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Well the Easter time is upon us and I taught a lesson from the March 2008 ensign title "Who is Jesus Christ". I love reading the lessons taught in the ensign and it was a great reminder of who Christ is and the reason for the Easter season. I love one part in the article that talked about how if we were to be given agency without the atonement it would be a fatal gift. I reminded me how true that is because truly with out the atonement our agency would doom all of us. I love the fact that the atonement happened and that we can all be saved by the atonement. I also agree with how atonement is described as three words "at one ment" which means at one with God. I love that so much and how true it is because the atonement does bring us at one with God.

Tags: Atonement

Well it has been interesting since I have arrived back in Afghanistan. The gentleman I have been speaking to about the gospel is showing definate interest even more than when I left, which is great. Not long after I returned he was showing definate interest and so I started talking to him some more. One thing that we got on was the leadership and I told him the scripture in the New Testament about where Christ's church would be based on the law of the apostles and prophets. Well he handnt read that and doesnt know as much about the bible as he wants to know so he asked his wife about it. She told him that yes it is in the bible and now he is definately leaning toward becoming an investigator. It is so great and now I'm working on trying to push him the rest of the way. I do know though that it isnt me that has convinced him but the Holy Ghost whispering to him. So I will keep talking and letting the Holy Ghost keep working on him as he thinks on what we talk about.

Tags: Missionary Work

Okay I finally made it home safe for my 18 days of leave from the army. It is so glad to be home with my family. I have missed them so much and definately will enjoy my time with them even if it is short. I really have had it brought to mind the scriptures which says that we are to cleave  unto our spouses and none other. I have found myself hating the separation even more lately this time around. I have found it harder to be separated and sometimes find myself thinking on the statement one our general authorities made when he said and I quote "No other success in life no matter how great can ever compensate for failure in the home". It gives me the drive to push even harder to keep my relationship with my wife despite the separation. I know the Lord is pleased with me on that one and I know that it also pays dividends in the long run. This I know is the truth contained in the principals of the gospel that family is to come first in conjuction with serving God.

Tags: Family

Well the last nine months have been very faith promoting for me. I have seen how the example we set as desciples for Christ definately gets attention. In the past nine months I have had the wonderful experience of sharing my testimony to at least three different people, one civilian and two soldiers. OOPs  make that three soldiers. It has been wonderful to see what the knowledge I have shared with them has done in planting the seeds of the gospel in their hearts has done for them. The KBR employee has decided that he is definately going to be investigating the gospel when he gets home on vacation and is with his family. The three soldiers have expressed continued interest with mulitple questions about different concepts in the bible. One day they may actually have a book of mormon in their hands and even taking the missionary lessons. That is not to mention the untold afghanis who have seen how I act and how I have treated them which has caused them to give greater respect to me. So many have expressed untold appreciation for the little acts of kindness I have shown them when I have given them toys for their children. Some have been so grateful to get american soap and shampoo since the soap and shampoo that they can afford on their economy usually has such detrimental effects to their hair and skin. I have been given many gifts for such little things that we in America take for granted. Many have even asked questions as to why I am so kind when so many other soldiers seem so aloof or even down right disrespectful. They have loved knowing that there are Christians who even share and help them to obey values they cherish with their faith. I have had so many experiences that have helped to boost my testimony in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and even brought me so much closer to Him. Now that I'm going on leave for 18 days I have many experiences to reflect on and wonder what experiences I will have when I return to finish my time in Afghanistan.

Tags: Testimony

Well one more experience here in Afghanistan where just being or well trying to be a good member of the church gets noticed. I was waiting for the chow hall to open up for dinner and a soldier I have worked with before comes in. As usual I'm my nice usual self trying to smile and laugh despite being here away from my family and friends. This soldier approached me and wanted to know how I could smile and laugh when I'm over here in the middle of a war zone and away from my wife and children. I told him that God allowed me to smile and laugh. He told me that he attended his church service and prayed all the time and God never answered him. I could tell he honestly wanted answers and I felt that he had been led to me at this moment so I told him to sit with me and I would tell him my vision that has given me such joy in my life. At the dinner table I proceded to tell him about my vision and imparted some comforting words that I was impressed to give to him. I could tell he was listening and I had planted the seeds of the gospel in his heart. The next evening at dinner I went over with him some scriptures to keep in mind that would help him in his prayers and he was attentive as usual. God knows what all of us needs even those who arent members and sends us to the right people to get the help and advice we need. It was great to be able to be a missionary again even if it was just to plant the seeds that maybe when the time comes and the missionaries knock on his door he will remember and listen.

Tags: Missionary Work And Testimony

Well it has been a great experience here in Afghanistan. Striving always to live the life we are called to lead as members of the church can get the attetion of others. I have had the wonderful experience of sharing the gospel with a civilian who saw the way I strive to live my life and wanted to know more. The experience has been heightened in the fact that being in a deployed zone I can't proselytize the gospel. This particular gentleman happens to be from texas where I'm stationed and seeing that I am different from most of the soldiers and civilians here in Afghanistan started asking questions. He particularly was interested in our views on families being that he is married and so I explained to him how we view the family. I ended up printing off a copy of The Proclamation on The Family and gave that to him. He read it and sent it home to his wife who also read it. In talking to him more and explaining about why people are here he wanted a book of Mormon to read. I have given him a copy and he is reading it. He still continues to ask questions and is geniunely interested and even if I have just planted the seed I know eventually when he meets the missionaries he will be receptive to the gospel. It has been a great experience to be able to spread the gospel and to draw others to me because they see something different that looks so much better than what they may have.

Tags: Missionary Work

This morning as I was looking out over the village where I pull guard in Afghanistan and was looking across some of the modest fields. I happened to notice one farmer watering his fields and the way he was doing it made me so thankful for the modern farming methods we have in America. This local farmer was taking a shovel and moving the water across his field to help it move a little faster across the field. I thought man what this farmer could do if he just a few of the modern ways to water his fields and fruit trees. Things like siphon tubes and modern canals and ditches would give him so much more the advantage. I know just having the knowledge and tools like that at his disposal would make his job so much easier. It makes me so appreciative of the fact that if i want to grow a garden or even have a field of my own after the military that i have the technology of America to rely on to help me. I'm so thankful for what I have and think sometimes how great it would help these folks just to have even a small part of that and the knowledge to use it.

Tags: Thanks For America

Well okay who would have thought of all places to be teaching discussion it would be in a deployed zone. I never thought it would happen but it has. A soldier in another unit was talking to one of her friends and her friend decided she wanted to be taught the discussions so she could join. It is great but okay left our group leader and assistant group leader scrambling to figure out how to do this. Well our assistant group leader had his preach my gospel book so he started teaching her the discussions. Well problem came up in that he went on leave and our group leader has missions that made it impossible to be at the family home evenings on Monday. Well so I am picked and I have never gone on a mission!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!! Well okay calm down here and think this through and definately pray hard and fast especially since a teacher I am not. So I did the hard praying and looking over the lesson especially since I had to teach it that day and didnt get the book until then. Well it was that evening and so family home evening time comes and I'm in the chapel playing hymns trying to calm my nerves still doing some serious praying. I'm glad that I have the investigators friend there and one other person to help me out and then another member comes in late so three people. Well it went off great as far as could tell and especially there at the end man the spirit was definately there. So in the end it all worked out and I definately want to go on a mission well more than one when I retire from working and I really didnt need to worry. It actually was kind of fun and an awesome experience. Maybe I will get to do again even though this is totally unexpected.

Tags: Missionary Work

It is so interesting to be in small service member groups. The closeness in these small groups can be so great compared to large wards. One can't get lost in the shuffle of a ward and many times everyone has to work together to make the meetings come together. Sometimes people have to do multiple jobs but it is a great learning experience. I have for example taken on being elders quorum teacher, putting together the music, and leading it. I have no training for any of it and then trying to lead singing without any rythm? Well that has been funny and fun and well a great learning experience for me one that I will be happy to have had. I definately will miss the small group when I leave afghanistan but I know I will be taking a lot back to my home ward.

Tags: Church Family

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