My New Area
Hey ya'll!
So last Thursday was transfers and it was a doozy. My companion and I got shotgunned (both missionaries leaving and two new ones coming in)and we had no idea how to get to our apartment. It was pretty crazy. We almost got lost. Out here you definiately need a GPS or you're gonna be lost for a while. But it's fun... and yes it's country. The towns are less than 4 miles across and are about 4 or 5 miles from each other. But the branch out here is solid. The active members have such faith that it's inspiring. Church was pretty amazing. Most of the members have at least a few acres of land and are doing some sort of farm work.
By the way my new address is:
620 S Main St. apt B-8
Blackstone, VA 23824
This link looks right at their apartment building!
So if you have anything to send me, send on!
These past few days have been pretty tough for me because my face wants to explode. My sinuses are hurting SO bad. I got some Nyquil to help (it's funny, it doesn't put me to sleep) and it's slowly going away. I was down for the count for Friday and Saturday. But it's slowly working it's way out of my system.
My new companion is a big guy who likes all the same things I do. When he came out on his mission he was pushing 300 pounds (like me) but now he's down to 230! He told me that he lost most of his weight in a car area, so there's hope for me yet! He taught me a trick where you have 3 glasses of water lined up in front of you at your meals and you take a drink after every bite. If the water is not gone before you're done, then something is wrong. I'm going to be doing that so I can lose weight. I'm excited. (By the way, he knows how to crochette, is that how you spell it?)
So yeah, everything is going great.
I'm excited to hear from ya'll. And I love you the mostest!
-Elder Ricky-dude
October 25, 2010
October 23, 2010
October 23 2010
Elder Mangum has “left the building” or at least the Bennett’s Creek Ward. Has it been 4 ½ months already? I remember him when he came to us as a “greenie” and now, he’s all grown up and moving to another area. I will miss him in our home. He has truly been a blessing to this area and to my ‘ohana. I love this Elder and I will truly miss him. I pray our paths will cross again.
I will follow him throughout his mission. I hope that he will be able to serve in the Tidewater area again. It’s good to see young men like Elder Mangum grow spiritually as well mentally. He’s gotten a lot of life experience since coming to us. It was a privilege serving with him. I pray for his safe return to your loving arms.
FYI, Elder Mangum’s “father” (Elder Alex Lowry-1st Sr. Companion) is back home in Draper, UT. His homecoming is next week Sunday from 11:00-12:00 at 13350 S 1750 E Draper UT 84020.
Here are some pictures I took prior to his departure:
Elder Logan, me, and Elder Mangum – last day at our house.
We were able to locate Mallow Court, Chesapeake, VA
Aloha!
Al Delos Santos
I will follow him throughout his mission. I hope that he will be able to serve in the Tidewater area again. It’s good to see young men like Elder Mangum grow spiritually as well mentally. He’s gotten a lot of life experience since coming to us. It was a privilege serving with him. I pray for his safe return to your loving arms.
FYI, Elder Mangum’s “father” (Elder Alex Lowry-1st Sr. Companion) is back home in Draper, UT. His homecoming is next week Sunday from 11:00-12:00 at 13350 S 1750 E Draper UT 84020.
Here are some pictures I took prior to his departure:
Elder Logan, me, and Elder Mangum – last day at our house.
We were able to locate Mallow Court, Chesapeake, VA
Aloha!
Al Delos Santos
October 18, 2010
October 18 2010
Hey Everyone!!
First off I'm being transferred to Burkville, VA. I don't know my new address yet but I'll let you all know next week. It's a country area with about 5000 people in the boundaries. It's gonna be fun. I actually knew I was going to be transferred on Saturday. We had President interviews on Saturday and he asked if I were to be transferred would I be okay with that. I told him that I would miss Bennetts Creek but I'd go. It's normal for people to miss a really good area they were in but the Lord needs me somewhere else. I'm excited to go!! It's gonna be a new experience for me and it will be a good stretch.
In my president's interview he talked to me about spiritual plateaus that we all come to. Right when he told me that I was like, yeah I hit that. I have hit it because I wasn't making that much spiritual progress for the past little bit. He then told me that I'm being transferred and that I was going to get a call from one of the assistants. It's pretty cool.
Any way, this past week has been good. I can't remember most of it but I remember that it was really fun. I'm doing better after my interview with President Perry. I truly love that man. He has such a great knowledge of the scriptures and knows how best to help the missionaries. He told me he knows I'm a missionary with a great capacity to become better and that this upcoming transfer is going to help. I'm so excited!
You know, being out here has helped me to see things in a different light. I now see how much strength and understanding comes from reading the scriptures everyday. I now see how much power the Book of Mormon has changing someone as it has changed me. I now see the importance of not just reading, but pondering the scriptures also. In 1 Nephi 10:1, Nephi was pondering the things his father told him, and while he was pondering he saw a vision and learned about more than just the things his father taught him. We can follow the commandments of the Lord and follow the example of Nephi and ponder the things we learn. We may not see a grand and glorious vision, but our understanding will grow. I promise you that.
I love you all and wish you well. Keep praying, studying the scriptures, and ponder them. If we don't act and let the Spirit do what it does, we don't learn and we don't grow.
Let the Spirit of God teach you what your Father in Heaven wants for you.
You all are awesome and I love you lots. Hold off on any letters or packages until I can tell you my new address.
I love you the mostest!!
-Elder Ricky-dude
I forgot to tell you about an experience I had yesterday.
We were with one of our investigators, Brian, and we called up President Pedaway who is the Branch President of the Newport News 3rd Branch and put in on speaker so that we all could here. President Pedaway was one of the first black males to receive the Priesthood. Brian wanted to talk to him about the issue of blacks and the priesthood and man was that a trip! President Pedaway laid it down and told Brian, because someone who has freedom didn't have it before, you would go and give up your freedom because of that? He told Brian that because men were so racist they wouldn't help blacks receive the Priesthood. So when Spencer W. Kimball got up and announced that ALL worthy males could hold the Priesthood that made it final because it was from God. President Pedaway told Brian he's an elect man who God chose to be able to hold the Priesthood in this life and that he shouldn't pass up the blessings that God wants to give to him because of something that happened in the past. At the end of the phone call President Pedaway told Brian to call him up when he's going to get baptized because he wants to be there. After Brian hung up he basically told us, yeah I don't have any concerns now.
Because of that experience and what I learned from President Pedaway is truly going to help me help others who are concerned with that issue.
Anyway, I wanted to share that with you because it truly helped me and I hope it will help you somehow.
Love ya lots,
-Elder Ricky-dude
First off I'm being transferred to Burkville, VA. I don't know my new address yet but I'll let you all know next week. It's a country area with about 5000 people in the boundaries. It's gonna be fun. I actually knew I was going to be transferred on Saturday. We had President interviews on Saturday and he asked if I were to be transferred would I be okay with that. I told him that I would miss Bennetts Creek but I'd go. It's normal for people to miss a really good area they were in but the Lord needs me somewhere else. I'm excited to go!! It's gonna be a new experience for me and it will be a good stretch.
In my president's interview he talked to me about spiritual plateaus that we all come to. Right when he told me that I was like, yeah I hit that. I have hit it because I wasn't making that much spiritual progress for the past little bit. He then told me that I'm being transferred and that I was going to get a call from one of the assistants. It's pretty cool.
Any way, this past week has been good. I can't remember most of it but I remember that it was really fun. I'm doing better after my interview with President Perry. I truly love that man. He has such a great knowledge of the scriptures and knows how best to help the missionaries. He told me he knows I'm a missionary with a great capacity to become better and that this upcoming transfer is going to help. I'm so excited!
You know, being out here has helped me to see things in a different light. I now see how much strength and understanding comes from reading the scriptures everyday. I now see how much power the Book of Mormon has changing someone as it has changed me. I now see the importance of not just reading, but pondering the scriptures also. In 1 Nephi 10:1, Nephi was pondering the things his father told him, and while he was pondering he saw a vision and learned about more than just the things his father taught him. We can follow the commandments of the Lord and follow the example of Nephi and ponder the things we learn. We may not see a grand and glorious vision, but our understanding will grow. I promise you that.
I love you all and wish you well. Keep praying, studying the scriptures, and ponder them. If we don't act and let the Spirit do what it does, we don't learn and we don't grow.
Let the Spirit of God teach you what your Father in Heaven wants for you.
You all are awesome and I love you lots. Hold off on any letters or packages until I can tell you my new address.
I love you the mostest!!
-Elder Ricky-dude
I forgot to tell you about an experience I had yesterday.
We were with one of our investigators, Brian, and we called up President Pedaway who is the Branch President of the Newport News 3rd Branch and put in on speaker so that we all could here. President Pedaway was one of the first black males to receive the Priesthood. Brian wanted to talk to him about the issue of blacks and the priesthood and man was that a trip! President Pedaway laid it down and told Brian, because someone who has freedom didn't have it before, you would go and give up your freedom because of that? He told Brian that because men were so racist they wouldn't help blacks receive the Priesthood. So when Spencer W. Kimball got up and announced that ALL worthy males could hold the Priesthood that made it final because it was from God. President Pedaway told Brian he's an elect man who God chose to be able to hold the Priesthood in this life and that he shouldn't pass up the blessings that God wants to give to him because of something that happened in the past. At the end of the phone call President Pedaway told Brian to call him up when he's going to get baptized because he wants to be there. After Brian hung up he basically told us, yeah I don't have any concerns now.
Because of that experience and what I learned from President Pedaway is truly going to help me help others who are concerned with that issue.
Anyway, I wanted to share that with you because it truly helped me and I hope it will help you somehow.
Love ya lots,
-Elder Ricky-dude
October 12, 2010
October 12 2010
Here I am again saying howdy!!
Everything is going well. I actually got to speak in church last Sunday about member missionary work. I used the story of Abish and then went on to ask: 1) How can we follow this example; 2) How can we take it even further; 3) What would keep us from doing this' and 4) How do we overcome those things that would hold us back?. So I want to ask you the same questions. Any ideas?
To answer number 1, just generally, we can look for opportunities to share the gospel. To answer number two, we can CREATE opportunities to share the gospel. To answer number 3, FEAR. It's fear for 95% of the time (the other 5% is work regulations or stuff like that). To answer number 4, Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest. There are many scriptures that can be used and all of them basically say, Trust God and let HIm guide you.
So that was a fun experience I had this past week. Another one is that one of our investigators fell of the face of the earth for about a week and a half. But don't worry, we found him. It was a pretty amazing experience which I would like to share with you. We were eating dinner at Bro. Delos Santos house Sunday night. He was leaving to take his boys somewhere, and as they were leaving I saw Edward's face (that's the investigator) and saw his name above his head. I saw that in my head and also saw the picture of a phone. So I said to Elder Hunsaker "I feel like we should call Edward" (note that we have tried to call him many times in the past week but his phone was off) and he handed me the phone. I called, it rang...... and he answered!!! We were able to find out where he went and we went and saw him. He's doing great and still wants to learn and come to church.
Spiritual experiences are awesome. I love you all and I hope and pray that you're with the group who is moving towards the Living Christ.
He truly does live. I have never seen Him myself, but I have seen His hand work in so many lives. I cannot doubt that He lives and loves us. I know He does. This is my testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
-Elder Ricky-dude
Everything is going well. I actually got to speak in church last Sunday about member missionary work. I used the story of Abish and then went on to ask: 1) How can we follow this example; 2) How can we take it even further; 3) What would keep us from doing this' and 4) How do we overcome those things that would hold us back?. So I want to ask you the same questions. Any ideas?
To answer number 1, just generally, we can look for opportunities to share the gospel. To answer number two, we can CREATE opportunities to share the gospel. To answer number 3, FEAR. It's fear for 95% of the time (the other 5% is work regulations or stuff like that). To answer number 4, Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest. There are many scriptures that can be used and all of them basically say, Trust God and let HIm guide you.
So that was a fun experience I had this past week. Another one is that one of our investigators fell of the face of the earth for about a week and a half. But don't worry, we found him. It was a pretty amazing experience which I would like to share with you. We were eating dinner at Bro. Delos Santos house Sunday night. He was leaving to take his boys somewhere, and as they were leaving I saw Edward's face (that's the investigator) and saw his name above his head. I saw that in my head and also saw the picture of a phone. So I said to Elder Hunsaker "I feel like we should call Edward" (note that we have tried to call him many times in the past week but his phone was off) and he handed me the phone. I called, it rang...... and he answered!!! We were able to find out where he went and we went and saw him. He's doing great and still wants to learn and come to church.
Spiritual experiences are awesome. I love you all and I hope and pray that you're with the group who is moving towards the Living Christ.
He truly does live. I have never seen Him myself, but I have seen His hand work in so many lives. I cannot doubt that He lives and loves us. I know He does. This is my testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
-Elder Ricky-dude
October 11, 2010
October 10, 2010
Aloha From VRM,
No e-mail tomorrow – it’s a legal holiday and libraries are closed (and I have the day off). They are spending the night with my ‘ohana.
Your son gave an awesome talk today at Sacrament meeting. It was on missionary work (go figure). WOW! What a great speaker! Actually, he spoke too much (and this is a good thing) that his companion and the closing speaker had to “cut” it short. I am grateful I am able to serve with Elder Mangum as a “member missionary companion” and help in the Lord’s work.
The “pics” are of a street in the area named “Mallow Court,” us, and his cake. Yes, it reads “Happy Birthday Elder Man-Candy.”
Thank you for supporting Elder Mangum!
Ahui Hou,
Al Delos Santos 'Ohana
October 5, 2010
October 5, 2010
Hi All,
We were able to hook up with two other missionaries in their district yesterday. I took them to Ft. Monroe (too much US Army stuff for me) and visited the Casemate Museum.
We celebrated Elder Mangum’s birthday yesterday on “P-Day.” I got some pizza for all. I surprised him with an ice cream cake.
Left to right Elders Kirkpatrick, Logan, Mangum, Hunsaker
Al Delos Santos
We were able to hook up with two other missionaries in their district yesterday. I took them to Ft. Monroe (too much US Army stuff for me) and visited the Casemate Museum.
We celebrated Elder Mangum’s birthday yesterday on “P-Day.” I got some pizza for all. I surprised him with an ice cream cake.
Left to right Elders Kirkpatrick, Logan, Mangum, Hunsaker
Al Delos Santos
October 4, 2010
October 4 2010
Hey everyone!!
How are you all doing? I'm doing good. It's been a pretty tough week. With General Conference this past weekend Satan was working hard to make sure none of the nine investigators who said they would be at conference got there. Sadly only 1 watched conference. But I'm glad that conference was this past weekend. It helped me a lot. I was Spiritually fed until I almost burst. But not to fear, I have not exploded yet!
Anyway, I'm looking forward to this upcoming month. There are many, many, baptisms that are going to happen this month. Many children of God will come back into the fold. I'm so excited to see what happens this upcoming month (especially since transfer calls are in TWO WEEKS!)
I've been learning a lot and opening up more. I was almost a closed book again for the first little while of this transfer. Then I realized I was thinking too much and was blocking the Spirit with my own thoughts. But now that I've realized that I can move forward. I can start realizing that the Spirit really does know what's best for investigators and for me. I learned that when you receive a prompting, even though you may not think it is one, act on it. Show that you trust the Lord more than yourself.
I learned a great thing about conference. Conference is a missionaries Super Bowl. You won't believe how many missionaries get pumped up thinking about conference. It is so cool. I found out why that is too. It's because, number one, it's not often you hear the apostles and the prophet speak to us; and number two, because you desperately need some Spiritual uplifting while on the mission, because this mission thingy is tough. It tests you, stretches you, and pushes you harder and further than you've ever been up to that time. It tests you physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually all day everyday. But I love it!!! You can't find the kind of joy you have on the mission anywhere else. I testify that we are all missionaries and we can all have the joy that comes from teaching the Gospel by looking for those hands that hang down, and those who are wandering in the mist of darkness, and bringing them back to the path.
I promise you that you can have eternal joy by reaching out and helping others to come back to Christ.
That is my testimony and that is a promise to you, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Elder Ricky-dude
P.S. So what's the news with ya'll?
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