Weekly Post - 7/25/2011

well this week has been crazy. I've been doing alot of stuff. So much I've got to try to remember it. Let's look at my planner and maybe It will refreshen my memory?

Oh on tuesday we talked to a brother who is a weight loss specialist through this shake formula stuff, and it works really well apparently. I got to try a sample for the shakes and it was nasty. Not really a fan. So I decided I'll just diet and exercise like I've been or just hope for a miracle. I might as well give my gut a name, because it's probably not going anywhere. Carrots are good by the way, I'm always reminded that if you can bite through the thick end of a carror then that is the equivalent of biting off a finger. So just remember, Gollum pretty much bit off of Frodo's hand a carrot. That's actually what they used when they filmed that part of the movie, is a carrot. Because it's like he's biting a finger, and you get that CRUNCH! Anyways, I'll talk about something else.

We also met with Sam on tuesday and he's still solid. That's all I can say is that he's solid. He came to church on sunday too, so that was cool.

We also did alot of service on tuesday, in the morning we work at a library, cleaning CDs and writing on boxes. Then in the afternoon we go to a old people place, what you call them is escaping my mind right now. But anyways we call bingo for them. It's alot of service for one day, but it's all good. If I had to choose one or the other, I'd definately choose the library just because I hate going to those old people places- man what are they called?! I can't remember! AH!

We also got a referral from a members wife this last week. The wife isn't a member, and she referred herself to us. So we're going to start teaching her today. It's pretty awesome.

Thursday was District Meeting and it was pretty awesome. I got to give the spiritual thought, and I feel it went well. Then we role played teaching the Doctrine of Christ as if we were teaching it to a little kid, it was fun. Then we had a testimony meeting where we all bore our testimonies on the Book of Mormon. I love the Book of Mormon by the way. It's amazing, and the best. The Bible's cool too- but the Book of Mormon, HECK YEAH! People who read this should check it out.

I had a sweet opportunity this last week to go on exchanges with the Zone Leaders- Elder Calderwood and Elder Bennett. The funny thing was out of the group of the four of us, surprisingly I was the only one from Utah... Elder Calderwood is from Alaska, Elder Bennett is from Washington, and Elder Wilson is from Oregon. So I felt special. I am special. I am the Status Quo- so everyone should respect me? Just kidding, I don't need no respect! But I am the Status Quo. I just don't need no respect. I almost typed I don't need no repent... That Doctrine of Christ is so in my mind right now it just keeps popping up- YEE HAW!

Anyways it was a long drive from Fairfield to Iowa City and I fell asleep while chewing sunflower seeds. I'm really good with sunflower seeds by the way.

Elder Bennett was the one I went with, and he's awesome. We talked about missionaries I served around and he served WITH- so we both know them pretty well. It was a good laugh. But he was way cool, and I learned alot from him. No wonder he's a Zone Leader! He's an awesome missionary- just to let you know you don't have to be an awesome missionary to be a Zone Leader. But it sure is nice if you were an awesome missionary. Elder Bennett taught me that it is very important that we just teach from the Book of Mormon and only the Book of Mormon, and talk about it like CRAZY when we talk to people. If we talk about the Book of Mormon and we make sure people understand that the Book of Mormon is the work of God then it will catch interest and people will want to read it and learn more! it was sweet.

Friday we... I don't remember!

Saturday we weekly planned and worked hard. Weekly planning takes very very long...

Sunday we went to a wedding. One of our investigators married a member. It was cool. There was a 17 year old girl who came over to us and was asking us tons of questions. She was just being a brat and trying to make us mad, she kept asking if we were, so that's how we could tell. She asked lots of random questions too, but we answered them all. The best one was when she asked about homosexuality and I just brushed it off our shoulder and answered her question right off the bat. She talked about how we were different and she was impressed that we were willing to display our faith by acting in a way we were, which was by going on missions.

the Church is true, and we have a Prophet on the Earth. Jesus Christ is our Savior and His Doctrine is the way to Eternal Life.

Love you all!

Elder Prows

Weekly Post - 7/18/2011

I am blown away.

This last week was very tiring and very hot. The heat drains you of all your energy, it really is insanity.

The other day we found a huge cockroach in our kitchen. I didn't get to kill it, it ran under our fridge, and possible into Bro. MocConeghey's office... (There is a door behind our fridge that leads into our landlords office) So we're not sure about that one because it was pretty big and gross. We tried to vaccuum it up when we first found it, but it just climbed out and ran. We found one laying on its back the next day, and well I took care of that. It was weird. You cut a cockroach in half and the bottom half doesn't work anymore but top half is still functional, it's cause the top half has the brain. But when you cut it in half the long ways it's lights out so it worked. Anyways nobody cares about my pest elimination stories. On to the goods.

This last week I got to go to Nauvoo with our recent convert, Randy. We didn't watch the Pageant unfortunately because Randy was feeling sick. But we did get to do lots of other stuff, we walked the temple grounds, and went to the visitor center and looked around. It was very cool there, because the Sisters really know how to bring the spirit there. In the end about the day Randy said it was what he needed and he felt very comforted and strengthened by it. :) That spiritual giant Randy is.

A week ago we decided we'd tract on Friday Buchanan St. And since it was now friday we decided to tract Buchanan st. But we felt inspired to knock on a specific 4plex. The first door let us in, we had a solid lesson and he commited to baptism on August 6. His name is Sam Lewis- he was very close friends with a brother in the Branch who had passed away a year ago, and he was actually investigating the church, and he stopped after his friend died. He bore sweet testimony that he knew we came there not by chance but by purpose, and there was a reason for us to be there. We taught him again last night and he's still super solid. We taught him about the restoration of the church since our first lesson we taught the Doctrine of Christ. He understands everything, and the spirit gets really strong in his home and he recognizes it. He even understood the Priesthood! Which was amazing because lots of people here in Iowa kind of struggle with that- maybe people do in general. But it was way sweet.

I don't have much else to say really. I love Fairfield? We have 3 investigators right now and all 3 of them have baptismal dates! That's awesome. :)

I'm so happy to be on my mission I've come to find. It's such a blessing to share the Gospel with others, how can anyone think of anything else to do?! As a wise missionary once said- "If any young man or woman is worthy to serve a full-time mission and doesn't. then they are making the biggest mistake of their lives!" Very very true indeed. Words of Wisdom. Such wisdom! OH the HUMILITY!

So you should all check out 2 Nephi 31 in the Book of Mormon. It's true.

Also don't forget to check out Mormon.org!

Love ya!

Elder Prows

Weekly Post - 7/11/2011

Well I had my first full week in Fairfield, Iowa. Man, I have never worked this way! Elder Wilson and I have just been attacking working in this area and are working our butts off. It has definately been an amazing week.

We had the opportunity to do interviews with President Jergensen this last week and that was awesome. It's always a pleasure to get to address concerns with your mission president face to face, and to just talk and find out what he has in mind, and what He has in mind. I guess I'm supposed to make this area explode or something, because President Jergensen is expecting alot out of Elder Wilson and I- he believes we're a powerful companionship; in which I think we work really well together.

So this last week Elder Wilson and I have spent alot of time tracting. We were left with no investigators after last Saturday, because well, we baptized our last one... so this area requires alot of creativity to find people to teach, but in the long run we came down to the idea that we need to just tract and OYM like crazy (OYM means to Open Your Mouth, or just talk to everyone on the street we can). On the Sunday that Randy got confirmed though, we recieved two referrals that were very exciting. We weekly planned for them and on Friday we just so happened to set a date for one of the referrals- Amanda McGuire. She is currently engaged to a member in the Branch and she grew up Catholic. But she decided she'd take the lessons since she was asked to and she's marrying a LDS so she better understand what LDS' believe. She said she felt really good while talking about it, and she likes it more than the Catholic Church and what we taught her made her want to be baptized. We are working with her to prepare her to be baptized August 1.

We've also been working with a Less-Active who we've been trying to get back to church, we visited him 3 times this last week to remind him that he had a ride for it, and last minute he decided to not come. That was a bit of a downer, but it's on his head. We did what we could to get him to come to church, we'll just have to help him come this next Sunday!

While tracting Elder Wilson and I have set a goal- our mission is currently pressing that there is too much "Bible Bashing" going on. Missionaries are becoming to focused on knowing how to put down other peoples beliefs and how to prove them wrong and make them look stupid, instead of you looking stupid (when in turn you do look stupid to the people who drive by everyday walking in the very humid weather that's over 90 degrees and in a white shirt and tie), it just doesn't fulfill our purpose.

It isn't the Doctrine of Christ.

So our mission has a rule now to only study out of Preach My Gospel, and the Book of Mormon, and to only teach out of the Book of Mormon. Elder Wilson and I have been working pretty hard on this, and we've made a personal goal that each of us will hand out 2 Book of Mormons daily. It's very very hard. But this last week we did hand out 1 each! Both in the same day. The Book of Mormon I gave away was a rather interesting experience granted she was a Quaker and she was trying to sell a really old Winnie the Pooh book the moment we knocked on her door- but she was interested in the basic principles of the Doctrine of Christ. That is something that is amazing to me; as a missionary we often try so hard to point out great doctrines and vast things that are "bound" to get their attention. It was simple, if we teach the purpose and the role of the Book of Mormon then they will understand OUR purpose as Representatives of Jesus Christ, and they will be edified!

I want to invite everyone who hopefully is reading this, which there probably aren't alot- but if there are- to read 2 Nephi 31. Study it, and pray about it. Think about the 5 principles to the Doctrine of Christ which are the focus, and message of the Book of Mormon:

1. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and His Atonement

2. Repentance

3. Baptism by Immersion

4. Recieving the Gift of the Holy Ghost

5. Enduring to the End

I know if you all will do this then your Faith in Jesus Christ will grow, and that faith will lead to action- you'll want to be better and you'll want to repent- you'll follow His example. Hopefully for some that will be baptism and recieving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and fortunately others already have recieved that sacred ordinances. But I hope you take in your mind and in your hearts the desires and the purpose of the sacrament. Why we partake of it. Think on your baptism, and what that means to you, and to your Heavenly Father. What does it mean to you that when you take of that ordinance, that you are recieving a remission of your sins when you take it worthily, and faithfully? Are you taking it worthily and faithfully? Do you feel clean and forgiven after you take it?

I want to invite you all to commit yourselves not to me, but to God and to Jesus Christ, as you take the sacrament. When you take the sacrament think of Jesus Christs Atonement, and what that is to you- pray, "Lord, I would follow thee."

Come unto Him, and choose the right.

I love you all

This I share in the name of our wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ

Amen

Weekly Post - 7/5/2011

So it's Saturday morning, and Elder Medina and I are waiting for a phone call. It comes around 2 PM from President Jergensen, meaning that there is one of us getting a leadership. I start to feel nervous way worse than I was already because Elder Medina picked up. I can overhear the conversation of President saying he wants to talk to Elder Medina AND me! The anticipation! OH! AAAAAAHHH!! Elder Medina got a call to train and I have been transferred to Fairfield, Iowa. So I got lucky and got the very rare 6 week axe. I spent only 1 transfer in Keokuk with Elder Medina and it was one of the best transfers on my mission so far. We had two investigators on track for baptism and now I get a new area. I am super excited to be here though.

My new companion is Elder Christopher Wilson. We get along great, because well we have pretty awesome first names- Elder! Oh and our middle name's pretty sweet too, the only difference is we use different halves of our names (Chris/Topher).

Elder Wilson is from Eugene, Oregon and love to do outdoor stuff. He does deep sea fishing and wants to study about plants in college- I can't remember the word he uses...

So my first week here we have a baptism. It was very cool. I do not count it as my baptism however, because well I didn't really have anything to do with it, other than say the opening prayer. The opportunity to baptize Randy was given to me, they asked me if I would like to do it, but I turned it down, because well Randy didn't know me really yet, we'd only met the day before the service, and I wanted his baptism to mean something more, than just a missionary showing up to do it. Would I have liked to baptise him? Yes, I would love to be in the water baptizing someone- but it goes much deeper than that. I want him to have someone who means alot to him to baptize him. But! He and I have talked alot since I got here and we're tight; we give each other high fives and all that stuff. He's sweet. Besides I got to participate in the circle for his Confirmation! The sweet part too, was that it was fast and testimony meeting and he bore his testimony. Randy is solid, and one of the coolest and sweetest people I've met. Love the guy!

My first weekend in Fairfield BYU Vocal Point came and performed. I don't know who here knows who Vocal Point is, I'm about 99% sure all of you do since just like you they're from Provo! (Unless you're not!) But they are a 9 man a cappella group who covers famous songs and hymns in way sweet ways. They're amazing and one of my favorites to listen to. So basically they are InsideOut without the suck.

That was a very cool experience though, they performed 'All Creatures of Our God and King' and the audience cried; it was really powerful. The men in that group are not only killer singers, but they're spiritual giants. It was funny to me though how nobody could grasp the fact that the percussionist was beatboxing and even what beatboxing is. They were blown away when he did his own little solo song of Trashing the Camp. Yeah, you all should check them out, they're pretty sthweet.

And random enough one of the guys from Vocal Point gave the Large Group Meetings for me in the MTC! Weird. And I remembered him cause he's from New Zealand.

love ya, Ciao!

Elder Prows

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