Week 41: Halloween and Hesed

I can't believe I'm on week 41. That number seems way too high. This week wasn't as much of a grind as last week. Halloween slowed us down and not a lot of people were home. We still found a lot of people though. Just on Monday night, which was a P-day, meaning we only had 3 hours of real missionary work, we found 3 people. One of them is a kid named Denilson. We talked with him and his parents and it was crazy. They're all super excited about the Book of Mormon. They called it a preparation Manual for the second coming which I really liked. We then showed Denilson the Gospel Library app, and he was like "oh yeah, I'll for sure use this. At least like 30 minutes a day or something." That's just incredible.  Normally it's such a struggle to get someone to read 1 verse in a day.

We had interviews with President this week, and it was really good. We talked a lot about what our motivation for everything we do should be, and really it's all about Love. Our motivation for everything we do should be our love for Jesus Christ. If it isn't, that's OK, but that's where you want it to be. So I'm going to do a deep dive on everything Jesus and see how things change.

We also had an Area 70, Elder Vest, join us in our Branch service this week. It was really funny though, because there were only like 18 of us. I got to talk with him quite a bit though and it was really nice. He led a short lesson and talked a lot about Hesed, which is actually something President Nelson has talked about a few times now. It's a Hebrew word, חֶסֶד. And it is a covenantal love. There's not quite a translation for it in English, and so it's translated many different ways in the Bible (lovingkindness, mercy, goodness, etc.) President Nelson explained that when we make a covenant with God, our relationship is deeper, more intimate, and is now Hesed. It's a covenant type of love, like a marriage. I'm still studying it because I have questions about it, but if any of you want, feel free to study it as well. And please let me know what insights you have! I'll put some of what I learn about it in my next email. Elder Vest invited me to study this talk if you want somewhere to start.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2022/10/04-the-everlasting-covenant?lang=eng

- Elder Wride

Sorry for not a lot of pictures this week!

I've learned how to cook, but not a lot of healthier stuff yet. Lots of BBQ. There's some BBQ Bacon-wrapped Cheese-filled Hot Dogs.

Week 40: the Grind is real

Today, I woke up at 3 am for some reason, and I thought it was 6:30. So I turned on the lights and woke up my comp. After a few minutes, and being mostly conscious, Elder Pfeifer was like "wait, my phone says it's 3:18." And then I looked at my phone and it said 3:19. Lol, he threw his watch at me, and we tried to go back asleep.

This week was really good. We were working hard. We set a lofty goal to find 7 people this week, and 5 is what we normally top at. But we pushed, and found 9 people this week! And they all actually seem interested, which is great. We didn't have any gaps in our schedule, or waste any time this week. 

We've also gotten like 6 referrals this week. And normally when we get those they have no idea why we have their info, or they don't exist, but everyone we got this week is real, and actually requested to meet with us!!

I also messages this random guy on Facebook who liked one of the church posts, and I asked him if he wants to meet with missionaries, and he said "Yes yes yes Amen." So I got his address, sent him to the sister missionaries on Amarillo, and they sent me a message that he went to church and asked to get baptized! And I only messaged the guy this week!!

Something that I've been doing recently is marking in blue every name for Jesus Christ, God the Father, or any time it says "His, him, he," or things like that. I'm going through all the standard works with that, and it's been really helpful. I feel like things this week have just been re-emphasizing how all of my studies should be focused on how ____ brings me closer to Christ. Everything needs to be focused on him, or it will not last. The good things in life only last forever if they themselves are built on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Love all you guys! That's all I have for this week. God Bless

- Elder Wride

I was sweating because we played prosketball with some mexicans

Week 39: Good Week

This week was good! We've started a new thing where we've been marking scriptures in Book of Mormons before we hand them out, and we've been handing out a lot this week! Tracting was actually crazy this week, everyone has been so nice. It's been weird, normally people are kind of aggressive and unkind, but everyone was so respectful and many invited us back. I guess we were led by the spirit or something, idk.

We an amazing lessons with Ryan, who was on date, but we had to take him off date so he can wane off for the word of wisdom. He really wants to be baptized though. Please pray for him that he'll have strength to do it! And that he'll be able to find a new job!

We had 4 friends come to church this week, which is the most we've had since I've been here, and all of them said they're coming back! Please pray for Octavio, and Ulysses, and Marta, and Naomi please too. Just pray for Dalhart in general, we're really trying to find the prepared people who are willing to listen to us. We've been finding a lot more of them, but yeah. Thank you! I don't really know what else to write today, but I love you all!!

- Elder Wride

I spun the wheel of woe and had to shave Elder Pfeifer and he had to take a cold shower

Week 38: the Repentance Process

So this week was so good. I just need to say, I love my companion. Elder Pfeifer is one of my favorite people ever. He and I have very similar personalities and get along swimmingly. He is so fun, and hard working, and excited to be here, and it's great. We've played a few games of monopoly deal and have spun the wheel of woe. We made a wheel with various punishments, so now he has a video of me yodeling for 30 seconds, and I have to shave him tomorrow. It's weird, I know, but it's fun too.

Also, fun thing, we had an AMAZING discussion with Ryan, and we brought our Branch President. Ryan is our most progressing friend I think. He drove 45 min to come to church on Sunday, and he loved it. He said he's coming back next week. And he's listening to conference. Just pray for him that he'll keep progressing and make the sacrifices he needs to, and see the blessings that come from following Christ!

We also had a Mission Tour yesterday, which is why P-day was Tuesday this week. Elder Alonzo of the Seventy came to speak with us missionaries. Our mission president led a really amazing discussion outlining the steps of the repentance process, and it was so good, that I'm gonna put all the steps he gave in this email along with some scripture references.

1. Recognize your sin

Mosiah 4:2

2. Broken heart and Contrite Spirit

2 Nephi 2:7

Mosiah 4:5-6

3. Experience Godly Sorrow

Alma 36:16-18

4. Confess your sins

Mosiah 26:29

5. Forsake the sin

Alma 39:9

Mosiah 5:2

6. Make Restitution

3 Nephi 12:23-24

7. Forgive others to be forgiven ourselves

Mosiah 26:31

8. Seek Forgiveness from God

Enos 1:4

9. Recieve Forgiveness and Peace

Mosiah 4:3

Mosiah 4:11-12

10. Invite others to partake

Mosiah 28:3

1 Nephi 8:10-18

Luke 22:32

President Nelson has really emphasized the need to apply the repentance process daily. We need to make the process of repenting our daily friend. And what's beautiful is that in the process of each step of the repentance process, you feel a little lighter. Your burden isn't as heavy, and as you continue in the process, you feel that burden get lighter and lighter until your free and forgiven. Each step is important, and if you want to feel forgiven, feel light and pure before God, it's through daily repentance. This is the path of Joy, so walk it!

Also my brother Daniel got baptized this week!!! I love him so much. He's a good boy. Making covenants with God and keeping them brings so much joy. I love you guys!!

- Elder Wride

I hope y'all know that Pic of us running didn't do me any favors. I'm not that chubby, but it still motivated me to work out harder

Week 37: 1st week as a Trainer

So I am training now!! Which is so much fun. Elder Pfeifer is amazing, and I am so lucky to have him as my comp. He's a hard working, fun guy, so we've enjoyed our first few days together. The inly downside is that new missionaries aren't allowed to drive, so I have to drive all the time, and we've got lots of long drives here in Texas. And I get kind of drowsy. Just took a P-day Nap, but man. I'm getting tired.

General Conference

Definitely the highlight of this week was general conference, and I didn't take tons of notes, but I wrote down the one liners that stood out to me, and the stuff that seemed to really resonate with me. One thing that really started to make sense to me was why we sometimes need to feel alone. We go through a lot of trials, and there are many times where we may feel in complete darkness, or completely alone. But sometimes we need to reach that point because it is only when we are truly alone, isolated away from all the things that normally distract us that we can feel the presence of the Savior. Many times, we feel that we're struggling, getting weaker, going to a darker place, or feeling more and more alone, and usually we think that's bad. But everyone needs to experience it at some point. He really is always with us, but so often we don't feel it or don't recognize it. We need to reach a point where we are so isolated and alone, so that we can finally be alone WITH Him. So really we're making progress, because we can finally know the Savior for who he truly is. And then we can finally have such a personal and intimate relationship with the Savior and be able to say "He is my Jesus."

That's all I'll say for this week. I LOVE you all and I miss you!

- Elder Wride

I would've added more things, but it won't let me attach videos!

Week 36: this is War

So I don't remember if I wrote it last week, but the guy Jesús that I put on date just vanished. The visit right after putting him on date, we found out he just up and moved to Mexico. We're praying the missionaries in Mexico find and baptize him. But this week, we did put 3 people on date! The mom and two kids of a family have been coming to church, and reading and we showed them the font at church yesterday. It's exciting!!

One day we had another guy bash us. We also had a friend that same day go on about our frequencies, and how if you give love, positive affection, and attention to a glass of water, it'll vibrate with positive frequency and change the molecules to be healthier. I had a headache after that day.

We've also had some really good lessons. And we got transfer news last night!! Elder Ellis is leaving, I'll be staying, and I'll be training!! I told president I really wanted to train, and now I get to. I'm so excited, but also anxious. Any tips for those who trained?

Spiritual thought

So... I've changed some things. I've been thinking. And I realize I've been giving Satan a lot more little victories that I thought. I don't want to talk too much about this, but I've made a commitment to myself and to God. I am now in an all-out war against Satan. I know I'll still make mistakes, but I've committed to implement every tool I've been given and make the most of each moment. I will not let Satan win the little battles anymore, because they build up. It's just interesting to think: who's side am I really serving? Because you can't serve two masters. Everyone has to make the decision at some point to let God prevail in their lives, and I'm determined to make that decision now. I will make this decision again and again, everyday. I have to recommit every morning. If I am successful, this battle will last for the rest of my life.

- Elder Wride

I made some killer tres leches. Best cake I've ever had

I've killed 7 spiders this week in our house, 2 of which were fat black widows

Week 35: Please pray for rain

I love driving through rain puddles. They don't really have a drainage system here so they get massive. It's one of my favorite things.

So I had a very eye opening experience this week. There are times when I'm motivated, excited, and hard working, but what's annoying is those feelings don't just last on their own. You gotta work to maintain them, and sometimes it's really hard. I had a few days this week where I didn't try my best. And I actually felt a difference in myself. There were still some amazing lessons we had, so I'm grateful God was still willing to use me, even though I wasn't trying as hard as I should have, and have done in the past. But I think something changed for me on Sunday. The thing that I noticed right off the bat was 3 of our friends came to church!! No friends have actually come to church in many, many months here. So we were definitely surprised. Then as the meeting went on, I noticed I felt very empty, and I felt so sorry for our friends. They're genuinely trying to learn who God is, and they deserve a spiritually led missionary. And I'll be so much more spirit led if I'm willing to sacrifice what I want, in order to do my duty. God asks us to give our wills him, which is very hard. He wants us to choose his way over our way. It's funny though, because we're always happier if we're doing it God's way. Visiting with our friends here and them coming to church, just reminded me how I need to step up again. There are people who need me, and there are people that need you. God wants us to do our real best, because that's when he knows he can work with us and change people's lives.

ALSO, VERY IMPORTANT!! We have a friend here who is so genuine and wants to come to church, but he works so much. He only gets days off when it rains, those are the only times we can visit with him, and so he can only make it to church if it rains on sundays. Please pray that it will rain in Dalhart on Sunday so that he can get work off and come to church. His name is Tiaan. Thank you so much!!

- Elder Wride

Pictures 

1. Got a new record on the Rubix cube. I also taught Elder Ellis how to solve one 

2. Ethan's reaction to my most recent post on Facebook hahaha. Sorry if I made y'all uncomfortable

3 & 4. Some fun with Meta. I'm a jedi

5. Meme of the week

6. There's this young couple in our branch who keep asking us to unlock the church, and we've pranked them a few times. She needs to practice piano sometimes for when she plays in church, and we put pop its on the chair, duck taped the piano shut, put sticky notes on the paint keys, and put pop it's on the door to fall on them when they walk in. They got us back by locking the seat belts in our car and hiding the key in the car.... don't worry, we found it fast.