4 months just like that

Man what a week!!!!!  

This is week 5 of the transfer and I just can't believe it.  Were a week an a half away from Christmas.  2015 is almost over and then it'll be 2016.  I am so grateful for these past 4 months I have learned and grown so much.  Things are starting to click.  And now instead of worrying about how to do things I am able to just go and do them and work hard.  We have worked hard this past week and it feels good to know that.  But I know that I can always work harder.  I can always do more.  I want to work the hardest I have worked on my mission this upcoming week because people's hearts are softer because of the Christmas season and so next week when I get to skype you guys I feel like I have deserved it.  This is really our last working week of the transfer because next week we'll have our Christmas conference, P-day, and Christmas and Christmas eve which we don't work on those days so I really want to work hard this week so I have that feeling of accomplishment when we relax next week.   

This past week has been GREAT though!!   

 I was mowing a lawn on Friday I think it was and the whole entire time I was mowing the lawn I had the biggest smile on my face.:)  While I was mowing that lawn I was thinking about my life and my mission.  I had this warm, happy feeling come over me that my Heavenly Father is proud of me and my family is proud of me.  They all know that I'm not perfect and that I'm not the hardest worker but they love me and are proud of me.  I also was thinking to myself that my mission is flying by.  I love my mission so much and I am having so much FUN!!!!!  I am so excited when I wake up every morning that I get to be a missionary.  I love everyday putting on my name tag and walking out the door being a representative of Jesus Christ.  My mission to this point has been not what I expected it to be like and much harder then I expected but it has been so much FUN!!!!!!!!   Haha as you know I have always wanted to be a missionary and I am kind of sad that I am 4 months through my mission but I know that I can still be a missionary when I get home and He has blessed me so much to have so many people in my life that I can share the gospel with.  There is nothing I would rather be doing in my life right now.  It blows my mind to hear about everything that is going on around the world and I love that I am able to go around and teach people.

Planting Heaps of Seeds!!!

We have talked to a lot of people this past week and are planting heaps of seeds.  I have had the privilege to bring one soul closer to Christ through baptism (R____) :) and if I don't have anymore for the rest of my mission and all I do is plant seeds then that is what the Lord has called me to do and I will be a faithful servant.  Before my mission and at the start of my mission I would put "my will" before "his will" I did what I wanted to do and then think about what the Lord would want me to do.  I have tried to change and 100% completely do "his will."  I am willing to do whatever he tells me to do even if I don't want to do that.   

4 Types of Missionaries

I read this talk at the beginning of the transfer called the fourth missionary.  There are four different types of missionaries.  The first one is disobedient, does what he wants to do and is sent home early.  The second missionary is disobedient but hides it and makes it the full 2 years.  The third missionary is obedient, works hard, receives blessings, witnesses miracles, and a successful missionary.  The same is of the fourth missionary as the third missionary except for a few things.  In D&C 4:2 Therefore o ye that embark in the service of God see that you serve him with all your heart might mind and strength that you may stand blameless before God at the last day.  The third missionary only serves with his might and strength he doesn't give everything he's got.  He doesn't put the Lord's will over his will.  The fourth missionary gives everything he has to the Lord.  He serves will all of his heart might mind and strength.  All four, he would rather do the Lord's will then over his will.  At the beginning of this transfer I was the third missionary.  I was obedient, working hard, but only giving my might and strength I wasn't giving all that I had.  I wanted to change that I want to give the Lord all that I have because everything that I have is because he has given that to me.  I have worked hard on doing that this transfer and I feel like I am becoming close and closer to that fourth missionary.  I am trying to become the best that I can.  I am trying to become that fourth missionary.  I am close I know that I am I pray and ask for help in everything that I do and to become better.  I will continue to put his will over my will.  Do what He wants me to do.  If he wants me to be a harvester I'll be a harvester, if he wants me to be planted I'll be a planter.  If he wants me to be a leader I'll be a leader.  I love the hymn "Come Follow Me" I have come to follow him since out on my mission and I want you to know that I will always follow him because no matter where he takes me he will be with me.

 

 Happenings

We had zone conference this past week and it was awesome!!  I always love hearing from President and Sister Back there awesome.  I really love Sister Back every time she gives her presentation it helps me so much.  We also had our branch Christmas party on Saturday that was way fun!!!:)  It was kind of weird thought cuz we were having a barbecue and playing water games while listening to Christmas music.:)  Still trying to get used to that but with our awesome Christmas decorations in our flat it's starting to feel like Christmas.  Haha oh ya so we had a huge white elephant exchange at the Christmas party and me and Ethan got these stylin' hand bags.:) So we of course had to get a picture haha so I'm glad you got it mom.:)  Yep we have a Target here in Mudgee it's really nice and everything there is really cheap.  I got another pair of shoes for p-day cuz my nikes are gettin beat up for $5.  I can't wait to skype you guys Oh Man!!!!  It's only a week and a half away.  I can't wait to see you guys and talk to you guys it's gonna be so much fun!!!!:)  Thanks mom for setting all the skype stuff up we got permission and we checked our accounts and there all set up ready to go and your name was on the side so all I will have to do is click it and it'll work.  I'm so excited.     

 

Sweet purse Elder Stott and Bro Pritchard!!

 Q & A

Do you play the piano much?

No I don't play the piano a whole lot maybe once every other week.  We have a member who's really good and knows like all the hymns so she just usually plays.  

Any different food that you have had to eat?

  The most different  thing I've had to eat....was probably this seafood salad that someone made for us and all the seafood was raw.

Have you become friends with anybody at stores and just in the area who you guys see all the time?

    Ya we have a lot of people that we are friends with and neighbors and stuff.  We try to be more friends to people then try to preach to them.  That's what we have found to be the most effective way of doing it. 

How has the Lord blessed your life this week?

The Lord has blessed me so much every minute since I have been out on my mission.  He watches over us all the time and protects us from temptation and from danger.  I am so thankful for that and I know that he watches over each of us individually.   

How much popcorn do you eat each week?

  Haha I have about 2 batches of popcorn a week and Elder Leal thinks I'm crazy but haha he has about 2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches a day haha so we both like our food.   

I asked Elder Stott for some advice on a talk I have to give in a few weeks on the 9th A of F.

Dad: Man the Articles of Faith are amazing.  These 13 paragraphs pretty much lay out our whole religion in a nutshell.  I think we take these for granted.  Sometimes we think they are just for primary and we don't need to know them after that but they are scripture.  That is why they are in the scriptures and I think we should pay closer attention to them.  Number 9 is one of my favorite's haha there all my favorite but number 9 is really key especially during the world today.  It says that we believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.  Everything that we believe as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has been revealed by either prophets or Jesus Christ.  The reason we have everything that we have today is because of revelation.  It's hard right now as well because of the revelation that the prophet and apostles just received about the LGBT and other things about the church.  But if we just got back to the basics what we learned in primary the articles of faith just like it says in the 9th Article of Faith that We Believe all that God has revealed.  God will never reveal something to us that is not true he just won't.  He knows what he is doing he is the master planner of all planners and everything that he reveals to us is to help us.  I know that everything that the church has changed over the years was from God through revelation and I know that the changes they have made are to help us in the latter-days.  

Hope this helped I know you'll do great!!!!

 Wise Words from the Elder

I love all of you guys talk to you next Tuesday it'll be the day after cuz our Christmas conference is on Monday.  Serve Serve Serve.  "When you are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God."  This time of year is the perfect time to serve others.  It doesn't always have to be in money or gifts it could be just as easy as stopping by somebody's house and having a chat or calling them on the phone and talking to them.  Love you all have a great week!!!

Love Elder Stott

 

Love our tree, it's the best! (Love the smile!!)

Humble Christmas Missionary style!!