April 3, 2016 - Saginaw, Texas

 Conference Breakfast 

at a member's house

Dear Family,

Hope your conference weekend was awesome. Sounds like you liked basically all the same talks I did. Elder Bednar's talk, "Always Retain a Remission of Your Sins" was definitely one of my favorites, especially being a missionary. He just taught baptism and the Holy Ghost so simply and it made me wish I could teach like that. It's one of those talks I'll be studying a lot the next few months. Another talk that I really enjoyed was Sister Oscarson's. She talked about asking ourselves, "Do I really believe?" and how we need to get the gospel from our minds into our hearts. I think missions really make you ask yourself that. For me it's not so much in the "Why do I believe these crazy things?" sense but it's more like, "I'm out here telling people that there is a living prophet on the earth and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can have real, tangible consequences now and into the eternities. What does that really mean to me and why aren't I the happiest, most fearless person in the world because I believe these things?" Those moments when I really ask myself that teach me more than a hundred personal studies. 

I've thought about that a lot this week, how there's those experiences we all have that become like our own personal scripture stories that can be applied to almost anything. Ayla's passing is one of those stories for me. It's not too often that I feel inspired to share that story with people but when I do, it always seems to be for a different reason. 

You're probably wondering about transfers so I'll get to that. First of all, I'm also going to be out a week longer because of the MTC change and the 7 week transfer. Turn back the countdowns! Second, I'm staying in Saginaw (yay!) and Elder Wade is going to Waco as a Zone Leader. It's funny because last week Elder Wade said he felt strongly that one of us was going to get a leadership call and told me that if President Ames called he wanted to answer because it's always the other person who the call is actually for. So, about 10:10pm on Monday night we think we're safe for the night. THEN, I thought, "Hey, I should check the phone one more time before bed," because it was in the other room. President Ames had called probably seconds before so I answered and he asked for Elder Wade. Should've checked the phone before me Elder Wade! HAHAHA! ahem... So, yeah. 

My new companion will be Elder Law. He's been out for six months and is coming from his first area. I don't really know him well but his trainer and his trainer's trainer have both been my district leader before so I've heard of him. 

Well, my time is up so I'll talk to you next week. Buhbye!

Love,

Elder O'Brien (the younger)

March 28, 2016 - Saginaw, Texas

Dear Family,

Well, for your weekly weather update, we almost had a tornado again. It's funny because back home if there's a tornado an hour away everyone is saying, "Wow! It was so close, we could've died!" Down here they're saying, "It's pretty far away, we should be good." Some people were freaking out still, so I guess it's 50/50. You'll be glad to know we get better and better at dealing with tornado sirens every week. This time we felt it was serious enough to warrant a trip to the church building for shelter before it got too bad. Nothing happened in this area though! No worries!

Other than that our week wasn't all that interesting. We had 3 investigators at church though! Texans tend to feel guilty if they don't come on Easter so that worked in our favor. Sara's mom was one of those there and she said she enjoyed it and wants to come back. That was good to hear. I'm scared to say this because I'll probably leave for it, but I really want to stay in Saginaw next transfer to see this all through! 

The rest of Easter was pretty awesome too. It was super spiritual and I certainly appreciated the package as well. The whole district got more candy than we can handle so we're essentially living the law of consecration as far as that goes. I may go into a candy coma later this week but I'll let you know. 

Sounds like Easter was fun back in little ol' Stirling. I'm excited for Katie and Mathew so congrats to them. While ya'll were doing that I was on exchange with Elder Walkling riding a bike every which way in Park Glen 1st and 2nd. He planned a "not so bad" day of biking that turned into an "oops, I think we literally biked a marathon" day of biking. Stairs have been rough since then. I hope your thoughts are with me...

Well, I have to go, but I hope you have an awesome week! Wish me luck with transfers!

Love,

Elder O'Brien (the younger)

March 21, 2016 - Saginaw, Texas

Dear Family,

It wasn't quite as stormy this week but there were still some storms. The tornado sirens went off again on Thursday which was confusing because it was completely calm outside. Turns out there was a tornado around South Fort Worth--my old zone. The Spanish Sisters there apparently had something fling off their roof onto their car. But yeah, we didn't have any more than a light sprinkling here.

Thursday was really the only other interesting day this week. We had a lesson scheduled with Sara who we started teaching my first week and is a referral from a laurel in the ward. Usually the laurel's father comes as the priesthood holder but he wasn't able to make it so we were trying all day to get another man to come along. We texted 7 or 8 people, all of which said no or just didn't answer. We told the laurel's family we would have to cancel because of this and as soon as we said that they texted a priest we hadn't gotten a response from and got an answer! Thank you members!

We had planned on setting a baptismal date that lesson so we could see how Satan was trying to stop it. As we got ready for the lesson I really felt like I would have to be the one to set the date. The lesson went well and I did end up setting the date. She agreed to be baptized on April 30. It was cool because Elder Wade said he almost did it a few times but he just couldn't. The Lord decided to give me the experience I guess. It was my first time setting a baptismal date so I was pretty excited! The next day Sara and her friend went to the Hurst Stake Youth Conference and we found out later that President Ames was there to speak to all the youth. Afterwards, he apparently talked with Sara specifically. I have no idea what they talked about, but I thought that was awesome.

There's some awesome stuff going on in Saginaw right now and none of it has anything to do with Elder Wade or I!

Hope ya'll have a wonderful week and enjoy the spring!

Love,
Elder O'Brien (the younger)

March 14, 2016 - Saginaw, Texas

Dear Family,

I really need to stop saying stuff like, "Hey, it's starting to look like spring!" because something always happens. On Tuesday morning we're sitting there studying and watching the nice gentle rain outside when suddenly the wind picks up and we can barely see ten feet outside our window! We then start listening closely for tornado sirens and all we hear is the wind howling really loudly at consistent intervals. Meanwhile the rest of our district is sitting in their bathtubs quite aware that wind does not howl like that--it was indeed a tornado siren. You live and you learn I guess... I'm completely fine though, no worries! The worst this area got was a few bent signs and leaning fences. Oh, and the beautiful blossoms I mentioned last week, yeah, they're now covering the ground.

That was the first storm this week. The second one is more figurative and began on Saturday before Chris' baptism. The baptism was scheduled for 7pm and at about 6:10 we got a text from his mom saying, "I am Chris. I'm not coming because I'm not ready to be a Mormon." We texted back and asked to come over but he didn't respond so we started getting the word out that the baptism was cancelled. We waited about a half hour before we took everything down and drained the font. That sound when the font started draining was painful, I'm telling you! Not 5 minutes after the plug was pulled both literally and figuratively, Chris walked in. At that moment I just gave him one those "Wait... What?!" looks.Turns out he was super nervous and didn't feel ready but some members convinced him to come. We asked him firmly if he wanted to be baptized and he said yes so we got as many people back as possible and the baptism went on! I didn't even know what to feel afterwards. I don't have the pictures right now but I should be able to get them from Chris' mom this week.

So, another random fact. Last week I forgot to mention that I met a member in the Fossil Ridge ward that served in the Canada Calgary mission and finished in Stirling. His last name is McClure and he was one of the missionaries that got Mark Clayton baptized. Small world! He remembers staying with the Laquas and everything!

Also, tonight all my dreams are going to come true because the bishop's family is hosting a Pi Day party and we're invited! #Hallelujah! His wife said they're going to feed us pizza pie at 6, then dessert pie at 6:30 when everyone else (neighbors, ward members, etc.) come. I cannot even express how happy that makes me! It's one of those situations when your prayer is answered even though you didn't say it because it seemed like such a silly thing to pray for. The Lord truly knows how to succor His people! I've been feeling a little down lately so in all seriousness, it was an answer to my prayers. I think we sometimes forget that the Atonement is truly infinite and that Christ will make things happen to cheer us up, no matter how silly. I'll leave you with that thought and talk to you next week! Happy Pi Day!! 

Love,

Elder O'Brien (the younger)

March 7, 2016 - Saginaw, Texas

         Chris and companion at Zone Conference 

Hello Family!

This was one of those weeks when the Texan weather just blew my mind! It's barely March and all the trees and stuff are already blossoming. I've never seen even a hint of spring this time of year. Anyway, that's your weather update for the week.

Sounds like ya'll have seen the zone conference pictures on Facebook. They always make the week a little better. We started out just going over tons of rules for a while (probably to prepare for the new mission president) then moved into learning to teach more effectively. I found out that I can only attend the temple once a quarter and that to do even that we have to live about an hour away, have to be taken by a member, and it can't be in the evenings or on weekends. Hopefully Elder Wade and I can work something out soon because I really want to go! I should be able to take some recent converts for baptisms soon though. That'll be exciting!

After discussing all the rules we talked about how to fulfill Elder Christofferson's Apostolic blessing to our mission "that in our teaching we can be more persuasive, more powerful and that our testimony will be accompanied by the Holy Ghost, as well as our teaching, that our teaching will reach people more than ever before. They have the right to choose how they will respond to our teaching and testimony but our witness can be strong enough that they cannot disbelieve it, whatever they choose to do about it." Basically, it came down to being obedient, becoming converted ourselves, and having honest conversations with people.

For me personally, I feel that means that I have to believe in myself more. I pondered a little during the role-play portion about how I always leave these meetings with a determination and ability to teach more effectively but my teaching hardly ever changes because of it. I felt that it's really just me holding myself back and telling myself I can't actually teach in the way I want to. I'm determined not to let that happen again. I've improved my teaching a ton in the last six months and I just need to remind myself of that. There's nothing more fulfilling to me as a missionary than asking an inspired question or sharing a scripture that just makes something click in people's minds.

I learned a lot more than what I wrote so I'll just send some of my notes in a separate email. Other than that, this week we taught one of our investigators, Chris, all the commandments and got him interviewed for baptism. He's getting baptized this Saturday so I'll send pictures next week. Take care!

Love,

Elder O'Brien (the younger)

February 29, 2016 - Saginaw, Texas

Dear Family,

I don't really have a whole lot to say for this week. I'm slowly getting more used to Saginaw. Yesterday Elder Wade got sick and slept all afternoon and evening so I took over answering phone calls and such. Let me tell you, there were a lot of them! Elder Wade is also the district leader so I had to call the whole district for numbers too. I was freaking out a little but came out alive in the end. Elder Wade could barely sit up so I figured it was least I could do.

I'm really starting to see that Satan does not want any of our investigators getting baptized. All four of our progressing investigators decided not to come to church for various reasons. Mainly it was because none of their fellowshippers were able to come. It's super frustrating but I know they'll get baptized even if we have to move a couple dates. We're definitely going to be emphasizing the sacrament this week.

On Thursday I was in River Trails on exchange with Elder Griffin. It was super weird because I read his blog before I came out. I felt creepy knowing about his mission and stuff when this was the first time he met me. The ward is really weird too because it covers the sketchiest part of Fort Worth. Luckily I didn't see anything too weird and/or illegal.

Oh, and according to a guy at the seniors' home, my health care career is ruined because I let hallway bowling happen.

Well, have a good week and stay away from hallway sports.

Love,
Elder O'Brien (the younger)

February 22, 2016 - My First Week in Saginaw, Texas

Dear Family,

It's hard to believe I've officially been out on my mission for six months. It's flown by but at the same time I feel like it was forever ago that I was in the MTC. My time in Joshua was well worth it. I learned and grew a ton there so it's definitely a sacred place for me. I really want to take ya'll back there sometime after my mission. 

When I first got to Saginaw, I have to admit it was a little weird. We live in a nice apartment complex along with two other sets of missionaries. My apartment feels like a mansion compared to the barn I was living in for almost six months. It honestly made me uncomfortable at first to have so much room. On top of that, we see other missionaries almost every day with most of the rest of the district in the same complex. The only ones not here are of course the sisters in Highland Station. Funny enough we actually all live in their ward. Anyway it's been interesting.

The work in Saginaw seems to have been booming the last few months. Currently we have two investigators with a baptismal date and another that will have one next week. People actually want to hear what we have to say here! Imagine that! I'd say I want to stay here for a while but then I'd probably be transferred in April. Which reminds me! This will be a seven week transfer to compensate for the MTC changes recently.

I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I didn't talk about the service we do here. Imagine for a moment that you're sitting in a room with the guy who invented twist-off caps among other things. Crazy right?! Now, imagine that he's asleep with a long string of snot hanging from his nose. Yep, we spend 10 hours a week at an old folks home. A memory care center to be exact. One lady told me on Friday that another resident was a jewel robber and that the Chicago police sent her here so that we can catch her. It takes some getting used to but I'll let you know how it goes for the next while.

I guess you're probably wondering about my new companion. I think I mentioned this last week, but it's Elder Wade. He's been out for eighteen months so together we add up to a full mission! After a day or so we both realized that President Ames may have very well put two of the quietest missionaries in the mission together. Both of us are experiencing having a quiet companion for the first time. It's been going pretty well considering! I think the Lord is trying to teach us something this transfer though... Anyway, I have to go shopping and stuff. Talk to you next week!

Love,

Elder O'Brien (the younger)