Alright so this week has been super busy and well I'm not sure where to start!! We have our one investigator who is progressing quite well towards baptism, but she announced to us that she will be moving at weeks end! uuh!! other than that well we haven't been able to find any other people to teach!! Searching in a haystack is kind of difficult, but it is getting better!! :) there are many new things going to happen real soon!! the mission president is ready to do and to really be and help us to to the same!!
We have been really busy with the branch this week!!! I have worn every hat in the branch except relief Society President this week, as well as was given a new calling!!!! hmmm.... Branch Executive Secretary on top of all the other callings that we have!! Home teacher, Counsilor in the Branch presidency, .......... It's been a great experience!!!! I'm almost done reading the handbook of instruction, and well quite frankly there are alot of things in there I didn't now even really mattered, but wow...
We have been extremely blessed even if it isn't in the finding of new investigators, but in the bringing of those who were once lost, find themselves, for the second time!! Less Active members have been working their way back!!! It is great to see the fruits of our labors and really have the opportunity to help even if it is not in baptising people it is like that all over again for them!!!!
The church is true!! God lives, Loves us and wants for us to be with him again!!! as we do as he asks and follow his teachings we will be blessed and be able to live in his presence together again! Remember there are to be no Empty chairs in heaven!!! I love you!!!
Great to hear from you all!!
:)
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
11 July 2011
So The Lord works in mysterious Often times we aren't sure what the heck it is for and Why we are experiencing it!
Yesterday in the branch a lot of stuff happened. We replaced all the Priesthood leaders from their various callings and replaced them along with in the next 2 or 3 weeks will be changing out the Relief Society. We finally have an Elders Quorum President now, along with the High Priest Group Leader :) I never thought I would see the day that it happened and well it did!!! :) The Stake Presidency That we have is very supportive of the missionary program and is very concerned of the welfare of all in his jurisdiction it is rather phenomenal :)
This week has been The most up and down week I think in the entire mission and for sure the only week we have taught very few lessons :( It seems when we work our butt off and give it all we can it doesn't seem to work, but when we don't everything starts to happen, but we keep working our butt off until something will happen!! The Lord is working very hard to make us who he needs to be and quite frankly it's great!!
I have had to preside in sacrament meeting now for 2 weeks! it has been rather stressful. It is amazing how the Lord helps us to learn to love the people even more and gives us the responsibility to do so!! The Branch president has been out of town for about 2 weeks in Ogden, Utah for a deaf convention, and well it has been a new challenge. It feels like it has been almost a completely sleepless week! The mission president even asked me why my eyes were red!! I almost fell asleep while driving and well it's been a great opportunity, but im glad it is only for 2 weeks!
I love the work here and can't wait to get this week rolling! :)
Love you all!!!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
Yesterday in the branch a lot of stuff happened. We replaced all the Priesthood leaders from their various callings and replaced them along with in the next 2 or 3 weeks will be changing out the Relief Society. We finally have an Elders Quorum President now, along with the High Priest Group Leader :) I never thought I would see the day that it happened and well it did!!! :) The Stake Presidency That we have is very supportive of the missionary program and is very concerned of the welfare of all in his jurisdiction it is rather phenomenal :)
This week has been The most up and down week I think in the entire mission and for sure the only week we have taught very few lessons :( It seems when we work our butt off and give it all we can it doesn't seem to work, but when we don't everything starts to happen, but we keep working our butt off until something will happen!! The Lord is working very hard to make us who he needs to be and quite frankly it's great!!
I have had to preside in sacrament meeting now for 2 weeks! it has been rather stressful. It is amazing how the Lord helps us to learn to love the people even more and gives us the responsibility to do so!! The Branch president has been out of town for about 2 weeks in Ogden, Utah for a deaf convention, and well it has been a new challenge. It feels like it has been almost a completely sleepless week! The mission president even asked me why my eyes were red!! I almost fell asleep while driving and well it's been a great opportunity, but im glad it is only for 2 weeks!
I love the work here and can't wait to get this week rolling! :)
Love you all!!!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
6 July 2011
Alrighty, so I'm not for sure what to say again this week!! not a whole lot going on, but it has been a pretty humbling, and exciting week for us! WE GOT RAIN! that is the exciting part!
It seems that all we have the opportunity to do now is drive and see the view of the city all too much!! Going from deaf house to deaf house really gets a bit frustrating, but that is where it gets to be humbling. I've had a lot of time to talk with my companion recently, about the work about some of the struggles we are having and what we need to do to get more of the work progressing!! we met with the new mission president... By the way is really awesome!!! He is really motivated to get things done here!! He hadn't been here 24 hours and we got in to see him in his office and discuss the deaf branch and the work here!! He seems really motivated to help us!!! I have been real humbled this week to have the opportunity to see the potential that the branch has and the opportunity to preside in Sacrament meeting!! can you say scary? well it was and we started on time for the first time in quite sometime! :) The work is going well and the Lord is truly blessing us and helping us to become and helping others to come unto Christ! We don't realize what we have and often times we take if for granted. We move forward even if we don't see anyone beside my companion all day! he is fun to be with yes, just often time we see no person to share the gospel with it will often get frustrating, but the Lord knows it is for a reason and will help us no matter what we do.
Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men... That is our call!
Zone conference tomorrow and I can't wait to see what it is we will do to get this back up and running!!! the Lord loves you!!!! I love you!! Have an awesome week! :)
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
It seems that all we have the opportunity to do now is drive and see the view of the city all too much!! Going from deaf house to deaf house really gets a bit frustrating, but that is where it gets to be humbling. I've had a lot of time to talk with my companion recently, about the work about some of the struggles we are having and what we need to do to get more of the work progressing!! we met with the new mission president... By the way is really awesome!!! He is really motivated to get things done here!! He hadn't been here 24 hours and we got in to see him in his office and discuss the deaf branch and the work here!! He seems really motivated to help us!!! I have been real humbled this week to have the opportunity to see the potential that the branch has and the opportunity to preside in Sacrament meeting!! can you say scary? well it was and we started on time for the first time in quite sometime! :) The work is going well and the Lord is truly blessing us and helping us to become and helping others to come unto Christ! We don't realize what we have and often times we take if for granted. We move forward even if we don't see anyone beside my companion all day! he is fun to be with yes, just often time we see no person to share the gospel with it will often get frustrating, but the Lord knows it is for a reason and will help us no matter what we do.
Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men... That is our call!
Zone conference tomorrow and I can't wait to see what it is we will do to get this back up and running!!! the Lord loves you!!!! I love you!! Have an awesome week! :)
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
Thursday, June 30, 2011
27 June 2011
Things here are going great!! we have had a pretty powerful week this week and lots has been happening!!! We have been meeting with a 86 year old lady now for almost 2 weeks and she finally agreed to a baptismal date and is preparing to get her life in order and make the mends necessary to be in accordance with god's will. We have been meeting with another man named Jerry Dain. We haven't been able to meet with him this week since every time we went to see him he wasn't home! For a man who has a physical handicap he is never home! We have been searching real hard for those who are ready to hear the gospel and have since dropped a few too! it just makes my heart curdle when I have to drop someone that we have worked with for some time now!!!
We had an awesome Zone Conference this week!! President and Sister Walkers Last Zone conference. I'm not really looking forward to them leaving tomorrow!! We talked with them last night on the phone and well president isn't ready for it. He's gonna be a lost and lonely puppy. I'm gonna miss him and sister walker!! I love them! They are awesome!! It was about the temple, making sure that there are no empty chairs there and that we do all that we can to make sure that there are no empty chair in heaven! Now is my plea, Get there! Don't allow for any empty chairs there! Do what you can to get back if you have strayed, or if you have messed up. Get on your knees and pray and do what you must to get there!!!! The Lord loves you and is willing and ready for you to be with him forever. Do it! There is no better gift that the lord or anyone could ask for than for his children to walk in righteousness!!! I love you and want to see you there!!! Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the lord! There is no time to waist in the service of the Lord! He is willing and waiting for all those to repent!!
I love you all!!!
--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
p.s. the picture you see here is the norm for my companion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We had an awesome Zone Conference this week!! President and Sister Walkers Last Zone conference. I'm not really looking forward to them leaving tomorrow!! We talked with them last night on the phone and well president isn't ready for it. He's gonna be a lost and lonely puppy. I'm gonna miss him and sister walker!! I love them! They are awesome!! It was about the temple, making sure that there are no empty chairs there and that we do all that we can to make sure that there are no empty chair in heaven! Now is my plea, Get there! Don't allow for any empty chairs there! Do what you can to get back if you have strayed, or if you have messed up. Get on your knees and pray and do what you must to get there!!!! The Lord loves you and is willing and ready for you to be with him forever. Do it! There is no better gift that the lord or anyone could ask for than for his children to walk in righteousness!!! I love you and want to see you there!!! Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the lord! There is no time to waist in the service of the Lord! He is willing and waiting for all those to repent!!
I love you all!!!
--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
p.s. the picture you see here is the norm for my companion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 June 2011
This week has been nuts! Super hot and really smokey with all the fires around here!!!! it was upwards of about 107 this week and looks to be climbing even higher next week and it isn't yet summer!!! I'm so looking forward to it!!! I got in the car and turned on the car looked at the temperature gauge on the rear view mirror and well it said 129 pretty nifty!!! :)
We found a new investigator recently on Saturday, He seems to be pretty good, just need to instill a desire to do and bada bing bada bang you got it!!!! It's been an interesting week! we had Interviews and soon have Zone Conference on Thursday then new mission president on Tuesday of the following week!!! It is going to be a heart breaker to see President and Sister Walker go home! Not really looking forward to that, but change is good and is worth it in the end!!! The Lord knows what he is doing and who needs to be where in whose life in order to make them who he needs them to be! ok so that might have been really confusing, but read it over and you should get it!!! :) The Lord is taking good care of us even if he forgot the Air Conditioner to keep it reasonable! The work is going well and well for the most part we are keeping busy and staying strong!! We were asked how long we had left last week at the meeting and I looked and calculated it all out! saw the number and well tears came to my eyes! just little over 6 months left and it's all over :( They said it was long. they are full of crap! Shortest 2 years ever! Love it! there is nothing that will change the heat or the sweat... ect... but no matter how much it is it is all worth it! every last degree, every least drop of sweat, for that single moment of great achievement. The moment someone gives up an addiction, or decides to read the book of mormon, or whatever it may be it is all worth it in the end!!!
Remember the Lord loves you! knows who you are! and the simple thing he asks us is to get to know who he is and his desires for us!!!
Remember in all you do the command from Jacob a prophet in the Book of Mormon in Jacob chapter 1:19
"And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day."
Love you! Do all you can to get there!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
We found a new investigator recently on Saturday, He seems to be pretty good, just need to instill a desire to do and bada bing bada bang you got it!!!! It's been an interesting week! we had Interviews and soon have Zone Conference on Thursday then new mission president on Tuesday of the following week!!! It is going to be a heart breaker to see President and Sister Walker go home! Not really looking forward to that, but change is good and is worth it in the end!!! The Lord knows what he is doing and who needs to be where in whose life in order to make them who he needs them to be! ok so that might have been really confusing, but read it over and you should get it!!! :) The Lord is taking good care of us even if he forgot the Air Conditioner to keep it reasonable! The work is going well and well for the most part we are keeping busy and staying strong!! We were asked how long we had left last week at the meeting and I looked and calculated it all out! saw the number and well tears came to my eyes! just little over 6 months left and it's all over :( They said it was long. they are full of crap! Shortest 2 years ever! Love it! there is nothing that will change the heat or the sweat... ect... but no matter how much it is it is all worth it! every last degree, every least drop of sweat, for that single moment of great achievement. The moment someone gives up an addiction, or decides to read the book of mormon, or whatever it may be it is all worth it in the end!!!
Remember the Lord loves you! knows who you are! and the simple thing he asks us is to get to know who he is and his desires for us!!!
Remember in all you do the command from Jacob a prophet in the Book of Mormon in Jacob chapter 1:19
"And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day."
Love you! Do all you can to get there!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
13 June 2011
I'm not for sure if you might understand this, but we came to Nogales today! Been to Mexico and back and well... It's been a great week! :) 1 new investigator... 86 year old woman... She came to church too! that was a blessing for her and for us too! we had been praying for her to find strength to be able to go to church! she has many health problems and really struggling for us to even meet with her because of such poor health. She has great faith for a deaf woman who can't really see much!!! she is awesome! just hope she will keep it up!
She came to church as I had previously said, but about 15 minutes before church was out she needed to use the restroom! She got up and a member tried to help her to the bathroom, but she refused help! She fell on her face in like slow motion!!! I felt soo bad for her!!! she has a black eye and carpet burn, but we aren't for sure what else!!!! :( We have been working hard as we can, and really searching for those who need our help!!! Elder Bradley was sick yesterday! Flu I think, but he is being a trooper today!! P-day a cherished day for a missionary I guess! cause he is right here along with us!!
Love it!!! Well gotta run, but more next week!!!!
Love you all!!!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
She came to church as I had previously said, but about 15 minutes before church was out she needed to use the restroom! She got up and a member tried to help her to the bathroom, but she refused help! She fell on her face in like slow motion!!! I felt soo bad for her!!! she has a black eye and carpet burn, but we aren't for sure what else!!!! :( We have been working hard as we can, and really searching for those who need our help!!! Elder Bradley was sick yesterday! Flu I think, but he is being a trooper today!! P-day a cherished day for a missionary I guess! cause he is right here along with us!!
Love it!!! Well gotta run, but more next week!!!!
Love you all!!!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
7 June 2011
OK so this computer says I have 5 minutes left so I guess I have to make it a fast one... but... this week has been super nuts!! on Tuesday of last week 2 members invited us to go to a real nice restaurant with them. It is a rather different restaurant, it might remind you of like a Texas Rhode House or something like that, but was crazy cool. It is a restaurant in the back of an old wild west built town! I sent a few pictures that we took on the phone not real good of quality, but I'll try to get some out to you soon! We got to watch an old wild west shootout and all! So dad I really didn't miss Jackson all that much, just the trees!! there are none here! Palm Trees aren't the same!! really they are dead trees now for the most part, because they have had no water in almost a year, and well starting to get hot!!! 103 and 105 this week and it isn't the summer yet!!! I'm so looking forward to it! :)
This week was my first week conducting in sacrament meeting not scary, just kinda weird! I'm used to standing up in a ward and talking or saying something, and now just a group of 35-40 people, lot smaller!!! It's a really neat experience! get to find speakers soon! for the month!!! aah! not been able to find any new people to teach until last night!
we found an 86 year old Deaf lady who really wants to learn and no it isn't because 2 good looking missionaries came to her door!!! it is because someone opened their mouth and asked her! finally! Deaf people here are a bit afraid to offend or ask someone if they want to learn!! I wish they would do it more often!!! finally :) what is the worst thing they could say... No?
Everyday I see people driving by, laughing, making fun of something they have never tested out themselves, never asked a question, never taken the time to learn. It breaks my heart to see them do that and to know if only they knew what they were missing, if only they knew what they could have and just ignore!!! We have something truly amazing! shaping us and making us the Person God needs us to be, it is the atonement. The ability to be forgive and the healing power it gives us and helps us to forget! He loves us and doesn't want us to suffer! take the time to think it over! he can change us and take and make us who he needs us to be!
In Mosiah 14 it says, "3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no evil, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief; when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death; and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
He did it because he loved us not because he wanted to do so!! give it a shot Try it out! he will heal you as he is beginning to heal the 86 year old woman we are teaching!
Love you!! as you can see the computer lied! :) good thing or you'd got a few paragraphs is all!
gotta run! love you!!!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
This week was my first week conducting in sacrament meeting not scary, just kinda weird! I'm used to standing up in a ward and talking or saying something, and now just a group of 35-40 people, lot smaller!!! It's a really neat experience! get to find speakers soon! for the month!!! aah! not been able to find any new people to teach until last night!
we found an 86 year old Deaf lady who really wants to learn and no it isn't because 2 good looking missionaries came to her door!!! it is because someone opened their mouth and asked her! finally! Deaf people here are a bit afraid to offend or ask someone if they want to learn!! I wish they would do it more often!!! finally :) what is the worst thing they could say... No?
Everyday I see people driving by, laughing, making fun of something they have never tested out themselves, never asked a question, never taken the time to learn. It breaks my heart to see them do that and to know if only they knew what they were missing, if only they knew what they could have and just ignore!!! We have something truly amazing! shaping us and making us the Person God needs us to be, it is the atonement. The ability to be forgive and the healing power it gives us and helps us to forget! He loves us and doesn't want us to suffer! take the time to think it over! he can change us and take and make us who he needs us to be!
In Mosiah 14 it says, "3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no evil, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief; when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death; and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
He did it because he loved us not because he wanted to do so!! give it a shot Try it out! he will heal you as he is beginning to heal the 86 year old woman we are teaching!
Love you!! as you can see the computer lied! :) good thing or you'd got a few paragraphs is all!
gotta run! love you!!!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
31 May 2011
WELL.. It has been a rather interesting last 4 days...
Weekly planning, Sod, Church, P-day, and well today!
Weekly planning trying to find how to find new people to teach... it has been real difficult to find... well a needle in a haystack. Saturday we had a service project real fun I guess you could say! 5 hours and a little of laying sod in the back yard... Elder Bradley and I it's been real interesting ever since.. I could say that that is not an activity for a person with a back problem and that is all i have to say about that!!!
Church on sunday was way cool of course! running like a chicken with my head cut off. can't wait til the president is gone for a week... I'll really be running with my head cut off! We get contacted for almost anything now anyway, but it's super crazy! It's been great, but real interesting when the councilor has to teach the president what to do! Almost done reading the manuals Bishop and aux manuals both! Been really interesting!
We taught this last week at church about Family prayer and Family and personal scripture study! was way cool! lot of fun... but difficult at the same time! deaf people don't like to listen they like to talk by the time priesthood and relief society start they have had enough of church. well that is the challenge.. love and cooperation!
P-day just the normal day of cleaning, sports, and finally didn't have to do laundry because we just did it on Thursday! been real crazy ever since we went to the temple! lots happening just hope it continues!!
Having a blast! hope all is well!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
Weekly planning, Sod, Church, P-day, and well today!
Weekly planning trying to find how to find new people to teach... it has been real difficult to find... well a needle in a haystack. Saturday we had a service project real fun I guess you could say! 5 hours and a little of laying sod in the back yard... Elder Bradley and I it's been real interesting ever since.. I could say that that is not an activity for a person with a back problem and that is all i have to say about that!!!
Church on sunday was way cool of course! running like a chicken with my head cut off. can't wait til the president is gone for a week... I'll really be running with my head cut off! We get contacted for almost anything now anyway, but it's super crazy! It's been great, but real interesting when the councilor has to teach the president what to do! Almost done reading the manuals Bishop and aux manuals both! Been really interesting!
We taught this last week at church about Family prayer and Family and personal scripture study! was way cool! lot of fun... but difficult at the same time! deaf people don't like to listen they like to talk by the time priesthood and relief society start they have had enough of church. well that is the challenge.. love and cooperation!
P-day just the normal day of cleaning, sports, and finally didn't have to do laundry because we just did it on Thursday! been real crazy ever since we went to the temple! lots happening just hope it continues!!
Having a blast! hope all is well!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
26 May 2011
This week has been nuts, but at the same time I'm not sure what to really say! It has been quite an overwhelming week with lots of new and exciting challenges and assignments! The work is going rather well and we are super busy! It has been really eventful the last few days! Today was our quarterly temple trip and was really exciting! We had the whole Zone there and it was a great opportunity so that was why there was no letter this week on Monday! The investigator pool is growing and the Deaf people are becoming more and more curious about the LDS church every time we go and visit! the Lord is helping us to inspire and teach them with the spirit and my companion and I in unity! Well as you Know already Elder Bradley is Awesome! must I say any more than that! not really I'll try and get some pictures sent home soon again we just been swamp recently that there has been no time to do anything! We dropped one of our eternigators this week! we have been teaching her since September of last year and well she is now homeless and we can't contact her anymore! amazing how the Lord works in Mysterious ways in helping is children and his servants know what is best! We have been truly blessed this last week picking up a new investigator Terry Armstrong from California who is here on parole, but is working through the repentance process to get things straightened out so we can get him baptised! He is excited for it! we also set a new baptismal date with a man we have been teaching for a while he is so ready to be baptised it is crazy! June 11! you will learn other things soon cause I finally found time on the drive to the temple to finish writing you back from Family Home evening and they will be in the mail on the way to our appointment tonight! :) SWEET! I love it here!
Hope all is well! Stay safe and get healthy!
Love you all!
--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
P.s tell the ward thanks for taking care of you! can't be there to do it and I'm not sure if my body would allow me to anyway... but make sure they know!
Hope all is well! Stay safe and get healthy!
Love you all!
--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
P.s tell the ward thanks for taking care of you! can't be there to do it and I'm not sure if my body would allow me to anyway... but make sure they know!
Monday, May 16, 2011
16 May 2011
Wow it looks like it has been a heck of a week for you all! and well for us too!! it is starting to get really warm now in the mid 90"s to 100's almost everyday, but it is still getting down in the 70-80 at night! It has been an interesting and rough week! sounds like you and I have been in the same place this week! The Hospital... I was there on Wednesday afternoon to check on spasing muscles in the upper left chest.. it was pretty cool and interesting at the same time but HURT alot!!! We have been doing well ever since! They said that I had muscles in the upper part of my ribs on the left side that were spasing out.. any way it is all doing well and is taken care of at this time!! No need to worry church is taking good care of us here! :) We reset a baptism date this week with matthew and have been going head strong ever since! The Lord love us and is showing us by trusting us! We were put in a Branch counsilors to President Krakowiak. Elder Bradley as 2nd counsilor and me as 1st. Boy is there alot of work yet to be done!!!! President Warren was released as branch president of 2 1/2 years almost 3 and put in as High Counsilor over the deaf branch! clever move I must say! We are looking up to it and moving forward the best we know how with this calling/assignment! :)
Know that I love you all! STOP FALLING APART! Also knoew that the Lord Loves you too!!!!
Good luck and have a great week!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
Know that I love you all! STOP FALLING APART! Also knoew that the Lord Loves you too!!!!
Good luck and have a great week!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
9 May 2011
Great to see you all this week! :) Hope you all have an awesome week! Take care and have a blast!
Love you
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
Love you
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
26 April 2011
This week has been truly insane!! We started tuesday in Deming with a new investigator, she is a Jehovah Witness and pretty strong in her faith but is married to a member and is curious about it! we have been teaching her off and on with the video phone as much as we can! one of our investigators is in the hospital with some kind of a stone in her stomach and gall bladder too! she has been a wreck! we are moving her while she is in the hospital! she has made all the arrangements and ready to go through with being baptised! another investigator, GARY, is what you could call golden! He has a really difficult time reading the book of mormon well in fact he can't really read! he has the childrens book of mormon and is reading that along with reading and looking at the pictures! He said he loves it and feels great (the spirit) when we come and visit him! he tries his hardest and has been cleared for baptism on May 7th! :) First baptism in just under 4 years for the branch!! We also have another baptism scheduled for the 7th with another of our investigators, Tamiko. She is a single mother with two daughters ages 2 and 4. Nadina and Princess yes that is her real name! she is also a golden investigator! a member refferal. Tamiko has been searching for the truth and hasn't been able to find it, but she told us that she has stopped her search and found it here! :) it is great to see the lord working through us as we do our best to teach and serve! This is the Lord's work. He is at the head of it teaching and counciling us as often as we will ask!
This week we have been studying about the Role of the Holy Ghost and the Book of Mormon in conversion. As the book of mormon is read answers are found. anything you want to know is found in the book of mormon even how to spend your money of where to go in case of an emergency or how to raise children it is all there! as we read and pray we come to know that is a book inspire and written of God, not of man. Joseph Smith translated the book, but it was only through the gift and power of god that it was brought about! God is real. He knows and loves each of us. As we do our part in studying and learning He will show us who her really is and what he wants us to do!
I love you all! Hope you have a great week! it's supposed to be in the 90's again this week! 75 degrees is cold again so not cool!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
This week we have been studying about the Role of the Holy Ghost and the Book of Mormon in conversion. As the book of mormon is read answers are found. anything you want to know is found in the book of mormon even how to spend your money of where to go in case of an emergency or how to raise children it is all there! as we read and pray we come to know that is a book inspire and written of God, not of man. Joseph Smith translated the book, but it was only through the gift and power of god that it was brought about! God is real. He knows and loves each of us. As we do our part in studying and learning He will show us who her really is and what he wants us to do!
I love you all! Hope you have a great week! it's supposed to be in the 90's again this week! 75 degrees is cold again so not cool!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The Lord works in mysterious ways and well all in all has been taking care of us in ways we can't even describe!! We have been absolutely swamped this week! having stuff coming out our ears to the point that is kind of overwhelming at time! and we haven't even had time to think! We will be going to Deming, New Mexico tomorrow for the day to contact a referral. It is about 4 hours away. going to be an interesting day!!! I'm looking forward to it but at the same time i'm kind of not! we have so much to do here in Tucson that we need 2 more missionaries here! We had 3 investigators at church this week and well as always have more work to do! 3 baptisms coming up in May and well we have 3 more refferals to contact!!!! We have been truly blessed this last week!!! We found 1 new investigator this week, another black woman ( not racist or anything) she's really cool!!!!!! she has 2 kids ages 2 and 4. and has been looking for the truth for quite some time! she said the first time we went to visit her that she felt peace for the first time in a very long time and that she really enjoys us coming! She is a single mother so it is really difficult for her! it's great to see the Lords hand in the work every day and to see it progressing!! :) New, fun and exciting things and challenges ahead!
Have an awesome! Remember I LOVE YOU!
--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
Have an awesome! Remember I LOVE YOU!
--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
11 April 2011
Yo you you! ha yeah! it has been an awesome week this week!! we have been swamped and lots and lots of things to do!!! We are looking to be called as counselors to the branch president... President walker suggested that today in our eekly interview so new challenges await us in the near future! I just hope that it won't be anything greater than that!! We are swamped with the work and is so great to be busy!! The Lord has been blessing us greatly and helping us to accomplish his work! we have 2 baptisms that are near in the future which could be very interesting in regards to the work~!! we are having a really difficult time finding recently, but one of our investigators have shown us where several deaf live in the same apartment building that he lives! I love it here and couldn't want to be anywhere else at this time!
we have 4 investigators now 2 that are very near to baptism, and 2 others who are on the way! :) The work is tough, but some of the most rewarding work done yet! Jesus chirst lives, we are his children, and only through him can we recieve salvation and eternal life!
Even with the rain, the sleet, and the ICE!!! this week was great!! I'm starting to get feeling back in my hands and feet from the cold! :) so Life is good! :) I love it need not say more!
Love you all!! Have an awesome week!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
Reminder: the above listed address must be used on all letters! on the 15th of this month the letters sent to the old address will be RETURNED TO SENDER!
we have 4 investigators now 2 that are very near to baptism, and 2 others who are on the way! :) The work is tough, but some of the most rewarding work done yet! Jesus chirst lives, we are his children, and only through him can we recieve salvation and eternal life!
Even with the rain, the sleet, and the ICE!!! this week was great!! I'm starting to get feeling back in my hands and feet from the cold! :) so Life is good! :) I love it need not say more!
Love you all!! Have an awesome week!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
Reminder: the above listed address must be used on all letters! on the 15th of this month the letters sent to the old address will be RETURNED TO SENDER!
Monday, April 4, 2011
4 April 2011
Alrighty well there isn't much to say this week!! 2 of our investigators are moving, both because they are being abused, one physically and the other mentally and emotionally, I've been yelled at more this week than I think ever before in my life and well Satan is working hard here in Arizona! The mission has a goal to double the number of baptisms in May and well we have doubled our efforts to make that possible, but with that comes the heightened influence of Satan on the work making it really hard to find anyone to teach, but the Lord is truly blessing us. He is leading us and strengthening us and making us who he needs us to be to accomplish this work! He has lead us to new people who are ready to receive the gospel and need is so desperately. As the Sun comes up in the morning it is a new day not to look back on to what happened yesterday or last week, but to move on searching for the better and HOPING in what comes next.
General conference was awesome!! We, as missionaries, had the opportunity to watch all 5 sessions and also some of the young Women's meeting. It has been great to be able to hear from our leaders! I was also great because one of our investigators came to church and she learned about the Law Of Chastity from President Monson. We had taught her that lesson probably 15 times and she just didn't understand it very well, but this time it sank in! she will soon be moving out and leaving her boyfriend of 3 years, after which she will be a candidate for baptism!:) 10 months of work and she is almost ready for it! :0
What I have learned the most is that the Lord prepares our investigators for the time when he is ready, not for the time when we are ready. He loves to play tricks in and Satan loves to throw in loops, but most importantly as we try our best and trust him he will help us in all we do!
Hope all is well!!
Love you all!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
P.s. it is about 85 degrees out :) and I'm lovin life! :) (it was 97 degrees this week!) Jealous? you should be! it is almost perfect! :) yes, that means We have been tanning! haha well at least half of our neck, sunglass face and from the elbows to the hands! :)
General conference was awesome!! We, as missionaries, had the opportunity to watch all 5 sessions and also some of the young Women's meeting. It has been great to be able to hear from our leaders! I was also great because one of our investigators came to church and she learned about the Law Of Chastity from President Monson. We had taught her that lesson probably 15 times and she just didn't understand it very well, but this time it sank in! she will soon be moving out and leaving her boyfriend of 3 years, after which she will be a candidate for baptism!:) 10 months of work and she is almost ready for it! :0
What I have learned the most is that the Lord prepares our investigators for the time when he is ready, not for the time when we are ready. He loves to play tricks in and Satan loves to throw in loops, but most importantly as we try our best and trust him he will help us in all we do!
Hope all is well!!
Love you all!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
P.s. it is about 85 degrees out :) and I'm lovin life! :) (it was 97 degrees this week!) Jealous? you should be! it is almost perfect! :) yes, that means We have been tanning! haha well at least half of our neck, sunglass face and from the elbows to the hands! :)
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