January 20

Missions are Great! 

Well to start of this letter I will have you all know that this was a wonderful week. We had transfer calls and I am so happy that I get to stay in my area! This will make it at least seven and a half months in my first area. I am way excited to stay here because there is some work going on here that I think will take off and we will be able to have some success with. 

Heavenly Father always answers prayers!!!!! Our teaching pool has dropped to about 3 families this week with some new rules coming out. Elder Amadi and I decided we have to find more people to teach or this will be an extremely hard transfer! We have been praying like no other for people to teach. On Saturday we called the Zone Leaders to see if they could give us any good ways to find people, they gave us the basics and asked if we have been praying for it and of course we said yes. They didn't really know what to do or have any suggestions. Then literally five minutes after we got off the phone we got a text from so other missionaries telling us they have been teaching some people online and they want to learn more. Luckily they live in our area. Saturday night we decided to go visit this referral and see if we could start teaching them. This referral lives in the middle of no where (that's not saying much because everyone in our area lives in the middle of no where). It was super awkward at first because they were all outside just starring at us. We went to meet them, they turned out to be super nice people and wanted to come to church on Sunday. They couldn't make it but all went well and we are seeing them on Tuesday! The way that all happened was amazing and only could have been done through the power of God! It was just another way to show that God is always there listening to our prayers and that he will always answer them!

Keeping on the same subject with Prayer we have been praying continually for Fidel and Isabel they really are incredible people and have a desire to follow Christ. This week they have read all of Matthew and from the Book of Mormon. They are doing what it takes to be baptized and be spiritually prepared. As I go over there and visit with them I think to myself you guys are incredible. Last night we committed them to read just one chapter from the Book of Mormon in preparation for the next lesson and there response was "Just one chapter, thats so easy!" Wouldn't it be nice if every single member of the church said that. I can read just one chapter because that is easy! They seriously go above and beyond in all things. They are an example to me in all things, they really have a desire to learn more about Christ! 

Thats all for this week! I want you all to know this church is true and that we are in the middle of and exciting time! As our mission president always says... "Don't get left out of the future" He is referring to missionary work. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder Williams

P.S Happy Birthday to my main man!!! I love you little WILL!!!

I really like this video if you have some time you really should watch it. This site has hundreds of amazing videos.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=911104781001

January 13, 2014

Hey Y'all!

Its been another wonderful week in Paradise! Time is flying by I can't believe how fast things are going. First I never thought I would have Christmas on the mission and now that has come and gone. I definitely didn't think I would ever have a birthday on a mission and that is just about here and then I will be at 6 months. Time goes to fast, not enough time to do the things I want to accomplish on the mission. The last couple of days I have been thinking about what I should write about this week and as I am looking through my journal I got nothing! It has been one of those weeks... Then you look and think a little bit deeper and you see the small blessings that the Lord blesses you with! 

This week I have done a bunch of things new for myself! I started a bunch of things. I am not eating anymore candy at all... so please no candy! Now I love to eat Almonds and Dried fruit :) but I have been trying to eat healthy sense Christmas! This week I also started reading Jesus the Christ, that book is so deep and interesting. I decided to read it to gain a bigger vocabulary... but I have come to find a more deepening love for my savior and all that he has done for me. Crazy fact about me... Sense coming on my mission I have found out how much I love to study and read! Who would have guessed the kid that never study for test now loves to study. I am so glad I have gained that habit for the future. 

The last couple of days have been weird in a fact that lots of people have been talking about why this is the only true church on the Earth today. Yesterday at church in our gospel principles class we were talking about the card that has the 17 point of the true church and what those are. Then the devotional that happened just last night, Elder Callister was talking about the blue prints to Christ true Church on the earth and how our Church is the only one that has all the things that are necessary for Christ Church. If you didn't watch it I encourage you to watch it. Its at cesdevotionals.lds.org it was a wonderful devotional.

The work in this area is as strong as ever we are teach so many people and starting to see a lot more progression. We had some solid lessons with a lady named Lisa she has been going through a divorce and things were hard on her but she relied on the Lord and now things are better she is really loving the support the gospel is giving her and how much she can rely on her Savior to help her over come the pain she felt. We actually found out that Lisa will not be getting a divorce and they are working through things. She has also said he knows it is only possible for it to work through the atonement of the Savior. The faith she has is unbelievable and just incredible she is doing so well and we will continue to pray for her. We also taught Jill again this week with Megan there helping her find happiness in the gospel. She is reading and praying, she knows she is receiving answers to her prayers. Hopefully she will be able to follow the example her daughter has set for her and receive the joy that she sees in her daughter. And then there is Fidel!!!!! They are doing awesome as ever and are still loving coming to church. They love all this gospel has and you can see the light in there eyes! We talked about them being baptized on the 25th of this month we will just have to see where they are and what they want. But either way they have come a LONG LONG ways! Fidel has been sober now for a least 2 weeks! 

This week I have been reading in Alma about Ammon and Aaron who go and teach the Lamanites about the gospel. Well a promise was made to there father that they would return in safety. Long story short Ammon, Aaron and his other brothers go and convert thousands and they are protected through out all the hard ships they have. I know that as we venture along this journey we are protected and we need not worry about the things of the world. Our Father in Heaven has a special watch over us and we will meet again in safety. I love you all so much and I pray you all will continue on the path of Righteousness, for narrow is the gate and straight is the way! 

Love,

Elder Williams!!

December 16, 2013

Hey everyone,

Elder Amadi

It was a crazy week!!! This week I got a new companion, had to take over the area and also for some reason my mission Pres. and the Lord think I am ready to be District Leader... I am very excited to learn and grow from this experience I just hope I can help out my district as much as possible! Also it was a fear conquering week! I will send you guys all the picture and you will all see why it is a fear conquering week!!! My new companion is awesome, his name is Elder Amadi!! I love this man already and so excited to learn from him! He comes from Atlanta, Georgia and he is Nigerian! He is one of the coolest guys I have ever met!!!

Speaking of new... We finally moved out of that dump we lived in... so if you have sent anything there recently let me know so I can go by and get it. Other wise from now on just send stuff to my new address, it is

3310 Bermuda isles Circle apt 238

Naples, FL 34109

Well once again things are crazy and I don't have a lot of time so this might be a little bit of a shorter letter.. Our Mission President told us to give you guys a heads up and plan for Christmas calls this week. Me and my comp have decided that we will call 11:30 our time so that is 9:30 your time. Does that work?? Let me know as soon as possible. Also we can either skype or facetime which ever is easiest... With that being said still set up a skype because I am not sure if the members house we are going to has facetime. We will see and I will let you know everything next week so we can all be on the same page and have a good ole time on Christmas. Usually they let us call on Christmas Eve to make sure everything works out but we will see what happens with the new mission pres. I am very excited to see you all on Christmas invite whoever to come see :) 

Well the work in our area is incredible.. I guess. This past week we went up to transfer meetings and when our pres told us who and where we were going he stopped on ours and said Golden Gate taught 29 lessons last week... Who has taught this many lessons in the past week month or 6 months.... I can see that the Lord is definitely blessing me and my companion as we are working diligently. I love this work and can't wait to continue on with it. 

Fidel is doing so awesome. He and his WHOLE family came to the brach christmas party, church and a baptism. That is huge progress!! They are trying so hard to do what it takes to be baptized and I can't wait for the day when they actually will be. They love the gospel and know it is true!! Well I am really really sorry but this is all I have time for today, know I have to go out and teach and we have a bomb night set up so I am super excited!!! Just know everything here is going awesome and I love it some much!!

Dad this one is for you: I AM 100% COMMITTED

I love you all so much and can't wait to hear from you!!!

Peace!

Love,

Elder Williams

Austin's biggest fear

* Before Austin left on his mission we would watch a TV series on all 

of the scary snakes, gators, and everything else in Florida. He truly was

 freaked out most by the snakes. 

Dec 2, 2013

Happy Holidays to All!!

Crazy, it is December! I never ever imagined actually being on my mission for Christmas but now it is finally here. This Christmas is definitely going to be different then all the past Christmas's I have had so it will be a fun and exciting adventure! I never ever thought I would say this... But it actually got COLD this week. Say what?? Yeah thanksgiving morning it was cold! We live in a small house and the floors are all concrete and my feet froze!!!! It was 45 degrees outside, you are probably laughing at me because I think that is cold now days, but honestly I was freezing. Its going to be a rude awakening going back to Utah snow! Inside our apartment it was 60 degrees because in Florida well all the old houses at least there is no such thing as a heater so we just have to suffer through it. But it was awesome to finally stay dry one day! Ever sense, all the mornings have been really foggy which is awesome because it reminds me of home. I get to pretend that there are mountains behind all the fog and half the time I would think about all the foggy days I get to go snowboarding! Well guess its a winter wonderland... hahah not, today is back to its usual hot!!! 

Thank you guys soooooooooooo much for the package!!! It is awesome I love having a Christmas count down. I am still in unbelief that it is December 2 already! This Saturday we have transfer calls so I may or may not be in my same area I will let you know next Monday, chances are I will be staying here!

Thanksgiving was awesome! We have some really cool members in our branch that invited us over for dinner. The picture that you got, we were at our ward mission leaders house. They are an awesome family the had us over for dinner and pie. We played outside with them and there kids it was really an awesome day. I didn't get as homesick as I thought I would so that is always a plus. We also wanted to see Less actives that day because we knew they would be home. Some of them love to see us and some don't, but that's the missionary life. We recently got a super awesome family in our branch the one that sent the picture last Sunday. They also had us over on Thursday night, they are such a cool family and are really helping us out with the member missionary effort in this area. Our branch is small, it is powerful to see that so few people can do such great things and how much they can help in the missionary effort. 

As the missionary life goes it was a great week, a lot of people were out of town for the Holidays so we had to do what we could, which consisted of finding new Investigators. We found a few high school girls that were sitting at a table in the apartment park. These are the more rundown apartments so we knew they would have crazy back rounds. All we knew is that we could help change there life around and they were really accepting to it. It has been fun to see that people are able to change when they are able to notice Christ is really in the picture. We are helping them as much as we can, already they are improving and finding better ways to spend there time. I am excited for them and even a few of there families have wanted to listen to our message. It has been so exciting to see people change. Speaking of Change there is one of our investigators that is going through a really tough time and thought things just were going to work out, well then one day we invited her to come to church and she accepted. She has two little kids and her name is Lisa, she came to church on sunday and now I am excited to see how this week plays out with her!

I am sorry time is so short and it seems like it is everyweek but I have to go now so I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week. Remember the reason for the season! 

Happy Holidays!!!

Love,

Elder Williams 

November 25, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

This was a good stinkin week! I had so much fun and got to learn even more about patience! Everyone is always talking about time, and how fast it goes. It really seems like Yesterday me and Will were falling asleep on the couch or better yet when Will was born. Everything seems so recent! Yet it was a year ago that I was going snowboarding for the first time of the season and we were getting ready for the holidays and doing all the Family fun activities that the holidays bring. I'm gonna miss those but at the same time it will all just fly by and I will be back there in no time at all! Can't believe I have already been gone 4 months!

Well enough of that!! What a week we had here. It all started with wednesday at district meeting we talked about Christ like attributes. We Listened to a talk that Sister Dalton gave on Virtue. What she said is so true, "Through the strength of the Lord I can do all things". That is about as true as they come! I know we can do all things through the Lord. She made so many great comments on virtue and how one virtuous person can change the whole world. They also mentioned that the word Virtue comes from the latin word "strength" that is about as true as it gets too, if we are virtuous we become unstoppable and satan will have no power over our thoughts. Thought I would just share that with y'all! 

There are so many missionary experiences to share and not enough time to do it! But let me just start with how awesome Saturday was! Saturday morning we have an amazing lesson with a girl named Jessica, we found her at an Eagle court of honor a few weeks back. We were suppose to meet with her last weekend but her sister passed away, so this weekend we met up with her and really just tried to comfort her. We talked about the plan of salvation and she loved it. She wants to do whatever she can to come closer to Christ and be with him again. We felt the spirit so strongly and we could tell she was feeling it to so we invited her to baptism and she accepted! Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways. She has been around the gospel before but never wanted to know what it was all about, then we met her and her sister passed away. As sad as that is the gospel can really comfort people in times of trouble. I know that Heavenly Father put us in her path at this time for a reason. After that amazing lesson we have the chance to go to a Hawaiian/Asian Luau. It was so much fun. The luau was on the beach so yet again we have to get permission from the president and he let us go. He is all for letting us do fun thing if we have a purpose and are working diligently. The luau was a blast, so much good food and tons of people there to contact and find. We came out of there with two pretty solid potential investigators. It was definitely worth our time. Then right after that we got to continue our fun! Fidel being the most humble man in the universe invited us to go with him and the family to a Hockey game. Once again we have to get permission but they still let us go. It was one of the most fun things I have been able to do so far. Spending time with Fidel is wonderful, he is an incredible man and is trying so hard to overcome so much. This past week he went free from all his worldly things and addictions. It is incredible what he has done and I can't believe how much of a changed man he has become! I love this man with all my heart I just hope he continues on the right path and will eventually enter in to the straight and narrow gate! Saturday was a super good day and I am so grateful that I got to have the experiences that I did. 

Being the week of Thanksgiving I am sure everyone is getting ready for there parties they will be having. I know I am we have so many members that want us to come over and have dinner with them. Everytime I think of thanksgiving I always remember going to Grandma Beus house, sleeping, watching football and then going to the gym after! I am definitely going to miss that this year but it alright there are other things to be done. I guess I had better say a few things I am thankful for... Mom I loved your first one, we all need to be thankful for the small things in life such as taste and smell!  Although there are millions I will just say a few! I am thankful for thanksgiving, I always knew it was a day to think of thinks to be thankful for but never completely realized the meaning, now I am so thankful that we have it so we can look back at all the thing Heavenly Father has given us! I am thankful for this mission I am on, I thought I was a mature person back home but I was so wrong I am thankful that I have this time to realize who I want to be and what I really want in this short time we have. I am also thankful for the plan of salvation, I teach it everyday but it is amazing to know that I will be able to be with my family forever! I guess in General I am thankful for this gospel and how true it is. I have a super strong testimony of how it is the root of all happiness and with out it we wouldn't know what true happiness is. And last but not least I am so thankful for my family and all the support you guys give to me! I couldn't do this without you guy being there for me 110% of the way, you all have played a significant role in who I am today and I can never thank you enough. 

Well as of right now that is all I have time for so we will see you soon and have a wonderful thanksgiving! When you all go to grandmas house remember I am still there celebrating with you guys. Dont forget to make sure you tell grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles and cousins that I am grateful for all they have done for me. Especially tell Levi Thanks for me! 

Love you all so much!!!!!,

Elder Williams 

October 21

To everyone I love,

Who would have guessed?? I really am an eagle scout huh?? Hard to believe that it really did happen but I guess pictures are worth a million words! Mom how does it feel to know that both your boys pulled off a last minute eagle scout!! HAHA at least we both got them! But really I am excited to know that I got it and everything went well and I actually have an award to look at when I get home!

Its funny how many things are already changing back at home! I can't believe Jill is married and Kristen is getting married! Wish them both the best of luck for me! Also I miss my nephews, they are growing up so fast. Last I can remember is will was fat, he sat around all day, and ate as much as mom would let him! Roger on the other hand doesn't surprise me. When I left he was still a crazy little kid! I love hearing about them and all the growing up they will be doing over the next two years! Don't worry about me being skinny fat! It seriously is all muscle ;) I think this is the first time in my life you can tell that I have muscle and you can't be skinny fat and have a 6-pack! yeah first time I have had one of those. The working out... Should have done that a long time ago!

Fidel and the Family Halloween Party

What a week it has been! Its hard to think of anything to say when the time is going as fast as it is. I feel like I just told you guys what is going on down here but yet another week has come and gone. I seriously don't know what to say. I'm looking back in my journal and come to find out this was the week of misery, our air conditioning broke... Right now in Utah that might not be a big deal, but in Florida where is it still 90 degress everyday it sucks to have not a/c! On Tuesday night we came home and our thermostat said 95 in our house... that was the worst night of sleep I have ever had! But enough with that we made it as fun as we could and thankfully our a/c is back up and running!

The highlight of the week was definitely Thursday night! We went on splits with the ward members, usually when we do this it is just stressful and people don't show up. But this week was different, we went to a members home where we taught two investigators, Nate and Lisa, and the lesson was incredible. I basically started the lesson and let the members relate to the investigators and they just hit it off! It was difficult to get much of the lesson in but I know they felt the spirit and that is all that matters! The good thing is Nate and Lisa read over all the pamphlets and Book of Morman so they already knew EVERTHING!! That was such a good lesson and I am so happy they got to feel the spirit they way they did! They are awesome and hopefully everything goes so well with them! 

Fidel, at the Naples Pier

As for Fidel and his family, they are solid! He had problems with word of wisdom but we are working on them know and he is doing so good with it! I can tell that it is hard for him to deal with that, he has had a lot less energy this week and had seemed really down. But I am happy that he is doing it! Also this morning we went and cleaned a house with him, I think that he wants to move into that house sometime in the future and thats why they are cleaning it. And sense we are getting kicked out of our apartment next week and have no where to go he wants us to go move in with him. We will see what happens there. I am not sure if we are really getting kicked out or if they just want us to move as soon as possible. Anyways Fidel is the Man he really is! He took us to the beach last week and he is taking us again this week! oh man the beach is so beautiful I wish I could actually get into the water but I know that can't happen. 

I really had an incredible week this week and can't wait to start the new adventure that is in front of me (this coming week) but before you know it, it will all be over with and I will be writing you another email having no idea what to say! I hope everything back home is going super and you are all enjoying this time you have away from me, because I can promise it will be short! Have a wonderful week and remember that you can do all things through the Lord! I love you all!

Love,

Elder Williams!

November 4, 2013

Hey Ya'll

Holy Cow it snowed!!!!! That absolutely blows my mind!! The weather here is starting to cool off. Now it only feels like 90 degrees instead of 100! HAHAH cold right? I have to keep telling myself that its November other wise I think I am still in August! Makes the time fly by, I guess! 

This week was one of those learning weeks that everyone has to have! Our week started out so good between Monday and Tuesday we had taught 8 lessons and had seen 3 less actives! We thought it was going to be a bomb week and we were just going to tear it up. Well then the Lord had to humble us. Like always! Thursday and Friday were not such great days. Our numbers were just the same as usual but for some reason the days just seemed long and nothing was going the way we wanted it too. So what does a missionary do? He gets on his knees and pleads and wonders what is going on. and what he needs to learn. On Saturday me and my comp both started talking about this and what we could do so that we could finish out the week strong, we came to the conclusion that it is all about the attitude! Saturday and Sunday our numbers were the same, only one thing changed and that was the attitude. Yesterday I was so spiritually fed and I know it was because I had that change. I have decided that the whole rest of the week and for my mission I am going to do my best to put forth a good attitude. No one wants to be around someone with a crappy attitude and if I have a bad attitude then this will be near impossible to do! I am so happy that I was able to have that experience this week. I felt like the Lords investigator and it was definitely a learning and growing week. Its so wonderful to see how Heavenly Father will put us through trials and hard time so we can learn and grow, during the trial we never realize why it is happening but once it is all done and over with we see how much we have changed and how we have become someone who Heavenly Father can be proud of.

Well enough of that you guys want to know how the work is going. Mom I guess I do make it sound like we commit people to baptism every week. We try to! I have One actually baptism! But its not staying like that for long, on Friday we are baptizing a young girl named Megan. She is awesome and I am so excited for her. She is so smart. At first we had a hard time with her processing things and understanding and we could tell that something was wrong or something wasn't happening. Then one time we went there for a lesson and she was completely changed. After that lesson Elder Halford and I talked about it and we both agreed that it was she finally read the Book of Mormon and prayed about it. Its crazy awesome how much a simple 10 minutes of reading and a 30 second pray can change someones life. I love it. Nothing else I would rather do than see how a simple act of faith can change the life of someone forever. So yeah Megan is super soild and so excited to get baptized on Friday. And then there is Rocky!!! I can't brag about him enough! First off he is getting baptized on Sunday so thats way cool! But listen to this.. His first fast Sunday ever, what does he do? Well during testimony meeting he says if you go up there I will go up there! Oh my goodness the kid is awesome, so I went up. Right when I get done he stands up and goes in front of everyone and just pours his heart out! It was amazing. The kids makes me speechless. To think that two months ago we thought he was some thug who would never listen to us. And then all the sudden you have this kid who has the biggest heart and is just awesome. I will forever remember my time in Golden Gate. When I first got here I was told that this was one of the harder areas and less successful areas of the mission. Well in three months we have three baptisms and so many more who right there ready to enter into the kingdom of God. This work can be done, it all starts with a good attitude and obedience to the Lord! 

Fidel is the mystery man. We thought he was going to be super positive and willing to obey the commandments. Ever sense we started talking about the Word of Wisdom and trying to help him he really doesn't want anything to do with us anymore. He still comes to church every week and knows it is true but doesn't want to take that leap of faith and give up the coffee. We asked him if we could just come over and have a short lesson with him and the family, he just turned us down and didn't want any of that. We hope we can keep a relationship with him and keep him coming to church, that way he can feel the spirit and hopefully one day in the future give up those worldly things and come unto the gospel. It makes me sad to just talk about it because I love and care for him so much and I want him to enter into this awesome gospel. But we think we know why he won't do it, because he won't read and pray everyday like he needs to. He needs all the help he can get spiritually and that is where it will come from but he doesn't recognize that yet. Maybe one day he will see how much happiness this gospel can bring.  

Well this letter has been long enough and you have heard about all the excitement that happens in the Golden Gate Estates! Before I go I want you all to know that it is all about inviting. I know in Utah most people have heard about Mormons before but as the prophet has said we need to invite everyone. If we are inviting we are doing our part and Heavenly Father will bless us and be proud of us. I hope this week you will try to find someone that you can invite to go to church or to read the Book of Mormon. We may invite 100 people and they all may say no. But if we are inviting then we are giving people there agency and the Lord will take care of the rest! I love you all so much! I hope you have a fantastic week and remember attitude is everything!

Love, 

Elder Williams