Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Obedience


FAMILY!

Dad: I hope you had an excellent Father's Day!
Mom: I hope you are having fun in Utah!
Elaine: I hope you are being nice to people!
Krista: I hope you have an excellent first day of college classes!

Everything in the mission world is going great.  Elder Horning is awesome and we get along really well.  The rumor is that I will be transferred next Monday.  We will get transfer calls sometime this week.  I wish I could just stay in this area the rest of my mission.  I love Summerlin.  I love the members.  I love the people we are teaching.  I just love it all.

Food Report:
Monday: Cheeseburgers
Tuesday: Fish Tacos
Wednesday: Tacos
Thursday: Sesame Chicken (Pei Wei)
Friday: Chicken Alfredo
Saturday: Salmon
Sunday: Pizza

Weekly Summary:
Monday: After e-mailing you, Elder H and I went out with Brother M, his son, Mark, and daughter Katie, Sister P, her two daughters, Marinne and Madelyn, Tanner, Tyler, and Trevor and we went riding in the back of Brother M's truck up on dirt into the desert to Redrock.  It was so much fun to bounce around in the back of the truck.  I thought I was going to bounce out of the truck at one point, but I didn't (obviously).  We had a lot of fun as we walked around and found petroglyphs.  It reminded me of the time Dad, Grandpa, and I would go into Redrock at find petroglyphs.  We had dinner with the T’s that night.  Brother T was Lyman's best friend growing up.  He also works with Jeff E.
Tuesday: President and Sister Black came to Zone Meeting.
Wednesday: I spent the whole day on exchanges with one of the Zone Leaders, Elder T in his area.  We had a very busy day.  We taught one of their new investigators, Cindy.  She started crying as I testified to her that she was feeling the Holy Ghost.  Then, we taught Ryan.  He is 19 years old.  He was the best lesson of the day.  He has been meeting with the missionaries 3 to 4 times a week, and he will be baptized on June 23 as well.  He is so impressive.  He recognized he was not happy living his current lifestyle, so he turned to the Church for hope of finding happiness.  I got to teach him about Tithing, Fasting, and the Law of Chastity.  After the discussion, he said to me, "Will you be at my baptism?"  It made me so happy that he invited me to be at his baptism.  So, now I have his baptism to go to right before Mathew's.  I am so excited.  We taught a recent convert gone less-active about Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy.  We had dinner with a girl named Cassidy (single's ward) and her family.  She has a disability, and she always signs up on the missionary calander...then her parents have to cook and feed us.  It's so funny.  She is so sweet and nice.  It was so fun to meet her.  She just is one of those special spirits that radiates the love of Christ.  Our day ended by visiting a recent move-in, less-active family.
Thursday: A day.
Friday: Teaching, teaching, teaching.
Saturday: We watched The Testaments with Mathew.  He LOVED it.  We asked him to say a prayer at the end and he was crying.  He really felt the Spirit.  I love that movie.
Sunday: Elder H and I taught Baptism to the Gospel Principles class in the A. Ward.  We taught Priest Quorum in the Alta Vista Ward and Town Center Ward.  Bishop R talked to the Priests about the importance of going to the baptism on Saturday for Mathew.  He talked about the great relationship I have been able to establish with Mathew.  It made me happy to hear.


Spiritual Thought:
A few weeks ago we had Zone Conference.  For the meeting, we were all asked to prepare a few minute talk on a Christ-like attribute.  Then, at the meeting, they would pick out of a hat and see who got chosen to share their talk.  I was not chosen, but here is the talk I had prepared:

Obedience

Elders and Sisters, think back to that exciting day when you opened up your mission call.  Think about the feelings of anxiety, excitement, anticipation, and joy.  I opened my mission call just over a year ago on May 6, 2011.  Each of our call letters stated, "You will be an official representative of the Church.  As such, you will be expectd to maintain the highest standars of conduct and appearance by keeping the commandments, living mission rules, and following the counsel of your mission president."  The fact that we are all here is evidence of our promise and committment to be obedient.
I got an interesting letter from my cousin who is serving his mission in Chile right now.  This is what he said:
"After being a couple weeks in Antofagasta, I thought my mission was in apostasy!  There are massive amounts of rules being broken.  My...leaders...stay up until three in the morning talking about obscure subjects...and watching movies....In our mission, this is against the rules.
I was super concerned about our district and zone being in apostasy so I tried to approach my companion who is the district leader.  I told him we should probably be out proselyting during proselyting time and things like this.  He said that he still felt the spirit during the day even as he stayed up until three or watched movies or slept in during proselyting times...
As missionaries, we have extra rules.  If a 'normal' person stays up [until] three [in the morning] watching [movies] does that mean he won't have the spirit?  He probably could still feel the spirit....My companion feels the spirit still, but doesn't realize he is forsaking the blessings of obedience to the rules as a missionary.  In essence, he is choosen to be a 'normal' person."
Elders and Sisters, our reponsibility as missionaries is a celestial calling.  We much overcome the natural man to be truly effective.  Are we choosing to be 'normal' when we should be extraordinary?
President James E. Faust said, "If you will...be obedient...and follow the mission rules, you will be a successful missionary."  We must be obedient to the Lord, His commandments, the mission rules, and the mission president in order to receive an added portion of the Spirit and His constant companionship that is necessary in doing this work.
If you are being disobedient, you may rationalize success as you teaching and baptize.  However, you will never have the sure conviction and blessing of knowing you are doing all you can to assist the Lord in His work and glory.
Hebrews 5:8 speaks about Jesus Christ and says, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience..."  Christ was perfectly obedient to the will of the Father and we are to become even as He is.
Obedience is the first law of Heaven.  We must live it and pattern our lives after the Savior's to effectively teach others to make and keep committments and covenants.  The blessings of obedience are sublime and supreme.

I AM SO EXCITED FOR MATHEW'S BAPTISM!

I LOVE YOU ALL!  Keep writing me and praying for me!

LOVE,
Elder Sean Edwards

BIRTHDAY!!


FAMILY!!

Wow...I had a lot of e-mails to read this week.  Soooo...my e-mail may be a tad shorter than usual.

BAPTISM!
Mathew's baptism was on Saturday, June 23rd.  It was the best birthday gift!!  I don't even know where to start.  First, so many people came, we had to hold the meeting part of the service in the Chapel  His non-member family members came (all except his Mom).  It was a special experience for them as well.  His fellowshipper friend from the Willows Ward, Jonah, gave the talk on Baptism.  Ernie D. performed the baptism.  Elder H and I did a tag-team presentation on The Restoration to the congregation while Mathew was changing.  Then, we both tag-teamed a Talk on the Holy Ghost.  After that, we had about 30 youth/missionaries sing a musical number, "I Will" by Hillary Weeks.  It turned out amazing.  The Spirit was so strong.  Mathew closed the service by bearing his testimony.  It was excellent.  The Stake President and the High Stake Councilor over Missionary Work came to the baptism.  President P said he wishes Mathew's baptism could have been filmed by the Church on "The Perfect Baptismal Service."  He was so thrilled and excited.  The High Stake Councilor said that he was very impressed.  It was a HUGE success.  I am still SO excited from his baptism.  It was amazing.

TRANSFER TIME!
Today is transfers.  I am leaving the 2 wards.  I am so sad.  I love it here so much.  I love the members, the recent converts, investigators, everyone.  I think I cried all day yesterday.  This is the hardest transfer/separation for sure.  Members were crying.  The time that I have spent serving in this area.  The people's lives I have touched.  This area has made my mission a success.  I don't think I can be any happier than I am with my time I have spent here.  Mathew gave me a hug good-bye after Sacrament Meeting.  We were both emotional wrecks.  I am so blessed to have met him.  He has strengthened my testimony tremendously.  Here is my new adventure: I will be serving in the Las Vegas Stake with Elder F.  I will be a Zone Leader, and my Zone will cover Las Vegas Stake and Sandstone Stake.  Both of which my Dad lived in the mission boundaries of!  I am excited!

MY BIRTHDAY!
Thanks to everyone who sent me cards and gifts and everything!  I had an excellent birthday.  I went to Ryan R's baptism (Redrock YSA Ward) and Mathew's.  My cousin, Sarah, was at R's Baptism.  It was so fun to get to see family on my birthday!  A member from a previous area took me out to dinner at Cheesecake Factory and I got a huge Ahi Tuna Fillet.  Then, Brother S through a get-together birthday party for me at his home.  It was a lot of fun.  Excellent 24th Birthday!

Food Report:
Monday: Chicken Enchiladas
Tuesday: Noodles, Salmon, Chicken
Wednesday: Tri-Tip
Thursday: Hot Dogs (Picnic-In-The-Park)
Friday: Salmon
Saturday: Seared Ahi Tuna (Cheesecake Factory)
Sunday: Steak and Scallops

Weekly Summary:
Monday: Surprised Devin for his birthday.  Got frozen yogurt with Elder N...He flies back to New Jersey TOMORROW!
Tuesday: Had dinner with a member from Taiwan.  Her son is a non-member.  Josh is not interested and MeiLing can't express her feelings too clearly so we can to translate for them.  MeiLing played the Zither (Asian string instrument).  It was really cool.
Wednesday: Marinne and Madelyn  put a Scorpion lollipop and gummy bugs into my backpack.  How nice...
Thursday: Picnic-In-The-Park was fun!
Friday: Did a run-through with Mathew at the Church.
Saturday: Well..I pretty much told you everything.
Sunday: My last day in the Wards.  Mathew's confirmation was great.  I got to bear my testimony in one of the wards.

Small World:
1) Already told you about Sarah
2) The Js are in the Town Center Ward.  I bore my testimony and talked about Jace.  Sister J came up to me after church and said, "I am related to your cousin's companion."  I said, "Oh..McKay?"  She said, "No...Jace."  They are related to Uncle Larry.
3) The Ls in my ward also know Aunt Donna and Uncle Larry very well.

Well!  Wish my luck on my new adventure.  I LOVE YOU ALL SOOOO MUCH!!!!!!

SO SO MUCH!!!

Love,
Elder Sean Edwards

Saturday, June 2, 2012

May 28, 2012


FAMILY!!!

What an eventful week!

President B and Sister B came to an investigator discussion with Elder H. and me.  He doesn't go out with missionaries all that often, so when he told me he wanted to go to a discussion with me, I was excited.  The investigator we taught was our 8th grader, Mathew.  At the lesson was President and Sister B, Mathew, Sister P, Ernie Jr., Jayden, Mark, Davis, Sister W, Elder H, and me.  We taught the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity.  The lesson went extremely well (I think).  It was so great to have President and Sister B there.  Afterwards, President and Sister B offered us a ride home, but the member's home that we were at was also our dinner appointment, so we stayed and didn't really get to talk to President about how he thought the lesson went.  Sister B did come up to me after the lesson and said, "I LOVED IT!"  So, that's a good sign.  The spirit was there and that is all that matters.

Food Report:
Monday: Cheeseburgers
Tuesday: Pasta
Wednesday: Pizza
Thursday: Chicken Fajitas
Friday: Pizza
Saturday: Spaghetti
Sunday: Ziti
Monday: Cheeseburgers

Investigator Report:
Mathew: Great.
RJ: He will be baptized this Saturday!  YAY!  His mom was giving Kim (grandma and recent convert) a hard time about him being baptized.  Kim decided to fast (non-prompted) and pray for an answer on what to do about the situation.  She got a feeling to say to her daughter, RJ's Mom, "Ask your boyfriend what he thinks."  Her boyfriend is also a non-member.  She asked her boyfriend and he said, "Yeah!  I think that is a great idea for him to be baptized.  He needs to do it."  So AWESOME!  Kim definitely got her answer and we are excited for RJ's baptism.
...We need more investigators.

Yesterday for P-Day activity we went hiking up a train in Red Rock.  It was a lot of fun.  My camera dropped into the river in this whole water-forsaken desert, but such is my life.  It is completely dead, but I am surprised it has lasted this long.  I don't think any electronic anything has lasted this long in my hands.  2006-2012.

Went to a Memorial Day BBQ with a lot of the younger families in the T Ward yesterday.  That was a lot of fun.  We did relay races with the kids and they loved it.  All the adults said they loved our "crabwalk".

This last week I had a prompting to open up Preach My Gospel.  I didn't know what for, so I started flipping the pages.  I came to a page with a lot of member-missionary quotes on it by prophets.  I got the immediate idea to print off one of the quotes and attach it to a pass along card and hand them out to members in the wards to encourage missionary work.  So, we did just that.  We made over 500 pass along cards and handed them to the members as they walked into church on Sunday.  Here is the quote we used by President George Albert Smith: We will attain our exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom only on the condition that we share with our Father’s other children, the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."  I love that!  So...to all members: START SHARING, INVITING, TEACHING, AND TESTIFYING.  (The sooner the better).

Elder H is a great teacher.  We have 26 new missionaries coming into the mission this next transfer.  I am recommending him to be a trainer.

I'm so sad Jake and Lauren get off their missions so soon...It makes me sick to even think about it.  I'm so glad Charee is going to Portugal!  WOOO!!!!  She will be incredible.

Well, I love you all so very much!  Thank you for the support and prayers.  I need them.  Keep writing!

I LOVE YOU

Love,
Elder Sean Edwards