We are all doing really well. We bought a house at the end of last year and moved in early February before Jordan got home from his military training. Jordan is back at Savemart and working on the airforce base one weekend a month. Stephanie went back to work when Ryan turned 8 weeks old. It gets hard being away from the little guy but we get through it. Our Baby Ryan is growing so fast almost not a baby anymore. He is 10 weeks old now, wears size 3-6 months, and learned how to smile 2 weeks ago but he rarely lets us get a picture of it lol.
MISSIONARY EMAIL FROM ELDER MATHIAS BOGGS
April 28, 2013
Dear Family,
Hiya. Hope everyone is doing great today. I am gonna be pretty quick here. So yeah. Here goes.
So this week has been pretty decent. Saturday, Elder Christian and Elder Banang (the other elders in our area) had 5 baptisms! Woo! It was really cool. We tried to get our investigators to come but none of them did. :P Oh well. But it was a good addition to our branch which is growing.
As for our work, we found a bunch new people this week to keep teaching. We are cycling through people pretty decently. Trying to find people that are actually interested and willing to keep commitments. One of these is Sis. Mila Grajo. She is very cool and is one of the people that actually listens, thinks about what we say, and tries to see if she believes it or not. Well, we gave her the Book of Mormon a few weeks ago and asked her to read and pray about it. One week she read but didn't pray. The next time she prayed but said she didn't feel anything about it. So both times we just kinda kept teaching about it and the Holy Ghost and how she can come to know if it is true. She seems very skeptical all the time. ....but I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing. At least she is thinking about it and wants it to be real before she says it is true. Unlike lots of other people here who just say everything is true. :) So this last visit, we committed her to read and pray. We told her if she didn't get an answer, we would leave it at that and stop bothering her. (Not in those words but I can't think of how to phrase it right now.) Then we left. We go back tomorrow. I fasted earlier this week and I am fasting a now. Just hoping she will feel it and recognize it and accept it. I will let ya know.
Kate from last week has been super busy and we haven't gotten to have an appointment with her. Actually, we were teaching her neighbors earlier this week and she came over to join. But after about a minute she stood up and said she would just meet with us a different time. Because she realized we were teaching them and that the questions and concerns she had were not appropriate for that time and setting. So that was really cool. Shows that she has a lot of respect for us but also wants to learn.
As for her neighbors, May and Madeline, we gave them a baptismal date yesterday. It is for June because they have to go to church 4 times before they can get baptized. But hopefully that will work. It has been interesting to see the change that has come over them in the past week or so. ....They used to just talk with us and laugh and listen and have fun. But they weren't really applying anything or studying. They were just there. Then this past week, May asked a bunch of questions about the plan of salvation. Last week, both of them read from the Book of Mormon! And...they are just...changing and showing potential. So we are gonna keep focusing on helping them.
Anyways, that be all for this week. Quick personals:
Mom- I am glad you didn't faint while giving your talk. :) I am also glad that you got to spend a lot of time with family and everyone. :) Family is a wonderful thing. No wonder it is the central organization of the church huh? :) And you get to go help people find out more about their families. :) Cool stuff. :) I am excited for you. Keep smiling.
Dad- Glad that you are used to the grind and business of the end of the school-year. :P Working on testing stuff eh? That is interesting. Sorry about your computer and the wonderful customer service they have there! :P Ha. That is rough. As for Baptisms, what I heard when coming into the Philippines was that it was a super easy area to get baptisms. Much harder to have retention. So far, What I have discovered is that teaching people goes a little slower than I expected. But maybe that is because that is how I have been trained. And follow-up'd. So....maybe I need to change. I have told myself I don't care how many baptisms I get while I am here. But maybe I need to change that mindset. Not base my successfulness off of baptisms, but try to baptize everyone I meet. That is something Elder Monson said in his October Conference talk in Priesthood session I think. That a missionary had the most success as he looked to baptize everyone he met. I will try to figure out what the Lord is expecting here...
Brandon- ....yeah! You are right. Not expecting that one! CONGRATULATIONS ON GRADUATING!!! Wow. Can't believe you actually did it! ;) Jk. But that is sweet. Good work. Thanks for the update on that draft thing.....tho the news you gave wasn't cool at all. Lacy to the packers....sigh!!! I love the pic. And the irony. And the fact that Brian has no clue how funny all of it is. Graduate from BYU. Buy a Utah hat to celebrate. And yell "Roll Tide" as you wear the Utah hat...wow. Awesome stuff right there. :) Thanks for the letter. I will definitely be expecting more now. No excuses. :) ...Good luck with work man. I miss you all too. :) But Yes, I know I am where I should be as well.
Tiana- Thanks for the letter and for the information on everyone else. :) Haha. Sounds like fun that you got to spend some more time in Utah. ....seems like you are always down there! Sheesh. Haha. But I am glad and I bet they are all glad to see you. :) Hope you all figure out Punjab... haha. :) Good luck!
Alright. Love you all. Bye!
-Elder Boggs
MISSIONARY EMAIL FROM SISTER MICA DURAN
May 6, 2013
So, I've found out that we are the only Sisters out on the Açores. HA! Our Coordinating Sisters were supposed to come out and do a division with us, but they live on Madeira and flights from there to Terceira only happen every 4 days....so that's not happening. You should look up where Madeira and Terceira are to see the difference. The Coordinating Sisters from Lisboa are coming out instead. That means I'll get to see Irmã Wilde! I'm SO excited to see her. We live out on the middle of the ocean and we don't have any idea what's happening on the main land. It'll be good to get some news on the other irmãs =).
Irmã Baer is DYING. I'm super sad that she's leaving. I love her so very much. We actually talked to her parents yesterday evening. It was Portuguese Mother's Day. Irmã Baer already has her flight itinerrary to go home and that's why she called home yesterday instead of next week. She's flying out to Lisboa Sunday evening at 8pm, but needs to be there at 6:50pm. SO, I'll be calling home at 4pm MY time....which is 9am YOUR time. It's SUPER early, I know, but it has to be this way. It was really great to meet my comps family. I hope she thinks the same about mine ;-).
Irmã Baer is DYING. I'm super sad that she's leaving. I love her so very much. We actually talked to her parents yesterday evening. It was Portuguese Mother's Day. Irmã Baer already has her flight itinerrary to go home and that's why she called home yesterday instead of next week. She's flying out to Lisboa Sunday evening at 8pm, but needs to be there at 6:50pm. SO, I'll be calling home at 4pm MY time....which is 9am YOUR time. It's SUPER early, I know, but it has to be this way. It was really great to meet my comps family. I hope she thinks the same about mine ;-).
{Sis. Baer and Sis. Duran "Best Companionship Ever!"}
We've been having the Bull Runs for the past few days. Huge cannon like fireworks go off every time someone gets hit by a bull. We aren't allowed to go watch, of course. Some Elders went to them a few years/transfers ago and decided to run up and hit the bull on the head. Dumb...he got gored in the butt and had to go home...I think. Ridiculous Elders, haha.
Today we're going to visit the Volcano, because it's Irmã Baer's last P-day. I'll try to send you some pictures. =)
I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the changes that'll be happening in the next two week. i feel very unprepared to train and especially in such a NEW area. Please pray for me.
We're working with a man named Sergio and actually marked him to be baptized in the first lesson. He's a reference from one of the members and incredibly humble. He has been SO prepared to receive our message. We haven't met anyone like him on this island. He's going through divorce problems right now and all he wants is to feel peace. Please pray for him to be able to recognize the peace that we're offering him.
We have to go now. I love you all! I'll see you next week! The Church is true! Read your scriptures!
Come Amor,
Today we're going to visit the Volcano, because it's Irmã Baer's last P-day. I'll try to send you some pictures. =)
I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the changes that'll be happening in the next two week. i feel very unprepared to train and especially in such a NEW area. Please pray for me.
We're working with a man named Sergio and actually marked him to be baptized in the first lesson. He's a reference from one of the members and incredibly humble. He has been SO prepared to receive our message. We haven't met anyone like him on this island. He's going through divorce problems right now and all he wants is to feel peace. Please pray for him to be able to recognize the peace that we're offering him.
We have to go now. I love you all! I'll see you next week! The Church is true! Read your scriptures!
Come Amor,
-Irmã Durán
MISSIONARY EMAIL FROM SISTER CHELSY BOGGS
May 13, 2013
This week was pretty good. I am happy to say that when Sis Cady was with Sis Manwill, we didnt get lost! I am starting to get the hang of the area. And even better news.....drum roll please....KAYLA GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!! Her baptism was beautiful and when she came up out the water she was smiling from ear to ear and said, while crying "I know this is true, I know this is true". We later got a text from her mom saying that Kayla was saying she now knows why we are always smiling and happy and its not cause we are just crazy like she thought. Then her confirmation on Sunday was just as beautiful. She has lots of promise and potential.
Just before the baptism we had to sing at a funeral, that ended up being 2 hours long. They asked us on thurs if we could sing a hymn then then night they changed it to a Hilary Weeks one but then on friday when we got the music it was a completely different one. We ended up singing Give Me Jesus. I love having musically inclined companions. We were able to pull it off with just 3 hrs of practice and me with a scratchy throat. Brett Brice from Jericho Road was there and sang a song after us. He was really close with guy that passed. He grew up here in Knoxville .
We left an ask in faith with becky this week. She is a wonderful missionary. She shares the gospel with whoever she comes in contact with.
So because Sister Manwill had surgery on her knee and is now living at the mission home, and we rotate who stays with her, we have been getting the chance to work in the mission office. We mostly do filling, trying to get ready for the new missionary couple thats coming to replace the Manns (office couple) when they are released. I think its interesting that now matter what we do or how much we do for elder mann and his desk, it still looks like it always does...but filing for him keeps us busy.
Hope ya'll are doing great and I hope to hear from ya soon.
Dont forget Jesus loves you and
"Dont forget to wash your hands and say your prayers 'cause Jesus and germs are everywhere"
Love always
Sister Boggs
{Charley Odom (100 year old war hero)}
{Karen Basil (artist)}
{i love how green it is here}
MISSIONARY EMAIL FROM ELDER DAVID BOGGS
May 13, 2013
Once again hello from the awesome city of Annapolis !
And once again, the weather is going crazy! Friday was hot icky and humid, saturday was hot icky and humid in the morning and then it got super cloudy and then started pouring. like could barely see across the street pouring. then yesterday and today (so far) have been cool windy and partly cloudy.
now for the shout outs... (drum roll)
-Congratulations to Curt Barrow, Zach Christopherson, and Kevin Bennett!!! Three new mission calls! Texas , Honduras , and Arizona !! Two Spanish and one English!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! I'm super excited for the three of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-And to Jerika Barnes. Congrats on the engagement!!! Super Excited for you too!!!!!!!
as for the knews from here other than the weather. The work here has been going good. A deported less active is back in the states! all we need to do is to get his boss to give him sundays off.
In other news: we have two pretty solid investigators. Guillermo and his son's wife's brother Cirilo. They are awesome! they are both from Mexico . They are reading in the Book of Mormon and in the pamphlets that we give them. And they are becoming great friends with Sister Otilia which is awesome because she lives in the same apartment complex! The only problem they are having is coming to church. if it rains more than two days during the week they have to work on sundays. So if everyone could pray for rain on sundays that would be greatly appreciated! Their progression makes me super happy! Guillermo has prayed and knows everything we have tought him is true. He is super humble and an amazing guy The gospel is an amazing thing and it can bless everyone's life. I see it blessing the lives of others and even my own life everyday. God truely does answer prayers.
Always have a prayer in your heart and hymn in your soul!
Lots-o-love!
~Elder Boggs
WARD WIDE WEB
Jackson was the "Star Student" in his class last month. He wanted to show the class his FAVORITE place to eat - so we stopped in front of Me N Ed's and took a picture to mount onto his poster. Love that toothless grin ;) He also turned 7 years old last month!
Logan was our star volleyball player. He just finished out the season and was recognized for his great efforts by being awarded a coaches award and trophy at the sports award ceremony.
Trevor earned his Life Scout rank at the Court of Honor last month. That means he is only a few merit badges and a project away from earning his Eagle Scout Award!
Lizzie is our happy go lucky girl. Lizzie is always figuring out a play date with friends and looking for a fun time to be had. She was thrilled with the mustachios that appeared in all the Easter baskets this year and thoroughly enjoyed being silly silly silly!
Jeremy & Jennifer celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary on April 3rd (the same night as the Court of Honor...also Marcos's birthday.... and Allyson's birthday too!). It's amazing how quickly the time goes by...
Wedding Day
10 Years
15 Years
