May 4, 2015

My thought for today I feel Impressed to tell you on how the last 30 minutes of our DLC went. It was a uplifting experiencing for me because overall the meeting was good but really took a turn the last 30 minutes and we talked about a topic that wasn't apart of MLC. We talked about the atonement and repentance for ourselves. We don't feel like the mission is as happy as it use to be and I think its because as a whole we haven't felt the power of the atonement. I feel like the mission doesn't see the need to. I know  we aren't disobedient but we don't see a need to change or want to change. When I was with Elder Argyle We talked about this a lot and i mean a lot. We both wanted to be the best but not change. I now realize that can't be the best without changing. Using the atonement. When I left the meeting I felt like that was the best thing that could have happened for me and the district leaders. The talk about changing and using the atonement is what we need because I now want to be better. 

Sorry for being short

Elder Winterbottom & Elder Mansaray

Serving in Arlington

The Lord's Vineyard

April 27, 2015

Its Always a Great week when you can bring one of God's children unto him. The Baptism for Madilyn went well and had lots of support from the ward. This was an over aged child baptism and the ward absolutely loves the family. The mother and father wants their kids to chose for themselves with they feel like they are ready and Madilyn finally feels like she was ready. Going through the lessons were super easy because she knew a lot of the stuff because she grew up in the church. We were really there just to be a guide and helped teach the lessons. But this family has gone through its hard times. Right before Madilyn decided to be baptized her mother pasted away giving birth... And she bore her testimony at church and said that she knows her father in Heaven is pleased with her and that her mother was as well and that she could feel her mom's spirit telling her good job! When she said this a lot of the ward started to cry. Everyone love this family and support for them is tremendous. But I know that God is happy with her and her Mom was apart of her baptism. I could feel the love there and so could everyone else who attended. Its amazing how much thought God put into this plan for us and it is amazing to know that family life doesn't end at death. But if faithful continues on for eternity. What a blessing that is.

April 20, 2015

 

Our baptism on the 11th

I forgot to report on when we went to the Texas community collage and taught at the world religions class. It went great! There was about 40 students in the class and was a little bit intimidating. We taught/preached about the restoration and how it effects all of us today. Then after that opened up to the Q&A session. That is when it got fun. I didn't know what kind of questions we were going to be asked and that's what really made me nerves. But has they started to ask I realized that they were simple little question and weren't really doctrinal stuff. The students were probably in the class because they had to take it or thought it was going to be an easy class. The teacher asked a couple of questions to try and get the students to ask deeper questions but it didn't go anywhere. It was a really good experience though and hopeful when in the future they will talk to missionaries. 

The President Robbins training was great and what I needed. I feel like that's what the mission and this Zone needs. We need to give them opportunity to act for themselves and need to see that they are responsible on what ever the outcome may be. He told a story of two workers that were costing the a company millions of dollars from their shipping and packaging mistakes. President Robbins Came in and gave them an insensitive. For everything they packaged and shipped was 1 dollar (which  would be about 250 copies every job) but they would get 200 dollar bonus for making no mistakes, but if they made one mistake they would lose 100 dollars from their bonus and if they made another they would lose the bonus completely. The workers then started to complain about some of the mistake they can control like Shipping time, improper packing through another company and so forth. He then said It is 100% your responsibility and 100% your control. They then started to work more diligently to make sure that mistake doesn't happen. He then said that company hasn't had mistake since. It was a great story and helped me see that if we work diligently and we will be in control and have 100% responsibility. The only problem I am facing is what is going to make the mission be motivated to the like the story he told about the two workers and the pay they can earn. I thought that was great. The mission i feel like isn't responsible because they don't see the outcome of things good or bad. They don't feel the responsibility and the control because they aren't accountable. Take for instance a job. People do good on the jobs because they want a raise or promotion and if they fail they get fired. You cant be fired as a missionary and therefore they don't see the consequences. During that training I Feel the importance of what we fought for in the pre-existence and because that we have 100% of our agency and because of that we are 100% responsible for our actions. It was great! He then asked us why do we want 100% of agency but not 100% responsibility? 

Elder Winterbottom & Elder Mansaray 

Serving In Arlington

The Lord's Vineyard

The Tour of the Cowboy Stadium.

Bonus for you mom. Saw this on a random street in a neighborhood 

 

Saw Elder McAninch at President Robbins training!

April 13, 2015

   I was able to go on an exchange this week with Elder Price in his area. Going into the exchange we talked about the things that we wanted to work on and since we had been focusing on the mission culture and how we could use that in our everyday teaching. So he wanted to work on one of the foundation of who we are as missionaries, which would be find and teach by the spirit. I also wanted to work on the mission culture and I decided to work on the pillars.  We talked a lot about what the mission culture can do for us personally, his district, the zone, and the mission as a whole. Throughout the exchange we saw amazing miracles happen just applying what we had been taught.

    We taught a total of three other lesson, three member present lessons, set two baptism dates, and placed a copy of the book of Mormon. That was the happiest I have seen Elder Price and he made the comment, "I wish I could have days like this all the time." I then asked him why can't we. He thought about it and it came down to if we use the mission culture with faith that the Lord will help us if and we put forth the effort, we can have days like this everyday. Now he and I want to use the culture all the time now and we have rediscovered the mission culture! I can say that was one of my best exchanges I have been on!! 

   We also had a baptism this week for Shailya. It was kind of a low key baptism because it was a over aged child baptism.  It has been a blessing to work with that family! The dad was also able exercise his Priesthood and he has been able to for a while. They are great and what it is great is that they are already looking forward to the temple. Real conversion to true repentance and baptisms that lead to the temple.  The Lord's work moves forward with the tools that we have been given.  It is a blessing to be apart of this work! 

We Also have a baptism set for April 22nd and May 30th. It  great to be in an area that has been taken such good care of. Our area is suppose to a a model of missionary work, and this area has been for a long time. I a grateful for all the previous missionaries in the efforts that they have done for this area. It makes all the difference in the world when the Lord can trust all the missionaries within that area.

Elder Winterbottom & Elder Mansaray 

Serving in Arlington

The Lord's Vineyard 

April 6, 2015

It was a hard week for me because I miss teaching. I feel like my time is taken over by meetings, meetings, and more meetings. I like them and all but I wish I really could go out and teach! That's where I find the most joy. This week we had meetings on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. So the only days I really got to go out were Tuesday. Thursday is taken up by planning and Monday is preparation day. I

I was able to go on an exchange with the AP's this week and they are always busy with teaching, doing things to prepare for upcoming meeting, stuff around the mission office and small little arr ens they have to run. But the thing I learned from them is to think outside the box. We had an appointment drop because she couldn't get off work and her boss wouldn't let her go and she felt bad. well, I had this idea to go and see her at her work but I didn't think we was going to agree with me. And he did so we went to her her work and pretended to act like a customer and we got to see her and talk to her. She was happy and didn't see it coming! It was a good surprise for her. Little things like that is what people will remember for the rest of their life.

I'm super sorry that this week sucked but there really isn't much to say and talk about because of all the meetings.

Elder Winterbottom & Elder Mansaray

Serving in Arlington

The Lord's Vineyard

April 2, 2015

The reason I didn't email on Monday was because something with mine and Elder Mansaray's email was wrong and wouldn't let us log in. By the way. Mansaray and I are getting along great! We both work really well and are on the same page as we teach. Its great and I'm thankful that we are. I know I'm going to be with great missionaries as long as I'm in this position. He is from Virgina. he has been out a little over a year.

The past week I have had a lot of time to think about the Easter season. It has hit me pretty hard this past week of what the Savior has done for me. Just being able to read what he did leading up to His resurrection is amazing and I'm grateful for all that he has done for me! The last week of Jesus Christ’s life changed the world forever. The Easter week on lds.org is great and I encourage you to check it out and search the scriptures that happened during the Easter Week. Each day can help us better understand His miraculous mission. This week was for Me, you and all of us. #becausehelives 
This week I was able to be on an exchange with Elder Brinkerhoff. When we called a week in advance he said he wants to get better at his contacting and tracting and my goal was to see how far I could push invitations so I could find the balance of invitations. So with our goals we I had planned for us to visit a lot of potentials and knock on door around their area. At first things we super rough and nothing was going as planned. I was getting frustrated and it was hard not to show it. But Elder Brinkerhoff had a good attitude and showed me to have fun when facing opposition in all things. In the morning it was rough and things weren't working out but in the after noon things got better and blessing and miracles started to happen. While we were knocking on one street we placed three copies of the Book of Mormon, and one of those copies we placed we were able to teach a little bit of the restoration. The guys name was David and when he first answered the door he said that he didn't have any time because he was going to a doctors appointment. We asked if there would be a time that we would be able to come back and share with him the Book of Mormon and the blessing that come. When we motioned that he said he has had great examples in his life that Mormon. I then asked him how they effected his life and he went off about how they are great people and so forth. At that point he allowed us to share with him why we think we are good people and why we are happy and I shared with him Mosiah 2:41. Then he said I love Mormons and all that they do but I don't think its for me. Then said a prayer with him and he started to cry. I know he felt the spirit and it effected him! That was a miracle!
Throughout the day we taught a total of 3 lesson just by knocking on doors and placed five copies of the Book of Mormon passed out 17 because he lives cards and got 4 return dates.
The biggest Miracle of the exchange was when we knocked into this lady named Holly. When we first saw her she told us about her concerns in her life that she has. She doesn't feel like God truly cares for her and that she has made mistakes in the past and feels that she cant be forgiven. I talked about how Christ came to this Earth for us and that this Easter season is for us. Then talked about two stories where Christ forgives, the Women caught in adultery and the forgiving the sin and healing the man with palsy. we bore testimony and the spirit was strong. We then asked if we could say a prayer with her and after she was crying and asked if we could come back the next day. So we set up that time and then left.
I believe that we faced opposition in the morning so that we could experience and know how blessed we were thought the rest of the day! I know that this is God's work and I know that the spirit is with us and that people will see us has disciples of Jesus Christ!
Before the exchange I was praying that we would be able to see miracles on our exchange and we did! In total we counted 27 miracles and blessing that happened that day!

Elder Winterbottom & Elder Mansaray

Serving in Arlington

The Lord's Vineyard

March 23, 2015

This is my talk from last week. Sorry it took until this week to get it to you. I have only done bulletin points so you will have to go by the spirit to get the full thing ;) 

The first day I was in this area we had dinner with the Gonzales family and they were studying the topic of one and being unified and I was intrigued by it so I studied it a bit. now I have to give a talk about it. I guess this is was happens when you make that know to Heavenly Father. But I still think Brother Gonzales should be standing next to me give a talk as well.

The Godhead is the perfect example of being one and being unified.

-examples: the first article of faith, accounts from the apostles, the nephites, and Joseph Smith all state that they are separate being.

- each play a distinct role 

- purpose is to have eternal life

-making them one in doctrine and purpose  

- perfectly unified in our farther in heavens plan

Think about this:

If our Father in Heavens plan is for us to have eternal life (Moses 1:39) How do we become one with that purpose? 

- I feel like the answer is found in D&C 11:20 

    * our work or our purpose is to keep his commandments.

I would like to expound on that with a modern day parable by Elder Randall L. Ridd  called the parable of the oranges. Here is the Link for it.

https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/worldwide-devotionals/2015/01/living-with-purpose-the-importance-of-real-intent?lang=eng

Now lets talk about the two? Both did what is boss had asked him to do. You could say that both keep his commandments. 

Its pretty obvious one went above and beyond. I would like to refer back to the scripture in D&C 11:20. It's not just keeping commandments, it's doing them with all your heart might mind and strength. this is how we become unified  and one with God. 

How can we be one with others around us?                                                                                        I like the scripture in Matthew 11:28-30                                                                                              - the yoke is a tool to help others become one and I feel that if we look for opportunities to serve others that is how we become one with others around us.                                                                 Be like Christ and lift others burdens around us

I feel like the yoke could be tied into husband and wife, mothers and fathers as well.                   Genesis 2:24                                                                                                                                      -Adam and Eve were one flesh because they were equally yoked. 

What does that yoke represent?                                                                                                        -I feel that the answer is found in this principle (D&C 25:13)                                                           - Covenants are key. How we honor them make keep them make us yoked.                                      

Bare testimony and end. 

The thing That I experienced this week was very cool and inspiring. I really never cared about until now is goal setting. I understood the importance of it but it really was never apart that I really worried about. Now with goals with the zone is very important because I truly feel accountable for them now. They are a huge motivation for me now. I know the goal we set as a zone can truly come true because we have names behind them. I now know how you feel with achieving 854 baptism this year and I feel like we can exceed that. We have talked a lot about what happens the first week of zone council and we see miracles happen because everyone is motivated, has the faith, and will go out and work for it. Then what... I don't know if we just stop seeing the vision or the diligence level falls but then the work slows up. Elder Mansaray and I were trying to figure out this week of how we can keep the motivation going even after zone conference so that we can exceed out April goal of 12. We have names and are going to hold people accountable. The goal will be remain always but our plan will change has the month moves on. 
I'm excited to be apart of this zone and to be apart of the 854 baptism. I am on board with it and I know we can do it if we have faith and hope that we can do it. It will also take effort in achieving it and seeing the vision and planting the flag and obtaining it.
Hurrah for Israel! 

Elder Winterbottom & Elder Mansaray                                                                                              Serving In Arlington     

Service on st. Patrick's day @ the Homeless shelter 

The Water Gardens. This Place is sweet it has different areas that you can go to. The quite pool, the mountain, active pool 

pics at the quite pool

Zone Picture

                                                                                                                     The Lord's Vineyard