Hey guys.
Well this week was a little rough, but I'm glad that it's over.
I'm tired mostly from so much finding, but also from translating for like and hour and a half yesterday. It is a lot harder that I thought it would be. You try to tell the people you are translating to what was said and you've already missed a lot of the next few sentences. It wipes you out like crazy.
I remember the (York, Pa) Fair ok. Mostly from when I was there with you (September, 2008). I remeber that pig-racer guy being pretty weird and then the pigs racing around.
I hope that you feel better. I'm sorry that I don't have much to say, nothing really happened this week.
I cant believe that Zac is getting married, as well. Is it that girl that he baptized before his mission that waited for him or is a different girl? I know that they had something before he left. Where did he serve? I don't remember.
I hope that Jeremy's package gets there and that he enjoys it. I put some things in there for Adam and Austin, as well.
Love you guys!
Monday, September 20, 2010
September 6, 2010
Well to start off I have a little story of basically all that really happened this week aside from the training...
Well this week was kinda hard for a few reasons. We were in Budapest for 3 days like I said, and so the work suffered around here. But then when we met with that guy that I told you about a while ago, the one that just walked into the branch house and wanted to meet with us, he was the guy I have had the most hopes for when it comes to maybe seeing a future in baptism in such a short time. Well, we met with him on Saturday and he told us that the Bible says we shouldn't add or subtract from the book and that he will never accept the Book of Mormon and so it was also way hard cause he brought up that we are wrong and he feels bad for us cause we are going in the wrong direction. He only wants to follow Jesus and His teachings and if the Bible says that we shouldn't have more books then we are not following Him.
I had no idea what to do, so I prayed inside while Elder Johnson was talking on what to say, because I didn't want to argue with him or make him feel bad. He is a really good guy and has good intentions, I just was heart-broken in a sense to have him tell us that the Holy Ghost told him that we are going in the wrong direction. He told me to put down the Book of Mormon for 3 months and only read from the Bible and then I will see what he is talking about. I responded by telling him that I'll do that if he would put down the Bible for those 3 months and he will only read from the Book of Mormon (BOM). He wouldn't take it so I didn't either. I thought it was pretty funny and so did Elder Johnson. He was kinda laughing from it. But going back to the "what would I say to this" part, all Elder Johnson and I could think of was to tell him where we stand and that the Holy Ghost has told us that what is in this book is true. I did wonder why that part was in Revelations if God and Jesus themselves would appear to Joseph and have him translate more scripture, so I looked into it more.
When I read it, I went from cross-reference to cross-reference and saw that in the BOM in 3 Nephi 11 (the chapter that we gave him and he said that he read) it says the same thing-- "Don't take or add". But looking at the words that are used, he read it wrong, along with many other people who use that excuse for not accepting the BOM. The scripture in Revelations says not to add or subtract from the prophecies that the book contains. 3 nephi 11:40 says that as well, that we should not expand or diminish from the prophecy, or in other words, the "word" or in simple terms not to add or subtract from the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to build our faith on its teachings. Upon the rock. So that we can be safe from the gates of Hell. It says to not change the doctrine, basically not to add or take away from the teachings of the Bible. It was really fun to do all that stuff and just be amazed that everything we teach is within the guidlines of the gospel of Jesus Christ and so we are in a very great position. When he asked me how happy Jesus would be with me for reading out of the BOM, I told him that He would be very happy with me.
I then briefly shared this experience in Fast and Testimony meeting yesterday and was able to tell the whole congregation to never doubt anything and to ask God for answers, and then can possibly come from a passage of scripture. I know that to be true from this experience. It was just so cool to wonder and honestly question why things like that would happen, and then to find out that we are on the right path.
Oh, I wish that I could sit there and watch tennis with you (The U.S. Open). That is one of the only sports that I'm not too good at that I just love to watch. I really do miss Agassi and Sampras. And I'm with you--I dont really like Rodger Federer, but love Nadal. I'm not a Roddick fan either. I forget his name but I saw a new tennis player, or at least one that I'm not too familiar with, while I was in the store. His name was Aaron or something like that from Australia. He has an amazing serve. One of the best that I have seen.
How are all my bros doing? I hope that Jay has a great B day.
The training wasn't much new. Well, it was and it wasn't. I thought that they had a new process or something, but it was just a lot of training on how to be a better and more effective teacher. I think that I did learn things, though, because as people we kind of get into routines and get comfortable in that place, then because of that we don't really help our investigators the best because we teach them the same way that we taught the last guy.
I love you guys and miss you a lot.
Enjoy the pics.
Enjoy tennis too. Update me on stuff that's cool from it.
Elder Cheney leaving:
One of my favorite families, the Szabo family:
With Elder Tanner Johnson in front of "The Great Church" in Debrecen:
Well this week was kinda hard for a few reasons. We were in Budapest for 3 days like I said, and so the work suffered around here. But then when we met with that guy that I told you about a while ago, the one that just walked into the branch house and wanted to meet with us, he was the guy I have had the most hopes for when it comes to maybe seeing a future in baptism in such a short time. Well, we met with him on Saturday and he told us that the Bible says we shouldn't add or subtract from the book and that he will never accept the Book of Mormon and so it was also way hard cause he brought up that we are wrong and he feels bad for us cause we are going in the wrong direction. He only wants to follow Jesus and His teachings and if the Bible says that we shouldn't have more books then we are not following Him.
I had no idea what to do, so I prayed inside while Elder Johnson was talking on what to say, because I didn't want to argue with him or make him feel bad. He is a really good guy and has good intentions, I just was heart-broken in a sense to have him tell us that the Holy Ghost told him that we are going in the wrong direction. He told me to put down the Book of Mormon for 3 months and only read from the Bible and then I will see what he is talking about. I responded by telling him that I'll do that if he would put down the Bible for those 3 months and he will only read from the Book of Mormon (BOM). He wouldn't take it so I didn't either. I thought it was pretty funny and so did Elder Johnson. He was kinda laughing from it. But going back to the "what would I say to this" part, all Elder Johnson and I could think of was to tell him where we stand and that the Holy Ghost has told us that what is in this book is true. I did wonder why that part was in Revelations if God and Jesus themselves would appear to Joseph and have him translate more scripture, so I looked into it more.
When I read it, I went from cross-reference to cross-reference and saw that in the BOM in 3 Nephi 11 (the chapter that we gave him and he said that he read) it says the same thing-- "Don't take or add". But looking at the words that are used, he read it wrong, along with many other people who use that excuse for not accepting the BOM. The scripture in Revelations says not to add or subtract from the prophecies that the book contains. 3 nephi 11:40 says that as well, that we should not expand or diminish from the prophecy, or in other words, the "word" or in simple terms not to add or subtract from the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to build our faith on its teachings. Upon the rock. So that we can be safe from the gates of Hell. It says to not change the doctrine, basically not to add or take away from the teachings of the Bible. It was really fun to do all that stuff and just be amazed that everything we teach is within the guidlines of the gospel of Jesus Christ and so we are in a very great position. When he asked me how happy Jesus would be with me for reading out of the BOM, I told him that He would be very happy with me.
I then briefly shared this experience in Fast and Testimony meeting yesterday and was able to tell the whole congregation to never doubt anything and to ask God for answers, and then can possibly come from a passage of scripture. I know that to be true from this experience. It was just so cool to wonder and honestly question why things like that would happen, and then to find out that we are on the right path.
Oh, I wish that I could sit there and watch tennis with you (The U.S. Open). That is one of the only sports that I'm not too good at that I just love to watch. I really do miss Agassi and Sampras. And I'm with you--I dont really like Rodger Federer, but love Nadal. I'm not a Roddick fan either. I forget his name but I saw a new tennis player, or at least one that I'm not too familiar with, while I was in the store. His name was Aaron or something like that from Australia. He has an amazing serve. One of the best that I have seen.
How are all my bros doing? I hope that Jay has a great B day.
The training wasn't much new. Well, it was and it wasn't. I thought that they had a new process or something, but it was just a lot of training on how to be a better and more effective teacher. I think that I did learn things, though, because as people we kind of get into routines and get comfortable in that place, then because of that we don't really help our investigators the best because we teach them the same way that we taught the last guy.
I love you guys and miss you a lot.
Enjoy the pics.
Enjoy tennis too. Update me on stuff that's cool from it.
Elder Cheney leaving:
One of my favorite families, the Szabo family:
With Elder Tanner Johnson in front of "The Great Church" in Debrecen:
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday August 30, 2010
Wassssupppp.
Hey mommy pick up the phone.
WAZZZUUUPPPP
jk
Well this week was pretty good. We worked pretty hard and got a lot of the appartment de-junked. It's one of those appartments where the missionaries have been here for years and so it had a lot of old things that were not needed.
We also wanted to work hard this week because tomorrow we head up to Budapest for 3 days. They are changing the way that they will train the new missionaries coming into the MTC around April. So every mission is now getting trained on the stuff that they will teach the new missionaries, so that we know it by the time they even start the training in the MTC. The training will be long, but I think that I will like it. I always love zone conferences because, let's say, it puts that gas on my fire. I get really excited to get back out and work and do stuff like that. I know that I can do it. As the senior companion I am the example and want to make sure that the work here goes well, so I need to work hard in order to do so. I have really come to know what you guys have been talking about. It's a lot easier to just go out and do what you need to do than to try and figure ways out of it, or short cuts, just to find out that you still have the same stuff to do. So I am glad that you guys have always taught me to be like that. It is really paying off and I'm still getting better. I sure am glad that I came out here to learn all this for myself. We as people can train and tell people whatever we want, but for the most part, most people don't really learn things like this until they get out and experience them. So I see why this is such a great learning experience for so many people. Yes its not easy, but how would we learn if it was easy.
Elder Johnson and I are having a blast. We can laugh and joke around with each other and we get along way well, work well together... Today we will go to the guitar store and play some electric guitar, I hope that we get to have two or more transfers together. I think that it would be way nice to have that happen. Then we wouldn't have to worry about all the transfer stuff, we could just keep going with what we've got going.
His learning of the language is going actually pretty well, I think that he will surpass me sooner than he thinks. He is a great go-getter, and has a great knack for knowing who to stop. We have been pretty successful with finding and I think that it's a direct result of being obedient and working hard. If we do that then we are placed in front of those people that are ready to hear the gospel or at least meet with us.
Ya we are running every morning and am feeling ok. I would like to run a lot more and work out harder when I get home though. That P 90 X all the way through and run, man I'll be lookin really good at the end of next summer.
Well, I'll talk to you guys next week.
Love you~
Love,
Joshy
Hey mommy pick up the phone.
WAZZZUUUPPPP
jk
Well this week was pretty good. We worked pretty hard and got a lot of the appartment de-junked. It's one of those appartments where the missionaries have been here for years and so it had a lot of old things that were not needed.
We also wanted to work hard this week because tomorrow we head up to Budapest for 3 days. They are changing the way that they will train the new missionaries coming into the MTC around April. So every mission is now getting trained on the stuff that they will teach the new missionaries, so that we know it by the time they even start the training in the MTC. The training will be long, but I think that I will like it. I always love zone conferences because, let's say, it puts that gas on my fire. I get really excited to get back out and work and do stuff like that. I know that I can do it. As the senior companion I am the example and want to make sure that the work here goes well, so I need to work hard in order to do so. I have really come to know what you guys have been talking about. It's a lot easier to just go out and do what you need to do than to try and figure ways out of it, or short cuts, just to find out that you still have the same stuff to do. So I am glad that you guys have always taught me to be like that. It is really paying off and I'm still getting better. I sure am glad that I came out here to learn all this for myself. We as people can train and tell people whatever we want, but for the most part, most people don't really learn things like this until they get out and experience them. So I see why this is such a great learning experience for so many people. Yes its not easy, but how would we learn if it was easy.
Elder Johnson and I are having a blast. We can laugh and joke around with each other and we get along way well, work well together... Today we will go to the guitar store and play some electric guitar, I hope that we get to have two or more transfers together. I think that it would be way nice to have that happen. Then we wouldn't have to worry about all the transfer stuff, we could just keep going with what we've got going.
His learning of the language is going actually pretty well, I think that he will surpass me sooner than he thinks. He is a great go-getter, and has a great knack for knowing who to stop. We have been pretty successful with finding and I think that it's a direct result of being obedient and working hard. If we do that then we are placed in front of those people that are ready to hear the gospel or at least meet with us.
Ya we are running every morning and am feeling ok. I would like to run a lot more and work out harder when I get home though. That P 90 X all the way through and run, man I'll be lookin really good at the end of next summer.
Well, I'll talk to you guys next week.
Love you~
Love,
Joshy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
