Sure we'll take an extra apartment

I guess it's Monday again and holy cow this week has flown by. As usual, Elder Deal and I have been staying incredibly busy. Ealier this week, we got a call and were told that they are shutting down our apartment so we have to move to one just down the street so basically the four of us have been living in two apartments for now which is super nice. Anyways, the work is basically the same as last week. The Lord has led us to lots of new people to teach, and we have had lots of amazing lessons. 

We have been seeing miracles every day. For example, our new ward mission leader is an avid rock climber and he has some pretty impressive trad gear (see below). On Friday, we got to take a recent convert to the temple for the first time and he loved it! That was one of the highlights of my mission so far. The other day, we were walking out of a lesson, and we looked down the street and saw a couple guys working on a car. We were just going to wave and say hi, becuase they appeared to have had a lot of a drink that is against the word of wisdom and the music they were blasting was definantly not missionary approved. But, the Spirit said we needed to talk to them. Amazingly, they were actually interested after Elder Deal testified of Christ so we are going back to teach them. I'll let you know how that goes later.

I have really had my faith in the Holy Ghost strengthened this week. In one of our lessons, we felt like changing plans mid lesson and teach the Doctrine of Christ instead of the Restoration. That wasn't something we had planned on, but the Spirit led us to know what to say and it was perfect for those people, and they almost accepted the invitation to be baptized. The scripture D&C 8:2 is so true. The holy Ghost will tell us exactly what we need to do if we are worthy of it. 

There is so much joy that comes from sharing the Gospel. You can all share the gospel too! This week, the challenge is to share something over social media with one person who the Spirit directs. You can share a scripture or something on LDS Media Library which has a ton of good stuff too. The goal is to reach out to one person. You will find so many blessings that come from sharing the restored gospel of Jesus Christ!

Love you all,

Elder Laudie

Sorry, we only carry four Book of Mormons but take a pamphlet instead

So like I mentioned last week, we had transfers so I'm now serving in the Highland Hills Stake with Elder Deal. I've got to say, this new area just amazing because so many people here are humble and ready to hear the message of the restoration. At MLC, President and all the Zone leaders were like we can be doing so much more so they set some really high goals as a mission. Elder Deal and I were like ok we can do more, so we prayed and felt inspired to set some super hard goals too. So far everything has been going great and I've even been able to use my new Spanish skills (like 20 words) pretty much every day! Mostly they just look confused or start laughing but it gets there attention long enough to hand them un espanol libro de mormon. 

This past week has really strengthened my faith. It has been amazing to see the Lord prepare people for us to teach. For example, the other night we were walking back to our bikes at about 8:45 which is about as late as we stay out, but we felt like we needed to take the long way around the block. There was this one lady out watering her yard (because they have to do that here in Vegas) and we started talking to her. Turns out, she has a nephew out on a mission. She wants to learn more about what her son is teaching people so we are going over on Tuesday to start teaching her. I can honestly say that coming on a mission has been the best decision I have ever made. The doctrine of Christ is so simple, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is the only church on the earth that teaches it in its fullness. Watching people come to realize that for themselves is probably one of the coolest things I have ever seen.

Love you all,

Elder Laudie

Sorry Mom, no pictures this week

Transfer Day

Hello everybody! It has been yet another great week in Las Vegas. I'm sending this on Tuesday because it's is yet another transfer day. I said a sad goodbye to the Gilcrease Ranch and Steeplechase wards and Elder Ellsworth, and now I'm in a new area with Elder Deal. To sum him up, he is basicly a super solid mormon kid from Utah, and this is going to be a great transfer. 

In my old area, we did a lot of work and things were really starting to look good. We had a bunch of people getting ready for baptism, and we had just found a couple new families to teach, but I guess that means it was time for me to move on so alas now I am starting over. 

Training is officially over for me so that means I should know what I'm doing. I will say that my testimony has really grown over the last three months. It's been hard, funny, and really rewarding. This has been the best experience of my life and I can't believe that I'm an 8th of the way through my mission. There is no question in my mind that this is the Lord's work.

Love you all,

Elder Laudie

Using the LAPD to teach people

Hello everybody! it's your friendly neighborhood missionary once again. Lots of good things have happened over the past week, and the Lord is moving His work forward. For starters, General Conference couldn't have been better. It's hard to pick favorites, but President Uchtdorf's talk on our journey back home was amazing and Elder Oaks preached some fantastic doctrine on the family.

Both wards we cover have plenty of less active members and some boys getting ready to go on their missions. Elder Ellsworth and I came up with a brilliant way to teach them known as LAPD. Not the Las Angeles Police Department, but less active practice discussions. We ask less active people if we can give the guys getting ready to go on their missions some practice teaching the discussions, and it is amazing how many more people are letting us teach them!

Remember the lady we did the service project for last week? Well, we have been meeting with her for a couple months and every time, she has ended it with thank you for stopping by but I'm not interested in your cult. Well joke's on her because we arn't a cult. We stopped by this week and she was like, hmm what time does church start again? We taught her the restoration and she watched conference. Pretty neat how the Spirit works because her heart is finally softening. I know for a fact that this is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth today. This is the best gift we can offer anybody!

Love you all,

Elder Laudie