If the adversary wants to lead us carefully down to hell, we have to be even more careful not to let him.

hey Dad, it has been a good week. Elder Nelson is from Orem, Utah. He graduated the same year I did. he is obedient and has a strong testimony, and there is a lot i can learn from him. he is also a lot like Jake hahaha, so that is fun. D**** did not make it to church, although we had two lessons with him. he was sick Sunday, so he did not feel up to coming. T** has read all the way to 1 Nephi 18 already! i was like "holy smokes!" he is super solid and has  a very sincere desire to learn more about Christ and to strengthen his testimony. he told us he would do anything to strengthen it! i thought, "jump in the water man!" hahaha he was not at church 'cause he had to work, but he will be there next week. 

as for the rest of the week, we are making subtle progress with everyone else. B**** has been busy so we did not get to teach him this week, but we had a lesson with his father. SD was busy all but one day, so we saw him, and he might make it out to the trunk or treat on Wednesday (those are huge out here among the wards and branches). we also had a super grace lesson in a members' home, with dinner, and our "eternagator" K, although the dad of that family is super loud and loves to joke around, so i am kinda interested in how she took that. she loved his wife though. we found a whole bunch of potentials other than that, and none of them kept the return appointments, so yeah. we are still building that teaching pool. 

i did give a funny dinner lesson to some members last night. i included zombies since they have a bunch of teenage girls that like that weird syfy stuff, so yes, i made an analogy that was actually really good. the dad was pleased. hahaha that sounds like you had a fun weekend, that is too bad the hunting was skimpy. that is really cool that Nicole and Jeff did a half together, so they did get back into running after all. hahah 

i heard about that game, everyone at church was going crazy! haha the pretty much Indianapolis team against "ahi-a" haha. that is super cool the teams won. that is good Brother A is getting back to his routines, i like that guy. 

that is so true about stumbling blocks. we have to be very careful about the things we get caught up in. if the adversary wants to lead us carefully down to hell, we have to be even more careful not to let him. we have to have the view of the bigger picture, so we don't just focus on the power pole, and we have to be optimistic with things, so we can realize the gifts God has given to us. if we always have our eye on the Savior and we study and pray every day and just focus on feeling the presence of the Holy Ghost, we will be able to over come all things, i know that is true. i am so excited for this transfer, thank you for all your advice and your example Dad! have a great week! love you Dad! i will talk to you later!

-Elder Sedlacek

hey Mom, it has been a good week. we worked really hard this week and it was great. i wrote about 'gators in Dad's email. Elder Nelson is from Orem and has been out for 9 months. he is a lot like Jake and has the same personality, which is really cool. he is a hard worker, he makes me look average hahaha. just kidding, we work hard together. we get along well, and he likes nerf guns so we shoot them around the apartment all the time for fun haha. 

i did get the package, thank you so much Mom! that was awesome! i love the new music, especially the Christmas stuff, that will be nice after Thanksgiving. for a miracle this week, we had a member offer at the last minute to feed our 'gators with us, so we invited one of them and it went really well. the most challenging thing was planning, because we don't have a lot to plan for right now, so it makes things interesting. it just gives us more time to find though, so that is good. the best thing that happened was meeting with our investigator T**. he is so awesome. that last question about experiences that have changed my life is tough, there has been so much to choose from. it would probably be any of the times that i have received promptings and have followed through with them, that is always an amazing experience. but probably when i gave my first blessing, that is an experience i won't share over email though--you have to wait :)  

that is super cool you had a good dinner for Dad's b-day, that sounds awesome. i hope you like the Camp Chef, are you enjoying the bacon press? hahaha. we got another pumpkin so we might carve it today, or maybe next week. you and Dad are foreigners to baby stuff now! that's funny you had trouble figuring out Brig's stroller and stuff haha.  i bet Nicole and Jeff's half was a fun race to watch. 

so Brigham had a huge blowout at church, huh? nice one Brigham! that is super funny, that is my nephew right there. that is a super cool story from Brother H, he is a great guy too. how many people did Dad baptize? just wondering. that must have been such a cool miracle for them. there are so many people who are prepared for the gospel, and we as young guys get to experience them coming into the fold of God, it is amazing. 

i got a tragic call from the West Chester Sisters informing me that Bishop M has passed away from a tragic brain tumor, leaving his young family behind. i know that families can be together forever. there are many people who don't have the blessing of that knowledge. people are needing the gospel so they can heal those spiritual sicknesses. i feel so blessed to share it--it is tough job, but it is so rewarding. i also heard from the Sisters that all the converts are doing well, and TH is now the ward clerk, and J and M and her kids are doing well, and growing. the gospel changes lives. it was such a great experience to be in West Chester at that time when i could witness all those things. thank you for keeping me out here Mom, and doing what you do to support me, you're the best Mom!

i just got word we have to read the Book of Mormon by January 1st, that will be a fun challenge.

i got the letter from the Young Women. that was super nice of them, can you tell them thank you for me? i almost forgot to say that haha

well i have to go now Mom, i hope you have a wonderful week. keep working hard with your knee. i love you Mom, have a great day and keep the M family in your prayers! love you! talk to you later!

-Elder Sedlacek

We corralled some cows while wearing our missionary clothes. It probably looked really funny, but it was fun.

hey Dad, it was a pretty decent week. i am glad you enjoyed the birthday card hahaha! it made me laugh.  so for transfer news, i am staying here and my new comp will be Elder Nelson--a different one. he is a good guy; i served around him in Englewood when he was trained in Dayton. so that is good news. 

we did find two new people at the end of the week, one a super awesome referral that wanted a Book of Mormon, and another a guy who just up and walked into the church yesterday! so we set a return appointment with him. we will see what he is like. that was a super awesome miracle to see both of those, i have tried so hard and Heavenly Father helped by putting them in our path. 

as for the teaching pool, B**** has started reading the Book of Mormon, so that is super cool. we did not get to meet with him this week though, so we will try in a few days when he is not busy. we had another appointment with the S family. that was super cool, they are a part-member family and hopefully they start progressing soon. the other new person we found two weeks ago, S*****, we got back in contact with him, and set an appointment, so there is still some ground to be broken there. i think that is mostly it for the investigators, other than another part-member family. the guy's wife is the non-member and they are starting to look more seriously into her joining the church. 

that is super cool you got to take Libby out duck hunting again. too bad you did not get anything though. hahaha you know what they say, anything you can't kill becomes smarter. hahaha  

we have been getting a lot of the recent converts to study the conference talks lately. i just wish i could get them more easily, it costs a lot to print them off at the library. it does help us to learn a lot from their words when we study them over and over again. you can always find something new. dang it sounds like the Utes are playing a lot better lately, that is super cool. and the Aggies having a bye, we will take it hahaha. i heard the results of the Colts game--hey it at least makes souvenirs cheaper for me hahaha. 

i like that thought, it really helps to benefit all of us to take a step back and focus on the bigger picture, so that we can gain a stronger relationship with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. it really helps to cement the gospel in our lives, and we can build everything else off of that. taking a step back is something i have to remind myself to do frequently, but i have noticed when i do i am in tune with the spirit a lot more, and my faith and testimony grow a lot faster. thank you for that thought Dad. thank you again for all you do! i hope you have a wonderful birthday Dad! enjoy it! i love you Dad, have a great day and week! talk to you later!

Elder Sedlacek III

hey Mom,  it has been a good week. for transfer news, i am staying and receiving an Elder Nelson, who i have served around. a different one this time--there are many Elder Nelsons in my mission! hahaha 

we did find two new investigators this week, it was a miracle. i wrote about it in Dad's email. it was super awesome to have! 

thanks so much for sending that stuff mom, you're the best! for the sweater colors, just a grey one and maybe a nice brown. whatever would look nice with black pants and stuff. have you been able to find the little plastic strips that go in shirt collars? if not that is okay. 

sounds like you have quite the job at the school hahaha, i bet it is fun to deal with those crazy kids hahaha. that is super cool about your knee, it sounds like you will be a new mom when i come home hahaha. i bet it will be as good as new when i get home! it will be fun to be able to hike the red rocks in the spring too, that is super cool. sounds like the ward is getting a lot of knee work done! 

that is also super cool that SG and AM are going on missions! that is awesome, they will both do great! that is funny you mention charity. i have really noticed an increased amount lately for those we teach, probably to prep me to lead the area. i was studying in 2 Corinthians this morning, and i came across a verse that said faith is motivated by love. everything that we have in the gospel, is motivated by love. the whole plan of salvation is a plan of love, the most basic doctrines of the gospel are centered on a love for the Savior and that love gives us the motivation to build our faith in Him and to be obedient to Him. i am truly grateful to be a missionary. to just be able to focus on what really matters and to help others to do the same is amazing. 

i am so grateful for this gospel, but that statement means so much more than what it meant when i started my mission. this gospel has blessed my life so much and i am so grateful for it, i know it is all true. 

now for a story, our ward mission leader owns some cows. he took us up to see his cows briefly while we were out teaching and we ended up corralling them while in our missionary clothes. it probably looked really funny, but it was fun. i may look into working on  a farm while i attend USU BABY! you can bet your bottom dollar i will go there! hahaha

thanks Mom for all you do! i love you Mom! talk to you later!

Elder Sedlacek

The prayer of faith can change anything.

Pictures, top to bottom: The corn in Indiana, nearly ready to harvest; we met a guy with some cool airplanes!; tanning a squirrel hide; cutting down trees for a service project. 

hey Dad, it has been a good week. for the update on 'gators, we were able to find someone new this week named S, he is a nice guy.  he was a referral we were able to finally make contact with. we had a good restoration lesson with him this week, and we  invited him to church but no show. sadly, no one in our pool made it to church this week. we are also working with an older lady named A, she is the typical Hoosier talker, which means you can talk a million miles an hour without stopping! hahaha she is harder to teach because of it. then we are working with a teenager kid who has a lot of promise, but not a whole lot of commitment. he is busy so it is hard to meet with him. then there is the part member family i told you about, the S family. B is our most progressing investigator, although he is older and lives with his Dad. his Dad is really devout in his own church and likes to listen to us, but won't come to our church. so every time we teach B with his dad, he won't tell us how he really feels cause his Dad is there and he doesn't want to hurt him. he would love to come to our church, so we will see what happens.  that is about it for the pool right now. 

yep, it is definitely turning into fall here too, it has been in the 50's and 60's lately so it feels really nice. that stinks you had to wait to cut the lawn, but it probably wont grow much hahaha. it sounds like the Utah teams are doing super well this week, except the Aggies. sounds like the Utes are having a decent season. i heard about the Colts game, we were following it from house to house, they would tell us the scores hahaha so it was like we were watching it i guess haha. that is super cool that Jake did well on the duck hunt, he must be having fun this season, i can't wait. there are so many here, drives me nuts sometimes hahaha. i really like that talk that Sister Carol McConkie gave, that one really stuck out to me a lot. the prayer of faith can change anything. we truly can just ask for knowledge and wisdom and answers to questions and if we diligently seek and study and have faith, He will give it to us. i have been studying about knowledge lately, it is really interesting. until i started studying it, i had no idea that knowledge is required to get into the celestial kingdom. of course you have to know about all the basics, but you have to really understand them. knowledge is given to us by the prayer of faith as we seek the scriptures and words of the prophets. 

we had a zone meeting this week that was really interesting. i had some cool insights come to me about my patriarchal blessing that really struck me in a different way. as President Utchdorf put it in one of his talks, seeking knowledge is looking at things differently. well, that is about it for this week, except i did get that squirrel hide from that other Elder and i am in the middle of tanning it, it is super cool hahhaha. well thanks for emailing me Dad! i can't remember exactly what day your birthday is but i am going to try to send a card today if possible. i love you Dad! have a great birthday and week! talk to you later!

-Elder Sedlacek

hey Mom, it has been a good week. i wrote dad about the 'gators and stuff, so you can read it there. that is great news that DM is going on a mission, that is super cool, he will do well. i did hear about Hurricane Matthew, that was crazy! yep, the missionaries get completely moved out when there are hurricanes, so i am sure they are all fine. that is crazy though. 

yep the pics you saw were from a zone meeting. the most challenging thing about my week was probably having those slower days, when nothing is going on. those are tough, but they happen. and i lost patience for a sec with my comp, and so i felt really bad, even though it was probably justified, but that wasn't an excuse. so i will do better. 

i did find out this week that a lady i gave a blessing to had sepsis. she probably should still be really sick in the hospital, but she is now at home after only a few days and doing well, so that was a super cool miracle. we also got to do a service project cutting down trees, so that was SO FUN, i loved it. that was the best project i have done yet, and i used all the skills Dad taught me hahaha and they came in super handy. 

that is good your leg is doing well and improving, that is super good. thanks for the fasting for me, i know it will help a lot. unfortunately i already have been thinking about school. i have been praying about which college to attend for the past few days now, i don't like it hahaha, but it has to be done i guess hahaha. i am hoping USU, but we will see. 

so Brig is making friends now haha! i bet he walks soon, he must be a funny little dude. i hadn't though about the prophets crying repentance as a sign until just now either, so that was a neat observation, good job Mom, hahaha you're faster than me hahaha. i am so grateful to be able to be a missionary as well, it makes me so happy to teach the gospel and to be able to feel the spirit all the time. you can take it for granted, but it left when i was impatient at my companion, and i noticed the difference. i definitely feel very grateful for this opportunity to just focus on serving the Lord, it makes me so happy. i love my mission so much! thanks for keeping me out here! 

well, i have to go now Mom, thanks for all you do! you're the best Mom! i love you guys so much! keep doing your daily PT! have a great week! i will talk to you later! have a great day! love you Mom!

-Elder Sedlacek

If we had a bigger teaching pool, we could be running hard core

hey Dad, it has been another petty good week. we were not able to find any one new this week though, which i am sad about, but that's okay, they will come. as for G***, we went over to see him and it finally occurred to my comp that G*** is not interested,  so we pretty much dropped him from our list. it is sad to see that happen. we also had to drop a few other people we have not been able to make contact with, so our teaching pool is almost nothing right now. there are a bunch of part member families we could potentially start working with, so that is a plus side. 

there is not a whole lot to update this week, it is sad but true. i just have to trust in the promise that our leaders have given us and look for the miracles. i loved General Gonference--i took 16 pages of notes in a composition notebook, it was awesome!  hahaha. my "mission brain" makes conference even better hahaha. we watched all the sessions at the church, except for the last which we saw at a member's house, that was super fun. 

that sounds like a super fun duck hunt that you had, that is awesome how well Jake did. i look forward to the new spot. BTW, an Elder who started tanning a squirrel hide is giving it to me half-way done to finish it, so i will be able to have a squirrel hide afterall. hahaha 

yeah, there was definitely a good theme going on with the conference talks. one of my faves was the one about serving Christ ambitiously to find joy. i have definitely found that to be true! it gives me so much joy to be on a mission, i love it. that is cool you could see those miracles at work, that is awesome. 

i too know that circumstances may be tough, but if i stay faithful we will see miracles. i have seen this in past areas, and i know that it is just a test to help me grow. thank you for all you do Dad, i love you Dad! have a great week, talk to you later!

-Elder Sedlacek

hey Mom, it has been a good week, although we don't have much time to email this week, so i wrote Dad about the updates in the area so you will have to read them there. i loved conference, it was so good. i also wrote a little about that in Dad's email too.  i will look forward to the USB with the music on it, tell Jake thanks for me! and i am doing good on all the meds right now, thanks for asking! my A1C was about a month ago, it was in the 7's so it was not too bad. 

the leaves are starting to change, and it has been in the 50's a lot too, with humidity, so it feels a  little cooler at times. BTW, can you look for some brown and grey sweaters? only if you can find them cheap though. that is so funny with Brig being like that! i am excited to see the little boy! 

that is good that you have got so much farther with your knee--that is cool. hopefully you will get the scar tissue taken care of. 

my fave part of the week was conference, that was so awesome, i really liked the story that Carol McConkie shared about that old man in the hospital--hahaha--it made me tear up, and it was a tender mercy cause part of it really spoke to me. i am having all these difficult circumstances in the work because Heavenly Father knows what will make me grow the best. in the MTC, we did an exercise where we wrote down who we wanted to become by the ends of our missions, and what i wrote down is exactly the things that i experience that are shaping me into that person. it was a really cool realization. Heavenly Father truly does give to us what will make us most happy, and what we truly desire. i liked a lot of those talks, a lot were about joy in the gospel and sharing it and coming to know the Savior, which is exactly what i get to do for the rest of my mission. it makes me so happy to be a missionary, it brings me so much joy and i know that sharing the gospel is what brings us true lasting happiness and rapid growth of our testimonies and ourselves. 

that is about it for this week! hahaha i will send some cool pics, i got a cool selfie stick for like five bucks at a flea market, so expect a lot more pics! hahaha

Mom: You got a selfie stick? That's pretty funny.  And I am really proud of you! I know you don't like feeling like you aren't accomplishing what you should, but hang in there. I'm praying for you!

hahaha yep, it's a fun toy, best five bucks i have ever spent. i know that is true as well, thank you for your prayers. it means a lot, it really does, i do notice them.

Mom: So is that picture in the gym from last p-day?

nope that is today, just a few hours ago at a huge gym in New Castle, Indiana. it was fun, and it was HUGE!

Mom: That does look like a huge gym. So what's your favorite thing about Noblesville so far?

probably the ward and how they run it. the members here are awesome, we have splits set up at least 3-4 nights a week with members, so if we had a bigger teaching pool we could be running hard core. just wait though, this area will get there, it has so much potential!

Mom: That's good. Do you get any referrals?

we are trying to, at every meal appointment we leave a commitment and i follow up with them later on down the week. it helps to gain a lot of trust, and hopefully that General Conference talk about missionary work helps.

Mom: Do you need anything?

oh, i could use those shirt collar straighteners, that would be super nice if you can find some, thanks Mom!

ok, got to go now Mom. thanks so much for your support and all you do! i could not do it without you guys! i hope y'all have a great day! and a great week! talk to you later! love you Mom!

-Elder Sedlacek