Woah!! this week has been CCRRRAAAZZZY!! well not to bad just a very hard working week. It feels so good though. we went about the week and on Tuesday and Wednesday we tracted for like 6 hours each day. man that is one way to make your days seem twice as long as they really are. but honestly it was hard but we had so much fun. the time went by pretty fast now looking back.

I finally got down to business and burned a tie this week in memory of 6 months theat came and flew by. that was an adventure.

we went out a couple days ago all the way acrossed the area to go and visit some people and we had never been to there house before and we get all the way out there and then go to look at the gps on how to get to their house. and come to find out the gps is dead and we have no clue how to get there. we didn't have a number to call them or anything either. so we decided we would say a prayer and then ride around the streets trying to find it. as we did we came to this fork in the road. we started going right but something told me go left. so I told elder winter and we then went left. after traveling a bit down the road we came upon the road that we were looking for where the house was on. it was a small but great miracle. the lord really did bless us and we were able to make our meeting and get to our planned destination. it was awesome to see the lords hand in guiding us to were we needed to be.

we went on exchanges with the zone leaders this week as well. Elder Astle came here to the sandy plains ward with me. there had been a lot of rumors about him and I was a little nervous about being with him but he is such an awesome guy. so nice and loving and doing all he can to be the best missionary he can be. I really learned a lot. it was cool because he taught me to be more bold in all I say and do. and also do anything we can to help the people we come in contact with just feel the spirit. that is the most important thing. if they can feel the spirit that will lead them to want more and in turn seek for it and that is what we want. we have started doing all we can to make this possible it is cool because at every door contact we do even if they reject us we offer to say a prayer with them and almost every time they say yes and are way open to say a prayer it is a great way to bring the spirit in and allow them to feel it and to show that we love these people even if we just met them because we pray for them by name and their families specifically. it really has been such a great experience doing this. I have been able to feel the spirit more and also see the spirit touch the lives of those we come in contact with. we always leave with a good feeling and never a bad one when we do this.

I had to speak in sacrament yesterday and I thought that I was going to be nervous but honestly I wasn't even nervous at all it surprised me. I guess I am getting over my fear. but it really was a good experience and I am glad I got to do it. I actually enjoyed . i never thought those words would ever come out of my mouth. i enjoyed giving a talk it was a great learning experience.

i love yall so much. thank you for the emails letters prayers and all you do. it really does mean so much!!

WHAT A GLORIOUS WEEK

What a glorious week.

 

This week was very different one. But that's alright because it is good to get a change of things every once in a while. There was this guy in our ward well his wife is a member but he was not. We loved going over and visiting with both of them and they both became some of our favorite people to see. Last week they got in a pretty bad car accident though and he ended up passing away. So we were able to go to his funeral. It was a sad time but so remarkable too. We came to realize after minutes of being there that we only thought we had known this man but really we didn't know who he really was. He was such a humble guy and didn't tell us about all he had done in his life.

 

Turns out that he was a free mason just like joseph smith was and he was a very high degree of a free mason as well. He also was in this group called the ELKS. Which I am not exactly sure what it is but I know they do a lot of service for others and he had many many awards in that organization and they did a ceremony there for him as well. Also he was a veteran and was part of the American legion and they did a good ceremony there as well. It was so cool to see all he had done in his life and just hear everyone talk about him. I’m lucky to have known this man. What was way cool? was after the service when we travelled to the grave site and we are all driving in a line of cars we had a police escort the entire way there and as we drove traffic stopped completely and people would pull off to the side of the road no matter what direction they were going no matter if there was a median no matter what everyone stopped and paid their respects some would even get out and salute as everyone drove by. It really was so cool to be able to see everyone truly show their love for the family and the service rendered by this man.

 

we spent one of the days this week in the doctor’s office because elder winter had something wrong with his eye the doctor thought that it was pretty serious but luckily it turned out not to be too bad at all. We kept telling the doctor that he just made me mad and in punched him. We would all have a laugh about it. Luckily it’s not true ...yet, ha-ha joke

 

So we were out tracting this week and as we do sometimes we had gotten bored so we were trying to find ways to spice things up a bit and make it a little interesting. so I don't know why but I started talking to elder winter in an Australian accent after a little bit elder winter dared me to talk with an Australian accent at the next door we came too. so I finally got the courage to do it. I started out good but then to my surprise the guy I was talking to is actually from Australia and he has a real actual Australian accent. I shut my mouth right then and couldn't get myself to say another word. What are the chances that the one time I did it there would be an actual Australian? luckily I don't think he noticed I was doing it. But I learned my lesson and am way too scared to ever do it again. But it was so hilarious we were freaking out about it.

 

So we had stake conference this last week as well. It was a different one though. The stake conference was actually a broadcast it was being broadcasted form Orlando Florida all throughout Florida Georgia and parts of South Carolina. Elder Russell M, Neilson spoke as well. It is always cool to hear an apostle of Jesus Christ speak to us. It really is a privilege.

 

It is always awesome to have an investigator come to church. And yesterday we had one of our investigators come to church. His name is Judd. He is so cool. Most humble guy ever and will literally do anything for you. He has been through so much from drugs and jail so being shot at and living to tell the tail. He has realized he may have not lived how god wanted him to but he’s done and wants to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ he is doing all he can to became better. I was so happy to have him come. Usually I would be nervous for an investigator to come to church I guess that is just natural though. But there is not much to be scared of when it is an apostle of god speaking. It’s pretty easy to know that they will say the right things. Anyway he absolutely loved it and can’t wait to come back. People really welcomed him as well which was so nice. He felt loved and that is so important to have them feel loved if they feel loved then they will love to come back.

 

It was cool at the stake conference they talked about all the technology and the media today. And one of the speakers said that social media and all the technology today is not for what we think it. He went on to say that the lord brought all the technology and the social media out in this day and this age because it is for the use of bringing souls unto Christ. It is part of hastening the work and he is using all his options and social media and technology are great resources to help bring souls unto Christ. They are just tools in the lord’s hands.

 

I love you all this is a great time to be alive. I am so grateful to be a missionary. Stay classy everyone. I love you all.

 

The one formerly known as Trevor

broken bike again???

Hey Y'all! How is everyone doing? This next week is transfers and so everyone is being switched around. Elder winter and I are staying together here in sandy plains. So nothing to new for us. Just keep on trucking.

I am excited to hear how every ones New Year’s was. We were able to go out and have a legit full on authentic Greek dinner with one of the members here. The fletchers they are way nice their son served his mission in Boise so elder winter and him had a lot to talk about. We even got to watch an interesting firework show. his friend came over and had over 1000 bottle rockets and was lighting them off in every direction we had a couple close encounters but luckily we all made it out alive.

We have been doing a lot more teaching which is really good because I realized how much I can improve on my teaching. Elder winter is a really good teacher and I am learning so much. It’s so nice that we are having more and more opportunities to teach I really enjoy it. Now it’s good because I and elder winter are becoming closer and closer and we are teaching together more and more and our words flow together. It’s a lot easier and so much better now that we teach in unison.

This week has been so dang cold. I swear it gets colder and colder every single day. It even snowed this morning. Barley at all. It was a little flurry that didn't even leave anything on the ground none the less it snowed today! So flipping sweet to see the snow it almost makes the cold worth it.

So I have never had problems with my bike until I came out here and now it seems like everything goes wrong. We were riding our bikes and it was raining that day and we were coming upon this big puddle so I pulled up my front tire off the ground to get my front tire over the puddle and when my tire came down I guess all the weight or pressure forced my handle bar and it snapped in half. I have never seen anything like. I wasn't happy I drove around the rest of the day one handed until we got back to the apartment and one of the missionaries before us had left a bike so I just took the handle bar off that old bike. Honestly it made me laugh. You can’t get too mad or else the day is ruined I have found that when you laugh at everything it makes it so much better.

Well we were able to meet Jose this week the guy that found us... we were able to teach him the restoration and we taught it and he got a bit confused about some things but he is way open and isn't afraid to ask questions luckily. So we were able to resolve all his questions and he loved everything we had to say and the spirit really touched his heart. He told us he could really feel something talking to his heart. He was like wow I feel weird! And he couldn't explain what he felt but he just said that he loved the feeling and it was so good!

Our teaching pool has been growing every day. We are finding a lot of people to teach and are able to do a lot of teaching. We are loving it and the time is so great. It feels like time is just flying by like someone pressed the fast forward button on my life. It’s crazy! I love you all so much! Be safe. Stay classy!! ha-ha always remember who’s your daddy?

It has been a memorable week. My first Christmas out and I was able to talk with my family which was so nice. Although the time seemed to fly by as if it were only a couple minutes. I did really enjoy it. I hope your Christmas was great.

we started out our day with going to a members house where we were fed a huge Christmas breakfast. it was very nice. then we went from house to house visiting some of the less active members in the ward that we have been working with. we got to see the Surkans they are a part member family and their daughters are little geniuses they speak fluently German French and English and are learning Russian right now. we were able to go over and share a German book of Mormon stories book with them which they loved and also left them some CTR rings as a constant reminder that they can always look at to help them choose the right. Also the Cogbills we showed up right on time they were beginning to put the trampoline up and we wee able to help them its a good thing to because after about 15 minutes the kids had had enough and they left the dad to do it himself so luckily we were able to come together and help them finish it.

Last week sometime we were walking around late at night trying to find something to do after all our plans had fallen through we were real tired and stopped to get a drink and while we were waiting to get our drink the guy behind us started talking to us and offered to give us a ride home. we accepted it because our legs and feet were pretty sore and tired. but he was way nice and we talked to him a little about what we do and our message of Jesus Christ. but it didn't seem like he or his wife were to interested. but he gave us his information his number and address and everything, and he said to call him sometime and we could come by. even then we didn't think that he was too interested. but then this week the day after Christmas again all of our plans and back up plans had fell through so we decided to give him a call. when we called him he said to come over right now. so we hurried on over. when we showed up he started telling us that he himself was not right with god and that he was willing to have an open mind and heart to what we had to say. he had a couple conditions that we had to respect him and if he found out we were lying he would be done listening to us and also if the book of Mormon didn't line up with the bible then he didn't want us to continue. we agreed to all of those things because we already do all those things anyway. as we talked with him we were trying to find a better time to come back for our next visit. he was looking over his calendar and he was contemplating a time and then he said... OK..... ill come to church with y'all on Sunday. it was a shock we didn't even have to invite him and he was already willing to come. he even said he would pick us up. we were way excited but Sunday morning he got really sick so he called us and told us and went out of his way to make sure we knew that he was not bailing and that he was actually sick. then he said to call him on Tuesday and we can come over. but he is so awesome. it really showed me that there are literally people everywhere waiting for us to come find them. or in this Case they find us. but just because I don't think they are good people to talk to it doesn't matter because the lord knows who they are and the lord is preparing people everyday for us to come in contact with.

we had set up with the young men's president in the ward to go out on splits this week with the Young g men since they were off school. so on Thursday and Friday this week we went out with the young men. it was a really fun time to be able to take them out. we had set up for them to be able to go and teach or help teach an investigator a less active member and then we had scheduled a lunch with a member in which we would teach a lesson to and also we would take them tracking. it was so much fun. plus the young men must bee good luck because some of the less active members we couldn't get a hold of we were able to get in with every single one of them. and while we were tracking the people were so much nicer to us and we actually got to talk with and find a bunch of people that could definitely be potential investigators. it was funny because the young men had a blast but also they were like dang this is hard work and they realized how hard it is but also they saw how rewarding it is too. I really know that we helped get them excited to serve their own missions for the lord.

I hope y'all had a wonderful Christmas and I hope you have a happy new year. I love y'all!!

Just me chowing down on a whole mess of craw fish!!! way good!!

Elder Winter all done up in his camo ready to hunt something!

Love T Ross!

It has been a memorable week. My first Christmas out and I was able to talk with my family which was so nice. Although the time seemed to fly by as if it were only a couple minutes. I did really enjoy it. I hope your Christmas was great.

we started out our day with going to a members house where we were fed a huge Christmas breakfast. it was very nice. then we went from house to house visiting some of the less active members in the ward that we have been working with. we got to see the Surkans they are a part member family and their daughters are little geniuses they speak fluently German French and English and are learning Russian right now. we were able to go over and share a German book of Mormon stories book with them which they loved and also left them some CTR rings as a constant reminder that they can always look at to help them choose the right. Also the Cogbills we showed up right on time they were beginning to put the trampoline up and we wee able to help them its a good thing to because after about 15 minutes the kids had had enough and they left the dad to do it himself so luckily we were able to come together and help them finish it.

Last week sometime we were walking around late at night trying to find something to do after all our plans had fallen through we were real tired and stopped to get a drink and while we were waiting to get our drink the guy behind us started talking to us and offered to give us a ride home. we accepted it because our legs and feet were pretty sore and tired. but he was way nice and we talked to him a little about what we do and our message of Jesus Christ. but it didn't seem like he or his wife were to interested. but he gave us his information his number and address and everything, and he said to call him sometime and we could come by. even then we didn't think that he was too interested. but then this week the day after Christmas again all of our plans and back up plans had fell through so we decided to give him a call. when we called him he said to come over right now. so we hurried on over. when we showed up he started telling us that he himself was not right with god and that he was willing to have an open mind and heart to what we had to say. he had a couple conditions that we had to respect him and if he found out we were lying he would be done listening to us and also if the book of Mormon didn't line up with the bible then he didn't want us to continue. we agreed to all of those things because we already do all those things anyway. as we talked with him we were trrying to find a better time to come back for our next visit. he was looking over his calendar and he was contemplating a time and then he said... OK..... ill come to church with y'all on Sunday. it was a shock we didn't even have to invite him and he was already willing to come. he even said he would pick us up. we were way excited but Sunday morning he got really sick so he called us and told us and went out of his way to make sure we knew that he was not bailing and that he was actually sick. then he said to call him on Tuesday and we can come over. but he is so awesome. it really showed me that there are literally people everywhere waiting for us to come find them. or in this caase they find us. but just because I don't think they are good people to talk to it doesn't matter because the lord knows who they are and the lord is preparing people everyday for us to come in contact with.

we had set up with the young men's president in the ward to go out on splits this week with the youn g men since they were off school. so on Thursday and Friday this week we went out with the young men. it was a really fun time to be able to take them out. we had set up for them to be able to go and teach or help teach an investigator a less active member and then we had scheduled a lunch with a member in which we would teach a lesson to and also we would take them tracting. it was so much fun. plus the young men must bee good luck because some of the less active members we couldn't get a hold of we were able to get in with every single one of them. and while we were tracting the people were so much nicer to us and we actually got to talk with and find a bunch of people that could definately be potential investigators. it was funny because the young men had a blast but also they were like dang this is hard work and they realized how hard it is but also they saw how rewarding it is too. I really know that we helped get them excited to serve their own missions for the lord.

I hope yall had a wonderful Christmas and I hope you have a happy new year. I love yall!!

Just me chowing down on a whole mess of crawfish!!! way good!!

Elder Winter all done up in his camo ready to hunt something!

Love T Ross!