Getting used to the Trio

Hello everybody!

This week was pretty good and the first full week of the tri-panionship. Its been fun getting to know my new companion and at the same time learning how to teach with 3 people. It definitely makes you learn and grow really quickly.

We had some miracles happen this week. We put 3 people on date for August. We are excited for them and are praying that they will be able to receive a solid answer by that time.

Funny story about the 3rd lady. We were teaching the restoration and the wife had to run outside for a bit so we kept teaching the husband. When we got to the first vision, he started telling the story. He then told us that he was baptized in 1982, was active for 10 years and then hasnt been to church since. We were floored! We had no idea that he was a member and we had talked with him a few times before that. After a few minutes his wife came back and we finished teaching the Restoration and then extended a baptismal invite and she accepted. We are praying she will start coming to church and receive an answer about the book of mormon.

Sacrament meeting was interesting this past sunday. The young men talked about their experience at scout camp and high adventure. It was extremely difficult to translate for it though. You don't use "tent" or "raft" or other words like that when you are teaching the missionary lessons. We just kept looking at each other as people were telling the story and then we would try to translate it the best we could. Hopefully with time it will get better.

Thank you for the prayers and the letters. I hope you all have a great week.

Elder Young

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What a week!

Hello everybody!

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone that wrote me this week, I really appreciate it. I love to hear how things are going in your lives.

This week was pretty fun and interesting and full of Heavenly Fathers blessings. We gained a companion this week as someone was transferred to Othello and called to speak an Indian dialect. It was a bit of a scramble as we moved him to our place with  such short notice but everything went pretty smoothly.(Blessing)

It was pretty warm this week but we still had a good amount of lessons that we taught. (Blessing) We definitely saw the Lords hand in our week as things fell into place and we were able to accomplish some of our goals as well as being protected. This past saturday we were knocking some doors on a little apartment complex and just about when we were finished with it. A little boy looks through a window and then tries to open it to talk to us. A few moments later the door opens and a pit-bull comes out with the boy trying to hold it back. Pretty soon he can't keep a hold of it and lets go. (He is screaming at the dog the whole time). Elder Hall was trying to keep it from jumping on him and got a couple teeth marks on his hand (blessed it didnt chomp down) Then it started coming after Elder Hammond and I. It never got us (another blessing) The kid tried grabbing the leash but couldnt and I kept yelling at it to sit down or go back inside then the kid said he wouldnt do it unless he had a treat so I told him to go get some. While he ran inside I managed to grab the leash and get the dog to call down a little bit. I was holding it like I was holding a snake (I didn't want to get bit) Luckily it was a choke collar so the dog got pretty tired and decided it would be best to back inside. I could definitely see Gods hand in protecting us because we could have been seriously hurt.

On sunday I had the opportunity to translate for sacrament meeting. I now understand what its like translate and it is really hard. Hopefully with more practice it will get better and better so the people listening can feel the spirit during the meeting.

Thanks for reading and I hope you all have a great week!

Elder Young

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New Changes!

Hello everybody!

I hope you all had a great week!

We got a few new changes with the new mission president and the new changes that came from Salt Lake. At first I was a little confused about them but after thinking about it for a little bit, it made sense. For example, they asked us to wear our tags on the right side(besides the pocket tags). When you shake someones hand, it easier to see the tag. They are also going to let us wear lighter colored clothes. There are a ton of pictures on the church website which is pretty cool.

This week was pretty good. We went to the temple today so thats why I'm a day late. We had a good week of teaching and finding. We had 4 people at church and that was because members got involved and brought them there. The work just goes so much better when the members get involved in missionary work.

Sorry its a short one this week. I don't have a lot to say this week. Send me a letter or something. I would love to hear from you!

Have a great week!

Elder Young

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4th of July and the Rest of the Week

Hello everybody!

Things are going great here in the Washington Kennewick Mission!

We got to meet our new mission president and his wife. They are inspired people and I'm excited to learn from them and the great spirit they have.

So for the 4th it was really hard to find anyone at home or willing to let us in because they were enjoying their holiday but it was still a decent day. We had to be home by 7 and then do our weekly planning. We got finished early so we played some pool out in the garage. I got beat pretty bad each game but it was still pretty fun. We also watched the fireworks from the front lawn. The city lights them off from the Butte so it was pretty easy to see them. It was kind of like watch a chinese movie where what you see doesn't match up with the sound.

Something pretty cool that I learned this week was during sunday school. We looked at Matthew 5:48 and 3 Nephi 12:48. These scriptures are talking about being perfect but there is a difference that is pretty neat but I'm not going to spoil it. You will have to look up it and figure it out.

The weather was horrible at the beginning of this week. It was about 107 on tuesday and then it dropped into the 90s for the rest of the week so it was pretty good.

The time is going by so fast and faster by the day. It's hard to believe I have been in Hermiston for 3 weeks and on my mission for 6 months. I guess time flys when you are have fun.

I want you all to know that I know the church is true and it is only through Jesus Christ that we are able to return to live with God again and with our families forever. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet and that Jesus Christ restored his true church through him. I know President Monson is a prophet today and he leads and guides the church according to the revelation he receives from God and Jesus Christ. I know the Atonement is a powerful thing and covers much more than we can really comprehend right now. I am so grateful to my Savior for the sacrifice he made for me and for each one of us. I know these things because the spirit has testified them to me.

Have a great week!

Elder Young

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Hot weather here in Hermiston

Hello everybody!

Things are going great here in Hermiston although we had a little bit of a slow week. We had a baptism that went really well. The spirit was really strong and the person being baptized felt it before she even got in the water. We went over how the baptism was going to go and she asked if she could a few moments alone to say a prayer before we took pictures and then afterwards she said she felt a peace before she even got the water. It's awesome to see someone recognize when the spirit touches their lives.

This week was nice and cool until wednesday or thursday and then the temperature skyrocketed! It went from 70s to 100s in a day but I guess thats what we get for being in the desert but that wont stop us from working hard.

I had to speak in church yesterday. It went pretty well. It was probably the longest time I've ever spoken before. It was in english too so it was kind of strange because that was the first real english talk ive given since I've been on my mission.

Thanks for reading and hope you all have a great week

Elder Young

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Settling into Hermiston

Hello everybody!

This week has been pretty good! For some reason transfer weeks always seem super long but then afterwards it goes by like lightning.

Hermiston has been pretty fun so far. We have met some really interesting people and taught some good lessons. I like my new companion and the members that we stay with. Its nice working in a city that has more than just one main street. We work in a group that is pretty small and has a couple sets of elders and a senior couple working in it. Yesterday we had just about as many missionaries as members in sacrament meeting but it was still really good. I guess that just means there is more work for us to do in bringing people into the church and getting people reactivated.

The world wide broadcast yesterday was amazing! I'm so excited to be apart of the changes that are coming. I know that as the members get excited about sharing the gospel, the work will progress so much faster. The missionaries can't do everything and expect great success. The members have to be working too to find those that have been prepared to receive the gospel. I challenge each of you to make a list of people you could share the gospel with and then think of ways to better your friendship with them and invite them to a church related activity or into your home. I know that as you do this, people will be placed in your path that need to hear the gospel. Always be thinking of ways to share the gospel and things will happen.

Hope everyone has a great week and that you have missionary experiences.

Elder Young

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Transfer CALLS!!

Hello everybody!

Thank you to everyone that sent me letters this week. I really appreciate it.

This week was a pretty good and I had a lot of fun teaching and finding and teaching some more. We were finally able to meet with this girl and her family. She has been going to church for a while (she started coming in january) but it has been hard to find a time to meet with her. This past friday we finally got that chance. We came into their house and the whole family was sitting there waiting for us. The dad did most of the talking but he seemed a little more comfortable with us by the end which was good. Most of his beliefs agree with the teachings of the church but with time and listening he will be able to resolve his concerns and the gospel will bring that family a lot of peace and unity.

We got our transfer calls this past saturday. I'm getting transferred to Hermiston Oregon. I'm excited to see a new area and meet new people but at the same time I'm sad to leave this area and all the great people. I will be covering just a spanish group which will be kinda nice as far as paperwork goes. I will tell you more about the area next week after I have gotten there.

On sunday my companion and I spoke in sacrament meeting for the spanish branch. It went better than my last talk here. I outlined the plan of salvation and then my companion spoke about the atonement because it is such a crucial part of it. My spanish is getting better and hopefully in Hermiston, it will get even better.

Hope you guys have a great week!

Elder Young

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