Saturday, July 23, 2011

50 Days Remaining...

DAD'S Email

The Beach house sounds like you had an awesome time! I'm excited to go there. Next summer will be an exciting one indeed... ;-)  I can’t believe we've been having wildfires back there in NC.  I kind of expect that in the western US but not there. That's pretty crazy!

I liked the story of Mom getting scared by the crab. Sounds like Mom. She does have the best scream ever. I guess I'm just like you on that Dad. :-)

I'm trying to be more prolific at taking pictures, but I don't carry my camera with me at all times. But I do have some pictures to send you. I sent you some pictures a few weeks ago... did you get those? I'll send some via email, but if not then I'll just bring my camera with me home. I don't want to chance another wiped card. 

We're driving all the time – no bike riding at all. I'd die if I tried to ride my bike, and if I didn't my bike would. There are lots of hills EVERYWHERE. We walk a lot, and we get in some really good exercise in the morning. I'm losing weight, so I'm happy. I'll be looking forward to running again and losing more when I get home though. I'm going to be donating my bike to one of the missionaries who are coming in this next transfer. Some family will appreciate not having to spend lots of money to buy a new one, and less trouble and hassle trying to get it home. 

The missionary work is going great! We're still doing lots of finding, but we have some really great investigators, and they are progressing quite well. 

I write a less active member that I re-activated in Rohnert Park, but the other people that I have met have all changed address, and I don't have contact info for them now. I know how sweet it is to be able to hear from those you helped, and hear their testimonies growing. I will have my best missionary friends right here with me, to the very end. ;-) We just had transfers, so it's official that I'll be here in Vallejo until I return home. I have a new Companion named Elder Pulson. I'll get a picture of him and me soon.

 

MOM'S Email

I'm looking pretty tan, so I think we'll all be looking pretty good, we'll see how long those beach tans last! ;-) I'll be out in the sun everyday! Someone mentioned to me yesterday that my hair was starting to turn blonde, so I must be getting some sun for that to start happening. So Mom, yeah, you'll probably be the only white skin in our family. Some people ask me if I'm a Latino. :-) It makes me smile.

Mom, I've come to the conclusion that you're never going to be finished with the house Smile  It just never seems to end. I think there may just always be that little something to touch up on; at least in regards to the house as a whole. But I hope that you finish and enjoy your room, because I remember all those years that you wished you could finish it, or fix it up, or have it completely clean and organized, etc. I'm sure you'll be happier to have your room taken care of.

-Hmmm.... What would I say or share to the Cary 2nd Ward Newsletter of my adventures? Well... It's really the joy of adventure. The true meaning of success. It is sometimes erroneously purported that success is an "arrival" that you become the "best" and then that's the end. From what I've learned, and what I'm learning, and understanding, success comes in the journey. For a mission, success isn't measured by the number of baptisms you have, there are plenty of diligent, hard-working, 100% obedient missionaries who don't get 1 baptism in their missions. Sometimes that one person that one soul that we bring to God is ourselves. We follow the path the Savior walked for 2 years. We share, and bear our hearts out to strangers who really are our brothers and sisters. We learn how to have Christ-like love, charity for all the we meet. We grow, because God lifts us on His shoulders, and we act as His tools, as His power to spread the truth of His Gospel to every ear, in every tongue, to every land. I know this is true. I know that I have had a successful mission, because even though I haven't been a perfect missionary, I have become more perfected as a Son of God, I have been blessed to find and share the gospel with many special and elect people, and be able to baptize some, but the success is that I myself have come closer to my Savior. I know Him, and I strive to strengthen that relationship that others have with their Savior, Jesus Christ. The Restored Gospel is true. I know that He lives, and love me. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. I love you all! I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Love your Son, and missionary,

Elder Richard Mackelprang

Oak Island Vacation!!!

DAD's EMAIL

Cool! The beach trip sounds like you're all having lots of fun. enjoy those ocean breezes, I love them!!!  They're really nice.

So, Leah's room is getting remodeled. Again. :P How many times is that now, dear sister?

I'm so happy for Jenna, that she could attend EFY. I know that she learned a lot there. :) Keep those goals you made Jenna!

Your work projects sound really cool! I'd enjoy hearing about some of those projects sometime.

  1. Yes we did watch the fireworks. Although the trees prevented us seeing all of them. :( But it was nice being with the other missionaries that live in our apartment complex and have some fun for the 4th. 
  2. Our investigator pool is doing very well. Things are improving, and we're finding more people little by little. There have been some really cool experiences, but I'll save that for #5. We have a few people attending church. So it's nice.
  3. If we knew where we could pick blackberries then we'd probably go, but we don't have a single clue. I'll ask one of the members around here if they know. I remember that trip to Santa Rosa we made all those years ago. I still remember picking those blackberries, and making blackberry syrup for pancakes... yuuummmy. 
  4. Transfer information comes out this Saturday. I think that I'm most likely staying, but it's my last transfer, so who knows what will happen! I really hope that I stay.
  5. Elder Glaus and I get along really well. It's also nice having Elder Brickey (former companion), and Elder Estep serving in the branch. It makes things nicer. I'm among friends. As for spiritual stories and what-not I do have a sweet experience at one of the dinners we had this week. So her name is sis Angin. She is a member who lives here in Vallejo, but attends the branch in Fairfield. (long story). But she is married to a non-member. We go over to see her a couple times a month for dinners. So this time, we happened to have dinner as usual, and the husband kind and courtious as always excuses himself before we end with a prayer to prepare for the next day (for work.) It just so happened that I was asked to give the prayer. While praying I was prompted to pray for her husband that he would one day prepared to hear and accept the gospel. Afterwards with tears in her eyes, she thanked me, and told me, "Of  _all_  the missionaries who have come over for dinner (she's been a member for a LONG time) you are the first one to have prayed for my husband to be able to accept the Gospel." I was really touched, and I know that because the Lord prompted me that way, that he will be prepared one day. I know that she must pray diligently, and longfully for that day. I know that God will answer her prayers. There was a couple of really cool experiences when I was asked to give blessings, and those were very special moments for me. It almost seems more special to do it in Spanish than in English. But that's all that I really remember of the cool experiences for this week. I'll let you know of more later.

MOM's email

Oh the days of the Priest Quorum Quartet (PQQ). by the way, I sang a duet with my friend Elder Estep. All seven verses of “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief”, with many different harmonies.  We performed it for Zone Conference last Friday.  Zone conference! I finally got see my trainer give his departing testimony. He leaves next week. :P Crazy. I'm trying not to think too hard about my time coming to an end as well. There were quite of few pictures that were taken of me there. I'm sure Dad is getting them as we speak. The pictures I sent to you are mainly of me and my companion with 2 people. #1 my investigator Saul, and #2 Jorge (short with glasses, preparing for a mission). These guys are really cool, and really special. I'm glad that I'm their friend.

Well, I'm out of time, but I'm keeping busy, and I'm doing all that I can to get lots of work done. i love you all and I'll see you all in less than 2 months!! (dun dun dun!)

Love your missionary,

Elder Richard Mackelprang

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IMG_0207 Zone Conference
IMG_0209 Zone Conference

July 4th! 9 Weeks Left!!

Hello Everyone! Happy 4th of July! Enjoy the Fireworks!

This week has been a fast one, and a great one! This next week will be even better with Zone Conference on Friday! We found 5 new people that we're teaching right now, and they all seem really cool. There really isn't any way to describe this work other than miraculous! I'm seeing miracles happen everyday, due to the faith and prayers of myself, my companion, other missionaries, and all the people who are praying in our behalf. It is amazing to see the desire for change in these people's lives, and it is a great privilege to help them learn how to help themselves change for the better. My how the time is flying... it'll be over way too soon...

Yeah fireworks, we should have a great view of them from our apartment tonight!

The boys are at camp. Sounds just like the old days when I was in Boy Scouts. :) Joshua will have lots of fun!

:) Yay, for Singles Ward moving into the Cary building!

Swimming, I'm going to be doing more of that. My exercise routine is working good. I'll be doing my jogging stuff, and trying out swimming more to burn off those calories.

Well, 9 weeks until I'm home... it's really flying... It's kinda crazy :P I'm working on getting rid of things that I don't need, and giving away stuff to other missionaries, etc. It'll be so easy to pack this time around... I've gotten rid of a lot of unnecessary items, most of which are for my desk.

I wrote Erik not too long ago, and he wrote me this week! :) it'll be good to see him at BYU whether or not he's still single. ;-)

Things are interesting. It will be cool to see how things fly as time moves on. What jobs everyone ends up going for, etc..

Well, I love you all, and I hope that you are enjoying your summer. May God bless you, and watch over you. I know that Christ lives. I know that He loves us, and watches over us. I know that He waits for us with open arms, and calls out to us to come home. May we truly understand repentance, and it's role in our lives. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that it can truly bless our lives with knowledge and understanding of Jesus Christ, and what He expects of us. I invite those of you who don't know that the Book of Mormon is true to read it! study it. Meditate on it's message, and pray to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ to truly know if the book is true. I know that He will answer us, because He loves us.

Fare thee well, my fellow brothers and sisters.

Elder Richard Mackelprang

10 Weeks Remaining...

MOM's Email

:-) Yes I got your letter. The mail seems to get here super fast here. I got your letter on Saturday, even though you said you sent it on Thursday in your letter. That was pretty crazy. The same with the package, they both got here ridiculously fast...

It should be pretty cool to see all the changes to the house and every thing else there. It will be different, but all for the better.

Next week is the 4th of July! Woah! :P P-Days on holiday Mondays are a pain for missionaries, so we'll see what madness is in store for us next week. I can't complain, because I'll be getting a pancake breakfast next week. So I'll have some things to look forward to, but I may end up trying to look for some fireworks, but I'll see if that's permissible next week. We'll see how much the singles ward has changed since I was there. I got a feeling of immaturity when I was there, and that bugged me, but if Leah feels that it's good, then it may have improved.

Good luck with Leah and Jenna's Daycare idea. I hope that it is being successful.

It was fun to hear about the family cleaning day... :P I can understand more of where your coming from with that, because I've become more of an organized clean freak when it comes to the kitchen and my desk... so our house may end up staying cleaner when I get home.

 

DAD's Email

Mom, and my dear sisters are always very loved. They are all awesome. I hope that they do well with their daycare project. 

Is Leah preparing you guys for a 5k walk? or a 5k run? 5k walk isn't bad, Lake Johnson is more than 5k if I'm remembering my measurements right (~4mi > 5k)?. That could be fun. I'll have to prepare myself to see if I can jog it all. I heard from a member who's a professional runner that shin splints can come from several different sources, but that the main cause is usually the form that you walk. You can probably find out some more about it online. 

I really don't remember Falls Lake, but I would imagine that I've been there at least once... It'd be nice to go there again sometime.    

Mom let me know in here snail mail how much everyone enjoyed the card I sent you. :) I knew that it was the one when I found it last week.

Good luck with Japan Ben! you'll do great!

Welcome home Leah! Enjoy yourself.

Good luck at scout camp Joshua! Have fun! Earn lots of Merit Badges!

 

Questions

  1. Can you send pictures?  I'm trying to be more camera-picture-taking-minded but it's still a work in process. I'll send some pictures of me and some of the members soon.
  2. Did you get the pictures we sent?  I did get the pictures that were in the package. They were really nice. I can't believe how big Joshua's getting, and now that he's losing his blonde hair. :P Craazy! Jenna looked very nice for her Rose Prom pictures.
  3. Do you think you’ll get transferred? I wont know if I'm moving until mid-July, but my guess is that I'll stay here to finish off my mission. 
  4. How deep is your “gator” pool?  Our investigator is pool is decent, but there are a lot of people who we can only see once a week, or sometimes that we aren't able to contact on some weeks, so we're work hard on finding right now, but we've seen a LOT of miracles happening as a zone from that. So it's growing slowly, but it should be great!

This week has been awesome! There have been many spiritual experiences, and amazing people that are ready to change their lives and progress in the Gospel. My testimony continues to grow and be fortified through these experiences, and the the joy I feel seeing the love of our Savior in active motion working in the lives of these people. I know my Savior lives! I know that He loves me, and each and every single one of you! I know that He has a plan for us that will enable us to be happy, forever. Keep working hard, and do what is right!

Love your missionary,

Elder Richard Mackelprang

Note that this is a moderated blog - Elder Mackelprang neither reads or (directly) writes to this blog. This is done by his father.