Week 50: Our plans fall through but not the Lord's

Dear Friends and Family,

First off, just wanted to let you all know that since it is memorial weekend, I do not have much time to email. :) So, you will all be receiving this great email from me this week! I will get back to all the other emails next week when we have more time :) I love you all!

This week we had a hard time with finding people to teach and things to do. Though it was a huge testimony builder for me in the idea that when we go out and put our faith to the test, things happen and blessings come. We had multiple days where we had our plans fail on us or things were not happening, though when we went to try to visit someone else, we were blessed. This past Friday we had a great day planned! Everything was set and ready. We showed up to the first appointment with a less active member that was pretty solid, though he was not there and had forgotten. The whole day continued like that... It was around 4 o'clock and we had no plans left... so we decided to go see a potential investigator in the area, though they were not home either. We sat there and were deciding on where we could go when we got a phone call from a member who asked if we could come over and help bust through some concrete to start digging wholes for a ramp that we are putting in. We were so happy that we were given the opportunity to serve and help the members out. Plus, it was extremely fun! I now know how to break through concrete with a sludge hammer. HAHA 

This Sunday was also a great one! We were bummed because our plans yet again had fallen through. We were on our last planned activity around 6 pm and were wondering what we were to do. So we decided to go visit a former investigator. We looked for the house, but the address that we had did not exist. We decided to keep going around the neighborhood and scout things out. We felt that we should knock on a specific door that we had passed about three times. We knocked, and a Hispanic from Mexico answered the door. We got talking with him and expressed our feelings about the message that we shared and asked if we could teach him what it was. He gladly accepted and we taught his family. It was cool because we came in and he rounded up his whole family. Including his wife who had delivered a baby two days previous. It was a great lesson! And he really enjoyed it and the questions that he had were amazing. It was a huge testimony builder for us! Oh, and he also invited us to a party that he is going to hold for his daughter next week. So there are a lot of potentials for baptism right there! HAHA

Well, I am grateful for all of you and for all of you who support us as missionaries. We are truly blessed as we go out and try to find and we are grateful! I am seeing miracles in this little branch, though rough at times, there are many blessings hidden behind the walls. I wish you a great week this week and best of luck in all you are to accomplish! Much love from Cairo! 

Elder Stonely

Fishing at the pond.

I think I've got this mastered!

"And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men." Mark 1:17

Week 49: Short and Sweet

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm still alive, haven't eaten a fish yet, and we are doing awesome!

This week was a great one for us all! Though there was a lot of slow time that we had to fill with knocking on doors and talking with people. It was a joy to try go out and find people despite how hard it was. We are hoping that it will get better! Only blessings from here!

Well one funny thing that happened this week was that I was riding on my bike and we stopped to visit someone. They weren't home, so we got right back on our bikes and headed out. Though when I got on my bike, I noticed that my front tire was completely out of air... and it was popped... HAHA So we were about 4 miles away from the car and did a lot of walking. HAHA So, that was my week! Sorry for the short email this week, Its a busy day today so its ganna be a short one. I love you all much!

Next week email hopefully will be better :) Love you all!

Elder Stonely!

Welcome to Georgia, Elder Stonely!

Look at my new friends...

Week 48: Endure to the End

Dear Friends and Family,

This Week I learned something very important. Well maybe not so important, but special. We had the opportunity to visit a couple of the Less active couples in the branch as well as a couple of solid members. As you all know, the members here are all mostly older. So the lesson I learned was about Enduring to the end. As we went to visit these members, I came to the realization that a lot of them have super strong spirits and testimonies of the gospel. They do all they can every day to become more like their savior and it is very easy to see in them. I marveled at one Senior couple, the Mallories, who are going through pretty much any problem you can name. Financially, with family, friends, health. Name it, they got it! Though as we got to know them and visit with them, they expressed their faith in the Lord and shared with us many dear experiences. I learned from them that really the only thing that matters is our dedication to continue to better ourselves. Though they never told us straight out that they were developing Christlike attributes, I saw every attribute very strongly in them. As well as the other senior couples whom we visited. There are very few members here in Cairo, but they are the strongest in the state of Georgia! or probably the world!!! Sister Mallory, was worried more about doing missionary work for those around her than she was about her own concerns.  To me, a great example of charity, something I have been working on for a while now. They are all role models for me now. 

Well also, the Mallory family are Native Americans who live on a Native American Reserve, and they got talking about their ancestors and their stories and all of the information about Native Americans. I thought that was cool to see!

This week was also transfer week! We were curious to see what would happen because Elder Valenzuela thought that he would be getting transferred. None the less, we are both still here in Cairo! I was also called to serve as the District Leader here and will be looking forward to this service opportunity! 

I love you all so much and hope that you enjoy this next week :) Much love from Elder Stonely :)

Cairo!

BOSS!

Elder Stonely in Cairo is Boss!

P.S... My humility may need some help... HAHA

 

Two lovely Jehovah Witnesses knocked on our door, so I gave them some German Chocolate.

Yeah, I caught a fish! Now if I could only learn how to prepare them properly...

Me and a helicopter.

My companion with a baby.

Together for another six weeks!

 

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???