Reynoldsburg

Wow it sounds like you had a really full week!! I happy to hear that you are all doing good though you have a lot that you are doing. Happy Late Birthday Emma and Jackie. I wish that I could have been there to spend those days with you. Well the weather here is extremely unpredictable. It has been raining a lot and one day was surprisingly cold. For the most part however it has been very humid which has made the 60 some odd degrees really nasty. I still am happy that its warm and not really cold. I say that now but by the end of this summer I will be looking forward to the cold.

  

We were able to meet with Jacob and he is still wanting to join the church, he has been reading the Bible and Book of Mormon. He even has been taking steps to stop smoking all on his own. It was kind of a weird visit, but if he still wants to be baptized we will help him along the way, if we can meet with him regularly. He said he wanted to come to church this Sunday but didn't answer the door. So we are extremely confused by him and his actions.

We have also had some cool contacting experiences. We were stopped by someone who was driving by in a car and asked if we were Jehovah Witnesses. We told him we were Mormon's and he said that he was interested in talking to us and wanted to learn more about what we believed. He also told us that he already had a Book of Mormon and had read a little of it and said that he couldn't see a difference between it and the Bible. That was funny. We then were knocking on doors near a members house and we ran into a man named Anthony. He also asked if we were Jehovah Witnesses. We told him we were not and he then continued to ask us if we talked about Jesus. We said that we did. He then began to say that we were in fact Witnesses of Jehovah. He was a really cool guy and said we could come back. I love the black people here because they actually want to talk to us about religion.

I really liked the story that you shared from the New Era and the experience that Jacob had. We have to stand up for what we believe no matter the opposition is. If we do the blessing we will receive will be great and we will know through the Holy Ghost that what we believe is true. When someone rants to you and attacks your beliefs just remember that the only reason they hate our religion is because its true and it teaches change and people don't like change. One scripture that has been sticking out to me lately is the one in Nephi when he says that they people will say, a Bible, a Bible we have a Bible and we need no more (that's not word for word but its close). I have have been told many times on my mission that the Book of Mormon is not true. One man took the time to tell me that the Book of Mormon was of the devil and was not worth toilet paper. That all we needed was the new testament. Funny enough he was foaming from the mouth. All that did was make me believe more.

I hope that you all are looking for missionary experiences, and that you have good encounters with people. It truly is great way to strengthen your own testimony and it also gives the person you talked to a chance to hear the restored gospel of our Heavenly Father. I love our Heavenly Father and I know that he wants us to be happy. I know that what I go out and share with people everyday is true and that it can and will bring them closer to God, because I have seen it in my life and in the lives of others. All we need to have is faith, because through our faith we can have an even stronger witness if we endure to the end. I love you all.

Love Elder Young

Reynoldsburg

Hello Family!!!!!!!!! I have been having a wonderful week as it sounds like you have been as well. The weather is slowly getting warmer. It also has been getting wetter so I have been doing a lot of walking. I am sad to say that we have not been able to meet with Jacob again :( We will continue trying though. It is very scary the change that we ask people to do in a matter of weeks, but we know through the Atonement any change can happen if we have continued faith. That is something that I have been searching the scriptures on a lot lately. Faith is a marvelous thing it is also confusing. All the talks were my favorite because they all focused a lot on how to build faith and the atonement. They always do but this time it just made a big impact on me this time. 

  It's amazing how if you study the scriptures and pray daily how much more the Lord has a hand in your life. That is something that I am seeing more and more. That it is through small and simple acts that large and powerful things are given to man. That as we grow and strive to be better the Lord gives us little pushes so that you can grow even more. Its sad though that it has taken me this long in my life to learn these things, well at least I have learned them. 

  General Conference was so nice because it is a missionary holiday here in Ohio. The time difference makes its so that the whole evening is taken by General Conference and the Priesthood session on Saturday. The time for Saturday were 12 to 2 and 4 to 6 then 8 to 10. So On Saturday we didn't leave the stake center. Oh ya the Reynoldsburg has the stake center so I didn't have to go far. That was nice.

  So with the Mp3 player I would like classical music, hymns, music of any kind that you feel wont be distracting to the spirit. The handbook just says to not have music that  have romantic overtones and does not dull your sensitivity to the spirit. I will let you judge. I would like more songs with singing that isn't all hymns though. Also I have been missing the lovely song Nessun Dorma. I guess some of the songs I had on my player at home could work. 

  Thank you for the pictures I love seeing what you are all up too. I try to send pictures when ever I can. But I really don't take that many and I don't know how to put labels on the pictures nor do I have time to. Oh the life of a missionary on a strict schedule. What will I ever do ;)

  I love you all and pray for you always. Always pray and read your scriptures they are key to gaining a testimony and seeing the blessing you have in your life. Also read and ponder the words of your patriarchal blessing always. It is something that has given me strength and something I know will help you. Be strong my family hard times are coming and only our Lord and savior will get us through it. Don't mean to leave on such a sad note so I will say this Crack House.

Love Elder Young

Ain't I a stinker (Say like Bugs Bunny)

Still in Reynoldsburg!

Wow that's amazing to hear all that. Tell all those who got mission calls congrats for me. I love it here in Ohio. Its a little weird at times and the people here even admit that its a dull place to live. But the people are really nice and very willing to talk about religion when its warmer. People tell me all the time to come back when it is warmer. It's kind of funny how many people in one day will tell me that its cold outside when the answer there doors. I know its cold I'm outside in it :)

Anyway Ken's baptism went great. I was the one who baptized him. I had to do it 7 times because his knees kept coming up. The font was not very full. It would have worked if I was baptizing an eight year old. After the 7 dunks though he was really happy and gave a powerful testimony. On Sunday he was confirmed and given the Holy Ghost. It was funny and sad though. Ken told me that he thought he was baptized on Thursday and that he lost a day, Saturday. His mind is slipping him. I know that he was prepared and that he was ready for the covenants he received. He has been accepted into the ward so that has been really helpful.

Jacob didn't come to church this week. It made me a little sad. We had a great lesson with him on Thursday. He believes already that they BOM is true and believes that the first vision could have happened so its been really easy teaching him thus far. He is a great guy and I hope that we can meet with him again this Tuesday or Thursday. Better yet both days.

That's been my life this week so far the rest was just the usual stuff. I'm glade to hear about Hope maybe selling her house and that Emma's ready for life. I hope you all are doing well. Happy to hear that mom is still likes cleaning houses. I don't think that I could let others clean my house and see how much of a mess it is. I love you all.

Thanks for the package, I did get it this week. I have loved the cookies though they really got banged up this time. Still really good though;) I love the music and listen to it every night now before I go to bed. The star gate music made me laugh. Thanks for the Oils as well. Though I have to admit I don't know what to do with all but two of them. I loved the whole Star Wars beginning title thing. I have it pinned on the wall next to my desk. You guys are the best. I laughed a lot when saw and read it. It lifted my mood for the day, I really needed that.

I hope you have all been reading your scriptures everyday. It is something that has changed my life. I just seem to help think of things in more of an eternal out look. Especially in the 8 and 9 chapter of Mormon. Its a mini Revelations. I have almost read through the Book of Mormon again. This will be my third time through ever. I have been also reading in the Bible in the old testaments. I have hit a real dry patch while God tells Moses what the people should and shouldn't do and how to make sacrifices. UHHHHHH. The scriptures are a great think and in these times they can keep you strong. I encourage you to all set a goal to read through the Book of Mormon from cover to cover and focus on a either commandments or the doctrine of Christ. You will get so much from it. I have as I have looked for the doctrine of Christ.

Anywho I love you all and pray for you always. You are the best family ever and I wish I could be there to help you though Hopes move. But I guess Heavenly Father has other plans. Better plans than what I could ever think of. Love you all and keep it real.

Love 

Elder Young

P.s Next package (meaning whenever..... Emma)  could you send me an mp3 player full of music that you think is mission approved, Please. Again no rush. I feel bad asking for things. Oh and yes this is mission approved as long as the mp3 doesn't have ability to do apps. Oh and more Pictures please.     

Reynoldsburg OH

Wow Sounds like a lot happening back home right now. I'm excited for Chance and Saisha. Also for Julie. Lot of things moving forward and I am slowly losing touch with things that are happening in the world. Kind of weird how fast that happens when you don't watch news or listen to popular radio stations. Not that I was really aware of that much when I was home. I actually feel kind of like a old man that is watched the world go from horse and buggy to automobile. Not as extreme but somethings that people talk about sometimes really trip me up. Our world is changing fast.

  The temple was amazing. The temple here in Ohio is tiny, but it was really fun and really relaxing. I have been looking forward to a temple trip for a really long time. The temple is a really special place and I love the feeling I get when I am there helping others that have already passed on. I can't wait for Hope to go through the temple. I wish I could be there to witness it. Am excited to here that Sean received his endowment. Where is he going again on his mission? Anyway the temple is a great place. Tell Hope to not let anyone scare her about the endowment.

   I'm really not sure what the whole what is my quest thing that your talking about. I would have to say my quest right now is to get to know people and there different situations and help them through sharing with them the restored gospel of Christ. I am happiest when I am obedient to the commandments and to the promptings of the spirit. I also enjoy my scripture study in the morning. I still don't have any scriptures memorized or anything like that, but I know that It my day is better when I read them every morning.

    So Ken is getting baptized on Saturday. I really excited for him. He is really happy and can not wait to be washed of his sins and to enter into a covenant with our Heavenly Father. Something fun happened this Sunday. A man by the name of Jacob called the church and wanted a ride to the church. It turns out he say a history channel show on the Mormons and decided that he wanted to become one and be baptized. So we are going to be meeting with him and teaching him the lessons and we will see what happens. Who know I may be having another baptism in 3 weeks or so depending on how things go.

   So this week has been a little slow towards middle because I really hurt my tail bone. We were on our way back to our apartment and I shifted my bike but it didn't shift immediately so it was a really rough when it did. I was standing on the peddles and my feet slipped and I came down on my seat and I hurt my tail bone. So we have been walking a lot the past few days and sitting has been a blast and a half but its better now. Just thought I would tell you this because I found it kind of humorous and Elder Bradley who was behind me and saw the whole thing almost died from laughter. Anyway those are the big events of this past week.

   I love you all and I hope everything goes well with Hope and Emma at school. As well as with Hope selling her car. I hope everyone is healthy and happy and if your not. Work on it and become happy and healthy. Love you all. Thanks for keeping me in the loop of whats happening with the family.

Love

Elder Young

Reynoldsburg

Wow you have been keeping busy this week. I hope everything goes as planned with Hope selling her house and with dad and his work offer. Let me know how everything works out, just keep me in the loop with what is going on back there. I hope you are all still doing well though despite all this crazy stuff that is happening.

I'm back at Reynoldsburg now. I also got a new, New companion. His name is Elder Bradley, and he is from California. Elder Loftus ended up going home on Tuesday. I think it was for the best he has been going through some stuff, he said that he had plans to come back in 6 months though, and I pray that he does. Anyway I have Elder Bradley now and it turns out we have a lot of the same likes and dislikes. So far we are getting a long great and I don't see any contention arising in the future. 

This week has been really good. We have had really good weather and we have been able to get around the area safely and quickly on our bikes. We have been finding a lot of good potential investigators, so this week we could get a lot of lessons in so I can't wait to see the out come. Lately I have just been trying to get into the swing of things again and to get Elder Bradley use to the area.

Thank you for putting our names in at the temple. That means a lot to me. This week on Wednesday I will get to go to the Temple for the first time on my mission. I'm really excited it's been a while since I was able to go to a temple. Thank you  also for sending me a package. I don't know when I will get it if you sent it to the mission home, but I will get it eventually. I am doing good with everything else. Sad to say though the crystal deodorant has stopped being effective so I had to switch back. I was not smelling good for a while before I was able to go get some deodorant.

I love you all. Keep sending me up dates on what is happening. Like when does Chance getting married and everyone else you said was getting married. I need to know! Where is Hope moving to in Utah. Is she going to school or getting a job? What is your quest? What is your favorite Color? What is the air speed velocity of an unladen Sparrow? Again I love you all hope everything goes well with finals this week. 

Love Elder Young    

Mission Home

Wow that is a lot of new information. A lot is happening over there in little old Oregon. It's ok mom allergies can stop even the strongest of us in our tracks. I know. Wow so Julie is finally getting married, thats great. Tell them Congrats for me. I'm sorry to hear about the Stoddards. I hope everyone is doing ok now. If you could send some Digestzen that would be much loved and appreciated, and some more music like disney music or something. If you could please.

Well this week has been very hectic. So I did get a new companion. His name is Elder Loftus and he is from south Jordan Utah. He is really cool and has a strong testimony and understanding of the Bible and Book of Mormon. Makes me just a little jealous. Anyway the first day in the field we got in a car accident. It was really scary, Elder Loftus was the driver. We are both fine and walked away from the accident unscathed. We were hit in the front on the drivers side by a car as we were turning left into traffic. The other person who hit us was fine  as well. Our airbags deployed and hers didn't it was weird. 

Anyway we have been between our apartment and the mission home. Elder Loftus has been going through some tough times right now, and needs help and guidance that I have no idea on how to give. He has been meeting with the Mission President and other people who are trying to help him through what he is struggling through. So we have not been able to do much in our area. I thought he was good one day and we went out and it did not go well. I feel really bad about that. I have no clue whats going on right now. I am actually on OSU campus right now. Have not been in Reynoldsburg all day so far. Spent the night at the mission home with the mission president assistances.

Anyway this week has been really hard and a little depressing but I'm on the up swing now. My main goal right now is to help Elder Loftus however I can. Keep him in your prayers. I love you guys and hope you continue to have good weather and are staying safe.  

Love Elder Young     

Reynoldsburg OH

Yep I was sick last week or so. I don't really remember when only that it happened. I do not have vitamins, I only bought Ibuprofen for my head ache so I could make it through the day. I have not bought an electric blanket because I sleep warm at night with what I brought with me. I do not have an IPad. We have not been given them yet. Our mission has been told we will be getting them soon, and that was a while ago, at least that's what other missionaries have told me. My bag would do fine with an Ipad. Transfers have not happened yet but they will this Thursday. So we will see what happens then. 

This week has been really fun Ken is a very interesting old man. He gave us his smoking pipes and his coffee maker so that he would be able to follow the word of wisdom. Then later in the week we found out that he really doesn't want to give up wine. So that I can tell is going to be a battle. Gregory has expressed some concerns with Adam and Eve not being able to have kids in the garden of Eden. So that has been hard to get him to pray about it and the Book of Mormon. Darryl the southern Baptist preacher is coming along. He has questions about the priesthood that we will be talking to him tonight about. So hopefully all goes well.

Other than that this week has been very slow with Elder Simkins and me running around trying to find new investigators. We have also been doing a lot of service with shoveling members, less actives, and investigators driveways. The snow this week has been wet heavy snow so its been a good work out. Yesterday we helped a 93 year old women who was out side snow blowing her drive. She is what you call very strong willed. So because of the weather I have had the opportunity to help a lot of people and it has been great.

I happy to hear that you guys are having fun outside in nice weather on the beach. At least someone has nice weather. I hope you are all doing well. Sorry that I can't help with Hope moving to Utah and all. I really wish I could be there to help. I love you all, and can not express enough how much I miss steak. We can switch. Recently I have been eating a lot of seafood. It was good but it does not agree with me. Anyway I love you all and pray for you all the time.

Love Elder Young

FACT

I'm going to go talk to those guys over there, really I'm just going to shoot them.

The chalice from the palace has the brew that is true.

I can't think of a quote but think about something funny in Wild Target