Well not too much exciting happen this last week. There was a huge ice storm that came through and it shut the state completely down. There was about 2 inches of ice everywhere if I wanted I probably could’ve put ice skates on and skate anywhere because the ice covered everything.

well it kind of sucked because president told us not to go outside because it was "dangerous" it really was but everyone was so scared that no one left their homes so after we hit that point we got cabin fever pretty bad and couldn’t handle it much longer so we went and knocked a few doors since we knew that everyone was stuck in their houses so we used it to our advantage. While we were trapped in our apartment luckily because elder winter plays the guitar a member had let us borrow a guitar so we sat inside and wrote songs all week and pretty much we are going big. We might have to have a world tour or something because we’re going to make an album and its going worldwide.

 

While being bunkered down in our apartment all week the assistance called me and informed me that the lord has called me to train a new missionary. Yeah wasn’t expecting that at all. Kind of nervous for it. Yet I am so dang excited. I get to meet my new son on Wednesday. At first I was thinking that how could I do this and I am one that shouldn’t be doing this. But then president wolfert read I this quote and it said "whom the lord calls the lord qualifies" and it is so true that the lord does qualify everyone he calls. no matter what calling or whatever he has asked of us as we diligently follow him and do all we can to listen and obey him then he will be there for us to lift us up in times of need and make us strong enough to make it through situations we never thought we could handle. He truly is thee for each of us. He loves us. He loves you. He wants to see us succeed and wants to see us grow. He doesn’t give us anything we can’t handle but realistically if we have him on our side then we can handle anything. So grateful.

 

I am sad that elder winter will be leaving me now. I have had so much fun with him and I really am going to miss him.

 

Overall it has been a very different week. It has felt so weird. It’s all a crazy blur. But I am excited for this next upcoming week there are a lot of changes happening around me with so many missionaries being changed.

 

We’ve had some pretty awesome Pday nerf wars

 

I love you all. Be safe. And stay awesome.

 

Therefore it came to pass that elder winter and elder Ross did wax strong in the work of the lord. Yeah they did persist to do all they could for the souls of their brethren. For it did bring our souls to such great pain to even think of them to perish in unbelief. 

And lo as elder winter and elder Ross did abound in great works of god they did receive a referral from mormon.org. And it came to pass that this guy’s name was Caleb and the brother of Caleb was known as garfeny. They were men of sound understanding and thirsteth for truth in the gospel of Jesus Christ. And they did search for that cup in which would quench their thirst. Thus they were led to seek out representatives of the lord and savior Jesus Christ. As we were called to give those that drink and provide the means by which their thirst would end, we did thus ride our bikes and go to their place of slumber. As we did come upon their home they did welcome us in. thus we did converse and agree on doctrine. How great was our joy as they began to vocally explain that they believed in a restoration. Before we had even thus spoken our words of glad tidings. And again how great was our joy when they asketh about the priesthood and authority of god. And thus we can see that these men had been prepared of god and among those elect people that are chosen to receive the gospel at this time. At this moment in time the spirit did swell in our hearts and lo it did pierce the very depths of our soul and did cause our energy to be drained. But ye our excitement did overpower and drive us to be diligent in searching for more souls thirsting for the gospel. 

And thus the prophecies of the weather for the future days did foretell a great and marvelous snow storm. And lo it has put fear into all that have heard of its presence. And so it came to pass that our dear president wolfert has commanded all the servants of the lord to be very careful and we are only allowed to serve to lord on our feet. Thus no cars or bike will be used until three nights after tonight. 

and I Elder Ross do write this scriptural account of my dealings with the people of the Georgia Atlanta north mission for my family and friends that they may learn that I  do greatly send my love to all my family and friends and loved ones. And lo I pray for thee and do greatly love my lord. And do seek for many ways throughout the day to serve him in all my doings. And for this I write that all who may read may find ways to share and serve everyone they come amongst. That they may find ways to show that love that our savior Jesus Christ has shown for each one of us. 

Holy cow this week was awesome. I felt like I was home. It snowed a whole whopping two inches. And you would've thought the world ended. It turned almost straight to ice and there were cars everywhere. No one knows how to drive in the snow and then add some ice and it was so dangerous to even be on the sidewalk. Traffic was completely stopped for almost 24 hours. People ended up getting sick of waiting around and some even ran out of gas or the battery died. So people were just leaving their cars parked on the side of the road or even in the middle of the road and just walking away. It was like the walking dead. Abandoned cars everywhere. And car accidents everywhere. We walked around and just helped push people up hills and help them to get unstuck.  It was quite and adventure.

It was nice because like the day after the storm everyone was too scared to leave their homes so we knew they would be there so we used the opportunity to do some good tracting. Everyone was home and we had they all trapped.

I got to get my good fix of snow therapy that I have been wanting for a while now. So that was nice. A good snowball fight and some legit sledding is always fun!!

A couple weeks ago we traced into this guy named Steve he was so nice to us and seemed really interested. And then this last week we went back to see him again and as we talked to him we came to find out that he truly was being prepared to hear our message. There is a single mother in the ward that lives down the street from him and he knows her and the ward actually had the cub scouts pinewood derby last week. And we had a heard about this guy that came to it and was asking questions and was really interested. Well come to find out Steve helped the son of this lady with his pinewood derby car and he was the guy that everyone was telling us about. I guess he came to see how the car was going to do. And being at the church sparked his interest even more. It was really awesome to see the many different ways the lord is working his magic.

Well I heard that the super bowl was a blow out. I was not expecting to hear that.  

Man I love all so much. Be safe. Have a blessed week.

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!