Monday October 17, 2011

Hello everybody,

So I did get transferred to Auburn, and my companion is Elder Lloyd. Chico was so awesome. I loved it there. But now I am here to stay. Elder Lloyd is awesome. He is from Grace, Idaho. We served around each other in Roseville so we already knew each other. He has a twin brother who is serving in Philadelphia. His family owns like 6,000 acres of farmland. We live on the top of this huge hill out in the middle of nowhere, but the view is amazing. We can see all of Roseville, Rocklin, Granite Bay and Sacramento off in the distance. We have some pretty cool investigators here. It is so different than Chico. It seemed like everyone in Chico was social and wanted to talk, but out here everyone is hiding or likes to keep to themselves. It is so peaceful up here. A lot more back country than my last few areas. Well, love ya.

Love, Elder Hurst

Monday October 10, 2011

We had a fantastic week. We started teaching this lady that knew some members and so she went on to Mormon.org and read every thing then had us come. She is so awesome. She even made us cookies-chocolate with Andy's mints. Anyway, she is so on fire. We also started teaching a boyfriend of a member in the singles ward. We have other investigators that are progressing. I am just sad I have to leave it all behind and go to Auburn. Not much else to report. Oh, we moved in with the members like 2 days ago and they let us eat their food. That was a bonus just before I leave. Well, love ya.

Love, Elder Hurst

Monday October 3, 2011

We had some pretty warm weather too but it was very nice most of the time. The last couple of days have been cloudy and coolish.

Oh boy, general conference was absolutely amazing. I loved it. There were a few talks in the priesthood session that I really liked and have already started to help me a ton. I also liked Elaine Dalton's talk about raising a daughter. I feel so blessed to live in a day and time when we have the Lord’s gospel being preached to us by His chosen prophets. The council we receive from them is so good. It is great to learn those things that will bring me the righteous desires of my heart. Often times I learn of something I need to change and also learn of the happiness I will enjoy if I do so. Repentance is such a great process. I love the healing and the power the Atonement holds for those who are willing to repent. Sometimes I get a little frustrated with myself knowing that I could have done better. I feel that there is more I should have done. I get down on myself feeling unfit for this calling. The hope of the Atonement is real. There is a quote my companion has. “Don't let yesterday take up today.” I can change. I will change.

We had a good week and today we are hoping it doesn't rain so we can play football. There are some really good potentials we have coming up this week. I am really excited for them. The singles ward is really picking up. It is hard as a missionary because we want things to happen quick because we only have so long in an area, but everyone else is on a slower schedule. Well, I love you and hope all is well.

Love, Elder Hurst

Monday September 19, 2011

Hey buckaroo.

My name’s not buckaroo sh-sure it is partner. Anyway we had a good week. Lots of teaching college students. They are prolly some of the nicest people to talk to. So many of them will let you in and you can teach them right there and then. The trick is to help them to change or at least meet again. I love talking to them, they seem to be searching for something. Most of them have felt God’s love sometime in life and know He is real but don't know Him or have not been able to learn about Him. The approach we need to take needs to be different than with families that I am use to talking to. We are learning how to do it different and its awesome it is helping us to grow. Dalton and Madison got baptized and confirmed this week. I almost missed the baptism because we were on exchange and I was in a bike area and on the way to the church my companion got a flat. So I was kinda late. It was still amazing. I know that the priesthood is real. You can feel the power of God when an ordinance is preformed. Well, I LOVE YOU

LOVE, ELDER HURST

Monday September 5, 2011

Hi,

I am excited for this transfer. I feel like there is a lot of amazing potential in the singles ward. Our ward missionary pool had grown like 3 fold, and they are doing such a good job. They are working with quit a few individuals that they are preparing to hear the gospel. Plus we get free food in the singles ward so that's great.

We have been having a ton of good things happening in the family ward. We have two investigators that will be baptized in the next couple of weeks and a whole ton of less active people coming and some of them are stopping smoking. We even have one that technically isn't a member any more but is super stoked about getting back into the church. It is just cool to see peoples live change and the happiness come.

On p-days we have been playing a lot of basketball. I wish I had spent more time with sports and less time with the video games, they really don't do any good. We have an awesome zone right now. I love the missionaries we get to serve around. They are great missionaries and are fun to be with while still working hard. It is so cool how when we do as the Lord says how much fun every thing can become. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and we have a prophet who is called of God. Our prophet holds the keys to the priesthood. That is very real. I love you and pray for you.

Love, Elder Hurst

Tuesday September 13, 2011

We had Elder Kearon from the first quorum of the 70 come to our mission this last weekend. It was so good to hear his testimony and knowledge. I could tell by the way he spoke about the Savior and his teachings that he had such a testimony that by his alone I wouldn't be able to turn from the Savior. Did that made any sense? His council was to look inside and find that thing, whatever it is, that is holding you back even just a little and get rid of it. I love this. I feel my whole life will be repeating this step over and over until there is nothing left to rid. The gospel is pretty much just that to build our faith enough to repent or change. Progress is change but change isn't necessarily progress. Jesus Christ lives. His Atonement is in full power and will change us if we let it.

Your friend from New Zealand was a smart man. Free food is so good. I wished I had done more with my life and skills than sit in front of the TV. That’s all and I remember you beating me in basketball most of the time.

Transfers came and went-still me and Elder Thompson. I remember those times of wrestling. I think my favorites were in the pool.

There are two people getting baptized this weekend. Madison and Dalton. The work in the singles ward has picked up tons. We have like triple the people to teach. It’s so good. We had some members bring friends and others from tracting. Well I got to go.

Love, Elder Hurst

Monday August 29, 2011

So, any updates on Bethany’s Family? Lagoon, oh man I remember that place. I remember having so much fun there. We would spend all day and my favorite thing at night was to go on the Rocket and look out over the valley. Good memories.

David is home? That’s so weird. He actually talks to girls? He is going to be married before I get home. I hope grandma keeps getting better.

We had a great week this week. We are teaching a lot of new Less Active families that are starting to come back to church. The singles ward had more people than it has had in like 10 years. I have just felt great all week and people are keeping commitments. The gospel is true and it truly makes us happy.

Thanks for the letter. I hope all is well with you. Sorry not a lot of time to write.

I love you.

Love, Elder Hurst