Hey ya all. I hope you all are doin well. Hope your alls week was great. This week has been a pretty busy week over here in BV!!!!!! I hope you all know how greatful I am for every single one of you and the support you give to me. I thank you all so much. thank you.
Anyways like I said, this week has been pretty busy. I went on 3 exchanges this week. I went to one on tuesday with elder gurney, we ended up gettin invited to one of the college basket ball games it was pretty fun. I really enjoyed it it got me pretty excited because i wanted to go play. :) No but it was good. I guess the highlight of this week was stake conference. I had the opportunity to got to the saturday night adult session. I have a feeling all my other recent converts are going to be scared to be baptized by me because saturday night, Brenton the guy from Australia spoke. He did a really good job on his talk, and he found out like 10 minutes before the meeting started that he had to be at the church to be speak he did good for giving it at the last minute. haha :) so 2 outta my 7 recent converts have spoken at stake conference. haha. I was really proud of brenton, Just to be a witness to see how much these people change just within a couple months is pretty amazing. I know that the lord has prepared these people specifically to be put in path, I am greatful I have remained worthy of being able to bring the gospel into these peoples lives and that is what makes me happy is knowing I helped my father in heaven bring his children back to him. So at the saturday night session the stake president picked a non member football coach to speak of the importance of going on a mission it was pretty good. then the whole meeting was around missionary work and a bunch of recent converts stood up and talked about their conversion it was great, I really enjoyed that session. So I guess something cool that might be happening is they will be creating a student stake here in april. might mess with our mission and expand it but not to sure thought that was pretty cool. Then on Sunday we got a satellite broadcast of stake conference, we had the great privledge to hear from Elder piper ( yepp the one that came to our mission) then bishop Burton and sister allred, and Elder Richard G. Scott. It was such a special treat hearing from these general authorities. I like how elder scott testified of his love for his wife. I guess one thing that I learned was to tell my mom how much I love her :) Mom I love you so so much, I am so greatful an apostle told me to do this because I havent been doin it as often as i need to. I am so greatful for you love and support which you show to me as a missionary. I am greatful for how much you sacrafice to make our family better, I am thankful to know I have the best mom, I am thankful that you are my best friend, I am thankful that I have a wonderful example to look up to and has taught me to work so so hard, I am thankful for how much you push me in the gospel, I am thankful for you and that you are my mom. I love you to the moon and back mom. Elder Scott went on to share a story i thought was interesting, how he was fixing the washer for his wife and when she came home from work she said richard go play with the kids, he was puzzled he was like I am fixing this for you, she said go play with the kids, the next morning at 4 a.m one of his kids came up and kissed him on the cheek and said dad your my best friend. I am so greatful for all the times my mom has told me to watch my brothers and sister or to spend time with them or the family. because those are moments I cherish most. I am so greatful for my family, I love them , they are the best.
On saturday a guy named Brick Wilce got baptized!!!! Me and elder davis were the ones who started teaching him, but because we had to switch wards the other missionaries finished teachin him and baptized him this last saturday. It was a great baptism, I had the priviledge to speak on the holy ghost. I guess it was a good talk a bunch of people complemented on it. I was so greatful to see brick get baptized though, he had to make so many changes and it was good to see him on that special day. I guess I can count him as one of my recent converts.
We had to drop our elect persons baptismal date!! I guess he has other things that he needs to be doin before he gets baptized, He said he really feels like he needs a testimony which is one thing I hope we can help him with that. I guess he is going to continue to come to church. and go to an addiction recovery class. So hopefully soon we can help him be baptized.
I have learned so much in this buena vista area. I know that there isnt alot of teachin sometimes not even alot of things to do, but if there is a couple things I have learned, its to stay happy through hard times, no matter how hard it gets to always stay happy, I have learned to always turn to my father in heaven for help. when times are rough and things are weighing me down i always turn to my father in heaven for hep. Its been a blessing and its really eased my load. I love this work and I am so greatful to be serving in BV.
I wanted to say congrats for brecklyn gettin married. I hope you have and awesome day cuz and I sure love ya. i hope your doin good and your family as well. HAVE A HAPPY DAY!!!
Well you all transfers are next week, so dont send letters . . I will let you all know next tuesday whats goin on. I love you all so much , I hope you all have a great week. thank you so much for everything. god bless.
-elder bentley
moroni 8:3
Monday, February 27, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
February 21, 2012
Whats going on ya all!!! I hope you all had a lovely valentines day. I hope your week was great. Well it finally snowed yesterday, we got pounded with snow!!! Its great, me and another missionary got done with planning last night and went helped members build an igloo turned out pretty good. Although I rolled a big snow ball it broke like 3 times, so last night was pretty fun, not sure if my companion enjoyed it but its alright. Its so tempting to go sledding today not sure if we are allowed so might hold off on that haha. :)
Anyways this week has been such a great week for our area and for our district. Dont even know where to start this email i am excited!!!!!
Well we think we have found our ELECT this week, we think we completed the promise from elder piper!!!! WE are so excited, so you all ready for an awesome story?!?!?!
So this week me and elder davis had just finished lunch. When we decided to check our phone before we headed out , we had a message on our phone from the institute, a member we knew left a message and said " hey, elders i got some exciting news you all are going to love to hear!!! she handed the phone to another person, it was our investigator we meet the week after elder piper gave us that promise. :) he said hey elder this is blah blah blah. . . I have decided to go ahead and get baptized!!! so ya if you all could help me with that it would be great!!!!!" Me and elder davis got so pumped!!! we called him back ran up to the institute and taught him, now he has a baptisimal date for march 3!!! We have already taught him 3 times this week!!! He has given up everything to be baptized smoking drinking everything on order to be baptized by march 3!!! He came to church yesterday, so we are pretty stoked I might get a 2 week baptism!?!?! The lord is really blessing us with so many people to teach.
This week we went on exchanges with president pitt, we had a pretty funny experience, we got done showing jason the church where he was going to get baptized, president pitt called us and said we are turning BV bike into BV car "for the day." Sad part was we missed for the day part, when elder davis got off the phone he got really excited , and said " ELDER WE ARE FINALLY GETTIN A CAR"!!!! but we got up there and to our disappointment we didnt have a car it was just for the day haha. That was pretty funny. But we went on exchanges with president pitt he meet jason, then helped us teach adam and then we went and tried a bunch of people and were able to find a family that we are going to start teaching on wenesday!!! we are pretty excited, we got 2 families that might be teachin this week :) and we were able to find 2 other people that we might teach as well in bv this week. so things are lookin up for us:) I was so nervous to teach with president pitt, I like how he is so bold, loving and friendly to everyone he meets and always tries to keep a foot in a door he doesnt give up on anyone :)
WE GOT A BAPTISM THIS WEEK!!!! jason was so excited we were teaching a lesson right next door while he was getting his interview on thursday, we were about to wrap up the lesson, when all of a sudden jason starts screaming excitedly :) it was hilarious, we knew that he passed, we ended our lesson ran outside jason ran and started jumping around, I have never seen someone so stoked for baptism, It was so awesome, it brought such a great big smile to my face. It makes me so happy to see these people I teach make these commitments there has not been a baptism on my mission where I havent felt the spirit the spirit is always so strong at these baptism. I am grateful for these experiences. They lift me and make my testimony grow so much. So elder partridge and his companion baptized someone in a river this week it was pretty awesome, my camera died so I wasnt able to take pictures but It was such an awesome baptism!!! I was jealous a lil bit . We told jason who got baptized this week he should get baptized in a shark tank and beat gettin baptized in a river haha:). So far we have had 3 baptism in my district and we are planning on havin 8 baptisms this transfer. We are all so excited and so stoked for this transfer its great!!!
I found an awesome scripture this week, now I know all of us experience hard times in our life, i do especially but I read this scripture the other day that re assured me that I need to be happy and not let anything bring me down I love this scripture in 2 nephi 10:20
" and now, my beloved brethren, seeing that our merciful god has given us so great knowledge concerning these things, let us remember him, and lay aside our sins, and not hang down our heads, for we are not cast off."
Let us not hang down our heads, once trials come and we hang down our heads, it will be tougher to make it through. Whatever curve balls we get let us not hang down our heads, what ever life throws at ya do not hang down head, I remember I played baseball alot growin up, I was not really the best at it but I tried, whenever I get up to bat I would miss the ball and most of the time strike out because my head was down. I remember my coaches always use to tell me keep your eye on the ball. Let us always remeber not to keep our heads down, but look up so we can make the most of our at bat. I pray that you all you will be able to overcome your challenges, Let us remember him always in all things we do , because I know he is there to help every single one of you. Let us remember always How Much He Loves You!!!!
I love you all so much. I thank you for takin the time to read these emails, I know they are not perfect but I hope they help. I thank you all for everything you do for me and my wonderful family. I hope you all have such a great day. I love you. i pray for you and may the lords richest blessings be upon you all!!! I love you!!!!
love elder bentley
moroni 8:3
Monday, February 13, 2012
February 13, 2012
Hello friends and family!!!!!!!!!! Alright this week has been freezing!!!! winter has finally arrived in Virginia. I hope you all are doin well. Hope your week has been full of LOVE and that your enjoying the valentines day spirit:) I am so glad I dont have to worry about this holiday at least for another year. It really saves you money. :) Well this week was great and alot of great things lay in store for us and for our area.
Its so crazy for me to think that a year ago I was in the mtc!!! So crazy to think, It didnt even feel like a year has gone by. But I hope this year slows down so I can enjoy the mission life. I love my mission and it just gets better day by day. I love the trials and hard things I go through on my mission because I know they are only there to build me and make me stronger. I love the experience I am having and for how much I have grown to love the scriptures and being apart of this great work. Being a missionary is great.
This week is going to be really exciting because we are getting a baptism this week!!! We are pretty stoked for that!!! Although are person being baptized is going through such a hard time. Its really sad, but the coolest part is he is staying positive through it all!!! We are so excited for him. all he needs is one more interview which we are hoping he will pass, then he is on his way for this weekend. A guy I interviewed for baptism a couple weeks ago got baptized this last saturday. It was amazing to see all the changes he had to make in order to get baptized. This brother had a hard time breakin the habbit for smoking but the missionaries promised him something way cool. They said, "brother if you read the book of mormon everyday, I promise you will get baptized" It was an amazing promise. So instead of smoking he picked up the book of mormon and read everyday, this brother was able to stop smoking and is doing great !!!!!!!! You would have never thought this guy would be able to make those changes, but he did, and it was through faith that he was able to make those changes. It was an amazing baptism and the spirit was so strong, I was thinkin when I get home I am going to as missonary baptisms as I can because the spirit is amazing.
So this week I have been reading the scriptures so much. Like always because this time I have noticed things I have never noticed before. I came across a scripture today I have really grown to love. its in mosiah.
11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.
12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.
I really loved this scripture, I love the blessing from verse 12. I really love how it says we should humble ourselves in depths of humilty. I have been ponderin that line over and over again. i really in order to recieve blessings I gotta humble myself, and call on my father in heaven in faith. I realized prayer is more than just gettin on our knees and saying a faithfull prayer, we really should think about who we are talking to and show humilty to him who blesses us daily. I know that is true , I know our father in heaven will bless us as we humble ourselves. I realixe I can pray with much more meaning and we should treat every prayer with respect show that love to him who loves us most. i guess a good example of this would be, when we invite our investigators to pray recently it seems as if they are scared to pray as if someone is going to judge their prayers, but when they pray I can really tell they are communicating with god. that they are showing that humility for them, i have come to love hearing my investigators and those i teach pray , its amazing. I love that scripture.
Well life is pretty good for me, I hope you all know how greatful I am for you, I can tell this week is going to be so great!! I hope and pray we can find that elect person who is being prepared for us we are hoping to find them this week, we think we have an idea on who it is. :) I am excited. I know that the lord has blessed me so much in my life with such wonderful blessings. family friends most of all MY MISSION!!! I hope you all have such a great week. and remember i love ya. And most of all lets us express that love our father in heaven who loves us most this Valentines day!!!! I LOVE YA!!!!!! have a great week.
Happy valentines day.
love elder bentley:
moroni 8:3
Its so crazy for me to think that a year ago I was in the mtc!!! So crazy to think, It didnt even feel like a year has gone by. But I hope this year slows down so I can enjoy the mission life. I love my mission and it just gets better day by day. I love the trials and hard things I go through on my mission because I know they are only there to build me and make me stronger. I love the experience I am having and for how much I have grown to love the scriptures and being apart of this great work. Being a missionary is great.
This week is going to be really exciting because we are getting a baptism this week!!! We are pretty stoked for that!!! Although are person being baptized is going through such a hard time. Its really sad, but the coolest part is he is staying positive through it all!!! We are so excited for him. all he needs is one more interview which we are hoping he will pass, then he is on his way for this weekend. A guy I interviewed for baptism a couple weeks ago got baptized this last saturday. It was amazing to see all the changes he had to make in order to get baptized. This brother had a hard time breakin the habbit for smoking but the missionaries promised him something way cool. They said, "brother if you read the book of mormon everyday, I promise you will get baptized" It was an amazing promise. So instead of smoking he picked up the book of mormon and read everyday, this brother was able to stop smoking and is doing great !!!!!!!! You would have never thought this guy would be able to make those changes, but he did, and it was through faith that he was able to make those changes. It was an amazing baptism and the spirit was so strong, I was thinkin when I get home I am going to as missonary baptisms as I can because the spirit is amazing.
So this week I have been reading the scriptures so much. Like always because this time I have noticed things I have never noticed before. I came across a scripture today I have really grown to love. its in mosiah.
11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.
12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.
I really loved this scripture, I love the blessing from verse 12. I really love how it says we should humble ourselves in depths of humilty. I have been ponderin that line over and over again. i really in order to recieve blessings I gotta humble myself, and call on my father in heaven in faith. I realized prayer is more than just gettin on our knees and saying a faithfull prayer, we really should think about who we are talking to and show humilty to him who blesses us daily. I know that is true , I know our father in heaven will bless us as we humble ourselves. I realixe I can pray with much more meaning and we should treat every prayer with respect show that love to him who loves us most. i guess a good example of this would be, when we invite our investigators to pray recently it seems as if they are scared to pray as if someone is going to judge their prayers, but when they pray I can really tell they are communicating with god. that they are showing that humility for them, i have come to love hearing my investigators and those i teach pray , its amazing. I love that scripture.
Well life is pretty good for me, I hope you all know how greatful I am for you, I can tell this week is going to be so great!! I hope and pray we can find that elect person who is being prepared for us we are hoping to find them this week, we think we have an idea on who it is. :) I am excited. I know that the lord has blessed me so much in my life with such wonderful blessings. family friends most of all MY MISSION!!! I hope you all have such a great week. and remember i love ya. And most of all lets us express that love our father in heaven who loves us most this Valentines day!!!! I LOVE YA!!!!!! have a great week.
Happy valentines day.
love elder bentley:
moroni 8:3
February 13, 2012
Begin forwarded message:
From: ernielawes@gmail.com
Date: February 6, 2012 5:51:15 PM MST
To: kris mclaws
Subject: Re: the final countdown!!!
Hi McLaws'
I appreciate getting all the emails from Elder Bentley, he is doing exactly the right thing at exactly the right time in his life. He will be forever grateful that he did and that you supported him in his service to others. His Sevice will profoundly affect the lives of all he meets and works with. The Holy Ghost will make that sure they feel both his love for them and the Savior's love.
President Lawes
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 6, 2012, at 10:28 AM, kris mclaws wrote:
Sent from my iPad
Begin forwarded message:
From: Chaz Bentley
Date: February 6, 2012 10:06:20 AM MST
To: kris mclaws
Subject: the final countdown!!!
Hello family and friends!!!!! Well I reached my year mark I feel so old haha!!!!! I wonder what my mom would think if I extended my misson. :) . So this week has been pretty great!!!!!! We have been stayin busy, the weather , you know is amazing couldnt be any better thats for sure. Well I hope your week was great and you all are doing well. I pray that my family is experiencing the blessings of missionary work, because thats what matters most as long as they are recieving the blessings.
What a WEEK!!!!!!!!!! We are having a baptism on Febuary 11. We have been teaching this one guy who is college age but doesnt go to svu and our visits have been so amazing!! So we taught him on tuesday about the word of wisdom. and he is giving up smoking and drinking and everything!!!! he hasnt done anything besides the day after we taught him that, he said my water is nasty and they have to clean it or something so he went to the fridge it was either vodka or tea, good thing he chose tea because thats kinda better than alchol, but still no excues haha since then he is doing great and obeying that commandment, then we meet with him saturday and he asked us if he could move his baptisimal date up, we said of course!!! so he going to be baptized on Febuary 18 and getting interviewed this thursday!!!! Things are great for him. He said he loves this church and he feels like this is where he is supposed to be!!!!! Its been so great to see him make a change for the better, to watch him change from his old life style and choose the path thats best for him. he said he is making much better friends and having so much fun. I am proud of him and all my recent converts who I have been willing to help and be a witness of the savior being apart of their lives. It truely is amazing!!! We are so close to finding the elect in our area so close!!!!!! The lord is blessing us so much and now we just have to act on those people and get em baptized. We were so excited to have one of our investigators that we have been working with finally come to church for the first time after 3 months with her son. that made us so happy to hear that she was coming!!!!! I hope her experience was postive and we cant wait to sit down and meet with her and answer her questions. I am excited!!!! We were willing to set a baptisimal date with someone in BV I hope we can help this baptism go through its on March 3 going to cross my fingers!!! We also ran into a former this week that we might start teaching i am excited. things are great on our neck of the woods.
So we had the funniest sacrament meetings yesterday. In our first sacrament meeting that we went to, thia girl was bearing her testimony on how her parents finially went to church for the first time, it was so spiritual!!!! when all of a sudden, the girl said " so my parent finally came to church" and then this baby yells out "oh no" at the most perfect time, the whole congregation just busted up laughing. It was so great one of the best sacrament meetings i have ever seen!!! :)
So this morning I was reading from second nephi and I loved these 2 verses in 12-13 :
12 But, behold, they shall have wars, and rumors of wars; and when the day cometh that the Only Begotten of the Father, yea, even the Father of heaven and of earth, shall manifest himself unto them in the flesh, behold, they will reject him, because of their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and the stiffness of their necks.
13 Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name.
These 2 verses I really loved. I pondered these verses morning again and again and again just thinking of my savior, my friend and the love and kindness that he showed just for me by going through so much. I thought about my weakness and all the trials and hard times i go through. Its rough, its hard , its not easy. But as I thought this morning I know that was my savior was called to do to ease those things that weigh me down in my life, I know that its through him I can return to my father in heaven , who I know loves me so much. who carries me in my weakest times. who supports me. I pray that I can become like him, that I will use that special gift of repentance as much as I can for my benefit so I can be worthy before him. I know im not perfect, but i strive constantly to be as he his and sometimes I fail, but i know that repentance can bring us to a higher plane and can only bring us closer to him. I hope and i pray that my savior knows how much I love him and father in heaven. I know that these things are true with all my heart and "I know that my redeemer lives".
Micah James. . . I want you to know how much I love you buddy. . . I am so greatful for you and everything that you do for me. Bud I pray that you will continue to set that example within our family, serve a mission, I promise you so many people are waiting for you and your awesome spirit. I know that you can change lives bud and you would do great wherever you go. I love you buddy so much. I hope you have an awesome week. stay stron and firm in the gospel. if you get the chance read alma 26 i love this scripture about ammon telling us about his mission. I love you buddy. forever strong!!!
I love you all so much. I pray for each and everyone of you everyday. I hope you all have an awesome week. I love you!!!!
-elder bentley
moroni 8 :3
From: ernielawes@gmail.com
Date: February 6, 2012 5:51:15 PM MST
To: kris mclaws
Subject: Re: the final countdown!!!
Hi McLaws'
I appreciate getting all the emails from Elder Bentley, he is doing exactly the right thing at exactly the right time in his life. He will be forever grateful that he did and that you supported him in his service to others. His Sevice will profoundly affect the lives of all he meets and works with. The Holy Ghost will make that sure they feel both his love for them and the Savior's love.
President Lawes
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 6, 2012, at 10:28 AM, kris mclaws
Sent from my iPad
Begin forwarded message:
From: Chaz Bentley
Date: February 6, 2012 10:06:20 AM MST
To: kris mclaws
Subject: the final countdown!!!
Hello family and friends!!!!! Well I reached my year mark I feel so old haha!!!!! I wonder what my mom would think if I extended my misson. :) . So this week has been pretty great!!!!!! We have been stayin busy, the weather , you know is amazing couldnt be any better thats for sure. Well I hope your week was great and you all are doing well. I pray that my family is experiencing the blessings of missionary work, because thats what matters most as long as they are recieving the blessings.
What a WEEK!!!!!!!!!! We are having a baptism on Febuary 11. We have been teaching this one guy who is college age but doesnt go to svu and our visits have been so amazing!! So we taught him on tuesday about the word of wisdom. and he is giving up smoking and drinking and everything!!!! he hasnt done anything besides the day after we taught him that, he said my water is nasty and they have to clean it or something so he went to the fridge it was either vodka or tea, good thing he chose tea because thats kinda better than alchol, but still no excues haha since then he is doing great and obeying that commandment, then we meet with him saturday and he asked us if he could move his baptisimal date up, we said of course!!! so he going to be baptized on Febuary 18 and getting interviewed this thursday!!!! Things are great for him. He said he loves this church and he feels like this is where he is supposed to be!!!!! Its been so great to see him make a change for the better, to watch him change from his old life style and choose the path thats best for him. he said he is making much better friends and having so much fun. I am proud of him and all my recent converts who I have been willing to help and be a witness of the savior being apart of their lives. It truely is amazing!!! We are so close to finding the elect in our area so close!!!!!! The lord is blessing us so much and now we just have to act on those people and get em baptized. We were so excited to have one of our investigators that we have been working with finally come to church for the first time after 3 months with her son. that made us so happy to hear that she was coming!!!!! I hope her experience was postive and we cant wait to sit down and meet with her and answer her questions. I am excited!!!! We were willing to set a baptisimal date with someone in BV I hope we can help this baptism go through its on March 3 going to cross my fingers!!! We also ran into a former this week that we might start teaching i am excited. things are great on our neck of the woods.
So we had the funniest sacrament meetings yesterday. In our first sacrament meeting that we went to, thia girl was bearing her testimony on how her parents finially went to church for the first time, it was so spiritual!!!! when all of a sudden, the girl said " so my parent finally came to church" and then this baby yells out "oh no" at the most perfect time, the whole congregation just busted up laughing. It was so great one of the best sacrament meetings i have ever seen!!! :)
So this morning I was reading from second nephi and I loved these 2 verses in 12-13 :
12 But, behold, they shall have wars, and rumors of wars; and when the day cometh that the Only Begotten of the Father, yea, even the Father of heaven and of earth, shall manifest himself unto them in the flesh, behold, they will reject him, because of their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and the stiffness of their necks.
13 Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name.
These 2 verses I really loved. I pondered these verses morning again and again and again just thinking of my savior, my friend and the love and kindness that he showed just for me by going through so much. I thought about my weakness and all the trials and hard times i go through. Its rough, its hard , its not easy. But as I thought this morning I know that was my savior was called to do to ease those things that weigh me down in my life, I know that its through him I can return to my father in heaven , who I know loves me so much. who carries me in my weakest times. who supports me. I pray that I can become like him, that I will use that special gift of repentance as much as I can for my benefit so I can be worthy before him. I know im not perfect, but i strive constantly to be as he his and sometimes I fail, but i know that repentance can bring us to a higher plane and can only bring us closer to him. I hope and i pray that my savior knows how much I love him and father in heaven. I know that these things are true with all my heart and "I know that my redeemer lives".
Micah James. . . I want you to know how much I love you buddy. . . I am so greatful for you and everything that you do for me. Bud I pray that you will continue to set that example within our family, serve a mission, I promise you so many people are waiting for you and your awesome spirit. I know that you can change lives bud and you would do great wherever you go. I love you buddy so much. I hope you have an awesome week. stay stron and firm in the gospel. if you get the chance read alma 26 i love this scripture about ammon telling us about his mission. I love you buddy. forever strong!!!
I love you all so much. I pray for each and everyone of you everyday. I hope you all have an awesome week. I love you!!!!
-elder bentley
moroni 8 :3
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
February 6, 2012
Hello family and friends!!!!! Well I reached my year mark I feel so old haha!!!!! I wonder what my mom would think if I extended my misson. :) . So this week has been pretty great!!!!!! We have been stayin busy, the weather , you know is amazing couldnt be any better thats for sure. Well I hope your week was great and you all are doing well. I pray that my family is experiencing the blessings of missionary work, because thats what matters most as long as they are recieving the blessings.
What a WEEK!!!!!!!!!! We are having a baptism on Febuary 11. We have been teaching this one guy who is college age but doesnt go to svu and our visits have been so amazing!! So we taught him on tuesday about the word of wisdom. and he is giving up smoking and drinking and everything!!!! he hasnt done anything besides the day after we taught him that, he said my water is nasty and they have to clean it or something so he went to the fridge it was either vodka or tea, good thing he chose tea because thats kinda better than alchol, but still no excues haha since then he is doing great and obeying that commandment, then we meet with him saturday and he asked us if he could move his baptisimal date up, we said of course!!! so he going to be baptized on Febuary 18 and getting interviewed this thursday!!!! Things are great for him. He said he loves this church and he feels like this is where he is supposed to be!!!!! Its been so great to see him make a change for the better, to watch him change from his old life style and choose the path thats best for him. he said he is making much better friends and having so much fun. I am proud of him and all my recent converts who I have been willing to help and be a witness of the savior being apart of their lives. It truely is amazing!!! We are so close to finding the elect in our area so close!!!!!! The lord is blessing us so much and now we just have to act on those people and get em baptized. We were so excited to have one of our investigators that we have been working with finally come to church for the first time after 3 months with her son. that made us so happy to hear that she was coming!!!!! I hope her experience was postive and we cant wait to sit down and meet with her and answer her questions. I am excited!!!! We were willing to set a baptisimal date with someone in BV I hope we can help this baptism go through its on March 3 going to cross my fingers!!! We also ran into a former this week that we might start teaching i am excited. things are great on our neck of the woods.
So we had the funniest sacrament meetings yesterday. In our first sacrament meeting that we went to, thia girl was bearing her testimony on how her parents finially went to church for the first time, it was so spiritual!!!! when all of a sudden, the girl said " so my parent finally came to church" and then this baby yells out "oh no" at the most perfect time, the whole congregation just busted up laughing. It was so great one of the best sacrament meetings i have ever seen!!! :)
So this morning I was reading from second nephi and I loved these 2 verses in 12-13 :
12 But, behold, they shall have wars, and rumors of wars; and when the day cometh that the Only Begotten of the Father, yea, even the Father of heaven and of earth, shall manifest himself unto them in the flesh, behold, they will reject him, because of their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and the stiffness of their necks.
13 Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name.
These 2 verses I really loved. I pondered these verses morning again and again and again just thinking of my savior, my friend and the love and kindness that he showed just for me by going through so much. I thought about my weakness and all the trials and hard times i go through. Its rough, its hard , its not easy. But as I thought this morning I know that was my savior was called to do to ease those things that weigh me down in my life, I know that its through him I can return to my father in heaven , who I know loves me so much. who carries me in my weakest times. who supports me. I pray that I can become like him, that I will use that special gift of repentance as much as I can for my benefit so I can be worthy before him. I know im not perfect, but i strive constantly to be as he his and sometimes I fail, but i know that repentance can bring us to a higher plane and can only bring us closer to him. I hope and i pray that my savior knows how much I love him and father in heaven. I know that these things are true with all my heart and "I know that my redeemer lives".
Micah James. . . I want you to know how much I love you buddy. . . I am so greatful for you and everything that you do for me. Bud I pray that you will continue to set that example within our family, serve a mission, I promise you so many people are waiting for you and your awesome spirit. I know that you can change lives bud and you would do great wherever you go. I love you buddy so much. I hope you have an awesome week. stay stron and firm in the gospel. if you get the chance read alma 26 i love this scripture about ammon telling us about his mission. I love you buddy. forever strong!!!
I love you all so much. I pray for each and everyone of you everyday. I hope you all have an awesome week. I love you!!!!
-elder bentley
moroni 8 :3
What a WEEK!!!!!!!!!! We are having a baptism on Febuary 11. We have been teaching this one guy who is college age but doesnt go to svu and our visits have been so amazing!! So we taught him on tuesday about the word of wisdom. and he is giving up smoking and drinking and everything!!!! he hasnt done anything besides the day after we taught him that, he said my water is nasty and they have to clean it or something so he went to the fridge it was either vodka or tea, good thing he chose tea because thats kinda better than alchol, but still no excues haha since then he is doing great and obeying that commandment, then we meet with him saturday and he asked us if he could move his baptisimal date up, we said of course!!! so he going to be baptized on Febuary 18 and getting interviewed this thursday!!!! Things are great for him. He said he loves this church and he feels like this is where he is supposed to be!!!!! Its been so great to see him make a change for the better, to watch him change from his old life style and choose the path thats best for him. he said he is making much better friends and having so much fun. I am proud of him and all my recent converts who I have been willing to help and be a witness of the savior being apart of their lives. It truely is amazing!!! We are so close to finding the elect in our area so close!!!!!! The lord is blessing us so much and now we just have to act on those people and get em baptized. We were so excited to have one of our investigators that we have been working with finally come to church for the first time after 3 months with her son. that made us so happy to hear that she was coming!!!!! I hope her experience was postive and we cant wait to sit down and meet with her and answer her questions. I am excited!!!! We were willing to set a baptisimal date with someone in BV I hope we can help this baptism go through its on March 3 going to cross my fingers!!! We also ran into a former this week that we might start teaching i am excited. things are great on our neck of the woods.
So we had the funniest sacrament meetings yesterday. In our first sacrament meeting that we went to, thia girl was bearing her testimony on how her parents finially went to church for the first time, it was so spiritual!!!! when all of a sudden, the girl said " so my parent finally came to church" and then this baby yells out "oh no" at the most perfect time, the whole congregation just busted up laughing. It was so great one of the best sacrament meetings i have ever seen!!! :)
So this morning I was reading from second nephi and I loved these 2 verses in 12-13 :
12 But, behold, they shall have wars, and rumors of wars; and when the day cometh that the Only Begotten of the Father, yea, even the Father of heaven and of earth, shall manifest himself unto them in the flesh, behold, they will reject him, because of their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and the stiffness of their necks.
13 Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name.
These 2 verses I really loved. I pondered these verses morning again and again and again just thinking of my savior, my friend and the love and kindness that he showed just for me by going through so much. I thought about my weakness and all the trials and hard times i go through. Its rough, its hard , its not easy. But as I thought this morning I know that was my savior was called to do to ease those things that weigh me down in my life, I know that its through him I can return to my father in heaven , who I know loves me so much. who carries me in my weakest times. who supports me. I pray that I can become like him, that I will use that special gift of repentance as much as I can for my benefit so I can be worthy before him. I know im not perfect, but i strive constantly to be as he his and sometimes I fail, but i know that repentance can bring us to a higher plane and can only bring us closer to him. I hope and i pray that my savior knows how much I love him and father in heaven. I know that these things are true with all my heart and "I know that my redeemer lives".
Micah James. . . I want you to know how much I love you buddy. . . I am so greatful for you and everything that you do for me. Bud I pray that you will continue to set that example within our family, serve a mission, I promise you so many people are waiting for you and your awesome spirit. I know that you can change lives bud and you would do great wherever you go. I love you buddy so much. I hope you have an awesome week. stay stron and firm in the gospel. if you get the chance read alma 26 i love this scripture about ammon telling us about his mission. I love you buddy. forever strong!!!
I love you all so much. I pray for each and everyone of you everyday. I hope you all have an awesome week. I love you!!!!
-elder bentley
moroni 8 :3
Friday, February 3, 2012
January 30, 2012
Well hello everyone!!!!!!!!! I hope you all have had a great week!!!! It got pretty cold on us this week. I miss the hot arizona weather. But thank goodness its not snowing and its been like an arizona winter, its amazing. Can you all believe I have been out a year it went by so fast!! its crazy!!!
Well this week has been pretty fun. I had another pretty cool experience this week. If there is one thing I have grown to learn it is not to cut the lords work early to go back to the apartment. I know that the lord will bless us with people to find even if time seems so little and doesnt matter. This week we got done with a book of mormon class that we were doing. It was like 8:30 p.m. We decided we would go try this one apartment complex where we had a refferal. We got to the apartment complex the people ended up not answering the door. we went down the stairs and before stepping outside the apartment complex, I said Elder Davis lets pray and see what we can do for these last 20 minutes, Elder davis prayed and while he was praying I felt like we needed to go to a certain street close by. It came clearly to my mind where we should go and I knew it was the spirit. We were carrying a plate of cookies that a member made for us, and while walking there someone from the mission presidency stopped us on the street and asked if we would like chinese food we said sure, so while walking to this steet we were carrying a full meal. I thought it was akward and I wondered if we were going to bless someones night by giving them dinner. Anyways we got to the steet where we were supposed to be. We knocked on a house and no one answered so we continued along the steet we ended up skiping a house and went directly to a house that had doors wide open!! we went and knocked but no one came to the door, when all of a sudden 2 guys walk out of the house that we skipped. . . they told us that an old lady lived there. we went down to introduce ourselves to them. One of the guys went and shut the door and ran back to his place to grab his headphones. we ended up talking to one of the guys that stayed outside and asked if he would be interested in hearing about what we have to share as missionaries. he said for sure!!! then his friend came back we proceeded to ask him and he said for sure. I know that we were supposed to talk to those two guys. I hope we will be able to follow up with one of them and teach them. I am greatful for this opportunity which I had to listen to the spirit and seek out the lords help in those minutes.
I want you all to know I got a strong testimony of this gospel. I love this work so much. This past year I have really grown to love my father in heaven. I am greatful for pray and the opportunity which I have to communicate with him at anytime. I have really been able to count on him to help me, he is someone I know i can trust as friend. I love him. I love serving him. I am so indeed greatful to be a represenative of my savior Jesus Christ. I know I stand as his represenative at all times and in all things and in all places, I know he sacraficed for every single one of us so we can be with our loving heavenly father. I am greatful to know that my savior is willing to forgive of all my weakness, I make so many mistakes but I pray that through the atonement he will help make my weak things become strong. I love him . I pray that I will serve my fullest this year to improve on my weaknesses. I remember a year ago I was sittting on that plane to salt lake. I promised my father I would give him 110% . I pray that i will give only that. I am so greatful to be a missonary of this church. I know that this church is true. We are so blessed to have a prophet that talks to god. I am so greatful for my family friends I love you all so much. Thank You for being my support, thank you for keeping me motivated. I love you all so much. I pray that we always remember to share the gospel whenever we have that blessed opportunity. I love you all so much have such a great week.
-elder bentley
moroni 8:3
P.S i promise next weeks email will be better:)
Well this week has been pretty fun. I had another pretty cool experience this week. If there is one thing I have grown to learn it is not to cut the lords work early to go back to the apartment. I know that the lord will bless us with people to find even if time seems so little and doesnt matter. This week we got done with a book of mormon class that we were doing. It was like 8:30 p.m. We decided we would go try this one apartment complex where we had a refferal. We got to the apartment complex the people ended up not answering the door. we went down the stairs and before stepping outside the apartment complex, I said Elder Davis lets pray and see what we can do for these last 20 minutes, Elder davis prayed and while he was praying I felt like we needed to go to a certain street close by. It came clearly to my mind where we should go and I knew it was the spirit. We were carrying a plate of cookies that a member made for us, and while walking there someone from the mission presidency stopped us on the street and asked if we would like chinese food we said sure, so while walking to this steet we were carrying a full meal. I thought it was akward and I wondered if we were going to bless someones night by giving them dinner. Anyways we got to the steet where we were supposed to be. We knocked on a house and no one answered so we continued along the steet we ended up skiping a house and went directly to a house that had doors wide open!! we went and knocked but no one came to the door, when all of a sudden 2 guys walk out of the house that we skipped. . . they told us that an old lady lived there. we went down to introduce ourselves to them. One of the guys went and shut the door and ran back to his place to grab his headphones. we ended up talking to one of the guys that stayed outside and asked if he would be interested in hearing about what we have to share as missionaries. he said for sure!!! then his friend came back we proceeded to ask him and he said for sure. I know that we were supposed to talk to those two guys. I hope we will be able to follow up with one of them and teach them. I am greatful for this opportunity which I had to listen to the spirit and seek out the lords help in those minutes.
I want you all to know I got a strong testimony of this gospel. I love this work so much. This past year I have really grown to love my father in heaven. I am greatful for pray and the opportunity which I have to communicate with him at anytime. I have really been able to count on him to help me, he is someone I know i can trust as friend. I love him. I love serving him. I am so indeed greatful to be a represenative of my savior Jesus Christ. I know I stand as his represenative at all times and in all things and in all places, I know he sacraficed for every single one of us so we can be with our loving heavenly father. I am greatful to know that my savior is willing to forgive of all my weakness, I make so many mistakes but I pray that through the atonement he will help make my weak things become strong. I love him . I pray that I will serve my fullest this year to improve on my weaknesses. I remember a year ago I was sittting on that plane to salt lake. I promised my father I would give him 110% . I pray that i will give only that. I am so greatful to be a missonary of this church. I know that this church is true. We are so blessed to have a prophet that talks to god. I am so greatful for my family friends I love you all so much. Thank You for being my support, thank you for keeping me motivated. I love you all so much. I pray that we always remember to share the gospel whenever we have that blessed opportunity. I love you all so much have such a great week.
-elder bentley
moroni 8:3
P.S i promise next weeks email will be better:)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)