the only picture sent today...a field in the afternoon sun...ok!

What a missionary does when he is bored

April 17th - April 24th

This week was not to busy. We had a lot of meetings. We had lessons with Luther and Lisa. All were, not to well. We had interviews with President Blair, it was way good to see him and to talk to Him! We talked a lot about the area and where it needed to go. We also where able to talk to the Seamons! It was way good to talk to them and understand their role in the branch.

We helped out at the Golden Key and we where also able to sit and share a little with Nancy.

We had another branch party! It was Chinese theme! Luther, Danielle, and Daniel all went and had a wonderful time! The food was ok, we had a Easter egg hunt and we talked and socialized and all grew closer as a branch. It was wonderful.

We also had exchanges and elder Barrett and I kicked it here in Lincoln! It was great, we talked a lot about each other and how much growth the mission has gave us. Elder Barrett has been out just 6 weeks longer than me, and he was in Bangor when I came to Brewer, so we have seen each other grow a lot!

I had a talk in church which is always cool, I talked about fear and about missionary work

A quote I've really been pondering is from elder Robert D. Hales. He said "when you cannot do what you have always done, you only do what's most important." What wonderful words of council from him. It made me really ponder what matters most. Right now it's being a missionary and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Being a missionary had truly changed my life! When I go home, things will change. I'll be in school, looking to have a family of my own, work will be in there, but we must always remember that Heavenly Father loves us and will always be there no matter what.

Love you all. Sorry for the short e mail.. I'll do better next week when we don't have so many meetings..

Con mucho amor deElder Vogel

the Wilson family

Elder Vogel and Elder Hanson. His new Companion

Still on the guitar

the fun they have in Maine

With Elder Branch. what is really cool is Elder Branch and His companion, both their dads were companions in England 30 years ago

Stuck

out finally

no damage to the car luckly

another view

Making the most of the dirt

ditched

April 10th - April 17th

So this week was a busy one.

We started our week by me, driving my two companions to Farmingdale, and saying "good luck boys!" And driving elder Hansen and I back to Lincoln. It's just the two of us! It's gonna be rad.

We started our week by working down in Lee and we where driving back home and elder Hansen said "look at that house on the hill!" And I said I'm gonna go knock it. (see video's and pictures above)

So we where driving along and I saw a dirt road that went up a hillside and I started to drive.

Over snow and a little ice, I went and the car stopped. So I decided to back down the hill, I hugged the edge a little bit, thinking because there's gravel I'd have traction, and the car slipped into a ditch..

I frantically reversed, turned, tried wiggling my way out and only got worse. And the car was tipped over so far, it was inches from falling on its side.... oops..

We sat there, made some calls and waited about 30 min before a fellow Mainer saw us and helped us get out, which we where very grateful for. Unfortunately, we both suck as missionaries and didn't think to start teaching him or anything, so our goal next week is to find him and teach him!

Wonderful.

We had a lesson with Lisa. We where driving up in Millnocket and saw her smoking on her steps.. so we parked and walked over to her, and taught her the plan of salvation and she committed to stop smoking, and elder Hansen committed to not eat chocolate. Until a day after and he realized how hard it actually was going to be haha

We walked over to Renae and Terry's place and talked to them for a little bit. They are doing great! They are feeling a lot better, they want to still learn and we set a time to see them next week.

We also contacted Helen, who we haven't been able to see in a few months. She wants to keep learning, she's just been super busy with a lot of doctors appointments. But all is well!

We taught Danielle Harmon again, way awesome lesson! We talked about Jesus Christ, keeping it pretty generic for the most part right now, but she participated, she loved it, she is being prepared. Her husband Luke, wasn't with us. He doesn't like us, but that's all right, we're still teaching Danielle haha

We had a lesson with Dillon. He's just been released from prison and he wants to straighten his life out. It was an alright lesson, we just need to start digging for his testimony a little bit. He has one, he won't share it tho, he's giving us answers that we want to hear, which, is fine, but we're gonna have fun digging!

We also had a chance to go to Stake conference in Bangor! Elder Clay of the seventy was there.
We had a conference about temples, which was good, but it didn't really feel like Easter. We where exhausted.

Friday we went up and worked in Millinocket, we slept at the Reitze's home and we got up and we got ready for the day and went down to Bangor, at about... 1 o'clock when the Saturday session starts at 6, so we hung out at the church for a few hours, then went on splits with Bangor and Rockland elders until the meeting started.

I loved it! I loved seeing families and people from my old ares in Maine! There where so many people to say hi to, I couldn't get to them all! I loved seeing the Bernatches, Atwaters, Wilsons, Eldredges, Thomas's, Frosts and everyone else! I truly miss them all! It was way hard, cuz it might have been the last time I see them, but who knows! Lots can happen in 6 months! 

After both sessions of conference we went back to Millinocket, and down to Lincoln to have a lunch with the people at the Golden key where we do service. We had some food, then left cuz it got Awkward for us, then we tried stopping by some people but no one let us in. So we where done and slept early that night.

It was a super busy week, but not as much success as we would have liked, but that's apart of the gig! I'm exited to see what this next week brings! Love you all, thanks for all you do!


Con mucho amor deElder Vogel

April 3rd - April 10th

This week was crazy! First off, we got our transfer calls! I will be staying here in Lincoln and I will be with Elder Hansen from Roosevelt Utah! Elder Collins is going to Exeter as district leader! And elder Lundell is going to Farmingdale/ Augusta area!

Way crazy! Exeter Family, take care of elder Collins! He's a wild one! 😂😂

This week was busy, and tough, sickness plagued us on Thursday so we didn't do anything accept sleep all day!

Anyway, we had a sick lesson with Sue in Millnocket, we shared the Easter video and we talked about Christ, I guess she cries often In her lessons, but she didn't last time we taught her, so it was bonus points she did this time! Haven't seen that in a while! Way awesome.

We also saw Danielle Harmon again, and Luke, her husband, came home and pretty much ruined it. So, brother Harmon and I are gonna work on separating Danielle, because she is totally prepared. Luke is on my naughty list.

Other then that, we had some solid lessons.

We had a lesson with a lady named Diamond who claims to be a member, but when we asked her when she was baptized she said "when I was 6 days old" then an hour later, same question, "what I was 6 years old"

This girl is nuts. I walked into her apartment, thinking she would be in the process of moving, and she was, but she had some wild dreads goin and she's just all sorts of weird haha

Awesome stuff.

We had a lesson with the Sushkos. I showed sister Sushko the new Easter video, and my comps just kinda sat and studied because Grover wasn't home. It was a good lesson and she always teaches me something new that people do in Latin America, it's pretty awesome!

We did a lot of finding and not much luck.

Sorry this e mail short haha


Sending lots of love from the sticks!

Con mucho amor deElder Vogel

the district

P-Day fun

March 27th - April 3rd

Wow what a crazy week!
First off, happy birthday to my wonderful siblings Rachel and Justin! Also to my grandma Vogel! Miss ya lots!
We first started it off with an exchange in Bangor, Elder Sobisky, Elder Collins and I hit the streets of Bangor and worked hard!

We taught a lady named Rachel, who was asking us questions and just diving into it. We where there for about 2 hours, (which was way to long) but we also taught the plan of salvation to her and she loved it!

We also taught a guy named Nezzy, who is 17 years old. We had dinner with him and his mom and just shared favorite scriptures and really involved Nezzy, nice guy! He's not to into religion, but he participates and seems interested.

We also went to a house, a crazy house, where Elder Sobisky calls it Babylon, but when we went Inside the house, my mind was literally blown.

There are perks to having so many areas.

When I was in Brewer, we taught a guy named Eddie and his girlfriend Heather, we didn't get to teach them to often tho, which was good because now, a year and a half later, the "Babylon house" is owned by Eddie.

I walked in there, Eddie is....all I can say is....Wow!  All his friends that I knew where there and Eddie is literally trafficking...

the perk is that I remember them, but they didn't remember me, they said "we knew an elder Vogel, but he didn't speak Spanish" so there's that little craziness which followed by more and we left with wierd feelings and I felt prompted to update the Bangor elders on who Eddie was and what kind of person he was... crazy!

We then finished out at district meeting and had a great discussion about finding and ways we can better ourselves and help each other get more comfortable with finding. After, we went to fix the car, so we had some time to kill and we went to goodwill and talked to a sick guy who was all about talking to us about fashion and what he should ware for a job interview. Pretty rad.

So here's a miracle for you all

Friday, we went on exchanges with the assistants and elder Bester, elder Collins and I went up to millnocket.

When we went up, we kinda mixed up our plans a bit so we where lost for a sec and I just kept driving. I felt a prompting to go to the Harmons house, Danielle and Luke who are a part member, less active family.

Following the spirit, because I didn't know where I was going, I found their house and we went and knocked on the door.

With faith in my heart and not really knowing what will happen, we knocked and Danielle opened the door.

We asked if we could share a quick message with her and she, reluctantly, let us in. She took her place on the couch and she said "so first off, luke and I have been married for 2 years, I've heard it all and you're not going to convert me"

So, we just visited with her.

We got talking about how her and Luke met, why she came out here and where she was from.

Me - "where are you from?"

Danielle - "i'm from the Seattle area"

me -"Which part?"

Danielle -"I'm from a little suburb called Puyallup"

Me - "Are you serious!? I'm from there!!"

Danellie - "SHUT UP! Wait, what high school?"

Me - "Emerald Ridge"

Danielle - "SHUT UP! HOLY CRAP, NO WAY, HOLY CRAP!"

She then went to grab a year Book from Emerald ridge high school and we talked about that place for about 15 minutes!

After we visited, and told me the street she grew up on (which was just a few blocks from where I live) she gladly opened up and she let us share a message with her!

She participated very well, was super open and all 3 of us saw a huge opening for a conversion, we bore powerful testimony and she invited us back over next Friday.. AWESOME!!!

After that wonderful miracle we had the privilege to listen to our beloved prophet and apostles speak to us!

What powerful testimonies and wonderful talks given, I learned so much about the plan of salvation, conquering fears, making the right choices and being an example. Awesome.

As I reflected this past transfer, I can't help but see how much the Lord needs me in this area. Both Presidant Blair and I where lost for words when we both realized I was going to Lincoln. But so many miracles have been happening!

I was able to connect with Danielle more than any other missionary she's ever met, we even felt prompted in earlier weeks to keep trying to see her, which was a miracle!

The Sushkos are helping me learn Spanish, and they are fully active with callings again! And now, when we where watching conference we got a new, Hispanic family that moved in and we have a appointment to teach them on Wednesday! So many miracles! I can't help but thank Heavenly Father for all of the wonderful blessings especially in the area. It brings me to tears when I look at my mission and see the reason I was supposed to have so many areas, so many companions, meet so many people and be able to touch the lives of many and see my progression as a trusted missionary and a son of God.


D&C 39:12-13

12 And it shall come to pass that power shall rest upon thee; thou shalt have great faith, and I will be with thee and go before thy face.

13 Thou art called to labor in my vineyard, and to build up my church, and to bring forth Zion, that it may rejoice upon the hills and flourish.


I'm grateful to be here in Lincoln, I miss my family and friends dearly, but I'm doing the Lords work and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I know Heavenly Father knows us, and especially, knows where his missionaries need to be at what time to make a special impact on one of his children.

That is my testimony this week.

love you all, Elder Vogel