I know I have been called of God...
This past week we had Zone Conference where we receive special training from our leaders and listen to President and Sister Belliston. It was amazing!! During Zone Conference President Belliston told us the story of how he received his mission call to serve last February in 2009. He said he received his call and later had an interview with President Uchtdorf (an apostle of the Lord). He said as his wife and he sat there President Uchtdorf told them that they would be called to an English speaking mission and they would know where in 2 weeks or so. President Uchtdorf then got quiet looked at President Belliston in the eyes, looked down at his paper and back at President Belliston and said "You have been assigned to the Maryland Baltimore Mission." Confused President just looked at him because he had just said they would let them know in two weeks. Nevertheless, President and Sister Belliston accepted their call to serve. Before entering the MTC in the latter part of June President and Sister Belliston did what every couple/person does when they are called to serve a mission. They began to put their ducks in a row. President said he went in to FINALLY get a surgery that doctors had told him he needed a couple of years prior. He said when he went in for a check up he found the situation was worse than he thought... He found out he had Cancer. President made a few phone calls and continued to prepare for his mission. OK now let me pause for anyone who doesn't know President. He is probably the healthiest 63 yr old I have ever met in my life. On P-days when he plays sports with the elders and they are breathing hard and in need of a water break President is just staring at them asking why they need water and then will say something along the lines of "Boy I tell ya they don't make young men like they use to." He has the energy of a two year old. He is, in the words of my mother "as healthy as an ox." But anyway, not to take away from the story. This news shocked President seeing as how he had been healthy his entire life. "I've never been sick a day in my life," President told us. After the shocking news he went to visit some people and all went well. He then came to Maryland on his mission which made it possible for him to get surgery from the best doctor in the states at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He underwent 38 days of radiation treatments every morning last year around this time and didn't tell anyone. He said last week "I didn't tell you all because I didn't want you all thinking I was going to die and get trunky on me." That is my Mission President! As he told these stories I recalled the times in December of last year when he was late to certain appointments or conferences and never thought anything of it because he was a busy man and was always on the go. But we found out last week what the reason was. He was undergoing radiation treatments. He has been cancer free for a year now. I love my mission President. Last February, President Belliston didn't know that he would be diagnosed with Cancer. Nor did he know why he was immediately called to serve in the Maryland Baltimore Mission just seconds after being told that it would take two weeks. But I do know that now he knows the reason for being called here. It was not only to touch the lives of those around him but to undergo a stressful procedure by the best doctor in the US. I testify to you that President Uchtdorf is an apostle of Jesus Christ our Savior. I testify that they receive revelation for us and are literal mouthpieces for our Heavenly Father. I also testify that at times they say things we may not understand but we are to be obedient and at some time in the future when the Lord sees fit He will show us the reason behind it. I know that I too, (just as President Belliston) have been called of God to come to Maryland Baltimore Mission. To touch the lives of others and to have experiences to impact my life just as drastically and vitally. I know this work is of God. There is no other work that has the ability to change hearts and lives the way I have seen it. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored and that just as the church in ancient times we have living prophets and apostles on the earth today. That as we listen to them we will gain a greater peace and happiness in our lives. And this I do testify of in the name of our Beloved Savior Jess Christ. Amen

Happy Thanksgiving

Well folks its that time again... Another Thanksgiving away from my mom's great homecooking. But sometimes you have to sacrifice the good for something better. I never thought I would say that but I know I must put the Lord's work first. My companion and I have been seeing so many miracles I dont even know where to begin. We have been really trying to just talk to everyone. The other day we found this stack of papers from 06 to 09 where people had once upon a tme ordered things online. So my companion and I said well what the Hay why not check on them. It's a shot in the dark but at one point in time they were interested in hearing the message. So Sister Lin and I went to check on one guy and low and behold he didnt live there anymore (it was from 2006) but we met a guy and asked if we could share a message with him. He let us right in. For some reason we always try to share a message but something kept telling me to set a return appt and leave. So we did. On the way out I told Sister Lin how strong the impression was that I got for us to leave. We both thought it was a little wierd but we just followed it. On the way to our car something hit me again and said lets walk to our next appointment. It wasnt to far but we hadnt originally planned to walk but we headed there on foot. So as we were walking we started to cross over this McDonalds parking lot. In doing so we crossed paths with this girl who appeared pregnant (but thats never a question you want to ask unless 100% sure) and she was pushing a heavy kid in a stroller. She looked like she was struggling a bit. We started talking to her and helped her push her stroller almost all the way home. She was phenomenal!!! She is 24 yrs old from El Salvador originally, but grew up her. Her name is Aleyda. As we were talking to her it was sooo evident that she needed the Gospel as everyone does of course. And not only did she need it but she was ready to receive it. We were on our way to an appt so we set up a time to come back that same night after some appointments that we had. When we went back that night she was so excited to see us, as were we. We taught her and then set a time to come back the next day. Needless to say we have taught her everyday since then. We commited her to come to church on saturday and she agreed. after our dinner appt we got an Voicemail from her saying something came upa nd she couldnt make but we could stop by and talk to her about it if we wanted to. When we got there she said she had just put her last diaper on her son and she didnt know how she was going to get more and how she could make it to church. We then asked her two questions "what size diapers does he wear and is that the only thing keeping you from coming to church?" She answered us we didnt say anything else we got up made a trip to walmart got her some diapers and a few other things headed back and she was in tears. Aleyda came to church on Sunday and loved it. Satan was not going to win that battle. She is sooo excited to keep learning and embrace the gospel and it's teaching we are so excited to continue teaching her. I love this work. Miracles like this make it so easy to do. It's worth it. When you see the blessings and the friuts of your labor, it's impossible to not work harder and harder. I love it. So I know my mothers Thanksgiving food will fill me up really well but these memories will fill me up for a lifetime. I will always reflect upon them and they will continue to strenghten my testimony of the truthfullness of this Gospel. I love you all and i love this work... HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

Well people great things are happening in my area. We just had a baptism this week for a beautiful girl name Christina she has been investigating the church for 10 years and we started teaching her and we thank the missionaries that came before us that planted so many seeds. It was wonderful. She is a recovering alcoholic and completely changed because of the Gospel. It's just like Alma 5 when Alma asked "Have you spiritually been born of God? Have you received Him in your countenances?" It is amazing she truly has received God in her countenance. She has changed so much and she was so ready. We love her so much and have thoroughly enjoyed teaching her. We have been seeing so many miracles in this area it's unreal. I can not say enough when you are obedient the Lord will bless you. He is just waiting and wanting to bless us.
On another note I dont know how many football fans we have out there but I wanted to share something else really cool. We have the NFL Player Todd Heap in our ward and my companion and I went to go visit him and his wife. He was out of town playing a game but we got to meet her and she is PHENOMENAL. Talk about people who have not let their lives define them. Sister Heap is so awesome. She is at home a lot with the kids by herself and they still EVERY SINGLE NIGHT have family prayer and scripture reading and they have Family Home Evening every Tuesday. I love them so much. Saturday night we had Trunk or Treat at the church and it was so cool. Todd Heap... but we know him as Brother Heap came too since it was his Byweek. He is sooo awesome. They are so down to earth and still are just a normal family. We asked if we could take a picture with him and he was like of course. He said it almost as if he was like "I'm just a normal person but sure" He is sooo HUMBLE! Man i just love it. I love the example that they are. Pretty much everyone knows they are Mormon and they are just such good people. Well enough of me babbling just know that i love you all and will still be working my face off here in Maryland because... YA know thats what i do! I love you all!!! Here are some pics from the Trunk or treat... Brother Jorgensen was dressed as the Old Spice guy from the commercials.... so funny. The only reasom why i thought it was funny because i actually saw the commercial at wal mart the other day.. And my fried chicken is becoming so big here in MD that i may have to open my own BIS-NESS!!!

Alrighty well here's whats going on. The mission field is stinking sweet. So many miracles happening its unreal. I absolutely love it. My comps are great, I'm great, the work is great. We are pretty much teaching the whole state of Maryland. I mean Mandarin-Chinese, Spanish, English, Samoan... Tell me who we can't teach. Ahhh its so great. So much culture under one roof. We have had some amazing opportunities to share the Gospel and The Lord just keeps blessing us. Obedience is key in the work and you get no where without it. Ahh I love it.
I have been thinking a lot lately. I mean I come home in 5 months or so and around this time ever so often you start to think about what in the world you're going to do when you get home AND... I've finally got it!! (DRUM ROLL PLEASE).
Well here it goes. For all the people who will be traveling outside of the U.S. and into Baltimore I will be teaching Baltimorian as a Second Language. I feel that there is a lot of money in this. I can make all the materials myself and since we're in Baltimore so much I think I will record them so people learning Baltimorian can get a real feel of the language. Some of the Language Program will include vocabulary such as the following:

Me'in- Today I gotta Me'In (meeting) in Baltimore.
Sir'in- I wanna go but I'm not sure if its at a Sir'in (certain) time.
Dairy- Where is he? Dairy (there he) is.
Doug- I was trying to get some sleep but the doug (dog) has been barking all night.
Warsh- Are you gonna to warsh (wash) the dishes.
Dellus- Oh so you a Dellus Cowboys fan?
Dent- I thought she did it but she dent. (didn't)
Troof- I dont lie.. I'm telling you the troof. (truth)

This is just a little bit of Baltimorian for Dummies... Since i have gotten a copyright feel free to use these things when traveling to Baltimore and please people... Dont forget your passport.
Anyway, I love you and hope all is well. Talk to you all soon!