Thanksgiving week, P-Day #6

Thank you for the packages, it has been so good to get mail!  The soccer ball is good, and I have been using it. It has been much appreciated! :) It is a good stress reliever! The biking gloves fit good and work good too. I love getting letters and other mail! I enjoy having pictures, send me any that you would like.

So, this last week on Monday or Tuesday (I can't remember which day) we were biking home at night. In our area there aren't street lights so it is pretty dark. I had just gotten through the 4 way stop, and was picking up speed. I saw lights coming behind me so I got as close to the side of the road as I could so I wasn't in their way. The thing here is that the shoulders of the road are really small, maybe a foot if we are lucky. For some reason, parts of the road are broken off and there was a decent pot hole. So in short, I hit a pot hole and ate pavement. Not any serious injuries just messed up my wrist, hopefully it isn't fractured or anything, ha oh well. I was sore after I crashed, and we still had a little bit to go to get home. Luckily miracles happen, and this guy with a bike rack asks if he can take us anywhere because it is really dark and apparently, my back light had run out of battery. That was such an answer to my prayer to have that happen. I know God is looking out for us, and will help us and put amazing people into our lives like that. (ps: don't freak out, I'm fine,mom ;)

We also had 2 new investigators this week which was really good. They are so nice and awesome, and it is so good to teach instead of just having to knock doors! 

My Thanksgiving was really good! We had dinner at the Workmans' house. They smoked the turkey which was really good. It made me feel good that people would let us in their home to celebrate the holidays with them and their family.  It was definitely weird being away from home, and not being with you guys. Luckily the members are awesome and have been so good to us! 

Seems like you guys are really busy which is good! I'm glad the holidays were good, and I can't wait to see grandpa and grandma's new house. It's good that Cole was up there to help them move stuff. It's not good that the dogs were being dumb, and that grandma hurt her wrist/arm. I can feel her pain, wrist injuries are not that fun at all. Hopefully they can move in by Christmas, and if not life moves on. Like she said in her letter to me. These next 2 years will be hard, but so will the next 75! 

     

That is so good that great grandma Nyberg was able to come out for Deric's  wedding, and that the wedding went well. (Deric is Gage's second cousin)

I have learned that we are just normal people, and we are just having regular conversations with people. That was a big turning point for me. It helps me to find a reason to just keep going, and to be happy. Like when getting a door slammed in my face or getting yelled at, I think to myself, "Huh, well Jesus loves you even though you are being stubborn, and so do I." Finding little things like that helps me show more love, and care about everyone, and to be more happy. 

Satan truly wants us to give up because he knows if we do, it will weaken us. He wants us to be miserable. On my mission, I have doubted myself, wanted to quit, and go home. I have always come to the same conclusion, Satan knows what I am capable of on this mission (that is why he is trying so hard to discourage me). Also, who better for him to take down than one of the servants of the Lord? 

I really love that scripture (Alma 26:12), because it is so true. We should all be boasting of God because he has given us everything. All that we have is from him. He has blessed us so much and does so many things for us. 

My challenge to you guys this month is to help the missionaries out, and find them a referral! I know how it is, and how it isn't as much fun to just knock doors to find people. Also, it is all of our jobs, not just the missionaries, to bring people the joy of the gospel. It is something that we should all do. 

Thank you for all the prayers. I have needed them, and they have helped! I love and miss you all, and will keep y'all in my prayers!

(I have yet to receive a picture from Gage...I hope he is actually taking some. Luckily I get one from other people from time to time. Cole's friend from College has a friend serving in Raleigh too, she found Gage and got a pic!)

Swift Creek, P-Day #5

Gage clarified that he is actually covering an area called Swift Creek, and said that it is just on the outskirts of other cities. 

We get a car every other week, we share with another set of elders. We still bike quite a bit. We have like 20+ mile days up and down lots of hills so that's a killer, and the cold stinks! Shopping and cooking stinks, but I'm dealing with it, haha!

I can listen to any music that invites the spirit, it can be Christian music or even Disney. Just music that is good.

People need Christmas ideas? I have no clue. Umm, food would be good, sweaters, ties, CDs, maybe another athletic watch, and a soccer ball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sleeping alright. I'm still not a morning person, but it is starting to get easier as it goes.

These last 2 weeks we have been struggling to find people to teach, and it has been frustrating. We got this referral from a member so we went and talked to the people. They said we could come back and share our message. We went back. We just talked to him about it, and showed him a chapter in the bible, in John it says that there are sheep not of this fold that will get the word. This is talking about the people in the Book of Mormon. He liked how the bible said that, and then we shared with him that if he wanted to know what we taught him was true he just had to ask God. He then said, "Well, I guess if you aren't BS-ing me then God will let me know." It was funny and way good! The Book of Mormon is so true and it is such a blessing to have. We all need to read it. We need to convert ourselves before we can convert anyone else. We need to put God's will before our own will, because we owe him that. He has given us everything! We need to follow Him, and do what He says. This can be found in the Book of Mormon!

(An excerpt from my letter to Gage: I had an experience this past Thursday evening. I was driving home from work, and I had an overwhelming feeling that you needed prayers. I thought to myself, "I am almost home." The thought came again, so I pulled over and said a prayer for you. I then immediately called the temple prayer role, and had you added to it. I am not sure if there was something going on or not, but know that I think of you often and am trying to act upon all of those impressions.) Gage's reply to that story: Well, I can definitely say that there was a reason you did that. I really was having a hard time, and was feeling like I couldn't do this. I felt like I was inadequate and shouldn't be here. It was killing me inside, and making me feel that I should just give up. I thought, "I could be doing other things that I am better at", because I wasn't good at teaching. I prayed a lot to feel comfort. The next day I learned that we teach people, not lessons. We are just talking to people about the gospel, we don't need to say certain things. The spirit helps us be guides in bringing them to the knowledge of the truth. This hit me, and I felt so much comfort! I felt so much better about everything! So thank you for doing that, and following your promptings of the spirit. It isn't always easy to recognize and follow the spirit.

Tell Cole and Kylee "happy late birthday" from me! 

I love you all!!

First area is in Swift Creek/Apex, P-Day #4

My comments are in italics. I asked Gage a bunch of questions in my last letter, and he answered them. It will make more sense if you know what I asked. 

That's good you guys got the letter that I mailed!!  It will be nice to get a MP3 and speaker to help bring the spirit with general conference talks and church music.

Ah, it is so crazy that Kylee will be driving (she can get her permit after her birthday this week), at least I don't have to worry about it because I am gone ;) just kidding, she will do great!

My bike works, and the helmet is good. I like it! Other than we have had some 20 mile days with the bikes which is awful! There are so many freaking hills here it is a joke!! (The bike was bought on line, and we were hoping it was going to be okay for him. It is hard when he can't try it out first.) 

No, I haven't gotten a coat yet. I am probably going to get that today. I have a couple of sweaters, just get me one more for Christmas! :) 

We live with some members, they have made a little apartment above their garage. It is really small, but it is really nice. It's just  me and my companion that live there which is really nice. I don't have to worry about any slobs! (For some reason this calmed my heart :)

My companion is from American Fork, so he is close to where we live. He likes to golf and was a debater in high school. 

The area is pretty good, just big. We are just building up investigators right now. It is a lot of tracting in this mission. 

No, I never had time to go find it, which I was really disappointed about. :/ (I had asked if he had found a surprise that his cousin had left at the MTC for him.)

No, we don't have iPads in our  mission. I have been taking some pictures, I just forgot to bring it today so I will upload some next week. (Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a picture junkie...I hope that he has taken lots.)

I'm not a huge fan of the vinegar based BBQ sauce, but oh well. The food we get here is super good!! I am eating a lot of sandwiches, and simple stuff like that. (I like the sweet BBQ sauce too, definitely my kid. I had asked what kinds of things he was eating.)

North Carolina is good, super pretty with the trees. It looks like Seattle, but a lot more trees! The trees just make it so hard to really see anything. The humidity makes the cold worse, it is in the 30's here, but it feels colder. (I had asked, "how is North Carolina?".)

Ah such cute babies! They will be a lot bigger when I see them! (I had attached some pics of his new cousin and his new 2nd cousin, both boys!)

I love you guys so much and all the support you give me!!! <3

I found a picture on Google of somewhere in Apex, NC. Definitely some tall trees!

First Week in North Carolina, P-Day #3!

I am doing good, and I am alive!! This first week has been crazy, but it has been really good! North Carolina is awesome! There are so many trees that you can't even see anything! It also rains a lot here so it makes it supppperrr humid!

I feel inadequate a lot. I feel like I don't really know anything, and I compare myself to the other Elders that have been out here for over a year. I need to not compare myself to others, I have been doing better at it. The spiritual experiences that I have had already have been great. The Lord works through us missionaries in ways that we would never even think. The spirit helps teach more than we do! 

I am buying some more sweaters today, and I need to buy a rain jacket. It has been cold and rainy.

It is so crazy how the Lord prompts you. The Lord truly works miracles through all of us. We never really think much about the spirit, and the blessings it brings now a days. We are too much of the world to see past it, and to be in the right frame to actually feel the spirit. The spirit is a small voice, it isn't going to shake you or yell at you. You have to be ready to hear the spirit and then be prompted by the spirit and be willing to act on it. Recognizing the spirit isn't always an easy thing. It takes work and time to recognize it. We feel it more than we think we do, we just don't realize it. 

It's nerve racking having to knock on doors, but that goes away because you learn to not care if they reject you. It will most likely happen anyways! When I come home in 2 years you won't be able to shut me up, haha!! You have no choice but to grow out here, because there is a lot to learn in such little time. A lot of it just comes with time as well. Luckily the spirit is amazing and helps me, and works through me. I can talk to strangers now... It's weird. Looking at me a year back, I would never have done that in a million years! The love that comes from Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father is truly amazing, and helps us so much. He has blessed me so much already!  

We apparently only get to go to the temple around general conference time, so we get to go 4 times on the mission.

Yesterday we taught this guy named Brandon. (You should have gotten a picture from the member whose house we taught at-I did, see below.). Brandon has concerns and questions, but he just really wants to know if these things are true before he commits to being a member and being baptized. I felt prompted to tell him my story of how I came to be here serving a mission. I almost didn't say anything and just let the lesson go on, but I kept having the impression that I needed to share it. So, I did. The spirit that was there while I was telling my story really truly touched me and him. The spirit is amazing, and we truly don't use it as much as we really should! I love y'all and miss y'all!

 

Elder Davis has arrived!

Elder Davis and Elder Hampton

Sister James, Elder Davis, and President James

Brandon, Elder Hampton, Elder Davis (I got this pic in a random text last night, it totally made my whole week!)

Great to hear Elder Davis' voice!

The best thing about 6:15 on a Monday morning was a 15 min phone call from Elder Gage Davis! He was getting ready to fly to North Carolina, and had a few minutes before boarding his flight. For some reason I was thinking that if he was up at 3:30 am to head to the airport (from the MTC) for a 7:10 am flight, that I would have gotten to talk to him longer than 15 min. It might have been that he was traveling with 15 other missionaries that were all going to North Carolina. He sounded a bit exhausted for some reason, but he has never been much of a morning person, and that coupled with the cold that he has had this past week, might have been why he sounded that way :)  He will arrive in Raleigh later this afternoon, after one hour layover in Atlanta. Hopefully the flight will be on time so that all of them can get to their connecting flight on time.

Aaron, Kylee, and Kade popped out of bed without difficulty this morning for a chance to talk to Gage. It had only been 12 days since we last spoke, but feels like it has been much, much, much longer. (We now have 7 weeks & 4 days until we get to hear his voice again, but who's counting? That is also your countdown to Christmas Day!) Everyone got to have a short conversation and update Gage on the events of the past couple of weeks. He mentioned how much he has loved all the packages and letters! He was able to share with lots of the other missionaries. He has been slowly adjusting to the early morning wake up time, like I said, he is not a morning guy. He was ready to be out of the MTC and was grateful he wasn't learning a language that would have required a much longer stay there. He is nervous, but excited to be heading to North Carolina!

I asked him what his favorite scripture was so that we could have it printed on his mission plaque that will be displayed in the foyer at the church. He told me it was Alma 37:6-7

     6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.    7 And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.

This is the picture that I have chosen for the plaque.

I have a strong testimony of this Gospel of Happiness or I could not let my son leave us for 2 years to share this message with others. I am grateful to all of you for the love and support that you give him and the rest of our family! We are so very blessed to have such incredible friends and family!!!

HE ARRIVED IN NORTH CAROLINA SAFELY!!! THANK YOU TO SISTER JAMES FOR SENDING US A PICTURE OF OUR MISSIONARY!