Great week in Shelley!

Dear All,

We had a Fireside yesterday I may or may not have told you about. I had some singing parts and was the Narrator. Quite an awesome program and along with it there is a cool story.

We were told by a ward mission leader about a man who was extremely less active and was afraid to go back to church. The mission leader wanted us to go by and say he sent us. We went by, his wife answered the door and told us he was around back in the shop. We went around knocked and he yelled "come in" we walked in "Can i help you guys?" he asked. (I'm absolutely confident that what happened here was not me) We opened our mouth and the Spirit put words in it. We were willing to say and do whatever was necessary to have this brother feel the Spirit, though a twinge of fear was initially in our minds I pushed it out immediately.

"We were asked by Brother Jenkins to stop by. We Have a special message for YOU about repentance" It was silent for a few seconds.

"Right now is not a good time guys" he was with a couple of friends drinking and smoking. I looked to the floor looked back at him and said, "Remember that our Heavenly Fathers love is never too far away from anyone."

"We're fine," he said, "thanks though.... I'll probably see you again, but we're fine."

The Spirit whispered many things so even though he was expressionless I could sense a smile and a spark of hope. I could tell the natural man in him was pushing off the desire to speak to us more. We left and went to the car but the Spirit was not done speaking to us.
"Elder we forgot something"
"What?"
"we didn't invite him to the Fireside, lets go back" so we started back. (I failed to notice that Elder Clay was a somewhat scared the entire time, I'm sure he may have felt we were going to walk in and not walk back out of that shop.) We walked right in, and said "Weforgot to invite you to this Christmas program."

"I told you I'd see you guys again" he said and asked for my name. We introduced ourselves and he was friendly.

What added more to our surprise was later, when we were talking to our ward mission leader about it and he asked, "When did you go over? was it on the 5th?" We confirmed that it was and he showed us a text from [the man] that said "Thanks" what added to our Joy was the fact the brother was at the fireside! His being there fueled my desire to put my heart and soul into the parts that I had.
He was friendly and we talked with him after wards (I didn't want him to leave without seeing how he felt about it) and he enjoyed it a lot. We plan to stop by and invite him to Jameston ward Christmas party.

I feel we have accomplished much even though we are not expecting any baptism dates. We look forward to bringing people closer to Jesus Christ, and hope they never look back on their past.

Elder Hedgecock


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Brothers, Sisters, and Other Loved Folks,

Hear my words and ponder on the things which I say concerning the missionary work happening in the area of which I have been asked to serve.

OK that was fun typing that introduction....

In the 13th day of the 8th month of the 2012th year of Our Lord, an instant parchment was sent to you concerning one Elder Hedgecock, a Servant of the Lord.

He, he, sounds pretty cool! Now to get serious.

This week has been full of good teaching experiences and moments we have learned important things that will bless those we teach and depending on how we apply it and for many others whom I have not met yet on my mission and in my life.

Things I have learned in studies are:
Weakness is another word for work.
Unlike in a board game; a set back does not mean we've lost progress, but that we are putting some distance in front of us to get a running start and leap forward.
Do not desire to be better than others, it shows your pride in looking down on others; desire to be a Disciple of Jesus Christ; which involves not only bringing yourself to Christ but helping others to follow.

http://youtu.be/WNLYeTxBQiY
This has become one of my favorite videos as of late. I wish to share it so all of you can see what I want to pursue when I return home, which is 14 months away, but also how much I desire to be as Elder Holland said: "Do all you can to get all you can out of a mission." He speaks boldly to missionaries, we have a video of it. He wants missionaries to be converted and on top of that not to return to their old lives that had before they left, quoting the New Testament "Peter, lovest thou me more than these? and Peter answered yes Lord, then Christ asked again, Peter, Lovest thou me more than these? and Peter responded yes Lord, and finally Christ asked Peter, Lovest thou me more than these?" for the third time and Peter is a little nervous about threes and he answered "Yes, Lord thou knowest that I love thee" and then Jeffery R. Holland says with such passion I have never seen before "THEN FEED MY SHEEP! Leave your nets and follow me, I've asked you once I've asked a second Time and I don't want to ask a Third time. Feed my Sheep! leave your nets, your oars and your boats!" I have and am still growing to love the words of the prophets and apostles.

I felt pretty good yesterday when I gave a talk (without paper in front of me) in a singles branch about John 15 and about the comparison Christ gave that he is the Vine and the disciples are the branches. I compared it to Alma 32 about the seed and also what I learned in agricultural Science class on Proper pruning rules for trees and plants. The Lord indeed has all things as a testimony of him, even in agricultural science. I enjoy finding comparisons to gospel topics in other things.

I hope you are all doing well and are working to keep all the promises you've made to God, and if you need to repair them do so. The Lord is willing to forgive all who have the 2 requirements necessary: A Broken heart and a Contrite spirit. And don't be discouraged Christ asks us "let your heart not be troubled, neither let it be afraid" John 14:27

Know that I love you all and am doing well out here in Idaho!

Love,
Elder Hedgecock

Amazing Week in Idaho Falls

Dear All,

This week is simply ama-za-zing! We have 2 baptim dates now; we got one with a 9 year old who's dad is less active, and the second is with a lady named Hillary. She had parents who would disown her if she became a member. We prayed, fasted, and put her name in the temple prayer roll and on Friday she told us her mother gave her permission and said not to worry about her father, and then her father gave her permission! Indeed miracles are all around!

We visited with Mike, who has had alot of health issues and he's been telling us more and more about himself. He's ready, really [to be baptized], and he believes the Lord can heal him of his infirmities, and I believe it too.

We met with the girl who is in the addiction recovery group, and she has been open more about herself. She made us Elders Day Cards! because she went to Tuesday night activites for the Young Women and they were making Fathers Day Cards, except her father is not allowed to have contact with her so she made me and my companion Elders Day Cards. It made my day! So after a bit of talking she got out the Book of Mormon and said, "We left off on page..." She is really working to try and find God and faith and I can't wait to see what changes she makes. Any changes anyone makes are just absolutely AWESOME!

We have been meeting some goals and exceeding some, which makes me feel good, because I know it means I'm becoming the kind of missionary the Lord wants me to be. Amazingly, we looked at our goals and thought they might be too low but after this Sunday we are glad we have set them where they are at. Agency is the one thing we can only hope will be used correctly, but the Lord knows how it will be used. We also have been getting some amazing revelations at the most random times. My companion and I have decided it is easy to go for the low hanging fruit, or people who are already ready to be baptized, however we know we seem to be able to get places with people other missionaries only hope they could because we do not push our goals on them. We had a thought to visit people who we have been told are not interested by members. The scripture we thought of is about the sons of Mosiah wanting to teach the Lamanites, and the Nephites saying in Alma 26:24

"24 For they said unto us: Do ye suppose that ye can bring the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth? Do ye suppose that ye can convince the Lamanites of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers, as stiffnecked a people as they are; whose hearts delight in the shedding of blood; whose days have been spent in the grossest iniquity; whose ways have been the ways of a transgressor from the beginning? Now my brethren, ye remember that this was their language.
25 And moreover they did say: Let us take up arms against them, that we destroy them and their iniquity out of the land, lest they overrun us and destroy us.
26 But behold, my beloved brethren, we came into the wilderness not with the intent to destroy our brethren, but with the intent that perhaps we might save some few of their souls."

We aim to visit those whom most members do not expect to be interested. We also intend to get maybe at least one person who may be interested once they see we are not missionaries who push our goals on them but that we really care, that we might bring a few souls unto the Lord. (yeah we might not be dealing with people who shed blood, and members don't want to destroy them)

All is well my dear Family and Friends, and I shall write unto you again when Monday comes again!

Sincerely,
Elder Hedgecock

Another week in Idaho Falls

Dear all,

This week was a very good week. We met with a less active lady with a wayward child. We sat outside cause we couldn't get a team teacher to come and the wayward daughter was actually the calmest I've ever seen her. We talked with her a bit, and she said she had been sober for some time. We told her of the addiction recovery support groups run by the church and she was extremely interested. We told her where to go and she went. Saturday, we got up early and got her to come with us to the Stake Garden to do some community service (she needed 22 service hours) after which we opened the scriptures and read with her. She told us a lot about her past. She had gone through a lot, and wanted a way out of her situation. I could see a desire to be free from her addictions and problems. Yet she just didn't know how to let go. It seems if she held on to both parts of herself much longer she will be torn apart; as the scriptures say "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."- Matthew 6:24 we hope she is able to start progressing becuase she feels she has hit rock bottom.

To brighten things up we had a softball game on Thursday (turned out to be a game of catch) with a investigator and a ward mission leader. Kinda embarrassing, considering we should have had 8 other people there at least. But thats not the part that it gets better. I got a free baseball glove! We visited a member of the branch presidency to talk about the work in the branch and told him about softball. Told him we would like to borrow some gloves if people have them. He had a glove for a left handed person he'd been trying to give away and so I Got a Baseball glove! MADE MY WEEK! Then again seeing others wanting to do better in life MAKES MY WEEK TOO! But considering I wanted to do some baseball/softball before I left on my mission and wanted to buy a mitt for some time, and got one for free...... yes God Does grant us according to our desires, even if it is not something at the top of our list he will still grant according to our desires. I have a baseball mitt to prove it!

Love,
Elder Hedgecock


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This Week in Idaho Falls

Dear Family,

This week has been quite the adventure. I know I say that a lot, but it's true- everyday is a new adventure. We are doing lots and lots of work. Two interesting things happened this week.

One, we taught a gentleman by the name of Mike, great guy, lives with his 9 year old son who just got baptized. We've been visiting [his son] for new member lessons, and lately the lessons have been focused on Mike. He has had lots of trials in the past two years and the Bishop was able to be a helping hand when Mike needed it. He decided he needed to have a chat with bishop to get some concerns off his mind. We thought it was going to be a confession, but it was just a few concerns about our beliefs. From either perspective it worked out because either he confessed sins to a bishop and would become better converted than most or we draw out concerns and get them taken care of and he beomes better converted to the gospel. It's a win-win situation. We feel he is better prepared than most who are in his spot. We also taught a lady who is married to a member and wants to visit with us and even join the church but because of her southern baptist parents who have threatened to disown her, she cannot and it breaks her heart. She probably reads the scriptures more than some missionaries, the Book of Mormon even.

The second thing is, on Friday night we got a call from a member of the bishopric in one of the wards, giving us a assignment to talk the upcoming Sunday. So Saturday night we got into bed late writing our talks which we were told were awesome talks. I made a joke at the beginning by saying "I think Bishop is a good bishop and everyone should make him a plate of cookies and brownies" then i turned to the Bishop and ask "Bishop, i can't read your handwriting, did I say that right?" Quite a few people got a kick out of that. It was a neat experience how it really only took a little amout of time to write my talk yet the Bishop thought it was inspired. The spirit really does give you what you need.

We didn't get in last night till about 10 because we were making sure to visit all that we could, otherwise we would have been home at 8:30 pm and we would feel bad for not having done more. So I explained that to my Zone Leaders that I would rather they call President saying I worked hard and ended up getting home a little late than not do anything and hope they would not find out about it. Lots of work is coming to us and we are excited to see what the Lord will give us. We are changing the ways we plan and setting our goals so that we can see what we really need to be doing.

Sorry if I have a few (several) typos in this letter, all the places we usually e-mail at are closed so I'm using a members laptop to e-mail.... it's amazing how much of a difference there is between the two. We also learned how much of a difference member participation makes in an area. Some wards are good and want work in their ward and some want work but don't know what to do. My advice to people is if you want to be a help to missionaries, let them know of upcoming events so they can invite investigators to them so they can get familiar with the ward. We learned of a breakfast this morning and only because we were in the ward that Sunday. Well, I've got a lot to look forward to in the next few weeks cause I'm still going to be in Idaho Falls. So much stuff can be done yet there is only a finite amout of time. Prioritizing is definitely going to be a big facet these next few weeks.

Well, talk with you all later.

Love,
Elder Hedgecock
--


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May 7, 2012

Dear all,
This week we spent more time sorting out the baptism we had, which was really fun. I woke up with the feeling we needed to be at the church building to fill the font; my companion was confused because he was sure we had set it up already, so we got ready really quick and went to the church building to find no one was there and we needed to have the font filled in 2 hours, ironically it needed 2 hours to fill.
A dinner appointment canceled so we had dinner at Maverick, a gas station (not recommended), but a hot dog, corn dog, egg roll, and nacho dinner was something I had not had in some time, in fact not at all.
Ping Pong seems to be a new thing. The members we live with have a ping pong table and my companion and I play it sometimes. It was exciting when we didn't care how it was played and just knocked the ball back and forth, for instance we tallied how many times one would hit the net and the first one to 50 lost. The idea was to try to do better at not hitting the net.
We contacted many, many people this week and they all seemed very friendly, some only cause they were sick so they were probably only friendly cause being mean just make being sick worse. We took a family to the temple visitor center yesterday and they were all so cheerful to be there, the dad was not a member but the wife was and her son was baptized about 3 weeks ago. The husband seems very friendly with us and we think if we don't push him he will eventually ask to take the lessons. This week has a lot ahead of it, and I am looking forward to calling on Sunday!!!!!! T.T.F.N. "Ta Ta For Now"
Love,
Elder Hedgecock
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New Area!

Dear All,

This week has brought forth some new lessons to learn.

We had a baptism Saturday, taught them new member lessons on Sunday. We learned that a baptism date we have [set for] this Saturday doesn't live in our area which really complicated things this week. We called our mission president and he gave instruction on what to do. This morning we called back to give the outcome of the situation, it's still in the air a bit, but President told us why it is so important that we make sure we don't make a mistake.

I feel really close to my Mission President considering the number of times I've had to call him. Who would have thought I would have made more calls to him than anyone else this week? But as he has said before "I prefer it that way."

Those are things that just if anything add a bit of stress, but as long as the investigator gets baptized it's worth it. We visited many people and my companion almost got his face eaten off by a dog. (we were both surprised that dog didn't hop the fence.) We learned just how important we are. A [member] seems to really like us and is less active. His wife told us she was glad we don't take the same approach as most to get him up and doing his duties.

I got to give a blessing to [a members] wife; I'm surprised what I feel and what I say during those. No amount of thinking will do me any good, unless it's a prayer in my heart asking to have the spirit with me. How blank my mind can be yet I can still make complete sentences when I speak. Bearing testimony can be both exhausting and exciting at the same time. It is especially amazing how there is slight differences from one to the other. I can tell I've given a powerful one when the next testimony is so much more powerful and different than the one before it.

Much to my surprise we- I - bumped into someone who looked familiar to me. The following words is what i heard from a gentleman from a ward I serve in. "Hedgecock? you from Phoenix?" "yep!" "whats your dad's name?" "Michael" "I used to go to the family ward you guys went to in Phoenix, I served in the Bishopric there." "with Bishop Hunsaker?" "Yep, Bishop Hunsaker." Chris Brown and his family live in the Sand Creek 3rd ward that I serve in. Our dinner appointment canceled on us and he invited us over to dinner. It was the closest thing to home I've felt in a while, which was refreshing to feel and made the rest of the day better. We met with the stake President who said "President Colton and I have a agreement, he either sends me the best missionaries to serve here, or I make them into the best missionaries." With a statement like that, it's got to be good to be here!

Love you all,

Elder Hedgecock


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Happy Easter!

Dear All,

We have had a very interesting week! This week was "Walk With Christ" [presentation] and we tried to get all the people we could to go to it. What a neat experience it is! Seven rooms, each one depicts a different part of Christ's life. What an amazing experience. The Spirit was very strong in the Walk with Christ, I wish I could describe it with ease.

It is very possible I may not be in the same place next transfer, which we will recieve calls for this Saturday. I'll will tell you what I learn next Monday. We got a call Monday at 8:30 and were told we were moving, to make the experience more exciting they told us we were moving the next day @ 2pm. So 16 hours to pack 8 of which we are suppose to sleep. We moved into our new apartment and we find we are in a smaller apartment. Much smaller. Our bathroom is newly remodeled and the apartment has a brand new stove in it too. So we are so glad to have good things but wish we were not crammed into a small room. The best part: the Landlords who live above us can hear anything above normal speaking level in our bedroom.

We helped a guy transplant tomato plants he had, we invited him to 'Walk With Christ', but was unable to make it.
I got permission from my mission president to go up to Rigby to see the baptism of 2 over age youth I taught. We also got permission to go fishing in American Falls, which has not happened, I'll let you know when that happens.

We also used up a lot of our Book of Mormons for Walk With Christ. We asked our Zone leaders for 2 boxes (80 books) of Book of Mormons. They asked us what we planned to do with them, we said, "Give them out".

We learned a ward in need of a Gospel Principles class is putting it on hold, which is stressful, 'cause we have people we want to bring to Church but it's hard to want to bring them if we don't have that class. We could just take those we bring to a class and teach it ourselves. If we have people there next week and no class is made we will do just that and if someone makes a complaint we will be in the right completely so I will not fear.

Hope all of you are doing well, I am doing fine in Pocatello. We got a lot of Candy for Easter, as I've stated before people like to take care of missionaries out here.

Love you all,
Elder Hedgecock

Conference Week!

Dear Family,

This weeek was really a blast and exciting in so many ways. While a ward member was on vacation we did some yard work for her and a few other things to surprise her. With my Agriculteral Science class experience and Elder Hill's connection with other Elders we had about 8 missionaries doing yard work. I was able to make sure they pruned trees correctly and we got alot done in a short period of time.

We also made visits to those in our area and talked a lot about the “Walk With Christ” at the Stake Center is putting on this week.

Conference was Absolutely Amazing. I still can't believe I'm hearing alot about marriage and family even as a missionary. It's just odd hearing about it and the first thing that enters my mind is "I don't need to focus on that just yet."

Sorry, this may seem like a very dull week and not a whole lot happened, but a lot did happen. We decided to caution tape a couple elders appartments and short sheet their beds. So yes it was exciting.

Love you all!

(tell [my sister] I love her and I want to hear from her)

Love,

Elder Hedgecock

Dear All,

This week has been interesting for many many reasons; We got to go with the missionaries to the new area to help get them the hang of that area. Then we started talking with the ward Mission Leaders of each of our assigned wards, talking about who in their area needs help and who they would like us to visit. We got several names, which we tried to contact, resulting in a little disappointment and a little success. All of our wards received a little work in each and have alot of work to be done which makes me feel good about what we are doing.

We ran into a less active family and talked with them for a bit and got the mother to come to church with her 2 kids. We also did service on Saturday at a member's house; apparently the previous owners built a make-shift cat house in the rafters of the garage and used what looked like scrap wood and carpet samples. They also didn't have a litter box for the cat/cats. Four hours later it was all taken down and out of the garage.

A sister in one of our wards was sick along with all her kids, so we were able to stop by and give her and her children a blessing. On Sunday, she came to church for her son's Priesthood ordination to a Teacher.

We have an appointment with a new move in in another ward. This is a whole new experience because that ward has not seen a person investigating the church in some time. The Missionary Progress record we gave to that ward was full and our ward mission leader said he had not seen a full progress record since he was a ward mission leader! On Sunday, the Bishop told us that he was the happiest he's seen him in a long long time.

I had a doctors appointment this morning and got shot up with steroids in my foot. Apparently I walk funny and it's causing issues in my foot. In fact the doctor looked at my foot and pointed to a part of it and said,  "Is that normal?" I said,  "Both feet are like that so, yes". My companion and I were cracking jokes as we were in the room with the doctor and even when the doctor was out of the room. He must have had a good visit with us.

So we have lots of stuff to look forward to this week and we hope the work goes forth and is unstoppable. I hope all of you are doing well, I wish I could give a custom E-mail to each person but with the time I have and the fact I don't seem to type as fast as my companion sometimes I get cut short on time.

I hope all of you are doing well and keeping the commandments, God be with you all.

Love,
Elder Hedgecock

Transfers!!

Dear All,

So I have a really exciting week to share with you all. This week we got transfer calls and I'm staying in my area but to make things complicated our area is getting split! We are taking 6th, 7th, and 8th Wards who have little work and the new set of elders are taking 5th, 9th, and 4th Wards. So we lost 5 of our baptisms. The Stake President allowed us to still teach those who we are teaching and guide the new Elders on those wards and then ease them off and let them work it out. Kinda excited because we can focus our attention on 7th and 8th Wards, which need alot of attention to get the members more active and more into missionary work. What great task it is, and a great task I'm willing to take up and work on.

We wanted to do Mountain Biking today but the path was really really muddy so it didn't happen.

We were told the coolest experience from our investigator in 6th Ward. He said after we taught him how to pray he prayed and he felt weird. My companion and I both had the "oh no it's going to be bad" thought in our mind. Then he said he felt like his fingers could type forever and he could run forever, he felt like he could take on the whole world and it was a good feeling. We told him it was the Spirit. We are excited to teach him because we know this will probably be one of the easiest people to teach with the experiences he has and willingness to follow what we tell him.

We have made maybe 7 or so calls to our mission president in a few days for multiple reasons. Two of our baptism dates wanted to avoid the whole standing in the front of church on Sunday to be confirmed, but the Mission President will not allow it, and then we hear our area is getting split, so we called to see what he had in mind for the area. The last time we callled we said "I don't like calling you again, it feels like we called you a million  times this week.” He replied, "Elders, I would prefer it that way."

Not much going on other than that. It can't decide if it's spring or winter but I wish it would make up its mind cause I was expecting loads and loads of snow but we have got little compared to the average, so I'm told.
Love to all,
Elder Hedgecock

This week in Pocatello!

Dear All,

So this week has been fun. We have a baptism for an investigator we have been teaching for a couple of months on Saturday. My first baptism in this area and first since I've been out. [This] Brother is awesome, he likes to joke and give us a hard time, but that just gets us laughing. He knows so much, and we are suprised no one has got him baptized before.

We have a total of 7 baptism dates and we are striving to get more. There are those who work 2 jobs or work a lot so they try to meet with us but they keep falling through due to their long hours. We heard from one saying they were glad we didn't stop trying to contact them and they want us to keep trying. If somehow their lives would slow down enough we can teach them, then they may understand what is really important.

Elder Hill... well he likes to be goofy. I do wish he would stop pointing his blow dart gun at me especially when there is a dart in it! I know he probably won't shoot me, but it still makes me nervious..... what if he coughs? I'll be mad really fast. or in pain, or both. Some of the missionaries are a little goofy, especially Elder Maddox he reminds me of my brother TIM, except Elder Maddox has 8 fingers, which he uses for his humor.

We are pushing to get work in all the wards so that President will be more wiling to split the area. I find there is loads of work to do. Just when you have 5 wards to cover and 1 holds 5 of the baptisms you have. and one has a baptism but takes what they are given just goes above and beyond to do missionary work. One ward wants to do work but they just need some work to do and they will follow. WE HAVE 11 REFERRALS. That's what happens when your dinner appointment is with a family who wants to do as much work as they can and you talk with two ward mission leaders who need help in their ward. We extended a offer to one bishop to teach gospel principals class in his ward because they just don't have the right amount of people to give that calling and the Bishop was glad we did that.

So I cleaned the windows in our appartment today........... I almost didn't get in the car to go get e-mails because I was so struck by the fact I could see out the windows so clean it was like they weren't there..... they look Perdy! I was afraid my companion was going to call president and say "President, Elder Hedgecock wont stop looking out the windows since he cleaned them" I was day dreaming and by 'Day Dreaming' I mean I never dreamed the day would look that good through clean windows.

SO the mission approved IPODS.... I WANT ONE! I probably don't need it. But I want it. Then I can treat that Cd player like a frisbee.

We had Zone Conference on Thursday they talked to us about the TIWI's in the mission cars and how they work and how the Algorithim used in the TIWI is so big when written out it takes a whole 8ft by 4ft white board and how it gave the guy in charge of them for the area a headache looking at it.

Well I'm running out of things to report on. Talk to you all later.

Love,
Elder Hedgecock

This week in Idaho

Dear all,

I'm e-mailing later than usual because we had a lesson this morning, which, some would say, "Why? It's p-day." and I would say, "Preparing for the week can come a little later, missionary work should be a here and now thing not 'how about next week?' deal".

We have so much work in only 2-3 of our wards it's getting difficult to give all the wards the attention they need. We have 5 baptism dates and we made a 6th one this morning, and have 3 more possible, my companion and I decided to stretch and aim for 10 so we are going to use a little faith and hope someone will show up interested in what we teach and ask to be baptized! One of our investigators has stopped smoking and said to us, "Baptism must be good, cause this week's been hell!" He then gave us the loads of trials that had come up in the past week. We said, "Satan wants you to change your mind, so keep at it!" He's strong and will do well.

The couple that works with less actives in our area gave us 3 GOLDEN people to teach, one of them is dating a less active and it sounds like he wants to get active again. We have so much work it causes us to schedule appointments at odd times like this morning at 10. Week one of exchanges was 15 appointments and week two was 17 appointments and we have 12 appointments for this coming week, and more coming hopefully. The Stake President called our Mission President and ask about a 3rd set of missionaries, cause all our work is in the 2-3 wards the others seem to be neglected. We want to work with all of them but it's hard when 2 are filling most of your schedule. We gave him a summary of our area and it was ordered by how many investigators we have, less actives, potential investigators, referrals and a group for others who we are not quite sure yet what the status is on them. One thing I really like about Elder Hill is all the work we do. We do lots of work and wish we could do more to assist the Stake on some things they are doing such as Invitation Sunday and Walk With Christ. Seems like we are swamped and I like it! I have always liked a challenge.

Well we have lots to do still and the day is not quite over, so talk to you all later!

LOVE YA ALL.

Elder Hedgecock

First week with a new companion

Dear all,

This week has been super super fun, and yet kinda sad at the same time. We had loads of appointments set for the week, average 2 a day, in fact we had 5 set on Saturday, but we really only had 2 lessons by the end of it. Kind of a bummer. I wish the mission would have a factor for the odds of appointments falling through. maybe it wouldn't be as disappointing, but the good part is a lot of people are missionary minded now. [One person] we've taught is considering having her son take lessons. Ee have 3 baptism dates set right now, all are solid and ready to do what they need to do. We plan to get 3 more by the end of this coming week. The three we have are a few over age youths and their mom knows when the family will be in town to go to the baptism, she just hasn't set a date. Elder Hill and I decided we need to explain the blessings that come from setting a date and following that till it happens.

 

I'm a little winded Elder Hill and I have just gotten back from mountain biking..... FUN!!!! I like it alot. We are going to go again next Monday. I see the ups and downs of working with each companion and the trick is not to try and fix what they are imperfect at, by trying to love them for who they are like the Savior does. 

A lady came and gave us $5 the other day and then another person gave us $20 we split it. You can't keep people from giving here it seems. I try not to just accept it right away, I say, "Are you sure? We'll be just fine" and they may say, "Elders, I want the blessings." It almost would be bad to reject after that. I'm sure missionaries try to find ways to say, "No thanks," and I'm sure members are finding ways to say, "You're going to take this money."

 

Well I can't seem to recall much else now, so I'll just end it here.

Love to all,

 

Elder Hedgecock

THIS week!

Dear All,

This week in the Alameda Stake, 5th and 9th Wards, we set 3 baptism dates and have in the works to have 7 or so by the end of next week. [My new companion], Elder Hill has 3 months left. We are getting along well. We have already had a couple moments we both agree are funny. We're having fun and doing all sorts of work. We've had 2 people send text messages and contact us out of the blue and asked to be baptized, those are 2 of the 3 we have. The third is a pre-existing date. The one who first contacted us asked in text to be baptized, so we met with her and she didn't even let us ask about a prayer and laid out her plans to quit smoking drinking coffee and even getting a tattoo fixed or removed. We are looking forward to having more people setting dates. I have even found a few streets in my area that my last companion never took me down so I'm un-familiar with them. Elder Hill and I are in agreement that we are co-juniors. I realized I'm 4 months in and I think it's dawning on me just how fast 2 years will go by...... REALLY FAST!

Love to all,
Elder Hedgecock

Something Different This Week

(Monday, January 23)

Dear All,

So this week has been interesting for multiple reasons. We learned all sort of things about our investigators, for starters, and well, I've been somewhat sick these past few days. But not so sick to keep me inside. I've been up and taking anything I can to help me feel like I'm not sick. I reduced my candy intake to keep the large quantity of sugar from keeping me from getting better.

 

Seems as though a whole slew of things have been revealed to me this past week. Transfer calls came on Saturday and...... my campanion is getting transfered to Idaho Falls. And I get a new companion named Elder Hill who has 2 transfers left and according to what President Colton told me, he wants to finish strong and I like that. Elder Mansfield said he would pop [our balloon head guy's' head and I said I may just pop his head if he can't wait till the last monday of our companionship to do it. I'm kidding, I don't care if he does, it's [the fake] mustache I don't want to lose, you can't just find those on the street you know! Anyway I'm looking forward to my new companion and hope I can get things in shape to help. I want to show my current companion that I've enjoyed working with him, so I'm putting forth the effort to show him.

 

We had our Stake Missionary Fireside last night and it was super awesome to hear from President Colton and his wife, not to mention the testimonies of recent converts and the missionaries. Hearing my companion play the piano was great too, he mixed "Father in Heaven, We Do Believe" and "Samuel Tells of Baby Jesus" together. I kind of wish it would have been a better turn out for a stake fireside, but I'm sure that those who were there will tell all the other in their wards that it was a truly great and awesome fireside, because it was.

 

I realized that almost everyone in my district who was here when I got here is.... just about gone. I'm excited for these winds of change that seem to be blowing. just wish the winds of Pocatello wouldn't be so COLD. It seems as though the winds can blow strong and hard one second and about 200ft away the air is calm.

 

I've learned a great deal about how to serve, how to teach, how to love. I seem to always find something in the week that relates to the gospel in some way. 

 

 Well, love you all very much, hope your weeks have been well and that you are all smiling.

Love,
Elder Hedgecock

Hello!

(Monday, January 16)
Dear All,
This week was an awesome week! We extended 2 baptismal invitations. Both said they are not sure just yet, so my companion asked, "If you find it is true then will you be baptized?" and well of course they said, "Yes". So my comp said it was a baptismal commitment. Pray that my campanion understands the difference between a commitment and a survey question. But I'm sure that everything will work out.

My birthday was a good day a member invited us over and the rule was, I had to eat cake without utensils. I'll tell you what, If i know that might happen again, I will not suggest German Chocolate Cake to eat! Between the coconut in my nose and the frosting in there too, it was a odd feeling.

I find each week as I'm out here I get strength beyond my own to do what the Lord would have me do. Transfer calls are this Saturday. Wonder if I'll stay or if I will go.

All in all  I wish for all of you to know I do love you I feel joy when I think of your support.

I'm putting more effort into scripture reading and prayer. I feel even closer to my father in heaven when I do.

Tell my brother, Dan and my sister, Jen I LOVE THEM!

AND FYI not to hurt anyones feelings but NO MORE CANDY!! I thought [my supply] would start to go down but it seems like the candy has not reduced in size no matter how much I eat.

Well, hope you all have fun.
Love,
Elder Hedgecock

It was foggy this week

Dear All,

This week has been foggy. When it's cold outside and the wind blows your breath back at you it fogs your glasses. Yeah, I said to my companion, "It got really foggy really fast" and he looked at me and laughed, cause my glasses were fogged up really good.

I've been on the endeavor to think of an experience during the day and try to write something that I've learned from it. The idea is to record something i've learned so i can look back on it later and not let my mind get distracted. So far it's working out. I'm figuring out it's cold here.... yeah.

So this week we taught the two youth again and finally heard something we wanted to hear- that they have flavored milk (root beer flavored milk sounds good) AND that they can set the baptism sometime in April! I may not be here in April, however thats better than not setting any baptism date at all. I enjoy seeing people move forward in the gospel, it gives me a Spiritual adrenalin rush. I've learned that it gets cold here too.

Anyway, I had an exchange this last Wednesday and it was fun and exciting: we got to run into people talk with them, invite them to church and experience the cold weather..... I could be wrong but I think it's cold here. Some people are telling me it's abnormally warm. I am just confused, there is no snow on the ground..... yeah it doesn't add up to me.

We checked the forecast for the week and it says it's going to be cold with a chance of extremely cold. and that it's suppose to be extremely cold with a chance of  freezing your buns off out here.

This Sunday was probably one of our best sundays ever-we had two of our investigators come to church, which we have not had since I've been here.

My companion really like with puggs. I don't know why. All I know is I got a picture of him with one that looks like they are kissing. 

We are looking forward to teaching more people and trying to get some commitments. All in all we are moving forward.

Love you all!
Elder Hedgecock

I Stopped counting the weeks...

Dear All (even random strangers),

This week was interesting and uneventful or in other words, people didn't want to meet with us, either because they were busy due to holidays or sick. I say let us teach your entire family.

I'm learning all sorts of new things like President Colton says I'm not a bad missionary!

I have video Elder Mansfield and I using some extremely dry and hard cookies as frisbees. The cookies lasted a while before they broke into pieces. That was exciting.

It's hard being a missionary sometimes- people expect you to be superman. One of the ward leaders wanted us to visit about 90+ members who are less active in the ward. As much as we wanted to, we could only visit a few. We can't visit all otherwise we would neglect our investigators.  

This week is going to be fun with all our appointments and doing exchanges with my District leader on Wednesday.

Other than that all is well. I'll see about sending some pictures when i can. I need to find my flash drive, it looks like I cleaned up really well the other day. Well that is all I can recall that is worth noting.

God bless you and have a good week.
Elder Hedgecock