Weekly Post - 8/29/2011

This week was good. I had a hard time sleeping though, and is was cold in our room. So I broke out my blanket I crocheted and now I'm warm at night. But I still wake up in the middle of the night. I'll be sound asleep and then BOOM I'm wide awake, at like 3 in the morning. It's kind of annoying.

Anyways we found another investigator this last week. Sister Natalie Butler who is a member who just recently got her endowments out had us for dinner on saturday- she was actually invited to her neighbors home, and she told him "only if I can bring the missionaries!" and he said yes. We taught him a short lesson at the end, and she said that he was fighting tears during it. It was very neat, we set up a return appointment for the next day and he accepted and invitation to be baptised! We're way excited- Sister Butler freaked out with excitement when she heard he accepted the invitation haha.

Soooo- we did more service this week. We helped the Kerns some more by moving some bushes that are in the Clemons' yard (some other members who live across the street from the Kerns) and planted them in the Kerns' yard. I got blisters. In weird places. But it's all good, because I'm a champion.

We also helped our Branch Mission Leader reshingle his roof. In reality all we did was help him tear the shingles off and relay the tar paper. But it was fun. My hands were really sore afterwards and I was very sweaty. I also got to eat a donut. I have to say, I am a very handy person, very talented. I have to hold back often, because with one sweep of my awesome I can just get the job done (not really). But I try? I actually was the most useless person there, since I only acted like I knew what I was doing and I realized I forgot my inhaler so my Exercise Induced Asthma was like "Hey! I''m going to make it hard for you to breathe." And then I was like "Oh no! I can still breathe, I'm just weezing a little!" (just to let my parents know I was ok) But we got to talk to some non members while there. Brother Petersen also stapled his finger on accident. Good job.

Well one of our investigators we have to push the date back for because he isn't coming to church. It's kind of a bummer, cause he's ready and wants to be baptized- it just doesn't seem to get across to him that won't baptize him unless he comes to church. It was funny when we told him that we had to push his date back, and he was like "wait, why?!" and we were like "Well you need to come to church!" and he was like "oh ok." So we're working on getting him to church. He's 9 by the way.

Yeah yeah, woo woo.

I had this really good chicken at a members house the other day, it was good. We had it straight out to the oven though, so it was really hot and I think I burnt my tongue. How strenuous! The sister was French, and she believes in past mortality. That was interesting. But she was nice, because she fed us good food. I like good food. Good food likes me. I eat good food. And then it becomes the product of the environment and we will go no further than that.

Geez, I wonder if anyone is actually going to read this! My blog is so awesome.

I got to do some training at District Meeting on Thursday. I was asked by Elder Wilson to train on 'Find When you Teach, Teach when you find". A fitting subject for the Status Quo. It went alright, I felt like it could've gone better. But I just talked about how this message we share is only THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE IN THE WORLD- and we are privileged to share it, with the power and authority of our Heavenly Father backing us up. Seriously, the Restoration is such a bold claim, and as Representatives of Jesus Christ, if we don't proclaim is boldly and with conviction; then of what cause do we have to be here? Our focus as missionaries should be to help others understand the Restoration through the Doctrine of Christ. The Restoration of the Doctrine of Christ! Because it was restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith recieving the priesthood keys to properly perform Baptism, and giving the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

The Gospel is the best, and it's amazing what faith does.

This last Sunday I came to realize that we're not going to be judged on our works. Not on what we've done. But what we've become. Elder D Todd Christofferson said that. The Lord does care about what we do yes, but how does that influence us into what more choices we make? Choices become habits, and habits build character. The Lord wants us to BECOME LIKE HIM. And we cannot become like Him is we make poor choices. I know that is true, and I know Elder Christofferson speaks the truth.

Anyways I'm almost out of time.

Have a great week everyone!

Doctrine of Christ FOREVER!

500 to Heaven in 2011!

Mormon.org- Check it out.

Elder Prows, the wielder of the Keyblade.

Weekly Post - 8/22/2011

OOOOH MAN! This last week is insane. So we now only have the 2nd most baptismal dates in the mission. But that's ok. Because we have alot and we are working hard. President Jergensen told us something yesterday when he came for a baptismal interview that I have to keep confidential. But he said that due to the amount of success we're having that thing he told us is happening. And it's BIG. Like wow. I can't believe it haha.

So this last week we did service service and more service again. There is a less active family we've been working with and we did service for them for 4 days straight for a few hours. But they've really warmed up to us, and as a result they came to church on sunday and stayed for all 3 hours. That was a miracle!

On friday Elder Wilson and I had dinner with the Farmers. They're a convert family, except for 2 non members. Amanda who we are teaching and has a baptismal date. And Randy who is the father. Missionaries have tried to talk to Randy in the past, but he was just kind of like "meh" with them. This last friday randomly we just kind of clicked with him. The whole dinner we were talking with him, and laughing and just having a good time! So Saturday came along and we were planning, and we just felt inspired to go talk to him that day. We found him working outside, and we talked for a good half hour, and at the end of the conversation Elder Wilson asked "Randy, have you ever wondered what your wife believes in?" he said "Yeah, actually. I have." Elder Wilson said "Would you like to learn?" he said "Yeah, I would, actually." We started teaching him Sunday and set a baptismal date for November 26. He said he's noticed it makes his wife happy, and she's made serious changes in her life with and for it. He wants that and feels the need for it. We're going to work with him big time! Miracle? YES!

We are also setting another baptismal date this wednesday, and so we are going to have more. It's amazing. This is a baptism that President found for us too. Elder Wilson and I are baffled and happy to have a full schedule haha.

Something that was pretty cool this last week too was someone moved into the branch too. So we have a new member in the branch! Clayton Jacobs- who is blind. It's very interesting, but this kid is in fact a spiritual giant! I admire him big time! He just- AH! It's amazing to see the immense amount of faith people have sometimes. I love faith.

Miracles do happen. I know that. Elder Wilson and I see them daily, and we work hard to find them. I know they are wrought by prayer, and that through prayer we can see them on a regular basis and grow spiritually in turn.

I love the Special Witnesses of Christ videos I've decided. They are the bomb. They are so sincere in the power they speak; with my favorite energy and emotion- love. I love love Ive decided. I don't know why, but whether it's a husband and a wife loving each other, a brother loving a sister, or a kid loving his parent, or someone loving what they do, or an Apostle of the Lord expressing his unmeasured love for our Savior- I love to watch people love. There's this energy I feel, and peace, and well I guess you can say the spirit. It really makes me contemplate the love that our Savior has for us, and our Father in Heaven. How often do we think about how much our Heavenly Family loves each other? Do we love each other? Or do we just see people and think "oh hey, what's up?" My invitation to you all today, is to

1. pray for and ernestly seek miracles. And when you see one- write it down!

2. Watch for love, and love in return.

Go forward everyone and feast upon the words of Christ, and hold that love which He does posess!

I do love you all. I hope you all know that. I pray for you all, every morning and every night. I feel the power of the prayers for me! And I am so grateful for them. I know I cannot do this without them. If I were to try, well, let's not think about that.

Stay safe, stay rooted in the Doctrine of Christ!

Love,

Elder Prows

P.S.

Mormon.org it up!

Weekly Post - 8/14/2011

So this last week was a week of service. We spent alot of time in dirt, trimming hedges, and pulling weeds. It was very fun, until a huge spider popped out one time, it scared me like crazy! I about had a heart attack. It knocked the wind out of me (I'm very scared of spiders).

This was a interesting week- it was the last week of the transfer.

President Jergensen was telling the mission the other day that there is only one way we will be able to achieve 500 baptisms this year. A MIRACLE! So President has asked us to pray for a miracle to happen. How are miracles brought to pass? Elder Harrison, one of the Assistants to the President here in the IDMM, put it this way- In the Bible Dictionary is says "Miracles are WROUGHT BY PRAYER." So every miracle starts with a prayer. And it's very true, if you look in the scriptures you'll find that the Savior does pray before miracles are brought about. When we pray we exercise faith, and trust in our Heavenly Father by asking! Sometimes we need to square our shoulders and just ask. It's like asking a girl on a date! JUST DO IT! How easy was that?! So Elder Wilson and I have made it a goal this next transfer to see a miracle everyday. We have begun to pray daily for one and we go and we seek for it. You can't pray for something and just expect it to come. You have to work for it! So that is what we are doing. As a result of our efforts we have seen 1 miracle everyday for the last week. I will not list them all just because I'm low on time.

But in the long run Fairfield is doing very well. Danielle Arkon one of our investigators told us she knows the Book of Mormon is true and that she knows we have a modern day prophet. :)

President Jergensen came to church on Sunday and he spoke on the Doctrine of Christ. It was pretty sweet. He talked us up pretty good. So the members love us even more now. But he also got us another investigator with a baptismal date. That was pretty intense.

So we have 5 investigators with baptismal dates at the moment... that's more than any other area in our district, our zone and the mission. I'm baffled.

We had a really good dessert yesterday too. I love sweets and it was a really good one. It almost made me cry, chocolate chips in it probably would've made me cry. It was that good. I love truffle.

Mormon.org is sweet

The Doctrine of Christ is better, and the WAY! 2 Nephi 31!

500!

love you all

bye

Weekly Post - 8/10/2011

So this last week was incredibly awesome. Monday was Zone P-Day. So we spent it in Iowa City bowling, playing volleyball, and basketball and rapping. We had a rapping competition, and I didn't rap because I was the beatboxer. The zone said I'm pretty good, which was cool. It shows that all the practice I've been doing is paying off. I love to beatbox by the way. Alot. Like alot. Then we had a good lesson with one of our investigators with a baptismal date. It was good, but Elder Wilson was sick so I pretty much taught it all, and it was a lesson that for some reason I'm not the best at teaching so it was good for me. I needed it, and now I can say I can teach it alot better. Thank you Elder Wilson for getting sick, but I am very happy you feel better, buddy! High five for being such an awesome sompan- companion. I'm glad I caught that.

Tuesday we had alot of appointments fall through, but it was ok because it was a day of service as usual. I had a bad attitude this day about it though. I don't remember why though.

Wednesday Elder Wilson and Elder Perez (a missionary who is traning in Washington, IA) had to go to leadership, so I was on exchanges with the greenie, Elder Moser. It was awesome. The Hermanas in Ottumwa were scheduled to do a presentation to a comparative religion class that day, but they were going to be at leadership too! So President approved it for Elder Moser and I to go and do it! It was a very good experience. There were alot of weird questions asked, and mostly rooted from the bible and in catholic origin. But Elder Moser and I felt prompted to stick to answering through the Book of Mormon and testifying of it's divinity. In the end we taught the Doctrine of Christ and because we taught it the way we did, all 5 of the people who were there asked for copies of the Book of Mormon. It was very cool. Elder Moser is a stud.

Thursday was more exchanges and I tried two very hot hot sauces. The blend of them was not fun, so I drank chocolate milk.

Friday was the highlight for the week.

SAM LEWIS WAS BAPTIZED! YAY!

I can testify that there is in fact no feeling that you will ever feel like when a person enters the waters of baptism and makes that sacred covenant with our Heavenly Fathers, by and through His holy priesthood. It was amazing. :) Lots of members turned out too, so that was very cool. I'm very happy I was privileged and blessed by the Lord with the opportunity to help Sam out. He will be a great member.

Saturday was district meeting and transfer calls. So two very busy things. District meeting was cool, every member of the district gave a training on how to find people effectively, and that was cool. I realized I need to do better. Elder Wilson and I also found out that President is really amazed at how he and I are doing here in Fairfield. He talked us up a bit in Zone Leader Council (where all the Zone Leaders meet and talk about their zones.) and so he decided that Elder Wilson and I will stay together for another transfer. That was reassuring because we are doing very good. And we're working hard and all that. I think that after this coming transfer I will be with Elder Wilson for a 3rd Awesome transfer, and then Elder Wilson will go home- because well his mission will be done with.

Sunday was church and I was blessed with the opportunity to confirm Sam a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was a very sacred experience, and I treasure it. I hope everyone will remember the time they recieved the Holy Ghost, and what that means to them. It's truely humbling to know that you have that with you always.

Anyways that was my week. It was very very fulfilling. I'm happy. Very happy. :) see?

Love you all!

bye

That was my week!

Weekly Post - 8/2/2011

Well this week was awesome.

We picked up another investigator who was being taught before, and she wasn't taking it serious for the missionaries at first. Her husband is a member and he wanted her to take the lessons so she did. But she didn't really care. Now she does, and wants to know so we are visiting with her, and we have a date for her to baptized on September 10. :)

Sam is still going strong and is on track for baptism. Elder Wilson and I are very excited for him. He told us an experience he had the other day where he hit another car with his and he felt tempted to run, but he stayed because he felt a reassurance that it'd be ok if he stayed. So he did, and the dent that was in the car the owner of the car said was already there. So he told us he knew that if he hadn't followed the thought to stay it wouldn't have worked out. It was way cool :) He seems alot happier and open too. It's way cool what the Gospel does for people.

Wednesday I had the opportunity and blessing to go and see the Nauvoo Pageant. That was amazing. Not only was it great just to see a play, but it was really well performed and the lighting was AMAZING! I loved it. And the spirit to it was so strong. I know that those people who the actors were portraying, and bearing witness to were in fact there. It was wonderful. The best part is through the play they are building the Nauvoo Temple- and when it's finished they use a big cloth drape to replicate the temple, and when they finally put that up, and the tower is put up- AH! That was powerful. You just get a feel for the labors the Saints went through in Nauvoo. Then they play a clip of President Hinckley talking about the Nauvoo temple and they light up the REAL temple, and that was just great. :) I just... you have to see it. It's super good. I definately recommend that experience. One of the best you'll ever have. If there is any places you should go in the world it is definately Nauvoo, Illinois. I'm so privileged to have served in Keokuk, and now Fairfield. Because Keokuk was 30 minutes away from Nauvoo, and now Fairfield is about 70 minutes away. So I get to be pretty close.

There were 2 other cool parts that I got to experience in Nauvoo that day. We took the tour around Historic Nauvoo from the Community of Christ, and well the tour guide for us was good old Michael Hansen! Who was one of my investigators in Bloomington. So that was cool to see him. Everyone thought is was weird when he and I were just talking and laughing and joking and being well- friends! I of course hooked him up with a way to get ahold of the missionaries closest to him. But he is doing very well, and I was happy to see him. He did a great job on the tour too- that guy knows his stuff. It was cool to get to see the graves of the Prophet and the Patriarch too- Emma was there too, that was awesome. Very powerful spirit around them. It's like a spirit bubble is around that grave site.

The other cool thing was as I was standing by my seat before the pageant there was a guy I saw I just felt like going to talk to, note I JUST FELT LIKE IT. It was really weird, but I felt like it, so I did. I walked up to him and he looked pretty familiar for some reason. I thought I knew and I was right. He looked at my nametag and said- "Oh! I'm supposed to get a picture with you!" It was Brother Elwood from my home stake. My younger brothers friend is his son. So I was like "Oh wow! This is really cool, but weird at the same time!" It was really neat to hear the Elwoods talk about how much my family loves me and the Stake and all that. I felt alot of support that lifted me up more than I needed. It was great! But is was weird because I didn't expect to see people from back home on my mission haha. But then again there are 3 other Elders in this mission who also went to Provo High. So it wasn't super weird because of that- but it was very nice. Brother and Sister Elwood, and Caden were very nice to talk to. I didn't see Baxter. (SORRY!)

We had a pretty hilarious experience the other day which resulted in an investigator getting dropped. An investigator being dropped is ALWAYS sad, because you know the potential this message has for them. But what happened was funny.

We had been meeting with a lady named Anna, but two weeks ago we showed up and her kids told us that she had gone up to Ottumwa because her brother had surgery and so she was going to be there for 2 weeks. So we waited 2 weeks.

We showed up at their door again, but when we were walking up 3 of her kids were ont he porch just sitting. We called out and said "Hey, is Anna home?" One of them said "Yeah???" And one of the other kids freaked out at her and hit her, and was like "NO! Don't you listen!!" And they ran inside. We were like, 'Oh great!' And they came out and were like "Actually she went up to Ottumwa. You'll have to come back in 2 weeks." And then the youngest one came out and was like "Nuh uh! She's home! Nuh uh!"

So it was pretty apparent she didn't want to meet with us, and that she was trying to avoid us- so we dropped her. But it was pretty funny because the kids totally blew it. But she got what she wanted I guess haha.

Also I am really good at painting rooms. I just thought I'd throw that out there. Just kidding I'm not that good. I messed up a room actually haha. It was funny. But not really. I get to fix it tomorrow though, because I said I would.

Anyways that was last week. It was awesome.

Today it is 111 degrees outside minus the heat index. Yee haw!

P-Trowsers out!

BLAH