January 29, 2009

Reminder!

Elder Stout has a new address! If you need the new address, please email me and I will send it to you right away! Thanks!

chell8 at gmail dot com

January 18, 2009

Baptisms






January 12, 2009

What's wrong with this picture?

Each night Elder Stout and his companion come home around 9PM and do 2 hours of planning, check on each zone missionary and make calls. It seems they got busy and didn't finish getting into their evening attire. :)
half missionary / half pajama pants.

Haircut Time

There is a lady in Elder Stout's ward that will give the missionary free haircuts, however, she has been out of town for awhile. Elder Smith, Elder Stout's companion, decided to take matters into his own hands and gave Elder Stout a haircut. We've been told it looks great! :)
Elder Stout at Thanksgiving dinner 2008. Elder Stout is surrounded by members, his companion and other sister missionaries in his area.Christmas Caroling 2008
Singing happy birthday to Elder Stout's companion, Elder Smith.
Singing a hymn after Sunday dinner

December 19, 2008

Merry Christmas

Elder Stout & his companion, Elder Smith, are hoping for a white Christmas...
any way they can get it.
Merry Christmas!
With Love,
Elder Stout

Thanksgiving Day 2008

Elder Stout & his companion

November 4, 2008

October 21, 2008

October 2, 2008

October 1, 2008


I'm now serving as a Zone Leader in East Sacramento. It covers two wards and the YSA and family ward. We have three YSA's that are getting baptized really soon. I love working with them, they are just so ready for the gospel.

Love,
Elder Stout

September 16, 2008

September 11, 2008

I received my transfer and will be heading to Sacramento to serve as the Zone Leader. It was hard saying good-bye to everyone in Tracy. I honestly never thought I would get so attached to an area and the people I serve. But you honestly you grow to love the people you serve and I will miss the people in Tracy a ton!

On Sunday night Charlotte had us over for dinner. (She had to feed me again before I left!) When we arrived at her home we moved into the kitchen and it honestly looked like Thanksgiving there was so much food. I think I gained about 10 pounds, but I was still able to enjoy her amazing cake. I'm really going to miss her.

In the BOM I have been reading about the prophecies that Nephi had. Especially the ones about the Latter Day America. It amazes me the type of council that the BOM gives us. Of course, we have the agency to accept it or not and it is sad to see so many people choose to use their agency in an unrighteous manner.

Love,
Elder Stout

September 5, 2008

This week has been brutal with temps in the 100's all week. I guess this valley is one of the hottest in California and I have the tan lines to prove it!
We have been really busy trying to build our teaching pool and on Sunday we had 3 investigators to church. Last Saturday the ward put on this huge BBQ at one of the parks. The food was great and I enjoyed seeing Charlotte and the Goodrun family. There was a ton of food and of course some back yard football. I decided not to take part in the football game.

I was able to teach and baptize a girl in my first area from Santiago Chile. I just received word that she is actually getting married in the temple in May to a returned missionary. This is the Lord's work and I am honored to be a part of it.

Love,
Elder Stout

September 6, 2008

Inspirations Come in Small Packages

Dear Family and Friends,

This year for the Primary Program the children in my ward (in Kaysville, UT) are sharing stories about other children that live in the area that the Elders in our ward are serving in. I received this story from a dear sister in Elder Stout's ward, Tricia Larsen, about an amazing little girl who is a Sunbeam (age 3) named Hannah. I wanted to share this with you before the Program.

The following is the story told by her mother Laura.

"We started teaching Hannah her Articles of Faith in January. I typed up each article on a sheet of paper and would display the article we were working on in their room. Within the first week she had memorized the first one along with her sister Dani (5 at the time). We quickly went through them and she is now on number 9. We say the Articles of Faith every night. Each of my girls get their own turn. It takes about 5-7 minutes for each girl to recite the Articles of Faith that they know. We consider this our "scripture time." We were just as surprised as anyone that she learned them and can remember them so quickly. She loves saying them and practicing, but she also loves to read the scriptures too. She is an inspiration to me of how sweet her Spirit is and how willing she is to hear the Gospel at any time. She will be turning 4 in November. She has said the Articles of Faith in primary 3 times."

I'm sure Hannah will be an inspiration to the children in the Hidden Valley Ward in Kaysville. Elder Stout is blessed to know such precious little girls.

Love, Mom
(Aunt Cindi , Cindi or Nana)

August 17, 2008

August 11, 2008

This transfer has been a good one and our zone has really stepped up. Our main focus has been on desire, something that is rarely missing from a missionary. Just knowing that I am serving the Lord gives me all the desire I need.

As a zone we baptized 9 new members. Our district baptized 7 and my companion and I baptized 5. Over all it was a great month and we have some pretty good prospects coming up as well.

Each transfer I seem to find one thing to focus on. Last transfer it was increasing my knowledge and testimony of the Saviour, someone that I have come to love. This transfer I actually ended up picking a Christlike attribute I want to work on and that is Charity, the pure love of Christ. I have been reading Moroni 7, as well as Corinthians for help......it has been humbling. But hey, if I'm going to be humbled and learn what a better time and place then out here. Your prayers help so much. Thank you.

"My son," (which means the missionary I trained), is Elder H. from South Jordon, Utah. He was my last companion and he was awesome. My new comp is Elder R. from Kansas City. He is so awesome and we get along really well.

Happy birthday Chellie, Aunt Barbara Sickler., Aunt Barbara Guymon., and John, Tyler and Mckay Roe! Also a special happy birthday to my Grandpa Tebbs.

Love,
Elder Stout

August 4, 2008

August 4, 2008


Happy 20th Birthday Elder S!
We hope you have a wonderful day
and another amazing year in the mission field!

July 27, 2008

July Photos

Elder S. at Charlotte's wedding. She is a beautiful bride!Elder S. turned detective... finding the missing key.Elder S. enjoying the heat!Elder S. with the Mission President and the President's wifeElder S. and his companion at a recent baptismjust looking cool in his shadesenjoying the 4th of July parade

July 16, 2008

June 30, 2008

The work here in Tracy is still going really well. This is really going to be an exciting week. We have a Baptism set up for July 5th and then we will have the opportunity to meet our new Mission President. We have a family of 4 that we hope will be getting baptized sometime in July. I'm so excited.

I can't believe I have been serving for 12 months. My companion Elder H is on his second week in the mission field and is a pretty amazing missionary.

Our old apartment was so crappy we had to move. Our new one has some issues like the dryer squeaks super loud and we discovered while trying to bake brownies that the oven doesn't work. But we will survive! We went grocery shopping today so at least we actually have food now.

My mission is going great. I can not only notice a huge difference in my life, but in the people I'm able to teach. I know the Lord needed me to serve in this area and if I just put everything I have into serving, I'll be blessed. I believe strongly in Alma 26:12. (That's my favorite scripture.)

Keep reading the Book of Mormon!
Love, Elder S

July 11, 2008

July 9, 2008

Elder S. and his companion went over to a member's house to mow the lawn and plant new grass in the 106 degree weather. After they finished they went inside to cool down. Elder S. wanted to learn to play the piano and ended up teaching himself the first 3 pages of a beginner book. He was pretty proud of himself (and Sister Larson got a good laugh). Thank you Sister Larson for the FUN update and taking care of our Elder S.
We love and miss him so much!

July 5, 2008

July 5, 2008

We are so pleased to inform all of you that we received two letters from Josh's Mission President. In the letters it announces that Elder S. is now the District Leader in Tracy. President H. said that he is "grateful for the example that Elder S. is to the other missionaries in the district and that the position is one of trust and responsibility." Elder S. will work in close association with all the missionaries in his district to find, teach and prepare individuals for baptism.

The second letter made us aware that Elder S. is also a trainer for new missionaries, which is extended to trusted and effective missionaries. The role of trainer has more influence on the future success of a missionary than any other single factor. President H. informed us that Elder S. was given this responsibility because of his "outstanding example of faith, diligence, and his ability to teach the gospel."

President H. also asked that as a family we continue to send letters that uplift and inspire Elder S. in this important work.