December 2012 Preaching Fourth

Elder Rob Calcote

Uganda, Kampala 5-2013

Elder Rob Calcote said "We had 11 people show up to the Sacrament meeting, Elder Seabolt Presided over the meeting and I conducted, Translated, blessed the Sacrament, and spoke in church... It was crazy. Usually I feel like I'm helping out in church, but yesterday, I felt like without me, there would have been no church. It felt cool to be there and be willing to give my ALL so that those people could feel of the spirit. It helped me understand a little more about service. Elder Lee and I have been tracting and contacting like crazy to find somebody serious and we found a family, almost a carbon copy of the one we previously baptized, and they accepted a baptismal date yesterday too! This work is really fun lately"

Elder Matthew Willardson

Guatemala City South Mission 8-31-2013

The big news for Elder Willardson is that he has been transferred back to Guatemala City.  After serving for six months in Zacapa, a rural area, Matt is back in the hustle and bustle of the city again.  His new area is in Zona 11 de Mixco in an area called Lo de Fuentes.  As the photo shows, it is a very hilly area.  Matt and his new companion, Elder Urmston, climb that hill every day as they head out to work in their area and then return to their apartment each evening.  He tells us the daily climb “is really not that fun!”  Elder Urmston, who hails from Bakersfield, California, is Matt’s second “gringo” companion.  For most of his mission, Matt has served with companions who are from Central America.  His Spanish is pretty decent by now.  Elder Willardson was recently asked to serve as a zone leader in his new area.   

 

Elder Willardson and Elder Urmston have been pleased with the enthusiasm of the local members, who are very friendly and willing to help with missionary work.  Members have helped to bring investigators to Sunday meetings and they are also participating in a special fast to help two young investigators who are seeking permission from their father to be baptized.  As Matt explains, “We have a ton of people who are going to fast with us on Sunday so we are going to do our best and leave the rest up to the Lord!”

 

Matt’s mission president recently emailed the elders and sisters in their mission and gave them counsel regarding the recent announcement by President Monson, lowering the age requirement for missionary service.  President Stay said the Lord wants to accelerate his work and the number of full time missionaries in the world will jump from 55,000 to 100,000 in the coming months and years!  President Stay counseled the missionaries to feel urgency in doing the Lord’s work.    Matt and his fellow missionaries are realizing that there will be many changes in the world in coming years as the work goes forward. As he observed recently, “There is already a load of wickedness in the world, and now that the Lord is trying to speed up His work even more rapidly, it makes me think about what is going to be happening in the coming years. But if we have faith in Christ and follow His gospel, we will know what to do and everything will be o.k.”

 

Elder Adam Martin

Brazil São Paulo Interlagos Mission 3- 2014

 

Elder Adam Martin continues to enjoy teaching the gospel in Portuguese to the people in São Marcos,Brazil.  He reports: "My new Comp is Elder Amorim from Brasília, Brasil. He has 5 months on the mission and he is great. Together we will baptise everybody. He comes from a part member family. His Dad is Catholic. He, his mom, and 2 of his siblings are members. I am really excited to work with him".  The weather continues to be a challenge to missionary work in Brazil.  Elder Martin recently

wrote: "I, like you guys, am having warm weather. This is in part because It is summer here. It rained a lot this last week. São Paulo flooded.I was out in an unexpected rainstorm, without an umbrella, when very heavy rains poured down. I remembered that our windows in our house were still open. My companion and I ran our entire area of [about] 3 miles to reach our house. With the very hilly terrain that is my area, I was very much exhausted. . . . There were a couple of things in our house that got soaked, including me and my comp. I was soaked as if I jumped into a pool [in] my missionary clothes." Elder Martin is discovering that other cultures don't celebrate all our traditional Holidays.  He says, "We don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Brasil. I forgot all about truthfully. [This was the] first Thanksgiving I have skipped in my life. It felt kind of wierd hearing that it already passed by."  His mission is really flying by for Elder Martin and his family We can't believe it has been almost eight months since Adam left to serve as a missionary.  We are looking forward to speaking with him at Christmas time.

October Edition of Preaching 4th

Elder Rob Calcote
Uganda, Kampala
5-2013

Elder Rob Calcote was transferred from Ethiopia to Uganda several weeks ago. And then transferred back to Ethiopia this last week. He writes:

I guess I can start by saying this: this is really “the mission of missions.” as they say! These people are so humble and ready to hear the Gospel and apply it in their lives. I really understand what the Book of Mormon talks about when it talks about having a broken heart and a contrite spirit, or when it also talks about hardening our hearts and not hearing the word of God. It’s all about pride. These people in Uganda hear a knock on their door, answer, let you in, here your message, apply it in their lives, and actually are blessed for it! In 20 years this country WILL have a temple! I promise you that right now.

Here in Kampala I’ve already met a few Ethiopians, it’s been so cool to be able to talk to them in Amharic and impress them. I’m surprising myself a little bit with how far I’ve come! It’s interesting how I can communicate faster in Amharic than English. Ugandans talk SOOOO slow! Whereas Ethiopians speak in Amharic 10x faster than everybody else!

Now is the time for the Lords work in Ethiopia, I am very excited to go out daily and find Families that are prepared for the Gospel. I feel like I have had a 180 degree attitude change by going to Uganda. and although I'm getting a lot of criticism from many of the missionaries up here in Ethiopia, I'm excited to prove them all wrong and show them that we Can have AMAZING success here in Ethiopia!

Elder Matthew Willardson
Guatemala City South Mission
8-31-2013

Elder Matt Willardson recently reached an important milestone in his mission. In September, he marked the one-year anniversary of his arrival in Guatemala! He has never been busier. As he said in a recent letter, “I want to stay out here (in Zacapa) because this has been the busiest and most satisfactory time of my whole mission so far.” For Matt and his companion, Elder Guaman, their busy routine consists of things like teaching lessons in investigator’s homes as well as at church, viewing conference videos with investigators and helping them feel the testimony of church leaders, and giving priesthood blessings. The elders are also providing service by helping younger investigators study their school work, teaching guitar lessons and even giving English, art and drawing lessons. In some situations, the elders are even called on to give marriage and family counseling! For Elder Willardson, there is great joy in seeing how the Spirit works to change people’s hearts and to help them change destructive habits. As he said of one family, “It has really been neat seeing the changes both the mom and the son have made to live in tune with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Before they knew the gospel, they would shout and yell at one another without caring for each other at all. But now, things have really changed because of their assistance at church and putting in practice what they have learned in their home. The mom, Rosa, told us that she has noted a huge change in her son’s behavior and that she herself is now a happier person. She has had a really difficult life, but now she is starting to look at all of her challenges as opportunities to change and become a better person. She is preparing to be baptized on Saturday if all goes well!” In addition to teaching and proselyting, Elder Willardson is now serving as a district leader with the added responsibilities of conducting baptismal interviews and going on splits with the other missionaries in his district. Elder Willardson was excited to hear President Monson’s recent announcement about the change in age requirement for missionary service. He has worked with many 18 year-old elders from Mexico and said “they are just as mature, capable and willing to serve the Lord as any 19 year old gringo!”

Elder Adam Martin
Brazil São Paulo Interlagos Mission
3-2014

Elder Adam Martin is now training a missionary. He is from Conception Chile and speaks Porteñol. (Probably a combination of Spanish and Portuguese). Elder Martin says he understands only about half of what Elder Leon says. Elder Leon was trained his first six weeks by another Elder. Adam is finishing Elder Leon's 12 week training. He is having trouble with baptisms falling through. Many of those who would like to be baptized, first need to get married. This and the Word of Wisdom are problems for many potential converts.

Elder Martin reports: We had a blitz this week in São Marcos (all the missionaries in the zone coming to make contacts and teach quick

lessons) with the result that the numbers for this week were ridiculous (220 contacts, 31other lessons, 22 new investigators, 15 new investigators marked for baptism) It was a really good week. We do blitz every week in every area in Embu zone. We found a lot of people prepared to receive the Gospel.

Elder Martin was really excited over the General Conference. He was very happy to get to watch it in English. He especially was excited about Elder Neil L. Anderson's shout out to the São Paulo Interlagos Mission. Elder Martin also quoted many of the speakers from the conference. His testimony is exploding in growth as he serves His Heavenly Father and Savior full time in Brazil.

August Edition of Preaching Fourth

President & Sister Martin

California San Fernando Mission HOME!

President & Sister Martin June was a very busy month in the mission. We were scrambling to do our final trainings of our missionaries and get the mission (and mission home) prepared for the new President and his family. We went on four different days with our missionaries to the Los Angeles Temple. We took each of the three different valleys on three different days and the departing missionaries on another day. It felt very strange to be part of the group of departing missionaries.

President Martin then divided the mission into two different groups and did the training he usually gives to the departing missionaries.

This we did during the last week of our mission. It was so difficult to say good-by to the missionaries. We had all the senior missionaries, the presidency members and their wives and all the church service missionaries over for a final dinner and social.

President and Sister Hall and three of their four children arrived on June 30th and we turned the mission over to them. We would not trade a minute of our experience leading the wonderful California San Fernando Mission. Our testimonies grew as did our commitment to our Savior Jesus Christ as we strived to help build His kingdom in that part of His vineyard.

Now the former President and Sister Martin are busy touring the country to see all of their family members. We are enjoying spending time with each family. We have been to San Diego where we met up with three children's families and half our grandchildren. We next went to Preston, Idaho where we visited with our only remaining parent, Melba Martin, Jerry's sister Sharan, our sister-in-law Sallie, and various aunts, uncles and cousins. We next went down to Moab, Utah to divide up the personal property of Gemie's recently deceased parents Loren and Genevieve Johnson. While there we were able to see all but one of her siblings along with various nieces, nephews, and two of her aunts. We next came home to Plano. We went down to San Antonio to our son Justin's white coat ceremony marking his start in medical school. We returned to Plano where we finished unpacking our boxes and bags. Now we are out in Georgia visiting Kindra and Neil and their three children. It has been a wonderful reunion with our family. We have more reunions planned for the remainder of the summer. We are grateful to our Heavenly Father who has showered us with so many blessings as we have served.

Elder Kenny Midgley
Ecuador Guayaquil North 8-11-2012

Elder Kenny Midgley If there has been one prevailing theme for Kenny's Mission, it has been Member Missionary Work. The Missionaries and the Members in Ecuador have proven that the best way to share the Gospel and bring people unto Christ is to be yourself and to teach people when they desire to know more.

Elder Kenny's last area in the Mission is Martha Roldos, an upscale suburb of Guayaquil:

"The members are really great out here. Sister Sonia always invites us over to eat whenever she sees us. There are a lot of youth that like to accompany us to make visits.

Miguel Rodriguez is an investigator that we have been teaching for the past three weeks, he has a lot of friends that are members, and he is super enthusiastic about the church and wants to go on a mission even though he is 28 years old. The good news is that Miguel Rodriguez has a strong testimony, is attending all of the activities that he can, and has no fear or shame about letting his friends know about his faith. He is going to be baptized this Wednesday." (see photos of Miguel)

Kenny will return from his Mission on Saturday, August 11, 2012, having served in the following areas in Ecuador:

Sector - Zone
Via Daule - Pascuales
Balzar - South Quevedo
Rio Amazonas - North Duran
Sibimbe - Los Rios
Jipijapa - Daule
Martha de Roldos - Prosperina

He will then head for California on Friday, August 17, to return to USC for his Senior Year. Thanks for all the support from Plano 4th Ward on Kenny's behalf...It takes a Village...

Elder Rob Calcote
Uganda, Kampala 5-2013

Elder Rob Calcote It's been pretty rainy these past few weeks and, speaking honestly, I have been a little depressed cause of it. I don't know if you remember me loving the sunny weather so I could go out and Long board. Maybe it wasn't necessarily the Long boarding, but maybe the sunshine that I always loved. I feel like that attitude has stayed with me this week, Yesterday it was beautiful weather with the sun out, maybe 75 and I just felt good. I always feel great after Sacrament meeting, but it was especially nice yesterday.

Today I cleaned the Front yard, it took like 3 hours. You know dad, I always wondered why you would work so hard throughout the week and then on Saturday, instead of taking a day for yourself, You'd always work on the house, now I know! I love doing house work on P-day. Attached are a few pictures, some are when we were driving through this beautiful back part of Addis Ababa, It reminded me of Oregon. another is of me trying to spin cotton, that was ridiculously hard. this old lady made it look so easy! the last is of the church they're building in Debre Zeit, they finished the painting, it's so beautiful! I secretly hope I get transferred there some day!

Elder Matthew Willardson

Guatemala City South Mission 8-31-2013

Elder Matt Willardsons Matt is currently serving in the small town of Zacapa, which is located near the border of Guatemala and Honduras. The president of Matt’s mission, President Larry Stay, recently sent us a letter to inform us that Matt has been called as a trainer to Elder Guaman, who has only been serving in the mission since early July. Their new assignment in Zacapa presents several challenges. Investigators are happy to listen to the missionaries but many of them are unable to read, which makes it hard for them to study the gospel principles contained in the Book of Mormon. Matt and Elder Guaman, who is from Ecuador, have been given the assignment to re-open the Las Fores area and work to reactivate 500 less active members. Even finding their way to the member’s homes is a challenge. Matt shared an example of a typical set of directions… “Just go down this street until you come to a tienda on the left. From there, count 5 houses down, cross the street and go towards the big antenna. When you come to a crossing, just go that way 3 more houses and that´s where they live." Needless to say, Matt tells us he and his companion are often lost, but things are getting better. They are currently teaching the Familia Roldan, a family of six, who are eager to learn the gospel. They are also teaching several other individuals. The ward members are helpful in bringing their friends and neighbors to church to meet the missionaries. Matt and Elder Guaman are looking forward to the opportunity of going into Guatemala City this week for a temple trip. They live about five hours outside the capital city, so their temple excursion will take up the whole day. Matt celebrated his 20th birthday a couple of weeks ago and the elders also held a gringo party and dinner to celebrate the 4th of July!

Elder Adam Martin

Brazil São Paulo Interlagos Mission 3- 2014

Elder Adam Martin Elder M. Santos [his companion]and I ordered pizza on the 4th [of July] to celabrate our day, and I was talking to the pizza delivery man. He asked me, "How can I do this work?"

I asked "What, Pizza Delivery?"
He said, "No the missionary work that you do."
I said, "Well, you have to take the lessons and be baptized first."
[To which the Pizza delivery man replied], "Yes, I want to change my life."

That´s right, we are teaching the pizza delivery guy.

A week later we hear from Elder Martin again:
The Pizza man is going strong. We have taught the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd lesson as well as Word of Wisdom. He went to church this Sunday. We marked him for the 28th of july. He is really excited. he is 19 years old and wants to serve a mission himself.

In other news, it is official, Elder M. Santos is getting transferred as a zone leader. I will stay in Embu-Guaçu. My new comp will be district leader. I am senior companion of the area. I have finished my training period as a greenie. Elder M. Santos and I had 10 baptisms together. This means that our pool of investigators is a lot shorter now. To divide The Embu Guaçu ward, we need 2 more priesthood holders.

And in his latest email Elder Martin reports:
My new companion is Elder Brito from Salvador, Bahia, Brasil. We are working hard everyday to build our investigator pool. We are working on helping the investigators we have while also trying to find new investigators. Our strategy is to visit all the less active members.

Many of the less actives have members of their families that are not members. We plan on reactivating the less actives and baptize their families.

Elder Martin's family loves hearing from him each week. We can tell his testimony is strong and he is working hard (and eating lots of pizza).

June Edition of Preaching Fourth

President & Sister Martin

California San Fernando Mission 7-2012

President & Sister Martin We have just one month left. No we are not counting down the days and hours. We are scrambling to accomplish the tasks we still need to execute before our service ends. We just finished up our last set of Zone Conferences last week. President Martin is working on the transfer board for the final time. Sister Martin and helpers are working to get the Mission Home ready to turn over to a new family. It is all a bitter-sweet experience. We have 15 missionaries to send home this transfer (June13th). We will welcome our last set (five) of incoming missionaries on that same day. It has been a joy to serve our Heavenly Father and our Savior in this capacity. It has been wonderful to serve with such a great group of missionaries. Our testimonies of our Savior and His work have grown so tremendously. We know this is His Church. We love all the people in this, the California San Fernando area, of His vineyard. That said, we are looking forward to seeing and talking to all our family members and friends whom we have missed associating with over the past three years. We knew this day would come, but did not know it would come this quickly and that we would have such mixed emotions. We have been so very blessed as we have served.

Elder Kenny Midgley

Ecuador Guayaquil North 9-2012

Elder Kenny Midgley

GOODIES FROM HOME: “I got the Easter package that mom sent out, thank you so much, I know the kids will love the warm fuzzies, and I'm stoked about the Jalapeño Cheetos. My comp and I had a blast playing with the sticky hands, we pulled everything off of the desks and made a huge mess.”

WORKING WITH MEMBERS: “Yesterday, I went to church in Pajan and the members gave us lots of references. We tripled our current program out there which is awesome, because we only go there on Saturdays. We also had a family home evening with Ana Laura's family and for the refreshment they gave us bristket sandwiches which were really good. They also gave us pieces of octopus and calamari and shrimp to try out. The shrimp was tasty.
This next Sunday we are going to have a sacrament meeting in Puerto Lopez. The members are excited not to have to travel so far to go to church and are planning on bringing family and friends who were not up to making the trip to investigate. We found out that a few years ago they had started to hold sacrament meetings in Puerto Lopez and that the mission had sent out a pulpit, sacrament table and trays and mantles. Now there are two members that are offering up a space to hold the meetings, so we are ready to get things started again.”

NEW AREA: “I'm now in the Martha de Roldos in Zona Prosperina, a suburb of Guayaquil. My new comp is Elder Miculax from Guatemala. The program had been limping here, so these past four days we have been contacting like crazy. Thursday night I got a call from the ZL's informing me that I will be serving as district leader and that they needed me to conduct a baptismal interview the next day for an investigator they had been teaching. On Sunday the Bishop gave us the third hour to give a combined Priesthood and Relief Society capacitation on giving references. We focused on the importance of befriending, building trust, and preparing prospective investigators to introduce them to the missionaries.
This sector is much more developed than the last two I have been in. There are no dirt roads, there are lots of stores; today we went to a three story mall with a movie theatre and food court (Pizza Hut, Quiznos, McDonald's, KFC...). The members are great and it looks like they are going to be a lot of help during this change.”

Elder Rob Calcote

Uganda, Kampala 5-2013

Elder Rob Calcote says This has been a good week, a really cool way to end the transfer! Elder Noble is no longer my companion, he's going to Awassa to be the Zone Leader down there, and I'm staying here in Megenagna again! Kindof a surprise to be to be honest... this is only my third area on mission and I am hitting a year anniversary on the 19th! In my honest opinion, Elder Noble and I were not together long enough, but this past week was a really really cool week to end our time together.

In the beginning of this transfer, Se'id, one of the members of the branch gave us a referral of one of his old neighbors. It's a Grandmother, her daughter, and her granddaughter living together. in that order their names are Abirihit, Kiros, and Tsion... we taught them throughout the tranfer, and then this past week Elder Noble and I had a fast for them, on Tuesday we saw them and they said they had prayed and received an answer to all of their prayers! they wanted to be baptized, so we did yesterday!

God does answer our prayers, I know that fasting does work, not only does it show God our willingness and desire for an increase of blessings, but it helps ourselves become more receptive to that Spirit, and willing to obey it! The other young man in the photos is named mamurei, he's a Sudanese brother that Sebit (shiney blue suit) referred to us. He's super cool and willing to follow Christ. he was supposed to be baptized last week, but the water wasn't filled...

They asked me to baptize them, which I did willingly, there are so many cool things about that family... I cannot explain to you through words how UNWILLING old orthodox members are to change their religion, just the fact that this old lady was receptive to the Spirit and willing to follow it is a miracle! I cannot explain, but it's so cool to me. (the other cool thing about this family is I did most of the teaching without a translator, they are my first converts to have been that way)

Elder Matthew Willardson

Guatemala City South Mission 8-31-2013

Elder Matt Willardson  It felt like Christmas this month at the Willardson home, when the whole family got to talk to Elder Willie via Skype on Mother’s Day! Matt’s Siblings are scattered from Pennsylvania to Michigan, and from Utah to California but through the wonders of modern technology, we all enjoyed a family conference call with him in Guatemala. He is happy to report that he is working hard and missionary life is good. However, he does admit to facing some discouraging times when he and his companion have trouble finding investigators to teach on a regular basis. Elder W. has been serving for six months in SanFrancisco, a small suburb of Guatemala City. He and his companion hoof-it to their appointments each day. Now that the rainy winter season has arrived, this means they are frequently doused with rain! As he mentioned in his last letter, “We’ll see how well my shoes hold up in this wet weather.” Elder Willardson and his companion, Elder Ruiz, who comes from Mexico, have been busy conducting teaching appointments, holding weekly Sunday night Family Home Evening meetings where members bring their friends to meet the elders, and other church assignments. They recently spoke in Sacrament meeting on the topic of ....missionary work! Matt said his Spanish is quite respectable by now. Another activity that the elders participate in frequently is giving service to the members of the ward and to the community. In one recent service project, Matt had the unusual opportunity of cutting a member’s lawn with a machete! He said that’s a FIRST for him. The next big milestone for Elder W. happens in July, when he will celebrate his 20th birthday, and then August marks the half-way point of his mission. The time is flying by!

Elder Kevin Stanfill

Idaho Pocatello Mission 10- 2013

Elder Kevin Stanfill This week was awesome. We went on a Blitz in Jackson, Wyoming this Friday. A "blitz" is when a whole gaggle o' missionaries go and work in a certain area to help in the missionary efforts there. Jackson is a pretty town. It's also a tourist town and there is a lot of money there. People who don't want for anything don't normally want the Gospel either. So it's a tough area.

Elder Nyland and I are working hard. We'll both be staying here for another six weeks! St. Anthony just cannot get enough of me it seems. The next transfer date is 11 July.

Elder Adam Martin

Brazil São Paulo Interlagos Mission 3- 2014

Elder Adam Martin reports that his Portuguese is coming along very well. He is even starting to dream in Portuguese. He speaks English very little. He says, “Two days ago, during Lunch, they asked me to pray in English, and I struggled tremendously. Except for that prayer, and a few Brasilheiros [Brazilians] who wanted to learn a few words in English, I have not spoken in English since our telephone call [Mother’s Day]. My companion has to correct me less and less. I can now understand Brasilheiros the first time that they speak.” He also recounted the following incident which happened on May 20th: “I gave a talk yesterday in Portuguese. The Bishopric decided not to let me know about it until Sunday morning. Somehow I managed to give a seven minute talk in almost perfect Portuguese. One of the investigators that we have was quite impressed (because she has heard what my Portuguese usually sounds like) and talked about it with the bishop, who was her friend. He then told her I literally had three hours to prepare, including one hour of Sunday school (The meetings are reversed here, Sacrament meeting is last) and one hour of Priesthood. She was shocked and came to talk with me and my companion. She said she knew that this church is true. She will be baptized in two weeks.” Adam enjoys reading “Preaching Fourth” and looks forward to each edition.

April Edition of Preaching Fourth

President & Sister Martin
California San Fernando Mission 7-2012
President & Sister Martin are busy doing the six months of work we have left to do in the three months we have left on our mission. It brings us some sadness to think of leaving our beloved missionaries and the people of Southern California whom we have learned to love as we have served as Mission President and wife. We will also miss our visits from three little grandsons (and their parents) who have shown up to visit us from time to time. We are also looking forward to returning and resuming our relationships with our family, friends and ward members in Texas. We will be returning with even stronger testimonies that this is our Saviors work and His Church. We feel we have an even greater knowledge of how He wants this work to proceed in these latter days. Our mission was recently visited by Elder L. Tom Perry and President Richard J. Maynes of the Presidency of the Seventy. It was wonderful to receive instruction from them.
President Maynes taught us that the members are like magnets to attract and find those prospective investigators who are ready to receive the restored gospel.
Editors note: Sister Martins sweet Mother passed away in November and her amazing Father in March. What great examples they both were of missionary work. Our deepest sympathys to you Gemie.

Elder Kenny Midgley
Ecuador Guayaquil North 9-2012
Elder Kenny Midgley has learned…
CHANGE IS FUN: “I got transferred to a new city closer to the western coast of Ecuador. It is called Jipijapa…try saying that 10 times fast. Jipijapa is beautiful, well in comparison to the other sectors I've been in. Tuesday morning we went out on a 4k jog leaving the downtown sector and going into the outskirts of the countryside. Green hills with dense forests and low lying clouds. It's been raining pretty frequently out here, I'm grateful to have hiking boots and a poncho. On Thursday we found ourselves ankle deep in mud when we went to visit a recent convert in San Can” (see picture of city sign)

IN THE ECUADOR MISSION, THERE IS A LOT OF EXPOSURE TO PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES/CULTURES: “My new companion is an Otavalo Indian from Otavalo, Ecuador; he has a long, braided pony-tail, which is allowed as a traditional headwear. There are two other missionaries in the house: Elder Merlo, from Honduras, and Elder San Calle, from Sucre, Bolivia. The house is pretty decent sized, two bathrooms, kitchen, two study rooms, we have the four beds out in the main hall, and a niche for the ironing board bookshelf and weights.”

KENNY IS LEARNING MANY USEFUL SKILLS, LIKE SPLITTING BAMBOO: “We did a service project for a part-member couple splitting bamboo into fourths longwise to make a fence/privacy wall for their bathroom. I didn't take pictures but basically you sent the machete on top of the bamboo pole and either bash the pole against the ground until you cut to the bottom or you bash the machete with a two by four or a hammer (the hammer works better). I was glad I brought work gloves (my comp didn't think he would need his). We are probably going to go back on Friday to rig up the fence.”

WORKING WITH FUTURE MISSIONARIES IS FUN: Franklin, 9 years old, passed his baptismal interview so he will be baptized this Saturday. His mother is an inactive member, but he has been walking (twenty to thirty minutes) to church for the past month with his two younger siblings so we have hopes that he will stay active. (see picture of group of boys)

MISSIONARY WORK IS A GREAT FAMILY TRADITION: (see picture of papa Midgley in 1985 at the MTC, with Tracy Dyhre’s brother, David Triptow)

Elder Rob Calcote
Uganda, Kampala 5-2013
Elder Rob Calcote A story from Elder Calcotes emails: Elder Welch and I walked into the church at around 8:45 and the 2nd counselor in the Branch Presidency walked up to me and asked if I could give a 5-10 minute talk if one of those asked to speak didn't show up. I agreed, and sat down to prepare something small about baptism and the covenants we make, kind of how we can renew them... yeah. anyway, we went through the program and in the last 10 minutes of sacrament meeting, I was called up. I walk up there and just to crack a joke at the beginning of my talk (big mistake of mine) I say, "Well I am a little unprepared, maybe next time I can do it in Amharic?" you see, there are translators in church so anybody can speak either English or Amharic and it will get translated... behind me I then hear President Parrish say, "no Elder, do it in Amharic." I turn around to crack a smile at him and he's completely serious.... I knew I was in trouble at that moment. Sunday finished off the week with an awesome day. I can't tell you how I did it, I will tell you I was scared out of my mind... but I will also tell you, It was done. That was the first experience I have ever had where IT WAS NOT ME SPEAKING. I'm not just telling you that to make the story more interesting, the words were just coming, it was truly amazing! I do have a testimony of the gift of tongues and that God does help those who help themselves! I hope that story builds your testimonies, because it sure built mine. God loves us. This life is supposed to be great.

Elder Matthew Willardson
Guatemala City South Mission 8-31-2013
Elder Matt Willardson’s letters home show us the nuts and bolts of daily missionary work in Guatemala. His letters express some of the frustrations of trying to find new people to teach and the efforts they go through to meet people. They try street contacting and then follow up with appointments to meet those who are willing to have them come to their homes. Elder W and Elder McDermott came up with another novel idea to do some contacting! As he shared in his last letter…”We have done this cool contacting idea recently that has worked well. We take the table from our house, a bed sheet, Books of Mormon, all of the folletos we have, and our Motabs music, and we go over by the "farmers market" to set up shop. It’s packed on Thursdays, so we tried to contact as many people and families as we could, going to and coming from the market. Since everyone around there is selling various things, we decided to put up a sign making our little station a little different. We just wrote "GRATIS" on a sheet of construction paper and taped it onto the bed sheet hanging over the table. As if that wasn’t enough, we told people that we were sharing messages about Jesus Christ and His restored gospel for two easy payments of 0 Quetzales. It was mildly successful, and we were able to contact a lot of people and share folletos with them. “
Matt tells of the joys of teaching investigators, as well as the special experience of seeing them accept the gospel and be baptized! He and his companion have been teaching Ilse recently and she was baptized two weeks ago! Fernando and Walter are also preparing to be baptized in the next few weeks. As Matt expressed recently, “It has been a real miracle to see someone make so many life changing decisions with so much faith in the course of a two month period. Only Heavenly Father through this gospel can cause such a change in one´s life, and it’s such a blessing to be a part of it!”

Elder Kevin Stanfill
Idaho Pocatello Mission Oct. 2013
Elder Kevin Stanfill says, “St Anthony is so amazing! The best area in the mission! Elder Kendell and I brought this area back from the dead and now Elder Nyland and I are maintaining the relationships we've built with members and leaders while trying to search out those people prepared to receive this gospel. Training is one of the hardest, most rewarding things I've done (So it's kinda' like the mission itself!). We must remember that it's more important to love and serve one another than to demand success from everyone around you. Something I learned in the MTC was that the Lord has set standards, and while it's not our place to lower those standards, we also cannot raise them. The Lord doesn't want a perfect people, because a perfect people don't need a Savior. I love this gospel, and I know it's true. I know that God lives and He loves us, that He sent his Son to take away all pain, and that all gospel truth was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I love ya'll.”
Editors note: Elder Stanfill is training Elder Nyland. What a lucky Elder to be trained by Elder Stanfill.

Elder Adam Martin
Brazil São Paulo Interlagos Mission March 2014
Elder Adam Martin Just prior to Elder Martin’s expected departure on February 21, 2012 to go to São Paulo Brazil, the Missionary Department changed from a nine to a six week stint at the MTCs for those learning Portuguese.
In order for him to arrive at his assignment in the Brazil São Paulo Interlagos Mission when they were expecting him, the three weeks was chopped off of the beginning. This meant that he would be departing March 13. He took advantage of the opportunity to attend his sister Alyssa’s marriage and sealing to her new husband Brendan McKay in the Mt. Timpanogas Temple on March 9, 2012. Elder Martin arrived in the CTM after a long flight which took him through Salt Lake City and Atlanta Georgia to São Paulo Brazil. CTM stands for Centre de Treinamente Missionario, which means the “center for training missionaries.” He says, “I can tell you that I am doing great.” He does not appear to be a great fan of the food they serve in the CTM.
He states, “I still haven’t made a good guess at what I eat at meal times, I assume its food.” We are proud of Elder Martin and his decision to serve his Savior by bringing some of his brothers and sisters in Brazil to their Savior. We know he will do well.

Volume 11 Issue 55 February 2012

Elder Andrew Santiago
HOME!!! December 27, 2011
Back to School Jan. 4, 2012
Andrew returned home on December 27th to a very excited family. He was only home a few days before he left to go back to Salt Lake to start Winter Semester at the University of Utah. Andrew gave an excellent talk in Sacrament Meeting. We loved hearing him report his mission.


President & Sister Martin
California San Fernando Mission
7-2012
President & Sister Martin are really enjoying this time of our mission. This past week we had 16 baptisms in the mission!!! We should have quite a few this weekend as well. We attribute this increase in baptisms to the heightened obedience of the missionaries.
They have put down their "weapons of rebellion" and are being more obedient to the White Missionary Handbook. They are busy teaching and finding with The Spirit. We are truly witnessing miracles. New to our mission is a Mission Nurse Specialist. Sister and Elder Cropper just arrived. Sister Cropper is taking over the medical coordinating of the mission. This will leave Sister Martin free to help more with the teaching and training. We are also busy helping Adam get ready to leave on Feb. 21st for either the Brazil or the Provo MTC (the latter if his Visa doesn't come through in time). He has one more immunization to get for Yellow Fever and then he is set. We have enjoyed having him back here with us in the mission and will miss him when he leaves. We are thrilled for his opportunity to serve his own mission. Our family has sure received blessings as we have served.
We have a new baby grandson Trace Justin Martin who was born last month in Texas. He is our 14th grandchild and the forth to be born while we have served a mission. We are starting to lament that our time is short here in the mission. It has truly been a rewarding experience for us.


Elder Kenny Midgley
Ecuador Guayaquil North
9-2012
Elder Kenny Midgley has learned

MISSIONARY WORK IS ALWAYS BUSY: “This week has been jam packed. Tuesday we had an interchange with our ZLs. It was nice to get a change of scenery, I got to know Elder Campos from Guatemala a little better, and I felt grateful for the blessings I've received in my life. Wednesday, boom we had another interchange with our DL. I stayed in Sibimbe with Elder Anderson. It was pretty awesome, we spoke lots of English and joked around. We had fun contacting people in the street, lots of whacky encounters.”

MISSIONARY WORK IS NEVER BORING: “Wednesday night while we were teaching the Quiroz family we heard little squeals from the backyard, turns out that their pig gave birth to ten piglets. When we ran outside three had already been born. Brother Quiroz gave the pig a shot to help her to give birth faster, we waited around for a quarter hour... nothing. Then, here come seven more!” Gotta love Bacon.

MISSIONARY WORK IS ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS: “My comp set up a hammock on the hooks in the main room which is awesome for relaxing after walking all day, although sometimes our housemates like gang up and swing whomever is in the hammock until they hit the wall or they almost go flying out and everyone gets scared and stops.”

MISSIONARY WORK IS ABOUT LEARNING: “The training with Elder Uceda was great. He talked about how to correct missionaries, the difference between speaking with your lips and speaking from the heart, and how to study the scriptures more profoundly.”



Elder Rob Calcote
Uganda, Kampala
5-2013
Elder Rob Calcote is still in Etheopia. He is teaching himself Amharic, providing service, and doing fantastic. “On saturday we went to a less actives house to help with the Tef work... Tef is what Enjera is made out of, it's similar to wheat, but you have to get it out of the straw, and grind it up, so in the photos we were stomping the straw! I decided that it would be a good idea to keep my shoes clean so I did it barefoot, 2 days later, I'm deciding it probably would have been a better Idea to keep my feet protected, I’ll be fine, don't worry... after about 1 hour of stomping this wheat, about 20 children were watching us through the gate so we invited them to help us and all started clapping and dancing, it was really fun, until they started waving swords and spears around! then I decided I'd better stop for safeties sake. Ethiopia has weird cultures. the service was great though! Here’s the other cool news, and i'm even more excited about this. Ethiopia as a country is just 1 District in the church, Addis Ababa District. the District President is named Habtu. he's a really cool guy, but for missionaries here, it's important to get on his good side, cause if you don't he'll make sure your time in Ethiopia isn't very fun. As long as you do what you're supposed to, he loves you. anyway, He visited Awassa branch yesterday to pick a new Branch President and I asked him what the big news is in Ethiopia as of late, he told me that SOON (he doesn't know how soon) but very soon, they'll be splitting the mission, because they're now translating the MTC materials into amharic, they sent them to him to review. He said the only reason they would do that is if they planned to teach missionaries amharic in Provo and send them straight to Ethiopia. I told him that was cool because I actually thought about teaching amharic at the MTC when I get home. He was surprised and asked me if I was from Salt Lake Area. He then got very excited and said he would recommend me when I finished my mission... Which is AWESOME news because any time the church translates anything into amharic, they send it to Habtu to review it, So if he refers me to the MTC as somebody who could teach amharic, that means I can definitely do that.... It also means I have to learn amharic quicker than I am.... Habtu has told me in the past that he's never met a missionary who learns amharic like I do. But honestly, I'm not as good as he makes me sound. I want to fluent when I'm finished!



Elder Matthew Willardson
Guatemala Guatemala City South Mission
8-2013
Elder Matt Willardson (a.k.a. Elder Willy, as he is known to the members) was transferred a week before Christmas to San Francisco. He has a new companion, who is from Utah. They are finding lots of opportunities to teach and testify in the small town where they now serve. They walk everywhere, except when they take the bus to the stake center for p-day activities. Elder Willy and Elder McDermott are finding success when they invite members to accompany them into investigator’s homes. As Matt says, “I think it scares them sometimes when two white guys show up to teach them. With members there, it lets them know that real people just like them are living these principles too, not just us white robotronic missionaries.” Matt is happy to see the faith that investigators show as they prepare for baptism, such as paying their tithing and offering humble prayers. He is grateful to be able to teach “a message of love, of hope, and of peace through our Savior Jesus Christ.”

The members tell Matt that he is getting FAT, which means he isn’t a starving missionary. That’s good news for mom! Never mind about the earthquake that struck in southern Mexico last week, that was definitely felt in their area by Matt and his companion. Despite the excitement, missionary life is good in Guatemala!



Elder Kevin Stanfill
Idaho Pocatello Mission
Oct. 2013
Elder Kevin Stanfill First of all, we've been working a lot in Twin Groves, which is a stretch of out-lying country surrounding St. Anthony! It is really pretty out there with these overcast skies we've been having. Misty mountains in the distance, rolling hills with little farmhouses dotting the land. It's like out of a movie.
Second, we've been teaching! We currently have five people preparing for baptism in February. Lynn is on her last smokes and doing great! A young girl, Kylie, is learning so much at Church! She knows our lessons before we even teach them! Parker and Kabren, two young boys we have been teaching, accepted baptismal invitations and are super excited! And just yesterday we met for the first time with Dwayne. He has been married to a member of the Church for nine years and has been avoiding it for a while, but now has a real desire to learn more and follow Jesus Christ. He is such an awesome guy! We are still teaching others, inviting them to make changes and smothering them with love. I'll tell you, it is hard to see people you care about make choices contrary to what you know will make them happy. We've lost a few people we were excited about teaching, and we're not sure if we will meet with them again.
We had a youth speaker come and talk to the youth of St. Anthony this Saturday. Brandon Bair of the Kansas City Chiefs! He is huge! I mean, like six-foot-seven! He was an awesome speaker and we had about two hundred youth there. He spoke about his career and his achievements, but testified that he never had so much joy on the field as he did serving his mission in Jacksonville, Florida.
We got transfer information on Saturday as well, which is when our Mission President sends out a message, directing where missionaries will go. Each six weeks, this happens, and Elder Kendell and I have at least one more six weeks together! I'm glad for it.


Elder Adam Martin
Brazil São Paulo Interlagos Mission
Feb. 22, 2012
Elder Adam Martin was in Plano over the New Years Holiday and what a treat it was for Plano 4th Ward when he was invited to speak the same day that Elder Andrew Santiago reported his mission. We all LOVED hearing the enthusiasm Adam has for Missionary work, and he encouraged all or our Youth to give Careful Thought about serving the Lord on a Mission. He promised them all if they did, they would never regret that decision and if they didn’t, they wouldn’t ever know of the blessings the Lord could have blessed them with. It was outstanding and we are so excited for the people in Brazil to get such a well prepared and excited young man to teach them and bring them to Christ. We love you Elder Adam and will be praying for your success.