22 February 2009
1st week with changes & a Testimony that's BIGGER than Ever
Hello Family!!
It has been an interesting week. On tuesday after we emailed it started to rain the hardest i have ever seen in my life. It was seriously like a hurricane. You could not see a block in front of you because it was that thick. Trees were falling and everything. It was crazy. We got soaked!! And the power went out for the night. Also i can feel my patience is going to be tested this change lol. Oh goodness, my companion is a little bit different. I think he was one of those momma´s boys who played alot of video games and stuff. And not sports video games like the real hard core stuff! It keeps things interesting and i just laugh about it later! I get really excited for district meetings and pdays to be with the whole zone! I think i might jsut be completely crazy insane by the end of this change!! Oh the experiences out here!
Well this week is really busy. We have alot going on. We have Sector conference on Thursday in Paysandu. We have to leave about 4 am to get there on time, oh how fun! My pillow tie will really come in handy then! That package was the best for valentines day! I have not eaten good chocolate like that in a long time, especially with peanut butter! Thank you so much!! We also have chior practice alot this week! Oh boy, its so so so so much fun, i can´t even tell you how excited i get to go........... Haha hopefully its only for this change thats all i have got to say! Salto is great, its been really hot lately, i´m ready for winter! I would do anything to be in the snow and cold right now! I have also been getting eaten alive by mosquitos at night! Its really fun! Every day i wake up with misquito bites all over the back of my arms. It looks like i have chicken pox!
We have had some crazy experiences this week! Some lady called us racists because were white and that we are lucky to have a new president! It makes me laugh! Then when we keep talking about Jesus Christ their perception changes! They start thinking that we are actually good people! Its quite hillarious! I love people telling me who I am without even knowing me! There are alot of things you just have to shake your head at and laugh about!
So we have 4 really good investigators right now. I think they will be getting baptized next week. They have been smokers for about 15 years. I thought they would have taken the Word of Wisdom a little harsh but they loved it! They knew that it actually was for the benefit and health for all God´s children. They doing great with stopping. It has really shown me the power that our Father in Heaven has to help His children. Its true that God always provides a way for us to keep his commandments! I have been noticing that God really is preparing people out there to hear and accept His gospel. I know without a doubt that He is preparing his children. I also know that if we do all we can He will place those people in front of us. We have quite a few more hopefull investigators that are starting to progress. Every day I testify of the reality and divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Çhrist and His church upon the earth. It is so wonderful for people to look straight into my eyes and have the spirit confirm to them that its true. That Jesus Christ does live with a body of flesh and bone and His Chruch is upon the earth this day. That our Father in Heaven still has communication with His children today just like He always has. When i study and think of the whole Plan of Salvation I am amazed. I am amazed at how perfect it is and how it just fits together and makes perfect sense. I am amazed at the love that our Father in Heaven has for His children. I know that God lives and loves us. I know that Jesus is the Christ and He also lives. I know that this is His Church on the earth today, the same one that he established when He was living upon the earth, and I know that it has been restored in its fullness this day after many years of being lost. I know my Savior lives.
Well this week should be interesting, i´m excited for Sector Conference on Thursday! Mostly to just use my pillow tie on the bus! Yeah yeah! Only one more pday left in the month! Its crazy! Time is going by fast, the end of this change will be coming up soon! We have alot of work to do, so were going to be getting down do business! Like we say back home Git-R-DUN!!! I think after this change i´ll be ready to enter the military as an officer because i´ll be driving our companionship so hard! haha That thought has actually crossed my mind a few times over the last couple days!
Well, i sure love all of you and appreciate everything! All the love and support through emails, packages, and letters. And most importantly your prayers! I can really feel them out here. Thank you mom and dad for all you do for our family. It doesn´t go unnoticed. I promise, and I was thinking the other day, every dollar I take out while i´m here, i´ll repay it! That is my word! Thats what i plan to do! I just need a REALLY GOOD JOB!! I love you all so much! Keep taking on life´s challenges strong! Don´t forget that you stand your tallest when your on your knees! Have a great week everyone!
Love always, Elder Mitchell A. Williams
It has been an interesting week. On tuesday after we emailed it started to rain the hardest i have ever seen in my life. It was seriously like a hurricane. You could not see a block in front of you because it was that thick. Trees were falling and everything. It was crazy. We got soaked!! And the power went out for the night. Also i can feel my patience is going to be tested this change lol. Oh goodness, my companion is a little bit different. I think he was one of those momma´s boys who played alot of video games and stuff. And not sports video games like the real hard core stuff! It keeps things interesting and i just laugh about it later! I get really excited for district meetings and pdays to be with the whole zone! I think i might jsut be completely crazy insane by the end of this change!! Oh the experiences out here!
Well this week is really busy. We have alot going on. We have Sector conference on Thursday in Paysandu. We have to leave about 4 am to get there on time, oh how fun! My pillow tie will really come in handy then! That package was the best for valentines day! I have not eaten good chocolate like that in a long time, especially with peanut butter! Thank you so much!! We also have chior practice alot this week! Oh boy, its so so so so much fun, i can´t even tell you how excited i get to go........... Haha hopefully its only for this change thats all i have got to say! Salto is great, its been really hot lately, i´m ready for winter! I would do anything to be in the snow and cold right now! I have also been getting eaten alive by mosquitos at night! Its really fun! Every day i wake up with misquito bites all over the back of my arms. It looks like i have chicken pox!
We have had some crazy experiences this week! Some lady called us racists because were white and that we are lucky to have a new president! It makes me laugh! Then when we keep talking about Jesus Christ their perception changes! They start thinking that we are actually good people! Its quite hillarious! I love people telling me who I am without even knowing me! There are alot of things you just have to shake your head at and laugh about!
So we have 4 really good investigators right now. I think they will be getting baptized next week. They have been smokers for about 15 years. I thought they would have taken the Word of Wisdom a little harsh but they loved it! They knew that it actually was for the benefit and health for all God´s children. They doing great with stopping. It has really shown me the power that our Father in Heaven has to help His children. Its true that God always provides a way for us to keep his commandments! I have been noticing that God really is preparing people out there to hear and accept His gospel. I know without a doubt that He is preparing his children. I also know that if we do all we can He will place those people in front of us. We have quite a few more hopefull investigators that are starting to progress. Every day I testify of the reality and divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Çhrist and His church upon the earth. It is so wonderful for people to look straight into my eyes and have the spirit confirm to them that its true. That Jesus Christ does live with a body of flesh and bone and His Chruch is upon the earth this day. That our Father in Heaven still has communication with His children today just like He always has. When i study and think of the whole Plan of Salvation I am amazed. I am amazed at how perfect it is and how it just fits together and makes perfect sense. I am amazed at the love that our Father in Heaven has for His children. I know that God lives and loves us. I know that Jesus is the Christ and He also lives. I know that this is His Church on the earth today, the same one that he established when He was living upon the earth, and I know that it has been restored in its fullness this day after many years of being lost. I know my Savior lives.
Well this week should be interesting, i´m excited for Sector Conference on Thursday! Mostly to just use my pillow tie on the bus! Yeah yeah! Only one more pday left in the month! Its crazy! Time is going by fast, the end of this change will be coming up soon! We have alot of work to do, so were going to be getting down do business! Like we say back home Git-R-DUN!!! I think after this change i´ll be ready to enter the military as an officer because i´ll be driving our companionship so hard! haha That thought has actually crossed my mind a few times over the last couple days!
Well, i sure love all of you and appreciate everything! All the love and support through emails, packages, and letters. And most importantly your prayers! I can really feel them out here. Thank you mom and dad for all you do for our family. It doesn´t go unnoticed. I promise, and I was thinking the other day, every dollar I take out while i´m here, i´ll repay it! That is my word! Thats what i plan to do! I just need a REALLY GOOD JOB!! I love you all so much! Keep taking on life´s challenges strong! Don´t forget that you stand your tallest when your on your knees! Have a great week everyone!
Love always, Elder Mitchell A. Williams
Moved to SALTO!
Hello family! So this was my last week here in Paysandú! We found out changes yesterday and are changing today! Both my companion and I are changing. He is going to Colonia and I am going to Salto! My new companion will be Elder Allen. This is his last change in the mission. I will be killing him this change! I´m very excited for changes. I have alot of things I want to do differently and better in this next change. I can feel its going to be good.
I was thinking of everyone this week as you traveled to California for Savannah´s baptism! I´m glad everything was so wonderful for everyone! She really does sound like she is a perfect little angel. Its amazing how powerfull a little child´s testimony can be. She has made such a wonderful choice that will affect the rest of her life. When I was reading how everyone was describing her and the weekend I was reminded of when the Savior taught that we must become as little children, humble, meek, and submissive, or in nowise can we enter into the kingdom of Heaven. I know thats true. I can just feel how pure and clean Savannah is. She is probably so small and doesn´t have alot of knowledge but she does have a testimony of the Savior His gospel and she knows He lives. Thats the most valuable knowledge anyone can attain in this life. I hope she gets the card I sent her in the mail.
We had a baptism this Saturday as well. Her name is Kimberly Rodriguez. She is 9 years old. It was great! Her uncle from a different ward her in paysandú baptized her. I let the music in the baptisimal service! Lol and i did it without a piano! I was also a witness. She had a little bit of a fear about being submersed completely in water. She didn´t quite go all the way in the first time so we had to do it again! The second time was a success! On sunday she was confirmed and I stood in the circle when we layed our hands on her head to give her the gift of the Holy Ghost. Thats the first time I had ever done that. It was great. I could feel the power of the priesthood. I feel it everytime I lay my hand on someones head, or when someone lays their hands on mine to give me a blessing. Which happened two weeks ago with my zone leader. Every time I get the reasurring feeling that the spirit is there. I know that it really is the power of God given to man to act in his name. I know that it has to be because normal human beings don´t have the capacity to do some things they do without divine help and inspiration. My testimony of the priesthood has really grown. Especially as we listened to the priesthood session from last conference on CD. Wow. The mood was somber, the spirit was ever so present. I have really come to understand what the priesthood really is. It truly is the power of God delegated to man to act in His name. But it goes beyond that. It is the perfect plan of service. As priesthood holders, we are expected to serve others. We are expected to serve everyone. We have the responsibility and opportunity to help bring the precious children of our Father in Heaven back into his presence. Thats what the priesthood is. Service. Thats the one word definition for it. I have definately come to understand more of what my duty is here, and through out my life.
Yesterday we said some goodbye´s to some people in the ward here. We taught a family home evening lesson on the Plan of Salvation last night. It was great. How wonderful it is to know where we lived before this life, why we are here, and where we are going! We are so blessed to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness on the earth today. It really is the plan of happiness. I know that by following in the Saviors footsteps we can all achieve true happiness in this life and in the next.
Well mom, I sure hope you got some rest lastnight for work today. I´m sure glad everyone traveled in safety! I hope everything is going well at home! I want to thank each and every one of you for your examples to me. Each one of you have taught me something special and different. You all have a special place in my heart. You are all a strenght to me and will always be. I hope this week brings joy and happiness to everyone! I will let you know how the changes are next week! And we have district meeting on Thursday so im hoping i get that package then! We will see! I love you all so very much! Take care!
Love always, Elder Mitchell A. Williams
I was thinking of everyone this week as you traveled to California for Savannah´s baptism! I´m glad everything was so wonderful for everyone! She really does sound like she is a perfect little angel. Its amazing how powerfull a little child´s testimony can be. She has made such a wonderful choice that will affect the rest of her life. When I was reading how everyone was describing her and the weekend I was reminded of when the Savior taught that we must become as little children, humble, meek, and submissive, or in nowise can we enter into the kingdom of Heaven. I know thats true. I can just feel how pure and clean Savannah is. She is probably so small and doesn´t have alot of knowledge but she does have a testimony of the Savior His gospel and she knows He lives. Thats the most valuable knowledge anyone can attain in this life. I hope she gets the card I sent her in the mail.
We had a baptism this Saturday as well. Her name is Kimberly Rodriguez. She is 9 years old. It was great! Her uncle from a different ward her in paysandú baptized her. I let the music in the baptisimal service! Lol and i did it without a piano! I was also a witness. She had a little bit of a fear about being submersed completely in water. She didn´t quite go all the way in the first time so we had to do it again! The second time was a success! On sunday she was confirmed and I stood in the circle when we layed our hands on her head to give her the gift of the Holy Ghost. Thats the first time I had ever done that. It was great. I could feel the power of the priesthood. I feel it everytime I lay my hand on someones head, or when someone lays their hands on mine to give me a blessing. Which happened two weeks ago with my zone leader. Every time I get the reasurring feeling that the spirit is there. I know that it really is the power of God given to man to act in his name. I know that it has to be because normal human beings don´t have the capacity to do some things they do without divine help and inspiration. My testimony of the priesthood has really grown. Especially as we listened to the priesthood session from last conference on CD. Wow. The mood was somber, the spirit was ever so present. I have really come to understand what the priesthood really is. It truly is the power of God delegated to man to act in His name. But it goes beyond that. It is the perfect plan of service. As priesthood holders, we are expected to serve others. We are expected to serve everyone. We have the responsibility and opportunity to help bring the precious children of our Father in Heaven back into his presence. Thats what the priesthood is. Service. Thats the one word definition for it. I have definately come to understand more of what my duty is here, and through out my life.
Yesterday we said some goodbye´s to some people in the ward here. We taught a family home evening lesson on the Plan of Salvation last night. It was great. How wonderful it is to know where we lived before this life, why we are here, and where we are going! We are so blessed to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness on the earth today. It really is the plan of happiness. I know that by following in the Saviors footsteps we can all achieve true happiness in this life and in the next.
Well mom, I sure hope you got some rest lastnight for work today. I´m sure glad everyone traveled in safety! I hope everything is going well at home! I want to thank each and every one of you for your examples to me. Each one of you have taught me something special and different. You all have a special place in my heart. You are all a strenght to me and will always be. I hope this week brings joy and happiness to everyone! I will let you know how the changes are next week! And we have district meeting on Thursday so im hoping i get that package then! We will see! I love you all so very much! Take care!
Love always, Elder Mitchell A. Williams
12 January 2009
Time is really flying by fast
We have interviews with the President on Thursday of this week. And probably sector conference next week. We have three weeks left in the change today. Man it has gone by pretty fast! We are also moving two block up the street to a new apartment cuz its not so high up. But its a lot nicer and bigger, we already had the nicest place in the whole mission but this new one is going to be like heaven! Lol but heaven in Uruguay is a lot different than Heaven in Utah! We are probably going to pack everything up on Tuesday after district meeting and clean the new apartment and then move in on Wednesday! lol what an exciting week! I´m excited for changes coming up though! Its going to be interesting, I for sure will get a new companion cuz i don´t think you stay with 1 companion for more than 2 changes. Time is passing so fast! Were almost half way through the first month of 2009! I feel like this year is just going to fly by.
So the people here are pretty difficult to work with, even the members! Its been a challenge. We are hoping for 1 baptism by the end of this month, hopefully it doesn´t fall through like the other ones we have had dates for! We will see! This week has been really hot and full of walking! My feet have been killing every day especially cuz they just bake with black shoes and sock and with the humidity! I think i´m fine without epson salt, i have some really good antibacterial soap i bought the other day! Maybe some odor eaters or something i could put in my shoes cuz they stink!! haha maybe those balls that smell good you put in shoes!
We did divisions with two members this week. It was great cuz I was like the senior comp! I definitely felt more energized and more enthusiastic! I had to talk a lot more with was great, it boosted my confidence! I was able to talk and understand just fine, i knew that the Spirit of the Lord was right there helping me! It was a great feeling! I was also able to take control of the conversation more, rather than my comp. I directed all of them more towards the savior! Its always a good feeling having the opportunity to testify of the Divinity of our Savior Jesus Christ!!!
Well this week is going to be busy, a lot of stuff going on! These next three weeks are going to fly by and then changes will happen and i could possibly be in a new area! I hope all is well back home! Enjoy the snow! I´m sure missing it! I love you all so much and hope you have a wonderful week! Thanks for all the love and support! I probably will be getting your letters tomorrow and maybe the package of things i need! Have a great week! I love you all and miss you dearly!
Love always, Elder Mitchell A. Williams
PS. Lol I don´t get home until Sept 14 2010! You have a lot to count! It makes me feel important though mom! I LOVE YOU!
So the people here are pretty difficult to work with, even the members! Its been a challenge. We are hoping for 1 baptism by the end of this month, hopefully it doesn´t fall through like the other ones we have had dates for! We will see! This week has been really hot and full of walking! My feet have been killing every day especially cuz they just bake with black shoes and sock and with the humidity! I think i´m fine without epson salt, i have some really good antibacterial soap i bought the other day! Maybe some odor eaters or something i could put in my shoes cuz they stink!! haha maybe those balls that smell good you put in shoes!
We did divisions with two members this week. It was great cuz I was like the senior comp! I definitely felt more energized and more enthusiastic! I had to talk a lot more with was great, it boosted my confidence! I was able to talk and understand just fine, i knew that the Spirit of the Lord was right there helping me! It was a great feeling! I was also able to take control of the conversation more, rather than my comp. I directed all of them more towards the savior! Its always a good feeling having the opportunity to testify of the Divinity of our Savior Jesus Christ!!!
Well this week is going to be busy, a lot of stuff going on! These next three weeks are going to fly by and then changes will happen and i could possibly be in a new area! I hope all is well back home! Enjoy the snow! I´m sure missing it! I love you all so much and hope you have a wonderful week! Thanks for all the love and support! I probably will be getting your letters tomorrow and maybe the package of things i need! Have a great week! I love you all and miss you dearly!
Love always, Elder Mitchell A. Williams
PS. Lol I don´t get home until Sept 14 2010! You have a lot to count! It makes me feel important though mom! I LOVE YOU!
24 November 2008
Second Week in Uruguay
Hello there family! So my companion is great, like i said he is from Paraguay! He doesnt really speak English, lol probably about 10 words! We can communicate great! I know that the gift of tounges is being realized in my life right now! I pray for it many times during the day, cuz there is no way i could do this withough it! Its been a busy week. It is extremely hot here! Its great though, even though i never stop sweating! On sunday we had about three less active families come to church that we had visited through out the week and 5 Investigators! It was so awesome to walk into curch and see so many people there, cuz last week there was about 20. We are just working every day making contacts and visiting less active members! One of the members name in Analia, she is 28 and has 4 kids 8 and under. She has no runing water, its really sad. I think i told you about this in my last letter. Anyways the kids are always asking for carmelos, which is candy and they say they are hungary. So if you could send me cany for them that would be great! Also maybe some small games such a uno and other things would be great to play with them! I´m really going to miss thanksgiving with you all this year. But Christmas is going to be good because here they all wait up till midnight and shoot off fireworks! Huge ones, its the biggest holiday they have! It will be intersting to see! We have a pretty nice appartment now that i´m used to it. I´m tired of killing cockroaches though! lol its all good though. Nick, what a nice thing you said in your primary program! Your awesome buddy! I love you so much! I can see in your writing that your testimony is growing each day! Keep up the good work! Anyways my companion is really funny! And a good cook, along with the other latin zone leader in our apartment. They are all funny! I´m reading the book Our Search For Happiness right now. Its wonderful! It really has been a testimony builder for me. Everyday i find myself on my knees more and more. It has been tough adjusting to everything. One thing that i learned is that it is impossible to go through out this life without divine guidance. At least this is the way it is for me. There is know way i could make it through every day with out the Spirit there to comfort me and to know that my Father in Heaven and my Savior Jesus Christ love me. It is such an incredible blessing to be allowed to have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion if we live worthy of him. It seems like every day I begin to understand deeper meanings of the plan our Heavenly Father has made for us. Its so wonderful. One thing i´m especially greatful for is the Plan of Salvation. How incredible and magnificent it is to know that we can be an Eternal Family. This brings me so much comfort and peace every day especially when i begin to get home sick. Anyways, there is alot more things that I am greatful for this Thanksgiving that i have often taken for grantit. I hope you all have a wonderful thanksgiving, and eat extra turkey and pie for me! I will definately be thinking of you! It wont be long until i will be talking to each of you on the phone! I love you all and i hope you have a great week!
With all my love,
Elder Mitchell A. Williams
With all my love,
Elder Mitchell A. Williams
He Finally Arrived
Hello family! I´m here now! Alright so it takes a long time add pictures on here so i´m going to make you a cd and send it to you! Alright, so Tuesday we left at around 9 in the morning. We drove to the airport and were on our way. It was only about a 30 min flight. really short! We got off the plane, got our luggage and went out and met the President and his wife and the assistants. We then drove to a little park that over looked the ocean and the city of Montevideo and took pictures. It was beautiful! We then drove back to the Presidents house and had a little slide show and talked about the mission for a while. Then we had an amazing lunch! Potatoes and gravey, and we got ice cream and brownies too! The presidents house is really nice, probably the nicest house in all of uruguay. After that we then talked some more and then went to a temple session. The temple is beautiful! Wow, i cant even describe it! After the temple we went back and talked some more and had interviews with the president and ate pizza. Then we went to the Hotel on the temple grounds to sleep. Its for members who travel long distances just to come to the temple. This place was really nice! Wednesday we got up and went to get a mini physical from the doctors here at about 9. I think it was to see if we are helthy enough to live in the country. After that we went back to the house and met out trainers (1st companion). Mine is from Paraguay and doesn´t speak any english. I´m the only one out of our group that recieved a latin companion and one that does not speak any english. I was feeling a little overwhelmed and scared but i think i´m over it now. We then went and took our stuff to the offices in montevideo. There we took some pictures, which you will get in a cd, and then went procelyting for about an hour. We then got back and took our stuff to the bus station and headed on our way to my first area! It was about a 5 hour bus ride. The area in which i am at is call Paysandú. We live in an apartment with the Zone leaders on the 11th floor. We can see Argentina from the other side of the River! Its pretty cool! Thursday we had our first Zone meeting. It was good, I gave my first blessing there, i was really nervous but it turned out alright! After that we went and did some service, we walked about 30min to this members house out in the country. They kinda have a small little farm! We painted the inside and part of the outside of their house. It was good! Its really hot here! Man i´m dying! Friday we went and bought some food and got settled in and procelyted all day. It was good, we visited a few less active members and just started to get fimiliar with our area. Saturday we did the same thing again. The people here live in really smaill cement boxes. We are so lucky to live where we do. We have so many things to be thankful for. This thanksgiving will be different for me knowing all the things which we have that no one else does. There is this one single mother who was baptized in may who has 4 children under the age of 8. She doesnt have any running water in the house and has this really disgusting outhouse for a bathroom. I was holding back tears after we left her house. I wanted to help so bad but i know there is not much i can do. It is definately different down here. Especially in our appartment, I wont go into detail but just know that i am still having trouble adjusting to everything. Sunday we went to chuch and i had to speak. I just shared my testimony and introduced myself. There was only about 30 people who attended church. There are alot of inactive people here. I think our goal will be to start bringing members back to church. After church we ate lunch and then headed back out to go procelyting again. Every day feels the same here lol! We visited another less active member and that was the second time I used my priesthood authority t bless someone because she was sick. That is basically my week! I got your package and letters! Thank you so much for them all! I love the cds and the pictures and especially the candy! Nick, great job on your arrow of light! That is awesome buddy! I love you so much! I was a little sad i missed it though :( If you can, please send me some US stamps in a letter so I can letters home through pouch asap! Also, if you could send me my Long Beach hat that would be great too! I want to give it to this 18 year old member who said he likes it when he saw a picture of our family in sand diego. When you send packages make sure you put pictures of Mary on it. For some reason they don´t care if packages have Jesus on it. Also send it through the post office through a flat rate package box or envelope and make sure it under four pounds. If its not that okay but it will get here the fastest when you follow those guidelines. I also have an email address that i forgot in my appartment that you can write a letter to me and they will print it out at the offices and send it to me each week. I will give you the address next week! I cant wait to call home in about a month! I´m looking forward to hearing from all of you! I miss you all and love you so so so much!!!! Make sure to thank our Father in Heaven for all our many blessing. We live in such a great part of the world. Wow i cant even tell you how lucky and blessed we are. Well, i´m excited to be working here and serving the Lord. This is definately going to be the hardest thing i have ever done, and a huge testimony builder. Thank you for everything mom and dad, i love you so much! I will be looking forward to hearing from you next week! I love you all very much! I will get that picture cd to you as soon as possible!
Love always, Elder Mitchell A. Williams
Love always, Elder Mitchell A. Williams
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