Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Baptisms
January 5, 2010
Hola familia,
First, we had a baptism on Saturday. Yisel and Ana, the daughters of the Vargas family, were baptized. It went really well. Ana was a little nervous but got over it and she did a good job. They are 11 and 8 respectively. The water was pretty cold. We couldn't start filling up the font until late because there was a primary meet the teacher in another ward that morning.
We've been so busy lately. There's so much to do with not very much time to do it all. We've had two Elders living in our apartment with us for the past few weeks. They just moved out yesterday. It feels empty in there now. There will be less distractions in the evenings though, so that will be good in that way.
The Pasco Stake has been seeing a lot of success in missionary work lately. For this month of January we're looking at just under 30 baptisms, which is just less than half of the total number baptized in all of 2009! It's been mind blowing.
We're teaching a young man, 26, named Francisco. He's a really smart kid. Maybe I can't call him a kid because he's older than me. He's been coming to church for a little while but haven't started teaching him until more recently. We were teaching him about the apostasy and the falling away of the church after Christ. Then he made a comment about that's why the church needed to be restored. Elder Hortin and I just kind of sat back stunned. I've never heard anybody say that before. Or understand that that quick. He's committed to be baptized on the 16th of this month!
There was another baptism in the branch this last Sunday. In fact there were six people that were baptized all together. One family, and two others that are really good friends. Investigators of the other Elders and the Sisters. Each one of them had somebody different baptizing them as well. So there was a lot of people dressed in white.
There's been a change in Pasco in the last few months. All of the missionaries are catching it and you can see the vision in their eyes. It's so much fun to be around so many missionaries that have that mindset and desire to work.
I love you all
Elder Ben Arnold
Hola familia,
First, we had a baptism on Saturday. Yisel and Ana, the daughters of the Vargas family, were baptized. It went really well. Ana was a little nervous but got over it and she did a good job. They are 11 and 8 respectively. The water was pretty cold. We couldn't start filling up the font until late because there was a primary meet the teacher in another ward that morning.
We've been so busy lately. There's so much to do with not very much time to do it all. We've had two Elders living in our apartment with us for the past few weeks. They just moved out yesterday. It feels empty in there now. There will be less distractions in the evenings though, so that will be good in that way.
The Pasco Stake has been seeing a lot of success in missionary work lately. For this month of January we're looking at just under 30 baptisms, which is just less than half of the total number baptized in all of 2009! It's been mind blowing.
We're teaching a young man, 26, named Francisco. He's a really smart kid. Maybe I can't call him a kid because he's older than me. He's been coming to church for a little while but haven't started teaching him until more recently. We were teaching him about the apostasy and the falling away of the church after Christ. Then he made a comment about that's why the church needed to be restored. Elder Hortin and I just kind of sat back stunned. I've never heard anybody say that before. Or understand that that quick. He's committed to be baptized on the 16th of this month!
There was another baptism in the branch this last Sunday. In fact there were six people that were baptized all together. One family, and two others that are really good friends. Investigators of the other Elders and the Sisters. Each one of them had somebody different baptizing them as well. So there was a lot of people dressed in white.
There's been a change in Pasco in the last few months. All of the missionaries are catching it and you can see the vision in their eyes. It's so much fun to be around so many missionaries that have that mindset and desire to work.
I love you all
Elder Ben Arnold
Monday, January 4, 2010
Christmas Past
December 30, 2009
Hola familia,
This has been an amazing last week. Everything has just been going so smoothly and I've been so happy.
Jose was ordained on Sunday. We did it right after church. It was a very spiritual experience for me. Before the actual ordination I was worried that I wouldn't be able to remember all of the things that I needed to say. Heavenly Father helped me out though and brought it all to my remembrance. Jose has been stepping up a lot lately. He's recognized that he is the head of the house and he needs to be a spiritual support for them. Receiving the priesthood has helped him to see that responsibility that much more.
I've already started putting the pictures in my journal. It also makes it easier to remember all of the things that I did during the day so I can write about them.
I had a really neat experience just a couple of days ago in my personal study. I was searching for an answer to something. I was really bothered by it. And I needed some spiritual confirmation from Heavenly Father. As I finished praying I stayed on my knees for a couple of minutes. A name of one of the seventies came into my mind. I went back to my desk and felt impressed to open my November Ensign, which is the conference issue. I was again impressed to look down the list of names of the speakers. I slowly read each name. When I came to something like the 7th name it stood out at me. It was the same name that came to me at the end of my prayer. So I turned to that page and began reading. At first I wasn't sure where this was taking me or how it was going to be an answer to my prayer. My answer was in that talk. And as I read different parts of it the spirit confirmed those things to me. Whenever the spirit comes over me that strong it makes me cry. I felt so joyful and so close to my Heavenly Father. Just as Amy testified I testify that our Heavenly Father loves us and is always looking over us. "Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you."
Thinking back on past Christmas' I can't remember any presents that I received. The things that I remember is decorating ginger bread houses with my family. I remember not being able to sleep at night in anticipation to open presents. So me and Matthew played a football game on the computer all night. I remember being with my family and those that I love. Christmas one year ago the thing I remember most is talking with my family. And I'm sure that is the thing I will remember the most about this Christmas.
Love Elder Arnold
PS Feria means fair, that's the word Amy couldn't think of.
Hola familia,
This has been an amazing last week. Everything has just been going so smoothly and I've been so happy.
Jose was ordained on Sunday. We did it right after church. It was a very spiritual experience for me. Before the actual ordination I was worried that I wouldn't be able to remember all of the things that I needed to say. Heavenly Father helped me out though and brought it all to my remembrance. Jose has been stepping up a lot lately. He's recognized that he is the head of the house and he needs to be a spiritual support for them. Receiving the priesthood has helped him to see that responsibility that much more.
I've already started putting the pictures in my journal. It also makes it easier to remember all of the things that I did during the day so I can write about them.
I had a really neat experience just a couple of days ago in my personal study. I was searching for an answer to something. I was really bothered by it. And I needed some spiritual confirmation from Heavenly Father. As I finished praying I stayed on my knees for a couple of minutes. A name of one of the seventies came into my mind. I went back to my desk and felt impressed to open my November Ensign, which is the conference issue. I was again impressed to look down the list of names of the speakers. I slowly read each name. When I came to something like the 7th name it stood out at me. It was the same name that came to me at the end of my prayer. So I turned to that page and began reading. At first I wasn't sure where this was taking me or how it was going to be an answer to my prayer. My answer was in that talk. And as I read different parts of it the spirit confirmed those things to me. Whenever the spirit comes over me that strong it makes me cry. I felt so joyful and so close to my Heavenly Father. Just as Amy testified I testify that our Heavenly Father loves us and is always looking over us. "Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you."
Thinking back on past Christmas' I can't remember any presents that I received. The things that I remember is decorating ginger bread houses with my family. I remember not being able to sleep at night in anticipation to open presents. So me and Matthew played a football game on the computer all night. I remember being with my family and those that I love. Christmas one year ago the thing I remember most is talking with my family. And I'm sure that is the thing I will remember the most about this Christmas.
Love Elder Arnold
PS Feria means fair, that's the word Amy couldn't think of.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Cardboard Christmas Tree
Hola familia,
Of course transfers happened this last week. Elder Hortin got here on Wednesday afternoon. He's from Smithfield, Utah, which is near Logan. He came out at the same time as Elder Blomquist. He's served in Yakima and Sunnyside.
This whole last week has been extremely busy, in part, preparations for Christmas. We're going to the Stake President's house today for a zone p-day. We're really excited about that. The reason for that is because the stake reached its goal for the year, which is amazing. There are also a lot of baptisms scheduled for January. We'll start the year off with a bang.
Jose Vargas got interviewed to receive the priesthood. He'll receive that next Sunday. He asked me if I would ordain him. That hit me really hard as I was talking to him in the church hall. I feel very privileged for having that opportunity. It's been amazing to see that family progress. They all love church. And the other daughters are going to be baptized in the beginning of January.
I don't know if you remember last year when we talked to you for Christmas. We used a member’s newspaper store. He has four lines there so we can be all talking at the same time. I'll call you at 9:45 our time which is 10:45 your time.
I believe that I got all of the packages. I got the one from grandma and the one from Amy and from Crate and Barrel. I remember at least one from big box games and I think there's another one in the van. We're driving the mission van up to the Stake President's house. It's pretty big. I think it's a 12 passenger van.
We have a cardboard tree in our apartment that Elder Anderson got from somewhere last year. All of our presents are under it. I'll take a picture of it so you can see it.
I love you and look forward to talking to you on Christmas!
Elder Arnold
Of course transfers happened this last week. Elder Hortin got here on Wednesday afternoon. He's from Smithfield, Utah, which is near Logan. He came out at the same time as Elder Blomquist. He's served in Yakima and Sunnyside.
This whole last week has been extremely busy, in part, preparations for Christmas. We're going to the Stake President's house today for a zone p-day. We're really excited about that. The reason for that is because the stake reached its goal for the year, which is amazing. There are also a lot of baptisms scheduled for January. We'll start the year off with a bang.
Jose Vargas got interviewed to receive the priesthood. He'll receive that next Sunday. He asked me if I would ordain him. That hit me really hard as I was talking to him in the church hall. I feel very privileged for having that opportunity. It's been amazing to see that family progress. They all love church. And the other daughters are going to be baptized in the beginning of January.
I don't know if you remember last year when we talked to you for Christmas. We used a member’s newspaper store. He has four lines there so we can be all talking at the same time. I'll call you at 9:45 our time which is 10:45 your time.
I believe that I got all of the packages. I got the one from grandma and the one from Amy and from Crate and Barrel. I remember at least one from big box games and I think there's another one in the van. We're driving the mission van up to the Stake President's house. It's pretty big. I think it's a 12 passenger van.
We have a cardboard tree in our apartment that Elder Anderson got from somewhere last year. All of our presents are under it. I'll take a picture of it so you can see it.
I love you and look forward to talking to you on Christmas!
Elder Arnold
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Baptism and new companion
Hola familia,
This week has been an awesome white and snowy week. We got maybe a couple of inches of snow. It snowed again a little last night. It makes driving a little bit slower but it is pretty and white.
We took Elder Godinez to President Belnap's house this morning. I'm going to miss him a lot. We've been companions for the past four and a half months. Elder Hortin is my new companion. He came out with Elder Blomquist. He'll get here tomorrow.
Just so you know Elder Godinez will be going to Rexburg for school. He's going to be studying Construction Management.
I'm glad I'm over being sick. I missed going to our dinner with the Llamas family. Which by the way means flames in English. They didn't come to church. We haven't been able to talk to them and found out why yet. They seemed so excited to come.
The Vargas family, previously referred to as the Gomez family, are now married and baptized. The wedding was amazing. So many people helped them out. They made it a very special experience for them. And lots of people came too. I took lots of pictures and will be sending them home this week.
Their baptism went very well. Again there are pictures of their baptism as well. Three of them were baptized this week, Jose, Antonia, and the older daughter Cristal.
This has been a very busy week with all that's happened.
Love you all very much
Elder Ben Arnold
This week has been an awesome white and snowy week. We got maybe a couple of inches of snow. It snowed again a little last night. It makes driving a little bit slower but it is pretty and white.
We took Elder Godinez to President Belnap's house this morning. I'm going to miss him a lot. We've been companions for the past four and a half months. Elder Hortin is my new companion. He came out with Elder Blomquist. He'll get here tomorrow.
Just so you know Elder Godinez will be going to Rexburg for school. He's going to be studying Construction Management.
I'm glad I'm over being sick. I missed going to our dinner with the Llamas family. Which by the way means flames in English. They didn't come to church. We haven't been able to talk to them and found out why yet. They seemed so excited to come.
The Vargas family, previously referred to as the Gomez family, are now married and baptized. The wedding was amazing. So many people helped them out. They made it a very special experience for them. And lots of people came too. I took lots of pictures and will be sending them home this week.
Their baptism went very well. Again there are pictures of their baptism as well. Three of them were baptized this week, Jose, Antonia, and the older daughter Cristal.
This has been a very busy week with all that's happened.
Love you all very much
Elder Ben Arnold
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Sick again
Hola familia,
This is going to be a short letter. I’ve been sick since last night and haven’t had as much energy.
We still don’t know anything about transfers. They didn’t give us the information at ZLC like they usually do. They said that we were going to get it at Christmas Zone Conference but we didn’t.
By the way Christmas Zone Conference was great. We got very spiritually fed. And we got to watch Forever Strong. They cut out the first 11 minutes or so though. It was very inspirational. There are lots of things to apply to missionary work out of it as well.
The Gomez – Vargas family, soon to be the Vargas family, are getting married tomorrow, Thursday. The parents will then be baptized on this upcoming Saturday. They just got their marriage license on Monday. I can’t believe how many miracles have happened to get them to this point. I’ve been praying for miracles so that they could be baptized before Elder Godinez left. And it’s going to happen.
We’re having dinner with the Llamas family today. They haven’t come to church and we haven’t had many lessons with them recently. There will be more to report next week.
Love you
Elder Ben Arnold
This is going to be a short letter. I’ve been sick since last night and haven’t had as much energy.
We still don’t know anything about transfers. They didn’t give us the information at ZLC like they usually do. They said that we were going to get it at Christmas Zone Conference but we didn’t.
By the way Christmas Zone Conference was great. We got very spiritually fed. And we got to watch Forever Strong. They cut out the first 11 minutes or so though. It was very inspirational. There are lots of things to apply to missionary work out of it as well.
The Gomez – Vargas family, soon to be the Vargas family, are getting married tomorrow, Thursday. The parents will then be baptized on this upcoming Saturday. They just got their marriage license on Monday. I can’t believe how many miracles have happened to get them to this point. I’ve been praying for miracles so that they could be baptized before Elder Godinez left. And it’s going to happen.
We’re having dinner with the Llamas family today. They haven’t come to church and we haven’t had many lessons with them recently. There will be more to report next week.
Love you
Elder Ben Arnold
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
La familia Gomez
December 1, 2009
Hola familia,
This week has been very eventful. Another family found us: La familia Gomez. They are progressing the fastest out of anybody that I've taught. They've come to church and have kept all of their reading commitments. And they accepted a baptismal date for the 12th of December. That was all after just like 3 days of knowing them. Three of the kids are baptismal age. It's been amazing teaching them. We've run into a little problem with them that might push their date back but they'll still be baptized.
Here's a story about the mom in the family:
11-29-09
...
The Gomez family is amazing! We watched the testaments. We then re-watched the part about the authority given to Nephi. They accepted a baptismal commitment for the 12th of December. So Elder Godinez will still be here!!! Antonia sent us home with a big pan of food and with a bunch of homemade tortillas. They were good.
I was just remembering another experience we had with Antonia. In our lesson that we had with them yesterday she told us about a near death experience that she had, where she was standing outside of her body and watching the doctors and other people around her body. This happened at the beginning of this year. The reason this came back to me today was because in the Gospel Principles class the topic was the Spirit World. Brother Bedoya was talking about death and how it is a separation of the spirit and the body. He then asked Antonia if she believed that was true. She said that she knew that was true and nodded her head. That was her whole response. Then she looked at me and gave me a smile...
The Llamas family isn't progressing a lot right now because we're having a hard time getting a hold of them. We went by on Sunday. Little Gabriel was outside playing in the yard. He ran over as soon as we pulled up. We talked to him about coming to church with us in a little while. He ran up the steps to tell his mom saying, "Yes, we get to go to church today!" He is such an awesome kid. I really feel like he'll be an amazing missionary someday. Hopefully we'll be able to find them at home more often.
I'll let you know how transfers go next week because we have ZLC this Friday. I can't believe time is going by so fast.
Love Elder Arnold
PS I got the package this morning. Thanks for the jacket. It's just what I was hoping for. I already set up the little Christmas tree. Did you get that from Germany? I already ate a bunch of the candy too.
Hola familia,
This week has been very eventful. Another family found us: La familia Gomez. They are progressing the fastest out of anybody that I've taught. They've come to church and have kept all of their reading commitments. And they accepted a baptismal date for the 12th of December. That was all after just like 3 days of knowing them. Three of the kids are baptismal age. It's been amazing teaching them. We've run into a little problem with them that might push their date back but they'll still be baptized.
Here's a story about the mom in the family:
11-29-09
...
The Gomez family is amazing! We watched the testaments. We then re-watched the part about the authority given to Nephi. They accepted a baptismal commitment for the 12th of December. So Elder Godinez will still be here!!! Antonia sent us home with a big pan of food and with a bunch of homemade tortillas. They were good.
I was just remembering another experience we had with Antonia. In our lesson that we had with them yesterday she told us about a near death experience that she had, where she was standing outside of her body and watching the doctors and other people around her body. This happened at the beginning of this year. The reason this came back to me today was because in the Gospel Principles class the topic was the Spirit World. Brother Bedoya was talking about death and how it is a separation of the spirit and the body. He then asked Antonia if she believed that was true. She said that she knew that was true and nodded her head. That was her whole response. Then she looked at me and gave me a smile...
The Llamas family isn't progressing a lot right now because we're having a hard time getting a hold of them. We went by on Sunday. Little Gabriel was outside playing in the yard. He ran over as soon as we pulled up. We talked to him about coming to church with us in a little while. He ran up the steps to tell his mom saying, "Yes, we get to go to church today!" He is such an awesome kid. I really feel like he'll be an amazing missionary someday. Hopefully we'll be able to find them at home more often.
I'll let you know how transfers go next week because we have ZLC this Friday. I can't believe time is going by so fast.
Love Elder Arnold
PS I got the package this morning. Thanks for the jacket. It's just what I was hoping for. I already set up the little Christmas tree. Did you get that from Germany? I already ate a bunch of the candy too.
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