I can't wait to find those the Lord has prepared.

Mar 31, 2014
Let me answer your questions. We live with the Rapier's, which is
where I lived when I served w/ E. Crookston in the 34th Ward. They are
in our Ward and they are super cool. Elder Horgan doesn't know the Bindord's. 
 But speaking of that there is an Elder Lithgow in my mission. He knows
the Binford's! Tell them that. That wasn't a District lunch we were
just getting some lunch after a District Leader Council. Elder Ault
isn't in my District but my Zone.

That's great to hear that the family is alive and well. Tell everyone
congrats and I would love some pictures of the new additions. Sorry to
hear about the little Goaty passing away. I guess they can't thrive
without my presence!

The Toro Zone is doing great. Elder Derbidge is a great missionary and has 

already been very easy to work with. Tomorrow we have MLC and we are going 

to be able to present our Zone focuses for the next quarter, Apr-June. We have 

decided to focus on Planning and following the Spirit. Our mission has really 

struggled planning since we got iPads and Facebook but it is really just a lack

of knowledge rather than laziness. We also know that when missionaries are given 

more free reign rather than a program it will enable them to reach farther.

I'm so excited to be back in the 34th Ward. When we got in the area on
Wednesday we went around and saw all sorts of familiar faces. Let me
tell you about the people we are working with..

Orvid- me and E. Crookston were teaching him. He is so awesome. Him
and E. Crookston became really good friends and he told him that the
only way he would let missionaries in after he went home was if they
transferred me back. Well... The Lord works in mysterious ways haha.
His big hold up, which is pretty major, is Joseph Smith so that is
what we are working on.

Phylis- she is going through Chemo. Super nice but kind of flakey. She
had a baptism date when I left the area but lost contact with Elder
Crookston and Elder Oniones. We went and taught her about the Doctrine
of Christ through reading 2 Nephi 31 w/ her last night. It went really
great and she committed to being baptized on April 26th! Keep her in
her prayers, we will be watching Some of Conference w/ her.

Julie- she hasn't been active in 40 years. Never rally had a
testimony. Me and Elder Crookston were working with her and now she
has a solid testimony of the restoration. She bore it yesterday! It
was really awesome. She actually is the one that found Phylis for us.

The Stockton's- they go in and out of less activity. We go and share
messages regularly and try to help them out. Sis. Stockton has come to
church the last two weeks! We stopped by Sunday morning and made sure
of that haha.

That's really all we have right now but Elder Horgan got a 24 hr bug
on Saturday, so we were in all day. You know what that means! I got to
clean the apartment, study, and plan. This week we are going to try
and contact all those who previously met with the missionaries and see
if they are interested. I'm really excited and I can't wait to find
those The Lord has prepared.

Love you lots!

Love, Elder Alexander

Sent from my iPad

A member sent this to parents. Eating lunch after a District leader council.

Our salvation depends on our believing in and understanding the Atonement.

Mar 24, 2014
This one will be rather short but I will make up for it next week. The
news is in... I am in fact getting transferred again. BUT I'm actually
going back to the 34th Ward again! That's the Ward I served in with
Elder Crookston. Since he goes home today and his companion left last
week they needed some new missionaries to come in. I told President in
my email last week I would be willing to do that so I'm heading back!
Elder West is staying in our area and I will be companions with Elder

Horgan. He has been out for about 4 1/2 months, I'm super excited.

They are keeping the Split Zone Leader experiment alive. My new Zone
Leader companion is Elder Derbidge. He will be in the neighboring
Stake, so we are in different Districts. Not sure how it will go but I
still have faith. The Toro Zone is doing awesome, I hope we can keep
it going.

Elder Ault is Toro bound. He won't be in my District but he will be in
the Zone. I'm super excited to serve around him again, it's a little
taste of home away from home. And he is super funny.

Today we are finishing out Elder Crookston's mission. I'm going to
miss him pretty bad but that's all good. His parents are picking him
up tonight. These last three months have flown by. We are going to
celebrate with some Red Lobster for lunch and then he will be off to
the mission office and farewell dinner.

All is well in the area me and Elder West are serving in. We taught
Kelly on Thursday and got to the bottom of another one of her
concerns. Rod figured out on his own (the Spirit told him) that he
needed to kick his roommate out and he's going to do it. Colby is
talking to his mom about baptism and should get baptized in April and
tons of other stuff. It's been kind of crazy since Wednesday because

we've been in a trio w/ Elder Crookston covering two areas we managed.

We are studying the Atonement as a mission as we prepare for Easter.
It has been great. We read Matthew 26-28 and a few talks so far and
have a lot more in store. I've really realized the necessity of action
when it comes to the Atonement. Our salvation depends on our believing
in and understanding the Atonement... That's a quote by I can't remember
who it's from. I know that my experiences of the healing of the
Atonement have taught me a lot more than merely being told about it
has!

Side story... I interviewed a young man named Tyler for baptism this
week. He has Down syndrome. He decided that he wanted to be baptized
and got approved. For his interview I showed him pictures on my iPad
and talked about things. It was awesome when I showed him a picture of
baptism. He got so excited and start doing the sign language for
baptism. That's when I knew it was ok. He had a desire to follow
Christ and through baptism he was able to show that.

Things are good. I liked your letter this week, thank you for always being so supportive of me!! 

Well, be safe this week. Pray for me. Love you.

Sent from my iPad

Elder Alexander and Tyler

We experienced some major miracles this week, so buckle up.

Mar 17, 2014
The beginning of your email scared me.. I thought you didn't get my
email again. I'm glad you liked it. I hope this one can live up to the
hype!
We experienced some major miracles this week, so buckle up.

We had Zone Conference on Tuesday, that's where multiple Zones gather
together and President is there. President spoke first about the
Atonement and obedience. It was awesome! He talked about how we all
have agency but we were given agency in order to do the will of God
not to decide what is right. That's already set. He also made these
booklets for everyone in the mission that has something about the
Atonement to study everyday of the month leading to Easter. I'm stoked
for it! He also gave us a clarification of some mission rules...
Basically he established some mission rules because missionaries took
advantage of his principle based obedience. So you should be getting a
package with my iPod in it soon! I will be sending it in the next
couple of weeks. (Side note... I got my St. Party's Day package! Thank
you Mom:)) But if you could send me some cd's for when we're cruising
in he van, that would be awesome. I wouldn't be apposed to some Lower
Lights on CD!

Back to Zone Conference. After President spoke each of the Assistants
spoke and basically trained the rest of the mission on what we talked
about at that MLC last week. They did a good job. Just before lunch we
had a discussion on a talk by Tad R. Callister of the Seventy called,
"What is the Blueprint of Christ's Church?" You should read it, he
lays down how our church matches absolutely perfectly with the church
that Christ set up. It's pretty sweet! As I've read the Bible more
thoroughly I've realized that more and more.

After lunch we had our separate Zone Breakout sessions. We had a
couple of trainings that were required and then me and Elder Crookston
talked for the last 20 minutes or so. It was basically Elder
Crookston's final moments of wisdom for the mission so he chose what
we spoke on. There is a deeply rooted problem in our mission that
seems to drag a lot of missionaries down and that is serving for
leadership. It's really too bad, people mark their success by the
leadership positions they hold. And it gets to a point where they are
no longer serving To please The Lord or hasten the work but they are
serving to look good so the Assistants will make them leaders. It's no
good... And it has led to another problem where people who aren't like
that don't want leadership at all so if they become one they don't do
a very good job. It's really too bad... We just talked with everyone
about serving where The Lord will have you serve. I focused a lot on
the two great commandments and Elder a Crookston just laid it down
because he was pretty passionate about the whole thing haha. It went
well and we had some good feedback.

Miracle time! The biggest one goes first. We have been helping Rod
reroof his patio because it leaked during the big rainstorm we had a
couple of weeks ago. On Wednesday when we were up there helping him
(serving alongside investigators is this best because you develop a
stronger relationship) he gave us some pretty good news. He found out
that he is anemic. Let me explain. We taught Rod the Word of Wisdom a
week or so ago and he told us he would quit drinking when it was
natural... Basically when he felt like it. So we decided to just
continue to keep him in our prayers. It ends up his Doctor told him he
needs to stop drinking, and love healthier. His Doctor prescribed him
the Word of Wisdom!! Prayers answered! And it ends up he is a whole
lot easier to teach when he is sober so we are excite, he's
progressing a thousand times faster.

Carol canceled her lesson last night but she is doing awesome. We had
this really awesome lesson where we just laid down the doctrine of
baptism because she said after a precious lesson, "Well I've already
been baptized." She was baptized as an infant in the Catholic Church.
We had a bunch of different scripture references like Matthew 3,
Romans, John 3, etc.. It helped her (and me) more fully understand the
reason, the covenant, and the necessity of baptism by proper authority
and proper mode. At the end of the lesson she understood and accepted
the doctrine but told us she still needs an answer on the authority
part. She believes that, by her definition, Joseph Smith is a prophet
but she doesn't quite understood or accept the idea of one true church
because she said she has found Christ is many religions. (Even
Muslim.) So we are still praying for her but she has come a long way
this week!

Aurora is doing better in school and her overall behavior. I don't
know if I told you but her Mom won't let her get baptized because she
has bad grades.... Parenting at its finest! We are hoping that she
will be baptized in mid April and it's looking pretty good for around
then.

This week we didn't have the best numbers but me and Elder West talked
about it and we really feel like The Lord is pleased with us. I know I
told you we had some potentials we hoped one turn into something and
we had some great steps in the right step with a few of them this
week!
1. Devin & Eyeme (I'm not sure if that's how you spell it but that's
how it sounds... Eye me.)-They were a referral from some members and
when we went by a couple of weeks ago he said he wasn't interested in
a message but he needed help moving a TV... So we helped! We ended up
talking to his wife (who is from the Philippines and is super
Catholic) and at first she was pretty closed off but eventually asked
us about how the leadership in out church is chosen which led to us
teaching the Restoration. In the end she wanted a children's story BoM
to better understand the story. We dropped it off a few days later and
just talked to Devin, he was a lot nicer! Well we stopped by this week
to follow up and Devin said that they are just super busy right now
and invited us back on April 16th! Haha it's a ways off but we will
see what happens. We will keep them in our prayers.
2.Jean- Some members asked if she wanted a blessing a couple weeks ago
when she went in for surgery and she declined... But she accepted some
service so a couple weeks ago we went and helped her out. When we left
I left a Book of Mormon on "accident" and she noticed as we left. She
asked if it was for her and we said of course! We went back to follow
up and she still hadn't read but she gave us some tangelos and we are
going back on Saturday hopefully to pigeon proof her roof. And she
said she would read this time!
3. Rachel- She is from India. The Sisters who were in this area about
a year ago talked with her but it never really went anywhere. We
stopped by a couple of weeks ago and taught her the Restoration. She
said that she would love to come to church but had family coming to
town. We went by on Friday and she was a little busy but she invited
us back this coming Friday and said she would come to church. We are
super excited for her!
Those are my adventures this week! 
Love you all, have a good week! We will get transfer news this
Saturday so I will let you know what is going on!

P.s.- E. Crookston's companion is going home this week so I'm going to
end up killing him after all! This week will be his last so we will
make it good.

Sent from my iPad

A member couple that go out with the missionaries sent this to their parents Sunday 3-16-14

I really love Paul, he truly loves all those that he served. I think that's why God trusted him so much.

Mar 10, 2014
Well. The weeks are really starting to blur now but I am trying my
best to separate the events in order to give you an adequate update!
So.... Here we go.

We did quite a bit of teaching this week. We also found a few new
people! Rod is doing pretty good. We are trying to help him receive an
answer from the Spirit so we taught him the Word of Wisdom. He isn't
too eager to quit drinking unfortunately, says it will happen
naturally when it happens. We were able to do a lot of service for him
this week. First laying concrete and then reroofing his patio. After
all that we got him to come to a baptism with us on Saturday, we
haven't followed up with him about it too much but I'm hoping it will
soften his heart.

We also taught Colby a couple times this week. We were a let to go
over the 10 Commandments using these hand signs that help you remember
them, he loved it. He thinks he still needs to wait a month or so
before he is ready to get baptized but he promised us that this week
while he is at his Moms he will pray to know the day that The Lord
wants him to be baptized so keep him in your prayers.

On Thursday we had that Missionary Leadership Council. Brother
Leswarde from the missionary department (he is over all of the
Visitors Centers and helps a lot with the church's missionary program)
and Brother Packer (who happens to be the grandson of Boyd K. Packer)
were there. It was a really great meeting, a little long, but great.
We talked a lot about helping our investigators develop faith and the
most efficient way for them to progress. What we ultimately came to he
conclusion of was the necessity of revelation. Without revelation we
do not know the will of God. Without it we will never receive the
guidance we need in order to move closer to Him. We have Zone
Conference tomorrow (our zone and two other zones will be meeting with
President) during which we have a breakout session that me and E.
Crookston are in charge of. I will let you know how it goes next week.

This week in my studies I was able to finish 1 Corinthians. I really
love Paul. He is a super passionate man and truly loves all those that
he served, I think that's why God trusted him so much. For some reason
I have had a relatively easy time loving all of my investigators
through out my mission. I'm really grateful for that but I know it's
not from me but from God. I really try to feel His love for them. When
I don't love someone I know it's because I haven't thought about how
God feels about them. So instead of getting frustrated I can feel
mercy and patience with all of God's children. It definitely doesn't
come naturally but through prayer and a lot of practiced patience. I
came across a scripture in 1 Corinthians that I really liked, it
says... But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which
was bestowed upon me was not in vain; (1 Corinthians 15:10). It really
is by God's grace that I am what I am. And I'm really trying to work
my hardest so that that grace is not in vain!!

Elder Crookston only has two weeks left (where has this transfer
gone???) and it's pretty crazy. He's trying to convince me to go to
school in Boston since he decided to try out the East coast life going
to Southern Virginia University when he gets home.

Well... This week really wasn't super exciting but I hope you know
that I love you and I'm grateful for all you do. Have a great week!
Loves.

Elder Alexander

P.S.- We ate with this family in the Ward last night and their son
isn't very active. When I say he isn't very active I mean he claims
not to be Mormon. But thanks to my expansive musical interest I was
able to get along with him very well and he ended up serenading us
with his incredible piano talent for half of the meal. Now he is
learning my favorite song prior to the mission. Tender mercies of The
Lord.

Sent from my iPad

The Gilbert Temple dedication was awesome!

Mar 3, 2014
We had a pretty good week. But first I wanted to further explain the
people that I am currently teaching, I'm doing a lot more teaching in
this area than I have been the last few months! It's no Apache
Junction but it's definitely picking up over here in the Mesa East
Stake!

Rod- He is 68 and from Trinidad. He comes to church every Sunday
in these different colored suits. He is awesome. His biggest hang up 
is that he drinks. A lot. It makes it really hard to teach him because he
is hardly sober. We taught him the Word of Wisdom this week but I 
am not too sure if it got through to him.

Aurora- She is 8 years old. Her family isn't very interested but her
neighbors, have been taking her to church since she was a
baby. She wants to get baptized but her Mom says she doesn't have good
enough grades...

Colby- He is 10 years old. Both parents are members but they got
divorced. They rotate weeks so we only get to teach him every other
week when he is with his Dad at his grandparents. His Mom keeps
fighting him getting baptized, he also wants to get baptized but his
Mom is a major stumbling block.

Carol- She was a former. She has a Muslim husband that lives out of
town, he is coming to visit this week though. Super nice and we have
had some awesome lessons with her this week. Also cleaned up her yard
in the rain! A little rain won't stop us.

Kelly- She is married to a Less Active member. She got baptized into
Central Christian within this past year... Central Christian is across
the street from my area and it is a major thorn in our side. They
teach anti-Mormon over the pulpit... We encounter a whole lot of them. But
Kelly isn't too brainwashed yet so she listens. She likes the BoM but
hasn't received an answer yet.

Betty- She is a really old Catholic lady. A member of the Ward invited
her to the Gilbert Tempe Open House and she went. She isn't super
interested but we have her reading the BoM and hopefully she will come
to church this Sunday.

Margret- She is a Native American lady that the Bishops wife took to
the Open House. Super nice. We haven't taught her a whole ton yet, she
has been out of town and sick and stuff. But she really enjoyed the
temple.

Jeff and Margaret- They also went to the Open House with some members.
They were particularly impressed. They told us that they felt like it
was the house of The Lord. We should be having our first real sit down
lesson tomorrow. We talked to Margaret about our purpose the other day
and I told her we were there to help her understand the gospel and be
baptized by the proper authority. She said it would be an interesting
conversation to have with Jeff, so we will see how it goes.

There are a couple solid potentials that we met this week that I will
hopefully tell you about after the next couple of weeks! We stopped by
to meet a referral from some members the other day. Apparently the
husband is a rocket scientist and the wife is from the Philippines. We
knocked on the door and the husband answered. We did our Schpeel at
the door and he said he wasn't too sure about a message but he needed
help moving a tv. So we helped! His wife was super nice, super
Catholic. In the beginning she seemed really not interested but after
some casual conversation about the way our leaders are chosen (which
led into the whole Restoration lesson) she invited us back to bring
her a Children's Book version of the BoM so she can understand!! We
are going back tonight and we are pretty excited.

The Gilbert Temple dedication was awesome. President Monson was there
with President Eyring. They split it into three sessions, we went to
the first two and then I went and Skyped Adam! We had a really good
conversation and he is going to be reading the BoM everyday. He is
doing pretty darn awesome!

I had a baptism interview on Saturday with a lady named Julie. She was
super ready! She had some serious crimes from quite a few years back
but she has totally repented! It was really cool to hear how she had
been able to apply the Atonement in her life. This Saturday she will
be baptized!

In the month of February the Toro Zone only had 1 baptism... We don't
know what happened but we are optimistic for March. And rightly so! We
had 3 baptisms in the Zone yesterday! Things are looking up. We have
MLC this Thursday and he head of all of the Visitors Centers in the
world is going to be there! I will let you know how it goes, remind me
though!

Have a great week, I love you!

Sent from my iPad