Week 10 - Lady Killer..?

Hey Everyone! 

Sorry for such a short email last week! Its honestly all such a blur that I can't believe it when I realize that its already another P-day! This week has been wonderful! Its starting to drop into the 60's and 50's but that's nothing yet so you see people still in their short sleeve shirts and shorts. 

Yesterday there was a crazy thunderstorm so we were talking to one of our recent convert families on the doorstep, and then it just dumped on us but because we had a member! We were able to come in and teach them about fasting for next Sunday! And that is why you have Members come out with you! Because we would of had to stay out and get soaked in that rainstorm and then freeze ourselves riding our bikes back home ahah. 

Because today is Halloween we had a Trunk or treat in our wards that we cover and it was funny because this weekend I believe I have two secret admires now haha. One little girl, whom I haven't even met or said hello to before came running up to me and told me she had a picture for me! And so she ran to the car and brought back this small paper with a full body drawing of me and then her name on the back haha She didn't even make one for Elder Candland haha then this same week at a dinner appointment another little girl one moment gave me a big hug and then later that dinner she got up on a chair and tried to kiss me haha ( pay no attention to the fact she just needed to stand on a chair to be at my height). It made my weekend haha they are just too cute! 

This week was my Companions 1 year mark! which is crazy awesome for him and cool that I get to be apart of it so below you will see some pictures of him opening his 1 year package! We also got to carve pumpkins! So I attempted the Angel Moroni pumpkin carving and you all will have to judge it for yourselves but i thought it wasn't too shabby!

As far as investigators we have a baptism set up for the 26th of November so that's gonna be way cool! And we are working with some other individuals as well but it all comes down to them willing to continue meeting with us but it's been wonderful! 

I would like to share my thoughts I have had for quite some time...This week was truly a wonderful week we have been continuing to meet with our investigators and boy oh boy. If there is one phrase that I constantly remember before I left for my mission. The award would have to go to Sister Stoker! When I got my call she told me and others that were going stateside that we,"better know our doctrine!" Lets just say that this week I have had to really know my doctrine haha, which is awesome! I love answering people's questions and digging into the Bible and Book of Mormon! They got together so wonderfully! But if there is one thing about this area in Idaho, 90% of the people here all have a pretty faithful religious background in their church! So it comes down really to one question... How in the world will a 18 and 20 year old change an individual from being a member of their church for 10, 20, 30+ years? 

The answer is simple. It is so beautifully simple I thank Heavenly Father everyday for such a wonderful and precious gift. The answer is the Holy Ghost. That's how it's done... I don't have to be some Bible scholar! My job as a missionary ISN'T to convince others why our Church is indeed the very church that Christ established in the meridian of time. My purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ, by helping them receive the restored Gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism by immersion, receiving the gift of the Holy ghost, and Enduring to the End. 

That's how anyone is converted to the church they accept our invitation to come...and see for themselves. How great is my calling.. I have a front row seat in witnessing the change that undergoes when individuals truly allow themselves to consider.. what if? And we are promised a great and powerful promise. A promise that extends too all individuals! No matter where they are spiritually.. That promise is to ask God the Eternal Father. Our Creator. Our Loving, Merciful God. And when we ask with that real intent.. having faith in Christ, and a sincere heart. We will receive an answer to all questions that have eternal importance.

 In Preach My Gospel it says that our investigators understanding of the Gospel relies on our Personal worthiness and Conversion. I extend a commitment to all future missionaries all the way up to the oldest high priest to ask God to deepen your conversion in the gospel and take that conversion and share it with all around you as it's the most important thing we can do. 

I truly appreciate all the prayers on my behalf! They truly warm my heart when nights get cold.. how else would a vegas kid survive??

Love you all!

Keep Smiling

Elder Gerrard

Elder Gerrard and Elder Candland Pumpkin Carving Fun!

Elder Candland One Year Mark/Package

Week 9 - don't bike with your mouth open

Hey all! 

I apologize for the brief letter this week I had to sacrifice an hour of my emailing so I could be obedient to the mission rule to be insight of your companions computer, and since there was only one open in one room and another in the second room I just let Elder Candland take the one  and I waited for one to open up somewhere where i could see his screen haha, but obedience brings blessings!

To explain the title.. Multiple times this week I have had bugs fly into my mouth and into my eyes haha its the grossest thing ever, but also hilarious because how does that happen! Any ways

I just thought I would share my abbreviated thoughts on this subject concerning the Holy Ghost. I would encourage us all to consider how much we are seeking out the Lord in our scripture study. Its become aware to me after meeting some investigators what the effects are if we dont seek the Lord out inquiring to know if what are conclusions are on a certain subject is actually correct! I would encourage us all to inquire of the Lord constantly throughout our studies so that the spirit can guide us! And after check back to see if its in line with what the scriptures say and or what the prophets have spoken on! 

Unfortunately my time is up! I will continue these thoughts next week! I really appreciate all the prayers its truly Gods work!

Keep Smiling

Love, Elder Gerrard

Week 8 - Holding on to the Rope

Hey Everyone!

This week has been a great and wonderful experience! I would like to thank all the prayers on my behalf and all other missionaries in the field looking back on each day you can see how much of an impact those prayers really do make each and every day! I hope that you all have had the same experience this week to learn and grow as much as I have felt! I found out that I will be here in this area with Elder Candland for the next transfer (which is 6 weeks) so I will be spending thanksgiving and Halloween in this area! That should be pretty awesome! 

Its definitely getting colder haha, but no worries! When you're out on the Lord's errand you aren't thinking about how cold you are! Instead your thinking about your investigators in your area! Last Monday night through Tuesday I went on exchanges with some other Elders so Elder Mata from Texas came and worked in my area for the day! It was way fun! We were able to meet some really cool potential investigators that one day we will hopefully be able to start teaching them the message that we share! Its all a matter of timing when they are ready to accept commitments and progress! 

Unfortunately our investigator Oredi didn't want to continue meeting with us so we have had to pull back and let him be especially when he was so close to being baptized! It was pretty obvious that the standards of living as a member of the church as a youth was just too much of a life change for him at the moment in High School. But we still work with his family so when the timing is right he will join the church with the rest of his family! After all he knows the Book of Mormon is true! But the law of compensation is real! When one door closes the Lord opens another window!

We meet with Cheryl and Phil who we contacted on the street one Sunday and they were willing to hear our message for ourselves and we had an amazing lesson with them! Its a testimony builder to me that we aren't trying to convert people as missionaries! Instead we invite them to hear our message and accept the commitments or challenges we leave with them and if they are truly looking to see if more blessings come into their life and ask God if its true THEN they will get that answer! When we contacted them on the street they weren't to interested until we just told them that its all on them if they don't want to hear it out they will never know for themselves and they changed their minds! I'm pretty pumped for our lesson with them tomorrow night! They accepted to be baptized when they get an answer that the church is true so we will follow up on that and see where they stand on the commitments we left them! 

We also set a baptismal date for November 5th for one of our investigators! Her name is Shirley I talked about her before and she is someone that has the deepest desire to rejoin the church! She has one of the most incredible life stories you will ever her and its been cool to see the light about her change as she has been reading and praying more often! She Glows!! This weekend was probably one of the more interesting weekends I will have on my mission.. As it went from really hot, to really cold, to really windy, to really windy and rainy! So we had the pleasure to bike through it all and it was funny because after getting home for the night i realized that it rained dirt on us! It wasn't rain at all everything in our area is just super dirty from the rain! It was just super bizarre!

I would like to share an experience with another older lady named Beth. There are quite a few individuals that have taken their names from the records of the church voluntarily in my area, but the majority I have met have regretted it immediately.  We were talking with Beth for the first time and apparently it's been awhile, since the missionaries have visited her. In fact it was the first time that missionaries have visited her while she has been living here in Boise. We were talking about the age of accountability and how could a child at the age of 8 really know what they were getting themselves into? It was in this moment that I felt the Spirit strongly overcome me as I bore testimony that though I may not have known what I was exactly doing at age 8 getting baptized, I knew one thing. That is as soon as those Priesthood holders laid their hands upon my hand to give me the Gift of the Holy Ghost, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that God was real. That this church had something special about it. And that was specifically that this was Jesus Christ's church on the Earth today. And because I was raised in the Church I could recognize what the feelings I was experiencing actually was! 

Elder Candland and Beth were both in tears, because they could remember that feeling. We all can remember the feelings of this sacred ordinance that set us on the path to eternal life, but we can't dwell on the past instead we are on the path of eternal progression! 

I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting this Sunday and I recounted a story where I was blindfolded and told to follow a distinct noise and after trying to follow the loud cowbell I realized that their was another sound being covered by the cowbell, and that was the soft sound of a triangle. Reaching this sound I was put on a rope that weaved through the forest, and there were multiple moments I was knocked off the path. The start of that path is our baptismal covenant we make with our Heavenly Father and that rope represents living the Gospel; however, when we get knocked off the path of living the gospel how do we get back on? Well we are taught that our Prophet Thomas S. Monson is our Prophet today and I bare testimony that he guides us onto that rope, as well as helps us continue on that rope! My prayer is for everyone to think about the things that our Prophet has spoken on in the past two General Conferences and ask ourselves are we truly following the Prophet? or are we like the people in the scriptures that we read about and wonder how do they not follow the prophets don't they know who they are!? Well we can be like those people even now! But we can always start heading towards that rope again and follow the prophet and start making the harder right decisions rather than the easier wrong decisions just like our dear prophet spoke on this past April General Conference! Pray for Him. He cares a heavy mantel. 

Keep Smiling and don't forget to Pray!

Love Elder Gerrard

Week 7 - Three Levels

This week was a really great inspiring week for me! I just can't get over the fact about how awesome it is to be able to wake up everyday to solely share and invite others to learn the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ! Unfortunately this just wasn't our week to teach people as all of our appointments that we set up with people fell through at the last second! What a bummer right!? But this is okay because it's not about our timing it's all in the Lord's time! As I dont have alot of time to write today I would like to quickly share some thoughts from this week. 

One of the things i would like to share is the amazing ways the Heavenly Father works with His children. As many of you know my Nephew has CHD. There are many different forms of CHD but my Nephew has one of the most rare cases known as HLHS, Which means that he essentially only has half a heart when he is born. This resulted in 3 different open heart surgeries that occurred fairly quickly when he was born. Whats been so special about this experience within my family is the miracles that we have seen in this young boy as he has grown to me the best little 2 year old out there! You wouldn't even be able to tell he only has half a heart considering how big of a heart he has when it comes to being nice! What is so unique about this and its rarity is just this week I have come in contact with two other individuals in my area where im serving that have siblings or grand daughter that have that exact same form of CHD. Im so grateful that i have been able to help them understand how the Lord can bless them through the gospel even among these hard trials that make it really hard to believe that Heavenly Father loves us. Well I can tell you He does I love the scriptures in DC 98:1-3, DC 122:7-9, and Alma 7:11-12 as they testify the purpose of afflictions/trials/hardships so beautifully. Heavenly Father sent me to this area because he knew that i could be of use here that my experiences in my life can help others that have had the same, but have lacked one thing... and that's the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that his church has been restored on the earth again.

Secondly, I would like to share some thoughts from a zone confrence meeting that my mission was able to have with Seventy, Bradly D. Foster. He shared with us a vision that talked about three levels. The first level being the missionaries. We must work on ourselves to be the best teachers and learn to develop our skills to better convey the message. Once we develop our skills and spirituality we become ready to enter level 2 of this vision which is called members helping the missionaries. He encouraged us missionaries to help our members see that 1. They can do missionary work! Its possible! 2. Help the Members recognize the blessings IF they do missionary work!  This is where i would like to encourage all of you to try this simple thing out. Elder Foster then talked about "Soft Touches" which means instead of trying to take a Book of Mormon and have them read it... We talk to members not of our faith and tie everyday things back to some simple truth of the gospel. For example instead of trying to explain what the Book of Mormon is about. Simply. Bare your testimony that through this book it has guided you in every day choices and brought you closer to Jesus Christ. Thats all a soft touch is. What this does is it plants a seed. And because im in Idaho I have learned that its common knowledge that it takes 2 weeks to plant seeds 3 months to water and 1 week to harvest. Tying this back together. Going out and trying to give out a Book of Mormon is harvesting a seed that hasn't even grown yet! What this vision entails is if we as members Soft touch individuals that will begin to change the missionary work and prepare people who arn't members of the church to accept a commitment down the road when there seed is grown and they can progress in learning more! 

This then leads into level 3 and to show you what this looks like i will show you a video https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages-for-youth/this-life

I would encourage each and everyone of us to have a soft touch every single day and it will get to the point that members will come to missionaries with someone ready to teach just like this boy himself did!

Remember there is always someone the Lord is preparing to hear the Message of the Gospel! 

The more specific you are in your prayers the more specific he answers and blesses us!

Keep Smiling!

Elder Gerrard

D&C 98:1-3

VERILY I say unto you my friends, fearnot, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;

2 Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.

3 Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.

D&C 122:7-9

7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

9 Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.

Alma 7:11-12

11 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 the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Week 6 - Front Flipping Good Week!

My wonderful Brothers and Sisters! 

How wonderful and blessed are we to have had the opportunity to hear from our beloved Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and his Councilors! They are truly inspired men called of God. Just listening to their words you can walk away from any session of confrence and feel the fruits of the spirit manifest its self unto us! (Galations 5:22) before I start talking about how great General Confrence I'll give a quick update on how my week was before that! 

Last Sunday we were working with one of our investigators Oredi.. He is very sincere and his family got baptized at the beginning of the year; however, he wasn't buying into it so he wasn't involved in the lessons and therfore wasn't baptized. This was how it was until he became very very ill after his familly got baptized! so sick he had to go to the ER, but after recieving a priesthood blessing for him to get better he first got even sicker, but then all of a sudden he was well enough to go to school when it started this year! Kinda crazy how Gods timing is huh? After this experience he took this as a sign that maybe he should reconcider not joining the church. Because of this, he began meeting with the missionaries for himself. Its hard being 16 and changing your life to all of the things that the church encourages its youth to follow within the "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlet, but I know as he follows those guidlines he will see an incredible change in his life! He will be happier, healthier, and feel closer to Heavenly Father and His Son. Its soo important to not look at the commandments of God as restrictions or DOs and DONTs! When we do this we miss the very point of being a follower of Christ! The Savior came on this earth to show us the way! He wrote the best "HOW TO _____  BOOK" the world will ever see! And our Heavenly Father speaks to us through his Prophets who are his servants! So we do them because we LOVE Heavenly Father. Because we LOVE His Son! Surely enough Oredi will get there! 

We had a very sincere discussion on how he can gain an answer to the Book of Mormon and of the Prophet of the Restoration of Jesus Christs church, Joseph Smith. We promised him that if he follows the commandments of God by reading the scriptures each day and praying sincerly pondering whether these things are true that he would indeed gain that answer and build his testimony for himself. Elder Candland and I quickly recognized that he simply needs to learn how the spirit truly talks to him, because whenever we asked him how he felt he simply didn't understand. Thats when our member that we had with us really helped out! His friend Jackson was able to bare his testimony how he has been guided by the spirit and gained his own testimony of the Book of Mormon! And slowly but surely you could see that Oredi was understanding! At the end of the lesson he stated," that was the best lesson yet!" and the reason why that is? We taught Oredi. Not a lesson that we have to teach him so he can be baptized. But a lesson thats tailored to him and only him. Later that week Oredi was able to share an experience when he was late for school and was running and a member of the church he didn't even know pulled over and asked him if he needed a ride.. this was the morning after he just started reading and praying with more intent and then that happens!? And im sure you all know what we were thinking haha.. so did Oredi! He knew that was a sign from God helping him out, and blessing him for reading and praying! The best part is we were able to watch General Confrence with his family Sunday Afternoon, and by the end of it he simply told me," I know the Book of Mormon is true." After listening to the stories of the General Authorities of the church he couldn't deny the feelings he felt inside he said! Oh how great it is to so that click occur in peoples minds!!

I should explain my Subject. So last Wednesday we were ridding our bikes to our dinner appointment and there has been construction all the way down this road so we have been forced to bike down this sketchy road among all these cars till Wednesday I saw that they were taking all the cars down to one lane and altering which side of the road could go through soo i road up onto the side walk which we have done before until my back tire slide out and I crashed! However it wasn't a bad one i quickly got up and continued on since it was just a simple fall my hand kinda got scratched no problem! So I continued on 30 yards down the sidewalk just after I got back up to speed I realize that the construction workers took out a whole square of the sidewalk to work on a pipe that was a foot below the street but the side walk is a foot above the street so lo and behold a 5'x5'x2' gaping hole and I couldn't stop in time so my bike went in I flew off and did a front flip according to my companion and I crashed. (keep in mind everyone that saw the first one saw the second since traffic doesn't move right there) The construction worker supervisor quickly ran over mad that there wasnt any signs, cones, or warnings from other workers, but by the way he was reacting my crash must have been pretty crazy because they assumed i had broken a leg or something! But it was a testimony that the Lord protected me! I walked away with only two wounds. One on each index finger just below the nail. But everything else was fine! My shirt and pants didnt rip. My bike didn't get messed up. I was able to bike to dinner no problem and then get some help to clean my hands, but it amazes me that I walked out of it as okay as i am! I can assure all those who are wondering.. NOW there are 5 cones around this whole and its been filled in about 1 foot haha! It was bound to happen eventually riding a bike but im still going! I have pictures attached to show my hands, and clothes! 

So General Confrence all I would simply like to say is to ask God. Inquire of him in the questions you have. Prayer is an amazing gift that we have. use it. I know that we all can make our prayers better and in return. Our relationship with the Savior will grow, We will have more joy, we will align our will with the will of our Father in Heaven, and we will be given the blessings that our Heavenly Father wants to bless us with if we would merley ask for them! I would just encourage everyone to start now taking the advice of our Prophet who said that now is the time for members and full time missionaries to work togeather! You members make a diffrence I have such a testimony on that getting to see it before I left my mission.. All our Prophet is asking us to do is partake of the joy that comes from seeing a fellow child of God realize the plan that He has for them!

I love you all so very much remember to be happy and keep smiling!

Love, Elder Gerrard

You can email Elder Gerrard at:  nathan.gerrard@myldsmail.net

or If you want to write or send a pkg to Elder Gerrard 

Idaho Nampa Mission

Elder Nathan Gerrard

1370 Caldwell Blvd. Suite#300

Nampa Idaho 83651-1724