February 21, 2022

What's up my guys! This week was one to remember for sure, we had a wonderful week! In fact, we led the whole mission in finding new people!!!! We found 8 new people this week and we also put someone on date to be baptized. Her name is Tumekia and she is amazing, she is the definition of elect! This was our second lesson with her so we taught her the restoration of the church and she absolutely loved the fact that we have the priesthood in our church. Then we introduced the Book of Mormon to her and again she absolutely loved it. In her own words..."I like this more than the Bible because you get a better understanding of Jesus Christ." She also said that she hasn't been baptized ever and when she was growing up, she had always dreamed of being baptized. We were so happy and excited with her responses. We were able to put her on date to be baptized the 19th of March. The most incredible thing is that this gospel is going to change her life forever! I know that her decision to be baptized will give her peace and allow her to draw closer to Jesus Christ.

This week in my studies, I have been reading in Alma, specifically chapters 50 through 56. In these chapters, the Laminates and the Nephites are at war.  The Nephites are fighting for peace and for their families where as the Lamanites are just fighting to gain power over the Nephites. In these chapters, the Nephites are lead by Moroni and Moroni is a man of God. It says in Alma 48:17 "Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men." That is such a powerful scripture!  

I know that because the Nephites and Moroni were righteous and thtt they held firm to the commandments, they were able to win many of their battles because righteousness was on their side. I know that as we put forth effort in following the teachings of Christ, our burdens will become more light and God will bless us in our own lives. 

 February 14, 2022

What is up you guys! 

Sorry, I have really been slacking on emails recently. This past week has been a really good one! But unfortunately, in the past few weeks, we have had to drop a lot of our people we were teaching because they were not progressing. But this week we found 4 new people who are super solid. We are really happy about this, it is a blessing in disguise for sure. Also this week, I think we had at least one lesson a day, which is very different then what it was like in Lenoir.  Meeting with our new people is exciting and lessons are coming easy for me.  It is like bearing my testimony and I know just what to say. It is kind of amazing to realize how much someone can progress while out on a mission.  So MANY blessings have come my way.  Before I started my mission, I think I could bear my testimony for maybe like 3 minutes and I didn't know a whole lot about the gospel then. But as I have put myself in these situations, I have been able to grow in many ways. 

Lately, I have been thinking about how much potential everyone has! Everyone can progress in their own way. That has brought me a lot of peace these past few days to know that no matter where you are in life, there is a lot more room for you to grow. Now that can be humbling and can also bring so much hope in one's life.

1. Cool dunk

2. No caption needed

3. Me jus messing around

4. Me and the fountain 

 January 31, 2022

Hello there! 

This week has been good! It has also had its lows. This week I had to say goodbye to all my friends in Lenoir:( saying goodbye to the ward members and people I have taught was not the hardest part. The hardest part was saying goodbye to the other missionaries. It was so hard saying goodbye to the OGs that where in the Hickory Zone. But the very hardest goodbye far was saying goodbye to Elder Frogley. That kid right there is someone that I will be friends with my whole life! I know that he was placed in my life for a reason. For the past 5 months, we have developed a friendship that can't ever be broken EVER. I love that kid! He made me laugh, even when he would throw things at me Hahaha. Man, I am going to miss him. 

On Thursday, we had transfers and I was transferred to the beloved place of Rock Hill (where I started my mission). Over the past few days before being transferred, I was so nervous to leave and go back to the place that I once dreaded. When I found out I was going back, my heart started pounding because I was so nervous. But now I'm here, I can already see the change. When I first started my mission back in August 2021, I hated Rock Hill.  I came out during Covid and I was homesick, depressed, and had anxiety about everything. For the whole 3-4 months I was out, I could not get the thought out of my head of wanting to go home. Then I had a basketball injury and I ended up going home. I was so happy to go home and see my mom. But I was more happy to go home and get comfortable with the world again. (I was home for 8 months) in this 8 months I was struggling on whether to come back out or not. But also in this 8 months, I had a great time and I would even say I grew closer to the Gospel. Not as close as I would on a mission but still close. I met some wonderful people and got to know people a little better. Now that I am back out, I have absolutely loved it. I am so grateful and happy I made that decision.  It has affected my life forever. Anyways, I know without a doubt that I was sent back here to Rock Hill for a reason and that reason is so God can show me that I can do hard things... that we all can do hard things. We go through hard things to grow and progress. I love this Gospel. I love the key lessons that it has taught me. I love gaining a better testimony of Jesus Christ. But most importantly I love helping and getting to know people. I am so grateful to be back out here serving the Lord and seeing the blessings come. I love you guys. Thank you for supporting me:)

1. Elder Robinson and I

2. Very old lawn mower that I know my dad will think is cool

3. Luckily there is life after death

4. My hand after dunking today

5. Full bike area 

6. Last day with Elder Frogley:(