Coastin down the mou’ain

January 5, 2015 admin

Hey y’all!

I feel in life we all have mountains to climb. But once you’ve hit the peak, you can look over the obstacle with full vision, seeing what you’ve accomplished, and feel those ripped muscles. And after it all, we’re able to coast a bit until the next mountain to climb.

Now is my coast.

Haha that made me feel wise for a second. I hope that metaphor made sense!

The majority of each day was taking care of issues. But it ends this week. Practically everyone in the Zone has had my back through the last couple weeks and has been at my door in moments notice (guns ablazin’). Shout out to my amazing Zone Leaders Elders Daley and Petersen, My District Leader Elder Kay and his companion Elder Reas, President Ames(They may see this someday), and most definitely my Father in Heaven. Everyone of my prayers has been answered. Never have I seen anyone give so much support (outside family) in my life. They really have changed my life. Sparing the details, my companion is leaving me this week and I will get another one.

Yuck. Negativity drains. Soooo on to better things!

We are having a baptism next week for Holly! She is just someone that had to be lead to the water. Samplice says he will be baptized when we teach him everything (Soooo we’re gonna try to teach him every day ;] ). He’s been coming to church each week! As we sing hymns, I point to the words on the page to show where were at! In class he will catch certain words people say and whisper to himself thinking about what they mean: “Temple…..Temple….” Then I whip out a picture of the temple and he says, “Big!” In his French accent. Its also funny when Dona covers his face trying to contain a laugh as Samplice says each word in the pamphlet with a French accent, trying to figure it out. I. LOVE. THESE. GUYS. Mom, I need an extra suitcase. Or an extra plane ticket or something.

After an issue with the comp, I biked the snot outta him, taking us to our furthest section of our area…hehe I love biking ;] But I wouldn’t mind a car….

We have a new investigator this week! Giovanni is a friend of the youth. Not really any religious background, but his parents gave him permission to take the lessons! That’s whats up.

Well, friends, family, and stalkers (JK), Im gonna go make some good experiences this week. So…Have the best week ever!

And if I don’t see ya, Good afternoon, Good evening, and Goodnight!

Love ya, bye!

Elder Householder

The Prayer of Faith

December 29, 2014 admin

Howdy!

So I know I make everything sound hunky dory, but the mission does have its hard times.

This week has been one of the hardest in my life. Without sparing details, lets just say God’s chillins have differing views and interests that collide sometimes.

Now that that is outta the way, lets go back to hunky dory, sound like a plan, stan? Shweetish Fish.

We spent Christmas Eve teaching Somplice Christmas hymns in English and then we sang them! Sometimes Dona and Somplice would switch in an out of French, but it was way cool! Music is the universal language!

Christmas was pretty great! We were able to call home and it was fantastic to hear the family’s voices! I got some awesome presents from the family, great ties (whaddup!) and lots of sugar! Gotta love it. We went to dinner at a members home and Somplice and Dona joined us! With a home full of family (RMs) everyone trying talking to Somplice in German, Spanish, English, and whatever else they spoke….and guess what! He didn’t understand any of it! Real suprize, huh? Hahaha oh man…When my companion called his family, he gave the phone to me and his mom (choking up) thanked me for loving her son. That really put things into perspective for me and made it easier to be charitable.

Sorry its short, but Id rather not fill up the remainder of this email with the stuff that’s happened this week, if ya catch my drift. Or if you were Garrett McCain, “Ya pickin up what Im putting down?” hahah love that kid.

Although through it all, I got a random call one night from my trainer Elder Austin and he said he got permission to call me and so he lifted my spirits because he just got finished going through something similar. Miss that guy.

I will say this: My Father in Heaven has answered every one of my prayers this week. Every one. I pray for someone to lift my spirits, I get a call from my District leader. I ask for help, My Zoneleaders show up. I ask for hope, it was given to me.

D&C 58:44 – And inasmuch as you are diligent and humble, and exercise the prayer of faith, behold, I will soften the hearts of those to whom you are in debt, until I shall send means unto you for your deliverance.

I believe this principle is for anything you stand in need of. If by faith I can move mountains, why wouldn’t faith move my spiritual mountains that are standing in the way of my happiness, faith, hope, and charity?

D&C 123:16-17 You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workwayswith the wind and the waves.Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, withthe utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

I love you all so much! Keep up the good work and thanks for everything!
Love,

ElderHouseholder

Christmas phone call

Audio December 25, 2014 admin

This was our Christmas phone call with Nathan – Merry Christmas!!

Who Turned Out the Lights?

December 22, 2014 admin

Hey Hey!

This week has been a good one! Really different, but shweetish fish.

We’ve been still doing a lot of caroling! Its a really crazy difference how people actually open the door and SMILE! Throws me off! hahah

Tuesday a member in a different ward asked us if we want a 7 ft Christmas tree! He gave us lights to put on it, and ornaments too! It feels like Christmas! Elder Beard even lined the ceiling with lights so it lights the whole room!

This week we got French pamphlets to teach to Somplice! Wahoo!

When Elder Beard arrived on Wednesday, I talked to him about how we have a light plate above our desks, but the light fixture was hanging from the socket in the “Dining Area”. In other words, we don’t have a light hanging above our desks, but there is one on the other side of the room. So he said he was handy and could move the light fixture to the empty socket above our head. He made it his project. Moving my desk back and forth to stand on (hes vertically challenged). So Im doing the planning for the night and hes walking across my desk, moving my desk back and forth across the room, dropping the ceiling stuff everywhere….Eventually we got it hooked up and realized that the lightswitch wasn’t connected to that light (like it was supposed to). So he was messing with the wires in the wall! Attaching wires and such. But first he had to switch the breaker off so that he didn’t get “shock-ed and amaz-ed”. So All lights on, ALL lights off. Back and forth. Then after 20min of this, he hooked the power to the ground wire or something and shut off the power from the main circuit (we didn’t have access to) So we just decided to go to bed. “I don’t care about anything in the fridge, anyway!”

The next morning we had to wait till 9 for our apartment complex office to open to ask them to turn it on. It occurred to me that there wasn’t going to be any hot water….So we just jumped strait into studies after workout – using a finger LED light we randomly have.

We had a Christmas Devotional with President Ames! He served us pulled pork sandwiches and treats. We also got to watch The Christmas Carol! Got to see past companions and catch up. Me and *Insert dad saying, “What, don’t call them mean!”*” a couple others sang an arrangement of Silent night for the 4 Zones there! Fun stuff!

Saturday, we went over to Donas (the next building over from where we live) and helped him with practicing the sacrament prayer and set up. He said that Somplice should be over that night and we would come back to teach him. That night he wasn’t there. He left home to go to Donas place 6am (to sleep over so he could get to church) and still wasn’t there at 8pm. No one knew where he was. At church Dona told us that Somplice tried to take the freeway (from Euless – neighboring town) but he doesn’t speak English! He ended up in WACO! I know, that doesn’t mean anything to you. But that’s toward the bottom of our mission and 3-4 hours south of us. Got lost HOURS away from home! Poor guy. Some police down there helped him out!

Found out that our bishop went to college with Breanna Smiths dad! Showed me their Christmas card – it was the weirdest thing ever! Not the card…the experience. haha

For a Christmas Season and 3 days before Christmas, 58 degrees blows my mind.

Well everyone, thanks for the letters! and Merry Christmas!

Love all yall!

Elder Householder

Temple with the Semi-full zone!

One last with the Zone before Transfers!

Silent Night

December 22, 2014 admin

This is a recording of your son singing silent night with us at the mission Christmas devotional! Merry Christmas. Yall have a great missionary out here! 😀

Sincerely,

Elder Beard

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Transfers

December 15, 2014 admin

Hey guys!

You will not believe how fast the week flies. Life time of experiences in what feels like a day. Time is moving too quickly. Never enough time to get everything done!

Elder Boekweg is leaving me, that dummy! Just kidding, Hes going to a hick town (exactly where he was hoping not to hahaha) but Its for the best, He’ll love it! My companion is named Elder Beard – came out with my trainer and “Dies” in 2 transfers…So ill either be here 6 more weeks or 4.5 more months…I still am senior companion though, so thats interesting!

We’ve been caroling in the past week or two to lessactive members, investigators, and random people. Its been pretty sweet with Elder Atchison on the guitar and us on the vocals. Were auditioning some for drums, electric guitar and maybe some bongos. Maybe we can become some crazy trans-Siberian Orchestra dealio. Anyway, we sound sweet – especially with half the missionaries being sick we have our electric guitars.

We’ve been teaching Somplice! (Donas friend that only speaks French) We showed him the Restoration video in French! Coolest thing ever! I dont need to serve in another country to have the foreign feel – thats Tejas for ya! We also took them both to a concert the equivalent to our “Messiah Singalong” but called “Sing Noel.” twas awesome! Somplice was humming along to the music, then whispering to me, “This song in my country, but you it English, me it French” He loved it. Seriously dont let the picture fool you…I dont think hes used to taking pictures….hahaha The picture makes me laugh so hard.

We have been teaching some great lessons recently! Holly is moving toward her baptismal date next month, and we are working with the others to get them more solid.

We happened to have a member that told us he had a French Book of Mormon that we could give to Somplice instead of waiting for one to be shipped to us! So he is reading it!

I love Dona to death. This African friend of ours is so sweet and kind, yet so many people have taken advantage of him financially. He takes all of his trials as if that havent happened at all. He lives the next apartment building over and check in on him often.

We found a pick mountain bike in our storage closet and we are fixing it up, going to spray paint it, then teach Dona how to ride a bike! He said hes been wanting one, so we are going to suprize him with one! Wish us luck in fixing it up! haha

We found a place that serves all you can eat pancakes. needless to say, I am fat. Paprika is getting big.

Yesterday we found what it must feel like to be bishop. We were hurrying around most of the day trying to make sure people get to church, pass out carroling signups in all the auxiliaries, make sure to get people to bishop to fill out some forms, had meetings, missed sacrament. Got to go help someone with a blessing, taught a youth lesson, back to church for other wards sacrament, missed lunch, went to pick up some package for Dona from a member…Elder Boekweg is leaving the area so he was trying to get pictures….My back hurt, I was hungry, but somehow I had strength to do it all! I love service!

Ive said it once and Ill say it again. Once someone meets with the missionaries once, they will always run into them again. They are hooked. Too many experiences like this, but Ill just give one:

This week we were over talking to Dona while he had a mechanic fixing his car. Dona had another African buddy there chillin I guess and we started talking to him, His name is Edward. We found that Edward was baptized a member in Kenya and won a chance to come to the US. He hasnt come to church much here, but he said he used to at our church building. He then said that missionaries had called and left a message for him in the past, and we told him that we may be able to tell who they were, so he played the voicemail for us and it was totally Elder Boekweg, my companion!! We were so confused! Then I remembered finding a past missionary’s planner in the apartment and I looked through it as to see what others have done in this area (being a new senior comp in an unknown area). I found a number in there and decided to call it. This was Edward. Then the Lord brought him to us! We then refered him over to the missionaries next to us in whose area he lives in. Crazy stuff! The Lord works in mysterious ways!

I love Yall lots! Thanks for the letters!

Love,

Elder Householder

Alex! Hes a big guy!

And the Buis family! From Arizona as well, love them!

Dona and Somplice! They love the concert, dont be fooled by their expressions! hahah

Our Christmas tree! be jealous!

Our star with finger lights on it. Whats up. #missionarylife

8 Month Mark

December 8, 2014 admin

Hey!

This week has been great! Always full of adventures. First off, we have found that the Christmas Season isn’t the reason for more doors opening to us, but the descorations covering their eye-hole. Whatever works, right? haha\

I swear my back tire is cursed – there is no end to the flats! Im pro at tire changing now! Those crazy sidewalks that just end turn into a path of never-ending thorns and satanic stickers.

This week I hit my 8 month mark! Hannah Montana say whaaa? (Shoutout to Brother Bonham).

We also got to go to the Temple this week! It was awesome! Lets just say going inside I saw some people I knew and it freaked me out. Select few will understand that…haha

On the way to the temple the member that took us hit a curb and totally got a flat, so we changed that – with white shirts and suits and came out clean, what up!

We’ve been caroling and its been awesome! People record us and hold their kids tighter, “We NEVER get carolers!” Twas like a movie – crazy stuff! We shared a scripture and game them a “He is the Gift” card. Yall probably have a couple of those. Give them to friends!

We are teaching this big 400 lb black guy and he always says, “I wanna be Mormon, I just don’t know when yet!” “Why not Alex?” “You know what? EVERY Mormon comes in here and asks me that, but I just don’t know when yet!” “Alex, do you believe this is the same church Christ set up?” “I don’t know about that!” Then in our minds: “Uhmmm theres the issue brodda!” We are going in depth with Christs church: Ephesians 4:11-14, Hebrews 5:4 and the Apostasy: Amos 8:12-13. Its starting to make sense to him. He is gonna get bapatized, we “just don’t know when yet!” ;]

I feel like Will Smith in a sea of sick people…too bad none of them are hiding….This week basically everyone is getting sick in my zone….Zoneleader A (ZL-A) has the Flu. ZL-A went on exchange with my District Leader (DL) and got him sick, DL’s companion has bronchitis, and my companion has the cold or something… Zoneleader B and I are holding on strong! but…. my Onguard just ran out this week…wish me luck!

The Christmas Devotional was really good this year! I loved Elder Christoffersons talk. There was a Young Women in the ward that was diagnosed with Leukemia this week, so we thought it was perfect for her. We’re all praying for her.

Yesterday I was asked to pass the sacrament and totally failed. But I looked cool doing it. just kidding. The deacons kept telling me to pass in the places that others were passing and it was no bueno. All is well, all is well.

Work has been pretty slow lately – everyone keeps rescheduling appointments and its not that fun, but the weather is nice, so biking around isn’t horrible.

Again, thanks for the letters! Hope yall have the best week ever!

Love,

Elder Householder

PS: Christmas still means meat and Football in Texas.

PSS: Most of Yall live out of Texas, so we all know it means Christ! Discover the gift, Embrace the Gift, #Sharethegift Christmas.mormon.org Check it out!

It’s a Missionary Christmas

December 8, 2014 admin

We were short a Christmas tree, so we found a short Christmas tree at a yard sale and I rode all the way home with it on my bike!

We used some old hangers to make a star. Don’t lie, its gorgeous. Im taking bids, starting at one box of ramen.

You Reap What You Sow

November 24, 2014 admin

Hey guys!

This area is booming!

I’ve worked so hard the last couple months to be obedient and as hard working as I can, but I haven’t been feeling too successful. Actually, I have, they have just been small successes. When I came into this area, things just started falling into place. We have 2 baptismal dates set and by the end of the week we should have 2-3 more!

We are working with a lady named Holly that just got married to a member. Shes golden and ready to go. Everyone at church thought she was a member already. We noticed that she was sitting alone in Relief Society, so we told a member to go sit next to her. “But I dont know her!” We said, “Exactly! Go get to know her.” She went over and sat next to her and they hit it off – both grew up in pensylvania and such. Now you may be wondering why we were in RS….good question – stay tuned!

We went to go teach a less active member named Jorge (who is trying to come back to church. When we got a ride from him over to his house, his son Fabian (15) asked, “So….what is it that you guys actually do?” Oh buddy! He did done gone an’ asked the right question right there! (hes not a member). We sat him down and explained the restoration to him because he had the typical Joseph Smith Questions, “Which church is true, and how can I know it?” So Fabian is gonna be abapatized soon! We are teaching him this week.

Sarah K. Is 8, (turning 9) and he biological mother is saying no to her being baptized, but we are still teaching her the lessons at her fathers home, hoping and praying her mother will let her soon.

Landon M. Is a son of another less active family coming back to church, so we teach him tomorrow and he should be baptized!

The members in this ward are on fire with inviting friends to come to church! WAHOOO! Especially the young women. theres at least 3 Young Women who bring their friends regularly and 1 who will in the future. We should hopefully start teaching those soon! Then theres at least 3 other friends of members who sound interested, we just need to see.

Missionaries around the world are gathering members to go carroling to the MEMBERS friends who may NOT accept the gospel at this time, but who would accept carrolers. We sent around signup sheets in the Relief Society (hehe see now?), Elders Quorum, High Priests, Young Men, and Young Women and we are racking it up! we are going to have a great carroling season! This is to usher in, “HE IS THE GIFT” a couple minute video similar to the “BECAUSE OF HIM” video. Its gonna be big! They are renting out the banners on Youtube for 24 hours! we are handing out card to each of these people we carrol to to tell them to see it.

We even had one of those nonmember friends in Young Womens that signed up us carrolers to go to HER home! and shes gonna join us! The work is hastening!

Some funny experiences include: Finding rotten pumkin all over our mat infront of our door (I included a picture so you can be a part of the discusting experience).

–I got another flat tire…Like the 4th one in 3-4 weeks…

–We were looking at ties from Ross and saw matching ties and thought we should get them, but we were basically broke (toward the end of the month). The other Elder came over and saw them and thought they were some sweet ties, so they bought them and we were thinking, “No we have to watch them wear the ties we wanted to get!” haha that night we were doorbell ditched and there was presents on the ground and 2 camera propped up on the ground in a totally obvious place. Then the elders came running up the stairs and told us to open the presents! They were the ties! That was probably the nicest thing that a missionary has done for me on my mission!

–Alex (400-500lb black guy) felt the spirit really strong so he got up and started dancing (dont ask me how) and praisin’ the Lord! He wants to be mormon but doesnt think hes ready.

Well yall, The church is true! Theres no doubt in my mind, never has been, nor ever will. If you want to have a happier life, it ALL starts with CPR. Going to CHURCH, PRAYING every day! and READING the BOOK OF MORMON every day. Dilligently. Its not hard, dont make it so. Heavenly Father will always provide the way if you seek to obey. Its simple. Just do it. ~Nike.

Love all yall to death! Support those missionaries – Their family is YOU. Let us all press on.

Elder Householder

The Wilsterman Family (Minus Sister W) I love them.