Attending the Houston Texas Temple

Letter #43
June 23, 2014
Area: Broadway 2- Central
Companion: Petersen

This week really felt super long until today came...it is weird how that works. We have had a pretty good week, so it wasn't that bad. We found some more new people and we got to teach some people we found last week. The highlight of our week was the Houston temple trip that President Crawford set up for us. it was a special session with the temple president.  He talked with us for an hour beforehand to have us look for things in the video and to think about some questions during the session to help us learn more from the endowment session. I really learned a lot, my brain was having troubles working the rest of the day because I was trying to process all that I learned... [ In the temple we learn more about the life of Jesus Christ and how we can become more like Him and our Heavenly Father.  Here is a link for learning more about the Life of Jesus Christ.  http://www.mormon.org/beliefs/jesus-christ  Also a link that goes to the Houston Texas temple information page  http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/houston-texas-temple

I really don't know what to say about the week-- the number of lessons weren't very high, and I have been thinking of many ways to try to get them up.  We need to get this area progressing, so we are just in the starting of that process. There is great hope and excitement in doing what we can to help this area.

1) Broadway 2 is probably one of the best wards about helping the missionary efforts.  We haven't had a lot of people to go see and we haven't had any member-present lessons work out last week, or really even since I have been here, but this week we have 6 members set up to come out with us and we have plans to make the area better so the members can come out

2) We do the normal missionary Pday activities: basketball, volleyball, etc... this last week I played basketball for a total of about 3 hours and by about half way thru I was running off of adrenaline, so I was pooped that night and sore the next morning.

3) I was with Elder Petersen in the Mexico City MTC.  He has back problems, so we can't even leave until about 3pm, which is hard on me at times.   I still love the guy, we get along great, and we are both excited to get the area going.

4) yes, flat tires, this area has probably the highest flat tire rate in the mission... I have had 2 and they both somehow happened in lessons... If you do send tubes, I would suggest the "Slime" tubes because it isn't very common to find patches out here for some reason...

I love you guys,

Elder Stanley Scott Dye

New Area, New companion

Letter #42
June 16, 2014
Area: Broadway 2- Central
Companion: Petersen

Well, I guess this week I don't get a letter from you guys....except Carolyn :P [note: his family letter arrived shortly after he sent this letter.  He only has a short time on the internet writing emails, so we sent his letter in the mail].

Well, to answer Mom's question from last week, my companion is Elder Petersen, he came out to the mission with me and it has been super interesting serving with him.

My new area is really struggling...we have very few investigators and I have really been looking for ways that we can improve the area.  We come to conclude that it seems like the way to do it is just through talking with everyone because that is really something that they have lacked and there are so many people outside. I know it will work because that is what Elder Anderson and I did and it really helped the growth in my last area and that area was thriving when I left.

I am really looking forward to helping this area grow and having fun doing it, but I don't look forward to all the flat tires that will come in the future--because this area has a record for bike problems. I have been here for a week and I have already gotten a flat once...

I love you guys so much and hope I have more to say next week,

Elder Stanley Scott Dye

God does hear and answer prayers!

Letter #41
June 11, 2014 (2 days delayed because he was transferred)
Area: Broadway 2 (Central)
Companion: Peterson

Well, this last week was very interesting because a lot of the people that we taught in past weeks were busy and we couldn't meet with them, but we found so many new people that it surprised me. We went to Crosby, which is the opposite side of our area.  We had a long day out there because it was really hot and we had to go finding for most of the time. We found a new guy and it was kind of a miracle story.  You see, we knew that we were only going to be able to make it out to Crosby maybe once a week, and so we prayed to ask God to guide us to someone He has prepared so we can truly help him. We knocked a few doors and at the 2nd or 3rd door, we were told to go try a couple of houses across the street when we asked for referrals. When we went over and contacted the first one, he opened the door and started talking with us.  He led us over to a table outside and we taught him a lesson on God and Prayer.  He really needed that in his life, and he mentioned that a few days before he asked God for direction, then we showed up. I really can't wait to hear what happens with him.

Sadly, Isis, the 14 year old girl, wasn't baptized.  Her parents pulled out on, I believe, Monday evening and we found out on Tuesday from our bishop.... I will keep hoping and praying.

Well, I guess I have more news for you, I got Transferred back into Broadway 2nd ward! I am now serving in the "Central" area of the ward.  I luckily did get your letters in time though, I got them Monday evening, right before leaving the area :) 

I am always so happy to see how you all are doing and I can't wait to hear more, and don't think I am neglecting little Ben, I just forget when I'm emailing..[note- little Ben is his newest nephew who was in the NICU for a short period of time until he could breathe more freely on his own--which he is doing better].

I'm sorry I didn't write more.  I can't think of what happened last week, it was such a blur even though it went fast. I promise to write more next Monday about my new area and everything.

I love you guys,

Elder Stanley Scott Dye

I Know that the Lord Touches Hearts

Letter #40
June 2, 2014
Area: Humble, TX
Companions: Anderson and Strong

Thank you so much for all of the birthday wishes! I love you guys so much! 

This week has been a difficult week for us in the area because of the rain.  Almost nobody is outside, but we have made good use of our time and we are loving having Elder Strong with us! We have had a lot of people be sick, so we haven't been able to talk to them this week, but we hope for the best! Because people are sick, we have had a lot of lessons fall through, so we have done a lot of contacting. We faced a difficulty when trying to go and contact people because the rain keeps scaring them back inside, but we have made really good contacts and found ways to be more effective in actually teaching people when we contact them. As you could tell from our Hour of Power results, it has come in handy having the extra contacting ideas. We had an amazing time doing it because we could do splits because we had one of the young men with us and we were covering twice the ground as usual. This week we made many good contacts and set return appointments with them, so we have a planned out week.

I'd like to mention an Hour of Power Miracle that happened this week.  While I was knocking doors with the young man from the ward, we ran into a woman who was completely closed to our message and wanted nothing to do with it. I just asked questions (inspired questions) to understand her position and to figure out how I could help her. After a few questions I felt like I needed to explain the Book of Mormon a little bit and help her understand that we believe in the Bible too. I shared that and continued talking to her, and she stated that the Bible was inspired, and the Book of Mormon wasn't. I felt inspired to share Alma 7:11-12, and she said it sounded like the scripture in Isaiah that talks about the suffering of Christ, but asked why it didn't say the same words. I answered her question by retelling her that the Book of Mormon was written in the Americas, and they understood things differently than the people in Jerusalem, but that it is still the same message given by prophets. I told her that we would love to come back a different time to explain our message a little more and I asked her when would be a good time.  She said that we could come back Monday (today). I know that the Lord touched her heart through my words because no matter how good I may be at speaking, I never could have changed her heart enough to be open to us coming back to share more.

Actually the 14 year old girl's parents called off the baptism, so we were sad about that last week, but apparently its back on for next Sunday because our Bishop called us in and told us about it. :) I can't wait for Saturday or Sunday!

I love you guys,

Elder Stanley Scott Dye

I Love Serving Others--Service fills hearts with joy!

Letter #39
May 26, 2014
Area: Humble, TX
Companion: Anderson

This week was quite different than the past few weeks that I have had with Elder Anderson, we had many chances to serve the ward. We are very grateful that the ward members are able to trust us in serving them.  They really showed it through calling upon us and asking if we could help. We did about 12 hours of service with ward members, especially part-member families and recent converts. I love serving others, and especially seeing what that service does for them. One of the sisters from the ward was coming out to a lesson with us on Wednesday, after  we cleaned up their yard on Tuesday, and she had great news for us. Her non-member husband, who has a very busy and stressful work schedule, got home from work Tuesday evening and was filled with joy. She thought something happened at work that day, but it was because of the yard, and she was able to tell him that we helped her do it. We had offered multiple times to help because he is so busy and doesn't get the chance to work on the yard much, but then we took the extra step and went to his wife to figure out a day to do it, it had a huge effect on him.

We had really fun experiences to get loose a little this week. We got to go to mutual and we participated in celebrating our bishop's 50th birthday party! The mutual activity was a BBQ and sports/games night at the park, so we invited 2 less-active families that have youth age kids to come! We got there a little late because the second family was taking a while getting ready, but one even brought a friend, so it was really fun and I got to play volleyball, soccer, and ultimate frisbee again. :) And the birthday party was a surprise party--he thought he was going to talk at a young womens' fireside thing on Saturday, but he got there and we were all in the gym--we all had a lot of fun. We had food, a huge "timeline" thing of our bishop's life, and then a DJ, and at the end, a mariachi band. It was really fun!

This week we didn't have many lessons according to the numbers, but we feel that every lesson counted and it helped the people grow closer to Christ and the church, especially because we took the effort to get members out to every set lesson.  Also we took the time and care to think of which members would be of benefit to help the investigator and to fellowship them. We were excited to bring a new person to church again for the second week in a row.  A few more people would have come, but things came up and they couldn't make it. We see miracles happen every day, and we really feel like numbers don't have the capacity to represent everything that happens and how the people are growing. Especially this week, we feel like we came to understand that numbers don't matter, people do!

By the way, I got the package and I am really enjoying the new bag, I already like it more than the first. And, we are about to start using the GPS, thanks again :)

We are also getting a new companion, we are getting Elder Strong back in the mission. He came out with me, but had to go home because he had a really bad bike accident that caused damage to his ankle and the ligaments in his knee. He has recovered, so he is coming out and joining our companionship this Thursday.

I love you guys,

Elder Stanley Scott Dye

The blessings come when we are diligent in listening to the spirit

Letter #38
May 19, 2014
Area: Humble, TX
Companion: Anderson

Hey, it sounds like you guys have all had a great week and I am glad to say that we have too! We started out the week pretty similar to last week's start, but we kept thinking and thinking about the best way to approach the area and help it grow and progress, and on Thursday we had a breakthrough! We were weekly planning and Elder Anderson remembered something that Elder Yukon had told them during a zone meeting, but it had never made sense for him until now. We have been applying it to our area and thinking about every investigator, and less active, a lot more to find out what they need in order to help them specifically. The thing that Elder Anderson remembered was an equation about lessons and what is most important, going: MP>LARC>Active Member>OL. We have really been concentrating on how we can get members out with us each day, and at the same time trying to use members that connect with the investigators.

         These last few days that we have been applying this have been miraculous. We have seen our lessons triple or quadruple, we had 5 lessons Friday, all of which were quality lessons, and we had 4 lessons Saturday, still with each of them being quality, but sadly we missed out on our member because we didn't follow the promptings of the spirit... Our lesson had fallen through before the member go there, so we went to a solid backup early, but then accidentally let the church member leave 2 minutes before one of our investigators came home. Sad, but a lesson learned.  

 

      We have mainly been visiting less-actives in the area because we have a lot within our ward boundaries, and our ward attendance has been going down.  Yet through our diligence in following the spirit and following our plan, we have had a huge success! We have figured out somethings that can help some of our less-active members, and one of them even came to church yesterday because we decided to bring a member out with us! Yesterday (May 18) we saw the attendance of our ward jump from the normal 90 or so to 124 :)  It was a real miracle because Elder Anderson and I were able to get an investigator family to attend church.  They are a family of 8 (the husband wasn't able to go), and we started teaching the mother's sister,and her 3 children, as well as this lady's mother. We have really seen the work change in this area and we have the true desire to find and unite families.

This week the biggest miracle of all our miracles happened on Sunday, while we were at church.  Bishop Morales told us that he wanted to talk to us after church, and we, being missionaries, immediately started thinking, "oh no, what did we do wrong?". But when we talked with our bishop, he called over a young lady from the ward who hasn't been baptized and said that she has made the decision to be baptized! We knew she wasn't a member because her parents were offended by the church and wouldn't let her be baptized, but that seems to have changed.  Our bishop said the parents gave her just enough wiggle word room to get baptized saying "If you want to get baptized, you can, but we want you to know that we don't want you to". Well, she really has been touched by the spirit and desires very much to be baptized.  We were amazed and grateful for this miracle because she was there every Sunday and knows and lives the gospel principles already, she just wasn't able to be baptized and nobody wanted to mess it up because it was a sensitive family. We only talked with the grandparents and the rest was with the bishopric.  This sweet young lady has been a work in progress for years. Ever since getting in the area, I have always wanted to do something to try to help, but I have been respecting the bishop and his decisions.  I have prayed and fasted specifically for her family. After all that I could do, her parents softened their hearts enough to let her be baptized, so this is literally an answer to my prayers!  I am eternally grateful for this blessing and opportunity to take part in helping this girl be baptized. On Sunday, Bishop Morales said that she has selected the 31st of this month to be baptized.  She would have gotten baptized this weekend (May 24), but it wasn't possible due to firesides and ward conference.

Once again, I love you guys :) Have a great week.

Elder Stanley Scott Dye

Progressing in the work of the Lord

Letter #37
May 12, 2014
Area: Humble, Texas
Companion: Anderson

        It was a great week this week and I especially liked the things I learned throughout all of it. During the week, Elder Anderson and I have been continuing to grow the area.  Though we haven't had a lot of opportunities to find and teach the people that Elder Owens and I taught,  Elder Anderson and I have had the chance to find more people and expand ourselves in contacting, and relying on asking inspired questions. We had a very uplifting Zone Meeting on Friday based mostly on internalizing our missionary purpose and how it will help the work progress forward. I feel like that is an area that I can improve on, and others have expressed the same thoughts.  We all said that the Zone Meeting helped, and ever since I have been thinking more about the 'purpose filter' and what I can do to think of helping investigators (and less-actives) progress in knowing their Father in Heaven.  This process will help us help them to internalize the lessons rather than us looking at the lesson numbers. As we have shifted our focus, we have already noticed a progression in the work and that the Lord is blessing us with more opportunities to teach people. 

     Going along with learning this week, I had the opportunity to go on an exchange with Elder Willden, with him coming up into our area. As we were planning, and going throughout our day, we realized there were many ways we can allow the Lord to bless us in the work. I had the opportunity to stretch myself, and my confidence, because Elder Willden speaks no Spanish, and the people we visited either didn't speak English, or weren't fluent in English. Because Elder Willden was with me, I really had to make sure I listened closely to our investigators and let the spirit guide what I said and what I translated for Elder Willden in order to help him understand what the investigators needed.  I know that I was stretch and bettered because of this exchange.

After Zone meeting, I have read through the talk in our orientation binder about the missionary purpose, and I have studied it thoroughly to find out ways in which I can internalize the purpose and let it drive me.  Afterwards I went through the chart on the "The Fourth Missionary" talk, which allowed me to do an in-depth analysis of myself, and my heart and mind, to truly be honest with myself and know what things I currently lack. I am beginning to make goals for how I plan to apply what I have learned and allow it to drive me and help me change myself greatly so I am what the Lord wants me to be.  I am looking forward to this journey.

Our area has been growing continually since Elder Anderson and I have been together.  We are trying to take on a new project of helping one of the less-actives (as 20 year-old) get back to church and go on a mission. Our first efforts are to help him feel the spirit and encouraging him to be consistent in reading the Book of Mormon.

On another note:

Here is a picture of one of the family's that have been supportive in our area. 

Humble, Texas area with Elder Owens and myself, and Familia Pilataxi.

I love you guys, I hope you have a wonderful week!

Elder Stanley Scott Dye