been a fun week. We work with so many people and they're all very different. It's like a kaleidoscope that keeps changing. There are plenty of ] friendly, open-minded people who recognize [as false]much of the misrepresentations of what we believe. Richard is one of these fine individuals whose mother or grandmother converted to the Church in her old age, and he seems frustrated when he hears ministers of other religions slinging mud. He said he wants to hear our side and he's great to talk to.

The second time we met Victor, another investigator, he invited us right in and listened intently to our message. And the end of our most recent visit his mother-in-law asked us to pray for a family member who is ill. It's a reward in itself to see people begin to trust us and recognize our pure intentions. Richard even asked me if I was living as honest and truthful as I possibly could. It was a relief to answer in the affirmative and gain his trust.

We found another lady who has a sister who converted and she was interested in finding out more. She's going through a difficult time in her life and we were able to teach her about how the Atonement blesses us and how we can find strength [through] the restored church that has been founded on Apostles and Prophets, the Savior Himself being the chief cornerstone.

On the other hand, I've been getting my share of distractions. That's why I say I'm in trouble. It's frustrating because I have so much time left, the last thing I want is my mind wandering and my diligence slacking. I try to find ways to keep focused. Days like yesterday don't help though. I had a dream that I was at college and it was exciting to start new classes and everything like that. Then I woke up and felt like a race horse who's gate never opened and I'm watching everyone speed down the track.

Then we had dinner with an amazing family. The Tualatamalelagi's. Yup, the husband is Samoan, but born in NZ and raised in the States. Guess what he does for a living? He is a Conceptual Design Artist for Major Motion Pictures. He's worked on some of the new movies coming out like The Mummy 3 and Hancock, and a bunch more. He was way cool to talk to. Then they asked what other areas I served in and I had to tell them, and they got all excited and wanted to know all about it because they're planning on taking a trip next year to Samoa.

So, I'm taking the time to get it all out right now and let you write back [and] chastise me, yada, yada, and I can refocus.

The good thing is, I love this work too much and feel so blessed to let anything else get in the way. There is so much more to do and so little time to do it. As long as I'm careful and always watch my thoughts, everything will turn out fine. Thanks for the continued love and support.

Love,

Elder Freeman

~~~~~~~~~~

Mom's reply:

Dear Sweet Son,

Perhaps my letter may be of use. not to chastise but to focus. The gospel is true, I know beyond all doubt you are doing the Lord's work, that for which you are uniquely qualified. You are doing what is right for this time in your life, but if you had no thoughts of next year, I'd expect you to be brain-dead. You are eager to step off into the great beyond. You're supposed to be. It's what young people do.

It's understandable that you feel this tug to get on with your life. Of the truth, I feel the tug for you myself and have been making enough plans for your next year that you would run away screaming if I told you. So, whenever you feel the pull, just think, Argh! My mom's got my future all planned out for me. I can't think about it!! I'll never go home! That should do the trick quite nicely.

All my love and prayers,

mom

Missionary Work is Hard~New Companion

2008-07-14T14:15:00.001-05:00

From: Elder Andrushka Sent: July 14th, 2008

It sounds like the family had a blast! I will be there for the 2010 reunion.

Well the missionary work is hard. I have realized how the prophets felt as they went out to declare repentance and the people didn’t want to hear. I love standing in the places that I get experience and understanding of this gospel.

We had a baptism fall through this week and I felt heart broken. The work of the Lord is tough. It takes all mental, physical and spiritual day to day giving all that you have. I have come to realize through all the experiences, what kind of person I want to be.

We are still working with 2 great families that have been progressing very well.

My new companion’s name is Elder Flores M. He is awesome. He has been on his mission for 20 months. I will be learning a lot from him.

Well, love and miss all! I LOVE my FAMILY!

Elder Pearce

Great News! Family Baptism

2008-07-14T13:59:00.003-05:00

From Elder Andrushka Sent: July 7th 2008

Well, great news!

The family that was watching TV got baptized this week. It was sad because my comp got transferred right as they decided to get baptized. It was one of the best learning experiences. I hope all my baptisms are like this. I have never felt such a strong spirit in the baptism. I knew they had the desire to be clean and a new formed family. They did everything we taught them.

Going into the baptism they were fasting. I have come to care for this family a lot. The mom got the call to be the first counselor in the Relief Society. They are an amazing family with great faith. What a great opportunity I have to be the instrument in my Father’s hands to bring them the great news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I have a new comp. He has been on his mission for 20 months. It is weird going from teaching all of the sudden to learning. I know my Heavenly Father loves me. I am so grateful to be on my mission. I love every single one of you and hope that you will have fun on the trip.

Love you Mom & Dad.

A Sure Foundation

2008-07-09T12:55:00.004-05:00

From Elder Paul Freeman, dated July 9, 2008

Dear Mom,

Things are going great. Although, it seems as if the opposition is heating up. Two days ago we had a challenging encounter. My companion and I resolved to tract a certain street. As soon as we stepped out of the car we met a gentleman who was getting ready to change his oil filter. He immediately asked if he was on our "list". We reassured him our meeting was simple coincidental and ask if he had visited with missionaries before. He said they visited him but discontinued on account of disagreements.

That should have been my first clue, but he continued to talk about what he knew about the church and said how some people viewed it as a cult. I asked him if he sympathised with that view and he said he did. That should have been my second clue.

Well, I guess I'll spare you the gory details, but when it came down to it, he was the last person we needed to talk to that day. You should know that I'm the last person who would get in a heated argument about the gospel. It means too much to me. I never argued and there were things that man said that he should have been rebuked for, but I didn't. He was so far off base he couldn't begin to fathom the significance of personal revelation. He even argued that Jesus Christ said that there would be no additional scripture after the Bible. We reminded him of course that the Bible as it exists today did not exist in the Savior's time.

He was sure to compliment our sincerity, but was very specific and deliberate when he told us that "you are wrong". He denied my personal testimony and claimed it as a preprogrammed response. Of all the things I could have said and done, I wished him well and offered free labor before leaving.

The next day I read last year's conference talk from Elder Ballard on the importance of personal revelation. Such sweet peace and comfort has entered into my heart knowing that I have built my life on the foundation that Jesus Christ Himself said would never fail. Of course it's not fun to have to test it, but it hasn't failed me yet and if hell itself should combine against me, it will all be as chaff in the wind.

I am preaching this gospel because the God of Heaven has chosen me for this work and there isn't a man alive that can tear me from it. I will continue to fear God more than man because I know this is His work. It has never been easy, but that's not going to stop me.

Thank you for all your support mom.

Love,

Elder Freeman

Steadfast and Immovable in the Gospel

2008-07-02T20:15:00.002-05:00

From Elder Paul Freeman, dated July 2, 2008

Dear Mom,

Thanks for all your amazing letters. You never need to worry about them being too long. You're the only one who ever writes me, and my companion always wonders why I spend so little time on the computer.

Thanks for those links from uncle Alan. I'm sure they will be useful. It makes it easier for us too. I had no idea how I would be able to figure out what he was talking about. But, like you said it may not add up to much unless he is willing to humble himself and receive a witness of the Holy Ghost. I've known that for a while now, but it never ceases to amaze me how extremely vital it is.

Especially now, more than ever, it seems like we've been facing greater and greater opposition. People we've never met before will come right out directly and boldly tell us how we are wrong and teaching false doctrine. And to be honest, it can be upsetting. Many missionaries will challenge it then and there and pretty much pick a fight. I know that never accomplishes anything, and I usually just let it go and move on to the next person. But, for a while now I've wanted to be more direct and more bold, and the tricky part is not to come off over-bearing.

This morning I was reading when Alma and Amulek were teaching the people and they really laid into the people. Now I know I'm no Alma nor Amulek, but I have just as much right to defend the truth. I don't have to argue and I don't have to get angry. I just can't let people whom I've never met and don't know me to challenge my integrity as a witness of the Savior and His Church. I've also noticed the General Authorities being bolder in conference talks. I know I can follow their example and be steadfast and immovable in the Gospel I know and love. You're a great example mom and I love you very much.

Love,

Elder Freeman