December 7th, 2015

It has been a very short week. Last Monday Elder Bennett and I went hiking in Creede and we thought it would be really fun. It was very snowy and we were walking through snow drifts and my feet froze! It was really cold and windy. I think I have gained a greater appreciation for the pioneers.

We helped the Smith Family put up there Christmas tree! It was really fun to decorate a tree with a family and it has caused me to reflect on some of the reasons why families are so important. 1st It teaches us about our family in Heaven. 2nd We have the opportunity to learn and to teach 3rd we are able to have a support in the truths of the Gospel.

Never take lightly the gift of families they are amazing.

We had an investigator at church yesterday and it was great! He was answering questions and got to know a lot of the members. I taught in Elders quorum about teaching the Gospel in the Home/ family. I am so grateful that I was able to learn about the gospel from my family and I know just as the 2000 sons of Helaman I "do not doubt for my mother (and father) know it" I was asked last week what I did to prepare to serve and my only answer was that I learned from my parents. I am so grateful for them.

For anyone that did not watch the First presidency devotional last night. Go watch it now. You will feel of the spirit of Christ. And you will be taught from the word spoken.

I am so grateful for this the Christmas season and I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for His children this year. Everyone should go watch #aSaviorisBorn video. And I really want all of you to ask your selves why we need Christ.

I know that we each do and I know that as we do humble ourselves and follow him he will give us all that we stand in need of.

Don't forget to pray, don't forget that this time of year is about Christ not Santa, but the First gift of the season, a Savior which is Christ the son of the living God.

Don't let the stress of this time of year stop you from partaking in the Peace of the Baby born of Mary.

I love you all. And I challenge you to all go to Christmas.mormon.org and watch the videos on the site.

Elder Stewart

November 30th, 2015

To start off I hope that everyone has had a great thanks giving! Next Happy Birthday Dad! I would not be able to be out on a mission if not for the example of my parents, they are amazing people!

We had two thanksgiving dinners Thursday both with members of the Branch and it was great to see their families together and reflect on the great times that they have had together. Families are such a wonderful gift that God has given to us. I am so blessed to have been invited to be involved in their family dinner. I am also very grateful to have such a great family back home!

On Monday we helped the Food bank give out thanksgiving boxes and that was really fun to meet so many new people and help them. We volunteered at a thrift store and I found a record player from there and have been listening to Christmas music all week! It is so cool! I have also been reading the Nativity story from the Bible and it is such an amazing gift that we have all been given, #asaviorisborn and because he is born all can be born again. I hope that as the next several weeks go by you will all remember why we have a Savior and what that means for you. Hint it means you don't need to go through life unhappy, you can become free from anything that weighs you down.

Elder Bennett and I split wood with week at this old lady’s home and it was a really good work out. We did it the old fashion way with an ax and it was so much fun! But really tiring. It has been getting a lot colder here and it is supposed to be in the negatives this week for the low, I am very grateful to have heaters and warm clothing.

I gave a talk Sunday in sacrament meeting about my Gratitude for faith. Hymn 254 "True to the Faith" came to mind and I talked about that a little bit, as well as testified that Faith is not just a word; but is the power that miracles are performed by. Faith leads to knowledge and then Eternal joy.

I also taught Gospel principals this week and we talked about agency and how we are free to choose. What a blessing that is; we can chose to be happy or we can choose to be unhappy, but it is entirely up to us and the actions that we take.

Our Brach president taught the 5th Sunday lesson. He talked about how to have the spirit more and how we need to be supports to our families and each other in this ever unstable world.

I hope all of you have a great week! I miss you all and will keep you in my prayers. Time has been flying by and it’s hard to believe that I have been out for 3 months now! I know that our Father in Heaven loves you and wants the very best for you. If he didn't he would not have ever come. 

Go to Christmas.mormon.org and watch #aSaviorisBorn it is a really good video!

Love you all, Elder Stewart

November 23, 2015

This week we had a mission tour and Elder Marcus B. Nash of the 70 was in our mission and spoke to us and gave us some great council. I sang in a small group of missionaries Be Still my Soul. It was an amazing experience! We woke up at 4am to get to Publeo and we got home about 6pm. It was a very full and very helpful day.

We went up to Salida for District meeting and we contacted a few people. We were able to talk a little bit about the Handbook change with some people that asked us about it and we had the chance to talk about the Family proclamation.

I bear witness that the family is of God and I will defend the Family with everything that I am. I know that the Lord has a plan for each of us and that Families play a key role in that plan.

It is warming up again here the high all this week will be in the mid 40's (warm right) but I am actually really enjoying the weather.

Thank you so Much Grandma for the gloves I really do like them and they are quit warm.

We have started to listen to Christmas music and it has made the days so much more. I love the spirit of Thanksgiving and Christmas. The focus is on our many blessings and then on the greatest blessing that any one of us has ever has, the Atonement of Christ.

Friday night we had a community showing of Meet the Mormons, we didn't have as many people as we were expecting but it was really good we had a few interested people come and learn a little bit about who we are as people.

I know that the Lord has a lot planned for us and that if we listen to His still small and patient voice he will bless our lives and will give us the gifts that we have been searching for.

I love you all and I am so grateful for your prayers and your thoughts.

Love Elder Stewart