Weekly Post - 6/26/2012

This last week was fast. We helped some members move, and that was sad because the Ward loved them. I think I mentioned this in my last email, but I found out one of the members' sisters just got home from her mission and had reported tot he MTC the same day as me. Weird!

 

We met with a less active named Ashlee, that we got as a referral from Mormon.org. She had seen us several times and felt like she should talk to us. So she got ahold of us on Mormon.org- that was cool. But she dropped us. She said she had somethings she needed to "work out". In reality she feels guilty because she knows she's got some changes she needs to make in life. She expressed desire to go to the temple- but the thought of going and talking to the Bishop really scares her. Repentance shouldn't be scary, it is to people, but it shouldn't be. I loved how Elder Christofferson talked about it being said with a smile on our faces. Because repentance is GOOD! We're changing to be like our Savior and our Father in Heaven.

 

Friday we had exchanges with the Zone Leaders. It was a good exchange. It was hard though, because we didn't have the car that week, so there was a lot of walking. They were a bit unhappy about that, but we can't help it if we don't have bikes. I'm not going to by one too, because biking is not my thing. I like to walk.

We've been helping a member build a shed. It's pretty cool to see it going up. We are starting on the roof next week, so that's going to be fun.

 

It's been pretty hot out here. It's been somewhere in the 80's-90's. It's going to get hotter too, because the humidity isn't here yet. That's going to be a blast.

 

Thomas is progressing really well. He's actually ready for baptism, we just need to get some more things in order, and he should be good. Becky is running a little slower just because she's been busy. We might have to push her back a little, just for times sake. But we will see what happens. They are both progressing very well. I love Thomas and his family. They are such good people. Thomas is married to a member, and her family is in the ward as well. They all love Thomas so much, and are ecstatic that he is going to be baptized. I too am way excited. It's weird to think in a few months Randy, one of my recent converts in Fairfield, and his wife will be going to temple in a few months! He has the melchizedek priesthood and is going strong! I'm so happy to hear that! Man, I need to call that guy.

 

Interviews is this week, and I am excited. I love interviews! I'm going to have to get my temple recommend renewed by President Jergensen. That's so weird to think it has been almost 2 years since I first got a temple recommend.

 

Sunday a member brought her friend to church. The experience for her was really good, and I guess she got whatever it was that she needed because later that day the sister called us and told us her friend wants to know how she can get baptized! So we're going to start teaching her now. Miracles do happen!

 

Anyways, I realized this last week that this year is the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. That's kind of a bummer that I'll miss it. I love the Summer Olympics. They're sweet. London is cool too. So it'll be a good one, but I'm hoping my family will record all my favorite events. (girls gymnastics and volleyball are SWEET- the sport part that is).  But if I miss it then oh well, I get to baptize people and help save souls!

 

Anyways, I'm bored.

 

Bye

 

Elder Prows

Weekly Post - 06/19/2012

Man, this last week we had the car again. It was nice to have the car, but I really like to walk. I feel so energetic and ready to work and do things when we walk. Plus, I sleep better. But at least I don't have the risk of getting sunburnt, but hey, I got sunscreen so I'm invincible! It's funny because I got it for free from a member who owns a tanning salon so it makes me tan too haha. It's not like that way fake tan though, it's legit. I've got major missionary tan. That defines awesome.

I found another really big spider in our apartment this last week. My younger sister would LOVE the midwest. It's awesome. I also caught some fireflies. It was cool.

We had Zone Conference this last week. It was pretty sweet. President Jergensen is my buddy. We were asked to come to Zone Conference with some questions that we were wanting to answered at Zone Conference. I didn't have very many things that I wanted answered, but they wanted us to come with 5 questions AT LEAST. So I came up with 5, #1 being the most important to me- How can I better understand my covenants & priesthood? Despite Elder Shayne M. Bowen doing an amazing training at Zone Conference back in November, I still didn't feel like I quite got it. Leave it to President Jergensen to help me get it. He's a stud. It was a really good Zone Conference. This last week I got my "trunky call" which is when the Mission secretary calls missionaries going home in the next 3 months and gets the info she needs for their plane tickets home. It was bizarre- so at Zone Conference I was worried I was going to get to bear my "Departing Zone Conference Testimony", which is when the missionaries who go home soon bear their testimony at zone conference. But I didn't get to bear my testimony, which was good, it means I still have one more Zone Conference. Sister Jergensen gave a training on how Mormon.org is seeing alot of success, and miracles. She asked who had been in the mission when Sister Jergensen first talked about Mormon.org 18 months ago. Only 5 missionaries raised their hands out of 50. I was one of them. I think that get late into the mission is not fun. The mission is still fun, but seeing it come to a close is just reality smacking you in the face with a spiritual 2X4.

We were helping a family move the other day and I got talking to Brother Marin's sister, and I found out she had got home from her mission like a little less than 2 months ago. I was like "that's weird, because that means I started my mission before you, and you're home." She asked when I reported to the MTC and I told her September 29, 2010- she said "ME TOO!" So in reality, she started the same day as me. But she's still home. I'm old.

Thomas is doing way good. We had planned to teach him this last week about the Law of Tithes and Fast Offerings, but we felt inspired otherwise. We felt there was some sort of concern. So we talked to him about the Book of Mormon, and scripture study. As a result he talked a little about concerns, and we addressed them. It was really cool to feel the spirit work in that manner.

We also taught Becky, and that was really good. A return missionary came with us, and we talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It went way good. Becky is as solid as they come. She told us about how our church makes so much sense, because she had never even contemplated authority- and that is why Jesus went to John the Baptist! We just said "yes! That's exactly right."

I'm so sick of driving, I'm so happy to be able to us my feet! Zone Conference was in Iowa City, so it was a 3 hour drive to Iowa City, and a 3 hour drive back. SO MUCH DRIVING! I strategized the route just right that we got to pass through Fairfield on the way back though. I felt at home. I miss that place so much! My first week back in Keokuk I thought would've been way happy to be back, but I was HOME SICK for Fairfield. I still miss it a ton. There will never ever ever be another area in my mission like Fairfield (because this is my last!)

So this last week I almost didn't bother checking the mail, because I knew I'd get nothing. And I got nothing. Oh wait, I got my new suit from missionary mall in the mail. But that doesn't count because nobody talked to me. This last week, nobody loved me. It's cool though. Heavenly Father loves me, and we talk every day. Who needs paper when you got the spirit, foo?!

Anyways, I'm bored so I'm done. Also I need to email President.

Elder Prows

Weekly Post - 6/12/2012

Hey family!

 

short email today. So I forgot to mention last week that I now email on tuesdays, since the library here in Kirksville isn't open on mondays. It's pretty lame, but the emailing happens.

 

So we set another baptismal date with a woman named Becky. She is amazing. She's a former Jehovah's Witness. On saturday we taught her in the Stubbs' home about Keeping the Sabbath Holy. We extended the date, and invited her to church and she accepted.

 

On sunday she had a neat experience. She went to another church in the morning called the Cornerstone (Kirksville 1st Ward begins at 1), and after she attended the Cornerstone she was going to come to the 1st Ward. When she left the Cornerstone she started to feel a bit nervous, even scared about coming to our church. She wasn't too sure why, but when she started to hesitate, and was about to drive home she heard "No! You are going to church today." So she said to herself "ok then, here I go." and she came to church. I know that was the Lord guiding her. When she got to church, she saw tons of people she already knew! She said "This is the first church I've been to where I've already known everyone." Ironically in Relief Society and Priesthood the lesson was on following the spirit too. She is scheduled for July 14th

 

Thomas is doing very well. We taught him twice this week, and I'm pretty certain he's going to be ready for his date, even sooner! But we're going to stick with the 7th, because it's what he wants.

 

We walked TONS this week. One day we walked over 7 miles. It was long and hot, and hot... But good. I'm getting a good missionary tan.

 

Anyways, I have to get going.

 

Elder Prows

Weekly Post - 6/5/2012

Well I am no longer in Macomb, Illinois. I am in my last area of my mission. It's super weird to think that I am here. I would like to introduce you all to:

 

KIRKSVILLE, MISSOURI!

 

I can now say that I have served my mission in all three states that are available in the mission. I am serving in the Kirksville 1st Ward, my district is made up of the Kirksville 1st and 2nd Ward. So two sets of Elders are in this town. It's different. Granted I am in my first car share since Bloomington, and it's a district that consists of ONLY elders, I am no longer District Leader, and I am the oldest member of the district BY FAR. It is also interesting given the fact that this is a college town in Missouri. Now if you are familiar with church history in Missouri.....

 

My new companion is Elder Jonathan Davis, from American Fork, UT. He was actually Elder Tripps MTC companion, and is shorter than me. I finally got a companion who is shorter than me! Not by alot though. It's like BARELY. It might just be my mind playing tricks on me, because it's too good to be true. I can dream though, right? My next companion will be shorter than me definately though- I just know it!

 

Ironically this area was Elder Sonderegger's last area. So it's funny that my Padre died here in Kirksville 1st, and I will die here in Kirksville 1st. I am indeed my fathers son.

 

So it's a way sweet area though. I haven't even been here a week, and Elder Davis got a new referral, taught him two lessons and set a baptismal date with him. President Jergensen told us that we are awesome because of it, because the number of baptismal date we have now is the most Kirksville 1st has EVER had. 2 (we had one already when I got here). 2 baptismal dates, haha, oh Fairfield, I remember those days of have 8 baptismal dates. FUNNY! Speaking of Fairfield, on the way back to Kirksville from transfers we stopped in Cantril, IA a small town in Fairfield's area. We went to a popular amish super store called DUTCHMAN'S it's really cool. It's like an amish wal-mart. But while we were there we bumped into Sister Neilsen from the Fairfield Branch! I was so excited to see her! We talked for like a half hour, I was glad to find out that she and her husband loved me. I loved them. I was sad that we didn't get to go out to the town they live in (Keosauqua, IA) to see them more. But Elder Wilson never wanted too, because he wanted to save miles (even though we had like 700 miles to spare). But hey, we had a good half-hour long talk and caught up, and I promised that when I fly out to visit in a year or so that I will go back and visit then! It was way cool to see someone I knew from Fairfield too, I also saw brother Huntoon from Fairfield at transfers as well actually. I love that man. He is a giant in my eyes, very respectable. He's got a way nice truck too.

 

So this new baptismal date we got this last week is named Thomas. His wife, Nikolee, is an active member of the Church. Ironically her whole family is very active. She chose to marry outside of the church though, and Thomas for the most part has been very anti to the church. Recently, Thomas and Nikolee separated and were kind of living their own lives for a bit, and were in the process of a divorce. But their love was too strong, and Thomas turned around. His heart was softened. Sunday we set with him a baptismal date for July 7th. The lesson we taught was very powerful, the spirit was there, and he and his wife were both crying. It was very very clear that Thomas had been prepared to recieve the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is truly a miracle.

 

Our other baptismal date is named Josh. He's a 17 year old son of a less-active member. He's very shy, and so he's nervous to come to church. That's a bit of an issue. But we are hoping to help him feel comfortable in coming to church. His grandparents are very active, and so when they go he will go, because he feels comfortable with them. But when they are out of town, and right now they are, he is a bit more shy about coming.

 

Anyways, this last week has been mainly meeting members, and finding investigators and well, Transfers. But it is good, and I am a bit perplexed to say that the next time, that I know of, that I will be packing will be to board a plane! Wow, has it really been 20 months?

 

Hit me!

 

Anyways, if anyone has been willing to read my blog for the last 20 months, and still is then I hope you're as excited as I am about Kirksville. Because I am excited.

 

Elder Prows