Week 5 - Springville - Happy Birthday Elder Noad!

My Birthday was awesome! I loved it! I got Nanny's card :) She is so awesome! :) So I'm hoping there is no candy in this package that you sent me because I am up to my ears in candy! hahaha It's alright I will love anything :) You're the best Mom! they truly are "In for a treat" I am quite the spectacle here :P haha I'm kidding I am doing great! This past week has actually been a tougher one but hey it is all good! I am being shaped into someone with so much more potential! I love that video! Well say Happy Birthday to the Family from me! Hope they have a wonderful year! I love the teachings of the presidents. All the general authorities are so bold when they talk! That boldness is purely the spirit. They know what is right and they are not going to sugar coat it. Sounds like a very awesome Sacrament meeting and good job Dad! That is so awesome to hear about both Nate and Sam! Congrats to them!!! Sounds like an interesting week!!!!! HAHAHA I love the stories! thank you so much for the laugh and I am so sorry about it all! hahaha But good job Joey is lucky and can win you 86 bucks!!! haha I miss Joey, tell him I miss him and that he should be a good boy for Mommy and Daddy and that I love him! Thanks so much for the support and love you give me I truly love it! Thank You! I am doing awesome and it has already almost been 2 months!!! Well I love you tons Mom! miss ya! Keep being the amazing Mom you always are! 

What a week this has been! Lets start at the beginning shall we? So to begin this week we had a Zone activity where we went to the beach and just threw a football around and played some soccer and things like that. It was awesome! I love Zone activities! now your probably thinking the beach in the middle of winter? Yes the beach in the middle of winter! The weather here has been nothing but sun the last week! It has been chilly, but all sun. So it is completely weird for me, and apparently a little different for here, but I don't mind it! Especially with me and my Companion walking! haha It was a fantastic activity and a lot of fun. 

On Tuesday I had the wonderful opportunity to bike uphill for what felt like forever :) Yes a lot of fun! It was great to be able to not feel my legs because of how in shape I am! I was really appreciating my companion and area on Tuesday! We then ate at Ginger's, which is kind of a natural foods place, and it was good. We then biked all the way back up! Good times, good times :) I had the opportunity to play a little road hockey with some kids, if i scored they had to read their scriptures every day for a week. So I took a shot and missed! What a bummer, oh well I told them I had 3 chances. So I took another and missed again! (Let me explain, I had some miniature stick and I didn't want to hurt the kid in net, so I took it easy on them) The last shot I scored and we both then had to read our scriptures every day for a week. It was fun :) This week in total we didn't have to many lessons but nonetheless still a good week!

 On Wednesday we didn't really do anything that I can remember at this moment so we will skip Wednesday! So on Thursday I was able to look at my family history! It was great me and my Companion were checking if we were related. Nothing. Oh well all good I didn't want to be related to him anyways! (I'm joking, he is a great Elder!) We were doing family history because we took one of our investigators who is overcoming smoking so that she could do Family History instead. She was so excited! It was perfect! My Companion, Elder Allen, was truly guided by the spirit. What a blessing it is that I have such a great companion who teaches me a lot and helps me to grow. He is a great trainer and friend. 

The next day we were doing President Interviews, so I had to make sure I shined my shoes real good to make up for the missed call! haha So Friday it was my birthday! So we went and had our District training meeting, and President Interviews. President Interviews went great and I learned things I can work on as well as things I was doing good. President is awesome! I then missed a call from Sister McCune! (Clearly I shouldn't have the phone) and she wished me a Happy Birthday! Her and President McCune are so awesome! They are the best! So then me and my companion had the opportunity to walk 40 blocks back to the apartment! Needless to say I should have been in shape before I came out. I'm still feeling the effects of this wonderful week!

 Saturday was another great day! We had 5 out of our 6 appointments cancel! It was a fantastic day full of backup plans! haha I love this area it really honestly is an awesome area :) We then, on Sunday, had the opportunity to teach the YW about the Godhead and their individual worth. It went really well and the spirit was felt and the YW were able to gain a better perspective of their individual worth in the eyes of our Father in Heaven. We also had the priviledge to teach a Preach my Gospel group of 20 or so youth gathering themselves together and teaching each other about Preach my Gospel! It was so awesome to see so many devoted youth to learning the Gospel and how to teach! It went so good and we taught awesome! The spirit guided the lesson and everyone there felt the spirit. It was such a great experience I loved it! I also found out none of them know what tiger ice cream is. I did not know that! haha Also found out that night that I had forgotten the keys to the apartment in the church where my coat was that was now locked up! Great adventure :)

 Well the week was great and I am loving the week! Oh! Also we had some old lady try chasing us with her remote control monster truck while laughing like a witch! It was very funny I couldn't stop laughing! God bless you all and please do the things that will draw you closer to your Father in Heaven! Love you all! Have a great week! 

-Elder Noad

Week 4 - Springville - Missing phone calls!!

Wow this week has been a great week! Some hard times but so many more good times and blessings! I love the Lord my Savior! He has blessed me so much and continues to bless me! I know that my Redeemer lives! This week I truly have learned that it is through the blessings of the lord and the strength of the Holy Spirit that brings Joy into our life! I know that there is no other feeling that compares to the Spirit touching my heart! The Lord is my light and is so very kind to me and all of his Brothers and Sisters. My Father in Heaven loves me and I am a Child of God! I love this Gospel I have so much fun and have so much joy through this Gospel. It has been a great week! If your looking for a Spiritual uplift listen to some Youth Church songs! Haha 

So this last Monday we got to go to the Church for a District activity of just doing some sports. It was fun and I got to know my District even better! 

So on Tuesday it was kind of a rough day. We didn't have many appointments and no one was available so we did all we could and nothing was working. It was a stressful day, but, I did find the positive! For the lessons we had I had troubles teaching as well, but the Fellowshippers were awesome! I know the Lord was looking out for me! He truly does bless us all with little things. We have to find the things the Lord does for us and thank him sincerely. He not only gave his life for us but continually looks after us. He truly cares about all of us and wants us all to live with Him and our Father again. I love my Father and Savior and want to live with them again. 

So on Wednesday it started out great :P We grabbed the phone for Companionship study and come to find out we missed a call from the MISSION PRESIDENT!!!! So we phoned him back and come to find out we had five minutes to get to a training meeting in Provo! Keep in mind we don't have a car. So we ended up about 15 minutes late :P (great job Elder Noad! You miss a call from the Mission President AND was late to his meeting :P) Ya, kind of an interesting morning :P The meeting went great though! I learned a lot and I was able to hear things that I can improve on. It was a perfect meeting! We then had a District Meeting and talked about how to study and use Preach My Gospel better. We had a lot of people cancel on us, but we were able to stay busy and get lots done so it was great! We went on splits and I had the opportunity to go out with a young man who will be going on his mission in May to Germany! The night was great and he did an awesome job! It was a great night. On 

Thursday we rode our bikes around trying to set up appointments and talked to some members. We then ate Lunch at Maglebys and it is always SO GOOD! They have amazing raspberry lemonade! We then did a little bit of weekly planning and then had dinner and splits again! So I went out with a guy named Bishop Condie. He is awesome! We were able to teach people and talk to ward missionaries and we talked while we waited to meet up with my companion. He is an awesome guy and he really made me appreciate Magrath and the small town/country feel. I love my hometown! 

On Friday we finished up weekly planning. Today was the third day in three days that my companion had something break on his bike! It is still being repaired as I write. That night I had 10 names of people I wanted to see. Within an hour we had went to all ten of those people and got hardly anything! So I was lucky enough to try and find some people to teach for 2 hours! My companion had an awesome experience! He prayed with this family who wasn't too interested that they could find their dog. So that night, he went and stopped by someone's home. In that home they found the dog! The chances of that are near to none and it was all the way across town! It was so amazing and I know prayers are answered. 

On Saturday we started the morning eating Swedish Pancakes with the Lowe's and celebrated his birthday. These Swedish Pancakes are awesome and it was so awesome to wish him a happy birthday! We got a phone call from the Stake President (I was feeling pretty special for all these phone calls from Presidents) and he asked us to try and make both the Priesthood training and adult session of stake conference. So we moved some appointments and made it out. As we arrived we got a call from the President McCune (wasn't missing this one) and he told us to go to these sessions and they would be great! He sounded excited so I figured this should be pretty good! It was! It was soooo good! We had Elder Grow from the Quorum of the 70 (who spoke in Magrath about two years ago) speak to us and all the leadership and adults about missionary work! Wow was it good! I felt everyone learned something they could do better and I learned what I could do better as well! It was just so good. He was calling people up and explaining roles of people in the work and he called us Elders up. So I told him I was from Magrath (in which he responded with I was there 2 years ago do you remember that? Probably not you were probably snoozing) and had me share some things and read some things. He thought I was the senior companion!! (Fist pump) haha it was awesome! Then on Sunday at Stake Conference the Stake President did a fantastic job talking about rescuing those people that are lost, especially less actives. The one person talked about how if someone was lost in the mountains, you would drop everything to go and find them. It is the same with spiritually lost, and being spiritually lost is a lot more dire then being physically lost. We need to rescue those people. Sister Grow then talked about how husbands and fathers need to be better and need to love and care for his family. He needs to do almost anything for his family. Families are so important. Elder Grow then talked about the Atonement and how important it is that we are willing to do the things necessary to be forgiven but also willing to follow the covenants we made. Without doing that we are not partaking of the Atonement. 

Sunday morning was amazing! I was having headaches that Saturday and Sunday, but the personal study I had was so good! I learned so much and truly received inspiration from my Father in Heaven. It was a great morning. This week has been fantastic and I hope that all of you have a great week! Read your scriptures, say your prayers, go to church, keep the commandments, and GO TO THE TEMPLE! Love you all!

-Elder Noad

Week 3 - Springville - Rain!! and first baptism

Hi Mom! Well the Rules of Facebook are that I can have you as a friend, I just can't message you on Facebook. Only people I am trying to share a message with. My health is very surprisingly good! We walk in freezing cold weather, in rain, in snow. We go into homes where people are sick and we give blessings. I know that it is the Lord protecting me! There have been lots of opportunities to be sick. lol I am sore from walking and working out, doing pushups and situps but it is all good! I told Dad to tell you cause I forgot to mention it, but I did get all the Christmas packages. Both of yours, Nanny's, and Kassy's. Walking is all great! It keeps me from getting fat and it humbles me! haha It is great though. Sounds like a great farewell! Poor Janae, She has such a good spirit though! She will be a great missionary! That is great for Nate! Congrats to him! tell him he's got to keep working if he is going to reach his full potential! We had a pretty warm week, but now it is raining quite hard. It kinda sucks but oh well! that's the weird weather here! Make sure to help those Elders out by inviting some people over for a family home evening! Or just drop by, Fellowshipping is the most important thing in missionary work. Well things have been great and I am really enjoying it here! I love ya tons Mom! have a great week! Oh! and here's a joke from my joke calendar! Where did Noah keep the Bees?...............in the Ark Hives! hahaha

Things here in Springville are awesome!!! So after I sent my email last week I went and got a haircut! It was great to have my haircut! except that I am pretty sure the razor was broke cause I had some good scratches on my neck! haha so my collar would slide along them and would just sting! Oh well it only lasted for two days and I was back to being happy I got a haircut. We then ate some KFC at someone's house and it was good!

On Tuesday we were able to fix up my Facebook account so now I can share messages on Facebook! Hopefully they uplift all that read them! We went around contacting people and had quite a bit of success! The Lord was on a roll! haha We had dinner at someone's house and they fed us sooo much!!! haha it was a full out meal! but it was sooooo good and we appreciated it so much. Except for the part where I nearly choked to death on a bun :P haha I played it pretty cool though so it wasn't a huge deal :)

So on Wednesday we went out to find some people to teach with no luck. Then we had some lessons that were quite emotional (I didn't cry or nothing so no need to make fun of me, I told those tears to "Get back in there" [Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs]). I know I'm pretty lame and nerdy. We heard some people's stories and tried to teach accordingly and the spirit was so strong in all of the lessons that night. I know that it is through the spirit that true conversion happens.

The dinner that night we were picked up and driven to the dinner in a police car. Pretty cool I have to admit. Not somewhere I'd want to be again but hey it was a sweet ride. We had burgers and it was great.

Thursday night we went on splits. I went with Bro. Welch. He is the coolest! We went to visit someone but they weren't home, so instead we stopped by a Less Active's home. The lesson we gave them was perfect for them and now we are going to help them get back to church. I know the Lord works in mysterious ways at times. I know he cancelled our one appointment to meet with this other family.

On Friday we had a Zone Training Meeting. I learned so much and there is so much I can work on. I got to teach a little about how we must have faith in others for them to have faith in themselves. Faith is key. We had dinner at a very nice families house with a very big dog! haha The food was amazing and I was able to share a message with them and I showed them the Mormon Message "The Will of God". After they told me they showed their daughter this before her leg was amputated. She was the sweetest girl and she had so much happiness. What an example she was for me and for others. We then met with a guy who was having some troubles and was quite depressed. So he prayed who should give him a blessing, and half way through his prayer you could just tell he got his answer. He said it was me. So we gave him a blessing and told him that we are there for him. It was actually quite spiritual and amazing. We then went to this persons house and because of the spirit Elder Allen brought to him we were invited into his house and taught his family about the Book of Mormon. I know that we don't know what people need to hear, but that the Spirit knows exactly what they need to hear.

Saturday was a very special day. We were able to attend the baptism of Anika! She was so excited and happy to be baptized! It was the first baptism that I helped teach some lessons to get them to that point and it was so rewarding! It was her special day and it was just so spiritual and brought so much joy to everyone. We ate at a house who has a girl were teaching named M. She is awesome! She knows that the Book of Mormon is true and that the Church is true! She is just waiting on an answer of whether she should be baptized or not. She even bore an awesome testimony last week! So like we do we gave her a path that she could take to know if it was true. It was awesome! That night we got back home completely soaked! It was raining in the middle of winter! Not the usual in Canada. haha

So on Sunday we had a lot of meetings, was able to say a talk, and had the opportunity to see a new bishop be called in. I have so much respect for the time and effort the people of the Church give, especially the leaders. I was able to talk in Sacrament meeting in another ward about temples. I know that we need to live in a way that whenever we want to attend the temple, there will be nothing holding us back. I know if we make the sacrifice to go to the temple and do the work we will be blessed eternally. Make the sacrifice and go. We receive answers and inspiration and revelation when we attend the temples. Attend the Temples frequently, both youth and parents.

In total we gave 5 blessings this week. They were all so spiritual. I know that my Redeemer lives and loves me. I know that it is through loving him that we follow his commandments and do the things we are asked to do. I know that Joseph Smith restored this Gospel and through it, we can live with our Father in Heaven again. Please go on LDS.org and go to Mormon Messages and look up The Will of God. It is a great clip and teaches us a lot.

soaking wet!

walking in the rain

Week 2 in Springville! - Merry Christmas!!

This week has been slow, but awesome! on Monday was my first PDay and that went awesome! I got a lot done and was able to prepare for the next week. 

On Tuesday we had our Zone Christmas Conference and that was soooo fun!! We got there nice and early to practice our skit. After that we helped set up for the Conference. We first had our devotional where we had Brother Hawkins, an artist who draws pictures of temples with little hidden pictures within them and writes history about them. He currently is in the process of publishing a book of the temples. He did such an amazing job! After hearing everything he said I was so excited about temples! After my mission I hope to attend the temple as often as I can. It was an amazing talk. President McCune and his wife then talked to us and told us they love us and it was very special. President also played a song for us on the piano so that was a privilege to hear. It was an amazing devotional. After that we then had a lunch that was amazing! It was so yummy. Actually all the meals I have had this mission so far are amazing! I love them all! We then had our talent show and it was awesome. We have a lot of people on our mission with good talents, especially singing! My Companion is very musical and loves to sing and he is pretty good at it. We enjoyed that talent show and I was actually in a skit where I played the role of the RM who dominates the lesson and doesn't let anyone else talk. It was fun. It was a very fun day. We then ended our Conference by watching "It's a Wonderful Life". That movie is actually pretty good! haha I enjoyed it. We then picked up our gifts. I received a Christmas card from the First Presidency as well as a card from our Mission President. Inside was a picture that was specifically drawn for our mission by Simon Dewey and it was a temple recommend holder. I love it! It was so cool! we also received a t-shirt with the new Payson temple on it! They were great gifts. Our Mission President and his wife are the best! 
The next day we then spent teaching lessons and giving out gifts to the people who help us out. It was a very fun Christmas week. Because of Christmas though it was slow for lessons, but we did have a great week! On Christmas we went to 4 members homes. They all fed us so we got lots to eat! It was a lot of fun getting to know them and talk with them.  Friday it was still kinda slow, we did our Weekly Planning and not many people were around,  Saturday though we were able to get 14 lessons! By the end of the week we ended up with 44 lessons. Lower than last week but still pretty good. We currently after the week have 3 people set for baptism! 

One of them is an amazing story. They came to church the one day and the ward mission leader went and said hi and asked if they were alright if him and the missionaries came over. They said yes. We went over and the first lesson we taught the Restoration. The Spirit was strong and she was so ready to hear it. He was actually doing basic training and went to church there, and that's what sparked their interest. After the lesson we extended the invitation to be baptized. She Said YES! it was amazing! She was so ready and it was just such a great night. We had her set for January 24th, but now it got moved to January 17th! I am so excited! She and her family are all so ready for the Gospel in their lives. It was so amazing. This week was truly a fantastic week. We recieved so many gifts and the members here are awesome!

Elder Noad's district

Temple Recommend holder.  A gift from President and Sister McCune

 the new Provo City Centre temple and I love it already sooooo much!!! :D

12 days of Christmas that my family sent to me.

We got snow!!