Happy Halloween!
Well this week has been good. We found out more details about Elder Holland's visit, we will be having a missionary conference with those who are in Anchorage and the surrounding areas so I guess I lucked out this transfer!! We were able to begin teaching some wonderful new investigators this week and they came to church!! AWESOME!!! We are going to be meeting with Elder Holland on Saturday then that evening he will hold a fireside for new investigators and RC/LA's. Pretty sweet!! We have a ton of people to invite. Then Elder Holland and Elder Christensen will both be speaking at stake conference on Sunday!! So we get to hear Elder Holland speak 3 times in one weekend!! Then we have a CES fireside Saturday night, where Elder Boyd K. Packer is going to speak. Elder Poole is super pumped for that one because he is his favorite apostle.
I have high hopes for this week and I am pretty flippin' excited for this weekend.
Really have no complaints right now. Life is good. I am getting some photos to send home! So keep an eye out for them!
Oh and I know a member who works for FedEx here who can ship my stuff for super cheap. Like I think I'm going to send home a suitcase or something. Hahah, Maybe just a box instead.
We were able to begin teaching 3 new investigators! They are all wonderful, and we found all three of them by meeting the members. I have nearly everyone in the ward's name memorized and they really are being very supportive towards us. We identified these members as people I hadn't yet met so I called them up and set up a time to meet with them. While on the phone I asked if they had any roommates who would want to join us, and the first time it worked, and then the second time it worked! Sunday was wonderful as well. Elder Poole spoke in church and three of our four investigators attended sacrament meeting, one of them was busy with work. Many of the less active members came again as well, and two new ones that we invited attended also. All in all it was a wonderful week and I am looking forward to this week because I am confident that it prove to be a week to remember!
I'm stoked to be finding and teaching! I love the YSA ward. I feel so fortunate to be here serving in this ward. The leadership is awesome, the members are awesome, and its fun! I really enjoy serving here. I hope I get to stay another transfer.
I am working to finish up my application for BYU/BYUH and I will have it done before the end of the week. I really love reading the Book of Mormon. I love being a missionary. Even when you have 3 investigators in a gospel principles class(AWESOME), and there's like 15 members (can be good or bad), and the lesson is on temple work (our teacher focused on the Plan of Salvation - AWESOME), and there are like 3 members who just keep trying to bring up or focus on Exaltation and don't get the hint when the teacher moves very quickly back to the first principles of the gospel (UnAWESOME). But of course it always ends up working out. BECAUSE HEAVENLY FATHER IS BRILLIANT.
Heavenly Father will put you in the right place at the right time if you pray and ask Him to. I know. He helps me with it on the daily.
If you're feeling sad... Look Up!!
Love,
Elder Britton Winterrose
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Hey Everyone!
Well this week was a good week. We were able to teach a bunch of less active brothers and sisters and that is one of the parts of missionary work that I find most rewarding. Many of them even attended church. It is wonderful because we have great leadership in this ward and an awesome Bishop, and I know that they are really doing their best. It just feels good to see a noticeable difference in the size and strength of the ward. Its really humbling to be a part of, because I know that none of it would be possible if the gospel wasn't true. I am so proud of all of those brothers and sisters who decided to put offense, loneliness, guilt or sorrow behind them and chose to come to church and go back at it! Its not easy for them and often it can feel awkward, but it is doing what is right that counts and I know that if they will be blessed for their faithfulness.
I hope our efforts get the ward excited about the work to do in this area and I hope these brothers and sisters return to the gospel is sincere and everlasting. No one should allow themselves to dwindle in activity or devotion to the Gospel and Church of Jesus Christ. Its not enough to just get baptized, but we must all be baptized, confirmed, and then ENDURE TO THE END. There is no growth if we just stop at baptism. No real change. The whole conversion becomes a brief thought unless followed by faithful study, prayer, renewing of our ordinances, and living the gospel to become more like our Savior.
I was astonished at the number of people who just needed someone to invite them to come out. They just needed someone to remind them of the promises that they made and the joy that can be theirs if they choose to return. For many they know that they need to be back... they just hope someone will notice that they are missing.
It is important that we make friends with as many as possible in the church and then provide them with the lasting love and support that we all require as sons and daughters of God. Enduring to the end is an individual process but it is only possible if we all work together. You cannot endure to the end without learning to serve to the end.
We had a pretty good week over all. The weeks seem so long sometimes that it is difficult for me to remember everything unless I record it in my journal each night... but I don't bring it with me when I email so OH WELL!!! I did get some wonderful letters this week, so that was good and I got the charger! Yep.
GOOD STUFF.
Well I love you all and I hope you are all doing well! I will keep plugging away at my application but I can't really work on it until this weekend when president Beesley gets back in town.
Love,
Elder Britton Winterrose
Well this week was a good week. We were able to teach a bunch of less active brothers and sisters and that is one of the parts of missionary work that I find most rewarding. Many of them even attended church. It is wonderful because we have great leadership in this ward and an awesome Bishop, and I know that they are really doing their best. It just feels good to see a noticeable difference in the size and strength of the ward. Its really humbling to be a part of, because I know that none of it would be possible if the gospel wasn't true. I am so proud of all of those brothers and sisters who decided to put offense, loneliness, guilt or sorrow behind them and chose to come to church and go back at it! Its not easy for them and often it can feel awkward, but it is doing what is right that counts and I know that if they will be blessed for their faithfulness.
I hope our efforts get the ward excited about the work to do in this area and I hope these brothers and sisters return to the gospel is sincere and everlasting. No one should allow themselves to dwindle in activity or devotion to the Gospel and Church of Jesus Christ. Its not enough to just get baptized, but we must all be baptized, confirmed, and then ENDURE TO THE END. There is no growth if we just stop at baptism. No real change. The whole conversion becomes a brief thought unless followed by faithful study, prayer, renewing of our ordinances, and living the gospel to become more like our Savior.
I was astonished at the number of people who just needed someone to invite them to come out. They just needed someone to remind them of the promises that they made and the joy that can be theirs if they choose to return. For many they know that they need to be back... they just hope someone will notice that they are missing.
It is important that we make friends with as many as possible in the church and then provide them with the lasting love and support that we all require as sons and daughters of God. Enduring to the end is an individual process but it is only possible if we all work together. You cannot endure to the end without learning to serve to the end.
We had a pretty good week over all. The weeks seem so long sometimes that it is difficult for me to remember everything unless I record it in my journal each night... but I don't bring it with me when I email so OH WELL!!! I did get some wonderful letters this week, so that was good and I got the charger! Yep.
GOOD STUFF.
Well I love you all and I hope you are all doing well! I will keep plugging away at my application but I can't really work on it until this weekend when president Beesley gets back in town.
Love,
Elder Britton Winterrose
Monday, October 17, 2011
Hey EVERYONE!!!
Well this week has gone well. It seemed to take forever!
Last Monday I just had a lot on my mind. I had been pondering on the repentance process and I started thinking of everything in my past, and as I dug deeper and deeper I started to think, Did I confess that sin? I know that the Atonement has changed my life but the idea that there were things, things that I have long since conquered or things done in ignorance, that I had never confessed - really bothered me. So I resolved to talk to my Mission President and guess what!!! I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER. It feels wonderful to just get it out and have confidence that I have confessed those things so that they would bother me no longer. So if you have repented, but you feel like there is something you forgot to confess, or if you still have skeletons in your closet, then go and council with your Priesthood Leaders and I promise that they will provide you with the love and understanding that only Heavenly Father can provide.
It's difficult to make the changes to our character, desires, and natures that the becoming like our Savior Jesus Christ demands, but it is infinitely rewarding. The first step is to find it in your heart to change. You have to humble yourselves. You have to recognize and admit to yourself that the things that you have been holding on to, whatever manner of impurity it may be, IS NOT good and DOES NOT help you come closer to our Heavenly Father. We have to admit that the only power over these things, our True Weaknesses, is that we can choose to yield to our Father's will and put our trust in Him. Know that He doesn't want you to struggle anymore than you want to struggle. You can't do it alone. Ether 12:27 holds the Key. You may try and fail and try and fail, and try, try again, but we must recognize that we have weaknesses because God permits them to be our stumbling blocks for as long as we fail to trust in the Lord with all of our heart, mind, might, and strength. We must not lean unto our own understanding but instead, we must understand that we cannot truly change our characters through our own power and self discipline.
We yield to His will through prayer and scripture study. We find out His will by counseling with our family and leaders, by studying and pondering the scriptures, and as we cleanse our desires and match our standards with the standards and desires of Heavenly Father has for us. We pray for strength and receive strength through the testimony and service of others as we strive to correct our actions and allow our heart to change as the spirit works within us. Over time, as we continue to apply the principles of the gospel, our very nature is changed and we have no more desire to do evil, "But to do good continually". Our heart is replaced with that of the Savior, our actions are replaced with those of the Savior, our eyes will shine forth the love of the Savior. It is through this process that we are able to overcome the tyranny and taint of sin. It is through these simple principles of faith and repentance that we are able to become spiritually reborn; born again in the image of our Savior, that when we rise again we may inherit the same glory as our Brother.
This week was fantastic. I love reading the Book of Mormon because I know it's true. All you have to do is ask God for yourself and He will tell you too!
Love you all!
Elder Britton P. Winterrose
PS Elder Jeffery R Holland is coming Soon!!!
Well this week has gone well. It seemed to take forever!
Last Monday I just had a lot on my mind. I had been pondering on the repentance process and I started thinking of everything in my past, and as I dug deeper and deeper I started to think, Did I confess that sin? I know that the Atonement has changed my life but the idea that there were things, things that I have long since conquered or things done in ignorance, that I had never confessed - really bothered me. So I resolved to talk to my Mission President and guess what!!! I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER. It feels wonderful to just get it out and have confidence that I have confessed those things so that they would bother me no longer. So if you have repented, but you feel like there is something you forgot to confess, or if you still have skeletons in your closet, then go and council with your Priesthood Leaders and I promise that they will provide you with the love and understanding that only Heavenly Father can provide.
It's difficult to make the changes to our character, desires, and natures that the becoming like our Savior Jesus Christ demands, but it is infinitely rewarding. The first step is to find it in your heart to change. You have to humble yourselves. You have to recognize and admit to yourself that the things that you have been holding on to, whatever manner of impurity it may be, IS NOT good and DOES NOT help you come closer to our Heavenly Father. We have to admit that the only power over these things, our True Weaknesses, is that we can choose to yield to our Father's will and put our trust in Him. Know that He doesn't want you to struggle anymore than you want to struggle. You can't do it alone. Ether 12:27 holds the Key. You may try and fail and try and fail, and try, try again, but we must recognize that we have weaknesses because God permits them to be our stumbling blocks for as long as we fail to trust in the Lord with all of our heart, mind, might, and strength. We must not lean unto our own understanding but instead, we must understand that we cannot truly change our characters through our own power and self discipline.
We yield to His will through prayer and scripture study. We find out His will by counseling with our family and leaders, by studying and pondering the scriptures, and as we cleanse our desires and match our standards with the standards and desires of Heavenly Father has for us. We pray for strength and receive strength through the testimony and service of others as we strive to correct our actions and allow our heart to change as the spirit works within us. Over time, as we continue to apply the principles of the gospel, our very nature is changed and we have no more desire to do evil, "But to do good continually". Our heart is replaced with that of the Savior, our actions are replaced with those of the Savior, our eyes will shine forth the love of the Savior. It is through this process that we are able to overcome the tyranny and taint of sin. It is through these simple principles of faith and repentance that we are able to become spiritually reborn; born again in the image of our Savior, that when we rise again we may inherit the same glory as our Brother.
This week was fantastic. I love reading the Book of Mormon because I know it's true. All you have to do is ask God for yourself and He will tell you too!
Love you all!
Elder Britton P. Winterrose
PS Elder Jeffery R Holland is coming Soon!!!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Dear Mom,
LA is Good! Hahah Goodness... (Note from Mom - Oops, I was doing the form-letter thing and just changing the names and got nabbed!)
I don't even know where to start. My mind is really tied up right now. We've been so busy. Sunday went well. We got to meet our ward and there was lots of people we hadn't met yet, so that was nice. This will probably be my shortest email ever but I'm just having a hard time pulling my thoughts together. OH one cool thing. I was able to go to the temple this Saturday and that was cool because I got to be there while J. L., a man from one of my previous wards, took out his endowment. I got into the session a little late but there were tons of Samoan people that I knew and when I got into the session I found out that it was going to be in Samoan!! Hahah so I got a headset and listened to it hahaha. Anyways, I was sitting behind Joe and I don't think he realized I was back there so it was awesome when I walked into the Celestial Room because I think he may have been a little bummed thinking I didn't make it in time, and it was awesome to see him and be able to give him a hug! My eyes filled with tears of gratitude for the wonderful opportunity to serve!
I love this work and I love the Savior. Well that's all I really have time for!!
Love Elder Winterrose.
PS. My goal is to finish the Book of Mormon again this week! I just finished Enos this morning. I'm glad Pooter had a good day!!
LA is Good! Hahah Goodness... (Note from Mom - Oops, I was doing the form-letter thing and just changing the names and got nabbed!)
I don't even know where to start. My mind is really tied up right now. We've been so busy. Sunday went well. We got to meet our ward and there was lots of people we hadn't met yet, so that was nice. This will probably be my shortest email ever but I'm just having a hard time pulling my thoughts together. OH one cool thing. I was able to go to the temple this Saturday and that was cool because I got to be there while J. L., a man from one of my previous wards, took out his endowment. I got into the session a little late but there were tons of Samoan people that I knew and when I got into the session I found out that it was going to be in Samoan!! Hahah so I got a headset and listened to it hahaha. Anyways, I was sitting behind Joe and I don't think he realized I was back there so it was awesome when I walked into the Celestial Room because I think he may have been a little bummed thinking I didn't make it in time, and it was awesome to see him and be able to give him a hug! My eyes filled with tears of gratitude for the wonderful opportunity to serve!
I love this work and I love the Savior. Well that's all I really have time for!!
Love Elder Winterrose.
PS. My goal is to finish the Book of Mormon again this week! I just finished Enos this morning. I'm glad Pooter had a good day!!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Alaska Anchorage YSA
This week has been good. I am enjoying serving with Elder Poole. He is a really nice guy. He's very intellectual and a proficient teacher, so it really is nice to be working with him. White washing an area is always an interesting process. It is difficult because there isn't a lot of carry over and many of the records that we have of previous investigators or less actives are either partial or non-existent. That is probably the sole cause of frustration. It;s cool to be able to do work in an area that is new to me though. It's just tedious as I learn the layout and who the members are. I am really looking forward to tonight because of FHE we should be able to meet a large portion of the ward so that should help. We have been striving to contact members referred to us by the bishop but have been unsuccessful at catching many of them or setting up lessons with any of them. I know it will help tons though as we get to meet the whole ward. The good news is that 2 old investigators have come out of the woodwork and we are currently teaching them. I think it will work out for both of them. This week we will start really trying to meet everyone possible and ask for referrals from them all!!! We shall see!
I really liked conference this weekend. I enjoyed all of the talks. I especially enjoyed the one about bishop's reaching out to Less Actives and inspiring repentance and re-activation through the extending of callings. As I sat there contemplating that statement and pondered on the other accounts of people saying. "That story was the same story as my Father's!" I considered my own life. It was the same way for me too. I was physically present at church but less-active at heart, and in action. But it was the single invitation to fulfill a calling that to others was very insignificant, that prompted me to repent. The calling was simple: I was to pick up the bread for sacrament and make sure it was there every Sunday. As I pondered on my willingness to accept this calling I felt unworthy to serve in even this small capacity. Being needed by the Lord and being unprepared harrowed up my soul with guilt and prompted me to ponder on all my iniquity. Through these small and simple means I embarked on a journey that has changed my life and freed me from the pains of sorrow and strife. I now feel the Spirit on a daily basis and often feel it working through and with me with great power and reality. This freedom from the consequences of sin was wrought through the Atonement of my Savior and my faith in Him. I know this, for there is no other way than repentance that I could have felt that burden lifted so freely from my soul. Now, as a Missionary of the Savior Jesus Christ, I have the opportunity to direct others to the hope and solace that only living the principles of His gospel can bring. I love it, I love this work because I love Him.
I thought that conference was wonderful. The talks on the Savior and the Book of Mormon and standing for what I believe in have inspired and enlightened me. I know my Heavenly Father loves me, and you, and because He loves us, He sent His Son - Jesus Christ. I know that the church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and that it is THE only church given this name by Divine instruction. I am grateful for the experiences of my mission thus far and I pray that I may have strength in Christ to meet the challenges that I have yet to face and that through these experiences I will become a better man and servant.
Heavenly Father loves all His children and desires them all to come unto Him through baptism into His Church - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
I hope all is going well for you my family and friends! Happy Birthday Dain, Grandpa Dick, and Caitlin! I love you all!!
MUCH LOVE!!!
Elder Britton Winterrose!
I really liked conference this weekend. I enjoyed all of the talks. I especially enjoyed the one about bishop's reaching out to Less Actives and inspiring repentance and re-activation through the extending of callings. As I sat there contemplating that statement and pondered on the other accounts of people saying. "That story was the same story as my Father's!" I considered my own life. It was the same way for me too. I was physically present at church but less-active at heart, and in action. But it was the single invitation to fulfill a calling that to others was very insignificant, that prompted me to repent. The calling was simple: I was to pick up the bread for sacrament and make sure it was there every Sunday. As I pondered on my willingness to accept this calling I felt unworthy to serve in even this small capacity. Being needed by the Lord and being unprepared harrowed up my soul with guilt and prompted me to ponder on all my iniquity. Through these small and simple means I embarked on a journey that has changed my life and freed me from the pains of sorrow and strife. I now feel the Spirit on a daily basis and often feel it working through and with me with great power and reality. This freedom from the consequences of sin was wrought through the Atonement of my Savior and my faith in Him. I know this, for there is no other way than repentance that I could have felt that burden lifted so freely from my soul. Now, as a Missionary of the Savior Jesus Christ, I have the opportunity to direct others to the hope and solace that only living the principles of His gospel can bring. I love it, I love this work because I love Him.
I thought that conference was wonderful. The talks on the Savior and the Book of Mormon and standing for what I believe in have inspired and enlightened me. I know my Heavenly Father loves me, and you, and because He loves us, He sent His Son - Jesus Christ. I know that the church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and that it is THE only church given this name by Divine instruction. I am grateful for the experiences of my mission thus far and I pray that I may have strength in Christ to meet the challenges that I have yet to face and that through these experiences I will become a better man and servant.
Heavenly Father loves all His children and desires them all to come unto Him through baptism into His Church - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
I hope all is going well for you my family and friends! Happy Birthday Dain, Grandpa Dick, and Caitlin! I love you all!!
MUCH LOVE!!!
Elder Britton Winterrose!
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