ELDER LOGAN CHASE VAN KATWYK
WEEK #15
9/29/14
Hey everybody!,
Glad everything is everything and you all are kept busy! Nothing a whole lot happened again this week. Zone conference was on Thursday! Man to be honest, I was so scared. I had no idea what to expect or anything and on top of that, my only spanish problem is not being able to understand what people say and the entire zone conference was in spanish!! If President ever called on me I was ready to say "No me entendi nada" (I didn't understand anything) But, he didn't so I'm good haha. But ya I'm not gonna lie, President Maluenda intimidates the poop outta me! -_- hahah It's all good though. Along with that, President came back from a training two weeks ago and now we have to meet together 3 times a week to do role-plays.... So we have to drive to Robstown 4 times a week. and that's 60 miles there and back. So it pretty much burns a hole in all of that :(
**Anyways, Ida's doing good. Could be better. We're having a hard time with her because she drinks coffee.... but that's it.... and then we haven't been able to visit and teach her or anything because she was at a family get together I think. But ya so we didn't get to baptize her yesterday. oh well. But we're still workin on her!
**Hmmmm....
something new I learned this week. I'm always excited for that question, but I wasn't able to study much because I've been following all these commitments that everybody keeps throwing at me lol So I'll get back to you on that one.
**Funnest thing I've done on P-day..... Well we have interesting P-days really. We do the same thing every week. Hang out in Robstown church building, play basketball or just do whatever. And that's basically it **sadly haha Elder latu's favorite meals iiiiiisssss.....excuse me while I ask him right now....... "Anything with Chicken". True that, that guy eats like a monster hahaha
**Hmmmm the best food I've eaten at a meal appointment.... would probably this chicken with this enchilada sauce. awwwwhhhh I don't know how to describe it, but it was perfect cuz it was at this Mexican family's house. So I ate alot of it hahah soooo gooood.
**I think the Elder or Elders I look up to are my Zone leaders and their leadership skills. When we had a zone meeting, I was just looking at them and I was like "Man, I at least wanna make it to zone leader by the time I'm done". And they're just totally awesome people.
**I got the supplies!!! You da best! Elder Latu was in the (hello my name is Elder Brady. just thought id say hello and that your son is an AWESOME missionary) bathroom and he heard me yelling "WOOHOO!" cuz I saw the carmel apple suckers and air heads :) I was super pumped! I have no idea what her real last name is, I think it's Northcott or something like that hahah but ya I put that because that's what it says in their text signatures.
Anyways, Glad everything is everything and I pray and love you all!
Elder VanKatwyk
2 more things: i suggested to logan that he needed a hair cut. he told me that he'd already cut the top of his hair this morning and E. Latu cut the sides. oh my....he'll send a pic next week. haha
as a side note: i saw a post from sister moody's mom (a sister in logan's district). as we were conversing i looked at her FB profile pic. what??? i think i see part of the sacramento temple in the background. she confirmed my thought. apparently they live in Live Oak, California which is up 99 past Yuba City heading to Gridley. I told logan that i'd met her online and this was his reply.......................
"Right on!!! hahah Ya Sister Moody lives a little up north than us. Don't remember exactly the name of the town, but she knows Vacaville! she told me "OH i love vacaville!!! I would go there all the time!!!" Suuuuuper small world let me tell ya. Sister Moody and I were on the same plane to Arizona from California, then Arizona to Mexico, then we sat next to each other on the plane from Dallas to McAllen, and now we're in the same district, and we saw each other quite a bit in the MTC too. hahah pretty weird"
WEEK #14
9/22/14
Buenas Familia y Amigos!
Well to be honest, not much really happened last week. We've been teaching Ida and having daily contact with her and she's progressing even more and more and more. I'm super stoked and I'm praying super hard and trying really hard to get her baptized cuz she is sooooo ready. We've basically taught her everything. But ya other than her, nothing has really happened this week.
I learned in church, probably the importance of forgiveness and keeping the commandments. Nothing really too deep or specific. The closest temple to me is probably San Antonio but we can't go to the temple cuz it's waaaayyyy out of our area. So to answer that question...nope can't go to the temple :/ hmmmm my "a-ha" moment would probably be when I was reading in Moses (cuz I finished Doctrine and Covenants by myself :) Whoop!!) and I was reading about Adam and Eve and it says in Moses 4:26 that Adam called the woman Eve because she's the mother of all living; "for thus I, the Lord, God, called the first of all women, which were many" and it said that same thing for Adam as well. So if the scriptures say that God has created worlds which are numberless, everything that has happened in our world, is the exact same as the other worlds God has created. There have been more than one Adam and Eve, not in our world, but in the others.
I think something that happened that got me 'closer' to Elder Latu was probobly when we visited a member yesterday. We gave a spiritual thought about missionary work and that this member's daughters should listen to their mom. I don't wanna put anything too personal here about my companion but he said that I'm his favorite companion. He's told me things that he's never told anyone else because he trusts me more than anyone else and that he loves me so so much. He also told them that of all his companions he's had, he's never "destroyed them" (He's good at fighting, very strong) and he told them how I've asked if I've ever made him mad and that he said no. One thing he never told me that he said was that he's wanted to be mad at me and tried to, but he just can't because there's something about me that just makes him never get mad at me. And while he was saying all that, he was crying, and I was crying too. Hmmmmm a cool thing about Elder Latuuuuu...... ummm he wants to study criminal justice too and his brother was in the FBI but is a sheriff now :) Super awesome. Hahah are you kidding me? I'm taller than him :p I'll be surprised if I have a companion who's taller than I am. The best talk in church would probably be a talk about Forgiveness. Unfortunately, I don't really remember anything about the talk at the top of my head :/
Well, that is all I have for this episode. Glad everything is everything and Keep on Keepin on!! :)
Love you all and pray for you all
Elder VanKatwyk
9/22/14
Buenas Familia y Amigos!
Well to be honest, not much really happened last week. We've been teaching Ida and having daily contact with her and she's progressing even more and more and more. I'm super stoked and I'm praying super hard and trying really hard to get her baptized cuz she is sooooo ready. We've basically taught her everything. But ya other than her, nothing has really happened this week.
I learned in church, probably the importance of forgiveness and keeping the commandments. Nothing really too deep or specific. The closest temple to me is probably San Antonio but we can't go to the temple cuz it's waaaayyyy out of our area. So to answer that question...nope can't go to the temple :/ hmmmm my "a-ha" moment would probably be when I was reading in Moses (cuz I finished Doctrine and Covenants by myself :) Whoop!!) and I was reading about Adam and Eve and it says in Moses 4:26 that Adam called the woman Eve because she's the mother of all living; "for thus I, the Lord, God, called the first of all women, which were many" and it said that same thing for Adam as well. So if the scriptures say that God has created worlds which are numberless, everything that has happened in our world, is the exact same as the other worlds God has created. There have been more than one Adam and Eve, not in our world, but in the others.
I think something that happened that got me 'closer' to Elder Latu was probobly when we visited a member yesterday. We gave a spiritual thought about missionary work and that this member's daughters should listen to their mom. I don't wanna put anything too personal here about my companion but he said that I'm his favorite companion. He's told me things that he's never told anyone else because he trusts me more than anyone else and that he loves me so so much. He also told them that of all his companions he's had, he's never "destroyed them" (He's good at fighting, very strong) and he told them how I've asked if I've ever made him mad and that he said no. One thing he never told me that he said was that he's wanted to be mad at me and tried to, but he just can't because there's something about me that just makes him never get mad at me. And while he was saying all that, he was crying, and I was crying too. Hmmmmm a cool thing about Elder Latuuuuu...... ummm he wants to study criminal justice too and his brother was in the FBI but is a sheriff now :) Super awesome. Hahah are you kidding me? I'm taller than him :p I'll be surprised if I have a companion who's taller than I am. The best talk in church would probably be a talk about Forgiveness. Unfortunately, I don't really remember anything about the talk at the top of my head :/
Well, that is all I have for this episode. Glad everything is everything and Keep on Keepin on!! :)
Love you all and pray for you all
Elder VanKatwyk
Sep 2014 - Alice, TX District Mtg to build 'comp unity' the Elders wore 'ugly' ties. The Sisters come and they bring 'ugly' dresses, skirts, head bands...the whole get-up. I was actually the first one to put a dress on (haha) and everybody was laughing super hard at me cuz of how well I could pull it off ;-) L-R --- S. Acosta, E. Hatchett (Elder I was with during the 'splits' stories), E. Latu, Me, E. Cruz, and S. Moody.
WEEK #13
9/15/14
Hey all!
Glad everyone sounds like they're doing good! Nothing much really happened this week. Compared to the previous week at least. Michele got baptized yesterday! whoop whoop!! So that was fun to be able to see her get baptized. Ida, our investigator came to church yesterday with us and she even stayed for the baptism too! :) She came to our Gospel Principles class and our lesson was on temples (baptism for the dead, sealings, and the importance of temples) so I was really freaking out.... cuz I didn't wanna scare her off or anything. Even though we had two other people in the class, I tried to make sure that she wasn't confused and I tried to discern what she was feeling and how it was processing in her mind because a topic like that is saved for after baptism. BUT, she did good. It was a lot for her to take in but she had a positive attitude about it. Afterwards, as I was taking her to Relief Society I asked her "So how was that?" and she just said "It's different but I'm learning" and then I just told her "Yup that's exactly right. And it may not make sense at first but we will keep teaching you so it can make sense for you". So, she seemed like she had a good time at church and I'm glad that she got to stay for Michele's baptism.
No funny experiences this past week :( but I'll tell a story in place of it. I was on an exchange on Tuesday and we got to this house, and this guy answers the door. After we introduce ourselves he then asks, "So what's your guys doctrine?" Right then I knew my worst fear became reality with that one question. This guy had to be either very intelligent or he was a pastor. He then invites us in and we're sitting there with just him and his family was in the other room of the house. Basically he was saying that Jesus Christ and God are one being and that Jesus Christ was God in the flesh and that the Bible is "the only true word of God. We don't need any other book or anything. Everything we need to know is in this book" (as he's holding the Bible in his hand) I didn't say anything cuz I was just mad and frustrated because I wasn't happy with him telling us that we're wrong and no one is gonna believe us. I really wanted to throw down with him... And I knew I could tear him up because of everything he was saying, I had BIBLE scriptures in my mind to back it up that what he was saying was wrong. But I felt like I shouldn't say anything. Because he wasn't necessarily "bashing" with us (In his words it was a "bible discussion") I didn't feel like it was my place to throw down with him and cause contention. I knew if I opened my mouth to say anything, I was gonna make it so much worse. But at the same time I felt bad because I left my companion to defend for us. Anyways, so I just sat there and listened to what he had to say. Finally, the Elder who I was with just said "Sir, thank you for your time. But we should get going." And then the pastor dude just kept talking! I was just sitting there like "Seriously?! just prove you're point already because we have work to do!" and he told Bible stories that were ridiculously long (Don't get me wrong, like I was learning about the different stories) but I just didn't like how he took almost 2 hours just to tell us that we're wrong. Anyways, so we finally get out there and my companion was really discouraged. And I basically told him that his soul just wasn't prepared. And at times like those, you just gotta hold on to your testimony and the faith that you have that what you know is true. And I was quoting scriptures and talks and just everything I could think of to encourage him and heighten his self-esteem. We actually ended up saying a few prayers so we could be comforted by the spirit. Man I just have a lot of luck encountering pastors and priests. Sheesh!
So my inspirational moment/neat experience this week/favorite scripture was that during that same exchange and the same day with the encounter with the pastor, at the end of the day we knocked on this house and this single lady opened up the door. And we asked her how her day was and she responds with, "It's alright. Just been having a lot of "why me?" thoughts or "why is this happening to me?" kinda thing" and so we asked her what's been happening. It was cool to see how open she was with us even though we just started talking to her. But she was telling us that she's been having a lot of problems. She was recently separated from her husband after suffering every kind of abuse, and then she's having a lot of family problems as well and then she just got a call earlier that day saying that she could have cancer or has a tumor or both. She was also telling us that she married in the Catholic church just because her husband wanted her to and both her parents were always Catholic. Anyways, as she was telling us these things, she just started crying. and the Elder I was with, bore testimony which got her crying again. And then I was sharing my experience of my cyst and my back acne and telling her that I know what it's like to question "why me? why couldn't this happened to somebody else?" But then I told her that there is someone who's been there before. Jesus Christ. He knows all of our pains and sufferings and he knows exactly what we go through. And then I testified to her that our message can bring happiness to her life because that's how it happened for me and that's the reason why I was doing what I do. And during that whole time I talked to her, she was crying again. Anyways, we ended up sharing our message. BUT, instead of teaching the restoration lesson, my companion and I shared scriptures that we felt could encourage her. So he shared a scripture first and it was somewhere in Alma (don't really remember what it was about) and while she was reading that scripture my favorite scripture came to mind that has helped me a lot. Alma 34:40-41. So my companion asked her what stood out to her, and while she responded to his question, I reeeaalllyyy felt like I needed to share that scripture with her. And so my companion then stops and looks at me to say something, and so I share with her my favorite scripture and I told her that one day last month, I woke up and as I was getting ready and I looked at my back (because it was really bad from all the food and stuff) and then my cyst problem and became really depressed and upset, but, I came across these verses during my personal study and I just started crying. I had her read the verses. After she read verse 41, she pauses and started tearing up again. And then at this time, I shared with her my testimony. And to be honest I've never bore that strong of testimony to where I've almost started crying myself. But I did that time. It was a pretty neat experience because, like I said, I've never have had that happen to me before. Anyways, we gave her The Plan of Salvation pamphlet and we had her read it and pray about it. As we were walking to our car, Elder Hatchett (my exchange companion) puts his arm around me and says "You have a really strong testimony. I love working with you." and then we just got talking about how that went and he told me that he felt prompted that he really needed to stop after that scripture and to let me talk. So I'm hoping, that opened the door for her to happiness. I was just sad that I wasn't in that area to work with her.
My favorite PMG section would probably beeeee...... probably Christlike Attributes to be honest. Cuz when you apply those attributes and strive to have them, you're greatly blessed and it brings you closer to being an example like Jesus Christ.
Well that is all I have for this episode of "Adventures of Alice Texas"
Stay tuned!
Love you all and pray for you always. Keep on Keepin on!
Elder VanKatwyk
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WEEK #12
9/8/14
Hey howdy hey!
Sounds like life is grand in the great Cali! That's hilarious that Summer put Mason in my apartment hahah and mom I just gotta say I'm definitely digging the blog and your descriptions for the picture. They make me laugh hahah
That's actually a very good question... Why are women more comfortable going to meetings more than men... hmmmmm.... Ya I do keep praying for Alex to go because I know he'll have so much fun out here and I'm sure he's just chomping at the bit wanting to leave.
So..... Elder Latu is siiiiiiiiick! He's such a sick missionary. And we're already getting along soooooo weelll. He bore his testimony to introduce himself and at the end he said "my companion loves eating and he eats sooooooo much and has told me all of his experiences with food. So he eats alot so he needs it". And I just looked at him and just shook me head just thinking "ohhhhh my goodness he's gonna get me in trouble..." hahah I really don't have food experiences. Just the only experience I've had is that Elder Field and I had a back to back meal appointment and we both almost threw-up at the persons house. Like I kid you not, I soon as I take the first bit, I gagged just a little bit so I started praying right there "Heavenly Father please don't let me throw up". We just had to go so hard trying to eat the food hahah.
Elder Latu is from San Francisco actually (Whoops! my bad) by Palo Alto or Mountain View area. 3 things I learned about him is that he has 4 brothers and 3 sisters, his mom passed away when he was 9 :( aaaaand He's learning Spanish... AND English. So I'm helping him with his English.
Ok so tender mercies would probably be that we were able to achieve our goal of 89 baptisms as a mission. Also, Elder Latu and I got 61 refferals received, 42 contacted, and 5 new investigators last week..........BOO YA!!!! And we actually had some crazy experiences finding these investigators which I will tell you about.
So..... we had a rough Tuesday and Wednesday last week because we were both frustrated because we didn't know the area. And we were both discouraged and I remember waking up Thursday morning and just thinking to myself ".....another day....". We had the idea of going to Walmart and buying a GPS to save miles and so we go there and the cheapest one was $100. So we were both upset not knowing what to do. and we texted the other missionaries to see if we can use their GPS but they all told us no. SO... we just go about our plans and we were planning and going and visiting one of the members who I gave a blessing few weeks ago just to see how she's doing. But she wasn't there..... And were so frustrated that I just yelled "I just wanna stinking teach somebody already!!!" and as we were walking to the car I had the impression and thought to start knocking on doors. and so I just stopped walking and I said "Hey do you wanna just knock on doors" and Latu said "Ya let's do that" and so we knocked and got referrals but no one to teach. Then we walked and were about to go to the car (cuz we basically knocked on every door on the block) and as we were walking Elder Latu says "Hey lets go to this one" and it was the one house we didn't get a refferal to or anything. So we went and as we were walking Elder Latu turns to me and says "This is our investigator right here. We're teaching this one". And so the door opens and we have a comfortable opening conversation and got to know them. Sure enough.... we got to teach them! Her name is Lydia (never talked to missionaries before) and her friend Amanda (who has taken the lessons before and she had a good experience with them)... BOOM!! Then we just continue on our day having fun talking to people and knocking on doors. Laughing at people trying to run away from us and chasing them down and everything hahaha
Then Friday comes and we were planning on talking to a less active family but they weren't home. So we just went knocking on doors again. Got a bunch of refferals and the exact same situation happened. As we walked, we saw a house and we both felt that we should go knock on it. So we did and the lady's name is Ida and she was so open with us saying that she just doesn't feel the way she used to when she goes to church. Like she feels something missing. Like it's not as special to her as it once was. And then she has a good friend there who just got kicked out of her sons house because he was bi-polar and so she's going through a tough time. And it was such a good lesson. They both were really into it and at the end we invited Ida's friend to pray and as soon as she said "Heavenly Father...." she just started balling. And then after the lesson was done we asked if there was anything we could do for them and Ida said "ummmmm well you can come back" and so we were like super excited like "yay we can totally come back!!" and when she asked what day would work best for them and we said that we can come anyday or everyday they were just really stoked about that. So I'm excited about those two :)
So yesterday, we went to go teach Alan (cuz we found him again!!! BOOM!!!) but he wasn't there, and so we say "Ok lets go knocking" haha and we knock on houses and it's like 8:20pm and were suppose to be done by 9pm and so we were about to knock on Alan's again or leave, but then I said "hey lets go get this house" which was Alan's neighbor. So we knocked and it was just a single lady who lives by herself but we got to teach her at her door step. BOOM!! another investigator (that one was actually really cool cuz it was just a simple thought that I had to go knock. Nothing miraculous or anything like that) So while we taught the lady, I saw a truck drive into the driveway of Alan's house so after the lesson, we went next door and knocked and Alan was there and we set up a new baptismal date with him!!! LET'S GO!!! hahah Alice is just booming right now and Elder Latu and I are doin work!! Suuuuuper stoked!!
Let's seeeee and aha moment would probably be today when I was reading in 2 Nephi and it was after Lehi died. When Laman and Lemuel sought to kill Nephi and the Lord then commanded Nephi to journey into the wilderness and so he took his family along with Zoram and his family, Sam and his family, Jacob and Joseph, and it says in a verse that the people that were with him "took upon themselves the name The people of Nephi" (Nephites) and so as they were multiplying and "prospering in the land", the people that were following Laman took upon themselves the name "The people of Laman" (Lamanites) and they were taught in wickedness and so that's how the whole feud between them came to be. As I read that and thought about that I was like "Ohhhhhhhhh lightbulb..... It all makes sense!!" OH! and then because the Lamanites were wicked they were cut off from the presence of God and they were cursed. and it said in the scriptures something like "their skin was exceedingly white" but the curse turned their skin dark. And so at the very end of the scriptures in the book of Ether when the Nephites and Lamanites are just destroying each other, the Nephites ran away to North America and the Lamanites chased after them. After they all killed each other there was only a few Lamanites alive and so they went back down to South America. And so that's how the natives came to be. Their ancient ancestors were Lamanites.
Man I've learned alot of deep things from my studies that'll probably too mind blowing if this is going in the blog. BUT, I read a book called The Great Apostacy by Tad R. Collister. (Dad, you'll love this book if you haven't read it all ready. Highly encourage you to read that) but after reading that book, It all just make so much sense!!! The persecutions of the Christian church. The Roman empire, the Catholic church and the Popes and just everything that happened during the apostasy.
Our investigators are doing great. We're shooting for a baptism this Sunday which is our investigator Michele from the Mendoza family. She also lived in Mexico and is a part of a part-member family and so she's living up in Alice with her Aunt and Uncle. The Mendoza kids seem like they're doing great! It was really fun to see their dad on Sunday. He just seemed sooooooo happy. I went up to him to say hey and he was all smiley and talkative with me and stuff like that. He came to our Gospel Principles class and was totally active in the lesson. Then he invited us for lunch yesterday and he was totally talkative and laughing. It was just really awesome to see his happiness from his kids being baptized and confirmed. It really strengthened my testimony on how the Gospel does bless families as we strive to keep the commandments and follow the example of Christ. And lastly, Alice is in the Corpus Christi stake and I have no idea when Stake Conference will be. I believe it is sometime later this year, like towards the end or something but ya.
Whew.... long email. Enjoy! :) But things are awesome and I hope everything is everything with everyone.
Keep on keepin on and stay tuned for Channel 360 "The adventures of Alice Texas"
Love you all!
Elder VanKatwyk
9/8/14
Hey howdy hey!
Sounds like life is grand in the great Cali! That's hilarious that Summer put Mason in my apartment hahah and mom I just gotta say I'm definitely digging the blog and your descriptions for the picture. They make me laugh hahah
That's actually a very good question... Why are women more comfortable going to meetings more than men... hmmmmm.... Ya I do keep praying for Alex to go because I know he'll have so much fun out here and I'm sure he's just chomping at the bit wanting to leave.
So..... Elder Latu is siiiiiiiiick! He's such a sick missionary. And we're already getting along soooooo weelll. He bore his testimony to introduce himself and at the end he said "my companion loves eating and he eats sooooooo much and has told me all of his experiences with food. So he eats alot so he needs it". And I just looked at him and just shook me head just thinking "ohhhhh my goodness he's gonna get me in trouble..." hahah I really don't have food experiences. Just the only experience I've had is that Elder Field and I had a back to back meal appointment and we both almost threw-up at the persons house. Like I kid you not, I soon as I take the first bit, I gagged just a little bit so I started praying right there "Heavenly Father please don't let me throw up". We just had to go so hard trying to eat the food hahah.
Elder Latu is from San Francisco actually (Whoops! my bad) by Palo Alto or Mountain View area. 3 things I learned about him is that he has 4 brothers and 3 sisters, his mom passed away when he was 9 :( aaaaand He's learning Spanish... AND English. So I'm helping him with his English.
Ok so tender mercies would probably be that we were able to achieve our goal of 89 baptisms as a mission. Also, Elder Latu and I got 61 refferals received, 42 contacted, and 5 new investigators last week..........BOO YA!!!! And we actually had some crazy experiences finding these investigators which I will tell you about.
So..... we had a rough Tuesday and Wednesday last week because we were both frustrated because we didn't know the area. And we were both discouraged and I remember waking up Thursday morning and just thinking to myself ".....another day....". We had the idea of going to Walmart and buying a GPS to save miles and so we go there and the cheapest one was $100. So we were both upset not knowing what to do. and we texted the other missionaries to see if we can use their GPS but they all told us no. SO... we just go about our plans and we were planning and going and visiting one of the members who I gave a blessing few weeks ago just to see how she's doing. But she wasn't there..... And were so frustrated that I just yelled "I just wanna stinking teach somebody already!!!" and as we were walking to the car I had the impression and thought to start knocking on doors. and so I just stopped walking and I said "Hey do you wanna just knock on doors" and Latu said "Ya let's do that" and so we knocked and got referrals but no one to teach. Then we walked and were about to go to the car (cuz we basically knocked on every door on the block) and as we were walking Elder Latu says "Hey lets go to this one" and it was the one house we didn't get a refferal to or anything. So we went and as we were walking Elder Latu turns to me and says "This is our investigator right here. We're teaching this one". And so the door opens and we have a comfortable opening conversation and got to know them. Sure enough.... we got to teach them! Her name is Lydia (never talked to missionaries before) and her friend Amanda (who has taken the lessons before and she had a good experience with them)... BOOM!! Then we just continue on our day having fun talking to people and knocking on doors. Laughing at people trying to run away from us and chasing them down and everything hahaha
Then Friday comes and we were planning on talking to a less active family but they weren't home. So we just went knocking on doors again. Got a bunch of refferals and the exact same situation happened. As we walked, we saw a house and we both felt that we should go knock on it. So we did and the lady's name is Ida and she was so open with us saying that she just doesn't feel the way she used to when she goes to church. Like she feels something missing. Like it's not as special to her as it once was. And then she has a good friend there who just got kicked out of her sons house because he was bi-polar and so she's going through a tough time. And it was such a good lesson. They both were really into it and at the end we invited Ida's friend to pray and as soon as she said "Heavenly Father...." she just started balling. And then after the lesson was done we asked if there was anything we could do for them and Ida said "ummmmm well you can come back" and so we were like super excited like "yay we can totally come back!!" and when she asked what day would work best for them and we said that we can come anyday or everyday they were just really stoked about that. So I'm excited about those two :)
So yesterday, we went to go teach Alan (cuz we found him again!!! BOOM!!!) but he wasn't there, and so we say "Ok lets go knocking" haha and we knock on houses and it's like 8:20pm and were suppose to be done by 9pm and so we were about to knock on Alan's again or leave, but then I said "hey lets go get this house" which was Alan's neighbor. So we knocked and it was just a single lady who lives by herself but we got to teach her at her door step. BOOM!! another investigator (that one was actually really cool cuz it was just a simple thought that I had to go knock. Nothing miraculous or anything like that) So while we taught the lady, I saw a truck drive into the driveway of Alan's house so after the lesson, we went next door and knocked and Alan was there and we set up a new baptismal date with him!!! LET'S GO!!! hahah Alice is just booming right now and Elder Latu and I are doin work!! Suuuuuper stoked!!
Let's seeeee and aha moment would probably be today when I was reading in 2 Nephi and it was after Lehi died. When Laman and Lemuel sought to kill Nephi and the Lord then commanded Nephi to journey into the wilderness and so he took his family along with Zoram and his family, Sam and his family, Jacob and Joseph, and it says in a verse that the people that were with him "took upon themselves the name The people of Nephi" (Nephites) and so as they were multiplying and "prospering in the land", the people that were following Laman took upon themselves the name "The people of Laman" (Lamanites) and they were taught in wickedness and so that's how the whole feud between them came to be. As I read that and thought about that I was like "Ohhhhhhhhh lightbulb..... It all makes sense!!" OH! and then because the Lamanites were wicked they were cut off from the presence of God and they were cursed. and it said in the scriptures something like "their skin was exceedingly white" but the curse turned their skin dark. And so at the very end of the scriptures in the book of Ether when the Nephites and Lamanites are just destroying each other, the Nephites ran away to North America and the Lamanites chased after them. After they all killed each other there was only a few Lamanites alive and so they went back down to South America. And so that's how the natives came to be. Their ancient ancestors were Lamanites.
Man I've learned alot of deep things from my studies that'll probably too mind blowing if this is going in the blog. BUT, I read a book called The Great Apostacy by Tad R. Collister. (Dad, you'll love this book if you haven't read it all ready. Highly encourage you to read that) but after reading that book, It all just make so much sense!!! The persecutions of the Christian church. The Roman empire, the Catholic church and the Popes and just everything that happened during the apostasy.
Our investigators are doing great. We're shooting for a baptism this Sunday which is our investigator Michele from the Mendoza family. She also lived in Mexico and is a part of a part-member family and so she's living up in Alice with her Aunt and Uncle. The Mendoza kids seem like they're doing great! It was really fun to see their dad on Sunday. He just seemed sooooooo happy. I went up to him to say hey and he was all smiley and talkative with me and stuff like that. He came to our Gospel Principles class and was totally active in the lesson. Then he invited us for lunch yesterday and he was totally talkative and laughing. It was just really awesome to see his happiness from his kids being baptized and confirmed. It really strengthened my testimony on how the Gospel does bless families as we strive to keep the commandments and follow the example of Christ. And lastly, Alice is in the Corpus Christi stake and I have no idea when Stake Conference will be. I believe it is sometime later this year, like towards the end or something but ya.
Whew.... long email. Enjoy! :) But things are awesome and I hope everything is everything with everyone.
Keep on keepin on and stay tuned for Channel 360 "The adventures of Alice Texas"
Love you all!
Elder VanKatwyk
WEEK #11
9/3/14
Hey all!
Well...... What a week I've had. So on Thursday, Elder Field and I drove to Sister Cardona's work and got Pedicures!!!!!!! My feet felt glorious and heavenly!!!!! So Mom, Cammie, Ness, even Mace, Dad.....Tanner or whoever is reading this.....If you're going to get a pedicure, hit me up!!!! :D I'd totally go with you!! The baptisms did happen on Sunday!! :) Woop Wwoop! and we were the only one's that had baptisms in our district. First baptism baby!! So that was great. Yesterday was transfers and now I don't have Elder Field anymore... I really took it hard to be honest. I almost cried numerous times and I'm actually still trying to get over it right now. It was just really hard for me because we were only with each other for 5 weeks but we got along soooooooooo well. But my new companion, or step pappi ;) is Elder Latu. A big tongan guy from Sacramento California, believe it or not. He's been out as long as Elder Field has and this is hiiiiiis...... 3rd area I believe? 2nd? I dunno. Anyways. Ya I was really depressed about Elder Field leaving. I wish he could've stayed one more transfer but he's been in Alice for 5 transfers already. So I'm just workin' on getting over it now. But Elder Latu is siiiiiiick though :) His companion was actually Elder Lindsey who came out with me from the MTC haha
So for the Q&A:
I guess my important first could be the baptism. I didn't do the baptizing and we haven't done the confirmation just yet. But first baptism is always important! OH! and for the exchange, we drove to Corpus and ooohhhhh my goodness.... I felt so outta place because of all the skyscraper bank buildings. Elder Field and I went to Whataburger on the bay (best place ever by the way) and took pictures, and then drove down Ocean Drive which was the road next to the beach.
The home cooked food herrrrre is not really anything. We just eat out a lot because Elder Field ran out of money on his mission card and had a little bit of money left on his home card. We do have meal appointments daily every week except Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Bike stories..... Really the only good one I had was the story when I was on the exchange with Elder Jones and Sawyer and Sawyer hit a pot hole and took a dive in the puddle hahaha (I still laugh so hard about that).
Spanish is coming along great actually! I can definitely see it's improving. We had district meeting today and my spanish flowed really well when we did our role play. I can definitely say what I'm thinking, but it's just listening and being able to understand what someone is saying to me to respond back is what I'm still trying to work on. And I think I'm at that point were I can't even speak english anymore... hahah So I basically can't speak any language :p But yes it is coming. Pretty stoked! No embarassing moments from my spanish..........yet ;) Give it time. Knowing me I'll probably totally say something super wierd or embarrassing on accident haha.
No insults either. The only thing that has happened to me yet was getting yelled at by this crazy Catholic priest (again while I was on the exchange with Sawyer and Jones (nothing fun ever happens in Alice :p)) We stopped at the H.E.B grocery store to use the bathroom and we walk out and I was straggling a little behind and I just hear this guy sticking his head out the window of his van and just starts yelling at me saying that we're a false church and that we have no apostles and that they're the only true church on the earth today (now obviously a priest is going to say that) And all I did was just stand they're and look at him. Thinking to myself "should I bash with him? should I give him a card? Should I just go up and talk to him?" I almost just walked up to him and just said "sir..... have a good day". But, I just walked away.
Didn't have tender mercies yet that I can think of. I'll give you that question back for later.
Elder Field has been out on his mission for a little over a year.
No "mission studies" and district meeting were always good. He would prepare for them during personal study on Monday and Tuesday. And then the training program, we have an hour set apart for that.
My excersises???.......... oh man. Well to be honest, my excersises are laying on my bed..... hahaha BUT, I've been doing better!!!! My abs kinda hurt from doing ab workouts.
Companionship inventories were always good. I mean there was always nothing wrong with our companionship because of how well we got along. But we tried to mixed it up and find new things to compliment each other on. And we always needed to work on a few of the same things, so we would help each other fix them and to be better.
But ya that's what happened on Channel 360 "The Adventures of Alice Texas"
To be Continued......
Love you all and I pray for you always. Hope everything is everything!
Elder VanKatwyk