Week #33 - BYE TAMU ...

This week has some sad but exciting news!!!! I am leaving my area of serving on the Texas A&M campus. It has been an amazing 7 1/2 months in College Station. I am being transferred and will now be a district leader in my new area!!  I am way excited and nervous, but Heavenly Father will take care of me!!

Yesterday we had a devotional where recent converts have the opportunity to share their stories in front of people from about half the mission. Out of the three speakers, two of them were people I worked with and helped baptized (Alyssah and Jeston).  They both shared the stories of their conversion and WOW did I feel blessed and uplifted! The spirit spoke to me and almost reassured that I had done what I was supposed to do in College Station. Heavenly Father is so good y'all.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the truth. 

I have two gospel thoughts for y'all this week:

1) I had a thought that made me think about who I really am and what I need to do better.  The quote was "Bear testimony always and sometimes use words."  Are we living in a way that shows that Christ is the center of our mind?  Do our actions show we put Him above all?  It made me really reflect on my life now and what I need to do to always bear testimony. 

2) The next gospel thought is from the Book of Mormon. 2 Nephi 9:39

"... Remember to be carnally minded is death, and to be spiritully minded is life eternal."  Wow.  Makes me think even more.

Elder Jarrett Pinster 

Reunited with Rudy and Elder Troy

Fav ladies from the Baptist food bank

Elder Airth and I

BLUEBELL ICE CREAM!!!

READY FOR SOME TEXAS RAIN ... IN COLUMBIA STYLE!

Week #32 - JOY ... AND SOME MORE JOY!

Wow I love being a missionary. If you want to know what joy is, become a missionary. I love being in College Station and serving the people at Texas A&M.

This week Alyssah was baptized!!!! Story time!!!! So, we found Alyssah around a month ago. Her sister went to A&M like 5 years ago, ran into missionaries, and six months later was baptized. Alyssah saw her sister's life change and thought it was interesting to say the least. We ran into Alyssah and her friend on campus and her friend said she wanted to meet, but Alyssah had zero interest. Two weeks later we ran into them again and Alyssah said she'd meet just so she could understand what her sister believes. 

Our first lesson was pretty intense. She asked some really tough questions and wouldn't let us use anything to answer them except with the Bible. We answered all of them. After the lesson we asked her to read the Book of Mormon and she said no but that she would meet with us again. After another lesson and an understanding discussion on the Book of Mormon, she agreed to read it. A month later that Book has changed her life. 

We continued to meet with Alyssah and saw her heart soften and her light have life. We saw miracle after miracle in her life.  She had opposition from family and friends but stayed the course. After meeting with us for three weeks, SHE ASKED US when she could be baptized. We never even had to ask. She told us that the night before she knelt and prayed about the truth of everything and Heavenly Father answered ... and she never looked back. She bore her testimony during the service Saturday and stated the four things that she knew were true: 1) God has a plan for everyone; 2) The Book of Mormon is true; 3) This is Christ's true church; and 4) Jesus is the Savior.  Boy was it powerful.  I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for letting me play a part in her life changing. 

We are still finding like crazy on campus. We have some solid people that are progressing and growing in the Gospel. I just feel joy. Constantly. This gospel blesses lives and gives me purpose. 

I am so thankful for being in Texas.  I love this gospel and know that Jesus is the Christ.  He heals and He loves. 

I love y'all and God bless! 

Alyssah's Baptism Day

Alyssah bought us matching A&M socks for our second lesson,
so we broke them out for the baptism!

Mid-Lesson selfie with Elder Smedley

Week #31 - TAILGATING AND RAIN

This week was insane!!!  We had a tropical storm pass through so it's been super nasty weather.  We walked to church in rain, but I'm not complaining because the weather cooled down mucho!

This week TEXAS A&M played Clemson so over 100,000 people came to College Station for the game. It was straight up wild! You already know we went tailgating and mooched some good BBQ.  We found a bunch of people on campus and have 4 baptisms set up for every weekend for the next month.  I'm finally seeing the fruit of my labor and I love it. 

I'm doing flipping fantastic personally.  I have the flu right now and took 4 Benadryl last night, but other than that I'm doing great.  We are teaching the biggest sweetheart and she is getting baptized on Saturday.  She has changed so much and just takes everything we say in. She even admitted to thinking about a mission.  CRAZY.  I love being in a YSA Ward.  People are so much fun and I love bonding with the people in my ward.  Makes being a missionary so much fun! 

Week #30 - GOD BLESS TEXAS - Happy Labor Day!

"Our task is to become our best selves." --Thomas S. Monson 

This past week was a blessing. Love being in Texas and serving my Heavenly Father.  Love y'all and and wishing you the best. 

Miracles are happening on Texas A&M!!!! 

God bless and love y'all!!!

Touched the lizard ... even though I hate them!!!

Caught our ward mission leader sleeping!  ZZzzzzzz

Reunited with Elder Coop (from the MTC)

Driving for TACOS with Elder Smedley and Elder Airth

Week #29 - SUP TAMU (Texas A&M University)

I'm just going to be honest with y'all and tell you how much I love being a missionary!!!  There were so many miracles this week and God is so real.

This week we talked to someone who was having trouble with understanding why her church was not the Full Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We taught her about the fullness that is available to her and the truth that comes from the Book of Mormon.  While testifying to her about the truthfulness of this gospel, she started to have tears in her eyes and felt Heavenly Father talk to her and tell her that the church was true.  She said she literally had her prayers answered with a voice.

Another miracle we had was when we were teaching someone who could not understand what it meant to have a testimony.  While talking to him, he asked  me "What good is your testimony?" and "What is it to you?"  The honest answer that popped into my head was that it is everything to me!  I never thought I would say that and when I said it, the spirit was so strong.  I'm so thankful for the ability we have to have personal testimonies of the fullness of the Gospel.

Campus started up this past week and it is super fun. We only get bashed three to four times a day by little white girls. It's okay though--Jesus loves everyone! Texas A&M is one of the best campuses on Earth and I love being here.

We are also doing a floral fast. No floral ties for two weeks. Prayers would be appreciated. 

I love being a missionary.  Sharing the gospel warms my heart.  I'm so thankful for the opportunity I have to teach people about our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Every week I pick a Christ-like attribute to obtain and try my best to become more like that during the week. By doing this, I feel myself become better and closer to my Savior. 

Love y'all and God bless.

Elder Jarrett Pinster

Serving in College Station, Texas
Texas A&M Campus

MET MOSES!

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AT TAMU

FAV DOGGIE!

Week #28 - A FEW PICS

Sorry for the lame weekly but all is well in Texas and I love being a missionary!!!!!!!! 

TEXAS FOOD IS AWESOME!
(... notice no floral ties!)

Week #27 - HAPPY

I love being a missionary so much!!! Transfers were this week and I'm staying in College Station on A&M!!! I will be getting a new companion which is exciting and the fall semester starts in two weeks!!! 

We saw so many miracles, one of which is Alyssah wants to get baptized on September 8!!! Holy smokes she is so ready.... a little background on her, she was from the Church of Christ and was very set in her ways. Within 3 weeks she has been eating up the Book of Mormon! We send her multiple chapters and talks a day and she is constantly asking for more. She has had multiple spiritual experiences and is constantly looking for opportunities to share what she has learned. The other day she got to the lesson and said, "this is weird, but the other day I had an overwhelming desire to share all I have learned with my roommate." She also went shopping to buy modest clothes for church and then invited the cashier to church. She has also been sharing everything she is learning with her Mom and now her Mom's heart is softening towards the church. Needless to say it was a huge miracle that we met Alyssah. Alyssah's sister is a member and has been praying for a long time for her family to find the truth. When we started meeting with her, the sister and her husband's family prayed and fasted that the Lord would soften her heart and open her eyes and without a doubt He has done that. We are so excited for her. 

We also got to go to the temple this past week and holy cow I feel renewed. I love the temple so much and I love the feelings I have when I'm there. 

I am so thankful to be a missionary. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and the healing power that can come because of what He has done for me. Texas is my favorite place to be. 

Praying for y'all daily.  Love y'all and God bless!!!

ELDER SMEDLEY AND ELDER PINSTER

ELDER PINSTER AND ELDER PALMER

PINSTER, TROY (Trainer) & PALMER

YSA WARD - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Week #26 - END OF THE FIRST QUARTER

The mission life is the best life!!! I'm officially at 6 months which means I'm 1/4 of the way through my mission! It is so crazy to think that I have made it this far in. I'm so happy to be in Texas serving my Heavenly Father. 

This week Elder Smedley and I became movers. Not professionally or anything but we spent two solid days doing it this week!!! No complaints however!!! Living in a college town right before the semester starts has its perks and its struggles. Love being around college kids. 

Here is one of my favorite scriptures about Christ from the Book of Mormon (Moroni 10:32-33):

"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot." 

This Gospel is so true and really does add clarification to my life. This gospel is not a religion or a belief, it is truth. Having the Gospel is a blessing and adds so much comfort for me. 

I love being in Texas and being a missionary. Love y'all and God bless. 

1) Elder Smedley and I with a member before we went to Mass yesterday

2) Favorite investagator in College Station named Adrian 

3) Exchanges with my "little brother" Elder Paulmer (We had the same trainer so we are therefore brothers) 

ADRIAN & ELDER PINSTER

ELDER PAULMER AND ELDER PINSTER - BROTHERS!

Week #25 - HE HEALS

I'M SO HAPPY Y'ALL.  TEXAS IS THE BEST PLACE ON THE EARTH.  I'm totally sounding like an annoying missionary but I'm so happy to be in the great state of Texas serving. 

This week was a blessing. We are teaching a bunch and have some amazing people lined up to come even close to Heavenly Father. I love feeling the spirit and coming close to my Father daily. 

Quick little sermon for y'all about my man Jesus Christ:

Read Luke 22:39-44.  It's powerful.  It talks about the Savior suffering for us in the garden of Gethsemene. We learn about the blood dripping. Think of the agony that came with that. Humans pass out when they get in so much pain they can't handle it. The Savior was the son of God and not just human, so He didn't have the luxury to pass out. He loves us so much that He suffered that pain just for us.  People also think that every sin had a drop but the truth is that His blood dripping was eternal and infinite.  No matter how many sins or pains we have, His blood will be sufficient for us. 

Now read Alma 7:11-13.  The Book of Mormon adds even more detail about this event. Christ suffered more than just bleeding for us. He suffer pains, temptations, and afflictions so He would know how to succor His people. That means He knows how to help us and how to fix us. Christ can heal. Christ can fix.  All we have to do is ask Him to and then follow Him. I love my Savior sooooo much. 

Now read 2 Nephi 9:7 then Alma 34:6-10.  His atonement is infinite.  It covers everything.  Reach out to Him when you need it.  I'm so thankful for my Savior and all that He has and will do for me.  He heals and He cleanses.  As we reach out to Him, we can be fixed. 

I love being a missionary and spreading the good word. Thankful for all my many blessings.  God bless and love y'all! 

ELDER SMEDLEY and ELDER PINSTER - TEXAS BBQ

ELDERS PINSTER, STULCE, SMEDLEY

Elder Stulce and I (my fav Spanish speaking older brother)

Week #24 - LEAN ON CHRIST

Isaiah 43: 2-3

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 

For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour ...”

I am so thankful for my Savior and all that He has and does for me. This past week was a blessing. I saw miracles on miracles. We are teaching some amazing people and I love the light that the Gospel can bring to our lives. The key to success is to just keep trying. Elder Smedley and I are growing so much closer and can feel the spirit guiding us along. I love being a missionary and love being in Texas even when it's 105 and 90% Humid. God loves us all. Christ heals us all.  

Love y'all and prayers coming your way from Texas.

Elder Pinster

Kyle Field - Texas A&M University
Elder Pinster and Elder Smedley

For Elder Pinster's friends in Henderson Kentucky

Dreaming of Football!

Week #23 - PUSH ON

"In nature, trees that grow up in a windy environment become stronger. As winds whip around a young sapling, forces inside the tree do two things. First, they stimulate the roots to grow faster and spread farther. Second, the forces in the tree start creating cell structures that actually make the trunk and branches thicker and more flexible to the pressure of the wind. These stronger roots and branches protect the tree from winds that are sure to return.

You are infinitely more precious to God than a tree. You are His son or His daughter. He made your spirit strong and capable of being resilient to the whirlwinds of life. The whirlwinds in your youth, like the wind against a young tree, can increase your spiritual strength, preparing you for the years ahead."  

-- Neil L Anderson 

This week was a great week.  We set a baptismal date with Kale who is coming so much closer to Christ everyday. I look for miracles everyday. I had the opportunity to see one of the biggest miracles of my mission, Rudy, for lunch this week.  This is a gospel of love and of miracles.  Campus life is the best life and I continue to always push on. I'm so thankful for my Savior and the saving/healing power of His Atonement. We can always grow with Him. 

Love y'all so much and know that God loves you even more.  God bless. 

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" 

-- Proverbs 3:5-6 

Hang'n out at the institute on campus

Horse'n around at the Food Bank with Elder Stulce

Rudy & Elder Pinster