Busy week in UK Singles and testifying of First Vision

Hey family and Friends!

This was another awesome week in UK singles. We were busy every single day with appointments at almost every hour of the day! We had one day where we only had 15 mins for lunch and no time for dinner haha good thing we have Taco Bell!:) We did however have one day that was super slow and it didn't help that Elder Trost and I were sick. We were so out of it all day haha but we still had a lesson with Jordan that night at the Branch Presidents house and that made the whole day great! Having a great lesson and feeling the spirit makes any day good!

So, Jordan is getting baptized this coming week on saturday at 5. And its going to be done in a pond out at Kelly Farms. The owner of the pond is a member and he is letting us do it there. I will send pics of the pond with this email. 

But let me tell ya, Jordan has such GREAT faith. She has been feeling overwhelmed with things these past couple of weeks and wanted to push her date back a couple of weeks. (in her shoes I would also feel a little overwhelmed so we understand how shes feeling) But during a lesson Joseph Smiths experience in the Sacred Grove came clear into my mind and we shared that with her. If you recall, just as he began to pray he was overtaken by Satan to try and stop him from praying and to stop all of the millions of wonderful things that would come from just his one prayer. But, by calling upon God he was delivered from Satan. We applied this to her and helped her realize that Satan wants to stop her baptism because there are going to be thousands of wonderful things that come from her baptism. And because of her great Faith in the Lord she committed to be baptized this coming weekend. None of these awesome things happen because of us. They come because of the spirit and the love of God!

Maggie is still doing good. She is getting baptized on the 30th so its getting a little closer! We meet with her a couple of times a week at the library and have lessons and read out of the Book of Mormon. 

We had the Branch talent show this week on friday night. It was pretty fun. They had Elder Trost and I be a part of a skit that someone wrote. It was kinda funny and cheesy. We just played the part of being missionaries. Most of the other talents were piano songs or singing, but they were super good! It is SO fun being in a young single adults branch! 

Honestly I don't know why God is so good to us. Personally I don't really deserve these wonderful blessings. Honestly and truly "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me, confused at the Grace that so fully he proffers me" 

Oh how wonderful he is to me.

Much love,

1st week in UK Singles

Hi Family!

It's been a great first week of the transfer! Jordan is doing awesome and she is going to be baptized in less than 2 weeks! Oh, and her baptism is going to be done in a pond! She heard that you dont have to be baptized in a font so she wants it done in like a river or a pond! Its going to be awesome!! I have always wanted to baptized someone in a pond or a river. Jordan also brought one of her guy friends to church yesterday and he had lots of questions about our Doctrine but Im pretty sure he liked it and he said he would be back next week!

Idk if I have told you much about Maggie but she is an 18 year old girl going to UK. Her boyfriend is an active member and she has been learning about the church for a few months. She is awesome and is super ready to be baptized. Her date had to be moved to the 30th of this month because she is going to Jamaica with her Mom... so we have to wait until then haha. 

There were a lot of new people at church this last sunday. They are starting to move into the area for the summer. There were a couple of girls home for the summer and they came from BYU-I! I asked them if they knew about Soda-Vine and they said that they LOVED that place and thats it super popular. It was funny when I told them that it was my families place haha. There are going to be soooo many people I know from my mission going to BYU-I when I get home, its going to be crazy!

Oh so yeah my new companion is Elder Trost. As you know he was my MTC companion so its kinda weird to be with him again! We just can't believe that 20 months ago we were in the MTC and now were here in Lexington as zone leaders together!

Ever since Elder Neilson gave his talk about the Sabbath day being a delight, my sundays have been so much better. The success of a sunday isn't determined on how well the talks were in sacrament or how well the sunday school teacher prepared the lesson. Any Sunday that you take the sacrament is a success. And its up to us to decide if we want to take something home from the talks given or from the lessons taught. Like my Dad always taught me, its up to us to decide if we want to be happy. No one else can make you happy, its YOUR choice. That applies to church, its up to us if we want to have a good and uplifting sunday. The Sabbath day is a delight when we make that choice!

I reach 20 months tomorrow. We are celebrating it with teaching tons of lessons tomorrow! Trust me when I say this, I'm focused on the work. There is nothing greater than teaching the Gospel to people and seeing their faces light up when they understand it. 

I remind you to ALWAYS read the scriptures (especially the Book of Mormon) everyday and to pray!

Love ya! 

Elder Eastin

Small and Simple Things to bring about Eternal Purposes: A Story of Missionary Work

Hello family and friends!

One of the greatest miracles I have seen on my mission happened this week with Jordan! This could quite possibly be one of the greatest I've seen in my whole life. And I wish to share it with you to strengthen your testimony of a few things. 1. That there is missionary work going on in the spirit world. 2.That God can work through very small and very simple things to bring about his eternal purposes.

There are a couple of side stories I must tell but in the end they will all come together and make sense, so bear with me.  

As you know we have been working with Jordan Wilcox. She is a wonderful person and she has been so awesome to teach. BUT, she has been struggling to set a baptismal date because she has wanted to make sure that shes 100% ready before it happens. So, we talk about baptism almost every time we see her and she keeps saying she is praying about it but she hasn't gotten an answer.

So, in the mean time, I get an Easter package from my awesome sister Shannon. It was a big Easter egg! Inside the egg was a sweet new tie that I love, a few key chain things, and in the bottom I see a necklace. And I think to myself, "Hmm... thats a girl necklace, thats not for me." It was a simple silver necklace and hanging off of it was a small temple. Looked like the Salt Lake temple. As I read the note written to me from Shannon she said that she felt like she should send something pretty to Jordan for when she gets baptized, because when she (Shannon) was baptized, Dad gave her something pretty also. So, you must understand, here I am, a 20 year old missionary, with a nice necklace that I have to give to a 23 year old girl... Honestly it felt awkward thinking about it haha! Elder Lynch and I didn't want her to think that we were like flirting with her or anything haha. So at FHE at the church on Monday night Jordan was there and we told her that we had a surprise gift for her that my sister sent to her. We made sure that she understood that it was from my Sister and not from me haha. She was excited and we planned to give it to her later in the week during our lesson.

So, Thursday rolls around for our next appointment. Our usual plan of meeting at Shelby's house to teach the lesson wasn't going to work out so we decided to meet at the church. There was another zone's Zone meeting going on at the church so we were able to meet in an empty class room with Jordan, Shelby and Kendall. Shelby and Kendall are both members and friends of Jordan. So we sit down and talk for a few minutes to them and we decide to give her the gift before we really get into the lesson. So I pull out this egg that has the necklace in it and before I give it to her I read the note that my sister Shannon wrote about giving it to her. Then I give her the necklace and she loved it and thought it was pretty and she was happy about it. And I thought that was going to be the end of it...(and heres where it gets amazing) Shelby asked what my sisters name was. And I responded and said that it was Shannon. Immediately Jordan's jaw dropped and she started to cry. She just looked at us in amazement and was crying, not even able to speak. She eventually left the room and went to the bathroom and Shelby and Kendall went with her. So Elder Lynch and I just sat there wondering what in the world just happened. We just sat and we both said personal prayers to ourselves wondering what we just did. Because we felt the spirit SO strong after I told her that my sisters name was Shannon. After a few minutes she came back in, still crying, and began to tell us a story. When Jordan was growing up she had a best friend who was basically her sister. They were always sleeping over and they would go on family vacations together, they were that close. When she was 17 her best friend took her life and Jordan has been coping with that ever since. When Jordan first heard about Baptisms for the Dead she was very interested and that was one of the reasons she wanted to learn about the church. Well, Elder Lynch and I had never heard of this story at all! The reason that Jordan had started crying and the reason the spirit was so strong in the room was because her best friend was named Shannon. And we gave her a necklace with the temple on it (temples of course where baptisms for the dead take place) And the person that sent her that necklace was named Shannon. In that moment all of our minds were enlightened by the spirit of the Lord and we all knew that her friend Shannon had accepted the gospel and wanted to be baptized. So the Lord prompted my dear Sister Shannon to send a simple necklace to Jordan, a girl she hardly even knew, so that Jordan could know that her friend Shannon wanted to be baptized. 

Words cannot describe the amazement and awe that we all had in that moment. We knew without a shadow of a doubt that what had happened was truly divine and not just a coincidence. Jordan immediately committed to be baptized on May 2nd and is planning to go to the temple at the end of that month.

I know and testify that God lives. He loves each of us and truly has a plan for all of us. I know why he sent me to this area. I know one reason why my parents named my sister Shannon. And I know "that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls." Truly that Necklace was one of those small and simple things that God used to answer Jordan's prayers.  There is missionary work going on beyond the veil and I know that many are accepting it. I invite everyone to follow the very small promptings that you receive, they can literally effect the Salvation of souls. And I know that all of these things are possible because Jesus Christ lives.

I love you all so much

P.S- elder lynch is being transferred to indiana and I will be getting my MTC companion Elder Trost!!

Conference and expressing how much he loves his mission

Wasn't General Conference awesome?! I loved it! President Uchtdorfs talk on Grace was just what needed to hear. What an inspired talk. There were really a lot of talks that were awesome! I went to conference with a few questions in mind that I was looking answers for and in the first 2 sessions they had been answered and so I came up with more and they were answered in the remainder of conference! It was so awesome! General Conference is sooooo valuable. We watched the first 2 sessions and priesthood at the church building and then we went to a members house and watched the other 2 sessions there. It was awesome and they had lots of food and Easter baskets.

This last week I have really gotten to the point that I wouldn't trade my mission for anything in this world. I love my mission with all my heart. I look back at what has happened and I am so grateful for the many blessings I have received from Heavenly Father. I have seen his Grace in my mission. I know I have had many hard times that I have shared with you but the person that my mission has shaped me to become has made it all worth it. The Atonement has literally changed my heart and my desires to do only that which is good in the eyes of God. Now, to acquire that you DON"T have to be perfect! I have been far from that! But you have to have a commitment to live the gospel and to repent everyday! Every single day! I loved the line that was shared in conference about being a Saint. I'm not a Saint unless you define a Saint as a sinner who is trying. Its truly about trying, or in other words, Repenting. When we repent we open our Hearts to the Savior and allow his Atonement to enter in and to change them!

So, its official, we are receiving iPads on May 21st! And guess what! We dont have to worry about paying for them! The church has changed the way that they will be payed for. Our bishops and stake presidents from our home ward and stake are responsible for obtaining funds through their members to pay for the iPads of the missionaries that are serving from their stake. And since I am going home in a few months I wont take mine home. Ill be able to have one here in the mission but I will have to leave it here.

Jordan W, Alvin D, and Maggie P are our 3 most progressing investigators and they are doing quite well! Alvin is being held back quite a bit by his fiance, who is a member.... so thats been a struggle. But the work is going well here! Being a Zone Leader is busy but I love it. We are going to Louisville tomorrow for our monthly mission leader conference with President. I love those meetings!

This week will be busy with meetings and planning our zone meeting for friday. Our time will basically be spent with teaching lessons and planing our training for zone meeting. Its also the last week of the transfer! Im praying elder Lynch stays. Hes by far my favorite companion!

 

I love you all so so much!

Heres some pictures of district meetings we went to and exchanges that I went on this last week!

Challenge to read from the Book of Mormon every single day… and pictures

Hi family!!

Another great week! I love being here in Uk sinlges. Only 15 people attended church but it doesn't matter, its always a really good meeting and great spirit. Jordan came to church so that was awesome! She is doing sooooo good and she has taken time off of work just so she can watch conference! Shes praying about a date that she can get baptized on.

So we went to this super nice restaurant this week called Coba. It was the nicest place I've ever been too. Had a 20 foot tall water tank that had Jelly fish it it!! Elder Lynch and I had the fish tacos and they were the best tacos I have ever eaten!! I'll send pics.

Instead of telling more about what we did this week I want to challenge all of you to do something for the next 4 1/2 months and hopefully for the rest of your lives.

  I challenge each of you and our whole family to read from the Book of Mormon every single day and to always have at least your morning and nightly prayers! Now, I understand that life is busy and sometimes there isn't enough time in the day, but, I promise you that there will always be enough time to read at least a few verses from the scriptures. I have seen and have gained a witness of the absolute necessity it is to our spiritual welfare to read from the scriptures and pray every day. This is not something new that I'm coming up with, this is a commandment from the Lord. There are SO many blessings to be had from the Lord if we just make more time for him. Look at the new ensign for this month and read the promised blessings from the church leaders about reading and praying, they are very true. Our family is such a strong and wonderful family in the gospel. But we need to always improve and to do better than we were yesterday. The adversary is real and his works are real, I have seen them on my mission. Reading the Book of Mormon, praying and going to church is the shield to his destruction. 

I love you all so so much!

UK 36-0 and giving blessings

Hey Fam!

Lots of things to tell and short time to do it so I am just going to ramble off whatever comes to mind that happened this week haha

UK won AGAIN. That was awesome. Lexington basically shuts down when they play a game because everyone is watching it. Missionary work stinks when they are playing haha we decided that if UK ever loses there is only one way to describe what Lexington would do, and the scriptures define that, "there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth" haha!

Went to the monthly fireside up in Louisville last night with a recent convert. Also our investigator Jordan and some members came to it too. I wish so badly that you all could experience those firesides and listen to the stories and testimonies. That meeting will forever be my favorite one to attend. The spirit was so strong during it last night and every testimony was great.Jordan was crying haha she is totally going to be baptized! :D And she might be go to BYU-I later this year so I will be able to see one of my recent converts all of the time!

Being a zone leader is busy and I love it. We had 2 days in a row where we left our apartment around 9AM and didnt get home until like 9:30 PM. Let me tell you about friday. It was wild.         So, I had to drive a missionary up to Louisville in the morning around 11 to do what we call an "emergency transfer".There was just some crazy stuff that went on in the Spanish branch and so president wanted this missionary out of there and put a new one in. So I dropped him off in Louisville and picked up the new one and drove back. So that was like 3 1/2 hours of driving total. As soo as we get back Elder Lynch said we needed to rush to the hospital to give a blessing to a members new born baby. So we rushed down there. It takes a while to park and find where the room was at but we finally did and they told us that we couldn't go back yet and not even the parents could go back. So, wesat with the family for about 2 hours in the waiting room just waiting to go back. This baby girl was born early and blood wasnt getting to the lower half of her body. So, finally the doctors came in and said that they need to fly her up to Cincinnati for surgery. So the helicopter landed and while they were prepping stuff for the flight they let us all go back and we could give her the blessing. She was so so tiny and was hooked up lots of tubes and doctors were walking all around the room getting stuff ready. But the family just stood to the side and we put our finger tips on her head and gave her the blessing. I don't remember any of the sound in the background nor can I remember much of what was said but I do remember the spirit. The blessing was short,clear and to the point and I know that every word that was said was from the Lord. So we left and they flew her away and we havent heard anything else. I dont really know how to describe that experience... Humbling, eye opening, made me grateful for life and health, made me appreciate the priesthood and blessings.

After that we were just drained of energy. But we spent the rest of the day just going to a few appointments and visiting people. We got home around 9;30 and began planning.Around 9:45 we get a call from some elders asking if we could go to the hospital to give another blessing to someone who had been in an accident and might not make it through the night. So we rushed to the car and began to drive quickly to the hospital. As we arrived, and before we could walk in the front door of the hospital, we received a call that informed us that the young man had died. I wish so badly that we could have been there quicker or that we could have been informed earlier but there was nothing else we could do. We returned home around 10:15 exhausted from the day but I felt SO grateful for the service that we could render and for the many errands that the Lord asked us to run. I let the Lord know that night that no matter what time of day or how tired we are, we are always available to run an errand for him. 

Wish I had more time to tell you more but I don't. I've reached the time in my mission when I don't have much time left to serve. 19 months down and 5 to go. That isnt much time. But what a wonderful 19 months it has been. Honestly the BEST 19 months of my life. I love you all so much and I am so grateful for the support you have been to me. May the Lord ever Bless you.

Here are some pictures of the UK hospital. There is a big parking garage the we are stating on and there is a bridge that you walk across to the hospital.

OH! I FOUND EASTIN STREET!!! I FINNALY FOUND IT!!!!!