Saying godbye in Bar Harbor

frozen lake

good bye party for Elder Vogel. Eating just a small sunday...

yep, that is some deep snow. Elder Vogel is 6'3" and its up to his thighs

Hi,...its snowing...its cold...

so cold

the church building

Elders Vogel and Ferrall cleared this whole deck of snow

our cars. yep its deep. we're going nowhere

Wow what a week, ending with transfers. We started the week having dinner with the Wilsons, afterwards we tried to go see José and his family. Unfortunately, they where not interested but I  asked if I could practice teaching them in spanish, so we may still be teaching them soon.
After, we went to the Brown family with Brother Wilson and Sadie, awesome missionaries. We talked with Brother Brown and shared testimonies, we talked about what we have in common, and addressed concerns. Sadie also invited his daughters to mutual on Wednesday night, but they do their
own thing in their church. But it was still a good visit. We had a visit with Jim Bryant who moved here from Machias. We talked about the Book of Mormon, shared about faith and committed him
to read Alma 32. We also had a lesson with David Griffin, we talked about Jacob 5 and
read a little story out of the talk "fourth floor, last door" from Dieter F. Uchdorf. Committed him to read Mormon 9 We also had a dinner with Bernie and talked to him about a scripture chain list we gave him and shared about prayer, read a part of Enos and committed him to read it and ask in prayer what he can do to improve.
After district meeting we went and helped out the Martins move. We met their friend named Don who is a pretty solid guy and really enjoyed talking to us. We didn't get a time to meet with him, but we will talk to the Martins and see if we can. We where able to be with Brother Axtell and sister fair during a home teaching visit at the church. Went very well, helped address some questions she had.

We went and had a lesson at the church with Arron Burton, talked with him about the blessings of temple work and finding names through family history. He said he will find some names and work towards going to the temple. Going to try and meet with his brother Chris next week with Arron. Afterward we went up to Bar Harbor and got to talk with Wendy Porter who is a investigator we haven't been able to get in contact for awhile. We will go next week to teach her. We then contacted some less actives and potentials. We went up to Seal Harbor to find some new people to teach. We found a guy named Ernest Gilly and talked to him about that family's are forever and gave him a Book of Mormon. He was glad we stopped by, his wife died not to long ago and is living by himself. We got his info and will be going up there next Thursday to start teaching him. We stopped by subway for dinner where Tom Waldrop is and set up a lesson for after church this Sunday to teach him. He also said he is planning on coming to the ward party on Saturday! The work is going great, we are focusing a lot on finding new people to teach.
We saw Marcia Slater and we took Bernie with us and we talked about baptism and why it's so important. We had a great discussion, we committed her to read Alma 31.
We also had a lesson with Eric, we addressed the concern with his baptism date. We told him that we can't go through with it because some sins require more effort to repent of. He was disappointed and emotional about it. He expressed that he won't give up and expressed how 20 years ago he was a different man then he his today. We told him we don't have much more information, we are talking with our mission president and we will update him about the time frame and anything else when we receive that information. We committed him to write his personal conversion story.
We also had a rockin lesson with Justin. We dropped him earlier because we haven't had contact with him, but we went and saw him and had a way powerful lesson. We taught the restoration and we introduced the Book of Mormon because he didn't know about it, didn't know where it came from and wanted to know. We committed him to start reading it. He is planning to come to the ward party.
We called Terry Sprague, invited him to the ward party, said he was coming, and set a appointment on Tuesday.
We helped the Watkins set up for the talent Bazaar which was an amazing job, the ward has alot of talent! Afterward we went over to brother coffin who was struggling with some sickness. We shared out of Hel 5 on are testimony is Like a foundation and we need to do all we can to build upon it. We committed him to write down his foundation of his testimony and where it is now. We finished are weekly planning for next week, then went and visited Craig Golden and planned to be super bold with him about if he is interested we want to help him but if he's not, we can't keep going over. We had a power lesson outside about the prophet Joseph smith and he said he wants to know and will pray about where he wants to be and really try to know the truth because he really wants to but has a hard time with knowing if Joseph smith was a prophet. We then went to the talent show! Wow such a great job by everyone. 

President Blair called us Saturday evening and told us about transfers. I AM TRAINING IN A TRIO in Lincoln Maine. thats right I'm training 2. one has been out 2 transfers and the other just 1 transfer and Pres. said they both need further training and so I am training both of them myself. crazy.
Sunday was good, Church was great. After church, we went to try and go see David griffin, but no luck, so we went and saw the Riggs and had an awesome visit with them. We shared about the plan of salvation and how it's such a great blessing for us. Then brother Riggs was talking to us about his autograph collection of different things. We then went and contacted Heidi Riggs, but we contacted her husband instead, good little chat, we will stop by again later this week.
We also talked to a guy named Dee, who is at the call station for the hospital. We tried to contact Evan bland, but we found Dee instead and had a great conversation about the Book of Mormon and he said how he liked it, wasn't interested and knew brother Hymus in the Brewer ward. After, we went and saw Josh and Eric. We shared about trials and we talked about spiritual gifts and how we can obtain more of those. I said goodbye and we all shared great testimony. Josh is moving to deer isle in a few months for lobstering again.


Awesome stuff this week! Like I said, I am going to Lincoln Maine, I will be follow up and re training new missionaries! In a trio! Wish me luck! Love you all!


Con mucho amor de Elder Vogel

Feb 13th - Feb 20th




So on Monday we had a really bad snow storm. We got about 2ft of snow, really gross. The mission was grounded because the weather was so bad, so we where with our neighbors the Fineman's. We played games and had lunch and dinner with them! We told stories, we just talked for the fun of it, we had a blast. It was a way good day! We then had lessons with David Griffin, it was a load of fun! We talked about faith, we read Jacob 5 and talked about the lord and his grape vineyard and how Heavenly Father is always watching out for us and always wanting us to Improve. It was a good couple meets.

We taught Ida again and we read the Book of Mormon with her and she talked about how this is the true church, but she won't go to church lol.. she's blind so we are talking to Presidant Blair.

We had lessons with Eric and Josh again and Eric has finished all the standard works.. wow.. he's now making detailed notes about each scripture and footnote in the Book of Mormon, he's awesome.

We went to Marcia Slaters and we helped her move some snow and then taught her a lesson about baptism and finding faith. Awesome.

We went to the Daltons after another snow storm of another foot or two of snow and helped them move some snow and talk about their family.

Their son is the lead singer of Arcade Fire and he's like, way cool! Haha

We got to see Chad again and see his dogs. He's such an awesome guy!

We also went to the Craig's. The Craig's are a less active family with a wonderful story. Both converts, but recently, sister Craig died.. she was out for about 4 hours before she was found and brother Craig have her CPR and she came back to life. The doctors said she would be a vegetable the rest of her life, but she recovered, she can talk, walk, she's completely normal and we called about a month after that and he's going beck to church, he's gonna be fully active again and they really loved having us come over.


It's experiences like this that really humble me and get me excited for the rest of my mission. I continually am shocked about the different places, people and stories I hear everyday.

I'm grateful to be apart of this work at this time. I love you all, thanks for all you do.

Love, Elder Vogel

Feb 6th - Feb 13th

Dang what a gross week..

We had some great work!

We had lessons with Eric St. Pierre and Josh. First was on exchange and we shared a message about Jesus Christ which was amazing because It was the day before Josh had his Teeth taken out. Ouch! He had 19 of them taken out and dentures put in, poor guy. After, we shared about the law of chastity, which sucks, never like teaching that, but this one was good. We had a very special experience with Eric.

Next we saw Craig, we caught him in the snow while he just got a new Snowsled. He let us in and talked to him about the Book of Mormon and we really helped him understand different things. Good discussion, awesome guy.

We ran Into a guy named Greg who is super funny! He's like "don't freaking tell me, we are here because Adam and Eve... did what!?" That dude was way high haha loads of fun!

We also saw Matt Coffin and helped him shovel out his driveway and share a message about trials. He liked it.

We, well I, taught José. José is from Peru, he speaks no English, and he accepted a message about the restoration.

I can't even begin to describe the spirit that completely overcame me when I was teaching. He's like my... 2nd lesson ever in Spanish? First solo. I had talked to him once, but it was fast and worthless almost, but this time we sat down and we talked for about an hour. It was really awesome, I loved it! I love Spanish!

We found a new Spanish family from Mexico, but we haven't taught them yet, they speak English, so Elder Ferrell can have some fun too haha.

We taught a lady named Ida, who is blind.. dang, that sucks! She can't read, everything is super big so she can see, but she can't do anything. Poor lady, but we shared the restoration then shared about how God is helping us all the time. Very spiritual.


The work is still progressing and still going, maybe not as we want, but the lord blesses our efforts.

The weather... we have been shut down as a mission for 2 days because we are having the worst winter blizzard since January 2015. Already we have about thigh deep snow and we are looking at another foot or two.. and I'm on an island.. wonderful haha but it's fun! We have been with our neighbors a lot, they cook us wonderful food and we are planning on watching meet the Mormons later today! Thanks for the love! Miss you all! E
lder Vogel

Jan 30th - Feb 5th

It feels like an eternity since I've e mailed home, even though it's only been a week! Haha

We had exchanges with the zone leaders and I went with Elder Redd out in BREWER!!( my very first area of my mission) Yea buddy! I had soooo much fun! We where stacked full of people to go see! We taught all new people (since I've last been there) and it went so well! I loved seeing the area start booming and seeing people make progression. We started our day teaching Chris Helfrich, gotta love that dude haha I taught him my first time out on the mission, he hasn't really changed much, sadly, oh well. Keep him in your prayers! We also went and saw a guy named... dang... I forgot his name, I think it was Nick... and he plays guitar so we talked then we played a little bit and we taught him about the restoration and taught his girlfriend, who's pretty awesome also.

We then went to go find some other people, people kept falling through, but we did manage to teach about 5 more people and families. It was a very busy day! Afterwords, we headed home Wednesday morning.

When we returned home and got ready for the day, we went to go find. We stopped at this trailer park and knocked doors, and we set up about 7 return appointments all for next Tuesday! Rad stuff!

We also where able to teach David Griffin about the word of wisdom and about church attendance.

We had a great lesson with Eric and Josh again, with the Keatings. Brother keating is hard of hearing, so when we where finishing up the last part of the plan of salvation, he goes right back to the beginning... dang... but it was a good lesson to walk away from, everyone learned, everyone was feeling the sprit and it was truly amazing.

We also had a wonderful zone conference! It was awesome to see old friends again and talk about the work and being better leaders!

A ward member, sister Axtell, called us and the sisters and asked if we could help one of her friends move, so we did! Her name is Kate and her husband Michel and 2 little girls where moving. We talked to them for a few minutes, lifted some way heavy stuff, and talked some more.

After we unloaded, they made us lunch! Home made spaghetti and brownies! Oh it was way good! They invited us to come back over whenever we are around to share a message and feed us again! WAY AWESOME!

We had a dinner with the Estacio family and they made us scallops and green beans and rice, pretty good meal! We shared about Jospeh Smith's vision, really brought the spirit and we invited them to share their testimonies.

We also had a lesson with a less active named Aaron Burton, interesting guy. We also shared about Jospeh Smith and how he was a huge blessing in our lives. Good lesson.

Sunday was really good, it was fast and testimony meeting. Eric walked to church again! And he really enjoyed the testimonies shared!

Lanvin and Louis Estacio shared their testimonies and literally made me cry. It was way powerful to hear that, as well as some others that shared, spirit was way strong.

Following after church was a baptism and we where able to watch and I was talking with a ward member about our Spanish investigators and about how to teach things differently. He served in Brazil, so it was pretty cool talking with him.

We also went and saw Jeramy Kane again, not a lesson but he came out and talked to us. We saw vada (the dog) again, and her babies!! Holy cute, to bad I can't touch them because vada is a 15th generation Gaurd dog.. I asked her if I could hold on and she just kinda snarled at me and I was like "aight cool, don't need to say it twice!" But they where jumping all over us and having a ball of a time.

Due to the Super Bowl and all of New England shouting for joy at about 11pm, we got no sleep..


My testimony this week is about love. This week, I have seen so much love from our Heavenly Father, we are being blessed as a companionship and we are seeing miracles happen. Personally, I appreciate everyone that has sent me e mails and uplifting messages throughout the week, they really helped me get back on my feet and stay upright.

I know our Savior lives, and that he's watching out for us all. I don't know where I would be without Him, I'm so very grateful He still hears and answers all our pleads and prayers, big or small. I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!


Love Elder Vogel