March 21st - March 28th


Monday - It snowed! We have a foot of fresh powder on the ground!! It's dumb cuz this whole last week was sunny and in the high 40s.. But that's okay! Makes for a great adventure!!

We just got off the phone not to long ago with president Stoker and Elder Peterson is getting Emergency Transferred. The way it works in my mission is that the area with the most work is a leadership area. So Portsmouth is the area with the most work and is now a Zone Leader area. We called the Zone Leaders and we will be switching Elder Peterson with Elder Young and I will be area training for a week until transfers this weekend. Crazy stuff!!

We went to the bishop's for a dinner and talked about the Holy Ghost at FHE, so awesome!! After that we spent the rest of our time at the Gogans. Said goodbye to them and played a couple games! It was awesome! Love them!


Tuesday - Elder Young and I are getting along great! Love this Elder haha we went to the food pantry and helped out, after that we finished packing and the zone leaders got here and we did the exchange. After that, we went less active hunting and we also found out that Richard C. went through the temple for the first time today!!!! Holy smokes thats way exciting!!! His wife and her mom went throug the first time just 2 weeks ago!! And their son Logan was baptized earlier this month!!! Wow!!! And now they all get to be sealed!!! How exciting!!

When we went less active hunting, we where able to see some people and set up some times to see them. Others had moved or where not interested, which was a downer. For dinner we went to the Gogans with the sister missionaries.. We felt terrible because we called the Gogans to ask a simple question, which then we forgot to because brother Gogan invited us over and we said no twice because that was the sisters dinner appointment. But the third time he told us to come, so we did haha and it was actually a great night and a great dinner! I love the Gogan family and I'm really going to miss them when I leave, which will probably be this next week... Boo.. But, I had to leave sometime, maybe I'll be back there closer to the end of my mission!! Never know, but I feel like something crazy will happen this transfer, maybe leadership? I don't know, we will see!! Also, tonight there was about 3 cops down the street, lights flashing and everything. We think a drug bust went down haha but oh well! Don't do dope!


Wednesday -We had a great district meeting and it was also confusing given the new exchange at the moment, but it was still a great meeting. We talked about the role of the spirit in conversion and how it's helped us as missionaries. The role plays where awesome! It was such a great day! After that, we went and taught Mark, Mark is doing awesome! He will come to church Sunday! He's super humble and beats himself up for not reading the Book of Mormon, but he's progressing great! After that, we stopped by brother Wrights. Brother Wright is a way chill dude haha I love him, he's home by himself for another few weeks before he heads to Washington Naval Port to do some deconstruction on some subs! Way cool! So I told him to go to Pikes Place Market and to walk around Seattle because it's awesome! Haha so when he goes, he will probably send me pictures and rub it in haha. After that, we went to the bishop's and shared the Easter video with him. He really liked that and shared some awesome thoughts about it. He also told us about the blessings of iPads and social media and we also talked about his mission! He served in Texas. The whole state of Texas.. Before there where a lot of missions in his mission, that was when it split into the north and south Texas missions, which was a while ago haha but he shared great stories and was able to give us some insights on our missions. Awesome, after that we went home and had dinner and studied the rest of the night.


Thursday - What a crazy day today!! But it was way fun! We tried to stop by some people all day today and we where only able to see Vinnie M., which is okay. This morning we where in a side- coast area of Portsmouth and we tracted into a guy named "grandpa Jiddy" and we stopped and helped him put some things in is truck and he was like "Latter day saints huh? Just in time!" So we had a great time helping him out and talking to him. This poor man, last October he had to put his wife in a nursing home because she lost a child several years ago and she lost her mind, she went psychotic is what he said and he had to put her in a home because she became dangerous and unsafe to live by herself and he couldn't take the stress and the pressure of taking care of her. We shared about the plan of salvation and this man just started crying his eyes out. Holy smokes the spirit was way strong with him, he doesn't want to learn anymore, but he thanked us and he will be looking forward to the day he and his wife will be together again. Amazing. After that we had a great lesson with Vinnie and shared with him the refiners fire video and we got his testimony on trials and we also where able to talk about other things to perk his spirits up. After that we spent the rest of the night with the sisters at brother Gogans. It's always a party there haha. We all get along great, we all want what's best for the ward. It's really gonna be hard seeing the sisters leave. I consider them close friends.. Darn.. They have been awesome to serve with! But we still got 4 days! No crying yet!!


Friday   Today has been pretty simple. We where inside the majority of the day planning and we went to Vinnie's again and talked about temples and the role of them and he's in such better spirits. He gave me a model building kit of a Lamborghini Diablo, love him! I know what I will be doing for p-days!! Haha. After that we went to the church to help out with the blood drive and were able to meet and watch people donate and talk to them a little bit about their life. It was way cool! Brother Hafen forgot to feed us haha so he ordered pizza for us and afterwards, we just talked and planned the rest of the night. Good day


Saturday - So transfer calls are coming tonight or tomorrow night.. The 2 days before calls are super distracting and super hyped up. I can't hardly think and it's just a crazy crazy wait haha. So we will see what happens! Where am I going!? Haha anywho, we had a great lesson with Bora! We are reading the restoration pamphlet with him and we are getting his views. He loves the concept of eternal families and it even peaks his interest. He's doing awesome haha he will invite his girlfriend when she returns from Russia in November. After that brother Gogan came with us and we stopped by a few peoples houses but no one answered. Sad, I hate it when that happens, but that's missionary work. We planned and studied some more and we had a dinner with the Verrills but sadly their kids are sick so they got us pizza just like bother Hafen did last night haha but that's okay!


Transfer calls happened!!! I am being transferred to Exeter with Elder Peterson!!! boy this is funny haha we will be hanging out for the next 6 weeks! I'm excited because I will still be in the Exeter stake and even in the same district. I am just moving one area down haha so no biggie! My new address is

156 front street Exeter New Hampshire apt 402 03833


Sunday - Happy Easter everyone!! Today was a great but also, emotional day today. We sang in the choir "That Easter Morn'" which was amazing. Loved it, also, the ward members where very sad that I was being transferred. A couple members really loved having me their, the ward is so loving and so kind to everyone. Portsmouth will be with me forever, I have never felt so close to home than when I was doing work in Portsmouth. I'm really going to miss them.. After some goodbyes we went to Larry's house and talked to him about some stuff, and to make it fun, I was cracking jokes with him. haha He asked if I knew some famous athletes like Michael Jordan and babe Ruth and Kobe Bryant and for giggles, I said no, and he lost it! haha He was dying laughing and he gave me a look that said "are you freaking kidding me!?" Haha that went on about 20 min and when it was done he looks at me and says "read a book or something.. Sheesh" haha funny stuff! Really loved it haha Elder Young was snoozing and Larry, mid sentence was like "do you get any sleep anymore?" And we said its been a crazy few days and he looks at me and says "bull.. I suffer from OMD" I looked at him and said "what's that!?" He lost it.. Laughing his butt off for about 5 min then said "It's old mans disease!!" Haha After that, we went to the Regans and had a great dinner and they made us Lamb!! Wow that was way good!! It was the last visit with them before I left. Sister Reagan was crying. Boy that was powerful. After that, we went to the Hafens, where, all of their kids where crying when brother Hafen had to tell them I was leaving.. So cute but my heart broke.. It does with the kids, but I will see them again at stake conference in 2 weeks! But after that, I don't know when the next time I see them will be. But I love them all to death.


This week, this area, these last 2 transfers in Portsmouth New Hampshire, I have learned the true meaning of love, service and hard work. When I got here in Portsmouth, love was missing. It was gone, people seemed as if there was no hope for anything. As time went on, I started doubting myself and thinking "how can I help adults, how can I help them come closer to Christ and enjoy missionaries again?" After long hours of studying, pondering and observing I realized that what they needed is love. A friend, and someone to call for help. So that's what I did, I gave up on what I was thinking, because it never was about me, And I focused on serving the members. Brother Allen has been gone for the past several weeks in training for the Air Force.  It snowed about 3 times while he was gone. We went and shoveled sister Allens driveway, even when we didn't feel good, we still did it. It felt like nothing, for us at that moment, it was nothing, but today, brother Allen expressed that he was very grateful for it because he was worrying so much about the snow and his family in the winter and knowing that we regularly checked up on her made him stay focused and he knew without a doubt that they would be safe. How powerful is that, I almost broke into tears... My effort and my hard work was not wasted. I tried as hard as I possibly could some days, other days I could have done better, but the lord saw that and he helped us the rest of the way with the Portsmouth ward. Now they have a new light, a new spirit and new goals and I can firmly say, I have no regrets and both elders and sisters worked very hard. We will all miss them as the ward now gets white washed.(all current elders and sisters leave and new ones brought in) New slate, new beginnings.


A courageous act of love is from our Savior Jesus Christ. He bled from every pore for our sins, everyone's. Every mistake we will make in our future and forever, he died for. He gave his life, something that is so precious and so delicate and something that is a privilege to have, he gave that up for us. He also rose from the dead, he gave us this chance to see our loved ones again, to be comforted in times of need, to communicate with him, to show us that his sacrifice was for us and is always there for us. I want to be the best I can and live with God again because the gifts, blessings and the eternal goal of happiness, is mine for the taking and if I follow those simple tasks he asked me, I will see God and Jesus Christ. I can thank Him for His sacrifice and I can live with them again like I once did before I was born.


These last 12 weeks have changed me so much, I now move on to Exeter New Hampshire, I'm close, but far from Portsmouth. I have new goals, new challenges, new blessings and new opportunities for being a servant of God. Although I'm upset for leaving, I'm excited, I'm ready and I will go as hard as I can to make this a wonderful experience!!

I invite all of you who are reading my blog and are not a member of my faith, to try it out. Dig in it, find out why I'm changing so much, why we believe the things we do, find out for yourself the secrets in the Book of Mormon and I promise you. You will feel something that you will thirst for again and again, you will start to see the world differently, you will notice your life will improve and you will be around people who will become family, best friends and you will have an even stronger relationship with a Heavenly Father that truly knows you, knows you by name, your interests, weaknesses and wants nothing less than your full potential and more. I promise you will not regret it.

Thank you everyone for your prayers, your support and gifts you send me. There's no way I could do this without any of you, your effort isn't wasted by me or the lord. I pray that blessings will pour upon all of you and I also pray that this Easter holiday, you can feel the absolute pure love of Christ as I have today.



I leave my humble, loving testimony to you all in the sacred name of our courageous, beloved, selfless Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen




Elder Vogel

Elder Peterson, Matt's companion is getting transferred. Matt really loves him and will miss him.

Elder Peterson and Elder Vogel

March 14th - 21st

Monday - Same as last week, we enjoyed our p day and we went to FHE (Family Home Evening). Not much more than that haha

Tuesday - We went and saw Melissa B. and went with Vinnie and shared a message that my brother told me about, it's called forgiveness, it was an awesome video and got her to cry.. BONUS! Means the spirit was working hard. That was about it. Dinner got canceled and everyone else fell through, oh well that's life of a missionary.

Wednesday - We had zone conference all day in Exeter. I loved seeing elders from my last area! I saw Elders Wattenburger, Iverson, Pace, Pemberton, Bonosconi, Lane, Miller, Williams and Johnson!! So awesome, loved seeing how much they love their mission and how much we all have changed. The talks where amazing, the lessons shared where inspired and I really felt the spirit work hard when Pres. Stoker was talking about the new mission president, president Blair. Can't wait to meet them and have the chance to serve with them, but we will miss the whole office staff and the Stokers dearly. We had a "Man Talk" with all the Elders and men who were there, it's classified so I won't share it, haha, but afterwards we had a lunch and Elder Pace and Pemberton and I all hung out and laughed at each other and caught up with Elders Wattenburger and Iverson. After that we went to our own zone meeting and heard wonderful talks prepared by Sisters Pankratz and Evans about the ward and members. After that Elders Johnson and Young shared about the spirit. After that Elders Pace and Pemberton (assistants to president) gave us a training on hope to make effective lesson plans for people and ourselves. Awesome. After zone conference, the drive home with the sisters was awesome, sure gonna miss them haha, we talked about zone conference, how trunky they are about going home and what we learned on our missions haha, then we drove to Lee, just outside of Durham New Hampshire for our dinner appointment. I love Durham! It's so thick and dense full of trees and forest! If I where to live in New England, I'd live in Durham. Horses, fields, trees, space, everything you could imagine accept mountains... I kinda want those haha but we had a great dinner with the Johnson's then we called it a day. Busy busy busy.

Thursday - Today we had the whole day booked!! It felt awesome!! Didn't need to do a lot of planning today or anything!!! But suddenly!!!!!! One by one they each canceled...... WOW!! Heart broken! We only where able to see Vinnie for bout 45 min then go all the way to Durham for the broadbents dinner, where, their 3 year old daughter Briar was shirtless and climbing all over everyone and everything haha she's a cute, funny and super energetic girl!! After that, we went to the Gogans with the sisters and had a great close to our night! So, our day was mostly planning and street contacting.. Or trying to haha




Friday - During planning session today, we heard a knock on our door and what we beheld was awesome!!! We where tracted into by JW'S !! (Jehovah witnesses) there wasn't much talking, when we opened the door with a Book of Mormon in our hands, they just stopped, looked at us, we kinda smiled and gave them each a Book of Mormon, winked at them, smiled and told them to have a lovely day! Hahahah!!! Good grief that was awesome!! After that we went and saw Shelly and shared with her the Easter video and she loved it!! After that, we went home the rest of the day looking for Elder Peterson's crown for his tooth!!! Haha silly goose. It fell out and he thought he threw it away so we went dumpster diving to find it.. Still haven't found it, poor guy. After that we went to Derry for exchange and I'm with Elder Reed! He's on the more timid side, so we will see what happens! He's a cool elder, love him.




Saturday - Exchange was a lot of fun! We went and shared the Easter message with a family and then we went and sanded a desk! That was fun because I got to use my carpenter skills from my dad! Haha afterwards, we went to Applebee's and that was way good!! Loved it! We where in P-Day clothes too because we where dirty!! Haha it was great!! After that, we went to the Brown family and shared the video and they loved it! Brother Brown plays guitar so next time I'm in Derry, we're gonna jam! Later we stopped by Keith, he was asleep so we didn't bother him for to long. Next we went to a couple other families and no luck there. For dinner, us missionaries went to the Derry Ward lasagna bake off! It was way good! So many awesome people there, so many stories and different cultures, way cool. The Simpsons where there (Senior Couple) and it was way awesome to see them and talk to Elder Simpson a little bit and also sister Simpson about how to take care of myself haha she's awesome! Then we headed back to Portsmouth for the night, a long and exhausting day but it was well worth it.




Sunday - We got a foot of snow... BUT!! President and Sister Stoker spoke in church about member missionary work! It was way awesome! I loved hearing their thoughts of the work, their stories and how the members can better themselves. It was truly inspiring. Second hour we had a meeting, Bro Gogan, us Elders and Sisters and the Stokers, and Brother Gogan expressed that us 4 missionaries in just 6 weeks has brought a new light in the Portsmouth Ward. He expressed that the missionary work wasn't great when he was first called to be ward mission leader and he said trust was long gone. He says that us 4 have made huge impacts on the members, they love us, they trust us and they are willing to try and get out of their comfort zones. He never thought it would happen this fast or effective. Amazing, I never thought I'd have such a huge impact on people, especially people I don't know very well. The trick is to love them, love them so much as if they where your own family. Once we do that, everything else falls into place. Never lose the love for yourself and put trust and faith in Christ and His Atonement. Third hour, the adults of the ward where all gathered to hear a more in depth discussion about missionary work from President Stoker, he also got the ward to commit to share the new Easter video on Facebook and role play inviting someone to church! A ton of feedback!! Wow!! Brother Reagan, I role played with him, expressed that it was difficult because he didn't want rejection and I was able to explain how that's not a Godly thought. Even though we want to and we desire it, something gets in the way and we are fearful of a "no" and potentially losing a friend when actually, a simple "will you come to church with me?" Can have everlasting affects and still keep friends, if they go crazy about it, they are not your friends. It was awesome, after church we went into choir and listened to people talk about the Stokers, they are thinking of people to invite, it's gonna go great!! We went and saw Larry B. and read a verse out of the scriptures and talked about it and he shared a couple cool thoughts and tested my geography... I failed and he said "you need to go back to school or read a book" haha I don't need much of that in my mission because what I'm doing is so simple, but obviously I will go back to school when I get home and hopefully I will develop habits out here that will help me for school, such a study habits haha. After that we came back home and studied and had dinner.  I have personally made it a goal to go through the addiction recover booklet because I was told by my trainer "don't teach, commit or even bring something up if you don't do it yourself" so that's what I'm doing. I'm going through it honestly, heartfelt and I will share it with people who need it.

Step 1 was honesty. To admit that you, of yourself, are powerless to overcome your addiction and that your life has become unmanageable.

Even though I don't have an "addiction", I am relating it to not being very obedient and not being the missionary I want to be. Already, it's getting intense, so much honesty and self reflecting that I already want to hardcore repent! I have 11 steps to go and hopefully by the end of it, I will be exactly obedient and start growing even more as a missionary and as a individual.


This week I have felt God's love for me closer than I have recently on my mission. I thought back and was like "I'm a missionary, shouldn't He always be with me ?" But He's not if I don't let Him. The littlest disobedience, the spirit is gone from me and I can't do anything about it. Once I'm disobedient, I'm no longer a missionary and that's not what I want. I want to be worthy to wear my tag and to learn and grow and help others along the way through my example. If I want to change, I have to do something about it. If I want a faith promoting experience, I have to go do something that requires faith, honesty and full heartedly otherwise, it's not going to come. I wanted to know if the Book of Mormon was for sure true, so on my mission, I read it in a month, prayed and now I kick myself for not doing it sooner because I know it's true!! I know that I have been specifically called to New England for something, for someone, for something that will change who I am and something that will be with me for eternity. Something that will prepare me for my career, my wife, my family, everything. I haven't found it and I won't know what it is until I'm on the plane flying home and "thanking God in the most sincere prayer I've ever prayed" (Nashville tribute band - hardest thing I've ever loved to do) and when that time comes, I will know without a shadow of a doubt that I have completed what God wanted me to do. I've still got a long way before that day, but it's rapidly coming close and I have to make each day something I won't ever forget, a day that when I go to bed I can say I did my best and wake up saying I've got to try harder. That's when progress and faith are out to the test, that's when you have a faith promoting experience.




Story time, as I was looking at my friends mission area in Europe (France), I came across England and recognized almost every single city there.. New England is almost a complete mirror of England and a lot of parts in France like Montpellier and Lafayette, pretty awesome!!.. I realize some of you are thinking "You kidding me? This kid's stupid, how did he not know that?" But I will assume you all didn't know and that I just made your day haha but it was pretty cool to see that.
As a missionary you tend to ponder your past from time to time, what home was like, what you could have done differently, the person you use to be, and honestly, it's scary where I was before. I don't recognize myself anymore, this gospel has definitely changed my life. Because I have engulfed myself in something that I believe it's true, it's changed how I act, talk, think and how I want my future to go. It's with anything in life, if you like playing the guitar a lot, you will change your lifestyle to it, if you like horses, same thing. I'm so happy I made the choice to serve a mission, even though it's driving some people who I thought where friends away from my life, even if I felt I made the biggest sacrifice in the world, which I didn't, the one thing I know without a doubt is that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. Because of Him, I have eternal goals, life goals, excitement for what lies ahead and no shame, hurt, guilt, confusion or wonder. I know my purpose in life. The Easter video talks about seeing your loved ones again someday. I honestly can't wait for that day, I can't wait to see my grandfather, uncle, cousins, brother Aurich, everyone who sacrificed so much for me and I never even knew. Family history has brought me closer to my Heavenly Father more than it ever has before, words can't even begin to describe how I feel in Portsmouth, it just can't. I try everyday, but I can't describe this feeling from the spirit other than I know this is true and I made the best choice I could have made to this point in my life.


Can't wait for what lies ahead!! Love you all! I hope to hear from you!!

Letters from the ward for Valentines Day

because I asked him for a picture.

chillin' at the church on P-day

Watch the videos to see Matt aka Elder Vogel opening his valentines cards from the ward. He loved them!!

March 7th - 14th

Monday - P- day was nice, quiet and relaxing. We needed it after a busy
week haha. Later that night we went to sister Whitney's for FHE and she
shared about how there is no way someone can say that there isn't a
God. There's so much around us, all this life, beauty and the
universe. That's not natural, someone made that, some being with
incredible power. Amazing. Just let that sink in, truly worth it.

Tuesday - We went to the food pantry and had a celebration because I
guess the last "Original worker" is now retiring from volunteering at
the pantry. She was one of the first when it opened 30 years ago..
She's always done the fruit snacks and one of the ladies was like
"those fruit snacks you started 30 years ago fed a kid, now that kids
married and had kids of their own and you're still feeding them!" Lol
kinda funny. After that we went and saw Vinnie. He wasn't doing so
good so he asked for a blessing. He's already doing much better.
He's such and awesome dude. Then that night we had a dinner at the
Gogans, we talked about scriptures and we talked and learned about the
spiritual part of science!? Which sounds odd, but it's cooler when
you're actually talking to sister Gogan about it haha.

Wednesday - We had a great district meeting that really helped me out
because in my role play I completely goofed!! Haha I was like, oh shoot,
right out of the starting gate, which is okay, just means I have to
study that a little more. After district meeting we went and saw
Robert, who isn't doing much progression but we are still trying.
After that we went to a less actives house named Rowe. This dude
had a sweet looking Stingray! One of the new ones!! But.. He
spoiled it because when we asked if we could talk to him for a second he
slammed the door and locked it... So his car didn't look cool anymore
haha, and when he drove by, he floored it and ironically it sounded
like a Honda hahaha so that was funny. After we saw him we went and
saw sister Allen for a few minutes. She so awesome and her son
Remington is adorable and he's a big goofball! Haha Bro. Allen gets
back this weekend hopefully and we will be over for dinner a couple
times before transfers. After that we went and saw Bora for a few
minutes and set up a time to see him and then we cleaned out our car
because it's was a mess.. but that's okay, we got it cleaned haha then
we where inside for the night because Elder Peterson wasn't feeling
well.

Thursday - What an awesome day!!! We taught Mark!! He's super awesome!
He is building awesome faith and is progressing so much!! After Mark
we saw David S. and that was another awesome lesson. We are
treating him like an investigator because he's stuck on many churches
and we figured, basics again and he will get it. We saw Shelly today
and introduced her to the LDS Family ARP (adiction recovery plan)
which is helping her so so much!! She's building loads of faith and doing great!!
We saw Vinnie and shared a video about the little things that make such a difference
to some people and we don't even know it. We had dinner at the
Franzens and they loved us haha. They loved talking and hanging out.
After, we went to Gogans with the sisters and talked about the progress
of the Portsmouth area. The sisters where on something because sister
Evans started laughing super hard, she started making some odd noises
and sister Pankratz started laughing super hard and in the middle of
her laugh you can pick out the words "I'm gonna PEE!!" Lol Brother
Gogan, Elder Peterson and I lost it, we all died laughing for a solid
15-20 minutes haha sister Pankratz shot up from the couch, jumped over
the table and ran to the bathroom haha all the while, sister Evans,
casually and still laughing super hard, slowly melted away into her
own world.. Those sisters are ready to go home haha they are trying
super hard to stay focused and keep working, which is awesome and
inspiring, but they are ready to leave haha but ya gotta love them!
They are awesome and really keep the work here going. Much better
missionaries than we are haha.

Friday - today was a long day of planing, not a lot of craziness
happened until we went to the Verrils for dinner haha loved it!! Loud,
crazy, awesome and full of love! After that we went to Chris S.
and he gave us Challenge coins from the Coast Gaurd! What an awesome
dude. Elder Peterson and I both carry one, my dad gave me one before I
left and Elder Petersons ex girlfriends dad gave him one, so nice of
Chris to do that for us. That's about all that happened for us today
haha

Saturday -  We had a very filling day! We started our morning
with Robert, we only had a little bit because he got called into work
and we talked about tithing and temples. After that, we spent a couple
hours hunting down less actives! Never had so much fun doing that in
the sunny day haha almost all of them where like (we are on a walk) so
we walked in about a mile radius and purposely crossed paths haha felt
so cool kinda stalking the prey haha after that, we had a lunch with
Vinnie at the Longhorn Steakhouse haha it was awesome! I had a 18 oz
rib-eye, it was way good! The music playing, the decorations made me
feel like I was in a tack store at home. Saddles, pictures of horses,
steer wrestlers, you name it. I loved it! I think a little part of me
is sitting nice and happy in the country life! And I'm perfectly
okay haha. I'll be that country dude with its of land, horses, barn
smell and a lot of horse power ;) haha. After that, we got to withVinnie home
and someone broke into his house so we where greeted by 2 Portsmouth
Police and we had to take statements, how we know him, where we were from
all that fancy fancy stuff. It was kinda intense haha. One was not happy
and the other was kinda having a ball with everything and joking
around and laughing haha funny stuff. After that we went and knocked
on a couple other doors and called it a day.

Sunday - Today in church, it was very awesome to hear the talks and
feel the spirit that was there. I loved Sunday school and priesthood.
Everyone's so open and so helping and we all are so comfortable with
each other. It was great, after church we went to choir and then we
saw Larry. After that we did some studies and went to Brother Jesse
S. for dinner. I love them! They are so funny and so full of
spirit!! We shared the new Easter video which is called Hallelujah!!
It's awesome, I recommend everyone watching it and do family history,
I know that for the short time my mom and I would do it, I learned so
much about my family and where they came from and how much they
sacrificed!! Go see what your family did! You never know!!

Awesome week, such love and such experience gained. Transfers are
coming up! I might stay here in Portsmouth for another 6 weeks! Or I
might move! Never know, but I do know that whatever the lord has
planned, it's where I will grow the most and stretch beyond my
capabilities to help more people down the road, I'm pretty stoked!!
Have a great week!!

Elder Vogel

                                        chillin' on P-Day


teaching or something at distict meeting

 
         lookin cool in my shades


Eliza and Me
 
    a P-1 oh joy!!!


long day ready for a nap

   
  my little collection

Feb 29th - March 6th


Monday - Not a lot happened. We went to Exeter for district P-Day and sister Evans gave us haircuts! She's awesome haha and after, we had a great time at family home evening at sister Whitney's house. After that, we went to bed haha

Tuesday - Today, we went and saw Sister Bock and didn't stay long because she wasn't feeling very good. We stayed home and did a lot of office work because we have a lot to put in our area books and we are running out of time before we get in trouble haha. We went and shared a quick message at the Kings and it went okay. It's been cold so we only stayed out for about 15 min. before we were starting to freeze haha. After we went to the Hafens and had a great dinner with their family!! I love them!! They are so nice to us and they really love having us over!! Eliza (about 3 years old) took a plethora of selfies and I got one of us smiling together haha super cute!

Wednesday - We had district meeting and we had a great time! I gave a training on working with the ward council and we discussed other topics and role played situations that helps us a lot! Later, we came home because we where not feeling to well so we cooked and did some more office work. We stopped by a couple people's houses and no one answered. We also went to Walmart and got some essentials. "The Only Exception" by Paramore came on the speaker radio in the store and we rocked out to that in the store for about 4 minutes haha the simple and little things make missionary work fun!

Thursday - Mark went to the hospital because he wasn't feeling good, so we missed our appointment. Hope everything is okay, I guess strep throat is going around here in Portsmouth. Better be careful haha we later had a great lesson with Shelly and we talked about her smoking and we clarified Georges question which was "Why is it that Joseph Smith went and prayed to a tree and he saw God and Jesus Christ?" Lol and Shelly said "You idiot he prayed in a grove of trees... Not to a tree, what kind of crap are you looking at on the Internet!" Lol that was super funny! After that, we saw Vinnie and talked to him about staying in the lines of temple worthiness and how he can be an example. Later, we went to the Gogans for dinner and a meeting with the sisters.

Friday - Planning day, not a lot happened but we did see Chris and talked about Patriarchal Blessings because he just got his Sunday and he's completely mind blown haha. He shared his experience and what him and the Patriarch talked about after his blessing. RAD STUFF!!!!! Made me want to go read mine and see what else has happened and where to go from here haha.

Saturday - Today has been the craziest day on my mission so far. This morning we where at the baptism of Logan Clark (who's 8 years old) and that was super sweet to see all his family and friends there and it was such a sweet baptism. Right after, was Sister Mary Ritzos funeral. Boy, the spirit was super strong the whole day, but felt differently, never experienced that before. One second we are happy and joyful and the next, we are all mourning over the loss of a dear friend. Sitting in the back of the chapel, brought me right back to when Brother Aurich passed... The feelings were not quite the same because I didn't know sister Ritzo very well, but the feelings were still there. It was awesome hearing about her life and seeing how many people loved her and cared for her. During the talks, I couldn't help but remember the song "Picture Perfect" - (Escape the Fate) and singing the lyrics softly and remembering that she's not gone. She's home, and we can all paint the picture perfect image in our minds when we shut our eyes and eventually, we will see her again. Awesome. After that, we came home because we where just complete exhausted. At the church all day, on our feet all day, it was a lot haha we tried taking a 30 in nap which turned into a 3 hour nap.. Whoops

Sunday - Today is fast Sunday and it has been a wonderful day!! Sister Grey shared her testimony about conquering fear about being a adequate member missionary! That was awesome. Elder Peterson and I joined choir not to long ago and her testimony spoke to me as "You better go to choir and sing boy" in my mom's voice, haha so we went. Brother Franzen and I where goofing off, laughing and having a great time with each other haha. It was almost like my dad was there and messing around in the days my mom directed choir haha. Sister Grey, gosh I love her, was saying funny jokes and harassing all of us haha like "I'm going to separate you two" after she separated me and Elder Peterson haha. Boy that was awesome! Loved it!!
Then we had a dinner with the Narramores and they are such a awesome family!! Love them, love who they are and their Mexican dinner was super good!!!!
This weekend I also had the chance to meet a lot of people from Washington state haha so close to my home, their kids actually went to Rogers High School!! What a small world. I never thought I'd meet people from Washington, let alone the same school district! Haha amazing how the lord works!!

Funny mission moment haha so this is a mild situation, I'm a Seahawks "Bred" out here in New England haha. Being here and saying I'm from Seattle (Because no one knows where Puyallup or Tacoma is) is like Nephi going back to Jerusalem to get the plates from Laban some days. haha You know, being in a place where you don't fit and no one wants you here. haha.
Last month we went on an exchange with the zone leaders in Exeter and I was with Elder Young, who btw is an awesome missionary. Anyway, we went to a part members home (The wife was LDS, husband wasn't) and the patriots game was going on. So we go up to the door and ask if we can share a message and the lady kindly let us in. As always as a missionary you are constantly saying where you are from and she asked me where I was from. I paused and looked at the tv for a sec and the Seahawks where playing the patriots... And they were winning!! Lol and I kinda looked at the game, then back at her and softly said "Seattle". She got all big eyed and looked at her husband, who, out of 100% pure patriots fan, was glaring at me with a look that said "You better get out of here" haha!! So as we locked eyes for what seemed like the longest staring contest in the world, he screamed "JIMMY!!!! get the gun!! I don't want any bird SH** on my floor!!! after that, we hauled it out of there house, in the car and far far away faster than Ken Block in his rally car, haha we where gone!!! dying laughing the whole ride home haha

Daniel Orozco leaves for his mission in Santa Fe Argentina Thursday! What a great soul!! He's so humble and he's going to have a great mission!! He's a champ and I hope one day, when I am home, I can hopefully return for his homecoming! That would be awesome!! But we will see what the lord has planned for that time!


What I learned this week, Death is not the end. If it was, there would be no purpose for life, for marriage, for kids, for anything. We have such a loving Heavenly Father who knows us by name. Knows our interests, dislikes, weaknesses and loves us so much that he wants us to return home with him. Earth is a test and it's our job to listen to the spirit and allow him to guide us in the right direction so we can go home and see our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ. Without him and his loving sacrifice, there would be no plan to follow. Without him "Loosing the bands of death" (Alma 7:12) we couldn't return with them again. we would be completely lost in our sins and mistakes and regret.
How grateful I am that through this gospel, I know I'm being watched over, helped, guided and loved, even when I don't feel anyone is there, this gospel has given me so much comfort. I can't believe that one person's sacrifice 2000+ years ago, could give me so much comfort and joy today. I use to think that my guitars helped me cope with stuff, and they did, but only temporary. It masked the pain, but didn't get rid of it. Without my guitars here on my mission, I've had no other option than to take it to God. No screaming guitars or crazy music here to help mask the pain. As a missionary, you need to be completely rid of it. And that's what the Atonement has done for me, it took all my masked pain away and now I have no pain, no worries, just a smile on my face and moving upward. As the green arrow put it "The island never changed who I was. It scraped away all I wasn't and revealed who I really am." (Arrow Season 1 - Stephen Amel) The mission is scraping away what I'm not, what I tried to be and is now revealing who I really am and who I'm going to become. The finished product will be when I return home November 8th 2017!! Such a short time to be someone completely different!

Portsmouth is something special. From the fierce, Atlantic Ocean coast with supercars, collage girls, bone snapping wind that freezes your face, to the wide open pastures for horses and rednecks, Every member has grown a huge spot in my heart and it will be hard leaving them When that time comes. As a missionary, you see the deep details about the church, you know some stuff about people that teenagers really shouldn't need to know about people, but in a time when they needed each other the most, they really pulled through. They all love and care for one another and I don't know why at this moment, the lord would send me here to Portsmouth New Hampshire, but I can tell it was inspired and I love every single person here. I will definitely visit again after I return home because each week I'm still here, it feels more and more like home.


With much love from Portsmouth New Hampshire


Elder Vogel