February 22, 2009
Well this past week I did get my new companion. The week has been a bit hectic and slow but I am hoping that things will pick up this week now that we are all settled down. My companion is from Congo. He is very nice and humble and he goes home in 3 months so he is a bit tired of the missionary work but hopefully things will pick up and he will have a desire to work. We still have a lot to do here. The whole Bishopric was desolved two weeks ago so we don't have one right now. We just have the 2nd counselor as acting bishop until others are called as his counselors. The work is going well though. We confirmed Charles who was baptized last week so that was good, he was very happy. Other than that, we have two other awesome investigators preparing for baptism. One is a 19 year old named Kenas, he is amazing. His mom died in 2001 and his father ran away many years ago and so now he is basically making a living for himself. He found a job so he could go back to school and so now he is doing that. He has a great testimony though and amazing faith, he is a great example that I have learned a lot from. Hopefully he will be baptized soon, we are working with him closely. I am loving the work here. Not much has changed since last time though, just a new companion. We also had a Preach My Gospel training for all the ward missionaries in the stake and that was cool, we as missionaries did that and it was fun even though very few showed up. So thats just whats going on here. I love the gospel and am grateful for this opportunity I have to share it with others. I love you mom and thank you for all that you do for me. I hope you are happy and that all is well. Take care and have a great week, talk to you later. Elder Hansen
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Elder Cameron Summers:
January 26, 2009
Talofa lava aiga pele,
This last week was really good. I got a new companion and he's a stud. We were actually in the MTC together! His name is Elder Mangakahia. He’s from Australia. It is dang fun, We work so hard and have a blast. Sometimes we don't understand what the people say to us so it can get pretty funny! I love the Samoan people because if we don’t understand they are so understanding and just laugh over it. I never would have thought that we would be companions this fast into our missions. It’s pretty rare for missionaries with so little experience to be together. But it’s a blast; we are loving it.
This last week we picked up another ward to our area. It’s pretty far but it’s really nice. All the members are so excited to have missionaries back in their area because the last missionaries were really lazy and the area got shut down. We already have 3 investigators in the area in just one week of work! I'm really excited to see the work progress there.
The rash that I told you about that was on my neck is gone away. I went into the missionary nurse and she gave me some anti fungal cream and it went right away.
I got the box you sent this last week with the memory card in it. Thanks a lot. Ha, thanks for the mace spray too! My companion and I had a good laugh over that.
Everything is going really good! Thanks for the package and most of all, your love and support!
Alofaaga, Cam
February 2, 2009
Aiga pele,
This week was really really good. We have two couples lined up for marriage within these next couple of weeks and then once they are married we will be able to baptize them! I'm pretty excited. I hope all goes well. We also invited another girl (17 years old) to be baptized. She accepted but it has to go over with her parents. Hopefully everything will go well with her too! Her mom is Samoan and her dad is white. She grew up in New Zealand and we have been teaching her in English. It has been kind of funny teaching her in English because I will sometimes forget the English word. It is also very weird to pray because I haven't said an English prayer in 6 months!
I am going to need another package please. I need some more of the ance medication. Also, a medium sized pocket knife that fits well in my pocket or bag, and maybe some chocolate candy and a Sports Illustrated. Thanks for everything you do. I feel your love and prayers and I am continually praying for you all! Love, Cam
February 9, 2009
Hello!
Well so I didn't get an email this week, but I guess I’ll be the better half and still write an email! Ha. The work in my area is starting to explode again after being dormant for a little bit. We are still planning on marrying two couples in two weeks and then baptizing them right after and another this next Saturday. But sadly enough, I guess my time is up in my area. The lord needs me in a new place. I am getting transferred probably tomorrow or Wednesday to a new area and follow up training. It will be a good experience for me to transfer to a new area. My companion right now is still pretty new and hopefully I have had a good impact on him.
I had a really cool experience with an investigator this last week. So I wake up in the morning and do my personal study and companion study. During my personal study I had a strong impression to turn to D&C and read a verse. I wasn't familiar with it but I just flipped to D&C and landed on a really good scripture. When I read it I had a really strong impression that I should use this scripture with this particular investigator. So I shared that scripture with my companion during companion study and we planned a little thought with that scripture. So when we got to the house the first thing she does is pulls out her scriptures and asks us what this scripture means. It was highlighted in her scriptures and told us that she read it after we left in our previous visit. That scripture that she had highlighted just so happened to be the same scripture that we had prepared to teach her about. How cool is that. It was really powerful and a really strong testimony builder of this work and how God loves his children and works through all means to bring his lost sheep into his fold. I gotta run. The church is true and hope to hear from ya next week! Tofa soifua! Cam
February 16, 2009
Hello!
I got the Sports Illustrated' today. To say the least it was nice to get them! I got transferred this last week to my new area. It’s called Vaivase. It’s just a little bit out of Apia. It’s a totally new change. It reminds me a lot of back home and America...which is a bad thing. I miss the jungle! We attended a dance that the YSA did for Valentines Day. It was so different from the dances that they did in my last area. It was so "palagi" (Caucasian). But it’s okay. Everybody works jobs here so it’s kind of hard to find people in their house during the day, which is different from my last area because everyone there worked in their plantations.
I love you all! The church is true. Elder Summers
February 23, 2009
Aiga pele.
Well another week has came and gone. Everything is going really good. Yesterday our zone did a Fireside in one of the wards that we cover and the President Haleck (Mission President) was able to come and give a speech. It was really good. We are also scheduling to baptize three people this upcoming Saturday. They are all 16-17 years old.
It’s kind of funny how Samoans picture Americans. They picture everyone as owning guns and everything is a free for all shoot off. They think everyone just shoots everybody. They also think that money grows on trees. But a thing that they don’t realize is that the people that live in the jungle are really fortunate. Granted they don’t have a lot of money, but they don’t need it. They live off the land and run their gardens. They don’t pay mortgages, water or power bills, just live off the land. If they are poor and hungry, they go behind their house and dig up some taro, or chop of some bananas; where as in America, if you're poor and hungry, you have no means of food. So that’s another difference about the cultures.
I gotta run. I love and pray for you all each day! Love, Cam
Talofa lava aiga pele,
This last week was really good. I got a new companion and he's a stud. We were actually in the MTC together! His name is Elder Mangakahia. He’s from Australia. It is dang fun, We work so hard and have a blast. Sometimes we don't understand what the people say to us so it can get pretty funny! I love the Samoan people because if we don’t understand they are so understanding and just laugh over it. I never would have thought that we would be companions this fast into our missions. It’s pretty rare for missionaries with so little experience to be together. But it’s a blast; we are loving it.
This last week we picked up another ward to our area. It’s pretty far but it’s really nice. All the members are so excited to have missionaries back in their area because the last missionaries were really lazy and the area got shut down. We already have 3 investigators in the area in just one week of work! I'm really excited to see the work progress there.
The rash that I told you about that was on my neck is gone away. I went into the missionary nurse and she gave me some anti fungal cream and it went right away.
I got the box you sent this last week with the memory card in it. Thanks a lot. Ha, thanks for the mace spray too! My companion and I had a good laugh over that.
Everything is going really good! Thanks for the package and most of all, your love and support!
Alofaaga, Cam
February 2, 2009
Aiga pele,
This week was really really good. We have two couples lined up for marriage within these next couple of weeks and then once they are married we will be able to baptize them! I'm pretty excited. I hope all goes well. We also invited another girl (17 years old) to be baptized. She accepted but it has to go over with her parents. Hopefully everything will go well with her too! Her mom is Samoan and her dad is white. She grew up in New Zealand and we have been teaching her in English. It has been kind of funny teaching her in English because I will sometimes forget the English word. It is also very weird to pray because I haven't said an English prayer in 6 months!
I am going to need another package please. I need some more of the ance medication. Also, a medium sized pocket knife that fits well in my pocket or bag, and maybe some chocolate candy and a Sports Illustrated. Thanks for everything you do. I feel your love and prayers and I am continually praying for you all! Love, Cam
February 9, 2009
Hello!
Well so I didn't get an email this week, but I guess I’ll be the better half and still write an email! Ha. The work in my area is starting to explode again after being dormant for a little bit. We are still planning on marrying two couples in two weeks and then baptizing them right after and another this next Saturday. But sadly enough, I guess my time is up in my area. The lord needs me in a new place. I am getting transferred probably tomorrow or Wednesday to a new area and follow up training. It will be a good experience for me to transfer to a new area. My companion right now is still pretty new and hopefully I have had a good impact on him.
I had a really cool experience with an investigator this last week. So I wake up in the morning and do my personal study and companion study. During my personal study I had a strong impression to turn to D&C and read a verse. I wasn't familiar with it but I just flipped to D&C and landed on a really good scripture. When I read it I had a really strong impression that I should use this scripture with this particular investigator. So I shared that scripture with my companion during companion study and we planned a little thought with that scripture. So when we got to the house the first thing she does is pulls out her scriptures and asks us what this scripture means. It was highlighted in her scriptures and told us that she read it after we left in our previous visit. That scripture that she had highlighted just so happened to be the same scripture that we had prepared to teach her about. How cool is that. It was really powerful and a really strong testimony builder of this work and how God loves his children and works through all means to bring his lost sheep into his fold. I gotta run. The church is true and hope to hear from ya next week! Tofa soifua! Cam
February 16, 2009
Hello!
I got the Sports Illustrated' today. To say the least it was nice to get them! I got transferred this last week to my new area. It’s called Vaivase. It’s just a little bit out of Apia. It’s a totally new change. It reminds me a lot of back home and America...which is a bad thing. I miss the jungle! We attended a dance that the YSA did for Valentines Day. It was so different from the dances that they did in my last area. It was so "palagi" (Caucasian). But it’s okay. Everybody works jobs here so it’s kind of hard to find people in their house during the day, which is different from my last area because everyone there worked in their plantations.
I love you all! The church is true. Elder Summers
February 23, 2009
Aiga pele.
Well another week has came and gone. Everything is going really good. Yesterday our zone did a Fireside in one of the wards that we cover and the President Haleck (Mission President) was able to come and give a speech. It was really good. We are also scheduling to baptize three people this upcoming Saturday. They are all 16-17 years old.
It’s kind of funny how Samoans picture Americans. They picture everyone as owning guns and everything is a free for all shoot off. They think everyone just shoots everybody. They also think that money grows on trees. But a thing that they don’t realize is that the people that live in the jungle are really fortunate. Granted they don’t have a lot of money, but they don’t need it. They live off the land and run their gardens. They don’t pay mortgages, water or power bills, just live off the land. If they are poor and hungry, they go behind their house and dig up some taro, or chop of some bananas; where as in America, if you're poor and hungry, you have no means of food. So that’s another difference about the cultures.
I gotta run. I love and pray for you all each day! Love, Cam
Friday, February 20, 2009
Elder Adam Walker:
January 2009
This transfer has gone very fast, next week is transfer day already, I can't believe it. We are pretty sure that Elder Chin is going to get transfered to somewhere else but we will just have to see for sure, President Thornock might just through a loop in for us and send me somewhere, either way its pretty much guerrenteed that there will be a change here. I'm exited to see what happens. Thanks for the package, everything came through good and safe. and I am feeling better now, everything cleared up after I had that bad headache so that was nice. I have just been drinking lots of orange juice and trying to eat healthy. We have had dinners at members houses every night since last Sunday (January 11) and we have dinners everynight until the end of the transfer haha (jan 28) so that is about 18 dinners right in a row, we are getting fed really well that is for sure. That's one thing this area is really good at, feeding us. I don't know if I told you but I now hold the record for pancakes eatin at ihop in the town of Roanoke Virginia, there was an all you can eat Pancake deal, I got it and some missionaries that I was with said that if I ate 12 they would pay for my meal, well needless to say I did it, they paid for my meal and then it was a big deal with all the cooks and the waiters that they had never seen anyone eat that many before, the most they had ever seen was 11 so I now hold the record, good publicity for the church I guess haha. I was pretty sick after I ate them that is for sure but I got a free meal. We have Branch Conference next Sunday and there is a rumor that we are getting a new branch president so there might be some changes here as well in the ward that I am in. I hope they don't get a new branch president but I guess whatever happens, happens. The one they have right now is awesome. It snowed here last night, there was just a little sciff and everyone freeked out, it was pretty funny actually, it all melted by 9:00 but they have all the roads salted and everything really good so they are prepared, people are funny here. I bet they even cancelled school today as well just because of the sciff they got.
We have had some pretty good success with our investigators this week, Britney Watson, she is a 17 year old girl who wanted to take the lessons but her grandparents wouldn't let her and she finnally talked them into it and so we are going to go and teach her at the Sechrists home tonight, hopefully we have a good lesson with her. We also have a couple good ones that are coming along, they are just coming really slow. One is ready to be baptized he just wants to finish the Book of Mormon before he is baptized, and then we have the one that had a stroke about 10 days ago, he was at church yesterday and he seems to be doing a little better now. We have a couple others we are going to see here in the next week or so but we will just have to see. It is going pretty well though, I'm exited to see what happens. Everything is going really well though, I'm exited to see what happens with transfers this next week but until then, hope y'all have a good one. Love you, Elder Walker
February 2009
Yesterday my companion got his first "preacher thinks he knows everything" experiece. We were at the senior citizens center and there was a Reverend there and this particular Revrand is one that is really liked in this area, but quite frankly he doesn't like the missionaries too well. He was there giving a talk about black history month and about his experience that he had when he went to the innauguration last month (he is black might I add) and he was just talking a whole bunch about the histories of black people in this country and everything was great, it was acutally pretty interesting. But then he started the whole, "Obama is God and every problem that we have right now is ALL Bushes fault." (People really like to do that out here it seems like) and I was getting a little figity but I kept my mouth shut, until one of the old ladies that was there opened her mouth and said that she didn't agree with him. When she did this, he pretty much just started bashing on her and telling her that she was wrong and that she needed to be quite. So you know me, I like to stick up for the underdog and voice my opinion, I raised my hand, he looked at me and said, "Yes?" I said I agree with Ann (that's her name), he tried to cut me off, but it was my floor at that point so I just kept on talking. I told him that that is the biggist falasy that this country has, blaming everything on the president of the United States. I went on and pretty much in a nut shell said that it is our own faults that we are in the condition that we are in. We are the ones who are greedy and wanting the 4 story house when we can only afford a 1 story small house, we want the decked out Cadilack when we can only afford the 1997 ford taurus, and we want to be better than our neigbors. Then I went on to say, we are religious people, so we bring God into the picture, have you ever thought that he is trying to humble us now with our economy going down? Who is to blame, George? you might have one finger pointing at him but look how many are pointing back at you.
Then it got great. All the residents there were smiling and like "yeah you are right!" But Reverend Eccoles wasn't done, he wanted to dive right into the bible and compare stuff to it. So he goes to the begining, and says Adam and Eve, who did Adam blame the sin on? I said he blamed eve? So he said there you go, see so its okay to do that! I said, so you're saying that Eve is going to be held accountable for what Adam did? He said well no, but thats just the way it is. By this time, this very confident preacher is starting to have a shacky voice and starts to studder. He goes on and he says you are trying to take "what is," and put it in to "what should be." I said isn't that what we are supposed to do? Then one of the activity directors that was in the back stood up and said Elder Walker I am impressed, I think we should have a debate, you verses Reverend Eccoles, (she hates the guy as it is so you know exactly what she was thinking) haha luckly Reverend Eccoles came right out and said, NO I don't want to do that, he would have no chance, so badly did I want to say "bring it on" but I held my tounge so you should be proud of me there. and then he said, well I need to go back to my church, there is a family there that just lost a loved one and I need to be there for them.
> He said I have one more annalogy for you .... Eldeeeer Waaalker...thats your name right ( he had said it perfectly about 50 times earlier that day, he was just trying to be a smart alec on that one) He said if I am driving a car, you are in the passenger seat, I get in a wreck, I tell the cops that it is your fault because you were talking to me, who is going to get a ticket, me or you? You will, I said. Then he said, "point proven" and started to walk out. Then I had one more comment, I said how many steering wheels are in this country?... dumfounded he said we will talk about this later... and said bye to every one and left. haha it was great. All the residents love me now, hopefully they will be baptised in the next life. A couple gave me some nice comments simply by saying, "Thank you, we have been wanting to do that for a long time now." So I have another preacher furious at me, but we gained a lot of new friends yesterday so I suppose that it was worth it.
> After talking about it, we discussed how in most Baptist Churches, they are not really aloud to say anything about what the preacher is saying, they just take what the preacher says and if he says it, it is true, I think it just caught him off gaurd because he is not used to someone opposing him. I'm glad our church is not that way, how sad would that be if we were not expected to find out answers for ourself. I like how we are expected to read, ponder and pray to find out if something is true. Not just expect a preacher to say something and for it to be automatically true. It really is sad to see out here how much people are missing out on.
> I love this work, its tough but completely worth it. The message that we have is the most important thing that anyone could ever ask for and no one is going to stop the work from going to every ear. Cause its Gods work and he won't allow it.
My new companion's name is Elder Owens, he is awesome. He is pretty quiet right now so it is much different than Elder Chin so it has been different but I like it. He is just writing his parents to tell them that he made it here all right, he is from Panguitch, Utah, it is down by Cedar City, Utah. I think he will be a good missionary. Its going to be a neat experience training him. I love you all thanks for everything that you do. Elder Walker
This transfer has gone very fast, next week is transfer day already, I can't believe it. We are pretty sure that Elder Chin is going to get transfered to somewhere else but we will just have to see for sure, President Thornock might just through a loop in for us and send me somewhere, either way its pretty much guerrenteed that there will be a change here. I'm exited to see what happens. Thanks for the package, everything came through good and safe. and I am feeling better now, everything cleared up after I had that bad headache so that was nice. I have just been drinking lots of orange juice and trying to eat healthy. We have had dinners at members houses every night since last Sunday (January 11) and we have dinners everynight until the end of the transfer haha (jan 28) so that is about 18 dinners right in a row, we are getting fed really well that is for sure. That's one thing this area is really good at, feeding us. I don't know if I told you but I now hold the record for pancakes eatin at ihop in the town of Roanoke Virginia, there was an all you can eat Pancake deal, I got it and some missionaries that I was with said that if I ate 12 they would pay for my meal, well needless to say I did it, they paid for my meal and then it was a big deal with all the cooks and the waiters that they had never seen anyone eat that many before, the most they had ever seen was 11 so I now hold the record, good publicity for the church I guess haha. I was pretty sick after I ate them that is for sure but I got a free meal. We have Branch Conference next Sunday and there is a rumor that we are getting a new branch president so there might be some changes here as well in the ward that I am in. I hope they don't get a new branch president but I guess whatever happens, happens. The one they have right now is awesome. It snowed here last night, there was just a little sciff and everyone freeked out, it was pretty funny actually, it all melted by 9:00 but they have all the roads salted and everything really good so they are prepared, people are funny here. I bet they even cancelled school today as well just because of the sciff they got.
We have had some pretty good success with our investigators this week, Britney Watson, she is a 17 year old girl who wanted to take the lessons but her grandparents wouldn't let her and she finnally talked them into it and so we are going to go and teach her at the Sechrists home tonight, hopefully we have a good lesson with her. We also have a couple good ones that are coming along, they are just coming really slow. One is ready to be baptized he just wants to finish the Book of Mormon before he is baptized, and then we have the one that had a stroke about 10 days ago, he was at church yesterday and he seems to be doing a little better now. We have a couple others we are going to see here in the next week or so but we will just have to see. It is going pretty well though, I'm exited to see what happens. Everything is going really well though, I'm exited to see what happens with transfers this next week but until then, hope y'all have a good one. Love you, Elder Walker
February 2009
Yesterday my companion got his first "preacher thinks he knows everything" experiece. We were at the senior citizens center and there was a Reverend there and this particular Revrand is one that is really liked in this area, but quite frankly he doesn't like the missionaries too well. He was there giving a talk about black history month and about his experience that he had when he went to the innauguration last month (he is black might I add) and he was just talking a whole bunch about the histories of black people in this country and everything was great, it was acutally pretty interesting. But then he started the whole, "Obama is God and every problem that we have right now is ALL Bushes fault." (People really like to do that out here it seems like) and I was getting a little figity but I kept my mouth shut, until one of the old ladies that was there opened her mouth and said that she didn't agree with him. When she did this, he pretty much just started bashing on her and telling her that she was wrong and that she needed to be quite. So you know me, I like to stick up for the underdog and voice my opinion, I raised my hand, he looked at me and said, "Yes?" I said I agree with Ann (that's her name), he tried to cut me off, but it was my floor at that point so I just kept on talking. I told him that that is the biggist falasy that this country has, blaming everything on the president of the United States. I went on and pretty much in a nut shell said that it is our own faults that we are in the condition that we are in. We are the ones who are greedy and wanting the 4 story house when we can only afford a 1 story small house, we want the decked out Cadilack when we can only afford the 1997 ford taurus, and we want to be better than our neigbors. Then I went on to say, we are religious people, so we bring God into the picture, have you ever thought that he is trying to humble us now with our economy going down? Who is to blame, George? you might have one finger pointing at him but look how many are pointing back at you.
Then it got great. All the residents there were smiling and like "yeah you are right!" But Reverend Eccoles wasn't done, he wanted to dive right into the bible and compare stuff to it. So he goes to the begining, and says Adam and Eve, who did Adam blame the sin on? I said he blamed eve? So he said there you go, see so its okay to do that! I said, so you're saying that Eve is going to be held accountable for what Adam did? He said well no, but thats just the way it is. By this time, this very confident preacher is starting to have a shacky voice and starts to studder. He goes on and he says you are trying to take "what is," and put it in to "what should be." I said isn't that what we are supposed to do? Then one of the activity directors that was in the back stood up and said Elder Walker I am impressed, I think we should have a debate, you verses Reverend Eccoles, (she hates the guy as it is so you know exactly what she was thinking) haha luckly Reverend Eccoles came right out and said, NO I don't want to do that, he would have no chance, so badly did I want to say "bring it on" but I held my tounge so you should be proud of me there. and then he said, well I need to go back to my church, there is a family there that just lost a loved one and I need to be there for them.
> He said I have one more annalogy for you .... Eldeeeer Waaalker...thats your name right ( he had said it perfectly about 50 times earlier that day, he was just trying to be a smart alec on that one) He said if I am driving a car, you are in the passenger seat, I get in a wreck, I tell the cops that it is your fault because you were talking to me, who is going to get a ticket, me or you? You will, I said. Then he said, "point proven" and started to walk out. Then I had one more comment, I said how many steering wheels are in this country?... dumfounded he said we will talk about this later... and said bye to every one and left. haha it was great. All the residents love me now, hopefully they will be baptised in the next life. A couple gave me some nice comments simply by saying, "Thank you, we have been wanting to do that for a long time now." So I have another preacher furious at me, but we gained a lot of new friends yesterday so I suppose that it was worth it.
> After talking about it, we discussed how in most Baptist Churches, they are not really aloud to say anything about what the preacher is saying, they just take what the preacher says and if he says it, it is true, I think it just caught him off gaurd because he is not used to someone opposing him. I'm glad our church is not that way, how sad would that be if we were not expected to find out answers for ourself. I like how we are expected to read, ponder and pray to find out if something is true. Not just expect a preacher to say something and for it to be automatically true. It really is sad to see out here how much people are missing out on.
> I love this work, its tough but completely worth it. The message that we have is the most important thing that anyone could ever ask for and no one is going to stop the work from going to every ear. Cause its Gods work and he won't allow it.
My new companion's name is Elder Owens, he is awesome. He is pretty quiet right now so it is much different than Elder Chin so it has been different but I like it. He is just writing his parents to tell them that he made it here all right, he is from Panguitch, Utah, it is down by Cedar City, Utah. I think he will be a good missionary. Its going to be a neat experience training him. I love you all thanks for everything that you do. Elder Walker
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Elder Brantley Shattuck:
February 11, 2009
This past Saturday I got the amazing opportunity to hear Elder Holland speak and he gave some really great analogies while teaching the leadership of the D.C. South and North missions. A couple of quotes from him that have stuck with me ever since, "In this church we bow our heads and say YES!!!" and another "Kick when you don't want to kick and Stroke when you don't want to stroke"(told a story of an amazing swimmer and stuff...)He speaks with power though and he bore his testimony telling us that he was a witness of Christ and that he lives, man it was so intimidating yet comforting, neat feelings though. Then, later that night Elder Oaks came and spoke at an adult session for Stake conference in the stake that I am serving in, he was just cracking jokes all night long and even into Sunday's session. I was able to go and greet him and introduce myself and I even gave him a hug!!! How sick is that???? We also had an investigator that was with us and Elder Oaks took him out into the hall and put both of his arms up on his shoulders, looked him straight into the eye and shared his testimony with conviction, then he poked the investigator right in the chest about 3-4 times and said, "Listen to these missionaries and get it into your Heart, what they share is true...." Then he walked off and our investigator turned and looked at me, his eyes were huge and he just said, woa!!! It was pretty powerful yet very funny as well... I am doing well though and just know that the work is moving right along... Love ya tell the family hello...
This past Saturday I got the amazing opportunity to hear Elder Holland speak and he gave some really great analogies while teaching the leadership of the D.C. South and North missions. A couple of quotes from him that have stuck with me ever since, "In this church we bow our heads and say YES!!!" and another "Kick when you don't want to kick and Stroke when you don't want to stroke"(told a story of an amazing swimmer and stuff...)He speaks with power though and he bore his testimony telling us that he was a witness of Christ and that he lives, man it was so intimidating yet comforting, neat feelings though. Then, later that night Elder Oaks came and spoke at an adult session for Stake conference in the stake that I am serving in, he was just cracking jokes all night long and even into Sunday's session. I was able to go and greet him and introduce myself and I even gave him a hug!!! How sick is that???? We also had an investigator that was with us and Elder Oaks took him out into the hall and put both of his arms up on his shoulders, looked him straight into the eye and shared his testimony with conviction, then he poked the investigator right in the chest about 3-4 times and said, "Listen to these missionaries and get it into your Heart, what they share is true...." Then he walked off and our investigator turned and looked at me, his eyes were huge and he just said, woa!!! It was pretty powerful yet very funny as well... I am doing well though and just know that the work is moving right along... Love ya tell the family hello...
Elder Scott Snell:
January 28, 2009
Another week down in this new year and I can't believe how fast it is going. We just got done with the new year and I was expecting some big festivals or something but nothing really happened. Maybe it did back on the main land but there was nothing to exciting down here on this little island of mine. We ate some food and had Church at 7 in the morning so that was a new experience. I had to give a talk and so did my recent convert. I was pretty nervous for him because he has only been a member for a couple of months but he didn't seem to worried. He ended up doing a great job and telling his conversion story how he over came his addiction of smoking through prayer. It was really amazing, I was really touched. It was like a father watching his son walk on his own for the first time. I am really glad I have been able to see him progress as much as he has while I have been here. Nothing to exciting has happened this week. We were able to play soccer during the holiday season and I am pretty sure I got sent to the wrong mission. I never was big into soccer my whole life. I just get rocked when we play even by the little kids. I love you all and miss you. Love, Elder Snell
February 2, 2009
Today we spent the day with President and Sister Jennings. They came down for the transfer interviews and then spent p-day with us.
I took them around the island and showed them all of the waterfalls and some other cool stuff. We ate really good thanks to them and had a fun time. P-days are really something else when you are serving in paradise. We have two weeks left in the transfer and we are doing good. We have an investigator that we committed to be baptized all we have to do is set the date. This week the rotten orange giving grandma gave us orange juice in glasses that I am pretty sure you could see through at one time. And after we drank the juice she wiped them out with Toilet paper and put them back in the cupboard. Yummy;-) my companion has had a stomach ache today hmmm. I love you all and miss you tons be safe and remember who you are and what you represent. Elder Snell
February 9, 2009
My week was really uneventful. My companion had stomach problems all week so I spent a lot of time trying to study at my desk. This week is the last one in the transfer that means that some will be leaving the island. There are rumors floating around that I am leaving but I have also heard that I am staying so I don't know. If I do stay, this will be the longest I have been in an area. I am definitely getting a new companion I have been assured. If it is not because of transfers it will be because one of us is dead. My companion is a really great guy but not someone I would want to live with for 6 months. We clash to much for that to happen. I love you all and will talk to you again next week from who knows where. Until then. Elder Snell
February 16, 2009
I know it sounds bad, but I got a new companion. His name is Elder Rowley. He is from West Jordan, Utah and he speaks English. He really likes basketball and he seems to have a lot of the same interests that I have. I am really excited for this transfer. He is about 9 months into his mission and he has a lot of desire. I think we will do really well. This last week went really good, we had a lot of people out to church yesterday and me and my comp got along pretty well. My investigator is really excited to get baptized he wants to be this week but we still have to teach him some stuff first. I am really excited for my new comp we are going to have a good transfer I think. I love you all and miss you. Elder Snell
February 22, 2009
I had a really good week. I really enjoy having Elder Rowley as my companion. We are getting along really great. I think the work just goes better when you and your companion get along better. We have made some good goals both serious ones and fun ones. One of those is to ride our bikes along the coast one Pday and see some cool beaches. It will be a lot of fun. I took him to the place where i got my bike and talk the old guy into giving me another one for the same price. The old man was very happy he was getting talked down by two foreigners. We went shopping cause we didn't have to much food in the house and we were having a good time until we rang it all up and had spent 90 dollars. Yeah we are not going shopping again for a while. You have to remember that we both just came form Korean companions. Today I am accomplishing one of my goals that I sent when I came to this island and that was to see a dolphin show. That's where we are headed and I am super excited. I have never seen a dolphin before in my life. I will send you some pictures. My investigator is getting baptized on the 8th so that will be cool. I love you all and I miss you. Elder Snell
Another week down in this new year and I can't believe how fast it is going. We just got done with the new year and I was expecting some big festivals or something but nothing really happened. Maybe it did back on the main land but there was nothing to exciting down here on this little island of mine. We ate some food and had Church at 7 in the morning so that was a new experience. I had to give a talk and so did my recent convert. I was pretty nervous for him because he has only been a member for a couple of months but he didn't seem to worried. He ended up doing a great job and telling his conversion story how he over came his addiction of smoking through prayer. It was really amazing, I was really touched. It was like a father watching his son walk on his own for the first time. I am really glad I have been able to see him progress as much as he has while I have been here. Nothing to exciting has happened this week. We were able to play soccer during the holiday season and I am pretty sure I got sent to the wrong mission. I never was big into soccer my whole life. I just get rocked when we play even by the little kids. I love you all and miss you. Love, Elder Snell
February 2, 2009
Today we spent the day with President and Sister Jennings. They came down for the transfer interviews and then spent p-day with us.
I took them around the island and showed them all of the waterfalls and some other cool stuff. We ate really good thanks to them and had a fun time. P-days are really something else when you are serving in paradise. We have two weeks left in the transfer and we are doing good. We have an investigator that we committed to be baptized all we have to do is set the date. This week the rotten orange giving grandma gave us orange juice in glasses that I am pretty sure you could see through at one time. And after we drank the juice she wiped them out with Toilet paper and put them back in the cupboard. Yummy;-) my companion has had a stomach ache today hmmm. I love you all and miss you tons be safe and remember who you are and what you represent. Elder Snell
February 9, 2009
My week was really uneventful. My companion had stomach problems all week so I spent a lot of time trying to study at my desk. This week is the last one in the transfer that means that some will be leaving the island. There are rumors floating around that I am leaving but I have also heard that I am staying so I don't know. If I do stay, this will be the longest I have been in an area. I am definitely getting a new companion I have been assured. If it is not because of transfers it will be because one of us is dead. My companion is a really great guy but not someone I would want to live with for 6 months. We clash to much for that to happen. I love you all and will talk to you again next week from who knows where. Until then. Elder Snell
February 16, 2009
I know it sounds bad, but I got a new companion. His name is Elder Rowley. He is from West Jordan, Utah and he speaks English. He really likes basketball and he seems to have a lot of the same interests that I have. I am really excited for this transfer. He is about 9 months into his mission and he has a lot of desire. I think we will do really well. This last week went really good, we had a lot of people out to church yesterday and me and my comp got along pretty well. My investigator is really excited to get baptized he wants to be this week but we still have to teach him some stuff first. I am really excited for my new comp we are going to have a good transfer I think. I love you all and miss you. Elder Snell
February 22, 2009
I had a really good week. I really enjoy having Elder Rowley as my companion. We are getting along really great. I think the work just goes better when you and your companion get along better. We have made some good goals both serious ones and fun ones. One of those is to ride our bikes along the coast one Pday and see some cool beaches. It will be a lot of fun. I took him to the place where i got my bike and talk the old guy into giving me another one for the same price. The old man was very happy he was getting talked down by two foreigners. We went shopping cause we didn't have to much food in the house and we were having a good time until we rang it all up and had spent 90 dollars. Yeah we are not going shopping again for a while. You have to remember that we both just came form Korean companions. Today I am accomplishing one of my goals that I sent when I came to this island and that was to see a dolphin show. That's where we are headed and I am super excited. I have never seen a dolphin before in my life. I will send you some pictures. My investigator is getting baptized on the 8th so that will be cool. I love you all and I miss you. Elder Snell
Elder Andrew Peña:
February 9, 2009
I was so blessed for the opportunity this week to give two blessings and I have given many since I've been on my mission. Even more than ever it has been impressed upon my mind and my heart what an amazing blessing and opportunity I have and am able to hold the power and authority of Jesus Christ. As I was pondering on it I became so humbled to know of what a blessing it is and I'm so grateful for this opportunity that I have to even notice this blessing! This week I have been reading about the 4 sons of Mosiah and in Alma where Ammon tells his brother Aaron he will not boast in himself but he will boast in his god! And for the mercy and all that God has for us was really pressed on me this week to see all the blessing and the miracles that he has worked and continued to work in my life this week! It was amazing and I am grateful for that! This week was great! We set a baptismal date with a kid named Seang and he set his own date but he has had some obstacles. His mom doesn't want him to be baptized because he has already been but she lives in New Mexico so we are trying to find out if she even has full custody or not! We go over tonight to find out more about the situation but he said he already talked to his mom and she said no! BUT " with God anything is possible. " That is true and we will go tonight and talk with him about that! All of Tuesday I have the opportunity to go and serve all day with the assistants in our area, and to learn and grow from them and really see how missionary work should be! haha But Elder Simmons tells me it will be an awesome experience so I am excited! Lately there has been a guy calling our mission that has a heavy British accent and he calls and starts to ask missionaries their names and where they are from and try to find out information about us and the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith and the temple. Seems like he knows a lot of stuff about that church! But a couple weeks ago when I was up in Sonora on our exchange this guy called our phone and I just felt this disturbing feeling that I have not felt yet on my mission! It was pretty crazy but I told him I had an appointment and he said his name was Andrew and he was calling from a 208 area code! It was freaky but I guess he keeps changing his phone number a lot so I dunno its just kinda creepy! But that's why I got that feeling as I looked down at the phone and saw it was a 208 number and I picked it up and asked who it was he said Andrew! I about fainted! haha But missionary work is going awesome! I love it! I cannot get enough of it! We went golfing last week and it was fun. I love golfing too! haha But this upcoming week will be great! I'm excited! It was good to hear from all of you and I will talk with you soon! I love you all and keep being great!:) Elder Peña
I was so blessed for the opportunity this week to give two blessings and I have given many since I've been on my mission. Even more than ever it has been impressed upon my mind and my heart what an amazing blessing and opportunity I have and am able to hold the power and authority of Jesus Christ. As I was pondering on it I became so humbled to know of what a blessing it is and I'm so grateful for this opportunity that I have to even notice this blessing! This week I have been reading about the 4 sons of Mosiah and in Alma where Ammon tells his brother Aaron he will not boast in himself but he will boast in his god! And for the mercy and all that God has for us was really pressed on me this week to see all the blessing and the miracles that he has worked and continued to work in my life this week! It was amazing and I am grateful for that! This week was great! We set a baptismal date with a kid named Seang and he set his own date but he has had some obstacles. His mom doesn't want him to be baptized because he has already been but she lives in New Mexico so we are trying to find out if she even has full custody or not! We go over tonight to find out more about the situation but he said he already talked to his mom and she said no! BUT " with God anything is possible. " That is true and we will go tonight and talk with him about that! All of Tuesday I have the opportunity to go and serve all day with the assistants in our area, and to learn and grow from them and really see how missionary work should be! haha But Elder Simmons tells me it will be an awesome experience so I am excited! Lately there has been a guy calling our mission that has a heavy British accent and he calls and starts to ask missionaries their names and where they are from and try to find out information about us and the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith and the temple. Seems like he knows a lot of stuff about that church! But a couple weeks ago when I was up in Sonora on our exchange this guy called our phone and I just felt this disturbing feeling that I have not felt yet on my mission! It was pretty crazy but I told him I had an appointment and he said his name was Andrew and he was calling from a 208 area code! It was freaky but I guess he keeps changing his phone number a lot so I dunno its just kinda creepy! But that's why I got that feeling as I looked down at the phone and saw it was a 208 number and I picked it up and asked who it was he said Andrew! I about fainted! haha But missionary work is going awesome! I love it! I cannot get enough of it! We went golfing last week and it was fun. I love golfing too! haha But this upcoming week will be great! I'm excited! It was good to hear from all of you and I will talk with you soon! I love you all and keep being great!:) Elder Peña
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