August 22nd - August 29th

Sorry it's so late, missionaries are bad at tracking time.... I don't have long to e mail this week.

Monday - we had exchanges with Ascutney! I was with elder Lawrence. We walked, he talked, I talked to people, he talked more and we went to bed

Tuesday - Elder Lawrence and I went to Newbury and taught the Brigham's. Brother Brigham is done with his eye surgery and he is doing great! Later we went and tried to see Kent, but unfortunately... I slid the car and popped a tire... Oops! So we went to the VIP in Woodsville and got it fixed in about an hour and we hit the road again. We walked in Bradford and talked to some members and we where hunted down by a less active. We taught her, as much as we could, about the role of missionary work. Then later, we headed to the Knowltens and helped them move. We then ate dinner, then continued to help them move. They are a funny family! When I talk to Bro. Knowlten, it's like I'm talking to my dad, he's funny, he's sarcastic and quick on his feet haha we had a couple really good laughs. That really ended our day.

Wednesday - We had district meeting then we went and did some service at the haven where elder Espinoza and I where speaking Spanish and everyone's was getting upset because they can't understand us haha kinda funny. Then after we went and had a dinner with the Kings and Shannon where we taught the plan of salvation in Spanish (with Shannon not understanding a thing) haha but it was fun! We all laughed and had a amazing dinner.

Thursday - We went to try and find some new potentials and talk to old ones. We then had no luck so we went up to Thetford to see bishop. While we where going there, we where driving on a dirt road, under the speed limit, and we turned the car to hard, losing traction and slamming into a tree (Elder Espinoza was driving) so after we saw the very, minimal, but over 5300$ worth of damage, we had to go into Bradford to get an estimate, but they referred us to the one in white river junction, a 40min drive. So we went and got the total and then we had to park the car and walk. Unfortunately, everything else fell through and we felt bummed so we went inside and did studies and went to bed.


Friday - We got up and we went to the church to fill out and incident report for the church, so we did and at the end of it went back and had lunch and weekly planned. After that we went and tried to stop by Dakota who wasn't home and we stayed inside the rest of the night due to studies.

Saturday - we got up and went to help the Thomsons move, I love them! They are still gonna have us over for dinner even though they are in the other ward.. Lol, we then had studies and went to sister kennisons for a ice cream... Social... Thing ? Haha after that we went to the Foggs to teach Christian and it went very well! They gave us home made syrup, which is bomb, and pickles with onions, and I've never had better pickles. They are so good! We both were not a fan, but we ate the whole jar they gave us! Wow! Fresh cucumbers and everything. Amazing! After we went and talked to the brickles, a new family and we talked to Diana their daughter, who was smoking, we had a discussion about church. After, we went and taught the Browns, I love the Browns! They are doing awesome! Ashley came over and we talked with her a bit then it got late so we left, but I felt the spirit and I really loved being there.

Sunday - church was... Intense, really loud, messages where good for as much as you heard. Some people didn't have a good weekend and it showed, but that's okay. I enjoyed hanging out with the Dartmouth Football players haha pretty cool! We met a nice girl, her name is Rachel and she is a returned missionary of maybe 4 months ago. She is all for coming and teaching with us! Pretty cool! After we went and had lunch and studied, we then had a interesting meeting with a lady named Joan who I'm pretty sure is possessed, but that's okay, we prayed with her and had a good time. Later, we went and contacted Takeeta's husband who is not a member and is interested in the gospel because her parents just got sealed! After that we went to her parents house! Hermano y hermana Ramírez! They both are from Mexico and for some odd reason, I got so scared to talk to him!! Idk what it was, I forgot words and I choked and awe man it was bad! They are very helpful and really helped me be able to express what I wanted to say haha. we have an appointment with them next Sunday. They are the funniest people! They got sealed and hermana Ramírez was like "as of Friday you're stuck with me forever!!!" Hermano Ramírez portrayed the look of "oh snap" hahah! So funny!! But afterwords, my head hurt so so bad! But that's okay, it comes with learning!



Con mucho amor deElder Vogel

Elder Vogel and Elder Espinoza and Logan at his baptism

August 15th - 22nd

Hola mis amigos y mi familia!

Monday - We didn't do anything really fun for P-Day just kinda sat around sadly, but after we had a dinner with the Kings and got haircuts. They took a very long time!! But it all worked out and I like my cut! I can now style it and look a little more appealing when I see people haha


Tuesday - We went up north and saw the Brigham's, they are doing great! I missed them! Hermano Brigham had completed LASIK Eye Surgery and can now see and he was at church with a brand new suit and also received his patriarchal Blessing! How exciting!! After we went and tried to see Kent, but no luck.  We then went to see the Houge family and we came across a lady named Jessica who was very nice and stopped and talked to us. She was very open to us and accepted a pamphlet about the plan of salvation and we hope to hear from her soon! We then went out to try and find some Spanish speakers over by sister Balch, but they got booted and no longer live there sadly, so we visited with sister Balch and helped her out with her new phone after we went to the Mohns and shared a short lesson and then had dinner.


Wednesday - We had district meeting then we went to Laconia for exchanges. I was with Elder Summers. Elder Summers is from Auburn Washington and I played him in water polo! He graduated from Auburn Riverside High School! My junior year was the year I played him! How awesome! We talked about that for pretty much the whole transfer, right after our prayers together we were walking outside and a guy was walking past, no big deal, then a cop car came flying down our little street, lady cop (freaking crazy) jumped out with her taser and screamed "Hector get on the ground!!!" While we where minding our own business, we looked over and Hector was getting on the ground and she straight shoots him with her taser... Then no more then 10 mi later, it seems like the whole city of laconias police department is on the is guy.. Little overkill if you ask me, but oh well. With like 4 dogs and about 12 cops total for one old man named Hector. Elder Summers and I where in shock haha, but we went and saw some people. We talked to a guy named Bill (wasn't his name) and we think he was stoned because he kept talking about magic and other random topics, Elder Summers and I started speaking Spanish to him and all he said was (he guys, I don't speak Vietnamese aight, my cat throw up and imma dig a pit for my cattle) funniest thing ever, then he starts flexing his muscles and says "the medicine the doctors gave me made my muscles grow twice as big" crazy people haha We went and talked to a couple investigators and had a blast doing it. Language study, we all talked in Spanish accept for Elder Jensen haha but that's okay.



Thursday - Elder Summers and I went to try and find people the whole day, I played the guitar for a kid named Chris. I CANT PLAY THE GUITAR ANYMORE!!!!! I've been out of sync for so long that I can't even play the songs I use to. I can still play stairway to heaven (mom) and it's not even near as smooth as when I left. I can't play any other songs I use to when I was home. I cried with Elder Summers.. I was pretty upset, but oh well. Elder Summers said, "When you get home,  say hi. to the family and satisfy their needs, then  go straight to your guitars". I miss my baby's!! Anyway, we also tried stopping by other people that just gave us some lip and acted like we where the police and where really rude haha. One lady was at the door and we told her who we were and what we wanted to share and she looks at us and goes "wtf is wrong with you? Why would you leave your family for religion? That's absolutely stupid.." We couldn't help but just laugh super hard because the funniest thing was, I think she really meant it haha and we know why we are here and the sacrifice it is, but we just started laughing all the way back to our car and to the net appointment and made a joke out of it haha people are funny. We then went back to Hanover



Friday - After weekly planning we went and helped out the Lebanon Elders. one of the Elders had a ingrown toenail that just got taken out and he had to stay off of it so I stayed with him and did Spanish for about 4 hours. It was cool to watch movies and write and really get some good studying in. I really surprised at how much I've learned already. I watched the family for Costa Rica in meet the Mormons and the one where he leaves for his mission along with several Mormon messages and I read some Book of Mormon and wrote testimonies and give myself a huge headache. Worth it. Afterword we went and had dinner.


Saturday - we had Logan's baptism!! It was so awesome!!! Loved it!! After our studies we went to a ward party on treasure island at lake Fairlee Vermont where we talked to a lot of ward members, had some great food and had a great time.

Spiritual miracle

We, at the party, went and talked to Hermana Jayne. Hermana Jayne is from Brazil, she speaks Portuguese. That language is different, but not so different that we couldn't communicate. We started a small talk to get to know her and then it went deeper and deeper until she started really explaining something sad to us in Portuguese, I understood her explain to us that her English isn't very good and she has a very hard time responding to people. In church, she listens and she is able to get a lot of It but when people come to her and say hi, she has the hardest time because she just doesn't speak English. She wants so badly to have friends but she's at this point given up.

The miracle was that we both 100% understood and both bared strong, fluent testimonies to her in Spanish explaining that Jesus Christ is always there for us, understands and will continue to help her. She understood and we all left with tears in our eyes and a new friend. It's a miracle because I don't speak Portuguese, or Spanish fluently. When Elder Espinoza and I got back in the car he looks at me and asked where I learned the words and where my testimony came from. I, for now, can't repeat what I said. I have no idea what I said. True testimony about the Holy Ghost right there. Amazing.

That sums up Saturday.

Sunday - Church was kinda wild. Second hour we taught about the scriptures and I third hour we talked about marriage... After church we went to the Kings and I taught my first restoration lesson in Spanish! It went good, the Spanish I spoke I was more comfortable and where I knew I was at, although, I still pushed myself and was still able to surprise the Kings. My accent is pretty good and all I need to do is work out kinks in grammar and learn more vocab. SWEET!! Onto the next topic! After we went and did studies and went to pick up Justin Call and took him to try and teach Dakota but failed. So we went to the Mohns. We taught Sonya about the Book of Mormon and read with her. Then Will told us to comeback Tuesday because Jodie won't be there and we can have a heart to heart with Will. Awesome.


What a crazy week! Can't believe all that has happened. Only 3 more weeks until I in Lawrence Mass!! I'm super excited! I'm going to continue working hard in Hanover until that time! Hermano Powell told us to tract farms for Spanish speakers. So we will start doing that and also, we had a referral last week about a Fostino Ramierez and we are to go see him and share spiritual messages in Spanish. That will be fun!


Thanks everyone for all you do, thanks for the prayers! Hope to hear from you all!!



Con mucho amor deElder Vogel

 Elder Vogel beating out the concrete for a basement window

 

Elder Espinoza's turn

progress

hot with lots of humidity

poor air conditioner is on overload

August 8 - August 15th 

Monday - we had our usual P=Day and nothing to special. After we had a dinner with the Crossetts and it was pretty cool! We talked about the Olympics and sports and awesomeness! We then had a lesson with the Browns and we talked about patriarchal blessings and it was pretty cool! After we went home for language study. 

Tuesday - we had a lesson with Melissa under the white river bridge and it was alright. We later went to see sister Kennison and share a few thoughts with her. Later, we went finding and tried to stop by people in Hanover. We then had a dinner with the Haehnels and it was a great dinner! They told us about their son out in his mission in Vegas. Awesome. We had a lesson with Sharon afterwords and she was going through a hard time and we helped her with that.  Later, had studies at home. 

Wednesday - We went to the Foggs home. We shared a message and set up a time for their son to be taught. After, we went and tried to find some more people out in the backwoods and no luck. We then went and did service at the haven, and had a great time doing it! So fun! Later we went and had a dinner at the hamiltons, they have an awesome view of the mountains! It was so cool!! After we stopped by the Mohns and then went home. 

Thursday - We had zone conference at the JSM (Joseph Smith Memorial)! Unfortunately we didn't go and see the memorial :( we are gonna in a few weeks for a PDay! But anyway, we talked about finding and the aspect of collecting our tools. It was cool to see the funny and very spiritual side of them. Today,  was my last time seeing elders Millet and Pace. Elder Pace is now home and elder Millett will be in 3 short weeks :( it was emotional, but I'm working hard and I hope to see them again soon! After we had a dinner with the Zimnicks and coordination. 

Friday - We weekly planned and by the afternoon we where at Melissa's again, talking about when to set up a time for her. After that we again went finding and we went to the Kings for dinner and language study. Nothing big. Accept 100 degree weather. 

Saturday - we had a whole day planned but we didn't get any sleep last night because it was so hot. So we face timed president and he gave us marching orders for the day. We taped bags around our air conditioners and we went and did studies at the Kings. Afterwords we went and helped the Williamsons move. Hand of the lord. Because we got no sleep, today was a "sick day" as Presidant says and because we went and helped them move, it went faster and on our way home, the truck stalled out. So because we where there, we walked to the church to call sister king to get us and the whole drive home they said "What if that was sister Williamson and her 2 little kids!?" Blessings. Awesome. We then had a baptism interview in Ascutney and we called it a night after that. 

Sunday - church was alright. Nothing amazing, good talks and good prep. We had a lesson with the Mohns and we brought Justin Call and we all told her about the atonement. Later, we went to see Sharon and confirm our appointment then to the Browns for baptism finals. It was cool! 

My head hurts so bad. I was able to memorize the first vision in 2 hours in Spanish. I got most of it, I missed maybe 1 or 2 words sometimes, but it wasn't easy. I also am cracking in teaching points. It's working good, we are teaching the Kings the first vision in Spanish and we also have 2 Spanish referrals. It's about to get real!  

Thanks for everything! 

Con amor de

Elder Vogel 

Goodbye Elder Timothy

August 1st - August 8th


Monday - We had our lat P-Day as a district. We went to the church and hung out for a bit then played ultimate Frisbee in the rain! It was a load of fun! It was nice to have some rain. We came home and went to the Kings and Elder Timothy said goodbye and called it a night while Elder Timothy packed.


Tuesday - We got up bright and early and went to Ascutney. We where there because the travel plans said to take Elder Gassaway to Manchester with Elder Timothy. After some pictures and teary eyes, elder Lawrence and I started to work to make the time go faster, we sat down and went over lesson plans, which where nothing. So we went to set up appointments with people and then we had lunch and went home. While we where home, I looked over the plans and he had 4 hours of tracting... So I made new plans, had potentials lined up and made calls and we had a lesson with a lady named Jessica, it was a doorstop lesson but we where able to teach about the Book of Mormon and the restoration. After that, we got a call from elder Moon and Espinoza saying that they where here. So we went and met up with them and talked for a while and Elder Espinoza and I hit the road.

He's a cool elder! He's from Bothel Washington! It's so cool cuz we both say we are from Seattle and people are like "WHAT!?!? Not Utah!?!?" It's awesome! Elder Espinoza is a Spanish elder and was specifically sent here to train me in Spanish. He said they want me to proselyte in Spanish by the end of the transfer.... Oh man.. Pressure!!! But I know I can do it!

We have made it a goal to use as much Spanish as we possibly can, comp study, personal is still in English for now, but everything else is in Spanish.

When we got home, he settled in and we went to try and find people. We where unsuccessful until we met Harry.

Harry is an interesting man. He has had missionaries over forever, he had visions about the church and said, "I needed to follow and didn't." So, that kinda gives you a rundown about Harry, but he wasn't very interested, he's also leaving to Iceland for the month. Darn.

After we had dinner and language study and set up goals and things I need to do. My goals are to learn 3 new words, 1 phrase and a scripture in Spanish a week. No biggie, but if I want to drive I have to do the first vision in spanish. Craziness! Called it a day after that.


Wednesday - We had district meeting and.. I can't remember what we talked about haha I think it was the role of the Book of Mormon. Anyway, after we went to the haven and did service there, after that we tried finding people with no luck and we had dinner and language study.


Thursday - We did all of our studies in a couple hours then went finding in Thetford. We where unsuccessful all day.. Oh my goodness. We where able to chat with Peter Sonhalter for a few min, but other then that it was a bust. We had a dinner and Chilies with brother Roderick which was well needed. After that, we went and taught the Browns!! I love the Browns! Sister Brown had her friend over and we talked about the plan of salvation. Amazing lesson! Spirit was so there! Afterwords, we asked her friend Ashley, what she thought and she absolutely loved it! We gave her a Book of Mormon and set up a time to see her again next week with the Browns! So excited! NEW INVESTIGATOR!!!! FIST PUMP!! After that we went home. Completely exhausted.



Friday - We had weekly planning that lasted only about a couple hours. Awesome. We then, went finding in White River Junction and found Melissa. The homeless lady elder Timothy found. We found her under a bridge, classic, and unfortunately she broker her hip.. Like, what the heck!? But anyways, we taught her about the restoration and committed her to start reading the Book of Mormon. Little sketchy teaching a homeless lady under a bridge, idk how long it will last. Anyway, after that we continued to find and we found Craig Sinclair and had a chat with him and set up for Sunday. Then we called it a night.


Saturday - We went finding again! Holy moly. We did some calls we needed to do and we got to finding. We couldn't find anyone, this is ridiculous, we may just need to go up north for Petes sake. Around 3 o'clock we went to the Bettweisers and saw they where doing some home improvements and asked if we could help and they said sure so we ran back home, changed and got to work. The project was that they are moving their son in the basement because he wanted to haha and in order to do that, they needed an escape window. So, they dug 4-5 ft down on the side of the house and cut out the foot and a half section of solid concrete. Our job, after it was cut, was to pound the thing out with a sledge hammer. It was so much fun!!!! We so needed it!! We let that thing have it! It took us about an hour to get it out, but it got out!! And the Bettweisers really appreciated the help. They really needed it, I love them! I can't believe I haven't met them before! After we got cleaned up, we went to the Kings for coordination and dinner and called it a night. We got awesome blisters on our hands haha they hurt!


Sunday - Church was so needed. I loved church, we had fast and testimony meeting and the people's testimonies where great. Dakota and Jen came to church!!! It was a fight tooth and nail to get her there and she would never go and today she popped out of nowhere! AND SHE BORE HER TESTIMONY!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!! Put me in tears, and brother Roderick, who's her home teacher. Amazing. Hand of the lord!! After church we had studies and until we went to see Craig and he wasn't there... Dang. So we continued to go finding and we had a great lesson with Dakota. She very well could be baptized soon, she answered all the questions great and she said she would pray about it. We also saw Sharon! She's awesome, she hasn't read unfortunately but we shared the restoration again and she really love it. It was clicking and she was remembering it. Awesome. After that we pretty much called it a day.


By the end of this week I have improved so much in my Spanish. My prayers and my pronunciation is more fluent and I sound more like a gringo lol but that's okay. I'm also very sad because my trainer Elder Pace goes home next week. I'm bummed because I learned so much from him. I truly know that our companionship was inspired, it was so much fun going on splits with him in Derry before I was transferred. I love him so much and I will see elder millet this next week also and I will probably be crying because that will be the last time I see him until I return home :( that's okay! I have so much more ahead of me and I'm super excited for the future! I love elder Espinoza, Hanover is challenging but I'm doing the best I can! Wish me luck!



Con amor deElder Vogel

hanging with the sister missionaries

Matt is feeling the love

The district

Lunch...yum

say cheese, Elder Timothy

July 25th - August 1st


Monday - today was an easy going PDay. Didn't really do anything big. We went on exchanges and I was with elder liljenquist, we went and had ice cream with the sisters. Later we went to a dinner with Nancy Hanger and it was probably the most interesting dinner ever. Her and her husband are hardcore gamers. They are in the top 100 in PVP in Warcraft.... Like, what!? She owns a bookstore in Bradford, but plays Pokemon Go all day because she says no one reads books anymore. Interesting, they made us stirfry which was pretty good, and we where extremely late having it so we had to quickly go through a spiritual thought. That ended out night.


Tuesday - I was walking with elder Liljenquist all day. I got huge blisters on my feet, but that's okay. I used some essential Oils that I have and it worked out pretty well! Anyway, on with our day!

We got up bright and early with numb faces because elder Liljenquist put tooth numbing stuff on our toothbrushes haha so..., we left and walked down the street to find people. After talking and catching up, we ran into this guy named Art. He's the most depressed man I've ever met. He has some crazy anti-depressent pills he takes, he's nice though, he opened right up, let us talk and share a little message then moved on. We walked and ran into a guy named Cody who was playing his phone. We gave him a Book of Mormon and set up a return for next week. We then walked more, talked to some more people that didn't want it until we got home. We ate lunch then we went to Dartmouth College. Oh, this was so much fun! We where just walking around and getting a feel for it when, a guy named Rob stopped us and said "you guys Mormons?" we're like, yes! And we shared the Book of Mormon with him. He seemed pretty excited and really wanted one of his own. Awesome, so we continued walking where I met a guy named Kevin who worked at a gift store at the San Juan Islands when I went on high adventure and he said "I recognize you! You're the one who ran around in your speedo!!" Hahha! Awesome! ( I did do that with my friend Cam Powers and it was really me that he remembered) After that, we where walking and we talked to this Jewish dude, who was super nice and all, and another guy Charles stopped us and asked for a Book of Mormon and we gave him one and set up a time to see him sometime next week. Awesome!! Fruits!! We walked some more, talked some more, and walked home and called it a day. It was busy, it was long, it was fruitful. We deserved to go to Dartmouth haha!


Wednesday - district meeting was a little crazy because we got the wrong pre study and.. Yea, so afterwords we went to the Haven and did service and said goodbye to people just in case transfers where happening with us. After that, we had a lesson with brother Zimmer... Holy smokes was he a mess.. We decided to shoot the elephant in the room and ask why he wasn't going to church. He explained that he was single (so is most of the room) and that he doesn't like the people... But what we discerned is that his sins are so great and that he doesn't feel adequate enough to go. So we decided to ask if he would come for at least the sacrament and that's when it got fun.
He was furiously stating "I hate the people. I hate it. I've tried churches all over New England and nothing works. I'll do this myself, I'll repent and then I'll go." We then, boldly, and with the spirit, told him he won't ever repent fully of the sins if he doesn't take the sacrament. And he was furious with us and we left... So with that, we probably will take the bishop with us the next time we go over or just not teach him. Oh well, we then went to see the Mohns and celebrate Jodie's birthday. Called it a day


Thursday - we went and did some service at the historical society.. For probably the last time. There was a girl, her name is Hannah, and she was about 17 and dressing so immodestly. It wasn't like, distracting as in she was attractive, it was just plain gross. So elder Timothy and I left and went hunting for Dwayne and Melissa for about an hour. We couldn't find them so we went and taught Art. Who again, was crazy depressed. We started talking and getting to know him more.  He builds model cars, so he showed us all his cars he has. Pretty awesome! After that, on good spirits, we tried to share a lesson where, his depression came back. He didn't want to participate or anything. Sad. So we left to try and find some other people in Thetford. I fell asleep in the drive up there, so I don't know what happened until we came to the Thompson's house. They are a wonderful family! I really love them! Full of energy, just can't go to church because, well, they don't like the people... Sad. We then shared a message before they had to leave and we went home and planned and made some more calls to fill the night.


Friday - we again weekly planned all day. It was our last time so we got a little emotional and we went for a walk at about 8 and we ran into our neighbors and talked to them and handed them a Book of Mormon and talked to them about our lives, out testimonies and they seem pretty awesome. They are super busy but said to see them in a month or so, we gave them our number and we probably will help them with their garden. Idk when, but I'm excited!


Saturday - We had a baptism for Adrian Zimnick who's a member, and it was a great spiritual lifter. Really enjoyed it. On our drive back President Blair called us.

TRANSFERS!!!!!!

Elder Timothy will be going to Newport Maine as a Zone Leader and I will be staying with Elder Espinoza who will be training me in Spanish. President Blair explicitly said that the mission is in need of hard working Spanish elders. So once I'm fluent, I'm going to Lawrence, which could be in the next few months! I'm excited!!


The rest of they day was.. Unfocused. We tried doing stuff, but it wasn't working out to well haha so we hung out with Lebanon Elders and did role plays until we went to the Kings for dinner. It was nice to see them! Brother King has been in England attending law school in Oxford. Crazy. They both speak Spanish and said Elder Espinoza and I can come by and all 4 of us can do some language study and get this going even faster. I'm so stoked! After that we went home.


Sunday - Sunday was good. We had great testimonies shared about trek. (a youth pioneer trek re-enactment) After church we went to try and see a few people, but we only managed to have a very emotional lesson with the Mohns. It was Elder Timothy's last plea to get them to start living the gospel. Not a dry eye in the room. Awesome.


I'm excited for this next transfer! So much potential and so much new stuff!! I will be Co-Senior companion, so that means I'm climbing the ranks. I will be leading out the area from now on, I am pretty much the leader. It's crazy! Wish me luck! Love you all!!



Con amor de
Elder Vogel