Busy, Busy

Kumasta Mom and Dad, 

- Please tell Nana HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY today!!!!  I love her so much!!!!

-Dad, I'm going to get the 15 Moroni/title of Liberty carving for you.

-Thanks so much for the pictures!

-I got an awesome letter from Elder Tenny!!! He sounds like he's doing great things! At the end of April we're taking the Packers to the airport with President and the rest of the office staff, and I think we'll drive through Elder Tenny's area on our way up. You think he could just time it just right and be standing at a stoplight or something?!!

It was a crazy week as usual! For the first time on my mission, I didn't go to church this week! Here's the story. So on Thursday, one of the Elders assigned in our ward here went to the hospital. It turned out he had Dengue Fever! He was getting a lot of bloddy noses, had rashes, and sever stomach pain. We had to run up to the hospital to get them all settled in. The hospital looks pretty nice, but don't judge a book by it's cover! The hospital doesn't provide its patients with water, towels, or even syringes! They give only a little bit of food to their patients! There was also no where for his companion to get food at the hospital. So we spent a lot of time bringing them water and food. On Saturday I worked with the sick elder’s companion because he was really stressed and was losing his mind staying in that hospital. I woke up a little early on Sunday morning to read my scriptures, but I just felt like we needed to go to the hospital. I started to get dressed, and me and my companion went to the hospital to take them water, with enough time to get back for church. When we got there, his platelets were dropping, and he started bleeding like crazy from his nose! He was bleeding out of both nostrils. It was pretty scary! We texted President who was at a faraway District Conference with Elder Teh of the Seventy. He told us we needed to go and get platelets for him! Now normally this should be easy right? Well the closest place with platelets was an hour and 15 minutes away! So we got in that car and we...made pretty good time! We got there, got the platelets and got back, in the process missing church. We were able to have a sacrament meeting with them when we got back to the hospital. Whew!  He is doing well today.    

With Easter this Sunday, and Palm Sunday yesterday, I'm been thinking about the last week of the Savior's life. So many things happened, and such a huge chunk of the Gospels come from that last week. I've decided that I'm going to read a little bit from all four Gospels every day, leading up to Thursday with the trial and betrayal, the crucifixtion on Friday, and the Resurrection on Sunday! I want to get a better idea of what that week was really like. As I've been reading, and really trying to pay more attention, I've picked up some really interesting things. I read the parable of the Wedding for the Son. In the parable, there's a feast, and the King invites all of his friends. They choose not to come, wanting to do other things. The King, obviously saddened, then extends the invitation to everyone, and has his servants go out to the "highways" having them invite all, "bad and good", anyone that would come. When they came, the King looked around at the guests. They were all asked to wear a "wedding garment" or some sort of attire. You wouldn't show up to a state dinner in Sperry's and bermuda shorts, but it seems that someone tried to do just that! I can almost see them nervously sitting there, praying no one will notice! The King says to him "Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless." In other words, are you crazy!!”  You know better than to show up not in the proper attire! As much as he may have wanted to, there was no possible way he could stay unnoticed. On top of that, how miserable do you think he was just sitting there! It wasn't that the King disliked him, he called him "Friend". But despite how much he may have loved him, there was nothing that the King could do. He wasn't fit for the feast. He hadn't prepared himself, even despite the preparation being so simple and straightforward. I'm sure he "got the memo" before, but for some reason thought he could get back. He's cast out, and as the Savior sums it up, he says "For many are called, but few are chosen."

This parable is about a lot of things. Missionary work, the Gathering of Israel, our Heavenly Father's love, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We've all been invited to the feast. We all know the dress code, or we all know the things we must do to prepare. The reward is greater than anything we can imagine!! No matter how bad we may have been, or how good we've been up to this point, how rich or poor we may be, there is a seat for anyone at the table, and all are invited. As Christ said, many are called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Pride, laziness, there are many reasons. This is why is this work is so important. Many are called, all are called, but few do what they need to do to qualify. The Gospel is very straightforward and clear. It's our job as missionaries to go out into the highways, finding everyone, good and bad, young and old, and help them know how to prepare. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I know that he is preparing the hearts of people to receive this Gospel. This past week I was on exchanges with a new Elder. When I told him we were going tracting he looked less than thrilled! We came to the first door, and the guy just shut us down! No matter what he said and told us to leave and that he had zero interest in listening to us! I could tell my companion was a bit discouraged! This past week I've really been trying to find in faith people to teach. There are a lot of people that aren't interested, but you need to believe that the next door is the one where you'll find somone who's prepared. We knocked on a door, and a little girl came out and said, "They said come in!" We walked into the house, and there was a family eating dinner. As we started talking to them, the father told us they used to live in a small town called Paete about two hours away, and there lived next door to them a member, who's a wood carver (yup, the guy who's making the wood carvings for me right now!). Years ago they were taught by missionaries, and even went to church for a whole year. He invited us to teach his family, and we were able to set a return appointment!

Always have faith, it's a happier way to live! 

Love,

Elder Yost

Christ's Hands

- BYU Lax lost? Can you send me a picture of their uniforms?

Our work this week was interesting, and a little disappointing...we had a lot of appointments fall through and we weren't able to teach everyone we wanted to! Things have quieted down a little bit in terms of apartments as well because this transfer is a little bit smaller, and we'll actually have to close an area because we're having more leave than are coming in. We've been a bit puzzled because with the announcement last conference, we really haven't seen an increase...until this week. For our transfer day in May, we already have 17 missionaries that are coming in, 15 of those being missionaries from the Provo MTC. We expect that we'll get even more local missionaries for that batch. That means that we'll probably open at least 4 new areas in May. (The chances are pretty good that I could be one of those....). Also in less than three weeks the new senior couple comes, and when they do, things are really going to get busy as we help get them up to speed. 

My companion and I are doing good. He's nice and we get along. On this mission I've learned that I can get along with really anyone if I want to!  Elder P. is a college basketball fan I think...I went into his office the other day and asked what was going on (I was referring to office work and things that needed to get done), and then he just started talking about March Madness and showed me the polls! Pretty funny! When he realized I was talking about missionary stuff I think he felt a little goofy! He is great!

Time is going by incredibly fast. After this transfer which is about helf way over, I'll have one more in the office and one out in the field. I'm really, really excited to get to go out into the field for my last transfer. The last six months is really your time to shine as a missionary. You're trained, you know the language, and you should be the best missionary you've been your whole mission. It's at that time you're the most effective instrument in the hands of the Lord you've been your whole mission. I have learned so much being here in the mission office, but I can't wait to be out in the 'field' as a full time teacher!

Mom, it sounds like March is Atonement month in the curriculum you are teaching to the YW in church. I wish I could be in Young Mens this month to hear these lessons! One of the most well known symbols of the Atonement are the wounds in Christs' hands, feet, and side. I've always found it interesting that he's chosen to retain these despite having a perfect and glorified body. He showed them to his disciples, to the Nephites in the Americas, and I'm sure others as well. He asked them to feel the wounds. In the scriptures it talks about Christ stretching forth his arm of mercy, and encompassing us in the "arms of his love'. I  have always loved that imagery. After Christ has spiritually begotten us, and protects us as a parent would a child. He protects us, while he himself takes the blows. If we will cling to him, we will find peace, security, and protection. When people experience trials they usually do one of two things, they either draw nearer to God or move farther from him. They either reach for his arm or ignore it. Whenever we reach for his outstretched hands, we are in reality reaching for his Atonement. As hands clasps, the first thing we will feel are the wounds in his hands. Christ wants us to "remember", and as a result follow him. I heard a line from "Rise Up O Men of God" this week that I really liked. "Rise up, O men of God! Tread where his feet have trod."  As we follow Christ and tread where his feet have trod, we will come to know him better, and come to understand him and who he is. 

A few General Conferences ago President Uchtdorf told a story of a German town that had a statue of the Savior. During the war, the statue had been damaged, and Christ's hands had been destroyed. The people weren't sure whether to repair the statue, or to leave it as a constant reminder of the devastation of war. They decided to leave the statue as it was, without hands. They however added the inscription, "You are my hands". I hope as we strive to be more like him, as we ponder and contemplate his Atoning sacrifice, we will come to better understand the price he paid, and the nature of his love for us. And as we do, may we remember his hands, and his feet, and his side, as we do his work, and become his hands.

Love,

Elder Yost

The Master Teacher

Dear Mom and Dad, 

Congratulations to Tia and Tom! Thanks so much for all  the pictures you all sent! Everyone looks so great! 

We had a good week this week and really focused on finding. With a small teaching pool right now, we really need to find! And that was our focus! We did that referral activity this week and we received 8 referrals! Not bad! It's definitely a step in the right direction. We also found  4 new investigators this week! We have some set return appointments for the other referrals we contacted. A lot of people think that finding just means tracting. Tracting is very important and we do that as well.  One out of every 50 referrals gets baptized as opposed to one in 250 for tracting. The referrals we have received were good referrals. Also this Sunday a member brought three friends to church, and we're going to go back and teach them as well!

I went to the post office this week and picked up President's copy of BYU Magazine, and to my amazement, my boy (that would be Mitt Romney) was on the cover!! Can you please save that for me so I can read the article about Mitt?  As for office work, things have been relatively quiet. The new office couple comes in in about a month, so I'm watching Elder Packer sometimes as he works so I know how to do things to help his replacement. He'll have three weeks with his replacement, there are some things like rent checks that he won't have a chance to see that I can help with.

This week we were teaching a less-active brother. He was baptized many years ago by two sisters (he seems to really like them, maybe a little attracted to them), and went less-active because he was offended by the bishop because he wasn't given a temple recommend. He still has the blank temple recommend that was never signed, and keeps it as a marker in his scriptures as a reminder of why he's offended.  He says he'll come to church again if the bishop is replaced (we hear that a lot here). He's been taught for a while, and it may be time to evaluate our visits to him because he doesn't show many signs of progress. He's very smart, but it's been obvious that he has never ever prayed to know. As we taught him, we really tried to focus on praying to know. Towards the end of the lesson, I was asking myself what in the world I could share that would help this man. He's the most stubborn person I know, but we love this man and it hurts to know what he is missing. I've been trying to become better at asking inspired questions, the right question at the right time, that causes them to think and feel the Spirit. I was thinking, and went to ask a question, but my mind was blank. I sat there for 30 seconds, in complete silence. He started to talk again about how he was offended, but for some reason I just sat there and waited, waiting and trusting that the right question would come to me. After about a minute, it came. I asked "Tatay, if you never come back to church, and never stop smoking and drinking and stop doing the other things you know you shouldn't do, what will Christ say to you when you see him again?" He sat there, and his expression changed a bit and he said "That's a hard question, I don't want to answer that!" I asked him to just think about it, even if he didn't answer us, just to really think the question through. He sat there quietly, and I could tell he wasn't just thinking, he was feeling. With that we left him with that question, closed with a prayer, and quietly left.

The Savior was a master teacher. I've thought about what made him such a great teacher, that caused peoples hearts to burn within them as he taught, and caused others to follow and commit with faith and determination. He asked questions that caused people to look within and examine themselves. "Who do ye say that I am?", "Do you love me more than these?". The Savior knew how to help people learn through not just giving them information, but by applying themselves. Read the Gospels and 3 Nephi, and pay attention to how he teaches, especially through asking questions. When we're motivated by love, and we listen with our hearts, we'll know exactly what it is we need to say.

Love,

Elder Yost 

Charity

Hi Mom and Dad !

- Mom, do you want that nativity set I mentioned?

- I'm sure you will, but please send pictures of your weekend in   California at Tia's (Alex's cousin)wedding!

- Can you send a picture of the iPad mini? You have become an Apple family without me :(  :)

We were busy once again! What's new! Transfer week is over and things are starting to slow down. Elder Eyre is gone (that was expected). Things aren't as fun as they were before with him here.  I talked to Elder Eyre earlier, and he's doing great! Do you remember the M family in Pola? We baptized the mother and her three children. Well, Elder Eyre told me they gave the father a baptismal goal date!! That would complete their family! Also, I had a recent convert I hadn't heard much about, and was honestly a bit worried about, and Elder Eyre told me he's doing great, and has given them some referrals. It makes me so happy to know that he's there taking care of the people I love so much.  I know the people of Pola are in great hands!

It's been so much fun these last couple weeks to have baptisms, but now the bad news is we're out of people to teach. We've really focused this week on finding, and even though we didn't get any new investigators, we have three active families who have selected a family to refer, and are preparing them. We have a great activity we do with them. We get the whole family together and ask them to run and grab a piece of paper. All the kids shoot up and go running. When they get it, we write on the left hand side of the paper:

1) , 2), 3), 4)

We then ask them to write four people or families they're really close with or might be interested in being taught in the numbers 1-4.  

When they've done that we then write:

A) , B), C), D)

We then ask the to write four activities they could do that week for these families like giving a Book of Mormon, fasting for them, inviting them to church, etc. Then we ask them which of the four families are most likely to listen. When they've chosen them, we commit them to do one of the activities that week, and then at the bottom of the page we have them write the date they'll invite them to be taught. It's amazing the effect this has! Every time without fail it's worked! This is really how we're trying to find people because the people are more prepared, and it's more focused on families. Do this as a FHE, you don't need the missionaries there to do it!

Also, T.S. bore his testimony yesterday, and received the Aaronic Priesthood!!!!  (see the photo I sent)

This week in Grandfathers e-mail to me and Elder CJY (Alex's cousin, a missionary in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil )he talked about charity. Amazingly, this is what I've been thinking about lately. As with any good attribute, the Savior is the perfect example. He had absolutely perfect love. It never ever failed him. One of my favorite parts of the New Testament is when he was asked which was the greatest commandment of them all, to which he responded, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." The Savior loved his Father so much that he was willing to do anything he asked. He was willing to be persecuted, beaten, spit upon, and eventually killed. To him, truly loving God was more than just an idea, it was who he was, it was his very nature. It's easy to love those who love you, anyone can do that. But how do we respond to those who don't like us, or put us down? When the Savior was all alone, when all had left him, as he performed the Atonement he exhibited perfect love and charity as he turned outward and not inward. The tougher that things got, the more he turned to help others, to do a little more. He truly forgot himself in loving others. When times get tough for us, where do we turn? Do we turn inward, or outward? Loving God is truly the first and great commandment, in fact, you can look at any commandment, and it will always go back to the first and greatest commandment. As Elder Holland said, at some time, we will all probably be asked, "Did you love me? Was your very life a reflection of your love for me? Did you love me more than everything else?" May we live every day in a way that we'll be able to say, "Yes, Lord we do love thee." May we turn outward at all times as he did, and by so doing become true disciples, even friends, of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Love,

Elder Yost