Sheet Rock Service

I got to do some service the other day where we helped this guy put up sheet rock in a house he is trying to finish before winter. He and his wife are new investigators. It was really fun because it felt like I was at home working with dad doing re-models. Elder Vogelsang, before he came out did a lot of sheet rock and mudding so he mudded.

Well everything is going pretty well here. I can't believe that this could be my last week in Carthage or I could stay here and be the person that has to "know" the area. That would be really scary cuz I still feel so new and unsure about a lot of stuff. I will let you know next week what happens. Well this week was really fun, we did a lot of service, taught a few less lessons (23 last week) but some of the lessons were really great. Craig Bukowski, the person I baptized a week ago has been so great. He always likes going with us to teach other people. He says that's the way he learns the most. Plus it's great to have his new member zeal and testimony because he can relate with people in ways we can't.

Craig Bukowski Gets Baptized at 3 Month Mark

Well, it is yet again another preparation day and only three days away from my 3 month mark, not that anyone is counting, ha. I'm not counting the days till I come home, I am counting the days that I have been out here in the humid, beautiful, green, up state Carthage Village!!! It really is pretty cool here. We taught 30 lessons last week so that was good. Found 3 new investigators. I hope they will stay solid. You could say the coolest thing of all was we had a baptism Saturday the 13th and it was my privilege to perform it. His name is Craig Bukowski. He is a single soldier from Fort Drum. He had been taught by a lot of missionaries during the past six years but I guess he was just ready now. All we basically had to do was show him he had a testimony. He didn't think he had one, but after we had talked about some of the stories he shared with us (like how he would sneak over to his friends house a long time ago so he could go to church and have family home evening because his mom would get mad if he ever associated with the church... sad but true; and how he quit smoking; etc.) he realized that he did. We reminded him that he did all that stuff because he knew it was the right thing to do and that the church was true. He got all excited that he finally realized he had a testimony and just wanted to get baptized.

Izak and His Sister "Moms"

Strong Families Build Stripling Warriors

No, I don't get to distracted out here. Me and my comp work really hard and have got a lot of good stuff accomplished lately. Mostly though we are just blessed with stuff falling into our laps at the end of the day when we have worked hard. Like yesterday, there is this kid who had a baptismal date but was gone doing stuff for the army for the past month and we couldn't talk to him the entire time but we thought we were going to be able to so we were getting worried. Then he just randomly showed up at church without telling us and we were like, wow! When did you get back and why didn't you tell us, ha ha. We talked with him after church and taught him a lesson. At first he was like "let's put off my date cuz I have not been here for a while." Then we busted him up with the Spirit by letting him know that he has a testimony (he didn't think he had one) and then he was all pumped about it and was like "let's do it this weekend." We were so happy! It was great! But ya just stuff like that and finding new investigators at the end of the week when we are below the standards of excellence. The Lord will bless you with so many blessings when you are obedient... it's crazy! He really is just waiting for us to chose the right so he can bless us.

This is something i wanted to relate to mom and to the whole family because all the rest of you sisters are basically my mom at one point or another. But it's in Alma 56 where it talks about the 2000 stripling warriors and how they had such great faith in the Lord because their mothers had taught them so well. I was reading my patriarchal blessing and was really enjoying like I always do but I was getting really nervous because of the things it told me would happen later in my life if I am righteous. Then I remembered that scripture Alma 56:47-48 and I know that the Lord with bless me. So all I have to do now is keep being good and everything will work out. Basically what I'm saying is thanks mom and sisters, and of course dad for always helping me to build my faith. You guys are great and I love you all so much.

Book of Mormon Wave Experience

I had a really cool experience the other day. I started out my day with like five prayers. That's usually normal. Anyways, I try and pray every morning that we will be able to find new solid investigators. Well... we were walking to an appointment when we passed this drug store on the corner and I saw this guy in his car and I just waved at him with the Book of Mormon, gave him a nod and kept going. After our appointment which was just down the street, as we were leaving this guy yelled at us and called us over. I was like "you look familiar, have I seen you before?" It was the guy I had waved at. He was like "yeah, you waved at me and God told me talk to you guys but I didn't so I felt bad and I came over here and waited till you were done talking to that lady." We ended up teaching him two lessons on the curb right there. He was really excited about the Book of Mormon and said he would read it. Sad part is he doesn't live in our area so we had to call the other elders in Watertown and give him to them. We will try and see what turns out with him.