September 29, 2014

 

Last District before transfer.

 

I'll start with transfer notes.

I'm going to be doing my first one and done. Elder Harris-Coons will be headed to down town Fort Worth and I will be staying in Flower mound for at least another six weeks. My new companions name is Elder Vonga. Yes, I have a Polynesian companion and I'm excited to learn more Tongan. I know a little bit about him because I severed around him in Killeen Zone. I have a feeling this will be a good transfer.

Sorry I email last week but it was for a good cause. The temple was great and I am glad I get to go the House of the Lord every three months. The opportunity to feel the presence of the Lord and be the closest to him. The blesses from the temple are amazing and I'm grateful for the convents I have been able to make.

I also what to share on of my studies I had this week. The past transfer we have focused on why we as missionaries need to be converted. I also had a investigator ask me why I serve and I had an impression to share Luke 22:32 "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted , strengthen thy brethren" . The next day I studied that verse and more importantly the Converted part in this verse this is the study I had.

I asked myself what makes me be converted to the Gospel? The footnote to converted was Mosiah 3:19 which says, "For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit , and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child." 

So the natural man is an enemy to God and all of us are the natural man and we will always be unless we follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost. As you follow the Spirit you will put off the natural man and will become a Saint through Christ's atonement. As we use the Atonement you will want to repent and change your life. That is how you will become converted. The perfect example of being converted is a child. Matthew 18:1-4

1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 

2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children , ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child , the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

If Christ tells us that children that are the greatest in the kingdom of haven, what makes them so great?

Submissive= obedient

Meek=humility

Humble= Humility

Patient= Patience, hope, faith

Full of love= charity and love

All of what I just mentioned are children's attributes but they also equal Christ attributes. That is why they are the perfect example and the greatest in God's kingdom. Become Childlike and you will be converted!! Bible Dictionary- Denotes changing one's views in a conscious acceptance of the will of God. (Acts 3:19) conversion comes by following the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Complete Conversion comes after many trial and much testing. BE CONVERTED TO THE LORD!

 

Elder Winterbottom & Elder Harris-Coons

Severing in Flower Mound

The Lord's Vineyard 

 

Messing around before going to bed...

 

 

September 27, 2014

 

 

Update on the knee.

I'm getting old and that's just it. there and been nothing I can remember that I did to hurt it. The Law family is like my mom and dad in this ward. they take good care of me. Love them! They are sweet! so with my knee. its not just one but both. I went out and bought a brace and I have the one you sent me. But I might have to by another one because its a little small on my leg. By the way.. I tried to use my home card to buy the brace and it said my card wasn't working. good thing I had a little cash on me. Do you think I could write you more on Monday since its in 3 days?

September 15, 2014

My hump day was just like every other day. Not going to lie I hate
knowing when I'm going home and I don't like being reminded.... I love
it out here!! The lady who has the 8 year old is a member we think..
Its a long story and very confusing!! We are still teaching them just
like investigators until we know for sure. We really don't have any
other progressing investigators. this area is by far the hardest but
has long as we are obedient the lord will bless us. Living with
members is weird. I don't know if I Like it or not. Its cool cause we
can go and talk to them when we want to talk to someone other then
your companion but then you are always on your best behavior and I
feel like and I can never relax down. you never want to disappoint
them. we have one room to ourselves and that's it.  There are no
basements in Texas. all two story houses.

The week was a week of sweet exchanges! I went on an exchange with
our zone leaders on Tuesday to Wednesday. Elder weaver is awesome. He
is probably the most respected Elder in the mission field because of
the love for the work he is great at teaching. He taught me how
important pray is. I knew how important it is but he took it to a
whole new level for me and understanding that god answers prayers, we
just have to ask and if its God's will and timing we will see
miracles.  He also was great at understanding the same and simple
things in missionary work. He realizes the blessing and miracles and I
really need to work on that. God has his hand in everything we do. On
Thursday to Friday went on an exchange with Elder Parkinson. This is
his first transfer in the field and it took me back to when I was
training. Wow, was I inadequate to train but the lord took a chance on
me to help Elder Brown. I have learned so much and I pray that I
taught my son what he needs. Elder Parkinson is a good missionary and
is still learning what to say and not to say haha he is a good guy and
has a great trainer. I realized the best way to be a trainer is to be
an example and be exactly obedient. It was a good little reminder for
me. We also had zone training/council this week. It was on how do we
help our investigators. And it all came back to us.  We have to
convert ourselves before we can convert someone else. What was cool is
that I studied that a week before zone council. I'll share that study
with you next week.
I'm so excited for this week. We have interviews with president Ames
this week. I love talking to him!! I might not email you until the
26th because I'm trying to go to the temple.

Love,
Elder Winterbottom & Elder Harris-Coons
Serving in Flower Mound
The Lord's Vineyard

This week it got into the 70's and we were cold so we put on our
sweaters. I'm a true Texan haha

September 8, 2014

"I thought I would never see one of these again!!! This was the Candy
that I got in England!!"

This week I want to share with you my studies that I had. Last week
when I when on an exchange with Elder Hendricks he said something that
made me think of what I need to study to get me to the next point in
my progression as a missionary, as a better person, and as a disciple
of Jesus Christ.  The thing that came to mind was my Ordinances and
the covenants that I have made and the blessing that follow has I keep
and honor them. Some of which and sacred to me and I apologize because
I'm not going to share everything.
My first thought was to look up 2 Nephi 28:30. For behold, thus saith
the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line,
precept‍ upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed
are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my
counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth‍ I
will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from
them shall be taken away even that which they have. Now from here I
thought as I grow in the church and the gospel, I will continue to
grow, learn, and strengthen my faith and relationship with my father
in heaven: line upon line ,precepts upon precepts, here a little and
there a little. Making saving ordinances and making and keeping
covenants. Next thought was what are these ordinances and covenants?
Think about the ones you have made and what is your next ordinance
that you need.
Ordinances
           Covenants
Baptism & Gift of the Holy Ghost
Take upon you the name of Christ (Mosiah 5:7-10)

                    Keep His Commandments

                    Serve Him to the end (Mosiah 18:8-9)
Priesthood (for men)
       Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood (D&C 84:33-44)
Temple ordinances
      Found in the temple

I pray you will study the blessings that have been granted to you and
recognize them in your life. But the greatest gift you will have
granted to you will be Exaltation, if you live worthy of it. We need
to keep all our covenants to receive exaltation. Endure to the End!!
Ordinances and covenants help us remember who we are and what we can
become. they remind us of our duty to God. Now the question I ask
myself and I pray they you will ponder and think about it too. Am I
(you) keeping and faithfully serving and keeping my covenants? If not
what are you doing to repent and change your life so that you are?
Repentance is a good thing because we are changing our view (worldly
view) to God's will.

Love,
Elder Winterbottom & Elder Harris-Coons
Serving in Flower Mound

Preparing to draw the Plan of Salvation

September 2, 2014

The area that I'm in is pretty dead with investigators and on one is
really looking for the gospel but I am seeing miracles happen
everyday! This past Saturday we were walking through a apartment
complex the lady flagged us down from her car and we started to talk.
She wanted to pass out pamphlets for us and she isn't even a member.
So we gave her a couple and asked if we could teach her about them.
She said yes so we taught her and she loved the message. Cool thing
was that we meet her Saturday, invited her to come to church, and she
came the next day and loved it and so did her eight year old daughter.
She is from Germany. Looks like I don't need to go out of the country
to teach all nationality of people. She has already told us that she
wants to be a member!  Pray and simple going out to work even if you
feel like there is nothing to do, the Lord will bless you for it.
James 1:6 we read about how we are to petition God for answers to the
desires of our hearts. We are taught to, “ask in faith, nothing
wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with
the wind and tossed.” Perhaps there is a lesson in this scripture
teaching us how to invite those we serve. Let us ask in faith, nothing
wavering, for opportunity to share the message of the gospel and for
them to make commitments to the Lord. There is times where I feel like
I cant do anything more and I don't know what to do. I have found that
those are the times I need to rely on the Lord that most through pray
and simple going out and working. This Scripture really hit me this
week with how much faith we really need to put into pray. This is my
commitment for this week.

This week I was able to go on a exchange with Elder Hendricks. I can
honestly say that this exchange has changed my mission. He taught me
more about myself, who I am, what I represent and most importantly who
I can become. I felt like I had plateaued for a while now and we
simple just talked about what I needed to do to take the next step. He
referred me to the white handbook page 57 example. He had me read that
and we talked manly about repent and become more like the Savior and
keep covenants. This truly hit me!! He was the example that I needed.
I then got back from that exchange and prayed about what I need to be
doing and what I need to change. Since then I have found a big desired
to be the best example that the Savior wants me to be. I was so
grateful for Elder Hendricks and giving me that encouragement I needed
to the potters clay Jeremiah 18:1-6. Elder Hendricks might not ever
know what he has done for me but I will always be grateful for him.

Love
Elder Winterbottom & Elder Harris-Coons
Serving In Flower Mound
The Lord's Vineyard