Pictures 10-28-13

 

Exchanges with Elder Wilkensen, love this kid to death. super funny and an outstanding missionary

Little drainage ditch we pass on our walks that looked pretty cool.

 

Still got some life left in them though

 

my new source of transportation, that's right, a penny board (I wish)

Noah Broadhead sent me this, very inspiring words. " when things get tough just keep on rolln"

This is Cameron Grieter, soon to be elder Grieter. Leaves for his mission tomorrow. Hell be in there the same time as Cheslea

 

Our hike to the Adobes this morning.

10-28-13

Hey guys!!

Chelsea reports on Tuesday, that's crazy!! Mom you’re so right about how you can’t lean on others testimonies. You have to find out for yourself through faith, prayer, and experience. That’s something that I have learned firsthand since being out here. I thought my understanding and testimony were strong before I left, but my testimony and knowledge of this gospel has grown tenfold. It’s just awesome, I don't know if I say this a lot, but I'm so glad I chose to serve a mission.

Thank you for sending me some extra stuff and for being amazing and for all your support, hopefully I'll get it from the zone leaders today.

I got a brick from Nauvoo from Aunt Danna and Uncle Gerry. I keep it on my desk next to my favorite picture. I wish I could've been there with you guys! Tell them thanks for me!

 

Dad thanks for the video, I miss webelos!!

 

This week has been good. We’re starting to pick things back up slowly but surely. I was able to go to a baptism in my last area in Fallbrook. It was one of my old investigators, Jason, who has been investigating for about five years now. I was asked to be a witness. It was a very neat experience, he's been waiting for so long and it was a privilege to be a part of it. It was also fun to see everyone who I had grown to love and worked with in my first area. It was like a little family reunion.

 

 

We’ve also done a ton of service work, sanding and painting doors and picking up trash. And we’ve helped a bunch of people move. I love doing service. It always makes you feel good, and I get to use my painting skills from working with dad which is cool.

For p-day last week we played kickball with the entire zone, it was tight! So much fun. And I forgot to shave my mustache beforehand, jk it’s Elder Graves'

Contacting has been going better. Being a trainer really forces you out of your shell and to talk to everyone. He's looking up to me and is following my example and I don't want him to become a pile missionary, so I've really been stepping my game up with opening up my mouth. My ward mission leader gave a talk in sacrament a few weeks ago and he said some things that really stuck with me. He said that "if we don't open our mouths and try to invite people to hear what we have, than we are very well deciding for them whether or not they have the gospel in their lives" he also said when he was on his mission in Australia people would always ask him why he was out doing what he was doing, he would always tell them "a religion not worth sharing, is not worth having".

 We need never be afraid to share our beliefs with others. They chose to accept the gospel and to come here in the life before this one, we just have to remind them. Remember that.

One of the members of our ward, Brother Featherstone, always talks about his mission. His crazy stories, things he's learned, and scriptures. He still uses his mission scriptures and those things are marked and tabbed up and down. He's inspired me to do the same, I'm almost there. I got these scriptures at the distribution center at the temple, my other ones were falling apart.

 

Well guys I’ve got to get back to being a missionary. I love and miss you guys. A couple more weeks and I'll get to see all your beautiful faces!! I can’t wait!!

Stay true and look out for each other while Im gone, alright? Love you guys

 

-Elder Daniel

10-15-13

What is up my family!!!!

Walter, that’s awesome dude. Make'n that cash money!!

Hey Dad are you still working with Richard? Him and Donna Kay are planning on serving a mission right?

Mom, I just got back from the San Diego Temple, went to the distribution center and got a few things, so I should be good I think. But I could use a couple more pairs of pants and they changed the dress code so you can get me some that are blue or green or grey or something instead of black. I got the shoes, thank you so much, you’re a life saver mama. My other ones now have holes in them and the soles are falling out of the bottoms.  I'll send a picture of how great of a missionary I've been!

So we went to the temple today. It. was. Amazing!!!!!!!! I can’t describe in words how awesome it was! We went with another companionship, elders Anderson and Adams, and elder Anderson did a baptism for one of his investigators that had passed away, which was super cool. When we got there I was just expecting to do an endowment session, but we ended up doing a bunch of different ordinances. I ended up doing about ten confirmations, recording a baptism and the rest of the confirmations, doing an endowment session, and I got to sit in on a sealing. So I had a bunch of first experiences in the San Diego temple. I don’t think it gets any better than that. And the celestial room.. I think I could live the rest of my life in there and be happy, its like heaven. You guys have to go one day. Its seriously breath taking how beautiful it is in there. 

I went on exchanges with my district leader and his companion. I learned a ton with both of those guys. They showed me that it’s important to be serious about the work, but also have fun while you’re doing it. You have to enjoy the little time you have out here because two years really does go by very fast, I’ve already been out for 4 months and I feel like I just left. But there is a time and a place for everything. Also being excited about the things you teach is very key. Nobody is going to listen to you if you don’t show that you truly believe in that something.

We had a zone training meeting last week and President Kendrick gave us some counsel that really resonated in my heart. He told us that the world is losing the ability to empathize, understanding others feelings and hardships. That’s something that we need to bring back into a world that is growing ever darker. He also talked about the atonement that helped me understand it more than I ever have. He told us "think of the most innocent person you know" I thought of Anthony. he then said " now imagine that person being flogged, carrying a wooden cross on his back, being beaten, tortured, and spit upon, having nails driven through his hands, and suffering so much pain it's unimaginable, all because of the things you’ve done wrong in this life, and more importantly, all because that person loves you." The image that formed in my mind was almost unbearable. He gave another example. He said “imagine you run over a child in your car, involuntary man slaughter, and you go to court. You can easily be sentenced up to 25 years, but the judge volunteers to take your place and do the time for you, because he loves you." Think about that for a second. There is nothing more powerful, more majestic or wonderful, than the love of our savior and what he did for us. We can always turn to him when we are in need. If we need help or healing, because he has paid the price for us and he loves us and he wants us to come back to him. I'm filled with joy that I have the privilege to share this with others.

 I remember being in sacrament meeting one Sunday back when we were in Madison 2nd ward and Bishop Zitting asked me to bare my testimony on the spot, out of nowhere. I was obviously terrified, and that’s one of the main reasons I remember it. haha. But I remember saying “I know that missionary work is an honor and a privilege." At the time I had no idea what I meant when I said that. I think I just said it because everyone else said it. Since coming out on my mission I truly understand now what that statement meant. No matter whom you are, you only get to be a full time missionary like this once and devote all your time and effort to serve the Lord. This is the Lord's work, and I am so happy I decided to serve and be a part of it. And what a wonderful time it is to be a missionary. 

You guys. Ya’ll.

I want you to know that I love ya so much Seriously. I pray for each of you every day

Stay true, and watch out for each other while I'm gone, okay?

-Elder Daniel

 

This is Jerry, he's in his 70s but says he still feels like a kid. He is the most outgoing, funny, friendly guy you will probably ever meet. He is a ward missionary in my last area, Fallbrook, and assisted us with appointments almost every week. He's convert of about 40 years. Before every missionary leaves the area he shines their shoes and gives them 20 bucks. He says he does that so he can stay humble.

 This man has inspired me to be more like my savior and to be a friend to everybody, no matter what.

 I'm gonna miss this guy.

 

Fallbrook pictures 9-23-13

 The pictures are of the amazing and loving people from my first area on my mission Fallbrook California. I appreciate each and everyone of them for their love and great examples. Thank you!