Kirtland Visits

Oh man is it snowing here! Holy cow!  We've gotten like 2 feet. It’s crazy too because the wind here makes the snow blow everywhere! Even against our door. We had a tiny wall in front of our door this morning as we left to go do laundry!  It’s crazy to have this much snow. Oh yeah and its 14 degrees out with a wind chill of about -2   Haha awesome!

We went to Kirtland on Saturday. It was amazing! We got a fantastic tour with our investigators from the sister missionaries. They were great! They really knew how to bring the spirit. We sat in the school of the prophets and the revelation room. I sat in the same place that I did when we first got there. It really brought me back to the spirit that I felt the first time I was there. I remembered the vision I had of Joseph Smith walking around the room comforting all of us missionaries. It really helped me remember my purpose as a missionary. It got me motivated to get back on track with my companion and to not worry about the bad District Leader I have.

We got to watch the new Joseph Smith movie. It was like WOW! Very powerful. It really made me think of how he relied on the Lord when he was going through a tough time. I thought to myself, suck it up and stop worrying about what you can’t control.

I love the spirit that I felt there. There was also nativity all over the grounds. It was a great reminder of the season and the purpose behind it. I'm glad to be serving a mission during Christmas! It’s the best time of the year to be serving others.

  

It’s amazing how inspired my mission President is. We had interviews and he really helped guide me in some answers that I was seeking. It’s amazing the respect he has for me too. I love President to death.

My District Leader is still being a butt. I had some great things happen to me though. I chose to overcome the adversity. I read 2nd Nephi 2. The part about why I shouldn’t allow my enemies to bring me down to the gulf of misery and endless woe. Great revelation comes when you are obedient and call on the Lord through fasting and prayer. With His help we will be prepared to overcome all. I love being in the Kirtland Temple on Tuesday. I was so grateful to have the letters from you guys. Tod made me cry. It was very very nice to be able to remember family in such a holy place.  I was grateful for the answers to my prayers that I received in the Temple.

The Stake President in AZ sent the missionaries a letter with a picture of the Gilbert temple and a challenge to all of us to prepare ourselves to come home to that Temple and love it. I can’t wait to see it when it’s done! It looks amazing from the computer made image that I saw. It’s so exciting to have that happening at home!

Well I’m out of time so I will talk to you next week and be calling you on Christmas!

Love,

Elder Yukish

Letter to Grandpa and Grandma Mitchell

Hey!

I was going to write you guys a letter today and send it to you in the mail! I think I still will but I'm here on the computer right now so I'd just like to tell you how things are going!

I am just falling in love with teaching. I have seen some serious miracles come before my eyes these last few weeks! I moved to a new place! I'm in Barberton now. I got a new companion, but he's still from Idaho... Haha! Love giving them a hard time just because they are all funny about their state!

We have had some amazing investigators come out of the woodworks. When I got here there were only two investigators. Now we have like 10 and 8 baptismal dates! People just keep calling us and saying hey we want to join your church can you come teach us! It’s amazing! We've also been getting calls from less active members of the church that want us to come over and we had a few of them come to church again! I’ts just amazing how the Lord can work so many miracles!

The snow is coming down like crazy It dropped about 6-8 inches last night! It’s so beautiful out! Like a big white blanket covering everything! I’ts cold but its ok because I’m in a car! Haha

Well I hope you guys have a blessed week and be looking for my letter in the mail! Its going to be the one that’s soaked in snow! Haha

Love

Elder Yukish

Transferred to Barberton, OH

Hey! So this week I got transferred just north of where I was. I am in Barberton now! Yes I do have a car and it is NICE!! I’m loving being out of the cold. I haven't seen the temperature gauge get up above 32 for the last 4 days.

My new address is:

229 Lilac Place

Barberton OH, 44203

It’s a pretty nice apartment. Nothing is going to be able to compare to the Canton apartment though. I heard that was the mansion of the mission. So yeah, it’s kinda all down hill from there, but its ok!

I came to this district and caused some serious drama. Our District Leader is kind of a rebellious missionary. Because I was living with the Zone Leaders before, I had heard about how he was. I got here and found out that the stories were no joke. I have a greenie companion that has only been out for one transfer and has some really bad habits. I got here and decided to shake up the ground a little. I called the District Leader out on a few things that he was being bad about and how it was affecting my companion. I also had a long talk with my companion about what is expected of all of us and that there are going to be changes. He really agreed with me and told me that when he got here he didn’t think that this was what a mission was all about. So we agreed to make changes and fix it.

The district leader really hates me now. He is in the biking area and I have the car. He had made plans for us to go shopping on black Friday at 4 in the morning. I got there and put a stop to that!  I called the Zone Leaders just to let them know there were a lot of problems and I needed to know what to do. The next morning the Zone Leaders walked into the District Leaders apartment and had a talk. That’s when he got mad at me. I know it was kind of wrong to go above his head without even talking to him about it, but President always says that the loyalty is vertical so I went up the chain to let them deal with the problem.

So long story short, I have been black listed and its going to be a long transfer.

Well I am having fun though. I like my new companion. His name is Elder Trammell. He has a lot of accomplishments in his life. He was a Dillard’s model, 7th in the world at his weight class in wrestling, and was a river guide. That kind of stuff. No big deal. Haha!! He's a great guy. He reminds me a lot of Devin. We get along great.

I would love if you would send me my blanket and also my 5x5 Rubik’s cube and my cologne (the cologne 41, cologne)! That would be sweet!

How in the world did you hear about zone conference? They send you an email? From what I've heard it is going to be amazing! It’s going to be at the Kirtland temple! I'm very excited!

Well I’m going to go try and not get my head chopped off today Haha!

Love you so so SOO much

Elder Yukish

Harvey! From Atheism to Baptism

Ah well I found out that I'm leaving Canton. I don’t know yet where I'm going, but I'm staying within the Zone so not too far from Canton. I am going to miss it. Elder Green who came out with me is training this transfer! It’s so crazy! First we are two greenies working together, now he's training another greenie! He is an amazing missionary! I really try to aspire to be like him. He's very humble and when I tell him he's great he just always says "well it's because you helped me be that way." I don’t feel like I did anything but I'm glad to have served with him.

The weather is not too bad here.  It actually got to 70 yesterday. It’s ridiculous! But there are suppose to be snow flurries tomorrow and then it’s going to be cold. I'm so excited because I got my driving card yesterday!!! I'm being transferred to a car area so I will be able to find some warmth as I go into the snow this year! Haha. But I am going to miss Canton. I had a really amazing thing happen with an investigator last night.

Harvey, a man that we met while tracting, we had an appointment with him last night. We talked with him about his concerns and helped him understand the rest of the Plan of Salvation. He came to church this week and really loved it and committed to come every week! When we first met this guy he claimed to be an atheist and had never gone to church before in his life. His ex-wife was catholic and he just didn't agree with the way they believed. He felt like he was searching for something but just didn't realize it until we met him.

He says he still doesn't know what he's looking for, but he feels that what we teach him and that we come over feels good. Well last night we set a baptismal date with him!! He's ready to be baptized! He is still lost on a lot of things, but he feels good about it!  We just keep making sure that the feelings that he feels are the Spirit and that it’s all for a reason. He prayed and said he stumbled through it, and he committed to keep doing it. He said that he also missed a day of praying and felt bad for not doing it! Haha! I was just like Harvey! You got it You have the feelings of the Spirit.  Keep doing it! I have never felt so happy in my life. The promise is true that the Gospel is the way to pure joy! I'm sad to be leaving him, but the hands of Elder Green are good and pure and I know he'll do well!

I Love being a missionary. It continues to be the toughest thing I've ever done but man, the rewards that follow the tough times... Make it all worth it!

I was reading in Enos today. I would invite everyone to read it and follow his example and pray to Heavenly Father and ask for the help and strength to carry on! Life is good! The work of the Lord will carry on! He will provide a way for us in this life! I know that He cares for each and every one of us! He knows us and knows what we need! I love the Lord. In Him my soul delighteth!

I love you Mom! I will probably have time on Thanksgiving to email again since it is our actual

p-day, and its all day, so I will let you know where I am then. And I also forgot my camera and I have some fun picture to give you, so I’ll do that too!

Love

Elder Yukish

Ward Members are helping a lot!

Oh Mom! That’s fantastic to hear! I'm so glad that prayers were answered for you and as well as for me too. I'm really excited to hear that this experience can draw you close to the Lord!

I have been having a fantastic week this week! We didn't get quite as many lessons in but the quality of the lessons have gone up tremendously! We have had so much success with working with members and being able to bring people over to investigators houses and have them make a strong connection with them. I didn't realize before when I went out with the missionaries before how vital it was for them. I feel bad that I didn’t have more chances to go before but I'm so going to help when I get back!

We got in contact with this part member family this week. The Dad has been less active since he was a teenager. The Mom just had a miscarriage and is totally ready to listen to the Gospel right now! The missionaries have tried before and with no luck but this time her heart was soften and she was ready to listen! The Dad has also started to feel a need to be back at church. It really is a answer to lots of prays and lost of hard work we put in this week.

I swear my head has hit the pillow harder than it has anytime before in my life this week. The weather has been perfect! It’s sunny and warm but not too warm. I have been in a crazy exercise mood this week and have actually dropped about 5 pounds. I feel good and pretty in tune with the spirit! This is the last week before transfers and it flew by. I'm actually dreading transfers because I might be transferred.

I really have mixed emotions about it. On the one hand I came into this area after it was dead. We opened it and now we are really seeing success. There are a lot of things going on and solid people that were teaching. On the other hand its getting in to winter and not having a car is going to be stinky. So I'm definitely leaning more towards staying but I’ve been here for 2 transfers and that’s usually about how long we stay in an area so I don’t know.   We’ll se what happens

There is one missionary that is in Massillon which is the next area over in our district that is going home this next week and is just checked out! He’s so trunky. They took away his driving privileges and also his companion just lost his too so they are just getting nothing done. Its kind of sad because he's going to look on this week and probably feel bad that he left on such a low note. He's been a DL and a ZL and is one of the greatest missionaries I know but just is ready to go home. If I start getting like that at the end of my mission I hope someone slaps me.

Oh yeah so they don’t have my driving record.. So could you send that in for me this week? I asked them about it and they said they didn’t get them. I don’t know what happened to them but I'm making sure they get them, and all my stuff, now.

Well I hope you have a great week and I love you guys lots! Send me pictures! Journey wrote me and said that Brock has gotten taller and thinner! He's going to be all grown up when I get home!

Love

Elder Yukish

First snow...and 18 lessons

Whoa! Crazy! I was wondering why Bishop McBride hadn't written me back.  How is this new Bishop?

I believe that the mission has my records but I'm not sure I will be calling them later today and finding out so I can get in a car!! I finished all of my qualifications for driving this week and I want to drive now! Haha!

It’s getting bitter cold here! I woke up one morning and it had actually snowed! I was like NOOOO!!!! And then we got on our bikes and went riding...

I came down with a cold this week and so the cold weather hasn't been helping much but I'm doing a lot better now. I do really like it here! The ward is fantastic and I really feel accepted here and am making great progress this week. This ward has like the best ward mission leader in the mission (so I'm told) and he really knows how to make our life easy as missionaries. We are supposed to teach 20 lessons a week and last transfer we were teaching on average 12.   This transfer we have been averaging 14,  and then this last week we actually had 18! Sooo close and the Bishop was very happy to see that and really was impressed with our efforts.

Elder Green and I have really felt accomplished this week.

I really like my Zone leaders we live with. The new one that came in this transfer actually started his mission in the Canton area on bikes just like me! He hooked me up with some great winter gear that he had that is very useful to use when you’re riding a bike! I was very grateful for that too because it saves us a lot of money and don’t have to worry about buying junk. It’s already proven to be good! I really didn’t like him at first he was a lot different from Elder Thornton who was an AP and knew how to follow the rules and really was obedient. It was a bit different how the new one acted but we've learned to respect each other more now

We'll its time to go play basketball once again! Haha

I'm so glad to hear that you guys are back in AZ and are loving the warmth! I know there are a lot of tough choices out there and I just encourage you, as I do everyone I meet, to take your questions to your Father in Heaven and ask for the guidance and don’t be afraid to sit quietly and listen for the answer. It will come as you continue in faith and involve Him in all you do. I know it works and I know that He hears and answers prayers!

I love you guys so much and I keep you in all my prayers

Love
Elder Yukish 

Love your investigator

Hey Mom,

This week was great! We worked pretty hard and got some good results. The weather has turned from cold to colder with a wind chill. I still like riding my bike but I'm starting to feel worn out by it. It’s uphill everywhere and the cold gets to your face and ears like crazy.

We have an investigator with a baptismal date and she is progressing. We just haven't been able to get her to church. She doesn't have a car (as many people in Canton don't). She's great though! They talked, in the MTC about loving your investigators and wanting the best for them. She is the first person that I've been teaching and have really felt that love for. She hasn't had the best life. She is a 50 year old grandma that just wants joy and we have that joy for her! I have to admit I cried during one of our lessons, and you know what - I'm totally OK with it!

We also have been teaching that guy that we found at the convenience store. He claims to be an Atheist but he keeps calling and asking questions that sound like he wants there to be a God. We have been meeting at the church because he's got some roommates that are not so great, which is OK with us because it’s really close to our house and we can always have a member with us!

Brock looks so awesome with his Iron Man costume!

In Ohio the State “rule” is that Trick-r-Treating is only done on the Sunday before (or the day of) between 3-5pm. Other than that there isn't supposed to be anybody out. It’s so weird, just not the same as Washington's Trick-r-Treating (Giant chicken).

This week I'm investing in some thermals. I finally bought a long john shirt and wore it, life was soooo good! I'm trying to find some pants to go along with it, but just haven't found them yet. It’s not so much that it’s cold just the wind is what gets to you here! I've attached a picture of myself at like 7:45 at night going tracting in the freezing rain! It was probably the best night I've had all week. I think I just lost my mind because the whole time that Elder Green and I were out we were just laughing.

I love you guys so much and I feel of your prayers all the time! They really help me keep going and help remind me of my purpose as a missionary. I’m going to need the support when the snow starts falling! HA HA! My companion always calls me a baby because I'm always cold! 

I put some other pictures up that I took this week hope you like them! 

Love you all and keep you all in my prayers and heart!

Love 

Elder Yukish 

She said YES to a Baptismal Date!!!

Oh my goodness Mom, yes! 2 Nephi: Chapter 4 is like my favorite chapter ever, that and chapter 31. Those are like the most marked up scriptures I have in my whole book.  -- --

(This is Elder Yukish responding to a paragraph from a letter  his mother sent to him, which is as follows: 

"I have been reading the Book of Mormon, and came across a really cool part in 2 Nephi, Chapter 4 that really struck me last night.  Lehi and his family have just reached the Promised Land, and Lehi blesses all of his children and then dies.  Nephi buries him and then in total humility prays to the Lord.  He has suffered so much tribulation - everything from his brothers trying to kill him every time he turns around, to being in the wilderness for 30 years, but through it all he is extremely obedient to the Lord, and stays righteous through it all.  In Chapter 4 vs. 28 Nephi prays 'Awake, my soul !  No longer droop in sin.  Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.  Do not anger again because of mine enemies.  Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.  Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say:  O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee my God, and be the rock of my salvation.' 

I love that part.  He went through a lot, and he will not slacken his faith, or his strength, or his mood or attitude because of his afflictions.  WE shouldn't either.  I feel like some days we suffer more affliction than other days, and I'm trying to not slacken because of them." )

It's rainy and cold here too. I am not looking forward to the freezing cold! I've already pulled out my fur hat and scarf and winter jacket because I’m dying!

 

This week has been a fantastic one! Elder Green and I are still loving life. We had one day where he got a little down because he felt that we weren’t very effective missionaries. we only were teaching about 11 lessons a week and we spend a lot of time on our bikes. The new place we live is great but the place its located at is at the bottom of a huge hill and it’s the top farthest left of our area and so we have to travel along time to all of our appointments. We are averaging 3 hours on our bikes. He feels like we aren’t doing that much. He came from a car area with a companion that had been there for 4 transfers so he had a ton of appointments with members, less actives and a few investigators. When you’re in a car area you can do that but with us on a bike we get a lot less but most of them are more meaningful.

The last week that Elder Saunders was here we had one of those amazing follow the spirit experiences. we parked our bikes at the head of Hillcrest road and started walking because we were going to tracked it. For some reason we didn’t knock on any doors because they didn’t feel good. We walked down to the end of the street and knocked on one door. This lady came to the door and we talked for a little bit and invited us in. We taught her a bit of the Restoration and then I had this burning desire to commit her to baptism. So I committed her to a conditional invite of "as you come to know it’s true will you be baptized." She said yeah I think so. I was like what? you said yes?

 So we went back again this Friday and taught her some of the plan of salvation and then again I had a burning desire to give her a baptismal date. SHE ACCEPTED!!!!!! We left there jumping for joy! I haven't felt this kind of joy before! I am so excited! I was floating on air! So it has been a great week!

 I'm sorry to hear about Grandpa Mitchell. I have an email from Grandma and I’m going to read it and write them back. I'm glad to hear Tod is doing well and that Brock is getting all grown up! I miss him a ton. There's this one family in the ward that we have been having dinner with and they have a 4 year old boy that is spunky like Brock and it just makes me miss him even more!

 I’m so happy to hear from you Mom. I miss you most of all. I’m so glad to hear that you're reading the Book of Mormon and finding joy in it. It means so much to me and I want everyone to feel of the joy that it brings. I'm so grateful to be on my mission.

 Oh I was sitting in Elders Quorum yester day and had a itch on my ankle and then I felt my calf... HOLY COW!! It’s huge! Its like a solid rock! That’s the beauty of riding a bike all day!

Well I Love you so much and can't wait to hear from you next week

Love

Elder Yukish

New Companion -Elder Green

Hey Mom!

So this week has been great! I actually found out I'm staying here in the downtown Canton area. I only have a few minutes to write tonight because we've been moving all day and we've got to get back to work. I have a great new companion. His name is Elder Green. He was in our district last transfer and they just moved him to my area. He and I came out at the same time so we are two greenies working together. I guess that’s pretty rare. It’s awesome though he's a hard worker and is so up for riding bikes as much as me. We talked to the AP's and asked them how often greenies get put together and they said never. I was pretty blown back by that. It made me realize how much trust was put in our companionship. I love Elder Green he's a great missionary. This will be a great transfer with a lot of growth.

 I have moved to a new place and am supper excited about it!

The house is:

 3013 Treeside St NW

 Canton OH 44709

I was hoping that I could ask you to send me some music. I would like any church music you can find, borrow some from someone and copy or whatever you can. The only "rules" on the music is that it has to be a hymn if it’s not sung by MOTAB, and anything that MOTAB sings is allowed! So if you could find good stuff or if you have got good stuff lying around send it to me! It really helps the missionary day go by and the helps break up the monotonies!

The one CD that I REALLY want is by "Lower Lights" I'll attach a picture of the CD case so you can look for it.

I gotta run! Duty calls!

Love

Elder Yukish

DOOOO WHAAAAA???

Ok. So this week has been a crazy one! Its transfer week and crazy things are happening. We have some great investigators and some crazy people that were teaching too.

 Last night was one of the craziest ever. We were having a great day. Had a really good district meeting in the morning after our studies. We went out for lunch at the mall and had a great time. Elder Saunders and I worked really hard the rest of the day. We parked our bikes at the beginning of a street and were going to go tracting but just kind of started walking down the street. The road came to a fork and we sat there for a second and decided that we should go left. We walked down a couple of houses and then decided to knock this one house. We knocked and a lady answered. We talked for a bit and started teaching her the restoration. Then she asked us to come in and sit down. So we went a little more into the restoration. Towards the end of the lesson I got a really strong prompting to commit her to baptism (keep in mind this is the first time we met her) I said " as you come to know these things are true will you follow the example of your savior Jesus Christ and be baptized by one holding the proper Priesthood authority?". She looked at us for a second and asked "how can I know to come if these things are true?" I realized we hadn't taught her about prayer. So we did and she agreed to be baptized if she knew it was true. I was like HOLY COW... did that just work? 

 I also have another thing that happed. My companion and I were thirsty and we decided to go to this gas station that has fountain drinks any size 59 cents. We went in and got our pops and walked up to the teller. He rung us up and we said thank you and started walking away. We were almost at the door and the guy said "hey how can I get a Book of Mormon, and can you guys come over and we can talk about it?" again I was like DOOOO WHAAAAA???? So we went back and started talking to him and found out he tried to get a Book of Mormon from the web site but never had the courage to go through with it. We said hey any time anywhere we can drop off a Book of Mormon and talk with you about it. So we have an appointment with him later today.

 The thing that has built my testimony up about these two experiences is prayer. Elder Saunders and I decided to pray with real intent to get a baptism this month. President has promised us that if we pray and are faithful we will get at least one a month. So this month we are trying it and its working! I don’t know if we will get a baptism but those people weren’t just put in our path for no reason.

 So back to our crazy night last night. Elder Saunders and I have been working hard and riding bikes like crazy people. Last night after our dinner with the Davis family we had to travel down to kinda the other side of our area. We were running a few minutes ahead so we decided just to take it easy as we were riding and not kill ourselves to get there. We were traveling down 22^nd street and all was well. It was a slight hill which was nice so we could just coast. I was about 20 yards behind my companion and all of the sudden he looked back to make sure I was still behind him and then he hit a pot hole and crashed crazy hard.

 I was like oh no this is not going to be good. Sure enough I got up to him and it wasn't pretty. He was knocked unconscious and was scraped up pretty bad. I rolled him over and pulled him up on to the driveway closest to us. I put my back pack under his head and took the towel out of my bag and started to take care of his cuts. Luckily we are in the same area that our zone leaders are and so I called them and got them out of their dinner appointment and had them come and pick us up. While I was dealing with my companion that was now starting to regain consciousness and yelling - waking up the whole neighborhood - people started coming out and trying to help. It was nice to have a community that was so willing to help but I had to keep telling people to not call an ambulance.

 We sat there for about 20 minutes while the zone leaders came and we rushed him to the emergency room. We got him there and they checked him out and let him chill in the waiting room for a while. Man he's like a mean drunk. As he was coming too he started saying out loud that " all the people in the waiting room were a bunch of hypochondriacs and he was the only one that really needed help" It was so funny but kinda embarrassing. I got to go back with him and help with info and paper work. All that really did for me is solidify how much I hate hospitals.

 We were there for about 4 hours from like 7:40 till almost 1 at night. It was crazy. Lucky for him he got to sleep in past morning workout and studies and stuff but I had to be up at 630..

 He broke his elbow and he also broke his cheek bone. We just found out about an hour ago that he is going to have to go home for at least 12 weeks for surgery and physical therapy. It’s a sad day. But things happen and life goes on. I also got to give him a blessing which is my first one so that’s pretty cool.

 Hey Mom happy birthday by the way! What are your plans for your very special day?

 Thanks everyone that wrote me this week! There were so many it was awesome! I don’t have enough time to email all of you back but if you send me your addresses then I will write you some letters with the rest of my P-day. Thank you all for the support and love! It really means so much when times are tough to come here and listen to the words of my family!

We are moving this Saturday so I will let you all know what my new address is next week because I can’t remember it haha. BUT it’s a sweet place. Three story 3 bedrooms 2 1/2 bath town house and its going to be a nice change from the pit we live in now... oh wait just got a call that I’m getting transferred... POOP!!!

Till next week

LOVE FROM

Elder Yukish

Attitude of Gratitude

Dear Mommy,

 This week has been a great one! Thank you so much for the package! Everyone loved the cookies! They were gone by the end of the first session of Saturday’s Conference. I love the slippers and the hat and wear them everywhere! The Seahawks shirt is amazing very comfortable and warm!

 The weather here has turned deathly cold. Haha! It’s freezing! Tracting in 43 degree weather with a light drizzle and 10 mile an hour winds straight in the face makes for a new experience of its own! It really is nice because I don't sweat that much when I ride my bike.

 I loved General Conference this weekend! I loved every one of the talks that were given. I felt like every one of them was directed straight towards me and my benefit as a missionary and as a man. I too loved our Prophet’s talk on gratitude. It really made me think of what I am thankful for and how much I have been given in my life. Sometimes you take for granted what you have till it’s all gone. I felt like needed to ask for forgiveness of my ungratefulness in my life.

 I am grateful for the home we all lived in together as a family. I am so grateful for the time we spent with all of our family eating enchiladas. I am VERY grateful for enchiladas (no one knows how to make them here.  I feel like I have eaten more chilli and soup than one person should ever have to eat in their lifetime). I am grateful for the lessons I've learned and the example of good parents and good members of the church you all are to me. I am grateful for the sacrifice you've made for me to be on this mission. I don't know what I would do without these blessings that I have received since I've been out here.

 The Lord does work in mysterious ways. I know that he has a plan for me here in this mission. I know God knows me personally. He knows my strength and knows how best to build me up and make me the best I can be. I am grateful for the opportunity that the Lord has given me to put everything off, to trust fully in Him, know that he loves me and that there is work for me to do here. Sometimes it’s hard to put off myself and my doubts and fears. I struggle to put my full faith in Him, but when I do, at that moment I feel closer to Him than I ever have before. In that moment my fear is gone and I have the most success as a missionary and as a tool in His hands. I am grateful for the scriptures and the guidance they are in my life. I am grateful for our living Prophet and the guidance he give me personally.

 I am grateful to be a missionary.

 I love the pictures! Man Brock is starting to look like a big kid now. Tod looks like he's gotten skinnier? Well it’s time for me to go. We are having a zone p-day and we're going to go play some Ultimate Frisbee out in the cold.... yeah...

I love you mom and I hope you have a great week!

Love

Elder Yukish

p.s.

Word of advice for the day…. Don't run and jump on to a new mission bed, especially if you’re a big guy, for you will break the bed and be seriously chastised for doing so. And thus I say amen.... Haha!

Week 2 - Canton, OH

Wow OK! So what a week! It flew by!  One minute I was sitting here in the library and now I'm in the library again!

I'm so happy to hear from so many people this week! I love the encouragement that all of my family gives me!

So here is my first return and report. My investigator from last week. I committed him to baptism and he rejected. But that's OK he had a lot of really good concerns. So this week we are planning on addressing all of his concerns that we didn't get to last week. He felt more comfortable with the things we explained to him but he still needed to find his testimony of the Book of Mormon and that this is the True Church!

As an answer to my prayer and twelve and a half hours of tracting we did last week, we found a few more investigators. One guy wants to have his whole apartment complex have a Book of Mormon study class on Tuesday mornings. We taught them this morning and there were a lot of people interested! It’s amazing! So basically we have a pool of potential investigators to work with. We've also tracted into a few people to work with.

Our ward mission leader is like a super star!  It’s very weird to me to be involved in Ward Counsel Meetings.  I guess I'm just not used to the Stake President looking at me on equal ground. It’s awesome to be there though because it really helps out with our missionary work and the direction that the ward is going with their ward mission plan. I feel so much more in the loop.

Yesterday, Monday the 13th, we went to the Johnson Farm, which is the other historical site here in Ohio. We got to go in the Johnson home where the Prophet had been. We were in the room in where the mob pulled Joseph Smith out of his bed at night and tarred and feathered him. 

The amazing story about that room is after they tarred and feathered him, and even tried to poison him, the Prophet walked back to the house and that night they scraped all the tar off of him and in the morning he preached to a congregation of 150 on the front steps of that house. There were people from the mob there that didn't expect him to show up and were hoping he wouldn't, but he did and taught a powerful lesson. The Prophet even converted some of the men that tried to kill him.

Man, when I stood there on that hallowed ground my testimony was strengthened beyond belief. I know that Joseph Smith is a true Prophet. I know that the Book of Mormon that I study and share with all I meet is a true book of the Doctrine of Jesus Christ our Savior, our Redeemer. I'm so glad that I'm here to share the Gospel with the people of Ohio. I don't think I could find a more joyful thing in my life.

After that time in the Johnson home we had an awesome activity called Zoned Out! Three Zones from half of the mission got together and played games. We played trivia games on our knowledge of Preach My Gospel, Scriptures, Church History and Missionary rules. Then after that we had an awesome relay race between the three zones. Needless to say our zone won. We had a dramatic come from behind victory (we planned it that way... OK not really). My part of the relay was to eat a cup of dirt and worms! No,  not real dirt and worms, but crushed up Oreos and gummy worms. Between my companion and me we caught our zone up then pulled ahead. We killed it after that! But it was just a fun competition plus I guess we can’t be too proud because we were against the Kirtland Zone which is almost all Sisters. It was a lot of fun and we got to see so many other missionaries that are our friends so it was great!

Mom. That's awesome that Shannon and Marlene are there helping and visiting. I really hope you don't break Shannon. I miss you guys so much and can’t wait to hear more next week.

Dad and Kina, Thanks for the package with the protein bars in it and the pictures. I only got it yesterday because the mission office staff was there at Hyrum to bring it to me

Aunt Susan, Thanks so much for the words encouragement and love! I'm happy that the AZ family is up visiting with you guys!

Jed, I'm so happy to hear that you’re going to seminary.  I went to seminary yesterday too!  It was awesome. I remember how I felt after I had seminary every day. It was always the best way to start the day! I hope your finding joy in reading the scriptures. I know how important that it is the have that time everyday to study. I only get an hour which probably sounds like a lot, but to me it’s not even close to enough I find myself eating lunch fast so that I have extra time to study! I'm so glad to hear that you’re starting to feel the Spirit in your life. I hope your committing now to serve a mission. It’s a process and if you start now you will be so much more prepared.

Grandpa and Grandma, It’s so amazing to ready some of your stories. I have been keeping a journal almost every day. I hope one day I can share my stories with my children and grandchildren and they can be a source of comfort and joy and direction as your stories are to me.

We call this the "White Rhino"!

 Well it’s time to get back to work! I love every one of you and I hope you all stay strong in the gospel and love each other. I would challenge everyone to pick up their Book of Mormons and begin to read it again. Also study in the Doctrine and Covenants and find the ones that are direct revelation given in Kirtland and in Hyrum. Remember I've been there and I know there spirit that is in those rooms and I know those are true doctrines that came from those rooms.

With so much love from your son, grandson, nephew and brother

Elder Yukish

Oh p.s. the address here is

Elder Yukish

123 17th St NW APT# 2

Canton, OH 44703

It’s going to change but not as soon as we thought. I'll let you know when it does.