July 16, 2013 Life in the Utah Ogden Mission

Phew! So a lot has been going on lately! We had transfers last week and both Elder Lima and I survived, so we are still here in Kanesville. It's going to be a great six weeks! We have a lot of work going on and the members are starting to do some great work as well! We have members giving us referrals and introducing us to their friends left and right. We are going to have a real good transfer.

There is this woman, Linda, who has wanted to get baptized for months now, but she hadn't been able to come to church so the bishop didn't want her to get baptized quite yet. She was pretty down about it and said that she really needed it, so we talked to her about prayer and told her that if she were to ask the Lord then he would help her get to church. A few days later we go over to talk to her and she tells us that a lady at her work is having surgery and she will be off for 6-8 weeks and that Linda was covering her shift, which let her be off on Sunday. She was able to come to church every week while on that shift. Sadly, bishop said that it was only temporary and he didn't want her to get baptized and not be able to go to church(Those darn obstacles!) However, there is more good news. She was able to talk with her boss and work out a schedule where she would be able to get Sunday off at least once a month. The bishop texted us and said that Linda would be able to get baptized. My companion shouted for joy when he read it! When we went to go talk to Linda about it she had no idea. So when we told her that she would be able to get baptized her face lit up like a lightbulb! It was super awesome experience and it really strengthened my testimony of prayer. I know that He was watching over her and that he wanted to help. He was just waiting for her to show her faith and ask.

That is just one of the many amazing experiences I've had out here on my mission. It's truly the best thing ever to see the change in peoples lives when they accept the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. You can see it not only in their actions but in their eyes. They are just happier. You can see the joy and peace.

Love,

Elder Ervin

7-2-2013

These past couple weeks have been pretty extraordinary. We had a Mission Conference last Thursday where all the missionaries in the mission(nearly 250 of us) get together and have some fun and then receive some training. We had a service project at the beginning of the conference to help us learn to be charitable and loving like our Savior. We were sent to some assisted living homes where we would interact with some old peoples. We took them on walks and chatted with them and even played the most intense game of bingo I've ever experienced. Those old ladies play no games when it comes to bingo(haha, get it?). After that we went into a big field next to our mission home and played some games and then ate lunch. We were then herded in the chapel so we could hear from our honored guest. We were very honored to hear from Tad R. Callister of the Seventy. He gave an amazing training on the atonement and how we can apply it in our teaching. It gave me some great insights on how I can improve and we've already been able to apply this training.

Another awesome opportunity we had was that this past Sunday there was a huge broadcast on missionary work titled, "The Work of Salvation." We got to hear from the Prophet and apostles about how missionary work is going to be changing. First of all, missionaries are now going to be able to proselyte through the internet via Facebook, blogs and other means. In the near future we are all going to have to make Facebook accounts and we'll be able to teach lessons, follow up on commitments and make invitations through it. It's super cool that we are finally able to utilize the world of technology we live in. Our mission should be getting iPads and iPhones later this year or early next year in order to assist in this. Missionary work is changing. They said that missionaries should not be tracting anymore. They said that members need to be filling our planners with lessons. Missionaries are there to teach and to assist the ward/stake/branch with their missionary efforts but as it was it seemed that us missionaries were kind of leading the efforts. I'm excited to see how it turns out.

We also had a baptism this last Saturday. It was a 17 year old young man, named Melvin. He invited tons of his friends to the baptism, a lot of which were not members. I had the opportunity to share the message of the Restoration while he was changing. It was a super spiritual experience. His parents were sitting next to our landlords and after the baptism they turned to our landlords and said, "Well, I guess we're next." It is wonderful to see how the Spirit touched their lives and testified that what their son was doing was right. We have another baptism this next Saturday and I'm stoked to see how it turns out.

Love,

Elder Ervin

June 11, 2013

So these past two weeks have been awesome! The first two days of the transfer here in Kanesville we picked up 3 baptismal dates! And just yesterday we picked up another which, for those of you not so good at math, makes 4! It is so wonderful to see people that are willing to change.

The first person we taught in the area is a kid names Melvin, he is 17 years old. The day before I got to the area he met with the Elders here and told them that he went to church and seminary graduation and felt something that he has never experienced before and wants to get baptized! He is a super amazing kid. He goes to church every week and he loves it! He's already made tons of friends and I can tell that he can recognize the spirit. He is going to be baptized on the 22nd of this month.

The next two are a brother and sister in a pretty mixed family. Their step-siblings are members and so we scheduled an appointment to teach. We taught them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and focused on baptism and afterwards invited them to be baptized and the accepted for the 6th of July. They are pretty crazy but they have the desire to be baptized and follow Jesus Christ and it's awesome!

The last kid who we taught yesterday is 10 years old and his name is William. His dad is a member but isn't very active. We taught about the importance of Church, Prayer and Scripture reading and then taught about baptism. When we asked him if he wanted to be baptized he said, quite enthusiastically, "yes!"

It's incredible how often people feel the Spirit but don't know it's from God. When we first teach that is something we usually teach. We help them to recognize the Spirit and explain that when they get those warm, peaceful feeling it's God telling them that what they are learning is true and the steps they are taking are the correct ones. You'd be amazed to see the change in people once they recognize God's hand in their lives. It's what I love most about being a missionary. You are able to help change lives by showing them Christ's love and being that instrument of God to convey his message. I just love being out here and doing the Lord's work. There is nothing like it and time is already going by way to fast. I'm going to be home before I know it and I am not looking forward to that quite yet.

Love,

Elder Ervin

5-28-2013

So, the first thing that comes to mind is... Transfers! I am moving out of Syracuse! I am going to be serving in Kanesville, Utah! My new companion will be Elder Lima. I don't know anything about him but I hear he is a cool guy. I'm pretty excited to be in a new area but I'm also bummed about leaving all the cool people in Syracuse. It was bound to happen sometime anyway. I hear that we will be getting a car though so that will be pretty nice, but I'll probably get fat.

One of the elders we lived with went home this transfer! It was pretty awesome! His family came up from Georgia and we got to meet them. There was also a departing testimony meeting where all the missionaries who finished their missions got up and bore their testimonies to all the people who came, which included missionaries, investigators and recent converts. It was a super cool experience but it was sad to see him go. He didn't want to leave but he was also ready to go home and start his life. It must be a difficult feeling.

The other week we were chased down by a member who saw us walking down the street. He was visiting one of his non-member friends and they mentioned they'd like to ask us some questions. We ended up visiting with some for an hour or so and set up an appointment to come teach them. They are an interesting couple and like to ask some pretty off the wall questions. The wife says that she can hear spirits and that her daughter can see them. They are fairly interesting to talk with them. It's a bummer I'm not going to be able to teach them anymore. I just hope that they listen with an open heart and are able to get the most out of the message that the missionaries share with them.

Love,

Elder Ervin

May 7, 2013

So these past couple weeks have been pretty slow. We have had many cancelled appointments so we haven't been able to teach very much which really sucks. But there's nothing we can do about that, just keep doing our best. The Stake Presidency has been real passionate on getting the members to get us appointments rather than just tell us everyone in the neighborhood that is not a member. They are also really trying to get us some housing in the area since we live quite far outside of it.

Hopefully this next week we will have some good appointments and good lessons. We have quite a lot of people to visit and try to setup a lesson so we can only pray that those will work out. We are always trying to find new people to teach but as I've said before this area has a high majority of members so we mainly visit less actives. A lot of those who aren't members are people who just hate missionaries for reasons unknown.

On the positive side; Elder Ross and I have talked with the Stake Presidency and the High Councilman over missionary work and we've all decided that the stake needs a missionary 'reform'

We've talked a lot about how we can change things. The Stake President made an announcement in Stake Conference about how he wants us in every home in the stake! We are starting with members, teaching missionary lessons! It's awesome because you never know when someone might need the message we are sharing. Members also know their neighbors way more than we do. I am so excited for this new plan. The stake president said that he wants the wards to make 3 appointments per week for us, whether it is with non-members, less-active or members. That is 24 lessons per week! That added to the lessons we already have, we are going to be super busy. I can't wait for this next week. Hopefully by next Tuesday, I'll be able to have some really neat stories to share.

Love.

Elder Ervin