N's email 4/13/2015

area: Broadway 1st Ward (Houston, Texas)
zone: Broadway
companion: Elder Hobbs

I love being a missionary so much and this area, Broadway 1 West, is fantastic! I had a lot fun this week. Elder Hobbs and I laughed a lot.

Monday - After dinner we road our bikes over to Reville Park and Elder Hobbs played some street ball while I talked about missionary work with the guys sitting on benches around the court. It was awesome! We also got to pray for a couple guys that waved us down on the way home, we just stood on the side of the road in a circle and prayed for blessings.

Tuesday - We taught an awesome lesson, where we pretty much just went around and explained why we follow Jesus Christ, to a man named Guirrmo.

Wednesday - We taught a somewhat crazy lady named Sue. She's awesome though, just gets distracted and goes on random tangents all the time. She accepted a baptismal date though and committed to progress towards that. We also met the Stake President, President Howard. He's awesome and incredibly missionary oriented.

Thursday - We had dinner with the Terence family again. They're so great! She's a fantastic lady who's worked in several temples and he's a practicing Jew. I'm not quite sure how they get that marriage to work, but they've done it for the past 45 years. We also taught Guirrmo again. The lesson was going awesome, even through Joseph Smith's first vision, but then we mentioned the Book of Mormon and he completely shut off. I don't get that! All these other churches get their people to focus on that one little verse at the end of Revelations that is taken completely out of context since Revelations wasn't even the last book written in the New Testament anyway. AND Revelations was written by John, the same who wrote the Gospel of St. John, who says at the end of that book, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." There's also "by their fruits ye shall know them." There's also "if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God." There's also "the stick (scroll) of Ephraim." And on and on. But we don't say that because it promotes Bible bashing. so we just bare our testimony and encourage them to read it and pray and leave.

Friday - Elder Monson (our district leader) gave us a great lesson on happiness and success as a missionary.

Saturday - We biked around the airport, talking to people and finding members, it took a few hours, and about 15 miles later we got back to our apartment. We then went over to apartments along Broadway street and just talked to people who were outside. We talked to 44 people! It was also Elder Hobbs' Birthday so his sister in Colorado called the pizza hut here and had them deliver. We laughed a lot at him trying to blow out candles in an oreo in his mouth... just wait for the pictures.

Sunday - Church was awesome! We were asked to teach Gospel Principles at the last second. The Spirit and us did a good job covering the Atonement. The members here are great! After church we just went around talking to more people and knocked a few doors. It also rained a bunch and we were soaking wet. We must have looked so ridiculous, but we just laughed.

We talked to 127 people about the Gospel this week! Heavenly Father loves us! And He loves these 127 people too!!!

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

N's email 4/6/2015

area: Broadway 1st Ward (Houston, Texas)
zone: Broadway
companion: Elder Hobbs

This week has definitely been different. Broadway is definitely not Kingwood... There's so many more people here! And they're all outside! And they actually talk to us, or are willing to talk to us. Elder Hobbs is fantastic! He's such a hard worker and he's obedient. I'm so grateful that I'm able to serve with him. I'm also super excited to serve here in Broadway.

Because of General Conference (twice a year the prophet and 12 apostles speak to the church and it's televised around the world in many languages) we still haven't been able to meet many people in the ward. White washing (both companions coming from a different area so no one already knows the area well or the people) is super confusing. But it's good because it practically forces us to be humble and there's none of that, "Oh, we already knocked this apartment complex" or "We've already spoken with that guy." It's all free game! That's how we were able to get 78 contacts in 5 days. We were literally talking to everyone. And it feels so good to do so. Also, because so many people here are receptive there's so much less fear in contacting. So far we've only really talked with 3 members of the ward, one being Bishop Cruz, he's so cool! I'm so excited to get to work with him.

Now, Broadway is a little sketchy. It was an absolute culture shock coming from Kingwood. I think the worst part about it is that the sidewalks are a complete wreck. But, they also provide some sort of adventure feel in the city. Being here kind of reminds me of living in downtown Reno. I'm just glad that nearly all the nonmembers here appreciate us (missionaries). I definitely wouldn't go into some of these complexes without my white shirt and name tag.

Don't worry about Elder Hobbs and I one bit though. Because "whoso receiveth [us], there [Jesus Christ] will be also, for [He] will go before [our faces]. [He] will be on [our] right hand and on [our] left hand, and [His] Spirit shall be in [our] hearts, and [His] angels round about [us], to bear [us] up." D&C 84:88

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.



(he sent this extra little note to me) this place is awesome, don't worry about me one bit Mom. It's not dangerous, especially compared to all those scout campouts you encouraged us to go on.

Thanks for all you do

Happy Easter! - Because of Him, and Because He Lives

N's pictures from Transfer #3 - Kingwood / Noall - 2/16/2015 to 3/31/2015

area: Kingwood 2nd Ward, Kingwood Texas Stake

zone: Kingwood

companion: Elder Noall

entering THE Mission 2/16/2015

leaving THE Mission 2/18/2015

Elder Noall

Elder Combrink and Elder Noall

Kingwood Zone 3/17/2014

(all the other Zones in the Texas Houston East Mission) 

Beaumont Zone

Elder Combrink and Elder Noall

Elder Noall and Elder Combrink

Elder Combrink with the Crofts

Elder Noall and Elder Combrink

(These were taken by a couple in the ward -

thank you Brother and Sister Dobson!)

entering THE Mission 03/30/2015

leaving THE Mission 04/01/2015

N's email 3/30/2015

area: Kingwood 2nd Ward (Texas)
zone: Kingwood
companion: Elder Noall

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.

N's email 3/23/2015

area: Kingwood 2nd Ward (Texas)
zone: Kingwood
companion: Elder Noall

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.

N's email 3/16/2015

area: Kingwood 2nd Ward (Texas)
zone: Kingwood
companion: Elder Noall

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.