Jan 23rd to Jan 30th

Hey everyone! The work is going so good! Sorry it's so short, don't have a lot of time to write.

This week, Eric set a baptism date for March 18th! Way awesome, and he walked to church! What a miracle, he really enjoyed it!

We also had a lesson with David Griffin and talked to him about being an example and member missionary work!

We also met with a less active, his name is Chad and we talked about Washington because he was stationed here from Port Angeles Washington. He's in the Coast Gaurd, he's really an awesome guy.

We then had a lesson with Craig... kinda, we stopped by and he let us in for a few and he had his 4 year old daughter playing far cry 4... which is not a good game for a 4 year old at all. haha Then we met a guy named Brock who was playing a guitar and he had a huge joint of tobacco in his hand and he's like "come back later" so we will see what happens haha

We then went finding A Lot! So much door knocking it's crazy, but we did it and found a couple new people to teach.

The weather is weird here, it changes so much haha but I got some cool shots of the water from a members house.

This week, I was asked to speak about myself in sacrament meeting and I was completely unprepared, but, I said a prayer and I got up and I talked about being an example and how we have a light around us that we need to share. After I was done, the speaker talked about that also. Her topic was how to be an example. AWESOME! It was a very spiritual Sunday.

Love you all, thanks for all you do!

Elder Vogel

the tag picture...so cool!

Moooo!

Beautiful...Bar Harbor Maine

whatever!...Hmmm

Let your light shine

Love me some whales

Eye see you!

Elder Vogel and Elder Farrell

sunset over Bar Harbor

So may cows.....

Beautiful evening

Ummm...

Jan 16th - Jan 23rd

What a week everyone! Felt long, but got lots done!

I think the highlight of the week was with Eric. We went in at about 2pm on Sunday, half expecting Josh to be there, but he wasn't. He was sleeping because he was doing something all last night. We went in and taught the gospel of Jesus Christ to Eric and as he was talking, elder Ferrell and I looked at each other, and I invited him to be baptized. And the best part, HE SET HIS OWN DATE FOR MARCH!! Not a day yet, but he said he can definitely get baptized in March! Holla!! It was awesome! Spirit was so strong it was amazing.

We also where contacting people like crazy. We met with the bishop, sisters and Brother Eldridge (Ward Mission Leader) and set some game plans and expectations then we hit the road working hard. Elder Ferrell and I have been scratching off potentials like crazy. We met this guy named Javier from Mexico, spoke little English haha but we went up to his door and asked if he was Javier and he said (yes... but I don't speak English good). I asked what language he spoke and he was like (good day) and I said, "¡somos misioneros para nuestra iglesia! ¿Podemos compartir nuestro mensaje sobre Jesucristo con usted?" Which means we are missionaries for our church, may we share a message about Jesus Christ with you? And he perked right up! Unfortunately, he is moving to Massachusetts, but was pretty friendly for the most part and kindly said no. Which, in New England, I'd take a nice no instead of a aggressive no haha

We also taught a less active member a couple times, his name is Matt Coffin and we talked a lot about missionary work and specifically we read Alma 26 and discussed that with him and he committed to pray for missionary experiences, pretty awesome!

We where able to make some contact with Marcia Slater, but no lesson. Her and her husband went down to Boston for a doctor apt and came back with the news that her husband has cancer.. so they have asked us to come back in a few weeks while they internalize it, it was pretty shocking news.

We also made some contact with Craig Golden. Our investigator whose a little hard to catch, but we did and while his 4 year old daughter was flirting with me (so cute!) we shared with him about Ether 12 because he's expressed to us some difficulties when he's alone, just depressions and no direction sadly. But he's a awesome dude and we will be seeing him Monday mornings.

We also saw a kid named Noah who's a chicken farmer. He has like 400 chickens, absolutely nuts! But we talked to him and are probably not going to teach him because he just doesn't understand. He said he gets it, but his skepticism and modern day logic is in the way. He's into things like, theory's and stuff, like the Pavlov theory he was all over the place. So we said we would stop by if he's got questions.

We also had a wonderful dinner with the Eldridge's and Wilson clan. Elder Washburn was with me on Mondays dinner, then the Eldridge's where Sunday with elder Ferrell (if it sounds confusing with my companions, it's because it was confusing 😂😂) but it was nice to sit down and have a nice meal and share a special message with them. I love the Ellsworth ward! So much potential here, we already already starting to see tons of miracles!

So transfer day was this week and I was in Rockland with elder Hansen for the day waiting for elder Ferrell. So elder Hansen and I went to a lighthouse, pretty awesome. I'll attach some pictures, but we also were able to stop by a couple investigators and get Elder Hansen back in the swing of things, pretty fun! We did service at this food pantry place and I talked to a guy named Kevin Lee who has biked 3/4 of the world.. how crazy is that! He asked me where I was from and he was like "I spent a week there while I prepped for the STP (Seattle to Portland bike rally) it was pretty cool to sit down and talk with him and see pictures of where all he has been, literally all over the world.

Weather has gotten better, in the 30s and 40s 👌 feels nice to walk to go search for people.

Out of about 7 months studying Spanish (still not fluent) I have seen how far I have actually come. I can hold a decent conversation, I can contact, I can simply teach and ask questions and I can understand a decent amount. But for language study, I decided to write out my testimony.

Yo sé que José smith fue un profeta de dios. Yo sé que nuestro familias son aquí para eternidad, y a tener gozo. Yo sé, Thomas s Monson es nuestro profeta en esté dispensación, a recibir revelación y a guía la iglesia y los miembros a salvación. Me extraño mi familia, pero yo sé que el trabajar es importante para mí y más importante ahora, yo veré mi familia uno día. El libro de Mormón es todos verdadero. Yo sé que con todo mi corazón, que el amor de dios, los palabras de Cristo, y esté libro ayuda nos a sentir el espíritu, sentir felicidad, y a ver nuestro testimonios crecer a dios.

It's still basic, but not quite as basic as when I first did this, so there's been lots of progression made.

I love the opportunity I have to be here in New England on a mission, beginning of my mission, I wished I was in a cool country like Italy or Spain or Argentina or Venezuela, but now that I see it, I really love New England, still won't ever be Patriots fan tho haha I'm apart of the Hawk Nation 💙💚 But the people here make missionary work so much fun! You never really know what you're getting Into haha it's not uncommon to see Bambi in a 5 gallon bucket or hanging with all its nasty stuff all over the ground, people arguing about drugs and Trump, or even a Spanish speaker trying to learn English, but is learning New England English and can't say anything right in Either language haha but the views and adventure the Heavenly Father has trusted me to embark on is something I can't ever repay him for. I'll forever be grateful for this and as time passes quickly, I come to know again and again each day that my savior loves me and his helping me. And I know he helps you each and every day also.

I love you all, thanks for all you do!Con mucho amor de
Elder Vogel

the tired life of a missionary on p-day. 

chill'n at church

everyone needs a bathroom selfie.

Jan 9th - Jan 16th

Hardest week ever!!

So here's how it all started people, Monday, elder Boyle asked me if it would be chill to have a couple girls our age over for Pday at the church with all us missionaries. I said NO, he didn't listen and they came. As they came, president Blair was there for exit interviews and saw them, said hi then left. No more then 2 min after, elder Boyle and Bundy left with the girls and no more then 2 minutes after that, Pres. Blair calls me, furious about Boyle.

Long story short, he was flirting and he got emergency transferred to Brewer and Elder Washburn is here with me for the week. So now I'm rocking the whole Ellsworth area with only 2 weeks experience 😅😅 oh crap..

So, because I don't want to write my days out, we found a lady named Morgan who honestly, is awesome. She's all for the gospel, she unfortunately missed her return appointments but we where able to set up better ones and are trying to coordinate better. We also saw Josh and Eric a few times this week and we are helping them continue to stop smoking. We found the smoking booklets and we have been really trying hard to start Josh particularly to start cutting back. So keep him in your prayers. We also saw David Griffin, He has a leg missing, kinda crazy recent convert who needs friend and we are working with the ward to help him more. He's however, taking the lead and inviting his friend Sparky for lessons. She's a tough lady, never seen anyone as crazy as her 😂😂 she's a logger... that's right, a logger, and she's in love with bibles and churches and she's really looking for a solid one to go to, so we are teaching her because she knows nothing about our church, so we slid in and taught her lesson one. Awesome.

We also saw Marcia and Andy Slater, Andy is an awesome guy. So humble, so nice, he's a triple bronze star recipient in the army and he pulled the question "what is God's take on me being in the Army and being in combat and doing those things?" He asked because he's recently been super super depressed because in his eyes, he's failed God, so we are looking into that and we are gonna introduce the 2000 stripling warriors and other instances where that's had to be the case. Super excited! We also had a awesome talk with Jeremy, I've never really had a chance to meet him until now, but he's such a solid dude, him and his family want to start being active in a church. He asked us some questions, introduced to us his 5th generation Guard dog Vadah, (sounds like Vader but say it like a new englander) and she's a sweetheart. He told us if she's out and his kids are out and no one else, stay in the car and call us 😂😂 dang, but solid dude. So excited to try and teach them! We also went  and did a lot of finding and I tried to find a guy named Rudy who speaks Spanish! But we where to busy sadly. Another day! We contacted a guy who just wanted to bash with us at a gas station, classic right? Thinks he's hot stuff and we talked about Joseph smith and he's like "what a ___." so we called it and left haha gosh man. No real interest, just wanted to argue.

We also went walking down on east harbor and that was the stupidest thing I've ever done, it was 15* with 20 mph winds and we walked I think a mile... lol but, we did see the Axtells and he had just gotten home from a car wreck, inspired! After we where done we knocked on this door and talked to this Jewish guy about singing and he's like "we sang this cover for a group concert" and it was nearer my God to thee sung by the BYU vocal point 😂😂😂 awesome, he didn't like us but he's like "y'all got some sick beats" and kicked us out in the cold! Ugh, what a crazy day man haha

The weather here still sucks, it's so so cold! The coast here is deadly because the Atlantic is so much colder then the pacific. Dang, I really think I almost lost my ears and my cheeks to frostbite, couldn't feel nothing. I have really enjoyed this week with Elder Washburn, we really got along great. I will be receiving, again, elder Farrell as my companion for the next 6 weeks, we will pretty much be shotgunning the area. Anyway, I was reading this scripture this week and thought I'd share it.


2 Nephi 32 4-5

 "4 Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.
5 For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do."

I think that scripture is was cool because I've had a lot of times in my life where I've just said "screw it man, that's stupid" and I never took the time to figure out why that rule or anything was ever there. I love how it said that we don't understand because we never asked, and we will parish in the dark, or in other words, not ever know.

I'm grateful for the love of my Savior, for allowing me to grow up in this church and have that gift of the Holy Ghost to help me understand why things are the way they are. I'm grateful for his patience, because I can barely handle myself sometimes haha but I know that whenever we have a question, if we humbly ask, he will answer.

Hope you all had an amazing week! :)

Love, Elder Vogel

Jan 2nd - Jan 9th

What a crazy crazy week! Wow!

We taught Josh and Eric again, our less active and investigator and josh didn't come to church, but they both really want to stop smoking so they are working hard with that! It's way awesome!

We also saw a dude named Josh (theme here right ?) and he's one of those talking Mainers, they usually talk but this guy was BAD and he rolled and lit up 3 smokes in front of us 😂😂 go figure, whined and complained about the government, child hunger, and drugs, classic haha anyway, he was interesting.

We stopped by a Peruvian family, Blanca, José and José jr and best part, they speak little English!! It was awesome! I loved talking to them! Even though it wasn't to good, I still was able to share a message and I learned so much! Loved it!

We had a dinner with the Wilson clan, 8 kids! And it was seriously so much fun! I loved it, they made some lobster pasta, way awesome! Way good, I want more 😂 we shared about how even busy families can still learn from each other, it was great!


The weather sucks! It's below 10 degrees everyday, with a wind chill it's in the negatives, crazy gross.

I went on exchanges with Elder Miller in Belfast and we had an awesome time, we talked, we stopped by a few people and we had some awesome contacts!

A cool experience I had this week was with the Wilson family. I was talking to brother Wilson about his mission in Brazil and he told me about his trouble In the language and stuff like that, but he stayed who he was. As he spoke, he bore testimony about his family, his love for them and his undying desire to be the best father he can.

It honestly made me think of my family and the love I have for them. Seeing my friends go home and be with their families and keep going with their loved is special, even though I still have a while, my mission has really shown me just how important family really is. I guess I kinda took that for granted, but over the course of my mission, all those little things we did, trips, family home evening, even my parents example, I still remember those and they help me through my life.

Be an example, share your love, be the light of the world others need to see!

Love, Elder Vogel

Bar Harbor, Maine

4 year old Harmony on her quad

Dec 26th - Jan 2nd

Send mail and packages to PO box 23 Salisbury Cove, Maine 04672

This week has been one of the hardest ones on my mission. So much emotion and things happening, it's like a roller coaster.

First, Elder Iverson and I had another wonderful lesson with Tristen and unfortunately, we are both being shotgunned (both transferred out at the same time) out of Dover. But it was a great spiritual lesson.

For P-Day we bummed it with Skowhegan Elders for the day and resumed packing later.

Elder Iverson is going home and I will be transferred to Ellsworth with elder Boyle.

Elder Iverson and I spent the last day together cleaning our apartment and getting it ready for people and saying goodbye to people that where coming in and out. Scott Harmon and Tucker Dow came over to help us out, it went pretty well and we got a lot done.

We got up the next day and drove down to Bangor to meet up with the Ellsworth elders and we both said goodbye to each other and hit the road.

I had district meeting out in Belfast Maine and I got to see some homies and have a wild time, afterwords I met the downstairs neighbors at our apartment and they are wonderful people. Lori, Norman, Phil and James fineman, way loving way caring and way In to missionaries. They sent members but they support us and will attend activities and stuff like that, so it will be cool. After, i unpacked

Next few days we had lessons like crazy, I met a dude named Justin, who's a cool guy but needs to put in some effort in the gospel because he's the "convince me" type, but we had the spirit there and we invited him to just say a simple prayer, then we left. I met these other two guys named Eric and Josh. Josh is less active and Eric isn't s member, way awesome guys. Little rough around the edges, they have in the past done some hard hard drugs and now they want to make a difference and be baptized and be active again, so it's gonna be awesome. We met with them twice. We found a new lady named Wendy who's all about Jesus and she's all for religion and wants to know more, it will be awesome. Also, we ran into some new members, the Wilsons, they moved in about a few weeks ago and they are like "we love ya! We want you over regularly!" So he's gonna spoil us with seafood. Bugs, fish, all the goodies. They have 8 kinds all under 14.. my goodness haha but it will be sweet.

We met a dude named Craig, I call him Craig the motor guy because he buys and sells quads, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, it's awesome. His daughter, Harmony is 4 and shreds her quad!

Other than that, can't remember much more. The weather here is way nice, Dover got slammed with snow just after I left and it's nice and cozy here on Bar Harbor haha.

I know my Savior lives, I know this is his plan for me and even though I miss Elder Iverson dearly, I'll see him again soon. Miss you all and thanks for all you do!

Love, Elder Vogel