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
Friday, September 2, 2011
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
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
June 6, 2011
Good morning from down south!
It is a beautiful day outside! It is currently 10:11 AM and it's 88 degrees outside and it feels like it's 96. We went crabbing this morning! I pulled two up within the first 30 minutes or so, and that was all we caught. Blue crab. We threw them back when we were leaving. Though to shell them, you step on them, pull off the claws, and then pull the shell apart....while they are alive. Interesting. Oh! And after my mission, I am coming back down here and going gator hunting. It's official. Yes. I am insane. And yes, I am seriously wanting to go.
Well. This past Saturday, the Gulfport ward had a crawfish boil, so I was able to learn how to peel those and boy are they tasty! Man oh man...and we took home all of the left over burgers and hotdogs.
Today we are having dinner with a partmember family. Matt Sones and his wife. He served a mission and his wife isn't a member. They have two boys, the oldest just turned eight. I've been wanting to work with them for awhile, but it hasn't worked out thus far. But tonight will be awesome! I am super excited.
Okay. So transfers are next week, so if I stay here, I will email on Tuesday, if not I will probably email on Monday. I find out on Saturday. I kind of hope I stay, but I also want to go somewhere else. I'm torn. We'll see.
I am really trying to think about what has happened this past week. I don't have my planner with me, so I can't look at it. Ummmm... nothing too big. We bashed with someone yesterday. And ate good food. I love food. Anyway...
Okay. So... just remember this. Your life is a direct reflection of your thoughts. If you don't like the way your life is, change you way of thinking. Always focus on the positive and thing positive things. Everything can be said in a positive manner instead of a negative. And remember that whatever you put out there, is going to come back to you. It's the law of attraction, which is an eternal priciple. It's throughtout the scriptures. People's thoughts and beliefs, or their FAITH is what brought miracles. The people Jesus healed, He always stated "thy faith hath made thee whole". So their thinking that they could be healed is what helped to heal them. An "incurable" illness is only curable on the inside... so IN-curable. Don't believe others. Let your own faith shine forth. Make your life the life you want by thinking it. Believing it. Knowing it.
Well, I love you all. I hope y'all have a fantastic week!
With Love From The South,
Elder Dwight Mendenhall
Monday, June 6, 2011
May 31, 2011
Hey Everyone!
I am pleased to announce that the Lord God is absolutely amazing.
And that I am going to have another sister-in-law! And two more nephews! That makes ten nieces and nephews, and me... who is a proud uncle. And son, and brother, and servant.
I have had some experiences these last few days that have drawn me closer to the Lord than ever before and have led me to be a better son and servant. To truly feel of His love and redeeming power and strength. To "hope for a better world" for myself and the ones I love. To truly find out about myself, my strengths and weaknesses, my faith and faults, and to come to truly appreciate the love of my family, friends, leaders and God.
Allow me to share with you a scripture I ran across and what really hit me. I had received a letter from a future missionary and brother, McKay, and at the end he put a PS and said I am praying for you. I got another letter the same day from another friend and she asked if there was anything specific that I wanted her to pray for, for me or the mission. And I was pondering on those and how many prayers I have coming my way every day. It is amazing to think about. I know that my family prays for me daily. My sister tells me that I am constantly in my nieces prayers. I have some of the most amazing friends in the world that I know pray for me. Those are all specifically for me. Those don't count the thousands upon thousands of prayers that are said daily for the full time missionaries. It truly is amazing.
Well, as I was pondering these things in my hearts, I flipped a couple of pages in my scriptures and ended up in Moroni 8. I just looked down and started reading in verses 2 and 3:
2 My beloved son, Moroni, I rejoice exceedingly that your Lord Jesus Christ hath been mindful of you, and hath called you to his ministry, and to his holy work. 3 I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually praying unto God the Father in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus, that he, through his infinite goodness and grace, will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end.
How amazing and appropriate! I just wish to thank you all for the prayers and support that I receive on a daily basis. I am learning more to focus on the positives in life and to always have positive thoughts. It is our thoughts that drag us down and that truly change the outcome of the things we do and the people we become. The mind is more powerful than any of us realize. It shapes the world around us. Be every mindful of that.
Well, I hope everyone is enjoying themselves back where ever you are. And that as you celebrated memorial day, that you kept in mind those great men and women who have given themselves to the work of freedom. Whether in some branch of the military, or here in God's army. The fight for souls is the same everywhere. The one in the mission field is just eternal.
The work goes on always. I love you all. Continue to pray for the success of the Lord, and for the softening of the people here, and around the world. I know I do. The Lord will send His angels before his righteous servants to prepare the way before them, and that is what I seek. Pray for my strength to make it through, that I may be the best missionary, the best ME I can be.
With Love From The South,
Elder Dwight Douglas Mendenhall
I am pleased to announce that the Lord God is absolutely amazing.
And that I am going to have another sister-in-law! And two more nephews! That makes ten nieces and nephews, and me... who is a proud uncle. And son, and brother, and servant.
I have had some experiences these last few days that have drawn me closer to the Lord than ever before and have led me to be a better son and servant. To truly feel of His love and redeeming power and strength. To "hope for a better world" for myself and the ones I love. To truly find out about myself, my strengths and weaknesses, my faith and faults, and to come to truly appreciate the love of my family, friends, leaders and God.
Allow me to share with you a scripture I ran across and what really hit me. I had received a letter from a future missionary and brother, McKay, and at the end he put a PS and said I am praying for you. I got another letter the same day from another friend and she asked if there was anything specific that I wanted her to pray for, for me or the mission. And I was pondering on those and how many prayers I have coming my way every day. It is amazing to think about. I know that my family prays for me daily. My sister tells me that I am constantly in my nieces prayers. I have some of the most amazing friends in the world that I know pray for me. Those are all specifically for me. Those don't count the thousands upon thousands of prayers that are said daily for the full time missionaries. It truly is amazing.
Well, as I was pondering these things in my hearts, I flipped a couple of pages in my scriptures and ended up in Moroni 8. I just looked down and started reading in verses 2 and 3:
2 My beloved son, Moroni, I rejoice exceedingly that your Lord Jesus Christ hath been mindful of you, and hath called you to his ministry, and to his holy work. 3 I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually praying unto God the Father in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus, that he, through his infinite goodness and grace, will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end.
How amazing and appropriate! I just wish to thank you all for the prayers and support that I receive on a daily basis. I am learning more to focus on the positives in life and to always have positive thoughts. It is our thoughts that drag us down and that truly change the outcome of the things we do and the people we become. The mind is more powerful than any of us realize. It shapes the world around us. Be every mindful of that.
Well, I hope everyone is enjoying themselves back where ever you are. And that as you celebrated memorial day, that you kept in mind those great men and women who have given themselves to the work of freedom. Whether in some branch of the military, or here in God's army. The fight for souls is the same everywhere. The one in the mission field is just eternal.
The work goes on always. I love you all. Continue to pray for the success of the Lord, and for the softening of the people here, and around the world. I know I do. The Lord will send His angels before his righteous servants to prepare the way before them, and that is what I seek. Pray for my strength to make it through, that I may be the best missionary, the best ME I can be.
With Love From The South,
Elder Dwight Douglas Mendenhall
May 23, 2011
Howdy ta all y'all!
I hope all y'all is doing swell!
So this past week, we had zone conference up in Hattiesburg. It was really awesome! The topic was magnifying your calling. Which you do by simply fulfilling the responsibilities and obligations of your calling. Whether it be missionary, bishop, relief society president, primary teacher, brother, sister, mother, father, prophet, etc etc! If you want blessings, just do what you are supposed to do, what you agreed to do, and the blessings will come. Simple truth, but also very powerful.
This morning, at 8:00 AM, we met Brother Sowers at his house (Elder Woolf and I) and he took us golfing! It was AWESOME! I haven't been in probably 2 years. We didn't do so well, but we had fun. It was pretty warm and my arms are a little red, but it was definitely worth it. Attached is a picture Brother Sowers took on his phone. We then had lunch at his house. We played 18 holes and it took about 4 hours.
During this past little bit, I have rediscovered something inside of me that I once had. Something sparked up inside of me, something I had been missing for awhile. It's hard to explain, but I guess I hadn't really been myself for the past long while, months and months, and something happen, I'm not sure what, and now I am back on track to being who I need to be. It is a good change, a recommitment to what I need to be doing and to who I need to be. I am now more capable of living up to the potential that it within me, within all of us. If you stop and think about how much potential, how much power, how much pure awesomeness is within us waiting to come forth and be made manifest.... it's not really fathomable. We have the potential to be like God. I don't know if anyone really truly understands what that really means. This world, this church, everyone needs to wake up and realize what is waiting for us if we do the right things, if we be the right person. We must DO in order to become. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” (-Aristotle) That is really the deep underlining message of what I go out and teach. When we invite others to read and ponder the BoM, to pray, to attend church, to keep the commandments, to be baptized, it is starting them on the path to godhood. Awesome. :)
Well, we found some new people to teach this past week, but it was a slow week. Hopefully things will pick up here before I leave. I am 90% certain I am being transfered in 3 weeks, now we just wait to see where. Life is great, the gospel's true, the Book's blue and Jesus loves you!
I hope you all have an amazing week, and I will keep everyone in my prayers. I pray that you will have the eyes to see those that are seeking the gospel around you, and the courage to share it with them. To invite them to hear about the gospel and to refer them to the missionaries. If the members of this church don't start working their hardest, then the missionaries WILL fail. No doubt about it. It's a three way street, members, missionaries and the Lord.
I love you all.
With Love From The South,
-Elder Dwight Mendenhall
Monday, May 16, 2011
May 16, 2011
Sooooooooooo......
I love life! It's great! And I don't really know why... Maybe because I am a full time servant of the Lord sent here to the Gulf Coast to help bless the lives of the great people of the south and to help show them the way to gain eternal life and get them started on the path back to Him, which is through the waters of baptism? Or maybe it is great because the Lord has given me an opportunity to learn charity and patience in a 6-12 week span and that I am learning it, though it may be hard sometimes? Or maybe life is so amazing is because I not only have the most amazing family ever and tons of awesome friends back home cheering me on and praying daily for my success, but I also have legions of angels on my side, helping me fight my daily battles and giving me a boost up and a push in the right direction? I really don't know why life is great...... Maybe it's because every day is a miracle if we see it that way. Life really is all about our attitudes. I have learned that lesson well the last few weeks. This life and the way we view it is largely based on our attitudes. Take Laman and Nephi for example. They went through the same wilderness for 8 years, and Nephi praised the Lord and loved life, and Laman cursed the day he was born... well not quite, but still. More like the day Lehi and Nephi were born... Anyway.... Basically I am learning life lessons that make me a better person. It's not easy though. Focus on the positives...
I am excited for dinner this week. Dinner appointments every night except Saturday. Oh, and we are now having a "zone breakfast" every other p-day. We all get together, have breakfast and have a spiritual thought, an unsuccess and success story, a joke of the week, and of course, prayers. We had it this morning with biscuits and gravy, eggs and sausage, bacon, muffins and juice. It was delicious! All in all, it's about 3 dollars per missionary to feed all 14 of us. It's great!
Phillip Karen, who was a missionary here about a year ago, was back in town the past few days. I got to meet him. It was weird to think about possibly coming back as a non missionary. Weird...
Soooooo.... The Lord is great and amazing. Always remember that.
With Love From The South,
-Elder Dwight Mendenhall
PS... yes, it's short this week. Tough. :)
I love life! It's great! And I don't really know why... Maybe because I am a full time servant of the Lord sent here to the Gulf Coast to help bless the lives of the great people of the south and to help show them the way to gain eternal life and get them started on the path back to Him, which is through the waters of baptism? Or maybe it is great because the Lord has given me an opportunity to learn charity and patience in a 6-12 week span and that I am learning it, though it may be hard sometimes? Or maybe life is so amazing is because I not only have the most amazing family ever and tons of awesome friends back home cheering me on and praying daily for my success, but I also have legions of angels on my side, helping me fight my daily battles and giving me a boost up and a push in the right direction? I really don't know why life is great...... Maybe it's because every day is a miracle if we see it that way. Life really is all about our attitudes. I have learned that lesson well the last few weeks. This life and the way we view it is largely based on our attitudes. Take Laman and Nephi for example. They went through the same wilderness for 8 years, and Nephi praised the Lord and loved life, and Laman cursed the day he was born... well not quite, but still. More like the day Lehi and Nephi were born... Anyway.... Basically I am learning life lessons that make me a better person. It's not easy though. Focus on the positives...
I am excited for dinner this week. Dinner appointments every night except Saturday. Oh, and we are now having a "zone breakfast" every other p-day. We all get together, have breakfast and have a spiritual thought, an unsuccess and success story, a joke of the week, and of course, prayers. We had it this morning with biscuits and gravy, eggs and sausage, bacon, muffins and juice. It was delicious! All in all, it's about 3 dollars per missionary to feed all 14 of us. It's great!
Phillip Karen, who was a missionary here about a year ago, was back in town the past few days. I got to meet him. It was weird to think about possibly coming back as a non missionary. Weird...
Soooooo.... The Lord is great and amazing. Always remember that.
With Love From The South,
-Elder Dwight Mendenhall
PS... yes, it's short this week. Tough. :)
May 9, 2011 Happy Mother's Day
Hey All Y'all!
So..... I love Mother's Day! As many of you know, I was able to Skype home yesterday. It was awesome! And surprisingly enough, it didn't make me trunky. It was just....normal. To me, it was almost like I never left. Interesting, huh? It was awesome! I do miss home, but I am out here for a reason, and my work is not yet finished.
So, Elder Woolf is an interesting character. Let's just say that we are going to have to see what these next 5 weeks will bring. It's already been one. Crazy! This week we are going on exchanges with the zone leaders, next week is zone conference in Hattiesburg, and the following week is exchanges with the Spanish Elders. So.... all in all, pretty crazy stuff. It is pretty stressful taking over an area. Not the easiest thing to do. But it is sure a learning experience. I love the gospel and I love the people and the work. I may not have any baptisms yet, but I know that I am helping people anyway. I am super grateful to be here.
Well. I guess I don't have too much to say.... Things are going to be different this transfer, that is for sure. I am learning to love my companion.... and as I have heard him say concerning people he knew back home, "love the person, not the sin". Sooooo.... yup. Hahahahahaha. It's what I am doing. Kia Kaha is my motto. Forever Strong. The Lord is with me, and wants me to succeed. And with God on my side, who can prevail against me? We may not win every battle, but we will "fo sure" win the war.
With lots of love and peace from the South,
Elder Dwight Douglas "Hal" Mendenhall, The First, Esquire. :)
So..... I love Mother's Day! As many of you know, I was able to Skype home yesterday. It was awesome! And surprisingly enough, it didn't make me trunky. It was just....normal. To me, it was almost like I never left. Interesting, huh? It was awesome! I do miss home, but I am out here for a reason, and my work is not yet finished.
So, Elder Woolf is an interesting character. Let's just say that we are going to have to see what these next 5 weeks will bring. It's already been one. Crazy! This week we are going on exchanges with the zone leaders, next week is zone conference in Hattiesburg, and the following week is exchanges with the Spanish Elders. So.... all in all, pretty crazy stuff. It is pretty stressful taking over an area. Not the easiest thing to do. But it is sure a learning experience. I love the gospel and I love the people and the work. I may not have any baptisms yet, but I know that I am helping people anyway. I am super grateful to be here.
Well. I guess I don't have too much to say.... Things are going to be different this transfer, that is for sure. I am learning to love my companion.... and as I have heard him say concerning people he knew back home, "love the person, not the sin". Sooooo.... yup. Hahahahahaha. It's what I am doing. Kia Kaha is my motto. Forever Strong. The Lord is with me, and wants me to succeed. And with God on my side, who can prevail against me? We may not win every battle, but we will "fo sure" win the war.
With lots of love and peace from the South,
Elder Dwight Douglas "Hal" Mendenhall, The First, Esquire. :)
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