Green in Greene

 

Country Living in Greene

I'm now in GREENE with Elder Westra who is from West Jordon. He is a good guy. We live in the basement apartment of the branch president's house. President Brigmond is retired military. He tells the funniest stories. We have our own washer and drier so that's nice but there is no where that's good to shop in Greene. It's expensive and small. So sometimes we get rides down to Wal-Mart in Binghamton. Another good note about Greene is that the library computers here are cool, they let me look at all my pictures. this area is the most country I have seen on my mission. There are lots of farms and everything's rolling green hills. It's really pretty compared to my last area.

Working the Streets of Glenville

 

Teaching by the Spirit is Great

This last week was not high in numbers but we found a new investigator and he is really cool. He is the son of a less active member who has not been to church in like 40 years. He was raised Catholic by his dad but is really open to everything. He had been gone for school the whole time I have been here so I had only met him once when he was back on a weekend. But school is over now and he has moved back in with his parents. He is 27 and just graduated with a masters in phys-ed. Anyways to the good stuff... we went back on Thursday for our appointment with him and taught him the plan of salvation but first answered some of his questions...like why do we believe in god? It was really fun because Elder Taylor answered, then we taught him the plan of salvation mixed with temples, and then I bore testimony to him of why I believe in God and it's because of this plan which includes coming to earth in a family. It was probably the most scriptural/testimony based plan of salvation I have ever taught! Now I don't know if he is going to be baptized or anything but I loved teaching that lesson. We gave him a Book of Mormon after and a few assignments. He was all for it. I'm excited to go back.

Thumbs Up for a Successful First Year!

 

HIGHLIGHTS of the 1 YEAR MARK

Elder Taylor and I had a party by ourselves last night celebrating our year mark and our time together in Glenville because we both got transferred out. The area is becoming a zone leader area and so we both got the boot. We got a gift box of goodies for a party with festive silly string, balloons, and poppers...it was really fun.

So Elder Taylor and I went around yesterday teaching and saying goodbye to people. One of the houses we stopped at was a partially active member. She has bad depression so we always go over to cheer her up. As we were standing in her doorway I had the impression we should sing her some hymns. So I said I would be right back. I went to the car and got my little hymn book. I came back and asked her if we could go outside to sit on the bench in the shade. At first she was not for the idea as she does not like to leave her house. She finally decided it would be good to get some fresh air and so we went out. Elder Taylor and I chose a hymn (hymn 26 but with to the melody of "Come Though Fount of Every Blessing") and then we sang one of her favorites, "A Poor Way Fairing Man of Grief", and then we sang Elder Taylor's favorite, "Lead Kindly Light". By the time we left there was a smile on her face...she was beaming. I had only sung a hymn to someone once before on my mission. That was only the second time. I loved being able to brighten her day with a hymn. That was the highlight of my day.

MISSIONARY MODELS

 

Inside Out

Our mission president has really focused us on repenting and purifying our lives. I really think I have gained a new "knowledge" of the real sincerity of repentance and of purifying ourselves. I think it is a lot easier to change our outside appearance then our inside. But we have to recognize the difference there or we will fail in life. We have to be able to conquer the natural man. Personally I don't think I could do it alone. There are too many of my weaknesses but through our Savior and sincerity we can over come the natural man and change our desires and inner selves. The end of Alma 32 gives some good details how to do this.

Thanks for all your love and support, Izak

Ball with the Boys

 

More B Ball

 

B Ball with Louw and Taylor

 

Fun & Flab

We went to a stake picnic. There was about 10 other missionaries there, too bad our zone leaders are lame and didn't tell us we could dress down. Elder Taylor and I were the only missionaries dressed in a white shirt and tie. But it's OK, we still got into the games that were going on. I mostly just played soft ball and it was pretty fun. Then later we went and played some basketball with some boys at the church. I'm so dang sore today, every muscle in my body is hurting. Being a missionary really gets you out of shape.

YIKES! I see fish!

 

April Fool's Fish

Thanks for the April Fool's Joke... A sister in the ward bought live goldfish and delivered them to Elder Taylor. He put the fish in the kitchen sink before going to bed. By morning when Elder Louw went into the kitchen, the water had drained out of the sink and all the little dead fish were laying around. Not exactly the way we had planned it! It would have been great to have had it executed perfectly, but maybe this will end up being a funny story to tell...at least another version of the family tradition.

Happy at Church!

 

Coming to church is SOOOOO Important!!!!!!!

Our investigators are still progressing but not really coming to church. One investigator already sat in his house for 14 weeks because of surgery, then broke his leg(due to complications) and now has to sit in his house for another 4 weeks. I feel way bad for him. We gave him a blessing and I think he is starting to see the light. We have been making some head way with some less actives we have recently met. It's been really fun too cuz there is this guy who we just met and he is a returned missionary but now works as a flight attendant and just doesn't really come any more cuz he gets busy. Ya ya, poor excuse I know but we are working with him now and he has the best stories.

picnic anyone?

 

Back to Work

 

I am staying with Elder Taylor for another 6 weeks. I'm really excited about that. The work is slowing down a little in the teaching pool department. We only have 6-8 right now and still nobody with a baptismal date but the Lord is still blessing us all over. What I have learned is that you just have to be working hard and being obedient (as much as possible) so that when the Lord decides to bless you for your efforts you will be ready to receive the blessings. Like Sunday and Monday for example. Sunday every thing we planned but church fell through. We couldn't find anyone to teach. It was just a terrible day but I kept my chin up, stayed optimistic, and planned for Monday. Monday rolled around and we had a killer day because we were ready and working hard. We taught four lessons, had one of our investigators come to church to watch a movie, and he even brought his daughter along. Hopefully we can get her into Young Woman's soon so that she can tag along at camp.