March 21st

This week has been a little bit slower of a week but it has been great to meet so many new members of the wards I am serving in and see more of the area!

We were over at a member’s home this week and they challenged my Companion and me to a ping pong tournament and needless to say I lost in the first round. I thought that I was good but it turns out I was very wrong about that. But it was really fun.

This week we have been sharing the Easter video with many people the #hallelujah video is wonderful! I love the message that it shares that reminds us that through our savior we can and will have new life as long as we trust in him and his gospel. If you have not seen it yet go to Mormon.og and watch it.

We have been trying to get a hold of several people who we have not met and so many people have moved and no one in the ward knew at all. It is really important to remember that the names on the ward or branch roster are not there just because someone thought it would look pretty. Every name is a person or family. You don't need to know everyone but everyone should get to know someone. We all want to be loved by others and if you have an opportunity to meet someone new go and take it. You can never know too many people.

In my old testament reading this week I have been reading about the kings of Israel and Juda. They both had great kings and then they had really bad kings. If you look at the pattern there is a good righteous king and the people prosper and are blessed and then that goes to the heads of the people and they become prideful and their kings become wicked and serve false idols and things that are made by man and that are temporary and they people are forced to be humble. One of the lessons I pulled from this is that if you don't want to be forced to be humbled then do it yourself. It can be really hard to avoid pride but it is worth it to learn to notice it in yourself and stop it before it starts.

Love you all! Hope you have great weeks!

Elder Stewart

March 14th, 2016

I am getting used to the new area and trying to find my way around everywhere. We cover a YSA so we kind of cover about 3 stakes right now and a family ward. I had forgotten how bad I am with names so if anyone has any tricks on how to remember names send me an email. I would be very grateful!

We live in a member’s home and they are great people! I really have enjoyed getting to know them. They have a very nice home.

We are working a lot with helping people come back to church, and we have a couple investigators I am really looking forward to working with both of the wards I am in they all have great mission plans and are very supportive of the Work.

We had Ward council yesterday at 7 and then we had two wards to go to and there was a baptism as well it was a long day but it was great to meet so many new and wonderful people and jump right into the work.

I have been reading about Paul in the bible this week. All he wanted to do was serve God and when he was Saul he did what he thought Our Father in heaven wanted and went after those who were followers of Christ until he learned otherwise. Then He boldly went forth and taught of Christ and became Paul. He was not afraid to speak up about anything and really loved the Gospel. I have come to see that there are a lot of Saul’s in the world they want to do everything they can to follow God but they don't have everything yet. It is the responsibility of everyone to love the Saul’s around them and try and teach them all that we can so that there will one-way be even more Paul’s

I hope that made sense. It has helped me become more patient with a lot of the people around me and recognize that many trying just like I am trying and as long as we love those around us it will all work out in the end.

March 7th, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! Thank you for teaching me how to do everything! I would not be the person that I am today without your patient example and loving care. I could not do any of this if it wasn't for you! I love you Mom.

I am leaving Del Norte, it has been a great 6 months there and I am very sad to see it come to an end, but I am off to somewhere new and am looking forward to the experiences that the Lord is going to put in my path.

I am going to an YSA ward up near the springs. My new comp's name is Elder Gill. I have no idea who he is but I am excited to meet with him!

It has been a good last week we started service with a buffalo rancher who has the coolest house I have ever seen! It is part cave and part tree house with small cabins inside it for rooms! He built it out of boulders and then just poured concrete to hold them in place! It was so cool! And we got to see his buffalo and they are probably the craziest animals I have seen. They can jump like 10ft, are super-fast and when they run they make no noise at all it was super crazy… but I have decided I am going to raise buffalo after the mission, so that is a new life goal.

We went up to Salida last P-day and it was so pretty! They have a river walk and on part of it there is a rock wall that you can climb! As well as really weird shops in there downtown area! And they have a kayak race on a river through town that people were practicing for which was really interesting to watch. It was a fun p-day.

Oh so weird story this week after one of our meetings we went out to lunch and one missionary started to choke on some food and was not able to cough it out, it was bad, his face was really red and it was a strange situation. Anyways, I did the Heimlich on him. So always remember to chew because if you don't it is super gross.

We are going to the Sand Dunes today so that will be really fun!

For Elders quorum Sunday we were talking about this month’s First Presidency message. I really liked how President Monson said, "In the Gospel we are all teachers and learners" No matter who we are we have something to teach and something to gain from everyone and as long as we teach with love everyone wins and gains something new. The important thing though is to not teach just to share or learn information but to teach to help other draw closer to Our Father in Heaven and His son Jesus Christ. That is what matters, everything else is just a part of that ultimate plan.

I love this Gospel, I have come to find peace in it and I know that it is because of the peace that is available in our savior Jesus Christ.

Love you all!

Elder Stewart