January 23, 2012

FAMILY! :)

I can't believe Isaac goes into the MTC in 2 days!!!  That is so exciting!! :)  I just wrote Lauren about it and every letter we write to each other we always mention how exciting it is that 4 of the family will be serving at the same time: Jake, Lauren, Isaac, Me.  So awesome!

Food Report:

(I won't have to talk about Monday in this e-mail since I talked about it in my e-mail last week because I e-mailed last Tuesday...So that is where we will be picking up from).

Tuesday: Chile Relleno

Wednesday: Chicken Fajitas

Thursday: Italian Spiced Chicken

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Pizza

Sunday: Meatloaf

Investigator Report:

...Well...7 of our lessons fell through this week.  We only taught 6 lessons.  It's been a rough/challenging week.  Good thing Elder P and I know how to have fun while we go about our day...It makes it so much more exciting.

RJ: 9 year old boy.  Taught Lessson 1.  Went great.  His family said they would all come to church...None of them showed up.  We are teaching him Lesson 2 tonight.

Cecy: Lesson fell through.  She said she would come to church.  She didn't.  Haven't met her yet.

Sherryl: Lesson fell through.  Haven't met her yet.

Raul: Lesson fell through.  Haven't met him yet.

Weekly Summary:

Tuesday: After e-mailing we went out with our ward mission leader to do dinner and visits to less-active members.  We visited a family and it went well.

Wednesday: A lot of tracting and making visits.

Thursday: A lot of tracting and visits.  We taught Lesson 3 to Erika (less active).  It went really well.  She is great.

Friday: A lot of tracting.  Taught RJ and his family Lesson 1.  It went really well and the Spirit could be felt by all.  The Mom was so excited to be learning.  She said that even though she learned this all growing up, she was actually able to "soak it in" this time.

Saturday: Guess!!!  Yep...Tracting and visits.  None of our visits to Part-Member Families have been interested in having us come back. Until...

Sunday: Our last Part-Member Family visit for the night was very welcoming.  They have an unbaptized 9 year old daughter, and we set a time to go back and start teaching her on Wednesday.  Hopefully that will go well!  Church was good...The bishop called me up and asked me to bear my testimony.  It was a good experience.  President and Sister Black came into the building.  It was good to say "Hi" to them and see them.

I feel like this e-mail sounds really depressing.  It was still a good-ish week.  Hopefully we will see more progress in the area this week.  Another depressing story: My bike light popped off when I hit a bump turning on Tropicana.  I watched the cars zoom by barely missing my light.  Just as the light turned red...I watched a van roll over my bike light...SMASH!  I fell to the ground yelling, "NOOO!!!!!" While my companion just laughed himself to tears.  Glory.

Spiritual Thought:

We tracted into a lady from Japan this last week.  She was so kind and friendly.  We spoke with her for quite a while and she had really great questions.  She grew up in the Buddist faith and still practices.  We had the opportunity to testify to her of the Restoration, Joseph Smith, The Book of Mormon, Prophets, etc.  She was so receptive.  While we were talking she asked, "Why did no one tell me about Jesus Christ growing up?"  This made me so sad.  I could see that her soul yearned to learn more about her Savior, but did not know how to follow through with her feelings.  We invited her to learn more and hopefully we will be able to start teaching her.  This reminds me of D&C 123:12 where it talks about how people "are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it."  It is my prayer and hope that I can continue in this great work and that the Lord will use me as an instrument in his hands to help bring people to a knowledge of His eternal gospel of happiness even unto salvation.  Every member a missionary!

Love,

Elder Sean Edwards

January 9, 2012

FAMILY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!!!  One year older and wiser, too...Happy Birthday...To You!

Transfers:

Transfers are today and tomorrow.  Transfer calls came on Saturday.  Did I get a call?  Will I stay or will I go?  I've been in this area for almost 6 months now... Verdict: I AM LEAVING!  I am so sad to be leaving the members and area I have come to know and love SO MUCH, but excited for my new adventure that lies ahead.  I will be serving in the Redrock Zone in the Spring Valley Ward with Elder P.  Elder P came out with the same group Elder S and Elder M were in, so I will be "polishing" him.  The Spring Valley Ward is one of the wards that Elder T served in, so that is exciting.  But that's not all...I got a call from President Black on Thursday.  He said that I have a new leadership assignment from the Lord and him.  So, I will be serving as District Leader as well.  I don't even know what to do.

BAPTISM:

Ahhhh!!!  The baptism of the H girls, E, B, A, and E, was incredible.  The service went wonderfully.  The room was PACKED.  It was one of, if not the, greatest moment of my mission to stand in the baptismal font and watch the girls walk into the water to make those beautiful, eternal covenants with their Father in Heaven.  Their smiles are something I will never forget.  I had the wonderful opportunity to baptize all four of them.  I think it is so cool that on the EXACT day of my 6 month mark, I got to baptize.  I invited President and Sister Black to the baptism as well.  They both came and really enjoyed the baptism.  After the baptism, President Black said to Elder M and I, "I have heard many compliments about you both."  That made me so happy to hear.  It is nice to know that our hard work isn't going unnoticed.  That's always just a good feeling.  On Sunday, I got to confirm E.  Elder M confirmed B.  Shaun M, who is preparing to leave for his mission in March, confirmed El.  And, A's primary teacher confirmed her.  The whole experience was all around perfect.  I think their dad could really feel the spirit as well.  He was so impressed that so many people came to his girls' baptism to support.  I am so happy! :)

Investigator Update:

R: Didn't get to meet with him this last week.  We were supposed to, but when we showed up, he wasn't home.

B: Didn't get to meet with him this last week.  We were supposed to, but an hour before we were supposed to meet with him, his wife texted and said they had gotten into an argument and wouldn't be able to meet.

J: Met with him this last week.  We had finished all the necessary Preach My Gospel lessons required for baptism, so we were thinking, "What next?"  We decided, through inspiration that came from the training program, that we would read The Book of Mormon WITH him.  We decided we would just pick up wherever it was that Jacob left off.  I anticipated him to be around 1 Nephi where Nephi and his family are sailing to the promised land.  Nope.  He was all the way in 2 Nephi already.  And he was in 2 Nephi 15, which is an Isaiah chapter.  I thought to myself, "Oh, great!" (sarcastically).  But, as we read, we got a GREAT discussion going, the spirit was felt, and it was really awesome!  Jacob at the end of the lesson said, "Thank you so much for coming over.  Today was a particularly rough day for me and that was exactly what I needed."  How great!

Food Report:

Monday: Tilapia Fish Tacos

Tuesday: Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Wednesday: Chicken Enchiladas

Thursday: Fried Chicken

Friday: Smoked Ham Sub

Saturday: Tilapia Fish Tacos

Sunday: Grilled Steak

Weekly Summary:

Monday: P-Day.  Missionary work in the evening.  We had to finish our Weekly Planning since we didn't get around to it the week before because of Splits with the District Leader.

Tuesday: District Meeting was...interesting.  We taught A a lesson on Missionary Work and more specifically a story of two great missionaries in the Book of Mormon, Alma and Amulek.  She had texted us the night before saying, "I want to go on a mission."  Soooo awesome!  We went to the church building in the evening to do a baptism run-through with the Henderson girls so we could get them fitting in their clothes, show them where everything is, practice the baptismal hold, and just making them comfortable so there were no "surprises" at the actual baptism.

Wednesday: Taught R a lesson on the Gifts of the Spirit.  Tracted a neighborhood.  The weather has been SO beautiful, so tracting was excellent.  Dinner with the Es!  I LOVE THEM!  One of my favorite families EVER!  Their 17 year old daughter M invited and wanted me to go with her to Senior Prom at LVA (Las Vegas Academy - Performing Arts School).  Next time you see Liz, tell her that I was invited to LVA's senior prom.

Thursday: We went to go visit a Less Active, Lisa, that Elder S and I had met while tracting.  Her and I really got along the first time we met, and so we chatted with her and had a good time.  I said, "You better come to church this Sunday because it will probably be my last Sunday in the ward."  And guess what!  SHE CAME!!!  So awesome!  Had dinner with L and her family.  I am going to miss them!!!!!!  Lesson with J and D.

Friday: BAPTISM DAY!  (See above).  After the baptism, we got a ride to a member's home in some other elders' area.  We met up there with Elders N, T, M, and C and Sisters L, W, and F.   It was a lot of fun and we had a great time!

Saturday: Taught my last lesson to J about Patriarchal Blessings.  We hung out for lunch and went to McDonalds.  I got a head start on my packing.  Dinner with the As...I am going to miss my dinners with them SOOO much!  I love them!

Sunday: Church was great.  It was so sad to say "Good Bye" to everyone.  I am so happy for this area and the friendships I have been able to form here.  I love Waterfall and Aliante wards.  I bore my testimony in both wards.  J bore his testimony which was really cool.  His whole testimony was about how blessed he is.  Isn't that awesome?  Knowing what he has gone through, I think many people would find it hard to "count their many blessings", but he does it so effortlessly.  That is amazing to me.  We had dinner with the N.  I. LOVE. THEM!!!!  Totally one of my favorite families ever.  They are so great.  I hope they have the desire soon to come back to church.  We played this game called "Headbands".  GET IT!  It's so fun, and then we can play when I come back.

Small World:

1) So, the member's home who we went to the other night to do the tie burning was showing me pictures of her son that is on a mission.  His name tag read, "Elder R".  I said, "I'm related to Rs," (L's husband, T).  It turns out she was married to a R and there is relation there.  Also, she is Karen J who went to high school with an was in the same grade as Cheryl.  She also knows Lyndee, Naomi, Quincy, Jeff, Marylynn, etc.  Small world!

2) I bore my testimony on Sunday and talked about Jace.  I didn't mention his name, but afterwards someone came up to me saying, "Did your cousin have a companion named Elder Davis?"  I said, "That is my cousin!"  It turns out the lady is a teacher in Logandale and knows Donna.

Spiritual Thought:

I was reading in 2 Nephi 9 this last week.  I came across verse 40 that reads, "O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I have spoken hard things against you; for if ye do, ye will revile against the truth; for I have spoken the words of your Maker. I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness; but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken."  The last part is so powerful.  I know that if we learn to love the truth, we will be unshaken in our testimonies.  I love The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, because I know it is true.  I love my Heavenly Father, because I know He is truly my Father.  I love Jesus Christ, because I know He is truly my Savior.  I love the Atonement, because I know it is truly the way for me to return to live back with my Father in Heaven.  I love the Plan of Salvation, because I know it is truly God's plan of happiness for me.  I love the Priesthood, because I know it is truly God's power given to man for the salvation of His children.  I love the principles of Faith, Repentance, Baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End, because I know it is truly the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I love temples, because I know they are truly the House of the Lord where families are made eternal.  I love the Book of Mormon, because I know it is true.  I love my church leaders, including President Thomas S. Monson, because I know they are truly called.  I know that if we can learn to LOVE THE TRUTH, we will be firm, steadfast, and immovable in our faith and testimony and our love of truth will push us towards eternal joy.

Well, I am sure I have more to report, but that is all I can think of for now!

Thank you so much for all the love and support!  I love you all SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!  Keep sending mail.  I love it.  Tell everyone I said, "Hi"!

Love,

Elder Sean Edwards

  

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January 2, 2012

FAMILY! :)

Ohh...There is so much to cover since I didn't get to e-mail last week.  So, this is an e-mail covering December 19 to January 1.

So much has happened I don't even know where to start.

Food Report:

Monday: Grilled Chicken

Tuesday: Tacos

Wednesday: Navajo Tacos

Thursday: Pizza

Friday: Steak

Saturday: Clam Chowder

Sunday: Fajitas

Monday: Turkey

Tuesday: Cheeseburgers

Wednesday: Pizza

Thursday: Meatball Sliders

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Tilapia

Sunday: Pho

Investigator Update:

R: BAPTISM!!  Yay!  R's baptism went excellent.  We had a good (not awesome) turn out.  It was so great to watch his brother, C, baptize him.  C was just baptized in August.  Then it was so wonderful to see his step-father, W, confirm him.  W was just baptized in July and just got the Melchizedek Priesthood two weeks ago.  I gave the Talk on the Holy Ghost.  Elder M and I did a presentation of Lesson 1: The Restoration and all went great.

J: We finished teaching him the necessary Preach My Gospel lessons needed before baptism.  He is still waiting on that spiritual confirmation.  I love him.  I think that when he gets that confirmation, he will become a strong member of the Church.  I just think of Brigham Young.  He was not baptized into the Church until around a year of investigating, and he became a prophet.  So, I just need to remind myself, "It's okay that he needs some more time."  I think the direction we will go with him next is reading the Book of Mormon with him.  It is important that he continues doing that.

E, B, A, E: These girls are awesome.  They will be baptized on Friday!  They have asked me to baptize them and I am SOOOOO EXCITED!!!! :)

R: He is good to teach and he asks good questions.  He still doesn't believe in God.  I asked him that if these things were true, what it would mean to him.  He said, "Nothing."  He is very content and complacent with his life as it is now.  Hopefully something will spark with him soon.

B: Another one like R.  We hope something with spark with him soon.  I feel like complacency is a plague...One of Satan's tool to motivate us to be lazy and NOT change.

M: OH!  I LOVE M!  She is 26 and has been SO fun to teach.  We taught her all the missionary discussions in ONE week before she had to up and move to Michigan.  She was so great and we did breakfast with her on Christmas Eve.  When we had to say our good-byes, she started crying because she was so sad we wouldn't be able to see her anymore.  She was so grateful for all that we had done and taught her.  I hope the missionaries in Michigan have made contact with her and are keeping that spirit going.

Weekly Summary:

Mon, Dec. 19: Taught M Lesson 1 at the Ls.  Dad, do you know any Ls?  They have been in Vegas since the beginning of time like we have.  His name is Dan Leavitt.

Tues, Dec. 20: Taught A a Christmas Lesson.  Taught M part of The Plan of Salvation.  I had the opportunity to give her a blessing because she wasn't feeling well.  The Spirit was so strong and moved Melinda to tears.  It was such a great experience.  Taught the Bs a Christmas lesson (Less-Active).

Wed, Dec. 21: Taught R a Christmas Lesson.  Taught M about the rest of The Plan of Salvation.  We asked M before talking about the Spirit World, "What do you think happens after we die?  Does anything happen?"  She said that she had a dream the other night that she died and she was asked to teach other spirits.  WOAH!  How awesome is that!?  We proceeded to tell her that those who have accepted Christ's gospel will be preaching the gospel to those who haven't received it in the Spirit World.  We taught C (Less-Active) and B about The Restoration.  He doesn't believe in God and only believes in Aliens, so it was interesting.  We had a good conversation.  The whole time his wife just looked at him like he is wacky.

Thurs, Dec. 22: Taught R The Restoration.  Taught M part of Lesson 3: The Gospel.  Finished teaching R about The Plan of Salvation and then shared a Christmas Lesson with the Ts.  We stayed with the family as W did a Family Home Evening lesson.  It is so wonderful to see our recent convert so a part of the gospel and the Church.  We all had a great time with his lesson on Gratitude.

Fri, Dec. 23: Taught the H Girls Lesson 3: The Gospel.  Shared a Christmas Lesson with J and D.  We had lunch with our Zone Leaders and Elder Cs (he works in the mission office).  We taught R Lesson 3: The Gospel.  We spent the evening having dinner with and teaching M the rest of Lesson 3: The Gospel and all of Lesson 4: The Commandments.

Sat, Dec. 24: Merry Christmas Eve!  We had two breakfasts.  One with M and the Ls and one with the Ts.  We taught R part of Lesson 4: The Commandments.  We taught J a Christmas Lesson.  We had to be in at 6:00pm.  I went to bed early.  So great.

Sun, Dec. 25: MERRY CHRISTMAS!  Church was great, yadda, yadda...I GOT TO CALL HOME!  Yay!  It was so great to see and talk to you guys over Skype.  How fun!  I love you all so much!  I can't wait until Mother's Day!  Thanks for the gifts!

Mon, Dec. 26: P DAY!  We taught the H Girls part of Lesson 4: The Commandments.  We taught J the Law of Chastity.

Tues, Dec. 27: We visited the Es (Less Active with Recent Convert M.  They gave Uncle A their golden retriever).  They are SO great.  I love this family SO much.  I am like best friends with them.  Anyway, we taught M a lesson on Gratitude and set up a time for us to do dinner with them this week.  They are just the best.  I wish they would come to church.

Wed, Dec. 28: Taught R about the Holy Ghost.  Taught the HKids the rest of Lesson 4: The Commandments.  Taught H (W biological son) part of Lesson 4: The Commandments.  Taught C and B The Plan of Salvation.

Thurs, Dec. 29: Splits Day!  I was with my District Leader, Elder G all day.  I think he is a good guy, but I don't feel a genuine love or concern from him.  I think that is pretty important.  Anyway, it was interesting.  He did the He Girls' Baptismal Interviews.  We taught R the rest of Lesson 4: The Commandments.  The Zone Leaders came and give him the Baptismal Interview.

Fri, Dec. 30: Weekly Planning, mormon.org, and R'S BAPTISM!  So great! :)

Sat, Dec. 31: Happy New Years Eve! Taught F and D about Faith and Enduring To The End and watched Legacy with them.  Love that movie.  Had to be in early.

Sun, Jan 1: HAPPY NEW YEARS! 2012!  I hate only having 5 hours of church.  It is SO not enough to get done all the things that need to get done and talk to all the people that need to be talked to.  I am not a fan.  Anyway, we had Pho so it's all good.  OH, and it was a non-proselyting day so we played a game with the E's called Mexican Train and it was SOOO FUN!!  We should play!

Wow.  That was very condensed version of the last 2 weeks.

Small World Stories:

1) Our dinner appointment on Thursday night was with some members that I had not met before.  Brother and Sister S welcomed us into their home.  As we ate dinner, we started talking about the usual, "What do you do for work?", "How long have you been married?", etc.  I asked the question, "Where are you both originally from?"  Sister S, Megan (different from Megan S, the one I went to EFY with), said that she grew up in Logandale.  Of course my response being, "Oh!  I have family in Logandale!"  She then asked, "Who?"  I told her, "Well, I have a few members of my family living there.  My Grandparents are M and C Edwards..."  She cut me off immediately and exclaimed, "Wait!  Your cousin is Jace!?"  It turns out that Megan S, , is one of Jace's good friends.  They grew up in the same grade together, same ward, same seminary, and even both played on the high school tennis team.  It was so fun to hear her talk about the great memories she had of Jace.  Her mother is Grandma's visiting teacher and Uncle Larry married Megan to her husband.

Spiritual Thought:

I love working, speaking, and interacting with the youth.  There is such a special light about the faithful "youth of the noble birthright," (Hymns, "Carry On").  In speaking to his son Helaman, Alma says, "O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God," (Alma 37:35).  I love that the Church has such great programs to help keep the youth and their thoughts and actions centered on Jesus Christ.  Youth today probably get seen by more non-members than any other age group because they are in schools, at work, out with friends, etc.  We need to make sure that our youth are a part of their respective program whether it be Personal Progress or Duty To God/Scouting and for all, Seminary.  These programs will help root important gospel principles in them that non-members will notice.  The youth can prove to be one of the greatest missionary efforts that the Church has.  I have enjoyed working with the youth and meeting and teaching their non-member friends and seeing them come into the Church.  Youth are at an age where there are a lot of changes and decisions to be made.  Many converts come into the Church during their teenage years such as my Mother did.  The Church just came out with a newly revised, "For The Strength Of Youth" that can be downloaded at: https://lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/ForTheStrengthOfYouth-eng.pdf?lang=eng .  The concepts discussed in this booklet on Dating, Agency, Language, Work, Entertainment, Media, and more, if taught and followed, will help our youth be continually steadfast and immovable in the gospel.  As they keep the standards set before them, they will be blessed and a continual increase of interest from non-members will occur.  I have a love for the youth.  "As Zion's youth in latter days, [they] stand with valiant heart, with promise shining in [their] eyes, resolved to do [their] part.  Upon a noble past [they] build; the future fills [their] view.  [They] face the challenge of our day and pledge [they] will be true...[They're] here to serve a righteous cause; truth gives [them] strength to dare.  [They'll] love, and learn, and overcome; [They'll] sing a joyful song, as Zion's youth in latter days, triumphant, pure, and strong," (Hymns, "As Zion's Youth In Latter Days").  I know that there is power in the youth of these latter days.  If we are sensitive to the their spiritual needs and bold in our declaration of truth to them, miracles will proceed.

I love you all so much!  Thank you for loving ME!  :)  Tell everyone I said, "Hi!" And that I love them!  I love everyone's mail.  Keep it coming.  Transfer calls are this week.  By the end of this transfer I will have been in my first area almost 6 months, so we will see what happens!!!  I may stay...I may go.  I just...don't...know!!!!

Love,

Elder Sean Edwards

Learning How To Love

Learning How To Love

Monday, November 28, 2011 3:05 PM

FAMILY! :)

Phew!  What a crazy, busy week!  Let's start...

I got a call on Tuesday evening from President Black.  He asked if I would half-train a new missionary.  This means that he has been out for 6 weeks, and I would finish his training for these next 6 weeks.  I hope this next transfer is a great one.  I will be training Elder M and I will meet him TOMORROW!!!!!  I am staying in the same area.  Aliante/Waterfall Wards.  I love it here!

Food Report:

Monday: Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Tuesday: Pulled Pork Tortillas

Wednesday: Crouton Chicken

Thursday: THANKSGIVING! (Turkey, Homemade Cranberry Sauce, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Yams, Jello, etc.  And then for Dessert: Coconut Cream Pie, Banana Cream Pie, Red Velvet Cake, Pumpkin Cookies, Ice Cream...Yumm!)

Friday: Honey Baked Ham

Saturday: Teriyaki Chicken

Sunday: Lasagna

Investigator Update:

1)  WE FINALLY GOT TO MEET WITH S!  After much scheduling and rescheduling and cancellations and everything...We finally got to see her.  We had 3 lessons with her this week.  We reviewed Lesson 1 (The Restoration) and re-committed her to be baptized on Dec. 30th, we taught her about baptisms for the dead (because she had questions and wanted to know about it), and there was a baptism in Jeff's YSA ward this last Saturday and we got her to come to that and did a "Question/Answer" session afterwards and taught her more about Baptism.

2) J: So...I discovered that his wife, D, is really the driving force in learning more about the Gospel.  She is really coming to know it is true.  I can hear it in her words and see it in her actions.  J is still waiting on that answer, and I believe he is reading some anti-material.  But, he still wants us to come over and teach.  We taught a 2 hour lesson all on Baptism this last week.  OH, AND guess what!!  They came with their 5 kids to the baptism, too!  How awesome is that!  We can two of our investigators there to observe a baptismal service.  It was SO cool!

...And...We are trying to find more people to teach as always.  We NEED more people to teach...as always.

Small World:

1) At Thanksgiving dinner, Bishop R's sister said that she served her mission in Nova Scotia.  I took a shot in the dark and said, "My aunt served there.  Did you know a Sister Cheryl E?"  She got SOOO EXCITED and said, "I LOVE CHERYL!!"  They never served together, but they served around each other.  How cool is that!?  SOOOO AWESOME!!  Tell Cheryl.

Weekly Update:

Monday: Met with S.  Great lesson.  Love her.  Elder C and I took pictures and printed our Christmas Cards out.  You will be receiving them in the mail shortly.  I sent cards out to everyone that has sent me mail since me being on my mission.  Anyways, we had dinner with the B Family.  Sister B said she bought her son an orange tie and he got so excited and said, "This is just like the one Elder Edwards has!"  That made me so happy.

Tuesday: District Meeting.  District Lunch.  Taught S again (yay!).  Taught Frank and Donna a lesson on Thanksgiving.  Taught J and D about Baptism.

Wednesday: Went on Blitz (part-day splits) with Elders B and M.  We ate lunch at In-N-Out and went to Yogurtland afterwards.  Yum!  Taught Devonna and Jesse about Thanksgiving.  Went to Frank and Donna's because they made us homemade banana bread.

Thursday: THANKSGIVING!  We went to the Turkey Bowl in the morning.  It was fun to see all the elders and to chat with the friends I have made that are now in other zones.  I was the time keeper, magaphone user, and horn blower.  Too much to keep track of.  Elder T(I guess it is now Dan) called and it was great to chat with him for a bit.  He's officially engaged!  We had dinner with Bishop R and his family.  SOOO GOOD!  Then, we visited Bishop H and ate more food.  Then, we visited the H family.  Then, we went back to the R's to play games with them.

Friday: Went to the Train the Trainers Meeting.  Had dinner and movie night with Ray and Jean.  We watched "The Testaments"  I LOVE that movie so much!

Saturday: Helped a lady in the ward move.  Went to the baptism that S and the H came to.  Just busy!

Sunday: Church!  Then, dinner with Lyndee and her family.  It was great to get to see Eric Reese and Seth.  They came down from Colorado for the Thanksgiving holiday.  We had a lot of fun!

Spiritual Thought:

So, my Spiritual Thought this week is a rather long one.  I have had 4 companions now (Elders N, T, S, and C), and two out of these four admitted to me that they do not know how to love people they "do not know."  This last week I have been thinking a lot about how to love people.  I started writing down my thoughts on love and all of the sudden it turned into this huge thing.  So...Here is what I came up with...

Learning How To Love

Jesus Christ established this commandment while going through His ministry here on Earth: "That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another," (John 13:34).  But, how can we learn to love everyone?  How can we have love for those we have just met?  How can we love those who are so different from us?  I give five suggestions on learning how to love:

1) Know you are loved by your Father in Heaven and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We are told and shown throughout all history that we are loved.  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son," (John 3:16).  Prophets and apostles in modern days talk and testify of the love our Father in Heaven has for us.  Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf says, "...wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten.  No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you.  In fact, He loves you with an infinite love. ...You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time," ("Forget Me Not," General Relief Society Meeting, Sept. 2011).  And, of course, Jesus Christ showed the ultimate expression of love in His atoning sacrifice.  He suffered all pains, afflictions, temptations, infirmities, all so that He "may be filled with mercy" so that He can know "how to succor" us and come to our aid through of the perfect love He Has for us (Alma 7:11-12).  When we gain a sure testimony that we are unconditionally, always, and completely loved by our Heavenly Father and Savior, I promise that it will make it easier for you to love all His other children, you will know that He feels the same way about them as He does you.

2) Follow Christ's perfect example.

Jesus Christ is our perfect example.  He admonishes all of us to walk in His footsteps.  He says many times, "Follow me," (Matthew 4:19, 8:22, 9:9, Luke 9:59, John 1:43, 2 Nephi 31:10, etc.).  Christ knew how to love perfectly for "charity is the pure love of Christ," (Moroni 7:47).  Many times charity is manifest through service.  Our Savior always sought out opportunities to show forth His pure love through service.  He taught truth, healed the sick, restored the Priesthood authority, established His Church, and performed many more miracles to show the love He had for everyone.  We need to love Him to be like Him, and as we seek out opportunities to serve as Christ did, we will learn to love more purely like Him.  Elder M. Russell Ballard said, "It is only when we love God and Christ with all of our hearts, souls, and minds that we are able to share this love with our neighbors through acts of kindness and service - the way that the Savior would love and serve all of us if He were among us today.  When this pure love of Christ - or charity - envelops us, we think, feel, and act more like Heavenly Father and Jesus would think, feel, and act," ("Finding Joy Through Loving Service," Ensign, 2011).

3) Open your heart.

It is an unfortunate fact of life that many of us are wronged by others at some point in our lives.  It then makes it very easy to close our hearts.  Please do not do this.  Please do not take away the opportunity for someone to love you.  That would be a tragedy.  We read in the Old Testament about a friendship established on love so much that "the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul," (1 Samuel 18:1).  Jonathan's father, King Saul, became angry and jealous with David because the people loved him.  He became so "wroth" that he made multiple attempts at trying to kill him.  It could have been potentially easy for David to say to Jonathan, "Woah!  Your father is trying to kill me, we can no longer be friends."  But, because David allowed his heart to be open, his friendship continued and Jonathan helped to save David's life on more than one occasion.  In the story of Jonathan and David, we learn that we can open up our hearts by choosing to trust.  This can be a frightening thing, but remember the words of John, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear," (1 John 4:18).  As we learn to cast away our fears, our hearts will open to the idea of love and we will more easily be able to love others.

4) Speak of love.

Prophets and apostles both anciently and in these modern days all speak about love.  Paul says, "...he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law," (Romans 13:8), "...by love serve one another," (Galatians 5:13), "But the fruit of the Spirit is love..." (Galatians 5:22).  Moroni says, "But charity is the pure love of Christ," (Moroni 7:47).  Thomas S. Monson said, "Love is the catalyst that causes change," ("A Doorway Called Love," Ensign, Nov. 1987).  If we want to love then we must talk about it.  While being here on my mission, I have tried to make it a point that after speaking to someone, as I walk away, I verbally say, "I love him," or "I love her," or "I love them."  I now do have a genuine love and concern for all those that I meet.  I had a companion that said to me every night, "Hey!  Guess what!  God loves you.  Hey!  Guess what!  I love you."  When we say something out loud, we believe it, then, we come to know it.  When you use the word "love" in your every day language, you will be more receptive to loving others.

5) Seek not to judge others.

Brigham Young said simply, "Judge no man," (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, No. 48).  When irrational judgments are placed upon others, love can not abide.  When we judge others whether by their actions or appearance, we open the gate for every antithesis of love to enter into our minds and hearts.  Judging others is the prerequisite to contention, jealousy, malice, unhappiness, and disdain.  David O. McKay quoted Matthew 7:13, which reads, "Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in they brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"  President McKay followed this scripture by saying, "The context of that scripture plainly indicates that the sin the Savior is condemning is the disposition to look unfavorably on the character and actions of others, which leads almost invariably to the pronouncing of rash, unjust judgments upon them," (General Conference, April 1944).  Whenever you feel a judgement coming along, think to yourself of the second verse in Hymn 220, "Lord, I Would Follow Thee."  It reads, "Who am I to judge another when I walk imperfectly?"  As you cast away judgments on others, you will be able to care more and love deeper.

Joseph Smith says, "Love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God.  A man filled with the love of God is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race," (History of the Church 4:227).  We need to implement ways of learning how to love in our life.  That is what our Father in Heaven wants us to do.  That is what Christ did.  That is what we need to do.  The fruits of loving our heavenly family, that is to include everyone on this earth, are happiness, peace, joy, Godly power, and hope.

...End of Spiritual Thought.

So...I love you all!  Thank you so much for everything!  Thank you for your love, prayers, support, mail, etc.  Tell everyone (family, friends, the ward, etc.) "Hello" and that I love them.

LOVE LOVE LOVE,

Elder Sean Edwards

Testimony of Missionary Work

FAMILY!!

AHHH!!!  I can't believe Mom and Krista were SOO CLOSE to me!!!!  That is pure insanity!  I love knowing that we were in the same state though, even though we could not be in the same exact place.  It's like when I would be at the AMC Movie Theater with friends and you were all at home.  Same state...very close...but not quite.  Okay, that was a super lame example, but whatever.

ANYWAY!  On to my week...

Finally I get to e-mail on a Monday and hopefully get back into the routine swing of things.  We last left off on Tuesday, Nov. 8th.

Here is the Weekly Summary:

Tuesday: Well...It was our P Day.  That pretty much sums it up.  We have been organizing a visits list, so that when we go to do visits to part-member families and unbaptized members we have a method and it is organized by neighborhood.

Wednesday: Zone Meeting.  It was good.  We talked about the difference between the light of Christ and the Holy Ghost.  Elder S went to meet with President Black at the same time we had a lesson scheduled with J.  So, he went with our District Leader Elder C to meet with President while I went with Elder W to teach J.  We taught J part of Lesson 4 (The Commandments) and taught him about The Law of Chastity and The Word of Wisdom.  He is so awesome.  That evening we taught a lesson to the H family.  We did an in-depth Book of Mormon lesson and read and discussed each paragraph in the Introduction to the Book of Mormon.  If you haven't read the introduction lately...READ IT!  It is so great.

Thursday: We went on Splits with the Zone Leaders!  Elder S went with Elder M to go to his area and I went with Elder B to stay in my area and do J's Baptismal Interview.  He did awesome and will be baptized on Friday, November 18th!  WOOO!! :)  We talked about going to BYU and he really wants to get in.  I really hope he does.  He was so excited saying, "Then, when you're off your mission we can all hang out on campus together!"  But, in 2 years he will be 19, and he also really wants to serve a mission.  HOW AWESOME IS THAT!?!  That is probably the greatest thing I've ever heard.  We spent the rest of the day getting out lists together...There is a lot.  Especially when you have to cover two wards.  Oh, and we did our Weekly Planning.  Busy, busy, busy.

Friday: Most of the day was covered with Leadership Training.  It was a great meeting.  We learned that Elder and Sister Yamashita came to the States in July 2011 (this year) not knowing ANY English.  President Packer gave them a special blessing to help them with learning and look at them!  They are incredible!  One of the new things they teach missionaries in the MTC is, "Teach People, Not Lessons".  President B changed it around a bit and says, "Teach People, Not Lessons...But teach them something!"  Hahaha, I love that!  We were told to start committing people to something at the doorstep.  I tried this out on Saturday and really like what happened.  I handed the 20 year old a pass-along card and instead of saying, "There is a website there you can go to if you are interested in learning more", I said, "Will you go on to this website to learn more?"  He said, "Yes."  Who knows if he actually will...But, I really like the thought of extending a commitment at the doorstep.  It was a great day.

Saturday: We taught R about The Church in Former Times.  We taught F and D about how to start reading and understanding the Book of Mormon.  We went on blitz (technically splits that only last about an hour with the District Leader and his companion).

Sunday: Church yesterday was really great.  I love Fast and Testimony Meeting.  I felt so prompted to get up and bear my testimony.  I bore my testimony on Missionary Work (go figure).  I requested help from the members to do missionary work.  We need people to teach.  We are not allowed to tract in gated communities which makes it especially difficult for the W Ward because there are only 3 small neighborhoods that are not gated.  I've tracted them over and over time and time again.  We need help.  I said that the most common reason for not sharing the gospel with non-members is because we are afraid of being rejected.  I told them that is a valid fear, but we will be being an even better friend if we share this message with them because it is the message that gives life and saves souls.  I continued to bear testimony and say that if they are rejected, mocked, torn apart, spit upon, then good for them.  Good for them for standing up for the same message that our Savior himself stood up for.  And if they are rejected, maybe if they are lucky, fortunate, and blessed enough, they will feel the smallest FRACTION of what Jesus Christ felt because it was not easy for him...And it may not be easy for us.  I am so passionate about this.  After bearing my testimony, Sister W (a mother of teenagers) got up and bore her testimony on missionary work and how great it is.  After her, M. E (a teenager) got up and said, "I just want to back up with Elder Edwards said..." and continued to bear her testimony on missionary work.  She shared the message with A, and even though she was scared to, she did it.  And look what happened there!  After her, M. B (a 10 year old primary boy) got up and bore his testimony about missionary work and how great it is.  He said that as members, we need to help the missionaries.  It was not me who touched the hearts of people yesterday...It was the Spirit.  I hope that the words that were said will inspire people to reach out and do missionary work.  Yesterday evening we went to newly released Stake President "farewell" thingy.  Even though I don't really think he is leaving anywhere.  That was fun.

Small World:

1) I am related to my Ward Mission Leader,  through Aunt Lesa!!  SMALL WORLD!!!!

Investigators Update:

1) J: Going to be baptized this FRIDAY!  AHHHHHHH YAYYYYYY!!!!

2) J: The H family are progressing.  They are great and I love them.  After our lesson on Wednesday, I was prompted to ask them if they would like a Priesthood Blessing.  I would imagine it is hard to gain a testimony of the Priesthood if they don't have any experiences with it.  It went great.  I gave D a blessing and Brother A gave J a blessing.

3) S: We set a date to meet with her on Saturday, and an hour before our appointment with her, she cancelled...Again.  I will just have to be patient on this one.  I text her things to read from the Book of Mormon, so I hope that is helping.

FOOD REPORT!:

Tuesday: Pizza

Wednesday: Calzones

Thursday: Chicken Pasta

Friday: Ham and Cheese Soup

Saturday: Ham

Sunday: Pork Loin

Spiritual Thought:

I got a really great letter from Grandpa this last week (Grandpa Edwards, of course!).  It really helped to encourage and uplift me.  I love what it says and it is true for everyone.  In it he mentions Elder Maxwell's talk, "Jesus, The Perfect Mentor".  He references some things that President Brigham Young said such as, "There are no two faces alike, no two persons tempered alike; ... we are tried with each other, and large drafts are made upon our patience, forbearance, charity, and good will, in short, upon all the higher and Godlike qualities of our nature."  Elder Maxwell says, "In the relationships of which I speak - the mentoring, the tutoring, the commending, and occasionally the correcting - every one of us has ample clinical opportunities to develop our capacity to love."  I love that.  I stand by that.  And I testify of it.  Our capacity to love will grow if we let it.  We need to have an attitude of humility, patience, and selflessness in order to grow.  That is the prerequisite.

Well...I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!  Thank you for everything.  Thank you for your love and support always.  Tell everyone in the ward, all friends, all family that I said, "HI!" And that I love them.  Thank you for the letters and the packages.

LOVE YOU!!!

Love,

Elder Sean Edwards

October 24, 2011

FAMILY! :)

Hiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!  I can't believe Week 1 of my 3rd Transfer in the field is OVER!  Wow.  This has been quite the interesting week.

I will start with the Food Report:

Monday: Crockpot Beef

Tuesday: White Chicken Chili

Wednesday: Salmon Grilled on a Wood Plank

Thursday: Ham

Friday: Bow Tie Pasta

Saturday: Pulled Pork (at L's)

Sunday: Hawaiian Hay Stacks (Sister S said she was worried about making anything Hawaiian because she thought I was Hawaiian and didn't want me to be offended. Haha.)

So...Because there is just so much to talk about, I will just go through a quick summary of my week.

Monday: Bye, Bye Elder T! :(  So sad.  It was strange to have to say "Good Bye" to someone you have lived with and spent 24/7 with the last 3 months.  But, I got my new missionary companion, Elder S.  He is awesome!  He is 19 years old and from the east coast.  He is excited to be out in the field and he has an incredible and great enthusiasm to do missionary work.  I love it!  I think it has been quite an adjustment for him.  He has never lived out of the home, so I've been trying my best to not only teach things pertaining to missionary work, but also to teach life skills.  He grew up with a dishwasher in his home, but has never washed a dish before.  I taught him how to wash a dish, put it in the dishwasher, and start the dishwasher.  I also taught him how to do laundry and how to work the washer/dryer.  The mission president always asks every incoming missionary, "Do you know how to and can you ride a bike?"  Elder S said, "Yes."  But, the answer should have been something else.  Since our whole area is bike, I've been trying to teach him how to ride a bicycle.  I've been learning a lot of good patience skills.  He has crashed a few times and gotten scrapes and bruises.  I wish things could be easier for him.

Tuesday: I gave Elder S kind of a "Half P-Day" so he can do his grocery shopping and unpack his things.  Tuesday night we taught a lesson to W' s kids, B and H.  We taught them the first half of Lesson 3.  They are so attentive and pick up on concepts really well.  It will be a happy day when they can be baptized.  Elder S did a good job on his first lesson in the field.  He was able to participate a little and share a personal experience.

Wednesday: We taught a lesson to R about the Priesthood.  Other than that...Tracting and Visits.

Thursday: We did a lot of tracting and visits.  We had a lesson with S planned, but she was put on some new medication and didn't hear the doorbell ring or our phone calls to her.  It has been very difficult to get a hold of her lately.  Hopefully we will be able to see her soon.  She didn't come to church on Sunday either. :(

Friday: We had a "Train The New Missionaries Training Meeting" with President B.  It was a great meeting, and I got some good insights.  Because Elder S does not know the key points of the lessons, I figure that would be a good thing to get down first and foremost before we start studying anything else.  So, we have modified the training program to address his most important needs first, then hopefully we will be able to go back to the training program outline.  Elder S has been diagnosed with ADHD but does not take or have medication.  So, there are some challenges but we are working through it patiently and with love.

Saturday: We taught a lesson to V and D who we met while tracting a few months ago.  They were finally able to meet and we were very excited to teach them.  I just knew that they would start investigating the church and LOVE it!  Well, we went over, and it was like an ambush.  The mom, V, was very contentious and every time her daughter, D, would say something like, "Ohhh...That makes sense," V would say, "No it doesn't!"  It's interesting how when I was talking and answering their questions, I could really feel the Spirit so much that I started to cry as I bore my testimony about the Spirit World, yet V could not feel the Spirit because she made the decision beforehand to not allow herself to feel the Spirit.  I guess that is just the beauty of agency.  It was a very interesting experience and I learned a lot from it.  I have a deep love for V, and I wish her heart could be softened.  There is always hope.  Then we had dinner with L and family.  It was a lot of fun.  It was great just to be in the company with the family I know and love.  It was fun to chat with T and A her kids.

Sunday: We were told last minute that we needed to teach Gospel Principles class.  So, we taught the lesson.  It went really great.  I really enjoy teaching and had a lot of fun.  Right after getting home from church we got a phone call to visit F and D (who are recent converts that moved into the ward about a month ago).  D requested a blessing, so I gave her the blessing.  It went wonderfully and she was very thankful.  She asked us to come back and teach her more since she is still "new".  So, this is exciting because we have more people we can visit and teach.  I think it will provide for some great teaching opportunities for Elder S AND me.  Also, a non-member family has been coming to the ward.  Their first Sunday was last week, and I was right on it.  I introduced myself and told them we are the full-time teachers for the church and offered to come over and teach them more.  J. H (the Dad) was unsure about it and kind of dodged the invite.  So, I decided that I would just give them the space they needed, and when they want to learn more, they can come to me.  Well, after Elders Quorum, he came up to me and asked us to come over and teach him, his wife, and family more!  AHHHH MIRACLES!!!  I am so excited to start teaching them.  We made an appointment for Tuesday evening.  Also, we set up a lesson for today to teach a teenager boy, J.  He is a non-member and has been coming to church with his friend in the ward.  He loves the church, and so we are excited to teach him.  His Mom was killed right in front of him just a year or two ago, so it is a very sad story.  I believe his Dad left him, so he is living with some friends right now.  He seems very nice.  More to come...

This will be a crazy, busy week.  I am so excited to teach J and the H Family!  Sister B is coming over tomorrow to do an apartment check.  Wednesday the District Leader is coming to do all day splits with me.  Thursday is the Waterfall Trunk-or-Treat.  Friday is the Aliante Trunk-or-Treat.  So, it is going to be busy busy busy (which is SOO GOOD!)!  We love busy.

Well...I will end now with a spiritual thought for the week:

I was reading in Mosiah this last week.  Alma the Older's son, Alma the Younger, was going about seeking to destroy the Church.  An angel appeared to Alma the Younger and rebuked him.  Alma the Younger was "astonished...so great that he became dumb, that he could not open his mouth...he became weak, even that he could not move his hands," (Mosiah 27:19).  He was taken to his father, Alma the Older who "caused that a multitude should be gathered together that they might witness what the Lord had done for his son, and also for those that were with him," (Mosiah 27:21).  It goes on to explain how Alma the Younger, because of this experience, had a change of heart.  He repented of his sins and no longer sought to destroy the Church.  Instead, he saught to build the Church by becoming a missionary and teaching truth.  I love what it says about Alma the Older's excitement over what the Lord did for his son.  The key word being "for" and not "to".  The Lord does not do things "TO" us.  He does things "FOR" us.  Our blessings, our afflictions, and our experiences are all FOR our benefit.  With this outlook, I believe we can grow spiritually and learn the lessons the Lord would want us to.

I love you all.  Thank you for your letters!  I read them and cherish each one.  Please tell all friends and family, "Hi!" and that I love them.

I LOVE YOU!!

Love,

Elder Sean Edwards