Elder Masulonis
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
December 26, 2011
I hope you guys had a great christmas. Say hi to my friends for me. Before I forget, I need to mention something to Randy. Randy ,when I talked with you, I talked about you reading your scriptures every day. I'm learning that the way that we do missionary work is through us inviting someone or some people to do something, the other person or party doing that thing, and then us following up with them to see how things worked out. This is in preach my gospel a lot. So my part would be to invite you to read your scriptures every day. The reason why I invite you to do this is because I know that the Lord has great plans and blessing for those who strive to do what is right but more specifically, you. So if you could email me or write me on if you accept this invitation, it would be great.
We invite because this gives us the opportunity to use our agency. So your parts are 1st, to either choose to accept or decline this invitation, and then 2nd to follow the decision that you have made. Then my part is to follow up with you. This means to see how you have been in this whole thing. I ask how it has effected you, and what you have gotten from it, but also on how improvement can be made. I do these things cuz I've seen in my life what can bring more happiness into the life of someone your age. Because I love you Randy, so much.
It was so great hearing from all of you and it made me think of a few things that I'd like to share. I looked back at our family and all the goodness of it. The gospel has really made our family the way it is. Of course we are imperfect, but there is so much beauty and love in what we do have. As I thought about this, it made me want to work harder. I wanted to bring that same kind of happiness into the lives of others. Because I have been given much, I too must give. Where much is given, much is required. I always pray for all of you at home. I pray that you may have happiness and growth. Something that I re-learned at one of my first zone conferences, is that no growth can come without discomfort. The more we sacrifice the more the Lord is willing to bless us. There is so much goodness that can come from the gospel. but if we dont rely upon what our God has given us, or apply it in our lives, it can't benefit us.
I love you guys. I know that God is aware of each of his children and loves them dearly. I know that he wants us always to come closer to Him. He wants us to be happy. In the name of Jesus christ amen.
Love Elder Masulonis
We invite because this gives us the opportunity to use our agency. So your parts are 1st, to either choose to accept or decline this invitation, and then 2nd to follow the decision that you have made. Then my part is to follow up with you. This means to see how you have been in this whole thing. I ask how it has effected you, and what you have gotten from it, but also on how improvement can be made. I do these things cuz I've seen in my life what can bring more happiness into the life of someone your age. Because I love you Randy, so much.
It was so great hearing from all of you and it made me think of a few things that I'd like to share. I looked back at our family and all the goodness of it. The gospel has really made our family the way it is. Of course we are imperfect, but there is so much beauty and love in what we do have. As I thought about this, it made me want to work harder. I wanted to bring that same kind of happiness into the lives of others. Because I have been given much, I too must give. Where much is given, much is required. I always pray for all of you at home. I pray that you may have happiness and growth. Something that I re-learned at one of my first zone conferences, is that no growth can come without discomfort. The more we sacrifice the more the Lord is willing to bless us. There is so much goodness that can come from the gospel. but if we dont rely upon what our God has given us, or apply it in our lives, it can't benefit us.
I love you guys. I know that God is aware of each of his children and loves them dearly. I know that he wants us always to come closer to Him. He wants us to be happy. In the name of Jesus christ amen.
Love Elder Masulonis
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Zone Conference Video Dec-2011
Dear families of missionaries in the North Carolina Raleigh Mission,
We have had our Christmas Zone Conferences this week. They were wonderful, spiritually uplifting and festive. Each zone participated in a musical number and we also had other special numbers.
We have had our Christmas Zone Conferences this week. They were wonderful, spiritually uplifting and festive. Each zone participated in a musical number and we also had other special numbers.
We love your missionary and feel it a privilege to serve with them at this blessed time of year. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and the Lord's choicest blessing for the New Year.
with our love
President and Sister Cotterell
with our love
President and Sister Cotterell
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
December 11, 2011
I havent gotten transfered yet and I might not get transfered for a little while because usually you are with your trainer for 2 transfers ( 1 transfer = 6 weeks) and then I get a different companion as a follow up trainer for 2-1 transfers. I'm not sure if I will be staying in the same area then, but I will keep you posted. I will still be here for this christmas. I'm really glad and anxious about the packages from you and grandma. Since the transfer is happening for the past week,Elder Loftin said that they might be holding our mail till everyone is situated. I will be glad to hear from you. I cant really do alot with my camera because the screen is broken. go figure huh? I have the worst of luck with cameras.
So on christmas, I am only allowed to talk for about 45 mins. All those who will be talking to me cant be very greedy with their time talking to me. Also be thinking of something to say so that when I call, everyone isn't just wondering something to say. (hahaha) Also, make sure to somehow let my friends know when im calling, which will be at 8:00 my time, so around 6:00 your time.
So, something that happened this week. This week has been fairly slow and has helped me be much more humble and reliant on the lord. I felt like this week we didn't do very well and there was something else that the Lord wanted me to learn. Well, we were in a meeting this Sunday morning and someone called the church interrupting our meeting. One of the members named brother Crenshaw, ( who is AWESOME!) picked up the phone and started talking to the person. We couldn't hear what he was saying because the meeting went on and he spoke quietly. He also was writing some things down that we couldn't see. After the meeting, brother Crenshaw gave us the piece of paper he was writing on. It was a man that wanted to learn more about the church AKA a referral. So later that night we went to a trailer park and met at his house. When we met with this man, we really instantly saw the humility of his life. There was little light in the house, and some of the panels for the ceiling were missing. His wife had passed away from suicide two years before. He was alone. His wife was the center of his life and others. After her death, her children took allot from him. Including anything that was hers and the computer and camera that had all her pictures on it. all of this caused him to drink and smoke heavily. However he is currently working on quitting both. He had been church hopping to try and find the savior and the ability to be healed. When we got there, his phone rang and it was one of his brothers that lived in arizona and was a member of the church and was a temple worker. Elder Loftin talked to him and told him that he knew that the brothers parents were working with him on the other side of the viel. I'm sure that grandpa was there too. All of this was very humbling and sad but at the same time made us happy because we knew that he was open enough to receive the gospel and the healing and the truth that he was looking for. We began to teach him about the plan of salvation. He accepted everything we told him and bore testimony of. Truly this man was prepared by our father in heaven. It is my prayer that he will continue to accept these things and not let satan in his life to continue to obliterate his life. I know that god has heard both this mans, and my cries for his son and ultimately for help. The message of this christmas season is that God so loves us that he let his son suffer indescribable pain and agony for us so that one day we can have joy and peace in this life and in the life to come. I know this is true. I hope that we can all be able to see this and follow our Saviors example and do good for others. I love each of you and I hope that you have a great Christmas.
love Elder Masulonis.
So on christmas, I am only allowed to talk for about 45 mins. All those who will be talking to me cant be very greedy with their time talking to me. Also be thinking of something to say so that when I call, everyone isn't just wondering something to say. (hahaha) Also, make sure to somehow let my friends know when im calling, which will be at 8:00 my time, so around 6:00 your time.
So, something that happened this week. This week has been fairly slow and has helped me be much more humble and reliant on the lord. I felt like this week we didn't do very well and there was something else that the Lord wanted me to learn. Well, we were in a meeting this Sunday morning and someone called the church interrupting our meeting. One of the members named brother Crenshaw, ( who is AWESOME!) picked up the phone and started talking to the person. We couldn't hear what he was saying because the meeting went on and he spoke quietly. He also was writing some things down that we couldn't see. After the meeting, brother Crenshaw gave us the piece of paper he was writing on. It was a man that wanted to learn more about the church AKA a referral. So later that night we went to a trailer park and met at his house. When we met with this man, we really instantly saw the humility of his life. There was little light in the house, and some of the panels for the ceiling were missing. His wife had passed away from suicide two years before. He was alone. His wife was the center of his life and others. After her death, her children took allot from him. Including anything that was hers and the computer and camera that had all her pictures on it. all of this caused him to drink and smoke heavily. However he is currently working on quitting both. He had been church hopping to try and find the savior and the ability to be healed. When we got there, his phone rang and it was one of his brothers that lived in arizona and was a member of the church and was a temple worker. Elder Loftin talked to him and told him that he knew that the brothers parents were working with him on the other side of the viel. I'm sure that grandpa was there too. All of this was very humbling and sad but at the same time made us happy because we knew that he was open enough to receive the gospel and the healing and the truth that he was looking for. We began to teach him about the plan of salvation. He accepted everything we told him and bore testimony of. Truly this man was prepared by our father in heaven. It is my prayer that he will continue to accept these things and not let satan in his life to continue to obliterate his life. I know that god has heard both this mans, and my cries for his son and ultimately for help. The message of this christmas season is that God so loves us that he let his son suffer indescribable pain and agony for us so that one day we can have joy and peace in this life and in the life to come. I know this is true. I hope that we can all be able to see this and follow our Saviors example and do good for others. I love each of you and I hope that you have a great Christmas.
love Elder Masulonis.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Nov 29, 2011
Sounds like you guys had an awesome thanksgiving, and yes, i did stuff my face. We were able to have thanksgiving with two different groups of people that were in the ward. The first was the turner family. They are great and faithfull members of the church. They are an older couple and have children of their own, but they have us over so much and treat us so nicely, that you would think that they were our grandparents. The other group of people was at a members house named the Ceases. They have kids that are in the youth and they are uplifting. Its nice to talk to the youth, I really enjot it... ;)
Today, is obviously preperation day, and every preperation day, we go to play tennis in the mornings with brother Cease and his son and one of my favorite members, brother Crenshaw.( BTW I'm slowly getting better at tennis also) but today, it rained so we were un able to play.
Right now, the mission is kinda going slow in more ways than one. Right now time is wierd cuz days seem like weeks and weeks seem like days. Its hard to explain and doesnt really make sense, but thats the best way I can describe it. But another way it is being slow is by the work itself. Right now we are meeting with one person regularly. He is a miricle to have but I feel like I want to teach people the gospel so much more. I think the desires in my head are showing up in my dreams cuz last night I dreamed about contacting someone that was really interested in what we had to say.
Thats so awesome that our family is doing so well, i would tell you to tell them good job on the descisions they are making, but im sure that the lord is blessing them in more personal ways than what i can tell them.
So this week was my very first exchange. I went with an Elder whos name is Elder Worthen. Elder Worthen is my grandpa in the mission. Meaning he is my trainers trainer. Anyway, he is very experienced and has alot of insight in his life. We went to a tiny little place called Harkers Island. And if you look it up, I'm sure you could find some pretty interesting history about it. Anyway, on the exchange, I was able to see a greater and more personal example of what kind of missionary I want to be like.
Yesterday, Sunday, someone said something that stood out to me and will probably help me make good descisions the rest of my life. It was about missionary work, and if I was at home I would probably just blow it off. But I hope this is not what you folks at home will do. But before I go on, let me bring to remeberence that everyone knows someone that is a none member or someone that struggles excluding themselves. So with that in mind, the thing that stood out to me that might be hard to accept is that the missionaies are for the ward, not the ward for the missionaries. Meaning that the ward members should use the missionaries as a tool for them to share the gospel more than the missionaries use the ward to share the gospel. Think about it, missionaries are 19-24 yr olds (usually) that are in an unfamiliar place. They havent lived there their whole lives and don't know the area as well as the members. So to who ever reads this I challenge you to pray and ask god who you should specifically help bring closer to christ, and then invite them to come unto christ. Whether that is by bringing them to church or family home evening, or yes, even invite them to be taught by the full-time missionaries. I know that as you do the lords work, your efforts will not go unnoticed. Your father in heaven will bless you with an abundance of his spirit and help in a specific way you ask for and/or need.
I don't mean to sound forcefull, but this is the Lords work. It has blessed me in so many ways in my life. as I turn and look towards Christ metaphorically, I am able to be healed and relieved. I hope that others can have the same heppiness that I have been blessed to have.
mom thanks for sending me all that you do. i love you and the family and cant wait to see you again :)
Thats so awesome that our family is doing so well, i would tell you to tell them good job on the descisions they are making, but im sure that the lord is blessing them in more personal ways than what i can tell them.
So this week was my very first exchange. I went with an Elder whos name is Elder Worthen. Elder Worthen is my grandpa in the mission. Meaning he is my trainers trainer. Anyway, he is very experienced and has alot of insight in his life. We went to a tiny little place called Harkers Island. And if you look it up, I'm sure you could find some pretty interesting history about it. Anyway, on the exchange, I was able to see a greater and more personal example of what kind of missionary I want to be like.
Yesterday, Sunday, someone said something that stood out to me and will probably help me make good descisions the rest of my life. It was about missionary work, and if I was at home I would probably just blow it off. But I hope this is not what you folks at home will do. But before I go on, let me bring to remeberence that everyone knows someone that is a none member or someone that struggles excluding themselves. So with that in mind, the thing that stood out to me that might be hard to accept is that the missionaies are for the ward, not the ward for the missionaries. Meaning that the ward members should use the missionaries as a tool for them to share the gospel more than the missionaries use the ward to share the gospel. Think about it, missionaries are 19-24 yr olds (usually) that are in an unfamiliar place. They havent lived there their whole lives and don't know the area as well as the members. So to who ever reads this I challenge you to pray and ask god who you should specifically help bring closer to christ, and then invite them to come unto christ. Whether that is by bringing them to church or family home evening, or yes, even invite them to be taught by the full-time missionaries. I know that as you do the lords work, your efforts will not go unnoticed. Your father in heaven will bless you with an abundance of his spirit and help in a specific way you ask for and/or need.
I don't mean to sound forcefull, but this is the Lords work. It has blessed me in so many ways in my life. as I turn and look towards Christ metaphorically, I am able to be healed and relieved. I hope that others can have the same heppiness that I have been blessed to have.
mom thanks for sending me all that you do. i love you and the family and cant wait to see you again :)
Kent (Elder Masulonis)
Monday, November 21, 2011
Nov 21, 2011
Email from Kent. In it he is answering questions and responding to a letter sent to him.
Woww-e, that does sound like an eventfull week! Thats great that Jessi is doing much better. It seems like she is taking more initiative for herself. So what are you going to do with the Buick?
Well, the weather hasnt changed very much here. Its wierd though, because sometimes when there is a day when it actually is cold, it feels alot colder than it is, specially when there is a breeze. Even though it isnt very cold right now, I could deffinatlely see it getting very cold.
Ok so shame on me, cuz I havent really been taking alot of pictures. But I will try harder this up coming week and see what I cando to send some pictures next week.
Yikes, thats sorta scary, I bet daisy wasnt even expecting it at all. It kinda makes me laugh though hahaha.
If you could make sure that people know where to send stuff and how to get a hold of me, that would be great especially cuz its kinda a pain to retell everyone. Also tell people about the blog that is being set up. I'm sure that it is great and people would like to see it.
I wish I could see the blog that you guys are putting up, but my internet use is very limited. Baically email, lds.org and mormon.org are about the extent of things.
Some things that ive been thinking about for my christmas list are, a bottle of spontanious combustion, some really awsome ties, maybe a tie buddy ( ask jamin waht it is.) maybe a blanket or pillow case from home, LETTERS FROM EVERYONE. Jonathans address, some sweet basketball shorts, maybe a basketball, maybe an electric shaver, mints, candy. These are just some ideas.
The local food is pretty much that same as back at home. I hvent really had alot of sea food, or anything new... accept for hush puppies... the place that i had hush puppies for the first time was great. The people in the ward here are really nice and great strong members of the church. They suprise me in their strength in the gospel. The people in general though are fairly difficult. Probably not any different from anywhere else though. There are alot of churches here and people are pretty satified with what they have and aren't really open to new ideas. I hope as I get more use to being a missionary, I will learn new skills that will help me communicate what I know to be true better.
Thank you for sending a good sized email :) I loved it! btw how did talking with ben go? was my last eamil of any value?
Mom I love you and our family, Im doing what I can to make Elder Kent Masulonis
Woww-e, that does sound like an eventfull week! Thats great that Jessi is doing much better. It seems like she is taking more initiative for herself. So what are you going to do with the Buick?
Well, the weather hasnt changed very much here. Its wierd though, because sometimes when there is a day when it actually is cold, it feels alot colder than it is, specially when there is a breeze. Even though it isnt very cold right now, I could deffinatlely see it getting very cold.
Ok so shame on me, cuz I havent really been taking alot of pictures. But I will try harder this up coming week and see what I cando to send some pictures next week.
Yikes, thats sorta scary, I bet daisy wasnt even expecting it at all. It kinda makes me laugh though hahaha.
If you could make sure that people know where to send stuff and how to get a hold of me, that would be great especially cuz its kinda a pain to retell everyone. Also tell people about the blog that is being set up. I'm sure that it is great and people would like to see it.
I wish I could see the blog that you guys are putting up, but my internet use is very limited. Baically email, lds.org and mormon.org are about the extent of things.
Some things that ive been thinking about for my christmas list are, a bottle of spontanious combustion, some really awsome ties, maybe a tie buddy ( ask jamin waht it is.) maybe a blanket or pillow case from home, LETTERS FROM EVERYONE. Jonathans address, some sweet basketball shorts, maybe a basketball, maybe an electric shaver, mints, candy. These are just some ideas.
The local food is pretty much that same as back at home. I hvent really had alot of sea food, or anything new... accept for hush puppies... the place that i had hush puppies for the first time was great. The people in the ward here are really nice and great strong members of the church. They suprise me in their strength in the gospel. The people in general though are fairly difficult. Probably not any different from anywhere else though. There are alot of churches here and people are pretty satified with what they have and aren't really open to new ideas. I hope as I get more use to being a missionary, I will learn new skills that will help me communicate what I know to be true better.
Thank you for sending a good sized email :) I loved it! btw how did talking with ben go? was my last eamil of any value?
Mom I love you and our family, Im doing what I can to make Elder Kent Masulonis
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