Happy Easter! 3/28/2016

This past week was great because it was Easter weekend. Elder Dale and I got to go out for an Easter Dinner Saturday night with a family in our ward. We went to a Mexican restaurant. It was so good and the plates were huge! Then yesterday, we were able to help hide Easter eggs with our ward mission leader. I enjoyed that a lot because it reminded me of the traditional Easter egg hunt we would have in our family. But more than just the fun traditional Easter eggs and the bunny I would like to focus my email on the true meaning. 

Easter is a time of HOPE, and of remembrance for all that our Savior, Jesus Christ did for us. There are three parts that stick out to me about Easter. This is known as the atonement. The first part was Jesus Christ’s suffering that took place in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus Christ suffered the pains, sickness and afflictions for each of us that has ever lived on this Earth. This suffering is what makes it possible for us to repent and enjoy the remission of our sins. It also gives us the strength to overcome any pains, sorrows, or afflictions that come from this life. Following Jesus Christ's suffering in the garden, he was held captive and led to Golgotha where he was later bruised and killed, known as the Crucifixion. Necessary to our Father's plan, Jesus Christ had to die a physical death to bring to pass the Resurrection. Three days after the death of Jesus Christ, he fulfilled the long foretold prophecies and rose from the grave. Because Jesus Christ lives again, we can too. He bridged the gap between physical death and spiritual, and because of Him we can have HOPE for a better life and to one day return to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ's presence.

Well, hope you all enjoyed Easter and have a great week!

With love,

ElderBullough

Here is a picture of a good sunny day with clear blue skies
on the campus of Pacific Lutheran University

One of My Favorite Weeks! 3/21/2016

This past week was one of my favorite weeks so far and was full of great things! First off, during the week a bunch of the missionaries went and helped load a big truck full of chopped wood so that they could move it to Idaho. Don't ask me why they wanted to move it to Idaho... because I am sure that there are trees there haha! But it was super fun because I got to drive around this lawn mower and haul the wood around. I definitely had the easy job. And the best part was that this week was sunny and didn't rain that much, so that was a plus! 

On Saturday, Elder Dale and I knocked into an older guy who had a pet macaw... so, of course, I asked if I could hold it and take a picture so I will post that for you all to see. It was kind of creepy because when I put it on my shoulder it started to laugh!? haha

Also M, a lady we have been working with, got baptized yesterday so that was great! M's story of how we found her was pretty neat. Elder Alhert and I were on splits and were knocking an apartment complex when we knocked into her. She opened the door and told us she didn't have time but never turns down an opportunity to hear the word, so we left her with our phone number and went on our way. Then the next day Elder Dale and I received a call from an unknown number and were surprised to hear that it was M because nobody ever actually calls when we leave our number. So Elder Dale and I went over that day and taught her the first lesson. M is one person who reads the Bible each day and knows it inside and out, but each time we taught her she was teachable and very open to the messages. In the first lesson, M listened and understood everything and told us that the story was familiar because she used to go to an LDS church in Alabama. So we continued to teach her and got her a couch for her apartment, because at the time she didn't have any furniture. It was great to see her change so much and see the light of Christ within her each time we met with her. She had been dealing with some depression from the move and each time we met with her she would get a big smile. It was great to see that she could make friends in the church and start to restore the happiness to her life. I will post a picture of it below.

Another thing that happened in our ward is we got a new bishopric-- which consists of the Bishop and his two counselors. It was sad to see the others be released from their callings after getting to know them so well; but, it was great because the new bishopric seems really great so I am excited to start working with them! 

And to finish off the week, the church put on an Easter performance called the "Lamb of God." It is a musical/orchestra that sings and maps out the life of Jesus Christ. It was really well done and the Spirit was very strong as the choir sang, which was great because there were many nonmembers there and J brought his sister to watch it as well. 

Well, I hope you all have a great week and enjoy the upcoming Easter Sunday! 

With love,

Elder Bullough

Elder Dale and I with the macaw! haha

Me, M at her baptism, & Elder Dale

Change is Possible through Christ 3/14/2016

A lot of things happened this week. I will start first with... We had a baptism! On Saturday, E was able to get baptized! It went very well! Her family came out to her baptism and then to church on Sunday. The baptism was very special and then the family had cake afterward... and to our surprise they ended up sending the leftover cake home with us!? We honestly have so much cake!! 

Then on Sunday at church, a lot of our investigators showed up, which was kind of a surprise because we were worried about daylight savings and everyone forgetting about the hour change.  M came with Sister Price and was able to enjoy church. Elder Dale and I are excited this week because M has chosen to get baptized on the 20th! She has given up coffee and is going strong. Then C, another one of our investigators, came with J.  C is a recovering alcoholic and is looking for change in his life. The stressful part about church was that C came drunk... But he still had a great time. The cool part of the story is that C leans over to us during sacrament and told us that he wants to get baptized! So we told him that we could work toward a date in April but first he has to quit drinking. He stayed all three hours and loved it. During priesthood, C heard someone’s testimony about how the Spirit changed his life. Then C interrupted and asked what it felt like. The brother in the ward started to describe the feeling as an "undeniable feeling." Then C said, "you felt the Holy Ghost... that is the same feeling that I have felt today. I am thankful for all of you showing me the way today and I have decided to come to this church from now on." By this time, I believe that the drunkenness had worn off and C truly did feel the Holy Ghost. He felt it promising him that this is the path to the change that he seeks in his life. It was amazing to see the hope in his eyes after he had come to church. 

I know that this church is true and has the fulness of the gospel. It is what brings change into peoples' lives. The atonement provided by Jesus Christ allows us all to become better people and I have seen it.

Well, I hope that you all have a great week and enjoy the week ahead. Keep M and C in your prayers.

With Love,

Elder Bullough 

Elder Dale, E, and Elder Bullough at E's Baptism

First Week in the New Transfer 3/7/2016

This past week was great and we saw many blessings! Last Monday, as a zone, we were able to go bowling! It was super fun! Then we were able to have a miracle and able to have the car one more week because the Spanish area was diminished this transfer and a car was freed up! That was a blessing because both Elder Dale and I were fighting a cold this past week!

Last week Elder Dale and I were able to have some prayers answered and able to see some great things happen. First off, a young boy named A. was able to get baptized on Saturday. Elder Dale and I had been working on reactivating their family in the church and it was great to see them come back to church and have the baptism for their 8 year old. I will post some pictures below.

Second, this week we weren't able to see D. because she was too busy but she sent us a great text and told us that she was determined to come to church this Sunday. Elder Dale and I were so grateful to hear that because we knew if she came to church she would understand a lot more and know that this is the path that will bring her happiness. Well, she was able to put her mind to it and come to the 1 o'clock service and was able to meet a lot of really great friends! I have learned a very important life truth from this: when we put our minds to something, we can accomplish it! 

Well last bit of great news... Elder Dale and I are planning on a baptism for a young girl, E., this next Saturday so that should be great!

With Love, 

Elder Bullough

Elder Dale, A., and Elder Bullough at A.'s Baptism

Bowling on P-day

Elder Bordelon with me and Elder Dale before he was transferred out the the city of Manette