10/17/16

New Guys Putting In Work!!!

First off it snowed for a little bit twice this week but it didn't stay thankfully haha. I'm like so nervous for this winter it's supposed to be terrible this year and the wind has really been picking up so #prayforelderlitster

So this week has been really fun with Elder Jenson I must say. He is a very interesting kid to say the least. To give a quick background he is originally from San Diego but has been living in Philadelphia for the last couple of years. He is a total hipster/awkward/funny guy. He's totally a fresh out of high school 18 year old kid though like yeah I'm only a year or so older than him but he's totally concerned about what's happening back home with his girlfriend or social media and all that stuff but it's all good he's still new so I'm sure he'll grow out of that. He doesn't have a ton of confidence when it comes to teaching still but it's fine I'm just drilling him with role plays and stuff like that haha it's been a lot of fun.

So on Tuesday we got to do some service with Brother Penman who is still hanging in there at 93 and man he is a funny guy. He has us feed the squirrels and birds in his back yard and it is so funny how that's like super important to him. After that we did a bunch of contacting and setting up appointments and all that. In the evening we drove out to Wamsutter to visit the Carrillo Family and taught their kids the 1st discussion. At the end I had a strong impression to invite them to be baptized so I gave Elder Jenson the signal to do it and he just looked so confused and I was like ' Yeah and Elder Jenson was wondering something and wanted to ask you all a question' and like 5 minutes of awkward silence went by so finally after kinda laughing I invited them to be baptized and they all said yes so I am super excited for them.

Wednesday we had to drive out to Casper for our trainers meeting which was really good for us. We were able to learn a lot and how to be a affective companionship so that was sweet. After wards we went to lunch with some missionaries knew from either meeting at mission tour or they were from the group that came out with me. 

Thursday we had a long day in Laramie for our Zone Meeting. Im not gonna lie I was getting impatient with the fact we spent two whole days in different cities instead of our own area getting to work but it was alright I enjoyed seeing the other missionaries.

Friday was a packed day whole cow! We had 3 different service opportunities which totaled up to 5-6 hours of service and then taught 4 lessons and in order to do that we had to go on splits haha. Literally all the work from the previous days just got piled up onto Friday and Saturday so it was exhausting. What was nice was we were able to end the day going to the Rawlins last football game with some members so can't complain to much.

Saturday was pretty much the same, a ton of service and some more lessons with like the Carrillos and Grant and Hope and Mel. So a pretty good day all around.

Sunday was a real treat we got to watch the temple dedication at the church and man was it a spiritual experience. I absolutely loved it. Afterwards we went tracting in the jail for like 2 hours and it was actually Elder Jensons first time so it was really fun for me to watch him knock doors haha. After that we went to celebrate a member we are close with's birthday and it was was fun. After that we had our dinner and then went back home for weekly planning and called it a night. 

All in all it's been a interesting week full of driving and teaching and helping different people move. I hope you all enjoyed this and please remember I love you all and hope that I can hear back from you all!

Love Elder Litster

Awesome dinner

Dead bird service

Trainers Meeting

10/10/16

IM A DAD!!!

It's official I have a son haha and his name is Elder Jenson. This guy is awesome I'm so relieved that we are getting along so well. I'm not gonna lie I was super nervous and was praying a ton hoping that I would be able to handle being a trainer and to be good at it too. So far it's been going pretty well and I'm very much loving it.

Monday-  We spent the day in Laradise and I got to hand with Elder Underwood and Elder Wilwand and their greenies and I had a lot of fun exploring and playing basketball. That pretty much sums up that day.

Tuesday- So we packed up our stuff and drove all the way down to Fort Collins and that was fun. We got to see Justin Steele there so shout out to you buddy!! He took us to lunch and it was so good to see a familiar face! After we said bye to him we went straight to the mission office and that is where I got to meet Elder Jenson. Saying goodbye to Elder Prescott was pretty hard cause of how well we got along but it was bound to happen. Seeing all the new missionaries was so weird cause I feel like that was me yesterday haha I mean like yeah I've only been out a couple months but still haha it was interesting. After picking up Elder Jenson I was able to meet up with my good friend Elder Mills one of my friends I came out with and that was sweet! We were able to get to Rawlins around 10:30 that night and we were exhausted.

Wednesday-  was the first day for Elder Jenson in the field and it was pretty good I'd say. We got a couple lessons in and I was given to chance to do some training with him which we will be doing every morning for him. It was a bit of a learning process for both of us but it went well and it will continue to get better. He needs a little work with his teaching but I'm not worried one bit.

Thursday-  Thursday was really fun we were able to have a district meeting which was fun seeing Elder Pennington and Elder Vosika. After the meeting we had lunch and then had to run off to service at the DDA helping out at the downtown office (they put together the city events) After that we taught Carmen her recent convert lesson and met with Maria to talk with her son who she wants us to teach.

Friday-  Friday was kinda a slow day, we went tracting and contacting quite a bit and set up a bunch of lessons which was good. We did get a lesson in with Huciel and it was super nice being able to see that guy he is super nice. Training is going good so far and Elder Jenson is opening up and kinda showing his personality and he is pretty funny/sarcastic/clever.

Saturday- Saturday was a blast! Haha we got to meet with Laura the lady who has a super nice house and feeds us all the time! She's doing good and told us how happy and appreciative she is of us. Later on we met Kevin and Logan Monson at the park and threw the football around with them and then taught them the first discussion so that was sweet! See football brings people together lol. After that we had dinner with the Arnold's and the Green's and man I love those families so much. Mom Sister Arnold and Green wanted your number to ask what to make me for my birthday haha but yeah they are my favorite families and I love being with them for dinners or like the football games and all that.

Sunday-  FREAKING AMAZING DAY! We picked up 5 new investigators at church taught the 1st discussion to a mom and her son and have a appointment set up with another family. I am so happy I can't even say how much haha. I am so grateful and know that we will have to work hard to make the most of this but this is gonna be a very good transfer. 

Overall being a trainer so far has been super fun. Calling the shots is interspersing and like I am so excited for what's to come. I love you all so much and hope that I can hear from you all.

Love Elder Litster

Robert is a dad!!!

Elder Litster and Elder Mills

Buddy

10/4/16

Hey Mom! I'm just gonna jump right into it cause I don't have a ton of time haha.

So another transfer has come and gone. This is crazy I'm done being trained finally and now I guess I'm gonna be training a new missionary fresh off the plane haha. So honestly I am really nervous but I am also really excited. This is gonna be really fun being the senior companion so I'm motivated to get a bunch of work done. It's been a little tough cause we weren't able to get a lot done just a hand full of lessons so I don't have a ton to report on. We are now teaching Carmen the new member lessons and she is loving it. It's gonna be hard saying goodbye to Elder Prescott but we both are gonna be playing new roles. 

Please email me any questions or updates you want to hear haha, next email will be huge due to all that will be taking place. Love you all!

Elder Litster

9/26/2016

A short email to the family is all we got this week. Robert said we could forward it along to everyone.

Dear Mother,

Okay please don't hate me for never sending a email I am really sorry:( haha I hope you can forgive me! Anyways this first email is for the family. I am right now writing this on a Saturday. I have one week left of being trained and it is so unreal like it's already been 3 months!! We have a baptism for Carmen in a couple hours and I am so excited. Elder Prescott is going to baptize her and I am going to confirm her on Sunday and honestly I'm super nervous but also very humbled and excited! How have things been fam!? Tanner I loved the care package it was so helpful and nice to get! I still need a letter from you and James you little stinkers! You guys do me a favor and listen to Mom and Dad okay? Love you guys. Lauren and Alisa my amazing sisters I hope you both are doing well! Mom and Dad and everyone else I just have to say the things I'm experiencing out here and learning is in real. Like just going off of evidence and facts I know this church is true. There is a talk given called 'What is the Blueprint of Christ Church?' And it is very good! It was given in the 2014 world wide devotionals for the young adults. Another crazy story is about these 15 theological scholars and like religious experts that wanted to discover the truth and so they made 15 key points from the Bible that they decided had to be done to be Christ official church and the only church on the earth that followed all 15 points was the LDS church and so they all got baptized haha it's way cool! Now besides all of that just the things I've experienced and felt for myself is unreal, the testimony I thought I had before leaving is nothing compared to what it is now but that's a good thing so I am very happy!

I love you guys!

Love Elder Litster

 

9/19/16

No email from Robert this week, he didn't have much time, but he sent us a few quick pictures:

Hail!

 

9/12/16

Hmm...  So says the lion "from whence came the sparrow?"  And the sparrow doth respond "from whence I came no man knoweth, but if thou wouldst ask my brother, he would make known unto you that which was not known before".  Therefore the lion journeys to find the brother of the Sparrow. Upon finding the sparrow’s brother, the lion enters into a state of confusion, for the Sparrow's brother was not a Sparrow like unto his brother, but he was a horse.  The lion says "horse, I beseech thee Knoweth thou from whence came thy brother, the sparrow?"  The horse says "Nay."

This is what Elder Donovan sent me and said to use as my opening pitch haha

Dear mom,

So this week has been insane!! We had to deal with a lot of Cancels, but you know that's fine.  We just need to work harder to make up for that.  What made the week crazy and amazing was the Mission Tour we had.

So the mission tour happens once a year and they do it twice; one for all the missionaries in Colorado, and then one for all the missionaries in Wyoming.  So I have some pictures from that.  I'll explain more in the email to everyone, but we had a 70's member come speak to us for 7 HOURS!  Yes, it was long but way helpful with the advice and all that was shared.   And guess what?  I got to have an interview with Elder Grow, of the quorum of the 70.  He wanted to interview a greeny, a District Leader, a Zone Leader, someone almost done, and a few others.  I was the new guy he picked, so that was way cool.  He asked about all of you and then at the end of the interview he asked if I'd ever had an interview with a general authority.  I said “no,” and then he said he wanted me to tell you that, “I looked into your son’s soul and saw a very motivated, righteous, good-hearted young missionary.”  That was so cool hearing that from him, it totally made my week.

So how my week went…  Monday for P day we drove to Laramie. I kind of wasn't supposed to, but we were trying to pick up Elder Prescott's IPad and see the other missionaries.  So it was fun playing basketball with all of them, and being in an actual city.

So Tuesday was a really good day.  We first had our studies and then got in 2 hours of service at the Rec Center which was fun.  After that was had lesson after lesson and got in 6, so I was very pleased with the work we put in.  All in all it was a great day.

Wednesday was a little tough because every single lesson we had planned cancelled, but what was cool was that an investigator of ours, (Josh, the pastor at another church that wants to learn more,) called us and asked us if we wanted to join his flag football league at the Rec.   We said if we could get lessons in and it didn't interfere, then “yes.”  So yes, we are getting a chance to play football.  So it looks like I need to get some cleats from Ross, haha.

Thursday was a busy day of writing talks and driving.  We were told to write four different talks because at the mission tour we were having on Friday, random Elders and Sisters were going to get called up to speak.  We were supposed to have a variety in case someone wrote the same talk as us.  After that preparation and our dinner, we drove out to Laramie to meet the other Elders gathering there.

Friday we had the mission tour in Cheyenne which is where we listened to different speakers for pretty much all day.  We listened to talks on how to be a better missionary and how to be more helpful to people.  It was very insightful.  I actually got a chance to meet with the speaker for a little bit too, and that was very cool.  He was such a wise, intellectual guy.

Saturday we spent most of the day driving back, and by the time we got back it was dinner time.  We were fortunate to get a lesson in with Jason May, a recent convert, afterwards.

Sunday night we had a lesson with Carmen and I invited her to be baptized.  She accepted and is so excited, and her date is next Saturday! This is going to be legit.  I'm so happy for her.

All in all, this was a very fun week and I was able to recognize lots of different blessings and I am very happy right now.  I hope you all are doing well too. If any of you have pictures of us together, please send them.  It's like receiving therapy, haha.  Anyway, I love you all!

Elder Litster

PS.  So we are getting another 30 missionaries on October 4th, and I found out that one is from Camarillo and another is from Thousands Oaks.  And, there's a sister I came out with that is from Ventura, her name was Hermana Zimmerman. (She is called Spanish speaking.)  And, there is someone else from Ventura so my goal is to find out who these people are, because you know, Ventura County Pride!  Haha, I'm totally playing, but I just thought that was interesting.

Our District

Our Zone with Elder C. Scott Grow

9/5/16

Hey friends and family,

So yeah it's starting to get cooler out here so I'm starting to get ready for the winter mentally haha. Just to let you know what my schedule is like.  I wake up at 4:45 and get to the Rec Center with Elder Prescott at 5 and work out till 7.  We then shower and eat and I am doing my personal/companion study by 8.  That goes till 10 then I get extra training since I'm new till 11.  Then we have lunch till 12, and then it's go time!  It's crazy the amount of stuff I get done before 12 now, haha.

Anyways this week went by so fast I didn't get a good chance to take down notes so I'm sorry everyone! 

So last P Day me and Elder Prescott got permission to get memberships at the Rec because President McMurray knows we love to work out.  So we went over and worked out a deal and now have free gym memberships in return for two hours of service a week. Pretty sweet right!? Anyways so that's why we now wake up so flipping early. 

On Tuesday we went contacting to all the referrals.  We set up a bunch of appointments with them and see a few real potentials which is sweet. We then had dinner with the Arnolds and got to hang with them and their kids for a bit which was really fun. A lot of this day was spent driving, but it's all good.

Wednesday we had district meeting with the two new elders Elder Pennington and Elder Vosika, Elder P is the District Leader and Elder V is the newest greeny haha.  Later in the day we got a couple of lessons in with Grant Rothenburger; his wife is a member and really wants him to be baptized.  We also met with Brother Helm.  

Thursday was a good day we taught a recent convert, Jason May.  We also taught Carmen who has been progressing a ton these past two weeks.  We also taught the Allens who are somewhat inactive, but we get to them once a week to try and encourage their prayers and scripture study. 

Friday was an interesting day because the whole time Elder Prescott was super hyper and being goofy haha.  We are currently trying to write a song using my Uke and the guitar I bought, so maybe one day we'll share it with y'all. He is also teaching me the Haka, but also teaching me the different types and the meaning behind them. Throughout the rest of the weekend we got like 6 more lessons in which was sweet, and we are just looking to build upon that this next week. 

I'd really love to hear how you all are doing and what's happening in Cali. Again send pictures of anything fun.  It's always nice to see y'alls funny faces haha.  Anyway, I love it here and love being a missionary and love each and everyone of you.

Love Elder Litster