Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Christmas Season

 
Well this short 5 week transfer has come to an end! Elder Winn and I are going to be staying together for another transfer here in Pineville. We are pumped! This is also going to be a 7 week transfer, so we don't have to worry about getting moved until February! The unfortunate part about this transfer is they are closing the Alexandria Elders area, so we are losing our roommates who we have gotten pretty close to0. All is well though and this transfer should be great!

This week we had so much going on! Zone Conference was last Tuesday and we were able to instruct at that on becoming personally converted using Preach My Gospel. The best part of the Conference was our Mission President dressed up like Santa and we all got to sit on his lap! He's the best Mission President ever!

With Christmas coming up this week, I have seen so many people open their hearts up to the gospel. This really is a great time to be a representative of the Lord.  

Love you a'll have a good week and light the world!! 

Love Elder Gordon



Letter from Dec 4th

Ok so this week went as follows: dying of pain, got a shot in the butt 3 times, scared a mom from Jerusalem, talked to a kid from Jerusalem, had food from the Butt Hut, WOW, had a long drive home, had fun at a zoo, and had Thanksgiving dinner for the 7th time!!!

So last Monday was the worst, after emailing we went to the church and I had a migraine, I took a nap on the couch, then went home and it was worse there. I went to bed with a ton of pain! Woke up and then it was still there so I went to the urgent care close to our house. They told me I had Sinusitis, so they gave me 3 different shots in the butt that fixed it. Along with a handful of drugs as well. That night we went out and showed a ton of people the Light the World video, it was fun. We came to this one door and the Middle Eastern girl...opened the door and she jumped back like 10 feet when she saw us! Then she shut the door quite quickly, then a second later a younger boy (17 years old) came and talked to us for a minute it was cool to hear their story.

Wednesday, I am not quite sure what we did I know we did something.....Thursday we drove up to Natchez Mississippi to do exchanges with the elders up there and that was fun we went to go eat at this place called the Butt Hut and wow was had this smoked brisket burger thing it was for sure not good for me but it was so good! We went to go see people and knock doors it was a good day for sure Friday we got up early and drove home so we could make it to our district meeting, and wow that was good. I did the lesson beforehand and I took yarn and did this iron rod thing and it was super long and there was a couple of obstacles that were very hard if there was no help, it was fun but the idea was there are things in this life that we just can't do unless we had help from the man upstairs. So when there were these obstacles they needed to pray to get help and it was just way cool. The rest of the day was good just went out and about.

Saturday we got up and did service at the zoo all morning and that was fun, it was fun to have people come up to us and be like "Oh that looks good" or "hey where is this or that." We were like "I don't even work here." It was funny for me ok! The we had dinner with some of the coolest people ever! Sunday was just a normal fast Sunday, we had Thanksgiving dinner that night again it was fun for sure but I am way sick of that kind of food, but overall life is grand...

Love you! Have a good week!

Love,
Elder Gordon


Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Snow! An Early Christmas Present

Monday, November 27, 2017

Thanksgiving

Ok so this past week sucked too!

Monday we went to the church and played games it was fun but since I was sick I did not play very well... We had dinner with a member it was fun but a little crazy. Tuesday we were supposed to go to Baton Rouge to do exchanges with the AP's but I woke up so sick I did not even leave the bed! so ya 

Wednesday the Lord made things happen we had MLC (mission leadership council) in Baton Rouge and I told sister Varner I would cook breakfast for them. So I woke up in the morning at 5:20 and I felt like new. We drove down there and I made food happen and it was the bomb. (Thanks mom for the recipe) then we had a cook meeting, and a bomb lunch made by sister Varner. We had dinner with a really good friend in Baton Rouge then drove home! Thursday (Thanksgiving) woke up sick we went to play football it was way fun, we had dinner with some of the best members in the world, then home to die! 
Friday we had district meeting all morning then we went on exchanges with the Alex's Elders and we went to go knock doors 2 hours before dinner then dinner then more tracting after. It was way fun we were going around and showing the "Light the World" video to all!! Saturday still sick so did much of nothing it was the worst, Sunday we had church early because of meetings, the reg church it was way good, went home did studies then we went to two dinner app, it was a good day but I had this huge headache by the time I got home, so I just went to bed!

Sorry this letter is lame, there just was not much done this past week! 

Love you all so much have a good week and let you light shine!@ 

Love,
 
 Elder Gordon




8 Month Mark

(Letter from Nov 20th)

Hey,

 So this past week was fun and it also sucked for sure!!!!

So on P-day we ended up going to the church and doing nothing it was lame for sure! We had a dinner appointment with this super cool older couple and the guy is just like me but old! Then we had a good-bye party for Elder Andersen because he was leaving, and so the bishop had people come to his house so we did not have to drive everywhere to go see them! It was nice!
 
 Wednesday morning sucked, I woke up at 5 and got in the car and drove up to Natchitoches LA to pick up some elders and then back to my apt to get my comp (I took one of the other elders because Andersen was sick and did not want to wake up) and then I drove to Baton Rouge for Transfers where I said good-bye to elder Andersen and hello to Elder Winn. We had lunch at Panda Express it was the best then we drove all the way home! I was in the car for 7 hours when we finally got home. We had a diner app that night with a old couple, it was fun but not super great! Thursday we went to the library to plan out this transfer, and it was fun we realized that we are going to have no time to do anything... because this is a 5 week transfer when they are usually 6 weeks long and I have 6 exchanges to do. Exchanges are where you go to another missionary's area and your comp goes with one missionary and I will go with the other and we work, so we have a ton of driving to do and a lot of people to see. I like it because it keeps me busy! Friday was fun we had District meeting in the morning the a Thanksgiving dinner at the church, and wow the food was the bomb! 
 
Saturday sucked I was super sick so I stayed in bed for a long time!  Then got food then back to bed, we did at one point get up and go tracting and to a dinner app, but it sucked the whole time! Sunday was fast Sunday, and that sucked because I was even more sick and then I was hungry... but I made it through the day, barely!   And today I still feel like crap! so ya! I am exited for this week  it will be fun and fat just how I like it~! Anyway love you all so much thank for reading my letters have a good week and stay true to the word! 

Love,
 Elder Gordon

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Almost Arrested! fun,fun,fun

I had a crazy week for sure! Monday we went to a wild safari, and I got to pet a ton of cool animals (don't worry I got pics). Then we had dinner at our bishop's house it was fun! Nothing really fun happened Tuesday or Wednesday, but on Thursday we had exchanges with the Opelousas elder's and that was fun for sure but nothing real eventful happened.
Then we drove to Zachary to see one of my real good friends just for a bit then we drove all the way up to Natchez Mississippi to do exchanges with the elder's up there and once we got there we had service to do where we cut down trees with axes and the burned them, so ya, it was a blast for sure! a
After that we went to a high school football game that the bishop coach's and one of their investigators was at game and that was a party for sure. I lost my voice like in the first quarter and our team beat the other like 64 to 16, it was bad for the other team!!
The next morning we got up and worked out like always and then the crazy neighbor came over and she was not happy with us, she told us that we were being so loud that she had to turn her TV up to hear it and that we were shaking her TV as well. Ok I understand if they were in an apartment complex, and being loud, but no, they live in a house and she lives like 40 feet away with 5 foot retaining wall so there is no way we could have been doing that.  Then 10 minutes later a cop shows up and she was talking to him for a good bit then he comes to talk to us. Ok so a little more background on the problem, so that crazy lady has been calling the cops on the missionaries for the last year, and just earlier that year she tried to have one of the elders arrested! so ya! The cop comes and talks to me and and Andersen because we were the ones working out and he was like you guys are fine she is crazy and he tells us that we should put a restraining order on her... so ya he was cool. t Later that day I was loading up our truck ready to head home and the husband/man came out and beckoned me over to him and then he go's off and tells me"I am going to go get 6 niggas to come over here and teach y'all  a lesson with a  Smith and Weston..." so ya we got those elders moved out that day which is sad because that house is the dopest house in the mission for sure! Then we drove home and I called it a day. Sunday was normal, and yesterday was boring, Andersen was sick so I did nothing, and today we are going to hang out at the church and Andersen is going to pack at some point! He is getting transferred and I am staying! anyway love you all have a good week!

Love,
Elder Gordon
 


 

Monday, November 6, 2017

Elder Oaks

Ok so what a week!  I am going to go over my week real fast because I have some dope things to tell y'all, 

Monday we went for a "hike" (more like a walk in a park... because it was) but it was fun and it was something to do.  We had dinner at our bishop's house that was nice for sure! Tuesday we had our district meeting (DM) and it was fun, kinda rushed but it was fun. Then we (me and elder Andersen) drove up to Natchez Mississippi to go to their DM and it was way fun to go there. First off it is gorgeous there and the missionaries there are pretty cool! Right after their DM we drove home so we could get home on time, we had dinner at a member's house and it was really good! Wednesday we had DC. app for Andersen all morning and once we got home we planned for then rest of the week and this week. We had dinner that night with some older members that have been all around the world for the church, so they had the coolest stories and souvenirs and their house was so cool! Then we got to see a missionary that was home it was way fun!! Thursday, we drove up to our area parked the car then walked to go and try to see people, we ended up walking 5 miles in between tracting and what not it was a good day! We had dinner at the Smith's house and that family is so cool, they are the type of family you look at and are like #goals!!! Then we had a super awesome lesson with them, we brought 4 Preach my Gospels and we had them (mom and dad, kids are young) chose two Christ like attributes and to explain them and how it can help then improve or what they need to work on and it was super cool! 
Friday we had a lesson with a less active in the morning, once that was over we drove to Zachary to see one of my really good friends she fed us and then we drove to Baton Rouge for a YSA meeting. (so for us to be able to go to this meeting we had to get a less active YSA to go as well) And wow that was way cool the meeting was with Elder Dallin H. Oaks Elder Jörg Klebingat and his wife and they all had something super cool to say then they had Questions and answers time. It was so cool to be able to have that experience! Once that was over we stayed the night with the AP's and it was so fun.  One of the AP's is a way cool kid from Wyoming but he gave me his super nice weighted vest!!! In the morning we went back to the Stake Center, for a meeting with all of the missionaries  and  Elder Dallin H. Oaks Elder Jörg Klebingat and his wife, that was the best thing ever we got to shake their hands and I got a hug from Elder Oaks!!! After that meeting we went to lunch with my two most favorite people, and it was super nice to see them! Then the long drive home, we got here and we had 4 elders stay with us, and that was fun we went to play b-ball it was a good night for sure! Sunday we had a broadcast with Elder Dallin H. Oaks Elder Jörg Klebingat and his wife  and wow it was awesome to hear from them for a third time! We got home I took a nap then we got a text from Sister Sanders and she told us there is food here for us. so we biked there (15 miles) and wow it was the best meatloaf I had ever had!! Then we went to another member house to just chill!  so yep that was my week! But let me tell you some of the things that I learned!! 

So one of the first things said was "Have you ever wondered what it felt like when all of the people were sitting with there tents facing King Benjamin and he was preaching to them?... well this is how it feels. We are in the mists of an apostle of the Lord!" so ya it was a big thing! 

I am going to just say things that stood out for me then give my thoughts. 

"Talk to our Lord don't just pray",  so when we kneel before our maker we don't just say things to get it over with, we have a conversation with Him, and he does respond through feelings and the Holy Ghost! "Don't read the scriptures Study them". 
"We will not be fearful walking with our Savior" give him your all (and I mean give up your sins) 
"you will get more spiritual experiences if you talk less of them" your spiritual experience are personal so keep them that way, until moved a upon the spirit, dont share with others! 
"The Sun always comes up!" the sun is the light of Christ within you, and there are times in our lives where it is dark within us! But there will always be that light and once we let that light shine we will be more happy and full of joy! So let the light of Christ shine on you so you can shine as well!! 
"Coming unto the Lord is a surrender" we will never get anywhere unless we surrender our selves.
"You should look forward to being judged (by the Lord) not being scared of it" there should be nothing scary about facing our maker, if we give Jesus Christ our all (I mean our sins) 

Elder Oaks gave a super cool analogy with a pen... so he took out his pen and took it apart and said we are a tool in the Lords hands and there are things that we as the tool need to be! First we need ink. Ink is our studies we need the knowledge to teach we need, ink to write. We need the point of the pen out. We need to be ready when He needs us, we can't be like "o I don't feel like writing today." No you need to be ready! Last we need to let the Lord write what He wants, not what we want, because we are nothing without Him so if we don't let Him write we will get nothing done! 

There is a difference in being active in the church and being active in the gospel.  Anyone can come to church and pay their tithing, but if they don't mean it, it means nothing. We need to be studying the word of the prophets, we need to be on our knees repenting every night (and we don't repent because we are terrible people we repent because we want to become closer to Jesus Christ)  We need to want to come to church and do our callings with joy in out hearts, not becasue if we don't people will look down on us! 

"Be quick to repent and quick to forgive"  If we let sin sit in our heart and soul they will be much harder to give to the Lord, and don't forget the Lord has already suffered all pains of this world for us, for You! So don't let His suffering go in vain because of you stubbornness!  

I have given you (put your name here) may gift's but I have given you one that is the biggest yet and that is my son Jesus Christ!

It's better being 10 ft from Hell and moving away from it then 1000 ft from Hell a coming closer to it!  

Love y'all so much have a good week! 

Love Elder Gordon! 
 


 

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Fun - Not fun

ok so last week was fun and not fun! Elder Andersen was sick Thursday so we did much of nothing. (not fun) Tuesday we just had a rag-day where we went out on our bikes to go see some people and we biked forever and did not really see anyone :(  (not fun) We biked for 20 miles then Elder Andersen got flat tire! (not fun) Then a way cool member gave us a ride home! (fun)
Wednesday, in the morning we helped the Axle's elder's move someone in their ward. (that was way fun)  Then we did some work like knocking on some doors, then a dinner where we had chili. (fun)
Thursday like I said my comp. was sick so we just stayed home doing nothing and we planned for Zone Conference. (not fun) Friday, we had Zone Conference in the morning which brought us to the evening. (fun)
We stopped by a birthday party for a little bit, it was the Marksville sister's birthday so a member that I knew and loved was there and it was way fun to see her. (fun) Then we headed to our dinner app and we went to the Kipper's and she feed us chili and wow that was probably the best chili I  had ever had! (fun)  On Saturday we did the usual work until we had our ward Halloween thing/ chili cook off, and that was way fun! A ton of members from the Marksville Branch came up and it was so good to see them all, and I got to see one of my old investigators and help him. (fun)  I am exited to see if I can help him get back on track for baptism.  On Sunday I got whatever my comp had and I was sick so I went to church feeling like crap! (not fun) Came home still feeling like crap, went to our lunch app at the bishop's where there was more chili YAY, then I came home and called it a day (not fun) I got in bed at like 2 and I did not really get out until this morning! ( not fun) So ya, I am feeling better but still not top-natch.  Anyway love you all have a good week!

Love,
Elder Gordon


Thursday, October 26, 2017

8 More Months

Wow, what a week! So last Monday we went to the zoo, it was dope for sure! I really loved how the zoo was set up, because they really did not have that much space to work with but they did a real good job.  We went to dinner at this really nice family's house, we got there and played soccer with the kids for a bit then had chicken and dumpling soup to that was so yummy and it was a really good day. Tuesday we drove to Deridder for exchanges, with the elders there, and that was fun, we had a black guy try to explain to us that there were 3 Jesus Christ's in the bible...  I thought that it was funny for sure! We stayed the night there and then got up and headed home once we got home we went straight to District meeting, that was fun, but long. Then we planned zone conference with the STL's, then we went to a older member's house and had chicken hart gravy over rice... ya! But it was the best!!!!
After that we went to the church to play basketball, and that was hood (and I mean Hood-ball) there were 4 white guys, me my comp and two members from the church and the other 10 were some black kids off the street... but it was fun.  We came home and I punched out a killer workout, then bed. In the morning another workout, it was killer! Then the AP came for their exchanges with us and I went with Elder Wilson and we biked into Pineville and absolutely killed it.  
We got 5 new investigators and had a stellar lesson with Shey and Taller (other investigators we have) and it was the best! Got home and worked out again, then bed! Friday, worked out, then the AP's left and we ran some errands  then we went to carve pumpkins at the bishop's house from the Alexandria ward and that was the best! 
On Saturday, we biked 11 miles to a service project, where we built stairs for a member in our ward that was super fun then got a ride home. Along the way the member took us to his son's soccer game, that was fun, then lunch then home.  I took a nap for a bit then we went out tractting for a bit before we went to dinner at the best member's house and we had some bomb jambalaya. Then the bishop from the Alexandria ward called me and asked me to speak in his ward (which is right after my ward) so ya I spoke again, so I took 30 mins to plan that night and then got up there the next day and killed it. I got up and started to speak and then I looked at the clock and I had gone over... so ya it was way fun! Then we came home and I was just going to lay down for like 20 mins and a hour and half later my comp threw a fire cracker into the room and then said we need to go save people! We decided to go tracting until the night grew old, so ya it was a killer week for sure!!!!!!!!!! Anyway, love y'all AND THANKS for reading my letters! And thanks for writing to me!

Love,
 Elder Gordon






Friday, October 13, 2017

A New Area!

Wow so I just typed this nice email out then I hit a key and it was gone and I was like crap.... so I will try to retype it!

ok ok so last time I did an email I was leaving Morgan city and going to Pineville as a Zone Leader! On Wednesday I went to transfers and it was kinda fun but more boring then anything else, I am in the time of my mission where all of my friends are gone and there is a lot of new kids that I don't know so I just kinda sat around until we left but we went to lunch at one of my most favorite places in Baton Rouge with some of the best people here! Then we had a 5 hour drive home because we had to drop off some elders and some bikes and other crap all in different places so it took a while, but once we got to our area we went straight to the young men's activity because there was food there so we went and had a good time. We got home home around 9 and I unpacked in like 20 mins. and then went to bed right after. Thursday got up worked out then biked to the red cross where we thought we were doing service but it turned out that the guy that we worked with was not there so we biked home but it was ok, we then went to Walmart so I could have things to eat, got home and did some major planning for the next mouth and then biked to our dinner appointment. Before we left I had asked how far it was going to be and Andersen told me that it was far so I was like ok no worries, we get on the bikes a I started my watch which can track miles and speed, so we bike at full speed for 54 mins and wow it was killer we ended up going 17 miles there lol and it felt like we went up hill the whole time, but we got there and had a way bomb dinner, and then they gave us a ride home (thank the Lord)  Friday we had District meeting and it took a long time but that is because it's the first one and there was a ton of new people there.  Then we went over the ward roster with the new sister missionaries and that took a long time as well, and that was the whole day!  Saturday, we got up worked out, and we did a tour of the area for me and the new sister, and we went tracting, we told the sister's to go one way and we went the other way and we walked for a good min like 3 miles and we saw 4 house and 3 of them were vacant but the sister's had good success so it was all worth while!!! Then went to our dinner appointment, were I learned how to make some bomb corn bread along with some dope cobbler!!! Sunday, we had church at 9 and it was just a solid 3 hours of church, we taught the youth in 2nd hour and kinda blew there minds, well the ones that was listening! Came home took a 15 min power nap then did studies went tracting, then dinner at the Alex's ward bishops house with all 6 of us and that was a blast for sure, we had fun and good food! Today we biked to the library idk how far it was because my watch died on the way!!!!!!!!! :(, later we are going to snag lunch then go to the zoo ya I get to see a giraffe! life is good, y'all have a good week as well love you all so much, 

Love Elder Gordon


Monday, October 2, 2017

Moving Again

Hey, I was moved to Morgan city 6 weeks ago, and it's has been fun kinda. I love the branch everyone is just so sweet! I am going to miss them! I have had a hard time getting a long with some of the Elder's here but that does not matter! Now I am saying goodbye to Morgan city even though I have been here for such a short time!! Now I am going up to Pineville as a zone leader! So ya dope for sure! I am exited to move on with life!
Other then that last week was just kinda the same! We went to the park more to play chess! Conference was the best for sure, who even knew I would ever sit for 13 hours and listen to a bunch of old people talk, but when I listen to what they have to say (right) it goes by way too fast! One thing they were all over was self worth and how to better yourself and to become a better person because it all starts with you and it ends with you!!! If you are not happy then what are you going to do about it? Anyway love you all have a good week and try to go back and read the talks that were given to us this past weekend!

Love,
Elder Gordon

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Getting Over the Hump

Not much has happened this week. We had a big meeting Tuesday down in Now Orleans and that was fun, but the sad thing is there is this senior couple that I am in love with and they are leaving soon. They were in my first area and I really connected with them.  They gave there final parting words and it was the best to be able to see them and talk to them again.!!!! I am really going to miss them! After the meeting we went to Panda Express ya, and then got home around 7 so it was a full day! The rest of the week was just the same as all of the other days here, so not much new to report here! My comp was sick Saturday and Sunday so that was not fun lol, but he is better now! Anyway love you all have a good week, don't hate me for the crappy letter.

Love,
 Elder Gordon

Friday, September 22, 2017

!0 more months to go!

Hey y'all, sorry about last week, I will recap for you on life down here. The weather the last two weeks has been in the mid 80's with no humidity which is the best!!!!!! But it has started to get hotter now :(  there is this thing that my comp and I do, we go to the park and play chess and read scriptures and it's really fun! We talk to people that come by and it's just fun!! He has yet to beat me!!!! (YET) Then we go see the people we see, and then tract. That is the story about my life right now. We went to umcor (united Methodist committee on relief) the last two Saturday's and will be going again this Saturday to do service work and it's really fun, I about killed myself just last Saturday we got there and they asked us to unload a truck full of 5 gallon buckets and wow that sucked but we got it done!! I spoke in church last week, that was fun I was asked the night before, but it went well!! Other then that life is good just got to keep going!!!!! One of the elders spoke just this last Sunday and he spoke on pride and how its the root of all evil!  Anyway love you all have a good week!

Love,
 Elder Gordon

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Lots of Rain

OK so what a odd week for sure!!!!!! Monday we went to Homa to kick it with the other missionaries over there and wow they have a fun group for sure, we played dodge ball, and volleyball it was fun! It also rained like I have never seen before and it was scary because my companion was driving and I was just sitting in the passenger seat there peeing my pants out of fear of going into the ditch!  Tuesday was nothing new until we got a call from our mission president and he had told us that he was worried about the storm surges (a rising of the sea as a result of atmospheric pressure changes and wind associated with a storm) because our apartment sits at 2 feet above sea level and the storm surges were going to be 4 feet, so he wanted us to drive up to Baton Rouge right then and there to stay the night (better safe then sorry right) so we did and we had a fun day up there, we got to go see some members since it was one of my old wards that I served in! Then we stayed the night and left in the morning. 

Ok so there was this fair that started Friday it was the shrimp and petroleum festival so we went and passed out cards but we really just ended up walking around and talking to the venders about what they were selling and where they were from and it was really cool, there was this one guy selling fire pits made out of old propane tanks and he would cut in really cool designs into them and one of them I wanted it was the death star and it was awesome but it was also like 3 grand  so ya!!!! but it was just so cool to see all the art.  Then we got some alligator's PO-boys it was way good, Sunday we went to church where we had 13 people in total and by 3rd hour we had 4 people that includes the branch presidency, not us but ya!!!!! All in all we had a good fun week, anyway love you all have a good week.

Love Elder Gordon

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Transferred!

Whats up world?
 OK OK!  What a crazy week! So this past week was transfers, and I for sure thought that I was getting transferred, so I said all my good bye's on Sunday, kinda hoping  that I would not be there next week, not because I was sick of the ward or anything I have just been there for a long time and I was assuming that I would be leaving! Well it turns out that I stayed!!! LOL just kidding! So ya I was moved to Morgan City, with elder Bailey from Utah, and he is way cool! Right when I got here, and here is right by the Gulf of Mexico there just happens to be this hurricane that hits Texas  and you might be  thinking what does a hurricane hitting Texas have to do to me, well we have been getting a ton of rain, and I mean a ton of rain... so ya we have been stuck inside because of rain!!!!!!!!!!  But for the most part it's still really hot when it is not raining, and when its not raining we are tracking!  Which is fun kinda, I mean it is a ton of fun!!!!! ya for sure! Other then that I am in a branch again ya there is like 15 members ok more like 25! but still dang! Life is good I guess, just got to keep going, that's all we can do and that is what is asked of us to do!
Anyway love you all have a good week! 
Love Elder Gordon 

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

11 more months...

ok so the past week has been packed with fun, spiritual stuff, boring and mind blowing knowledge, so first the fun... We went on a hike up in Mississippi and it was way cool, there were these waterfalls, that we had hear about and wanted to go see. We hiked down a trail for about a mile then we came to a river and we just had to walk down the river and kinda climb around and it was really fun.

On Wednesday we went to the temple which is always super awesome!  I went with some elder from around the area that I have not seen for a while and a sister missionary that had gone home awhile ago and she was here showing her mom and dad around LA, but i was fun to see them! BUT the spiritual highlight of the week was on Saturday.We had a big meeting in Baton Rouge with Elder Jörg Klebingat, (from the quorum of 70) and he talked to us for 4 hours about a lot of things, not really how to be better missionary but how to be better disciples! It was awesome! He gave us statistics about how 10 years down the road this many missionaries  will be less active and what he was doing was trying to prevent that. He talked about who we should marry!!! But he made a long 4 hour meeting into one that felt like it ended way to fast, which for me is hard to do, he had this really good story where this church leader had come to this meeting, and when he had gotten there, people were just kinda sitting all around, and he started by asking them to all move to the center of the chapel,  some did it without question,  others did it with complaint and others just did not move! He was bothered by the ones that did not listen so he got up and said, you guys are not ready for what I have to say and he left. So right before elder Klebingat had told this story he had all of the elders that were in the front rows get up and move so the sister's could sit up front! I was kinda bothered by this because I had gotten there early and I had a good spot in the 3rd row and I was on the edge so I could have plenty of space.  When I had to move I was now sitting way in the back with two elder's a little too close for my comfort and I was behind a kid that kept moved his head back and forth way too often and I couldn't see the speaker without moving my heard around each time he moved his head.  But then I thought about it and I realized that it was not about me right then and there, it was about learning, and all I had to do was listen and pay attention! Once I got that down and threw my head into it the meeting turned into a awesome meeting!!!!!   Other than that I am getting transferred to Morgan City tomorrow morning!!! so wish me luck!!!

LOVE ELDER GORDON  







Monday, August 14, 2017

Lost track of the weeks!

ok sorry for the lack of letters lately, and I can't promise it will be any better soon but I will try!

Anyway the past couple weeks have been fun for sure, I am still in Pride ya, transfers are next week so maybe I will be transferred somewhere else, we will see... The weather has been ok I am more use to the heat which is sad because it's hot... hopefully I am not a baby when it comes winter when I am home! Some of the things that have happened, church is fun, we go in with the youth because the old people class is full of old people and I am not old so I don't really fit in there, so i don't go. but I like working whit the youth, It was not too long ago when I was in their spot. 
We went on a hike last week that was fun, I walked thru 67 spider webs within a 5 mile hike... but no we have been looking for these waterfalls and we have failed to find them, but then other day we were tracking and we were talking to this guy and we started talking about hiking (don't ask how) and he gave me a map and told me where to go to see waterfalls so for sure  I will let you know when I find them. I do have some pictures but no real way to send them, but I do have some! We  have someone coming to speak to us this Saturday so that should be cool and I will let you know who it was next week also along with what he teaches us. Anyway love you all have a good week!

Love Elder Gordon

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Week 51 and 52

Hello my people sorry I have not been writing much, I feel bad! So I will writ you a letter now...
 
 So last year there was a lot of "black lives matters" going on in Baton Rouge, lives were taken and it was out of hand, but then the flood happened and on August 13 everyone was united, and it was so cool to see people that were fighting just the day before, now helping each other in a cause that was bigger then them! It still crazy we are almost a year from when the flood happened and there are still people fixing their homes and there are still homeless people from the flood. It brakes my heart to see a family with kids live in their parents house because their home,  that they had with everything they had, was washed away. I am so glad that I can help them in anyway that I can! 

I am glad to be out here, I would not change it for anything, life is pretty much the same I will let you know if anything does change, me and my comp spoke yesterday and Hiken gave a good talk about all the different kinds of missionary work and I talked about the Book of Mormon ya, it was funny because it do not like the build up to giving the talk, so I just did not worry about it until the night before, there for there was no time to worry about it, and I still gave a good 20 min talk! So ya I am killing it! 

Love you guys 
Love Elder Gordon

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Week 49 and 50

well sorry for the letter I sent last week... wait there was none my bad!

Anyway what happened?  When my comp went home I was stuck with the Zachary elders, and we worked both areas it was weird with 3 of us, we went to my ward the first week then their ward the 2nd week, much of nothing happened, I had a dope 4th of July,  I got to meet out new mission president and wow he is what I needed and what the mission needed, I got to see him for interviews a week later and I had the best talk ever! I am very thankful to be able to server with him for the next year!!!  We had transfers which means I lost my trio  :( , but I got Elder Hicken he's is way cool from Sandy Utah! Anyway not much happened this past week so I don't have much to write about sorry!!! Anyway round 2 love you all so much, thanks for hanging in with me even tho I don't write much! 

Love Elder Gordon

Today marks the one year date of Ryan leaving on his mission!!

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Week 48

Hello to everyone, my week was good, I am not really going to give you a day by day this week, because it is going to seem boring, but it was really fun. in short we went to the Dr. office to get elder Hall an MRI. We go back on Wednesday morning to see if it's really anything, so stay tuned! what I do want to talk about is what a mission has taught me so far, ok so let's try.

First off, I have learned so much about shopping for food, and not just for myself and comp but for service we go shopping for this lady like every, week to every other week, she gives me a card and a list and I go I look for good deals to save her money, that and just learning what to look for and what you  need on a regular basis, which I always wondered about  and now I know!!

How to study, I never really learned how to study in high School. so as you know we study in the morning, well try to at least, but I really learned so much during the time I set aside to study it's really cool. 

I have learned to drive slower, at home I drove fast ok ok I still do... but I am getting better to just drive at the speed limit, no I am not lol but iIdo try here and there!

How to re install flooring, there is this family that just moved 3 miles away from us and the house that they bought some of the tiles in the kitchen broke and they don't really have the money to get it fixed so I am helping fix it for them, the problem is that we could not find the tile anywhere, so now what I am doing is taking the tile up in the pantry and then laying it down in the kitchen, now I am in the middle of the project so I will tell you how well I do! 

Now one more thing, the mercy of the Lord! when we mess up, which is all the time, He still loves me for who I am, He does not define me for the mistakes. He has asked us to do the same! Hate the sin not the sinner!  

I love you all, I hope you have a good week because I know I will!!!

Love Elder Gordon 

P.S. we get a new mission president on the first, so that should be fun!   

Monday, June 19, 2017

Week 47

Hello, this week was odd! Monday we drove all around trying to get my comp a MRI, who knew it was so hard to get one? Other then that on Monday we did much of nothing, emailed then just kinda chilled at a members house, because the Dr. said that he should be doing much of nothing on that knee so dang!  Tuesday we had a meeting down in Denham Springs for the RED CROSS, it was kinda boring, but that's coming from me, and anything that does not involve something fun is boring lol. After that we went to lunch at my favorite place in central, China wok. Its a little hole in the wall place and it is good! Then we went and chilled our at our apt because Halls knee was in pain!

Wednesday,we went down to Baton Rouge, to get Elder Hall's knee looked at and that was fun but it took most of the day, then I took one of the Zachary elders to go with me,  we meet up with our ward mission leader to go visit some less actives, and wow that was boring. I probably shouldn't say that :/  but it was, sorry! Then we switched back and went home to bed! Thursday was fun we went to a members house so I could pull off shutters and paint them (so service work) it was really hot but I made it work, Thursday and Friday was just kinda boring same old.  Saturday, was the best day got up and then went to Zachary to go see my friend was playing baseball (he's like 10) and it was so good to see him, he had an amazing game with some really good hits and a awesome triple play near the end of the game so ya! Sunday was fun we taught primary which was a party for sure! We had a good lunch and then a good dinner!  Over all we had good week nothing bad happened, which is good! anyway love you all!

Love Elder Gordon

Monday, June 12, 2017

Week 46

Hello, this past week was, let's put it at "fun"...  we had our kinda rag week p-day on Monday, district meeting Tuesday, we saw a ton of less actives kinda throughout the week, we had dinner appoints almost every night. Something that did happen that we can laugh at or cry at, I will let you chose! But on Saturday morning we went to play basketball at the baker building, and long story short we think my comp elder Hall has a torn ACL, we went to get it X-rayed Saturday, and we have been running around... (well not running because it's hard to run with crutches) trying to get an MRI to really see what's up. Other then that we have been just chilling and sleeping, you know Dr.'s orders, lol.  But life is good I guess, my comp  can't say the same but I am doing the best I can to help him feel better! Love you all lots have a good week!

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Week 44 and 45

Hey y'all so sorry I did not write last week, not much going on and I just did not feel up to it sorry!!! But anyway this is what has happened  in the past week or so!!!

We had transfers last Wednesday, so I am staying in my current area which is Pride LA (right outside Baton Rouge) and it is a funny area not much work sadly, half of our area is farming and old people and the rest is just kinda subdivisions here and there with a Walmart! So ya there are doors to be knocked but not may investigators.... we did find someone Sunday just the other day! It was really cool we were coming home after a dinner appointment, and I was just planning on going home and sleeping (lol) but on our way I had a feeling we should go see one or our old investigators, near by, so we did and once we got there and knocked on the door a woman came to the door that I had not seen before and it was really awesome, she was the investigators, daughter and we ended up teaching her and inviting her to church so ya that was cool. I love teaching people that want to change or need the help, that we as missionary can provide!!! 
We had stake conference this past weekend, and it was good but to be honest they are more fun up North. but still fun to go see my friends, that live in other areas. and for the most part, I am loving my mission I am so glad that I ended up going on one, I cannot believe where I would be with out going, probably in the mountains shredding my brains out or something like it, but I don't need to worry because I will do that when I get home YA !!! The other day I realized that at the end of this transfer, I will be out 12 mouths! WOW!!!! Anyway life is goo, love my comp elder Hall, he's the best and I cannot believe how much I love that kid!!! 

Love Elder Gordon

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Week 43

OK so Monday was nice, I took it slow in the morning, got up emailed quickly, then went to lunch at Canes, and after that we went to Denham Springs, with the Zachary elders and sisters to stop by the office to say hi, and that was the best. Then we with with the Denham missionaries to go walk around stores, for a good min, then went home to get ready for our dinner App. Tuesday, we had district meeting in the morning, which was way fun, it was also out first in the Zachary district, and we had a good time.  We talked about how we begin teaching investigators, and it was nice to hear other ways besides the way I normally do! Then we hung out with the district until our dinner app. Wednesday, we drove over to Zachary, to help someone get their groceries, and that was nice to help, then we went knocking on doors for a bit before out dinner app, and once our dinner app was over we just went home and got ready for the next and bed. Tuesday, we got up early and went to a members house to help and paint the inside of her house, that was flooded 9 months ago, and she is slowly fixing it by herself. Once we got that done we went to a less active member's house to help him build shelf's in his barn and then move boxes from the house into the barn and that was no as fun as panting, it was really hot.
 
Friday, we got up went to the library, to check to see when my new watch was going to come, which turns out that it was at my front door, so yayaya. Also I needed to find an address for a referral from the church that was a dud, but I was ok because we found a new neighborhood that we get to work in. Saturday, we were planning on going to the temple at 11 but the people that were going with us asked if we could go at the 9 clock one instead, so we did, but it's funny, because of course I forgot to set the alarm to wake up at 6:30, and I woke up at 7:30 and I don't like being late, so we got up in a hurry I did a butch job shaving lol, but we got there 20 minutes before we were supposed to so yea on us, and after we went to panda express, because when you are in baton rouge you kinda have to. Then we went to a family's house that lives in Baron Rouge that I have not seen in a while and it was so nice to hang out with them and then the rain came in and we were stuck there until the rain let up, and then we went home and went to bed. Sunday, we had meetings in the morning which was ok I guess, then we had a really good church meeting, and after we when to dinner (really lunch but we are in the south so everything is wrong, and real dinner is super) anyway after that we went back to the church for another meeting. Elder Hall and I split up and we went with members to go see people, which was kinda fun, but tiring, so once we got home I crashed and took a long nap and then made dinner and went to bed!!!! 

What a week I am now at 10 Months but it's funny because it does not feel like it at all, maybe that is because I am doing the work of the Lord!!!! 

Love Elder Gordon  



Monday, May 15, 2017

Week 42

ok Monday, we chilled, played card games, and had dinner at the best member's house. Tuesday, we had Zone Conference, and wow that was way fun, the only problem I had with the whole thing was that it was a hour drive away, and we could not carpool, because we have to do car inspections, It was fun we raced all the way down there, and the funny thing is we could not go any faster the 7 over lol so its like a lame race, but I still won!!!!!!! And once we got home we went straight to a LSU ball-game and wow that was way fun! Sad news, LSU made some poor plays and lost, but it was still way fun!
Wednesday, we had a awesome lesson with a less active and wow it was way cool to help her and get her to act on what she wants to do, and not to fall back into her hole! Thursday, we went down to Baton Rouge to help with a funeral that is happening Friday, then we went to Costco, where I got a new pollow yayayaya, And onto Friday!!!!! we went back down to BR to really help with the funeral, and that was fun, when we were going to clean up it started to rain and it rained hard, and then the lighting and thunder hit even harder, but that's normal for LA!! Saturday, I helped clean out a pantry, and got some way good food, and reviewed my talk that I would be giving.... Sunday, I get up and I am sick!!! Got to church and  I gave a killer 25 min talk on families and hope and faith, and then we had a good Sunday, I got to talk to my family because it was Mother's day, so happy late Mother's Day to any and all mothers that do read my blog!

Anyway I love the work I do, and I love the Lord I serve!!! 

Love Elder Gordon 
 

 


 
Ryan is loving his time in LA and it was so fun to talk to him and see how mature he is becoming but he is still our little Boogie and we are so proud of the man he is becoming.

Monday, May 8, 2017

Week 41

ok for the most part last week was fun, but not much work got done :/  but we had a good week. Every transfer, we have had a fun meeting with all the missionaries in the zone, called zone conference, and this was supposed to be this week, until we were told that we would no longer have ZC, so ya a fun meeting was no longer going to happen :(,,,
On Tuesday, we had a birthday party kinda thing for a missionary, that was fun, but for the most part, the weather kept us in here and there, because of tornado watch or just really hard rain. On Wednesday night when I was driving back from out meeting with the ward mission leader, it was the hardest rain I had ever driven in, so that was interesting, not being able to see the road!! We had an awesome fast Sunday, we taught 2nd hour and that was way cool we had a less active come to church, for the first time in a good min, and we had a killer talk with her,!!!!

One thing I do want to hit on is that,  ONLY YOUR WILL CAN MAKE YOU DO SOMETHING. I cannot make you go to church, your mom can't, only you can, so what do you want?  Do want to waste the opportunity to go?  If so, so be it! 

Anyway love you All so much, have a good week!

Love Elder Gordon

Monday, May 1, 2017

Week 40

ok this week, was kinda a dud!

Monday, after email, we went back to our friends to kick it, until our dinner appointment, which was fun. It was with this member that is doing this huge service for people that were affected by the flood, which is still going on, ya people are still not in there houses!!!, Tuesday, we had District meeting, which was kinda fun but not really, we were part of the Denham Springs district, and we usually meet in the pride building (because the DS building was flooded) , now that the DS building is finished we, meet there and I did not really want to because it so far away, and uses to many miles. So I asked Presdent H. to switch us back to the Zachary's district, and he said YES!!!! Now we are part of Zachary's which makes me so happy.
Wednesday, got up did the normal, the we had dinner with some people that Katie would have loved, the mom is a huge horse person, like she races almost every weekend, and she talked about them the whole dinner which was ok, then we went outside to see them and wow they were fun, super sassy, and had attitude. After dinner we went to our boring meeting, where we talked about what we are going to to teach everyone 3rd hour Sunday, and I was already stressed out about my talk I had to give on Sunday, so I was kinda over all that, (which is way funny, because...), anyway, that was the first half of the week. 

Now Thursday, I went over to Zachary to pick elder Draper (he need a break from his comp) so once I got him we went to Baton Rouge so I could pick up a birthday present, for Elder Floyd, then I went to see some people that I miss, then back to Zachary, for the night. In the morning, got up went to lunch with the district that was the best, then we switched back and I got elder Hall back yaya!!  We drove over to DS to pick up the missionary's, then went over to walker, to help someone move things for the flood-es....  and that was fun, there is this member that needed a couch, and it would not fit in her car... so I tied it to the roof of her car lol and it was the funnest thing ever! (i got a pick), then went to our diner appointment, way late, o-well. 
Friday I  prepared for my talk some more, taught people, went to dinner, I think there was a nap in there somewhere! Saturday, in the morning we went to our craw fish boil and that was a blast with good food, ya way goof food!!!!!! Then back to the APT to get cleaned up, went to Zachary for a dinner party, at the church building, that was fun we had Cafe Rio, so that was nice, then we chilled. 
 
Sunday we got up and it was still really dark outside and it was raining, and it rained hard, and it only got worse then the lighting and thunder came in. We got a call from my bishop and church was not going to happen, because we were all on tornado watch, so ya we were on lock down, so I did not speak, which I am kinda mad about because I worked on on my talk,  but o-well, then our dinner appointment, then bed, now in Zachary for p day!!!!!!!!!
 
Anyway love you all have a good week, do some good, and be yourself, your better self~!!!!

Elder Gordon 
 
 

Monday, April 17, 2017

Week 39

OK!!! So, Monday was not P-day because it was transfers week, but we knew the Elder Bennett was leaving so we just ran around all day, saying bye to people and packing, then we went to dinner with Brother Barry. He took us to a way good place namd Sammy's, and after that we went over to Denham Springs, where the Zone Leader is and we spent the night there! In the morning we went to a waffle house for call in's (where the president or the AP calls you to tell you that you are either leaving or for leadership calls)  After we were done eating, we were told that our meals were paid for by this guy, that had all ready left, so that was awesome!!!! Then we got our calls and it's funny because we knew that Elder Bennett, was leaving but then president called me... I was like what did I do wrong?... He went on to tell me that I will be training this transfers, lol lol, I was shocked! After that we went to email a little bit, then back to our apt to pack the rest of Elder Bennett crap, then we had a lesson with one of our investigators, named Eric.  That was for sure interesting, because he is sad that Elder Bennett was leaving, then he starts off the lesson with "you don't believe in the same Jesus Christ as I do"  and so where do you go with that, but over all we had a killer lesson, with him. After that we went to dinner at the Stephens, and that was fun, the kids were not happy at all that Elder Bennett was leaving, but we had a good night!

Wednesday!!! Got up drove down to Baton Rouge, to the stake center, where I would be saying bye to Elder Bennett and saying hi to "my little green friend", lol (Darth Sidious quote)! then we sat in a meeting that I think was way too long! But o-well, after that we loaded the car with all of his stuff, and drove to the office to say hi and drop off some papers! It was nice to see them again! Then we made a  detour over to Panda Express haha, I love that place!!!! And then went home! I let him unpack and then we went tracking YAY, then went to our meeting with the other ward missionaries, then home for dinner and sleep! Thursday.... got up went for a run... it was kinda fun, then we did the normal study then lunch and then weekly planning, and then nap, and then dinner! 

Friday. Morning we went to the cemetery  next to our Church for a service project, where we cleaned it up and made it look nice, because it is pretty much our responsibility, it was way fun I got to cut grass which I kinda miss doing! After that we had District meeting, which was fun, I like not being in charge anymore! Then we came home and took a nap,  went to our dinner appointment, and that raps up that day. Saturday around 11 we went to China Won, with brother Sammy and wow that was some way good food, and after that we went to lunch #2 at our Bishops house for a craw-fish boil, and wow that was the best!!!! I got to talk to really cool people that had gone to school at Western in Bellingham,  and eat even better food, and after that we went to a lesson with one of our other investigators,  That was fun, then it started to rain super hard so we went home and took a nap. I have never been so tired in my entire life, since this past week, idk why!!! Then Sunday we got a ride to church, which was nice (to save miles)! We helped teach the youth again and that is always way fun!! After church we went to some member's house and that was the best, we got to hang out and talk, then he drove us home and we called it a night. so that was my week!!!

Anyway, Easter is not just a time to eat candy and sit around it is the day that Jesus Christ, overcame death and was resurrected! So please remember our savior Jesus Christ!!!  

Love Elder Gordon!!! 
 
 






Monday, April 10, 2017

Week 38

Ok I can't really remember what I did this week it went by so fast! but I'll try!!!!

Monday, so after emailing we went to a member's house to help her, I had asked her to cook jambalaya for my district, and the Zachary's district's lunch, because we were going to do super district and I wanted to have some good food! So the member called us in the morning and had asked us to come help her with her kids so she could make the food for us, so we went over there and played with her kid and help around the house We did the dishes and things like that, and that was awesome!! After that we went to some other member's house for dinner which was was awesome! Tuesday, we had District meeting in the morning and that was the best! We had about 14 people and we had just a awesome meeting, and of course the lunch we had was even better!!! 
 
The member I had cook the food for us is kinda like a new member so I had everyone sign a thank you card and put their favorite scripture on it, and then I gave the member the cards and a new set of scriptures, but after the meeting we called the member that cooked us all of the food to see if we could come over, and she said that would help a ton!!  We went over there, and it was not what I expected to see, we walked into the house and there were kids running everywhere! We ended up helping her with the kids and they were all crazy running around all  but two, of them,  they had homework to do and mom and dad were too tired to help so I sat down to help them get it done and wow that was fun both kid were like 9 year's old and have very high energy (kinda like me but worse...), so that was great but we got it done then we went home! 

Wednesday! we had the best lesson with our investigator Eric, we met at Canes, had lunch and then we had one of the best lesson ever!! I think we really changed his views on the church, (by the way he is going school to become a priest, he's like 23) So it's awesome to get to a real good starting point with him, and he's eager to see us again, so that way cool. On Thursday, we did the normal, then we went to dinner with some of the best members ever, and they make way good food!!! 

Friday, we were busy running around with our heads cut off all day, trying to find a DMV and trying o get some ID for my comp, but no dice! it was crazy ! Then we ended up at our dinner appointment, where I got my hair cut and got dinner, then hangout until we had to go home!  Saturday, we got up and then went to help this member move, which took a long time, but it was awesome because I helped them back the trailer into the driveway, and they were like, "Where did you learn how to do that?  I said "I had a good dad, that taught me well"!!! After that they feed pizza, then we went around trying to see people, we got a awesome new investigator and had a way cool lesson with the new investigator, then we went to dinner with a member to Canes. 
Sunday! Got up went to our meeting, and the went through the reg, meeting at church, it was long and hard because it was fast Sunday and to make it worse our AC broke the night before so I did not  sleep well, but it was cool we were asked to teach the youth and that is always fun!!!  After church we went to a members for lunch which was fun, then we drove around with the member (also his the ward mission leader so)  way too long and I was now super tired, once we got home I took a small nap and then the family that feed us Thursday night, the guy came over to look at our AC and to see if he cold fix it which he did so (thank you) and then took us over to his house to have dinner, which was the best chicken I have ever had, and we watched 17 miracles, which was the best and a really good end to our week! 

So this week is transfer week , the odds of me staying are high but I am pretty sure Elder Bennett is out, and wow it's been a good one with him! Anyway, have a good week, and dont' waste what you have because other people died so we can have the church with us today, so don't let them down!!! 

LOVE ELDER GORDON