April 28, 2014 Week 42

THANKS FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT OF THE MISSIONARIES.  Ethan still has the gut issues and goes back to the doctor this Thursday.  His response to how is your energy?  "%100"

Well we had transfers annnnd nothing is happening!  I am staying in Purcell with Elder Meservy.  It was kinda funny he really thought that he was going to leave this transfer and I will be honest I thought that he was leaving too but I guess President had different ideas!  So this is going to be his 5th transfer in Purcell and my 3rd!  I have predicted that I am either leaving here in July or in September haha.  But most of our zone got switched up!  So it is going to be an interesting transfer!!  

So this week was ok!  It started off good with some disc golf we had a ton of fun! of course we got our butts kicked by our investigator...BUT I was able to beat my companion so that is all that matters hahaha I was able to pull ahead with a birdie!!  But I was surprised to see how much talent is involved with disc golf.  I thought that is would be easy just to throw a piece of plastic... well it is, but throwing it accurately is a different story!  I had to go hunt in the trees on almost every course!!  But it was fun and would play it again!  My final score was +36 and our investigators was -8 haha yeah we got smashed!  But it is always good when you have the people that you are teaching teach you something!  It helps them better understand your role in teaching them.  

We had dinner with some other investigators this week and when we got there they were mad at each other (they are a couple their 20 s)  but by the end of the night-or lesson, they were all happy and we had a good time.  We were also able to set up some baptismal dates with them!

We had an interesting thing happen this week... well it really isn't that interesting because stuff like this happens all of the time for missionaries!  All of our appointments fell through so what does that mean... TRACTING TIME!! yeah our favorite. So we go to the street that we planned to go to and get out of the car and there is a guy in a truck and we went and talked to him!  Well it ended up that he needed a prayer.  So we prayed with him and got his address.  We asked if he needed help with anything and he said no.  So we went on to the next house.  Well after we were done visiting with them we see the guy in the truck waiting for us and he asked if we actually could help him tow a car to the dump.  We said ok and followed him to his house....  and for some more background this guy is strait up REDNECK he was almost purpleneck he was so hick!  But we got to his house and the car that we were going to tow........a mini van just like the one that we have!! so we drove the minivan behind him towing us!!  WELL problems that we had were that he used a really small chain so during our journey the chain broke 5 times in the middle of the road and we had to retie it in the middle of the street!  Well it was fun and it ended up being more fun than tracting so it all worked out!  But after the man tried to pay us money and we said no, but told him he could go take it to our church on Sunday and donate it!!  Well he didn't make it but we did give him a Book of Mormon so we are going to go and try to teach him the first lesson this week!  He also told us that he was feeling really stressed and then we prayed with him... he kept on repeating that we helped him more then we knew!  

So that was cool … tracting miracles!

So this week I was studying in doctrine and covenant and came across some cool stuff! 

Section 103

12 For after ^amuch tribulation....cometh the blessing.

13 Behold, this is the blessing which I have promised after your tribulations, and the tribulations of your brethren—your redemption, and the redemption of your brethren.

Many times After we struggle then we are blessed.  But how often do we realize this in the middle of our tribulation?  Never haha so that is something that I am working on this week!  Because truly all tribulation brings blessings even if it is something as small as a new knowledge--which really isn't that small.  that is how loving our Heavenly Father is!

We had some crazy weather this week.  I woke up in the middle of the night to getting rain ( we left our window open and the rain was coming down horizontally!!)  and the lighting was pretty cool.  WE had a bolt every 10 seconds!  

Well that is about all that happened this week hope that you all have an awesome week! luv yalls

ELDER FINLINSON

Norman Zone

Gross….bugs

April 21, 2014 Week 41

WELLLLLLLLL this week was fun.  We had some crazy weather!!!  
Monday was freezing and the rest of the week was very nice!  
We were able to do some riding on the bikes this week! it felt good to get back on a bike…  
I do like bikes but i also like a car... so it is nice to have a choice!!  
So when it is cold outside you can sit in a nice heated car...or if it is hot outside you can sit in a nice air conditioned car... OR if it is just right you can ride the bike!!  

well Bethany that is a very small aprt. I think my first aprt. was a little smaller then that one.  But i guess if you don't have to put giant desks in it then you should be ok… 

So this week we were able to set some bap. dates!!  and we are actually going to go Frisbee golfing with them today!! It should be fun stuff!  he is a amateur Frisbee golfer and is about to go pro this summer!!  

Not to much happened this week besides that though.  It was a very calm week.  It was a good Easter week.  It was kind of funny to see the whole state of OK go to church!  Everyone has to go on Easter and Christmas!  Well i guess it's better then anything.  

As usual we got a ride from the Fishburns... it is always a classic ride I got some really good videos but they are all to big to send... so I guess you will have to wait until after the mission!!  But hey always say something funny.  Some of the topics this week were-- Baptists not drinking on the Sabbath-- eating armadillo and a ton of other things!  

We were able to have a nice Easter Roast from them too!  You have got to love the Fishburns!

But some thing that i studied this week that kinda stood out to me: 

Section 95

1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I^alove I also chasten that their sins may be ^bforgiven, for with the^cchastisement I prepare a way for their ^ddeliverance in all things out of ^etemptation, and I have loved you—

2 Wherefore, ye must needs be chastened and stand rebuked before my face;

I have never thought about it but when we are chastened or rebuked we are really being shown the love of god, and after we are rebuked we can repent and change!! It is a cool method that God uses that lots of times we look at in an unloving way.  

SO LET YOURSELF BE REBUKED.  It is very hard to do- at least for me.

Well I love you all! I have to go throw some Frisbees around in the rain... adios

ELDER FINLINSON 

Test supplies for parasites etc. by Sukas

Easter Haul!

Found Brother Fishburn on the internet!

April 14, 2014 Week 40

I apologize for getting out Ethan's letter late this week.  Ethan sounds like he is doing great, he did mention he is getting tested for parasites--He has lost weight through his mission, thinks he picked up something in Mexico.  I received a call from a Dr. Office in Norman, OK this week saying, "little Ethan is here and he doesn't remember his Dad's birthdate"  I didn't get to talk to Ethan but it was fun to at least ask the receptionist to give him a hug from me.  Glad he finally went to the Dr.

Well Okie weather is starting to come I think!  

It was pretty much 80 all last week, then yesterday we had some cool thunderstorms and rain showers!! and it was snowing today-- just a little though!!  

It is crazy we were also on a tornado watch yesterday!!  but this week was fun!!  

I guess some crazy stuff that happened lately is that some false doctrine had been going over the pulpit.  Bishop talked about some very sensitive topics on wayward children.  This topic came up at random during a 3rd hour 5th Sunday that was being taught by the bishop.  He said that he heard a stake president talk about this subject to a family who just had a suicidal death.  In essence he said that families who are sealed and the parents are faithful BUT the children stray and die without the church  then those children can still receive celestial glory--after they pay for their sins they can then be upgraded to a higher kingdom!!  

Right when he said this me and my companion both looked at each other and questioned it.  Our bishop said that he read quotes on this subject, But he didn't share any of them!!!  which is where we both started questioning this doctrine... the only thing was that everyone in the congregation which included 1 ex stake president (who was released 3 months ago) and 3 bishops!! well after looking through lds.org for awhile i found it!!! 

Faithful Parents and Wayward Children: Sustaining Hope While Overcoming Misunderstanding by elder bednar addresses this problem!! 

The thing is though I don't think one person in the congregation didn't believe what bishop said!!!  So i am going to write to president this week and see what he thinks we should do!  Because this is a multi stake- doctrinal hiccup.  (Ethan and I had further discussion online on this doctrine, It was great to hear him say, "God is the Judge...DOCTRINE is great IT is a ton of fun! love yah", in the mail I sent him Elder Ballard's 1987 talk on Suicide Some Things Now and Some We Do Not.)

But this week Chris came to church!  he is the less active that we tracted into!  It seemed like he enjoyed it.  He looked a little brighter than the first day that we met him playing scream o!  But that was Cool to see the change in him!  

This week we started doing some service-- one of our members needed help pulling out ivy!!! fun stuff!!  It is kinda funny how on missions service is fun or i don't even know if it is service, Yard work on missions is fun!  I don't understand it??!?  But after helping we saw a old lady outside attempting to break sticks/branches.  So of course we helped her!  She was so thankful!  She said that so many people just drive by.  She said that we were the first people that she has talked to for some time.....  THAT was so sad!  

SO I challenge everyone to serve an elder--(the old ones) this week! 

SERVICE IS AWESOME
We also saw the musical LAMB OF GOD yesterday it was very good!!  I would try to find it on YouTube or something!  

A multi faith organization put it on at our stake center!
Well more things happenned but I cant remember.....
BUT MISSION LIFE IS AWESOME!!!  
ELDER FINLINSON

sorry i didnt even re read this email...........p - days are crazy!!  ---- AND WHY WAS JOEL DRIVING THE CARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!! (Bethany taught Joel how to back out the mini van--a photo was sent to Ethan documenting the event.)

April 7, 2014, Week 39

Hello y'all-- 

Well thanks for all of the packages!!! now i have too much food!! haha 

Oh well, I think that I am staying here in Purcell for some time!  

Those sodas are good i have only had 2 of them.  LENIONAID and the good root beer!! haha i took the root beer to general conference and some people were wondering what i was drinking.  People probably think I have some problem,  I call root beer 'rootsypop'...good stuff.  But I am excited to try the rest this week I will let ya'll know what ones are the best.... I am curious about the fermented rose flower..? haha or the teriyaki ??  but it looks like it is going to be a classy party!! (Bethany sent Ethan a package with sodas we have been testing for serving at her wedding reception--glad they made it without breaking!)

SO

1. Who is the strangest person you've met? 

-ONE of our recent converts Sister Rader!!!  she is crazy!  I have no clue how she was baptized but she is less active, smokes doesn't believe in the law of tithing andI am pretty sure she doesn't believe in The Book of Mormon!!  But she is a basic BELIEVE IN JESUS AND YOU ARE GOOD....FORGET HIS COMMANDMENTS!!!

2. What does OKLAHOMA smell like?

-SKUNKS-- it only smells like cows when we are around them.

3. What is the weirdest thing someone has said to you?

-all of the anti-mormon doctrine hahaha it is funny... NO WE DON'T HAVE HORNS!

4. How do Pucellians dress? 

-COWBOYS and hick... but it is big here to wear micro shorts and a big shirt so it looks like none of the girls are wearing pants! 

It is kinda funny

5. Do they look like valley girls?

-yes hahahahahahahahahhahahahah

ahahahhaahahhahahahah

6. Do I miss driving the mini? (as in mini van--man van--not mini cooper)

-yes-it has a better turn radius then the cars here.... also the side door was very useful for drive by egging haha-- you can talk to sasha and eddie about that one.  (hmmmm….this is new info to me, I think I will have Sasha and Eddie over for a bacon bash and chat…) 

7.  What is my favorite type of Mexican?

-an angry one... they are fun to listen to.  But also a good cook is nice!

8. Have you seen a sponsored car?

-YES i saw a fruitloop car it was cool it had spinning rims and looked like a big fruit loop!

haha those were some good questions--I think that a majority were from Bethany....but yeah I hope that you all had an awesome conference!!  now comes the best part when we can study them after!! well hope that you all have a good week!!!

ELDER FINLINSON

(Ethan they have some good potentials they are teaching.  I asked if the members are working with them, he said, "NO".  We will pray for the members, it was exciting to see how the Hispanic Branch really started working with the missionaries in Ethan's last area!  Member and missionaries working together make the difference!  Thanks for your great support of Elder Fin)

March 31, 2014, Week 38

WELL not a ton happened this week because we had a zone conference and my companion was sick for the first part of the week so it went slow!  When you aren't working it goes slow.  But we had a good week for what it was, we were able to teach the plan of salvation to 3 of our investigators in one day which is a record for me!!  they all went very well!  

But some questions-- I am going to have to go quick!

1.  Do you eat anything better then cheerios?--

I have never eaten a single cheerio in my mission... so yes I do eat better food.  Mom sent me 4 boxes of lucky charms so I am trying to finish those off!

2.  Are you going to buy a rifle and start carrying 30 rounds, of ammo" just in case"?---

hahaha no I will take my chances. You just need to have faith.

3.  Do you ever drag race in the Malibu?  

No the malibu has no power they are called maliboats because they have no acceleration and no turn radius! but we are getting a new car in June!! happy birthday if I am still here!!  a mission is a good time to test out cars haha

4.  What was the worst meal of the week and what was the best?  

Well the real question is when we get a meal.  Last week we had an interesting casserole thing it had chicken, pasta and then on top it had a whole bunch of ruffles crumbled on top??!!! it was actually good but it doesn't last more then one day all of the chips went soggy in the fridge!!  But that was an interesting meal.  The best ones are usually Sunday nights we have our ward mission leader feed us.  And it is usually good food.  But we announced to make sure and sign up for 2 weeks because we have general conference.  But not one person signed up!! OH well... I sure miss those good old 5 Hispanic family's that fed us every week up in the city.

Well dang time flies I will write my email first next time ahhhhhhhhhhhh….  have a good week!

--ELDER FINLINSON