It's all over... it's all on the field (last email from August 20, 2013)

Hi family It's with a heavy heart that I send this last email and say good bye to all the email sessions which have taken place in my 2 years out here. I will be in Naperville tomorrow morning and will attend the 1pm session at the Chicago temple. I will have to be up very early in the morning on Wednesday and will hopefully be ready for awaits me at the gate in SLC I love all of you and the people of Illinois Elder Gonzalez Bloomington Illinois

Leave it all on the field (from August 12, 2013)

Hey good family This is the last official email that you will get from me as a missionary. Next week I'll just jaw off on a few things all of which isn'r really important. This week I will be packing up my stuff and making sure I make the weight limit. Please put some money on my home card as I will be needing to pay for luggage. So my flight leaves Chicago at 9:10 on the 21st and I guess I'll be in SLC at 1 so I'll see ya then. I'm going to throw away a lot of stuff that I don't need anymore like socks and white shirts and other stuff so that I don't have a whole lot of stuff hanging around the apartment. There is certainly different emotions flying through my mind right now and this week is going to be crazy in the fact that I will be setting up appointments for a time that I won't be here anymore. Sorry if my emails come off as harsh..... it's hard to put emotion into a dumb email so always take my emails in an upbeat mindset. I gave a talk in sacrament meeting which is a form of what to expect in a couple of weeks. I love this ward Bloomington is my other home. the people here are amazing I love them so much. The corn is tall and all the college students are moving back into town. I knew that that would be a sign of my leaving, and now it's here. I really wanna stay and serve and for this last week it's all coming out. Elder Gonzalez Bloomington Illinois.

All are against me (from August 5, 2013)

Dear Family I have had a rough week. It is not easy to stay focused at times when every single person out here is telling you how little time I have left, and people wanted to speak with us. I'm not sure if I have adequately expressed my love for this time to be a missionary. I have cried every night this week in my prayers because I have a matter of days left in my life to have a name badge on my chest that bears the name of my master. It is with tender feelings that I can write this email because lately I have hated going to the library for the fact that I again am reminded how little time I have left. I understand that you are all excited for my return but I need right now is not all the flashy celebrations for a returning missionary but of encouragement. I'm trying to soak in all that is being offered me here. I'm trying to train missionaries how to be disciples for the Lord. I just feel as Helaman of old in Alma 62 "44 Helaman did take upon him again to preach unto the people the word of God; for because of so many wars and contentions it had become expedient that a aregulation should be made again in the church. 45 Therefore, Helaman and his brethren went forth, and did declare the word of God with much power unto the aconvincing of many people of their wickedness, which did cause them to repent of their sins and to be baptized unto the Lord their God. 46 And it came to pass that they did establish again the church of God, throughout all the land. Here at the end of my mission I realize that I do feel like the sons of mosiah in Alma 17.. " 11 And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be apatient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good bexamples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls. 12 And it came to pass that the hearts of the sons of Mosiah, and also those who were with them, took courage to go forth unto the Lamanites to declare unto them the word of God. 13 And it came to pass when they had arrived in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, that they aseparated themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord that they should meet again at the close of their bharvest; for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken. 14 And assuredly it was great, for they had undertaken to preach the word of God to a awild and a hardened and a ferocious people; This is a ferocious people who are glad to take sin as their form of enjoyment. I'm grateful for those that have been brought to the light. Gerber Flores is the great example of that. I'm very pleased with how I have grown and what has become important to me in life. So sum up my time here in the Midwest I would have to stand with Ammon in Alma 26 '1 My brothers and my brethren, behold I say unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we astarted from the land of Zarahemla that God would have granted unto us such great blessings? 2 And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell? 3 Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how amany of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made binstruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work. 4 Behold, athousands of them do rejoice, and have been brought into the fold of God. 5 Behold, the afield was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the bsickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your csheaves! continued.... 30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our ajoy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some. 31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the afruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are bmany; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us. I love my Savior, he lives. The tomb is empty and he has commissioned me to preach until they plant me on a plane and say "we'll cya later" At night my prayers are full of gratitude for every single day that I have here... My prayer echoes that of Ammon in Alma 19:14 "he fell upon his knees, and began to pour out his soul in prayer and thanksgiving to God for what he had done for his brethren; and he was also overpowered with cjoy".. I'll be home before you know it. Just pray and do some missionary work yourselves would ya? I love you all and have a great opportunity to speak this sunday for 15-20 minutes on whatever I want in sacrament meeting so that'll keep me busy. Elder Gonzalez Bloomington Illinois

in the last days (from July 29, 2013)

Hey Family SO i'm just sitting in the library where I have sent dozens of emails throughout my mission and wondering where the time has flown. I can't wait to be home at tiheymes but this mission experience is amazing. I have times and moments with members who will give me all kinds of council and what not about going home and some of it is good but most is just a bunch of garbage... hahaha they love to give me a hard time. I got to play 18 holes this past week and it was amazing... the ball still goes right where I want it to so that's a good promising sign. It's om my mind but I try to control my thoughts as far as what I think about during the day and wow it's harder then I thought to not think about home and what I should be thinking about as far as getting people closer to Christ... don't worry i'll stay on task. SO hey we have a trainers meeting tomorrow in Naperville so today we are driving up to the mission home and will eat there and sleep there tonight and then have the meeting tomorrow and then drive back in the afternoon so our p-day is basically shot... sorry this was short I was emailing a bunch of friends and what not earlier I love you all and I will make sure not to be thinking about hojme too much elder gon

Great day for a baptism!! (from July 22, 2013)

Hi Family Gerber Flores was baptized on Saturday and it was wonderful. We had the font all filled up with nice warm water and it was just picture perfect. We had President Clay do the baptism, and had bro Davis give the talk on baptism all in Spanish. President Clay said the baptismal prayer in Spanish first and then in English to make sure that we knew he said the words correctly. I loved to look on Gerber's face when he came out of the water. Clean and ready to serve. Elder Clark and I gave a 6 minute lesson of the Restoration to everyone that was there during the time that they were changing into their church clothes. It was powerful to testify of revealed truths that Gerber had accepted into his life. Bro. Moore gave a great talk on the Holy Ghost all in Spanish and wow it was just a powerful experience. So Elder Clark and I had a bit of a slower week, except for the baptism. Some of our best contacts weren't able to meet but that's ok we just went and found some less-actives that needed some service. It was really hot this week. It is awful wearing a tie and black slacks in the heat. The Sisters in the ward are doing great. I'm just so glad that we don't have some pile sisters. These honestly are the best sisters that I've ever served around. Last week I did get to play 9 holes and ironwood golf course in normal and it was alright.. the member that we went with didn't have the best clubs, and I hadn't played in a year so a 44 was the result. Hey i'll take it. I get to play today and the ISU course in town which I hear is actually a really good golf course so i'm excited. SO not to be super trunky or anything but after discussing a few things with Coach Carter I need to get into some golf tournaments quick when I get off the mission so that I can some good tournament experience and get my name out to the coaches in the state. I'll also be an assistant golf coach at the high school. So if you love me then I would like to send in a few tournament ideas ok so basically I must play in a few amateurs that are at courses that I have played in the past. back to missionary stuff. We have zone meeting this week at the church here in Normal and we'll have Pres. Fenn and the assistants there so i'm excited for that. I got a call from Elder Herrin who returned home on Friday and called me on Saturday while I was driving to the church to fill up the font for the baptism. I gave him our address so he may pay you a visit and tell you a few things of me haha. I am grateful for all your letters and everything that you have done to have me on this mission. Your money is well spent i'll tell you that. I love you all and want to stay here longer. I love the spirit and know that it's telling me to go to work harder than ever so that's what i'm going to do. Elder Gonzalez Bloomington Illinois

7 years of searching... humble as ever (from July 15, 2013)

Hey Family I love serving here in Bloomington, this place has helped shape me into who I am today. The ward is so good and the people are amazing. Bishop Goodman is such a loving and wonderful example to me as to how a bishop should run a ward. So we had transfers on Tuesday and there are some new changes that have taken place. We now have Sister Malachoska and Sister Baldridge here in the ward covering the east side of town. They are two young but energetic missionaries. Sister Malachowska is 21 and from ogden and Sister Baldridge is 20 from Boise haha. The ward is very excited to have them here in town and it's great to see that they aren't going to destroy the work that we have set up for them. On Thursday we set them up with Michelle who came to church this last weekend, we made the handoff and wow they set a baptismal date with her for August 10th. Yea we've had 2 investigators that we have had get dished out to other companionships. SO the biggest thing is that Gerber Flores is ready for baptism. We had 2 great lessons with him this week and he was interviewed on sunday and is ready for baptism this Saturday. I love Gerber. SO he is from Guatemala and has 2 children and a wife back there Joshua 18 and Kimbelry 16. He hasn't been back there for 7 years. He said that he came here looking for something that he wasn't going to find if he stayed back in Guatemala. He is a good educated man but here he has been getting just a bunch of side jobs like right now he's a cook at Olive Garden. He was basically in tears this last lesson when he said that he has now found the reason why he's here in America. We talked of eternal families and that just clicked. Elder Clark and I knew that we had to tell him that he will need to go back to Guatemala and tell his family what more the Lord has for them, and he really wants to do that. I'm going to continue to stay in touch with him and make sure that he gets his family going in the gospel and that he sees the true happiness of the temple. Well last night we found another Mexican family that wants us to come back and teach them so yea we'll do that tomorrow. I just wish that I knew Spanish. Yes I'd love to go to the ward picnic and talk with people when I get back. I can golf later on.. I'm actually going to go play with Elder clark and another member at like 1 today. Not sure what else to say just been doing to work and I love doing it. Everyday I take off the name tag at night and realize what a privilege it is to have it on. I tried to extend my mission but they wouldn't let me do it. We have some good referrals to check up on and some good potentials that we are going to try and make into new investigators this week. I love you all and I'm doing great here in Bloomington it's the best Elder Gonzalez going strong

This is Communism I tell you (from July 8, 2013)

Hey Family SO there are certainly some crazy changes with the new mission. Some things that I like and some things that I despise like the plague. So President and Sister Fenn are both from Salt Lake City and have always lived there. President Fenn is the CEO of Century Link which used to be Quest. He is a very cutthroat business centered guy. He's all about the numbers if you know what I mean. Sister Fenn is the daughter of Bruce R. McConkie. She never says anything.... just a really quite person. So on Tuesday the came to Peoria and talked with us and the Assistants came. For 3 hours we just got yelled at about obedience and other stuff on his mind. He's a great guy just a different philosophy about certain things. They have a 19 year old daughter and a 16 year old son living with them in Naperville. So Elder Clark and I have been working hard getting 3 people to church and setting Gerber's Baptismal date to July 20th now.... he's ready. We picked up an investigator this week while walking around at night who used to date a member back in the day who is now on a mission in Mexico. Michelle is her name and she writes him like every week..... that's a good foot in the door. We taught her at the church on Saturday and then had her to sacrament meeting with us on Sunday. She's going to do great. SO on Friday we woke up in Peoria after driving there on Thursday night, and we woke up at 3:30 in order to get 5 of us ready and out the door to be in Naperville by 8. It was a long drive with all of us packed in a ford fusion. the meeting was ok not the best in my standards really. the missionaries a very casual and just not the same. President Fenn wants 300 baptisms between now and the end of the year. That's not going to happen. He is expecting that to take place and the mission just isn't near that logistically and there's a pricetag to be paid if that is going to work and it's the faith and spirituality of the mission, and from what I saw it's just not going to happen. I'm not trying to say that I don't have faith but that is 50 baptisms per month and in june they had 15..... not looking good. I was a little frustrated with what was discussed... lets just say that this mission is behind us Iowa missionaries by a ways. So I'm getting a bit excited of what life will be like on the homefront be please be assured that I have full attention to the mission field. Hillary Chaney is her name SO yea the new mission will be cool. we are getting sisters in the ward tomorrow and that will throw a wrench in things for us. The zone is splitting and I'm going to die off as a DL which is good because I can institute some good fixed principles into some heads before I head out. Hey take care a do some good work. Elder Gonzalez Bloomington Illinois Chicago West Mission

Down to the wire (from July 1, 2013)

What up :) Hey there good family. This week was wonderful with lots of good times. On Tuesday we went to the Nauvoo Temple for one last time as a zone. It was remarkable. President and Sister Jergensen were there and it was the last time that I will see them until back in the homeland. Nauvoo is a very sacred place for me and it was wonderful to be there the day that Joseph and Hyrum started for Carthage back in 1844. The spirit was very strong there and I'm glad that I have been able to serve here in this special ground. God bless America, God bless the Pioneers for making great sacrifices for us. I went on exchanges with the elders in Pontiac in our area and then the next day after district meeting i was with the Morton elders which is my old companion elder Pope. He got to meet our wark mission leader Bro. Kimball who was part of him conversion back in Arrlington Virginia. We taught a man named Tom who was a very interesting man who knows that there's a higher power, but doesn't believe in Christ so this is going to be quite the challenge to get him to open up and feel the spirit. We have officially been transferred to the Illinois Chicago West Mission and wow this is going to be a trip. Tomorrow we spend like the whole day in Peoria getting to know President Fenn and then getting interviewed by him and I'm excited for that. On Friday I will spend like the whole day up in Naperville at a Mission Leadership Council and that will be cool to see all the missionaries up there. I'm going to see if I know anyone that is in the new mission that I know from back home. I'm not sure that I can remember who i know that is in that mission but i'll find out. The indian Family that Elder Clark and I taught are headed back to india for 2 months and that is a shame but we'll go find someone else to teach and baptize. Gerber Flores from Guatemala is all set for August 3rd and we had such a good lesson with him on Wednesday. We didn't have a Spanish translator with us but we did teach him the Doctrine of Christ the best that we could and he understood it and wow that was amazing. He knelt down and the end of the lesson and prayed in Spanish to know if the message we shared using the Book of Mormon was true and if he should be baptized on August 3rd. After his prayer we stood up and he pointed to the goosebumps on his arm and with watery eyes looked up and knew that his prayer was answered. I'll never forget that sweet spirit in the room. He came to church. I love this missionary experience and am glad that all these wonderful blessings are taking place in my life. I have had a couple of letters come in from some girls back in the valley who haven't written me my whole mission and now they wanna talk mmm potentials? Elder Gonzalez Bloomington Illinois

Just living life..... and broke as a joke (from June 17, 2013)

Hi Family It's a good day here in Bloomington with lots of sunshine and temps in the high 70's so it's all good there. Although today is p-day we are doing some service for a member who is in charge of this organization called Project Linus. They make blankets for hospitals and help a ton of children out that need really cool blankets. SO we are moving a ton of stuff from there office to the Marriott Hotel where they are having their big conference this week. so we are emailing from their office which is really cool. Elder Clark and I have been working hard this week, but just haven't been seeing the success that we would like to see. Tons of people fell through on their appointments, but thats just life here in Illinois. flaky as crap people. We did have zone meeting this week in Peoria and that was good. They made a big emphasis on using PMG to help members know How to share the gospel more effectively. Something that Elder Herrin and I were doing up in Ames and that was working beautifully. This week will be the last time that I get to see President and Sister Jergensen before they head home next week. We are having a goodbye zone conference in davenport and that will take up like all of our day this wednesday. We are getting another set of sisters in this ward in July at the next transfer meeting and so that is really going to suck.............. with sisters it's either feast or famine and i'm feeling a famine in the land Elder Clark is doing good, he doesn't know how to teach which is tough to work with but its all good. I didn't know how to teach when I was first out so I"m working with him and all of that . He was one who didn't really want to come out like a year ago but felt that it was the right thing to do and so I"m helping him to open his vision and see things as they really are. We haven't worked with the Indian people as much this week but when we did we got 2 new investigators out of it named Renju and Mohon. they are roommates right now and it was a good lesson that we had with them, just that they are going to take some work, because they are so laidback and won't take things as serious. We'll have to change up our pitching routine with them. There is a special broadcast going out to all the world this Sunday at 5pm here and it's coming from the Marriott center with the prophet and some Apostles to all the new mission presidents. I'm excited to see what changes they will make so what new things we as missionaries will do. For now I"m just doing one day at a time and making sure that Elder Clark is getting trained right. I love yall and hope you have a great week. Elder Gonzalez Bloomington Illinois

My Last Blue Bundle of Joy is Coming!!! (From June 3, 2013)

Hey Fam I can't believe that I've been in Bloomington for 6 weeks already. I'm really excited to be training for the next 12 weeks and to be under the direction of a new mission president. I'm not sure how this new guy is going to be so I'll just have to break him in and get to work. Yes it rained like everyday this week and it sucked so bad. I hated it because it just slowed down everything. Several of our appointments that we had fell through because of the rain and not being able to meet at the park. On Tuesday night we were in a tornado watch and it was nuts, I've never seen it rain that hard. It was like someone was taking a bucket of water and just tossing it at the window it was a ton of water. Elder Virgen has been a cool guy but he just isn't the best worker and although he had been here since Christmas he didn't know anyone and I've never had to have a companion like him before. I don't mean to talk bad about him but I'm just excited to get someone who is more motivated to work hard. We do have Taylor who is progressing well and did come to church this week with Mike who is the boyfriend of Taylor and she is liking it. We are going to teach her on Tuesday evening and then we are going to go and hit golf balls at the driving range on Wednesday with Mike and I'm going to be making some deals with him and see if we can get some more lessons in. I'm super excited to hit some golf balls and see what I still have in me. So schools out.... any plans on going on vacation or something? I"ll tell you my plans for the summer..... work the Lord's work hahaha exciting huh? So I'm still district leader and we are adding 2 new areas to the district and so we are going from 6 elders to 8elders and 2 sisters which is going to suck... I have all the respect in the world for sister missionaries but my goodness I've been stuck with prob the laziest my whole mission, so I'm hoping that they actually do something. Tony knows what I mean. well I don't really know what to say other then Im trying hard and I'm learning everyday. I love you all and I know that I'm to be out here for a few more months and just wreck this place... we have a new ward mission leader who is going to help us out a ton Elder Gonzalez Bloomington Illinois

Cocked and Ready to Fire

Family

  This past week we have had so much rain and Tornado warnings in the area then any other time of my mission. I really don't like the rain because it keeps people inside and we can't talk to all the Indian people that like to walk around in the afternoon. 

  There are some good changes going on in the ward. We now have a new Ward Mission Leader who just moved into the ward from Arlington Virginia and he was instrumental in the conversion of Elder Pope who  I trained in Des Moines. His name is Casey Kimball and we're excited that he has a good missionary fire about him and when I get my new boy next week I'll be able to break them both in with the program here in the ward. This ward is ready to get going with the work and I just realize that there's just not enough time to get everything done before I leave here............. 

  I love the Indian people here, they are so humble and are here for more than just State Farm,but are here for the healing gospel of Jesus Christ. We picked up a couple that is from India and we're excited to be teaching them. We have some lessons lined up for tonight and will hopefully help a part-member family get back into the gospel. I love it

  So ya I did get to go on and exchanges with the zone leaders in Peoria and that was awesome to be back in my old ghetto teaching the gospel of peace among the fierce and ferocious lamanites. I love Peoria and Illinois in general. except for the politics

   We have a part-member family that we need to get married and then have the husband baptize the wife. Her name is Taylor and she is so wanting the gospel in her life and the Silva family has been so good with fellowshipping. Mike who is the boyfriend is the real hold up to and he's a member so he know's what kind of responsibility will come with full activity in the church.  we will be adressing all of that this week. 

 

I did make contact with Coach Carter and talked to him about college golf and he said that i'll need to play in as many tournaments as possible once i get so that I can get more of an out of high school resume put together and show that I can play in non high school tournaments and actually do good. I do have the skill for that and will just need some more time to get things together. He does know the Weber State coach very well and so I may be looking at that school as a strong possibility. 

 

  I'm reading the Miracle of Forgiveness and it's wonderful and I love it. I really do appreciate for than ever the Atonement of Christ

 

  Elder Gonzalez  Bloomington Illinois

Little India (from May 20, 2013)

SO this past week has been pretty good with a lot of walking.

 

  We did have zone conference on Friday and that was very good. The Stake President from the Davenport Stake gave a great training on discipleship which to me has been the biggest thing that I've been trying to learn about. That's what it really comes down to when I think about it, can we at the last day really stand with "clean hands and a pure heart" before god telling him that we have completely changed and that we have given to God the only thing that he doesn't have.... our will. I want to completely be changed and to do everything that will be pleasing to Father and I know that I'm on the right track.

 

  Elder Virgen picked up 3 new investigators yesterday, and group of people from India named Dinil, Sagin, and Manu. They are super sweet but we're going to have to get some powerful lessons in there because they are very smart and won't be fooled by the gospel, they must feel it from within. I love the people from india and I know that I've been sent back here to help them receive the message of the Restoration and to embrace the true and living God.

 

  I hope that Tyler is doing well.... send me his address and I'll send him a letter of encouragement.

 

  I love Illinois, and yesterday during the night there where some tornadoes that touched down over by Ames where I was just serving. 5 of them to be exact. I really hope that I get the chance to see at least one before I have to go home.

 

  Yesterday we had to first real day of humidity with hot and wow it his us in the face like nothing else. So yes the warm weather is here and we're going to take advantage of that since lots of people will be out of their homes walking around and ready for us to teach them.

 

 I'm been reading in The Miracle of Forgiveness and it's been amazing. I love my Savior and know that I've been called to preach repentance because without it there is no conversion. It's not something to be afraid of from sharing with people because it's the gateway to the full blessings of the Atonement.

 

  I love serving here and want to stay as long as possible. Just leave me out here will ya?

 

  Do good and have a fun summer out there in Utah

 

  Elder Gonzalez  Bloomington Illinois

Great Days Ahead, From May 14, 2013

Hey Family

  SO after talking to you yesterday there's only a few things that I failed to mention from this past week.

 

 

 So we had a lesson with a couple from India who are members of the church and strong ones to and they helped us to understand more about the indian culture and how we as missionaries can more effectivly teach the gospel to these good people who are here. that was really sweet. we did have a zone meeting this past week and it was the first one that I've not been in charge of so that was kind of a relief, but it was good and i participated as though part of the meeting was mine. President and Sister Jergensen were there.

 

  Sorry that this email didn't get off yesterday I was typing a nice big one and it didn't send in time before I was out of time so sorry.

 

I"m doing well and in the next email i'll send a  good one

 

  Elder Gonzalez

 

Prophets in the land again- Ether 9:28

Gonzalez Family

 

  My heart is full with the spirit as a write this letter. This past week has been most memorable and it's because I've been able to meet my first apostle. Elder Neil L. Anderson is such a great man I love him and sustain him as a prophet, seer, and revelator. What probably shocked me the most about him is how familiar he seemed to me. I sat at the end of the row and he came walking down the aisle next to me and it just seemed like I'd know him for some time and it didn't blow me away to see him, I just felt comfortable in his presence. It was a wonderful day and all the talks that were given were outstanding.

 

  SO the ward is really happy that I'm back and I'm not going to let them down, I'm ready to continue to work hard. The only bad thing is my companion, he's a pile that doesn't act only is acted upon which is frustrating. Over the past 10 months I've been with proactive missionaries and it's been great and so I'll have to throttle back a bit with him and get on the same page and help build him up to where he needs to be so that we can be "equally yoked" and not out ahead of each other.

 

  So we had the only mission wide conference in Iowa City on Saturday and it was only for 2 hours but wow that time just went by way to fast. So in attendance was Elder Neil L. Anderson Elder L. Whitney Clayton Elder Dube, he was just sustained as a member of the first Q of the 70 this past conference he's from Africa and just got done as a mission president in Zimbabwe, and Elder Michael Reall who is an area 70 so it was really a great experience. Just the basics of the gospel were discussed and now ward councils will be scheduling appointments for us during the week with Less-actives, part-member families and what not so they will be keeping us busy and that will great. I loved the humility of Elder Dube he's such a simple happy man from Africa who loves the gospel and is a wonderful asset to the church over in that area.

 

  We had like 240 missionaries there which was a big crowd and then after the Stake presidents and bishops from the 7 stakes within mission boundaries were there after for another 4 hours of instruction. After all of it we went and ate at the food court at the mall there and had like 100 missionaries there and just owned the place with white shirts and ties.

 

  We had a special stake conference on Sunday in which Elder L. Whitney Clayton and Elder Reall were in attendance and it was great. They spoke of the need to LOVE the Restoration and to share those truths with others. It was missionary centered and was great. I realize that the next time that I go to Iowa City I will be picking up my last companion and new boy for training and then the next time after that I will be headed to Des Moines for the fly out. I just won't talk about that.

 SO our church here is at 1 and so I'll prob be doing the Skype at around 5 or 6 at the time here so 4 or 5 back I Utah. I'll just fill you in on all the crazy crap that will be going on.

 

  I love this gospel and am grateful for the package and everything.

 

  I love my mission, I've changed so much you'll be shocked

 

Elder Gonzalez    Bloomington Illinois in the heartland of America a place that is sacred to me....

Guess Who's Back??? (From April 29, 2013)

Hello Gonzalez Family

 

  I'm the most excited missionary in all the world. I'm now serving back here in the best place on earth, Bloomington Illinois. I'm absolutely thrilled to be here. I love it here. I'm so grateful to be here and be serving with Elder Virgen who was my MTC companion. I'll be serving with him for 6 weeks and then I'll train a new missionary for my last 12 weeks. This place is so special and I was the most excited missionary at transfers and wow I've just been on cloud 9 since I've been here. The word spread throughout the ward the first couple hours that I was here and when I called to bishop the next day after transfers he already knew that I was there and I was shocked and he said that yea the word got out that night over facebook that I was back and I was about in tears yesterday when I was at church talking to the members and the youth that are now getting ready to graduate and head on missions. I love it oh wow what a gift from God to send me here and we are going to just rip this place to pieces. The members and on board with everything that we are trying to do, and with the mountains of faith that I have in this ward things are going to get done.

 

  At transfers I was ready to go where ever and was determined to have a good attitude about the place that the Lord wanted to take me. The first zone that was announced for transfers was the Peoria Zone and when President made it to the Bloomington District he released the district leader(who is still here) and then said " we are finally transferring Elder Berthold out of Bloomington and.... where is Elder Gonzalez(president looking around the chapel from the pulpit), do you want to go back to Bloomington"? I was like well yea of course and he said that's where you're going, and that's when I just lost it and started hugging all the missionaries around me and just was in a stupor I mean just absolutely blown away.  On the way back in the car was the new zone leader going to Peoria who is taking the spot that I had and was telling him all about Peoria and also another zone leader who was released from the Des Moines zone and he's now the district leader in Pekin and so president is stacking the Peoria zone because it's been down for awhile with a bunch of pile missionaries who have done nothing, so he's giving this place some new life. I'm the District leader out here and we are going to get things done. I have 6 elders to watch over including myself and soon we'll have sisters in this ward, which will suck because I love this ward and splitting it into 2 areas we will have stay in our areas even when it's in the same ward.

 

  It was really hard to leave Ames. That place is very special to me and Elder Herrin has been a great companion and I will always stay in contact with him. Our Chinese investigators Jin He was baptized on Saturday by Ben Turbes one of our recent converts there so that is really special. Going from Ames to here is a long drive but I was excited to whole way. I have 2 people in Ames that I still need to stay in contact with so that they can go on missions and they will be great missionaries.

 

 This Saturday  we are having Elder Anderson of the Council of the 12 come to the mission with L. Whitney Clayton and it's going to be great. I will be listening to the spirit to see what I must do the rest of my mission and for the rest of my life. I'm different because of Christ, I'm different because of where I've served, I'm different because of the trials which I've gone through and have gotten back up from. This mission experience can be summed up in one word... Discipleship. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. Never again can I go back to who I was. Never again can I say the things that I used to say or think the way I used to think. I'm changed from the inside out. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh" Ezekiel 36:26

These last 4 months will be hard but I will give it everything because that's what I've been called to do.

 

  We are having a special Stake Conference here and will have Elder L. Whitney Clayton come to that and speak so I'm super excited for that on Sunday. I really wonder what will happen to the mission and to attitude of the members concerning missionary work.

 

  I love you all and want you all to know that I'm praying for you and that I love all your letters.

 

  Elder Gonzalez  Bloomington Illinois

Sad to Leave (from April 22, 2013)

Hello Gonzalez Family

 

   SO yup I'm freaking getting the boot out of here and headed to who knows where and being with who knows who. I got released as a Zone Leader and will go back to the District Leader position and get a district on fire and get things moving in a positive direction. My next companion is one of those "special assignments" coming from president so we'll see what holds in store.

 

  Now that I'm not a ZL anymore I'll have so much more time to do things and get letters written and get working out again since I've gotten fat....... it's not fun.  It's like a new life is in me. I honestly feel that the Lord is pleased with the work that's been done here in Ames and has something really big in store for the next few months. I'm just so tired of the Go GO Go of Ames and will be relived when I actually get to go to sleep at 10:30 and get some full hours of sleep because I'm just flat out tired and I'm really having to rely on that Oath and Covenant right now.

 

  Ames has a very special place in my heart and is truly sacred ground for me. I love the people. I love my companion. I love the recent converts who where all at church yesterday and I just love the spirit that was at church. I teared up and the last "amen" of sacrament meeting because I'm come really close with the people and it sucks to have to leave it all. I'm going to be a mess when this is all over.

 

  This past week we had some super powerful lessons and set a baptismal date with this guy named Luke. It was raining on Wednesday and we where out contacting some referrals that the bishop gave us to go see and it just didn't feel right so we prayed in the car what to do and we felt that we needed to go back to the apartment, which is crazy because we spend so much time there planning stuff out and what not. So we get back there and look at a stack of former investigators and the top on was Marybeth and Luke a part-member family and we called them and Elder Herrin actually met them in one of his last areas and so we scheduled for a dinner appointment( because we like to eat) that Friday. We go over there and they are acting like members and are really nice to us. Marybeth hasn't been active for some time and Luke was introduced a couple of years ago and was taught somewhat by missionaries in the past. As we start talking about the church and all he's like so what do I really need to do to get baptized? and we just tell him well you come to church and introduce yourself to the bishop and we'll go over these questions with you and there you go we'll fill the font next week. Well we actually set it for June 1st and they are having there first son in August and so I'll get on a plane and get to their sealing next summer hopefully.

 

 Our Chinese friend is getting baptized this next week and I'll unfortunately be gone. We have had some of the most spiritual lessons with Sam and wow what a guy. We were using the institute computer to show him the new chinese mormon.org and lds.org and he's excited for that. We also used google translate and had some lessons that way so that we didn't pass over any words that he didn't understand. We went throught the baptismal interview questions with him and he's all good. At the end of one lesson we asked him to type out a prayer (since he always prays in chinese) so that we knew what he was saying oh wow that was so powerful. He had to most humble heartfelt prayer that I've ever heard. He's going to help out China so much. I told him that when he returns back to China that he must marry in temple, and so we talked about that for awhile and he really wants a temple marriage once he finds a girl. So down the road a couple years I'll be needing a plane ticket to Hong Kong to go to the temple there. He lives about an hour from Hong Kong.

 

  I'll be sure to tell you all the info about the new area in next weeks email. I love you all and want you all to study hard, pray hard, and become who you need to be. God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, he will increase our capability.

 

Elder Gonzalez Love Ames Iowa 

 

 

 

Getting Transferred

Hi Family

 

  Today is Tuesday and I'm writing this letter at a time that would much rather be out doing some work, but we decided that we'd better send some info to the families. We had zone p-day yesterday and then had some teaching appointments that we went to and had to finally get president email off last night but didn't get any time to email yall yesterday so we're doing that now.

 

  Crazy things are happening in the mission and around the church with the missionary work. There's going to be changes in missionary leadership within missions worldwide and just going to be a different flow to things then from the past. Tons of sisters are coming out and the transfer in June we have 2 elders coming out and 14 sisters........... Sucks to be the new mission president that has to put up with all that sister drama.

 

  I'll be getting transfered next week and go to a new area somewhere out there. I'm really sad to leave this place but President Jergensen said I'll be getting one of those "special assignments". Sooooo I'll just have to get my crap put together and get some work done for the rest of my mission. One of those elders coming out in June is all mine and I'm going to run him into the ground and then say "peace out yo" and head back to the 801 and get things done over there. Ames has been such a fun area and i've never been so close to the people that we've baptized while we've been here. On Sunday I gave the Aaronic Priesthood to Ben and he is going to serve a mission for sure. He is doing great and we're going to be getting things set up to get him to the temple and all the other recent converts as well.

 

  We didn't have a baptism on Saturday, but will have one on April 27, I won't be here for it though. Sam will be getting the dunk and he's doing great he's read the whole Book of Mormon in chinese and has just felt the spirit so strong and wants to get it done. So Ben will baptize him and we'll just have the pattern continue down the line where if you get baptized you will be doing the next one.

 

  glad that things are doing good at home and that Tony didn't die at work. He's under good care I don't think that God will kill someone who is converting his neighbor.

 

  College stuff I"m just going to be putting off until I get out of ames so that I have more time to get things all straightened out. For now we have some people to go teach and get going before ISU gets out.

 

  WIth much love   Elder Gonzalez  Ames 2nd

Spring is Finally Here in Iowa!!!!

Greeting Family

 

  It's been a great week and I'm just really excited to be a missionary at this time of the Lord's great gathering of Israel. Wow what an honor to be wearing a black tag on my chest like a bullet proof vest. The work is true, it's just true, it's all true and that's the best thing to know in this life. What a blessing it is to know that Jesus is the Christ, that we come from a loving Heavenly Father, to know that Joseph Smith really was telling the truth by saying that he saw a light and heard a voice, how wonderful to know that Priesthood keys have been brought back to the earth to move the work forward, for without priesthood keys it couldn't happen God is a God of order and must have organization to run things right and my goodness this church is organized and has things right. Now it's just time to get the message to everyone in the world.

 We had zone leader council in Iowa City this past week and we are all trying to get 100 baptisms in May and wow it's going to be a long shot because it should have been brought up a couple months ago. You can't just give a goal like that and not have the names necessary for a goal like that. Elder Herrin and I have really been trying to stay ahead of the game and doing what Peter said to do"see afar off" 2Peter 1:9. Forecasting and seeing into the future is something that I'm trying to learn. Preparation is what this life is about,For behold, this ^alife is the time for men to ^bprepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of ^cthis life is the day for men to perform their ^dlabors Alma 34:32.  Preparation and Organization is the life that God lives. He is prepared, he knows all things because he has organized all things and knows all things because he prepared all things before the foundation of the world. sorry for that rant

 

  Conference was good and we watched it with some investigators namely Sam,and Dave. It was good to hear all the shout outs for missionary work something that has taken possession of my soul. I love sharing the gospel, it's the best, it's great I love it and if you don't then that's too bad.

 

  I hope that Cali was great and that you all had a great time there and that you all got some much needed rest and leisure.

 

  So what think ye of my school options? I need some feedback here.   My mind has been on the future and what school I'm going to go to and wow it's knocking me off my feet. Is it ok if I just live out here and go rouge with doing missionary work,,,, actually I'll transfer myself to somewhere warm like Florida and get some good weather for once.

 

  Ya Brother Silva our Ward Mission Leader and I are always fighting about me being a true mexican and he had to call you dad. He's from Chile and is always making fun of me with Elder Herrin and so thinking I could prove my mexican heritage I said ok just call my dad and he'll tell you, and what do you do............ call me a gringo and I've been hearing that ever since then. thanks for backing me up dad hahaha.... when he comes to utah we need to have him over because he's a lot of fun.

 

  Rumor has it that the Masters are this weekend............ I might just roll over and die, I always get the golf itch over the winter and with the warm weather coming here again I'm itching all over............ Go Tiger!! Well if I have to use the home card this month I'm sorry and really don't want to use it but we're drilling through our MSF card really fast with needing to buy things for our zone and members for thank you cards.   Plus I really like the food here

 

A way that Elder Herrin and I are going to get new investigators is to teach english classes to all the chinese students here at ISU and have our chinese investigators help us with the teaching hahaha it pure genius and all the chinese people will be all over it.

 

 

  1  Elder Gonzalez   Ames Iowa   

April Fools (from 4/1/2013)

What's good Gonzalez Family?

 

  So today is April fools day, and Elder Herrin and I spent the night down in Ankeny so that we could help them with some struggles and I brought my air horn that I got from who knows where and once the alarm went off in the morning I let that puppy go and everyone was shocked as ever hahahaha it was so loud and sooooo funny.

 

  I'm super Jealous that yall are in Cali........ that's just eating me up right now. TAKE ME WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Iowa is great and all but there's a reason that the pioneers left this miserable place and went out west to paradise. I'd rather be preaching on the west coast then working here in Iowa or in Illinois, the same state the Brigham Young put a curse on........... it's all making sense now.

 

  This past week was great but also had some struggles. We where on exchanges with the Marshalltown elders and also went down to Newton to help them out and to see what's going on. There's an elder down in Newton that's just having a terrible time and doesn't want to do anything.........so I gave him a little talking to and it just didn't go anywhere. He just doesn't want to be here and is bring down his companion all the time so we are having to babysit that situation. We also have some elders in the ames 1st ward that are just bringing themselves down because they don't want to follow the freaking book. Makes me so mad and they just bring it all on themselves.

On the bright side Ben was baptized on Saturday and it was one of the best baptismal services that I've been to. He is really excited to be a member and after sacrament meeting on Sunday and after the confirmation he said "wow I can't believe it,well i guess it's official, I'm a mormon". He's so good and he'll go on a mission I know it and he'll continue to learn and convert.

 

  So as I was looking at some more schools this past week to possibly look at when I get back, and BYU-Hawaii is now an option. They have a golf team and they are in the same conference that Dixie State is in and that would be amazing. I would get to play against my good friend Kenny You, who went to Alta and is now on the team at Dixie. I'll just put all that on hold for now but I'll see where it goes when I get back but I just wanted you to know what's on my mind and to help me find some options..... BYU-Idaho is out of the picture(no sports).

 

  I'm so excited for conference this weekend. We had 5 investigators to church and they are all looking forward to hearing the Prophet of God speak this next weekend. I'm especially excited to see how Jared Veach and Ben Turbes do at Priesthood Session when they get knocked on their butts by the spirit when they walk in that night. General Conference is like Christmas for us missionaries.

 

 

    Here's a bit of info from President Jergensen about some exciting future events....

  "Sister Jergensen and I have some exciting news to share with you.  On May 4th the seven stakes that are part of this mission will have a Priesthood Leadership Conference (PLC) at the Iowa City Stake Center from 1-5 PM in the afternoon.  All of the stake presidencies, the bishops and branch presidents will be in attendance to be trained and taught by a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as well as a member of the Presidency of the Seven Presidents of Seventy.  

    Sister Jergensen and I are not exactly sure who will be in attendance for the PLC; but Elder Reall, our Area Seventy has informed us that the member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who will be here would like to have an IDM Mission Conference earlier in the day.   All of the missionaries throughout our mission will be invited including all elders, sisters and senior couples.  Further details will be forthcoming in weekly letters.  Please watch each week for updates concerning which General Authorities will be attending this All Mission Conference.  Once it is confirmed I will let you all know.

   The meeting will begin at 9:00 AM and conclude at 10:30 AM.  Each of you will need to be in your seats at the Iowa City Stake Center by 8:15 AM quietly preparing for the mission conference and inviting the spirit to reside with us.  Prelude music will be played during that time to assist in helping the spirit direct the meeting.  Please come spiritually prepared to meet with a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and member of the Presidency of the Seventy.  They will certainly look forward to being with you.  This is a once in a life-time experience!  It is a real honor to have both of these great men attend.  More details will follow  about driving and being in Iowa City that early in the morning.

   Recently it was asked of me about teaching Muslims.  Generally speaking we don’t teach Muslims.  We can if they request to be taught or if we meet them while finding.  However before they can be taught a member of the mission presidency, me, President Jeppsen or President Johnson has to interview them to determine if they are citizens of this country or here on a student visa.  If they meet these conditions and there is no threat to their lives as they are taught and might join the church then we can proceed to interview them and teach them.  Before a Muslim can be baptized they have to be interviewed again by me or a member of the presidency to determine if their lives are in jeopardy as well as their family back home.   Under no circumstances should we search for outreach programs to find Muslims and teach them.  We only will do so as mentioned above".  

 

  I'm excited to meet this apostle and get to feel "virtue' leave his body and come into mine when I shake hands with him and with the Seventy guy.   Last week President Jergensen told us in our coordination meeting that it will possible be Neal L. Anderson and Elder L. Whitney Clayton.

 

  Well I really don't know what to say except thanks for the Easter package. There were some really useful things in there and um well I really ummm enjoyed some of stuff in there and still don't know what to do with some of it, but thanks though.

 

   With all my LOVe   Elder Gonzalez  Ames 2nd Ward

Fully engaged in this great enterprise that Jesus called "my Father's business!!!"""

Well Hi there!!

 

   It snowed again here a few inches and its really making me sad..... I just want to see the warm weather come around because I'm just not liking all this white garbage.

 

  We had interviews this past week and it was great to be with President Jergensen for a day. He's someone that I will stay in contact with for the rest of my life. Here was here in the zone on Friday and then on Sunday he was here for Stake coordination with the Stake President. On Sunday we had 5 investigators at church and they are all working towards baptismal dates.

 

  Ben will be baptized on Saturday and he will be baptized by Jared Veach who was baptized on Feb 9th so he's also a recent convert. You want to know how to keep people active in this church??? You get them to the temple within 30 days of their baptism and get them to baptize someone else hahaha. Oh he's great and the 2 of them want to go on missions, so a year from now they will be out in the mission field, and that makes me so happy.

 

  Sam is doing great, he's now in Helaman in his Book of Mormon reading and wow the spirit is just working with him so much. We were talking about his feelings with his reading and he kept saying that he wants to come to Jesus and then he was thinking about Ben's baptism( he was sitting right there with us) and he was like "can I get the baptism too"? We were just so excited that he said that and will be getting him all lined up for baptism on the 20th of April.

 

  I'm so happy to be here in Ames because it's just the best area and has some super sweet members who are taking good care of us. If you've noticed mom I've been using the home card to get some food because I'm staight up out of MSF because we have bought flowers and thank you gifts for people that have helped us out in the ward and I'm just out, so I'll be taking some out to buy food this week....... sorry:)

 

 Let me know how the family is dong down in st. geezy and in Cali cuz that's where I"m headed for school and all:)  I hope that Abuelo is doing ok it's been one of my biggest fears that something bad would happen to him or anyone in the family.

I could really use a spring break right now, my body is just beat but my spirits are high and doing better then ever.

 

I sent all my love from Ames Iowa    Elder Gonzalez

 

 

ps transfers are only 6 weeks long

 

pps   On may 4 we are having an apostle come and speak to the missionaries with a Presidentcy of the 70 dude

More cold weather......

Hey good family

 

   I'm happy today and glad that I do get some time to send an email your way. I'm sorry that lately it's been on Tuesdays, we just are all over the place on Mondays even though it is P-day. This past week was just great but a little slower then normal. On Sunday we did get to have a great lesson with Ben and with Sam (our Chinese friend). Ben has expressed interest in serving a mission and that is really exciting because he's not even baptized (March 30th) and he's already thinking of going on a mission to let others know about the eternal significance of the gospel. He's doing great and will meet him baptismal date. Sam is doing great as well. When we sat down with him we asked if he has been able to read from his Chinese Book of Mormon, and he grabbed his book and starting flipping the pages and he stopped at Alma 32! He's already read to ALMA 32!!! Elder Herrin and I just about fell off our chairs we were so excited. We watched the Restoration DVD with him in Chinese so that he could understand more about the prophet Joseph Smith and where the Book of Mormon came from. He's doing very well and has been to church every week for about a month.

 

  That's great to hear that you are getting some warm weather over there, because we are just getting more snow and cold weather. It snowed Sunday night and it's clear outside right now and pretty chilly. I really hate the snow and want it to be spring here. It's spring break for the university in town so it's actually pretty quite and not much commotion going on. We have interviews with President Jergensen this week and so I'm excited for that and ready to update him from my last interview. He love Elder Herrin and I so it'll be just great.

 

That's sweet that your planning on going to Cali. I want to go there so bad. MOM you have to go, just drink a couple of red bulls and you'll have all the energy in the world. I love the Midwest, it truly has a special place in my heart and Ames is a very special place for me. I will be transferred out of here on April 25th and be in my last area probably fixing what other missionaries have destroyed since that's been the trend for me my entire mission. Elder Pope my 2nd boy in now the district leader down in Ankeny and that's exciting to see that he is doing well in his mission and staying strong in the gospel. I'll be on exchanges with him later on in the transfer.

 

 

  Keep being good and do fun things. 

 

 

 

       Elder Gonzalez   Ames 2nd ward

Road Trip to Nauvoo I'll always remember!!!

Hello Family

 

  This past week I was able to see so many miracles. First off Sara Rogers and Matt Schmits were baptized and confirmed and are doing well. I was able to baptize Sara and it was unforgettable and absolutely amazing. If there is something that I'm addicted to it's baptizing people. Her family is starting to come back to church and her father, who hasn't been active in over 20 years, was able to stand in the confirmation circle in Sacrament meeting. Brother Rogers now has a friend that he wants us to teach and we will be meeting with him tomorrow morning.

 

  After the baptism and 10:30 or so we loaded up in a big van and headed off to Nauvoo to do baptisms for the dead with 4 recent converts, 2 of which where there for the first time. I'm so grateful that I have Nauvoo is in my mission because there is truly a very special spirit there. Alyssa Schuster, and Jared Veach were able to do baptisms for there family members that never had the chance to accept the gospel in this life and wow the tears were rolling down everyone's cheeks. We were the only group down in the baptismal area and on a Saturday afternoon it was the best place to be. So the group was Elder Herrin and I, Chris Stott, Jared Veach, Alyssa Schuster, Kara Maxwell, and Emily French. Everyone is YSA aged and it was so much fun going down and back in the same van. It was the first time that Elder Herrin has ever been able do baptisms for the dead because he wasn't active in his former years and it was great to have him baptize me in the Nauvoo Temple. Goodness it was a great day. 2 convert baptisms and then a road trip down to Nauvoo for a recent convert baptism trip.

 

  Elder Herrin is a great person and I'm so glad that I've been able to serve with him for the past 11 weeks here in Ames. Saturday we were to get our transfer info in the morning but we didn't get it until we were on our way back from Nauvoo at about 8 at night. The call came and we are staying for another 6 weeks which makes me so happy. He reminds me of Tony because he's 2 years older then I am and he is always picking on me and pulling pranks me like Tony does.

 

  So I have to go now but next week I'll write more about who we are teaching and how they are doing. Ames is great and I will be here until April 26th now.

 

With all the love that I possess  Elder Gonzalez  Ames 2nd ward

 

PS we have lots of snow.................... oh well spring break is next week!!!

I really don't like the snow and we got a ticket for it :( (from March 3, 2013)

hey good family

 

  So this past week was just grand. We got stuck out in the snow in Newton Iowa for Tuesday and Wednesday and it sucked. Were we parked it didn't have any signs about parking when it snows and so when we went to sleep it started to snow and in the morning it was like 6 inches on the ground and we got a ticket for parking there. Not good.

 

  We do have 2 baptisms this Saturday. Sara Rogers and Matt Schmits I'm so excited one service starts at 9 in the morning and the other at 11 so it'll be super sweet. The work here in Ames is moving right along and we set 3 more baptismal dates with investigators this past week. Jin He is set for April 20th and a new investigator named Dominique and her son Corvon for April 13th. So cool thing about Dominique. We obviously got whitewashed in and so for Jared's baptism we just went through the phone and texted everyone that was list with an a capital I in front of their name which means that they are an investiagator from the past. With Dominique she was just under there with nothing just her name and so when we texted her she said that she would meet. SO on Saturday we finally set something up with her and the spirit was so strong there. She was crying and saying that we could actually answer her questions about which church is right for her, and why didn't people just go to the same church. I have had so much fun teaching her. So we came back yesterday on Sunday, 2 days in a row and she felt it again. She read the chapter in the Book of Mormon that we left with her (2 Nephi 31) and she loved it, so we set a date for her and her son right then and there. She has lived in Ames her whole life and has been searching for a while and now that the right missionaries are there it is just all going to work out.

 

  Jin He is doing great he came to Region Conference which was sweet. It was a big broadcast from Salt Lake and Elder Craig C. Christensen spoke as well as Larry Echo Hawk and finally Dallin H. Oaks. I loved it and wow we had 4 investigators there for them to hear from an apostle of the Lord.

 

I'm really scared that I'm going to get the call this Friday saying that I'm getting released as Zone Leader and transfered away. I really don't want that to happen I love the people here and we have such good members to take care of us, even if they take pictures of me with snakes on my head. 

 

One Love all the way from Ames Iowa   Elder Gonzalez

We have a new mission president :(

Hey good family

 

  So starting off we have news about the new mission president who will be here in July and who will take over the place. His name is John R. Jensen and he's a professor at South Carolina University and is in Geography( pathetic, at least President Jergensen is a really business man dealing the drugs like it's nothing in broad daylight). So ya he'll be here for like my last 9 weeks or so and will do my exit interview and will know nothing about me and it just won't be the same with the new guy.

 

 

  I don't have much time to write things out but i do want to talk about who we are teaching for a bit.

 

 We had a great lesson with a man named Jin He who is from mainland China and is a student here at ISU and he is just amazing. He doesn't speak the best english but the spirit spoke straight to his heart. We taught the message of the Restoration, and he was in complete agreement. He felt time and time again the spirit thoughout the lesson. He cooked us some food first and we had a great meal of crazy pork stuff and then had a lesson with  him that took until 11 at night to complete. He was asking questions that just took us off our feet, questions like " Some times I wonder what is the purpose of life and who created all life..... Do you know who created all life"? " Why do I feel good here and at the church". " If God is real does he know me"? WOW we were able to answer those questions for him and tell him about Heavenly Father and about Prophets and about Jesus Christ who is the Father of our salvation. We told him about young Joseph Smith who was wondering some of the same questions and the wonderful answers to those questions. I don't know how to speak Chinese but the spirit does and it spoke peace to his heart and it was so wonderful. His American name that he has is Sam and so that's what we call him but his real Chinese name is Jin He.

 

  Alyssa's baptism was so wonderful, and she was crying so hard when on Sunday Elder Herrin gave her the Holy Ghost. How powerful and what a testimony builder that was to have the Holy Ghost like a fire come down from heaven and help know of God's love for her. We are going to start teaching her cousin who is her roommate here soon hopefully.Yesterday Elder Herrin and I reset a baptismal date with Sara ( a 16 year old of less-active parents) for March 9th and she has asked that I do the Baptism. I DON"T HAVE ANY WHITE PANTS!!! I've never done a baptism before! It's going to be great though and she is so ready for the fullness of the gospel in her life.

 

  Yea it sucks having lots of snow and out here it's so ugly with all the gray everywhere.

 

Love much Elder Gonzalez   

 

   I'm still a hard core baller coming in at a perfect 6 foot 2 and 210 pounds

 

It's freezing right now, but my soul is singing for JOY!!

Dear Family

 

  Today is a great day even though the wind chill outside has it at like 0 degrees..... I love Iowa and it's my home!!

 

  SO this past week we were able to have 2 exchanges and it was great.. We have helped 2 areas get a game plan together and start working with members much better. Elder Herrin and I have been applying the principles for Abraham 4 into the work. We are organizing and creating everything spiritually before we actually go and do it. The Lord is blessing us  so much and it's just amazing.

 

We have Alyssa all ready for baptism on Saturday so the Lord is just so good. She is a college student that we have been working with and we just had to most spiritual lesson of my mission with her and it was just amazing. Like Elder Maxwell said" you know more then you can say" that lesson was just too good to put in this email. We sat down and seriously just said like 50 words and it was amazing. So alyssa has been looking into the church for several months now and was just too scared to tell her parents about it who are thick catholics, and we just prayed like crazy and went in there and were just silent and the spirit was just there off the bat. After talking to her about her feelingsfor Christ, we just paused and then the member asked her " so do you believe the Book of Mormon is true"? and she just broke  down and started crying like crazy. We were just crying all over the place. She said that she knew it was true with all her heart and so we said that she was ready for saturday and so she went home over the weekend and told her family. She was so nervous and  she called us on the phone and we had a prayer with her on the phone and she went and told her parents. They still don't like it but she is so excited to be baptized. She's just great.

 

  I love my mission

 

  SO thank you so much for the package it was great and I have already eaten all the jerky.  I love the cookies but I'm starting to get sick of desserts because every member that we eat with just piles on the brownies and ice cream blaah.

 We had a Zone training meeting on Saturday and we had 2 investigators there who are getting ready for baptism in the couple. Who would've guessed that if you actually use the tools in Preach My Gospel that you can actually do the work in the Lord's way and have success. In PMG is says to invite investigators to come to district and  zone conferences to role play with and it's amazing if you actually do it. We had 4 groups teaching at the same time. and they rotated every 15 minutes to another person to teach. It was like the MTC and it was amazing.

 

I hope that Austin is ready for a mission and that president chugg has  really gotten into his soul. I would hate for any of my friends to return early from there missions. Devin just got transfered to his 2nd area and is white wash training for his 4th transfer. 

 

Jared you may want to be aware of who your taking to school dances because I had dinner this past sunday with my prom date and it sucked. It's awakard trying to not show much emotion when she's sitting right next to you. SO the YSA put on a dinner for the missinaries and guess who had to sit right by me..... it's just weird so i have to remind myself that my eye is singel to the glory of God and that my  heart is locked solid and only feels the spirit and a LOVE for the people not girls.

 

So i want to know how everyone is doing? I love y our letters and all but I want to know  this next letter your experience from reading the Book of Mormon between now and Monday. I feel that everyone of you can have some great missionary experiences if you read the Book of Mormon and really focus on the chapters that focus on the Savior that it will come alive better. PMG  page47 is a great place to start.

 

  I love you all and will let you know how this week goes next week hahaha 

 

ONe LovE  Elder Gonzalez   Ames Iowa

Sorry but it's been a crazy week!!

Hey there good family

 

  SO i know that it's wednesday and that it's way latter in the week but I am getting an email off. So on Monday I was spending basically my whole time on the computer helping this old guy  get an email account all set up and having some struggles with getting all the information. So I was able to get all the emails read and I was able to email President Jergensen but just wasnt' able to get a note your way before it was time to leave.

 

  I was able to have one of the biggest miracles of my mission on Saturday was Jared Veach baptized. He was looking so good in his suit and having so many members there to support him. Elder Herrin and I invited a ton of non-members there and were able to have several of our investigators there to witness that powerful moment. While Jared was getting changed Elder Herrin and I were able to teach the Restoration lesson the everyone there in the chapel and had pamphlets for everyone to follow along with. We gave the really shortened version and it was very spiritual. He was confirmed on Sunday and it was amazing. I was able to be in the circle and he said that as soon as we put our hands on his head that he felt a "shock" just  go through his body and it was great to  hear that he was baptized by water and of fire.

 

  We picked up a new investigator named Ben who is a friend of a member that just went on a mission and he is a student in computer engineering over at the university and he's so  sweet. He's the most prepared investigator that we have right now and we're having dinner with him at a members tonight witha lesson.

 

  Last week was transfers and we have some new additions to the zone and we unfortunantley had to take a missionary that was only out for 6 months to the airport to go back to provo. It put a giant rock in my stomach to see the airport. I'm scared out of my mind of that place. I don't want to leave and it put things into a little more perspective when I saw the planes and realized that I have to leave everything on the table here. I might only have 4 more weeks here in Ames and i want to it to be the best 4 weeks ever. I will never be more tired then ever before in my life but it's going to happen.

 

  we did have a black out week this past week and the numbers looked like this  1 1 4 2 9 4/3 3 6 2 2 2 2

 

I love my mission and I did put in the mail my card with pictures in it. I don't know when it'll get there but please send it back because i made a goal to take more pictures and will fill the other one up soon.

 

  We had a stake Priesthood meeting this past week that we as elders taught the Priesthood holder in the stake in smaller groups how to give the NML's has been a bit of a problem in the stake. It was so much fun and we had such a good spiritual experience with our recent convert Tom who is trying to have his family come to the knowledge of the gospel. I just love this ward and I love  Bishop Thacker who has our back in all the things that we are doing.

 

We had zone leader Council yesterday and me and another elder are the oldest ones in that council ( as far as who has been there the longest) and it's crazy to know that things are coming to a close). We had texas  road house and both were paid for by members haha the Lord is blessing us so much and now I'm getting fat haha but not really just muscle and a little bit of fat haha

 

We have an exchange with the story city elders tomorrow and then have a zone meeting on Saturday where we'll try to get some good investigators there to role play with. The work of God is moving forward here.

 

 

I love you all and hope that you all have a great Valentine's day and remember mom that I have a pin on my suit that is a heart/breast cancer awareness pin and You're always on my mind.

 

 

  Elder Gonzalez  Ames Iowa

The Fruits of Our Labors are Coming!!! (from Feb. 4, 2013)

Dear Family\

 

  I am so thankful for all the blessings that the Lord has been able to give to me and to Elder Herrin. This past week we were so busy that it wasn't even funny these were our numbers for the week  0 0 4 3 13 2/2 7 6 3 2 2 2  Never in all my mission have we had 13 member present lessons it was just flat out crazy fun. I've never had so much fun in the work of the Lord then what I've been experiencing here in Ames. I love it here the people of this ward and stake are great and they are so willing to help us out because we are here to work very very hard. Jared is all ready for baptism on Saturday and his good friend is going to baptize him. He's so excited and today we are going to go fit him for his clothing and get him comfortable with the font. Last night we were at the Stott's house and they were watching the super bowl and they paused it ( God bless DVR)  and we filled out his baptismal record and we ate tons of wings and it was awesome and yes I didn't watch any football, but next year I'll be all over that football game.

 

  We had a member from a neighboring branch bring a friend to church and he is a student at ISU and he's very interested in the gospel and so we taught the Gospel of Christ for Gospel Principles class and he just ate it up. We meet with Ben on Wednesday and will set a baptismal date on the first lesson. We were snowed in for 2 days out on exchanges in Marshalltown and that didn't let us get down on ourselves we just did all the phone work that you could imagine and the Lord blessed us wonderfully. Elder Herrin and I will be together for another 5 weeks. This next transfer is only a 5 week transfer due to all the missionary department changes. I hope that I can stay here for at least 2 more transfers because it's just an awesome place.

 

The Ward that we are in is a family ward and there's a bunch of YSA which is where a big majority of our investigators are coming from. If you do the work right then you never have to knock on doors. Elder Herrin and I haven't knocked on one door since we have been here, and we don't plan on doing any of that. There's just more work to do then that. You see we are teaching the members to do our job for us. We teach them how to study from PMG and when we are out of town 3 days a week then they need to be finding for us, and so far it's been working out pretty good. We are in the business of changing people ya see. If your going to be a leader you need to teach others how to be a leader and that's what we're doing with our missionaries and especially with the members. We're teaching members to be effective missionaries since we can't be there and we're not knocking doors to find people to teach so you find them for us and it's working just amazing. You see people changers need to be people recruiters and we're recruiting our members to be missionaries and our missionaries to be leaders in God's holy work. 

 I don't much time left but i do love everything that you all send. I'm doing just fine out here. We have a full time car so don't worry about me getting hit by a truck anytime soon, although I do want to hit some of the college students when they just go walking all over the place without any sense.

 

God's work is true because it's his work and God is true and the gospel is true and me being out here is true and just to let you know I don't want to come home I'm 17 months out and now and it's the worst thing to think about.

 

May God bless you in this great enterprise is my prayer    Elder Gonzalez  Ames 2nd

Baptismal Dates on the way

Hey Fam Fam

 

  So I was considering not writing a letter today because we are now on exchanges with the ames 1st elders and they are having some internal issues so ya glorified babysitting is what we do. We take raw elders and shape them into baptizing machines, if they are willing to get their minds off of home.

 

  So to answer the question that mom has Ames Iowa is home to Iowa State University and that has about 30,000 students enrolled there.. Iowa City is about 2 1/2 hours away to the east and is home of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes.

 

  This past week was crazy and we didn't have a p-day and it took it's toll on us physically because we just work ourselves to death.

 

 We are now teaching tons of people and we have 4 baptismal dates Sara for febuary now along with Jared for the 9th and 2 people for 16th of march.

 

Sipho is a worker for ISU here and is from south africa and he will be gone for a couple of weeks so won't be able to teach him for awhile but he has had exposure in the past to missionaries and is willing to change his life and get things ready to get rolling.

 

  So the word is out and the whole ward knows that Hillary and I have dated in the past and oooo wow she was looking good on Sunday and it was really just trying to keep the focus. maybe we'll have to have her sign up to feed us hahaha we'll make it a dinner and a lesson eh?

  It's so bone cold here that I can't take it. I have still yet to go tracting because we have so many referrals coming our way and it's great and we haven't even started to take a hit at the less-active list because we are just to busy. I'm hungry because we have to skip meals due to our crazy schedule. Please if you have any love for me don't send me candy. I hate candy. I'm so sick of people thinking that all we missionaries want is candy... NOO we want food good down to earth food. . so please don't send candy I do love Beef Jerky and nuts and good healthy food like some good nature valley bars!!

 

  So tomorrow at the university they are having this thing called Club Fest. It's basically where all the clubs have like these stands/booths set up for people to see what clubs are available and we'll get to be representing the Church and the Institute on campus from 11-4 tomorrow. I might just drop over and die from during the event because I just can't take all the good looking daughters of Heavenly Father all over the place. I will stay strong though.

 

  I have such a testimony of doing the right things and letting the Lord bless you for your efforts. We met a man at HyVee(the harmons out here) and he wanted to learn more about the church and we're teaching him and due to his hours and the convenience of his schedule we taught him at 10:30 at night and didn't get to bed until like just after 1. I'm just flat out tired.. don't be worried when I get home from my mission if I just hybernate like a bear for like a week trying to get my strength back because at the rate we're working it's just crazy.

 

  the indian family is still  being taught.... the mission is doing well.... I'm getting some serious wrinkles and bags under my eyes... I still look good though... I'm in need of some new baller shoes though, and running shoes because from all the service that I've done mine are beat to pieces...All in all life is great except for the freezing cold weather. Elder Herrin and I are great together definantly the best comp that I've had, he's a champion.

 

Good luck this week because I'll need it  Elder Gonzalez

 

We are all over the place! My mind is all over the place! My heart is all over the place:)

Hey Family

 

  It's been such a good week and we have been able to see many miracles just come into our lives and into our areas. On Monday we had Zone Leader Council in Des Moines and talked much about what action needs to happen now and what will be the biggest causes for us to achieve our goal of 550 baptisms this year. It's weird to think that besides the assistants, I with 2 other elders have been in the council longer then anyone else that is there. I really just want to be back at a year again. time is going be so fast that it's not even funny. We are already halfway through the month and before you know it the real spring will be here and then the 4th of July and then my bags will be packed and I'll cry my whole way home........... but for now I'm on cloud 9 ( whatever that means) and I'm just loving life in the college world.

  Wednesday: We were on exchanges with the elder in Newton and they are 2 of the most humble elders that I've ever seen. I went out with the district leader Elder Allan and we worked for the entire day out in a town know as grinnell. It is full of old people and that's just about all that lives there and we helped bring aid to the lonely and sick and just felt the spirit very strongly with those people who are preparing to kick it back in the spirit world. We did teach a family that they are working with named the Thompson family. It was an insane appointment and the kids were off the walls the whole time so reeeaaallly hard to teach, but we busted it out.

  Thursday: we were on exchanges out in Marshalltown with the spanish elders. I love the spanish people that they are working with and I feel so stupid that i don't know how to speak my own native tongue..... it's just pathetic, but the food they had was amazing and that's why I'm a bit heavier now then when I came out. We did teach while we were in Marshalltown a young couple from India. I had taught a lot of Indian folks while I was out in Bloomington so I took over that lesson and just straight up told them that if they can't except the concept of Christ then we have nothing to say to them. The husband did go to a catholic school over in India and remembers to peace that came to his soul when they talked of the Bible and Jesus so then the lesson changed gears fast. We taught and testified of the Restoration of the Gospel and it was very spirit filled. I felt very prompted to have the wife instead of the Husband give the closing prayer and she accepted. We taught her how to pray and she said it, and the spirit was so strong that she began to cry. Moments like this make missionary work so successful and rewarding. We invited them to follow this Jesus Christ by being baptized and they said "Yes we will follow". I may not have seen any success in Bloomington teaching the Hindu people but in Marshalltown of all places with spanish elders, we taught Hindu's and they are now preparing to be Mormon!

  Saturday: we had a big meeting witht the whole zone and had to Assistants present and they gave a training and then we role played and we had actual investigators there for them to teach. Jared one of our new investigators came and was taught and touched by the spirit, as well as a lady named Bobbi who is also from a part-member family.It was the highlight of the weekend and everyone was very impressed that we had investigators not to just role play with but to teach hahaha. Our ward mission leader was also there and he gave to spanish elders a run for their money with his ghetto spanish since he's from Chile and is a convert himself.

the ward here loves us and is giving us referrals right and left. with school now in session we have the blinders on hardcore. It's getting so hard to keep the eyes straight forward that I'm going crazy here. Girls are the devil. The Institute teacher is the Bishop of the Boone ward and is a sweet guy. We are going to be putting a ton of fliers all over the campus advertizing the institute and the free Friday lunch that they have there. Walking around the campus during school hours is like surfing during a hurricane, it can be hazardous for your health, but don't you have to worry mom i won't get caught up in the worldly things of campus nope there's not a snowballs chance in hell that i'm going to get distracted from the work of the ministry.

 

  I love you all and I can't give my street address because I live with a member and all mail is to get forwarded through the mission office. love ya  Elder Gonzalez!

I Love Being a Missionary!!!!! (from January 7, 2013)

Hey good family

 

  It's been such a great week with 2 exchanges and having interviews on Friday with President Jergensen in 2 districts and having to work in our area more effectively with the little time that we have been there.

 

  Elder Herrin in from South Jordan and actually chose to go the Jordan High School where he played soccer and football. He stopped going to church back where he was about 13 and was actually really against the church all growing up. His family for the most part is less-active and is trying to get back to church. He live down by the haricut lady and right next to one of my ex-girlfriends house which is really weird and he won't leave me alone about that. I've just been having girl problems my whole mission, and being here in Ames is not helping with my other ex-girlfiend is my ward for goodness sakes. She's going to get us a ton of referrals though! Elder Herrin has been out 1 transfer longer then I have and is 22 since December 3. This is his 2nd transfer as zone leader and we are having a complete ball. We did set a baptismal date with a 16 year old girl named Sara and she is set for the 26th of the month and she comes from a part-member family. Our first week at church last week was the first time that Brother Rogers has been to church on like 20 years and now we're going to be getting Sara ready for the 26th. The Lord is already getting things here ready for us and the ward keeps giving us referrals and we'll be hitting them up this week for sure. I haven't  had to knock a single door since I've been here and that's been a blessing because in a college town you never know what is coming out of that door.

 Hillary is the girl that I went to Prom with. She lived in Tremonton and moved to San Antonio for her Senior year of high school. She is extremely smart and doing a double major in Statistics and Math so ya she's got a lot of knowledge on me, but i'll be a pro golfer so no worries :) She's just  amazing that's all I got to say and all the other YSA students that are here are jealous of our previous hook up. I'm telling ya there's going to be a lot of YSA work going on here and Elder Herrin and I have no fear and we're just going to rock the place and use the Institute as our hot spot... I did tell her that I was going on a mission to Iowa because she knew that she was going to Iowa State long before I got my call. I talked to her for like an hour on the phone the night before I left to the MTC and then the first day that I arrived in Des Moines, at transfer meeting I met an elder who was serving here in Ames 2nd ward and i talked to her there telling her that I was going to Bloomington and that was the last time that I'd made contact with her up until now. There's so many  missionaries here that know about this now and I'm getting a ton of crap from them saying that It's ment to be and I'll end up getting married to her, which is actually a possibility since my previous marriage date is thinking of serving a misison now......... it's just way complicated and so whatever enough chick talk there's enough girl drama going on in my life right now and I'm a missionary for goodness sakes. I'm going to lose my mind when I get home.

 

  SO this upcoming week we have zone leader council tomorrow which is going to be awesome I can tell because we hit our baptismal goal spot on and we'll be talking about a lot of goals and how we're going to reach them. I guess with what president said at our interviews last week that we'll be getting more then 250 missionaries from our 184 that we're sitting at right now, it could be as high as 284 now..... It's going to be maddness for that new mission president. I feel that I need to be in the business world now that I've had a taste of running somewhat of an organization, but this is the Lord's business and it's all about harvesting as many souls as will listen to this wonderful restored gospel and come to the gentle Christ that is standing with arms outstreched waiting to give his healing touch. "Wherefore, as ye are agents, ye are on the Lord’s errand; and whatever ye do according to the will of the Lord is the Lord’s business". D&C 64:29. This is not something to mess around with and I'm going stronger and harder then I've ever gone.

 

  I love you all and i hope that things continue to improve on the home front. I love the current events from back home so keep sending them.

 

One Love Elder Gonzalez   the tall, dark, and handsome one