Spiritual Light

Hey family and friends!!!!!!!!!! 

 

Yea so this week we were given another day to email because LDS Mail went down and they sent us an email saying if you want you can resend your letter if it didn't go through or add something so I added  the video of Brother Punjack but it didn't send through.  Well let me tell you what happened this week!!!!  This week was amazing!!!!!!!!!! The spirit was sooooo strong this week!!!!!! We had really good lessons and I learned a lot this past week!!! It first started off with a fun P-day.  Our District got together and we played some card games and had a good time!!!  Since we are in a trio we went on exchanges and elder Klima went to Uniontown and Elder Isom and I stayed in McKeesport.  It was pretty fun!! On Tuesday at dinner we ate with the Ms.  You remember them right?  He is the one that has a really bad health condition and has the tumor in his brain and that was supposed to be dead 12 years ago!!!!!  He is a walking miracle.  Well, we had dinner with them and Brother H, a member in the Branch, looked me up on Facebook and saw my profile picture.  It is the one of me posing for my book character.  Brother H showed the pic to Elder Isom and Isom told Sister M to look it up.  As she was looking me up, I was telling her the backstory of how I was the model for the book character in Hidden Monsters and my character's name is Blake and that the pictures were taken for advertising, teasers and/or book covers.  So now my past is following me into my mission and the guys always tease me about the picture.  They call it the smoulder!! Hahaha Brother Haroldsen actually got in contact with Amanda Strong, the author, and she explained it to him what the picture was for and what she was going to use it for.  Anyways, we had dinner with the M's and it was a lot of fun over there!!!!  I am so grateful for the Murphy's  I love them and so many other members of the Branch! We picked up 2 new investigators through the media referals.  I was excited because we were dropping investigators because they no longer wanted to meet with us. However, the Lord provides a way and He did!!! We got 2 new investigators this week and we are going to meet with both of them this upcoming week!!  We left a B.O.M. with both of them and they said they would read it so I'm excited!!!!!!!  

Speaking of the B.O.M., our B.O.M. class this week was great!!!!!! Sister P was there and asked me to share spiritual insight on Alma 2:34- when the Nephites used the Lamanite bodies to cross the river and how many bodies that must've been and Alma 3:3- the bodies have turned to bones and sank to the bottom of the river and into the sea. She asked me if I would give a spiritual symbolism to that so if you guys have any insights/thoughts on that just write to me!! Speaking of spiritual insight, we had a District meeting and one of the Elders broke down Moroni's promise.  We shared the scripture and the thoughts with Brother S at our next lesson.  We told him that God is bound to his promises and that he cannot break His promise or He will cease to be God.  President R, the Branch President, was also at the lesson and he really connected with Brother S.  In fact, Brother S even offered to say the opening prayer which is just incredible because when we first began meeting with him, he wouldn't even pray but now he's offering to say the prayers.  People can change and improve I've seen it!!!!!!!! Needless to say, the lesson went well.  Brother S was even at church at the end of the block.  He came so that Natalie ( his daughter) could go with him to see their Great Grandma's grave and do some genealogy!!!!!!!! That was incredible! So many miracles and amazing moments are happening here in the McKeesport Branch!  We met again with Sister Y.  We needed a member to come out and the Brother that was going to come got called into work last minute.  When we told Sister Y that we didn't have a Branch member, she invited her brother M who is a member but is inactive.  We were able to preach to him, his family and Sister Y and her mom!!! The best part was Sister Y and her mom came to church as usual but this time she stayed all 3 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!  She commented in Gospel Principles that she feels very comfortable at the branch and that everyone's so nice! I love this branch.  They truly are sooooo loving!!!!!! I don't want to leave this branch.  I wish I could serve here my whole mission like Elder Klima!!! That would be awesome!!!!!! I doubt I will but that would great! 

The best part of this week was the lesson we had with L and JJ, our investigators.  I truly learned what teaching to someone's needs meant!!!!!! We were about to start the lesson and we were talking about the world and JJ was talking about how dark this world is and I was agreeing with him how it is becoming even worse.  Then he starts to break down and cry. Ok before I go any further little back story on JJ.  He works on the railroad and he has seen some really gruesome stuff working out there.  He's been the conductor and he's seen people commit suicide.  He has told us many stories of people jumping in front of his train to kill themselves but he isn't able to stop.  He says you can feel the body as bones break as the train runs them over.  Not only that but he was a part of a biker gang when he was younger and he's done and seen some crazy stuff.  So knowing that, imagine this man, who has seen the worst of the worst and who was programmed to not have emotion or feel pain, breaking down and cryng!  There must have been a lot of pent up emotion inside of him.  So as I was watching him cry, I was trying to think of what to say when Brother J, our recent convert, reads a verse out of the bible that talks about how we can be forgiven for the things we've done and how the sinner can always be forgiven. JJ told us that was exactly what he needed to hear.  In this lesson not a single eye was dry.  We were all crying and the spirit was soooo strong. L even cried but he didn't understand why he was crying.  In the middle of the lesson JJ asked, "What do I have to do to get baptized?"  We told him about the baptismal interview questions and he remembered what that was. During the lesson, I was able to see JJ and Luke wanting to do something because they felt the spirit so strongly.  We invited them to baptism and JJ said yes.  We asked L but he said he wasn't sure.  Brother M asked him if he know what we were teaching him to be true would he get baptized and he said yes. I know that L will get his answer and come unto Christ but it will be on Gods timeline.  However the spirit was soooo strong and I understood what teaching to someone's needs actually meant after that lesson. I want to help people as much as possible and I want them to know the joy this gospel brings!!!!! I love you guys I hope you have a great week love you.  Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Cahoon the Baboon

 

Cops and Robbers!

Hello family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Wow what a week.  I can't wait to tell you all of what has gone on cause it's been a lot of some amazing!!! Some not so
amazing. :(  That's great Austin's going with Lexi to Spring Formal.  Good for him.  Way to go buddy.  Have fun.  Wow Lexi is a
senior!?!? That's crazy.  Time goes by way too fast!!! I can't believe it.  Yesterday I felt like a senior but I'm not.  hahaha!!!!! So we don't teach the Book of Mormon class- our ward mission leader does but we attend.  It's for investigators and those who don't have a particularly good understanding of the BOM.  We read in the class and then discuss the reading.  It's cool.  Elder Klima actually set it up when he was here the first time and it's still going!!!!  No I actually don't get scared when I go to the
ghetto.  I'm pretty sure it's because I'm on the Lord's business and he will protect me.  I actually am doing really well on my knitting.  It is coming along pretty well.  I am so glad that I didn't give up cause I was struggling and I couldn't figure out the second part but I did it!!!!!!  I'm so glad I'm acquiring this talent!!!!!  Our lessons are going well and I feel a lot more confident thanks so much to the Holy Ghost- best teacher ever!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hahaha  That's cool you talked to Amanda Strong this past Sunday.  Wow, I'm going to be on a book.  That's CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'll be able to go into book stores and be like "Oh
look I'm on this book- how embarrassing!" It'll make it easier getting dates. hahahahaha lol!!!!!!!!  Those sounds like some good talks that Grandma J, Jack and Scott gave.  I love espcially loved the testimony Scott gave about him loving hot wheels.   I wish I could have been there to hear that.  I bet it was great!!!! That's an awesome story that Scott told.  I am so proud of that guy (and he got hot wheels out of it).  That's great!!!! Well dad I think my positive attitude comes from the people here and the influence they have on me.  I love all those that we see and teach- it's the best!!! 

So this week it started off pretty bad.  We were helping this one guy move into his new home in McKeesport.  After a few days we get this text from him saying he's in the hospital and he was diagnosed with H1N1 (A.K.A. swine flu).  He said he was sick on Friday which is when we moved him so we called Sister Johnson and she told us to stay indoors because we were now carriers and could possibly get H1N1.  So we stayed in our apartment for about 1 1/2 days and we played some games and just hung out.  I felt like a zombie from the Walking Dead- like were infected and waiting to become walkers hahahahaha!!!!!!!! I even walked around like a zombie cause I thought it was sooo funny!!!!!!  But none of us got it and we feel grrrrreat!!!!!!!!! We had the memorial for Sister W who passed away here in the mission.  Her her funeral service was amazing and the spirit was so strong.  She has an amazing family!!!!!!  They shared some experiences and showed pictures of her throughout her life.  The Johnson's were having a hard time with their emotions but he said that he's never felt closer to his wife or had so much love for her than in this past week.  Just as President and Sister Johnson grow in times of tragedy, we all need to learn and do the same!  

This week we also contacted an amazing refferal.  He just wants to turn his life around and turn over a new leaf!  He is currently under house arrest.  He has been in jail all of his adult life.  He really wants to change and desires to go to church- he doesn't even want a specific church; he just wants to go to church.  HOW GREAT IS THAT???!!!!!! We told him what we do as missionaries and how we can help him grow a relationship with his Heavenly Father! I am looking forward to talking with him more!!! We also saw Sister Y and D.  They went sledding with the youth and had a good time!  I'm so glad they are building relationships with the branch members.  I'm so excited for them!!!!! We also were able to see Brother and Sister M.  I love them!!!!!!! We see them a lot.  While we were fixing their vacuum, Brother M's eye was draining so  we gave him a
blessing and it's doing a lot better.  We also had Stake Conference this week.  Brother M took us out and used a lot of gas for us.  We really appreciated that.  During conference we were able to hear 2 recent converts who were baptized. Their conversion story was amazing!!!! I was also able to see the other Elders and Sisters in my Zone but only briefly because we had to leave.  I only waved goodbye!  I took some good notes at Stake Conference and I'm trying to apply them.  I already  did apply some of it in the lesson we had with Brother S.  I was really working on following the spirit cause sometimes I
try and teach to my ability and that's not the best.  It may still be good but the Spirit knows wayyyyyyy more than I do!  At the end of the lesson we invited him to pray and he didn't even hesitate.  I was amazed.  This was a man who would NEVER pray and now he was doing it like it was nothing.  It was a powerful, spiritual prayer.  The change I'm seeing in others is astonishing. People can change!!!!!! I've seen it.  I know it and it is happening in lives all around the world.  Prayers are answered, trials are overcome, happiness is found, GOD IS REAL!!!!!!!!!! 

The best highlight of the week was the lesson with brother S as well as what happened right after! Well, guess why it's called cops and robbers?!?  So we were driving down the road and we were late getting back to our apartment so Elder Klima
speeds through a 25 and then all of a sudden lights come on... Yeah, we got PULLED OVER!!!!!!!!!  Third time this has happened to me on my mission.   I have never been driving when we have gotten pulled over.  That just goes to show you that I'm a safe driver!!!  The funny thing was when the cop tried to pull us over we had just gotten onto a bridge so we had to ride ALL THE WAY across the bridge with the cops lights on and then we had to drive a little farther to find a spot to park. We had to text the Zone Leaders we were going to be late.  The officers were really cool.  We were talking to an officer Thomas who
showed up later and his dad is a preacher.  He said it was great what we were doing.  We were joking around with him it was so much fun!!!!! The best part is they let us GO!!!!  I know, I couldn't believe it either.  Even Elder Klima asked the officer and I told him not to say anything but he said " You're letting me go?"  Then the other officer said "Well I could take you to jail if you want."  Elder Klima was like uggh I'd rather not. Hahahaha Then the best thing happened:  we offered Officer Thomas a Book of Mormon and he took it and said he would read it!  We testified about that the missionary work that we are doing.  We were doing missionary work even while being pulled over!  I also gained a true testimony that you literally can do missionary work wherever you are, whatever is happening and whoever your talking to.  It's POSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!!! 

I love that we can all be missionaries.  We are all a part of the army of Helaman and we hold the Title of Liberty in our hearts at church, at school or wherever we are.  We can wave our Title of Liberty and hold our ground!!!!!!!!! I love being a missionary and love the experiences I am able to have and as well as to witness! I am changing into the kind of person that God wants me to be.  I want to continue to change so I can be the righteous leader, warrior, and follower that I need to become!!!!!! You can too!!!!! 

That was pretty much what happened this week.  It was a shame we had to stay inside because of H1N1 and the memorial was sad but we had many wonderful experiencesl!!  I am glad I get to write you each week.  Take care and love you all.  Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Cahoon the Baboon

Marvelous, Moving Miracles!

Hello family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's sooooo good to hear from you!!!!!!!  First off mom thank you sooo much for the package.  It came the night before Valentine's Day.  Thank you very much! Wow Nana and Papaw are in town.  How fun.  I love it when they come and visit.  We always joke around and laugh.  Papaw would nap a lot Hahahaha!!!!!!!  It's okay Papaw, you need all the energy you can get 'cause you have to keep up with my mom. Hahahaha   Then Nana and her counsel she gave to me.  Mostly about cleaning my room or my grades in school.  She always had something to counsel me on!!!! hahaha  I probably needed the most counsel on how to NOT get broken bones!!!! Hahahaha   It's ok Nana that you were not by a computer and weren't able to write me.  Tell Uncle Darin and his family, Grandma J, Jack and Scott that I appreciate the Valentine letters they sent.  They are very dear to me!!!!!!  I also got a letter from Rhiannon Hill.  That was so nice of her to write to me.  I'm planning on writing her back but we are traveling to Pitt today so maybe later tonight.  I also want each of you to know that I keep every single letter that I receive from anyone who writes me!   So after my mission I will have a collection.

Sounds like mom and dad had a good time at the adult Valentine's dance! I'm proud of you dad that you took mom to the dance even though you weren't feeling well.  You know how to treat your lady.  I'm proud of you!  You definitely earned wife points there!!!   

Well my studies are going fantastic!!!!! I'm still in Mark and I actually found a scripture that isn't in Preach My Gospel that I can use in my missionary work- it's so great!!!!!!!!!  In our Book of Mormon class (that we have each Wednesday night) we are in Mosiah 24. I love the stories that are in Mosiah!!!!!

Hey Austin- my brother from the exact same mother.  I'm so glad you wrote me and I didn't even have to tell you to.  Hahahaha jk  I can't believe you weigh 176!?!?!?  That's crazy!!!!! You're gonna be huge before you know it!!!!! Just keep it up!!! You fell asleep in school!?!?!? I'm surprised you're still alive.  Mom would've beat me to death if I did that!!!!!!  You are already getting your Eagle Scout project approved?  That's awesome.  I'm so proud of you!!!!!! And you're learning how to waltz from mom?  I wouldn't have thought you would do that but good for you!  It is good to hear that people in high school still remember me and have said nice things about me.  You remember that one day when I came to your lunch hour and saw you?  I was finally able to see you at school 'cause I never saw Ty unless it was football.  I wish I would have taken the opportunity to interact with you more at school- especially in Seminary.  Ugh.  Such amazing moments we could've had,  yet I let them slip through my prideful fingertips.  I am happy I am your role model with life but you are my role model with keeping your goals and weight lifting.  You are going to train me when I get home so I can be big like you and you can tell me to lift more and eat more too!!!!!! :) :)

I am learning a new skill.  Mom, you'll be super proud of me and my companions.  Guess what!?!?!?!?  We're learning how to knit!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah... no joke!!!  Knitting it's great!!!! Now you may think that's for old ladies but I love it!!! Alright hear me out.  I'll tell you what the sister teaching us told me.  I was skeptic but now I believe it!!  She said, "If you know how to knit you can support yourself and your family and others. You will always be able to provide them with clothing and warmth.  No matter what happens you can still provide for their means!"  I thought wow!!! It can help me and my family and even others.  So that's what this learning to knit is ultimately for- to provide for others!!!  So I'm getting pretty good at it.  I finally got the second step down (which I've been struggling with for awhile and now).  I can knit away til my hearts content!!!!!!!!!!!  It's a lot of fun and I enjoy it.  We all sit around and knit- it's hilarious!!!!!!! Hahahaha

I'm so excited to tell you all we did this past week! First, we got our new companion so we're in a trio again.  His name is Elder Isom! He's from Idaho Falls, Idaho.  He is super fun and as soon as I met him I was like oh yeah we are going to have sooooo much fun!!!!!!!!! We have been cracking jokes and it's been great!!!!! He's a guitarist and loves music! He is really funny and he my first companion who's been shorter than me!!!!!!  Every other companion I have had has been taller. However, I am still on the streak where all my companions are close to going home.  He only has 3 months left! This is Elder Klimas last transfer so I will see him off as I did with Elder Hebdon.  All of my companions will be home soon and I won't be serving around them anymore!!!  :(

This week we went to the Projects, a really ghetto area.  We didn't have any appointments so we began walking and trying to find people (potentials).  We were walking down the street and saw a group of Hood black kids. hahaha  They are in a secluded spot and they started yelling at us.  They said, "Hey come down here!"  So I'm like yeah right, we'll stay up here where people can see us.  We told them we were missionaries for our church. One of them said, "Hey I'm Catholic.  You should come down here and talk with us."  We told them to come up to where we were and talk with us- which they did.  They said,  "You crazy, white boys are out here and this is the ghetto."  We told them we were looking for someone and then we just got to talking.  They were awesome!!  When we finished talking with them, we all shook each other's hands and then we left. They were pretty funny!  A lot of people were looking out their windows to see who we were.  I just smiled and waved! 

We had another lesson with Sister Y.  A member, Sister Clarkson, joined us for the lesson and they got along really well.  They have both had similar circumstances and so that has created a bond between them.  Sister Y doesn't
feel very comfortable with a lot of people but she is very comfortable with Sister C.  In fact, they sit next to each other at church.  Of course you know I am not able to sit with them or the others we teach because I am the chorister during Sacrament meeting.  I love it!!!!!! If I get that calling after my mission I'll be more than happy to do it!!!  Really it is just fine that I don't sit with them because it is much more important that Sister Y make that connection with Brother and Sister C because they are Branch members and we missionaries won't always be here.  It's important that she has that fellowship and love from the Branch and its members!!!!  

Well our district went to a fish fry event at a Senior event in a Catholic church.  We provided service by helping clean tables and dishes.  It was so much fun.  The old ladies loved us. Little old ladies keep telling me that I'm a very handsome young man.  I eat that up of course. :)  I sometimes flirt with the old ladies and they eat that up!!!!! Hahaha The best part is they giggle and laugh. It's great fun.  We also had the opportunity to serve food at the food bank!!!  We've done a lot of service lately and the church has encouraged that as well.  If you think about it, service is the best thing invented!!!!!  When you serve someone, you help them.  And helping them makes you feel better and the spirit grows within you! My favorite quote about service comes from the Mormon Message "Lift."  I LOVE THIS QUOTE!!!!!!!!! LISTEN UP.  "It's interesting, the dichotomy of healing the body and healing the soul.  When we heal the body it's always an inward effort.  We are always paying attention to ourselves.  When we heal the soul, turning inward doesn't work; the triage of the soul is found turning outward toward other people."  Isn't that the best??!!!!  You know how when our bodies are sick we go to a doctor?  Well, when our spirit needs help we need to help others and that will help to heal our spirits.  This is what I tell to my companions when we do service or when I lack the spirit: "service is spiritual medicine."  We have to turn to Christ, our spiritual healer, to be helped spiritually.   So in order to come unto Christ we have to visit others and help them and then the spirit of the Lord will help us!!!!!  Like the scriptures say, "If ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me."  Ohhhhh man!!!!!!!! I love service!!!!!!!!

Now for the amazing miracle that happened this week.  We went to visit brother S.  He is inactive and we've been really struggling to have him progress in the Gospel.  Elder Isom taught about faith and how we must act even if we don't know or if we haven't received an answer.  Elder Klima committed him to pray with us right then to ask if God loved him. It got really quiet and it was quiet for a good minute.  Then he said, "I guess I won't know until I try."  So we knelt down and he prayed.  His loving wife, who's been holding on tight to him with love and compassion, was there as well.  After the prayer we sat in silence for awhile.  We told him that God is there for us and him and He is listening- we just have to reach out for help!!!  We rode all the way home in silence and with gratitude and happiness.  The Spirit was soooo strong!!!!!!  Before we left, Sister S said, "you three glow.  You radiate with the Spirit. "  That comment touched my heart because I saw that same glow in Tyler when he returned from his mission.  That's one reason I wanted to serve a mission- so I could radiate the Spirit and glow like he did.  I just want to continue to glow and to beam and radiate the spirit.  I know that the Atonement has changed me, it changed Tyler and I have seen it change those I teach.  I know the Atonement can change anyone!!!!!  That night the Spirit was so strong.  That experience was definitely a highlight on my mission so far.  I want to continue to help God's children and to have the Holy Ghost with me to know how to find them and how best to teach them!!!!! I love this church and the Spirit. 

BTW, I'm sending a video of Brother P.  Backstory:  We have been trying to scare Elder Isom by putting on this whole act about how Brother P is a crazy, less-active, ex-marine with PTSD (he is an ex-marine and a convert and has lots of tattoos but everything else is false).  We also told Elder Isom that Brother P hates the missionaries and that one time he actually beat one up.  We tell E. Isom that Sister P is active and loves the missionaries and the church.  We then tell him that we got a text from Sister P inviting us to dinner.  We told him that Brother P would be upstairs and not bother us.  Of course, Sister P knew all about the trick and was in on it.  Also realize that Brother P was also in on the joke because he loves messing with the missionaries. Hahaha  So we went to the house and Brother P got E. Isom good!!!!!!! It was perfect!  In the video you'll see his gun and his tattoos.  Hahahaha 

I love all of you and the moments that we have had together.  I pray for you and I know that as you pray your Heavenly Father is listening and He will answer your prayers.  Sometimes in such a small way but it will be the answer you need.  Take care.  Love you.  Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

Elder Cahoon the Baboon

 

Service With A Smile! :)

Hello family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How goes it!?!?! It seems like you had a tough decision to make yesterday of whether or not to watch the Super Bowl!  I'm glad that you guys were happy with the decision you made! I have got to admit those Sundays were really fun when we would all sit and watch the Super Bowl together!  I think it would be difficult for me not to watch it but I know I could do it.  Before I came on the mission I didn't use the Sabbath Day to its fullest.  I think I slept too much and watched too much Smallville hahaha!!!!!!  Now being a missionary, everyday is the Sabbath Day!  I was really surprised to hear you gave Austi a choice but I think that's good.  I also think it's funny you made temple cookies. Hahahaha lol!!!!!!!  I like that talk from conference that you shared with Austin.  I think the Good, Better, Best talk is a good one!  

That stinks that you had to crash the computer.  That's no fun!  Thank goodness Uncle Greg was able to help you.  I remember when we got that computer for Christmas.  I also feel like all the technology in our house always breaks down!!! Hahahaha  Hey Austin, I wanted to ask you how are you liking my phone.  Do you enjoy using it?  I'm taking a step back from technology a little bit.  I got myself a new scripture case and am going to start using the hard copy scriptures instead of my ipad!!!!!!! I'm looking forward to that! Mom, I think that was a funny the situation you were in with Sister Cox.  I've never been in a situation where something I was watching was inappropriate where I had to leave but good for you mom to not only leave but let those Young Women know that you left.  You go the extra mile!!!!👍  

I'm so glad to hear you're all doing well! I do pray for you, sometimes... I forget but I have prayed for you guys(I have so many people and things to pray for)!!!!!!! It's crazy that I have been out on my mission for 7 months.  I seriously love it out here and I don't want to go home.  At first I wasn't so sure I was going to love it but now I loooove it- truly love it.  I had a few experiences this week that really made me love my mission and the area in which I serve!!! I've really come to love everyone out here.  The longer I serve, the more confident I become and the more natural I act around others.  I am learning to not be so robotic but to just be myself.  This week a lot has happened. We had a lot of service hours.  We had some members move out of the Branch back to Idaho.  They lived here for the past 16 years.  They are so fun and really neat members!  Don't worry I will send pictures.  We cleaned their home from top to bottom.  It took us 6 hours.  While cleaning to listened to many conference talks.  We also did some more service at the food bank- for another 6 hours.  We just served and served and served!!!!!!! It felt great and I really was happy to do it.  We also had many appointments cancel but we rescheduled with them on Sunday and got confirmations for 7 lessons for this week.  I was pretty amazed!!!!! Nothing else happened this week.  I'll send pics of me in my suit for the cutout for the wedding.  Tell me if it's good or not or if it is what you envisioned. Take care.  I love you. Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

Elder Cahoon the Baboon



Sister Yolanco and Dominic with Elders Klima and Cahoon

Serving with a smile

 



Best Week Ever!! :)

Hello family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Wow what a week!  It went by so fast!!!!!!! Yes I have all I need to stay warm- I have a big heavy, winter coat that I got from our house in Olean, NY and it works really well! The zipper did break recently so that was a bummer but it still worksll!  Elder Klima nicknamed the car when he was here in McKeesport a year ago.  It is called "My lady in white." Hahaha  I do keep serving with companions that are almost finished with their mission.  Half of my companions are already home.  I won't see them anymore- they're gone forever!!!!!  It's too bad! Yea we had a little bit of a rough time teaching people last week.  It was really strange but we overcame it and this week our teaching was great!!! Yes Brother "P" is an awesome guy.  We love him a lot.  He just wants to serve and help people in the Branch. Yea we get fed pretty well by members in the Branch- they are awesome about feeding us.  The "M" family feeds us every Tuesday.  They are both in wheelchairs and both have a few health problems.  Sister "M" has Cerebral Palsy and Brother "M" has had many problems after his mission.  He got in a very bad car accident and broke his skull.  The doctors had to make him a new skull.  He's had a few strokes as well as tumors in his brain.  He even had his brain removed from his head and then it was replaced.!!!!!!!!  So as you can see they have had a lot of crazy things happen to them but they are such neat and positive people.  They are at church every Sunday.  Speaking of Sunday, our numbers have grown and now we get about 40-50 people at church and it's great!!!!!!!  Remember the less active sisters?  Sister "Y" has come every Sunday since she started coming again.  Sister "W" also continues to come!  It's great to see them there.  I wish I could go sit by them but in church they've needed a Branch Chorister so now I'm taking on that position.  I feel like I actually have a church calling- it's weird hahaha!!!!!!!  I love it though.  I've really come to understand that I need to let my talents shine instead of keeping them hidden or being too shy to share them.  I need to use my talents because that's what makes me, ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I also can help bless those I serve as well as myself.  

Really? C'mon Dad.  You think I get nervous when I talk in front of a bunch of people... Do you even know me!?! Hahaha jk No I love talking in front of people.  It's so much fun.  I don't know if others like it or enjoy it but I do! Wow Austin, you really are getting out there and doing some fun things with your friends- that's great!!!!!! Hey Austi- it's not that big of a deal if you mess up on the sacrament prayer.  I remember in Washington one of the kids had to say the prayer 3-4 times.  I remember thinking it must not be that big of a deal.  That's why Bishop is there- to make sure you say it correctly.  Don't worry, you're fine! You'll get used to it and see. One thing that boggles my mind is that you get to ask a girl on a date.  What!?!? That's crazy!?!  I can't believe you can do that now.  It's so weird.  When I get home we will have to go on double dates!!!! Hahaha!!! Or maybe I'll just be a third wheel lol!!!!!!!! Yes mom I got the package and it was great.  I did need some shorts so it was much appreciated!!! Uggh mom I'm so upset you get to go dance.  I miss dancing.  I bet you, Dad, Papaw and Nana will all have one fun time!!!! I would also love to go and dance with you! Remember, last year when we went to Navuoo and before the show there was the pioneer dancing?  You wanted so badly to go and dance and at first I was kinda nervous but then finally I said ok and we danced!  I remember that like it was yesterday- all the people dancing and you and me dancing around the floor.  It was such a small moment but we really bonded.  We had that mother-son time and it was great! Then Austin and Dad went to get a snow cone but Dad started yelling at the people hahaha  Dad I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I know right now you guys are going to start talking about that! Hahahahaha I know you all too well!!!!!!! Don't worry dad we've  had father-son times.  Remember when we were little kids and you would throw the football to us outside the house in Washington?  Granted you did that with all of us but that meant a lot to me!!!!!!  You both are such amazing parents and I'm so glad that I chose you before this life.  I don't think anyone else wanted me so you were like, "Alright, we'll just take this one."   Hahahaha!!!!!!! Jk I'm so glad for the family that we all have- Aunt Cami, Uncle Darin, Uncle Scott, Aunt Amy we have the best family ever and I wouldn't trade it for the world.  Not only that but it keeps growing.  Tyler and Hannah- jeez that's gonna be so weird!!!!!!  I'm going to come home and everyone will know her already and I'll be like who is this??? Hahahaha  Yes mom I do need to get a picture of me in my suit.  Maybe I can still score with the ladies even if I'm not there! Hahahaha jk!!!!!!!!!  

Well without further ado, let me tell you about this week.  It started off with a bang.  We got to go on exchanges with the ZL's (Zone Leaders) and I got to go to Pittsburgh for a full day!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was sooooooo excited!!!!!!!!!!  Pittsburgh was sooo cool- we had such amazing lessons!!!!! We taught a foreign exchange student from Belgium who was going to school at Pitt.  She had just joined an orchestra in Dubai.  How awesome is that????? She is an amazing flute player!!! She said she'll would come to church on Sunday!!!!  So that was exciting! Then we got to go to the campus and  street contact for 2 hours.  That was a lot of fun but no one wanted to talk to us.  We probably saw thousands of people and said hi to all of them but some people didn't even say hi or even look at us. There was one time we said hi to a guy right next to us; he looked at us then looked straight at the ground.  He didn't say anything.  It was crazy!?!?!  But I still loved it!  In today's culture it seems like a hello comes off as threatening.  It's crazy!?!  In the 2 hours we were there we only handed out 3 Books of Mormon.  I didn't get discouraged because I thought about how everyone has their agency and I just gotta keep using mine!  I enjoyed going on exchanges a lot because it helped me to be able to get back on track on how to use the Spirit when having to think on your feet.  That's what made this week amazing!!!!!!! I felt like I really let the Spirit teach the lessons and guide my thoughts instead of me and it was much more powerful. So the lesson we had with Sister "Y" (the less active) was great.  We asked her if she had any questions and she had a question about the Word of Wisdom.  She asked if we still believed it (half serious and half laughing).  We said yes.  She asked if she had coffee or wine if would she be sinning. I was about to say, "Yeah don't pick up another glass!!!!" But I hesitated and didn't say anything (that was the Spirit) because what happened next was incredible.  Elder Clarkson, our Senior missionary, said,  "No you aren't."  In my mind I was like what are you talking about yes she is.  He said it's advice that is given to us to help our bodies.  He told her it was her choice whether she wanted to put that substance into her body or not.  Then, after he said that she said, " When I was younger, people judged me because I did those things and that's why I left the church."  I reflected back to my initial thoughts.  If I would have said she was sinning, all of our work would've been for nothing. Then Elder Clarkson told her that after she started studying with the Elders and wanted to come closer unto Christ then hopefully she would have a change of heart and want to give up those past habits. That was exactly what she needed to hear.  Hopefully as she increases her testimony she will want to obey the Word of Wisdom.  The lesson we had with her was awesome!!!  Then we asked how "D," her 13 year old son, liked church last Sunday.  She said, " I wanted to tell you when he wasn't here."   I was like aaaaagghhh noooo!!!! What happened?  I was thinking.... did he not like the service, the people? Did someone say something that offended him?  Then she said this and it made my week!!!!!! " 'D' actually woke me up on Sunday to go to church."  Before we met them they were going to another church and she asked "D" which church he wanted to go to?   That 13 year old boy said he wanted to "try the Mormon church." But wait! It gets better!!!!! "D" also said he loved church and he wanted to go next week and stay all 3 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!  I was soooo happy to hear that!!!!!!!! 

As if the week couldn't have gotten any better, we had an amazing lesson with "JJ" and "L," his friend who is now an investigator.  We teach them every Saturday.  We would see them more but "L's" girlfriend is anti Mormon.  When we met him the first time he was dirty because his girlfriend had thrown mud on him so that he wouldn't meet with us.  He met with us anyway. :)  These guys are amazing!!!!!! We taught them the 1st half of the plan of salvation and we read /talked about the pre- mortal life.  We also read Alma chapter 34:32  where it says that this is a time to meet God.  It just seemed to make so much sense to "L."  Everytime we teach him I feel like he really is coming closer to Christ and is understanding more! In fact, he came to church yesterday and he even invited a stranger He and "JJ" met Saturday night. They are so neat and such amazing investigators.  This is why going on a mission is so great- because I get to have these experiences!!!!!!!  I'm so grateful for this Gospel and for the area in which I have the opportunity to be a tool for the Lord.  I am happy for HIm to use me in his vineyard!!!!! I love the quote from Dale G. Renlund from conference (President Johnson uses it) :  " Something wonderful happens in a missionary’s service when he or she realizes that the calling is not about him or her; rather, it is about the Lord, His work, and Heavenly Father’s children."   I love that quote.  I need to learn to forget myself and let the Lord take over!!!! I love you all.  Have a good week. Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Cahoon the Baboon