Good Afternoon!
Hope you all had a great week! I love you all sooooo much and with out further aduuu...
My week was actually really good! For my training this week I had been contemplating what to train the missionaries in my district on. I thought and prayed and in Preach My Gospel there is a little section entitled Christlike Attributes. In this section it teaches why we need to have Charity & love, humility, faith, endurance, knowledge & etc. Along with the be-attitudes that Matthew writes about W. Cleon Skousen says that they ".. are the beautification of the soul." So figuring that we can all use a bit more beautifying in the soul I made everyone a post-it note with a different attribute on it and all had to share -why it was important to have this attribute -a scripture refference & -a personal testimony why they know it's importants & how we can gain a testimony of it. If one thing is for sure a mission is the place to change a personality. Now I know I am not the worst person (some might disagree ) but even I can become more like my Savior Jesus Christ by applying all of these things I can follow His example - which is what a mission is for. I was reading an ensign article by President Thomas S. Monson a couple of years ago and it said, "...Do not pray for tasks equal to your abilities, but pray for abilities equal to your tasks. Then the performance of your tasks will be no miracle, but you will be the miracle!" As we strive to become & follow the Savior, praying that we can be able to - I testify with President Monson that we will be the miracle and that He will shape us into it.
So this week Elder Palmer & I decided that we wanted to have some fun so we got our matresses and put them out on the balcony and slept outside. We've "camped" out for 3 days and all accept for last night it was like heaven. Yes, last night was not good because I have like mosquito/bug bites all over me and I itch like crazy!! good I have the anti-itch cream but ughh!!! But it was still tons of fun - I haven't slept outside for like 2 years!!! haha - but I'm sure you can tell me and Elder Palmer are having a blast & getting along GREAT!
On Friday I got to do some awesome demo on one of the recent converts homes in the Santa Rosa ward. Mario Hernandez called us over and he wanted some help laying those same wood flooring stuff that we layed in our house - so we came over and when we got there his wife decided (after the months of remodeling their house) that she wanted new tile in her dining room, kitchen and pantry [haha, Mario said that they just planed on doing the kids room then it started branching out to the room next door.. then the hall way... then the living room.. then the kitchen and now the tile and bathrooms - - sound familiar mom? isn't that funny how that works! haha] So we helped chip out all the tile. My hands were like tremmering all Saturday because of the hard work, but it was fun.
I attached a picture of the guy I was talking about that we gave the miracle blessing too and that I taught - sorry, I forgot last week.
Well hope all is good! Stay safe! Anyone have any new missionary stories lately? - Keep sharing your testimonies and the gospel! Pray for missionary experiences and for your abilities to be "equal to your tasks"!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
3-08
Hello Family & Friends
Hope you are doing good. Life is going good here in Indio. The weather is bipolerish out here - it's hot one day and it rains the next... haha only in california?? But I think I am going to be hopeing for the rain in a couple of weeks! People say it gets up to 127 degrees here - but don't worry we can officially go inside from tracting when it hits up to 130 :) lol
Thanks for the package with the pumpkin bread and letters - Soooo Good! It's going to be a sad day when I finish the loaf. haha. The work down here is going okay. We have been working with a bunch of people that are not really progressing that well. We have been praying for miracles however and I know the Lord is there and listening. Infact we just had a miracle last night. We had been fasting for new investigators and we went to someone the bishop wanted us to go to to see how they were doingqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq my companion sucksqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq- (that was Elder Palmer - he thinks he's funny) anyways we went to see this less active person and we knocked on the door and the brother of this guy let us in and was really excited he called his sister inlaw down stairs and told her to sit down on the couch by us. We started talking to them and he was like "she's not a member and you need to baptize her... she is going to be so easy!" haha right in front of her - but she didn't care - she just nodded her head up and down. Cool huh - what a blessing to find someone who does actually want to endure!!
Elder Palmer and I are getting along great! I love the guy a ton except for the "qqqqqq"s -but we'll forgive him for that. Work seems to go so well and to fly by when you have a companion that you can actually work with! Loved all of my companions... just probably won't hang out with some after the mission. It's just good when you can be yourself with someone and not have to worry about being obedient - you just both are!
I cover two wards down here in Indio. The La Quinta ward and the Santa Rosa ward. Both are really good and the members so far are cool. And here is a HUGE blessing - both the ward mission leaders ROCK - & actually like their calling - weird huh.. haha This one member took us out for a ride in their camero on Saturday (0 to 60 in literally 3.5 seconds!) haha fun! The bishops are really great too. Haha, the other day we went over to this one members house for dinner and he did the most AMAZING magic tricks I had ever seen - no seriously it was mind boggeling. He like made stuff apear into our hands and made "illusions" on cards - it was crazy!!! I'll have to film it and send it over there.!
Well I love you all so much and hope that you are doing good! I am going really good over
here! Stay safe and choose the right! Thanks for you love and prayers-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
Hope you are doing good. Life is going good here in Indio. The weather is bipolerish out here - it's hot one day and it rains the next... haha only in california?? But I think I am going to be hopeing for the rain in a couple of weeks! People say it gets up to 127 degrees here - but don't worry we can officially go inside from tracting when it hits up to 130 :) lol
Thanks for the package with the pumpkin bread and letters - Soooo Good! It's going to be a sad day when I finish the loaf. haha. The work down here is going okay. We have been working with a bunch of people that are not really progressing that well. We have been praying for miracles however and I know the Lord is there and listening. Infact we just had a miracle last night. We had been fasting for new investigators and we went to someone the bishop wanted us to go to to see how they were doingqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq my companion sucksqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq- (that was Elder Palmer - he thinks he's funny) anyways we went to see this less active person and we knocked on the door and the brother of this guy let us in and was really excited he called his sister inlaw down stairs and told her to sit down on the couch by us. We started talking to them and he was like "she's not a member and you need to baptize her... she is going to be so easy!" haha right in front of her - but she didn't care - she just nodded her head up and down. Cool huh - what a blessing to find someone who does actually want to endure!!
Elder Palmer and I are getting along great! I love the guy a ton except for the "qqqqqq"s -but we'll forgive him for that. Work seems to go so well and to fly by when you have a companion that you can actually work with! Loved all of my companions... just probably won't hang out with some after the mission. It's just good when you can be yourself with someone and not have to worry about being obedient - you just both are!
I cover two wards down here in Indio. The La Quinta ward and the Santa Rosa ward. Both are really good and the members so far are cool. And here is a HUGE blessing - both the ward mission leaders ROCK - & actually like their calling - weird huh.. haha This one member took us out for a ride in their camero on Saturday (0 to 60 in literally 3.5 seconds!) haha fun! The bishops are really great too. Haha, the other day we went over to this one members house for dinner and he did the most AMAZING magic tricks I had ever seen - no seriously it was mind boggeling. He like made stuff apear into our hands and made "illusions" on cards - it was crazy!!! I'll have to film it and send it over there.!
Well I love you all so much and hope that you are doing good! I am going really good over
here! Stay safe and choose the right! Thanks for you love and prayers-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
3-1
HELLO Family & Friends!
How many Mormons does it take to change a light bulb? 6
one to plan and prepare for changing it, 2 for the opening prayer, 3 to give a talk on it, 4 for the actual changing of it, 5 for the closing prayer and 6 for refreshments!!
Hope that your last weeks of February 2010 were good and exciting - Can you believe we are already into the third month of the year! HOLY VACA!
The week has been really good. I love the new place in Indio California. Driving from Riverside to here was like a roadtrip - seriously - I hadn't been in a car that long since I got out here - it was like a 1 and a half hour drive out here... I live in the boonies of the mission.. is boonies something bad? - I mean it as I live far away from everyone else. For the first week me and Elder Palmer were pretty much in a foursome with Elder Hulet and Elder Salinas who are spanish missionaries. Their truck was having problems with the air-conditioning and the AP's wouldn't let them go down to their area (which was about another hour away) until they got it fixed, so that took about a week - so we babysat them for a week and had fun.
You know when you just have that feeling of conecting with people - that is what I feel here - like this is the place where I am supposed to be.
Tuesday night we had a really cool miracle happen. We were teaching at our stake presidents house the the Jacksons friends. One lady was less-active and her sister was a non-member. Well all through the lesson people were getting up and it seemed like no one was listening, then at the last part of the lesson we bore testimony and they both started bawling saying that they felt the spirit. The crazy thing was the non-member lady really couldn't understand anything because she spoke spanish and could understand only a little bit if english - but she said that the feeling that she felt was so happy and peaceful. Isn't it cool huh the spirit is a universal feeling. God loves all His childeren & It felt so good to be a tool that my Heavenly Father could work through to bless the lives of His childeren -that don't even speak my language!
Haha, last night I taught something that I have never taught before and never did I think I would be teaching it... I taught MATH!! haha one of our investigators had a test today so last night we went over and she was freaking out - so we taught measurements and math to her and applied it to the gospel. Haha, hopefully I taught her right... but you know me and math.. they go together like tunafish and meatballs!
---- oh speaking of which - I have been craving pumpkin chocolate chip bread from old grist mill - is that okay to send???
Well thanks so much for everything that you do for me! I love you all so much! keep praying for missionary experiences and send me the results! Always have the spirit to be with you! Choose the Right!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
How many Mormons does it take to change a light bulb? 6
one to plan and prepare for changing it, 2 for the opening prayer, 3 to give a talk on it, 4 for the actual changing of it, 5 for the closing prayer and 6 for refreshments!!
Hope that your last weeks of February 2010 were good and exciting - Can you believe we are already into the third month of the year! HOLY VACA!
The week has been really good. I love the new place in Indio California. Driving from Riverside to here was like a roadtrip - seriously - I hadn't been in a car that long since I got out here - it was like a 1 and a half hour drive out here... I live in the boonies of the mission.. is boonies something bad? - I mean it as I live far away from everyone else. For the first week me and Elder Palmer were pretty much in a foursome with Elder Hulet and Elder Salinas who are spanish missionaries. Their truck was having problems with the air-conditioning and the AP's wouldn't let them go down to their area (which was about another hour away) until they got it fixed, so that took about a week - so we babysat them for a week and had fun.
You know when you just have that feeling of conecting with people - that is what I feel here - like this is the place where I am supposed to be.
Tuesday night we had a really cool miracle happen. We were teaching at our stake presidents house the the Jacksons friends. One lady was less-active and her sister was a non-member. Well all through the lesson people were getting up and it seemed like no one was listening, then at the last part of the lesson we bore testimony and they both started bawling saying that they felt the spirit. The crazy thing was the non-member lady really couldn't understand anything because she spoke spanish and could understand only a little bit if english - but she said that the feeling that she felt was so happy and peaceful. Isn't it cool huh the spirit is a universal feeling. God loves all His childeren & It felt so good to be a tool that my Heavenly Father could work through to bless the lives of His childeren -that don't even speak my language!
Haha, last night I taught something that I have never taught before and never did I think I would be teaching it... I taught MATH!! haha one of our investigators had a test today so last night we went over and she was freaking out - so we taught measurements and math to her and applied it to the gospel. Haha, hopefully I taught her right... but you know me and math.. they go together like tunafish and meatballs!
---- oh speaking of which - I have been craving pumpkin chocolate chip bread from old grist mill - is that okay to send???
Well thanks so much for everything that you do for me! I love you all so much! keep praying for missionary experiences and send me the results! Always have the spirit to be with you! Choose the Right!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
2-22
Hello Family & Friends!
Hope that all is good wherever you are! Valentines was good & I got my package with the goodies yum yum! So this last week has gone good and fast. Saturday morning I got a call from President Reeves and he called me to go be a district leader out in Palm Dessert [One of the hottest places in the mission.] Of course I excepted. Wow, I haven't been in Riverside for all that long - only 3 months, but I saw it coming. The whole mission got jumbled up just like I thought it would; but it's for the best.
It was hard to say goodbye to just a couple of people, namely Brenda Franklin & Brother John Rodriguez. It's crazy the impact you can have on people and the impaction that you get from others. Brenda is one of thee most elect people I have ever seen & taught. She wants to just do her best and knows that she will reach the things that she wants in life. I was just reading the "Raise the Bar" talk that Elder L. Tom Perry gave in 2007 referring to the original one that President Hinkley gave about missionaries hiring their potential. He talked of one time when his (Perry) son was practising for high jumping over a beam and his son was really good at jumping like 5' 6'' and Elder Perry walked out and told him to higher it. He then gave his son a great talk about how we should always raise our potential and "raise the bar"! I think as I have come to know Brenda she is a prime example of raising the bar and always wanting to be better. {I can't wait for our reunion i
Brother Rodriguez taught me how important it is to listen to the spirit. When I first got here our lessons with him weren't that effective - but when we actually prayed about what to teach him to help him out it worked! He is such a great guy!
Oh so I don't think I told you about this way cool experience I had with a blessing that I was called to give. This family wanted a blessing for there 27 year old son - and we were called to go give him a blessing over to Moreno Valley. So me and Elder Blackett went over and gave him one of healing and his mom and comforting one. Before the blessing I felt prompted to say an opening prayer before we gave the blessings (which I usually don't do - but of course follow the spirit right!!) Right after I closed the blessing for him I opened up my eyes and everyone was in tears! it was crazy how strong the spirit was there! So we gave some hugs and said our goodbyes and they thanked us very much.... and the story goes on ... so ... to be continued next week. (it gets really good...anticipation)
Well as for my new address it's: 81875 Ave. 48 Indio California #24. I am going to be companions with Elder Palmer who I have heard is a kick butt missionary! (really good one) haha, I hear there is a lot of work going on over there too - so that will be really really great! Oh, mom - I lived in the same appartment as Elder Fairbanks here in Riverside and I am going to be in his zone in Palm dessert - so you can tell his mom I know him and love him to death!!!
I love you all so so much! Stay close to the spirit! Raise the bar in your lives and always look for your full potential! Be safe, loves:LOVE,
ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
Hope that all is good wherever you are! Valentines was good & I got my package with the goodies yum yum! So this last week has gone good and fast. Saturday morning I got a call from President Reeves and he called me to go be a district leader out in Palm Dessert [One of the hottest places in the mission.] Of course I excepted. Wow, I haven't been in Riverside for all that long - only 3 months, but I saw it coming. The whole mission got jumbled up just like I thought it would; but it's for the best.
It was hard to say goodbye to just a couple of people, namely Brenda Franklin & Brother John Rodriguez. It's crazy the impact you can have on people and the impaction that you get from others. Brenda is one of thee most elect people I have ever seen & taught. She wants to just do her best and knows that she will reach the things that she wants in life. I was just reading the "Raise the Bar" talk that Elder L. Tom Perry gave in 2007 referring to the original one that President Hinkley gave about missionaries hiring their potential. He talked of one time when his (Perry) son was practising for high jumping over a beam and his son was really good at jumping like 5' 6'' and Elder Perry walked out and told him to higher it. He then gave his son a great talk about how we should always raise our potential and "raise the bar"! I think as I have come to know Brenda she is a prime example of raising the bar and always wanting to be better. {I can't wait for our reunion i
Brother Rodriguez taught me how important it is to listen to the spirit. When I first got here our lessons with him weren't that effective - but when we actually prayed about what to teach him to help him out it worked! He is such a great guy!
Oh so I don't think I told you about this way cool experience I had with a blessing that I was called to give. This family wanted a blessing for there 27 year old son - and we were called to go give him a blessing over to Moreno Valley. So me and Elder Blackett went over and gave him one of healing and his mom and comforting one. Before the blessing I felt prompted to say an opening prayer before we gave the blessings (which I usually don't do - but of course follow the spirit right!!) Right after I closed the blessing for him I opened up my eyes and everyone was in tears! it was crazy how strong the spirit was there! So we gave some hugs and said our goodbyes and they thanked us very much.... and the story goes on ... so ... to be continued next week. (it gets really good...anticipation)
Well as for my new address it's: 81875 Ave. 48 Indio California #24. I am going to be companions with Elder Palmer who I have heard is a kick butt missionary! (really good one) haha, I hear there is a lot of work going on over there too - so that will be really really great! Oh, mom - I lived in the same appartment as Elder Fairbanks here in Riverside and I am going to be in his zone in Palm dessert - so you can tell his mom I know him and love him to death!!!
I love you all so so much! Stay close to the spirit! Raise the bar in your lives and always look for your full potential! Be safe, loves:LOVE,
ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
2-8
Hey Hey day after the... SUPERbowl,
Hope you have all had a good week! ... "and the rain, rain, rain came down, down down" haha yah, more rain for California - I guess that the currents changes and once ever 8 years they California get's loaded with rain showers. Haha, but sorry Susan, no puddle jumpin' this time :( . So it snowed a foot up there in Utah! Awh, I miss the snow so much... I bet I get put in a place where it snows right before I go home. I saw Elder Veater this week and he is in Yuciapa and it is snowing there. Well I guess it wouldn't be that bad if I was put there in December.. I would at least get used to the cold?? [oh side note for Cassie: If you want to claim Elder Veater as you sweetheart then you will have to write him a letter adressed to the Arlington address with his name on it... really DO IT! haha, he said he wants you to!]
Tueday we had a district meeting and before that the Riverside leaders of the zone got together and we discussed how we could improve our zone. The mission is becoming a little to lax and lazy with elders being disobedient and not caring. In opening excersizes Elder Williams and Fowler got up and shared both powerful testimonies about how important this work is and how important it is to do our BEST! Elder Fowler shared this story of this guy that was told to push this rock by this Heavenly messanger. Everyday for months he pushed this rock and it did not budge. Satan worked hardely on him and told him that he was not doing anything, that he did not make a difference and that it was ok to just stop pushing. The man thought a bit.. and kept pushing and pushing and finally the Heavenly Messanger came back and said that the man had done the job he had been asked to do. The man was confused ... he had not even moved let alone budged the boulder. The Angel said that he had never intended for the man to move it, but through diligence and obedience to the commands given the man was strong in spirit and might. We are to asked to do things by our Heavenly Father. We do not know the full picture of what he asks. Satan is tempting us to stop, but we must not listen & we MUST NOT GIVE UP! If we do what we are asked to do we will see the end aspect of things if we are but faithful. I guess we can take the words from the scriptures, "...Be still, & know that I am God." I have a purpose and am willing to do what my Heavenly Father asks.
I have been trying to get a long better with Elder Clements... haha, he is a little diffent and a bit socially awkward. I pray every day that I can have the patients I need to get through the day - it seems Heavenly Father is wanting to try my patients... urghh.. lol. I don't know if I will be here in Riverside for too much longer - transfers are coming up in two weeks (on Feb. 21st) & to my thinking I am going to go out of Riverside. But no for sure things yet - that's just what me and the zone leaders think.
So we have been working with this one guy from our ward; Brother Rodriguez. I don't know if I have mentioned him - he is the one with the little boy who has Atexia Telangeictasia or A-T. Well he had been dating someone who is not a member and he just called us up this morning. (We have been having a lot of great lessons with him & one of them was on missionary work.) So he called and said that his girlfriend wanted the lessons - so we are giving her the lessons on Friday night! It is going to go so well, Brother Rodriguez is a great guy who's life has been blessed so much by the gospel.
I found this quote on someones garage door that I thought was kind of cool: "the Son of God became a Man to enable men to become Sons of God." ~C.S. Lewis I am so thankful for my Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ, as we apply His Atonement we can "become" the children of God and live with Him again!
Love you all so much! Stay safe! Keep praying for missionary experiences and miracles!
Love Elder P. McBride
Hope you have all had a good week! ... "and the rain, rain, rain came down, down down" haha yah, more rain for California - I guess that the currents changes and once ever 8 years they California get's loaded with rain showers. Haha, but sorry Susan, no puddle jumpin' this time :( . So it snowed a foot up there in Utah! Awh, I miss the snow so much... I bet I get put in a place where it snows right before I go home. I saw Elder Veater this week and he is in Yuciapa and it is snowing there. Well I guess it wouldn't be that bad if I was put there in December.. I would at least get used to the cold?? [oh side note for Cassie: If you want to claim Elder Veater as you sweetheart then you will have to write him a letter adressed to the Arlington address with his name on it... really DO IT! haha, he said he wants you to!]
Tueday we had a district meeting and before that the Riverside leaders of the zone got together and we discussed how we could improve our zone. The mission is becoming a little to lax and lazy with elders being disobedient and not caring. In opening excersizes Elder Williams and Fowler got up and shared both powerful testimonies about how important this work is and how important it is to do our BEST! Elder Fowler shared this story of this guy that was told to push this rock by this Heavenly messanger. Everyday for months he pushed this rock and it did not budge. Satan worked hardely on him and told him that he was not doing anything, that he did not make a difference and that it was ok to just stop pushing. The man thought a bit.. and kept pushing and pushing and finally the Heavenly Messanger came back and said that the man had done the job he had been asked to do. The man was confused ... he had not even moved let alone budged the boulder. The Angel said that he had never intended for the man to move it, but through diligence and obedience to the commands given the man was strong in spirit and might. We are to asked to do things by our Heavenly Father. We do not know the full picture of what he asks. Satan is tempting us to stop, but we must not listen & we MUST NOT GIVE UP! If we do what we are asked to do we will see the end aspect of things if we are but faithful. I guess we can take the words from the scriptures, "...Be still, & know that I am God." I have a purpose and am willing to do what my Heavenly Father asks.
I have been trying to get a long better with Elder Clements... haha, he is a little diffent and a bit socially awkward. I pray every day that I can have the patients I need to get through the day - it seems Heavenly Father is wanting to try my patients... urghh.. lol. I don't know if I will be here in Riverside for too much longer - transfers are coming up in two weeks (on Feb. 21st) & to my thinking I am going to go out of Riverside. But no for sure things yet - that's just what me and the zone leaders think.
So we have been working with this one guy from our ward; Brother Rodriguez. I don't know if I have mentioned him - he is the one with the little boy who has Atexia Telangeictasia or A-T. Well he had been dating someone who is not a member and he just called us up this morning. (We have been having a lot of great lessons with him & one of them was on missionary work.) So he called and said that his girlfriend wanted the lessons - so we are giving her the lessons on Friday night! It is going to go so well, Brother Rodriguez is a great guy who's life has been blessed so much by the gospel.
I found this quote on someones garage door that I thought was kind of cool: "the Son of God became a Man to enable men to become Sons of God." ~C.S. Lewis I am so thankful for my Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ, as we apply His Atonement we can "become" the children of God and live with Him again!
Love you all so much! Stay safe! Keep praying for missionary experiences and miracles!
Love Elder P. McBride
2-1
HELLO Family & Friends,
Hope you are all having a good week and are all safe! Is it still cold up there?
I had like an AMAZING week! Not a lot has been going on in Riverside for the past months BUT this week has changed that! Really we picked up like 6 investigators!
-One night me and Elder Clements were wondering what to do (our appointments just canceled) so we went to this less-active lady's house and we knocked and this guy opened up and thought we were like the cops or something - he was kind of scared (it just might have been because Elder Clements had his huge trench coat on - because of the rain). Anyway we started talking and the guy; Qunell said that the lady moved BUT we then started talking to him about the gospel and he said that he was just looking for a church to join and wanted us to come back!
-This ones a MIRACLE! On Friday me and Elder Groesbeck went on an exchange into my area. Our first two appointments in the morning canceled so we decided to pick a street to go tracting on. 12th steet came into our minds. So we said a prayer that we would have a miracle experience. We knocked on the first house and there was no answer & then the second house we went to had a big lock on the gate... I fiddeled with it for a couple of seconds and finally got it off the fence [No one stops Elder McBride from coming in!] So then we knocked on this door and a guy answers, grunts loudly and says "ALRIGHT, come in.." so me and Elder Groesbeck look at eachother and go in. He sat us down and said, "Brother Fenn sent you didn't he!?" (Brother Fenn is our first councelor in our ward) we said "no". He then told us how brother Fenn came over last night and talked to him. He and brother Fenn are both good friends as well as their kids. We then got into this way spiritual conversation! The guy (Robbie) said that he was having the worst day and that he just needed happiness! We told him that it was not a coincidence that we were brought here and he agreed saying we were "sent from God". Now the cool thing! We had dinner scheduled with the Fenns that night! So I invited Robbie and his family over for dinner and he accepted! Dinner was so great! Robbie said that he was not someone to commit suicide - but if he was that would have been the morning he would have done it if it wasn't for us coming! WOW! He and his family sat down and us and the Fenn family taught them about the gospel and the restoration and they accepted the commitment to read the Book of Mormon!
-Just yesterday we were tracting on 12th street again and this woman invited us in and said that her husband had just been put in jail. She was devastated! We asked her if she had ever read the Book of Mormon and she brought a quad out! Haha and she wasn't even a member! (she said a friend that past away gave it to her.) We taught her about how much her Heavenly Father loved her and cared for her and that there is a reason for why all of this is happening and to just look for it. She said her husband is reading from the bible in there (and has never done that before - so we think that is the reason.) Also we told her gospel truths such as if we make a mistake even though we are sorry and may have repented, we still have a consiquence for our actions.
Me and Elder Clements were asked to give a talk in church for this past Sunday. Haha, how I "love" giving talks! jk. Well all week I was thinking about what I should talk about, then it hit me - I needed to talk about focusing! I came up with all these stories from my past and stories and quotes that general authorities have used in the past. In the morning of this Sunday that we were supposed to give our talks (yesterday) Elder Clements was really sick and had been sick all night. We made it to church and he got up and gave like a 7 minute talk right after a deacon gave his talk on missionary service, a hymn was sung by the choir and I was left with 20 minutes to talk - - AHHHHHH I had never spoken in sacrament for that long, my farewell wasn't even that long! But with a prayer I started and went for a wopping 25 minutes! and the good thing was it wasn't even blabbering stuff I talked on! Haha, I started off my talk with the story of Cami getting ran over by a four wheeler by Ashley because she was not "focusing". haha everyone loved it!!
Well I love you all & have to go now. Thanks for everything and keeping me in your prayers! Be safe and choose the right!
PS. We had to get new accounts, so if this email adress looks different that is why - google and the church merged - so I am at gmail.com now :)
Love ya,
Elder P. McBride
Hope you are all having a good week and are all safe! Is it still cold up there?
I had like an AMAZING week! Not a lot has been going on in Riverside for the past months BUT this week has changed that! Really we picked up like 6 investigators!
-One night me and Elder Clements were wondering what to do (our appointments just canceled) so we went to this less-active lady's house and we knocked and this guy opened up and thought we were like the cops or something - he was kind of scared (it just might have been because Elder Clements had his huge trench coat on - because of the rain). Anyway we started talking and the guy; Qunell said that the lady moved BUT we then started talking to him about the gospel and he said that he was just looking for a church to join and wanted us to come back!
-This ones a MIRACLE! On Friday me and Elder Groesbeck went on an exchange into my area. Our first two appointments in the morning canceled so we decided to pick a street to go tracting on. 12th steet came into our minds. So we said a prayer that we would have a miracle experience. We knocked on the first house and there was no answer & then the second house we went to had a big lock on the gate... I fiddeled with it for a couple of seconds and finally got it off the fence [No one stops Elder McBride from coming in!] So then we knocked on this door and a guy answers, grunts loudly and says "ALRIGHT, come in.." so me and Elder Groesbeck look at eachother and go in. He sat us down and said, "Brother Fenn sent you didn't he!?" (Brother Fenn is our first councelor in our ward) we said "no". He then told us how brother Fenn came over last night and talked to him. He and brother Fenn are both good friends as well as their kids. We then got into this way spiritual conversation! The guy (Robbie) said that he was having the worst day and that he just needed happiness! We told him that it was not a coincidence that we were brought here and he agreed saying we were "sent from God". Now the cool thing! We had dinner scheduled with the Fenns that night! So I invited Robbie and his family over for dinner and he accepted! Dinner was so great! Robbie said that he was not someone to commit suicide - but if he was that would have been the morning he would have done it if it wasn't for us coming! WOW! He and his family sat down and us and the Fenn family taught them about the gospel and the restoration and they accepted the commitment to read the Book of Mormon!
-Just yesterday we were tracting on 12th street again and this woman invited us in and said that her husband had just been put in jail. She was devastated! We asked her if she had ever read the Book of Mormon and she brought a quad out! Haha and she wasn't even a member! (she said a friend that past away gave it to her.) We taught her about how much her Heavenly Father loved her and cared for her and that there is a reason for why all of this is happening and to just look for it. She said her husband is reading from the bible in there (and has never done that before - so we think that is the reason.) Also we told her gospel truths such as if we make a mistake even though we are sorry and may have repented, we still have a consiquence for our actions.
Me and Elder Clements were asked to give a talk in church for this past Sunday. Haha, how I "love" giving talks! jk. Well all week I was thinking about what I should talk about, then it hit me - I needed to talk about focusing! I came up with all these stories from my past and stories and quotes that general authorities have used in the past. In the morning of this Sunday that we were supposed to give our talks (yesterday) Elder Clements was really sick and had been sick all night. We made it to church and he got up and gave like a 7 minute talk right after a deacon gave his talk on missionary service, a hymn was sung by the choir and I was left with 20 minutes to talk - - AHHHHHH I had never spoken in sacrament for that long, my farewell wasn't even that long! But with a prayer I started and went for a wopping 25 minutes! and the good thing was it wasn't even blabbering stuff I talked on! Haha, I started off my talk with the story of Cami getting ran over by a four wheeler by Ashley because she was not "focusing". haha everyone loved it!!
Well I love you all & have to go now. Thanks for everything and keeping me in your prayers! Be safe and choose the right!
PS. We had to get new accounts, so if this email adress looks different that is why - google and the church merged - so I am at gmail.com now :)
Love ya,
Elder P. McBride
1-25
Happy January 25th!
Hope you all had a great week! As you may have looked on the forcast for Riverside California ... yes VERY RAINY! haha, but very very fun! Haha, my shoes that I had puddle jumpin fun in still are a little wet from last Monday! But there is always a consiquence in everything right?I had a very good week though. On Monday the Bro. & Sis. & Susan Yokshas came down for my birthday and took us to a terriaki bowl place FULL and jam-packed with asians! haha we were the only white people in there... & right when we sat down all of the asians left... we might have scared them away... haha Afterward they heard that I did not get a cake so we went to Ralphs and they bought me a cake and put "HAPPY BIRHTDAY HOLLOW LEG" on it... the lady that decorated it was like "my mom has a hollow leg!" hahahaha it was pretty funny! [ps - 'hollow leg' is an inside joke... so just laugh ;) ] The day was really fun! The Yokshas's said that they were coming up Valentines weekend to come down there and hang with you at the house...you'll have to show them our famous 5 crowns!Thanks for the birthday presents everyone! I found the McDonalds... now it's just finding a Chili's somewhere!! AHHHH where is my moten chocolate lava cake???!!!! Oh so I am so mad that I can't find my camera cord to plug into the computer and to put a picture with this - but for my Year Out I burned one of my shirts and finally my tie (which I was supposed to burn @ 6 months). we soaked it in alcohol and tied it to a tree! It looked really cool! Bad traditions of our fathers, but really really fun!Haha, this has been like reunion month haha, Rubi, Yokshas's and then on Saturday me and Elder Williams got to have lunch with Sis. Teter and her daughter Natalie! SOOOOOO fun! [JOSN - which is an acronym I just made up which means Just On the Side Note! Mom, you and Natalie would totally get along... she has a whole bookcase chuck-full of romance novels of guys ripping off there shirts on it! hahaaaa jk] It was real fun to get caught up on all the stuff that has been happening though! Sunshine loves you Bro & Sis Teter and Natalie!We had an awesome lesson with one of our 'getting more active' members. We brought up Lehi's dream and the lesson was so spiritual! It totally went in the direction that the spirit wanted it to. We got a paper and started drawing it out and they were like "the tree is the TEMPLE"! They are both trying to go get sealed together and so the whole lesson was on "holding to the rod" and getting to partake of the fruit of eternal life at the temple!Ya know, almost a year ago when I got out into the field I didn't want to talk to anyone out on the streets. A lot of the times (sadly) I just byed pass them and turned the other shoulder and hoped my companion didn't see them so that we wouldn't have to go out of our way to talk to someone [which has been repented of!] Now I have got a testimony of talking to EVERYONE I see! Really, I talk to people as they are driving out of their driveways and while I am driving and even the drunk & have dead ones. This Saturday we just walked past two of these young 19-20 year old punk/goth kids and I know the thought that I would have had at the first of the mission would be "okay don't get killed Elder McBride.. just walk fast and don't look up..." haha but we didn't do that, we talked to them! One "peaced out" and the other stood by his car literally in awe of what we were sharing about. Haha, his exact words were "Where is your church!?" haha. Sadly he didn't up coming, BUT (said optimistically) we have a return appointment this week! Pray for Julian on Wednesday morning!We had a multizone meeting this past week and it was of course great like always! [oh just a funny PS on the side: the new Elder McBride that came into the mission is in my zone! So I am now "Elder McBride the Older". hah] Anyways, in the meeting we talked about Obedience, which is funny because exactly a year ago if you remember, that is what Pres. Miller had talked with me about before he set me apart! Sister Reeves spoke about our testimonies of the Prophet Joseph Smith.. You know it is funny on how some people just don't have that strong of testimonies of Joseph. I am so thankful that I have such a simple testimony that I don't need proof. Elder Clements bless his heart always needs proof ... maybe that's why I am with him.. to give him some of my simpleness....... or maybe I will come out a genious afterward...hmmm this could help on my math tests in the future...posibilities!!! But really I have never doubted the church or the gospel... I just .. know it's true!!!Well I got to go, Love you all and Have a great week! Thanks again for the bday presents!Oh, & a Special shout out to Brenda Franklin! She is awesome and has a great heart and is truely one of my friends!HOLY COW ... one year from the day I will be on a plane... AHHHHHHPeace,Elder P. McBride
Hope you all had a great week! As you may have looked on the forcast for Riverside California ... yes VERY RAINY! haha, but very very fun! Haha, my shoes that I had puddle jumpin fun in still are a little wet from last Monday! But there is always a consiquence in everything right?I had a very good week though. On Monday the Bro. & Sis. & Susan Yokshas came down for my birthday and took us to a terriaki bowl place FULL and jam-packed with asians! haha we were the only white people in there... & right when we sat down all of the asians left... we might have scared them away... haha Afterward they heard that I did not get a cake so we went to Ralphs and they bought me a cake and put "HAPPY BIRHTDAY HOLLOW LEG" on it... the lady that decorated it was like "my mom has a hollow leg!" hahahaha it was pretty funny! [ps - 'hollow leg' is an inside joke... so just laugh ;) ] The day was really fun! The Yokshas's said that they were coming up Valentines weekend to come down there and hang with you at the house...you'll have to show them our famous 5 crowns!Thanks for the birthday presents everyone! I found the McDonalds... now it's just finding a Chili's somewhere!! AHHHH where is my moten chocolate lava cake???!!!! Oh so I am so mad that I can't find my camera cord to plug into the computer and to put a picture with this - but for my Year Out I burned one of my shirts and finally my tie (which I was supposed to burn @ 6 months). we soaked it in alcohol and tied it to a tree! It looked really cool! Bad traditions of our fathers, but really really fun!Haha, this has been like reunion month haha, Rubi, Yokshas's and then on Saturday me and Elder Williams got to have lunch with Sis. Teter and her daughter Natalie! SOOOOOO fun! [JOSN - which is an acronym I just made up which means Just On the Side Note! Mom, you and Natalie would totally get along... she has a whole bookcase chuck-full of romance novels of guys ripping off there shirts on it! hahaaaa jk] It was real fun to get caught up on all the stuff that has been happening though! Sunshine loves you Bro & Sis Teter and Natalie!We had an awesome lesson with one of our 'getting more active' members. We brought up Lehi's dream and the lesson was so spiritual! It totally went in the direction that the spirit wanted it to. We got a paper and started drawing it out and they were like "the tree is the TEMPLE"! They are both trying to go get sealed together and so the whole lesson was on "holding to the rod" and getting to partake of the fruit of eternal life at the temple!Ya know, almost a year ago when I got out into the field I didn't want to talk to anyone out on the streets. A lot of the times (sadly) I just byed pass them and turned the other shoulder and hoped my companion didn't see them so that we wouldn't have to go out of our way to talk to someone [which has been repented of!] Now I have got a testimony of talking to EVERYONE I see! Really, I talk to people as they are driving out of their driveways and while I am driving and even the drunk & have dead ones. This Saturday we just walked past two of these young 19-20 year old punk/goth kids and I know the thought that I would have had at the first of the mission would be "okay don't get killed Elder McBride.. just walk fast and don't look up..." haha but we didn't do that, we talked to them! One "peaced out" and the other stood by his car literally in awe of what we were sharing about. Haha, his exact words were "Where is your church!?" haha. Sadly he didn't up coming, BUT (said optimistically) we have a return appointment this week! Pray for Julian on Wednesday morning!We had a multizone meeting this past week and it was of course great like always! [oh just a funny PS on the side: the new Elder McBride that came into the mission is in my zone! So I am now "Elder McBride the Older". hah] Anyways, in the meeting we talked about Obedience, which is funny because exactly a year ago if you remember, that is what Pres. Miller had talked with me about before he set me apart! Sister Reeves spoke about our testimonies of the Prophet Joseph Smith.. You know it is funny on how some people just don't have that strong of testimonies of Joseph. I am so thankful that I have such a simple testimony that I don't need proof. Elder Clements bless his heart always needs proof ... maybe that's why I am with him.. to give him some of my simpleness....... or maybe I will come out a genious afterward...hmmm this could help on my math tests in the future...posibilities!!! But really I have never doubted the church or the gospel... I just .. know it's true!!!Well I got to go, Love you all and Have a great week! Thanks again for the bday presents!Oh, & a Special shout out to Brenda Franklin! She is awesome and has a great heart and is truely one of my friends!HOLY COW ... one year from the day I will be on a plane... AHHHHHHPeace,Elder P. McBride
1-18
Hello Family & Friends!
Thanks for all the Birthday wishes! The 15th was Great!! Haha, In the morning President and Sister Reeves gave me a call and sang vibrantly the Happy Birthday song and wished be tons of great appointments... haha, and our whole day canceled on us!! But it was still good! Elder Williams took me out to lunch and Brenda Franklin took us out to dinner and I got to show her pictures of the family (So she knows you all!!) Haha, funny the rest of the day I just did normal missionary stuff... never would have thought that is what I would be doing for my 20th! Just for You Heavenly Father.. just for You!The Yokshas Family also gave me a call and wished me a Happy Birthday and then in a short couple of minutes we are going to lunch together!! It is going to be soo fun!! I can't wait! Thanks Nicole for the pictures - I loved them! You all looked like you had so much fun! I am going to have to have a ... rain fight with the Yokshas's today!!Me and Elder Clements are doing good... Hopefully things can be better. Sometimes I question the Lord on why he does things but there is always a reason that I will have to find out. He is a great kid with a funny attitude.. And I pray that we will conect so that we can be as one - as we are supposed to be :)For Stake conference this week we got to hear from Elder Uchtdorf, Holand, Bishop, and Sis. Matsumori. All of their talks were so good and were a great focus for Brenda! Golly, I always forget to bring my notes with me -I will bring them next week... took some good notes! Did they switch your conferences too so they are broadcasts??Well sorry this is so short.. but I have to go. I love you all and hope you have a great week!! Stay safe!Happy Birthday Bracken and Grace! Hope you have and had a great Birthday!!! Thanks again for all the Birthday gifts and cards!Love Elder McBridePS. A Special shout out to Sister Jan Judd and the Judd Family! Love ya!PPS This week a year ago we went to the MTC to change my whole life... AHHHHHHLove ya!
Thanks for all the Birthday wishes! The 15th was Great!! Haha, In the morning President and Sister Reeves gave me a call and sang vibrantly the Happy Birthday song and wished be tons of great appointments... haha, and our whole day canceled on us!! But it was still good! Elder Williams took me out to lunch and Brenda Franklin took us out to dinner and I got to show her pictures of the family (So she knows you all!!) Haha, funny the rest of the day I just did normal missionary stuff... never would have thought that is what I would be doing for my 20th! Just for You Heavenly Father.. just for You!The Yokshas Family also gave me a call and wished me a Happy Birthday and then in a short couple of minutes we are going to lunch together!! It is going to be soo fun!! I can't wait! Thanks Nicole for the pictures - I loved them! You all looked like you had so much fun! I am going to have to have a ... rain fight with the Yokshas's today!!Me and Elder Clements are doing good... Hopefully things can be better. Sometimes I question the Lord on why he does things but there is always a reason that I will have to find out. He is a great kid with a funny attitude.. And I pray that we will conect so that we can be as one - as we are supposed to be :)For Stake conference this week we got to hear from Elder Uchtdorf, Holand, Bishop, and Sis. Matsumori. All of their talks were so good and were a great focus for Brenda! Golly, I always forget to bring my notes with me -I will bring them next week... took some good notes! Did they switch your conferences too so they are broadcasts??Well sorry this is so short.. but I have to go. I love you all and hope you have a great week!! Stay safe!Happy Birthday Bracken and Grace! Hope you have and had a great Birthday!!! Thanks again for all the Birthday gifts and cards!Love Elder McBridePS. A Special shout out to Sister Jan Judd and the Judd Family! Love ya!PPS This week a year ago we went to the MTC to change my whole life... AHHHHHHLove ya!
1-11
Hello Family & Friends, Blog & Facebook readers: This week has been really good! It was the final week of the transfer and so me and Elder Cason were trying to finish the tranfer strong with a lot of appointments and talking to as many people as we could. The past 6 weeks has gone so fast with Elder Cason (I think Christmas and New Years helped with that). But on Saturday night we got a call and he is going to serve in Redlands and Elder Clement is coming in to be with me.No way that is so awesome that you guys got to hang with the Yokshas family (Haha, maybe someday you will spell & say their name right, lol). I miss them so much! I bet you had a blast! Haha, hopefully they didn't tell you too many embarrassing stories of me and my hollow leg, powdered surgar, etc. stories haha ... I Love you Yokshas Family! Did you guys tell Susan not to make out with any more guys under bleachers? Did Joseph and Cassie hit it off .. is Elder Veater done for?? Tune in next time.....So starting yesterday morning to right now I have been struck with a cold! It stinks major lamanites! My eyes have been watering non-stop and at church everyone was saying how cute I was because they thought I was crying that Elder Cason was leaving... I just played along haha.. I went and got some of those Vitamin C packett thingies and it has helped a little... hopefully I'll get over it.... Brenda is saying so many prayers for me (she texts us prayers everyday.)So me and Elder Cason went over to one of our elderly investigators this week (Arlitha Franklin) [ya, everyone laughs and gets hyped up about the name because of it's closeness with Arethra Franklin - but she just says back "I wish I had da money"]. She is actually in love with one of the members of our ward Jerry Owen (who does not love her back) she says the spirit came down and told her that they were supposed to be together... uhhhhhh The spirit said what? haha, so we commited her to come to church and to be baptized and she excepted... now just within the comming weeks it is our duty to determine if she has a REAL testimony or just an infatuous one for Brother Owen... She is one crazy lady though, some of the stuff she says we just have to blert out because of the explicity of it! So on Saturday night we went to the Lockes (the less-actives) and gave a lesson on the Plan of Salvation. Well thinking that one of their kids is a little "special" I thought to myself and got some sticky notes out and drew it up for them. Well during the whole lesson he played with them and licked off the markers and made squeeky sounds with his fingers to the table so it would annoy us... it did alright! But the good news is God rewards us for doing what he asks ... with one of our worst lessons over there - they CAME to church on Sunday, which was a first in years! And both the parents thanked us for the lesson!We were listening to a talk the other day by Ed Pinegar and he said that "There cannot be truth without testimony". So many times we forget to bear testimony to people around us! We are supposed to represent are Lord and Savior Jesus Christ everywhere speaking truth and within that bearing testimony! I just thought that was something cool :)Oh also something kind of cool is we went to our stake presidents house to eat dinner one night (the Ulicneys). And they were telling us how Elder Cook just was over at their house and spent the weekend there! HOLY! It was cool, I made sure I touched everything that I thought Elder Cook might have touched... [oh, and for those of you who don't know who Elder Quintin L. Cook is (Yokshas Family..haha) He is one of our 12 apostles!!]. Cool huh!Well, I have to go, sorry for the shortness but Elder Cason has to go pack... I heard from him that you (mom) and his mom were chatting on the California Mission website :) That is fun! They have facebook too so anyone can chat with them.Well I love you soo much! Have a great week! I am having a Birthday party this Friday In California Riverside... All are invited ;)Love you all, stay safe, keep bearing testimonies of truth, always laugh and smile!love, ELDER P. MCBRIDE
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