#54 - Big News!

What a great week we had! Transfer calls were on Saturday! Usually they come in the evening around 7 oclock, but during companionship studies this morning we got the call. I am getting transferred! Going down back to the Indianapolis Zone where I came from, to a town called Franklin. My companion will be Elder Morgan, he served here in Plymouth right before me so I have talked with him a few times. I am very excited to tear it up down there with him!

I have been thankful to serve in Plymouth for the last 3 months. We have seen so many miracles from being diligent and obedient. This week was very rewarding for us. 6 investigators at church and they all shared with us their testimony that warmed my heart. I will miss the branch and all the people I have come to love. 

Charlene is on date for baptism! She is very excited and preparing herself! It is so great when they have friends to support them as they make this change coming unto Christ. We shared our testimony on Sunday and after each speaker said amen, I could hear her in the crowd say louder than anyone else, Oh AMEN! She makes me smile! 

Maggie brought us teddy bears so we wont forget her. She is so much happier now she is living the gospel. I have noticed her countenance shine bright the last few weeks. It has been a blessing for me to see this change in her life. One of the greatest things we can do as members of the church is bring our Fathers children back home to Him. It will bring you peace, joy, and happiness along with them. 

Jimmy is making that change as well. I still remember the miracle of finding Jimmy. We had tracted "Gator Alley" as Brother Timm and I like to call it, and tracted into his roommate Cashmire and taught a lesson with a return appointment. We has stopped by two times but we didn't get an answer. The 3rd, and last try by, Jimmy opened up. We talked with him a bit, it wasn't anything special, and as we were leaving he called after us and said, "Cashmire isn't interested, but I will hear what you have to say." Within the last 2 months, Jimmy has changed his life. He has come to church almost every week, began to study the Bible and Book of Mormon, found friends at church who will support him, and has changed his perspective on life. We had our final lesson with him Saturday. We reviewed the baptismal criteria with him. After the question about Joseph Smith being a prophet, we asked him how he knows he is a prophet. His answer was profound and still amazes me. He feel like the apostle Peter in Matthew 16: 15-17 as Jesus asked him how he knows he is the Christ. He said it is through revelation from the Holy Spirit. How blessed he is! You can see angels, miracles, and even hard proof, but unless the Holy Ghost bears witness to you from one spirit to another, you will never know. 

There are so many things happening here I am so excited to hear about the miracles that will take place! 

"Your attitude reflects your faith." -yours truly

"The greatest battles you will ever fight will be within the silent chambers of your heart." -David O. McKay

Elder Ahlstrom and Elder Coon

Jimmy!

Getting my hair cut by Elder Stallings

Jackie, Charlene, Maggie, Elders Coon & Ahlstrom

Elder Coon & Jenny at the missionary meeting

#53 - The gospel is about Becoming

Happy Birthday to my dad! You are a wonderful leader and teacher to m​e. This week we went to the temple! It was a great experience. We drove down with Brother Timm and Brother Cruz. Cruz is from Mexico, and it was his first time in the Indianapolis temple! We enjoyed every second!

We had dinner with an investigator named Mark on Thursday. He is loving every minute of learning. He goes online to lds.org and mormon.org and soaks everything up like a sponge.

Charlene is still coming to church and going strong! We had a dinner last night with her and Sister Canterro. Since we couldn't go in their home we had it on their porch! It was so fun haha. Dinner was goulash and meatloaf, a hoosier specialty they said! They are right :)

We are having a zone conference tomorrow. There are some big changes! We aren't counting first contacts or member lessons anymore. We are focusing more on planned (and member presents), new gators, and less actives. I think this is a great change! We also have transfers in a week, not sure if I will be transferred or stay another 6 weeks. I guess we will find out!

The longer I have been out the more I realize how I cannot do this work by myself. When I begin to feel inadequate and alone, I become overwhelmed. As I pray for strength and the Lords grace, I can feel him lift my burdens and give me the strength to keep going. The healing and strengthening power of Jesus Christ is for all of us who will ask.The Savior has said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28.) He is our Advocate, Mediator, and Judge. His gospel is the perfect answer to all human problems and social struggles. But His gospel is only effective as it is applied in our lives. We must “feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” (2 Ne. 32:3.) 

I testify that this is the Church of the resurrected Jesus Christ. He is risen. He paid the price for all of our sins. Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers. I witness that we grow closer to the Savior as we serve others for Him. 

Dad to James: 

Hey we just walked into the gym and some guy said you guys got to be from Indiana! We didn't even realize we are both wearing Indiana T-shirts. Haha.

James to Dad: 

haha a true hoosier is a smoker! they just sit on their hoosier porch and smoke all day long. they will talk to you all day about anything ha. and most the time they are fat, unless they smoke so much they dont eat, then they are skinny.oh and they dont like to wear shirts, usually they will wear pants. It depends, most the time they will be inside. I guess that depends where the tv is haha. and they have many many animals .

 Ron says to send us a picture of a true Hoosier. Probably eating ribs and corn the cob 

#52 - The Future is as Bright as your Faith

​​​Fun fact: nothing here dries! After the sacrament meeting they have to dry all the trays or they will stay wet. After a shower I throw my towel in the dryer or it wont dry hahaha. It will be raining all day today and most mornings are really foggy!

The Notre Dame football team is practicing here at Culver this week! It was a closed practice but I snuck a picture of them! They are HUGE!

We tracted most of Wednesday without anyone opening up, except a 90 year old Jehovah Witness… Haha She went off on a rant about who knows what and there was no way we could argue with an old lady so we politely left her with a picture of Jesus J

Friday was a miracle day! We were on exchanges, Elder Stallings was with me in our area and we had no planned lessons for the day. The night before we had decided to tract an apartment complex where a less active lady lives, not sure why but we always find golden investigators in the apartments J. Before we were kicked out of the complex we had taught 2 powerful lessons! One lady was named Lisa and another named Bill. We also tracted one of the only streets we haven’t knocked in town. We met Alan, he just moved in a week ago from Oregon, and shared with him a Book of Mormon to read. We will be going back tomorrow. We talked with an old man named Wayne Speedy! What a sweet last name ha! He has met with missionaries years ago and he still reads his Book of Mormon along with his bible! Whenever I could, I called him Mr. Speedy. It was a great day!

We had lunch with Mr. Shultz on Thursday. He has been going to church for 40 years but has not been baptized. Every set of missionaries have taken a swing at getting him in the water but he still hasn't done it! We haven't focused much on him, just been his friend. Well at lunch we got talking and he shared his testimony of the Book of Mormon and the gospel. I am pretty amazed at his testimony.

On Wednesday I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t sleep for some reason. My mind was going 100 miles an hour and I couldn’t get back to sleep. I decided to sit in the front room and read a book that I started the day before. It is called “Journey to the Veil,” and it is powerful! I read it until around 6 when the alarm went off and we started the day. The book talks about John Pontius and his spiritual experiences in life. I’m not sure if it was the book or the spirit, but it has given me a different perspective on obedience and the promptings of the Holy Ghost. We are given little promptings daily that we need to follow. Little by little those promptings from the still small voice will help us improve our life. The Lord works line upon line, here a little and there a little. In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ taught us this principle of eternal progression. He began with those who are poor in spirit are blessed, but eventually he expects us to “Be ye therefore perfect.” I invite you to have faith to act on your spiritual promptings daily. Obedience is the first law of heaven! I am so blessed to do this work, I pray to be able to stand up in strength and declare the good news!

Sunday was wonderful! We had a total of 8 investigators at church for the branch! We had a good time running them all around J Maggie was confirmed a member of the church and received the Holy Ghost! It is so great to see her grow and witness the light of Christ in her increase. “A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.”

Charlene is having some challenges but we have really enjoyed teaching her. It will take some time, but I know she will find the strength to overcome life’s challenges through Christ. Jimmy is working hard to make his date for baptism!

Love you all! Have a great week.

Notre Dame football

#51 - If you aren't having fun, you aren't doing it right :)

Just a friendly reminder to all that it isn't okay to come to the door missing clothes ha :)

MAGGIE WAS BAPTIZED!!!! What a spiritual day we had yesterday. Luckily there weren't any 'thank-a-monies' during the fast and testimony meeting and everyone who stood up did a wonderful job of testifying to what they know to be true. We have a great branch and just like every area I have served in, I have grown so close with the members, they all feel like my family. 

On Wednesday we contacted a former investigator that my old companion Elder Clark tracted into a few months back. His name is Jeff and, wow, he is solid! We took Brother Timm over to meet him and we taught about the Book of Mormon and priesthood authority. He had been reading and believes it is the word of God! Ever since he had back surgery before he met the missionaries, he has had a voice in his head (the Holy Ghost) telling him he needed to be baptized. During the lesson we noticed he had been holding his arm in pain and we offered a priesthood blessing. The spirit was so strong during the blessing you could almost taste it, and Jeff knew it. We helped him know what he was feeling was from God, and put him on date right there for September 5th. I am grateful for the chance I have to share the Lords gospel.

Thursday was just as great as the day before! We had a lesson with Charlene and she is soaking up the gospel like a sponge. She came to church yesterday and just loves it! After every couple testimonies she would look over at me and say, "amen!" or "praise the Lord." She came to Maggies baptism and wants to be baptized as well. Our goal is for mid September. 

For dinner Friday night we went to the Ogilvies home and had a pinata party:) They are such a great family! The party was because they finished the Book of Mormon as a family. I think Sister Ogilvie will post some pics/vids on Facebook so keep your eye out for it mom! 

Jimmy is working toward his baptism goal as well. He is finding great strength in the scriptures. The promise that we left with him is the same promise that is given to you. If you will study your scriptures daily, I promise you peace will prevail in your life. Lately we have really focused on repentance with those we meet with. I want them ready and prepared to enter the covenant of baptism.

We have been so blessed since we arrived in Plymouth. My heart is full of gratitude towards my Savior. I wish to thank my family for uplifting me, I have been blessed with goodly parents who have taught me to live uprightly before the Lord. I appreciate all who have influenced me to become better. 

Quotes of the Week:

"True desciples desire to inspire others, not just impress."

"How do you eat an elephant ear? One bite at a time." Alma 37:6-7

"The greatest opportunity we have is to share the gospel."

"The difference between the skilled and the unskilled are the fundamentals." -Elder Bednar

#50 - I've been out a whole YEAR!

I have been thinking a lot of the past year of my mission. The experiences are so numerous and to think my family has not heard even half of them is crazy to think about! I almost feel like Mormon as he compiled the Book of Mormon saying that he can only put in a hundredth part of what has happened in the record. But I pray what I do put in my record is what the Lord would want me to have there. 

On Thursday we went to the Culver Military Academy parade and it was sweet! They say it is one of the best military high schools in the world, I agree! The head of the Air force department are members of the church and so after the parade they gave us a tour of where they work, and they even let us fly the airplane flight simulator!! It was so cool :) I did flips and spins and worked on landing the plane. Only died a few times haha.

Friday was my YEAR MARK! The zone leaders came down to go on exchanges. I went with Elder Remmington :) I forgot the pictures of what we did so I will have to send them next week. Lets just say we all got shocked by an electric fence and drove through huge puddles of water! Thanks to my missionary friends who wished me a happy year anniversary btw.

That night I pulled out a white shirt to burn. (It is a tradition that at your year mark you burn a shirt) :) It was my dirtiest one haha and I didn't realize how dirty it was until I held it up against the others! 

Maggie is doing great! She is getting baptized next Sunday!! She is so prepared we are excited for her! We also have put 2 more people on date for baptism!! Oscar is on for September 18th because he is going to Honduras for a few weeks, but there is a lds church down there he wants to attend! Jimmy also will be baptized in the month to come! Jimmy is really enjoying the Book of Mormon, and is very consistent at coming to church.

We have also began to teach a lady named Mariah. She is going through some very difficult times. She has felt that Satan just keeps hitting her harder and harder in life. We were able to create a 'game plan' with her to defend herself against the temptations. I am reminded of the armor of God that the scriptures teach us about. Breast plate of righteousness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of spirit. But the best part is that the sword is not only to defend, but to attact! Those attacks will allow us to gain more and more power against the devil. By the end of the lesson, she was so motivated to choose the right! We are excited to help her along this path to happiness.

On Sunday we had a lesson on the Word of Wisdom in gospel principles class. It was a very interesting discussion and Elder Stallings and I had to throw down a few times and keep the class on track. I do enjoy teaching that class :)