October 20, 2014

Hello friends and family!! Happy P-Day!

 

-So this week was absent from Brother Loveland who had probably a rough week on vacation in Lake Tahoe. He stayed at the same timeshare that we stayed at for the Faldmo Family Reunion a few years back! This week during lunch we get a call and he tells us, "Remember how about a month ago when I went to Idaho and I left that box of snacks for you guys?.... I've don't it again!"  hahaha so we were taken care of this week still even though he wasn't here #spoiledmissionaries.  also, on Thursday, all four of us received post cards that he sent us from Lake Tahoe! Brother Loveland is the man.

 

-Interviews with President Snow this week!!! If you all didn't hear yet, we have the greatest mission President ever.  We did a little scripture study first with him and then he shared some really amazing things from his SW Area Mission President's Training.  Presiding at it was Elder Quintin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who told them, "I feel impressed to share that the SW Area of North America is the most important part of North America." (for the work)  Then President Snow told us, "Since being in the military a lot of my life, I know that you don't send your 2nd string troops to your most important battle." and that the Nevada Las Vegas Mission by far exceeds all of the other missions in the SW region.  He said, "it is sobering to think of all of the places I could've been sent, I was sent here."  After hearing that, it made me more motivated to work even harder.  My interview with the President was amazing.  He is such a kind and loving man.  He asked about all of my family and really cares about all of his missionaries. 

 

-Elder Taylor (in my district in MTC) and his companion Elder Anderson are in an area right next to ours called Los Feliz.  One of their investigators named Maria recently moved right near the LoveShack down the road.  She is amazing.  He had to move because her husband was very cruel to her and so all four of us missionaries went to help her move out and her husband would barely let her take anything.  He started cussing us out in Spanish.  So now she is a single mom, raising 4 children all under the age of 8. Our ward is so amazing.  One family brought them some food and another is going to give them some clothes.  Only her oldest daughter would go to Primary yesterday so she was wrestling with the 3 others in Gospel Principles.  She is in a very tough situation but is putting so much faith in Jesus Christ and His church to get through it.  She is going to be baptized this Thursday!!!!

 

-Hermano Quezada is the man.  He gets us Slurpees from 7/11 after every time he goes out with us.  His son, Baru, just left for his mission in Long Beach!

 

-It's always nice when a member comes up to you after night church and says, "get in my car I will go with you to visit people until the end of the night."  last night, we found 4 new investigators and had 2 lessons with him in 40 minutes! Hermano Suarez is the man. He told me he wants to move to St. George one time on splits and i'm like, me too me too.

 

-this is the last week of this transfer! On Saturday I will see if I am staying here and Rivas is going, or vise versa, or if we are both staying or going. I really hope to stay here! I love El Rancho!

 

Love you family and friends! Wherever you are, we are all connected by having the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ on the Earth.

 

con amor,

Elder Faldmo

conference week baby! October 6, 2014

Hello Family and Friends! 

It really is the most wonderful time of the year... CONFERENCE WEEKEND!

We were taught, comforted, uplifted, edified, and warned by the words of the prophets and apostles and other general authorities this past weekend.

Conference seems a much bigger of a deal on your mission.  This was the first time I have really paid attention to every single talk given during conference weekend.  We were taught about the Atonement of Jesus Christ by one of the best-- President Boyd K. Packer.  We were asked the thought-provoking question "Which way do you face?" and told not to fear the reproach of men by Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy.  I couldn't help but think of my dad as we were counseled to start the "Recue Mission" starting with the ward council by Chi Hong Wong of the Seventy.  Dad is one of the best at that.  President Uchtdorf told us to find out the truth for ourselves now through studying the scriptures and pondering and praying to our Heavenly Father.  He told us that gaining a personal testimony is the most valuable thing to have in this life. 

 

I felt one common theme throughout conference was really sustaining the prophet and apostles and also Joseph Smith.  I know that the Prophet and the Apostles are men of God and will never lead us astray.  Neil L. Anderson gave us warning that the Angel Moroni was indeed serious that Joseph's name will be had for good and evil.  He said that the negative deception about the Prophet Joseph Smith and negative talk will not diminish as we come closer to the 2nd Coming.  It is our job to develop a testimony that Joseph Smith was the prophet the Lord used to establish the Church of Jesus Christ back on the earth.  Remember that "millions shall know Brother Joseph again."

 

We need to heed to the counsel of President Thomas S. Monson and "walk as Jesus walked."  That talk on Sunday morning helped me understand the Atonement more.  This is because Jesus really does know what each of us is going through, whatever it is, on a day to day basis.  We need to walk as Jesus walked because he really did walk the path that we walk.  He experienced disappointment, temptation (with which he responded "get thee hence Satan"), agony, and suffering which was more than we can even comprehend.  I also loved M. Russell Ballard's talk on "staying in the boat." We all have our own "rapids" in our river of mortality but with the help of our "river guides" who are parents, prophets, and other leaders we can get through all of our rapids as long as we wear the "life jacket" of scripture study and prayer.   Last but not least, David A. Bednar's talk at the end inviting everyone not of our faith to "come and see" was amazing! It was perfect for our investigators and those searching for truth.  If you're not a member of our faith, just come and see how the faith that you already have can grow even more!

 

Conference is legit. 

 

The work this week was pretty awesome too.  I led our area for the first time on exchanges last Tuesday and Elder Fort (a zone leader) is an English missionary so it was a good learning experience for me to be able to have to talk the whole time during the day except street contacts in English.  I had one street contact with Elder Fort where this lady said "i've seen you guys riding your bikes before and i really want to meet that black missionary I have never seen one before!" hahahahaha she was referring to Elder Rivas my companion.  So yeah, being in Vegas, we meet some pretty interesting people.

 

S/o to my brother Sam for a great football game with 10 tackles last week!

 

I hope you guys have a great week!  Other people will be touched by Jesus Christ through his servants who can be any of us as we look for opportunites to serve everyone around us! First observe, then serve!

 

Love,

Elder Faldmo