Monday, June 30, 2014
June 30, 2014
Elder Winterbottom didn't send home a letter this week. He just did a Q&A session with his mom! Yes, Debbie got many of her questions finally answered. :0) Josh is doing great, just trying to deal with the heat and the humidity.
Monday, June 23, 2014
June 23, 2014
Be Thou Humble
Last week was so great and Elder
Argyle and I became a prideful of ourselves and our area and this
week God had something to say to that. This week was honestly the
hardest week on my mission! I knew that this is God's work and His glory
but I really witnessed that first hand this week. We were talking about
how good the week was going to be because of past weeks and we were
comparing ourselves to others and became very prideful. Alma 31:25 Yea,
and he also saw that their hearts were lifted up unto great boasting, in
their pride. And God saw that!! The reason it was so hard was because
we had EVERY appointment canceled on us Tuesday and Friday and I had no
idea what to do. I felt like I was wasting the Lords time. Proverbs 29:23 A
man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in
spirit. At dinner I was frustrated, angry, and disappointed and the only
thing that kept coming into my head was to pray for forgiveness. So I
was brought to my knees and and literally cried to the Lord asking for
forgiveness and pray for the understanding for this trial. Ether 12:27 And
if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto
men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all
men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble. James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. I
have received a his grace and I now know that this is HIS work and NOT
mine. We cannot do anything with out him and it took me this week to
fully understand it. It was hard week but the humble are teachable. Elder Winterbottom & Elder Argyle
Monday, June 16, 2014
June 16, 2014
Memorable week
On Monday went to Cavanders (boot store) to possibly get cowboy boots. I walked into the store with all the intention in the world to get on and as soon as I walked in I changed my mind. Who was I kidding... I'm not a cow boy and not even close haha maybe by the end I'll be a cow boy and want boots. We also went to the mall in my area and realized that I don't know how to shop anymore... We walked around in a couple of the stores and I had no idea what I was doing there. The mission has defiantly effected me spiritually, physically and worldly.
On Tuesday I went on an exchange with the River Trail Elders and got in a pretty good biking crash! There was a cable that out of the middle of the side walk to a telephone pole and I had looked back at a car and when I turned around the cable was right at my handle bars. Next thing I know I was flying through the air and then penguin sliding on the side walk. From that little accident my slacks ripped, cut up my hand and messed my thumb up ( its good now) permanently stained my shirt, and scratched up my name tag. But from that experience I learned that God has a plan for everything cause If I didn't crash we would have missed the other Elders bring the area phone back to us cause we forgot to hand it off at the beginning of the exchange. Plus It makes a cool and stupid story for me.
Saturday went to the temple for a
recent convert. President Ames a couple of months ago said that we need
to be focusing past baptism so he allows us to go to the temple if its a
recent converts first time. Saturday was great cause we went to the
temple with the zone leaders and one of the ward missionaries and went
early and did a endowment session and that was great doing work for
someone on the other side plus I was reminded of the convents I have
made. I challenge everyone to got temple to remember what your convents.
Then went and did baptisms for the dead with the convert. It was so
cool cause Elder Argyle and i got be be the witness for her and her
family and with one of the best ward missionaries!! Then after went and
had in and out!! That was a great day.
Sunday is always great because I get
to renew all of my convents. Sundays are always great!! When we called
in numbers I thought it was going to be bad for this week because of all
the things we had this week but surprisingly it was the best week this
transfer. We have a total of 8 baptism date and we made two of those
this week. I am so blessed to be serving in this area at this time. I
love the Mission!!!!! I couldn't ask to be in a better place then right
here and right now.
Elder Winterbottom & Elder Argyle
Serving in Hurst
The Lord's Vineyard
Bike Crash Photos
At the Dallas Temple doing baptisms for the dead
The after temple party
Tan line
His bag has had it!
Elder Argyle and Elder Winterbottom
Monday, June 9, 2014
June 9, 2014
Its so bloody hot here!! The mornings when we first wake up feels like
its 75 and this midday feels like 95. And people keep telling me that
its only going to get hotter from here. I have a sweet farmers tan too.
My neck/face and arms are getting pretty dark and its just the
beginning of summer.
Fear,
Two weeks ago in Presidents e-mail he talked about fear and that really struck me hard. D&C 3:7 For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God.
I myself still am very fearful as a missionary. In the past I had the
mentally of when I saw people walking on the street I wouldnt want to be
a burden to them and their day. Moroni 7:12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually. I have been fearing man more then God and those feeling are not what my heavenly farther would want me to have/do. The best and most important thing they can have in this life is this Gospel. (D&C 67:3) Ye endeavored to believe that ye should receive the blessing which was offered unto you; but behold, verily I say unto you there were fears in your hearts, and verily this is the reason that ye did not receive.
I am keeping them from this wonderful message and the blessing that
follow and that has really hit me hard this week. I wounder about all
the people I could have shared the Gospel with and my fears got in the
way. Fear,
Mark 10:27 With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
Elder Winterbottom & Elder Argyle Serving HurstThe Lord's Vineyard
Monday, June 2, 2014
June 2, 2014
Elder Argyle is my new companion and he is from Sacramento
Californian. He has only been out three months and is a great
missionary. He is very clam when he talks and has made connections with
people I never thought were possible. He is also a visa waver, his
actual call is to Kenya. I'm glad I got to sever with him. He is a great
kid and I know this transfer will be great.
This week there have been lots of miracles that have happened.
The first day with Elder Argyle we got a call from the Zone leaders and
they gave us the privilege to give a blessing to a member that was
struggling. Before we gave him the blessing we talked about why we have
challenges (D&C 29: 39), obedience brings blessing (D&C 130:
20-21), and we have to act on our faith before we see the blessings
(Ether 12:6). The cool thing was, is that's what I studied that morning
and now I know why I was influenced to look at those topics. The spirit
of revelation is great. Then after that we went to a guy that we had
been trying to visit for a while and no answer. We had finally got a
hold of him and before we left he said he wants to be baptized and that
he knows that he needs to. He also said that when we were talking to him
that it was the most clam he had ever felt and really likes talking to
us. Elder Argyle and him are from the same place so they made a
connection very fast. I know that where we are called to serve and who
we serve with is from God. We also taught six lesson on Sunday and one
of those lessons was on the phone. It was one of the coolest experiences
that I have had on my mission. Sunday night we were in our apartment
and waiting for the district leader to call for numbers and I had this
feeling to call this number. I had never called it and had no idea who
it was but i did it. This lady answered and we started to talk and she
had been having a really hard time living in Huston and is going to move
to new york for a new start . Then I asked her what she thought was the
purpose in life was. She broke down and started to cry and said she had
no idea and she really wants to know. So we talked a little bit more
and then asked if I could send missionaries to her when she moves to
new york and she said yea and would love that. It was a great experience
to have!! One little question can change peoples life.
This is going to be a great transfer. Obedience and faith
brings blessing and miracles (Moroni 7:36-37) That is my testimony and I
know with all my heart to be true. The principle I've learned the most
about is obedience and I will show my love and faith in God by keeping
and doing his will.
Elder Winterbottom & Elder Argyle
Serving in Hurst
The Lord's Vineyard
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