This is a good friend of mine! We are from the same ward haha. He is really awesome and he looks good! We were sitting while emailing and all of the sudden he stood up and I turned around and there he was! HE WAS BEHIND ME FOR LIKE 40 MINUTES OR MORE! Haha His name is Elder Avery and he is a boss! He picked me up on his shoulder, haha, which brought back memories! He has been out just over a year.   So I got here the transfer before his year mark! Isnt that awesome! He will still be here for a good bit of my mission.  haha Thats really cool. 

Finding a little piece of Home with Elder Avery!

Good to know some things never Change!!

We should all look for God's hand in our life more. If we do, we will see why it really is easy to be positive a lot more. Its really nice! :) 

I love yall! Hope everyone is doing wonderful.  But if not, look for God's hand in your life.  I promise your spirit will be lifted. It's awesome. 

Me being a boss spraying some poison for Service.

Awesome cowboy boots given to me by a Vietnam Vet!  Yes, I did wear them.

Something that reminded me of home.

Love,

Elder Irvine

Elder Irvine!

Third Month Accomplished

Always on the Bike!

So my third month has been done. It has been a blast. The fun never stops on your mission haha if you make it so. I honestly am so happy every day. Like even when I'm tired and like mellow I'm really happy inside. I just cant show it because I am too tired!  Working out every day and then biking every day is really good at keeping fit! All ya'll should try it! 

Always enjoy doing some service

In fact, I have a challenge to issue to everyone this week. I have started reading the Book of Mormon and the Bible side by side with these 5 things in mind:

1) Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement(Yellow)

2) Repentance (green) 

3) Baptism(blue)

4) Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost(red)

5) Enduring to the End(purple)

 

As you can see each topic has a color after it. Now you can use any colored pencils you want, however I use these and as I read through the words of God and see a scripture that describes faith, or receiving or listening to the Holy Ghost or baptism, I mark that scripture with the corresponding color. This has caused a furthering in my testimony that the Bible and the Book of Mormon strongly testify of a Living Savior who is Jesus Christ. 

I encourage you all to begin this marking in your scripture study of the Bible and Book of Mormon. If you dont study the scriptures, now is a wonderful time to begin and witness the blessings that shower from heaven as you apply this joyful good news that is the Gospel of Christ in your every day life. I know that many of you are so so happy and have great joy. However, there is a fullness of joy that can only be expressed and felt in the Restoration of the Gospel on the Earth today. 

I testify that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that by applying its teaching to your life, you can experience a fullness of joy. A joy and knowledge that God lives and through His Son we are saved. I bear witness along side the Bible and Book of Mormon that there is a living prophet on the Earth today and God leads His church in everlasting life through His Prophets. In this is my testimony and knowledge and I promise that by reading and experimenting upon the words of the Book of Mormon and modern day proghets you can know for your self that the Fullness of the Gospel is here today. 

In the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Irvine

For a Free copy of the Book of Mormon, click here:  http://www.mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon?CID=99110174&s_kwcid=AL!3737!10!3326888536!20473785836&ef_id=VTVKtQAABA72NS85:20150420185133:s

I know this is a good look for me...pants leg roled up to keep it out of the stokes, rake in one hand and doing my best to steer with the other hand.  #lifeasamissionary

Got to Love It!

This is Dinky.  A present from my family for Easter.

The mission is going great. There has been a lot of success and a lot of work. We had service work from about 10 to about 5 the other day which was very fun and exhausting haha. I love the mission work so much. I have never felt so successful. The work the missionaries do is so great and hard that it just about knocks you out, but it is so much fun and rewarding to so many more people than yourself. 

For some reason this week there was a larger population of people than normal that yelled out "Hail Satan" at my companion and I. I wonder if that really brings them joy?   How sad and miserable their lives must be that they try to drag others down. Obviosley they have never talked to missionaries because if they had, they would know that we only ever always and forever talk about Jesus Christ. We talk about the great and lasting atonement, his taking upon himself our sins and sorrows, so that he may help us and save us. 

I love Jesus Christ. We are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We are not Mormons.  We are Disciples of Christ doing our best to follow in His foot steps and keep His commandments because He loves us. And then blessings are promised. 

Thank you everyone for all of your support and kind attitudes. I hope everyone realizes what the mission requires from young women and men that take them on. They are setting aside their lives for two years trusting everything to the Lord because missionaries Love you and just want to share some of the happiness they have come to know with you. If anyone doesnt desire the message, just give the missionaries some water at least and politely speak to them. If anyone tried to follow Jesus Christ as we invited them to, they would come to know why we are so so happy and they would want to share it with the world too.

I love my Savior Jesus Christ and know that He lives. I testify of the saving and enabling power of His atonement and promise that when you follow His commandments because you love him, blessings will be given to you and your family. 

Yes, this is me cutting my poor companions Hair.  Supposedly, he trust me...Foolish!

Real concentration.  Did I tell you this was my first haircut!

Sincerely Elder Irvine

Happy Easter

So this week was very wonderful. We were super busy throughout the whole week and then had a great weekend with General Conference (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2015/04?cid=HP_SU_4-5-2015_dPTH_fGC_xLIDyL1-B_&lang=eng). It was awesome. I'm so greatful to have a living prophet on the Earth today with Apostles to guide and lead the church as God directs. The talks were so amazing. 

I told the family that I was watching it with, that if each of them asked me one question, that with the help of General Conference, we could find the answers. After the First session of General Conference, All of the questions were answered. It was amazing. It shows that the talks given were inspired. It was truly amazing. 

I hope that anyone who did not watch General Conference will take the opportunity on lds.org to watch the talks given. It was so wonderful when they spoke about eternal families, marriage and the promises given to those by God through scripture who love Him and keep His commandments.

 I am running a little low on time but I will say this. 

I know that the Prophets are called of God and that they are the reason this Church flourishes and that its members are so blessed. I have never been so happy. This gospel is true and its fruits are good and ready to be partaken of. 

Happy Easter. 

Sincerely, 

Elder Irvine

On P-day (preparation day) last week, we were able to do a little hiking.  These pics are from this little adventure.