Hey Mom,
I'm so glad you could help Grandma and spend some time with her and Scott. I'm sure working with Dad helped me build my confidence and I hope that helped Gary. I was even surprised how much Dad let me help make decisions on the Washington house and Shop.
Thanks for your insight on blessings from God. I never really thought of that. But yeah, God gives us trials to learn and grow from them. It's just hard to see that when you're right in the middle of one.
Our family night kinda plummeted. 2 active member families came, but the families they invited didn't make it and no one else. But, I think we have been blessed for our efforts. We ran into some members who have been hiding and aren't on our records and we've taught and have given out some Book of Mormon's to some people who have good potential to become investigators.
Today we might go dog mushing. I don't know how it'll work out though because the snow is mostly melted around here.
I'm getting excited for conference. I can't believe it's already here again. We were talking about Prophet's in Gospel Principles on Sunday and someone said a quote from Joseph Smith that was something like he felt like an acorn about to explode with revelation that held that he had to hold in because the church wasn't ready for it. I wonder what President Monson yearns to tell us and warn us. I hope I can be prepared to get what I need out of conference. I'm so grateful we have a Prophet on earth who can lead us to the Savior and knows what we need. I hope I can get some people to this conference.
Thanks for the wonderful letter Mom,
Love Bryce
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
3-15-10
Hey Mom,
Thanks for your letter, and the updates on Matt. It sounds like people there are so ready for the gospel. At least a lot more so than here. I think it's because people are comfortable here. They have nice cars, big yards, snow toys, they can keep to themselves, and so many people smoke a ton. It's legal to have weed, just not legal to grow it. Which doesn't make any sense. There definitely are people who are ready or looking for the gospel, it can just seem really hard to find them. Elder Simmons and I are trying something different and we have been passing out flyers to invite families to have a family night at the church. I'm a little nervous people won't show, but whatever happens is supposed to I guess. We have no investigators we're teaching so it's taking a lot of faith on our part to just keep tracting and teaching members because we feel like it's not being successful. There's so many Jehovah's Witnesses up here. Everyone keeps telling us we've already been by and it's really JW's. Anyway, something I learned from ZC was to get referrals from members is just build their faith and teach them the simple message we teach so they will be more confident in sharing it. Also when teaching, the most important thing is to listen. Really listen to the investigator and ask good questions instead of worrying about what to say next or covering all the content of the lessons. And then just listen for the Spirit and it will show me what I need to say next. PMG does talk about that, but it just hit me harder in ZC. So, I guess what recharges my batteries is teaching people. Mostly because I need to work on it so much.
What you were saying about marriage definitely applies to missionary companions too. When we have the same goals and purposes the minor things are smoothed over.
So I've started buying fruit because not many people have it at dinner. The fruit is expensive and has to be a little raw or bruised because it's barged up here. But I'm not complaining at all. Last night we had stake and potatoes and ice cream and pie. I'm jealous it's getting green there. We have a month or two before the snow will all melt here. But I think our daylight is passing up yours already so that's nice. Well I better send this so you can get it.
I love you Mom and Dad,
Bryce
Oh yeah, I saw Dad yesterday, leaning on the white F150. Haha, some members google earthed our house last night and it has a picture with Dad and I think Gary is in front of the McArthurs house. I remember Dad saying he saw the Google car driving up the circle. Anyway that was cool.
Thanks for your letter, and the updates on Matt. It sounds like people there are so ready for the gospel. At least a lot more so than here. I think it's because people are comfortable here. They have nice cars, big yards, snow toys, they can keep to themselves, and so many people smoke a ton. It's legal to have weed, just not legal to grow it. Which doesn't make any sense. There definitely are people who are ready or looking for the gospel, it can just seem really hard to find them. Elder Simmons and I are trying something different and we have been passing out flyers to invite families to have a family night at the church. I'm a little nervous people won't show, but whatever happens is supposed to I guess. We have no investigators we're teaching so it's taking a lot of faith on our part to just keep tracting and teaching members because we feel like it's not being successful. There's so many Jehovah's Witnesses up here. Everyone keeps telling us we've already been by and it's really JW's. Anyway, something I learned from ZC was to get referrals from members is just build their faith and teach them the simple message we teach so they will be more confident in sharing it. Also when teaching, the most important thing is to listen. Really listen to the investigator and ask good questions instead of worrying about what to say next or covering all the content of the lessons. And then just listen for the Spirit and it will show me what I need to say next. PMG does talk about that, but it just hit me harder in ZC. So, I guess what recharges my batteries is teaching people. Mostly because I need to work on it so much.
What you were saying about marriage definitely applies to missionary companions too. When we have the same goals and purposes the minor things are smoothed over.
So I've started buying fruit because not many people have it at dinner. The fruit is expensive and has to be a little raw or bruised because it's barged up here. But I'm not complaining at all. Last night we had stake and potatoes and ice cream and pie. I'm jealous it's getting green there. We have a month or two before the snow will all melt here. But I think our daylight is passing up yours already so that's nice. Well I better send this so you can get it.
I love you Mom and Dad,
Bryce
Oh yeah, I saw Dad yesterday, leaning on the white F150. Haha, some members google earthed our house last night and it has a picture with Dad and I think Gary is in front of the McArthurs house. I remember Dad saying he saw the Google car driving up the circle. Anyway that was cool.
Monday, March 8, 2010
3-8-10
Man, I feel so lucky. Just about everyone wrote me today. So, not much happened investigator wise with me but this week went so fast. We did a lot of service helping someone move, someone do electrical, we helped with the Iditerod(I was hoping we'd see some dog sleds or something but we just packed everything back into a storage unit) also, just on our way to email we helped this girl get out of a snow drift. The snow blows in piles on the roads and in this spot it was probably 50 mph winds! We were inspired to stay in our service clothes, but I literally thought my face would freeze. It was covered in water, snot, and ice! We had Zone Conference this week. It was really good and I needed it. Brother Watson spoke and he helped write Preach My Gospel and is in charge of the Dpt. of Proselyting or something. It helped me increase my faith and gave me a lot to work on with how I teach by staying focused on my purpose.
So it sounds like quite a bit is going on there. I'm glad Dad is making the Washington house nice for you two. I am also so grateful that Dad was able to be the bishop when I left on my mission. It only made him twice the example to me. That's also awesome Brother (Bishop) Decker will be able to send out Josh. And I'm glad Cody is doing well. Kendall and Bruce seem to be doing so great too. I wish I heard more from Matt though.
That's way funny you and Bruce's companion were studying Abraham and Lot and stuff because my companion is too. He was glad to hear someone else was struggling with the Old Testament too. He almost gave up because it just doesn't have the same power as the Book of Mormon and it's the Law of Moses. He realized a lot of it is about the temple and it is still all testifying and preparing the people for Christ to come.
Well, don't work too hard you two. I love you Mom and Dad. I am so grateful that our whole family is sealed and temple worthy. It is so sad to see how often it seems that is not the case and so many families are torn apart. I think that is why I don't miss you all too much. Take care and I'll talk to you soon.
Bryce
So it sounds like quite a bit is going on there. I'm glad Dad is making the Washington house nice for you two. I am also so grateful that Dad was able to be the bishop when I left on my mission. It only made him twice the example to me. That's also awesome Brother (Bishop) Decker will be able to send out Josh. And I'm glad Cody is doing well. Kendall and Bruce seem to be doing so great too. I wish I heard more from Matt though.
That's way funny you and Bruce's companion were studying Abraham and Lot and stuff because my companion is too. He was glad to hear someone else was struggling with the Old Testament too. He almost gave up because it just doesn't have the same power as the Book of Mormon and it's the Law of Moses. He realized a lot of it is about the temple and it is still all testifying and preparing the people for Christ to come.
Well, don't work too hard you two. I love you Mom and Dad. I am so grateful that our whole family is sealed and temple worthy. It is so sad to see how often it seems that is not the case and so many families are torn apart. I think that is why I don't miss you all too much. Take care and I'll talk to you soon.
Bryce
3-8-10
Man, I feel so lucky. Just about everyone wrote me today. So, not much happened investigator wise with me but this week went so fast. We did a lot of service helping someone move, someone do electrical, we helped with the Iditerod(I was hoping we'd see some dog sleds or something but we just packed everything back into a storage unit) also, just on our way to email we helped this girl get out of a snow drift. The snow blows in piles on the roads and in this spot it was probably 50 mph winds! We were inspired to stay in our service clothes, but I literally thought my face would freeze. It was covered in water, snot, and ice! We had Zone Conference this week. It was really good and I needed it. Brother Watson spoke and he helped write Preach My Gospel and is in charge of the Dpt. of Proselyting or something. It helped me increase my faith and gave me a lot to work on with how I teach by staying focused on my purpose.
So it sounds like quite a bit is going on there. I'm glad Dad is making the Washington house nice for you two. I am also so grateful that Dad was able to be the bishop when I left on my mission. It only made him twice the example to me. That's also awesome Brother (Bishop) Decker will be able to send out Josh. And I'm glad Cody is doing well. Kendall and Bruce seem to be doing so great too. I wish I heard more from Matt though.
That's way funny you and Bruce's companion were studying Abraham and Lot and stuff because my companion is too. He was glad to hear someone else was struggling with the Old Testament too. He almost gave up because it just doesn't have the same power as the Book of Mormon and it's the Law of Moses. He realized a lot of it is about the temple and it is still all testifying and preparing the people for Christ to come.
Well, don't work too hard you two. I love you Mom and Dad. I am so grateful that our whole family is sealed and temple worthy. It is so sad to see how often it seems that is not the case and so many families are torn apart. I think that is why I don't miss you all too much. Take care and I'll talk to you soon.
Bryce
So it sounds like quite a bit is going on there. I'm glad Dad is making the Washington house nice for you two. I am also so grateful that Dad was able to be the bishop when I left on my mission. It only made him twice the example to me. That's also awesome Brother (Bishop) Decker will be able to send out Josh. And I'm glad Cody is doing well. Kendall and Bruce seem to be doing so great too. I wish I heard more from Matt though.
That's way funny you and Bruce's companion were studying Abraham and Lot and stuff because my companion is too. He was glad to hear someone else was struggling with the Old Testament too. He almost gave up because it just doesn't have the same power as the Book of Mormon and it's the Law of Moses. He realized a lot of it is about the temple and it is still all testifying and preparing the people for Christ to come.
Well, don't work too hard you two. I love you Mom and Dad. I am so grateful that our whole family is sealed and temple worthy. It is so sad to see how often it seems that is not the case and so many families are torn apart. I think that is why I don't miss you all too much. Take care and I'll talk to you soon.
Bryce
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