Hey Everyone!
So first things first. I am still here in Gulfport. I will be here with Elder Woolf for another transfer. We are moving from Gulfport to Long Beach though, so here is my new mailing address.
Elder Dwight D Mendenhall
4401 Beatline Road Apt 5D
Long Beach, Mississippi 39560
I don't have much time, since I spent it all typing a speech. Which, congrats to David and Kim! I get a new sister-in-law this week! Yay!
Summer is progressing nicely. She is on top of things and is super awesome! We are moving this Saturday, so we'll be in Long Beach then. Same ward and basically the same area. A little smaller though.
Hope all is well!
Love,
Elder Mendenhall
Friday, September 2, 2011
July 11, 2011
Howdy All Y'all,
Man oh man. What a week. First off for the really awesome news that I am excited about...
Summer is awesome! We taught her Tuesday and Saturday. And she came to church yesterday. We took her to Brother Carpenter's house in the ward on Tuesday, and we also had Sister Stubbs there (and her sister who was in town from Oregon) to help fellowship. We were going to teach the Restoration, but instead we taught the Plan of Salvation. It was what she needed. She had researched some stuff before and had thoughts about the doctrine we taught her, but never found a church that taught it until now. We helped her organize her own thoughts into something that makes sense. She has also had dreams where she has gone and visited a place she has been before. So cool. Saturday we had Sandy Skok pick her up and take her to the church. We gave her a tour, and then taught her the Restoration in the Sacrament room. Summer is just full of questions and eager to learn. She participated in Gospel Principles and in Relief Society. In fact, one of the ladies afterward gave her a hug and thanked her for her participation. The Gulfport ward is really picking up the ball on this on. And her girls came with her to church as well. She has a 7 and 2 year old. The 2 year old is adorable and makes me miss my little nieces. Anyway... Summer is just awesome and legit and there is no doubt that as long as prayers are being said in her behalf and that she continues the way she is going, she will be baptized. We are going to teach her about the Gospel of Jesus Christ tomorrow morning. I can't wait.
I went on exchanges this past week with Elder Norton in the north Gulfport area. We taught some good lessons there. And Elder Woolf and ELder Johnson had a good lesson with Scott while I was gone. Sadly, Scott didn't come to church, but that's okay. He'll be there next week. :)
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o!!! I get to be the best man at David's wedding! I am excited! I may not be there in person, but hopefully my speech will be good! Hahahahaha. :)
So I ordered quite a bit of stuff from lds.org. I am excited for it. Some study materials and such. And it means a package in the mail. YAY!
By the way... I have decided that I need some brighter colorful ties. So if anyone sends ties to me in the next 18 months or so, go bright and colorful! :)
Hmmmm... oh! I made macaroni salad yesterday from the recipe Mom sent me. It was/is delcious! Just saying... be jealous.
So, we are possibly going fishing today. And coon hunting. Yup. That's our p-day. We'll see how it all plays out. Stay tuned for updates on these stories next week!
One last thing before I send this. Just remember that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. His power is real. Through the Atonement, we can become perfected, and that process can start NOW. And it should. Don't wait for His redeeming love. It's not just for sins, but for everything. For every pain or weakness. Christ can help our weaknesses to become our greatest strengths. Never doubt that. Just believe and do.
I love you all!
Love,
Elder Dwight Mendenhall
Man oh man. What a week. First off for the really awesome news that I am excited about...
Summer is awesome! We taught her Tuesday and Saturday. And she came to church yesterday. We took her to Brother Carpenter's house in the ward on Tuesday, and we also had Sister Stubbs there (and her sister who was in town from Oregon) to help fellowship. We were going to teach the Restoration, but instead we taught the Plan of Salvation. It was what she needed. She had researched some stuff before and had thoughts about the doctrine we taught her, but never found a church that taught it until now. We helped her organize her own thoughts into something that makes sense. She has also had dreams where she has gone and visited a place she has been before. So cool. Saturday we had Sandy Skok pick her up and take her to the church. We gave her a tour, and then taught her the Restoration in the Sacrament room. Summer is just full of questions and eager to learn. She participated in Gospel Principles and in Relief Society. In fact, one of the ladies afterward gave her a hug and thanked her for her participation. The Gulfport ward is really picking up the ball on this on. And her girls came with her to church as well. She has a 7 and 2 year old. The 2 year old is adorable and makes me miss my little nieces. Anyway... Summer is just awesome and legit and there is no doubt that as long as prayers are being said in her behalf and that she continues the way she is going, she will be baptized. We are going to teach her about the Gospel of Jesus Christ tomorrow morning. I can't wait.
I went on exchanges this past week with Elder Norton in the north Gulfport area. We taught some good lessons there. And Elder Woolf and ELder Johnson had a good lesson with Scott while I was gone. Sadly, Scott didn't come to church, but that's okay. He'll be there next week. :)
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o!!! I get to be the best man at David's wedding! I am excited! I may not be there in person, but hopefully my speech will be good! Hahahahaha. :)
So I ordered quite a bit of stuff from lds.org. I am excited for it. Some study materials and such. And it means a package in the mail. YAY!
By the way... I have decided that I need some brighter colorful ties. So if anyone sends ties to me in the next 18 months or so, go bright and colorful! :)
Hmmmm... oh! I made macaroni salad yesterday from the recipe Mom sent me. It was/is delcious! Just saying... be jealous.
So, we are possibly going fishing today. And coon hunting. Yup. That's our p-day. We'll see how it all plays out. Stay tuned for updates on these stories next week!
One last thing before I send this. Just remember that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. His power is real. Through the Atonement, we can become perfected, and that process can start NOW. And it should. Don't wait for His redeeming love. It's not just for sins, but for everything. For every pain or weakness. Christ can help our weaknesses to become our greatest strengths. Never doubt that. Just believe and do.
I love you all!
Love,
Elder Dwight Mendenhall
Stars and Stripes Forever (with a little confederate pride thrown in)...
Hey All Y'all!
Happy Independence Day! I hope it was fantastic for all of you. It being P-day, we didn't do a whole lot. In fact, we had a BBQ at a member's house and then stayed there all day. That was it. We played some games, had a water balloon fight, and ate homemade ice cream. It was a fun day, but also... long.
Okay! Exciting news! We got a phone call this past week from the mission office. They called us with a referral. The woman's name is Summer, and she was taught a little by the missionaries in North Carolina where she lived before Gulfport. They wanted her to keep being taught so they passed the info along until we got it. She read part of Alma that the Elders there left for her and she prayed about the Book Of Mormon and got a positive feeling that it is true. Sounds golden, right? Hahahahaha. If only things were that easy. She has a lot of things to work through. She has had a tough life and it wont be easy for her, but I believe she is going to progress and with God's help, she will be baptized and be a strong member. I feel like I am here for a reason for her, as with some of the issues she has, most missionaries wouldn't have a clue. With my "upbringing" though, I am better prepared for situations like this. I will let you all figure out that. Anyway, we are teaching her today at 1pm and I am excited. We are going to a member's home that is pretty close to her, because she stays with another family right now and it is pretty loud over there. We are also having a member that seems like she would be a good fellowshipper come over as well, who also has her sister in town visiting, so it might be a member overload, but it will be good. God is with us. :)
Other than that it was a pretty normal week for us. Well, not entirely true. We were going over to teach a less active the lessons to help her (and us) out, and she decided to have her non-member boyfriend be there so he could hear it as well. So that was unexpected. We are going over there tomorrow to teach them again. Should be good. Heavenly Father is sending things our way it seems. :)
I hope all is well with you. This is short, but we need to get going soon, eat lunch, and then bike to our 1pm appointment. Just know that life is great and that God loves all of you! :) Pray for me please, and Summer, Scott and his family, and everyone else down here. :)
With Love From The South,
Elder Mendenhall
More Pics,,,
Mugshots Challenge! My food is taken apart so it was easier to grab.
Elder Price with the Mugshots Challenge, so you can see the food
Father's Day
Hello Everyone,
First off, I would like to say Happy Father's Day to the best Dad ever! Papa Mendenhall! :) Trust me when I say that he is the best. Hands down, no questions asked.
For my email this week, I am going to do something I little different. I am going to share a story with all of you. Well, at least I will be sharing this.
A Tribute To Father’s Day
By A Fellow Missionary
To commemorate Father’s Day this year, I would like to write this tribute to the best Father EVER. The Father of our spirits, our Heavenly Father.
Having seen what I have seen on my mission, the dysfunctional families, the heartache, the troubles, the worries, I start to truly appreciate my family. I really can’t wait to go home and see them. To be with my parents again, it is going to be great. My companion and I were talking and there really is no feeling greater than going home. I have seen many a missionary finish his mission and I know how excited they were to go home. Sure they were excited for college, movies and girls, but the thing they couldn’t wait for the most was their family. I am the same way. I cannot wait to see my parents. Two years is a long time, though compared to a lifetime, it really isn’t much.
Well, this all got me to thinking about our Heavenly Father and how much I love him and knowing how much He loves me. A lifetime is a long time, but compared to eternity, it really isn’t much. Knowing that if I stay worthy and be the best son I can be, I will see Him again one day is a piece of knowledge that I treasure dearly. I can’t wait to look into his familiar face. Ezra Taft Benson once said, “Nothing will surprise us more than when we get to heaven and see the Father and realize how well we know Him and how familiar His face is to us." God our Father KNOWS us personally, and we know Him. He is our Father. He taught us, we learned from Him. We have an intimate relationship with Him that we just don’t fully remember. We can feel a little bit of it, but not all of it. Just imagine when we get to that place though and how marvelous it is going to be. After our lifetime here, no matter how long that may be, we are going to see how Father again, if we live worthy and stay true to the Gospel standards and values. If we do what He asks, He will have us home again. He will open His arms for me, and I will run into them. I will embrace my Father and receive His perfect hug that is waiting for me. I will say to Him, “Daddy, I did it. I’m home. Thank you for helping me through it all.” He will then look me in the eyes, and in the soft voice that only exists of a Father to a child, He will say, “Well done, my beautiful child. Welcome home!”
I will not do anything to mar that perfect moment. I live for it, I breathe for it. When that time comes, He will know me and I will know Him again. I promise as a servant of the Lord, that if you really truly live the Gospel as He has asked, that moment will come for you. It can come for all of us. Live worthy of that perfect hug. Stay strong and be true. Kia Kaha.
Happy Father’s Day!
I know this work is true. God has made that truth manifest to me. Of that, there is no doubt. I am grateful to be serving here in Gulfport, Mississippi. I am grateful for the power of prayer and for the change of heart that God can give us. As we pray for and work at Christ like attributes, knowing we will receive, then we will.
Yesterday, we had two investigators in church. Scott and his wife came. Elder Todd and I gave him a Book of Mormon (that he had requested) and Elder Woolf and I have been by a couple of times to see him. He is an awesome guy and loves the Mormons. His wife really seemed to enjoy church. This is the first time I met her. They only stayed for Sacrament meeting, as their 16 year old daughter was at home and they wanted to get home to her. They recently found out that she has a cist between her tailbone and spinal cord, and she is in a lot of pain. They are trying to take care of that, but something has to heal before she can have surgery. But they are an awesome family, and they will be baptized! I can see it happening, and trusting in the Lord, I know it will. :)
I hope you all have an awesome day! Remember to love the Lord and to pray for and look for opportunities to share the Gospel.
Love,
Elder Dwight Mendenhall
First off, I would like to say Happy Father's Day to the best Dad ever! Papa Mendenhall! :) Trust me when I say that he is the best. Hands down, no questions asked.
For my email this week, I am going to do something I little different. I am going to share a story with all of you. Well, at least I will be sharing this.
A Tribute To Father’s Day
By A Fellow Missionary
To commemorate Father’s Day this year, I would like to write this tribute to the best Father EVER. The Father of our spirits, our Heavenly Father.
Having seen what I have seen on my mission, the dysfunctional families, the heartache, the troubles, the worries, I start to truly appreciate my family. I really can’t wait to go home and see them. To be with my parents again, it is going to be great. My companion and I were talking and there really is no feeling greater than going home. I have seen many a missionary finish his mission and I know how excited they were to go home. Sure they were excited for college, movies and girls, but the thing they couldn’t wait for the most was their family. I am the same way. I cannot wait to see my parents. Two years is a long time, though compared to a lifetime, it really isn’t much.
Well, this all got me to thinking about our Heavenly Father and how much I love him and knowing how much He loves me. A lifetime is a long time, but compared to eternity, it really isn’t much. Knowing that if I stay worthy and be the best son I can be, I will see Him again one day is a piece of knowledge that I treasure dearly. I can’t wait to look into his familiar face. Ezra Taft Benson once said, “Nothing will surprise us more than when we get to heaven and see the Father and realize how well we know Him and how familiar His face is to us." God our Father KNOWS us personally, and we know Him. He is our Father. He taught us, we learned from Him. We have an intimate relationship with Him that we just don’t fully remember. We can feel a little bit of it, but not all of it. Just imagine when we get to that place though and how marvelous it is going to be. After our lifetime here, no matter how long that may be, we are going to see how Father again, if we live worthy and stay true to the Gospel standards and values. If we do what He asks, He will have us home again. He will open His arms for me, and I will run into them. I will embrace my Father and receive His perfect hug that is waiting for me. I will say to Him, “Daddy, I did it. I’m home. Thank you for helping me through it all.” He will then look me in the eyes, and in the soft voice that only exists of a Father to a child, He will say, “Well done, my beautiful child. Welcome home!”
I will not do anything to mar that perfect moment. I live for it, I breathe for it. When that time comes, He will know me and I will know Him again. I promise as a servant of the Lord, that if you really truly live the Gospel as He has asked, that moment will come for you. It can come for all of us. Live worthy of that perfect hug. Stay strong and be true. Kia Kaha.
Happy Father’s Day!
I know this work is true. God has made that truth manifest to me. Of that, there is no doubt. I am grateful to be serving here in Gulfport, Mississippi. I am grateful for the power of prayer and for the change of heart that God can give us. As we pray for and work at Christ like attributes, knowing we will receive, then we will.
Yesterday, we had two investigators in church. Scott and his wife came. Elder Todd and I gave him a Book of Mormon (that he had requested) and Elder Woolf and I have been by a couple of times to see him. He is an awesome guy and loves the Mormons. His wife really seemed to enjoy church. This is the first time I met her. They only stayed for Sacrament meeting, as their 16 year old daughter was at home and they wanted to get home to her. They recently found out that she has a cist between her tailbone and spinal cord, and she is in a lot of pain. They are trying to take care of that, but something has to heal before she can have surgery. But they are an awesome family, and they will be baptized! I can see it happening, and trusting in the Lord, I know it will. :)
I hope you all have an awesome day! Remember to love the Lord and to pray for and look for opportunities to share the Gospel.
Love,
Elder Dwight Mendenhall
June 13, 2011
Hey everyone!
I am going to make this quick. First and foremost.....
I am staying in Gulfport! YAY! I am here for at least another 6 weeks. Elder Woolf and I are staying together and we're pretty excited.
Life is great. I am loving it. As always. Ummmm... not too much has happened this past week. At least out of the ordinary. Maybe... Ummmm... Wait! I think this happened this past week. It all blends together. I attempted the Mugshots challenge. And Failed. But I tried. I will attach a picture of the food so y'all can see.
Anyway... I don't have a lot of time. Just know that Christ lives and He loves all y'all. And me too! YAY! Hahahahaha...
Love you!
With Love From The South,
Elder Dwight Mendenhall
I am going to make this quick. First and foremost.....
I am staying in Gulfport! YAY! I am here for at least another 6 weeks. Elder Woolf and I are staying together and we're pretty excited.
Life is great. I am loving it. As always. Ummmm... not too much has happened this past week. At least out of the ordinary. Maybe... Ummmm... Wait! I think this happened this past week. It all blends together. I attempted the Mugshots challenge. And Failed. But I tried. I will attach a picture of the food so y'all can see.
Anyway... I don't have a lot of time. Just know that Christ lives and He loves all y'all. And me too! YAY! Hahahahaha...
Love you!
With Love From The South,
Elder Dwight Mendenhall
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