Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

Hello Everyone,

I hope you all had a great week and a Merry Christmas. I had a Merry Christmas. It felt more like thanksgiving because I was so grateful for so much. I am so grateful for the loving and awesome family I have. I hope we all remembered the true meaning of Christmas. I hope everyone enjoyed each others company. I enjoyed the time we got to Skype. As a missionary Holidays don't really feel any different from another days. Christmas was very good though. 

We had a very good week this week. With Christmas and everyone gone we were still able to see a lot of people. We also were able to get quite a few investigators at church so it felt successful. We had a very good lesson last night. The spirit taught and it was a crazy lesson. It was with Iris (40), Brandi (16), and Dasha (14). We brought the Mcphersons a convert family. They are originally from Jamaica. They talk like everyone from cool runnings. Brother Mcpherson is always saying "Love you Brotha" to us. They are awesome the Mcphersons. We taught the plan of salvation and it didn't follow any lesson plan. I have never taught a lesson like that. The spirit was teaching. 

Leo wore his new suit to church it was awesome. His Baptismal interview will be this Friday we are very excited for him. Have a happy new year. Make a goal to read the Book of Mormon. Love you all!

-Elder Lords 

Merry Christmas!

Hey everyone! 

 First off Merry Christmas. I hope you have had the chance to watch the "He is the Gift" video on Christmas.mormon.org. It talks about how Christ is the first gift of Christmas. Its a great video! We had a pretty good week. We walked a lot! This area is a lot bigger than my area in Cedar Rapids. My bike finally got her this week some other missionaries delivered it. That will be good for when it isn't raining.

We are preparing for 2 baptisms one for a younger boy named Leo. He is so crazy smart it kills me. His cousin is a member and that's how we met him. He is going to get baptized either January 3rd or 10th. The bishop is being a little hard to deal with and wants the 10th so that's probably what will happen. He is so smart and he is very excited to get baptized and pass the sacrament. We also have a lady named Brandi planning to get baptized on January 17th.

There is a lot of great things going on her in Des Moines. We are staying busy. We got a couple new investigators. We didn't find as many this week. The last 2 weeks the lord blessed us with 10 new people to teach. This week he blessed us with 3 more people to teach. Joe and is daughter Katelyn are really cool! Joe is a mechanic and we talked about cars and engines for quite a while. Elder Sessions and I are enjoying are time here in Des Moines so far!

I want to leave with my testimony that I know Jesus suffered for all of our sins, but not just for our sins but for anything we go through. Trials and unhappiness he knows what we are feeling. We can ask for strength through prayer. "For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten Son..." That's a lot of love. Im grateful the fullness of the gospel has been restored. We are in the last days. We need to prepare for the second coming of our lord jesus Christ. We taught Elders Quorum (on short notice of course haha). It was on the second coming if you have a chance review the parable of the 10 virgins. I hope you all have a merry Christmas! I love you all!

-Elder Lords

Good Week!

Hello Everyone,

Elder Sessions and I had a very good week. We worked very hard and it defiantly paid off. We went to ward council and they asked for the missionary report. The ward mission leader gave it and the bishop and his councilors just kept doubting everything we did and all the dates we set for baptism. The ward is very hard to work with. The last missionaries put a very bad taste in the mouth of the members. A member walked up to us and said "hey your the new missionaries?" We said yes and the member said "Hopefully you come to church, cause the last Elders didn't." So that's what we are working with. We hope they will start to trust us a little because members are so important. 

 

The lord has blessed us with quite a few people to teach! We don't have the car this week so that will be fun haha! We will be walking around Des Moines. We aren't in the city though our area covers part of down town. 

This week we went on exchanges with the Zone leaders. The zone leaders are Spanish missionaries so they teach only Hispanics! So I was in all of these Spanish lessons and I had no idea what to say. You can still feel the spirit though. Then we had Zone Conference which was very fun! We kinda get to relax as far as relaxing goes for missionaries. We listened to presidents and the assistants train then we watched Ephraim's Rescue. We had meetings from 9 to 4! Super long but they are pretty easy to sit though after a couple you get used to it! Hope all is well!

 Also the church has a video out called "he is the gift". Please watch it and share it with your friends. to view it go to Christmas.mormon.org. Its an awesome video. I'm so grateful that God sent his son to atone for are sins. Have a marry Christmas and remember the true meaning of Christmas! Love you all!

-Elder Lords

 

Im in Des Moines

Well im now in Des Moines, Iowa. We are in the Easter Lake West area. I have a new companion his name is Elder Sessions. He is from Ashton, ID. He has been out about 3 months. I was asked to white wash an area. It is a little stressful. White wash means both Elders are taken out of an area and replaced. Usually one elder that knows the area and people stay but there were some problems. We don't have a lot to work with so we have been knocking a lot of doors.

We have a pretty nice apartment we live in the same complex as some of the other missionaries so that's nice. They live in a building just down the road.

We are trying to get to know the ward and fix some trust issues. The last missionaries were very disobedient and they caused some problems from what I understand. We live very close to the Airport here in des moines. The airport is actually in our area so that's pretty cool! Ill take pictures for next week.

We met a lot of new people this week! We found some new investigators also. We are going to work with a couple less active members also. Im excited to be in a new area. The ward is a lot smaller than Cedar Rapids. That's okay though. Im grateful to be serving a full time mission. We are in a car share hear also. We get the car this coming week so that will be nice. We have a larger area than my last area. We  also cover a smaller suberb of Des Moines called Norwalk. I hope everyone is doing well! Love you all!

-Elder Lords

P.S Picture is with the Masias a member family in Cedar Rapids that did a lot for us. And that is Barbra an investigator that is going to get baptized on the 20th. She is back in Cedar Rapids. 

 

Transfer Week

We received Transfer calls this week and I'm leaving. I'm sad because we have been working so hard and seeing a lot of success. I guess i'm meant to be somewhere else though. Im also excited to see a new area. Ive been here in Cedar Rapids for 4 months! The time is flying by for me. The last 7 week transfer was over in the blink of an eye.

For thanksgiving we ate at a couple of members houses. We were told to continue doing missionary work though. We tried but people arent to receptive on Thanksgiving. We worked hard though none the less. Its been really fun being in a Trio with Elder Gower my original companion and Elder Bouwhuis. We will only be together about 2 weeks total but its been a cool experience. Im sad to leave Cedar Rapids. Im excited to go else where though too! Im putting my guess in for Des Moines or Iowa City haha! 

We meet a really cool guy named Greg this week. He almost yelled at us but he sad he felt different this time having contact with missionaries. He is a Vietnam veteran and he is pretty cool! He is kinda like Grandpa Lords but he swears worse than a sailor! 

I am so grateful for all that im blessed with. I have an awesome family! I have the best friends. Ive been given so much! The song "Because I have been given much" keeps coming to mind. I really do need to give because I have been given so much! Everything we have is because of Heavenly Father. I love the opportunity I have to serve every day! The Lord is hastening the work. We all can be missionaries even if we arent on missions. Referring people for the missionaries is such a blessing! I know that God lives. He loves us all! I know that we have Prophets leading and Guiding are Church. Im grateful for Thomas S Monson. I KNOW he is a prophet of God! I love you all! Have and awesome week! Be careful! 

-Elder Lords 

Pictures are Thanksgiving and the District.

Great Week!

Nov. 24

Hello Everyone, 

We had a great week this week. We are staying busy. As of tomorrow we will have another companion for the week. Elder Ellsworth, one of the missionaries we live with, and one of my closest friends was called to be the Assistant to the President. He leaves for Des Moines tomorrow so we will be in a trio with Elder Bouwius. He is also a cool guy. We will be in a trio until transfers December 4th. I could be leaving Cedar Rapids its about 50/50. 

Shay and Trevayln were baptized Saturday. It reminded me a lot of when I baptized Trevin, it did make me a little homesick. Everyone is asking about are plans for thanksgiving, We are supposed to do missionary work. We will be  going to a members to eat at 12. We will be very busy the next week because we now will cover 2 areas. 

Cedar Rapids 3rd ward which is are normal ward and 2nd ward with Elder Bouwis. We will be in meetings from 7am to 4pm Sunday haha. We have church at 1 and the first ward has church at 9. That will be a long day. 

Walid the man we baptized from Lebanon came up to us at church and said we need to baptize my family. He lives with his mom and Aunt and a couple siblings. We went over after church and taught the first lesson, the restoration. It went very well. He translated for his mom who speaks hardly any English. She is fluent in Arabic and French. Walid is teaching us words in Arabic its pretty cool! I hope you all have an awesome thanksgiving. I'm very grateful. Ive been given so much. I have an awesome family. My family are all members of the church. That is such a blessing. I am thankful i am serving a mission. I love Reading the Scriptures. Love you all have a good thanksgiving. Watch the Seahawks game for me on thanksgiving haha! 

Elder Lords

Crazy Week- Baptism, Interview with Elder Cardon of the 70

Nov. 17
Hello everyone,

Every week on my mission gets busier and busier. Walid did get baptized on Saturday and I was able to confirm him Sunday. It was a really cool experience he is 20 years old and says he is considering going on a mission. He is a great guy. We have another Baptism this Saturday for Shalandria (Shay) and Trevayln. We knocked into them in September. There mom Joanna is a member we found out but we didnt have there records. She was Baptized in Washington 8 years ago then got divorced and went inactive a few months after Baptism. Shay and Trevayln were in the Primary Program last week and Joanna was so proud of them. 

We are teaching a family of 7 from Rwanda. They don't speak very good English so they daughter translates. They are very nice people. They are Seventh day Adventist. They go to Church on Saturday and we are trying to help them get past the Sabbath being on Sunday.

We are also teaching a lady named Lisa. She is trying to quit smoking on is planning to get baptized on January 10th. She fed us dinner last night. Ive learned to eat what im given. She fed us Clams, Salmon, and Muscles. All seafood my mother knows how hard that was for me. I love Salmon though. 

Barbra is planning to get baptized December 13th but she is Catholic and is having some doubts. She struggles with the Plan of Salvation. We got her to give up Coffee and Tea. She is interesting and she talks a lot! 

This week we had a mission tour on Thursday. A mission tour is when a General Authority comes to the mission to see how the mission is running. Then he speaks at zone conference. I had the wonderful opportunity of being interview by Elder Craig A. Cardon of the 70. A general Authority and it was just me and him in a room for 10 minutes. It was very cool. Dont worry though I didnt do anything wrong haha! We got a phone call Wednesday night from the Assistants to the President. That doesn't happen to often haha. They said President Cardon has asked to interview 12 of the missions best Elders and Sisters. They accidentally picked me I guess haha! We just talked about my mission and family. He made me promise to tell my family something he said "tell your family they have raised a valiant,righteous, determined, hard working young man. You love the lord and your parents should be so proud of you. Plus your from Rexburg, Idaho so you can work!" It was a very cool experience he was so nice! Im doing well. I love the work. My testimony of the book of Mormon is only growing! Have an awesome week love you all! 

-Elder Lords

 

Week Before The Baptism

Nov. 10

Hello Everyone, 

This week has been one of the busiest weeks on my mission yet. We have taught a ton of lessons. Our investigators are very spread out, and the weeks we dont have the car they always want to meet more. We love meeting are investigators several times a week. It shows they are committed. 

Walid passed his interview on Friday. His baptism is Saturday at 10 am. He is very excited and so are we. He loves the Ward members so far. Walid is 20 years old and he said something really exciting last week. He said "I keep considering going on a mission". He says "You and Elder Gowers are so happy, I wanna go and help people too!" He is fasenated with the church and the Temple! He loves the temple. He was excited for family history work and we started him on that only to find there are only 3 names since he is from Lebanon. 

We are excited for his baptism on November 15th. We also have an interview for Shay and Trevayln there baptism is on November 22. They are 9 and 11. They are both so excited "to have their sins washed away". The lord is hastening the work.

Member referrals are the best. This week we got one for a man named Ricahrd Duesingamia he is from Rwanda Africa. He is mentally handicape we think. The referral said he wanted a bible. So we took him a bible and taught the restoration to his whole family of 7. They are so awesome! They gift of tongues is real. They have such thick accents and sometimes they struggle understanding but they spirit speakes to everyone! No matter what language we speak. They are an awesome family. We have biked ourselves ragged this week. We are excited to have the car this week. We also saw Barbra several times this week and she came to church. She is a 66 year old widow. She is a catholic and about as stubborn as they come but we love her. She is defiantly Iowan. (meaning she can talk for days) Im so grateful for the chance to serve a mission. Im learning so much. Im thankful for the Holy Ghost. When you bear sincere testimony you cannot discredit they power that comes from the holy ghost! Keep reading and prayinng! I hope all is well! Winter is around the corner! Love you all!! 

-Elder Lords

What A Week

Nov. 3
Hello Everyone,

This week was one of my more stressful weeks haha. It was great though, we taught a lot of lessons  this week. On the 30th we had to be in at 6 for beggars night, which is where people trick or treat in Des Moines. We also had to be in at 6 on Friday. It was hard to do that because Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are the busiest days for us. We decided to play ping pong on are kitchen table. (picture is attached) Ping pong turned into sting ping. On Thursday the Perrys fed us dinner. Brother Perry went to Japan on his mission and he fed us real Japanese food. My favorite were the giozias. 

The most stressful part of the week was Sunday. We had 6 investigators at church and it was stressful making sure they new where to go and what they were doing. It was great to see though. Hard work really pays off. 

We also played basketball with some high school aged kids. Terrel and Brandon and some of there friends. We bet them we could beat them to 21 and if we did we could share a message with them. We did beat them. They then said best 2 out of 3 so we played them again haha. We beat them the second time. we shared a message and they really enjoyed it. It was fun. 

On Sunday we went to another church before are church. It was the Regeneration church. We are teaching there Pastor Tony Cook. They are really nice people and said they would come to church with us if we went with them. It was strange cause they had a band playing music and  other things. They had a lot of truth but are missing the Priesthood and Prophets. 

Its getting colder every day. Things are great here in Cedar Rapids. I hope all is well. Love you all be safe! 

Just another week in Iowa

Hi,
We had a pretty great week filled with lots of biking. The weather was in the 40's at the first of the week but for the weekend it warmed up to 70 or so degrees. We averaged about 16 miles per day on the bikes. Me and my companion are very grateful we have the car this week. It makes missionary work so much more efficient!

We found a young couple we started teaching them yesterday. He has a strong addiction to cigarettes, but he has the desire to quit. We will start teaching him the start smoking workshop soon. 

We had a couple great lessons with Walid. We finished teaching him most of the commandments and he is so willing to live them. He is preparing to get baptized on November 15th we might move it up a couple days. His family doesn't want to join the church but they are okay with Walid joining the church. 

We had a great week, the highlight was when we knocked on a door and a lady yelled at us haha! Its always funny to look back after people yell at you. She said "it was Adam and Eve, not Adam and Eve and Eves sisters." hahah People can be hard hearted. I hope everything is well! Love you all! 

-Elder Lords

New Companion

Well we had a good week this week. We went to transfer meeting in Iowa City. My old companion Elder Olsen is now in West Des Moines im still in Cedar Rapids with my companion Elder Gowers. He is from Spanish Fork, Utah. He is a cool guy. We get along well. He is a great teacher. He has been out 6 months.

The man were teaching from Lebanon, is doing so good! He is really busy but still made time for church yesterday so that was good!

We are teaching all of the commandments, and this really sorts out the wheat from the tares. So, people aren't willing to follow the Word of Wisdom. We started teaching him the word of wisdom and he said, I will obey the word of wisdom because it is a commandment. I love God and i want to follow his commandments. It was so cool! He is planning to be Baptized November 15th. Im very excited for him. He stopped smoking 2 months before we meet him. The Lord really softened his heart. None of his family is quite ready though.

We also had another cool experience. We knocked into a less active lady that we dont have the Records for. She is a Grandma who joined the Church 5 or 6 years ago. She told us she has been wanting to come to church. This was Saturday night about 8:30 p.m. she told us she would come to church. Thats what every less active says though haha! So we texted her and reminded her Sunday morning. She came to church and was so happy. Its crazy that since I have been here we have knocked into 5 less active members that we didnt have there record for. We have been able to get all of them back to church except a new married couple.  

I hope everyone is doing well. Winter is just around the corner. The leaves are falling here and its getting cold! Hope your all doing well. I love you all!  We got to go on a tour of general mills. It was so cool we got to eat hot koshers right out of the machine. Our ward mission leader, Brother Woods, works at General Mills and took us there.

-Elder Lords

                                                                   General Mills

                                                  Elder Lords and his new companion!

Transfers

Well the transfer calls are in and Elder Olsen is leaving. On Thursday we drive to Iowa City for transfer meeting. I will receive a new companion.
We had a good week. It was pretty interesting. The man that came with us to the priesthood session is on date to be Baptized on November 15th. He didnt attend church it was a little upsetting. He is a great guy he is just busy with Midterms. We also have some new investigators they are a younger family. He is an engineer for Honeywell the company that makes thermostats and other things. He is also the Pastor for a Nondenominational Christian Church. He is a great guy. He hasnt tried to bash with us once. Im positive he could bash he knows the bible well, he chooses to listen and learn. He is a great guy. We helped them build a fence the other day. Things are going great here in Cedar Rapids! I hope everyone is doing well!

Im sad to see my companion Elder Olsen leave, but he is needed else where and im excited for a new companion. We had a very good week. It is getting cold hear in Iowa. We had to break out the Winter coats after church yesturday we had some freezing fog/ freezing rain it was cold! We get the car back tonight for the week so that is exciting! We save a lot of time in travel having the car! AND it has a heater haha! Well take care everyone have a great week! Love you all! 

Elder Lords

Meet The Mormons

We had a very interesting, but good week. We recieved a text from the Assistants to the President on Wednesday about us traveling to Iowa City,  its about 30 minutes from here in Cedar Rapids. We went to Iowa City to watch the Movie "Meet the Mormons". It was an awesome privilege to watch. President Jensen wanted us to view it before the public views it on October 10th. I highly recommend viewing this movie. 

Transfers are coming up this next week on October 16th. My companion Elder Olsen will be leaving more than likly and I will be staying in Cedar Rapids. We had a really cool experience this week. We found a very nice Neighbor hood in our Area. We spent a lot of time knocking. We have several new investigators. We knocked into 2 less active Members. That is just unheard off. Since I have been here in Cedar Rapids we have knocked into 4 less active families that there records aren't in our ward.We were walking through a neighborhood knocking doors and we noticed a Utah license plate, so we ran to the other side off the road and knocked on the door. It was a young married couple who just graduated from Utah State. They moved in a month ago, but had not made it to church. He is a return missionary, and we could tell they were embarrassed they hadn't been to church. What a surprise that we found them. They were shocked when we knocked on there door haha! 

The best part about the week was finding a man from Lebanon. He moved to the United States 2 years ago because of all the political uprising in Lebanon and the war. We meet him at 6:15, 45 minutes before the Priesthood session of Conference. We taught him the Restoration and invited him to the Priesthood session. He said " I would love to come, lets leave now." He came to the church and watched the Priesthood Session. During the last 3 talks he had tears in his eyes. It was one of the highlights of my mission so far. He is
very excited to be Baptized. I cant wait to keep you all updated on him. I enjoyed conference very much! I hope everyone is doing well! Have a good week! 

-Love Elder Lords

LINK About "Meet the Mormons" 

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865611988/Elder-Holland-David-Archuleta-promote-Meet-the-Mormons-through-video-free-download.html?pg=all

Iowans Love their football

Well its been a crazy, but good week. This week we worked the hardest we have. We skipped several meals, and bundled up to bike. Last week it was in the high 80 and 90's and this week it was in the 40 and 50's with rain. IT was a crazy change it felt like Idaho, haha. We taught a lot of lessons. We met two new investigators. Saturday was very slow because EVERYONE was watching the Iowa State vs. Iowa football game and everyone was listening or watching and would get mad if you knocked on there door haha!

We had the busiest week of me being out so far. We have a new Elder in our district from transfers. Well nothing too crazy has happened. We are loosing and finding new investigators each week. When I got to this area we had 3 investigators with 0 of them progressing. We have worked hard and are teaching pool is up to about 11 investigators with 2 progressing towards baptism. Well I hope everyone is doing well take care have a great week! I love you all! 

-Elder Lords

The mission life

Well my week was crazy it consisted of our most solid investigator moving. She moved to Iowa city, so the missionaries there are getting a miracle. We were very disappointed about that. The Lord blessed us for getting back to work. It was the hottest day of the summer. The car we rode to the district meeting in said 102 degrees. It was very humid too. I was on exchanges with the zone leaders and we had been knocking doors for an hour or more. So we were sweating to death haha! We knocked into a man. I knocked on his door and there was a loud deep voice that yelled "Who is it??!" I replied its the missionaries. He says again in a loud voice " WHO?". I replied again the missionaries. A man opens the door and he is huge. This man is 6 foot 11!! We set a return appointment with him. He isn't working right now because he had back surgery recently. We had an awesome lesson with him. He said that if we could answer some of the questions he has always had he will join our church. He is an awesome guy. He then took us to breakfast this morning it was great. It has been a crazy week. We also knocked into another man , He is a Born Again Christian or a Baptist. We knocked on his door and was like oh come in! We were so excited and then he instantly started to bash. It took us almost two hours to leave his house. He was the nicest rude person I know. Then on Sunday we came home from church to find out two of the missionary bikes from the house we live in had been stolen while we were at church. We felt bad because one bike was the Ward Mission leaders bike. We called him and told him what happened and told him we were sorry. We left to head to an appointment. You would never guess but we found the bike in our back neighbors tree hahah! We aren't sure if they stole it or what we just took it back and returned it haha! The Navoo temple was beautiful! We also got to meet the last mission president that was here before my current mission president. His name is President Jergensen from St. Anthony.  The Lord is always blessing us. We see miracles everyday! I love you all!! Take care! 

-Elder Lords

Tracting and Finding

We had a good week. We are staying busy and the members are feeding us about 3 times a week which is very nice. We meet a lot of great people. We taught a man that played college football for UNI (university of Northern Iowa). He played defensive end and is huge. One of the nicest guys I know. We taught him last week and he loved it! We also met a cool guy that is a less active member. He played Triple A baseball for the Orioles. He played in spring training along side Cal Ripkin JR. I have been able to meet a lot of cool people. There are a lot of Refuges from different countries. We met a man, he is from the Congo. He was really hard to understand. He is awesome though. We have been privileged to keep finding new people. We have been tracting, now called Finding a lot. We are teaching 4 new people this week, im excited for that. Well I just want to end saying, pray more. I pray 30 times a day I swear. The lord wants to hear us. He is such a strength.  I love you all!

Exciting News!!!

Hey everyone! Well, we had a pretty good week! It was kind of slow, but that is okay. We worked hard. We spent a lot of time this week with a recent convert who is struggling with depression. He doesn't have many friends and since he was baptized two weeks ago, he feels like Satan is trying to ruin his life. He wants to find a new job and hasn't. 

I have some cool news! We had a new convert call us on Friday and ask us to come over. We got to his house and he told us he is being sealed to his wife on September 6th. He invited us. It has to be approved by the Mission President so we called and he approved it. The family who feeds us a lot is also having their adopted son sealed to them that day also. I'm really excited to go to the temple and Nauvoo!

The members are treating us good. One family fed us twice this week. On my birthday and on Sunday. They were mad at me for not telling them it was my birthday! We found 2 new investigators this week. One lady is super busy and I'm not sure how interested she is. She was super excited, but she keeps rescheduling with us. Well, hope everyone is doing well. The weather here has been mild from what I hear. Today it's so humid that when you drive water settles on the windshield like it does on the mirror after you get out of the shower! That's the craziest! Well take care and have a great week!!
-Love Elder Lords

Teaching the Gospel.. Loving the Work

Hey everyone, 

The mission is going good. We are staying busy!  We are teaching some awesome people. There is a man named Jason who we meet with in his garage. He is starting to gain a testimoney and we have a baptismal date with him but he skipped church this week. He is very interesting... He cant get baptized because he wont stop smoking marijuana.... We have taught 4 investigators since I have been here. We meet a lady named Kasey and she has a 6 year old son. We taught here the first lesson and she asked us if she could be rebaptized into our church before we even asked her to be baptized. We are going to set a date with her on Tuesday. She was so prepared to hear the gospel. She is an awesome lady. I hope everyone is doing well. Im doing great and working hard. It hasnt been too hot here in cedar rapids. We are in a car share so we were biking and on foot last week. We get the car today though so thay will be good. It hasnt been to humid or hot yet. Well I Love you all! Have a good week! 

-Elder Lords 

Iowa Lovin'

YAY!!! Josh made it to Iowa and is loving it!! Here is his 1st letter from Iowa!

Hey everyone!!
I am doing great! I love the mission already! The time is already flying by! I had a great first day. Ill explain more. I was given permission to email so I can give you come great info. I am living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa! I already love it. My companion is Elder Nathan Olson from Rexburg, Idaho he graduated last year his family was in are stake. Im so relieved! I already get along with him great! we have already taught 3 lessons with 3 more today! They just had a baptism sunday that I missed!! well more info to come later.
 Ill be here for 6 weeks but more than likely 12 weeks.
P.S Attached is a picture of the house we live in. We live with the zone leaders. Upstairs is are room but we sleep downstairs because its cooler. The land lord is a member and lets us love there. It only costs the church 150 a month so we cant turn ac below 80 until after 9. Then it can go to 78 but with fans and its actually cool at night its about 72 by bed time. Im already so blessed!!

Iowa Bound... On Wednesday!

How is it going everyone. I am doing very well. I have learned a lot here at the MTC. My testimony has grown a lot. I am thankful for my chance to serve. I was feeling bad for myself last night and we watched a talk that President Bednar gave to the missionaries in the MTC on Christmas a couple of years back. Its titled the "The Character of Christ". I am not sure if you can get access to the talk but if you can read or watch it!!! It really changed my perspective. I am very excited to be in Iowa. My plane leaves SLC at 6 a.m. We have to be ready to leave at 2:30a.m. We then have a 3 hour lay over in Dallas, Texas\Fort worth airport. I love you all! Have a great week!!

-Love Elder Lords

We LOVE Modays.. Its P day!!

Here is Josh's First Letter

Dear Family,

     I am doing great! My testimony is being strengthened. I FLY out the 30th at 6 am. We are leaving the MTC at 2:30 am on the 30th. We have a 3 hour lay-over in Texas. I have bought some stuff at the bookstore here because we get it for half price. I am always tired, but I haven't slept passed 6:20 yet. We are usually up between 5:30 and 6:20. My companion is Elder Ellis. He is super smart. We follow rules that aren't even rules. Its good tho! My testimony is growing so strong. I am here because of my testimony. I love the Lord and this church! I hope the family is well. Don't hold back information thinking it will make me homesick. I wanna know it all, the good and the bad.

 Love,
 Elder Lords

 

We are so proud of Josh and so happy for him! He has already got to meet up with some friends that are in the MTC as well! He told us he went to an amazing devotional on Sunday night at the Marriott Center.  Josh is always telling Shayla and Trevin to be nice and an example to everyone. We are so excited to follow him through his mission!

Saying our goodbyes...

On Wednesday we dropped Josh off at the MTC. It was a very bitter sweet experience. It was so hard to say goodbye to Josh, but there is no place we would rather have him be in this time of his life. He emailed later that night saying he is good. The days are long, but good. He is doing better then expected. That is as much as we know now. So we will just wait for p day anxiously! We are excited to follow him on this journey!