17.6--This is it

Dear  Ladies and Gentlemen,

Life is still great in the wonderful state that is New Mexico! Here are some updates for ya: 

Elbow-- So we got the X-ray results back this week and as it turns out I have a non-differential  fracture on the part of my elbow that connects with my bicept ish area. And so I will be seeing an orthopedist as a second opinion and to double check that nothing is wrong with the soft tissue.

 

Time-- I also only have T-minus 8 Days until I will be home and because of that I would like to take this post to do some reflecting from the past two years:

 

Areas served in:  City View West/ Los Altos (Albuquerque), Cloudcroft, Santa Fe West (Santa Fe), University Ward (El Paso), Paradise Hills/Cibola (Albuquerque West), Eldorado (Albuquerque East)

Companions:  Elder Yates (MTC), Elder Jewett, Elder Zirker, Elder Barlow, Elder Roylance, Elder Mclelland, Elder Allen, Elder Summers, Elder Bunderson, and Elder Nulph

People Who were Baptized:  Jeremy, Anahi, Keegan, Anne, Jennifer, and Frank

Weirdest Food Eaten : Chicharones (Fried Pig Fat)

Names of Vehicles: Shadowfax (Bike), Charlotte (Jeep Compass), Tom (Chevy Cruz), Jean D'arc (Chevy Cruz), Helga Rita Fritz (Jeep Compass), and Lazarus (Bike)

Top 5 things I've learned:

1. I can do "Hard Things"

2. If a relationship isn't working, if you work at it it will become better

3. Sometimes God doesn't always give us what we want, because he knows what we need.

4. Don't worry about the things you can't control, take charge to change the things that you can, and Trust in God for the future.

5. Be yourself-- Be honest, loving, and don't be afraid to just be you!

Well Ladies and Gents, I hope that y'all have a great week, and I will write again next week for the final blog!

--Elder Jacob Guymon

17.5--Breaking Stuff

Dearest Ladies and Gentlemen,

Life is pretty great here in Albuquerque. :) This past week was a tough 'n though. The temperatures have soared here, and so we have been drinking more water than an average fish. But that's ok, because we are going to be getting super tan. 

On a different note, I crashed my bike this week. Three times. The first time I just lost my balance and fell laughing to the ground. The second time I was trying to mount-up after finishing talking with a lady. And the third time, Elder Nulph and I were cruzing to an appointment and he turned, I didn't see him, and then we collided and I went over the handlebars... on the last time, I landed wrong and smashed my wrist, elbow, and shoulder. My wrist and shoulder have recovered  great, but my elbow is going to need some help. And so I've been bouncing around to different doctors trying to figure out what's wrong and to get it fixed. Moral of the Story? No more biking for me.

Other than that, we had a pretty uneventful week.  Most of our lessons fell through due to unforeseen circumstances (well played Satan). But that's ok, Elder Nulph and I  are keeping our spirits up and good things will be coming for us!

Anywho, I think that's all for this week

I hope that y'alls lives are going great and if not vent to me! :) I only have a few more weeks so you can vent over long-distance ;)

Anywho, I hope yall have a great week!

Elder Guymon

17.4--A Trip and a Half

Welcome to New Mexico

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

Life here is going awesome! Its been crazy, but good. The work really picked up this past week, we were able to teach JP and his new Bride, and we were also able to see a couple of our investigators who we haven't seen in a while.

On a different note, everybody we started talking to this week was somehow inebriated, which made for some pretty interesting contacts. We had a Navajo man who came up to us and he said "I could be Mormon. I would love having multiple wives." bahahahah  Needless to say that led into a conversation about how we don't practice polygamy anymore and how we'd love to teach him about the church. 

We also had a pretty interesting experience as we were waiting for the bus in the rain the other day. Elder Nulph and I were just sitting around talking when a man came up to us. This man was in his mid 20's with glasses, he had a Nirvana shirt, and he smelled of alcohol. He started off the conversation by putting his hand on my shoulder and saying " you only have a short time left, don't you". Wait what? He then proceeds to talk to Elder Nulph " You have got quite a while left, don't you? You have a lot of work left to do, but it will be good for you!" He then proceeds to ramble on, but in the conversation he said " in two months you will find something that you have been looking for your entire life"... Prophesy from a drunk guy? We will see what happens.

Anywho, those two stories pretty adequately describe our week! Life is good and It's been good talking with you! 

take care!

Elder Jacob Guymon

17.3--Weddings 'n Schtuff

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

Sorry for not sending the blog post last week. I neglected to press the send button on my email :/ But anywho....

Life is great as per usual here in ABQ! :) This past week we had a couple of super exciting things happen:

1. This past week I was able to get my bike, Shadowfax, back from El Paso!! Woooooooo!

2. I played with an almost 100-year-old-high-voltage electrical coil and shocked myself... 6 times :) (I am ok :) )

3. Elder Nulph and I found a Corgi puppy. It was adorable!

4. Our investigator got married this Saturday!!!!! And in the wedding we were able to be the witnesses for the wedding (our names are on their wedding certificate). Elder Nulph and I busted out our mad skills as DJs, photographers, and dance instructors for the reception. It was fabulous! We also had 8 other investigators at the wedding.

Other than that, life has been business as per usual! We are finding, teaching, and hopefully soon we will have a baptism. We don't have anybody on date for baptism , but one of our investigators recently just read and prayed for the first time, and she came to church on Sunday for the first time! :) woooh

Anywho, I think that's all for now! I love you and I hope that you have a great week!

Elder Jacob Guymon

 

 

 

17.2--Saddling Up

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

It was so good to be able to have heard from so many of you this past week! Life here is going awesome! The temperatures have been climbing along with the humidity, and Elder Nulph and I are sweating like dogs as we bike into the foothills of Albuquerque. :) This is actually a good thing for two reasons: 1. I will look like a tan Californian and 2. I will be super ripped by the time I get home (well maybe not) but I will for sure trim up before the end.

Anywho, missionary work is the same as per usual :) We have been teaching our investigators, finding new people to teach, and we have been doing service. One of the people we are visiting is super cool! He is currently dating a member of our ward, and they will be getting married this upcoming Saturday! What? #WEDDINGS Something cool about his family is that he is from Tibet, and he grew up in India! :) He found the church through his girlfriend and is progressing super well. We are so excited for them both. 

On  a spiritual note, Elder Nulph and I have been seeing many miracles in our area :) We have been able to see people who haven't been seen in a long time, we have been able to talk with lots of people, and we feel like  our trust with the ward has been building. Moral of the story: God puts people and situations in our path for a reason and that has really felt true to me this past week.

Anywho, I love you all and I hope that you are having a great week!

Elder Jacob Guymon

17.1--Flashback

Dear Ladies and Gentemen,

Life is still good down here in the great state of New Mexico! A lot has happened since I last heard from ya, so lemme give y'all an update.

Tuesday May 26th was transfers, and I am no longer in the Paradise Hills and the Cibola Wards. "Where did Elder Guymon go?" one might ask. Albuquerque! :) Still, but now I am on the East Side again! Wooh! In fact, I am only about 2 miles from my Greenie area, Los Altos! :) And to make it even better, I am back on a bike. :) I love to be biking.  My first bike ("Shadowfax") was commandeered by the mission, and so now I am on "Lazarus" which is a bike that's been passed from missionary to missionary for  forever. Sweet! :) 

Oh for those that want to send a letter my new address is: 

3011 Jane Place NE Apt # 218

Albuquerque, NM
87111

or as always the Mission Offices address is:

 4400 Presidential Dr NE Suite E

Albuquerque, NM 87109

Yall are welcome to send letters or packages to either address!

Alrighty so some info about my comp:

Name: Elder Kyle Nulph

Age: 19

From: Shelly, ID

How long has he been out: 9 Months

Areas been in: White Rock, NM,Eldorado (Albuquerque, NM)

Bio: Grew up on a farm outside of Shelly, ID. Loves cowboy boots, country music, and food. 

On a more spiritual note, this week I have been studying a lot on the subject of "finding faith" in the Book of Mormon. And one pattern I noticed from 1 Nephi 16 is actually about how to lose faith. In the story a pattern appears with Nephi and his brothers. Everything is fine and dandy in their travels until they hit a trial (like Nephi breaking his bow). After the trial comes some form of doubt (Laman and Lemuel murmuring about a certain decision) and then comes the sin (Laman and Lemuel trying to kill Nephi). And I think that pattern can be used in our lives. There can be times when we have trials in our lives, whether spiritual, physical, financial, or whatever. Because of trials, it is normal to doubt, but it's what we do with that doubt that makes the difference. In the example of Laman and Lemuel, they chose to rebel instead of waiting for the problem to pass, and they paid the consequence for that. Moral of the story? Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.

Anywho, that's all for this week! Love ya!

Elder Guymon

Ps. We sheared Alpacas this week it was great! #vivalealpaca

 

16.6--Rain... Rain... come today! Come and stay another day!

Dear Ladies and Gentleman,

Life is great down here in Albuquerque! To be honest not too much has happened this past week. We were able to go out and work, teach, and give some service! It was a nice and a pretty relaxed week! Also the weather down here has been unseasonably moist :) Hurrah!! I love it when it rains!

Oh we did go on a mini-exchange this  week. I was able to go into one of the neighboring wards, and we were able to do some tracting and ate dinner at one of the Elder's investigator's place. This investigator has been considering joining the church for quite some time, and all of his family is already members of it.  While we were eating he asked us a question about his 16  year old son. He said, "How can I get my son to want to go on a mission? We've been trying to encourage him, but I just don't know how to help him understand how important it is." And I think that he brought up a good point that is the puzzle of a life-time. How do we help those we  love to understand what is important and what will be good for them? Honestly, I don't know what  the answer to that is. One thing that we talked about is that its so very important to be a good example, to love them, and to encourage them to make the right decision, but in the end we can't control other people. 

I think that's one of the main themes of the plan of happiness though, to be able to make choices for ourselves. I think that God's in a similar position to all of us. He knows what will be best for us and He encourages, loves, and sets the example for us, but He will never force us. 

Anywho, folks, I hope that y'all have a great week! And enjoy the rain!

Elder Guymon