Weekly Post - 12/26/2011

Well this last week we didn't have very good numbers. I mean it was Christmas week- so nobody wanted to talk to us when we were out tracting and contacting. Too much getting shopping and stuff done. But in the end we had a great week.

 

Elder Tripp and I got to talk to our families, and we watched 'The Polar Express' and yes it was approved! It was so sweet. It skipped alot though, so it was a little frustrating. But it was good to watch a movie. But I have to say the best part was definately spending time with my family. Every time I have a phone call with them on the mission I just leave smiley and happy. It's the best time. The second hardest part about it is when you forget to ask certain questions, but the worst is definately hanging up. I hate that. I could just sit there for days talking to them, but it's ok. I'll see them again! I'll get to talk to them in May too.

 

This last week I turned 21! YAY!

Thank you to everyone who wished me happy birthday! If you wished it on Facebook I didn't see it!

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Love ya!

 

Elder Prows

Weekly Post - 12/19/2011

Well Christmas is coming up. And this Wednesday I will be 21. Ha! I'll be 21! No ideas. Just facts. I'm a genius! I do good. Be-Awesome! HA! Thundercats! HOOOO!

 

I am very excited to talk to my family.

 

We are doing lots of finding right now. We've baptized all our investigators now, so there isn't really anything we can do otherwise, but service. And there isn't even any snow to shovel. It's awesome! HA! That's all I really have to say about what happened this last week because it's all that happened really. Well I guess transfers happened, but I am obviously still in Fairfield, because I am training Elder Tripp still. So that's good. I'll have been here for 7 1/2 months after this coming transfer. So that's a really long time to be in an area, the standard is 6 weeks to 6 months. So I'm going beyond that. So that pretty much sets it that there's a 98% chance I'll be transferred next transfer. Unless President does do what he said is potential and I stay here for 9 months. That's FOREVER. Almost half of my mission haha. What's weird too is I've been on my mission for like 15 months now. Where does the time go? Someone make is stop? I mean it's cool. Time has to go by. But I'd appreciate it to work with me here.

 

I got in the mail a letter from my dad that was interesting because it went along with a thought I've been sharing with members this last month for Christmas. I'll share my thought.

 

This season is a special season. We are currently participating in the "Most wonderful time of the year". Christmas! The time when we celebrate the birth of humanities most influential and important person ever! The Savior of all mankind, Jesus Christ!

 

In our Companion study a few weeks ago Elder Tripp and I read something out of the Book of Mormon that struck us. God's love for all mankind.

 

In the Book of Mormon we are familiar with 1 Nephi chapter 8 where the prophet Lehi has the famous Tree of Life vision! Nephi was struck by this vision. He hoped to know for himself what it meant, and so we see in 1 Nephi 11 an awesome example like Joseph Smith. Nephi chooses to pray about Lehi's vision, to know for himself what the vision means. In turn the Spirit of the Lord teaches Nephi the interpretation of the vison. I'd like to share with you the account out of the Book of Mormon where Nephi learns the meaning of the tree:

 

12 And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look! And I looked as if to look upon him, and I saw him not; for he had gone from before my presence.

 13 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white.


 14 And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou?


 15 And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.


 16 And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?


 17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.


 18 And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.


 19 And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!


 20 And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.


 21 And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?


 22 And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.

Is it coincidence that in order for Nephi to understand what the Tree of Life symbolizes the Spirit of the Lord shows the Nativity scene in vision? I don't think so.

I testify that because "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son..." we are able to live again. Nephi needed to see the Nativity scene, because that was the very moment in which the Savior was FINALLY here! He came! God had sent His Son! He was there in the mortal flesh!

The Book of Mormon is giving us an account of what Christmas is really about, our Savior, and through Him can we feel the love of God! That's awesome!

I know that if we read the Book of Mormon and we focus on its message we can grow closer to our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ! For that is whom it testifies of!

Anyways, Merry Christmas!

Elder Prows

Weekly Post - 12/14/2011

Well this is hard because the weeks go by so fast now I can hardly remember what happened.

 

We've been working with a Less-Active named Shaun. He's awesome, and been coming really actively. It's interesting because we've been working with his family alot, and they're progressed alot, but he never came. But he broke up recently with his longtime girlfriend, and didn't really know what to do. So the next time I saw him I just asked him straight up "So are you gonna start coming to church now?" and he just kind of stopped and said "I dunno?" He was at church that sunday and we've been meeting with him because he feels we can help him get his life straight. He is doing very very well.

 

Basically this whole week we've been doing finding activities, and recently we decided we would do a project about sticking to basics.

We're helping members, investigators and others get into the habit of reading the Book of Mormon and praying. We have firm testimonies that it is by the basics that we are able to have our solid foundations in Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. If the members and Less-actives and investigators make these things a consistent part of their lives they will build stronger faith in the Savior, and our Father in Heaven, and they will learn to exercise more faith by reading what is essentially the Blueprint to Eternal Life! It's awesome!

I have strived myself to read the Book of Mormon daily, and to pray morning, night and throughout the day. I know that by that habit I have grown closer to my Father in Heaven and my Savior. I can testify that they live because of it! I know they exist! They are real tangible beings who love us so much, and they want what is best for us. They will comfort us, if we will just let them.

Personal, and family Scripture Study and Prayer is the key to accessing spiritual strength!

 

It is my invitation to you all to make that an active part of your lives, and to STICK WITH IT!

 

So here's the big part, I've invited you to do this-

 

WILL YOU DO IT?!

 

I testify if you do you will know God's love for you and for all mankind. You will have strength in struggles, and trials! I have seen that! Christ lives, and because He died for us He knows us! He knows all your struggles and mine- and because of it he can succor us in our needs.

 

But now I must leave. Kind of a lame cut off but deal with it!

 

Elder Prows

Weekly Post - 12/5/2011

Well this week. I don't really know what to talk about.

I thoroughly enjoyed this last week the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. It was so nice to get to hear from our Modern Day prophet, and his councilors. They truly are fully-awesome. My favorite talk was President Uchdorfs on how you only ruin Christmas if YOU ruin it. It's about what Christmas is about to you. If we have a true understanding of the real nature of Christmas, then Christmas will never go bad. Because Jesus Christ will never go bad. A brilliant concept, that is so eternal. That's the thing about the Gospel that I love, is that it's unchanging.

One of the Brothers in the Fairfield Branch said something that stuck out to me in Gospel Doctrine- in 1 John it talks about how no commandment given is necessarily "new", it's always been given from the very beginning. But somewhere, some place in our lives that principle really sticks out to us, and hits us. It sounds 'new' to us. All the principles in Conference are repeated continually, but the key factor is that somewhere somehow what is being said in that moment will stick out to someone in need of that Gospel. The principles stick out "unto men... unto their understanding." God teaches us according to our needs, and so we WILL learn; if we listen.

I love when Elder Jeffery R. Holland in the April 2011 conference said in his talk "If we teach by the Spirit and you listen by the Spirit, some one of us will touch on your circumstance." That is how the Lord teaches, and that is how we must listen- by the Spirit. He is all-knowing, and we can be all-learning.

This morning I had a great study on the principle of "Pure Intent". Throughout the Book of Mormon we hear several mentions of "real intent". What does it mean to have PURE intent.

I read up Helaman 3:35

Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.

this helped me to feel close to what Pure Intent really is. But I still did not feel it was quite there. But through other impressions and the guidance of the Spirit I was led to Jeremiah 9:3,8

 3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord

 8 Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.

To have Pure Intent to have the true desire, to be like Jesus Christ, and to teach WHOLE TRUTH. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not about our opinions, or what we want out of it. It's about truth! It's about what Jesus Christ said! He IS the Great Teacher, He sets forth the Doctrine. I know that that is true, I have felt the spirit testify of it, and I testify of it.

May we teach pure and whole truths throughout this Christmas Season, with pure intent, for what this Season is really and truely about- Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, the Lamb of God, the Holy One.

Merry Christmas!

Elder Prows

2 Corinthians 9:15 "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift!"

Weekly Post - 11/28/2011

Well. As everyone knows this last week was Thanksgiving. I think. Time goes by so fast, you wonder if most days really went by. It's a weird thing really. It really is! I've been on my mission for 14 months! I'm gettin old. :P

 

So this last week has been alot of working. As usual. I don't remember much, other than Elder Tripp and I both aren't feeling very well. He has a cold, and I have some kind of stomach bug. But I'm doing alot better.

 

Wednesday we went on exchanges in Washington, with Elder Taylor and Elder Moser. That was way cool. I went with Elder Taylor since he's the other Senior companion and Elder Tripp went with Elder Moser. I love Elder Taylor, he's such a good missionary. It was a very good exchange. I learned alot, and we created an inside joke. It's funny.

 

Thursday we ate Thanksgiving Dinner with the Shaner family. They're awesome. Their son was playing Elder Scrolls V when we got there, and we watched him play it for a good half hour. It was pretty awesome. He killed a dragon for me.

Then we talked to Bro. Shaner about life, and the branch and what is going on with him. He's awesome. Brother Shaner is legit- he knows so much about the church and doctrine and all that. He is way sweet. He's way fun too. One of my favorite families there.

We were told to do something productive with members on Thanksgiving, instead of doing the regular 1 hour dinner appointments we were instructed to spend more time with the members we eat with. So we decided to ask Abby one of the daughters in the family when her friend, Brittany, who has been going to seminary and church pretty regularly was going to let us teach her. She said she'd ask and texted Brittany and Brittany came over and we taught her the first lesson. It went well. So that was productive! We also visited the McConeghey's and other families. It was nice. I enjoyed my Thanksgiving. It was nice that I didn't really think about home too. I've been trying to keep it out of mind lately. These last few weeks have been really hard, because I haven't had very many of my friends writing me lately. I've been getting lots of mail from my family! It's so awesome, because I get mail! But it's been hard on my mission because I'm not getting any from any friends really. So I've been trying to do what I can to stay positive, and not be whiny or anything, because new missionaries are big time followers and they'll do what ever their trainer does, so I don't want Elder Tripp to be a downer over not getting mail. I've seen things he does because I do it, and things he doesn't do because I don't do it. So I'm trying to be the BEST example I can be. Besides, I'm just grateful for a family who IS writing me and sending their love! Some missionaries don't even have that! I remember Elder Shelman never got mail when I was serving with him, and neither did Elder Medina. So the fact that I get mail from anyone is huge! I'm super fortunate.

 

Alma 37 is a really good chapter in the Book of Mormon I've decided. I just like the Book of Alma. For some reason lots of my companions that I've had on my mission really don't like the Book of Alma, but I love it! It's so bold, and straight forward on what we need to do. I love it. I've been getting some pretty awesome insights from Alma 37 lately. check it out and see what you get. You might just get something you really need. That's what the scriptures are for anyways, particularly the Book of Mormon. It answers Questions of the Soul.

Preach My Gospel is awesome too!

 

Anyways, I'm tired and I don't really feel like writing anymore.

 

Elder Prows

Weekly Post - 11/21/2011

Well this week was sweet. Just sweet. Very spiritually fulfilling.

Monday was a typical P-day. We were invited to watch with some members a movie called 17 Miracles. It was alright. Not the best movie. I've heard it was way good. I liked it, but it wasn't amazing.

Tuesday- we had the awesome experience of going to the temple! That was so sweet! You always got to love the temple! I love the temple. Nauvoo is just so awesome. Elder Tripp was like a little kid in a candy store haha. It was awesome.

Wednesday- We just had an average day as usual. It was good. We had a WAY SWEET lesson with Kim K. She is doing super well. Over half way done with the Book of Mormon already. She just eats that stuff up. She's wanting to be baptized ASAP. We also saw a building on fire.

Thursday- We had a special Zone Conference. It was sweet. Elder Shayne M. Bowen of the First Quorum of the Seventy came and visited our mission. It was pretty insane! The meeting went from 11:30-4:30. sister Jergensen, President Jergensen and Sister bowen gave really short talks and trainings. Each about 10 minutes. Then Elder Bowen spoke from 12 to 4:30. That was a spiritual feast! Like HOLY COW! I was so grateful for that. Nothing like a mission rebuking. He told us we were doing good, but he needed us to repent of whatever we needed to repent of and wake up different people the next day. That was so sweet. Then he talked to us about the importance of the Atonement, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this Gospel. It was AMAZING. But what was super sweet, was when he addressed the importance of covenants. It was awesooome! Just... it was really great. That's all I can say. I really needed that. It was such a privilege when after I got to talk to him in person just having a conversation about the Gospel, and shook his hand. He's an amazing man, and I definately cannot deny that he is a man of God. President Jergensen also asked us to stay in Iowa City until 7 PM when Elder Bowen was going to give another training to the Iowa City Stake Leadership. That was sweet. He basically told members that we no longer refer to Full-Time Missionaries as Full-Time Missionaries because members are the Full-Time Missionaries. We're only here Part-Time. We leave and get transferred and go home! The members are always there.

Super cool.

Friday-we weekly planned.

Saturday- Kim C. was baptized! That was so awesome. Definately the most powerful baptism I've had thus far. It was so powerful when she was in the water with her fiancee and they were both crying and he struggled to get the words out. Powerful! The spirit was so strong. :) We went with them after to Pizza Ranch and that was yummy. Then we went to a Less-Actives home and they were watching Boondock Saints 2. The son was mad we interrupted, but his mom made him wait. We were only there for a short time though. It went well. Almost that whole family was at church the next day too!

Sunday- I had the privilege to Confirm Kim C. a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was so sweet. I had to fight back tears, the spirit was so strong. She's definately been a super special one for us to teach and now baptize. Too bad she's moving to Las Vegas in December. But we're going to keep in touch for sure, and I talked to them, and in 1 year I will be home, so we plan on me attending their sealing for sure. :) I'm stoked. I love those two, they're powerful.

That was my week. As you can see I'm on a spiritual high!

So you should all read Preach My Gospel because Elder Bowen of the Seventy says so, and it's legit. Elder Bowen said that no person can prepare themselves better for a mission than by reading Preach My Gospel. A missionary should not show up to the MTC with a new Preach My Gospel, or getting a new one. They should have a copy that is used and seasoned, so that they have to get a new one in starting their mission. How profound is that?! You have to love your GA's!

Love you all!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! I will!

Elder Prows

Weekly Post - 11/14/2011

BOO! Did I scare you? Probably, because you walked right into that. My sister did that all the time, yup. That happens all the time, she just gets scared. Even if you just go WAH! See that scared you again.

So this last week was pretty good!

Monday- Elder Tripp had his first P-day in the field, and we had alot of fun. P-Days work out alot better when you plan very thoroughly. We already planned pretty thoroughly, but now we plan very thoroughly.

Tuesday- Elder Tripp had his first day doing service. He liked the Library, but he really got a kick out of calling BINGO at the old people place. I can't ever remember what they are called- nursing home! That's what it's called. He liked it though, he thought it was way funny that the old people got so into bingo. We scored a free dinner too, so that was cool.

Wednesday- On Wednesday we had to drive with the Sisters to Davenport, IA for a special 'New Trainers' meeting with President Jergensen. Sister Draney and I were required to attend since we are both trainers. So it was a good 2 1/2ish hour drive to Davenport, and then after the 1 1/2 hour long meeting we drove another 2 1/2 hours back to Fairfield. Long drives SUCK. Especially when you are the only person who is allowed to drive the car, I'd be pleased to drive that long if I was driving a 2011 Chevy Camaro, but unfortunately we're stuck with a 2010 Pontiac Vibe. That car sucks. It's a chick car. How did Elders end up with a Pontiac Vibe and the Sisters end up with a Chevy Colorado? It doesn't make sense! Anyways, enough about car complaints.

Thursday- This day was cool. We had district meeting, and tracted alot. It was fun. Elder Tripp gets a kick out of people slamming doors in his face. Especially when they blow up on us just for introducing ourselves. He liked to laugh. We also visited with Brother Fitzgerald and talked the gospel. It was a good lesson. Then we met with Sister Arkon at the Library for a lesson. She's doing way good. I'm glad too because I baptized her, and I'd feel distraught if she fell away. She's awesome and solid though. Good for her for sticking to it! She's been going to church up in muscatine with her husband who is also a member, and lives up there. So that's what's been up with her.

Friday- We were weekly planning. We felt inspired to call this one potential that Elder Wilson and I bumped into at a laundromat. Her name is Kim. I'll call her Kim K. Because are teaching another Kim, who I will call Kim C. She's awesome. She said we should go over there "now". We taught her the restoration and set a baptismal date for her. It was way sweet, because Elder Tripp got to extend all the commitments. I like to make sure he gets to have good experiences. Good for him. He's growing alot. That's what the Gospel does, it grows people. :)

Saturday- we had almost all our lessons fall through, except for the one with Kim C. Kim C. is getting baptized next week so we went over the baptismal interview questions and set up an interview for her. She had the interview on Sunday morning and she passed! It's so exciting! Now we are going to wait and see how everything else goes, cause she just needs to be baptized!

Sunday- typical Sundays. Church, studies, and work. We had a good dinner with the Titze's, and they fed us good pie. It reminded me of Pie Night. Kim K came to church. She asked us after church "What do I need to do to be baptized and how fast can it happen?"

Golden words there, golden words! Elder Tripp I think just about fainted. Elder Tripp was tripping over what he heard! I'm sure he's never heard that one before. No seriously, I don't think he's heard it. Hang on I'll ask him. Yeah, he has. DARN IT!

Anyways this email is now boring me. And we have a haircut appointment in 5 minutes so we gotta bounce!

Everyone make themselves a mormon.org account!

Read the Book of Mormon!

BOOM!

Elder Prows

P.S.

one of my friends sent me a postcard. He asked if I thought it was cool. Yes. Yes I did think it was cool. Good ole Elder Wood, of the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission.

Weekly Post - 11/7/2011

Well everyone. This week has been a very good and interesting week. It's been full of lots of cleaning the apartment, saying goodbye to members and helping Elder Wilson return to normal life.

Elder Wilson is now home. He is now just Chris. That is a very interesting thought to think about. But life moves on. Someday I will return home, and much as I hate to think that. Maybe I'll blink and just be starting off with Elder Sonderegger again? Who knows. Either way it's going to end, and I'll go back to being Topher Prows. Ugh. That names too normal. I love my name, but I like going by Elder right now.

Anyways we did all that stuff in preparation for me to drop Elder Wilson off in Iowa City to be taken back to Des Moines and do all his departing junk. I took the time to pick up Elder Riley Tripp from Ephraim, Utah. Elder Tripp is awesome and I love this kid. He's 19 years old and has been on his mission for just under a month. For some of you that helps you realize what is going on. Elder Tripp is my boy! I am training a brand new missionary. That is super weird to be saying and I still feel weird typing that out, or saying it. I'm a daddy! And Elder Sonderegger is a grandaddy!

For any of you who don't this part of mission lingo:

-Life before a mission is concidered "Pre-Mortal Life".

-When a missionary finds out he/she is training he/she finds out he/she is "pregnant".

-The day he/she picks up his/her new missionary (we do not use the term "greenie" anymore) is concidered birth into the Mission Field.

-Life in the Field is concidered "Mortality".

-The trainer is the Father/Mother.

-The New Missionary is the Son/Daughter.

-This starts a lineage.

-Your mission is your life.

-When a missionary returns home it is death.

-Post-Mission life is Post-Mortality.

and so on.

So yes I am the father of Elder Tripp, Elder Sonderegger is his Grandaddy, and some day I will have a grand-baby.

Hopefully. I'm certain Elder Tripp will train on his mission though, because he's a stud, and a killer missionary. A way good example to me.

So this last week with Elder Tripp has been full of helping him to get to know people, and showing him the ropes. Training is so fun. I could do this for my whole mission. I remember when I was younger telling President Jergensen that I would love to train at some point on my mission. That was the only thing I really wanted to do other than be a normal missionary, was train. And now I am! I'm so happy! AH! It's so fun! Elder Tripp is FULLY AWESOME! (reference to Bolt, my favorite animated movie? Maybe- Toy Story and the Iron Giant are still way good.)

My favorite experience so far with Elder Tripp has been in sitting with him and teaching the Plan of Salvation to Kim. How humbling is it to see a new missionary follow the spirit, open up to people, and see the open up to him, as he gently and sincerely testifies of his knowledge of the Gospel. I'm very proud of my boy. I couldn't have gotten a better one.

At any rate I must bid you all farewell. That is all that I have to say this week, and I just want you all to know this:

ELDER TRIPP IS FULLY AWESOME!

Love you all bye

Papa Prows OUT!

Weekly Post - 11/2/2011

Well this week marks a milestone. I weighed myself yesterday. 165. I weigh 165! But then I found out the scale was off balance! SHOOT! So that means I may not weigh 165... but it felt good while it lasted. I reported to the MTC weighing about 185, and entered the field about 190. So dropping down to 165 is -25 pounds? Yesssss.

So this week... we had WAY low numbers. The Zone Leaders were way shocked when we gave them haha. But we have an excuse!

Monday- P-Day, and at night we traveled to Iowa City.

Tuesday- I spent all day in Iowa City with Elder England again, because Elder Wilson and Elder Rasmussen are both going home, so they had their going home temple trip. That was a way fun day. Elder England is a way fun guy. We played that night a fun board game called Killer Bunnies.

Wednesday- We spent the day in Washington on exchanges with Washington. That was a fun day, I got to know Elder Webb, and he's a way sweet guy. I loved talking to him.

Thursday- District meeting, and I can't remember what else.

Friday- Weekly Planning. We got through it really fast, because this next week was easy to go through.

Saturday- TRANSFER CALLS! We had a sweet lesson with Raleigh, one of our baptismal dates. It was the first lesson in a long time. It's been hard to get ahold of him lately because of his parents marriage situation, but it was all good. He is still progressing and that is what matters! We taught him the Word of Wisdom, and that went way well. Hopefully if he lives that and shows him mom he's serious about baptism, then she'll let him be baptized!

Sunday- Stake Conference in Iowa City. That was awesome. We also spent lots of time letting Elder Wilson say goodbye to members. We also had to be in by 6 PM so we'd be out of the way of all the little kids trick or treating on beggers night. So we were bored for a while.

that was my week in a run through. Short but sweet! I'll let you all know how this week was next week on Monday! :D

I still can't believe Elder Wilson is going home. Thats so weird! I don't like it. Cause now I have to get a new companion, and get to know him, and all that. But that's missionary life. We all come and go, and 3 transfers with a companion is unusual anyways.

love you all bye!

Write me by the way.

Happy Halloween!

Elder Prows

Weekly Post - 10/24/2011

Well well well.

Shannon [last name removed] was baptized this week! That was so sweet. Not just because he was baptized, but Shannon is Lori [last name removed]'s nephew...and is Randy [last name removed]'s wife. So Randy I guess is Shannon's uncle, and Randy is a recent convert. But since Randy has the Aaronic Priesthood as a Priest, he got the opportunity to baptize Shannon. That was awesome. It was a POWER DUNK! Like you saw the lights when he put Shannon under the water and the LEVEL UP signs right above Randy and Shannon. They definately are LEVELing Up spiritually speaking.

It was cool too because Kim [last name removed], one of our investigators with a baptismal date, came to the service as well. She loved it. It was funny too, because Randy practiced baptizing on me, and the first time he tried to dip me down, he did it just slightly wrong, and we both fell down to the ground. We ate it pretty good. We were on the ground laughing, and I looked over and there was Kim leaning against the wall, holding herself up, because she was just dying of laughter. She came around the corner just in time to see us fall. It was a moment where you just wish someone had a camera. I wonder if in Heaven, there will be a "Best of" reel, thing. Showing some of the funniest moments in HISTORY. There'd be too much. Maybe just Heavenly Father's TOP ONE HUNDRED?

We had another solid week though. We taught Kim the Restoration through a really sweet Church tour, and she cried the whole time. She cries alot. But it's ok. Emotion is a good thing. We are super excited about her! Everyone in the Branch keeps getting shocked when they meet her, because they're like "you're not a member???" No, she's just that solid of an investigator!

It was funny when the Zone Leaders came to interview Shannon too, because they did that, and then once they left Elder Wilson and I were Weekly Planning, when Elder Wilson just felt like looking at Shannon's baptismal record. We realized Elder Evans didn't sign the record, and Shannon couldn't be baptized the next day unless Elder Evans signed that record! So we had to take an emergency drive up to Iowa City to get that record signed. That shot 3 hours out of our day. It was pretty funny. Spanish Zone Leaders, ha, who hired them? (the Lord) Oh yeah! That's right, my bad. Way to be humble!

Anyways, that was our good week.

I hope everyone had as good a week as I did!

Love ya!

Elder Prows

3 Nephi 27- The Doctrine of Christ

Mormon.org

good bye

Weekly Post - 10/17/2011

This week has been big. We did not have a baptism this week, but that is ok. Because we had 2 recently. Within the 4 and a half months Elder Wilson and I have been here together we've seen 4 baptisms together. That's so sweet! :) But what is the best part is when you sincerely see the change in people the Gospel of Jesus Christ has. I love it! There is nothing more sweet that that!

Monday was Pday as usual and Tuesday a day of service. We spent both days walking since our car was off being fixed from that lady that hit us, like 2 months ago. So that was cool I guess, getting that fixed. Wednesday was a great day! We had the Elders serving in Washington, IA come over to Fairfield for exchanges. I went with Elder Moser, and Elder Wilson went with Elder Webb. That morning I took the time Elder Moser and I had for companionship study to direct it in a bit of a different way- the way I was trained to by Elder Sonderegger, with a little mix of Elder Unsicker's influence in there. We planned out a lesson for a woman we were going to teach the first lesson to. We switched it up and chose to teach Kim [last name removed] about the Doctrine of Christ before we teach the Restoration, because that gives her a foundation to work with on the Restoration. We planned out tons of stuff for her, studied the scriptures for her, role played, and prayed for a baptismal date. As we did this criteria we felt a very strong confirmation for a date. We invited a member who is her friend to the lesson, and he accepted, and we taught Kim. Kim is an amazing woman. I will just say that. She has an amazing story! She's currently engaged to a man who she's known from her childhood, and he is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and is very very active. She describes him as that kind of guy who if he sees LDS missionaries at a Wal-Mart he will stop them and get those missionaries donuts (sign me up). But at any rate we had this amazingly spiritual lesson grounded from her background with the church and her fiancee's influence all the way up the inspiration Elder Moser and I recieved as we taught this lesson, VERY BY THE SPIRIT. We were directed, and she was directed, and we set a date for her to be baptized on November 19, 2011. She has no doubt that that is the day for her, and her fiancee has already bought a plane ticket. Woot woot.

Thursday was a big day for the Fairfield branch. On Thursday October 13, 2011 we welcomed Elder and Sister Hawes to the area. That's right, the Fairfield Branch not only has full-time elders now, but a full-time Senior Missionary couple. Fairfield currently is the leading area in the mission (according the the APs) and that is mind boggling! But very reassuring, due to some info in my patriarchal blessing I remembered the other day. The Church is true! So we help the Hawes get settled, and talked to them for a bit, and worked with them. We are very excited for them, and so is President Jergensen (Sister Hawes is his older sister, literally).

Friday was interviews, awesome day. Yeah! I love President Jergensen by the way. He's such an awesome man, and a spiritual giant. He really like Chemistry I found out. It made me laugh when he tried to talk to me about chemistry and it was like "President, I have no idea what you are saying, I never took Chemistry, and never will." President Jergensen is a pharmacist for profession by the way- hence Chemistry!

Another amazing experience that I had this past week was that we got to go to the temple on Friday morning with the youth of the Fairfield Branch, and our Recent Converts, Amanda McGuire and Randy Farmer. That was an amazing experience! I am so happy to see them making appropriate decisions in the Gospel. They are growing immensly!

That was basically the highlights of the week! I can' think of anything else that was awesome.

But yeah. Everyone should read the October 2011 ENSIGN. It's way awesome, especially the article by Elder David A. Bednar. Very good.

Love ya

Bye!

ELDER PROWSSSSS

Weekly Post - 10/10/2011

This week was crazy.

So first off our numbers were low again. But that's ok, because we're busy. We've been out of our area alot lately, because of events such as Zone Conferences and Leadership meetings. And when we're in our area we're often at meetings like District Meeting or General Conference- or filling up a font. :)

This last week we had yet another baptism! I know, isn't that sweet! Randy [Last Name removed] was baptized. The unique story about Randy, is way cool. He's never been to religious and his wife is really active in the Church. What was interesting to Elder Wilson and I is that Randy always appeared as a rough neck guy, and just like to everyone else, nobody expected him to be interested. We had dinner with the Farmers one day, and we had a little chit chat with Randy and we really seemed to hit it off. We talked and talked and talked, and just seemed to get along. Sister Farmer looked pretty shocked about it haha. But that night when we were planning, Elder Wilson and I knew- we needed to ask Randy if he'd take the discussions. So the next day we were walking by to go get some lunch stuff, and we saw Randy outside. Elder Wilson being as bold as he is, walked right on up to him and asked- "Hey, Randy, have you ever wondered what it is your family believes in?" Randy paused for a second, and answered; "Yeah, I guess I have." "Oh! Well would you like to learn?" "sure, why not." "Ok, well do you want us to teach you?" "Yes." And now he's a member.

When we told Sister Farmer she should invite her husband to church, she said he wouldn't come. We asked him right after that, and he was there every Sunday since. The day we asked him to live the Word of Wisdom, he said he'd try to quit smoking (he was a very heavy smoker). The next time we saw him, he'd thrown out all the coffee, tea and smokes. He's free of tobacco.

Randy Farmer is a miracle in itself. I am astonished at what happened here. This last sunday not only was he confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but he recieved the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained as a Priest, and stood in the circle as we ordained his step-son a Priest as well. That was too cool to behold.

I am grateful that when we show our faith the Lord will bless us with many miracles. If only the World in itself could know how the Gospel of Jesus Christ changes people, as how it has changed Randy. I mentioned how when I first met Randy he seemed like a rough neck kind of guy. Now he's like a teddy bear. He's always sitting by his wife, he's always with family. He reads scriptures, he prays sincerely. He's become converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Yes, the Gospel does heal the broken hearted, and yes it does bring families closer together. I have a testimony of that now, as I have seen the Farmer family united through the love of Christ.

In other news, Elder Wilson was at leadership for a whole day, so I spent a day in Iowa City with Elder England. It was fun. We ate at Buffalo Wild Wings. Yum.

Also we're without a car for the next 3 days, because it's getting fixed from the car wreck we got in like 2 months ago. Finally! It wasn't that bad of a wreck by the way. Nobody was hurt. Don't worry about it. Long story.

That was basically our week.

Oh I got a letter from my cousin Sarah, this last week. That was cool. Hi Sarah. Yes, I have been out a whole year! And that was the first letter you've sent me! Isn't that crazy?!

I joke.

Love ya all!

Elder Prows

Don't forget, Mormon.org still exists- if you don't have a profile, then GET ONE! I will be checking for it :3

Also I would encourage you all to read 1 Nephi 8- Sister Jergensen pointed out that this is an awesome chapter. So read it. Cause it is.

Ok bye

Weekly Post - 10-3-2011

Man, this last week we didn't have the best numbers. But that don't matter, because it was a great week. I love great weeks, and I am grateful I had one. I just makes everything go by easier, and with the flow of the Spirit. If there is any way you should go by the flow it is by following the Spirit, and heading the words of Christ. :)

So I'll break this week down in what happened:

Monday- PDAY. That just explains it, it is what it is. We emailed, and we did laundry and shopped. And then we went to the apartment and cleaned. Wrote letters to those who wrote us (if anyone did that is) and then we... did stuff. But it was a very good and fulfilling PDAY.

Tuesday- what a day full of service. We did our regular Library Service thing from 10 AM to 12 PM and just did all that stuff. Matching books with others, labeling boxes, and moving things around. It was typical stuff. I love watching the Librarians try to make sense, but they don't. Iowans. :) I love my Iowans.

Wednesday, we spent Wednesday visiting investigators who are getting ready for baptism soon, and talked about what we needed to for that. Then we visited Bro. Fitzgerald, a Less-Active we've been working with ever since I got here. He's very open to us coming over, and all that stuff, but it was interesting when we were visiting this last time. When we left clarity just hit us. We realized, that we've spent 12 weeks on this guy, and not much is happening. We're not too sure if he's gonna progress. This guy has been worked on by Missionaries for YEARS AND YEARS and no progress has been made. As we walked and talked about him, and felt the spirit, we came to a conclusion with him. We're going to give him 6 weeks, and we're going to work hard on him, and completely rely on the spirit for him. Then we did service for a sister, and drove to Washington to spend the night, before we head to Iowa City the next day.

Thursday- This was Zone Conference Day! I was so excited. It was very much a spiritual feast! :) You gotta love hearing from the Mission President, Assistants to the President, and the Zone Leaders and everyone who is training. It was way good. We learned alot on having Charity and finding, because the mission is doing very well and finding through members, but they are beginning to be lazy on going out to tract or OYM or anything. So the Mission is making a push to balance out, and see miracles for 500.

Thursday also marked a big day. It was September 29th. 1 year ago on September 29th, I entered the MTC. I have been on my mission for an entire YEAR! AH! I dislike that thought with great intensity! October 5th marks 1 year until I fly home... Time is going by to fast, and I don't like it. I just want to work and work and work and work!

Friday- we weekly planned.

Saturday- We spent approximately 12 hours at the Church this day. We arrived at 9 AM to well, fill up the baptismal font!

At 11 AM General Conference started, and that was AMAZING. Amanda McGuire showed up and watched the first session with us, and it was so good. I was very excited to hear the news about the Provo Tabrnacle. I will talk more about it later.

After the Morning Session Amanda [Last Name Removed] was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. That was amazing, and indeed a privilege to witness. President Titus the Branch President here in Fairfield baptized her.

Then we watched the rest of Conference for the day, that was again a spiritual feast. Elder Jeffery R. Holland of the Twelve Apostles spoke in Priesthood and I laughed cause most of the girls back home I know adore him. So they have to wait until later to read or watch his address online. I got to watch it LIVE. The Priesthood rocks.

D. Todd tore it up, I love D Todd.

Sunday- More Conference and Spiritual Feasting. President Eyring was a total stud when he opened the Sunday Morning Session with his talk, and Elder Quentin L. Cook was a great closer about the Atonement, and eduring trials. I loved this conference, and now I have to wait another 6 months to hear from the Prophet and Apostles. But think about it. This last weekend, I DID!

So the whole concept of Provo having a second temple has weighed on my mind greatly this last weekend. I didn't ever expect that to happen. When I heard that the Provo Tabernacle burnt down I was crushed. I remembered the several concerts I had sung in as a teenager in the PHS choir, and in the Mapleton Chorale. Those concerts are very sacred to me, and will always be cherished- because they played a key role in my conversion. I also remember several years worth of Stake Conferences at that Tabernacle. Memories gone up in flames, and I wondered; how could something so tragic happen to that Tabernacle.

This brings up thoughts as I type- even Temples of our Lord burn down on occasion. It's very rare. But it's been known to happen. The Nauvoo Temple itself was destroyed once. But look at it now. It has been restored and the work roles forth like the stone cut out of the mountain!

That is what has come to mind for me and I contemplated the Provo Tabernacle Temple. While yes, a sweet, and amazing and memorable building has been destroyed, the Lords work is not. The Lord has caused that from the ashes of the deep, His work will role forward. The Tabernacle will be a Temple of our Lord, and the work in the Temple will continue to role forward. Think of how busy the current Provo Temple already is, a second temple will spread that work around, and further it.

I know that the Lord works in mysterious ways, and He has a plan for us. He loves us, and I testify of that. I know Jesus Christ lives, and He guides and directs this work, for it is His that roles forth. We have a prophet on the earth today, that leads and guides His church today. We have Twelve Apostles who head this Church as well, and we were blessed to hear from them. I testify that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God, as well as the Holy Bible, and the other Standard Works. It is through the Book of Mormon however, that we are able to know the truth of this message, and that Christ's Church is once again on the earth, the same as it was before, now and forever more.

May we turn to our Heavenly Father in times of trial, and have our relationships with Him strengthened, through constant and furvent prayer.

I love you all so much.

Mormon.org it up!

2 Nephi 31

3 Nephi 11

3 Nephi 27

The Book of Mormon

Elder Prows was here

ciao

Weekly Post - 9/26/2011

Well. I don't really know what to write.

Transfers happened. Elder Wilson and I are going for a 3rd transfer together. And we're seeing success. This means I'm finishing Elder Wilson off, because this is his last transfer. Elder Medina went home on Friday, because he was finished with his mission. That was really weird to think about. A plane flew by on Friday, and I was like "See you later, Hayes!" Then I shot my fist in the air and went "HOOWAH!" or "AWOO" something 300-esque. What's weird is after this transfer, Elder Wilson goes home, and then the transfer after Elder Sonderegger and Elder Unsicker go home. My companions are leaving me! I will see them when I go home eventually too though... hopefully that is.

So a thought that has been on my mind lately, and I REALLY REALLY REALLY do NOT like AT

ALL is the whole thought that I've been on my mission for a... year... on thursday...

This Saturday is General Conference! Which means Conference! And we get to hear from the Apostles and Prophet! WOO HOO! I was thinking about this, and I'm going to have investigators there! They're going to hear from the Prophet and Apostles LIVE! So I need to make sure they are going to recieve REVELATION for themselves personally at that time.

We had a crazy experience with a Less-Active, but I'll keep quiet about it.

I baked that same less-actives son a cake for his birthday though, and it gave them a tummy ache. That was comforting. NOTE TO SELF: don't take sisters advice and bake stuff for Less-Actives, members, and investigators. Stupid sisters.

But I thought it was nice. He wasn't getting a birthday cake, and we had a ton of randon cake mix in our apartment so I made him one. It's the thought that counts??? Here's a picture of my monstrosity. Maybe I should've made Angel Food Cake instead of Devil Food Cake. Those are nerds on top BTW... I just felt like I should express my nerdism for once... leave me alone I know I'm lame!

This last week Elder Wilson and I had a great time. We taught lots of sweet lessons, to investigators. We talked to Clayton [last name removed] for a while cause he's way stressed over a friends who is investigating the church in Arizona, and having a way bad experience. But she's bipolar too... hmmmm... anyways Clayton is a stud, cause he does everything he can to be awesome, and he's BLIND! He has an iphone too! I wonder how that works... Brail iphones.... I'm a genius! That or a freak. I'm also a Son of God.

Daniel came to church on sunday! He loved it. When we asked him after what it was that he is looking for in a church he said: "everything I felt in your church" yeah, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is just that awesome. It's true too.

So thought for the day. I don't have enough time to write it out.

But 3 Nephi 17 is a good example of how we should Love One Another, and prepare for Conference! Verses 1-3 Christ urges the people to Ponder and Pray about His teachings in preparation for the things He was going to teach them next. We too should Ponder the teaching of Christ, and Pray in preparation for General Conference, and we will hear the Words of Christ.

I guess I wrote out the thought for the day. Leave it to me to do that!

Mormon.org

2 Nephi 31

Miracles are awesome

P-Trowsers out

Elder Prows

8515 Douglas Ave. Ste. 19

Urbandale, IA 50322

Write me please? If I know you that is.

Weekly Post - 9/21/2011

So this picture sums up last week.

Danielle [last name removed] was baptized! I had the opportunity and privilege to baptize her. Her husband is already a member, so that was sweet! Now they can shoot for the temple in 1 year! :D

Transfer calls happened.

We had a way good sunday this last sunday. It was nice. The spirit is very strong and we found out one of our investigators has been off cigarettes for a week! If he keeps it up he could be baptized sooner than we thought! Which is amazing! :) I'm way excited.

Anyways I don't have much to write about, since, well. I talked about the important stuff.

Preach My Gospel is an amazing book. It guides not only missionaries but people in following the Gospel. Every LDS family should have at least one copy of Preach My Gospel in their home! And if they don't- then they better get one! Because it's an awesome book.

Just as the Book of Mormon is, and the Bible.

Anyways, people need to get Mormon.org accounts. They're way sweet. I enjoy them, and the spirit is so strong when you read them!

Mormon.org

2 Nephi 31- the Doctrine of Christ!

Miracle do happen!

Love ya

P-Trowsers out

Weekly Post - 9/12/2011

Sadly, I don't really have much to say about this last week. It was short and sweet.

We helped a Less-Active with his computer. He needed to turn it from English to entirely in Spanish. He fed us dinner for it, and it was at a really good Chinese Buffet! The situation got pretty intense and stressful, but we got it all resolved. It was fun to work with him, and we are pretty close with him now. :) Maybe he'll start coming to church like how the Kerns have?

This coming week is going to be crazy with anticipation! Holy cow! This coming Saturday is transfer calls, so we will find out what is going on for this next transfer. And I am anxious! Something is going to happen I just know it! I don't know what, but I knwo something will happen! Elder Wilson has been getting alot of info from President over email, because he's the district leader, and apparently President has big things is store for our district. I just don't know what! I have a feeling I'm going to be transferred though, so I'm crossing my fingers, cause I'd love to stay! Besides Elder Wilson has been here for 6 months and I was in my last area for 6 weeks, I deserve to stay!

My next post won't be until Wednesday of next week I might remind you all. So be patient, I'll let you know what's up.

Write me pleaz

love ya!

Elder Prows

Mormon.org

2 Nephi 31- Doctrine of Christ

Weekly Post - 9/6/2011

WOO! This last week has been crazy. I was going to quote something to start off, but I forgot what it was.

 

So we picked up ANOTHER investigator. On sunday we were walking to see an investigator who did not come to church- as we were walking we were passing this guy, and I felt prompted to talk to him. But for some shameful reason I chose not to. I know I know, I'm a poor example. But a few seconds later he walked up to us from behind and said "hey do you guys teach people about Jesus?!" And we were like- "yeah we do!" and he said, "well let's do this then?" I felt way bad. He later asked if I had been prompted to talk to him too. It was pretty sad. I felt terrible! But alas, it's in the past and we are still teaching him. His name is Daniel Salazar; and he's awesome. He loves the Book of Mormon because it doesn't contradict the Bible, and teaching truth. So yeah, that's Daniel. We have been teaching him about the Doctrine of Christ and answering lots of questions regarding spiritual promptings and being directed by the spirit. It was interesting how we were recieving inspired questions for him like crazy- I think Heavenly Father wanted it to be clear we're messengers called of God.

 

Our investigators are doing great. They're getting ready for baptism still. They're progressing slow, but it's better for them to progress slowly and gain a sure foundation, than to have them jump into the water not knowing what the Book of Mormon even is! We're doing great. President Jergensen told us we're doing awesome, and that was very reassuring. I'm loving Fairfield and serving with Elder Wilson. He's s stud.

 

So thought for the week.

 

I was sitting in sacrament meeting as I listened to people bear their testimonies and I felt very inspired to go up and say a few words- because nobody else was. This is kind of a summary of what I talked about NOTE: I did not write this down, I'm just saying what I remember. But it was legit.

 

So over my mission I've had a quote from my favorite movie play in my mind over and over. It takes place as two Hobbits climb the steep slopes of Mount Doom:

 

"Come on, Mr. Frodo [replaced with my name]. I can't carry it for you... but I can carry you!"

 

This emulated for me the time when a certain man carried a heavier burden, as He climbed a steep slope, Golgotha.

The Savior Himself promises us that if we take His yoke upon us our burdens will be light; for His yoke easy, and his burden light.

 

I know that to be true. Before and during my mission I have felt lots of burdens, some small, some great. But I have come to learn that when we root ourselves in the Doctrine of Christ, then we come to fulfill the first and most important commandment- we love God and His Son, Jesus Christ. When we do this, and love the Father and the Son it becomes easy to love our fellow men, and even ourselves. Stress is incapable. Our burdens are light, because we are one in Christ, and that is when we too can feel our Saviors love.

 

May we all remember the sacrifice and burden Christ carried for us, and let us KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS and ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM- if we do then it's inevitable, we will have the Spirit. Because He is on our mind.

 

I love my Savior and my friend.

I love this work.

 

Mormon.org

2 Nephi 31

3 Nephi 27

Doctrine of Christ

500 to Heaven in 2011

 

Elder Prows