Familia!
Hmm it is that wonderful time of the week again where I am supposed to write a letter! I hope you don't mind but I will excuse this letter for being short because we will be talking soon! (: This week has been really wonderful as far as opportunities to grow! We have been rushing around with a lot of responsibilities and what not hahah which leads me to a funny story: Elder Sorenson is really musically talented so he was assigned by Sister Griffen to make a Christmas medley for all of the Zone Christmas parties. He was in charge of making the medley, and I helped him choose the people and the whole thing slowly came together. So we now get to travel throughout the entire mission going to every single Christmas party! Hahahah and the hilarious part is that in the program of every Christmas party it says: Music and Video -from Elder Sorenson and Elder Stewart-Chester. Hahahaha and I literally don't do anything, so I pretty much get to travel all around the mission and hangout at all the parties just because Elder Sorenson is my companion. So ya, super busy- but super fun because I will be able to see Elder Marchant and Elder Gibbs in Aurora. Anyways, that is a little update from my week- I can't begin to describe the love I feel for the people I met so far on my mission. The little Branch has some of my all time favorite people in the world, and I'm hoping I never leave! The work is wonderfully sweet. It couldn't be a better time to be a missionary. I hope you all are focusing on the importance of this Christmas season. I pray that you all can recognize the significance of this holiday. Glad tidings of great joy! There is an end to pain. There is a limit to suffering. There is hope. There is a Savior. Because of Him these things are possible. This is tangible and palpable truth. If you don't believe me and regard my words as beliefs and hopes, I challenge you to put my words to the test. Choose to find out why. Why He was born and why He died. I would not be the person I am today without my knowledge of Jesus Christ. So celebrate! Be happy and feel the love emanating from this wonderful Christmas season! I love you all, Elder Stewart-Chester 1319 Butterfield Rd Suite 522 Downers Grove, IL 60515 Hey Family!
How is everyone doing? It was another amazing week here in Illinois, although there isn't any snow. I want it to snow so badly! Everyone tells me that I will regret saying that. Christmas is coming up soon, which is so weird! My new companion Elder Sorenson is awesome! He will hit his year mark at the end of December so he has been out for quite a while. He is from Hemet, California. He some of his interests include: Theatre, Dancing, Star Wars, Singing, and the Gospel. So we relate in Star Wars and the Gospel, because I don't think my style of dancing quite matches his(; But it is honestly super fun. He is a super sincere Elder and has a great passion for being a missionary. It has been a wonderful week getting to know how he teaches and then hitting the streets. We have had some pretty incredible miracles happen already. To explain my subject title, "Nada más de la licencia del Señor" is a quote from the infamous Hermano Catalino. My favorite person in the world. We took him to a lesson with us this week, and he said something in the car ride over that made me die laughing. Background Info: Hermano Catalino (Our Branch Mission Leader) is from Mexico City, and he used to be a bus driver in the heart of the city-which is nuts. (it's super crazy to drive with all the people). So now picture this 5'5 man driving us to a lesson in his jeep like a crazy man. I asked him if he had his license of not and his reply was, "Nada más de la licencia del Señor" which means "nothing more/ just the license from the Lord". I don't know why but I think I laughed for like 5 mins straight. Maybe it was one of those moments that you had to be there for hahaha. We are working with some really cool people right now, and have awesome finding experience every day. The opportunities to feel the spirit throughout the day is incredible. I've been thinking about a lot lately. I think we would all be surprised at how much guidance our Heavenly Father is willing to give us, if we would just listen. There are so many distracting voices in the world, so much that can tune us out of the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I challenge you all to think about what you can do to listen more closely, and focus on the answers that you receive. I know that He is waiting to give us the answers we are looking for, He has a plan for us. Go to the source of all knowledge and truth and He will supply the answers. I love you all! Sorry I feel like my emails are slowing deteriorating in value, start asking me questions so that I can answer them more fully in this email! Peace and Love, Elder Stewart-Chester 1319 Butterfield Rd Suite 522 Downers Grove, IL 60515 P.s If you sent me something in the mail, and I don't have your email address, write me so that I can thank you please!!! Hey all you people!
How is everyone? Christmas is coming way too fast right? I wish everything would just slow down. Christmas time is the best ever to be a missionary! I have the privilege of representing my Savior Jesus Christ and testifying of Him. Of course I do that all the time, not just during Christmas, but it is definitely a different story to knock on someone's door and declare that you come sharing a message of Jesus Christ during the Christmas season. This truly is a special time. The title of my email was Traslados which means Transfers! We got a transfer call on Saturday night.............and.........I am staying in Carpentersville! WOOOOO! I will be receiving Elder Sorenson tomorrow and couldn't be more exited. From what I have heard about him, he is a hardworking dedicated Elder. Elder Marchant will be going to Aurora and is being made a District Leader! I'm super stoked for him, he is a stud and will do great. It is definitely sad to know this is my last night with my "Papí ". He taught me a lot of things that I needed to know about missionary work, and set me off on a great pace for my mission. I'm incredibly grateful for him, and now I'm excited for new horizons and continual growth. One highlight of this week was exchanges with our Zone Leaders. Elder Bise came to our area and Elder Marchant left with Elder Wagner. The exchange made me realize how far I have come with my Spanish. We spent the entire day tracting and walking because we didn't have a car, I think we talked to more people than I have every talked to in one day. The best part-85% of the contacts were in Spanish. Elder Bise can say "Gracias" and "Hola somos misioneros de la Iglesia de JesuCristo de Los Santos de Los Últimos Días". So it was awesome because I really had to push myself to talk to everyone. It is really nice to be able to see how much the Lord has already blessed me since I came out. I feel super comfortable. Funny story: A couple of days ago we were out contacting and I met this man named Mateo. I talked to Mateo for about 10 mins in Spanish without Elder Marchant chiming in (He was letting me practice). Then as we finished up our conversation, I was getting his address so we could visit him, and Elder Marchant asked Mateo a question. There was a pause, and then Mateo asked me what Elder Marchant has asked because he couldn't understand Elder Marchant. I teased Elder Marchant for days about it hahaha but it was a good experience to see some progression. I still have a long way to go, but the Spanish is coming along. This is a pretty quick taste of my week. Miracles mingled with the craziest things and the craziest people is pretty much how my days usually go. It's the best. As the holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ is coming up soon, I would invite you all to think about the significance of that one event. If you don't know the importance of Jesus Christ, I would suggest that you find out what happened at the Meridian of time. Why was one man's life powerful enough to be the central point of our timeline? The answer is because He is the Christ. The Savior of the world. He is the light and the life of the world. I testify that salvation cometh by no other name than by the name of the boy who was laid in a manger, Jesus of Nazareth. Discover why: https://www.mormon.org/christmas?cid=mpad-christmas-2015-100&player=bc&full=no I love you all, have a fantastic week! Elder Stewart-Chester 1319 Butterfield Rd Suite 522 Downers Grove, IL 60515 ¿Qué tal familia?
Sorry for any confusion that might have happened yesterday, the Elders in my zone had the privilege of going to the temple today!!! (: Which means that our Pday gets switched to Tuesday because the Temples are closed on Mondays. Anyways, with my trip to the temple I have very little time to write a long letter, so I'm going to be concise! This week was fantastic!(: the only bummer was that on Tuesday I got pretty darn sick. I had this idea in my head that I thought it would be way cool to never have a sick day on my mission. I was super determined to never be sick, and so I pray for health constantly. But I think Heavenly Father wanted to humble me a little, because I went out on Tuesday to work with a fever, but quickly realized I wasn't going to be much of a help to anyone feeling like a did. We called Sister Griffen and she chastised me for walking around with a fever hahaha. The good news is that I recovered quickly! I felt good enough to go out the very next day. I want to thank all of you for your prayers on my behalf! I am truly blessed to have people like you in my life! Thanksgiving was awesome, we had dinner with a really sweet family in our branch. The man is actually the Spanish Patriarch (He can't speak English). Really solid, really cool. And actually pretty american-ized haha. We had traditional turkey and everything. The rest of the week was just filled to the brim with testimony building experiences. It suffices me to say that it was fantastic. Mom-i haven't missed a day writing in my journal, so when I get home we can talk specifics. The temple was beyond description. Oh how I love that beautiful spirit that is always inside the temple. Chicago's temple is way cool too! I'll send some pictures, but you will have to look it up. For those of you who might not know what an LDS temple is: It is a sacred and special building that is dedicated as a place where we can go to feel closer to God. We feels His spirit, His love, His comfort, and we pray to receive His council. It is so beautifully simple and lovely. If you can go to the temple, and you aren't taking advantage of that opportunity...I'm going to fight you. Go to the temple and get blessed for it! What a silly connection right? We not only receive guidance and feel hope, peace, and love when we are at the temple, but we also get blessed just for going! So what's the answer? GO. I have no more time, but please know that I send all of my love! Have a wonderful week! Love, Elder Stewart-Chester 1319 Butterfield Rd Suite 522 Downers Grove, IL 60515 |
Fletcher Stewart-ChesterFletcher is called to serve the Lord in the Chicago West Spanish Speaking mission. This is a blog of his letters and adventures CategoriesArchives
July 2017
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