Fwd: 3.9.09

---------- 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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

---------- 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

Misioneros de Managua Nicaragua!

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

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

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

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

Tribute to Carissa Part 2

Work Hard, Then Work Harder

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

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.