Letter from Oct 17th, 2011

Sorry this is so late.  I've been slacking a bit!!!

Fam!!!

 

WOW what an amazing weekend! The Cunningham family was baptized! All 4 of them! It was the coolest experience of my mission thus far! Hands down! To see 1 by 1 all 4 go into the font and be baptized was just out of this world. The Spirit was so strong there and it was really cool because Brian's parents came down to watch the baptism and they came to Sacrament the next day for the Confirmations.  The are staunch Catholic and not really all for the whole Church of Jesus Christ thing.... Oh well, they had a good experience that they can't deny I know that. A lot of testimonies were born at the baptism about conversion stories (Our entire ward in Hamilton is converts basically) so there were a lot of touching stories that were told. Also in Sacrament Meeting there was a talk given about the Book of Mormon outlining Elder Callister's talk in Conference as well as a talk on personal revelation. It was really great for them to here those things. Couldn't of picked 2 better subjects myself. The Lord is on the move here in Hamilton. We had a great week. Found 3 more new investigators. Jennifer, Mike Rimroth (Judy's Husband) we officially taught as well as a girl named Kara Gabbard. She is an interesting case. We were looking through the area book at former investigators and I come across a name Molly Gabbard and I read about her first go around investigating. Well come to find out her parents are members and they go to the Fairfield Ward which goes to the same building as us but their church is just at 2pm ours is at 9 and then there is a Spanish branch that meets in between at 12. Anyways so Molly has a daughter (Kara) who LOVES the church. She goes to St. Josephs Catholic School, but even while she's at school in free time she reads the Book of Mormon and she wears a CTR band. She has gone to church with her grandparents to the Fairfield ward, but lives in Hamilton ward boundaries so she has just fallen through the cracks and people already thought she was a member in the Fairfield ward so missionaries have never taught her. I also think her mom was against her joining the Church for a long time. So we were on exchanges with the A.P.'s on Tuesday and we felt we needed to go visit Molly this former investigator. Turns out we made a good impression on her and even though she doesn't want to join the church we got to talk with her daughter and we started teaching her the following day. First lesson she started crying and we invited her to be baptized and she said YES! really emphatically. Her mom said it is your decision to make and we will support you in it! So she was basically just waiting for missionaries to come and baptize her for about the last year haha and they never showed up! Her mom has been softened and is okay with it now so it was really cool that the Lord just led us to her. She is getting baptized Next Saturday haha. How awesome is that! Things with the Rimroth family are going really well. The lesson on the Plan of Salvation was very guided by the Holy Ghost and I know that they felt the whisperings of the Spirit during the lesson. Judy said she has ALWAYS believed in a PRE-MORTAL LIFE as well as a degrees in heaven. It was really cool again to see how prepared she is. She will get baptized no doubt about it. Mike will too, he is really intriguied by it, obviously it goes against what he's always been taught so he has reservations, but he did feel the Spirit and was very agreeable for the most part. Had no big concerns. We didn't get to meet with Lenny this week. Things have been going rough for him with his wife again so hopefully this week. Eric and Britt have cut down their cigarettes from a pack each a day to Eric 2 cigs a day and Britt 5. They are really progressing alot and coming to church every week and have read 1 Nephi and half of 2 Nephi together. It's great. They are expressing more and more urgency about getting married soon too. Before Britt's mom dies and that is the realy big thing keeping them from baptism so once that happens they will do it! Things are just awesome guys! Elder Cannon is really fun to serve with. I'll admit the whole making me stay up till midnight every night so we can read 5 pages of the Book of Mormon as a companionship and planning for an hour on top of all the ZL stuff is starting to wear me down. 630 comes awful early and I have NO energy at all to excerise in the mornings. I literally feel like I've been hit by a train every morning ha but oh well, it puts hair on your chest! It's helping me have something I've never really had before and that is a lot better work ethic so it's a good thing as long as I don't get sick like I usually do when I have a lack of sleep for prolonged periods of time all we be okay. So that is awesome about Logan! Congrats to him! Im excited for him. When is that whole shindig going down? I assume it will probably be January so I'll barely miss it. Darn. Oh well. That's still great news! I told him he'd be hitched in a heartbeat. lol. The Raiders won again! Sweet! Did Cambell get injured seriously? That will really hurt them big time if he did! OHNO! 4-2 though that is awesome! The silver and black is back. Apparently Rob's 49ers are too! Dangit! ha I can't rub it in his face still As soon as the raiders improve so do the 9ers. Linds good luck with having your baby this week. Im pretty sure it will happen this week. Ash you are still atleast 3 weeks away. I just know these kind of things. Just don't name your kid Jimmer cuz that is what I'm naming my son! Alrighty fam I gotta get going. Thanks for all the support, testimonies, and love you send my way they really make a difference and I truly do have the best family ever. Tell grandpa's I say hello! I sent Grandpa Ingy Bob and card last friday so it should be there soon just wishing him a Happy Birthday. Have a great week guys! TUGGER I MISS YOUR SOUL!!!!!!!!

 

Elder Ingy!!

Oct 10, 2011 Letter

Family!!!

 

It was so good to here from you all this week! Wow. It sounds like things are changing so much at home it blows my mind. Haha. I can't even picture what it will be like. Elder Ballard wrote me an email today and he is hating life haha. He said that everyday all he thinks about is the mission and that the mantle of a misssionary has completely left and he is getting super depressed because of it. He isn't in school, has no job, and has no friends around close that still live in Inkom so he just sits around all day and he was having some really bad back problems this past few months on the mission, turns out he had 2 bulging discs so he has spent his first 10 days at home in a back brace. It's too bad that life is super rough on him like this.  One thing I learned after high school through trial and error is that when life changes you have to embrace it and be the best you can be or you will be miserable. So Linds isn't doing too well? I'm sorry to here that.... I hope you get feeling better sis and that the baby comes soon so you can just get all this pain over with. That way Avers can get her bum fix taken care of too by changing all of his diapers. lol. Ash hope the move goes well this week, wish I was there and could help you out because we all know that my biceps are just so enormous and it would make EVERYONE'S life a lot easier hahaha. just kiddin. So sorry I forgot to tell you about Elder Cannon's longevity on the mission or however you spell that. He goes home on April 21. The transfer after me. So he has been out only about 3 and a half weeks less then me, I just go home a couple weeks early so we have equal experience. We teach super awesome with the help of the Holy Ghost. Our lessons seem to be very powerful and we don't plan for them much, just talk about what we can to commit them to do and focus on then the rest we just each bring up a thought or personal story about a principle, bear our testimony, share a scripture and we each know the Book of Mormon well enough now that the other can just build off that idea and share a different scripture to support it and bear their testimony. It is really fun to teach with him. I can definitely feel the Holy Ghost helping us out. This past week we had 7 investigators at Sacrament Meeting so that was awesome! Cunninghams got interviewed for baptism and they are all set for Saturday at 7 pm!!! It's so amazing guys, the change that has taken place in them is so impressive. They received that witness that the Book of Mormon was from God and ever since then its been all gravy.... They bear us their testimony all of the time and they already are living the commandments even tithing so it's amazing. We told sister Cunningham she can go to the temple and do baptisms for her mother and father after she is baptized and she starting crying she was so happy! Brian has had the biggest change of heart as well come over him and he said the opening prayer in our last meeting and told us that he keeps having things reaffirm to him how true the Gospel is! It truly is a miracle! We found the most solid new investigator this week also.!  Husband and wife! The Rimroth family. We taught Judy on Wedenesday and oh my goodness her story is amazing. I'll try to summarize it quickly. She grew up in the Church of Christ because that is where her mom went, well her dad was Catholic and her mom died so after that she became Catholic and when she was in her 20's she was studying to become a nun. She said the Holy Ghost pulled her away from there and helped her realize that some things had been corrupted in that faith. So after she got married her and her husband went to Presbytarian Church and she was an Elder in that church for over 20 years! They have male and female Priesthold holders there if you are unfamiliar with the way it works and their whole church leadership is like a democracy, the congregation votes on who serves in what capacity. Well long story short her Pastor was corrupt and she found out so she was scarred and left the church and hadn't been back to church for about 5 years. Well then she got in a car accident and it caused her to have neck and back problems. Well she had to go to a chiropractor and her friend happened to go to a Dr. named Tommy Thompson who is a member of the church. She didn't know this when she started going to him, but Bro Thompson being the good missionary he is talked religion with her during her back adjustments and what not. Well one thing led to another and next thing you know she watched General Conference and she loved it so much that caused her to call us and set us an appointment for Wednesday. We taught the Restoration and she was absolutely blown away by it. Every thing we taught answered a question or a concern she previously had and she already accepted a baptismal commitment barring what she thinks about the Book of Mormon as she reads. Of course it's crucial to receive that witness, but she WANTS it all to be true and that is half the battle. Also her husband came home late from work,  but this week he is excited to sit in and hear about the Plan of Salvation. He watched Conference as well.  THEY ARE GOLDEN! I'm so happy about it. The Lord is really pouring out His soul on the Hamilton area! There have been 11 baptisms in the past 4 months here, and the Cunninghams will be 12, 13, 14, and 15. The ward had a goal of 5 baptisms the start of the year because last year they had 0 baptisms the ENTIRE YEAR! Well, now the goal has been changed to 20 by the end of the year and we ARE GOING TO REACH IT! Ha I love it. The miracles are just changing the way I see life and giving me so much joy. Elder Cannon is so dang obedient and hard working and I love him for it, because he really helps me be the best I can be and get the most out of each and everyday. I definitely have a testimony that blessings come from hard work and obedience. You can get by on you own skill for so long, but as you surrender you life to the Lord, you do truly find it as the scripture says and the blessings from Heaven are poured down upon you! Oh just on a funny note, we taught the the Cunninghams the Law of Chastity this week and Douglas the 11 year old was so grossed out because he hadn't ever had "THE TALK" yet and when his mom finally was like "Come on Douglas don't act so childish you always say you want another baby sister! Where do you think she will come from" in the funniest voice with the most distraught look on his face he says " I don't know mom! I honestly always thought there must be magical elves that make all of that happen!" I was busting up laughing practically rolling on the ground. You kinda had to be there to get the full effect, but boy was it hilarious! Anyways, I need to write Grandpa Bob a birthday card and also I'll keep Grandpa Adrian in my prayers as well as my to awesome sisters! By the way how are Rob and Dru doin these days? Alrighty well the raiders are the best as always to close just remember that because it will make your life a lot better when you just all accept that fact. Love you family! Have a great week in St. George paps! Mom go spend all of his money while he's gone please! The church is true!!!  Love you

 

Love Elder Ingy

October 3, 2011 Letter

Family!

 

WOW! General Conference was absolutely amazing! I truly love the Prophet and the Apostles and all of the brethren. President Monson truly is a Prophet. I know that more surely now than I ever knew it before. I learned so much and am trying so hard to be a better missionary. I loved Elder Hollands talk. I was thinking to myself as I watched that there is no way that I could ever have lived with myself sitting through that if I had chosen not to go on a mission. I'm on the Lord's team. I may have scored a couple of points for satan in the past, but that's okay because I'm scoring a lot more for the Lord now and in the years to come so we will still win. I grew a greater love and appreciation for my family. The best family ever! The love that I feel for you all I can't even describe in words, it is incomparable to the love I feel to anyone else other than my Savior. My favorite talks besides Elder Holland's were Elder Callister's and Elder Christoffersen's and President Monson's that he gave in Priesthood. Also you're right Elder Uchtdorf gave a great talk in the Saturday morning session. They were all so good. The main things I took for this conference were.... It's better to look UP then DOWN. The importance of our relationship with Father in Heaven. How we all need to strengthen that more and more daily. I learned the power of prayer in missionary work is so profound. That nothing in this world aside from the Priesthood itself has more power than prayer. Elder D. Todd helped me in a lot of ways with his insights on apostate Christianity and it went along well with the a talk I've been studying by Joseph Fielding McCkonkie called HERE WE STAND. There are plenty of people who try to change and altar the Commandments of God. Sorry to say but those laws will never change. There are Korihor's and Nehors and Sherems who try to overthrow the Doctrine of Christ and preach the philosophies of man "mingled with scripture" It is so distorted and sad how strong of a hold satan has on the world today. As Latter Day Saints we have no obligation to agree and find common grounds with people of other faith. Ive learned that we have NO REASON to be ashamed of what we believe. Why would we be ashamed to have the truth? Do we believe it or don't we? If we do believe it then there is a PLACE where we should always stand.... It is a sacred place. A place where the heavens opened and the Father bore the most powerful testimony of the Son that has ever been spoken. In that place God reached out to a 14 year old boy who's mind was uncluttered and who's spirit was contrite. In that place The fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth and every other "creed and denominations are an abomination" It is because of what took place in the Sacred Grove in Palmyra, New York, in the year 1820 that we now have Prophets, Apostles, Temples, the Priesthood, and the ONLY true and living church upon the face of the whole earth! IF we truly believe that and I TRULY DO, then we shouldn't be ashamed of it. We look the world straight in the eye and say "HERE WE STAND" The gospel is true and the Book of Mormon is the convincing evidence that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph was a Prophet, and that the Plan of Salvation is real and is designed for our happiness. It is either true or it's utterly false as Elder Callister said. It can't be a good book, with good instruction for Christian living and be only that. IT's Scripture from God or it's the work of the devil. Of course it's the work of the Son..... Those were my insights from Conference! Now onto the work.. Elder Cannon is my new comp. From Bountiful UT. He is a GREAT GUY. He has probably made only 1 or 2 mistakes in his entire life, but he has an amazing testimony and works his butt off. It's fun. I don't have the same relationship with him as I had with Elder Ballard. We are much more serious and more focused. I love serving with missionaries who are 100 percent dedicated and won't stray from that determination because it keeps me focused and giving it my all as well. I'm really excited for the transfer and I guarantee miracles because we will work our tails off and follow the Spirit. We had some cool experiences finding already. We were able to set up appointments with about 5 new people for this week through knocking on doors and other methods. The Cunninghams loved Conference and they are going to be baptized October 22 just because we need time to teach them everything that is why it is moved back a couple of weeks. We are teaching a man named Lenny. He is from the Bronx and he is so sweet! He told me all about all the best hot dog stands in New York to go to if I ever visit.! He is the man. He has been to church and came to a ward party Friday night and I got to talk to him for about an hour about tons of things. From sports, to the Gospel, to his life and all he has been through. He grew up in Queens and has had a ROUGH LIFE. Been in and out of prison, divorced his wife and hasn't had any involvement with his daughter,  recovering addict of every kind of drug you can think of. Even Dealt drugs. He sounds terrible when you think about his past, but if you could meet him you would know his heart is pure. He has made Tons of mistakes but the Atonement is for sinners, not perfect people. He wants so badly to change and It's so cool to be the one to teach and help him. I feel super inadequate to relate to him, but at the same time I think he is one of those people that was very specific that the Lord needed me to be his instrument in teaching him. We are going to extend to him for baptism in November and we will keep you updated on the progress. Really just an all around amazing week with miracles still to come! Love you all so much and I'm so grateful for all that you do for me and know that I recognize it and appreciate my life and family everyday. Have a great week especially you Ash and Linds, keep going strong only a few weeks left! You can make it! I'm so stoked for Nephews! It's gonna be SAWEET!

 

Love, 

Elder Ingy

September 26th, 2011 Letter

Fam!

 

Hey so Ive got some really exciting news this week! Pat Thomin was baptized on Friday and confirmed on Sunday! Everything was wonderful. Tina Thomin (Her daughter in law) Also a recent convert gave a talk on the Holy Ghost at the baptism and it absolutely blew me away! It was unreal! I felt the Spirit very strongly when she bore testimony of how the Holy Ghost changes lives and families. I love the scripture in 2 Nephi that says to paraphrase when the Holy Ghost leaves then speedily cometh destruction. I've shared that with you before, but I live and see that concept every day. If my attitude is wrong and the Holy Ghost isn't there it's hard to be an effective missionary and that is when you make mistakes in life. When you are filled with the Holy Ghost, when angels are round about you bearing you up, that is when you are happier than you could possibly be in this life. That is when you want to die being a missionary. There is a huge contrast. It's unbelievable the influence the Spirit has John 14:26 he truly is the "Comforter" as it says. It's amazing that it feels just as it is described. A burning in the bosom. That changes people. I notice when I testify by the Holy Ghost it's a world of difference to when it is just my own words. I speak so fluently and remember things I've maybe read once in my life and I explain it better than I ever could on my own. It's so sweet. Teaching the gospel is the best!!! I wish I could just read the Book of Mormon and teach all day then I could never complain haha, I guess the whole tracting thing just builds character so it is necessary too unfortunately. I never really caught the fire for tracting and loved it like you did dad. I guess I just think about how I feel when someone knocks on my door when I'm busy doing something else, especially Jehovah's Witness and salesman and the first thing I want to do is slam the door haha. Oh well we found Richie tracting so miracles can still happen if it's inspired and your attitude is right when your doing it! Another amazing thing that happened this week concerning the Holy Ghost was in regards to the Cunninghams! They GOT AN ANSWER! They have been reading and praying and they came up to us in church yesterday and said "We want to be baptized" The Book of Mormon is true, the spirit told us so! How sweet is that! So they are gonna get baptized in 2 weeks! The family of 4 that I've searched for my whole mission! It's awesome! We also started teaching a man named Lenny Polanski this week. He has been through a whole heap of problems recently in his life and he is friends with a member of our ward. He came to church and loved it and is really excited to watch general conference. He talks like he is a member of the mafia. He has that Al Davis look going on except a younger version and could probably manage a football team better than Al can. haha. I know that he will get baptized too though. It's just a matter of time...! Elder Ballard goes home this Friday. Transfer meeting is on Thursday where I'll get my new comp. We all meet in the stake center next to the Temple for the meeting and members take us there and back. It's a pretty fun meeting. They call out your area and your name and if it's a leadership call they say that as well and then they call your comp and you have to go up to the front and give each other a hug. It's slightly Homo, but at the same time missionary work is super lovey like that. It's because we are all affection deprived I guess so it's gotta come out some where in a none gay way. lol. Hopefully I get a comp. around my age that will be good. Elder Ballard and I accomplished a lot together. It's probably been my most productive transfer of my mission while at the same time being one of the most laid back. Weird huh? It's cool though elder Ballard is going to BYU-I as well, a lot of people are so i get to see some of my buds again here soon. no big deal. Zone meetings and all that are pretty cool. I love it, but it's hard to motivate people. We set the example. Our area here in Hamilton has had 11 baptisms in the past 4 months and next transfer we will have 4 possibly 5 more. It's the standard area of the mission right now, but our zone has been far behind. Things picked up a ton this week! It was a great week for everyone. The zone found 16 new investigators. An average of 2 per area and we now have 9 people on date for baptism. So things are turning around, we are no longer at the rear of the mission, it's more like the middle now. Up in Columbus it's always a bit more productive than Cincy. I think it has to do with the fact that Joseph Smith dusted his feet off in this place, no joke, and it's always been the standard of wickedness for the U.S. Lots of poverty, drugs and bad things go on here. Plus Columbus has a temple. You know when a city has a temple it will be blessed with more missionary work. That makes sense to me at least. Our mission president always says "Teach to the temple" Baptism is just the first step, and that is a lot easier when your investigators can go see the temple and feel the Spirit just from being on the grounds. Cincy is my favorite part of the mission still though, it's where I was called and I'm attached to being here. I hope I just stay in Hamilton the next 4 transfers. I highly doubt it, If I could predict it I bet I'll be here 2 more transfers then my last 2 I'll get whitewashed into an area with a greenie to finish up. That happens a lot with missionaries who are dying off. We will see, I'll enjoy every second while I'm here though that is for sure! I'm anxious to get my new comp. He might be a goober, a lot of the ZL's are a little too over the top for my taste, and they majorly suck up to president. When he calls Elder Ballard and I and asks us what he needs to improve on for advice, we tell him something, where as everyone else is to scared to offend him or something so they just say "Your doing everything perfect president it's all us." I see it like he tells us how to improve all the time, we are more experienced at this than he is so I think if he asks we can give him suggestions too. ha. Anyways that's all that is new here in Hamilton. Life is good! All the boys on missions are doing well. Ive been talkin to Justin Coffin through email a bit lately. He is a stud. Tanner will be a missionary that people like as well. There is a certain type of personality that people tend to latch on to and it's usually pretty similar to what a lot of my friends were back in high school. They are peoples people so of course they will be called to lead it only makes sense I suppose. Hey so the things about the Raiders was so awesome! They sound like they are a force this year! Oh baby dad you better work with all your might to get us a Monday night game next year! That is something we HAVE to do together. You and I are the only true blue Raiders fans that I know of and we stay with em thick and thin so we've got to go to ONE game together! Boise State is doing awesome again, maybe this year they will make it to the championship finally. We will see... Any news on the NBA lockout? Keep me posted. Alright guys well I better get goin! I love you all very much and I've been praying for you! Especially for Linds and Ash and the little ones they have and ones to come! I think about you guys a lot and I'm grateful I have such an awesome family! I look forward to seeing you all again soon, but I want to finish strong! Here is my thinking..... Most people finish the last 6 months pretty poor. I figure this is when I can be most effective, because I'm a lot better person and missionary now than I used to be so I need to finish better. It all equals out in the end, but why not finish out on an upswing. I'm a lot sharper of an instrument for the Lord to use now than I was a year ago so why let that go to waste? Have a great week family! Please pray for the Cunninghams especially! Be safe!

 

Elder Ingy

September 19, 2011 Letter

Hey Family!

 

Well it's been a good week here in Hamilton like always. We are still gettin a lot done and Pat is still set for baptism this upcoming week. We had a sweet lesson with the Cunningham family last week. Although they are struggling with Joseph Smith being a prophet. It is such a different concept to them and they are well versed in the Bible so it's a change. If they will read the Book of Mormon and put Moroni's promise to the test they will receive an answer so really it's not so much of a concern as it is a waiting process. Only a matter of time. Eric and Brittany Davis are an interesting case. They have wanted to be baptized for a month now. Problem is they are unmarried have a newborn and are SCRAPING the bottom of the barrel financially. Eric works hard long hours, but only enough to put a roof over their head. They don't want to get married until he can get her a ring. Haha. I can't complain because that idea is what keeps our family in business, but at the same time it's the only thing holding them back from baptism. He only is looking at a cheap 400 dollar ring. For them that is through the roof cost though. He is saving tiny bit by tiny bit, but there is just no way he'll be able to pay for it anytime soon. He said if they can get the ring taken care of they will get married because they have wanted to forever anyways. The church can do a wedding practically for free, but we are looking to do some kind of fundraiser to make this ring thing happen. Being a missionary is a lot more than just being a teacher, I swear it's like being a marriage and financial counselor too. Anyways, we are working through that. We are getting ready to start teaching a few new people this week as well that have a lot of promise. The Schleight family as well as Doug Martin. Both member referrals. We rarely have to tract here which after Northern Kentucky all the time I spent in the heat on that bike and knocking doors I'm super appreciative with that concept! Nothing too exciting has happened though, just the everyday grind of being a missionary, the good and the tough. So I have been thinking. I talked to a missionary who is going home in January and he told me that the spring semester for BYU-I starts April 19.  I've prayed about this and think that I don't want to wait until fall to go to school. I'll get too bored with that much down time. So, I was thinking maybe I can go to school starting in April that way I will be busy after that first month and I could just live at home for that semester. Commute to class and set up my schedule for Monday through Thursday earlier in the morning. That way I can come home and go to the store and work for the rest of the day and on weekends I'll have all day to work.  I think living at home for that first bit would be a good idea just because I would like to be close to you all and have fun with the fam, but at the same time I want to be busy and have an institute class I can go to and a singles ward to go to on Sunday for church. Going back to the home ward for too long just doesn't sound all that appealing to be honest. I don't know anyone there and I'm at an age where I don't fit in there. So let me know what you think and if your okay with that start applying for that whenever you feel ya need to start. Stinking raiders, haha. They really screw things up don't they. I just had one of the missionaries who I knew that is home now send me an email and I open it up and it was the highlights of the Raiders game hahahaha. That little idiot! He knew I love the raiders and he knows I can't resist when it's right in front of my nose. I'm gonna write him back and give him an ear full hahaha. So anyways I saw a that they lost at the last second and it about made me tear up... They DO THIS EVERY YEAR! AHHH! They look like they are at least improving offensively though so that is good news. So College football season is in full swing. Sounds like that's all going good for BSU. Ill be honest dad I'd say I miss NFL more than college as well. College is the same teams every year, stinkin Oklahoma and Alabama and it gets old. GO BSU! How is Dyl doing? Is it starting to set in that he'll be leaving soon! He better not leave tell later in march or april i want to see that kid! Logan wrote me an email and told me he'll have a whole line of ladies waiting for me to date them by the time I get home. I'm holding him to it haha! He better not be selfish and forget about helping those people still out serving the Lord. Just kidding! lol. Anyways I really loved that scripture you talked about dad, Also that movie sounds awesome about the pioneers! Can't wait to see it. It's hard being on a mission in the states. Everywhere you go people are always watching movies when you show up and of course when we start the lesson we ask to turn the TV off, but at the same time it's hard because you don't want to be rude right off the bat and tell them to turn in off and deep down of course you want to see it so i get all these sneak previews of these movies that are apparently a year old that I haven't seen and it just kills ya inside haha. You see 5 minutes here, 5 minutes there of movies, your in restaurants you see highlights, your in stores and on the streets and you hear music. That is what is hard about the states. Foreign a lot of those temptations are taken completely away from you and your whole culture is different. That is what makes going foreign so hard, but I've found stateside is tough for me because Midwest is basketball and football central and without fail if it's Saturday wherever you go people are watching games and they don't want to turn them off so what do ya do? All these things you love are just waved in front of your face. I try avoiding those situations completely. See even as a missionary Satan finds ways to tempt you.  So it's not that the thing itself is wrong, it becomes wrong because we've been asked not to do it and we're breaking a promise. Well Family I love you all so much and hope that everything goes great! I miss you all and want you to know that your the best and I think about you every single day! Have an excellent week and be safe. Love ya!

 

Elder Ingy

September 12th, 2011 Letter

Fam!!!!

 

It's been a good week here in Hamilton as always. I don't think you can really have a BAD week on a mission. Some are rougher than others, but I get to feel the Spirit testify to me every single day of the truth and it helps to keep a smile on your face. Have you ever seen the DVD "Special Witnesses of Christ"? If not I would encourage you to get it. I saw it for the first time yesterday after church at a members home and I was absolutely blown away. We really do have living Apostles and Prophets on the Earth. What a blessing! I was thinking yesterday and I know this is far off in the future.... Just a thought though, if at all possible you should look into getting tickets for one of the Sunday sessions of General Conference for April when I get home. It's 2 weeks after I get back and I would really love to go see it in person if at all possible.

 

Anyway, here are the highlights of this past week.....

 

We were able to teach Jessie again... We brought brother Thomin with us and she felt more comfortable with everything, only bad part was she has been really sick this past week and was unable to come to church, but she has read more from the Book of Mormon and she will come this next week I think!

 

Next news is Kimmy's baptism went smoothly. She is awesome! The family was great too and it worked out really well because Sister RUIZ gave us a referal to go and visit her sister. She said she trusted us and felt we were the missionaries who could help her sister realzie the truth. That felt good to hear that members of the ward are trusting us with friends and family to teach because they know that we are capable and responsible.

 

We got to teach the Cunningham family on saturday!!! It was awesome! They have been so prepared. We gave them a baptismal date for October 15 and they accepted without hesitation. They do drink coffee so we will have to clear that up, but everything else doctorinely and socially they are converted to the church already! We have another lesson with them tonight. They have a great family, Jennifer (Mom) is so nice. She makes us cookies every time we go over there for a lesson haha! It's so awesome even though I don't really need cookies cuz im on 6 months to sexy. Oh well! They're great.

 

Pat Thomin is doing well! She was at church again yesterday and is all set for baptism on the 24th of September. She knows it's true and has seen the change the Gospel brought upon her son and his family and wants to be a part of it.

 

Eric and Brittany are still struggling with smoking, but want to set a baptismal date for October. They said they know it's all true and that they need to get married, quit smoking, and be baptized so we are gonna set a goal for that to happen.

 

The Cole family is really struggling. Since the death we have only gotten to see them the one time. We are praying for them and trying all we can to stay in contact.

 

We found a couple of new investigators. Jason and Jenny Tobkin. They are newly weds, just graduated from OSU and are living with Jason's parents. They are extremly active in ther church and strong Christian, but he has grown up around LDS families and feels the love at the church. He even went to seminary a couple times in high school so he feels it's only right to read the Book of Mormon and give it a shot! We see them again on Wednesday!

 

New things are on the horizon for this week as well.. New investigators as well as a RAIDERS VICTORY tonight!!!!! So seems like it's gonna be another exceptional week! Well family I better get going, but I love you all so much and appreciate you more and more every single day that I'm away. You really are the best family in the world! Have a safe week! I'll talk to ya again soon!

 

Elder Ingy

September 7, 2011 Letter

Another great week down in Hamilton!  We had a sweet picnic for the entire Cincy north stake at the park on Monday where we played soccer for preparation day and ate some great grub.  Yesterday I didn't get to write because we were up in Columbus all day for Zone Leader Council.  Then by the time that was over with we had appointments we were in a hurry to get back to.  Then this morning we had Zone meeting where we trained the zone on the things we learned at ZL Council.  We've had a lot of meetings lately.  I'll be honest, I kind of just want to get out and go back to work and seeing miracles and not talk about them so much. It sounds like everyone had a great week at the cabin.  I talk about the cabin with Elder Ballard all of the time.  He is big into the outdoors so we are always talking about things like that.  It's interesting how much more excited I am to fish and do outdoor things than I was before. You kind of take it for granted until you don't have it anymore.  The little ones seem to be doing Well great! They are definitely the life of the party aren't they? Ash and Linds are both getting so close to having 2 more; it's crazy how fast that flew by! It's going to be so weird for me to come back to all of the people.  Unfortunately having a comp that is going home, we still talk about it a lot because he is looking for my advice and comfort to accept that it's happening and it forces me to ponder how I'll feel.  It's no big deal though because I'm content with where I am.  I love the people of The Ohio.  This place has my heart and I think it always will to be honest.  The fondest memories of my life thus far have taken place here and I'm forever indebted to the Lord for every day that I got to struggle, complain, work, laugh, love, and see miracles here.  I'm glad I still have 6 months left to give my will to the Savior. We are so busy right now, it's great!  Teaching, Teaching, Teaching!!!  With all of the investigators that we have, it makes it hard to choose which ones to talk about in the time we have to write.  We are teaching the Cunningham family now.  They should be getting baptized sometime next month without a doubt.   Pat Thomin is doing awesome and she is going to get baptized now on the 24^th for sure.  Kimmy is getting baptized this Saturday at 4.  We had a cool experience with the Cole family.  They are struggling mightily with smoking so they will not be able to be baptized until we know for sure they can quit.  I don't know if I told you about Jake the older son.  He is only 13 and he already has been in rehab for drug abuse.  His real father used drugs and actually gave them to his son and got him hooked on them at like 11 years old.  Can you believe that?  Well, his dad actually committed suicide this past week.  When we went over to their house Jake wanted nothing to do with us at first, but we just started talking to him and asking him about his dad, what types of things they liked to do for fun together, what his best memories of him are, we taught him the plan of salvation and he realized he needed to make changes in his life and not take the path his father took.  He said his dad had an obsession with California and that he had planned on taking Jake out there to live someday when he turned 18.  He loved everything about California and I don't know why really.  As he was talking, he looked down at some Burger King coupons that were advertising the California Whopper for sale.  He started crying and said his dad would have loved that and he would have loved to go eat one with him. After the lesson we went to BK and bought him a Cali Whopper and knocked on his door and handed it to him.  He just started balling and came and gave us a big hug.  It was pretty amazing because this is one hardened kid and his barriers all tumbled down from one act of kindness.  I don't think he knows what it's like to be loved by people sincerely.  It made a huge difference.  Another cool experience was when we were searching out some part member families to teach we were having a hard time contacting anyone and after one particular door with no answer we felt promptings from the spirit to walk down that street.  Well sure enough a block down there was a lady sitting on her porch reading. We approached her and started talking and were able to introduce her to the Gospel.  She said she is a recovered drug user, and she has been looking for a church for a while.  She was Presbyterian growing up, but never felt like it was the right thing.  We set up a return appointment and we came back the next day and she had already read 12 chapters in the Book of Mormon and had a lot of great questions.  She was really sincere and said she wants to know if it's true.  Her only concern is that she wouldn't fit in with her past.  So we will resolve that by bringing Brother Terry Thomin along, the recent convert with the tattoo sleeves and rough exterior to show her that anyone can change and the Lord doesn't care who she's been.  All he wants is for her to change her future.  There are so many miracles happening in Hamilton and I love it! The Spirit is being poured out upon this place; it's the most ghetto place in the mission, but thriving right now.  Well second or third most ghetto besides Over the Rhine and Price Hill.  The members trust us a lot and they just keep working with us and helping us find people to teach, mix that with the people we find from personal contacting and its one blessed place!  So as far as training the missionaries goes, I love it haha.  Elder Ballard and I just talk for about two minutes on what we want to cover then go in there and follow the Spirit.  It works out pretty darn good!  We tried to make it fun for our zone today by doing a DOCTRINE OF CHRIST trivia game.  Whoever answered the question right got a chance to shoot a free throw if they made it they got a fun sized candy bar. It was a fun little game just to lighten things up a bit.  Then we went in there and trained and practiced teaching and the meeting was a success. I would love to be a Gospel Doctrine teacher when I get home.  It's the funnest part about church.  Getting to learn and then teaching the things you learn about.College football sounds like fun! Boise State is solid! Wahoo! They are always so dominate.  They will probably go undefeated this year because no one expects it!  I sure hope so!  Also, the NFL is starting huh?  That's awesome!  Can't wait for the Raiders to start up, even though I'll probably be let down again,that's okay. I live for the first couple of weeks when there is still hope until they are crushed!  Well family, I gotta get going.  Lots of work to be done today!  We are going on exchanges with the District Leader and his comp in Fairfield so we have got to meet up with them asap!  I love you all and I'll write you again on Monday since there are no meetings or holidays!  Have a great week and be safe!

Elder Ingy