the transfer call came in!

Hello Family and friends!! transfer calls are in, i'm headed back to reno! I'm going to be serving in the very same ward that i was trained in! crazy crazy! the Lord has more work for me and my new companion to do there and I'm greatly looking forward to it! I'm super bummed to be leaving this area, it has been an incredible learning experience and i've loved the ward and the people we've been teaching. Duty calls and I have sure faith that the Lord is sending me where i'm needed. My responsibility is to seek the guidance and counsel, and reach the people that will receive us. I'm excited as can be! let's get to the questions! i've got some packing to do... ( oh shoot) 

WHAT WAS THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK?

Well, i told you all the story about the corpse, right? well guys, this is the funniest/craziest thing. We went back to see our investigator robert a week to the day later to provide comfort and whatever. He was emotional when we got there and he informed us the crematory just took his mom away. He let her dead body sit in his house for a week!!!! are you kidding me!?!?! ugh.. i was so incredibly grateful we showed up after the people had taken her away. I don't mean to be insensitive.. I can only imagine the mourning that would take place without a testimony of the gospel and the plan that God has for us- But from an outsiders perspective you have to laugh at how weird that it. also during our visit he was planting " medicine flowers" in fake soil made of coconut fiber. he was pouring a bunch of chemicals on the plants and telling us how many benefits they have. interesting visit- and this was the day that i was saying goodbye to him. Solid memory of that guy! one of the best visits so far. 

WHERE WILL YOU GET TO WATCH GENERAL CONFERENCE?

I was in the same area last april conference and i believe we'll be in the stake center on kings row Rd. I guess we'll see when i get to the new area! 

WHO HAVE YOU BEEN TEACHING?

Lots of peeps! I don't know if you want a list of names or what- but we have a couple investigators who are very likely candidates for baptism soon. We met a guy named chris, can't remember if i told you guys about him. He's 25 and just moved here with his wife and 5 month old baby from sacramento. He said he has quite a track record and moved to get away from some of the bad things he was into. we asked him what he expected from meeting with the missionaries and he said he wants Christ to make him whole. Strait golden! he's so cool. oh and we tracted into him! we also met a lady named Heather (tracting) that had nothing but good things to say about the "mormons." Her daughters best friend is LDS and heather said she wants to know what it is that makes the mormons so good. this is like, PMG the District dvds happening in the flesh! it also just so happens that it's all going to unfold after i leave the area. that bites, but i wouldn't change a thing. :) 

WHO WOULD YOU LIKE US TO PRAY FOR?

Pray for chris and heather, and for the Pinion hills Elders ( my old comp and his new comp) . This is an awesome area and I hope they continue to teach and find people that are ready for the message. 

WHAT CLOTHING OF YOURS NEED TO BE REPLACED? (ANY HOLES IN YOUR SOCKS?)

My socks are solid! i got loads for christmas and i love all of them. I'm actually doing very well in terms of clothing. I'm going to be sending some home today so i can fit all of my stuff in the suitacases i have! 

DID YOU GET TRANSFERRED?

..yep

WHAT SMALL ACT OF KINDNESS DID YOU DO THIS WEEK?

haha I keep track when i do something nice for people.. i keep a tally to see how awesome i am. no!! this is a funny question haha.. can't really keep track of little deeds that are nice.  but since it applies- Today when i was walking into the library i was the last of 4 missionaries, and behind us was a single file line like 5 miles long of people coming into the library. i held the door until everybody came in. Old people were like " are you going to stand there all day...?" and " are you getting paid to do this..? " haha. It wasn't that i wanted to hold the door for everyone.. i just couldn't hold it for one old lady and let it close on another.. ;) kidding.. but it was good timing and how hard is it to hold a door for someone? like you just stand there with a smile on your face. anyway. I'm sure that's the only nice thing i've done this week. hahah

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF DON AND STEPH NOT WAITING FOR YOU TO COME HOME?

I love Don and Steph! I'm so stoked they are getting hitched. i just hate that i haven't heard from them since they've made the decision.. what the heck? so uncool! if i don't hear from you between now and march 2015 than congratulations on the wedding and hopefully we're still related when i get home! 

WHAT SCRIPTURE JUMPED OUT AT YOU AND WHY?

District meeting this week was on Patience and diligence- alma 32:41 i believe it is.. comparing faith to a seed. I am pretty sure last week i was thinking about patience too.. it's so applicable! when we plant a seed we have to be diligent in nurturing it and patient in plucking the fruit- so it is with any principle of the Gospel. Feeling God's love is the most precious above all other fruit- sometimes we have to be diligent and patient to bear the fruit. It made a lot of sense to me and the district meeting went super well. 

WHAT DO YOU KNOW FOR SURE?

I know that the Lord calls us in our weakness, but he qualifies us for the work. I think it's also related, we will never face any trial we can't bear. I have a testimony that through the power of the Atonement, all things are possible. The Savior knows what it feels like to be where we are, right now. It takes asking for help and guidance to develop a testimony that he knows us. I know he knows us and will guide us to being truly happy!

that's all for this week my friends. I hope it's a good one for all! Love you, enjoy conference and we'll talk real soon!

Elder Sykes

One year down- One to go...

what the heck everyone!? this week marks one year in the mission field. they tell you it flies by... trooof! no questions today so i guess y'all are gonna have to deal with me ramblin' for a while. first of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my favorite 25 yr old brother. Don Won Duh Boussss. hope your day is stellar ma maaaaan. Also, i think we're still brothers? maybe write me back soon you jack!

okay, so let's talk about dat mish life folks. This was a pretty solid week of ze work. We met a few new investigators and are striving towards finding at least one a day, which is our new mission standard. It's a work in progress.. to find that many people prepared in just our little rural area is tough.. requires faith! sometimes it takes time to develop the faith necessary to perform our labors. We talked about this in district meeting last week and we read from alma 32.. I believe as with anything in our lives.. it takes "nurturing the seed of our faith." it's not immediate always.. sometimes it just takes time, sticking to the fundamentals, step by step, to get to where we want to be. i think of moroni 7:33.. The Lord promises that with faith in him we will have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in him. That's the real deal! I have a testimony that that is true.. and even if it takes a while to develop the faith necessary, it will happen with faith and hope! it's all connected !!

Okay so thank you all for the prayers on behalf of us missionaries, and specifically for Scott. This week Scott agreed to be baptized, again! we set the date for march 29th and we are going to do everything in our power to help him overcome the trials and get to the point where he's ready to make this covenant. We had a great lesson with him on friday morning. it was in the church building and we talked about the ARP (addiction recovery program) class from the night before and focused on the second step, which is having faith that the Lord has the power to help us overcome our shortcomings. The lesson went well and we felt strongly that a church tour would be appropriate after a spiritual lesson. We started in the chapel ( which is generally the last place we go..) and circled the building.. looking at all of the chuch artwork and explaining it. the prophets.. The picture of Christ descending from heaven with the angels all around.. we also talked about Moroni- there was the famous picture of him praying as he prepares to hide the plates. We explained that he was the last prophet in the book of Mormon and that he, a glorified being, showed Joseph Smith where the plates laid hidden. This bridged a little gap for scott and added to his understanding of why the book of mormon is significant. We ended the church tour at the baptismal font, at which point we committed him to follow the example of Jesus Christ, and be baptized! It was awesome and we are really looking forward to staying right by his side, helping him step by step to find peace and comfort in the gospel.

moving on! we had a couple interviews this week for the two guys the zone leaders taught and committed to get baptized. they were both so ready and so solid! they wizzed the baptismal interview, and one of them wanted to get baptized at the church in lake tahoe, because that's where he grew up. that's out of our area and is off limits to missionaries because of the temptations or whatever. well the guy being baptized asked if we would be there, i turn to the ZL and ask if we can go and before he has a chance to respond, the guy i interviewed is like " yeah bro, you can't miss it! " haha so we got a free pass to see tahoe! it was beautiful and i'm looking forward to spending more time up there when the time is right! both of the guys we interviewed got baptized on saturday and the spirit the whole day was just awesome.

Other than scott and the guys that got baptized, this week was pretty standard. we did lots of door knocking and lots of less active list work. this whole week is going to be dedicated to finding by our own efforts. we keep getting referrals from our ward members that we have to pass off to other missionaries.. which is kindof a bummer when we just wanna teach people! If there's one thing i know for sure, it's that the Lord is in charge and there are no coincedences! i'm grateful to be out here on his errand at this time! That's about all i've got for this week my friends! thanks a ton to those of you who are keeping in touch and supporting me out hurrr. i love you all and i hope things are so good on the home front! we'll talk real soon!

Elder Sykes

p.s. email is late because we played golf today with an inactive member. :):)