Saturday, December 31, 2016

Off-roading = Flat tire



This week has been amazing!Displaying image2.JPG
A great way to start of the week was to have a temple Conference with my fellow missionaries that I serve around and with! I love them Temple so much! I felt much peace and love there! Even outside while we were walking to and from it. We were also able to see a slide show of all the baptisms that happened this year. It was a " White Christmas "!

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We also were able to hear from President and Sister Jardine- they shared a lot of words of wisdom and their testimonies. I love them so much! We heard form two missionaries about building and strengthening their relationships with Jesus Christ. One of them was a sister that I used to serve with and she is such an amazing sister! Then we had lunch and I got to see a member of one of the old wards that I used to serve in. He was making a memory picture, video scrapbook for the Jardines and so he interviewed me to share something for them. 

Displaying image4.JPGDisplaying image1.JPGIt was cool because he also interviewed my companion and my former companion when I did serve there. It was so great to see all, the missionaries and see how they are doing!  Through out the week was busy! We were running around to members, investigators and such. We had to release one of our investigators because she wasn't wanted to get it. It was so sad because we laid everything out and we provided guidance but she didn't want to take it. I guess you can lead a horse to water but can make it drink it.

On Friday we got to meet up with the Folsom missionaries and the senior missionaries to get our presents. President came in with a hat that sings a moves, Sister Jardine wore reindeer antlers, APs wore elf hats. They sure do know how to make us laugh. Sister Jardine, shared a few words and President Jardine share this story of shined shoes. I loved it but I don't have enough time type it up... sorry it was really good. Shout out to all those you sent me cards and presents, and wishes for a Merry Christmas! I am so thankful and feel very blessed! Love ya'll tons!    


On Christmas Eve we were able to eat dinner with the Krugers, who are from Norway and Denmark.   So we had a dishes from their county. Love them so much! 

Image result for pete's dragonWe also were able to watch a movie that 
President and Sister Jardine picked out. 
It was Pete's Dragon!! It was really good !  
We read a letter from President and sister Jardine too. 
I loved how no matter what -- our faith in our Heavenly Father is strong and we will do anything to help him and anything at all. 
Just like Pete and Elliot.  
hat friendship he built with Elliot could not be broken, 
just like my relationship with my savior, Jesus Christ and my Heavenly Father!  


To top off the week we had a great Sunday service 
but I also got to skype my family!
I love them soooooo much! 
They all have grown up so much and 
look so different! They have helped me out a ton and I am so grateful that I had an opportunity to see and talk with them. It was fun to sing the Hyde family song with them. 

("We are the Hyde family  -- we are the Hyde family and we like to party ... we like to party.   Party hardy... allllll night long.  To the left ... to the left... to the left right ... get on down and stop and beat your face... Hyde family is gonna rock this place.  Boom! Check us out.  Check us out.  BOOM   BOOM CHECK US OUT!") --It is an adaptation to a military cadence



My cousin Preston was there too, that was fun! He was talking to my cousins and uncle and it was cool to see them! I love my family! 

After that we went out to work and share messages about our Savior's birth! 




Some members had this fun game and we started to play it.... 
My brain froze every time he asked a question like the very first one I totally blanked! 







We went to dinner at the Oldfeilds'  -- 
Brother Oldfeild helped us out by pumping  up our tire --  which was super low. 
It probably was because, we'd earlier, went off-roading get to this one members house. That was tons of fun.  
But it kindof kicked us in the rear ends because today, after grocery shopping, when 

we came out of the parking lot we looked at our tire and it was completely flat! 
We jacked it up and then this nice Jehovah Witness took care of the rest. 







We then went the back roads to this one tire place. When we go there it was closed...... what a fun day!

We made it back to the meeting -- and played a zone sports and reverse charades with the Zone! It was so much fun!

Hurrah for Israel!








Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Day by Day...

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Merry "early" Christmas! 

This week was amazing! 
Fun! 
And nice! 


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So we ended Pday last week with a bang! We are dinner 

with our Ward mission leader and their family is awesome! After we ate dinner there we meet up with most of the Ward missionaries and corralled to some of the members of the church. We sang " we wish you a merry KISSmas and a happy ROOTBEER. Then we handed them a big bag of Hersey kisses and a big pop bottle of root beer! It was fun to get to know the Ward missionaries and see the happiness on the members faces.

On Wednesday we made invitations to the Ward Christmas party for our investigators and such. They turned out cute. 

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We then went to go find more people and 

let me tell you
 the way to get to some of these house is  kinda scary  -- diving up the cliff 
but then you look out the window and 
you see hills and green and 
beautiful natural landscape.  
It has been foggy the last couple of days
and it looks like Scotland!image3.JPG

Anyway we happened to knock on Melanie's door and she invites us in and about 10 minutes into the discussion she starts crying and letting all her problems go. All she wants is peace  in her life and she doesn't know how to find it. Seeing her in such confusion made me feel two things: of course sadness for her but relief to me in my life that I know where I am going, knowing that I can repent through my Saviors sacrifice has brought me tons of peace. We shared a few scriptures and she felt comforted and accepted to meet with us again in a few day! I was so excited! 

image1.JPGLater we met with the zone leaders to see what we can do to help each missionary in the zone. Then we had a transfer dinner helped by the stake. This stake is so gung ho about missionary work. I love knowing that the more missionary minded members there are the more work progresses! They even have a intense, spiritual bible class going to happen so our former investigators that we can release can still learn, less actives and so on.... it is amazing. I wish I could go. We got to have a little class and I learned so much! It was simple teachings and the Spirit was so strong! 

We met with Melanie again and this time she brought her boyfriend. 
All was going well a member even came with us and bore her testimony and then Melanie said "oh! Matt, is of different faith and he said ... instead of what you said" 
They were a little mean about it and kept asking questions about differences and trying to make us get fumbled in our words and such.
 So Sister Davis and I bore our testimonies invited them to read the Book of Mormon 
and to follow Moroni's promise at the end. And a chapter in the Bible. 
We have a lesson on Wednesday. So pray for that one. 

We had a few lessons with members asking for referrals and 
helping them in the Light the World initiative! 
I love all these daily things that we have to do. 
We shared about how our gift that we can give to our Savior 
is helping the light of the world grow ... 
that sometimes we can be like the wise men and 
bear gifts to others 
but sometimes we can also be like the shepherds giving only their praises to him. 
That struck me because when I feel that I am doing not enough 
I think again and remember that is also the small things that count. 
Like saying hi or thank you, smiling, doing the dishes for those we love, 
actually sharing the gospel -- give away Books of Mormon, etc.. 
I love how is Christmas all he have been ask to give us to act like our Savior! 


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On Friday was district meeting and it was really cool!We went over more on the simplified planning guidelines and a lot of role plays  ---- which are bomb! 

The building we have them in is in old Placerville and it is so cute! 

It is getting pretty cold up here.

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Anyway, that night was the best 
because Chris got baptized. 
Everything ran really smoothly. 
I am really excited to teach him 
the new member lessons. 
He is awesome! 
He even bore his testimony at his baptism 
and it was really nice. 

Saturday night he got in a car accident in Southern California and couldn't make it to his confirmation at church in Sunday!  It was sad because he texted us while we were at the Ward Christmas party with his nonmember family. We even had to tell them.   The rest of the night we were trying to see who could go down and help help out with the kids and with Chris... good thing President and Sister Jardine was there ( there was another baptism happening! ) because Bishop said that Chris couldn't get confirmed on Christmas Sunday so probably Jan. 1
Not ok! So we are crossing our fingers that Chris is ok and everything works out! 




We also did service serving elders people a Christmas meal for four hours!
It was so nice to see them happy and full tummies!  Some families came too! 
I served the gravy and then I served the stuffing, green beans, sweet potatoes. 
We went through a lot of food! At the beginning we smelled something funny and gross. We kept serving the food but something was wrong 
so we told one of the in charge ladies she looked at the turkey meet and her eyes go big. 
The meat was spoiled and we already fed at least a their of it to the people. 
So we just hoped and prayed that no one got sick. 
Some of the leaders ate it before we found out 
so since that day we have been asking them if they felt sick at all. 
They keep saying yes so cross your fingers! 


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Then this morning we helped the zone leaders wrap 70 Books of Mormon! It took us two hours. Hey had e missionaries write their testimonies about the Book of Mormon and glue it on the back of the front cover. It turned out so nice so now 7 sets of missionaries have ten Books of Mormon to hand out this week! 



We have temple Conference tomorrow and I am so excited!  

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Jesus + Others +Yourself = JOY

This week was an eventful one! 
I loved it!

On Pday,  we had a Zone activity.  We played volleyball with most of the zone! It was tons of fun! Sister McDonald played with one arm and was doing really good.  At least I thought she was until she punched the ball in my face on accident. It was one of the funniest things ever! 
My face felt like it just came out of the dentist office and 
they gave me too much numb medicine. 
Hahhaha. 
Although, my head felt awful for the rest of the day and the next day. 

Later the evening, we went to go to YSA Family Home Evening and there we received a miracle! Almost two months ago we met this awesome guy Carlos! Then something happened and he stopped meeting with us. It was really sad, but the miracle came from the Northridge sisters telling us that he wants to meet with us --  we read and shared the whole restoration lesson. AND he wants to be BAPTIZED!!!!!!! 
It was such an awesome  miracle! 


On Wednesday one of my old companions Sister Erickson came to visit us sisters for a short while! It was nice to see her and see how she is doing! We went to Cafe Rio and it was pretty good with her and man! Miss her tons! We had a good time then went to go find some more people! Love finding! Not a lot of people opened their doors but the people on the sidewalk. 


We had an amazing district meeting. So for our zone training that we gave two weeks ago we talked about joy being in every aspect in our lives and the different ways we can be joyous. Elder Calvert broke it down even more! It was awesome. Those times we we felt happy and so on. We felt those moments when we first focused our thoughts and actions on Christ! And at is so true! 
I felt joy before my mission but I have recognized at I have felt more joy on a consistent basis here on my mission. Just trying do what he has done 24/7 has really blessed me. Then we see that we feel joy of the happiness of others. We thought about those joyous times we saw our investigators progress and learn more in the Gospel. 
Then it comes to ourselves. 
When someone has done something for us and when we just feel happy! 
And with all that we become humble to feel that joy! 

Jesus + Others +Yourself  = JOY  

Later that night we had a lesson with Carlos! We had a really good How to Begin Teaching lesson and also about reading the scriptures, prayer and desire to be baptized! He excepted the invitation to be baptized! The lesson was amazing. He is reading the Book of Mormon and loves it! That was one Joy moment right there !


Friday we became a trio because Sister McDonald's companion finished her mission so she came with us and it was awesome! 
We went to the Sacramento live nativity -- Right by the temple -- with Sister McDonald's investigators! They loved it and I did too! I loved when they read something from President Monson's talk about let us become like the sheperds and the wise men -- coming to praise our savior everyday  -- especially this Christmas season! 

We went to a baptism and Carlos was able to come! 
He loved it and was able to relate himself to Larry who was the one who was baptized! We had a lesson after the baptism where some members were able to join us! We shared what he needed to hear at that moment! 

Saturday night I got my transfer call! 
I am going to the Rescue Ward in El Dorado Stake 
and my companion will be Sister Davis! I am sooo excited. 

So, Sunday, I said my goodbyes to everyone. One of the best things that happened that day would be that when we went to the Northridge Ward.   One of the investigators who was there, turned out to be a guy named Bill. Bill was the same guy Sister McDonald and I met in the pouring rain one day on exchanges. When we spoke with him, he told me about the day we met him -- He said he had intended to end his life that day -- but decided not to when we were talking to him.  When Sister McDonald said that God loves him -- At that moment his heart softened.  Now he is going to church and taking the missionary lessons. We had a lesson with him Sunday and he has changed so much. He said that he didn't want to talk to us that day and was going to blow us off but 
he is glad he didn't because now he is so happy! 
I broke in tears knowing that God placed him in that moment in his life for us to be there and have the Holy Ghost touch his heart! 

I know this was a long email, but I am so happy -- 
all the miracles and 
changes that this week has brought! 

Have a joyous week! 






Oh .....
and we saw Santa!

Can't Hardly Even Begin ...

...to tell you how happy I am.

This week has been super busy and awesome!   

We had MLC Tuesday and it was amazing!  We talked about how to use our simplified planning guidelines more and it was so good!! After learning about simplifying -- we went into setting our goals for December. President Jardine, switched the idea of setting goals to setting a standard of excellence. I love this new way!  We all have to try our best in our companionship goals to help the whole mission!  They talked about my favorite word --  JOY. I have been learning about joy so much and it can come in any aspect of our lives and in missionary work!

Sister Munk and I had a exchange with the Eastern Ave and Ashton Park sisters! Sister Turner came here with me and we had the an awesome time. She is so bubbly and a great missionary! Learned tons form her.  We went to go teach Ron about preparing during the week for sacrament meeting. We had things planned and such but really we just went by the Spirit! And it was the bomb! The spirit was so strong and he got it. It was nice to see him at church.

We also went on team ups with the Northridge sisters. I went with Sister McDonald to their appt. We taught this amazing women about the commandments and enduring to the end. I love sister McDonald so much ... she awesome is smiling and laughing. She makes everyone feel good.



We had zone training and after preparation it was awesome! We trained on joy, and simplified planning guidelines. We did some awesome role plays for it and ... it went awesome! 



We got to hear Sister Kirby bear her final testimony before she leaves for home.
 She was a amazing missionary and an amazing person!


After working with Samantha we had nothing! No one wanted to listen, 
biking wasn't getting us any where and a bunch of other stuff. 



So... we had a blitz with our zone and found Tom! 
He is ready to build his relationship with God! 
We made an appt with him Wednesday! 
Can't wait! 

Then the elders found us a solid potential! 

The next day we decided to call some of our "formers" in our area book and ..... Robin answered, we explained who we are, and she oh good, I was really thinking about be baptized and continuing my path towards god. She made an appt with on today at six! Pray that it will go well and that the spirit will be soooooo strong!







Christmas finally came around our house! 
We put lights in our bedroom and in our study room! 
A member gave us a little Christmas tree so one day at lunch hour we put it together! 
I love Christmas!

We started the 25 ways over 25 days AND OH.... 
I love it so much! 
It is amazing to have the opportunity to be constantly thinking about our Savior 
when you are seeking for opportunities to serve people in more of a specific way that day!
I also loved the Christmas devotional!
What a wonderful time of the year to be joyful and and celebrate our Savior's birth! 
I love 2 Nephi 18:6. It reminds me of the Handle's Messiah. He truly is wonderful, wonderful to me!


Transfer calls is this Saturday! 
Sister Munk and I already know what most likely will happen but we will see Saturday!
 That means Pday is next Tuesday! Change comes and goes very quickly.