Let the Boys Know that...

Andrew and Isaac Black - Mark and Caleb Anderson

Katie and Melissa,
The two most important things you can teach the boys are:

                  

1. Make sure they understand that God loves them.
2.Teach them that Jesus Christ is our brother and that through him we can return to God's presence.

These two things if understood will cause the fastest change of heart.  It is what we are centered on.
                                              HEAVENLY FATHER

                       LOVES ME 

I love my nephews and like to brag about them to my companion. The stories about them are so funny.  I really miss them!  Give them a hug from me,

Elder Quinn

A Letter from Elder Quinn - Wednesday August 24, 2011 - from the MTC in Provo Utah

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WEDNESDAYS WHEN WE RECEIVE LETTERS FROM ELDER QUINN.  IT IS GREAT HAVING A SON ON A MISSION FOR THE CHURCH!

Hello Family, 

Hey so it was awesome to hear from everyone this week. I am so jealous of all of the activities that you guys are having. Nick's wedding sounded awesome I wish I could have been there. And I wish I could see those twins, they sound like they are really growing up. Mark and Caleb sound like they are doing great. I often read parts about my nephews out loud to my roomates. They all laugh and say they wish they had nephews. I love to show them off haha. I am so jealous of you Katie and Dave. I have wanted to go to an NFL game forever. That is so cool that you were able to go and ya I wouldn't have told Mark it wasn't BYU either.

Well to answer some of the questions. Time is flying here at the MTC. Each week goes by faster and faster, but at the same time it feels like I have been here forever. But it's going well. I honestly feel bad for English speaking missionaries. They don't get the chance to experience all of the MTC has to offer. I love it here but I really want to get to Ukraine. The language is coming great. Everyday I have a new break through and I can feel my self get more and more comfortable. It is a very humbling experience listening to our teachers talk so fast.

They new Russian missionaries got here last week. It was such a confidence boost to see them and hear them try to use simple words. Of course I still have a long way to go before I am fluent. It's cool having them here beacuse they look up to us and always ask us questions about what's going on and where do we go. It's pretty funny, but I was the same way.

So this week I have worked on diligence. It's been pretty intense.I made a goal of any down time I have, I go over notecards. I am also making sure that I use all of the time I have left as smart as I can. I only have three weeks from yesterday so I really have to get things done. Well one more week and I get my travel plans. The last group to go went to Amsterdam for their layover. And the group before that went through Spain. So not sure where I'll have a lay over but I'll let you know next week.

Katie thanks for that advice about those investigators. It has always been a fear of mine that I push to hard to the point of pushing them away. It is very important to be sensitive to their needs. That's why we are learning to teach investigators and not lessons. We go in with a small outline of what we want them to know them we end up changing it drastically. haha. I'm sure it's the same way in the field.

Melissa pride is a great thing to work on. Durring our District study our teacher has asked us to do Humility every other week. And since humility and pride are opposites I thought it applied very well. It is interesting to note that the Savior only mentions his lack of living conditions once in the Scriptures. This is when he says the bird has the nest and the mouse has a hole but the Son of God has nowhere to lie his head. That's not the exact quote but it's close haha.

Natalie thanks for telling me about you goal to see more blessings in your life. It is seriously amzing how much our Heavenly Father has blessed our family. Sometimes it's hard to believe how fortunate we are. It is so important to thank him in our prayers as well as our actions. Please keep me updated on how you are feeling, that goes for you too mom. :). I really see God's love for me as I strive to learn this language and to learn to teach the Gospel.

Just a quick update. I keep forgetting to tell you that I finished the Book of Mormon in three weeks. I had never read it so fast. It was an incredible experience. I recently finished Jesus the Christ and now i wish there was a sequel. It was an amazing book. One of my goals is to finish the New Testament before I leave so that will be really cool if I can do that.

I saw Elder Scousen today. It was cool to run into him. He looked happy and ready to go. I saw Elder Liljenquist last week and this morning. We are going to take a picture at the map this week of the four of us in the Email group. It will be cool because we will be all over the world.

Well I love you all a lot.

Love Elder Quinn

P.S. I need a new laundry bag and they don't sell any at the BookStore so if you could send one that'd be much appreciated.

Teach As The Spirit Directs

Elder Quinn wrote on 8/17/11...So now I'm going to talk about the most spirtual experience I have had at the MTC so far. So I doubt you guys know about the new curriculum for the TRC (Training Resource Center). It used to be people would come and pretend to be investigators and we would teach them as if they had no idea about the Gospel. Well this past Wednesday Elder Collingsworth came in with my Companion and I to teach a women because he didn't have a companion. So with the new type of teaching we are supposed to focus on teaching people (by listening to the spirit) and not lessons. So we began with asking her a lot of questions to get to know her and to learn her needs. Suddenly without anyone saying anything we all felt like she needed to lean about prayer.

So we began sharing scriptures and teaching her about how answers to prayers can come. I read Moroni 10:3-5 and when I looked up she was crying. We kept teachering her and she kept getting more and more emotional. At the end of the lesson (keep in mind this is all in Russian) she asked us why we taught her about prayer. We said we didn't know, we just thought it would be something she would like to learn about.

At the end they fill out a sheet with notes about the lesson and we get to read them later that night. On the sheet it asks "Did you feel the Spirit" "Did you learn something new" "Did you feel that the missionaries got to know you" and "What are you going to do now that you have been taught" She answered in this order. Yes I felt it everytime they opened their mouths. Yes I learned that God does answer my prayers even if it seems like he doesn't. Yes the Missionaries knew things I did not tell them. And Now I am going to pray every chance I get. It was so cool to see that our lesson really did have an impact on her life. Because we do a lot of roleplaying and pretending to teach people it gets hard to remember to teach as the Spirit directs. It was a really cool experience.

"...I will boast of my God, for in His strength I can do all things..." Alma 26:12

Elder Quinn wrote...  I have a new favorite scripture and hymn.  My new favorite scripture is - Alma 26:12 - and surprise it is about Ammon (one of Chases favorite stories).  Ammon says that he does not boast in his own strength but he delights to boast in God's strength.  This week we have been learning a lot about humility, and that all we do is bring the gospel to people.  It is up to the Spirit to testify to them.  Without the spirit they can never gain a full testimony of the Gospel  Next, My new favorite hymn is #221 "Dear to the Hear of the Shepard  We sang it at Tuesday night's devotional and the words really hit me. Everyone read it and see how much it talks about Missionary work.   It's awesome!

 Alma 26:12  (From the Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Christ)"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."


Dear to the Hear of the Shepard  (verses 1 and 4) 

1. Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are the sheep of his fold;
Dear is the love that he gives them,
Dearer than silver or gold.
Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are his “other” lost sheep;
Over the mountains he follows,
Over the waters so deep.

[Chorus]
Out in the desert they wander,
Hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue we'll hasten
Bringing them back to the fold.

4. Green are the pastures inviting;
Sweet are the waters and still.
Lord, we will answer thee gladly,
“Yes, blessed Master, we will!
Make us thy true under-shepherds;
Give us a love that is deep.
Send us out into the desert,
Seeking thy wandering sheep.”

Text: Mary B. Wingate, b. 1899

Music: William J. Kirkpatrick, 1838–1921

Short and Sweet - Chase's testimony in Russian 8/10/11

Above is Chase's written testimony in Russian.  I had a friend of mine translate if for me.  She said that Chase did a great job writing it out.  (Do I sound like a mom or what?!)  Here is the translation...

I know that Heavenly Father love us. I am grateful for my companion.  I am grateful for my family. I know that the Book of Mormon is true.  I know that if I pray I will receive answers  - Elder Quinn

Elder Quinn Sent Photos!

me by the "bike" statue 

my name tag 

my companion and I  in front of Provo Temple 

my district in front of Provo Temple 

my companion and I pointing to our mission

p-day fun - running up the wall :)

more p-day fun

me standing by statue of first missionary
Samuel H. Smith 

my zone

my zone "being translated"  ha ha 

Everyone should keep a record!!

Journaling and
blogging your personal thoughts...

Missionaries are encouraged to journal. 
Everyone should journal!  Here are some great ideas!

Journal Writing Ideas These tips and tricks will help you with keeping a journal! 1. Be Consistent Make journal writing a habit by planning a specific time or day when you will write in your journal, such as every evening before you go to bed, before you have breakfast, or during lunch. If you don't have enough time to write every day, pick a specific day of the week when you will write. Sundays are perfect for me since journal writing makes a great Sabbath day activity, one the whole family can enjoy. Writing consistent journal entries will make future reading more enjoyable. 2. Be Complete (Date Everything!) The Ensign article, "My Journal, A Vital Record" teaches: "In addition to sharing thoughts and feelings, your journal is a record of your life’s events. For future reference, be sure to include complete information: names (first and last), dates (including the year), and places (city, state, or other information applicable to your country). Don’t assume that people and events you know intimately will be familiar to your future readers. It may seem tedious at first to add these details, but future readers will be grateful for your efforts." (Preston Draper, Sept. 2004, 72) 3. Vary Your Entries Make sure you write your feelings and thoughts about the things going on in your life. "Don’t become obsessed with fact to the exclusion of emotion." (My Journal, A Vital Record) 4. Be Organized Do you have more than one journal? Do you save letters, calendars, poetry, or other journal entries? If so then you're like me and you need to get organized! Get everything together Keep all your journal items together in a box, notebook, or other organizational kit 5. Asking Yourself Questions: What would you like to remember about yourself? What has the Lord done for you? What would you like to tell your children or grandchildren about yourself? Don't Give Up! No matter how much time has passed since your last entry don't be discouraged, what's important is that you write in your journal today!

SMILING - from Chase's recent letter

 I love  being here and am working hard.
 I am either yawning or smiling!

We set a lot of goals. Right now I have a key chain with about 90 verbs on it. My goal is to memorize 10 of them daily. and use them as I speak Russian.

I enjoy the devotionals. This is such an amazing place. As missionaries we are taught to have "Quiet Dignity" 

I Am The Gardener Here

red berrie current bush 

   "This is a great parable. 
   I feel like I am being cut way back!  I can't wait to grow." 
   ..... from Chase's last letter.

I Am The Gardener Here. 


This story was originally told by President Hugh B. Brown:


God uses another form of chastening or correction to guide us to a future we do not or cannot now envision but which He knows is the better way for us. President Hugh B. Brown, formerly a member of the Twelve and a counselor in the First Presidency, provided a personal experience. He told of purchasing a rundown farm in Canada many years ago. As he went about cleaning up and repairing his property, he came across a currant bush that had grown over six feet (1.8 m) high and was yielding no berries, so he pruned it back drastically, leaving only small stumps. Then he saw a drop like a tear on the top of each of these little stumps, as if the currant bush were crying, and thought he heard it say:
“How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. … And now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me. … How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.”
President Brown replied, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down.’”
Years later, President Brown was a field officer in the Canadian Army serving in England. When a superior officer became a battle casualty, President Brown was in line to be promoted to general, and he was summoned to London. But even though he was fully qualified for the promotion, it was denied him because he was a Mormon. The commanding general said in essence, “You deserve the appointment, but I cannot give it to you.” What President Brown had spent 10 years hoping, praying, and preparing for slipped through his fingers in that moment because of blatant discrimination. Continuing his story, President Brown remembered:
“I got on the train and started back … with a broken heart, with bitterness in my soul. … When I got to my tent, … I threw my cap on the cot. I clenched my fists, and I shook them at heaven. I said, ‘How could you do this to me, God? I have done everything I could do to measure up. There is nothing that I could have done—that I should have done—that I haven’t done. How could you do this to me?’ I was as bitter as gall.
“And then I heard a voice, and I recognized the tone of this voice. It was my own voice, and the voice said, ‘I am the gardener here. I know what I want you to do.’ The bitterness went out of my soul, and I fell on my knees by the cot to ask forgiveness for my ungratefulness. …
“… And now, almost 50 years later, I look up to [God] and say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for cutting me down, for loving me enough to hurt me.’”5
God knew what Hugh B. Brown was to become and what was needed for that to happen, and He redirected his course to prepare him for the holy apostleship.
The Lord indeed allows us to encounter and endure difficulties in life so that we will grow. He provides the strength to overcome these challenges if we remain faithful and obedient. These challenges even come when we are living and doing what we should.