Week 22/29

This week has been an interesting week.

January 23, 2017: We had district P-day which was fun-ish, we played basketball and it was alright. Me and Elder H moved fully into our new apartment which has been really nice as it is much larger and actually has a kitchen. 

Spiritual: Find something that can help you relieve stress and do it from time to time.

January 24, 2017: We spent a few hours cleaning the old apartment really well and so were mostly done with it, thank goodness. We had dinner with the ward mission leader which was amazing. We spent a bit of time talking about the ward party on that Friday to get things cleared up.

Spiritual: Cleaning while can be time consuming is truly a blessing as a whole.

January 25, 2017: We watched the world wide missionary broadcast which was superb. They talked about the missionary work around the world and how to implement what was discussed the previous year. They also made some changes to the missionary schedule which was also cool. After the broadcast we had district meeting to discuss the broadcast. Following District meeting we started an exchange, me with Elder V and Elder H with Elder M 

Spiritual: Even the leaders of the church are still learning, so never think that you are alone.

January 26, 2017: We were on exchanges until about 2 when we ended them. After the exchanges we went to the old apartment to find out what else we needed to do. Following that we had dinner with the B family and were asked to talk about what we did to prepare for our missions because of stake conference being so much on missionary work and service. 

Spiritual: Share ways with youth who are planning on serving missions about how you prepared yourself for your own.

January 27, 2017: We did weekly planning with the new Key indicators which was interesting. Following that we had dinner and a lesson with J and P which was really good. Following dinner we spoke with the ward mission leader for a minute or so about the next night's party. Then we went and had a lesson with J which was good her mom had asked for a blessing which we gave and it was cool.

Spiritual: You focus on what you report so if you want to do better at something then make it where you have to report on it.

January 28, 2017: We helped set up and then had the ward Party. It was amazing the food was terrific and there were a few less actives and a few investigators who came for it which was awesome. After the party we helped clean up and it was a good solid day.

Spiritual ish: if you want to bring people together mention service and food and they will be there.

January 29, 2017: We had ward council which was surprisingly missionary oriented which was cool. After church and Studies we had dinner with the D family before we had a lesson with A, P, and F which was really good. We once again had good member attendance so that was awesome.

Spiritual: Members are so important to getting people to once they join the church stay in it.

God be with you till we meet again

Elder Joshua Patterson 

We mentioned to Elder Patterson that his Elementary School Speech friend had  played the piano for the fireside for the youth this past Saturday that had 2 Apostles and 3 of the 70 speak and that Briana said she had done a good job. Joshua said he knew she would do great and what an awesome honor it was for her to do this.

He is enjoying this transfer and being with Elder H.

No new pictures this week.

Week 22/28 Moving week

January 23, 2017

Dear Family and Friends

So this week has been different than normal but perhaps that is good.

January 16, 2017: We did not have district P-day because Yuma was snowed in. That was alright in my opinion though. After dinner we went and talked with B for a while which was good. Then we headed up to Greeley because Elder H did not want to drive up there at 8 Tuesday.

Spiritual: even when things do not go they way you had planned you can still make the best of it.

January 17, 2017: We were up in Greeley on exchanges with the ZLs which was good. I was with Elder A who is awesome. We did service at a thrift store with six other missionaries so it was good. Then we had a lesson in the evening with a less active who we taught the restoration so it was awesome.

Spiritual: If you teach by the spirit the lesson will always go better.

January 18, 2017: We had a mission Conference with the Fort Collins Zone which was awesome. Two highlights of it for me were the two lessons by the APs. Elder C Taught that to become an expert we have to make sacrifices. He also taught on asking inspired questions, that they sometimes do not even make sense but they are inspired. Elder Ja taught on "Just showing up", which is the fact that we do not have to be perfect but we just need to rely on the father and we will be blessed. Then we had interviews with President which were great. 

Spiritual: You do not have to be perfect as it is impossible to be perfect so if you are not do not beat yourself up over it.

January 19, 2017: Elder H was feeling sick and could barely stay awake so we stayed home most of the day. In the evening we went and picked T up before dinner with Sister K which was good. 

Spiritual: even if you do not do much you can always feel the spirit if you seek it.

January 20, 2017: We got the keys to our new apartment a day early which was really nice. But Elder H was still feeling sick so we did not do a great deal. We had a good lesson with B which was a good meeting.

Spiritual: if you have a righteous desire the lord will bless you with it.

January 21, 2017: Elder H was once more not feeling well. However we did move the majority of our stuff to the new apartment which was good. We had stake conference that the first hour was not working were hearing the Phoenix Valley Conference but because of seeing our conference we did not pay much attention. After an hour it worked properly and was on missionary service.

Spiritual: Everything you hear from church leaders even if not your own can be for your good.

January 22, 2017: We had stake conference which was good once we got it to work. It was also on missionary work so it was great. After church we went and visited with Pa for a while before dinner. Following dinner we had a lesson at the Wol home with Al , his brother F(kinda he did not pay the most attention) and their grandma P and the lesson was great. We had about 20 people there including us so it was neat how much fellowship that family has.

Spiritual: Missionary work is a great blessing in our lives. Also help people who you do not know to feel accepted and they will remember you their whole lives.

God be with you till we meet again

Elder Joshua Patterson

I asked him how he liked his new place and he said the best thing was having a washer and dryer in their house, it also is about 5 times or more bigger then where they were living. He sent this picture of his kitchen they only had a small refrigerator, microwave before.

Zone Conference

Picture of their kitchen at their new place

Week 21/27

This past week has been eventful to some degrees.

January 9, 2017: Was last P day. We visited R R for a while before dinner with the B family before we were supposed to have a lesson with Ji but it fell through which was not good but perhaps for the best.

Spiritual: Visit with people who you have not seen recently and you will find common ground you did not know you had with them.

January 10, 2017: We helped at the Humane society for a while before we went to the S for dinner which was alright.  Then we went out with the Elders quorum Presidency which was a good time. 

Spiritual: Do things for others and who will be blessed.

January 11, 2017: We tried to find potential investigators for a few hours and also tried talking with their neighbors which was a good time but tiring. After that we had dinner with the S which was a good time. Then we headed up to Yuma so Elder H could do a baptism interview for one of their investigators. While he was in there I was talking with the sisters and gained a greater respect for them.

Spiritual: By doing the lords work you will find success.

January 12, 2017: We spent the majority of the day in Greeley for Zone meeting which was good. I talked with President and the APs for a while which was a good thing that I enjoyed. The ZLs canceled our exchanges which was annoying but okay in some ways as we were able to try some people in Morgan which was good.

Spiritual: At Zone Meeting President G of the Mission Presidency spoke on how lying is one of the worst sins so strive not to do it because we want to be like God who cannot lie.

January 13, 2017: We had a lot of lessons fall through which was annoying. We did weekly planning which was good. We were supposed to have a lesson with J but were unable to as on our way to Brush we saw a accident right in front of us so we waited to do the witness form which was like an hour before we got. Luckily no one was very hurt so that was a good thing.

Spiritual: Make sure to always live worthy of the Holy Ghost it could save your life.

January 14, 2017: We tried a lot of potentials to no success. We had dinner with the H family which was awesome as they made Thai food and it was terrific. Then our evening appointments were canceled as well which was annoying.

Spiritual: Try new things you will never know what you like.

January 15, 2017: We had church which was amazing. After church we had a lesson with J which because of trains was not super long as trains were being a pain for us making us go five miles out if the way to get around them. Then we had dinner with the M which was amazing as normal.

Spiritual: God will put obstacles in your path to help you grow.

January 16, 2017: We are supposed to have district P day but with the snow we do not know yet. So that will be the day or it will be a normal P day.

God be with you till we meet again

Elder Joshua Patterson 

Week 20/26

So this has been a fun week overall so without further ado.

January 3, 2017:  We had service at the Humane society where Elder H almost lost a dog because he was barely holding the leash but luckily he was able to catch it before it ran too far away. After that we had dinner. Then we had a lesson with a new move in part member family and we set the daughter J on date to be baptized on the 4th of February so it should be really good. Then we  had our last lesson with Gr and that was also awesome. 

Spiritual: The Lord will bless you as you strive to do his work.

January 4, 2017: We had district meeting in Yuma which was really good. After that Elder H decided he needed a soda so we went to the nearest gas station and met a guy named W who was interested in the gospel so we gave him the Yuma sister's number. After that we had dinner with P and we were able to talk for a while with her son L and her Nieces who also love in the ward which was really fun.

Spiritual: The Lord will put people in you path if you are ready to receive them.

January 5, 2017:  We were not allowed to drive for the majority of the day and once we were allowed to we went and shoveled snow at the church for a while which was good. After that we had dinner with the W which was terrific. They had invited three non members but sadly only one of them was interested in the slightest. But whatever I suppose. After that we had G baptismal interview which was a success. We then talked with the ZL's for a little while. 

Spiritual: We will be blessed as we do service.

January 6, 2017: We had a period of trying a few people before we had dinner with the R family. That was really good but not a great deal happened after that.

Spiritual: As you set righteous goals you will find success.

January 7, 2017: We spent the first part of the day trying to contact less actives to limited success which was slightly frustrating but whatever it was a good learning experience. After that we had G baptismal service which was amazing. There were a good number of members from the ward which was awesome and then all save two if Gr's siblings were able to make it to the baptism which was awesome. 

Spiritual: Ordinances have power even if you do not take part in them.

January 8, 2017: We were able to be in G's confirmation circle which was great. Then after church we met with Bishop Bo for a while which we were able to bring a few things up which was good. Then after we did studies for a while we had dinner with the C family and then watched the YSA devotional with them and then we're able to talk about other things dealing with the work which was awesome.

Spiritual: The Lord will bless you with the things you need to hear when he knows you need them not when you think you need them.

So that was this week. This upcoming week should be just as good if not better.

God be with you till we meet again

Elder Joshua Patterson 

Week 19/25

So this past week has been a week of change but also one of miracles.

December 27, 2016: Elder D and I left for Windsor at 7:30 after I had put all of Elder D stuff into the truck. Arriving in Windsor we met with the missionaries from Loveland and Greeley who had a companion change or were leaving like Elder D. A while after that the transfer Van came in with the missionaries from Longmont and so I said goodbye to Elder D and helped Elder H put his stuff into the truck before we were headed back to Fort Morgan. Arriving at our apartment Elder H decided to do a deep cleaning and reorganizing which I had tried to convince Elder D of for much of my time in the field. After he was done with that we had dinner with the M family which was alright. Then we headed to Brush and did a bit of trying of less actives there so it was a good day overall.

Spiritual: The spirit can not dwell in unclean dwellings so stay clean and you will find greater success.

December 28, 2016: We did a great deal of finding which was really different than what I am used to which is next to nothing so it was truly a learning experience for me.  We had lunch with the Sr. M which was a really good conversation. We also took Toby out for a while which was also a good time.

Spiritual: Sometimes you need to try something new to find success.

December 29, 2016: We did even more finding which still to me was weird. Then we had dinner with TM and his family which was full of interesting missionary work based conversion so it was good. Then we tried a few people in Brush before we had our first lesson with this young girl named G which was really good. She is set on date to be baptized this Saturday so it is a bit of a rush but will be really good. 

Spiritual: If you try to find the lord will put others in your path so you can teach them.

December 30, 2016: We had a lesson with B where he said he was seriously considering baptism and we were able to answer some of the questions he had that were keeping him from considering it's more fully. Then we had district meeting which was a solid meeting and was done surprisingly quickly but then we spent some time getting to know each other better. After that I called President to let him know about the reading assignment he had given me. After that we had dinner at a member's restaurant and then called the day because Elder H was feeling sick.

Spiritual: Your leaders can give peace to your mind if you truly seek for it.

December 31, 2016: We did Service at the Humane Society which ran an hour long so after we went and got dinner it was almost 6 so we had to return to our apartment. There we played a number of board games which I lost almost all of sadly.

Spiritual: Do not be discouraged over little things because if you do you will struggle with bigger things as well.

January 1, 2016: We had Church where B came and we met a lady who came because she was interested in learning more about the church which was really cool. After that we had lunch with the Ni which was great. Then we had a second lesson with G

where we taught lessons 2 and 3. She is still super excited at the thought of being baptized. After that lesson we gave a less active a blessing before we went and visited with the S for a short while before we went and had dinner and then we went and visited Patty for a while before we gave her a blessing. 

Spiritual: If we try then the Lord will bless us for our efforts.

January 2, 2016: Today we plan to be doing more cleaning of our apartment so it should be good other than that we have a lesson with a less active family which should also be really good.(Picture credits are from Elder H's mom that she posted on facebook)

God be with you till we meet again

Elder Joshua Patterson