Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Gosling Road

We went to the Family History Center so I could do a little research for one investigator; and order some microfilm to help our new convert, Joseph, with his family history.  It would be great if he could go to the temple soon and do baptisms for the dead.  He is from Grenada and has been in the U.S. about a year.  There are no Grenada databases on Ancestry.com and only one database on FamilySearch.org.  We will probably have to do research the hard old-fashioned way.  There are only 305 church members in Grenada (mostly attending school).  Joseph is a true pioneer.  Hopefully we can do some good work to help the work move along.
 
After we got done at the Family History Center, we drove a little north to where Ryan's ancestor John Goaslind (spelling variations - Goslind, Gosling) lived with his brother Levi in 1850.  They had a sawmill. Levi had 7,083,333 square varas of land which equals 1,254 acres. The land is situated in The Woodlands area north of Houston.  Gosling Road is there.  Part of the deed spells Levi's name as 'Levi Goslind', and another part spells it 'Levi Gosling'. Since Levi bought the land as a land patent from the State of Texas, I suppose Gosling Road is named after Levi Goslind(g). 
 
 

 
 
 

Gosling Road crossing Willow Creek (Willow Creek is mentioned in deed)
 
 
Gosling Road north of Willow Creek

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Clayton Genealogical Library

Today we did some genealogical research in the Clayton Genealogical Library - to help an investigator.  Found the deed to Levi Goslind (Gosling) property.  Found the marriage record of Levi Goslind to Matilda Baker in 1847.

Clayton Genealogical Library

Clayton House

Houston skyline
 
 

Monday, July 29, 2013

We have been to a baptism for our ward on Saturday. The new member is from Grenada and has been here for about a year. We tried to look for some of his family names that he might take to the temple in the future, but Grenada records are hard to find online. He seems to be a true pioneer and will break new ground for the people of Grenada.
Sunday we both talked in Sacrament meeting. It is good to talk about the gospel of Jesus Christ and witness of Him and His church.

Friday, July 26, 2013

This Week

We've been looking for lost sheep who's memberships are in the ward.  We've made many phone calls, and travelled and knocked on doors.  In doing so, we've talked to seven, and made five visits.  We taught two discussions.  We're preparing to speak in sacrament meeting this Sunday.  We did some family history research for Andrew, Reyna, and Charles.

We had District Meeting today.  We found Gloria while we were out looking for lost sheep and had a long visit with her.  She committed to come to church in two weeks.

Tonight we are going to a member's home for dinner.  They have family visiting from Monterey, Mexico (who don't speak English).  We were able to go to lds.org and print off the last two paragraphs of the Introdution to the Book of Mormon (in Spanish).  I plan  on sharing that with them tonight:)

We love the Lord!  The church is true!

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Another good night

We had another good night. 

We taught half of the Restoration lesson to Fred, Laquita, and three of their children.  Fred had questions.

After that we traveled to the other end of the ward and taught Lashanda (she had a lot of questions about the Book of Mormon).  The three elders were teaching Michael while we were teaching Lashanda.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Andrew and Reyna

We met with Andrew and Reyna this evening and taught the Restoration.  Reyna had some good questions about the difference between the power of the Holy Ghost and the power of the priesthood. Her ancestors were some of the original founders of the Apostolic Church she grew up in.  I am helping Andrew with his Smith family history research, and was able to take some good information to him.  I also took forms and other helpful material, so they could begin their own record keeping; and explained the importance of families.  It was a good night.

On our way to our appointment, we stopped by the Houston National Cemetery.

 
 
 
 

Friday, July 19, 2013

11 Days in the Field

Ward Meetinghouse

We have been very busy.  We have a new elder (in addition to the other two).  We went to District Meeting this morning.

Sunday night there is a missionary fireside scheduled at the church for our ward.  The speaker is Diana Hoelscher.  She is supposed to be a dynamic speaker, and has written books on how to be a good member missionary.  She has her own website.

Taking some refreshments to the fireside

We have been getting to know some of the less active members.  We are working with Andrew (his wife in a non-member). They were married about a half a year ago.  He is interested in his Smith family history line - so I am helping with that.  Hopefully Andrew and his wife will come to church Sunday.

We also met Marco, who was born in Chile, emigrated to New Jersey at age 14, served a mission in the state of Washington.  He has a small music production business he operates from his home.  He works nights delivering pizza to help make ends meet.  Hopefully he will come to church Sunday.

We've been going through the various paperwork that was handed to us, marking on the ward map the people we need to visit (about 50).  We visited with the EQ president to get better acquainted with the members.

There is a lot of work that needs to be done here.

Alma 28:14, "...we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord;...."

"Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd"

Dear to the heart of the Shepherd, Dear are the sheep of his fold.
Dear is the love that he gives them, Dearer than silver or gold.
Dear to the heart of the Shepherd, Dear are his "other" lost sheep;
Over the mountains he follows, Over the waters so deep.

Out in the desert they wander, hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue he hastens, bringing them back to the fold.

Dear to the heart of the Shepherd, Dear are the lambs of his fold.
Some from the pasture are straying, Hungry and helpless and cold.
See, the Good Shepherd is seeking, Seeking the lambs that are lost.
Bringing them in with rejoicing, Saved at such infinite cost.

Out in the desert they wander, hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue he hastens, bringing them back to the fold.

Dear to the heart of the Shepherd, dear are the "ninety and nine".
Dear are the sheep that have wandered Out in the desert to pine.
Hark! he is earnestly calling, Tenderly pleading today
"Will you not seek for my lost ones, Off from the shelter astray?"

Out in the desert they wander, hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue he hastens, bringing them back to the fold.

Green are the pastures inviting; Sweet are the waters and still.
Lord we will answer thee gladly, "Yes, blessed Master, we will!
Make us thy true under-shepherds, Give us a love that is deep;
Send us out into the desert, Seeking thy wandering sheep."

Out in the desert they wander, hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue we'll hasten, bringing them back to the fold.

Hymn #221

Friday, July 12, 2013

Getting Started

Monday afternoon: arrived at the mission office, and the elders helped move in furniture at our apartment.



Tuesday: settled in; requested internet/phone service (next Wednesday).

 
 


Wednesday: visited a less-active sister.  Her husband has had a stroke, and she babysits her grandchildren every day.  She attends our ward church service every other week, and on the off weeks attends another denomination.

We had lunch with the mission president and his two daughters at a Vietnamese restaurant near us.  We were able to get acquainted.  He has done humanitarian work in North Korea.  He gave us direction and information concerning our assignment.



That evening we attended our first ward missionary planning meeting.  The ward mission leader has been a member for one year and seven month.  The ward has just under 400 members, with very low attendance.  The Primary, YM, and YW are very small.  There are mostly people who live by themselves.

Thursday: the maintenance people came to patch the ceiling in the apartment.  The water was also off for repairs for part of the day.  Did a lot of studying in Preach My Gospel and scriptures.

We went to dinner with a missionary couple serving in the ward next to us.  They are from Boise.

Then we met with the elders serving in our ward to review the members and investigators in our ward.

Friday: today was our first zone meeting (with the elders and sisters missionaries).

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Vernon, Texas

We attended a nice sacrament meeting at the Indian School Ward, this morning in Albuquerque. 

We headed east, and at the rest area just east of Santa Rosa, New Mexico, we took a break.  We met the Johnson family and six children, headed home to Texas. Brother Johnson asked us if we would share a gospel message with his family, so we did.  It was an unexpected lovely experience.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Yesterday we travelled to Albuquerque; via Moab, Utah, Cortez, Colorado, and Shiprock, New Mexico. Due to road construction, we were detoured and were able to see more of the Navajo Nation.

When checking in to our hotel, the desk manager noticed my name tag, showed me his cross that he wore around his neck, and we had a nice visit.  I complimented him on his faith in Jesus Christ, and affirmed the importance of having faith in Jesus Christ.  Unfortunately, someone else was wanting to check in, so we could not continue our conversation.  I would have liked to talk to him more.  There was a gentle sweet spirit there. 

This morning we will be attending the Indian School Ward on Indian School Road.  After the meeting, we will continue our journey to Texas.

 
Canyonlands
 
 
Shiprock, Navajo Nation, New Mexico
 

Friday, July 5, 2013

5th Day at the MTC/Green River, Utah

We had our last day of instruction at the MTC, and drove as far as Green River, Utah.

 Our District with one of our instructors (back, middle)

Thursday, July 4, 2013

4th Day at the MTC

Another interesting and busy day.  Tonight we are doing laundry, packing, and preparing for tomorrow's instruction.  We've been invited to join some of the other missionaries staying at the Marriott to view the 4th of July fireworks on the top of the parking garage tonight.

 
 
"Other Sheep"

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

3rd Day at the MTC

Elder Matthew O. Richardson, 2nd Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency gave an excellent talk at the devotional last night.  He talked about President McKay's experience in Scotland reading the stone "What E're Thou Art, Act Well Thy Part".  He also talked about being a "real missionary".




We are enjoying the people, instruction, and spirit that is here.  There are about 107 senior missionaries that came in with us on Monday.  Today over 800 new missionaries came in.  I don't know how many were already here. In our district, our district leader and wife are going to Kenya; one couple to Bulgaria, and with the other couple, the husband will be the executive secretary to the Asia North Area President.

We are very busy. 

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

2nd Day at MTC

We received instruction today in Preach My Gospel.  We are waiting to attend the Tuesday Night Devotional with a general authority.

Monday, July 1, 2013

MTC & Marriott

We enjoyed a nice day at the MTC.  We checked in, began orientation, ate lunch (nice large selection to choose from), went to a Welcoming Devotional, had more orientation, and got divided into districts (one couple is going to Kenya), ate dinner, checked in at the Marriott Hotel (MTC has a contract with the Marriott due to overcrowding at the MTC), wallked over to the construction site of the Provo City Center Temple, and now doing laundry.

At the MTC

Our room at the Marriott
 
 
Provo City Center Temple construction

Orem

We stopped and visited my other sister and husband in West Jordan on our way to Orem for the night.  We stayed Sunday night with Ryan's sister and husband.  It was fun visiting with more family.  We are about to head over to the MTC now:)