4.5-- Christmas is Here! Wait what?

Dearest Ladies and Gentlemen! 

Happy Christmas everybody! :) Man what a wonderful time of year to be alive and kicking! There's a nice cold in the air, and the Spirit of the Season has arrived in full-force! 

Something that I notice even more out here, is that how I feel closer to the Savior this time of year is when I stop focusing on me and look for ways to help other people! And there is something Miraculous when that happens! Well at least for me, I find more meaning in being out on a mission as I refocus on helping others and striving to do what the Savior would have me do! And I would urge all of us to do as the Savior says in Luke 18:22 to forsake the things that pull us away from Him and "Come follow me". For I do know that as we follow Christ and His teachings there is a happiness there that is impossible to find elsewhere!

Anywho, this preceding Christmas week has been very good! :)  We kept plenty busy and we even found a new family to teach! :) Their name is the Caro's and they are so prepared! We actually had our first lesson while I was on exchanges with Elder Garn and it was a fantastic lesson! Also at the end they accepted a baptismal invite! Wooh! I love teaching families!

Also our ward is doing a FANTASTIC job of fellowshipping our investigators! They have even invited one of them to have an activity on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day when he would have otherwise be alone! :) :)

It's so good to see members get so involved this time of the year! All in all, it's a great time to be a missionary in the Albuquerque New Mexico Mission!

Merry Christmas!

Elder Guymon

4.4--- Let it sun, Let it sun, Let it sun! :)

Dearest Ladies and Gents,

 

Yah-tee-eh Kesh-Mish!** 

 

Hahah anyways, thanks SO much to those of you who have sent letters, emails, postcards, or anything to me! If I haven't gotten back with you yet, my apologies, I will send it asap, but really I love all of your wonderful support! And I wish you a Merry upcoming Christmas!

As far as news down here goes. The weather is a beautiful 40-50 Degrees and life is good! To answer some questions, yes I am still riding a bike :) why? you might ask. It's secretly because we don't have any snow left down here! ;)

 

Well, although weather is important, that's probably not why you are reading this blog! As far as the work goes, it is going awesome! We have an investigator who is getting really close to baptism, but it might take him a little longer to be baptized due to some legal issues that he has had in the past! Moral of the story ladies and gentlemen? Keep God's Laws and America's Laws. :) 

 

Also, this past week was a record week for the amount of lessons that we have had in this area! We were able to have 19 lessons, while the other Elders in the ward (Elder Garn and Elder Snow) were able to have 17 lessons! Making for a grand total of 36 lessons in our ward :) Woop woop!

Also we were able to have a Christmas Zone Conference, where Elder Foster of the 2nd quorum of the 70, came and talked with us about getting members excited about missionary-work! He also talked with us on the importance of prayer in missionary-work and in our lives after. He says that if we pray God has promised that He will ALWAYS answer our prayers, if we will just keep our eyes open and look for the answers!

 

Anywho, I gotta go! Thanks so much for all of your love and support! I am still excited about being a missionary and in bringing souls to Christ! :)

 

Thanks!

Elder Guymon

 

** Merry Christmas in the Navajo language*

PS. Elder Guymon or any of his affiliates do not profess to be fluent in Dine (Navajo). If you or anybody that you love is in need of emergency help please seek the appropriate avenues of translation.

4.3--Miracle Week

Ho Ho ho!!! Everybody!

 

Things are starting to actually look like winter down here in the Great State of Enchantment! The Snow has finally come in all of its glory, which has effectively kicked us off of our bikes :) So yep that's the weather report from down here!

 

So this past week has been as the title states, truly a "miracle week"! Things are going fabulously down here, and as we put forth the extra effort, the Lord has blessed us immensely! :)

 

To start off Elder Zirker and I were out walking in the cold, when a member from a different ward pulls up and asks us if we have had lunch yet! What? And so Brother and Sister Torez (the members) took us out to Golden Corral for lunch, and we were able to have an awesome lunch with them!

 

Also yesterday we took off and went to see a less-active member who is going to start chemo. But when we showed up, the timing wasn't right, and so we rescheduled. As back-up, we went to see a couple more of our investigators, but they weren't home, and so in order to keep productive, we went to stop by a potential-investigator. And as we stopped by, a man and his 3 year old son opens the door, and the little boy says "Come in, come in". We look at the dad, and he invites us in! As it turns out the dad, Sean, works with a whole bunch of Mormons and was curious about what they believed and so he invited us in! His wife, Jennifer, also sat in. As it turns out, they both know quite a bit about us, and they were super super interested! :) As we taught the restoration, they both nodded and said that all of what we were saying makes sense! They were super happy to receive a Book of Mormon, and THEY asked us if there was a way to be "washed clean of our sins"!!! :) They also said they would love to come to church on Sunday, and keep learning more! They also said they would invite some friends to our next lesson! Whew! Elder Zirker and I were practically bouncing up and down in excitement at the end of our lesson with them!

 

Well anyways, that's what's new and happening down here in Albuquerque! Things are going awesome, and Elder Zirker and I are doing awesome!

 

Thanks!!

 

Elder Guymon!

4.2 New Companion

Dearest Ladies and Gentlemens,

The past week has been a different week, but it has been awesome! Different in the sense that I have a new companion..... Elder Zirker! And awesome because the changes are good! Elder Zirker is from..... Washington (yes I know :) ) and he has been out for a little over a year! He has served  the majority of his mission down south in El Paso, but now he has come back to the promised land!

But other than the new companion, Thanksgiving was pretty awesome! Sadly I was sick for the majority of the day :p but I was still able to eat a little dinner :) We had it with an awesome family, and they had 6 pies for us to eat!

After that we had a pretty slow week just trying to get the area adjusted back to its proper running form! But it's good!

Um, I think that's it for now. We are kinda crammed for emails today, but if you would like a more detailed update, send me a letter and I will be sure to get back at ya!

Thanks!

 

--Elder Guymon

4.1--- Changing things up a bit! :)

Dearest Family and Friends,

I hope all is going well at home with all of you! :) The weather here has actually been reminding me a little bit of home (aka we got snow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Yep my prayers were answered! Well for snow that is!

Anywho, so Elder Jewett flew home this morning! :( which is bitter sweet, I am excited for a change, but we will miss him! And right now, I am in the awkward moment in between companions because I don't get a new one until tomorrow! :) so we will have to see what comes! :) But as for the time being I am in a Tri-panionship ( a set with 3 missionaries in it) and I absolutely love it! I am just with the Elders who split the ward with us, and I love them.

Hmmmm other things that have happened this week..... Oh as I mentioned before, the snow came in and effectively shut down our bike area for a couple of days! We also had like between 50-60mph winds which made it all but impossible to bike in.

Also it's kind of horrifying actually because absolutely nobody in Albuquerque knows how to drive in the snow. I repeat myself, Nobody! :) Bro. Jaramillo, our recent convert, was actually driving on the interstate, and he saw 3 semis Jack-knife on the interstate spilling oranges everywhere. True Story.

Hmmm…Honestly, not much else happened. Things are moving. Ronald, one of our investigators came to church! And to be honest we weren't sure if he was ever going to be able to be baptized, but things are progressing, and we are excited  :) But honestly, there is not too much more that's exciting, and I am happy, healthy, and otherwise none the worse!

Anywho, I gtg for now, but I do enjoy hearing from all of you! :)

Until we talk again!

---Elder Guymon

3.6-- Predicting Transfer Changes

Dearest Ladies and Germs,

Sorry this post is going to have to be a fairly short one, because the internet was down at the place where we usually email :) 

Um thanks so much for sending me letters! It's so fun to hear about all of you leaving and going Places!! 

A shout-out to: Elder Fortney, Elder Eby, and  Sister Jenkins who are all either in or going to be in the MTC! :)

Um as far as other news. We got the news from the doctor that Elder Jewett is going to have to go home for surgery, and so Elder Jewett leaves for home in less than a week! But that's really good timing actually because transfers are in a week from today!! And so by this time next week, I will have a new companion and will possibly be in a new area!! (I will probably stay in the same area though!)

Oh also, this past sunday we had an investigator come to church for the 1st time in like 3 1/2 months!!! And it's crazy because this investigator was the one that I thought was going to progress the slowest!! And now he is our most progressing investigator! Also at church we had 5 less-active members who showed up that we have been teaching!! We may not be doing a whole hill of beans with investigators, but things are sure moving with the less active members!!

So that's been the big news down here!

Thanks again for all that you do! I love the letters and the thoughts of support!

 

--Elder Guymon

3.5

Dearest Family and Friends,

 

How are you doing? (I ask this rhetorical question because I know that very few can respond to it MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHH!!)

 

:) Anywho, I do care about y'all anyways despite my bitter comments. Anywho....

 

Things have been going pretty sick down here (both literally and figuratively). This past week has been full of blessings, as well as trials! But it's been good!  

 

To Start off this week, we had yet another cool experience with Ruth!! So last week, I talked about our bumping into her on the side of the road and our offering her a priesthood blessing, and this week, we were able to go over there with Brother Kearns to give her a blessing! And while we were there, the Spirit filled her home and she was so happy! Also Elder Jewett and I also helped her find out how to listen to the scriptures online. (This was really cool to us, because for the past long time, she hasn't been able to read any of the scriptures due to her having bad cataracts.) :(  And when she was able to navigate to the webpage and push play; the words "I Nephi having been...." rung through her house and she started to cry, because for the first time in years she could listen to the Book of Mormon. :) And when we had to take off to our next appointment, she followed us and kept saying "Oh my Gosh... Thank you..."

 

This experience really struck me, because I really hadn't realized what it would be like to not be able to hear the word of God in my life. And to all of a sudden have that back, would be a miracle to me! :)

 

Anywho, another funny story this week before I gotta go. So we were going to visit a less-active member and she is out on her porch with her 3 year-old  son and he yells as we walk up: "Look Mom, Jesus is coming. Look it's Jesus!" :) hahah you gotta love little kids!

 

But anyways, this week was pretty darn good! The Lord  has been really blessing us as we have refocused and recommitted ourselves to the work! :) And I know that's the same with all of us too, search to recommit ourselves to what we know and the Lord will bless us! :)

 

Take Care,

 

Elder Guymon

3.4 Marée Haute (High Tide)

Dearest Ladies and Gentlemen,

First off, thanks for all of your letters and packages! They are a great moral booster out here! :) I always enjoy hearing from people back home! Oh and a shout out to Sister Howe as she leaves for the MTC this week!!! And then in like 12 more days she bounces to the Washington, DC  Mission! Congrats!

Anywho, this was a pretty decent week! :) To start our week off we had FHE with Jeremy and his Family again this week! They are always fun to go to and have a lesson with! :)  Also this week, Elder Jewett and I have been able to spend a little time doing some genealogy on Family Search! As it turns out I have King Louis the IX and King Edmund the IV as ancestors! #royalblood If you haven't been to check it out it yet, DO IT! It's fantastic, free, and its fun! (See what I did there :} ) Anywho if you want to check it out, I posted a link below!

Also this week we have had a couple of really cool things happen! So Elder Jewett and I haven't been doing our best at trying to reach out to find more people... :/ and just about all of our investigators haven't been meeting with us anymore :( and so we are making more of a conscious effort to reach out and find more people! :) And as we have done that the Lord has blessed us a whole bunch! As we try to talk with everyone, we have been able to have a lot of awesome discussions with people! 

Also, this past Friday we were out contacting people, when we bumped into Ruth again! :) Ruth hasn't been wanting to meet with us too frequently, but when we talked with her, we actually had a lesson and we scheduled a return appointment to give her a blessing! :) :) yeah!

We also had Halloween this week, but nothing too exciting happened then :) but its ok!

Also we were able to meet with a Less-Active member, Darryl, who we hadn't met until a member introduced him to us! And this week we were able to have a lesson with him, and we talked a lot about forgiving others and he really took it to heart! :) Yeah people actually listening to our lessons! :) Also on Sunday we were able to have 4 less-actives come to church!! :)

Oh I suppose I should get to the Titles name-sake. So on Saturday our apartment flooded!! :) wooh! Hahah yep, the bottom of our water heater rusted out and it leaked all over the tile on the bathroom floor! And to make things better, the maintenance said they couldn't do anything about it until Monday! :) And to make it EVEN better  we are on the Third floor and so it started leaking down into the apartment below us... :) yeah! 

But everything is being taken care of :) we hope. hahah yeah. But needless to say tensions have been running a little high in our place... but its getting better :) It's getting better! :) Missions for sure aren't easy, but they are worth it!! :)

Anywho, I best be taking off, thanks for reading! :)

--Elder Guymon

*Click the link, I dare you*  

https://familysearch.org/?cid=ldshp-fs-leftnav

3.3 Of Monsters and Men (and Pirates, and Ninjas, and Witches)

So Halloween is fast approaching here in ABQ! The air is clean and cool, and people are whipping out decorations from seasons past! I love it!

 

Also before I begin my weekly rant, I want to say thanks to all of yall for sending both Mail and Email! :) It is always fantastic to hear from you!

 

Anywho, now onto my rant... :) so this week was pretty fantastic! To start things off we have been having FHE lessons with Jeremy ( our Recent Convert) and his family! They love having the missionaries over, and we love going and having both a spiritual and a fun experience with them!

 

Another exciting thing that has happened was that we went to the hospital this past week for a Doctors appointment! (Don't worry it wasn't mine :) ) it was actually for my Comp who wrecked on his bike a few months ago and hurt his elbow! Yep it's been fun!

 

Also one, of the Highlights of this week was our Ward Halloween Party! :) For our party we had a trunk or treat, and we had a chili cook-off (does that sound familiar to anybody?)! Well anywho, it was so much fun, we had a LOT of people who  were either Less Active, or Non-members who came to it! It was a blast! And we ( Both sets of missionaries in our ward) helped out where we could in the party! We also had a costume. Mustaches. Fake. Beautiful. Mustaches. :) Seeing as we still had to be in a suit and tie, we improvised the best we could, and so we used some fake mustaches that I got for my birthday (courtesy of Sierra Howe)! It was so much fun!

 

Well anywhooser I probably should keep this pretty short! But I do want you to know that I am so happy to be a missionary and I am so happy to be here in ABQ! And that I do know that this church is true and I love every minute of being out here! :)

 

Elder Guymon

 

Signing out......

3.2-- Trying to Think of a Creative Title for This Week!! :)

Dear Family and Friends,

So sorry about the lack of title with this week's blog, I just couldn't think of anything better to say! :)

Hmmm so anyways, things are going super well down in Albuquerque, New Mexico!! This week Elder Jewett and I have been really trying to search out and contact less-active members in our ward, and people just appear out of the woodwork! It seems like the more we try, the more we succeed. Which in and of itself is a reassuring thought!

Also, the ward is really starting to trust us! They have given us a couple of referrals in the past week, which are usually pretty hard to come by, and they have invited us over a lot to help out with their calling! Boom! That's how momentum builds and the work really takes off! And so needless to say, Elder Jewett and I really excited to see what will happen next!

Also Elder Jewett and I had a really cool experience with member at one of our lessons! So this past week, we were able to have a member come out with us who has had a really rough past! And it hasn't been until recently that he has started coming back to church and his life has pulled a complete 180 degrees! And anyways, before our appointment, he said

"Hey guys, I am going to try to be quiet and let you guys teach.  I mean, I still have my problems, and I don't know as much as you. I mean I have only been coming back to church for such a while and I don't know the gospel as much as you do." Elder Jewett and I nodded and then we went into the lesson. And while we were in the lesson, this member shared some of his past with our investigators about his recovery from a serious drug addiction and his coming back to church! And as the lesson progressed, our investigators were saying some really rude things, and asking some pointedly obstinate questions! And to be honest, I was at a loss of words to say. I couldn't respond to most of them. But this member was able to answer honestly and humbly the answers to their questions and he testified of what he knew was true! And such a rich Spirit filled the room as he did so. What impressed me most about this experience was that as this member bared his testimony, he touched on exactly what these investigators needed to hear. Even though he didn't know them, and even though by his own words he wasn't the best teacher, through the Holy Ghost, he was able to hear, discern, and speak words that touched our investigator. And it really strengthened my testimony, that God knows his children and their abilities, and through him they can all be magnified in his work!

Anyways, I think that's about it for now, thanks again!

--Elder Guymon

3.1 Different Transfer--Same Place

 

Dear Family and Friends,

I would dare say that autumn is in full force here in Albuquerque New Mexico! I mean it's getting cold down here! (Probably not as cold as other places up North.... ;) *cough cough* ) When you think New Mexico, everybody thinks "Oh  New Mexico is a desert, that means it must be hot...." but in all reality the climate isn't all that different than it is at home! :)

Well anywho, enough of the weather, that's not all that important... So we just had transfers yesterday and as it turns out, I will be staying in the same area with Elder Jewett for at least 1 more transfer (6 weeks)!!! Wooh! You will hear no complaints from me, Elder Jewett and I are starting to find our groove, both in teaching and in just living together, and we are starting to have a lot of fun as a companionship!

Also we are having some pretty good success in our Area. This past week, we taught 13 lessons, which is the most we have had in a long time! Our ward is also having a trunk-or-treat/ chili cook-off in a couple of weeks, which we are both excited to invite investigators to! Our ward has been so fantastic in helping out with missionary work and I can't think of anywhere I would like to be!

Also Elder Jewett and I had a really cool experience with a less-active member and her Home Teacher! So we have been trying to visit with a less-active member of the Church, Ruth, for a long time! And it wasn't until her Home teacher, Brother Kearns, set up an appointment that we were able to meet her. 

Upon arrival at Ruth's house, she opened her door she invited us to go over to a clubhouse so that way we could talk. And as we walked with her I couldn't help but notice how much taller Elder Jewett, Brother Kearns, and I were than her. I don't mean to be rude, but she barely came up to our elbows : )! But although she was smaller she had a really big personality. And as we got to talk with her more, we got to really love her! 

At the start of our conversation with her, she explained how she found the Church in Columbia over 25  years ago, but has since fallen away due to varying circumstances. And as Brother Kearns asked her if she would like contact from the church, she simply said no that she would like to be left alone for a while! Ah it's always frustrating when they say it, and we were stumped with what to say. But Brother Kearns knew exactly what to say! As he asked her why she originally joined the church, and why she now wanted to have no contact from it, she started to soften up. 

And as Brother Kearns listened, he simply said "Ruth, I want you to know that the church needs you and that we miss you." and then he asked "Ruth do you think God loves you?" and at that point, the Spirit was super strong! And then Brother Kearns took it home by saying "Ruth you feel the Spirit now don't you? What do you think you need to do now?" And through tears she told us "I need to come back to chur', I need to come back to chur' "

And I am just so grateful that Brother Kearns was bold enough to tell the honest truth, and ask the right questions! I am also grateful that Ruth was able to feel the Spirit and recognize what she needed to do!

Well anywho, things are going super well! We are Happy, Healthy, and Otherwise none the worse! :)

Talk to you next week!

--Elder Guymon

2.6 Temples, Prophets, Jabeneros and Hot Air Balloons!

Greetings from New Mexico Friends and Family!

Thanks to all of you who have been writing/emailing me! Receiving your letters is one of the highlights of every week!! Also thanks for all of your generosity in the care packages!

As far as this past week has gone, it has been positively Manifique! We weren't able to teach as many lessons as we had hoped to because of General Conference, and because of the obscene amount of service we have been doing, but I can't really complain too much ;) For real though, things have been so good! The air down here has chilled down quite a bit and is in the 60s-70s every day, which makes biking a lot cooler :) But the Mission President has announced that it is "suit/sweater season" which means from now till spring I am supposed to be wearing a suit/sweater! Woo!

This past Sunday was General Conference, which on a scale from 1-10 was a 10 for sure! One of the Members of our ward encouraged us to watch conference with 2 questions in mind and see if they wouldn't get answered. They did! It really helped to strengthen my testimony that the Prophets and Apostles are truly men of God and really are aware of what we are going through! One of my favorite talks was By Elder Edward Dube who talked about looking forward and having faith! My favorite quote from conference though, was by President Dieter F Uchtdorf who said, " Doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith"!

Also this past Monday was our Multi-Zone Temple trip! In which a whole bunch of zones got to go and do a session in the temple. The Albuquerque temple is positively beautiful! It is actually one of the few Temples that isn't white! It's actually a nice beige-ish color, so that way when the sun sets, it turns the same color as the mountains! The inside of the Temple was equally as beautiful and the Spirit was so strong!

On a more non-church-related note, this past weekend was the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta!!! In which hundreds, if not thousands, of Hot Air Balloons are Launched all at once. This event itself is called "Mass Ascension". And it was so cool!!! We even had one land in a park that's only about 50 yards from our house! Pictures will come shortly!

On another note, one of Elder Jewett and my own stupidity, we had a Jabenero eating contest with the other set of missionaries in our ward! Ladies and Gentlemen, it was bad! To spare you the gory details, we were all crying and feeling mighty sick by the end! But it was still fun!

hahah I think that's all for now. Thanks again!

--Elder Guymon

2.5 Baptisms n' stuff

Dearest Ladies and Gentlemen  of the Court, 

Thank you so much for the letters, packages, and assorted emails of love and support! It always always always brightens my day to hear from you!

*Abruptly changing subject* So I don't have a whole lot of time to write what all has happened in the past week, and so I will have to do my best to condense it down!

So this past week, Elder Jewett and I had our first Baptism!!! Woop Woop! It was also the first convert baptism of our new ward!! #makinghistory'13  Hahah, but all joking put aside! Jeremy's baptism was AMAZING! The Spirit was SO strong, and it was so good to be able to see his family's love and support! Also we had 40 ward members at the baptismal service, which was amazing! Elder Jewett was able to baptize him, and I was able to confirm him a member on Saturday! And in during both Ordinances, the spirit was super strong!

Jeremy has been investigating the church for 14 years and is one of the most interesting (in an awesome way) person that I have ever met! He was a Green Beret, a Professional Bowler, and speaks like 7 languages! (I kid you not) And he is a super nice guy too! 

Anywho I am not suppose to give away too much personal info over the internet, but suffice it to say that Elder Jewett and I are super happy and are glad to be missionaries!

Hmmm also, this past P-Day Elder Jewett and I were able to go to some Spanish Colonial/ Indian Ruins from the early 1600's! They were fantastic!! I will send some pictures soon!

I wish I could say more, but I gotta run!

 

Take Care

Elder Guymon

2.4 Change of Pace

Dear Family and Friends (and the occasional cyber-stalker),

This past week has been most excellent for me down here in Albuquerque and I hope that everything is going well for all of you. And if its not you can always write to me and tell me about it *cough cough* ;)  hahah well anywho... Thank you for all of your love and support. I always love to hear from all of you!

As far as things down here in the land Albuquerque go. It's going pretty flippin' good! This past week was kind of crazy because on Tuesday, Elder Jewett crashed his bike and it caused us a whole bunch of bike problems the whole rest of the week... But it's ok, because even though we had bike problems, the Lord provided people to take care of us.

Also this past week we had Zone Conference (A combination of one or more Zones to train missionaries) which was pretty amazing! President Miller gave some awesome trainings on turning more to the Savior. Also the Assistants to the Presidents and the Zone Leaders gave some really good trainings on how to make our missionary work more effective. Conference was all around awesome though! Oh and I also got to see Elder Yates again at the conference and talk a little with him.

And last, but certainly not least, Elder Jewett and I have had a couple of awesome things happen this week that we wanted to share. Both stories have a lot to do with the power of prayer. The first experience happened at one of the lowest points in our week. On this past Wednesday we were trying to fix Elder Jewett's bike and the inner tube to his tire blew out. And as we tried to patch up some of the holes in it, nothing was working. And finally we gave up and so we travelled to the store to buy a new one. At the store, Elder Jewett's debit card froze and so we couldn't buy the tube and so we got home and we didn't know what to do.  We were both really down, because we had no idea where to turn to. We needed our bikes as soon as possible, and it wasn't looking like we would get her fixed anytime soon. And at this time we both prayed and asked that somehow we would be able to find a tube so we could get back to work. And nothing happened, and nothing happened, and then the Stake President called and asked if we were still on for dinner and then he told us that he had some extra tubes that we could have. 

And I know that story is kinda silly, because in the grand cosmic scheme of things an inner-tube isn't going to make or break eternity. But it made a big difference to us knowing that someone watches out and cares for us!

The second story actually took place today, but first I want to give some background on the story. So last Friday after a lesson with a less-active member and Elder Jewett, a ward  member, and I were walking back to our apartment complex. And as we were walking over we asked if this member  had any advice for us. And he did. :) He said, "Elders the thing that made the difference in my mission was believing that miracles can happen. And once you start having enough faith to ask for miracles, they come, and then missionary work becomes truly fun!" And so that night Elder Jewett and I decided to do just that and ask for a miracle to have a baptism on October 26th. And then we got to work and kinda forgot about the experience. But today a miracle happened.

So a brief interjection into the story to add in some background info onto our miracle story. We have been meeting with an Investigator named Jeremy for as long as we have been here. In fact Jeremy has been meeting with the missionaries for 14 years!!! He is so amazing and has wanted to be baptized for several years now, but couldn't be because of some things that happened in the past. And for the past years he has been doing his best to try and get the situation finished up.

Picking up the story again, for the past little while, Elder Jewett and I have been wondering what we could do to help him progress towards baptism. And a little while ago we got the impression to have him talk with the  Mission President about baptism.  So we scheduled a date for him to meet with the President, knowing that he may or may not be able to be baptized. And so today we travelled with Jeremy to his interview. And to make a long story short, Jeremy came out of the  President's office with a big smile on his face, and President said " So Elders, when are you going to get this man into the water!" Elder Jewett and I had big goofy grins on our face and we asked Jeremy when he wanted to be baptized. And as it turns out there is another baptism going on this Saturday and so he said, "Let's do it Saturday!"

So needless to say Elder Jewett and I are incredibly stoked ( and we will have our hands incredibly full) for Saturday! But that date isn't quite set in stone yet. Jeremy is good to be baptized as soon as possible, but the Bishop may have him wait a week or two so that way we can have more people come out to his baptism. But we are excited no matter what comes!

Anywho thanks for all of your love and support,

Elder Guymon

2.3 And the rains came down and the Floods Came up ;)

Dearest Family and Friends,   Thanks again to alls of you who write me and email me, it means a lot to hear from all of you! Also it breaks up some of the day-to-day drudgery that sometimes happens out on the mission!   Well anywho things have been nice and wet here in south-eastern Albuquerque! The past few years we have had 2 1/2 inches total. And this year before some of the biggest storms came in we had more than doubled that number. We actually broke the record for the most rainfall since 1929. But let's be honest, you probably don't want to hear about the weather do you?   Hahah some changes since last week is that we got a new set of missionaries in our ward! Their names are Elder Jenson and Elder Snow. Elder Jenson is from Rigby, Idaho and he actually trained my MTC Companion. Elder Snow is from Raymond, Alberta (Canada)  and has been out for only a couple of weeks! They are both awesome missionaries!   As far as life in general goes, I am still loving the Mission. Things get difficult at times, but even when things are bad its good! What makes it good is the people that are here! Knowing that you are making a difference in somebody's life makes up for all of the downsides. :)    Today actually we had another cool experience talking with Barbara! She said " I just want you guys to know how much you mean to me and to my family. You are starting to not only affect my life, but my children's life as well. Whenever we drive down the road and see somebody on the bike, they say 'Mommy! it's the missionaries, let's give them a ride' and I have to explain to them that the Elders don't wear jeans or wear pink backpacks...."   At that Elder Jewett and I had a good laugh about it!   Also one of the less-active members we are visiting with, Angelica, told us another funny story! And just to give a preface to the story, Angelica is one of the most amazing ladies I have ever met. She is older and has a LOT of health problems, but she is trying her best to raise her two adopted sons who are age 9 and age 3. We are teaching the 9 year-old the lessons, and the Three year-old had a very abusive past and has just now started to open up and become a normal happy kid.   Alrighty, now consider yourself fully prefaced. So a few weeks ago we had taught the older brother how to pray and the 3 year old had sat in on the lesson. And this past week Angelica told us the following story "So Elders, my youngest son has become addicted to praying ever since you taught Juedo (the 9 year-old), he always prays! He goes around the house singing 'In Jesus name amen! In Jesus name Amen!' "   And at this point, Elder Jewet and I started to crack up. And Juedo (pronounced whe-doe) jumped in and said " Yeah its kind of annoying! Last week he woke me up at like 6 am by holding my face and shouting 'Juedo, Juedo wake up. It's time to pray!' "   After Juedo said that everybody in the house started laughing! I don't remember laughing so hard in a lesson ever!   Well anywho things are still good down here in ABQ! I love where I am at! I love what I am doing! It's great!   ---Elder Guymon

 

2.2 Miracle

Hi-ho! Everybody!

Things are going pretty awesome down here! This past week has been a blast and thanks again for all of the Birthday wishes!

As far as just life in general, it's going pretty splendid. This past week though was one of the busiest of my life! For about half of this past week we were out doing service all day (Which is one of my favorite things, but it gobs up all of your time). While on the other days we were planning for the service, trying to find people to teach, and teaching lessons! Whew!

We also had a miracle happen in our Companionship this past week though! One of our investigators, Barbara, has been investigating the church for about the past 5-6 months. When she first started off with the missionaries, she was really excited, but then she stopped trying and for the past few months she's just been kinda walking the edge of whether or not she wanted to keep meeting with us. And last Wednesday we went over to her house thinking that we were going to drop her (not meet with her as often) so she could have some time to decide what she wanted. And when we stopped by her house, we bounced into the Spanish Elders and we had an appointment with her. (Yikes! trying to have two sets teach one lesson at once). 

But while we were there, she told us an experience that she'd had the past week. She told us that when the Spanish elders had stopped by to visit her and her friend, who are both taking lessons at the same time, they had encouraged the both of them to keep doing the basics (pray, read the Book of Mormon, go to church) and then something just clicked for her.

And while we were at that appointment, she said " Elders I have made my decision on what I want to do. I have found that whenever I hear from you  guys I hear the same message. And that's more than I can say for any other church. Your church is the only true church and I would like to be baptized!"

Now our jaws must have dropped to the floor when she said that because we couldn't answer her out of excitement. Eventually she broke the silence and said " Come on guys say something, you don't need to seem so shocked!"

And I know that doesn't seem too Miraculous, but it meant the world to Elder Jewett and I! 

Anywho, I just wanted to echo what Barbara said. "This church is true!" I am so grateful for all of the love and support that you give!

---Elder Guymon

2.1---Alls Well That Ends Well :)

Dear Family and Friends, 

You may be curious to what 2.1 means in the title. It means that I am on the 2nd Transfer and it is the first week of that transfer! I think I will use that as a system from now on!

As far as the work down here; it's going really well, but this past week was a really strange one. It was strange because we are at about 10 investigators now and just about every single one of them has cancelled on/ avoided us this week, and so we had a lot of finding(street contacting, park contacting, and service) to do! :) Which is good. Finding is good for the missionary soul :) So it was a bit of a curse and a blessing. Also we had another investigator came to church this past week and if everything works out well we should be setting a baptismal date with him too! woohoo!

Also the past few days Elder Jewett and I have both had birthdays (He is 20 now and I am now 19). The members here have really taken care of us :) In fact the Stake President's family had us come over and he fed us steak and cake :) I know that's not really that important in the cosmic-grand-scheme of things, but I really felt watched out for knowing that I wouldn't be forgotten :)

Oh and last night Elder Jewett and I had another cool experience with Luis (the retired marine who I talked about a little while ago). And just to give a little background info about the story to come: we are teaching lessons to an investigator in a half-way house right now, which is basically a home for former convicts who are trying to be eased back into society.  Anyways, we are meeting with a man who lives there and because of a decision he made, he is having trouble finding a job. And because he can't find a job, he is facing being kicked out onto the streets. Anywho last night Elder Jewett and I went out with Luis to visit this investigator. As we visited with him, he said something that caused me to think. He said, "Even though I am out, I still feel like I am in jail. I can't get a job, I can't see my family, and the only difference is that now I can be kicked out onto the street. I mean I am trying to do good, but why does God want me to keep suffering." 

After our appointment we talked with Luis about what happened, and he also said something which made me think. He said "I could see that you really wanted to help that man, but sometimes we have got to learn some things ourselves. If all the investigator had to do was go to jail and then come back to a life that was exactly the same, what would he learn? Although God doesn't want him to suffer, He wants him to be able to look back and remember how miserable that time in his life was so that way he won't do it again."

And today as I thought about this, I had the feeling that although God doesn't want His children to suffer, sometimes He allows it so that way they will grow.

Anywho that's just food for thought. But things are going super well, and although situations don't always work out perfectly, it's usually for the better! :) Thanks to all of your help and support!

 --Take Care

Elder Guymon