June 16, 2014~I have learned that really submitting is the only way.

Goooddd morning America!!  It was great to hear all of the exciting things happening this past week!  Pops, I'm glad that you had a great father's day!  You should be getting a letter in the mail in a couple of days, I sent it kind of late.  Hope you and B-rizzle aka the new Deacon's Prezzy Prez have a great time down there!  B-ray, magnify magnify magnify magnify baby! Mom, thanks for the laughs and love, and A-Train, "that's a whip tho".  Well I am smiling ear to ear because I am loving my situation right now.

I am in the Standley Lake ward with Elder Harrington.  We are getting along great.  He's had a hard time waking up his mission but we're 7 days straight of waking up at 6 and working out!( with the exception of yesterday).  As far as the area goes, it's something that I feel like I have a lot of experience with.  There was no teaching pool, and the members really didn't trust the missionaries at all.  This ward was the first ward that I, as the new missionary, wasn't introduced in any of the meetings.  So we're hitting the whole member trust thing and finding through our own efforts pretty hard.  I have found that the simple question of "as the missionaries serving in your ward, what are you expectations of us?"  has had a huge impact.   The members love it and it's like an instant trust/friendship action as a result.  We found two new investigators, Mimi from Checkoslovakia and Scott Allen.  We had lots of fun getting rejected this past week, these people are pretty pretty clever. So honestly I am doing fanstinkintastic.  I'm a missionary, doing missionary things again!  It's been fun realizing that time's about up because it's given me great motivation to go go go.  

I have learned that really submitting is the only way. Hel 3:35, Mosiah 3:19, 2 Nephi10:23-25, Alma 7:23-25, Alma 13:28.  All teach about the importance and power of submitting.  All I will say is that this past week I have keep the thought of "quit fighting and submit to God's will" on my mind.  Way awesome to experience the peace of heart and mind and joy that has come as a result!  This next week I'll be meeting with Prezzy for one last time before he takes off next week.  I'm way excited. Well fam I love you all, I hope you are having a tremendous time growing in your knowledge and understanding of the gospel principles through study but also by action.

I will say this. God answers "yes" to our prayers to give us confidence.  He answers "no" to protect and warn us.  He doesn't give us an answer so that we can have opportunities to exercise faith in him, be obedient to the commandments, and act in accordance with the gospel principles.  He expects us to use the gifts He has blessed us with.  The ability to know right from wrong, and to exercise our agency.  As we move forward with faith and act using our best judgment and effort then we can be confident that the Lord is with us the entire way.  He won't let us fall if we are sincerely trying to do our best with what we have been given.  I love you fam.  I Hope you have a tremendous week!

Elder Traasdahl 

June 9, 2014~ And He's heading back to ARVADA next transfer.

I can see clearly now the rain is goneeee...  it's going to be a bright bright sunshiney dahayyy!!

Fam!  Sooooo good to hear from you this past week!  Aust, dayang man!  That whip is no joke!  Soo I think I know which one's the date car!  Haha and pops and mom thanks for the advice and love you sent in the emails it was greatly needed and received with lots and lots of appreciation.  Okay so here's the dealio.  Saturday night I found out that............ actually before I do I'll let you know of a sweet experience I had this past week.  Prezzy and Sister Toombs held a mission conference this past week to say goodbye to all of the missionaries and I was able to give my departing testimony during that meeting.  I absolutely loved the experience, it was special to give my departing testimony the same time Prezzy and Sister T gave theirs.  In my patriarchal blessing it refers to the love that I'll have for my mission president as I follow his counsel, and sure enough, as I've followed Prezzy's counsel I've grown to love him dearly.  The Toombs have changed my life in such a significant way.  I have grown in a firm testimony of the inspiration and right to revelation that our priesthood leaders have for each one of us.  Anyways so I just wanted to give them a quick shout out!  Alrighty so here's what I found out saturday night.

I am getting transferred to the Arvada Zone and am going to be with Elder Harrington.  I loved my stay in Arvada a year and a half ago and am excited to return.  I'm not sure if you remember but my first companion was named Elder Harrington too.  Haha I won't bring back the memories of what type of missionary he was but I'll start and end my mission with a Harrington.  The one that I am going to be with now is struggling pretty bad but not in the way Hamilton is.  Harrington is at least willing to try and become better. Harrington actually served in the same ward as me in Parker for his first two transfers so I have a pretty good relationship with him.  I'm just excited to start being a missionary again!  I am grateful for the lessons learned the past two transfers but I'm super excited to get back into the game!  Hamilton and I had a good talk last night.  President is taking his ipod away from him this next week so that'll help the situation a lot.  Well I have to get going but know that I love ya fam!  Have a tremendous week and know that I am superrrrrrrrrrrr grateful for the support and love you've shown me recently! Love ya!

Elder T

June 2, 2014~ I'm super duper excited to be able to be a missionary again

Hey fam!!  "Summer summer summertime, yeahhhhh it's summer time babyy." There's a little unnapproved Will Smith action for ya!  Well sheesh it's been an interesting week.  So Hamilton and I are most likely not going to be companions next transfer, here's why.  This past week he just went on a little rambo rebellious spree and refused to do pretty much anything.  He's never said his prayers or done anything obedient on purpose;  if it was an obedient action then he did it by accident.  Haha okay anyways, so I was just going nuts. Honestly it was a very very difficult week, the worst of the previous 21 months.  I had some serious prayer and scripture time because there were two specific times when he was being extra obnoxious that I had the sincere motives to get my jackie chan on and find out the answer by way of a beat down.  Prezzy came down and talked with us.  When he heard how bad it was and when Hamilton admitted to it he told me that he won't stick me with him again because he wants me to finish my mission strong.  Prezzy's plan is to take Hamilton with him a few times this week to have some real talks with him.  The purpose is to help Hamilton "get it", finally just understand what he's doing to himself. Unfortunately if Hammy doesn't shape up and begin to progress then P Toombs said he'll send him home before the new mission president arrives which will be the end of this month. 

I won't lie to ya, I'm super duper excited to be able to be a missionary again but I’m also feeling for Hamilton because he really is just wasting his life away right now.  I memorized a sweet quote by President Eyring, which is probably the biggest lesson I've learned throughout all of this.  "We can depend on

that unfailing desire of the Savior to bring all of Heavenly Father's spirit children back to their home with Him...  Heavenly Father and the Savior are our perfect examples of what we can and must do.  They never force righteousness because righteousness must be chosen.  They make righteousness discernable to us, and They let us see that it's fruits

are delicious."  

On the bright side, Chen is on fire, he just is radiating the light of Christ right now.  Our investigators Darrell and Jason are progressing pretty nicely.  They are keeping their commitments and recognize the changes that have blessed their lives since they began meeting with us.  Also what's going good is the self control that I'm gaining.  With summertime going and all sense of modesty and virtue going, at least what sense there was, I’ve been able to grow in my ability to have a firm mind.  In Jacob 3:2 it says "O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of god, and fest upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever."  I know missionaries usually share sweet experiences they're having through the emails but with the situation there hasn't been too too many of those so I just want to share how I, as a person, am becoming by applying the gospel principles.   Having a firm mind in all that we do is a tremendous invitation and one which brings tremendous blessings.  Fam, I love you all and hope you have a great week!  Anytime you're faced with temptation remember your twin sons or brothers and know that we love you an incredible amount! Love ya!

Elder Traasdahl

May 27th, 2014~ CHEN GOT BAPTIZED!!!

CHEN GOT BAPTIZED!!!  Haha that my fam was the highlight of the last two transfers.  It was such a great experience.  As we were in the font and performed the baptism he had the biggest smile on his face.  I'm not sure how many encounters you've had with straight from China chinese people but in all my experiences I've recognized that they don't show  too much emotion on their faces.  To see that smile on his face was a wonderful experience.  Elder Hamilton was able to confirm him a member on Sunday and did a great job. Chen got up from the seat a little teary eyed (which that was a first) so I know that it had a great impact on him.  Chen will be going back to China in a few weeks until September when school starts again.  Looking back I can recognize how the Lord's hand was absolutely a part of that entire process.  He is all gung ho about serving in the church and is very excited for the here-on-out.

So with the time that's left I'll be praying to be a part of another incredible experience like that.  Elder Hamilton is doing good. He and his dad have been talking and laughing during those conversations so that is a tremendous blessing.  Prezzy talked to me and asked if I'm good to go for another one, which I replied with a big smile and a big yes, so round 3 with Hamilton is coming up here in a week and a half or so.  I've learned this in my own life, especially out here but progress is a tad tricky to identify when you are so close to the situation.  For instance the Ref has to be in a good position from the outside looking in to make the adequate call and to see it cleary.  If he's in bad position then there goes the clearness of the call and a lot of frustrated fans.  So I really really hope there has been enough change that's made it worth it.

We are teaching a guy named Darrell Zimmerman and Jason Elliott.  They both are way cool and seem pretty solid.  I really feel like there is tremendous potential in the both of them but that Darrell has a particularly good shot of reaching that potential.  Throughout this past week I have grown in my appreciation for the opportunity that we have to pray to our Father. I've been taking a moment before praying to think about what I would say, who has blessed my life, and who I feel like I can be a blessing to.  I think about how I really am doing, what advice or counsel do I need or how open my heart is. Then I wait until I feel peace and then I pray.  My prayers have become very meaningful.  I feel like I was led to specific scriptures that I needed at the time.  I love it!  And to fulfill the opposition in all things principle it's been enjoyable for me this past week to come to really feel that I hate sin.  Obviously I still do it and am working on it but I feel free, I have felt the peace that comes with making a conscience effort to love God and to not fall into temptation.  And I love the sacrament!  I can't believe how I used to take it for granted and not appreciate it but as I've grown in my assurances and knowledge of the purpose of the sacrament and the reality of the outcomes, my love for that sacred ordinances has grown.  Fam, I love ya lots! I'm glad that you had a great week in California!  Life's incredible when we live in such a way that God can pour out the blessings that He desperately wants to give us.  Love ya!

Elder T

 "Chinese Smiles"

Chen Zhuo. 

  "Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth.  Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and 

I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen."  

Alma 26:37

May 19, 2014~ I go in with one question and leave with a bout 30

Hello, hello, hello, hello hellooooooo fam!  Man I've been looking forward to emailing all week, it was absolutely great to hear from you all!  Congrats on the graduation A-train, that's big time man!  Mom, I'm glad you got the mother's day letter! B-ray go hard this last week of school, you got it brotha, and pops I'm super duper excited to get on that smoker because I keep hearing good good things about it!  We'll have to get you on food network.

This previous week was very good.  We had a couple powerful lessons with Chen.  Man, I just love teaching this guy!  He's wayyyy wayyyy prepared.  He will be getting baptized this Saturday at 11:00am at the Yale and Monaco Stake Center.  It's so fun having the perspective that we have with watching people start where they are with a desire to learn, and then to work with that desire and act and to find out like every other person that actually does it that these things are actually truth. The change that comes over these people as they grow in their understanding of the gospel is real, and very noticeable.  I love it! 

We also found a new guy named Daryl Zimmerman.  He's a huge football player that played college ball and was on his way to the big guns but wasn't able to because of injuries.  He's going to be a fun one to teach because he's way willing to learn but also way willing to share where he's coming from.  Haha he says some funny things.  Elder Hamilton and I had companion study for days in a row last week!  That was our first time having comp study and he actually did a little personal study for 15-20 minutes two times last week so that was a huge highlight as well.  

I've been able to study the Atonement a little more in depth recently.  Sheesh, I go in with one question and leave with a bout 30 but it's great because I'm learning!  As I've learned about our Savior Jesus Christ, His life, ministry, and mission, my love for Him and honor to Him increases to the degree that I let myself learn about Him.  It became very real to me a few days ago what would be the consequences if there had been no Atonement made.  2 Nephi 9:9.  It's a rather dark and gloomy thought.  Then I think of what blessings and potential we have because Christ performed the Atonement, infinite in it's completeness, perfection, depth, and love.  I love Jesus Christ.  I believe in Him and I have a huge desire to continue to learn about Him.  It's been fun to recognize how literally my life has been change, who I have been changed into.  I've been able to overcome, to fight and get up and fight again, and to become the witness of Christ that I  have prepared for, for a long long long long long time in the pre-existence.  I enjoy having that feeling of finally the opportunity to reach a goal that I have had for a long long time.   Fam I love you lots and hope you have a tremendous week!  Continue to learn of Christ and watch you find more peace and joy.

Love ya!

Elder T

May 12, 2014~ Shazam baby!

Hey fam!  I'll be on for about 40 minutes now and then later this afternoon around 1:30 I'll be on for the remainder of the time.  I'm going to go teach some elders how to play some basketball.  It was good to hear from you last night!  Sheesh it's crazy to think that's the 4th and final time Park and I will be talking to ya until we all reunite!  Good news is after talking with you guys Hamilton decided to call his parents so he was able to talk to them and it turned out to be a positive experience.  Shazam baby!  As far as updates go, I'm doing great.  The work is great.  Like I said, Chen is set to be baptized May 24th.  He's such a solid guy.  Other than that we are still trying to find some brothas and sistas to teach!  Thank you for your laughs, your support, your prayers, and your letters and emails!

"Ayyo! This is Ahmed Cisse straight out of Timbucktu West Africa. Up until I met him I always thought Timbucktu was just a saying but nahh it's a real place!  Brotha got baptized a week ago, one of the most powerful baptismal interviews I've been a part of. Love y'all!"

May 5, 2014~ More converted week to week day by day, choice by choice.

Ayyyyyyoooooo!! How's everyone doing?! Happy birthday yesterday A-Train and happy birthday today Pops!  I hope you both received the letters I sent ya before your big days. Anyways thanks for all the pics mom those were great to get! So this past week was a fairly off week I would say.  Elder Hamilton met with a counselor and started that process and it took quite the toll on him.  I'd imagine it's like any wound, right at the beginning when you clean it and put rubbing alcohol on it, it stings like a red head getting a sunburn.  So I guess it's safe to say I had lots of time this past week and I was able to read the entire Book of Mormon.  I am somewhat grateful for the time I had to read it because my knowledge of it's divinity and testimony of the reality of it's purpose was strengthened greatly.  Also my love for the Book of Mormon grew as well.  I had time to reflect and I realized that throughout the struggles I had, especially during high school but even out here on the mission, when things began to get better, my reading of the Book of Mormon was always a factor.  I love that book!

This past week we taught Chen.  We brought Kiet and Quinn Nguwen. They are recent converts that just moved from Washington - way way cool people. They taught and testified with great power it was incredible to see.  Chen is still scheduled for baptism on May 24th. We may transition him over to the YSA ward because he's 29.  At first he just wanted to stick with us in the family ward but we are going to reintroduce him to the YSA so hopefully he can meet some friends his age and what not. We also passed off James, who's on track for baptism here pretty soon, to the Washington Park ward.  Again, he too wanted to come to our ward and we were finally able to help him understand the purposes of ward boundaries.  I was able to give a baptismal interview for a brotha named Ahmed Cisse from Timbucktu South Africa.  Haha he's sooooooo great!  Baptismal interviews are definitely right around the top of the list of things I enjoy most about being a missionary.  My faith is always strengthened.  

I'm excited to talk to y'all on Mother's Day!! Oh and good news! Elder Hamilton found out by a third party that his parents back home started to come to church recently.  His father feels really guilty about the way him and Hamilton left and the terms they are on now and apparently wants to repair that relationship with his boy so that's a HUGE step!  Now I'm going to work on my end to help Hamilton put a little effort in as well.  I'm all about gettin this family into top notch shape!  Fam, I love you. I believe in Jesus Christ. I've had the spirit witness it to me too many times. I am grateful for the gift of a testimony that Heavenly Father has blessed me with.  I love expressing my gratitude to God by trying to cultivate and grow that testimony and to become more and more converted week to week day by day, choice by choice.  Have a tremendous week!

Elder Traasdahl