Email from Elder Lofthouse 1/26/15 Second Transfer

I've been out for one whole transfer already.  How crazy is that!  

So this week was pretty good.  We were able to meet with our investigator C.  He's a great guy.  We taught him a lesson on how to recognize the spirit, and then we committed him to pray about a baptismal date.  I'm super excited to see where this goes.

We went down St Paul for exchanges and District meeting.  We drove down after dinner on Friday and then stayed at their apartment that night.  It was pretty awesome.  6 Elders in one apartment.  Then the next morning we had a district training.  Elder Larsen gave a great training on teaching by the spirit.  It was really good. 

I was working out this morning when I saw a poem that the Wille's have.  It really inspired me.

The Difference

I got up early one morning

and rushed right into the day

I had so much to accomplish

that I didn't have time to pray

Problems just tumbled about me
and heavier came each task.

Why doesn't God help me I wondered

he answered you didn't ask

I wanted to see joy and beauty
but the day toiled on gray and bleak

I wondered why God didn't show me
he said but you didn't seek

I tried to come into God's presence

I used all my keys in the lock
God gently and lovingly chided

My child you didn't knock.

I woke up early this morning,
and paused before entering the day

I had so much to accomplish

that I had to take time to pray.

I know that if you pray everyday, a new light will come into your life.  I love that we are able to talk to Heavenly Father.  Always go to him.  It will change your life.

Email from Elder Lofthouse 1/19/15 Week Something

This week was great!  It was super warm.  It got up to 3 C.  That's so warm!!  It's a nice break from -35, but I want it to go back to being cold.  The food hear is incredible.  We get fed almost every night.  We have had some pretty great meals.  A couple of weeks ago I hit 260 lbs so I decided to work out harder and to lose some weight.  I lost 8 lbs in 2 weeks. How awesome is that?    

So this week we found out that a less active member we've been working with quit drinking!!  That was super cool.  The best thing that happened this week was we found a new investigator!  He came to church last week and we asked him why he came.  He said that God led him there that day.  How awesome is that!  

I was reading my scriptures yesterday and I read through 2 Nephi 4:16-35.  I highly recommend that you all read it.  It really changed my focus as a missionary.  I know that this is where I'm supposed to be.  I love this gospel.  I hope that it can change your lives as it has mine.

I hope that everybody is doing good back home!  I hope that you are all still healthy and happy.

This picture sums up my trainer.  He's the one in the middle looking at the camera.  He's great!

Email from Elder Lofthouse 1/12/15 Online Proselyting

We got approved to do online proselyting this week.  We had ZTM on Thursday on it.  We have to go through and "clean up" our Facebook profiles.  It's gonna be great!  This week we did exchanges.  I went on exchanges with Elder Severson. It was my first exchange, and his last exchange!  He's a cool dude. That was on Thursday. On Friday, we drove back to St. Paul and had a district meeting.  It was us, the Cold Lake Elders, and the St. Paul Elders.  That's our district.  It was a pretty good week this week.  I hope everybody is doing great and that everybody is doing what they're supposed to!

This week we went to the city for ZTM.  We stopped a place called Soda Jerks for dinner.  I ate a huge burger called Doris.

I got a T shirt for finishing it!

Hugs and Handshakes

Elder Lofthouse

Email from Elder Lofthouse 1/5/15 One Month Done (with pictures)

Sunrise from Elder Lofthouse's room

This week was pretty crazy!  Elder Larsen got really sick on Tuesday and Wednesday, so me and Elder Petersen went on 'exchanges'.  Elder Amundson and Petersen are the Cold Lake elders, so we do alot of stuff with them anyway.  So me and Elder Petersen helped drywall, insulate, wire, and poly Aunt B's house.  So yes Dad, I know how to finish the basement now.  On Thursday they felt better so we were able to do some teaching and visiting.  Yesterday was awesome.  J ( a less active member) is really progressing.  He wants to quit alcohol and chew really bad, so we're helping him with that. 

The weather here was amazing.  It hit -40 the other day.  it's been consistently around -30 ( about -22 fahrenheit).  I absolutely love it.  This is the greatest thing ever.  

Christmas Loot

Going on a mission was the best choice of my life so far.  i know that if i work hard and stay strong I'll be able to help people come closer to Christ.  I hope you are all having the best time ever back home.  

Hugs and Handshakes 

Elder Lofthouse

Email from Elder Lofthouse 12/29/14 The Great White North

This week has been pretty great.  This week we have been doing a lot of construction on Benny Sue's house.  Putting up insulation and drywall and all that fun stuff.  So yes dad, when I get home, I will be able to finish the basement.  I was introduced to a restaurant called Original Joe's.  Every Tuesday they have 'Wing Day'.  I got 2 pounds of wings for $7:35.  How awesome is that!  Christmas was awesome!  I got to skype with my familia.  That was great.  The members in Cherry Grove take good care of us.  I got a whole bunch of toques and a whole bunch of socks.  It was Fantastic.  

Yesterday Me and Elder Larsen were able to go and teach an investigator named C.  He's a great guy.  We just need him to learn to recognize the spirit, and then I'm positive he'll get baptized.  This is the greatest experience of my life so far.  I love it

Hugs and Handshakes

Elder Lofthouse