Dearest family and friends,
What an amazing week our Father in Heaven has blessed me with! I know that no matter how your week went, good or bad, it was a gift from God, so if nothing else we should be grateful for it! Thanksgiving was absolutely amazing! We had two dinners! One was with my favorite members the Keoppel family! They were so thoughtful and got pictures and letters from my family and surprised us with them! It was probably the nicest thing someone out here in Florida has done for me! I am so very grateful for them and the other members that have been so kind to me! The second dinner we had was with Brother Alderman and his girlfriend Nelly, (the ones that came to church last week) they are amazing! They explained to us how ever since that previous Friday, their lives had been changed for the better and how much happier they are! It's amazing how feeling the spirit and God's love can change an individual! Dinner was great and then on Saturday Elder Gillen and Elder Russell taught her another amazing lesson and she explained that she wanted to be baptized before her birthday in January! We are so incredibly excited for her! And then they came to church again! They are amazing! Keep them in your prayers!
Meanwhile I was on an exchange with Elder Gentry! We had an amazing day...
Whoops I got distracted by the other missionaries playing gatorball and accidentally sent my email... so sorry! Anyway on exchanges we found a new investigator, taught several less active members and then had about the coolest lesson ever! We had three members come with us to see a Haitian family of 5! We had planned to teach the Plan of Salvation, but our lesson didn't quite go as we had planned! One of the members was Haitian and spoke in Haitian Creole for 50 mins! I just sat there and watched the correspondence! It was amazing although I couldn't understand a word I felt the spirit so strong! After what seemed like a very long time the Haitian mother stopped and explained how she felt amazing! She felt that what the member said was true! She said that the church felt right! It was an amazing experience for me and really strengthened my testimony! I know that the church is true! It is true in every nation and tongue! I am extremely grateful I have the opportunity to be a missionary in this area! I love being on the Lord's errand! I love the church! I love my Savior! Look for the good in every moment! And know God loves you! Love you all with all my heart!
Your grateful and blessed missionary,
Elder Tracy
Monday, September 25, 2017
Week 19 | Nov. 21, 2016
My dearest family and friends,
This week has truly been a life changing one! My mind has been opened and my heart has been touched by many of the events that have taken place! First and foremost I need you all to know how unbelievably grateful I am for a Father in Heaven that loves me, and you, and that neighbor you don't quite get along with! He loves us all equally and His hand has been evident in my life especially this week! With that said I will briefly describe a few of the amazing events that happen and then focus the majority of my thoughts on a very spiritual experience for me! It will be a long letter so you can read it all or just skip to my testimony at the end!
First, we had the amazing opportunity to learn from President Clark and Elder Schwitzer of the seventy! I learned so much from these men and I know that all our priesthood leaders are called of God! There was so much to learn from them! I invite you to reflect the priesthood leaders in your life at this time and especially this week show them your gratitude and if you don't quite know if God has priesthood leaders on the earth pray and ask Him if what I testify of is true! Sacrament meeting was amazing and I learned a lot about being grateful in our circumstances rather than for our circumstances or for things! We should realize that ALL THINGS, come from our loving Father in Heaven, "who giveth us richly all things to enjoy." (1 Timothy 6:17) Even the trials and pains are for us to grow and be grateful for! Okay, so lots of good stuff then comes my miracle...
To start I want to quote, one of the greatest members here in Florida, Brother Keoppel! To put it simple he spoils us rotten and I owe him a lot! Anyway he took us to lunch and gave us some advice! All this good stuff are his words! "I heard a pilot talking on the radio about the science of airplanes. He said that the most critical time for an airplane is during takeoff. It is then that the most stress is placed on the plane, the wings, engines and everything else. You see, in order for a plane to take off, it has to get lift. It achieves this by flying into the wind. This is called a headwind. The plane has to fight this headwind every time it takes off. It is a force that is the most dangerous to the plane and to the pilot and passengers. The plane and pilot, have to fight through the headwind in order to get up to a safe cruising altitude. Once they reach the cruising altitude, then they can proceed to their destination. In order for us to be successful, we HAVE to fight through that headwind just like a plane does until we get through the opposing force and reach a safe area where we can proceed to our destination. Everyones headwinds are different. It may be not living the commandments or not having exact obedience or whatever. Anything that distracts us from reaching our goals," there are many things that can be considered a headwind! Just remember that these things when handled with care and precision will lift you high so you can soar! Good advice right?! Now my miracle.
So Friday after lunch with Brother Keoppel we did a whole lot of planning and trying to seek some direction in which direction to take our area! We knew that if we followed the council of our leaders we would be successful so we are going to find our solid investigators, discontinue seeing the rest and then diligently seek new investigators through less actives and part member families! So after planning and making a pretty missionary style dinner... (you get creative with what you have) we decide we needed to spend that last hours of the day visiting a particular less active! It was now dark outside and we needed to bike the 7-8 miles to this mans home! Along the way we faced much opposition! I have never heard so many different people yell crude words, call us names, and mock us greatly. Along the way we saw someone pick up a prostitute and many others smoking and drinking! Let's just say there was lots of sin out and seemed to be placed directly in our way! Elder Gillen related it to the great and spacious building described in Lehi's vision! At one particular moment I felt the strongest most tangible presence of evil and darkness I have ever felt in my entire life. I was, for the first time, really scared and knew that we were in some sort of danger! We wanted to pull over and stop to say a prayer but every time we slowed down the Spirit prompted us strongly to keep going and not to stop. There were moments we felt to slow down and other to speed up and get going! We took roads we never before had taken and we came across two different large dogs that caused us to stop and cross the street! I know without a doubt that our Father in Heaven had guided us in the only safe path we could have taken! He led us safely away from the danger! At this particular moment I was very grateful for all your prayers asking to protect the missionaries! Your prayers were answered!
Well finally we made it to the mans house! Elder Gillen and I followed the impressions of the spirit to know exactly what to say to get in the home and convince all in the home to join us for the lesson! This was a miracle for they rarely ever take the time to listen to us! As I spoke and bore my testimony Nelly (the less active's girl friend) began to tear up! She stopped us and told us every word we had spoken addressed every problem she was facing and she knew without a doubt we had been sent by God! This miracle lesson led these two amazing Individuals to church where they once again felt that every word spoken was directly for them by God! They for the first time stayed for the second hour of church! Despite the fact Nelly had Pancreatitis! They LOVED church and invited us to come back twice this next week!
As I reflected the events that took place I could see that every event the past month and weeks led up to this miracle, my studies that morning practically said everything that happened that night, people we had seen said things that helped us fight through that dark feelings we felt, the timing was PERFECT! That Friday night I received so much revelation and a confirmation that God has a plan for each and everyone of us! He will not leave us to fight opposition alone! He will give us the tools to get through any trial in our life! There were so many life lessons I learned in an instant! This week I testify as witness and with all the thanks and gratitude I can muster that God loves us! He answers our prayers! He is kind and merciful and is eagerly waiting to help us! I know that we have a Savior and Redeemer! By even vocalizing His name even the darkest of feelings will flee and Satan trembles! I know this church is the true church of Christ! It was restored by Joseph Smith, an imperfect man, but was called of God and established a undeniably perfect church! The Book of Mormon is the word of God and is the key to personal revelation and continual progression in an ever darkening world! I know that God has given us families to learn and grow and come closer to our Father in Heaven! I love my family! I love you and all your amazing examples! This is my testimony and the things I am beyond grateful for this week and every week to follow!
Sorry for the long email but I couldn't deny the impression to share it with you all! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!!
Your very grateful missionary,
Elder Tracy
This week has truly been a life changing one! My mind has been opened and my heart has been touched by many of the events that have taken place! First and foremost I need you all to know how unbelievably grateful I am for a Father in Heaven that loves me, and you, and that neighbor you don't quite get along with! He loves us all equally and His hand has been evident in my life especially this week! With that said I will briefly describe a few of the amazing events that happen and then focus the majority of my thoughts on a very spiritual experience for me! It will be a long letter so you can read it all or just skip to my testimony at the end!
First, we had the amazing opportunity to learn from President Clark and Elder Schwitzer of the seventy! I learned so much from these men and I know that all our priesthood leaders are called of God! There was so much to learn from them! I invite you to reflect the priesthood leaders in your life at this time and especially this week show them your gratitude and if you don't quite know if God has priesthood leaders on the earth pray and ask Him if what I testify of is true! Sacrament meeting was amazing and I learned a lot about being grateful in our circumstances rather than for our circumstances or for things! We should realize that ALL THINGS, come from our loving Father in Heaven, "who giveth us richly all things to enjoy." (1 Timothy 6:17) Even the trials and pains are for us to grow and be grateful for! Okay, so lots of good stuff then comes my miracle...
To start I want to quote, one of the greatest members here in Florida, Brother Keoppel! To put it simple he spoils us rotten and I owe him a lot! Anyway he took us to lunch and gave us some advice! All this good stuff are his words! "I heard a pilot talking on the radio about the science of airplanes. He said that the most critical time for an airplane is during takeoff. It is then that the most stress is placed on the plane, the wings, engines and everything else. You see, in order for a plane to take off, it has to get lift. It achieves this by flying into the wind. This is called a headwind. The plane has to fight this headwind every time it takes off. It is a force that is the most dangerous to the plane and to the pilot and passengers. The plane and pilot, have to fight through the headwind in order to get up to a safe cruising altitude. Once they reach the cruising altitude, then they can proceed to their destination. In order for us to be successful, we HAVE to fight through that headwind just like a plane does until we get through the opposing force and reach a safe area where we can proceed to our destination. Everyones headwinds are different. It may be not living the commandments or not having exact obedience or whatever. Anything that distracts us from reaching our goals," there are many things that can be considered a headwind! Just remember that these things when handled with care and precision will lift you high so you can soar! Good advice right?! Now my miracle.
So Friday after lunch with Brother Keoppel we did a whole lot of planning and trying to seek some direction in which direction to take our area! We knew that if we followed the council of our leaders we would be successful so we are going to find our solid investigators, discontinue seeing the rest and then diligently seek new investigators through less actives and part member families! So after planning and making a pretty missionary style dinner... (you get creative with what you have) we decide we needed to spend that last hours of the day visiting a particular less active! It was now dark outside and we needed to bike the 7-8 miles to this mans home! Along the way we faced much opposition! I have never heard so many different people yell crude words, call us names, and mock us greatly. Along the way we saw someone pick up a prostitute and many others smoking and drinking! Let's just say there was lots of sin out and seemed to be placed directly in our way! Elder Gillen related it to the great and spacious building described in Lehi's vision! At one particular moment I felt the strongest most tangible presence of evil and darkness I have ever felt in my entire life. I was, for the first time, really scared and knew that we were in some sort of danger! We wanted to pull over and stop to say a prayer but every time we slowed down the Spirit prompted us strongly to keep going and not to stop. There were moments we felt to slow down and other to speed up and get going! We took roads we never before had taken and we came across two different large dogs that caused us to stop and cross the street! I know without a doubt that our Father in Heaven had guided us in the only safe path we could have taken! He led us safely away from the danger! At this particular moment I was very grateful for all your prayers asking to protect the missionaries! Your prayers were answered!
Well finally we made it to the mans house! Elder Gillen and I followed the impressions of the spirit to know exactly what to say to get in the home and convince all in the home to join us for the lesson! This was a miracle for they rarely ever take the time to listen to us! As I spoke and bore my testimony Nelly (the less active's girl friend) began to tear up! She stopped us and told us every word we had spoken addressed every problem she was facing and she knew without a doubt we had been sent by God! This miracle lesson led these two amazing Individuals to church where they once again felt that every word spoken was directly for them by God! They for the first time stayed for the second hour of church! Despite the fact Nelly had Pancreatitis! They LOVED church and invited us to come back twice this next week!
As I reflected the events that took place I could see that every event the past month and weeks led up to this miracle, my studies that morning practically said everything that happened that night, people we had seen said things that helped us fight through that dark feelings we felt, the timing was PERFECT! That Friday night I received so much revelation and a confirmation that God has a plan for each and everyone of us! He will not leave us to fight opposition alone! He will give us the tools to get through any trial in our life! There were so many life lessons I learned in an instant! This week I testify as witness and with all the thanks and gratitude I can muster that God loves us! He answers our prayers! He is kind and merciful and is eagerly waiting to help us! I know that we have a Savior and Redeemer! By even vocalizing His name even the darkest of feelings will flee and Satan trembles! I know this church is the true church of Christ! It was restored by Joseph Smith, an imperfect man, but was called of God and established a undeniably perfect church! The Book of Mormon is the word of God and is the key to personal revelation and continual progression in an ever darkening world! I know that God has given us families to learn and grow and come closer to our Father in Heaven! I love my family! I love you and all your amazing examples! This is my testimony and the things I am beyond grateful for this week and every week to follow!
Sorry for the long email but I couldn't deny the impression to share it with you all! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!!
Your very grateful missionary,
Elder Tracy
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Week 18 | Nov. 14, 2016
Whelp this week sure has been a tiring one! So you understand a little better on average we do about 8 hours of service, which is super solid! Well, this week we ended up with 18 hours of service! Let me tell you I can sure feel it! We helped two nonmembers! The first we helped take down and put up a fence, the second we helped move! So today has been perfect! We have spent the day at President Rulon Munn's home! It overlooks Butler Lake! Shaq's home is just across the lake, as well as the biggest home in America! It was so peaceful!
This week I was also able to do exchanges with two awesome missionaries! Elder Russell, an experienced missionary with the greatest dry humor! I learned a lot from him and we had a really great exchange! From him I learned a lot but of the biggest take aways was the importance of being you! God has put us where we are for a reason! There is something you have to offer for every individual and every circumstance you are placed! Be you! Use your skills, your personality, your quirks to lift and strength others! Be a disciple of Christ but that doesn't mean you can't be yourself while doing it! Don't forget that! The second exchange was with Elder Corriea, a Tongan elder still in training! He is ripped and basically a pro fighter! It was his first time leading out the area and he did a really great job! The lesson this diligent missionary taught me was to never give up! We knocked a lot of doors and had little success but this elder wouldn't give up! He continued to bike all through the city through all hours of the day! We even skipped dinner so we could teach more! He was so diligent and oh how I admire him! My advice to you is the lesson I learned! Don't give up! Continually seek righteousness! You may not see the blessings come right away but do not falter! Keep up the hard work and I promise that the blessings will come!!!
The last experience I'd like to share this week was our district meeting this past week! Planning district meeting is stressful for a new inexperienced missionary, so I have been praying extremely hard that this week would go well and that it would be guided by the spirit! I know that the success of this meeting had nothing to do with me and my efforts, but wow! The spirit guided every word and our district was able to discuss some major issues within the mission, zone, and district! We discussed how the main issue was pride! We all become prideful and selfish and that instantly destroys all unity and the companionship of the spirit! If we humble ourselves God will work wonders among us! It is my humble prayer that we all learn to be ourselves, to use our skills and gifts to humbly and diligently lift up God's children! This is the most amazing work that has ever taken place, we have a responsibility to do our part, we have the gift to do our part! I love it! I love being a missionary! The church is true!
Love you all oh so much,
Elder Tracy
Week 17 | Pictures
Us and President Clark after stake Conference! (He gave us a good
shout out in his talk) hahaha
shout out in his talk) hahaha
Week 17 | Nov. 7, 2016
Hey Everyone!
This week has flown by so quickly! It was probably due to the countless miracles we saw this week! I love love love being a missionary and watching this gospel bless the lives of others as well as totally changing and transforming me! I have become more and more aware of my many weaknesses but it's been so comforting to know how much God loves working with humble hearts! Never ever think that it's too late to change and improve! Just start now! Be who you want to be starting this moment! If it's not perfect, so what?! Don't ever give up! Anyway, it has been an extremely great week! Monday was really fun we ended up going mini golfing and out to dinner with a member! It was the weirdest Halloween, but still really good!
On Tuesday we did temple service again! Oh how I love temple service! The temple is absolutely gorgeous!!!! I totally forgot to mention that we are in a car share again! So after doing service all afternoon we biked the 8-10 miles to our area! As soon as we got there we got a call from President! All red faced and huffing and puffing we learned that president was going to come out teaching with us! I've never biked so fast in my entire life! We got back with just enough time to eat dinner! We were able to go see four different individuals and all the lessons were absolutely amazing! The spirit was incredibly strong! One of the men we saw was a less active who had drastically made the decision to get a divorce and leave his family! It was our last lesson with him and we testified, with more boldness and power than ever before, about Jesus Christ and his Atonement! We were nearly all in tears as the spirit confirmed every word! He asked if we would give him a blessing! Elder Gillen gave an amazing blessing that was nothing short of inspired! It was humbling to be there! Even after all this he was still set in his ways! It was so hard to see a man feel the spirit so strong, hear a promoting, and then ignore it! It was a heart striking reminder of the importance of our agency! God respects us and loves us enough to choose, even if what we are choosing is clearly the wrong choice! But he also loves us enough to never leave our side if we allow him to! Whatever you are going through, council with the Lord and you cannot fail!
There have been oh so many miracles this week! Unfortunately I don't have enough time to write about it! Just know how much I love this gospel and how much I love my Savior! He is our Savior and Redeemer! He just waits for us to come unto Him! This gospel is amazing! Thank you all for your love and support! I look up to and love you all!
My prayers are with you always,
Your faith seeking missionary,
Elder Tracy
This week has flown by so quickly! It was probably due to the countless miracles we saw this week! I love love love being a missionary and watching this gospel bless the lives of others as well as totally changing and transforming me! I have become more and more aware of my many weaknesses but it's been so comforting to know how much God loves working with humble hearts! Never ever think that it's too late to change and improve! Just start now! Be who you want to be starting this moment! If it's not perfect, so what?! Don't ever give up! Anyway, it has been an extremely great week! Monday was really fun we ended up going mini golfing and out to dinner with a member! It was the weirdest Halloween, but still really good!
On Tuesday we did temple service again! Oh how I love temple service! The temple is absolutely gorgeous!!!! I totally forgot to mention that we are in a car share again! So after doing service all afternoon we biked the 8-10 miles to our area! As soon as we got there we got a call from President! All red faced and huffing and puffing we learned that president was going to come out teaching with us! I've never biked so fast in my entire life! We got back with just enough time to eat dinner! We were able to go see four different individuals and all the lessons were absolutely amazing! The spirit was incredibly strong! One of the men we saw was a less active who had drastically made the decision to get a divorce and leave his family! It was our last lesson with him and we testified, with more boldness and power than ever before, about Jesus Christ and his Atonement! We were nearly all in tears as the spirit confirmed every word! He asked if we would give him a blessing! Elder Gillen gave an amazing blessing that was nothing short of inspired! It was humbling to be there! Even after all this he was still set in his ways! It was so hard to see a man feel the spirit so strong, hear a promoting, and then ignore it! It was a heart striking reminder of the importance of our agency! God respects us and loves us enough to choose, even if what we are choosing is clearly the wrong choice! But he also loves us enough to never leave our side if we allow him to! Whatever you are going through, council with the Lord and you cannot fail!
There have been oh so many miracles this week! Unfortunately I don't have enough time to write about it! Just know how much I love this gospel and how much I love my Savior! He is our Savior and Redeemer! He just waits for us to come unto Him! This gospel is amazing! Thank you all for your love and support! I look up to and love you all!
My prayers are with you always,
Your faith seeking missionary,
Elder Tracy
Monday, September 11, 2017
Week 16 | Oct. 31, 2016
Dearest family and friends,
This week has been a very interesting and a drastic change! It has been full of goodbyes and hellos and many, many new responsibilities that come with being a district leader! I am the second youngest in the entire zone and nearly everyone has been out longer than me which is both stressful and helpful! Overall though this week has been an amazing opportunity for me to grow and learn and become! Things here are much different than I am used to but I am learning that God loves to take us outside our comfort zones! He wants us to progress and become better! I can testify that there is so little progress in a comfort zone and very little comfort when you are progressing, but this is how God intended it to be! My new companion is Elder Ashton Gillen from...... Riverton Utah.... Totally Crazy right!?! He went to the same middle school and high school but never knew each other or had any common friends! It took us the entire week to find a connection! Hahah He has been out for a long while and I have a lot to learn from him! He is a super chill super good guy!!! The ward is really cool! We had the Halloween party on Saturday and all the ward auxiliaries had a lip sync battle! It was really funny!
It has been difficult once again to try to learn all the names of our investigators, less active and active members of the ward! There are some amazing people here and I'm excited to be here in Winter Garden North! We knocked on a lot of empty doors this week and had very little success so I think I am back to where I was when I first came out, but that's so exciting cause it means there are SO MANY miracles ahead of us!!! We get to do service at the Orlando temple on Tuesdays and it is one of the coolest experiences! There is such an amazing spirit that is felt even just on the temple grounds!!! I have missed the temple! All of you that can go to the temple, please go! I never really took advantage of being able to go to the temple and I really miss it! Anyway the temple is such a blessing! I love it so much!!!
Even without having much success we have still seen many miracles this week! On Wednesday we stopped by probably four or five different less actives and not one was home. We felt that we should try one more home, so we walked up to the door, knocked, and no answer... bummer... well we were walking to the car when a neighbor walked outside. We ended up talking with him and teaching him the entire restoration! He is really interested and wants to learn more! He only speaks Spanish so we had to refer him over to the Spanish elders, but I know it was because of our diligence we were able to find this man! We are really excited for him!!! Never give up in your endeavors to do good! There is someone waiting for YOU! Keep doing what's right even though it may be hard! You will see miracles!
So we have a new rule here in Orlando Florida! Emailing is now no longer than an hour so consequently I won't be able to respond to every email every week and I'll probably have shorter mass emails but I know that as we are obedient to ALL God's commandments we will be blessed openly!!! I love it here! I love the mission! I am definitely still trying to figure everything out but it'll come! Never forget how much I love all of you!!!! Continue to do good and I'd love to hear all the miracles that you see!!! Have a safe and fun Halloween!!! So so so so much love from your missionary in Orlando!
Your humble and loving missionary,
Elder Tracy
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