Email #73 - 3rd Times a Charm

January 29, 2018

Huntsville, Alabama

Family! So guess what?! I'm back in Huntsville! haha!!! This is just the place! I'm in the Byrd Springs Ward in downtown Huntsville. It's an English Ward so it's definitely something that I haven't experienced before. haha! We aren't really in charge of the Spanish Work at all so it's going to be weird not contacting in Spanish and stuff like that, but I'm super excited! My new companion well... I guess he's new but not new because we've served together before is Elder Damaso. So that's pretty exciting. This week has been craziness trying to get everything together after Transfers! We got white washed into the ward so it's been hectic figuring everything out.

But this week we were trying to find one of the investigators that the previous elders had been teaching and we went and stopped by and didn't find him there. So we started talking to this lady and we had a great lesson with her. It was a testimony builder of talking to everyone. When we as missionaries talk to everyone, God puts people in our path that we are supposed to talk to. It was a great lesson. It's a lot easier to talk to everyone because we aren't specifically doing spanish work anymore. So we can find English people everywhere! "THERE EVERYWHERE!!!" haha! So this week has been a lot of time finding our investigators and figuring out where we are! haha! We've only gotten lost a few times. It's a completely different side of Huntsville that no hispanics live, so as a Spanish Missionary in the Huntsville Branch we never were in this area so it's pretty new.

Well that's about it for the week! I hope all is well! I love you all! Have a great week! Remember that the Lord loves you! ​

​

​Saying goodbye to the members in Cahaba!

Email #72 - He Lives

January 22, 2018

Birmingham, Alabama

Wow! What a week!!! I feel like I have a ton to tell you all about! So I'm going to get right to it!

Okay! So Edmundo and Kelvin. They are cousins and they are doing great.  This week we went over  to talk to them about what they had been reading and they basically just quoted the entire chapter that we asked them to read. It was super amazing! Their family situation is still pretty crazy and there is a lot going on. Thank you for your prayers on their behalf.

The other night we had a few appointments lined up with some of our investigators and we were super excited. We had the whole night lined up perfectly. As we got to each appointment... they all fell through... haha! The life of the missionaries.  After all our appointments and all our back up plans had fallen through we stood outside of an investigators apartment and said a prayer about what we were supposed to do. Usually Plan C is just to knock doors or to go store contacting. We opened our eyes after the prayer, I looked up and saw a man that was locked outside of his apartment about 50 yards down the apartment complex. We walked down and talked to him and were able to teach him a little bit about the Plan of Salvation. He talked about how he didn't think he was going to see his grandparents again that have passed on. It was amazing to be able to reassure him that he would be able to see his family again. The plan that God has for us really is flawless. I know that. It truly is amazing.

This week we were visiting a Less Active member and we had a great visit with them. They introduced us to their cousin who is living with them. We ended up teaching him the Restoration and giving him a baptismal date. His name is Roberto. He is amazingly ready to be baptized. It's so cool! He has been prepared so well. His baptismal date is March 3rd so that's coming up quick.

As well, we got transfer calls last night so it turns out I'm getting transferred again... haha! One transfer back here in the Spanish branch and I'm leaving... So that's a little disappointing but the Lord is preparing something for me in another place so I'm excited. They don't tell us anymore where we are getting transferred so I'll find out on Wednesday about the place.

On Saturday we had a Mission-Wide Conference with Elder Andersen from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and it was amazing. It was such a spiritual experience. Definitely a spiritual high of the week. There were a few things that he talked about that were amazing. I remember one of the main things that I took away from that meeting is the importance of being witnesses of Christ. Whether members, missionaries, or leaders in the church. We all have the sacred obligation to be a witness of Christ. So I want to share my testimony of the Savior. As a missionary, it is an amazing experience to be a representative of the Savior. To help others come closer to him through the Book of Mormon. I testify that He loves us. He knows us each individually. He knows what we are going through and He is here to help us. His merciful arm is extended and He asks that we reach out to Him. I know He lives. He has been resurrected. The tomb is empty. This is the glorious message we have to share. Jesus Christ is our Savior, Redeemer, and Advocate with the Father. I love Him.

Thank you for all you do to be witnesses, and living examples of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Strength and Honor

"Shall we not go on in so great a cause?"

Elder Noah Featherstone

Email #71 - Good Times and Hard Times

January 14, 2018

Birmingham, Alabama

Family! I am super super sorry. But there is a storm coming into the Birmingham area so I don't have a whole lot of time to email. I decided I'd just cut my emails short so that some others could have a little bit more time so I'm going to keep it short and sweet.

This week we had a lot of experiences that were really like the scripture in Ether 12. We really need to show our faith to the Lord. Almost every night this week we were really struggling finding and talking to anyone. Nobody was opening and it was just pretty rough. When we got to the last couple of houses at about 8:45pm, everyone opened that we taught 2 lessons in the last few minutes of the night. It was pretty good!

As well, we have an investigator that is going through a rough time with his family, and then to just make things worse.... His main electrical wires in his house burned in a fire or something so he doesn't have electricity right now. It's been a really hard time for him right now. He has been reading the Book of Mormon and just loving it. It's been amazing. His name is Edmundo. He is one of the most amazing people I've ever met here. It's amazing to see these people change and become better and come closer to the Savior. I love this work, I love these people, and I love the Savior. Thanks for all the support you give me and the love you show! I love you all! Have a stellar week!

P.S. I am really going to have to make it up to you because I don't have time for pictures this week so I'll make sure I have tons for y'all next week! Love you!

Email #70 - An Answer to Prayer

January 8, 2018

Birmingham, Alabama

Family -  This week has been great! I say that every week but I'm not sure we ever have bad weeks as missionaries. It's just amazing to see how the Lord has been blessing us. I feelsl like whenever it gets hard or it gets long, I just think about the work and I just love it! Being a missionary is the greatest! this week we had a really amazing miracle!

We were out and about going to appointments but we didn't have the car so we were just walking. We had 2 appointments fall through on us, our back-up plans fell through and usually plan C is just knocking doors. So we knocked about three houses that didn't open up and then I said to my companion, "We should go see one of the former investigators down the street." He loved the idea so off we went walking. As we got there, I asked Elder Lewis if we could say a prayer. So we ended up kneeling down on the grass outside of his apartment and said a prayer. We walked up to his door and knocked.... nothing... knocked again.... nothing..... so as we both started walking away we heard the door creak open. His name is Edmundo. He just lit up when he saw us. It was amazing! It was as if he had been waiting for us to come by. We shared a quick message and he just thanked us for coming over and sharing a spiritual message with him. He told us that he really needed it. We are now teaching him again and he is really progressing. It's amazing.

As we were sitting in Personal Study the other day we got a message from our AP's saying that President Monson had died. That was a really hard thing for me to hear. I think about when Papa died and as we were standing in the viewing, in walks President Monson, President Uchtdorf, and President Eyring. I remember President Monson walking up to me and shaking my hand, then cracking a joke. He has truly made a legacy here on earth. A legacy of service, and love. I'm so thankful for all I've learned from him.

Thank you for all the love and support you show me. I appreciate it all. I hope you have a great week! Love you all!!

P.S. Sorry... I forgot my camera... no pictures today....Forgive me!

Strength and Honor

"Shall we not go on in so great a cause?"

-Elder Noah Featherstone

Email #69 - The Missionaries will Find You!

January 2, 2018
Birmingham, Alabama

Well y'all! It's been quite the year so far don't ya think?? ha! It's honestly been great! It was a blast to talk to y'all on Christmas! I really loved it! It was great! I hope everything went well on Christmas day and you were all able to have a great time. This week has been pretty hectic if I'd say so... So I don't have a ton of time today but I do want to share a story or two with you!

So First off, we were out tracting earlier this week and we talked to a guy on the street named Dante. He said we could come back and see him later in the week and we said Okay great! We'll see you then! So we come back and nothing.... So we were just like, "Oh those darn rascals." So fast forwarding to last night. We were out knocking on doors as a little hurrah for the new year! As we are knocking, Dante opens up this random door... I said, "Dante... I thought you lived over there?!" Turns out the guy gave us the wrong address to mess with us. But NOPE! You can't fool the missionaries. They'll always find you. It made me laugh so hard! He ended up letting us come in and we had a great talk with him. So we are going back tomorrow to go teach him English, and as well to teach him the Restoration. So that'll be fun;) Don't try and hide this time...

As well another cool thing happened. While we were out knocking doors last night as well, not much came from it other than "refinding" Dante. So as our appointment at 8 o'clock fell through, I said," Elder let's go see a former investigator down the street." So we went over there and they welcomed us on in and we were able to have a great talk with them. Their names are Edmundo, and Kelvin. They are cousins and they are just studs! They have been coming to English Class and it's been a riot! So we decided we should try and teach them again. Last night, we read the Introduction of the Book of Mormon with them and they both were just soaking everything in. It was amazing. 

That all happened in one night. Every night this week has been like that. We've just seen miracle after miracle and it's been amazing. I know that our Loving Father in Heaven is looking after us and he wants the best for us. I love you all! Have a great week!

Strength and Honor

"Shall we not go on in so great a cause?"

-Elder Noah Featherstone

 The frozen falls... It's been like 15 degrees everyday lately... plus 100% humidity

Up close and personal

Email #68 - Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2017

Birmingham, Alabama

Family! I'm just going to keep this one short because we'll be chatting! But it's really been amazing to be a missionary at this time of the year! I've really enjoyed it! We've been doing a lot of fun stuff. This week we did a lot of store contacting at the mall. We had a lot of good things come from it.

I just wanted to say Merry Christmas! I love you all! I'm thankful that this time of year celebrating our Savior's birth brings us together and helps us recognize that He loves us. Christ lives! That is our message to the world. His church has been restored and we have the fullness of His gospel again.

Love you all! Merry Christmas!

Elder Noah Featherstone

Email #67 - Birmingham Round 2

December 18, 2017

Birmingham, Alabama

Family! Transfers were this week.  I am back in the Spanish Branch in Birmingham. Long story short is that about 4 months ago, they combined the 2 Spanish Branches here in Birmingham to make a bigger one. So I am technically serving in the same spot I was in Feb-May but I'm now serving in the Cahaba Spanish Branch. Pretty Crazy! It's good to be back though and I have been well received back into the Branch. It's been good!

I don't know if y'all remember an investigator named Irma Ayala that I was teaching last time I was here... Elder Krupa and I tracted into her one day.  As I've been serving in other places she has continued to investigate the church and she really wants to get baptized but her husband at one point said that if she got baptized they would be getting a divorce. So she decided she was just going to keep meeting with the missionaries and learn more and more. In the meanwhile, Chayo (the husband) has slowly but surely been coming around. This is what I've heard from other missionaries. I've stopped in a few times while I've been in Birmingham but other than that I haven't been able to see them. I haven't been able to see all the change happening. Soooooooooo.... I stopped in with my new companion Elder Lewis this week.  We show up and they were super excited to see us. As they welcomed us into their house, there was a Latino Preacher talking to them. I guess he is Chayo's cousin.  He started talking to us and starts to really get into it and bash with us about what's right and what's really of God.  We just sat there and basically just took it. After about 2 minutes go by, Chayo, Irma, and us are all listening to this guy go off and talk about how Joseph wasn't a prophet and all this stuff about our church. All of the sudden, Chayo speaks up and just gets into it with him! haha! He basically bore his testimony of all the truthfulness of the message that we as missionaries bring. I wish y'all could have seen it. I was like drooling on the other side of the room thinking  "What is happening... Is that really Chayo?" Irma and Chayo continued to back us up hard core and we didn't say a word! He defended Joseph Smith, the church, the Savior, and all that we stand for. They aren't even members! It was amazing! I was just speechless. When I left Lorna the first time, Chayo hadn't even sat down in a lesson with us. He would just walk through or be in the other room the entire time. Irma had only been taught the first 3 lessons. Then the next thing I see of them is testifying to a Latino Preacher of the truthfulness of the Gospel. Irma mentioned a scripture that she found on her own in Revelations. It's Revelations 10:9-10 it says:

9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

She told him that this scripture is talking about the Book of Mormon. It was powerful. They are going to be baptized. I know it! They are so strong. Chayo is continuing to come around and I know that they will continue to grow. Will y'all keep them in your prayers and pray that they will come to the conclusion that they need to be baptized? I know that the Lord will answer our prayers. As we pray for specific things and for specific people he knows how he can help.

Thank you for all you do! I love and appreciate all the love you show me. I am so grateful for this Christmas Season and the opportunity we have to be able to reflect on the birth of our Savior. He lives! and He loves each of you. He has perfect gratitude for all you do. Have a great Christmas week. Love you all!

 The Carter Hill Crew

The Colvin Family. They are the greatest!

The Davis Family. Man... I'll miss them. Some of the most hysterical people down here!

 Patty and Meta

 The Jamaican! Elder Lewis is the man.

Elder Johnson and Elder Erickson at our Transfer Hub Meeting