April 6, 2015 from Sam

hey mom!  Alright well I only have about an hour so ill just get right to it... So i talked to President Crapo last Tuesday.  It was about some stuff I hadnt cleared up with Bishop Scholl or anyone before.  It had happened a long time ago almost two years, but I knew because I had to wait until April to get my papers in, if i had told him about the other thing i wouldve had to wait like 5 months longer so I never said anything and just thought time would heal it all.  So I decided to talk to President Crapo about it on Tuesdaybecause i wanted to make sure i was 100% clean and worthy.  I didnt think I would go home for it really when i told him, but he said theres a good possibility I could.  Its not his decision and I should get an answer today from the general authorities in charge of the mission department.  I was scared to tell him at first because I knew there was a small chance I could go home and i was scared of the embarrasment just because of what happened with BYU and every other consequence ive paid for the stupid decisions in my life.  But I read a talk by the area seventy Elder Alonzo to missionaries about a year ago. He said, you should fear more not being able to enter the kingdom of God more than you should fear man.  I also studied fearing God in the scriptures and read the story in DandC about Oliver Cowdery when he lost the pages and how God was upset with Joseph because he had feared man more than God.  So I decided to talk to President.

I know this may seem like Im just writing somewhat unemotionally, but its been a long week of waiting and now Im absolutely content with my decision I made to talk with him and I know i did the right thing.  I dont know yet if Im going home, but Ive set a ton of goals for if I do what I need to do to actually prepare this time for a mission.  I want you to know Im 100% confident in my ability to come back and do it right.  I know youre probably very sad reading this, but I want to serve my 2 years 100% worthily and I have plenty of things to do in the work if I do come home and a lot of things I can do to better prepare myself for the last 17 months of my mission.  Im not scared and do not care what anyone thinks except for Heavenly Father.  So do not be sad.  Have faith and I will too to be able to do things right.  I love you with all my heart

April 5, 2015 from Mom

Hi my favorite missionary!

Wasn't conference soooo great?!  I started crying when Elder Renlund spoke about the two missionaries... the companion who wouldn't work hard.  Did you love that?  I felt like that was for you:)  I always feel a little sad when conference is over.  Where did you watch?  Could you hear it in English?  And, yes... why the FLDS rainbow? I have no idea but it never fails that at least one choir is going to wear those "special" colors. 

My favorite part about conference is thinking that we are doing the same thing at the same time. Even though we are 1000s of miles apart, our whole family is watching the same thing.  That makes me so very happy!  When the ensign comes out with the conference talks, I'll mail one to you.

I was really sad to hear the voices that would not sustain the prophet.  Could you hear that?  I read an article about it this morning and the writer suggested that those who sustain Pres. Monson take it a step further. After we raise our hand to sustain him, we should take away one thing that touched us during conference and use it to make a positive change in our life this month.  Something that will bring us closer to the savior.  So, I've decided to focus on serving each day.  In my morning prayers I'm going to ask Heavenly Father to help me see the need of someone and be able to offer service to one of his children each day.  It has been something I've been trying to do more but I know I'm not doing enough.  So that is how I will sustain Pres. Monson.  How about you?  Is there something that really struck you during conference that you can work on this month?  What were your favorite parts?

Did you get my easter box yet?  I got together with some other Prosper Missionary moms this week.  It was really great.  We met at the Argyles house and we each brought one small thing to put in each missionary's next box. So... I have another box for you:)  It is just some small items but I'll get it sent out this week.  Do you need anything? 

How has your week gone?  I'm so anxious to hear.  Did you do the things I asked you to?  1. Study Daniel  2.  Look for tender mercies  3. Pray to have more love for your companion and the others you work with and serve.  How did that go?

Are you working with any investigators?  How is Marvin doing? 

I wrote you so much this week so I won't make this too long.  I just want you to know how much I love you and miss you ... as always!  Have an amazing week, my sweet son!

love, infinity plus infinity,

momma

p.s. Karlee Winters mission call is going to Oakland CA to work in the temple visitors center.  She leaves in May!  Other people that are getting mission calls aren't leaving until August so it seems really quick! 

[p.s.s. We had a family get together today for Easter and watched a home video of you, Abby and Gray.  Such great memories of that culdesac.  We watched one of you 8 year old baseball games with the Astros:)  xoxo  You were a beast:)

March 30, 2015 from Sam

hey mom :) Thank yall so much for fasting for me... I love yall so much!  i still dont think ive ever heard dad barf hahaha and i dont think i want to.

But it sounds like the open house went well!  You and dad should talk to the missionaries and ask if you could help them and visit one of those families with them for a lesson!

those tulips look so beautiful... grayson showed me the pic of the new car... thats so tight haha if i wasnt getting a truck id get something like that.

Still not perfect, but i thnk were improving.  Well be doing well and hell say something stupid and ruin it sometimes.  And dany and dianna i dont know the deal with them.  I let them borrow my camera a while ago for a "ward activity"... and hadnt bothered them about it.  and then i let them borrow my charger for my other camera and somehow the charger "got lost".  So then i said well i need the other camera now to have a camera with a charger and it was just a lot of indiligent "searching." Then dany texts me and says ill get the camera to you tomorrow but dont say anything to diana.  Im pretty sure they were gonna sell it or something if i hadnt said anything.  After you paid them the hundred bucks diana came home with a new phone one day.... so im just super annoyed with them and dont really want to eat with them anymore. 

Anyways... that jeremiahs scripture is good i love it. I had no idea karlee was going on a mish? And thats actually possible hahaha weird.  Anyways i love you mom hopefully youre online :)

March 30, 2015 from Mom

I hope you had a fantastic week!  Is anyone getting transferred? 

We fasted as a family for you on Sunday.  I prayed for your continued protection, obedience, and guidance by the spirit.  I prayed that Elder Comacho would be humble and have a desire to learn.  I prayed that you would lead him by example and show him how to work his butt off and turn his life over to his Savior. I prayed that you would feel the love of your family around you, supporting you.  And I prayed that you would feel your Heavenly Father's love and your saviors love surrounding you and guiding you.

We all fasted for you with the exception of Dad.  Remember the story about Dad (when we lived in Florida) getting so sick that he into the back yard at 2am and barfed in the backyard??? Well he is that sick again and this time he ran out to the front yard and (while in his garments, eye shades and earplugs) barfed in our flower beds at 5am.  And it is loud!!!  I don't understand why he cant us a toilet like a normal person!!!  Haha!  So he has been in bed sleeping all day.  He said he is going to try to write you in the morning.  But if he doesn't, just know he is in bed out of it!

We had our new building open house yesterday.  It went great!  We had different classrooms dedicated to seminary, family history, Aaronic priesthood, Family Home Evening, young women, etc.  Each room had a video playing with a little info about it.  I think we did a great job putting together a great presentation.  They had a breakfast in the morning with the mayor and other local leaders.  Then people could come walk around.  In the 2 hours I worked in the FHE room, I probably met about 7  or 8 families.  One guy, just as he was leaving said, "your church has everything people are looking for."  Pretty cool.  I took some pictures of the missionary wall and my favorite missionary!  It is cool to see all the young men and women serving our Heavenly Father just from Prosper.  I wish we could have added your video to the group but we just couldn't get it to work.  I really appreciate Hmna Breshears working so hard to try to make it happen!  Please tell her thank you again!  ps. While I was at the open house, Brother Whitney talked to me a long time and asked all about you. 

Abby and I also found this really cool tulip farm in Pilot Point.  A family moved here from the Netherlands and built a tulip farm.  It is just rows and rows of beautiful tulips in every color you can imagine.  I included a picture of that too.

Ama sent you a package and I did too a week ago.  Let me know when you receive those.  Your new scriptures are in that box.  xoxox

How was your week my boy?  I hope things went better with Elder C.  Tell me about it!  My every prayer is for you and that all is going well for you and you are feeling the blessings of all your hard work.  You are loved, my sweet boy!  I miss you and I love you sooo much!  I was so happy looking at your missionary picture on the wall with a string connecting the picture to Guatemala.  That is my son!  Keep working hard.  Be obedient.  Pray, study, and remember how much your family loves you! 

I saw this quote and scripture this week and it made me think of you.

“He uses our problems for His miracles. This was my first lesson in learning to trust Him completely...”
-Corrie ten Boom (holocaust survivor)

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord…"
-Jeremiah 29:11-13

I love you so very much and I hope you have a wonderful week!  I can't wait to hear about your week.  Infinity + Infinity and even more than that! 

xoxoxo

mom

p.s. Karlee Winters should have her mission call this week. 

p.s.s. I had a dream that Sydney Walton married Michael Gleason.  What do you think?

March 23, 2015 from Sam

Well somewhat of a long and rough week this week.  It started because my companion Elder Camacho (after the conference with Neil. L Andersen) had told me that night he did something before the mission and wanted an interview with President Crapo.  Because of what he did I knew for sure hed be going home.  So we had a long 2 hour conversation about it and set up the interview for the next day.  The next morning we were talking again and said he lied and didnt do anything but he just wants to go home and doesnt like the mission.... So again we had a long conversation but he decided he wanted to go home.  Then we get off the two hour taxi ride to the office and asked him whats your final thoughts?  "Oh it was just an impulse Im gonna stay here..." ..... If Ive ever wanted to chop someones big toe off it was then.  He had the interview with President and I guess it went ok. But were still not getting along great.  Hes just super prideful and im trying to teach him what I need to teach him as a trainer but he doenst want to learn anything because he thinks he knows everything.... but honestly knows nothing to be honest.  Its just really frustrating.  And hes just a jerk with people to the point where Dianna (my mom in the mission) isnt going to cook lunch for us anymore and where a lot of members have stopped working with us. 

Another tough thing was we had planned this big activity to do family trees for their family history and about 30 people had commited for sure to come but not a single soul came.  After paying like 60 quetz of my own money for supplies and planning a ton that was really super rough. 

As well as basically the ward here... everything is so different from the US.  The people in the leadership positions at least in my ward are super loving and caring people.  My bishop here and all the other leaders are just super prideful and are really really hard to work with.  For example, one of our baptismal dates right now is the bishops sister.  When we told him she was gonna get baptized on the 28th the first thing he said was, with a straight serious face, "why didnt you put the date a week later so when my son gets home he can baptize her?"  They just dont understand what baptism means or really much church organization.  Ughhh its hard not to be negative but its frustrating.  

But I read an article my mom had sent me a while ago that reads basically that the church is lead by all volunteer, unperfect men and women. Except His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, God only has unperfect people to work with.  It must be frustrating but he deals with it.  Therefore, so should we....

I really took that to heart and am really trying to apply it.  I feel like Ive thought of some good ideas and revelation to start this week to help this ward.  Trying to stay positive this week so it can all work out!  

Love you all

Elder Gurksnis

 Notice the difference in Marvin's countenance!  This is before.

This is at his baptism.  So amazing how the gospel of Jesus Christ changes people.  Sometimes you can see it just by looking in their eyes.

 MTC district reunion at Elder Anderson's conference.

Missionary food.  Don't be jealous.

March 22, 2015 from Mom

Oh my gosh!  The t-shirts that woman wears are so funny!  Where does she get them? I'm thinking you could find some awesome Christmas gifts for Dad and Gray there.  

I LOVED all the pictures this week!  What an amazing transformation of Marvin!  He looks fantastic and so happy!  How was the baptism?  Do you have a baptism that has been the most powerful for you so far?  What an impact you are having there in Limon!  Do you think there is any chance you are leaving next transfer or are you pretty committed to training Elder Comacho for another 6 weeks?  

Dad said that you are still having trouble with bad spirits.  I know you don't want me to worry.  However, I want you to know… I'm a very strong woman.  I can handle it.  I don't want you to hold things back from me unless you really feel strongly about it.  Elder Packard says, "There are few things more powerful than the faithful prayers of a righteous mother."  I want to be able to pray for you and help you.  Have those experiences subsided?  Would you like to have a family fast and we could all fast on the same day?  Do you think they have anything to do with Elder Comacho?  You didn't have them before he got there.  Have things changed since he got there?  Are you still truly obedient like you were with Elder Funes?  I know Elder Comacho has been difficult, but I was thinking about this.  I feel like I can see the Lord's hand so much in your life.  I feel there are very few coincidences for you.  It seems the Lord gives you experiences to mold you and fine tune you into the man he wants you to be.  So… what could this experience with Elder Comacho be for?  What do you need to learn, or teach, or how are you being tested by this experience?  Maybe the Lord has seen your obedience with Elder Funes and now he wants to see if you can continue to obey and lead and be an example when you are in charge.  Maybe it's a test of your integrity and leadership.  Integrity is doing what is right and what you believe in even when no one is looking or you could probably get away with not doing it.  These are just some of the thoughts I've had this week as I've prayed and thought about your situation.  Be introspective and truthful with yourself and see what you think about it.  And if this is all just a trial of faith, remember what Pres. Monson says, "Good timber does not grow with ease.  The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees." <3

We had a good week… aside from the fact that I have two very teenagery kids at home right now!  SHEESH!  They are still great kids but they just both had a ton of attitude this week.  Raising teenagers is not for the weak!  It was so funny because tonight Sister Schaack (in another prosper ward) came over to video tape our family having family home evening.  They are video taping about 7 families and putting together a video to show during the new building open house next Saturday to show what FHE is.  So Abby is in a totally bad mood and she looks all pouty the whole time. We were fake praying (they just need video.. you won't hear what we are saying) and Dad is praying to lose 5 more pounds and for Abby and Gray to have better attitudes and Abby did NOT think that was funny!  She is gonna watch the video next week and be so mad that she was so pouty!  haha  Mostly she is awesome!  But she is 15% teenagery. Grayson is about 25% teenagery.  Oh well.  

Dad and I went to dinner with the Smiths yesterday which was really fun!  We are trying to get them to flip a house with us.  So we talked about some of the details last night.  I'm really excited to do it! We are looking for a home in need of TLC in Plano.  It will be an adventure for sure!  I hope that when you get home we will have a few flips under our belt by then and you can help with one!  We also went to lunch with Laurette to celebrate  her bday.  Syd is coming home this weekend to visit which will be great.  

A few questions/reminders:

Don't forget on the new mp3 player that I sent you, I put all your music and several talks on there too.  Did you ever get a speaker?  I sent one to you in a "Easter" box I mailed to you on Friday.  I hope you get it by easter.  

How was the Elder Anderson conference?  What a fun reunion with all your MTC buddies! What did you take away from his talk?

Loved the pictures of your food!  Looks like a grilled ham,cheese and salsa sandwich..??? Am I right?  Do you need any more cooking ideas?  try to add veggies if you can.  

Do you feel healthy?

Do you use the journal that I made?  If so what do you use it for?  

What will you do for Gen. Conf? Can you watch in English?

I love you my sweet boy!  I hope you have a wonderful week!  I'm praying for you all the time.  I love you so very much!  Let me know if you want to have a family fast.  Even though you are so far from us, we are with you and can still help you through prayer and fasting. I miss you madly and  I love you infinity + infinity and even more than that!!!!! xoxoxo

mom

oh… p.s. I almost forgot.  I posted a picture of you and your MTC buddies that you sent this week on the Guatemala missionary mom Facebook page.  One of the moms said her son said Pres Crapo told him they weren't allowed to send pics via wifi anymore. Do you know anything about this?  

MUAH!!!!!! xoxoxox

March 16, 2015 from Sam

Welp, a decent week.  We had the chance to baptize Armando who is the son of Paty and brother of Dalia and Aura who were baptized with Elder Funes and I.  He's really really autistic and has a lot of problems so we didn't know if he really needed to be baptized.  But we realized he knows the difference between good and bad so he was baptized Saturday.  

This coming Saturday, we have the baptism of Marvin!  He's an ex alcoholic who drank every single day but since the very first day we visited him he hasn't had a single drink.  Truly a miracle.  We also have some solid other investigators who we've been teaching but Marvin this week!

This week on Wednesday we'll get the chance to hear from the apostle Neil L. Anderson in a conference for just our mission.  I'm pretty excited!  This morning we were in a meeting for all the newbies and so I had to go with my comp.  It was something with signing a visa or something. A man walked in and told us that Elder Anderson had just arrived and it was pretty funny to watch everyones eyes and how fast their hands opened their backpacks to get their scriptures out lol.  

Ive been reading a lot about the atonement of Jesus Christ lately.  Something I read in a talk from David A. Bednar is that sometimes we make the mistake of thinking the atonement is only used to make bad people good.  But just as equally it's used to make good men, better.  Although a huge crucial role of the atonement is to help people really turn their lives around, those already walking in a fairly straight path need it just as equally to progress and learn to become more like Christ.  I encourage all of you to learn and take advantage of the sacrifice that Jesus Christ has made for each of us.  Hope you all have a great week!

Elder Gurksnis

Tradition - Burning a tie at 6 months

Austin Family!  The ties are gorgeous and I've already eaten all the trail mix!  You guys are awesome!