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| Matt's entire mission with Elder Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Matthew is the 8th one in on the back row on the right side Pres. and Sister stoker are seated middle right. Sis. Stoker has a white skirt blue top. Elder Rasband is next to Pres. Stoker |
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| So excited to meet an Apostle of God |
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| Elder Palmer- in the same district in the MTC and roomies at the mission home when they first arrived in Manchester |
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| Elder Palmer and Elder Lorhey (he was Matt's MTC companion) and Elder Vogel |
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| A great group waiting to meet Elder Rasband! |
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| Elder Vogel and Elder Pace. Elder Pace was Matt's trainer |
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| With Elder Pace and Elder Millett. they were His first companions in a trio in Bangor Maine |
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| with Elder Millett |
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| goofing around |
May 16-23rd
Monday -Today we hung out with Chase all day! We went to his house and finished e mailing, then we left for a Chinese food buffet. When we got there, we had just missed the buffet by maybe a min. So Chase asked if we could eat from there and they said no so we left, as we where almost in our car, they called us back and fed us for a cheap price haha score! Later, we went to Sports Cuts and Elder Peterson got a slick hair cut. I called him Marty McFly haha. We then went to a comic book store and looked around at some sweet action figures, and Pokemon and all that nerd stuff with Chase and Elder Peterson haha anywho, We played some games and hung out more at his house, then had dinner with his family. After that, we spent about 20 min doing movie quotes haha super funny! That was pretty much our day! It was awesome!
Tuesday - Tuesday we didn't do much due to our lack of sleep last night. We did go to the store to get a few things, but that was it. Today during my dinner hour I realized that I am stupid lazy... Lol.. Also, I'm way to impatient to cook... Just a note to my future wife, somewhere, I will cook.. But, once in a blue moon, if you're not feeling well. or you make me haha other then that, I will gladly gladly eat... I'm just a rock when it comes to cooking, I don't have the attention span to comprehend it haha cuz I'm a guy... Sadly.. Good thing I have a year and a half to keep trying!
Wednesday - today was a prep day to meet Elder Rasband so we watched the missionary broadcast from December or January about teaching repentance and baptizing converts. That took a couple hours to take notes, write insights and to spiritually be lifted. We pretty much planned the rest of the day and made calls, nothing big.
Thursday - We where finally able to get out and go to Zions Camp! Love it! Today we worked with wood! We split and stacked and cut and it was awesome!! The Derry Elders where there! Elder Pace and Vanway where loving it!! We got a very very good work out! We had a great lunch all together also and after words, we went home and showered. After that, we went to Chase's for coordination meeting and we talked about structure and what we expect from each other. It was great, lots was discussed, after that we went home for the night and did some studies. While we where trying to sleep, we thought it would be a great idea to play jokes and giggle... For a long time, I went to the baña (bathroom) and I came back with our reclining chair on top of my bed.... I got him back haha and the rest of the night I was paranoid... I am now scared of the dark.. Again.. I just got use to it now haha and Elder Peterson ruined it... Geez (see picture and video)
Friday - Today we got up bright and early and went to the Johnson's.. To help them move.. There was a lot of stuff and we where the only ones there... Which kinda sucked, we scrubbed floors.. So future wife, if you're taking notes, I scrub floors.. Bathroom.. Floors... Afterwords we went to the food pantry and helped people there for a while. After that we cleaned the car, which was crazy because the vacuum machine at the gas station didn't work, I slammed the machine like a million times and got our money back a few times, which was ghetto.. So after we managed to do that we went back to the apartment to clean it up and get it ready for the elders tonight coming over. Elder Young, Bradley, Braley and Hardman. This is gonna be a party!!! Can't wait!! Hopefully we don't get kicked from out apartment! Hahaha afterwords we went to do a couple things at the church then wait for Chase to bring over the last mattress. (we had Elders from other areas sleeping over in prep of the conference with Elder Rasband)
Saturday - Bright and early at the Concord church building, we got to meet Elder Rasband!!! We got there and we set up for taking a mission picture, which was awesome! We where all ready and getting instruction and out of the car pulls up Elder Rasband and he squeezes right in for a picture! It was awesome! Afterwords, we went into the chapel and sat down and we each, one by one, shook the hands of Elder Rasband, Elder Brag, President and Sister Stoker and we then sat down and started our meeting.
We first started talking with sister Stoker, how our little actions and efforts are not wasted and how we can all keep trying super duper hard and even if we don't see the results, they always come. Always.
Next was President Stoker about Gods love for us. He kept repeating that the gospel is for families. It's for individuals to have happy families and have that love forever and ever. Our job is to unite those families together. Elder Chase, (his grandfather is Elder Rasband of the twelve) and President Stoker bore a emotional testimony on the Savior and Heavenly Father's love when he said he took Elder Chase to the airport to see his grandfather, how much love just radiated from both of them. It was so powerful we all shed a little tears. He then continued to commit us to always look at what God has given us. No matter what it is, he thought of every little detail, and more.
Elder Brag, who is just funny, talked about the word "Literally". He went on to say that we are literally doing the Lords work in Moses 1:39. He went on to say that if we are worthy, we Literally work side by side with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in fulfilling the immortality and eternal life of man. Talk about a WOA!! He then went on to address all of us Elders, to respect the sisters!! Which, I have no problem with haha. He then went to say and bare testimony of how important sisters are in doing this work. They carry such a special and unique spirit with them that "Literally" puts elders to shame haha with the spirit we all carry. We commit with people to help them progress to our Heavenly Father. He then gave a lot of encouragement on planting that seed is just as important as baptism. Without the seed, the baptism doesn't matter.
Elder Rasband is probably the funniest guy I've met at the pulpit haha he was laughing and joking and acting like a normal human being. Amazing. He first addressed all of our concerns and feelings with the Stokers leaving and the Blaires coming. He leaned forward and said, piercing over 200 souls and said that we all have enough room for 2 sets of mission presidents. He said that when the Blaires come, and the Stokers leave, we are to love them as much as we do the Stokers. He said to always pray, always look for those chances to serve and love them.
He then addressed 2 simple sentences that the Prophet would have said to us. Before he did that he stood at the pulpit and raised his hand and said that last Saturday he shook hands with the prophet. And we shook his hand, he then with a huge grin on his face said that we all were 1 handshake away from the prophet haha
He then said the first words President Monson would say is "I love you."
He expressed the Prophet's love for us, how much he prays for us, how much he always has missionaries on his mind and ones who are beginning the process of becoming ones.
He then went to the second point "Thank You"
He expressed the Prophet's gratitude to all of us for making that choice to do this work, to bring souls to Christ and to use this amount of faith. He then went to express his love and gratitude for us, which was tear jerking.
He then talked a little bit about his talk "The Devine Call of a Missionary" which is fantastic, if you haven't had a chance to read that on LDS.org, do it. It's short and simple and powerful.
He then answered some questions that we asked him about the talk which was great, he gave awesome answers, but also shut us all down. He said that he was the apostle training area 70s (an area 70 is a general authority that is over a certain area of a country) and there was a time where he was training and he asked the newly called area 70 if he read his talk and he replied with yes and Elder Rasband got a huge smile and said well Elder, scoot your chair closer to the screen because you're gonna assign some!!!! Lol He said we all where asking great questions, but he said they where all primary level answers.... Killed... He then gave us a diagram of how we receive our call. He said to think of a funnel. At the top is the prophet, he exercises all priesthood keys. Then about halfway down is the Apostle that assigned you. Then down at the bottom is our mission president.
It's the funnel of authority. It's amazing to see that our mission president holds them, but it nearer as much as we all thought, but it's truly amazing. At the end of the funnel, where it's all coming out is us. We have all been called 3 different times to the place where we are at. We have been prayed and sent here by revelation. It's crazy.
He then again, leaned over the pulpit into our eyes and said "Stop Whining Elders and Sisters"
I guess some people have been complaining about their comps and areas, he said pretty much to shut up and figure out why we are there. The Lord has sent us there by revelation for a simple reason and we are being to stubborn to find out. So it's our job to find out. He then went to complement us and say that we are a very obedient mission and he was very proud of that. He then gave us pointers and he gave us tips on finding and things he did as a mission president to help find people.
He then gave us a complete talk to do. That we are our 1st convert and if we aren't, then we are to stop what we are doing and to convert.
Then he bore his special witness and humbling testimony of the Savior, which completely brought us to tears. In his testimony, he shared a experience about a missionary he assigned his last transfer to a Spanish branch in Connecticut, he said that all he did was pass out book of Mormons on the street corner and when he gave his testimony at his homecoming, he said his mission was amazing, accept for the Spanish branch of his last transfer. When he said that, Elder Rasband cried for a min. then said, a year later, some missionaries in that Spanish branch got a call from a lady that was going through such a hard time and saw the Book of Mormon and called the number. She and. Her family of 5 got baptized. He hen gave a humble testimony and said he wants to find that elder, grab him by his shoulders and with tears streaming down his face, he wants to hug him tight and share with him, that family that got baptized.
What an amazing and spiritual experience with Elder Rasband. I've never had that chance to meet an Apostle of the Lord, there's so much more he talked about, and the spirit that was there was something else, if I never thought that they where called by God, I do now know without a doubt. There's no way a simple man can become such an inspiration. The thing he taught me is to be myself. Express who I am, which is a son of God and my job is to bring families together forever. I can't even put this all into words it was so awesome.
The rest of the day, we went to the church to transfer stuff on our flash drives and then we went to take a nap because we where exhausted and we ended up sleeping the rest of the night... Oops haha
Sunday - so today was a great day at church. The speakers talked about eternal life, Greta Edwards gave her first talk which was awesome, Sunday school we talked about missionary work and Elders Quorum we talked about goals. It was an awesomely productive Sunday! We came home and ate some lunch, and did some studies. Later, we went to a Eagle Court of honor!! Boy that was way cool!! I think I surprised everyone when they called the eagles nest and I got up and sat in it haha everyone looked and was like "he's an Eagle Scout too!?" Hahaha awesome, didn't think I'd have that privilege on my mission, it was exciting! So got the memories flowing haha all the blood sweat and tears for those citizenship badges haha so much hard work for the project all down to the special event almost 8 years ago.. Dang... I'm old haha anyway, it was a great sabbath today, I felt happy, I was somewhat awake haha and I definitely got what I needed to learn!
This week has been a roller coaster! From Chinese buffets to absolutely no sleep to meeting an apostle to an eagle court of honor! So much fun! I can say without a doubt that Christ lives, he's real, he loves us, he's watching out for us and so are the missionaries (I hope) at least I am for my friends, family and also the Exeter area. I love it in New England and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else!
Love you all and I hope you're week was as eventful as mine! Haha
Con amor deElder Vogel
Tuesday - Tuesday we didn't do much due to our lack of sleep last night. We did go to the store to get a few things, but that was it. Today during my dinner hour I realized that I am stupid lazy... Lol.. Also, I'm way to impatient to cook... Just a note to my future wife, somewhere, I will cook.. But, once in a blue moon, if you're not feeling well. or you make me haha other then that, I will gladly gladly eat... I'm just a rock when it comes to cooking, I don't have the attention span to comprehend it haha cuz I'm a guy... Sadly.. Good thing I have a year and a half to keep trying!
Wednesday - today was a prep day to meet Elder Rasband so we watched the missionary broadcast from December or January about teaching repentance and baptizing converts. That took a couple hours to take notes, write insights and to spiritually be lifted. We pretty much planned the rest of the day and made calls, nothing big.
Thursday - We where finally able to get out and go to Zions Camp! Love it! Today we worked with wood! We split and stacked and cut and it was awesome!! The Derry Elders where there! Elder Pace and Vanway where loving it!! We got a very very good work out! We had a great lunch all together also and after words, we went home and showered. After that, we went to Chase's for coordination meeting and we talked about structure and what we expect from each other. It was great, lots was discussed, after that we went home for the night and did some studies. While we where trying to sleep, we thought it would be a great idea to play jokes and giggle... For a long time, I went to the baña (bathroom) and I came back with our reclining chair on top of my bed.... I got him back haha and the rest of the night I was paranoid... I am now scared of the dark.. Again.. I just got use to it now haha and Elder Peterson ruined it... Geez (see picture and video)
Friday - Today we got up bright and early and went to the Johnson's.. To help them move.. There was a lot of stuff and we where the only ones there... Which kinda sucked, we scrubbed floors.. So future wife, if you're taking notes, I scrub floors.. Bathroom.. Floors... Afterwords we went to the food pantry and helped people there for a while. After that we cleaned the car, which was crazy because the vacuum machine at the gas station didn't work, I slammed the machine like a million times and got our money back a few times, which was ghetto.. So after we managed to do that we went back to the apartment to clean it up and get it ready for the elders tonight coming over. Elder Young, Bradley, Braley and Hardman. This is gonna be a party!!! Can't wait!! Hopefully we don't get kicked from out apartment! Hahaha afterwords we went to do a couple things at the church then wait for Chase to bring over the last mattress. (we had Elders from other areas sleeping over in prep of the conference with Elder Rasband)
Saturday - Bright and early at the Concord church building, we got to meet Elder Rasband!!! We got there and we set up for taking a mission picture, which was awesome! We where all ready and getting instruction and out of the car pulls up Elder Rasband and he squeezes right in for a picture! It was awesome! Afterwords, we went into the chapel and sat down and we each, one by one, shook the hands of Elder Rasband, Elder Brag, President and Sister Stoker and we then sat down and started our meeting.
We first started talking with sister Stoker, how our little actions and efforts are not wasted and how we can all keep trying super duper hard and even if we don't see the results, they always come. Always.
Next was President Stoker about Gods love for us. He kept repeating that the gospel is for families. It's for individuals to have happy families and have that love forever and ever. Our job is to unite those families together. Elder Chase, (his grandfather is Elder Rasband of the twelve) and President Stoker bore a emotional testimony on the Savior and Heavenly Father's love when he said he took Elder Chase to the airport to see his grandfather, how much love just radiated from both of them. It was so powerful we all shed a little tears. He then continued to commit us to always look at what God has given us. No matter what it is, he thought of every little detail, and more.
Elder Brag, who is just funny, talked about the word "Literally". He went on to say that we are literally doing the Lords work in Moses 1:39. He went on to say that if we are worthy, we Literally work side by side with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in fulfilling the immortality and eternal life of man. Talk about a WOA!! He then went on to address all of us Elders, to respect the sisters!! Which, I have no problem with haha. He then went to say and bare testimony of how important sisters are in doing this work. They carry such a special and unique spirit with them that "Literally" puts elders to shame haha with the spirit we all carry. We commit with people to help them progress to our Heavenly Father. He then gave a lot of encouragement on planting that seed is just as important as baptism. Without the seed, the baptism doesn't matter.
Elder Rasband is probably the funniest guy I've met at the pulpit haha he was laughing and joking and acting like a normal human being. Amazing. He first addressed all of our concerns and feelings with the Stokers leaving and the Blaires coming. He leaned forward and said, piercing over 200 souls and said that we all have enough room for 2 sets of mission presidents. He said that when the Blaires come, and the Stokers leave, we are to love them as much as we do the Stokers. He said to always pray, always look for those chances to serve and love them.
He then addressed 2 simple sentences that the Prophet would have said to us. Before he did that he stood at the pulpit and raised his hand and said that last Saturday he shook hands with the prophet. And we shook his hand, he then with a huge grin on his face said that we all were 1 handshake away from the prophet haha
He then said the first words President Monson would say is "I love you."
He expressed the Prophet's love for us, how much he prays for us, how much he always has missionaries on his mind and ones who are beginning the process of becoming ones.
He then went to the second point "Thank You"
He expressed the Prophet's gratitude to all of us for making that choice to do this work, to bring souls to Christ and to use this amount of faith. He then went to express his love and gratitude for us, which was tear jerking.
He then talked a little bit about his talk "The Devine Call of a Missionary" which is fantastic, if you haven't had a chance to read that on LDS.org, do it. It's short and simple and powerful.
He then answered some questions that we asked him about the talk which was great, he gave awesome answers, but also shut us all down. He said that he was the apostle training area 70s (an area 70 is a general authority that is over a certain area of a country) and there was a time where he was training and he asked the newly called area 70 if he read his talk and he replied with yes and Elder Rasband got a huge smile and said well Elder, scoot your chair closer to the screen because you're gonna assign some!!!! Lol He said we all where asking great questions, but he said they where all primary level answers.... Killed... He then gave us a diagram of how we receive our call. He said to think of a funnel. At the top is the prophet, he exercises all priesthood keys. Then about halfway down is the Apostle that assigned you. Then down at the bottom is our mission president.
It's the funnel of authority. It's amazing to see that our mission president holds them, but it nearer as much as we all thought, but it's truly amazing. At the end of the funnel, where it's all coming out is us. We have all been called 3 different times to the place where we are at. We have been prayed and sent here by revelation. It's crazy.
He then again, leaned over the pulpit into our eyes and said "Stop Whining Elders and Sisters"
I guess some people have been complaining about their comps and areas, he said pretty much to shut up and figure out why we are there. The Lord has sent us there by revelation for a simple reason and we are being to stubborn to find out. So it's our job to find out. He then went to complement us and say that we are a very obedient mission and he was very proud of that. He then gave us pointers and he gave us tips on finding and things he did as a mission president to help find people.
He then gave us a complete talk to do. That we are our 1st convert and if we aren't, then we are to stop what we are doing and to convert.
Then he bore his special witness and humbling testimony of the Savior, which completely brought us to tears. In his testimony, he shared a experience about a missionary he assigned his last transfer to a Spanish branch in Connecticut, he said that all he did was pass out book of Mormons on the street corner and when he gave his testimony at his homecoming, he said his mission was amazing, accept for the Spanish branch of his last transfer. When he said that, Elder Rasband cried for a min. then said, a year later, some missionaries in that Spanish branch got a call from a lady that was going through such a hard time and saw the Book of Mormon and called the number. She and. Her family of 5 got baptized. He hen gave a humble testimony and said he wants to find that elder, grab him by his shoulders and with tears streaming down his face, he wants to hug him tight and share with him, that family that got baptized.
What an amazing and spiritual experience with Elder Rasband. I've never had that chance to meet an Apostle of the Lord, there's so much more he talked about, and the spirit that was there was something else, if I never thought that they where called by God, I do now know without a doubt. There's no way a simple man can become such an inspiration. The thing he taught me is to be myself. Express who I am, which is a son of God and my job is to bring families together forever. I can't even put this all into words it was so awesome.
The rest of the day, we went to the church to transfer stuff on our flash drives and then we went to take a nap because we where exhausted and we ended up sleeping the rest of the night... Oops haha
Sunday - so today was a great day at church. The speakers talked about eternal life, Greta Edwards gave her first talk which was awesome, Sunday school we talked about missionary work and Elders Quorum we talked about goals. It was an awesomely productive Sunday! We came home and ate some lunch, and did some studies. Later, we went to a Eagle Court of honor!! Boy that was way cool!! I think I surprised everyone when they called the eagles nest and I got up and sat in it haha everyone looked and was like "he's an Eagle Scout too!?" Hahaha awesome, didn't think I'd have that privilege on my mission, it was exciting! So got the memories flowing haha all the blood sweat and tears for those citizenship badges haha so much hard work for the project all down to the special event almost 8 years ago.. Dang... I'm old haha anyway, it was a great sabbath today, I felt happy, I was somewhat awake haha and I definitely got what I needed to learn!
This week has been a roller coaster! From Chinese buffets to absolutely no sleep to meeting an apostle to an eagle court of honor! So much fun! I can say without a doubt that Christ lives, he's real, he loves us, he's watching out for us and so are the missionaries (I hope) at least I am for my friends, family and also the Exeter area. I love it in New England and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else!
Love you all and I hope you're week was as eventful as mine! Haha
Con amor deElder Vogel
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