Fan the Flames of Faith

Hola!!

What an awesome week it has been!  We have had some tender and memorable experiences.  It is amazing to see the Lords hand in these peoples lives.  The gospel of Jesus Christ brings so much everlasting happiness.  When people start to taste it they cant stop drinking it in!  Its awesome!

Well this coming week being Christmas brings so much happiness to so many! Especially me!!! Our mission President decided to let us skype home!  What a dang good blessing! And with that MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope all of you have an AWESOME Christmas! 

  So this week had a really tender experience.  We are teaching Rose and her son Phillip.  We have gown really close to each other.  I love her personality and love for others.  She does so much good.  She really embraces the Christ-like attribute of Charity.  On Tuesday she called us and invited us to Phillips Christmas program.  Phillip attends a religious school, but is not a member of that church.  We went to this huge church building that was beautiful and ornate.  We walked in and stood at the back until Rose finally saw us.  She came and then we sat together.  It was beautiful program but something was missing inside that church (it will remain nameless).  We then left after hugs and good-byes.

    Two days later we had a lesson with her and Phillip.  She told us a really sweet experience.  She said,"I was sitting there listening to the music then all of the sudden I felt this warm feeling come over me and felt like I needed to look behind me.  So I did.  I looked and saw you two standing in the back and felt so much peace and love that I wasn't feeling before.  So I had to go get you both and just hug you!"  What a miracle!  She then told us that her husband just got promoted and a raise and weekends off!  They had been praying for this to happen before they met us.  Then she remembered the promise I made to her.  I told her that because this gospel is true and the Book Of Mormon is true then blessing will come from pursuing this course.  She said,"You said this would happen, and it did!" Another blessing from Heavenly Father.  We are going to give her a baptism date soon.  

   We have two baptisms this weekend!  One is Susie! She is a members sister.  She is awesome.  She left another church because she said it didn't feel right.  That same week we just happened to run into her at her work at WalGreens.  She was checking us out as the cashier.  She looked at our tags and saw we were Mormon missionaries.  She said her brother belonged to that church.  Weird thing is we were just with her brother 10 minutes prior to meeting her, but he didn't tell us she worked there.  We asked if we could meet with her sometime!  She agreed and the rest is HISTORY! She will be baptized this Saturday. I'm so excited.  She has turned into my mom out here.  She takes care of us and loves us!  She told us," If it had been any other missionaries I would not have listened."  Isn't that amazing.  It just makes me really know that I was called here for a purpose.  Her and her brother, Bro. Thacker are going to move to Utah when I get back.  They are very serious and sure about this.  I am so thankful for these people that are a part of my life!  A mission is DOPE!!!!!

I love you guys! Thank you for all the Christmas presents!!! It's so humbling to have so much support and love from so many people!!! Thank you!!!! Share the gospel! 

Love 

Elder Patch

Pics:

1. We went sledding (Anthony)

2. We made dinner! group pic. 

3. The McMahans.

Miracles

HOLA!

Dang Good Week Comin At Ya!!

Well to start out I just want to say thank you to all those that have sent me letters and packages! Its been such a blessing to have the support being of being on a mission!

   So last Saturday night we had a MIRACLE happen.  We were on our way home and were so dang tired so we stopped at a Wendy's by our apt. I should preface this.  I might a promise to myself that I would talk to at least one person every time we go out to eat.  So we walked in and I saw this one family sitting there with two boys.  I decided i would buy the two boys a Frosty.  I gave them the Frosty then sat down, and after about 5 minutes I went and talked to them.  I asked if they had ever heard of the Mormon church.  The dad (Jason) replied,"I am one."  you can imagine my reaction. I started freaking out and the wife started laughing!  I asked if we could come to their house and talk to them!  They agreed.  We went over Last Monday night and taught the mom (Randi) and their two boys Anthony and Andrew.  It was awesome. 

    Randi isn't a member nor her sons.  She said she would read.  Before we left we asked her to pray, but she graciously declined. But her husband spoke up and said he would!  It had been 18 years since he had prayed.  I was no nervous, but he did great.  Two days later we got a text from Randi asking us to please come back over and have dinner with them.  We came and it was so much fun.  You can really see the gospel taking affect in their home.  Turns out the whole family has been reading together!  And Jason who has already been baptized and has the Holy Ghost said after that night he prayed and felt that warm feeling again.  He said he missed that. 18 years!!!!! Can you believe that???  Their two sons have become my little brothers.  I love those two kids like they are my blood!! The do karate, and so i told them they both could TRY and take me down.  I won ahahha.  It was so fun.  Anthony the youngest who is 10 told me,"I wish you were my real brother."  Man that hit home.  I love that kid.  If i ever leave Marion that will kill me to say bye to them.  They are all coming to church and working towards baptism. MIRACLES.  "It all starts with a Frosty." 

   As missionaries we have the opportunity to do LOTS of service.  Service has really brought me a ton of happiness.  When I am serving I look at the people I serve and just think about how much the Savior loves them. If Christ was here he would be doing exactly what I am doing.  I love wearing His name on my chest with pride.  In Marion we have sister missionaries also!  The sister are amazing! We get along with them so well and love them!  We lucked out!  Our area is the doing the best in the whole mission of Columbus,Ohio!  It really shows that when you have faith and put in WORK Heavenly Father blesses you.  A lot of eyes are on us and the sister missionaries.  Everyone wants to know why we are doing so well!  Honestly I don't really know!  We just work hard!  

    There are countless stories I could tell, but I'll keep it short today.  I am so grateful for the chance I have had to serve thus far.  I especially love the people i have been fortunate enough to meet.  Just remember... when you don't believe in yourself, know that your Heavenly Father never EVER stops believing in you. The church is true, the book is blue. Work hard. Serve. "Remember Who You Are." -Billy Cowser 

Love you all!! 

Elder Patch

pics

1. The Marion Elder and Sisters. we rock

2.Elders and sisters.

3.Collier.  He is in our Branch. The coolest kid. Born Missionary!!!

4.Anthony and Andrew from Wendy's! My little bros! 

The Little Things

Greetings!  This week has been amazing! Our mission is going really hard right now, because it is the end of the year.  As a mission we have the goal of 500+ baptisms.  We WERE 60 short.  We had a mission wide fast this past Sunday and now we are projected have have 521 baptisms.  Try and tell me the Church isn't true.  We have been working super hard in our area.  We have had some people back out who were committed.  Sometimes I forget that Satan doesn't stop working.  He is VERY proactive.  I just wish Satan would disappear.  Life would be so much easier. #secondcoming.

Okay so this week we have had the most amazing lessons!  Just full of the Spirit. We had 16 member present lessons and I seriously testify that having a member with you makes all the difference.  Their testimonies are a lot more powerful than mine.  I just love to watch the peoples we teach faces as they listen to these member testify and bear their testimonies from the heart.  Most of the members here are converts to the church.  

so one of our investigators (who will remain nameless) might be a little crazy.  He understands all we say and believes it.  But he can exactly grasp that he is supposed to live it.  So he was supposed to be baptized on the 21st and may still be, but he is struggling with a lot... A LOT of things.  We taught him the law of Chasity so he promised us no more prostitutes hahah.  We he broke that promise three days ago, but his words were, "But I Love Her!!" i couldn't help but laugh. Not to make fun but he said said it so innocently.  I asked well did you pay her?  And he responded "Yes".  Love shouldn't cost anything.  But we are still working with him!  He is awesome and so very charitable.  

Okay Rose. Wow.  She really is amazing.  She was taught the first lesson last week and was skeptical... which is normal.  She talked with her husband that night about it and he who knows much about the Mormon church said it wasn't for him.  He couldn't believe The Book of Mormon to be another word of God.  That The Bible was it.  Well she responded," You really think God only wanted to talk to some of His children and not all of them?"  WOW.  Profound i know.  She came to a baptism on Saturday and had the most amazing time.  I'm so excited for her.

Lastly we had our mission Christmas Party/Devotional.  It was amazing.  I started crying when we all (300+ missionaries) stood up and sang our mission song together.  It was amazing and powerful.  We were edified that whole meeting.  At the end we had a testimony meeting.  I thought about going up, then was reluctant because I feel like I am always the center of attention, so i wanted to lay low.  Well that didn't last long.  I went up there and cried my eyes out.  I don't know a mission really messes up your hormones.  But whenever I bear my testimony of my brother and savior Jesus Christ I just can't hold back.  Christmas is coming up and I am so excited to share the true gospel during this season.  People are just happier!  I love you all! And am so grateful for the love and support I receive every week!  

Till We Meet again!

Elder Patch

Hope vs. Knowledge

A Mission is HARRRRDDDDDD!  But its worth it.

Every week i find myself confronted with a new challenge or test. And by the end of the week I get some type of help.  Heavenly father really knows me better than I do, because he knows just how to test me in every situation.  Although the people we teach are learning and growing... so am I.  A mission is worth so much.  Its worth all the doubts and struggles and pain, because i have the ability to change someones eternity's.  So all of you back home that aren't Mormon... I'm coming for ya when i get back! HA!

This week has been so amazing.  But also has really pushed me to rely not on myself.  So much in my life i have demanded my independence and being on a mission demands the total opposite.  You have to rely on everyone else beside yourself.  This has been my biggest struggle.  This week we taught this family: Rose, Mark, and their son Phillip.  She really wanted to find THE TRUTH.  Not anything less.  I could relate to her.  I promised her that she has found it. She asked how do i know that?  I thought for a couple seconds... which felt like forever.  I then responded I don't KNOW for sure that everything is true.  I DONT KNOW forsure that a 14yr old boy saw Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.  But I do know after praying and asking for myself that I received some sort of answer.  I have FAITH that it was from my Heavenly Father.  I hope that it is true.  Hope is everything.  If we have hope for things that are true but not seen then Heavenly Father will fill in those gaps.  So that's exactly whats happened on my mission.  Little by little Heavenly Father fills in these gaps of doubt with knowledge.  I have faith in something long enough He will let you know the rest.  Rose thought for a moment and she really understood.  She said she hopes what we said is true.  She is willing to put in the work to find out, and that's all we can do.  We put in the work and then we are blessed with an answer.

I had the most interesting Thanksgiving.  So my companion the night before went ghost white then went kinda green.  So during the night at 1am i heard him slam a door and i woke up so confused still being half asleep.  So i got up and he was having some fun in the bathroom over the toilet.  He was seriously sick.  Well i woke up really fast after that.  Turns out he kinda missed the toilet. and half of whatever was in his stomach was on the wall and shower curtain and floor.  I felt soooooo bad for him.  he just sat there apologizing to me and i said you're fine, its not your fault.  I helped him to bed then spent the next hour cleaning it up.  HAHAHAHA What an experience.  Then waking up at 6:30 i was dead.  And i didnt wake my companion and let him sleep.  We spent the whole day inside and him in bed.  We had some members bring me food cause they felt bad.  My companion (Elder Marler) got up and said he felt much better.  So we decided to take the food we had been given to Donna's house.  We are currently teaching her and i love her and her son.  They don't really have anybody so we had a thanksgiving dinner with them! It was different but I loved it!  Just to sit around and enjoy the people that surround you.  You could really tell they appreciated us coming over. 

Learn to love to serve!  When you serve people you can really feel how much Heavenly Father loves them! I love you guys! Thanks for all the Letters!

Elder Patch

pics

Rose and family

Thanksgiving with Donna and son Steve

And my companion and i being .... us.

Patience IS a Virtue

Another week down!  Time is really starting to fly.  But I don't know if i want to hold onto it.  I feel as if i learn a new principle or lesson every week, so I look for every new week.  I've noticed that I learn a lot more from a mission than i ever thought I would.  Although the people we meet and teach learn from us, I feel like im learning so much more from them.  Each one has a story, a struggle, a temptation, a victory, a life.  They are teaching me so much.  I think so often we take for granted the people we surround ourselves with. We often just enjoy their jokes and company but to often forget to look on their life. Others have experienced things we (you) haven't. These experiences of others can grant you an entirely new perception on something.   This week as it is Thanksgiving, look at the people around you.  Get to know them.  And then appreciate their story, and their life.  Once you do this I PROMISE it'll change yours.

What a week.  I want to share a story of two people.  One is Joe and the other Gary Jackson... Joe we met through another investigator; Tasha. He was a drug addict and just finally overcame this.  He found comfort in his church, and its members.  He was looking at for a new church.  He felt very secure in his faith.  Side Note- When I meet people like this i ask them to first keep an open mind, and heart.  Then promise them that the FULL gospel of Jesus Christ has so much MORE in store for them. Most of the time they decide to listen... Thankfully Joe did.  We met with him and Tasha last week and taught the Restoration.  He said he was really interested about the Book of Mormon.  He began to read with Tasha and they would stop every so verses and ponder what they thought it meant and how it pertained to them. Genius.  While both were reading they said they put their books down and both lifted them back up after a minute of talking and BOTH THEIR PAGES OF BOTH THEIR BOOKS HAD TURNED. Neither of them remembered turning the page.  So they said they got chills and read really fast to get to that page!HA! They said their was a verse on that page that both of them needed.They are getting Baptized at December 21.    Joe later that week went to a group council meeting for his church where they sat around and talked about how it is important to find a church that feels right.  He spoke up and said well these Mormon missionary boys have been talking to me!  Everyone in the room started laughing hysterically at him and Tasha.  He stood up and said, " I dont know whats funny." He said everyone went dead silent.  He said he felt so angry and hurt.  He said It didnt feel like God was in that church. He knew what he felt about the Book of Mormon and was so upset that people would laugh at his experience with it.  I started to cry AGAIN just thinking about how much faith that took.  I am so proud to know him.

Gary Jackson.  What a guy. He was a referral form another member, and he was so ready.  He listened to every word we said.  He agreed and like understood everything! Which is rare.  Later we came back and he said he knew the Book of Mormon is a true book.  He then said that he wanted to come to church.  So he came and had the most amazing time.  A lot of people knew him, cause he is a handy man.  So to say the least he is prettttty popular in the Branch.  He said he felt the spirit so strong at church. He is going to be baptized Dec. 21 .  He is also obsessed with Katy Perry. so last night we had a dance party listening to her new album.  I love that guy.  He is such a CHARACTER! I have a pic of him below.

Both of these people have unique and amazing stories, and I wish I could go into detail.  Once i get to know, really know these people I absolutely love them.  Then I think about how much Heavenly Father must love them.  Then I think about how much He must love me to trust ME to teach his children. My brothers and sisters.  I really feel inadequate at times to do this great thing, but I KNOW HE WILL ALWAYS MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE. I love you all. 

OH! Im staying in Marion OH another transfer so keep writing me letters!!

1385 Southland PKWY

Marion, OH 43302

Tornado and Stake Conference

This week... well mostly the weekend has been unreal!  I have felt the spirit more strong in one meeting than any other.  And i almost died!!!!!! Just kidding but a Tornado just went through town no biggie. church is true. hey-o

Okay so this weekend was stake conference and that's kinda what i want to focus on! It was the most spiritual meeting i have ever been to!!!! The room was on FIRE!!! Well just the spirit made it super warm in there.  But every talk really pertained to me and my situation but also everyone.  The main focus was on missionary work. BIG SURPRISE! but wow it really stuck this time.  The emphasis was on member missionary work.  And the phrase that i loved was ,"STEP IT UP!" It wasn't said offensively but it was said sternly.  It was piercing. 

This one man talked about how this sense of urgency is occurring. That these ARE THE LAST DAYS! and that we really need to wake up and start doing something about it.  I love this.  I am all for this.  ACTION!!!! We have this gospel. We are so blessed by it.  There are so many that dont have it, or even know about it!  WHAT IS HOLDING US BACK FROM SHARING IT?!  fear.

Fear of rejection or avoidance or even loss of a friend!  These are all real things , but they are also excuses.  We have to stop "murmuring" and doubting what we can do!  We aren't finding or talking to people alone!  We have the help of GOD!  And personally i think God is more powerful than fear. The Lord recognizes sacrifice. If you have a desire to serve the Lord WILL bless you. But faith always comes first.  we have to act upon our faith them the Lord produces miracles. Yes people have their agency(which sometimes I hate) and they will choose for themselves but if we TRY then that is all we've been asked.  So this man talked about a list of characteristics we need to have when finding people: intentional.Courageous.Fighter.Resilient.Faithful. Diligent. I love this list!  Its a list i have now hanging in my room.  We all in the words of this man need to "Step It Up" and i know we will be successful! So my challenge is for all of us to talk to our neighbors! invite them over! MOM AND DAD INVITE YOUR NEIGHBOR OVER! and have dinner, games or something fun to get to know them!  Then invite them to some church activity!  Less active people find them! Help them get back to church! Every week look for a family or someone that you see that you can talk to!  Pray for missionary experiences!  Let fear go and go to work! If you're not a full time missionary with a name badge on your chest... then its time to paint one on your heart. I love you guys!

Okay so last night we had a dang tornado! It was nuts! Sirens everywhere so dang loud! we were at our investigators house so we couldn't leave! It was awesome!!!!! HAHA We looked outside and i swear i couldn't see across the street because the wind was going like 70 miles per hour!!!! it was nuts! we didn't get hit thank goodness but it was awesome! we went and hid in the basement! A TORNADO! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!!!  I was kinda hoping to get hit just to see what it felt like to be in a tornado! ... maybe next time :)  
We have seen so many miracles this week in our area.  at the beginning of the week we had a referral from a less active member.  She referred us to her 12 yr old nephew!  We went and met him and he was awesome! Turns out he has read half the Book of Mormon and knows its true! And wants to be baptized and get the Holy Ghost!  Then his parents joined us and they want to be Baptized too!!! MIRACLES!!!!!  His picture is below! This is why i went on a mission! They have a family of 7 and they all can be sealed together for eternity's! How amazing! I am pumped for them!!!! Also at the begging of the week we played basketball and i of course have never played but SHOUT OUT TO MY BOY ELDER CALVERT cause he taught me some dunks before we left and i whipped them out this week... glad to know i can somewhat still jump. yikes.  but i made it more official but wearing a basketball outfit hahahahahahhahah (Pictue Below)  so i guess ill try out for BYU when i get back. 
I love this gospel!  It is the only TRUE FULL GOSPEL!  It has been amazing these past weeks to learn and grow so much.  I really love what im becoming.  There is so much more to life than sports.   I love you guys!  Thanks for the letters!! 


Elder Patch

Fake It Till You Make It

Sup.

Well time is just flying by! I wont lie I feel like i've been here a year! But its been almost two months... oh well! HA!

This week has been really great and strengthened my testimony of missionary work.  there are so many facets of missionary work.  We had a zone conference this week and in the conference some other missionaries said when they dropped some of their investigators then they found others to replace them instantly.  This was super hard for me, because i learn to love everyone i meet!  I feel like they are all my best friends so i cant just "drop" my best friend.  But i prayed and prayed about it and just felt like we needed to drop some people that weren't progressing.  It about killed me.  But in that same day we got 5 new investigators!  We now have 17 investigators that are all pretty much progressing.  All on different paces but still progressing.

This week helped my confidence a TON! HA! we were out contacting and we knocked on some door and this 15 yr old girl answers and screamed! ahahhaha She was like, "youre BEN PATCH!" and i felt so good inside that i wasn't forgotten hahah.  She called her friend to come over then we took pics and of course i told them to go follow me on instagram! HA! So i guess they play for a local high school or something! And so this is where "flirt to convert" comes in and we are teaching these girls again this week! HOLLA! 

On Saturday I got to baptize Margie.  She is a blessing.  She is this little tiny lady, and was smoking 5 pack of cigs a day.  She wanted to give everything up to be baptized.  She didnt care what it took.  She worked so hard.  In one week she went from 5 packs to 0 because she got a priesthood blessing! What a blessing! I remember crying while baptizing her because i remember putting her under and watching her come a new person.  I didnt even recognize her.  She just glows now.  I love her.  And i want so many others to experience what she did. 

We were out looking for some old investigators and we went to this one house and knocked and asked if she was the girl we were looking for and she said no.  So we just decided to ask her if she was interested herself about the Mormon church.  She said sure! so we came back the next day and taught her a lesson.  It went amazing and the spirit was so strong.  We then asked her to pray and she agreed.  She immediately started to cry... And i started to cry with her.. sobbing more like.  She begged Heavenly Father to help her raise her 3 kids right.  She is amazing. Her name is Tasha.  And i guess her husband just left her.  Its amazes me what people have to go through out here.  I cant believe how fortunate I am.  This mission if anything else has really just opened my eyes to what i need to focus on in my life.

I sincerely love this gospel.  It is changing peoples lives as well as mine.  There are some really rough times and i almost give up.  But that would be selfish.  I want to change as many lives as I can.  I love you all! Be missionaries while you are home!!

And thank you for the letters! people write me!

Love

Elder Spatch

The Ups and Downs

Hey.


What a week it has been!  It is crazy to think that i have been here for a month.  Time does fly! This week has been challenging! I was wondering when i would get hit with a trial, cause its been going TOO GOOD!!!

To start branch is starting to like/trust us!  Which is great cause we get fed more ha!  For a while we were cooking every night of the week for ourselves!! We got to go to some cool member houses.  Most are like these huge Victorian homes and i dig them. Ill show some pics.  And then others are these farm homes that just have like 10 acres of land surrounding them.  The branch has a wide range of people!  I have grown to really love all of them, because they all are so very different and they love to talk about their past struggles and how they came to the gospel.  It really inspires me to find people! 

Okay so we were tracking(going door to door) in this neighborhood and were about to leave when all the sudden we had a feeling we needed to go down this street.  So we started walking and every person we met slammed the door in our face and then we got to like the second to last house and a girl, a young mom with 2 kids opens it and says, "NO WAY! I WAS JUST LOOKING UP YOUR CHURCH 3 HOURS AGO!!!!"  So pretty much the church is true and that was the most amazing thing.  I feel so blessed to be this close to the spirit to just follow where it tell us to go!  Anyway her name is Rebekah, and she is awesome! We also met Donna and her son Steve who is 55! they are the funniest humans alive.  Steve was in a crazy accident when he was 2o so he has been crippled ever since but his humor kills me.  We go over every other night.  Donna is just like my grandma Adonna.  Sassy and hilarious, but still classy.  I love her.  She came to church this past sunday, and during sacrament said,"whats with the little piece of bread! I could have ate that whole plate!" and then she said... "What no wine? what kind of sick joke is this!" i about died.  He picture is below.

Later in the week we had zone conference taught by all the AP's and our Mission President!  It was seriously awesome!  It was a lot about obedience and hard work.  We watched the video about the football player that carried this guy on his back blindfolded from endzone to endzone. If you havent watched it then go look it up. its from some movie.  But the kid was blind folded so he had no idea how far he was from the opposite end. I just loved this because it shows when we push ourselves we achieve more. a thought that came to me was - We don't grow in the state of being comfortable.  We have to strain ourselves.  I relate this to being an athlete.  Our muscles don't grow unless we get uncomfortable with more weight.

This week has also been tough, because we haven't had people progressing as much.  we had so many new investigators but now i feel like we are last on their list to see.  So its been hard for me because i feel like God should just make them know that what I know is true.  But he gave us the loving plan of agency which lets us choose.  I think this is one trial i will have on my mission... being PATIENT! I think my faith in God is being tested to see if i really will put all my trust in him.  A mission is seriously hard.  There are times when i just want to go home BUT i wont because if i could get one person to know and feel the blessings i have felt in 
my life, then 2 years is worth it.

I love this gospel.  Don't fear sharing it with others, because you never know who is ready to hear it.  If we all just TRY i know that's all Heavenly Father asks.

Oh! here is my actual Apt address, but that could change after November 24 so send to the mission office after that.

Love you all!!

1385 Southland PKWY

Marion, OH 43302

Elder Patch

Flirt 2 Convert (It Works)

I'm ALIVE!!!!

     Holy cow what a week... AGAIN!  this week has been awesome.  I feel like i get redundant, because I say that so much. Oh well. I mean it.

Okay so we are in a new area MARION! And my companion and I opened it! So there was a little pressure but its all good.  We (I) decided we wanted to be the best. Big surprise right. We wanted to have the best numbers in our whole zone.  So we made it a matter of prayer and lots of fasting! Like i said last week we hit the ground running. We just went out and talked to everybody! It was awesome!!!! By the end of the week we had 12 new real progressing investigators, 9 of which committed to being baptized and 2 who are getting baptized in the next 3 weeks. It has been a huge blessing! Seriously! We put all our faith in the Lord and BELIEVED that every person we talked to will be converted!  It has been a blessing and strengthened my testimony! Our zone could not believe the success we are having! They asked my to speak to our zone at zone conference to talk about what we are doing and what changes we are making.

     One thing that i want to talk about is how we can make our experience personable.   I have come to understand that with our personalities and the spirit people can learn for themselves the truth of this gospel.  This simple true gospel.  I believe our personalities are a piece of Christs personalities. But he had them all mastered, which made him the ultimate teacher.  we must learn to be ourselves and work with the spirit to find and teach people.  People don't want to talk to a robot.  The want to talk to a REAL person. A person that has been where they are, a person that can relate.  But also a person that has overcome these struggles.  And through the gospel we all overcome obstacles.  People must feel the love we have for them.  I have truly grown to love everyone i come in contact with.  They become my friends, my family.

     I also want to talk about fear. Fear is something that can make or brake a missionary.This week one of my personal goals was to be fearless.  Thinking about where I come from and who I am held me back I think.  As an athlete we are taught to be warriors, gladiators, fearless men.  Then we go on a mission and feel the total opposite.  I felt insignificant, timid, vulnerable.  I then had a epiphany.  We are warriors, gladiator, champions of Jesus Christ.  We go to battle or have a match against Satan every day.  Each day a new game or championship to win.  This gave me a purpose.  I am driven.  I will be the best player, and win all games. Finding this out it has changed my outlook.  I have talked to everyone.  I have not let myself feel fear.  It is so important to try and talk to EVERY single person I see.  When we let ourselves go and fall into the gospel we become true disciples of Christ.  And with Christ i feel fearless.

     Okay on to our investigators!  We met the most amazing people! First is James and Harley! A couple living together and they have a little girl.  They live in the scariest part of town so every time we finish teaching them I run to the car and lock myself in! I know i am a giant black man but most of you know I am a little girl. ahahhahaha  I seriously feel like one day i am going to get shot!  But Harley and James read the WHOLE BOOK OF MORMON in a night!!! They said it felt so good and peaceful that they couldn't stop! They both committed to be baptized.

    Then there is blaiz.  I talked about him last week.  He told us about he wanted to kill himself multiple times and god wouldn't let him die.  He is only 19.  Every time i talk to him I cry.  He knows the church is true, and said he didn't even have to ask and pray to find out he just could feel it! But he did pray and ask and said he got a strong answer.  He had an addiction to chewing tobacco, but gave it up in a instant because he said he will do anything to be baptized.  Which again made me cry.  He gets big sores in his mouth and you can tell it hurts but he wont give up.  He asked for a blessing and asked me to give him it.  It was amazing.  It was a blessing of healing.  I could just feel how much love Heavenly Father had for him.  He is doing much better now!

It is amazing to me these people that have been put in my life.  I feel so honored to know them.  They all are so strong in their faith already and its amazing for me to watch their conversion.  They are all miracles.  I love this church!!! I know its true! I love you all!! Thank you for the letters and emails!!!!! PRAY!!!!!!!!

Elder Spatch

-Pics of fixing a roof... which i had no idea what i was doing. i just wanted to look cool with a tool belt ha.
- and one of my favorite places to get tobacco ha.  

-and the elder and sister Farr the most amazing senior couple

Hello Ohio

YO!

I dont even know where to begin because so much has happened in such a short amount of time.  I feel like ive been here for years but its been a good 3 weeks. whoops. ha Well i guess ill start from the beginning!

Okay so we got to OHIO!! It was a perfect bloody day... of course.  We meet our mission president. President Nielsen.  The most amazing, intimidating, scary, loving man i have ever had the pleasure of meeting.  We had our one on one interviews with him. OH did i mention he owns CAFE RIO!!!! That is the sickest hookup ever. I am so pumped about that. Anyway we had our meetings with him and mine went really good!  like 20 minutes later he called me in for a second interview.  I was freaking out cause im like great i did something wrong or i am getting a calling.  Well it wasnt either of those hahahah. I was sat down and watched a youtube video about the Amish.??? What? so confused.  There are Amish in our area. So i thought sweet i am getting called to the Amish land! No technology!!! hahah Well turns out i didnt get called there. soooo to this day i still have no idea why i watched that clip. Then we had dinner, kinda a Cafe Rio salad thing. so good.  then we split up to spend the night at members homes.  I went to the Sargents! They are awesome. and just happen to be HUGE BYU Volleyball fans.  So as you can imagine i was up for like 3 hours just being asked all sorts of question ahahah. Good times. The next day we went to this chapel to meet our new companions and get all our briefing on our area.

So we arrive at the chapel and get rushed into a room and have like a 2 hour seminar with loads of info!!! Then we when into the chapel and there was a bunch of elders and sisters lined up across the rows.  one of them was going to be my comp. i guessed it would be the shortest one since i feel like people would have a good laugh at that.  But i got elder Marler. The whitest Nerdiest kid from Hawaii. I laughed in my head as he rused to me for a embrace.  I love this kid.  He is so kind and so sweet.  He is genuine and thoughtful.  Although he is so shy so i do all the talking i still love him.  Its really been kinda nice having a companion that doesnt like to talk becasue then i get to say whatever i want hahahahah.  We got called to marion OH!!! It is so awesome!!! We at first we got there and we are like this is the GHETTO!!! Like ghetto country. and everyone is a current or recovering heroine addict.  So people are twitching all over the place! 

So we wanted to get started right away! so as soon as we got here we went to Wal-mart. haha but while we were there we met some awesome people and we just started talking to them about the church! Then eventually we asked if we could meet with them and talk to them some more! They all mostly said yes! Amazing! We have 5 potential investigators in like 3 hours.  So we were pumped.  Then the next few days were super hard cause we were opening up this new area and didnt know really where to begin. So we prayed and prayed and then decided to go visit a former investigator.  they didnt answer so we walked around the streets close by. these streets have tons of black people on them and its like scary some times.  Like they most likely are in some time of gang or drug dealers because its in this certain neighborhood.  We also heard gun shots ahhahahahahhahah. I heard that and boooked it so fast.  anyway right before that we were walking and i saw this big black guy walking and i thought or felt that i needed to go talk to him. i asked my companion if we should and he said no.  I simply ingnored that and walked toward him across the street. I said whats up man trying to sound a litle black and he smiled and i asked if he had ever seen missionaries before he said no.  So we got to talking and he later said after a while he felt that we talked to him for a reason and he wanted to see us again.  I was so pumped! Not only did i not get killed i met Mike who wanted to know more! He also wants us to teach his family! You know i think God has a sense of humor cause what big black guy with teardrops by his eye wants us to meet his family! Man so funny.

The next day we went to Kenton OH. A smaller town with a lot of quite people.  We walked about forever trying to meet people.  we were about to leave until i saw this house with the door open and i thought of how Christ is knocking at our door and we just have to open it.  Well this door was already open! So i said we have to go there.  We walked over and this 19yr old boy came out and we started talking and he then invited us in.  We taught him about the restoration and invited him to pray to find out if these things we said our true.  He started to cry because he said he didnt think god cared about him anymore.  But he said he wanted to be closer to god.  His name is Blaiz and i love him.  He is so cool and takes care of his little brothers and sisters.  Has the best heart.  

then! We left and walked back to our car and there was a women standing outside painting! We said hello! I saw her kids playing inside and so i just said hey one of the things we believe is in Eternal families.  And he looked at me then was quite and said. I was just thinking about last night that i wish i could be with my family forever.  Like WHAT!!!!! Miracles!!!! Her name is Betsy and she is 33 and has 3 kids. Her husband is Catholic but very open to hearing more.  We teach her tonight! So excited!!! 

Okay last story!! Pretty much this whole week i have worked on letting go of myself.  I have put all fear aside and just talked to everyone.  I think about when the savior comes again i want to be able to say to him that i tried as best as i could to help everyone know.  So this has really helped me just walk up to the most random people.  My companion just is dumbfounded because he is terrified of people. but he says he is learning a lot from me which means a lot because i feel like i am learning a lot from him.  Okay anyway we were at Wendys and i sat down with my food and i saw this family just sitting over in the corner and the heard in my head go talk to them. i ignored it cause for some reason i was scared.  I thought the dad looks mean and i dont want to be yelled at. I started to eat and felt sick.  I had to go over.  before i knew it my feet were on the move.  I made up something and said do you guys know where walmart is? they answered yes and then the dad started to draw it on a napkin while he was i started talking to the mom about missionaries which led to mormons. She told me what she knew and i told her well we believe in our church we have the opportunity to find out for ourselves if something is true.  So i asked. Would you like to know more so you can decide for yourself? She and her husband both said yes.  We met last night again at a loud laundry mat and taught them the restoration.  She wanted to pray and read for herself that night.  her boyfriend agreed to do the same.  I am so excited to here how it went.

This church is true. and i have already in one week of being here witnessed so many miracles.  My prayers have been answered everyday!! I love this gospel and i really love the people of Marion OH!!! They a small beaten down trodden under but still have faith.  They are miracles.  I love it here so much.  I have learned so much in a week. I hope you all the best!!! Please write me and tell me all the provo gossip. hahha cause i miss it! Love you guys and family!!!!

Elder Patch

Pics of OH. My companion and all the new elders coming to ohio

Week Two

HOLA!!!

Well this week has been amazing. Full of miracles and so many blessings.  Lots of which came from prayer and fasting!

So today is not my P day but we leave monday at 1 am! Pretty much tomorrow night!!! Kinda sucks... actually it sucks a lot!! But i am so excited and ready to get out of this place.  I love the MTC a ton but im ready to go to work. This experience has made me grow in many way.  In maturity, spirituality, and personality! I have had to really forget myself and go to work.  Sometimes i find myself forgetting that im on a mission.  Then it hits and i have to face reality and go to work. This has been super challenging, because a mission is still not real to me! Well...its about to get real in 24 hours!! Im so nervous and excited!! 

Okay so this week has been incredible.  A lot of that has to do with humility.  As i said in my last email my companion and I were struggling to find chemistry.  actually we pretty much hated each other.  In fact for like 2 days we didn't talk to each other at the beginning of the week. We then taught a investigator like this. WOW. it was so bad.  We were both fighting for talking time while teaching, and inserting our opinion every other word.  no chemistry. hardly any spirit. Which was sad because the only way people learn is through the spirit.  Something had to change.  I thought he was so stubborn and wasnt seeing it my way... which is me being stubborn.  But then i realized maybe he was supposed to learn something.  He was supposed to learn to trust me a little more to lead discussions.  Because I didnt feeling as strong in gospel doctrine as him i often let him lead and teach the lessons, and only offering my brief testimony of some principals occasionally. I prayed and prayed trying to find a way around this without facing him.  There was no other way! I sat down with him to talk about what we could do.  The spirit was as strong as it had been so i was craving it again.  This was my last resort.  We talked and talked and argued. I then felt so strongly i had to forgive him.  I had to let go of the hate and frustration and anger i had toward him.  This is the hardest thing i have had to do in a long time.  I had to change who i was.  I am stubborn and arrogant.  I had to be humble, and just let GO!  Sitting there i thought about this for like 4 minutes before i looked up and started crying, and said, "Elder Edlund I forgive you."  He started crying and apologized for always interrupting me when i talk and never letting me speak and sorry for not trusting me.  This was such a strengthening thing for me and him.  We although so very different became a powerhouse! We taught together! And with the spirit!.  

During this week we got both our investigators to commit to baptism and set a date for them! This was a miracle and a answer to prayer.  We pray god listens. I promise that.  I never thought i would be able to change.  But looking in the mirror I rarely recognize myself.  Its motivation for me to continue progressing and evolving into the person Heavenly Father wants me to become.  Humility is key.  When we say... Here i am Lord, I am your humble servant. Use me.  I really feel like i am becoming a tool in the hands of the Lord.  I feel very confident in his gospel.  I feel like i will be able to share his gospel so strongly.  I cant wait to get to Ohio.  The fact that I can help these people endure to the end and then some is amazing. I know my purpose.  We all have a similar purpose.  We have the opportunity to help bring the truth into others lives. Challenge yourself to find someone and bring them to the gospel.  Look for inactive people and think about what in our gospel will help them be closer to Heavenly Father.  Remind them to pray.  If someone has doubts tell them to ask.  God wont deny a sincere prayer. I promise he will answer.  And if you cant tell someone this because you haven't experienced it for yourself? then I challenge you to ask for yourself so you can testify to whoever that god hears , and more importantly loves us.  

here are some quotes i love.

"The gospel is the sole hope for the world" - M. Madsen

"The Atonement is not part of the gospel... It is the gospel!"-M. Madsen

"We can never stop being a child of God."-Q. Cook

"A true converted person calls upon the powers of the atonement,

are we converted ourselves?" - D. Oaks

"Success is not measured by how many times we succeed 

but by how many time we get up." - Pres. Uchtdorf 

Love you guys!

Learn to love the gospel! 

Elder Patch

The pics are of my district, and of one of my best friends from BYU freshman year.

Till We Meet Again

Elder Patch Leaves for the MTC today! He will be in the MTC for 2 weeks!  You can reach him at bpatch@myldsmail.net!  Please write him!  He would love to hear from you! 

                        "Sacrifice Brings Blessings!"