Plans for last few days of mission life

June 20, 2018: I will be on Exchanges with Elder S and working in Sterling until Elder S and Elder B leave for Greeley to do an exchange with the ZLs

June 21, 2018: Elder L and I will be stopping in Fort Morgan to see some people which will be fun before going up to Greeley to get their car fixed. 

June 22, 2018: We will be meeting at our mission President's house and from there going to the temple before spending the rest of the day with our departing group and staying the night at the mission home. 

June 23, 2018: I will be headed down to Denver with my group and then flying to Salt Lake for a layover before heading to Skyharbor and getting home. 

June 24, 2018: I will be giving my homecoming talk in Sacrament meeting at 10:00 and the address of the church where I will be giving it is on my Facebook page.

Last full week in Yuma

Joshua with the H family in Yuma

 Joshua at his home for the past 6 months

Joshua and Elder B in the car after being pelted by rain

June 13, 2018: We had a in person District meeting and interviews with President in Fort Morgan. Interviews were weird as it was my departing one and that made it different. 

Spiritual: The Lord calls inspired men. 

June 14, 2018: We ended exchanges and basically spent most of the day tracting which was good but saw very little success. 

Spiritual: The Lord will try you before he blesses you. 

June 15, 2018:We had a bit of service before weekly planning which we did with the Sterling Elders as Elder B will be with Elder S from tomorrow night on until the actual end of the transfer in Sterling, so that was fun. 

Spiritual: Planning is very important 

June 16, 2018: Was a very slow day, we spent 8 hours tracting and that was basically the day. 

Spiritual: Hard work is good

June 17, 2018: We had church which was good and fun, weird that it was my final Sunday in the mission. Then we went tracting on Wray for 3 hours before going and seeing the Harmsen for a picture with them before dinner. After dinner we went and ran to the car as it was pouring and still got drenched but that was fun. 

Spiritual: The Lord places all sorts of people in your lives for specific reasons. 

June 18, 2018: We did about 5 hours of tracting between Yuma and Wray and another two or so hours of contacting potentials which was fun, though we did not see much of any success sadly. 

Spiritual: The Lord will bless you in his own time. 

June 19, 2018: Today has primarily been packing up for the last real time of packing up my entire life in two suitcases which is weird. We will have dinner and then drive up to Sterling later tonight. 

Spiritual: All things come to an end in Mortality, luckily we have all of Eternity to continue to learn and grow. 

Week 21 Yuma

So this week was rather slower but we worked hard which was good.

June 6, 2018: We helped a potential family with some moving of furniture which was good. We then went tracting and potentials contacting which was good but not very successful. We also went with a member to see a family of less active older members which was fun, they are a bit crazy though. 

Spiritual: The Lord expects us to minister to his children and not get too caught up with our own lives that we forget others around us. 

June 7, 2018: We had district meetings, the last one over Skype which we will have this transfer which was good. After district meeting we went tracting in Wray and again had limited success but we enjoyed it anyway. 

Spiritual: The Lord will make weak thibgs become strong if you allow it

June 8, 2018: We did a lot of service which was good and a change of pace. After service we did weekly planning which was long but it was good nevertheless.

Spiritual: Planning is crucial to success 

June 9, 2018: We spent around six hours tracting which was good, though we did not see any success from it. 

Spiritual: The Lord will magnify your efforts

June 10, 2018: We had church which was great, we had two investigators there and they seemed to enjoy it a lot, we taught one of them a small Sunday school lesson and she seemed to grasp everything extremely well. After church we did two to three hours of tracting again to no success.

Spiritual: The Lord blesses us in ways we do not often see at first. 

June 11, 2018: We spent most of the day tracting again to very little success but at least we now know who is not interested. We taught the two investigators who came to church on Sunday and were able to answer some of their questions and they plan to come to church this next week and hopefully we will soon be able to set them on date for baptism. 

Spiritual: You find yourself most when you lose yourself in the work of the Lord. 

June 12, 2018: We are having district P-day in Fort Morgan which should be fun. Not a whole lot else to write as of now though. 

Spiritual: Rest and Relaxation are good for the soul 

Week 20 Yuma

Joshua Glen Patterson	Jun 5 (1 day ago)
to me

So this week was rather slow and not a whole awful lot to report.

May 30,2018: Basically everything that we had scheduled fell through which was hard but we pushed through and did a lot of tracting which was not successful sadly though we were able to talk with a less active which was great.

Spiritual: The Lord will bless your diligence

May 31, 2018: We had district meeting which was fun though it was over Skype and so not as great as it could have been. We also taught a few lessons and did a lot of tracting which was good as well.

Spiritual: The Lord knows of your sacrifices

June 1, 2018: We went and helped with a primary activity for a bit before we went and did weekly planning. After weekly planning we did a small amount of tracting before watching the "Be One" Fireside which was really good.

Spiritual: People recognize your efforts 

June 2, 2018: We helped a less active with transplanting a few plants which was good. After that we tried contacting a few potential investigators.

Spiritual: Service is good for the soul

June 3, 2018: We had church which was good. Afterwards we went to the youth Fireside which was awesome. 

Spiritual: The Prophet is truly called of god

June 4, 2018: We did a lot of contacting and tracting to almost no success which was hard but the lord is great and will bless us nevertheless. 

Spiritual: The Lord will bless you in his time 

June 5, 2018: We have had a rather slow day which is okay. 

Spiritual: Rest is important to growth

Also I will be reporting on my Mission June 24, 2018 at 10:00 at the church house at 1155 E Ray Rd Gilbert AZ 85295 and we will be having snacks afterward at my  house 

It is fun preparing for Joshua to come home, getting some of his favorite foods ready for him and to just have him here at home. We have missed him so much but are so thankful that he  has had  to serve in the Colorado Fort Collins Mission

Week 19 Yuma/ Exchanges

Joshua Glen Patterson	May 29 (4 days ago)
to me

So this week has been pretty good.

May 24, 2018: We did a lot of tracting which was okay. We did not see much success though sadly.

Spiritual: The Lord will bless your diligence.

May 25, 2018: We did a small bit of tracting and then did service which was good as well.

Spiritual: Service is good for the soul.

May 26, 2018: We finished tracting out Wray which was cool. We did not have much success however. 

Spiritual: The Lord blesses his servants in his own time.

May 27, 2018: We had church which was good. We also had a lesson with a member family and their friend which went well.

Spiritual: The Sabbath is a delight.

May 28, 2018: We went in exchanges. I was with Elder L which was good. We did a small amount of finding and taught a lesson to one of their investigators which was good as well. 

Spiritual: Change is good.

May 29, 2018: We had an easier and slower pday in Sterling which was fun. 

Spiritual: Some rest and relaxation is important. 

I keep asking for pictures, Joshua dropped his tablet so now he is usuing the companionship phone for his email and whatever else he was using his tablet for before. I am hoping and keep reminding him to use his camera for taking pictures. Hope he brings home some. 3 weeks and he is home..

Week 95/89 Elder Wilford Andersen of the seventy tour of the Mission

So this week was pretty good.

May 16, 2018: We dropped off Elder Fand got Elder B. We then returned to Yuma and contacted some potential investigators which was fun.

Spiritual: Change is good.

May 17, 2017: We did a bit of service which was good. We had a lesson with a potential which was okay she is not understanding though. We then we tracting which was okay.

Spiritual: The Lord will bless your obedience.

May 18, 2018: We had district meeting, and Weekly planning which took up most of the day.

Spiritual: Planning is important.

May 19, 2018: We spent most of the day tracting and had no luck at all, we got 60ish people to say not interested and no one was interested.

Spiritual:The Lord will bless your sacrifice.

May 20, 2018: We had church which was great. Aside from church and tracting we did not do a whole awful lot.

Spiritual: The Sabbath is a delight.

May 21, 2018: We went tracting to again limited success. In the evening we went up to Greeley which was good.

Spiritual: The Lord is always mindful of us.

May 22, 2018: We had mission tour which was really good. Elder Wilford Andersen was teaching us a lot on the importance of faiths and obedience. 

Spiritual: God calls inspired men.

May 23, 2018: We had P-day. We helped a investigator family paint for a few hours which was fun. Not much else to report though.

Spiritual: Service is always great 

Week 17 Yuma/ Yea Staying in Yuma to finish my mission

So this week has been pretty slow which was alright.

May 9, 2018: We did a bit of tracting to little success but that was alright. We also had had a few lessons scheduled but they canceled sadly.

Spiritual: God helps even in the little things

May 10, 2018: We had our last district meeting over skype which was good. We then decided to do some weekly planning which was good as well but not super productive.

Spiritual: Meetings can be good.

May 11, 2018: We did a fair amount of service which was good before we went tracting in Wray which was good. We gave a less active a blessing to help him stop smoking which was good and he has faith that it will help him a lot.

Spiritual: Blessings are powerful

May 12, 2018: We helped a member with some miscellaneous stuff at their home which was good and fun. We also had a lesson which was good as the person committed to baptism in July. We also got transfer news and I am staying in Yuma until the end of my mission which will be really good.

Spiritual: Service brings miracles.

May 13, 2018: We had church which was great. After church we had a lesson in Wray which was good. Then we got to talk with family which is always awesome.

Spiritual: The sabbath is a delight.

May 14, 2018: We did not do too much as Elder F was packing but it was all good. we did some tracting which was decent and better because it was in the rain.

Spiritual: The Lord is in the little things

May 15, 2018: We have P-day which Elder F has used quite a bit of to pack which has been good. Tomorrow will be good hopefully with a change in companions.

Spiritual: Change is good.

Week 16 Yuma

So this week was pretty good but lacking in numbers and the sort.

May 2, 2018: So we had district meeting over Skype which was good, the
zone leaders attended and that was fun. Aside from district meeting
however not a whole awful lot took place.
Spiritual: Meetings help us learn

May 3, 2018: We did some service in the rain which was fun but cooler.
Tracting in the rain was not the most fun either especially with no
success.
Spiritual: Sacrifice brings blessings

May 4, 2018: We had Service for most of the early part of the day and
then went and had weekly planning which took up the vast majority of
the rest of it.
Spiritual: Service is good.

May 5, 2018: We helped a family move out of our ward and into the
Sterling ward which was fun but took most of the day.
Spiritual: helping others is important

May 6, 2018: We had church which was good. After church we went and
set up some return appointments with some potential investigators.
Spiritual: The Sabbath is a delight.

May 7, 2018: We did a lot of contacting and had some success. We had
two pretty decent lessons which was nice as well.
Spiritual: The Lord will always bless you in time

May 8, 2018: We are having District p-day. We are going to be going
hiking in Fort Collins and then going to play laser tag which should
be fun.
Spiritual: Days of rest and relaxation are good

God be with you until we meet again,
Elder Joshua Patterson

Finally pictures to add to the blog.
Elder Patterson's area is on the Colorado/ Nebraska line which is cool
Selfie on the hike
District on the hike
Going to or from Fort Collins for pday activities

Week 15 Yuma

This week was pretty slow.

April 18, 2018: We had a few lessons scheduled but they all canceled
so we just did a lot of tracting but had little to no success sadly.
Spiritual: God will reward your diligence

April 19, 2018: We did a lot of tracting and had a short lesson with a
part member family in the branch which was good.
Spiritual: The Lord aides us continually

April 20, 2018: We had weekly planning which was good as it took up
most of the day. Aside from weekly planning we went tracting and that
was about it.
Spiritual: Planning is important in every area of your life

April 21, 2018: We spent the vast majority of the tracting and talked
to almost no one as Yuma is vacated on the weekends so that was a lot
of fun.
Spiritual: The lord knows your sacrifices

April 22, 2018: We had church which was great as always. We also were
supposed to have a lesson in Wray but it did not happen. Then we did
some tracting, again to no success really.
Spiritual: The Sabbath is a delight

April 23, 2018: We spent the vast majority of the day tracting and
finished tracting out the town of Yuma which is cool, we did not find
any promising people however sadly.
Spiritual: The Lord blesses your efforts in his own time.

April 24, 2018: We have P-Day so not much is taking place today.
Spiritual: Days to recover are important

God be with you until we meet again,
Elder Joshua Patterson

We got Joshua's flight plans, he comes home in 8 weeks so excited to see him.

Week 14 Yuma

This week has been good overall

April 11, 2018: We did not do to much aside from tracting  which was
alright, but we did not see any success but that was okay.
Spiritual: The Lord will bless your diligence

April 12, 2018: We had District meeting over Skype which was okay. We
also got locked out of our apartment because Elder F left the
keys inside which also had the key to the car and to the church but
luckily we ultimately were able to get in.
Spiritual: Life is always an adventure

April 13, 2018: We had a blizzard which was weird. We did weekly
planning but then due to my allergies kicking in we did not do to much
else.
Spiritual: Planning is important

April 14, 2018: We did a lot of service which is always fun. Other
than service not too much took place.
Spiritual: Service is good for the soul

April 15, 2018:We had church which was great as always. We did a fair
bit of tracting to no success which was not fun, but it is what it is.
Spiritual: The Sabbath is a delight

April 16, 2018: We spent most of the day tracting all all of our
appointments fell through but had no success which was kinda hard but
it is what it is.
Spiritual: The lord will bless you for your trials

April 17, 2018: We have not done much today, but that has been alright.
Spiritual: A day of rest and relaxing is always important from time to time

God be with you until we meet again,
Elder Joshua Patterson

Joshua said that his allergies have really been acting up and he has a rough few days because of it, they do not have a wal mart or pharmacy in Yuma. Luckily he had a fair amount of essential oils and that has seemed to help quite a bit.

Week 13 Yuma

So this past week has been good.

April 4, 2018: We did a fair bit of tracking to no success sadly, but
that is all okay. Not too much else took place however.
Spiritual: Finding is important.

April 5, 2018: We had district meeting in Sterling which was good.
Then after district meeting we went toWray for dinner which was good
as well as a lesson which was good as well. Otherwise not much
happened.
Spiritual: Meetings are good.

April 6, 2018: We had weekly planning which took up a lot of the day.
We also did a no drive day which was fun but did not allow us to do a
whole awful lot except planning.
Spiritual: Planning is important.

April 7, 2018: We had a lot of service which I enjoyed and took up
most of the day. Not much except the service took place though.
Spiritual: Service is great.

April 8, 2018: We had church which was great as always. We also did
some tracking to no real success again sadly.
Spiritual: The Sabbath is a delight.

April 9, 2018: We were on exchanges which were fun. Elder L and
I talked a lot about post mission plans as we go home together which
was good. We also did some tracking to limited success.
Spiritual: Change is always good.

April 10, 2018: Not too much is taking place today, we are spending
time with the Sterling elders but not a lot is happening with that,
sadly.
Spiritual: Relaxing days are important.

God be with you until we meet again,
Elder Joshua Patterson

Week 9 Yuma

So this week has been good overall.

March 7, 2018: We had Zone Conference and that was good. It was
focused on the Book of Mormon and its importance and so I enjoyed it.
After Zone Conference we had interviews which as always were really
good.
Spiritual: The Book of Mormon can help us draw nearer to God.

March 8, 2018: We spent a good chunk of the day helping a non member
with painting her house which she is preparing to sell and that was
good and fun. We also did a small bit of tracting but did not have any
success.
Spiritual: Service is good for the soul.

March 9, 2018: We again helped the non member paint her house and it
was again good. We then had weekly planning which was good. Then we
went over to the lady’s house for dinner and we shared the message of
the Restoration with her and her husband and they feel like either
their church or our church is the correct church they just don’t know
which for now.
Spiritual: Service can help you bring people into the gospel.

March 10, 2018: We helped a less active with service at her house and
then shared a message with her. After that we helped another family
with building a fence on their new property and that was fun.
Spiritual: Serve whenever you can and you will never regret it.

March 11, 2018:We had Branch Council and that was good. Then we had
church which was focused on sacrifice and that is always a good
message. Then we did some contacting after church to no real success.
Spiritual: The Sabbath is a delight.

March 12, 2018:We did a lot of tracting to limited success but still a
bit of success which was good.
Spiritual: Sacrifice brings blessings.

March 13, 2018: We are probably not going to be doing a whole lot
today which is always nice.
Spiritual:Take time to relax from time to time as it helps you become
better as a whole

God be with you until we meet again,
Elder Joshua Patterson

Week 12 Yuma/ Transfers Staying in Yuma

So first Transfer news was good, nothing is changing.

March 28, 2018: We were on Exchanges in Sterling with those elders and
that was fun. Elder S and I did a fair bit of tracting to no
success,sadly, but it was all good. We also had District meeting which
was fun as well.
Spiritual: Success comes in and through the things you learn.

March 29, 2018: We started the day by driving back to Yuma which was
good. We then went and helped a member finish loading up their stuff
so they could move to another town in our area which was fun. Then we
did some tracting to no real success.
Spiritual: Service is good

March 30, 2018: We spent most of the day planning for the next week
which was fun. Other than planning not to much happened.
Spiritual: Planning is important

March 31, 2018: We watched General Conference which was good. The
changes from the church leaders were inspired. We also had mission
correlation meeting which was great.
Spiritual: The Prophets are inspired

April 1, 2018: We watch General Conference and it was really good. I
loved listening to President Nelson especially. Not too much else took
place.
Spiritual: Conference is an awesome opportunity.

April 2, 2018: We did some tracting and some planning for the next
transfer which was hood. Not too much else took place which was
alright.
Spiritual: Planning is important

April 3, 2018: We had District P-day which was fun. Not a whole lot
else took place beyond it however.
Spiritual:Group activities are important for social growth


God be with you until we meet again,
Elder Joshua Patterson

Week 11 Yuma

This week was decent as one would expect.

March 21, 2018: We did service for an Investigator Family, helping
them paint which was good. We then did a bit of tracting to no success
but whatever I guess. Then we had dinner and a lesson with the family
who we were helping paint and that was good. We taught the plan of
Salvation and were able to answer a good amount of their questions
which is always awesome.
Spiritual: Service can soften people’s hearts

March 22, 2018: We had district meeting in Fort Morgan which took
almost the entire day. After we finished the district meet we had
dinner and a few appointments in Wray which was alright.
Spiritual: Meetings can be fun.

March 23, 2018: We did weekly planning after we helped the
investigator family with painting again and both of those things were
good. In the evening we had a lesson with a couple of former
investigators with M H there as she knows the family
pretty well and that went good, but neither of the two really have any
desire to progress towards baptism sadly.
Spiritual: Members can touch people in ways that we as missionaries cannot.

March 24, 2018: We had a lesson with a Hispanic Family which was good,
they aren’t super interested though. Then we helped a member in the
branch with painting at their new house which they are moving into in
the next few days, and that was fun.
Spiritual: Always be willing to serve.

March 25, 2018: We had church which was good as always. We also went
tracting with one of the priests from the branch which was good,
though we saw no success sadly.
Spiritual: Everyone is a missionary

March 26, 2018: We did a fair bit of cleaning at our apartment which
was needed. We then went tracting and tract into a Lutheran Minister
and talked with him for about 45 minutes which was insightful, and
strengthen my faith in this gospel. Not much else happened.
Spiritual: Always be willing to learn, you will always gain something.

March 27, 2018: We have P-day and then dinner with our Branch Mission
leader which should be good, then we will be heading to Sterling for
Exchanges tomorrow!
Spiritual: A day for rest is important.