May 27th Email

When we have holidays on a Monday, we don't get preparation day; we have it on Tuesday instead. I just got the letters and photos from the kids today. The letters were marvelous.

Last Tuesday, Elder J and I traveled to Charlotte and had a trainer-trainee meeting. That meeting helped me with my teaching. On our way back to Morganton, there was a homeless lady that needed food and money. I realized I had a couple of fruit rollup in my suit jacket, so I gave them to her. Elder P and Elder K came with us because we got another car. As of now, Morganton is an all car mission because Elder P can't ride a bike because of this wrist injury. On Saturdays Elder P and Elder K walk because every Saturday is car fast day, which is the day that we don't use the cars.

I finally learned how to polish my shoes, since I didn't remind Richard to teach me how; Elder K did.

Ward members do pretty good with feeding us, we rarely make dinner.

President and Sister Craven visited our ward on Sunday. They were travailing to Hickory to interview missionaries and our ward was along the way there, so they came and visited us. It was great to see them.

From, Elder Stafford

Memorial Day Post

A little over 1 year ago, my grandfather passed away. I really looked up to him and he's one of the reasons why I'm on a mission. With my testimony of the plan of salvation, I will be able to see him again. I know he's in spirit paradise doing missionary work like me and thousands of other missionaries around the globe. If you have a loved one that's passed on, I testify that you will see him/her again. Happy Memorial Day!

Learning some sign language?

A fun photo Jacob posted on his facebook page today.  He is looking great, isn't he?

A little History Lesson

History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in North Carolina:

"The first meetings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in North Carolina 'caused the greatest stirs imaginable,' said missionary Elder John Eldridge. 'I never thought that one poor mortal could make such a stir.'

The first missionary to North Carolina, Jedediah Grant, spent from 1838-45 in North Carolina, organizing seven congregations of more than 200 Church members. When Grant left the state, membership had increased to 350. Missionary work was interrupted in the late 1840s as many Church members traveled west to escape persecution. Although this migration continued into the 1870s, several congregations and a mission were organized in North Carolina in 1875. In November 1894, Church leaders encouraged members to stay in their state rather than migrate west. During the next five years, nearly 700 people were baptized, seven Church buildings constructed, 30 Sunday Schools organized, and 20 congregations established. A newly completed meetinghouse on Harker's Island was burned and missionaries driven out by a mob in 1906. Harsh attitudes gradually moderated in the twentieth century and missionaries were offered more freedom to preach.

In 1948, the Church began a five-year construction project in North Carolina resulting in 16 new Church buildings. By 1973, North Carolina had nearly 16,400 members in 53 congregations with a growth rate of nearly 400 new members per year. North Carolina members and missionaries were among many from Southern states to respond to storm-caused disasters in the South in the 1990s."

Reference: http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/facts-and-statistics/country/united-states/state/north-carolina

May 19, 2014 Email

Last Thursday was Elder J's birthday. We all went to Fat's Cafe for lunch and I payed for Elder J and myself. If I were to describe what it is, I would say it's like Applebee's.

We've taught a little over 15 discussions last week. Last Saturday we went to a Japanese restaurant called Nara's Express with two other investigators, Ron W. and Doctor J. Ron has been an investigator for a while, it's hard for him to get to church because he's physically disabled, we offered him to have a member pick him up. Dr. J is investing in the church, he loves to talk religion with us (not in a bashful way) and he's pretty interested in the church.

Happy belated birthday Mom.

Elder Stafford 

May 19, 2014

Last week, as I was getting out of the shower, I grabbed on the towel rack next to the shower. It did not hold my weight, so it broke and I fell with it. I've been a clumsy missionary lately, but I like to think of Ether 12:27.

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

As we strive to have faith in our Heavenly Father, He will turn weaknesses into strengths. When Moses spoke with the burning bush he said he was "slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." (Exodus 4:10), but with the Lord on his side, that weakness became a strength.

First P-Day Email - May 5, 2014

The first time flying in a while was great; After I prayed that we (the missionaries on the plane) would be in NC safely and during the flight, I was alright. The BBQ is great! I love the vinegar flavor in it!

On Tuesday the 28th, we had a transfer meeting. 8 out of the 9 new missionaries got their first companion; that one missionary was none other than ME. I was with the assistants for two days. The first day with them was rough. We woke up at 4 AM to get the departing missionaries ready to go home. I didn't go to the airport, which was probably a good thing. While the Mission president and the assistants were taking the departing missionaries home, I was helping out at the mission office. Most of my time there, I was putting 50 mormon.org cards in each plastic bag. I did get to do REAL missionary work that day. We taught 4 discussions and the assistants were impressed with my testimonies.

My first companion's name is Elder J from Salt Lake city. He's only been out for 5 months, but I'm in good hands mostly because I'm his second trainee. Morganton is a beautiful place, there are lots of trees which remind me of Oregon. There's a place here called Jake's. They have this thing called the Triple-Triple, it's a 9- patty cheeseburger. Those who eat the whole thing will get a T-shirt. I haven't ordered one yet, but I will when I get the chance. Part of Morganton is a deaf community. There are some members who are deaf, so they communicate with sign language. There would be at least one member in the ward that would translate during sacrament meeting. Elder J knows some sign language. I know how to say potato in sign language. The ward members are great. They love coming up and bearing their testimonies.

Last Saturday night we went tracting. We found some people at a rest home to teach. There was one person that I admire and that person is Terry Lackey. He is in a wheelchair and he is a member, but less active for quite a while. I showed him a video called "Mountains to Climb" on my Ipad (yes, we are an Ipad mission), I asked him if he had any trials in his life. When he told me his current trial he's having, I started to show some emotion because I really cared about him.

Yesterday night was extremely overwhelming. We taught a family who weren't members, but one of them is thinking about getting baptized. It was hard to feel the spirit because the mom kept yelling at one of her three kids. I honestly felt bad for this kid and I wish I could do something about it. There's really nothing I can do except praying for the family to have the spirit in their homes. After that discussion, I was bawling in tears. I felt sorry for them. I asked Elder J to give me a blessing that night I felt better after that.

Today is my first preparation day. After we studied we cleaned our apartment. There's two other missionaries in our apartment, but they went to a doctors appointment because Elder P broke his arm. He was biking when a truck driver cut him off when Elder P was trying to cross an entrance to a parking lot. He grabbed the front brakes and the bike flipped him over. That accident also gave him a bloody leg. The other Elder living in our apartment is Elder K, he is the district leader. We all cover the same area and same ward, but we teach different people. After we cleaned and ate lunch we went grocery shopping at Walmart. How we work things is we get what we need/want as a companionship and we each pay half of the grocery cost. I used both Walmart gift cards to cover the groceries. And then we got our haircuts at a traditional haircut place.

Next Sunday we're planning on eating at a family's house and then make phone calls. I will plan on it at 7pm which is 5pm in Idaho.

Hopefully spring will come in Rexburg soon.

-Elder Stafford

May 2, 2014

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/because-of-him?lang=eng

I'm am very grateful to be in North Carolina and helping people come unto Christ. I have a testimony that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, it has blessed my life and it can also bless your lives. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet chosen by our Father in Heaven and that Thomas S. Monson is our prophet today. I'm grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. "I believe in Christ, He stands supreme, with Him I'll gain my fondest dream, and while I strive through grief and pain His voive is heard, 'Ye shall obtain!'"