Combrink Missions: Nathan - Kingwood - Six, Noall

area: Kingwood 2nd Ward, Kingwood Texas Stake

zone: Kingwood

companion: Elder Six, Elder Noall

dates: 11/2014 to 3/31/2015 (Transfer Periods #1-3)

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Transfer Period #1

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email: 12/1/2014

Who knew they made a Ford F-150 Texas Edition? Weird.

This place is awesome. The people are super friendly, I got a really nice apartment, by missionary standards, and there's more trees here than at home. It's flat, and humid, but other than that, I like it. And the flat makes riding a bike much easier anyway. Everything with my bike worked out great too.

President Drake is super friendly and also inspiring. My companion has been out for 21 months so he kinda knows what he's doing. He has autism which makes things interesting sometimes, especially since he's the one driving (like we got stuck in a ditch yesterday and was pulled out by a nice neighbor with a tractor). The first day I was assigned to him we went to Walmart to get groceries and he got two light sabers and declared me his apprentice... still not too sure what to think about that... He's super nice though and makes sure there's always something for us to do.

We are the missionaries for the Kingwood 2nd ward, but the mission home is only 15 minutes away and our area gets a car so we go by there at least once a week. The ward is super cool. We walked into a family's home and after about 2 minutes of greetings they started talking about 10 different friends they are inviting to church and activities and family nights. Then they said they'd let us know as soon as any of them are ready to talk with the missionaries. They also said that their home is always open for discussions and they are always willing to come teach people with us. Super cool family! And like 3/4 of the ward is just like them! They also feed us a bunch. Like we had 2 thanksgiving dinners with a crape and waffle breakfast thanksgiving morning... thanks Mom for feeding all those missionaries back home!

We have one progressing investigator right now, Chris. He's progressing really well but he's had struggles getting past smoking but he's also determined to be baptized the 13th. He can do it. He also got super excited when he found out that all men in the church hold the priesthood, after he's baptized he can receive the priesthood and have the authority to baptize his son (once he's old enough). He's also committed to live all the other commandments and is doing really well. He has a few doctrinal misconceptions but I don't think it'll be that big of a deal to clear up.

I'm having a lot of fun here and my companion says I'm doing a good job so far.

I love all of you. But I love Jesus Christ more. This is where he wants me. So this is where I want to be.

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email: 12/8/2014

I still love it here. There are 3 things I don't like; 1 it's stinking flat, 2 it's stinking humid, and 3 I have gotten 1 letter and 2 packages. 2 of those things can't really be helped... HINT HINT HINT!

Anyway, the people are incredible. Our progressing investigator, Chris, is still set on being baptized on 12/13/14 and he's still super excited about it. He's about 37 and has 2 kids and he's changed his entire life around for and through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I've even seen his attitude completely change in just 3 weeks. He's a hero to me!

We are mostly working with the members right now, they are super willing to have investigators in their homes for discussions and to come out and help us but we are trying to get them to be missionaries to their friends first off. I've learned that missionaries don't want members to hand over their friends on a silver platter so we can baptize them. We want the members to be the missionaries to their friends until they are practically ready to jump into the font and then we make sure they understand the lessons. We get our own people to be missionaries to through tracting and referrals from Salt Lake.

We also got to go to the Houston Temple on thursday, which was incredible! I love the temple.

We also had this big program in for the Kingwood Stake called the Nativity. They bring in hundreds of nativity sets and put them up on tables around the gym and have choirs and orchestras come from the local schools and perform on the stage while people are going around looking at the nativities. There were soooo many people there and hopefully we get a bunch of new investigators from it.

Quick story, there's a family, the Giles, and they told us about their friends, the Gonzales family, who are super looked up to in their church's congregation (I think baptist) but they have been asking a bunch of questions about the church and are getting close to taking the discussions. That's how I like missionary work to work. Sister Giles also said that over my mission I will see missionary work as it was in the beginning of the church when whole congregations, towns, and cities were converted. That Christ is beginning to separate His people and that He is preparing people's hearts faster than ever. The Spirit was super strong and I know that what she said was true!

One last thing, it's a lot easier if you send letters cuz I only have about 50 minutes a week to read and send emails. So yeah...

I love all of you. But I love the Jesus Christ more. And this is where he wants me. So this is where I want to be.

(We've sent numerous letters and cards and packages, and I know others have sent things too - I don't know why he hasn't received more yet :( Unless he means he's only received that many since getting to Texas. Oh, and things that were addressed to the MTC, but arrived after he left there, might be taking awhile to get forwarded to Nathan in Texas. Everyone please feel welcome to send him all the snail-mail you want - send it to the Mission Office, the address listed up on right side of this Blog. Thank you!)

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email: 12/15/2014

This month has been incredible! And this past week has been incredible!

We had our first baptism on 12/13/14 for Chris. He was so excited and it was great to see. About 70 people from the ward showed up to support him in this step and as missionaries we were so grateful for that! The Bishop, while greeting Chris to the ward, said, "Everyone in Chris's family please stand up." And the whole congregation stood. It was awesome! Elder Six baptized him and after Chris came out of the water his 6 year old son, Di Angelo (who's full name is Di Angelo Christopher which means The Angel of Christ, if you exclude the last name), said "Wo, Dad, are you ok?" And Chris responded, "Yeah, I'm better than ok son." Everyone laughed but it was very touching and brought the Spirit super strong. Then that night we were teaching him about the Holy Ghost and he asked me to confirm him. I was super nervous but I prayed a lot and afterwards everyone said I did a good job. Chris also said he really appreciated what I said. I know the Spirit helped me because most of the stuff I said I would've never thought of. I loved being able to participate in that.

Then on Sunday, we were wondering what we were going to do because we didn't have any investigators. So we went out to give people the He is the Gift card and we got 2 potential investigators! I've been here almost a month and this was the first time we ever had success while tracting! It was such a blessing.

The members are still great and feeding us very well! I'm also expecting lots of letters for Christmas. Like enough to fill a refrigerator box! So start writing!

I love all of you! But I love Jesus Christ more. And this is where He wants me. So this is where I want to be

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email: 12/22/2014

This week has been fun! We got to go to a new missionary training on Wednesday and that was awesome! We got to be taught by President Drake, Sister Drake, and the AP's. What I learned the most is to be bold. Like tell people straight up that we are representatives of Jesus Christ and that we have a very special message about Him for them comprising of Christ calling a prophet on the Earth today as He did in the old testament and that He loves His followers around the world and He show that by appearing to His children in the Americas, which is recorded in the Book of Mormon. All the new missionaries bore their testimonies at the end about how we've grown since we've come on missions. I realized that for a long time I've known the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's church once again restored on the Earth. That Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. That the Book of Mormon is true scripture, as the Bible is. And that Jesus wants me here, on my mission. But I've grown to understand that "the field is white." That people are ready for the good news of Jesus Christ. That they are waiting for it and anxiously waiting to receive it from me and the Holy Ghost.

Anyway, the rest of the week we mostly talked with members about the Christmas dinner and getting them to bring their friends. President Fronk (used to be 1st counselor in the stake presidency) the ward mission leader had Elder Six sing at the dinner and gave me the opportunity (made) me juggle dinner roles in front of everyone. But it was fun.

We also found out that quite a few recent converts haven't had the lessons after baptism so we're going to be busy doing that for the next couple weeks.

Quick story, so sometimes we have to drive 4 other missionaries around so they gave us a Dodge Grand Caravan last week. On the day I got driving privileges, we get a minivan. If two 20 year old guys got out of a blue minivan, came and knocked on your door and said they were there to teach you about Jesus Christ, and you looked past them at their minivan, what would you think. Yeah. yeah, exactly. I'm cursed to minivans for time and all eternity...

I love all of you! But I love my Savior more. And this is where he wants me to be. so this is where I want to be.

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email: 12/29/2014

I love Christmas time! There's extreme Christmas spirit in Texas. Like 95% of the houses have lights and then 50% of them have MAJOR lights. It's awesome! On Christmas day we woke up at 5:30, opened presents, and then went to the church with a bunch of other missionaries to play chair soccer. I have more candy than clothing now (definitely in mass, possibly even in volume). We came home 2 or 3 times with bags full of the stuff on our doorstep. It's crazy! But thanks to those who sent gifts, my favorite was probably... I don't even know. They were all good!

Anyway, on Christmas Eve we raked Sister Harless's yard for about 4 hours. It was fun cuz she's elderly and doesn't have any family close by so we served her and got to talk to her about her conversion story and cheered her up during the holidays.

We also had a miracle this week. Some might just say it's a coincidence but that's cuz they're poopnoggins. But back to the story, I have a crazy goal of matching Elder Six's baptisms before he leaves, which is 10. We already have 1 and then on Friday we checked up on a part member family and the husband, James (nonmember) came running out to us and said that without the church's help his family wouldn't have had Christmas and started saying all this awesome stuff about the church and said "I've known I needed to get baptized and now is the time." He just needs to quit smoking and then we're golden! Then yesterday we checked on a potential investigator we had and we taught him the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on his doorstep and when we were talking about Old testament prophets he asked, "So who's the prophet today?" I think he was trying to trick us cuz no other church believes in modern day prophets, but we went on to teach about Joseph Smith and Thomas S. Monson and he believed us and said he would pray about it. MIRACLE!

I absolutely love Kingwood 2nd ward! I hope I stay here for like 21 months! But it's not up to me and I'm sure there's people elsewhere who need me so "I'll go where He wants me to go"

I love all of you. But I love our Savior more. And this is where He wants me. So this is where I want to be.

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email: 1/5/2015

A few cool things happened this week. Every Thursday we have an "Hour of Power" at 5:00 which is the Apostles and First Presidency pray in the Salt Lake Temple for missionaries to have success so we go tracting at that time. This week was the first time we gained an investigator from it! His name was Tony and he has a very horrible life. Like really horrible. So we taught him the Plan of Happiness in about 6.8937 minutes on his porch. Then he said we could come back! When we tried back the Sheriff was there so he said it wouldn't be a good time but to come back later. We also got a potential investigator on the same street named Hailee. That was a really awesome day!

We (Elder Six, the Spirit and I) also got a less active family to come back to church and they really enjoyed this Sunday. That was awesome cuz we've been working with them since I got here. And Rusty, one of our progressing investigators committed to coming to church this week. He's awesome!

Tomorrow is transfers and nobody in my district, including the zone leaders, is being moved. I'm super happy about that cuz the Elders and Hermanas are awesome in this area! And since it's been one transfer, I'd like to bear my testimony. It seems like a good tradition to start.

I KNOW there is a God. I KNOW I'm His spiritual son. This makes Him my Heavenly Father. I KNOW He loves me as any good father loves his children, but even more so. I KNOW He sent His oldest Son, Jesus Christ, my Older Brother, to Earth to live and die for me, and you. This makes us worth dying for, each one of us, individually. I KNOW He has given us prophets throughout the history of this Earth to teach us about Him. I KNOW that the Bible (as far as it is translated correctly) is revelation given to these prophets, therefore the words of God. I KNOW that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and loves all His children, so He has once again called a prophet to reveal the fullness of the good news of Jesus Christ. His name is Thomas S. Monson. You can look up his talks on youtube. I KNOW that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the reestablished Church that Christ set up while He was on the Earth. This Church was established through Joseph Smith, the first modern day prophet. I KNOW the Book of Mormon is true because I've read it, and prayed about it, and have received my answer. I KNOW these things to be true. And the funny thing about truth, is that it's true, at all times and in all things and in all places.

If any of my friends have any questions about that last paragraph, ask Jessica, my little sister, she's super smart and loves answering questions.

I love all of you. But I love Jesus Christ more. And this is where He wants me. So this is where I want to be.

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Transfer Period #2

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email: 1/12/2015

These past 2 months have felt like a couple seconds. Like it feels like I left you guys in the airport at 4 o'clock this morning. It's soooo crazy! I'm not supposed to be thinking about how much time I have left but I am 1/12 through my mission. Today! And it feels like a couple of seconds.

We had transfers this week and I sent a picture of our zone, but out of the 10 people in my district nobody was transferred. I think I said that last week but oh well. And so rather than just having 6 district meetings together and then restarting with new people we just get to keep on going for 6 more. This one was awesome because our District Leader Elder Martinez just had all of us bare our testimonies and the Spirit was super strong and we all received revelation on how to help the missionary work in our area.

Recently I have been reading a general conference talk from the conference issue of the ensign every personal study. It has really made my studies more enjoyable because it is in our language and written by living prophets.

We are really trying to get more investigators for us to teach, we have 2 right now but lessons with them are extremely difficult to set and have them keep. So our mission has a goal of contacting 200,000 people in 2015 as a mission. Elder Six and I are trying to do our part by contacting at least 10 per day. we only got 42 last week but 5 of them turned into referrals for the Spanish speaking sisters (Hermanas). We are also setting up a scripture study class based on the Bible Videos the Church produces. We are going to encourage the people who attend to read the verses before hand and then we are going to watch the Bible Video with them at the beginning and then we have 5 to 8 questions that we are going to discuss fro the remaining time. We are starting on the 22 and having one each week. We hope to be able to gain more investigators through that.

We also used the hearts Mom sent me to heart attack the AP's apartment door. I took pictures and will get them to you ASAP.

Quick story, Elder Loveland, one of the AP's, went home last week and was replaced by Elder Brewer. Elder Williams is the other AP from before and now. Anyway, Elder Loveland was supposed to go home Wednesday night but his flight was canceled and rescheduled for Thursday morning. So Wednesday night he called all of his old companions, including Elder Six, and they were all surprised cuz he was supposed to be on an airplane, and told them that he got an extension for a transfer. He also told them that President Drake said he could stay with any companionship he wanted and asked if he could stay with us. Then the next morning we spent 2 hours getting our apartment ready for 3 people to study and sleep. And then he never showed up. We eventually figured out that he left Thursday morning and it was all a lie. So Elder Six beat up Elder Williams and Elder Brewer the next morning during chair soccer with a lightsaber. And we heart attacked them.

I love all of you. But I love Jesus Christ more. And this is where He wants me. So this is where I want to be.

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email: 1/20/2015

This week was great with the Interview Training and our Zone meeting. the Spirit was so strong in both of those and lifted my Spirits. They also gave me many answers to prayers, such as "what else can I do to receive more revelation?" Most of all they just strengthened my testimony over all and gave me an even greater desire to work as hard as I can.

We've also been noticing small miracles, such as praying for just one lesson when we go tracting and towards the end of a street and when we are running out of time we get someone who'll listen to a 10 minute pamphlet lesson. It's awesome! Although none of them have turned into new investigators for us our prayers have been answered. I know that Heavenly Father does hear my prayers and that as Elder Six and I continue to ask for a family to teach and bring to the waters of baptism we will be blessed as long as we are actively seeking.

Our commitment from the AP's to plan more according to the bullet points have also blessed us with a stronger desire to accomplish our goals and have allowed us to be busier.

I love my mission and Kingwood 2nd ward. The people, members and nonmembers, are so incredible!

That was part of my letter to President Drake.

I keep saying this, and Elder Six has noticed that when I really love something I keep mentioning it over and over and over (like food, mountains, snow, volleyball, lasagna (separated from food cuz it's inits own category of blessings from God that we can't just throw it in with all other food, I think ribs are the same way), Elder Holland, teaching people, etc.) but anyway, I love my mission. It's so fantastic and t's also flying by so fast. Elder Six goes home February 18 and he just keeps mumbling "I can't believe it. I can't believe it." over and over. He's awesome!

We don't really have any investigators right now, the only people that really listen to us are Hispanics and we turn them over to the Hermanas. but that's ok cuz I'm really beginning to like tracting.

I would like everyone to check out Moroni 8:16. The second half is the important part.

I love all of you! But I love our Savior more. And this is where He wants me to be. So this is where I want to be.

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email: 1/26/2015

We've had a pretty great week this week. It started off by finding a young family, Dillon, Melissa, and their 2 year old son Braxton. They listened to the Restoration lesson and it was the first time I was able to quote the first vision (T.H.E. Mission style) in an investigator lesson. Dillon felt the Spirit strong and Melissa was interested. They said we could come back on Sunday but when we went back they weren't home. We are going back this week to set up a new appointment and get their phone number though. I'm looking forward to teaching them!

We also set a goal as a district to have 1080 contacts in 3 weeks. We know the mission goal is 200,000 this year but making smaller goals over short times makes it seem like we can make more of a difference.

We also started a scripture study class on Thursday nights at 7:30 at the Kingwood building as a finding opportunity as suggested by Preach My Gospel. We base each lesson on a Bible video and then go through the scripture asking questions that most people don't normally think about. The Swanks came as well as a recent convert and that made it a good guinea pig class. They seemed to really enjoy it and we thought it went really well. We hope and pray that we'll get more nonmembers there in the future.

I'm still super grateful that I have Elder Six as my trainer. He's so awesome and has taught me a lot about the Gospel, missionary work, and people in general. I love my dad. He always tells me I'm spoiled too because I get the Kingwood 2nd ward as my first area and I get to live so close to President and Sister Drake and the AP's. I don't mind being spoiled every so often though...

I absolutely love my mission!

We also got to teach the Sunday School class this week and it went pretty well but a member brought up "other worlds" and we had a bunch of recent converts in there so we were luck uh oh. but we explained it pretty well and I said, "I know it kinda sounds like science fiction." And then Chris Waugh, our recent convert responded "Nope, it all had to come from somewhere right?" That was pretty awesome!

That's how Satan works, he takes truths or scripture and then he twists them, just a little bit at first, but over time it completely destroys the original doctrine. I mean the Greeks were descendants of Noah and look at their mythology. That's why we need a prophet that talks to God "face to face" on a regular basis. So we make sure the doctrine and Gospel never get twisted. There was a great talk this week by a member and he told a story about going river rafting but they didn't have a guide. His brother-in-law had a book about the river and how to raft and then they went for it. He said he almost died a couple times, such as going off a water fall backwards... Wouldn't we all rather have a guide who has read the book and goes by the book, but also knows the river? Same with life, scriptures are a precious gift from God, but I'd rather have a guide (prophet) any day. Now that we all have a desire to have a prophet today, we are all on the road to a testimony of one (Alma 32).

I love all of you. But I love Jesus Christ more. And this is where He wants me. So this is where I want to be.

watch "The Joseph Millett Story" as a family. And tell everyone else to as well.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-02-50-joseph-millett-story?lang=eng

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email: 2/2/2015

We've had a great week this week. With a higher pressure and motivation from Elder Martinez and the district to get 10 contacts each and every day we've really been working hard to get that done. We've also had much more success because of it and have experienced miracles. One such miracle was a lady with 2 children listening to a 10 minute pamphlet restoration lesson. She accepted it really well but has a super busy life and told us we could try dropping by now and then but she couldn't be sure about a return appointment. She took a Book of Mormon though. She was the only person that listened to us all day. Her kids were super excited about what we said too.

We've also had prayers answered and have seen greater missionary excitement and efforts from the members. President Fronk asked for missionary experiences in Priesthood meeting and we had 4 or 5 of them. Really great ones too!

Elder Six is doing really well for how fast his departure is coming up. I love my dad.

I love my mission so much. The only thing I really need or want right now is more letters. Treats are good too. Cookies and brownies and stuff like that cuz candy is too sweet. I'm giving most of it away to kids at church.

I love all of you. But I love the Lord more. And this is where He wants me. So this is where I want to be.

I have a binder now so please start sending copies of my letters to you!

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email: 2/9/2015

This week was awesome! Elder Martinez needed each companionship to get 13 contacts per day to reach our district goal, and we didn't get any on Monday so our goal was 26 on Tuesday and on the 25th contact we got 2 new investigators! Dayne and Kendall, a young couple who just want to know what is true. I'm so excited to continue teaching them!

Then we were blessed for striving to be obedient by being able to see a mormon.org referral who we've been trying to see for over a month. He's a junior in high school and wanted to understand our basic doctrine before he saw the play the Book of Mormon to make sure he knew what was and what was not accurate. He's a great young man, he'd make a good missionary too.

My exchange on Saturday with Elder Martinez was awesome!

Recently, because Elder Six and I haven't had anyone wanting to "come unto Christ" I was wondering if there could've been something in my past dealing with worthiness that I forgot about, and those thoughts got really strong Friday night. But then we got 3 new investigators Saturday and all but 1 of our plans worked out and were super spiritual. Heavenly Father answered my prayers that day and I'm so grateful for that.

I love my mission so much. I wouldn't trade these 3 months, that have felt like 3 minutes, for anything.

I love all of you. But I love the Lord more. And this is where He wants me. So this is where I want to be.

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email: 2/16/2015

This week was incredible. Although we didn't get in with any of our investigators and we couldn't find any new ones in our finding efforts, we had a great week of serving our recent converts. Elder Mitchel was on exchanges with me on Tuesday and we helped Harriet dig a trench in her front yard. Elder Mitchel actually dug that same trench almost a year ago when he served in this ward. Those two are best friends! I have a goal to become like that with all my investigators and recent converts.

Wednesday we helped the Crofts family sand and repaint a door which we thought would only take a couple hours but ended up taking about 5. We were going to try to see a few potential investigators with Chris but he ended us just coming and helping us sand this door.

Thursday we were able to take Chris to the temple for baptisms, Elder/Brother Thomas drove us. Chris had such a wonderful experience, especially because he was doing family names. He was so incredibly happy!

Then on Saturday Elder Six was feeling very dehydrated while we were tracting and then as we were walking away from a house he found a water bottle on the way out that WAS NOT there when we walked up.

Sunday was amazing, the Stake Patriarch spoke and gave great advise on raising an eternal family. Our ward is also getting super excited about missionary work since President Fronk instructed the ward council last week on inviting.

I love this ward, and I love Elder Six. I will miss him so much but I'm also glad that I was able to be his "son" and learn from him before he left. I'm his only "son" as you know and he had been praying for me for a long time. I consider any and all answers to prayers miracles, so this makes me Elder Six's miracle. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to be that.

This has been a wonderful 12 weeks. I get a new companion tomorrow. I don't know who yet. I do get to stay in this area though, which I'm super happy about!

I love all of you. But I love Jesus Christ more (Matthew 22:37). And this is where He wants me. So this is where I want to be.

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Transfer Period #3

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email: 2/23/2015

This week has been absolutely incredible! We’ve seen so many miracles I lost count. Saying goodbye to Elder Six was a little hard but I’m so grateful that I have Elder Noall. He’s a great teacher and a hard worker. I think we get along very well and we have so much fun going about doing the work.He’s only been out 6 weeks longer than I have and we hadn’t met until the transfer meeting. He’s from Logan, Utah and has a strong testimony of the Gospel and Jesus Christ. I;m so excited to get to work with him.

Let me tell you about a couple miracles we experienced.

The first was Friday night, we got our investigator, Mitchel, to commit to be baptized on March 28! He's only a junior in high school but he has a strong desire to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. I know that as long as he puts in the work he'll be ready on that day. I am so blessed to be able to have met him and get to be the first one to teach him about prophets in the Book of Mormon.

The second miracle was that same night. It was 8:45 and we realized that we didn't have a single contact for the day so we pulled over and asked for forgiveness, as well as just one person to talk to. It was dark and lightly raining, but Heavenly Father gave us 5 people to talk to in those 15 minutes. A couple sitting outside their garage even accepted a Book of Mormon.

"Have miracles ceased? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men."

Moroni 7:29

I can never say this enough, I love being a missionary and I love T.H.E. Mission.

I love all of you. But I love Jesus Christ more. And this is where He wants me. So this is where I want to be.

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email: 3/2/2015

This week was great going up to Friday, then it started to be fantastic! Assistant Brewer came with us and showed us so many ways we can improve. It was such a great opportunity!

Earlier that week we had already decided to start thinking about specific people we can pray for (like the other miracle stories happening in T.H.E. Mission) and that we would pray for it on Thursday. Elder Brewer was planning with us and we prayed for a family of 5 who we could teach the Gospel to and that they'd be receptive. Then on Friday we had several amazing contacts but none of them ended up being interested. We ended up having 16 contacts that day, and none wanted to have lessons. Elder Brewer had to go back early so we dropped him off and we had a little time before dinner so we tried a member. we told them who we had prayed for and she said "I don't know a family of 5, but I know one of 3. Let me text them." She texted her right there and set up an appointment for us on Monday! Then we ended up having dinner with those members Sunday and we learned that she meant 3 children, IT WAS A FAMILY OF FIVE!!!!!

Heavenly Father answers prayers! He does want this work to succeed, because it's His work! I'm so glad I'm a missionary.

We also had 2 investigators, Dayne & Kendle (a young couple), at Sacrament Meeting! This was the first time an investigator has come for two and a half months.

I love this area, it's become my home. I think I can start to understand that picture book about the boy who grows to be a missionary. I don't remember what it's titled, but the boy says "you don't swim on a mission because you go to the empty sea."

I love all of you. But I love Jesus Christ more. And this is where He wants me. So this is where I want to be.

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email: 3/9/2015

Another great week in Kingwood 2!

We have seen many of our specific prayers answered. We prayed for a young couple with a baby, and we were led to them. We prayed for a young man looking for more knowledge about God, and we were led to him. We prayed for a family with 4 children who will be prepared to be baptized April 4, and we were led to them. I love prayers and asking my Heavenly Father to perform miracles and witnessing them happen before my eyes. None are investigators yet but the Spirit and us will get them there.

Our investigator with a baptismal date, Mitchell, dropped us and that was really hard. He is such a great young man, but he got clouded with a bunch of doctrinal points that people should gradually learn. We don't give babies steaks and we don't give investigators mountains of doctrine. Line upon line, precept upon precept. He'll join the church one day though.

We also got a referral from the Hermanas for a young lady who wants to be baptized! Just 2 days after Mitchell dropped us. Tender Mercies!

Quick story! Sunday morning we were riding our bikes in a rain storm, my first time riding in the rain. We were soaking wet and our potential investigators kept dropping us, so we decided to go tracting. We knocked on one door, waited a minute and started knocking again when the door opened. A very tall man opened the door and said, "you just don't get it, do you? You're biking in the pouring rain, you knock on my door, wait 10 minutes"(it was not 10 minutes)"and then knock on my door again? You guys are crazy! But you know what? I've got 5 minutes so teach me something." We talked about prophets and read Moroni's promise to him and he said we could come back occasionally and share other scriptures with him. That's it.

I think I've gained 20ish pounds... I love Texans and their food, I hate the side effects... But at least I'm not starving!

I love all of you. But I love Jesus Christ more. And this is where He wants me. So this is where I want to be.

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email: 3/16/2015

This week was full of service! We pulled a nice old lady's weeds out of her flower bed after we tracted into her and then went back the next day to finish the job. We raked 2 yards on Saturday and cleaned up a big pile of junk in someone's front yard on Saturday as well. Actually, we kind of just made it a more organized pile since they don't have trash cans or a dumpster (a lot of people here seem to be like that) so we weren't able to actually get rid of any of it... But it does look better now than it did before.

We had half of our investigators drop us over this past week. But each day someone dropped us we got at least 2 referrals. I'm still not sure if God is sifting through the wheat and the tares or if we're just horrible missionaries, but I pray it's the first! So far only one of those investigators turned out to be a new investigator, his name is Jonathan. I think over half of his extended family is investigating the church right now, so he decided to see what it was about this church. We had an awesome spiritual lesson, and his niece sat next to him the whole time. Her eyes lit up so big when we told them that Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father appeared to Joseph Smith. That made me really understand what Christ meant when he said "become as little children." They're so ready to believe!

We have a lesson with another one of the referrals tomorrow and we're super excited about that.

This is also the first week I've passed 70 contacts! We got 73 and we've seen miracles work around us as we did that!

I've also gained a testimony of fasting this week. I've been struggling for the last few weeks with just thinking. Usually I'm able to ponder for hours about a single subject and discover incredible personal revelations from it. My mom can attest that I've had the gift of discernment (or being able to know how others feel and what they need) since I was born. But I've lost those, both being gifts of the Spirit. as well as the gift of weeping, which I'd be ok with if it didn't take all emotional feelings with it. I became a robot for 3 weeks and I didn't understand why. I was constantly confused, so confused in fact that I was confused about feeling confused. I didn't even know what was wrong with me until we talked in our scripture study class about gifts of the Spirit and I realized I had lost all of mine except my testimony. Once I figured out what was missing I still had no idea how to get them back. I think they were taken because of my pride (cuz I prayed for humility, I highly advise not doing that unless you're in a very comfortable position in life, patience is along those same lines) so I acknowledged that they were gifts from God and that I literally am nothing without Him (Alma 26:12). Then I fasted for a day, begging my Heavenly Father to give them back to me or help/show me how to be humble asap so I could overcome that trial and get them back. Over that day they all came back. each and every gift. i know fasting works miracles!

I love all of you. But I love our Savior more. And this is where He wants me. So this is where I want to be.

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email: 3/23/2015

We had a very interesting week. I was sick on Monday (food poisoning I think) and couldn't work after dinner. I was feeling a bit better Tuesday during Zone Conference, which was absolutely wonderful and I learned so much. We had dinner that night with a family where the husband had lost his job that morning, and it was a great experience to be able to have a spiritual conversation with them talking about blessings. He also asked us for a blessing. A man in his 40's asking two 19-year-old boys to give him a blessing of comfort and guidance. I felt super humbled! I love being a missionary.

Miracle Story: we went to find a member on the ward list at an apartment complex. He ended up having moved but right when we were getting in the car, a lady brought out her garbage so we went over and talked to her and she took a Book of Mormon and we made an appointment to go back and teach her. It was an awesome lesson and we found out that she has 6 kids! She's so open and ready to receive the Gospel. I love being a missionary.

We also have a recent convert who hasn't been paying tithing, which keeps her from attending the temple, but at our scripture study class we talked about the umbrella keeping us from getting blessings and we could just see the Spirit working on her. It was awesome to see her just staring at the picture we drew on the board with that look of, "I need to repent." I love being a missionary!

We also had dinner with a family on Saturday night and she was officially reactivated this week! I love being a missionary.

It also felt great to have 70 contacts again this week! I love being a missionary!!

There is nothing better in the world than to give all your heart, might, mind, and strength, and time to our Savior. And all he asks us to do with all that is serve other people. He could ask us (His 88,000 full-time representatives) to build more temples, or churches, or clean all of them, or make signs that say "Jesus" across East Texas that would be visible from space, but no. Our Savior is super selfless. He asks for our all, including our will, our desires, our thoughts, and then He tells us He just wanted them so we can give them our brothers and sisters around the world. Jesus is really cool, isn't He. I hope that as I continue to learn and grow and overcome my weaknesses that when people look at me, or hear me talk, they will think of Him. I've got a long way to go but I think it's a good goal.

I love all of you. But I love Jesus Christ more. And this is where He wants me. So this is where I want to be.

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email: 3/30/2015

This week has been fantastic once again. We've seen so many miracles and blessings come as we've gone out and worked. My exchange with Elder Henrie was a real learning experience, I always look forward to exchanges with the leaders I have. They have such good insights and so much experience it really helps me understand what more I can do. We've been teaching a scripture study class on Thursday nights going through the Bible Videos, it hasn't been a good finding tool yet but it really helps our recent converts understand the gospel. We taught about the Last Supper this week and I didn't think we would be able to get enough information to talk about for the 45 minute class from the scriptures about this one meal, but we had awesome class participation and it worked out awesome. The Swanks always attend and really help us with their input.

One miracle from this week was we taught our investigator, Jonathan, but forgot to invite him to church at the lesson, but on Saturday we were up in that area finding potentials and he saw us outside and invited us in for lunch. We were then able to invite him to church and we had no idea how we were going to do it because he doesn't have a phone and we were supposed to be crammed busy that day with service projects but one got cancelled and he happened to see us outside. He came to church and loved the testimony meeting. I love being a missionary!

It has been such a blessing to get to know the people here and serve with the wonderful leaders this ward has. I have learned a lot here and will miss it, but I know that transfers are inspired and that where I go now will be where the Lord wants me.

I bore my testimony yesterday in church and the Spirit taught me something very profound. Brother Baer (2nd counselor in the Bishopric) said sometimes his boys try to take the easy way out of things. Brother Crofts (just an awesome member, I think he teaches a primary class) talked about having a perspective of the future, like "if I knew something bad would happen in 3 months, how would I change how I live now to be more ready?" And I was pondering those two things and got up and bore my testimony something along the lines of "What is the easy way out now, is near never the easy way out for the future. In the morning the easy way out is to sleep for an extra hour, but the easy way out for the rest of the day is to read your scriptures because it makes your day so much easier. The easy way out of peer pressure, like come party and drink with us, is to follow your friends, but the easy way out for tomorrow, or next week is to hold to your standards. The easy way out after high school graduation is to follow your friends to college, or even easier sit at home playing video games and living off of your parents, but the easy way out in 2 years, or 10 years, or your lifetime is to serve a mission. The Gospel of Jesus Christ may not be easy right now, but it makes tomorrow, and next week, and next year, and a lifetime easier.

I love being a missionary and I love the Holy Ghost.

I love all of you. But I love the Lord more. And this is where He wants me. So this is where I want to be.

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pictures: 11/2014 to 3/31/2015 (Transfer Periods #1-3)

entering THE Mission 11/24/2014

leaving THE Mission 11/26/2014

President Drake, Elder Combrink, Sister Drake

Elder McDonald

Elder Combrink and Elder Six

arriving at the temple before dawn

Angel Moroni on the Houston Temple

Elder Six and Elder Combrink

the rest of their District:

back row: Elder Huhane and Elder Nonu

front row: Elder Mitchell, Hermana Carling, Elder Martinez, Elder McCown, Hermana Hull, and Elder Young

Texas Houston East Mission - 12/10/2014

Elder Hansen, Chris, Di Angelo, Elder Six, Elder Combrink

Elder Martinez

Elder Nonu

Kingwood Zone

District Nativity

on left: Elder Young, Elder Martinez, and Elder Mitchell

angels: Elder Six and Hermana Hull

on right: Elder Combrink

up front: Elder Huhane, Hermana Carling, Elder McCown, and Elder Nonu

Elder Young

Elder Six

Elder Six

Kingwood Zone p-day

Elder Huff, Elder Ressler, Sister McPherson, Sister Casas, Elder Dean, Sister Turpin, Hermana Hull, Elder Six, Hermana Carling, Sister Crump, Elder Young, Elder Mitchell, Elder Wollden, Elder Sarchet

Elder Knebel, Elder Martinez, Elder McCown, Elder Hunter, Elder Nonu, Elder Huhane, Elder Combrink, Elder Mamae