December 26, 2012

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. For my last Christmas on the mission, it sure was better than my first Christmas. I was able to sleep in 1 1/2 hours (8 O'clock) then I opened up my presents! I was very excited to see my long awaited quilt that I started in clothing 3 class when I was in 12th grade. I had finished the pattern on the front side, but the borders and the padding and the rest of it, my family finished for me! Now, I'll have to send home my two other blankets that I was using, and use my better one!

 

Today we had our Christmas with the Shumways and it was great. The first part so from 9-12ish we had games and good activities with the Tulsa, Tulsa East and Joplin zones. I had a lot of fun. Then after lunch we got dressed in our proselyting clothes and had more of a spiritual experience. They split the Elders and Sisters. President Shumway instructed on us on mission rules that are most often broken. I don't know the details but there will be some missionaries, who will be going home, due to some serious infractions. When President had instructed us on these. He said it with some form of tears in his eyes, because of how much he truly loves each one of us in the mission. He sees that when missionaries do things wrong, and are sent home, he sees it as something he could have helped as well. We went over the things that are happening in the mission.

 

I know I have my faults but I just was blown away at some of the things he talked about. It's hard to explain how I felt at this point. There's some missionaries that I have come across in my areas or districts. It seems that when I say they can't do that or something to that effect, they tell me I'm wrong and that's being too strict. I feel that the way I was trained and the way that I follow my leaders is truly the right way. Yes, I can be more diligent, but I strive everyday to find something that is productive and will build my key indicators. It sometimes is hard when nothing I do ever works, or everything I do melts in my hands and I yield little from it. I try every day to my best, and when I know that I'm doing that, I'm reassured that I'm doing what the Lord wants of me. I'm so thankful for my blessings, I'm so grateful for my obedience. For it surely has helped me in the mission. Being obedient helps me to not get in trouble and helps me with my physical and spiritual wellfare as well.

 

I'm so grateful to be on a mission. It has it's up's and down's, twists and turns. WHen it is all said and done, I want to stand before those I converse with after my mission that I served an honourable mission. I did what I knew to be the right way. I hope and pray that my fellow missionaries will heed the instruction from President Shumway and even those who aren't full-time missionaries can understand that obedience is required in the Gospel. I know this to be very true, and I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

--

Elder Colby Stewart Haymond
Oklahoma, Tulsa mission
Owasso, Oklahoma

December 17, 2012

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

 

I'll say that next week, (maybe if I remember.)

 

Well, this last week of the transfer was a pretty good week. We visited some members and investigators to take pictures with Elder Burr, before he left for Independence Kansas. In zone transfer. HIs companion is Elder Rasband, I'm really jealous of him. I love Elder Rasband!!!!! Funny fact, he and I played Starcraft before we came out on our missions, so we knew each other.

 

Since Elder Burr was going to the Tulsa zone which meets at the same transfer point and the elm creek elder who was staying his companion came from Independence so we just had to show up to the transfer point stay for about 45 minutes then leave. We got back around 8ish in the morning. We were able to have all our studies, then have some weekly planning and lunch.

 

Elder Morton is my new companion that I'm training in the right ways of being a missionary (at least that's the plan.) He is 19 years old, he was in the MTC during Thanksgiving so they extended his time at the MTC by a week. He is from American Fork Utah. He likes the outdoors, has 2 siblings a younger brother and an older sister who is 21ish. HIs father works for the church in the audio department. The dvd's that we use in the 12 week training program his father was actually there filming the missionaries who are playing in the dvd. One of the videos he watched before entering the MTC his dad told him that he was there filming it.

 

Elder Morton is excitied to do missionary work. He's keeping me on my toes and I'm always striving to find something for us to do. Something that he can practice doing, such a teaching or talking to people when we go tracting. Speaking of which, Elder Morton came in contact with his first Baptist while tracting. Who shared their testimony that they are saved by Grace.

 

We had our ward Christmas party on Friday. We had a huge turnout, this ward just reminds me of the wards back home. We easily have about 200 hundred people who are usually at church. We barely used the 2nd overflow in Sacrament on Sunday. The ward party was fun, although the program we had, I felt it was a Christmas Talent Show more than anything. Other than that it, was a great experience.

 

Well, in my Book of Mormon reading, I made it again to 3 Nephi when Christ comes to the America's!!! I was able to read chapter 10 & 11. The first couple chapters of 3 Nephi and the whole book of Helaman, there were parts in it, that when I read them I was like, hey I didn't know that. For example in I think 3 Nephi 4ish, the people of Nephi split into small tribes, but they have a lot of tribes. That was something that just didn't come to me as I read it the other 6 times on my mission. Another testimony that you don't learn everything the first time you read the Book of Mormon, or the scriptures for that matter. Something I learned or understand more is in chapter 11, Christ explains more of His Doctrine or Gospel. Then He goes onto say that this is the manner in which Baptism needs to occur. Then He explains that there have been disputations and disagreement's on certain things in the Gospel. Christ came to correct them. We can see a parallel with the America's and the people in Jerusalem. When Christ left, the Disciples/Apostles were left to administer to the people there. IN ensuing years they would both lead to Apostasy. But, it was the people in the Americas that had it last about 300 more years. Probably because of the things that Christ corrected when He came to this continent. HE also will explain later, that the people in the Americas were more faithful than those in Jerusalem. Thus explaining that they believed and had more faith on the things He would teach to them. I hope that we all will understand more fully the Doctrines of the church and not lean to our own doctrines that have to efficacy in this life. We have the Book of Mormon and Revelation today to confound the false Doctrines of our day. Man is saved by grace as our loving baptist friend testified to us, but we also believe that we must keep God's commandments. We have that solid, firm understanding and that is what will lead us to what we need. I'm thankful so much for this Gospel, I thank all my family and friends for supporting me on this mission. I know I'm doing a great work and cannot come down, this I leave with you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

--

Elder Colby Stewart Haymond
Oklahoma, Tulsa mission
Owasso, Oklahoma

December 10, 2012

Well, I got the call on Saturday. My companion is going to Independence Kansas, and I'm staying and training a new missionary. Well, this will be an exciting new transfer!

Well, this was a stressful week. We had our investigators baptism on Saturday that we had to prepare for. Then we had 3 lessons that we taught on Sunday. We taught the youth in Sunday School at the First Christian Church of Owasso. WE went over the articles of Faith and 6 questions that they had specifically for us to answer.

Then we biked to Church got some things (it was a rather cold and windy bike ride) then we had church. I confirmed our investigator that was baptized on Saturday. Then we had to teach the Gospel Principles class since the teacher was out of town. Then we taught the Deacon's quorum about the importance of keeping a journal.

I only have a couple minutes left.

I have just barely finished the Book of Alma. Before I had usually dreaded reading the War chapters. Funny thing is this time around I actually liked them and I was able to learn very much from them. The war chapters are really good at illustrating a point in warfare and with our spiritual and physical warfare that we have in life. When Moroni built up his fortresses, we can apply that to our lives about building up strong.

I have learned a lot from these chapters, I know they can personally help all of us out. Please read them they are true along with the rest of the Book of Mormon. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

--

Elder Colby Stewart Haymond
Oklahoma, Tulsa mission
Owasso, Oklahoma

I'm completely bummed i missed chatting with him today... but here's his email:

 

Ahhh, this is a decent week.

 

Well, the only highlight this week was probably Interviews with President Merkley (last one) since he is leaving next month. Then on Saturday and Sunday we had stake conference.

 

After interviews with President the 3 Bartlesville areas and the assistants had lunch at Burgerhop. Since 2nd ward was going on exchanges/blitz with the assistants. Since elder ward was in Bartlesville, he knew where to go. We had to break in elder Johnson by having him eat the breakfast platter, a really big amount of food with a side of two biscuits with white gravy on it.

 

Then on Saturday we went to the Saturday's session of the adult session of conference, we before went to have dinner at Wendy's and I bought the action Bible!! It's a version of the Bible in comic book form. May seem sacriligious but it illustrates the bible really well, and I can, see myself using it for story time with my kids before they go to bed! Elder Berg and I found a good point in it, before it got to noah and the ark it said that the people rejected the things that adam and others had taught, and they went into an early apostasy, hey that's what we teach!!!

 

well, that is all I really have to report. Our investigator who was going to get baptized next saturday, told us before stake conference started on sunday, that he had a couple cigarettes this week and he didn't feel ready to be baptized. We just set the date back to the 30th of June, give him time to get rid of everything, since he has a cigarette machine which makes it cheaper to get cigarettes but you don't get the filter in the cigarette so in essence you are giving all of the effects of the cigarette instead of just most of it. Anyways, if you want, you can pray, I'm not suppose to ask family to do things like that, well at least fasting I'm not.

 

Well, I finished reading the Book of Mormon on Saturday, for the 5th time on my mission. I will talk a little bit about the book of Moroni. The Book of Moroni is a peculiar book because he didn't expect to write it. This is a book that doesn't talk about history, it doesn't account for the historical aspect of the Book of Mormon. The whole 10 chapters in the book are just pact full of things that will help us in this life. The first 5 chapters it talks about ordination, the sacrament and things that they did at that time and this is interesting because we have those things in the Book of Mormon and in the Doctrine and Covenants (section 20.) Chapter 6 is a short chapter but it is pact full of why we go to church, why we partake of the sacrament and the importance of coming to church. Chapter 7 explains to us the meaning of charity, faith & hope. The whole chapter talks about juding people rigtheously (yes there is such a thing) and helping us understand how to apply that to our lives. Being members of the restored church, we should exemplify these characterisitics because we have such increased knowledge from this chapter alone. Chapter 8 is mainly used for infant baptisms, but it is a good one of explaining that we need to endure to the end and keep a hold of our baptismal covenant. Chapter 9 is probably the only one that actually has some history. Chapter 10 is the most well known, it, in of itself is an awesome chapter. Moroni exhorts us (strongly encourages) to read these records (the Book of Mormon) and ponder its meaning and then to pray about it. Then he goes on to tell us about spiritual gifts, and striving to be found spotless before we meet our eternal Maker. The Book of Moroni is a pure diamond book, it has pure truth that is plain and stalwart in it's declaration. After reading that book you cannot be confused, because it is so plain. That is why I love the Book of Mormon, there are few things in there that are confusing, the doctrine it teaches is not confusing, the history maybe, but everything else is plain. I know that the Book of Mormon is THE very word of God and it professes to be so and it does so with great skill and is inline with the teachings of the Prophets and Apostles from the beginning to the end. I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Happy Mother's Day to ME!!

We got to TALK TO COLBY TODAY!!

I love hearing his sweet voice on the other end of the phone...

He called shortly after we arrived home from church (we have the later church, 1-4 pm.  So does Colby.) It was wonderful to talk with him, and hear him giggle.  He sounds so very happy.  I'm sure some of it is his companion Elder Berg - they seem to enjoy one another's company quite well.  They have a new apartment, and will be moving into it this next weekend.  Neither of them were transferred, so they will be together for the next six weeks, at least.  They seem fairly happy about that =)

Colby laughed when we told him his swimming trick was in the ward newsletter last week... and yes, he got his brakes fixed.  =)  they just needed adjusting, and when he realized how simple it was he felt silly that he hadn't done it sooner. 

I spoke with him for the majority of the time, but when Britanee & Brian stopped by, Rian wanted to talk with him.  She did more nodding of her head than actually speaking, but it was cute to watch her excitement.  Linzi had something she wanted to share with him "real quick," and that started the phone getting passed around.  We were all able to chat for a little bit, and fill him in on all the happenings around home.  We sure love this kid!

There is something very comforting in hearing your child's voice...especially a voice you don't get to hear very often.  I miss him fiercely, but I am happy that he is happy, and doing what he wants to be doing.  When I think about not hearing his voice again until Christmas, it makes me sad, but we will still be able to "chat" each Monday when he sends his weekly email.  Just knowing he is doing well, and working hard is comforting to me as a mom.  I love him so very much...

Today's email

WOW, the Tornado siren went off last night! Elder Berg and I cowered in the closet. A member actually called us seeing if we were ok. I was surprised and was like, wow, someone who actually cares about us!! Then 5 minutes later it stopped. The tornado had happened close to the town of Dewey. Dewey is like 5-10 ish miles away from Bartlesville, so it was a fairly close tornado. Who knows we may have one hit here!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

This week we had Zone Conference, IT WAS PRESIDENT MERKLEY'S LAST!!!!!! He taught us his way of teaching the Law of Chastity to 11 year old girls. Because he was asked to do so when he was a Bishop. He came up with this way of doing so. He also committed us, when we get home that we will not hold hands until after 7 dates, hug after 14, or kiss after 21. Mind you these are dates, for someone like me to have 21 dates, that would last me like 6+ months. Anyways, lets not talk about that.

 

The Cool thing about this Zone Conference is the fact that I'm back into my first Zone again, when I was in Sapulpa. I got to meet Elders: Hamann (past companion), Bennett, Orr and many others, since there is a lot of them that I know here. It was a fun Zone Conference I loved it!!

 

Well, I have a story, and this happened to me.

On Thursday we were going to go to our appointment to go read a story to a member who doesn't have a big attentio span. We went to take a path on the bike trail that leads under the road. It has a small path and it has water on both sides of the path. Elder Berg was ahead of me and he saw a person who was sitting on the edge of the path and his bike was there blocking the path, elder Berg stopped completely, I, only having half of a brake, was braking but since it was downhil I got speed and wasn't able to stop. WEll, I hit Elder Berg a little bit and then part of the bridge and I fell off the path and into the water. With the bike landing on top of me. Everything in my backpack and me were wet. My camera got wet, but we put it in a bowl of rice and left it there for two days and it recovered and I can still use it. My new scriptures that I got for my birthday, well are ruined, they are very wet. Maybe I'm just not meant to have nice scriptures. Because the last ones that I bought at the MTC got wet over 3+ months ago. All of my electrical things still work thankfully, or else all of my pictures from my mission on my flashdrive would have been GONE!!!!

 

Well, we finished the Articles of faith, so now I guess I will just come up with scriptures. Today in my reading i read Helaman CH. 1-4, the one part that stuck out to me was in Ch. 3 verses 25-30. Where it explained that the scriptures are the way that we can learn of our forgiveness. That the scritpures teach us that Christ is always there for us and always wants us to come unto him and be perfected in him. (moroni 10:32-33) The Book of Mormon has many instances of Forgiveness. Alma talks to his sons in Alma 39 about his sins that he has done and how that he should repent. The Sons of Mosiah and Alma the Younger are examples of that. Even for a time Laman and Lemuel, we penetant but then they succumbed to their old ways and rebeled and fell away from the things they have seen, even an Angel of the Lord came to them as they were smiting Nephi. Forgiveness is given to everyone, if they just humble themselves and ultimately forgive themselves of the things that they have done and come unto the only one that can heal, Jesus Christ. I am ever grateful for him and his sacrifice and his love that he has for us and all mankind. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

--

Elder Colby Stewart Haymond
Oklahoma, Tulsa mission

Today's email...

HELLO EVERYONE!!!!!!!

 

Still in 3rd ward with my MTC companion elder Berg. We are still living at a 87 year olds house and are vigilant in looking for an apartment to go move into. We looked at an apartment on Friday I believe (can't keep my days straight anymore they all seem to run together) and it was a huge apartment in the inside but looked rather small on the outside. It is 2 levels and has big kitchen, living room and upstairs is fairly huge. President wanted to have us find an apartment that is more central to our area. Third ward (the one I'm in) is pretty much in the middle of Bartlesville, First ward is on the western side I believe and second is eastern. Hopefully we can get that apartment.

 

Well, I really don't have much to say now. Because we are just trying to find more investigators by visiting less-actives and Former investigators to see if we can be able to meet with them or if they are interested. This week I'm going on exchange with Elder Adams, look at that my first exchange with a District leader!!!! Also I found a hard cover Book of Mormon in the apartment and I'm using it as my own and I'm writing all these scripture references and and adding pages to it so that I can have all the information that I need all in one source.

The funny thing about Bartlesville is it's a fairly big city and it has a good amount of members there, so many that there are 3 wards there. Around here the only areas in the mission that have many missionaries are the cities which obviously have more members in it. Just thought you wanted to know.

 

Well, it's already time for the last article of faith, I still haven't found another thing to write my "spiritual thought."

 

13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul--We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

 

well, this ones a mouthful, if you want to see this "admonition of Paul" the scriptural reference is the last chapter of Phillippians, where Paul says these things. This article of faith explains to those that we are a honest, true, chaste, benevolent and virtuous people. We seek after these qualities in our lives, later it states that we seek after anything virtuous, lovely of good report or praiseworthy. We are people who strive to be perfect as it states in 3 Nephi 12:48 and Matthew 5:48 that we should be perfect like our Father in Heaven is perfect. These things we need to be anxiously engaged in doing. We need to continue to fix our lives in accordance with these things. This article tells the world that we should be engaged in activities that promote this, if anyone were to see us not participating in these things they will wonder and questions whether we are actually doing what we should. Always remember that we should be looking in the good in everything and want to have others do the same. We are members of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, that had fallen away after Christ had died and Ressurected, we need to be the examples to the world. As members of the living church we heed to things that are worth our time. Please, always strive to be an example to others and especially to those who are not of this church, they need to know that they are missing out on an opportunity to change their lives for the better. I leave you with this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

--

Elder Colby Stewart Haymond
Oklahoma, Tulsa mission
Bartlesville 1st, Oklahoma

Sunday...

Not sure why, but I've been missing Colby something awful today.  Can't think of anything in particular that would have triggered it, but here it is all the same... I DON'T LIKE IT.  Missing him, that is.  Next week it will have been 10 months since we sent him out, and for me, it's been 10 L O N G months.  I've heard the second year passes more quickly... it better!

I've been in his room the last few weekends painting and trying to clean up and organize... not that his room needs it, he pretty much boxed things up before he left.  But I've needed a project, and there it was... at the rate i'm going tho, he will be home before I've completed things. 

On a more upbeat note, he is working hard, doing "wonderfully" (his words =) and loving being on a mission and serving the Lord.  Makes my heart happy...

One year ago today...

Happy Easter!

Received this picture today from a member of another ward in Bartlesville.  Colby got to hang out and have Easter dinner with this family, AND his MTC companion, Elder Berg.  Doesn't he look great??

Love you, colby!  And thank you, thank you to the wonderful family that took care of him today!  Thank you for the photo!

I know this blog is where I'm recording thoughts on Colby's mission, but I'm SO thinking of another mother who today sent HER son off on his mission.  Maybe it's cheesy, but I've admired this young man for years... best wishes for a happy, safe, and successful mission, David.

{source}

Today's email...

FINALLY! Well, it spring break. Come in the library around 10:20 and EVERYONE is here. It seems that more people in this geographical region of the world use the library for their computer time. Which I guess is good, but at the same time it doesn't help us out since this is the only place in which I can use a computer. We then did our shopping and lunch and all the other stuff instead. Now I'm online!

Well, today is suppose to be a big rain storm, we did have fairly big clouds but it didn't rain all that much. I'm waiting for all this "bad weather" to happen it really hasn't happened. I can't wait for the rain so we don't have to pay to wash our car, we have so far gotten, a pretty good clean of our car but it could still use a better clean. On top of all this weather, I have a sore throat and really don't feel all that great. I can't wait for it to pass away!!

As far as missionary works goes, this was our worst week since I have gotten here!!!! It just seems that all of our appointments canceled and we were able to teach a couple of lessons. Well, hopefully a tornado doesn't come in this area of the mission!!!

well,. . . . . . that seems to be all that I have to talk about! Onto the 8th article of faith!!!

8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

aaahhhhh, this one. This one you will get a lot of varied responses. Some will say that the Bible is missing some things, others will say it's perfect, some will say you can't add or take away from the Bible, etc. All of that is nonsense, besides the first one. That is the main reason as to why we even have the Book of Mormon in the first place. The Book of Mormon is another Testimony of Jesus Christ, another witness to the Divinity of Jesus Christ. You would think people would love to have more to read about Jesus Christ. A decent amount of people probably don't mind reading it, but at once they don't see why. They look at it as another Bible but different story. Some of my companions have told me that people think it's the adventure of Brigham Young as he and the pioneers went west. Some people even mistaken it for the Doctrine and Covenants.

Like I said earlier before going on my rant. The Book of Mormon, helps us understand the Bible, at the same time it's not a documentary of the Bible. The Bible is a record of God's dealings with the people in Jerusalem, the Book of Mormon is the record of God's dealings with the people in the new world (America.) Their both history books in a sense. The thing that is different is the fact that the Book of Mormon was set for us, the people in this time/generation. You might ask why/how that is possible. When Mormon compiled the Book of Mormon he had about 1000 years of history from 600 B.C when Lehi and his family came over to the America's, down to about 400 A.D when Mormon was compiling the records. I cannot believe that 531 pages in today's syntax would have been 1000 years of history. In 4th Nephi that encompasses 300 or so years and it is only 4 pages long. I'm sure there could have been some good stories there, but Mormon didn't see them as something that could be of benefit to our generation.

I challenge you (the ones reading the e-mail) that you go through the chapters of the Book of Mormon and give them a title about what the chapter is about, for instance: Alma 32 is a chapter about faith, same with Ether 12. Ether 13-15 are war chapters, Alma 40 talks about the Resurrection, etc. So on and so forth. Do that with every chapter or most of the chapters. You will find a trend among the Book of Mormon and I will say to you all that those chapters that you find about faith, the one that has the most occurrences of that topic is what the world needs the most. I seem to be ranting, but I'll close with that the same thing Moroni did, the last book wasn't necessarily intended to be there, but he had the time. All the 10 chapters in Moroni are packed full of things that Moroni thought we would need. Who else was going to read the records? The rogue Lamenites? PLEASEE, they were too worrying about being wicked to want to read things that are spiritual.

I know that the Book of Mormon is a clarifying witness of Jesus Christ and the Bible, the Book of Mormon did not come into existence to do away with the Bible. Jesus Christ himself came into the world to fulfill the Law of Moses, he even observed it himself. Thus the Book of Mormon does the same, it comes to adhere to the Bible, but at the same time it extends our understanding of the message that Jesus Christ wanted us to here, I know that this is absolutely true in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

received this photo today of elder haymond from a member in his area...

he looks pretty happy, huh?

elder haymond and elder eyre

my note back to the sweet sister that sent me the photos:

debbie, 

if you only knew how wonderful it is to see my boy!  thank you for sending those photos... we miss him terribly, but know that he is where he needs to be right now.  he looks great!

thanks again!

jeana haymond

her response back:

He does look great.  They got to stop by on their way to meetings at the stake center with the president. 

I love hearing about my elder and the next best thing is sending photos to MM moms.  Thank you so much for sending him our way.  I so know how it is to miss your sweet young man.  But, at the same time it is so comforting to know that he is doing such a significant work.  Not only in the lives of those he is teaching and serving but in his own, his companion’s and in those of his future wife and children.  What a blessing a mission is.  Seems like such an inexpensive way to create some pretty extraordinary people.

Have a fabulous day.

Debbie Jo

Thank you Debbie Jo for the wonderful pictures of our hard working elder!

Colby's First Transfer

We learned last week when Colby emailed us that he was being transfered this week, to Siloam Springs, Arkansas.  It's located just over the Oklahoma/Arkansas border and home to John Brown University.  Colby was scheduled to leave Sapulpa Thursday morning, and we hope he arrived in one piece =)  we usually hear from him on Mondays, but with tomorrow being a holiday we probably won't.  Complete bummer. His new companion is Elder Hammon... that should be interesting for the two of them.  Elder Haymond and Elder Hammon... updates to come!