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
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