Hey Fellas!
I'm staying In Barberton with Elder Yukish for another one. it will be great. So many good things happened this week and I'm excited to see what the Next transfer brings. We were able to find 8 new people to teach this week, one from the Pacific Island of Palau, one who was just released from prison, one who we tracted into her husband, (who we are trying to start teaching) and The other Elders found a Family of five from a member in the ward that lives in their area. We also did a lot of member work going in and teaching about the importance of gathering souls and bringing them unto Christ, Then inviting them to find a persons that they could invite to come to church and even better meet with us.
The weather here has been strange to me. it's clear and sunny, but it's very rarely over freezing. There isn't wind though so the humidity doesn't get to you as much and so it's warmer, but still pretty cold! Are you going to take Ammon to Florida and those other places to wrestle? That's pretty cool.
Who was the person that Left for their mission? Do I Know who it is? Yeah, So the world is pretty small when it comes to members in the church. I think the person that was in Hong Kong with Cassidy and Gundy is named Kaleb? I know his last name is Coburn, but that's about it.
So as we taught this week we had many really cool experiences where the spirit was really the one that did the teaching. The sister we are teaching from Palau, Saphira Kebekol, we were able to teach twice this week. her and her mom have pretty good english, but it is still pretty broken. It can be pretty hard to teach them because their comprehension isn't the greatest. But, we were able to bring a member in the ward who was raised in Fiji and his three year old son and that was a great help. Through her we are trying to start teaching her friend and her brother who also moved here From Palau. It's a really unique situation, it's very different than even teaching a child. The culture plays a very big role as well. while we were teaching we would as questions and then build off it, but one time she was just like "wait, why did you just ask me that question?" ha we were just like, oh, um we were getting to that. The member from Fiji ended up explaining things and his son, surprisingly helped out quite a bit as we taught the plan of salvation.
There isn't too much really going on just yet, There is a lot building up to it though so I'm hoping that it will continue to build and to really just catch fire so we can just teach all day every day. Which would be ideal in any circumstances.
Also, the ward leadership isn't too fond of missionaries still, so we are really doing all that it takes to get things going well. Unfortunately, their are some members here who aren't accepting of people who don't have prestigious jobs and have money. It's hard to get them to grasp the picture of that where there are elect everywhere and you don't have to be able to add to the church, that isn't the purpose of it. The purpose of the Church is to open the gate to all of God's children to Eternal Life in the Celestial Kingdom. There is one main Leader who is just the catalyst in all negativity and so we decided that we would invite him to come teaching with us in hopes to change his perspective on missionary work and the worth of souls. Sadly enough to say, he was once a bishop. It's very difficult to do work if you don't have the support of the ward leaders because they are the ones who set the standards and the examples. That's okay though if he doesn't grasp the picture because there are more than enough members who are willing to help out and fellowship those who are willing to make the changes in their lives to come unto Christ.
In Doctrine and Covenants 18 it talks about the worth of souls. In verse's 15 and 16 it talks about bringing one soul and then many souls unto Christ. As I have been thinking about this passage of scripture this week and sharing it with members in hopes to get them to do missionary work I have Reflected on what it truly means. That one soul that it mentions in 15, is us, and unless we are truly converted and have brought our soul unto Christ, we will not be very successful in bringing in the other souls. President Faust taught us that we can not convert anyone beyond our own conversion. If we expect to be able to do the Lords will, inviting others to follow his example, we need to be there first, otherwise it benefits us or them nonesuch.
That's my two cents for today. any who.
Laters!
--
Elder Michael Stone.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Dear Mother,
We still haven't been teaching that much but we had a really great meeting with the Ward Mission Leader and the Bishop. So hopefully we will be able to better work together and get those less-actives back to church and find new investigators to teach along the way. We will see what happens.
I can't believe it has already been two years for Spencer. that is really weird to think about. Speaking about missionaries and what not, There is a member here in this ward that had a son go on a mission to Hong Kong and knows Cassidy and Gundy. He is living out in Utah, but the son that lives at home with the parents texted him and asked. Small world huh?
It's about time you go to get a sleep test done! Dad has talked about it for a while now and so yeah, it's good that you are finally going to be able to sleep at night and have rest. I'm getting some with my drugs... :P
I'm so excited for spring! the other day, well, Thursday and Friday, it was only two degree's away from us being able to take our suit coats off! If it is below 70 we have to wear them and man we were so close! When is the Stone Family reunion? It's not this summer is it? If so, He is going to need a lot of help! Then, He can focus his efforts on finishing the basement and that stuff! I just want to let you know that because of this landscaping and what not dad is going to get ripped! When he gets old he will probably be one of those old guys you see running 5&10 K's. Just wait and see. You will have to send me pictures so I can see the progression and stuff when it gets further along, or, you could just be a punk and keep it a secret so I'm surprised. Either way, it's fine ha ;P
Anyways, I was up in the Northeast part of Akron on Thursday for exchanges and we got stuck in a yard!
Here is the story:
We were going to find a Less-active, so when we got to the house we realized that it was empty. We had to turn around and it was a single car drive and it was really long. So, we tried to do a three point and what not. we backed and got to the point where we were like oh look, there are tire marks through the yard, we'll just follow those, I mean it's okay to drive through a yard because no one lives here right? We started to drive through the yard and we just started to sink and we moved forward until we were stuck! The wheel's were half way deep and the frame was resting on the grass. Luckily a guy who was looking at the house drove by and thought we were the Realtors and pulled in to talk to us. He just looked confused and was like "what are you trying to do?" ha so we told him we're missionaries and trying to contact someone who was in the ward. He decided we were good guys to help out. (It's a good thing we always look dashing in our suits!) to make a long story short, it took 45 Minutes, me and two other grown men and a trailblazer to get it out. It's a good thing I wore my Machine washable suit pants, because I slipped and ate it! it was definitely an adventure!
Well, Not much has really happened. Next week are transfers, but I will probably stay. So that is okay. We'll find out Monday and I will let you know on Tuesday.
Much Love!
--
Elder Michael Stone.
We still haven't been teaching that much but we had a really great meeting with the Ward Mission Leader and the Bishop. So hopefully we will be able to better work together and get those less-actives back to church and find new investigators to teach along the way. We will see what happens.
I can't believe it has already been two years for Spencer. that is really weird to think about. Speaking about missionaries and what not, There is a member here in this ward that had a son go on a mission to Hong Kong and knows Cassidy and Gundy. He is living out in Utah, but the son that lives at home with the parents texted him and asked. Small world huh?
It's about time you go to get a sleep test done! Dad has talked about it for a while now and so yeah, it's good that you are finally going to be able to sleep at night and have rest. I'm getting some with my drugs... :P
I'm so excited for spring! the other day, well, Thursday and Friday, it was only two degree's away from us being able to take our suit coats off! If it is below 70 we have to wear them and man we were so close! When is the Stone Family reunion? It's not this summer is it? If so, He is going to need a lot of help! Then, He can focus his efforts on finishing the basement and that stuff! I just want to let you know that because of this landscaping and what not dad is going to get ripped! When he gets old he will probably be one of those old guys you see running 5&10 K's. Just wait and see. You will have to send me pictures so I can see the progression and stuff when it gets further along, or, you could just be a punk and keep it a secret so I'm surprised. Either way, it's fine ha ;P
Anyways, I was up in the Northeast part of Akron on Thursday for exchanges and we got stuck in a yard!
Here is the story:
We were going to find a Less-active, so when we got to the house we realized that it was empty. We had to turn around and it was a single car drive and it was really long. So, we tried to do a three point and what not. we backed and got to the point where we were like oh look, there are tire marks through the yard, we'll just follow those, I mean it's okay to drive through a yard because no one lives here right? We started to drive through the yard and we just started to sink and we moved forward until we were stuck! The wheel's were half way deep and the frame was resting on the grass. Luckily a guy who was looking at the house drove by and thought we were the Realtors and pulled in to talk to us. He just looked confused and was like "what are you trying to do?" ha so we told him we're missionaries and trying to contact someone who was in the ward. He decided we were good guys to help out. (It's a good thing we always look dashing in our suits!) to make a long story short, it took 45 Minutes, me and two other grown men and a trailblazer to get it out. It's a good thing I wore my Machine washable suit pants, because I slipped and ate it! it was definitely an adventure!
Well, Not much has really happened. Next week are transfers, but I will probably stay. So that is okay. We'll find out Monday and I will let you know on Tuesday.
Much Love!
--
Elder Michael Stone.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Hello Hello!
This was a very rough week for us, But by now I'm use to it because that is all I have had for the last two and a half months. We only taught seven lessons, but on the bright side we found two families that seem promising, one of which lost their six month old daughter a week ago. We feel that we can touch them with the Plan of Salvation, only because it's great you know?
Since when does Ammon want to work on the yard? that is out of the norm...
That's really cool that Jayme enjoyed the Choreography and that Jordyn liked it. that is pretty strange, I mean she is only six. She is going to be a really smart girl one of these days.. I can see it.
I can't believe that it has been a year since Alex died. That is crazy. I have yet to be able to share it really with any investigators but I have been able to share it with some recent converts and a couple of missionaries, one of which it really touched and helped him become a more purpose driven missionary, his past was one similar to Alex's. Whenever I share it I know that He has been able to work in the hearts of those who have heard his testimony. It's really cool.
Andrew Kitchen.. . yeah I think last thing I heard about him he wasn't living with his family anymore. Has Eric really been gone for a year and a half. that is weird to think. Sounds like although Wrestling season has been over you guys have been able to stay busy and not sitting around home that much. I'm surprised too that Ammon didn't fight you to stay Cadet, A lot of things change in seven months I guess. I have too. I mean I have shrunk an inch and gained 30 pounds... ha just kidding.
That's funny that you bring up trailer trash people, in the southern part of Akron and here in Barberton there are a lot of those, but they are just trash and live in dumps, I can't imagine living like that. But, some of them are the ones that need to hear the gospel and join the church. We two families we found are somewhat like that, but you see quite a bit of it in the bigger cities and highly populated areas. Speaking of Soda, I haven't really drank any in a long while and then I had one the other day, I Don't think I am very fond of them anymore! I remember Drinking two or three soda's a day and now I have one like every other week. Oh well.
It has warmed up here too a bit. the weather here is so erratic, the last two weeks it rained for two days straight, then it turned to snow, the day following the snow it gets up in the fifties and melts. From the Forecast we have heard it's suppose to warm up and stay warm. Hopefully it gets above 70 so we can take of our jackets and just go around in our Shirts. I love spring, and It's going to be great because it gets really green here and you don't see that in Utah.
Ammon and Matthew aren't begging you to let them go to Disneyland too? I would. It will be good. But, Jordyn should be able to go on most of the rides now right? so that will be really fun to be able to take her on all the rides and things.
Anywho, not much has really gone on this week. We tracted a lot and nothing has been able to work, I don't know what the difference was. But, Like I said, it's not new to me anymore and so I don't get as depressed as I did in Wadsworth, in fact, I'm more impressed when people keep their appointments and want to learn about the gospel. It's disappointing when we miss people at the appointments but, it happens and you move on. I have learned to be a lot more positive and when I am positive things are a lot easier and it's a lot easier to handle.
Sorry it's so short this week, not much has happened.
Love,
--
Elder Michael Stone.
PS. the guy sitting next to me is watching Power Rangers! Haha, he is like in his twenty's too!
Oh yeah, and Did you hear about that earth quake in Japan! 8.9! oh goodness. that is pretty dang intense. I just wonder when something is going to happen here in the US!
Hey dad,
I have been doing this Canadian Air force workout every morning, it's pretty good when you can't really go outside and when you don't have a lot of time.
Sounds like you are still very busy with doing everything that needs to be done in the home and things. Should be looking real good before too long
The Weather here has been warming up as well, we will probably ride bikes every now and then when it really warms up, it also depends on where we will be working that day. Our area is really large and so I am not sure on how much we really will ride our bikes, but I'm sure we will a little.
The work is slow, our lessons dropped by more than half this week, I'm not really sure what happened, but we have done our best to stay obedient and diligent. so we will see what will happen.
My sleep has improved quite a bit with the sleeping pills, One night I thought I would try not taking the pills and go back to Melotonin, but, it didn't really work and I woke up five or more times throughout the night, so I dunno.
Time Flies.
Love ya!
--
Elder Michael Stone.
This was a very rough week for us, But by now I'm use to it because that is all I have had for the last two and a half months. We only taught seven lessons, but on the bright side we found two families that seem promising, one of which lost their six month old daughter a week ago. We feel that we can touch them with the Plan of Salvation, only because it's great you know?
Since when does Ammon want to work on the yard? that is out of the norm...
That's really cool that Jayme enjoyed the Choreography and that Jordyn liked it. that is pretty strange, I mean she is only six. She is going to be a really smart girl one of these days.. I can see it.
I can't believe that it has been a year since Alex died. That is crazy. I have yet to be able to share it really with any investigators but I have been able to share it with some recent converts and a couple of missionaries, one of which it really touched and helped him become a more purpose driven missionary, his past was one similar to Alex's. Whenever I share it I know that He has been able to work in the hearts of those who have heard his testimony. It's really cool.
Andrew Kitchen.. . yeah I think last thing I heard about him he wasn't living with his family anymore. Has Eric really been gone for a year and a half. that is weird to think. Sounds like although Wrestling season has been over you guys have been able to stay busy and not sitting around home that much. I'm surprised too that Ammon didn't fight you to stay Cadet, A lot of things change in seven months I guess. I have too. I mean I have shrunk an inch and gained 30 pounds... ha just kidding.
That's funny that you bring up trailer trash people, in the southern part of Akron and here in Barberton there are a lot of those, but they are just trash and live in dumps, I can't imagine living like that. But, some of them are the ones that need to hear the gospel and join the church. We two families we found are somewhat like that, but you see quite a bit of it in the bigger cities and highly populated areas. Speaking of Soda, I haven't really drank any in a long while and then I had one the other day, I Don't think I am very fond of them anymore! I remember Drinking two or three soda's a day and now I have one like every other week. Oh well.
It has warmed up here too a bit. the weather here is so erratic, the last two weeks it rained for two days straight, then it turned to snow, the day following the snow it gets up in the fifties and melts. From the Forecast we have heard it's suppose to warm up and stay warm. Hopefully it gets above 70 so we can take of our jackets and just go around in our Shirts. I love spring, and It's going to be great because it gets really green here and you don't see that in Utah.
Ammon and Matthew aren't begging you to let them go to Disneyland too? I would. It will be good. But, Jordyn should be able to go on most of the rides now right? so that will be really fun to be able to take her on all the rides and things.
Anywho, not much has really gone on this week. We tracted a lot and nothing has been able to work, I don't know what the difference was. But, Like I said, it's not new to me anymore and so I don't get as depressed as I did in Wadsworth, in fact, I'm more impressed when people keep their appointments and want to learn about the gospel. It's disappointing when we miss people at the appointments but, it happens and you move on. I have learned to be a lot more positive and when I am positive things are a lot easier and it's a lot easier to handle.
Sorry it's so short this week, not much has happened.
Love,
--
Elder Michael Stone.
PS. the guy sitting next to me is watching Power Rangers! Haha, he is like in his twenty's too!
Oh yeah, and Did you hear about that earth quake in Japan! 8.9! oh goodness. that is pretty dang intense. I just wonder when something is going to happen here in the US!
Hey dad,
I have been doing this Canadian Air force workout every morning, it's pretty good when you can't really go outside and when you don't have a lot of time.
Sounds like you are still very busy with doing everything that needs to be done in the home and things. Should be looking real good before too long
The Weather here has been warming up as well, we will probably ride bikes every now and then when it really warms up, it also depends on where we will be working that day. Our area is really large and so I am not sure on how much we really will ride our bikes, but I'm sure we will a little.
The work is slow, our lessons dropped by more than half this week, I'm not really sure what happened, but we have done our best to stay obedient and diligent. so we will see what will happen.
My sleep has improved quite a bit with the sleeping pills, One night I thought I would try not taking the pills and go back to Melotonin, but, it didn't really work and I woke up five or more times throughout the night, so I dunno.
Time Flies.
Love ya!
--
Elder Michael Stone.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Mother!
I think I might Blatantly ignore your questions. but I think I had it coming for me. just to answer a few... Yukish is cool, we do fairly well, he is from az and wa. The area is really huge, and Akron has a very high population. that is why there are two sets of missionaries, there isn't much work with investigators though, so the walking area could close down, but 99% chance that it wont ha.
The members aren't that great here unfortunately.. we are lucky if we get fed twice a week. missionaries here don't really have the wards trust due to the fact that for the past year or more there have been some pretty apostate missionaries here and the ward complains that we call them too much to come teach with us, but they don't understand how vital it is, especially because most of the members here are converts. but whatever, we are working on gaining it back. The reason why we are teaching more than I have is because we are teaching a lot of Less-actives, just because there are so many of them.
Also, I have been using the melatonin. I still woke up around 3-4 times a night. so yeah, I got a months worth of some sleeping pills, they aren't super strong though so I think I will do alright.
The weather here has been okay, it rained for two days straight and then it snowed again so we have a thin layer of it, but it is still cold. I have been told that it wont warm up until the end of the month... a little. but it's alright, I'm pretty use to it now. That doesn't surprise me too much about Kaleb and Sheri, but that's cool that they will still talk to you. I guess growing up in Utah can make anyone pretty sheltered.
So Gary and Shannon, hmm well yeah once we took the cigarettes we used them.... right, nope definitely not. We just threw them away, I mean they willingly gave them to us with all of the lighters they could find and they haven't smoked since. They have a few things to take care of before they can get married but they are pretty serious about it. Shannon is strides ahead of Gary, mainly because he tells you what you want to hear, and we know it. this last week when we went to teach them we had the spirit bear testimony to us that Shannon is ready and that Gary still has a way to go. but it's alright. They really feel at home at church and if we can help them gain quality friends they will progress a lot faster. Gary has been investigating for four years and Shannon for one or so. They never even tried to stop smoking until we took them away from them. something is different that is making them want to get baptized, they have told us that they don't know why things are different but they are. they are actually keeping commitments and they truly want to do what is right so they can bet baptized and become a member of the church.
that is amazing that Kris is doing great! it has been what two years or more since she was diagnosed? oh goodness, it has been a long time.
You know, you make a good point where Christ tells those men to drop there nets and to follow him. Christ does take care of us. sometimes it is really hard to understand why he has to work in mysterious ways, but you know, it's okay. We know that it is for our benefit. within the last two Months I have not seen any progression with anyone I have taught and I haven't taught over eleven lessons until this last week. Elder Yukish has been getting discouraged already and I just tell him, "listen, I have not taught more than eleven lessons for the last two months, It has been only one week and we have taught almost 20 lessons. and we haven't had 7 lessons to investigators fall through when we had a member and everything lined up. this is nothing." but you know, it can be hard. but you just have to get use to the rejection but not let it lower your standards and your expectations. Not everyone is going to want to listen to us. I would know. but hey we know that the church isn't prosperous because of missionary work but in spite of it we grow. I know that I'm going to be tried and I have been but it's what is expected and at times it is hard to stay motivated. you just gotta do what you gotta do.
We were taught an important principle by President Sorensen this last week and that was; the blessing of obedience is obedience. when you are obedient you can recount your day in front of the Lord and tell him that you were obedient, that you followed all of the commandments and rules with exactness. when you do that you are opening yourself up to knew treasures and knowledge, you can better use those blessings and talents the Lord has given you.
I'm doing well, I'm growing immensely. It may not seem like it, but I sure Feel like I am.
Love ya!
--
Elder Michael Stone.
I think I might Blatantly ignore your questions. but I think I had it coming for me. just to answer a few... Yukish is cool, we do fairly well, he is from az and wa. The area is really huge, and Akron has a very high population. that is why there are two sets of missionaries, there isn't much work with investigators though, so the walking area could close down, but 99% chance that it wont ha.
The members aren't that great here unfortunately.. we are lucky if we get fed twice a week. missionaries here don't really have the wards trust due to the fact that for the past year or more there have been some pretty apostate missionaries here and the ward complains that we call them too much to come teach with us, but they don't understand how vital it is, especially because most of the members here are converts. but whatever, we are working on gaining it back. The reason why we are teaching more than I have is because we are teaching a lot of Less-actives, just because there are so many of them.
Also, I have been using the melatonin. I still woke up around 3-4 times a night. so yeah, I got a months worth of some sleeping pills, they aren't super strong though so I think I will do alright.
The weather here has been okay, it rained for two days straight and then it snowed again so we have a thin layer of it, but it is still cold. I have been told that it wont warm up until the end of the month... a little. but it's alright, I'm pretty use to it now. That doesn't surprise me too much about Kaleb and Sheri, but that's cool that they will still talk to you. I guess growing up in Utah can make anyone pretty sheltered.
So Gary and Shannon, hmm well yeah once we took the cigarettes we used them.... right, nope definitely not. We just threw them away, I mean they willingly gave them to us with all of the lighters they could find and they haven't smoked since. They have a few things to take care of before they can get married but they are pretty serious about it. Shannon is strides ahead of Gary, mainly because he tells you what you want to hear, and we know it. this last week when we went to teach them we had the spirit bear testimony to us that Shannon is ready and that Gary still has a way to go. but it's alright. They really feel at home at church and if we can help them gain quality friends they will progress a lot faster. Gary has been investigating for four years and Shannon for one or so. They never even tried to stop smoking until we took them away from them. something is different that is making them want to get baptized, they have told us that they don't know why things are different but they are. they are actually keeping commitments and they truly want to do what is right so they can bet baptized and become a member of the church.
that is amazing that Kris is doing great! it has been what two years or more since she was diagnosed? oh goodness, it has been a long time.
You know, you make a good point where Christ tells those men to drop there nets and to follow him. Christ does take care of us. sometimes it is really hard to understand why he has to work in mysterious ways, but you know, it's okay. We know that it is for our benefit. within the last two Months I have not seen any progression with anyone I have taught and I haven't taught over eleven lessons until this last week. Elder Yukish has been getting discouraged already and I just tell him, "listen, I have not taught more than eleven lessons for the last two months, It has been only one week and we have taught almost 20 lessons. and we haven't had 7 lessons to investigators fall through when we had a member and everything lined up. this is nothing." but you know, it can be hard. but you just have to get use to the rejection but not let it lower your standards and your expectations. Not everyone is going to want to listen to us. I would know. but hey we know that the church isn't prosperous because of missionary work but in spite of it we grow. I know that I'm going to be tried and I have been but it's what is expected and at times it is hard to stay motivated. you just gotta do what you gotta do.
We were taught an important principle by President Sorensen this last week and that was; the blessing of obedience is obedience. when you are obedient you can recount your day in front of the Lord and tell him that you were obedient, that you followed all of the commandments and rules with exactness. when you do that you are opening yourself up to knew treasures and knowledge, you can better use those blessings and talents the Lord has given you.
I'm doing well, I'm growing immensely. It may not seem like it, but I sure Feel like I am.
Love ya!
--
Elder Michael Stone.
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