Gladys Knight came to Austin, Texas. I sat in the ver front row and was like 6 feet away from her. She asked me how to say "tracting" and I told her. My life is complete.
No, but for real, the Gladys Knight fireside was this week. She directs a choir call "The Saints United Voices Choir". They are from Vegas. Anyway, they travel around the country and have these little firesides where they sing gospel music and Gladys talks about why she became a MORMON! And then the missionaries get referrals and baptizms because the Lord softens the hearts of the non-members who attended. I seriously loved every minute of it. We were, yes, in the FRONT ROW!! I could even smell Gladys' lipgloss that is how close we were. She sings beautifully. I loved all the gospel singing that was going on. There was so much soul and like ethnic sounds to it. It was so beautiful. I hope you all realize I will be moving to Vegas to attend her ward. I would love to sing like that every Sunday. The only crazy thing was we were clapping in th chapel and people were dancing and praising Jesus. And people kept being like, "Amen!", "Come on wit' it Gladys!" and "Praise God!" ... Stuff like that. I felt like I maybe should have grown up in a baptist church or something because I loved it.
We got a few referrals from it. And I cannot tell you how many miracles I have seen in this past week. The miracles do not come until AFTER the TRIAL of your faith. And I feel like this trial of working hard has gotten me somewhere.
We contacted a referral Sat. night. Taught the Restoration. The spirit was SO manifest, it was amazing. Another miracle. A member of the bishopric introduced us to one of his friends who wants to start taking the missionary discussions. One more. We recieved word that a 12 year old girl has been bringing her friend to church and this friend want to be baptized. Her parents said it was okay if she started learning from us. We contacted another referal from Gladys Knight and we have a return appointment--she seemed pretty interested. We also have an appointment with another lady who said she is interested to find out more from us. There is a guy who texted us some questions and said he met us on the doorstep a few months ago, and he wants to invite us over to learn more. We have gone from barely having like a lesson a week to at least 5 appointments set up already, and pretty much 3 potential baptizms.
WHAT IN THE WORLD!?
It ceases to amaze me how wonderful our Heavenly Father is. I am so blessed! Seriously, I don't care what good experiences I have ever had in my life has been. I would give all of those experiences up just to have this ONE week. There is nothing like missionary work. Seriously. How much prayer, fasting, hardship are put in, and the result being miacles, love from your Heavenly Father and feeling close to him, and most importantly, being able to help your brothers and sisters come to the knowledge of His restored gospel.
Thank you for all the love, support, and prayers. And keep it up cause we have a lot of good things happening in Leander and we want them to continue.
<3 Always,
Elder Kyle David Webb
-The most joyous, best looking Elder in the TSAM. :)-
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
a little Rain. 9/19/2011
Yes. I finally saw rain in Leander, Texas. Did you know since the whole time I have been out in Texas, SA included, I have only seen it rain maybe 3 times? 2 of those being like drizzles. It's crazy, but at least we get blessed with some.
I think I needed this week. In district meeting we talked about the Atonement. What it means to us as missionaries and what it means to our investigators. We listened to a talk by Elder Holland that he gave to a group of mission presidents in the MTC. I swear I was writting down like everything that he said. The most important thing that I got out of it was feeling the power of the Atonement in my life. It was really an answer to prayers. He mentioned about how missionaries will complain that nobody is ready to accept their message, they are rejected, that its hard, stuff lik that. And he said that when we are going through times like that, that is when we are learning more of what the Savior has done for us. We can't know the power of the Atonement unless we suffer a little bit ourselves. Something else that really hit me was how Elder Holland mentioned that the Atonement is the basic doctrine that we need to make sure our investigators understand. Once they understand the Atonement, all concerns about other doctrine will subside, and their testimony will grow because they are founded on that solemn testimony of the Atonement. And just thinking about everything that he said and everything that I am going through, I needed to hear it. I felt the Spirit so strongly and I just had so much joy and peace. I felt taught about what I need to do and how I need to improve, how my attitude can be and needs to be better. It was really just a great experience.
We knocked into this lady named Mari and she was hilarious. She is like 30 something probs. But anyway, she said she lived in Utah and it was intimidating to have all those white people mormons around...ANYWAY, we got to talking and we invited her to the Gladys Knight fireside and she was so excited about it. And she was like, if I like what I hear, I might just start going to your church. Not only was she receptive, but she was nice and HILARIOUS. She was an answer to prayers. We have invited a few more people to come and we hope they will be able to. I am excited fo it!
I am so glad I get to be a part of this work and that I get to be involved closely with Heavenly Father and His plan and really his work. His work and His glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man...and we are helping Him to do that!!! Now that is a crazy thought.
Have a great week.
<3 Always,
Elder Kyle David Webb
I think I needed this week. In district meeting we talked about the Atonement. What it means to us as missionaries and what it means to our investigators. We listened to a talk by Elder Holland that he gave to a group of mission presidents in the MTC. I swear I was writting down like everything that he said. The most important thing that I got out of it was feeling the power of the Atonement in my life. It was really an answer to prayers. He mentioned about how missionaries will complain that nobody is ready to accept their message, they are rejected, that its hard, stuff lik that. And he said that when we are going through times like that, that is when we are learning more of what the Savior has done for us. We can't know the power of the Atonement unless we suffer a little bit ourselves. Something else that really hit me was how Elder Holland mentioned that the Atonement is the basic doctrine that we need to make sure our investigators understand. Once they understand the Atonement, all concerns about other doctrine will subside, and their testimony will grow because they are founded on that solemn testimony of the Atonement. And just thinking about everything that he said and everything that I am going through, I needed to hear it. I felt the Spirit so strongly and I just had so much joy and peace. I felt taught about what I need to do and how I need to improve, how my attitude can be and needs to be better. It was really just a great experience.
We knocked into this lady named Mari and she was hilarious. She is like 30 something probs. But anyway, she said she lived in Utah and it was intimidating to have all those white people mormons around...ANYWAY, we got to talking and we invited her to the Gladys Knight fireside and she was so excited about it. And she was like, if I like what I hear, I might just start going to your church. Not only was she receptive, but she was nice and HILARIOUS. She was an answer to prayers. We have invited a few more people to come and we hope they will be able to. I am excited fo it!
I am so glad I get to be a part of this work and that I get to be involved closely with Heavenly Father and His plan and really his work. His work and His glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man...and we are helping Him to do that!!! Now that is a crazy thought.
Have a great week.
<3 Always,
Elder Kyle David Webb
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
I want to go back to San Juan. 9/12/20
Yes. Leander was on fire actually. Last Monday there was like a fire up the road from us, but still far enough away. But uhh, people had to evacuate and stuff, including our ward mission leader. We had dinner with the Bishop and when he opened the door, he was like, "Oh Elders. Perfect timing. I need your help." So we got to help him call people who were being evacuated and tell them they could come there for safety and food or what ever. The next day we went to the local high school where the Red Cross was set up and tried to see if there was anything we could do to help them out but they didn't have anything for us. I guess there were close to 3o homes lost. One of them being a member of our ward. Everyone is safe, but they lost everything. So the ward has been rallying together to get them a bunch of stuff. Other than that, I am safe from fires. It's just so dangerous because it is SO DRY here. We are in such a bad drought. Everyone tells us that this is the worst summer ever. They have never seen Texas this bad. And little old me thnking it was gonna be all humid and stuff...Nope.
So it's pretty uh..You know. Here in Leander, nobody wants to let us in and people are still like not even answering the door. Jaime is okay...he cancelled yesterday cause he had to go help his friend, but we are going to meet either Wednesday or Thursday. I need to work harder with him. We went by to see this lady we talked to my first week. She took a pamphlet and was really nice. When we went back she was like, "He guys?" She said she has been wanting to come to our church and she said she was going to come yesterday. Well, sad thing is, she didn't, BUT she shows promise, if you know what I mean.
It's crazy how even if it's really difficult to be a missionary and people hate you and tell you dumb stuff, how much you know the church is true. And how much you love your life because of how blessed you are.
Keep up those prayers cause I need 'em! Have a great week!
<3 Always,
Elder Kyle David Webb
So it's pretty uh..You know. Here in Leander, nobody wants to let us in and people are still like not even answering the door. Jaime is okay...he cancelled yesterday cause he had to go help his friend, but we are going to meet either Wednesday or Thursday. I need to work harder with him. We went by to see this lady we talked to my first week. She took a pamphlet and was really nice. When we went back she was like, "He guys?" She said she has been wanting to come to our church and she said she was going to come yesterday. Well, sad thing is, she didn't, BUT she shows promise, if you know what I mean.
It's crazy how even if it's really difficult to be a missionary and people hate you and tell you dumb stuff, how much you know the church is true. And how much you love your life because of how blessed you are.
Keep up those prayers cause I need 'em! Have a great week!
<3 Always,
Elder Kyle David Webb
Mi nombre es Esteban. (?) 9/5/2011
So. First off, I just need to say that is is like 9 in the morning here when we went outside and it was like freezing cold. It probs is not that cold at all but since I am now used to feeling over 100 degress beating on my back--80 feels like a blizzard. Anyway... maybe things are colling down?
Good news: Yesterday morning we commited someone to baptism. Here is the scoop. His name is Jaime and apparently my comp and his previous comp taught him like twice or something. Since I have been here, we taught him last Sunday and then yesterday. We had challenged him to read the 22 chapter of Alma, when king Lamoni's father is converted thanks to the missionaries (Aaron) teaching him. And so we talked about that with him and he said he liked how the people gave up everything and did everything they could to follow God and do what He wanted of them. And then Jaime said that he wants to be like that too. Then we taught him HOW he can do that. So the whole lesson I was trying to connect with him, I wanted him to trust us and have a relationship where we really try to get to know him and teach according to his needs. That is the most important thing to me, that every person in the world is different, and how you can apply the gospel to fit their needs is so important. Because if they don't find the importance of this gospel personally for THEMSELVES, it is just going to be some random religion. We have to teach PEOPLE, not lessons.
(We are at our ward mission leader's house right now emailing since the library is closed. And his wife is from Mexico and speaks spanish and she is talking on the phone in spanish right now. So my head hurts so bad because I can hear/understand her spanish and I am trying to write in English. I keep having to rewrite stuff cause I accidentally do it in Spanish. Whoops! Sometimes I think or dream in Spanish. I like it.)
Leander is pretty cool. I am enjoying my companion. He is pretty easy to get along with. We had interviews with President Jones this week. That man is the funniest guy. I love him so much and I am so glad he is our leader. He is just such a great guy and a perfect mission president. Anyway, I love my mission president so that is good news.
<3 Always,
Elder Kyle David Webb
Good news: Yesterday morning we commited someone to baptism. Here is the scoop. His name is Jaime and apparently my comp and his previous comp taught him like twice or something. Since I have been here, we taught him last Sunday and then yesterday. We had challenged him to read the 22 chapter of Alma, when king Lamoni's father is converted thanks to the missionaries (Aaron) teaching him. And so we talked about that with him and he said he liked how the people gave up everything and did everything they could to follow God and do what He wanted of them. And then Jaime said that he wants to be like that too. Then we taught him HOW he can do that. So the whole lesson I was trying to connect with him, I wanted him to trust us and have a relationship where we really try to get to know him and teach according to his needs. That is the most important thing to me, that every person in the world is different, and how you can apply the gospel to fit their needs is so important. Because if they don't find the importance of this gospel personally for THEMSELVES, it is just going to be some random religion. We have to teach PEOPLE, not lessons.
(We are at our ward mission leader's house right now emailing since the library is closed. And his wife is from Mexico and speaks spanish and she is talking on the phone in spanish right now. So my head hurts so bad because I can hear/understand her spanish and I am trying to write in English. I keep having to rewrite stuff cause I accidentally do it in Spanish. Whoops! Sometimes I think or dream in Spanish. I like it.)
Leander is pretty cool. I am enjoying my companion. He is pretty easy to get along with. We had interviews with President Jones this week. That man is the funniest guy. I love him so much and I am so glad he is our leader. He is just such a great guy and a perfect mission president. Anyway, I love my mission president so that is good news.
<3 Always,
Elder Kyle David Webb
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Breakin' Records 8/29/2011
You all probs think that the title to this really means that I am breaking records as a missionary or something. Well, I am sad to inform you that no, that is not what I am referring to. Really, I am referring to the record that this area of Texas has broken. 75 Days of over 100 degrees. Apparently, it hasn't been this hot since 1925. WHAAAAH?! Also we are in a very heavy draught. It is hotter than Satan's hand here and it is so crazy. I love records.
Leander is apparently like the farthest north the mission goes. Like the north border of our area is also part of the north border of the mission. And oddly enough it kinda is like Paradise. Somewhat small. Somewhat established people. Not much to do here. Only a couple of shopping centers. And people who think they are well off and don't need the gospel in their lives. It's only somewhat rough because people always either slam the door or tell us they aren't interested. Which is honestly fine. At least they can say it. But I cannot stand the people who we see them home, we KNOW they are home, but they do not answer the door. RUDE! At least have enough courage to get off your buns and face servants of the Lord and tell them you think you are "alright". Don't just ignore them completely! Some people. I swear.
We don' have many investigators righ now. Well, really, none. So pray that we will be lead and we will find people. Sadly enough we are running low on miles and we have been biking the past few days. I kinda love biking cause I get to work out and stuff and feel like I work hard. BUT, I spew sweat like I am a ride at Schlitterbaun, and I always feel so weak. Probably cause I have no muscle. And that is why I like riding bikes, to get more muscle. Anyway. So bikes have been fun. (Sister West is always like, "you aren't taking your bikes are you? You are crazy! I am going to call you to make sure you aren't lying in a ditch somewhere. Are you really taking your bikes? Oh, please don't. Take my car!") So that's been my week. FINDING, FINDING, FINDING.
Okay, I love the scriptures. I am reading el Libro de Mormon in Spanish and I love to read it. I am also reading the new testament...in English. I love all of Christ's miracles. And His example. How he taught in Parables and how he just showed his love for everyone. I wish I could be more like that. Help everyone to know that their Heavenly Father loves them. I read the parable where the man in debt receives forgineness and then goes out and does not forgive his debtor. And how important it is that we forgive one another for our Father to forgive us. I feel like that is just so true. When we aren't so concerned with people wronging us, but we focus more on how we can do good unto them and love others no matter what, we can have the Spirit to guide us. Great!
<3 Always,
Elder Kyle David Webb
Leander is apparently like the farthest north the mission goes. Like the north border of our area is also part of the north border of the mission. And oddly enough it kinda is like Paradise. Somewhat small. Somewhat established people. Not much to do here. Only a couple of shopping centers. And people who think they are well off and don't need the gospel in their lives. It's only somewhat rough because people always either slam the door or tell us they aren't interested. Which is honestly fine. At least they can say it. But I cannot stand the people who we see them home, we KNOW they are home, but they do not answer the door. RUDE! At least have enough courage to get off your buns and face servants of the Lord and tell them you think you are "alright". Don't just ignore them completely! Some people. I swear.
We don' have many investigators righ now. Well, really, none. So pray that we will be lead and we will find people. Sadly enough we are running low on miles and we have been biking the past few days. I kinda love biking cause I get to work out and stuff and feel like I work hard. BUT, I spew sweat like I am a ride at Schlitterbaun, and I always feel so weak. Probably cause I have no muscle. And that is why I like riding bikes, to get more muscle. Anyway. So bikes have been fun. (Sister West is always like, "you aren't taking your bikes are you? You are crazy! I am going to call you to make sure you aren't lying in a ditch somewhere. Are you really taking your bikes? Oh, please don't. Take my car!") So that's been my week. FINDING, FINDING, FINDING.
Okay, I love the scriptures. I am reading el Libro de Mormon in Spanish and I love to read it. I am also reading the new testament...in English. I love all of Christ's miracles. And His example. How he taught in Parables and how he just showed his love for everyone. I wish I could be more like that. Help everyone to know that their Heavenly Father loves them. I read the parable where the man in debt receives forgineness and then goes out and does not forgive his debtor. And how important it is that we forgive one another for our Father to forgive us. I feel like that is just so true. When we aren't so concerned with people wronging us, but we focus more on how we can do good unto them and love others no matter what, we can have the Spirit to guide us. Great!
<3 Always,
Elder Kyle David Webb
Al Cambiar 8/22/2011
I'm sure you all want to know.
I am in Leander, Texas. It is like North West of Austin...So I am way up here. The area is VERY different. It is like kinda country, but also just a lot of nice houses (compared to the ghetto) and the people we run into are just like educated do not want to listen to us. But it is really great and I am excited. Also, not a Spanish area, but I'm over it. I still have more time to be called to Spanish areas.
My companion is Elder Hennessey. He is from Cardston, Canada.. Near Alberta. He comes from a pretty big family. I guess it's a big mormon town up there in Canada. He has 2 transfers left before he goes home. Crazy. But I am excited.
Get this: We live with a member. Yes, I didn't know this was even allowed but we live with an older woman. Her name is Norma West. CUTEST THING EVER!! She is just so hip and funny and really I enjoy her so much! She is Mexican, so she also speaks Spanish. (I am very excited to be able to talk to her and practice!) But any way she is so cute and hilarious and I just love her. Her son and his family also live in the ward and he is our mission leader. He is pretty hilarious, too.
I found out I was going to Austin and I was kinda stoked. Just cause I mean I do want to experience everything in the mission so I was anxious to see what its like. But I am kinda far away from Austin, but still. Whateverz. The ward here is actually a ward. Like more than 40 peopl show up at church on Sunday. It's weird. We just confirmed a convert yesterday so that was cool and we will be teaching her the new member lessons! Anyway, I am excited to work here in Leander, Texas. Pray for rain and for people's hearts to be softened so that we can find some elect people to teach and baptize!
<3 Always,
Elder Kyle David Webb
ADDRESS:
1109 Tanglewood Dr.
Leander, TX 78641
I am in Leander, Texas. It is like North West of Austin...So I am way up here. The area is VERY different. It is like kinda country, but also just a lot of nice houses (compared to the ghetto) and the people we run into are just like educated do not want to listen to us. But it is really great and I am excited. Also, not a Spanish area, but I'm over it. I still have more time to be called to Spanish areas.
My companion is Elder Hennessey. He is from Cardston, Canada.. Near Alberta. He comes from a pretty big family. I guess it's a big mormon town up there in Canada. He has 2 transfers left before he goes home. Crazy. But I am excited.
Get this: We live with a member. Yes, I didn't know this was even allowed but we live with an older woman. Her name is Norma West. CUTEST THING EVER!! She is just so hip and funny and really I enjoy her so much! She is Mexican, so she also speaks Spanish. (I am very excited to be able to talk to her and practice!) But any way she is so cute and hilarious and I just love her. Her son and his family also live in the ward and he is our mission leader. He is pretty hilarious, too.
I found out I was going to Austin and I was kinda stoked. Just cause I mean I do want to experience everything in the mission so I was anxious to see what its like. But I am kinda far away from Austin, but still. Whateverz. The ward here is actually a ward. Like more than 40 peopl show up at church on Sunday. It's weird. We just confirmed a convert yesterday so that was cool and we will be teaching her the new member lessons! Anyway, I am excited to work here in Leander, Texas. Pray for rain and for people's hearts to be softened so that we can find some elect people to teach and baptize!
<3 Always,
Elder Kyle David Webb
ADDRESS:
1109 Tanglewood Dr.
Leander, TX 78641
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