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

No Games! (Week 43)

October 21, 2019

I am doing good. My companion and I have been busy. Today we did a zone activity in Springdale. This week we will have a few things to do as long as none of our appointments fall through, and yes, I am celebrating the fact that magic is banned as well as most other games that missionaries like to play. I'm waiting for Basketball to be banned too(hee,hee :)) 

Anyhow, we are teaching at least three people that say they want to be baptized. Like so many other cases I've experienced though, most of these folks are so close, but still have to make some changes first. 

Here are some pictures of where I'm at. My companion and I went tracting in a very nice neighborhood that's on a hill overlooking a valley. Each house we went to had a different view so while we waited for people to come to the door, we sampled the different views from each house. I thought that
was kind of funny. 

A New Place (Week #42)

October 14, 2019

I want to let you know that I have been writing in my journal almost everyday so there will not be a lack of records. The people here are nice, and my companion and I are teaching a few people. There is plenty to do and see around here. There is a lake behind our apartment, and there is a location somewhere around here called artist's point. My companion and I have not gone there yet, but we might stop by soon. 

The people here love to eat bacon, hee, hee. Just kidding. Just recently, I've been eating a lot of my least favorite meat over the past few weeks. It's starting to grow on me a little (and hopefully not in circumference). The Arkansas college in Fayetteville is not far from Alma so the swine sign is scattered everywhere.

For our sustenance, we also steal food from the food pantry we do service at. Again just kidding. The people there let us partake freely. As a result, we don't have to spend so much on groceries. I am doing just fine. I love you all.

Past Mission Fitness Activity (week # 41)

October 7, 2019

I won first place in our mission planking competition. I held it for seven minutes. Sweet victory!

Transfer News (Week # 40)

September 30, 2019

I have received news that I am being transferred. I am now headed to Alma Arkansas back to the South. It's pretty low down in the mission. I don't know my new address yet, but I'll let your know soon. I leaving the area that I'm in now this Thursday. My new companion who will be my sixth companion on the mission is a missionary that I came out with from the MTC. I am excited to be in the new area, but I am also a little sad to leave the area that I'm currently in. It is a very good area with great people.

Anyhow, I am glad to hear after reading all of your letters that you have sent me that things are going well back home. Hopefully the hurricanes don't hit the coast severely. I will keep all of you in my prayers. I really appreciate that all of you are praying for me too. I love you all.

Sewing for the Needy (Week 39)

September 23, 2019

Museum and Jaredites (week #38)

September 16, 2019

Today, I went to a paleontology museum that's here in my area. It was pretty cool. The workers there are in the process off constructing a Triceratops skeleton. They said that the triceratops is estimated to have weighed around forty thousand pounds. They also said that it takes up to five people to lift the replica of the skull. The original bones are from Wyoming, so the Triceratops is not a specimen taken from Missouri. When it's fully put together, it will be the first complete skeleton of a dinosaur on display in the entire state of Missouri. 

They also had a Mastadon jaw and Mammoth bones taken from a cave under the ground across from the museum where the paleontologists are digging for more bones. So far, it seems that they've found saber tooth cat bones and giant bears and stuff. According to what they said, the cave is over a mile long. Most of the specimens that they had on display come from around Missouri and from other parts of the world. They had few bone shards from dinosaurs like T-rex and Spinosaurus. Anyways, I like doing things like that for P-day. One of the bases for seeing the museum was to see the precolumbian heritage of this continent and get a new look at the remnants of the Jaredite Civilization. It reminded of the verses in the Book of Mormon that talk about how the people of Limhi escape and come across a land full of bones. I wonder if Mammoth bones were among them. I also wonder if those people had built Zarahemla where Missouri is now. I also wonder if the Jeredites used Mammoths as war animals. 

Anyhow, I've been doing okay. I have been studying my scriptures a lot. I think that I know quite a few verses by now. I think I know more than I've ever known while I was in seminary, but I also think that if it weren't for studying the scriptures on my own, doing family scripture study, and doing seminary, I don't think that I would be able to help others learn about the gospel as effectively. When people have personal issues that they are facing, the Book of Mormon is a great place to turn to for helping them. Sometime they don't always see how at first, but as long as they faithfully live the principles of the Book of Mormon in their lives, even if it's just one, then they will change in a way that helps them to feel happier and more empowered to take on life's challenges. 

Missouri's season and P-Day (Week #37)

September 9, 2019

I don't think I quite realized just how much of a social activity missionary work is. Anyhow, no it doesn't get that hot where I live. In fact, it's actually cooling off. Fall is coming. They say that Missouri's season is the fall. I am not excited for the cold weather because the winter around here is hard to work in. I have calculated that I will experience three winters on this mission. I have already experienced the first.