March 20th - March 27th

This week was a slow week, but we got lots done!

We started with a dinner on Monday with Jim and Jon and Nancy, we do service for them at a old folks home that has activities and different stuff like that, we had tacos haha

We also shared the new Easter video and shared great testimonies, unfortunately, Mainers are the worst/longest talkers ever, and Nancy talked our ears off for 2.5 hours... oh man was it bad haha but that's okay, we just went home afterwards.

We had a short lesson with Ed and Eric, some less active members. They are doing alright, Ed had a huge, something and hit his head pretty hard and was out for about 3 hours and the ambulance had to come. Not good, but now he has shingles, so his health is just going down hill, poor guy.

We went to Millnocket twice this week, on Wednesday we had a dinner with the Faulkner Family and we are teaching their daughters. They're 15 and 10.. it was a good lesson, we taught the plan of salvation and invited them to pray for a baptism date, I am teaching the kids and I don't know if they fully understand, but their grandfather is down the street and he's way active, so he will help them out.

We saw Dawn Bonsoll again, she's doing better, she was sick this whole last week so she wasn't able to work out her legs or anything, but we brought her a shamrock shake and she was really happy to see that and then we read some scriptures with her.

We had another solid lesson with Luther! We taught the stop smoking program last week and he only went about 3 days without smoking, so he's gonna take it easy and do it again soon. But we shared about how church is really important for addictions and how reading and praying are also important. Hopefully we can see him at church soon.

We went and saw a less active, sister C., who pretty much just rambled about her problems to us and how she's now working on Sundays, so we weren't to sure about her.

We had a lesson with Lisa, she's doing so so good! It was a good lesson, the only thing that would have made it better was if her 4 year old daughter wasn't climbing into and pulling her hair and being a child haha but she payed attention, she loved the new Easter video and she's trying really hard to come back to church! She's awesome.

We had a wonderful dinner with the Fugleburgs, Ashley's family was in town from Idaho and they where all like "you're from Seattle!? You can come stay at our place when you're going to school or need a break on your way home from BYUI!" So I got the hook ups 🤙 haha we had a wonderful clam chowder, which I ate a lot of (I love seafood out here) and then we shared our favorite scriptures and bore testimony. It was powerful.

We also had a wonderful dinner at the Kettles! They fed us spaghetti, and we also shared out favorite scriptures there and it turned into a huge testimony meeting. It was really something special, and to personally have a connection with brother Kettle. I love him so much, and he felt it when I shared scriptures and experiences with him and he left s wonderful quote that I added in my testimony at the end of this letter.

We also had a great lesson with the Libby's! They are so prepared, we went over and Paige's neighbor said "don't let them knock on my door!" And we went inside Paige's house and she just talked bad crap about the people that yelled at us and swore at us when we knocked the neighborhood.

There was a door last week that I knocked on and lady cussed me out and said I was soliciting and just got me fuming, but the spirit took over and I was polite and said "sorry for bothering you" clearly fuming profusely, but Paige was in the apartment and she said she was inches from hitting her with a cast iron pan and telling her to knock it off, instead, after we left, she had some words with her and defended us!! #Blessings!

Anyway, we continued with our lesson of the plan of salvation and it was a really really good lesson, they participated and they are going to pray about a baptism date! So excited!

After in Millnocket, we went to the Sushkos and my mission was changed completely, which doesn't happen to often when you're out about this long.

Here's the story.

When we go to the Sushkos, sister Sushko speaks Spanish, so there's Spanish practice (Holla!✌️) and because Grover thinks he's reincarnated and I don't want to deal with that, I teach Hermana Sushko separately. That way we are in our own little world and if my comps need me, I'm right there and I'll chime in, but anyway, I shared a favorite scripture with Hermana Sushko, I shared Alma 26:37, how God numbers his people and he has mercy over all of them, I bore a simple testimony.

She shared Alma 26:27, when Alma and the sons of Mosiah where depressed, but the lord comforted them and they went back to work.

As she shared that, she expressed how upset and hard it was to learn English, which it's hard for me to learn Spanish, and she said that she would love to, but she gave a really interesting analogy.

She said that people in warmer climates, like Columbia, are more open and warm to people, missionaries and in general, and cold climates, like New England, a lot of people don't want to meet their neighbors, other people or at all. Which is pretty true, and she told me a story of when she was home. She said that in Columbia, they go meet their neighbors, they say hi and invite them for dinner one day, get to know them and have a great time, then the next Monday for FHE they invite the family and the missionaries.

She said that led to a baptism of her best friends, a family of 10.

She expressed, crying, how she wishes she could go talk to people, she really wants to do that, but she physically can't and she goes back to that scripture every single time she gets down.

What a powerful testimony, what a powerful experience that I was able to be apart of.


My all time favorite scripture is Isaiah 41:10,13 because my last year at camp Helaman, this was the theme, and I remember when me, Jarod, Ethan, Greg, kaydin, Dallen, Gideon, Zac and Parker where all there and that last testimony meeting before we go, how it's all a huge ball fest and I remember hugging them and Greg said that this could be the last time we are all together until we return from our missions. And it's true.

Every time I read that scripture, I feel the brotherly love that comes from that distinct memory, especially when my brother Jarod hugged me. I get pretty emotional when I share that because I miss my family every single day and I miss my friends, who are embarking on their missions all over the world in Virgina, Mongolia, Italy, Argentina and now the Dominican Republic.

I'm so very grateful for a Savior that loves us so much, to call us to labor in these parts of the world to help others come closer to Christ. I'm grateful for the Atonement, that allowed me to embark on the journey and the promise in the scripture that says to never fear, because he will hold our hand when others won't, bare burdens we don't need, and bless us for beyond what we deserve.

"He'll bring you through it cuz he brought you to it" - Bro Kettle

10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee

I love you all, hope you have a wonderful week! If you haven't had a change to see the new Easter video, go watch it! It's pretty awesome!


Con mucho amor deElder Vogel

St. Patricks Day fiesta.

giving lots of service after this last winter strom

Fiesta Fun

lunch

serving at the old folks home

A mexican dressing up as a mexican. lol

March 13 - March 20th

So this week was a little longer, but also a lot of fun!

We started it out with a great lesson with Luther, we first introduced the stop smoking program to him, and he was way into it! I honestly haven't seen someone so desirable to do this program! Awesome! We gave him the stuff, and I took his cigarettes and forgot them in my bag for the whole week.. oops haha

We then went down to Bangor with elders Sobisky and Cashen for exchanges, but when we got there, the mission was grounded because of another massive snow storm..

Winters never going to end...ugh!

Bangor got about 2 ft and we went out and helped people shovel and push cars, there where 5 of us guys and we where getting work done good!

The next morning we heard for home and saw we got, in Lincoln, about 3 feet.. when we got home, showered and got ready, brother Reitze called us and asked us to help him move snow up in millnocket, which got about 4 ft of snow.. so we did, we went and helped him out, helped other people out, I got to see Hermana Sushko and talk with her for a few min and met her daughters Sandra and lily I think her name was... lol after working hard, we met back into Lincoln and saw Paige and Larry libby. We had a awesome lesson with them, talking about the Book of Mormon and inviting them to our st Patrick's day fiesta.. with green foods and Hispanic food everywhere (I feel weird saying Mexican food now that I speak Spanish and interact with different people..) it was way fun!

The Libby's came and so did a bunch of investigators and less actives, we had more at the fiesta then we normally do at sacrament meeting! It was awesome!

We also did service at the Golden Key old folks home, which was okay, but it wasn't as productive this week as we had hoped.

After, we went to try a bunch of people that unfortunately fell through and we where dropped by a crazy investigator who had way to strong of feelings for Elder Byers, so she said "I'm good. Thanks" so that was a downer on us.

Sunday, there where 30 people at church.. way small, but the meeting was fantastic! The Suskos came to church! Which was huge. We talked about the Atonement and the powers of it.

We had a dinner with the Kettle family, we had lasagna and the whole time, Spencer and Beth Thurlow's daughter Ryha, who's 7, wanted to count in Spanish, so I helped her out haha (she has a huge crush on me, watch out girls) Ryha reminds me of Rachel, my sister. So awesome, wonderful message shared with them and it was a great end to the night.

This week had taught me about diligence, even though we had down slopes this week, we where still diligent and we where able to find success and have wonderful experiences with people.

Im grateful for this next week, I can't wait to see what the lord had planned for us!



Con mucho amor deElder Vogel

Zone Conference lunch

sleeping on the way home from Branch conference

Oh wait, I'm awake. take my picture again...

March 6th - March 13th

This week was full of craziness, Lincoln is just booming!

First, we taught a lesson with our investigator Lisa. She just had a new baby boy and my heart melts every time i see a baby. So cute, we shared the restoration and had a spiritual discussion about it. She has been through a lot and she set her own baptism date for June! Super excited!

We also had a lesson with bob, less active. I'm not sure how committed he actually is, but we committed him to read Mosiah 4 about the atonement.

We also taught Luther and Lucas, we have kinda just stopped teaching Lucas cuz he's a 14 year old kid.. and he doesn't pay attention, so we are starting to aim the teaching more towards Luther. He wants to stop smoking and he wants to be better, and I left him with Ether 12 to read, which according to my companions, the fact he accepted a Book of Mormon was a huge milestone. So bam, he's prepared!

As we where out knocking doors, elder Lundell knocks and does his door approach and the guy was like "come on in" and we sat down and talked with them. Their names are the Libbys.

We shared the restoration and had a wonderful lesson and discussion with them. They where super surprised about prophets, and the apostasy was something that all of them where like "that make sense!" Super awesome family and super awesome lesson!

Church was also very cool! The stake presidency was there and giving all of us a training on being self reliant. Just a side note, I personally know, and e mail, the whole stake presidency, so every time I see them, they are always like "didn't I just see you in Dover a few months ago?" Haha they are all awesome. I know a lot of members in the Bangor Maine stake. But anyway,

In ward council we talked about financial needs, how they are organized and how we, as missionaries are used.

In sacrament meeting, we had some wonderful talks about the atonement, about love and President Therlow (Branch President) gave a talk and was super personal to him and our eternal investigator Mel. Mel was crying, everyone was emotional and President Peterson ended it and it was a wonderful meeting. One of the best sacrament meetings I've had.


We had zone conference this week and it was way awesome to see president Blair. The topic was the Atonement, we talked about the power of it. Something we use everyday and something we teach everyday, but we dug and dug into it.

We had a display of the atonement, it was written on the board and we named off all different sins we could think of. All of them, even in the scriptures, and President said that the atonement covers it all. And that he felt it all.

We also were introduced to the new Easter Initiative the church is putting out. I'm so excited for it, it's called #PrinceOfPeace and they are mixing it with Holy Week to try and expose it to as many people as we can. I'm so exited! We got a special preview of the video and I personally loved it! I'm so excited to share it with people and grown closer and stronger as a missionary!


That's about it this week, sorry they are so short, I'm still trying to figure out how I can finish my e mails with so little time we have to write them 😅 anyway, hope you all have a great week!



Con mucho amor deElder Vogel

Hey everyone!

This week was kinda of a rush and a blur all at once.
It started with a great PDay with the district at a restaurant called
Governors, and we had a huge desert challenge. We ate 3 of them,
pretty gross haha
We then, went home and I packed to be transferred down to Lincoln with
elders Collins and Lundell.
Elder Collins has been out for 6 months and is from Las Vegas, elder
Lundell has been out s month and a half and is from Utah, they both
are funny! I love them a lot! My new address is 320 Enfield RD Lincoln
ME

The work here in Lincoln is booming! Because of that, I don't remember
any lessons haha but we get outside and we work work work until the
days are done.
Someone we are teaching is Dawn Bonsoll again, she was in the hospital
when I first came out in Brewer, and she has a disease where her body
would lose the function to move. When I first taught her, she lost
from her hands and up to her shoulders.
Now that I'm back, almost a year and a half later, she has been making
huge recoveries! She can stand for a few minutes now, she can sit up,
she can move and it's wonderful to see her growth! She still wants to
be baptized, but we are planning for June for her to have enough
strength to do it.
We also have a place out in Milnockett, which is an hour away, and we
go stay with some members to save miles while we work out in that area.

 It's a cool deal.

We had a super solid lesson with a lady named Stephanie.
Before a dinner appointment we had decided to knock some doors and
give elder Lundell some practice.
We knocked on this door and said our normal approach, and she
said no, but I bore a little testimony and asked her if we can share
our unique message. And she said yes, so elder Lundell and elder
Collins got right on it and started teaching her! She was so into it,
she listened, she participated and she wants us to come back! It was
way awesome.

We also have had some crazy door knocks. We knocked this door and they
had 3 huge, massive dogs, and she opened the door and they got out!
Holy crap my heart dropped! We held still as they surrounded us and
trapped us at the door until her husband came home to get them.. scary
stuff..

We went over to the sushko's and sister sushko is from Columbia and
speaks Spanish! It was way awesome! Elder Collins and Lundell taught
her husband, who speaks English, and I taught sister Sushko because
she doesn't speak English! Weekly visits are happening.

We have been having so much fun tho, I can't write it all because new
rules in the mission makes it hard to put everything in a short amount
of time. But we love the work, I love being a trainer, and I love New
England!

Love you all, thanks for your prayers and support

Elder Vogel