January 26, 2014

Note:  Joseph will be returning home on February 14 - Valentines Day.  He will be speaking in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, February 16 at 11:00 at the Hunter Central Stake Center (3930 South 6000 West, West Valley City)

Dear Family, 

Well it has been a really good week. We have been doing a lot of finding and keep meeting with all of our investigators. Some of them have been doing great and are beginning to progress. This last week we went on a couple of companion exchanges. We went to do some training for some of the new District Leaders, which was awesome.  I enjoy working with so many people and seeing their fire for the work. I also got to do a baptismal interview for another area's investigator. It was the first time I got to do a baptismal interview. It was a pretty cool experience.   Their investigator was super prepared and definitely ready for baptism. 

It is so much fun talking to people on the street because you meet some of the funniest people. Just everything about missionary work is awesome. One of our investigators went to Hawaii this week and was going to meet some missionaries that I worked with earlier so we made a little message for each of them. It is amazing how many friends I have made over the past couple of years. I love being a missionary and just want to keep sharing the gospel with as many people as I can. Thank you for all of your prayers. I love you all so much!

Love, Elder Joseph Gandy

January 20, 2014

Dear Family,

Well this last week has been pretty good. We have been out working as much as we can and trying to find those who are being prepared. We also had interviews with Pres. Gustafson this last week. During the interviews the AP`s had a training which was great. Elder Poole and I applied the stuff that they taught us and one day half of the people we talked to actually stopped and listened to a gospel message. Some of the other missionaries in our zone had similar experiences. 

The Branch here is also trying to think of ways to help us find more investigators. We have a few great investigators we're still working with. One has a hard time understanding but he feels like this is something he should believe in. Another wants to be baptized but her parents are against it so she is just waiting until she moves out. Then we have a family that says they have changed so much since meeting the missionaries. They said that the missionaries always bring this wonderful feeling and that this is the best church but that they don`t want to change right now. Everyone seems to have something that is holding them back but we are going to keep working with them and do our best to help them. Heavenly Father knows their needs and he has provided a way for them. I hope that we can work with the Spirit to help them see the way. 

Well that was the sum up for last week. I`m still enjoying mission life and love serving the Lord. I love you all so much and am grateful for your prayers.

Love, Elder Joseph Gandy

January 12, 2014

Dear Family,

Thank you for all of the birthday wishes. I had a great birthday.  We all went out to eat but we spent the entire day on the street talking to everyone we saw.  It was a lot of fun and I just really enjoy talking to people. 

This week that was our main focus. However we also had some great visits with members. We also have some really awesome investigators. They all seem like they want to believe but are not sure on how they can. We are doing our best to explain things simply and helping them recognize the Spirit. We know that if they feel the power of the Holy Ghost they can come to know this message is true. I think that is something that will help them progress and come closer unto Christ. 

Last week we also went to Fukuoka for a leadership training and learned a lot of great things on setting goals and connecting with people that we meet.  Pres. Gustafson also talked to us about the Atonement and had a lot of neat insights. On Thursday we passed that training on to our zone I felt like it went well but President definitely gives it the best. 

I`m still doing my best and working as hard as I can everyday. I hope that things continue to go well and that we can keep seeing miracles. I love the Lord, this gospel, and this work. I love you all so very much and am grateful for your support and prayers. I hope you have another good week.

Love, Elder Joseph Gandy

January 5, 2013

Dear Family,

Well this last week was New Years and transfer calls. So I now have a new companion who just happens to be the Australian (Elder Poole) who was here with me last transfer. It is fun working with him and I`m sure we will get a lot done. 

Another piece of news is that there are also two new Elders here with us. Elder Bush and Elder Rees who are both from Utah. The cool thing is that I knew Elder Bush from high school we had a few classes together and we`re both friends with Braden. I knew he was in the mission but didn`t meet up with him until now. We are actually both zone leaders and district leaders together but have different companions which is an interesting set up. So I feel like it is going to be a super fun transfer. 

For New Years we were invited over to a members house where we had a bunch of traditional Japanese New Years food which I thought was great. It has been a good week and we are still trying to find some new investigators. However everything is going good and we have good investigators we are working with. 

Well for some reason I always blank on what happened last week when I`m sitting in front of the computer. Anyways I love you all and hope you enjoy the New Year!

Love, Elder Joseph Gandy