Hello!
First of all I'm sorry I didn't email yesterday, but we had an all mission activity so we didn't have time to really do anything else. They should rename it the all day mission activity... I know, lame joke. It was a great time though. We went to some place called the Highlands or something like that. I don't really remember what its called, but its the highest elevated point on the Atlantic Coast. At the top there is an old lighthouse with some story behind it. It was awesome to be able to look out at the ocean and was a beautiful sight. We went on a hike and ate lunch and just chilled for a while. It was good to meet all the other missionaries and see all my MTC Elders.
It was also Elder Larsen's birthday, so after the activity we went over to the Bishop's house and had a little celebration with a few other families and our investigator, Marcella. We've finished teaching her everything now and everything is set for her baptism this Saturday. It's an exciting time and we have really loved teaching her. She is as prepared as they come and has been such a blessing to us, and other members in the ward.
I don't know if I've ever mentioned David and Yohan, but they are brothers (15 and 12) that we started teaching a couple of weeks ago. They both came to church this Sunday and loved it. After church ended they were asking us about Mutual and whether or not they had a ride for next week. We have them set with a goal to be baptized on Oct. 9 and I'm pretty confident that they will be baptized. Yohan, the younger of the two, is always asking questions and wants us to come over like every day. It's definitely a different experience teaching young boys/teenagers than it is teaching adults. You have to handle it a lot differently but it has been going very well.
This week I've thought a lot about patience. Specifically patience with myself. I'm very hard on myself and expect the best. I'm lucky to have great missionaries around me and sometimes I become frustrated because I don't have all the experience that they do. I know that I will become a more effective missionary as time goes on, but I just want everything right away. I even feel selfish at times because I'm worrying too much about myself and not about what others need. So I continue to learn and try my hardest to be the best missionary I can be, even if it takes longer than I'd like. I wish I could write more but we have limited time to write today. I love you all!
Love Elder Tilley
Friday, September 24, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
I Didn't Get a Letter This Week...
But I did get this letter
Hi, Sister Tilley,
I'm so glad it's you! Elder Tilley wasn't sure he had your email address correct when he was over last night. He and Elder Larsen were expressing their concern at not having emailed home yesterday so I said I'd let you know what was up.
The entire mission went to the Jersey shore yesterday with President and Sister Bahr, so they left early and returned late with no computer time to write. I'm sure Elder Tilley will write and tell you all about the 'field trip'. He and Elder Larsen then came to our house for dinner as it was Elder Larsen's birthday and Marcella, whom I'm sure he's told you about, was able to drop by too, along with other ward members to hang out and eat etc.
You have such a wonderful boy! We love him here in Ledgewood and he's added so much to the missionary work here. He couldn't have a better trainer than Elder Larsen and we hope we keep both of them here for quite a while. The Ledgewood is a terrific ward. My family has only lived in New Jersey for almost four years, and my husband has been Bishop for three of those years. He works closely with the missionaries and loves them dearly. The people in the ward are very good at fellowshiping, members and non-members alike. Most of us are transplants and so our families are far away and we rely on each other for support. It's a great place for a brand new Elder to get started on his mission because he will receive all the mothering and attention he needs as well as getting some awesome priesthood guidance and leadership to prepare him for when he moves on.
Thanks again for raising such a fine you man, we love him a lot!
Sister Nielsen
It was so wonderful to hear from someone who has spent time with Ryan recently. It meant so much to me to know that there are wonderful people looking out for him (and feeding him). I admit it, I bawled like baby while reading this letter.
I just want to send a big thank you to the members of the Ledgewood Ward for all they do for the missionaries there. And a big thank you to Sister Nielsen for taking her time to let me know what was going on. I was trying not to freak out, but not very successfully!
Hi, Sister Tilley,
I'm so glad it's you! Elder Tilley wasn't sure he had your email address correct when he was over last night. He and Elder Larsen were expressing their concern at not having emailed home yesterday so I said I'd let you know what was up.
The entire mission went to the Jersey shore yesterday with President and Sister Bahr, so they left early and returned late with no computer time to write. I'm sure Elder Tilley will write and tell you all about the 'field trip'. He and Elder Larsen then came to our house for dinner as it was Elder Larsen's birthday and Marcella, whom I'm sure he's told you about, was able to drop by too, along with other ward members to hang out and eat etc.
You have such a wonderful boy! We love him here in Ledgewood and he's added so much to the missionary work here. He couldn't have a better trainer than Elder Larsen and we hope we keep both of them here for quite a while. The Ledgewood is a terrific ward. My family has only lived in New Jersey for almost four years, and my husband has been Bishop for three of those years. He works closely with the missionaries and loves them dearly. The people in the ward are very good at fellowshiping, members and non-members alike. Most of us are transplants and so our families are far away and we rely on each other for support. It's a great place for a brand new Elder to get started on his mission because he will receive all the mothering and attention he needs as well as getting some awesome priesthood guidance and leadership to prepare him for when he moves on.
Thanks again for raising such a fine you man, we love him a lot!
Sister Nielsen
It was so wonderful to hear from someone who has spent time with Ryan recently. It meant so much to me to know that there are wonderful people looking out for him (and feeding him). I admit it, I bawled like baby while reading this letter.
I just want to send a big thank you to the members of the Ledgewood Ward for all they do for the missionaries there. And a big thank you to Sister Nielsen for taking her time to let me know what was going on. I was trying not to freak out, but not very successfully!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Roaches, Brown Water, and Dog Bites
Hello!
So I've officially been bitten by a dog this week. We knocked on a door which was cracked slightly open, and so the dog was able to jump out and bite my leg. Luckily it wasn't too bad, the dog was pretty small and I was able to kick it hard enough that it thought twice about coming at me again. Just a day in the life... but seriously this week has been out of control! I went on two exchanges, it was stake conference, plus transfer facts came in yesterday. My companion and I are staying together so no changes there.
On Tuesday I went on an exchange with Elder Wilbur, who was in the MTC with me. Both of us are brand new, so it was a great time to gain experience. I got to drive for the first time in what feels like years which was nice. It was kind of hard because Elder Wibur is really quiet, so I kind of had to take control in lessons. Like I said it was a great learning experience. Neither of us really know exactly what were doing yet, so we figured it out together. The other transfer that I went on was on Thursday, with Elder Litzenberger who is one of my Zone Leaders. It was kind of crazy because he is a Spanish missionary, so I couldn't really contribute much, but it was still a good experience. At the end of the day we went to see one of his members named Cesar (he and his wife speak English). He joined the church when he was about 21 and I was really impressed by his story of how he converted. He's actually supposed to be in our ward but he was called to attend the Spanish Branch so they could have more leadership. As we talked with him, trying to come up with ways to improve their branch, through organization and better member involvement I couldn't help but love this member. He truly cares about building up that branch, and is someone who is truly living the Gospel. He's not just content with being baptized and showing up for church each week, he wants to grow and progress in the gospel. He knows the importance of magnifying his calling. It's something I've really thought about lately, especially as I studied this morning. I love more than anything members who work to build the Lords kingdom, members who are willing to give all that they have for the church.
Our Bishop is a prime example of this. He is constantly making sacrifices to help the investigators and members of our ward. He goes well beyond what is required of a Bishop and he makes such a difference. Unfortunately some members don't quite get it. Its sad to see those who aren't willing to help with the Lords work, but we all have our agency. Learning to be selfless is such a valuable thing in life. It's something that I am really making a goal to work on. When I forget about myself not just a little bit, but when I completely forget about myself, That's when miracles happen. That's when the Lord can will use me as his tool. In my opinion that's one of the most fun things of being a missionary. You don't have to worry about yourself. We live in humble conditions. We have a roach problem, and for a whole day we had brown water. These are things that would normally really bother me, but I don't worry about it at all. We live off of very basic foods, we don't have many possessions, but we always get by. As a servant of the Lord, I know that I will always get by. I have his protection as I do his work. It's a great feeling.
Love, Elder Tilley
So I've officially been bitten by a dog this week. We knocked on a door which was cracked slightly open, and so the dog was able to jump out and bite my leg. Luckily it wasn't too bad, the dog was pretty small and I was able to kick it hard enough that it thought twice about coming at me again. Just a day in the life... but seriously this week has been out of control! I went on two exchanges, it was stake conference, plus transfer facts came in yesterday. My companion and I are staying together so no changes there.
On Tuesday I went on an exchange with Elder Wilbur, who was in the MTC with me. Both of us are brand new, so it was a great time to gain experience. I got to drive for the first time in what feels like years which was nice. It was kind of hard because Elder Wibur is really quiet, so I kind of had to take control in lessons. Like I said it was a great learning experience. Neither of us really know exactly what were doing yet, so we figured it out together. The other transfer that I went on was on Thursday, with Elder Litzenberger who is one of my Zone Leaders. It was kind of crazy because he is a Spanish missionary, so I couldn't really contribute much, but it was still a good experience. At the end of the day we went to see one of his members named Cesar (he and his wife speak English). He joined the church when he was about 21 and I was really impressed by his story of how he converted. He's actually supposed to be in our ward but he was called to attend the Spanish Branch so they could have more leadership. As we talked with him, trying to come up with ways to improve their branch, through organization and better member involvement I couldn't help but love this member. He truly cares about building up that branch, and is someone who is truly living the Gospel. He's not just content with being baptized and showing up for church each week, he wants to grow and progress in the gospel. He knows the importance of magnifying his calling. It's something I've really thought about lately, especially as I studied this morning. I love more than anything members who work to build the Lords kingdom, members who are willing to give all that they have for the church.
Our Bishop is a prime example of this. He is constantly making sacrifices to help the investigators and members of our ward. He goes well beyond what is required of a Bishop and he makes such a difference. Unfortunately some members don't quite get it. Its sad to see those who aren't willing to help with the Lords work, but we all have our agency. Learning to be selfless is such a valuable thing in life. It's something that I am really making a goal to work on. When I forget about myself not just a little bit, but when I completely forget about myself, That's when miracles happen. That's when the Lord can will use me as his tool. In my opinion that's one of the most fun things of being a missionary. You don't have to worry about yourself. We live in humble conditions. We have a roach problem, and for a whole day we had brown water. These are things that would normally really bother me, but I don't worry about it at all. We live off of very basic foods, we don't have many possessions, but we always get by. As a servant of the Lord, I know that I will always get by. I have his protection as I do his work. It's a great feeling.
Love, Elder Tilley
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Transfers Already?
Hello!
I have great news! Well, first of all early this week we got a call from the Bishop and he told us that Marcella was moving 2 hours south, and that she was already gone. This was really hard for Elder Larson and I because she hadn't told us, and it was really sudden. A few days later, however, we found out that it was just a big misunderstanding and that she was only going down to move her daughter to college. Our spirits were immediately uplifted once we found this out and so we set up an appointment with her right away. We had her over at Bishop Nielson's home and just like our last lesson with her, the spirit was super strong. The lesson went extremely well, and we set her with a baptismal date for Sept. 25!!! I am so grateful for her and her decision to follow the example of Jesus Christ.
Later that day we talked to Tony, but this time we took Bro. Meyer with us and it made a huge difference. With a fellow scientist around his own age, Tony opened up and was more accepting of our message. Member work is so important! If it wasn't for the Bishop and the Archibalds, I know without a doubt that Marcella would not be preparing to be baptized. It really makes all the difference to have that support system around you, and to know other members who love you and will do anything for you. My testimony of this grows each and every lesson we teach with a member present.
Transfers are coming up next week which is pretty crazy! I'll probably still be with my companion but you never know. Elder Litzenberger, who I live with, will be transferred unless some divine intervention keeps him here. He's been here as a zone leader forever!
This week I've really thought about how blessed I am to have the Gospel in my life. There are so many people in this world who are lost and don't even know it. Every day we meet someone who is living a miserable life, disguised in pleasure and worldly possessions. Everyone needs the Gospel. I only wish that more people would listen and that their hearts would be softened. Knowing what's truly important in life and how to get it is so important. I have even met people who despise God and curse him for the challenges and trials he gives them. So many people lack the wisdom and the foresight to realize that trials really truly are blessings. When presented with those trials in our lives, we can do one of two things. We can learn and grow from them, or we can let them destroy us. I know that through consistent and sincere prayer/scripture study we can overcome trials. Not only does that bless us in this life, but it blesses us in the next life more than we can comprehend. I love you all and am thankful for your prayers.
Love, Elder Tilley
I have great news! Well, first of all early this week we got a call from the Bishop and he told us that Marcella was moving 2 hours south, and that she was already gone. This was really hard for Elder Larson and I because she hadn't told us, and it was really sudden. A few days later, however, we found out that it was just a big misunderstanding and that she was only going down to move her daughter to college. Our spirits were immediately uplifted once we found this out and so we set up an appointment with her right away. We had her over at Bishop Nielson's home and just like our last lesson with her, the spirit was super strong. The lesson went extremely well, and we set her with a baptismal date for Sept. 25!!! I am so grateful for her and her decision to follow the example of Jesus Christ.
Later that day we talked to Tony, but this time we took Bro. Meyer with us and it made a huge difference. With a fellow scientist around his own age, Tony opened up and was more accepting of our message. Member work is so important! If it wasn't for the Bishop and the Archibalds, I know without a doubt that Marcella would not be preparing to be baptized. It really makes all the difference to have that support system around you, and to know other members who love you and will do anything for you. My testimony of this grows each and every lesson we teach with a member present.
Transfers are coming up next week which is pretty crazy! I'll probably still be with my companion but you never know. Elder Litzenberger, who I live with, will be transferred unless some divine intervention keeps him here. He's been here as a zone leader forever!
This week I've really thought about how blessed I am to have the Gospel in my life. There are so many people in this world who are lost and don't even know it. Every day we meet someone who is living a miserable life, disguised in pleasure and worldly possessions. Everyone needs the Gospel. I only wish that more people would listen and that their hearts would be softened. Knowing what's truly important in life and how to get it is so important. I have even met people who despise God and curse him for the challenges and trials he gives them. So many people lack the wisdom and the foresight to realize that trials really truly are blessings. When presented with those trials in our lives, we can do one of two things. We can learn and grow from them, or we can let them destroy us. I know that through consistent and sincere prayer/scripture study we can overcome trials. Not only does that bless us in this life, but it blesses us in the next life more than we can comprehend. I love you all and am thankful for your prayers.
Love, Elder Tilley
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