Working Out 5/5/2014

Dear Mom and Dad and Family,

 

It is my first Fast Sunday here and church doesn't start until 1pm. I am hungry. How are you guys doing? Are Roland and Rachel excited for school to be out? How are Roger and Rebekah? And Russell, Crystelle and the kids?  We have a new investigator, his name is B and is in his late 40's. He has a young daughter named M. He has a testimony of Christ and wants to come closer but isn't sure how. We invited him to read the Book of Mormon and pray to knowof it's truthfulness.

 

 

President Brown also set new standards ofr the mission. No zone gatherings on preperation day(now referred to as pday), districts have to get permission to gather. We aren't allowed to use the car on pday except to shop or email. (Yes, we are in a brand new Jeep Compass with less than 2000 miles). We aren't allowed to email in the same building as another companionship and last of all music is restricted to only what you would hear in sacrament meeting. So not even the Mormon Tabernacle Choir because all their CD have an orchestra. Elder Hanson says emergency transfer are going to skyrocket so we might not be a companionship as long as we thought we would, but that is soley predicated on whether or not President Brown sees me as an (exceptional I think, I can't read his writing) missionary.

 

The work is not just physically draining but spiritually draining also,never have I exercised the spirit this much So I have something else that has to get in shape now.

Elder Westrup

PS I got your package with the fruit rollups.

PPS Happy May the Fourth

4/30 First day in the Lord's Vineyard

Dear Mother and Father,

Today was my first day in the Lord's vineyard! Guess what I did? I pruned grapevines for a member. I learned something but it is hard to explain without being present. We met as a district for training and met a family from South Africa. I told them about Sister M. serving there but I didn't know her maiden name. 

We visited the relief society president. She is older and super nice. She gave a the names of a lot of people to meet. The ward mssion leader is awesome.

It is so windy out here, Mom would not like it.I get to use the fleece and my gloves from Claire. They are warm. I am well fed and living righteously.

The are really nice! We have brand new ones because the sisters had bed bugs. My trainer is Elder Hanson. He is an English major. He is 21 months in the field so he is close to going home. Oh yeah. . . we are in member housing. We live upstair in a nice room. I totally feel spoiled. The Lord has really blessed me, you are all in my prayers.

Love, Elder Westrup

A few pictures

Elder Westrup with the Elders of Natomas III Ward shortly before he left for the MTC.

Elder Westrup's MTC companion Elder Brazell

The cliché, but always appropriate, mission location map picture at the MTC

The spire of the Provo temple

We were informed that this bandage was a was the result of a wrestling injury. ** (editor's note: needless to say, this type of thing did not happen whilst I was in the MTC in the sister's dorms. -Rebekah)

The view from the plane

 

Elder Westrup arriving in Denver!

Elder Westrup's bed

Elder Westrup's desk

 

 

The beginning of something great

So my mother asked a lot of questions and i figure that is a great place to start my letters of the building up of Christ's Kingdom. My mission president went to Japan  on his mission and no i didn't introduce myself in the little amount of japanese that i know but i was helping a sister move and it some how surfaced that i knew a little so one of the high priests only greets me in japanese plus my zone leader is from japan so that is cool to. speaking of which we are no longer aloud to be in the same building as other missionaries on pday so that sucks and we are only aloud to listen to music that would be played in sacrament meeting so i basically only have apostate music right now. My trainer is Elder Hanson he is from Batton Rouge louiseanna (i know i spelled it wrong i am not an english major he is) he is a convert to the church and i am his last companion he is 21 months in  and goes home in july! he are in a brand new jeep compass has less then 2000 miles on it so that is nice but i never liked new car smell. We live with the Dix Family they are awesome sister Dix is in the primary presidency and i think he is in the high council (sister Dix reminds me of Judy from the fort) we live upstairs and have a view of the mountains it is awesome! I am in Ute Creek ward in the Longmont stake and We are fed very well! we have lots of people to teach our newest investigator is a 40 something year old gentleman and he has a daughter and a firm testimony in Christ but he is unsure what to do about it so we are helping him come unto Christ i will let you know more as he progresses

Elder Westrup

The briefest of MTC letters

Here. Is his letter dated 4/17/2013:

Dearest Mother and Father,

Showers are great, beds aae small, people are funny. My companion is Elder Brazell, he is awesome! He told me to write the food is good. Yesterday we jumped into teaching people.  It was interesting. Spiritual thought for the letter;

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, He is devine. He had the ability to stay in the state He was in but gave it up for us. He came down, bled and died that we might live again. The love He has for us is unend(can't read), it is all encompaassing no matter what we have done if we accept Him and His gospel through

Faith
Repentance
Baptism by emersion and proper authority
Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost
Enduring to the end

P.S. Thanks for the package. Next one could you send stamps? Thanks. I love you all.

Elder Westrup