Week 36: Soldier of Jesus Christ

Hello my wonderful family,

Scripture of the week: 2 Timothy 2:3

First off i just wanted to say thank you mom for your beautiful email. I could definitely feel of your love and strength from the words you shared with me. In regards to my setting apart blessing, i have been able to find great strength through it and my patriarchal blessing this week. As much as i would like to say that i am all healed up and have seen a dr and have been miraculously cured.... if i said that i would be lying. As of right now the sharp shooting pain is lessened because i am on some drugs, that the mission dr prescribed me. Actually they are steroid pills. So the joke around here is that me and A-ROD can be friends now. (dad should get the A-ROD joke). i also am currently working on getting in to a back specialist down at dartmouth hitchcock. But things are slow, its my hope that by the end of the day i will have an appointment all set and will be getting some more help and direction very soon. 

I have recieved so much help and love from the Stokers this week. Sister Stoker contacts me almost every day, and have talked to President a few times. I dont know if you know of Elder and Sister Poll or not. They are from utah, and dad and i actually met them at all utah show one year. Well ive gotten pretty close with them over the months. and president was inspired to have them come visit me on thursday. Elder Poll has a bad back as well so was able to really relate to me well. They were a great help, and have been very instrumental in getting things with drs moving a bit more than they were to that point. I love my rural vermont, but it does make it really hard to do anything as far as medical attention is concerned. For example dartmouth is a 2 hour drive. But i guess that is what you deal with when you are up here in the North East Kingdom of Vermont. 

Although i have not been miraculously healed this week, we have been so very blessed as far as the work goes. This week was the worst week of my life as far as pain goes. But it was literally our best week as missionaries here in newport. We were able to teach 17 lessons, by far the most we have taught here. We gave some incredible blessings to people and best of all we got John  to come on a church tour. He felt the spirit so strong. When we were looking at the baptismal font he just did not want to leave. John is a single man, 58 years old. Super nice guy. Has a 19 year old daughter who is literally his whole life. She is currently going to school in boston. John and i get along great because he is a huge football fan. The only problem he is a patriots fan. But non the less he is a great man. 

I do remember back in HS with my back issues when you told me you would take it all for me if you could. But mom i would not wish this on anyone. For what ever purpose HF has given this to me, i must really need it. Because he loves us so much, and i can only imagine the pain it causes him to have to see his children in pain. This week we would go out and work a few hours and then would have to come back so i could lay down, (laying down gives me a little bit of relief). One day i was laying there thinking and feeling quite abandoned... And then a voice told me "why are you trying to go through this alone" then i knew i had not been relying on my father in heaven near enough. 

It is my testimony that our father in heaven loves us all so very much. Everything we go through has a purpose and a reason, that he knows. He will always know what is best for us and what we need in our lives. 

That is very exciting dad will be taking the string to the state fair. Who all does that include? Im jealous i wont be there to go.

Well I hate to bust into the email like this, but i have FANTASTIC news. I just got off the phone with the dr and will be seeing him wednesday. Prayers are continually being answered. Keep up the incredible faith my dear family.

Also will you please keep Elder Guinn in your prayers this week, one of his good friends was hit by a car on his mission and was killed so he is having a tough time right now. I love elder Guinn and am really glad i still get to be close to him to help him through this. 

Lets see what else happened this week...

Elder Vanderholm and i finally got to try really eastern states sea food. We ate lobster and clams. Actually had lobster 2 times. I prefer the lobster over the clams. Clams have no flavor and just feel like a big wet slimy ball of snot going down your throat. I do however recomend for anyone eating lobster to just get the tail thats where the majority of the meat comes from and the rest of it is far to much work to get the tiny bit of meat that you get. 

We also learned how to make apple pies with our investigator(my adopted mission grandma)  They are delectable... pictures to follow. 

Elder V. Making pies

Sister Dixon lost a bet with me and had to make me pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and they were delectable as well. I really need to get healthy so i can start exercising and being more active, or non of my pants will fit. I have gained 20 pounds since ive been on my mission goodness. 

One last story and then i really need to get going. So i dont know if ive really mentioned it, but our area is the most beautiful place in the world... most days. Well the other day was one of those days. We are just driving along trying to find a house out in the middle of no where. Sometimes in vermont gps systems are worthless. well my wonderful little gps took us down this road and as we drove it gradually got worse and worse. I finally decided we better walk up a ways and see what we were getting ourselves into. Although are suburu can get us anywhere we still try to respect it. Well it turned out we were on a 4 wheeler trailer. So we never located the house, but we had fun doing some off roading. 

The "Four Wheeling" Trail

Thanks again for the wonderful email. I love you all so much. Stay strong and remember that someone in Vermont loves you a whole ton. 

Hold to the rod 

Elder Zilles

PS did you know it takes like 100 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup.

love you bye

Week 35: dynamite!

Hey family,

 

Scripture of the week: D&C 121:7-8

 

Hmm should we discuss happy things first or not so happy things?? Let’s go with happy things, cause everyone likes a little happiness right? Well let’s just say this week went really fast with zone conference on Monday and pday on Tuesday it just kind of threw the whole week off! But there were definitely some highlights. Tuesday night after Pday we had an amazing lesson with john. Our branch president, president pingree came with us. It was literally the best lesson we have had since in Newport. In president pingrees words as he talked about the lesson from the pulpit yesterday "The Elders were absolutely dynamite". It was just all in all an incredible lesson.

Yesterday (Sunday) we picked up a new investigator named Reed. He seems like really a solid guy. He is neighbors with our elders president and they had already given him a book of Mormon, just goes to show how important member work really is.

We did some service for the Stevens family this week. Well elder vanderholm did some service, he made me sit there in the chair so I didn’t hurt anything worse.

 

It sounds like the fair was a wicked good success. I am so pleased to hear that cola did so well. However i of course have to be more proud of my little zee. That’s pretty sweet that she is turning into such a good heifer. I can’t wait to receive the pictures of the fair. And trust me it was hard thinking you were all at the fair without me. You’ll have to let me know what you end up doing about the state fair, if zee will just be wicked small I wouldn’t pay to take her down there. Just keep her growing for next year. Wait a second that means zee beat the Tillamook heifer too? Wow she is rockin it!!!

 

That’s so crazy that Cason leaves already, wow crazy! Cason will be a great asset to his mission. I wish I had someone in my district that could play the piano like he does, it gets a bit old singing acapella.

 

Other good news here in Vermont...

The humidity is completely gone. The leaves are already starting to change colors. Down side to that is... winter is around the corner and will be here before we know it.

Today is my 8 month mark. can you believe that? We are already on week 4 of the transfer so that means time is just flying by wicked fast.

 

Well that is really about all I can think of for today and this week. You are all in my prayers continually. Thank you for all you do for me all the time. I don’t know how I will ever repay you. Stay strong, and always remember that when times get tough Zilles don’t quit. Something about being German must make us wicked resilient.

 

Love you all

Elder Zilles

 

Dear Family and friends,

You might be trying to fill in the blanks with this letter as he starts with the happy and then never tells the not so happy…also he mentions Elder Vanderholm not letting him do the service during the week. He had to send a separate little email trying to get some insurance information from us this morning. In that one he shares that he is not doing well with his back. He is in lots of pain and his legs have had numbness while he is out working. He is trying to get into another Dr. to get another opinion on his back. We think he has wanted to think that if he ignored it maybe it would go away… I hope he has made some good progress in regards to communicating with President and Sister Stoker today and they are getting on top of things together. Very worrisome day in the Zilles home… We sure love our missionary and pray for his health and his ability to stay positive and not become discouraged as he is finding the medical help that he needs.

Lori 

Week 34: EVERY member

Hello Family,

Scripture of the week: Alma 46:12-13

Well i have so much to tell about this past week im not even sure where to start. I guess i will start with why this weeks scripture is the tTtle of lLberty. So this past wednesdays district meeting lesson was on the Book of mormon and as part of it i made the whole district share a scripture from the BOM and a testimony of how that had changed there life. I chose the title of liberty because it is the exact reason why we do the things we do in our life, no matter how hard they are at times. So always remember that.

This Pday on tuesday is throwing me off a bit, but thats ok. Went on exchange with Elder Guinn this last week, and that was great. We had a really really good time. It was like memory lane. I felt bad because i kept forgetting to introduce him to people cause i am so used to him being my actual companion, poor guy. It was so neat to get to see how much he has grown in the last transfer and a half. He is still elder guinn, but he is growing alot in the work of the Lord.

This week we helped Brother Marston Cubit (branch mission leader) re roof his house. Thursday we stripped the old shingles off and prepped it for tin, and then tarped it cause it was supposed to rain all day friday. We had no plans to go help put tin on, but saturday we felt like we should swing by and see if they needed any help. When we got there the only one on the roof was brother cubit, no one else would get on the roof. So i strapped on a tool belt and went to work. Elder V doesnt like heights so it was just me and brother cubit up there most of the time. I technically probably should not have been on a roof, but it needed to be done. I couldnt let the cubit's sit there with a leaky house for any longer.

They say that once you start to love the people of an area, that is when you will get transfered, well i have finally started to love the people of this branch, so i guess that means in 3 weeks i could be finding my way to a new home but who knows.

We also were blessed with two new investigators this week. In the NHMM new investigators bring us as much joy as baptisms in most places. Ed and Pracilla are a really cool couple, and i am excited to continue to get to know them better.

Well by now you know that we had Zone Conference yesterday. The first one with President Stoker, and his first one EVER. It was so good. President Wilkey always taught us to go to every meeting with a question in mind, and promised they would be answered. Well yesterday was just another testimony builder on that for me. Every question i had thought of was covered in some form or another. My biggest question was "how do i better utilize the members?" the main theme of the whole conference was working with members. In fact that will be the main focus for the mission over at least the next 12 months.
The new New Hampshire manchester mission vision statement is.... Drum Roll please... BuM BUM BUM... " In the next 12 months we will help EVERY member have significant missionary experiences" that is our main focus. Im really excited to work more with the members. 

President Stoker is a business man, so therefore we are doing things like a business, im stoked and think it will work wonderfully.

Lets see some other highlights from conference... we learned alot on how to recieve personal revelation, which was my other question. I have no problem recieveing ideas for those we teach, but when it comes to myself i have struggled with that. Lately i have really been praying to know where i should go to school when i get home, and what i should study, and i really just dont know. Scriptures on how to recieve revelation... 1 nephi 11: 1-6, JSH 1: 8-16, D&C 138: 1-5,11,28-29. You will notice that pondering is a key ingredient in all of these scriptures. President ended this by saying "Elders and Sisters we need to spend more time pondering" I think that can really go for all of us as children of god.

Other cool quotes from conference... Speaking of the JSM "this ground was hallowed long before the smiths settled on this plot of land." -P Stoker- "success is judged by your determination to keep working" - DR Aldous the mission doctor- And my favorite... "there is no greater priviledge or opportunity than what we are doing right now" - P stoker.

So yup as you can see zone conference was great. We are flying on a bit of a spiritual high today.

Well i have been debating on telling you this or not, but i guess i better tell you. It was this way last monday too i just didnt say anything. Please dont freak out or be worried, casue i will be just fine. Just know that my back is not doing too grand anymore. I lasted about 3 days back to work without pain and then it was back. Im not quite sure what to do yet, but i believe the lord will continue to help me as i press forward. God does not lie, and he told me in a blessing that i would heal sufficiently, so i have no doubt that in his own time i will be just fine.

To keep me going this week i have used captain moroni as my motivation. Its incredible the strength that we can recieve from the scriptures. I plead with you all to make the scriptures a more prominent part of your life. Before my mission i never read the scriptures like i do now, and they never meant so much to me as they do now. I know that life gets busy and its sometimes hard to sit down and read, but please take the time to do it. Heavenly father will bless you so much as you do so.

I hope you all have a wonderful week. With the fair and traveling to moscow. All will be well. I wish i could be at the fair, but im no doubt where i should be right now. Lou you will do a great job representing the family at the fair, i have no doubt about that. Remember to take lots of pictures. Especially want pictures of all the heifers all ready to go in the ring. Its the orleans county fair here this week, a few less actives have cows so i may see if we can sneak on down to the fair to check things out.

Well i do hope i covered everything that needed to be covered if not i guess it will have to wait another week. I was thinking the other day and i hope my emails are uplifiting and it seems like i am accomplishing something here in vermont. Although we may not be baptizing every week i feel great about what we are doing here. When they were building the nauvoo temple the prophet joseph said to brigham young "WE are not just building a temple, the lord is building us" That is how i feel about my mission. I have learned so much in these short 8 months. I will never regret the decision i made to do this. The church is true. I hope you all know that i know that with every fiber of my being. I pray that when i return home you will be able to see the change in me, im sure its hard to see via email.

But i love you all. Have a great week.

Dare to dream big

Elder Quinton J. Zilles

Week 33: The Gospel..a state of Eternal Bliss

Hey family, 

I hope this is an email that things can be forwarded from cause this is the one im writing it on.

Scripture of the week: Alma 37: 44-46!

 

This is one of my favorite few verses ive ever come across. I used it in my testimony yesterday, it is so true the gospel like the liahona can lead us to that state of eternal bliss that we all deep dpwn desire. 

 

Well lets see this week where should i start...

 

Hmm we will start with health... I have been good for the most part. I had a few head aches but nothing like they used to be i think these ones were just a normal headache. Yesterdays was just a fasting headache. The back has felt really good. We did alot of service this week that i probably should not have done, but i did it anyway and the back made it through pain free. 

Elder Q got a little bored while on bed rest...

 Well the good news is we finally got a branch mission leader. Brother Cubit is now the branch mission leader, he was the Elders President, i am so excited to work with him he will be so great. This week was a bit discouraging as far as mission work goes. I was really just feeling like we havent accmplished anything in our last 7 weeks here in newport. But as i look back now, we have made some small steps towards progression here in the area, and a branch mission leader should really help things move along. It is hard to see so much success happening in my district and not much in my own area. 

But last night i was sitting there doing call ins and decided, "It doesnt matter where the success is we are all doing the same great work" So then i was just super excited for my district. I honestly have the best district ever. We are like a weird backwards family. The new sister is great. She came out with Elder Guinn, and she actually went to school with sister Jackman so they know eachother quite well. 

 

As you know wednesday i had to sing to them, and it went well, it was prettty fun, after i sang the sisters were like "you didnt tell us you could sing" It was fun though. 

 

Everyday i try to focus on a miracle that happened, and the best one this week has to do with Chris who at one time told us he was athiest, well this week the whole time we were there he was talking about how there has to be a God and he had to have created the world or it wouldnt be so magnificent.

The Gospel is the bomb!!

 

It sounds like the baby blessing was so great, i wish i could have been there, but as hard as it is i am supposed to be in the back woods of vermont right now. This week i hit my 8 month mark, where has the time gone?? Looking back it seems like its gone so fast, but looking forward it seems so far away, so i just try not to look forward! I found out the other day that Elder Hales (mtc companion) is a district leader as well. We are the only two in our flight group, so its just cool to see how we were comps and have progressed along at the same rate. Surprisingly enough i miss that elder, i havent seen his since we got here. Got to email a few of the elders from the mtc that went to detroit and they are all doing so well. 

 

This week it has really just hit me how much the lord blesses us for serving him. The blessings i have seen in my life and in all of your lives is just so incredible. The church is so true, there is not a doubt in my mind about that. 

last night we had dinner with a family, the dad is an rm and he was talking so negatively about his mission, honestly it made me mad. I was sitting there thinking "i love my mission i dont know what your problem is". 

 

Well yall i wish i had more exciting things to tell you, but that is really all ive got this week. Hopefully this week will bring more excitment. Wait of course it will im going on exchange with elder guinn, poor kid just cant escape me!

 

Love you 

Leave it all on the field

Elder Toner

Week 32: I'M AN UNCLE!!!!

Im an uncle im an uncle im an uncle yeah yeah yeah yea!!

 

Scripture of the week: Alma 26: 11-12, 35-36

 

I honestly can not even express how i am feeling right now. Nugget is beautiful! Ashton is the perfect name for her, and i just want to hold her! This is the hardest part of being gone so far. But i cant complain because i am the absolute most blessed person who ever lived on this planet. 

 

Ashton Margaret Schofield- 7/26/13

The text Elder Zilles got to announce Ashton's birth

Well first of all, it sounds like sister g kept yall updated quite well, she is the best i love her and am so glad they are still close by. But this week miracles have truly happened. Just like the blessing told me, i am healed fully 100%, i have not had a headache for 4 days(longest stretch head ache free in...  a really long time). I feel so great, i feel better than i have felt in a long time, even before the mission. Dr Brown said i was so beat up that he wouldnt be surprised if i am a totally new person now that i am 100%, cause its been probably since my sophomore year that i was 100%. He not only fixed my back, but a torn rotator cuff, and he was able to find and fix a lung problem i had, which if not fixed could have later in my life caused some serious problems. Accupuncture is pretty cool how it can tell the doctor what parts of your body need help. I told him no needles, so he did it with out any needles what so ever, it was pretty neat. I was originally supposed to be on bed rest till august 2nd, but by saturday this week we were back out doing work. 

This week was one of the most testimony building weeks of my mission. The first few days i was laying there feeling quite sorry for myself and then was honestly starting to get a bit depressed. I was watching the restoration dvd, and something was said about lifes trials and how they can prove to be a refiners fire. That really hit me hard, and at that moment i had to decide whether i was going to take this moment of refiners fire and let it turn me into what god wants me to be, or if i was going to shrink down and do what satan would have me do. 

Well after some serious praying and contemplating, and scripture study i decided i was not going to let this thing kick my butt. I have far to much to do on my mission still to let that happen. So i prayed for extra strength and faith,and then just decided i was going to be fully healed before the week was over. I am of course so grateful for all of the extra prayers from the home front. All the extra support was wonderful. I got a special package from dave kathey and hayley, im sure grandmas will be here soon. I even got a post card from vickie in wisconsin. The support was so great, and i could not have done this with out all of you. Im sure princess nugget was putting forth her added baby faith too. Jesus taught to become as the little children. 

Well i am not getting transfered. Elder Vanderholm and i are together for at least another 6 weeks, i am still district leader, and all that is changing in the district is sister cowley is being transfered so we will have one new sister. Speaking of the district, district meeting wednesday was absolutley incredible. It is one of the coolest things ever to feel the spirit working through you for the servants of god. Our district as a whole is having some serious trials, and so it turns out i may have needed this trial just so i could help my district get through their trials in one piece. I love being District leader.

 

Every district meeting we set a district goal, and we decided to set rewards for meeting that goal, well this week the goal was to get 4 investigators at sacrament in the district. And the sisters in the district decided for the reward if we got it that i have to sing "as sisters in Zion" solo on wednesday. Well low and behold we met the goal, so i am going to sing in this weeks meeting, it should be entertaining. 

The "gangster" pose

So we got a new branch presidency yesterday. The new president is president pingree. He is the most solid man in new england. Convert of 15 years, and the most powerful testimony ever. He is very missionary minded as well, so hopefully that means we will finally be getting a branch mission leader. Cant wait to work with president pingree though. 

So i was wondering if, since i wont be at the baby blessing if someone could please take some notes on it and send it to me? that would be great. 

Also would love it if you could send some hard copies of the cow pictures, and i cant wait to get hard copies of the baby pictures!

I sure love all of you guys.

Thanks so much once again for all of the extra prayers, and added fatih. Always remember that the priesthood power we have is incredible, dont ever doubt it. 

Love ya

Elder Uncle Toner

 

PS thats hilarious people thought audra is my girl friend, but i guess she kind of is my girl friend.