Elder Dandridge and Elder Neilsen
Keep on Tracking
I think I can I think I can
Monday, May 24, 2010
No Bed Bugs!
Haha we found one bed bug at church and he flipped out! We don't have bed bugs...haha he is so funny!!! I didn't get the mail about Boomer but I did get the Nathans grad pic that was nice!
We don't have extra Elders anymore:( elder west and butler were there but the had to go to Hamilton because 2 sisters had to go home for medical sooo.... they had to take over an old sister area!
My hair is getting a little lighter it does that every summer and I didn't do my hair saturday so it looks blonder when I don't do it too.
yeah that's the right address... idk why that didn't work...
The best thing this week was probably yesterday! i had my first batch of fried chicken and waffles mmmm it is soo good!!! i didn't think it would be but it really is just put a bunch of maple syup all over it and eat them together!!! GOOOOOD! haha that's black peoples food!!! I love'em
I'm gonna try to get a package off today for Nathans graduation... its gonna be a surprise!!! :)love ya!!
We don't have extra Elders anymore:( elder west and butler were there but the had to go to Hamilton because 2 sisters had to go home for medical sooo.... they had to take over an old sister area!
My hair is getting a little lighter it does that every summer and I didn't do my hair saturday so it looks blonder when I don't do it too.
yeah that's the right address... idk why that didn't work...
The best thing this week was probably yesterday! i had my first batch of fried chicken and waffles mmmm it is soo good!!! i didn't think it would be but it really is just put a bunch of maple syup all over it and eat them together!!! GOOOOOD! haha that's black peoples food!!! I love'em
I'm gonna try to get a package off today for Nathans graduation... its gonna be a surprise!!! :)love ya!!
Monday, April 12, 2010
A Teaching Moment - Thanks Elder Dandridge
"Hello Everyone!
Well I guess after popular demand it was requested that I send another one of these big letters to everyone... SO! here we go!
I was thinking that I would share with you a spiritual thought how does that sound? No? Well to bad that's what you get ;) I have been thinking about a specific gospel topic the last couple days and it is one that is found in Mosiah chapter 2. sorry if I paraphrase or mis-quote the sections I don't have a ton of time to look up and do it word for word so I hope you get the idea though. In chapter 2 about vs 32 they start talking about 'listing to do evil' and for along time I didn't know what this meant so, I turned to my handy dandy dictionary and looked it up! listing means to tilt one way or the other. Just like a ship it can rock one way or the other.
So, what does this mean to 'LIST to do evil?'
Let me share with you an experience I had before my mission that also taught me this. I was working in New Mexico, and we had a truck with at least 4 pallets of block on it, so it was very heavy. We came to a point where we were going to turn around and make the truck face the other way for convenience. At this place where we were turning there was a cone. We had no idea why the cone was there only that it could potentially mean danger! So, we did not hit the cone thinking that there was just something dangerous underneath. As we made about a quarter of our U-turn we felt a sudden SLAM! It was as though we hit a wall... but there was no wall.
What had happened was there was a broken pipe under that cone causing the ground underneath the truck to sink into the ground. This was a big truck one of those Ford 450 flat beds. And the bottom of the bed was on the ground we sunk in that much.
So what am I trying to say exactly?"
Well I guess after popular demand it was requested that I send another one of these big letters to everyone... SO! here we go!
I was thinking that I would share with you a spiritual thought how does that sound? No? Well to bad that's what you get ;) I have been thinking about a specific gospel topic the last couple days and it is one that is found in Mosiah chapter 2. sorry if I paraphrase or mis-quote the sections I don't have a ton of time to look up and do it word for word so I hope you get the idea though. In chapter 2 about vs 32 they start talking about 'listing to do evil' and for along time I didn't know what this meant so, I turned to my handy dandy dictionary and looked it up! listing means to tilt one way or the other. Just like a ship it can rock one way or the other.
So, what does this mean to 'LIST to do evil?'
Let me share with you an experience I had before my mission that also taught me this. I was working in New Mexico, and we had a truck with at least 4 pallets of block on it, so it was very heavy. We came to a point where we were going to turn around and make the truck face the other way for convenience. At this place where we were turning there was a cone. We had no idea why the cone was there only that it could potentially mean danger! So, we did not hit the cone thinking that there was just something dangerous underneath. As we made about a quarter of our U-turn we felt a sudden SLAM! It was as though we hit a wall... but there was no wall.
What had happened was there was a broken pipe under that cone causing the ground underneath the truck to sink into the ground. This was a big truck one of those Ford 450 flat beds. And the bottom of the bed was on the ground we sunk in that much.
So what am I trying to say exactly?"
"To often do we think like this with our lives! Such as, 'Well how long can I watch this TV show until I change the channel?' or 'How late can I walk in the door until I'm in trouble?' this is 'Listing to do evil' as King Benjamin might explain it.
It is often thought how much bad stuff in a movie makes it too bad or more common in youth 'how long can I kiss before it's a sin?' My answer to there to questions is the same. The sin is in your heart. Is your thoughts and your heart beyond the point of what you are doing is that where you truly want to be? Why as humans do we do this? Why do we try to 'get away with' as much as we can?
May I leave a thought for you? How about you try what I call 'List to do good!' watch the best TV shows, listen to the best songs, read the best books. Do more then what is asked by God. By doing so I promise it will make all the diffrence! I know this because it has worked for me.
Now there may be some of those who have 'their truck in a sink hole,' and to you I think I need to finish that story.
The people who put the cone there must have known that someone would probably have done something like we did so they came to see. And to our rescue came a bulldozer to lift up our back wheels and let us loose. Thereby letting us do the work we needed to do that day.
The same is with life. Jesus Christ is that bulldozer and there isn't a truck that is to heavy for Him to lift. All we have to do is allow Him to do it. He will lift you out of your 'sinkholes' and allow you to do the work that you were sent here to do.
I do hope that this message was clear because I know if you understand and apply these principals that the Lord WILL bless you more than I or you can understand. Please 'list to do good' and He will bless you.
Love Always
-Elder Ray Dandridge"
It is often thought how much bad stuff in a movie makes it too bad or more common in youth 'how long can I kiss before it's a sin?' My answer to there to questions is the same. The sin is in your heart. Is your thoughts and your heart beyond the point of what you are doing is that where you truly want to be? Why as humans do we do this? Why do we try to 'get away with' as much as we can?
May I leave a thought for you? How about you try what I call 'List to do good!' watch the best TV shows, listen to the best songs, read the best books. Do more then what is asked by God. By doing so I promise it will make all the diffrence! I know this because it has worked for me.
Now there may be some of those who have 'their truck in a sink hole,' and to you I think I need to finish that story.
The people who put the cone there must have known that someone would probably have done something like we did so they came to see. And to our rescue came a bulldozer to lift up our back wheels and let us loose. Thereby letting us do the work we needed to do that day.
The same is with life. Jesus Christ is that bulldozer and there isn't a truck that is to heavy for Him to lift. All we have to do is allow Him to do it. He will lift you out of your 'sinkholes' and allow you to do the work that you were sent here to do.
I do hope that this message was clear because I know if you understand and apply these principals that the Lord WILL bless you more than I or you can understand. Please 'list to do good' and He will bless you.
Love Always
-Elder Ray Dandridge"
Friday, March 5, 2010
Pres. Bulloch's message
March 1, 2010
Dear Elders and Sisters,
Wow! It's March! They tell me winters can be long in New York, but March sounds to me like spring is near. Perhaps it is the possibility of winter lingering that has led me to my message today. Among the virtues that have been referred to as the "qualifications for missionary service" in DC 4 is patience (DC 4:6). It doesn't take long as a missionary to realize why it is listed. Preach My Gospel says "Patience is the capacity to endure delay, trouble, opposition, or suffering without becoming angry, frustrated, or anxious. It is the ability to do God's will and accept His timing" (p. 120). We live in a world that is out of patience. We want things to happen now, to be fixed now, to end now, to be ready now, etc. I was reminded of something I heard once-"Patience is a virtue, catch it if you can; it is seldom found in women, and never found in man." Patience is a rare virtue indeed. Yet as we think about it, aren't we glad that our Father in Heaven is so patient with us? I have often prayed that God would grant me the ability to be as patient with others as He has been with me. I am so glad He is patient!
Patience is required in many areas. We must learn to be patient with people, with circumstances, with difficulties and challenges, and even with the Lord's timing. The Lord has repeatedly counseled us to "bear with patience thine afflictions" (2 Corinthians 6:4; Alma 17:10; 20:29; 26:27; 34:41-41). In doing so we will find ourselves "waiting" until the Lord in His wisdom decides to comes to our aid (Psalms 37:9; Isaiah 40:31; Mosiah 21:34). President Monson said, "Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required" (PMG, p. 120). I noticed that the March Ensign has several articles on dealing with adversity. It is something we all face. Paul taught we should "glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope" (Romans 5:3-4; see also James 1:3-4). Patience is a virtue that is necessary in overcoming the "natural man" (see Mosiah 3:19). The Lord commanded us to "Continue in patience until ye are perfected" (DC 67:13). Missionary work gives us plenty of opportunity to develop our patience. As you do so, you will find it is easier to be happy.
We congratulate Warner and Maria Rodriguez in Greene for their baptism into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were taught by Elders Williams, Daniels-Brown, and Nielson.
We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Zone Conferences. Please keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
President Bulloch
Dear Elders and Sisters,
Wow! It's March! They tell me winters can be long in New York, but March sounds to me like spring is near. Perhaps it is the possibility of winter lingering that has led me to my message today. Among the virtues that have been referred to as the "qualifications for missionary service" in DC 4 is patience (DC 4:6). It doesn't take long as a missionary to realize why it is listed. Preach My Gospel says "Patience is the capacity to endure delay, trouble, opposition, or suffering without becoming angry, frustrated, or anxious. It is the ability to do God's will and accept His timing" (p. 120). We live in a world that is out of patience. We want things to happen now, to be fixed now, to end now, to be ready now, etc. I was reminded of something I heard once-"Patience is a virtue, catch it if you can; it is seldom found in women, and never found in man." Patience is a rare virtue indeed. Yet as we think about it, aren't we glad that our Father in Heaven is so patient with us? I have often prayed that God would grant me the ability to be as patient with others as He has been with me. I am so glad He is patient!
Patience is required in many areas. We must learn to be patient with people, with circumstances, with difficulties and challenges, and even with the Lord's timing. The Lord has repeatedly counseled us to "bear with patience thine afflictions" (2 Corinthians 6:4; Alma 17:10; 20:29; 26:27; 34:41-41). In doing so we will find ourselves "waiting" until the Lord in His wisdom decides to comes to our aid (Psalms 37:9; Isaiah 40:31; Mosiah 21:34). President Monson said, "Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required" (PMG, p. 120). I noticed that the March Ensign has several articles on dealing with adversity. It is something we all face. Paul taught we should "glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope" (Romans 5:3-4; see also James 1:3-4). Patience is a virtue that is necessary in overcoming the "natural man" (see Mosiah 3:19). The Lord commanded us to "Continue in patience until ye are perfected" (DC 67:13). Missionary work gives us plenty of opportunity to develop our patience. As you do so, you will find it is easier to be happy.
We congratulate Warner and Maria Rodriguez in Greene for their baptism into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were taught by Elders Williams, Daniels-Brown, and Nielson.
We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Zone Conferences. Please keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
President Bulloch
1st Baptism
Yeah everything is going great we had a baptism this last saturday!!! Laurie Pace she is an awsome lady she's really changing her life around I love change its the best thing we can do for our selves and others!
Blessings, Blizzards and Baptism
Hey everyone!
I can't believe that it's already time to write again! Well I've FINALLY got my new email account all figured out so I decided to do the mass letter again! This week was AWESOME! As you might already know NY was just SLAMMED with a blizzard. Let me tell you it was waaay fun! We got 12-14 inches in the matter of 24 hours! Why is that awesome? Well it gave Elder West and I the opportunity to do tons of service shoveling snow for everyone. By doing so it helped us find a TON of new people to teach! I couldn't help thinking about Ammon and how he was serving King Lamoni and how he really didn't need to go the extra mile... but he did. And so did we and because we followed Ammons example we were able to find people who where or are now being prepared by our Heavenly Father. And I hope I can carry that mentality through out the rest of my life, because I love the feelings that that Christlike love or charity gives me and also the blessings it brings. So I guess that brings me to my challenge to you is find someone that is in need of help, and show them your love for them and I promise by doing so you will come to understand this gospel more fully and also come to the knowledge or deeper knowledge that Christ is our Savior and it was through his Love and Charity that we can one day live with our Father in Heaven. I say this because I know this, that charity brings us closer to our Savior Jesus Christ.
Much Love-Elder Ray Dandridge
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
