HEY what's up!
How are you all doing? Hope everyone had a great week. Happy 97th Bday Grandma Edna and Nicole - hope your suprise baby shower was .. suprising (haha - did you conect that is what I wouldn't tell you?!)
Well as for whats new with me, transfers came up this week and I got the kick out of Indio (Palm Desert Zone). After 7 and a half months the area has come to become like my family. I love everyone there and will miss them so much! Getting the call was like a reality check that my time in serving in specific places is so short (yes, even being 7+ months in the area). But now God is calling me to new places and preparing new people over here in Corona for me.
Seriously my love for people has grown so much. Ugh, I wish I had a week to say my goodbyes.. but they just give us a whopping couple of hours to get in all done - not enough at all. So if there is any I didn't say goodbye to - I love you soo soo much & I will hopefully see you in March!
So now I am in Corona (again) it's weird being back in the area - so many memories flowing back to my head... haha, seeing CrossRoads christian church brought some good memories.. wink wink. I am however not serving in the Citrus Hills & Prado View wards like I used to, I am serving more north in the Temescal Valley ward with Elder Schmidt. [if you want to view a picture of Elder Schmidt you can view the one picture of me and Elder Clements standing outside of our Riverside appartment and that is him - I used to live with him].
I can already tell that me and Elder Schmidt are going to get along good. President Reeves just returned home from a meeting that he had with Elder Clayton (the authority presiding over california) & he said that he wants the mission to return to having 2 zone leaders for a zone - so as I was just coving my whole zone in Palm Desert the changed it so now Elder Schmidt & I are now both zone leaders.
Tomorrow is going to be fun! We are going to get to travel up to Riverside & see another General Authority that is traveling to speak to our mission (Elder Ringwood of the 1st quorum of the Seventy). I will tell you all about it :) He told us to read Moroni 7 before we came to the meeting ... so that is your homework too for over the week, then I will tell you all about it!
I got to talk to Elder Veater Yesterday before he left... ahhh weird to think he is at home with his family now... (haha, am I making you trunky?) But anyway, give him hugs and lots of lovin from me when you see him next week okay! - oh, and the Yokshas's too!
I love you all so much! Keep doing what you know is right and what Jesus Christ would do. I love what Jesus says when he teaches the sermon on the mount, when he teaches the beatitudes: "And blessed are all they who do hunger & thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost" (3 Nephi 12:6), what a promise. Can we say that we hunger and thirst after righteousness?? That is what I am going to try to do these next couple of months. As my shirt that Ryan & Mary gave me for Christmas says "Eat, drink and be Mormon ... Eating & sleeping optional" BE MORMON! Be like Christ and thirst and hunger for righteousness and to do good and if we do we are promised not only the Holy Ghost but life eternal!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDEPS.. Send mail to mission office until I can get my address to you :)
Friday, September 24, 2010
9-13
Hello Everyone!
Well this week has been good for sure! So my letter is going to be pretty short today... short yet sweet haha. So I am doing good and working really hard. Elder Jensen says everyday that I work him to death - haha he wakes up in the mornings tired. But to me, I think that is how a mission should be.
I was reading in Mormon the other day and I really liked this scripture. I'll ask you a question first: Do you think you can win without God? My thoughts would be no - but:
Mormon 2:26-27 And it came to pass that when they had fled we did pursue them with our armies, and did meet them again, and did beat them; nevertheless the strength of the Lord was not with us; yea, we were left to ourselves, that the Spirit of the Lord did not abide in us; therefore we had become weak like unto our brethren. And my heart did sorrow because of this the great calamity of my people, because of their wickedness and their abominations.
(this scripture is talking about when the armies of the Nephites going to battle once again with the Lamanites.) The strength of the Lord was not with them because they were not following the commandments and the were a very wicked people - - they were left to themselves. I thought to myself - how sad is that! How sad would it be to be left to ourselves to get through this life - with No help. - I couldn't imagine. But that is why we have Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Fathers plan. We may win sometimes without God - but in the end we can't - we all (to win) need our Savior and Redeemers help!
I love you all and I hope that through your constant daily battles can choose to use the strength from the Lord. Pray for it! He is willing to give! I love you so much! Be safe! You are in my prayers!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
Well this week has been good for sure! So my letter is going to be pretty short today... short yet sweet haha. So I am doing good and working really hard. Elder Jensen says everyday that I work him to death - haha he wakes up in the mornings tired. But to me, I think that is how a mission should be.
I was reading in Mormon the other day and I really liked this scripture. I'll ask you a question first: Do you think you can win without God? My thoughts would be no - but:
Mormon 2:26-27 And it came to pass that when they had fled we did pursue them with our armies, and did meet them again, and did beat them; nevertheless the strength of the Lord was not with us; yea, we were left to ourselves, that the Spirit of the Lord did not abide in us; therefore we had become weak like unto our brethren. And my heart did sorrow because of this the great calamity of my people, because of their wickedness and their abominations.
(this scripture is talking about when the armies of the Nephites going to battle once again with the Lamanites.) The strength of the Lord was not with them because they were not following the commandments and the were a very wicked people - - they were left to themselves. I thought to myself - how sad is that! How sad would it be to be left to ourselves to get through this life - with No help. - I couldn't imagine. But that is why we have Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Fathers plan. We may win sometimes without God - but in the end we can't - we all (to win) need our Savior and Redeemers help!
I love you all and I hope that through your constant daily battles can choose to use the strength from the Lord. Pray for it! He is willing to give! I love you so much! Be safe! You are in my prayers!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
9-08
Good Afternoon!
Hope you all had a great Memorial Day! Sorry I didn't get on Yesterday we were busy busy busy! The spanish elders called and wanted us to come over and give us one of their non-progressing investigators - so we could try and see if we could help them progress. Well we went over and had just the greatest lesson. Their names are Vicente & Lucille. We commited them for baptism and they said that they would prepare! The lesson was so amazing and it wasn't me speaking, I mean it was - but really it was the spirit speaking. Way cool experience. So hopefully Elder Jensen & I can keep them progressing and they can keep their commitments.
I got to spend another 2 days up in Riverside at a Leadership Meeting and a ZLC (Zone Leader Meeting). They were both really good! I am so lucky to be in this mission with such great leaders like President & Sister Reeves! They love us so much and have so much faith in us! One of the things that I remember someone saying is, "Life without goals is like Golf without Holes... it just doesn't make sense!" haha Don't ya love it - We need goals in life if we want to progress.
We had an awesome lesson with one of my investigators Brooke Reynolds. You might remember me talking about her a couple of months ago. It's funny, I met her about 7 months ago on my first night here in Indio. We taught them for a couple of months and they just would not progress and keep their commitments so we didn't see them for the last couple of months. Well the past couple of weeks I have had a feeling that I needed to go over there and commit her to baptism and get her into the gospel. Well Yesterday that is just what we did! We had a lesson with her and commited her for baptism on September 19th. Venus & Aaliyah Paez and the Holmstrom family are doing great. Last night we had a prayer with Venus and she wanted to say the closing prayer (Usually we have to make her say it. haha) Wow, it was like the best prayer ever! In the prayer she bore her testimony of knowing that Joseph Smith was the prophet and that this church and gospel is the true gospel! I loved it [these are the moments that makes life and the mission so worth it!!]
Life is good for me. The work is picking up more. We are working hard and diligent. I know the Lord has plans for me and I pray I can see what they are. Thank you for your prayers they help so much! Love you all and Stay safe!-- Love,
ELDER PATRICK MCBRIDE
Hope you all had a great Memorial Day! Sorry I didn't get on Yesterday we were busy busy busy! The spanish elders called and wanted us to come over and give us one of their non-progressing investigators - so we could try and see if we could help them progress. Well we went over and had just the greatest lesson. Their names are Vicente & Lucille. We commited them for baptism and they said that they would prepare! The lesson was so amazing and it wasn't me speaking, I mean it was - but really it was the spirit speaking. Way cool experience. So hopefully Elder Jensen & I can keep them progressing and they can keep their commitments.
I got to spend another 2 days up in Riverside at a Leadership Meeting and a ZLC (Zone Leader Meeting). They were both really good! I am so lucky to be in this mission with such great leaders like President & Sister Reeves! They love us so much and have so much faith in us! One of the things that I remember someone saying is, "Life without goals is like Golf without Holes... it just doesn't make sense!" haha Don't ya love it - We need goals in life if we want to progress.
We had an awesome lesson with one of my investigators Brooke Reynolds. You might remember me talking about her a couple of months ago. It's funny, I met her about 7 months ago on my first night here in Indio. We taught them for a couple of months and they just would not progress and keep their commitments so we didn't see them for the last couple of months. Well the past couple of weeks I have had a feeling that I needed to go over there and commit her to baptism and get her into the gospel. Well Yesterday that is just what we did! We had a lesson with her and commited her for baptism on September 19th. Venus & Aaliyah Paez and the Holmstrom family are doing great. Last night we had a prayer with Venus and she wanted to say the closing prayer (Usually we have to make her say it. haha) Wow, it was like the best prayer ever! In the prayer she bore her testimony of knowing that Joseph Smith was the prophet and that this church and gospel is the true gospel! I loved it [these are the moments that makes life and the mission so worth it!!]
Life is good for me. The work is picking up more. We are working hard and diligent. I know the Lord has plans for me and I pray I can see what they are. Thank you for your prayers they help so much! Love you all and Stay safe!-- Love,
ELDER PATRICK MCBRIDE
8-30
HELLO! Hope all is well @ home and everyone is safe and had a great summer! Good luck at school!
So I forgot to tell you something funny that happened at Venus & Aaliyah Paez's baptism last Sunday. After the baptism I came up to Aaliyah and she was just super excited and I was like, "Aaliyah, how do you feel right now?" and she answered, "Well, I feel half happy.. and half baptized!" haha, we laughed so hard. [fyi: she was wholey baptized]
This week has been a bit slower. We were so excited and siked to commit more of our investigators to baptism BUT almost everyone one of them desided that they would do the exact opposite and drop us.. UGH... nope double UGHHHHH! So we have been out in the heat tracting a ton and trying to find new people to come unto Christ. I know that Heavenly Father has so much instore for this area and for us - we just have to be diligent in finding and being faithful - my motto : "Feed the Faith, Starve the Doubt!" I think Elder Jensen wants to hit me everytime I say that. haha
Friday we got to go to the temple! It seemed like forever since I had gone! and It was such a good experience! (We now go every 3 months - so it's not that bad at all) It was like a 2 hour drive to get to the Redlands temple from our clear out in the middle Indio! haha but way good experience. After the temple we went to a CTR bookstore right down the steet and Elder Jensen & I bought some stuff for Venus and her family - so that she can teach her kids from the scriptures. We were so excited to give her all of the presents we got for her. On Sunday right after she was confirmed a member and sacrament was out we gave her a quad with her name engraved on it (a gift from the ward) and some children books on the Book of Mormon and a picture of the 1st Vision. It was so good and she loved it! It's crazy how much peace the gospel of Jesus Christ can give to you - on Saturday she had lost her wallet with her and her childrens birth certificates and social sucurity info in it. She was freaking out (which I would do too.) but we came by, said a prayer and on Sunday she was at peace - still freaking out - but at peace.
As for my scripture studies this week, one thing that really stuck out to me is something that our Savior Jesus Christ said in his short ministry in the america's 3 Nephi 13:21 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." I believe that with all my heart. Wether the treasure is good or bad - what ever we are treasuring that is where our heart is. Hopefully we can all say our treasure is in the restored gospel, in Jesus Christ, and in striving faithfully to get back to our Father in Heaven. Treasure is a great word to use - is the gospel a treasure to you - would you got searching for it and do anything to have it - the great thing about the treasure of Jesus Christ is that - to me it is not somewhere barried unto a huge X but it is freely given to all those who dilligently seek for it. The only thing is that Pirates are after it. Satan is striving so hard to dull our senses and to blur our vision of how great this treasure is - he gives us false treasures - some that can not last eternally. Remember to always put your hearts in Gods treasures!
I love you all! Be safe, let the Holy Spirit guide and let it be your treasure - for it is His treasure!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
So I forgot to tell you something funny that happened at Venus & Aaliyah Paez's baptism last Sunday. After the baptism I came up to Aaliyah and she was just super excited and I was like, "Aaliyah, how do you feel right now?" and she answered, "Well, I feel half happy.. and half baptized!" haha, we laughed so hard. [fyi: she was wholey baptized]
This week has been a bit slower. We were so excited and siked to commit more of our investigators to baptism BUT almost everyone one of them desided that they would do the exact opposite and drop us.. UGH... nope double UGHHHHH! So we have been out in the heat tracting a ton and trying to find new people to come unto Christ. I know that Heavenly Father has so much instore for this area and for us - we just have to be diligent in finding and being faithful - my motto : "Feed the Faith, Starve the Doubt!" I think Elder Jensen wants to hit me everytime I say that. haha
Friday we got to go to the temple! It seemed like forever since I had gone! and It was such a good experience! (We now go every 3 months - so it's not that bad at all) It was like a 2 hour drive to get to the Redlands temple from our clear out in the middle Indio! haha but way good experience. After the temple we went to a CTR bookstore right down the steet and Elder Jensen & I bought some stuff for Venus and her family - so that she can teach her kids from the scriptures. We were so excited to give her all of the presents we got for her. On Sunday right after she was confirmed a member and sacrament was out we gave her a quad with her name engraved on it (a gift from the ward) and some children books on the Book of Mormon and a picture of the 1st Vision. It was so good and she loved it! It's crazy how much peace the gospel of Jesus Christ can give to you - on Saturday she had lost her wallet with her and her childrens birth certificates and social sucurity info in it. She was freaking out (which I would do too.) but we came by, said a prayer and on Sunday she was at peace - still freaking out - but at peace.
As for my scripture studies this week, one thing that really stuck out to me is something that our Savior Jesus Christ said in his short ministry in the america's 3 Nephi 13:21 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." I believe that with all my heart. Wether the treasure is good or bad - what ever we are treasuring that is where our heart is. Hopefully we can all say our treasure is in the restored gospel, in Jesus Christ, and in striving faithfully to get back to our Father in Heaven. Treasure is a great word to use - is the gospel a treasure to you - would you got searching for it and do anything to have it - the great thing about the treasure of Jesus Christ is that - to me it is not somewhere barried unto a huge X but it is freely given to all those who dilligently seek for it. The only thing is that Pirates are after it. Satan is striving so hard to dull our senses and to blur our vision of how great this treasure is - he gives us false treasures - some that can not last eternally. Remember to always put your hearts in Gods treasures!
I love you all! Be safe, let the Holy Spirit guide and let it be your treasure - for it is His treasure!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
8-16
Hi Everyone.
Hope you all had a good and safe week!
One morning this week I was studying my scriptures and came across a verse I really liked. Helaman 3: 27-29
"Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name. Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God. Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out."
With every single day that goes by I feel that scriptures like these are so true. We need to talk to our Heavenly Father! Sincere prayer is so necessary. In the bible dictionary it says, "Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings." Wow, the highest of all blessings... thats pretty cool right?! I have learned to love the scriptures so much on my mission - I love how Helaman testifies of the 'word of God' and how it leads the 'man of christ' on the strait and narrow. There really is no other way to get to God and His kingdom. Everyone has to get on the path, take hold of the rod (scriptures) and it will 'land' us in His kingdom. I really liked the "man of Christ" - I ask myself that - am I a man of Christ - am I His disciple? Would I give up & sacrifice everything & anything for Him?? That's what we need to do to get back - I guess the exortation from Christ applys "Loose yourself and you will be found."
We are planning on having 5 baptisms this week so I will be needing your prayers! (remember Highest blessings!) And it really would be the highest of all blessings. The Holmstrom girls (Elizabeth, Madison, & Sunny) we are planning on getting baptized tomorrow night at 6:00 - that is if their dad is in support of it. And Venus and her daughter Aayliah Paez are getting baptized on Sunday at 6:00.
We have been praying all week for a miracle to happen for Venus. The La Quinta ward relief society is having a weekend trip up to Big Bear Mountain and Venus really wanted to go (& we really wanted her to go - to get relationships with the sisters in the ward) So we have been praying that we could get someone to watch her kids (her family is not supportive at all of the mormonism and neither is her X) But on Sunday she called her xboyfriend up and he said he wouldn't - but then called her back and said he would!! We were so excited. this week is going to be awesome... if it turns out the way I plan... just hopefully mine and Gods plans are the same!
I love you all so much! Keep up the good work. be safe! *Turn off the automobile when you get it in the garage! *Always listen to Ivy when she speaks! *Don't give Kenadi Scizzors anymore. *Happy BIRTHDAY wishes to Libby & Nayvie! Keep praying and keeping on the strait and narrow and be a "man of Christ" .. or 'a woman of Christ' too!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
Ps. the toilets in California still flush clockwise... boring
Hope you all had a good and safe week!
One morning this week I was studying my scriptures and came across a verse I really liked. Helaman 3: 27-29
"Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name. Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God. Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out."
With every single day that goes by I feel that scriptures like these are so true. We need to talk to our Heavenly Father! Sincere prayer is so necessary. In the bible dictionary it says, "Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings." Wow, the highest of all blessings... thats pretty cool right?! I have learned to love the scriptures so much on my mission - I love how Helaman testifies of the 'word of God' and how it leads the 'man of christ' on the strait and narrow. There really is no other way to get to God and His kingdom. Everyone has to get on the path, take hold of the rod (scriptures) and it will 'land' us in His kingdom. I really liked the "man of Christ" - I ask myself that - am I a man of Christ - am I His disciple? Would I give up & sacrifice everything & anything for Him?? That's what we need to do to get back - I guess the exortation from Christ applys "Loose yourself and you will be found."
We are planning on having 5 baptisms this week so I will be needing your prayers! (remember Highest blessings!) And it really would be the highest of all blessings. The Holmstrom girls (Elizabeth, Madison, & Sunny) we are planning on getting baptized tomorrow night at 6:00 - that is if their dad is in support of it. And Venus and her daughter Aayliah Paez are getting baptized on Sunday at 6:00.
We have been praying all week for a miracle to happen for Venus. The La Quinta ward relief society is having a weekend trip up to Big Bear Mountain and Venus really wanted to go (& we really wanted her to go - to get relationships with the sisters in the ward) So we have been praying that we could get someone to watch her kids (her family is not supportive at all of the mormonism and neither is her X) But on Sunday she called her xboyfriend up and he said he wouldn't - but then called her back and said he would!! We were so excited. this week is going to be awesome... if it turns out the way I plan... just hopefully mine and Gods plans are the same!
I love you all so much! Keep up the good work. be safe! *Turn off the automobile when you get it in the garage! *Always listen to Ivy when she speaks! *Don't give Kenadi Scizzors anymore. *Happy BIRTHDAY wishes to Libby & Nayvie! Keep praying and keeping on the strait and narrow and be a "man of Christ" .. or 'a woman of Christ' too!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
Ps. the toilets in California still flush clockwise... boring
8-02
Dear Family & Friends,
I hope that you are all having a great week and a fun summer. I was thinking this week and was like 'wow, the summer is almost over' (because usually my definition of summer is when school gets out till when it starts up.) But someone reasured me that summer here doesn't get over till November! Haha, It has been so HOT out here! Elder Jensen & I have fun with it and play a game called "burn-out" where we roll all the windows up in the truck and turn off the AC & see who will get 'burnt out' the fastest... haha, I know fun games as a missionary. The weird thing is that it has been cloudy and humidable [word?] lately.
So last Monday we went golfing again as a district at the Indian Springs resort and we had a great time. These old men that were right behind us were really good, so we let them go infront of us, well when they were swinging one of them saw this lady in a fenced in yard pruning her bushes and the old man golfing yelled out, "Well look at that sexy broad over there!" and the woman looked back and sqeeked, "No, no, I'm just the gardener." haha, we started dieing laughing! Those crazy old men!
Satan is moving in on the Holmstrom family. The dad is trying to post-pone the baptisms till further notice... But the girls are still trying. Elizabeth (the 14 year old) actually got up in sacrament yesterday and bore a sweet testimony about the power of the gospel in changing her life. Elizabeth actually drew us a picture the other day and it had her family, God, and us in it and she wrote "thank you for changing our lives and bringing happiness to my family."
One of our new investigators is Breona Rogers. She is such a sweet girl. We are having the lessons at the bishops house and it is going great. We commited her for baptism for this upcoming Sunday... so we will see if we can get her there! The only thing is she is leaving for college to Indiana soon... ughh. But the great thing is she believes and has faith!
So I hear someone had a little fall down the stairs... NICOLE!!! You scare me.. Sister Yokshas called and told me (which I am thankfull for) but still, there's not much I can help you with over here.... WRONG - - I had my zone of missionaries fast for you and baby Anderson! Prayers work, I'm glad that you are doing good and baby [emery?] is doing good also. Really, I know Heavenly Father is watching over me and my family. I know!
We picked up a new investigator this week named Moetez Madkour. He is an egyptian and a champion horse jumper. He is one of the most humblest & nicest people that I have every talked to. The sad thing is someone is harrassing him and trying to hurt him and his horses. He actually asked if it was okay to kill himself if he was being torchered (if God would be okay with that). He says it's the other horse jumpers hiring people and that he knew a friend that could help him out. That friend was a mormon and called us up to meet with him. We told him that we could help and that suicide was not the right path, that God will help him get through these hard times. Scary how bad the world is getting these days!
Transfers are coming up this week on Monday the 9th. I have no idea if I am going or staying. I have been here for 6 months ... but where I just got my calling last transfer, I don't know if I will be staying or going??? hmmmm *I told the AP's that I wouldn't mind being put with Elder Veater for his last transfer again.. haha... so we will see. I love you all, STAY SAFE! Pray and fast! follow the spirit.-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
I hope that you are all having a great week and a fun summer. I was thinking this week and was like 'wow, the summer is almost over' (because usually my definition of summer is when school gets out till when it starts up.) But someone reasured me that summer here doesn't get over till November! Haha, It has been so HOT out here! Elder Jensen & I have fun with it and play a game called "burn-out" where we roll all the windows up in the truck and turn off the AC & see who will get 'burnt out' the fastest... haha, I know fun games as a missionary. The weird thing is that it has been cloudy and humidable [word?] lately.
So last Monday we went golfing again as a district at the Indian Springs resort and we had a great time. These old men that were right behind us were really good, so we let them go infront of us, well when they were swinging one of them saw this lady in a fenced in yard pruning her bushes and the old man golfing yelled out, "Well look at that sexy broad over there!" and the woman looked back and sqeeked, "No, no, I'm just the gardener." haha, we started dieing laughing! Those crazy old men!
Satan is moving in on the Holmstrom family. The dad is trying to post-pone the baptisms till further notice... But the girls are still trying. Elizabeth (the 14 year old) actually got up in sacrament yesterday and bore a sweet testimony about the power of the gospel in changing her life. Elizabeth actually drew us a picture the other day and it had her family, God, and us in it and she wrote "thank you for changing our lives and bringing happiness to my family."
One of our new investigators is Breona Rogers. She is such a sweet girl. We are having the lessons at the bishops house and it is going great. We commited her for baptism for this upcoming Sunday... so we will see if we can get her there! The only thing is she is leaving for college to Indiana soon... ughh. But the great thing is she believes and has faith!
So I hear someone had a little fall down the stairs... NICOLE!!! You scare me.. Sister Yokshas called and told me (which I am thankfull for) but still, there's not much I can help you with over here.... WRONG - - I had my zone of missionaries fast for you and baby Anderson! Prayers work, I'm glad that you are doing good and baby [emery?] is doing good also. Really, I know Heavenly Father is watching over me and my family. I know!
We picked up a new investigator this week named Moetez Madkour. He is an egyptian and a champion horse jumper. He is one of the most humblest & nicest people that I have every talked to. The sad thing is someone is harrassing him and trying to hurt him and his horses. He actually asked if it was okay to kill himself if he was being torchered (if God would be okay with that). He says it's the other horse jumpers hiring people and that he knew a friend that could help him out. That friend was a mormon and called us up to meet with him. We told him that we could help and that suicide was not the right path, that God will help him get through these hard times. Scary how bad the world is getting these days!
Transfers are coming up this week on Monday the 9th. I have no idea if I am going or staying. I have been here for 6 months ... but where I just got my calling last transfer, I don't know if I will be staying or going??? hmmmm *I told the AP's that I wouldn't mind being put with Elder Veater for his last transfer again.. haha... so we will see. I love you all, STAY SAFE! Pray and fast! follow the spirit.-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
7-26
HI Brothers & Sisters!
Hope you had an exciting and amazing week. From the pictures it looks like you and the Yokshas's had a blast at Bear Lake and for Kenadi's birthday party - - HAPPY BIRTHDAY KENADI!!!! Thanks for the blog update Nicole, loved all the pictures! Haha, I like the one where Adi is trying to ride the horse Susan gave her... haha - I would tell her to stick to the scooter or the bike.. haha. Bear Lake looked amazing! And LaBaues.. [or however you spell it] tastes so good right now... think a shake would melt if you sent it to me??]
Well I had a really good week, a weird week - but really really good. On Tuesday I got to go on a road-trip back to my old area in Riverside for a leadership conference that was going to last from Tuesday to Friday everyday from 7:50am-4:30pm. It was so good to see everyone of the missionaries I knew there. Since all leadership including Zone leaders, District leaders, and trainers were invited to the meeting in equaled about a 3rd of our mission.
The four days were spiritually packed! On the first day they trained us on the "doctrine of Christ" which is basically our purpose as missionaries "To invite otheres to come unto Christ, by helping them recieve the restored gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End." If you look in the scriptures in references such as 2 Nephi 32, 3 Nephi 27, Alma 7, etc. You can see this "doctrine of Christ". What the bretheren want us to start doing is teaching this in our first lessons to our investigators. Teaching them why baptism is necessary and the WHY we need to do it. Then duh duh duh duh - COMMIT them to follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized by one holding the authority of God. Crazy to think to invite and commit them for a baptism date the first time we meet - but I know it will work, this is the Lords way and His plan!
The new curriculum we were trained on does not replace anything that we have been doing. Just as Preach My Gospel is used to help us be better missionaries from the scriptures, this new curriculum helps us be better missionaries from both sources. We were also trained on how to help ourselves and our investigators receive revelation from the Book of Mormon and from church attendance.
While we were there (since it was like 2 hours away from Palm Desert - where I live) they put us with other missionaries around the area and I got the privlege to be put with Elder Burton & Yarn serving in the ... Mt. Rubidoux Ward!! Yup, that's right - my old ward! YA! So, after the first meeting was over they desided to take me to see an old friend... Sister Brenda Franklin! When we got to her house I went around the corner and told Elder Burton to say his companion was just on the phone - so she came around the corner and saw me and starting screaming and jumping up and down .. awhh it was so amazing!!! It was so good to see her! She actually came with us to our night appointment and took us to dinner right after!
One of the exciting things was that Brenda actually came and spoke at our Leadership meeting on Thursday! We were being taught about "Teaching people, Not Lessons" and she sharred a heart-felt testimony on being "real" with the people that you teach. "If we are coming to people with a message from God, give a message from God!" is something that she said that just made me think - do I always treat my missionary calling for what it is worth?? EVERYTHING {you did so good Brenda, I am so proud of you!!}
One of the people I tracted into in Riverside and started teaching named Eric Morris just got baptized on Sunday! I was so excited! Sad I couldn't go back for the baptism, but so excited for him! You really can make a difference in peoples lives - even if it is only planting a seed.
Our Investigators Elizabeth, Madison & Sunny Holmstrom are scheduled to get baptized this upcoming sunday and I am so excited. Elizebeth drew us a picture of us and her family saying "thankyou for changing my life and bringing happiness, I love my family and have never been happier." Which means sooo much knowing how much they have changed! Venus Paez is getting baptized with her daughter Aaliyah soon - she has also changed soo much. Really, if you want help and peace the Gospel of Jesus Christ helps so much, it is truely everything. This past week I have just been smiling so much with the tender mercies and miracles Heavenly Father is blessing me with!
I love you all so much! Hope you have a great week! Be safe and follow the spirit! Keep praying for me and my investigators!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
Hope you had an exciting and amazing week. From the pictures it looks like you and the Yokshas's had a blast at Bear Lake and for Kenadi's birthday party - - HAPPY BIRTHDAY KENADI!!!! Thanks for the blog update Nicole, loved all the pictures! Haha, I like the one where Adi is trying to ride the horse Susan gave her... haha - I would tell her to stick to the scooter or the bike.. haha. Bear Lake looked amazing! And LaBaues.. [or however you spell it] tastes so good right now... think a shake would melt if you sent it to me??]
Well I had a really good week, a weird week - but really really good. On Tuesday I got to go on a road-trip back to my old area in Riverside for a leadership conference that was going to last from Tuesday to Friday everyday from 7:50am-4:30pm. It was so good to see everyone of the missionaries I knew there. Since all leadership including Zone leaders, District leaders, and trainers were invited to the meeting in equaled about a 3rd of our mission.
The four days were spiritually packed! On the first day they trained us on the "doctrine of Christ" which is basically our purpose as missionaries "To invite otheres to come unto Christ, by helping them recieve the restored gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End." If you look in the scriptures in references such as 2 Nephi 32, 3 Nephi 27, Alma 7, etc. You can see this "doctrine of Christ". What the bretheren want us to start doing is teaching this in our first lessons to our investigators. Teaching them why baptism is necessary and the WHY we need to do it. Then duh duh duh duh - COMMIT them to follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized by one holding the authority of God. Crazy to think to invite and commit them for a baptism date the first time we meet - but I know it will work, this is the Lords way and His plan!
The new curriculum we were trained on does not replace anything that we have been doing. Just as Preach My Gospel is used to help us be better missionaries from the scriptures, this new curriculum helps us be better missionaries from both sources. We were also trained on how to help ourselves and our investigators receive revelation from the Book of Mormon and from church attendance.
While we were there (since it was like 2 hours away from Palm Desert - where I live) they put us with other missionaries around the area and I got the privlege to be put with Elder Burton & Yarn serving in the ... Mt. Rubidoux Ward!! Yup, that's right - my old ward! YA! So, after the first meeting was over they desided to take me to see an old friend... Sister Brenda Franklin! When we got to her house I went around the corner and told Elder Burton to say his companion was just on the phone - so she came around the corner and saw me and starting screaming and jumping up and down .. awhh it was so amazing!!! It was so good to see her! She actually came with us to our night appointment and took us to dinner right after!
One of the exciting things was that Brenda actually came and spoke at our Leadership meeting on Thursday! We were being taught about "Teaching people, Not Lessons" and she sharred a heart-felt testimony on being "real" with the people that you teach. "If we are coming to people with a message from God, give a message from God!" is something that she said that just made me think - do I always treat my missionary calling for what it is worth?? EVERYTHING {you did so good Brenda, I am so proud of you!!}
One of the people I tracted into in Riverside and started teaching named Eric Morris just got baptized on Sunday! I was so excited! Sad I couldn't go back for the baptism, but so excited for him! You really can make a difference in peoples lives - even if it is only planting a seed.
Our Investigators Elizabeth, Madison & Sunny Holmstrom are scheduled to get baptized this upcoming sunday and I am so excited. Elizebeth drew us a picture of us and her family saying "thankyou for changing my life and bringing happiness, I love my family and have never been happier." Which means sooo much knowing how much they have changed! Venus Paez is getting baptized with her daughter Aaliyah soon - she has also changed soo much. Really, if you want help and peace the Gospel of Jesus Christ helps so much, it is truely everything. This past week I have just been smiling so much with the tender mercies and miracles Heavenly Father is blessing me with!
I love you all so much! Hope you have a great week! Be safe and follow the spirit! Keep praying for me and my investigators!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
7-19
"The Future is as bright as your Faith." ~President Thomas S. Monson
Hi everybody! I hope you all had an amazing week! This week was really good for me - haha, right after my last weeks emailing session with you one of our member families that we have been working with (John & David Fotheringham) called us to come and help them get their car out of the sand. Elder Jensen and I laughed and thought that it was going to just be a simple push of our strength... but when we got there to their house... huhhmm, boy were we wrong - the car was laying flat on the sand and the wheels sunk into the sand. We spent minutes digging the sand out from under the car and tires; enough to get sticks and logs to make traction so the wheel could grab hold of the log and lift out from the sand... NOTHING worked! After about an hour and idea came into my head...PRAY!! Everyone was sweating and we were all tired and I said.. "I think we should pray guys." So we hudled together and offered a prayer of guidance and for a miracle to help us out. after the prayer David got in the car, turned it on and pressed the gas - and we started pushing with all of our might on the back of the car... and ... within 15 seconds it was out of the sand. Isn't it funny how sometimes we forget the things that are going to help us out the most in life - no one thought of prayer till about an hour of hard work. I know that Heavenly Fathers plan for us is perfect. I think back to Lehi when he was talking to Jacob, "There is an opposition in all things..." if we would have never had that opposition (an hours plus of pushing and shoving and the car just came out right as they pushed it and if life was just perfect and we never had trials - what would we learn ---- NOTHING, remember, for testimonies to grow we need to have opposition in our lives. I know my testimony of prayers and miracles has grown simply from a couple of hours of opposition and sweat - but in the end giving me a memory I'll never forget.
I think a lot of our trials and really just life in general depends on our attitudes and our perspective on how we view our trials. On exchanges with a missionary in my zone I came across a quote in his house it said, "We can look at thing like: Every rose has it's thorn OR Ever thorn has it's rose." I hope we can all chose to look at things that way - Lets be HAPPY.
I am doing good in Palm Desert/Indio. Elder Jensen & I are making a sweet companionship.. haha he is pretty funny :) - - I told him that I am going to put him on a diet and he laughs and says he is going to eat me.. aahhhhh. This past weak has been a heat wave - seriously it has gotten like 10 degrees hotter! The good thing is that this upcoming week (from Tuesday-Friday) I get to go up to Riverside to a Leadership meeting that they are having up there. They have never done something like this [where we go and spend the night somewhere for this long] so it is going to be quite the experience! I think I am going to be tired out from learning and sitting in class... ahhh
I love you all so much! Stay safe and be happy - remember that we all have trials to mold us into the children our Heavenly Father wants us to become! -- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
Hi everybody! I hope you all had an amazing week! This week was really good for me - haha, right after my last weeks emailing session with you one of our member families that we have been working with (John & David Fotheringham) called us to come and help them get their car out of the sand. Elder Jensen and I laughed and thought that it was going to just be a simple push of our strength... but when we got there to their house... huhhmm, boy were we wrong - the car was laying flat on the sand and the wheels sunk into the sand. We spent minutes digging the sand out from under the car and tires; enough to get sticks and logs to make traction so the wheel could grab hold of the log and lift out from the sand... NOTHING worked! After about an hour and idea came into my head...PRAY!! Everyone was sweating and we were all tired and I said.. "I think we should pray guys." So we hudled together and offered a prayer of guidance and for a miracle to help us out. after the prayer David got in the car, turned it on and pressed the gas - and we started pushing with all of our might on the back of the car... and ... within 15 seconds it was out of the sand. Isn't it funny how sometimes we forget the things that are going to help us out the most in life - no one thought of prayer till about an hour of hard work. I know that Heavenly Fathers plan for us is perfect. I think back to Lehi when he was talking to Jacob, "There is an opposition in all things..." if we would have never had that opposition (an hours plus of pushing and shoving and the car just came out right as they pushed it and if life was just perfect and we never had trials - what would we learn ---- NOTHING, remember, for testimonies to grow we need to have opposition in our lives. I know my testimony of prayers and miracles has grown simply from a couple of hours of opposition and sweat - but in the end giving me a memory I'll never forget.
I think a lot of our trials and really just life in general depends on our attitudes and our perspective on how we view our trials. On exchanges with a missionary in my zone I came across a quote in his house it said, "We can look at thing like: Every rose has it's thorn OR Ever thorn has it's rose." I hope we can all chose to look at things that way - Lets be HAPPY.
I am doing good in Palm Desert/Indio. Elder Jensen & I are making a sweet companionship.. haha he is pretty funny :) - - I told him that I am going to put him on a diet and he laughs and says he is going to eat me.. aahhhhh. This past weak has been a heat wave - seriously it has gotten like 10 degrees hotter! The good thing is that this upcoming week (from Tuesday-Friday) I get to go up to Riverside to a Leadership meeting that they are having up there. They have never done something like this [where we go and spend the night somewhere for this long] so it is going to be quite the experience! I think I am going to be tired out from learning and sitting in class... ahhh
I love you all so much! Stay safe and be happy - remember that we all have trials to mold us into the children our Heavenly Father wants us to become! -- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
7-12
Hello Family & Friends!
Hope all is going well for you and your 3rd, 4th & 5th of July Holidays were great - because they sure looked like it! I think Heavenly Father just doesn't want me in an area where they are having fireworks or parades - both Lake Elsinore & Here did not celebrate it all all! And to make things more sad - yesterday for July 11th I didn't get to celebrate 7Eleven day! I guess more blessings though for not going and getting a free slurpee... wait.. I'm not really buying anything... haha jk NO EXCUSES HERE! be obedient to the max and get the max of blessings!... oew, feel free to quote me on that!
This week has been a duzy - but a good one - me and Elder Jensen have been working so hard - I don't think I have ran to so many appointments right after the other in so little time. CRAZY! But with crazy schedules and when we sacrifice for the Lord - He blesses us imediately! On Tuesday night we went to a part member family in the La Quinta ward named the Holmstrom family. haha, I don't know if I have told you about them but.. lets just say not them best of family relations... Well on Tuesday we went to their house with our ward mission leader Brother Caress and we had set in our minds we were going to commit them for baptism (only the mom is a member and so the dad and the 4 girls are not) Well the lesson went great and we set the Dad, and the daughters Elizabeth, Maddison and Sunny up for a baptismal date on the 25th of July - I know soon huh - but what better way could they develop good family relations then to follow their Savior Jesus Christ into the waters of baptism- not many. They had never been to church before but this week they came! and they were smiling all the way through it too! I am so excited for them!
Also our investigator Venus Paez we met with this week and had an amazing talk with her. Wow, I can't tell you how strong the spirit was on that back porch! We talked about all of her questions that she has had while investigating since October. Finally we asked her if she loved Christ and Heavenly Father. She said yes. We asked her if she wanted to always follow the commandments God has given her. She answered Yes again. Then with the spirit we committed her to baptism on August 1, 2010! She was scared, but we paused for a moment and didn't talk. A minute later she looked up and said "I'll do it!" Oh my gosh - I was stoked!!! She and her kids came to church for the first time yesterday and loved it - everyone was talking to her and answering her questions. These are the good times that I dreamed about the past few months!!! FINALLY!!
Well life is so good for me! Keep praying for me and my investigators - Prayers really do help so much! I think we gained like 7 new investigators this week and I can testify to you that it was Gods help through prayer - Not mine!
Love you all so much - sorry so short... not quantity, but quality right... haha
PS. Hope You have fun Yokshas family in Cache Valley!!!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
Hope all is going well for you and your 3rd, 4th & 5th of July Holidays were great - because they sure looked like it! I think Heavenly Father just doesn't want me in an area where they are having fireworks or parades - both Lake Elsinore & Here did not celebrate it all all! And to make things more sad - yesterday for July 11th I didn't get to celebrate 7Eleven day! I guess more blessings though for not going and getting a free slurpee... wait.. I'm not really buying anything... haha jk NO EXCUSES HERE! be obedient to the max and get the max of blessings!... oew, feel free to quote me on that!
This week has been a duzy - but a good one - me and Elder Jensen have been working so hard - I don't think I have ran to so many appointments right after the other in so little time. CRAZY! But with crazy schedules and when we sacrifice for the Lord - He blesses us imediately! On Tuesday night we went to a part member family in the La Quinta ward named the Holmstrom family. haha, I don't know if I have told you about them but.. lets just say not them best of family relations... Well on Tuesday we went to their house with our ward mission leader Brother Caress and we had set in our minds we were going to commit them for baptism (only the mom is a member and so the dad and the 4 girls are not) Well the lesson went great and we set the Dad, and the daughters Elizabeth, Maddison and Sunny up for a baptismal date on the 25th of July - I know soon huh - but what better way could they develop good family relations then to follow their Savior Jesus Christ into the waters of baptism- not many. They had never been to church before but this week they came! and they were smiling all the way through it too! I am so excited for them!
Also our investigator Venus Paez we met with this week and had an amazing talk with her. Wow, I can't tell you how strong the spirit was on that back porch! We talked about all of her questions that she has had while investigating since October. Finally we asked her if she loved Christ and Heavenly Father. She said yes. We asked her if she wanted to always follow the commandments God has given her. She answered Yes again. Then with the spirit we committed her to baptism on August 1, 2010! She was scared, but we paused for a moment and didn't talk. A minute later she looked up and said "I'll do it!" Oh my gosh - I was stoked!!! She and her kids came to church for the first time yesterday and loved it - everyone was talking to her and answering her questions. These are the good times that I dreamed about the past few months!!! FINALLY!!
Well life is so good for me! Keep praying for me and my investigators - Prayers really do help so much! I think we gained like 7 new investigators this week and I can testify to you that it was Gods help through prayer - Not mine!
Love you all so much - sorry so short... not quantity, but quality right... haha
PS. Hope You have fun Yokshas family in Cache Valley!!!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
7-6
Hope you had A BLAST of a 4th of July!
Sorry that I didn't write yesterday...I guess the Palm Desert Valley desided they wanted a free vacation day off ... so I guess Happy 5th of July to all of you too ;)
So before I forget I think I promised a brief biography of my companiero... My campanion is Elder Daniel Jensen of Okinawa Japan. Haha, yah, that is right JAPAN! He has lived there for the past 7 years (his dad is a physical therapist for the military.) So he moved there and went to school on base. I asked him if he speaks it, he said no...I think he is holding out on me though... not for long, I'll drag the tongues out of him!.. does that sound weird?? Anywho, the past week has been good working with him. He is quite the big guy & has broke his foot three times on the mission so far... so we have to take things a little slower - - and you know me, I am NOT a slow walker! haha He tells me a couple of riddles every day.. I think most are from Lord of the Rings/Hobbit, but everytime he tells a riddle I notice how pathetic my mind is at those kind of things... :)
On Monday night though we were like 10 minutes early to going into the appartment at night so I thought we would walk around the appartment complex and be obedient to the rules. Well we were instantly blessed! This lady named Noami stopped us in her car and thinking we worked at the complex she asked us how late our tennis courts were open and how early they opened [as a missionary we get confused with people A LOT - everytime we go to Walmart someone asks us where the toilet paper or other goods are etc.. haha]. Well we thought it was good moment to OYM her (open our mouths to her) And she said that she was looking for a church for her and her family, to come over and teach her! What a blessing from obedience Aye! Hopefully we can get in and teach the family now!
Oh, I forgot to tell you some sad news last week. I don't remember if I told you about one of our investigators that we had been teaching the past couple of weeks. His name is Eric Mendoza. He was a good guy, but life was full of a lot of trials for him - one of them being he was gay. He was reading the Book of Mormon and we promised him blessings from doing so. We told him that God would provide for him a better way in life and would help him get past his trials. He came to church and said he liked it and then about 2 weeks ago he was riding his bike home from Palm Springs on Highway 111 at 11:45 at night and was hit by an oncoming car and was killed. We were told the following Sunday of his death by a roomate of his. Still a little shocked - I have never had someone I was teaching die. But the good thing is that he was on the right path and will hopefully accept the gospel in the spirit world!! [Can you look online and see if you could find his information of the accident or the obituary for me and print it out and save or send it?]
On July 1st I got to have a fun reunion of a Sister Shayna Robinette! It was so fun to see her! I went to the Mission home in Riverside for a ZL meeting in the morning and she is serving in the Riverside Woodcrest area and was staying for a short time in the mission home because their homeshare had not opened up yet. Sister Reeves saw me pull up and ran in and told Shayna.. Sister Robinnette that she had to come out and see me. Haha, so weird to see her - One and a half years it's been CRAZY! haha, she is doing good though!
Our teaching pool is shrinking a little... those darn heat rays might be causing some evaporation to take place... maybe I should pray for rain. Things will be good though. This month our zone is going to be focusing on obtaining new investigators. And so we will all be diligent and obedient in our Heavenly Fathers work and I know we will be blessed with oportunites! I love what Josiah says in 2 Kings 23:25, "And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses: neither after him arose there any like him." I never new about Josiah growing up until I had just read about him - but reading that isn't it amazing! He turned his whole soul & heart to his Heavenly Father. That is what I want to do, give my everything to Him and in the end I know I will get everything back.
I love you all very much! Stay safe and have a good fun week! Loose yourselves in our Heavenly Fathers work!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
Sorry that I didn't write yesterday...I guess the Palm Desert Valley desided they wanted a free vacation day off ... so I guess Happy 5th of July to all of you too ;)
So before I forget I think I promised a brief biography of my companiero... My campanion is Elder Daniel Jensen of Okinawa Japan. Haha, yah, that is right JAPAN! He has lived there for the past 7 years (his dad is a physical therapist for the military.) So he moved there and went to school on base. I asked him if he speaks it, he said no...I think he is holding out on me though... not for long, I'll drag the tongues out of him!.. does that sound weird?? Anywho, the past week has been good working with him. He is quite the big guy & has broke his foot three times on the mission so far... so we have to take things a little slower - - and you know me, I am NOT a slow walker! haha He tells me a couple of riddles every day.. I think most are from Lord of the Rings/Hobbit, but everytime he tells a riddle I notice how pathetic my mind is at those kind of things... :)
On Monday night though we were like 10 minutes early to going into the appartment at night so I thought we would walk around the appartment complex and be obedient to the rules. Well we were instantly blessed! This lady named Noami stopped us in her car and thinking we worked at the complex she asked us how late our tennis courts were open and how early they opened [as a missionary we get confused with people A LOT - everytime we go to Walmart someone asks us where the toilet paper or other goods are etc.. haha]. Well we thought it was good moment to OYM her (open our mouths to her) And she said that she was looking for a church for her and her family, to come over and teach her! What a blessing from obedience Aye! Hopefully we can get in and teach the family now!
Oh, I forgot to tell you some sad news last week. I don't remember if I told you about one of our investigators that we had been teaching the past couple of weeks. His name is Eric Mendoza. He was a good guy, but life was full of a lot of trials for him - one of them being he was gay. He was reading the Book of Mormon and we promised him blessings from doing so. We told him that God would provide for him a better way in life and would help him get past his trials. He came to church and said he liked it and then about 2 weeks ago he was riding his bike home from Palm Springs on Highway 111 at 11:45 at night and was hit by an oncoming car and was killed. We were told the following Sunday of his death by a roomate of his. Still a little shocked - I have never had someone I was teaching die. But the good thing is that he was on the right path and will hopefully accept the gospel in the spirit world!! [Can you look online and see if you could find his information of the accident or the obituary for me and print it out and save or send it?]
On July 1st I got to have a fun reunion of a Sister Shayna Robinette! It was so fun to see her! I went to the Mission home in Riverside for a ZL meeting in the morning and she is serving in the Riverside Woodcrest area and was staying for a short time in the mission home because their homeshare had not opened up yet. Sister Reeves saw me pull up and ran in and told Shayna.. Sister Robinnette that she had to come out and see me. Haha, so weird to see her - One and a half years it's been CRAZY! haha, she is doing good though!
Our teaching pool is shrinking a little... those darn heat rays might be causing some evaporation to take place... maybe I should pray for rain. Things will be good though. This month our zone is going to be focusing on obtaining new investigators. And so we will all be diligent and obedient in our Heavenly Fathers work and I know we will be blessed with oportunites! I love what Josiah says in 2 Kings 23:25, "And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses: neither after him arose there any like him." I never new about Josiah growing up until I had just read about him - but reading that isn't it amazing! He turned his whole soul & heart to his Heavenly Father. That is what I want to do, give my everything to Him and in the end I know I will get everything back.
I love you all very much! Stay safe and have a good fun week! Loose yourselves in our Heavenly Fathers work!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
6-28
HI EVERYONE!
Hope you all had a great two weeks! Sorry I didn't get to email last week - library computers wern't working for a couple of days, but my love was still sent via: air! So a lot has happened within the past two weeks... lets see if I can catch you up...
As you know I got to have a lunch with the Elaina & Susan Yokshas! It was so fun! And it was all in an hours time too - I'm so proud of myself! [Since -as a rule- we can only have hour long lunches] It was so good to have some good laughs with them and I can't wait till we can all have some fun at the house!!
Oh oh, do you know Don Hudson from ABC News?? Last Sunday this guy came into sacrament meeting a little late and he was looking around for somewhere to sit, so of course I noticed him and offered him a spot by me. Well I got to talking with him and he said he was just down here to see his family and he lived up in Provo. He told me some pretty funny stories about his son serving in the Guatemala mission now. His son just got a new companion and every morning this new companion goes outside and just stands with his back faceing the window. Well Elder Hudson noticed that his companion kept looking back at the window cautiously so one morning Elder Hudson snuck out to see what was going on and he caught his companion smoking! [haha, that gave me a huge laugh] Him & the mission president are trying to help him overcome his addictions. After the first speaker in Sacrament was done Don Hudson got up and gave me his business card and told me to look him up when I got home... I think he is the sports guy??? sounds familiar.
You might get a laugh out of this one. On Monday night all of our appointments canceled and so we were left to do nothing. We never really tract on monday since it's a pday and it is usually dark, but now that it is light till usually 8:30 we desided to tract. So we tracted and tracted and were walking up to this one house and when we had gotten to the front sidewalk we noticed that it was getting drenched with water from the sprinklers -but, being the good missionaries we are :) we desided to persue and keep going trough all the sprinklers... WELL, let me tell ya, 17 plus months out in the mission field can do a work on your church shoes (the treds are ALL worn off so my shoes are just flat). So we walked into the sprinklers and WHOOOOOOOP there I fly strait up and flat on my side... Elder Palmer at least asked if I was okay before he cracked up laughing. I came away with a couple of memories from that fall... 1st I was soaked all down my side 2nd, my nice purple bruise all down my side and 3rd, since it was Monday I planned on sending pictures to you all at the library but since it was down I couldn't, but I still had my camera in my pocket (you see where I am going with this...) well Let's continue with the story.. WHOOOOOOOP, I fly strait up and SLAM right down oh my camera. May my camera that now is all bent up and has a cracked screen rest in peace. Oh and 4th is the person at the door, right after I got up from the fall slammed the door right in our faces. NOW THE BLESSING>>> The really weird thing is I never got upset or mad, all I could do was laugh. Sometimes bad stuff happens in life EVEN when you are doing something good and what you are supposed to be doing, BUT we just got to remember the good things in life like our testimonies in Jesus Christ and the happiness that comes from that. I love Heleman ch. 5 where Nephi and Lehi are accounting of their father teaching them to "remember the good".
Well I have to go, sorry so quick - It seems the mission is just getting more busy ALL the time! I will tell you about my new companion Elder Jensen next week (I'm still in Palm Desert/Indio). Love you much! Stay safe and Remember the GOOD!!!
-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
Hope you all had a great two weeks! Sorry I didn't get to email last week - library computers wern't working for a couple of days, but my love was still sent via: air! So a lot has happened within the past two weeks... lets see if I can catch you up...
As you know I got to have a lunch with the Elaina & Susan Yokshas! It was so fun! And it was all in an hours time too - I'm so proud of myself! [Since -as a rule- we can only have hour long lunches] It was so good to have some good laughs with them and I can't wait till we can all have some fun at the house!!
Oh oh, do you know Don Hudson from ABC News?? Last Sunday this guy came into sacrament meeting a little late and he was looking around for somewhere to sit, so of course I noticed him and offered him a spot by me. Well I got to talking with him and he said he was just down here to see his family and he lived up in Provo. He told me some pretty funny stories about his son serving in the Guatemala mission now. His son just got a new companion and every morning this new companion goes outside and just stands with his back faceing the window. Well Elder Hudson noticed that his companion kept looking back at the window cautiously so one morning Elder Hudson snuck out to see what was going on and he caught his companion smoking! [haha, that gave me a huge laugh] Him & the mission president are trying to help him overcome his addictions. After the first speaker in Sacrament was done Don Hudson got up and gave me his business card and told me to look him up when I got home... I think he is the sports guy??? sounds familiar.
You might get a laugh out of this one. On Monday night all of our appointments canceled and so we were left to do nothing. We never really tract on monday since it's a pday and it is usually dark, but now that it is light till usually 8:30 we desided to tract. So we tracted and tracted and were walking up to this one house and when we had gotten to the front sidewalk we noticed that it was getting drenched with water from the sprinklers -but, being the good missionaries we are :) we desided to persue and keep going trough all the sprinklers... WELL, let me tell ya, 17 plus months out in the mission field can do a work on your church shoes (the treds are ALL worn off so my shoes are just flat). So we walked into the sprinklers and WHOOOOOOOP there I fly strait up and flat on my side... Elder Palmer at least asked if I was okay before he cracked up laughing. I came away with a couple of memories from that fall... 1st I was soaked all down my side 2nd, my nice purple bruise all down my side and 3rd, since it was Monday I planned on sending pictures to you all at the library but since it was down I couldn't, but I still had my camera in my pocket (you see where I am going with this...) well Let's continue with the story.. WHOOOOOOOP, I fly strait up and SLAM right down oh my camera. May my camera that now is all bent up and has a cracked screen rest in peace. Oh and 4th is the person at the door, right after I got up from the fall slammed the door right in our faces. NOW THE BLESSING>>> The really weird thing is I never got upset or mad, all I could do was laugh. Sometimes bad stuff happens in life EVEN when you are doing something good and what you are supposed to be doing, BUT we just got to remember the good things in life like our testimonies in Jesus Christ and the happiness that comes from that. I love Heleman ch. 5 where Nephi and Lehi are accounting of their father teaching them to "remember the good".
Well I have to go, sorry so quick - It seems the mission is just getting more busy ALL the time! I will tell you about my new companion Elder Jensen next week (I'm still in Palm Desert/Indio). Love you much! Stay safe and Remember the GOOD!!!
-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
6-14
Hi Family & Friends!
Hope all is great at home... & Elsewhere! I love you all so much and pray that all is well!
"Missionaries & members must ... become on in our efforts to proclaim the gospel." ~Erich W. Kopischke. This past week I trained my missionaries on how we need to use the wards help with teaching our investigtors. Members really are soooo important in the teaching and conversion process. I love some of my letters that I have gotten from my converts and investigators:
-"I went to baptize some other family members, it was so cool! I ended up doing (now I lost count, so I'm not really sure) 15!!! Kathy Thorpe said she thought that was the number - how awesome is that? I only had to do one again, Brother Valentine was great, although he did tell the elders that I had a strong grip, I was afraid that he wasn't going to be able to do me... de did well. I was so honored to be @ the temple and to be able to do the baptisms for others" ~Brenda Franklin
-"We did actually have dinner with the Teters recently. He made his famous ribs & I brought my potato salad! It was quite a meal! Brother Teter is actually my home teacher - how cool is that?!! We just love that family!" ~Jan Judd
-"Meeting & getting to know you made a great impact on my life. I will remember the laughs we shared @ the Yokshas home...thank you for all you have done for me." ~Giovanni Marone
I look back to these and know that as I have brought members to bear testimony of the gospel it has helped to build their foundations. I think if we as missionaries don't have members to help us we take away valuable spiritual experiences that could have been felt! And that goes in likewise, if members don't have missionaries come over they are responsible for taking away those valuable spiritual experiences that could have been had. So we are all commited to use the members help more & hopefully by doing that, the members will use ours! "A ward, as well as a family, draws together as it endures together. What happens to one happens to all." ~Richard C. Edgley
This past couple of weeks have been a little hard. We are not having much luck at all. Whenever we think we are think we are getting close to someone keeping their commitment, getting baptized, or getting a progressing investigator - we get SMASHED! This week Elder Palmer & Snow (on an exchange) tracted into this lady named Grace and picked her up as a potential investigator, Elder Palmer was so happy. You could tell that this lady was serious and elect for the gospel. Well yesterday we thought we would check on her to see how she was doing (we had an appointment with her on wednesday). Well she opened the door [I could seriously feel her spirit was ready for the gospel] and told us how her cousin inivited her to her church today and that she had plegded her life to Christ already and that we would just confuse her if she had us come over. Our hearts sunk! We tried to talk to her but in the end she was 'blinded by the craftiness of men.' Other things have happend just like that. We are trying to be diligent though!
I love you all so much! Hope that things are and will always go well! Be safe and keep the faith strong! Keep praying and preaching the gospel bringing others into the one true fold of God. I would appreciate your prayers so keep remembering me and my investigators! thanks-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
Hope all is great at home... & Elsewhere! I love you all so much and pray that all is well!
"Missionaries & members must ... become on in our efforts to proclaim the gospel." ~Erich W. Kopischke. This past week I trained my missionaries on how we need to use the wards help with teaching our investigtors. Members really are soooo important in the teaching and conversion process. I love some of my letters that I have gotten from my converts and investigators:
-"I went to baptize some other family members, it was so cool! I ended up doing (now I lost count, so I'm not really sure) 15!!! Kathy Thorpe said she thought that was the number - how awesome is that? I only had to do one again, Brother Valentine was great, although he did tell the elders that I had a strong grip, I was afraid that he wasn't going to be able to do me... de did well. I was so honored to be @ the temple and to be able to do the baptisms for others" ~Brenda Franklin
-"We did actually have dinner with the Teters recently. He made his famous ribs & I brought my potato salad! It was quite a meal! Brother Teter is actually my home teacher - how cool is that?!! We just love that family!" ~Jan Judd
-"Meeting & getting to know you made a great impact on my life. I will remember the laughs we shared @ the Yokshas home...thank you for all you have done for me." ~Giovanni Marone
I look back to these and know that as I have brought members to bear testimony of the gospel it has helped to build their foundations. I think if we as missionaries don't have members to help us we take away valuable spiritual experiences that could have been felt! And that goes in likewise, if members don't have missionaries come over they are responsible for taking away those valuable spiritual experiences that could have been had. So we are all commited to use the members help more & hopefully by doing that, the members will use ours! "A ward, as well as a family, draws together as it endures together. What happens to one happens to all." ~Richard C. Edgley
This past couple of weeks have been a little hard. We are not having much luck at all. Whenever we think we are think we are getting close to someone keeping their commitment, getting baptized, or getting a progressing investigator - we get SMASHED! This week Elder Palmer & Snow (on an exchange) tracted into this lady named Grace and picked her up as a potential investigator, Elder Palmer was so happy. You could tell that this lady was serious and elect for the gospel. Well yesterday we thought we would check on her to see how she was doing (we had an appointment with her on wednesday). Well she opened the door [I could seriously feel her spirit was ready for the gospel] and told us how her cousin inivited her to her church today and that she had plegded her life to Christ already and that we would just confuse her if she had us come over. Our hearts sunk! We tried to talk to her but in the end she was 'blinded by the craftiness of men.' Other things have happend just like that. We are trying to be diligent though!
I love you all so much! Hope that things are and will always go well! Be safe and keep the faith strong! Keep praying and preaching the gospel bringing others into the one true fold of God. I would appreciate your prayers so keep remembering me and my investigators! thanks-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
6-7
Hello my Family & Friends!
Hope that you all had a good safe week and no one ran into any poles, got ran over by cars or hurt in any way!
I am doing good down here! Elder Palmer and me had a really great week - Funny because we worked SO HARD! We have been teaching lessons like crazy! Most of the lessons are to members and less-actives, but I'll tell you I have never been so proud and happy of these less active members that I have been working with! It's weird, in most of my area's less active people NEVER want to come back to church even when they feel the spirit so strong. And in These two wards (La Quinta & Santa Rosa) we are teaching so many and they actually listen and keep their commitments in reading and coming to church! As a missionary we plead to be lead and guided to the elect people that Heavenly Father has prepared for us - but I also think that Heavenly Father prepares people to except the gospel into their lives again - and that's what I am seeing again! Two less actives that we have been working with have recently said that they didn't even have testimonies and a Faith to start out with - but through a desire, searching, pondering and praying they gained not only a testimony - but a strong testimony; one that is rooted into a firm ground!
I was reading over Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life... I love the story and can say it is definately one of my favorites! I also love Sister Anne Dibb's talk on it a couple of conferences ago ("Hold On"). We all are called and directed toward this "tree of life". If we listen we can know that this tree holds things within it that can bring eternal happiness. Who wouldn't want that for theirselves and family? As I was reading I was thinking about testimonies and having a faith in Jesus Christ. When we have a faith in Christ we can have a strong foundation, that is- if we keep building on it. I think of that tree from the vision and when we think of trees we think of what... okay maybe that was a little too vague... ROOTS! This past week we had to do some service and cut this huge tree down. Well with being a big tree it obviously had some pretty huge roots! We spent minutes chopping at these roots and sweat was dripping down our faces - but it was the only way that the tree would come out of the ground - it had such a strong steady foundation - it was rooted into the ground. Interesting to see that the prophet Lehi didn't call and becon people to come to the great and spacious building ... could it be that it didn't hold a strong foundation.. or any foundation? Yup! I think so - Having a testimony of Jesus Christ and Faith in Jesus Christ is something that we all have to gain. We go through times of trial and tribulation - but in the end Eternal Life is what we want and it is that something and a place that is rooted. It's the only place, and a place that I want to be for SURE!
I love the joy that comes from doing the work out here. My favorite is when people say "that is just what I needed today". Crazy to think that when you plan and pray for what lessons to do for each person that it is actually person revelation that you are being given!
Like I said, the week was great and we even had 7 investigators at church... that's right 7!!! I was sooo excited! One of our new investigators whose name is Tiffiny actually came up to us and said that she was already to Ether in the Book of Mormon. Well that is great - but the even greater thing is that we just gave her the book a week and a half ago! SO COOL! I don't think I've ever read the book that quik even! haha
Well, I love you all sooo much! Stay safe and remember to always be "rooted" in the gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ! I love each and everyone of you soo much!
-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
PS- Nicole, Sister Christine Ferraud wanted to add herself as my "friend" on facebook and said that you "denied" her. Haha, you will have to add her (she wants to see my profile).
Hope that you all had a good safe week and no one ran into any poles, got ran over by cars or hurt in any way!
I am doing good down here! Elder Palmer and me had a really great week - Funny because we worked SO HARD! We have been teaching lessons like crazy! Most of the lessons are to members and less-actives, but I'll tell you I have never been so proud and happy of these less active members that I have been working with! It's weird, in most of my area's less active people NEVER want to come back to church even when they feel the spirit so strong. And in These two wards (La Quinta & Santa Rosa) we are teaching so many and they actually listen and keep their commitments in reading and coming to church! As a missionary we plead to be lead and guided to the elect people that Heavenly Father has prepared for us - but I also think that Heavenly Father prepares people to except the gospel into their lives again - and that's what I am seeing again! Two less actives that we have been working with have recently said that they didn't even have testimonies and a Faith to start out with - but through a desire, searching, pondering and praying they gained not only a testimony - but a strong testimony; one that is rooted into a firm ground!
I was reading over Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life... I love the story and can say it is definately one of my favorites! I also love Sister Anne Dibb's talk on it a couple of conferences ago ("Hold On"). We all are called and directed toward this "tree of life". If we listen we can know that this tree holds things within it that can bring eternal happiness. Who wouldn't want that for theirselves and family? As I was reading I was thinking about testimonies and having a faith in Jesus Christ. When we have a faith in Christ we can have a strong foundation, that is- if we keep building on it. I think of that tree from the vision and when we think of trees we think of what... okay maybe that was a little too vague... ROOTS! This past week we had to do some service and cut this huge tree down. Well with being a big tree it obviously had some pretty huge roots! We spent minutes chopping at these roots and sweat was dripping down our faces - but it was the only way that the tree would come out of the ground - it had such a strong steady foundation - it was rooted into the ground. Interesting to see that the prophet Lehi didn't call and becon people to come to the great and spacious building ... could it be that it didn't hold a strong foundation.. or any foundation? Yup! I think so - Having a testimony of Jesus Christ and Faith in Jesus Christ is something that we all have to gain. We go through times of trial and tribulation - but in the end Eternal Life is what we want and it is that something and a place that is rooted. It's the only place, and a place that I want to be for SURE!
I love the joy that comes from doing the work out here. My favorite is when people say "that is just what I needed today". Crazy to think that when you plan and pray for what lessons to do for each person that it is actually person revelation that you are being given!
Like I said, the week was great and we even had 7 investigators at church... that's right 7!!! I was sooo excited! One of our new investigators whose name is Tiffiny actually came up to us and said that she was already to Ether in the Book of Mormon. Well that is great - but the even greater thing is that we just gave her the book a week and a half ago! SO COOL! I don't think I've ever read the book that quik even! haha
Well, I love you all sooo much! Stay safe and remember to always be "rooted" in the gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ! I love each and everyone of you soo much!
-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
PS- Nicole, Sister Christine Ferraud wanted to add herself as my "friend" on facebook and said that you "denied" her. Haha, you will have to add her (she wants to see my profile).
6-1
Hello Family & Friends!
Hope that you had an amazing week and a great Memorial Day!
Well I'll tell you, Elder Palmer and I have been so busy this past week running to appointment to appointment. I love when the days are filled with teaching appointments... haha, and not full days of tracting on doors - not that it's not fun or anything... but teaching is what I am here to do!
I don't think I have told you about our new zone yet this transfer.. sorry. They are doing things a bit different this transfer and changing some things up in the mission. Now there is only one zone leader who is Elder Powell and the people in my district are: Me and Elder Palmer, Elder Powell & Elder Salinas, Elder Anderson & Elder Snow.
This week we had a Multizone meeting that was really good. We were taught mostly about Charity and love for one another. Sister Reeves gave us each a rubber band to put on our wrists. She read in a book that if we would be able to keep it on one side of our wrists for 21 days that it would form a habbit. But we would have to move the rubber band to the other wrist if we did things that don't show love for one another. This exersize is actually harder than it sounds TRY IT and you will see how much you are moving it back and forth! Love is something that I try and work on everyday. I don't think that I have shown it as much as I have needed to in life - or at least as much as I should have. I just want to let each of you know that I love you!
We have been working a lot with the members - trying to help them do missionary work and to help them know what to say to their friends to help get us referrals. This week we have had great Lessons with the Morris, Jones, & Hampton family. One thing that I love to do when I go into members homes is to see how the family gets along. At each one of their houses you could see the love that everyone had for one another and I believe that it was because of how much they treasured the gospel in their lives! I know that there is never a perfect family - but I want to try my best so that I can be close to one - always going to church, magnifying my callings, reading and studying scriptures and praying sincerly! That my friends is what makes a "good" family!
I even got a couple of surprizes this week. #1 was that my good friend and convert from Riverside Brenda Franklin came up to see and have lunch with me! We went to Red Robin - (haha and didn't eat very much because we talked so much! [which is good Brenda]) The day was so much fun. Goll, I love this lady! She has progressed so much in the gospel and even helps my testimony grow each time I see her! -I'll forward pictures next week- and Surprise #2 was Sister Yokshas came up to visit and see me! Now let me tell ya, one of the rules that I don't like is the no hugging rule! I had to try so hard not to hug both of them! Weird to think that if I didnt' serve a mission that I wouldn't have had these eternal relationships!!
I'm good here! The days are getting hotter for sure but I am surviving! I love you all soo much! Be safe and always choose the right and share the gospel with others - remember you could have eternal relationships too if you but go and do the things the Lord has commanded!
-- Love,
Hope that you had an amazing week and a great Memorial Day!
Well I'll tell you, Elder Palmer and I have been so busy this past week running to appointment to appointment. I love when the days are filled with teaching appointments... haha, and not full days of tracting on doors - not that it's not fun or anything... but teaching is what I am here to do!
I don't think I have told you about our new zone yet this transfer.. sorry. They are doing things a bit different this transfer and changing some things up in the mission. Now there is only one zone leader who is Elder Powell and the people in my district are: Me and Elder Palmer, Elder Powell & Elder Salinas, Elder Anderson & Elder Snow.
This week we had a Multizone meeting that was really good. We were taught mostly about Charity and love for one another. Sister Reeves gave us each a rubber band to put on our wrists. She read in a book that if we would be able to keep it on one side of our wrists for 21 days that it would form a habbit. But we would have to move the rubber band to the other wrist if we did things that don't show love for one another. This exersize is actually harder than it sounds TRY IT and you will see how much you are moving it back and forth! Love is something that I try and work on everyday. I don't think that I have shown it as much as I have needed to in life - or at least as much as I should have. I just want to let each of you know that I love you!
We have been working a lot with the members - trying to help them do missionary work and to help them know what to say to their friends to help get us referrals. This week we have had great Lessons with the Morris, Jones, & Hampton family. One thing that I love to do when I go into members homes is to see how the family gets along. At each one of their houses you could see the love that everyone had for one another and I believe that it was because of how much they treasured the gospel in their lives! I know that there is never a perfect family - but I want to try my best so that I can be close to one - always going to church, magnifying my callings, reading and studying scriptures and praying sincerly! That my friends is what makes a "good" family!
I even got a couple of surprizes this week. #1 was that my good friend and convert from Riverside Brenda Franklin came up to see and have lunch with me! We went to Red Robin - (haha and didn't eat very much because we talked so much! [which is good Brenda]) The day was so much fun. Goll, I love this lady! She has progressed so much in the gospel and even helps my testimony grow each time I see her! -I'll forward pictures next week- and Surprise #2 was Sister Yokshas came up to visit and see me! Now let me tell ya, one of the rules that I don't like is the no hugging rule! I had to try so hard not to hug both of them! Weird to think that if I didnt' serve a mission that I wouldn't have had these eternal relationships!!
I'm good here! The days are getting hotter for sure but I am surviving! I love you all soo much! Be safe and always choose the right and share the gospel with others - remember you could have eternal relationships too if you but go and do the things the Lord has commanded!
-- Love,
5-24
Life is not a dress rehearsal. Keep your eyes on the prize - Exaltation & Eternal Life!" ~Unknown
Dear Family & Friends,
I hope that you are all having a great week and a good happy Monday! haha, I here you're getting more winter storms up there... I told Shaun to send me some, so I will definately be expecting a package with some snow... think it will last the trip over? I won't complain though, I did get to see snow just the other weekend! Well, I will try to send some showers of the scorching sun your way ;) haha, that would be funny if you had snow in June!
Wow May seems to just be flying on by! On Monday night we went to the Jackman family's house and read to them a scripture story that came from Alma...53 I think. It was a very spiritual night. The story was basically about how Satan is striving so hard to get us to "come down" from following Heavenly Father & if we come down just a little way off from following the gospel, the commandments and our covenants then that is when we fall - for it is a slippery slope down. At the end I bore my testimony of how important it is to follow the commandments and the blessings that come when we do. I told them the story of my dear niece Maggie who from following the rules of bycicling and the instructions of her mom she wore her helmet. I told them that a car had hit her and that she could have died if she had not been wearing a helmet. Good job Maggie for following Heavenly Father, I think it was President Kimble that said, "no righteous man or woman ever goes before his or her time." I know my Heavenly Father loves me and is keeping my family safe while I am out here on a mission.
As for the investigators... well they are pretty scarse in this area! Are closest investigators that are progressing are Nick Tallet & Brooke Reynolds. They are a family that was actually referred to us by one of our members. They are soo close & I know that they know the gospel is true.. the only problem is, is that where they have mormon friends they also have the complete opposite - anti mormon friends - and it's the ones that have been members and than have gone away from the church. We have gotten all the many weird crazy questions but we finally are at another good point with them. Pray for them - they are so close!
I love you all so much! Thanks for the letters and support! Remember to keep following God no matter what! There will be hard times ahead - Remember the council that our Prophet Thomas S. Monson gave us, "look to the lighthouse of the Lord" and that will be how we can safely arive home!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
Dear Family & Friends,
I hope that you are all having a great week and a good happy Monday! haha, I here you're getting more winter storms up there... I told Shaun to send me some, so I will definately be expecting a package with some snow... think it will last the trip over? I won't complain though, I did get to see snow just the other weekend! Well, I will try to send some showers of the scorching sun your way ;) haha, that would be funny if you had snow in June!
Wow May seems to just be flying on by! On Monday night we went to the Jackman family's house and read to them a scripture story that came from Alma...53 I think. It was a very spiritual night. The story was basically about how Satan is striving so hard to get us to "come down" from following Heavenly Father & if we come down just a little way off from following the gospel, the commandments and our covenants then that is when we fall - for it is a slippery slope down. At the end I bore my testimony of how important it is to follow the commandments and the blessings that come when we do. I told them the story of my dear niece Maggie who from following the rules of bycicling and the instructions of her mom she wore her helmet. I told them that a car had hit her and that she could have died if she had not been wearing a helmet. Good job Maggie for following Heavenly Father, I think it was President Kimble that said, "no righteous man or woman ever goes before his or her time." I know my Heavenly Father loves me and is keeping my family safe while I am out here on a mission.
As for the investigators... well they are pretty scarse in this area! Are closest investigators that are progressing are Nick Tallet & Brooke Reynolds. They are a family that was actually referred to us by one of our members. They are soo close & I know that they know the gospel is true.. the only problem is, is that where they have mormon friends they also have the complete opposite - anti mormon friends - and it's the ones that have been members and than have gone away from the church. We have gotten all the many weird crazy questions but we finally are at another good point with them. Pray for them - they are so close!
I love you all so much! Thanks for the letters and support! Remember to keep following God no matter what! There will be hard times ahead - Remember the council that our Prophet Thomas S. Monson gave us, "look to the lighthouse of the Lord" and that will be how we can safely arive home!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
5-17
HI guys!
Hope that this week has been good for you... goll it sounds like there have been some ups and downs but I am glad everyone is safe, keep it that way! As for me, I am doing great and am still residing here in Indio California.
Elder Palmer and I have had a good run. Our companionship is pretty much awesome! We thought for sure we would get transfered this week (because it is pretty rare to stay with a companion for more than 2 transfers.) But transfer calls came and wouldn't you know it - we are still together for another round! We are thinking that the Lord has a work for us that we have not yet accomplished together - Hopefully we can be diligent & obedient to accomplish His will!
So we are working with this less active guy named Brian Miller. He grew up in the church. His mom and step dad took them to church every week and the step dad made Brian be there early to set up the sacrament and get the church ready [hmm... sound familiar.. haha jk dad] anyway, Brian really didn't ever get a testimony in the church and so he just got sick of things and went less active. Well years later he is now 39 and called us over to his house to talk (which was about a month ago.) On our first couple of visits he had told us that he had not had any faith (didn't know what it was) and that he had never felt the spirit before. We have been giving him scriptures and every wednesday we have a basketball night with the elder quorum that he comes to and plays. Well he told us this week that he was sick of not being in the church he wanted to come back and get the priesthood and that he would need a priesthood blessing to help him with his really bad smoking problem. On Sunday the we, Bishop Jackman and a couple of the elders quorum members of the La Quinta ward went into the bishops office and gave a blessing. Wow, I am not going to relate to you all the words that were said in the blessing but the Lord spoke through Bishop Jackman and rebuked satan away! it was crazy! You could literally feel the spirits presence in the room! Brian is such and awesome guy and has such a strong testimony of the gospel now - Like the Lord told Ether trials and weaknesses "make you stonger".
We have also been working with this awesome family: the Ferrauds! [This is your special shout out Sister Ferraud... yup that was it!] They are so awesome, and full of laughs (don't worry we won't tell the bishop on you)! I have never really had members of the church that have fallen away for a time actually want to come back as much as they do here in Palm Desert! There are so many of our Heavenly Fathers children coming back to His fold! It's crazy the bonds & friendships you form with people when - if I would never had chosen to come out here and serve I would have never had!
Well I got to go for now, but I love you all sooo much and hope that you will each be safe this week! Remember the Lord gives us trials to make us stronger! How is everyone doing on being a missionary?? Everyone talking to friends and neighbors about the gospel and praying for missionary opportunities?? -- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
P.S. Thanks for all the letters and packages! More are welcome
Hope that this week has been good for you... goll it sounds like there have been some ups and downs but I am glad everyone is safe, keep it that way! As for me, I am doing great and am still residing here in Indio California.
Elder Palmer and I have had a good run. Our companionship is pretty much awesome! We thought for sure we would get transfered this week (because it is pretty rare to stay with a companion for more than 2 transfers.) But transfer calls came and wouldn't you know it - we are still together for another round! We are thinking that the Lord has a work for us that we have not yet accomplished together - Hopefully we can be diligent & obedient to accomplish His will!
So we are working with this less active guy named Brian Miller. He grew up in the church. His mom and step dad took them to church every week and the step dad made Brian be there early to set up the sacrament and get the church ready [hmm... sound familiar.. haha jk dad] anyway, Brian really didn't ever get a testimony in the church and so he just got sick of things and went less active. Well years later he is now 39 and called us over to his house to talk (which was about a month ago.) On our first couple of visits he had told us that he had not had any faith (didn't know what it was) and that he had never felt the spirit before. We have been giving him scriptures and every wednesday we have a basketball night with the elder quorum that he comes to and plays. Well he told us this week that he was sick of not being in the church he wanted to come back and get the priesthood and that he would need a priesthood blessing to help him with his really bad smoking problem. On Sunday the we, Bishop Jackman and a couple of the elders quorum members of the La Quinta ward went into the bishops office and gave a blessing. Wow, I am not going to relate to you all the words that were said in the blessing but the Lord spoke through Bishop Jackman and rebuked satan away! it was crazy! You could literally feel the spirits presence in the room! Brian is such and awesome guy and has such a strong testimony of the gospel now - Like the Lord told Ether trials and weaknesses "make you stonger".
We have also been working with this awesome family: the Ferrauds! [This is your special shout out Sister Ferraud... yup that was it!] They are so awesome, and full of laughs (don't worry we won't tell the bishop on you)! I have never really had members of the church that have fallen away for a time actually want to come back as much as they do here in Palm Desert! There are so many of our Heavenly Fathers children coming back to His fold! It's crazy the bonds & friendships you form with people when - if I would never had chosen to come out here and serve I would have never had!
Well I got to go for now, but I love you all sooo much and hope that you will each be safe this week! Remember the Lord gives us trials to make us stronger! How is everyone doing on being a missionary?? Everyone talking to friends and neighbors about the gospel and praying for missionary opportunities?? -- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
P.S. Thanks for all the letters and packages! More are welcome
5-10
Hello Family and Friends,
Sorry my emails arn't so spacy like Koltens but..... HAHA JUST KIDDING! Haha, I just thought what he said was funny :) . Oh my gosh it was SO GOOD to talk to all of you! The kids sound like they are growing like crazy!! Haha now you just need to teach Kenadi "I love Patch" instead of "I love Mary" ... haha, maybe that will be my job when I get home :) Right after I got off the phone (because I thought Elder Palmer was going to get on) I noticed that he was in the other room already on one of the homes cell phones - Goll, we could have been on longer! haha, I think our 1 1/2 was up though :'( Fastest phone calls ever!
Well this week was really fun! The weather here has been really really HOT... got up to a whopping 107 this past week!! I have no idea if I am going to stay here another transfer or leave... I am betting I will stay for another.. but we will see on Saturday. So you will never believe it but I got to go from the high 100 degrees to SNOW! That's right I got to play in the snow! On Saturday we got to help out with Mormon Helping Hands and it was a blast! We went up the the tram-way just above Palm Springs and guys... seriously soo awesome! We were diving in the snow for hours (and of course picking up trash on the mountain). On one of the hills we ran and slid down the mountain on our stomachs... well I got some air and flew right into a low hanging branch.. haha everyone keeps asking if Elder Palmer beat me up... I just nod my head and say "I can't wait for transfers" haha, just kidding I love Elder Palmer! He's a good kid!
On Tuesday for my district meeting I decided to train my district on a couple of things that Elder Ballard spoke on and spice it up with a little of my testimony as well. The training basically was on HOW to become a "Master Teacher" and I gave and explained in in three principles #1. Know the doctrine and scriptures, #2 Teach with understanding, #3 Have the Spirit Always! I love what Brother Sterling W. Sill says, "The ancient law of success is still in effect, that the sleeping princess can only be awakened be one with endurence enough to get through the flames & manhood enough to clear out all the obsticles placed in his way." Persistence to attain our goals is key! Well I love you all soooo much and again it was good to talk to you! Be safe, be persistent in following our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost!-- Love,
ELDER PATRICK MCBRIDE
Sorry my emails arn't so spacy like Koltens but..... HAHA JUST KIDDING! Haha, I just thought what he said was funny :) . Oh my gosh it was SO GOOD to talk to all of you! The kids sound like they are growing like crazy!! Haha now you just need to teach Kenadi "I love Patch" instead of "I love Mary" ... haha, maybe that will be my job when I get home :) Right after I got off the phone (because I thought Elder Palmer was going to get on) I noticed that he was in the other room already on one of the homes cell phones - Goll, we could have been on longer! haha, I think our 1 1/2 was up though :'( Fastest phone calls ever!
Well this week was really fun! The weather here has been really really HOT... got up to a whopping 107 this past week!! I have no idea if I am going to stay here another transfer or leave... I am betting I will stay for another.. but we will see on Saturday. So you will never believe it but I got to go from the high 100 degrees to SNOW! That's right I got to play in the snow! On Saturday we got to help out with Mormon Helping Hands and it was a blast! We went up the the tram-way just above Palm Springs and guys... seriously soo awesome! We were diving in the snow for hours (and of course picking up trash on the mountain). On one of the hills we ran and slid down the mountain on our stomachs... well I got some air and flew right into a low hanging branch.. haha everyone keeps asking if Elder Palmer beat me up... I just nod my head and say "I can't wait for transfers" haha, just kidding I love Elder Palmer! He's a good kid!
On Tuesday for my district meeting I decided to train my district on a couple of things that Elder Ballard spoke on and spice it up with a little of my testimony as well. The training basically was on HOW to become a "Master Teacher" and I gave and explained in in three principles #1. Know the doctrine and scriptures, #2 Teach with understanding, #3 Have the Spirit Always! I love what Brother Sterling W. Sill says, "The ancient law of success is still in effect, that the sleeping princess can only be awakened be one with endurence enough to get through the flames & manhood enough to clear out all the obsticles placed in his way." Persistence to attain our goals is key! Well I love you all soooo much and again it was good to talk to you! Be safe, be persistent in following our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost!-- Love,
ELDER PATRICK MCBRIDE
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