I know God still speaks!

What's up Mama,
Holy crap 14 months hahaha. That makes me sound like an old
missionary. It feels just the same though, to answer your question. I
just have to focus on the day ahead of me everyday and do my best.
Thanks for praying for B and S. I am sure it has helped. Sadly, we
haven't been able to make contact with either of them. We did
find three new investigators though this week. It was awesome so our week
was really good. We also had lots of lessons with people we had just barely
met. We just hope now that they turn into investigators. That would be
the best ever!

The weather has been really nice here. It has been about 70 degrees all day
and sunny as usual. I wish Utah would send some of the rain up here.
I like the rain haha. Yeah, the apartment is really nice. I
really like it. It's a nice place. And the dishwasher is nice too haha!
All my mission, up to now, it seemed my dishwasher was my hands haha. It's
still kinda weird to use a real dishwasher haha.

I had heard that the meeting was really good from lots of people who
watched it.  It sounds like it was. Lots of people talked about
President Uchtdorf's talk. It must have been a good one.
That is crazy that Abby is leaving on her mission. Does she leave this
week then? Seven missionaries from our ward this year!!!!!!!!! That is
awesome!

Conference is this weekend!!!!! We are going to be watching at the stake
center probably. They don't broadcast it at our ward building. I am
guessing you guys will watch on the TV downstairs. You doing anything
fun besides that with conference?

I have to get going now. My time is up haha. I am glad to hear that
you guys are doing well. Have an awesome week. Conference will be
super fun. I am so excited! I know we have a prophet on the earth
today. He speaks God's word just as prophets in the Bible did. God is
loving and cares for all of his children. I just love the gospel! My
mission is awesome! Love you guys!
-Elder Sedlacek



What's up Dad,
I will start off with the update from my week. It was awesome. It was
one of the best finding weeks I have had here in Pasco. We found three pretty
solid investigators. Their names are B & M and G. They are all really awesome.
When we first met G we talked to him about having a prophet on the earth and
he said that he wants to hear some of  President Monson to decide if he
is a prophet. What a great question with next weekend coming up huh?
haha. B & M are pretty awesome too. They grew up around
LDS kids, and since then have always kinda wondered what it's all about.
They are working on reading the Book of Mormon right now. Awesome!
As far as B and S go, we weren't able to catch either of them home this
week. We are going to try by tonight though so wish us luck.

Another cool story from this week was when we met a potential named CJ.
Some previous missionaries had talked to her and never went back. The cool
part was when were walking up to her house, I got the prompting to take
a copy of the Book of Mormon out of my backpack and carry it in my
hands, which I don't normally do because I like to have my hands free.
Well, I did it anyway. When we knocked on her door and started
talking to her, she wanted a Book of Mormon, and I had it right in my hands.
She is going to start reading it as well. It was awesome! She is solid too, just
kinda busy where she works, so we hopefully will be able to catch her
home this week.

This week we had a super long training from President Ware on planning
and it was awesome. He did give some hints that I will probably
be transferred, but he does that sometimes and it doesn't end up working
out that way so we will just have to see haha. I will find out on Saturday
where I will be headed or if I will be staying.

Are you kidding me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The UItes blew
it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They should have won that game. Sounds like they need some 4th quarter
conditioning. I bet Kyle works them to death haha. I heard Bountiful
lost to WX from Elder C so that sucks too haha. It sounds like
it was a bad week for sports. That is good that the 49ers did good
though haha.

That is a cool story for Abby of how she went on a mission. I bet she
will be able to share that with people and help and bless their lives
where ever she is going. I bet she will be a good missionary. That is
great that the ward has seven missionaries sent out this year. Totally
awesome!

That is totally insane that Utah is getting that much rain. It's almost
like Seattle it sounds like. Tri-cities hasn't gotten any rain.
It's been dry, but it's been like 70s so its been great.
I couldn't ask for anything more right now weather
wise haha. I just wish I could see some fall colors! That would be the
only thing.

Good luck with work this week. Do you think they are going to
announce something at conference? It will be cool to hear
some talks in other languages this year. I just hope President
Uchtdorf speaks English haha. I am, needless to say, excited for
conference though. It's going to be awesome!!!!!!!!

I have a testimony of the gospel. I love the power that the
Book of Mormon brings into our daily life. It is sooo important that
we make the day-to-day decisions to have the gospel in our life.
Conversion isn't a one-time thing. It's an everyday process. I know
Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. It is a blessing to have a prophet
on the earth today. I know God still speaks!
Have an awesome week!
Love ya!
-Elder Jake Sedlacek

"Mission brain"

"Ask the missionaries. They can help!"

What's up Mama,

My week was pretty good. It felt like a long time between last Tuesday and now. We moved to our new apartment (that is super nice) on Saturday. The new address of our apartment is _____.

The apartment is so nice inside. We have a dishwasher that I figured out how to start for like the first time in my life haha. I don't ever remember starting one in my life but maybe I did. Anyways, I know how to now hahahaha--as sad as that is to say hahaha. My birthday was fun, too. I got some gifts from Grandpa and Grandma D, and Ann & Jim, so make sure to tell them thanks for me. We ate all my cake and it was super good. It was a good birthday.

I bet the cabin was really fun. I love the fall colors, but up here the leaves aren't really changing yet. Maybe it's just a different climate. There just aren't many trees either, so maybe they would be more noticeable if there were more. 

I bet Mia is having fun in the play. Sounds like you guys are going to be VERY busy this holiday season haha. I bet you're going to have so much fun going from this to that, and then everywhere else.

I wish I could have seen the temple dedication. We will have to go to that temple when I get home. It looked really pretty. Did they do the dedication for church like they did for the past couple dedications?

Mom: So it seemed like a long week, huh? That’s funny. When we got back home last night, everyone said it felt like we’d been gone a long time haha.

I’m glad you are all moved! Sounds like a nice place. You’ll have to take some pics. I will send your SD cards back to you asap so you can do that.

Well, I’m glad you REMEMBERED how to start a dishwasher, because I’m pretty sure I had you do it at least once haha.

Yes, the dedication took the place of church, so that was nice. It really was a great meeting. All of us kept saying how awesome it was. 

Elder Sed: I did take lots of pics of the apartment, so when you send the SD cards back I will send one to you.

Did you get the letter I sent with the Ross card in it?

I bet you did show me how to start a dishwasher, but it's been 14 months without doing it so I was out of touch okay haha. Mission brain.

Mom: Okay, good boy on the pics haha.

Yes, I checked the mail this morning, realizing that Saturday’s mail was still in it, and your letter was there! That was great to get one after all this time! 

Elder Sed: Yes I try to be a good boy and take pics so grandma Sed won't kill me hahaha!

That's good you got the letter. I am just really, really bad at sitting down and writing an actual letter.

I am glad that you guys are doing well. Thanks for all that you do for me. I love all you guys! Missions are the bomb. Just wanted you to know that hahaha. Have a great week!

Love ya,

-Elder Sedlacek

What's up Dad,
I am doing good, and it sounds like you guys are too. I bet it was
super fun to go see all those deer and bears. It's been along time
since I have seen anything other than a bird or a white tail deer
haha. oh and ducks and geese. I see those all the time with the
river close by.

My week was pretty good. We moved this week, and with the temple
earlier in the week it was pretty busy. We did get lots of
tracting in, which was fun because that is where all  the stories come from.
Needless to say, there are still some crazy people in the world. hahaha. 

One of which was a lady who was staring out her window at us
and when we came up to her door she came outside and started talking
to us. She was really awkward and would pause for like 40-50 seconds
right in the middle of when she was talking, and then tell us exactly what
Jesus said to her, to tell us. She told us we are saved and we're going
to heaven so we don't even have to try anymore haha. That was
interesting to hear. She also talked about the devil watching
her through the red blinking light on her smoke detector. It was just
a very, very interesting conversation haha. I am sure you had some of
those on your mission.

As far as our investigators go, we were able to meet with _______

this week. It was going really well, till a bunch of teens
from their church showed up and ruined the whole lesson. It ended up
with _____ very closed-minded and not willing to listen to
anything we said. We just told him we would come back later and talk
to him. It was frustrating, because the lesson had been going so well. He had
some really good thoughts and questions, and then the kids had to show
up and ruin it. Oh well. I know he felt the Spirit of the Plan of
Salvation. He really likes it.

Our other investigators haven't been home, but we have given lots of
lessons on people's porches, which has been nice. We are just still
working on finding new "golden" investigators. We may have found one
this week, too. His name is B and he told us when we knocked on his
door that he and his wife have been thinking about coming to our
church. We left him with a Family proclamation that he was going to
study with his wife. We are going to go back and see if we can start
teaching them this week. Wish us luck with them, and pray for them too. 

The pic you got was me and Elder C tearing up a wood floor with our
ward mission leader, Ryan M. It was fun. You are right that
there are so many ways to serve on a mission. It was really fun too
haha.

That is sooooooooooooooooooo awesome that the Utes beat Michigan the
way they did at Michigan hahahaha. Now they just need to keep up the
wins. That is good that BYU won too. I have heard they are really good
this year. That is good for them.

Good luck with your lesson in Sunday School. Study up haha
Thanks for all that you do for me Dad. You're awesome. I love you all!
I am so grateful for the chance I have to serve a mission. It has been
so awesome. Because of my mission, I have really developed a love for
the gospel that I did not have before in my opinion. When
we focus on our Savior Jesus Christ, our lives will change. The Book
of Mormon is the word of God!
Talk to you next week! Have a GREAT week!
-Elder Jake Sedlacek

Happy Birthday, Elder Sed!

What's up Dad,
Thanks for the birthday wishes. I did get the package and I really
liked it. I don't know if you picked out anything for it, but I liked
it haha. The temple was amazing this morning. I just love being able to
go to the temple. It's always good.
Things are going pretty good. We are in the finding stage right now,
with being dropped by G and not really being able to catch the
Ukrainain family. The LA family you are talking about came back to
Pasco this week, so the baby is home from the hospital. He is still on
a feeding tube though. We are going around to the members of the ward
giving them a lesson. We watch a Mormon Message titled "Waiting on our
own road to Damascus" by President Uchtdorf. We ask them about their
conversion and how long it has been since they have read and prayed
about the Book of Mormon. Conversion is not a one-time thing, so it's
good to do it multiple times--every time we finish the Book of
Mormon. All of you should take that challenge too. Read and pray about
the Book of Mormon and ask God if it is truth and it will help you to
feel more of the Spirit of the hastening in your lives. I promise
that.
I had heard that the Chargers beat the Seahawks, which I was happy to
hear. That is crazy that USC lost too. I hope Utah does good over in
Michigan. They can beat them. I don't think they (Michigan) are that
good this season.
You're going to have to study up on Isaiah haha. I bet you will learn
lots from your lesson though. It will be good for you.
I am glad that you liked the pics I sent.
I did find a new pair of shoes too. I would hope that the new ones can
last the rest of my mission. I will be sure to keep the old pair of
shoes.
That is super funny that you got roped into the wedding shopping. I bet you
won't make that mistake twice huh haha. You should tell Jeff that he
does owe you big time haha. That would be funny.
It's good that things are going good with all the siblings. I bet Jared
is loving his job. That is awesome Mia did such a good job, and that
Nicole is doing good. I bet Sarah is amazing at debate haha. That is
her calling from the very beginning. And Libby is just awesome.
What Dad turned down fruit??????????????? Has he died and gone to
heaven????????? nah, I'm just kidding dad. That is good though haha. I
bet the wimpy Utah apples are nothing compared to the Warshington ones
haha. I just had an amazing apple that was huge the other day, so it's
apple season already. That is crazy. I love the fall weather though.
Here it's been still up in the 80s so it hasn't felt that much like fall
yet. The mornings are a little cold though which I really like. I
didn't even know that there were northern lights visible, so no. I didn't see
them haha.
Well dad, I hope you have a great week. Thanks for all that you do! You da bomb.
I love serving the Lord on a mission. It's amazing.
Love ya tons!
-Elder Jake Sedlacek

Tracting is an act of faith.

What's up Mama,

This week for p-day was really fun. It's the reason I am so late emailing too haha. We went golfing with the family we live with and it was super fun. First time in a long time I did that haha. I wouldn't say I did so good though.

I am glad that you are happy to email me haha. Emailing is fun for me at least.

 

This week was pretty good. We did a lot of tracting, which I am not very fond of in this area, but it's an act of faith to show the Lord I am willing to go out and do something that is difficult. We found a couple good potentials out of it too. We weren't able to meet with G this week but he did come to the Pasco stake day of service and stayed the whole time. I was hoping he was going to come church but he didn't end up coming. The family from Ukraine were out of town or something because every time we tried by, their house was completely dark. I had a dream about them that they got baptized and that was AWESOME! I really hope it's a sign of things to come. The LA family is doing pretty good. They had a bishop from up in Seattle come and give the baby a blessing and guess what? The priesthood is the power of God. The baby went from having almost no brain activity to improving. He will have mental disabilities his whole life, but he is projected to be okay. How awesome is that! I was praying so hard for that.

 

The weather is great up here! It's been hot the past couple days but it hasn't been too bad. Beautiful golf weather haha

Thanks for sending the updates on Nicole. I got both of them and it was good to hear. I am glad the surgery went well. Now she just has to get through recovery.

 

Happy Anniversary, and Happy birthday!!!!!!!!!! I sent you a birthday card with my SD card in it that should get there one of these days. Keep track of that SD card haha. That is cool that you had some Sedlacek names to do in the temple. You should send me some names for 4 temple trips, so 4 names if you come across any of them and I can do the endowments. That would be pretty cool. 

 

For our move we are going to be moving either the 20th or 22nd into an apartment. I don't really know much more than that right now. We are moving because this family has been housing missionaries for 2 years now and it's only a 1 1/2 year agreement, and they need our room for some storage.

 

That is so cool that we have more missionaries from our ward going out now. How many total is that now that are out? 

 

Thanks for emailing me this week. It was good to hear from you guys and I'm glad that you are all doing well. I have loved the chance thus far I have had to serve a mission. Missions are the greatest.

I hope you guys have an awesome week! Thanks for all that you do for me! Love you guys tons!!

Have a totally awesome week.

-Elder Jake Sedlacek

 

What's up Dad,
I had a pretty good week. I gave most of the updates on the people we
have been working with in the email to mom. I am sure you will get to
hear about them. We haven't been able to find any new
investigators yet but boy are we working on that. Finding is pretty
much all we did this week. Not my favorite part of missionary work but
it's all part of the work. I would much rather be teaching lessons
though haha. The members are pretty much the same, although this week
we are starting to go around and follow up on the individual families'
ward mission plan goals. That should be interesting.
Good job on the work stuff papa, You da best at what you do. I am sure
the church is happy they hired ya.
That is really cool all the Jonah to Christ comparisons. I have never
realized that before, but it makes total sense now. I am pretty sure
that is what the gospel doctrine class covered here too but we are in
gospel principles which is still good. It's just a lot of the same stuff
for us. Nothing better than the basics though.
I am glad that Jared is going to mission prep every week better than I
did. Tell him believe it or not I still use some of those things that
I learned in that class. It is a life saver haha. I am proud of him
for going though. I would not be expecting anything less from Jared
with all the mods he does or tearing stuff apart. The new job just
adds to the fun haha.
I am glad like I said before that Nicole's surgery went well. That
is good that Jeff is a good help to her. 

That is super cool that Mia and Libby are wanting to get into hunting.
I will have to take Libby fishing lots when I get home.
My kinda sista. Wish good luck to Mia for me on her audition. Hope
everything goes well with all that.
I am so happy that I get to attend the temple on my birthday, while on
my mission. That is going to be super cool! If it would be possible to
get one family name in my birthday package that I can take to do for
an endowment that would be awesome, but I really have no clue if there
is any. You will just have to let me know. I am looking forward to
getting more into family  history after my mission like it says in my
blessing. It seems to me from my blessing that its super important
that I do some haha.
Wish mom a happy birthday for me even though I sent a card in the mail.
That is crazy that the leaves are already changing. They aren't here at
least from what I have seen, but then again there aren't much trees. I
love the fall too. The mornings here are definately more cooled off
then they have been in a long time. It's almost cold now right when we
get up. Kinda weird haha. Hopefully the winter isn't too bad up here.
Well speaking that golfing was my p-day activity, I am done basically
except for emailing now haha. We are going to have to go golfing when
I get back. I think I figured out a good swing technique and did
pretty well on the last 3 holes. Overall though I didn't do so good. I
won't even tell you the score haha.
Thanks so much for being the best dad and family ever! I love you guys
so much. Serving a mission is something every member of the church
should do at least once in their life. I do have a testimony of the
priesthood and the atonement. This week in sacrament when I was
thinking and pondering while it was being said, I said a silent prayer
in my head to feel of the healing power of the atonement and I 

immediately felt the best peace come over me. It was great! I am so
grateful for the savior and his sacrifice for sin. Because of
Him!!!!!!!
Have an awesome week fam and dad!
love ya tons!
-Elder Jake Sedlacek

I love you guys so much. Remember that!

 

 

What's up mom,

Turns out I was able to email from the church today.  Sounds like everything is going good back home. That is good that Nicole is going to be able to get into surgery tomorrow as was planned. I will pray that everything goes ok with that. I would have fasted Sunday too if I had known that all of you were doing that. That's what limited communication does haha.

 

It is way crazy that it's already September. I also found out that Elder C's sister got married while he was on his mission. They did a card board cutout of him and when you take the picture it has to be done with a profesional camera, otherwise it looks terrible. There is a member that he knows that does the pictures and sends it to you for free. I just need the wedding tie before I get transfered out of this area, which could be next month who knows. Just a thought.

 

That is good that you got the pics from the Myers. They are a really cool family and they took us out for dessert. I am glad I look good haha. What do you mean that you really mean it?

 

My week was pretty good. Monday we found a super awesome family from Ukraine. They have super awesome questions about the plan of salvation. Wednesday, we had a good lesson with a LA family in the ward. A couple weeks back we met with them and I felt like I should challenge them to read the Book of Mormon as a couple everynight and they have been doing it. They came to church yesterday too for the first time in a long time. Friday we had a zone breakfast where the stake feeds all the missionaries breakfast in the zone. It was super fun and yummy. One of the stake presidency shared a thought that I really liked on what he called the divine paradox. Missionaires come out to the field and time feels like it is super slow, but as we get older and wiser the time goes super fast. He related it to the scripture where the Savior says whosever will lose his life shall find it--if you know what I'm talking about. When we lose our life and stop caring about ourselves time just flies by. It is so true from what I have seen.

 

That is super cool that the nectarine tree is growing good. That sucks about the peach though. I really liked those peaches. I bet you're having so much fun canning all the junk that dad brings up too, huh haha.

 

That is super cool that you had a great experiance like that in the temple. Isn't the temple the best. That is why I am so excited for the 16th, because we get to go to the temple in the morning and I have the rest of the day to just have fun on my birthday. Awesome!

 

I love being able to email home and find out what's going on back at home right now. I hope you have an awesome labor day! You need to do something fun in the evening. You need it. I can tell. I love serving a mission right now! It is awesome. I learn so much everyday and really want to make my mission experience be the best I can. I know the Savior lives. He loves everyone of us and is involved in our lives. I know the atonement is real and its power blesses our lives. The gospel just wows my mind constantly. It's so cool!

Have a great week. Don't forget to send me a letter or something letting me know how the surgery goes. I will be praying for all of you guys and her. Tell her good luck for me and not to be nervous. I love you guys so much. Remember that! Talk to you guys soon

-Elder Jake Sedlacek

 

 

What's up dad,
       I had a good week. I already gave some of the updates of what I
did to Mom so I won't talk about those. You did ask about G and I
wish we were able to meet with him this week. His family is taking all
of his attention right now. He is still
reading and studing from the Book of Mormon though, which is really
good. He just needs to keep that up even if his life is busy. The La
family is still up in Seattle and their son isn't doing very well
sadly. He is stable but not improving like they would hope. I really
hope everything works out okay with them. It will be super hard on the
family if they lose the baby. Keep praying for them. They need
all the prayers they can get. I will be praying for you guys too with
Nicole's surgery going on tomorrow. I hope everything goes well!
       Ever since last week, which does to me feel like it was
yesterday, I have been working on that challenge you gave to me on
Mathew 19:20. I have really felt like I could be more centered on
Christ throughout my day so I have been working on that ever since
Monday. I really feel like it helped me. I studied up on Preach My Gospel ch 8
which is the Christ-like attributes chapter, and I have been working on
developing every one of those. It's just helped me realize that Christ
is everything in all that we do. We need to involve him in our life
and he will help us out but if we get selfish and think we can do it
all on our own we will figure it out the hard way soon enough. I think
that is what may have happened to me the past couple weeks. I found
that as I involved him more in every decision, my day went by so much
better and smoother. Pretty awesome huh.
       I am glad that work is going good for you. Seems like its
always busy which is a good thing I would suppose.
       Having withdrawals haha. I like the way you put that. I would
be having withdrawals too without Sunday football. We don't get ESPN on
the Roku? I would think that we would since there is a ESPN channel on
it. Maybe you should look into that, or maybe I have no idea what I am
talking about. I have mission brain so bad hahahaha. I am hopefully
not going to be too awkward though when I get home.
       I think that is awesome that Sarah is going to the Bountiful
games. Is Jared not going to them? if not he should be since it's his
last year of them. That is cool though
that Austin got some interceptions. He sounds like he is really good.
I like your spiritual thoughts from church and what not. They are
pretty good insight. I love the scriptures. That is one thing that I
have come to love on my mission. I really do everyday want to read in
them for at least 10 minutes when I get home. I will always be sure to do
that one. I have a testimony of scripture study. I love it and the
strength it brings. It's awesome! I love my mission as well. Thanks for
the sacrifice that you give up to keep me out here and going. Love you
guys so much!
Let me know how the surgery goes with Nicole.
Have a great week dad and fam.
Love ya again!
-Elder Sedlacek
 

 

Are we hot or are we cold?

What's up Mama,

This week was pretty good. Transfers are this week. How did you know? Well, the news on transfers is I am staying in Pasco with Elder C. It should be good. I have been praying to know that this is where I am supposed to be for the next transfer.

 

The weather has been nice this week. Like really, really nice. I wish it would stay like that the whole year. That sucks about the a/c freezing up,but it's good it is staying cool now. We haven't had many thunder storms here, the weather is really nice. I love it right now. Not too hot or cold.

 

Our investigators are doing pretty good. G came to church this week, and he liked it which was good too. I don't know if he is still reading. He had some family come in this week so he hasn't met with us. I hope his family isn't giving him tons of crap for listening to us. I think that might be why he is holding back right now-- family situations. That's a good idea that Catilin had with teaching from the Book of Mormon. I willl probably try that.

 

So you got rid of Direct tv huh. That kinda sucks. Do we have ESPN anymore? Roku is pretty good though I guess. Lots of people have that instead of cable. Seems to be like a good deal if they have ESPN 

 

That is great that Nicole was able to schedule a time for surgery. The doctor sounds like he will do a good job. I am sure everything will go okay with it. You will have to let me know how it goes. I don't know when we will be emailing on Labor Day. It will probably be on Tuesday but maybe not. I know the library is closed on Monday so it might be interesting.

 

I will be praying that Nicole will be feeling back to normal quickly. Can't have old Micoe all tired and what not. That would not be fun haha.

 

I can't even believe that it's already pretty much my birthday myself haha. I have been thinking about what I would ask for. I have some ideas. I will throw them out to you. A new pair of Johnson Murphys (the original ones are dead so all I have now are the Rockports), some other nice looking belt buckles for my Mission belts ( if you went online to their website they have just belt buckles that you can buy and interchange them on the belts), snacks are always good, a new SD card to replace the other one then I can send the one I have now home and you can get the pics, ties that are good looking ( if you go to Ross or Burlington they have really good ties for really cheap is one thing I have learned on the mission), and whatever else you think I would like haha. You're the Mama. You know your favorite son too well.

 

That is crazy that school started up already. I hope the kids had fun!

 

I am glad that you guys are doing well. I hope you all have a great week. I will share some of my spiritual thoughts from studies I had this week. I read in Revelations 3:15-16 which really just stood out to me. It talks about hot and cold water. In the gospel we either need to be all in, as in "hot", or we are "cold". There is no middle ground even though we may think that there is that middle ground. We all need to evaluate everyday what we can do to improve. I am thinking about sharing it.  Some people think they can be in the middle ground but in reality there is no middle. I also read in Alma 33:23 and I really liked it as well. All of us as children of God may have things that we are asked to do that we don't understand with our limited knowledge, but as this scripture says, if we "plant" whatever is troubling us and feed it with our faith it will grow into a tree that will bring us so much joy. Everything in the gospel is set up to bring us the most joy. I have a testimony of that. The gospel is truly what brings the most happiness in our lives. As we live it to the fullest everyday we will be blessed! I love the gospel and the chance to serve a mission. Thanks for all that you do to keep me out here. Love you all tons!

-Elder Jake Sedlacek

 

 

What's up Dad,
I bet you love being at work in the middle of the day haha. It's okay
though that you have to work. I understand haha. This week was really
slow kind of. Kinda rough. It was great though because G
came to church, which was Stake Conference this week for me. It was the
first time since being in Pasco that I have had an investigator at
church. It was a much needed thing. I am so glad that he was able to
make it. He really liked it from what it seemed. He had family come in
to town this week so I hope he has been reading. It kept him from
meeting with us this week which sucked.
I like the idea to just use the B of Mormon. It really does have so
much spiritual power. I promised C yesterday who we finally caught
home, that if she read the Book of Mormon it will change her life. I
only know that because it has changed my life. Those are the only
investigators we have right now that we are meeting with.
The rest aren't answering their doors or phones. That is
something that you can pray for-- the help to have us be able to get
back in contact with our investigators this week. This has been the
hardest area for that that I have had. People just aren't home
it seems like. You can also pray for a LA family in the ward that I
have been working with. Their name is the D family, and the wife had a
baby the other night but it isn't doing well. The baby had to be
flown up to Seattle to the children's hospital up there. I hope
everything is okay with them. They could certainly use some prayers
right now.

That is so cool to me that you work in a place where they have
trainings that use the Book of Mormon, AT WORK. You are lucky haha.
Not very often you can have a job like that where you aren't a
seminary teacher or something like that. I like the training ideas
though. Those are great questions to ask ourselves to improve each
day. Believe it or not, I kinda already ask myself that every night.
It's just a matter of acting on those things that you find that you can
improve on.

I am so grateful that I am able to serve a mission. Thanks for all
that you do for me. I do know that the gospel is true. When we apply
the scriptures into our lives, we can learn from them and they become
real to us. I love the Book of Mormon and also the Bible. Together
they work to give us the truth. The restored gospel is amazing.
I am grateful that we have it on the earth at this time. Without it, we
would be lost I am sure. I hope all you  guys have a great week this
week. I love you all tons!
-Elder Sedlacek

Christ's Doctrine can change our hearts. I know that because mine has been changed.

What's up Mom,

Sounds like you had a good week. My week was pretty great too. That is way cool that Nicole will be able to get into surgery sooner than she expected. The sooner the better, in her situation. Miracles do happen everyday. We just have to recognize them. That is what I have learned on my mission--it does get hard before the miracle, but the blessing way outweighs the crap before it.

You all look good in the temple pic, by the way.

We had Zone Conference this week, and ironically enough the main message was on humility and obedience. I am sure it wasn't a coincidence. I realized something that I thought was kinda cool. Adam and Eve, when they were created by God,  it was from the dust. We all have to humble ourselves to the dust to be created "new" in our lives as well. Just one similarity that we all have to Adam and Eve. Zone conference is always good. It's always cool to hear what President has to say. He's super cool!

It is crazy that school is starting up so soon now. Seems like yesterday I was a senior haha. Not anymore. I don't have to go back to school hahaha. You can tease the kids for me too if you want.

Mom: Hi son! Yeah it does seem like yesterday you were a senior! Somebody said yesterday that you will soon have single digits left (as far as months left of your mission), and I realized that's right! It seems so crazy!!

Elder Sed: Thanks for all the support, and everything that you guys do for me. I have a testimony of the gospel. I love Alma chapter 26 that I read this morning in my personal study. I want to be like Ammon when I am at the end of my mission. Time is limited, and I want to make the most of every day. It really does come down to the heart with the day-to-day decisions. Christ's doctrine can change our hearts. I know that because mine has been changed. I love the gospel!

I hope you all have a great week with school prep what ever it is. Love you guys!

-Elder Jake Sedlacek

What's up Dad,

I like the sports updates, but not the news on the 49ers getting killed. That sucks.

I had a pretty good week. We had Zone Conference this week and it was nice to be able to rest for a little bit and listen to Pres. Ware. He always says good things. Our investigators aren't really progressing right now. None of them--which sucks. G doesn't want to commit to a date for baptism still, even though he tells us every lesson he wants to be baptized. It's just frustrating and he will not tell us why he doesn't want to commit yet. He has to tell us, or the Spirit has to tell us so we are able to help him. I have been praying to discern what his concern is and I don't think I have exactly what it is yet so I'm going to keep praying.

 

We have to pass off E to the YSA sisters which kinda sucks. I was hoping we would be able to keep teaching her because we are short on people to teach, but we can't. This week we had lots of good lessons using the tips President Ware gave us at Zone Conference of always quickly getting to the message of the restoration--meaning not so much small talk and more of the why we are here. It has been awesome seeing the results from it. I think we had 6 other lessons off of OYMs this week because of it. It was awesome. I am definately going to keep using that technique.

We were finally able to meet up with F this week also. He has been super busy framing houses, and so we showed him how to get the  Book of Mormon on his phone and it will talk to him while he frames. He said he's going to listen to it at work so how cool would that be if somebody got interested because of it?

We found a new investigator named S this week. The lesson was so close to turning into a bash which I DID NOT want, but we shared the message of the restoration with her and it brought in the Spirit and she actually sat back and listened. She accepted a Book of Mormon as well and is going to read it which was a miracle. We are going back in a couple weeks to see how she does.

You will have to let me know how the college football goes at the U if you do end up going. College football season is the best haha.

The weather has been pretty good. It has been in the 80s, which felt really nice, except for yesterday when it got up in the 90s again. It's supposed to be cooling off though now so we will see. It has been storming a ton in the middle of the night so I don't get to enjoy it. It wakes all the members up and they talk a lot about the storms but I honestly do not hear them. I am way too tired to wake up for a whimpy storm haha. That is what missionary work does I guess haha.

It sucks the garden didn't work out as planned. It's good for the soil to wait for a year anyways. You can just call it your secret plan to success haha.

Well, I hope you have an awesome week. I am so grateful for all that you guys do for me. I pray for all of you everyday. Love you tons too!

-Elder Sedlacek

It was a tough week, but I know the Lord listens to my prayers because of it.

What's up Mama,

This week for me was pretty good. Wednesday it was fun. We went with another set of missionaries to a pizza buffet for our "official" year mark. It was really good, and cheap too, so we might have to go there when we come back up sometime after my mission. 

Tuesday we had a pretty good lesson with G. He didn't come to church, but we are going to follow up with him on why sometime this week.

Up here on Saturday we actually got a thunder storm. It was nice!!! It was also fun to lay on my bed and watch it from the window, because I can from where my bed is haha. The thunder isn't as good as Utah thunder though. It has been pretty hot still, but it's supposed to just be in the 90s this week. The members have been telling us that it should start to gradually cool down now, which will be nice. I am looking forward to that.

It is crazy that it is August already. I am sure Jared will enjoy getting some money for gas. Gas is soooooooo expensive now, so I am not looking forward to that when I get home. I will definately need a job, that's for sure. I just hope it's not too hard to find one with tons of other missionaries coming home at that same time.

So Jeff likes the home theater sound in the basement then haha. It's way fun to watch movies with the bass turned up high. You should have gone down and joined them haha. Maybe it was a sign. Now for me, I can probably sleep through it. I get so tired I can sleep even when it's super noisy haha. That's a mission for you I guess.

I never did hear from the Bishop's son this week to answer your question.

That is good that you got the letter and gave it to Bishop. Did you open it and proof read it or something? I put your name on it so you could and have my permission haha.

Thanks for emailing me today. It was fun like always. I am glad everything is still going good at home. I want you guys to know that I love my mission. Thanks for all the sacrifice you guys go through to keep me out here. I really do have an awesome family. I am so blessed for that! I love the gospel! Love you guys too! Talk to you next week fam.

-Elder Jake Sedlacek

What's up Dad,

This week sounds like it was a good one for you. It was a good one for me too. It was long though. Not a lot of our investigators are home or answering their phones. We haven't been able to get hold of Claudia or Scott for a long time. Fernando works from sunup to sundown everyday, so we never see him either. We do have a progressing investigator with G. We were able to meet with him this week. In the lesson with him this week, he told us exactly how the spirit works before we had even taught it. He has had lots of experiences where he had felt the spirit, and he told me and Elder C that we are guides from the spirit to him. He compared the spirit to lightning for him personally. It comes and leaves really quick without the gift of the Holy Ghost. He said it's good though that we help direct the spirit "lightning" to him. He is just way cool. He is so prepared, which is awesome. 

We have also been working through the area book and contacting former investigators, but so far nothing has really come of that. We are just trying our best to find every chance we get. 

For personal study, I have been going through the book "Believing Christ," and I love that book. It is soo good at giving me more of an understanding of the atonement. If you haven't read it, you should. Even as a family if you guys want. It's just a really good book. I also read in the Book of Mormon every day of course, and I am in Alma with Alma and Amulek. I just love reading about the great things they did as missionaries. It really makes me want to go out and have those same experiences--except for getting thrown in jail and beaten and watching all my friends get burned! That would suck but they are great missionaries anyway.

Things in Washington have been pretty good though, and it sounds like they have for you guys too. I really don't wish that I had gone to the family reunion but it would have been cool to go anyway. I bet you had fun. That is crazy that there are 1200 descendants from Grandpa Berger. That is a lot of people!

Aww yea! Football is started back up! That is crazy that football season is pretty much here already. It will be cool to see if the Seahawks can win the Super Bowl again, even though I'm still not a fan of them. 49ers and Chargers still for me haha.

Sounds like they might as well make you a primary teacher haha. You're doing that a lot it seems. That is funny that Libby is the leader. That doesn't really seem like her to me, but I guess it could be. I always thought she was a shy little girl haha. Guess not now.

In a couple more weeks it's going to be Zone Conference, and I am excited for that. Those are always good and getting to hear from President Ware is always cool too. He is awesome.

Well, I wish I had some way cool story to share from this week, but it was really just kind of a tough week. But I do know the Lord listens to my prayers because of it. There are times where I feel like not doing anything and just feel like I wanna give up, but I pray in my heart and I have the energy to keep going. It is way cool. The spirit really does help me all the time. I feel its' promptings and I always try to follow them and things work out. I know Jesus Christ lives and the priesthood was restored. There were lots of people this week who challenged that to my face and I was able to bear my testimony to them. They didn't listen, but I hope they felt something. I just love the gospel! Thanks for all that you guys do for me to keep me out here. I pray for you every day! Love you guys!!!!

Have an awesome week!
-Elder Sedlacek

"This is my day!"

What's up Mama,

I am doing pretty good. The weather is still hot and dry. It's back up to the 100s now, which isn't very bad once you get used to it. The 80s were nice a couple days ago though. I wish it would stay like that, but oh well. 

I'm glad that you guys were able to have some fun on your camping trip. That would have been fun to go fishing and all that stuff. We will have to go when I get home. Fishing is the best haha. That sucks that you fell. But it's good that you were okay mostly. So only your hand was hurt? That's pretty good and yea it probably could have been worse. It is good that it wasn't. Have you ever broken any bones? I think you have a streak going of no broken bones, right? You don't want to go ending that good streak!

The fires have caused some evacuations, but I don't really know much about it. I know that they asked for volunteers to help clean up, but only half the mission is helping clean up. Since I am in the southern part, I don't get to help. It would have been cool to go up there and help out. I think the situation is getting better up there.

It is funny that Jeff can impersonate people. Elder C is pretty good at that too, I have noticed. He can copy basically anyone's laugh. We have fun, so that has been good. 

I bet Elder Dan's talk was really good. I can't even imagine him being any nicer haha. He wouldn't hurt a fly before it seemed and now he's nicer? haha. Wow. 19 comps though? That is crazy. He was ET a lot,  because there are only 17 transfers in a mission. I would imagine his Pres. really wanted him to work with all the tough missionaries because he is so patient. He's a good guy.

I am doing pretty good right now as for needing anything. Did you happen to find my SD card yet?

Mom: Hi Son!

Yeah, so only my hand was hurt mostly. I have a few bruises on my right side here and there, so somehow I landed mostly on my right, with my hand getting the worst of it. It’s all green and blue today and hurts pretty good but Advil helps with that.

Too bad you don’t get to help with the fire evacuations, that would be some good service.

Yes, Dan’s talk was really amazing. One of the best I’ve heard. He actually reminds me of you and the way you have been talking about your mission. It was good.

I have not seen that SD card! I don’t have any idea what happened to it....I really thought I sent it back to you in the package before your 4th of July package. 

Elder Sedlacek: Tell Sarah happy birthday for me since I forgot to tell her, and guess what? 1 year from today I will be home! Crazy, huh?  I am sure it will go by sooo fast. This past year has and the last one I have heard goes even faster. I don't count up anymore haha. I count down. How crazy is that?

Mom: 

I know, I was thinking the same thing! People will start asking me how much time you have left instead of how long you’ve been gone. That’s weird.

Elder Sedlacek: 

I love to be serving a mission. It is one of the greatest things I have done in my life. It has strengthened my testimony of the Book of Mormon so much. I love to read it, even if it is a chapter in my days. Recently, I read about the sons of Mosiah and their experience of getting their mission call and going to teach the Lamanites. Sometimes I can really relate to them. Alma really had to put up with a ton of crap, and he stayed strong in the gospel. I really want to become more like Alma and the sons of Helaman. 

I know Joseph Smith is a prophet.

President Monson is a prophet of God and by heeding his counsel we will be able to make it back to God. I love the gospel! It changes lives! Like Dan said too, This is my day!

Email to Dad

Yo Dad,

Sounds like you had a good week. I figured you guys would since you were going camping. I had a pretty good week as well. We found 2 new investigators, and one of them is on date for baptism on the 23rd of August! It was an awesome lesson. His name is Greg and we found him while Elder R was still here, but this week we were able to meet with him. He mentioned that he wants to be baptized, and before the lesson he made sure to read some of the Book of Mormon. He read 3rd Nephi 11 and he told us that it's a gem in his eyes. He REALLY liked it. He even came to church yesterday and really liked that too.

The other investigator we had was one I think I told you about last week. Her name is Lilly and she was a referral from Elder C that he brought from his last area. We really weren't able to have much of a lesson with her because she was rushing out the door, but we were able to set up our purpose of us being there so that was good.

We also had a cool finding story this week. I had the thought to try by a LA apartment that I didn't know, so we went and knocked on the door and a lady answered. We asked if the member lived there and she said no, and she had just moved in a couple days before. Turns out she is interested in learning more about the church so we are going to start teaching her this week. Should be awesome! It was great to have some success this week. It was a very nice to have after a long time of tough stuff.

I bet the camping trip was fun. That is awesome that Jared was able to catch a big fish. I remember doing that with him when we went up there a couple years ago. Mom said you guys didn't get the site you wanted though? Why was that? That camping site is fun for fishing though. I want to go fishing so bad haha. That sounds super fun right now. One year from now I will go haha. It's funny you say it was dusty up there. Here it's basically a giant sand box. It's back to being pretty hot again, to which I was hoping was gone but it's not too bad. I just have to drink tons of water.

I bet you're doing good in your calling. You are like me though. I hate paperwork, which is the worst part of missionary work I think haha. It has to be done though, so I just get over it haha.

It is crazy that college football starts up again in like 30 days! That off season just flew by for me haha. You will have to keep me updated with all the Utah teams like usual. When does the NFL start up?

Well, I hope you have a great week Dad. Good luck with all the catch up at work. You're probably going to be tired after all the catch up haha. Thank you for all the sacrifice you deal with to keep me out on a mission. I love serving the Lord. It really is so rewarding for everyone. The gospel is awesome! I love it! Love you guys!

-Elder Jake Sedlacek

I am grateful to be serving as a missionary for Jesus Christ

How's it going Mama,

This past week was pretty good. Transfer day was the really hot day where it was 110 and we were on the black pavement wearing suit coats. Let's just say it was super hot haha. Transfers were good. I am with Elder Christopherson now. 

That is crazy that Sarah is 15 now. She is getting so old haha. Are you going to take her to get her learner's??? Libby is 10 too. That is crazy! I bet the party was fun and geting to hear Jim's and Dave's stories. There are some fun mission stories I have had, so it will be fun to tell them later on.

Libby is so funny too, with her story of going on a hike with Nicole and Jeff. She is so cute sometimes haha. I bet she had lots of fun hanging out with her bro-in-law. When I get home Libby and I will have to go have some fun like that.

That sucks about the Suburban fuel pump going out again. That has gone out so much it seems! It is about time that GM would put a warranty on it.

Mom: Yo Son! It's good to hear from you! I'm glad you are doing okay in the heat. I got my brace and it works great.

Elder Sed: That's great Mama. Did it come today? Can you walk and do everything without the pain you had? It looks similar to the one I had. Is it hard to get used to?

Mom: Yes, I can walk and do everything with no pain. It's different from the brace you had because it pushes against the outside of the knee joint and causes the inside to open up so the bones don't rub together, so that took a little getting used to. 

Elder Sed: I am glad it is working out for you Mama! I love getting to email. I have to go now. I am grateful to be serving as a missionary for Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the gospel and it truly does bless my life in every aspect. I know that as we stay strong in the gospel and continue in the little things that great things will be given to us. I love you guys so much!

Have an awesome week!

What's up Dad,

Sounds like you had a good week. I am doing pretty good, but this week was pretty slow. I have a new companion, Elder Christopherson. I've known him since the MTC. Our investigators are doing good, but we had no lessons with any of them this week. They were all busy with other stuff so we taught a lot of Recent Convert/Less Active lessons. We did find a new potential investigator named Lilly. She had been to a baptism for her aunt, and when she opened the door to us all she said was "I really like coffee." It was kinda funny, but she does want to meet and figure out if the church is something she wants. It will be super cool to start teaching her. She seemed pretty awesome. 

 The other highlight of the week was transfers, which was really hot, but I told mom about that. It was funny because one of the mission presidency came up to me and seriously thought I was a greenie and had to go back inside the church with the rest of the greenies. He finally realized I'm not a greenie haha. It was kinda funny though. I guess I look young or something. Sister Jane W came up to the mission this transfer, so that was weird to see her there.  I also talked to President Ware a little more since transfers and he suggested that I do something that I really liked. It really applies to parenting as well, but that is awhile off for me haha. He suggested using the commitment pattern with my comp. 

Sounds like you had a usual Saturday with all the yard work. That would be kinda fun to do right now. At least for the first week I'm home, then it will go back to being a chore haha. Sounds like lots of work! 

I did get your letter in the mail last Monday. I liked the announcement on the technology stuff. It will be super cool to get that stuff eventually. It will be interesting to ask President Ware about it. I would love to work with it. It's going to be awesome for teaching.

The weather has been pretty good the past week. It was 95 and I actually felt a little cold! It's funny how your body gets used to the temp after a while.

Libby and Sarah are getting old and I can't believe it for either one of them. It's crazy! Time goes fast doesn't it? 

Thanks for all that you do for me Dad. You are a great example to me of doing my best at everything I do, that is the reason I want to be as obedient as I can. I know HF will bless me and all of you as I do. Love you all! Have a great week!

-Elder Sedlacek

I want to edify and strengthen all the people I come in contact with

What's up Mama,

Sounds like it was a fun rest of the week for you guys haha. You do seem to be the designated "tell me all about home for the week"  person haha. I like it though. I did get to use some of the 4th of July stuff you sent. I like the glasses so I have some pics in them. Speaking of pictures, do you have my other SD card that I sent home Father's Day? I can't find the other one, so I am assuming that it's home with you guys.

Is the internet still out at home? That is super stupid if it is.

Thanks for fasting for me. 

I like the picture of the water fight. I bet that was really fun. Did you and Dad do it as well?

So its been hot in Utah just like here, it sounds like. The heat isn't that bad once you get used to it. It's still pretty tiring so I know how you guys felt haha.

I am glad that you were able to use some of the stuff I said in your testimony. Hopefully I say things that touch everyone's heart. I try to,  at least. haha. I want to edify and strengthen all the people I come in contact with, so that is something I pray for every morning. To touch the hearts of the people I meet.

I hope the email works good today. It's super fun being able to email back and forth.

What's this annoucement that the church supposedly put out that every missionary will have to get an iPad mini? There were a couple members talking about it yesterday.

Mama: Yes, the missionaries in many missions will be getting special iPad minis. You buy it and can keep it when you go home. I think Dad knows more details on it than I do.

The internet is out at home still. Good thing I have my phone!

Yes, the weekend and holiday were super fun.

Elder Sed: So it's not all the missions then? Those would help soooo much in teaching and stuff like that. I hope the WKM gets them. That is dumb that the internet is out. Are the kids going crazy without it haha?

Mama: I think it is most missions, probably yours too. It was something like 50k of the missionaries that will?I'd bet you will. Yeah, the kids aren't liking no internet! It's supposed to be back by 5:30pm. Hopefully sooner. 

Elder Sedlacek: Well I am going to go now Mama. It was good to get to email today. Glad that it worked out despite all the internet poop going on. 

I hope you guys have a great week!

Don't forget too to send me my SD card soon and I can send the one I have back that has some new pics on it.

Love you all!

-Elder Sedlacek

What's up Dad,

I bet the 4th was super fun for you guys. It was pretty fun here. We had some souped up pop-its that popped really loud, almost like a fire cracker, and we threw those around and played catch with a football in the members' back yard where we live. It was fun. It was really just a fun, relaxing evening since we had to be in at 6pm.

We had a good talk with our  Bishop, and he changed around the agenda and let us talk first yesterday so that was awesome! That was the first time since I have been in this ward that it was like that, so it was a super nice change.

There wasn't very much exciting in the past couple days since Wednesday. Our teaching pool is still basically the same as it was on Wednesday. We did find a new investigator named J. He was out weeding in his yard, so we talked to him for a little bit, and then Elder R and I just sat down and started weeding with him. We ended up having a really good discussion, and J even committed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. It was awesome. Other than that, our investigators are the same. Keep praying for all of them and it will help them.

Thanks for the sports updates. It's fun to find out the little bits of info you tell me. Lebron is soooo greeedy. I think it would be soooo funny if nobody picked him up, but that will not happen. Still, it would be funny.

Haha Duke is funny. I remember playing with him like that. It's kinda funny that up here there is a family that has a black lab that is named Duke. They are kinda alike too, from what I remember about Duke haha.

I really do think my mission is really strengthening me as well. It has been awesome to be able to serve my mission so far. I love the things that I have learned and being able to think back on all the awesome experiences I have had. I just hope to be able to learn from my mission everyday for the rest of my life. I want it to be that life-changing experience like it has been so far. Missions are awesome and I love the gospel and being able to share it everyday with everyone I meet. Thanks for all that you do for me Dad. You're awesome!

Is my dirt bike still up and running?

 

I also have heard that there was an announcement made on the technology for missionaries. What's the details on that. There were some members up here talking about it yesterday and it sounds awesome! 

Have a great week!!!!! Love ya!

-Elder Sedlacek

Being on a mission is where I want to be

What's up Mama,

It sounds like your week was really fun. Libby told me about the zoo pass that you guys got and that is fun. I really loved the package and everything in it. Perfect job Mama! It even got here last Saturday so it was really fast too.

I think it's funny that the time is going by so fast haha. When you break it down like that Mama, it's going to seem like a couple months and I will be home. Time is weird! Just so you know, being on a mission is where I want to be too.

I bet it was fun, too, to sit with Nicole and Jeff by the fire bowl and talk. 

 

The temple was amazing today. And the sealing was AMAZING too. It was sooooooooooo coool and nothing like I was expecting, but I definately want to be sealed in the temple. I think it would be so cool to have Pres. Johnson do the sealing too. It was seriously the longest ever that I remember feeling that wave of the spirit. It was the whole time Pres. Johnson (he did the sealing) was talking. It was also super fun to see some of the members from Sunnyside. That is nice that the D family wrote on my wall, too. They are a good family so I am sure they will be baptized sometime. They have a seed planted at least.

I bet sacrament meeting was really good but that is super surprising that there was no returned missionaries available to talk. They won't have that problem pretty soon haha. Lots of them coming home.

Well this week was pretty good. How have the family been doing?

What's up Dad,

This week was pretty good, but really slow as well. It's starting to get really hot so that has been fun to deal with haha.  Member trust is also one thing we are going to start building more of.  

As far as cool experiences go, this week we had interviews with President Ware and that was really, really good. He is such a good example for me. He always has some bit of good advice for me to hear. He told me to just keep working on the members and building trust and the work will improve. On Thursday we ran into a guy named Greg who had gotten a Book of Mormon back in 2003, and he has been picking it up once in a while ever since. He told us pretty detailed descriptions of what he had read a week ago, and he was able to perfectly tell the story of Teancum. Pretty dang cool. I don't think I would be able to do that--as in explain in detail what I read a week ago. Well anyway, we asked him if we could meet with him sometime and he didn't want to give us any info but said he would show up to church sometime. I am really hoping he comes while I am still here. 

As far as the teaching pool it's still pretty much the same. FB said he will be baptized when he gets an answer that the Book of Mormon is true, but he does feel like God wants him to read it so that was cool to hear about. I don't know if I told you about S yet, but he is a pretty cool investigator. He's from Canada and plays hockey. He's just barely graduated from college and is pretty interested in learning more. F didn't come to church because he was busy with work and has been all this past week, so I hope we can meet with him this week. Those are our progressing investigators  right at the moment. We are working every day to find more with the members.

Holy crap, do we have fruit up here haha! Talk about cherries and raspberries and strawberries. Pretty  much anything we want we've got haha. Don't even worry about sending fruit. The members got that covered, Dad haha. It sounds good that you guys have a lot of fruit too.

It is awsome work is going good for ya. Keep up the good work, Papa. I bet it's fun to work for the church and be able to participate in all that. It would be cool.

I did get the package like I told mom. Thanks for sending it and the letter inside it too.

On the journal, it will work for a study journal, but today I went and bought one that is the same style and size as my other one. But thanks for sending that, too. I will put it to some good use.

The temple was awesome today. 

Well I hope you guys have an awesome week. You guys are a great example to me. Every one of you, too. I love you guys and am so happy to be serving a mission. I love the gospel!!!

-Elder Sedlacek

The Book of Mormon is true, and Joseph Smith IS a prophet.

 

What's up Mama,

This week was pretty good. It started out pretty dang slow, but the past couple days have been pretty good. We are going around to different members of the ward and teaching them a new idea on the members' role in missionary work. We used this idea in Sunnyside and it worked there, so it should work here. It's going to be awesome to see the change that happens in this ward!

Speaking of the weather, it's been hot, hot, hot. That's Tri-cities for you. Basically not a cloud in the sky so it's always blue sky but it's still pretty hot. I am doing okay in the heat. I really like the shirts you sent, but holy crap. $50??? Those were expensive Mama. {Mama's note: two shirts plus tax & shipping, just under $50. Not THAT bad. :) } I literally laughed when I opened the package of the soap. It probably will last the rest of my mission. Not even kidding haha. It's good soap, though, so thank you very much for the shirts and soap. You're da greatest.

In the package for 4th of July just send some snacks. I am almost out of money on my mission card, and I will have to buy stuff for a week and a half because next week p-day is on Wednesday. We are going to the temple that day. I'm going to a sealing for a RC in Sunnyside who we worked with a lot, and that will be this Saturday. It will be awesome to see what a sealing is like. I'm excited for it.

Sorry Mama that you are sick! I hope you get better soon. Those dang summer colds suck. They are the worst.

So Nicole got some bling bling, aye?! That's exciting. I haven't looked at her email yet if I even have one. I will look soon though so I can find out what happened.

I like your thought on the scriptures. It is amazing that you can read it millions of times and still learn. I have read the Book of Mormon three times on my mission so far, and it's amazing each time. I learn new things. The scriptures are amazing.

That's funny that there's a Tri-cities elder down there again. It really is like they do a swap with Washington and Utah.

Time is flying by and it's crazy. I still can't believe it. Next year this time it will be almost done. I want to keep learning as much as I can every day so it helps me for the rest of my life. Missions are amazing! I am glad that you had a great week too. You're awesome mama!

What's up Dad,

This week was pretty dang good. It started out really slow, but it ended pretty good. We dropped all of our investigators, except for ____ and _____ because they weren't progressing. They both are doing really good though. We had a sit down lesson with _____ and invited him to be baptized. He said he would if he got an answer that is was what he needs to do. That was a miracle since we haven't had a real sit down lesson with him before. FB was feeling sick this week so we weren't able to teach him. 

 

Yesterday was a really good day. We found a new investigator! His name is S and he lives in the apartments in our area. He just graduated from college and he had Mormon friends all through out school, so he was interested in learning more. He told us in the beginning of the lesson yesterday that he wasn't really interested in converting, but he is interested in us answering his questions. We will see what happens as time goes by. It was cool because during the lesson I got a prompting to show him "Testimony of the Book of Mormon" video by Elder Holland and he really liked it. He said that the leaders in his church don't seem to have the conviction that the leaders in the LDS church do. That was awesome to hear and I know he felt the Spirit. It was a super good lesson. Those are the people we are teaching at the moment investigator-wise. We are going around to members of the ward and teaching them how to fulfill their purpose as member missionaries. It is going well and I think it's going to really help the ward. That is one thing President Ware told me straight to my face at transfers--I need to take the member lesson we used in Sunnyside and use it in Pasco, so I have been doing that. I think the ward is really going to get excited about missionary work here soon. 

Sounds like girls camp was really fun for you and the girls.

Lately for P-days we have been just hanging out at the local stake center and playing games as a zone. I haven't really been able to see anyone I know. This mission is HUGE and we just got approved to go up to 270 missionaries. That is going to be insane. I hope to be able to serve around some of the Elders who were super fun. I get to meet new people though, and there are some cool missionaries in this zone. Our zone is pretty cool and our district is just crazy haha. We have fun though. Elder J is in our district so that's kinda fun. He's still pretty goofy haha.

Well, I did have a great week and it sounds like you did too. Good luck with the work week and all that. You're awesome dad! I love my mission and all that I learn every day. Missions truly are the greatest thing. I love the gospel. I know the Book of Mormon is true and Joseph Smith IS a prophet. Keep up the good work at home! Love you!!!

-Elder Sedlacek

Everyday I learn new things. I love my mission!

What's up Mama,

This week, turns out we decided to email first and it is working out good so far. I am glad that you guys had a good week.

 

My week was pretty slow but it's been good anyway. We really weren't able to have many lessons because summer is a pretty busy time for people haha. Elder R and I are doing good though. We are really trying to figure out a way that we will be able to work better with the members. That is the key to missionary work--as serving in Sunnyside taught me. Sometimes it's just kinda difficult to get the members to be more proactive in missionary work. 

I bet Jared had a blast at the ranch. I always wanted to go up there for a camp, but it never worked out when we planned it out. Oh well haha.

So Dad was able to have a good Father's Day? That is awesome. Did he get my card?

That is a super cool story from Elder B.  I bet he was blown away. Does he leave this Wednesday? He's going to be an awesome missionary.

So are you going to buy the shirts and the soap today? I am out of the soap now, so just send it soon haha.

Tell dad thanks for the info :)

You guys are awesome. Thanks for all that you do, even though I say that every week. I still mean it!

I am glad that you are doing good. Thanks for everything you do, like sending me stuff and paying for me to be out here. It truly is a blessing. I KNOW this gospel is the true church of Christ. I KNOW the Book of Mormon is the word of God. The gospel WILL bless our lives if we apply it with real intent of heart. I love my mission!

Love you guys!

-Elder Sedlacek

What's up Dad,

It was good to hear that you were able to have a good Father's Day. That took forever for my card to get there but at least it did. Glad you liked it.

I am settling in well. This week was kinda slow, but I got through it. We are going to start focosing on the members this week, hopefully to get more referrals and assistance from them. I can get myself around Pasco now, not that I will haha. It's different here with lots more LA we are teaching than investigators. Some of the people you guys can pray for are FB, FA, and D for our investigators, and as for LAs  you can pray for the S family, the Ds, and a few others. FB is a super cool guy. D is a guy who we talked to outside his house and we started teaching him. He isn't that open to the ideas of the church, but he's willing to listen which is a start. Just pray for him to have an open heart to the gospel. The LA families I really don't know much about. A lot of them just got out of the habit of coming to church. Those are some people you can pray for right now. 

I left a pair of the gold toe socks back home? Hmm. I didn't know that haha. Mine are holding up great though. They will probably last my whole mission. My problem is my shirts. I will probably have to get them all replaced, but that can wait for now. I'm going to try to make them last the rest of my time out here.

That is exciting that the Spurs were able to win it this year. They are one of the only teams in the NBA that actually play like a team, so it's kinda cool they won.

I bet it would have been super cool to hear the B's and Elder B's farewell talks. I am sure the Bs will be an awesome mission president and his wife, and RB will be a great missionary as well. That is a super cool experience that RB had. Talk about God answering our prayers. That is awesome that he was able to recognize that.

Well dad you are awesome! I am so grateful for your example and your advice on things I can do to be a better missionary. I am always working on ways to improve and so it's great to get some of those ways from ya. You're awesome dad! Thanks for all that you do for me and the rest of the family too. Sorry I didn't have any way cool experiences to share this week with you guys, but everyday I learn new things on my mission. I just wanted you to know that. I love my mission!

Love ya,

-Elder Sedlacek

First week in Pasco

What's up Mama,

In Pasco I will probably be emailing way late every week. Hopefully, it works out. It's really frustrating, though, because we don't have a car, so we have to work with everyone else to get stuff done like our shopping and stuff, and we usually get pushed to the back. I'm not too happy about it, but oh well. Hopefully email works for you this week. 

So far in Pasco, it has been really, really hot and tiring. I have never been so tired in my life, pretty much. Walking around in the heat all day really does that to ya! It was a pretty good week though. I am just trying to get the hang of the area and all the members. 

I am glad that you liked all the pics I had people send. Hopefully they are good ones haha. Tell Nicole thanks for "friending" people for me.

We live with some members and we have one of their bedrooms, which is pretty dang small. It's not too bad for living conditions though. I am happy to have it.

The soap I need is Cetaphil. The container I have has a pump on it.  I am about out of that stuff so it would be good to send it as soon as possible.

It is crazy that Jared is 17 now! I realized that while looking at the calendar this morning. Tell him happy birthday for me. That is also crazy that Sam, Nate and Jeremy are all leaving so soon. Time is flying by for me now that the  guys a year younger than me are coming out.

Hopefully, again, email works today! 

What's up Dad,

Happy Father's Day this week! I will send you something in the mail, but I wanted to make sure to tell you.

This week has been pretty good. It has been sooooo hot. Being in a walking area when it's 90 degrees outside is pretty dang tiring. I am making sure to drink plenty of water though. 

I am also still trying to get the teaching pool down. There isn't much of them, but I don't really know anything about any of them  because I haven't met any of them yet. Pretty much nobody answered the door this week. This ward hasn't had much success in the past couple months. They have had two baptisms since the beginning of the year. I really hope I can help to make it more productive while I am serving here. It's kinda different here because there are so many Mormons already. It's like a mini Utah and everybody else who isn't Mormon already knows about it. I am thinking service would be a good idea to offer. The ward is pretty good. It's pretty small attendance so I think there are a ton of LA. So it's a lot of a different kind of missionary work. Instead of investigators it seems to be alot of  reactivating members. If you want to keep praying for the investigators up in Sunnyside, that would really help them. They are getting pretty close. You can also pray for me and Elder R to be able to have a baptism this transfer.

It is so crazy that Jared is 17 now. It's pretty cool though that he has found that he likes weight lifting. He is going to be solid it sounds like haha. He's going to be able to beat me up haha. On whether he goes before I come home or not, I would love to see him after my mission but if he is already gone I can't really do much about it haha. He can go when he wants. I don't really mind.

I think it's kinda funny you're back in scouts. Really though, in the HC you were involved in some of scouts with the Blue and Gold Banquet and cub scouts haha. You just can't get out of scouts can ya haha. It's alright though, because that is what you like and you're good at it. The Lord knows that, obviously.

Finally the Jazz got a new coach. Hopefully it works out for them better than Corbin did. They don't seem to be having very good luck with that. Is Jerry Sloan still on the coaching staff? He should have stepped up and taken the job. That would have been so sick! Oh well, I am sure he will get involved as like assistant or something. I really hope the Spurs win by the way. The Heat can go away for all I care haha. That is funny though that the ac went out during the game. I bet it's heck in that arena with all the people in it. I would not want to be in there haha.

Well, I really hope you have a great week. I love ya! You're an awesome Dad!

-Elder Sedlacek