Week 102 9-28-20 It's pretty crazy to think I'm already at less than a week left in the mission field! It sure has been a blast these past couple years. This week not too much happened. On Monday we went into Cambridge to do laundry at another Elders apt. While waiting we played some Frisbee something we do that a lot for our exercise time, its pretty fun! Well we also started to teach someone this week! Her name is Katie and she has lots of friends that are members. Both of these wards (Belmont 1 and Belmont 2) are pretty awesome! This week we were also able to do some service again! One at the Mass Audubon conservation and another at Belmont High School helping hand out bags of food. This week we had Zone Training with in our Districts. We met as separate Districts then had a video call with the other Districts and our Mission President, it was pretty fun! We also had in person Church this week with Belmont 1st ward and it was so nice to be back! I truly have enjoyed being so close to the Boston Temple while here in Belmont! Just simply being on the Temple Grounds gives me so much peace! "Something you say will affect at least one person in the congregation". This was told to me by Brother Grayson one of my young men's leaders back when I was 14. We were at a Stake Fireside during a stake youth trip. Those words touched me, and every time I have the opportunity to do so I love to bare my testimony. Yesterday I was able to bare my departure testimony to the whole Mission for our Mission Sunday Service via Zoom, So here it goes. Most of you know that before my mission I felt as if it was best for me to wait until I was 19, instead of going out at 18 like most missionaries do. Well finally I'm on the mission and it's my second area of Martha's Vineyard! I was so stoked for it, and to be able to say "oh yeah I loved there". In reality it was extremely hard for me, but Sunday night I called my Mission President saying I needed an "ET" (get transferred). It wasn’t necessarily because I didn’t like the area or companion or the people. While I was there I felt as if I was in a point if isolation, locked away from the world. At this point in my mission we could only call family twice a year, I last talked to my family 2 months prior. So yeah it was very hard for me. I ended up getting a therapist and meeting with a doctor. I prayed about it and I knew that getting on medication for my mild depression and anxiety would be something I should do. We then got the announcement about calling home every week and that definitely helped and I ended up serving there for 3 months! I asked Heavenly Father often in prayer "Why am I going through this"? Fast forward over a year later I am now in Methuen with a new companion, Elder Foster. I was once again struggling and wanting to go home. I've had these thoughts a couple of times but every time I prayed I knew I needed to finish my mission. Anyway, once again I am feeling like I did while on Martha's Vineyard. This time, though it was hard mentally I was better able to handle the stress of quarantine. Elder Foster helped me realize that the reason I was on the Vineyard was so I can better handle these hard times during quarantine and not go home early! I know that there is someone that I need to meet or maybe it was for me to learn to trust in the Lord and His timing! My prayer was answered over a year later, but He has been supporting me every day since! So I was able to share this during my Mission Wide Sunday Service, shortly after a missionary reached out to me and thanked me for my testimony because they are going to start counseling soon and it was something they needed to hear! So whenever you have the opportunity to bare your testimony, do it! You will help at least one person when you do so! I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

 

Beautiful Hydrangea

Herding Goats for Service

Elder Trottier and Knowlden

 WEEK 101  Sept- 22, 2020

 It was a pretty good week, not too much happened. Elder Trottier’s COVID test came back negative so we can now officially leave the apt! We were able to go out to shop that night, because we didn’t have much to eat. We have done a lot of contacting members and people taught in the past and we have had some luck. It's hard because we have a new phone number and email than what the two wards had previously. Thursday we ended up picking up our Zone Leaders from a vacant apt because they live with us but we were on quarantine. 

     It has been pretty fun with them! They are Elder Hubbs and Elder James! I served with Elder James last year in Plymouth. We also started service projects this past week, we are helping out at a Conservation Land and this past week we herded goats into a pasture so they could graze while we trimmed vines. It was honestly really fun! Friday we were able to have in person District Council and it was pretty fun, we have 6 companionships! 

     On Sunday we were able to attend Sunday School for Belmont 2nd ward and then the Sunday Service for Belmont 1st Ward. Shortly after that we had the Mission Sunday Service. We then had an in person lesson! We had it with Brother Carlisle, his daughter Gemma and her friend Chloe! At night we had Missionary Coordination with Belmont 2nd Ward and that went well! Brother Carter is the Ward Mission Leader and a World Renowned Brain Surgeon! He told me he could be my life long consultant when it comes to brain surgery! All in all it was a good week!

     

     This week I want to talk about "letting Christ wash your feet". This goes back to the New Testament right before Christ will go into the Garden of Gethsemane and He is at the Last Supper with his 12 Apostles. He gets down and washes their feet. For Jesus to do this, it is a huge thing because this is a humble experience to be at. Peter told Jesus that he didn’t want him to wash his feet. Jesus responded with if I wash you not, you have no part with me. Peter then goes to say I want you to wash my feet, my hands and my head!

     I love Peter's response, and it is exactly how we should respond in our lives! As I have met many people on my mission, a lot of them aren't humble enough to let Christ wash their feet, and others are like Peter and letting them wash their whole body spiritually so to say. As we go on I ponder on how can I be like Jesus and wash one another’s feet. As we truly show Christ like love for others and help them know that they are loved, and they are needed, especially during crazy times like these, that is how we can wash one another's feet. That is my invitation for you! I invite you to pray and ask Heavenly Father, who needs help, and help them! This will not only bless their lives but it will bring you peace and happiness to yours! I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

 

Week 100

 

My New Companion Elder Trottier

Saying Goodbye to Elder Stephenson         

Famous Frozen Lemonade from Rhode Island

Norwich Ginny from Service

Norwich Ct Chapel

Outside my new apt in Belmont MA 

Taylor Swift Home on the border of Rhode Island

Week 100  Sept 14, 2020

   Belmont MA

  Over a year ago I made it a goal to finish reading the whole Bible, as of Sunday night I accomplished that goal of mine! As I continue on in life, I hope to continue to strengthen mine understand of these wonderful scriptures! As for the Book of Mormon I am over 50% finished with it being my 7th time reading while on my mission! 

     It was a pretty crazy week. I said goodbye to Norwich and my wonderful District. I had a good 2 transfers and 6 companions while in Norwich. As I have 3 weeks left I am now In Belmont, by far my smallest area. My whole area is just the 1 city of Belmont and I cover two Wards, the Boston Temple is even in my area!

     Wednesday was pretty strange we had two times for transfers one at 10 am and one at 6pm. 12 missionaries had to come a day late because of all the wind in Utah because a luggage cart hit the plane! After we hit transfers at 10 I said goodbye to Elder Stephenson and was in a trio for the day until my new companion came into the mission. I hung out with Elder Lee and Elder Hubbs, and it was pretty fun!

     We go back to transfers that night and I get to meet Elder Trottier from Ceder Hills Utah, and I am excited to be with him! We were originally going to be a 4 Elder apartment but the other two Elders didn’t want to do a quarantine so it's just Elder Trottier and I until we get his test done and get the results back!.

     It is a pretty fun area so far, we are teaching a lady by the name of Kitty and she is 97 years old, and she is from Austria, She has a pretty cool life story! We are also teaching a few doctors, so it's a pretty cool area to learn in. I am excited to be here even of it is just for a few weeks!

   

     I want to share with you “the power of prayer”. Near the beginning of my mission I served on the Island of Martha's Vineyard, it was during the winter season, by the end I truly did enjoy my time there! But the first two weeks I absolutely hated it!, I even called my Mission President asking to be sent to a new area. As you can probably tell I ended up being there for 12 weeks! While there I felt like I was in a massive point of isolation and just away from everyone. At this point we still weren't aloud to call home every week, before that I hadn’t called to talk to my family in a couple months. So to say the least I was not happy to be there. While on the Vineyard I got put on medication and anxiety along with meeting with a therapist. I got the help I needed and it was awesome for me. Before that I prayed and I personally felt as if this is something I needed to do. The Church also came out with the option to call home weekly!

     While on the Island I prayed about this one question quite often, "Heavenly Father, why did you send me to the Vineyard?" After I got transferred I didn't ever think about that question again. It wasn't until over a year after I left the Vineyard that my prayer was answered! It was because of this whole pandemic actually! While I was in Methuen my companion at the time helped me realize it! If I did not have that experience on the Vineyard, I would have gone home when this new self -isolation/quarantine hit. I wouldn't have been able to mentally or emotionally been able to do it. Right then is when I know that God truly does answer our prayers! The lesson I learned also was, it will be answered in His time! It took over a year but my prayer was answered! If you feel as if your prayers are not being answered, I promise you that they will be, just be patient! I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Week 99, Sprint past the finish line

Elder Stephenson

        My Companion Elder Stephenson

Falls

                Elders Maddison, Stephanson, Reid, Davis,                         Woods,Thurman

Cool Train Bridge

Some Wildlife
 

 

 Week 99   9-8-20   

It was another slow week, sadly a lot of our lessons canceled and or needed to be rescheduled. On the bright side we were able to have a lesson with Sister Covey who is a recent convert. We have been trying to get a lesson with her for the past 3 months, just about! We were almost going to go two weeks with 0's (no one found or came to Church). After coordination on Sunday night we were able to start teaching Mary Wetherby and she has a strong faith in Jesus Christ!

     This past Monday was super fun, we went on this really cool hike to some waterfalls called "Indian Leap"! It was the last District Cuncil of the transfer so we got some final pictures with each other. I was expecting to stay here until the night before I go home but transfer texts came out Saturday night and turns out I am going to be transferred up to Belmont Massachusetts!

      I am so stoked to be in the city, the Boston Temple is even in my new area, and I am so excited for that. Sadly it isn’t open so I won’t be able to go, but I'll be able to walk around the property and I cant wait, for that it always gives me peace. Last but not least service was really fun and luckily I'll be able to go one last time! Pretty cool this week I found a four-leaf clover!

                        

     It’s pretty crazy to think that I will be home in less than a month! I am on the final stretch and I'll I can think of is something my High School Wrestling Coach always said, "Sprint past the finishing line". As I am so close to the end I am starting to feel "drained", it has been a long basically 2 years. As I still have a few weeks left, I still have time to make an impact on the ones I will be serving around! Right now more than ever, I need to "sprint past the finishing line" I am ready to give it all I got so I can feel good about what I did with the last little bit of my mission! It definitely will be a challenge as I am going to be in a new area with a new missionary! I am beyond excited for this! In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen