Welcome Home Elder Erickson

 

Dallin was sick with extreme dizziness so he didn't get to come to the airport

But the welcome home home, at home,  was BIG and full of emotion.

Kari Harris glad to have her red headed son home. 

Dave, Ethan, Braxton

Last Week in the Mission

Monday-Went to the mall and did a little souvenir shopping...tough don't know what to buy. After I drove the transfer van out to Vidor by myself and got there at 8. Pres. drove his car out and then we went to Pizza Hut and had dinner with Mike Bartiels who is an amazing musical and he helps us out with the Christmas conference. 

Tuesday was mostly prep for transfers and the conference. 

Wednesday we had a few elders come from Louisiana and spend the night with us before the conference. We got there early and made sure everything was good to go. I Conducted for the last time. I was sick and had a scratchy throat but by the prayer of Elder Hepworth I was able to make it through the whole thing just fine...during the talent show I was running around like crazy because some people "thought" or wanted to do something...but we had already scheduled things out...and some were super upset and so I was trying to be nice and fit them all in but it wasn't working so I was running around like a chicken with his head cut off! but we finally made it work! It was a great conference. we watched Ephraim's Rescue as well. It was weird watching a movie but I was able to pull some great things out of it. 

Thursday we had transfer talk! We went through the whole board and got it done! It was a long talk but we made it! Then president took us to Fudruckers after!

Friday we drove to downtown area then all the way to Crowley Louisiana!! It was such a long drive! and all for mattress drop off a long the way. We had smoonkanackies with pres. and then comp study with them in the morning then left from there to make the drive...we made it home at after 8pm. We only had a bag of carrots and grapes for the whole trip! haha

Saturday we went and hung up some light for Lequida Thompson! it was a lot of fun! she said "I know y'all are going to want to come back, you have my number, and my address" it was so funny! The elders have a return appointment with her. after new years they are going to put up a post to help people take their lights down! Great ways to meet people! That evening we had the ward Christmas party! Brandon came in a nice sweater and seemed to enjoy it even though it was centered around the kids! 

Sunday Brandon showed up to church in a classy suit!!! It was a great sight! He brought his grandma, mom and sister to the baptism! IT was so great to see brother Keo baptize him!!!!! It was an awesome service! BRANDON IS A PIONEER IN THE EAGLE SPRINGS WARD!

Elder Wright, Elder Hepworth, Brandon, Bro Keo, Elder Erickson

Elder Erickson, Brandon, Bishop and Sister Tate

Week: 103 "I trust I shall shortly see thee"

3 John 1:13-14

Con amor y Respeto

Elder Erickson

Elder Erickson must be busy preparing for coming home. This is all he wrote -
3 John 1:13-14 reads: 

" 13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen awrite unto thee:

 14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name."

We are anxiously awaiting to see him in two days and speak to him face to face!

Week 102: Brandon is Truly Elect!

Dear Family and Friends and Eli Erickson,

I've learned so much on mission! one thing I haven't quite figured out is how to make things slow down! This week went super fast and I'm not really a fan of it! We had a fairly busy week with some great adventures.

Monday- We went to the Broadway chapel for my last p-day, today is booked so this will be short ;), they had a gingerbread house making competition. So all you have to say is competition and I'll be there! It was just an added bonus that is was at the Broadway chapel were I spent the majority of my Mondays! Elder Hepworth and I made an awesome house...and won of course! haha It was a good time.

Tuesday- we had our MLC meeting with all the zone leader and Sister trainer leaders. A few came in the night before and spent the night with us. After the meeting we had a crunch time on our video getting it completed! I'm super grateful I took that movie making class! It looks super good! haha.  Tuesday night we had an experience that was very interesting! I'll send a picture and let y'all ponder and guess then tell you later what happened! :)

Wednesday- we Taught Brandon with Bishop Tate! It was a great Lesson, We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and explained the steps in our life, he just soaked it all in! He is such a great guy! I Love teaching him. He has such humble spirit about him. After the lesson we had a scramble to get back and finish the movie. We had exchanges to be on at 8:45pm...we were still in the office at 9:15 figuring it out! but we did it, with a little help! Even though were not always knocking doors we still get the Lord's help, and depend on it :)

Thursday I was with the Fall Creek Elders! It was a nice cold day, some said it was supposed to snow and a lot were freaking out! We only had bikes in that area! I Loved it! It was good to bike and freeze and be a little miserable! We had such a fun time working together, with these missionaries we just got to work hard and didn't have to focus a ton on leadership since they are not zone leaders! I was a good break for me! We found some really great people!

Friday- We worked out transfers with President. It is one of my favorite meetings we have. Its so neat to watch all the inspiration come to him and see how things work out. For example he really felt that 6 elders needed to train and had them set up to do so, but we only had 5 coming in. We talked and worked it down to 5 trainers but couldn't quite get other things to fit into place. later we had to leave to go meet Brandon and when we came back there was a new name on the board. An Elder's paper work had gotten lost and was really coming to our mission, so there was 6! We left to go to a nativity at the kingwood stake center, similar to the one done back home, with Brandon and bro. Keo! It was really nice and the spirit of Christmas was strong. After Bro. Keo took us all out to a BBQ place. Brandon loved it!

Saturday Brandon went and played Football with some of the church members in the community then we were able to teach him at 4! It was a commandments lesson with Bro. Hatch. Its another powerful one! We also got to teach Chip! haha crazy man...I asked him if we could take a picture so could send it to my family and he said "only if it's with my foot kicking you in the head...so I said ok. Now I have 2  black eyes..but you should see the picture....haha. Just kidding! I did say ok but he didn't really kick he just stood there so y'all can see that soon as well!

Sunday was stake conference. Bro. Webb spoke at the adult session! They invited all the missionaries since the theme was hastening the work so we were able to hear it! Since Elder Hepworth and I both taught him we were so stoked to hear him speak! We filmed it, not sure if that is allowed but its one of those spirit of the laws things and it was a good idea! IT WAS TRUE JOY!  Brandon went to a new member meeting before then stayed for the 2 hours after...then he came to a baptism at 5 and the the Christmas Devotional at 7 and bishops house!....He is truly Elect! there is no other like him!

We picked up my replacement on Sunday as well...His name is Elder Wright...Elder Hepworth actually Trained him. Crazy situation. but they will do great together!

We have to drive to Vidor now...well president and I while Elder Hepworth and Wright work on other stuff...Its all hands on deck for the Conference this Wednesday!

Love y'all tons!

Con amor y respeto
Elder Erickson

Elder Erickson and Elder Hepworth

First Place Winner

 

Guess what happened!? 

Best office staff ever! I love these people...and Elder Wright

front row Elder Erickson, Hepworth, and Wright

Elder Erickson, The Webbs, Elder Hepwort

Week 101: Exchanges, Thanksgiving, and Brandon!

Again, as always it was another great week in the work of the Lord!

It started off with a zone conference in Vidor to finish all the zone conferences. We left Monday evening to get out there so we would be able to wake up early and set up. When we left it was raining so had to fit everything in the cab of the truck. We were also going on exchanges until Wednesday night so we had to pack our blow up mattresses and clothes and what not for half the week, so all of that garbage as well as the zone conference supplies. It was stuffed to the brim! (Ill try to remember to send a picture of it.) It was a good zone conference! We had gumbo for lunch! It was only my second time having it....and by Elder Hepworth's mouth...it was my first real gumbo....It was pretty good, then after I went with the Zone leaders in Vidor and Elder Hepworth went with the Zone leaders in Beaumont. We had gumbo for a second time Wednesday night for dinner! haha 2 times in 2 days isn't bad for missing it my whole mission! We had a good time in Vidor, it has some sort of magnetic force that draws in white trash so we were able to do some good missionary work! haha. We came back Wednesday night and woke up for Thanksgiving. We had dinner with the Silvers and Armendarez family from the ward! It was a pretty classic meal, Elder Hepworth and I got to make the potatoes. We pulled out the beater and I felt like it was Sunday dinner back home. In the evening we went to the mission home, the Crawford's invited all of the close missionaries over for pie. It was a good time and nice to spend some of it will the Crawfords and other missionaries. 

Friday we had a lesson scheduled with Brandon...we went over and his grandpa told us he wasn't there. We were pretty bummed. The next day we called and he told us that he was upstairs and thought he heard his name but by the time he came down we were already gone. So good news was that he didn't drop the appointment! Saturday we went on exchanges again! I was able to go back to Broadway and use my Spanish! I actually felt OK about it! Teresa's mother passes away, this poor women has had the hardest life! It was nice to be back in Magnolia! I Love the Poor and Ghetto! Yesterday Brandon came to church again! It was fast and testimony meeting and he said he really felt the spirit during the testimonies! In gospel Principles he had already read the lesson during the week to prepare for the class (probably the only one in the whole class that had done so). He is so awesome! After church he came over to Bro. Keo's house and we taught the Word of Wisdom...We thought he might have a problem...He smokes and drinks coffee but he mentioned how as soon as we started coming by he has been doing less and less of it! It is such a miracle to see how the Lord is preparing him! I Love it and how humble he is, so much! I've learned a lot from him. He said he can quit because it is all in his head really! We are still on for the 15th! 

Love you all! Keep the Christmas Spirit! as a mission we are reading the gospels as well as 3 nephi of Christ's ministry. y'all should do the same :)

Con amor y respeto

Elder Erickson 

 Elder Erickson and Hepworth stuffed to the brim

 for zone conference and exchanges.

 Exchanges with the Beaumont Zone leaders

This is a funny story...just make up what you want.

With the Summer Zone and Broadway Elders
Elder Erickson and Elder Thomas (my son) on the far right

Exchanges with Orange and Beaumont Elders

Elder Erickson, President Crawford, Elder Hepworth