Yellowstone Followed Us Home!

6/16/2014

Weekly Update.

The work is picking up!!!!! 

The last few weeks Elder Olson and I have been struggling with our investigators. They all seem to not want to meet with us and the number of lessons we have been able to teach. It’s been hard, to say the least. But this week we set a date for a baptism!

His name is Trevor. He is 22 and lives in some apartments on the far side of our area. He moved here from Pennsylvania to get away from the drug life. His mom lives in Idaho Falls so that’s what brought him here. We found him trying to contact a different person; a referral we got. They didn’t answer their door so we knocked around and found Trevor. He read the introduction to the Book of Mormon and the pamphlet that talks about the Restoration of Christ’s gospel. He really wants to change his life and find a meaning to him being here. I am so excited to teach him the Plan of Salvation. It answers some huge questions, like: Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going after this life? This knowledge is priceless!!! Please pray for him.

We saw a moose!!! There was a moose that was in the field right next to the stake center! Later that night we saw him walking/running around our neighborhood with a cop car following him!!! haha crazy! We were just in Yellowstone the day before and Yellowstone followed us home!!! Gota Love Idaho!

Love,

Elder Eldredge

Yellowstone

June 10, 2014

These weeks are going by so fast! I can’t believe how fast they are going! I’m working hard but I’m not sure what to share with y’all!

On Monday the 2nd we went to a cave south of Firth. It’s called 40 horse cave. We had a sweet hike and got to hang out in the cave. I brought my ukulele and played a little with another Elder who knows how to play. There were two sisters from the islands and they started dancing. Then some Elders asked if they would teach them and by the end we had a Hawaiian dance performance!!!! It was so fun being a part of the fun. 

On Thursday we went to the Temple with a recent convert named Makala Spring. Elder Downey and his companion helped her be baptized and we were able to invite Elder Downey to come with us to do baptism for the dead. It was so great seeing this young woman participate in a sacred ordnance for the loved ones of the family that helped her come to Christ. It was a very sweet and spiritual day.

Friday we had MLC. (Mission Leadership Counsel) The big thing we did there was recreate the Standard of Excellence!!! Our new goal is "Every companionship baptizes 2 people every month!" That is double what we have been doing! It’s incredible what the Lord can do as he works threw his messengers and inspires the hearts and minds of his people. We also have a new recitation. Its D&C 64:33-34. It’s an awesome missionary scripture and is one that can apply to everybody in so many ways!!! 

“Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.  And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.  Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.”

This last Sunday, the 8th, was Elder Olson’s birthday and we had a blast. The family we had dinner with, the Mcques, had a big fancy dinner and carrot cake! They have 3 kids, 13, 10 and 8. They were a hoot! So fun! Then Monday we went to Yellowstone and had so much fun!!! We saw Elk, Buffalo, and a Bear!!!!  I got within 50 feet of the bear. Not because I walked towards it, but because he ran my way! It was crazy!!! So cool!!! haha Our Heavenly Father has given us an incredible place to live. I am so grateful for all my Heavenly Father has given me. 

Elder Eldredge

We need His Grace

June 2, 2014

This week Elder Olson and I when on a ton of exchanges! I worked with the other Elders in the Taylor Mountain Stake, The Elders in the Shelley South Stake, and Elder Thompson in the Firth Stake. All great Elders. The missionaries in this zone are amazing. All of them. I am so blessed. 

I’ve started reading the Book of Mormon again. I read in 2nd Nephi chapter 4 and related with Nephi. This is after his father dies and his brothers are conspiring against him. He is going through some hard stuff.

16 Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.

 17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.

 18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.

 19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.

 20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.

 21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.

 23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.

 24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high;

 26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?

 27 And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am angry because of mine enemy?

 28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.

 29 Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.

 30 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

 31 O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?

This is my prayer. That I might continually sing praises to the Most High and shake at the appearance of sin. It’s so important that we turn to our Heavenly Father and our Savior. We must always be turned towards him. In good times and bad. In thanksgiving and pleading. We need his grace and help. 

Today I am stressed, but ready for the day. We are going on another hike today. Yes mom I made sure there was plenty of time to email you :). We are going to 40 horse cave with another zone. The Lincoln zone. My old zone. Elder Downey is one of the zone leaders so I’m excited to meet up with him. There is going to be a ton of missionaries and a ton of fun!

Elder Eldredge

Elder Perry, Shaved Ice, and Goals

Elders Eldredge & Olson helped this family move some cement so they treated all to shaved ice, and then treated the Elders' families to a picture of the event.

5/28/2014

So this week President Brinkerhoff called all the leadership in the mission together for a meeting. We didn’t see it coming. He called off all of the District meetings and told us that we were going to be getting our zones together for a training the day after our meeting. We show up with much anticipation for what President was going to share with us. 

The past weekend was a regional conference. All the stakes, 78 of them, tuned into  BYU-Idaho and listens to Elder Perry, a member of the quorum of the 12 Apostles, speak to Eastern Idaho. The message was great. President Brinkerhoff and his wife got to say the opening and closing prayers and then spent the afternoon with Elder Perry. At the end of the day, Elder Perry looked President Brinkerhoff in the eyes and said, “10 baptisms per missionary.” This was the information President stayed up nights thinking about and the reason for calling this meeting. We have 250 missionaries and our original goal was "Every companionship baptizes every month" but that would leave a missionary with 6 baptisms at the end of the year. Which at the end of the year would be 1500 baptisms. But Elder Perry has lifted our vision. With each missionary having 10 baptisms, which would mean each companionship would need to baptize 20 a year. Making our goal 2500. 

Now, we are not about numbers, we are about people; children of God who are waiting to partake of this saving covenant to return back to our Heavenly Father’s presence. We had an Apostle of the Lord tell us what we can achieve. This is a promise made to us. Now we must do it. But we cannot do this alone. We NEED member help. We need to be more united in this great cause. We are much like Nephi was. The Lord told him to build a ship. This was a huge task! He had to build a vessel that would take him, his family and all of his extended family, animals, food and supplies across the ocean. And he had never built a boat before! How did he do it? He did it the Lord’s way. He was continualy praying for guidance and direction. We must do the same. We NEED your prayers.       

-- 

Elder Eldredge

Another Week in the Life...

5/19/2014

Elder Olson is amazing. I'm so grateful to be his companion. 

This week has been a crazy one. As a zone leader it’s always crazy. I love working with these missionaries and they are the best! We have an amazing zone and I’m honored to be thier zone leader to uplift and help in any way I can!! We as a zone decided to achieve the standard of excellence in the month of June. The Standard is that every companionship baptizes every month. We have the goal of doing so in the month of June. This zone needs your prayers. We need to build the faith to invite people to come unto Christ and be baptized. We need to build our faith that God will send those who are ready and we will be lead to those that are prepared. I’m excited, and nervous, about this challenge but I know we will all grow from this.   

We got a new investigator!!! His name is Papis Fatti. He is from Ghana,Africa. He is SSSOOOO CCCOOOLLLL!!! I love Africa and this guy is amazing!!! He is so willing and ready to learn. We got a referral from the mission office saying to contact a Brother Anderson about his friend. He gave us Papis' number and address then we asked him if he could set up an appointment for us to meet him. We were at his house last Friday and had an amazing lesson. He has been in the states for a year and a half and loves being in Idaho. He has a son still in Ghana that he is trying to get here. Ghana is a Muslim country and the risk is that if they find out Papis is Christian that can put his son in danger. But he believes that as he exercises faith, God will provide. How amazing is that!!!! We invited him to pray and ask if the Book of Mormon is true and we have a lesson lined up for this Wednesday. I can’t wait! Please pray for him and his family. 

Happy Birthday Madeline Rose. I miss you. 

Your Missionary,

Elder Eldredge

New Comp. New Start.

5/12/2014

Elder Olson, Elder Eldredge and kids from the Smith and Jones families at church on Mother's Day

I’m back with the infamous Elder Olson! I’m way excited to get started with him. I miss Elder Downey but Elder Olson is great! He and I were companions before but now we are Zone Leaders and get to work together again! He and I have both grown a lot and we are ready for round 2!

Skyping with my family was the bomb.com!!!! They are the greatest people on the planet!!! I love them with all my heart and I am so grateful to be a part of such an amazing group of people! 

I need your help. There is an investigator we are working with named Calleen. She moved here from Jackson Wyoming, and moved there from NY. She hit rock bottom and hit it hard. She is scared and feels like there is no hope for her. She is born again Christian but is doubting her faith. Please pray for her. Pray for her protection. Pray for her to have peace. Pray that she will pray to know and feel of God’s love for her. She needs all the help she can get. 

The Atonement is real. But there is only one way for you to know this. Use it. 

If there was a giant cake, your favorite cake, sitting in front of you and all you did was stick your finger in the frosting and lick it off... would that be "partaking" of the cake? NO!!! Dive on in! Eat it all!!! Its the same with the Atonement!

1 Nephi 8:12 in the Book of Mormon says, “And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desireous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desireable above all other fruit.”

  

How beautiful is this message! If you had some of that cake, wouldn’t you want to share it with all your loved ones! How about all of Gods children!!! We all need this message. All of us.

I love you all. Keep the Faith. Never Give Up

Your Missionary,

Elder Eldredge

My Week In Pictures

Elder Eldredge sent us some pictures this week, but not many words.  He says he's teaching lots and learning lots.  He told me (his mommy) that there is a new rule in their mission: no "instant messaging" via email any more.  Not the best mother's day gift I've ever gotten.  But I am so proud of him.  He said he was bummed about the rule, but wants to be obedient and asked me to help him.  So I said, "over and out"! (Right after setting up a time to skype with him on Mother's Day!)  10 more months.  Here are the pictures he sent and his words about them.

"This is Chris. He is a less active guy who is working on going to the temple. I love him a lot!!! "

"This is right after a lesson about the priesthood. All 3 boys will be ordained here in the next few weeks. They will have a Decon, Teacher, and a Priest. Then we are taking the whole family to the temple to do baptisms for the dead!!!"

"Elder Downey and I got grilled cheese sandwiches on National grilled cheese sandwich day (as shown on the door to my left) at Reed's Dairy. The only place with ice cream that comes close to Bluebell."

"Elder Govatos, Downey, Me, Huish, and Pedro."