Man, this week was hard.
So we are having a way hard time finding still. Last week I gave the analogy about the Escalator Effect in missionary work, in regards to finding. I've come to really understand that even more this last week. It is critical to missionary work that we are constantly finding. Just as Preach My Gospel states- "Nothing happens in missionary work until you find someone to teach..."
That is an eternal truth. We cannot teach people, and baptize them, if we do not find them. That is a commandment from Jesus Christ- to "find them that will receive you".
We went to a member's wedding this last week and had a funny experience. Some former Southern Baptist Preacher walked up to us, and tried to bash with us. He was asking dumb questions, trying to make us look stupid in regards to dancing, being virgins, and Joseph Smith being a prophet. We answered all his questions boldly, and truthfully, and he was confounded. He ended the conversation saying "Well, I can tell you sincerely believe what you believe and so I will stop this conversation because I do not want to destroy your belief." I don't think he realized he strengthened it, because we bore testimony of the Authority and Divinity of this work, and we felt the Spirit. My favorite part was when we were talking about how we do dance, but not provocatively, and he asked if we find any of the girls there attractive "sexually" and I said "yes". We explained a difference between thinking if a girl was pretty and wanting to sleep with her, and we quoted Jesus saying "He that looketh upon a woman and lusteth after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." His response was "He said that???" Later he was like "we need to read the bible together, so I can show you the truth." He didn't really know what he was talking about HA!
The hardest part of this last week was on thursday. I'm so hesitant to share it, because it is really devastating.
So these last 2 weeks or so we've been trying super hard to set up a time to meet with Thomas for the new member lessons. But we haven't been able to meet with him. Thursday I felt impressed to text his wife, Nikolee, and to ask her when we can meet for the lessons. She texted back "I don't think Thomas wants to be a member anymore. It is very complicated everything..." a big "WHAT?!?!?!" popped up over my head, and in my head and through out the apartment. I immediately got a text message from Thomas as well saying "Thank you for everything you have done, but I will not be meeting with you anymore. Hopefully I find my way back, but until then please respect my wishes." I asked Thomas what was up, and if everything is ok. He texted back saying: "Sort of. I lied to everyone. Nikolee and I are working through things. I never had a testimony. I apologize but I cannot meet mormon standards right now." I started going back and forth inside through anger and sadness over this, because Thomas lied. He seemed super sincere in his investigation, but it was all a game.
To give a little background for new readers- Thomas and Nikolee were separated earlier this year, because Thomas wouldn't work with Nikolee on some things. Nikolee decided she wanted a temple marriage, and Thomas was not wanting to do what he needed to to give her that. But after the split he decided he wanted to give a shot, and got baptized. But I guess, he didn't do it sincerely, and only wanted her back. I feel crushed enough as it is, but I can't imagine what Nikolee is going through right now. We saw her at that wedding this last weekend, and she looked like she'd done a lot of crying. In short, this is hard. But on a positive note, I have come to understand the Atonement more through this. I realized two things:
1. No, it was not my fault Thomas lied
2. It was Thomas' fault he lied. (yes, I am very slow at times- get that beam out of your eyes, jerks.)
Thomas made the choice to make a covenant he was not sincere about. That is huge. He will stand accountable for not using the Atonement in the way that God and Christ deemed it to be used. Salvation is not a game. It is important, and open for anyone. But God will judge us on the thoughts and intents of our hearts, and if we do not live the Doctrine of Christ to the max, and sincerely- what is the point in doing it anyways? Without real faith, it is nothing.
We are going to work with Thomas and Nikolee and see what we can do to help Thomas out, but from what it sounds like chances are slim.
On a brighter note, Becky is doing AMAZING. We've had 3 new member lessons with her, and she has born her testimony to us twice, and is making comments in class and everything. She texts us about what she has studied and is just awesome. I'm glad she is doing so well. :)
In the end the Gospel is still true. Yes, life comes with heartaches, and pains, bumps, bruises, and Satan. But God is good, and we can overcome anything through him, and our Redeemer, the Victor; Jesus Christ!
We're entering August. 1 year ago I was in Fairfield, sweet Fairfield. Yesterday was my 22 month click, I remembered when I called Elder Howard who was in the MTC with me, and is now an AP. First thing he said was "happy 22nd click!" I was like "oh yeah", two more months! DANG!
anyways bye.
Weekly Post - 7/23/2012
Well, this last week was definately a test.
Granted we baptized all our solid investigators right now we don't have much going on. It's a testimony to me of the "escalator method" Elder Shayne M. Bowen described in finding, rather than the "elevator method". An elevator goes straight up and back down, and the escalator moves consistently. As well in an elevator you can only put in a few people at once, then it moves up. An escalator is constantly having people getting on and off, because it is constantly moving- Elder Bowen explained it much better I promise. But that is how our teaching pools need to be, we can't fill our teaching pool and then stop finding, because once our pools empty there is NOTHING! We need to be constantly finding! If we are then we will see much more success. So Elder Smith and I are going to do much better this week on finding new investigators, and filling our teaching pool!
This last week was a powerful week for me in regards to prayer. It has been a test for sure, because what I attempted was not easy. But it is getting easier. Sister Jergensen and the AP's ALWAYS are talking about how much President Jergensen loves each and every missionary in the IDMM- and he does! They talk about a particular thing he does, which is pray for each and every missionary in the mission by name, every day, and every night. That is alot of missionaries. This last transfer was hard because amidst how much I like serving in Kirksville, for some reason finding the capacity to love the people got harder. I don't know if it is just Missouri, or me being lazy because I'm seeing how close home is, but I really want to love the people.
On thursday- I'll get back to what I was just talking about, I promise- we had a surprise Zone Training Meeting in Quincy. It replaced District Meeting and Leadership meeting, so I didn't have to give any trainings this week, that was nice, but yet a bit of a drag. I was excited about this weeks set up I had. But hey, we had an awesome meeting. President Jergensen kind of ellaborated on his whole prayer deal, and he talked about how when he started to do that, he had a special love come into him. He could get to know the missionaries better, as well as he knew where to send them better. That inspired me, because for the last 6 weeks I've been trying to figure out how to develop true charity. I pray for it, and I don't really feel it coming. But when I started to pray for each family in the Kirksville 1st ward by name-not each family member, but the whole family- I started to see how the Lord will help me with it. I thought, "how on earth will I remember all their names?!" but as I prayed I'd remember 2 or 3 names, and after I prayed for them 2 or 3 more popped up! Before I knew it, I'd prayed for the ward, in a specific and genuine manner. I testify that I feel love for the Ward. In addition it adds power to it as I pray for my family, and friends back home individually and personally by name as well.
uh oh, times almost up! So that's my story for today, pray for people by name and you'll love them!
I hope everyone know that I love them and care for them.
Love ya!
Elder Prows
Granted we baptized all our solid investigators right now we don't have much going on. It's a testimony to me of the "escalator method" Elder Shayne M. Bowen described in finding, rather than the "elevator method". An elevator goes straight up and back down, and the escalator moves consistently. As well in an elevator you can only put in a few people at once, then it moves up. An escalator is constantly having people getting on and off, because it is constantly moving- Elder Bowen explained it much better I promise. But that is how our teaching pools need to be, we can't fill our teaching pool and then stop finding, because once our pools empty there is NOTHING! We need to be constantly finding! If we are then we will see much more success. So Elder Smith and I are going to do much better this week on finding new investigators, and filling our teaching pool!
This last week was a powerful week for me in regards to prayer. It has been a test for sure, because what I attempted was not easy. But it is getting easier. Sister Jergensen and the AP's ALWAYS are talking about how much President Jergensen loves each and every missionary in the IDMM- and he does! They talk about a particular thing he does, which is pray for each and every missionary in the mission by name, every day, and every night. That is alot of missionaries. This last transfer was hard because amidst how much I like serving in Kirksville, for some reason finding the capacity to love the people got harder. I don't know if it is just Missouri, or me being lazy because I'm seeing how close home is, but I really want to love the people.
On thursday- I'll get back to what I was just talking about, I promise- we had a surprise Zone Training Meeting in Quincy. It replaced District Meeting and Leadership meeting, so I didn't have to give any trainings this week, that was nice, but yet a bit of a drag. I was excited about this weeks set up I had. But hey, we had an awesome meeting. President Jergensen kind of ellaborated on his whole prayer deal, and he talked about how when he started to do that, he had a special love come into him. He could get to know the missionaries better, as well as he knew where to send them better. That inspired me, because for the last 6 weeks I've been trying to figure out how to develop true charity. I pray for it, and I don't really feel it coming. But when I started to pray for each family in the Kirksville 1st ward by name-not each family member, but the whole family- I started to see how the Lord will help me with it. I thought, "how on earth will I remember all their names?!" but as I prayed I'd remember 2 or 3 names, and after I prayed for them 2 or 3 more popped up! Before I knew it, I'd prayed for the ward, in a specific and genuine manner. I testify that I feel love for the Ward. In addition it adds power to it as I pray for my family, and friends back home individually and personally by name as well.
uh oh, times almost up! So that's my story for today, pray for people by name and you'll love them!
I hope everyone know that I love them and care for them.
Love ya!
Elder Prows
Weekly Post - 7/17/2012
Man, this last week was sweet.
Becky was baptized! That service was the best. Bishop Wilson baptized
her and that was amazing. Everyone was crying, and it was just good. I
don't know how else to describe it.
I guess President Jergensen has this thing about my past companions
after they are done serving with me going to Fairfield, because that
is where Elder Davis went. My new companion is Elder Matt Smith from
Payson, UT. He has been out 14 months, and is way sweet! We're way
excited to work hard.
I guess my family got a letter from President Jergensen finding out
I'm a District Leader again, so there you go. I'm a District Leader
again. Yay!
So we got 3 referrals this last week too, and that was cool. We're
contacting them today so we're excited to see what's up.
We found a new place to email that is open on monday too, so we can
email on mondays now. So that's also exciting. We're playing
basketball every morning now too, so we're on a weight loss spree. I'm
gonna go home looking good. Hopefully.
Anyways, I am almost out of time.
Elder Prows
Becky was baptized! That service was the best. Bishop Wilson baptized
her and that was amazing. Everyone was crying, and it was just good. I
don't know how else to describe it.
I guess President Jergensen has this thing about my past companions
after they are done serving with me going to Fairfield, because that
is where Elder Davis went. My new companion is Elder Matt Smith from
Payson, UT. He has been out 14 months, and is way sweet! We're way
excited to work hard.
I guess my family got a letter from President Jergensen finding out
I'm a District Leader again, so there you go. I'm a District Leader
again. Yay!
So we got 3 referrals this last week too, and that was cool. We're
contacting them today so we're excited to see what's up.
We found a new place to email that is open on monday too, so we can
email on mondays now. So that's also exciting. We're playing
basketball every morning now too, so we're on a weight loss spree. I'm
gonna go home looking good. Hopefully.
Anyways, I am almost out of time.
Elder Prows
Weekly Post - 7/10/2012
Well this last week was sweet.
Thomas was baptized and confirmed, and Becky is pretty much set to go as well. I am so happy to see how Thomas has grown and changed. He really has grown for the better. His family is a huge source of continual support for him, and in one year, I'm coming back to the mid-west for Thomas and Nikki's sealing! :) They've already got a date and everything. I better get a job and start saving, because that's way important. 2013 is going to be a year of trips- I've got a Mission President's homecoming to go to, and a sealing. I think I might just tour around my mission when I come back out in 2013. We'll see.
So Elder Davis is getting transferred, and I am staying here in Kirksville. Our District Leader Elder Nelson is leaving too, because he is done training Elder Flint. So we've got a new DL this next transfer, and I'll have a new companion. I know I'll be senior companion still, and I'll probably be with him for 2 transfers. I wonder who he is??? Who is going to kill me???
The Nauvoo Pageant starts today. That's pretty sweet. REFERRAL SEASON IS HERE! I'm hoping to get an investigator to go to it. I can't go watch it again sadly, because we're only allowed to watch it once on your mission. But oh well, I'll come back someday and watch it. I love the Pageant, it is such an amazing show!
I discovered today that my electric shaver that I bought at the beginning of my mission does work. I didn't get to shave yesterday because I ran out of razors, and I needed to shave. I am manly and get pretty scratchy after a day of not shaving. But my electric razor made me not scratchy, and that was nice. So maybe electric shavers are worthy investments, because that way I won't mutilate my face. I don't like razors. They are not nice to my face as of late. But that's just because I have to be a cheap-o and buy what cheap-o's buy: cheap razors. :P
We picked up a new investigator too. His name is Ken, and is dating a less-active. It's a particular situation, but I'm not gonna talk about it- due to personal reasons for them.
In other news, I got a letter from one of my friends- Elder Barry, serving in the Brazil Brasilia mission. He's going home in a few weeks! That's way crazy, but awesome. Hopefully, I'll get mail from him more consistently now??? Or maybe other people will write? Because they realize I am desperate, because I'm talking about a letter I got.
Anyways, I'm done with this email.
Elder Prows is done with this email.
Thomas was baptized and confirmed, and Becky is pretty much set to go as well. I am so happy to see how Thomas has grown and changed. He really has grown for the better. His family is a huge source of continual support for him, and in one year, I'm coming back to the mid-west for Thomas and Nikki's sealing! :) They've already got a date and everything. I better get a job and start saving, because that's way important. 2013 is going to be a year of trips- I've got a Mission President's homecoming to go to, and a sealing. I think I might just tour around my mission when I come back out in 2013. We'll see.
So Elder Davis is getting transferred, and I am staying here in Kirksville. Our District Leader Elder Nelson is leaving too, because he is done training Elder Flint. So we've got a new DL this next transfer, and I'll have a new companion. I know I'll be senior companion still, and I'll probably be with him for 2 transfers. I wonder who he is??? Who is going to kill me???
The Nauvoo Pageant starts today. That's pretty sweet. REFERRAL SEASON IS HERE! I'm hoping to get an investigator to go to it. I can't go watch it again sadly, because we're only allowed to watch it once on your mission. But oh well, I'll come back someday and watch it. I love the Pageant, it is such an amazing show!
I discovered today that my electric shaver that I bought at the beginning of my mission does work. I didn't get to shave yesterday because I ran out of razors, and I needed to shave. I am manly and get pretty scratchy after a day of not shaving. But my electric razor made me not scratchy, and that was nice. So maybe electric shavers are worthy investments, because that way I won't mutilate my face. I don't like razors. They are not nice to my face as of late. But that's just because I have to be a cheap-o and buy what cheap-o's buy: cheap razors. :P
We picked up a new investigator too. His name is Ken, and is dating a less-active. It's a particular situation, but I'm not gonna talk about it- due to personal reasons for them.
But we talked to Ken like 3 weeks ago, and have been trying to get in contact with him for a while now. We were out doing work, and I felt we should drop by his place, and lo and behold! He was there on his porch having a smoke. We walked up and he was like "oh, you caught me." That's what the Lord does, you see? But anyways, we had a WAY sweet lesson, and set up a return appointment. As we talked to him, by the spirit that is, he opened up to us, and told us about how he really does want to come to church. He's wanted to come to church for a long time actually. He just doens't see any need to. But as we talked to him, we pointed out the spirit, after answering his questions, and he recognized that he felt the spirit. We are going to continue meeting with him, and we'll see what happens there.
In other news, I got a letter from one of my friends- Elder Barry, serving in the Brazil Brasilia mission. He's going home in a few weeks! That's way crazy, but awesome. Hopefully, I'll get mail from him more consistently now??? Or maybe other people will write? Because they realize I am desperate, because I'm talking about a letter I got.
Anyways, I'm done with this email.
Elder Prows is done with this email.
Weekly Post - 7/3/2012
HELLO!
This last week has been good. We had some way good lessons with Thomas and Becky.
Thomas is set for this saturday on baptism. We are way excited. He asked me to speak on the Gift of the Holy Ghost, so that's going to be fun. I'll have to do it in just 5 minutes, because it's supposed to be a quick service. But that's how they want it. I love watching that family. Thomas and Nikolee's family, how they've grown so close because of the Gospel. On sunday we had a pretty tender moment. Elder Davis is likely being transferred in a week, and so he let them know that. The family, and us all got a little emotional- because we are all important to each other. Later Thomas and Marty (Nikolee's dad) embraced us, and told us they love us. That meant the world to me. I love that family so much. To not only grow close to them, but to see them grow closer to each other, and their Heavenly Father has made me one of the happiest people on the planet. There is NOTHING, absolutely nothing like seeing the Gospel change peoples worlds. Shattering the world in peoples lives to help them come unto Christ. I love the Gospel.
Becky is also doing very well. We might have to push her date back a week or two just because we haven't been able to meet as consistently. But she is doing amazing. I love watching her put the "puzzle" together herself. When she says "well, this makes me happy. It's made me better." That warms my soul. It may already be 105 out side with 100% humidity, but it feels so good to hear someone say that. Again, I love the Gospel.
This last week we had interviews with President Jergensen. It was an hour and half long drive to Quincy, and another hour and half back to Kirksville, and once again- I was stuck behind the wheel. So much driving. But in the long run, interviews were awesome. President Jergensen is my friend. I love him. He always does what he needs to, as directed by the spirit, to address my personal needs. He is very aware of every missionary. We have laughed together, and we have cried together. He is like my second father. I will always look up to him. I'm glad the Lord put him here in the Iowa Des Moines Mission to help me become the man I am today. I am glad that I can say I am a man now too, and with confidence. I used to say it in high school just to make other kids mad, because I thought it was funny. But now, I know I am a man. Because I have changed my life. I also got a new temple recommend. THAT WAS WEIRD! I am nearing the end. I say it in every email- I think.
But I don't know what I'm going to do when I get back. I've changed too much. I do believe that. Many things that interested me, now do not interest me. My life has changed, for the better. But where will I start?
I dunno, I'll pray about it.
Elder Prows
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