My Last Missionary Zone Conference (Week #97)

 Monday, October 19, 2020

Today in Oklahoma, it's pretty gloomy and rainy. There is a mushroom factory nearby that often smells in the morning. The smell is different almost every time because they feed the mushrooms different waste materials. A lot of the trees' leaves are yellow, orange, and red. We're probably not going to go to Joplin today because of the rain. I think that I just had my last zone conference two days ago. I looked around, and I did not recognize any missionaries that I previously served with. Very few missionaries that I had served around are in other places in the mission and may go home around the same time. I realized that I was one of the missionaries at the zone conference that had been out the longest. That was kind of a dose of reality. 

Turning Twenty-one! (Week #96)

Monday, October 12, 2020

 I have been 21 for almost two weeks now,  and I still can't believe that I have been alive for that long. I was able to receive the birthday gifts that you sent. Thanks for the birthday gifts and cards and for wishing me a happy birthday. As for new developments in my area, the work is progressing, and I think the trend is still going up, just as slow as ever.  I think that I'm starting to get a better grasp of what things will be effective to do here. I have been finding some more success interacting with people over facebook and particularly in my area which is great. I've been able to have a few decent Gospel conversations with these folks.

This week was also interesting  because I got to be quarantined again. I had gotten in contact with a member in the ward that just now got covid. Luckily I'm officially out of it tomorrow. The mission let us visit with other missionaries today regardless. Other than that, I think that's most of what has happened to me this week. 

I'm Staying in Miami, OK (Week #95)

 Monday, October 5, 2020

So now I actually have a few things to talk about. I am staying in Miami so I think that I will for sure finish my mission here. My trainee is being transferred. I am getting a new companion that I already have met wich is a first for me. I will start looking for a bike box promptly. I have not received my voting ballot yet, but I'm looking forward to getting it. Miami has started to look noticably polarized with Trump and Biden posters, fliers, and signs everywhere. 

It's getting pretty chilly up here. I'm not looking forward to cold weather. Conference was very good. There were a lot of talks on unity, getting along with others, and working through adversity . President Nelson's talk was pretty good. I have felt a small resurgence of energy. I could be doing a lot better as a missionary I think, but I am not doing the worst. At least I hope not. Being a missionary continues to become more challenging for me, but by continuing to make consistent efforts I think that I can finish strong. There are still some people that I need to help in this area. 

Thanks for continuing to pray for me. 

Teaching and Serving (Week #94)

Monday, September 28, 2020

This past week has been a decent week for missionary work. If things work out, we might have a few new people to teach this week. We have a few unique service opportunities come up this past week such as digging a trench to find a sewer line leak and cleaning up a broken down fence. We'll also have more service lined up for this coming week. I'm hoping that everything will work out and I pray for strength everyday to keep going and to keep my head up. 

I've sometimes thought about why the calling of a missionary is even a calling because it is members that are encouraged to find people who are ready to hear the gospel.  It's also the members that do the most reaching out and ministering. What has helped me to see why the calling of missionary is a separate calling is when my mission president said that it's like the role of a Nazarite in a sense. The nazarites where supposed to follow the same commandments that all the other Israelites were supposed to follow, but they had to live up to certain standards that were different such as not cutting their hair and never drinking alcohol. Missionaries kind of do live according to a different standard similar to the Nazarites just not in the same way. That helped me see how missionaries are different. 

Beat by a Mower! (week #93)

Monday, September 21, 2020

This week has passed safely. I'm looking forward to this coming week. We're teaching more lessons now. We've decided to ask members if we could teach practice lessons with them so that we can stay in the right mindset. The work is maintaining its slowness. But we think that it will help members become more involved in missionary work somehow, and it helps us stay focused and improve our teaching skills too. 

The trees are starting to turn different colors now, and it's gotten cooler. I am not excited for this winter. They say that Oklahoma winters can be rough sometimes.

 A funny incident happened not too long ago while we were mowing someone's lawn. We were using the person's lawnmower, and we were having trouble getting it started. A kid was telling us how to do it because there was a special trick to it. I thought he meant to grab a metal wire that extended to the starting cable. I didn't understand what he was saying, and so I adjusted it. As I did, I noticed that every time my companion jerked the starting cable back while I adjusted the wire, the engine started going. It was working, and then I adjusted the wire all the way, and I got a huge jolt that coursed up my arm. It threw me back, and the mower started with a bam! I guess it was connected to the spark plug or something because that shocked me really good. My right arm was sore for the entire evening. Ha, ha!

Zone Meetings Pics (Week #92)

 Monday, September 14, 2020

I am excited to go through this coming week. I have some ideas  I want to try for missionary work. 

I've enjoyed the last few chapters in 3 Nephi from the past section in Come Follow Me. I think that it would have been a great time to be a believer at that time. I read in Doctrine and Covenants that "signs follow those that believe." It also turned out that the non-believers didn't seem to expect that those signs would actually happen.

The Wheat and the Tares (Week#91)

 Monday, September 7, 2020

The highlight for this week is definitely church starting back up in our area. I don't think it's been just missionaries that have been feeling tired. I think a few of the members have been tired as well. Because it was a fast and testimony meeting that day, the ones that went up to bear their testimony were very emotional, and I can't blame them. 

I've been asking myself questions lately, and one of the questions that has been foremost in my mind is who are the ones that are truly faithful? The Lord gives a parable about the wheat and the tares. It's interesting that he chooses this scenario for His parable because when the crops are first planted, no one can identify the tares successfully from the wheat. This can only be done during harvest time. So the wheat and the tares grow together. This has led me to think, what if there are members that are not actually faithful? What if the people that we have looked down on or think are not good members of the church are the ones the Bridegroom has in fact chosen? Then again, what if they're actually what we think they are? How do I know if I am faithful? How do I know that I can stand before the Father without my conscience convicting me? It says ye shall know them by their fruits, and it's supposed to be simple. How can you know if the fruits you give are actually good? How many people actually just go through the motions and their heart remains unchanged? I don't know. I actually don't think we'll ever truly know till harvest time or when the Lord comes. Then He will separate the wheat from the tares.

Social Media (Week #90)

 Monday, August 31, 2020

I liked talking yesterday. I really like being able to call at least once a week. I never would have thought that it would be possible on my mission. My mission seems different when I started versus now. I'm glad that the mission has changed over time. I've become more familiar with Facebook. I'm not sure I'll ever want to use Facebook again when I return though. I have also heard that Facebook is no longer a common social media platform that people use right now. Some say that Instagram or snapchat is more popular, but I wouldn't know because we're only allowed to use Facebook. It sounds like the younger people use Instagram more than Facebook. I think the weather is starting to get a little cooler in Miami. Not by a lot, but I think fall will be here very soon. 

Our mission is starting a new proselyting initiative called "Be One." I'm not really understanding the vision behind it entirely. The goal is to help individuals, families, and communities become more united with Christ. I think missionaries have been trying to do that since day 1, but I think that if I figure it out a bit more, its purpose will be more clear. This month's goal for the initiative is to help people prepare for General Conference.

Staying in Miami, OK for six more weeks (Week #89)

 Monday, August 24, 2020

I am doing good. I am staying in Miami for another six weeks. My companion is also staying with me. This will be the first time I train for a full twelve weeks. I don't know how many transfers  I have left, but I'm not really trying to keep count. I finished my BYU endorsement application too. The work in Miami has been picking up slowly but steadily. We're getting to know more people and we're in contact with more people now. I am excited for this next transfer, and I think that much good will come out of this it. 

Great Missionary Help! (Week #88)

 Monday, August 17, 2020

Last week was about the same as the first few weeks of this transfer but I have a good feeling about this week. I think that we're going to start seeing the ball move a bit faster. We're excited to try campus work. I think it will definitely add variety to the different activities that we're trying. We also have pool of people to teach. Not all of them are nonmembers, but a few of them are less actives. The mission is emphasizing less active work right now. 

The missionaries in this stake are really good. The mission President complimented our stake at interviews about its stability. That kind of gives us confidence. I'm really enjoying the area that I am serving in. There's nothing particularly spectacular about the area, but the people are great. I'm feeling as if now is a great time for me to be a missionary, but I don't want to speak too soon, haha. I like the weather here right now in OK, but it's going to change here real soon. I saw a tree the other day that's already turning red. It has been hot, but not extremely hot. It's been hovering around the eighties and seventies for the most part except in midday. Plus we are usually inside a car or building most of the time anyway with air conditioning. I am just glad that it's summer so I'm enjoying it while it lasts. 

Our mission President said that when winter comes, basically most of our outside service is going to dry up. I think he's right haha. He suggests that we get a strong less active pool to work with in preparation for the winter, so that's what we're going to take up a notch this week. We're already trying, we just have to make this a more important focus. 

My Missionary District (Week #87)

 Monday, August 10, 2020

Missionary Video Clip (Week #86)

 Monday, August 3, 2020

Thankful to My Family (Week #84)

Monday, July 27, 2020

 I'm glad to still be out. Thanks for sharing ideas that I can do to better fulfill my missionary purpose. My companion and I have talked about a few ideas that we can do to make short videos that we can post to our facebook page. I hope that all of you are doing okay. I love you all and I just want all of you to know that I'm doing okay. Thanks for sending me letters weekly. You do better at that than I do. I am grateful that I have such a supportive family. 

Drawing on a Tree (Week #83)

 Monday, July 20, 2020

Serving in Miami and Neosho, OK (Week #82)

 Monday, July 13, 2020

Miami and Neosho are both unique places with many good people. We have an apartment in Miami and an apartment in Neosho. Occasionally, we've stayed overnight in Neosho. Usually we're in Neosho for service projects, or for a member dinner. 

The 4th of July was fun to watch last week. It was a full moon, and we could see the fireworks exploding in the sky around it. I am getting a new companion this week. I know nothing about him. All I know is that I will be training again. I am praying that all goes well with this. My companion is going to go to Neosho with a spanish speaking companion. We will stay be in touch because we are in the same district.

Just now, I locked us out of our apartment. We had to climb through the kitchen window which fortunately was open. That was a relief, because all of our keys except for the car keys which I had were inside our Apt. That was really a tender mercy.

Preparation Day (Week #81)

 Monday, July 6, 2020

We are cleaning our apartment today.

My New Companion (Week #80)

Monday, June 29, 2020

My new companion was born in Bolivia and raised in Utah. We were cleaning in our regular outfits just for this one time though. We were helping this sister trim a rose bush at the ward activity.

The Sacred Grove in My Area and Quarantine (Week# 79)

 Monday, June 22, 2020

Pictures Of Oklahoma and Quarantining (Week# 78)

 Monday, June 15, 2020

I am doing good. Quarantine is not the most fun thing in the world, but we received some hopeful news that we might be able to go for a hike. We're crossing our fingers hoping that this will be the case. On the positive side, our apartment is very clean, and we have plenty of food to eat. There are also other missionaries living close by that are assisting us with errands too. 

They are doing missionary work now almost entirely on our phones. Because I'm using my phone so much, I'm realizing that I could have done a lot of the same work when the virus wasn't even around. Maybe I could have found more opportunities. Who knows. 

Oklahoma (Week #77)

Monday, June 8, 2020

 I am settling into Oklahoma pretty well. For service last week, my companions and I did lots of indexing. It's basically the same as doing lots of paperwork. We are trying to find other service opportunities in the area that we can try. A fun one that missionaries have done in the past was doing service at a unique place called the Coleman Theater. It's a playhouse that's been around since the early nineteen hundreds. The missionaries would volunteer to clean the outside of the building and do other basic maintenance. The theater is closed right now because of the virus. 

Yesterday, I viewed a post that our mission President put on our mission Facebook page. The post was a video about the community service missionaries have been doing in the different regions within the mission. The people in it were mostly leaders of service organizations. They were talking about how beneficial missionaries have been in helping their organizations. I was pretty excited to see an organization head that I had known in Springfield. Everything he said about missionaries was positive. That made me pretty happy. 

Check out 3 Nephi 15:9.

Fantastic Investigator! (Week # 76)

June 1, 2020

Things are going pretty good. I'm doing well. I only have six months left, and I want to work harder than ever before. I feel more confident now. 

We have two people we're teaching that do not have a baptismal date but they are very close to having one. One of the guys we're teaching, a referral from our mission president, is just fantastic. He actually asks us for things to do so that he can become member of the church. He's very proactive and he's kept almost all of the commitments we've given him including coming to a Sacrament meeting which was one that we planned at our ward mission leader's house. When we've taught him, he brings a notebook and he even takes notes. I have never had experiences with anyone that does that. We've only taught him three lessons though so far so we'll see how long he lasts. 

Sightseeing and Haircut (Week # 73)

May 11, 2020

Individual Family Mission Plans (Week # 75)

May 25, 2020

Is there a hurricane in the gulf? I have been hearing that there is a hurricane called Arthur.  Is it affecting you? I have been pretty busy. The pandemic doesn't really slow anything down in Arkansas. Sacrament meetings are projected to resume in the next two weeks in Arkansas according to our mission president. I'm actually pretty excited about this because my companion and I are getting a good rythym going finally. Yesterday, I was wiped out. We're trying to encourage ward members to develop their own individual family mission plans but we're not sure how to do that effectively. Our ward mission leader thinks that it is a good idea, but as we've been trying to figure how to help the members to this end, we're discovering that this idea rests very largely on the desire and initiative of the families and in addition each family is very different. The thing is that we have a good ward mission plan, but it doesn't really have any action items on it that families can do to do missionary work, so that is why we're trying to encourage the family mission plans. We have another really cool person that we are teaching now. He is actually very promising. We shall see! Love you all!

Teaching the Gospel to Brayden (Week # 74)

May 18, 2020

Keep Me in Your Prayers (Week # 71)

May 4, 2020

I am doing as great as I can be. This transfer is off to a good start. We will continue to pray hard for missionary opportunities. My companion is awesome. What I like about him is that he wants to work and be exactly obedient. Please keep me in your prayers. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission. I love you all!

Alma, Arkansas (Week # 70)

April 27 2020

While in the Pandemic... (Week # 69)

April 20, 2020

I am faring well through the virus epidemic. It is not so much the epidemic itself as missing opportunities that come with it that discourage me at times. But with what good that I can see and do, I have seen progress and the support of God in my life. I have also seen changes within myself to a certain extent though they have been minute and gradual. Most of the growth that takes place in me is unnoticeable, and it will probably be like that for several years even after I finish my mission. It is by small and simple things that great things are brought to pass 

I am looking forward to receiving a new companion. I think this will be my ninth or tenth companion. I'm getting close to double digits now. For areas though, that's a different story. That's fine with me because I do not like being in big cities and Arkansas has not cracked down on staying home- yet. Hopefully the peak of the virus will come soon. 

We are getting several outdoor service opportunities though, so I am looking forward to that. We are starting up various different tech methods to do missionary work. In my opinion, using the tech might actually allow us to teach more people than before. I think that it would be fantastic to do several short 15 to 20 minute lessons every day with people being taught and families or really anyone in the pool. It might be easier to get in contact with certain people too. There is opportunity for sure. I am afraid of missing opportunities or forgetting about what is possible. I just want to choose the right no matter what and be comfortable with myself too. This will be a time to actually do constructive, useful introspection versus simply turning inward and shutting down like I usually do. I know everything is going to be okay.

Serving Others (Week # 68)

April 13, 2020

I am doing good. The virus has made things a little stressful for missionary work some days, but we've always been able to find something meaningful to do everyday so far. As long as we keep doing our best, I think that more opportunities will arise even with the virus limiting us from going outside as much. Luckily, Arkansas is one of the few states that hasn't put a stay at home order, so we're still able to do service outside for others such as lawn work and washing cars. We can still teach using digital means such as facebook messenger. We are trying to do a mission Prep class, Come Follow Me lessons, and we are calling members in the ward every night to stay in touch with them and to offer our services. As long as we don't lose sight of our purpose, and maintain our hope in Christ, I think that we'll do okay. I am grateful for the opportunities that have come, I am grateful to the Lord that I can still serve Him as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints which is His church. Love you all!

Thanks! (Week # 67)

April 6, 2020

I am looking forward to another week on the mission: another three weeks. I felt especially tired today, but it's a good tiredness. Thanks for all the feedback that ya'll have given me about various things and thanks for all the love and support. I'm getting close to the final stretch that will be full of different adversities and new challenges. All in all though, hopefully this COVID passes and we can resume normalcy in one way or another again. I love you all, and keep hopes up. There is always hope in Jesus Christ. Sometimes it seems difficult to find Him, but in seeking to bless the lives of others, and in following the commandments, His hand becomes more evident. 

Reaching Out to Members (Week # 66)

March 30, 2020

We think that this is a great opportunity to reach out to the ward and to assist in helping them find answers to questions that they have about the content in Come Follow Me, the Book of Mormon, questions from investigators, or really anything gospel related. We would love hear from you!

video

Corona Virus Changes (Week # 65)

March 23, 2020

I have been doing good.I am kind of excited for this transfer because it will different from all other transfers. There is going to be lots of change happening because of this Corona, and I think it will be change for the better. I am also excited for conference. 

It's crazy to think that I only have eight more months left, but I plan to make it the best eight months. I actually think that even with the uncertainty and turmoil that is going around, and it has affected him by the way, even our mission President is kind of excited about what's coming. Nothing will be the same.

I don't know what else to say. Otherwise, missionary continues as it ever has. If anything, this corona virus will be wind in our sails.

Working with the COVID-19( Week #64)

March 16, 2020

 Honestly, things might actually turn out to be a pretty good transfer. Based off what our mission president has described to us, I think that he will keep us pretty busy. As long as we follow what he's said, we should be fine. My hope is that my companion and I already got the virus. Our ward mission leader travels all the time, and one time we shook his hand when he returned from a recent trip. He said that he got sick, but he decided he was well enough for stake conference. While he doesn't travel internationally much, he does travel all over the country, so if he was in the northeast or in the west at any given point at that time, than maybe he already passed it on to us, haha. Because both of us got real sick although, symptoms may not show until two weeks later. Either way, whatever my companion and I were sick with, I hope that boosts our immune systems enough so that if we do come in contact with someone that may have it, we will not be strongly affected. Considering that the prophet is a doctor and that he has suspended most meetings, then I guess it's worth taking this more seriously. 

I just don't understand why toilet paper is being depleted so rapidly. Anyhow, I'm doing fine. I'm not sick yet. In Arkansas, I think there is only six confirmed cases of the COVID. That's confirmed cases. There are probably more people that have it, but I think that generally speaking in our mission there are not too many people that have it. I think that our mission president said that there are two confirmed cases, both in Springfield Missouri, the most populous town in the mission, within our mission boundaries. 

Some exciting news is that my companion and I were able to teach our bishops's friend again. We had a good lesson with him. He wants to join the church, but his parents are not sure why he wants to yet. Hopefully, he explains to them why soon.

My district has changed up, and has become better. Now, I don't have to be a district leader anymore, and a new set of elders has arrived in the district, which will make things easier. It's tough just having sisters in the district. What makes this cool is that they are opening up a new Spanish area in the mission. 

I am actually pretty excited. My companion is staying, the Marshalese- American one. We actually have been working pretty well together, so I anticipate that we will do good this transfer. 

Love you all,

Elder Flynn

The Work of Salvation (Week # 63)

March 9, 2020

This week, my companion got sick, haha. I might have gotten him sick, but everything is going decently. We went to our zone conference in Bella Vista on Friday. I got to see some old missionary friends since three zones were there. A seventy, Elder Ochoa, spoke to us. He was almost totally the opposite of the last seventy that came. The last seventy that came was almost fire and brimstone. This one that came was like a teddy bear. Though their styles were different, both of them basically said the same message. They both ultimately were asking us for greater commitment to Christ and His Gospel. 

I took some time this morning to watch the family history leadership training. I watched mostly the section with Elder Bednar. You know, lots of people say that it's all been done and stuff, but then at the last stake Conference that I went to, the Oklahoma City Temple President got up and said that if you think that all your family history work has been done, you have been deceived. Anyhow, I've kind of had that mindset, and what he said has inspired me to take more initiative for this work when I return. I mean, what Elder Bednar said is right: family history/temple work is the same work as missionary work. You know if you can't bring living souls into the fold, get the dead ones. Go where the fish are! Haha. I actually really mean that though. Really, because there are a lot of people that are waiting... I mean- let me put it in perspective: as far as I can tell, mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, abuelita and abuelito mark the only generations that have experienced membership in the church. Everyone else before basically haven't. There are probably a few folks in there that have been hoping that one of their descendants would be wise enough to join the church and participate in the saving ordinances. Now I know that there are other desendents out there doing the same thing, but I think it wouldn't do any harm to work at it as if we were the only decendents they got. Anyhow, I was actually very impressed with what Elder Bednar said in the family leadership training. It was a call to repentance. He roasted the check the box Wednesday night activities. We should all be engaged in the work of salvation because there isn't a more important work. Anyhow, dad was right- he was pretty clear. Hopefully we can all engage in this more in some way.

I love you all!

The Book of Mormon (Week # 62)

March 2, 2020

I am grateful that I am able to have the opportunity to serve the Lord as a missionary. It's been quite a ride. I have learned a lot about sharing the Gospel with others and I'm learning more about that task everday. The members of the church here are great, and I have developed many awsome relationships with members, nonmembers, less actives, and other missionaries over the course of my mission. In many cases, I've been able to teach them, but they've taught me more. 

The Book of Mormon is an awsome tool for teaching the gospel. It testifies of Christ, and if those that are searching for truth in their lives- are really searching for truth- and "abide by its precepts", they can and will understand better who Christ is and His character and why that is important in following Him on the path that He marked for us to follow. Christ lives. The Gospel is true.

This weekend for me was Stake Conference. No special appearances. I was wondering if Elder Bednar would drop in his old stake for a bit, haha. Just kidding. It was a good conference, but also long. I also started to get sick at the general session. I'm recovering from that right now, but luckily it's pday, and I have some time to rest. I also got interviewed by President and Sister Strong yesterday. 

The work is moving along. We are looking forward for this one opportunity to teach this guy that moved into Alma from Ckarsville. He's the son in law to a member in the ward. He was taking the lessons with the sister missionaries, but now that he's moved, we are going to finish teaching him the lessons. For him, it'll probably still be a long while before he's baptized. If he stays here in Alma, he'll probably go through two or three sets before he's ready, but we're just happy to have someone to teach. Our bishop's friend got hung up on something, and so we're trying to figure out what to do to keep teaching him. 

Anyway, besides feeling sick, I'm doing good. I am learning a lot about being responsible and doing what you say you are going to do.

Zone Meeting (Week # 61)

February 24, 2020

Conference Week (Week # 60)

February 17, 2020

This transfer is going to be interesting. A member from the Seventy, Elder Ochoa is coming to speak to the mission. I think that I have met him before in Jacksonville. I think that he came one time for Stake Conference. Basically, what's going to happen is he's going to do two sessions in which all the missionaries from the South part of the mission will meet in Bella Vista which is very close to Bentonville and the missionaries in the North will meet somewhere around Springfield I would expect. Probably around Ingram Mills I would think. Anyhow, that'll be at the end of February. 

This week will be the Fort Smith Stake Conference. It will be the first stake conference that I will attend on my mission. After that, we will have interviews with our mission president and while that's going on, the zone leaders and sister training leaders will be taking care of district council. In the meantime, we are trying to find people to teach through members, and we have actually gotten some new leads that we are going to try this week. We are trying to mobilize the ward missionaries too. We need to finish teaching the lessons to some recent converts. We'll be pretty busy this week, I will expect. Maybe even busier than usual- not saying that being busy is necessarily the goal here. The goal is to invite people to deepen their relationships with Christ, and to help them prepare to make covenants in the temple and such. 

Temple preparation is going to be one of our focuses I think. We want to help people engage in family history in preparation for entering the temple and doing work there. All of the recent converts here have not entered the temple yet, so that's the next step for them. If they do this, retention will probably increase I would expect.

 It's interesting, the past three dinners, we have been discussing doing member missionary work with the members. The first of those three, the members said basically be an example. The second, actually open your mouth and invite- you can be an example all day, but at some point you have to say something. The third, in the face of failure and challenges that arise, keep plugging along. Be determined to draw closer to Christ. The phrase drawing close to Christ is very nuanced and there is more to it than just saying, "draw close to Christ" but that is the challenge that everyone has to figure out how to do in one way or another. 

Have missionaries been sharing "Come and See" with you?

Anyhow, yes, I am in charge of driving now. My companion is actually doing very well. He told me the other day that he is starting to really like the area here. He mentioned that he thinks that he is liking it more because he is focusing on the people and on the work. I think that is great. I'm trying to do the same. 

Love you all,

Elder Flynn

The Countryside (Week #59)

February 10, 2020

District Leader (Week # 58)

February 3, 2020

Yes, I am happy to stay within my area for a little longer. I think that I will be transferred after this transfer is over though. I've just recently learned that I am district leading a different district that has formed within the Fort Smith Stake. All the other missionaries in the district are sisters though haha. My companion isn't too pumped for that because the three  areas in the district are big and it's inconvenient for them to come to district activities in Alma and stuff, and they're sisters. Yes, he's another extroverted missionary, but we'll make it through. We're going to go hard this transfer and we're going to really build this area up. That's our goal. It's been a tough transition for him because he has just finished being trained and he came from Bentonville which is comparatively more populous with more missionaries to be around. But he's great. The members seem to like him a lot. 

I have been cleaning a lot. I'm just tired of all the extra stuff that we don't need that takes up space. I'm a minimalist. I have been eating pretty healthy. Exercise has been good. I am trying to help our companionship establish good habits. Righteous routines and holy habits is what Elder Oaks talks about right? These things are good I think because it makes it so we don't have to worry about less important stuff that we are still obligated to do. I am doing well. I am trying to help my companion adjust to this area. 

Feeling Very Productive (week #57)

January 27, 2020

I am doing good. Today, it's sunny outside, and it feels pretty good. This week, we are having two P-days. One today, and one this Wednesday. Last week, I participated in a meeting with my old MTC district. I got to see an old friend like my MTC companion and some old acquaintances. We spent all day at the Bentonville Stake Center. 

After that, we did so many things that I don't even remember them. By this Sunday, I was pretty tired. At church according to what I've heard, there were 65 people assigned to callings. I think almost as many were released. It was probably the longest ward business section I've witnessed. I also played lots of basketball last week too.

Anyhow, I am alive and healthy. I have been eating lots of frozen vegetables- the kind that you heat up in the microwave..

I love you all. 

Training Meeting (week # 56)

January 20, 2020

 

Selfie (Week #55)

Jan 13, 2020

Favorite Scriptures (Week #54)

January 6, 2020

 That's impossible. Elder Bednar can't be coming to Jacksonville. 

I've been doing good. This week has actually been pretty productive. Our Bishop is trying to get us to teach this youth that has been coming to church for months if not years. He has expressed desires to serve a mission and serve in the church, and the bishop has asked him if he would be interested in taking the lessons. 

It's now starting to get steadily colder around here. I almost lost my warm peacoat, but I still have it. I have been trying to do Come Follow Me, but there has been other things that I have to study too. We have been using Come Follow Me for member lessons when they invite us over for dinner. I like the pictures in the new book.

I have been cutting down on sweets. I have been eating at least three servings of vegetables everyday. I actually think it's been great. I don't like to eat vegetables too much, but I have just felt better when I have. 

"If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." This is something I still have a hard time with. I procrastinate too much, but this vs is true. 

"Look unto Me in every thought. Doubt not. Fear not." Read your scriptures everyday. Put God first. Work to answer personal questions that you have about the Gospel. This can help you remember Christ. Seeking to understand the doctrines can help you understand who He is and what He's really about. I think a lot of us think we understand things, which I think is true, but I also think that the same thing can be understood on different levels. Too me, it's like an upward spiral. At one point of pur lives, a certain level of understanding is sufficient for choices that we have to make at that time, but at other points in our lives, we sometimes have to increase our understanding to reckon with the new challenges that face us. If you think about it, Christ says that He is the word. In the context of the Book of Mormon, the iron rod is the word of God. Those who clung to the Word of God, made it to the tree of life. 

"Where there is no vision, the people perish." Set goals and make plans to make worthy and sound visions a reality. 

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thy own understanding." Sometimes, you think you found the right answer, and then later on, you think you've been duped. What that could indicate is a misguided road map. In that case, reassess priorities, and really think about what it is that you really want. Sometimes, we think we know what we want and it seems clear, but in reality, it isn't. For example, some people go through hard trials, and when they finally pull through, they think that they've done it all by themselves without God's help, and so they think to themselves, "You know, I did this all alone. Where was God when I needed Him? Does He even exist?" And then they start to disbelieve that there is even a God. Then they want proof. They want a sign that He exists, and if they don't get it, they won't believe. They then say, what I really want is proof that God exists. If I can just get proof, then all will be well. But that's not actually what they want. What they really want is this question answered. "Does God really love me? Is he aware of Me? Does He care. Does He understand?" Interestingly enough, they actually are not completely denying the existence of A God. They made choices that clouded their understanding of who God is and how He works, and one of those choices is thinking that one can go through life by one's self without God or others.

"But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in 

the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul." 

Anyhow, I'm alive and breathing. I love you all.

Love,

Elder Flynn

New Year 2020 (Week # 53)

December 30, 2019

Thanks for the letters, advice, and encouragement that you sent me. I am just resting today. I am trying to prepare myself for another week of missionary work. I don't know how I feel about the new year. I am neither excited nor depressed about it. When it comes, it comes. 

As for new people being taught, we met a guy at the library the other day that asked us to talk to him. We are going to try to teach him this Tuesday. We'll see how that goes. 

I have had a good Christmas week overall. I spoke in church yesterday. It is probably the second talk that I have given on my mission. I think my companion and I were asked because it was the fifth Sunday of the month or something. I talked about Christ and faith. My companion talked about Christ and repentance. 

Some less actives that we visited once with a good member friend are now coming to church. Our hope is that they continue to come every Sunday. I am still breathing and alive. I think that I feel ready for the new year. 

Merry Christmas! (week # 52)

December 25, 2020

More Christmas Activities (week #51)

December 16, 2019

With Christmas coming up very quickly, the church has made a big push for the Light the World campaign. Recently, I participated in a large parade in Fort Smith this last Saturday. My companion and I carried a Light the World banner and waved to people on each side of the street. It was actually pretty fun. Other missionaries passed out candy canes attached to pass along cards to people. They passed out two thousand of them and they ran completely out before the parade ended. Of course sure, it's candy canes, but someone might take it a step further with the light the world cards they received. That's the hope.

One missionary passing out candy canes saw some construction workers standing on top of a parking garage watching the proceedings. This missionary tossed up candy canes to them. He kept missing at first, which attracted the crowd's attention, and when the construction worker finally caught the candy canes, the crowd cheered. I thought that was a good demonstration that Jesus us concerned about everyone, even ones that we may not notice. I don't know. For me, it reminded me of Zacheus and Jesus. 

Anyhow, my companion and I are planning to work very hard this week. It's the week before Christmas, and we want to invite as many people to church as possible. Have any of you invited nonmember friends to church recently? 

We are planning to go see the movie in Fort Smith next Monday. We will probably see it with some other missionaries. We will also be spending Christmas day with two families in the ward that will be feeding us Christmas meals. 

Overall, I'm doing great. 

Christmas Activities (Week #50)

December 9, 2019

This week has passed safely and well for me. We are trying to do more for Christmas. There is a new Lighttheworld calendar with service to do on each day. There is also a new nativity video that the church has made. It is pretty nice. 

This week, the ward is having a ward Christmas party. Also there is going to be a big Christmas parade in Fort Smith that we are going to be a part of. My companion and I are thinking about having a hot chocolate stand or something to that effect. 

Recently, I read something funny in our mission magazine. Some missionaries were living in an apartment that had a history of being messy. They continued to live in this way for a long time until they got an apartment inspection. The Senior couple that did it told them that the spirit doesn't dwell in messy apartments. They thought this was a silly comment so they kept living much the same way. Then finally, one of them realized something. He realized that every successful person that he knew about made their bed everyday. So he started doing that, and from there, they started cleaning up. In the end, they changed the future of that apartment by keeping it clean. I thought that was funny.

Anyhow, it's been cold something firece around here. The weather has also been all over the place too. Yesterday, we watched the Christmas devotional. I liked the For Unto Us a Child is born performance. 

LighttheWorld.org (week # 49)

December 2, 2019

I have almost finished reading Jesus the Christ. I have read almost all of the chapters. I'm finding that it's a better book than I originally thought. My companion and I are going to help out at a fundraiser tonight. It's at a waterpark that is not operational for the winter, but the city uses the grounds to put up a Christmas light presentation. Churches than can use the space to receive donations. I don't know yet what the donations will go towards, but it's a service opportunity for us and we get to spread light the world cards to people through it. There is a new Christmas video on LighttheWorld.org called The Christ Child. I thought it was pretty good. We're thinking about using it for the family home evening lessons like it's intended for. I have never done the service calendar before, but I am thinking about trying it out do that we can invite others to do the same. So for December, we will be focusing more on Light the World content and stuff like that. There's going to apparently be a big sacrament meeting for Christmas on the twenty second. Right now, we're trying to get the Van Buren Ward and the Alma Ward- there's two wards that meet at our building- to combine for one meeting. The goal is to get 1000 nonmembers at this meeting mission wide I think.

Thanksgiving (Week # 48)

November 25, 2019

This past week has been good. We got to meet some new people. I am not sick or anything. I am sorry that I forgot to write last week. I had just gotten preoccupied. My hope is that this week will be good too. Christmas is coming up, and so everything us going to be more busy. Yes I am excited about the new standards that have come out and the new youth program. Yes, I do think that they tie together. Tomorrow, will be having an interview with my mission president, and this Thursday for Thanksgiving, we will be having dinner with a family that my companion doesn't really like, but whatever. A couple of other families offered to have us over, but we're taken care of. It's amazing to think that I'm twenty years old and almost a year out. I hope everyone is dfping fine. Thanks for all of your letters. I love you all.

(Week # 47)

November 18, 2019

Parley Parker Pratt (Week # 46)

November 11, 2019

The Fall (Week # 45)

November 4,2019

Zone Conference (Week # 44)

October 28, 2019