Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Week #7 and #8

Below are bits and pieces from Jared's emails over the last 2 weeks. 
     
     I was coming home on my bike and I was going do this big hill really fast and this rat runs out in the street in front of me. He tried to run back and I just hit it right on and it bounced up and hit me in the leg. It was so funny because it could have lived but choose to die.
     We only have about 3-4 people come to English class and they don't really want to learn about the gospel. Me and my companion had a good week. We worked super hard and biked a ton. We didn't have that good of numbers but we went out to find people and that's what counts, we try. We are teaching some people tonight who heard from a member about how families can be together forever. We are going to teach the plan of salvation. We have another family who lives really close to us and didn't want to learn at first but now they do. We were going to meet with them yesterday but they had to leave.                     
     The highlight of my week was that this young man we teach every Sunday afternoon actually came to church yesterday. I was super excited. I felt so good inside. I have never thanked Heavenly Father so much in my life. I just felt like I did something, you know what I mean. I saw the results and it felt so pleasing. I'm just going to keep improving and try my best.     
      We had our weekly district meeting and we go up and talk about people we need help with and elder wood was talking about this guy he wouldnt stop talking about the name mormon what does that mean and all this stuff. and I rasied my hand. i was like look at your name tag. what does it say, The Church of Jesus Christ, and i told him about the chapter in 3 Nephi when the apostles are asking for the name of the church and I told him about it. and how Christ says this is my church. not a church of man. I've never spoken with the spirit so much in my life. I finally realized I just need to talk. I need to just express myself. and thats all I need. Teaching is slow like always but we are improving. We are finding at least some new investigators a week. We are trying our best. When I speak I try and invite the spirit to let me know what I need to say. I ask a lot of questions.   
     We eat on the side of the road every night. I don't eat crazy things President told me not too. So I don't. I love you bye. I promise I will send pictures next week.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Week #6



Everything is so small here
Fixing my flat tire


     This week was good and bad, but first I wanted to thank everyone who sent me Christmas cards. It was great. Thanks a lot. Especially Sister Griggs. My week was only bad because Elder H was sick. It is no fun just sitting at home all day. I did get a lot of reading done. That was the only plus. Wednesday and Saturday were probably my best two days. On Wednesday I went on splits with my district leader. He is a great Elder. His name is Elder G. We went to my area and I planned the day. I planned a ton of back up plans and I thinks thats why it was so successful. 
     First we went and saw some people in his area because his companion was at home with my companion who was sick. We went and saw a returned missionary named Brother B.  Elder G wanted me to ask him for a referral  and you know me I was just blunt as possible and I asked him. He said he didn't know anyone yet but we are going to go to his English class one day and help him. Then we went and gave Brother S an Ensign. I love that man. 
     Then we went and saw an old investigator and it was a great experience they are an older couple. They have already  had the first two lessons taught to them. The wife is reading the Book of Mormon. She has read from like 3 Nephi to near the end of Ether  think. She said she really enjoys reading it. She had also read the first two pamphlets. I was blow away. It was awesome. Then we taught the about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Baptism and receiving the gift of the holy ghost. That was my first time teaching that lesson but I know most of the vocabulary so I did very well. 
     We then asked them if they wanted to come church, and they said they wanted to, but they cant walk or come by motorcycle. She has a really bad knee like it's side ways. She fell in a well ( I don't know if that's right) you know the water thing lol. Wow my English is awful. I need to figure out how to build her faith and help them find a way to come to church. I know the Lord can help them. I just need faith. She also said, which was so cool, that if i get baptized will the Lord be mad at me and we said of course not. It was great.
  That same day I  taught a new investigator. His name is P great guy. He has three kids and has strong faith. We taught him about the restoration. He took the message well and said he would read. I have some really good feelings about these people and I know the Lord put them in my path to help me learn and them also. I know this church is true. 
     After we left fromP's, Elder G said something I already knew, he said wow we truly don't do anything we are just kids who know so little but some how we help people come unto Christ. Then he said the Holy Ghost does all the work. I know that is true. All I need to do is invite the Holy Ghost to testify. That's my only job at the end of the day. 
     Elder G interviewed me about what I need to improve on. It was pretty much him asking me what I thought my strength and weakness are. Then he commented on them. I set goals to improve and I'll reach them I know I will. 
     Saturday was awesome because President came down to Solo and we had a big conference. It was all about faith and the goals for the year. President is such a spiritual man and I know he is called of God. I was really impressed. My faith was really strengthen. During some part of the day the scripture in Alma 37, I think, about small and simple things bring to pass great things. I've been thinking about that a lot. How I just need to love and have faith. I don't know how when, who ,or where things are going to come from. I just need to trust. It just made me realize how much I'm blessing others already and myself. I love being a missionary. I miss you all and I think about home sometimes but I'm where I need to be. I love you all. Be safe and trust in the Lord.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Week # 5

     This week was pretty well. I had a wonderful birthday and we had a  zone meeting. It was really weird being away from family and friends for my birthday, but it was also a blessing. I'm so happy and blessed to be a missionary. The Savior has blessed me so much and I love helping people come closer to him. I hope I'm a good example but I don't think I am. I try to always improve and see what  I could do better. 
   I hope everyones Christmas was well and they are very happy and were able to remember the Savior. I don't think I've ever thought about the Savior so much in my life. I hope I'm making him happy through my service. I think I care about that most. 
     I gave my testimony yesterday. It's really hard to express yourself in this language. Things are really simple in Indonesian sometimes that's really good sometimes that's not. We taught 8 inactive lessons this week and received some more referrals.  I hope these work better then the last ones. Me and my companion couldn't find an address (addresses are pretty crazy here) so we went and asked these people and my companion kinda checked the store out because it had some jerseys. They were talking about me and my companion said. " my Indonesian wasn't very good". I said, "he was a liar and started talking to them". I invited them to English class. They all said they would come but I don't know if they will. Then they wanted pictures with me. It was kinda hilarious  I don't understand why white people are so cool here but they are. I feel like a celebrity.
      Yesterday we taught a young man. He is kind of inactive. I felt good because I knew how he felt. I could just tell he was a good kid but he just didn't like church. I asked him if he wanted eternal life and he said he did. He wants to live with his family forever. I promised him if he came to church and would pray and read and study his scriptures that he could. He is a good kid and I hope he comes to church.
      I just love how simple the message is to the world. if you ask the Lord in prayer with a sincere heart and want to know the truth you can know it to be true. I'm so thankful to know about personal revelation. It has blessed my life so much. I want people to know about the same things I know to be true. Keep working hard all of you and never loose faith. I love all of you. Never forget your Savior and maju terus. 

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Week # 4

   
  My Companion and I are getting pretty close. We taught sister X. It went pretty well. They know English but they went back to Jakarta. so we gave them to the Elders there. I said the first vision, I didn't say it perfect but I did it. My companion says he can tell I know what to teach but the language is my only problem but i feel like i need to learn a lot more. I'm really proud of myself. I'm staying pretty positive or I'm trying too. I'm sorry it is raining so much but i know how you feel. Good luck with work and take care of dad.  Me and my Bishop are getting really close. He is super funny. ohh and my comp could serve in his ward it happens a lot. but oh well. 
         I really talk and laugh with my bishop all the time. i really enjoy time with him. He reminds me of dad. A good loving man. umm lets see how much tithing did i give?? I love the blessings from tithing. 
     We are going to Pizza Hut for my birthday. I might spend a lot of money so just get ready for it. umm idk what to say I love you and miss you. I'm so happy mom. I miss everyone but I just feel good. I know I still need to change a lot and forget about some things but I promise I'm working hard and I want to try and get a baptism in each of my areas. I'm going to do my best. I hope I get somehting from the Wards I miss them too. haha. They make me laugh so hard. They are just crazy. ohh if you can believe it, I read a Marvelous Work and a Wonder cover to cover in about three weeks and I enjoyed reading it. I think I'm going to become a reader. lol i cant believe I said that. I love to learn. I always have. I read so much now its awesome. lol jagan nakal. (dont be naughty) or like be good. love you tell everyone hi for me. and tell the family i love them and the lord loves them even more. We contact by just talking to people. We can't just go door to door. English helps a lot too.