Aaron 5/20/13

Hey everyone!

This week has been an amazing week! Period! Haha

Last Monday night after emailing and doing some tracting, we had a mission-wide conference call with President and Sister Nilson all on faith, and how increased faith in the power of the Atonement will bring forth results and blessing, for ourselves and those that we find. It gave a really good start to the week, and Elder Cook and I really felt motivated to have an amazing week! As well, Pres. Nilson felt inspired to have a mission-wide fast forTuesday, which caught basically all of us off guard, since Tuesday was also a mission-wide bike day!

So starting Tuesday morning after studies, Elder Cook and I got out on our bikes and started the hilly ride into town. The Lindau's live out in the country/woods a was away from town, so it was a little ways for us to even get to the place to start working! We first went to visit the mother of a member who has liver cancer, but since she wasn't home we ended up talking to her neighbors for a while, and they were really interested in religion and learning more. We made a return appointment for tomorrow, and when Elder Cook told them it was my birthday they got excited and said they'd make me some cake for breakfast.. Great. haha. Later in the day we went to a members house for dinner and got some pretty solid referrals from them, who we then contacted immediately after and ended up teaching a family of 3 who are all really interested and want to keep learning more! We've really been working hard on getting solid member referrals, so this was a great testimony builder for me on the importance of member referrals in missionary work!

Wednesday was district meeting, but before that our district leader, Elder Benevidas from Mesa Arizona, did the baptismal interview for our investigator David! As well, the Assistants showed up for the district meeting, and it ended up being a really inspiring and uplifting meeting for all of us. Afterwards, we went on exchanges, so Elder Cook went to another area while Elder Benevidas stayed with me in Newark. We worked super hard that day, but have very very limited success. It was one of the hardest days of my misison so far, because of so much hard work and effort pout forward with no thing to really show for it. But I know that there is no amount of work that is wasted on a mission, since we don;t know what seeds we are planting and we'll still receive blessings! I still learned some things I can improve on from Elder B though, so it was all worth it!

One really strange things that happened though is that we tracted into a guy wearing pants 5 sizes to small for him, and no shirt, who asked us if we were "companions." As in asking if we were gay. We answered in the negative and he says "Too bad, because I am." we promptly recognized that we needed to get out of that situation, so we encouraged him to go to mormon.org and then said have a nice day! After going to the next door, this guy comes out again and shows us a church he wants to go to, and then goes back inside. Another minute later, he comes back out and says he's going to pray for us, then goes back in. Another minute... he comes back out and tells us that he just prayed for us. Elder B and I quickly ran to a nearby members house as soon as he went back inside this time. We were obviously a little disturbed. Haha

Thursday we gave a chapel tour to a girl who we'd be trying to meet for a while, with our ward mission leader and the Lindau's daughter, who lives in the ward with her husband. The tour went great, and we finished at the font in the building and invited her to be baptized once she knew this church was true. She said "of course!" But then promptly asked if we could walk outside so she could get some fresh air... and then fainted right in front of the font. Luckily our Brother Stevens caught her and laid her down so she didn't hurt herself. haha.

Turns out she has some health problems, so we followed her home while Caitlin drove with her to make sure she didn't faint again. It was something I'll definitely never forget. hahaha.

Saturday morning we had a baptism for a 10 year old and her 8 year old sister, from a less active family that has been coming back to church! Technically the 10 year old, Kiley, is a convert baptism, so we and the senior couple here got to teach her and see her baptised. IT was a very sweet experience, especially after they came back into the room wearing matching pink dresses.!

Finally to end the week off with a "splash", we had another baptism for our investigator David. David asked me to baptism him, so I had the honor pf performing that ordinance! He's a pretty big guy though, and since he knew he had to be completely submerged, he basically threw himself backwards into the water and soaked me as well as him. haha! But it really was an awesome experience. :)

I hope everything is still going great for you all! Keep in touch!

Love,

Elder Aaron Toombs

Ben 4/28/13

***Here is Ben's email. It is kind of long this week. He refers to a car crash that Nate got in. Nate is fine. Just a few scratches, bruises and sore muscles. He is lucky though because he was taken at 4:30 AM by the student council kids (Nate will be Student Body Activities VP on Exec. next year) he was blindfolded, his hands were tied behind his back, and he was sitting next to a girl in the back of a Ford Flex facing sideways. We think he landed on the girl and broke her leg. 1. he is answering questions about the Mother's Day call he gets to make and 3. He is telling us more about his companion Elder F. I did not get answers to questions 2., 4., or 5. :-) I also included the scripture references he made. They are at the bottom if you want to look them up. Part of the letter is his email to his mission president.  He has pasted it the last few weeks so we will know more of what he is learning and doing. I think the rest is self explanatory. Ask if you have questions. ENJOY!***

Family,

Sounds like a crazy week for you guys!!!!! Life is nuts isn't it? Time truly has flown! I feel almost cheated of the first 4 1/2 months of my mission! It's just like... Where'd it go?

Oh man that is crazy about that car crash! That's a day you'll never forget! I'm glad I never did anything that dangerous. That's too bad for Breckon, and way to go breaking more legs Nate! That's super intense you were blindfolded during the whole thing! When I was reading the description of the event, I pictured you guys falling into one of those deep lava pits on that hill! Anyways... I hope you had a happy birthday Matt!!! I'm glad you got breakfast in bed and balloons in bed and all that!

1. It will probably work out fine. I'll try to call as late as possible. We'll save it for the last thing of the day. If I'm here in Clermont, Bishop H. and his wife Jennifer said they would let us skype in their home. Sister H. also said she looked me up on facebook because her son ( I teach him about football) wanted to know my first name. Anyways, she said I look like I have an awesome family, and a beautiful mom who she thinks she would be great friends with. She might get in contact with you. Make sure you guys know what you want to talk about, but really I can't wait to hear from you!!!!! So all I need to know is your name is gggott3? What time is your church this year? Tell the ward I say hi!!! Make sure I have any other info I'll need in my next email! I'll only get one more before Mothers day!!!!! Exciting!!!!! It's likely I'll be too busy with a new missionary to be worrying about skype all week, but don't worry, I won't go to sleep that day 'til I've told each of you I love you. It'll be awesome!!!

3. Elder F. is pretty sweet. Pretty sure the only reason he got pulled from Spanish work was so he could teach me some charity and some other qualities I need to work on! Between him and Elder P. I've been pretty spoiled! Picture like X mixed with one of the 3 Nephites. Really really cool guy like X, but not lazy and really really strong in the gospel. He cut my hair again this morning. His girlfriend is also going to serve a mission. We work well together, it's almost too easy. He's really laid back, he would give me anything he owns. He's always trying to give me money and food and stuff. He plays QB and has his head on straight. Can't complain at all. Looks a little bit like Tiger Woods. 

Oh ya and that is crazy Brady and Whack are Companieros? Wow! Seriously that's crazy!!! I bet that would be a blast though!!! Who else has doubled up on missions? I know Trev, Tru, Olivia and Egbert are all in Tallahassee. AO and Kac are in Ft Lauterdale. Are Ben and Davis in the same mission? Brady and Rory? I can't wait til I know someone called out here! That will be a blast!!! Even though it wasn't Kallan, I'm glad to hear the man has a mission call!!! When does he head out???Mitch to Boise Idaho! Hopefully BS Diez gets sent to Orlando to wait for his Visa in Brazil. Ask Coops mom if he ever got my letter before he left home? Hopefully it got forwarded if he didn't. I have a referral for him!!! I met someone from England. I bet his mission is tough! Europe and US, and I would assume Canada 1 baptism = 10 The devil works on these people! I feel for Casey, coop, and Tavish.

I committed someone to baptism Wednesday! Steve B. Have I told you about him? June first, have faith he'll make it!!! He's a Wounded Veteran retired marine!!! Shout out my boy Cam C.!!! Hahaha I hear he's going to D state! Tell him to write me a letter so I can harass him some more!!! No but for real Steve is a young guy and I love him to death. We asked if we could Bless his home and he was really touched by the spirit. He invited us to teach him because he wants to raise his family in the gospel. He's bald with a huge scar on his head and a big beard! Always smiling. We were super nervous about getting him committed to a date, but quite honestly 1+ month of no baptism action is more than enough for me.

And on the other end of the spectrum Andy Sr. came to church!!! We taught him Saturday night and he came to church Sunday! I was a little concerned when "If you could high to Kolob" was the choice of hymnhahaha. Anyway, he trusts us now and hopefully we can get them married and baptized. He has a good heart, as everyone does. He always tells us about the projects. "Three months, just thuggin it" Life is so awesome! I have so many awesome memories and I'm in the middle of one right now.

This week we heard from Elder Soares (Swore-ez) Even though I would probably rather listen to President Hall speak, he has some really inspired council for me about planning. Here was my Email to Coach.

President Hall,

I think you are very right that Elder Soares addressed the missions needs well. I knew he would, but still I did not expect the direction he went with his council, but I know it was for us.

-Planning. The biggest thing I took from it is that we can do better in our planning. We must and we will. "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." and "Planning is creating your success before it happens." Were much needed council and guidance for myself personally. Overall we need to have better planning with a more willing heart! That's our part is to prepare and act, then wait for the Lords promised assistance.

-Our success is measured by our commitment [to baptize]. This week we received a phone call from our Zone Leaders and we had a definitely inspired conversation about the lack of baptisms we are capable of having. From it, we took more faith and more purpose and committed someone to a date that day. We are refocusing on baptism.

-Willing heart. "I do it because I like it!!!" Having this attitude grow will bless us so much. We are focusing on optimism and faith this week! Planning, Finding, and Baptizing.

Thanks so much for all you do,

Elder Gottfredson

couple things I thought I could use

Print out of P90X workout on paper and a cheap stopwatch please. We had a great week of workouts, made me think of my glory days and my favorite FNL episodes. "Here's to God and Football, and to two good friends ten years from now, livin' large in Texas. Texas Forever Street."

I also want for Christmas one of those custom calendars with pictures of you guys on it. That would be cool. 

This week was awesome. This gospel is so true. This foundation laid for our faith is truly unbreakable. How could I not have been more stalwart in the work of the Lord before? I was reading D&C 121 and 122. Powerful powerful stuff to read, especially accompanied with "Our Heritage". Not only have millions since Adam died for this gospel, but also thousands since Nephi in America, and hundreds since The Prophet Joseph Smith. The sincere in heart cannot deny the truthfulness of this Gospel. This is the rock whereon if men build they cannot fall. How critical is it to have that foundation so deeply embedded in ourselves in this obviously polarizing world. It is much more of a priority now for me to seek out the Will of God in everything I do. Our job is to make sure everyone knows they have things available to them. Everyone can know and feel the Love of God. Everyone can be sure, if they work for it, that Jesus is the Christ and he has overcome the world. Everyone can be sure that the Christ is living and God has shown his face in our day, he leads this gospel, that is one in hope and one in doctrine. That's the beauty of the Holy Ghost. His role is to testify of the unfailing Love of God and the unfailing Atonement of Jesus Christ, and in testifying of these things, he is unfailing. When we act with integrity toward the faith we have, as Elder Holland taught us, we gain a more sure witness and more faith to demonstrate and act on until we have such a conviction as Joseph Smith had. I, now will never deny this gospel, because I have received a sure witness. I have had more anti-Mormon literature thrown at me than you could imagine, I have had more people bail on baptism than are in the stands at Orlando Magic games, and sometimes I miss my mom dad Nate and Matt. I miss football and flipping tires and sometimes the boys. Having that foundation though makes a mission effortless. Acting on my faith lets the Lord carry me through everything I do. When we get out of our spiritual comfort zones and take the leap of faith no anti Mormon literature can stand, no trials can slow us down, even hell may combine D&C 122:1 But if we hold our way(Act with integrity toward faith) The priesthood remains in us, and God is with us.(D&C 122:9) And you can know. And 121 v.9 we will see our friends and family with warm hearts again. How grateful I am for the vision we can gain, freely and without fail.

I am loving life and loving my mission! Thanks for all the prayers and all you do! Study D&C 121 & 122. Especially Nate and Matt.

This gospel is true, be not dismayed, be not moved. Let the brotherly love continue. Hebrews 13:1.

Elder Gottfredson