The fields are white and ready for harvesting!

Letter #75
February 2, 1015
Area: Trinity River
Companion: Gamez

This week went very well, though there definitely were a few stumbling blocks, but we were able to work past them to help the people in our area. We were extremely excited when we went to church to see the Calte family at church all together, as well as Ephraim actually making it to church, same with Hermano Xolot, and the Noyola family, and that wasn't the end of it.  What made us overjoyed was the fact that the Chavez family made it to 2 of the hours rather than just 1. We were able to talk with them after the meetings and set plans for them going to the court with a member to get their marriage license papers all filled out so they will be able to get married on Friday, as well as put together the baptismal program.

This week we made progress with almost everyone we were able to meet with! We visited Ephraim and found out why he wasn't doing the things he should be doing, and helping him know the "why" behind them.  We also  helped him know that by doing these things, he will be able to feel the spirit and feel what he felt when he was baptized. That ended with me telling him about one of my favorite Book of Mormon stories, the 2000 stripling warriors, and leaving it with him so he would read it. We were able to get him a ride to church and help him progress towards his return to church. We were also able to help Carlos, who goes to church each week, but isn't a member, resolve his problem with the Book of Mormon and express his other concern about church. The daughters of Hermana Noyola, who aren't members, progressed a lot this week, they finally went to young women's and had a great lesson! We found out that they had real intent, a sincere heart, and faith in Christ, which are all the things necessary to receive an answer about the truth of these things. They just didn't understand those first few steps from what we teach, so now they'll progress quite soon.

I love you guys,

Elder Stanley Scott Dye

Staying in the area that I love!

Letter #77
February 20, 2015
Area: Trinity River
Companion:  Gamez and Reed

   We just had transfers and Elder Gamez and I are actually staying together for a third transfer! This is the first time that either of us have had a companion for three transfers, but the twist is that we ended up getting a trio--our other companion is named Elder Reed. He came out with Elder Heath and Elder Anderson trained him in the same district as me.

     This last week went decently well.  We had a really hard time contacting some people that we have been teaching, and some of the less-actives in the branch are active now, so our number of lessons took a huge hit. We were working a lot towards finding new people and new areas that are more densely populated with Hispanics. It really seems like we will be able to turn around the area this week though because with Elder Reed, we have knocked on a total of three or four doors while finding-- a lady opened the first one and talked a little bit with us and then let us right in. We got to teach her and she is going to let us come back, so she is a new investigator.  Then we knocked a couple more without any answers, but then the last one we knocked we ended up with a potential investigator.  He seems really willing to open his heart to our message. I know that in this transfer we are capable of baptizing, and I honestly feel like if we do our part and have the faith, we could baptize multiple people, as long as we put that trust in the Lord.

I love you guys,

Elder Stanley Scott Dye

A marriage and 2 Baptisms...

Letter #76
February 9, 2015
Area: Trinity River
Companion: Gamez

It sounds like you all had a good week, but I still don't see any family pictures :P  It is crazy how time flies. Elder Gamez and I were talking about how these 2 transfers have blended into 1 and have flown by! We get transfer calls this weekend, which is a little hard to believe...but what is harder to believe is that it is February 9th and it is 79 degrees outside, and it is only about 1:20pm, I hope this doesn't mean that this summer will be extremely hot...

This week went really well, we were able to make progress with most of the people we have been working with. Over the last few weeks the attendance in the branch has been going up! It has been in the mid to high 40s instead of in the 30s! We have had some of the less-active families from the branch, as well as investigators, there each week. The highlights of the week were the marriage and baptisms of the Chavez family! We were able to meet their sons and daughters and talk with them.  They are all interested and willing to learn more about what has helped their parents 'shine' so much, so we will be trying to meet with them to share our message sometime this week.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve here in the Trinity River Branch, I have learned so much while serving here! I am glad to be of service to the branch and to the people here. The Chavez family has grown so much in their understanding and they can feel the Spirit working with them. Ernesto and Francisca were both in tears during the baptismal service and wedding and were so happy they couldn't describe it. I can only describe it as them having found the Pearl of Great Price and having given all of themselves to get it and accept it into their lives. I am so glad to have been part of the Chavez's lives and conversion, now I hope to be able to be part of the lives and conversions of their children.
 I do have pictures, but didn't bring the camera's cable, so maybe next week.

I love you guys,

Elder Stanley Scott Dye

Achieving our goals = great feeling!

Letter #74
January 27, 2015
Area: Trinity River
Companion: Gamez

   This week was great! We met almost every one of our goals! It is a great feeling to be able to humble ourselves and to push forward with faith.  We would have met our member present goal of 5 if the members didn't have to cancel on us. We saw so much help from the Lord and the branch this week! Last week I mentioned how the branch came up with their Branch Mission Goal of 15 baptisms and they are willing to do what it takes to achieve it.  We could tell this from all the help we received and from their excitement and desire for the work. In a few weeks they will have 2 of their 15 baptisms achieved because the Chavez family set a date for their marriage! They decided to get married on the 6th of February, and President Escobar and his wife are getting them the paperwork and helping them fill it out. The branch is so excited! They are already making plans for a little reception that they are going to throw for the Chavez family as well as making a cake for them! I am so happy, I don't know how to express it, I just know this family will be great! This Monday they mentioned to the Escobars', during the lesson, that they haven't met the bishop yet, so President Escobar explained that a big congregation is a ward and has a bishop, but a small one like ours is a branch and has the branch president. They responded so well! They just said, "Well, we're going to join and help it get bigger then!"

That is the biggest progress that was made this week, but we had the opportunity to teach Evangelina a couple of this this week.  She had her daughters there one of the times, so we included them in the lesson, but the second time we taught it was just her and it went really well! We taught her the restoration and about the Book of Mormon, and when we shared a scripture with her, she continued reading further after reading the one we shared, and she decided to read aloud one of the scriptures. She said she really liked it, it was 2 Nephi 25:29 and it reads:

"And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out."

We really see her potential and she really desires to come to church and continue forward in the gospel because she feels that it is true.  Sadly, she will be in Mexico for the next 2 weeks, but she said she would talk with her father while she is there and ask him if the missionaries can come and teach him as well, and if he says yes, we will send his information as a referral to the missionaries over there. I have no doubt that she will be baptized as well when she gets home from Mexico.

Other than our work with them, we worked with some of the less-active members, and one family actually let their nonmember daughter come to church even though they couldn't make it. We have been able to include the branch president's son, Aaron, to work with a less-active young man, Kenny.  We have made some good progress. We have plans to involve Aaron in the visits whenever it is possible.

I love this area so much!

I hope you all have a great week and enjoy the 60 degree weather we are having, oh wait, that is us in Texas, well, I hope you enjoy the weather whatever it may be!

Elder Stanley Scott Dye