Bueno familia,
Hey I got your letter this week! :) thanks so much it was muy bueno! :) I have been getting mail recently and it is great! :) thanks! this week has been super nuts! we have a baptism coming up on friday and Kelly is super excited for it! :) she can't wait!! she asked me to baptise her and Help her to make this covenant! What a great opportunity!!! All the missionaries are looking forward to it:) they say there is a special spirit about a deaf baptism that can't really be explained! :) I can't wait!! Conducting, baptising, leading the singing! can't wait!! the lord is blessing us as we do our best to help him!!! :)
this week in Institute class we Learned about revelation and why personal revelation is crucial, that it is the only way that we can progress and become closer to our heavenly father... The teacher then challenged us to once again pray to know if the book of mormon is true and if joseph smith is a prophet. I remember when Elder bradley first got here. we were tracting and came upon a Jehovah Witness man. we taught him for a few minutes then left. Elder Bradley asked me why people won't listen to us and why this work was so hard. I leaned over to him and asked him why are you here? he looked at me and said hmm. with a puzzled face then I asked him again... why are you here? His simple answer was to teach people about the gospel. I looked him in the eyes and said simply to Baptise. he looked again at me confused and said I don't understand. My purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ through faith in jesus christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost, and enduring to the end!
Christ made this all possible. We mess up we repent, we start over again and mess up, but we don't give up we continue on the road back to the celestial Kingdom through Faith in jesus Christ, repentance, baptism ( partaking of the sacrament each week), Living worthy of the Holy ghost, and enduring to the End, keeping this cycle going and active in our lives. As we do so we will be blessed by our faith and determiniation to follow him!
He loves us and is ready for us to follow him. now is our time to do so, to "Raise the Bar" and do a little bit more for him. Forget ourselves and go to work. go about his work. Follow him!
I Love you !! hope ya'll have a great week!!!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
Thursday, September 22, 2011
6 September 2011
Alrighty so yesterday being a holiday It is my opportunity to write to you a day late!! :) haha! This week has been rather different week! We had a missionary return here this week to Arizona, but not as the family had planned... She was t-boned in New York while serving there and passed away and returned back to her Heavenly Father. It has been a real testimony builder for me to be able to help and to serve. All the missionaries in the Tucson area were asked to go to her funeral to support their family in this difficult time. We consented to go and to my amazement there were hundreds of people there to support them and the family as well as about 100 missionaries. It was a great blessing. I also was recruited to interpret, along with Elder Bradley. I interpreted for Elder Pickerd of the 70 and Elder Evans of the first quorum of the 70. I looked a little puzzled when asked to interpret, being that I can't hear all that well and well I didn't miss a beat! The lord is working well through us and is truly helping us to accomplish his work!!!
So recently We were driving and I felt this really weird impression to go to the public Library on our way to a members house for dinner, we were late again ( I think that is the life of a missionary ) but I decided to follow it. I went in not knowing what to expect or what to do. I went in went to the bathroom and then looked around the place for a deaf person or persons using sign language.... nothing... I then looked over to 4 laptops sitting at the table and there was a previous investigator we were teaching that we had lost contact with because she had gone homeless... we found her, talked with her and set a return appointment and she now has a baptismal date for October 1st.
We have a baptismal interview for one other lady we are teaching. Kelly. She is excited to be baptised and I can hardly wait!! we are struggling to find, but it is step by step process that the Lord is building us to make us who he needs to be for someone else as well as giving my new AWESOME companion the opportunity to learn some more sign. He shared his testimony for the first time and prayed for the first time yesterday. It was amazing! The gift of tongues (languages) is truly real!
One story that has rather impacted me: I was fixing lunch a few weeks back with really nothing in mind of what to eat. I looked in the fridge and didn't find much there and then looked to the freezer hopefully something would be there!! i looked down into the vent of the freezer and noticed it had a little scum and i decided that I would clean it out! i went to get the screw driver put all the food on the table and went to work. I took off the plastic bottom piece and much to my suprise i found a lot more that i had bargained for. grit and grim all over the place. I sprayed it with bleach and couldn't get it to come up. I continued again nothing. so I went for vinegar and tried that, still nothing, back and let the bleach soak in and it took it off. put it all back together, but there was a little stain left so I worked a little harder scrubbing and finally got it to come up. We could compare it to life and the repentance process. Repentance isn't easy. Sometimes we find ourselves doing something that leads to something else such as finding the big mess. we try to hide it with bleach and it goes for a little bit, but doesn't get everything. so we try something else go to a different place to be healed, but still nothing. finally we go to the source of the problem and the one who can fix everything else. The savior. He sprays the bleach, lets it soak and helps to make us clean. At first it isn't easy, but as we work on it and keep trying He takes that pain and guilt away, the scum, grit and grime in us, out.
He lives and love us. He payed the dearest price for you and me that we can return to live with him. It is our duty to do all we can to make our lives in accordance with his will so that we can be together forever.
Love you all! Thanks for all your support! :)
Love,
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
So recently We were driving and I felt this really weird impression to go to the public Library on our way to a members house for dinner, we were late again ( I think that is the life of a missionary ) but I decided to follow it. I went in not knowing what to expect or what to do. I went in went to the bathroom and then looked around the place for a deaf person or persons using sign language.... nothing... I then looked over to 4 laptops sitting at the table and there was a previous investigator we were teaching that we had lost contact with because she had gone homeless... we found her, talked with her and set a return appointment and she now has a baptismal date for October 1st.
We have a baptismal interview for one other lady we are teaching. Kelly. She is excited to be baptised and I can hardly wait!! we are struggling to find, but it is step by step process that the Lord is building us to make us who he needs to be for someone else as well as giving my new AWESOME companion the opportunity to learn some more sign. He shared his testimony for the first time and prayed for the first time yesterday. It was amazing! The gift of tongues (languages) is truly real!
One story that has rather impacted me: I was fixing lunch a few weeks back with really nothing in mind of what to eat. I looked in the fridge and didn't find much there and then looked to the freezer hopefully something would be there!! i looked down into the vent of the freezer and noticed it had a little scum and i decided that I would clean it out! i went to get the screw driver put all the food on the table and went to work. I took off the plastic bottom piece and much to my suprise i found a lot more that i had bargained for. grit and grim all over the place. I sprayed it with bleach and couldn't get it to come up. I continued again nothing. so I went for vinegar and tried that, still nothing, back and let the bleach soak in and it took it off. put it all back together, but there was a little stain left so I worked a little harder scrubbing and finally got it to come up. We could compare it to life and the repentance process. Repentance isn't easy. Sometimes we find ourselves doing something that leads to something else such as finding the big mess. we try to hide it with bleach and it goes for a little bit, but doesn't get everything. so we try something else go to a different place to be healed, but still nothing. finally we go to the source of the problem and the one who can fix everything else. The savior. He sprays the bleach, lets it soak and helps to make us clean. At first it isn't easy, but as we work on it and keep trying He takes that pain and guilt away, the scum, grit and grime in us, out.
He lives and love us. He payed the dearest price for you and me that we can return to live with him. It is our duty to do all we can to make our lives in accordance with his will so that we can be together forever.
Love you all! Thanks for all your support! :)
Love,
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
Thursday, September 1, 2011
30 August 2011
Yo mamma,
it is great!!! life is good!! ok i have one word for you!! HOT!! it doesn't cool off here either!!! at 10 pm last night it was still 103 and not got any cooler! it was 111 thursday or so and hasn't gotten any cooler than about 90!!! but I LOVE IT! i'm not looking forward to the cooler weather!!! Not at all!!! well i'll send the family email soon! love you!!! and yes i do have a new companion!!
Love you Elder Karlson!!
alrighty it has been a totally nutty and crazy week this week!! I'm not sure what to say, but our investigator CAME TO CHURCH for the second time!!! it is such a milestone for her!! she was taught by the sister missionaries back in well like 2000-2005 and well she never went to church and really didn't have much interest in the church! she now has come 2 weeks in a row and even said she liked Stake Conference! that is a first!! i remember last stake conference about 6 months ago we had a baptism following that! it was so great and we have another one ready to go on the 11 of Sept! the lord works in mysterious ways and well it has been amazing! :) I am so excited for this next transfer and can't wait for it to begin! my companion should be here at 3pm coming in from the gila valley about 2 hours away! :) i love it!!! I've heard he is really apostate, but the only thing president told me was teach him how to obey and don't put up with any crap! ooh boy those are inspiring words! :) Teach him and get him BUSY and learn the language! :) can't wait!! He is elder Thacher. I'm not sure anything about him, no preassumed notions on my part so we shall see!! i'll be keeping you up to date!! love you!!!
Elder karlson
--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
it is great!!! life is good!! ok i have one word for you!! HOT!! it doesn't cool off here either!!! at 10 pm last night it was still 103 and not got any cooler! it was 111 thursday or so and hasn't gotten any cooler than about 90!!! but I LOVE IT! i'm not looking forward to the cooler weather!!! Not at all!!! well i'll send the family email soon! love you!!! and yes i do have a new companion!!
Love you Elder Karlson!!
alrighty it has been a totally nutty and crazy week this week!! I'm not sure what to say, but our investigator CAME TO CHURCH for the second time!!! it is such a milestone for her!! she was taught by the sister missionaries back in well like 2000-2005 and well she never went to church and really didn't have much interest in the church! she now has come 2 weeks in a row and even said she liked Stake Conference! that is a first!! i remember last stake conference about 6 months ago we had a baptism following that! it was so great and we have another one ready to go on the 11 of Sept! the lord works in mysterious ways and well it has been amazing! :) I am so excited for this next transfer and can't wait for it to begin! my companion should be here at 3pm coming in from the gila valley about 2 hours away! :) i love it!!! I've heard he is really apostate, but the only thing president told me was teach him how to obey and don't put up with any crap! ooh boy those are inspiring words! :) Teach him and get him BUSY and learn the language! :) can't wait!! He is elder Thacher. I'm not sure anything about him, no preassumed notions on my part so we shall see!! i'll be keeping you up to date!! love you!!!
Elder karlson
--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
22 August 2011
Well it has been a rather interesting week with a really different outcome than i used to. I was teaching our investigator, Kelly, about the Restoration of the Gospel on Tuesday. I had Elder Christiansen with me. He is my District Leader. He is from American Falls, but some of his family is from Burley. Christiansen Implements. any who, we were waiting for a member to show up for our lesson, but deems she was late we started anyway thinking that she stood us up. so I was teaching, seeing that he doesn't know much sign language, and for some reason we ended up reading in 3 Nephi 11. Before starting the lesson I told him just to sit tight and if he wanted to add anything that he could at anytime and i would sign it for him. He agreed. I taught for almost 20 minutes, but our member hadn't shown up yet for our lesson to explain and get her to come to church. I simply continued, I then felt an overwhelming sense of peace, cause i was worried that the member would be offended that we had started, but as i finished up the first vision she showed up and shared her testimony of it and how it had impacted her life. she was just baptised on May 7. it was a great lesson. We got back into the car and I turned to him and asked what he thought. he looked at me and said i understood almost everything. i gave him a dirty look and then asked him what i taught. He said it word for word. almost exactly how i taught it!! it was absolutely amazing! :) The Lord is blessing us, just taking the time now to gain the trust back from the members and get them to do their missionary work again! It is a great blessing to be here at this time! :)
I love it!
hope all to be well!!
love you!
--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
I love it!
hope all to be well!!
love you!
--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
15 August 2011
Familia,
Alright so this week has been a total crazy week! lots of things happening, but it has been truly stressful most often more than this OLD body can handle!!!! It for sure has been a great challenge and a burden, but the lord has been helping to get me through!! I started out the week this week in the English program worked there on Sunday and Monday, then recieved a call from president Killpack on tuesday morning that he would like for me and my 2 companions to meet with him at his office at 2 pm. I was a little nervous being that I wasn't sure what was going to be happening and all!!! Well I now am transferred back to the Deaf program and am working there with Elder Pickett for the time being! That has been the biggest challenge for me so far having to teach with no one really to back me up!! He has been learning now for 6 days and still can't introduce himself or spell his name it is really difficult for me!! Given time I think he can do it, but I hope my patience will endure that long!! I even had ice cream if that will tell you how high strung i have been recently! scary! haha!
But it is amazing to see the blessing that we have received recently. God really has been by us and helped to buoy us up and keep us going!! we found a new investigator this week! Kelly is her name. Is a really interesting character and loves to smoke, but hopefully we can get her to stop!! she has a desire to learn and go to church so we will see what happens.
you all take care and enjoy your week at the fair! :)
Love you!!!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
Alright so this week has been a total crazy week! lots of things happening, but it has been truly stressful most often more than this OLD body can handle!!!! It for sure has been a great challenge and a burden, but the lord has been helping to get me through!! I started out the week this week in the English program worked there on Sunday and Monday, then recieved a call from president Killpack on tuesday morning that he would like for me and my 2 companions to meet with him at his office at 2 pm. I was a little nervous being that I wasn't sure what was going to be happening and all!!! Well I now am transferred back to the Deaf program and am working there with Elder Pickett for the time being! That has been the biggest challenge for me so far having to teach with no one really to back me up!! He has been learning now for 6 days and still can't introduce himself or spell his name it is really difficult for me!! Given time I think he can do it, but I hope my patience will endure that long!! I even had ice cream if that will tell you how high strung i have been recently! scary! haha!
But it is amazing to see the blessing that we have received recently. God really has been by us and helped to buoy us up and keep us going!! we found a new investigator this week! Kelly is her name. Is a really interesting character and loves to smoke, but hopefully we can get her to stop!! she has a desire to learn and go to church so we will see what happens.
you all take care and enjoy your week at the fair! :)
Love you!!!
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
8 August 2011
Family,
It's been a pretty interesting week and well quite a busy week at that!! The Lord has been taking care of us and helping us to accomplish his work! :)
We spent a lot of time in the House as we are living with members. One of my companions was sick this week and so as a result we all had to stay home, kind of a bummer, but learned a lot. Elder Pickett and I read conference talks and watched a few church movies, meanwhile, our other companion slept and tried to get better!!! We got 2 new investigators this week from the efforts of the stake president counsiler, it was really neat because they are all really involved in scouting and specifically Woodbadge, as well as Philmont! so most of our teaching is rooted around the scouting values and experiences that they or I have had as well as applying the gospel principles to it and helping them to find the gospel through it both scouting and teaching it has truly been a great experience for us! I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with the District Leaders companion this week In Corona de Tucson. E. Kasat is from Chile, so his english is well little weak with a really thick accent he has learned a lot! He will go home soon in October! we had a great time. It is in the middle of NO WHERE and well they really don't have roads you just kinda go where ever you want to go! it is really cool!! This week has been a pretty good week, not to complain but I am ready for a companion and to get back to the Deaf program. having 2 companions isn't really that much fun. alot of laughs and all, but really hard to get into homes with what looks like the FBI!
Have an awesome week and stay remotely cool! it has been beautiful here mid to upper 90's just perfect! :)
Love you!
--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
It's been a pretty interesting week and well quite a busy week at that!! The Lord has been taking care of us and helping us to accomplish his work! :)
We spent a lot of time in the House as we are living with members. One of my companions was sick this week and so as a result we all had to stay home, kind of a bummer, but learned a lot. Elder Pickett and I read conference talks and watched a few church movies, meanwhile, our other companion slept and tried to get better!!! We got 2 new investigators this week from the efforts of the stake president counsiler, it was really neat because they are all really involved in scouting and specifically Woodbadge, as well as Philmont! so most of our teaching is rooted around the scouting values and experiences that they or I have had as well as applying the gospel principles to it and helping them to find the gospel through it both scouting and teaching it has truly been a great experience for us! I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with the District Leaders companion this week In Corona de Tucson. E. Kasat is from Chile, so his english is well little weak with a really thick accent he has learned a lot! He will go home soon in October! we had a great time. It is in the middle of NO WHERE and well they really don't have roads you just kinda go where ever you want to go! it is really cool!! This week has been a pretty good week, not to complain but I am ready for a companion and to get back to the Deaf program. having 2 companions isn't really that much fun. alot of laughs and all, but really hard to get into homes with what looks like the FBI!
Have an awesome week and stay remotely cool! it has been beautiful here mid to upper 90's just perfect! :)
Love you!
--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
1 August 2011
Alright so this week has been well not necessarily the Ideal week as a missionary, in terms of finding and teaching, but has been an awesome week in terms of development and learning to cope with the things that are coming our way!! :)
We found 3 new investigators this week and well they aren't the most solid, but they will be by the time I leave this area! They are really excited to share and do and to learn, as we are excited to help in their progression!!! I guess you could think of it as older people when they fall they have a difficult time getting back up and moving again. Millions and Billions of people are in that situation at this very moment, They have fallen and can't get up! They are trying, but the only way they will get up and stay up is through the gospel of Jesus Christ!!! Through Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end (the hardest part for us all). As we keep getting up every time we fall, it makes it easier for us to get through the challenges of life and keep going!
Copy this to you address bar or double click on it and watch it!
https://lds.org/youth/video/same-jersey?lang=eng
These 2 young men will be coming here next week and will do a fireside for the youth!! It will be truly exciting and hopefully will help to boost their missionary efforts! :)
Elder Bradley or I will be getting transferred soon to another mission and will bring in another elder from that mission to replace him! It will be interesting! :)
I'm looking forward to it, but truly do miss him. The lord has a reason for everything and He knows the best! So it is looking up!
I went to church at the deaf branch this week and they were truly truly happy to see me! :) I can't wait to get back there!!! :) Hopefully the end of this week! :)
After church I interpreted for a lady in the rita ranch ward! I never thought I could do that, but the Lord is blessing me and helping us to accomplish his work!! :)
The Lady said she hadn't been to Relief Society in almost 1 year because she couldn't understand it! Crazy! it is great to be able to help!
I love it here! :) can;t wait to get back to work! :)
Love you all!!!
--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
We found 3 new investigators this week and well they aren't the most solid, but they will be by the time I leave this area! They are really excited to share and do and to learn, as we are excited to help in their progression!!! I guess you could think of it as older people when they fall they have a difficult time getting back up and moving again. Millions and Billions of people are in that situation at this very moment, They have fallen and can't get up! They are trying, but the only way they will get up and stay up is through the gospel of Jesus Christ!!! Through Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end (the hardest part for us all). As we keep getting up every time we fall, it makes it easier for us to get through the challenges of life and keep going!
Copy this to you address bar or double click on it and watch it!
https://lds.org/youth/video/same-jersey?lang=eng
These 2 young men will be coming here next week and will do a fireside for the youth!! It will be truly exciting and hopefully will help to boost their missionary efforts! :)
Elder Bradley or I will be getting transferred soon to another mission and will bring in another elder from that mission to replace him! It will be interesting! :)
I'm looking forward to it, but truly do miss him. The lord has a reason for everything and He knows the best! So it is looking up!
I went to church at the deaf branch this week and they were truly truly happy to see me! :) I can't wait to get back there!!! :) Hopefully the end of this week! :)
After church I interpreted for a lady in the rita ranch ward! I never thought I could do that, but the Lord is blessing me and helping us to accomplish his work!! :)
The Lady said she hadn't been to Relief Society in almost 1 year because she couldn't understand it! Crazy! it is great to be able to help!
I love it here! :) can;t wait to get back to work! :)
Love you all!!!
--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_
Arizona Tucson Mission
939 W Chapalla Drive
Tucson, AZ 85704
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
19 July 2011
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
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
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
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