February 25th
Greetings and what is up all my fine males and females, how are you all doing? email me!!! Tell me what is up in the hood with yall I want to hear how you are doing but it's been an emotional week so far. Emotions of joy though so let's get right into it.
Starting off p-day was an interesting day. We went to Walmart and got into a small argument when we got back to the apartment. Nothing too crazy, just some built up energy released with some of us. Some things were said that we all did not mean and after that, me and my companion left to go to the church. We called our family to say hi and I counseled with mom and dad for advice and asked them to pray that we could work things out. After we all went over to the Spanish speaking elders apartment and played a 3 and a half hour game of Risk and I thought I was losing, it turns out I was winning! I won my first time playing Risk! I achieved peak unc status that moment but I probably won't be so lucky next time lol but after we had a talk at the apartment that night and we let all our emotions out. Let's just say three of us were crying our eyes out but the spirit was strong in all of us. If there is one thing we are taught to do, it's never bottle up your emotions. I’ve learned this lesson before but needed to learn it again, just ask my dad. Last time I did that I put a hole in the wall with my fist and every time I saw the patch up job it was a reminder not to let anger in, the root is all about communication. These are good lessons for when I’m older and get married…especially when we make our covenants and get sealed in the temple. Communication is key to a happy and successful marriage and if there is no communication then you can kiss your attractive wife good bye because she is not going to wait for you to erupt your emotions at her in rage. It's a valuable lesson to have throughout your life and on a mission it helps a lot too. Trust me, living with 4 dudes has its challenges but we are all working together and when we add the Lord in the equation we can accomplish anything.
After all that, we hugged each other as brothers because we are all in this together and brothers in God’s family and I'm so happy to call my quad my brothers!
After that we had a good night's rest.
February 26th
We had a District check-up today where we role-played with the AP missionaries and we got a private interview with President Huffaker and he asks how we are doing, if we have any struggles and other questions. We talked about trucks and what some of my hobbies were before I came out on my mission and also talked to him with some advice on how to deal with some questions I had. I am not going through any hardships yet but just in case I want to know how other missionaries find peace and comfort. Afterwards we had to role play and I spoke more than I ever have. Looking back at when I was in the MTC, if there is one thing I'm good at it is picking through someone's brain to get a specific answer so I can share a scripture to help them. After we went and talked with our friend Taylor. Unfortunately he is having some road blocks on the Book of Mormon and is having a hard time so pray for him that as he reads and prays about it he can come to see the truth it carries with it. When we got back to the apartment we did more canvas work.
February 27th
Today was so fun, we had another exchange so we walked around in a quad.I was with Elder Cox, Elder Cook and Elder Buck today and it was so great. We made 3 friends- first was a man named Johnny who we met at his apartment and he was taking his daughter to the doctor but we were able to share a small message and tell him about the Book of Mormon and are going to go talk to him again and share more. Our next friend was a girl named Milsa and she was super nice. She has two special needs kids who are so fun to talk to and we shared how the Book of Mormon can help her with stress and give guidance in her life. She is also committed to come to church so let's go! After that, no less than 4 minutes after talking to her we saw a man and his daughter at a job site and I went and talked to them. We did not find out the daughter's name but the dad's name is Antonio. He goes to a church but he is open to wanting to learn more if it brings him the truth. What was so fun about today is when we work hard consistently we see gains and see that the work we put in pays off. Some days we end up empty handed but it makes it worth it to see a new friend or see current friends making and keeping commitments and speaking of consistent I entered the mission February 3 at 200lbs now I am at a solid 190lbs, in the end the small work pays off and it feel so good knowing I can see small changes and as I keep working hard I can keep losing more and feel better. I'm so excited I also found out some sneak peeks for Muskogee. There will soon be 6 English speaking missionaries here and sadly the Spanish elders will move out, we will miss them. 4 missionaries will stay in Muskogee and the other 2 will go to a small town called Wagner which is crazy!! but also so cool. I also found out I will more than likely be getting a different companion but idk, you never know but its what our mission president thinks is needed after praying.
February 28th
Not much happened on Saturday just a casual day
February March 1
Fast Sunday!!!!! What a day! it was good to talk to everyone at church. Unfortunately we had no one show up but it's ok we shared some amazing testimonies from others at church.. I went up and bore my testimony that a mission can change your life for the better and no one can tell you otherwise. I have seen my mission make me a better person who has matured a whole lot. My friends would not even recognize me, both because I have dropped some weight and the knowledge and learning to leave behind drama. It truly blesses your life! The late Elder Jeffery R Holland said that a mission is the greatest thing you can ever do to take 2 years or 18 months of your life and leave behind all personal wants, desires and affairs and work non-stop for your Savior, after He gave his whole life for us all. A mission is a small sacrifice on our part to give back to him. I truly love it so much out here and it will make it even more worth it when I get to come home and see my family and friends again. Words can't describe the joy you feel on a mission.
March 2nd
Was another good day! I’ve heard of other missionaries getting doors slammed in their faces, today, we got a door slammed in our face. It’s not very nice and can really hurt some missionaries but I just laughed - like it's so hard just to tell someone you are not interested you had to slam the door in someone's face? it's just comical, but after we have a possible new friend who we will see on Wednesday so im excited for that. The other elders in our apartment have 3 people on date to be baptized! Even though I didn't get to help teach them, it's still cool to see someone want to grow closer to their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and make commitments to Them and to know what blessings they will receive when they receive the Holy Ghost..
To everyone who reads this message and is looking for directions and is having stress, anxiety, depression or any struggles, I invite you to read the Book of Mormon! Read it for 20 or 30 minutes or as much as you can and do it with an open mind, let the Spirit guide you and enter into your heart. Your heavenly father loves you and wants nothing but the best for you. To some the church and God’s commandments look like a restriction and won't let you make fun life decisions but it actually makes them better. It makes everything better. It helps you make decisions that will grow you closer to your Heavenly Father and you will see the change in your everyday life. After you read the Book of Mormon, I WANT YOU TO PRAY!!! Pray to ask for truth and guidance. Moroni 10:4-5 “and when ye shall receive these things I would exhort you that you would ask God the Eternal Father in the name of Christ if these things are not true and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, He will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” I can testify that I found my way to my Savior and found my way back to light! Even after being in the lowest of lows in my life I still saw God's love as He reached his hand out to me and wanted to help me– He can do the same for you if you decide to follow Him and pray for truth and guidance.
March 3rd
Well today is officially 1 month since I left the MTC for Oklahoma City and it's been 2 months since I was set apart as a missionary. Man I have seen so much happen here and have been blessed deeply and am so happy for all God has given me today and honestly the trials, struggles and hardships I have had in my life have made me who I am today. If any of my friends saw me it would be a completely different person but today was a good day. We did a lot of member work today. We checked in on some members who have been gone for a while and they welcomed us with open arms and even gave us water, which I needed haha. We also made a new friend. His name is Brett and he loves to fish for bass and we are going to meet with him next week so I'm happy about that. After we walked and biked for a long time and talked about what we wanted to accomplish here in Muskogee. BTW the end of my transfer is almost here. What is a transfer you might ask?
Well, me and my companion (and all missionaries) are put in an area drawn on a map where we teach people about Christ. There are big and small areas and every 6 weeks or so we all move or stay in the same area. We transfer. In total we can stay as long as 4 transfers or 6 months and we get shuffled all over Oklahoma. Our mission even covers a little bit of Texas and Kansas so it will be fun to see if I stay or move somewhere else. Even more news weighed myself today and if the scale was correct I am 184lbs and for any new people to my emails I was 200lbs at the start of my mission so major drop in size. I’m more careful about what I eat and I'm biking and walking a lot every day plus other exercise in our apartment. Good health helps us help others. Overall I am loving my mission so much and every day is a blessing but that was my Tuesday.
Sadly no shout outs of the week but pls email me with fun life updates let me know what amazing things you are doing so you can be put on the shout outs or if you want to share but don't want to be on my email that’s okay too. I just like to hear how everyone is. If you need prayers, let me know and I can pray for you too.
Also last minute pls keep my sister in your prayers. She went to the hospital last night for an emergency of which I can't share all the details. She is doing OK but let's just say she could have had two sets of twins back to back.
Well that's all for this email, I love all of you but you know who loves you more? Jesus Christ and your Heavenly Father! Keep doing things to have Them in your life!
Talk to you all next week, Elder Saunders
