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

Just another manic Monday!

Feb 24, 2014
Dear Mommy,
I'm so sorry... After i copied that pic over I wrote you this big long
email but I guess the picture just canceled it out... :( I'm sorry!!!
Things are great. Our wards are awesome, the Allen's (who we live
with) are awesome as well. Their son is serving in Sochi right now.
Pretty crazy!! Here is pay back for missing last week. A detailed
summary of our week...

Monday: Just another manic Monday. We picked up E. Crookston and E.
Oniones at 10 and went on our regular route. I can't remember if I
bought anything... After shopping we had some lunch at the Rapiers and
I attempted to email you. At which point as we well know my email did
not send properly. Somewhere during the day I got a haircut from a
barbershop called mono's (free haircuts). Then we picked up E. Tueller
and his companion E. Gold and did some good ol fashioned bowling.
There are few things I love more than bowling in Proselyting clothes
haha. After dinner and a couple of visits in our area that night it
was time for exchanges at 830!! I went with E. Coulston in his area,
his companion, E. Horgan, went with E. Crookston in his area, and E.
Oniones went with E. West in our area. It's a super exchange. E.
Coulston is a District Leader.

Tuesday: Elder Coulston wasn't feeling very well so we had to take it easy.
We did teach a lesson to this lady named Esther that went well, 
she is getting baptized in March.

Wednesday: Reunited with Elder West once more, we had District Meeting
at 1030. We gave a training on the importance of temple attendance
post mission. I'm pretty darn glad that we live near so many temples!
And serving in Mesa around so many temples leads me to wonder how
dependent upon them I am. Which is definitely a good thing haha.
Speaking of temples the Gilbert temple dedication is this Sunday.
They're doing the same thing we did for the Brigham City temple so I
will watch the dedication at the Stake Center instead of regular
meetings. Let's see... After District Meeting me and E. Crookston had
to split off to take care of some stuff for the Zone. We are still
figuring out this whole split thing. It's super hard to coordinate
everything and spiritually prepare all of our meetings when we don't
have any time together. I understand why we are split but I hope we
can get the logistics of it down soon! After I got back with E. West
we went and picked Grapefruits for this lady we met on the street. She
was very nice but I think she thought all we did was pick
grapefruit... Later we met this cute little lady named Melba and said
a prayer with her. She is super old but I hope she lets us teach her!
That evening we taught Colby Martin. He is 10 and his parents are
divorced. Every other week he lives with his grandparents and his Dad
so we get to teach him. He was supposed to get baptized but his mom is
causing problems... Hopefully soon though! And last of all for
fabulous Wednesday... I got your package! And I have to say you are
getting rather good in the Paisley department. :) THANK YOU!!! <3

Thursday: we went and helped out at the AZ Brain Food thing again. Saw
Max's mom, met some nonmembers that work at the organization, and
loaded car after car. It was a nice morning. After that I went to
another District's District Meeting with Elder Smith (the District
Leader), we have to go to one of each District's District Meetings
each transfer. It was a good meeting. After I got back with E. West we
were able to stop by Rod and teach him the Law of Tithing. He read in
Malachi 3 where it asks, "Will a man rob God?" And he was pretty upset
that he had been robbing God his whole life. So we explained the law
of tithing and who God was speaking to in that chapter (his covenant
people) and he was alright in the end.

Friday: In the morning we has District Leader Council at 1030. That's
where me and E. Crookston meet with all of the District Leaders in our
Zone. It wasn't super effective but we are going to work on it. After
that we had Weekly Planning. Love that planning day! We taught an
investigator named Carol that night, it went really well. She seems to
really want to progress. I'm super stoked for her.

Saturday: we did tons of service. Helped someone move, went and helped
with a Ward service project, and helped a non member named Jean. As we
left I "forgot" my Book of Mormon but she noticed haha. She ended up
keeping it and said we can come by in a couple of weeks to get some
tangelos and talk about it! We almost got in a wreck... This guy just
tried to merge into my lane. Mere inches, I kid you not.

Sunday: we taught teachers quorum. Those young people are super lucky
with this new "Come Follow Me" program. The opportunity it gives them
to start teaching the gospel is sweet I loved it. I didn't get a
chance to Skype Adam because we taught Colby about the Law of
Chastity! He's 10... That age is always fun to teach the good ol law
to. We also taught Rod again, we finally got him a large print BoM and
dropped it by. We had a Convert named Brother McClure with us and he
bore mad testimony. After that lesson we had dinner with this super
rich member that owns this Mexican restaurant called Tia Rosas. He is
super rich, his backyard is this huge model train set haha. Afterwards
Carol went with us to the VC to watch JSPR. Afterwards she told us
that she thinks Joseph Smith is a prophet!

Please know that I love you and I love this gospel! Let me know any
other questions you have for me and I will answer them next week!
Loves

Elder Alexander
Sent from my iPad