July update!!!

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 July 31, 2023

Sorry, I keep doing this 😂 July has been a great month. I'm 20 now, that's wack. Sadie keeps talking about how it's weird to tell people she has an older brother that's living away from home who's 20. I still feel way less mature than what I thought someone my age would be. Definitely still a kid. Thank you to everyone who reached out, I am incredibly sorry I responded to none of you. I promise I read your emails and enjoy them.


Updates on the work!
I'm still here in Ashland, we are working a lot with the members here and in the YSA. It has been a miracle to have people in both wards who are so passionate about the gospel and sharing it with others. We have one older guy who we visit weekly, he goes by Knucklehead. He is hilarious, tells the same 5 stories every time. When we see him at church he is telling others those same stories. It's so much fun. He is also amazing at sharing the Gospel. He is out in the park doing his scripture studies, he ministers to some of the older ladies in the ward, and he is constantly asking what more he can do and who he can invite. He has a deep love for the gospel like none other and although I can attest that he is a knuckle head, I hope and pray to have the same devotion and love of Christ that he has.

Sadly no new friends to teach still 😢 everyone we find ends up going to other missionaries. It's a win for God but it's hard to not be teaching as much, I've definitely lost my touch and I need to make a better effort of preparing, studying, and following the Holy Ghost in my missionary efforts.

Cool spiritual experience + testimony
Yesterday was pretty cool. In the Ashland ward they have a tradition of worship through song. 2 times a year they have an entire sacrament meeting (the 1st hour of church where we take the sacrament and renew our baptismal promises with God) dedicated to testimonies and the sharing of Hymns. It was amazing to feel the spirit in that way as we all joined together in the songs that remind us of God's love and the savior. Some of the songs I had never heard and some were very familiar. I went up and shared one of my favorites "Abide with me tis Eventide" it's just a beautiful song about some disciples who wanted to be with the savior as the night was coming. I love it because sometimes we all need a little more Jesus in our lives. Personally I feel we can never have enough. I know that as we seek to be in a place, both spiritually and physically, that invites the Holy Spirit we can receive a witness that Christ knows who we are, he knows what we are going through, and that he is going to be there with us in the brightest day and the darkest night.

I love all of you and miss you, I am praying for all of you frequently and I hope the summer has treated you well. Good luck with the new school year!

Ps I finally got some pictures wooooo

1. I got to harvest some wheat, it's super cool because the scriptures talk about missionary work as if it were a harvest so I felt kinda cool. We also made pancakes out of it!


2. Cool family of the Bishop in Ashland, they have a lot of land it's crazy


3. FOOD I made some white chicken chili and didn't end up burning the house down so that was cool


4. Cool member who hasn't been to church in forever


5. There are deer and baby deer everywhere! I want to pet one but they will probably kick me


6. I finally broke the law and touched a gas pump (it's illegal to pump your own gas here)


7. 7/11 treat, the floors were as sticky as I remember


8. Me proud of my wheat


9. Bread from a can, it makes it crust-less apparently 


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