November 25, 2014

I apologize for not emailing on Monday, but we had a pretty eventful day. So the past week Elder Vaoga got bit by a bug or spider on his knee. At first he said it just itched and then got bigger and bigger, was red and it hurt to walk and bend it. This was about two days after he first noticed it. So we started to ask some members at church on Sunday what it could be. We also called sister Ames who called the mission doctor. He gave Elder Vaoga some advice what to do and if it didn't get better to go and see the doctor. We it didn't get better and we went into a clinic to check it out. Turns out that it is a bit but its not a brown recluse bit. they gave him two antidote shots and gave him medicine. Turns out he is also allergic to his meds haha its been a hard week for him. So that is why we weren't able to email yesterday.

But on a good note the week was great for us. We set to baptism date!!!! We set them with (Kristy) and with the guy that the sisters referred us to. His name is (Danny). Both of them are set for the 13th of December. That is the last Saturday of the transfer and Elder Vaoga wants one more before he leaves. The lesson with Danny was really cool because we got to reteach the Restoration with the sisters. We did that because its a pass off and so we knew how much Danny remembers from when the sisters taught him. At the end of the lesson I felt the prompting to ask him to follow Christ and be baptized. When I got done asking that he said that, that was the most loving thing anyone has done for him. I was in aww because at first I looked as it as an invitation and fulfilling my purpose as a missionary but Danny realized it as a life changer and how much God loves him. With him he has the desire to be baptized but he has to over some the word of wisdom in less then three weeks. We are short on time but he can defiantly do it!!

We also set a day with Kristy. She was a little hesitant at first because she was already baptized but she finally said yes. We have the best relationship with her and she trust us. With her we just need to teach the lessons and make sure she understands. She doesn't have any big things to overcome that we know of. We are so excited for the upcoming month!!

Have a great thanksgiving and have the Best Week Ever!! Love you!!

Elder Winterbottom & Elder Vaoga

Serving in Flower Mound

The Lord's Vineyard 

 

Elder Vaoga's bite!

 

November 17, 2014

 

 

This week has been freezing!!! I have been wearing everything I can possible put on and it is still cold. We even got a little bit of snow and last night. Most of it is already gone but it was cool to see snow again.

This week we had the German lady find a new investigator for us and she is solid! Her name is (Kristy). We got a text from Jessica on Tuesday and she said to come to an apartment number that wasn't hers. we were so confused and lost when we got that text and then has soon as we got there so told us that her friend was interested in listening to our message. We taught (Kristy) the first discussion and invited her to come to church. that Sunday she came and liked it. so we are hoping to set a baptism date with her before the end of this transfer. We are going to be going over on Wednesday and set a baptism date with her for the 13th of December. Keep us in your prayers as we prepare for that great event!! Our best person in our ward for missionary work isn't even a member yet!! We also got a referral from church head quarters for a person named (Ramsey). Well we texted him and he said he wont be home until next week which is a bummer but the cool thing is he was in Utah and talked to some missionaries up there and he is excited to talk to us when he gets back. We also got a referral from one of the sisters in our district and they taught this guy for a couple of weeks and then he moved into our ward so they set up an appointment for us to meet with him. They said that he could be baptized within this transfer as well. We are so excited for the upcoming weeks!!

Elder Winterbottom & Elder Vaoga

Serving In Flower Mound

The Lord's Vineyard

November 10, 2014

The Lewisville Zone

 

Today we got a call for transfers and I get the opportunity to kill off (be his last companion before he goes home) Elder Vaoga. So I Have five more weeks with Elder Vaoga.  

 

This week we had answer two prayers that a member and one of our investigators said and it was a great experience to see the joy of the prayers be answered and be apart of it. The first one starts with an exchange I had with elder Gregory our Zone leader. We had about twenty minutes left of the night left before we need to go in for the night. On this exchange he  had been trying to work on trying to support members with their commitment we leave them. One of the ways he has been doing that was leaving notes with them. I thought this was a cool way to show how much we love the members and how much they help us out. Well I then took this into my area and used it with two of our members.  One Friday we had planned to do a finding activity but both Elder Vaoga and I had an impression that we needed to go and chalk the Spear family's sidewalk. So we followed the prompting and it was exactly what they needed. Sister Spear texted us about 2 hours after we finished and she said, "that morning she said a pray that she would be able to see the blessings and the love that our Father in Heaven has for her and she would be encouraged to keep pushing through what she is going through." When then meet with the family on Sunday, she started to cry because we were the answer to her prayer and that we are truly called of God. What an amazing blessing I have to be God's tool in this work!

The next experience was with (Marcie). When we were planning on teaching her we planned to talk about Alma 32:26-43. Well, when we got there (Jake) asked a question about the spirit world. So we over came that concern with scriptures in the Bible and The Book of Mormon. He still wasn't sure if that was what he believes but he were able to take that concern and tie it into what we had planned. We left with them the commitment to pray if that is true and how this would effect them if this was true. Skip to Sunday, (Marcie) came to church and told us that was exactly what they needed. They haven't prayed yet but she said she felt the spirit and love they preparation we put into lessons for them. I think they are afraid to find out if this is true because it would mean they would have to change and they are  comfortable where they are.

I love being able to see the effects of God working through us to do his work. The Mormon message, You Never Know, has really touched my heart this week because normally we don't see the good we do and sometimes we will never know what we do will effect others and President Gordon B. Hinckley puts it perfectly. I pray that I will continue to be the answer to prayers.

 

Elder Winterbottom & Elder Vaoga

Serving in Flower Mound

The Lord's Vineyard

 

P.S. forgive me because I have been out of school too long and I don't know how to spell "forget". The way I spelled it is the gangster in me ;)

 

November 3, 2014

As a missionary you are constantly praying and reading scriptures and its a great thing but your tend to get into habits and this start to become repetitious. This week I have fell into that and started to do things half heartedly but I didn't realize this unto Halloween night when I was able to reflect on the mission as a whole.  Elder Vaoga and I got into a deep talk that consisted of what we have learned so far, what is the hardest thing has been for us, and talked about how we are going to apply this so that we can become the best Joshua that I can be. Being an Elder is great but it will come to an end whether I like it or not. But being Joshua will be forever. And that made me realize that if I want to be the best Joshua that I need to be doing this with 100% of heart, whether it is spiritually or temporally. Throughout this wonderful experience that has made me realize the potential I have and what I can become, I have relied on the Lord always but sometimes it has been greater then others. And that reflection made me realize that I have been in a slump with being full purpose of heart. I have felt several time throughout this week the impression to pray randomly and I have shrugged them off because they were random and I had no Idea why I needed to. But I now know why those impressions came to mind. I was not in full purpose of heart  with my Father in Heaven and my Savior. These experiences have compelled me to be humble and our Elder corm lesson was on one of the scriptures that every missionary knows, Moroni 10:3-5,. He talked about the real intent part a lot and then the letter our mission president sent a letter to us that talked about that this week as well. I think I get the point that my Father in Heaven is trying to get me to realize. I have also come to realize the importance of goal setting and the goals I have set this week all revolves around full purpose of heart and real intent.

I love the many opportunities that you are able to see your Father in Heaven prompt you to do things and then if doesn't work He will put things in your way to make you learn. I know that Our farther in Heaven is the true Gardener and this is His work and purpose. I know that He loves us so very much and wants us to grow and become like him. And I know that Christ is our Savoir and Advocate. I know that the Spirit is a great gift for all of us and the blessing that come from having him with us incredible.

 

Elder Winterbottom and Elder Vaoga

Serving in Flower Mound 

The Lord's Vineyard

Hakka Practice!

I am showing my support of the San Fran winning the world series!! On Halloween we were able to leave our place after 6. So we didn't get to go outside the rest of the night so we did this instead and planned.

October 27, 2014

The week was sick!

The stake here doesn't do very many holiday stuff so one of the members in the ward decided to throw a Halloween party at her house. The whole week we would go over for about an hour/ hour in a half and set up for the party. We made a dance floor, all the decorations, and hung the lights. it was so much fun! I wish I would have got to take pictures of everyone who dressed up. The adults know how to dress up for Halloween!! Elder Vaoga also had his very first smore. Now he is hooked and wants them all the time now! I'm glad I could be apart of his first haha it was so funny to watch him try and make it. 

 

 

We also had a baptism for (Cali.) this is an eight year old girl of the German lady we are teaching. We were so excited for her! We had a joined baptism with a child of record so we didn't have to do anything for the program. I was also very impressed with Cali because she would answer all the questions and I mean all the questions the people would ask during the talks at the baptism. She would answer So of her answers were crazy and very funny but true for the most part haha The mom wasn't able to be baptized due to so issues with a commandment but it will be resolved in the near future :) but Cali is going to be a huge example and light for her family. We hope this motivates her mom to get baptized very soon!

 

We have been blessed to look back at the progress this area as made since I've been here and Elder Vaoga. The Baptism was able to have us reflect on what we have done and the faith, hope, and charity we have put into this area. We were talking about how much the members love us and how we have gained their trust. We get comments all the time that they are thankful for us and the hard work we do in trying to get the ward motivated in hastening the work of salvation. We are always trying to find new people to teach and the lessons we have are great! The next person we think that will be ready is a lady named (Marcie) the thing holding her back is her culture. she feels that if she were to become a Mormon that her ancestors in the IRA would disapprove of her. So we are going to have an honest conversation about the difference between culture and religion. Elder Vaoga is going to be doing a lot of that because of his culture back ground. We are going to try and tell her that her salvation is between her and the Lord not her and her family. We hope it will all work out well and keep us in your prayers.

 

Elder Winterbottom & Elder Vaoga

Serving in Flower Mound

The Lord's Vineyard

I'm getting pro at making cake!

October 20, 2014

I'm doing great and always happy the mission is great and I could ask for a better place to be. I wouldn't ever worry about the tornado warnings. I have never heard the sirens go off for a tornado. they have gone off for test but that's it. I think the people out side of Texas are more worried about tornados then the people in Texas.  Elder Vaoga and I are getting along great and he is going to teach me the Hakka. We are really moving the work forward here. When I first got to the area we had no progressing investigators and the past 3 week we have doubled our teaching pool and the members are starting to get involved with missionary work. Its a slow process  but its progress. we had a stake conference the following week after general conference and the stake has asked that the members set a date that they will invite someone into their home to take the missionary discussions. we as missionaries are going into the homes and now following up with the invitation the stake president has given everyone.  We are still good with one of the baptism dates (the little girl) but the mom will not be able to be baptized due to some things but she is excited for her little girl. We are supper excited for this Saturday!

 

This week we had Elder Cardon came and talk with us. He explained the Abrahamic covenant and how we as missionaries are fulfilling the convent that God made with him. Its was a crazy scripture chase and a mind blowing experience. He also talked to us about inviting/telling the person who presides to say the closing pray of our first visits. He role played on how it should go and not even allowing them to get out of not saying the pray. he talked to us on the importance of this one moment and what it can do for their family. then at the end he got up, looked at us, pointed and said, "DONT EVER say, Who would you like to give the prayer. They are going to say the prayer." It was a crazy and bold experience. I was also able to finish President Ames challenge of reading the book of Mormon in 67 days. A spiritual moment that president Ames pointed out is that we read the Book of Mormon in the same about of time it took Joseph Smith to translate the golden plates. I have finished the Book three times since I've been out and Two of the books I need to send home to Parker and Landen. I will probably do that for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

 

Sorry this one is kind of short. Sorry I haven't really sent any pictures home. I have taken more videos with Elder Vaoga then pictures and the videos are to big to send through email.  

 

Love,

Elder Winterbottom

October 13, 2014

This week was Amazing.

We didn't really teach much this week which is a bumber but  overall was amazing. We had a zone council and we talked about what goals we should set for the upcoming month and revaluate this months goal. I was able to have a great spiritual experience during this goal setting. We talked about how when the first presidency and the quorum of the twelve Apostles come together and decide what to do they discuss and then the spirit will confirm to them that their decision is correct. And while we were talking we were thinking of a goal of two or three for the rest of this month. The marotiy of the Elders and Sisters wanted three and myself and three others want to set a goal of two. Has we started to talk people started to change their minds and I was the only one left that felt like we should shoot for two. I shared my view and then started to talk again I got an Impression and this is exactly what it was, "Show your faith in this goal setting. Let your faith be the deciding factor and you and Elder Vaoga will be the one of the missionaries that achieve three for your zone baptism goal. Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it Malachi 3:10 (I know this talks about tithing about this sentence applies to this) and then the scripture came to mind where Alma talks about faith being like a seed and experiment on it and your faith will grow. When I had this thought I got the greatest feeling and the Zone leaders saw my facial expressions change and they said they could feel the feeling in the whole room change. I now know why we council and I have a testimony that they work!

 

After the zone council Elder Vaoga and I talked about who we could commit to a baptism date. We both thought of a little girl and her mother that we are teaching. But we were going to commit them to sometime the end of next month. We looked at what we still have left to teach and how they are progressing and then we got the impression just to ask the to be baptized this month. So we went over and asked them to be baptized and they said yes and would like to be baptized on the 25th of this month. That date was the exacted date we were thinking of setting with them. The Spirit is amazing!! I love feeling the prompting of the spirit and acting on them. This is truly the Lords work and He will move it forward. Our Job is to realize and follow the promptings we receive. This experience made me realize that the goal we set at zone council was of god and we will achieve it if we show forth our faith. We have been praying as a whole zone praying for the investigators by name that we are teaching within the zone and every single missionary by name. The Power of prayer is real and if we ask we will receive in God's time.

 

We also had a zone conference with president Ames and It was kind of a bonus conference because we have Elder Cardon coming this week. So at the Zone conference we were able to watch Meet the Mormons. Its is so good!! I recommend it to everyone that hasn't watched it yet and If you do go take someone who isn't of our faith. Its is funny and very uplifting and the spirit is there.

 

Elder Vaoga and I are getting along great and we are really gaining the trust of this ward and holding them accountable for their missionary efforts. we have had plenty of comments this week that the members have made saying they are grateful for our follow ups. It really is my pleasure to sever in this ward. I can feel that the work is going to hasten very quickly here. The members have told me that they are grateful with working with Elder Harris-Coons and bringing back him in line and starting to move the work forward again. When I heard that I had so much joy. I thought I was just going through the motions and trying to keep him focused was so hard. I am so humble to hear that from the members because it was hard and to see that they recognized my efforts go unseen. I so grateful to sever in this ward!! 

 

Elder Winterbottom & Vaoga

Serving in Flower Mound

The Lord's Vineyard