tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25767951565664013852024-03-13T05:36:08.069-07:00Elder Rulon UdallArkansas Little Rock MissionAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-12144541085159719102015-02-27T08:30:00.001-08:002015-02-27T08:30:25.393-08:00February 23, 2015
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Hey Fam!</div>
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Its been pretty crazy weather over here in Memphis too! It
has been sleeting really bad and they don't really have snow plows or anything
so the roads get terrible! It makes for a good time! It has been such an
awesome week though. I think every time I have written an email I say that,
even when the week wasn't tough. But when I sit down and think about what has
happened all I can throughout the week I always end up realizing all these
tender mercies that happened.</div>
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We had a baptism for Jessica Maiava! She is
awesome. One of the most prepared people I have taught. Her husband is already
a member and they got married last week and she got baptized this week. I can't
wait until they can got to the temple in a year.</div>
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I would say the number one ranked tender mercy happened on
friday though. I might have told you a couple of letters ago about a woman
named Ms. Lacy but I can't remember. Anyways we found her 24 year old son Boo
at a recent converts house and we have been going over to teach him now, or so
we thought. The first time we went over there his mom, Ms. Lacy, came to the
door and said "O we are fine over here, we are church people. I am a
prophetess and am highly favored of the Lord so we are good where we are
at." (you would be surprised how many people we meet who claim to be
prophets and prophetesses.) Anwyays she just didn't want to listen to us at all
but she let us speak to her son and acted like she was going to the back but I
know she just stood right outside the room and listened. Boo has some major
word of wisdom issues and we were teaching him about the atonement. At the end
of the lesson we said a prayer and she followed us outside and talked to us and
started crying about her kids doing all this bad stuff and she didn't know what
to do. But right when we started teaching her she shut off her ears and
wouldn't listen. Anyways We went over to see Boo like every other day acting
like we were just teaching him but we prepared out lesson like we were teaching
her. She has listened from around the corner every time. Last week we went over
there and she just broke down crying about everything she is going through and
we offered to give her a blessing. She was pretty reluctant but she let us and
her she was a different person afterwards. On thursday night when I was praying
I got the most clear prompting ever to go see her tomorrow so I jumped up and
wrote it in my planner.</div>
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On friday we went over and Boo wasn't there and so I
said "since he isn't here would you mind reading the chapter we were going
to read with him so you can catch him up to speed. It was a risky card we
played there but I she folded and sat down and read with us. We read 1 nephi
chapter 2 which might seem really random but its all about Lehi teaching his
kids and wanting Laman and Lemeul to be obedient. She loved it and at the end
we asked her how she felt and she said that everytime we have gone over there
it has been "right on time" and everytime we share something she
feels like it is exactly what she needs to hear. She committed to reading the
Book of Mormon and she is coming to church next sunday! I know this is a long
story and I didn't describe all the details but it was awesome. And its the
most humbling experience ever to be an instrument in the Lords hands. It truly
is His work and its crazy and a blessing that he allows imperfect people to be
apart of it. I love it! Nothing is more fulfilling and nothing can make someone
happier than helping someone else int he conversion process. I know this is a
long letter but I have been so blessed lately. There is nothing better than
being a missionary! Family thanks for all that you do for me! I love ya mom
good luck with everything! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-72257031276507847002015-02-27T08:27:00.004-08:002015-02-27T08:27:54.719-08:00February 16, 2015
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Hey Fam!!</div>
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It is pretty crazy over here right now! On Friday it was 70
degrees and on Saturday it was 23! It snowed last night so everything is pretty
iced over today which is terrible for missionary work. When its weather like
this the people lock the doors and hibernate! But anyways we had an awesome
week this week.</div>
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I went on exchanges to Southaven Mississippi and it was pretty
good. It seemed like everyone we taught just wanted to bash though. Serving
around so much religious excitement can be a good thing but it can also make
for a lot of opposition. We did find 3 new people to teach though with my
favorite finding technique, ghetto ball. This time they challenged us so we
went over and played some 2 on 2 in our pros clothes they were pretty good but
we ended up beating them. Then we taught them a 5 minute version of the
restoration and set up a return appointment! It was good stuff!</div>
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On friday we
had a part-member family we've been teaching get married! The non members name
is Jessica and she is getting baptized this saturday! We are excited about it.
Also we had stake conference this week and it was awesome. Elder Anderson from
the 70 came and spoke. In his talk he mentioned how he was from mesa and had a
ranch in the white mountains so afterwards I went and talked to him for a while
and he said he knew all the Udall from Eagar so that was cool. Things are going
great here! I'm loving Memphis! Thanks for the package mom! It was awesome! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-63328146409014814362015-02-27T08:26:00.000-08:002015-02-27T08:26:12.448-08:00February 9, 2015
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Hey Fam!</div>
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We had another great week this week in the Memphis Jungle!
Its crazy how fast weeks go by out here. I feel like I was just emailing
yesterday!</div>
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But anyways last wednesday we had a zone meeting where we talked
about our purpose and having effective studies. It was a good meeting and the
spirit was strong! We had a high council men come and share the vision of the
stake for missionary work and he also told his conversion story! It was great
stuff. Afterwards we went on exchanges and I brought Elder Bennet over to
memphis with me! I know I say this all the time but miracles always happen on
exchanges! We just had a great day full of tender mercies. We were really
excited for sunday because we had 10 people with baptismal dates that were all
set and ready to come to church. But as the clock struck 9 sunday morning no
one was there. We left the meeting and started making some calls and all that
but no one was answering. Sunday is the most important day of the week and for
members of the church it can be relaxing and recharging but for a missionary
sunday is almost never a day of rest, its a day of stress. I have really gained
some empathy for parents of teenage kids everytime my companion and I pray
saturday night that our investigators will not stay out to late and will get
rest so they can wake up for church sunday morning. The tables really turn on
ya once you become a missionary! Anyways we did finally have 2 people show up
which was a huge blessing and both of them are progressing well. One of our
investigators named Jessica is getting married this friday and baptized next
saturday so we are excited! The work is going great but its going to fast!
Thanks family for all that you do for me!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-2974627593066014252015-02-27T08:23:00.001-08:002015-02-27T08:23:24.901-08:00February 2nd, 2015
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Hey Fam!</div>
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My week has been pretty awesome. Life is pretty dang good
right now! I got a great area and a great companion! This was one of the
hardest working weeks of my mission. We didn't stop for lunch or dinner almost
at all. It was just crazy.</div>
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We had a lot of miracles happen and we have been
blessed to increase our teaching pool by a lot. My highlight of the week though
was when we went to contact a referral and it was a family: a mom, a dad and 3
kids. The mom was not there yet so we taught the dad and the kids the
restoration. Towards the end of the lesson when we were teaching about the Book
of Mormon, the mom walked in. So we kind of had to recap everything but it was
alright because they were ready to here a message like this. They were telling
us their past experience with churches, the dad imparticular had an uncle that
was a preacher and he just noticed a lot of things in the church that didn't
match up with what the bible taught. They had already witnessed the evidence of
the apostasy so the message of the restoration was exactly what they needed.
Anyways, i'm just really excited about this family so please keep the Burnett
family in your prayers.</div>
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Our zone, unlike the other zones I have served in, is
pretty compact. We all serve pretty close together so it makes it easy to go
out and gets your hands dirty with some of the other missionaries in their
areas. We went on 2 blitzs this week in southaven and in orangemound. I just
love the way it feels to be able to go minister. It sounds crazy but when you
are out just serving and trying to help other people all the time the Lord just
really opens your heart. I meet some people out here on the skreets of Memphis
that I never met before and when i start talking to them i just feel such a
strong desire and almost anxiety for them to accept the message of the Gospel.
I never thought I could love people I never met before but Missionary work is
exciting and fulfilling when you try to see people as they can become. I know I
have been talking about that a lot but its been a big deal for me lately. We
don't realize how much people can change when they accept and live the Gospel.
But if we tried to see and treat them that way it would be a lot easier for
them to change. Anyways, I am just grateful for this area. We got some sweet
people we are working with. Also pray for Tomika! My companion Elder Brown is a
stud too! Mom and dad I love ya! And I really want to thank you and dad
for being those examples! Thanks family!!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-60155836629204554192015-02-27T08:19:00.002-08:002015-02-27T08:19:30.813-08:00January 26, 2015
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Hey fam whats up!</div>
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Its been another one of those really great weeks out here in
the mish. I am loving Memphis! The ward, the people, the barbecue, its all top
of the line! There has been more tender mercies then we deserve in this area.
We have found a few really cool families this week who where the mom and dad
are married, they have jobs, and they have a car. Now that might not sound like
a miracle to all of you but in this area, families like that are needles in the
huge memphis haystack. It has just been crazy to see the hand of the Lord
lately in this work. </div>
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We had specialized training meeting last week where we got
to hear from President and the assistants and it was really good. After that
Elder Brown and I instructed on our purpose as missionaries. Now in all my
instructions I always include a cheesy demonstration to illustrate the point.
In this one I had 2 elders play some 1-on-1 basketball.One of the elders when
he had the ball would just dribble at the top of the key and do all these
streetball moves but ended up taking a horrible shot. The other elder made on
move and got straight to the basket and scored. After observing the short game
we had everyone evaluate. It was clear to see who was more effective, who was
more focused on the end goal, and who actually in the end put the ball in the
hoop. We related that to missionary work but I think it related pretty well to
anyones life. Just like the elder just dribbling at the top of the key, there
is a lot of things we can do that may look cool or look like we are doing something
with our lives but are they really getting us anywhere? Do we the main goal or
the purpose in mind? And are we always doing the things necessary to get there
like the other Elder who just made one move and got to the hoop? Hugh Nibley
said in one of his talks that we must all decide or who or what we want to be
and then sacrifice anything that stands in the way of getting there. Thats one
things I love about my mission is it had given me a greater vision of who I
want to be and even more importantly, who others can become. Life would be a
lot more enjoyable if we saw and treated others ad they can become. I am not
very good at it yet but thats the kick I am on so I thought I would share.</div>
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I went on exchanges down in hernando, Mississippi this last
week and it was awesome. Miracles always happen on exchanges! I dont have time
to share but it will be a story for another time. I am just grateful for what I
get to do right now. I am so happy. I got a great companion in Elder
Brown. I love serving with the guy.</div>
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I am grateful for the 2 mission presidents I have had. Their
examples have changed my life forever. I am grateful for the family I have.
Seriously I have never been more grateful for my family than on my mission. And
I am grateful for a Father in Heaven and His son Jesus Christ who see and treat
us as we can become. Have a good week everyone! Love ya Mom!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-90945170272843834362015-02-27T08:16:00.002-08:002015-02-27T08:16:29.488-08:00January 19, 2015
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Hey whats up Mom?!</div>
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So I just finished my first week in Memphis and it was
pretty dang awesome! I'm serving with Elder Brown as zone leaders in the
Memphis zone. We're serving in the Memphis 2nd east area! This area is
sweet! Its covers a lot of the "hood" in Memphis so of course, me
being a red head, I fit right in. </div>
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We got some pretty awesome people we are
working with right now. We just had a baptism a couple of days ago for a lady
named Monica Wilkins! She is fired up about the Gospel. These last couple of
days we have had people coming up out of the wood works too for us. It feels so
good to be back in the grind of things again! I thought it would be hard to get
used to a new area after being in one for a year but the new scene and the new
challenge is pretty exciting and it feels like all the pieces are coming
together for us right now!</div>
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Elder Brown is awesome. He has been out for just
under a year. He is from grangeville, Idaho. He is tall, a good basketball
player, and a really hard working missionary. He is new to being a zone leader
so I get the opportunity of training him up which i'm pretty stoked for.
Memphis is the place to be! </div>
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(Grandma Wellman just so you know, Graceland is
right outside our area and its a big deal out here.)</div>
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I just love being out here and doing what we do everyday.
The only thing I hate about it is how fast it goes. Its just a good feeling to
fill your day with things that brings you closer to the spirit. As of late, my
favorite scripture has been John 8:29. "And he that sent me is with me,
the Father hath not left me alone, for I do always those things which please
Him." I have definitely learned the secret to peace in this life, and its
doing always the things that please Heavenly Father. I'm not very good at it
yet but I know when I try my best to do that life is a lot more rewarding.
Serving the mission has been the most challenging and rewarding thing I have
ever done. Thanks family for all your support! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-48087059992311731922015-02-27T08:13:00.002-08:002015-02-27T08:13:29.595-08:00January 13, 2015
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HEY FAMILY!</div>
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Guess what......im getting transferred! Can you believe it?
After 11 months of dwelling in the oasis of southwest little rock! Yup i'm
gettin' released as an assistant and being sent out to pasture for my last 4
months in.....Memphis!</div>
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And not just any part of memphis, in the infamous
skreets of orangemound! Which is aparrently the most dangerous and
"hood" part of Memphis! I am so dang excited! I am going to go be a
zone leader there with Elder Brown. It has been hard this last week saying good
bye to all my family here in Little Rock.</div>
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Last sunday brother Warner, one of
the members of the bishopric, called me up to bear my testimony and to start it
off he said "well everyone to start off sacrament meeting today, are
losing one of our ward members Elder udall so we are going to call him
up." ha ha thats how long I have been there. Member status! But ya I am
excited to try out Memphis and I am also pretty dang excited to be back out in
the field full time! Well this letter is short because we have to go get ready
to pick up the new missionaries at the airport but I just wanted to give you
the update!!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-15332109666234770652015-02-27T08:11:00.001-08:002015-02-27T08:11:13.586-08:00January 5, 2015
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BULAVUNAKA FAMILY!</div>
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I'm pretty sure that mean "hi, how are you?" in
Fijian. How is it going in AZ? I heard ya'll got some snow! How was your new
years? Ours was awesome! On new years eve we had a mission leadership council meeting
and it was great. Elder Daley and I instructed on "how to begin
teaching" in PMG. I talked about the importance of first impressions and
to illlustrate my point I used the example from Dwight in the office where he
said that when he first met Pam she said something that slightly offended him,
now ever since then she has been great to work with and very kind, but he hates
her. Its amazing the gospel principles you can find in that show!</div>
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Anyways when the new year came and the clock struck midnight
we definitely knew about. Guns were going off like crazy in our apartment
complex. Our neighbors on both sides and everyone around was just shooting up
in the air. Gotta love the ghetto! </div>
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So for the last couple of weeks Elder Daley and I have been
in our area for only 2 days, so our teaching pool was looking more like a
puddle. So since we had this week to be in our area we hit the skreets and
promised the Lord we would talk to everyone we saw. We were so blessed this
week to find people that are really humble and seem ready to progress in the
gospel. I am excited to really start teaching them. We have an investigator
named Ocie who has been coming to church the last 4 weeks and has a date
for the 24th of this months. Also Mark Green our recent convert went out
teaching with us this last week. And one of the most rewarding experiences of a
mission is watching your recent converts teach the Gospel. We taught a girl and
he was pretty much throwing down with her the whole time about how she needs to
get baptized by proper authority and how much the book of Mormon will bless
her. It was awesome! At the end of the lesson to he taught her how to pray and
invited her to pray! Its just crazy because a couple of months ago he was being
taught those things. It was a great thing to witness! </div>
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Family I am grateful for all that yall do for me! Things are
going great out here!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-28264754255464444012015-02-27T08:05:00.002-08:002015-02-27T08:05:24.999-08:00December 22, 2014
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Hey Family!</div>
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How is going "holiday hoobie whatee"
going? </div>
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My yuletide has been both merry and bright this last week.
The week has gone by really fast! It has been filled with meetings, exchanges,
emergency transfers, and all sorts of holiday cheer! So ya mom you heard right
about the sisters time out meeting. Sister Wakolo organized that meeting for
all the sisters to come and pretty much have a spa day. The first hour or so
though was for gospel instruction and he asked Elder Daley and I to come speak
about virtue to them. It was really awkward being the only elders there so
luckily we got to leave early at both of those meetings.</div>
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We also had our
christmas zone conferences on both sides of the mish! Elder Daley and I
instructed on talking to everyone and teaching restored truths on the first
contact. In part of it I taught my salsa acronym and I also managed to work in
my favorite John wayne quote "courage is being scared to death and
saddling up anyways," speaking about how we shouldn't let fear keep us
from talking to the people that are put in our paths. The second half of the
zone conference was a talent showand it was pretty crazy! Lets just say at one
point in the show I was on the mission presidents shoulder impersonating a
partridge in a pear tree. ...but enough said about that,</div>
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Christmas is going to
be awesome! We got breakfast lunch and dinner lined up with members so we are
getting taken care of! Thanks family for the package you sent me!!! It was just
what I needed! Also thanks to the Stinson family and all the cards that were
sent! I am excited to skype with yall on thursday! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-12743329704600734622014-12-17T13:00:00.000-08:002014-12-17T13:00:22.218-08:00Lots of freinds going home<div align="left">
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Hey family!!</div>
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I'm writing a little bit early today because I have to go to
memphis in an hour to pick up the departing missionaries from over there and
bring them back to the mission home in Little rock. We have a huge group
leaving this week! Its weird because we are sending home 2 of the companions I
have served with- Elder Tate, and Elder Armstrong! There is also a
lot of my other good mission buddies in this group so its going to be crazy! We
had a pretty awesome week this last week!</div>
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It started off on Tuesday when that
morning we had a feeling we should go check up on things at the mission office,
which was weird because nothing puts a burr under my saddle like going to
office but for some reason we felt like we should so we went up there. When we
got there everything was running fine and there was nothing for us to do so we
decided we were going to leave when a lady walked in the building to get a
tithing slip and she asked if we could give her a blessing. That blessing was
an amazing experience and one that I needed.</div>
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The next day we drove to memphis and went to a zone meeting
there and we went on exchanges. I stayed in memphis with Elder Hanover from
Logan Utah. He is a good missionary. We had a goal of setting a baptismal date
on that exchange and nothing was happening for us that whole day. Everything
fell through and it was kinda frustrating. The next morning though we had a
couple of hours of proselyting time before we exchanged back so petitioned a
miracle from heaven and went out to contact a refferal. The guy we were
supposed to contact was not there but his roommate let us in and we taught the
restoration to him! The spirit was really strong in that lesson and he excepted
a baptismal date for January 3rd! That might not sounds crazy to you but miracles
like that are what </div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
make every stress and struggle of a mission worth it! </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This week we got the Christmas zone conferences which should
be pretty awesome! Things are going so great here. Mom I will forever be in
debt for your great example to me! I am so grateful for all that you did for me
before my mission to help me prepare to serve! I love ya! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-12560478228509441482014-12-11T11:25:00.000-08:002014-12-11T11:25:30.758-08:00The Power of Prayer<div align="left">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I cant believe Kylie is 20!! That is crazy! That poem was so
awesome. I printed it out and read it to the office couples. </div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I already told you most of what happened this last week
through my last email. Not much has changed since then but we have
been seeing some miracles here in the ghetto paradise of southwest
little rock!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
First off, Mark is preparing to get the Aaronic priesthood
next week! He is fired up about the gospel and its really cool to see.
Also yesterday Elder Daley and I fasted to find someone that was ready to
accept the message of the restoration. Yesterday evening we were in an
apartment complex talking to a couple people when a woman walked up and
interrupted us and said "Hey are yall Jesus people?" and we told her
we were, and then she asked us if God and Jesus were the same person. Now
usually in the south when people ask you that it means they want to bash and so
we had our scriptures at the hip ready for a quick draw just in case this
became a doctrinal shoot out. But as it turned out she was sincerely wanting to
know because 2 different preachers were telling her 2 different things. So we
taught her a little bit about the Godhead and then she asked if we could come
talk to her and her sister and so we did and shared the message of the
restoration and were able to set baptismal dates with both of them. It was
awesome to see how they just sincerely wanted to know the truth. One thing
I have always taken for granted or never taken seriously before my mission is
the power of prayer. God hears the prayers of his children. I know that without
a doubt! Anyone can have a sense of security and peace even in the hardest
times of their lives if they are constantly praying and seeking out the Lords
comfort. I'm grateful that I can be hundreds of miles away from my mom and know
she will alright through the power of prayer. I love you mom! Thanks for all
that you do for your children!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-82981885839532050662014-12-04T14:04:00.002-08:002014-12-04T14:04:52.022-08:0092 baptisms!<div align="left">
</div>
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Hey Fam!</div>
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</div>
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Sorry I didn't write on monday, its transfer week so it gets
super busy. This last week was pretty packed with meetings and and long drives
and all that stuff! So I have some great news! Remember when I told you about
the goal we had in November of 100 baptisms and 100 reactivations? Well we
ended the month with 92 baptisms and 234 reactivations! We didn't reach our
goal for baptisms but we got 92! Thats a new mission record! The most we ever
got in a month before that is 73. Its pretty exciting stuff. </div>
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</div>
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Tuesday morning we dropped all 21 departing missionaries off
at the airport. It was weird because it was all the sisters that came out with
me. Everytime we drop off missionaries at the airport it makes me appreciate
the time I have left on my mission even more. The best part about transfer week
is picking up the new missionaries though! We got an awesome group that just
come out! They got the greenie fire in them like no other! The mission is doing
great.</div>
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</div>
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We had a few thanksgiving meals with members this last week
and it was awesome! The Burrups in the Little Rock ward fed us and instead of
dropping the pie this time I decided to eat it. </div>
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</div>
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I have realized, especially this last week how easy it is to
be ungrateful or to take things for granted. I think sometimes all we can see
with our natural eyes is all the things we don't have, or haven't gotten yet,
or have lost. Something that I am terrible at is recognizing Gods hand in my
life and being more grateful for it. When I make the effort to look at my life
through spiritual eyes its a really humbling experience because its makes me
realize how many tender mercies are in my life that I would be in a lot of
trouble without. The longer I have been out on my mission the more I have
realized the importance of a mother. Mom I am so grateful for all that you have
done for me. I know I say that all the time but I know that I will never be
able to repay you for all that you have done for me. And even if I tried too
you would take the money and try to buy me something with it. I am just
grateful for your selflessness and your faith. I love you mom! Have a good
week!</div>
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</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-78095777400600041612014-12-01T14:58:00.004-08:002014-12-01T14:58:55.622-08:00Hey Mom and Dad!<br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
So It has been a week for the ages here in the
ALRM. Things are going really well! This last week has been really busy
because we had the specialized training meetings in each of the zones.
Elder Daley and I taught about the importance of the Book of Mormon and
how we can more effectively get our investigators to read it on our own.
As far as I can recollect, I have never been dropped by an investigator
that was reading the Book of Mormon sincerely. Like PMG says its the
springboard to testimony and personal revelation. We have an
investigator family right now who has been reading everyday and you can
easily see the difference it makes in their family relationships! That
family came to church last Sunday and they are on date for the <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_235801713" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">6th of December</span></span>.</div>
<div>
The
reason I wrote so late today is because we took all the departing
missionaries to the temple a week early since it was going to be closed
on transfers. All the sisters that came out with me are going home which
is pretty insane. Things are going great here! I love putting on the
tag everyday and dread the day when I don't get to anymore. </div>
<div>
I
hate to hear that Mom has to go through all of that. I don't think
there is a lot of people that could with that kind of attitude. I am so
grateful for her example. I am grateful to be able to say like the sons
of Helaman that I do not doubt my mother knows it. I am grateful for the
testimony she shares by her example. I hope y'all know you are in my
prayers and I am really grateful for the package you sent! Kate thanks
for writing me a letter. I will write you back soon. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Elder Udall</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-53267708799283800652014-11-17T16:40:00.003-08:002014-11-17T16:40:55.858-08:00lots of success!<div align="left">
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Whats up Dad,</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sounds like Ryan hasn't changed much. He still has too much
pain tolerance and not enough sense! That's pretty sweet what he did in the
game though. That's funny that Kate gets into volleyball like that! She is a
miniature Kylie. </div>
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Things are going so good over here. Miracles have been
happening all over this mission! Its great to see. Yesterday Elder Daley and I
baptized Mark Green. He is awesome! We had been working with him for
a while and he has come a long way. He had his family at the baptism so now we
are working on them. We have been pretty blessed to find some honest and
sincere people these last couple of weeks. We taught a couple just last night
who were completely ready to accept the message of the restoration. One of
the most important things to do as a missionary is answer peoples
"question of the soul" through the Book of Mormon to help them
gain a testimony of it and in that lesson we had that opportunity a few
times! </div>
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This week is going to be crazy busy because we have
specialized trainings in each zone, which means a lot of driving and public
speaking and neither are really my cup of tea. But I'm pretty excited for this
one because we are going to be focusing on The Book of Mormon and how we can
use it more effectively. It should be a whale of a time!</div>
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<br /></div>
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I am really grateful for all that yall do for me. I am
especially grateful to be born of goodly parents! On a mission you get the
chance to do a lot of observing so you can see what makes a successful family.
The formula is proven time after time! When families are focusing their lives
on the Gospel they are happy even when the rains come down and the floods come
up. In fact its through the rains and the floods that spiritual strength is
obtained. One of my favorite quotes is from President Monson "Our purpose
is to become more spiritually refined as we make our way through sunshine and
shadow." The family is the unit that makes that all possible and
enjoyable. Thanks for all your support! </div>
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<br /></div>
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Mom</div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I bet you can pull of
having no hair way better than dad can! ha ha Mom I seriously love you and am
so grateful for you though. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-86447220141933252572014-11-10T18:09:00.001-08:002014-11-10T18:09:07.314-08:00He will go before our face and be on our right hand and our left<div align="left">
</div>
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Man that is crazy! I bet it killed Ryan to not be able to
play in his game. Do you know how long it will take to heal?</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This last week has been pretty crazy. Elder Daley and I have
met with President Wakolo to go over the transfer board 3 times over the past
week. We usually don't start on this stuff so early but this next transfer is
going to be a nasa trip from outer space. We have over 20 missionaries going
home on December 2nd and only 10 coming out and then we have about 17 more
going home on December 16th, they are going home early for school and all that.
So basically we have to close 12 areas next transfer. Its going to be a roller
coaster so we are getting all strapped in now. </div>
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<br /></div>
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One thing that I have really tried to become better at
lately is recognizing and following the promptings of the spirit. That has been
one of the main focus's of my studies and prayers. The inspiration came from
reading up on President Monson and all the stories about how he has received
and acted on spiritual promptings that ended up being answers to peoples
prayer. Anyways the other night Elder Daley and I were going to an appointment
with an investigator and they were not home. It was pretty dark outside and the
neighborhood we were in was not exactly the nicest part of town but we heard
down the street someone sweeping their porch. The most subtle thought came to
my mind that we should go talk to that person and so we did. It was actually 2
people, a married couple. The wife was sweeping the porch and so we went
up and started talking to them and immediately began teaching. We told them we
had a message and asked if we could come in and share it with them and they let
us. They let us in and there is a whole batch of kids in the house! The mom
told us she just had a baby a week ago! So we taught them the restoration and
really focused on families throughout it all and it was awesome. They were an
answer to our prayers because we have been praying to be led to a family that's
ready for the message. There is no way I can ever deny how much Heavenly father
is involved in our lives. He will go before our face and will be on our
right hand and</div>
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on our left. Its our job though to remain worthy and ask, seek,
and knock. </div>
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</div>
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Last night we were at Presidents and we told him about the
saltine cracker challenge. He said he could do it easy and so we put his Fijian
confidence to the test. Elder Daley and I and the whole Wakolo family
tried it, even Sister Wakolo. It was the most hilarious thing. I will
send you the video! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-28417363768346077492014-11-04T13:02:00.002-08:002014-11-04T13:02:50.216-08:00 The temporary stumbling blocks of life are easily turned into stepping stones in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.<div dir="ltr">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lz3wMrE9LuM/VFk-6TbLOdI/AAAAAAAABOc/Dq6G1F3hX9s/s1600/Rulon%2Bmission.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lz3wMrE9LuM/VFk-6TbLOdI/AAAAAAAABOc/Dq6G1F3hX9s/s1600/Rulon%2Bmission.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div>
Hey Kinfolk!</div>
<div>
I cant believe its already playoff time for Ryan! Man that is exciting! It sounds like Kate is tearing it up in volleyball too!</div>
<div>
This week went just great. We had our mission leadership council
meeting last thursday which is always a whale of a time. Those meetings
are some of the most spiritual on the mission. Our mission has a goal of
100 baptisms and reactivations in this month
of November and everyone is really excited about it. This last weekend
we got 21 baptisms so we are right on track!
</div>
<div>
Last Tuesday Elder Daley and I went on exchanges with a trainer and
a new missionary. I took the new missionary, Elder Heidinger, with me
to Little Rock. He is from Canada! Anwyays he just came out 2 weeks ago
and hadn't had the opportunity to invite someone
to be baptized yet so that I wanted really bad to give him that chance
on our exchange. I told him that before he switched back he has to
invite someone to be baptized and he seemed pretty nervous about it. I
didn't know who he was going to invite but before
and after every appointment we would pray and ask for someone to be put
in our path that we could invite. That night we went to go see a newly
contacted investigator named Robert with a member. We taught him the
Plan of Salvation and towards the end of the
lesson Elder Heidinger was able to invite him and he accepted! It was
awesome. One thing I will never be able to deny is the Lords love for us
and his desire to bless us. If you work for a miracles like it all
depends on you and then pray for a miracle like
at all depends on the Lord, they will come! </div>
<div>
Elder Daley is doing really good! He is awesome to serve with and has taught me a lot.
</div>
<div>
Everything is going good over here. There has been some
disappointments but the temporary stumbling blocks of life are easily
turned into stepping stones in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. "The trials
that seem for a moment to overcome us with suffering, will
be the very experiences in the end that suffer us to overcome." I know
that to be true!
</div>
<div>
Mom I love you and am grateful for your example of Faith! When it
comes to having faith you are the most athletic person I know! Thanks
for all that you do for your children. </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-50568508359587855822014-10-27T20:20:00.000-07:002014-10-27T20:20:31.195-07:00See People as the can become!!<div align="left">
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Hey Fam!</div>
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<br /></div>
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So I just wrote a couple of days ago and not a lot has
changed but I did have some good experiences I would like to share! So like I
said last letter transfers was this week and it was pretty hectic as always but
everything ended up working out great! We have 202 missionaries in our mission
right now. Which is a lot! Next transfer we are looking to decrease by 20
though.</div>
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</div>
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</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Elder Daley and I got some time to spend in our area the
last couple days of this week which was great! On Friday evening we went to the
Phillips family home. They are some new investigators we found not too long
ago. This was really the first time we have got to sit down and teach them
though so we taught them the restoration! It was pretty insane how strongly the
spirit was there. <em>I really felt like I was given everything I needed
to say. At the end of the lesson they were asking really good questions and
then one of the older daughters named Carnesha asked the best question of them
all, "Do yall do baptisms at your church." Well if that's not music
to the ears I don't know what is! We were pretty quick to invite them all to be
baptized and they all accepted a baptismal date for the 22nd of November! At
the end of the lesson the Mom was just explain how for a long time she was
feeling really frustrated and negative towards her life but that when we came
into the home we brought with us positive vibes and she wanted to have that in
her life. We explained that those positive vibes were the spirit!</em></div>
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<em><br /></em></div>
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<em>I have talked about in the past how when you are
teaching a lesson on a mission sometimes you will just feel an extreme anxiety
and desire for the people you are teaching to know this is true! You just
realize it would change their whole lives and make their lives meaningful.
That's how I felt as I was teaching this family. One of the biggest blessing of
being a missionary is that the Lord really allows you to see people as they can
become. We would treat our family and friends and strangers so differently if
we knew who they were destined to become. Heck we would treat ourselves so
differently if we really knew our identity and our destiny.</em></div>
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<em> </em></div>
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<em>Mom and Dad I just want to let you know how grateful I
am for you treating me in this way. </em></div>
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<em>Things are going good here in little Rock. I have been
here for about 9 months now......still only 2 areas my whole mission! I like it
that way though! </em></div>
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<em>Thanks for all that yall do for me! </em></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-41792998754917028092014-10-26T18:22:00.001-07:002014-10-26T18:22:29.181-07:00Busy Week!<div align="left">
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Hey Mom!</div>
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<br /></div>
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It sounds like ryans team is really tearing it up! I bet he
is excited for playoff time. </div>
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This week was a wild one but it was pretty fun. We had
specialized training meeting tuesday through friday at all the zones around the
mission. Elder Daley and I taught about the principle of sacrifice. At the
beginning of out instruction we called all the district leaders to come up and
I would explain to them their task which was to get the shoes of all the
missionaries in their district and bring them up to me. The catch was they
couldn't tell the missionaries why they were getting the shoes, all they could
do is ask for them. Whoever got all their shoes and brought them back to me
first won a piece of candy for their whole district. After that little game we
would identify the principles of sacrifice from it and there was a lot to
learn! I like teaching at these meetings because I end up learning a lot
more. </div>
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After the meeting we finished the transfer board items on
Saturday. Monday started the transfer week! We drove to memphis for the
departing missionary temple trip. We then picked up the new missionaries
tuesday afternoon. Did you talk to Sister Garcias mom? We picked her up too.
She is serving in Southaven Mississippi right now.</div>
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Anyways, the real doozie of this whole transfer week is that
Elder Daley and I made the trip to Memphis and back (3 hour drive) 3 times in 3
days! Once on monday with the temple trip, then we went back to memphis tuesday
night and stayed at President Floyds house, then at 6 in the morning we took
missionaries getting transferred to Little Rock over there, then we took the
missionaries going to Memphis back over there, and then we went back to Little
Rock. Long day! Transfer week is always fun though because you get to see
mission buddies you haven't seen in a minute. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Things are going really well over
here. Its busy but its fulfilling. I am convinced the only way you can truly be
happy in this life is when you are not trying to make yourself happy. True joy
comes from serving others. On this mission I have never been more tired in my
life and at times I have never felt so inadequate but its easy to find joy when
your focus is on lifting another. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Sorry I didn't have time to write on monday mom but I hope
ya know I love ya! Thank you for all that you do! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-81675708633389009092014-10-13T20:25:00.000-07:002014-10-13T20:25:18.517-07:00Happy Birthday Camz!!!<div class="MsoNormal">
Hey Mom!</div>
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Ya so......we have bed bugs. For some reason I kept on forgetting to mention it. I have been sleeping on our couch for the past month and Elder Daley has been sleeping on a spare mattress on the floor. We are waiting for the bed bugs guys to come and steam our apartment. Its pretty lame. I cant remember the last time I've slept tight and didn't let the bed bugs bite!</div>
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Anyways this last week was a good one. All the zones had their zone meetings where we watched the meet the Mormons movies. Its a pretty good little flick! I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about members of the church.</div>
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Elder Daley and I got a lot of time to spend in Little Rock this week which was awesome! We have a couple of people we are working with right now that should be getting baptized in the near future. One of them is a guy named Mark Green. He is a way cool guy. We taught him and his sons the plan of salvation with the Duncan famiy (members in our ward) <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1080597683" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ"><span style="color: #222222;">on Friday</span></span></span> night and it was awesome. At the end of the lesson Bro. Duncan asked Mark from what has been discussed if he felt inspired to do change anything and Mark said "I just need to hurry up and get baptized so I can be clean and ready for the next life!" ha ha man if only every investigator understood that! He has a baptismal date for the 25th of this month. </div>
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This next week we have five specialzed trainings in a row. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1080597684" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ"><span style="color: #222222;">Monday</span></span></span>-satudrday. And then the week after that is transfers. So it is going to be so busy! </div>
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Mom thanks for the letters and all that you do for me. I am really grateful for it.</div>
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Happy Birthday CAMZ!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-64186937184584336322014-10-09T10:01:00.001-07:002014-10-09T10:01:26.491-07:00Virtue and Repentance<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_uNT17PWaco/VDa8tjpe7II/AAAAAAAABLw/H91Mq4tqcWs/s1600/IMG_0342%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_uNT17PWaco/VDa8tjpe7II/AAAAAAAABLw/H91Mq4tqcWs/s1600/IMG_0342%5B1%5D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder Zwick, Elder Daley, Elder Udall, Sister Zwick</td></tr>
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Hey family whats up!!</div>
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It has been another classic week in the ALRM! This week was pretty power packed with learning experiences. So <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_106492422" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ"><span style="color: #222222;">on Tuesday</span></span></span> was mission council again for the month of October! After talking with Elder Zwick, President told us that he wants the mission to focus on Virtue and repentance for these next couple months. So at mission council Elder Daley and I gave the spiel on virtue. I'm really grateful that I got to instruct on the topic because I learned how vital it is to become virtuous. Like it says in PMG, "Virtue originates in your innermost thoughts and desires." I think that's a good thing to constantly reflect on, what do I think about throughout the day? Where are my desires? PMG also teaches us the virtue is prerequisite to receiving the spirits guidance. That's why we are focusing on this attribute especially.</div>
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Our mission has a goal of 100 baptisms in November. The only way we are going to reach that goal is if we are worthy and constantly seeking out the guidance of the spirit. <u></u><u></u></div>
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Anyways Elder Daley and I went on 2 exchanges this week. The first one was with the ZL's in Searcy. I went to searcy with Elder Chapman who is going home soon. Our goal that day was to set a baptismal date with somebody. So we went hog wild talking to everyone we saw. We found some great people but the real miracle happened at the end of the night. We taught a guy named Curtis the first lesson in the church building. When I first saw Curtis he said "Elder Udall! I know you!" I asked him how and he said he met me a year ago in searcy when I was serving there. He said I gave him a book of Mormon and told him if he ever wanted to learn more to call the number. He said that he was now finally ready to learn more. He still had the BOM copy I gave him. So we taught him the first lesson with Brother Shirley and the spirit was strong. We invited him to be baptized on the 18th and he accepted! It was sweet! O and guess how he found the missionaries again after a year....Chris Cooksey!! Chris referred him to them. ha ha</div>
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We also went on exchanges with the Memphis zone leaders. I brought Elder Henderson to Little Rock with me. We got out of the car for a lesson that night and we heard the tornado sirens. The weather looked fine so I decided to ignore it and the CMAS weather alert text I got that said "Tornado warning, find shelter immediately." Not even 2 minutes later though it started raining really hard and the wind was blowing so hard I thought we were in RV for a second. Then there was a lot of lighting and the power started going our everywhere. So we though it best to start heading home! The weather got bad but I don't think a tornado ever hit ground. It was crazy though. Anyways thanks Mom for the letter you sent! It was a cherry on top to a delicious <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_106492423" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ"><span style="color: #222222;">sunday</span></span></span>! I love you Mom and am so grateful for an athletic mother!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-4554339102194022652014-09-30T17:05:00.001-07:002014-09-30T17:05:58.796-07:00only the gospel will allow a family to enjoy and endure life.
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Whats up fam!</div>
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Mom you might be doing a procedure right now but I just want
to let you know that your in my prayers. I know that this cancer can't as aggressive
as you are because you I have seen you run bases. I grateful for your
athleticism in everything that you do!</div>
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This last week for me has been awesome. I told you about the
Elder Zwick experience. That was one of the highlights of my life! The rest of
this last week Elder Daley and I have been working in out area a lot which has
been great! Members are on fire ever since the member fireside that ELder Zwick
put on. We have 5 or 6 members that have told us since then that they have a
friend they want taught in their home! That right there is the most effective
way to do missionary work. When members invite their friends into their own
homes to be taught by their missionaries. Right now we are in the process of
weeding out the teaching pool and pausing all those who just are not
ready.</div>
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Have I told you about our new investigator yet? He is a man we have been teaching for a
few weeks now. He is one that President was with when we taught him and Mark
was having a bad day and was really mad. So President pretty much grabbed his
arm and drug him over to a chair where we gave him a priesthood blessing. After
that blessing he has never been the same! He is awesome. We taught him the word
of wisdom and the only problem he is facing is coffee. He has been drinking
coffee since who knows when and he said he is addicted. So we are working on
him with that. Besides that he is good to get baptized and has a date for the
11th. </div>
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Elder Daley is the man! I love serving with the guy. This next week we
have another mission council and Daley and I are going to be doing a couple of
exchanges so it should be fun. Our focus for the mission right now and what we
are going to teach at zone conference is repentance and virtue. So I have been
studying those 2 topics a lot.</div>
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Family, thanks for your prayers. Thanks for all
that you do. Its so easy to take for granted the blessing of a close family
until you witness so many broken ones. I would dare say that every temptation
you can find out in the world today is in someway linked to destroying the family.
ONLY the gospel will allow a family to endure and enjoy life. That is one thing
I have seen clearly on my mission. You never have to ask an investigator family
if they have read or prayed together when you go over for an appointment
because you can FEEL it when you walk in. Its s distinct difference when those
kind of things are done. I love you Mom. Thanks for being the Mom that made us
get up in the morning for scripture study and dragging us to family home
evening. Or singing annoying gospel songs when we would fight with each other.
Things like that make all the difference! Good luck.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-2793881733193485382014-09-28T19:33:00.003-07:002014-09-28T19:33:47.160-07:00Vist from Elder Zwick of the seventy!<div align="left">
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Hey Mom!</div>
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Sorry i didn't write a couple of days ago. This last week
was one of the busiest on my mission. We were getting prepared for Elder Zwicks
mission tour and he sent a pretty thick list of things he wanted set up. That
list was detailed right down to the color of markers he wants on the white
board. Me and Elder Daley wanted to make sure everything was set up perfect for
him so it was pretty crazy!</div>
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Monday was our missionary council meeting with
Elder Zwick and all the ZL's and STL's of the mission. I was asked to conduct
so I got to sit right next to him up front. The whole meeting that he wasn't up
talking he would just lean over and teach me something! It was crazy! Its not
everyday you get a general authority whispering the gospel knowledge in your
ear so I took good notes of everything he said!</div>
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Tuesday we had zone conference
in Little Rock and wedensday was zone conference in Memphis! So basically the
past 3 days Elder Daley and I have got to hang out with probably the most
awesome member of the seventy ever! He taught me so much these past few days!
It has been one of the highlights of my mission. Last night when Elder Daley
and I were leaving memphis to head back to little rock we went to say good bye
to him and he gave us his card and told us to keep in touch and that he was
going to keep track of us. He is awesome!</div>
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Anyways, everything is going great! Little Rock is doing
really good! We are teaching some great people. Elder Daley is so awesome. He
is a hard working missionary and is a lot of fun to serve with. He is a dang
good basketball player too.</div>
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On sunday we got a list of people that just moved in the
ward from our bishop. So that night we tried to contact as many as possible. It
was about 8:30 so we decided to do one more that we felt prompted to go to. We
went and it was a young couple who answered the door. After some reluctance they
invited us in and so we got to chattin'. We found out they were from gilbert,
AZ! They husband is a returned missionary and the wife is not a member. They
thought for the longest time that the husbands mom called us and told us to go
over there. Apparently the husband fell away a little while ago and the mom had
been trying to get them back active. Anyways it was a great visit and the
spirit was strong. The husband said that he needs to get back into church. We
are going to start teaching the wife now and get them coming to church! I know
we were prompted to go there because of the prayers of a righteous mother.
Speaking of the priesthood of the church Pres. Packer said "They don't
come near the power thats given to a righteous mother." I know thats true.
Thanks for your prayers family. Please pray for Stephanie and her family. We
haven't been able to teach them in a while and they mean a lot to me. Thanks
for everything yall do!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-66017291343281119462014-09-21T18:29:00.000-07:002014-09-21T18:29:04.985-07:00New Companion! Elder Daley<br />
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Mother dear!</div>
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Whats up? These last 2 mondays i haven't had time to take a
p-day and next monday i won't either because we are having a meeting with
Elder Zwick of the 70! I am excited for that. I can't even began to tell you
what happened these last 2 weeks because of all the craziness of transfers but
it has been great! Elder Armstrong got released last week as an assistant an he
is serving again as a zl in memphis. I am going to miss serving with him! Elder Daley just got called to be the new
assistant with me. I can already tell he is going to be one of my favorite
companions. He is a dang good missionary, he just got done serving in searcy
(the sacred home land), and he is a dang good basketball player. Things are
going great. I dont have time to share all the experiences but i do want to
share my testimony. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. All my life "the
gospel" has just been something i heard but i never really tried to deeply
understand it. On my mission though i have realized that "living the
gospel" is a whole lot more than just a testimony meeting line or a bumper
sticker quote. Its having the faith in Christ to change, or repent, and to make
promises with God, and seek out the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As these
things become more than just a checklist and are made the central purpose of
our lives, our vision gets clearer and we began to live more abundant lives. No
matter of its through sunshine or shadow, when we are walking the path of
discipleship, we can feel peace and joy. Not just happiness, JOY. A scripture
that has been in my mind a lot lately in D&C 112:13 "And after their
temptation and much tribulation, behold I the Lord will feel after them, and if
they harden not their hearts and stiffen not their necks they shall be
converted, and I will heal them." This is the central purpose of our lives
and it can always be a joyful journey. I love you Mom. Thanks for your example
of discipleship.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-9622771201587952292014-09-01T16:17:00.001-07:002014-09-01T16:17:33.008-07:00See people not as they are right now, but as they can become<div align="left">
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Hey Fam!</div>
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Thanks for all the birthday letters and pictures and
packages! It was great! This last week was awesome. We didn't have very many
meetings so we were able to go on a couple exchanges with zl's and it went
great. Our first exchange was in downtown Memphis and that where my homegurl
Latrice lives. She is Elder Boyers recent convert. Mom she said she is friends
with you on facebook. ha ha thats awesome. Our next exchange was in Pine Bluff
with the elders there. We also went to some Sketchy areas on my
mission this last week. So you know thats a good week! </div>
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We also went to the
Branch on Mountain view on sunday with President for sacrament meeting on
sunday. He is doing this thing where he wants to go with us to all the outlying
wards and branches on the mission on sundays so they dont feel out of sight and
out of mind. The branch president at mountain view and his wife went to EA for
school so it was cool to talk to them. </div>
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Basically, I don't have a lot of cool
things to say this week but i do have 1 "call to repentance"
experience I would like to share. Me and Armstrong were in a apartment complex
saturday night teaching one of our investigators and this girl walked up. She
was drinking a beer and was a little drunk, but she was just saying the crudest
things and not exactly inviting the spirit into the lesson. So at the end of it
all, we were about to leave and then she said "yall to good to pray
with me." I thought she was just trying to be all contentious and what not
but we told her we would pray with her. Armstrong started to say it and all of
the sudden she interrupted and said "Hold on, I know yall are Jesus people,
so could you pray for me that I will be able to get a job. Because my 3 kids
are in foster care and the only way I can get them back is if i get a job, and
all I want is my family back again." That took us off guard. So we prayed
for that and at the end she was crying and she said "thanks I needed
that." Man I felt like the lowest piece of dirt there. I thought this lady
was just all about herself but I realized the reason she was doing things like
drinking was just to numb the pain of what she has to deal with everyday.
President Monson said "We must develop the capacity to see people not as
they are right now, but as they can become." President Petersen always
told us "Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is, but treat a man
as he should be and ought to be and he will become what he should be and ought
to be." I feel like thats a lesson I have been learning over and over
again on my mission. Its amazing to see how people and the world look as we try
to see with our spiritual eyes. Thanks for everything yall do for me!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2576795156566401385.post-64059370364041318692014-08-25T20:14:00.001-07:002014-08-25T20:14:16.916-07:00Increasing ones ability to recieve and follow spiritual promptings<div class="MsoNormal">
Hey Family!</div>
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Its crazy that Ryans senior year of football is already starting! Time is flying by! </div>
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We had a really good week this last week. Elder Armstrong and I had about 4 nights in a row that we went to sleep after 1 in the morning but we were able to have some awesome experiences. We had zone conference <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1090096457" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ"><span style="color: #222222;">on Wednesday</span></span></span> in little rock and <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1090096458" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ"><span style="color: #222222;">Thursday</span></span></span> in Memphis and they went really well. Armstrong and I focused our topic on Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. I love and hate speaking at these conferences. I hate is because I get so dang nervous every time! I don't think I will ever break my pacing-around habit. But I love it because the spirit always brings things to your remembrance that you can say and teaches you new truth while your up there speaking!</div>
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In this mission the focus that President Wakolo brought is "increasing spiritual capacity." In other words increasing ones ability to receive and follow spiritual promptings. I am not very good at this yet but it is amazing to see what miracles can happen in someones life when they seek to follow the promptings of the spirit. </div>
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<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1090096459" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ"><span style="color: #222222;">Yesterday</span></span></span> we were able to go to our ward in the first time on forever! It was way good. Last night we went to our investigator Stephanies house and had an amazing lesson with her. She gets anti'd out the wazoo by her family, friends, and co-workers. Last night we had a lesson about eternal families and at the end of the lesson we asked her to pray and ask if what we have taught and if the church we represent is true. So she did and then we sat in silence for a long time. We asked how she felt and she said that normally, if she heard so many things about someone, she wouldn't let them in her home like she lets us in all the time. She said that she always feels like she needs to let us in though. She also said that when we are in the home, it feels really peaceful and she feels loved and when we leave it leaves with us. After some questions we helped her recognize that it is the spirit! She is coming along! She has an awesome family and its so easy to see the difference the Gospel would make in their life. Please pray for them! I am grateful for the family I have back home. Thanks for all your Prayers!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11576582645882697898noreply@blogger.com0