Bible myths about heaven

(Sister Slade)

This week we were talking to an old lady who lives in a nursing home named Cathy. Her pastor had given her a book titled "Bible Facts About Heaven" and wanted us to read it to her because she's basically blind. (If you remember my email from 4 weeks ago, about the Priester, it's the same guy). There was so much false doctrine in it that it should have been called "Bible Myths About Heaven." I'm grateful for the knowledge that we have about the plan of salvation and the hope it brings. The book was fear driven as if the only way to talk about Heaven was to talk about Hell and scare people into Heaven. But God is loving and kind and merciful. He wants us to choose to be happy, not force us to be happy. That's not true happiness.

A lot happened this week, but nothing happened this week. We had exchanges in Springdale on Tuesday and that was fun. I served in Springdale for 10 days and got to see a couple of the people I had met while there. On Wednesday we had a stake district council and then Blitzed the Siloam Springs area. So there were 26 missionaries in one area trying to find people for the missionaries serving there to teach. Unfortunately no one found anyone for them to teach. The sisters that drove us up there though were terrible drivers. I think we almost died 7 or 8 times in the 30 minute drive. That was exciting.

That's about it for this week.

God is good.

Sister Slade

pictures

1-5. Saturday was really boring so we played at a park for 20 minutes before going in for dinner

6-8. I was really depressed on Saturday but then at service at the animal shelter, all one cat wanted to do was snuggle. it made me happy

9-10. We got to hold a baby bunny on Wednesday.

Tell me how your mission is going...

(Hermana Ellsworth)

Tell me how your mission is going. How long have you been out?

My mission is going so well! I have been out 1 year on Wednesday.  I have been able to learn a ton of Spanish so I can really share what I feel to the people here. I hot some rough spots about 6 months into the mission with companions and then a car crash but it was exactly what I needed to grow and progress! I Love how good God is at strategically placing trials in my life. I have seen a lot of fruit of my labor and I feel like I have been TOOO blessed. I love Puerto Rico and the people. Sadly I love the food too much and have gained 15 lbs.... but I know there are blessings after the mission too.

What’s a revelation you’ve received lately that has helped you or somebody else?

I have been able to study more about the restoration of the Gospel and better ways to teach that. I also got to feel the spirit work through me as I shared about how to receive personal revelation based on the experience Nephi had in chapter 10 and 11 of 1 Nephi. It helped them understand that their questions could lead to real answers if they exercise their faith first. I know I am teaching with the spirit when I end up learning something at the same time.

How has your testimony of the truthfulness of the church been tested?

I dont think the truthfulness of the church has ever been tested in my eyes. I know that it is true and every trial has taught even more that God knows everything and that he guides this church through a living prophet. I know that. I cant explain how or when I knew that for sure but at this point in my life I know it. God cannot Lie. That has been my motto for a hot second. If he told me once that it is true I know he cant lie. If he has told me the blessings of a commandment I know he will keep his word on that. My patriarchal blessing has helped me a ton to keep going and trusting in the promises of the Lord.

What’s something funny that has happened lately?

We were teaching a family with 2 boys, (8 years old and 11 years old) they have a short attention span so we have to spot every once in a while to play a game so they can get the lesson completely.  We were teaching the plan of salvation and when we got to the final judgment we told the boys they could have 1 minute to ask us as many questions as they want to see if we were keeping the commandments as if we were being "Judged"

They asked us "¿Cuáles son los nombres de su mejor amigos???" (Or what are the names of your best friends)

I started to answer and in a very strong spanish accent but in english the 11 year old said, "YOO LIIEE!!! JESUS CHRIST IS YO BEST FRIEND!!"

I about died laughing in the lesson because he thought he really got me on that one.

1 YEAR

(Hermana Ellsworth)

One Year in the mission and I get to celebrate it with some of the most amazing missionaries. These are some of the missionaries that were in the CCM with me not shown: Hermana Melhoff, Hermana Nelson, Elder Hill, Elder Cuthbertson, Elder Leemaster, Elder Stellway (Kibarabari), and Elder Makaafi, HAPPY ONE YEAR SINCE WE ALL MET IN MEXICO! (On Wednesday)

After our ultimate frisbee and volleyball zone activity we went and got some good Frappes (Just the name for smoothies in Puerto Rico)

Everything is relaxing a lot now that the earthquakes have mostly stopped and are less often.

It has been amazing to see the growth of the people and the church as a whole as people join together for the greater good. We are still teaching some amazing people and the Lord is blessing us with finding a lot of people and then having a lot of them keep commitments. We had 7 people at church on Sunday and the Ward members are bringing a lot of their friends to church so that we can get to know them. I love my mission so much and it has changed my life.

I am so excited to keep pushing hard and I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for me in next 6 months! Thank you everyone for all of your wonderful emails that I got last week! I am working on replying and I love hearing how everyone is! I love you all so much!

AND I ALMOST FORGOT!!! AFTER THE EARTHQUAKES THE TEMPLE OOOFFFIICIIAALLLYYYY STARTED CONSTRUCTION!!!!!!!!!!! They got the permission and everything and I am so excited to be here as it is finally moving towards construction!

I love Hermana Hahne so much! We have grown so much from when we first met in the CCM and I am so happy to be her companion! A spiritual Giant !!

GO FIGHT WIN!! We are fighting a battle out here and it is just part of the battle we fought before (Go to Revelations 12 for more information on how to fight ;) )

January 21, 2020

(Elder Petersen)

So this week we contacted a lot of people to try and find some new people to teach and to set up some more lessons with both non-members as well as members. It has been a great week filled with a lot of walking and talking as well as a few more inches of snow last Wednesday. This next week we will be able to go to the temple with one of my recent converts whose name is Heather. She is a very dedicated lady in what she believes and has had a bit of a rough life but through the gospel and the sacredness of the baptismal ordinances in which she participated in I know that her life will only look up no matter the challenges that will beset her in the rest of her life. I know just as well as she does that it is only through the Holy Ghost that we can truly come to know Heavenly Father and the plan that he has for us in this life and in the life to come. My one bit of Council to anyone who might be struggling right now in any way is to pray about your struggles because even though sometimes it may be hard to believe that Heavenly Father is listening to each and every one of our prayers, he is and although we may not see his answer in our lives right now it will come sometimes without you even knowing that it is there. Love all of you have a great week! Wherever in the world you may be!

Shook!

(Hermana Ellsworth)

Hello Family and Friends!

We are doing well in Puerto Rico. This week we have been experiencing some major earthquakes but all missionaries are accounted for and my companion and I are safe and sound in Humacao.  We were out of power for 3 days after the 6.4 earthquake on Tuesday. We have been working on the relief efforts for the south with food, water, and hygiene products. The mission always makes us keep and emergency bag and 72 hrs of food and water incase of earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes.  We have everything packed inside the car incase we need to leave. To learn more about the mission and how we are doing we invite you to look up the church news room article....

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/missionaries-latter-day-saints-reported-safe-following-early-morning-quake-in-puerto-rico?lang=eng

I have learned a lot on my mission and it seems I keep learning about the importance of emergency preparedness.  I sat in ward Council listening to the testimonies of our ward leaders and their experiences during Hurricane Maria. One of the testimonies that touched me the most is when our ward mission leader mentioned how important it is to be spiritually prepared for emergencies too. I know that each person is on their own spiritual journey but we all have the same goal. We are here on earth to repent and to prepare ourselves to dwell with God again. Alma 34:32 32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

Elder Christopherson in the world Wide young adult broadcast spoke about how this life is to also meant to be a time to make connections with others. To spend the time with loved ones and to help our brothers and sisters grow in their journey towards our mutual Father in Heaven. I have made friends, nearly family, here in Puerto Rico and it hurts me to see my friends and family here suffering and going through similar fears from Hurricane Maria. I know that God is looking out for this Island and He, the almighty and All knowing, is preparing more than just the island but the people for a Temple. I know all things point to a God that exists and He is moving forward with His great work.

"Alma 26:5 Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted.

                             

               6 Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them.

                                            7 But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day.

                                             8 Blessed be the name of our God; let us sing to his praise, yea, let us give thanks to his holy name, for he doth work righteousness forever."

I hope you are able to ponder about about how Good God really is and how Good our fellow men are. Slow Down and wait on the Spirit of the Lord. Be still and Know that God is God.

And our Beautiful Julian was able to pass the sacrament with his fellow Deacons this week :) #ProudMissionary

Are the Clouds Green?

(Sister Slade)

The beginning of this week was fairly boring. I wasn't quite as recovered from having 3 ear infections as I thought. I got really tired really easily so every couple of hours I would have to sit down for a bit. It was especially bad on Tuesday when we did service at the restore. They always have us move a lot of heavy furniture and equipment so I got really worn out. But I'm better now!

On Friday we had a tornado warning. It was terrifyingly fun. The sky turned green. It was POURING. We got soaked running from the car to our apartment. Our mission leaders recommended that we shouldn't leave the apartment for the rest of the night, so we sewed some dresses. The next morning everything froze and there was ice everywhere and a skiff of snow. It made the Coloradan in me happy. It was a tender mercy.

The next day was interviews and all my mission president and his wife talked to me about was that I was going home in 9 weeks and my plans for going home. I thought i was ready to go home until they started asking for the details of my plan and I couldn't answer. Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!! Even though I'm panicking a little (a lot) there's also a sense of peace. The Lord's going to help me figure things out and they will happen exactly the way they need to.

After interviews we helped with a youth service project. It was really fun and I was able to build relationships with some of the young women in our ward. We packaged 40,000 meals to go to 3rd world countries. It was really neat to talk to the youth and share a little of my testimony of service. Doing service has changed my mission. For the first 6 months we didn’t do very much but now we do scheduled service almost every day. Service softens hearts in ways that other things can't.

God is good!

Sister Slade

Pictures!

1. Johana's daughter sat on my lap and before I could take her off (because it's against the rules to have children sit on you lap) sister Jelderks took a picture

2. At service with the youth

3-4. This cat really liked our shoulders

5-7. Sister Jelderk's phone has a fun camera filter so during phone audits we had too much fun

January 14 2020

(Elder Petersen)

So this week we did a few interesting things going on. The most exciting thing about it would be that we put one of the people that we are teaching by the name of Olivia on date to be baptized! Olivia is a 12 year old girl who seems to be really wanting to be baptized. So this happened on Sunday night and it just went really well! On Wednesday we had District Council where we learned how best to make Jesus Christ the center of everything that we teach. We also had service at a place called Blacksmith Fork Assisted Living where we called bingo for those living there. Other than that we really did not do all that much. But one thing that was nice is that in the past few days we have gotten around a foot of snow so now everything is just covered in snow making everything just look white and nice. Hope you all have a great week!

Until next week,

Elder Petersen