It was another "critical moment" week.

Hey Mama,

What's up haha. I figured you were going to say something about the video that the Bishop sent haha. It was fun to hear from him. He told me that they were flying back Sunday so he should be back. He took us out to lunch with him, Sister B, his son and daughter-in-law, and their kids. It was really just a fun time.

Those are super cool examples of how you guys are blessed because of my service. I really like to hear stories of how things like that work out. I am glad that HF watches out for all of us. I have seen things like that all the time, even just with me. I know God watches out for me, and all you guys, too.

That sucks about L breaking her finger. How is she doing now? Did it completely break the bone? That must have hurt. How is Nicole's recovery going? Heard anything back from USU?

Mom: Well, the mail came a few minutes ago....just in time to snap a picture of the acceptance letter and your “I’m an Aggie!” sign. Make that #ImAnAggie sign. Would you like me to mail that to you?

 

How did two Utes raise 3 Aggies??...and maybe counting. 

 

Elder Sed: Hey Mama Ute! You better believe that I am still a Ute to the bone. Once a Ute, always a Ute. I would love to go the U for PT school. That would be my dream.

Thanks for all that you do for me. It's good to hear you guys are doing good. Keep up all the good things you guys are doing. Thanks for supporting me on my mission. You're the best, Mama! Love ya!

Hey Dad,

Sounds like you had an awesome week! That's great!

My week here in Washington was pretty good. It was another "critical moment" week, as I like to call it, ever since we had the area seventy speak to the mission. I may have already said something about it a while back, but it was a talk he gave about when weeks are tough. I just thought it was a really good talk. He called the slow/tougher times "critical moments." Though it was kinda tough, we got through it. 

 

We have been dropped by 5 investigators the past two weeks. That has been the tough part. It just means our area is going through the phases of missionary work though, which is good. I know the Lord is preparing a whole new teaching pool for us even as I am writing this. I had been praying for the things I need to do to find those who are prepared. I like what you said about following the Spirit. That's pretty much it, but in my studies this week I realized something cool. I re-started the Book of Mormon, so I was reading in 1st Nephi chapter 16, verse 23. If you read it, just think of the "food" as investigators. I know that as I go out and work, "gather" and do all I can, and call upon my Father in Heaven, I will be guided to know where to go and what to say.

The time of the hastening is here. I know that for sure. The Lord prepares people all over. Sometimes I wonder why it can't be like the times in the Book of Mormon or the Bible, when thousands at one time get baptized, but the truth of it is in a scripture that Elder Arnold shared with us when he visited. It's Jeremiah 16:6. We are to be hunters of men. Not fishers anymore. Hunting takes more work. We know that just from personal experience. You may have to hike over a couple mountains to find that one investigator who is ready to be baptized, but when you get that one, how great is the joy that comes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just love the people of Kennewick so much! You guys can know that I am working my hardest every day to bring souls unto Christ because it's what I want the most right now.

We had a lesson with C***** yesterday and she is still doing awesome! I know that she is praying for guidance about what to share with her family. She already has felt the Spirit and acted on the promptings. 

I wish I had tons of investigators to update you on, but at the moment we really only have a couple. I***** is one of those. She is going through a time in her life right now where she is just trying to figure out what to do. She struggles with anxiety so just pray for her to feel comfortable. 

K**** has been working a ton. He is trying to apply for another job where he won't work so much, so let's hope he gets that job. He has a lot of potential so I just hope things work out with him.

Wow, this is a long email haha.

That's no fun that it got cold, but I guess that is also a really good thing as well. The West needs the moisture. The area seventy called a fast for this whole area for snow and moisture, so I am sure it's going to dump snow here in a while. I would love that. I love this weather, but I also like winter, so it will be good to get that. It got really cold here this morning, so maybe that is a good sign that snow will be coming.

It's good you went to the eye doctor and can see now Papi. We don't want a blind man on the roads. That would be dangerous.

Well, I am so happy to be serving a mission. I love it so much! It has helped me to grow so much. I have no clue where I would be if I hadn't gone on a mission, and I don't want to find out. I do know that this gospel is true. I wouldn't be out here doing all this if it wasn't. What a blessing it is to have God's church on the earth today. We have the guidance. We don't have to be confused. I know God loves all his children. I feel the love that He feels for them. I love this gospel! Love you guys too!

Thanks for all that you do! You're the bomb dot com, Dad.

Love ya!

-Elder Sedlacek

This week I finished the Book of Mormon again. Good news--I still know it's true!

Hey Mama,

You guessed right. I am emailing today {Tuesday} instead of yesterday. Whenever there is a holiday on Monday, I will be emailing on Tuesday as long as I am in this area. There isn't a church building that has computers we can use here. The library works great (most of the time) haha.

This week was awesome! C***** did get baptized. She is doing so awesome! She is already working on missionary work. We got a text this morning about 5 am, saying that she had talked to her dad late last night and really just had a good talk with him about the gospel. Turns out that her dad wants to learn more! She has a sister who wants to be baptized! It's been awesome! It was cool because she told us about an answer to a prayer she had for her baptism. As you may know, her dad and mom were super supportive of her, but not interested in anything to do with the church for themselves. C***** had really wanted them to come to her baptism and confirmation, but she wasn't really sure they were going to come. So on Saturday, right as the baptism started, guess who walked in? C's family. They stayed for the whole thing and at the end they told me "see you tomorrow" when they were leaving. They came to church, too. Little did I know at the time, C was fasting that day that her family would come to church, and they did. I know God heard her prayer Sunday! I know Heavenly Father is so proud of her as well for making the decision to be baptized. I am just as proud, too. I never realized how much you can care for someone that you bring to the gospel til this area. I really do care so much about all of the investigators that the Lord has placed in the path of me and Elder R. It's been so fun, and awesome for me too. I am just so happy right now. Not really any words to describe besides those haha.

So you have to get new glasses huh? That will be good now that you will be able to see haha.

I really am so happy to be serving the Lord. It's a blast! I know this gospel is true with all my heart! I love HF and I know Jesus Christ lives! This is His church on the earth. All the more reason to spread the good news. Wish me and Elder R luck this week finding new investigators. L** just barely dropped us, so we are down some investigators :( Looks like this week is going to be a finding week. That is fine with me though. It's going to be fun anyways!

Love you guys so much!

-Elder Sedlacek

What's up Dad,

This week was great! The baptism was awesome! It was probably one of the best baptisms I have been to--that's how good it was. C***** was so ready to be baptized, and it showed. She is sharing the gospel with her family. She's just so solid.

The rest of our investigators are doing okay. We are need of some more since we baptized our super solid one. We got dropped by three or four investigators this week, but it was okay because we had an awesome baptism. President Ware said something this week that I thought was cool. He said, "You can know the Lord is pleased with your service when disappointments come along, but you aren't disappointed in yourself." I can really say without a doubt that I am not disappointed in myself. I know the Lord is with me in my missionary work. He will lead and guide. I always try to listen to the spirit--it's how we have true success. We are going to start putting a focus on the part member families of our area. You guys could pray that we are able to find prepared people this week. I will let you know how it goes next Monday.

Thanks for praying for M*****. I still don't have a clue what is going on there. I just know she needs prayers right now. She's so close, and still believes in the church, she just has a lot on her plate right now.

We have a church tour with L** and her sister this week. I am really hoping that goes well, and she feels the desire to come to church.

I just thought of another goal you guys can help me pray for. The stake and the mission have a goal that every companionship baptize monthly. I have been praying super hard for that, and the Lord came through this month. You guys could pray for March if you wanted, not only for me, but all the missionaries throughout the world.

This week, we did a boatload of service, but it was really fun. We pulled tons of weeds, helped out at the humane society, and a bunch of other stuff. Service is just so fun haha. I love it!

This week I finished the Book of Mormon again. Good news--I still know it's true haha. Each time I read it through, I take President Uchtdorf's challenge and renew my personal conversion on my own "road to Damascus" (that is one of my fave talks btw). Anyway, this last time, I read Moroni's promise and just took time to ponder on the messages of the Book of Mormon. I started to pray to know if it was true and I had lots of things going through my mind. We had just been dropped by an investigator, and I was thinking about that and bunch of other stuff. There just is so much to worry about on a mission, but it was so cool. The minute I asked if the Book of Mormon is true, peace came to my mind. It was super cool. I then thanked HF for blessing me with the confirmation that the Book of Mormon is true. I know God has called a prophet on this earth today. I know God loves us so much. I feel that so much for my investigators. It is sooo cool when I can feel just how much He loves those I work with.

I am so happy right now! I love serving a mission. I would love to serve and serve and serve! Missionary work is just that fun! Thanks so much for the sacrifice you guys go through to keep me, "the fave old son," on my mission.

It makes me happy too that you guys are being blessed for my service as a missionary. Even Elder R's family is being blessed and I was able to help him realize that was the reason his family has been blessed, so you guys can know it's not even just our family. It's every missionary family. I love the Lord. I always want to serve Him! Because of Him!

love you guys,

-Elder Sedlacek

My #1 goal is always do my best.

The rainbow of ties Elder Sed has collected so far. He needs to change the year on his camera :)

Hey Mama,

Hopefully you actually get this email on time. I did get your letter this week, and that is what I figured was going on. Oh well, what can you do? haha.

This week was great. It has been super warm here too. That is insane that it's been almost 70 degrees in Utah in February. I am kinda wondering when winter is going to show up here too. It's been right around that temp here all week. It's like summer. Crazy! It has been super windy, so this week we actually got to see the sun for the first time in I have no clue how long. It was nice. The fog and clouds just stick around here in the winter till the wind will come along and blow it out. Good news, the sun is still in the sky!

Guess what happened at transfers? I will make you put in your guess before I tell you, how bout that? haha.

C***** is still doing amazing. She is all set for baptism on the 14th and super excited for it, too. Last night it was kinda cool at her interview. Her dad came to the church and signed the record so she could get baptized, but the cool part about it was that he did it even though he isn't at all interested for himself at the moment. He did say how proud he was of her for making a decision that is going to make her happy. He has noticed a huge change for the better in her at home, so I think he will come around sooner or later. It's going to be so cool when he does!

That's great news that Nicole is healing up good. I was hoping to hear that. Tell her to keep up the good work on it from her bro.

Heard anything back from Utah State?

That's crazy that little Nora is 2 already. That has flown by haha. And Syd having a kid? That's just even more crazy haha!

That is a cool thought about the miracle of Jesus healing the blind man Mama. Good thinking on that.

I also had a pretty cool thought this week. I was reading in Ether ch 13, and came across a really simple verse, but it caught my eye because I have seemed to be focusing on sacrifice this week for some reason. It was v. 16 that originally caught my eye. It's about Coriantumr and how he had spent all his life studying war. Imagine how much love he had to have had for war to to spend all that time studying about it. Pretty much his life to that point.  Ether then comes along and tells him the Lord wants him to repent and change completely away from war. I was just thinking of myself in Coriantumr's shoes. The Lord is always going to ask sacrifice of His children. That's the way it has always been. Later on in the chapters, Coriantumr almost repents and changes TWICE. I just thought that was interesting. Hopefully what I am saying makes sense.

Mama: Yay! It's working today! I am really happy about that!

Well, if I had to guess, and you are getting transferred, I'd say you are going to Prosser. But maybe you are staying put! :)

That's cool about your sacrifice thought. I like that, and it's true for sure. 

Elder Sed: Wha hooo. Prosser! wow haha. talk about the middle of nowhere haha. Good thing I am staying in here with Elder R! I was super happy to hear that. I will get to be here for C's baptism! I am super pumped for that. How you doing today?

Mama: I am doing good today. I ran a couple of errands already, and then I have a webinar for work. Some new writing project they want to introduce so I will get on and see about it. Then I get to go “see” how my eyes are doing lately. (How was my “dad” joke? haha) My progressive lenses don’t work anymore...the contacts not at all, and my glasses I have to take off to read up close. So we shall see. ;)

Elder Sed: Hey that's good. You're going to be able to see again. Yeah, I did like your dad joke haha. Sounds like you need some new glasses haha.

Mama: So here’s a couple of questions for you:  What was your biggest challenge this week? What was your most faith-promoting experience? 

Elder Sed: Questions for me huh? haha. I can try to answer them. My biggest challenge this week. Hmm. That's a tough question. Every day has it's challenges, but probably the biggest challenge for me is worrying about my investigators all the time and what I can do to help them the most. Sometimes it takes quite a bit of thinking to get the answer that I need, to help them the most.

My faith promoting experience? Finding a new investigator who was on date. I had been praying for a long time to find new investigators who are prepared for the gospel. I still pray for that everyday, but it's nice to see HF answer my prayers.

Mama: Okay, great job. :) Two more: Who was your favorite person this week? Why?

What is your #1 goal this week? 

Elder Sed: why all these questions haha? Fave person this week?  I don't have a clue haha. My mom. She's awesome! My #1 goal is always do my best. Make the most of the time I have to serve the Lord. Teach and baptize is always good too ;)

Mama: The questions were just for fun. To get a closer look inside my son’s mission brain haha. Thanks for answering them. I’m glad I’m your favorite! 

Elder Sed: I have to get going, Mom. I am happy email worked out today. You will have to let me know when you hear something back from USU. Thanks for all that you do for me. You're seriously the best. Keep being awesome! I'm super happy to be serving a mission. It's been so fun and every day is still fun. I love it! Love this gospel. Love you guys too!

Talk to you later!

-Elder Jake Sedlacek

What's up Dad,

That was weird last week how it took so long for my emails to get to you guys. I wouldn't think it would take that long.

This week was great. The weather has been amazing in Tri-Cities this week, although its been raining off and on for the past couple weeks. It's raining right now even as I am sending this, but it has been super warm, which is nice. 

I am staying here in Kennewick, or "Disneyland" as President Ware calls it haha. I am excited. I would bet this is my last transfer here, then I will be transferred to my last area. That's going to be crazy. Time is flying by. I can't even believe it. Can't imagine how all you guys feel. I have loved every minute though, and I am happy I still have about 5 months left. I am going to make the best of it. I can promise you that.

Our investigators are doing great! We found a couple new ones this week, and one of them is already on date for baptism! J***** is the one we found this week who is on date. His wife is a member and they were a referral from the ward. They are a super cool family. He grew up with a Dad who is against the church, but because of that he has lots of questions. He is super open minded. We have already had a couple of lessons with him and they have been awesome!

The other new investigator is a lady named _____. We came across her info in our area book. Missionaries had been visiting her a while back, but for some reason stopped going by. She is pretty interested in coming closer to God but doesn't know how she wants to do that. She was married to a member, but a couple years back he died unexpectedly. He was young and she is still upset about it. You guys could pray for her. I am sure it would help.

C***** is doing awesome. It is going to be fun to be here for the baptism on Saturday.

I love serving a mission. It's so fun leading people to Christ. This week is going to be super fun with the baptism. It has been too long, but we have a companionship goal of two in February. Start praying for us that we hit it! I know we can! I am so blessed to be serving in this area. I know the Lord knows me and my personal desires. As we live the gospel to the best of our ability we are blessed so greatly. I know the priesthood is on the earth. I know that this is the church of Jesus Christ. He lives! I love to represent Him!

Love you all! You're awesome!

-Elder Sedlacek

I'm happy that I have six more months to do this.

What's up Mama,

This week was a "super" week haha. The Super Bowl surprisingly didn't affect us much. It was weird because last year, when the Seahawks won, it got instantly loud across the whole city. This year I knew something was up, and they had lost haha. All the Seahawk bandwagoning can now switch to the Patriots.

The member who we ate dinner with yesterday was our ward mission leader, Brother Smith. He has a daughter on a mission, so he figured he would send a pic because he likes it when he gets pics from his daughter's ward members. 

Glad you like my glasses. I like them. It took me a day to get used to them, but now everything is fuzzy without them, so they help a lot. I am used to them now. I really like them. I have some more pics that I will send you in a minute.

Everything is going great here. I love serving in here. We would have a baptism this week, but stake conference is this weekend so they wanted us to push it back a week. That way, C***** doesn't have to wait a week to be confirmed. C***** is doing so awesome! She is so ready/excited to be baptized! I just hope that I will be staying in this area so that I can see the baptism. Transfers are on the 11th and the baptism is on the 14th. You guys should pray that I stay in here, or that I can at least see the baptism! haha Elder R and I get along great. He's great missionary.

Sounds like you had a pretty good week. You now have your living room back then haha. Nice. I bet Dad had fun moving that piano. I have moved so many of those on my mission. Thank goodness for the rule from the First Presidency that the missionaries can't help with moves anymore.

************

Well, for whatever reason it didn't work to email this week. Hopefully you got my emails....

I hope you guys have a great week! You are awesome. You might want to check how much money is on my card. If you could do that for me today that would be great! I'm happy to be serving a mission right now. You guys are awesome for supporting me in my decision. Love you guys! Talk to you next week
P.S. Tell everyone hi for me.

-Elder Jake Sedlacek

Whatz up Dadio,

This week was great! We had lots of good stuff happen. We are definitely being blessed right now, I know that for sure. We had a great lesson yesterday with C***** after the Super Bowl. She is so ready/excited to be baptized. Sister N, who is the fellowshipper for her, told us at church just how excited C***** is to be baptized. She has been walking around the house just singing "two weeks left!"  That made me SO happy to see the level of joy that has come to her because she wants to covenant with her Heavenly Father. It really made me think just how important it is that we do make covenants and re-new them each week at church. I was so blessed being raised in a home where that was the focus from day one. Thanks mom and dad!

This week M***** had a super tough trial come up, so we weren't able to meet with her. I just wanted to make sure and ask you guys to pray for her, and L***** too. I will explain about him in a little bit. M***** is dealing with family issues that are really stressful. I hope she will get through this junk strong!

L***** has been struggling with the same kind of deal: family issues. His father-in-law is super sick in a hospital, and L***** is really close to him. He has also been slammed with work, so we have struggled to meet with him too. Pray for him to get through this challenge. God doesn't give us anything that we cant handle, so I know both he and M***** can get through their trials.

This week we found a new investigator. You may remember the name L****** who we were teaching a while ago. It was back when I was with Elder Y. We felt like we should stop by her place this week so we did, and turns out she wants to come to church and start reading the Book of Mormon. She has been thinking about it for a long time, but now she wants to do it. We are teaching her and her sister, so it's cool we were able to get back in contact with them.

M*** is still super interested in the church, except she only wants to meet with me and Elder R. Apparently, she thinks no other set of missionaries are as cool as us or something ;) haha.

I just have been thinking about all of our investigators the past little while and how much I do care and love all of them! You really do come to feel joy when you stop thinking about yourself and lose yourself in missionary work. You can't help but love any one you help bring closer to Christ!

I am glad both you and mom liked the pic of me in my glasses. That's good because I like them too. They really do help me see so much better. It took about a day and a half of wearing them for my eyes to adjust,  but I finally did. Without my glasses things are pretty fuzzy, and to think that's how I was seeing all the time before. But yeah, they really help me a lot. That's a good thing to hear that Nicole thinks I'm going to pick up chicks with them :) hahahaha. I like the "Dad" joke haha. We will just have to "see" what happens at your eye appointment.

Of course, I did hear about the Super Bowl. It was almost as if I had been watching it and found out right then. People are huge fans of the Seahawks up here (no brainer), so it was not long haha.

That's rough you had to load the piano all by yourself at home with Nate. Good thing he was home! I bet that would have been a chore without the truck. That truck seems like a steal. You should have gotten one a long time ago haha. I am sure you wanted to way back when though. In fact, I know you did.

I am so happy to be serving a mission. It has been so awesome serving these past 18 months. I am just happy that I have six more months to do this. It really does bring me so much joy. This is the gospel of joy. Of good news. I know it's true! I know that with every part of me. God loves us and wants to bless us. I have seen that over and over again. The gospel will change us if we apply it! It's changed me for the better, that's for sure. Well, I love you guys tons! Thanks for all that you do for me.

You da bomb dad!

-Elder Jake Sedlacek