Week #36 - Wayyyyyyy Up, I feel Blessed!

Man ... THIS WEEK WAS FLAT OUT AWESOME. We saw so many miracles and I can't even explain the joy that I feel as a missionary.  When I think about a mission all I can think about is love.  Love the people and love the Lord.  Being a missionary in Texas is my favorite thing. 

So to start off this week we had a Tri-Mission Conference with all the Houston missions! There were over 300 missionaries in one stake center! OH AND TO TOP IT OFF ELDER HOLLAND WAS THE GUEST SPEAKER! 

As many of you know, Elder Holland is quite possibly my favorite individual in the world. We got to greet him personally and wow was it an experience. As I shook his hand he smiled at me and said that he was proud of me. Words cannot describe how I felt at that moment. It felt so personal and yet he knew nothing about me really. He then made a comment on my sunburnt cheeks and told me to keep working in the sun everyday. It was something I will never forget. After greeting he then counseled the missionaries on how to be more converted because that will lead to the miracles ahead. The power that he has is immeasurable. Friday was a day I will never forget to say the least. 

Huntsville is turning into funville as a missionary. Elder Morgan and I set three baptismal dates this past week and have some amazing people we are teaching. It's amazing to see the Lord guiding us to where we should go to find people and what to teach them. We pray for miracles daily and everyday it seems that he gives us one. The ward and YSA branch have some of the sweetest people ever.  After being in just a YSA for 6 months, I absolutely love being taken care of by all the sweet old ladies in Huntsville. They love missionaries and make some dang good dinners let me tell you.  I feel so blessed. 

This past week I have been thinking more and more about how to "become." I think that when we choose who we want to become and set a goal to react it, that is when we grow the most. A thought that was given yesterday in Sacrament Meeting was about how we can become.  It was something along the lines of "until you master the fundamentals how can you expect to master the game?" It really made me think about what we can do to master the fundamentals of the gospel, primarily reading, praying, and attending church. If we want to be successful, we have to master the fundamentals!!!

I feel so overwhelmingly blessed to be in Texas at this time. God is so so good. His gospel is so pure and full of love. Everyone needs peace in their lives and the gospel can bring it as we live the principles. 

I love y'all so much and know Heavenly Father loves you even more. God bless!!! 

Elder Jarrett Pinster 

 

Got to see my first MTC comp Elder Haugen again -- Love that guy!

Rain Day with Elder Morgan

Chef Pinster

TEXAS THUNDERSTORM

Week #35 - BELIEVE, LOVE, DO

Hello!!!! This past week was an awesome week for sure. Huntsville is slowly starting to feel more and more like home. The Texas heat is slowly starting to leave, and boy am I excited for some cool weather once again!  I am so blessed to be spreading the word of God to the people here. 

This week we set three baptismal dates with some awesome people. Two of them are siblings named Cory and Katana. They are just the cutest little 9 and 10 year olds ever. They love to hear about Jesus and tell us all the bible stories they know. 

The other baptismal date was with a guy named Dylan that we found on Sam Houston's campus.  He has a friend on a mission and his friend always said he should meet with missionaries and finally he ran into us on campus and we set up a time to meet!  He is super chill and just a great guy.  We are super excited for him to progress more and more in the gospel. 

General Conference was the past two days and man do I feel edified. I loved the counsel that was given. Throughout all the meetings, I just felt hope and love. I absolutely love how inspiring conference is and motivates us to just become better.  I am so thankful for a prophet and apostles that truly bring us closer to Christ. 

This week I learned a valuable lesson to lean on the Savior in all that you do. Sometimes you may feel lost and alone but keep on.  Life is so hard sometimes but with faith and looking to the future you can see little daily miracles.  Always keep trying to become your best self and in the words of President Eyring "Try, try, try." 

I love y'all so much and am praying for you. God bless. 

Elder Jarrett Pinster

Buc-ees run on our way home in Madisonville

Studies with Elder Morgan

Campus life (future album cover) 

My Fav District 

Twin Day with Elder Pacheco

Week #34 - WELCOME TO PRISONVILLE

HOWDY y'all!!!! 

This week has been crazy.  I got transferred to Huntsville, Texas. This place is straight up wild. I love it so far. Here are some fun facts about Huntsville: 

There are 30,000 people

5 prisons WITH one state penitentiary (in the middle of town I might add)

It's home to Sam Houston State, which consists of over 20 Faith organizations, and one HUGE antiMormon group who loves to bash us. 

They have hills that are huge like legit big especially when I'm on my bike. (Yes this means probably another 6 months without a car) 

There is one family ward and a YSA (that consists of 14 people) 

It is nicknamed as "Africa" in the mission because of the lush vegetation and wild species of people.  Trust me, I've knocked into some characters. 

I love being in Huntsville.  My new companion is named Elder Morgan and he is from Salt lake city.  He is a huge loveable goof.  I love him already.  He for sure helps keep me not too serious.  The area right now has a really small teaching pool, but we are working hard to change that. 

This week I have really studied more about Jesus Christ and His life.  I was reading in Matthew 14 which talks about the Savior walking on water and Peter also doing so.  When Peter's faith started to faulter he began to sink.  I love verse 31 which starts with "Jesus immediately reached out ..." 

No matter what we do, Jesus is waiting to reach out and grab us.  He will also do so and can do it. 

I love being in Texas and serving my Lord and Savior.  The gospel is so true. God bless and love you all. 

Also here is my new address! 

Elder Jarrett Pinster

1235 Josey St. Apt 265

Huntsville, TX  77340

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