You don't know how strong you are or what you can do till you go through it - or until someone asks you to squeeze an egg.

 Elder Eldredge and Elder Scullion at a soup kitchen.  They served over 180 taco salads that day.

 

 

On July 24 we celebrate the arrival of the Mormon Pioneers entering the Salt Lake Valley.  At the Pioneer Day celebration the Elders attended they met a descendent of an Indian who met the Mormon Pioneers in the 1800's and joined the church.  Yep, he came dressed in his regalia!  So Cool!!

 

7/30/2013

Elder Curtis and I have been working hard and getting names this past week and it’s obvious the harder you work the more God will help you in his work. We have 3 Baptismal dates!!! Karisa Myrdal on the 1st of August. Tahja Snook on the 17th. And Sharron Hill on the 24th!!! And tomorrow we are planning on setting another one with Karli Shmitt to help her prepare for her baptism!!! 4 people the Lord has led us to and is allowing us to be the tools in his hand to bring them back to him. It’s amazing the power of being a missionary is. I’m so grateful to be out here and able to help people. It’s amazing!

Another highlight. Tahja ask if I would baptize her!!!! I’m so flippin excited!!!! She is so great and has been growing and growing in the gospel. I love seeing the light in her eyes! I’m so excited!!!

 

Funny story. We were at the Strebels home for dinner and a lesson. We gave a cool object lesson and then Sister Strebel wanted to show us a cool science project she did with her kids. She handed me an egg and told me to try to squeeze it. I was sitting on her couch in her living room. I asked "are you sure?" She said " Ya! You can’t do it, its really cool!" So I asked again, and she said go ahead. You can probably guess what happened. I squeezed and it exploded all over the place. In her curtains, on her couch pillows, everywhere! She was so embraced. She explained that she had tried breaking the egg for 5 minutes and could not do it! After we tried cleaning up I looked down and saw the mess that was all over my pants! I kept looking and it was on my shirt, my tie, and my name tag!!! Lots of laughs were had and lots of cleaning!

 

This past Saturday my Grandfather’s funeral was held. I’m very sad I missed it, but I learned something new about myself during this time. Death is almost a time to celebrate. It’s a time for mourning and growing closer to family members. But death is a stepping stone. It’s progression. It’s a new opportunity to grow in a place where there is no pain or sickness. My grandfather suffered with cancer for a very long time. Now he is a spirit working with the others who have passed on to help those down here who need it. I once read a poem writen by President Gordon B. Hinckley. It goes like this.

What Is This Thing That Men Call Death?

What is this thing that men call death?
This quiet passing in the night?
‘Tis not the end but genesis
Of better worlds and greater light.

O God, touch Thou my aching heart
And calm my troubled, haunting fears.
Let hope and faith, transcendent, pure,
Give strength and peace beyond my tears.

There is no death, but only change
With recompense for vict’ry won.
The gift of Him who loved all men
The Son of God, the Holy One.

 

The Plan of Salvation, or the Great Plan of Happiness brings a state of rest to those who have lost a loved one.  Here is a great video that explains this great plan.

 

http://www.mormonchannel.org/more-videos?v=1838710831001 

 

This life is hard. But this plan makes it worth it.

Serving faithfully

Elder Eldredge

I Know It With My Whole Soul

 

7/22/13

 

We’ve got a baptism coming up! Karisa Murdal!!!! She will be baptized Aug. 1st (Yes on a Thursday, it’s when she has a day off) and then confirmed on the following Sunday!!!! I’m so excited for her to become a member of Christs’ Church and to fully accept the truth into her life.  It’s been amazing seeing the light of Christ shine brighter and brighter in her eyes in the past month we have been working with her. She has said herself that she has felt the spirit more and has received more and more blessings. Her children used to get sick a lot, now they are better. She has been finically burdened and it is becoming lighter. It’s amazing the things God does for his children to show them the light.

 

Another great update! Tajah Snook (the one I asked Gabe to pray for) came to church this week!!!! We have really worked on building a trust and friendship and helping her see the truth. Sister Snook, Pamela, is a less active and I have seen the Light of Christ come back into her eyes as well!!! I’m so excited for this family!!! We hope to have Tajah baptized sometime this next month!!!

 

My new companion!!! Elder Curtis is great! He is 21 from Houston!!!! Believe it or not he actually lives 15 minutes away from me!!! He went to Kline High school and knew Madie. It’s crazy that we ended up together. Another crazy thing is he has been out only a week longer than me. So he and I will probably fly home together!!! Crazy!!! Elder Curtis loves playing Soccer and is getting his major in Computer Science.  He hopes to work for Intel when he gets home. He is the youngest of 5 children, the first 4 being sisters!!! Poor guy! He became less active and went through a hard time in his life. But he knew he needed to serve a mission, so he got his act together and went to work. I’m very excited to be working with him.

 

Since Elder Stephens is gone and I’m the one who knows the area it’s been pretty stressful trying to fill our days and keep working. I made a promise to never go home early. I have heard too many 8:50 pm miracles to go home early. There is work out there and we are doing it through the members. This last Sunday we did a "Search and Rescue" in the Township Ward. All the leaders of the different organizations got together and were given names to go find in the ward. We got to go with Bishop Polson and the ward secretary (sorry I don’t remember his name) and try and find them! In the end we got a ton of names to go visit of people who were interested and wanted visitors! It’s amazing how as soon as the wards start working the work of salvation, God gives us people to bring back to him.

 

I know this is the truth. I know it with my whole soul.

 

With all my love,

Elder Eldredge

If God is with us, who can be against us? His Grace is sufficient.

 

This picture was sent to us from our friend from Texas, Rebecca Lasswell, who stopped by Sawyer's and brought him cookies!  The Lasswells are originally from Idaho Falls and go every summer.  I'm so grateful for all the love that's been sent Sawyer's way.

 

7/15/13

 

Talk about Crazy

 

So much has happened and so much will be changing. We got the transfer calls this week and Elder Stephens is going back to Pocatello and I’m staying here. My new companion’s name is Elder Curtis. The crazy thing is he is coming here form the Utah, Ogden mission!  No one knows anything about him cuz he’s changing missions!!! I hope he’s cool and will help me find more people to teach and bring to Christ. The day before this info came to us, Elder Stephens and I went on transfers with the Zone Leaders. Elder Marrell came with me in my area. Which meant I was in control all day. I had to figure out who to contact, where to go, who to see, and I lead all the lessons that day. I’ve been dreading transfers because I haven't felt ready to be the senior companion. But I did it. It was a good day and I felt like I had done all I could and gave it my all. I still have a lot to learn, but now I know I can do it!! These next few weeks are going to be hard ones, but if God is with us, who can be against us!!!

 

I also had a wonderful surprise! Sister Lasswell and Sophie Lasswell stopped by and doped off cookies!!! WOW thanks so much!!!

 

This week I’ve been studying Grace and how it works in our lives. There is a talk that I was able to get called "His Grace Is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox. It’s amazing.

 

Here is a link to read it. http://www.lds.org/new-era/2012/08/his-grace-is-sufficient?lang=eng 

 

What I love about this talk is how simple yet never ending I have learned Christ’s grace is.  It is in every decision we make, every movement we take. Without it we would never be able to return to our God. And we will be forever indebted to Christ for it. Now it is our turn to give thanks for what he has done and "follow him." If we could all understand the concept of Grace, we would realize how very real the possibility of making it into our Father Kingdom really is! We can do it!! We must first accept Christ as our savior and by so doing follow is teaching and try to be like him. 

 

I hope all is well with you and I pray God will touch your heart and bring you closer into his fold.

 

Love Elder Eldredge

Light and Darkness

7/8/2013

 

 

To Everyone,

 

Sorry about not writing very much the last 2 weeks.

 

This week was great! We had an all day P-day for the 4th of July!!! We spent it with the Watson Family; our Ward Mission Leader in the Victorian Village Ward. Sister Watson is the same lady who went to Texas and had lunch with my family. We got to meet most of her family and hang out with them. There was a HUGE firework show that was put to music that played over the radio!!! We even got permission to stay out late to see the show!!! 

 

Austin Olsen, the son of Sister Olson the woman who was baptized by her husband at the beginning of last month, went out with us twice this week. He got his mission call to Kansas! He has biked around with us and sat in on lessons and gotten to know what we do a little better. He’s a great kid and really good at talking so that takes a little off of me who is terrible at talking!!!

 

The work has been really slow. We haven't been able to teach much of our investigators. They have all been gone doing stuff or busy during this holiday week. We could really use prayers for the people we have found and teaching.

 

The last baptism we had was Shayla on the 15^th.  I set a date with Ali Cook for the 22^nd but it fell through.  The people who are close to baptism are Karli Schmitt, Sharon Hill, Ali Cook and Tajha Snook.  (ha ha wow, all girls).  We are hoping to have one soon but I’m here to help people become truly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ, not just make a half-way decision, get baptized and then not be active in the Lord’s church.  So we are taking it at their pace.

 

This next Sunday Elder Stephens and I will be singing "A Childs Prayer" in the Therwood Ward. I’m super nervous and not looking forward to it. But I will do what I can to help as much as I can.

 

I read President Uchtdorf’s talk on Light and Darkness today. This talk has become such a huge strength to me in healing from loosing Madie. Today when I read it, it was obvious to me that the way to get out of the darkness is to look outside yourself and serve others. He said "As you walk toward the hope of God’s light, you will discover the compassion, love, and goodness of a loving Heavenly Father, “in [whom there] is no darkness at all." Compassion, Love, Goodness; these are all attributes of Charity, the pure love of Christ. As we enable Charity to come into our lives and help us act in others’ lives we will step out of the darkness and become the light for others. I will try and pray that I will be able to do just that. Step out of the darkness and become a light.



Love y’all!

Elder Eldredge

 

To read the sermon Elder Eldredge talks about go to:
 http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/the-hope-of-gods-light?lang=eng

From the sermon:

"To me, the darkness and light in this painting are a metaphor for life. It is part of our condition as mortal beings to sometimes feel as though we are surrounded by darkness. We might have lost a loved one; a child might have strayed; we might have received a troubling medical diagnosis; we might have employment challenges and be burdened by doubts or fears; or we might feel alone or unloved.

But even though we may feel lost in the midst of our current circumstances, God promises the hope of His light—He promises to illuminate the way before us and show us the way out of darkness."

 

Entrance Into Enlightenment by Johan Benthin

 

 

 

 

Just a quick note and a few pictures

 

June 24, 2013

 

So ya my birthday is tomorrow!!!! I’m going to be 19! I’m super excited!!!

 

The Lord has blessed my companions and I so much. The Baptisms we have had have been evidence of that. The Lord prepared these people to be baptized now and to receive the blessings of the Holy Ghost. Glory be to the Father.

 

I’ve been sick. This cough has really taken a toll on me. But last night Elder McCain gave me a blessing. He said according to my faith I would be healed.  And last night was the best rest I’ve had in a long time. But the scripture 2 Nephi 25:23 kept coming to my mind. "After all we can do" So I did all I could to help my cough go away and the Lord did the rest. Thank you Heavenly Father for all you do for me.

 

Sorry this one is short. I love ya’ll sssssooooo much and I’m so grateful for all you do for me.

 

Never Stop Praying.

 

Elder Eldredge

Here's a picture of Sawyer wearing a "Les Miserables" pin that Mikella made and Joe sent to him.

 

 

Sawyer's new favorite tie with polka dots on the knot and stripes down the front.

 

Here's what Sawyer said about this picture: "This is the field next to the church.  It was full of knee-high weeds and now it's this!"  Guess he's learning the difference between weeds and alfalfa. :)

 

Sawyer's companion plays the guitar, and for Sawyer's birthday he asked for a ukulele.  Here he is getting a lesson on his uke.

 

A Sister in one of the wards Sawyer serves in brought over this special treat for the missionaries.