Sept 16, 2013

To Everyone I love,

Right now I'm not exactly sure what I am going to say... It feels like just yesterday I was writing you guys and told you everything I had to say! You could say this was a fast week. Out here days seem like weeks and weeks seem like days so I honestly don't remember what happened this last week. Good thing I have most all of it in my journal. That's why it is important to keep a constant journal.

Lets start with the Bible bashing that took place this week. I honestly could help but laugh at the guy, it was so hard to keep a straight face most of the time. So anyways we met with J-Witnesses and they believe the weirdest things in the world it honestly sad. I asked the one guy if he thought he was going to Heaven (they believe only 144,000 go to heaven) he answer was no. I thought then what the heck are we here for. That was one of the saddest things I have ever heard so I asked him if he thought he had a chance to go to heaven and he said no way. Crazy right!! I guess they think God only love 144,000 of his children, they honestly have no common sense on things either. If you have the chance to meet with them, DON'T they love to waste your time. We will definitely never meet with them again it was just a waste of a day. Now on to he happier notes, I guess obedience does bring miracles its happening everyday. Mom you asked if the mission pres. was loving! He is loving but in a very business professional kind of way, he is intimidating to talk to just because everything has got to be perfect. He is the kind of guy that pulls you into his office and says do you really want to be here. It honestly can be scary at times but I guess that is good because it keeps us 100% obedient. And the work here is way more successful than it has ever been before.

This last week our zone set a mission record on new investigators found and as for me and my companion we didn't find any... They all found us! One family has been so kind to us they didn't really want religion because in the past people have tried to push it on them before but they said for some reason they wanted to talk to us, so we talked and got to know them share a little message and we go back to teach a lesson later this week. We found more people and those are stories for another time if they continue to work out. But this week we found 11 potential investigators and 5 new investigators which is big numbers. I think I have been mentioning a lot about past investigators and this was a weird week because we didn't get to teach them much just small visits. Kathy and David are hard right now becasue Kathy got a mouth infection and started a new job so lots of stress and pain in there part, but they are still praying and reading all the time so that is awesome I love it. Jill on the other hand I think is starting to avoid us. Which is so sad because she was awesome. Everytime we have and appointment with her she is gone but if we just drop in randomly they are there. I bet Andy and Carson can relate to this. It sucks because you want so badly for them to see the progression they have already made and realize how wonderful the gospel is but they just can't quit see it in there lifes yet. But they will see it when the time is right. And thats what president is stressing all we can do is invite people to come unto christ they have the agency to choose. He seriously wanted us to invited hundreds and hundreds of people while we are here in the mission feild.

Saturday was an adventure in its self... we knew that it was gonna be a hard day because we are running low on miles for driving the car. And one of the appointment was way to far to drive, it was 15 miles out into the middle of the everglades. So we had to bike... Lets just say my legs have never hurt so bad in my life. But it was good, we biked around 38 miles on saturday and made it a crazy day. Saturday night we had the Adult session of stake conference, it was soooooo good. If we all remember the new thing is Hastening the Work and he laid down the law. It was a Elder Holland talk. BOLD and to the point. He basically told members they have to do so much more and if they aren't giving missionaries referrals then we can't teach them lessons and eat dinner with them becasue that time is to golden to find someone else who needs the gospel. President is BOLD and I love it. Then Sunday at stake conference they gave us the number of the stake and they are crazy I can't remember numbers but the percentage of members attending sacrement meeting were 28% thats just incredible. Way to low. That is like our focus now to get less actives back in church and referrals from members. At stake conference we sang. Oh was it amazing there were so many people crying there eyes out and it sounded incredible. I actually don't think I am that bad of a singer... But we all know that aint true. Thats what I get for thinking. Anyways I sing all the time. Every morning night and whenever I get a chance to sing I do it.

I love that story you told about Rindee and the kids, because the same thing happened to us. Last Monday as we were leaving the Library to go play some basketball, we couldn't find our keys anywhere and we started to look everywhere. So we decided we won't be able to do this on our own its just not possible. and so we did what missionaries do, we prayed! At this point we had pretty much figured out they were somewhere in the Library so we pulled the place apart, looked under the keyboards where we were sitting and on the floor. Everyone was helping us look, except on guy. After about 10 minutes of looking we asked the one guy who wouldn't help us if we could look under his keyboard... low and behold our keys!! He had been there the whole time and sat next to us so we didn't think they were on that desk. I don't want to make any assumptions I am just happy that Heavenly Father helped us find our keys and we could continue on our way.
  

 Me and my companion are like two peas in a pod. We work so well together and have basically the same exact intrests. He loves sports so thats always good for me. We have both agreed that if we were back home we would have definitely have been friends so thats always good to have a comp that you like. I must say me and him are both dedicated to getting big. We wake up at 5:30 to get ready and go to the gym and we stay there till 7. You guys would never believe that I would be one to work out on a daily bases. In the month I have been here doing this it has shown up big time. I actually don't look like a bean pole anymore.

I have not been golfing yet although I have been dying to go. Its just that we have so little time and on P-Day we have other things that we have to do and want to do. But we think we will go out in the next couple of P-Days. Basically on P-Days I play basketball. OH I almost forgot... wanna know something gross, Im gonna tell you anyways. We all remember how I smashed my toe in my basketball shoes right? well yeah I keep doing it and my toe nail has decided thats enough. So yeah I don't have a toe nail on my big toes anymore. At times it hurts like crazy but I got used to it and know its getting better.

This paragraph is just about random cool experiances that are coming to my head so stay with me. Who would have thought that I would see my first wild alligator before my first wild snake!!! Well saturday when we were biking going full speed crossing over the canal my comp slames on his brakes and tells me he sees a gator so I got pictures and it was awesome. Just a baby one though, the mom has to be close so we are on the look out to find her and get some good pictures. Just about two minutes ago we got news that we have permission to move out of our house and into an apartment!!! This is huge and so exciting because of all the scary things happening there and all the horrible bugs we have! I am so happy right now. Now we actually eat something without it being infested with ants and coch roaches!!

Not much more to say. This week I want you guys to remember to always put the Lord first in everything you do! I promise it will make life so much easier. Always say yours prayers no matter what you are doing. And always find time to read your scriptures its amazing what can really happen when you put him above everything else! I have a strong testimony of this church and I love this gospel its the most true thing on this earth. I love you guys so much and keep up the good work you are doing back home.

Love your one and only Elder,

ELDER WILLIAMS

Hannah who they Baptized 9/7/13
*with the looks of this picture he really is getting bigger.
His pants did not look that way when we sent him.
Guess he might be needing a bigger size!

September 9

Hey everyone,

 

We didn't get P-Day until tuesday, so that took the whole day and every wednesday we have district meeting that take a large portion of the day, then to make it even better thursday is planing day so we don't get out of our house until after dinner. That makes for short time to teach people. But when we do teach we do a dang good job of it. I guess I have to start off with some sort of highlight right? Well lets put it this way I have already been out one month on the mission... Time flies.

 

But my real highlight of the week would have to have been saturday. On my month mark I had my first Baptism. It was a girl named Hannah, she was the "golden investigator" he story starts just before I got here. But she referred herself to the church headquaters and from the get go she had everything down. Her first time a church she bour her testimony and right then and there she knew the church was true. So the teaching part was easy for us. Anyways as golden as she is she still had to work through some hard things. The Baptism was awesome her family who is non-member showed up and the spirit was so strong.   It was awesome.  

The rest of the investigators...... Thats a different story! So Jill and her family, I don't know about them... They were super solid at first, but we can't get them to church and that's a problem. Everytime we have appointments with them they end up not being there. But we still have faith that the Lord will help them with whatever is happening in there life. On a happier thought there is this guy named Wesner he is a minister for a Haitian baptist church, he knows that this is the true church and he is looking for a way out of being minister so he can join our church, but its hard for him to tell the people he cares so much about that he is going to leave them for another church so he hasn't done it yet. This week we left such a spiritual message with him and it was so strong at the end he, HE asked us for a priesthood blessing so that was amazing. I pray for him everyday to get help. We are visiting him tonight and hopefully we can figure something out. In between Wesner and all the other investigators we have, there is on family that just blows my mind. They are the freaking best.

 Kathy, David and Kayla they are so sweet. On Saturday we went over to teach the second lesson and the lesson went so well. The spirit was so strong so we invited them to be baptized on the 28th and they all pretty much said yes. But they don't know about the 28th they are going to pray about it. It was so awesome, when I started talking about Christ and the example he set for us they started crying and after we talked about the holy ghost they were definitely crying...  Kathy calls herself our mission mom. Because on sunday and in days past they have cooked for us and they feed us it is so good. David is from belize and he told us that a month ago he would never let Mormons in his house, but he said what I have learned about mormons is so far from what you guys are teaching us and it was incredible. Plus everyone knows me I don't really like sea food... well thats gonna change because he made us some sea food and man oh man was it good. They treat us like kings and its amazing they are the best family I have met while I have been on my mission.

 

On sunday we were in church and over heard the score to the BYU game....... MIND BLOWN how did they do that? My companions sister married Daniel Sorenson BYU safety so his is so interested in it and you know me I just like me college football. Also somewhere I heard Oregon beat up Virgina... But I don't know forsure. 

Now about the Florida life. Anyone who wants to live here... rethink that thought. I guess if you lived on the beach it would be cool, but down here in Naples (the richest zip code in the nation, just the rumor) you have to pay minimum 100 million to own a house on the beach. Those houses are crazy I guess, we will take a P-Day and go see these houses. But where I live and my area I could never live. It is always raining and if its not raining your probably going to get struck by lighting. On friday night we were at a missionaries Birthday party and it rained harder than I have ever seen it before. Honestly crazy when we drive home we have to turn on our hazard lights so people can see us, and the roads are always under water. And the lighting is nonstop. Its makes the night look like day because it is so consistent. I love it but at the same time when you live in middle of the woods with bears, the lights are out and lighting like crazy... its scary. But other that that its good down here. It is way green. Trees everywhere so if you are trying to find a store you better know where it is because you won't see it from the street.

 

  Keep reading daily and pray always I promise it will help. And Will stop growing. You look like a different kid with the bottom teeth in. Love you all, enjoy the week and most of all, have fun and keep smiling!!

 

Love,

Elder Williams

 

P.S. This computer is ancient and sucks so pictures don't send on it. I will just have to fill up my SD card and then send it home so you guys can see all my pictures. Half of them are dumb but all have stories behind them.

 

 

August 26, 2013

Dearest Family,

Holy Cow this place is awesome I don't even know where to start! My trainer's name is Elder Halford he is from Orem, UT pretty cool kid played basketball and everything so we get along pretty well. My area right now is called Golden Gate, it is near naples and it is the furthest south you can get in this mission! My backyard is the Everglades crazy right! Well with that being said I bet everyone is wondering how my first experiance with snakes is going... I know that the first thing I thought when I was told I was headed down south! Lets be honest here, Im not afraid of snakes at all... Just kidding. My first snake encounter came at a members home, he actually hatched them right in front of us so they were little baby snakes. So that wasn't to bad. When I first asked about the snake down here my companion said it not the snake you need to worry about its the bears and panthers. 

WOW crazy right, you will see in my picture that I literally live in the jungle I feels so weird.

Austin's backyard

 But I really do love this area. To get from Tampa to where I live it is a good 3 hour drive. I fell alseep. Man the humidity is... nothing. I actually love it the only time is sucks is about 1-3 in the afternoon and the sun is some how out. By the way the sun is never out. It rains every single day without dought. The mornings are beautiful and sunny, then by 1 it starts to rain. Yeah we are in the lightning capital of the nation. I have never seen the sky light up so many times in my life. It has come close a couple times but I guess thats normal for down here. My closest experiance so far is about 200 yard away from me. We were getting in the car to go to a dinner apointment and holy cow it was crazy loud I jumped way high. And the rain that another story, in about five minutes you can have inches of rain over the roads. It gets to the point where you have to stop and pull over or go about 5 mph to get anywhere safe. We try to stay dry but it doesn't work very well. I bet your all wondering how much I bike... never! I actually got on a bike for the first time yesturday to go to an apointment. We are a full car area. But our miles are running short so my comp keeps telling me this week is going to suck because we have to bike everywhere. That would be all fine and dandy if I had my bike. It doesn't get here until wednesday because they ship it strait to our house. The bike I use right now is for about a 12 year old kid. Its way to short! just Imagine a 6 foot kid riding a bike that is made for a little kid. But I guess whatever you gotta do to spread the lords work.

Right now we have 7 solid people who will most likely be getting baptized in the next month and 3 more pretty good investigators that I think will get baptized. Mostly a bunch of families which are basically gold pots down here if you find a interested family they all listen and love the gospel so that in its self is amazing. When we went tracting for the first time I was super scared that everyone would reject and be super mean about it... Its the exact opposite everyone is super nice here. They all listen to you for a little bit then offer you water and finally tell you they aren't interested. But you do have a few people who tell you to get off there property or they will shoot you... Haha so funny! We were tracting in what we call the estate which is homes because most our work is done in apartments. The people there aren't so nice they really don't want to listen to you and just want you to leave oh well sucks for them if they don't want the best message they will hear in there lifes... just kidding we still love them. 

  

I hope everyone is continuing to Read, Pray and write in your journals daily! I know it will bring many many blessings. Our mission president is really cracking down on the obedience rules like super hard. He calls people in and ask if your in or out if you show any sign of not wanting to do this he says pack your bags. We are on a strict obedience policy because we hadn't been having much success, now that we are being obedient we are seeing many wonderful miricles happen. He doesn't want this to stop so its gonna be hard to do it but we really have no choice.

Our big message is mostly to the members right now. We are pushing the hastening the work. So as my family I hope you guy will always look for ways you can become more involved in finding non-member. You can watch the videos that are put up on the internet to see more about it.

I love you guys so much and hope you have a great week!

Love,

Elder Williams

August 14, 2013

I am so excited to finally get to Florida. When I think about it, I feel like I shouldn't be leaving the MTC so soon but I am way excited to know that next week at this time I will be where the Lord wants me to be. . 

Class was awesome. I never really thought I would come around to the whole learning in a small class room but my district is amazing. We learn so much together I am so blessed to be able to lead them. I don't really do a ton to lead them, they probably think the only thing I'm good for is getting their mail for them. They all love me when they have mail and are mad when they don't. I found out I love to talk. When me and my two companions go teach lessons I usually end up doing most the talking. But that could also be that they are both pretty shy. It is honestly hard to get a discussion done in 20 minutes. But its still way fun. Our progressive investigator Shawn  has come a long way sense I last talked to you! I guess we have done alright because he is going to try and be baptized on september 14. Isn't that awesome the first person we teach we have a baptism. I guess you could say its not going to be that easy in the field but I am still way excited. 

I thought I would let you know that as of right now I am doing my laundry haha guess who didn't bring soap... ME! oh well my companion was nice enough to share with me so I guess I owe him some soap now! 

I honestly have no idea what we do here on p-day because usually everything is scheduled for us. We do get to go to the temple later today and I am way excited! 

I guess now is probably the time to tell you about the two devotionals we have had. They were amazing on Sunday night we watch a previously recorded talk by David A. Bednard! It was so amazing. He talked on Characters of Christ. It was awesome to explain what that means I guess the most simple way to put it is too turn out word when other turn in. To make more sense act as Christ would. When Christ was about to be crucified and the guards were coming to get him, peter cut off the guards ear, Jesus knew he was about to die but didn't care he healed the ear of the guard even when he has other things that were more serious and pertained to him. We all love that about Christ he always giving charity and turning out to help other rather than turning in and worrying about his problems. I know I am striving to be have characters of Christ and I hope you will to! He gave us a Challenge and I want to offer the same one to you. Take a blank Book of Mormon and underline all the time Christ or any of the prophets were showing Characters of Christ. I am excited to learn new ways to become more like Christ and I hope you are always working to become more like him. Time is really short now so I will Quickly tell you about the next devotional it was last night and Elder Richard G. Scott gave it, on communicating with God through pray and how important it is to pray always. I have two quotes I will leave with you. "You can't rush an effective Prayer"   "Pray even when you have no desire".

I love you guys so much.

Love,

Elder Williams