Comunicating with your Maker.

There are many people 
that strive to communicate 
with their Maker but they 
do not where to begin. The 
best time to start is now.

You have a loving heavenly father 

that wants nothing more than to

 hear your voice in prayer. He 

is constantly waiting for

 us to talk to him.

Sometimes we let the 
guilt of not praying frequently
stop us from trying but this is not
What God wants us to feel he wants us that
"...Men a that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; (Luke 18:1)

But the question is how do we pray?

The manner of prayer is simple.

Jesus Taught...  And they shall believe in me, that I am Jesus Christ,

the Son of God, and

shall pray unto the Father in my name. 

(2 Nephi 20:31)

Prayer can be achieved in 4 simple steps,

1. Address your Heavenly Father

2. Give thanks for specific 

things in your life. 

3. Ask that for blessings you need.

4. Close by saying "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." 

Prayers are your personal thought and feelings not a memorized pattern.

 

 

The Manhattan LDS Temple

Another wonderful week in New York, but this week was “interrupted” by two temple trips. The Temple is one of the most sacred places on the earth along with the home. They are not like chapels that we attend on Sunday.

“Throughout history, the Lord has commanded His people to build temples. Today the Church is heeding the Lord’s call to build temples all over the world, making temple blessings more available for a great number of our Heavenly Father’s children.”

In the last week I was able to attend the Manhattan New York Temple twice. Once because I hit 18 months on the mission and once to accompany a man who was recently Baptized to attend for the first time. Both experiences were extremely cherished.

After finding the elusive parking garage we were able to go into the temple. All noises of the city ceased and a feeling of deep peace came over me. A short time later Vicente was Baptized in Proxy (or in place of) his deceased grandfather. 1 Corinthians 15:29. I could really tell that Vicente had a faith growing experience while in the house of the Lord. No one can enter the kingdom of God with out receiving the ordinances of the Gospel this is why the temple is so important it is there that we receive all of the covenants (or two way promises) of the Lord.

But in the end the work of Salvation left us exaused and a deep sleep fell upon all in the car.

Learn more about baptim in proxy of the dead.

http://www.lds.org/new-era/2009/03/why-do-we-baptize-for-the-dead?lang=eng

What it is like to be a shovel in the hands of a missionary doing service?

It is awesome that is what it is. This is a little video I made the other day while shoveling snow outside our house. We started there and than moved on to some of the people that are teaching and a few members when we ran out of people that we knew to help so (after a little convincing from Elder Galke)  we pulled up the car and just started shoveling, the first man we talked to said he wanted the exercise. We went next door and shoveled a Driveway no one was home. I am happy to think that they came home after a long day and found a clean driveway waiting for them. We moved down the street two doors and started shoveling some more.

Part way through a Lady came out in pajamas and said "You don't have to do that I do not have any money to pay you."

We said "That's fine we are your neighbors and we just want to do something nice for you."

"Really"

"Yup"

"Am I being punked."

"Nope just some good ole fashion serves.

Later on she came out and we talked a little. We were able to tell her that we are missionaries and that I am from Arizona and Elder Galke was from Panama. We told her that part of our mission was to go out and serve other people. She told us that we could come back the next day and she would have money but we haven't gone back yet. ;)

Nijabread cookies

 

 

Nijabread Cookies

 

 

I present to you the first super Star of the Blog Hicela, she is a member that I have had the pleasure of serving with. She is a deeply dedicated to her family working two jobs and still finds time to help and teach her children and fufill voluntary church service. I have had the oppertunity to watch the Gospel bless her life during a time of trial she looked up the churches number and called to request missionaries. Shortly after she was baptized. After a few years her husband decided to take the important step as well!



On Wire Statues and Happiness

 

On Wire Statues and Happiness

 

 

 These figures are made of a single continues strand of floral wire.  

 I started making wire sculptures in the 8th grade I even put it into the county fair and got a sweet little ribbon but these ones I made while serving my mission.

I particularly like the snow man because of how happy he looks with his arm reaching skyward. It happened quite by accident when I put him in a box. It kind of got me thinking about how our experiences on earth help shape us for the eternities. (a bit of a streach... maybe) but really we are put in this world to find joy.
The Book of Mormon explains it well in 2 Nephi 2:25  "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." So what stops us from being the happiest beings in the universe? When we distance ourselves from God we become unhappy, but we can become happy again through Repentance. Repentace is what allows us to correct past wrong choices and make better choices in the future through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

I am of the personal opinion that the single greatest thing that prevents us from being happy a part from being unrepentant is not allowing ourselves to be ourselves and keeping unrealistic expectations of what we should be. Be you and so I can pesonally honor my advice here is the Christmas Unicorn. The Unicorn is one continuos wire and the kite is a diffrent wire here it is.

 



"A letter from Rabbit" By Elder Jed Ward

I wrote a picture book so my 3 year old sister could understand what missionary life is like. My friends always ask what it is like it is kind of hard to explain but here is the simplest answer I can give. I hope you all enjoy it.

 One morning Racoon was dreaming about rabbit  Raccoon woke up said a prayer put on his tie
When his alarm Clock went. "Bring Bring"            and got ready.

Little did he know Rabbit had put somerhting in     Raccoon sat and Read about the life of Jesus.
the mail for him.                                                       Raccoon and bear were excited to share what
                                                                                  they had learned.

 As they left the house they checked the mail.         What happened? Raccoon found a letter from
                                                                                  Rabbit. He was so excited. But he did not have
                                                                                  enough time to read it.

 So tucking it safely away they went to the park     At the park they helped rake leaves with all the
                                                                                 to help clean up!

After that they taugh the badger Family.                        They even knocked some doors.

 When they got back raccoon finally had some time to  They checked the park they even asked the
read the letter but where was it?                                      Badger family.

 Raccoon was sad. He had looked everwhere for it  Here it is in his bag. How silly of Raccoon he had
except...                                                                     it the whole time.