God is good. God is good.

1/5/2015

This week was hard. I loved New Years Eve and day, but we had a rough week in the IFNZ (Idaho Falls North Zone.) Please pray for the missionaries to work smarter and harder. We aren’t teaching as much as we could be and people are slipping from making a convenant with their Heavenly Father that will not only bring them closer to him now, but make it possible for them to be with Him forever! This is a trying time for our zone. 

This last year we baptized 992 souls!!! How amazing! The Lord really is hastening His work!!!

This past Sunday, Kevin, the young man who was baptized on the 20th, bore his testimony is Fast and Testimony meeting. It was awesome seeing him build up the courage and testify that he knows the gospel is true and that Joseph Smith and Thomas S. Monson are prophets of God. He brought his friend and helped him around church and was an amazing missionary. He reminds me a lot of Chris Artificavitch when he was recently baptized and the fire he had and still has. I love Kevin and want so badly for him to make it in this world. It seems at times that everything is against him, but he still has a smile on his face. 

This week I learned something really cool from another missionary. We had another missionary with Elder Coggins and I trying to contact some investigators. We finally were able to talk to a guy named James. James is about 22 and real chill. He likes talking with us and respects what we are trying to do. We had a quick lesson on his door step.... in the cold..... and talked about the Atonement. This Elder pulled out 3rd Nephi 11:14-15 and talked about how the people went up and reached out there hands and knew Jesus was the Christ. He explained that we need to do the same. We must reach out our hands to Christ to come to know that he is our Savior. It emphasized to me that we MUST take action if we expect to know God. John 17:3 " And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

Please pray for Terry, James, Drake, McKyla, Taylor, and Anthony. 

God is good. God is good.

Elder Eldredge

Christmas Was Amazing

December 29, 2014

Christmas was amazing!! I love getting the zone together and having fun. Christmas night we played games, played basketball, and had a nerf fight!!!! It was a blast!

James was baptized this Saturday. It was an amazing service. His girlfriend’s dad baptized him and his girlfriend’s mom gave a talk. It was so cool seeing how much this family love him. There was a lot of YSA (young single adults) there welcoming him to the ward. It was so cool!!! He’s an amazing guy and he’s going places!!

Our investigators are Terry and Anthony. Terry is an older single lady taking care of her 2 grand children. She is looking for a job and wants to put her life back together.  She knows this is the truth based on the way it’s blessed her life and the way she feels when she come to church. She is so faith-filled and want so badly to do what’s right. She is super busy so we have a hard time meeting with her. Please pray for her to find a job and find happiness.

Anthony is 23 and just got out of the homeless shelter. He found a job and is able to rent his own place now. He was introduced to us by Kevin, the young man who was baptized on the 20th. We went to Kevin’s house for a lesson and he was there. We taught him and Kevin is being a great friend to Anthony in helping him learn. It’s so cool seeing the fire in someone who knows it’s true and shares it with everyone! Please pray for Anthony that he might receive an answer to his prayers to know if the Book of Mormon is true. 

 What are you going to do this next year to come closer to Christ? 

Moroni 10:32  Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

12/15/2014

We set another baptism date! Her name is Terry. She is in her 50's taking care of her grand kids. She is very humble and a very hard worker. She knows that when she come to church she can feel peace and it helps her be a better person and makes her life much smoother. She hasn't come to church in a long time and finally was able to make it this last week! I’m so excited for her!! She is working to be baptized January 10th. We are meeting with her tonight at the Temple Visitors Center. 

Kevin is doing ok. He has his ups and downs. This poor guy can’t live without drama. We are planning on having a "talk he never got from his father" tonight. We really need prayers for that! We are hoping to help him realize he needs to grow up and be a man now. He is still working to be baptized on the 20th. PLEASE PRAY FOR HIM!!!

I forgot to tell y’all!!! Caitlin was baptized on the 6th!!! It was so great! I got to give a talk at the baptize. The Spirit was so strong!!! I learned later that her family as all but disowned her because of her decision to be baptized. Yet she was glowing with excitement and the spirit! I will send you pics as soon as I get them. :)

Go to http://www.mormon.org/christmas ........ do it....... do it now!!!!! It’s so good!!!! Now share with everyone!!! 

Love you!

Elder Eldredge

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!!

12/8/2014

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTI!!!!! YOU’RE 18!!!!! I CAN”T BELIEVE IT!!!!!

I still remember you as the cute little blond girl playing with all of us out in the back yard of our house in California!!! You have grown into a beautiful young woman. I want you to know I love you will always be here for you. NO MATER WHAT!!!!

I thought I had crazy weeks in my mission. But nothing compares to this week!!! 

Monday

We went to Rexburg and played football in the snow!!! It was a blast! I was freezing at first but as we played we all warmed up fast and people started taking off their jackets. It was tons of fun!!!

Tuesday

First lesson with Kevin. We taught him about the Restoration and the Word of Wisdom. He texted us before the lesson and told us some people had said that the Mormons make it sound really good at first but they are lying and deceiving you. And that the Book of Mormon is full of lies. We fixed that real quick! We talked about how he felt Sunday, the first time we met with him, and how he felt after talking to these people. We then talked about the spirit and how it works and how he can know truth. He said he was already feeling much better. We talked about Joseph Smith and how Christ’s church was once again established on the earth. Then we invited him to be baptized! He said he would. We then talked about how he needed to live the word of wisdom before he was baptized. He immediately handed over his cigarettes and coffee!!!

Wed

Our stake put on a "Journey to Bethlehem." They had a live nativity. First the wise men talking to Herod, then we went to another room and there was the shepherds and the angels, then we went to another room were Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus were. It was very well put on! Then you walked into the gym and there were tents decorated like we were back in Christ’s time with activities and food and games! It was a blast! Kevin went to all three nights of it! He is so prepared!!! I also ran into Rachel, Heidi, and Penelope!!!! Had a lesson with James. He is so ready to be baptized, but he is on probation. It’s hopefully ending before Christmas. Please pray for him!!!

Thursday

Zone Training! I love getting our Zone together! We have some AMAZING missionaries in our zone. I’m very grateful for Sister missionaries. They are amazing at what they do!

Friday

Last day of "Journey to Bethlehem." Kevin went to all 3 days!!! He’s amazing. We have been meeting with him every day! He shines with the light of Christ!!!

Sunday

We had Stake Conference today. Kevin showed up in a suit, slakes, shirt and tie!!! He cut his hair, shaved and took his gauges out. He’s a walking miracle!!! He is a living example of how the Atonement can work in a person’s life! He has made a 180 degree turn around and is not looking back!!! I love him so much!!! Please continue to pray for him. 

WOW!!!! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!

Back to IF (Idaho Falls)

SNOW!!!

12/1/2014

Another Buck Wild Week!!!

Transfer meetings this week. President Brinkerhoff decided I should go to IF (Idaho Falls) again and be a zone leader over a reorganized zone. So within 4 days of knowing, I was sent to IF!!! I’ll have spent 21 months of my mission in this great city!!!! HAHA this is crazy. I’m currently in the IF Family History Center emailing. The same place I sent my first email from!! haha Lots of great memories here! 

I’m now Zone Leader over the IF North Zone and expecting some great times!! My companions are Elder Coggins from North Carolina and good old Elder Solomon. My companion I never had! He and I have been working with each other in the oddest ways! Elder Solomon has helped me through my mission and taught me how to be a missionary. I’m very grateful for him! Elder Coggins has been out for 16 months and is a very hard worker. I’m excited to continue working with him. 

It’s getting really cold here. It’s snowing outside right now. Winter is here and Christmas is on its way! This week starts the "He is the Gift" initiative. The Church has made a new video helping us remember the real meaning of Christmas. PLEASE WATCH!!!!  http://www.mormon.org/christmas It’s amazing!!! What’s really cool about this is you get to share it with everybody!!! In the Ensign this month there is a page of pass-along cards that you get to give to people!!! How cool is that! We need to make this a part of our every day conversation! Lets #Sharethegift!!!!!! 

Caitlin is still getting baptized on the 6th! I’m so excited for her! 

We had an interesting run-in this week.

 We went to sacrament meeting in one of our wards and before we walked into the chapel a member walked up to us and said he had a guy with him that really needed spiritual strength. He said He recently was released from the hospital after trying to commit suicide for the 3rd time. His name is Kevin and he turns 22 today. He had a pentagram on his wrist under his palm, a 666 on his thumb and the word "suicide" written on his arm. He sat through Sacrament meeting and came with us to Sunday School. In Sunday School we talked about the light of Christ. Under his breath he said "What if you have no light." After class we talked and he broke down crying. He talked about the years spent as a Satanist and all the horror he has witnessed. He had it all, by the world’s standards. Money, cars, friends, women, drugs. Then it was all taken away from him. He hit rock bottom and didn't know how to get up. We prayed with him and taught him about the Grace of God and of his love for him. We talked about his Son, Jesus Christ, and what has been done for him. Kevin is scared. Scared that satan is going to do something now that he wants to change. Please pray for Kevin!!!  

Christ is our Savior, Redeemer, and Friend. We can overcome anything with His help. Even come from the darkness into the Light.  

Elder Eldredge

Saying goodbye to my good companion Elder Jones

Time Flies

Another great week!!! Caitlin has moved her baptismal date to the 6th!!!! I’m so excited for her!!! She is so excited herself!!! When she told us she played it off like she was going to push it back or drop us!!! I was so scared!!! But she surprised us all that she wanted to move it up!!! Her boyfriend Mark is going to baptize her and she asked if I would confirm her a member and give her the Gift of the Holy Ghost!!! It’s so great getting to have a front row seat to the Atonement taking place in people’s lives!!! This change she has been going threw was an incredible one to witness. The Spirit really spoke to her and she has made it!!! She is currently in Moscow, Idaho visiting family for the brake. Please pray for her! She told her family that she was going to be baptized and they gave her a less then warm reply. Please pray that she will remain strong and remember the blessings she has seen and the truth she knows. 

I had something really funny happy to me today. We were at Sonic getting lunch and we decided to pay with all the coins we had collected in the car. I was holding the money as my comp was counting out the coins. I was also picking up trash in the car to clean it out. I got out of the car, threw away the trash and right as I opened my hand I realized I was still holding onto some of the coins!!!!! I threw away $2!!!! hahahahaha what a loser!!! haha no pun intended.

This and next week are going to be crazy! We have transfer meetings Tuesday and Wednesday. That is the meeting were we work with President Brinkerhoff on deciding were the missionaries will go. Then Thanksgiving which is a service P-day were we look for ways to serve in the community. Then it’s December!!! That’s crazy!!!

Love you!!!

Life Is Short. Make The Most Of It.

11/17/2014

Down time... for now...

This week was much more relaxed, but at the same time equally stressful. We had MLC (Mission Leadership Council) with Elder Martino and came away with some big goals. We want to have a "white Christmas" as a mission. Our goal is to have 100 Baptisms in the month of December. We are so excited to help God’s children get on the path back to their Heavenly Father. These missionaries are amazing!!! So much faith and so much dedication!

This week we got to spend a lot more time on the streets in our area. It just happened to be the same week that an arctic storm blew in! It’s a lot of fun knocking on doors in 13 degree weather!!! We found 5 new investigators! 2 of them came on a church tour and came to the first hour of church. 2 of the other 3 said they weren't interested after our first lesson. But Damien, one of the girl’s boyfriend, said he wanted to keep meeting with us! We talked about Baptism and the blessings that come from it and he wanted to learn more! It’s so cool how the Spirit works in other people. 

Caitlin is doing amazing! She went up to Idaho Falls Sunday and went to the Temple Visitors Center!!!! I’m so excited to follow up with her on how it went!!! She leaves this Thursday on a family vacation and she is planning on telling her family then that she wants to be baptized. Please pray for her!!! 

This Thursday is the 2 year mark of Madi’s death. I’m doing my best to keep a smile on my face and forget myself. Please pray for Madi’s family. Remember the ones you love and tell them you love them. Life is short, make the most of it. 

Your Missionary,

Elder Eldredge