Week 47: Mothers Day :)

Dear Fellow Family and Friends :)

This week we had the best gift of all and were able to call home to our families! It most definitely was a joy to see my family and also my companions family. They were talking super fast in Spanish and it seemed to me that there was always two or three people talking at the same time. HAHA It was different then mine where we all took turns. :) But it was such a great day! I love you mom!

As far as the rest of the week, we had the opportunity to go and see a bunch of people both new and old. :) We had a lot of referrals from Salt Lake Headquarters and from other missionaries which seemed to keep us busy. It was a testimony builder for me. Some days as missionaries when the work gets slow we start to think that we have talked with everyone and no one wants to hear what we have. Though, seeing so many referrals come in this week I slapped myself in the face and realized that there are a lot more prepared people than we think. All we have to do is be obedient and do everything we can to find them. And we shall. :) Well on top of all that, we enjoyed Sunday and the talks that were given by some of our fathers in the ward. There are very few members here, though it feels like one huge family who share every mother! Everyone is so close and I could feel that bond in church as we talked about mothers. It was enjoyable. :)

Well today I will be going fishing hopefully. We have a pond in the backyard of our missionary house, so my goal, though I hate seafood, is to catch a cat-fish and eat it. We will see how that one turn outs. I love you all and hope you enjoy your week! Sorry there are no pictures from this week. I will get some next week maybe hopefully... HAHAHA

Much love from Cairo Georgia!

Elder Stonely

Family photo over Skype (sans Brooke & Tanner).

Week 46: Count Your Blessings

Dear Friends and Familly,

This week was awesome. :) I should probably say that every week cause they are all awesome. And they only get better! We did a lot of service this week as usual and helped a couple members and investigators around the house and cleaning the yards. If any of you have been down here you know that plants grow REALLY fast and if you don't keep up with it, you have a jungle in your backyard. Literally a jungle... there is a type of vine here that someone told me grows 6 inches a day.... Yeah I'm NOT down to cut that thing after a week! HAHA But we definitely felt the spirit and felt good throughout the service. Except for when one member wanted us to set up a new TV for him and the moment he turned it on there was a swear word. Yeah... the spirit left. HAHA

One experience this week that I had was while serving for one of our investigators. Their names are Ana and Beto. They are from El Salvador and are SOOOO nice. They are some of the sweetest people ever. And I credit it to their situation and their experiences. While working in their yard with them we learned of their life and they told us their story. Pretty much I know how blessed I am to be living here in the states. EXTREMELY BLESSED!!!!!!! There are many people outside of the states whom are struggling and who are not able to have great lives. And I thought a lot about how the gospel helps all of God's children grow their lives spiritually which makes up for other things. For many families, the gospel is all they have. And what a blessing to have! I was humbled this week to find out just how blessed I have been and now see with greater eyes the purpose of the gospel. ITS ALL SO WE CAN BE HAPPY!!!! Just be happy! Its easy :0 live the gospel! Its not hard :) and you will be super blessed. :)

My fellow spiritual brothers and sisters, :) I love you all so much. I know that the gospel is true and that it can bless every aspect of your live no matter what your situation is and no matter how bad you have it! Also remember that you don't have to be perfect to receive the blessings of the gospel. It just matters the direction you go! I just now remembered this quote, but not 100% sure whom its from. I believe its Elder Holland. But he said something along the lines of, "you just have to make sure you are wearing the right jersey and are on the right side." Are you wearing the right jersey on the right team??? If not, walk over. :) Its easy. :) I love you all so much!

Elder Stonely

the best town in the United states~!

CAIRO! Yes it is home to the famous baseball player, Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play Major league baseball! i need to see the monument... HAHA

Love you BIG! with big letters :)

The Beautiful skies in the morning :) literally this is every morning... HAHAH

I was hissing with a cat! Yeah, I'm weird...

Week 45: Adversity

Dear Friends and Beloved Family,

My, oh my, this week was sure full of tender mercies as well as ups and downs. Its almost as if the adversary thinks that he can push me down a cliff and keep me there! Though when he tries, on a personal level its harder than ever! This week we were able to see a lot of blessings coming, and after every blessing and experience that we had followed some sort of disaster or act that caused feelings of doubt, despair, discourage and loss of hope. As I reflected on our experiences throughout the week I realized yet again that I'm not the only one with challenges and trials. Every individual person faces their own hard aches and issues. And so as I write this email, I hope that many who read may find this helpful.

Upon reflecting over the week, I found a speech given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland at BYU in 1990. Now excuse my lack of references, I know my English teachers will be disappointed, though I did not have the whole speech and information so this will be a bit rough. Though in two of his speeches he addressed to students attending BYU, labeled, "Cast not away therefore your confidence" and "For times of Troubles" I found some useful quotes that really stood out to me.

"Oh Lord, I am yet strong. Give me one More mountain." -Joshua 14:11-12

Though I have felt week at times and though I have said to myself "I can't do it," I often remind myself that it is through our challenges that we grow and that the Lord turns us into the person that he wants us to be. When I am going through challenges, I have to continue to tell myself that I am going to learn. The atonement can be a place of refuge for all of us during these times. And when I remember that I find that it is easier to ask for another "mountain" so that I can continue to grow and learn. It also gives me an opportunity to exercise my faith.

Extraordinary faith comes by
Extraordinary prayers, which cause
Extraordinary results.
-Elder K

I often read this little quote and ask myself if I am showing my faith every day. Often when I have challenges I see that my faith could be greater! Other times I feel as if I am acting with faith and am doing all I can. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught that hardships will come and go. He mentioned that when you have a hardship, you have to continue to push through and remember that it will end. Have faith through it all and you will eventually get through! However, I also noticed a fault that I had in myself as I read Elder Holland's words. He quoted Shakespeare and also gave another quote:

"The fault... is not within our start, but in ourselves." -William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar

"The worst type of despair is self-despair. The kind of self-despising that eats at our image and crushes our hopes." -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

As I read this part of one of his speeches, I noticed that I was putting a lot of this "self-despair" on myself, and that was a fault within myself. Now, for those of you who know me well, that probably wouldn't surprise you. Though it was something that I took to considerable thought. I realized that a lot of the feelings of doubt, despair, discouragement and loss of hope were coming from myself. I re-read a scripture that I believe I had shared with you all earlier in Ether 12: 27:

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

Oh how true that is. I know that through the atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we can turn our own individual weaknesses into strengths. I also know that through the atonement we can be comforted in times of trial and times were we do feel down on our circumstances or situations. I have a testimony of this as I live every day. I know that you all, if you haven't come to realize the blessings of the atonement that you can! We don't have to feel down or sad any moment, anywhere. I know that our Savior loves us.

I love you all and hope that you  have a blessed weak! Until next week :)

Much love,

Elder Stonely

Fishing trip!

Some cute kid with us as we ate a yummy cake! Yup, Hispanics are sicker than all! HAHA

The Three Amigos!

President and Sister Smith visit the Cairo, Georgia Branch! (Photo from the Florida Tallahassee Mission Blog.)

Week 44: Becoming Like the Savior

Dear Friends and Family,

This week was a growing one for sure! I am still getting in the grove of things in a new area with new people, but I feel that in a couple more days I will be able to manage on my own. I have a feeling Elder Valenzuela may be gone at the end of the transfer, but that's just a feeling so we will see how that goes! I have run into a lot of things personally in my studies that I have found to be really useful. I found myself listening to the General Conference talks over and over again because of the amazing counsel that we have been given! And this week in sacrament meeting we had the opportunity to listen to a guest speaker since our branch is so small... He was a PHD candidate in the area in Bible studies and man... He knew his stuff! But I found interesting his talk that he gave. He shared a story from his life about how he was always taught about covenants and Ordinances. So, as he grew up, he completely all of the ordinances. Though he said after he was sealed to his wife, he felt like he was lost because he didn't know where to go. He said he had always been taught to go to the temple and to get sealed, but beyond there, he had no clue. But then he shared with us something that he has learned over the years that I found helpful for my own life. And that can be applied to any of you who read this. He mentioned that after all the ordinances, our goal is to become more like the Savior by improving our Christlike attributes and increasing our priesthood power. He quoted from the talks given to us in General Conference from Elder Oaks, Stevenson, and Neilson. And stated that after the ordinances, we have a greater responsibility of increasing the priesthood power that we all have and becoming more like Christ through the Christlike attributes. He shared one of my favorite scriptures found in the 2 Peter 1:

    5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

     6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

     7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

     8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

     9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

     10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

     11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

And from this I really learned that I should continue to work on all of the Christlike attributes. And If I do that I can become more like my Savior and I can have the everlasting Kingdom if I do all in my power! I know that this idea can bless many people and help you all if you try to become more like our Savior! I feel very blessed to be a part of this ministry on the earth and know that you all can be blessed as you share the gospel with others. I am grateful for every tender mercy that I have been given and can not wait to continue to receive more every day! Thank you all for all of your support and I wish you luck :)

Until next week!

Elder Stonely

My new companion Elder Valenzuela.

Look at the adorable puppies!

Who looks more adorable, me, Elder Valenzuela, or the puppy???

Week 43: Cairo, Cows, Peru, and "Ginny-Pigs"

Dear Friends and Family,

This week started a new adventure for me! As I said last week, I am serving in Cairo, Georgia. Which is pretty awesome and there are a ton of people here. Most of the Hispanics are from a place called Chiapas, Mexico and speak a Dialect called Tzotzil. Pronounced "suts-cil" or something like that. And pretty much it is super hard to communicate with them... They have a lot of similar Vocabulary as Spanish, but also have a lot of different words to define things and explain things. I want to learn it, but thought i should better stick to Spanish. We use their kids, who speak Spanish, English, and the dialect to translate. So we will be waiting to see how they are all doing!

We live in a little house in the middle of nowhere... there are seriously cows everywhere... HAHA I will hopefully send pictures later! But the house is all to ourselves and we love it! Though it is a change from the place that I called my home in Foley. HAHA My companion, Elder Valenzuela, is from Peru and is a pretty funny guy! He likes to eat Ginny-Pig, though I'm pretty sure that's illegal to eat here so I'm sorry to inform you I have not tried it. Though I really want to! HAHAHAHA Hopefully I'll go back to Peru with him some day :) He loves to have fun and he has a great personality when we are around the people here. I can't wait to continue working with him.

I love it here and am excited to get to know the members in Cairo. It is a small branch. (Really small, like we had 12 people at sacrament meeting last Sunday.) But all the members are super nice and super willing to work with us. We hope to expand the branch to make it a Ward. This area used to only have English speaking missionaries as of 7 months ago, when they switched them out for the Spanish speaking missionaries, so we have the Spanish work on top of the English work to do. It is pertty exciting, but WAY different. I'm not used to these Americans,... HAHA totally kidding!

I love you all! And wish you the best of luck! Till we meet again :)

From the little heart of Georgia,
Cairo!

Elder Stonely

Editorial note (Todd): I couldn't help laughing how Riley spelled Guinea Pig (Ginny-Pig), so I included it as written in the subject line. HAHAHA. Also, the use of "pertty" I believe is a clear sign that our boy is developing a southern drawl...not sure yet whether I should be excited about that or not???

Week 42: Sweet Foley :)‏

Dear Friends and Family,

You all, well probably just my mom, are curious to find out if I got transferred or not :) I am happily sad to say that I will be gone :( I am leaving my dear sweet town of Foley Alabama (my home for 9 months) and will be settling in the land of Cairo Georgia! My new companion will be Elder Valenzuala (think that’s how you spell it). He is from Peru and I have heard great things from him! My companion, Elder Sturdevant, will be staying in Foley and will be training someone new coming in! That was pretty exciting too :) I must have done an alright job at training my companion if he is now training! I am excited what my new area has to bring! But am not really that excited to leave my friendships here. I’ll probably be ok with it later :)

Well this week was awesome! I have not had sufficient time to dwell on the words of conference, so I won’t share too much from it. Although, one thing that caught my eye as I watched conference was the amount of temple talks that were given. I took some time to relive the one single experience I had going through the temple for myself and the many others that I have been given to go do baptisms for the dead. The temple holds many blessings and is a place we can attend weekly to get the closest to our Heavenly Father. I feel blessed to live 15 min away both north and south of now three temples. It is a blessing I know that I have overlooked my whole life. I now think about how we don’t have a temple in our mission and I can feel just a sliver of what others, who have worse circumstances feel, when they are unable to attend the house of the Lord. What a truly HUGE blessing we all have. I encourage you all to look and ponder at the blessings of the temple. And if you’re unsure just go! You will find many :)

As a result of being transferred, this email will be a short one :) However, I want every one of you to know that I truly love you all and love each and every prayer I feel. I almost feel as if I have heavenly angels watching over me and every time someone prays for me another set of hands is at my beckon. Missionaries are some of the most helped servants of the Lord. And you all can feel the same way as you go about helping those in the community! I love you all! Till next week in Cairo!

Elder Stonely

Springtime in sweet, sweet, Foley.

Chillin in the back seat of Victor's car.

I'll miss you Victor! You're the Boss!

You all have pipe dreams, right? We'll, mine are real!! HAHA

Week 41: Yes, It’s your elder again :)

Dear Friends and Family,

This week my testimony has really grown on the idea of following the spirit to be in the right place in the right time. There was an amazing experience that we had with one of the English elders investigators. I will try to explain to the best of my ability :)

About 1-2 months ago, we were planning for the following day. It had been a really hard week with not much success. So we got home, and started to plan. And we decided to go on our bikes down this path with is kinda hidden, but we thought we would try it out (hadn’t been down that path at all). So the next day, as we are following our plans, we are going down this path and we meet a guy who was walking. We began to talk to him, but he preceded to tell us that he wasn’t interested and was going through a rough time. He told us that he was thinking about suicide then and not really having the best of the day. Well we didn’t hesitate to offer a blessing to him. Surprisingly he wasn’t hesitant to say yes! So, on the side of the highway, we gave this man a blessing. (He wanted one then and there!) So we gave him the blessing, asked if we could call anyone or doing anything, but he refused any other help.

Months later, (last Monday) he shows up at the library and talks with the English Elders! He apparently was taking lessons from them, but then fell off the face of the earth and they could not contact him. He talked with them and we were unsure of what ever was going on. So after they were done talking with them, we find out from the English elders that his life was going downhill. And that day that we met him on the path, he was actually on his way to end his life. He had been that way for about 2 months. And that’s when we met him and gave him the blessing! He described to us that after that blessing, he felt a little better and in 2 weeks after the blessing, his life started changing. He said the blessing gave him something to build off us which was the reason he was around.

We were shocked... cause how often does that happen????? He is currently taking lessons from the missionaries and plans on getting baptized within the next couple months.

The spirit really is a guide. And sometimes you don’t know it. But if you are doing what you should and are worthy of the spirit, trust that it will guide you in every decision that you make. Even where you might be taking your morning jog :) I testify that the work is moving fast! Whether it be here on the earth of on the other side of the Veil. All we have to do is act and the Lords hands in carrying out the mortal work. I love you all and cannot wait to tell you all about all of my adventures :)

Much love! From the heart of Foley Alabama!

Elder Stonely

PS transfers are in a week from this wed, so may be getting that news soon :

Master chefs.

Yummy food!

Easter celebration.

Yes, I love food!