Month: October 2006

  • From an e-mail dated October 17, 2006

    Dear family and friends,

    Today is my 14 month mark.  Happy Birthday to me.

    This past week was exceptionally good.  We taught 22 lessons to investigators and less active members we are working with, had one investigator at church, and had the same investigator commit to prepare for baptism on the 29th.  The week also stands out because of a reception at Brother Swartwood's mom's house, a 24 hour exchange on Thursday/Friday, the Arcadia missionary for a day program on Saturday, and some really good experiences Sunday night.  I have time to ellaborate on a few of the highlights.

    A 24 hour exchange is when a district leader switches places with a missionary in his district for 24 hours.  My companion and Elder Dayton, my district leader, switched places so that Elder Dayton could see how I'm doing in my area. Anyway- it was a lot of fun.  Elder Dayton is probably one of the sole reasons I've made it through this transfer.

    Friday was fun from the beginning.  Despite being tired from talking to much the night before, I got up on time and made french toast for breakfast.  We had very effective, powerful, even entertaining study that morning.  Then we were out proselyting.  We found a new investigator at the third house.

    Then we went to teach JS.  JS is a 22 year old guy who has been searching really hard for a Church to be a part of after he made some changes in his life.  Teaching him has been awesome.  Elder Dayton and I had planned a lesson on faith, specifically that you have to take a step of faith first before the confirmation or witness comes.  It was very powerful.  JS committed to setting a date for his baptism.  We now have a few weeks to resolve some concerns and help him get ready.  We are all excited.

    For lunch that day I made Jewish Potatoe Pancakes (Latkes).  It was fun.

    Sunday was powerful because of two lessons that we taught. I'll have to tell you more about them next week, because I'm getting booted off the computer. I love you all and, miss you all very much.


                                                  Love,
                                              Elder Embree

  • Swartwoods

    "And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come ..." (Mosiah 5:3).

    Dear friends, family, and xangans,

    Sunday was one of my mission highlights. It has motivated me to be a better missionary and has given me a stronger drive for success as a missionary. It helped that it was the conclusion of a great week. We had given some investigating youth a tour of the church and they were pointing out all their friends on the bulletin boards. Then we got Jose to go to the institute and attend a forum. There were other successes, but no one ended up coming to Church.

    Elder Harris and I were therefore sitting investigatorless on the back row during the Sacrament when I noticed commotion in the foyer. I caught a glimpse of a girl I didn't recognize, but I began to wonder if the Swartwoods were in the foyer. Silence was broken with the organ and in came Brother Swartwood. He comes up and gives me a big hug. His whole family was there.

    He was the first to bear his testimony. He spoke about joining the church right here in Walnut when he was 19. He talked about the passing of his step dad that week, and how they were here for the funeral. He talked about me, and about my family. I couldn't sit still at all. I was squirming with the emotion.

    As he talked about his conversion story, I was suddenly filled with a vision. In my mind's eye, I saw him being baptized, right here in Walnut. Then I saw him serving a mission, getting married, raising his children, teaching me seminary, being my young men's president, having me home teach their family, teaching friends the gospel in his home, sending a son on a mission. Suddenly in a way that I had never realized before I saw the end from the beginning. I realized that baptisms lead to an immense, wonderful, beautiful future. I had to share this vision with the ward.

    I stood up and read Mosiah 5:3, and then I bore my testimony and asked the ward to catch the vision. I told them about how lucky they were for the people that came out of this area. I turned to the several young single adult recent converts. I asked them to see themselves where Brother Swartwood now is. I asked them to catch the grand vision of their future. I asked the congregation to visualize their friends being baptized. To visualize their aquaintances and neighbors accepting the gospel and partaking in this glorious future. I assured them that we as missionaries have a vision for this area. We have great views of that which is to come, and it is wonderful.

    I could not stop shaking. I felt on fire. I felt wonderful. I know that I was called here now for a reason. Perhaps it was not the initial reason I assumed, but I was called here for a reason. It was to catch this vision- this perspective of what my work was. It was to realize in a personal way the influence of a convert from Walnut. It was to realize how much I had been touched by someone baptized here 30 years ago.

    Have you caught the vision?

    During Church, the Bishop had us go and teach the young women and young men. It wasn't planned, but he felt inspired to take advantage of the excitement and teach them how to catch their own vision of missionary work. It went very well. I shared stories from my high school experience and promised them that their freinds would not think it was weird or awkward if they invited their friends to activities. We put this mental block in our minds that people will get uncomfortable if we invite them to church functions. It is not true. They get invited to things all the time. It is normal. It is natural. Telling the youth that made an impression. I can see now that I have under-used my potential in training the members. I need to be more aggressive about teaching the members of the church how to share what they know with confindence. Man, my vision of what I can do as a missionary has just been raised so much. I feel empowered.

    Have you caught the vision?

    Love,

    Elder Embree


    "And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now? (Alma 5:26).

  • From a letter dated October 5, 2006

    Dear friends, family, and fellow xangans,

    I hope that you all watched General Conference this past weekend. For me General Conference was better than Christmas. It is an amazing time for Prophets to speak, the Spirit to instruct. I was edifyed, instructed, uplifted, enabled, empowered, surprised, disappointed, informed, relieved, inspired, .... And if you weren't, you still can be by listening or reading the conference procedings at www.lds.org.

    Elder Oaks started right off the bat by picking up where Elder Holland left off last spring. In fact, I think Elder Oaks stole Elder Holland's talk, which was fine with me because I could then hear two "Elder Holland" talks. Elder Holland concluded the conference by talking about conference. How fitting that the apostle who means so much to me would speak on the event that means so much to me. He again bore such a moving witness of Jesus Christ and of the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley.

    Random weekend details: Between conference sessions on Saturday, Elder Dayton, Elder Dean, Elder Harris and I went to applebees and indulged in carnal passions for meat and chocolate. Between sessions on Sunday I made creamy noodles for everyone since conference was in my neck of the woods and all I had was spagetti and cream of chicken soup. Elder Dayton brought fresh brocoli which made it actually a very nice meal. My grandparent's brownies topped it off.

    Things in our area are going well. We are teaching several people and I am learning how to be bolder in committing for baptism. Sometimes I feel inadequate because I am not baptizing throngs like previous Elders have done in this area, but I am learning what I can do to do better. This is such a great area that I would like to learn how to use all the resources available here. I have also learned something about myself, and that is that I won't settle for anything less than a heartfelt thorough job. I am looking for people who will experience deep and moving conversions. I take baptism seriously. It is not just a thing to do. It is for the long haul. Conversion is not a cheap experience.

    Stay close,Elder Embree