Weekly Post - 6/29/2011

So this last week was pretty cool.

Monday we didn't know what to do for P-Day so we just lounged around and stuff. It was pretty boring, not nearly as cool as the previous P-Day. But it was relaxing, which sometimes a missionary just needs. So it was all good.

Tuesday we followed up with lots of potentials, and had coordination with the Branch Mission Leader. It was fun, and the BML is pretty awesome here in Keokuk. His son and very pregnant daughter-in-law came over too, and we talked about Jehovah's Witnesses and mission stories. It was rather fun.

Wednesday was the good day, because we had a member lesson with our Branch missionaries, at least the husband, and that was pretty cool. He's from Britain. Then we walked around downtown for a bit, and randomly found a new service opportunity, and did that- drying silverware and untangling necklaces. It was the bomb.

But was really made the day solid was when we had dinner with the High Priest Group Leader and they had a non-member who was interested over. After dinner we taught a lesson and he accepted an invite to be baptized. His name is Jeff Warrington, and he's very awesome and solid. He found the church when he prayed to get a job, and he got a job not long after in Nauvoo with the LDS church as a janitor. There he met the Bro. Skog and they talked religion for a while, and eventually Bro. Skog invited him for dinner and to meet us! And now we have a solid investigator! Pray for him that he can quit drinking and smoking please!

Thursday was district meeting where we had transfer predictions- because we'd find out saturday who's leaving who's staying. Pretty much it was predicted that Elder Sheffer was leaving, Elder Drake was of course going home, and everyone else was staying. We'll see what happens on saturday!

After that we had a lesson with Thurman and Tiffany and we taught them about the Doctrine of Christ and they loved it. The Doctrine of Christ is one of the best things about the Gospel. If you look hard you can find that any chapter in the scriptures makes reference to the Doctrine of Christ, it's very sweet.

Friday we weekly planned and it was weekly planning. We talked to the branch president about the Doctrine of Christ and how it will motivate members to be missionary minded- and he told us to stop trying to motivate more teach how to do missionary work. But we came to an agreement on what to do and we are excited about the Branch Mission Plan.

We then met with a referral named David Wendt, who is very cool. But pretty set in his ways

Saturday was miserable waiting for transfer calls but it happened.

Sunday Jeff Warrington came to church! That was way sweet, and we taught him a lesson afterwards! He's so solid, he kept all commitments we left him the night before and more! We asked him to read Moroni 10:3-5; but he read the whole chapter! He's begun reading the Book of Mormon and is prayi8ng about it. He feels the spirit very much, and recognizes it! It's just so unbelievable how solid he is. I'm excited for him, and he's certain this is the true church. He just needs the spiritual witness about it and the testimony!

so that was my week, and this post wasn't very fun and all that but I'm in a hurry. Hope you all have a good week and know I love you!

Stay safe and strong!

Hope to hear from you soon!

Mormon.org it up!

Elder Prows OUT!

P.S.

I cut my hair

Weekly Post - 6/20/2011

Man oh man oh man! This last week was incredible.

So I'll break it down the easy way-

MONDAY!

On Monday it was P-day , but Elder Medina and I got special permission to put our P-day off until Wednesday. See Wednesday.

TUESDAY!

Not nearly as exciting as Monday, except that Thurman and Tiffany said the opening and closing prayers to our lesson voluntarily, agreed to come to church, and Tiffany prayed out of the blue to know if the Book of Mormon is true! SWEET! Oh and Thurman told us about how he's pretty sure the Book of Mormon is true, he just wants one more signal. So we're progressing! :)

WEDNESDAY!

Why would you want to put P-day off, you might ask? Well to take a trip to the temple of course! It had been 8 months and I had not been to the temple and 6 months from when Elder Medina last went, we needed to go! So we got permission to take the trip on Wednesday, because all the activities and stuff on monday would be closed due to p-day, and we wanted to go to those too, so we put our p-day off for 2 days. That was a sacrifice totally worth it I have to say, the Temple is an amazing place. I love it there. As soon as I walked inside the Nauvoo Temple, the feeling that I was in the House of the Lord and the Nauvoo Temple was amazing. The workmanship of it is gorgeous. The San Diego Temple is still my favorite temple, but I definately have the Nauvoo at a close 2nd I think. It was nice to be able to perform sacred ordinances for the dead there, and I'm grateful for that opportunity. It made my day.

What was cool about this day too was the Zone Leaders from Peoria were there too, so I got to see one of my former ZL's (the other went home, and was replaced; obviously) So we hung out for a bit. Some members took us out to eat for lunch, already Temple Trip plus free food? Bloody brilliant! After that they had to head back because it was a 2 hour drive back to Peoria opposed to our 20 minute drive. So we looked around for a bit, we went to the Latter-Day Harvest bookstore and I purchased a small rock which is a piece of the original Nauvoo Temple, which is amazing. The feeling you get when you hold it is exhilirating! :) I also bought a new quad, because the scriptures I currently have are pretty big and bulky, so I got something smaller. That's some advice to future missionaries, get the quad that is small and compact. It's lighter and more efficient, I love it! Then we went to the Visitors Center where some sisters gave us a tour around the Visitors Center. It was safe because there was a crowd of people, geez get off my back people! But it was an interesting experience when one of the sisters randomly turned around and commited us to pray as soon as we next got in our car to know why we were there, and what we are to do. She promised if we did that and listened to the spirit our comp unity would grow. And I gotta say, our comp unity has grown haha! Then we went to the other side of town- the side of the *gulp* Community of Christ. I only went there for one specific reason. Michael Hansen. I don't know if any of you remember this, but Michael Hansen was one of my investigators in Bloomington- we had set a baptismal date with him for May 19, 2011. But he went back home, and he is now doing an internship in Nauvoo for the Community of Christ. We showed up to theirvisitor center and we instantly saw them all smiling at us and the thoughts running through their minds "we've got them now!" But they spoke too soon when I asked "Where's Michael Hansen?! TELL MEEEEE!!" Only alot more polite. And they told me he was at the Red Brick Store, so we ran out faster than chijuajuas can jump over licorice and drove there. It's always nice when you walk into a store and your former investigator is like " Hi how- Oh my gosh! Elder Prows!" and gives you a hug right of the bat. That felt good to know how I've impacted. Granted he's workign with the Community of Christ he hasn't been given much time to study, and grow spiritually, but he remembers me, and what I've taught him. We exchanges contacts too, so we can keep in touch, cause he lives in Nauvoo, but he does shop in Keokuk. So if we were to "accidentally" run into him while shopping, that would pretty cool. Then we checked out a cool gun place.

After Nauvoo we were like "Well, we still got 2 hours to kill. Wanna go to Carhage?! So we called up PJ and asked for permission to go to Carthage and it was approved, so we drove out to Carthage, Ill and visited the place of the Prophet and Patriarchs matyrdom. I gotta say, that is amazing. There is a powerful spirit there, and a great feeling of love. It's weird when you look at that door, and you see that gun hole that Hyrum was shot through, and think "his nose was right there!" ... that sounded really weird. I know I know, I'm an awkward person, you don't have to tell me twice. But hey I have a testimony and I ain't affraid to use it! Beside it's true. His nose was there. The Church is true too. The sister who gave the tour asked us to bear our tesimonies so we did. It was great. Then we drove home because we realized 2 hours had passed, and we had to be home.

THURSDAY!

Just any other day. We didn't do much. Our lesson with Phillis fell through because she got really sick, and they were going to feed us too, so they just ordered us a pizza. We're going to reschedule.

FRIDAY!

ZONE CONFERENCE! Woot, woot.

We had a very exciting Zone Conference. We centered it on the Doctrine of Christ because it's the key to loving people, and getting members motivated, and to convert others. The Doctrine of Christ is the center of the missionary purpose, and so we need to internalize it, and be converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Doctrine of Christ. They're pretty much the same thing- Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Recieving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. This is the only way to eternal life!

We had the mission doctor come talk to the missionaries as individuals about health problems, and it was nice. He taught us about ingrown toe nails, back problems, headaches, depressions, bedbugs, and clean homes. It was good, because I realized I don't have bed bugs, so that was comforting (woot woot).

Then missionaries did their going home testimonies, and Elder Medina was one of them. It was really weird. I've got a companion going home soon! Yikes!

After that President talked a little bit on conversion, and the Doctrine of Christ and he played a trick on us making us think we were going to have an Apostle there, and then we found out it was just a video recording. But I gotta say, this talk was without a doubt the most powerful talk I have ever heard! Jeffery R. Holland is a stud to the max! He was speaking in the MTC in Jan 2011 and he did the whole talk entirely by the spirit. He said some incredibly bold things, and it pierces you.

He talked about how missionary went from memorized discussions to Preach My Gospel when President Hinckley realized that the missionary system was flawed by having men coming and serving 2 year missions, and going home and goi Less-Active instantly, not keeping true to covenants, and being unfaithful to our Father in Heaven. That is how Preach My Gospel was born, out of realization that our missionaries literally needed to be CONVERTED to the Gospel before they go to PREACH the Gospel. And I know it's way more effective.

I love the talk. I can't say anything else. Apostles have the best view on scripture and doctrine than anybody. Elder Holland's description of when Christ asks Peter 3 times if he loves Him is so powerful! I can't even describe it! :)

I just feel so spiritually full from his talk! I wish you all could've seen it.

SATURDAY!

We went to Burlington for an baptismal interview and I somehow ended up teaching 5 little kids about the Plan of Salvation??? Then we went to a lesson with them. Elder Medina and Elder Sheffer went to teach an investigator while Elder Harris and I tracted. We knocked I think 8 doors and the 8th let us in and we taught a solid first lesson. When we extended the baptismal invite we didn't even finish the sentence before she answered yes. It was epic. Another solid investigator in Burlington.

Elder Medina and I decided we need to tract more haha, unfortunately Keokuk is a little more anti :P

SUNDAY!

We visited people at nursing homes, had a lunch and dinner appointment, and talked about ghost stories with a member who had an insanely awesome mission. This brother served in Argentina and he had tons of crazy experiences. He extended even with all the crazy experiences he told us about, and the he would've gone home if he didn't extend he gets shot in the face! So he still goes home. What a champ! And he didn't have any scarring because the scenario worked out just great. You have to hear the story, but I won't tell it. It's way too long to write down, and I'm getting bored.

Anyways in short that was my week. Alot more happened, but I'm done typing this blog post.

I hope you're all doing well, and remember I love ya! I hope to hear from you soon!

P-Trowsers OUT!

Weekly Post - 6/13/2011

So this week was different. We spent alot of time moving.

So for those of you which is most of you, who don't know my living situation in Keokuk, we lived in a mansion. Literally a mansion. But I guess the members who own it are going to sell it so we have to move out into a small apartment. Definately a big change. I went from the nicest apartment in the mission to a mansion to a small apartment with a toilet that barely works. Yay for missionary apartments! It's honestly not that bad of a place, the toilet works, the shower works, it's warm, and keeps cool from the heat, and it's a home. The only problem is there are spiders that come in from under the door. So we kill lots of spiders, we try to be creative.

Yesterday we came home from Church and I saw a spider sitting outside our apartment door, just chilling on the floor facing our door. I said "Don't try it, boy! You don't wanna mess with P-Trowsers!" so we went in and he just sat there. Then we cooked a pizza and ate lunch, and did some studying. I randomly didn't feel like sitting so I stood up was walking around- I started to pass the front door when to my surprise what did I see? The spider! I shouted "HEY!" and I saw him tense up. "I told you not to come in here!" He started running for the kitchen and I chased him down, and he became flat. I looked over at Elder Medina and I think he was a little weirded out. But he chased a spider down last night too, yelling at it too. They're fast! But we get them, they aren't any match for the Keokuk Elite.

The other day Elder Medina and I were talking about how cool a Book of Mormon video game would be. It could be just like the Book of Mormon Movie! ;) Then we started to talk about the Lord of the Rings and we were like, man! Those games are so sweet! We got trunky. So we listened to Mo-Tab. They still aren't that good.

The other day we taught Thurman and Tiffany the Word of Wisdom and they commited to live it. Thurman was already living it pretty much, and Tiffany just liked to drink at parties everynow and then and she liked her tea. But she can't afford it now so she agreed to just not get anymore. That was cool, but then 2 days later we taught them the Law of Chastity and they kept bringing it back to marriage. They struggled a bit with the last two missionaries I guess because they pushed marriage on them alot, so us asking them to live the Law of Chastity which involves them either getting married or one of them moving out was once again stressful. But it went well, we invited them to pray about it, and they said they would, so that was cool.

We met with another guy, Eddie, who said he doesn't believe Joseph Smith is a prophet because he said he saw God, and Jesus Christ. And in his book that's not possibly, because we go by faith and not by sight. But what he doesn't understand is the whole fact that Joseph Smith didn't believe in God and Jesus Christ BECAUSE he saw them. It's BECAUSE he had FAITH in them WITHOUT SIGHT that he was willing to go and pray to them to know which church is true, and BECAUSE of that FAITH he SAW Jesus Christ and God the Father. But he didn't get that, and refused to, so there wasn't much we could do for him. He also admitted he was married and the woman he was living with at the moment wasn't his wife, and he couldn't marry her because his current wife won't divorce him for some reason. So in his book as well he is not an adulterer because he's technically not married to the woman because he doesn't live with her or make any contact with her. His logic sucks! Yes he's married to her by law, and he has to get divorced from her or else he's an adulterer. The end.

Elder Medina went to Des Moines this last week for 2 days for leadership, and what did I do? I stayed in Keokuk, with Elder Hanna, who is a missionary I came out with. He is currently serving in Macomb, Illinois with Elder Joseph Reid who I went to High School with. That's really weird that there are kids I went to high school with on my mission with me. I didn't expect that. but it was a really good exchange, we talked and we cleaned the mansion, and moved and went out with members, and had a few member lessons. It was good. Lots of catching up. Elder Hanna is the only missionary from the MTC I'm still in contact with really. We're pretty tight. Love the kid to death!

Other than that we didn't do much. It's the summer and people are starting to come to Nauvoo, so this last sunday was pretty busy. I enjoyed it though. Hopefully Elder Medina and I get to go to the temple soon!

I hope all is well back home! Take care and I hope to hear from you guys soon!

Love ya!

P-Trowsers Spider Slayer of the Keokuk Elite

Mormon.org is cool

Weekly Post - 6/6/2011

Well Keokuk is awesome. I love this area alot. The only complaints? ALLERGIES and BUGS. The bugs are coverred with pollen and they love to crawl on my face for some reason- not Elder Medina's- mine. And so my allergies go wild, and yeah. The weather is strange too cause it takes a toll on you physically so the allergies turned into a cold, and now I'm sick. It's been rough but I'm pushing through it. I called Sister Jergensen to get help on what to do cause I got tired of trying to fend for myself- so I had to turn to my mission mom. She's awesome by the way, and so is President Jergensen, they just helped me out, and now I'm doing WAY better, even though I'm still sick. The nights are the rough part because I cough alot. But I'm getting better. There is power in a priesthood blessing I've found too.

It was cool on Wednesday when I got to go on exchanges in Ft. Madison with the Zone Leaders. Why? Well I was with Elder Drake who is also a Theatre Nerd so we just talked plays and musicals and stuff, and then we had a keyblade battle, and then we went and tracted... and the cool part about Ft. Madison is the streets are named as Avenues, and they aren't numbered... they're lettered! So who can guess where the first place I looked to tract was?! You guessed it AVENUE Q! :) It was pretty awesome. So I can say I've tracted Avenue Q. I rock? Yes I do. Here is a picture to prove it.

So I learned a valuable lesson about obedience this last week. I didn't do anything too bad, it was done I made it right instantly and there- but what was amazing to me was that as soon as I made the choice to go through with it, the spirit was gone. I knew it and the other elders knew it, and that was when we were like 'this is stupid let's not do it'. I don't know how many people take having the spirit very seriously, but I do, and not having the spirit is terrible. It really really is misery, especially as a missionary where it is essencial. I learned from that experience, while I have been a very obedient missionary, that even letting one small thing slide hurts. You can't pick and choose things to live with the commandments. You can't say I'll live the Law of Chastity, but not the Word of Wisdom. If you don't you are not a clean temple, and the Lord does not dwell in unclean temple, nor does the Spirit. So I am sorry for what I did, it's in the past and I;m moving on. I'm pushing on in exact obedience. I am sorry for the let down everyone, I promise I will do better to represent the you and the Lord out here in Iowa. Luckily we have the Atonement right?!

Anyways, while on exchanges I had another lacking the spirit experience, but it was different. We were sitting and talking (Elder Gordet, Drake, Medina and I) about ghosts and spirits. I've come to find on my mission that the spirit world is very real, and to and extent so are ghosts. But it's an interesting subject. In the long run we got on topic about spirits, and people seeing crazy stuff- essentially just Ghost Stories. But These all tied into the gospel and the devil trying to bring men down, and tearing apart the work. As we talked we slowly felt the spirit leaving, and we got on our knees prayed and talked gospel stuff, and brought the spirit back into the room. It is scary when you feel the spirit leave, and this experience was unique because it wasn't just the spirit leaving, but a bad spirit entered. We felt a threat. I want to bear my testimony that the adversary is VERY REAL. Satan is there, and he really does hate the Gospel, and wants to bring it down. Don't every let yourself fear him, and don't open yourself to him. He will do anything he can to get you, and know that the Savior is there for you. He loves you, and wants what is best for you.

So lets talk good stuff! We had some pretty awesome appointments this last week. We taught Thurman and Tiffany again, and about the Plan of Salvation. We taught that lesson twice this last week, and I have a very strong testimony of it. What kind of hit me about it is that there is no literal Lake of Fire. The concept is simple; we are to each live in a state of glory, regardless of if we accept the gospel or not. But those who do not accept the gospel will live with the knowledge that they fell short of their potential. For me to know that I didn't make it to the celestial kingdom, and got Terrestrial, that'd suck! Lucky for me I'm shooting for Celstial right?! :D But we taught the Plan of Salvation to Phillis too, and I don't know if I said this but she grew up in Carthage, with the only knowledge that Joseph Smith was a "horse thief". Silly people. But she's dating a LA and she didn't think that what she'd heard from family sounded legit so she is taking the lessons and love the church. She's been coming every sunday! Except this last one because she had to go to a graduation ceremony in Springfield, but what was cool was she suggested to her boyfriend to find the local ward in Springfield so that they could go! So hopefully they did do that :) She's solid. I'm pretty dead certain that we'll see her baptized.

I bore my testimony on Sunday and it was nice. Since I was sick my voice cracked alot so it was funny. Especially when it cracks when you introduce yourself :) Luckily I am past that stage in life where my voice is all scratchily and crackily. Yay men! Speaking of that my electric razor isn't working to well anymore, maybe it's just not strong enough to take my manliness? What a jerk. HA! So I'm going back to regular razors cause they work way better and all that stuff. All though I still hate shaving. 2 things to look forward to when getting home 1. Music 2. no need to shave. (although I will still shave... every now and then ;] ) and how the heck did I get from the subject of bearing my testimony to my masculinity? Has anyone ever noticed how subjects just change so quickly? It just flows and goes! I love how it works, because if you are on a role you can write like a song or a poem or something or just get a good laugh. Ah, chijuajuah.

Anyways, I'm cool. But the weather isn't! the other day it got up to the 90s and it was pretty humid, but not as bad as it gets apparently. So that sucked. And the bugs still do too. It's so annoying because the cicadas are really loud, and so it gets hard to hear people sometimes. Hopefully the all die soon? Then they won't be back for another 17 years or so.

Anyways, the church is true, and we have a prophet on the earth. I love this gospel and I know that only through "faith, hope, charity and love with an eye single to the glory of God" can we achieve 500, and only through that can we achieve Zion.

Love you all! I hope all is well, I pray for you.

Elder Prows