Learning To Live By The Spirit

 

 

Another Baptism!!!!!

 

Shayla Pierson was baptized on the 15th by Elder Stephens!!! It was amazing!!! Elder McCain gave the opening prayer and I was asked to give a quick talk on baptism. There were tons of little kids there and they all sang "I Like to Look for Rainbows." It made me think of my baptism and my family singing that song to me!

 

Shayla is an amazing girl. Her mother was able to make it to the baptism on Saturday and the confirmation on Sunday!  She has been scared to talk to us and we had a great conversation with her and were able to showed her we are just normal people! Shayla is so full of light and will be a great example to her family throughout the years. Please pray for her that she might stay strong being the only member in her family and only 8 years old! 

 

Happy Birthday Elder Stephens!!! Sister Newman was an angel and made this huge party for us when we got home :) She’s the greatest!! So something funny about Elder Stephens, he always carries a spoon and chopsticks with him wherever he goes. The chop sticks he had were just the cheap wood ones that you get at the restaurant so I got him a pair of really nice ones with little ninjas on them.  He also got a package from my family of three matching gold ties!!!! They are super awesome!!!! I love my new tie and we all look great in them!!! His family sent him ingredients to make buttermilk pancakes and a pie!  

 

 

That same day we ran into an excommunicated member. His name is Brother Goodwin and an amazing individual. You know how when you walk into a building or a home there is a spirit there, whether good or bad, but you can feel it. When we walked into Brother Goodwin's home there was a strong spirit of peace. Not something you would expect from an excommunicated member. He lives in this huge, beautiful home next to the Snake River. We sat in his living room and discuses his beliefs and tried to find how we can help him come to church.  He is amazing. You would have never guessed that he had left the church. I’m so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost and the power of the Atonement. 

 

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”                                Galations 5:22-23

 

The Holy Ghost has become a huge tool in the work and in my life. Just the other day I was biking and was about to pass an RV when I had the thought, "I’d better pull away from the RV. It would really stink if someone opened the door from inside and took me out." As I moved over, someone did open the door and I was well out of the way and we passed without any harm. 

 

The thing I want to focus on in this story is the thought I had. It sounded like my voice in my head, no warm fuzzy feeling. The heavens didn't open up and command me to move over 3 feet to avoid getting hit.  It sounded just like my voice.  The spirit is very simple but takes eternity to fully understand. It is given to us to help, and protect; to tell us right from wrong. But the trick is knowing or recognizing when it’s speaking.

 

“For I say unto you that whatsoever is good cometh from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the devil.”                                                                         Alma 5:40.

 

EVERYTHING good comes from our Heavenly Father. That includes our thoughts. Whether it is us or the Holy Ghost, it comes from God. I’m so grateful to have this gift; this gift that helps me when I teach, helps me when I’m travailing, helps me when I don't want to breath anymore. The Holy Ghost can not dwell in unholy temples. We must protect our temple, our selves, and always invite the Spirit to always dwell with us. 

 

Yesterday I met the brother of "Elder Groberg," the guy from the movie "Other Side of Heaven." It was cool hearing how the movie was almost 100% accurate. The only parts they really "hollywoodised" was when he was taking a bath and all the little children came, and when he was on the hike with the family and the daughter "hurt her ankle."  That’s amazing!!!  "Kolipoki" is living in Bountiful with his wife and they give talks and devotionals all around.

 

 “What shall we then say to these things?  If God be for us, who can be against us?”

                                                                                                                         Romans 8:31

Your friend and Companion in Christ

Elder Eldredge

 

The Last Two Weeks

Monday, May 27th

We had a lesson with the Olson Family. It ended up we just talked with Sister Olson. She was having a really hard time with enduring to the end. She said Satan has been working on her and has tested every standard she has. She said she is just about ready to throw her hands in the air and say "Fine!! You win!! Just leave me alone!!!" But we talked with her about her first steps of faith she took. She must look back and see the blessings God has given her. We likend it to Peter walking on the water. He took who knows how many steps out on the water before he started to fall. Those steps of faith are valuable! We must never forget how far we have come or how blessed we really are. She was crying, we were crying... all in all it was amazing

 

Tue May 28

Had a GREAT lesson with Sloan and Karli. Plan of Salvation! By the end of it we were all crying as we all bore our testimony of the Great Plan and how it affects our lives. Knowing that I will see Madeline again makes it possible to get out of bed every morning. I did something I hadn’t done before. I challenged Karli to prepare to be baptized and she accepted!!! I asked her to pray to know when she should be baptized and she said she would!!! I’m so excited for her to grow in the gospel the way her brother has!!!

 

Wed May 29

Elder Don C. Clarke of the 70 toured our mission. He spoke in zone conference. I loved listening to his words of advice and it’s helping me become a better missionary. "Don’t just go through your mission, let the mission go through you." 

 

Thur May 30

Elder Stephen’s oldest brother came and took us out to lunch. We went to Olive Garden and ran into some other missionaries and their ward mission leaders. Elder Dalton, an elder that came out with me, was there. He and I got to sit and talk. He had just gone to the temple and we got to talk about how amazing it is and all the blessing that it brings.

 

Fri May 31

Ok, so crazy story. We burned a satanic bible. There is this kid, Alan, age 21, who we have been working with to come back to church. He up and left town and we hadn’t seen him in a long time. We ran into him walking down Sunnyside. We stopped and talked with him and it ended up he was running from his father who lives in the next city over. He had walked 12 miles to get to his mother’s home for some help. He needed to go back to his father’s house and get his stuff before his father came back from work. So Sister Newman gave us all a ride down there to get it. He started packing up when he grabbed an object wrapped in white linen. We asked him what it was and he showed us. Right there, plain as day, was a satanic bible.  He said he had already thrown away 3 other books but they keep showing up. We told him he needed to get rid of it today but he had no way of burning it so we took it and burned it in the wood burning stove at Sister Newman’s. so ya... it was crazy!

 

Sat June 1

Ashton and Tristen are baptised!!! Everybody was crying and it was awesome!!! People days later commented on how great it was!! I’m so happy for these kids and hope they appreciate all that their father has done to be able to baptize them!!!

 

Sun June 2

I got to stand in the circle and confirm Ashton and Tristen. What an awesome experience to be a part of someone’s conversion!! I love these boys and hope the best for them.

 

Mon June 3

We had an amazing lesson with Sloan and Karli. Their parents were not able to make it but we talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. We only made it half way through the lesson because the conversation and discussions were so great!!! I learned something while teaching. It’s amazing the things I learn while I’m talking!!!

There is a huge difference between worldly sorrow and Godly sorrow. Worldly sorry makes you beat up yourself and makes you hate and belittle your self-worth. Godly sorrow is feeling bad enough to change and never do it again. It’s a fine line between the two, but we must always remember we are Children of the Most High God. He loves us and never wants us to think we are any less!! We must stay in this mindset and hold on to it!!

 

Karli is so close to being baptized!! I’m so excited for her to take part in these wonderful blessings!!

 

Wed June 5

We have another companion!! Elder McClain, age 21, from Arizona!!! He’s a stellar Elder and full of the greenie fire!!! I love this guy! Today we took him around town and had him meet members and investigators. We stopped by the Olson’s to tell them that the confirmation was going to have to be on Sunday rather than on Friday when Sister Olson is scheduled to be baptized. Brother Olson didn’t like that at all and by the end of the half hour conversation he called it off. The three of us went home and cried... We did all we could to try to help him see why it was the way it was... but he wouldn’t listen.

 

Thu June 6

We fixed it! We went up the chain and got a lot of people to agree that the confirmation should be on Friday. President agreed and we called Brother Olson. The baptism was back on!!! Thank you, Heavenly Father, for all you do for us and answering our prayers!!!

 

Fri June 7

Lisa Olson was baptized by her husband Trent Olson. Then she was confirmed by her Uncle. It was a great baptismal service! I’m so excited for her to live her life with the Holy Ghost and for her and her husband to go to the temple in a year!!! I’ll still be out here so maybe I’ll go with them!!!

 

We got a call from Sister Strebble. (She has been working with Shaila, a little 8 year old, and bringing her to church and helping her build her testimony and helping her ask her mom if she could be baptized.) She said that Shaila's mom said yes!!! and that they want to move it up a week!! Shaila will be baptized on the 15th!!! We have had a baptism every weekend for the Month of June!!! We are so blessed to be out here and helping God’s work move forward!!!

 

Sun June 8

We had a lesson with Shaila today and all we did was get the program ready for her baptism!! She asked Elder Stephens to baptize her, Elder McCain to give the closing prayer, and I will be giving the talk on baptism :) I’m so excited and honored to have been able to teach this little child of God and to help her come closer to her Heavenly Father. I can’t wait!!!

 

Some things I learned this week:

2 Corinthians 7:10 - "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death."  A great family home evening discussion!

"Today is always a better day to repent than any tomorrow." - President Eyring

 

Thank you so much for all you do for me and my family. I know God is watching over me and helping me through my mission. 

 

Elder Eldredge

 

 

Brothers Baptized, Companionship Change, A Fun Dinner, And Silly Ties

So this week Elder Eldredge sent us a voice recording instead of a letter.  Problem is, the recording was one one-hundreth of a second long!!  The email said he’d had a crazy week, so he was sending the recording instead of writing it all down.  Well, I guess more crazy things happened while he was sending the voice recording!! 

Luckily, we have a few other sources that gave us a little information about his week.  Sister Newman, the sister Elders Stephens and Eldredge live with, often posts on facebook about them.  This is from her:

Well, I'm now the mother of triplets!!!! President Brinkerhoff, the Mission President called the Elders today and told them that on Wednesday, another Elder would be living in my home! I said, "And Elders where is this new Elder going to sleep?" They said Elder and Sister Hammond, the missionary couple who have the task of finding housing for the missionaries will take care of that. These Elders are a real hoot!  They are already prepared for the new Elder.  They have changed their beds around and have taken the doors off the closet to, I guess, make more room.  I’m going to start a book about “My Life With the Elders.”  It will be make into a movie like “The Best Two Years” but I’m not sure whose best two years it will be about, the Elders or mine!  Stan, I need help!!!It’s all a good thing, right?

We found out that the third Elder is coming to Idaho because of visa problems.  He’ll be serving in the South Pacific once his visa is taken care of.

Another post from Sister Newman:

 

Today the Elders had a baptism. It was such a beautiful service. I don't think there was a dry eye in the room. I was so proud of my Elders! Elder Eldredge gave a very nice talk about Baptism and Elder Stephens gave and equally good talk about the Holy Ghost. I told them when we all were home how proud I was of them. They are the best looking Elders in the Idaho Pocatello Mission!! They stood so straight and tall and looked oh, so sharp!  I couldn’t be more proud of them if I were their mother.  They each have a wonderful spirit about them.  Wendy and Karen, know that your sons are wonderful missionaries.  They are well and happy even though I know Elder Eldredge has a heart ache that he lives with every day.  I’m sure Madie is so proud of him!!

Another Sister in one of the wards that Elder Eldredge serves in contacted me last week asking what Elder Eldredge’s favorite foods were.  She also contacted Elder Stephens’ mom to find out his favorites!  She made a special dinner for the two Elders with both their favorites complete with a dessert for each of them!!  Here’s a bit from her letter and a picture she sent me:

It was so much fun to see their faces and hear how excited they were to be served some family favorites from their own homes. Surprisingly enough, it wasn't even that weird that we had so many different food choices. Everyone was a good sport, and we didn't have many leftovers so I feel that is a good sign. There were smiles all around at the end of the meal.

Thanks for participating in our little surprise. It was a lot of fun.  We will continue to take good care of your elders. They both look great and are doing well.

 

And last of all, a picture of Elder Eldredge wearing a tie that Ashley Little sent him.  Elder Eldredge's dad and brothers have started wearing bow ties all the time, as did Elder Eldredge before leaving for Idaho.  Ashley sent him this tie so that he could still wear bow-ties while serving his mission.  LOVE IT!

 

Just for fun I added a couple of pictures from last October of the bow-tie-wearing-guys.

 

 

Dorky Dad & Brothers!  Life is good with these guys around.

 

This is Saturday night after general conference in October of 2012.  This was a day in the history of the Eldredge Family.  The leaders of our church announced that worthy young men could start serving their mission at age 18 and graduated from high school.  Worthy young women could serve missions starting at age 19.  I don't think I've seen a happier young man than when he realized he could leave earlier for his mission than expected.  We were literally running through the house yelling and screaming with excitement.  As soon as the session was over Sawyer was on the phone setting up the required appointment with his bishop.  This is him with our brand new bishop.  Bishop Dangerfield didn't know Sawyer until that day, litteraly hadn't even met him yet because Sawyer had been gone since he graduated working in the Dallas area.  He was very hesitant about Sawyer wanting to leave for a mission at 18, and wanted to be sure he was a young man that was really ready.  After meeting with Sawyer for about 30 minutes that night, he said to me, "We need to get this one on a mission.  He's definitely ready." 

So, ya, I wrecked my bike...

So crazy story. There is a hill range to the West of Idaho Falls. On top of those hills are GIANT windmills!! Today 5/27 I touched one of them. They are ssssooooo big!!! But as you can see in the first picture I have a blue bike, and now I'm riding a red one. Ya.... I wrecked..... nothing bad but it was pretty intense!! So, ya, my first bad fall on a bike. Love you!!!

 

The Lord Answered My Prayers

Sawyer keeps sending us pictures of trees in bloom. 

He's so amazed with Spring coming after the snow and cold. 

NOTE FROM WENDY: 

 

On May 20, 2013, Mikel and I were driving to the airport and talking about Sawyer.  We pulled over to pray for him, as we knew that this would be an especially hard time for him since it was Madie’s birthday and 6 months since her death.  Just as we were ending our prayer, we received a text from my cousin, Rachel Gillmore, who lives in Idaho Falls, asking for Sawyer’s address.  She had felt prompted that morning as she was grocery shopping to pick up items to make Sawyer a peach cobbler and deliver it tonight.  We were filled with gratitude for our Heavenly Father and for Rachel acting on this prompting. 

 

This is a text we got from Rachel after she delivered the cobbler: “Sawyer and I visited for 3 hours last night.  I passed on your deep love and support to him.  He had a positive spirit about him despite Madie’s birthday and anniversary.  We talked about the day to day stuff, our family, his investigators, the blessings and the trials of life.  There was laughter as well as some tears.  He testified that he is exactly where he needs to be right now.  He continues to find healing while still focusing on the work.  There is no doubt the Lord is taking care of him.  He is nothing short of amazing!”

 

 

 

...and now for Sawyer's letter...

5/27/2013

To Everyone:

This past Monday the Lord answered my prayers. Rachel Gillmore came and knocked on my door with a peach cobbler and a loving heart. I am so grateful for all she did for me. Just being willing to sit and listen was a huge blessing for me.  We talked about everything under the sun but when we started talking about Madie I realized how much I needed to get it out and talk about the things we did. Thank you so much Rachel. You’re amazing.

Investigator update:

Slone Schmitt: 15
We had a new member lesson with him, his mom, and his sister Karlie.  It's kinda cool because he is a member, Sister Schmitt is a less active and Karlie we are hoping to baptize here pretty soon :). We were talking about the fist vision and Elder Stephens turned to Slone to ask "How do you know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God?" But half way through the question he turned and ask Sister Schmitt. After recovering from the shock of being asked, Sister Schmitt explained that she couldn’t, with confidence, say she knows a lot of things are true.  We talked with her about how she can come to find the truth for herself and she accepted the challenge to pray about it!  The Lord has really blessed this family. I can’t wait to be guided by the Spirit like Elder Stephens.

 

Miller Boys: Ashten and Tristen: 9&11

They are getting baptized this Saturday! June 1st!!! They are the greatest and I love these kids. I can’t wait to see the light fully come into their life. They asked me to give the talk on baptism.  I love working for the Lord.

 

Lisa Olsen: ~45

She is planning on getting baptized on the 7th!!! She set her own date and is hoping to have her husband baptize her!! He is fighting smoking and needs to have not had a smoke for 2 weeks and have an interview with the bishop.  I hope and pray he will make this goal for himself and for his whole family.

 

Shayla Pierson: 8

She is so ready for baptism! We just need to work with her mom to set a date and get her on the path to her Father in Heaven. She leaves to California to visit her father for a month and we need to give her the Gift of the Holy Ghost before she goes. We are not sure how her father feels about the church and the month could be really hard for her. 

Please continue to pray for all of our investigators.  These children of God need our help and we have the power to do so. Thank you for your prayers

D&C 88:63 - Plain and simple.  “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

2nd Nephi 7:8 - I love this verse because if we read it like we are saying it, it can be so uplifting!  “And the Lord is near, and he justifieth me.  Who will contend with me?  Let us stand together.  Who is mine adversary?  Let him come near me, and I will smite him with the strength of my mouth. (vs 9) For the Lord God will help me.”

I’m still here. I’m still breathing. I’m still fighting the good fight. All glory be unto the Father.

 

Elder Eldredge

Never Give Up

May 20th. Happy Birthday My Love.

 

2nd Timothy 4:7

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

 

What I learned this week: I must never give up.

 

These past 6 months have been the hardest of my life. I lost the love of my life and then departed to serve the Lord on a 2 year mission. Although being on a mission is the greatest thing I could be doing right now, it does not take away the pain of losing Madeline. Many times I have given up, threw my hands in the air and wanted to stop existing. Last night was one of the hardest nights for me, but I woke with a determination that I have not felt in a long time. I know my Heavenly Father loves me. I know he is watching over me. Although he has cut me down to nothing "It will be for [my] good."

 

 

 

At the end of my Patriarchal blessing (A blessing given to us for our uplifting and knowledge throughout life) it says, "Never give up." This is the last piece of advice my Lord gave me through this blessing. I always knew I had to keep going but just not giving up is the hardest part. I must serve the Lord with all my heart, might, mind, and strength.  This is my call, my fate; to always serve the Lord and submit to his will. I must submit.

 

 

 

When Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane he did not want to take upon him all the pain and hell of this world. But he loved us and he loved his father enough to do it. I am forever grateful for his sacrifice. I will be forever in his debt.  He is my Savior, my Redeemer, my Lord, my Master. He loves me and I know it. 

 

This is my sacred testimony.

 

Elder Eldredge

Mother's Day

 

 

We had the privilege of skyping with Elder Eldredge on Mother's Day.  It was one of the two times a year the missionaries are allowed to call home.  We had a great time all gathering around the computer and seeing him.  He was happy and excited about serving a mission.  He thanked us, his parents, for providing him with a loving home to grow up in, and brought me to tears as he expressed his gratitude and love for us in great detail.  What a blessing to have a son serving The Lord full time.

 

 We also received a letter from a sister who attended church where Sawyer spoke on Mother's Day.   

 

Dear Eldredge family,

I know today you will have the privilege of speaking with your missionary but I wanted to send you an extra gift. My husband asked the elders to speak today on how their mothers prepared them for their missions. I tried to take good notes and thought I would pass along to you what your elder shared with our ward today. Obviously not word for word, but I think you'll get the message just the same.

 

Your son is a very humble young man with a gift of speaking from his heart and by the spirit. He related the scripture in 1 Nephi 1:1 and changed goodly parents to include a goodly father and a goodly mother. He saluted his mother for raising him to do all of the things necessary to be a good missionary including tying his shoes, riding a bike, cleaning, cooking, choosing the right eggs and milk at the grocery store, and how to say please and thank you.  He told us of how he appreciated many traits in his mother, and that each of these traits helped him prepare spiritually to become a missionary. Things like a gentle reminder each night, "don't forget to say your prayers!" (which, by the way, he said he misses!) He saluted his mother as being a great scriptorian who taught her children the scriptures at their level and helped them to know where to seek the truth. He told us his mother taught him to always attend church and to always fulfill his priesthood responsibilities. He recounted the story of the stripling warriors and reminded us of the scripture in Alma 56:47 where they were taught by their mothers, and how they didn't doubt because their mothers knew it. He bore a strong testimony that because he had been taught by his mother, he too, does not doubt. He concluded with a strong testimony of the truths he is now teaching on his mission. It was a powerful talk.

On a side note, before Elder Stephens took his turn, our musical number today was all of the priesthood singing "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" and both the elders joined in testifying yet again, this time through music. The spirit was strong. It was a great gift to all of the women in our congregation to know that these worthy priesthood holders know that their Redeemer does live.

 

We are grateful to have these elders in our stake and in our ward. They are awesome. Enjoy your phone call today. Know that we are all doing our best to support their efforts and take good care of them while they are away on the Lord's errand.

 

 

Sister Joy Sorensen