June 15, 2015

Dear Mom 

To quote the hymnodist "it is well it is well with my soul." We had Zone Conference this last Thursday. It was really well done. The topic was on the Sabbath and keeping it holy. I got so much from it. I don't think I have ever gotten so much out of a meeting. The Sabbath is a time for gratitude rest reflection, and to partake of the Sacrament. As we partake of these things we are promised certain blessings: namely, being able to call the Sabbath a delight, joy and peace, being unspotted from the world, having the spirit, faith increased. 

Lev 26:2 - 6,  9 and 12

Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord. If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. 

In Isaiah 58:13-14  is just a sum up of what was said. But 14 ends with "for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." And we know the Lord never backs down on His promises. I know this is mostly quoting scripture but they are really good scriptures. I firmly believe in their promises, that is basically the biggest thing this happened this week is zone conference but not only are the temporal blessings important but the spiritual ones. One part of Leviticus I'd like to point out is that if we honour the Sabbath, God will respect us for keeping the sign and he will walk among us and he will be our God and we will be HIS People. That is probably the most comforting of all because the Lord takes the most care of His people. 

In your last email you wanted to know about the weather. well I'd tell you if it would make up its mind. One day it is 50's and rainy the next it is blistering hot in the 90's. Colorado has the most beautiful lightening storms though. The night of the tornado there was some awesome thunder and lightening. It was so majestic and powerful. To quote Alma the younger "Do not all things denote there is a God?" It is nice but way too bright. I wouldn't be able to stand it if not for sunglasses. Last year i had headaches all summer long but I haven't this year as long as I wear sunglasses.

Well yesterday I had to wake up at about 5 for a priesthood meeting. The stake presidency was reorganized. I was at church from 6 to 2:30. It was quite tiring to be there for so long but I feel it was really good experience. I recently have given thought to working in the oil fields so I can pay for college. I figure I can work like six to eight months and have all four years tuition and be living cushy so I might be giving that more thought later on talk to you about that later. Might be going to Estes with some YSA priests from our ward.

Love Sincerely

Elder Westrup

Some pictures

 

New haircut

 

Doing family history and found that we're royalty

 

 

A gallon of mac and cheese

 

Elder Westrup saw his little sister's question on Elder Bednar's Face to Face Live Chat

 

Flowers at the temple

May 4, 2015

Hey Mom, 

 

I am doing well! I have been running every other day. I am trying to lose 40 lbs, I am still at 240 though. I gained 6 pounds last week, I just need to control my portion sizes. But I don't want to offend members by not eating much. My mile time is still north of 11 mins and I will probably start running everyday next transfer.  

 

And yes I met Bishop Hodges at my Bishop's house. He is my bishops father-in-law. The church makes the world a really small place. He was stopping by on the way to a doctor's appointment so unfortunately he couldn't stay long. I hope he does share some stories. I always love to hear about Grandpa, I miss him. If you have a copy of his biography I wouldn't mind that for my birthday either. 

 

I'm glad Russell finally has a calling that is awesome. Does he have home teachers yet? President Hinckley said that the three things people need are a friend in the gospel, a calling, and to be nourished by the good word. I feel like that will really help him And Robert And Rosie.     

I am happy to hear Rachel choose a great team to support!! I am glad she had a great birthday :) I am glad Roland and Roger are both doing well. I am sorry to hear about your foot. Have you gotten a blessing yet? 

I am glad all is well with the family. I will keep your job in my prayers especially!  Well not much has happened on my end. We went tracting for 6 and 1/2 hours on Saturday. It was so awesome!! we only found 1 investigator who is a ysa. So we wont be able to teach him BUT I felt so good afterward like we were supposed to plant all those seeds even if I can't harvest them. Well I don't know what else to say

 

Love you all !!!

Elder Westrup

April 27, 2015

Hello Mother

All is well here. It has been raining the last couple of days but it isn't too bad. It is in the high 50's. By the end of the week it is expected to be in the low 80's. I always keep you guys and California in my prayers. I know that you don't want Roger to go fight fires but it would be a beneficial experience that would help him. I know that YOUR prayers keep him Safe, THERE IS NOTHING STRONGER THAN A PRAYER FROM A MOTHER FOR HER CHILD'S SAFETY, but Roger may want that and it might be a trial that will help him in the long run. 

This morning I ran a mile. My time was 11:50. I need to be able to run an 18 minute 3 mile. So far not quite there yet. My long term goal is lose 40 lbs and be able to pass the naval PT test. My companion has given me the idea to study at BYU-I. They Have ROTC and a Paramedical Program. But my only concern is I want to go into the Navy and BYU-I is Army ROTC and I have no idea how that will work. My second thought is to go for 2 years and raise my grades then try and transfer to the University of Utah. 

Ask Russell how he would feel if Robert got hurt in a biking accident. I have learned that sometimes people need to be asked questions rather been told. Make sure to listen after asking the question. Asking questions promotes learning and understanding rather then just telling someone something. It helps prompt a desire because everyone wants to be right. I am glad Rachel is excited for her recommend. That is a very exciting thing to have. I wish they had individual recommends when I was her age. Tell Roland I want to see pictures from Scout Camp when he goes. 

I am sad to hear that Heald is closing. But I can say that it will probably be a blessing in disguise. Technology is amazing Love ya 

Sorry it took so long to write this little bit. 

Love, Richard

April 20, 2015

I am sorry to hear about Sister Canepari passed. And Angelina is preganent??!?! I know Ashton Canepari kinda, he is pretty cool. I did hear about Jacob And Courtney you and Oma have both told me :) I am banking on the baby to be born on my birthday. That is crazy to hear about Jeffery and Kelsey. I bet it will be on the 20th. How is Sister Alconcel ? Speaking of trader's fair and your knitting skills I would love a beanie. Two of mine have disappeared. Plus there is a set of sister missionaries in our district who have to walk and if you have any extra wool I know they would love them. I am so jealous of Rachel. Roger and I should go on a rode trip after my mission. I meant to send Dad a birthday card but I will send him one today. I ran out of stamps. I am glad Roland is becoming quite the entrepreneur. Has he asked to mow Brother Amavisca's lawn? Where is Scout camp this year? I am glad you are able to help the sisters with FH. I helped a member in Laramie quite a bit. I will be trying to go to the temple for my year mark soon. An update on last week's Investigators: Colin dropped us. But The other three (Tristan,  Brenna, and Readen) are doing awesome! They were out of town last week so we couldn't visit with them but we gave their Dad a blessing because he had to have surgery but it seems that it went well so we will be trying to meet with them sometime this time week. Dinners are awesome!! We are full of dinners till the end of the month. I love Elder Sullivan. He is so awesome he keeps me pumped about the work. He is just the best.
All is well in our Part of Zion

Love Elder Westrup 

News from March

Hey Mom,

I am very thankful for the pictures. I am glad to know that everyone is well. How is Aunt Judy? I am glad you went back. It is a great place one that has touched my life I am glad I had the opportunity to serve there. What did they ask about me and what did you say? 

I am still living with a member from a ward I am not serving in. He is the ward Sunday School President. And he is finding a great difficulty in his agenda because half the TV's don't work or aren't compatible. It gives me a little insight to some things dad might have to deal with. I am glad that you are still having fun being Librarian. I was watching the movie about President Hinkley and how his Mother instilled a love of literature in his youth, it made me think how important it is to to have a loving mother to help you solidify your passions. Thank you for helping me in learning my passions and helping me stick to them. I am so grateful for your example!

I'll send Rachel a card when it gets closer to her bday. I am glad Roland is becomin more of a social butterfly. I emailed Oma today. I am glad they are doing well. I wrote Grandma and Steve a letter. I am gonna send it this week. And my comp is still here till the 31st but as time is nearing he needs to get more done so we have less time to email.

Love ya mom 

 



Hey Sorry I didn't reply on Tuesday. We are emailing in the family history Center and there aren't enough computers for the amount of missionaries that there are. And the Senior ZL is not as understanding when it comes to allowing for extra time on the computers.So it is hard because of circumstance but my companion has to do his trunkie papers and so i get time on other days to email. This week is going much better then the previous week but our only investigator couldn't meet with us this week because she and her Dad were helping his parents move stuff around. We finished the first lesson with her last week. I think it went very well. We were at Chick-fila and there was an ad for Dr. Suess' Birthday so that made me think of you. They have free breakfast every Tuesday this month which is awesome. Speaking of awesome things we were driving home the other day and this was at the corner of 19th and main. Some poor child out there had a rough night.

 

 

 

It is funny as a missionary switching around so often you have several stake conferences and fast Sundays in the same month, so you either learn to love it or just sleep. I really enjoy it, it is a great to hear from general or area authorities for edification and spiritual strengthening. As my year mark approaches (and with my companion working on his end of the mission paperwork I often find myself thinking of the future ,what type of person I want to be and after. So much time in the scriptures I have discoverd that I want to grow to be like unto my elder brother. I love Roger, he is an example to me. Like Ammon he is strong and powerful and intelligent. He serves a king, he made an oath to serve to do anything as long as it right. Alma 18:17 " I say unto you, what is it, that thy marvelings are so great? Behold, I am a man, and am thy servant; 

therefore,whatsoever thou desirest which is right, that will I do."  I cant think of anyone who better fits this scripture then Rog. I cant think of much else. 

Love ya mom 

Elder Westrup

 

 

 

 

 

These last few pictures of Elder Westrup and his companion were sent by a member. They helped prepare food for her son's baptism.