Week 44 | May 15, 2017

Dear Family and friends!

Where do I begin? First Happy Mother's Day! Mom I wouldn't be half the man I am without your loving Christlike example in my life! You are a light that I know I can always look to! Talking to my family was definitely highlight but we also found 6 more investigators, worked harder than ever, partied in the trailer park, and rode in the nice A/C provided by our wonderful car! Really though this week was awesome!

We had an amazing miracle this week! Simply after 8-9 hours of grueling work in the hot humidity and rain we found nobody and just got yelled at a lot! We kept smiling and working. Faithfully and diligently. We worked as hard as we could we prayed and prayed and prayed! It wasn't until the last 20 mins of the day when we found our daily goal of investigators! It was absolutely amazing! I can promise that if we continue to act in faith we will be blessed!

Lastly I just wanted to leave you with my testimony of the Book of Mormon.

I add my testimony to the countless others who have taken up Moroni's promise and received a personal witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God! I testify that each page contains the power to lead us down the path of happiness and salvation! I testify that the words, written by prophets of old, have the ability to calm troubled souls and mend broken hearts! It can answer any question of the soul with exactness, prescribed to your very circumstance. I testify with all my being that The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is exactly what it claims to be! It was written by the ancient inhabitants of the Americas. Holy men wrote their dealings with God and more important the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the fullness! The records were hidden away and remained unchanged for hundreds of years. They laid untouched until the angel Moroni visited the boy Joseph Smith after his encounter with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith didn't just make up a story, he didn't conjure up some lie, he didn't die along side his loved ones for a book that he made up! It is true! Just as Joseph Smith testified, just as every prophet that wrote the record, and just as every prophet following testified! If we but ask God "with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ" the Holy Ghost " will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost"

I add my witness that I know that the Book of Mormon is true! It has changed my life, answered my questions, and has taught me about my dear Savior Jesus Christ! This book is evidence that what I am doing isn't all for naught! It is evidence that Joseph Smith is a prophet, Christ's church and priesthood has been restored, and that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemed of the world. I know it! I've experienced it! I hope I can but live it's teachings and help others do the same.

I urge anyone and everyone to find out for themselves if this book is true. Continually ponder up its words and live them. I testify that all who do will be changed forever and will one day be prepared to meet their king. It is my hope and prayer that we will all make this book the keystone of our lives.

Read it! Love you lots! 

Elder Tracy

Week 43 | May 8, 2017

Family and Friends,

I hope you are all doing well! I really learned a lot this week! We had a pretty good week! We found another 5 new investigators and have quite a few return appointments for this up coming week so we are excited! One of the highlights of the week was an exchange with Elder Firth in Bumby! They are Haitian-Creole speaking so we had some really cool experiences! For one day we talked to LITERALLY everyone we saw! I'm sure it was quite obnoxious to some but honestly I don't care! I love this gospel and I am going to share it with everyone! Despite whatever social norms, God has called me to represent Christ and proclaim His gospel! We have never talked to so many people in one day before! We found several new investigators and had some really good lessons in Creole! Haitian people are so nice! One lady invited us in, fed us, and then just wished us on our way! It was some really good food too!

This week I have pondered on two main things: 1.) The Book of Mormon and my testimony of it and 2.) What it means to be a consecrated missionary!

I have been studying a lot in D&C 4:2 which states, "Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day."

While being out here I have met hundreds of people who embark to serve God both in and out of our church! I have noticed most withhold one or more of those four things, but in God's work! This wondrous work we can't offer anything less than all our heart, might, mind and strength! Only then will we stand blameless before God! I look forward to sacrificing more and give all I am to the work! As I do I may or may not see success, that's up to God, but I know I will become a changed person and do much good for many people! I encourage you all to ponder what you give to the Lord! Is everything you do for Him or bringing you closer to Him? If not, we all have something to work on! We won't be perfect but we should all try to do a little better at serving God, and as we know serving others is serving God (Mosiah 2:17) Alright well my email is getting kinda lengthy and preachy so maybe I'll share my Testimony of the Book of Mormon next week! I look forward to call home next week! I hope all you have a fantastic week!

Love your little more consecrated missionary,

Elder Tracy

Week 42 | May 1, 2017

Hey Everyone!

I am so happy to hear that you are all doing so well! We had another really amazing week out here in the Florida Orlando Mission! We found another 7 new investigators, and had an amazing Zone Conference, we have had so many great experiences! I love this area! I also got to do an exchange with my MTC companion Elder Fine which was awesome!!! We saw a lot of miracles!

At Zone conference this week we learned a ton about the Book of Mormon and how we can make it the center of our teaching! This book is seriously the most powerful tool to change our lives! If we read daily we will be strengthened and filled with light that will guide us even in the darkest of times! I urge you to read from the Book of Mormon! As we have made it the center of our teaching, people have become more open to us and the spirit has been so much stronger! I love that book! I have a goal to memorize 84 scriptures from the Book of Mormon in the next several transfers! I'm very excited for the challenge!

So we had another really cool miracle that happened on Saturday! So some unplanned service opportunities came up and we ended up doing 6 hours of service Saturday afternoon! We had a goal for the week to find 8 new investigators and we only had 4! We wanted to go find but we knew that if you would go serve others Heavenly Father would help us! So we got ready and headed out to find people to teach! We postponed dinner so we could do some finding but had no luck! Nobody was home! We went and grabbed a bite to eat and then just prayed to God asking for His help! We only had about an hour before we needed to go in and we hadn't even talked to anyone longer than 3 minutes! We felt prompted to go to a particular area and instantly had opportunities to talk to people! We found three investigators in that hour span! It was such a miracle!

Well I'm doing well and love this gospel more than ever! I wish you all the very best!

Your Book of Mormon loving missionary,

Elder Tracy

Also welcome to the family Lisa! I couldn't be happier for you guys!

Week 41 | April 24, 2017

Hey Everyone,

I am seriously having a blast here in University Park! My district are seriously the coolest bunch of Elders! It's so great seeing Elder Johnson and Elder Fine again! This was one of the greatest week of my mission! Everyday all day is such a blast and I'm loving every minute of it! We saw several miracles this week and my companion Elder Geisler are setting some goals that are going to help us stretch and grow and I am pumped! Good stuff is coming!

There are so many things that happened this week I don't even know what to write about! We set a goal to find 8 investigators and we found 9, amongst the 9 new investigators was a family of 5 found by an awesome family in the ward! We had a lesson with them on Saturday and it was probably the best restoration lesson I've had on my mission! The spirit was SO STRONG!!! Elder Geisler and I taught in unity and with much conviction and power! It was awesome! We had thoughts come to mind and we did and said things we hadn't planned to say or do! The spirit definitely helped us! I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to be present and be the tool God used to help this family! They are so prepared and it was a miracle to say the least!

Miracles are everywhere if we will just take the time to notice them!

Other highlights of the week was a crazy but awesome exchange with our Zone leaders! I went with Elder Barben! He is such a stud! We had a blast and had some really good times out in the red neck country! Hahah we got to visit UCF which is right there in our area! Hahah that was a fun and awkward experience! Lastly I had a awesome opportunity to give a training at our Zone Training Meeting! Heavenly Father really knew exactly what I needed because I got assigned to talk about it! I may or may not have gotten really into it! I mean I read a big portion of an Elder Holland talk so if that doesn't bring enough fire I don't know what will! It was awesome though and I am so fired up to go out and give everything I've got! My new little catch phrase is 'Keep working, Keep learning, and Be Diligent to Death' I hope when I come off that plane I'll be to tired to tell you all how much I loved my mission! I know as we do all we can do God will take care of the rest and use us to do his work!

I love you all so very much! I hope you have an excellent week! Huge shout out out to Melinda for graduating and to Mitchell and Lisa as they are getting married is week! Love you all so much! I'm so proud and happy for you guys!

Keep Working. Keep Learning. Be Diligent to Death

Elder Tracy

Week 40 | April 17, 2017

Dear Family and Friends!

Happy Easter! How'd you celebrate it? Tell me all about it! I love it here in University Park! My companion Elder Geisler and I get along really well and are having a blast! I'm really excited for this transfer! Miracles are coming! Let me tell you! In fact we saw a huge miracle this week but first I'll tell you what we did for Easter!

Easter was great and the members took really good care for us! Church was amazing! There were some beautiful musical numbers! We then got invited to lunch and had a huge feast! We spent the whole day trying to find people to teach! We talked to a ton of people! We then had another huge dinner feast! The members here and just amazing! We talked to a few people and then set some goals and with the other missionaries in the district! It was a really great day! Best of all I got to testify of my Savior! He lives and I get to be His representative. There is no better way to spend Easter!

The miracle was a member in the ward brought a nonmember friend and they want their whole family to take the missionary lessons! I am stoked! We have been praying for a family to teach for so long! I can testify that as we ask God we do receive according to his time and will! I love this gospel! I know and testify to you that our Savior Lives! Make Him the center of your lives and you will find joy!

I love you all so much!

Elder Tracy

Week 39 | April 10, 2017

Dear family and friends,

Well everyone I'm leaving Winter Garden! After 6 months I'm headed to University Park to finish training Elder Giesler! I am so excited but, It is bitter sweet to leave all of the many friends I made here in Winter Garden! I didn't realize how much of an effect I had on people until I left! Or I guess the effect that they had on me! I love these people and the memories I've made! I may not have baptized anyone or done this and that but there is more to the Lord's work then that! I loved the people and did my best! I simply bring this up because I think too many of us get discouraged when we don't see exactly what we set out to do and see! I want to testify to you all that our Father in Heaven has a plan for us! He can do more with our lives than we can! If we do our best and place our trust in God then God will do more with our lives than we could ever do for ourselves! Winter Garden will always hold a place in my heart but I'm excited for the new challenge!

This week has been absolutely amazing and we have definitely seen many miracles! We did 12 hours of service this week and it was amazing! We got to participate in a huge event at the camping world stadium called 'He Got Up' it is a huge event that helps the homeless get back on their feet and find jobs! It was amazing to see the strong force of members come together to serve our fellow man! Service brings us joy! Take a minute and stop thinking about ourselves to help those around us!

We also got a referral from some sister missionaries in the Rochester New York mission. We cruised down a pretty rough road and met this guy named Quin! He is a really cool guy and we are very excited for him! He has a copy of the Book of Mormon and he has already seen blessings from reading it and knows it's true! He expressed a desire to be baptized the first visit meeting with him! God is truly watching over all of us!

Lastly we had stake Conference and Elder Parker of the area Seventy came and spoke to us! He has a southern baptist background but converted later in his life! He spoke so powerfully of Christ's love for all of us! He gave all who could hear his voice a blessing and it was amazing to be there and feel the power of the Holy Ghost that radiated as he spoke! At one point he addressed all those who weren't members! He urged them to not wait! The gospel brings us blessing we can't even imagine and challenged them to be baptized that very night! One lady in the congregation felt that God was talking directly to her and decided to be baptized! The missionaries worked with the mission president and she was baptized last night! It was amazing! I want to testify of the power of the priesthood! God's servants are truly on the earth ministering to God's children just like Christ would if he was on the earth!

The church is true! Thomas S. Monson is God's prophet! Christ lived, died, and lived again! He rose from the tomb and overcame death! He loves us and his hand is outreached to both you and I! All we have to do is take his hand and follow him!

So much love from your Easter loving missionary,


Elder Tracy

Week 38 | April 3, 2017

Hey Everyone!!!!!

I am so blessed and so happy! I'm healthy! The sun is shining and God is forever good! I was able to attend the house of the Lord, we put one of our investigators on date for baptism, and listened to the prophet of God! I have learned so much! What else can I ask for? This week was absolutely amazing! How was your week? How'd you like Conference? If you didn't get a chance to watch it! It's not too late! Go do it! Let it change your life!

I learned countless things over the past 7 Days but the one thing I want to focus on is peace! As described in John 14:27 Jesus describes one of his greatest gifts. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." There are so many things that call for our attention! There are so many things that cause us stress, grief, pain, or confusion. Life gets hard and no matter how much we try not to we will eventually become overwhelmed! The solution is the peace that comes from living the gospel of Jesus Christ! Over the past few days I have felt an overwhelming about of peace and love! I know our Father in Heaven loves us all! He wants us to be happy! He has given us the key and it's simple! Faith in Christ, Repentance, Baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end! Make the changes you need to be more obedient and follow Christ more faithfully!

Have an amazing week everyone! I love you all!!!

Your mission loving missionary,
Elder Tracy

P.S. Go watch the #Prince of Peace video on gospel library!


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