September 24, 2012

family and friends whats happenin!! Well i hope your week has been so great!!! I know that it has been a great week for us here in the Vinton area !!! I love you all and i sure do miss you!!!

This week we had a BAptism!! Jeremy our investigator got baptized it was awesome haha he was singing and dancing before his baptism he was so excited. My testimony has grown so much these past 5 weeks, i know that the lord is preparing people EVERYWHERE no matter where we go we can find the elect!!!!! Elder Clay had the great opportunity to baptism, i think most of  my happiness comes from seeing others happy it gives me the excitement to keep going!! But the work doesnt stop we got alot of more work to do here in Vinton we are going to help this place be the top baptizing area in the mission haha. I am so greatful to be able to be here I know that my father in heaven knows me and exactly what I need I am greatful to be in the service of Gods children and I know that this work is true!!

I wanted to send a quick shout out to my good friend Ashley Cox I hope you have an amazing BIrthday !!! you sure are awesome and I hope you are having a blast in Hawii!! Wish I could go there haha. Well I hope you have an amazing day ashley. thank you for everything . love ya friend!!

Well I love you all so much I am sorry this email is so short but we are going to play football with other missionaries. But I just want you all know to know that I love being able to serve! I love my recent converts and how much they have strengthed my testimony , I feel like I have been converted on my mission. I know that through a young boy we have the resstored gospel and we hold that priesthood to bless the lives others. I love my family so much I miss them and they mean the world to me. I love you all and I hope you have such a great week and that its full of blessings!!!

                                                                                                      love

                                                                                              elder bentley

                                                                                     -moroni 8: 3 

September 17, 2012

Well howdy everyone!!!!! I hope everyone is having a super duper week. Its true the saying,  days feel like weeks and weeks feel like days. Everything is just a blur a cant seem to keep up with time there is just so many people to baptize and so litttle time to do it haha. But I hope your doing well and have had a spledid week!!!

Well one of our investigators is hopefully getting baptized on Sunday!!!! I tell you what missionary life is just so exciting there is nothing better than bein here in Vinton, Va serving!!! I am loving every minute of it. We got so much work to do this week!!! This week we were doin alot of finding we really needed to build up our teaching pool and we still have alot more finding to do hopefully we can set more baptisimal dates and see another baptism here shortly, i stil havent been able to see a family come into the church thats somethingI really want to happen before the end of the mission. So recently in our mission we have started praying at 1 o' clock to find the lords elect!!!!! So if any of you wanna join our mission to help us have a White Christmas pray at 1 o'clock and thats eastern standard daylight time haha. Yesterday we got stuffed we had 3 meals within a 4 hour time spand it was crazy it was like it was thanksgiving or something haha.

Well I want to congragulate my sister savannah for becoming the Beehive president , nana love and serve those young women with all you got and make sure that they have a friend and that they come to church do something nice for them love them. your amazing sister and I know you will do so great I love you nana so much your the best.

Well this week I dont have too much to say but ill leave ya with a short little testimony!! I know that this church is true, I am greatful for the prophet joseph smith who saw God the Father and his son Jesus Christ, I know that he was confused and joseph found his answer through the scriptures then he went into the grove of tress and knelt and prayed to our father in heaven. Its interesting that satan tried to keep him from praying because he knew that this 14 year old boy was going to change the world, he was going to change lives. I know that satan is going to keep us from doing the right thing because he sees what we can become and he is going to keep us from becoming something great. I love the boy, prophet. I know that my redeemer lives he loves you more than you will ever know. I am great to be a missionary for this church. Let us always remember to stand as a witness of God at all times , in all things and in all places. I love you all so much I hope you have a great week!!!!

                                                                                                                           love elder bentley

                                                                                                                        -moroni 8:3

August 27th, 2012 / ONE YEAR!

Well Family and friends hello!!!! I hope you all are doing so so welland i hope your week has been so great. I think of you all and pray for you all often and I miss you!!!

Well as you all know I got transferred and I am training for the 3rd time on my mission now. I am training Elder Clay he is from Hurricane, Utah. He is very quiet, doesnt really talk to much but hopefully that can change but he certainly has a big smile on his face when something good happens. Well we got to the new area on wednesday the apartment and car are in really good shape its great to not bein in a house with mold haha I guess sisters are just more cleaner than us elders are. The area over all is pretty good, but there is alot of work to do, there is about 40+ part member familes in our area, and sisters have barley knock any doors here so there is a ton of stuff to do.

So these 1st couple of days of training have been a bit tough, not sure if I was going to be able to do it I thought to myseld man these are going to be a long 12 weeks, but I was able to learn so much from stake conference this weekend that helped me so Saturday night my companion and I went to the saturday night adult session. And Elder William R. Walker whose in the 1st quorum of the 70 and elder Jeffery Olson whose an area 70 came to call a new stake president. Elder Walker told many stories about President Monson, and how he is filled with the attributes of Christ, especially his genuine caring nature.  He said as they were leaving a temple dedication and Pres. Monson was walking by one of the sealing rooms, he waved to everyone seated in that room and then stopped.  He noticed a person in a wheel chair over in the corner, and walked directly over to him.  He put his hand on his head and spokes quietly to him for a few minutes.  It was exactly what Jesus would have done.  Another time the wife a mission President, who had come by invitation to the temple ground breaking in Rome, had Parkinson’s disease and her hands shook quite a bit.  Her husband held her one hand and she put the other one behind her as they met President Monson.  But President Monson took her hand in both of his and gentle kissed it.  Again, something the Savior would have done.Acquiring the attributes of the Savior is a life- long goal, but one that we should be about every day of our lives. After the session I was able to recieve one of the sweetest blessings from my mission president. In the blessing he told me that the lord accepts my mission. He told me of these stories and it made me think how for this short time I have the opportunity to be like the savior to leave the 99 to help the 1. I felt comfort from my heavenly father and I know I can do this. I am greatful for this opportunity which I have to come to know my savior more. Then on sunday the spirit was so strong while calling a new stake president. They talked about how Thomas S. Monson is always happy and always has a smile on and he is caring the weight of the world on his shoulders so I have no excuse not to be happy. I am excited to train elder clay he is a great missionary and has a strong desire to always share his testimony, I am excited to help this missionary know that he can become something great. I AM GREAT FOR THE PRIESTHOOD and the power it has to calm a troubled soul. Then the last thing I learned was There are three manifestations of pure revelation found in the Lord’s Church.  One is in the giving of Patriarchal Blessings.  The second is found in the calling of missionaries, and the third is the calling of stake presidents. I am so greatful to know that we have revelation again on this earth today and that this church is directed by Jesus Christ himself. What an amazing gift we have. So we were able to pick up a solid new investigator this week I cant wait to go back and meet him and begin teaching him. There is so much to do I am excited!!!!

So my adress is:

951 E. Cleveland Ave. #112

Vinton, Va 24179

I hope you have an amaazing birthday Jordan I love ya brotha, Cant wait to see ya and hang out with ya again shortly. I love you buddy andI cant believe in 1 year you will be out here serving man I am jealous. Happy birthday bud.

Well I hope my mom and dad and brothers and sisters know how much I love them. I love you all and and I miss every single one of ya I  hope you all have an amazing week. I love you!!!!

love

elder bentley

moroni 8:3

August 20, 2012

Well HELLO!!! I sure do hope you all are doing well, I sure do love and miss all of you. Well I am going to appologize ahead of time that this email is short. I dont have to much time today we are super busy as always!!!

But the most exciting news is I am leaving Clarksburg, WV and heading down to Vinton, Virginia tomorrow. And I am going to be training a new missionary for the 3rd time!!!!! I am so excited I will no longer be a zone leader so this should be sweeter than wheat!!! But I sure will miss this wonderful place and the many blessings I have been able to be apart of here. Beign able to be apart of Jerri Vincent conversion has been really amazing and she will  be someone I truely miss and and I cant wait for her and her family  can go to the temple to be sealed i know that she will be there someday. I am greatful for the missionaries I have been able to serve amoung here and the lessons they have taught me I hope that I have served them well. I am greatful for 2 wonderful companions I had here I have surely learned so much from the both of them and have taught me so so much and helped me become more of whata my father in heaven wants me to be. The blessings of beign apart of this work is amazing. I love it and I will sure miss serving In clarksburg Wv!!! So yesterday and today we have been moving into a new house its tought to find the time to do anything because there is so much junk to move outta this old house !!! But me and my companion will be getting doubled in on wenesday probably will be ealking around with our heads cut off for the first couple of weeks haha. we are moving into a sister apartment so hopefully its nice haha :).

But I hope my brother Coda had a great birthday I love you buddy and i cant wait to see ya soon.

And PAPA happy birthday larry , i hoep you get R DONE and I hope you have an amazing day , love ya pops

But like I said this email is hort and I am sorry I cant wait to email you all next week and I will send you all the adress. I love you all , and dont send any lettters to clarksburg!!!

I love you all have a great week!!!

elder bentley

moroni8:3

August 13, 2012

Hey ya all i hope you have had such a great week.I hope you know how much I miss you all. THank you for those who take the time to read these emails and i just hope it helps in some way, shape, or form.

 Well to tell you all a little about our week we were able to reach the mission standard of excellence again, it was a challenge but we did it with the lords help, now we are just looking forward to a baptism!! We really want to get one soon so this week we are going to do our best to get a solid baptisimal date :). I'll let you know how it goes!!!! We are hoping that our zone will have 6-7 baptisms byt he end of this month. Honestly I dont care if I baptize at all, I care more about the missionaries I serve that have struggling areas and rough companionships bein able to see a baptism. Its the only way missionaries grow and progress,  because they grow with their converts. I love being in the service of these missionaries. I cant even imagine how a stake president and bishop would feel watching over a stake or a ward. But I have come to gain more of an excitement for the work this week, FAMIlY and Friends we need your help. Our family needs to be baptizing family!!! Did you know that a members most important job is to have a social conversion with people!!! thats it, you invite missionaries will teach. Set goalsor plans in your families to find missionary opportunities, Talk with people just open your mouth, I tell you what the last thing I look forward to is tracting I hate it I would rather be teaching all day, but we cant find em alone we need your help. Develop and pray for that excitement of missionary work, this is fun, Its fun bringing our borothers and sisters into the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that if we do we can help in this great work. Ihope my family will get started and develop this excitement. :)

So I have a pretty funny story  yesterday in church I got asked to lead music. Because the choirster had to sit with her kids. So they chose someone who didnt know how to do it. Well it came time for the first song I was so nervous  I started leading and I did so bad THe piano person kept slowing down and then speeding up because she was going off my lead haha. But I was able to muster through all 3 songs, Everyone was laughing, I hope I never have to lead music for a calling haha it was great !!!!

 So this week I have a little spiritual thought, I am pretty sure we have all heard of the movie called finding nemo. In this movie it talks about 2 fish a Father and his son and The son Nemo got dared to go touch this boat his friends pure pressured him so he did it, but his dad was there the whole time telling him not do it, But because nemo dis obeyed he got taken. His dad went through numerous things just to get his son back. I know that is exactly like our father in heaven, Our father in heaven loves us so much That he will go through any thing just to help us return to him. But we have to obey we have to keep his commandment we have to put in our efforts to do what it takes to return to him. I know that our father heaven and our savior Jesus Christ love you. Remember to Repent and Keep Swimming!!!, and i know that its only throught the gospel that we can endure to the end.

 I hope Coda , Nana , Craig , Jordan, Dallas, Papa, and everyone else hope I didnt miss any one , HAPPY BIRTHDAy I love you all so much and I hope you know i love ya.

And chase I hope you do good at byu I sure do look up to ya still Love ya cuzz and you will be an apostle in no time haha :)

I love you all so much I hope you have an excellent week, I wont email till next tuesday since next week is transfers. LOVE you all !!!

HAVE A ROCKIN WEEK!!!! 

love elder bentley

moroni 8 :3

August 7, 2012

Well hello everyone this week we are busy busy busy!!!! Never can get time to slow down haha always in a rush or something its crazy!!! But I hope you all are doing so so well. I love you all and am thankful for all that you do to support me and my family.

Well to start off we finally got a new HOUSE !!!!! we are moving out of that jungle that we live in. It will be nice to finally not breath in mold, but this other house that we are getting is HUGE its bigger than the one we have now. 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths living room, 2 kitchens and a basement its outstanding, we are hoping to move in sometime next week, so If you all could wait till i get you a new adress that would be great. I might not even get it to you till the week after because transfers are coming up on august 22. Ill keep ya posted about what happens. But we are so excited to move out into something bigger!!!

 So this week has been so so exciting!!!! My wonderful recent convert sister vincent bore an amazing testimony in sacrament meeting and zone conference. She is truely such a great blessing and now she is working in the FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY and is so excited to go to the temple. I love all my recent converts so much I dont think they will ever know how greatful I am  for them.

So this week we have done so much planning We learned alot about faith hope and charity. we taught things I thought i would never be able to teach I am so greatful that the spirit is able to help you know what to say when you are in need of it.

well nothing new happened this week besides all that. I hope my grandma mclaws is doing so well I hope she has an amazing BIRTHDAY and whoevers birthday I have missed HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! I love you grandma so much I pray for you always.

Mom I love you , I hope my brothers and sisters are doing so well in school i love and miss them so much!!! I hope my dad knows how greatful I am for him I love you dad so much thank you for all you do to keep me strong and faithful on a mission. I love you dad.

I appologize to everyone if I havent been able to write you I promise to do my best to write you back soon I love ya thank you for all that you do once again. I hope you have a great weeek!!!!

                           love:

                      elder bentley

                  moroni 8:3 

July 30, 2012

well Hello family and friends. What a fantastic week it has been for us here in DUB VEE!!! I love this work so much, if I could I would just go on a mission for the rest of my life. Truely is amazing to be apart of this great work. Well I hope you all had a great week as well.

 So this week in our companionship we were able to set 4 new people with a baptisimal date that was exciting, we have made it a goal in our compaionship to just start inviting people to be baptized. This work is just so exciting and we are really stoked to be apart of it :). We are hoping to start teaching a family this week :) and we will pick up 3 new people and set them on date as well. As a mission we are hoping to get 30-40 baptisms next month so we are trying to excite all the elders in our zone, we are going to do our best to make this the best month within our zone. :) I am having a blast in this great work. We get fed so great here in Clarksburg, I feel like every meal is a thanksgiving meal, haha!!!!! I still cant believe I have been out for 18 months doesnt feel like that at all. I love this work so so much and I know there is nothing better I could be doin right now than bein here servin a mission. yesterday i had to give a talk in church i was a little nervous because i hadnt had spoken in front of that many people in a while my  talk was on scripture study. I hope everyone liked it i did my best with what I had haha. I sometimes wish my mom was there to whisper in my ear what to say and have pictures when i give my talk haha just jokin but I enjoyed preparing it and I have come to know that scripture study as families and as individuals is so important. Make it a habbit and simply set that time aside everyday.

 So this week is my moms birthday , mom I just want you to know that I love you so much your such an amazing mom and you matter so much to me and I wish so bad I could be there on this special day for you. thank you for always bein such a great example to me and helping me through everything , you are truely a blessing to me directly from my father in heaven, I know that heavenly father places angels in our lives and I know that you are one those angels in my life  you amazing mom and dont ever forget that I love you to the moon and back. Happy Birthday.

 I just want my grandma to know that I love her so much , I know that heavenly father will support you in all things. I love you grandma and I am always praying for you, thank you and papa for all you do I know you are such a blessing to my life you are an angel to :) i love you mamaw have such a great week.

 I know with all my heart that heavenly father places special people in our lives I am so blessed to have all of you in my life to help me I am greatful to be that support to other people and to help other families be together for eternity.

 Well if there is one thing I have come to know this week is that studies are so crucial for a companionship and individuals to grow and learn. without the studies of the scriptures and without studies as a family its harder to overcome harderships and situations . But Its such a blessing to me and my companion and it really builds us and helps us in the things that we face in this work. I loves serving with my comp. I am having a blast learing new ways to work and to build myself as a missionary. with our 2 differet work ethics we are doing great and marvelous things. I know that this church is true, I have so much gratitude for my father in heaven for the many blessings he gives me. I am greatful that I am worthy to hold a current temple reccomend and to be a priesthood holder at this time. I love you all so much and i pray that you all will have such a great week and know. Thank you so much for everything !!!!

                                                                                                                -love elder bentley

                                                                                                             MoRoNi 8:3

July 16, 2012

Family and Friends, howdy!!!! I hope you all are having such a great week, things are just peachy here in the good ol Dub Vee.

 Lets see nothing to much happened this week. Well the house that we live in is in pretty bad shape we are hoping to move out soon therer is mold and mushrooms growing in our shower, which is makin us all sick!!! Our toilet is broken in one of our bathrooms. Things are just messy and gross, we only have to window air conditioners which barely help so its always hott in our house. I think the only worse thing that could happen is our porch will get all messed up in a tornado, but we are hangin in there with a smile haha :). This week we were able to pick up some new investigators, The wife is so willing to be baptizzed if she could, the husband has a tough time with the spirit I fell like we were able to break through his was near the end of our lesson and we really made him feel the spirit just by bearing testimony. I know with a testimony it can break down any wall at any time and really can sink down into the hearts of people just by our testimonies, we really left this guy pondering it was sweet and we can wait to go back!!!! We are really working with a couple people right now I hope we can see another baptism soon , I really want one that elder makemsoon and I taught. Nothing much else new just excited our recent convert jerri vincent is back she is awesome and so is her family hopefully we will be able to baptize her daughter and her husband.

 so this week I have a little spiritual insight on prayer that one of my good friends on my mission showed to me. So this week I have been working alot on trying to improve my prayers, so recently my friend sent me a package of jolly ranchers and said that before I pray I need to stick one in my mouth and dont end my prayer till the candy is melted. my friend promised me that I would have more meaningful prayers and that I would feel closer to god. I certainly do feel that way and I am more and more greatful for time i have to talk to my heavenly father. I love this quote on prayer.

 " prayer is the key that unlocks every door of difficulty. but a key is not only to be once a day; its to be used everytime you come back to a locked door."

I hope that we can all talk with our father in heaven at anytime and take the time and the effort to draw closer to him. I love my father and I know he is there for every single one of us.

I hope my grandma and papa know I love them and how great ful I am for all you do for me, I love you both so mucch!!!

Aunt mar man I love you sweatie, I love you and ticky so much and i miss you alot know that i think of you often.

I hope the Mosers know I love you all thanks for the letters you all are such a great family and i miss ya I will for sure right ya all back soon.

YOu all are seriously the best family and friends ever i love you I appreciate you and am so great ful for all of you, I hope you all have such a great week. I love you !!!!

love elder bentley

moroni 8:3

p.s nana good job at your testimony sister your going to be a great missionary :)

July 10, 2012

Whats Up EVERYONE!!!!!!! Well Fist off I love you all so so much. Its Tuesday and this week is transfers but thank goodness I am staying here in Clarksburg, I hate packing its  the worse thing ever, I hope to stay here for the rest of my mission so I never have to pack again haha. But I hope you all have had such a great week and I sure do miss ya, i guess you just never know how big of an impact your family and friends have on you until your away. I am so greatful for you all!!

 Anyways this week has been a pretty great week for us here in Clarksburg, we came so close to achieving the mission standard of excellence( or goals) but we are hoping to achieve it this week. This week our companionship has gotten blessed with some more awesome investigators!!!! An area that has been shut down has no missionaries so this week we had to drive to that area and go teach this awesome couple who are hoping to get baptized on the 25 of August!!!! We were able to set him with a date over the phone and we are so excited to get another baptism within the next month!!!! We are hoping to start getting some new investigators to start working with and hopefull our teaching pool will build.

I wanna send a shout out to my brothers and sisters.

Coda cade savannah and shaders!!! i love you all so much. you all are amazing brothers and sisters. I think of you all often and i cant wait to come home and have a blast with you!!! Coda I cant wait to come home and help you prepare for your mission remember coda to do whats right, love you family so much dont let a day go by where you dont say " i love you" to your brothers and sisters and mom and dad, trust me when you are outhere your family really means so much to you so dont let a day go by that you regret because you forgot to put your family first and love them. NANNA BANNA i cant believe your at girls camp, i hope nana that you carry that excitement to always be worthy to go threw the temple I cant wait to go with you and do baptisms for the dead when I get back. Your an amazing sister savannah and I love how you serve everyone in our family and treat them with so much kidness. I love you sister!!! Cade you better be gettin good at basketball I cant wait to beat you, i play every tuesday and thursday, gotta say last week I had a pretty good game I made 8 shots had 10 rebounds and 3 stuffs back to back to back, so i will teach you how to play when i get home, but cade you read and pray everyday before you go to school, your days will be so great if you do that. I love you cade your a great brother and know that i miss you. Shaders you little stinker I love you so much!! MUFASSA!!!!! be good dont be bad!!!! and stop getting so big :) or else i wont have a little sister anymore. I love you shaders thank you for the picture of the little mermaid its hanging on my wall. Mom and dad I love you and thank you for all you do for me. I miss my mom so much, i really do miss her telling me what i need to do to be better and fix, I just love my mom she is my best firend and you matter so much to me. your the greatest blessing from my heavenly father!!!! Dad I love you so much, the example you have set for me still plays a big role on me out here on my mission, I know that you and mom will make a awesome senior couple and i know that the mission president will love you whenver you choose to serve. Dad Thank you for always bein here for me, i trust you so much and am greatful that you are my dad. 

 I love my family we are together forever and I know that we will live with our father in heaven and its our job to help each other return and be worthy to live with our hevenly father. I am so greatful for a wonderful plan of happiness I am greatful for the wonderful blessings of the gospel, I love the temple, I love my mission, I love bein a missionary, I am thankful for blessings, covenants and ordinances. I am greatful for my savior, my weakness and my father in heaven who is always there for me. I am greatful for wonderful companions who have changed my life and helped me so much and are willing to deal with all my problemes that I have. . I hope i am not a tough companion to get along with. I am thankful for the people I meet everyday and for the opportunity I have to share my testimony with them. I love my recent converts and I am thankful for all these things. and so much more. I truely am in debt to my father in heaven. i love what i have and i should never ask for more. these things make me happy they complete me and bring me the most happiness . 

I love you all so very much, i am pretty sure these emails probably gett tiring after a couple weeks of reading after I say the same thinngs again haha, I hope to have better email for ya all next week and I hope you have such a great week and may god bless you all!!! 

                                                                                                                       -love elder bentley 

                                                                                                                 moroni 8:3  

From: West Virginia Charleston Mission <2011778@ldschurch.org>
Date: July 3, 2012 8:52:04 AM MST
To: West Virginia Charleston Mission <2011778@ldschurch.org>
Subject: All Safe in the Storm!

Dear Parents of our wonderful Missionaries,

            This week has been an exciting one for us!  For any that do not know, “Battered West Virginia” as they have named it in the news has had some hurricane-force winds come through this past weekend.  No one knew they were coming, so not many were prepared for the power outages or water breaks that we have experienced.  Most of the areas in our mission were without power for some amount of time, and some also lost water for a while.  Many trees were uprooted and roads have been blocked and some homes have been damaged.  We are very pleased to report that none of our missionaries were injured in any way.  Most areas have received power and water back.  One apartment still has no power or water, but any missionaries whose apartment lacks these necessities have been housed with other missionaries or with members of their ward.  We have been able to make contact with each one of the missionaries, all are okay and have reported a successful time doing service for those living in the area they have stewardship over.

            We can see that the Lord truly watches over His missionaries.  It seems in almost every case that our missionaries’ apartments gained their utilities back before most any other place in the cities they reside in.  This experience has been one that has strengthened our faith that the Lord’s hand is in every trial we encounter.  There have been many investigators found and re-contacted solely due to the storms and our missionaries’ efforts to serve and rebuild their communities.

            We are looking forward to a week that may have more storms ahead of us, but it is our testimony that as the Lord taketh away, so the Lord then showers with desired and pleaded-for blessings.  We are grateful for your encouragement to your sons and daughters here in the mission field, helping them to catch the vision of all that can be realized in times of trial.  Some of your missionaries may not have the ability to e-mail you this week, we are aware.  We wanted to be sure you knew why they didn't contact you if this was the case.  But rest assured that every one of them is safe and accounted for!

Gratefully,

President and Sister Pitt