Week 70: The Rest of Senaida's Story

Queridos familia y amigos

Primero Noticias!

Senaida Paredes! Remember her? She was the one who came to church every week and made a huge 360 change but didn't ever get baptized because of her man living with her. ( Review Senaida's  story on Week 54 - 1/7/2013 post.)  Well, I guess she kicked him. She is getting baptized next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm super pumped and hope President will let me go! She is such a miracle! from how we found her, the changes she has made! (I heard that she really took Elder Bednars conference talk to heart!) and now she is getting baptized!

Hno. Ortega got a new calling!!!! He is now Ward Executive secretary! I was sitting outside the chapel waiting for a meeting when they called him. It made me so excited!!!  They are still trucking along for the temple.

Speaking of temple! We had an interesting event going to the temple last week. We went with a member. First he showed up super late. Then was flying in his BMW to get there. Got pulled over. Then went a good 10 past the exit we were supposed to take! haha We got there a little late! All our zone was already in the 11 o'clock session. I heard there were 60 in the session. We were able to wait and go the 12 o'clock session.  I enjoyed the extra time in the temple waiting!

Elder Conan taught Spencer and Ashely this week while I was somewhere else on exchanges but he said it went really well, they talked about the restoration.

Bro. Webb got the Priesthood this week!!! that was amazing! He is so prepared! He didn't know he was getting it really until he got there!

SO did Oscar! He got ordain a priest as well!

Roldando and Crystal were fasting to get pregnant....they found the power of fasting really quick! haha so they will be moving over to the family ward!

It as a good week!

Sorry its super short this week! Love you :)
Con amor y respeto

Elder Erickson

Senaida, Elder Erickson and Jose from West Lake Houston

Elder Conan, Elder Eastman Sister and Brother Webb, Elder Clayton, Elder Erickson

Week 69: Ortegas Going to the Temple

Como Andan? Todo Bien?

All is well here in Texas. Its starting to get pretty warm and I'm not looking forward to summer......But on the good note the baptism yesterday was amazing!!

I don't have a picture yet because my camera died but I'll get one from someone and send it to you. So many people came to the baptism it was great! Many of the Youth from the YSA came as well. It was a pretty full chapel.  

Elder Eastman and Elder Clayton came back to perform the baptism. The Spirit was very strong and during the special musical number Sister Webb started to cry.  I knew at that moment she understood a lot better how the Holy Ghost really feels and Really works!  After the baptism Brother Webb gave his testimony. It was so powerful, I haven't heard a testimony from any convert so strong on the same day as their baptism. Maybe Libni Ortegas but Brother Webb is so amazing. He is going to be a great addition to the church!

Speaking of the Ortegas I was talking with them yesterday and they said Les Faltan cinco Clases!!! I'm so excited! so I'd guess in about two months we will be able to go to the temple!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sadly Elder Facer leaves at the end of this transfer so about 5 weeks so I don't think they are going to make it in time for him to be able to come as well.

Other great news for the week! We set a date with Lance Lawson for the 19th of May. I'm not sure how solid that is because he works nights and we have a really hard time setting appointments with him but he came to church again and loved it. He was participating in Sunday school and Priesthood. He is a great guy. I love when he makes comments. He has his gangster swagg and they way he talks gives you a new light on any topic! haha

Also Spencer and Ashley Came to church with their two kids! We went over on Saturday for dinner and taught the Plan of Salvation. It was a rough start because Ashley never has gone to church or really even believes in the bible. But by the end of the lesson she asked "So how long would it take for me to be baptized and what do I have to do?"  She wanst all for it  yet but she was thinking about getting baptized before we even asked her! She said it sounds nice but wants to know who came up with it. So we told her God and left her the Book of Mormon and they came to Church! We are going back next Saturday. I'm super Stoked for them. Ashley is 25 and Spencer is 24 so they aren't much older than us. They have two kids. 4 and 3.  

We get to go to the Temple tomorrow too as a zone so I'm pretty excited for that!

Hope all is well you with at home!

Love you

Con amor y respeto!

Elder Erickson

Week 68: Life is Great! I Love Being A Missionary!

Well crazy as it is its already been one transfer here in English land. And I'm going to stay another.  Elder Conan and I will be staying together for one more at least. He only has 2 more left so I hope I don't stay here until he goes home that would be way to long. But all is well in the area!

 We had all 4 people confirmed, had a little scare with Sharif. He moved to the complete other side of Houston!!!!!!!! luckily a member went and got him. We also had a new investigator in the Pine Trail ward! His name is Lance Lawson. He is an African American rapper from New Orleans. (one of the few positives to English) He is so funny. We lost contact with him for a bit but the other day we drove down  his road and he saw us drive by. He chased us all the way down the road (about 4 blocks) jumping up and down waving his arms trying to get out attention. It was pretty funny.  But he did come to church even though he was sick and he really liked it. He was telling people he was going to get baptized so we better get going cuz we set his date a while ago and lost contact with him but he still had the commitment in his mind! haha

Spencer, the guy from Alaska called us and had to cancel because they were going to Dallas. We rescheduled for this coming Saturday. He said he had been reading though and that it was helping.

Miracle story of the week.

There is a family that missionaries have been teaching for quite some time now. The Webb Family. They are hard core, hard core to the bone United Pentecostal, which we hear every time we go over, is different than normal Pentecostal. I know more than I care too about them but you can look it up if you want to know. It's the long skirts no make up crazy rules. But anyways they have been there all their life and missionaries have been meeting with them for a while. The daughter got baptized a few Months ago, the Father Sydne, got his answer to the Book of Mormon already and was just waiting for the wife. They are both in Alma 3 something. They have been coming to church every week and are such great people! They are so nice. Bro Webb is a fire chief here in Houston. We had a lesson with them and were following up on the commitments we left them and we set a date with them that they both agreed to! NEXT WEEK! They will be getting baptized the 21st of April! I am so excited!! They are a great family and are solid! We didn't really do a whole lot of the work with them but it was nice to be here when they finally accepted the date!

Things are still crazy in the mission. We are getting so many missionaries! We have a zone of 31 right now and are going to be 34 with 13 of them being Sisters. Every single one will be training or being trained. Its crazy. Sometimes I just want to knock doors ;) but its awesome to see the mission expanding and the new force coming out.

Life is great!  I Love being a missionary!  Everyone who has the chance better take it!

Con amor y respeto

Elder Erickson

 With Sanjoy Dash. Recent convert from Bangladesh. He cooked some food from his country for us one day! He is so awesome! doesn't really speak much English or Spanish but he is awesome! too bad they cook with more oil than Mexicans ;)
 but it was really good :)

PS We were on exchanges so I was with Elder Smith again!

Week 67: Expect Miracles

Que onda!?

Conference is great!!! I wish I could tell you my favorite but I can't pick! Elder Holland's was amazing but so were so many others. I Love the power Elder Holland has.

We were able to watch all sessions but not the stuff in between. We had people to see!

This past week Elder Conan and I created our "Zone Vision" because with increased vision come increased motivation - Elder Callister.

It goes a little something like this:

The Summerwood Zone Vision

In the Summerwood Zone, we have a love for God and of all men (2 Nephi 31:20). Our desire to serve God motivates us to declare salvation to every creature (Mosiah 28:3). We go Forward with an unshaken faith in Christ (2 Nephi 31:19) boldly declaring repentance to all who will receive our testimonies. Opening our mouths to allow the Spirit to carry our word unto the hearts of the children of men (2 Nephi 33:1), knowing that they will be filled, for He is with us (Doc. & Cov. 33:9). We strive to teach the Word of God with all diligence (Jacob 1:19), and are always anxiously engaged in a good cause (Doc. & Cov. 58:27). We seek to become master teachers, by study and by faith ( Doc. & Cov. 88:118). We are never content with our teaching skills and are always strive to be better. We will strictly observe to obey the Commandments of God and the mission rules with Exactness (Alma 58:21). We are motivated by our willingness to serve God. Herein is our love made perfect (1 John 4:17).

We focused on Love as our motivation, faith to find, diligence in our studies and teaching and obeying with exactness. We set goals and plans for each of these topics to help uplift the zone! 

I know these topics were inspired when Pres. Monson talked of all of these things between his talk in Priesthood and Sunday morning. 

Miracles Story:

After Conference we had a Miracle that I would like to share with you. We were working in the Crosby area, the family we are tried was not there. We had 10 minutes until our next appointment and couldn't think of anyone worth our 10 minutes to visit so we decided to knock. We drove a short minute and Elder Conan pulled over. We said a prayer to find someone who needs the message. The first two doors no one answered. We got to the Third door and I was beginning to think that it was a waste but then a man came to the door. He looked at us a little shocked and I took it has "man, he really doesn't want us on his doorstep" so I tried to quickly spark conversation with him about hunting because he had a hunting shirt on. After a few questions we found out he was from Alaska. We asked him if he had ever seen missionaries in Alaska or if it was too cold for them to be on bikes. He responded "I’m a member, you want to come in?"

Turns out he had just moved here 6 months ago. His wife walked into the room and said "are you the Latter-day saints?" When we told her yes she said "what a coincidence." As we talked with him more he told us how he had wanted to get back into church. He fell away when he was about 15. He started working a job in Alaska that didn't allow him time to go to church and then never really got into it. His parents had always tried to get him to come back but he never did. He felt the need to go because his dad passed away Friday. We found him Sunday. The spirit was so strong. We were able to testify to him that his dad is still trying to get him back and that he never is going to give up on him, that his dad guided us there to help him through this tough time. We testified of the plan of salvation and eternal families. With tears on his face he told us how that’s what he wants. To one day be sealed with his wife and two kids that he has now,  just as he was seal to his parents!

Elder Conan and I left there with the best feeling. I couldn't help but smile! I know our Father in Heaven and the father of this man guided us there! I Love being a missionary and helping to carrying the love and miracles of our Father in Heaven. I am so grateful that he lets me come along for the ride to see the blessings for others!

I Love you all! We should expect Miracles when we are doing the Lords work, if we are full-time missionaries or member- missionaries. It's all the same work. Expect them!

I Love you all so much!

Con amor y respeto

Elder Erickson

Week 66: Elder Erickson Easter Epistle

Well....baptisms didn't go through...we got a lot of work today so we'll talk later

bye! love you sorry.

Con amor y respeto

Haha APRIL FOOLS!!!

Lame I know but I had to do something!!

So all four baptisms happened!!!! It was a pretty crazy road but they all made it! :)

Rolando and Crystal got their marriage licence Thursday and we went with them and had a wedding. It was us, them and Pres. Chapman in the chapel. It was really sweet! and special...But we found out Sunday that it didn't count!!! We forgot about the 72 Hour wait after you buy your marriage licence before you can get married! So Sunday after church, before the baptism they got to get married again! It was nice!
Bro. Hope baptized Rolando and Crystal. He is a counselor in the branch and has been a really good helping hand to Rolando in his Journey to baptism. Cesar Lopez is Oscar Lopez's brother. He is a recent convert of about a year and He is the one who introduced Rolando and Oscar to the Church. He baptized his brother!
And Chris Garcia, our ward mission leader baptized Sharif. Also in the picture I sent is Thurmin. He is Sharif's roommate and he introduced him to the church! It was the best Easter Sunday ever!...well second only to the actual Resurrection. But still it was so awesome to see them all get baptized! I Love working with the YSA.
We also had two new investigators at church in the YSA. Moses, another one of Cesar's friends and then Tim. He is a kid that the AP's have been teaching but they passed him off to us the other day when we went on exchanges with them! I went with Elder Facer in their area. It brought back good memories! haha

This week we have zone p-day and we have to plan it so I'm rushing today. We are doing minute-to-win it games. it should be fun!

Also this weekend I had a lot of time to reflect on the Atonement and the Resurrection. I read a lot of scriptures and learned so much! In my Personal Reading I read Mosiah 14 and 15. Two amazing chapters! y'all should go read them today. We were also fasting yesterday as a zone, the spirit taught me so much throughout that day.

I want to share with you a little of what I learned. I'm not only having a good time here but growing a lot spiritually.

Elder Erickson Easter Epistle:

I Know that Jesus Christ came to this earth for me. I know that he came here and went through sufferings to allow me joy. He was under every pain, sorrow, and hardship so that he could know exactly how to help me go through my trials. He overcame everything so that I don't have to. I understand better now the reason for his suffering, because you can't overcome something you haven't experienced. If you have been through it all, then you can conquer it all. I Know He did it all for me personally because He wanted to. It wasn't the Jews nor the Romans that Killed my Savior, or even Judas. It wasn't the whips or the nails that caused Him the great pain. But rather it was His Love for me and for the Father that pushed him to accept the bitter cup. I know that because of His love I can over come death, be comforted in my hardships, and be forgiven of my sins to live with my family and Father in heaven forever. All the Hate in the world couldn't put him through what He went through for me, it had to be something much greater. His Love.

Con amor Y respeto

Elder Erickson

Left to right

           Back Row: Elder Conan, Cesar Lopez, Bro. Hope. Rolando Guerra, Crystal Guerra, Thurmin Flowers, Sharif Husenov, Elder Erickson

Front Row: Chris Garcia, Oscar Lopez.   

Week 65: Better Than Dr. Phil

Hello Family! Glad y'all are enjoying Miles!

I'M so jealous I cant bet there!

So this week nothing too crazy happened...ah what am I'm saying, there is crazy Cosas every stinking day!!!

One I want to share is a lesson we had with Rolando And Crystal!....they need to get married so they can make the date of 31st. We didn't really expect them to make the push so we haven't been teaching them at a pace to have them ready so we have been trying to visit them a lot to get everything taught to where they understand. Just the stories Rolando tells us of his background blows me away that he walked into a church...But he was telling us stories of how he has been sharing the gospel with people at work and on the streets! He is amazing!!! I'll try and get a picture with them this week! For sure at the baptism I guess haha. But this time when we showed up they were fighting. I was on exchanges with not 1 but 2 really new missionaries. Elder Willey has 3 weeks and elder Evans a couple of transfers. But they were fighting and didn't want to get married anymore and just hated each other....so luckily the spirit had us teaching Lesson 3 which is about repentance.

So we knew what they were fighting over before the lesson had started cuz I talked to just Rolando by himself. So while teaching what repentance was, how to do it, and the blessings of it, I made and example and pretty much took their story and twisted it enough so it wasn't obvious but they still knew. After Rolando was like... so what do you do with that story......and Crystal was just crying and looking down. I have a little wipe board I had written everything down on and just pointed to the word repent then just looked at Crystal. He was just kinda like...ah man,,,for real? and then I talked a little about pride hahah! Then he finally talked to her and they both started crying.. man I felt like Dr. Phil, but better! haha and I'm pretty sure since I have the spirit I am better at it than him! haha But it was so sweet!!!!! They talked it out and everything so they are all good to go! We then talked about how the devil is going to try everything he can to make them mad so they don't get baptized. They both said," it's so true! We have been fighting so much this last week!!" so we had a really good talk about that!
I wish you could meet Rolando and Oscar. I would be scared to talk to these guys if I wasn't a missionary, but they are the coolest guys ever! I just want to chill with them! 

I also went on exchanges back to Spanish land! my Spanish was still ok and we taught a couple lesson so I felt good about that...I kinda trip over my own feet though every once and a while. we did some service. twice actually. but one was sanding....sanding paint of all the cabinets in this guys kitchen.....I was so dusty is was gross! but I have a picture I will send you of it! It was a lot of fun! 

This week we also talked with the Hindu guy again, and a talked with a Muslim! and we have an appointment tonight with a family who just moved from the Virgin Islands! they have the coolest accent and White people are just boring so I'm glad we get to find some new cultures to meet!  

A lot really did happen this week! I recorded a guy who invited us over just to bash on us and try and convert us! It was so funny! I recorded half of it. The dude was super stupid and just funny....but by the end he wanted a ride to church. We didn't really try to get him one cuz we weren't sure if he just wanted to come cause problems but y'all will hear that soon!

 Love you all so much

Con amor y respeto

Elder Erickson

This is my exchange with Elder Tatom from Cali.

I'm still blowing dust out of my nose and cleaning it out of my ears...it was so much everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Weak 64: Baby Miles

Hello Family!!

Right now we are adding one more to that family category! I'm so excited for Miles to come, if he hasn't already!!!! I hope and pray that everything goes/went well!

To answer some questions first:

Elder Conan is from Idaho Falls. He has been out for a little over 20 months so he is getting close to the end. He ran Hurdles for SUU before his mission. He is a pretty sweet guy. I enjoy my time with him. I have been really blessed with good companions. I really have not had a huge problem with any of the companions that I have had. I'm hoping that now that I'm in a leadership position that all of them will continue to be good companions! That was one worry I've always had, along with going English, so who knows. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. 

Sadly in the new area it is still really big because we cover the YSA (Young Single Adults). Also we drive a lot and pretty far, so the bikes haven't really been touched....I'm pretty bummed about that! I miss my bike.

Responsibilities as a zone leader aren't too different. We have been helping to decide possible areas to open up for all the new missionaries. We don't get too involved with it though. We also have a lot to do with the numbers and getting information to and from one end to the other really. Its fun, we have a little time with President and get to know him, and all the missionaries within the Zone. President really just says, Here is this area and group of missionaries now do what you need to do to bless that area. So that's what we do, its fun because we get to be pretty creative in some of the stuff we do to help motivate people and help areas that are struggling. Most of our Zone is Spanish too, so its nice to be able to work with them in their area.

This week we had some awesome lessons with Oscar and Rolando and Crystal and Sharif. we were not able to meet with Wayland. But the others are very solid for their dates. We taught the plan of salvation to Rolando with Oscar.  

Then taught a different day with Crystal and Rolando, It was so cool to see how Excited Rolando got to share things with her and he told her  - "Doesn't this all sound so good. Doesn't this all sound right?" Then after a pause he said "It's because we learned all this before, we are just re-learning it. We learned it when we lived with God before this life"....I wish you could see it! It's so amazing..this is a tatted, scary looking guy who works at a tire shop. We talked to his neighbor and he said "what did y'all do to him? last month he was the devil, didn't believe in God or nothing, I really thought the devil was in him, Now he is changed."

I Love the YSA, Still miss Spanish a ton but YSA is really good.

We also had a lesson with Sean, the guy who reads the bible every week with pres. Pomeroy. He is a doctrine wizard and knows so much. It was a crazy lesson! crazy stuff was flying. It was cool until the end then they got into some anti stuff that Sean had read.

Well I hope the baby is here! Give him a hug and kiss from me!!! Let him know I love him and hang a picture of me on his ceiling so he knows who I am!

Con amor y Respeto

Elder Erickson

Send me a picture of the baby please!!!!!

Elder Erickson's reply to the picture of Miles was ---

Ah I'm so happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I could be there!!!!!!!

Miles William Heslop

Born 12:54 pm  March 18, 2013

8 lbs. 3 oz.     20.5 in"