Week 23

This was Christmas Week so he did not send a letter since we were able to talk to Ryan on the phone Christmas morning and then Skype with him in the afternoon. He spent the week hanging out at a part member home, that took great care of him. They even sent me a text asking for a certain recipe for Ryan's favorite chicken soup. They also sent this cute picture, and they tell me that they love Ryan and he was so helpful in the kitchen.

 
Ryan said it is still hot and muggy in LA, looks like he is hanging out at a pretty nice place and getting spoiled. After Skyping with Ryan he said they were going to go out and race golf carts around the neighborhood because everyone had golf carts and that was the thing to do.

Week 22

Ok so this week I had transfers and I said good buy to Elder Ralph as he went home!  I got a new comp and his name is Elder Floyd, a  cool kid from Las Vegas  he's been out for 17 months, and he has been good to me so far, but anyway this week was way too short! It really was. We got a new bishop this Sunday and I am way exited because he's a awesome guy!
Ok there is one thing that has been on my chest this week, so we have this less active sister that we go see, she is awesome, i love he to death, and we were getting to know her story better. The other night she told us why she went inactive, and the reason why she left broke my heart! She loves working with the young women because she feels that she can help them where she failed, when she was their age! She was getting a calling to work with the young women's, some of the mom's did not like that at all! Mind you this member ha lived and has been inactive from time to time but she has always come back, and she has lived a hard life and she is all tattooed up and does not look like a regular member of the church. So when the mom's saw that she was going to be working with the young women they went to her and to the bishop and stopped it. So she (the less active) is sad and mad because she did not have help from anyone. That just breaks my heart, members judging other members! That is wrong and needs to stop! So if you see that going on in your wards or in your home stop it because it not worth a soul getting lost!
Anyway I love you all, stay true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and remember why we celebrate Christmas!

Love Elder Gordon 

 ok so I got see sister Stassi

then one of the missionary's Elder Roy the big one with a blue jacket he's like a big brother

then Elder Ralph on the last day! Then Elder Park in-front of the temple .

Week 21

Wow I cannot for the life of me remember last week at all, and oh I did not get any kind of head injury if that's what your thinking! But there two experiences I would love to share.

1- Elder Howe. So Elder Howe got hit by a car 2 weeks ago, he was riding his bike down a road and a Tahoe hit him going 55 mph, he was in a coma for a week, with major brain bleeds/swelling, he woke up last Sunday (Dec 4), and everyday he has made improvements towards health and memory. Well the other day (Thursday) we got to go see him with his mom and dad. So we visited for about an hour and wow, what an experience. This kid was looking way too good for going through what he had. He was talking, moving and he remembered Elder Ralph right on the spot, who he had not seen for about a year, and the only thing Elder Howe wanted to do was find his shoes and go to work, and to go serve the Lord. I kid you not, he did not have a skull in his head at this time because of the swelling, and he WANTED TO GO TRACKING. WOW! It blows my mind to think that he got hit by a truck that size and not even 2 weeks later he wanted to go out and knock doors. No one likes knocking doors, mind you, but it just shows how the Lord will bless you when you do his work. That and, if he was not a missionary he would be dead right now, that's a fact! So I can testify to you that the Lord does bless you! And even more so as his missionaries! 

2- We had family home evening last night at the Marchen's, where we talked about the light of Christ and how it shines through us to others. And how the lightness will always shine out the darkness no matter how dark of hole or how deep.( dankness is sin) so let those around you shine, and shine with them because, we are the light of the world, just like Christ is. 

Anyway love you all wish you the very best! And please let the light of Christ shine through or on you!

Love Elder Gordon 

Week 20

OK I am not going to to go through my week this time, because I can't remember most of it to be honest! But I did have some cool moments that I would love to share!

 ZTM- (zone training meting) we had on Friday morning and I was asked to give a spiritual thought for it, so I did! And wow I kinda did a throw down! But as I was pondering what to say or what scripture to give, I came across one that I liked a lot it is in James 4:7-8 it says 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands,... So I gave that and then I said "We don't have the right to act STUPID" then I went on talking about how we are held to a higher standard then the the rest of the world. But ya that was my two cents for the rest of the missionaries here. It was a real good ZTM and I learned a ton from it.

 

Ricky- so we went to a members home Wednesday night and we met Ricky (one of the sons) I have never met him before, but wow what a awesome guy. He is a member but a less active member. We talked with him that night and we invited him to come to do service with us the next morning, which he did and it was a blast to have him there. Then Friday night came and we were siting in our APT making dinner, when he gives us a call, we talk and he needed our help to give a blessing to a friend that is in the hospital. So he came and picked us up, and on the way we taught an awesome lesson to him about all sorts of things. We got to the room and we talked to the friend, and Ricky was so good at teaching him who we are and what we were going to do. We had the blessing and that was really cool. then Ricky said a prayer  and that just really brought the spirit, and I was just super happy and excited. We got back into the car heading home and it was raining so we asked Ricky if he could drive us to an investigators house, so he did and we had the best lesson with him we helped him read the intro page to the Book of Mormon and Ricky explained the the book so well to him and in a way that made sense to him, more so then I could have. We had a closing prayer given by Ricky and oh man when he was done our investigator and his dad had tears. so ya that was an awesome night for sure! 

 

Church- so we are getting closer to the ward and they are liking us more and more every Sunday which is the best. This past Sunday we started doing missionary moments, which is where one of the missionaries gets up right before sacrament and tells a story about an experience they had the past week or so and then shares their testimony.  It went really well and everyone loved it a ton. The only bad part was I had to do it. But oh-well it was nice to have the ward get to know me more! 

Love you tons,

Elder Gordon