Sunday, January 22, 2012

9 January 2012

This week has been a rather exciting, but humbling experience. I have been looking back at the mission the last few days and have seen the change in me and in others here especially the members of the branch!
We found a new investigator this week, In fact she was taught a while back and was baptised but never confirmed. We received a referral from some other missionaries that there was a deaf person that lived next to them, but come to find out they didn't, but they did know deaf people and freely gave us their address and lo and behold we found them! :) what a blessing it is for us to be able to be instruments in the lords hands and to bring about his work here! :) I love being in the branch and the Lord has richly blessed me for it, It will be amazing what he has for me when I return home as I have learned so much here of the blessings of the church and the blessings of the organization of the church. This is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, The only true church on the face of the earth that bears the name of him whom we worship. He is the Head of it and the Leader and there by we must follow him. The Father and The Son appeared to the Boy Joseph in the Sacred Grove and there happened such a wonderful and miraculous thing, the starting of a new Dispensation and the bringing forth of the Church once again on the earth.
Christ Lives! He died so that we can live and so that we can have eternal joy!
Love you,
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_

Arizona Tucson Mission "Saves Souls"
939 W Chapala Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704

17 January 2012

So I was typing in the subject for this message I simply typed 1/17/2011 Wow I wish it was that time again!
The Lord is working very hard here in Arizona and has and will once again see the harvest of his vineyard. Today I recieved a e-mail as we do every week from the mission president. He simply told us of the blessings that have been happening here and the miracles as well! We have had the highest number of baptismal dates that he has seen in his 6 months of being here!! The mission goal for 2012 is 1,000 baptisms I believe it is very possible and that as we are diligent it can happen!!!

This last sunday we had a fireside with Elders Pickerd and Nielson of the 70. What an amazing blessing it is for us to have them to tell and to explain the missionary work for this area in southern Arizona.

We have also been able to make a difference to a family here what an amazing blessing it has been to work with them.. For confidentiality purposes I will call them the Johnson Family They are a family that makes up a mother from El Salvador, daughter from her first marriage, and 2 other daughters from her current marriage. One of the Daughters from her current marriage in 9 years old and has a cleft palet ( hope I spell that right) she will go in to surgery to have it fixed tomorrow. She has not spoken in 9 years and has had trouble communicating with her family ( most of which speak spanish, but english as well) We have had the opportunity to help and teach her how to sign. What a blessing it is to have the lord use us to strengthen His kingdom! ( did i mention that all of them are converts to the church...)

Have an awesome day! and an amazing week! keep your head up! I love you!

_\../ Elder Karlson \../_

Arizona Tucson Mission "Saves Souls"
939 W Chapala Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704

3 January 2012

Wow this week has flown by and well I'm not sure I really like it all that much! the days seem that they are going faster than ever before! Time is running to an end, but it is great to see the change that has been made to me and to others lives! So as I said before this week is transfer week. I have well not a new companion, but a new companion... We are in a tri Companionship now for the next 6 weeks! Elder Cavanaugh, Bradley, and myself! It is going to go by way fast and be a lot of fun! I'm looking forward to it!
so Yesterday Elder Cavanaugh and I had the opportunity to go to Benson, Arizona not too far from here and teach a lesson with the sister missionaries (Sister Fassold and Mostert) They had been struggling to find their investigators needs and with their investigator being an interpreter we could naturally teach her! I began by teaching her The doctrine of the Atonement and leading it into baptism, she then leaned up on the couch and said I get your picture you want me to be baptised I naturally said yes, but only when you are ready. She then started in on many of her concerns about the church and until she knows them and how to resolve them all she would be baptised. We discussed with her and now have a new investigator. what a blessing from the lord it is for us!

love you ! :)

_\../ Elder Karlson \../_

Arizona Tucson Mission "Saves Souls"
939 W Chapala Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704

2 January 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Hello korb~

How was your christmas and your new year? hopefully good!!! went to church yesterday and got to see Scott Yost (Yostie) he got home wednesday!!! He looks really good but he seem s really out of his element and don't know what to do. He will report on the 14th of january and Nathan will have his farewell. they will do them both on the same day. That is pretty cool. Well here we had a big storm friday night and it blew out the white fence between the house and the garage and scared the dogs to death and took our power out for a while. It was 75 mph winds and they had 94.2 mph on the butte by the windmills. It was crazy. Then it was snowing hard got about 2 inches of snow and had some whiteouts. We had to drive home from twin in it. It was a bit scary. well now it is in the 20's and 30's. COLD
Kass is doing really good. we start singing and piano today again. she got a break during the holidays. well back to the daily grind and having a schedule again. well hope you have a great New Year and will talk to you in a week. Love you!!! Thanks for the pictures they were great. Love you, Mom

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

27 December 2011

I'm not sure of what to say this week as I just had the opportunity to talk to you on Sunday, but a lot has transpired since talking to you...! We had mission wide conference yesterday!! It was pretty amazing to see all the missionaries. That is the first time it has happened since being on a mission! Had many different games and took a picture of the mission as a whole! sweet! :) We then had the opportunity to listen to our leaders Help us to get ready for the new year! :) Many new things are going to happen this year! :) Can't wait!

Well Love you!
talk with you next week!
--

_\../ Elder Karlson \../_

p.s. Thanks for all the christmas gifts! :)


Arizona Tucson Mission "Saves Souls"
939 W Chapala Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704

19 December 2011

Well this one will be rather short... cause well you see Sunday will be Skype
Thanks for the Christmas tree I finally got it I found out that the Zone Leaders have had it for a while as it goes to the office if there is a meeting the zone Leaders take it from the meeting and bring it to us... so that is why it took so long!
This week has gone by rather fast! It has been Cold and rainy most of the week which is good! we broke a record for rain fall in the last week so that is even better! It's gonna be green soon!
We'll have a green Christmas with cactus... So we had the opportunity to teach one of our investigators on Monday night. He has been against getting baptised since we started teaching him in October and well he brought up the topic and so we set a baptismal date with him for the 31st of Dec! Good way to start the new year I must say! YES!
I'm looking forward to seeing you all come Christmas time! Love you! Talk with you then!


_\../ Elder Karlson \../_


Arizona Tucson Mission "Saves Souls"
939 W Chapala Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704

12 December 2011

Alright would someone please put a stop on the clock and slow down the time a little because Holy COW! It has been a rather amazing week to say the least, but it has gone by sooooo fast I don't know what to say...
I have had an amazing opportunity this week to go to the patriarch's house to help interpret for our recent convert's Patriarchal Blessing! It was a great testimony builder and strengthener of the Priesthood and the power of the Spirit in conversion! to see the many different things in her blessing that the Patriarch had no Clue about was amazing to see! :) We also had the opportunity to do quite a bit of welfare at the D.I. this week! Wow what a blessing we have to be able to have the gospel in our lives and to be part of his church! We talked with at few people there at the D.I. that weren't members, but had heard many great things about it! We talked with them and they had the opportunity to feel the love of the Savior. My testimony has been strengthened on the power of the Welfare program as I have seen the ability it has to help many of the members here who have next to nothing get through and be able to have a holiday season! wow what a blessing it is! The Lord Works in mysterious ways but often times it is through us because he can trust us! God Lives! Jesus is the Christ! As we follow them we will have the ability to Help those he needs us to!

Love you! Have a great week! :)
--

_\../ Elder Karlson \../_


Arizona Tucson Mission "Saves Souls"
939 W Chapala Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704

5 December 2011

THis week has been rather fantastic the weather is rather beautiful ( mid 70's-80's) and well I as i said last week have a new companion. We have hit the ground running pretty hard! we haven't found new investigators as of yet, but all is well. one of the people we have been teaching has committed to be baptized soon so that will be great!
We were out looking for this one man this week and rather than finding him we met a lady whom speaks spanish and well my companion was called as a spanish missionary and wel his assignment was changed this last transfer as he has had a little experience before! he talked to her for a few minutes and well got the address of a deaf person she knew! :) wow amazing what the lord does to help us and move us along! I don't think i have stopped laughing since I picked him up at the transfer site last tuesday! My cheeks hurt real bad!
We had an interesting thanksgiving! We went member hopping as much as we could to try and visit a few people, but no one really wants to see us on thanksgiving so we made the best of it then went to olive garden. my card wouldn't work, but I called to Zions Bank and got it all fixed up! :) but all is well here! Hope you have a fantastic week!
Love you

\../ Elder Karlson \../_

Arizona Tucson Mission "Saves Souls"
939 W Chapala Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704

28 November 2011

THis week has been rather fantastic the weather is rather beautiful ( mid 70's-80's) and well I as i said last week have a new companion. We have hit the ground running pretty hard! we haven't found new investigators as of yet, but all is well. one of the people we have been teaching has committed to be baptized soon so that will be great!
We were out looking for this one man this week and rather than finding him we met a lady whom speaks spanish and well my companion was called as a spanish missionary and wel his assignment was changed this last transfer as he has had a little experience before! he talked to her for a few minutes and well got the address of a deaf person she knew! :) wow amazing what the lord does to help us and move us along! I don't think i have stopped laughing since I picked him up at the transfer site last tuesday! My cheeks hurt real bad!
We had an interesting thanksgiving! We went member hopping as much as we could to try and visit a few people, but no one really wants to see us on thanksgiving so we made the best of it then went to olive garden. my card wouldn't work, but I called to Zions Bank and got it all fixed up! :) but all is well here! Hope you have a fantastic week!
Love you

\../ Elder Karlson \../_

Arizona Tucson Mission "Saves Souls"
939 W Chapala Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704

22 November 2011

Well it being the week of thanksgiving and all it is going to be a rather different week this week, but I'm truly looking forward to this week!!! I got a new companion this week. Elder Cavanaugh from Maine. He has had 2 years experience in signing in high school and well quite frankly, i'm not sure which high school it was, but he came out at like a college level signer. really cool kid and I can't wait to get moving!!! It is going to be a great transfer. He has been out now for almost 3 months so it is going to be great he still has the MTC vibe and will to work! :) This week I invited the sister missionaries to come and talk in the branch ooh what a great opportunity to share about missionary work and also compassion. Hope it will work as President and Sister Killpack are coming to speak on the 27th.
We have been finding that many of the deaf are opening up to us here and getting to and are more willing to talk with us and allow us to help them and are being more receptive to the gospel! Often time the Lord works in mysterious ways and the fruits come later! I have a feeling that is what is happening now!! The Lord is blessing us and helping us to become who he needs us to be.
Temperature is dropping... in the 60-70's this week and I FROZE my hind off!!! ooh boy I got another thing comin!
Well gotta run! Have a great Week and a happy thanksgiving!
Love you,

_\../ Elder Karlson \../_


Arizona Tucson Mission "Saves Souls"
939 W Chapala Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704

Monday, November 14, 2011

14 November 2011

This week was completely nuts! first i have to say that president is following in my footsteps! he is using me as an example... i'm not so sure if it is in a good way... he was sandwiched recently in his avalon too and was hit at 40 miles per hour from the rear pushing him into the car in front of him... with a general authority Elder O. Vincent Haleck in his car with him... Elder Haleck went to the Hospital... but thank heavens it was after mission conferences were over!!! :)
So that leads me to the rest of the week! On thursday we had the opportunity to Hear from Elder Haleck and his wife as well as President and sister Killpack and Stake President Lewis! It was a truly fantastic meeting on the book of mormon and being who the Lord needs us to be. This mission has been struggling to find and baptise for the last 6-12 months in all aspects, but as we have been focusing on the small and simple things that might have been overlooked or missed before we have seen the great success!!! Numbers of people are rising in retention and conversion as well as personal satisfaction in the work is growing. Whom the Lord Calls he Qualifies. Whom the Lord Qualifies He calls!
Great success is headed our way by recieving blessings for doing the Small and SIMPLE things!
He loves us and knows what we are doing every step of the way! As we show him our humility and desire he will make us capable of doing his work.
"If the Book is True... It is true... " - President Killpack

Know I know it is true as we make a daily study in The book of mormon our lives will change completely. Do it see your life change as has mine!
Love you all!
--

_\../ Elder Karlson \../_


Arizona Tucson Mission "Saves Souls"
939 W Chapala Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704

7 November 2011

Walkin' in a winter wonderland!
yeah It ain't quite a winter wonderland yet, but it is getting cold enough to be. it is 44 and well i don't think it has been over 65 this week! I'm freezing! I bought a sweater just in time for that one! yeah!
This week went by pretty quickly and well it was pretty different! We had an investigator at church it was awesome! so great testimonies were shared. normally it is a travel log meeting of where the members went to in the last week or so and well not this time it was on tithing, trials, blessings, the restoration, ect. I have been working so hard to show them what a real testimony is and not just a Travel Log. what a blessing! :)
We are working to find a few new investigators as we do have a few referals, but they seem never to be home. Life is great!!! :) I am doing real pretty good!
I went to the dr. this week and they said they didn't need to take any more x-rays, but they would put me in physical therapy for the next 3 months 3 times a week and see how it goes from there! I am still seeing the chiropractor, and that really helps too! we'll see how it goes!
I got ya'lls package on wednesday! Thanks so much! :() sorry it is short, but i'm standing up and typing and well i have cramps in my arms from doing so, so this is it!!
Love you talk to you later this week when we can sit down! :)
Love you!

--

_\../ Elder Karlson \../_


Arizona Tucson Mission "Saves Souls"
939 W Chapala Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704

31 October 2011

Alright so it is the last day of the month and well Where did October go? I'm still looking back at my planner and wondering where it went! everyday is filled out, but it seems like it's over!!! aaaah! November just around the corner it is super scary before i know it, it will be Christmas...
Well this week went pretty well for the teaching and all... still finding people to teach, but it is amazing to see the way the Lords prepares his chose children to be found by his chosen servants! This week Elder Bradley and I were on exchanges (he comes with me in my area) we are interpreting for a black deaf less active member of the branch. I looked up saw him looked down and then bam her was gone. don't really know what happened. Later that day we went to the Police station to get a police report, which i found out you can now get it online... www.tucsonAZ.gov/police
on the right side is a column that says request a copy of a report
the number is 1110170663
you can get one for our records!!!

We went to another less active man whom we hadn't seen i a few months. His has some trouble with same sex attraction, but we knocked on his door as we always do. we saw him in his apartment and he normally ignores us. he normally looks through the hole then walks away and ignores us. this time he didn't!!!!! :) HE actually looked out opened the door and talked with us for a few minutes :) the lord humbles people in many different ways! :) this is one we have been waiting to get into for some time now!!! :) finally!

I love it here! it has been so awesome to see the lord preparing his children as well as his servants! :)

Thanks for all you do! :)
Love you!!
Happy Halloween!


_\../ Elder Karlson \../_


Arizona Tucson Mission "Saves Souls"
939 W Chapala Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704

26 October 2011

Well I just got off the phone with the Office of the specialist and he said I have an appointment for Nov 3rd to visit with him for more X-Rays and possible MRI to check everything out! I will be going to the Chiropractor this afternoon to get straightened out and might not have to go for the appointment for the specialist...
Everything is going well just in a lot of pain, but all is going well!! :)
Love ya'll

_\../ Elder Karlson \../_

Arizona Tucson Mission "Saves Souls"
939 W Chapala Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704

24 October 2011

This week has been super crazy lots of different things going on and well accident #3 started the week off! We have been working to get that whole situation figured our all week long!!! I wish someone else would do it and let us focus on missionary work, but I guess we are lucky the truck is still driveable and that we are Alright! We haven't really had much time to do missionary things this week, but there is a new week ahead of us and we are ready to get moving! I can't wait to find that person that is ready to be baptised and listen to the gospel... It has been a really interesting week it is almost like some of the errands that I used to do when i was back home of getting estimates on the car go the insurance company, dr. ect... I'm ready for the REAL missionary work now!!! Not much of an update this week, but all is going well!!! We are in good health and we just gotta keep on moving and finding those who are ready!! :)
Love you!!! Happy HALLOWEEN! i'm not sure if the library will be open on monday next week so i'm sending it early!!!
Love you!!!

_\../ Elder Karlson \../_


Arizona Tucson Mission "Saves Souls"
939 W Chapala Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704