Happy Birthday!

This is Josh's email from September 26, 2016. (His 20th birthday.)

Thank you for the birthday package and birthday wishes! We are planning to go to Top Golf and then I'm not sure. Maybe a restaurant that sells good barbecue. :) 

It was a very fruitful week here in Katy. We found three new investigators and even set another baptismal date! So let's get to it: 

On Tuesday we were able to set a date with one of our investigators who we will say is named Rosa, even though that's not her real name. She is a young adult who has met with missionaries in the past and felt that she already knew that the Book of Mormon and this church was true. She just got scared because her entire family is Catholic and they were very against her changing religions. But lately she had been going through a difficult time, so when we texted her and asked if we could teach her a couple of weeks ago, she agreed. So we taught her the Restoration and the Spirit was very powerful. The next week we taught the first part of the Plan of Salvation, and really emphasized that Christ makes it possible for all of us to overcome sin and death, and all he asks of us is that we repent and get baptized. She agreed, so we scheduled the date for November 6th as a goal to work towards. She is still really worried about what her mother might say, but at the end of the day, she recognizes that Christ requires us to do hard things in order to do the right thing. But she has made a goal to read at least one chapter in The Book of Mormon every day, so I am confident that she will be able to experience the joy of true conversion for herself as she continues exercising her faith. 

On Sunday we were finally able to meet with the Cintura family after having not seen them for over a month. They've been going through some difficult stuff these past few weeks that is just gut-wrenching for me to hear. They have only been here for about 8 months and so the adjustment has been hard, especially considering that this family was very well off when they lived in Colombia. However, both Elder Sellers and I promised them that if they sincerely read in the Book of Mormon for 10-15 minutes each day and prayed to know if it is true, that they would be able to find better jobs. So we are praying that they sincerely act on our invitation so that they can experience the blessings that the Lord has promised for those who try their best to exercise faith in Him. 

On Friday we were graced by the presence of Elder Larry J. Echohawk of the 70 as he hosted a mission tour in the THM.  Both he and his wife are converts to the church and expressed their heart-felt gratitude for the missionaries who sacrificed 2 years of their lives to bring them the Restored Gospel.  

President Mortensen also spoke about the role of The Book of Mormon in conversion. In this mission, as a requirement to get baptized, investigators need to have read at least the first 15 chapters of the Book of Mormon. He talked about how we need to exhaust every effort available in order to make sure they are reading. Even though it may just seem like just a book, it was written by ancient Prophets in the Americas who in vision saw our day, and included the things that they knew would be helpful for those of us facing the challenges of today. In it contains the words of Christ and God that will nourish the spiritual parts of us and guide us to safety in this increasingly-dangerous and wicked world. In it is found the power to conquer powerful addictions, find answers to prayer, feel peace in times of despair, as well as avoid temptation and deception, which will help us achieve our ultimate goal of returning to the safety of God's presence. I know that it is a true book that comes from God. All that we must do is read it with the intent to act, as well as ask God with faith, and we will know of its truthfulness. 

I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve a mission and to serve amongst Spanish speakers, they are genuinely my favorite people. 

Hispanic Heritage Night and Soccer Contacting

This week was a solid one here in Westgreen. We taught some good lessons and found some new people to teach, which is always nice.

I feel bad because I can't really think of anything too interesting that happened this week, so this email is probably going to be a little boring but I'll try to spice it up a little bit.

One thing that we've been trying to implement to find more people to teach is by going to the soccer fields. Mostly it consists of us walking up to families who are playing in the park or watching their children play soccer and invite them to be taught by us. Usually they decline, but hopefully it at least plants a seed.

Heritage Night at the Westgreen Ward

Hermanas Rivas and Calderon were happy to have a night where they could speak Spanish fluently.

On Friday night our ward had a party celebrating Hispanic heritage. Since we have Hispanics from many different countries, people brought food and other stuff from their own countries. We have members from Mexico, Peru, El Salvador, Venezuela, Bolivia, Guatemala, and Colombia. So we were graced with some really good food, because Hispanics always come through with that. I've had at least 3 members here tell me that I look fatter, but it's worth it because the food is phenomenal and it makes Hispanic women happy to see you eat a lot.

Anyways, that's all for this week.

Literal Fulfillment of Prophecy Happening Now

September 12, 2016

Katy West Zone Meeting

This week was great, even though it was hard, it still was rewarding and the hand of the Lord was clearly evident through it all.

We are still in the process of increasing our teaching pool. We are knocking on doors, asking members for referrals, and doing all that we can to find people to teach, because teaching is our most important role as missionaries. In Preach My Gospel it says "Find when you teach, and teach when you find." So we knock on people's doors and share as much of the Restoration with them as much as possible until they tell us to leave.

We did have one miracle on Sunday that was remarkable. We felt impressed to go knocking in a wealthy looking neighborhood. Usually, we don't knock in those kinds of places because we don't typically find many Hispanics. However, after knocking an entire street with pure rejection, a man with a beer in his hand called us over and said he'd listen to whatever message we were sharing. So we gladly obliged, and shared a summary of the Restoration with him, he loved it, accepted and committed to read The Book of Mormon, and wanted us to set up a return appointment with him. He only speaks English, so we might have to give him over to the English missionaries, but it was nice to see after a week of almost no one giving us the time of day.

Last night we had a ward mission activity titled "Meet the Mormons" so members brought their non-member friends and we watched certain segments from the movie "Meet the Mormons," as well as listened to our mission president speak. He shared a powerful message and brought up a scriptural passage from The Book of Mormon in 2 Nephi 1:6 which reads:

"Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord."

This is a literal fulfillment of that prophecy happening right now in America. It especially is something powerful to use with Venezuelans, because right now many are leaving because it has become far too dangerous and the government too corrupt. Helping them understand that they have been preserved by the Lord and brought into this land for a purpose is something that we will try to focus on in our door approaches this week. Later on in the chapter, Lehi goes on to say that the Lord will prosper and protect those who keep His commandments. So there are great blessings promised for those who are faithful and decide to follow God.

If everyone understood the wonderful blessings that come to them and their family, they wouldn't open the door, look at our name tags and say,  "Not interested". If they had any idea about the powerful and life-changing message that we bring, they would be knocking on OUR doors or chasing US down. But it's all part of the work. From the beginning of time, those who have taught the Gospel have not seen a ton of success, percentage wise. But it's the few who do accept and convert that make it all worth it.

Have a great week!

Elder Josh Barrus

New Companion in Katy

This email is from September 5, 2016

Last week was a hard week for sure. There's days where I have no fear and can talk to anyone and feel like I could go stand on top of a soapbox and preach in downtown Houston like the missionaries in the old days, and then there are other days where it is hard to open my mouth. That will always be the struggle on the mission, because Satan is really good at getting us to not open our mouths.

So on Tuesday we got our transfer news and I found out that my new companion is Elders Sellers from Colorado. It was sad to see Elder Curtis head off to Louetta, but Elder Sellers is great! He's spent the last 11 months of his mission in the country in Waller and Sealy, so he's in a little bit of shock being in an area with lots of people, but he's adjusting well. He has desires to learn Hebrew and will be involved with the gathering of Israel in Jerusalem, so it's interesting to learn about the prophecies that involve the gathering of the 12 tribes of Israel. He's very knowledgeable with the scriptures, so if anyone tries to Bible bash with us they might find themselves engaged in theological warfare, figuratively speaking of course.(As a disclaimer, we don't seek opportunities to tear down the faith of others, but if someone challenges our beliefs, you had better believe that we will do the best we can to defend the truth.)

Heading into this week, we had a goal to visit all of the "unknown" households in the ward so we can clean out the ward list and make it accurate and updated. We also have some focus families in the ward that we are helping either get sealed in the temple or return back to being active in the church. It certainly is a challenge gaining the members' trust and guiding them back to the Iron Rod when some of them have been less active for a long time. The sad thing is that many people allow themselves to become inactive because someone said something insensitive or offended them. We try to explain to them that the Church itself is perfect, but the members are not. We help them center their testimony on Christ rather than something someone said or did that wasn't right or whatever. Because if we truly have a good relationship with Christ, we will do all we can to go to church and partake of the sacrament so that we can evaluate our lives and see how we can do better going forward. If we have the mentality of enduring to the end and being faithful rather than worrying about someone who may have offended us, we will be a lot happier and at peace with where we are.

Before my mission I always thought that being a missionary only meant teaching and helping investigators along the path to conversion. But the more I think about it, the more I realize how much we need to be focusing on "building the kingdom" in whatever wards we serve in. This includes finding those inside and outside the church without testimonies and strengthening them so they can partake of all of the blessings the church has to offer. It's a remarkable thing to be a part of for sure, not only helping an investigator along the path of conversion, but helping those who have already made that baptismal covenant to set their sights on the temple and help them arrive there and get sealed as a family for time and all eternity. It certainly isn't easy, but it has been very fulfilling and rewarding work.

This week we found 3 new investigators that definitely have some potential, and tonight we have a family home evening with a member who is bringing her 2 friends, so we hope to add them to our growing teaching pool as well. It has been kind tough these past few weeks with finding some solid new investigators, teaching them the Restoration, and then not being able to get back in with them because they are "busy." It seems to happen every single time. It's sad and frustrating because you know they have felt the spirit and want to have an eternal family, but are too worried about what their family or friends might say if they changed religions. But so it is in missionary work, we lovingly invite and do all we can to help them feel the spirit and receive answers to their prayers, but people still have their own free agency that allows them to either act on the feelings of the spirit or to ignore them, unfortunately.

But overall, things are going well. I love being a missionary, I love serving the Lord, and even though it's the hardest thing I've ever done I know I'll be able to reflect on this experience as one that I'll cherish and hold sacred. My only advice to those who are either considering a mission or are unsure about whether or not to go, is to take it to the Lord in prayer. He knows what He wants you to be, and that you can become someone great in His eyes. Even though a mission is very difficult and requires great sacrifice, it is a great opportunity and blessing that God has afforded to many who are able and willing. It is 2 whole years where you can completely forget yourself and serve others with everything you have. In so doing you will find that God can change you, He will change you into the very person you want to become. It's an experience that can shape and influence the course of the rest of your life for the better if you let it. So please, take my advice and not only consider a mission, but serve a mission. Take a leap of faith. Regardless of the obstacles, God will help you overcome them because He loves you and wants you to succeed. 

I want to give my testimony that the work 75,000 missionaries are engaged in is God's work here on the earth in preparation for the Second Coming. I know that Jesus is the Christ. He suffered all of our pains, afflictions, and heartache so that He could know how to help us bear and overcome them. He suffered for our sins, and made it possible through Him that we might return and live in His presence if we will only repent and try our very best. He died on the cross, and was resurrected 3 days later so that all of us could one day be resurrected and stand before Him to be judged of our deeds. I know that Joseph Smith did see God the Father and His son Jesus Christ, and was called to be a prophet to restore what was lost. He was able to translate the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God, and by reading it men can grow closer to God. That is all, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Curtis and I getting ready for rain

Knocking on doors in Katy, Texas

Elder Curtis is being transferred :(

This email is from August 29th.

Whelp, we just got the news and Elder Curtis just got transferred and leaves tomorrow. It's kinda sad because we wanted to stay together for at least one more transfer, but it was a good 6 weeks. I feel like we got a lot of work done and had tons of fun together.

As far as the work goes, we had to drop Benito's baptismal date because we weren't able to meet with him at all last week. We still texted back and forth with him, but when we tried to set up a time to meet he kept giving us the olé flakeski. It's been pretty frustrating because we don't know what his concerns are, so we don't know how to help him. It seems like this happens a lot in missionary work. Investigators start progressing towards baptism and are doing really well, and then they get cold feet and fall off the face of the earth. That's the thing that I've liked about being with Elder Curtis is how we always find ways to laugh and enjoy the work no matter how good or bad things are going.

Our favorite family from Venezuela--the Fuenmayors

This week caused me to reflect on how as a missionary we are called to find those who are 'searching for the truth, but are kept from it only because they know not where to find it.' We can Bible bash all we want, but we will not see very much success from doing that. It's gotten to the point where I can tell pretty shortly after knocking on someone's door whether or not they are prepared. It is always nice to remember thatmissionary work is not my work, but rather the Lord's. He knows what He wants us to do and be, so all we have to do is strive to do our best, and He makes up the rest. We don't have to do it alone. 

We got to go to the temple and I met your cousin, Mom! She
was working in the baptistry. She saw my name tag and asked
if I was related to you. Small world. So great to go to the temple.

I read a talk called The 4th missionary by Lawrence Corbridge as well as "Becoming a Consecrated Missionary" by Tad R Callister. Both of those talks suggested sacrificing our worldly desires and submitting our will to the Lord's and it has made a big difference. I feel more focused on the work and less interested in what's going on back home.

The district at the park on PDay

Exchanges with Elder Norton

No Picture Week

The work is really starting to pick up here in Westgreen, so everything is going well.

Benito had some doubts about his baptismal date and said he wanted to be completely certain about being baptized. We gave him a practice baptismal interview to show him that baptism is the door, not the destination. Afterward he felt a lot more comfortable and sure about his baptism. If you could pray for him that would help a lot. His baptism is scheduled for this Sunday, so we are doing all we can to make sure that he feels confident in his decision.

We found some pretty solid people this week. We knocked on a lady from Honduras' door who told us that she had been looking for a church. She had gone to 3 or 4, but didn't really feel it with any of them. We ended up teaching her the restoration and it went really well. She teared up a little bit when we shared the first vision. We set up a return appointment for a few days later and came back, but she completely changed on us. She told us upfront that she already had a church she was going to and didn't want to leave that comfort zone of the church that she grew up in. It was really unexpected and hard because she seemed really solid. We tried to help her understand that when Jesus was born, the Jewish religion believed in the Law of Moses and the Old Testament. When Jesus came and established His church, many people rejected Him. They said that God's church had already been established and they weren't going to change anytime soon. She still didn't budge which was sad, but hopefully when missionaries come in the future she will be willing to make the change.

We finally were able to have a lesson with a potential investigator that the English Sister missionaries found about a month ago. When we first got the referral, we were kind of hesitant because the note they attached read:

"Jennifer is golden! She seemed so interested. She didn't speak a lot of English so it was hard to understand her, but from her expressions and body language, she seemed eager and excited to learn about the gospel."

Well, on Saturday we were able to teach Jennifer, her husband Carlos, and daughter Valentina and it went extremely well. They came from Colombia about 8 months ago and have been looking for a church. Jennifer told us about the day the sister missionaries knocked on her door and how happy she was. She didn't understand them and they didn't understand her, but she was happy to meet them. She was kind of discouraged because it is hard adjusting to a new country and Americans are more serious and show their love differently than Hispanics, but the misioneras (sister missionaries) were a ray of sunshine for her. 

The lesson was great and it was so cool to teach them about the sealing power of the priesthood. We showed them Matthew 16:18-19 which talks about the power to bind things on earth as well as in heaven, and asked them what they would like to have bound on earth as well as in heaven. She said "My family." We asked her what the pastor or bishop of her marriage said at the end. "Till death do you part" was her answer. How sad, but super neat to help them realize that they can be sealed as a family for time and all eternity if they join our church, The Restored Church of Jesus Christ.

Anyways, that's about all that happened this week. Till next time.

Elder Barrus

Repentance is a Wonderful Thing

Sister Lincona leaves for Mexico tomorrow. We are pretty sad because she
is like the Hispanic grandmother we always wished we had but never did. 

The work here in Katy is on the up and up. Benito is still doing really well, he's been keeping all his commitments and told us he feels really good when he reads in the Book of Mormon. He is definitely on track for his baptismal date on the 28th of August. The ward is really helping us out. We've at least received some names of people to go visit from members, which helps a lot. We still knock doors to show our faith, but most of our success comes from working with members.

Our other investigators from Venezuela are still progressing, but the husband left last week for Venezuela and Dubai for job training until October, so we'll still teach the 2 daughters and the less active mom, but they won't get baptized until their dad returns.

Shout out to my favorite, Franco from H3 (my first area) for accepting a baptismal date with him for August 27. He's been taught by missionaries for almost 3 years, and just last week accepted a baptismal date. I'm kind of bummed that I can't go to his big day, but I'm still super happy for him.

On Thursday we had zone conference. It was centered on The Gospel of Jesus Christ. We talked about how having a faith in Jesus Christ should lead you to repentance. President Mortensen also talked about the difference between the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and "The Convenient Messiah" that modern-day Christianity believes in. They say that all you need to do is accept Him as your Savior, and you're good, you've punched your ticket to heaven. However, in John 14:12, he Savior tells us what we should do if we believe in Him:

                   Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works
                   that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do;
                   because I go unto my Father.

Now with the increased emphasis in the missionary program to "teach repentance and baptize converts," anytime we teach, we are inviting others to repent. It's true. Repentance is a wonderful thing, and what a blessing it is that Christ performed the Atonement so we have the opportunity to repent each time we stumble. He knows what He wants us to be, and knows how to help us do that and .repentance is the way. We should be grateful each and every day that The Savior suffered for all of our sins so that we can repent of them. He knows how to help us with our faults, all we have to do is ask. 

Until next week. 

Elder Josh Barrus

This is the ward mission leader's son. He just returned
 from a mission to Ecuador and he helps us out a lot!

Service project in Katy

Splits with Elder Schloer