December 29, 2014

So those Christmas gifts where perfect! I think my favorite one was the chap stick. You must have received revelation for me on that one cause I was going to go out and buy a stick this week haha But the ties were great! Good picks on them. the tie clip is so and now I can support my home town! the Thanks parker for the captain American hoodie. and the Gray sweater is thicker then my previous one and I'm glad cause its freezing here for Elder Winterbottom . And the CDs were great. I don't have any music so I have always been relying on all  my other companions for music.

This Sunday was crazy!! I have never experienced these events ever at church. There was the returned missionary speaking and the whole program was good but what was crazy was the things happening in the congregation. at first the was a mud dauber or a wasp that some how got into the building and was flying around and landing on people. But no one wanted to kill it because they didn't know of it was a mud dauber (mud daubers cant sting by the way) or a wasp and they didn't want it to go and a rampage and start stinging everyone. so everyone was ducking and weaving from this thing. Then with like 15 minutes left of sacrament meeting brother Law (second councilor of the bishopric) the stand because one of the members waved for him to come into the hallway. Well he came back in went to the stand, whispered something to bishop and then walked off again. Then few minutes later everyone in the back started to leave row by row until the overflow area were empty. Might I remind you the returned missionary is speaking at this time. then word got to me that there was a natural gas leak in the building and everyone needed to get out. I felt so bad because I didn't know if I should get up and walk out like everyone else or stay cause the RM was almost done speaking. Well bishop cut off the RM and told everyone left what was going on. Then he closed the meeting with a prayer. So church was only one hour and I guess the gas leak was pretty bad. And that was my Sunday and it was the most bazar one I've ever had haha

Elder Winterbottom & Elder Hassinger

Serving in Flower Mound

The Lord's Vineyard 

 

 Elder Winterbottom took these next pictures for his mom!

 

December 22, 2014

 

 

My new companion's name is Elder Hassinger and he is from Daytona Florida. He is a convert to the church of two years on the 23rd of this month. He has been out on the mission for four in a half months. He is a great kid and very obedient. We get along ok but I defiantly miss Elder Vaoga. 

So get this.This week I had a pair of sisters in my district get their car towed late Saturday night and they called me to find out what to do. Well I made phone calls and in the end the Zone leaders and I had to drive to the impound lot and get the car out. But the impound lot was in Dallas. Road Trip ;) haha I got to drive the car back to the sisters. That was the first time I have drove a car in over a year. It was so much fun and I miss it haha but by the time we dropped off the car to the sisters and got back to our apartment it was 12:30..... Then we had get up at 5 the next morning for a meeting at 6. It was a long day haha 

This week we went caroling in our area and it was so fun! But the moment of the night was when we went to one of our investigators. She loves the missionaries and has been meeting with them for a long time. One of the best moments she has with them was when the district came and painted her house. She said the feeling there was outstanding. Well as a district we went and sang Christmas carols to her and she started to cry! Then at church she Gave us a note saying thanks for all that we have done for her. She said that she hasn't felt the feeling that strong since the missionaries painted her house. and she said that it was perfect and she couldn't express how much joy we brought her. It was a great week for us!

I will be calling 3:30 our time so 2:30 Utah time. talk to you then :)

Elder Winterbottom & Elder Hassinger

Serving in Flower Mound

The Lord's Vineyard

December 15, 2014

Sorry this Email is going to short but I hope the pictures made up for them. since Elder Vaoga is going home he does have much to say so our time is short this week.

The baptism didn't happen which is a downer but we will baptize them after the holidays. We haven't been able to meet with them in over a week cause their schedule have been so busy. We still talk to the at least three times a week to see how they are doing.

We did a early Christmas with one of the Families in the ward since Elder Vaoga is leaving and that was so fun. Last preparation day we bought all kinds of stuff for them and we had no idea they were going to get us stuff. we then had a huge Christmas which was a lot of fun.

I am also staying in Flower Mound but I cant remember who I'm getting so I will let you know next week haha sorry about that one.

Elder Vaoga wants to leave so my time is done. Talk to you next week.

Elder Winterbottom & Elder Vaoga

Serving In Flower Mound

The Lord's Vineyard

 

Since Elder Vaoga is leaving before Christmas. One of our favorite families through a early Christmas with us. All of the things they gave us were hand made. these are some of the Gifts

 Gifts for them...

Josh's good friend Elder Weston Leatherow sent a package to Josh from his mission in El Salvador!

I was able to see Elder Brown this week! he is training! That means I have a Grandson

Family picture

 

December 8, 2014

    This week was really tough for me. We started off the week looking forward to the 13th and going to work really hard to get the investigators ready for their baptisms. We were going to use all our efforts to achieve this. We had scheduled exactly with them when we were going to meet with them and what lesson we were going to teach. But opposition kicked in and thought it needed to go another way. All the lessons we had planned had to be canceled due to them not being there, sickness and many other things and we weren't able to meet with any of them at all this week. So we had to cancel their interviews.... At one point during the week I broke down and felt like I couldn't down anything. These people were so close to changing their lives and I know how much following Christ can help them and bless. I truly wanted the best for them because I love each and everyone of them but I didn't know how to help them achieve their goal due to so many trials. The only person that is ready to be interviewed is Jess because she has already taken all the lessons with her daughter that was baptized. We have scheduled her interview today and that will be the deciding factor if she is baptized this Saturday. We will be resetting baptism dates this week. There are a lot other things that made this week tough for me but their is no need to share. But there was one thing that really helped me through my week and it came from my brother, my best friend, someone serving in El Salvador, Elder Leatherow. Elder Leatherow wont know how much good he has done for this week and the things he said really helped me keep pushing my way though this week. His letter was simple but it was exactly what I needed. He was an answer to my prayers and a cry for help. And I will always be grateful for him. The Mormon message "You never know" was Elder Leatherow for me this week. And I also know that the Refiners Fire is real. The greater our sorrow is the greater our capacity to feel joy.

    But on a positive note Jess could still be baptized this Saturday because she has already taken all the lessons with her daughter that was baptized. We have scheduled her interview today and that will be the deciding factor if she is baptized this Saturday. We will be resetting baptism dates this week. We also started to do caroling as a district this week and that was a lot of fun. being able to bring the Christmas spirit to people and see the joy it brings them is so great!

    I know that our Father in Heaven Loves each and everyone of us. He hears our prayers and will answer them when it will benefit you the most. Christ is always there for you and this week he was right beside me. I know Christ's atonement is really and everyone can accesses it at any time. It is there when you need comfort and joy. I know that this Gospel is true and that it is the key to happiness. I each and everyone of y'all and God does too. 

Elder Winterbottom & Elder Vaoga

Serving In Flower Mound

The Lord's Vineyard

December 1, 2014

 

Sorry not thanksgiving pictures but this is what we did this week. We could be gangsters ;)

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

  Since this past week was thanksgiving I have had the opportunity to look back and ponder the things I am grateful for in my life and I wanted to start off this letter by giving thanks to everyone who has ever been in my life! I would not be the person I am today without all Y'all. I am every thankful for my family and the example they have set for me and also my ward family. I love y'all very much!! Thank you for everything you do for my family. I am also grateful for a loving Heavenly Father, who provided a way to live with him again and that is through our Savior Jesus Christ. I am grateful for Christ and the example he has set for me. I am also grateful for this Gospel and the knowledge and comfort give each one of us. I know this is where I'm suppose to be and I know this is the Lord's work. I know God loves us!!! Psalms 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

  This was the best Holiday I've been on my whole mission! This ward know how to keep the missionaries busy on holidays. The ward got together and made pies for us to take to our investigators and some of the members that we are working with. Most people push you away during Holidays but we were able to teach six lessons on thanksgiving day. We were busy for more then four hours that day. Then we did weekly planning and then had dinner with a member named Hardman.

  I have talked a lot about a German lady in my past Emails and we have great new, she now has a baptism date!! (Jess) is going to be baptized with her friend on December 13th!! When we went over to teach (Kristy) we talked about her baptism and then she said its not only my baptism. And that caught us off guide and said what do you mean and that's when Jess said we are going to get baptized together. We were shocked but Jess figured out her situation and now we are able to baptized her has well! We are so excited and the Lord has really been blessing us!!  We have a total of three baptism dates for the 13th now! It is going to be a challenge to get all of them ready for that day but it is possible.

  Thank you for all the prayers! God speed!

Elder Winterbottom & Elder Vaoga

Serving in Flower Mound

The Lord's Vineyard