February 23, 2015

Hey Fam!

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.

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.

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.

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! 

 

February 16, 2015

Hey Fam!!

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.

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!

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!

 

February 9, 2015

Hey Fam!

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!

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!

 

February 2nd, 2015

Hey Fam!

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.

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.

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!!

January 26, 2015

Hey fam whats up!

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.

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.

 

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.

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!

January 19, 2015

Hey whats up Mom?!

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.

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!

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!

(Grandma Wellman just so you know, Graceland is right outside our area and its a big deal out here.)

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!

January 13, 2015

HEY FAMILY!

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!

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.

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!!

 

January 5, 2015

BULAVUNAKA FAMILY!

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!

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!

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!

Family I am grateful for all that yall do for me! Things are going great out here!

December 22, 2014

Hey Family!

How is  going "holiday hoobie whatee" going? 

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.

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,

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! 

 

Lots of freinds going home

Hey family!!

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!

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.

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

make every stress and struggle of a mission worth it! 

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!  

 



The Power of Prayer

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.

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!

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!

 



92 baptisms!

Hey Fam!

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. 

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.

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. 

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!



Hey Mom and Dad!

 

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 6th of December.

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. 

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. 

Elder Udall

lots of success!

Whats up Dad,

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. 

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!

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!

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!

Mom

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. 

He will go before our face and be on our right hand and our left

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?

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.

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

on our left. Its our job though to remain worthy and ask, seek, and knock.

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! 

 



The temporary stumbling blocks of life are easily turned into stepping stones in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Hey Kinfolk!

I cant believe its already playoff time for Ryan! Man that is exciting! It sounds like Kate is tearing it up in volleyball too!

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!

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!

Elder Daley is doing really good! He is awesome to serve with and has taught me a lot.

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!

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. 

See People as the can become!!

Hey Fam!

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.

 

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. 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!

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.

 

Mom and Dad I just want to let you know how grateful I am for you treating me in this way.

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!

Thanks for all that yall do for me!



Busy Week!

Hey Mom!

It sounds like ryans team is really tearing it up! I bet he is excited for playoff time. 

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. 

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.

 

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.

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.  

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! 



Happy Birthday Camz!!!

Hey Mom!

 

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!

 

  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.

 

   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) on Friday 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.

 

This next week we have five specialzed trainings in a row. Monday-satudrday. And then the week after that is transfers. So it is going to be so busy!

 

Mom thanks for the letters and all that you do for me. I am really grateful for it.

 

 Happy Birthday CAMZ!

Virtue and Repentance

Elder Zwick, Elder Daley, Elder Udall, Sister Zwick

 

Hey family whats up!!

 

It has been another classic week in the ALRM! This week was pretty power packed with learning experiences. So on Tuesday 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.

 

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.

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

 

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 sunday! I love you Mom and am so grateful for an athletic mother!