Week #90 - UP THERE

Yet again it was another blessed week in Texas. The weather is finally getting cooler and I love it so much. The sweaters are back and the gospel is still being preached. 

We saw lots of miracles this week and I was able to grow my relationship with my Savior even more. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to serve Him and do His work.

This week we were able to have some sweet miracles. One night we felt prompted to stop by a former person we found a few weeks ago. We never really got in contact with him but on Wednesday when we by he answered. He was excited to see us and told us he had already read half the Book of Mormon. We were shocked. He told us it was helping him out so much. It was a super sweet miracle and we are excited to see where he will keep going.

On Sunday we had our ward primary program. We really tried to focus on having members invite their friends to it and they did!! A little girl ran up to us at the start of the meeting and was sooo excited to tell us her friend was coming. She definitely played it down because her family brought 7 friends with them!!!! It was crazy!! We were able to meet all of them and will hopefully start teaching them soon. Members can be miracle workers ;)

Our friend Kayla is doing super good. She's having some family opposition so any prayers would be greatly appreciated. Other than that she's doing great and sooo ready for her baptism. We are so excited!!!

I've been really thinking about how to grow our testimony of the Savior and how we can grow that. I read a quote from Dieter F Uchtdorf which was "We must not 'see' Jesus but we must Behold Him." I loved that. When we behold Him we apply all that we know and feel to Him and how we can become better. When we behold the Savior we come to know of His grace. Jesus Christ can and will fix everything we have. I'm so grateful for Him and for all He does for me. I love Him so much.

Another week up in Texas and another opportunity to serve my Savior. I love Him and I love Texas. There's no place better to be. Thankful for all I have. 

Love y'all and God Bless.

FLEXING WITH OUR NEW RAV4 HYBRID

GYM TIME WITH ELDER TEBBS

MY BOY ELDER HERRERA

TEMPLE TOUR WITH KAYLA AND PAT

Week #89 - HAPPY DAYZ

This week was another blessing. I still love Texas and all the people here. We saw tons of miracles and I still love serving my Savior. I'm so happy to be here for the people and for my Heavenly Father. 

On Sunday a family that I absolutely love got baptized and it was such a sweet experience. The Ahedo family is an elect family that I've been blessed to meet. Missions are worth every single second. 

One night while out tracting we were able to meet a guy named Keith. My man is so prepared. We knocked into him at around 8:30 and ended up talking with him for a long time but it was super sweet. Anyways, we gave him a Book of Mormon and then were able to come back the next day. He had read a ton and had so many questions which was super sweet. When we went back he just soaked up everything. We taught about the Lehi's vision and how we need to stay on the right path. I love seeing everything click and the spirit come into his home. Being a missionary is so sweet. My favorite thing is definitely when the spirit hits someone and you can see a light come into their eyes. It's a special experience. 

Our best friend Kayla is doing super good and is progressing well and is so excited for her baptism in a few weeks. She is so solid and ready to jump in. When we got to our lesson on Saturday she was so proud to tell us that she had already stopped drinking coffee on her own even though we hadn't taught her the Word of Wisdom yet. Yeah, she is pretty elect. God always does provide. 

I had some cool revelation this week too. I've just been thinking a ton about how to make the gospel of Jesus Christ more of my focus. I have realized that in order to be happy we have to live like the Savior. SO my conclusion is that happiness and Joy comes from liking what God likes. When we do that we become happier. The redeeming love of our Savior comes as we become more like Him. Progression comes even without perfection. Thankful for a gospel and Savior that provides Joy. 

Texas is my place. I'm the happiest I've ever been. I know the Savior and I know how special He is. I love my mission. Grateful for all I have. 

Love y'all and God bless. 

Week #88 - HAPPY FALL Y'ALL

Howdy friends and family!! 

Thankful for all I have. Thankful for my Savior and for the grace He offers to all. This week was one that really helped me understand and think more about how lucky I am to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and to know truth. I'm grateful for my mission and for the lessons I've been able to learn because of it. I just feel different but better. I guess that's what the Atonement does for us.

This week we had transfers so that meant tons of office work and driving missionaries around. After 4 trips to the airport, some sad goodbyes to some of my best friends, and seeing the arrival of a new group of missionaries, we finally got back to the grind in our area. 

Friday night we were out tracting and within 8 doors we found a less active family with unbaptized children, two new people to teach at the next couples doors, and we were able to just enjoy being missionaries. It was amazing. Two of the people we found were so sweet and let us right in. One of them was named Ina and she told us after we shared the Restoration with her that she just felt a "stirring" in her heart. That's the best way to describe the spirit. It was amazing.

We also had to get dinner late one night this week so we went to Arby's at like 8:45. We both for some reason felt like we needed to go inside to order, so we did. Well, inside we met Lexci who is so amazing. She was our cashier and we gave her a card and invited her to church. Well, Sunday morning we are at church and guess who walks in, Lexci. We were so pumped and she loved the service!! It was such a cool experience to have a miracle like that.

Lastly, we were able to set a date with a girl we are teaching named Kayla. She is dating a member and kept asking questions about the church. We met with her and explained some things and she said that everything just made sense. She loved the Book of Mormon and what it offers. She was even so excited that she went home and taught her mom the whole restoration and her mom even liked it. We're pretty pumped about Kayla. 

God is definitely a God of miracles. 

Anyways, this week was a blessing. Any week in the mission field is a blessing. I feel so lucky to get to share the truth that I know with the people of Texas. There is no where else I'd rather be in my life right now. Thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who puts me in places that I need to be and will continually work with me. Grateful for a Savior that lives. I love being His servant. 

Love y'all and God bless!!!

Week #87 - 20 DOWN (Months)

This week was great!!! Texas is still my favorite place to be and I love being a missionary.

Transfers are this week and sadly Elder Airth is going home to Idaho so I have a new companion. His name is Elder Tebbs and he's from who knows where central Utah. He's a beast. I'm super excited to serve with him and to get things going. He might be my last companion so it'll be a grand time.

We had some awesome miracles this week for sure. Last week we went to Waffle House late with our president for some late night waffles. We met a guy named Jeremiah who was our waiter. Anyways, we invited him to learn and he said sure! When we met with him a few days ago he started the lesson with "I want to join a church and know my Savior." Our mouths dropped. He's a lot more solid than we thought he was lol. Needless to say, we're pretty pumped for our guy Jeremiah.

Also!!! We had a member who we have been working with, invite his girlfriend to start taking our lessons!! We met with them Saturday night and we are so excited for them. We taught about the Book of Mormon and answered her questions. We are super excited for her too!!!

An awesome miracle too was that Alyssah who got baptized a year ago in College Station got endowed!!! It was was such a sweet and spiritual experience. It was probably one of, if not the most rewarding moments of my mission. There was just light and joy that night. I have definitely gained a strong testimony of the temple and the power that the Lord's house has.

I'm so thankful for my Savior. General Conference this past week was so powerful. Thankful for a Prophet to lead and guide us. This church is true. Jesus is the Christ. God is our loving Heavenly Father. Grateful for the opportunity to serve. 

Love y'all and God bless!

Week #86 - ALL THE WAY UP!

Howdy y'all. 

Yet again it was a blessed week in Texas and God is still always good to me!! I love being here and the spirit I feel as I do His work. A mission has really helped me see that you become what you act on. It's been an awesome week seeing how Christ is in every aspect of life and is willing to help with all parts. God is good and Christ is love. 

Big miracle this week was that we had the opportunity to go with Westin to the temple for his first time. He did baptisms and he loved it. He was able to be baptized for his grandfather who he was pretty close with growing up. He looked so calm and peacefully there. It's truly the Lord's house. He even showed up an hour early and stayed an hour late because he just didn't want to leave the temple. It's been a blessing to see how the temple can be an anchor to our testimonies as we participate and go inside. It's a special place and a place of power. Thankful for the Lord's house. 

We also had a crazy funny miracle this week. We were out tracting one evening and then finished the street we were on so we headed back to our car. After the last house we decided to head to our next street so we got in our car and drove away. Little did we know a guy was in his garage at the last house so after we left he saw us, got in his car, and chased us down lol. He pulled up at a stop sign close by so Elder Airth rolled down the window to give him a card but he said to come back and teach him right then. So we drove back to the house and had a lesson. Our boy Ja'Kobe is a baller to say the least. We were pumped. 

I got to also go to back to Huntsville and College Station on exchanges. We were able to see some old friends and work on A&M and Sam Houston State. I love college campus' so much. Young people are definitely my nitch on the mission. It was good to see old friends and Converts and to hear they are still thriving. We even found some new people to teach for the elders there so it was a good time. 

I saw a picture this week. It was a drawing of a little stick figure and then kinda standing above the figure in the air was the Savior. The person was holding their hand out with a little heart drawing in their hand. The quote of the picture said, "All I have to give is my heart" and in return the Savior said, "That is all I ask for." I feel that. All we can do is give Him our heart. He will take our hearts and make us into something we never knew possible. He is the master healer. He is the molder of characters. He is our Savior and redeemer. I'm so thankful for Him and His willingness to put up with my lack of perfection. Consecration is the goal and His grace is the way. Thankful for my Savior. 

As usual, life was pretty grand this week. We don't have any bad days here because we are doing His work. Grateful for the opportunity to serve Him and to be His representative. Every good thing I have in my life is because of Him. Thankful for all I have. 

Love y'all and God bless. 

Elder Jarrett Pinster 

Week #85 - STORMZ

Howdy y'all!!! 

It was such a blessed life. I'm so happy with life and with the redeeming power of my Savior. He Lives and I know that He does. Texas is the best place to be a missionary. 

This week we had some sweet miracles. We met Debby while doing some Monday night knocking. She was so sweet and opened right up to us. We knew she was elect when she pushed her door back behind the door and stepped out to talk to us lol. Anyways, she just needs the gospel in her life and loves the light of it. We saw her again on Friday and she said she was feeling so much better because of the light of the gospel. It's so true that the gospel heals us from the wounds we have. Grateful for His help and love in the work. 

I also got to experience a tropical storm this past week. It just rained and rained and rained. We had no flooding up here so counting our blessings. Zone conferences were also this week so that was fun to see all the mission friends too. I'm super grateful for the missionaries in this mission and the light they always bring. 

On Friday we went on exchanges. I got to go back to Cypress with Elder Lindsay!!!! I love that guy. Our one transfer in Cypress will always be remembered. Anyways, we went back to Cypress and were able to set three dates with a family we were teaching when we were together!!! I love the Ahedo fam and am so excited for them to make this next step. I also got to see my guy Elder Karren so that's always a win too. Love that guy. 

ELDER LINDSAY, ELDER PINSTER, ELDER AIRTH, AND PRES. PETERSON

It was a great week. I love being a missionary and I'm grateful for my Savior. He Lives and I know that. He guides and I feel that. I'm so thankful for every opportunity I have to serve Him. Thankful for the healing power of Jesus Christ. I love my Savior and His gospel. 

Love y'all and God bless!!! 

Elder Jarrett Pinster

Week #84 - GOT ME

This week was another great one in Texas. Somehow every week builds my faith and belief in our Savior Jesus Christ. I love the blessings of the gospel and all the joy it brings. Thankful for my Savior and thankful for the people of Texas. This state is really a special place. 

Zone conferences started this week so it's been a busy one. It's always a blessing to get to see all the missionaries in the mission. I feel so blessed to get to work with such awesome people all the time. 

This week I was reading in Moroni 7 and it says, "And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise."  

I've really come to realize on my mission that hope comes from faith in Jesus Christ. If we come to know Him we will have faith to continue on. He heals, guides, comforts, and loves us to make us better. If we need hope, He can give it to us. To ask for help from the Savior is hope. The Savior died and lived for us. We can use His sacrifice to become something great.

Time is moving fast and I thank my Savior for everything I have. No matter how stressed or busy I get, He is always there to lead the way when I ask. I'm thankful for this gospel and for the opportunity I have to share it with those around me. It's a healing truth in this world. I love my Savior and I know He loves us. Grateful for every second I have here in Texas. 

Love y'all and God bless. 

Week #83 - UP THERE

Howdy y'all! 

Life in Texas is such a blessing and the gospel is always so good. I'm thankful for my Savior and for the grace He offers to all those who reach out to Him. This week was full of miracles and hope. Thankful for everything I have in my life right now. God is so good. 

On Saturday Westin was baptized!! So Westin is such an amazing guy. He had gone through so many trials and hard things throughout his life that had really made his life turn upside down. All things in his life fell apart but he remembered that he was given a Book of Mormon years earlier. In his darkest time he decided to open it up and read. His life changed. He read and recovered for the time needed and when he was ready we got a call saying he was ready to be taught. It was a miracle to Elder Airth and I as we were working for a month straight just trying to get things going when he came into our lives. We met with him and he was just ready for the gospel. We set a date with him early and he never faultered. Over the last month he grew and changed. It was a blessing to see his change and the light of the gospel come into his life. He is one of the most elect people I have ever met before. God just prepared him. It was a miracle. I'm so thankful for Heavenly Father for leading us to him and in return giving us a new friend. God is good. 

Another awesome miracle was on Saturday night we were out knocking on doors when we met a lady named Sandy. She opened the door and said, "How did you know I was here? I was just about to call you." Apparently she had met with missionaries before and missed meeting with them so she was going to reach out to us but we showed up first!! Gotta love the spirit. Anyways, we invited her to church the next day AND SHE CAME. She was all dressed and ready at 8 when the member came to pick her up. It was a miracle of all miracles. She is such a sweet lady and we can't wait to teach her again today. 

We also had a guy come to the YSA yesterday who had been taught a year ago but kinda fell away. We introduced ourselves to him and he said that his life wasn't in a good spot but now he was ready to get back. He even brought up baptism on his own. DJ is the man. 

Life is going well down in Texas. The Lord always provides a way and truly does lead and guide. I feel over blessed by the miracles He allows me to see. I know He is there and I know He cares. I love Him and His gospel. I'm thankful for everything I have. Jesus is the Christ. 

Love y'all and God bless. 

Elder Pinster

Improving BBQ'n skills - Mission Office Parking Lot with Pres. Petersen

ELDER AIRTH & ELDER PINSTER

Week #82 - TEXAS FOREVER

Howdy y'all!!! 

It was another blessed week in Texas. Life is always moving and I love it. This gospel is true and such a blessing to my life. Grateful for my Savior and His grace. He is so merciful and loving. It's a blessed life. 

This week our friend Westin got all set up and good for his baptism this weekend. He told us that he just feels redeemed and connected to his Father in Heaven. The best part of a mission is being able to see the change and healing power in their lives. He is so excited and we can't wait for this weekend!! 

We met some awesome people during the week. This week was just jammed packed with transfers and administration lol. I'm happy with it though. My appreciation for the work has grown more and more. 

Life is great and I've never been happier. Thankful for my Savior and thankful for Texas. I love being here and having the opportunity to labor in His vineyard. Jesus is the Christ and God is our Loving Heavenly Father. 

Sorry this was short but time moves fast and I love y'all!! 

"The Savior won 'our souls with love.' Jesus Christ is our Master. His work is our work. It is a saving work."  --Dieter F. Uchtdorf 

ELDER AIRTH AND ELDER PINSTeR
George Bush Int'l Airport in Houston, Texas

ELDER PINSTER, ELDER SMEDLEY, ELDER __, ELDER AIRTH

Week #81 - FINAL FOUR (TRANSFERS)

Well, another transfer has come and gone. This last one was such a blessing in my life. I feel like I've been able to grow every day in so many ways. I know I still have a long long ways to go but I'm feeling more and more consecrated. Serving the Lord is such a blessing and honor. His work is a joyful one.

Some cool miracles this week:

I had the opportunity to go on an exchange with Elder Pineda. He's a zone leader in the Spanish program here. He's the man. We had plenty of time to go knocking so we hit the pavement. We knocked for about an hour without even one real answer. Then on one of the last doors of the street we met the family God was moving us towards. We knocked and asked if we could share a quick message with them. They let us right in. The coolest part was that half the family could only speak Spanish. So the one time there'd be a Spanish speaking missionary with me was when we met them. We taught them about the Restoration and it was really cool because we did it half in English and half in Spanish. We had 6 people sitting down and talking with us. It was a super awesome miracle. 

On Friday, we headed to an appointment but unfortunately it fell through. On our way to the door we saw a man named Fred. He was sitting out on his lawn. I told him, "If these guys don't answer we're having a lesson with you" as we walked over to the other house. The people didn't answer so back to Fred we went. We had a super good lesson with him and were able to give him a Book of Mormon. We love Fred.

Another really cool thing was that Elder Airth met a woman a year ago tracting then left his area. She had prayed earlier that day for guidance when he and his companion showed up. Fast forward to a year later after lots of lesson and trials; she was baptized. We got to go to the ceremony and it was so special. The elect are out there.

Our guy Westin is doing so good. We love him and he's ready to be baptized in two weeks. The Lord is always providing. I got the opportunity to go on one last exchange with my guy Elder Doelling. We have basically served around each other for the past 15 months. We've grown to be best friends and he's truly a disciple of Jesus Christ. He goes home Wednesday so we made the most of our one last exchange. It was a blast and I sure love that guy. 

I also got to head back to Cypress Sunday night for a devotional where recent converts spoke. It was powerful especially considering I was able to see and help 2 of the 3 people who spoke. The gospel changes lives and heals broken hearts. I'm so thankful for it.

With the start of this transfer I'm officially at four left. I'm so thankful for the light and energy that I feel because of this gospel. I want to give my creator all I have. I have been given so much. There is no better cause. I'm grateful for all I have. The work never stops. 

Love y'all so much and God bless. 

Elder Jarrett Pinster

Week #80 - GRACE

Happy August 19th y'all!! Yet again it was a blessed week in Texas. Life is good and God is even better. I'm thankful for my Savior and for the grace He offers me every single day. Jesus is the Savior and God is our loving Heavenly Father.

On Saturday, Beau and Mia were baptized!! They are the sweetest kids ever too. Their family recently moved into our ward and started coming back to church. We love them so much, they are just an awesome family. The baptism went great, lots of members came and even most of the extended family came. Baptisms are such a sacred experience that it makes all you do as a missionary worth it. After being around them and seeing the impact they have they've truly become my favorite part of a mission. The power of the promises we make and the cleansing that comes is unreal. God is true and his authority is evident. Grateful for the knowledge I have of his atoning power.

We also had a cool experience last night. We had dinner with an awesome family in our ward and at the end we had them pick to streets to go knocking on. We prayed and they picked the streets. We even took their 17 year old son with us. It was a blast and we even were able to teach some of the people we knocked into. The coolest part was that the son loved it. We even tracted into someone he knew from his high school. God is a God of miracles. 

I read a quote this week from Dallin H Oaks that says "The healing and strengthening power of Jesus Christ and His Atonement is for all of us who will ask". I know this is true. I know Jesus Christ will heal all of us if we ask. I have seen Him heal broken hearts, souls, and lives. He truly is the greatest of all. Our Lord, Our God. 

I'm thankful for the opportunity I have to learn and become like Him. All that I am is because of all He has given me. This gospel is true and this work is His. We are all in the hands of the greatest potter alive, let him mold us to what we can become. Thankful and grateful. 

Love y'all and God Bless. 

Elder Jarrett Pinster

Week #79 - FOURTH QUARTER

Howdy y'all!!!! 

This week I hit my 18 month mark and time is flying by. Mission life is just normal life and I absolutely love it. I want it to slow down so that I can fully enjoy it. It's definitely the sunset time of my mission. I love being a servant for my Savior.

This week had so many blessings. To start off, about 7 months ago while I was serving in Huntsville I met a girl named Jaa'lah. We contacted her at Sam Houston State. We were able to teach her and even set a baptismal date with her but unfortunately she moved to College Station so we handed her off to the missionaries there. Unfortunately, they didn't do super good with her and she kinda disappeared. BUT a week ago I got a text from the elders there and they told me she recontacted them and was getting baptized this past weekend! I was able to pull off an exchange up to College Station this past weekend to be at her baptism. She bore a strong testimony and wow was my heart filled. Missionary work just fills us. The gospel just fills. I'm so thankful for my Savior.

Also, my boy Jeston got his mission call and leaves this Wednesday so we got to see him and say goodbye. He is such a stud and I'm so proud of him. It's been really awesome to see his progress and now he will go and influence so many others. What a blessing. We also had zone conference this past week and I loved seeing all the friends in the mission again. 

We also set a date with Westin this past week!!!!!! He is so prepared. He told us that he already knows the Book of Mormon and church is true. He is solid beyond all means. He even drove an hour to go to a YSA conference this past weekend. It's amazing because Heavenly Father put him in our hands after so much prayer and fasting to find the elect. God is good. He always provides. 

I love my Savior so much. I'm so thankful for Him and all He does. The mission is by far the best place. The gospel is just one of love and joy. I have a full cup and it runneth over. I'm so grateful. He leads and guides. I know this gospel is true and that Jesus is the Christ. 

Elder Jarrett Pinster