well it looks like Stacy is gonna make the 1st. there’s a lot of little miracles that happened all at once that made this possible but now instead of going to his old church on Saturday nights he’s going to singles activities. He’s thinking about the ward choir. And he’s committed and ready for the waters of baptism. His baptismal interview went well. He’s got a good testimony and he wants to share it! I’m excited to see him get it done. It’s been hitting me more and more that this is probably my last week in xroads... i dunno how I feel about that. I mean, I’m ready for change I guess, I’m just going to miss the people here, there’s some amazing people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and still so much work to do with them. I guess it’s just not my work to do.Like I said before I’m not going to be able to finish the book of Mormon by the time I wanted to but I did get it back into my teaching and I feel good about that much. It’s amazing though how it seems like I’m right where I should be in it. i just finished Jacob 2 this morning which couldn’t have come too soon because there’s things I learned last night about one of our less-actives that Jacob 2 is perfect for but I wouldn’t have realized it until this morning. I’ve seen things like this happen throughout my mission worth of studies thus far. Even if I’m just reading in the book of Mormon the Lord leads me to the things I need to read the exact moment I need them.Sounds like you’re figuring out the miracle of the atonement. I cannot with words describe what your feeling but I’ve felt it too as the loving arms of Jesus our lord lifts you out of the slums of darkness that the natural man is apt to be engulfed by. It’s amazing how it works and all we have to do is ask for it.I hope Jake's ok. He wrote me a letter the other day I plan on responding today. What kind of plant was it Jess got you? I like her too. She’s a really special person.Well I can’t think of much else to share with you for now. but rest assured I feel your prayers as I’m lead and guided each day to where I need to be and when.Love ya, john
Dad's funny like that. He gets excited about things and then sticks to em. That’s probably how he went through all those years of crap without letting it get him down.
Well like I told dad there’s a lot of miracles I’ve been able to see with my reading and with the people here and with Stacey. Stacey is good to go for Nov 1st. he’s asked me to baptize him. AND I think I may have a way to help one of our less actives with something I read this morning in my studies.
And as far as singles wards and Tim and piano lessons go I was thinking I’d like to live in downtown Boise at least until Tim leaves for his mission. That’s the plan right now anyways.
The ward is going to be so different when I get back it’ll feel like getting transferred again haha. Glad you could see the Phillips. They’re awesome folks.
I’m so happy to hear about your missionary experiences. I guess I just like hearing about thinks I’m focused on too. If I were back home I’d love to hear about music movies and theater but since I’m here I get a lot of joy from missionary stuff. That’s really neat that that lady is finally getting to have the opportunity to join the church. It’s been a crazy road and while it may have left her a little battered and bruised the end result of baptism into this church outside of the hostile opposition is well worth the fleeting pain.
I’m also glad to see that maybe you’re recognizing your role right now in people’s paths to Christ. I was noticing that if people humble themselves and focus on the simple things that Christ asks us to do our lives are build to be the absolute best way for us, personally, to get the closest to where Christ wants us to be. for Charles Hayden maybe he had to be raised by a hit man to eventually find himself a faithful member of the church, he had to pay a finger and a leg for it but I’m sure its worth it to him. For me maybe I wouldn’t have been able to convert from something else, I needed to be raised in it, I need this mission. and in an interesting way maybe some women need to go through some crap and marry idiots and get divorced so you can step in, help them up, dust them off, and let them know just how much their loved by someone who matters so that they can also be led to Christ.
Well I wanted to tell ya one more story before I finished this thing. This week we had a wonderful opportunity to check back on one of our referrals we had received. Turns out this family had been prepared to the core. They have a relative who had served a mission. They saw the change in him and heard the miracles he had to share with them. He told them about the family and its import. So they were excited to see us. We taught them the restoration message and they were excited to get to church and to begin reading and praying. They’re VERY Pentecostal but I think they’re ready for a change. They saw their church change its morals and values and they recognized that that wasn’t right. It’s amazing how ready they are for it all. We’re going to try to get out there this weekend. Hopefully we can.
Well I love ya and hope you have a good week john
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Emails from Indiana--October 21, 2008
Sounds like a fun week! Mine was full of Baptists and crack fiends as usual. It may not be as funny to you as it is to me but maybe one day I’ll be able to help you understand.
I was actually just this week reminiscing a bit about corn-mazes haunted and otherwise. Man I miss that I’m really gonna enjoy corn-mazes when I get home. We used to go (seems like every year) and wander around until we came out the other side haha. Maybe one day I’ll have to try your method.
Oh man you said chili cook-off. I cannot WAIT until I can come home and WIN EVERY CHILI COOKOFF!!! Chili is a Hoosier specialty. Seems like everyone in Indiana knows how to cook 2 things in an incredible way. Chili and green beans.
I’m excited to hear you play, sounds like you’re getting awesome!! Then you can teach me how to play. Deal?
That’s lame about the Grubers. Let them know I’ll miss them a ton. And make sure you get their new address to me. Hopefully their house will sell quickly. I know how much of a headache that can be. I’ve seen it quite a bit here.
Well my week wasn’t too exciting except for 2 big things. Yesterday I bought some new ties, and one in particular was an awesome buy. It’s an all silk handmade tie out of London that I bought for 89 cents!!
Secondly, we were out walking around one night and we came across this church. There was a lady outside and she invited us in for a bible study. So we went in, they were very Baptist, and enjoyed a discourse on exodus. Time came that we needed to leave and so we got up and excused ourselves. The main pastor followed us out and asked us if we could come teach his youth program on Wednesday nights we told him we could and we introduced him a little bit to the book of Mormon and he was really excited about it!! So now were going to try to see what we can do about getting this guy a career change and see how much of his flock will follow!! Unfortunately I’m probably going to be leaving soon but I’m really really excited to work with him until I leave!!
Oh and we got our ward mission plan just about nailed down now we just have to get the ward to carry it. If they do I know this area will absolutely explode in missionary work!
Well I gotta go. I’m about out of time but I hope you have a great week I love ya, john
That’s interesting to hear Pete tried to call. If you could maybe try and give him a jingle or something and see if you can get his info again if you would?
Sounds like one way or another the ward’s going to be totally different when I get back. I remember Lester, he was an awesome guy! I’m glad to hear he was getting his callings accomplished even till his last day. I wish our members would have the same fervor for their calling (I think that’s the right word).
Well I dunno if I’m going to be able to finish the book of Mormon by
November 5th but I got my desire behind the goal accomplished. I got the book of Mormon back into my life on a more regular basis. We’ll see just how far I can get though.
This week was pretty good. Stacy is doing well. It’s really hard for him to remember specifics about the lessons but I think that he’s getting closer and closer to baptism. He may not hit November 1st but he will be baptized. In some ways I think the goal for November 1st was a little hasty.
Randy however is continuing to grow and develop as a member in amazing ways. I can see that he has the spirit in his countenance. He is a marked man. We started working with him in missionary work and it looks like its going to affect him in a bigger way than we thought. The ward is discussing making him one of our ward missionaries. He received the priesthood on Sunday. He’s on the path!!
Well I’m gonna go. Hope you have a better week. I love ya, john
I was actually just this week reminiscing a bit about corn-mazes haunted and otherwise. Man I miss that I’m really gonna enjoy corn-mazes when I get home. We used to go (seems like every year) and wander around until we came out the other side haha. Maybe one day I’ll have to try your method.
Oh man you said chili cook-off. I cannot WAIT until I can come home and WIN EVERY CHILI COOKOFF!!! Chili is a Hoosier specialty. Seems like everyone in Indiana knows how to cook 2 things in an incredible way. Chili and green beans.
I’m excited to hear you play, sounds like you’re getting awesome!! Then you can teach me how to play. Deal?
That’s lame about the Grubers. Let them know I’ll miss them a ton. And make sure you get their new address to me. Hopefully their house will sell quickly. I know how much of a headache that can be. I’ve seen it quite a bit here.
Well my week wasn’t too exciting except for 2 big things. Yesterday I bought some new ties, and one in particular was an awesome buy. It’s an all silk handmade tie out of London that I bought for 89 cents!!
Secondly, we were out walking around one night and we came across this church. There was a lady outside and she invited us in for a bible study. So we went in, they were very Baptist, and enjoyed a discourse on exodus. Time came that we needed to leave and so we got up and excused ourselves. The main pastor followed us out and asked us if we could come teach his youth program on Wednesday nights we told him we could and we introduced him a little bit to the book of Mormon and he was really excited about it!! So now were going to try to see what we can do about getting this guy a career change and see how much of his flock will follow!! Unfortunately I’m probably going to be leaving soon but I’m really really excited to work with him until I leave!!
Oh and we got our ward mission plan just about nailed down now we just have to get the ward to carry it. If they do I know this area will absolutely explode in missionary work!
Well I gotta go. I’m about out of time but I hope you have a great week I love ya, john
That’s interesting to hear Pete tried to call. If you could maybe try and give him a jingle or something and see if you can get his info again if you would?
Sounds like one way or another the ward’s going to be totally different when I get back. I remember Lester, he was an awesome guy! I’m glad to hear he was getting his callings accomplished even till his last day. I wish our members would have the same fervor for their calling (I think that’s the right word).
Well I dunno if I’m going to be able to finish the book of Mormon by
November 5th but I got my desire behind the goal accomplished. I got the book of Mormon back into my life on a more regular basis. We’ll see just how far I can get though.
This week was pretty good. Stacy is doing well. It’s really hard for him to remember specifics about the lessons but I think that he’s getting closer and closer to baptism. He may not hit November 1st but he will be baptized. In some ways I think the goal for November 1st was a little hasty.
Randy however is continuing to grow and develop as a member in amazing ways. I can see that he has the spirit in his countenance. He is a marked man. We started working with him in missionary work and it looks like its going to affect him in a bigger way than we thought. The ward is discussing making him one of our ward missionaries. He received the priesthood on Sunday. He’s on the path!!
Well I’m gonna go. Hope you have a better week. I love ya, john
Sunday, October 19, 2008
It's been a crazy week
We got the earliest snow in recorded history on Oct 10. Only one inch here in Boise, but the flakes were huge. Eastern Idaho got slammed. Burley had 16 inches of snow! The freeway was closed because of it for several hours. We were supposed to go to Pocatello on Oct 11 for a band competiton. The director called it off, and we were so glad when we learned how bad the storm was in Eastern Idaho. We could have been stuck on the freeway with two busses of band kids. Not fun at all. We hadn't even turned on the heater until the night before it started snowing.
My sister Nancy and her kids visited us this week. We had lots of fun making memories with them. We kept busy the whole time, shopping, going to the corn maze and such. The maze is a corn field with a total 6 miles of trails...if you don't back track and you take the shortest route through. There are four different mazes of varying distances. We stumbled onto the first checkpoint. After that I was able to follow the map and get us through the rest of the checkpoints and out of the maze. lol...the kids thought I was cheating. The maze we did was 1.75 miles, but I'm sure we walked over 2 miles.
We had my piano recital this week. The father of the other girl was sitting too near the piano for my taste and I felt nervous the whole time. He's a nice guy, but somewhat intimidating. Oh well, what do you do at times like that? Stop the song and move the piano? Not! I played a Sonata by Beethoven. It was 12 pages long and 15 minutes of nerves...lol. My teacher and I also played a duet and that went much better.
I am also planning the church Halloween party so that is taking some time. We're doing the traditional chili cookoff, activities and trunk or treat, but this year the high school kids may be involved in a district football game that night, and many of the leaders (children and youth) weren't planning to attend at all. It's been quite a snag to work around.
Last week a man who has been involved in scouting with the boys (unit advancement counselor) passed away. His funeral was this week. Then, one Tom's high priests passed away this morning so we will be helping with the funeral and dinner after this week.
We found out this week that our friends are moving to Utah sometime soon. They don't have a date yet, and she will stay here until the house sells. I'm really going to miss her. She's more like another sister than just a friend. We have plans to meet at Bear Lake next summer for camping.
Tim's marching band took first yesterday. First in music and overall in their division. Second overall the competition. That's the best they've done in the years Tim has been involved.
Hannah had her first orchestra concert of the year this week. She loves playing the cello and is getting pretty good at it.
Whew! That was just this week!
See ya soon...I hope.
Ann
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Emails from John--October 14, 2008
i wondered about that i heard you guys had had snow from one of our members here who has family near boise. Ike for us was just some ugly storm clouds, a big ole gust of wind and sprinkles. its crazy what a storm in texas will do to the entire US.
im glad you had a wonderfull time at the temple. i love how the Lord will give us the answers to our problems we just have to be ready for them. i think working on getting the prospective Elders involved is a wonderful idea! ive also been able to recieve some direction for what to do here. our ward needs a new ward mission plan. that much is clear. after i finnish it ill have to send you a copy of it. maybe the orchard ward could gleen something from it. i think that if the ward will support the activities and initiatives we're going to start up the work here will explode even more then it is and that not only will convert baptisms be up but so will retention and reactivation.
i think getting out of town would be really good for Jake. if thats the way hes got to do it i dont think id blame him. i just hope he doesnt get blown up.
this week was a crazy one. Elder Ericksen had some doctors visits and things so a lot of this week was driving. it was a great week though. Randy had a very successful baptism day and recieved the holy ghost sunday. tonight we're going to take him on his first exchange!
we also went to a meeting called Why i beleive. its like a testimony meeting for recent converts. We took Stacy to it and he had a great time! i think Stacy is getting closer and closer. he said that when hes baptized he wants to speak at why i believe. so we set a date with him for the 1st of november, which means weve got some work to do in a very short period of time but if we can it should be awesome!!
it was a pretty good week id say.
well i better got moms email goin. until then keep on keepin on.
love ya
john
saturday went Great!! we had some powerpacked days this weekend and i had the opportunity to see some other miracles as well.
earlier this week we were in a doctors office. Elder Ericksen was getting a couple things checked out. and so i sat in a couple waiting rooms. in one of them i was sitting there working on the new ward misson plan for this area and this lady asked me a question about... i dunno something. and then i got back to work. then she asked something else and so i answered. i realized i wasnt going to get much work done on the ward mission plan because wheather this lady knew it or not she was absolutly asking for the gospel to be taught to her. so the small talk began. i established who i was and why i was there in the office. she told me why she was there. i asked her what she knew about us. she expressed the little she knew about joseph smith was from the show "big love" and that she had had a mormon friend once. so i told her about Josephs smiths call as a prophet and a little bit about what that meant. she was hooked. before i left i made sure to get her info so i could provide the noblesville missionaries with some work to do! it was a wonderful experience.
then on saturday we had Randy's baptism and that was wonderful. the spirit was most deffinitly there as i baptized him and then again on sunday and Elder Ericksen confirmed him. Randy is such a neat guy!
i liked what you said about adding a measure of love after applying reproof. that was a neat story.
i also liked what sister Norton shared about fasting. a lot. i also love explaining it to hoosiers. its like dropping a bigger better engine into your Prayers!!! haha hoosiers. i really have grown to love em. theres nothing quite like em. just remember as you pray and fast for the missionary work be ready for God to put people in your path for you to share your testimony with. theres no greater way the work can be blessed than God putting someone who needs the gospel in the path of someone who already has it and who isnt a missionary by call. this is because then they already have most of the things they need in order to be retained if the do accept the gospel. so when you're out at the store grocery shopping or in thet gas station or the library be ready and God will bless you for the opportunity to open your mouth. and when you do i know youll have an amazing experience!!
well i hope you have a great week
i love ya tons
john
im glad you had a wonderfull time at the temple. i love how the Lord will give us the answers to our problems we just have to be ready for them. i think working on getting the prospective Elders involved is a wonderful idea! ive also been able to recieve some direction for what to do here. our ward needs a new ward mission plan. that much is clear. after i finnish it ill have to send you a copy of it. maybe the orchard ward could gleen something from it. i think that if the ward will support the activities and initiatives we're going to start up the work here will explode even more then it is and that not only will convert baptisms be up but so will retention and reactivation.
i think getting out of town would be really good for Jake. if thats the way hes got to do it i dont think id blame him. i just hope he doesnt get blown up.
this week was a crazy one. Elder Ericksen had some doctors visits and things so a lot of this week was driving. it was a great week though. Randy had a very successful baptism day and recieved the holy ghost sunday. tonight we're going to take him on his first exchange!
we also went to a meeting called Why i beleive. its like a testimony meeting for recent converts. We took Stacy to it and he had a great time! i think Stacy is getting closer and closer. he said that when hes baptized he wants to speak at why i believe. so we set a date with him for the 1st of november, which means weve got some work to do in a very short period of time but if we can it should be awesome!!
it was a pretty good week id say.
well i better got moms email goin. until then keep on keepin on.
love ya
john
saturday went Great!! we had some powerpacked days this weekend and i had the opportunity to see some other miracles as well.
earlier this week we were in a doctors office. Elder Ericksen was getting a couple things checked out. and so i sat in a couple waiting rooms. in one of them i was sitting there working on the new ward misson plan for this area and this lady asked me a question about... i dunno something. and then i got back to work. then she asked something else and so i answered. i realized i wasnt going to get much work done on the ward mission plan because wheather this lady knew it or not she was absolutly asking for the gospel to be taught to her. so the small talk began. i established who i was and why i was there in the office. she told me why she was there. i asked her what she knew about us. she expressed the little she knew about joseph smith was from the show "big love" and that she had had a mormon friend once. so i told her about Josephs smiths call as a prophet and a little bit about what that meant. she was hooked. before i left i made sure to get her info so i could provide the noblesville missionaries with some work to do! it was a wonderful experience.
then on saturday we had Randy's baptism and that was wonderful. the spirit was most deffinitly there as i baptized him and then again on sunday and Elder Ericksen confirmed him. Randy is such a neat guy!
i liked what you said about adding a measure of love after applying reproof. that was a neat story.
i also liked what sister Norton shared about fasting. a lot. i also love explaining it to hoosiers. its like dropping a bigger better engine into your Prayers!!! haha hoosiers. i really have grown to love em. theres nothing quite like em. just remember as you pray and fast for the missionary work be ready for God to put people in your path for you to share your testimony with. theres no greater way the work can be blessed than God putting someone who needs the gospel in the path of someone who already has it and who isnt a missionary by call. this is because then they already have most of the things they need in order to be retained if the do accept the gospel. so when you're out at the store grocery shopping or in thet gas station or the library be ready and God will bless you for the opportunity to open your mouth. and when you do i know youll have an amazing experience!!
well i hope you have a great week
i love ya tons
john
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Dear Mom and Dad, October 7, 2008
hey dad! what a week!! the messages we were able to hear were a wonderfull opportunity. it seems like the leaders of the church are trying to get us ready to be zion. especially it seems as we enter upon time of economic uncertainty. its time to get our heads wrapped around trying to serve one another in every way we can and humbling ourselves. this week was a pretty good week. like i told mom, nothing too crazy to report. Randy passed his baptisimal interview! so his baptism will go forward as planned on the 11th. i was thinkin. i wanna make gingerbeer but i have no recipe. would you be so kind as to send me a recipe? that stuff you sent me has been wonderful. kinda like in dandelion wine how theyd drink dandelion wine and it would bring back summers and revitalize them. i feel like i've been able to travel the nearly 2000 miles and sit in the kitchen bare-foot ready to enjoy another care-free summer day everytime i take a sip. magical. well i'm gonna go. have a wonderful week! love ya john
this years conference was amazing. two things i think i really appreiciated was first, they didnt beat around any bushes, they were very bold and almost firey with their delivery, like they knew what they needed to share was so very important. secondly i really liked the undertones. so many times they referenced preach my gospel or taught principles from it. i also noticed the warnings about the impending perils that are on the road ahead. it was a wonderful conference! i hope the members of the church will start to play their a-game.
this week went very well. same stuff as ussual and not too much to report but nevertheless it was a good week. Randy's interview went well and he's requested that i baptize him. i really have felt honored to serve in such a wonderful area or the lords vineyard. its an amazing spirit that attends a baptism especially when you've been there through every last trial to get to that point. after you've watched them progress to this point. seems like i was kinda in a low-point of my mission until now and so the lord sent me here to revitalize me and teach me some things in the process about faith and hope. its been a marvelous experience.
i did get dads marshmellows and enjoyed them quite thouroughly and i also received the other package. thanks so much! that jam really hit the spot and the ginger beer brought back idaho summers!
well i gotta go
tell Nancy and the kids "hey" for me!
love ya
john
this years conference was amazing. two things i think i really appreiciated was first, they didnt beat around any bushes, they were very bold and almost firey with their delivery, like they knew what they needed to share was so very important. secondly i really liked the undertones. so many times they referenced preach my gospel or taught principles from it. i also noticed the warnings about the impending perils that are on the road ahead. it was a wonderful conference! i hope the members of the church will start to play their a-game.
this week went very well. same stuff as ussual and not too much to report but nevertheless it was a good week. Randy's interview went well and he's requested that i baptize him. i really have felt honored to serve in such a wonderful area or the lords vineyard. its an amazing spirit that attends a baptism especially when you've been there through every last trial to get to that point. after you've watched them progress to this point. seems like i was kinda in a low-point of my mission until now and so the lord sent me here to revitalize me and teach me some things in the process about faith and hope. its been a marvelous experience.
i did get dads marshmellows and enjoyed them quite thouroughly and i also received the other package. thanks so much! that jam really hit the spot and the ginger beer brought back idaho summers!
well i gotta go
tell Nancy and the kids "hey" for me!
love ya
john
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