Oct 29 2013

Happy Pday fam and friends! this week was a strait blurrrr! lotta good, lotta crazy. so i'll jump right in!

 

 

WHO DID YOU TEACH THIS WEEK?

well we taught a ton of people this week.. but i'll tell you about Scott. he's the best. he has been working with the missionaries for about 2 months now . well he has a smoking and drinking problem. he has had an incredibly difficult life... he lost his dad at a young age to cancer and his mother 10 years later.. suicide. so he's kinda wondered all his life.. "why me? " he has been a little bit drunk for both of the lessons we taught him this week. he has kinda waivered in his belief if there even is a God. with a life like he's had i can't blame him a bit.. gotta be tough! well anyway, this week we talked to him about the word of wisdom on tuesday. he was pretty tipsy that day.. not much information was retained. but it was so spiritual! we invited him to attend the addiction recovery program and because of the picture of the goofy dude on the front he was kinda turned off by it. oh i forgot! he's got a baptismal date now for his 50th birthday, december 15th. anyway, he's gotta overcome this right? well we explained the Atonement, read a few scriptures that helped him understand that Christ literally feels our burdens and sorrows when we suffer. he knows what it feels like to yearn for something.. an addiction or whatever. alma 7:11-12... mosiah 24:14.. etc. well all of the sudden i receive a prompting out of nowhere to turn to alma 32... about faith. as we are turning there.. before i mention what it's about.. he verbalizes that he has a difficult time with faith. he doesn't understand. like he wants to walk to know that God is there and that he loves him.. he doesn't want to just have a passive belief. well we dive into reading alma 32 and he starts to cry! he says.. how did you do that??! very candidly i said " Scott.. i didn't do anything." we explained that the development of faith is a process! it's not an easy thing.. and it takes nourishment. if y'all don't get the reference read alma 32. it's my fav. anyway, at that point he knew that this was for real. that the spirit told me to turn there.. that it would answer his questions. i had no idea beforehand that we would go there. just another testimony builder that this is, without a shadow of a doubt, the Lord's work! i didn't do a thing. so awesome!!!! so scott is the best. we are still working with him on W.o.W .. we'll keep y'all posted!!!

 

HOW DO LIKE THE WARD MISSION LEADER ?

Funny you should ask! my last ward mission leader was awesome.. the one in Fallon. he was super caring and just always wanted to help. the one here is just so different! he's a real nice guy.. but he's kinda his way or the highway.. and his way isn't the best way. it's kinda a long story.. but i get the feeling he's going to really try and control things. we'll see though! i'm just going to do anything i can to help him, and the work in this area move forward. :)

 

WHAT WAS THE CRAZIEST THING THAT HAPPEN TO YOU THIS WEEK?

dangit! i already said it.. getting the impression to turn to alma 32 before Scott mentioned anything about faith. so cool!

 

 

WHAT ARE YOUR TEMPS? IS IT BIKE RIDING WEATHER?

it's been nice! probably low 40's to high 30's at night.. then in the day it's been in the mid 60's. except today!!! we had a microburst type of storm come thru last night .. super high winds.. felt like our house was going to blow over! but it didn't. we woke up to snow on the ground! i have some pictures.. hopefully i don't forget to send them today. :P we have a car so i've been avoiding the bike at all costs. :)

 

WHAT LETTERS OR PACKAGES DID YOU RECEIVE (MAILBOX LOVE)?

this week was aaaweeesome. i got a package from the homies, Cass and Ash!! then i got an awesome package from haley hooooo! thanks sista :):) and i got a letter from nan, and a letter from momma, and a letter from Carissa B! it was awesome to hear from y'all, keep the letters coming! :) and photos of course! the wall of photos  is growing.

 

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUR FAMILY THIS WEEK?

mi familia!!!? well, mom. i wrote you a letter. you should get it on wednesday i believe. but for my family.. simple. DC 88:63 . Draw near unto me, and i will draw near unto you- The Lord. hah really though.. life is hard. we all face struggles and challenges.. hardships, etc. if we seek the Lord's guidance, we don't have to endure it on our own. We have a loving Father in heaven.. he wants to help us..we as the children must inquire of Him! seek his help. i know you'll get it, becuase i need it as much as anybody out here on the mission and when i humble myself and truly seek him, he helps me. it makes life so much easier. so chew on that one this week family!

 

WHAT SCRIPTURE(S) JUMPED OUT AT YOU? WHY?

well.. i think i'm going to have to go with alma 32 again this week. there is so much good in that chapter!!! but the parable (if we can call it that..) of comparing faith to a seed is so profound. a lot of times as members of the church we develop a testimony and just stop. just discontinue nourishing what we cherish.. and let it die! that's never our intentions in the beginning.. but think about it! if we have a plant.. and we want it to bring forth yummy fruits or veggies.. you have to water it! you can't expect to just leave it and hope that if you water it once a month/ semi annually/ annually.. that it will stay alive. so it is with our testimonies. we nourish our seed/plant by studying the scriptures and praying to our father in heaven. that's how we strengthen our faith right? with a myriad of different other things that help along the way. i don't know if this is making sense.. but really it's simple. if we want our faith to grow.. if we want to know the Lord.. we have to nourish the seed of our faith, as it is with any other plant. i love that scripture!  

 

HAVE YOU HAD ANY SPECIAL SPEAKERS RECENTLY?

negs. nobody too crazy. actually nobody crazy at all. it's been fun though, on the topic of speakers. i've been asked many times to bear my testimony. ward council, dinner appts, coorellation meeting.. just so the ward can get to know me. i'm getting more comfortable with talking in front of people which is a great by-product of serving a mission!

 

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU NEED/WANT FROM US ?

noooope. i'm good i think! just love to hear from everybody so holler whenever! :)

 

well ya'll, i think that's it for this week! it's crazy.. the time is just clippin' by. I hope you all are doing excellent. I know that i've never been better! ups and downs are a part of it all.. the "learning heaven." it takes some turbulence to get us to grow. i love it! i love the gospel.. i'm so grateful to be serving the Lord and these people at this time. love you all! take care of yourselves this week. :) also want to give a shout out to my dear friend Landon! congratulations on your big weekend my friend! what a blessing it is to have such good influences and friends in my life. ya'll know who you are. love you!!!!

 

-Elder Sykes ze stooooz

Welcome to Gardnerville, NV!

Hello Family and friends!! hello from the prettiest place in Nevada! So to be quite honest, this week felt like a month! it feels like i've been in gardnerville forever! loving it though. i have a few photos to send home today of what this place looks like.. strait out of a movie i tell you! i'm excited to be in the library today to let you all know what's going on! i came in today and had questions from mi madre so let's get to em'!

 

WERE THOSE PICS YOU SENT FROM A FARM IN FALLON?

yeah how awesome!? haha that was as far out into the desert in Fallon as you could be.. we were doing service for a guy named Cliff Huntley.. i guess he raises horses for retired veterans. something about spending time around really big animals helps calm them from post-dramatic stress and stuff. anyway he had a million horses and we were shoveling manure forever! pretty sweet.

 

WHAT IS YOUR NEW ADDRESS?

1486 Hussman Ave. # D Gardnerville NV 89410 . send away! i'm waiting to hear from a lot of people.. c'mon! write me back.

 

HOW IS YOUR NEW COMP?

haha! 18 yr old kid from pocatello ideaho, Elder Pinney. He's like 6 foot, 260. big goofiest kid int he world. it's a world different than E. Shaw.. i'm still adjusting. but things are good so far!

WHAT SCRIPTURE JUMPED OUT AT YOU? well this week i was studying the tree of life more in depth. we went to a Less Actives house one of my first days and we watched the living scriptures with him.. he had them from back in the day and we watched the episode describing the Tree of life! It's incredible to me how applicable Lehi's dream is in our lives! and it's so well depicted in that movie.. but i think the thing that stuck out to me the most was that if we are not "clinging" to the iron rod, we are subject to the things that will get us off track, i.e. the mist of darkness.. great and spacious building.. etc. and the iron rod is... what? the word of God! again just highlighing the importance of using the word of God, (scriptures, conference talks, ensigns,..) in our daily lives to help guide us! it is by likening to the word to ourselves that enables us to "cling" to the Rod. I love the scriptures and i'm so grateful for them. they truly do lead us back to eternal life with our father in heaven if we take the time to apply them!

WHAT HAS BEEN THE CRAZIEST THING THATS HAPPENED THIS WEEK?

haha.. well this isn't that crazy but it kinda is.. you guys might get a kick out of it. so we went and played bball at 530 this morning.. and all the elders came back to our apartment at 7, we have a bunch of oatmeal packets so everyone just ate breakfast. well i made a paper airplane a while ago and i was tossing it around while everyone was eating still. we have a vent above our stairs that was open.. the guard thing was taken off.. anyway one of the elders told me that i had 10 tries to fly the paper airplane into the vent, and if i made it he would buy me lunch. well i gave it my best.. tossed the thing and got super close on a few tries and not so close on a few.. and ... guess what? on the 10th throw i threw the plane, made a nice bank at the last second and landed so gracefully right in the vent. lunch on Elder Prescott!!! :) i know that's not that crazy.. but we had a pretty standard week.. just meeting everybody and stuff. oh wait!!! there's another kinda crazy story i could tell. there's this lady.. her name is janice. she is in her 50's. she got into a car accident and broke her pelvis. she can hardly walk (why she hasn't received medical attention is beyond me) so the sisters in our ward (we have a set of spanish sisters that cover the whole valley, and they attend our ward. it's like.. half spanish if not more) met her and they passed her off to us because they can't teach in english (rules) so we go over there to meet her.. and she has us move a table outside for her. she's trying to sell it. well it didn't sell. so we came back that night.. i think this was friday. just as we were done for the day. and we brought the table back inside for her. as we were leaving she was like.. hey you! can i have 5 dollars for some aspirin. i was like.. no. but i can go and get you some aspirin from our apartment! i'd be happy to do that. she laughed a lot.. (while smoking a cigarette in her house) and said she would just go ask her neighbors for $5. not sure what she was tryin' to do.. but i wasn't gonna give her dollas! i need to buy deodorant and stuff lady c'mon!

 

WHO SENT YOU MAILBOX LOVE?

welp, nobody had my address! but my dad sent me a good bit of mailbox love. he called the mission office and got the address. that is all!

DO YOU RIDE YOUR BIKE OR DRIVE?

we have a car. i'm the D.D. because E. Pinney just got out on the mish. he has been out a shorter amount of time than E. Shaw.

 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PLACE?

it's huge! it's a townhome in Gardnerville.. i swear everything is a townhome around here. but so legit! it's older.. probably built in the 70's or something. there's only overhead lighting in the kitchen.. everything else is lamp lighting which is super weird to me. it has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a nice front and back yard, and a garage! the disposal in the sink is broken so the kitchen smells super weird pretty much all the time. in our yard we have these huge trees, then behind the trees is Job's peak (like jobe, from the bible) a big nice mountain range, on the other side of the mountain is lake Tahoe! i guess the range is the sierra nevadas? or something maybe. but yeah it's gorgeous. there's  big pasture just behind our yard where probably 30 cows just wonder around and eat stuff. E. Pinney thinks he can communicate with them so when we get home from basketball in the morning he goes out and moo's. hahah. too good! but the place is pretty cool. it's the first time on my mission that i've lived in my proselyting area. i could walk out my front door and tract. kinda cool! and there are a grip of investigators. i'm so excited for the work that's going to take place!

HOW IS THE WARD YOU ARE SERVING? it's solid! it's going to take some getting used too.. Fallon feels like home to me right now so i kinda feel like a visitor in this  ward. they do everything just a little bit different. they are missionary minded though, which is awesome. the members all seem great and i'm looking forward to getting to know them all a little better!

WHAT TRUTH HAS STAYED WITH YOU THIS WEEK? Well, i'll tell ya! transfers just drained my brain. preparing mentally to tackle a new area, work with a new companion, teach new people, all of those things.. they can get to ya. well what i know for sure is that the Lord takes care of his missionaries! I arrived in Gardnerville and the adjustment seemed pretty seamless. i know the Lord has been with me in making the adjustments necessary to accomplish his righteous purposes in this area! it's a work in progress but i'm excited to get after it! So it is with anything or anybody else. The Lord will help prepare us for the things ahead if we seek his guidance! i know this to be true because i'm living it right now. so yeah!

 

well you guys! even emailing this week went by fast. now that my address is listed i hope to hear from a bunch of you. don't forget the stoooz! I love you all, thanks as always for your support. The Lord is mindful of each of his children so no matter what you're going through, seek Him. He loves you! until next week ma friends.

 

-Elder Sykes

Transfer is in!

Good Mornin' Fam and Friends!

i don't have a ton of time to email today because i'm going to the apt to pack ma things! it's so bittersweet! it was crazy saying goodbye to everybody in the ward yesterday. I have truly loved my time in Fallon! i've learned more than i can put into words. It has been an unforgettable experience and now i'm looking forward to the next chapter of my missionary service. We'll see what the Lord has in store for the stoooz in ... Gardnerville! :)

so as for this week, not a lot stands out. we were able to serve in a lot of ways. Service has been a key for us here in Fallon.. Elder Shaw and I really enjoy getting to work! on friday we helped a potential investigator by the name of Cliff Huntley clean out some horse corrals. I have some pictures i think you guys will like so check em'.

the missionary work here has slowed down a little bit since the school year started.. we have a few investigators that have been a chore to get a hold of. on our board we have a total of 16 names of non members we have been working with over the amount of time i've been here. we have a list of about 20 Less Active families/individuals we have been working with as well. Elder Shaw is in a great position now to take over the area with his new companion Elder Palmer. Elder Palmer came into the mission field the same day as i did but i never met him. it's my hope and prayer that the people of this area continue to have opportunities presented to strengthen their faith and come closer to our Savior!

i'm not totally sure what else to say. I can't put into words the gratitude i have in my heart for my time spent in Fallon. at times it was very difficult! other times it was the most enjoyable experience in my life. one thing i would like to testify of is that our Father in Heaven has a very real plan for each of us. I know with everything in my heart that i was put in Fallon for a reason. Not only for the lives of the people i've been blessed to share the gospel with, but for me. I have grown a lot in the short six months i've been here. no, not in height. (i wish...) but in my testimony of the gospel. with the ins and the outs, the ebbs and the flows, i have experienced more opposition and more joy than ever before. every day presented opportunities to learn and to grow and i'm so grateful for that! the Lord is mindful of all his children and i feel richly blessed to have been able to spend time with his children in this part of the vineyard. I'll miss it no doubt! there are families that i fully intend to introduce to my friends and family back home. life long friendships!

so my friends, i'm about out of time for now. it's my hope and prayer that all of you are doing well back home! Seek the Lord in all you do! D&C 88:63 , D&C 112:10 love you guys! until next week. :)

p.s. if anybody has things to mail, send them to the mission office at 1146 Prater Way, Sparks NV 89431. i don't have my address in Gardnerville yet. adios! 

Happy Day after Gen conference!!

Hello my dear family and friends!? how are you all this fine p-day after conference!? so great i hope! it's been an amazing weekend and my least favorite part about it being today is that conference is now over..! it came and went so fast. i was chatting with the other missionaries last night and i compared conference to filling up a red solo cup with a fire hose.. in a good way though! you get just blasted with all the goods of the spirit and it's hard to retain it all. one thing is certain is that the spirit of conference is lingering here in Fallon. what an incredible one huh!!? welp, to the q's this week. :) 

WHERE DID YOU WATCH GEN CONF?

The church building on Richards street. it's the coolest chapel ever and i loved watching conference there becuase it was just missionaries and a few investigators.. nice and quiet and very attentive. 

WHO WERE YOUR FAVORITE SPEAKERS?

oh goodness sakes. can i pick my top say.. 18? :) i'll say i think my 3 favorites were.. Elder Holland (no surprise), edward Dube, and S. Gifford.. nielsen? nelson? i think it was something like that. they were all so powerful. i absolutely Loved the Prophets talk in the first session on sunday too. but we always love the Prophet's talks that's a given! 

WHAT STORY OR QUOTE TOUCHED YOU MOST?

the best quote!!! E. Holland - Live by faith, hold fast to hope, and show compassion, one to another. that, my friends, is a motto to live by. 

ARE YOU STILL WITH ELDER SHAW?

you betcha! now that we've started talking i'm learning a lot about science junk i've never known before. literally you name it he covers it as we are cruisin around Fallon. haha 

WHEN IS ZONE CONF?

Zone Conference was at the Fallon North Stake center on taylor street. we call it the taylor building. it was on sept 24th and it was awesome! 

UTAH GOT SNOW THIS WEEK..DID FALLON?

oh my!!!! i would love some snow! we haven't gotten any snow. it's been below freezing during the night time a few times. i sleep right next to the window now (we reorganized the house) so i sleep with the window open and one night i woke up a human popsicle and had to close the window. so yeah, it's been getting colder. but it gets warm-ish during the day. 60's and what not. 

ARE YOU STILL RIDING YOUR BIKES?

yep! trying to bundle up! it's been way cold on the bikes.. i would walk if it didn't cut our productivity in fourths! 

WHO DID YOU GET MAIL FROM THIS WEEK?

Grandma Sue and grandpa Monte, then i got an awesome package from Haley Hoo my fav little sister! :) it was very creative and lifted my spirits in a time of need!!! thanks to all. :) a lot of people have converted to emailing me and i don't mind at all! just want more photos :) 

WHAT FOOD DO YOU CRAVE THAT YOU CAN'T GET IN FALLON?

Taco Amigo!!! oh my gosh! i miss it so much. and there is a pizza joint in Reno that i miss.. it's called Blind Onion. so dang good. 

WHAT SCRIPTURE JUMPED OUT AT YOU? WHY?

i came across a scripture in Isaiah.. i think it's 41:10. i read it and thought.. that sounds familiar.... and i realized it's the scripture that How firm a foundation (the hymn) was written after or whatever. also reminded me of the scripture mastery helaman 5:12.. when we build our foundation upon Christ we will prevail through the "shafts and the whirlwinds" of the adversary. there is no doubt in my mind that this is the only true and lasting way to happiness and to the development of strength through the trials we face in life. large or small, the Atonement of our savior can lift us through. i know it!! that's the glad message i get to share with people as a missionary. ..well.. one of the glad messages. :) 

ARE YOU KEEPING A DAILY JOURNAL?

it's more like a twice a week journal.. but i'm trying! sometimes i just really don't want to write in it. but i'm keeping study notes pretty much everyday.. so that's good right? :) 

WHEN ARE TRANSFERS?

next week! i'll find out this coming saturday if i'm staying here or if i'm packin up the ol' suitcases! 

ARE YOU SICK OF FALLON?

well.. I have loved Fallon! to answer your question, i am looking forward to getting a new area, but leaving here is going to be equally as hard as leaving home i can already tell. I love the people and i've loved working with them.. i almost feel like i'm spinnin' my wheels here though. like a new face will help this area out alot, though it might not seem like it at first. I love the ward and just everybody here, but i'm about to the point where i'm ready to see what the Lord has in store for me next. :) 

HAVE YOU MET MY FRIENDS THE TUCKERS YET?

NO! do they live in Fallon? i want to meet them!! 

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE GUYS THAT DRESSED UP LIKE MISSIONARIES AND THEN ROBBED A HOUSE IN LAS VEGAS?

Yeah! it was when the fires in california were dusting Fallon with a bunch of ash.. we all (the missionaries) wore masks to keep the junk out of our lungs and needless to say after that had occured we weren't very well received. we would hear about it in almost every house. 

DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS LOVE YOU? REALIZE IT!! I just love my family and friends! y'all are the best!!!

WHAT DO YOU KNOW FOR SURE THIS WEEK?

This week, i know with all the surety of heart that the Lord himself stands at the head of this church. i KNOW that he has called a Prophet, and Apostles to lead and guide us through the tough times that lie ahead. What a great blessing and testimony that God, the eternal Father, and his Son, Jesus Christ, Love us enough to guide us through their servants in these latter days. the spirit that was felt during conference was undeniable! i know that those men and women that addressed us are devoted servants of the Lord to help bless our lives if we heed to their counsel! it gives me so much hope! I can't wait to get the conference edition of the ensign so i can relive all of the wonderful insights and topics that were discussed! i know that this is the Lords kingdom established again on the Earth. what a blessing! 

WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING STRONG?

well.. to keep this one from going on for dayz i'll give you two things that keep me going strong. 1. the atonement of our Savior, and 2. the support of my family and friends! We hardly scratch the surface at the blessing the atonement is in our lives. the truth of the matter is it is much more than just being freed from sin. we can pray to God "with all the energy of heart" knowing that we have an advocate. Knowing that the Savior feels the desires of my heart. he feels my burdens, he rejoices when we are happy and weeps when we weep. to know that he loves me enough to suffer in that manner is beyond words! in hard times i know that i can rely on the Savior (in many ways) to lift my heart. Sure there are hard times as a missionary. there are hard times for everyone, no matter their circumstance! but as a representative of Jesus Christ i know that he stands behind me, and every other missionary serving. i know that this is his work and when i let go of my selfish thoughts and actions he can use me as an instrument in his hands to accomplish his righteous purposes! there's no time to feel down or sad or self-pity....full? i'm a part of God's army and i've never felt more joy in my life. The support i get from family and friends is heart warming! i love and care about all of you and i think of you often, and it's a great help to me to know that you are all doing well. even if you're not, i love being a part of your lives still as you are the ones that hold my heart! so .. that's that. :)

You guys my heart is full! i'm so grateful for the gospel in my life and i'm so grateful to be serving at this time. i hope you all have an incredible week this week. until next week! :)

Elder Sykes 

p.s.. i think it was Sam Stahuras birthday recently. i can't remember if it's october 3rd or 4th.. or like..? 23rd? i can't remember. she's always been the better friend in our friendship... but i hope you have a good birthday this .. month, Sham. :) 

Sept 30 letter... (its a good one)!

what's up family and friends!? how is everyone doing this week? very well i hope! this week has been a pretty good one here in the desert oasis of fallon NV! looks like i'm on my own this week in letting you all know how it went so let's see what we can come up with!

 

first of all, i'm in the family history center today. it has been opened back up so we don't have to go all the way to the library anymore! saves us like a 2 mile bike ride, which is super good. the first thing to note is the weather! how has it been for you guys!? cold? we had a couple days that were cold enough for me to break out the winter coat. course, on bikes it makes it a little colder .. probably wouldn't have needed the big coat if i wasn't cruisin around on the two wheels! it's been nice though.. sweater/cardigan weather for the most part.

 

so yesterday was fast/testimony meeting with conference being next week. elder Shaw and I were heavily involved! we were asked to teach both hours, sunday school and priesthood. i was sitting in sacrament almost overwhelmed at the responsibility we had to teach those two lessons and after a testimony or two i got a strong impression to get up and share my testimony on the power of the scriptures. so i did! i've never had a sunday where i had so much on my mind! we taught a lesson in gospel principles about Faith in Jesus Christ, then we taught the priests on missionary work! it was an eventful day.. but i almost felt more spiritually tired than rejuvenated. what do you do!? but it was fun. i was once told that a testimony is strengthened in the bearing of it and i had a lot of opportunities to share my testimony yesterday, and even this morning at 630! which leads me to my next point.

 

we went on splits again last wedensday. i was working with Elder Hannig in his area (Fallon 3rd ward). we get along so well! it was a lot of fun to teach with someone that i could talk to about everything. he's kindof a goofball but we get along. anyway! our dinner appointment was with the former stake president, now just a member of the 3rd ward. he's such a solid guy. his name is brother Hyde.. in my opinion he's general authority material.. just rock solid! but anyway we had dinner at his house (he makes a great amount of money doing a million different things.. jack of all trades) beautiful home right on the carson river! so we got to talking with he and his wife and they asked us the question "why did you decide to serve a mission?" and we both took a turn telling our little stories. well he looked at me afterwards and just said "my seminary class needs to hear that story." needless to say he teaches seminary now, and does an awesome job of it. so i told him i'd be happy to come speak to his class he would just have to let me know when. well i saw him at church yesterday back in our building on richards street and he asked if i would come in tomorrow (today, this morning) . so i pulled Elder Shaw out of bed at 530am to get ready and head to early morning seminary! when we got there we got right to what we were there for!  Brother Hyde asked elder Shaw if he would share his story first then i shared my story and testimony. It was a great experience! i loved it. i prayed last night and this morning that i would portray the parts of my story that would be of the most help to the students in the class and i can't say for sure.. i just know it was a blessing for me to relive it and walk through just why i decided to come out here! i figured it might be kindof a fun idea to relive and re-tell that story to you guys today although most of you might have a pretty sound understanding of just what my "story" entails.

 

So i'll try and keep it short because i know nobody wants to read a big long novel.. but here it is. Growing up i was never super active in the church. I was never really converted to the gospel because i didn't really know what the gospel was. I didn't know where the Book of Mormon came from. I didn't understand Joseph Smiths role in restoring the fulness of the truth to us. I didn't understand what set the "mormons" apart from the rest of christianity..(Priesthood) I had literally no understanding of why this church is the true church. i just knew it was.  well becuase i was surrounded by good influences i never really got into anything that would hold me back from serving a mission. A lot of people that i loved and cared about had made the decision to serve the Lord so i decided to start really considering it. the fact of the matter was i had always said i would serve a mission, i just never actually took the steps to get out! it didn't really come and sweep me off my feet.. i had to work for it as a lot of you know. anyway! i was sitting in singles ward one day because my good friend Jameson Ricks invited me to come with him.. it was a pretty spiritual meeting and as i was feeling the love of the Savior through the spirit in the meeting the thought occured to me.. some people don't have any idea what this feels like. i knew that i had a responsibility to serve and i didn't have any real restrictions, nothing holding me back. so i went in to my bishop, Bishop Dastrup and i shared the good news, that i was ready to go out on my mission! Bishop Dastrup, being an inspired man, gave me a list of things to accomplish before he would allow me to fill out my papers. at the time i was devastated.. i spent about a week wallowing in self pitty before asking the Lord for help. well to make a long story short, with the help of the Lord i was able to fulfill the things my bishop had asked of me. one of the things he asked me was to read preach my gospel 3 times cover to cover.. though that seemed steep to most everyone i talked too i decided to give it my best shot. well this was a pivotal thing for me. i didn't realize at the time how much of a blessing it was for me to spend time in preach my gospel everyday. i was studying the very material we relay to investigators to help them come to know of the truth. my time spent in that book before my mission was to convert myself to the gospel. The Lord knows that i needed that time. it's an ongoing learning process and i'm fine with it, but had i not spent that time in preach my gospel i would have gotten out here and dwindled, and failed. So my testimony on this matter is pretty simple. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that the Lord is mindful of me. i know that he is mindful of all of his children. He provides a way for us to accomplish the tasks that lie ahead of us. it happens in a myriad of different ways, maybe most commonly working through his servants who follow the Savior and as a result, are in tune with the promptings they receive. what a blessing! this is, in essence, the testimony Brother Hyde asked me to share with his students. looking at all those words on the computer screen i hope nobody falls asleep while trying to read that whole thing.. sheesh. but needless to say i'm so grateful for bishop Dastrup for his being in tune with the spirit, and i'm so grateful for all the priesthood leaders and disciples of Christ that i was surrounded by whilst growing up in the vital years of my life in Lindon Ut. I know that because the Lord is mindful of each of us he gives us opportunities to learn, and to grow, and he won't ever suffer us to be in a circumstance that we can't endure through he power of the Atonement. it's true my friends! i know it is.

 

gosh if you aren't all exhausted from reading that whole thing i will tell you about the rest of our week. well i'll give you a really short version. we had zone conference on obedience, awesome. our lessons picked up a little bit this week working with less active members of the church and some of the investigators i've mentioned. we are still getting to points in certain days when we kind of look at each other and say "what do we do now?" i'm sure most missionaries have been there before. we are still learning the ways of being a missionary and just loving every minute of it. sure there are hard times, you can't avoid them. but the good news is, we have a Savior that knows us personally and is there to lift us up when we rely on him. in brother Hyde's seminary class today he made a point that rang true to me. he said that we just don't understand and use the atonement for as much as it's worth. the Atonement has a very real enabling power. it's not something we use once or twice or three times in our lives when we really mess up. it's a gift that was given to us but God, and by his son Jesus Christ, not only to give us an opportunity to repent of our sins, but also to give us the knowledge that someone, a person, loves us so much and has felt what we feel in this very moment. we learn in the scriptures that we are to ask of the things we stand in need of and we will be blessed in whatever manner we need. the Atonement is the greatest blessing we have. Our Savior loves us and can carry us through "deep waters." I love the gospel and i love this glad message! this is the good news that we share with people everyday. i feel so blessed to be a part of it! i think that's all i've got for the day... haha gosh goodluck to the readers.. i hope you can make this far in the email without falling asleep. :P i love you all at home! i hope you're all enjoying life and acknowledging the Lord's hand in your lives. have the best week, we'll talk to you all next week.

 

-elder Sykes, stoooz