Preaching 4th September/October 2018

Elder Nick Jones

Nevada Reno Spanish Speaking

We found an awesome family of 4 this week! Street contacting is the best!
As well, we had a zone conference in which Elder Ochoa of the Quorum of the Seventy came and spoke to us! It was really fun and pretty motivating.
We also are doing more biking so that we can afford the miles to go to Eureka twice this month! Work!

Not much time today, but we had Joaquin's baptism, and it was amazing! He had his whole family there at the baptism and as well yesterday at his confirmation!

Elder Flores baptized him and I had the opportunity to confirm him. I love the spirit at both baptisms and confirmations. I am so grateful for the restored priesthood and the fact that I can participate in those sacred ordinances and feel the truthfulness and Spirit of it!

Have a great week! 

Love, Elder Jones

Sister Annika Crandall

Russia Samara/Rostov

-We were supposed to be in my new city by now, but because of waiting for Visa's we are still here in Samara. I will go on a little trip this week to Rostov for MLC and then come back to Samara and so finally sometime this weekend we will head down to Penza and start to get to work there. I just can't wait to get there. It is SO much fun to open cities to sisters bc 1- they all LOVE you so much more haha and 2- there is no previous work to go off of so you just have to hit the ground running and build up the area and the work as much as you can in the time that you are there. 

-Nikita's baptism!!! Nikita is 16 and was interested in religions. His dad happened to tell him one day that he was baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints many years ago. Welp.. the next Sunday they showed up to church and haven't missed since. Nikita decided to be baptized and it was so fun to see how happy he was. Right after he got right up to bear his testimony and was just so grateful for this opportunity and knowledge that he gained. It's impressive the faith that this kid has as he chooses to be baptized as well as helping his dad come back to reactivity. 

It's the last week of September, what?! Enjoy it while it's here!  

Love, Sister Crandall

Elder Nick Jones

Nevada Reno Spanish Speaking

Stephanie Sauerberg (Smith) was baptized 2 weeks ago, and it was awesome! Great ward support, and the confirmation was pretty special as well. We also started teaching her close friend Jennifer, and she (and soon her daughters, too) is set on baptismal date for late June! She even posted about it on Facebook after the lesson!

I am now in Elko, in the Spanish Branch. I have been here for a week and oh my goodness, there is so much potential here! I loved my time in the Vista branch in Sparks, and this one is a little smaller than over there, so there is a ton of work to do! It seems like the branch is super missionary minded already, and I feel that this place is about to blow up.

Elder Johnson is my companion, and he is just like a loveable panda bear! He knows the area really well, and I am pumped to see what we can get done together!
Elko is a ton of fun, and I am so glad to get to serve here! I am going to miss the North Reno zone and Cold Springs and Silver Lake wards, but FaceBook is a magical thing!

Sister Annika Crandall

Russia Samara

We are getting into summer and you notice it on the crowded buses when it's so hot and sticky and you can only smell the BO coming from the mans armpit shoved in your face. You gotta love it!! Things here are going great! I am serving in Orenburg and just love it there. It is a smaller "town" as they call it. We have a branch of about 15, but recently just had 3 baptisms there. The Lord's hand is definitely in the work with us. It is amazing to watch people come into the church and just absorb and love everything about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our mission is getting ready to combine with the Rostov mission in 3 weeks, and also I am getting pumped for the Fifa World Cup which begins soon! We are down to 6 sisters in my mission and about 30 elders, so the combination is much needed! Our area is probably going to close to sisters in just 3 weeks, so we are busy getting it ready for that. I love the scripture found in Mark 5:36 that states, "Be not afraid, only believe." The Lord has a plan for this work. He has a plan for you and I. We need to go forward trusting in the Lord with all of our faith and we will see miracles come to pass as a result of that. I have seen this time and time again in the work. I love this work so much and I love these people. They are some of the sweetest and most humble individuals I have met. Have a great summer

January-February 2018 Preaching Fourth

Elder Nick Jones

Nevada Reno Spanish Speaking

Hey, Plano 4th ward! Elder Nick Jones here, having a ball in Reno, Nevada. It has been unusually warm lately - in the 60’s. My companion, Elder Torres, and I are now in a trio companionship with Elder Doig. We are seeing so much progression, but also some tests of faith along with that. There hasn’t been a day in a few weeks now that we haven’t had less than 2 teaching appointments a day. Whew! We have one lady that has set a baptism date in May. We’re trying to convince her to get baptized a little sooner. Of course, we’ve had some trials....Elder Torres hurt his hand in a freak bicycle accident and I’ve had some illness. But it’s all good. We won’t be perfect in this life, but we can be perfect in trying. We got some good/bad news. President Chesnut will be replaced at the MP that summer. We’re sad to see him go, but hear that the new MP, President Godoy, is currently an area 70. Also, we will be getting smart phones in this mission field soon. I pray for you all every day and hope that things are going well for you all.

Sister Annika Crandall

Russia Samara

It seems that the longer you are out, the faster time flies on the mission. I am coming up on my half-way mark and just cannot believe it. I am currently in Kazan (the coldest place that I could be in my mission, during the coldest time). It is a beautiful city and the "Disneyland" of our mission. We have a big branch here, with about 30-40 regular attendees. We just had a Europe East Area plan released so we will be focusing more with the members on Book of Mormon reading, as well as preparing for temple attendance. I believe this will really help strengthen the branch. It has been so incredible to see the miracles that have taken place here. I have gained such a testimony that faith combined with hard work will bring to pass miracles. It is when we turn to the Lord and give Him our all that He will turn around and bless us in ways we could have never imagined. It all starts with the little things- prayer, reading scriptures, and going to church. We just need the faith to do it. As we have faith and act on it, I promise the heavens will open and blessings and miracles will be abundant in your life. I love seeing the light that comes into people's lives as they are introduced to the gospel. I think the people here teach me more than I could ever teach them. I am so grateful to be here, serving the Lord and the incredible saints of Russia. (1 Timothy 6:12- "Fight the good fight of faith..." )

Elder Ethan Harris

West Virginia Charleston Mission

Elder Harris was transferred to Sissonville, West Virginia (just west of Charleston).  After injuring his thumb just before Christmas, he had to have surgery to reattach the tendons in his thumb.  Gratefully, that surgery went well and was all that was needed so that he could stay in the mission and continue serving without interruption.  He is continuing with therapy, which seems to be helping him regain full function and range of motion. In Sissonville, he is a convenient two blocks from the church and says the ward members love to feed the missionaries.  

Some thoughts from his latest letters:

January 22 ~

The Lord's work is something that never stops, I'm glad that He's allowed me to tag along.

February 12 ~

Brothers and sisters, Valentine's Day is coming up, and I want you all to remember a few things as the week goes by. To give a quick update, my hand is doing very well. Therapy has changed my functions drastically so far, but I've got a while to go before I get full motion. But, I'm optimistic about the future and what it will hold. We are seeing some potentials turn into investigators this week and we hope God is preparing them for baptism and conversion.

So, my message on love today will be about two things; Charity, and God's love towards us. Since we are all sons and daughters of Heavenly Father, we all are equally entitled to the love of Heavenly Father. Also, since we are all related and are trying to become like Him, we should give this unbiased love to all we meet. Now, I'm not asking you to greet everyone with a holy kiss, neither to send everyone a Valentine's Day card, but I'm asking you to take His love for His children seriously. Some people really need it, don't deny the love they can feel from you. Some people find it hard to feel the love of Him, so try to exhibit it through yourself.

Next comes a topic I'm weary to talk about, because it's so hard to explain and describe through the objects and symbols of the physical world. My best source is a hymn "I stand all amazed" 

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,

Confused at the grace that so fully He proffers me.

I tremble to know that for me He was crucified,

That for me, a sinner, He suffered, He bled and died.

Oh it is wonderful that He should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

So, feel His love. I know it's hard to feel sometimes. I admittingly feel self-critical a lot of the time. But judge yourself in the way a loving God would judge you.

I love you all so much, have a Christ centered week.

Elder Harris

Sister Katee Perez

China Hong Kong Mission

The Perez Family has moved out of Plano 4^th Ward.  We will miss them all. Katee is loving her mission!