Unitah Mountains

I'm amazed at these mountains.

Sunset from Dry Canyon

Dry Canyon

What a view!

Aloha!

How are we doin? I hope everyone is doing well! I know I am! Things are going pretty well here in Pleasant Grove! I'm loving all of the pics that y'all send me! I like to see how the fam bam is doing! I heard mom ended up with a brand new Samsung Galaxy S5! Yet, for some reason she gave granny her S4....so we'll see how long that lasts! Love you Granny! Dad, glad you're holding fast to the rod of Apple. iPhones do it better!

So about 2 weeks ago, an elder in our district became very sick. This past week we did exchanges with them because he's been so sick. Basically, we swapped for 3 hours each. Elder Greenacre took the first shift, then I took the second shift. After that, we went back to our usual areas. We're keeping him in our prayers that he'll recover soon.

I've mentioned our mission parents in the past. They take really good care of us and help us out! "Dad" is actually the High-Councilman over missionary work in the Mt.Timpanogos stake. (The other elders' area). We see them pretty much every day so it's kind of nice.

Y'all remember our investigator who is getting baptized. We're super happy for her and are looking forward to this momentous occasion!  We're still praying for her parent's hearts to be softened. I really enjoy working with the YSA's because we can relate to each other. We have a good friendship with her, her sister, and her boyfriend. Course....Her boyfriend and I get along because we're both car guys. Haha

So, we had another exchange! This time with the Zone Leaders! They are Elder Cox and Elder Jiles. Elder Jiles was my zone leader when I was in Spanish Fork so I know him pretty well so it's a good deal. This time, Elder Cox came into my area with me. I had never really talked to the guy prior to that..but it turns out that he's like the coolest zone leader ever! Also, we have a lot of similar interests. He's from a small town in central Oregon. We went and talked about guns, trucks, hunting, four-wheeling, and girls for hours hahaha! We both have that "country boy" mentality so we got along really well! I would not mind serving with him at all! Course...he's been out 17 months and he's a zone leader so I highly doubt it will ever happen haha. Who knows!

So while we were on exchanges, the night previous we got an invite to a YSA Ward breakfast. We figured it would be a good opportunity to meet some people, get ourselves known, and maybe get some referrals. Anyways, we were sitting there, and after the breakfast portion, they played a game. So as I was looking around I looked towards the other side of the room and saw someone familiar. We went to throw our plates away, and I noticed two more people who I recognized. You may not know them...but it was the Gardiner Sisters! (They're sisters who sing together and they're awesome. I've seen their videos on YouTube but I never thought I would see them in person!) So I was like...holy crap. So I started talking to them. They're super nice. If you don't know who they are, Google them or search them on YouTube.  It's crazy that they live right here in my area! They've worked with The Piano Guys, Lindsey Stirling and other YouTube famous others in the past.

Well...that pretty much sums up my week! Pretty good week I'd say. Mom and Dad, I wish you luck back in the tundra that is the east coast.

Love you all!

-Elder Ahrens

Great week in Pleasant Grove, UT

M&M - Mormon Missionary 200 days out!

Mt. Timpanogos Zone

Awesome family here in Pleasant Grove!

Hello family!

So things have gone really well this past week!

We had what's called Zone Training Meeting. This is where all 3 districts of the zone gather together and we have a big meeting where we are all able to learn new things. It was a very spiritual and uplifting meeting and I'd probably say it was one of the best that I've been to!

So over the course of the past week, we've been meeting with an amazing investigator that I mentioned to you previously.  She is still committed to her baptismal date of March 7th. She knows that what she's doing is right and she believes it to be true. Her sister has been sitting in and listening to our lessons. The sister's boyfriend is a member and served a mission in Bolivia. He is so awesome and a great example to others! Anyway, her family is struggling with her decision to be baptized but we are praying that they will feel the spirit and desire to know about the gospel.

As far as baptisms go, I had the opportunity to go back to Spanish Fork to witness a baptism of someone who I worked with right up until I left. It was so cool to see her get baptized!

Unfortunately as typical missionary life goes, we had several lesson cancellations this week. People get busy with life. So I don't have a lot to report on. However, as far as the missionary work goes on the Stake level, we're getting the Mission Leaders involved to help increase our missionary efforts here in Pleasant Grove. Can't wait!

What else....oh! So next month, the mission is taking all of our iPads and giving us brand new ones that is funded by the families of the missionaries.

The pictures that I'm getting sent are so nice! I love seeing how y'all are doing. Jenise sends plenty of pics of the little man. How is baby Rox doing? I don't hear much from J and MJ so I'm mainly going off of what's on Facebook.

Anyways, today we're gonna go play some indoor soccer. Guess what! A couple of days ago, I found out that I'm exactly the same (if not a little lighter) weight as when I left home! I put on like 10 pounds in SF and I lost in all in a period of 2 weeks haha. I'm now back at 170lbs haha. So that's my highlight of the week. Elder Greenacre and I
are more health and fitness oriented together so we make it work. 

Saw Elder Capt again this week. He's doing well. He's getting married soon.

Anyways, Dad, when you sent that email about the Daytona 500, I couldn't help but run around the room screaming in excitement! That's going to be such an awesome race a few years from now! Looking forward
to it!

I can't believe how much snow the east coast has gotten! They've taken quite a beating this winter and I've been out here chillen with 50 degree weather and sunny!

Pics will follow this email.

Love you all!

Hasta en la proxima semana!

-Elder Ahrens

Assigned to Pleasant Grove, UT & tie burning!

Surprised Jordan Capt who served his mission in Manassas, VA!

Tie burning ceremony!

Serious fuel!

6 months as a missionary!

Greetings from Pleasant Grove, UT!

So this has been a very interesting and eventful week. I found out I was getting transferred and I had to say my goodbyes to all the families I'd gotten close to. I've met and come to love so many people in Spanish Fork. Fortunately, I'm not too far from there, and many said they would come visit me!

Then, transfer day came. I was scrambling that morning to gather the rest of my belongings and squeeze it into my suitcase. (Note to self: buy more space bags next time) gosh those things are miracle workers. Anyways, we stuck my bags in the car and off we went to Provo.

There I got to see a lot of my missionary friends who were also there for transfers. Chatted with them and caught up. Eventually, we moved into the chapel. We all sat down and began. President McCune introduced the rookies and assigned them to their trainers. THROWBACK! After that the assignments began. They started with Eastern Utah and the Uintah Basin Zones...I was a little bummed because I wanted to go out there. Nope, we got to the Timpanogos Zone and President called me up and assigned me to the Grove Creek area with Elder Greenacre. We did our usual bro hug and off we went into the gym to collect my belongings. There I found out who was in my zone and district. Let's just say there are going to be very fun zone activities and training meetings! What I thought was kind of neat was that one of my Zone Leaders in Spanish Fork, Elder Jiles, is now my Zone Leader here in Pleasant Grove! Pretty happy about that. So after the conversing and goodbyes, we took my stuff out to our car. Super stoked we have a car! It's a 2013 Chevy Malibu LS! Pretty nice car. Spacious and comfortable!
Elder Greenacre is the designated driver so I'm just along for the ride. Can't tell if I like the break or if I want to drive. Oh well. It will eventually turn to me.

We got back in our area and began doing what we do best. I met some really cool families and was asked all of the usual questions. Name? Where are you from? How long have you been out? Where have you served in the past? Family? Girlfriend? Lol pretty happy I left all sort of relationships at home. That night we got back to the apartment and I unpacked everything. We live with the Walker family. They're an older couple and we live in the basement but we share the middle floor. It's really nice here!

So let me tell you a little bit about my companion. His name is Elder Greenacre. He's from Bournemouth England. He's been out almost a year. He has served in Payson, Orem, and here.

Let me tell you a little bit about our area. Pleasant Grove is kind of like Woodbridge. It's ALL suburb. Personally, it's a little big for me. I preferred Spanish Fork just because of how small it is mixed with rural living. Yeah but I'll manage. It's a good area! Plenty of work for us. Lots of people to meet. Yeah!

So as you may know, I hit my 6 month mark! I guess you saw that pic on Facebook. We went over to our "mom and dad's" house and burnt our ties. The only reason Elder Greenacre is burning his is because he never did it at his 6 month mark. Pretty soon here though he'll be burning a shirt to celebrate his year mark! So Lee and
Crystal Edwards are our mission area parents. They really take care of us and help us out. It's super nice having people like them! I love them already!

What else....yesterday we taught one of the ward's youth group's how to teach the Plan Of Salvation. What was really cool was one of the youth brought their non-member friend and afterwards she asked for one of the pamphlets so hopefully we'll be able to teach her soon! Also, yesterday, I went and saw Elder Capt. It was so chill seeing him again! I missed that guy! Poor dude messed himself up doing a trick snowboarding yesterday. He thinks he broke his foot. Made me miss shredding the edge with Jason, Jeff, and Aric and doing cartwheel
after cartwheel. Apparently he went with Elder Edgington and Elder Musso! Remember them?! Yeah it was cool.

Anyways...I think that about sums up the fun of this week! I'm hopefully going to snag some piano sheet music this week. Elder Greenacre is really good at guitar so we're hoping we can pull something together!

Anyways...until next week! Love you all!

-Elder Ahrens

Just like this Mustang is quicker than other vehicles, "The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior."

—Boyd K. Packer, "Do Not Fear"

Frozen lake!

Hello family!

We've had several lessons over the past week! Lately, we've been so much busier and have had 15-18 lessons a week as opposed to 7-8 when I first got in the area. Slowly but surely, we've been working the area back up and have gotten each Ward Mission Leader involved even more so. Pretty soon Spanish Fork West will be shining even brighter!

So over the course of the past week, my "just do it" attitude has kicked in quite a bit and it has totally been a good thing. LOL! Something I've noticed over these past 4 months that I've been in this area is that folks tend to want to break the ice when it comes to working with new people that we as the missionaries have never met before. They want to work with them a little bit and then slowly integrate the missionaries into their visits. We end up waiting for the opportunity to work with them, then sometimes lose the opportunity. I feel us missionaries should be involved very quickly, and there are creative ways of doing it. 

Let me share an example. Last week, we met with this guy and he's a cowboy for goodness sake! Mom, you and Granny can relate ya Texans! :)  We got to meet with him on the first visit instead of waiting for somebody else to establish a relationship first! They're not going to do any of ice breaking. No, we're going in on the first visit. :) 

Let me give you another example. We spoke with one of our Ward mission leaders and he told us of a man who lived nearby who has been inactive for a while. Without hesitation, we went and visited him. We met him, introduced ourselves, and asked if we could share a spiritual message. He declined and we left on good terms. We didn't waste any time and didn't wait for a member to say anything. Yes, we were declined but at least we know! At least we didn't miss out on the chance that he could have accepted.

This is what I've learned over the past week. Please, feel free to share this with the missionaries in Ogden, Manassas, Louisa, wherever! It's time that we start moving forward with sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in these latter days! The heavens have been opened as we receive modern day revelation through a Prophet and 12 Apostles on the earth today and that message needs to be shared. What Mormons Believe.  As our Prophet has counseled us, we need to "Hasten the Work" by way of every member and the 88,000 missionaries serving throughout the world. Millions of people are being denied the gospel because there are missionaries and members/leaders who are skeptical and hesitant to act! Don't just break the ice, destroy the ice. Remove that barrier.

I love you all! I invite all of you to be member missionaries the best you can! Obviously it's not as prevalent in Utah, but when you go back east, share it. Don't worry about offending! If it was meant to be, the Lord will soften their hearts and open that door of opportunity!

Dad, I've been thinking about this for a while now. When you head back east in March, I'd like you to give our friend a call. He felt the spirit when we shared the gospel with him.  He needs to be baptized! I don't want that to be a lost opportunity!

Until next week!

-Elder Ahrens

Hola mi familia!

So this past week there was one particular day I really wanted to touch on! One of our Assistants to the Mission President went out with Elder Doherty and I all afternoon and into the evening. He's been on his mission about 23 months, and he's been serving as an AP for as long as I've been out. When we first met up with him, we were a little skeptical about a few things...kind of like "Why are you with us? What did we do?" Haha but as we started our day and began to contact a few people. It only took a short time to realize what an awesome missionary he was and what a tremendous testimony and love for the gospel he had. This initially kindled a fire of motivation and inspiration in me. As the day went on, we went and contacted a few more people before we had lessons, and it led to having more lessons right there in the spot! Then we continued as our schedule went along. Eventually, we ended up at a young couple's home.  Their Bishop had expressed just how much of a desire this couple had to learn. So we contacted them, set up an appointment, and went and visited them. They have such a desire to learn about Christ and his gospel! We proceeded to teach them the discussions. AND they were married this past week! They invited us too! It was at their Ward building, and their bishop married them. It was pretty sweet because it was cowboy style. I said there ain't anything like a good ol country wedding. It was an awesome ceremony and we're super happy for them! We met with them this past week with Elder Moreno and we talked about the Book of Mormon.

Just overall we saw so many blessings and miracles that day serving with Elder Moreno. Seriously, that guy is fearless! Talked to everybody! True inspiration.

Anyways, that was the highlight of our week. Love you all! It was truly a blessing to be able to talk to all of you a couple of weeks ago!

With love,

-Elder Ahrens

Myself & Elder Doherty at Christmas time.

Skyping with mom and dad on Christmas Day!