Tuesday, September 30, 2014

September 29, 2014 - Pictures

 I washed ALL of my WHITES with a pen in my pocket... :( I almost went my whole mission without replacing shirts. luckily, our RSP was heading to the Distribution Center and was able to pick me up some underclothing but I have been scrounging for white shirts, I refuse to buy white shirts, so hopefully someone in the Zone has extra I can borrow
 Someone gave us a gift card too Habit Burger, so we put it with the Book of Mormon haha
 Thanks to Mom and Barbara, for sending a little cash, you bought Elder Wongsuwan some of his favorite Thai food for his 18 montherversary.
 (coyote)
Hello Everyone

This week we had a lot of success, and a ton of fun (trio companionships are always too much fun)

We went out into the sticks of Hemet, and this really small community called Aguanga, we had some appointments with less active YSA members, and there are more members out there that we have never met, so we went out there for a few hours, it was pretty cool, but not as pretty as wine country

September 29, 2014

We have been working really hard, right now we have 5 people that are REALLY close to getting baptized, they just need to step it up a little on their commitment level. I really hope I get to see that happen. 

This is the last week of the transfer, and I am probably getting the boot (most likely, but who knows?) 

Our new Ward Mission Leader is the best in the whole church, he has tons of ideas and is really on top of things, he has done more for our ward in 2 weeks than I have ever seen done before! it is incredible to see how dedicated he is to his calling, and really motivating. 

We have been blessed here in Temecula, lots of members are doing missionary work and lots of miracles are happening right now!

love you!

Elder James Riley Strong
 
HOLINESS TO THE LORD

Thursday, September 25, 2014

September 22, 2014 - Pictures

 I got the best gas mileage this week! I win a milkshake! 
Elder W eating a peanut butter tortilla, making a mess on himself 

September 22, 2014

We picked Elder Casper up from the mission office this week. He is supposed to go to the Taiwan Taipei Mission, speaking Mandarin Chinese. It is really cool, because we started to work with some people who were actually from China the last couple of weeks. Two weeks ago we were filling our car up with gas and ended up talking to two guys who were trying to figure out how to pump gas, one was from china and the other was from Taiwan. Elder W and I couldn't talk to them very well, but we exchanged information, so when we got Elder Casper, we called them on the phone and he spoke to them in Mandarin! and they came to church on Sunday! Miracles all around!

We went on a lot of exchanges this week so it was really busy. we also had to drive to Hemet to get some work done to our car, and it rained so hard! there was a flood warning in Temecula, but nothing to exciting happened, it only rained for like an our, and then it went back to normal. I am glad that it is not as hot this week :)

Sorry, I have not been writing very good letters recently. I will try to make them better next week 

LOVE YOU!

Elder James Riley Strong
 
HOLINESS TO THE LORD

Sunday, September 21, 2014

September 15, 2014 - Pictures

 This is our ward mission leader's bird, it hates me
 This really cool guy let us into his C7 corvette stingray, and he let us start it up! and he gave us a pepsi, he didnt want to here about the Book of Mormon, but we are still friends :)


September 15, 2014

Hey Everyone,

We have been having a pretty interesting week, we went on exchanges, and I got to go with Elder Neal, he was one of my good friends in my MTC District. He is in Vista right now, so I got to go back and be with him in my last city. It is really amazing to see how much the mission has changed him! He really took it seriously when he got into the field, because, we only had fun in the MTC. (it is sad to say, but my district in the MTC was just a party district) but now he is very consecrated, and is a very good missionary. I look up to him a lot.

Elder Wongsuwan and I are going to be training a new missionary from the MTC who is waiting for a Visa to go to Taiwan, we are picking him up tomorrow from Vista, we are both super excited! this has great potential of being the most fun we will ever have in our whole lives!

We have been having a lot of success with the people we are working with, but I am going to keep that all under wraps until it comes to pass, but it sufficeth me to say, that the Lord has been very merciful to us in the miracles that he has wrought among the people in Temecula.

I love you all, and I thank all of you for your support and prayers that you offer me. 

 here is a picture of Elder Neal in his pajama suit in the MTC #4thfloorlastdoor



Elder James Riley Strong
 
HOLINESS TO THE LORD

Sunday, September 14, 2014

September 8, 2014 - Pictures

Hey Everyone, we took a different approach to pday this week, because Elder W. had to go the doctors today, and so basically, we don't have much time, sorry. I love you and hope everything is going great! 
Elder Wongsuwan with me, and with a great dane

 Today we ate at a mexican place that is in Old Town, it is the original bank, converted into a bank. It was very good!
a sweet bellaire that this guy had!

September 8, 2014 - Letter to Pat

This is what I mostly wrote on the computer, Pat is not doing so good, but PK is giving me permission to go visit her in the hospital soon



Hey Kyle! how are you doing? I hope everything is going great.

I love having Chase in the YSA, it is super fun to get to know him, he is SO AWESOME! I think all of your family must be.


Here is a little letter for Pat:

Dear Pat, 

I am so happy that I got to talk to you on the phone, I am sorry that you have to go through trials in your life, but I know that this scripture is true:
 "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
-Romans 8:18

I know that your Father in Heaven loves you so much Pat, and that is why he has blessed you with so many great things in your life. I know that the church is true.

Pat, thanks for being such a wonderful person, you have a beautiful soul, and I am so blessed to have been able to meet you. The very first time we met, I knew that God had great things in store for you. You were so ready to have the gospel in your life, and I am very glad that I was able to learn about the gospel with you, that is among the dearest, most tender experiences of my life.

I love you Pat, and I know that things will go well for you.

Love, Elder James Riley Strong.



thanks kyle.  
​​

--
Elder James Riley Strong
HOLINESS TO THE LORD


Tuesday, September 2, 2014

September 2, 2014

Hello everybody!

This week was great, I got my new companion, Elder Wongsuwan (Woeng-sue-one) Yeah, I am still learning how to say it too.... I don't have a picture with him yet, but I am sure it will happen eventually. We have been super busy trying to meet up with everyone, and working to start something good up in our area. Elder W is learning fast.


The pictures are of me and Elder Elquist (from Spanish Fork, Jason knows him);

 Ben Treadway with me holding a portrait of his brother Brandon. They are cool guys from the YSA Branch, Brandon left for BYU last week, and Ben leaves for BYUI today. It was awesome to get to know them and learn from them at church. Ben served with someone I know from High School, Golden Money, they were companions in the Milan, Italy Mission. Ben had us over for lunch on friday and made us pizza and pasta.

Something I have been trying to do lately (and I might have said this already) is that I am trying to be like a well trained horse. Strong, powerful, (beautiful), Smart, instinctive, etc.  yet a well trained horse, is meek, and humble, and follows the direction of its master. I think that so much we assume that humility means that we have to think that we are less than what we really are. but, what it really means, is that we use all that we are, and follow the council of those who know and understand more than we do. A great horse is powerful and knows what it can do, but lets sometimes even young children lead it to where they need to go. 

Sorry I don't have much to say right now! love you!

-- 
Elder James Riley Strong
 
HOLINESS TO THE LORD