March 17, 2014

So last week it was warm and sunny, this week hasn't been too cold but it has snowed more.  So I have had a crazy week. It has been a good week though! So last week it was warm and sunny. I got a new companion this transfer, His name is Elder James Humble, he's from Utah and went to a year at Utah State University so we have a lot to talk about. I'm pretty excited to work with him.  With transfers and 2 separate funerals we have been pretty busy. All the lessons we had with our main investigators fell through unfortunately but we have rescheduled with all of them for this week so I am quite excited about that. On our way back up from transfer point we stopped in Tomahawk to visit 2 less active families. We were blessed to find them both home and we were able to set up a lesson with one the Ks, they came to church this past week which has been a first since my first week here in November. The other less active family the Rs we were able to stop by and not set a specific return appointment for this week but he wants to have us out for dinner in the coming weeks. 

We have had a rough time tracting this week but we did manage to find 2 very solid potentials within a few minuets of each other. Man we had success in 2's this week. But the funerals were good opportunities to talk to a few less actives and family members. One of the husbands of the deceased wife might be returning to church so we'll be working with him to try and give comfort and support. 

We did meet with A before Elder Wheeler left and talked about the covenant of baptism and exactly what she will be covenanting and how she can be strengthened through the holy ghost. 

I am very excited to work with Elder Humble, He knows a lot about how to work with people and is very knowledgeable in the gospel. I hope that we will together long enough to get some things done in Rhinelander. 

One thought I had this morning was about faith, sometimes faith can seem futile and weak, barely more than a hope. But as I was reading in Jesus the Christ by James Talmage, I learned a bit more about faith and how it relates to the power the Lord has.  With all the miracles the Lord performed on the earth the majority of them were by the faith of the recipients.  In Preach My Gospel we learn that faith is a principle of power by which God operates.  I learned in Jesus the Christ that it is by the faith that we have in the Savior that He can work miracles in our lives, even to the harnessing and controlling the elements as He did on countless occasions. 

 I hope everyone has a great week! 

Love Elder Ward

Six Month Mark

Burning the tie to mark the 6 month mark
Check out the snow!

Winter in Rhinelander

Letter from Feb 3, 2014

We have had an interesting week up in Rhinelander, there has been a lot of progress with our investigators. L came to church and had a good experience, there were many great testimonies about prayer and the Book of Mormon. A is continuing to progress and prepare for baptism. We received a few different Headquarter referrals this week and though the majority of them were not interested or had illegitimate information, However, one woman, F, went to church in Florida but never joined, but she wanted the Book of Mormon and to know about the church in Rhineland. It was such a miracle, she was just online ordering groceries and happened upon the church website.

This week we made strides to see more less actives but all 4 of the appointments we set up were dropped or canceled due to them getting sick or having to re schedule. But we were excited to be able to be in contact with some people in the ward we haven't met before. We also have been working with the Ward council to try to track down the young single adults in the ward and see which ones still live here and which have moved out. So hopefully as we contact these people we can invite them to continue to build their faith and grow.

So It has been both miraculous and frustrating.  But that is all right, we have amazing members and many promised miracles.  

As I have been reading the first of the Book of Mormon, I don't know how many times Lehi and Nephi are told and promised that as they are obedient to the commandments they will be blessed and prosper in the land.  It is so true, I have seen many investigators and members be blessed through their obedience and diligence to keeping the commandments of the Lord.  

I love you all so much and hope that you have a great week and stay warm!

Elder Ward

February 10, 2014

I have had a great week in Rhinelander!  It is so amazing to see the work hastening in my area, we had a great meeting with our district about diligence and exact obedience and it has made a big difference.  We have been able to do a lot of service for members this week and then tracting we were able to find quite a few people who were interested in learning about the Book of Mormon.  Then on Saturday we had a lesson with a part member/ less active family where the father and two sons are not members, and we have been blessed to set up a weekly appointment with them.  We have seen great progress with the investigators that we have and I know it is due to their obedience in following the commandments.  

This morning I read in 2 Nephi 10:25 and it talks about how through Jesus Christ and his works he has conquered the two things that keep us from receiving  exaltation. The first is our physical death and how through Christ's resurrection we will all receive a perfect and glorified body, and then because of His Atonement we can be saved from the spiritual death that separates us from God.  I love learning more about my Savior and the things that He has done.  

I hope you all have a great week!

Love Elder Ward 

November 25, 2013

Good afternoon everyone! It is so great to be this close to Thanksgiving, I am so grateful for everyone in my life!  So four months from yesterday I left home for the MTC... crazy.  But i have loved it!  I am running low on emailing time but I do want to share a little about my week.  Unfortunately we lost a few of our investigators this week, two of which were doing very well the problem was J's husband found out she was reading the Book of Mormon and he made her give it back to A ( our other investigator) who now feels bad because J's husband will not let them be friends anymore. So now A doesn't want anything to do with the church. Bummer I am really finding it hard to feel Christlike towards the husband at the moment but he will have to come to terms and face the consequences of keeping a willing soul from the gospel.  Another one of our investigators moved to Illinois, so that was also a bummer so we will be giving the Illinois mission a call in the next few days.  We did have a very powerful lesson with our friend L, the whole lesson was centered around building faith and trying the experiment found in the 32nd Chapter of Alma.  We are so excited to follow up with him.  

My though for the week is simple and yet so powerful.  With it being Thanksgiving I am grateful for trials in my life, especially here on my mission. Trials mean that God thinks that we are prepared and ready to grow stronger so here is a poem that President Monson shared this past conference that applies well.  

Good timber does not grow with ease,

The stronger wind, the stronger trees.

The further sky, the greater length.

The more the storm, the more the strength.

By sun and cold, by rain and snow, 

In trees and men good timbers grow. 

~Douglas Malloch, "Good Timber,"

With that I add Proverbs 3; 11-13 Talking about how Whom the Lord loveth he Chastens.    Our trails are meant to help us turn to the Lord and rely on him, He does not expect us to do it alone.  We have a savior who has suffered every pain, sorrow, challenge, strife, and sin we have ever gone through.  So that he can better succor his people.   Alma 7; 11-13 tells us that it is him that we can turn to for comfort and peace. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! I am so Thankful for my God and my Savior, for this free country, and for the opportunity I have to help people grow in their faith.  

Love you all,

Elder Ward

November 18, 2013

Happy Birthday Elder Ward!

November 18, 2013

Hello Everyone! I have had a great week!  I am running low on time so I need to be quick.  So this week was good, we had a lot of opportunities to talk with people.  This week was the Primary Program in Church where all the kids got to sing. So they invited all of their friends/relatives to hear them so we were able to meet them all!  This is an exciting week, we will hopefully have the chance to invite 4 people to be Baptized.  It is so exciting to see them and their countenance literally brighten as they  read in the Book of Mormon everyday and grow closer to Christ.  

 Again I'm sorry it was so short this week but I will have a lot to talk about next week.  My spiritual thought comes from Mathew this week.  In chapter 4 of Mathew Christ is fasting to begin his ministry, and three times satan comes to tempt Christ and every time Christ combats him with scripture saying "It is written"  I know that the scriptures can protect us from satans grasp. If we are reading them everyday we are strengthened and protected.  In the Armor of God everything is to protect and defend us, but the Sword of Truth or the Scriptures is the only thing used for an offensive weapon.  I testify that as we read daily in the scriptures we can gain power over satan and better resist his petty and idiotic temptations.  

I love you all so much and hope you have another great week!!!!

 ~Elder Ward

Pictures from November 11, 2013

The Sheboygan Elders, November 2013

Transfer Day!

Sweet!  A TIE fighter...in a field...

20 degrees in Rhinelander, its balmy!

Rhinelander's legendary Hodag

November 11, 2013

Hello Everyone and Happy Veterans Day!  Thank you to all those who have served and are serving today!  It means so much to me to be able to live in a free country where the Gospel of Jesus Christ could be restored and I have the right to go forth and preach it. So thank you so much!  

I have transferred to the north woods of Wisconsin in Rhinelander, our area is huge! It would take us three hours to go from the west end of our area to the east end.  The ward in the area is smaller but the saints here are so diligent and faithful! Some members have to drive 72 miles just to get to church every Sunday.  Their temple is in a different state 4 Hours away.  They have such a desire to share the Book of Mormon with their friends!  I hope we all can have the same dedication to share the blessings of the gospel with our friends and families.  

So Rhinelander is cold, about a 20 degree difference from my last area, it is usually in the 20's but i've been able to stay warm and i haven't even whipped out my thermals and wool socks. I am excited to see 6 feet of snow, I haven't seen that since my sophomore year where it snowed 3 feet over night and then another foot while I was snowboarding.  My new companion and I don't have much to work with as far as investigators go so we will have to find our own. We have been tracting for about 3-4 hours each day to try and find those who are interested.  So far it is hard to find people home but we will keep at it.  

This week I want to talk about prayer and the amazing gift that it is!  We have a direct comunication to the ultimate source of power and comfort in existence. Our Father in Heaven is always there for us.  We can turn to Him any time and he will strengthen us. I have really felt that this past week, I'm in a new area, its cold, there aren't many people interested in the gospel, and I don't want to knock on doors.  But I have prayed for strength and desire and I testify that when we have faith that God can change us He does.  I found that I didn't notice the cold, that I was excited to talk to new people.  I know that that is not me, my attitude was changed and I was strengthened by the Lord through His Atonement. I am so grateful for the prayers of everyone, my family and friends and those all over the world, I can feel that love and power from everyone. I don't know how I could do it with out prayer.  Alma taught us to "let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually" alma 34;27 We can't do it without prayer!  

Have an amazing week everyone! Get ready for thanksgiving! I love you all!

Elder Ward