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