February 25, 2013

Dang, where did the transfer go? Well, I'm being transferred to Nixa Missouri. Looked on my GPS and found out that it is like 5-10 miles south of Springfield Missouri. Seems like a fairly big city, it seems I will finish my mission there. I was kind of hoping I wouldn't have to serve the rest of my mission in Owasso. Didn't really want to be here for 9 months! Hey, this will be my 13th companion!! I believe my MTC companion, is at companion 15-16!

 

Well, this was an ok week. We taught 16 lessons, but we taught 8 indicator lessons and 8 active member lessons. In addition to me leaving Elder Morton is being transferred to Parsons Kansas. His companion is a missionary who came out the same time as me and is really awesome. I'm rather jealous, but hey, I'm going to a place where I'm needed, so I'm fine with it.

 

Well, the past couple days it has been rainy cold, and snowing and all manner of wetness of most kinds. Today it is raining and storming pretty good. It's pretty nice, since Oklahoma is in a drought this rain is really welcomed.

 

Well, I really don't have much to write this week. I will go to my scriptural thought.

 

Let's see, last week I was in Alma 35 and now I'm in 48. Those are some great chapters. Alma chapter 36-42 is Alma teaching his 3 sons, Helaman, Shiblon and Corianton. His sons, weren't bad children, but he needed to teach them himself. Like we need to do. We need to teach our children ourselves. In chapter 36-37 Alma talks to Helaman, talks to him about his conversion story and the time that he repented from his evil ways. Then 37, he tells him about what he needs to do with the records. Helaman was a great son, but Alma needed to teach his sons. Chapter 38 is only to Shiblon, not very much dedicating to him, he was told things that he needed to know.

 

Now the last 4 chapters in this section is dedicated to Corianton, who as we remember is the son that went on a mission and he was lulled away from the ministry by the harlot Isabel. In this sense, Alma spent more time, since Corianton had more things he needed to know. The needs for him, were different than Helaman and Shiblon. Alma goes into detail about the Resurrection, because that was something that Corianton needed to understand more fully. Sometimes I wonder if Corianton didn't do that, we might not have chapters 39-42 in the Book of Mormon, we wouldn't have a lot of what we know about the Spirit world, Resurrection and the Fall of Adam. Who knows. Well, I'm so grateful for the Book of Mormon, the messages it has, and the messages that can be so applicable to us in this life. I know these to be true in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

--

Elder Colby Stewart Haymond
Oklahoma, Tulsa mission
Owasso, Oklahoma

February 19, 2013

Ahh, well this was a pretty good week. Unfortunately we had a decent amount of cancelations of appointments and lessons so we didn't achieve our goal of 20 lessons a week, but we did get some lessons on Sunday that I wasn't expecting so we did achieve 17 lessons this week. Next week we have a plan to teach about 24 lessons. It will be WONDERFUL!!

This week on Friday I did turn 21 years old!! I thank all those, as my mother reported to me that wished me happy birthday on my Facebook account. When I was a lot younger I never expected to turn 21, thought it was a long time in the future, well, now it's a reality.

 Colby's cake (i LOVE that they got him one)

his new ties... (they all kinda look the same don't they?? =) I think he likes paisley)

 In addition we had Stake Conference this weekend. It was great, we had some great talks about missionary work in the adult session and on Sunday we had a broadcast that had Elder Pieper, Scott and President Eyring. Plus we had I think Sister Stevenson, one of the Primary Presidency there as well. It was interesting, since the broadcast was for those who lived in Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. Very interesting how personal revelation could be had for those who live in those 3 states.

Well, unfortunately the last couple days the both of us have been pretty sick. I have a sore throat and it was very hard for a lack of a better word. To have our 2 hours of companion study today. Just really had no motivation, then on top of that my shower had no hot water. Being the third one to take a shower I tend to not get hot water. That certainly didn't help my sore throat and stuffy nose. What was cool on Monday (yesterday) we had dinner with a family, then we had Family Home Evening and they invited a non member friend over who was a friend of one of their daughters. The dad taught principles from the for the strength of youth pamphlet, he even went over part of the Law of Chastity and having good language and some other things. He asked some questions about the Plan of Salvation, he said, that he would like to stay on track. That can be for a conversation we could have on another date. It was a good experience.

Well, this time my reading has taken me to about Alma 40, that I had read today. From Alma 35-42 are Alma talking to his sons about some tings that they really need to know. He is talking to his 3 sons. I like that, because we as a family need to talk to each other, and help each other in their understanding of the Gospel. In each of the chapters and to the 3 sons which have a different understanding and situations. For example Alma talks to Corianton differently, because he went on his mission to the Zoramites, but he went with the Harlot Isabel and sinned. Whereas the other 2 didn't do that. Alma instructs each of his sons different. Thus we need to do the same with our families, what one member may be struggling with another may not be so. It is better for you to wait for the one member to come to the understanding than moving on. Your only as fast as the slowest person. Having each person explain each topic in their own words can actually help, because something they may say will trigger the holy ghost to have them understand and something may come up and they will learn.

Well, I feel like I should express these feelings in this e-mail. I know that personal revelation and instructing in families is essential for us to do in this life. I truly love the Book of Mormon, it allows us to learn many things, and things that we can personally apply in our lives. These things I leave with you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

--

Elder Colby Stewart Haymond
Oklahoma, Tulsa mission
Owasso, Oklahoma

February 11, 2013

AHHH another great week. Well, we had a zone meeting on Wednesday. We were instructed among other things, but the thing I liked the most is that they introduced to the whole zone, about survey tracting. When we go tracting instead of the usual, "hey, were missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder-Day Saints, and we are sharing a message about . . . . . . . . .. "

 

We just ask them that we "are missionaries and we are in the neighborhood conducting a relgious survey, are you interested?" If they are we do the survey questions, then we ask them if we would be able to pray with them before we go. Ideally if we can we try to talk a little more in-depth about one or few of the questions. If we are able to do all of that, we can count it as an other lesson taught. We had good success on Wednesday when we did it, but Sunday we didn't have the greatest success.

 

Well, this transfer is about half over! This transfer is going to be 5 weeks instead of 6. I figured it would be just this transfer, but it could be permenant, which I doubt, that would mean I would come home 2 weeks earlier, which is already weird.

 

Well, I believe that is all I have to write. Things are going great for me. My birthday is on Friday, which will be pretty cool. Wow, 21, didn't think I would ever get to that age. Oh, well, it doesn't mean much, I guess I can finally get my license landscape orientation instead of portrait.

 

Well, in my Book of Mormon reading I'm in Alma 20. I believe I was somewhere in Mosiah last week. Alma is my favorite book in the Book of Mormon. I just love the awesome dynamic of Alma and Amulek in their missionary work. I love how consecrated Ammon was as a missionary. Also that of Aaron and Alma the younger and others. My favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon is Alma 5. It's a chapter where Alma rebukes anyone who is full of pride. He pretty much asks the people in that city  all these questions they need to consider. He also testifies to the people that he knows that these things are true, by him praying and fasting so that he is able to understand the truthfulness of this gospel.

 

Alma is such an incredible man of God. I'm so greatful for the other great examples of the book of Mormon that we have. I love the doctrinal chapters that are in Alma, and I wait to be able to read them again. The Book of Mormon truly is the Word of God. We tracted into a man who says that the Book of Mormon is "adding to the Book of Revelation" I for one, hate this arguement. It is such a cough out answer to someone who doesn't want to read and understand the divinity of the Book of Mormon. It doesn't add to the Book of Revelation, it adds to your own personal testimony that JESUS IS THE CHRIST! Who wouldn't want to have their faith in Christ strengthen?!?!?
It's beyond me, but it does happen. In the words of Elder Holland, "No Latter-day saint can come to the fullest measure of happiness in these are our times, unless he or she embraces the Book of Mormon, and the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom it testifies. And if they do, they must crawl over or under or around the Book of Mormon, to make their exit.

 

I know for myself that it is a divine book. It came from God, through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know it is the true 2nd witness of Jesus Christ, in some day we will have the 3rd witness of the Book of Mormon, the lost tribes of Israel. These things I leave with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
--

Elder Colby Stewart Haymond
Oklahoma, Tulsa mission
Owasso, Oklahoma

February 4, 2013

AHHH, this was a great week to start off! We taught 10 indicator lessons and 10 active member lessons. Since we are in the Tulsa East Zone, we are the only stake/zone that has what we call active member lessons. There is active member lessons, but we keep tract of active member lessons we teach, either it be messages at dinner or scheduling an appointment with members and giving them a lesson. We keep track of it and report it to our District Leaders and then to the Zone Leaders. They then in turn report it to the stake leaders and the stake keeps track of it. It reminds the members about us, and doing missionary work and it helps us to have something productive to do and we get to help maintain our teaching skills.

 

Other than that it was a great week. The Elm Creek Missionaries on Monday got a call from our District Leader that they will get a car for this transfer. We then drove to the mission Home, because we thought that's were it was, and sister Shumway's like, well,..... I don't see a car here. After feeling a little aqward, and the 4 of us talking with her, she gave us juice boxes and a snack. That was really nice of her. Then we drove to the mission office and we picked up their car, drove back to our place and played a game of Settlers of Catan. It's nice not having to share a car for a transfer, so we can be more independent, (plus I don't have to ride my bike!!!!!) which of course I just barely fixed my bike, bought a new inner tube and got the tube that already has slime in it, so both my tires have that slime in it. My bike will have to wait for at least a couple more weeks. I confirmed with President that this transfer is 5 weeks. If I get transfered it will be the 28th of this month. Wow, a transfer that essentially is 1 month!!

 

Well, today I'm getting my haircut, elder Morton wants his, so I figured I would get one too. Usually I get a haircut every 2-3 months which is about 2 transfers. I got one the Monday before Elder Morton got here, so I'm not in dire need of one, like I was last time (hahahaha, I had a mullet essentially.)

 

Last week I was finishing 2 Nephi and starting Jacob, now I'm finishing Mosiah and starting Alma!!!! Book of Alma is my favorite book! I love the dynamic duo of Alma and Amulek. I love how they confound Zeezrom and teach all the wicked Nephite apostates and teach all the people in all the land of the Nephites. Alma 5 is my favorite chapter, I absolutely love that  chapter, it asks you many questions that you must ask yourself. It prepares you for pretty much the final judgment.

 

Anyways, I had read Jacob 5, which is the chapter regarding Zenos and the Allegory of the olive and tame trees. WHich is where the master of the vineyard and his servant, go out among the Master's vineyard and prune and dung and do all manner of things to help the trees grow. Yes, many things in there can be confusing, but the overall story, just testifies to me of the love God has for us. THe fact that he would spend countless hours in trying to nourish his trees (us) and never gives up on them. He does all he can to preseve them, until it gets to the point that the whole vineyard is burned, which to me represents the second coming when the the Savior will come again.

 

Then reading the small books that are between Jacob and Mosiah, shows us how they carried the plates from one person to another. THe book of Omni shows us that in about 15 verses like 5 individuals contributed to the writings of those plates. ONe of them even admits that he wasn't  as obedient to the commandments as he should have been. Then we get the account of Ammon, King Limhi and learn of how King Noah was told to repent of all his whoredoms by Abindadi. All these great stories that happen in the Book of Mormon. THey are here for our benefit. I truly love these stories, these teachings and examples that we have to learn by. WE learn to serve each other by the example of King Benjamin and Ammon. We learn that even though we are Idolatrous and very wicked and destroying the church, we can come back. Yes, our pal ALma the younger was that very person. We learn the zeal the sons of Mosiah and Alma the younger had, in serving a mission. We see the obedience of Abinadi, sent to proclaim repentance to a people who really desperately needed it. Since he cried repentance to them, after he had finished his message he was burned at the stake. Not knowing fully if he really ever was successful in what the Lord wanted him to do. Little did he know, that he brought a young priest ALma, to a remembrance of his sins and he repented of them. Then lead hundreds if not thousands to repentance as well. I believe Mormon and Moroni are descendants of ALma the elder. Very much can be had, from the Book of Mormon, I still awe at those who reject that Book. Usually the most criticism about the Book of Mormon come from those who have never read it. I have read it and love reading it and it's message, I hope we all do. These things I leave with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

--

Elder Colby Stewart Haymond
Oklahoma, Tulsa mission
Owasso, Oklahoma

January 28, 2013

Holy mackrel, ahhhh, time flies.

Well, it is almost February!!! And my birthday is in 19 more days!!!! Exciting, I will be 21, weird.

This was a wonderful week. We were able to teach about 17 lessons this week. Being able to count teaching active members has been wonderful, allows me to feel like I really am doing something, even though we really only teach about 8 lessons a week. We have been sharing a 10 minute dvd with the members that we have dinner with and schedule a time to come over. It is about the Temple, the dvd is called between Heaven and Earth. It is a great dvd that has many individuals who are not actually LDS themselves. Which gives it more of a continuity of how temples truly are a biblical thing and are things that we should have today. We watch that dvd with them so that we can remind them that missionary work is ultimatly directed towards the Recent Converts getting to the temple. In addition it reminds the members of needing to go to the Temple. It also gets most of the kids attention by the many temples they show pictures of as they talk. We've been trying to schedule times with members and showing that to them.

Well, that has been the main thing we have been doing. Still no word back from where we will be moving too, but I was told, that was a long process anyways, so maybe I won't even be here when they do move!!!

WEll, in my reading I read today from Mosiah 4-8. I always like chapter 4, it's King Benjamin telling us of the need for being charitable. He condemns all who say, that the beggar put himself in that position, so I don't have to feel the need to help him. OH, WOW, have I felt chastised by that statement. For, are we not all beggars? Aren't we the ones, who beg our Heavenly Father to relieve us from pain? Aren't we begging to help us in our financial situations? Are we not begging to be able to fulfill our calling in the ward? Wo, unto that man, who says such things. It shouldn't matter that if we give that individual 5$ and he squanders it or buys a pack of cigarettes. It's his CHOICE! You were the charitable one, you chose to help him, and now he chose to buy it on something that is of no worth.

Other chapters were really good, but I feel really strongly now, from reading chapter 4 about what I just said. I would encourage all to read that chapter (Mosiah 4) and evaluate yourself and see if you have done that before and decide what you will do when that moment comes again. Oh, how great the Book of Mormon teaches us of such great and eternal truths. Charity and giving of yourself to others is what is mentioned and discussed about in that particular chapter of the Book of Mormon. It truly was divine for Mormon to give us this chapter in the Book of Mormon, for this particular thing, plagues us in this life today. These things I humbly leave with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

--

Elder Colby Stewart Haymond
Oklahoma, Tulsa mission
Owasso, Oklahoma

p.s remember who your friends are, that the servants of the Lord told you to always hold onto. This is a communicating activity, some can communicate with 1-2 people, while others can communicate with 5-6. Communication is key here, plus I have organized you into a peculiar way, similar to the missionfield. I have probably said too much, thank you all for participating in this activity!!!!

 

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

January 22, 2013

NO transfer for me or Elder Morton.

 

That means I will fully train Elder Morton. I have a ward member back home whose coming to this mission. He comes into the mission the time that I will finish training Elder Morton!!! I see the odds stacking in my favor, let's just hope the LORD thinks so too!

 

Well, anyways, this was a pretty good week. We were able to teach about 16 lessons! This week we have the truck so, we will setup more appointments to go teach a lesson with members that live a little further away from where we live. Speaking of which, in sunday at Priesthood opening exercises. One of the Bishopric announced housing the missionaries. If anyone was available or would want to have the missionaries stay at their house. Elder Morton and I are like, "Huh?" "Guess, we outstayed our welcome." I called the mission office yesterday to make sure they knew, they didn't. But, the ward is probably concerned, because when missionaries stay with a member for about 2ish  years that is when the missionaries tend to not live in that particular members house.

 

Well, lets see. I'm almost done with 2 Nephi!!!! Gosh, I feel like I really have nothing to write. All is well, now that I think about it, my reading today or yesterday in 2 Nephi says that those who say "all is well in zion" are being cheated my the Devil and he will carefully lead them down to hell. I hope by saying that, I don't worry any of you.

 

In my reading, WHich has been for the most part the Isaiah chapters of 2 Nephi and chapters 25-30. Those chapters are the ones that I love the most about that book. Chapter 29 about how people will say that they don't need another Bible and goes into all this detail about how the Lord reveals his word more than just once. Chapters 25-26 and 28 are good ones about how wicked and evil things will continue to happen and perpetuate in the last days. Then chapter 27 of 2 Nephi is the Isaiah chapter which is chapter 29. Which is the prophecy about Olivery Cowdery or Martin Harris taking a parchment with the characters from the Gold plates from the Book of Mormon. He saying that he cannot read a sealed book and he says they are accurate characters. Except in this one it is more indepth and more clear than the Isaiah chapter. As I've mentioned many times, I truly am thankful for the Book of Mormon. It truly does testify of Jesus Christ and just adds my testimony of the Bible. It is here to strengthen our understanding of what God has already revealed to us. The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our relgion and helps keep everything in place. I encourage everyone to continue to read the Book of Mormon. I'm evergrateful for the Book of Mormon. I can hold a Book of Mormon in my hand confidently wherever I go, and whoever I talk with I can confidently do that. I leave these with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

P.S I've sent out the 6 month letters to everyone I had addresses to. You will receive an activity/scavenger hunt whatever you want to call it. YOU will need to do some coordination, but it will be fun and rewarding. When everything is done I will send the final piece of the activity. Thanks, love you much!!!

--

Elder Colby Stewart Haymond
Oklahoma, Tulsa mission
Owasso, Oklahoma

January 15, 2013

Good morning everyone! Sorry, I have like 10 minutes left, this will probably be a short e-mail.

 

Well, it's been fairly cold here in Owasso and the Tulsa area. With the humidity and wind chill. It's been about in the early 20's. We switch off using the Colorado every week, so we will be truckless this week. Have to bike this week. I will finally use my heavy jacket for more than just occasional rain that falls.

 

Nothing to exciting happens here. Just keep on doing the usual. We are always trying to find more people to teach. With the really cold weather it will mean trying to be more smart with how much we bike. Saturday we had a mission fast, so that we could be able to be unified, we did so that we could be able to find new investigators to teach. Since we have a lot of missionaries coming in the next couple months. I'm really wondering what is going to happen, since we have more missionaries than we do areas to put them. SO, it will be interesting.

 

Sunday we had ward conference and had all the stake leaders come to our ward. It was cool, to be able to see my uncle again! Totally forgot that he was a stake leader. We had a meeting with the Priesthood and we split into groups and asked each other with help towards our home teaching family and their needs. We talked about our family we are teaching and how we can possibly get the parent's to not have to worry about their children when we are over to teach. Some members suggested having them over with a family in the ward that can handle their children. Good suggestion.

 

Well, I have to rush through this.

 

An investigator that we are teaching is really thankful they have found the gospel, but want to have had it later but didn't. SO be great . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

sorry ran out of time last week. Have no idea what I was going to go with that thought so, here's my e-mail, hope you love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

--

Elder Colby Stewart Haymond
Oklahoma, Tulsa mission
Owasso, Oklahoma

January 2, 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

 

I"ve been on my mission for 3 calendar years!!

 

Well, I thought about styaing up for New Years, but having to still wake up at 6:30 didn't sound appealing to me. ALso, the minute I thought about staying up, I just all of a sudden felt tired. Thought back to the times in high school when I had to stay up until 2:30 to do my AP Biology homework!!

 

Well, the last week was a pretty good week. Which is typical for Christmas, most people are doing things and it's really cold, etc. We still tried to proselyte.

Yesterday it was really cold, we had plans on tracting for most of the afternoon. We got to the area to tract, couple people told us we picked the wrong day to do this, but others appreciated our zeal to still do it, even if it is still cold. We actually were able to talk with a guy, who does duck hunting and he was showing us a video when we knocked on his door about him duck hunting. He was really nice, he let us in and we talked about the Book of Mormon, he took a copy. He said to us, "I don't know why there's so many translations of the Bible, people don't all agree on one thing" Something to that effect. He told us we could come back any time, as long as his truck was here, he would be here. We'll come back later.

 

Let's see, I believe that's all I really have to write. My 18th month mark is on Sunday, so shortly after that day I will hopefully write to everyone that I have addresses to. Also, since I usually tried to tie in a scripture with my thank you letters, I'm doing a huge scavenger hunt/activity thing. All, the people who receive a thank you letter will recieve one. Not everyone who gets my e-mail personally will get a thank you letter. In addition I send this e-mail through blind carbon copy, so you won't be able to look at the e-mail addresses, HAHAHAHAHA. It's an activity that if you follow it correctly, you should be able to solve it with the cooperation of others and communication. I'm trying to teach a lesson, with this activity, so I hope you learn something from it.

Well, I'm fairly close to finishing the Book of Mormon for my 7th time on a mission. I read chapters 9-11 today of the Book of Ether. Well,. . . . . . . Personally, I find most of the book of Ether rather boring. Chapters 2-4 & 12 pretty interesting, but the others just testify to me that Secret Combinations are evil, war isn't always good, greed, pride, lusts and all that are found in this book. I guess the only interesting thing I find is the fact that this time period is from 2500-600 B.C. Since it is in that time frame, they have the records up to that point in the Bible, and so they are able to learn from Cain, and that is how secret combinations was learned. How they did it in the New World because of how Cain slew Able. I guess. Other than that I'll leave the rest to you.

 

LIke I will always do, and that is to testify that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. The truths in the Bible are reaafirmed in the Book of Mormon. You truly do, learn something new in it every time, (even in the Book of Ether) and it is very valuable to learn something from that Book. The Bible is a good book, but the Book of Mormon is a better one. For one can get nearer to God, by abiding by the precepts that are in the book, says Joseph Smith in the intro to the Book of Mormon. I love the Book of Mormon, it truly testifies of Jesus Christ. In whose name I bear, in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
--

Elder Colby Stewart Haymond
Oklahoma, Tulsa mission
Owasso, Oklahoma

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.