PICTURES!!!

Brad sent some pictures:

Me and Elder Manser (MTC companion)

I dunno what I'm doing!!

My GQ pose :)

L to R:

Me!

Elder Funk

Elder Manser

Elder Poole

Elder Howe

Me and Elder Howe are holding one of our MTC teachers, Bro. Morgan

Me, the President and Sister Merkley

First day in OK and happy to be here!!

Me and my district at the Tulsa Zoo

L to R:

Elder Josephson, Elder Jones, Elder Kurtis, Elder Taggart, ME!!, Elder Phillips (my companion)

Me at the Tulsa Zoo - being eaten by a "lion" water fountain :)

Zone Conference

Elder Phillips (my trainer)

Elder Erbe (Elder Phillips' trainer)

Me (the trainee of Elder Phillips)

ENJOY!

October 19, 2009: Missions are HARD!!

Hey everyone!

It's very true what they say, "Your mission will be the best thing for you, it will also be the hardest thing you do"

It's been a week of trials. There have been so many investigators who have been attcked by the adversary SO MUCH. There was one invetigator who we committed to baptism. After that, everything went downhill (in a negative way). His mom became extremely sick and had to go to the hospital, he experienced loneliness and frustration towards everything because of that, and he was kicked out of his apartment and is now sleeping on a couch at a friend's. We were supposed to have a baptism of a very sweet woman and her 9 year-old daughter yesterday, but they have not been at church for the past four weeks, she has been dealing with cut-backs at her work, and her two oldest sons have been causing much turmoil to the point where she's kicking them out today. Ww also had a baptismal date set for a young woman going to the Single's Branch for the 24th of October. Since we set the date, she has experienced SO MUCH oppostion from her family. The aunt she is living with threw away her copy of the Book of Mormon, her brother yelled at her one night for being baptized a "Mormon", and it hasn't stopped. Her baptismal date has been pushed back to a later day...hopefully she will be baptized. A very nice man, recptive to the Gospel, we have been speaking to, has not come to church AT ALL. He always says that he will come, but he never shows. Satan is truly at work! Those are just a few stories I have, and there are SO MANY MORE! I look at all of these people, and I think to myself, "They are my brothers and sisters, and the adversary is trying to destroy them (his brothers and sisters)." All I can do is continue to fight and help these people see that "all things shall give thee experience." I want all of these people, friends of mine, brothers and sisters of mine, to say what Paul said: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7)

Someone that has been uplifting to me, lately, is Captain Moroni. There is one scripture that inspires me so much to walk in the paths of righteousness, and to stand boldly as a witness and disciple of Christ. Captain Moroni was such a man. He was a man who defended his country, his family, and his God. He was a very powerful man, both physically and spiritually. In Alma 48:17, it says, "Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, that if all men had been, and were, and every would be like unto Moroni, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men." WHEW!!!! That's intense! How great would it be if all men would have a similar intensity.

I know that missions are hard, and mine is no exception. I know that all the things we go through are for our learning, but we must not lose the faith. We must all be like unto Moroni! If we can do that, we will have the power to shake the powers of hell! We will have the power to do what the Lord wants done: To preach the Gospel. To redeem the dead. To perfect the Saints. I know that the things I have read in the Book of Mormon are true. it is the most correct book on this earth. I know the prophet, Joesph Smith, translated the Book of Mormon through the power of God, that same power that can shake the powers of hell FOREVER! I know that these thing are true. I pray that all of you keep the faith and keep fighting. I love all of you.

Elder Fellows

October 13, 2009--the trials begin

Sorry i didn't write too much last week. I have been so busy here. The work is non-stop and I barely have time to even write in my journal.


Things have been great here in Tulsa. If I hadn't mentioned before, my first area that I have been assigned to is the Tulsa, East area. It is the smallest area in the Oklahoma, Tulsa Mission...but it has the most people. I think it has over 100,000 people in this little area. We speak to many MANY people every day...but we are in the Bible Belt...and everyone says Tulsa Oklahoma is the "buckle" of the Bible Belt. it's extremely tough to speak to people about the Restored Gospel because EVERYONE has a church they attend, and a lot of them "frown" upon missionaries. The other day my companion and I had rocks thrown at us and I was shot by a paintball gun. It was exciting :) first thing that popped into my mind was "They ruined my tie!" HAHA. As we biked back to the apartment, I remembered two scriptures: the first was 2 Nephi 31:20. The second was Matthew 10:22. I'll let everyone read those two scriptures for yourselves. It'll be your little homework assignment. I'll give a hint: they speak on endurance. I love those words, and the more I thought about them, the more I came to love all the people around me, and it gave me the strength to keep spreading the Gospel to all. This is the greatest thing on earth, and everyone needs it. It doesn't matter if they are an atheist or a member of the First Presidency. Everyone needs the Gospel, and everyone needs the Atonement.

I'm so excited to hear from everyone to see how their days are. It is so refreshing to hear what you do in your daily lives, and it is so wonderful to read about how the Gospel blesses all of you. Sometimes, we take things for granted. I know I have taken many things for granted. EVERYTHING I have is gift from our Heavenly Father. My family is a gift, my knowldege is a gift, my calling is a gift, and the Atonement is a gift. These are the things that I cherish above all others. Nothing compares! I love all of you so much. I am honored to be apart my temporal family here on earth, and I am honored to be apart of the spiritual family I have throughout the world.

I hope everyone read and studied a talk from Conference ;) haha. I've got a little quiz for everyone:
1. Who was it that spoke on the "-ity" virtues?
2. What apostle spoke on "being more diligent and concerned at home"?
3. Who boldly testified of The Book of Mormon(hint: Sunday Afternoon)?
4. How many temples are in operation?
5. What is Pres. Monson's favorite hymn?
6. (In your opinion) What was the theme of General Conference?
7. What apostle used the analogy of "the grape and the jalapeno"?
8. Who spoke on "using the equipment we have"?
9. In the Priesthood Session, who spoke on Working and Learing here on earth?
10. What apostle stated that members should do more missionary work?
Just some questions...

But anyways, I hope that everything is going well for all of you. The Christlike attribute that I'm working on this transfer is humility. I was hoping that everyone could work on that attribute with me. It's been tough, but I know all things are possible through faith and work (I also need some support) HAHA.

I love all of you, and I'm always praying for you.

Elder Fellows

Monday, October 5, 2009--General Conference--If you have pictures, send them!!

Hiya!

Well, I don't know about everyone else, but I LOVED General Conference! I took 27 pages of notes on all the talks!!! I don't have a lot of time today to write, but I wanted to extend two things to EVERYONE: First, pick one talk that you liked the most and then send me what you learned to me in the mail. My address is 7313 S. 99th E. Ave. Tulsa, OK 74133, just in case you didn't get it last time. Second, I WANT PICTURES!!!

I'll respond to all of your comments about Conference...and I'm gonna quiz a few of you to see if you were, "feasting upon the words of Christ" HAHA!

Well, I'll write more to you via "snail mail" and next preparation day.

Gosh!! I'm so BUSY here! I don't have for anything, but spreading the Gospel!

I love all of you and my prayers are with you.

Remember the things you study and "bear your testimonies boldy to your families" (who said that in General Conference??) I know...but do you ;)

With all my love,
Elder Fellows