Monday June 27, 2011

So go on an awesome vacation with out me. I see how it is. Haha. Actually I am glad to hear that you are all going out and having fun, I wouldn't want it any other way. That sounds like it will be fun (or was fun by the time you read this) I don't think I know where Duck Creek is. How did you get a cabin? Just remember where it is so when I get back we can go too.

This week went pretty good. The weather is hot but the ac is cool so all is good. We had a couple of really cool lessons. One was with Liz, a YSA girl that has been taught by the missionaries for like 1 and 1/2 years. She wants to have the Holy Ghost in her life because she could see that all the Mormons she knows have this confidence and glow about them. She wants to have it but she doesn't think she can live the lifestyle it takes. This last lesson felt different. She actually sounded like she was going to try and apply it so she could feel it. We will see if we can get her to start living it.

We also had a lesson with a girl from the family ward that has less active parents. The dad is starting to come back but the mom is having a hard time. Madison is the girls name. She is 14 and wants to be a part of the church and has a few really good friends in it. We are just trying to get the parents more involved in church so she can stay active. Madison's mom has some hard habits to over come and has kind of taught her kids that if they are going to drink and do drugs that they should just stay out of trouble. All of her older siblings are in bad places now so our hope is to break the chain and help her so she can have a chance in life. The Gospel has so much freeing power. It can heal and free anyone from anything as long as they will let it. Jesus Christ loves us so much. I hope the trip was a blast.

Love ya.

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday June 20, 2011

HAPPY FATHERS DAY
I hope you had a great day.It sounds like it has been a fun weekend. I miss your french toast. I thought a lot about you when people talked about Fathers Day. I am so glad that you are my Dad. I love you.
I am doing great and really enjoying my self, and the work. So our sacrament meeting was so awesome in the singles ward. One of the RM's (Daniel Nelson, we live with his family and he trained Elder Sean Tanner Austin, who is my friend and we left about the same time) spoke and he invited 3 of his non-member friends, who we had just had a first lesson with (they are kind of like Mellina, not to into it but they came). His talk was so awesome. The spirit was so powerful. Then we had a high councilman speak. He summarized the whole gospel. It was just the perfect meeting.

It seems as though recently I have been struggling to know what do and not feeling like what I did was effective. The RM said some things that really hit me: We can have a sincere desire and offer a sincere prayer, but that alone doesn't do it. We then have to go out and begin to show the Lord our faithfulness. That is when spiritual growth comes. That sounds silly that it hit me so hard, but it was just the way he said it, with so much conviction. The Spirit told me there that all these plans in my head are right, and now do it! It is so great how the Lord works and how much He wants us to grow, because He loves us.
Mom, thanks for the letter. I just got it like Saturday. I like to hear about all that stuff. It comforts me to know what others are doing and to see that they are doing good. Like that Bethany is working, and Jessie is doing ok with the graveyard shift. Things like that are great to hear. I love you very much.

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday June 13, 2011

We have great weather now. It's sunny and warm but not too hot yet.

I like Exchanges, almost all of them; I do miss my bed. I love getting to know the other Elders and I haven't really ever had to go on any exchanges with one I didn't like. We have awesome missionaries in our zone right now.

That's lame that Bro. Bearden is selling his stuff. Air soft is no where near as fun as paint balling, but it is cheaper.

I deciced I absolutely love vegetables. So that garden makes me happy. I've got to say, I kind of miss going up into the mountains and roasting hot dogs and stuff. But I am having a blast out here. I remember thinking at one point that I was sacrificing 2 years. Now I realize that it is such a blessing. I think that if people could just see how happy a mission would make them they would jump for the opportunity to serve one. I think the reason it makes me so happy is because I am living the gospel so closely. I am close to the one who makes us happy, the Savior.

We had meetings this week again, but they were so cool. I learned a lot about what else I can improve-which is so great to have something to be there to re-adjust me. Well, I love you.
Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday May 30, 2011

Oh, he went to high school in Roseville? Ask him if he knows Tyler Owens or Mike Goytia or any Gibsons or Willes. Olivia's friend not showing up for the lesson because of sickness sounds like missionary work.

Yes, this week was awesome. We had tons of lessons. We even found 2-soon-to-be-3 new investigators that are awesome. So we went on exchanges on Saturday. I went in to the Chico 5th ward where most of downtown Chico is. We were biking in the rain ( yes it has been unusually wet here too.) and we were passing by this girl who was walking her dog. The Spirit was like, "TALK TO HER" so I did. She was a little hesitant at first but told me that she isn't sure who God is but she knew there is one. She meditates. So i told her about prayer. Something in her changed and she told me to come by her home the next day. While Elder Mortenson was in our ward he went to lunch and talked a little bit to the waitress. He gave her a pass along card with our number on it. We went by the next day after church and the girl I talked to was there and her roommate was the waitress. We had an awesome lesson on why we believe and how we got here. They loved it. They are going to come to the activity on Tuesday and we got a return appointment. It was sweet. We just had great week. The church is true the Book is blue. I love you.
That was cheesy.
I love you.
Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday May 23, 2001

Hi mate,

This was finals week for Chico state so no one wanted to listen to us because they were studying or partying. It was kind of a slow week. But in the family ward it was a little better. We were teaching this less active guy who also had really bad depression. He claims he has fibro mialga (sp) ( which I don't know if it is real you should look it up a bit and teach me a little bit about it. because from what i can tell he is just mentally giving himself problems.) We had a really good discussion with him. Just before he left he told us that the fire that his depression had smothered seems to have sparked back up. I love it when the Spirit is strong and burns within you so that you know what you need to do.You want to do it so badly that it fills your mind all the time. When the opportunity comes, he gives you the power to do so.

I love you

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday May 16, 2011

We had Elder Christofferson come last Saturday and speak to us. I got to shake his hand. He is like my favorite apostle. During this meeting I realized just how rare of an opportunity it was. He is one of 15 who hold the keys of the priesthood in our day: God's power given to man to perform His labors and these men hold it righteously in their capable hands.

Well, things are still going good. We have interviews with President this week so that will be good. We may have just lost our investigator because his member girlfriend broke up with him. We will find more though.

I love you and I know that this gospel is true and that the church was organized to help us stay on Gods gospel path.

I love you
Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday May 9, 2011

Hello,

I just talked to you yesterday, so not much has happened since then. I have some pictures I am going to try to send. So the first is Donny quiting his addiction and feeding mine. Then, the Rocklin Zone. Third, "Soap for Sinners". Fourth is our mission car :). Fifth is what happens if you give the sisters keys to your apartment so they can borrow some thing. Those are cups of water. Don't worry, they got theirs. Sixth, these are my home boys. So those are some of the highlights from the past 4 or 5 months.

Well, I think I am kind of getting the hang of this ZL stuff. I am just trying to stay energetic for the zone to help them stay pumped. Well, not much else to report. I LOVE YOU.

Love,

Elder Hurst