Memorial Day- Week #94

Hey Momma!

Memorial weekend in Bear Lake...I'm a little jealous I'm not going to lie😂 I bet it's super nice up there as far as the temperature goes, because wow it's getting hot again here! School is out now so a lot of members of our YSA wards are moving back down from Utah for the summer. We've been able to meet and talk to a ton of them which is awesome. They all want to come out and work with us which has helped a lot. We've been super busy.

We had a pretty huge miracle this week. A member of our ward has a friend that came down from NAU for the summer and she wants to be baptized! She wants to right away so it's going to be on Saturday!!😂 She is super excited, her name is Summer and she has a lot of LDS relatives that have had a great influence on her. We've been teaching her a lot and she is super prepared! It's been a fun experience. It definitely testifies that God really does prepare people to receive the Gospel. 

My new companion is Elder Mathews. He is from Long Beach California but he moved to Vegas just before he left on his mission. He's only been out for 4 months so not too long. We are having a blast together, we get along super well which is a huge blessing. He motivated to work so it's been awesome! We are both having a good time

It's been a party at our apartment that's for sure! It's been fun being around Elder Burningham again, it's like we were never separated haha. Today we went mini golfing and played some ball which was super fun. Then we got to watch Cars 3 at Clyde's house to wrap up p-day. 

That's about it for this week. The work is going good and we are having a good time as missionaries,  I can't complain. I love you Momma! Have a good first week of summer😁

Elder G and I on his last day of his mission.
 (He was Elder Findlay's trainer)
I sure love this guy and will miss him. 

p-day ballers

Lunch at Five Guys
(A member sent me this picture in a text this week)

Transfers! Week #93

Hi Mom!

So I found out transfer news on Saturday night and I'm staying! Not really a surprise to me because President told me that this would be my last area, but it's still exciting. Elder Brown is being transferred and I'm getting a newer companion. His name is Elder Mathews, I think he's from Utah, but I don't know him very well. All I know is that he's only been out for 2 transfers so I'm greenie breaking him, I'm pretty excited about having a new comp :) We have a ton of potentials right now so it is going to be great! This next transfer is going to be a PARTY, Elder Fiti and I are still living together for his last transfer AND guess what? ELDER BURNINGHAM IS HIS COMP😂 So I get to live with my son for my last 2 transfers😂 It's a party house for sure, I love where I'm at right now. 

This week was really good, we had some good new member lessons with Marcus and Amanda. Marcus is doing awesome, and we set a temple date with him for June 9th to go the Gilbert temple. The crew(his friends) will all be coming too so it's going to be a fun experience. Amanda is doing alright, she's kind of been struggling because her parents have basically cut all contact with her. They don't want anything to do with her so it's been hard. But she is strong and is pushing her way through it. They are both new people in Christ, the Gospel really changes individuals. 

This week one of my best friends on the mission got baptized! My boy TJ finally entered the waters of baptism! It was such a special experience for me and for him. Elder Karren and I taught him last summer and he had a really spiritual experience, the first he'd ever had. After 9 months of on and off meeting with missionaries he was finally ready😁 He has come a VERY long way, and has really changed his life. More than anyone I've ever seen before. 

I can't think of much more that I want to write about. I love the Gospel and know that it's true. I find real happiness by studying it and trying to live it. I love you Momma! Your amazing, have a good week!

Love, Elder Findlay

 

My boi TJ at his baptism

Us with Nancy, she helps us out a ton haha😂

 We played corn hole at Elder Grabensteins funeral😭 

 (Elder Findlay's trainer's last day on the mission) 

Me and Fiti went undefeated

They put my desk in the bathroom...
I like it better that way any way ;) 

Elder Findlay and Elder Brown

Baptisms and Mothers Day Call! Week #92

No letter this week as we were able to talk to Elder Findlay on Mothers Day. 😄😄😄 He did send us some pictures of his exciting week in the Mesa Mission though. His investigators Marcus and Amanda were both baptized on Saturday.  He was able to perform the baptism for Amanda.  He said that the day was one that he will never forget.  It was so spiritual and uplifting.  He was very happy when we talked to him and is absolutely loving his mission.  We can't wait to get him home in August and are counting down the days, but he is loving every single second he has left in his mission and doesn't want it to end. He is not "trunky" at all.  We are so proud of him!

Marcus's Baptism 

Amanda's Baptism 

Amanda is missing part of her leg so
 Elder Fiti helped steady her while
Elder Findlay baptized her.

Our last phone call!

A nice member took the Elders out for

 Mexican food and sent me this picture:

Benson Zone
(Elder Findlay is in the middle)

It's May! Week #91

Hey Momma! 

Wow you already got my return itinerary? Haha what the heck, that is pretty weird to think about. I cant believe its May either! It's also starting to get warm here, yesterday it hit 105 so that was a little hot. Just trying to prepare myself for the hot summer again. Luckily I'm not biking in the heat so it isn't too bad...

Yeah our area is doing really well right now! Marqus and Amanda are doing GREAT and are still planning on being baptized this Saturday! It will be one of the coolest experiences but also a crazy busy day😂 I've never had 2 baptisms in one day! Amanda has come such a long way, she has changed so much because of the Gospel and she is basically a new person. You take one look at her and you know that she loves the Gospel. 

Marcus is the same exact way! He acts basically like a Mormon already,  and is super prepared and ready for the Gospel. He has been coming to church and has grown a ton. He now understands what his purpose is he has a lot of joy because of that. His baptism is going to be so fun, his friend group reminds me a lot of mine. The homies are real, these guys have been amazing examples to Marqus and that's the reason why he was interested in the first place. If we could just always live what we believe and stick to our standards, we would be baptizing everyone. They would see the light of Christ in us and want to have it too.  I'm excited to be a much better member missionary when I get home :)

Yeah I think I will probably finish my mission in this area, I don't want to move again. Now that I'm in YSA I'd rather not go back to a family ward, that's sounds bad but YSA is super fun :)

Anyways so about my eye, I got some sample daily contacts that I've been using for the last few days. They are doing good so far. I may need to get some when my sample run out. I'm nor sure though, I will have to talk to my doctor. Hopefully I can get back to normal soon.

So I had a cool experience this week. I had a friend from home, who isn't a member, email me saying that she has been reading the Book of Mormon and met with missionaries for the first time this week! I had taught her a little bit a year ago over Facebook but she wasn't ready yet,  and now she is! I'm so happy for her! She will most likely be baptized here pretty soon.  There isn't a better feeling then knowing one of your friends is discovering the truths of the Gospel! 

I think that was it for the week. Sharing the Gospel is a party, seriously it's super fun when you understand how to do it. I'm excited to continue to share the Gospel, I love it! Have a good week Momma! I love you!

Mission work crew

I ran into the Garner family at the temple this week!
I was so happy to see them all :)

This is Marcus, (wearing the black hat)
 who will be getting baptized on
Saturday, thanks in part to the amazing
example of his crew (friends).

It's Summa Time Again..Week #90

Hey Momma!

Sorry for the day late email.  Our P-day was changed this week so we could attend the temple one last time before it closes for renovations. 

Where do I begin, so much happened this last week it's unreal. Blessings were thrown at us left and right and we are trying to handle all of them. I love YSA so much, people are so much more receptive and willing to try new things. That's probably why YSA areas are the most successful. We have so many activities that we get to invite people to it's so fun. 

Like last night we had Juan the Taco man come to the church and we had a huge get together with the whole ward and 4 nonmembers came! It was ridiculous, we found two new potentials from that activity. That's basically how it happens every time😂 Plus when you bring non-members to family ward activities, you are kind of scared because you don't know how the ward will react. In YSA everyone goes nuts and just wrap their arms around them like a best friend, it's soooo awesome, especially for us😂

The reason why we had such an amazing week is because we have two solid new investigators that we put on date for the 12th of May! It was nuts how fast it happened! They literally both fell into our lap and now they both want to be baptized! We were praying for people to baptize in the month of May and we received! It's cool because there is one in each ward. In one of our wards there hasn't been a baptism in 2 years! That's going to end now! Their names are Marcus and Amanda. They have been really great! I'll try to get some good pics with them this week. None of the credit is ours though, it was all of Heavenly Fathers doing. He's the best! I love seeing Him direct this work, it testifies to me that He is definitely in charge :)

We went to the Mesa temple for the last time before it closes :( I'm going to miss going there and feeling the spirit. I won't be able to go back for a few years but I will definitely come back to Mesa when it re-opens after my mission. I love that temple, it has a special place in my heart now. 

OH...Shout out to the Jazz for beating OKC. I've been hearing all about it :)

That about all I have to say this week! I'm very grateful that I have the privilege of serving in Mesa, I love it! It's an adventure every day! I love you Momma! Have a great week!

This is Amanda. She's AMAZING!
She is going to be baptized on the 12th :)

Our district. We are the only people
 in YSA in our entire mission.

It is SO bright here!

This is ma boy Elder Cox