August 15, 2016 - From Sam

Wow what a week. We had quite a succesful week and it went by fast and was great! 

Ill start with a couple funny things. Elder Cardenas is super skinny and he wants to get big. I gave him a few excersises he could do. The next day he was bugging the crap out of me and Elder Flygare. We got back that night and he asked what he can eat to get bigger. I told him my secret is... grapes... he went out and bought literally five pounds of grapes and he just pounds them down every night hahahaha I constantly laugh while watching him eat grapes but he has no idea why hahah

So this week was succesful because we taught 41 lessons in one week which was the most in the mission this week! We worked super hard and it felt great. We had 9 investigators in sacrament meeting and are teaching FIVE different families right now who ALL have super awesome potential and are progressing. Truly incredible. I am sad that changes are next week and theres a very small chance Ill be here to watch them progress. But theyre all pretty amazing. 

One mother in particular has been an investigator for quite a while now. We were teaching her this week and I felt inspired to tell her the conversion story of my dad. He took a long time to commit to baptism because he felt he needed to know every single thing about the gospel before he was baptised. There was apparently even a picture of him in the mission home and under his picture it said ¨Baptise this man and go home two months early¨. Haha! Then a senior missionary couple started teaching him and the elderly man told him although hed been a bishop and had held multiple different callings, he was still learning something knew every day about the gospel. He was then baptised soon after. I told her that story and she committed to baptism. Pretty special. 

My scripture I wanted to share this week was Alma 5:60 ¨And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you and if you will hearken unto His voice he will bring you into His fold, and ye are His sheep; and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you...¨ I love this scripture. Although at times in our lives we may feel far from our Heavenly Father, he is always calling out to us with open arms. He is our shepherd and we are His sheep. The bible says ¨what shepherd having 100 sheep would not leave the ninety and nine to find the one that is lost.¨ If you are lost, he is searching for you. Ive experienced this in my own life many a time. Especially in this last year or so. He loves you and will always be ready to accept you back into His fold if you seek after Him. 

I love you all! Have a fantastic week!

Elder Gurksnis

August 14, 2016 - From Mom

Hi sweetie!  How was Week 2?! I hope you are doing great!  It is my prayer every day that you are not too homesick and you are digging into the work.  I hope you are aware of how amazing this is... what you have done.  I was reading a Missionary Mom facebook post about a young man that came home after only a few weeks on his mission.  He came home with a strong testimony but slowly began to drift farther and farther away from the gospel. I know how much opposition you faced and how easy it would have been for you to have given up and moved on.  I read about  the heartache the mother feels at her son's path.  And I feel for her and all the others that added their comments and shared that they had similar experiences.  I guess it just reminds me of how special you are.  I loved Elder Flygare's letter last week (I forwarded it to you).  I loved how you gained a contact by serving somenone... just like Ammon. I was so proud of you when I read his letter!  Flygare said he was excited about his last 3 weeks because he was going to be with the "best missionary."  What a great young man and how he looks up to you.  

Speaking of Flygare, his mom will be there next Tuesday to pick him up and she has several things for you.  I sent them to her and she is bringing them down.  I figured it was the fastest and most affordable way to get them to you.  She was nice enough to offer to bring them:)  She promised to get a picture of you for me.  

I'll be writing you from Denver tomorrow.  We got here last night.  We had a good week.  We drove to Moab (the scenic route because Grayson made us go to a lake that we actually couldn't get to and it added only 4 hours to our 12 hour drive) : / From there we went into Colorado heading towards Denver.

We have had a good time but we all miss you so much!  Its just not the same without you.  We have scouted out some great places for you to fish when you get home!  We also took some great hikes with just beautiful views.  I'm sure its similar to what you did/saw in Utah.  Just gorgeous country here. We took a 1 mile hike (doesn't sound so bad, right?) that goes straight up a mountain.  It was pretty challenging but then you get to the top and there is a lake with a waterfall that is just amazing.  It's called Hanging Lake.  The water was just crystal clear. One of the prettiest things I've ever scene.  We already decided we will take you there when you go back to BYU after your mission. I've attached a picture:)

 Tomorrow we are taking grandpa Tom out for his 75th birthday that is later this month.  AND dad volunteered me to got to one of Gayle's rehersals for a local community play that she is in... should be awesome...Nothing sounds more exciting than a senior citizen community play. Hmmm... But as Grayson said at dinner tonight, "sometimes you have to do something you don't want to because its for family."  Dad and I just started cracking up because that came from Grayson's mouth!  Can you believe that Gray leaves for college next Tuesday?!! It's hard for me to wrap my head around it.  Two of my boys leaving home within a couple of weeks. Ugh. But it is so exciting for him. 

I read something from President Uchtdorf this week that reminds me of you.  He said, " The Lord knows you.  He knows your heart and is pleased with your sacrifice. He smiles upon you each day.  He will uphold you and prepare the way for you.  He will send His angels before you.  You will feel their presence. And with the help of heaven, your talents will be multiplied. I promise you that as you lift those around you, the Lord God, the Creator of the universe, will lift you up.  If you will only believe and incline your heart to our Beloved Father, He will place within you a peace that surpasses understanding.  He will give you joy.  May you always remember this."

This is my prayer for you.  That you truly know this and feel this.  I said a prayer for you yesterday when we were at a quiet lake and I just prayed that you would feel the love of your family and the love of your Heavenly Father at that moment.  I am so incredibly happy for you, proud of you... and I love you so very much.  I love you my son.  Have a wonderful week!  I'll be waiting to chat with you online.  

xoxoxo

mom

p.s. Hopefully you can open the two videos I sent you!

August 8, 2016 - From Sam

Welp! Im back. Crazy to be back after being away from Guatemala for over one year. First let me just say I´m doing great! I love being back in the mission. It´s really an incredible feeling.  My spanish is all coming back and I already feel almost back to my normal mission self.

President Crapo thankfully put me in a trio with two zone leaders Elder Flygare, who is my buddy from the MTC who is going home in two weeks, and his companion Elder Cardenas.  Our area is called ¨Quatro de Febrero¨ which is the name of the main colony we work in.  We have seen so many amazing things already.

The first couple days were some of the hardest days ever to be honest. I was a little homesick, but the anxiety I had from doing a complete 180 of my daily life was insane. I´ve never had anxiety before or stress like that and it was almost unbearable. The mission is already so different from normal life, plus a lot of the things I remembered about the mission had changed. The way we work and the weekly routine. Not drastically but it was just another thing that was different and made it more difficult. I definitely thought at one point that there was just no way that I could do this.

Wednesday night I prayed so hard. I just prayed that my head could clear and I could focus again on what I came back to finish and what I am to accomplish as a missionary. I prayed that I could leave all of my personal problems and focus on the people that I was suppose to be serving.  It was difficult, but then I read in the Book of Mormon Alma 7:11-12 ¨And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind. And this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and sicknesses of his people... That he may know according to the flesh how to succor (comfort) his people according to their infirmities.¨ 

Although those first 2 or 3 days I felt as if no one could really understand what I was going through, it was then that I realized, again, that the Savior always knows our pains and afflictions. He understands them better than we ourselves understand them. I woke up Thursday morning and all the anxiety and stress was gone. I felt totally back to normal and accustomed to the mission again.  I was honestly maybe the most thankful that I have ever been in my life, that God answered my prayer. 

There´s honestly so much I want to share with you all.  But my time is limited so I´ll end with one last spiritual thought.  I read this week as well in Mosiah 15.  Verses 7-8 prophecy of the Atonement and Crucifixion of Christ. It says, ¨Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up by the will of the Father... and thus God breaketh the bands of death...¨  

Jesus Christ did not want to suffer the pain that he suffered.  He asked His Father to ¨let this cup pass from me¨.  But he says ´nevertheless not my will, but thine be done´. One thing that I feel I can be proud of in these past few years is always trying to do what the Lord wants me to do. I knew how difficult it would be to come back but I know doing what I want to do isn´t how I become closer to my Heavenly Father, but by doing His will for me.  

I love Him with all my heart. And I know this year will be tough at times, but I know 100% that this is where I´m suppose to be. I can´t wait to continue to see the miracles that will happen in this next year.  I know this church is true with every ounce of my being. I know I am on the Lord´s errand doing His work.  I love you all with all my heart! Talk to you next week!

Love Elder Gurksnis

Some quick family pics before Elder Gurksnis headed out.

Letter from Elder Flygare

These will be the best three weeks that I will have in the mission!  Well we are in a trio again BUT with one of the best missionaries that I know! First look at the picture that I sent and see if you guys remember where you have seen this person!  Well his name is Elder Gurksnis... and he came back to the mission! He's from my group! I was so excited when president told me that he was going to be my companion! President told me that he was going to be my companion 2 seconds before I saw Elder Gurksnis. We were in a meeting with the leaders of the mission and he told me outside and then I walk inside the chapel and Elder Gurksnis was right there! I can't tell you guys how happy I am to have him as my companion!I hope that I can be a good example for him in these last two weeks so we can have success and so he can be excited for this next year to teach everyone that he finds and to baptize a ton of people!

> Also, this Sunday we were able to have 5 investigators in sacrament meeting! And out of these five people, one of them was someone that we taught just the day before.  The story of how we found her was that we were talking to someone on the street and we noticed that a man was passing by us carrying cement blocks, so after we talked to the person on the street, Elder Gurksnis asked if he would like us to help him with the blocks, and he told that we could help him, so we went to where he had all of the blocks and we had to take the blocks to his house which was like 80 steps of stairs to go down to his house because he lives in a ravine. So we helped him move 100 blocks that were bigger than the normal sized blocks and he and his wife then gave us lunch for free for helping them! So we then taught them and the wife told us that she was going to come to church with us so she came with us! The husband had to work so he didn't come.
> Well also this week I have been reading in Alma, and in this week I was reading in Alma 48 and it really impacted me what I read! Because this chapter is talking about one of my favorite leaders in the Book of Mormon and it's talking about Moroni!Alma 48:11-13 & 1711 And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery;12 Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people.13 Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood.
> In these three verses it talks about he is a man! A man of God! It says the word man 7 times in these 3 verses! and its really important that each of us, man or women can become like him. and why should we become like him? well in verse 17 tells us why,17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.
>
> If we are men and women of God like he was, we will see more miracles in our lives and we will see that we won't sin as much. We need to be converted unto the Lord like Moroni and we get a conversion through scripture study, prayers, fasting, and our family home evenings. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior.  I know that he showed us the perfect example that we need to follow.
> Elder Flygare

August 8, 2016 - From Sam

Welp! Im back. Crazy to be back after being away from Guatemala for over one year. First let me just say I´m doing great! I love being back in the mission. It´s really an incredible feeling.  My spanish is all coming back and I already feel almost back to my normal mission self.

President Crapo thankfully put me in a trio with two zone leaders Elder Flygare, who is my buddy from the MTC who is going home in two weeks, and his companion Elder Cardenas.  Our area is called ¨Quatro de Febrero¨ which is the name of the main colony we work in.  We have seen so many amazing things already.

The first couple days were some of the hardest days ever to be honest. I was a little homesick, but the anxiety I had from doing a complete 180 of my daily life was insane. I´ve never had anxiety before or stress like that and it was almost unbearable. The mission is already so different from normal life, plus a lot of the things I remembered about the mission had changed. The way we work and the weekly routine. Not drastically but it was just another thing that was different and made it more difficult. I definitely thought at one point that there was just no way that I could do this.

Wednesday night I prayed so hard. I just prayed that my head could clear and I could focus again on what I came back to finish and what I am to accomplish as a missionary. I prayed that I could leave all of my personal problems and focus on the people that I was suppose to be serving.  It was difficult, but then I read in the Book of Mormon Alma 7:11-12 ¨And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind. And this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and sicknesses of his people... That he may know according to the flesh how to succor (comfort) his people according to their infirmities.¨ 

Although those first 2 or 3 days I felt as if no one could really understand what I was going through, it was then that I realized, again, that the Savior always knows our pains and afflictions. He understands them better than we ourselves understand them. I woke up Thursday morning and all the anxiety and stress was gone. I felt totally back to normal and accustomed to the mission again.  I was honestly maybe the most thankful that I have ever been in my life, that God answered my prayer. 

There´s honestly so much I want to share with you all.  But my time is limited so I´ll end with one last spiritual thought.  I read this week as well in Mosiah 15.  Verses 7-8 prophecy of the Atonement and Crucifixion of Christ. It says, ¨Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up by the will of the Father... and thus God breaketh the bands of death...¨  

Jesus Christ did not want to suffer the pain that he suffered.  He asked His Father to ¨let this cup pass from me¨.  But he says ´nevertheless not my will, but thine be done´. One thing that I feel I can be proud of in these past few years is always trying to do what the Lord wants me to do. I knew how difficult it would be to come back but I know doing what I want to do isn´t how I become closer to my Heavenly Father, but by doing His will for me.  

I love Him with all my heart. And I know this year will be tough at times, but I know 100% that this is where I´m suppose to be. I can´t wait to continue to see the miracles that will happen in this next year.  I know this church is true with every ounce of my being. I know I am on the Lord´s errand doing His work.  I love you all with all my heart! Talk to you next week!

Love Elder Gurksnis

Some quick family pics before Elder Gurksnis headed out.

Letter from Elder Flygare

These will be the best three weeks that I will have in the mission!  Well we are in a trio again BUT with one of the best missionaries that I know! First look at the picture that I sent and see if you guys remember where you have seen this person!  Well his name is Elder Gurksnis... and he came back to the mission! He's from my group! I was so excited when president told me that he was going to be my companion! President told me that he was going to be my companion 2 seconds before I saw Elder Gurksnis. We were in a meeting with the leaders of the mission and he told me outside and then I walk inside the chapel and Elder Gurksnis was right there! I can't tell you guys how happy I am to have him as my companion!I hope that I can be a good example for him in these last two weeks so we can have success and so he can be excited for this next year to teach everyone that he finds and to baptize a ton of people!
> Also, this Sunday we were able to have 5 investigators in sacrament meeting! And out of these five people, one of them was someone that we taught just the day before.  The story of how we found her was that we were talking to someone on the street and we noticed that a man was passing by us carrying cement blocks, so after we talked to the person on the street, Elder Gurksnis asked if he would like us to help him with the blocks, and he told that we could help him, so we went to where he had all of the blocks and we had to take the blocks to his house which was like 80 steps of stairs to go down to his house because he lives in a ravine. So we helped him move 100 blocks that were bigger than the normal sized blocks and he and his wife then gave us lunch for free for helping them! So we then taught them and the wife told us that she was going to come to church with us so she came with us! The husband had to work so he didn't come.
> Well also this week I have been reading in Alma, and in this week I was reading in Alma 48 and it really impacted me what I read! Because this chapter is talking about one of my favorite leaders in the Book of Mormon and it's talking about Moroni!Alma 48:11-13 & 1711 And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery;12 Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people.13 Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood.
> In these three verses it talks about he is a man! A man of God! It says the word man 7 times in these 3 verses! and its really important that each of us, man or women can become like him. and why should we become like him? well in verse 17 tells us why,17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.
>
> If we are men and women of God like he was, we will see more miracles in our lives and we will see that we won't sin as much. We need to be converted unto the Lord like Moroni and we get a conversion through scripture study, prayers, fasting, and our family home evenings. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior.  I know that he showed us the perfect example that we need to follow.
> Elder Flygare

August 7, 2016 - From Mom

Hi My Boy!  Oh how I miss you!  I have been DYING for Monday to come so we could ask you 100 questions and see how you're doing!  First of all...

1.  How are you doing?  Are you feeling good?  Are you getting adjusted? We all fasted for you today that you will feel peace being back on your mission and that you will find people to share the gospel with.  We pray for you many times each day! So many people, and mostly our family, ask about you everyday.  I've been sharing your pictures with our family and they love them.  I love the picture you sent from church with the little children.  It reminds me of a picture I saw (see above).  I love seeing pictures of you with the beautiful children in Guatemala.

2. Where are you?  I'm guessing right in the city... 

3.  How are your companions?  So excited you get to be with someone familiar (Elder Flygare).  

4.  How was it when you got to the airport?  Was it a good reunion with President Crapo?

5.  Have you talked with Pres. Crapo about returning by early August 2017? I got your BYU status deferred again so you are good until Fall 2017.

6.  It looks like you've been getting tons of rain.  Maybe even some storms.  Are you safe? Are you able to stay dry?

7.  Since you're in a trio, do you have a bed?  Where are you sleeping?

8.  How is the teaching and language going?  Are you back in the game?

I love your mission goals.  This is a unique and special time in your life.  You are on track to make the most of this time.  I'm so proud of you, my son.  Tears just roll down my cheeks every time I think about your strength and testimony and what you are doing. I know the Lord will save some of his most special blessings for you.  

I love getting those surprise emails with your pictures!  It totally makes my day.  Once you sent one right while I was on the computer and it made me so happy that I knew what you were doing right at that moment. 

It was a good week at home.  Weird because you're not here... I like being in your room sometimes because I feel close to you there.  So I cleaned your room since it looked like a bomb went off in it after you left:)  

Uncle David, Becky and William came over for a few hours on Saturday.  Its pretty awkward watching Dad and his brother talk about traffic and the weather for 3 hours.  I wish they were closer.  But it was still a good visit.  William is getting so tall.  He is a big kid.  Definitely autistic but I think he's doing much better.  He is actually very sweet and had great manners.  And since we didn't take a vacation this summer, we decided to go to Denver to visit Grandpa Tom and Gayle for a bit.  It is his 75 birthday this month so its a good time to visit.  Hopefully we'll get to take some adventures while we are there.  It's like Utah, there is so much to do there in the summer and the weather is great.  The temperature highs are only in the 80s.  We've had triple digit heat for 10 days straight now.  UGH! Can't wait to get out of the heat for a little bit. We're leaving Wednesday and next Monday when we email, we'll be there still.  Probably not a vacation you'll be too sad to miss... but we'll still miss you being with us. 

So many people asked about you today at church.  You have such a big crowd cheering for you and no one more than the four of us at home.  I'm getting your Instagram list ready so that when I have your first letter, I can send it to everyone.  

I wont make this too long because I want you to have time to write and give us the scoop!  Just know that I'm crazy about you... and I love you more than I could ever say.  You have my heart out there with you, Sam.  Take good care of it and take good care of yourself.  Take vitamins, get sleep, work hard, pray hard, eat as well as you can, and listen to the promptings of the spirit.  

I love you so very much!  I absolutely CANNOT wait to "talk" to you Monday morning.  

xoxoxo

mom

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:)