Isn't Josh the cutest little boy? We like to call him "a big, handsome kid."
March 31, 2008
Looking Back
Josh has been recently transferred and doing great. While he is adjusting to a new companion and area, I thought it would be fun to take a walk down memory lane when there is not much else to update you on...
Isn't Josh the cutest little boy? We like to call him "a big, handsome kid."
Isn't Josh the cutest little boy? We like to call him "a big, handsome kid."
March 15, 2008
March 14, 2008
March 10, 2008
The work is going so well right now. I have an awesome comp named Elder B. He is from Spring City, Utah.... I have no idea where that is. March is going to be a busy month for us, it seems there may be a baptism once a weekend as of right now. It is honestly amazing what you can do when you put EVERYTHING you have not only into your mission, but into the Lord. He will make everything possible, and we have been really trying to do that and have been blessed for it.
One of our investigators, Preston, was a member of a gang. Well we are teaching the lady that he lives with, and he showed up to the lesson and ended up crying and loved it. He has been to church twice, and has an interview to be baptized. I really can't wait. He has been such a blessing for me to work him. His Mom doesn't even have a bed. Working with these people makes me realize how blessed I have been.
I hope all of you are doing well. Work hard, the only way to true happiness is the harder you work...I know each of you will be blessed.
Love,
Elder S.
One of our investigators, Preston, was a member of a gang. Well we are teaching the lady that he lives with, and he showed up to the lesson and ended up crying and loved it. He has been to church twice, and has an interview to be baptized. I really can't wait. He has been such a blessing for me to work him. His Mom doesn't even have a bed. Working with these people makes me realize how blessed I have been.
I hope all of you are doing well. Work hard, the only way to true happiness is the harder you work...I know each of you will be blessed.
Love,
Elder S.
March 10, 2008
March 3, 2008
This will be short because I haven't been feeling very well at all. I am so thankful for the Priesthood and the blessings that come with it.
I'm really excited to share my mission with my friends and family. I think the blog is a great idea and I think it will be a great way for my family and friends to keep up with me.
I love Sac-Town. There is no other place I'd rather be.
Love,
Elder S.
I'm really excited to share my mission with my friends and family. I think the blog is a great idea and I think it will be a great way for my family and friends to keep up with me.
I love Sac-Town. There is no other place I'd rather be.
Love,
Elder S.
February 28, 2008
February 25, 2008
The work here is going extremely well. One thing I have noticed is the harder I work the happier I am. The happier I am, the more I baptize. I have really tried to put that into my mission, because it's totally true.
I am still serving in Elk Grove with another companion, Elder B. He is from Spring City, Utah (wherever that is?).
We are having a lot of success. Not to say there are not some hard, frustrating moments, but for the most part things have been great. That's totally how the mission is-- it can be a roller coaster, but there isn't a part that doesn't end up being rewarding.
Preston is getting baptized on March 8th. I am doing that baptism and it is exactly my 7th month mark as well. He is such a stud. We teach him every single day and after each time he ask us, "are we doing this again tomorrow?" He's on fire! I love it. He has just been through so much in his life. It's hard for me to even imagine. Our trials we face (at least mine) are so small and insignificant in comparison. I am so grateful that I'm able to work with him. As of right now, we are trying to find him a bed because he sleeps on the floor.
Judy is doing okay. The smoking is really taking a toll on her and it's hard and sad to see. We love her so much. She comes to church and loves it! She loves the Relief Society and our ward has really been great to her. I know she will progress and she will be so blessed for it.
I am doing good. The work is going great. We are keeping really busy. The rain has been coming down pretty bad! That sure hasn't stopped us! I seriously love it out here. It seems like every day I learn something new-- not only in my mission life, but also in life in general. I am so grateful for that. I am so grateful for my parents, sisters and Abby that love and support me and so many friends and family as well.
We get a new mission president in 2 1/2 transfers. It's going to be so hard to see him go.
Love,
Elder S.
I am still serving in Elk Grove with another companion, Elder B. He is from Spring City, Utah (wherever that is?).
We are having a lot of success. Not to say there are not some hard, frustrating moments, but for the most part things have been great. That's totally how the mission is-- it can be a roller coaster, but there isn't a part that doesn't end up being rewarding.
Preston is getting baptized on March 8th. I am doing that baptism and it is exactly my 7th month mark as well. He is such a stud. We teach him every single day and after each time he ask us, "are we doing this again tomorrow?" He's on fire! I love it. He has just been through so much in his life. It's hard for me to even imagine. Our trials we face (at least mine) are so small and insignificant in comparison. I am so grateful that I'm able to work with him. As of right now, we are trying to find him a bed because he sleeps on the floor.
Judy is doing okay. The smoking is really taking a toll on her and it's hard and sad to see. We love her so much. She comes to church and loves it! She loves the Relief Society and our ward has really been great to her. I know she will progress and she will be so blessed for it.
I am doing good. The work is going great. We are keeping really busy. The rain has been coming down pretty bad! That sure hasn't stopped us! I seriously love it out here. It seems like every day I learn something new-- not only in my mission life, but also in life in general. I am so grateful for that. I am so grateful for my parents, sisters and Abby that love and support me and so many friends and family as well.
We get a new mission president in 2 1/2 transfers. It's going to be so hard to see him go.
Love,
Elder S.
February 26, 2008
February 18, 2008
Our zone got a lot of new missionaries. So it has been pretty tight. A lot of cool ones. Our zone is doing really well right now. We baptized 15 last transfer and right now we have 11 going into the next transfer. Me and my comp have 3 right now... but the work is still tough. The Lord is just really blessing us.
Brandon M. got baptized on Saturday. It was so so so good. I was so happy for him. We were able to bring two of our investigators there. Judy W. and also Preston. When we were there Preston was very impressed with it. So we pointed out the Spirit to him and we gave him a baptism date of March 2nd. When I was first talking to him I gave him a date of March 8th and he looked at me and said, "is there any possible way I can do it sooner than that?" haha I could not believe it. So of course we said yes!
So a lot has been going on... even though today is p-day we still have a ton of stuff we have to do. But that's the mission life and I LOVE IT!!!!
So the work is for sure going really well right now. I have a new comp, his name is Elder B.
Love,
Elder Squashy
Brandon M. got baptized on Saturday. It was so so so good. I was so happy for him. We were able to bring two of our investigators there. Judy W. and also Preston. When we were there Preston was very impressed with it. So we pointed out the Spirit to him and we gave him a baptism date of March 2nd. When I was first talking to him I gave him a date of March 8th and he looked at me and said, "is there any possible way I can do it sooner than that?" haha I could not believe it. So of course we said yes!
So a lot has been going on... even though today is p-day we still have a ton of stuff we have to do. But that's the mission life and I LOVE IT!!!!
So the work is for sure going really well right now. I have a new comp, his name is Elder B.
Love,
Elder Squashy
February 4, 2008
Happy 6 month mark! Can you believe it? I can't. It's hard to think about! Anyway....
This has been a very exciting week.
Saturday night was supposed to be the baptism of Tom R. I am inside the church filling up the font when he called us and told us that his parents were not going to let him go through with it. It turns out he didn't really tell his parents everything so he didn't get baptized. I can't even tell you how bad that day was. I guess in a way it was good for me cause it reminded me how hard missions really are and that there are always trials.
But on Sunday the Lord just totally blessed us. We had so many miracles. We had 8 investigators come to church. It was so amazing. We had our investigator from Afghanistan come. He comes to church, so I guess it's alright. Then we had a member bring this lady named Judy W. She is way awesome. We are going to teach her on Tuesday. So I'll let you know how that goes!
There is only one more week left in this transfer. It's so crazy the time seems to go by faster each transfer. As of right now, I think I'll be getting transferred, but either way works fine. We have a lot of great people we are working with in Elk Grove, but I would also love the experience somewhere new. So either way I guess.
The weather is starting to heat up a lot. But those days it rains are so hard.
That's really all the news for me. Things are going great!
Love,
Elder Squashy
January 28, 2007
My mission has just been everything I hoped for and more. What a learning experience it has been. Each day I learn something new. I seem to always be able to work on my weaknesses and enhance my strengths. It's been so awesome.
I love being able to work with people and see their lives change with the gospel. It's fun going out and meeting new people too.
The missionaries here are really cool too. My comp is a stud.
Love,
Elder Squashy
January 21, 2008
Things are going very well here. Elk Grove is on fire. We are teaching a ton and having a lot of great success as well. We have a baptism set for the 26th. His name is Tom R. He is so awesome and I have loved being able to work with him. I will actually be the one doing the actual baptism. This is going to be my 1st time baptizing someone. But it should be awesome. I can not wait.
We had an amazing thing happen to us at church. This kid named Brandon M. came to church by himself and so after Sacrament instead of taking him to Sunday School we taught him the first lesson with Bro. C., the Spirit was so strong. We gave him a conditional baptism and he said yes!
Just a little things like that remind us missionaries that this truly is the Lord's work and we are the tools in his hands. And that he is preparing certain people for us to teach.
We have a lot of great people we are working with as well that are close to Baptism. We just got to keep workin' on them.
My comp is so fun. His name is Elder B. He is a really great guy and we have a lot of fun together-- that's for sure. We are having so much success as well. That's really all you can ask for.
Love,
Elder Squashy
January 7, 2008
This week has been so crazy! So here is a run down of whats going on. We have 5 investigators with baptism dates and 2 that are close. 2 of them are 11 and 12. Their dad is an active member but got into a divorce and that's kinda why they have not been baptized. So we have been teaching them the lessons and stuff.
Then we went tracting and we tracked into this part member family. These guys are golden. They went to an LDS funeral not too long ago and it touched him pretty powerfully. Just with the plan of salvation and stuff. So a lot of other stuff has been happening as well and they are getting baptized on January 27th. I'll make sure I send some pics if I remember. So we will be baptizing the dad and his daughter. This guy will do anything to be baptized too. He is getting work off for the church and everything.
Then we have this kid named T. He is a stud. He comes with his girlfriend and we taught him. He says he wants to be baptized so he is on January 19th. haha. I am loving it right now. I have a new comp, Elder B. He has been out about 11 months and the other two Elders moved out. So it's just us in the apartment. haha. It's pretty awesome and our apartment is massive.
So I'm sure you heard on the news but there were 70MPH winds in Sac. and like everything got destroyed. Tons of rain too. They said it was hurricane weather and Sac has been on a state of emergency. It was kinda scary. A lot of houses are messed up and everything! That was my 1st really big storm I have ever been in. It was really intense.
Love,
Elder Squashy
January 1, 2008
I had a really good Christmas and my New Year's was a blast too!
The other two Elders live in a very wealthy area and we went to their member's house and played "game show." They gave us a ton of money and gift cards to just about anywhere if you win. It's pretty amazing. So we did that till about 10 and then celebrated New Year's. whoo hoo!
This next transfer I will have a new comp. His name is Elder B. from Idaho Falls! So that should be really exciting. I will for sure be sending a lot of pics with this letter. Everything is going great and I am lovin' my mission right now. We have a ton of awesome people we are working with as well.
There has been a lot of changes in this zone to try and mix things up. So I am getting really excited for it! We'll see how things go. I get a new comp. I'll be running the area for a little while. I am very excited! Everything is going great!
Love,
Elder Squashy
December 25, 2007
We are now at a members house just hanging out! Our Christmas has been pretty well. This morning we spent it with an awesome family and of course we got to call home.
So it was pretty cool. I had a very good Christmas and I totally loved all of my gifts.
We then played soccer during the day and now i am dead tired. Now we are at another families house. Last night was a blast though, we went to a really cool member's house and hung out there. Then after that we went and played basketball for awhile.
When we leave here we are going to go shopping, so that's it! It has been a blast. I love it.
Love,
Elder Squashy
December 19, 2007
I am doing great!
Elk Grove is going great. I was able to take part in a baptism of Don S. on Saturday. He is 32 year old. It was so awesome. We are having a lot of great success here too. there are some days where we will add about 5 new investigators. The people here are very humble and are willing to listen. there are a few families here that will be getting baptized. So that's really exciting.
Believe it or not, but I have been able to learn a lot of Spanish out here. I have started reading the BofM in Spanish as well. It's a great language and there are so many Spanish people here.
Today is our mission trip to the temple. I can not wait. Then after that I am not totally sure what we are going to do. We might go to old Elk Grove. There is a lot of fun stuff we can do there.
One of the ladies we are working with is named Kim. She lives up in the nicer area, but much of Elk Grove is pretty "inner-city." I love it. It's a blast. The people are so great. Our wards are so small! haha. It's not like Utah or Arizona, that's for sure.
We are working super hard and having a blast.
Love.
Elder Squash
Elk Grove is going great. I was able to take part in a baptism of Don S. on Saturday. He is 32 year old. It was so awesome. We are having a lot of great success here too. there are some days where we will add about 5 new investigators. The people here are very humble and are willing to listen. there are a few families here that will be getting baptized. So that's really exciting.
Believe it or not, but I have been able to learn a lot of Spanish out here. I have started reading the BofM in Spanish as well. It's a great language and there are so many Spanish people here.
Today is our mission trip to the temple. I can not wait. Then after that I am not totally sure what we are going to do. We might go to old Elk Grove. There is a lot of fun stuff we can do there.
One of the ladies we are working with is named Kim. She lives up in the nicer area, but much of Elk Grove is pretty "inner-city." I love it. It's a blast. The people are so great. Our wards are so small! haha. It's not like Utah or Arizona, that's for sure.
We are working super hard and having a blast.
Love.
Elder Squash
December 3, 2007
I am still serving in Elk Grove. It's so sweet. But a lot different than Fair Oaks. WAY DIFFERENT. The only people we are teaching right now are African American people and it's been a great learning experience for me. I am very fortunate to take part in the baptism of Tiffany W. She is a lady I taught in my last area. On December 8, 2007 she is going to get baptized!
My new comp is Elder G. He is so funny. He totally reminds me of one of my good friends back home. We are having some pretty good success as well and that's been a blast! He loves to deer and duck hunt, it's pretty funny. He's awesome. We both made some Christmas cards that I'm going to be sending to all of you guys!
My new area is really sweet, a lot flatter! haha, so it's nice to be on a bike. The only problem is it's SO cold!! Today I am probably going to go buy me some warm clothes, cause I am dyin'. Well that's really all that's going on, the work is going great we are teaching a lot of lessons and I am having a blast. We are working very hard as well! I can't believe it's almost Christmas already. Time is just flyin'.
oh yeah,
me and Elder G. were in a very "inner city" apartment complex and we were tracting and it was dark and these 8 big guys started yellin' at us and and were like ready to fight us, and this lady was like, "aren't you guys scared here?" And Elder G. said, "No because we have the Lord on our side." They all looked at us and just walked away. It was pretty powerful. Just how much the Lord protects us out here.
Love,
Elder Squashy
My new comp is Elder G. He is so funny. He totally reminds me of one of my good friends back home. We are having some pretty good success as well and that's been a blast! He loves to deer and duck hunt, it's pretty funny. He's awesome. We both made some Christmas cards that I'm going to be sending to all of you guys!
My new area is really sweet, a lot flatter! haha, so it's nice to be on a bike. The only problem is it's SO cold!! Today I am probably going to go buy me some warm clothes, cause I am dyin'. Well that's really all that's going on, the work is going great we are teaching a lot of lessons and I am having a blast. We are working very hard as well! I can't believe it's almost Christmas already. Time is just flyin'.
oh yeah,
me and Elder G. were in a very "inner city" apartment complex and we were tracting and it was dark and these 8 big guys started yellin' at us and and were like ready to fight us, and this lady was like, "aren't you guys scared here?" And Elder G. said, "No because we have the Lord on our side." They all looked at us and just walked away. It was pretty powerful. Just how much the Lord protects us out here.
Love,
Elder Squashy
November 22, 2007
I just got transferred and stuff so I have not had time to write letters or anything like that. So let people know that. I love my new area. I am now serving in Elk Grove. It's such a great place and a lot of interested people. We are being so blessed by the Lord here and are baptizing like crazy. I love it.
My new comp is Elder Gray. I love him. He is so awesome and we get along really well. He totally reminds me of a friend back home. So it's been a lot of fun. He is from Illinois. the other 2 elders we live with are from Missouri and New Jersey. So it's neat! The one from New Jersey is brand spankin' new. Fresh out of the MTC! It's so great. Believe it or not but I will be conducting zone conference on Friday with 60 other missionaries. Kinda cool huh? I'm really excited.
This area is really sweet. The people are a lot humbler and that makes the work go a lot better.
I really like my comp. He is so great and it's really fun when you got a comp that you get along well with!
Love,
Elder Squashy
November 12, 2007
Happy thanksgiving! I'm pretty excited we got like 4 dinners set up for it. So I hope I get to stay in this area. We find out on Sunday... I'll be sure to let ya know...
I have been so blessed to work with a lot of in-active people here in Sacramento and the Lord has been able to bless us with the chance to re-activate 2 of them. A husband and wife, as well as another guy. They are awesome people and I just have such a great joy for the choices they have made.
The work is going great. We have 2 main families we are working with. One of them is going to get baptized but it will take some time and I feel really good about the other one as well.
Me and my comp are getting along really well. He is an awesome kid.
I'm doing really well. Tonight we are cookin' dinner for a member family... :) haha wish us luck!
Love,
Elder Squashy
I have been so blessed to work with a lot of in-active people here in Sacramento and the Lord has been able to bless us with the chance to re-activate 2 of them. A husband and wife, as well as another guy. They are awesome people and I just have such a great joy for the choices they have made.
The work is going great. We have 2 main families we are working with. One of them is going to get baptized but it will take some time and I feel really good about the other one as well.
Me and my comp are getting along really well. He is an awesome kid.
I'm doing really well. Tonight we are cookin' dinner for a member family... :) haha wish us luck!
Love,
Elder Squashy
October 28, 2007
We had 4 to church and that was really exciting. Things are going great. We are working with a lot of awesome people right now. We has to drop some of our investigators and I was way sad. But hey... it's okay I guess. We will be totally blessed for doing it.
It's still so hot here. Like 80's. Having no snow during halloween is so weird. I don't really like it! haha It is very nice though, I can't imagine being on a bike in the snow! haha, that would be so bad...
The work is going great! I love my roommates and my comp is a really hard worker! So we are getting a lot done.
I hope we get a baptism. There has not been one here in over 2 years. That would be so exciting! I have a feeling I will most likely be transferred after this transfer to a new area, that is kinda scary, but will be so rewarding and exciting!
Love your favorite,
Elder Squashy
It's still so hot here. Like 80's. Having no snow during halloween is so weird. I don't really like it! haha It is very nice though, I can't imagine being on a bike in the snow! haha, that would be so bad...
The work is going great! I love my roommates and my comp is a really hard worker! So we are getting a lot done.
I hope we get a baptism. There has not been one here in over 2 years. That would be so exciting! I have a feeling I will most likely be transferred after this transfer to a new area, that is kinda scary, but will be so rewarding and exciting!
Love your favorite,
Elder Squashy
October 21, 2007
Everything is going really good. We are going to go get some lunch here pretty soon at a way good Mexican restaurant. Most of my friends are just starting to get their mission calls or leave. I'm so glad I didn't wait. I am having such a great time out here and I love it more and more every day. I love the people here. I love serving the Lord and sharing the gospel... ther is nothing more rewarding than that!
I love it! I love Sac-Town! This mission is the best choice I have ever made.
Love,
Elder Squashy
October 15, 2007
Hey dude,
I have been so busy lately. It's been insane. The days just fly by! It's nuts, but everything is going great. We have 9 investigators we are working with right now. We had 5 out to church, and we committed two to baptism last night. One of them accepted, but the dad wants to take it a little slow, so we'll see I guess.
The weather is cooling down. 70-80 during the day and in the morning it rains a ton and it's super foggy. It is so pretty! You would not believe it, man I love it here, it's so awesome. This whole area is just so green and pretty during the fall it's great!
So I have a new comp named Elder E. He has been out 5 months, so it's two young guys. He is about 5'6". haha. So that has been pretty funny. We get along great and I know we are going to have a lot of success together as well. So I'm very excited for that as well.
Right now I am going to Target to buy some cd's. I love the soothing music and those instrumental hymns.
Love,
Elder Squashy
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