Taking Things Slow April 13, 2015

This week was so long, I thought I was in Kolobs reckoning of time.
But it gives you a good chance to stop and smell the...ferns...
Honestly not a lot of things happened this week. The Vegas where sick.
Appointments fell through. So a lot of wondering what to do. But we
did have some opportunities to find some new people! Whoot!
      This week Elder Clark ruined my second favorite thing in the
world. Lord of the Rings! I was quoting the scene in "The Return of
the King" where Frodo and Sam are at the volcano and Frodo is about to
drop the ring. "What are you waiting for! Just let it Go!" Then he had
the audacity to start to sing "Let it Go" from Frozen! Aaaaaahhhhh!
You ruins it precious! Now Elder Clark will always be know has the Man
who ruined Lord of the Rings! But that is why we have the atonement.
       But not much else has happened this week, sorry about the lame
email....But we find out transfers this Saturday. I hope I stay in
Conway, it has grown on me. Hope I stay for 6 transfers. Go Big or Go
Home!
Hope you all have a great week!

Elder Herrin

A Cookie and a Kiss - April 6

So that title answers to what my favorite General Conference quote is....good ol packer.

So, I would feel more guilty for not including you all in my weekly email blast last week...if it wasn't for the fact that this has been the first time on my mission where I have gotten an email from all of my family members at the same time...I'm not sorry. Although I do feel for my sister Alyssa. To quote Phoebe "I have tasted of my own medicine and it is bitter" or more recently to quote Sheldon "Payback, it truelly is the "B" word." 

     This week has been busy! We had to stuff 7 days of work into 5 days, because of general conference and a super long doctors appointment. Elder Clark, due to a hurt ankle needed to visit the doctor. So, we went after Zone Training Meeting. But of course we had to take advantage of 60¢ wings at BWWs so we didn't head out until 2. The journey to the doctor took an hour and the actual appointment( Waiting and what not) took 3 hours. So by the time we got back to our area we had about two and a half hours left. Busy busy! 

That day I witnessed something that I feel would be a lot like judgement day for those who are not ready. I was driving along when the road, all of the sudden turned into a highway and not only that but it was a toll road. Not expecting to have to have a dollar in quarters ready at hand, I hurriedly looked around for some change...but to no avail. With no way out and with cars pilling up behind me, I was damned. I feared what was about to happen I didn't know what to do! I had to humble myself, and with a short prayer, I opened the door and asked a man in the car behind me if he could help me out. He graciously gave me four quarters, denying the dollar bill I planned to exchange for him. And with the help of this man I was freed from my temporary prison. 

   34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. (Alma 34)

The feelings I felt, even though it wasn't on an eternal scale still filled me with fear and it was a definite crisis. But it reminded me of my savior and the role He has in my eternal salvation. Because He Lives, we have an advocate who loves us and will do all he can to help us on our way. As we humble ourselves and rely on our Savior, that judgement day will be a good day, a day of peace and day of relief. As Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

May we all be a little more humble that we will be ready to meet our savior, Jesus Christ. I hope you all have a wonderful week, and I will here from you next week. 

Elder Herrin

P.S. I Love My Family!!

Je suis enfant de Dieu - March 29, 2015

Hello Mom! I will be taking care of the pants today, did you want me to send back the ones you sent or just the faded ones? 

This past week has been fantastic! I really took what you said to heart and I thought of myself a few years back having to be a companion with who I am now...and it made me realize who I was right now wasn't who I wanted to be. So I prayed asking Heavenly Father to bless me with charity and empathy. That if I would at least find opportunities to complement him that God would take care of the rest! And he has! I am more patient and kind then I was, still not where I want to be, but I am close! I have tried before to pray for charity but, I wasn't humble enough. Thought like " why should I have to change?" Or "Can't I just ignore it" stopped me from truly changing. But God doesn't hesitate to show us who we need to be! And now I know! I have been thinking a lot about who I was, who I am, and who I want to be. And I have seen that as I change who I am to be more like God wants me to be, that, When I think of who I will be, I have a lot more hope and peace because I know that I am doing what I need to do know to prepare myself for who I am to become!

I really appreciate all of the love and help that you have given me while on my mission! You my be far away but I know you are near. 

 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (Colossians 2)

Love
Elder Herrin

Water Running in the Church March 23, 2015

Ok give me a second to catch my breath...It has been a Hectic week! Busy Busy Busy! Had Zone Conference on Tuesday, for 9 Hours! It was hard. But we got new I-pads! Thanks parents! My I-Pad came with the Apple guarantee of being a huge waste. It came with faulty software(Which I know all apple products do already) but mine wouldn't even start. So, we had to re-install IOS. Anyways, because of my foot being injured I am not riding bikes for the next three weeks so they gave us a car! A 2014 Ford Fusion! It's nice! Then we had exchanges and I went back to UPK where I got to see Kim again! The we had a Baptism Saturday! Miguel was baptized! It wasn't the super spiritual experience that most baptisms are, because he is a 14 year old boy. Then Sunday one of my investigators from UPK was baptized! Troy! I got to do the baptism, it was awesome. he is 12 so it was kind of the same experience as Miguel. But Man! It has been a great week! Both Miguel and Troy are awesome young men and it is going to be awesome to get to see them grow and come closer to their savior! So now I am currently at 4 baptisms! 1 Korean, 1 Peurto Rican, and 2 Kidtisms! Whoooot!

Hope you all have a great week!

-Elder Herrin

p.s. I am currently learning french, which is the language of...French people. I will use it to my advantage when I get into to college and seek my second calling! 

Broken Foot and contrite Spirit March 16, 2015

This week has been super eventful! For P-Day we played soccer. And you
know how in soccer...you are supposed to hit the ball.. Well I was the
goalie and a missionary thought my foot was the ball! I went to the
"Doctor" on Tuesday, and the visit went like this; walked in he took a
pic of my foot with the Ray of X and sent me on my way. He never
looked at my physical foot. He says it is just a bruise, which clearly
explains the fact that I can't move my toe, and their is a bump on the
side of my foot. He gave me a boot because I asked him for one. But oh
well, No un-hallowed hand with stop the work from progressing...right?
WRONG.!

Thursday rolled around and Elder Clark got hit with the Stomach Flu!
So we stayed inside while Elder Clark Emptied his Stomach. I helped as
much as a cripple could. Needless to say I perfected my Zombie Walk.

So besides that this week has been amazing! Not only do I get to
baptize one of my former investigators, Troy, another one of my
investigators, Miguel, just decided he wanted to get baptized out of
the blue! So this coming Saturday, we will have two baptisms! Whooot!
Plus we took bill, another investigator to an awesome fireside(Where a
bunch of recent converts and a member of the first quorum of the
seventy spoke) and know he feels a greater desire to read the Book of
Mormon!

“The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop
the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine,
armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go
forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every
continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in
every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the
Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”

Continuing in Conway March 9, 2015

So got the call... and I am staying another Transfer. this will make 6 months in conway... a quarter of my mission. But... Good News! Since I will be staying in the area(Which is just south of my last area) one of my investigators from University Park is getting baptized! and He asked me to do it! Whoot! So excited for that. it will be the 21st! His name is Troy, he is 13 and his mom was a member. back in the UPK(University Park) Days we tried for a long time to actually meet sister Delgado. but we could never catch a brake. One time we saw Troy playing basketball, so we decided to play a game with him. Sister Delgado then invited us in and since then she has been trying to get involved with the church again. Go Persistence!

The work here is kind of slowing down, but that just means we get to find more people. So that always leads to excitement. meet some new crazy people. speaking of which, Roberts has no electricity now so the few visits we have are in the dark. but he is getting better...slowly. 

I hope every one is doing well, I am glad to hear that there haven't been any injuries or illnesses this week. I wish the best for all of you 

Elder Herrin

Change is Good - March 2, 2015

So we have been super busy this week. It was kind of short because of
mission conference and An exchange. But it was really the same old
same old. Taught some people. Nothing spectacular is happening right
now. All of our investigators have kind of plateaued. Almost ready for
baptism. Robert has his phone back so now we get calls and texts
constantly again. He is doing better though. I am ready for a change,
coming up on my year mark the 18 and have only been in two areas. Not
that I don't like them but change is good.

I have been working out lately, gotta get jacked for when I return and
start my second mission. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more, say no
more! But man I have been pretty successful I only have one 20 pound
weight, but I can work my biceps, triceps, traps, and abs! I am hoping
to be like Indiana jones when I get back and search for treasure!

I currently feel like frodo, weighed down with the ring. Just trudging
along to mordor to cast the ring into the fire. But instead of a ring
the are investigators. And instead of mordor or fire, it is baptism.
Plus it doesn't help when your Samwise is currently missing and you
are stuck with smeagle. I am just waiting for gandalf to save me! Or
my mission pres. to transfer me...

Well with that I wish you all the best, and keep you in my prayers!
Elder Herrin
P.S. If you want to make Elder Herrin happy send him a Lord of the
Rings Ring(Hint Hint)

Don't Panic! Feb. 24, 2015

We had P-day on Tuesday so, sorry about the delay. This week has been crazy! We taught 23 lessons this week! So we have been really busy. Yesterday we had mission conference which was awesome! Elder Zwick came and talked about missionary work and our I-Pads. It was pretty cool! The work is going good we still have a baptism coming up soon. Hope it sticks! Nothing much has changed though. 

I wrote a poem and wanted to share it. I am coming up on my year mark and of the months I have realized what it really means to be a servant of the Lord.

A servant for the Lord.

What would you give 

or 

What would you take

To know your savior more

Change how you live

And

Pull out your stakes

To be a servant for the Lord

Would you give up your life

And

Be willing to serve

To know your savior more

Would you freely take strife

And

Prove you deserve 

To be a servant for the Lord

The trials will come

They always do

You will give freedom

To those who need you

You will wake each day

Remember your purpose

To show the way

Remember it's worth it

What do you learn

Or 

What do you do

To know your savior more

What have you earned

And

What have you gone through

To be a servant of the Lord

Are you willing to be taught

And 

Not let your light grow dim

To know your savior more

In the trap will you be caught

Or

Will you remember him

To be a servant of the Lord

We are not perfect

That will come

We know it will be worth it

In his kingdom

We give our all

That's what he expects

We may fall

He makes up for the rest

To be a servant of the lord

You need to know your savior more

By giving all you can afford

And when he knocks, open the door

I hope all is well and I wish you all the Best!

Elder Herrin

Happy Feb. 14! Feb 16, 2015

This has been a long week! Started with an exchange with the District Leader, and I got to go back to University Park for a day! Whooh! (My last area) It was great! I got to see Kim and a whole bunch of other people! It was Awesome! Then it was Valentines, Which first off I am so grateful that I currently am not with a companion who has a girlfriend, That would have stunk..."Oh you got a package? Well, aren't you special..." Needless to say I sent many Thanks to my Father in Heaven. We Visited Robert on that day and man oh man, He was so giddy because a Lady told him he has "Class". The whole lesson he kept saying "I have class" " I am so classy". I am pretty sure that Robert is the only guy who would get that flattered over something like that. He is still pretty crazy. our goal for him is to continue to teach and uplift him spiritually until he gets his car back, then we will baptize him... He will the Wards problem...I mean blessing then. but other than that things have been pretty regular, nothing Outstanding...mediocre to say the least.

I know that these letters are getting pretty short but there really isn't much else to say. Especially when applying the rule "If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all." Just Kidding...

I hope all is well with all of you and I Wish the best!

Elder Herrin! 

Whoot! Nothing has changed Feb. 9, 2015

So lately we have been teaching, and teaching, and yes...teaching. same peeps as before. I am completely grateful that we have people to teach but the problem is they are not progressing. don't really know what to do, except have faith and rely on the spirit. 

So I kind of had an epiphany this week, we where teaching an investigator and shared a talk by good old Elder Jeffery R. Holland, "Lord I Believe" and he made a point in there that really stuck out to me. Obedience is an act of Faith. Yes, I kind of knew this already but what I didn't quite understand yet was how much faith we are exerting by being obedient. On the mission we have rules, and a lot of the time we could easily break them: nobody would know, or it is just a very small thing. But we keep the rules, we are exactly obedient. Why? Because we believe that through obedience we will be blessed with success as a missionary! As a normal member we do seemingly simple things: Pray, Read the Scriptures, Live the Word of Wisdom,etc. with an expectation to be saved at the last day. This is a lot of faith to live ones life in a way completely contradictive  to the way the world works in an expectation that when we die we will be blessed. If we have the faith to live our lives a certain way by doing small things the size of a mustard seed, we should be able to move mountains. We, The members of this church, have faith and lots of it. Let us not be put down by the travail of the world, but hold fast to the faith we do have and endure to the end! Because I know that we will blessed in the last day!

I hope you all are doing well and wish the best. I send you my prayers

Elder Herrin

What a week Feb. 2, 1015

This week was Awesome! We got a new Person with a baptismal date!
Angela Vega! She is Awesome! We have been really busy this week, lots
of teaching! Lately I have had no sleep so now my mind is going
everywhere and nowhere at the same time! So sorry if this letter makes
no sense. Nothing really new has happened, except for my new companion
who is a lot like one I had in Twin Falls, Elder Beatie. His name is
Elder Clark. He is really nice but just kinda boring. But oh well.
Nothing much else has happened this week.

Hope all is well and sorry for the shortness!

Elder Herrin

Temple Week Jan. 26, 2014

Sorry about the shortness of last weeks letter. But man has these last two weeks been Cray Cray! Last week two major events went on two temple tours! One with an amazing Vega Family! Brother Vega is a member, Sister Vega isn't. But she is super great! However they got in a car accident this week so we weren't able to see them. They are ok as far as we know though! Later last week we went on a tour with Robert. Now I am now Psychologist but with my experiences back home I can safely assume that Robert has Major Dementia which could be causing Schizophrenia! He talks about Hearing bad spirits all the time, and when he has these insistences it leads to a bit of Bipolarity! Now it is nothing to severe, Elder Clement and I have been working with him these past weeks to see if he is accountable to the things we are teaching him. He has a very good spirit and is very knowledgeable so we will continue to teach him.  

I have found that on my mission there are people who need me! My experiences, my attributes. I have had hard times, and it is because of that I can help people. Back in Twin Falls I ran into a man who had Aspbergers syndrome like me. At first I was like "Yes I can help this man because of my experiences" but I soon realized that you can't pull someone out of the flood if your in it with them. We never visited him after that, my fear kept me from having faith. That was 8 months ago, Now I have grown (granted I still have a ways to go). I continue to have hard times on the mission but I now have faith to overcome them! Heavenly Father is a Loving God and has given me another opportunity to pull someone out of the flood! Her name is Kayla she is 18 and her Mother is a recent convert of 4 months! When I first met her it was like looking at myself 2 years ago when I was just staring to grow faithwise. At first she wouldn't even come out of her room, but as she overcame her anxieties she started sitting in on the lessons, until she was comfortably conversing with my companion and I. Last week we stopped by to visit I had no intentions for the lesson to go how it did but I just stopped thinking and I let the holy spirit guide my words. I told her that I also had Aspbergers and both her and her mother where amazed! I told them that it is through and only through the Savior and a loving Heavenly Father that I am here today! I told them that there was and is and will be hard times but if we build our foundation on the Rock of our Redeemer we will be taken care of! It is through the simple things prayer, Scripture study, and Going to Church that strengthen us and build our faith! And one thing always remains, The love and sacrifice of our savior! There Is Always Hope!

I wish the best for all of you and hope you are doing well!

Elder Herrin  

What a week! Jan. 19, 2015

So we don't really have a lot of time so I promise a long letter next
week! Plus I have pictures I want to show but because of the holiday
we don't have computers so next week. I have been doing really well
this week! Lots of growth! My companion will be going home next week
so I figure I will be staying another transfer! I can tell both of you
aren't feeling well, I am sending prayers your way always and I hope
you get feeling better soon! Love ya both!

Elder Herrin

Letters!

So I have done it! I wrote each one of you a letter and individually packaged them( Extra Special)! I do need however a Mailing address for my two sisters away from home, Emily and Becca! If you could get those to me before this day is over I can send them this week if not it will take another week for me to send them. The letters are pretty individualized so I will just share a brief overview of this week! Man it was great! Our dear friend Robert is still crazy but we saw him four times this week trying to dial it down a bit... and to our surprise success!(though very small) We shared a message about forgiveness! and man it made me want to change! I realized that I still hold a lot of resentment for certain people but now as I have tried to forgive them I have had a weight lift off of me! We all hold resentment for others but as we let go of that we will experience the fullness of the atonement! 

I will get the letters out as soon as possible!

I love you all and wish the best!

Elder Herrin

New Year 2015

So, crazy things have been happening here in Conway! Crazy things! By
crazy things I mean a new investigator! How can I describe him... Well
first off he believes his wife is being held hostage by homosexual
democrats! Which might be true...but anyways he is also very smart and
understands scripture very well! And guess what he is getting baptized
the 25 of January! Whoot! We also got another two investigators who
are both on the way to having a date as well! Whoot!
Nothing much else has been happening though just healing peeps!

Hope you all are doing well! And send me all of your mailing address I
am going to send some letters!

Elder Herrin

3 Days Til the Day December 22, 2014

Christmas! Whooot! So first of all Transfers was this Tuesday! and I got a new Companion! His name is Elder Clement. This is his last Transfer. And man Heavenly Father is dragging it out! This week has felt like a Fortnight! We have seen miracles though! One of our investigators, Eddie, Hasn't been to willing to change and thought he new it all. But the Lord finally Humbled him enough so that he could have an open mind! He is older and now is willing to completely start over his search for truth! Starting with the Book of Mormon! Whoot! 

Another one of Investigators, Janie, Just had her Baby! And Janie is prepping for baptism and we are going to try to teach the father too! This week as a whole has been pretty crazy! First time in 9 months that I have taken over an area! And I am Driving! Whooot! 

With Christmas coming in 3 days it is a great time to think about our saviour and all that he has done for us! But what about our Heavenly Father...What is his role in Christmas? "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son." (John 3:16) "And so loved you" I'm sure that most of you have seen or heard about the church's initiative "He is the Gift" (If you haven't, stop what you are doing and watch it) Jesus Christ is a Gift given to us by a Father! A Father who's only Desire is to have his Children return home! And he knew that we would need help while we where away from home. He gave his son So that when we mess up We can be forgiven! But not only that but that we may Receive comfort in times of need! I am eternally grateful for Heavenly Fathers First gift of Christmas! I honestly don't know where I would be if I didn't have my Big Brother taking care of me! So my invitation to you all is To Never Forget our Heavenly Fathers Love for us! When times are good, remember who got you there. When times are hard, remember who can get you out! Our Heavenly Father loves Us! 

I Wish you all a Merry Christmas! And Wish you the Best!

Elder Herrin!

P.S. Happy Birthday Dad! On your birthday I hit 9 Months! Whoot! 1/3 of the way!

No Gift Better

Baptism! Whoooo! So my second baptism so far! Rose Mary Robinson! She already had a baptismal date when I got there. She is great Elder Lefholz got to do the honors and I will be confirming her this Sunday! Totes Excite!

Bad news though Transfers are coming up and Elder Lefholz is leaving! In the Orlando mission we don't find out where or with whom we will be going! So I hope I get a good companion! So this next week will be pretty cray! taking over the area plus the sisters in the ward are leaving the area so I will again be taking over a sisters area! So I have my work cut out for me! But in times like these it is just an opportunity to grow! 

I have come to learn that Heavenly Father doesn't let us stop growing. He will put things in our way that will test our ability to grow and more importantly turn to him when we need it. Sometimes we take these changes or trials and see them as a detour on the path that we think we are supposed to be on. Impeding our progress to what we want. But more over our Heavenly Father is Redirecting us back to the Right Path, the path that leads to Him! Only Jesus walked a perfectly strait path, and as we follow on the path he made we may veer to left or the right, be blown by the winds of life into a ditch by the side of the road. These changes or trials are Heavenly Fathers Way of getting us back on the path. straightening us out so that we can follow the straight and narrow way! I have a lot to learn still but I know that as I strive to stay on the path that Jesus has laid out for me Heavenly Father will guide me to where I need to be! 

I hope you all are doing well! And as always wish the Best!

Elder Herrin

It's December?

So... Great had a great week. I can't believe it is the Christmas
season. It's frickin hot here! 80 degrees. People decorating Palm
trees. And most depressing of all no snow. If it wasn't for the big
Christmas Initiative that the mission is doing I probably would have
forgot about it!

We have a lot of work to be done here. We are filled hour by hour with
lessons which is good, just a little exhausting. We have a baptism
coming up this Sunday! Totes Excited for that!  Nothing really new
happening in the mission besides that. Just teaching people so... Not
much more I can say.

Hope you all have a good Week!

Elder Herrin

December 14, 2014

This past week has been great! We currently have 19 investigators, so making sure to teach them all and meet their needs can get pretty hectic. But we managed. For thanksgiving we had dinner with one of our Investigators, Jay Marsh! We have been doing service for him for the past month, helping him remodel his kitchen! So what better way to taste the fruits of our labors than by thanksgiving. Things are great here in conway, although it's a little warm for December! Nothing else is really going on just teaching people!

We got a Christmas tree from a Member and that's pretty cool!

Sorry for the shortness, I just dont know what else to say but, Hope you all are doing well and have a good week!

Elder Herrin