Week #7 - JOY

This week has been probably one of the best and happiest weeks of my entire life. I have never felt so full and happy. I cannot describe how much joy I have felt this week. 

This week started out with my best P-day yet. I got to go bass fishing in a pond that some members in one of our wards own. We caught 4 bass in about 2 hours of fishing and the owner made fun of us because two Northwesters caught more fish than the southerners he's had out there caught. It was a great day and I even got some sun since its 85 here everyday. Fishing was the perfect way to relax and start my week. I also fish and say y'all now so I guess I'm getting pretty southern. My old Kentucky accent is beginning to reflurish as well which is fun for me. 

I am finally getting the hang of tracting. In Preach my Gospel there are 13 questions of the soul to ask people with references in the Book of Mormon. The questions are like "where did we come from" and "where can I find peace." I decided to memorize those questions and have began to start asking them on doorsteps. Now I don't worry about what I am going to say and am able to share my testimony of the Book Of Mormon with everyone I meet. My first day trying that technique allowed for almost 5 new investigators in 8 doors that we knocked on.  That is crazy considering we usually get 1 with every 30. I now love tracting because we get to meet so many people and share truth with them and I also found the more I smile the nicer they are to me. 

The Book of Mormon is true. There is power that comes along with the Book. I have began to fall in love with it. I read every day and the more I try to pull from it the more power and love I feel. I challenge everyone here to read it more and study it daily and blessings will come in your life.

  

I also learned the best thing you can be to someone is an example. I desperately wish I could go back to high school and be a better missionary to those around me. My biggest regret is not looking for people to help share Christ with. As missionaries, we love to hear people on doorsteps tell us about great Mormons they know. Faithful members are one of our strongest tools we have as missionaries just because of their example. I thank anyone who leaves a positive example with others about the church.

The Nana family we are teaching is becoming more and more like Christ daily. This week we got to set a temple date for them to do baptisms once they are baptised (April 14) and also a temple date for their family to be sealed. I cannot explain how strong the spirit was there when we were able to tell Morgan that she could be sealed to her 4 children and husband forever. We all were overcome with happiness. She immediately invited us to the sealing and my heart was made full. So on April 20, 2019 a family will be sealed forever. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it and knowing that I was able to have a part in that.

  

This week was also Zone Conference which was super fun. We received our smartphones.... even though the one I brought which I was told to bring won't work for 6 months (but that's a different story).... 

The conference was great. We focused on how to keep our converts and take them to the temple and how the Book of Mormon will help us do so. It was so uplifting to be around so many other missionaries and to feel the spirit. I was asked by president to share my favorite scripture (2 Nephi 22:2) with everyone. I loved it. It is my absolutely favorite scripture ever and speaks to my soul. It was a great day to be a missionary.

On Friday I got the opportunity to go on exchanges with Elder Hill. He graduated the same year as me and has been out about 7 months. He has friends that I knew at BYUI so it was super fun to connect that way. He is really funny and a great missionary.  We spent the whole night laughing and knocking doors. That was the night we found 5 new investigators. It was a blast getting to switch things up and go to work. 

I got the opportunity to speak in church on Sunday. I shared Nephi 7:4-5 which tells of the 4 steps to missionary work. (Gain Favor, Speak, Let the Lord soften hearts, and Invite.) I invite all of y'all to read it and think of ways to use the four steps in your life.

This week brought so much joy into my life. I love being a missionary. My heart is continually full and every day I feel my Savior' s love for me. I'm so thankful to get to serve Him. I know He will bless us in all we do if we love Him first. 

Love y'all and God bless. 

Elder Jarrett Pinster

FISHING!!!

Y'ALL HUNGRY?

A pic with our artist investigator named Jackie

Week #6 - "Is this the Mormonaries?"

This week was not as exciting as the other weeks unfortunately.  The hardest part about being in a college town during spring break is that there's no one in town all week but we still managed to have a great week. 

TEXAS SKY AFTER A RAINSTORM

After 18 years of fighting it, I'm now officially on Facebook.  Our mission uses it to help us connect with ward members as well as communicate with investigators.  Anyone can add me and become friends with me however!  So feel free to add me!  Once we are friends with someone we have to unfollow them, so you will be able to see my posts but I will not be able to see yours.  I think it is a great way to help expose the church in an easy and fun way.  I will be posting uplifting messages and pictures over time.

This week while tracking we ran into some college students.  We began to talk to them and they said they weren't really interested in joining the "Latter Day Saint movement" but appreciated us.  It made me laugh but then I realized how lucky I am to be in a part of the world that values religion, especially anyone who is part of Christianity so much.  While being in Texas, I've mostly seen people who love the Lord and love others who do too even if its through a different religion.  Although I know we have the full gospel of Jesus Christ, it stands out to me how Christ-like and genuine people can be.  Texas has really made me appreciate people more and learn to love them in a way that Heavenly Father sees us.

This week since the town was empty we did a lot of service.  We did our weekly food bank service and also helped people paint, move, landscape, and really anything else they needed.  Service is such a fun tool that we have.  It's hard to be selfish and unhappy when you are helping someone else improve their lives.  Also, most people have dogs here so service means getting to play with dogs so it's a win-win situation!

This week while doing service at the food bank a pastor shared a thought on prayer.  He said, "when praises go up, blessings come down."  It really stood out to me cause how true is that.  When we pray and are thankful we can receive and get blessings in our lives.  It made me think about praising my Heavenly Father and to thank him more often for all that I have. 

This week was a fun week that even included a Phone call from someone asking if this was the "mormonaries." When we replied yes, they hung up.  No idea who it was and no answer when we called back but at least they have our number if they need us. Lol. 

I'm so thankful that I have the opportunity to serve and be around the great people of Texas.  I love being here even if it is hard sometimes.  As I praise him daily, I can feel the blessings coming down. Love y'all and God bless. 

Alma 7:11-13

Week #5 - GROWTH THROUGH FAITH

This week has been a fun but crazy week.  Every day I learn more and more about my Savior and how we can draw closer to Him. 

On Tuesday I got the opportunity to go on exchanges with an Elder from Forest Grove, Oregon named Elder Hitchcock! Crazy right?  He and I did service at a Baptist church that runs through the Houston Food Bank.  We got to load cars with groceries for the week and it was super fun being around such thankful people.  One of the ladies that is in charge of the food distribution even knows my brother-in-law Tristin from when he served in College Station as a missionary two years ago.  It was a really cool experience.

After doing service I got the opportunity to go on the Texas A&M campus with Elder Hitchcock from FG.  We have this big sign that says "If you could ask God a question, what would it be?" and then we just stop students and ask them to write their question on a piece of paper.  We then pin the question to the board and get to talk to them a little bit more.  At a Southern mostly-Christian school, we get a lot of people who stop to help answer the question and only a few people who try and Bible bash. It's really cool to see people who have such strong faith in Christ, and then we try to help them know more. 

College Station, Texas has four family wards.  My companion and I cover two of them (1st and 3rd).  The First Ward is a southern adventure but great people.  The Third Ward is the most stable and supportive ward I've ever seen.  I love the people of both wards and getting to see them help us with any work we have. 

This week we met with a less active named Shonda.  She is a 50-year-old African American lady with a huge heart.  She told us how God has saved her and that with faith she trusts in the Lord's plan.  She recently had a stroke and that's why she hasn't been at church.  We read the Book of Mormon with her and then asked what we could do for her.  She said that she wants to go to the Temple and be sealed.  She's saving up so she can go to the Salt Lake one.  She has a huge heart and then said she can see Christ in us when we visited.  It made my week especially because we decided to stop by there because the spirit told me she needed to see us, but really I needed to see her. 

My companion and I also went tracking in a super nice neighborhood this past week.  While knocking someone answered and said that they already knew God and were going to Heaven.  We then read 2 Corinthians 12:2 which talks about a third Heaven (aka the Celestial Kingdom) and asked them if that was the Heaven they wanted to go to.  They shrugged and told us to have a good night.  It is crazy to me how by studying the Bible more we can understand more that this is Christ's true church and that we fall directly in line with him and it makes me thankful for the Plan of Salvation. 

Sometimes the days get long and it feels hard to see the full purpose here, but then I realize why I'm here.  Every day Heavenly Father gives me some kind of miracle or something in my day that makes me understand why I'm here.  Whether it is meeting someone like Shonda or having someone smile while they close the door on you, God helps us see mini miracles if we try to find them.  I'm so lucky to have Heavenly Father looking out for me daily.  I also found that having the spirit is the best way to feel happiness but in order to have it, we have to act in a way to get it.  Whether that be by repentance or by simply going out of our way to say Hi to someone, we can be blessed by having His spirit with us.  I know God loves us and wants us to be as happy as possible!! 

My scripture for y'all for this week is Ether 12 where it talks about faith. It really helped me understand what it means to trust in the Lord! 

Love you all and God bless. 

TEXAS BBQ - YUMMY!!!

TRACTING

Elder Troy and I doing arts and crafts to help with an object lesson

Week #4 - SUP TEXAS!

First off, whoever told me it was good that I was staying state-side lied to me! I feel like I'm in a foreign country with incredibly nice strangers! I can already feel love for Texas people. Everyone smiles and says hello to you, even if it's as they are slamming the door on you. I feel like I am on sensory overload with everything here. It's so spread out and just big!

My trainer's name is Elder Troy from Longview Washington. He is a scripture genius and is teaching me so much. He's super obedient and helps me be the best missionary I can be. He has helped me by looking for ways to help ease whatever burdens I am feeling.  

ELDER PINSTER AND ELDER TROY

I'm in College Station, Texas, home of TEXAS A&M. We are covering two family wards that haven't had Elders in 2ish years. Our apartment is ghetto, but I like that cause then we have fun neighbors and like today we got to use a toilet plunger to declog our sink. #blessed. 

We have lots of work to do and kinda don't even know where to start. We have two baptisms set already for the end of March and have 4 other people with dates. The work is moving fast. We have around 400 members and 60 less active members to help with, but like all things worth anything, you have to work to get results. 

The mission isn't easy but neither is salvation. One miracle we do have is a car (which is a miracle considering it is 87 degrees today and our area is around 20 square miles). 

While I've been here I've been trying to rely completely on my Savior. Every time I feel like I can't go on I try and focus on what He did for us to help me get through it. I pray to get lost in the work and to lose myself. 

My funny story for this week is that we found pepper spray in our apartment but didn't know if it worked or not so we decided to find out..... Elder Troy and I then sprayed the electric pole and then went up to find out if it worked. After walking up to the pole after we sprayed it and accidentally getting it on our face, we realized that it did in fact work .... Safety First!! 

Missions are hard but so is the ability to find happiness. I thank God everyday for the opportunity to be serving Him. On Saturday, we decided to get to know the ward members better so we went around and did service for anyone who needed it. We pulled weeds, took down Christmas lights, and really did anything they needed. Best way to serve is to serve. No other way to find that joy. I pray every night that I can become more like my Savior. 

Love you all and God bless!!!

THE HOUSTON TEXAS TEMPLE IS BEAUTIFUL

PICS - GOODBYE MTC . . . HELLO HOUSTON!

GOODBYE MTC . . .

... HELLO HOUSTON!!!

PRESIDENT PETERSON AND 11 NEW MISSIONARIES ARRIVE IN HOUSTON

WRITING LETTERS HOME

ELDER PINSTER AND TRAINER ELDER TROY

Week #3 - MTC = Missionary Transformation Center

Wow I am so blessed. This week was a struggle sometimes, but overall it was a blessing. 

First things first:  Remember how last week I said that Elder Holland is my favorite person in the whole world? Yeah well I GOT TO MEET HIM ON TUESDAY!!!!!!!! He came to give the devotional Tuesday at the MTC. Talk about an answer to prayers. I've wanted to meet him for so long and no better place than here. He loves missionaries so much and expects the world from us. A quote he said was "We must first go through crucifixion Friday to achieve Resurrection Sunday." We all will have trials but they are leading to something better. 

This week we taught someone named Megan. Megan was on her last leg with God. She was struggling with her recent miscarriages. We taught her and the spirit was so strong but she kept denying God. While teaching I started dropping questions from the spirit that were blunt but helped us illustrate who God was. I've never felt so helpless. I didn't think there was anything I could say to help her but then we taught about our Savior and his helping power. I'm so thankful for our Savior and his healing power. 

It snowed like 8 inches this week which lead to some dang good snow ball fights! Our zone gets in trouble every day because of snowball fights but hey that's what repentance is for, just kidding. We also all bought matching shirts that say "Greece-Hellas Mission" because we needed matching shirts for our volleyball team and that was the only mission that was available. Plus it's fun to pretend I get to go somewhere foreign. 

Another thing I learned this week is that the MTC is the Missionary Transformation Center not the Missionary Training Center. That really stuck out to me. We come here to transform and train into servants of our Lord. 

Another thing I'm working on is to worry less and trust more. I think that is so important as a missionary especially as one who needs all the help I can get. 

I leave for Texas tomorrow and am so flipping excited!!! We fly out Wednesday afternoon. There's 10 of us gong to Houston and I cannot wait to share the truth with so many people. 

This gospel is so true and am so blessed to know of it. God looks out for all of us and has a plan for all of us. 

Love you all and next stop Texas!!!  God bless. 

Pics from the best district and zone in the MTC:

SURPRISE!  A FRIEND FROM OREGON!

Week #2 - LOVE AND GROW

This week has been a blessing. I cannot even explain how lucky I am to be in this position in my life and to be have the ability to focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ all day every day. Here are a few points from this week and some takeaways that I had: 

1) The Book of Mormon. It's just true. I've learned that it really is a book about love and families trying to follow Christ. I find so much comfort from reading it and I love the peace that comes while I read it. 

2) I think I finally found my jump shot. An hour of gym time has helped me finally find that sweet stroke once again. The church is true. 

3) This is the real gospel of Jesus Christ and it comes straight from Him. I never comprehended that everything we do is what Christ did when He was on the earth. I feel so blessed to be a part of the Savior's gospel. Growing up it never fully sunk in that we have all the truth Christ had. We are so blessed to have the full truth and to build a relationship with our Father in heaven. P.S please forgive me for my typing sins I'm still working on typing with a Samsung. 

4) Make Sundays a blessing. Sundays are the best even though I get the opportunity to wear a suit for 14 hours. My first meeting is branch presidency which starts at 7:10 am and we get back to the dorms around 9 pm, but Sundays have never been so special to me. Sundays give us the opportunity to renew promises we made with our Heavenly Father plus we get to spend the rest of the day learning of Christ. We have a MTC wide devotional Sunday night followed by the ability to watch a video from a general authority. This Sunday was by Elder Holland. During today's devotional the MTC president and his wife shared how grateful they were for two missionaries who served in Texas and in Idaho. Because of two separate missionaries their families have been able to have over 40 members and thousands of names for temple work. An entire family genealogy had the truth because of two missionaries. It made me think about Elders Torrence and Semien who are going to Idaho and myself going to Texas. I don't know if we will have that big of am impact but it was so amazing to see the possibility I have that I can be a good enough servant of God to have that ability. 

5) Elder Holland is my favorite person in the whole world.  Here are some notes I took from a talk I listened to:

"One shot don't miss it to do a mission don't miss it."

"A mission is Real Life -- capital R&L. It doesn't end because we can always come closer to our Savior."

"Salvation is not easy because His sacrifice wasn't easy. Gethsemene wasn't easy and neither will a mission. We must take a step towards Calvary's hill to get salvation for ourselves and for those we teach."

"Following his gospel costs more of us because it costs more of Him." 

"Moses 1:39, if you want to do His work you have to do it His way." 

Holland was very upfront and direct but it allowed me to fully understand my purpose while being here. 

6) Happiness comes when we don't think of ourselves. This week we got the opportunity to teach a pregnant young mom named Kaitanna about the gospel. As we taught truths, she talked about how true it all felt and fit together. She loved being able to see the plan of salvation and the ability to be together with family forever. At the end of the week we invited her to be baptised. She agreed and is now meeting with missionaries from the Provo mission with a baptismal date. My heart was full being able to see someone come unto Christ. I pray that she becomes a faithful member and her future child will be able to reap the blessing from the choices her mom is making. 

7) We got 5 inches of snow and were lucky enough to play in it for like 10 minutes. I'd say the MTC is a blast!

I'm so blessed and happy to be in the MTC. This gospel is such a blessing to have in my life. There is so much happiness and joy that can come from knowing the truth. I pray we can all grow and come closer to God a little bit more everyday. God bless. 

-Elder Pinster 

Here are some pictures! 

ELDER TORRENCE (from Alabama) and ELDER PINSTER

ELDER T, SISTER FINCH AND ELDER P BETWEEN CLASSES

GROUP SELFIE

THE BEST DISTRICT IN THE MTC!

MATCHING TIES WITH ELDER ELLIS
(Elder Ellis was in my stake in Kentucky and is now in my Zone)

UTAH SNOW!!!

Week #1 - ALIVE AND THRIVING @ THE MTC

ELDER HAUGEN, ELDER PINSTER, ELDER TORRANCE, ELDER SEMIEN
Provo Utah Temple

The MTC is busy. The second I got here it was a non-stop spiritual thrill ride. The spirit and feelings here are so strong and the people are even better. I have never been around so many happy and Christ-like people. I don't even really know where to start so I'll try to kinda divide it up by topics.  

My companion is a fun-loving drama geek from Spanish Fork Utah named Elder Haugen. We struggled at first to find common interests, but since the first day we have both grown so much closer as friends. My district is the best. I was made district leader. We have six elders and six sisters. Four elders are going to Houston, two are going to Idaho Falls. Four sisters are going to Lansing Michigan and two are going to Canada. In total with my zone I know of eight people going to Houston the same day as I am. I think I Heavenly Father is definitely looking out for me as he put two Elders in my district that are my long lost brothers. One is from Houston and the other one is from Auburn Alabama. Their names are Elder Semien and Elder Torrance. We are always laughing and having fun but build off each other spiritually.  I have found that my district/zone is literally the best. Everyone here is super loving and great examples to me.  

ELDER HAUGEN and ELDER PINSTER
MTC Companions

The work here is crazy busy. We are always scheduled. Even on our day off it isn't a day off. We are either in a class or teaching a real investigator. We got to class on Thursday morning and taught our first lesson that morning.  It's busy but the work is full of love.  As we have begun to teach people the amount of love I feel for them is more than I've ever felt. I'm starting to see people the way our Savior does. We are teaching a woman who is pregnant and looking for something that could help her in her life as well as bless her future child. As my companion and I taught, we taught about the love we had both been able to have in our lives because of growing up in the gospel. As we taught about families she began to cry while she was thinking about having her family together forever. I'm so excited to teach her again tomorrow and follow up on her commitments and pray that she has felt to spirit after learning to pray. My two teachers are RM BYU students and set such good examples for us to look up to. 

The life of living in the MTC is exhausting but fun. The meals are actually pretty good and the dorms we live in are pretty nice, The beds and sheet not super comfy but by the end of the day I'm ready for bed. The Utah weather is actually really nice. It is like 45 degrees everyday and sunny which is my favorite weather. 

While being here I have come to realize my purpose. My purpose in being a missionary is not to teach. My purpose is to invite people to find Christ and guide them in their learning. It really has nothing to do with me besides sending the invitation. I never realized that we don't convert people the spirit and Christ's love converts people to the truth. 

I have come to know so much truth while I've been here and it has only been a week. I can't even imagine my life without having this type of love and happiness in my life. I love you all and am so thankful for all the love I have felt from everyone since I have gotten here. God bless. 

Here are some pictures from this week:

THE BEST DISTRICT IN THE MTC

PROVO TEMPLE PICTURES

ELDER TORRANCE AND ELDER SEMIEN

Pre Mission - February 5, 2018

Hey guys!! 

I thought I would write a pre-mission post to talk about why I'm going on a mission and why I am so excited to go.  I would like to just say that I know this church is true.  I know we all have a Heavenly Father who loves us personally and that Jesus Christ is our advocate.  I am blessed to know that families are forever and we can be with them forever. 

I know that the Book of Mormon is true and through it we can find truth and peace in our lives.  I find happiness and joy from this gospel.  It brings me peace and love that I have never felt before.  I can't wait to share my experiences on here and tell about the progression I see and feel.  I am one blessed guy and can't wait to go to Texas and share with people the light that can come from the Gospel of Christ. 

This gospel is true and I know Jesus Christ is my Savior!  God Bless!