Week 15

July 30, 2018

What an amazing experience, being trained has been.

How are y'all?! I love you so much!! I hope you are all having a fantastic week!!

This week wasn't out of the ordinary, so I am going to talk more about the transfer.

My companion Elder Burgess is a legend. He has helped me to grow so much. He led by example and has truly helped me to understand the importance of missionary work. He has such a powerful testimony and he understands the doctrine very well. We have had so much in common and have been so open with each other that it has become so easy to learn from one another. We rely on each other and we trust each other.

Very similar to our relationship with our Heavenly Father, we need to rely on him. Our Father in Heaven relies on us to share the gospel and provide for the needs of others. He trusts us. He absolutely trusts us. We cannot lose that trust with our Heavenly Father. He is ALWAYS reaching outwards to us; we have to be willing to accept his guidance or "correction" if you will.

I have had the wonderful opportunity to serve around the zone leaders and missionaries that just went home yesterday. They all had so much experience and seemed to be so happy with their growth as a missionary. The Lord wants to help us grow and He wants to strengthen us, but we also have to be willing to be given correction. We learn from one another.

I am so excited to be given this opportunity going into these next 2 transfers to be the District Leader for Columbia Area and to train a new missionary… I already love him. I cannot wait to have another opportunity to learn and grow from another missionary. Tomorrow I drive to St. Louis for training and I will pick up my companion then. 

Short email this week and who knows what to expect for next week.

Love y'all!!!

Have an amazing first week of August!!!!

- Elder Shua Newbold

Week 14

July 24, 2018

AHHHHHH TIME IS FLYING!!

I am on week 12 of 12 weeks of being trained.

My trainer...”dad”...Elder Burgess is amazing and has been making my experience out here fantastic. I've learned so much this past 2 transfers that will help push me through the next 21 months strong.

There was a talk given at church this Sunday that was phenomenal! A brother in the ward talked about how our faith in The Savior, Jesus Christ needs to be invested & not sprung about in times of need. It was eye opening and powerful.

It's been a busy fun week. I say it's a busy week every week hoping that it slows down.... but it doesn't:) hahaha that's the mission field, busy hectic days especially on preparation day.

So I'll make this quick.

Woah woah woah before I start.... I love you… yes you. Yep you...the one reading this right now. I love you so much.

Ponder these 3 questions as you read on:

1- What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ?

2- What can you do or have you done to strengthen that faith?

3- Do you trust the Lord as much as he trusts you? If not, what are you going to do to change that?

For me having faith in Jesus Christ is not just believing that he exists. It's not just believing that he is the Son of God and that he died for me, but it is COMPLETELY KNOWING that Jesus Christ is with me right now, yesterday & tomorrow. It is KNOWING that he is reaching his hand out to me ALWAYS & I have the choice to accept it.  Jesus Christ is not just the Son of God. He is not just our Savior. Jesus Christ is our literal brother. He is our brother that is the PERFECT EXAMPLE of how we can return to live with him and Heavenly Father after this life. He cares about us. He doesn't pick and choose whom he cares about and wants to help. He picks all of us...It is up to us to accept his help.

Ways I strengthen my faith in Jesus Christ is CPR

CHURCH.

PRAY.

READ.

Church reminds me of the importance of our savior Jesus Christ. By partaking of the Sacrament each week, I am reminded of that cleansing feeling I had when I came up from the waters of baptism 11 years ago. I am reminded that my Father in Heaven loves me and has provided a (not easy, but simple) plan to return to him. I am fellowshipped by hundreds of people each week that show me love, care, and appreciation. They offer support and guidance, as does our brother Jesus Christ.

Praying brings me so close to God. Soooooo close. I didn't realize how routine my short vague prayers were until I came on a mission. I pray each morning and night for everything individually that I am thankful for. I ask for specific blessings. As I recognize what I am thankful for each and every day, I am more aware of tender mercies throughout my day. I've learned that praying LITERALLY is me having a conversation with my loving Heavnely Father. He wants to hear us. He cares. So pray with real intent and a true desire to learn from Him.

Reading the scriptures provides clear answers to everything. As I pray and seek for guidance and ask the Lord questions...I find my answers through reading the Book of Mormon. As I read, I receive feelings of comfort and peace from the Holy Ghost. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have offered us SOOOO much. It is all found and taught in the Book of Mormon. So why aren't we reading it as often as we should?!?!? 

I know the Book of Mormon is true.

I know it is the word of God.

I testify to people each and every day of the importance of the Book because I have seen how it has affected my life.

If we are saying we have faith in Jesus Christ if we are praying to Heavenly Father, but we are not reading....

THEN WHAT ARE WE EXPECTING??? 

Reading the Book of Mormon is such a huge role in our conversion. 

I promise you. I can absolutely promise you peace and comfort if you will read the Book of Mormon and pray with real intent to know of its truthfulness.

I love you and God loves you even more

Have an amazing week!!!

Keep growing and looking for miracles, I promise the Lord will send them your way just keep looking.

- Elder Shua Newbold 

mission vlog!

Elder Newbold is switching it up and doing vlogs!  Check them out! I sure do LOVE this boy's energy and enthusiasm. 

Mission Vlog #1

Mission Vlog #2

Season 2 Episode 3

July 9, 2018

Season 2 Episode 3

(Season is my transfer, episode is the week )

What is up?!?!?!

Such a fantastic week in the Bear Creek area!!

4th of July was this week and it was pretty epic!!! People like to shoot mortars and Roman candles in the air...at each other...And sometimes accidentally maybe kinda at houses... ahaha it was crazy.

Also 4th of July doesn't really start or end.... we hear fireworks on the 1st of July and they are still going off each night.

This week we went to a house that we got referred to from a member in our ward. We got to the house and no one was there. We went the next week and there was plywood on the windows and doors. It was vacant and had no trespassing signs.  We said "oh well... let's pet this dog since it's cute." Walked over to their neighbor’s house to pet their German shepherd.  A little girl walked out of the house and we said hi and asked if her parents were home. She went inside to get them.  This man walked out side and we told him we were missionaries and had a message to share about Jesus Christ. He said, "I know everything about Jesus. That's my favorite thing to talk about. Go ahead tell me your message." His demeanor changed in about four seconds and he loved talking to us. We shared back and fourth our beliefs and our testimonies.  He started to cry and he told us he loved us. He brought us into his home and got us ice water and brought his children out to meet us. We talked for a long time and the spirit was so strong.

Elder Burgess said, "M, I know that you have been feeling the spirit. I know that you know what we are sharing with you is true. Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God?"  A tear fell from his face and he said yes. Yes I will.

We were excited and began planning a calendar for him to baptized this month.

Well within the last 24 hours, M came across some negative thoughts and false information about the church. He began to have confusion and doubts.

He didn't come to church but we met with him last night and had another great talk with him.

I love M so much. He has helped me to realize why I am out here on a mission.  

But something I want you to take away from this story is that there is nothing more important to you than your testimony.

As life goes on you will continue to grow your relationship with God. You feel Christ's love for you and you will strive to strengthen that relationship. The Holy Ghost will communicate with you. The Holy Ghost will comfort you. The Holy Ghost will testify to you truths.

Along with these experiences you will encounter in your life, there will also be people and things that will be placed in your way that will strive to pull you from the truth. The adversary will tempt you and you will be tempted to doubt what you know.

If you have a testimony...SHARE IT!! GROW IT!!!! SHARE IT!!! SHARE IT!!! AND SHARE IT!!!  It's your testimony. It's what you know to be true. Don't let others tear you down.

Be strong and turn to God in times of need. Turn to family and ones you trust. God loves you and trusts you, so trust him back.

I know the principles taught in the gospel of Jesus Christ are the only way we can return to our father in heaven.

Faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

I know that this gospel is for us. I know that if we will follow the example of Jesus Christ, we will be given peace and comfort.

Seek for inspiration from your Heavenly Father often. He is ready to give it to you, so be ready to trust him.

Love you! God loves you!

Stay legit and stay positive cuz why not:)

- Elder Newbold   

Review

July 2, 2018

658 days left!!! But who's counting right ;)
 

All right so like legit, these days are going by too fast and I never thought I'd day this, but it hasn't taken me long to realize that that's not enough days!!! Time is flying! 2 years is not a long time!!! This gospel has been such a blessing to my life; I want to share it with EVERYONE!! Well 2 years won't cut it so I'm just prepping out here for another 658 days so that I'll be ready to be a missionary back home.

I've been thinking a lot this week about the nametag I wear on my shirt each day. That title of Elder. It really is such a cool feeling to be out here as a minister of the Lord's gospel. But really what's the difference between you and me?? I just get the opportunity to wear a shirt and tie every single day.  My companion Elder Burgess and I have been extending a challenge to the ward for the month of July to pray and seek guidance for someone they feel needs to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. Someone that is ready to accept the word and make commitments to come closer to Jesus Christ by reading the Book of Mormon.  In the book of Alma in the Book of Mormon, chapter 37 verses 32-47 say it best. They reveal to us that we as children of God are to preach unto the people repentance. What does repentance mean?? CHANGE. Repentance is to recognize you have been doing something that isn't what you feel is best for you and being willing to change. Being willing to turn outward, away from yourself and turn to the Lord for guidance and forgiveness. But that key word "change". Super important!!
We don't walk up to people and assume they have issues, addictions, hard lives, or bad habits. We do not judge someone by assuming they are involved in wrongful ways but we simply INVITE others to come unto Christ. We INVITE them to read more about how we can become closer to Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father has given you EVERYTHING.... ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.
You think someone that loves you so much and cares for you more than you ever could yourself, would want to leave you all alone, helpless, lost, confused, worried, sad??  I'll give you a hint :).... NOOOOOOOO
Ahahaha not at all!!! Why would he do that?! He loves you so so so so so so so so much. I KNOW he loves you. It doesn't matter what state you're in our what country you're in while reading this. God loves you and I Elder Newbold KNOW that. I KNOW he loves you. I know I have been emphasizing God's love for you in the last few emails, but that's because I CAN’T SAY IT ENOUGH.  He loves you and he wants you to know that and he wants you to understand his plan. AND YOU CAN!! BY READING THE BOOK OF MORMON :)

I'm not challenging the people to hand out books of Mormon to mark it off a checklist. I'm not doing it to say we handed out an entire box of books of Mormon. I'm doing it because I have truly come to realize how important this gospel is and the role that it plays in each of our lives. It will so greatly influence our lives...IF we let it.

I don't have enough days, hours, minutes to pass out, as many books of Mormon as id like too. I don't have enough time to share with everyone on planet earth my testimony of this gospel. But We gotta start somewhere right?  So I leave that same challenge with all of you....No backing out ;) haha you've gotten this far in the email, to hand out a book of Mormon, to share a spiritual thought on social media, to share your testimony with those you meet. If you're not Mormon yet...haha just kidding...But not really this challenge is still extended to you! Find something you love, something you're grateful for, an experience you've had where you've seen God's hand in your life...and share it. Share it on social media. Share it with your children, your parents, your cousins, your dogs, and your neighbor. Share it with Heavenly Father. Pray to Heavenly Father and thank him for all that you have in your life.

I promise you, I can truly promise each and every one of you that if you are faithful and will put your trust in the Lord, you will experience miracles. MIRACLES. I can absolutely promise you that.

I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints contains the complete restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know that we all have a purpose here on earth and if we will turn our hearts outward and to the Lord he will help show us that purpose.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  You can and WILL know for yourself as well, if you read with REAL INTENT and have a TRUE DESIRE.

I had talked about a guy we met last week named K. Well we got a call from K this Thursday.  He said, "Hey guys, we are going to have to cancel dinner for this weekend."  Elder Burgess responded, "Aww man no worries, we can plan for next week."  K, "Actually guys my care taker met with me today and told me that it's not a good idea I meet with you anymore. He said I should stay away from you guys. I'm sorry."  I can't quite tell you how the rest of the conversation went...my heart dropped and my eyes filled with tears as I walked to my room. I knelt down and began to pray.

K loved us. K loved the messages we would share with him. K felt the spirit as we taught him about the gospel of Jesus Christ. K wanted to meet with us again I know he did. But because of something someone else said, because of the information someone else gave to him, he felt obligated to stop meeting us. It broke my heart. I wanted to share with him something I loved so much, and he said we couldn't meet again.

I can't tell you whether or not K will find his way back to meeting with us I really can't, but I can testify to you that there is nothing more true, there is nothing more important than your relationship with your Father in Heaven. We can't be mislead by the example of others. We can't be caught in confusion because of the way others choose to do things. We need to recognize what is important to us. We need to find truth for ourselves. We need to hold tight to what we know to be true. And as long as you have Heavenly Father right alongside you, you will not be lead astray by others that will try to pull you away.

I do not force my beliefs on anyone. I do not force people to believe what I say is true. I simply provide the OPPORTUNITY to find out for themselves that it is true.

I love you. I love you all so so so so much. Stay legit and if you don't accept the challenge and you don't feel like it's something you should do, then guess what?? I still love you :)

Peace out talk to you next week 

Elder Newbold