Moments That Matter

Howdy Everyone!

It still blows my mind that I am on a mission and writing a letter to you all, while you live your lives back home! Ha I feel like I am on another planet!... oh well!

Well this week has just been so sweet.  Literally!  I just am so grateful for all that I have been given as a missionary!  But as the song goes... "because I have been given much I too must give."  We meet the coolest people and genuine. 

I want to tell you about Cam. Cam shay.  

He is this young sweet 14 yr old boy.

Cam found us through members(less active) of our church here.  He ran over to their house and just fell into the mom of this member arms.  He was just balling.  She called us at this point and asked us to come over right away.  So we came over and we met Cam.  Cam told us his story...  3 years ago on vacation cam watched his Mom drown to death.  He couldn't do anything to save her.  Ever since then he has struggled with her death and often contemplated ending his own life.  He often hurt himself to cope with what was happening inside.  I couldn't help but cry with this kid. 

 I felt like I was looking at my younger brother.  He just sat there crying while this mom held him.  He really misses his mom.  We had such an amazing time sharing with him our testimonies of the Plan of Happiness. How this plan is infinite and eternal if you will allow it to be. He told how he wanted to believe in Christ and come to church.  His dad doesn't believe in Christ so he said it has always been empty in his home.   I just am so THANKFUL for the faith and truth that I now know.  I really can imagine going through something like that without the knowledge I have now.  I can't wait to help cam to find peace.  I AM SO GRATEFUL TO BE A MISSIONARY!!!! How often in life do we get experiences like this?!! rarely.  2 years of helping people in any way God sees fit is amazing.  I love the way I feel after I share the beliefs I have and seeing people I truly love find what they are looking for.  

What is the point of this gospel in our lives if we wont share it?  there isn't.

I love sharing it!  I hope each of you are sharing!  Don't take it for granted. 

Thank you for all your prayers and love and letters and EVERYTHING! just thank you for being YOU!

I love each of you!!! REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE! 

Love Elder Patch

Ill send pictures of cam next week :)

The Hope of God's Light

"Only in darkness can you see the stars."

- Martin Luther King Jr.

Happy new week everyone!! I hope every single one of you had great experiences and learned something about yourself this past week!  I sure did!  

So being put into a new area is really tough, especially if you and your companion are both brand new to the area. I found lost so much patience throughout this past week.  i was super discouraged with the lack of understanding and knowledge i had of this area! and on top of that we have to worry about 22 other missionaries that we are in charge of!  

But I realized throughout this whole week, is that God is always sharing his light.  Sometimes I wait for the sun to rise or the moon to be illuminated, but rarely do I look for the stars. Heavenly Father this last week has given me so many stars to see.  We haven't had sure light bursting moments, but little pieces of light that still illuminate the way before us (me).  Everyday we would experience something that lifted me.  We would meet 1 person that would say "yes".  God's light is so real, but shines in different ways.  Light can be covered with shades but the brilliance of the light is still visible.  Satan tries to cover up His light especially the small light with distraction.  This past week I could have easily missed the stars if I hadn't acknowledged that they were there.

This week met a star.  Her name is Jordan!  Her friend is a member of the ward here in Gahanna.  She is brilliant!  She has been coming to church for the past couple of months, and we met with her this past week for the first time!  She told us about the literal LIGHT that has come into her life resulting from coming to church and reading the Book of Mormon.  I just have to pause on the story and tell you all how awesome it is to each a young adult.  I think about where I would be at their age if I didn't have the gospel then.  I can't imagine myself wanted to listen to two boys dressed in white shirts.  I am so impressed with the spiritual maturity that these young people have.  So back to Jordan.  She said she knows that it is true and would like to be baptized!  She picked Sept. 13!! She picked "13" cause that's my number hahah just kidding.  But what I love most about this whole situation is the fact that she wants to share the light.  She is inviting so many people to church and is inviting her parents.  She is not just another baptism, she is a CONVERT.  Her spunk and fire is so awesome!!!! I am so excited for the missionary she is going to become.  Light is real.

We also have a family in this ward that has two exchange students.  They are the sweetest girls.  We made dinner with them for the member family!  It was so fun.  What was cool is what proceeded after dinner.  We sat down to share a thought and what a video, and following the video one of the girls said, "that was Jesus.  I want to believe in Him."  She explained that her Grandma was a christian back in her country.  She said she wants to learn about Jesus.  I thought that was so awesome!!! Where she comes from there are very little Christians.  The light inside of us grows as we learn and talk of Christ!  Man life is good ya know?!!!  JUST LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!  

I love and care about each of you!  I can't wait to be with all of you again. 

Keep adding fuel to your flame!!

love

elder patch

Please everyone watch this video!  Its called "the Hope of God's Light" its rad. just watch it.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=3701964025001

Jordan is the blonde one

Dinner with the exchange students!!

GAH-HANNA

I left the promised land!  Oh I am going to miss Riverside SOOOO MUCH.  The ward there was unreal, and the members were so on top of everything!  I seriously am planning on moving back to that ward post mission!  #shortnorth

ANYWAY!!!! I am now in GAHANNA!! It is awesome, but so different!  It kinda reminds me of Marion(my first area).  Everyone is a little different but adds something to the unique culture of the ward.  We have a African American bishop!! That is so cool!  I am so excited for that.  The ward could use a big lift!!!! I am SOOOO EXCITED to get things going!  I think everyone needs a shot of spiritual energy!!! I hope they can handle me..... haha

So my new companion is Elder cutler.  He is a stud.  He is very put together and I have never met a missionary with so much energy! He actually served in Riverside too and was a Zone leader there!  Now we are zone leaders in Gahanna together! kinda cool.  He works so hard and is always looking for ways to serve people.  I have learned so much from his example!  I find myself now seeing opportunities to help in  situations I never before saw!  for example: when I knock at a door he will be behind me pulling weeds!!! I just look and him and say... "really..." hahah he is awesome.  I think people just really love him because he is so persistent on service!  I also have to share my testimony on companionship's.  I think it is so peculiar how Heavenly Father knows the next step in our progression.  He puts us with men or women that can add to our spiritual growth through physical methods.  I really appreciate His interaction in my life.  

I have been thinking a lot about leaving riverside.  I won't lie I was pretty upset.  I really loved it and I felt that there was so much good to be done.  In essence I was pretty comfortable where I was at.  We had a nice apartment(because I would bug our land lord to come fix and update everything haha), and we lived in a really nice area and everyone was so trendy and perfect;).  I really didn't want to leave all of that.  Well I bet you can guess where this is going.  Although I don't have control where I get transferred to( thank goodness I dont), I do have control on how I chose to follow the command.  I also thought about what if I could choose if I wanted to except the call to leave or not?  Would I still go?  I believe Heavenly Father taught me something this week.  I have learned that to get better, stronger, knowledgeable we MUST get uncomfortable!  It also makes me re-evaluate my willingness to follow inspiration.  We invite all the time people to follow the promptings they receive and move forward towards baptism.  I have so much more respect for those who have followed the promptings they have gotten and were baptized. THEY are those we are willing and wanting to grow.  It was so hard for me to except coming here to Gahanna?! But people willinging follow the spirit to baptism?  Talk about an eye opening experience.  I think as Latter-Day saints we to can get so comfortable!! Just because we are "Mormon" doesn't mean we are done!  We have so much work to do!  Because we have the Privilege to sit in church on Sundays and take the sacrament doesn't mean we are saved.  I fully believe we will be accountable with what we do with the truth that we have.  The TRUE purpose of conversion is that once you know it; you share it. So get UNCOMFORTABLE!!! Follow the promptings! Pray for promptings!  Use what is changing your life at this very moment to change someone else's.  I know what this gospel can do.  I know what sweet happiness it brings to those that want peace. Grace for grace.  I love you all so much.  

Stay Classy.

Read the BOM!

Elder Patch

New address!!!

418 Arbors Cir

Gahanna, OH 43230

All for All

Well Another transfer has gone by!  We find out later today what is happening to us!! So Don't send any letters to my Apartment address until after Monday! or just send them to the Mission Office!

Anyway! This week has been great!  I have been thinking about what inspires me as a missionary and disciple of Christ!  Sometimes we get complacent of our spiritual growth!  Personally I hate the state of no progression!  Especially in things that I love!! As I learn more and talk more about Christ I find that the Fullness of the doctrines come out of obscurity and subsequently I feel a greater urge to share them!  So 'Treasure up the words of life!'  I feel like if I am having doubts or struggles with increasing amount of faith, it is due to the lack of understanding of the doctrines I am teaching!  But in order to be fully converted or consecrated we must give ALL of ourselves to God.  Sure we can get through this life without doing so, but we then forgo the growth and understanding of half of us!  Our divine IMMORTAL heritage! We are spirit Daughters and Sons of a GOD.  But just like any relationship we must build trust or connect through constant dialogue and interaction. 

A lot of times I meet people that say 'there cannot be a God, because if there was a good then why would all these bad things be happening?'  If you are having problems or seeing problems in your life, don't assume there is something wrong with you or with God.  Struggling with those problems is at the very core of this life's purpose and plan (which we all signed up for on the dotted line I might add). As we all draw closer to God, He will show us our weakness and as well as our strengthens, through them He will make us stronger or enhance the already existing gifts.  If you personally are seeing more and more of your weaknesses, that just may mean you are drawing nearer to God, not farther away.  So don't give up.  Be willing to struggle a little.  But use the Atonement to strengthen you every SINGLE MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE.  Christ is NOT the light at the end of the tunnel, rather HE IS the LIGHT through the tunnel!  If we chose to open our eyes we can and WILL always see the light.

I am so thankful for the 2 years I have to serve a mission.  This means more to me than anything I have ever done.  I have been able to see my weaknesses become strengths, but find new weaknesses as well.  This last week we have met with so many different people!  We met this man and he and His partner have never felt the need for God but never denied His existence.  We had such an amazing lesson with them.  I know the Gospel is for them too.  We challenged them to pray. Following our visit, one of them decided he would pray.  He texted us immediately following and said, "I felt something..."  I know that God answers prayers.  HE IS NOT A SECRET.  I know that it takes humility on our part to find out for ourselves what He wants for our life.  He trusts us with our progression and growth, but when we need Him and even when we don't He will be there.  This last week I had so many prayers answered.  I love being able to not only testify to people I meet and love of what I believe and what I know.  I know God answers prayers, I know He loves us.  I believe with my whole heart the Book of Mormon and the Bible are true.  I know we have a savior who would do ANYTHING for us.  I love all of you!  I am so grateful for every single one of you in my life!!! 

Keep going.  Be strong.  :)

Love you!!!

The Value of Faith

FAM!!

Things are so great!!! This week was just FULL of Faith filled MIRACLES!! 

We were seriously so blessed.  My faith has been tried so many times thus far on my mission, but it amazes me that if we hold on to what ever faith we do have our reward is sooo worth it!!!!!!!!

We have been teaching this woman named Carey!  She is a Roman Catholic and she is so very sweet.  The story of how we met her is amazing.  We were driving to another appointment and I had thiss weird thought to ask my companion if we should not go and stop somewhere else? He said okay, and so I turned onto this street and just went to a house that we had previously knocked at.  The woman was very nice and said she would like to hear more some other time!  I felt so good.  So we were walking back to our car and i thought that was the reason that the spirit told me to go there... but I was wrong.  As I was getting into our car I heard the words, "turn around".  so I did.  I see this woman across the street coming out of her house and sit on her front porch to smoke.  I kid you not there was like light around her.  I pretty much ran up to her!  Turns out she is the most fun SASSYIST PERSON I HAVE EVER MET!! We just hit it off so well!  She is my favorite! 

So this was about two months ago!  she since then has read the Book of Mormon... wait for it.... TWICE!!!!! She is on fire!  but this is the real miracle... So through this whole time and lots of tears we have been extending baptism, and told her upon knowing this is the truth that baptism is the next step!  She said" I know but I can't do that! I am catholic!"  the best way I could explain it to her was that we didn't want to take away from the faith she already has but add to it to strengthen her already present faith!  After so much prayer and testimony, she calls us last Tuesday and says GUYS!  I have decided I am going to be baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

I wish someone could have recorded Elder Campbell and myself, because we were jumping and hugging and chest bumping all over our house!!! We are so happy for her!!!!!!  she has made so many huge strides, no leaps at a new and enhanced life!  She has found the value of faith!  She is such a great missionary now!  To her neighbors that we are also teaching she comes and tells them how the Book of Mormon specifically has put so much faith back into her life!  I love it!  Is this not what the gospel is about?? It is!!! FAITH IS EVERYTHING!  I am really understanding WHY "faith" is literally on every page in all scripture.  Faith is power, powerful, and necessary for our progression!

Sorry to be so brief but we have like no time!  But shout out to the SandMan on killing it for USA VB!  So sick!!!! Well I love you all!  If all else fails just decide to keep your faith in God! Love you!!!

Elder Patch aka Spatch