contemplating sleep

hear no evil- speak no evil- see no evil

Silly missionaries

a great group.

April 25th - May 2nd




Monday - We hung out most of p day and we went shopping. Nothing really crazy, we where walking around craft stores to find material for ties and we kept getting distracted with other things so we where in there for a good 2 hours in each store haha later we went to the Soucys. When we got there, sister Gish, Gage Gish, and the Idells where all there! It was an absolute party! I loved it!! Later, the Derry Elders were stopping by to give me my bag and President Soucy saw them and invited them in for dinner, they came in and stayed for a little bit and then left so they could get to Portsmouth! Awesome!! So much love, so much energy, and as always, a very spiritual message at a fabulous family home evening. I loved sharing stories, I loved bringing the spirit and being able to share how important missionary work is! A fabulous P-Day! Can't wait for the next time we get to see the Soucy's!!

Tuesday - Elder Peterson woke up sick and we didn't do anything all day. We did go to the store and get some things for medicine, and it was raining/hailing. Nothing today really.

Wednesday - We had a pretty good district meeting on using our time wisely. We discussed what we could do better as missionaries and in planning. I role played the restoration with sister Pierce, which was awesome, and after we went home. After we went home we headed to someone's house in Hampton and the whole car ride there, Elder Peterson wasn't feeling much better so after that house, we camped out at home for the rest of the night.


Thursday - Today we decided to finally wax the car haha. We got In some p day clothes and headed to a car wash and got it done, it was pretty fun! Nice and sunny!! Afterwords we came home and did some studies and I was able to set up a Spanish plan and practice a little more and learn some more core stuff, pretty awesome! After that we did some cleaning. Later we took a trip to Hampton and Hampton beach to try and find some less actives. We where able to find a few, but not very positive effects, bummer. Later we came home and got ready for volleyball!! But unfortunately, there was none due to spring break this week. Oh well, we came home and I had some breakfast burritos and studied a little more Spanish and tried memorizing some missionary terms and scriptures. That's about all we did today. Elder Peterson still isn't feeling 100* temp yet, so we are choosing our battles carefully before he kills over haha hopefully that won't be the case!


Friday - We went and helped out at the food pantry and the owner of the place gave us a ton of food... Holy smokes haha later we went to help someone move, who didn't really have anything ready to go. Only like 3 boxes and a bunch of loose stuff everywhere so we kinda cleaned and then moved haha. They took us to dinner at New England Pizza, which wasn't to bad. That was about our day, we stayed home because our throats are killing us. Mine hurts so bad, we may be coming down with something fierce.... Oh boy, anywho I was able to study a lot of Spanish in my free time while Elder Peterson was coughing out his life haha keep us in your prayers!


Saturday - First thing in the morning we went to help a ward member move, which was awesome, fun, everything was packed and it went awesome! I got to call Manchester and Bedford to coordinate the move with them and get people to help, whole 9 yards! Afterwords we went to help another person move, who didn't really have anything packed... So it took really long and unfortunately, Elder Peterson and I left in the middle because our service hours where up. We then went to walmart and then stayed home the rest of the day and planned and did studies. I was practicing some street contacting approaches in English and Spanish and I realized that I'm jumping the gun so I went to the basics again haha I thought I knew them all, but I guess not because I'm learning the vosotros form of the Spanish verbs, which I wasn't taught in high school because "you'll never use it" but el libro de mormón is full of them! So back to square 1 to get that under my belt.. Pray for me!


Sunday - Today we had a great day!! We had fast and testimony meeting again today and it was amazing! I felt the spirit so strongly and I loved it. 2nd hour, we sat in and talked about repentance and it was also a great lesson! 3rd hour we had a great discussion on how we can strengthen our priesthood power. Pretty awesome, I loved that, Brother Sargent had great input, great testimony and great inspiration. After church we talked with a couple ward members and then we had coordination meeting with brother Larsen. Awesome, it was only supposed to take about 20 min, but we stayed for about 2 hours, he tested me on cars haha he asked what I like, who I like, cars I've driven and we told stores about different things back home haha it was awesome. After that we went to sister Scott-Halls with Brother Ward and shared a great lesson about choices, after that we went to the Wolcots. I love them! They are awesome, super funny and we all talked for about 2.5 hours haha we told stories, made jokes, reflected on school and then shared a great spiritual message with them. We had an amazing pasta dinner also. They have an exchange student from Ukraine for the next few weeks and she was telling us about Easter traditions there and different things there and how it differs. Way cool! Later, we came home and did studies, pretty fun filled day!!


This week, a scripture came to my mind. Alma 36:3 "... For I do know, that whosoever shall put there trust in God shall be supported in their trials and their troubles, and their afflictions and shall be lifted up at the last day"

His words are my testimony. I can look back on my life and see how much support not only me, but my family has also had. I can't not believe someone is helping me along the way. I know that God loves us all, I know he gave his life and suffered. I know he came to Joseph smith in 1820.

As I was reflecting I was talking to President Stoker and he asked "Elder, when you where home, if Joseph Smith came to you and said he saw God, and Jesus Christ, and he wants you to join his church, would you believe him ?"

My reply was no.. A regretful no.

His reply "you have grown and changed, there's no doubt about that Elder Vogel. My challenge to you for your mission. Get to that point where you would say yes without hesitation."

That's my challenge to all of you, if you don't know for sure, if you don't know at all, get to that point and find out for yourself. If you are a LDS member, if you can't say that you would believe and follow Joseph right after he said that to you, get to it. It's hard yes, is it worth it? Absolutely. I don't regret leaving and coming to New England, not one second. I love the people, I love the area, I love everything.

This is my testimony.



Con amor deElder Vogel