November 23, 2014 Week 72

BUENO BUENO DIA DE PAVO  

That is crazy that neider is home!!! what the heck! Man he will have to go shred some lines for me! 

This week has been crazy!  I don't have a ton of time! I got my thanksgiving packages last night! That was an awesome addition to the sabbath day! thank you very much!   

This week has been crazzzy SERVICE SERVICE AND SOME MORE SERVICE!!! 

But it has been great! Wichita Falls is da best! 

WE have been getting pounded with food.  Everyone is cleaning out their fridges  before going on their vacations.  

Studies have been great  I have been in D&C 122

5-7 are "the if thou's of tribulation"
the last 2 lines of 7 through 9 start "the know thou's of tribulation"

This made me think of everything that we go through and everything our investigators go through.  But through tribulation We gain experience and more knowledge! So don't hate on tribulation!

Once again I am sorry for the shortness of my letter... I do have a lot more gratitude than what this letter shows. 

ELDER FINLINSON

October 6, 2014 Week 65

"great, now my hand smells like weed"‏

 Wow what a week! Way to go my Utes! yes! Everyone here was sad because BYU lost to Utah State! But of course they wouldn't say anything about the Utes beating UCLA! There isn't one University of Utah fan in my district or ward! Oh well I am used to it! Ehh it is nice to hear that this will be my last football season that I have to endure through! We tracted around yesterday and Everyone was watching football! Saturday night we went to Texas road house (in texas) and everyone was watching football!!!  

That is awesome that Eli and Joel are both playing good! I knew that that would happen for Eli!  There is always someone who gets hurt in the middle of the season.

Wichita Falls had their high school rivalry game on friday... everyone was dressed up and ready to play.

This week was pretty different.  On Thursday we were able to watch Meet the Mormons! President received a screening copy and we were able to see it! It was weird sitting down and watching  a movie! It was a good film...though it made me a little trunky with the football and skiing scenes! Ehh and not just any skiing... Little Cottonwood Canyon skiing!! hijole! But i think that it was a great way to explain a little about what those weird mormons actually believe!

We were also able to do a good amount of service this week! The first opportunity we had was with this German less active--she is crazy her name is Silka.  She lives in Iowa park which is about a 15 mile drive from our place.  She needed help cutting down sunflowers... lets just call them sun trees! Well she didn't have any tools to cut them down except a weed whacker, a shovel and a weird hoe thing! Well a weed whacker doesn't do much when the stems are as thick as a half dollar and we broke the hoe thing 10 minutes in!  So we had a shovel... well we ended up going and asking one of here neighbors if they had anything.  He let us use his push weed whacker... nope didn't do anything! So we got a machete from him and some clippers and went to town!...then we got eaten alive by chiggers!

So you might be wondering why the subject is "great, now my hand smells like weed" haha well we tracted into a guy yesterday who was 'sky high' haha he of course was really interested to visit with us, but didn't have time...but we shook his hand and after that Elder Karr said "great, now my hand smells like weed"! it was great! luckily that was the last house we knocked so no one had any ideas! 

Of course general conference was great! some quotes that I liked!

"A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder"--Thomas S Monson

I think this was my favorite because it related really well with missionary work! 

A missionary without(or who doest know his) purpose is like a ship without a rudder! 

"as we seek heavenly help our rudder shall not be jammed!"--Thomas S Monson

Well I hope y'all received some great revelation at conference!

ELDER FINLINSON

 Elder Karr

 Mike member we visit that had a Stroke

July 7, 2014 Week 52

Wow looks like everyone had a fun fourth!  The Fishburns were happy that they could meet you!  They are the best!! haha I dont know about going on a plane ride with him... that would be an adventure though!! the weather has really started to warm up here but I guess it is lower than what is usually is so that is cool!  We started off the 4th with breakfast at the church... it kinda reminded me of home… krusty's pancakes, eggs and a sausage!! good stuff!  We then had a quick district meeting and then started our dinners and lunches for the whole day!! we went to some members in our areas house and they live out in the sticks and own a ranch…  We had a fun time learning how to rope it was actually pretty fun! And I give props to those that do it! It is hard!  But we had a classic 4th of July lunch with hamburgers hot-dogs 7 layer dip and best of all watermelon!!  I think that water melon is one of my favorite foods and we got it 2 times this week it was awesome!!  We then had a lunch with one of our recent converts... it was sad she invited the whole ward to a cook out but no one went... except the missionaries!  Luckily we went or else she would have been really sad! BUUUT after that we went to another party and then we went to Norman and watched fireworks!! Man we stood out really bad haha it was fun.  What you do is while you are walking, people in front of you will avoid eye contact, but once you get to the side of them and they think that you won't see them looking you hurry and turn your head and they get embarrassed... it is great you can do it with cars too it is great!  

But the fireworks were great... Okies know how to blow up stuff

We had a good rest of the week it went fast though!  we had a ton of opportunities for service! We helped a family move into the ward and we also went to the farm- where we killed the snake last week! Good ol service! We were then walking through the trailer park and ran into a fiesta!! it was great!!  we finally got to eat some good Hispanic food!! they had carne asada and some crazy salsa... I think I lost my touch with hispanic heat!! but it was really good.  Just the next morning I was punished!! But it was great to talk to some hispanics again!!  we were able to find 4 hispanics to teach this past week!

I had some awesome studies this past week!  The first one was in the New Testament in Luke! I am reading the new testament in chronological order and it is so much better!  It is awesome to compare the different accounts of Jesus Christ and his ministry.  The two great commandments stood out to me really strong this week!  It  is amazing how Christ put all of the commandments into 2.1st love god- Doctrine and Covenants 63:34 "the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind...the willing and obedient will [prosper]-- if we don't love God we can't be willing or obedient.  It flows naturally into the second because we all have the same God or Heavenly Father! Why shouldn't it be to love our neighbors!? And what is the greatest act of love that we can do for our neighbors? I have to say missionary work! I love this quote from Ezra Taft Benson, 

"only those who know and love God can best love and serve his children, for only God fully understands his children and knows what is best for their welfare. Therefore, one needs to be in tune with God to best help his children. …

“Therefore, if you desire to help your fellowmen the most, then you must put the first commandment first."

This is an awesome quote and it made me reflect on how God should be put first in everything! 1st A of F...1st thing we teach investigators...1st beatitude etc!  After we have a strong relationship with our Father in Heaven then we can best help our friends, families and neighbors! 

WELL YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD WEEK I LOVE YOU ALL

ELDER FINLINSON