Devenportation

written July 17, 2017

Hey all! It has been one pretty killer week. Elder Devenport is the flippin best. This is his fourth transfer and he is a great missionary, really hard worker and likes to have fun. Funniest kid too. 😂 so it is super great. He is from Payson Utah, loves Donald trump, and is a major hoopdy. It's the best. (:

Elder Devenport found some dodgy underwear under his bed

We saw our good friends A and S a lot this week. They are both members struggling with addiction. S has made loads of progress since I met him. When I met him he was just completely hopeless and felt like he couldn't ever find happiness again cause he was just trapped by his addiction. But in just 3-4 weeks things have turned completely around. It's been amazing to see the light enter his life and even his countenance. It truly is amazing what Jesus Christ can do for us. Bring us from the lowest of lows, and help us feel that joy that we're all searching for. I love seeing people start, or start again to feel that. Nothing brings me quite that same feeling. (:

We got punked quite a few times this week, by people giving us fake addresses and stuff. It's been kinda lame. We've been talking to loads of people but none have really been interested. We are still seeing M though! The one who skipped on both baptisms last week. We had a great lesson last week, he's made a lot of progress, started believing in Jesus Christ and is looking to be baptised. He wanted to come to church but skipped out on that as well. All goods though. Hopefully we will be able to see him multiple times this week. We want to get him to a baptism this weekend. Good man.

My boy, Elder Cossa!

That's about it! A lot of my good friends went home this week. It was sad. ): my trainer elder Korth, the legend elder Cossa, elder Van Dyken, another Kaysvilleite elder carling. It was a lot of sadness. Good lads. Well I hope you all are doing well! Love you all!

-elder Edwards

A trunky Cossa.

New Dad

written July 10, 2017

Hey all! It's been a pretty good/crazy week. Last week we went hiking as a district. We were trying to find a pike of some sorts. We never found it. We found a dead lamb tho, which was better than a pike I think. It was some good.

We found quite a few new friends to work with this week. It has been really good. One man in particular named Tim is super interested. We will be seeing him this week which will be a good time. We are still working with Shaun and he's been to church two weeks in a row now. He is a super good man, it's been fun working with him. 

So M, that dude we've been seeing. He is a good man, but is really struggling with what we're trying to teach. He believes in God, cause he was touched by him. But he doesn't believe in Jesus Christ. He's been trying to discount Jesus Christ when we are with him. So we invited him to a baptism in Oldham on Saturday so he could found out if the stuff were teaching him is really any good. But. He didn't show. Which was sad. There was a baptism for the sisters in our district Sunday morning and he said he'd come to that as well, but didn't come. All good though. Hopefully we can see him soon, he really needs this gospel in his life.

We had a multi zone to welcome president McReynolds this week! And he is absolutely amazing. He is seriously so good. Such a humble man, and it SO refreshing to have him here. I did a baptismal interview for Morgan on Friday. It was really enjoyable. She is great and was super ready for baptism. The sisters have been working with her and she was baptised Sunday morning. Good stuff. (: 

I opened up our phone and this is what I found.

Tuesday we taught at a school. It was a real good time. We taught at bishops daughters class and another class. It was really fun I had never done anything like that before. Then we had a Fourth of July barbecue at the Fletchers. It was the best. They are the best for doing a barbecue for us. We had a water balloon fight as well which was real fun. Good times. (:

Getting the lad with a water balloon.

Well Elder Charles is leaving tomorrow. Sad day. He is a good lad. We've had some fun. But! My new companion is Elder Devenport, a legend. He was trained by my boy elder Cepeda. Should be really good! I'm really excited.

I've been thinking a lot about the peace that comes from Jesus Christ lately. Even when we're living in a tempest and storms and waves are beating upon us, we can feel peace and calm because of Jesus Christ. Because He is the prince of peace, and the only source of lasting peace. I love you all! Have a great week!

-elder edwards

Cruisin

Written July 3, 2017

Hey. It's me, elder edwards. Hope yall are doing well. Soo... yeah. This week has been pretty good. Last p day we just cruised around with elder Rodriguez and elder Morgan having some good times. It was fun. Then we did a family home evening with the district and some investigators. We had to make food out of all sorts of crazy ingredients. It was pretty gross. Well, really gross. But a good time. 

Me and elder Charles went on exchange with the zone leaders Tuesday/Wednesday. It was a good time. I went with ya boy elder carling! From kaysville! Yes boy. 😎 kaysville dads cruisin around Oldham. It was a real good time. He's a great man and we had a lot of fun. We mostly just tracted so yeah. ''Twas fun though. Elder carling leaves back for the homeland in a week. Must be crazy. 😳

Wednesday night we felt like we should go to an area called Ridgehill to try by some of our investigators there. None of them was in. But then we thought we would try by a former investigator named Mathew. He let us in and we had a super good and super spiritual conversation. He is really spiritual and we talked a lot about light v darkness and the light of Christ and the darkness of the devil. Sounds kinda deep but it was def what he needed, cuz he ate it all up. He loved everything we told him. He was like I love talking to yous, you know what your talking about, I can't get good answers like this from anywhere but talking to you. Haha so that was pretty great. I think he could def be baptised, but he keeps flaking out on the appointments we've set up since then. Hopefully we will be seeing him soon. 

We had the last district meeting of the transfer and I really enjoyed it. It was most excellent of a time. We've been working with a bunch of less actives as well. One particularly named Shaun. We met Shaun a week ago and he was really struggling. We've been seeing him everyday and he's been improving fast. It's amazing to see. Also not sure if I mentioned this before but remember how me and Elder Godfrey were teaching Sergio in Chester? Well he got baptised like 2 weeks ago! I was so pumped when I heard it. Good lad. (:

That's pretty much it! We're working hard trying to find more people to teach, and we having some good times while we're at it. I'm so grateful for Jesus Christ and what he does for people. He can bring us from our lowest of lows and help us out in our hardest times. I know he lives. Thanks for tuning in, hope you all are well. Have a great week! Love yous!

- Elder edwards

Weeks I think

(Laurel here. I knew I was behind on Dallen's blog... but I didn't realize I was THIS behind!!)

Written June 19, 2017

Hey all! This week was a goodun. Not sure I'll have much to report but I'll try my best. (: last Monday we had a zone p day! It was pretty killer. We played loads of football (soccer) and it was a real good time. We've been playing football every morning with the other elders and it's been ultimately solid. Been ages since Ive played football so it's way fun to get back into it. 😎

This week we did a lot of finding. We were able to find a couple new people, but they all bailed on their appointments except one. We had a great lesson on prayer with him, he's not a fan of organized religion so we took it easy haha, and it went really good. His name is Ian, and he's happy to have us back soon. We had a lot of lessons with recent converts and less actives this week which went really good. There's really not any investigators to report on haha, but we working on it
so hopefully soon. (:

The sisters are working with this amazing girl named Morgan! She referred herself online on Tuesday, and they've been meeting with her everyday. She is going to be baptised, has already been to youth and everything, been to church. She is so solid. She's been playing football with us in the mornings as well which has been fun. She wanted a blessing so we met up with her and the sisters at the chapel last night. She asked me if I could give the blessing and it was an incredible experience. I felt the spirit so strong, and Heavenly Father had so much that he wanted to tell Morgan. She really felt the spirit as well, and was amazed that it came straight from Heavenly Father. So that was a great experience. (:

Today the whole district went on the dankest hike. It was the best of all the times. Will include pics. We've got the solidest district eva. 

Ive been thinking a lot about prayer this week. How everyone should truly search for God, where he is and who he is, and they can do that through prayer. Our will really needs to be in line with Gods will, and those wills can be brought together through prayer. We're never alone, and we can always turn to God in prayer. And he will always answer us. It might not be right away, but he will. Sometimes we might be praying for weeks for something, but get absolutely nothing. Maybe even just some help, and it might feel like your not getting it. But it will come. He won't leave us in the dark forever. I know God is there. That's fo sho. I love you all! Have a great week!

- elder edwards

Elder Edwards update

Laurel here. Dallen didn't write a group email this week. He ran out of time--but said they were working hard, it had been a rough week, and there wasn't a lot to report.

Last Wednesday (June 7) our nephew, Jaron Idso, received a facebook message from a woman in England. (Jaron served in the London England mission a couple of years ago.) They had the missionaries over for dinner that night--Dallen being one of them. Somehow they made the connection that Dallen and Jaron were cousins. So she snapped a picture and messaged Jaron at that very moment. Awesome!

Thank you for all your love and support. And especially your prayers for our missionaries serving out there!

Ashton

(written June 5, 2017)

Throwback to ya boy!

Hey all! It's been a great week! Said peace out to Chester. Chester was real good. It was sad to say bye to the people there. Especially my boys elder Godfrey and Dave. Elder Godfrey is a flippin legend, it was so good serving with him. Good lad. 

So. Ashton. It's small. Haha it's weird coming from such a big area. I'm used to like 45 minute bus rides all the time and now it's like 5 minute bus rides. It's pretty great. (: soooo we have like 0 investigators so there's not a lot to report about... but we've been working super hard and trying to find new investigators and contacting a lot of former investigators. So it's been good! 

Our flat is kinda ghetto haha, the other day I walked downstairs from showering and my desk was covered in water. I was wondering what the heck elder Charles had been getting up to haha. 😂 but. Our ceiling was peeing. So no big deal. Not even slightly a problem. 

The new comp is elder Charles! This kid is literally the best. Haha he is so funny, were just laughing all day long. This is his 3rd transfer, and he is one solid missionary. He kills the game, super warm and friendly, hard working and knows his stuff. Takes the gospel and his mission so seriously and so not seriously at the same time haha that is the way to do it. 😜 also he's black. Which is the best part. He cooks dang good Caribbean style food as well which I'm lovin. 

What the heck was Elder Godfrey doing with his eggs?

The district here is great! There is 8 of us, and they are all the best. (: I'm excited to do exchanges! Also this is the last transfer with president Ulrich, then we will be getting the new president. (: should be weird haha but also good. Also. I got to see my boys at our transfer meeting. Good good stuff. 😎 cepooda. Alright since this email was crap I'll type out a little spiritual thought to try to redeem it. 😜 

Ive been thinking about the sacrament and how special it truly is. Ive been trying to keep it from becoming mundane and routine because it has been for quite a while. But! The sacrament is so important! We get to renew our baptismal convenants every single week! Washed clean every single week! Just like our bodies need food, we need the spiritual food that comes from taking the sacrament every week! The sacrament is such a blessing. Pay attention to the prayers, they are amazing and full of meaning. So yeah! Good stuff! Well I hope you all have a great week! Love you all!

-Elder Edwards

Transfer upper doo

(written May 29, 2017)

Yo! Wazzup. So this week there's not a lot to report... it was pretty stinkin slow. I'll try my best though. 😜

Album cover.

Update on Sergio! Nothing to update. He moved his home stay and dropped off the face of the planet. So he's moved, and won't answer his phone. Sad day. ): hopefully we'll be able to find him on the street somewhere. We've def been keeping him in our prayers. Someday. (:

Haha we had a hilarious experience! We were cruisin down the street and I saw this very old man who couldn't walk super well sitting at a bus stop. I just said hello as we were walking by and he called us over. He was asking us if there was any shops nearby because he couldn't walk much further cause his arthritis. We were like no the shops are quite a ways away. I offered to go to the shops for him, so he just pulled his wallet out, handed it to us, and sent us away! 😂 haha quite the trusting man. So we went and got him some bread and tarts and brought it back to him. He was very grateful. Haha funniest man as well. We were talking to him and he told us a bit about his arthritis. He pulled up his pantlegs to show us his knees and he said "good job nobody's looking!" Then we all busted up for a little while. Haha it was great.

C for Chesta Crew. My c looked a bit funny though, not sure why.

We had a great district meeting on Tuesday. I love district meetings. Def my fav part of being a district leader. It had a great spirit there. Also! It was elder Godfrey's six month mark! So we burned some ties! Good times. (:

Elder Godfrey killin the game

We had a super solid experience with James this week! So things have been super hard with him because his parents have been showing 0 interest. But we were teaching him on Friday and his mom came in. She had been showing 0 interest because she thought we were jehovahs witnesses! Hahawhen she learned that we aren't, she warmed up real quick. We taught her the restoration and she asked loads of great questions! She loved the restoration, then the whole family came out to church on Sunday! It was great! Somebody in front of us ripped one in sacrament, so they kind of lost their focus for the rest of the meeting because they were trying not to laugh haha. 😂 funny family. (: they are super great. 

Also... transfer news! We found out yesterday that I... will be leaving! I will be going to Ashton to be the district dad there! Should be good! There's some pretty sick kids in my district so it will be fun. My new companion will be elder Charles. He's been out for 2 transfers and I know absolutely nothing about him. Should be good! (: also king Cossa, my old district leader in Rhyl will be in my district for his last transfer. So excited! (: the man is a legend. I love this gospel! I love how it encourages individuality, and I love Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful for him and the perfect example He set. Sometimes we get our priorities messed up. We just need to focus on Jesus Christ, and everything else will fall into place. 

Love you all, have a great week!

-elder edwards