From the Boise Boy

Hello Everyone!

 

Sorry about not emailing yesterday.  We got a ride with the assistants to go to an activity, and they ended up being busy right at the beginning taking care of some visa waiters that just came, and ... well to make a long story short, we got to the library late and it closed.  Bummer!  So they let us come email today instead!

 

We had some great lessons this week!  One of which was with Ryan, whose girlfriend is in the ward.  It was amazing to see how much of what we were teaching he already knew!  He is a really great guy.  School started today, so it might get harder to meet with him, but I think it will all work out.  We had asked him to pray about setting Sept. 21 as a baptismal date, and he did!  Buuuut.... he said he prayed and felt like April was the date he wanted to go for.  Haha, what do we say about that?  Kinda funny.  We'll keep working with him to see if we can move it up, but only time will tell.

 

We had a bunch of people that we had worked to invite to church, and we were really excited to see them there, but it ended up that only one came.  So frustrating!  Satan is really working hard out here.  We had a quick storm that blew through, which was nice for the water, but it knocked down a concrete wall that one of our investigators was working on, so he got called in to fix it Saturday and Sunday.  It's ok - next week will be better.  I know it! :)

 

Bike was giving me trouble with a flat for a few days.  You remember those things we call stickers or prickers?  Up here they call them goatheads (look at one and see if you can figure out why), and they are a constant struggle.  Until yesterday, where I bought some of that green slime you can put in to self-heal the inner tube.  Best stuff ever!  Nothing can stop the work from progressing now! :P

 

We both gave talks in church this last week, which was a great opportunity!  The counselor asked me to speak on how the Atonement motivates me every day.  Funny he should ask, because that is something I have been thinking about for a looong time.  It is a struggle trying to teach something you don't completely understand, but I was able to learn a little bit more from it!

 

That is a great thing to ponder.  How does the Atonement of Jesus Christ motivate YOU everyday?  I would love to hear thoughts and ideas!  One of my favorite quotes from PMG is "As your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ grows, your desire to share the gospel will increase." 

 

I know that this gospel is true!  I am so grateful to be learning a little more everyday!  It is rough when I want to know so much all at once, but I know as I strive to just learn a little day by day, the Lord will give me the knowledge and understanding I desire.  I am so grateful for His love for me and His kindness and patience.

 

Kinda long letter today  Hopefully you're not too bored right now. :) Love you all!

 

--Elder Usevitch

The Work is Infectious!

Hello y'alls!  Thanks for the emails again!  I love getting mail and hearing what's going on with you.

So yes, my companion has been sick for this past week.  Hacking up a lung almost!  At first I went on splits and exchanges to keep doing some work, aaannndd...  then I got sick. :)  Bum-mer.  It's all good now - I went to the doctors today, got some antibiotics, and life is going well.  (Dad, email me later with any more questions you want to check up on.)

But other than that, this week was pretty great.  We did have some crazy smoke that engulfed the city for a few days.  That I think is what pushed me over the edge with my sinus trouble.  It was pretty gross.  I hear the fires are pretty big right now up north in Idaho, though!  Biggest in the US right now, I think.

I had a great answer to prayer experience this week!  I was out on splits and our appointments dropped and backups weren't home.  I was running out of ideas quickly, and I was getting worried that I wouldn't have much else to do.  So I said a quick prayer that we would be able to find someone to talk to and teach.  Then, we drove by a former investigator that I had found in the area book.  He was home, we got to read the Book of Mormon together, and we are going back this week!  Yeah!  I'm pretty excited.  He's an awesome guy.

This letter is going to be short today.  But, to balance that out, I will include pictures.  :)  Finally I remembered my camera and cord, and I also remembered that I should send pictures.

But more feasting for the mind is in order:

• Think of the sun, and the light and warmth it gives.  Now think of how we can choose to stay under its influence directly, or we can choose to get out and go inside or under a tree, etc.
• Now think of the light and warmth of the sun as a metaphor for God's love for us.  How do you choose to walk in God's light and love?
• What pavilions do you place between yourself and God's love? (President Eyring, anyone?)
• How can you better choose to "walk in the light of His love?"

I'm still looking for and learning ways I can better walk in God's light and love.  This metaphor has grown extensively in my mind, with many other facets to think about.  I'll have to share it sometime.  After I write it down and really figure it out, of course.... :)
Love you!
--Elder Usevitch

 

Poor Katy's Letter. :(

 

Contents of a certain package... Thanks James and David!

 

Tall People woes in the place I live.  Too tall for the hallway and doorway downstairs....

Everything is Bigger in Texas

Dear Family,

Yes, apparently the title of this email is true.  Because 98% of time, that's what people say when they find out where I'm from.  So I just smile and laugh and flaunt my Texas pride. :)

This week has gone well!  I'm trying to think of specifics, so let's see here.... It's fun to work in this ward because the bishop recognizes his importance of helping us find work to do.  As he puts it, Christ never wondered what he was going to do next or where he should go.  He followed the Spirit, made decisions, and followed them, and most of the stories we have now are about people that were placed in His path along the way.  I really like that analogy, and it's true with us!  The bishop gives us lists of names to visit, we plan out where we'll go and who we'll see based on that, and then it's amazing to see what miracles we find along the way.

I think the coolest thing that happened this week, though, was in zone meeting.  The leaders had an opportunity to Skype with the member of the 70 over missionary work and got some new ideas about how to teach.  They showed this new method to us, and VOILA - a light bulb went on in my head!  I was finally able to see how everything I learned about teaching before my mission could finally be brought in to apply here!

It was nothing new, just focusing on us helping our investigators uncover the lesson within themselves instead of us just teaching them.  Basically the way I see it, up to this point I have been a professor of missionary work, a lecturer of truth.  Some can get something out of that, but most just let the words fly on by without thinking too much about them.  The latter especially happens if they aren't super interested.

Now, though, I see how instead I really need to be more of a TA or a tutor, in effect!  I can help them out by asking questions to see where they are at, what they know, and what they want, and then teach them by asking more questions, giving brief explanations and clarifications, and referring them to the "textbook" as it were - the scriptures.  It's definitely different, it takes more effort, but I am STOKED to implement it more!  This is really what I love to do - this is more of my style of teaching!

We used this new style that night after we learned it, and it worked so well!  I love helping people along like that so much better than just throwing information past them!  One of the lessons was with Pat, an awesome guy who works laying concrete, and he really was able to connect with what we taught him.  We set a baptismal date for next month with him, and we'll be right there to help him achieve that!  Pretty awesome.

Welp, I love you all!  Here are some more questions I was thinking about this week:

• How is faith in Jesus Christ a principle of power?
• How can I develop more faith in Christ?
• What would I be able to do if I had more faith in Him?

I know that as we develop greater faith in Jesus Christ, He gives us power to do His will, whatever that may be.  He gives us power to overcome challenges and concerns, and He gives us power to act in His name as we believe in Him.  We show that faith by being faith-ful.  I know that having faith in Him is key to succeeding as a missionary for Him!

Love you ALL!

--Elder Usevitch 

North Boise!

Yep, that is where I am serving!  In the Boise North Stake!  Part of my area also covers Garden City - a small little town surrounded by Boise.  And I only cover .... one ward now!  Pretty Crazy!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes!  It is super crazy that I am 20 now.  Wow.  I don't even know what to say!  For my birthday, I got a new companion, a new ward, and I also got to play basketball for the first time in a month or so.  Pretty sweeeeet!

All I can say about my new area is that it is very different.  Very different indeed.  Gaa I forgot my camera again - sorry no pictures today.  :(  We live in an older lady's house.  She is 87 but just as gung-ho and active as ever!  Just an awesome person.  Unfortunately I am too tall for the hall in the basement, but that's just a small matter.  I should be used to that by now!  (I've only hit my head twice so far.... ) Thanks a ton, James and David, for the pictures you sent me!  It was great to see you are alive and doing well!

Anyways, yes it is a very new thing to be in only one ward after being in five.  And on foot instead of in a car.  Still figuring out if I can get a bike somewhere.... I might be able to get one from another missionary who is almost as tall as me.  I'll figure it out though!

Umm... so let's see.  This last Saturday we helped out with a wedding and a baptism for an investigator.  Investigating no more!  She is really a great person.  I loved the testimony that she bore about how the gospel had just totally changed her life in the past few months.  It is amazing to see how that happens!  That's something that I am still looking forward to - helping someone realize what the gospel really is and see the change that comes in their life as they accept it and are baptized.  This area.  It's going to happen.

The bishop here in this ward is pretty awesome, too!  He has really narrowed down how missionary work is supposed to work in his ward, and what is successful and what is not.  He personally meets and develops friendships with everyone in the area he can!  He has helped his ward do service projects with other churches, met other pastors, and just is a great example of loving others.  It was his idea to be the trial ward for the mission - right now, our area is the only one to cover just one ward!  It will go well.  I know the Lord is helping us!

By the way, did you know that our mission is the smallest geographically in the entire world?  Pretty crazy.  Did not know that!  And we will have 200 missionaries here by the beginning of next year, I think!  It's insane.  The Lord knows what he is doing, though!  Can't deny that!

I love the gospel!  I'll keep on keeping on!  The road is rough at times but I cannot deny that the Lord is there for me!  Thank you family for your support!  I love you all.  

Love,

--Elder Usevitch