Monday, March 28, 2011
He's Found Again..
Dear Family and Friends, Once again my industrious mother has succeeded in taking all the fun out of the guessing game, due to complications with my bike. So the secret is out, I'm now in the Roswell ward, and I think that this ward is definitely one of my favorites which probably means I wont be here too long..... This week was really strange, just about everyone we met was super nice, but not too interested in learning the gospel. We've now had to reschedule all of our baptisms, so nothings gonna happen there for a while. I had to go to Leadership training again this week, I really don't like 9 hour meetings, but this one was unique, so we got to break up the routine a little. With the Temple Open House starting next week, and General Conference and all the changes in missionary work going on, it's a crazy time to be a missionary, but it's also a good time. We really have to rely on the Spirit, and it's great. This week we had a really cool experience, where we just left the apartment, and were biking out to where we were going for the day, and the wind was blowing like crazy, so we were going really slow. Less than 100 yards from our turn off, we stopped to check the map because I wasn't sure where we were going, and this van pulls off behind us. A member steps out, and hands us a referral for a less active member that wants to take the lessons, and come back to church. It was so crazy to think that if the wind hadn't been blowing, we already would've been there, and she would've missed us. Then of course the wind died down the rest of the day, and everything went very cheerfully from then on. It definitely helped me see how the Lord's hand is in all things, and he really does work in mysterious ways, but it's all for the benefit of his children. I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. (I for one am glad he chose a shop called Roswell Bike Shop, and that I have access to his bank records)
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Weekly Owl (Hogwarts style)
Dear Family and Friends,
This week in the Elder Hughes weekly mission newsletter, we are glad to report that something crazy has happened yet again. Don't worry though, no ones life was in danger or anything like that, it was actually a cool experience. A lady that has been in contact with the church through the years, ended up outside our church building Saturday and was invited to watch a basketball game. She came to church the next day, and we were invited to a members home to share a message with her, where we found out that she is very fond of the church, and as we were teaching her I had a feeling that I've never experienced before. As I was talking, I could hear words coming out of my mouth but it was like my mind and mouth were disconnected, but I was still teaching. As this was happening, a thought ran across my mind as clear as day, almost to the point that I thought I could see it running in front of my vision like you see in cartoons all the time. And I thought that this lady needs to be baptized, but I never felt impressed to invite her to. It was single handedly one of the most unique experiences that I've ever had teaching, because the Spirit was inspiring me about what to do and say the entire time, and she really seemed to understand. It was amazing to me to see how the Lord works through us when we're open. This probably happened because of an experience that I had earlier in the week that I'd like to share. I seem to have developed prayer insomnia, meaning I can't sleep until I've prayed at night. One night, my body was tired, it had been a long day, I was exhausted physically and mentally, but I could not close my eyes. So I crawled out of bed and fell to the floor where I had one of the most powerful prayers I've ever had, and I literally felt the Holy Ghost moving in my heart. Afterwards I was paralyzed by fear, and an impression quickly came to me that there was an evil spirit trying to overcome me in that moment, and I heard in my head myself commanding that spirit to be gone. After a moment, I repeated the words, and immediately the fear left, and as I layed back down I fell asleep immediately. I feel that in response to that prayer I've come just a little closer to the Lord, and the rest of the week, I have felt the Spirit moving more powerfully in me. I would like to bear the witness that I have received of the Holy Ghost that prayer is the key to opening the window of heaven, and invoking the power of God to help us in our lives. He will change our hearts, our minds, and help us to come unto him that we may become perfected in Christ. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder Hughes
We still don't know where he is!! This week we guessed Matt (yes that is a town in Georgia), Bufford, Cummings, and Buffington.
This week in the Elder Hughes weekly mission newsletter, we are glad to report that something crazy has happened yet again. Don't worry though, no ones life was in danger or anything like that, it was actually a cool experience. A lady that has been in contact with the church through the years, ended up outside our church building Saturday and was invited to watch a basketball game. She came to church the next day, and we were invited to a members home to share a message with her, where we found out that she is very fond of the church, and as we were teaching her I had a feeling that I've never experienced before. As I was talking, I could hear words coming out of my mouth but it was like my mind and mouth were disconnected, but I was still teaching. As this was happening, a thought ran across my mind as clear as day, almost to the point that I thought I could see it running in front of my vision like you see in cartoons all the time. And I thought that this lady needs to be baptized, but I never felt impressed to invite her to. It was single handedly one of the most unique experiences that I've ever had teaching, because the Spirit was inspiring me about what to do and say the entire time, and she really seemed to understand. It was amazing to me to see how the Lord works through us when we're open. This probably happened because of an experience that I had earlier in the week that I'd like to share. I seem to have developed prayer insomnia, meaning I can't sleep until I've prayed at night. One night, my body was tired, it had been a long day, I was exhausted physically and mentally, but I could not close my eyes. So I crawled out of bed and fell to the floor where I had one of the most powerful prayers I've ever had, and I literally felt the Holy Ghost moving in my heart. Afterwards I was paralyzed by fear, and an impression quickly came to me that there was an evil spirit trying to overcome me in that moment, and I heard in my head myself commanding that spirit to be gone. After a moment, I repeated the words, and immediately the fear left, and as I layed back down I fell asleep immediately. I feel that in response to that prayer I've come just a little closer to the Lord, and the rest of the week, I have felt the Spirit moving more powerfully in me. I would like to bear the witness that I have received of the Holy Ghost that prayer is the key to opening the window of heaven, and invoking the power of God to help us in our lives. He will change our hearts, our minds, and help us to come unto him that we may become perfected in Christ. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder Hughes
We still don't know where he is!! This week we guessed Matt (yes that is a town in Georgia), Bufford, Cummings, and Buffington.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Bonus.... Mail With Pictures
He actually sent a few pictures with his letter this week. The first two pictures are from his last area. The Elders Quorum president and another lady that has helped them a lot.
The picture below is the family he is working with now.
Dear Family and Friends,
This week was a busy one, between trying to get to know everyone, and all the hustle of daily routines, I had to prepare a talk for Sacrament meeting. Unfortunately, they only gave me 7 minutes to talk about Personal Revelation in missionary work, with an introduction to myself so the ward could get to know me, so I didn't get to share all the things I wanted to, but if that's the biggest worry I have, then I must be doing pretty good all things considered. We unfortuately had to move our baptism that was scheduled for this week back to next week, but I feel that it will happen, so I'm excited for that. I'm still trying to figure out what the Lord is trying to teach me with my new companion, he's hard of hearing and has a personality that isn't too much like mine so working together is interesting. Unfortunately I do most of the talking, but maybe that's what I'm supposed to be learning, but it's fun to get to experience different things and face different challenges. Before I relay my next clue, I apparently need to clarify something I said last week that I didn't realize. I have now served in 5/8 of the zones in this mission, sorry for any confusion that may have caused. The clue for this week is one of the major roads in my last area runs through this area. This week I would like to talk about Faith. Faith is a gift from God that comes from the Spirit, it is an unfailing source of power in this life, but we must first seek to build it in our lives, and acquire it's two companions. The opponents of Faith are Doubt and Fear, these are counter acted by Hope and Charity, which explains the necessity of them accompanying Faith as explained in Moroni 7. We must seek to grow our Faith, and as we do all other things will follow, for with Faith comes Knowledge, Temperance, Hope, Charity, Virtue, Godliness, and in short all other attributes that help us become like Christ. We acquire these things through careful study of and obedience to the gospel, which is the key to recieving Eternal Life as outlined in 2Nephi31:20. I know that this is true, that we can become like the Savior, and that these 3 attributes are the keys to progressing towars Eternal Life while in the days of our probation. We are sons and daughters of God, Christ is the Savior. The Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith was the Prophet of God that translated it, and restored the gospel in this final dispensation. Thomas Monson is the Prophet chosen today to lead and guide us. I bear witness of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder Hughes
This week was a busy one, between trying to get to know everyone, and all the hustle of daily routines, I had to prepare a talk for Sacrament meeting. Unfortunately, they only gave me 7 minutes to talk about Personal Revelation in missionary work, with an introduction to myself so the ward could get to know me, so I didn't get to share all the things I wanted to, but if that's the biggest worry I have, then I must be doing pretty good all things considered. We unfortuately had to move our baptism that was scheduled for this week back to next week, but I feel that it will happen, so I'm excited for that. I'm still trying to figure out what the Lord is trying to teach me with my new companion, he's hard of hearing and has a personality that isn't too much like mine so working together is interesting. Unfortunately I do most of the talking, but maybe that's what I'm supposed to be learning, but it's fun to get to experience different things and face different challenges. Before I relay my next clue, I apparently need to clarify something I said last week that I didn't realize. I have now served in 5/8 of the zones in this mission, sorry for any confusion that may have caused. The clue for this week is one of the major roads in my last area runs through this area. This week I would like to talk about Faith. Faith is a gift from God that comes from the Spirit, it is an unfailing source of power in this life, but we must first seek to build it in our lives, and acquire it's two companions. The opponents of Faith are Doubt and Fear, these are counter acted by Hope and Charity, which explains the necessity of them accompanying Faith as explained in Moroni 7. We must seek to grow our Faith, and as we do all other things will follow, for with Faith comes Knowledge, Temperance, Hope, Charity, Virtue, Godliness, and in short all other attributes that help us become like Christ. We acquire these things through careful study of and obedience to the gospel, which is the key to recieving Eternal Life as outlined in 2Nephi31:20. I know that this is true, that we can become like the Savior, and that these 3 attributes are the keys to progressing towars Eternal Life while in the days of our probation. We are sons and daughters of God, Christ is the Savior. The Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith was the Prophet of God that translated it, and restored the gospel in this final dispensation. Thomas Monson is the Prophet chosen today to lead and guide us. I bear witness of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder Hughes
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Up to his old tricks..
Dear Family and Friends,
This has been a crazy week, we had transfers wednesday, and the sisters we replaced didn't have a ride home for us, so I just about lost it there, and now we're in a totally foreign ward, living in somebody's basement, we haven't been able to meet some of the investigators we have that are getting ready to be baptized soon, and now I have a much bigger District to worry about. But it's fun, I almost forgot what it's like to be in a new area, it's so different. We've already biked just about everywhere in the ward, our ward members seem very helpful when it comes to missionary work, and they have some high expectations for us, so I'm excited to see what happens. Things are just as stressful as ever, but it's getting easier, hopefully meaning that I'm doing better. Well, I have to cut this one short, because we have an appointment to go to, but I'll write again next monday.....remeber, the church is true, the book is blue, and God's a Mormon:)
Love,
Elder Hughes
Ok, so the stinker is having us guess where he is again. His hint for this week is he's in a new zone, making 5/8 fyi. (I have no idea what that means!)
This has been a crazy week, we had transfers wednesday, and the sisters we replaced didn't have a ride home for us, so I just about lost it there, and now we're in a totally foreign ward, living in somebody's basement, we haven't been able to meet some of the investigators we have that are getting ready to be baptized soon, and now I have a much bigger District to worry about. But it's fun, I almost forgot what it's like to be in a new area, it's so different. We've already biked just about everywhere in the ward, our ward members seem very helpful when it comes to missionary work, and they have some high expectations for us, so I'm excited to see what happens. Things are just as stressful as ever, but it's getting easier, hopefully meaning that I'm doing better. Well, I have to cut this one short, because we have an appointment to go to, but I'll write again next monday.....remeber, the church is true, the book is blue, and God's a Mormon:)
Love,
Elder Hughes
Ok, so the stinker is having us guess where he is again. His hint for this week is he's in a new zone, making 5/8 fyi. (I have no idea what that means!)
Monday, February 28, 2011
Packing Again...
Dear Family and Friends,
If this email sounds a little scatterbrained, please forgive me, because I have a hundred things going on in my head right now. We had Zone Conference Wednesday, which was a lot of fun, and a very spiritually uplifting experience. Then I got sick that night, and was down until Saturday with the flu (not fun at all), then sunday we finally started to get things working with the bishop, who we have dinner with tonight. Then this morning we find out that we're both being transferred out of the area, and missionaries aren't coming back for a while, and there's some boundary changes being made in the mission, so we have to pack and clean, and we can't tell the ward, and I'm about ready to lose my mind. It's so hard because I love the people here so much, and I want them to know, but there's nothing I can say or do to change what the Lord wants, and I would never try that anyways. And, we just found out who our new Mission President is going to be. So needless to say, things are pretty exciting/confusing/trying right now, but I'm sure we'll get through it all somehow. I would like to share with you my witness that the Lord's hand is in all things, I know this with all my heart, and I absolutely know that nothing happens by chance in this life, God is the ruler of all things. I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Love,
Elder Hughes
If this email sounds a little scatterbrained, please forgive me, because I have a hundred things going on in my head right now. We had Zone Conference Wednesday, which was a lot of fun, and a very spiritually uplifting experience. Then I got sick that night, and was down until Saturday with the flu (not fun at all), then sunday we finally started to get things working with the bishop, who we have dinner with tonight. Then this morning we find out that we're both being transferred out of the area, and missionaries aren't coming back for a while, and there's some boundary changes being made in the mission, so we have to pack and clean, and we can't tell the ward, and I'm about ready to lose my mind. It's so hard because I love the people here so much, and I want them to know, but there's nothing I can say or do to change what the Lord wants, and I would never try that anyways. And, we just found out who our new Mission President is going to be. So needless to say, things are pretty exciting/confusing/trying right now, but I'm sure we'll get through it all somehow. I would like to share with you my witness that the Lord's hand is in all things, I know this with all my heart, and I absolutely know that nothing happens by chance in this life, God is the ruler of all things. I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Love,
Elder Hughes
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
A Note for the Week
Dear Family and Friends,
As I have pondered this week, I think I'm beginning to see the workings of the unseen forces around us. I feel as though I can literally see the power of Satan working overtime to stop the work of Christ from going forth. But, with the opening of the Temple coming up, it makes sense. His power in the South is about to be strained, and with the power of the Spirit that the visitors will feel, a lot of people are going to want to know what they were feeling as they toured the Temple. It's amazing to me to see how the Lord puts things in place to thwart the adversary, but we have to be in tune enough to see it, and we need to do all we can to make sure the Lord's will gets done. We had the priviledge this week of being taught by Elder Peiper of the 70 this week, and it was a truly special day. To see and feel his love for the Savior and his work was just amazing. He taught us some very valuable things, that I hope will help us to elevate ourselves to where we need to be to accomodate the Revelation that President King has received, that the Windows of Heaven are beginning to open on this mission, and the vision of the South is about to unfold. As I have pondered these events, I feel it important to urge all of you to consider your readiness for the coming of the Savior, because it is not far away. I feel that we have a very short time left before he comes. We need to be prepared, and I testify that if we have the Faith, and are willing to follow the Lord's commands, he will help us to be prepared. We must ask ourselves if we could stand before the Lord, and tell him with an honest heart that we are worthy to return to his presence. I would also like to speak of the shortness of this life. In the vast expanse of eternity this life is but a small blip on the map, and yet it is one of the most important sections in that expanse, for it is what we do here that determines what we will spend the rest of eternity doing. We cannot afford to waste this life, or take it lightly, we do not have time to spend idling away while the Lord is trying to prepare the way for his coming. We must be anxiously engaged in the work of the Lord, doing all we can to help his work roll forth. I urge you to carefully study the words of the Apostles and Prophets, and follow their counsel, because President King feels, and I believe that Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet who's calling is to gather scattered israel to prepare the earth. I testify that he is the Prophet of God chosen today to lead us in this time. I know that we can be instruments in the Lord's hands if we will submit our will to his, and I know that this work will go on until the Great Jehovah shall say it is done.
Love,
Elder Hughes
As I have pondered this week, I think I'm beginning to see the workings of the unseen forces around us. I feel as though I can literally see the power of Satan working overtime to stop the work of Christ from going forth. But, with the opening of the Temple coming up, it makes sense. His power in the South is about to be strained, and with the power of the Spirit that the visitors will feel, a lot of people are going to want to know what they were feeling as they toured the Temple. It's amazing to me to see how the Lord puts things in place to thwart the adversary, but we have to be in tune enough to see it, and we need to do all we can to make sure the Lord's will gets done. We had the priviledge this week of being taught by Elder Peiper of the 70 this week, and it was a truly special day. To see and feel his love for the Savior and his work was just amazing. He taught us some very valuable things, that I hope will help us to elevate ourselves to where we need to be to accomodate the Revelation that President King has received, that the Windows of Heaven are beginning to open on this mission, and the vision of the South is about to unfold. As I have pondered these events, I feel it important to urge all of you to consider your readiness for the coming of the Savior, because it is not far away. I feel that we have a very short time left before he comes. We need to be prepared, and I testify that if we have the Faith, and are willing to follow the Lord's commands, he will help us to be prepared. We must ask ourselves if we could stand before the Lord, and tell him with an honest heart that we are worthy to return to his presence. I would also like to speak of the shortness of this life. In the vast expanse of eternity this life is but a small blip on the map, and yet it is one of the most important sections in that expanse, for it is what we do here that determines what we will spend the rest of eternity doing. We cannot afford to waste this life, or take it lightly, we do not have time to spend idling away while the Lord is trying to prepare the way for his coming. We must be anxiously engaged in the work of the Lord, doing all we can to help his work roll forth. I urge you to carefully study the words of the Apostles and Prophets, and follow their counsel, because President King feels, and I believe that Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet who's calling is to gather scattered israel to prepare the earth. I testify that he is the Prophet of God chosen today to lead us in this time. I know that we can be instruments in the Lord's hands if we will submit our will to his, and I know that this work will go on until the Great Jehovah shall say it is done.
Love,
Elder Hughes
Monday, February 14, 2011
Georgia Happenings
Dear Family and Friends,
This week has been full of sick people. My companion was sick, a bunch of ward members were sick, and they told us all kinds of stories about everyone being sick. It is definitely the flu season around these parts, and I'm grateful I haven't gotten sick yet (knock on wood). We had to postpone our baptism this week. We met with our investigators father for the first time, and of course he'd been exposed to some very farfetched ideas that happen to make sense in our line of Doctrines, but he was very resistant, and rather unopen, so we decided it would be best to postpone the baptism so we didn't cause any problems with the family. I feel terrible about the situation, because as we were sitting there both the kids were with us listening, and when the father told us that he didn't want his son being baptized until he learned more, I saw the exitement drop out his sons face, and when we talked to him later, it was as if the light of the Spirit had left. I felt terrible afterwards, and I prayed long and hard. In my heart I felt like someone had just stuck a dagger right in me, and it strengthened my resolution to never let that happen again. As I pondered the situation, I realized how much I've come to love the family over the course of the time I've been here, and it amazed me. I'm glad the Lord is the one in control, because I doubt I could even attempt to fix what happened. We had Stake Conference this week, and it was funny because we didn't expect President King to come, but as we're standing there waiting for the family to show up, in walks President King. As he was walking by, he asks me: "How does it feel to serve in one area longer that the rest of your mission?" I told him I still wasn't sure. It was a good meeting, and the Spirit was very strong. I've really reflected this week on the importance of the Spirit in our lives, and I want to testify to you all, that it is the key, the very KEY, to the Lord's work being done by his servants here on earth (which is all of us), and we need to strive to do all we can to have it's companionship always. I know the Lord loves us, and will help us if we ask him, and do our best to be obedient to the subtel promptings of the Spirit, I know God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer. I know Joseph Smith was God's chosen Prophet who restored the gospel to the earth in this the final dispensation, and I bare you my witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
This week has been full of sick people. My companion was sick, a bunch of ward members were sick, and they told us all kinds of stories about everyone being sick. It is definitely the flu season around these parts, and I'm grateful I haven't gotten sick yet (knock on wood). We had to postpone our baptism this week. We met with our investigators father for the first time, and of course he'd been exposed to some very farfetched ideas that happen to make sense in our line of Doctrines, but he was very resistant, and rather unopen, so we decided it would be best to postpone the baptism so we didn't cause any problems with the family. I feel terrible about the situation, because as we were sitting there both the kids were with us listening, and when the father told us that he didn't want his son being baptized until he learned more, I saw the exitement drop out his sons face, and when we talked to him later, it was as if the light of the Spirit had left. I felt terrible afterwards, and I prayed long and hard. In my heart I felt like someone had just stuck a dagger right in me, and it strengthened my resolution to never let that happen again. As I pondered the situation, I realized how much I've come to love the family over the course of the time I've been here, and it amazed me. I'm glad the Lord is the one in control, because I doubt I could even attempt to fix what happened. We had Stake Conference this week, and it was funny because we didn't expect President King to come, but as we're standing there waiting for the family to show up, in walks President King. As he was walking by, he asks me: "How does it feel to serve in one area longer that the rest of your mission?" I told him I still wasn't sure. It was a good meeting, and the Spirit was very strong. I've really reflected this week on the importance of the Spirit in our lives, and I want to testify to you all, that it is the key, the very KEY, to the Lord's work being done by his servants here on earth (which is all of us), and we need to strive to do all we can to have it's companionship always. I know the Lord loves us, and will help us if we ask him, and do our best to be obedient to the subtel promptings of the Spirit, I know God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer. I know Joseph Smith was God's chosen Prophet who restored the gospel to the earth in this the final dispensation, and I bare you my witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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