G e t T o T h e F r o n t

"Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side."

-Hymn

Well this week has been great!  Not super eventful but just good!  We have had some miracles in meeting totally prepared people!

We were knocking on these apartment doors in a really sketchy area.  We prayed and prayed about where to go.  This is what we felt.  So after getting doors shut in our face about 5 times we decided to leave.  As we were coming down the stairs we both said almost in unison "we forgot that door".  We knocked on every door except the one right in front of us.  We knocked and this 22 yrd old young mom answered.  She just smiled.  She said you guys are Jesus people huh? and we just laughed and Said "YOU KNOW IT!"  she laughed and asked if wanted to come in...

Well We sat down and had no idea what to say.  I just looked at her and wanted to cry, because for the first time in a long time I saw someone in white.  Later after the lesson my companion said he felt the same thing.  We started asking her about her faith.  She said she has always wanted to know if there was a God.  I felt so good telling her honestly that she has a Father in heaven who loves her so much. I wish I could have taken a picture of the smile on her face.  We just told her all that Heavenly Father wants for her and her son and Fiance.  It was amazing to hear her answers to our questions.  It seemed almost relieving for her to find reassurance in our words. I don't know if I have ever said this but... I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!  She prayed for the first time with us out loud.  Man I wanted to hug her so bad!!!!!! She is just a normal girl trying to find her purpose.  I can't wait to see who she becomes.

We had awesome church meetings this week!  Elder Seldon of the Seventy said, "The soldiers on the front lines always get the best equipment."  That really made me think! So my thought is that if we are Gods Soliders where are we in his ranks?  Are you in the front lines ready to fight?  Or are we somewhere in the middle, maybe a little hesitant?  Or are we in the back watching our Brothers and Sisters in front of us defending what we too believe is true.  I hope that we can all say we are on the front lines.  And if youre not.. thats okay too.  You can get there! 

We have nothing to be afraid of, THE LORD IS ON OUR SIDE! I can think of no one else that I would rather have leading me in battle than Jesus Christ.  So I invite all of you to get to the front of the Ranks and start fighting for what you believe.  Get involved in making this world a better place!  

I know God lives.  I know Jesus lives.  I know they love us.  I know they love you.  

Love

Elder Patch 

Make It Rain

" ' ' '   ' '"  

' "  '   '          ' '             "    '' '

''  ' 

"''       "'' ' ' ''      

"Heavenly Father is constantly "

'''raining blessings ' ' "

 '  '''upon us, but it is our fear, ' ' "        "

doubt, and sin that, like an

umbrella, block these blessings''

"  ''from reaching us. "

- president uchtdorf

" ' "' '

"               " '''"     

" ' 

'  

Please ignore my attempt to create rain on a computer, but I thought it was worth a try!  Well family I love you! I love you much!!!

So this week has been really HARD!  I was waiting for a hard week!Ha I swear my mission has just been really easy and fun!  I was due for a little struggle!:)  So almost all of our investigators here are not progressing!  It was sooo frsutrating for me, cause I just got here and I left an area that was doing so well.  I got impatient really fast.  So I decided to do what I know best... Pray.

I spent this whole week praying for specific people and an increased amount of spiritual guidance!! Guess what!!!?!  Nothing Happened.  But Finally I got some spiritual promptings.  A thought came to me that said,"curiosity never promotes change, but true desire will.'

That came to me at such a perfect time.  I have realized that most of the people we were teaching were just curious, but were not sincere in their desire to come closer to Christ.  I know that God Loves all of his children , but I have so much respect for him.  He won't force us, his children to choose him.  What an amazing Father!  I love it! I love him.  So as we continue on I am going to ask people if they have an honest desire to draw nearer to God or just curious.

 

I invite all of us to think about that!  Are we just curious about living the gospel fully?  I know I have been guilty of that!  Do we want to just believe but not act?  How can Heavenly Father give the full amount of the promised blessing if we only give half our heart?  It just won't happen.  I know I have many changes to make!

It looks like the movie FROZEN over here!! I don't know what happened.  There was no snow and then BOOM Winter wonderland!  Good-bye fall!! hopefully everyone enjoyed the short time period of warmth!!  

Thank you all for everything!Especially Thank you for sharing the gospel with those around you.  The gospel is so real! I look around and see so many people that just live.  I wonder what they think their purpose is?  Do they know why they are here?  If we were just sent here to live; to leave Gods presence and then to experience separation from Him just to return... WHAT WOULD BE THE POINT?  There is no point to that!  WE ARE HERE TO DO SOMETHING!  If you don't know what that is I suggest you ask HIM!

Love Elder Patch

Enjoy the Picture... ;)

My address:  1715 Deer Creek Dr. Ste 5

         Xenia, Ohio 45385

 

HOW DO YOU FACE?

"pure christ-like love

flowing from righteousness 
can change the world."

-Jeffery R. Holland

In a recent talk in General Conference Elder Robbins asked this rhetorical question "Which way do you face?" This talk really was enlightening and humbling for me.  I suggest you read it.  There are some key points I want to take from it before I share my thoughts about another perspective. . I quote, "We seek respectful coexistence with those who point fingers, but when this fear of men tempts us to condone sin, it becomes a “snare” according to the book of Proverbs (see Proverbs 29:25  ). The snare may be cleverly baited to appeal to our compassionate side to tolerate or even approve of something that has been condemned by God."  How true this is, especially in our society today!  Society would have our sympathy go beyond the very divine of God.  Indeed Satan does have power- the power to bruise our morals and blind our divine heavenly vision, but we also have the power to crush Satan's head.

He continues , "When people try to save face with men, they can unwittingly lose face with God. Thinking one can please God and at the same time condone the disobedience of men isn’t neutrality but duplicity." This brings me to my topic.  Although we have the direction we face, I ask, where are our feet?  Are they square to that same direction?  Or are we  merely turning our heads toward God but leaving our feet planted in comfortable soil called neutrality.

I invite you to ask yourself where you stand and if you are looking in that same direction. And once you figure out if your body and head are facing toward God THEN MOVE! Pick up your roots and move to higher fertile ground filled with nutrients deriving from heavenly streams and glorified light. IT IS TIME TO MOVE.  Christ Often said "To know me, is to know my Father."  I hope it can be said of us that to know us, is to know the Savior.  Lets lift each other to get there.

This past week has been so sweet.  I am loving this country town of Xenia!  The people here are so nice and open!  We are teaching a guy named Luke (I sent a picture) and he is a alumni football player from Purdue!  He is so awesome! He and I have developed a brotherly bond.  I talk to him about how I am doing and he mentors me.  He loves Christ.  Although he struggles with some of our doctrine he continues to pray to find answers.  Luke also has taken upon himself now to be my personal trainer! hahah He said he wants to get me back into shape! Sooooo... let me tell you how this looks!  I wake up at 6 every morning and then he PRETTY MUCH KILLS ME FOR AN HOUR!!!! I DO NOT MISS WORKING OUT!!!! But I feel a ton better!  I love Luke!  Such a solid guy!

So many miracles this week with people we meet!  God is mindful of his Children.  Don't ever think he doesn't care about what you are doing, thinking, or feeling.  HE does.

I love all of you!!! Thank you for the letters!!!!!!!

xoxoxo

 Elder Patch

 

X E N I A

" those who move 

move forward

with a

happy spirit

will find that

things work out."

                        

                            -Gordon b. Hinkley 

Hello Family!! I sadly got transferred... BUT I love where I am. It is weird being back in a country setting.  It reminds me of Marion- where I started my mission.  Heavenly Father has blessed me SOMEHOW with a really positive attitude about being here.  I just feel like I am moving right along in this whole journey... so thats good! 

I am still a zone leader.  I like being one but It is always hard to come into a new area and try to get the trust of all new people!  We are out in the most western part of our mission!  It is so weird to be so far away from things!  But kinda nice too!

Shoutout to my Navajo Family!! THE BENALLYS!! I made a family Indian Fry Bread!  It was soo good! Nothing to excited has happened this week, but we have been able to teach the most amazing people.  I love the people here in o h i o  so much.  I am so thankful to just meet people and talk to them!  We have a couple families we are teaching and we are so excited to see where they will go!  I am learning so much from what can come from happiness.  It is totally a CHOICE!.

I never want to stop showing people how much they mean to me.  I want to keep going cause I love them.  I love not thinking about myself! I know... SHOCKER.  But It is fulfilling to just focus on what you can do for others. True happiness comes from serving others. It is so weird to think I only have 8 months left... It is scary weird.  I want to serve with as much love as I possibly can.

Thank you for each letter, card, note , package!!  They mean so much to me!! I love all of you so much!  Thank you for all you do, especially sharing the Gospel with those around you.  

GOD LOVES YOU!

Elder Patch

New Address:

1715 Deer Creek Dr. Ste 5

Xenia, OH 45385

 

JOY

"t h e r e   i s  JOY  g u a r a n t e e d   t o  t h e

f a i t h f u l ."

                                -Henry b. Eyring

Well the weekend finally came. KAI was Baptized!!!

It was such an amazing weekend!! I haven't felt the spirit that strong in a while! I am so thankful for that experience.

While going into the font I started to flashback to all the experiences I had with Kai. First meeting him then playing volleyball with him, and just having great talks with him.  I immediately lost it. ha.  It was so bright in that font and I felt so good to stand there in the water with him.  I am so excited to see what continues to happen to him on the journey with Christ.  Haha honestly I was ready to end my mission right then and there.  I was like I can not get happier than this!!!

Kai said something really profound at his baptism.  Ill do my best to quote it. "I feel as though I am driving in a car.  And along our journey we can take detours or just pull to the side of the road when our window is foggy. What the gospel has done for me has whipped away that fog on the window of the car I am driving. and now I am back on the road."  I loved that.  The gospel is the wipers on a car that keeps the window clear.

I could not agree more.  the gospel not only clears but opens the windows from heaven so that we can see our eternal destiny.  The windows of Heaven are not closed, but it is our sin, and fear and doubt that keep that window continually foggy.  As we use the Atonement that very window will become crystal clear.  We can again return to the road.  Is it bad to pull over? no!  I think in those moment of taking ourselves aside we can decide who we want to become!  Look at KAI!  He pulled aside and waited until further light came.  Which it certainly did.  Now he is a member of Christs church.  What a joyous miracle!!

I want you all to know that God is NOT hastening HIS work.  IT IS HASTENED!  IT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW! ARE WE KEEPING UP?

Think about all the good you can do with the knowledge that you have!  Have courage to share it! The JOY you will experience from seeing someone you love come to the same knowledge you have trumps any shopping trip you can have!  Yes.. it even trumps shopping ;)

I love you guys!!!!

Elder Patch

oh transfers are this thursday. so hold off sending anything till next monday. or just send it to my mission office address!

 

GLORIOUS

"There are times when you might feel aimless

You can't see the places where you belong

But you will find that there is a purpose

It's been there within you all along and when you're near it

You can almost hear it.

It's like a symphony just keep listening

And pretty soon you'll start to figure out yo part

Everyone plays a piece and there are melodies

In each one of us, oh, it's glorious." -Stephanie Mabey

This has been the happiest I have ever been on my mission.  I feel like I am working more proficiently than ever before.  I am being Exactly obedient which is having huge effect on my understanding of the truths I am teaching.  I am amazed and dumbfounded at the tangibility of God's Hand in this work.  I owe none of the things I have done to myself - all to Him.

The Craig family dropped us.... JUST KIDDING! They are amazing!  Like God really wants these people to join the church or somethin cause Miracle after MIRACLE keeps happening!  I feel like I am just a spectator as

progress through this amazing gospel!  They are just doing amazing!  Jimmy said He has never felt anything push him this hard to keep learning and find out more.  We were able to give both him and his wife Libbi blessings.  Let me tell you.. giving blessings to one of God's children is like taking a peep into God's eternal plan and love for the very individual.  I cannot ever deny that the Power and Authority of God's very Priesthood has been restored. 

I started my email with this quote from the song'Glorious' featured in Meet The Mormons.  I identify with this so much.  I feel as though I have finally found my part, and subsequently joined God's symphony.  It truly is music to watch others learn of their Saviors Gift and Heavenly father's Sacrifice.  

I know many of you have struggles, doubts, and real fears - so do I.  There are many time sin my life where fear has conquered my faith.  In situations where is would be easier to give up, choose the harder path. I promise each of you that in the defining moments of your life God will be there, and most likely the path He leads you to is not easy, but very worth it.

In the words of Jeffery R. Holland - 'Hope on. Journey on". 

Love you all!

Go see Meet the Mormons!!!!!

Elder Patch

pics!

1. We had a Jewish Seder 

2. Our beautiful Zone

3. Jimmy and libbi Craig with a member family

Family... Isn't it About Time?

OH HOW THIS WEEK HAS BEEN GREAT!!!!

So I pretty much am going to talk about the Craig family!!!!!!! THEY ARE AMAZING! Pray for them like crazy!!!!!Okay so they are pretty much the most perfect, fun family you'll ever meet!  So many miracles have happened with them!  We found them just a month ago and they are loving the gospel! We are teaching the most amazing GOLDEN family! [It amazes me how true the promise is from the savior saying," I will go before you."] The Craig family is a miracle! We have taught them these past 3 weeks and have had such amazing lesson with their whole family! A family of six! you will fall in love their girls. A miracle took place with them this weekend! So we taught them as a family more in depth about the Restoration and read with them the Book of Mormon. The most perfect fellow shipper was there! He testified of the blessings of the gospel in his young family, and the brought the most amazing spirit as he thanked God for eternal marriage. The lesson could not have gone more perfect. BUT it didn't end there! 

Following the lesson with said they need to come to church to gain a testimony! They were a bit hesitant I think because they said they would try but weren't sure! Then a miracle happened. I get a call from Brother Craig (Jimmy our investigator) and I say hello and the person that replies was not jimmy but Bro. Stamas (the first counselor in the stake presidency)!!!! He was at the high school football game and Jimmy and his family just happened to sit next to him! So Jimmy told me on the phone at the game that "Mr. Stamas here roped us in to coming to church." What a miracle! God does live. No coincidence. What I love the most about the story is that the Craig family knew That it was God's doing! The are recognizing the hand of God more and more!

Well their whole family ended up coming to church!  It was such a perfect meeting for them to be in!  The spirit was amazing! I got up to bare my testimony on ETERNAL Families!  I brought up with a little 4x6 picture of my family and held it up crying cause I really can't wait to be with my family forever!  I looked at the Craig family and just knew that they would go to the temple one day and be sealed for all time and eternity!!!!! There are pictures of the Craigs below and their daughters!!!!  We are so excited for them!!!

 President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a talk called Living the Gospel Joyfully. I feel as though I have gained a better understanding of what this means!  I want to share my thoughts- He gave a metaphor to the commandments that Heavenly Father gives us.. Lampposts along a road. Rather than the analogy that is commonly given and the verse that says we have to choose the 'strait and narrow path,' I think this illustration reveals more to my understanding. 

God gives us a choice. We can decide to take the journey during the day, where we can see everything around us, and we feel we have control over our direction. We can see more than 500 feet in front of us, and probably on all sides. We know what we are approaching, and what we leave behind, and we feel as if we have the power ourselves to decide which direction and how far we will go. 

 I would challenge you to see the other option. taking the journey at night, on one of those nights where the moon is hidden behind the clouds. And there are only a few lights outside. I would argue that in those times, when you can't see what's in front of you, what's behind you, what you may be approaching, or how far you have to go to get to your destination, that you grow the most aware of your reliance on the light. We may only be able to see a few steps in front of us, and we don't even know exactly what direction we are going. But that is what makes it so beautiful, and that is what truly defines faith.

My faith has grown the most when I use the whatever light or [faith] I have to move. Being joyful while following the will of God is FUN!  It is SO FUN TO BE HAPPY!  I realize that with this incredible gift I never have the time to be sad.. With the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life I simply do not have to wait for happiness!  What a bea-u-tiful gift!

I love each of you!  A lot of you have emailed me asking if I really am this happy?  The answer is :

yes.

Pics!

1. the Craigs!

2. The Craig girls!

3. My companion! 

4. Ward service project... I chopped wood ha