Elder L says "Hi" -- 26 November 2012

Elder L is my zone leader, and he wanted me to tell you all "Hi" for him.

Anywho. This week has been amazing. We picked two (2) new investigators (better known as "L" and "M". L is searching for the social aspect of the church, but is readily accepting all we teach her, she'll definitely be baptized. M is the girlfriend of a boy in the ward who has been attending church and seminary all year. Plus she's read the Book of Mormon and the Bible. Is there such a thing of a purer pearl of great price? We're also teaching an agnostic (m) (she'll come around) and T (who we may or may not turn over to the ward this week...)

On top of all that, we set baptisimal dates. 3 of them. For before the end of the transfer. This is going to be great.

Elder C and I have been getting along very very well. We laugh a lot, and we also get a TON done. We'll definitely have an excellent transfer together.

I apologize for really stinking at emails. I don't ever really know what to say.

Oh! Temple covenants. Always uphold them. Just do it. If you don't, you'll regret it. Big time. Seriously big time. So, just do it. The Lord doesn't ask much, and all he asks, we can do. I know that's true.

Remember the quote from Elder Holland from general conference:

My beloved brothers and sisters, I am not certain just what our experience will be on Judgment Day, but I will be very surprised if at some point in that conversation, God does not ask us exactly what Christ asked Peter: “Did you love me?” I think He will want to know if in our very mortal, very inadequate, and sometimes childish grasp of things, did we at least understand one commandment, the first and greatest commandment of them all—“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind.”¹³ And if at such a moment we can stammer out, “Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee,” then He may remind us that the crowning characteristic of love is always loyalty.

“If ye love me, keep my commandments,”¹⁴ Jesus said. So we have neighbors to bless, children to protect, the poor to lift up, and the truth to defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to share, and good to do. In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord. We can’t quit and we can’t go back. After an encounter with the living Son of the living God, nothing is ever again to be as it was before. The Crucifixion, Atonement, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ mark the beginning of a Christian life, not the end of it. It was this truth, this reality, that allowed a handful of Galilean fishermen-turned-again-Apostles without “a single synagogue or sword”¹⁵ to leave those nets a second time and go on to shape the history of the world in which we now live.

I testify from the bottom of my heart, with the intensity of my soul, to all who can hear my voice that those apostolic keys have been restored to the earth, and they are found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To those who have not yet joined with us in this great final cause of Christ, we say, “Please come.” To those who were once with us but have retreated, preferring to pick and choose a few cultural hors d’oeuvres from the smorgasbord of the Restoration and leave the rest of the feast, I say that I fear you face a lot of long nights and empty nets. The call is to come back, to stay true, to love God, and to lend a hand. I include in that call to fixed faithfulness every returned missionary who ever stood in a baptismal font and with arm to the square said, “Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ.”¹⁶ That commission was to have changed your convert forever, but it was surely supposed to have changed you forever as well. To the youth of the Church rising up to missions and temples and marriage, we say: “Love God and remain clean from the blood and sins of this generation. You have a monumental work to do, underscored by that marvelous announcement President Thomas S. Monson made yesterday morning. Your Father in Heaven expects your loyalty and your love at every stage of your life.”

To all within the sound of my voice, the voice of Christ comes ringing down through the halls of time, asking each one of us while there is time, “Do you love me?” And for every one of us, I answer with my honor and my soul, “Yea, Lord, we do love thee.” And having set our “hand to the plough,”¹⁷ we will never look back until this work is finished and love of God and neighbor rules the world. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

If you love HIM keep His commandments.

Don't ever pay anything less than what you owe, which is your loyalty.

I love you all so much. Thank you all for writing me. Thank you for your love. I love you.

Holy Amazing WHITCHICKABAM SMFAH! (is that enough excitement for you?) -- 19 November 2012

Well, I'm not going to lie to you, cause that's not acceptable in Medicine Hat. :D

First things first, when I opened up my email, I wasn't sure what to expect. I never do, but today I received some of the best news I ever have. My best friend is well on his way to his mission! (what if he gets called here?!?!?!?!? :D) Priesthood seems to be wrapping around the world with the news of Logan and of Tanner! There is only one word, unless you happen to be Jace Mitchell in which case there's two; WHITCHICKABAM and SMFAH!

Holy tolito, there's just so much excitement welling up inside of me I can't keep it in. I'm tearing up at my computer and I'm getting a lot of strange looks from the guy next to me who is playing "Farmville" on Facebook. Maybe I'll try to contact him.... ;) Done.

Subject change. Last night we were stopping by a few less-actives in the ward and we knocked on this guy's door.  What happened next was rude. He opened. We said, "Hello, is this the residence of _______?" To which he responded, "Goodbye." *SLAM* To which I said, "Fair enough." On top of that we were walking down the street and as a car drove by someone yelled, "Hail (for reasons of respecting the nature of the name, we'll use a common addage to replace it) He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!" So, we made sure to say a very special prayer for those two at the end of the night. They need a little extra love. *eyeroll* "What are you, like, six?"

Needless to say, Med Hat isn't quite so full of the uber-nice Canadian spirits that I'm used to dealing with in Willow Park, nevertheless the work goes forward. Elder C and I are working hard. We've been doing a lot of work. Honestly, it doesn't really feel like work because we've been having such a good time doing it. We're laughing a lot and we have a lot of fun. He's also teaching me piano and ping-pong. Plus, guess what?! CHRISTMAS IS COMING UP!!! Do you know what that could possibly mean?

...

This is where you adapt your larynx to a low, epic, radio vocal tone and say the following two words: Christmas Caroling. ; ) (that was a Barney Stinson wink, by the way)

Christmas caroling, the best form of missionary work in the world. Why? Because everyone is willing to listen to carolers, even if they are wearing name tags. It helps that my district has all been in choir. Yes. This will be awesome.

Anyway, Elder C is from Korea, but spent a good amount of time in Ottowa between 2003 & 2007. He speaks perfect English. He's smart and eager to work (which is way good, because I really really wanted someone who would be)(go figure).

In the meantime I spend an awful lot of time---while I exercise in the morning---day dreaming about the possibilities of awesomeness; like, what if we achieve our goal of 3 baptisms by the end of this transfer? Then I start coming up with plans of how to achieve it, which is usually followed by a string of exciting revelation of things we can be doing, I just get so excited I can't hold it back and I have to restrain myself from interrupting Elder C's shower. So, I have a testimony of exercise first thing in the morning, because it gives you an opportunity to thin about the things which matter most, and you are able to receive revelation upon those things. So, exercise! There's many a benefit!

Speaking of which, you may be wondering how the "getting jacked" is going. Maybe. I've mostly been focusing on losing weight, and tightening my core, so there's been a huge focus on cardio. The good news is, another missionary provided me with the "Spartacus" workout, which is a workout that is meant for weightloss and strength gain.

You want to hear about the work? Well, we have an investigator who is named T.  She is maybe possibly could be on probation, but we don't know. She is very very interested in being baptized and is ready to do so, but she can't until she is off probation.

Other than that we have a lot of potentials. There's M (who is Sister K. Kelsch's twin, I swear). The C family (from Africa, lots of African-American's in Med Hat). And a few others. I'm sure it will all progress nicely as long as we work hard, yeah? We have a lot of hope and there is a TON of potential out there (6 billion?)(I suppose for me it's more like 15....7...2 million).

A special shout to Briana (Sister  Hill) who will be turning 22 in 7 days! A shout to Tanar Maughan who has officially been on his mission for a year.

Special warnings: Ashtyn, be expecting a few letters and dating applications in the mail. Just fill 'em out and send 'em back. Trust me, you may thank me one day :D

Chris, this mission goes by really really really fast. DON'T EVER FORGET TO WRITE IN YOUR JOURNAL! That goes for Colton, too.(and me....) Anyway, I love you all with all of my heart and I hope that you have a wonderful excellent uber epic holiday season! Happy Thanksgiving!

Elder Taylor "Charlie" J. Hill

Om nom nom. -- 13 November 2012

Well, my 12 weeks are up. Training is over. I'm going South. That's all I know.

I'm not sure how I feel about that. I've decided I really love Calgary South Zone, but I know the Lord will have me where He needs me, because I will go where He wants me to go.

This morning I was studying the importance of prayer. It's something I haven't been as good at as I should have been. I mean, I pray, it's just been tough to make them personal. Anyway, I've searched and will one day have to share with you what I've found. In the meantime, just check out this: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/prayer?lang=eng&letter=p

Elder C. and I have been getting along great! I found someone who loves LOTR more than me! (never saw that one coming) He's a great Daddy.

Oh, last week I messed up my left thumb on p-day. We went to the doctor (why on earth have I been messed up so much?) and Dr. Low says I tore something in my thumb and that I can't play sports for 4-6 weeks. >= | ask me how I feel about that. Gar.

We've been teaching the B's a lot and they've been progressing nicely. Brother B. set his own date and she's well on her way. They have a little girl named C. (9) who has a crush on Elder C. (hilarious).

M's are out of town.

S's are very close... unfortunately, I'm not going to teach them again, so there will be a lot of prayers on their behalf.

We've dropped 4 investigators this week.  It's kind of sad, but we believe that they'll make it someday.

It hit -17 C on Sunday. It was Cold. Really really cold.

Speaking of cold, my brain is just kinda *kaput* today. I don't know what to say. When in doubt, bear your testimony.

I have been very blessed by the Lord over the course of the past 3 and a half months. I know that He knows who I am. I know that by revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Master. He has chosen me to represent Him, "to stand in his place, to say and do what He Himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to the very people to whom He has sent me." I know that I am a Son of God and that through Him all things are possible. I love my Father. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and my Redeemer. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God who restored the original gospel and church back to the earth. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today and that he receives divine revelation on our behalf on a daily basis.

I love you all. Have a wonderful week. I still need pictures from all of you! I love you I love you I love you!

No Subject in Particular -- 5 November 2012

I think I love my mission. Maybe a little. Maybe a lot.

When you're on a mission, you get to experience a lot of things that testify that God loves His children.

Basically, we went by a couple of investigators who have really been struggling.  Background, they have been investigating the church off and on since 2004, have dropped their baptism dates 4 or 5 times the day before they have happened. Their names are almost a swear word at church--kinda like "Landon" used to be in my home. We mention their names in Ward Council and people roll their eyes and sigh, like, "We're really going to play this game again? Really? Why? They're not worth it."   Everyone is so tired of waiting for them, so they're ready to leave them behind.

What I want to share today is that Jesus Christ has a "No Man Left Behind" policy:

We knocked on their door inquiring as to why they hadn't been at church, and they kindly invited us into their home, and then asked that we would please share a message with them. We agreed, and talked about the Holy Ghost.  We asked them both a lot of questions about what had been going on, and why did they still let missionaries into their home? "Because when you come," Mike began, "our lives get better. That's what we want."

Elder Church :"Do you believe this church is true?"

Mike :"Yes, and I've set a date for myself to be baptized."

Stunned silence.

Mike's wife, Noelle: "What?"

Mike: "I know this is true. I want it. I need it. I'm sick of failing. I'm sick of not making it. I want to be happy. I know this is true, even if that means being baptized alone. I will be baptized, and I'm giving you two," motioning to the Elders, "permission to use the stick to get me there. Every day."

Challenge accepted.

Since that time, they have both stopped smoking, drinking coffee, and are even giving up TV (because they feel it's too big of a distraction). In the back of my mind, I understand that this may just be another "almost there" thing, but for heaven's sake, what is life with out hope? What is faith without hope? How will miracles happen without hope? If you don't believe that Jesus Christ can and will pick up the pieces of a broken life then how can He? 

Something that was once said while I was in the MTC is: "Don't ever be the Eeyore of missionary work." I want to extend that invitation to encompass everything. "Don't ever be the Eeyore of life." Don't allow yourself to lose hope. Don't ever think that God doesn't know you. Don't ever lose sight of the possibility that Jesus Christ can and will pick up the pieces, so long as you will only invite Him in to do so.  

The Lord has the power to do all things. Don't ever get so caught up in the negative that you lose sight of the possibility of what is so beautifully stated in Revelations 21:4

 " 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more ^adeath, neither ^bsorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more ^cpain: for the former things are passed away."

http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/mormon-messages?lang=eng&id=2009-09-36-the-power-of-hope#2009-09-36-the-power-of-hope

http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/mormon-messages?lang=eng&id=2009-09-34-finding-hope#2009-09-34-finding-hope

See what I'm saying?  Please don't forget Him. Please don't ever fall into the trap of believing that He's forgotten you.

I'm done.

Anyway, other than that, this week I was frustrated because our numbers have been rediculously down recently. So I woke up early and I made a chart so we can keep track of everything we need to do every day so we can reach our goals, which basically means nightly planning now takes 5 minutes and we overshot almost all of our goals this week. So, we set them higher and are going to keep rolling. The chart is affectionately known as the "Churchhill Chart."

If there is anything at all that I have learned thus far, it is that setting goals and keeping track of them will improve performance more quickly than anything else. The other thing I've tried to learn ("tried" being the operative word) is that serving others is the catalyst that causes exponential growth. I'm still no good at it, but I'm trying to forget myself. It's not always just that easy, but it should be, eh?

Elder Church pulled a giant (about 3 feet tall) "My Little Pony" stuffed pony out of the dumpster a few days ago. He named it "Carl" and it is so terrifying. Bright neon orange. Yuck.

Mike and Mary Schmidtz came to church and have been reading and praying daily.

The Messengers.... Elder Church is scared of going over, but I really REALLY feel we need to. Heavens.

Halloween.... woo. We were at the Chapel with the rest of the missionaries by 5 (to protect us... I guess) and I'm pretty sure I popped my left thumb out of its socket, it just doesn't feel broken, but I can't bend it all the way. Super frustrating.

The mission has a car accident every 3 or 4 days because nobody knows how to drive in snow. I think they need a driving course, because two Malibus had their suspension blown out completely this week. Oh! Two weeks ago, Elder Church and I awoke to a huge *BOOM*. We looked out our bedroom window and approximately 30 feet away was the remnants of a car that had lost control while speeding, hit the curb, and rolled at least a few times, hit a tree, broke the tree in half (not a small tree) then had hit another tree, where it had finally stopped. The tree was obliterated (how's that for a good word?). The car was toast. We called 911 and within moments (probably took less than 2 minutes) emergecy vehicles were outside. We were up all night. Kinda cool, still sucks, but hey.

Well, gotta jet. I love you all. Have a good week. Sorry for not being good at writing letters. Or emails for that matter.