Just Want To Call Home Now (from December 18)
here is the pres letter
Dear President Jergensen
Happy Holidays! This has been just an incredible week. I loved my time with Elder Harris and I'm just completely humbled to be serving as a trainer for Elder Ashworth. He is a fantastic Elder that definantly came to serve and teach. William has been interviewed and found worthy for baptism and will be having that ordinance performed in the next couple of weeks in Tacoma Washington.
We have taught a man by the name of Arze and he is loving the gospel message that we have been giving him. He is an older gentleman who is from Panama and definantly feels the special spirit that the Book of Mormon has to offer. We met with him twice and I was able to fumble through the lesson the best I could from the spanish that I know and was able to read with him. He has accepted the invitation to be baptized, but due to the lack of language wasn't able to set a date. We will meet with him tonight.
The first night that Elder Ashworth and I were here we were out tracting and weren't having much success. Elder Ashworth had the impression to have a prayer right before going in and then a garage opened up and we met a man named Jeff. We were talking with him and his wife, Julie, and had a nice brief lesson on the driveway. They are definantly a blessing and last night we got in and had a wonderful lesson on the Restoration. We invited Jeff, Julie, Brett and Brook to be baptized once they knew it was true and they said that they would. I'm super excited to continue to meet with them and have them come to church on January 1st.
I love it here in Bloomington and definantly think that this is the greatest area in the mission. The ward is so kind to us and is willing to help. We just need to get some more referrals from them ha. This district sure has great potential.
Quick question... We have had several lessons with our friends from India and are struggling to establish much common ground. Some seem to have more of a Christian background but don't want to commit to anything. How can we better our efforts with the non-christian people of Bloomington?
The weather is cold but the gospel is true out here.
We have taught a man by the name of Arze and he is loving the gospel message that we have been giving him. He is an older gentleman who is from Panama and definantly feels the special spirit that the Book of Mormon has to offer. We met with him twice and I was able to fumble through the lesson the best I could from the spanish that I know and was able to read with him. He has accepted the invitation to be baptized, but due to the lack of language wasn't able to set a date. We will meet with him tonight.
The first night that Elder Ashworth and I were here we were out tracting and weren't having much success. Elder Ashworth had the impression to have a prayer right before going in and then a garage opened up and we met a man named Jeff. We were talking with him and his wife, Julie, and had a nice brief lesson on the driveway. They are definantly a blessing and last night we got in and had a wonderful lesson on the Restoration. We invited Jeff, Julie, Brett and Brook to be baptized once they knew it was true and they said that they would. I'm super excited to continue to meet with them and have them come to church on January 1st.
I love it here in Bloomington and definantly think that this is the greatest area in the mission. The ward is so kind to us and is willing to help. We just need to get some more referrals from them ha. This district sure has great potential.
Quick question... We have had several lessons with our friends from India and are struggling to establish much common ground. Some seem to have more of a Christian background but don't want to commit to anything. How can we better our efforts with the non-christian people of Bloomington?
The weather is cold but the gospel is true out here.
Elder Gonzalez
(Moving Day...from January 9, 2012)
Life is good..... yup
So here's the thing we are basically doing way more already with the 4 days I have been with Elder Ashworth then when I was with Elder Harris. We have like 6 progressing right now and are going to do all we can to have them enter into the covenant of Baptism.... What do you call a Mexican Baptism???? Bean Dip hahahaha yea it's going to happen.
So i hear that the Utah area is in a gray and depressing state. Not far from the truth here. All the sticks are leafless and life is at a hault. The work goes on though and I reallly wish I didn't have to type all this stuff. Yea know there is this voice recognition software that would make this whole email thing alot better.
To answer some of those questions.. I did buy a gps from Elder Craven and I'm grateful for grandma for that cuz I know it didn't come from the old man ha ha. I now know where i"m going and it is so nice because.... I'm a dad and I'm with Elder Ashworth from Vegas. He is a great Elder and has a strong desire to " baptize the mission" we'll see about that (kids these days). So MOM how is the calling and the little kids? We had to present a little lesson to the primary not long back and it was fun. \
once again I don't know how Tony does it but i just can't type that fast and am out of time so I love you all and will try to type more next week and so on. Talk to ya later haha literally sunday pick up
SO my computer is way slow today and the typing that I do is delayed so I'm constantly having to go back and change it.
heres the presidents email
Dear President Jergensen
What a great Christmas week and what a wonderful area. I absolutly love it here in Bloomington Illinois. Elder Ashworth and I are once again out and about teaching a letting the people in out neighborhoods know that this church is true. Christmas day was a wonderful experience and it was a blessing to have been able to talk with my family and let them know my testimony and how I have changed for the better.
We were not able to meet with Jeff and Julie again. They sent us a reply text back on Tuesday and let us know that they are no longer interested in the church. It was tough to take and especially hard for Elder Ashworth because they were his first investigators. We had a prayer right after that and we did feel a little down and wondering what we did wrong and felt like it was a great learning experience for both of us.
We have not been able to make contact with Arze this past week. He is not very fluent in Spanish but we will drop by and try to catch him this week.
While in the area where Arze lives we found a man by the name of Scott and gave him a pass along card. The next day he called in the number and we dropped him a Book of Mormon and had the first lesson with him. I tried to get Elder Ashworth to invite him to be baptized but I ended up doing it myself. He is very solid, but due to his work schedule he will be busy this next week and we may not get a chance to meet with him.
Last night we met with a man named Jim and he has had contact with the missionaries in Argentina a couple of years ago and let us on in. We got to talking about his life and he said that had a close friend pass away while he was there and we told him that he will be able to see that friend again and it made a real difference in the lesson. We at first were talking about the Restoration but changed focus on the Plan of Salvation. He wants to meet again especially at a time when his girlfriend can be part of it.
Elder Ashworth is doing great. I love his fire that he has to get out and go "baptize the world" but I had to tell him that our job is to gather the House of Israel. He is a great learner and has a spirit about him that touches others that have lost a loved one. I love him and constantly praying for him.
My new focus right now is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I have a Book Of Mormon that my brother sent me that I'm marking up with every reference pertaining to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What a great Christmas week and what a wonderful area. I absolutly love it here in Bloomington Illinois. Elder Ashworth and I are once again out and about teaching a letting the people in out neighborhoods know that this church is true. Christmas day was a wonderful experience and it was a blessing to have been able to talk with my family and let them know my testimony and how I have changed for the better.
We were not able to meet with Jeff and Julie again. They sent us a reply text back on Tuesday and let us know that they are no longer interested in the church. It was tough to take and especially hard for Elder Ashworth because they were his first investigators. We had a prayer right after that and we did feel a little down and wondering what we did wrong and felt like it was a great learning experience for both of us.
We have not been able to make contact with Arze this past week. He is not very fluent in Spanish but we will drop by and try to catch him this week.
While in the area where Arze lives we found a man by the name of Scott and gave him a pass along card. The next day he called in the number and we dropped him a Book of Mormon and had the first lesson with him. I tried to get Elder Ashworth to invite him to be baptized but I ended up doing it myself. He is very solid, but due to his work schedule he will be busy this next week and we may not get a chance to meet with him.
Last night we met with a man named Jim and he has had contact with the missionaries in Argentina a couple of years ago and let us on in. We got to talking about his life and he said that had a close friend pass away while he was there and we told him that he will be able to see that friend again and it made a real difference in the lesson. We at first were talking about the Restoration but changed focus on the Plan of Salvation. He wants to meet again especially at a time when his girlfriend can be part of it.
Elder Ashworth is doing great. I love his fire that he has to get out and go "baptize the world" but I had to tell him that our job is to gather the House of Israel. He is a great learner and has a spirit about him that touches others that have lost a loved one. I love him and constantly praying for him.
My new focus right now is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I have a Book Of Mormon that my brother sent me that I'm marking up with every reference pertaining to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Bloomington is great and I'm excited for William who is getting baptized on Saturday!
Elder Gonzalez
(Best Christmas Ever...from December 27)
SO my computer is way slow today and the typing that I do is delayed so I'm constantly having to go back and change it.
heres the presidents email
Dear President Jergensen
What a great Christmas week and what a wonderful area. I absolutly love it here in Bloomington Illinois. Elder Ashworth and I are once again out and about teaching a letting the people in out neighborhoods know that this church is true. Christmas day was a wonderful experience and it was a blessing to have been able to talk with my family and let them know my testimony and how I have changed for the better.
We were not able to meet with Jeff and Julie again. They sent us a reply text back on Tuesday and let us know that they are no longer interested in the church. It was tough to take and especially hard for Elder Ashworth because they were his first investigators. We had a prayer right after that and we did feel a little down and wondering what we did wrong and felt like it was a great learning experience for both of us.
We have not been able to make contact with Arze this past week. He is not very fluent in Spanish but we will drop by and try to catch him this week.
While in the area where Arze lives we found a man by the name of Scott and gave him a pass along card. The next day he called in the number and we dropped him a Book of Mormon and had the first lesson with him. I tried to get Elder Ashworth to invite him to be baptized but I ended up doing it myself. He is very solid, but due to his work schedule he will be busy this next week and we may not get a chance to meet with him.
Last night we met with a man named Jim and he has had contact with the missionaries in Argentina a couple of years ago and let us on in. We got to talking about his life and he said that had a close friend pass away while he was there and we told him that he will be able to see that friend again and it made a real difference in the lesson. We at first were talking about the Restoration but changed focus on the Plan of Salvation. He wants to meet again especially at a time when his girlfriend can be part of it.
Elder Ashworth is doing great. I love his fire that he has to get out and go "baptize the world" but I had to tell him that our job is to gather the House of Israel. He is a great learner and has a spirit about him that touches others that have lost a loved one. I love him and constantly praying for him.
My new focus right now is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I have a Book Of Mormon that my brother sent me that I'm marking up with every reference pertaining to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What a great Christmas week and what a wonderful area. I absolutly love it here in Bloomington Illinois. Elder Ashworth and I are once again out and about teaching a letting the people in out neighborhoods know that this church is true. Christmas day was a wonderful experience and it was a blessing to have been able to talk with my family and let them know my testimony and how I have changed for the better.
We were not able to meet with Jeff and Julie again. They sent us a reply text back on Tuesday and let us know that they are no longer interested in the church. It was tough to take and especially hard for Elder Ashworth because they were his first investigators. We had a prayer right after that and we did feel a little down and wondering what we did wrong and felt like it was a great learning experience for both of us.
We have not been able to make contact with Arze this past week. He is not very fluent in Spanish but we will drop by and try to catch him this week.
While in the area where Arze lives we found a man by the name of Scott and gave him a pass along card. The next day he called in the number and we dropped him a Book of Mormon and had the first lesson with him. I tried to get Elder Ashworth to invite him to be baptized but I ended up doing it myself. He is very solid, but due to his work schedule he will be busy this next week and we may not get a chance to meet with him.
Last night we met with a man named Jim and he has had contact with the missionaries in Argentina a couple of years ago and let us on in. We got to talking about his life and he said that had a close friend pass away while he was there and we told him that he will be able to see that friend again and it made a real difference in the lesson. We at first were talking about the Restoration but changed focus on the Plan of Salvation. He wants to meet again especially at a time when his girlfriend can be part of it.
Elder Ashworth is doing great. I love his fire that he has to get out and go "baptize the world" but I had to tell him that our job is to gather the House of Israel. He is a great learner and has a spirit about him that touches others that have lost a loved one. I love him and constantly praying for him.
My new focus right now is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I have a Book Of Mormon that my brother sent me that I'm marking up with every reference pertaining to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Bloomington is great and I'm excited for William who is getting baptized on Saturday!
Elder Gonzalez
So Christmas was awesome and I've never been more homesick then when I was talking to Tony all night. It was cool to use skype and to see all you guys back in the good old utah.aka the crib ha.\\ so I still have some questions about back home..... DId UTAH win???? DID BYU Lose???? I prayed that they will/would cuz the ward out here is all a bunch of byu grads.
As you can well see The teaching pool that we have is hot and cold but it is a good thing i suppose. We have had a few people drop us and then the next day we meet and have a lesson with someone that is slightyl more ready to receive it ...maybe... so last night we had a sweet lesson with a guy named jim that was mentioned on the above letter. he is a solid investigator and he really wants to learn more.. the spriit was really strong in that lesson and as long and he doesn't go searching out Mormons in the internet I think that he will be well off. SO i have like nothing to talk about cuz i said it all and im just staring around this packed library and people are ginving me some weird looks that I shoot right back at them. I think that I'm going to start being more like Tony and just tell people straight up now on that unless they accept the message that they will not know what true happiness feels like. I guess i need to stop beating around the bush and just say it..\\
so how tall is Jared I reallyu want to know
\
Elder Gonzalez
(First Baptism!! from January 2, 2012)
Well I'm really sorry that this is going to be a pathetic letter because I spent so much time on my Presidents letter and right as I was signing my name to it it all got erased due to some dumb A connection error in the freaking library. So here's the really summed up letter
Dear President Jergensen
I just wrote a letter that just got totally erased right as I was putting the last touches on it. I now have no time to write my family but I'll quickly try to sum it all up.
So William was able to get baptized and confirmed this past Saturday and Sunday. He trully is a changed man and I was able to talk with him on the phone and I could tell that he is not he same man that we began teaching.
We had a rather slow week with all the service that we helped provide especially with moving people across town. We had a couple of days which was almost nothing but moving.
The trainers meeting was great and I learned alot from all the Elders and Sisters there. I know that I need to improve my teaching efforts with Elder Ashworth and have more patience with him. He was glad that he was able to serve with his MTC companion Elder Nelson in Pekin for the day.
We are currently working with a couple of people right now. We have a lesson with a man named Scott tonight who we will try to set a baptismal date with him. Also we have a couple promising investigators named Donna and another named Jim. We are going to set some appointments up with them this week.
Elder Ashworth is doing well and likes to get out and serve. I have to remind him sometimes that he is a servant of the Lord when we are out in public, but other than that he is progressing very well.
We will deffinantly focus on using the Doctrine of Christ this week and inviting everyone of the first lesson to be baptized.
Elder Gonzalez Bloomington Illinois
I just wrote a letter that just got totally erased right as I was putting the last touches on it. I now have no time to write my family but I'll quickly try to sum it all up.
So William was able to get baptized and confirmed this past Saturday and Sunday. He trully is a changed man and I was able to talk with him on the phone and I could tell that he is not he same man that we began teaching.
We had a rather slow week with all the service that we helped provide especially with moving people across town. We had a couple of days which was almost nothing but moving.
The trainers meeting was great and I learned alot from all the Elders and Sisters there. I know that I need to improve my teaching efforts with Elder Ashworth and have more patience with him. He was glad that he was able to serve with his MTC companion Elder Nelson in Pekin for the day.
We are currently working with a couple of people right now. We have a lesson with a man named Scott tonight who we will try to set a baptismal date with him. Also we have a couple promising investigators named Donna and another named Jim. We are going to set some appointments up with them this week.
Elder Ashworth is doing well and likes to get out and serve. I have to remind him sometimes that he is a servant of the Lord when we are out in public, but other than that he is progressing very well.
We will deffinantly focus on using the Doctrine of Christ this week and inviting everyone of the first lesson to be baptized.
Elder Gonzalez Bloomington Illinois
I'm really mad right now and have 0 time to write so I'll try to type fast. We did indeed have 2 days where we really didn't even prosolyte due to service and then the one day when we went out of town to Davenport. So our numbers for this week went straight to hell. We do have some appointments tonight so hopefully something good will happenn from this already crappy day. It sucks right now cuz We didn't have any food for breakfast and Elder Ashworth eats all my shix so we have nothing so I'm going to make him buy his own food.
Well sorry about this gay letter i'm really pissed so sorry
Ilove you all and wish you all the best and happy new year while i freeze here in bloomington
Elder Gonzaelz
(Moving Day...from January 9, 2012)
hey yall here da leter from me to him
Dear President Jergensen
Howdy! This was a really good week and Elder Ashworth and I were able to go and see many folks and mostly give a bunch of first lessons, but it's all good. We don't as of the moment, have any progressing investigators. It seems like everytime we get someone who is interested in the church and is able to meet with us more than once decideds to go research some more about the church and gets antied out and no longer wants anything to do with us. Bloomington is awesome, but right now it has been a struggle to keep people interested in learning more and being able to contact them.
We had a man named Scott who we have met with before, get a date set up for baptism and had a very spiritual lesson with fall off the train. Both Elder Ashworth and I have no idea what we are doing wrong to see a man who had a very sincere desire to learn more of the Book of Mormon, and even give thanks in his prayers for having us to teach him and to be baptized in Christ's Church just decide to drop us out of the blue. We may need some help on the matter during our interviews.
We spent Tuesday and Wednesday out in Leroy and were able to see much success. We found some less-actives who were in town and even at the end of the night got one to tear up and have a very sincere desire to come to church (but didn't show up). It was a cold night but we were able to get a few return appointments and get back to them on Wednesday. The members here are very willing to help and are excited to do missionary work, but I'm not sure that they know how to do it and I'm still new to this whole gig and am struggling to help them in their efforts.
One particular lesson sticks out to me this week and it was with an Elderly lady and her daughter. Her name is Janet and she has gone to several churches and says that she justs isn't getting what she wants out of them. She is very open to all gospel messages and even said that she would begin to read the Book of Mormon and put Joseph Smith to the test, and I have pretty good faith in the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith so I'm really excited to meet with her again.
We had a man named Scott who we have met with before, get a date set up for baptism and had a very spiritual lesson with fall off the train. Both Elder Ashworth and I have no idea what we are doing wrong to see a man who had a very sincere desire to learn more of the Book of Mormon, and even give thanks in his prayers for having us to teach him and to be baptized in Christ's Church just decide to drop us out of the blue. We may need some help on the matter during our interviews.
We spent Tuesday and Wednesday out in Leroy and were able to see much success. We found some less-actives who were in town and even at the end of the night got one to tear up and have a very sincere desire to come to church (but didn't show up). It was a cold night but we were able to get a few return appointments and get back to them on Wednesday. The members here are very willing to help and are excited to do missionary work, but I'm not sure that they know how to do it and I'm still new to this whole gig and am struggling to help them in their efforts.
One particular lesson sticks out to me this week and it was with an Elderly lady and her daughter. Her name is Janet and she has gone to several churches and says that she justs isn't getting what she wants out of them. She is very open to all gospel messages and even said that she would begin to read the Book of Mormon and put Joseph Smith to the test, and I have pretty good faith in the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith so I'm really excited to meet with her again.
Elder Ashworth is doing very well and is learning at an incredible rate. I was glad to have been in the area all week and to be able to really get out and work. It was nice to not have any meetings or anything which would take us away from Bloomington so we really got to know each other and to work our area. We do have a place to move into and are waiting for Elder Jahn to give us the okay on the lease.
My studies have again been focused on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and on marking all the references in the Book of Mormon to Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the end.
Thank you president for all you do and I can't wait for our interview on Friday.
My studies have again been focused on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and on marking all the references in the Book of Mormon to Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the end.
Thank you president for all you do and I can't wait for our interview on Friday.
Elder Gonzalez Bloomington Illinois
It was a pretty good week but it also had some nasty thorns which included our progressing investigator just coming out of the blue and randomly texting us and telling us that he is no longer interested in joining our church. Ya that hurt and it was hard to swallow that one because we had such a spiritual lesson and it just rips a hole through ya and you begin to doubt you abilitly to go find someone else in this joint. On the contrary, we do have some new investigators and will be meeting with them this week and even seeing if we can get some baptismal dates set and get them to church. People out here are awesome and most already have a pretty good background in religous life but just don't want to change and be called a Mormon. So we are just going to be concentrating all our efforts on the people that even have a sense of life and will be working with them.
Before I forget HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM I HOPE ALL YOUR WILDEST DREAMS COME TRUE .... CAUSE MINE AIN'T
I need a good p-day today cause I was so tired this past week and had to fast twice so it was a rough go but deffinantly saw some blessings come from it. I realized a very important eternal truth this week... Keep the commandments and God must bless you.... Don't keep the commandments and you don't get blessed you get shafted really bad.... just a thought for yall and it has also come to my attention that we are moving out and we haven't even started to pack all our stuff... better get on that one. we are moving across town and the address to the new apartment will be 811e Washington #4 and it will be in Bloomington as well. which is in the 309 area code and also within the 61701 zip code.
So here are some thoughts about this week. There should be missionaries serving in Leroy because while Elder Ashworth and I were there we got to meet and work with some of the members there and even teach 4 lessons and 2 less active lessons while we were there and both the less-actives were shedding some serious tears about the church and loved ones who have pasted on.. wow I think revelation was received.. We need to go teach them about the plan of salvation and get their sorry rears back to church were the Bloomington people go not the Normal folks.
So how are things back home??
ya i would never give mrs beck-a-million pounds the chance to be teacher of the year just get me back in the lousy middle school with the gang and we can really get her going.... to wendy's that is hahha ya she would always have a giant bucket of Diet Coke and a baconator on her desk. but i don't really want to talk a;bout her....\
(I Hate Snow, Especially When You're Moving In it...from January 16, 2012)
So Erica got married eh well that's cool but not as cool as being in the midwest where the corn is tall and the Catholic churches are taller ha.
well it comes that time of week where I must make my leave till we meet again
I love you and especially wish mom a very happy day and hope zoe does something nice for you that is maybe shovel the snow... what am I talking about cats don't shovel snow well this place is making me crazy cya
Elder Gonzalez Bloomington Illinios
(I Hate Snow, Especially When You're Moving In it...from January 16, 2012)
hey yall here is the president email
Good Morning President Jergensen
This past week was a great experience and it trully was a great time to have interviews with you and Sister Jergensen. I can see a difference with Elder Ashworth already and how some of those problems are being resolved. There still are some areas of concern that I think needs to be addressed and I have tried to address is with him, but I'm not sure that it has really sunk in. The main thing is that he shows signs and comments about how he "already knows the information" and has already learned it all. I'm trying to get him to see how it can always be improved not only for him, but for myself as well.
It was a tough week with the finding and teaching mostly because we didn't have as much time in the area as we would have liked. Thursday we were snowed in up in Pontiac, and then the interviews and weekly planning took a toll on Fridays efforts. We did teach a couple of good lessons with a lady named Jami and a lady named Jean.
Jami is someone that we found right before having lunch on Wednesday and then taught her later on that night with Brother Heiner there. It was good to see Elder Ashworth take the lead in a teaching situation and to have a baptismal invitation extended.
Jean was a someone that we met last night and taught her about the Book of Mormon and how it is the word of God. She was very accecting of how God could call a prophet and have more revelation in this time of the world. We are excited to give her some time to read, she's a big reader, and follow up on how she is doing.
I'm still trying to focus my studies on the Doctrine of Christ and how to have scriptures ready to show. The companion study seems to be kinda stuck in the mud right now with not a lot of motivation from Elder Ashworth, but I'm going to start mixing it up with more random role plays and more of him taking the lead in the study.
Thanks again for your support President Jergensen and we are excited to be serving here in Bloomington and are especially excited to move to our new place and have some fresh "meat to eat".
Elder Gonzalez
It was a tough week with the finding and teaching mostly because we didn't have as much time in the area as we would have liked. Thursday we were snowed in up in Pontiac, and then the interviews and weekly planning took a toll on Fridays efforts. We did teach a couple of good lessons with a lady named Jami and a lady named Jean.
Jami is someone that we found right before having lunch on Wednesday and then taught her later on that night with Brother Heiner there. It was good to see Elder Ashworth take the lead in a teaching situation and to have a baptismal invitation extended.
Jean was a someone that we met last night and taught her about the Book of Mormon and how it is the word of God. She was very accecting of how God could call a prophet and have more revelation in this time of the world. We are excited to give her some time to read, she's a big reader, and follow up on how she is doing.
I'm still trying to focus my studies on the Doctrine of Christ and how to have scriptures ready to show. The companion study seems to be kinda stuck in the mud right now with not a lot of motivation from Elder Ashworth, but I'm going to start mixing it up with more random role plays and more of him taking the lead in the study.
Thanks again for your support President Jergensen and we are excited to be serving here in Bloomington and are especially excited to move to our new place and have some fresh "meat to eat".
Elder Gonzalez
Yes we did get some gay snow and it sucks cause I hate snow and cold. Out here (like I hear in Oklahoma) it is always windy and it blows into giant snow drifts which turns a 3 inch snowfall into a 2 foot drift by some fences and no one shovels there walk so it just stays there and we try to walk in it the best we can. Walking in the street is to a minimun because there isn't very many streets that have a shoulder so walk in so it is dangerous with cars driving by especially in the dark. Our p-day has lately been just going to stupid stores and buying cheap stuff at like a goodwill and other assorted thrift stores. We are going to play some ball today and get all packed up for our move which is on Wednesday night.
An idea that I had when I get back home is to play pranks on the missionaries at night to there apartment and to act like an investigator whenever you talk to them haha
So Tuesday we got to work in the downtown area and it was way sweet because it is by our new area. We have also been trying to see all the potential investigators that are in our area before we move across town.
Wednesday we did our proselyting in our area which is around the old place which is right in the middle of a bunch of apartment complexes and in a middle class neighborhood, and it has been good but I'm much more excited to get to the new area and see new folks and teach like crazy. The spirit is a great way to get high because whenever we teach someone you just want to go find someone and teach them the same stuff. I'm deffinantly addicted to the spirit and can never get enough of it.
Thursday we had our district meeting in Pontiac and we actually got there on Wednesday night, but when we woke up in the morning we found that panthetic white stuff on the ground and it snowed all day. So after we had breakfast at Mcdonalds and on the drive back some snow was on the ground and Elder Craven who is serving in Normal tried messing around and drifting in the car and pulled the e-brake and slid right into a curb and bent the rim. I had to call that one in because I'm the mini car zar (yes Zar) which makes me responsible for the vehicle at all times and Elder Talbert( the Car Zar) wasn't happy about that one. So we got the car grounded for the rest of the day and we just had the District meeting in the apartment and then went and rounded up some shovels and showed random driveways the rest of the day and played a game of Munchin. While we were shoveling Elder Ashworth had never shoveled snow before and so he got cold really fast and started complaining so we all were getting upset and decided to start a snowball fight and i got Ashworth right in kisser which was hilarious and it made me feel a lot better ha.
Well folks the rest of the week was explained and it wasn't to successful but i'm way excited to move and get Elder Ashworths rear in gear. I have sufficiant cold gear thanks and that address is not the address so heads up there...
(New Apartment Is IN An Awesome Area...From January 25, 2012)
howdy yall here is the weekly president letter
Dear President Jergensen
A rather stressful week with the whole move to the new apartment and trying to arrange trucks in the ward to help us out with the whole deal. We did have to spend some time cleaning the old apartment and we are FINALLY done with the moving transition and are able to get to work in the new area of town.
We have met a few people this week that are showing some real interest in the church and want to make the efforts to learn more. One such individual is a 14 year old boy named Ulysseus, and he was able to bring some of his cousins to church on Sunday and he really did enjoy the meeting. He even wanted to know more later Sunday night that he was texting us and asking us how he can feel the spirit, the same feeling that he had while he was at church. Elder Ashworth and I were able to teach him the steps of prayer over the phone and even sent an example prayer so that he had something to go off of. He is someone that we are going to focus on and he wants to get to church this week as well.
We did get in touch with Jeff and Julie who were giving us the cold shoulder for awhile and had a good lesson in which Elder Ashworth took the lead in teaching about where their child is that they lost at birth, and how this church has the answers to the soul. We will continue to work with them and hopefully get them to the progressing stage.
I was able to go on an exchange with Elder Grow this past week and that was nice, but we didn't get to teach like we would have liked due to no scheduled appointments.
Elder Ashworth and I did have a very spiritual experience with Janet and Marissa on Wednesday. We knocked on the door and got in and we started asking/answering some of her questions and it appeared that she wasn't reading the Book of Mormon and we switched the lesson around to focus on the prophet Joseph Smith and were able to watch the Restoration video on mormon.org with her. The spirit was strong with her and we will go and visit her today if she's home.
On Sunday we got to teach Arze on his porch for the first time in 6 weeks and he is doing great. He said that he has been reading the Book of Mormon as much as he has been able to, but he burned his eyes at work while welding. He is hard to make contact with, but are going to try to get a new member in the ward, Brother Gonzalez, to help us out with the language barrier that we have with him. A very humble man.
Elder Ashworth and I had a pretty good companionship inventory in which we were able to get a lot of built up anger out of us and it has made all the difference in our companionship we are now working in unity and have had some outstanding days and lessons since then. I guess that all that negative feeling built up that it just came out and now we are best of friends. Glad to see him starting to take some initative in the companionship. Deffinantly excited to have at least 6 more weeks here in Bloomington and especially with the new area that we are in.
A rather stressful week with the whole move to the new apartment and trying to arrange trucks in the ward to help us out with the whole deal. We did have to spend some time cleaning the old apartment and we are FINALLY done with the moving transition and are able to get to work in the new area of town.
We have met a few people this week that are showing some real interest in the church and want to make the efforts to learn more. One such individual is a 14 year old boy named Ulysseus, and he was able to bring some of his cousins to church on Sunday and he really did enjoy the meeting. He even wanted to know more later Sunday night that he was texting us and asking us how he can feel the spirit, the same feeling that he had while he was at church. Elder Ashworth and I were able to teach him the steps of prayer over the phone and even sent an example prayer so that he had something to go off of. He is someone that we are going to focus on and he wants to get to church this week as well.
We did get in touch with Jeff and Julie who were giving us the cold shoulder for awhile and had a good lesson in which Elder Ashworth took the lead in teaching about where their child is that they lost at birth, and how this church has the answers to the soul. We will continue to work with them and hopefully get them to the progressing stage.
I was able to go on an exchange with Elder Grow this past week and that was nice, but we didn't get to teach like we would have liked due to no scheduled appointments.
Elder Ashworth and I did have a very spiritual experience with Janet and Marissa on Wednesday. We knocked on the door and got in and we started asking/answering some of her questions and it appeared that she wasn't reading the Book of Mormon and we switched the lesson around to focus on the prophet Joseph Smith and were able to watch the Restoration video on mormon.org with her. The spirit was strong with her and we will go and visit her today if she's home.
On Sunday we got to teach Arze on his porch for the first time in 6 weeks and he is doing great. He said that he has been reading the Book of Mormon as much as he has been able to, but he burned his eyes at work while welding. He is hard to make contact with, but are going to try to get a new member in the ward, Brother Gonzalez, to help us out with the language barrier that we have with him. A very humble man.
Elder Ashworth and I had a pretty good companionship inventory in which we were able to get a lot of built up anger out of us and it has made all the difference in our companionship we are now working in unity and have had some outstanding days and lessons since then. I guess that all that negative feeling built up that it just came out and now we are best of friends. Glad to see him starting to take some initative in the companionship. Deffinantly excited to have at least 6 more weeks here in Bloomington and especially with the new area that we are in.
Elder Gonzalez Bloomington Illinios
So i hate moving it is the worst especially when it is freezing cold and you have to lift big heavy dressers onto frost covered trucks and you slip and kick the hitch with your shin and don't say anthing, just smile and tear up surprised I didn't rip my slacks.... I love this freaking place and never want to leave. Bloomington is the place to be and there is so much potential here that it's almost not even funny I'm still just learning how to get these people to do something with what we give them. It's frustrating times when you know that they know and they feel that it is right and they just don't want to change. I guess that I'm starting to understand the whole charity and loving the people that you serve around thing. I truly do desire the salvation for many souls and it breaks my heart to see how people are living and how sad this city can make people when they don't have Christ in their life.
The roses are beginning to bloom here and after many thorns I think that Elder Ashworth and I have struck a rose with Ulysseus and will be teaching him some more. He just has all the right questions about life and even wants to keep going to church. Hopefully his parents don't get in the way but I'm sure that satan will do all he can from preventing this one, we'll just have to have a classic ole' light vs dark batle there.
Word to the rich property taxes here are about x3 as much as utahs like a quarter acre here had about 4,500 in property taxes last year... ouch deffinantly st.george.
(Finally a Baptismal Date...from February 6, 2012)
So transfers are tomorrow and Elder Hunsaker is leaving and so is Elder Harmon which is no suprise and I'm starting to have a little panic here knowing that I only have 6 weeks here and tons of stuff to do and people to BAPTIZE!! I hope all I can say is this .... This place is a Hail of a lot better then when I got here and will be doing wonders if we can keep the faith.
Just want all of you to know that I love you very much and that I love mid-week mail and that my testimony of the gospel is growing by the minute and that I think I'm officially over the " i feel wierd wearing a suit all the time" stage... it's my new look ... I might get a job that i wear the suit.... gets me chicks but that's besides the point..\
You are all on my fav 5 and will be there until the mellinium Peace out from good old ILLinois
Elder Gonzalez 400 baptisms in 2012 for the IDMM
(Finally a Baptismal Date...from February 6, 2012)
hi my name is Elder Gonzalez here is the weekly letter for my mission president
Dear President Jergensen
I believe in miracles. This week may have changed my mission forever. Elder Ashworth and I have been working hard and have seen our first rose starting to bloom out of all the thorns that we have come across. We have a baptismal date set with a lady named Tiffany, and she is very excited to be baptized on Febuary 25. Tiffany is so prepared and I now have a testimony of Christ preparing people to recieve this gospel message so much more than in the past.
We met Tiffany last Sunday and we taught her after church and extended the baptismal invitation with her saying the prayer and kneeling and it works! She was in tears by the end of the prayer and I felt a spirit in that room unlike anything else that I've yet experienced. We taught her again on Thursday and Saturday with a chapel tour and then right after church yesterday and had a lesson at Bishop Clay's home. We plan on having her for dinner at a members home on Tuesday and will continue to teach her the commmandments and give her testimony building sections on the Book of Mormon to read.
We helped give a blessing and paint and move a less-active family from the Normal Ward to the Bloomington Ward this past week and it was such a blessing. Sister Mason is having some struggles in her life I think that Normal might have told you some of what's going on but I'll tell you just in case) she just had surgery on her throat, and her husband is in jail on "false charges" and is wanting to make the extra effort to recieve her P-blessing and eventually get to the temple. They have some family that is going to move in and there is a boy that is 9 and she would like him to be baptized so we are looking forward to that.
The ward is starting to see how we are getting people to church and that we are actually doing some missionary work. Some of the past weeks have been tough and our teaching pool was a little down but this past week Elder Ashworth and I couldn't have been busier and it was amazing. Now that we have been working hard and being as obedient as possible we have recieved some referrals from some youth and will be setting up appointments to meet and teach them this restored gospel. Miracles are happening. The companionship unity between myself and Elder Ashworth is continueing to improve and we are looking forward to the training meetings in Iowa City and Davenport this upcoming week. We are so caught up in the work here that we are nervous to leave the area for 2 days and not get any work done, but I know that the Lord will keep everything under control.
We met Tiffany last Sunday and we taught her after church and extended the baptismal invitation with her saying the prayer and kneeling and it works! She was in tears by the end of the prayer and I felt a spirit in that room unlike anything else that I've yet experienced. We taught her again on Thursday and Saturday with a chapel tour and then right after church yesterday and had a lesson at Bishop Clay's home. We plan on having her for dinner at a members home on Tuesday and will continue to teach her the commmandments and give her testimony building sections on the Book of Mormon to read.
We helped give a blessing and paint and move a less-active family from the Normal Ward to the Bloomington Ward this past week and it was such a blessing. Sister Mason is having some struggles in her life I think that Normal might have told you some of what's going on but I'll tell you just in case) she just had surgery on her throat, and her husband is in jail on "false charges" and is wanting to make the extra effort to recieve her P-blessing and eventually get to the temple. They have some family that is going to move in and there is a boy that is 9 and she would like him to be baptized so we are looking forward to that.
The ward is starting to see how we are getting people to church and that we are actually doing some missionary work. Some of the past weeks have been tough and our teaching pool was a little down but this past week Elder Ashworth and I couldn't have been busier and it was amazing. Now that we have been working hard and being as obedient as possible we have recieved some referrals from some youth and will be setting up appointments to meet and teach them this restored gospel. Miracles are happening. The companionship unity between myself and Elder Ashworth is continueing to improve and we are looking forward to the training meetings in Iowa City and Davenport this upcoming week. We are so caught up in the work here that we are nervous to leave the area for 2 days and not get any work done, but I know that the Lord will keep everything under control.
Elder Gonzalez Bloomington Illinios
So we basically had a spiritual high this week in seeing how the Lord has prepared Tiffany to be baptized into the true church of Christ. Elder Ashworth is very excited that Tiffany has asked him to baptize her and I'm glad that he is finally happy about something. He does complain a lot and I've disappointed that there hasn't been much snow to hit him in the back of the head with a snowball, but that's ok the Lork is just teaching me how to have patience. I guess I say some bad things about him, but I do care for him and pray for him every night and it has made a difference in how we get along.
We did have a chance to go to jail this past week and see a less-active who is in there with "false charges" but he may be right. It was cool to go in there and see how some of those people need the gospel so bad and it was sad to see those who even when in the lowest of lows still didn't want to see us and our message. I guess that is how some will be like in the life here after that some will still not want to accept this gospel message even when the proof is right in front of them. His name is Jason Mason and he is a nice guy who wanted a Book of Mormon so we gave him one and talked with him.
We were in the ghetto on Friday night and haha Elder Ashworth was so scared cause it was dark and foggy and he thought that the devil was out but I made him come and we ended up talking to some good people and we even helped push a car to the side of the road that wasn't running right and gave a guy a card and said to take care as we were driving back to the apt.
I'm just so excited that the ward is going to help us out and get some teaching appointments set up with a couple referrals.
sorry that my letters aren't the longest like Tony's .... not sure how he does it. must be some of that Black Mamba kicking in for him hahaHA
WEll yall take care now and we'll see ya next week and hopefully I'll have some more good news about Tiffany and someone else with a Batismal date'
God bless and remember... It's better to look up
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