April 15, 2013

This is Eric, he was baptized 3 weeks ago!  Eric Rude.  He's an awesome guy. He's 42 now, he just had his bday like a week ago. He's been coming to church each Sunday, watchin conference Conference Sunday, and he's doing awesome.  I like this picture of us better than the one when he's in white.

April 1, 2013

Hello!

We had a fine Easter. It was great.  Saturday we had a convert baptism also!! Actually 2 in the zone, and 2 in our District!  Our District is doing great and the Zone is doing awesome too!!! That gives us joy.  So our baptism was for Eric Rude! He's a 41 year old man that moved into our ward some time ago.  The other Elders began teaching him, starting at the basics, and then we got to teach him all the lessons and such.  He's a fun guy.  He looks as if he's in his 20's or 30's.  But I got to confirm him a member Yesterday Easter Sunday!  That was amazing.  So I'm glad you got to see a confirmation in your ward also!  We had a fantastic Easter Sunday Cantata. It was a special musical program the ward did.

A lot of the people we are teaching and that are progressing are people that have been learning for a while, now we're getting them ready for baptism!  Before Eric there wasn't a baptism in our ward here for over 1 year.  Now we're working to have many.  Our next baptisms will be Apr 13 weekend.

Yes we're excited to have Gen. Conf.! 

Today for P-day we went hiking with President Anderson to Bear Butte by Sturgis.  It was fun and good exercise.  There were 8 Elders all together and President.  So that's good you're out walking and staying fit. Keep it up :)

Thanks so much for the Easter Package!!! I love it. I love the little scripture things.  And I sent all that stuff home with Bro. Christensen.  One thing I sent there on accident was the Christmas letter things that the Primary Kids wrote and I do want to write them back. Maybe you can help me with an idea or something that I can send to them to say thank you and bear my testimony to them.  If I do I can just send it to you.

Did you ever get the letter I sent to Sarah that I addressed to you? I didn't have her address so I sent it there.

I did get the hint about Meredith and expecting! that's great!

I'm having trouble locating the names Pres. Davis sent.  I found one of them in Sturgis that I'm thinking about giving the Sisters as a referral.

Thanks for everything.  I hope you have a fantastic week!!  If you send me more stuff please make it health stuff  ;)  We have quite a mini stockpile of sweets and treats.  But I do appreciate it all. 

For now I say goodbye!  I can't think of anything else to say other than we are doing good and having good success.

 Tell Lavell hi for me and Dennis. I'll get Dennis a card soon. How is Lavell Doing?  How's Roger?

One thing to know that's cool:  The Book of Mormon is the 'keystone' of our religion.  But the Doctrine and Covenants is the  'Capstone' of our religion.  cool thought right?   The pathway of the Gospel: Faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, Repentence, Baptism and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End is what we need to follow to have peace, happiness, success in this life, and eternal life.  That's what we teach.  That's the way. And Christ made it possible!  And you must remember also, it's not only Endure to the End, but Enjoy to the End.

Thanks again.

Love ya!  Take Care.

Elder Ensign

March 1, 2013

Zone Pic March 1, 2013

February 4, 2013

Dear Mom and family,
We had the baptism and it was great!  Cayden and Caylee!  They are the best little kids in town.  Their family is great. 

Bro. Wendling said the opening prayer for the baptism, their dad, and it was such a solid good prayer.  The spirit was strong the entire time. Tons of the ward came to support the family and be apart of it. The talks were good, and some of the Young Women sang a special musical number.   One of the kids' best friends that was there want's to be baptized as well now.  His mom is less Active and lives in 8th ward.  We're going to help get him taught with the Sisters in 8th ward. We think he'll be coming to church with the Wendlings.  But maybe his whole family will be able to accept the Gospel in their lives and become active and strong again.  :)

Yesterday was the Confirmation in Sacrament mtg. and that was great also.  All of Church was amazing and we had a whole bunch of less active members and a couple investigators there. 

We have another Less-active family that has invited us to teach their son and help their family to get active again.  We've been working with them for some time now and DJ their son is on date for March 2!  They were there yesterday and that was great.  We're having dinner with their family this Thursday.  We're going to help Jim, the dad quite smoking and he'll be able to do the Confirmation for his son  :)

Things are going well.  We're really striving to get more Spanish work done in the District. We've set goals and plans to teach more Spanish. I won't be doing much, but I'll be helping E. Steiner get as much done as he can.  That will be my Spanish work, help the Spanish Elders get lots done.  They're great Elders.

Love you much. I'll get another letter off this week.  Love you Mom.  I know I'm your best son Ever!!  :)  Thanks Dad, I love you too!!! I know I'm probably your best son. At least I'm one of your 2 best sons   :)   Jack is pretty great so I guess we're equal.  ;)

That's my Email for the week.   Faith Hope and Charity is the way.  Life is Good!  Endure to the End also means, Enjoy to the End :)

January 28, 2013

I've been battling with an ailment lately. I thought I would escape all this sickness that's been going around but it got to me. darn it.  I'm staying in Casper and Elder Steiner and I both survived the transfers.  We're grateful and excited to be able to stay.  So the work continues and the good times keep rolling on.

Glad to hear that things are working very well together for your good. 

It snowed last night!  Last week the temps were in the 50's and everything but the weather changed and snow came.  It's been dry here lately, we needed it.  It sure is a nice blessing when it's warm and dry.  It makes missionary work much easier.

We had Stake Conference this past Sunday and it was uplifting and edifying.  We heard messages such as See others as the Savior sees, and "If you give a little love, you'll get a little love of your own".  Also to seek after Charity, the pure love of Christ.  Moroni 7.

I love you and will pray for you. Thanks for everything!!! You guys are the best.

Love Elder Ensign

January 25, 2013

Hey, so transfer calls may be coming tomorrow morning.  We'll see what happens. I wrote you guys a letter and sent it yesterday also.

The weather has been warm here lately.  :)  

We have the baptism of Cayden and Caylee Wendling coming up soon. They are the best family that we get to teach and associate with.  The kids are doing super good and learning the gospel well.  You could say they are "ready".  I say that meaning that they were ready for the gospel and since learning it have picked up on it so well! They will do great in life and after their baptism!

We had a baptism in our District this week!  Trisha got baptized in the 1st Ward. I had the privilege to interview her and be at her baptism also.  That was really cool for our District. Elder Collins and Hollowell are awesome Elders. They taught Trisha.

The Zone Leaders just got really going again since College started up.  During the Holiday break they were really struggling with stuff to do since they are in the YSA Branch.  Now they are doing awesome!

Keep the pictures coming. They are always fun. I like to show the pictures to my companion and Elders in my District.

I'll be Happy if I stay in Casper but will be ok if I leave the area. I would like to see Cayden and Caylee get baptized, but we'll wait to see.

Love you all.  And if ye seek the ^ariches which it is the will of the Father to give unto you, ye shall be the richest of all people, for ye shall have the riches of eternity; and it must needs be that the ^briches of the earth are mine to give; but beware of ^cpride, lest ye become as the ^dNephites of old.                      Doctrine and Covenants 38:39

Talk to you next week sometime

December 11, 2012

Thanks for everything!

I should have mentioned it wouldn't hurt to have you send some cool stuff, and some to Elder Steiner too. He get's lots of love from home, but some more wouldn't hurt at all from you guys.  It always means a lot to get some love and attention from another persons family and friends as well as your own.  I guess in honesty, you are his friends just as you are mine.  ;)  

I don't know when or where I'll be calling for Christmas. If I'm still in Casper at that time, then I will be at a families house that invited us over there for dinner and to hang out some.  Transfers come this Saturday so I'll know then whether I stay or go.

I like the idea of going out and buying some small gifts for the Elders in my district.  That's cool.  I'll do that.

We are having success. Nobodies been baptized yet, but we have 4 on date for January.  We're seeing a bunch of super sweet awesome people.  Two of the four on date are a couple kids Cayden(10) and Caylee( turning 9 this month). We've been working with this family for some time. They are amazing.  The parents are both members and have been inactive for years.  They are really working to help their kids and get them to baptism and they are doing good too.  We are helping the kids get baptized and loving church and it's helping the parents also.  We love them. 

Another one that is on date is Delaney, she's a 20 or 21 year old single mother that lives with her step mom Nicky.  Nicky is on date too!  Delaney has been on the other side of the line for much of her life, and almost all of her adult life.  Getting these two baptized will take a lot of work.  Delaney is closer than Nicky to becoming converted.  These two have some rough challenges but through love, guidance, support and teaching they will and are doing better.

We also have a man named Chris, a single gentleman that's almost 47. He loves hunting and fishing and he has a heart of gold.  He is a loving and respectful person.  He has some challenges, some word of wisdom issues being a big one.  But I know people who have crossed that hurdle and lived  ;)  In fact, a couple good people we've helped a lot in the past few months here in Casper have quit smoking and are doing fantastic!!! 

These people are some highlights we have, but amidst many others.  I love this area, I love the strength of the members too.  I met Des Bennion.  Actually I met him a while ago and I  thought I knew of him when you mentioned his name.  His daughter is in our ward and she is really a nice lady.  She and her husband have 4 kids ages 8 and under I think.  But they are really missionary orientated and helpful. They have strong testimonies.  Des and his family all got up and sang the other night at the Stake Christmas program. They did good.  Then I talked to him after, but he didn't quite remember you.  I'm sure after he thought about it awhile he did.  

But it sounds like you guys are doing good.  Keep up the good example.  I'm going to Rapid City tonight, tuesday for a training meeting.  I've heard that it's going to be 2 Church authorities from the Missionary Dept. of the Church coming to train 50 of us missionaries in the mission.  Did I ever tell you that our mission is increasing by 100 missionaries in the next 7 months?

That's cool that Greg fed some Elders and they knew me, hopefully they had some good things to say back and forth.  I really do hope that I can see those guys one of these days.

Congrats to Matt!

I think the Price's you talked about are some people I know.  Not the Brother Price, but I do know an Annie that I assume is the one you speak of. Her name was Annie Merkley and she is a really nice gal.   She's Sarah's age I think.  Is that the one? Anyway.

I don't think I have a picture of me and the Pres. I'll get one this week from Elder Collins whose in my District and who has a camera, he's going to Rapid too.  He is a great President though.  I think he's great.  

Elder Steiner and I have found Spanish people to teach and we've taught some lessons.  I only speak itsy bitsy Espanol, but I constantly put myself and the Spanish Elders in positions where they can speak the language to Spanish folks.  It's kinda fun. 

One thing that goes on 3 times a week is an English class.  The Spanish Elders rotate every other M W F who will teach it and then one of them comes with me and we go out proselyting.  We're working on getting an article published in the local newspaper telling about the "Free English Class".  It's a good thing that they do.

Elder Steiner is a good missionary. I really enjoy being his companion and serving as his trainer.  He's someone that I really don't have to ever worry about when it comes to obedience. When I have something that I need to counsel him on, he is receptive, and humble about it.  I can trust that he will be doing the right thing or striving for it always.  

Well God Bless, the gospel is true, it's very real. My latest scripture that I've memorized is Alma 7:11-14, but I'll just quote you 14 for now:  "Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again.  For the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of Heaven.  Therefore, come and be baptized unto repentence, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who will take away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness".  Check it 

These things are true. I Love you guys

Elder Ensign

December 3, 2012

Hello Dear mother and family,

This monday is a good one.  The winds were blowing very strongly last night. I thank you for the updates from the ward and your personal lives.  I thank you, for all that you think of me and what you've always done for me. Thanks for the love.

Indeed, our performance at Zone Conference was good.  I enjoyed doing it.  I think it sounded good to the people who got the show.

Elder Steiner is from St. George, and he's 19.  His family is very very supportive of him.   They send him stuff pretty regularly....Kinda like the first 8 months of my mission.

But he is a really nice kid... for the most part. And he is obedient and has a great desire to be out here and do the right.  I do like working with him.    He's shorter than I am, and he's an analytical type person.  He is pretty meek and humble, and is a good companion, meaning he doesn't act super bossy or anything like that which is super nice.

Some crazy things have happened here in Casper lately.  You may have heard about the ordeal at the college via the news, that was super strange and icky.  But another thing that is more suitable to talk about has been the Wind!!! Wow. Last night it was blowing soo hard.  I heard gusts of 70, and 60mph from a couple different people. But it was strong. The trees and night sounded like freight trains or something.

We have been experiencing some tough spots with Robin, the one who's been on date and was coming regularly to church.  She was really progressing there for awhile, but we haven't seen her for a few weeks.  We're going to try a visit tonight.  She has good support from the church and friends, so we hope that this tiff won't halt her progression much more.

It's hard to help people feel and see how obedience to God's commandments give us much more freedom than disobeying them.  I can understand though, because it's not easy to change something you've been doing for years and years just like that. But I know it's possible ;)   I know that the spirit changes hearts, it changes attitudes, and it brings abundant life to it's recipients.

We watched the Christmas Devotional with Chris J., another of our investigators. In fact he's the one who we gave the tie to last week.  We watched it at his house.  He is a really good guy, with a heart that appears to be like gold.

Our ward has been doing good.  We along with them are working hard to reach out to the inactive members and give them love and friendship and light of the Gospel.  I feel blessed to know so many of them.

No baptisms yet mom, but we labor diligently. And I'm doing my best.  I'm learning, and loving, and living as to be my best self.  I love you all.  I know that you're doing the same. And I know that People love you, and are so grateful that you are in and apart of their lives. 

May we do as President Monson conselled us in the Devotional, to reach out to those in love all around us, and especially our loving aged ones who I love very much.  :)

I love my companion. I love working with him. I love the Christ, and I love God's children. I love Casper Wyoming.  Jesus lives. 

hugs and kisses. I'll look for more of the Buskers, and Bennion.  That will be interesting to find them.