Dear Family,
I don't really know what to write because this week was almost the same as last. Because of more heavy rain, the Passaic River flooded again. Just a week after the first flooding. It wasn't quite as bad as the first flooding, but still worse than any flooding people have seen in years. Luckily the damage was already done by the first flooding and not many people had enough time to fix things up yet. All we have really done the past couple of weeks is service and it has been an incredible experience. We have received several referrals so far from people who are interested in learning more about our church, all thanks to our opportunity to do service for them. Yesterday our church service was the same as it was last week and we went out and did service again. Elder Olsen, who is our area seventy, was with us yesterday as we helped people on a specific street. We came across a
man named R. who has stage 4 cancer and we talked with him and helped him for quite some time. Elder Olsen gave him a blessing and he was very grateful for our help and is interested in learning more about us. It was a very special experience and I am excited to visit with him on a regular basis. One home that requested our help was still completely surrounded by flood water. We walked through water several feet high to get to them but it was so worth it to be able to help them. Here's part of our mission president's weekly letter:
It was great to see all of you yesterday (Saturday, 9/10/11) at the Paterson Chapel for our disaster recovery effort. Although there were lots of frustrations during the day, many lives were blessed by your efforts. On Labor Day (Monday, 9/5/11) the Newark zone was sent out to obtain “Assessment Forms” from families in need in the township of Little Falls. The editor of a local community on-line newspaper covering Essex County (“Baristanet”) was out covering another story when she saw “…a bunch of people in yellow shirts.” She drove over to them to find out what they were up to. Of course, it was a bunch of Mormons wearing Helping Hands shirts. She stopped and spoke to Elders Munk and Montierth. They explained to her who they were and what they were doing there. (She said they were “outstanding young men, polite, well-mannered, well-spoken, and obviously well- prepared”. Way to go Elder Munk and Elder Montierth!!). They gave her my name and number to call for additional information. She called me Wednesday night (9/7/11). We had a delightful visit for over an hour about the Church, our missionaries, our disaster clean-up efforts, and other topics. She published her article in her online newspaper on Friday (9/9/11). Her article, entitled “The Book of Mormon: Real Life in the Little Falls Flood Zone” (which included a picture of Elder Munk and Elder Montierth) is pasted in below.
“The Book of Mormon: Real Life in the Little Falls Flood Zone. In the Broadway hit “Book of Mormon,” Elder Price, waiting for his missionary assignment, really, really wants to be sent to Orlando. He gets assigned to AIDS-ravaged Uganda instead Maybe in the sequel, he’ll be sent to New Jersey.
Yesterday, a cluster of yellow-shirted Mormon missionaries, including Elder Devan Munk of Idaho and Daren Montierth of Arizona, were walking the streets of Little Falls on behalf of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Part of a group of 135 young Mormons stationed in New Jersey for a two-year service stint, Munk, Montierth and their fellow missionaries spent yesterday afternoon going door to door with a form designed to assess the damage of each individual home in the storm-ravaged town. That information was then given to a team of six disaster recovery experts sent from Salt Lake City, who will decide which households need most help. Then, this Saturday and Sunday, more than 2,000 New Jersey-area Mormons will join the young missionaries for a huge cleanup effort, armed with two tractor trailers of supplies and tools — also sent from Utah. They’ll remove fallen trees, rip up carpet and take down walls.
Jon M. Jeppson, president of the NJ/Morristown Mission, oversees the local contingent. While their ultimate goal is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, he says, they are a formidable army of Christian
do-gooders when a disaster strikes. “These young people are remarkable,” Jeppson told Baristanet. “They leave their families, friends, colleges, cars, pay their own way for a period of two years, and go wherever in the world they are called. They’re a significant force, who give their energy, effort and backs to provide good Christian service to people who have lost hope of being helped.” Jeppson said that the volunteers are explicitly forbidden to preach in the course of their flood recovery effort work, though they can answer questions if asked.According to Mormon doctrine, Jesus Christ himself decides where missionaries are sent, handing the orders to current church president Thomas S. Monson. Sometimes the assignments are puzzling. Munk was sent to Newark to work with a Spanish-speaking community, even though he had never spoken it before. “I learned,” he said.
Jeppson himself was planning to retire from his law practice in Salt Lake City next year before being unexpectedly assigned to oversee the NJ missionaries. Two months ago, he and his wife left their six children and 13 grandchildren, packed up their lives and moved to Morristown.”
Great publicity! Yesterday there were photographers from FEMA who had I'll be in some article somewhere. Who knows? I've heard a rumor that we'll be having another church service full of literal service again. They've already cancelled our Leadership Training that was supposed to be for three days this week, because we are needed for more service. Fun stuff! Life's good, The Gospel is true.
Love,
Elder Tilley
Monday, September 12, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Mormon Helping Hands
Dear family,
How's life? I don't know how much you've heard about the flooding out here, but it's really bad. Actually I guess I should say it was pretty bad, because now we're dealing with the aftermath. We've spent pretty much every day this past week doing service and helping those affected by the floods. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday we had a large group of "Mormon Helping Hands" organized to help with relief. The coolest day was definitely Sunday. All of the wards in the Stake met for just 30 minutes of Sacrament and then went out to do service. It was kind of strange seeing everyone in their work clothes during Sacrament Meeting, but it was such a cool experience. The spirit of service was incredible in that room and throughout the day. It was an awesome sight to see everyone gathered together in their yellow shirts ready to serve. In the area we served in it was impossible to go anywhere without seeing members of our church helping out. There were over 700 volunteers! We were the only one's helping out and I know that it was great exposure for the church. At first people were reluctant to allow us to help, but as the day went on more and more people accepted us in. The damage was devestating and many people lost everything thing they had. It was one of the saddest things I've ever seen. So many lives were touched by our service and were filled with gratitude.
There are people here who flew out from Salt Lake City to help organize the relief efforts. There will be organized service for probably the next 3 weeks or so. President Obama even came to visit Paterson, Wayne and Lincoln Park which were all hit very badly. Our area has the most damage done to it, so we've been doing service non-stop, even when it isn't organized. It has been quite an experience. A lady told us that during the flooding someone came by in a boat and when she asked if she and her children could catch a ride to safety, the man in the boat tried to charge her 20 dollars per person. It's a sad world that we live in. It's weird to go into people's homes and just throw everything away and tear everything down. I always thought that flooding was on the lamer side compared to other disasters... not true at all. It's been a huge eye opener to me and I'm pretty sure I'll NEVER live next to a river.
With all the craziness this week we haven't been able to see very many people and teach. We stayed in four different places so I'm SICK OF PACKING AND MOVING! It was really hard to stay organized and plan effectively. We pretty much stopped scheduling apointments because they kept springing random service on us and we had to keep cancelling everything. We haven't really been in touch with anyone we're teaching and I'm scared that we're losing people. This week we're going to have to work extra hard to make sure we get in contact with everyone. I've been here for three weeks but we've basically only had church once so it's hard to get to know everyone. It seems like the service takes away from the work, but as I've thought about it, I've been reminded of the early saints in Utah who were building the Salt Lake temple. Brigham Young asked that they stop work on the construction of the temple and instead focus on finishing the transcontinental railroad. It must have seemed as if that took away from the great work they were doing, but in the end that railroad allowed them to finnish the temple much faster than they would have been able to without it. I know that the flooding that has happened has humbled many people, and the service we have rendered is softening their hearts even more. One lady took a picture of the back of my companion's shirt so she could forever remember who helped her during this great trial.
Things have been great for us in our trio. Last night we were planning and the last of the 13 steps to planning is companionship inventory. This step is usually only done during weekly planning but if needed it can also be brought up in nightly planning. For those of you who don't know comp inventory is the time to discuss strengths of the companionship and individuals, things that might be holding the companionship from working in unity or being obedient, to resolve conflicts, to set goals... stuff like that. Anyway, last night I brought it up more as a joke and asked if there was anything we needed to talk about. It surprised me when Elder Tippetts said he did have something to say. He then expressed, so sincerely, his desire to be the best missionary possible and then pleaded with me to show/teach him what he needed to do to make that happen. We then had I guess what you would call a heart to heart moment. I feel very humbled. He had made a comment earlier that day that I needed to stop focusing on improving myself and start helping him to improve. I love young missionaries and it's an incredible opportunity to work with two of them. In all of the confusion this past week I think I've forgotten the importance of why I'm here. I'm here with these two missionaries for a reason, and that reason is to train them how to be successful missionaries. This week I'm going to forget myself and focus only on helping my companions, my district, and my investigators. I'm responsible for them and they deserve all of my time and attention. I love my companions and the area I'm in. I'M SO BLESSED!!! I love you all!
Love,
Elder Tilley
P.S. I'm going on an exchange to my old area- Paterson! Yay!
How's life? I don't know how much you've heard about the flooding out here, but it's really bad. Actually I guess I should say it was pretty bad, because now we're dealing with the aftermath. We've spent pretty much every day this past week doing service and helping those affected by the floods. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday we had a large group of "Mormon Helping Hands" organized to help with relief. The coolest day was definitely Sunday. All of the wards in the Stake met for just 30 minutes of Sacrament and then went out to do service. It was kind of strange seeing everyone in their work clothes during Sacrament Meeting, but it was such a cool experience. The spirit of service was incredible in that room and throughout the day. It was an awesome sight to see everyone gathered together in their yellow shirts ready to serve. In the area we served in it was impossible to go anywhere without seeing members of our church helping out. There were over 700 volunteers! We were the only one's helping out and I know that it was great exposure for the church. At first people were reluctant to allow us to help, but as the day went on more and more people accepted us in. The damage was devestating and many people lost everything thing they had. It was one of the saddest things I've ever seen. So many lives were touched by our service and were filled with gratitude.
There are people here who flew out from Salt Lake City to help organize the relief efforts. There will be organized service for probably the next 3 weeks or so. President Obama even came to visit Paterson, Wayne and Lincoln Park which were all hit very badly. Our area has the most damage done to it, so we've been doing service non-stop, even when it isn't organized. It has been quite an experience. A lady told us that during the flooding someone came by in a boat and when she asked if she and her children could catch a ride to safety, the man in the boat tried to charge her 20 dollars per person. It's a sad world that we live in. It's weird to go into people's homes and just throw everything away and tear everything down. I always thought that flooding was on the lamer side compared to other disasters... not true at all. It's been a huge eye opener to me and I'm pretty sure I'll NEVER live next to a river.
With all the craziness this week we haven't been able to see very many people and teach. We stayed in four different places so I'm SICK OF PACKING AND MOVING! It was really hard to stay organized and plan effectively. We pretty much stopped scheduling apointments because they kept springing random service on us and we had to keep cancelling everything. We haven't really been in touch with anyone we're teaching and I'm scared that we're losing people. This week we're going to have to work extra hard to make sure we get in contact with everyone. I've been here for three weeks but we've basically only had church once so it's hard to get to know everyone. It seems like the service takes away from the work, but as I've thought about it, I've been reminded of the early saints in Utah who were building the Salt Lake temple. Brigham Young asked that they stop work on the construction of the temple and instead focus on finishing the transcontinental railroad. It must have seemed as if that took away from the great work they were doing, but in the end that railroad allowed them to finnish the temple much faster than they would have been able to without it. I know that the flooding that has happened has humbled many people, and the service we have rendered is softening their hearts even more. One lady took a picture of the back of my companion's shirt so she could forever remember who helped her during this great trial.
Things have been great for us in our trio. Last night we were planning and the last of the 13 steps to planning is companionship inventory. This step is usually only done during weekly planning but if needed it can also be brought up in nightly planning. For those of you who don't know comp inventory is the time to discuss strengths of the companionship and individuals, things that might be holding the companionship from working in unity or being obedient, to resolve conflicts, to set goals... stuff like that. Anyway, last night I brought it up more as a joke and asked if there was anything we needed to talk about. It surprised me when Elder Tippetts said he did have something to say. He then expressed, so sincerely, his desire to be the best missionary possible and then pleaded with me to show/teach him what he needed to do to make that happen. We then had I guess what you would call a heart to heart moment. I feel very humbled. He had made a comment earlier that day that I needed to stop focusing on improving myself and start helping him to improve. I love young missionaries and it's an incredible opportunity to work with two of them. In all of the confusion this past week I think I've forgotten the importance of why I'm here. I'm here with these two missionaries for a reason, and that reason is to train them how to be successful missionaries. This week I'm going to forget myself and focus only on helping my companions, my district, and my investigators. I'm responsible for them and they deserve all of my time and attention. I love my companions and the area I'm in. I'M SO BLESSED!!! I love you all!
Love,
Elder Tilley
P.S. I'm going on an exchange to my old area- Paterson! Yay!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Surviving Hurrican Irene
Hello Family!
Sooo... no. I didn't die in the "hurricane". I wish you could have been here to see how bad people were freaking out. You would have thought there was about to be a zombie uprising the way people were acting. People are crazy in Jersey! There was a mad rush to the stores and people were fighting over water like kids fighting over the last piece of candy... super funny.
We were instructed to evacuate and stay at the church, so we did. Can't say that I've ever slept at the church before, but I've done it for the last two days now. It definitely rained, and it was kind of windy. Basically the storm was a joke by the time it got here. Oh well, better safe than sorry I guess. The only problem now is the flooding. Our apartment is right next to the Passaic river, so we had to re-evacuate and we're back at the church... again. The flooding will last for a couple of days, but thankfully one of our members has a really nice landlord who is letting us stay in an empty apartment for a few days. We haven't been able to help anyone out yet, because we were instructed to stay put here, but later today we're going to help some members whose basement is flooded. I feel like slothful servant because we haven't been able to do anything for so long. I don't ever remember having time to just sit around. It's kind of weird. The earthquake that happened a few days ago wasn't really a big deal for us either, I didn't even feel it. There are some trees that have fallen down and scattered debris every once in a while, but flooding has been the real issue where we are.
Lately I haven't been able to get the Book of Mormon off of my mind. Of course, it's always on my mind as a missionary, but lately it seems like everywhere I go I'm reminded of how incredible it is. A book written thousands of years ago, but specifically for our day. It has the power to influence one's life greater than any other thing that can be read, at least that we know of. It is one of the most precious treasures, yet it is so available to any who desire it. It is of this availability which I have pondered about. Maybe it's because of all the literal flooding that has taken place around me, but I can't help but marvel at how President Ezra Taft Benson's vision of flooding the earth with the Book of Mormon is taking place right before our eyes. A few days ago I met a recent convert (is probably in his late 20's) here in Caldwell. Like with all converts that I meet for the first time, I asked about his conversion story. Like all conversions, his was incredible! He is a writer and so naturally he loves to read. One day he was looking through his father's library for something he had not read before. His eyes quickly caught hold of book he had never seen before. It was The Book of Mormon. He had heard many things about Mormons and was interested in learning more. His attitude soon changed from that of casual curiosity to what he called a "deep obsession" with not only the Book of Mormon, but with the doctrine of Mormonism. He read the entire Book of Mormon in 6 days, while also spending time researching our doctrine on line. He soon found out about the Doctrine and Covenants, as well as the Pearl of Great Price. His desire to learn more was so great, that he printed off every single, solitary page of those books. He researched the commandments and began living them even before meeting with the missionaries. For over a year, he studied and lived the Restored Gospel to the best of his ability with no help whatsoever, other than the writings of the prophets and of course the spirit. S. is extremely intelligent, and one of the greatest philosophical minds I have ever met. Everything made sense to him because he went about it with the right attitude, looking for truth. Eventually, he recognized that to receive all the blessings which were his right, he needed to do something about his new found belief. So he found the Bishop's number one night and called him and asked him what he needed to do to be baptized. Just a few weeks later he was baptized. All because someone, somewhere, at some point of time, had the sense enough to follow what was surely a prompting from the Holy Ghost and give S's father a Book of Mormon. That very same day I met with another convert for the first time. Her story was very similar. While visiting her parents, she also was looking for a book to read in their collection of books. She too came across The Book of Mormon. She, along with both of her parents, her husband and her son, was baptized soon after. Once again, someone was doing their part to flood the earth with The Book of Mormon. I plead with any who read this letter, to share what has been such a great blessing in my life, and hopefully in yours, with someone who has not had the opportunity to receive such. The Book of Mormon is the road map to happiness, and it is essential for gaining a divine witness that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator
Love,
Elder Tilley
P.S. Thanks for the family letter! It was awesome and I love to hear from everyone!
Sooo... no. I didn't die in the "hurricane". I wish you could have been here to see how bad people were freaking out. You would have thought there was about to be a zombie uprising the way people were acting. People are crazy in Jersey! There was a mad rush to the stores and people were fighting over water like kids fighting over the last piece of candy... super funny.
We were instructed to evacuate and stay at the church, so we did. Can't say that I've ever slept at the church before, but I've done it for the last two days now. It definitely rained, and it was kind of windy. Basically the storm was a joke by the time it got here. Oh well, better safe than sorry I guess. The only problem now is the flooding. Our apartment is right next to the Passaic river, so we had to re-evacuate and we're back at the church... again. The flooding will last for a couple of days, but thankfully one of our members has a really nice landlord who is letting us stay in an empty apartment for a few days. We haven't been able to help anyone out yet, because we were instructed to stay put here, but later today we're going to help some members whose basement is flooded. I feel like slothful servant because we haven't been able to do anything for so long. I don't ever remember having time to just sit around. It's kind of weird. The earthquake that happened a few days ago wasn't really a big deal for us either, I didn't even feel it. There are some trees that have fallen down and scattered debris every once in a while, but flooding has been the real issue where we are.
Lately I haven't been able to get the Book of Mormon off of my mind. Of course, it's always on my mind as a missionary, but lately it seems like everywhere I go I'm reminded of how incredible it is. A book written thousands of years ago, but specifically for our day. It has the power to influence one's life greater than any other thing that can be read, at least that we know of. It is one of the most precious treasures, yet it is so available to any who desire it. It is of this availability which I have pondered about. Maybe it's because of all the literal flooding that has taken place around me, but I can't help but marvel at how President Ezra Taft Benson's vision of flooding the earth with the Book of Mormon is taking place right before our eyes. A few days ago I met a recent convert (is probably in his late 20's) here in Caldwell. Like with all converts that I meet for the first time, I asked about his conversion story. Like all conversions, his was incredible! He is a writer and so naturally he loves to read. One day he was looking through his father's library for something he had not read before. His eyes quickly caught hold of book he had never seen before. It was The Book of Mormon. He had heard many things about Mormons and was interested in learning more. His attitude soon changed from that of casual curiosity to what he called a "deep obsession" with not only the Book of Mormon, but with the doctrine of Mormonism. He read the entire Book of Mormon in 6 days, while also spending time researching our doctrine on line. He soon found out about the Doctrine and Covenants, as well as the Pearl of Great Price. His desire to learn more was so great, that he printed off every single, solitary page of those books. He researched the commandments and began living them even before meeting with the missionaries. For over a year, he studied and lived the Restored Gospel to the best of his ability with no help whatsoever, other than the writings of the prophets and of course the spirit. S. is extremely intelligent, and one of the greatest philosophical minds I have ever met. Everything made sense to him because he went about it with the right attitude, looking for truth. Eventually, he recognized that to receive all the blessings which were his right, he needed to do something about his new found belief. So he found the Bishop's number one night and called him and asked him what he needed to do to be baptized. Just a few weeks later he was baptized. All because someone, somewhere, at some point of time, had the sense enough to follow what was surely a prompting from the Holy Ghost and give S's father a Book of Mormon. That very same day I met with another convert for the first time. Her story was very similar. While visiting her parents, she also was looking for a book to read in their collection of books. She too came across The Book of Mormon. She, along with both of her parents, her husband and her son, was baptized soon after. Once again, someone was doing their part to flood the earth with The Book of Mormon. I plead with any who read this letter, to share what has been such a great blessing in my life, and hopefully in yours, with someone who has not had the opportunity to receive such. The Book of Mormon is the road map to happiness, and it is essential for gaining a divine witness that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator
Love,
Elder Tilley
P.S. Thanks for the family letter! It was awesome and I love to hear from everyone!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Hurricane Irene
I received this email from Ryan's Mission President yesterday:
NEW JERSEY MORRISTOWN MISSION
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Brothers and Sisters, parents of missionaries in the New Jersey
Morristown Mission:
First, let me tell you what a privilege it is to serve with your sons
and daughters in this great work of bringing souls to Christ. Without
a doubt, our missionaries are the very best in the entire church.
Thank you for your support of each of them.
As you may know, Hurricane Irene is headed in our direction and is
currently forecast to arrive in the New York/New Jersey area by late
afternoon and evening of Sunday, August 28, 2011, lasting into the
early morning hours of Monday, August 29, 2011. We have alerted all
our missionaries of this impending storm and asked them to prepare
accordingly, including identifying a location to go to for safety,
i.e., a member’s home or one of our church buildings.
Rest assured we are doing everything necessary to ensure the safety of
your missionary son or daughter. We are staying in close contact with
all of them. Please do not call the mission home, the mission office,
or your missionary. Following the passage of the storm, we will send
out another email confirming their safety.
Again, thank you for sharing these wonderful young men and woman with
us. We love them all.
President and Sister Jeppson
The Missionary Moms email group that I belong to is reporting that they are evacuating the missionaries on the coast. Ryan is currently serving 10 - 15 miles inland, so I am not sure if he has been evacuated or not. We are all praying for everyone's safety and we know what an amazing service opportunity this will provide our missionaries. As for my family, we will be watching the news very closely this weekend.
NEW JERSEY MORRISTOWN MISSION
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Brothers and Sisters, parents of missionaries in the New Jersey
Morristown Mission:
First, let me tell you what a privilege it is to serve with your sons
and daughters in this great work of bringing souls to Christ. Without
a doubt, our missionaries are the very best in the entire church.
Thank you for your support of each of them.
As you may know, Hurricane Irene is headed in our direction and is
currently forecast to arrive in the New York/New Jersey area by late
afternoon and evening of Sunday, August 28, 2011, lasting into the
early morning hours of Monday, August 29, 2011. We have alerted all
our missionaries of this impending storm and asked them to prepare
accordingly, including identifying a location to go to for safety,
i.e., a member’s home or one of our church buildings.
Rest assured we are doing everything necessary to ensure the safety of
your missionary son or daughter. We are staying in close contact with
all of them. Please do not call the mission home, the mission office,
or your missionary. Following the passage of the storm, we will send
out another email confirming their safety.
Again, thank you for sharing these wonderful young men and woman with
us. We love them all.
President and Sister Jeppson
The Missionary Moms email group that I belong to is reporting that they are evacuating the missionaries on the coast. Ryan is currently serving 10 - 15 miles inland, so I am not sure if he has been evacuated or not. We are all praying for everyone's safety and we know what an amazing service opportunity this will provide our missionaries. As for my family, we will be watching the news very closely this weekend.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Spanglish?
Hey Family,
I am now in the Caldwell area/ward. I was actually wrong and didn't go to either of the areas I thought I would, because I'm a district leader now instead of a zone leader. It was really weird that I didn't get a call from president to be released or a call that I was being called as a district leader so it kind of threw me off. I'm also in a trio and we're spanglish. We have to cover a whole ward in English and Spanish which is crazy! My companions are Elder Tippetts and Elder Lopez. Elder Tippetts was a brand new missionary last transfer but is a good young missionary. Elder Lopez has only been out two transfers and is from Argentina originally. So I have two super young companions. Because Elder Tippetts is so young he doesn't really know what's going on so I feel kind of like I've just been doubled in. It's been kind of crazy trying to wrap my head around all the changes and figure everything out. Being a zone leader is nice because you always have a companion who is a skilled missionary and who shares in your responsibilities, but not as a district leader. I'm super excited for this transfer though, and this area is AMAZING! Elder Larsen (my trainer), who is now one of the assistants, was here right before me and he did some serious work! Everyone here is obsessed with him and unfortunately he baptized everyone being taught. We are going to have to find a lot of people to teach the next couple of weeks and focus on gaining the members trust. The ward is very supportive and we have some awesome leaders. I was surprised at how amazing our week was even in all the confusion. As far as numbers go, this was one of the best weeks in my mission. It's kind of weird trying to balance the English work and the spanish work but we're figuring it out. Only the three of us live in our apartment and it's a nice one. So far the cities that I know of that we cover are: Caldwell, West Caldwell, Little Falls, Linkoln Park, Montclair, Bloomfield, Bellville, West Paterson, West Orange, and that's all I can think of right now. I'm the district leader over the Paterson Elders so I can go back to my old area on exchanges now! I'll be doing a lot of those... My address is 19 William St (Fl. 2) Little Falls, NJ. Anyway life is soooo good. Most likely they're setting me up to train for like the next 4 transfers but we'll see what happens. Pray for my companions and I. So far we get along well. I'm really going to focus on being patient this week. I think my companions can tell I'm a little frustrated with their lack of experience and getting to know the area. I need to be outwardly positive so I can fill them with confidence. It's weird but I kind of feel like a parent...
Love,
Elder Tilley
I am now in the Caldwell area/ward. I was actually wrong and didn't go to either of the areas I thought I would, because I'm a district leader now instead of a zone leader. It was really weird that I didn't get a call from president to be released or a call that I was being called as a district leader so it kind of threw me off. I'm also in a trio and we're spanglish. We have to cover a whole ward in English and Spanish which is crazy! My companions are Elder Tippetts and Elder Lopez. Elder Tippetts was a brand new missionary last transfer but is a good young missionary. Elder Lopez has only been out two transfers and is from Argentina originally. So I have two super young companions. Because Elder Tippetts is so young he doesn't really know what's going on so I feel kind of like I've just been doubled in. It's been kind of crazy trying to wrap my head around all the changes and figure everything out. Being a zone leader is nice because you always have a companion who is a skilled missionary and who shares in your responsibilities, but not as a district leader. I'm super excited for this transfer though, and this area is AMAZING! Elder Larsen (my trainer), who is now one of the assistants, was here right before me and he did some serious work! Everyone here is obsessed with him and unfortunately he baptized everyone being taught. We are going to have to find a lot of people to teach the next couple of weeks and focus on gaining the members trust. The ward is very supportive and we have some awesome leaders. I was surprised at how amazing our week was even in all the confusion. As far as numbers go, this was one of the best weeks in my mission. It's kind of weird trying to balance the English work and the spanish work but we're figuring it out. Only the three of us live in our apartment and it's a nice one. So far the cities that I know of that we cover are: Caldwell, West Caldwell, Little Falls, Linkoln Park, Montclair, Bloomfield, Bellville, West Paterson, West Orange, and that's all I can think of right now. I'm the district leader over the Paterson Elders so I can go back to my old area on exchanges now! I'll be doing a lot of those... My address is 19 William St (Fl. 2) Little Falls, NJ. Anyway life is soooo good. Most likely they're setting me up to train for like the next 4 transfers but we'll see what happens. Pray for my companions and I. So far we get along well. I'm really going to focus on being patient this week. I think my companions can tell I'm a little frustrated with their lack of experience and getting to know the area. I need to be outwardly positive so I can fill them with confidence. It's weird but I kind of feel like a parent...
Love,
Elder Tilley
Monday, August 15, 2011
Transfers
Dear Family,
I'm being transferred! It's super sad but at the same time I am really excited! I've been here for so long I can't even remember being anywhere else so it's going to be really strange when I arrive at my new area. I'm still a zone leader, so there are only two possible places for me to go. The first place I could go is to the Hightstown area which covers part of the Princeton 2nd Ward. The area covers the cities: Hightstown, East Windsor, West Windsor, Hamilton, Robinsville, twin rivers, plainsborough, Cranberry, Monroe, Monmouth Junction, South Brunswick, Kendall Park, Princeton and Princeton Junction. Yeah... It's a pretty big area, at least for our mission. Elder Breur was there just before he became my companion, so that's how I know so much about it. It's the area that President Eyring lived in when he was young. It's a huge ward, about the size of the Ledgewood Ward. The other place I could go to is the Eatontown area which covers the Eatontown Ward. I don't know too much about that area, but it's down by "the Shore". Redbank is the only other city that I can think of that it covers. It's the zone that is farthest south and it takes forever to get to meetings and conferences from there. Elder Larsen (my trainer) served in Eatontown right after he was my companion. So you can check out the map and know that I'll be in one of those two places before you even hear from me next week. I thought that I was going to be dropped from my zone leader position and was hoping to train, but that's not what the Lord wanted. It's going to be really weird because now I'm one of the older zone leaders even though I still have half of my mission left. Tomorrow is the transfer conference and then I'll be off to a new area.
So how is everything? How's Elder Campbell doing?? I haven't heard about him for a while. He probably only has like one transfer left. Crazy! The mission goes by WAY too fast. I can't believe I already past my year mark. I try not to think about it too much. Anything new with the extended fam?
So this week was pretty amazing. The last couple of weeks we have found some really cool families (of course right before I leave...) The other day we were out walking and a lady named Q. pulled up right beside us in her van and asked, "Are you Mormons?" We responded and as we talked she told us that she loves our church and used to attend in East Brunswick. She was pleased to have us come by and she is interested in learning again. We went over a couple of days later and talked to her mother and her sister. They both said that Q. had nothing but good things to say about our church and they are very interested in learning as well. It was an awesome miracle. It really strengthened my testimony that the Lord will lead prepared people to us. I am grateful that his spirit not only guides us but also those who desire to find truth and happiness. I love all yous guys.
Love,
Elder Tilley
Monday, August 8, 2011
I am so Grateful to be a Missionary
Dear fam
This week has been a great week especially since we had 5 investigators come to church! it was super awesome. I can't believe Laresa met Carter out at the pageant! How did they even make the connection? I don't know what address to give you, because transfers are this upcoming week. I've been here forever so I'll probably get transferred... If you think it will get here before next Tuesday, you could send it to my apartment. I think you have the address. I couldn't really understand what you were asking/saying about it in your letter. It didn't make much sense to me... sorry. President Jeppson just approved the use of Mp3 players so it's a good thing that I held on to the IPod you sent out. I think I'm going to send it back out to you with a list of artists and songs that you could put on it for me. Would that be OK?
We just got back from Rio Rodizio's which is an all you can eat Brazilian Barbecue place. It was so delicious! It's all the way in Newark though, so we still have to go shopping and there isn't much time for me to email. I feel bad when I can't write in detail. Just know that I really love you all and I am having an amazing time being a missionary. I am so grateful to be a missionary in the New Jersey Morristiown Mission. I can't begin to tell you how great of a mission it is. Jay E. Jenson is the 70 over our mission and we received great reports from him about our mission's results thus far this year. Out of the 26 missions in the North Eastern part of the U.S. and Canada which he is over, we are 3rd in total baptisms, 2nd in baptisms per companionship, and 1st in retention. We have so many great missionaries and amazing leaders in this mission! When considering overall obedience, you won't find many better missions. It is such a blessing to be here. Pray for the people here in New Jersey, and pray that we will continue to have success. Many souls are finding light and are on their way to receiving salvation. I love you all!
Love,
Elder Tilley
This week has been a great week especially since we had 5 investigators come to church! it was super awesome. I can't believe Laresa met Carter out at the pageant! How did they even make the connection? I don't know what address to give you, because transfers are this upcoming week. I've been here forever so I'll probably get transferred... If you think it will get here before next Tuesday, you could send it to my apartment. I think you have the address. I couldn't really understand what you were asking/saying about it in your letter. It didn't make much sense to me... sorry. President Jeppson just approved the use of Mp3 players so it's a good thing that I held on to the IPod you sent out. I think I'm going to send it back out to you with a list of artists and songs that you could put on it for me. Would that be OK?
We just got back from Rio Rodizio's which is an all you can eat Brazilian Barbecue place. It was so delicious! It's all the way in Newark though, so we still have to go shopping and there isn't much time for me to email. I feel bad when I can't write in detail. Just know that I really love you all and I am having an amazing time being a missionary. I am so grateful to be a missionary in the New Jersey Morristiown Mission. I can't begin to tell you how great of a mission it is. Jay E. Jenson is the 70 over our mission and we received great reports from him about our mission's results thus far this year. Out of the 26 missions in the North Eastern part of the U.S. and Canada which he is over, we are 3rd in total baptisms, 2nd in baptisms per companionship, and 1st in retention. We have so many great missionaries and amazing leaders in this mission! When considering overall obedience, you won't find many better missions. It is such a blessing to be here. Pray for the people here in New Jersey, and pray that we will continue to have success. Many souls are finding light and are on their way to receiving salvation. I love you all!
Love,
Elder Tilley
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