Jan 22- Email Home

So its been a pretty crazy week. 

We have four family fun nights in the four days!

Just so everyone knows and isn't confused, a Family Fun Night is a FHE setting, with the missionaries. We have been told by President Riggs to get as many of these as possible. The missionaries are supposed to bring a 5-10 minute Spiritual Thought, and the Family is supposed to prepare the activity, which is anything except going to the movie theaters, and anything that would disrupt the Spirit.

Friday, we had a family fun night with the G family, A less-active part member family. We had shown up at 6:00PM (the arranged time) and we had a dinner at 7:00Pm with a different family. When we walked into their home, we smelled delicious breakfast food. Elder G and I eyed each other with the "oh no" look, but walked in anyway. We called our dinner appointment and told them we were going to be late (which they were totally fine with). We enjoyed breakfast for dinner and then we watched Despicable Me 1. We ran over to our dinner appointment soon afterward and then ate more food (Heavenly Father answers prayers!!!!!!!!).

Saturday, we had a family fun night with the W Family. Elder K and Elder S were supposed to come but ended up getting caught in a lesson, so they weren't able to show up. We played Super Smash Bros (of course I kicked butt ;) ) and then we played Liars Dice.

Monday, we ate dinner and had a nonmember at the F family’s house. Her name is K and she is a Senior in high school. We had a Family Fun Night after dinner with her and the family and it went really well. She is a potential investigator, and we can't wait to meet with her. Right now its finals week so we were going to try and meet with her sometime next week.

After the F family, Elder G and I got the impression to go to the W's house. We've been working with GW  (a Junior, who is in our ward) and we have grown really close to him. Anyway, we went over on Monday night, just to say Hi and to check on him. They invited us in and we ended up watching Atlantis! I haven't seen that show in forever. The thought was well received, and it was quite enjoyable.

We weren't able to meet with S this week, Sadly. But the good news is that she got a full time job!!!!!!!!!! We are so excited for her! We have always had the feeling that once she got a more stable situation, that she would be able to progress so much faster!

Elder K didn't break anything this week... haha! Surprisingly! It was a good week.

Yesterday, we went to the D.C. Temple! It is so beautiful! I love that temple. We also got to see the new movie that was released like a week ago! Awesome right? The Spirit was really strong. I really do have a testimony of the power of temple work!

On the way over to the library today, we saw a lady shoveling her driveway. Oh, did I mention that it snowed?! Like a ton?! It was crazy! I think we have 5 inches here, at least! Anyway, we offered to shovel it for her and we were able to talk to her for a good 30 minutes about church, and religion and the Gospel! Her name is V, and we can't wait to meet with her sometime. We have her number and she has ours. We are planning to go shovel it tomorrow because it is supposed to snow again on Thursday.

I know this Church is true. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and the Redeemer. He paid the price so that we can return to our Heavenly Father again, if we come unto Him. He can help us through our trials. I know that prayers are answered, as long as we have faith, and as long as we are willing to act upon the answer. Our Heavenly Father loves us. 

I love all of you!
-Elder Dexton Armstrong

January 13, 2014 - Email Home

Dear Family,

Arrow! Yes! I'm glad you are still watching it! Such a great show! What do you think of it so far?

Way to go Tay! Third in her competition is great! I don't exactly understand how they determine the winners of a drill competiton, but I'm glad that PG did that well!

As for the life of Christ, our Bishop has been in Germany for the last month! He has family up there and so he went and visited them before Christmas. The last time we talked about it he seemed super excited for it, but I guess we will find out when he gets back.

So the deal with Elder K's tire.... Hahah! He got a brand new back rim (for free, via the warranty) on Wednesdaynight. Thursday we were riding to Spokes, our local repair shop, to get his bike fine-tuned. He went up the sidewalk ramp and started riding on the grass when suddenly his front rim bent into a taco shape, and he flew over the handle bars! Oh my gosh, we were dying with laughter. I remember him lying on the ground saying, "Crap, did my tire break?" Haha! We then bent it into a rideable state, and he rode it for the next 1.5 miles to Spokes with a flat, and a bent rim. It was great! Heavenly Father has a great sense of humor!

We ate dinner with the L Family on Friday night. It was there we found out that she had a few tasers, and Elder K got the bright idea that being tased was on his bucket list. So he volunteered. And absolutely loved it! He's crazy... Haha!

We've been working with a kid. He is a less-active in our ward who is a self-proclaimed atheist. He's awesome! He still attends seminary every day and will come to church once a month. Elder G has really made a connection with him because they both love and play guitar! (Of course this kids is way better than Elder G). Their family loves to have us over. We are really excited that we were able to connect with him, because he was really unreceptive when Elder F and I tried before.

We finally met with S again for the first time in a month. She is doing well! We talked about temples and some of the blessings that temples bring into our lives. She would love to go there one day, but her kids are extremely set against church, especially our church. We are hoping we can connect with them too, so that they can all receive the blessings of the Gospel!

I know this Church is true. I know that Jesus is the Christ, that He suffered and died so that we can experience true happiness by using the Atonement. I testify of the power of that Atonement. How great it is! It has helped me get through countless experiences, and has blessed my life innumerable times. I am so grateful for the blessing of having access to the Spirit. I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves us enough to let us learn and grow, and to know for ourselves what is right and what is wrong.

I love you all! Thank you for everything!
-Elder Dexton J. Armstrong

He is supposed to be having his picture taken...

January 5 - Email Home

Hey, its a new year!

 

So as you probably know, we have had cold weather. We've actually had two ice storms the last few days, which are awesome! I love them! I just feel bad for the people that don't know how to handle them out here. We try and ride our bikes (it cuts down the travel time by at least half) but if it is extremely icy or snowy, we will walk or ask for rides. And surprisingly it hasn't seemed cold enough to use the hand warmers, but thanks for the reminder!

It sounds like a great week! I'd love to see The Saratov Approach! It sounds like a great movie, from what I've heard. New Years sounds like it was a party! ;). Our New Years Eve was actually quite fun. We had a family fun night with the A family and the M family. We were able to watch Despicable Me 2! We really enjoyed it.

I'm glad that the RS was able to have a temple activity! I miss going to the temple. Out here I've realized what a blessing it is to have a temple so close back home. We only get to go once every 3 months, and we can only go if a member takes us.

I'm glad J made it to visit at the house! Haha yeah, we had some good times playing soccer! I love that guy. I'll try and get that picture for you guys!

I loved the Christmas cards I sent you too! We have a Sister in our ward (Sister Rose Dall) who is quite the artist. Her house is covered with beautiful paintings. She gave Elder G and I love those cards! She is really awesome! You should look up some of her other paintings online!

 

www.rosedatocdall.com

I miss Grandma B as well! Especially since I was able to borrow a cello this week. I remember when she took me to that "All-Cello" concert! But I know she is in a better place and that she is happily helping the work to progress!

Our church started at 11AM, which I wasn't used to! I'm used to the 9AM church, but it'll be a nice change!

So as for my new tech specialist calling, I still have no idea. We probably won't find out until February 18th, which is a month away... I think they are waiting til we get iPads and then they will train us.

Haha yes and no. I'll play around with the Harmonica, but nothing serious. Especially now that I have a cello to play on!

So the story behind the cello... We had a priest who left on his mission, and he was quite the cello player. Elder G wanted to learn the cello a bit, and I missed playing the cello so we asked the J family if we could borrow it for a few weeks. They were quite nice about it and agreed to let us use it! So now we have a cello in our apartment that we play before we go to bed. I love it!

I was able to have my first facebook lesson! It was quite interesting but stressful and nerve-racking, but it went okay! I got a referral from a friend back home for someone. He has issues with same-gender attraction and he was wondering if Mormons hated gays. I was able to talk with him about how we don't hate gays, but that is against Heavenly Father's commandments. I shared with him the mormonsandgays.org website and he felt better. He said he really really wanted to be done with those feelings that he had and I promised him that if he prayed, gave his all, and strived to keep all of the commandments that he would be blest. It wouldn't be easy, but it would be worth it!

It was a neat experience! I'm glad Heavenly Father was able to bless me to be able to answer his questions!

I know this Church is true. I know Heavenly Father lives, and that He loves each of us. Jesus Christ is our Savior, and He knows us. He knows what we are going through, and He can help us. Prayer is powerful. I know that with my heart and my soul.

 

I love you all!

-Elder Dexton Armstrong